Suppose you have not yet perused my review of the Nexode RG 30W chargers. In that case, I invite you to learn more about the smaller Nexode device to gain some additional appreciation for the larger Ugreen Nexode 65W RG GaN charger.  With wall outlet space at a premium, my main complaint about the 30W RG chargers was with the single USB-C output port.  I liked the fun design, the removable feet (except the inability to attach them to the charger), the compact nature of the charger, and the GaN technology. Like the black robotic RG 30W charger, the 65W RG GaN charger arrived in an attractive black package. 

The 4 3/4 inches square by 2 inches thick black-colored retail package listed the white Ugreen name at the top left and the Nexode RG name and descriptor (Ugreen’s 1st Robot GaN Fast Charger 2x USB C 1x USB-A) along the bottom of the panel.  The panel’s left side provided three robot facial expression icons that depicted the charging status of the device (recharging, recharge completed, standby), while the lower right corner displayed a gold-foil 65W icon. The main showcase of the panel was the large black/grey RG robot charger with large ^ ^ eyes and the large subdued purple-colored NEXODE name atop the image.

Unboxing:

Many of the features of the Ugreen Nexode 35W packaging were recreated on the 65W box.  You will find a golden foil “Nexode” on the top panel, an SKU product barcode on the bottom, and three icons on the right-side panel (Higher Efficiency & Less Heat, Thermal Guard  Safe Charging, For Laptops Tablets & Phones).  The left side panel listed the product specifications: 65W 3-port PG GaN Fast Charger, 100-240V 50/60Hz 1.8A Max input, USB-C1 Output 5V/3A 9V/3A 12V/3A 15V/3A 20V/3.25A 3.3-21V/3A 65W Max. USB-C2 Output 5V/3A 9V/3A 12V/2.5A 15V/2A 20V/1.55A 3.21-21V/2.7A 30W Max. USB-A output 5V/3A 9V/2A 12V/1.5A 10V/2.25A 22.5W max, Total output 65W Max, and a note to use appropriate strength cables.  The rear panel provided a generic image of a GaN circuit, product manufacturing labels, company address, and four product features: 1. 65W Fast Charging. 2. GaN Technology. 3. Wide compatibility (Supports PD 3.0, QC 3.0), Smart Power Distribution. 

I lifted the top half of the box away from the lower half and found a 5-ounce robot-shaped charger within a form-fit cardboard/plastic tray.  Beneath the tray, you will find a small user instruction manual with FCC/IC statements and a larger 9-panel multilingual instruction manual (EN, FR, ES, JP, CN).  The manual provided a package content panel, a how it works panel, several charging status panels, a specifications table, and a few pages of notes.  Each panel provided a pictorial and verbal representation of the information, and was quite well done.  I liked the tabular charging status and the facial/anthropomorphized representations of the robot: 1. ^ < ^ flashing = Connected to a power supply. 2. – < – solid = No device connected or charging.  3. ^ < ^ solid = charging.  4. ^ ^ solid=Fully charged.  The specifications table listed the product name, plus input/output information.  I liked the tabular layout but felt the information was a bit redundant/repetitive as it was already presented on the left side panel of the packaging. Either way, the information was easy to access and well-presented for a quick refresher. 

Testing:

I removed the 2 5/8 inches tall by 1 13/16 inches wide by 1 5/8 inches thick black charger from the box and then removed the 0.1-ounce feet from the robot figurine.  I slid the film away from the front of the charger and then plugged it into a standard type A wall outlet.  The charger had a 1 5/8 inches wide by 15/16 inches tall face, an upper dark grey top, a black bottom, and a grey UGREEN belt region.  Each side panel had an attractive, glossy-black earphone accent, while the top port had dual USB-C ports and a single USB-A port.  Once removed, the magnetic black plastic feet did not attach to the charger’s surface, but could attach to metallic surfaces.  Similarly, with the feet attached, the entire device could stick to a metallic surface.  To use the device, you must first remove the feet to uncover the type A wall plug and the masked product specifications/manufacturing labels.

I plugged Klein Tools Multimeters into each USB-C port and a DROK USB-A multimeter into the USB-A port.  I plugged a variety of USB-C to USB-C (UGREEN/OEM/ANKER) cables between the multimeter and my devices to test their output.  I tried each output port individually and found the multimeter display (iPhone 15 Pro Max/iPad Pro/MacBook Pro) matched similarly to the specifications table.  I then moved to a trial involving all three ports.  I plugged my iPad Pro 12.9” into USB-C port 1, iPhone 15 Pro Max into USB-C port 2, and my son’s iPhone 14 into USB-A port 1.  Starting at 55% at 8:16 PM (15.13/2.38A), my iPad increased to 61% by 8:21 PM (15.12V/1.80A), to 74% by 8:39 PM (15.11V/2.16A), to 87% by 8:58 PM (15.11V/2.06A), 91% by 9:05 PM (15.11V/1.79A), to 97% by 9:24 PM (15.12V/1.03A), and to 100% by 9:40 PM (5.10V/1.85A). 

While charging the iPad Pro above, my iPhone 15 Pro Max increased from 61% at 8:16 PM (6.10V/1.90A) to 63% by 8:21 PM (5.08V/1.48A), to 70% by 8:39 PM (5.07V/1.48A), to 80% by  8:58 PM (5.07V/1.50A), 83% by 9:05 PM (5.07V/1.41A), to 91% by 9:24 PM (5.07V/1.20A), to 97% by 9:50 PM, and to 100% by 10:00 PM ((5.11V/0.31A).  The USB-A port allowed my son’s IPhone 14 to increase from 60% (5.07V/1.79A), to 72% at 8:39 PM (5.08V/1.59A), to 84% by 8:58 PM (5.09V/1.31A), 88% by 9:05 PM (5.11V/1.01A), to 94% at 9:24 PM (5.12V/0.64A), to 97% by 9:50 PM (5.11V/0.18A), and to 100% by 10:10 PM (5.11V/0.27A).  I ran a few other power tests with my Nintendo Switch and MacBook Pro 15”.  The Switch increased from 43% at 10:00 PM (15.10V/0.75A) USB-C 1 to 66% at 10:28 PM (15.14V/0.67), 82 % by 10:52 PM, (12.11V/0.60A), to 86% by 11:00 PM (12.12V/0.61A), and to 93% by 11:23 PM (12.15V/0.37A).  My MacBook Pro 15” 2018 increased from 73% at 10:32 PM (20.14V/2.15A), to 84% by 10:52 PM (20.11V/2.15A), 88% by 11:01 PM(20.11V/2.12A), and to 99% by 11:24 PM (20.11V/1.40A).  

I was pleased with the output and the robotic charger’s size, shape, and design.  I liked that the robotic feet hid the busy product features underneath the charger, and the device could be used as a fun little knick-knack.  The pixelated faces provided a unique charging experience, unlike other chargers I have tested.  Beyond adding more power, the 65W device expanded upon the single port design and provided a good 1 USB-A to 2 USB-C ports ratio. I enjoy the newer GaN technology and the improvements in power output and size reduction beyond silicone tech. The design was robust enough to provide power to all three devices, yet small enough to avoid overcrowding my wall outlet.  The 65W charger improved upon the single port limitation but fell flat on my second concern of losing the feet once removed.  A metallic back plate is likely not a good idea for risks of metal/contact with a power outlet.  However, I still suspect some may misplace the feet like the accessories of our action figures. 

Cons:
1. As an Apple household, I had no Android devices to test the Samsung quick charging capabilities.
2. The device may be a bit heavy for backpacking at 5-ounces, when compared to the 4.5 ounce Ugreen 65W non robot-shaped GaN charger.
3. Non retractable wall outlet.

Learn more about the Ugreen 65W Nexode charger and follow Ugreen on Facebook and Twitter.

Like many, I excitedly awaited Apple’s September 12, 2023, new iPhone 15/15 Pro lineup announcement.  I enjoyed the presentation and the jazzy buzz of new features, then patiently prepared for the way-too-early morning preorder on September 15, 2023.  The build-up did not end with the iPhone release/arrival, however.  Despite the allure of the new shiny phone, I remained equally excited about new accessories and cases.  More specifically, I have looked forward to the launch of Catalyst’s iPhone 15 Pro Max 6.7” product line. 

Packaging:

The catalyst Influence MagSafe Compatible iPhone 15 Pro Max Case arrived in an attractive 4 1/2 inches wide by 7 9/16 inches tall by 7/8 inches thick hanging-style retail case. The cover panel provided a pacific-blue banner with a bold catalyst company name along the top of the panel and a lower semi-translucent glossy plastic shell cover.  The lower edge of the cover provided a white sticker with the “Influence” product name and detailed the MagSafe compatibility, 6.7” Pro size, and drop-proof protective nature of the product. 

The semi-clear cover panel provided more information than a flat drawing/photograph.  I enjoyed directly observing the case, the MagSafe ring, the protective-raised camera protector, and the wrist lanyard.  The blue-colored top panel provided a plastic hinging tab and catalyst web address. In contrast, the bottom panel provided typical product manufacturing labels (soy ink, recycled paper, Made in China, etc.).  The side panels provided a multilingual product feature description: 1. Mil-STD-810G 10ft/3M drop resistant (corner drops). 2. Up to 3.8dBa sound direction toward the user at 1cm over the base device standards.

