Vifa, one of our favorite Danish audio brands, has come out with another beautifully made portable wireless speaker worthy of consideration. This time Vifa is using less of a super chic design like it has for the Helsinki speaker we've taken a look at some time ago, and instead has taken more of a utilitarian approach by using its modern boombox-inspired Copenhagen model and essentially splitting it in half. The result is what Vifa is calling the Oslo speaker, a slightly larger portable Bluetooth speaker than Vifa's Helsinki featuring larger Force Balanced woofers and passive radiators that should produce an even bigger punch from a smallish-sized speaker. So how does this speaker perform in practise? Let's find out!

Before you even get to see the Oslo in all of its Scandinavian glory, it comes wrapped inside of this neat drawstring travel bag embroidered with the Oslo branding.

Deeper into the packaging you'll also find the Oslo's power supply/charger and a 3.5mm straight audio cable tucked away inside this matching drawstring pouch. What's also included are three swappable socket plugs made for Europe, UK, and North America. The Oslo can be used everywhere around the world thanks to Vifa's considerate thinking. But we still wish it came with a standard USB charger instead of this wall charger.

Much like the rounder Helsinki speaker, the minimalist front and back of the Oslo is completely covered with textile made by renowned Danish textile maker, kvadrat. The finish, texture and color is absolutely impeccable. There are no wrinkles or any defects to be seen. But unlike the more refined texture of the Kvadrat material used for the Helsinki, the Oslo shares a more rugged and rough-looking textured textile of the much larger Copenhagen model, which has a high-end bolder look to it that I think fits its utilitarian aesthetics perfectly. You can get the Oslo in various different colored textiles including this grayish black we've gotten to review, white, red, yellow, and dark blue and in light blue. As far as controls go, the Oslo keeps it very simplistic with only two volume up and down controls located at the front side of the speaker where they are seamlessly sewn into the fabric. This is also an area where you can use an NFC device to tap and pair with the Oslo.

Even though it’s not the smallest, weighs about 5 pounds, the Olso is still very much portable – more so than the JBL Xtreme. And that has mostly has to due with its ingenious built-in carry handle that makes up part of the Oslo’s incredibly solid build quality. The handle is made out of solid aluminum and is a one-piece, seamless design that makes up the outer frame of the speaker. It’s the same exact design principal as the smaller Helsinki speaker, except the Oslo features a fixed aluminum carry handle instead of a removable handbag-like leather handle. And that was exactly the thing we weren't very keen on, the Helsinki's strikingly feminine styling. The Oslo on the other hand is Vifa's most gender neutral looking portable speaker yet, and we very much like that about the Oslo. That tall and narrow form factor sort of reminds me of a lunch pack or a satchel type design. A very distinguishable design for a portable Bluetooth speaker indeed.

In-between this svelte metal outer frame is a Scandinavian staple, a textile fabric made by Kvadrat that gives the Oslo it's warm, aesthetically pleasing beauty and rich premium quality. This material is the same kind of textile Vifa likes to use on all of its speakers, and I think that unlike traditional metal perforated speaker grilles, this fabric adds so much more interest to this gadgets that it becomes a part of your interior decor, almost like a piece of furniture.

If you look closely you'll see a status LED ring illuminating behind the textile.

The backside is where you'll find a multi-function power/Bluetooth pairing button alongside a battery charging status light. The Oslo can also be used in a wired mode using its 3.5mm audio input.

Battery life on the Oslo is considerably better than the Helsinki’s 8-hour runtime. Vifa says that you can get up to 12 hours of wireless use out of the Oslo, but you’re mileage will vary depending on how loud you play your music. I’ve found that in my testing listening at medium volume, I would be able to get a reasonable 10 hours of use. This is by no means the best battery performance out of any portable speaker, but then again the Oslo is a very powerful speaker. Charging the internal battery takes around 4 hours and can only be done using the included power brick.

While it’s true that both the Helsinki and Oslo share the same amount of drivers, six in total, apart from both having the same 50mm full range drivers, the Oslo does have larger woofers at 65mm (instead of 60mm) including larger passive radiators. The Oslo’s bass performance will absolutely blow you and every other similar sized portable speaker away. Bass is amazingly thick and sounds like it's coming from a high-end speaker system rather than a small portable lunchbox. Bass aside, the Oslo produces pristine highs and detailed mids with loads of clarity all around. In other words the Oslo is one of the best sounding portable speakers we have ever heard.

The only small downside to the Oslo's design is that sound is very one-sided, meaning the soundfield is narrower than other portable speakers with wider designed, which feature drivers that are more spaced apart such as the JBL Xtreme. Depending on where you are in relation to the Oslo, the sound characteristics will change. If you're right in front of it, you'll hear brighter highs whereas if you were to stand beside it you would hear more of the low-end bass and less treble. 

If you want to listen to music at very low volumes you can do so the right way by changing the tuning settings of the Oslo via the Vifa app. In "Late Night" mode, the Oslo will play richer sounding audio without having to raise the volume. It's amazing how great this optimization works. The audio that comes out at these low volumes is full, clear and is unparalleled by other portable speakers of this size.

I wouldn't go as far as to say that the Oslo blows away the $300 JBL Xtreme as the two sound very similar, both are equally as loud, and both can easily dish out huge sounding bass with very clear sound quality, but the Oslo does indeed have a slight edge when it comes to detail in bass and in highs. And yes it does sound much better at very high volumes than the Xtreme. But is that worth spending an extra $250? Absolutely not. Which is one of the biggest reasons why we wouldn't highly recommend the Oslo at $550. It's simply too expensive. Not only is it not weather-resistant, it can't match the Xtreme's longer battery life. If you want a portable wireless speaker that sounds as big as the Vifa Oslo but can't spend as much for Danish design, then you'll be very happy with JBL's Xtreme. But if you're willing to spend that extra bit of cash for something a little more special, Vifa's Oslo is worthy of our general recommendation for a truly unique and powerful portable speaker.

Vifa.dk

Bang & Olufsen's strong design and audio prowess is a lethal and desirable combination that makes consumers want to throw their money at anything this Danish household name crafts. In a competitive move towards making its wireless speakers more affordable, B&O has set out to create a smaller version of its A2 portable speaker with a more appealing price of admission. Meet the BeoPlay A1. This much smaller, lighter and more portable speaker features everything you'd come to expect from B&O - impressive use of high quality materials and a contemporary design that might be worthy of an award or two. It's arguably one of the better looking portable speakers on the market right now...and it sounds bigger than it looks too. So how does the BeoPlay A1 compare to some of the best portable wireless speakers out there? We've got it all covered in our full review down below!

The unboxing experience of unpacking an A1 is very much like unboxing an Apple product. And that's a very good thing indeed. Not only that, but the A1 speaker itself feels very much like a premium Apple product with a lot of similar, clean and highly polished design cues such as the impeccable aluminum finishing and the refined rubber polymer bottom complete with a USB-C port for charging and little details like the seamless button controls that are so well implemented into the A1's lower rubbery body. 

Included with the speaker is none other than a USB to USB-C cable for charger. It's the first time we're seeing a USB-C type cable being used for portable speakers, which is a step in the right direction because unlike micro-USB connectors, USB-C has a reversible design meaning you'll never have to worry about plugging it in on the correct side.

As far as the durability and build quality of the A1, I can't see how Bang & Olufsen could have done a better job in designing a small portable speaker. The A1 feels like an amazingly made chunk of product engineering. It's an extremely solid speaker, that goes without saying really. The top half portion is made out of this extraordinary perforated aluminum dome that features a svelte, bead-blasted matte finish that is so fine you can't help but run your fingers across it every chance you get to hold it. The A1 is also said to be sand/water-resistant and its aluminum dome protecting the drivers inside can take some abuse. So wherever you take it you won't have to care for it like it's your newborn child. Maybe that's why Bang & Olufsen neglected to include a protective travel case. 

And then there's the bottom half of the A1's impressive construction in that it's made out of a very high quality rubbery compound that is both grippy and designed to absorb vibrations. This is ideal as this makes the A1 a durable portable speaker that can be hung on a wall or positioned flat on a flat surface. The two materials meet seamlessly as well.

The round shape gives the A1 the ability to output sound upwards where it can be distributed all around rather than be pointed towards a specific direction like most portable speakers. So by sitting flat with the drivers pointing up, the A1 can produce 360-degree audio that sounds great from every angle. There are quite a few circular portable speakers out there that offer 360-degree sound like the $100 Ultimate Ears UE Roll, which is similar in size when compared to the A1 and also features a built-in cord. But that's about where the comparisons end. The A1 is at a whole different league when talking about audio and industrial design.

The volume, power, Bluetooth pairing, Connect and speakerphone buttons are all located around the outer edge of the speaker and are completely flush within the rubber base. That said, you can still press each and one of these buttons and feel a soft tactile button press through the rubbery material.

Located at the bottom is a 3.5mm audio input for optional wired connection to audio sources, and the A1's USB-C charging input. Fully charging the A1's internal battery takes around 3 hours. From our extensive battery performance testing we found that you're most definitely not going to be getting 24 hours of use out of the A1 if you play music above 40% volume, but rather around 4-5 hours at best, which is still relatively an acceptable figure for such a powerfully compact speaker. It's a shame that no one will actually be seeing anywhere near Bang & Olufsen's proclaimed battery life as normal listening levels, also known as the "sweet spot" of optimal audio performance, are above 40% on this particular speaker. It's also important to note that when the A1 reaches a low battery level it will limit the volume down to half its potential.

For size reference, an iPhone 6s Plus is larger than the BeoPlay A1's round diameter. Weighing 1.3lb, the A1 is easy to carry and pretty much fits into anything with an opening in it. But don't quote me on that.

But if you do want more sound facing towards your general direction like a normal front-facing speaker, you can actually hang the A1 up on a wall and pretty much off of anything you can find using its built-in leather strap. It's designed to sit flush against the wall creating a powerful sound output where it is facing. It makes for an interesting alternative usage scenario. 

Although it wasn't designed to be stood up on its side, you can technically get away with that using the leather strap as a stopper to keep the A1 from rolling off the shelf or desk. It works surprisingly well without falling forwards or backwards when listening to bassy music on high volume.

Bang & Olufsen doesn't mess around when it comes to putting together a speaker, no matter the size. The BeoPlay A1 in particular is by far and away the best sounding portable speaker we've reviewed that can fit into a pocket. And yes, this speaker will fit into your pocket guaranteed. When every other speaker delivers directional audio, the A1 literally fills any room and environment with impressively powerful sound that can be enjoyed from every direction. And the sound that the A1 can produce is really fulfilling too. It marks off every box for what people look for in portable audio.

The A1 delivers very rich and detailed sound with a quality natural bass that's super thick and bold for such a small form factor. Highs are especially clear sounding and have an amazing isolated presentation thanks to that dedicated tweeter. And the midrange has got a fluffy, balanced forwardness to it so it never gets left behind and sounds great producing those important details with absolute clarity. I honestly didn't expect to like the A1 as much as I do after spending a few days with it. It really is impressive.

Like most portable speakers of this size, the A1 also seems to reduce its bass effectiveness when going above 75% in volume, yet it still sounds fuller at high volume compared to every other similarly sized speaker there is. And while the A1 can play very loudly without distorting or noticeably reducing bass response, playing bass heavy tracks like Drake's Jumpman does produce some bass rattle at full volume.

The A1 absolutely smokes the UE Boom 2, and while the Flip 3 and Charge 2 come close to sounding as good as the A1, they simply can't touch the A1's incredibly rich and full sound quality. It also outclasses the Beats Pill+, UE Megaboom, Bose SoundLink Mini 2, Sony SRS-XB3, Denon Envaya Mini, and the Harman Kardon Esquire 2...just to name a few.

The biggest difference between the A1 and the Charge 2 is that the A1 has less of an exciting punch and sounds more natural and calm compared to the Charge 2's boosted bass, which is not present on the latest Charge 3 model. The A1 makes the Charge 2's sound like it's hiding around the corner with its covered-up midrange in comparison. That being said, the Charge 2 sounds really good next to the A1 given the price difference. It even produces deeper lows and an overall thumpier sound signature. But after a closer listening, you can hear the difference in overall quality that the A1 produces, which has far greater sonic detail and overall clarity across the frequency range despite not sounding as party-esque. As for the newer Charge 3 speaker from JBL, the A1 struggles to justify its cost-to-audio performance ratio, especially when comparing the two speakers outdoors. 

You can use the BeoPlay app to change the A1's sound using EQ presets or by manually sliding around to introduce more warmth, brightness, midrange treble and more, through this really intuitive EQ chart. After playing around with the settings for a while I've found that I preferred how the A1 sounded as it was without any custom audio adjustments. That said, I think that the "Excited" setting can provide an alternative sound signature that sounds quite good and adds more vibrancy to the A1's default sound signature. It's also worth noting that any custom audio tuning you've made in the app will be saved on the speaker itself.

You can also use this app to wireless connect a second A1 speaker to create a stereo sounding setup, or have both play the same audio in different places around the house.

Another noteworthy Danish company that makes some incredibly well designed, unique wireless speakers is Libratone. And just so happens that we've gotten our clean hands on the company's newest offerings which we of course had to compare against the BeoPlay A1. The Zipp Mini from Libratone is obviously not nearly as compact or as lightweight as the BeoPlay A1, but it does offer also offer some really great sound. At $250, the Zipp Mini also serves up an immersive omni-directional sound output and has some neat features that the A1 lacks such as colorful interchangeable covers, touch controls, and the capability of wirelessly connecting up to six speakers through Wi-Fi for a multi-room audio streaming setup. While there's not a significant difference in sound quality between the two speakers, I do have to give the win to the BeoPlay A1 as it sounds ever so slightly more dynamic, which is really impressive considering the significant size difference.

The audio that comes out of this hand-sized speaker is astonishing. Not only is the BeoPlay A1 one of the better designed ultra-portable speakers we have looked at, it's by far and away the best sounding portable speaker we have ever reviewed at under $250. Don't let the small size fool you. The BeoPlay A1 produces pure, crystal clear sound with full-sounding bass and 360-degree audio dispersion. If you're someone that cares a lot about great design and high quality materials, you'll love what Bang & Olufsen created here.

That said, battery life is one of the only disappointing caveats of the BeoPlay A1. You'll never get that advertised 24 hours of use if you use your speaker at slightly above half volume, which is when the A1 sounds its best, but more like 5 hours. Still, we think that's an acceptable compromise for such a compact portable speaker that sounds this good compared to other popular models with very similar battery performances.

It's very plausible that JBL's Charge 3 will be able to match the BeoPlay A1's audio prowess as we already know it outperforms the Charge 2, but at nearly half the cost. Until we can test the two speakers ourselves, we can highly recommend the BeoPlay A1 as the high-end ultra-portable speaker to get.

Beoplay.com

Life is too short to be listening to music with bad headphones. Which is why many headphones these days can cost hundreds of dollars, if not more. But do you really need to spend so much to enjoy your music with the least amount of audio quality compromise? V-Moda says that its latest flagship in-ear headphones, which were forged out of a strong liquid metal zinc alloy, can outperform some models that can costs upwards of $1,000. By using "hand-tuned" 8mm dynamic drivers paired with Italian-engineered acoustic tuning filters, V-Moda's new ZN will supposedly deliver sound that is as good as audiophile-grade in-ear monitors for only $180. Sounds too good to be true, doesn't it. Nevertheless, we decided to compare the ZN against a $550 pair of audiophile-certified in-ear monitors to see if we can hear the difference or if V-Moda's impressive claims are just baseless marketing BS. 

Presentation is always on point when it comes to V-Moda's headphone lineup. The ZN do not disappoint with their easy to open packaging. Inside you'll find a number of included accessories like a small faux leather storage case with a nice magnetic closure, sport earhooks, and a selection of standard ear tips.

V-Moda gives you two sets of black and clear colored Bliss 3.0 silicone ear tips in four different sizes. While these tips aren’t any different from pretty much every other round tip included with in-ear headphones, I did find that I had to change the default medium sized tips pre-fitted onto the ZN with the largest tip size. It’s highly recommended that you try out a few different sizes to find the best fit for your ears to not only be able to get the most secure, tightest fit possible, but also the best seal which will greatly help improve the bass response in addition to exterior sound isolation. The passive noise isolation of these silicone tips is really great and even nears the sound isolation level of memory foam tips.

These sport earhooks help reduce cable noise tremendously. In fact, they’re so effective in reducing the amount of friction from the cables rubbing against your neck and face when you’re moving that it almost feels like wearing truly wireless earbuds (a la Earin) that are completely free of any cables. I’m really glad V-Moda included these as they make training and working out with the ZN that much better. And if you plan on using the on-board microphone, you can also greatly improve the call quality for the receiving end by using the shirt clip to keep the microphone from rubbing against your clothing.

The ZN are starkly different from every one of the in-ear headphones we've recently reviewed, which have all shared a very clean and minimalist metal design. The ZN have got this aggressive, three-dimensional design that needless to say looks really bold and quite cool if I must say so myself. The use of matte black and a highly-reflective chrome metal finish gives these a jewlery-like aesthetic that some will either really hate or really like.

V-Moda was able to achieve this intricate, one-piece design using a liquid metal zinc alloy casting. Zinc is technically a heavier metal than aluminum and as a result the ZN aren't the lightest in-ear headphones we've tested. That said, they don't feel uncomfortable to wear. And the build quality is simply brilliant. Sturdy, metallic and robust. You really cannot ask for more. At $180, the ZN face some tough competition from similarly priced offerings such as the RHA T10, Bang & Olufsen Beoplay H3, Audio Technica ATH-IM02 SonicPro, and the MEE Audio Pinnacle P1 – to name a few.

Attached to these in-ears are what V-Moda is calling the DiamondBack cable, which is essentially the most durable tangle-free cable I’ve ever seen attached to a pair of in-ear headphones. It’s kevlar reinforced, which gives it this really unique and cool looking weave patterned design, but also its strength. V-Moda claims this cable is 20x stronger than what is typically used by other companies.

Although I don't mind the ZN's 3.5mm, gold-plated and case-compatible angled 3.5mm plug, it is a bit over the top. It's the largest plug I've ever seen. The only issue I have with it being this long is that it sticks out of devices more than I'd like it to. Other than that this is a very resilient plug.