The white-colored rear panel provided a more thorough description of the case and features.  The top picture showcased the forward-angled speaker cutouts and data suggesting the user can experience up to 30% louder forward-facing sound.  The second panel demonstrated the non-slip side panel grip material, while the third panel demonstrated an efficient, pocketable phone.  The fourth panel showed the easy-to-access side buttons, the fifth panel showcased several catalyst corner accessories, the sixth panel provided information about the anti-drop wrist lanyard (10Kg pull test), and the seventh panel detailed the raised-edge screen and camera protector. 

The last summary image demonstrated a side view of the Influence case, a toggle mute wheel, and the raised camera protection. Interestingly, the image was one of an older device/design, as the new case had a right-side cutout for the new action button. Finally, the lower edge provided a QR code, product SKU barcode, design award logo, eco-friendly package logo, and information about warranty, trademarks, and warnings.  

Testing:

I opened the packaging cover, removed the plastic insert, and then the cardboard strap (2.5x higher drop protection and up to 30% louder sound) that held the phone to the inner packaging. The Influence case measured 3 5/16 inches wide by 6 9/16 inches tall by 9/16 inches thick and weighed only 1.4 ounces.  The 0.1-ounce wrist lanyard was wrapped around the cardboard backing and packed adjacent to the phone case. The Influence case had a 1 5/8 inches wide by 1 11/16 inches tall by 1/8 inches tall camera cutout with a raised black border along the top left.

The remainder of the 2 7/8 inches wide by 6 1/8 inches tall back panel consisted of a smoky-frosted black plastic panel. Even though the smoky grey color was on the darker side, it still contrasted nicely against the glossy black camera protector, and the matte black MagSafe ring visible through the back frosted black panel (2 1/8 inches total diameter by 3/16 inches width and lower oval 1/4 inches wide by 13/16 inches tall magnet).

The right side panel (volume button side) provided a matte black grippy surface, rounded corners, a tapered 9/16 inches long by 5/16 inches tall action button cutout (inner dimension 7/16 inches long by 5/16 inches tall), and a conjoined 1 inch long by 1/8 inches tall volume up/down button.  The raised buttons provided a nice tactile feel and proved to be quite responsive.  The left side panel (power button side), provided the same matte black colored grippy surface and rounded corners as the other panel. You will find an etched “catalyst” name along the lower edge and a single 11/16 inches long by 1/8 inches tall power button near the top. 

The lower grippy edge provided a 1/2 inches long by 1/4 inches tall USB-C port cutout and 1/16 inches diameter vent hole.  The flat top panel provided the same matte black colored panel and grippy surface material as the side panels. Each of the panels had angled trapezoidal edges for added grip and drop protection.  The slightly-raised front panel provided glancing protection for the iPhone screen.  Each corner had a 3/16 inches long by 3/32 inches tall accessory cutout.  These cutouts were designed to work with the wrist lanyard and Crux Accessory system.  Lastly, the lower edge of the front panel provided dual 9/16 inches long by 3/32 inches tall vented speaker cutouts for forward-facing sound. 

To install the iPhone 15 Pro Max into the Influence case, you must first align the volume/action button side with the edge of the case.  I pressed the phone into the top edge of the case, then the power side, then the bottom edge.  I was pleased with the alignment of the power button, speaker, and USB-C ports and the case/phone’s lightweight nature.  The MagSafe Ring aligned well with the back of the phone and allowed access to MagSafe chargers/mounts without requiring phone case removal. Once my phone was inserted, I installed the wrist lanyard onto the lower crux accessory port. 

I gripped the 2-inch-long narrow cable loop (1/16 inches diameter) and guided it through the lower corner crux attachment point.  I placed the 3/16 inches diameter paracord-like loop end (6 1/2 inches long wrist strap loop) through the narrow loop and tightened the Lark’s head knot.  I liked the 5/8 inches long by 5/16 inches wide bullet-shaped cable attachment point with an etched catalyst name, and the 5/16 inches-wide by 3/16 inches tall wrist lanyard slide.  I appreciated the easy installation process and the inclusion of the secure wrist loop/slide.

If you have not watched any drop-test demonstrations, I would encourage you to view them.  For my controlled tests, I held and dropped the iPhone 15 Pro Max Influence case combo onto each corner from a height of approximately 2.5 feet.  Each drop simulated a sliding phone from my dining room tabletop onto my hardwood floor.  I was pleased that the case was protected from these drops, and my iPhone remained undamaged.  I have not yet needed to test this version of the Influence catalyst case in a real-world drop scenario.

However, my children have previously tested the brand’s mettle and helped to forge my trust in the case. The raised screen border will allow you to set your iPhone face down without scratching the surface. While face-up, the borders will add a layer of glancing protection. Similarly, the camera borders added yet another layer of safety.  The case provided several layers of protection from the plastic barrier, raised bezels, a secure MagSafe magnetic attachment ring, and with the addition of various Crux Accessories (sold separately). 

I was initially saddened when I learned the new case design removed the volume mute toggle wheel, which was historically a best-in-class feature. However, the new iPhone action button design demanded a change. Where many case brands provide a narrow, difficult-to-access cutout, the influence case provided appropriately sized cutouts for the action button and the lower USB-C port. I tested various USB-C cables against the lower cutout and found each fit nicely within the provided space. Additionally, the action button was easily accessed by my pointer finger or thumb, without obstruction. Lastly, the MagSafe feature allowed for secure magnetic mounting and wireless charging.

Summary:

You can purchase a clear or Atlantic Blue version if you are interested in other colors beyond the black/frosted case.  I enjoyed the color, the design, the grippy feel, and the overall layout of the case. The iPhone 15 Pro Max Influence case continues to build on my trust in catalyst, which started with my iPhone 6S plus. I look forward to yet another catalyst-enhanced year.

Learn more about the catalyst iPhone 15 Pro Max Influence Case.
Follow catalyst on Facebook.

Recharge, Regenerate, and Rejuvenate your electronics.

According to a Deloitte’s 2022 Connectivity and Mobile Trends Survey, each US household has approximately 22 connected devices.  With so many devices requiring power, finding an open outlet or USB port can sometimes be challenging.  From dorm rooms to offices living spaces and theater rooms, many outlets, power strips, and hubs become overwhelmed, while others remain dormant or neglected. 

Thus, it is important for home utility to find power adapters capable of providing as much power to as many devices as possible.  My general rule is that a device must provide at least two USB ports (USB-A or USB-C) per outlet at a minimum.  These chargers often assume larger sizes and become too unwieldy for portable use.  Thankfully, more efficient GaN chargers can provide quite a punch for home use, and their smaller frame often allows for improved portability.  When considering portability, I prefer lightweight to port quantity.   

Packaging:

The UGREEN 30W Nexode RG GaN Fast Charger arrived in a 4 3/4 inches square by 2 inches tall retail package.  The cover panel displayed the company name along the top left, two robotic face icons along the left panel, the product name/description along the bottom left, and a silver-glistening 30W logo along the bottom right.  I liked the creative charge indicators with a robotic kiss face indicating recharging and the lack of lips suggesting the device was fully charged. 

The top panel listed the NEXODE logo in metallic silver font, while the bottom panel provided a product SKU barcode sticker, detailed the product color, and CD359 model number.  The right side panel provided three product detail feature icons (Higher Efficiency & Less Heat, Thermal Guard Safe Charging, and For Laptops Tablets & Phones).  The left panel listed the product specifications: 1. Product name 30W USB-C PD GaN Fast Charger. 2. 100-240V input. 50/60Hz 800mA Max. 3. USB-C output 5V/3A 9V/3A 12V/2.5A 15V/2A 20V/1.5A 3.3-11V/2.7A with total power 30W Max.  Lastly, the panel listed a product note to utilize appropriate charging cables.  

The rear panel listed the UGREEN name along the top left, provided an attractive image of GaN chip circuit board, listed four product features (30W Fast Charging, GaN Technology, Wide Compatibility [PD3.0, QC 3.0, other fast charging protocol], and smart Power Distribution), as well as manufacturer address, website address (www.UGREEN.com), company contact information, and manufacturing labels.  I liked the design of the packaging, the metallic font accents, and the overall layout of the information. 

If a tacticool, matte black/metallic silver, robotic Nexode 30W charger is not your particular flavor of geek, then perhaps the soft-toned, pastel purple option may pique your fancy.  Both sets of packaging (black-colored Outlook Charger and the pastel-colored Robot Colorful New device) provided a fun educational experience.  I liked the contrasting light-dark theme, the metallic accents, and the emotive, cartoonish facial features of the 30W charger. 

When I removed the top of the box, I was greeted by a friendly, earphone-wearing, robot-shaped device staring back at me.  The inner surface of the lid provided a fun description of the RG charger (RobotGaN), an ink outline of the device, and images portraying the facial changes of a charging block and one that finished the charging process.  The 2.0-ounce 30W RG charger was shipped cradled within a cardboard/plastic cutout tray. 