The ZN have one of the best in-line, fully featured (iOS compatible) 3-button remote and microphone module. Buttons are such a pleasure to press and the overall remote has a favorably slim design that isn't obtrusive and is within a comfortable reach. Sadly however, the microphone audio quality is mediocre at best.

The sound is huge, vibrant and full of bassy awesomeness. So much so in fact, the ZN sound more like full-sized headphones due to their amazingly deep sounding bass, which is very impressive. And you might be thinking this can negatively affect the overall sound quality but fortunately it doesn't whatsoever. The ZN can easily reach dangerously loud volume levels without distorting. The bass while highly thumpy and rich, does not drown the mods and highs, which are both fairly forward-sounding and really clear and defined. I could use a bit more midrange treble, but that's just how the ZN sound, which is very contrasty and extremely fun to listen to.

Compared to one of our go-to in-ear headphones, the less expensive Nocs NS500, which also feature the same sized 8mm dynamic – the ZN don't significantly outperform them as far as bass performance, but they do sound so much cleaner, a lot fuller and more refined across the frequency range. 

V-Moda’s bold claims for the ZN to be able to outclass offerings priced at $300 and above – and even some costing more than a $1,000, might not be as outlandish as we had initially thought. We decided to compare the ZN against a few expensive in-ears we’ve had laying around that on paper cost twice as much and should outperform them without even batting an eye.

To be able to compete against in-ear monitors with four balanced armature drivers is an impressive feat. And although the ZN’s 8mm dynamic drivers can’t produce the same level of treble of the highs and mids as these much more expensive in-ears such as the Audiofly AF180 and the 2nd generation JAYS q-Jays, the ZN easily outshine these with their incredible rich sounding audio and deeper lows.

V-Moda's ZN are by far and away the best sounding in-ear headphones that we've tested under $200. If you want to experience massive sound without having to wear full-sized headphones, the ZN are without a doubt a pair of in-ears you should consider purchasing. Not only do the ZN offer that signature unique V-Moda styling, can arguably outperform other in-ear headphones that cost more than twice as much, they're also durably constructed and are about as comfortable to wear as one of your favorite gym shorts or leggings. Now if only V-Moda came out with a wireless version of the ZN in-ears, we'd really be thankful.

V-moda.com

Thinking about getting yourself some wireless in-ear headphones? Then you're in luck because Jaybird has just released its most advanced wireless Bluetooth earbuds ever. Jaybird's new 5th generation Freedom are the smallest, micro-sized Bluetooth in-ear headphones to feature a premium metal design that is sweat-proof and made with active lifestyles in mind. Boasting up to 8 hours of wireless music playtime and the most secure customizable fit possible, these unbelievably tiny sporty wireless earbuds pack huge, user-personalized sound into what could possibly be the most impressive sounding package that we have ever experienced. That said, the Freedom aren't without their own unique shortcomings. So be sure to check out our full review on how these actually fare under real-world usage. 

With the new Freedom buds you can expect to find a plethora of accessories included inside the box. They've given you every option possible for you to create the ultimate comfortable experience for any type of wearing application whether it be casual listening or high-intensity training. Aside from the carry case, included are Jaybird's signature secure-fit ear fins, cord managements clips, a cord shirt clip, a USB charging cable (not shown), a charging clip and a getting started guide.

I've got to hand it to JayBird for including three different sized Comply foam tips in addition to its standard set of various sized silicone ear tips. We always recommend using Comply tips for the best fit and sound isolation. It's even more important to use these tips when you're going to the gym as you can easily block out the music and other noise in the background. The Freedom can also overpower external noise flawlessly without having to raise the volume all the way up. 

What may look very much like a pair of ordinary wired in-ears most likely inspired by Klipsch's audiophile-grade X12I, is actually the smallest wireless in-ear headphones we have ever seen. It's hard to get an idea of just how small these are until you get to seem them in person. The Freedom are hands down Jaybird's the most stunningly designed offering to date. You can get them in a few different color combinations including this all-black colorway, or in a mixture of silver and red, silver and blue and of course with every gadget being now available in the most luxurious and elegant-looking color on earth – gold and white.

Despite JayBird claiming these having an all-metal housing, the new Freedom are for the most part made out of a sand-blasted injection molded metal but do have a small piece of plastic as part of their design. Regardless, they still feel incredibly well made and are highly durable unlike their cheap, all-plastic rivals. These are by far the most impressively made wireless in-ear headphones we’ve tested thanks to the use of quality materials and having this ultra-slim, tapered design that is so incredibly low in profile. What’s more, the fully featured 3-button remote also features accented metal construction giving it a very solid build quality.

JayBird not only designed a sleek looking package, but it also made sure to sweeten the use experience with little polished details such as attractive-sounding voice cues that notify you of the battery status in great detail each time you power on the Freedom – including various sorts of status modes and functions.

Call quality using the built-in microphone has been greatly improved over Jaybird's X2. It is no longer tinny and distant sounding, but actually loud and clear so people on the other end of your call won't ever complain that they can't hear you well. I also cannot complain about the Freedom's Bluetooth connectivity. It has been working flawlessly with absolutely no audio interruptions unlike some other wireless earbuds we've tested.

The secrete behind the Freedom's micro-sized, low-profiled form factor is due to creative engineering. You see, unlike most other wireless earbuds, the Freedom do not have a battery housed together with the earbuds themselves. Instead, the rechargeable battery is located inside the remote and microphone module, which I've got to say is as slim as any other ordinary 3-button remote I've seen. Having such a slim and lightweight remote though does mean sacrificed battery space, which is the main reason why you'll only be able to get up to four hours of use out of these wireless in-ears. That being said, I think it's a sacrifice most will be willing to take in return for such a compact set of wireless earbuds.

In real-world usage, the Freedom’s battery life has been really great and has surprisingly lived up to Jaybird’s 4-hour claims. I was easily able to reach that before having to recharge while having my volume set at around 60%, which is loud enough to overpower noisy environments. 

It does get a bit sweeter for you guys who can't go throughout the day with only four hours of wireless audio goodness. Jaybird's ingenious way of providing the option of adding additional battery power to your earbuds is with this add-on battery charging clip that attached to the remote and provided an extra charge, doubling the amount of time you can use the Freedom. Of course the dome side to using the Freedom with this charging clip is that it does add bulk and weight to one side of the earbud. And that means that doing any kind of training with it attached to the Freedom is not comfortable at all. Not to mention that it will tug and pull on the right side of your ear, eventually causing the earbud to fall out all the time. What you can do to alleviate the added weight of the battery clip attachment is by wearing the Freedom over your ears, which will reduce the pulling of the earbuds as the cable wraps around the ear. The difference this alternate wearing configuration makes is night and day.

I honestly don't know why Jaybird thought it would be a good idea to place the remote and charging clip battery on one side of the Freedom instead of balancing the weight by positioning it all at the middle of the cord where the wearer can then use the included clip to attach the module to a shirt collar, thus reducing any weight pulling on one side of the earbuds.

To Charge the actual earbuds you will need to use the proprietary charging clip, which is the only piece that features a micro-USB charging input. So make sure to never lose it, otherwise you'll have a very lightweight paper weight. The Freedom do come with a charging cable of course, but it's on the short side, though it can be easily carried with you when stored inside the carry case.

I've been using the Freedom in the gym with workouts lasting as long as two hours and not once have I needed to readjust or push the earbuds back inside my ears. They've been fully secured using only the included Comply foam tips without any additional stabilizers, which is a hugely impressive feat for wireless in-ear headphones. The Freedom are so lightweight you can barely notice you're wearing them after a while. They're that comfortable to wear.

We talked a lot about how incredibly small and light the new Freedom are, but it also turns out that they're amazingly good sounding too. The Freedom produce such a clean, clear sounding audio that it may as well be used as a laboratory for testing extraterrestrial DNA. Bass while not thumpy, is acceptably punchy and very pleasing considering how small the Freedom are. If you can't live without deep sounding bass, these probably won't do it for you. That said, you find anything that is nearly as small and comfortable to wear as these. I highly suspect that instead of using dynamic drivers, JayBird has to resort to using micro-sized armature drivers, which produce lighter sound with amazing treble - which the Freedom easily deliver.

But what had me really excited was that when we put the Freedom up against JayBird's much bulkier X2 and X3, the Freedom sounded slightly more dynamic and richer. So not only are these much smaller, they outperform much larger wireless in-ears like the Jaybird X3.

For all you EQ-loving people, you’d be happy to know that by using the free MySound app from Jaybird you’ll be able to intuitively change the sound characteristics of the Freedom and save them on the earbuds themselves. Choose from various presets or manually adjust the EQ to your liking. And yes, you can actually improve the bass response of the Freedom quite significantly this way to a point where they easily outshine the Powerbeats 2 Wireless and the Jabra Sport Pace.

Jaybird's 5th generation Freedom are the best sounding wireless in-ear headphones we've tested so far that not only feature the most impressive premium build quality and amazingly small and lightweight design, but are also the most comfortable to wear in any situation. While four hours of battery life might not sound all that great, we think it's a relatively acceptable number for such small wireless in-ears. Of course with the added feature of having the option to double the battery usage using a clip-on battery charger, the Freedom can be used for an extended period of time before having to plug them in to charge.

If you're looking for one of the best, inconspicuously-sized wireless in-ear headphones to use when working out, you cannot go wrong with the new Freedom from Jaybird. The are, arguably, the best wireless in-ear headphones you can buy right now. But if you just want a great sounding pair to use for casual listening, JayBird's X3 are a cheaper alternative with greater battery life, albeit not as well made or as small as the Freedom.

Jaybirdsport.com

The king of affordably priced portable Bluetooth speakers has returned. And it's bigger, better and more powerful than before. JBL has for a long time been the best at making portable speakers that were unbeatable. It's now about to retake that title with its latest generation of its most successful model yet. The new Charge 3 is a fully waterproof portable wireless speaker with larger drivers that produce sound that is even better than what was considered to be the portable speaker to beat. Other improvements include a much longer battery life and an upgraded design that is tougher and more durable than its predecessors – the Charge 2+ and Charge 2. We've had some time to thoroughly test out JBL's newest portable offering, which of course also means putting it up against formidable rivals. To find out if the Charge 3 really has what it takes to be crowned king of portable speakers under $300, read the full in-depth review down below!

You can pick up a Charge 3 for the same great price as every other Charge model that has come before it – $150. And in five different colors too: blue, black, gray, red and teal. The packaging has not changed and it remains to be a JBL standard across all products.

Inside, you'll find a compact USB power adapter with retractable outlet prongs and a flat, micro-USB to standard USB cable for charging the Charge 3 as quick as possible. 

The Charge 3 is a monumental upgrade over the Charge 2 and Charge 2+ not only in terms of audio and battery performance, but also in design. And there's no other way of saying it, the Charge 3 is very much a smaller copy of JBL's Xtreme. Which as it turns out, is a very good thing. The Charge 3 features the same amazingly durable and robust build quality of JBL's Flip 3 and Xtreme models featuring this incredible combination of rubber and fabric mesh construction that is highly rugged yet still looks oh-so sleek. And because it's IPX7-rated, the Charge 3 can be submerged underwater and still play music. You know, in case you'd like to take it with you on a floatable waterbed care-free. This really is one of the more impressively designed portable Bluetooth speakers at this price.

While the Charge 3 is slightly larger than its predecessor, it’s still has a very portable form factor with the added benefit of increased audio and battery performance. Weighing 1.7lb (Charge 2+ weighs 1.3lb), it's about the size of the very similarly designed $300 UE Megaboom, only slightly lighter and shorter. The only thing missing from the Charge 3 that the UE Megaboom offers is of course 360-degree sound output. But despite that, the Charge 3 surprisingly blows away the UE Megaboom when it comes to sound quality...and at half the cost.

As you can easily tell there's quite a sizable difference between all three models. Although we really like the ultra-portable form factor of the Flip 3 and the immense amount of power that the Xtreme affords, the Charge 3 melds portability and power the best out of the three.

Under a water-tight rubber cover is where you'll find the Charge 3's 3.5mm audio input, micro-USB charging input, and of course its signature feature - a standard USB charging output. This allows the Charge 3 to also double as a portable backup charger for any portable device that can be charged using USB power. Just plug in your USB charging cable to charge up a smartphone, tablet, camera and more. It works faultlessly and is quick to charge too thanks to the 2A power output.

The Charge 3 has various multi-function on-board controls located at the top of the unit, which are synonymous with JBL’s Flip 3 and Xtreme speaker models. From left to right: Bluetooth pairing button, volume down, power button with a an illuminated status function (turns blue when paired/white when powered on), JBL Connect button for wirelessly connecting multiple speakers together (dual Charge 3 models, or a mixture between the Flip 3, Pulse 2 and Xtreme models), volume up, and a play/pause button that can also be used to skip songs forward (double tap) as well as answer an incoming call using the Charge 3's speakerphone feature. Of course you can also accept a call or make one using your smartphone while the Charge 3 acts as your speakerphone with its built-in noise and echo-canceling microphone. 

The Charge 3 can of course be wirelessly paired to a second Charge 3, or any one of JBL's portable speakers that supports JBL Connect. While you won't be able to set up a stereo left and right system using two different Charge 3 speakers, you can use JBL's wireless multi-pairing feature to dramatically amplify your audio experience when playing music from a single audio source such as your smartphone or tablet.

Right underneath the JBL logo you'll find a row of white LEDs embedded into the rubberized foot that tell you the approximated remaining battery life of the Charge 3 just like the Xtreme and Flip models. Each time you turn on the Charge 3 or press a button these will light up and turn off after a little while. You can also tell how much battery is left by using the JBL Connect app.

While most people will prefer to use the Charge 3 in its normal horizontal position so to experience truer stereo sound separation from left to right, the Charge 3 can also be stood up on its side for a different audio perspective, which is also beneficial if you haven't got enough room to place it on. 

At this point you're probably dying to know how well the Charge 3 performs in terms of audio quality. As we've all been expecting, the Charge 3 dispenses unbelievably good sounding audio. There's nothing at this size and price that can beat the Charge 3. It is practically is the king of portable speakers under $200. As you'd expect, it sounds punchy and relatively clear for a speaker that is fully waterproof. Which means that unlike its predecessors, the Charge 3 does have extra layers protecting the drivers and electronics from water which inadvertently act as sound filters that have some affect on how sound travels through – treble in particular. While the highs have a great deal of clarity, the midrange is unexpectedly held back it seems. I find myself wanting it to sound more clearly and forward. The new tuned sound signature of the Charge 3 definitely differs from the Charge 2, it sounds heavier and warmer, but better overall.

For a speaker as old as the Charge 2 to still hold its own remarkably well against the Charge 3 is remarkable, but also makes me think JBL hasn't done enough to really stand out. While the Charge 3 is a lot louder and slightly more powerful, it doesn't sound much different compared to its predecessor. Aside from being louder, the two other biggest improvements over the Charge 2 are actually battery life and build quality. Not so much in terms of sound quality. That I would have to say has been slightly improved by a mere 10–15%. There's less boosted bass and treble on the Charge 3 making it sound more controlled and full, which I will say is a more pleasing upgrade over the older Charge 2 and Charge 2+ models. And once again like its predecessor, the Charge 3 does start to modulate its bass response above half volume.

One of the more notable portable speakers that has recently been making everyone impressed is the BeoPlay A1 from Bang & Olufsen. This speaker is of course a more expensive option, but does offer 360-degree audio compared to the Charge 3's frontal audio output. While the Charge 3 doesn't sound bad next to it, the A1 clearly sounds more defined. It also sounds fuller at its highest volume, which is just as loud as the Charge 3 despite having a more compact design. 

The Charge 3 continues to be one of our most favorite, reasonably priced portable wireless speakers. While it is not a significantly better sounding speaker than its predecessor, the Charge 3 is a much improved iteration that is affordably priced and is quite possibly the best portable wireless speaker you can get right now for under $200. It's waterproof, rugged yet sleek, has great battery life, charges other portable devices using its own built-in battery, and still features a very portable design considering how loud and punchy its audio performance is. While we found the highly portable and premium Beoplay A1 speaker to sound more pleasing, the Charge 3 impressively outperforms some of the more expensive and well known alternatives out there such as the Bose Soundlink Mini 2, UE Boom 2, UE Megaboom, Beats Pill+, as well as JBL's own Pulse 2.

JBL.com

On a budget and looking for a decent pair of wireless in-ear headphones? What if we told you that you can get a whole lot more than a decent pair for a price so reasonable, it’s mind-blowingly amazing. Philips has a few wireless in-ear headphones on offer, but we decided to take the company’s poorly named SHB5850 for a test drive, which promise to deliver clear and powerful sound with rich bass using fairly large 8.6mm dynamic drivers, an ultra-lightweight design with an ergonomic oval-shaped fit, and a 7-hour battery life. What more can you possibly ask for? Well, not much. But to find out if the SHB5850 from Philips are truly worth buying, check out the full review down below!

Not much is included with the SHB5850 apart from a short micro-USB charging cable and two additional sizes for silicone ear tips, bringing the total of available ear tips to three. Suffice it to say that not everyone is going to find the right fit with such a limited selection of accessories.

At just 12g, the SHB5850 are even lighter than Jaybird's latest lightest and smallest wireless in-ear headphones, the $200 Freedom. While these mundane wireless earbuds aren’t fancy on features nor do they have a premium and rugged build quality, they are indeed extremely lightweight, small and best of all – sound so good you’ll tell your buddies to throw away their beets. Philips doesn't specify whether or not the SHB5850 are in any way sweat and water-resistant like most other, pricier wireless earbuds. And while we're not entirely confident that these will last you very long if you profusely sweat when working out, they have been working just fine during our extensive testing – which did involve quite a bit of moisture contact.

While these mundane wireless earbuds aren’t fancy on features nor do they have a premium and rugged build quality, they are indeed extremely lightweight, small and best of all – sound so good you’ll tell your buddies to throw away their beets. Priced in at $50, the Philips SHB5850 are amongst the cheapest Bluetooth 4.1 wireless in-ear headphones and are currently available in three colors ranging from black, white and blue.

The heaviest part of the SHB5850, which isn’t very heavy at all actually, has been smartly designed to rest around the back of your neck where it is perfectly balanced and does not put unnecessary strain and pull on the earbuds themselves. This means that you can have a very comfortable experience wearing these wireless in-ear headphones without having to worry about imbalance, weighty battery remotes pulling down on one side of your ear when you’re working out or simply trying to enjoy your music, movie, or podcast.