The flat surface introduced the RG Nexode, detailed the 30W output, and encouraged the user to “charge more.”  Beneath the the tray, I found a short B1 User manual with FCC/ICC statements, and a nine-panel multi-lingual instruction manual (EN, FR, ES, JP, CN).  The manual detailed the package contents, how it works, charging status, specifications (100-240V ~50/60Hz 800mAh input, 5.0V/3A 9V/3A 12V/2.5A 15V/2.0A 20V/1.5A 3.3-11V/2.7A USB-C output, for a total of 30W max output), and a few brief notes. 

Testing:

I removed the 2 1/4 inches tall by 1 5/8 inches wide by 2 1/4 inches thick black charger from the box. I admired the 1 15/16 inches wide by 3/4 inches tall face, the attractive UGREEN belt buckle name, the glossy black earphone accents on both side panels, the USB-C port on the top of the headphones, and the black plastic feet.  To use the device, you must first remove the feet to access the type A wall plug. 

The feet strategically hid the base plate’s product specifications and manufacturing labels.  I liked that the feet clicked securely into the base and that the setup created a fun little knick-knack figurine.  Once the feet were removed, I inserted the charger into a Type B outlet on my multiport hub.  The pixelated ^^ shaped eyes and < shaped mouth briefly activated and then turned off.  I plugged a Klein Tools Multimeter into the USB-C port atop the charger and then an ANKER USB-C to USB-C cable between the multimeter and my iPad Pro 12.9”.  

Starting at 64% at 8:10 PM, my iPad Pro increased to 68% by 8:17 PM (multimeter display 14.82V/1.93A).  The iPad Pro increased to 79% by 8:31 PM (14.79V/1.63A), to 89% by 8:46 PM (14.8V/1.59A), and to 98% by 9:15 PM (14.90V/0.54A).  By 9:28, my iPad Pro registered 100% (14.92V/0.41A multimeter), but the charger’s mouth icon did not extinguish.  When I returned to the instruction manual, I found an asterisk on page 4 stating the detection mechanism may vary by brand. I removed the multimeter and plugged my iPad Pro Directly into the device, and the ^^ remained while the < icon turned off. I suspect the multimeter current caused the device to remain in charge mode.   For the second test, I plugged the multimeter into the charger and then a USB-C to Lighting cable into my iPhone 14 Pro Max. 

Starting at 9:46 PM at 46% (8.93V/2.20A), my iPhone Pro increased to 79% by 10:14 PM (8.95V/0.88A), and by 10:38 PM the iPhone entered Optimized Battery Charging mode and dropped to trickle charge mode (5.15V/0.11A).  The phone message noted that it would charge to full by 3:00 AM.  I checked my iPhone at 3:20 AM and found it was fully charged.  For my final tests, I evaluated the charge rate for several devices.  The RG charged my Nintendo Switch at 14.91V/0.72A, my MacBook Pro 2018 15” at 19.87V/1.41A, my Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition (11th Generation) at 5.15V/0.35A, and my Air Pods Pro Gen 2 at 5.15V/0.36A.  Each device charged at a reasonable rate, and once each device was fully charged, the “<“ icon disappeared. 

Summary:

For a single-port USB-C charger, 30W may be a bit on the narrow end for larger laptops and MacBooks.  However, the device should work well for most portable electronics, phones, and tablets.  With charger port real estate at a premium, I would have loved for the device to provide at least two ports (See 65W Nexode review coming soon).  Using the screen/face to demonstrate the charging status was a fun, creative, and distinctive method when compared to the use of a generic LED. 

I enjoyed the figurine mode, with the attached feet, and could stand/enjoy the RG robot on my desk.  My biggest complaint about the device was the inability to attach the feet to the back of the device once removed even though the magnetic foot base was strong enough to affix the entire RG charger to my metal door and refrigertor. If you grew up playing with action figures, then you know the ire when you cannot find their accessory.  I fear the prong covers will be misplaced or left behind if used in public.  The device needs a method to affix the feet to its side/back while charging.  

I was pleased with the charge rates for my iPhone 14 Pro Max (several tests showed the promise of ~50% in 30 minutes), iPad Pro, Nintendo Switch, and even my MacBook Pro, although it was below the rate of 65-80W chargers. The outer fire-resistant shell never felt hot, and the single-port charger succeeded in the lightweight and cuteness categories.  I applaud the switch from silicone to Gallium Nitride and UGREENS commitment to the environment.  Their website reports a savings of 5503 tons of CO2 annually, which equates to planting ~220,775 trees per year. 

When you factor in the ~$25 price tag and compare it to market-similar devices/features (~$19-30), the single port charger is a reasonable deal.  Considering the lightweight nature and that the feet add prong protection similar to retractable devices, the pocketable device increases in opportunity: cost ratio.  I have added the RG Nexode 30W device to my Nintendo Switch bag, which has now become my device’s travel charger.  The purple 30W device, with the cute posterior bow, was quickly snagged by my 9-year-old daughter to keep her Nintendo Switch ready for action.

Learn more about the Nexode 30W RG charger. 
Follow UGREEN on Facebook and X (Formerly Twitter).

Wrap up your cables and declutter your personal space with Super-Stretch Selfie Straps.

Even though my wife and I find ourselves on opposite ends of the tech-loving/tolerating coin, we agree on one major tenet: cords and cable clutter are a nuisance.  As a technophile, I like to adopt new technologies/devices, and enjoy learning/gaining new functions/opportunities.  Our home has several Apple TVs and gaming consoles attached to our televisions, various iterations of Alexa, essential oil diffusers, and other devices like Linksys Velop mesh nodes. 

When you consider iPhone, iPad, MacBook charging cables, hoverboards, and other kids’ toys, our outlets resemble Medusa’s hair.  Like Perseus’ tricks at dealing with the Gorgon, I employ the magic of hook-loop cable straps to control/slay the cable menace. 

Packaging:

The Wrap-It Storage Super-Stretch Selfie Straps arrived in a matte black 7 5/16 inches long by 5 1/4 inches wide by 11/16 inches thick retail package.  The cover, top, bottom, and both side panels displayed a yellow/black Wrap-IT storage logo with bright highlighter-yellow accents. I enjoyed the variety, the dark background, and the play on contrasting colors.  However, I do not believe the logo should have been imprinted on each surface.  The rear panel provided a large white sticker on a black background. 

The upper segment of the panel provided a yellow accented product name, a quaint humanized statement about the strap, and two product feature descriptors (1. Stays Attached. 2. Super-Stretch Material).  The mid/lower segment provided a helpful three-step how-to (1. Loop and secure the yellow tab around the cord. 2. Wrap the cord with a soft loop side of the strap facing out. 3. Pull snugly and attach), and dual images portraying a wrapped cable, and an extremely organized, junk drawer.  Lastly, the panel’s right edge provided a small image depicting the twelve 6” black straps, an SKU barcode, Wrap-IT logo, @WrapItStorage, address information, and a QR code.  

Testing:

I opened the box and removed the included Wrap-It Storage advertisement card, and the twelve 3 3/4 inches long by 1-inch wide straps. Each strap had a 1×1 inch black elastic patch with a centralized W logo (11/16 inch diameter yellow circle with a black W in the negative space), a 5 1/8 inches soft loop section, and a 1/2 inch long by 1-inch wide yellow-colored hook segment.  Directly opposed to the W patch, each strap had a 1×1 inch black loop segment.  When I removed the yellow hook section from the loop section and tugged outward, the 6 3/4 inches long cable stretched to approximately 12 1/2 inches long.

To use the Selfie Straps, I placed the W logo facing upward, undid the yellow hook segment, and opened the strap.  I placed a USB-C cable at the yellow-hook/black-loop junction, draped the yellow-hook over it, and affixed it to the black-loop section.  I then coiled the cable, wrapped the strap over the loop and affixed the black hook segment to the loop segment. 

I liked the secure hook-loop attachment and the stretchy elastic material.  Additionally, my OCD nature enjoyed the ability to orient/align the symmetrical, vibrant yellow, square patches.  I found the width worked well with USB cables, power strip cables, and to secure the cable of my UGREEN 200W desk charger.  However, the larger Wrap-IT Super Stretch Storage Straps worked better for the larger tools in my garage. 

Learn more about the Wrap-It Storage Stretch and follow Wrap-It on Facebook

As my kids have grown older, our family has become more involved with sporting activities BSA Scouts, and school.  From weekend-spanning campouts, week-long scout camps, to all day baseball tournaments, basketball games, band concerts, presentations, water park/theme park outings, etc., I have found difficulty with keeping my iPhone 14 Pro Max, Apple Watch Ultra, Air Pods Pro, and other devices charged when separated from a power outlet/source.  As a potential solution, I utilize portable batteries with a minimum of 10,000 mAh charge.  When weight:power ratios are considered, one must decide about the optimal number and size of their batteries.  Assuming ~80% efficiency, a 10,000 mAh battery should provide just under two full charges for the 4323 mAh battery of my iPhone 14 Pro Max.  