Philips is the only company we know of that has designed such compact wireless earbuds with a small battery module that is positioned at the center of the cable rather than on one side, or inside each of the earbuds. Not only does this allow the SHB5850 to have a normal size like any other pair of wired in-ear headphones, but it also gives the user that feeling of wearing lightweight in-ear headphones that stay firmly inside the ear canals without any additional support such as ear hooks or wonky ear fins that never seem to stay in place. Support or not support, the SHB5850 managed to stay in my ears just fine for as long as an hour during a workout session. I do miss having the optional foam tips that Jaybird offers. And due to the oval-shaped sound tubes of the SHB5850, you won't be able to effectively use third party Comply foam tips.

And the battery life of the SHB5850 has been phenomenal. When Philips says that the battery life is rated at 7 hours, you’re getting 7 hours. No ifs, ands or buts about it. Amazingly, I was able to get around a staggering 9 hours at my normal listening volume, which is around 60%. If that isn't impressive, you're most likely new to the wireless in-ear headphone game.

While these earbuds have an arbitrary way of displaying the battery status using what looks like Morse code, there is a way that you can precisely monitor the battery percentage of the Philips SHB5850 on iOS devices by pulling down Notification Center and looking for the devices listed under the "Batteries" widget.

Disappointingly, Philips does not include any type of cable clip with the SHB5850 to give users the option to secure the cable to clothing. One could have been very useful to attach the battery behind the neck to a shirt collar. Although you can get a clip for close to nothing on eBay, or even use one that you might possibly already have laying around, the battery module is already so light that it doesn’t require having it clipped onto a piece of clothing. That said, the fact that there is no method for securing the battery is the biggest drawback of the SHB5850. I found that although the battery pack is centered towards the back of the earbuds, it does tend to want to slide off to one side of your neck when you move around, which can get a bit annoying. The only way to prevent this from happening is to either tuck the battery underneath your shirt, or use a clip to attach it to it.

When using cheaper wireless headphones you'd expect to have some Bluetooth issues, but we've found absolutely none here. The SHB5850 have an amazing wireless connection using the latest Bluetooth 4.1 version. You can put your phone in a bag, cover it with your body and virtually nothing will block the signal between the earbuds and your audio.

Although they are one of the least expensive wireless in-ears, the SHB5850 still offer essential features such as this 3-button remote with a built-in microphone. While the microphone audio quality is indeed poor, the remote does work really well in allowing you to adjust volume, play/pause audio, skip tracks and control all sorts of call-related things.

Sonically, the Philips SHB5850 are as impressive sounding as some of the most expensive wireless earbuds on the market. They produce an unbelievably clear sound with huge, deep bass that never overpowers or drowns-out the rest of the frequencies. As long as you can get a good seal with the supplied rubber ear tips, you'll be able to enjoy great sounding audio that's full and rich no matter what type of music you like to listen to.

The Philips SHB5850 sound just as good as the more expensive Jaybird X2 and X3, only they've got a deeper bass reproduction along with clearer mids and highs, which puts the SHB5850 a step above for only $50.

We went into this review not expecting much if anything, but to our surprise, Philips has really impressed us with its reasonably priced SHB5850 wireless in-ear headphones. They might not have the best build quality, but what they lack in svelte materials, they certainly deliver on pretty much every other part. The sound is just amazingly good, the Bluetooth reception is one of the most reliable out of any wireless pair of headgear, battery life is the best we've seen in wireless earbuds, and the ultra-lightweight in-ear design of the Philips SHB5850 provides extended comfort and a stay-in-your-ear fit. Albeit we could have used a simple cable clip now and then for that added layer of security when doing some really intensive muscle building/fat burning exercises. At $50, the SHB5850 are one of the most cost effective wireless earbuds you can get that will vanquish some of the biggest and most expensive competitors on the market today. 

Amazon.com

Bose is known for making some great sounding audio gear, the best noise-canceling technology and weird looking ear tips. But what Bose never thought about making were wireless earphones...until now. The SoundSport Wireless are Bose's newest and first wireless Bluetooth sport in-ear headphones designed for active use and feature a sweat and weather-resistant design with up to 6 hours of playtime, a promising interference-free Bluetooth connection, and a secure comfortable fit using Bose's uniquely shaped StayHear+ Sport tips. How do they sound and perform out in the real world, though, is what we set out to discover to help you make the best purchase decision. Head down under for the full review complete with a comparison between the Jaybird X2/X3!

First thing first, let's take a look at what's inside the box. Bose packaged the SoundSport Wireless in some really great packaging that's easy to open and presents the headphones for the picking. Included is a relatively short micro-USB to standard USB charging cable, a decent neoprene carry case with a carabiner clip, and two other StayHear+ Sport ear tips; bringing the total available sizes to choose from to three: small, medium and large. For sporty wireless in-ear headphones this amount of accessories definitely looks to be lacking, but you'll soon find that this is actually all that you'll need to get the most secure fit possible. The StayHear+ Sport tips supposedly help create a tighter seal in your ears compared to Bose's standard ear tips, and they do, but I still find that the normal round tips included with every other pair of in-ear headphones provide a slightly better seal and noise-isolation. 

Available in an all-black and in this aqua blue and black colorway we have here, the SoundSport wireless are surprisingly competitively priced for a Bose product coming in at $150. That being said, they are essentially a wireless version of Bose's $100 SoundSport in-ear headphones, which have been sporting Bose's iconic design. These wireless versions on the other hand look entirely different. Bigger and noticeably so.

The first thing you'll notice about the SoundSport is just how ridiculously huge they are. And once you've calmed down, you'll be pleasantly impressed by the high-end, albeit all-plastic, build quality. Yes they're big, but at least they also feel well made. The SoundSport feature a hybrid design of matte rubber lining the exterior and a hard shiny plastic inner casing that is both sweat-resistant and can even take being thrown around by some of you careless people. These are certainly much better made headphones than the more expensive Beats Powerbeats 2 Wireless.

The only downside to wearing these out in public or even inside your own home is just how ridiculous you'll look with two big earbuds bulging out of your ears by as far as an inch apart. While they're not as strange to wear as they might look, the SoundSport are in fact the largest wireless in-ear headphones we've ever seen, which is a shame when other company's such as JayBird are only making them smaller and smaller as time progresses. You're really not getting anything special in return for having such monstrously sized earbuds compared to other options like JayBird's new X3 wireless in-ear headphones. Battery life is average, the sound quality isn't any better than much smaller wireless alternatives, and as far as special features go, there are none to be found. No heart rate monitor, extremely long battery life, and no built-in music storage to justify the increase in size. So why are they this big again? We may never know. Coincidentally, Bose does offer a heart rate monitoring feature with the similarly designed and soon-to-be-released $200 SoundSport Pulse model.

Despite being such big wireless headphones, the SoundSport's amazingly soft ear tips fit inside the ears so well that they create a very secure and stable fit thanks to their streamlined integrated wings. I've been working out with these in my ears and not once did I need to readjust my fit or feel as though they were about to fall out. I honestly did not think I'd find the SoundSport to be as secure or as comfortable to wear as the Jaybird X2, but they really are that comfortable to wear even during the most extreme situations when sweat and intense movement are involved. 

Now after wearing the SoundSport for more than an hour or so, I did start to feel fatigued like I do with every other type of earbuds that Bose makes due to the unique shape of its proprietary ear tips. The sides of my ears would start to hurt for some reason whereas with other standard round tips I would never get such discomfort after a certain period of time. Of course what I feel my not necessarily be an issue for you. But it is something to take into consideration. 

Using the included cable clip, you can clip the SoundSport's cable behind your neck to your shirt for added stability if you find the cable to move more than you'd like. Thankfully it is on the shorter side so there really isn't a need to shorten it.

If you'd like to know what the single worst thing is about the SoundSport wireless in-ear headphones is, it's not the size but actually their in-line remote controller. The buttons are terribly squishy and difficult to press with awful button press feedback. Such a small detail does indeed make for an unpleasant user experience. I typically use my remotes to constantly change tracks and volume so it's definitely a noticeable downgrade compared to other remotes such as the one built into the JayBird X2 and Freedom. 

Luckily however, I found the audio quality of this microphone to be one of the best. 

As for battery performance, you'll get around 6 hours of use out of the SoundSport wireless, or around 7 in my case. They're not this huge for no reason. The internal battery provides hours of use before having to plug in to charge. And you can find how much battery is left by either using the voice cues that the SoundSport provide, or on iOS devices, via the battery widget in Notification Center. Also, turning on the headphones will notify you of the battery percentage. The right earbud is home to a multi-function power button that allows you to toggle between different paired devices, and of course pair new devices. The SoundSport wireless also support NFC pairing by tapping the remote with a compatible device.

Thanks to Bluetooth 4.1 Multi-Point technology, you can pair the SoundSport to up to three different devices simultaneously and never have to manually go into your Bluetooth settings to pair every time you want to switch between devices such as your phone, tablet or computer. The SoundSport will seamlessly allow you to switch between paired devices when playing audio, which is a very convenient feature to have if you're someone that likes to use multiple devices with a single pair of wireless headphones.

Bose is the first company we've seen that has made an effort to ensure its wireless headphones have a clean wireless Bluetooth connection indoors and out with no interference. And I've got to say that so far my experience using the SoundSport so far has been great. I've had no drops in audio or any other type of interference when putting my phone in my pocket or leaving it far away. Even obstruction did not have an affect on the audio streaming as long as I was within a 30ft radius.

When it comes to sound quality, the SoundSport deliver a solid and balanced performance with a good amount of bass and detail. Audio sounds very clean, clear and overall pleasing no matter what type of music you like listening to. That being said, and as big as they are, the SoundSport sound just as good as the similarly priced Jaybird X2 - but are seemingly a lot bulkier in comparison. You'd think that a company such as Bose would blow away these relatively new brands in the audio game, when in truth they're just as good and nothing more. That being said, the SoundSport are at least reasonably priced at $150.

It’s worth noting that if you like to listen to music really loudly, the SoundSport are underpowered compared to other wireless headphones we’ve tested and require you to raise up the volume significantly in order to reach a normal listening level, with little extra room to get much louder. The SoundSport ironically do not block or isolate you from the outside like Bose's most popular noise-canceling headphones do, so any background noise will be easily audible while you wear these in your ears. Although playing music does naturally overpower most external noise. All this does have an affect on how good the audio sounds. When you have less isolation, bass tends to sound flatter when it cannot create pressure in your ears.

The SoundSport wireless in-ear headphones produce great sound, have a relatively good battery life, are fairly durable and secure, and are somewhat comfortable to wear for extended periods of time. But since they're the largest of all the wireless in-ear headphones we've come across and wearing them for longer than an hour starts to feel uncomfortable, we really don't see the point of purchasing them over other comparable alternatives such as the Jaybird X2 and X3. Bose could have stood out by making a more compact offering with a broader selection of user adjustable ear tips, but instead settled for proprietary ear tips and the most oversized design for wireless sport headphones. If size and lack of passive noise-isolation doesn't bother you, the Bose SoundSport are a solid performing wireless sport in-ear headphones.

Bose.com

The world’s best active noise-canceling headphones have finally been set free. The QuietComfort 35 are Bose’s new wireless headphones with an industry-leading active noise-cancellation technology and Bluetooth wireless audio streaming with up to 20 hours of battery life on a single charge. The QC35 have a more durable, higher-end design compared to the old QC25 as well as a built-in rechargeable battery. Bose has kept the familiar styling the same between these two models, but it did give the new QuietComfort 35 this coherent fresh coat of matte-finished coloring that looks cleaner than a pair of NMDs. These are said to be the best headphones Bose has ever made, but we'll be the judge of that. So be sure to catch our full, in-depth review down below!

The included hard shell travel case is one of the better ones I've seen supplied with a pair of headphones. It's got an ample amount of storage space for additional accessories within the case itself as well as on the outside. And the low profile design makes this case very compact for what it is. And as you can see, the QuietComfort 35 are capable of folding flat and into a more compact, easily carryable form factor just like the wired variant - the QuietComfort 25. It's great to see that no compromise has been made to achieve a wireless-going model.

With the headphones included are a micro-USB to USB charging cable, an airline audio adapter, and a 2.5mm to 3.5mm audio cable for using the QC35 in a wired configuration.

You don't buy a pair of Bose headphones for their styling, but I must admit that the new QuietComfort 35 are pretty good looking. The subdued, restrained design makes you want to wear them and puts the QC35 up there with some of the more popular models. We're pleased to see that Bose no longer makes headphones that only your dad would wear. A refined, modern design is important when it comes to a personal wearable gadget, but equally as important is of course functionality. An all-black or all-silver pair will set you back $350, which sound like a lot of scratch yet the QC35 are still less than what you'd pay for an equivalent alternative such as the Beats Studio Wireless, the Sennheiser Momentum 2.0 Wireless, or the Bang & Olufsen Beoplay H8.

More and more companies are starting to give people what they really want – wireless headphones with active noise-cancellation. And Bose is one of these popular companies to jump on the wireless bandwagon. But so far Bose is the only one with the right formula for a formidable offering. The noise cancellation feature on the QuietComfort 35 is absolutely astonishing. It’s almost frighteningly at how effective it is. As soon as you slip these headphones over your head, they greatly reduce the ambient noise around you so well that you may think you’ve got deaf. These do quite a decent job at blocking out background noise passively, which is also a good thing when you run out of battery power and continue using the QuietComfort 35 in wired mode.

But as soon as you turn them on, any fan noise, engine noise, A/C, washing machines, wind, irritating humming noises, road noise and so on – simply vanishes as if it was never there. I’m really astounded at just how good this noise cancelling technology is. At this point and time, Bose is still the leader when it comes to active noise-cancelling headphones and nothing comes close to beating the QuietComfort 35 when looking for the best of the best in noise-cancellation. The noise-cancellation feature of the QC35 works so amazingly well that I have no trouble seeing people using these headphones just for that alone without even playing music through them in certain situations. You’ll still be able to hear people talking somewhat, but all other noise will be a nuisance to them and not you. And best of all, there is no hissing or static noise when not playing audio through the QC35. A common issue that’s typically prevalent in most powered noise-cancelling headphones, which is most apparent in headphones such as the Beats Studio Wireless and JBL Everest Elite 700.

Although the QuietComfort 35 seem like they're made almost entirely out of plastic, which they essentially are apart from the beautifully finished aluminum side panels accenting both ear cups, Bose has used a special form of material that is supposedly more durable and lighter than ordinary plastic. A glass-reinforced nylon makes the majority of the headphones while a flexible spring steel reinforced the headband, which is lined with a suede-like material called Alcantara - the luxurious synthetic material found in the interiors of most performance cars. All in all the QC35 don't feel at all cheaply made and are quite sturdy for how lightweight they are. They make the Beats Studio Wireless seem inferior in many ways.

I’ve worn some really comfortable over-ear headphones over the years, but I think it’s safe to say that Bose’s QuietComfort 35 are by far and away the most comfortable headphones I have ever recall wearing. These headphones have some of the deepest, most accommodating ear cup interiors of any over-the-ear headphone with the most cushiony, gooey-soft memory foam ear cushion padding. I've found myself wearing the QC35 for over two hours, continuously, without any discomfort whatsoever. I also love the left and right orientation detailing Bose embossed into the fabric covering the interior speaker drivers.

To power on the headphones you'll need to switch on this little multi-function switch. It also doubles as a Bluetooth pairing switch. Conversely, you can tap your device up against the side of the QC35 to pair using NFC. You can also spot the QC35's myriad of on-board microphones, some are intended for the active noise reduction feature while others are designed to capture your voice for headset use.

As for the QuietComfort 35's Bluetooth connection, it has been as solid as it can be. It's quick to pair and it'll remember multiple devices allowing you to simultaneously be paired with two devices at the same time.

On the right side of the headphones you'll find three buttons that will let you adjust volume, skip tracks, play/pause, answer/end calls. These buttons offer great tactile feedback and make it easy for you to find the right button to press using your thumb. 

At the bottom is where you'll be plugging in the included charging cable to charge the headphones when the time comes, or if you need to connect the audio cable, you can also do so thanks to the 2.5mm audio input on the left side of the headphones.

You'd be right to think that with all this powerful noise cancelling features that battery life would be poor, but on the contrary. In our testing we found that the QC35 lasted well beyond Bose's claims of 20 hours when used wirelessly. Amazingly, you can double the battery life and still have noise reduction enabled if you connect the headphones using the supplied audio cable rather than having them wirelessly connected over Bluetooth. The headphones will continue to function if you completely run out of battery in this mode as well. In other words battery life on the QC35 is excellent. And to check the battery percentage of the QC35 you can fire up the basic Bose Connect app or use the battery widget on iOS devices. There is also a battery indicator on the headphones themselves but it's really not as informative.

The noise-reducing, dual-microphone system on the QC35 produce the clearest sounding audio quality I have ever experienced during calls. And when you are using these headphones as a headset, the microphones will actually play back your voice in real time through the headphones so that you can hear yourself better when talking.

All of this magical noise cancelling technology doesn’t seem to have any ill affects on the actual sound quality, thankfully. So the QuietComfort 35 are capable of producing really clean, precise and natural sounding audio that’s appropriately balanced. Much like a German automobile, the QC35 are very controlled when it comes to highs, mids and bass. Nothing seems to shine or overpower the other, yet I feel like I’m hearing plenty of everything and it’s quite pleasing no matter what it is that I listen to. And not to make it like the these are some boring, flat-sounding wireless headphones because they really aren’t. In fact, the QC35 sound just about as good as the V-Moda Crossfade Wireless, albeit even clearer and just as vibrant. Bass is smooth and punchy, highs are crystal clear and the midrange sounds forward and very well defined. While the Crossfade Wireless will set you back $300 compared to the $350 you’ll need to drop for the QuietComfort 35, you are getting the best noise-cancelling in the game in addition to a much more comfortable experience. So should you spend the extra $50? It’s a no brainier.

What I wasn’t very happy finding about the QC35 was that like Bose’s SoundSport Wireless in-ear headphones, they too were severely underpowered when it came to volume output. What this means to you is that in order to reach a normal listening level, you’ll need to turn up the volume past half. And while you can reach an arguably loud enough volume at around 75%, people who tend to set their volume higher than normal will find that the QC35 aren’t up to the task.

You haven’t experience the true meaning of audio bliss until you’ve put on a pair of QuietComfort 35 headphones from Bose. This might sound like a quote from a Bose ad, and we think it should be because that’s absolutely true. If you’re looking for the best noise-cancelling wireless headphones on the market, grab yourself one of these headphones right away and you’ll be glad you did. All-day pressure-free comfort, excellent sound quality, unbelievably great active noise-cancellation technology, ridiculously long battery life and a solid build quality packed around a svelte portable design makes the Bose QuietComfort 35 one of our most favorite wireless over-ear headphones to date. And for that reason they easily deserve our Editors’ Choice Award.

Bose.com

Internationally renowned for its electric guitars and amplifiers, Fender has released its first ever line of in-ear monitors geared towards audiophiles and professional musicians alike. Although a bit too late to the party there Fender. Nevertheless, we were excited to have been given the momentous opportunity to review one of six in Fender’s new professional-grade series of in-ear monitors – more specifically, the FXA6 model. Hand-assembled and designed in Nashville, the FXA6 are Fender’s intermediate offering boasting an ergonomically-shaped, 3D-printed housing for a better universal fit said to be compatible with 95% of users. Fender’s custom molded-like design is made precisely so that it can fit the natural shape of the ear while not only greatly reducing ambient background noise with a superior seal, but also ensuring a low profile is maintained whilst inside the ear. Where it gets even more exciting is what’s waiting for you on the inside. The FXA6 combine the best of both worlds using a hybrid driver array comprised of a single balanced armature tweeter along with a custom full-range 9.25mm driver to produce some seriously impressive audio performance. In other words, we haven’t reviewed a pair of in-ear headphones quite as good as these.

Inside of that showcase packaging the Fender FXA6 come included with a Fender-branded hard carry case, a 1/4" adapter, a cleaning tool (to clean out ear wax build up), and three additional Sureseal tips in various sizes.

What you won't see included with professionally geared in-ear monitors such as the FXA6 is some form of in-line remote and mic to adjust volume, skip tracks or take calls while you wear them. The FXA6 in this regard are strictly serious when it comes to offering a pure audio experience. Though I must admit that it would have been nice if there was a second cable that you could swap out for added controls.

Fender's FXA6 share the same exact professional in-ear monitor style design as every other model in Fender's FXA series, and it looks really great. Perhaps even not as great in this shiny (and sparkly up close) candy apple red colorway we've got here, but fortunately these are also available in stealthy all-black color scheme too. You can find additional colors like blue, silver and gold on FXA2/FXA5/FXA7 models, respectively. Pricing starts conservatively at $200 for the single dynamic driver FXA2 - and goes up as high as $500 for the top of the line FXA7. The FXA6 will set you back $400, and we think it's the best choice out of the four models if really clear highs and really deep bass is what you like most. They're the only in-ear monitors in this line that offer the best of both worlds using two different types of driver technologies akin to what you'd find in a pair of studio monitor speakers. Whereas Fender's more affordably priced entry-level FXA2 feature a single dynamic driver that produces a very rich and full sound, and the FXA5 having a much lighter sounding signature due to having dual balanced armature drivers.

Out of the box, I was a bit let down when I first touched the FXA6 as they failed to impress me with their build quality. These are by far the least impressive high-end IEMs that I've had the pleasure of using, and it's unfortunate. I'm not what it is exactly, but like the rest of Fender's FXA series of IEMs, the FXA6 feel cheaply made and not as solidly constructed as I'd hoped for when paying this much money. Even when closely inspecting the applied white Fender logo across the glossy finished surface you can see how sloppy and fuzzy of a quality it is. Refinement is definitely lacking overall. It's little details like this that can leave a bias impression on your enjoyment of using such expensive pieces of tech.

That being said, I do appreciate the FXA6's professional IEM features like the braided, detachable MMCX tangle-free cable and the integrated formable wire that lets the user adjust the fit of the cable going around the ears for a customized and secure wear. And what a secure and comfortable fit do these afford. You can even workout with these, although we would recommend using wireless headphones instead. 

The FXA6 are incredibly comfortable to wear and seem as if they were designed to fit your ear perfectly. The low-profile ergonomics fit the contours of the ear just right. At least from my personal experience wearing them. Everyone is different of course, but judging by the amazing fit and Fender's claims of these having a design that should fit 95% of most people's ears, chances are good that you'll find them just as comfortable to wear as I have. But what also makes the FXA6 amazingly comfortable are the included tips. While these may not seem special, they are in fact very different from the standard silicone tips you find included with most in-ear headphones. I can't quite explain it but they feel somewhat different. And they seem to create one of the best sound isolating seals that I've ever experienced with using non-foam tip type tips. I couldn't have asked for better tips even though Fender only included a limited number of the same exact tips with the FXA6. They create an outstanding seal that blocks out a bunch of external noise and ensures that you'll enjoy the optimal audio quality, and that's all that matters.

These are one in-ear monitors that cannot be beaten by the less expensive V-Moda ZN, and for good reason. The clarity, depth, detail and instrument separation produced by the dual hybrid drivers of the FXA6 is a mood-shifting, heart-pumping, visceral audio experience that makes you forget all about that cheap build quality and $400 price tag. Because sound that is this incredible...is unforgettable. If you think having a balanced armature tweeter and large 9.25mm full-range driver working together doesn't make a noticeable difference in sound vs a single driver of the same kind, it really does. The clarity, lifelike vocals, huge bass, and details you can hear in music using the FXA6 is absolutely brilliant. It can only get slightly better than this when you introduce a second armature driver like the triple driver array found on Fender's top of the line FXA7. And even then, the FXA6 already combine the best of both driver worlds less one Benjamin Franklin. 

Sure, it might have taken Fender quite a while to introduce its own selection of in-ear monitors, but they’ve obviously done their research and have used all this time to come up with some of the best professional in-ear monitors around. Fender isn’t just a known name being slapped on some headphones for marketing purposes, the FXA6 are truly worthy of every audiophile’s respect.

If you're looking for one of the most comfortable and secure, noise-isolating, full and detailed sounding in-ear headphones - you should probably save up some money because Fender's amazingly engineered FXA6 will cost you as much as they're professional-grade. The FXA6 offer a classic in-ear monitor styling with the added benefit of researched ergonomics as they offer an incredibly light, non-fatiguing comfortable in-ear fit that is extraordinarily secure, a vibrant balance between lifelike vocal clarity and impressively deep bass, and professional lightweight detachable MMCX cable with minimal drag.

The only thing holding us back from giving the FXA6 an even higher rating and an Editors' Choice award is the fact that their cheap 3D-printed construction and lack of overall refinement isn't what we would expect to find on such high-end in-ear monitors. That said, this does tend to be a common fault when it comes to most audiophile-centric in-ear monitors.

Fender.com

Meet the Beoplay H5 by Bang & Olufsen. The classiest and arguably the prettiest, most premium and one of the more expensive wireless in-ear headphones ever made. Have you ever found yourself wanting the best possible sound out of small wireless in-ear headphones, but couldn't compromise on design? Then you might like what Bang & Olufsen has got to offer with its new H5. Made to withstand water, sweat, dust and the occasional thrashing, the Danish designed Beoplay H5 won't require you to wear any awkward stabilizing wings or ear hooks like most other wireless earbuds in order to achieve the perfect fit. They'll also let you customize their signature Bang & Olufsen sound using an Apple Watch-supported app, turn off automatically when snapped together, and even offer to replace any neck jewelry you have as you can also continue wearing them when you pull them out of your ears.

All that's left now is to find out if Bang & Olufsen's first attempt at making wireless in-ear headphones is anything worth writing home about. And more importantly, how do the Beoplay H5 fare when compared to noteworthy alternatives from the likes of Jaybird and Bose? Find out in our full review after the cut!

Inside the box, the H5 come included with four sets of silicone tips, three cable clips, and three sets of Comply Sport foam tips featuring a SweatGuard membrane that prevents ear wax and humidity from entering the sound port. Normally we'd recommend on using Comply tips, but this time we'd tell you to throw them away and use the silicone tips instead. These particular foam tips are very spongy, have a pores texture that doesn't isolate as well and decreases the bass response of the H5 as a result. They fit well, but we found that the standard silicone tips included provide a much tighter fit and seal compared to the Comply tips.

Lastly, the H5 come with this unique way of charging up. This brick-like dock with its own USB cable attached to it is the H5's charger. And you guessed it...it's magnetic.

Although proprietary to B&O, the H5’s magnetic charging base is the easiest and most innovative charging method I’ve seen for wireless headphones. It’s so much more convenient than having to plug in a one-way micro-USB connector. But it also means that it isn’t as easy to carry with you as a normal USB charging cable nor will it be as inexpensive to replace. That said, in order to innovate and progress forward, things to have to change and we’re quite pleased with what B&O have come up with here.

While we're talking about magnetic connections, the H5 have this built-in feature where they can magnetically attach to one another and be worn around your neck like a necklace when your done listening to music. Because otherwise Bang & Olufsen thinks you might forget your precious wireless headphones somewhere. But if you think that's a bright idea, they'll also automatically turn off when you tap them together. How convenient is that? It's not the first time a company came up with this clever idea though, we loved this feature on the Jabra Rox too.

It's worth noting that when you pull apart the earbuds they will not automatically turn on, which is a nice safety feature in case they do detach on their own in order to prevent the battery from draining when you're not using them. 

Even though the H5 are made from plastic just like the rest of them, they are really well made and don't feel cheap, but quite solid with a really nice matte finish. The only bit of metal you'll find are these radial textured and polished aluminum faceplate accents with the B&O logo laser engraved in them that give the H5's styling a touch of refinement I can appreciate. There's also of course that nylon braided cable too, which feels and looks great. It's extremely flexible, much like a shoe string. Two color options are available such as this bold, all-black colorway – as well as a very classy looking rose pink mixed with black accents for the ladies.

But as resilient as the H5 seem both on paper and in person, the biggest caveat to the H5's durability has to do with them relying almost entirely on the included Comply Sport tips to prevent moisture from entering the earbuds. So if you were to use the superior silicone tips instead when working out, the H5 technically aren't going to be as sweat resistant as Bang & Olufsen claims.

There's a poorly designed, 3-button inline remote control with buttons that are all equally flat, making it difficult to tell them apart when feeling around. However, the remote is slim and lightweight so it barely attracts any attention. Using these 3 buttons enables you to adjust volume, skip tracks, play/pause audio, turn the headphones on, answer/end calls, and pair devices using Bluetooth. Taking calls using the built-in microphone is doable with decent audio quality, but it is nowhere near as clear sounding as the microphone on your iPhone. The Bluetooth connection on the H5 has been really strong without any drops or interference in audio across a fairly long distance. Leaving your phone in your pocket or gym bag will not cause you any issues.

The fit is by far one of the most important areas when looking for wireless in-ear headphones, and while the H5 are really comfortable to wear for long hours, they’re not exactly the most secure. And that’s primarily because of that extra-thick braided cable that Bang & Olufsen thought would set the H5 apart from all the rest. It may look good, but it’s actually quite terrible unless you sit still all the time.

This thicker than usual braided fabric cable can become an issue when moving your head from side to side as it does tend to snag across the neck from its own weight causing one of the earbuds to eventually fall out. You can somewhat (although not from my experience) mitigate this by using the included cable clips to shorten the length, but you won't be able to wear the H5 with the cable going over and around your ears due to the side-inserting angled design. And if you just don't give a damn, wear the H5 like you would wear wired in-ear headphones with the cable hanging underneath your chin to ensure maximum stability. With all that being said, there's no question that the H5's cable is just too thick for its own good. I'm sure this was made with extra durability in mind, but for people who want to use their wireless in-ear headphones when working out, this cable design isn't the ideal fit compared to thinner and lighter alternatives such as the JayBird X2 and X3.

Out of the box, the H5 sound very bright and heavily treble-enriched. Which is not a bad thing at all as users can completely change how the H5 sound. Having set me desired EQ adjustments, I was able to get the H5 to sound extraordinary pure. Highs sound crystal clear, but that's not a surprise given Bang & Olufsen's excellent audio expertise and clarity-focused signature. The mids have a good amount of detail and help produce a convincing amount of depth that doesn't lack clarity so you can listen to rock and enjoy every moment of it. Bass is clean and tight, but can reach a satisfyingly thumpy response when adjusted using the Beoplay app to reach the same deep levels of the Jaybird Freedom and X2/X3. And speaking of other wireless in-ear headphones, the Beoplay H5 don't really do much to stand out in terms of audio performance surprisingly. When adjusted to what I think makes the Beoplay H5 sound their best, they sound just as great as the Jaybird Freedom, which not only are much smaller, but $50 less expensive and just as well made.

Suffice it to say that audiophiles and people who are willing to spend a significant amount of time comparing the two will notice a marginal difference in sound between these models with the H5 sounding ever so slightly more defined compared to Jaybird's cheaper offerings - the X2/X3.

Like the Jaybird Freedom, the H5's sound signature can be custom tuned to fit your desired audio taste using the Beoplay app. Any settings you adjust through this app will be saved and stored on the H5, and you can easily change saved or pre-defined audio profiles using your Apple Watch via the Beoplay companion app. Sound profiles can also be created for quicker sound adjustments depending on different types of music.

Why spend $250 when you can pretty much get the same audio performance and a better secure fit when exercising using less expensive wireless in-ear headphones such as the Jaybird X2 and Freedom? Bang & Olufsen's polished H5 are definitely a nice pair of wireless earbuds, but they weren't designed for active lifestyles, have more than a few considerable drawbacks, and are simply too expensive considering they don't offer superior sound quality or any unique, groundbreaking design features that would merit such a high price tag. I think like many of you, we too had high expectations for these as well. Alas, the battery life isn't the greatest at around 4 hours, the inline 3-button controller offers no distinguishing features, and that eye-catchingly svelte fabric braided cable is simply too thick, snaggy and ultimately ruins the otherwise great fit that the H5 afford if you dare move around too much.

Beoplay.com

This right here is a new form of personal transportation. Some might even say that it's the perfect accessory for riding around playing Pokemon GO...all day, every day. It's called the Ninebot miniPRO by a little known company who practically invented the concept of electric self-balancing scooters that move you around when you lean forward. But unlike these small and potentially explosive "hoverboards", the Ninebot miniPRO is a steroid-using, tricked-out version from the people that brought you the original all-terrain Segway, albeit a much more portable, and smarter iteration fit for today's technologically advanced tech enthusiasts. So how does this thing stack up against something like the Boosted Board? Let's find out!

What you'll find inside the Ninebot miniPRO's box are very little included accessories. That's mainly due to the fact that everything you need to get start riding is within the Ninebot app that you'll have to download to initially set up your miniPRO and be taken through an instructional guide on how to properly ride it for the first time. After the initial setup, you'll be able to use the miniPRO without having to use the app at all. Also included is an extension air tube that you can use when filling up air in the tires (although the are pre-filled), and lastly you'll find two spare plastic decorative blade caps for replacing the ones accenting the rims of the wheels

The charger that comes with the miniPRO is a typical brick charger with a detachable extension cable and a charging status LED light built in. You can take this charger with you when you travel overseas as it supports international voltages. Expect a full charge in just under 4 hours, so you may want to carry this charger with you whenever possible.

Let's talk about power for a moment. Unlike the multiple battery size and performance options that are available when buying a Boosted Board, the miniPRO at this point and time only comes in one configuration - a 1600 watt model capable of reaching speeds of up to 11mph with a range of up to 14 miles on a full charge, depending of course on how heavy you are and what type of terrain you're riding on. Available on either white or in this black colorway, on paper the miniPRO can safely carry a person weighing up to 220lb. But I will say that it looks like it can handle much heavier payloads. That said, the less you weigh the more range you'll be able to squeeze out of this. Weighing around 205 myself, I haven't experienced any significant drop in performance when riding up hills and for long distances. 

What separates Segway's miniPRO from all of these generic self-balancing scooters are some smart features such as a security alarm that can be controlled using your phone. When activated, the miniPRO will sound an alarm, vibrate and flash its lights when someone tries to move or touch it which is a pretty nifty little safety feature. Another feature is of course the Bluetooth functionality that ties in with the companion app where you can fully customize the miniPRO's lighting features, wirelessly and remotely control the miniPRO making it your very own R/C robot, set speed limits for other riders such as younger kids, see how fast you're going in real time with a speedometer interface, check the precise battery life and temperature of the vehicle, and other useful things such as the available range in miles or kilometers - all in a surprisingly intuitive and responsive app interface.

And if you take a look at the front, you’ll notice that there are two forward-facing headlights which automatically turn on when it gets very dark thanks to the built-in ambient light sensor. These lights put out a significant amount of bright light that will illuminate your path when riding at night, albeit for a short distance. I’ve ridden the miniPRO for hours with these lights on and was pleasantly surprised to find that they haven’t impacted battery life in any noticeable way. That being said, you can turn them off completely via the app.

The front of the miniPRO is also a permanent home to an impressively bright and legible LED display that constantly displays a battery meter along with other status functions such as the Bluetooth pairing mode, security alarm lock symbol, and speed limiter symbol. This display is flanked by the unit's on/off button and a protected charging input down below.

At the back of the miniPRO are dual LED light strips that can either pulsate, flash, stay solid, or bounce around depending on how you adjust them using the app. And when you brake with the miniPRO by leaning back, these lights will of course turn bright red to signal that you are braking. Another cool feature is that these also act as turn signals that automatically signal when you turn left or right. 

But what truly makes Segway's take on the "hoverboard"-esque rideable is the inclusion of a radically new way of steering. At first glance, it may look as if you can ride the miniPRO whilst sitting down since Segway decided that its iconic Segway style handlebar is a thing of the past. But that seat post looking thing is actually the new way of how you steer...by using your knees of all body parts. Instead of using one of your feet to turn left or right, you nudge the stick between your legs sideways to turn while leaning forward to accelerate and backwards to brake or reverse. This concept has been taken from the traditional Segway handlebar that would tilt from side to side in order to steer and made to fit the compact chassis of the Ninebot miniPRO. I've had people say that it's much easier to ride because of this height-adjustable knee bar, and it just works so well. Even though there's a lot of padding, my knees did feel very sore after my initial few days of riding the miniPRO. Fortunately, as your body adjusts to this, you'll notice that your legs will get less fatigued and more you ride.