When backpacking or carrying gear for a day outing, I must consider the weight and volume of my devices.  My son (Life Scout) and I recently returned from a two-week Philmont trek (~90 total miles) and carried ~60-70 pounds over two weeks. This included our shelter, sleeping gear, clothing, water, food, group gear, and miscellaneous items like batteries for my iPhone (camera/communications).  I purchased/packed a 10,000 mAh Anker USB-A/C battery (8.8 ounces) and an Anker 20,000 mAh PowerCore (12.16 ounces) for the trip.  Even though the batteries served me well, the dual items took up precious space within my Osprey Aether 70L Plus pack.  After some additional research/testing, I may have found my optimal weekend and backpacking power bank for my upcoming campout/trip. Weighing in at 18.1 ounces, the UGREEN 145W 25,000 mAh Power bank will provide me with weight and volume savings, but at a possible cost of ~500mAh and some redundancy.  

UNBOXING:  

The UGREEN 25000 Fast Charging Power Bank arrived in a 3 7/8 inches wide by 6 5/8 inches tall by 1 3/4 inches thick retail package.  The main cover provided a sexy hunter-green UGREEN logo at the top of the cover, followed by three product icons. 1. High Energy Density Cell. 2. Trickle Charging Supported. 3. Flight Approved.  The cover’s lower edge listed the generic “Fast Charging Power Bank” product name, the 25000 mAh power capacity, bold “145W” output, small text detailing “Fast charge Laptop, Phones & Tablets at Once,” and an attractive hunter green border.  The right side panel listed several product manufacturing labels, while the opposite side was left blank. The rear panel provided three icons along the top of the panel (PD100W Single Port Fast Charging, Max 65W Input High-Seed Charging, Smart LED Display for Remaining Battery), and a helpful Specifications table (1. USB-C1 Input: 5V/3A 9V/3A 12V/3A 15V/3A 20V/3.25A.  2. USB-C2 Input:  5V/3A 9V/3A 12V/3A 15V/3A 20V/2.25A.  3. USB-C1 output: 5V/3A 9V/3A 12V/3A 15V/3A 20V/5A. 4. USB-C2 output: 5V/3A 9v3A 12V/3A 15V/3A 20V/2.25A.  USB-A Output 5V/3A 9V/2A 12V/1.5A.  Total Output 5v/6A 9V/6A12V 6A 20V/7.25A. The bottom hunter-green panel listed the address and contact information.  

To access the charger, I removed the tape closure along the top panel, lifted the top panel, slid the inner white tray out from the case, and examined the package contents.  I removed the 1 pound 2.1 ounce, 6 3/8 inches long by 3 3/16 inches wide by 1 inch thick black power bank, followed by the 20-inches long USB-C to USB-C cable resting in the lower compartment.  Before disposing of the inner tray, remove the inner cardboard shelf to find the 4 inches-wide by 7 3/4 inches tall grey drawstring carry bag, instruction manual, and FCC/IC statement manual.  The carry bag had a small UGREEN tag at the bottom corner, well-stitched hemlines, and a convenient drawstring nylon cord.  Even though the bag was large enough to accommodate the power bank and cable, the cable printed on the bag’s surface and attracted dust/debris.  I found the more optimal solution was to coil the all-in-one data cable and to place it at the bottom of the bag and not beside the battery.  It is important to note that the accessory bag will not have room to accommodate a wall charger.  However, the bag’s benefit was protecting the battery’s surface and charging ports from scratches/scuffs, and USB port contact.  I was thankful for the included carry bag, but would love the option to purchase an accessory hardshell/clamshell style case with added space for a UGREEN 65W GaN wall charger combo.  With that as an option, The UGREEN 145W 25000 mAh battery may be the perfect weekend or summer camp battery.

USB-C Cable:

I was impressed with the design of the 20-inches long USB-C to USB-C cable.  Instead of providing a cheaply made, throw-away cable, UGREEN put some thought into their accessory.  Each of the 5/16 inches wide by 1/8 inches thick by 1/4 inch tall USB-C metallic prongs connected to a black-rubberized 7/16 inches wide by 1/4 inches thick by 5/8 inches tall oval neck segment.  The neck segment then tapered to 1 1/4 inch diameter collar segment over 3/8 inches.  I gripped/bent the metallic prong, then tugged against the prong/neck, the neck/collar, and the collar/cable, and found a robust, well-designed setup.  When I paired a 65W USB-C wall charger with the included USB-C to USB-C cable and plugged the USB-C cable into the power bank, I found a secure fit with each of the USB-C prongs.

Manual:

I liked how the manual portrayed the information with a picture/diagram followed by a multilingual list of instructions (EN, DE, FR, ES, IT, JP, CN, NL, SE, PL, TR. The manual detailed the need to fully charge the battery before first use, the ability for dual input, and the preferred method to charge the device with a power input of 65W or above.  It then detailed the wired fast charging mode (single press power-on, double press power off), and the Trickle charging mode (Press-hold for 3 seconds on, 3.5 seconds off [3.5 hour timeout]). The fourth segment detailed the power distribution: 1. 100W USB-C 1, 18W USB-A, 45W USB-C2 single port options. 2. 100W USB-C 1 + 45W USB-C 2, 100W USB-C 1 + 18W USB-A, and 15W USB-A + 15W USB-C 2 dual power output. 3. 100W USB-C 1 + 15 W USB-C 2 and 15W USB-A triple charging. The fifth segment provided the same list of product specifications that were presented on the rear panel of the outer packaging.  Lastly, the rear panels provided some general product notes regarding the battery/cable, and product warnings.  The manual did a great job overall.

Power Output/Testing:

I used the power bank to overnight charge my iPhone 14 Pro Max as the primary test for the battery.  At 10:34 PM, my iPhone was at 31% power.  I plugged a Klein Tools Multimeter into the USB-C1 port of the UGREEN battery and a USB-C to Lightning cable between the multimeter and my iPhone 14 Pro Max.  I plugged a second multimeter into USB-C port 2 and then a USB-C to Apple Watch charger into the multimeter.  The multimeter displayed 8.95V/1.78A for my iPhone and 4.97V/.019A for my Apple Watch Ultra.  By 10:52 my iPhone was at 62% power and the 145W 25000 battery reached 92% (8.92V/2.35A).  By 11:18 PM my phone was at 82% power and the power bank was at 87% power.  On day 2, I started testing the battery with my phone at 47% power at 10:20 PM (8.90V/2.54A).  The battery dropped to 80%, but my phone was at 68% at 10:34 PM.  By 10:44 PM,  my iPhone was at 78%.  By 11:02 PM, the phone was at 86%. By 11:39 PM, the iPhone was at 96%, and by 12:03 am, the iPhone was at 100% power.  On Day 3, I started at 11:47 PM at 28% power.  My iPhone increased to 52% by 12:02 PM (65% battery power remaining, 8.96V/1.62A multimeter display). By 12:13 AM, my iPhone reached 68%. By 12:28 AM the phone was at 80% and entered into “Optimized Battery Charging Mode.”

As a second test, I depleted the battery to 5% power and tested the time to recharge the battery.  Starting at 7:03 AM with 5% battery power, I plugged the USB-C to USB-C cable between the battery and an 87W USB-C Apple Charger.  I was impressed to find the battery was fully charged by 8:50 AM and that the charging rate matched the levels referenced in the instruction manual.   As a second charging test, starting at 40% power (4:06 PM), the battery increased to 54% by 4:17 PM (20.17V/3.14A).  By 4:24 PM, the battery was at 64% (20.16V/3.14A).  By 4:30 PM, the battery was at 72% (20.18V/3.13A).  By 4:47 PM the battery was at 88% (20.17V/3.12A)The multimeter displayed ~20.19V/3.16A through USB-C1 and ~20.19V/2.16A through USB-C2 port. By 4:54 PM the battery was fully charged.  Throughout charging/depletion, the battery never felt too hot to touch or uncomfortable to handle (103-110 degrees using an infrared thermometer).  

With a fully charged battery, I used the device to charge my iPad Pro at a recent conference.  While using the iPad Pro 12.9” Gen 5 with Magic Keyboard to take notes, I noted that the power dropped to 40% at 9:33 am.  I plugged the USB-C to USB-C cable between my UGREEN battery (100%) and iPad Pro and found the device charged to 51% by 9:45 AM (89% battery power remaining), and to 67% by 10:06 AM (74% battery power remaining).   By 10:47 AM, the iPad increased to 90% (50% battery remaining).  By 11:03 AM the iPad was at 96% (44% remaining battery power).  I liked that the battery was robust enough to power my iPad while simultaneously charging the battery.   