The amazing thing about having this steering ability using your knees is that you can accelerate forward using just one of your feet like you would when driving a car. It's quite intuitive and relaxing and enables you to use what feels most comfortable to your driving style. Forget the Boosted Board, this is honestly the most awesome and easiest rideable I have ever used.

Having never stepped foot on a so called hoverboard or self-balancing scooter of any kind, I can safely say that learning to ride Segway's miniPRO was at first a somewhat daunting experience due to my own fear of falling off, but I quickly realized I was overthinking it. Within a couple of minutes I had this whole self-balancing riding experience down and felt as if I had ridden it for months. Remember I've never stepped foot on any type of rideable and still can't safely ride a skateboard. So if you're someone like me with zero balancing skills, you'll be able to ride the miniPRO in a matter of minutes...and expertly within hours if not much quicker. It's amazingly intuitive once you figure out what your body needs to do in order to familiarize yourself with this new type of maneuverability. I do suggest that on your first try, use a chair or a bar stool to help you get over that fear of losing control. Because it's really all in your mind. The miniPRO does more than enough to balance and stabilize your weight when you step on, which is the reason why it's so easy to ride unlike a skateboard that can in an instant slide underneath your feet. It's an incredibly steady version of a cheaply made hoverboard.

One of the two biggest things I noticed right away was just how quiet the miniPRO operated even at top speed. It's about 90% quieter than a Boosted Board. Not only that but the relatively big rubber, air filled 10.5" tires absorb a lot of bumps and road vibrations offering a really smooth and comfortable riding experience much like a bike with suspension would. The miniPRO is snappy, it's highly responsive to input and it's capable of braking quickly yet steadily, ensuring that you don't fall back accidentally if you try to go over a speed bump for example.

While you can't pick it up and carry it with you indoors or when your battery runs out like you easily could a Boosted Board, the miniPRO features a retractable handle that can be pulled out from the top of the steering column that enables you to conveniently hand-steer it when you're not riding it. There's a power-assist mode that automatically kicks in when you pull the bar out so no need to worry about manually lugging this around. You could also detach the knee bar entirely thanks to a quick-release system.

Battery performance has been brilliant during our testing. Having ridden the miniPRO at top speed almost consistently and up some steep inclines, I was able to get a range of 12.4 miles before the battery required charging. And even then, I could continue to ride the miniPRO only at very low speeds. While not exactly reaching Segway's 14 mile range, I'm still very impressed by these real world results while also nearing the maximum weight limit. Suffice it to say you'll be able to cover some serious ground with such great battery performance, in the day or during the dark.

Although not the fastest ridable around, the miniPRO maxes out at about 11mph. But that's where things can get a bit annoying. Meaning that if you accelerate a bit above that the miniPRO will automatically reduce its speed and essentially limits you to a top constant speed of around 10mph, which is unfortunate but will be plenty fast for most users. But what's even more annoying is that it keeps beeping every time you reach that top limit, which is often if you like riding as fast as possible. There's currently no workaround or an option to turn off this audible notification via the app. Our miniPRO has been recently updated to firmware V1.3.1 as of this review, but the speed warning and beeping is still present unfortunately. 

Much like the Boosted Board Dual+, the miniPRO doesn't struggle when it comes to riding up steep inclines. With that said, it can do anything a Boosted Board can except go as fast as one. With its surprisingly high ground clearance, large air-inflated tires and powerful electric motors, and from my personal experience with the miniPRO, it'll power drive its way through any type of obstacle you will encounter during your ride such as bumps, humps, uneven terrain, road cracks and gaps, small to medium sized rocks, twigs, dry dirt paths, grass, and it has no trouble running over feet either.

Yes it looks awesome, but also more importantly it doesn't feel like a cheaply made toy but actually more like a solidly built piece of cycling equipment with its magnesium alloy chassis serving as a sturdy riding platform. And that's already great news straight out of the box because for the asking price, you'd expect no less. The tires are of a high quality, the adjustable steering column can take the daily abuse of whenever the miniPRO occasionally tips over when you're not careful and forget that you've turned it off, and the overall rubberized step-on platform doesn't make any plasticky creaking noises when you step on. That being said, the only omission preventing this rideable from being completely badass is that it lacks weather-proofing, meaning that it better not get wet or else you could find yourself with a 30lb rolling paperweight.

The possibilities this thing affords are enormous if you think about it. You can use it if you're a photographer to shoot around town for miles, use it to ride to school, the coffee shop, in the park, in trails, to meet friends if you can't drive, and of course to catch all them pocket monsters.

I'm really glad to have been given this opportunity to test drive this futuristic piece of gear by Segway. But at the end of the day, what really matters is if it's worth buying. And as much fun as we had during our time with the Segway miniPRO, we'd recommend that you wait until the price comes down a little and for Segway to fix that pesky speed limiter that keeps beeping every time you want to go as fast as the speed advertised on the box. Which you'll quickly find is all of the time. Since Ninebot and Segway seem to issue consistent firmware updates with new features and improvements, we're sure this nuisance will eventually get fixed. 

Other than that, the Segway miniPRO offers a fun and enjoyably smooth riding experience that's very easy to pick up for novice users, it's as silent as a Tesla, has a great iOS companion app, the extraordinarily good battery life and range of it is really impressive, and the smart and highly effective auto-balancing technology, shock-absorbing big rubber tires, high-quality construction - along with Segway's uniquely intuitive steering feature makes this one – if not the best, most advanced self-balancing rideable you can buy right now. For daily commuting or just leisurely cruising around, the miniPRO is a high-end, highly manoeuvrable, go-anywhere mobility device.

Segwayminipro.com

If there's one thing Scandinavian brands have in common is conceiving one of the cleanest and minimalist speaker designs backed by ridiculously good sounding audio quality. Bang & Olufsen and Vifa were two standout names that have rubbed us the right way recently with the introduction of the beautifully made and ultra-compact Beoplay A1 by B&O, and Vifa with its powerfully capable Oslo portable wireless speaker. Another noteworthy Danish company that makes some incredibly well designed, unique wireless speakers is Libratone. And just so happens that we've gotten our clean hands on the company's newest offering – the One Click. Which we of course had to compare against some of the most popular speakers available right now, the Charge 3 and Beoplay A1.

Priced in at $200, Libratone's new One Click portable Bluetooth speaker is customizable right out of the box with its unique accessory system and like Libratone's much larger Zipp speakers, it also offers none other than Libratone's signature 360-degree audio output using three internal audio drivers and a unique acoustic dispersion design that evenly delivers sound in every direction. This feature-rich portable speaker sounds like it could be the one, but is it really? Catch our full review to find out!

Libratone's One Click is one of the more interesting portable Bluetooth speakers to have come out in recent years. The reason being is that unlike other speakers, the One Click features an adaptable kit that enables users to add funtionality to their speaker to fit their usage style without having to purchase additional add-ons. There are two accessories included inside the box: a carry handle and a lock that can be used to hang or attach the One Click to various things. And I know you might be thinking that a handle isn't exactly revolutionary or unique, but the idea is that more attachments will open up even more modular funtionality and style customization. Libratone isn't offering any optional accessories at this time, but it does plan on releasing more in the future including different colored frames and styles for the One Click speaker. 

The One Click is part of Libratone's new ultra-portable Bluetooth speakers which also includes the $149 Too, Libratone's smallest and the least expensive wireless speaker yet to offer 360-degree audio with a 12-hour battery life. You'll be able to find both speakers in the same four colorways: graphite gray, caribbean green, cerise red, and cloudy gray. Like Libratone's Zipp and Zipp Mini models, the One Click features a similar design language using a mixture of rubber and textile elements that give the speaker a very solid quality construction. Although I will say that the fabric used here doesn't seem to be as durable and resilient to tearing as the woven nylon material found on JBL's Charge 3, which isn't as soft and thin. Libratone says the One Click is weather-resistant with a rating of IPx4 for being splashproof. It also feels like it can take a few bumps and drops with that extra-thick, metal reinforced rubber bumper layer surrounding the outer edge of the speaker.

The familiar circular touch interface is also present here and can be used to control volume, play/pause, skip and answer/end calls with just a touch or a swipe. It works really well and even lights up with small white LEDs. Pressing the power button on the back will display the current battery level on the touch interface. You can also see a more detailed battery percentage of your One Click using the Libratone app. From within the app you can view a detailed battery percentage of your One Click speaker, pair a secondary speaker to play audio together and even set a sound EQ preset, albeit not a custom one.

Like most tall multi-directional speakers, the One Click is designed to be used while standing up. It is however not the most stable as it is relatively slim yet tall and hefty, so a nudge will cause it to fall back or forward. Although not ideal, you can lay the One Click flat on its back when playing music. Because of the raised bumpers around the frame of the speaker, the One Click cannot be positioned on its side and will only stand up on its own if placed upright on a flat even surface.

This rubberized bumper is part of the One Click's "click frame" system and is actually removable in order to support different types of attachments, which right now only consists of two available attachments already included with the speaker: a rubber handle and a rubberized carabiner-esque lock.

The frame is surprisingly easy to remove, perhaps a little too easy. Not that it doesn't feel snug and secure when it's on, but a bump in the right corner will nudge part of the frame from its position around the speaker. To attach an accessory, you first need to remove the frame and pop out one of those raised inerts and replace them with the accessory you'd like to use in its place.

One thing to make note of here are the two mounting points you'll need to use with the handle accessory, which are actually made out of a nicely finished silver aluminum material rather than just plastic. The ends of the rubber handle simply stretches over these and hooks in securely. You'll notice that there is more areas where you can attach an accessory throughout the One Click's frame, but we haven't seen any attachments that currently support these other orientations. Perhaps more will be available in the future, but for right now, the lock and handle should be attached near the top of the speaker instead of the bottom portion.

As gimmicky as it may seem right now with such a limited accessory selection, I actually found myself really liking the One Click's modular accessories like the carry handle, which has proved to be a very nifty yet functional accessory that adds convenience when carrying this speaker around.

Around the back you'll find the One Click's power button and the speaker's micro-USB charging and 3.5mm audio inputs protected by a rubber flap.

Where the Libratone One really excels is at producing a very clean, clear sound that is evenly distributed from back to front creating great sound no matter where you place it, or where it is that you are in relation to the speaker. In that regard, it's one of the best portable speakers you'll find for $200, beating the UE Boom 2 without a single drop of sweat. The 360-degree audio from this thing is really the most impressive feature, one that Libratone has been really good at since its inception with the original Zipp speaker.

That said, the One can't compete against Bang & Olufsen's Beoplay A1 when it comes to sonic detail. Not only that, but the it almost entirely lacks the ability to create any kind of a deep low-end, or an impressive bass thump that other similarly priced speakers of this size can quite easily deliver. And no matter what audio profile you try and set using the Libratone app will positively affect or enhance the One's audio signature in a significant way. You really know when you're in trouble as an audio company when a speaker like JBL's $100 tiny Flip 3 can contest against your much larger and more expensive offering. And that's all really odd when you consider the fact that the One Click features what seems like an impressive concoction of drivers that include a 1-inch tweeter, a 3-inch woofer, and a passive radiator.

But to be fair, the Libratone One isn't completely flat sounding and still produces an acceptable bass response considering its really slender, portable profile. And while the One isn't quite as loud as the Charge 3, it doesn't reduce its bass at high volumes nor did we experience any distortion either which is great.

When comparing the One Click against the $150 Charge 3 from JBL, we find that it really lacks that warmth and fullness afforded by the Charge 3, which sounds so much richer. There's no comparison. Mids and bass have more of a presence and create and overall fuller sounding audio compared to the brighter sound of the Libratone One. If you love bass, you won't love the One Click. But if you appreciate clarity and a more immersive audio performance, the One Click is a really great speaker in that regard.

The One Click is a good portable wireless speaker, nothing more. It's a decent sounding speaker for its size, the weather-resistant build quality is very good, and we really love the amazing 360-degree audio output -which is one of the best around, but for $200 there are better sounding portable speaker alternatives. Although we can see the value of the One Click's attachment funtionality, Libratone has yet to offer any compelling accessories that would truly make this a unique device.

Libratone.com

Sony introduced a new line of headphones this year that are among its most vibrant and refreshingly stylish headphones in recent years. Sony's new H.ear On lineup of wired and wireless over-ear headphones offer a minimalist, clean design with promising high-resolution 24bit audio performance at a competitive price point. The H.ear On model MDR-100AAP we're about to review are the best looking headphones Sony has made in quite a while. While they aren't wireless or equipped with active noise-cancellation like their identically designed H.ear On model MDR-100ABN, these wired versions are cheaper and deliver the same level of sound quality of not greater thanks to a slightly broader range of frequency response. So does the sound also match their svelte aesthetics? Let's find out!

First things first, unboxing. Sony's H.ear On come inside a small square box already folded up into their most compact form factor. But you can't just pull them out because Sony thought it would be amusing to tie them down to that tray first for added security, which does ruin the unboxing experience a little bit. Aside from a small amount of inconvenience, we do like the nice presentation here.

Underneath the headphone tray you'll find two accessories: a detachable audio cable and a very nice Sony branded fabric draw-string pouch lined with soft microfiber to keep your headphones all clean and lightly protected inside. When these headphones are folded down, they'll easily fit in small spaces when you're traveling. 

The H.ear On that we've been testing out are the charcoal colored variant, which in person is a really dark shade of gray. But if black headphones bore you, you'll be happy to know that the H.ear On are Sony's most vibrant headphones yet. You'll be able to get a pair in a wide range of colors including dark blue, lime green, magenta, and a really hot looking coppery orange and red for $200.

I wasn’t expected too much from Sony at this price, but there’s no denying that the H.ear On are really well made with an impressive plastic build quality and a nice touch of aluminum accents. Before I took these out of the box I thought I’d find another all-plastic pair of headphones. To my surprise, the H.ear On actually feature beautifully finished aluminum ear cups sporting that district, oval-shaped ear cup design and smooth curves.

Everything from the aptly padded headband, articulating hinges and solid ratcheting headband adjustment arms are actually more impressive than Audio Technica’s plasticky M50x. Speaking of the M50x, the first thing I noticed right away was how much lighter Sony’s H.ear On felt compared to the M50x. Not only that but they obviously have a more aesthetically pleasing, streamlined design. The matte finished plastic isn't coated with any rubberized coating so it doesn't show fingerprints easily.

Headband joints have a rigid quality to them, smoothly snap into place when unfolded and are reinforced using metal hardware.

I really love the fact that Sony hasn't covered the drivers with foam padding and whatnot, but rather left them pretty much exposed with only a see-through mesh covering them up. At first I was skeptical about these not having any overlaying padding like most other headphones, however, the ear cup padding was designed in a way so that your ears never touch the drivers thanks to extra-thick oval-shaped cushions. And because there is no hard plastic protective grille and extra padding covering the drivers, sound can easily escape straight into your ear canals while your ears don’t have to be pressed up against a painful hard surface when the foam inside the cushions starts to lose its firmness with use over time. I also appreciate the small attention to detail such as the red “R” imprinted on the inner side of the headband to make it easier for you to correctly wear the headphones each and every time.

One of the most important categories when it comes to headphones is comfort. And it's no secret that over-ear headphones like the H.ear On offer superior wearability compared to on-ear style headphones. And these in particular are some of the best when it comes down to prolong usage. They're some of the most comfortable headphones I've ever worn. The combination of deep ear cup interior, thick padded ear cushions, relaxed clamping up against the head/ears and a lightweight ergonomic design makes the H.ear On truly delightful to wear. Coming from the M50x, using the H.ear On almost feels like you’re not wearing headphones. They’re that light and relaxed around your ears.

The in-line remote and microphone module found on the detachable audio cable only features a single button, but it’s a multi-function button so you can use it to answer/end calls, play/pause and skip between music tracks and interact with Siri or Google Now. The only thing missing are volume controls, unfortunately. Was it really that difficult to put a few volume buttons on this remote, Sony? SMH.

The included detachable cable is unusually long for headphones that were designed to be used out and about, but that’s actually a good thing if you’re also using them at home or like putting your audio device inside your backpack as you have more room to play with before you feel the need to cut the cord once and for all. 

Although I do like the lengthy cable, what I dislike most about the H.ear On is the audio cable itself. It’s flat, and tangle-free. But it also feels weirdly plasticky and unlike other rubbery cables. For some reason it just doesn’t feel right to the point where just handling it makes my annoyed. But other than that, there’s really nothing wrong with it. Just something to make note of.

If you were expecting big, powerful deep bass you’d be disappointed with the H.ear On headphones. Instead you’ll get a very balanced and neutral sound signature with a tight, clean sounding bass that’s quite reserved and clinical. That doesn’t mean bass-heavy music will sound flat or boring, but there’s definitely a lack of thickness and thumpiness that some headphones are capable of delivering with deep sounding bass. As a bass enthusiast, I actually find the H.ear On's non-fatiguing bass response favorable for all types of music. And I’m not sure of the exact science behind using titanium-coated driver diaphragms, but all I know is that they sound as good as Sony claims them to by producing diamond-clear, distortion-free highs and a midrange that happily exists in the foreground. The clarity and balance is off the charts, incredibly pleasing to the ears.

The one thing a lot of you probably would like to know is whether or not the H.ear On headphones can beat Audio-Technica's famous ATH-M50x. To answer that bluntly - not quite. They come really close, but lack that extra touch of depth and richness that the M50x exude. To be fair, my M50x have clocked hundreds of hours compared to the H.ear On so they’ve gotten a lot more time to mature and break-in. There's still hope for the H.ear On to improve sonically, but we can't vouch for that just yet. We should also mention that there's a noticeable difference in drive size in these two headphones. The Sony have 40mm drivers while the Audio Technica are using 45mm drivers, therefore greater detail.

As it stands, the H.ear On sound almost as impressive as the M50x and chances are that no one will even notice the difference without an extensive close comparison between the two. I think what bothers me more is the fact that the H.ear On actually leak more sound than the M50x knowing Sony expressly advertised that its draped ear pads prevent unwanted sound leakage.