I plugged my Klein Tools multimeter into the USB-C1 port of the battery and then the USB-C to USB-C cable between my MacBook Pro 15” 2018.  For an initial test, I started at 5% power at 11:09PM.  After 10 minutes, the multimeter displayed 19.48/4.10A and the MacBook increased to 25%.  I was impressed with the 20% power increase in the 10 minute timeframe.  On a subsequent day, I plugged the Klein Tools Multimeter into the battery USB-C1 port and the 100W UGREEN cable between the multimeter and my MacBook Pro.  Starting at 49% power at 5:06 PM (19.66V/4.15A) and a full battery pack, the MacBook increased to 57% by 5:16 (19.83V/3.30A) and the battery dropped to 88% power.  The MacBook Pro increased to 71% by 5:30 PM (19.75V/4.14A) while the battery dropped to 67% battery power.  By 5:35 PM the MacBook was at 75% (19.87V/2.68A) and the battery was at 61%.  By 6:02 PM the iPad was at 95% power (20.05V/1.80A) and the battery was at 34% power.  

Even though I have done countless hours of research, a single long-trek backpacking trip, and dozens of weekend/week-long campouts, I would not consider myself an expert on packing, arranging, batteries, or optimization.  Thus, each person must determine their optimal loadout and gear requirements.  A single fast-charging battery would have helped me on my recent Philmont trek and on several scouting activities, where there can be lengthy lines for access to charging ports before going into the backcountry (Advisor Cabin).  I felt the weight was reasonable for the size of the battery, and the included carry bag was a rather nice addition.  I used the trickle charge overnight for my Apple Watch Ultra (542 mAh battery)paired with a USB-C Pitaka Power Dongle and found minimal change in the battery power.  In fact, the battery dropped by 4% from 98% to 94%.  By morning it had fully charged the watch and returned to standard charge mode for future charges. Additionally, the USB-A output port provided standard/expected outputs of ~5V/2A for my iPhone.  

Despite my appreciation for the included carry bag, I believe the kit needs a clamshell case with room for an appropriately sized GaN charger and USB-C cables (USB-C to USB-C and USB-C to Lightning).  The base price may seem a bit high, but the sub $100 sale price ($94.99 at the time of writing)provides a good deal of tech for the price.  The dual USB-C output, single USB-A output provided a good amount of power, and the efficiency seemed above average.  I tested the device with three outputs and found that my MacBook Pro, iPad Pro, iPhone 14 Pro max did not maximize the 115W max output.  When I charged an iPad Pro and iPad Mini on both USB-C ports, I still did not hit the maximum output.  The battery has lasted approximately 70 charge/deplete/recharge cycles and has not shown any signs of slowing down.  The clear LCD screen provided a clear representation of the battery level. However, I would have loved for the screen to display a trickle mode indicator.  Overall, I was more than pleased with the battery/setup. 

Learn more about the UGREEN 145W 25000 mAh Power Bank and follow UGREEN on Facebook and X (Twitter).

As technology has advanced, several issues and needs have been addressed, modified, reduced, or completely eliminated.  Despite the improvements and changes, more devices means more cables, power plugs, and clutter.  Although I am content to be a “piles-guy” at work, knowing where each paper is in its representative stack, I have an aversion to cable clutter.  To reduce the visual distraction of the cable cacophony, I utilize cable straps, cable ties, 3M tape-paired wall/desk mounts, hubs, and quirks of devices to hide their cables strategically.  Recently, I have turned to Wrap-It Storage strap solutions to enhance my home/office cable management. 

The Wrap-It Super-Stretch Storage kit arrived in a black-colored 9 5/8 inches long by 4 1/4 inches wide by 1 5/8 inches thick retail package.  Instead of a bland, standard, white-colored outer shell, the company used a matte-black surface color.  The bright yellow accent surrounding the “Wrap-It” name paired beautifully with the yellow font “Storage.”  The resulting contrast provided a vibrant, eye-catching, high-vis logo on the cover, side, top, and bottom panels.  The white-colored rear sticker showcased three possible uses for the “Super-Stretch Wrap-IT Storage Straps.”  Like the cover, the rear panel successfully employed yellow accents to highlight the title and logos.  You will find three product features (1. Stretches to 1.5x the original length. 2. Weatherproof. 3. Multi-purpose) and demonstration images. I liked that the company used the images of the Wrap-It straps to constrain the power cords of an iron, hand vacuum, extension cord, sander cord, and Shop Vac. Each provided a valuable example of the benefits of the Wrap-It straps. Lastly, the rear panel provided a product SKU barcode, an informational QR code, and a note that the product is not weight or strap-rated and should not be used to hang or lash anything. 

Within the box, I found eight multi-sized Wrap-It Storage straps.  The two smallest straps (6”) measured 7 1/8 inches long by 1 inch wide from buckle to strap tip.  Each had a well-stitched elastic buckle segment, a 4 1/2 inches long loop segment, and a 2 inches long hoop segment.  I could stretch the 6 3/4 inches long elastic strap to approximately 13-inches.  The outer elastic segment had a 1 15/16 inches long by 1 inch wide Wrap-It logo patch, which was oriented parallel with the strap.  The patch was similar to the cover logo but added red accents for “Super Stretch,” and “Storage Strap.”  These straps were perfect for smaller appliances/tools, and shorter extension cords, but were a bit hefty for USB cables.  If you are looking for USB-A, USB-C or smaller cable ties, the Wrap-It storage company Self-Gripping Cable Ties may provide a more optimal form/function.  Additionally, if desired, they also make a few varieties of hook/loop cable labels. 

The next-sized strap (9”) measured 9 3/4 inches long (buckle to tip) by 1 1/2 inches wide.  The strap provided a 7/8 inches tall by 1 13/16 inches wide buckle, a well-stitched elastic attachment point, an 8 5/8 inches long loop segment, and a 1 1/2 inches long hook segment.  With effort, I could stretch the strap from 9 1/4 inches to approximately 17 inches long.  You will find a 1 1/2 inches wide by 1-inch tall Wrap-It Storage patch on the outer surface of the elastic band.  Unlike the smaller patch, the larger patches were oriented perpendicular to the strap, rather than in-line.  The wider/longer (9”) strap worked well for small to medium appliance cables, but not as well as the medium-large 12” strap. 

The third strap measured 12 3/4 inches long from buckle to strap and was 2 inches wide.  The 2 1/4 inches wide by 7/8 inches tall buckle was attached to a well-stitched elastic loop, a 10 3/4 inches long hoop segment, and a 2-inches long hoop segment.  I could stretch the 12” strap to approximately 21 inches in length.  Lastly, the largest 18″ strap measured 18 7/8 inches long by 2 inches wide from the buckle to the tip.  The 2 1/4 inches wide by 7/8 inches tall buckle was attached to a well-stitched elastic loop, a 16 1/8 inches long loop segment, and a 2-inches long hook segment.  I was able to stretch the elastic strap to approximately 32 inches long.  

To utilize the straps, you can wrap the strap around your cables and affix the hook section to the loop section.  Even though this method will bundle your cables, it will not utilize the buckle, and is not as adaptable as the true intended use.  For optimized use, place the Wrap-It strap Velcro down, position your coiled/folded cable on the back of the elastic strap, then insert the end of the strap through the buckle with the hook segment facing upward.  Pull the hook segment away from the buckle, stretch the strap around/over your cable, then affix the hook segment to the loop segment.  It is important to choose the proper size strap based on the size of the coiled, circular, figure of 8, or daisy chained cable.  The secure hook-loop segment should remain attached until you decide to release the strap. The super stretch kit will work better for items inside a drawer, organizer, or tool box. If you need to hang items, Wrap-It has better options than the Stretch straps.

If you are interested in a jack-of-all-trades strap kit, I would recommend the Wrap-It Storage Super-Stretch 8-pack.  The inclusion of small, medium, medium-large, and large straps ensured a variety of options, but may not be the best option for some smaller tasks. I appreciated the elastic nature of the straps, the durability, weather resistance, the strength of the hook-loop (Velcro), and the overall design. However, I would have preferred that these straps had a grommet like the heavy-duty straps or a hook/carry strap like the Easy Carry Storage Straps. Check out the Wrap-It website for your back-to-school cable management needs. You may find the perfect stocking stuffer for the holidays.

Learn more about the Wrap-It Storage Stretch and follow Wrap-It on Facebook

As a Xennial, I have had the luxury of an analog childhood and a tech-filled digital adolescent and adult life.  I knew a time before cords, cables, and USB powered everything, and I watched as tech quickly outpaced the charging capabilities of my home and dorm.  From the 80s-90s stereo systems to entertainment centers, gaming consoles/setup, computer systems, etc., many dorms and homes relied on power strips to expand beyond the standard two-port outlet, sometimes encroaching on fire-hazard territory. 

Before USB cables/chargers were commonplace, each device shipped with a type A/B wall plug.  Unfortunately, many companies shipped an unwieldy, humongous, oddly-shaped AC adapter plug.  Each upgrade or acquisition required another rousing game of cable Tetris, where the contestant needed to attempt to fit the various AC adapters onto a power strip.  Thankfully, some power strips arranged the outlets perpendicularly, allowing more devices to charge simultaneously.  

I don’t exactly know how or when we became such a tech-heavy home, but it is now hard to miss viewing some digital or smart device in any room of my home.  We have slowly amassed several iPad Minis, iPad Pros, MacBook Pros, Echo Dots, iPhones, headphones/earbuds, and other USB-powered electronics.  Each of the devices requires USB power, and some provide their own large wall charging block. 

As an example, my MackBook Pro 15” had a single 87W USB-C charging adapter, while my iPad Pro 12.9” had 30W single USB-C power adapter.  The 87W charger alone weighed 10.2 ounces and measured 3 1/8 inches square by 1 1/8 inches thick.  With so many devices requiring power, it is wasteful and inefficient to use single-port chargers.  Thankfully, many companies have moved from silicone to Gallium Nitride technology, which allowed for smaller, more heat-efficiency multi-port chargers. 

Packaging

The UGREEN Nexode 300W 5-Port GaN Fast Charger arrived in a 6 1/2 inches long by 4 7/8 inches wide by 4 1/4 inches thick retail package.  Instead of using a generic white colored background, UGREEN stepped up the cool factor with a glossy black base color.  The color/texture served as the perfect backdrop for the white-colored UGREEN company name along the top left, four grey product feature icons along the left (PD 3.1 140W max Single Port Charging, GaN Higher Efficiency & Less Heat, Fast Charge 5 devices at once, 1.5m/4.9ft USB-C Fast Charging cable), the “300W 5-Port PD GaN Fast Charger” name along the lower left, and the golden-colored NEXODE name along the bottom right of the cover panel. 

Each of the above features provided a convenient border for the sleek image of the UGREEN 300W hub, the main showcase of the panel.  I liked that the user could see the five USB outputs (four USB-C and one USB-A), and I felt that the USB-C centric ratio better represented modern tech trends.  I respect the font choices, the layout, the quality of the imagery, the use of contrasting shades, dead space, and the slightly subdued grey icon fonts.  

The rear panel listed the white-colored UGREEN name along the top, followed by an attractive, although generic image of GaN circuitry.  Beneath the image, you will find a re-listing of the four icons on the front cover, followed by a helpful tech-spec table.  Despite the visual appeal of the contrasting colors and imagery, the table provided the most useful information.  The device promises 100-240V 50/60Hz 4.2A max input, 5V/3A 9V/3A 12V/3A 15V/3A 20V/5A 28V/5A USB-C1 output [140W Max], 5V/3A 9V/3A 12V/3A 15V/3A 20V/5A USB-C2/3 output [100W Max], 5V/3A 9V/3A 12V/3A 15V/3A 20V/2.25A USB-C4 output [45W Max], 5V/3A 9V/2A 12V/1.5A 10V/2.25A USB-A output [22.5W Max], for a total of 300.0W Max output.  Like the cover panel, the top panel successfully utilized the contrast between the metallic-golden Nexode name and the black backdrop.

I enjoyed the visual appeal and the “pop” of the Nexode name against the dark void.  The bottom panel listed the company contact information, registration information, product manufacturing labels, and SKU barcode.  As mentioned above, UGREEN did a great job showcasing its product and drawing in the consumer.  

UNBOXING

I slid the outer slipcover away from the black-colored inner box and then removed the top half of the inner box.  I removed the plastic-wrapped, 13.6 ounce, 4 3/8 inches long by 3 3/4 inches tall by 2 1/16 inches thick charging brick from the lower box.  Beneath the charging hub, you will find a thin black cardboard separator that covered a lower cubby. The cubby contained a 6.6 foot/2.2-meter charging cable, ~5-foot long USB-C to USB-C cable, user manual, and FCC/IC statement card.  The multilingual (EN, ES, JP, CN) 13-panel manual laid out the package contents, how it works, specifications table for the charger/power cable/fast charging cable (rear panel of packaging), and then a very useful segment on power distribution for 1/2/3/4/5 port use.  

You can expect 140W, 100W, 100W, 45W, 22.5W output for the individual ports and single port use.  For dual-port utility, when USB-C1 is paired with either USB-C2 or 3, you can expect 140W/100W output.  When USB-C1 is paired with USB-C4, you could expect 140W and 45W output.  When paired with USB-A1, you can expect 140W/22.5W.  If you pair USB-C2 and USB-C3, you will have up to 100W/100W output.  If you pair either USB-C2 or USB-C3 port with USB-C4, you will have 100W and 45W output.  If you pair either port with USB-A1, you will have 100W/22.5W output.  Lastly, if you pair USB-C4 with USB-A1, you can expect 45W and 22.5W output. 

The manual further delineates the outputs based on three, four, and five port occupancy.  When using ports USB-C1 through USB-C3, the device will output up to 140W/100W/60W.  If you use USB-C1, USB-C2 (or USB-C3), and USB-C4, you will have 140W/100W/45W.  If you use USB-C1, USB-C2 (or USB-C3), and USB-A1, you will find 140W, 100W, 22.5W power output.  If you use USB-C1, USB-C4, and USB-A1, you can expect 140W, 45W/22.5W.  If using USB-C2 through USB-C4, you will have up to 100W/100W/45W.  Pairing USB USB-C2, USB-C3, and USB-C5 you can have 100W/100W/22.5W.  Pairing USB-C2, USB-C4, and USB-C5, you could enjoy up to 100W/45W/22.5W output. 

Finally, if you pair USB-C3 through USB-C5, you will enjoy 100W/45W/22.5W power.  The four-port charging options included five configurations: 1. USB-C1 through USB-C4 (140W/60W/60W/30W). 2. USB-C1 through USB-C3 plus USB-A1 (140W/60W/60W/22.5W) 3. USB-C1 plus USB-C2 plus USB C4 and USB-A1 (140W/100W/30W/22.5W). 4. USB-C1, USB-C3, USB-C4, USB-A1 (140W100W/30W/22.5W). 5. USB-C2 through USB-A1 (100W/100W/45W/22.5W).  Lastly, the five port configuration allowed up to 140W/60W/45W/20W/22.5W respectively.  I am aware that this may be difficult to follow. Please see the image from the manual for additional clarification as the setup was laid out very well.

240W Fast Charging USB-C to USB-C Cable

I was both surprised and impressed that UGREEN included an accessory fast-charging cable with this kit.  Furthermore, the cable’s quality made it difficult to relegate it to a sidekick role rather than a hero.  The black-braided USB-C to USB-C charging cable measured 60 3/8 inches long.  Each end of the cable had a 5/16 inches wide by 1/4 inches tall by 3/32 inches thick metallic prong attached to a 7/16 inches wide by 1/4 inches thick by 5/8 inches tall oval neck segment.  The neck segment had a metallic grey outer cover with the UGREEN name etched onto the surface. 

The black font of the UGREEN name contrasted nicely against the metallic background and provided a visually appealing experience. The neck segment attached to the 8/16 inches tall by 7/16 wide collar segment, which tapered down to the 3/16 inches diameter cable. I plugged each USB-C prong in/out of the UGREEN Nexode device and in/out of an Apple 87W charging block.  I gripped each prong and neck segment and attempted to bend the prongs.  I gripped the collar/neck segment and tried to remove the cover.  I also gripped and bent the cable at the collar/cable junction.  I was pleased with the robust nature and overall design of the 240W/5A max cable, and with the convenient hook-loop cable management strap.  

Testing

Even though the Nexode 300W charger could be used for on-the-go portable power, comfortable travel may be a bit difficult with the weight approaching a pound.  The four USB-C and single USB-A outputs provided the equivalent power of 5 single charging blocks in a smaller space, reduced clutter on my desk or end table.  The vertically spaced USB ports along the front of the NEXODE GaN fast charger were well-spaced, easy to access, and well-portioned toward USB-C. 

I loved the dark grey face with lighter metallic side panel accents, the dark/bold 300W logo on the side panel, and the dual 1 5/8 inches wide by 11/16 inches thick rubberized anti-slip feet at the base.  The build felt solid, secure, and safe.  The dark-grey rear panel listed the product specifications and provided the input point for the three-prong power adapter port.  I plugged the female end of the power cord into the Nexode hub and then plugged the male Type A wall outlet prong into one of my wall outlets. 

I liked the design of the type A prong, which matched the shape of the old Magnetic MacBook charger.  The Nexode had no lights, no LED, no fanfare, had no bells, no whistles, no fan, and just provided simple ready-to-access power.  The devices weight, vertical mounting status, and rubberized feet prevented the device’s slippage upon my desk once the USB plugs were installed. My only complaint was with the lack of cable management once the USB cables were installed.