Sony's H.ear On MDR-100AAP are among the best over-ear headphones that you can get for under $200. They're great looking, insanely comfortable, made well and deliver formidably balanced audio. We've been waiting a long time for a pair of headphones that sound as good as the Audio Technica ATH-M50x, only better made and with an up-to-date design. And we think we've found just that. The H.ear On might not definitively outshine the M50x in the audio department, but for those looking for good looking headphones that are even more comfortable to wear for long periods of time for under $200, we'd definitely recommend going with Sony's offering.

Sony.com

When it comes to keyboard cases, Logitech is at the forefront with its innovative accessories for tablets. Logitech's Create has been a great alternative for iPad Pro users looking to replace Apple's own Smart Keyboard with a more protective, backlit keyboard accessory to serve as a more complete laptop replacement. And it's now finally available for the smaller and more portable 9.7-inch iPad Pro. Like its larger brother, the Create for the 9.7-inch iPad Pro is a folio cover case with an integrated backlit keyboard that never requires charging or wireless pairing as it is designed to be powered on using the iPad Pro's Smart Connector, just like Apple's Smart Keyboard. But unlike Logitech's Create for the 12.9-inch iPad Pro, this smaller and slightly cheaper version has a built-in Apple Pencil holder and doesn't feature an aluminum-reinforced keyboard construction. And as a result, it's also much lighter and easier to carry around. Albeit, nowhere near as light and slim as the arguably flawed Smart Keyboard cover from Apple. Want to know more on how the Create fares in day-to-day usage? We've got the full review for you after the break!

The Create for the 9.7-inch iPad Pro is identical to its larger counterpart from the outside, but on the inside it features an all-plastic keyboard construction. The backlit keys are still all full size and are a real pleasure to type on as they provide great depth and springyness with lots of softness as they are depressed. I found myself typing really quickly and without any significant errors during the time that I have been using this keyboard. As much as I like the slim factor of the fabric-coated keyboard layout of the Smart Keyboard from Apple, the keys on Logitech's Create keyboard are even more enjoyable to type on and closely resemble the keys found on the company's incredible desktop keyboards. The fact that this particular keyboard doesn't have the same metal trim as the larger 12.9-inch Create keyboard doesn't necessarily mean that it's inferior. There's little to no flex or give when you type on it and overall it feels very sturdy given the fact that it's a relatively slim plastic keyboard overlaid on a nylon cover. Though I will say that it's not as premium in quality as Logitech's 12.9-inch Create keyboard. 

It's worth noting that the Create's keys are all very bright and legible under any lighting condition thanks to the well-spaced layout and even backlighting on each and every key. You'll find a top row of function keys including a home button, screen brightness, keyboard brightness, audio playback controls, a search key and a lock/unlock key amongst the standard and familiar keyboard layout you'd find on every Mac-compatible desktop and laptop keyboard. And yes, you can use the arrow keys to navigate web pages and swiftly scroll through your Twitter or news timeline instead of swiping with your finger.

But the biggest issue we found is that the Create's backlit functionality has a battery-saving feature that automatically turns off the light after a short period of time when no typing is done. So if you're in the dark and you stop every so often to type, the backlit keys turn off and you're left with a keyboard layout that you can't see until you press a key only to delete what you had just inadvertently typed, which is just annoying. This issue could have been resolved and made the user experience in the dark a lot more enjoyable is Logitech implemented its touch-sensitive feature from its wireless illuminated keyboard where the keys automatically turn back on when you touch the keyboard before having to type on it.

Speaking of battery saving features, I haven't noticed any drop in battery on my iPad Pro leading me to believe that the Create uses a very low amount of power through the Smart Connector to power it on. There are two levels of backlight settings to choose from for the keys including the option to completely turn off the backlighting. It’s also worth noting that the area around the Create’s Smart Connector is magnetic and securely attaches onto the side of the iPad Pro when you hold it close to it.

The viewing angle is fixed and cannot be adjusted, sadly. Though it is positioned at a relatively comfortable viewing angle for typing and watching videos.

The outside of the Create keyboard case is made out of this very rugged, highly textured nylon fabric material that resists water and dirt. It by no means will provide your iPad Pro with water protection, but it won't damage very easily either. That being said, I'm really not a fan of how this material feels. It's not very enjoyable to hold or touch and I would have much preferred a softer, more rubberized exterior instead – similar to what Apple has designed its Smart Keyboard cover with.

Ports and speakers are fully accessible at all times whilst the iPad Pro is inside the Create.

Buttons are also easily pressable thanks to these free-flowing integrated button controls.

And yes, there are precise cutouts for the rear-facing camera and LED flash in case you’d like to awkwardly take pictures and video with your iPad Pro attached to a folio keyboard case.

While you won't be doing much holding with a keyboard case, when you do want to just hold your iPad Pro like a regular tablet, you will run into a few of the Create's caveats. And one of them being that it's really an awkward thing to hold when you flip the keyboard cover portion around the back of your iPad like you would when using an Apple Smart Cover. The bulkiness of the keyboard cover isn't that bad, but it's enough to tire one's hands. The added weight doesn't help either. The keys can be a nuisance when you're holding your iPad, but since the keyboard isn't powered independently, you can press them all you want without causing any issues. I find myself using my iPad Pro in its landscape orientation more often than not even when I'm not typing on the Create's keyboard because I'd rather not hold onto it with this case on. Handholding this entire thing is definitely doable, but you'll find that simply removing the iPad from the case will be an easier and quicker alternative.

There’s even a loop holder where you can keep you Apple Pencil in when you’re not using it. And you won’t need to worry about it or the keyboard touching your iPad’s screen because of how the Create’s raised rubber bumper is designed to rest against the screen instead, elevating it away from the keyboard and any stylus you choose to keep inside. On the opposite side of this raised rubberized bumper, part of the case that locks the iPad Pro into the Create also features a raised lip that goes around the iPad’s bezel.

Logitech's Create for the 9.7-inch iPad Pro will set you back $130, but it's one of the best keyboard cases your money can buy that is as good if not more superior than Apple's own offering. Typing on the Create's backlit keyboard is a real treat, and the fact that it's entirely powered by the iPad Pro's Smart Connector is a great feature that makes using it effortless and highly convenient. Although not the best option for a protective standalone case, the Create does offer better protection than other keyboard covers such as the Smart Keyboard by Apple. It's a relatively slim package that transforms the iPad Pro into a mobile powerhouse for those looking to replace their laptop and get a lot of writing done using their tablet. We can't find a better option than Logitech's Create if you rarely use your iPad by itself, protection and a seriously good backlit keyboard is what you're after. 

That said, we would have liked to see a higher quality keyboard build quality similar to that of the larger 12.9-inch Create model, a more forgiving exterior material that's more pleasing to the touch - as well as some sort of touch or proximity sensor that can automatically control the backlighting feature of the keyboard rather than having to press a key when it turns off after a short period of inactive use. The only keyboard case we can think of that can outdo Logitech's Create is the pricy but very impressive Razer Mechanical Keyboard Case.  

Logitech.com

Meet the Dash by Bragi, the sickest and most technologically advanced wireless in-ear headphones in the wireless game. These aren't just one of the most sophisticated earbuds available right now, they're also truly and honestly wireless...no strings attached. One part activity tracker and heart rate monitor, one part wireless headphones – the Dash can replace your smartphone with their on-board music storage when you're out getting your daily workouts on. So how do these expensive and truly wireless in-ear headphones fare when it comes to the four most important categories: audio quality, battery life, fit, and wireless connectivity? There's a good reason why we've been using and testing Bragi's little pieces of wireless wonder for the past month. Our full review complete with an in-depth comparison of the Samsung Gear Icon X awaits!

The Dash have one of the nicest and most impressive packaging we've seen in a very long time. This card-style informational flip-book guides you through the various features of the Dash as you unbox it, saving you the hassle of reading through a quick user guide pamphlet buried somewhere in the box. 

Inside you'll find a short micro-USB charging cable and three sets of silicone sleeves in various sizes. These are Bragi's FitSleeve ear tips and they vary by thickness to fit your ear canal just right and help the Dash make full contact with your ear shape to minimize movement and provide stable sensor readings, as well as optimal sound quality.

Bragi has essentially adapted the Bluetooth headset concept by including a small, portable charging case that is capable of charging the Dash while also protecting the earbuds whilst they’re not being used. The case also doubles as a backup power source that can provide up to five additional full charges without having to be plugged into a USB power source thanks to having its own built-in battery pack that acts as a portable charger whenever you put away your Dash. In the past month that I have been using the Dash, I have been averaging around 2 hours of use before one of the earbuds decides it needs to be recharged. That's an hour shy of Bragi's 3-hour battery life claims, but if you listen to loud music, you won't be reaching Bragi's figures. While not an impressive result, we have yet to see any truly wireless earbuds that can outperform the Dash as far as battery life is concerned. 

Bragi has coined this new term for its wireless earbuds as the world's first "hearable", suggesting that the Dash are a wireless wearable headphone device that can also provide real-time activity tracking like a wearable such as the Apple Watch or a Fitbit would. And that's all true. The Dash really are a new type of wearable that can replace many of the commonly used features found in most smart activity wearables, but only with the added benefit of serving a very attractive purpose, which is a completely wire-free music experience. The Dash aslo feature a completely button-free design using a combination of motion gentures and capacitive touch controls on both sides of the earbuds.

There are a lot of things the Dash are, but being cheap isn't one of them. You'll be parting ways with $300 of your hard earned cash for a pair, which may sound like a lot, but really isn't if you don't already own a standalone fitness tracker and a traditional "wireless" headset. The Dash have everything built in, including 4GB of storage that you can use to store and transfer music so that you can leave your phone behind when you go out or take a plunge. Yes you heard correctly, you can actually take these on a swim as they are fully waterproof and designed to even track your swimming activity while you listen to your favorite tunes.

Unlike the Apple Watch, Bragi's Dash is capable of providing live audible feedback in your ears while tracking more than just your heartrate, calories burned, duration, steps, and distance – but also your cycling speed, pool lengths, breaths and cadence. You can either use the app to start different types of activities, or by using touch controls on the Dash itself. And in case you forget how, the app features a list of all the available options for controlling your music streaming, built-in music player, tracking, call handling, as well as an audio transparency feature that mutes or amplifies sound from your ambient environment (which works really well).

The Bragi app for iOS and Android is really well designed and offers a user-friendly interface where you can learn more about how to use the many touch gestures controls of each side of the Dash, change a few settings, update firmware, and of course track your activity. 

When it comes down to the build quality, I really cannot say a single negative thing about the Dash. Despite being made out of a mixture of matter rubberized and glossy hard plastics, the Dash feel really polished all the way through and don’t have this cheap quality to them that can be felt in some other alternatives such as the Earin and Motorola VerveOnes+. These actually have that high-end earpiece feel that some expensive hearing devices have. That said, the Dash aren’t the most durable wireless in-ear headphones we’ve tested. They’re really expensive, have a svelte and sleek design, but you still need to be careful with them like you would with your bare glass and metal smartphone you care so much for.

Even the charging case is solidly made, not to mention the protective and beautifully refined aluminum cover that slides over the charging cradle.

And if you feel the need to add some additional protection to your Dash, as they are somewhat fragile if dropped directly onto a hard floor from a considerable height, you can actually slip on one of the included silicone tip sleeves which will provide an additional layer around the earbuds giving them extra grip and some bump protection. I won't lie though, I do wish these had a rubberized or matte textured finish all over. That said, the glossy black finish makes these that more futuristic looking. And if black bores you, there's an all-white Dash too; complete with a color-matched white charging case and USB cable. 

When you look at other truly wireless in-ear headphones they all pale in comparison to the Dash when it purely comes to aesthetics. Nothing even comes close to this extraordinarily sleek and futuristically designed earpiece that glows like RoboCop's helmet. Samsung's Gear Icon X are a close second though.

The Dash have this amazing custom-like fit and look to them that makes them incredibly secure and comfortable to wear in the ear. They are by far and away the most freeing, the most secure, and the most comfortable wireless in-ear headphones that I have ever used. I've been using these during intensive exercises and not once have they fallen out of my ears or have come close to it. They're incredibly light and blend into your ears. The included FitSleeves ensure you find the right fit for your ear while also providing extra grip for when you get them wet. 

So how does a $300 wireless pair of smart earbuds sound in reality? Better than expected. The Dash surprisingly sound very warm, rich and full considering these are using balanced armature drivers by Knowles. There's plenty of bass when and if you get a tight seal inside your ears to satisfy any one of your music genre craving, and vocals are decently clear and forward-sounding. But there's a problem when you start to compare Bragi's Dash against other wireless in-ear headphones. That's when you notice that the Dash really lack definition and detail throughout the frequency range. 

Don't get me wrong the Dash sound decent, and better than any truly wireless earbuds available right now such as the Earin and VerveOnes (save for latest truly wireless earbuds, the Icon X), however, they unfortunately fail to impress when compared to less expensive wireless in-ear headphones. The Dash are comparable in sound to budget-level wireless earbuds, not ones that cost as much as $300. Granted there's an insane amount of advanced features and technology stuffed into this very attractive package, but if the most important feature of a product – which in this case is sound quality - isn't up to par, then you've got a significant compromise not a whole lot of people will be willing to swallow.

As much as I love my Jaybird X2, I'd much rather use the Bragi Dash instead when working out having gotten used to the flawless wire-free fit that makes using such wireless headphones so much more comfortable and hassle-free.

The only other noteworthy adversary to Bragi’s Dash are the recently released Samsung Gear Icon X truly wireless earbuds. Like the Dash, the Icon X are essentially Samsung’s own version of Bragi’s Dash, virtually offering the exact same set of features including an aluminum portable charging case, touch controls, fitness tracking capabilities, heart rate monitoring, 4GB on board music storage, and a relatively similar small form factor. Now the biggest difference between the two is the price. You’ll be paying less for Samsung’s Icon X and you’ll still be getting the same bang for your buck as you do with the Dash. While the Dash are still arguably better looking, the Icon X are far more durable as they are fully protected by a more resilient plastic and rubber layer. Battery life is very similar to the Dash, however, we were able to get around an additional 30-40 minutes of use out of the Dash compared to the Icon X when purely listening to audio at high volume.

It's worth noting that while the two earbuds share a somewhat similar size, the Gear Icon X have a much more compact, pill-shaped charging case that's more convenient and easier to carry inside your pocket.

We have initially experienced some left and right audio volume syncing issues with the Icon X whereas with the Dash is has been a really smooth wireless audio experience. Samsung is actively trying to fix these issues with firmware updates though. That being said, Samsung's Icon X are the better sounding alternative to the Dash with far greater detail and clarity while providing the same level of exceedingly comfortable and secure fit. However, we did notice that the Icon X lack a clean Bluetooth streaming quality compared to the Dash and other wireless in-ears such as the Jaybird X2 for some reason using the latest firmware when paired to either an Android or iOS device. It might not be a Bluetooth issue, but at higher volumes there's a slight hint of background noise. On top of it all, highs on the Icon X begin to distort pretty badly at very high volumes. While this can potentially be fixed with more updates, we're a bit disappointed in the fact as the Icon X are really good sounding.

Bragi is upfront in claiming its Dash features a not-too-impressive 3-hour battery life, however, Samsung makes no battery performance claims. We can clearly see why that is after spending just an hour with the Icon X. Battery life is absolutely horrendous. I've been averaging less than an hour or so with the volume near high, which is most likely where most people will have theirs set at. And that's without activating any tracking features. Samsung does specify that when playing music directly from the built-in music player, the Icon X can last up to three hours compared to wirelessly streaming audio from your device. Also, the charging case only provides up to two additional full charges on a single charge. It seems as though the issue here is size. The Icon X have a smaller charging case and are slightly smaller than Bragi's Dash system, which is one of the reasons why we're seeing such poor battery performance overall.

Bragi's Dash is what wireless music streaming and independent activity tracking is all about. There's no doubt that this is where the audio industry is heading, and it'll only get better with time as more and more hearables get introduced. After using the Dash for a full month, I started to appreciate the benefit of having a truly wireless pair of in-ear headphones that also fit very securely and enabled me to focus on my workouts. For that reason alone, the Dash's incredibly design and wireless performance have actually outweighed their not-so-amazing audio quality and battery life. You just need to ask yourself if these are things you're willing to sacrifice in return for a specific form of convenience. The Dash's unique ability to track activities under all conditions thanks to having a fully waterproof design can be a huge deciding factor to those who are considering jumping on the truly wire-free earbud wagon.

While not the best sounding, the Dash are one of the best wireless headphones for running and exercising...until you look over and see Samsung's Gear Icon X. These are a cheaper alternative with an even more inferior battery life, but they sound better, fit just as securely, and look great. But as much as we love the sound quality, size and build quality of Samsung's less expensive Gear Icon X, they are severely impacted by poor battery performance that can barely last a full hour. So if you don't plan on constantly having to put your earbuds back inside the charging case, we cannot recommend the Icon X over the Dash. But if an hour is all you need to finish your business and you're an Android user looking to ditch your standalone fitness tracker, you should definitely consider the Gear Icon X as your truly wireless in-ear headphones. Had only the battery life been better, we would have easily picked the Icon X over the Dash.

Bragi.com

Harman Kardon has taken an old favorite and has given it a total makeover with the new and improved GO+PLAY wireless speaker for 2016. Designed to provide a rich and room-filling audio experience with its set of six high-performance drivers, the new GO+PLAY is a weighty Bluetooth 4.1 wireless speaker you can still pick up and carry with you to your next destination thanks to its large internal battery capacity, which Harman Kardon says will last up to 8 hours. While it isn't its most expensive speaker on offer, the GO+PLAY is Harman Kardon's most powerful and perhaps even the best sounding portable speaker yet. So how does it stack up against speakers like the JBL Xtreme, Vifa Oslo, B&O Beoplay A2, and the Marshall Kilburn? You're about to find out!

While you can use the built-in USB output to charge external portable devices such as your smartphone or tablet using the GO+PLAY's internal rechargeable battery (a feature that is also found JBL's Charge 3 portable speaker), you'll need to use this included charging brick to charge the speaker itself. Not as convenient as using a USB cable, but at least you'll be able to fully charge this thing in just 3 hours. After that, you can expect to get up to 8 hours of wireless use out of the GO+PLAY depending on the volume level and music you listen to. Harman Kardon's battery claims greatly decrease when using the speaker at high volumes, in which case you should expect around 3 hours of use before having to charge again. But that's not such a bad result when you factor in how powerful this wireless speaker actually is.

Harman Kardon's GO+PLAY isn't exactly a cheap wireless speaker coming in at $400 (available only in black or white). That's $100 more than what you'll pay for JBL's (a Harman owned company) Xtreme, which sports a water-resistant design – and as far as portable speakers go – shares a similar humongous footprint as the GO+PLAY...which isn't that portable in the sense that you can effortlessly carry one around all day long.

Although billed as a portable wireless speaker, the GO+PLAY isn't exactly as compact as your standard pick-up-and-throw-in-your-gear-bag type of a portable. The new GO+PLAY wireless may be much lighter and a lot more refined than its predecessor weighing in at 7.5lb, but that's still quite a hefty load so expect to make you some extra gains when carrying this thing around. For size reference, the GO+PLAY dwarfs one of our favorite portable speakers from JBL - the Charge 3. However, it's in a totally different class both in price, sound performance and even durability. There's no comparing the two as they are both intended for different lifestyles.

There's nothing physically wrong with the GO+PLAY's build quality, but premium it isn't. Yes that brushed stainless steel handle is a svelte design feature that also happens to offer a functional part rather than just a styling detail, but the use of plastics and this mundane nylon fabric everywhere else doesn't make this a stand-out speaker next to a plethora of wireless speaker models from other manufacturers. And this price point we would have expected a bit more design details and higher quality, unique material choices. Harman Kardon calls this a premium fabric and I'd have to disagree with that description. A premium fabric isn't this nylon material but a unique Kvadrat textile like the one found on Vifa's Oslo portable speaker. It is acceptably nice for a portable speaker though. 

That said, when you come to press down on one of the on board button controls the whole speaker wobbles slightly forward and back due to its uneven feet underneath. This happens on a perfectly even flat surface, which only adds another sense of poor build quality standards for a speaker that is made by a respectable premium audio brand. Out of all the wireless speakers we have reviewed, the GO+PLAY is the first to have a wobbly design when it shouldn't. It's worth noting that this doesn't have any affect whatsoever on the performance of the speaker. Fortunately there isn't any rattling or wobbling made by the speaker itself when it is playing loudly.

At the top of the speaker we have this rubberized flat surface with a few button controls including a battery status indicator. You can also use the same play/pause button to skip to the next song and back.

Protected by a rubber flap is a series of inputs and outputs. A standard USB output port enables to charge external devices using your own charging USB cable, a micro-USB port is used for warranty servicing, a 3.5mm audio input can be used to connect non-Bluetooth enabled audio sources, and finally the power input used for charging the speaker.

Like JBL’s Connect enabled wireless speakers, Harman Kardon also has its own “multi-room” feature for wirelessly connected two speakers to play the same audio source in separate locations. The GO+PLAY’s Dual Sound mode enables you to pair two speakers together for an amplified audio experience. But unlike JBL’s Connect, Dual Sound doesn’t support stereo streaming using two speakers whereby one speaker will play as the left channel and the other will play the right like a standard dual speaker setup.

The GO+PLAY has this very unusual shape to it that turns out makes for a great speaker design which places each speaker driver far apart at the right angles in order to deliver a more spacious sounding audio with a surprising amount of stereo separation for a speaker that is both wireless and portable. It may arguably look somewhat outdated as far as how it's designed as a wireless speaker, but that's not what really matters at the end of the day. What's more important is how it sounds. And how it sounds will undoubtedly give you a goosebump or two.

If we were to purely look at audio performance, there is nothing out there that we've heard that sounds better. To put it simply – the Harman Kardon GO+PLAY outperforms every other portable wireless speaker that JBL makes along with a host of other notable brands such as Bose, Fugoo, Marshall, and Sony. Highs have a sparkling treble clarity to them that really shines through whatever it is that you're listening to. The GO+PLAY produces amazingly clear and piercing highs, albeit a bit too piercing for my taste using its two dedicated tweeters. As for the midrange, it does seem to be the most veiled out of everything else, but not in a significant way as it still acceptably detailed. Overall this speakers sounds full, energetic and fun to listen to - especially if you really like your bass to pull through when called for. Speaking of bass, the low-end has a floor rattling response. It sounds deep, deeper than any portable speaker we've reviewed so far. Though if I must be critical here, the GO+PLAY doesn't produce as much of a punchy upper bass as it does with the lower end.

If we take a look behind that speaker grille cover we can understand why the GO+PLAY has such a broad sounding profile. The drivers are spaced far apart with two 20mm individual twitters at opposite sides, dual-sided passive bass radiators flanked by two 90mm woofers.

The GO+PLAY isn't a 360-degree speaker, meaning that if you are facing the rear then you'll hear audio more muted. However, because it does such a great job at spreading sound from the front and towards the sides, it does deliver a better sound field coverage than a lot of other portable wireless speaker do that aren't omni-directional.

The Vifa Oslo is the only portable speaker of its size that can stand up to the GO+PLAY as far as audio quality, but it's also more expensive. Harman Kardon's GO+PLAY produces incredible stereo separation and a broad sound field unlike the Vifa Oslo and Helsinki speakers. Granted it isn't as compact and portable as the Vifa Oslo, however, the GO+PLAY is without a doubt the best sounding wireless speaker we have reviewed on this site. The Oslo impressively holds its own compared to the GO+PLAY but just doesn't sound as rich and provides a narrower sweet spot for listening to audio as best as it can sound due to its constrained form factor. As deep as the Oslo's lows are capable of reaching, the GO+PLAY surpasses them with an even deeper low-end thump. Finally, where the Oslo starts to distort at very high volumes under certain situations, the GO+PLAY keeps a clean and leveled audio performance without any bass degradation which is very impressive when taking about portable speakers.

The midrange isn't quite as defined as it is on the Oslo, but that is only noticeable when compared side by side and something you would otherwise wouldn't have been able to easily discern when listening to the GO+PLAY for the first time on its own. It is a very well tuned speaker all things considered, without any odd DSP interference. The biggest noticeable differences between the GO+PLAY and Oslo is bass and sound dispersion. The Oslo while it comes close, simply cannot match the deep bass and broad soundscape of the GO+PLAY. 

The only downsides to Harman Kardon's new GO+PLAY is shorter than average battery life (when used at high to max volume you'll get less than 3 hours of use), large form factor and the fact that it doesn't reach volumes that are as loud as we had hoped it would compared to smaller sized portables. That said and unlike other portable speakers, the GO+PLAY's controlled loudness is one of its strengths as it doesn't distort and maintains a balanced audio signature at any volume. But if you can live with these shortcomings and in need for a very capable sounding wireless portable speaker, this is one of the very few models you should seriously consider purchasing. It's Harman's best sounding portable yet. And while we really like how it sounds, we don't particularly think it looks all that good.

Choosing between these two incredible wireless speakers comes down to three things: size, build quality and price. If you carry around your speaker a lot and prefer the best build quality and design, Vifa's Oslo is the portable speaker to grab. But if you'd like something that is just as powerful if not more so and for less money, Harman Kardon's GO+PLAY wireless speaker is hard option to pass up when looking for a full-sounding audio experience with the deepest bass of all. Although not the loudest portable speaker at its size, the GO+PLAY sounds great at any volume, features a decent battery life when set at normal volume levels (50-70%, and offers an elegant portable design that will let you easily move it around without having to worry about external power.

Harmanaudio.com

iPhone cases are in no short supply with seemingly endless amounts of choices to choose from. Now that Apple released the new iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus, the selection of cases is plentiful as ever. But here’s a select few noteworthy picks we think are what you should consider getting to protect your shiny new iPhone 7. Our guide covers the best slim, ruggedized drop-protective, and premiumly designed cases for both iPhone 7 and 7 Plus models. Whether you want to protect or showcase that sleek Jet Black colorway that is so prone to scratching, we've found just the right type of cases to fit your needs!

Speck has refined an old favorite of ours and renamed it the Presidio Grip case. It's a slimmer version of the CandyShell Grip and instead of a glossy and scratch-prone shiny finish, the Presidio Grip features a scratch-resistant matte textured polycarbonate outer shell with a new rubber non-slip grip pattern embedded into it that looks to be thumbprint-inspired. This case is slim, but highly protective as it also features a dual-layer design with a new internal Impactium Shock Barrier bordering the entire circumference of the iPhone in order to effectively absorb impacts from drops. Speck's Presidio Grip has been drop-tested to protect an iPhone 7 or iPhone 7 Plus from drops up to 10ft (3.05m) and is available in multiple colorways. The Presidio Grip is one of the best cases you can get if you need extra grip and drop protection all in a slim fitted case. And so far, it's the best case that Speck has made to date.

We wouldn't recommend Speck's standard Presidio case. We have it here at the office and found it to be highly slippery compared to the Presidio Grip. However, the clear Presidio variant seems to be less slippery as it doesn't have the same textured matte plastic.

Grip, grip, and more grip. If a griptastic case is what you like, Apple's official Silicone Case for the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus is the best slim and protective case there is that offers a smooth-to-the-touch surface with loads of rubbery grip you won't want to put down. It has just the right amount of flexibility and rigidity to protect your iPhone 7 from bumps and scratches while never flexing out of place. Like Apple's Leather Case, this one also fits like a tight glove and provides that sleek feel of the iPhone's original well rounded design. We think it's one of the best practical everyday cases.

Many will argue that Apple's official Leather Case for the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus is an overpriced case, but we think otherwise. For those looking for a beautifully minimalist case made out of real naturally tanned European leather, the official Leather Case by Apple is a very hard premium case to beat. While it may look familiar with its form-fitted minimalist leather design, this new version has been upgraded with individually machined aluminum buttons color-matched to the finish of the case for an even easier operation, providing incredible pressing feedback. This is the perfect non-bulky case if you want a really high-quality leather case for under $50. Note that Apple's Leather Case does not provide superior grip, but does feature a leather that is soft to the touch and will slowly develop a unique patina with use.

Unlike Apple's Leather Case, the Nomad Leather Case protects more of the bottom edge of the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus while leaving a big opening around the Lightning connector for superior compatibility. This case also feels less slippery and has a rougher textured leather that gives more grip. That said, other colors aren't as coarse and are more akin to Apple's smooth leather. We prefer this worn and rustic brown vintage look and feel that Nomad's American-made Horween leather has. Nomad's Leather Case is one of the better options if you dislike having an Apple logo or any kind of branding on your case and prefer something truly minimalist yet of very high quality. Nomad's Leather Case is without a doubt the next best option when looking for an Apple leather case alternative.

This one is for all you lovely, fashionable ladies out there looking for a stylish looking case to spruce up their iPhone 7. This slim Kate Spade case features a black and white stripped design with reflective gold accents and a hybrid material construction to protect your device from scratches and light drops. The back of the case is a hard polycarbonate while the edges are made from a flexible rubber-like material that makes inserting or removing your iPhone much easier whilst providing a bit more protection around the front glass area. For having such a glossy finish, this case isn't as slippery as we thought it would be. It also comes in a few other styles if you don't fancy this particular black and white colorway.

Tumi's Coated Canvas case for the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus offers that rough canvas finish around the back creating natural grip as well as a unique sensation of having fabric being a part of your case. Not only that, the Coated Canvas case is co-molded with shock-absorbing rubber for added bump and drop protection. This case won't appeal to everyone, but it does feel great in the hand and provides solid all-around protection for the iPhone 7 or iPhone Plus.

Another really good case from Tumi is the 19 Degree case available for both the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus. This quality rigid case features a distinct and unconventional ripple pattern on the back that is available in a abrasion-resistant matte or metallic textured finish. Tumi's 19 Degree case has an integrated impact-resistant design using a combination of hard and flexible materials. You either like it or hate it, and we like it a lot.

This Graph Check case for the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus from Jack Spade is definitely one of the coolest and sophisticated cases we’ve come across. Featuring a technical-looking design with a see-through graph chart print on the back side overlaying the iPhone’s aluminum, the Graph Chart case changes the original rounded shape of the iPhone to a more block-shaped one using its flat-sided rubberized border that is highly knurled in its texture for an impressive amount of grip. This semi-slim case is on the more rigid side and has a hard polycarbonate back with a semi-flexible rubbery-type border that’s easy to grip and should provide a decent amount of drop protection. We really like the unique form factor and technical fit and finish. You can also find this case in a navy blue.

While it isn't a thick case, Lunatik's Air case is a lot wider and taller than all of the cases we've featured here. And that's due to its unique air-filled bumper-like design that protects the outer edges of the iPhone during a fall, which means that this case offers great drop and impact protection – but keeps a slimmer than usual thickness, meaning less pocket bulge for you. But if you want a truly slim case without any bulk, avoid the Air case as it makes using a huge phone like the iPhone 7 Plus even harder to use with one hand. 

Tech21’s Evo Mesh for the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus is the same great case as it has always been, featuring the grippiest smoothest finish of any TPU case we’ve tested. It offers amazing scratch and drop-protection thanks to its triple-layered design which consists of Tech21’s iconic FlexShock bumper surrounding the iPhone’s outer edges, providing protection from drops as high as 10ft (3m). A dotted mesh grid pattern around the back of the case let’s you see the original color of your iPhone whilst adding a cool looking overlaid effect. And while the rest of the case is see-through, the Evo Mesh does feature a colored border that is available in multiple color options such as this white one we have here.

The Evo Gem by Tech21 is the same exact protective case, but with a translucent faceted pattern around the back side instead of the Evo Mesh’s dotted styling that refract light creating that gem-like appeal. It too comes in a few different colors. The only caveat to these cases is the overly flexible bottom lip underneath the home button, which easily folds off of the device when touched.

So you've spent all your savings on an iPhone and still want a case like Apple's Leather Case? Amazon's AmazonBasics Slim Case for the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus is a budget-friendly leather lookalike of the official Apple case sans any type of branding. It's just as slim, comes in a few colors, and features a leather-like look and feel. Note that Amazon described this case to have a smooth rubbery coating for a non-slip grip similar to the Apple Silicone Case, however, this case actually features a PU-type leather that doesn’t feel rubbery but more like fake leather grain. For only $10, the AmazonBasics Slim Case for the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus won’t hurt your wallet as much if you want a similar look and feel of an Apple leather case.

When you look at Urban Armor Gear’s UAG Pathfinder and Plasma cases for the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus, there’s nothing subtle about it. It might be a bit too garish for most users, but that's exactly why some of you might be really into This is one badass rugged looking case. And it doesn’t just look like it, it’s actually quite tough and will protect your iPhone 7 from relatively high drops with its 810G 516.6 military drop standard certification. All of that toughness is very well engineered into a relatively slim case. The Plasma series is just a transparent version of UAG's Pathfinder case, offering rugged drop protection with its reinforced bumper edges, a raised rubber lip for effective screen protection, soft shock-absorbing interior core and hard polycarbonate shell designed to look like futuristic armor of some sort. 

If you want to extend that quality fit and finish afforded by a device like the iPhone 7 to the case it is being covered in, then you really need to check out one of these luxurious cases from a company based in Argentina. A fair warning though, you will be paying a premium for a case such as Vaja's Leather Grip. This is the most premium case of all for the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus on our list, and for good reason. Each case is handmade using the highest quality leather, supported by a rigid polycarbonate chassis to create a snap-on case design similar to that of Apple's own cases. The Leather Grip case is available in a slew of colors and premium leather types that will satisfy your every desire for a high-end, quality leather case. Every case features a leather interior too so not only will you enjoy the smell and feel of such luxurious leather, but your iPhone will be tightly hugged with this stuff.

When it comes to one of the thinnest and slimmest cases made for the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus, Spigen has got us all covered with its amazingly slim and light AirSkin case. This type of case will only provide protection against scratches and scuff marks as it is only .36mm thick, so it's perfect if you hate adding bulk to your device yet still need some form of protection for everyday use. Spigen's AirSkin features a semi-translucent frosted finish that resists fingerprints so that you'll still be able to see the original color of your device show through, but in a slightly muted tone. This case will also turn a shiny Jet Black iPhone 7 into a matte one, just in case you're feeling a bit more stealthy. This is one of the best ultra-slim cases you can get.

Apple has officially kissed the headphone jack goodbye and put it to rest in favor of the all-mighty Lightning connector. But you shouldn’t worry too much now that every audio brand is starting to release Lightning connected headphones. So if you can’t wait until Apple releases its weirdest looking wireless AirPods or perhaps you’re looking for a higher-quality sounding pair of in-ear headphones to use with your iPhone 7 (or any Apple device with a Lightning port), then you may want to consider JBL’s new Reflect Aware. These sporty and sweat-proof in-ear headphones feature a Lightning connector instead of the now obsolete 3.5mm jack. And for the very first time, the Reflect Aware are the first in-ear headphones to have powered active noise-cancellation technology. And because power is being delivered through the Lightning connector, the Reflect Aware never need to be recharged and don’t even have a weighty built-in battery. The only question left unanswered is whether or not JBL's active noise-cancelling headphones are worth purchasing over others that are truly ahead of the curve – truly wireless earbuds.

JBL's Reflect Aware aren't exactly cheap at $200, but that's not really asking a lot when you consider the fact that they're designed with active noise-cancellation. And speaking of design, the Reflect Aware might not require a rechargeable battery like other offerings that feature ANC as they are fully powered using the Lightning port on your iPhone, but I can't help and feel like these leave a little to be desired in terms of design. They're bulky as if they each had a battery on the inside, the remote control is huge, they're not particularly impressively built, and while I really like the robust cable that is visibly reflective at night to traffic, I find it to be too heavy as well. And all that weight adds up. The Reflect Aware feel hefty, however, they somehow still manage to stay in my ears when I move around a lot.

If it wasn't for the Freebit silicone tip wings that help lock the earbuds in your ears, they would instantly fall out as the so called "mushroom tips" (literally how JBL described them) by themselves do not fit all the way inside your ear canal like a normal round ear tip would. Without support from the wing tips, the Reflect Aware would fall out of your ears quicker than Apple's EarPods. That being said, the Reflect Aware are very comfortable to wear for long periods of time.

Three sets of silicone tips and Freebit ear wings are included in various sizes, so be sure to try them all and mix different sizes together to find the best combination that will fit you just right. I found that I personally had to use the small mushroom tips with the medium sized Freebit tips.