I plugged a Klein Tools Multimeter into the USB-C1 port, and then the included USB-C to USB-C cable between the multimeter and my iPad Pro Gen 5 12.9”.  The multimeter displayed 15.07V/2.35A.  I removed the multimeter and plugged the device into USB-C2 (15.16V/2.34A), USB-C3 (15.12V/2.33A), and USB-C4 (15.16V/2.33A).  For the second test, I plugged my MacBook Pro 15” 2018 into USB-C 1 (20.05V/4.09A), USB-C2 (20.21V/2.55A), USB-C3 ( 20.15V/2.20A), and USB-C4 (19.98V/1.86A).  I then ran a test with three devices charging simultaneously.  I plugged my MacBook Pro into USB-C 1, my iPad Pro into USB-C2, and my iPhone 14 Pro Max into USB-A 1.  I used two Klein tools multimeters for the USB-C ports and a DROK USB-A Multimeter for the USB-A port.  Starting at 8:45 PM, my MacBook Pro was at 48% (20.06V/3.81A), IPad Pro at 8% (15.16V/2.36A), and iPhone 14 Pro Max at 35% (5.14V/2.04A).  By 9:03, the MacBook Pro was at 67% power (20.04V/3.29A), IPad Pro increased to 22% power (15.16V/2.40A), and the iPhone 14 Pro Max increased to 46% (5.14V/2.05A). 

By 9:16 PM, the MacBook Pro was at 77% (20.08V/2.10A), iPad Pro at 35% (15.15V/2.43A), and iPhone 14 Pro Max at 57% (5.13V/1.88A). By 9:34 PM, the MacBook Pro was at 89% (20.05V/2.33A), iPad Pro at 54% (15.15V/2.49A), and the iPhone 14 Pro Max at 71% (5.13V/1.72A).  By 9:50 PM, the MacBook Pro was at 100% Power (20.11V/1.68A), the iPad Pro was at 68% Power (15.15V/2.29A), and the iPhone was at 80% power (5.11V/0.17A).   By 10:16 PM, my iPad Pro was at 85% (15.16V/2.08A), while the iPhone 14 Pro Max at 80% (5.11V/0.2A), but the phone entered into optimized charging mode.   By 10:49 PM, my iPad was at 95% (15.14V/0.93A), and fully charged by 11:08 PM.  

At one point, I had four USB-C and one USB-A powered device (Apple Watch ULTRA) charging through the Nexode 300W GaN Fast Charger.  I charged my devices several times over the past week, utilizing several configurations, and found the size dissipated the heat quite well. The surface of the unit did get hot to the touch, but the rubberized feet prevented any of the surface from touching my desktop. UGREEN advertises thermal monitoring, and I was pleased with the ability of the GaN tech to regular the heat despite charging four devices. Had this setup used silicone instead of gallium tech, I believe the device would have required its own powered cooling system. Thankfully, the device was hot but not uncomfortably or dangerously hot.

Even though I never required 140W output for a single device, the USB-C1 was still optimized for the more power-hungry tech.  I loved that I could charge two laptops, and two iPads plus a phone, or use a USB-C to lightning for my phone and plug in a cable for my Apple Watch Ultra.  The robust nature/design of the Nexode 300W GaN fast charger allowed me to remove other charging bricks from my nightstand for a single convenient solution.  I would have loved a single power outlet from the top or back of the device and believe it may be the only true negative for the price point. 

When compared to a few other mixed-type hubs (USB and power outlet) like the one from BESTEK, and UGREENS 65W GaN multi-hub, the Nexode GaN 300W output could not be matched and did not provide PD3.1/QC 3.0 or 140W/100W power options.  Many Hubs limit the user to 45-65W power from a USB outlet, and do not allow for 300W total power.    However, the inability to add Type A/B plug-ins to the Nexode 300W GaN charger could limit the device for some.  Historically, I have always found a benefit to having at least a single extra power outlet.  

Summary

Despite the lack of a wall outlet, the sleek surface matched the tacticool appearance of the packaging.  The dark and light metallic accents paired nicely with my computer ensemble and looked great on my nightstand.  The heft, rubberized feet, and vertical/stacked design ensured that the device remained upright and did not slip/slide.  The surface was quite fingerprint and dust resistant, whereas the rubberized feet appeared to be dust magnets. 

The manual did an exceptional job laying out the power outputs; my tests with the three multimeter devices showed that my devices charged optimally (although I never got above ~80W from the MacBook Pro).  If you are looking to expand your charging capabilities, to reduce the clutter on your nightstand/computer desk, and to decrease the number of charging bricks in your drawer, look to UGREEN to keep your devices ever-ready.  

AT ~$250-270, the device may exceed many users’ price expectations. Why not simply buy two smaller GaN chargers and drive down the ~0.85-90 cents/W cost that the 300W Nexode demands? For those more interested in portability, the lighter chargers may also provide a better packable option. However, the benefit of the 300W charger is the 140W output of USB-C1 and the ability to provide power to modern devices rapidly.

If you had space in your carryon or luggage for a single charger for your camera, MacBook, Switch, Apple watch, iPhone, iPad, etc, the 300W Nexode will charge 5 devices simultaneously without effort. This may be a perfect cruise ship charger thanks to the five outlets and relatively compact design.

I love that the 140W output provided future-proofing as tech improves power transmission through USB-C. Hopefully, as the price of tech decreases with time, the price per Watt will come down closer to 50 cents or even below. At nearly 90 cents/Watt, the premium appears to be rather steep.

For more information, visit UGREEN, Facebook, or Twitter.

Maximize your comfort and cool your zone with a portable wearable waist fan.

This summer has been one of the hottest in history, with several regional, national, and historical records falling to new highs.  As our vehicles and home air conditioners struggle to keep us comfortable indoors, many may be unaware of options to improve their outdoor comfort. You can stay cool this summer with a portable, wearable cooling-fan from Torras and engage in outdoor sporting activities, walking, biking, everyday errands and other non-water-centric outdoor activities/chores.  

The Torras Coolify Zone wearable fan arrived in a 11 5/8 inches long by 4 1/4 inches wide by 2 7/8 inches thick dark grey retail package.  The cover panel displayed the TORRAS name/logo along the upper left, while the mid-segment of the panel provided a white-shadowed ink outline of the device.  The product name and generic wearable fan descriptor were the only other pieces of information on the cover. 

The front panel displayed three product feature icons:

1. Bladeless Design.
2. Whole Body Cooling.
3. Long Battery Life. 

The top panel listed a fun “Stay Cool with COOLIFY,” while the right and left side panels were left unadorned.  The bottom panel listed the company name along the top left, and product specifications along the bottom: 1. Model FY1A Wearable Fan, Size 294x106x73mm, Weight 304 G.  Finally, you will find a bit of information about TORRAS, the address, support@torraslife.com email address, product manufacturing labels, and a product barcode sticker.  Although I enjoy succinct, simple, yet practical packaging features, I felt more information about the product was needed.  

I removed the heavy/thick cardboard lid from the box and found a white cardboard user manual.  Initially, I thought I would have to turn to a language translator app, as the panel was in Chinese characters, but a simple flip of the card provided the English manual.  The Quick Start Guide detailed the strap, buckle, fan, front-facing power button, air outlet, strap adjuster, charging port, proper wearing technique about the waist, and general operations guide. You will find a centralized cardboard cutout for the Coolify Zone device and bookend accessory boxes within the box proper.  I removed the 9.1-ounce, 8 inches long by 1 1/2 inches wide by 2 inches tall device from the main box, then the clear film over the front panel.  Next, I removed the accessory box with the short/long buckle/strap (1.3 ounce, 1 inch wide and variable length) from the accessory box.  The other box provided a 41-inches long USB-A to USB-C cable, a Coolify Cares product warranty card, and a safety guideline pamphlet.  

Before using the Coolify Zone device, I charged the 4000mAh battery using the included generic USB-A to USB-C cable (5.04V/1.09A Klein Tools Multimeter).  Despite the ubiquitous nature of USB-A chargers, I was a bit disappointed that the device shipped with a USB-A cable based on the price.  I would have preferred rapid charging and USB-C PD technology.  When I charged the device via USB-C to USB-C cable and a 30W Apple charging adapter (5.11V/1.66A Klein Tools Multimeter), I noted I was able to gain a bit faster charge.  Even though there was no LCD/LED screen to display the battery level, charging indication, fan speed, etc., there were 3 small white LED indicators located directly adjacent to the USB-C port.  After about an hour of charge (2 hours from empty), the three illuminated LED’s showed a fully charged device, ready for its inaugural debut.

Each end of the expandable, stretchable, breathable elastic waist straps had a plastic buckle that could attach to the main Coolify body.  The shorter strap was designed for those with a 21-30” waist, while the longer strap could accommodate a 30-46” waist.  I placed the first buckle of the larger strap into the slot on the Coolify device, wrapped the Coolify around my abdomen and then placed the second buckle into the slot.  I used the included adjustment buckle to tighten the strap to my abdomen and then draped my T-shirt over the device.  I liked the lightweight feel of the 10-ounce device and the effect of the white-colored cooling phase-change-material technology.  Interestingly, a quick search of the heat-absorbing material showed that the material was similar to that used by NASA in the insulating layers of the space station and space suits.  While the fan was in the off position, I noted the cooler material against my skin.  Using an Nubee Infrared Thermometer, I found that the base device actually cooled my skin by about 3 degrees.  This effect was drastically increased with the active/improved airflow of the device. 