This remote controls the Reflect Aware's active noise-cancelling feature and ambient awareness volume levels, including a bunch of your standard music playback and call controls. The issue I have with this remote goes beyond the fact that it's just chunky. The buttons are poorly implemented as none of them have a distinguishable shape causing you to mistakenly press a button you didn't intend on pressing. 

For size comparison, the Jaybird X2 wireless in-ear headphones don't look quite as chunky anymore next to the JBL Reflect Aware. The difference between the two in-line remote modules is astounding. Jaybird has really nailed it with the flat and lightweight cable and the ultra-lightweight remote design, whereas JBL's Reflect Aware already look outdated even though they are technically superior for wired earbuds.

We know JBL knows how to engineer some fantastic sounding headphones, but for some reason I wasn’t expected the Reflect Aware to sound all that good due to their oddly shaped, earbud-style silicone tips that lack proper isolation. But I’ve got to say that I was beyond pleasantly surprised when I hit that play button for the first time. The Reflect Aware are really impressively great sounding across every single frequency with a richness and tightly balanced sound signature. Highs are insanely clear, the midrange is too and filled with detail and cleanliness - while the bass is simply enjoyable even if you’re stepping down from full-sized headphones. For in-ear headphones that don’t have the best ear tip sealing, the Reflect Aware have an unexpectedly deep and satisfyingly thumpy bass. Whether it's the huge 14.8mm dynamic drivers or this digital signal afforded by the Lightning connector that has anything to do with how amazing the Reflect Aware perform is still questionable. Whatever it may be, it’s definitely working towards JBL’s advantage here. 

I was pleasantly surprised to find that when turning on the noise-cancellation feature, the Reflect Aware did not start to hiss and sound any different than if you were to listen to music without active noise-cancellation turned on. Even when you're not listening to anything, there isn't any weirdly annoying interference noise coming from the powered headphones. And as far as the actual performance of the Reflect Aware's ACN mode, things like engine and fan noise are noticeably reduced when turning on the ACN. Granted the difference in noise reduction isn't as significant as it may be when using active noise-canceling headphones like Bose's wireless QuietComfort 35 or even JBL's own Everest Elite series, but for wireless earbuds the Reflect Aware offer some of the best noise-cancellation performance in a small, portable form factor.

With the My JBL Headphone app you'll be able to control some of the Reflect Aware's features such as the ambient awareness intensity which will essentially control the amount of background noise that passes through the headphones - in case you need to be more aware of your surroundings outdoors for example. In addition, there's a comprehensive EQ setting where you'll be able to effectively personalize the sound profile of the Reflect Aware to a great degree. If you want some more bass or treble, it's just a slider away.

The biggest drawback when it comes to using the Reflect Aware and some other Lighting connected headphones is compatibility. Now of course these will work just fine with your iPhone or iPad, but you'll run into trouble when you want to use your headphones with anything other than those devices due to the fixed Lighting connector at the end. Other headphones have got that issue answered with a detachable cable that users can choose between using a 3.5mm or a Lightning connector cable as both are included and easily interchangeable. JBL does offer the Reflect Aware C to Android users with a USB-C connection as an alternative, but a 3.5mm connector variant isn't available at all for obvious reasons.

JBL clearly made some seriously great sounding, albeit bulky, Lightning connected earbud-style headphones with the introduction of the Reflect Aware. Having active noise-cancellation that actually works well even though a tight fit inside your ears isn’t going to be an option while wearing the Reflect Aware is really beneficial. JBL’s ergonomically shaped winged ear tips do their job at ensuring your earbuds stay in your ears when you move, and that’s what you want, but you’ll need to sacrifice some audio leakage in exchange for these very Bose-type tips. The biggest trouble we have with JBL’s Reflect Aware, however, is that they’re targeted at people who have an active lifestyle and need sport-proof headphones. While you don’t have to worry about charging these particular headphones and have the ability to control the amount of ambient noise passing through, you will still have to inevitably worry about a distracting cable - and one that can only be connected to an iPhone or an iPad. If you’re willing to accept these tradeoffs and you’re sick and tired of constantly having to charge wireless headphones, then we think you’ll really like what the Reflect Aware have got to offer.

Now if only JBL would shrink these down into a truly wireless earbud solution, we’d be all over the Reflect Aware. Because we’re really finding it hard to recommend the Reflect Aware to people who will be using their headphones when working out over wireless headphones like Jaybird’s X2. While you won’t be getting ACN features, you aren’t tethered to your phone or locked into the Lightning connector ecosystem. And if you do fly a lot or really need the benefits of having active noise-cancelling headphones, we’ve recommend going with the wireless Bose QuietComfort 35. Or wait for Apple’s AirPods.

JBL.com

Lately we’ve been reviewing all sorts of high-end audio gear which we can't complain about, but it also means that these gadgets come with a hefty wallet-draining price tag to match. So we think it’s time for something a little more affordable, and it just so happens that British audio brand, RHA, has come out with a brand-new pair of in-ear headphones at a very attractive price. These aren't just another cheap and inexpensive pair though, the super tiny S500i are as premium as some of the most expensive in-ear headphones on the market when it comes to styling, build quality and sound - only at a budget friendly $50 price point. But are they any better than one of our all-time favorite in-ear headphones under the $200 mark – the $89 NS500 made by the Swedish audio brand Nocs?

For a pair of $50 in-ears you certainly get a lot for your money. Even before we get into the meat and potatoes, the S500i come decked out with a few goodies inside to set you on the straight and narrow. Inside the box you'll find a very nice drawstring pouch to safely store your shiny new headphones, a shirt clip to stabilize the cable running down your body should you choose to use it, as well as a large selection of silicone ear tips. Although there's no shortage of ear tips sizes to choose from, it would have been real nice if RHA included some foam tips as well. Even though we're not sponsored by this brand in any way, we always advocate using a set of Comply foam tips for superior sound isolation and fitting. Pro tip: the S500i are compatible with the Comply T-200 tips.

What the S500i has going for it is as clear as daylight. I'm of course talking about that svelte, tiny form factor. Each in-ear is machined out of solid aluminum, which in person, looks a lot more like titanium due to the darker, almost gunmetal shade of the colorway used for the S500i. At a side profile you can see the S500i's distict, angular design that is also in the shape of a very compact cylinder. Looking closely you can see that these feature a fine brushed textured finish giving off quite an attractive technical aesthetic that I can very much appreciate at such an affordable price.

And the way that these fit into your ears is simply phenomenal in that not only do they seemingly disappear when worn due to their tiny size, but the round silicone tips create a great tight seal that’s really secure and just feels so comfortable. Of course with the crazy amount of tip sizes, you’ll have to pick and choose the size that’s right for you. That said, the standard tips pre-fitted should already fit most people’s ears just perfectly. The dual-flanged tips of example did not fit me correctly as they are too small for me personally, and only one size is included whereas the rest of the tip sizes are all uniformly rounded. You can also see that the casings are both laser etched with legible left and right indicators for quick and easy identification for how to correctly wear them.

The build quality is phenomenal, and I’m really impressed by it. For a pair of inexpensive in-ear headphones the RHA S500i are some really well made pieces. From the solid aluminum housings, the hybrid rubber and fabric woven cable, and all the way down to the material-coordinated 3-button remote and slim audio plug.

Smaller in-ear headphones means less tug and pull when you're wearing them, which increases comfort as well as affording a securer fit inside your ears. Aside from that though, the S500i simply fade away when you're carrying them, so there's less of a reason not, whenever and wherever it is that you go. Now as much as the in-ears themselves are small and lightweight, the cable attached to them is easily as important when it comes to weight and usability. A heavy, bulky cable can ruin the experience if not properly designed with user comfort and wearability during intensive activities in mind. Where the Nocs NS500 feature a robust, flat cable with a weighty presence that can at times rub against your body to the point where it can become somewhat of a nuisance, the cable of the S500i is impressively unique and as lightweight as it can get without having to sacrifice durability. What RHA has done differently is use a braided fabric cord terminated by this wonderfully made, slim 3.5mm connector while the rest of the cable splits into a thinner rubbery cord leading to each of the in-ear headphones.

The in-line 3-button remote and microphone built-into the S500i model (RHA S500 is the remote-free variant) offers standard features like volume adjustment, play/pause/skip, call answer/end, and Siri interaction. Buttons have a disguise able design that make it easy to feel for what you're pressing and overall I didn't find the remote itself too bulky or heavy on the cable. The buttons work beautifully too and offer a fair amount of tactile feedback when pressed. And like the in-ears themselves, it's also made out of solid aluminum with a layer of rubberized buttons integrated into the cylindrical casing. It's worth noting that the microphone does a really good job picking up your voice loudly and clearly without any interference so you can be heard cleanly and clearly to your callers.

What I like most about good looking, impressively made in-ear headphones is that they also sound as good as they look and feel. And as soon as I listened to the S500i I thought they sounded great, but something was missing. The sound signature is very bright and on the treble-heavy side, so things sound amazingly clear throughout the highs/mids/lows. But that’s the thing, bass is somewhat lacking and the S500i barely produce a truly deep low-end bass compared to the Nocs NS500, which have the S500i beat as they produce a fuller audio experience. That said, the S500i are still very capable considering their price tag and offer a tight sounding mid-bass that is never overpowering. They produce crystal clear sound with an acceptable amount of bass that I’m sure a lot of people will find satisfactory - except for bassheads that is.

It’s also worth noting just how much bulkier the NS500 are in comparison, and the fact they also cost twice as much and have a heavier cable doesn’t make them as attractive next to the S500i after all.

The RHA S500i offer a lot of value for money. And considering just how small they are, they deliver an impressive audio performance without any significant compromises. Should you buy RHA’s S500i? If you’ve got $50 in your pocket waiting to be spent on a fresh set of quality in-ear headphones, you should definitely pick up a pair. And if you can live without a remote and microphone features, RHA's S500 is an even cheaper, stripped-down alternative to the S500i. You’ll be hard pressed to find something that will offer what the S500i have put down for you to pick up. You’ll be happy you bent over this time, that’s for sure.

RHA-audio.com

First it was wearables, and now, it's all about this new phenomenon called "rideables". When talking about electric skateboards, one name in particular stands out from all the rest and it's Boosted. This is a company that has been making headlines all over the Internet with its Boosted Board, an ordinary-looking electric longboard with an amazing performance combined with a great design and rider-friendly controls. Looking for one of the most exciting adult toys ever created? Then be sure to check out our in-depth review on Boosted's flagship electric skateboard - the Boosted Dual+ board.

There are a few things you should know when it comes to purchasing a Boosted Board. While they all have the same design and functionality, there are three different types of models to choose from. The 1,000W Boosted Single is the most affordable and entry-level board at $999, has an 8 mile range, a top speed of 18 mph and the power to carry you up a 10% incline. The Dual Boosted Dual at $1,299, has a 7 mile range, can get up to speeds of 20 mph and climb up a 20% incline. Finally, the 2,000W Boosted Dual+ we're testing will set you back $1,499, has a 7 mile range and can get up to 22 mph with the ability to be ridden up a 25% incline. You'll also notice that this model comes with a bit more grip tape for extra traction compared to the other models.

The Boosted Dual and Dual+ both have two brushless motors powering the rear wheels, while the Boosted Single only features one motor powering one of the two rear wheels. Regardless, these electric motors provide instant, powerful torque so you can pick up speed insanely fast from a stand still on flat ground. Yes these are costly electric skateboards, but they are of the highest quality and they're also made in California. The Boosted Board isn’t just a good looking electric skateboard with low-profile mechanics, it’s smartly designed. Heat sinks fins dispute heat build-up allowing you to continuously ride at high speeds for the duration of your journey. They also help cool down the electronics when you’re going uphill when the motors are being stressed most of all.

The Boosted Board is one of the smallest, genuinely functional personal transportation vehicles you can use for daily commute and leisure riding. And it's wickedly powerful. The board is 38-inches long and weighing in at 15 pounds (or 13.5 pounds for the Boosted Single), it’s fairly easy to carry around when you’re not riding it.

If you've never ridden a motorized board before or have no experience skateboarding, yet you're one of the adventurous types, you're definitely going to want to wear some type of protective gear before attempting to Tony Hawk it like a helmet. Not this skateboarding helmet, you'll want one of these full face helmets just to be sure your good looks won't be scraped off should something bad, horribly goes wrong. Obligatory precautions aside, there's always that learning curve that comes with new gear like the Boosted Board so don't let that keep you from experiencing the thrill of your lifetime. And besides, the Boosted Board is a breeze to ride. Even for beginners...believe it or not.

When you get a Boosted Board the first thing you're going to want to do is get out and ride it. Don't. Read the included user guide, it's a quick and informative instructional guide that will show you how to ride this beast and how to switch between different riding presets that will determine how fast the board will go, from limited acceleration and a top speed of 11 mph (Beginner Mode) - to moderate acceleration and a top speed of 16 mph (Eco Mode) - to high acceleration and a top speed of 20 mph or 18 mph on the Single model (Expert Mode) - to finally maximum acceleration power and a whopping top speed of 22 mph on the Dual+ model (Pro Mode).

So how does it work? Simple. You just get on and maintain your balance. Steering is of course done in the traditional manner by shifting your weight to either side while using the remote to control throttle and braking, all in varying degrees of speed of course. And man does is this thing amazingly powerful for such a relatively compact form factor with small motors, it eats up steep inclines like they're nothing (when on Expert or Pro Mode). What impressed me the most is just how easily it can go over thick short and relatively high speedbumps without the bottom of the longboard scrapping as it passes over. There's enough height to length ratio which increases the Boosted Board's ability to keep on moving forward, and over such obstacles even with heavier riders (250+ pounds). 

One of the worst things I can think about when it comes to wirelessly controlling a things like a drone or an electric skateboard is having to use an app on your phone. That's the worst. Thankfully, the Boosted Board uses this wireless handheld controller that automatically connects to the board almost instantly, every single time. You use this pistol-style grip controller to activate throttle, braking/reverse, check up on the battery status of the board via a 5 LED indicator gauge, as well as switching between the various power modes available.

It has a tremendous capability of braking from high speed even if you're on the heavier side. And when you learn to control the throttle and reverse braking, the Boosted Board can smoothly brake and accelerate like a Tesla.

The throttle and braking control is the most important control on this remote and is controlled using this smooth actuating, spring-loaded toggle wheel with your thumb. Hold down the safety trigger and push the toggle wheel forward to accelerate, or backwards to brake or go in reverse. The remote is very intuitive and it just works, but I do with that in addition to these wheel notches in the hard plastic that there was some kind of a rubbery textured finish for extra grip. The battery of the remote outlasts the board itself, so you won't be charging it as often, but when you do, it's done via the provided mini-USB cable.

It's important to note that the range dramatically reduces depending on which mode you're on and how much you push your Boosted Board. At max speed in Pro Mode on the Boosted Dual+ model, expect to get around 4.5 miles of range out of a full charge. That said, your mileage will quite literally vary depending on how heavy you are, and how fast you're traveling. But at Echo Mode, you can ride your board at speeds of up to 12 miles for as far as 8 miles on flat terrain. If you're riding with a backpack or messenger bag you'll definitely be able to also carry around the Boosted Board's charging brick. It's not heavy and doesn't take up more space than a small portable speaker. Boosted says that it takes an hour to fully charge the board or just 30 minutes to get up to 85%. During my testing I was able to fully charge the Boosted Dual+ in under an hour, which is impressively quick.

And when you do run out of juice, you can actually kick-push the Boosted Board like a regular longboard with minimal resistance from the motor system. You can actually save battery if you push yourself physically when starting to ride the Boosted Board and then slowly use your throttle, which will requiring less power to move you from a dead stop.

There's an on/off button underneath the board that when pressed, will turn the Boosted Board on and it will then connect to the remote. Next to it is a protected charging port. The LED light on the power button will let you know the charging status. You can also use the Boosted app to check the battery status more accurately than the LEDs on the wireless remote.

The spacious, 38-inch semi-stiff Vanguard Flex 3 deck is made by Loaded out of fiberglass--reinforced bamboo, which not only looks great up close, but is incredibly strong and flexible enough to withstand abuse and weight of more than 300 pounds; more so than standard boards made out of layers of wood.

The ride is as smooth as it can get before adding standalone shock absorbers. The tacky, In Heat silicone-esque 75mm wheels made by Orangatang do a really good job absorbing shock from cracks and small rocks while the flexibility in the fiberglass-reinforced bamboo deck enhances the reduction of vibration and shock being transferred from the ground to your feet. In my experience the ride is fairly smooth when riding over small gravel on the road, cracks and other uneven bumps and pieces of small branches along the way. Nothing really slows this thing down.

After a couple of days of getting used to riding the Boosted Board you'll quickly want to level up. More power! And thankfully there's plenty of it just a triple tap away. The best thing about using an electric longboard like the Boosted Board is having the portability and compact size all packed into a long-lasting, fast personal transportation rideable that will get you places far away.

You've probably never had this much fun heading to work, school, the gym, and to other places around town. It's faster, smaller and a lot more portable than a bike. But it has its limitations too. You can't ride it on uneven or rough terrain, over wet surfaces and for inexperienced users, the Boosted Board is an expensive toy that requires a great amount of practice and fear concurring.

The biggest arguable drawback to owning a Boosted Board? You won't be getting any exercise out using it. All joking aside, the real caveat is it not being waterproof. And I say arguably because you really don't want to be riding it on wet surfaces in the first place, but it never hurts to have the benefit of added durability. If Traxxas and other companies can make RC cars with brushless electric motors fully waterproof, we don't see why Boosted couldn't give this board some kind of water resistant protection.

Boosted's Boosted Dual+ is a serious piece of kit that can get you places effortlessly and within a short amount of time. It's the type of electric longboard you'll want to get if you're serious about using it on a daily basis where short commutes or even joy rides need to be made. Riding around on a Boosted Board has been the most fun I've had in years. It's impressively capable, moves like no tomorrow regardless of how big your are (with limitations of course), it's built like a tank yet it's relatively lightweight and easy to carry, it's got great battery performance and a reliably intuitive wireless remote control, and amazing regenerative braking. It's by far the most fun I've had going from point A to point B, and arguably the best form of transportation in cities. If you're thinking about getting one of these, do it. The Boosted Board Dual+ is the best of the best in electric longboards period.

Boostedboards.com