Once I positioned the device over my abdomen, I tested the temperature reduction on low/medium, and high speed with a Nubee infrared thermometer.  My wife, children, and I went on an outing to a local farmers market where temperatures were listed at 96 degrees (humidity 74%).  Wearing a moisture-wicking t-shirt, moisture-wicking undergarments/ankle socks, and Merrell tennis shoes, we traversed the stands over about an hour time period.  Without the Coolify Zone in place, the surface of my skin registered 98.4 degrees.  If the Coolify device was positioned over my shirt, I noted a slight breeze but minimal cooling.  When I placed the device under my shirt and turned it onto low, my skin registered 92.2 degrees.  When I pressed the on/off button again and turned the fan to medium mode, the fan speed and cooling increased with a skin temperature of 90.6 degrees.  With the fan set to high mode, my skin beneath the PCM material registered 88.3 degrees. Even though the website promised up to an 18 degree Fahrenheit reduction, the ~10 degrees cooling felt quite noticeable.  I believe the moving air provided the greatest benefit to my overall comfort, especially when the surrounding area had minimal wind/air current.  

You can wear the Coolify Zone like a belt and tighten it to your desired comfort level.  I liked that it was designed with the option to wear it under your clothes or over your clothes.  You can position the fan over your abdomen or back and pair the Coolify Zone with a neck fan for added cooling. As noted above, I found that the device was more efficient and provided improved cooling with less sweat accumulation while wearing it under my shirt.  I was impressed with the fan, the airflow and that the device provided its benefits with a paucity of sound.  In fact, using the DecibelX App in a quiet room, I found that the fan produced just at ~30 decibels on high.  Even though the light humming/whirring/buzzing noise was audible, it was neither intrusive nor annoying to those around me.  Additionally, I was impressed that the 4000 mAh battery took 2 hours to charge and could provide nearly 15 hours of utility on low mode and just at 5 hours on high mode.  I tested the duration several times and found 14.4-14.9 hours on high, 9.8-10.4 hours on medium, and 4.5-5.2 hours on high mode. 

Learn more about the Coolify Zone Fan and follow Torras on Facebook and Instagram.

Stand is a sturdy, Inexpensive, ergonomic upgrade to your productivity

Even though I love my MacBook Pro 15” (2018) and my iPad Pro 12.9”, I often struggle to find an optimal/comfortable ergonomic angle for viewing my device and dealing with heat management.  I regularly type office notes, messages, reviews, scroll webpages, and check emails while lying on my bed or floor.  My iPad Pro 12.9” with Magic Keyboard has no issue with heat management, unlike my MacBook Pro, which seems to struggle when flat on my bed or carpet.  Additionally, I dislike the wrist angle when using my flat Magic Keyboard and MacBook Pro keyboards on flat surfaces.  To improve the comfort of my devices and to improve heat dissipation, I employ risers like ivoler’ s Rotatable Laptop Stand.   

UNBOXING:

The ivoler Rotatable Laptop Stand arrived in an 11 1/2 inches long by 9 3/8 inches tall by 2 7/16 inches thick tan-cardboard retail package.  The top, left, right, and front panels were unadorned, while the cover/back panel provided helpful information for the consumer.  Even though the cardboard coloration felt a bit bland, the overall design/layout of the packaging proved to be appealing.  You will find the ivoler company name and the generic “Rotatable Laptop Stand” descriptor along the top left of the cover panel.  Beneath the product name, the company listed four product features: 1. 360 Rotatable. 2. Heat Dissipation. 3. Ergonomic Design 4. Wide Compatibility.   The lower left corner displayed a product barcode sticker, while the lower right segment displayed boxes and color options (silver/black/space gray).  Interestingly, none of the boxes were marked.  The main showcase of the panel was the large ink-outline image of the laptop stand. 

The rear panel provided a large image of the four-step transformation process to transition from the retracted to the expanded configuration.  The lower left segment listed information regarding the manufacturer name, address, contact information, support@ivoler.com and www.ivoler.com/support addresses, plus a few product manufacturing labels.  The lower right segment provided a helpful “Attention” diagram/description to tighten the stand screw should the stand loosen.  The material was presented in a very straightforward manner and provided a reasonable overall presentation of the stand.  I would have liked to see a specifications table/segment to detail the weight/parameters on the rear panel or within the instruction manual.  Alas, outside of the four-step setup process on the back of the box, I did not find any included instructions. 

USE/TESTING:

I cut the tape along the lower front panel, lifted the cardboard lid, and then removed the plastic-wrapped 2 pounds 6.8 ounces metallic stand and the 1.6-ounce tightening hex tool from the box.  The ivoler laptop stand measured 10 1/4 inches long by by 8 1/2 inches wide by 2 1/4 inches tall at the front lip (1 1/2 inches from plate to plate).  The upper panel provided four 1 1/8 inches long by 1 1/8 inches tall, “L”-shaped rubberized pads at each of the corners, dual 1 9/16 inches wide by 3/4 inches tall by 1/8 inches thick front laptop rests, the ivoler company name printed at the center of the panel, and surrounded by a large cutout segment that resembled the recycle logo.  The cutouts reduced the overall weight and allowed for improved air current exchange when using/charging my devices.  The front risers had 1 1/2 inches long by 9/16 inches tall rubberized pads to protect the front of your laptop/MacBook or iPad.  

The bottom plate had an 8 1/4 inches diameter by 1/8 inches thick spinning base.  The base had a centralized 1 1/2 inches diameter by 3/8 inches thick rubberized pad and four 2-inches wide by 3/8 inches wide arcuate rubberized feet. You can use the stand in the retracted state or choose to expand/deploy the stand and still enjoy the benefits of the rotatable bass.  In the retracted state, the cutout segments allowed my MacBook Pro Fan to cool the device better than when it was flat on the floor/bed.  To expand the stand, grip the top and bottom plate’s rear aspect and lift upward.  You can then lift the front and adjust the angle to your desired level. You must put some effort into the process, as the screws were designed to be rather tight.  Thankfully, the tight riser arms allowed the stand to hold my 15” MacBook Pro without sagging.  

Although the stand measured 7 5/16 inches tall when fully extended, I could not use the device in that orientation due to the uncomfortable nature (height) and lack of balance with my MacBook Pro and Ipad Pro.  When fully deployed, the top panel rested too far posteriorly about the base plate, which caused the setup to lean backward.  I found the fully retracted/flat orientation or a mid-height position (support arms at a 45-degree angle) to provide both of my devices’ optimal rise and balance.  The L-shaped rubberized feet along the four corners of the top panel and the front risers prevented my devices from sliding forward, with the angled top panel facing downward.  

SUMMARY:  

The ability to fold the stand into a flatter, more-compact configuration was my favorite feature of the ivoler device. The flat configuration allowed me to store the device within my Timbuk2 Messenger bag. The swivel base, rubberized base pads, rubberized upper panel pads, and stiff side arms/risers allowed me to optimally position the stand without drift/sagging of the setup.  I loved the cutouts on the top panel and found improved MacBook efficiency/cooling while typing while lying prone. 

It is important to note that you must remove your device from the stand before repositioning the stand due to the stiff riser arms.  With up to an 11 pound load capacity (website data), you can enhance your computer/tablet viewing and use angle for most portable devices. Definitely consider picking up an ivoler rotatable stand for a lightweight, inexpensive, upgraded experience.. 

Learn more about ivoler and follow ivoler on Facebook and Twitter.

Expanded capabilities for your home and work office

Despite my adoration for my work Lenovo Thinkpad laptop, I miss my main dual monitor workstation’s productivity.  Beyond the ability to display information on two full-size screens, I sometimes miss my desktop keyboard, mouse, and additional USB-A/USB-C ports for jump drives or portable hard drives.  Furthermore, there are times when I need a wired internet connection or additional USB-A ports.   If you want to upgrade your laptop to desktop-level productivity, consider the UGREEN 9-in-1 USB-C docking station. 

Packaging:

The UGREEN 9-in-1 USB-C Docking Station arrived in a 7 7/8 inches wide by 4 1/2 inches tall by 1 7/8 inches thick retail package.  The main cover panel listed the UGREEN company name along the top within an attractive hunter-green accent box and a hunter-green lower border.  The cover’s left edge listed features of the device: 9-in-1, 2x USB-A, 1x USB-C, 2x HDMI, 2XDP, Gigabit Ethernet, PD100W, HDMI+DP, 100W Fast Charging, and 10Gbps Superspeed. The lower edge listed the generic “USB-C Docking Station: Support Triple Extended Display for MacOS/Windows” and a golden 4K/60Hz logo.  The main focal point was the obliquely angled image of the grey/metallic docking station plus dual USB-A and single USB-C port. The top panel listed several product manufacturing labels, while the side/bottom panels were left au natural.  The rear panel listed the company name, provided a helpful product specification table, address information, and a UPC label for the CM615 Docking Station.  Overall, the hunter-green color added some much-needed color/life to the packaging.  Even though I love when companies choose succinct designs to busy/repetitive panels, I felt that the packaging needed an image of the HDMI/DP layout and power cord orientation.

Unboxing:

I removed the tape along the bottom panel and removed the 12.7-ounce, 6 1/2 inches long by 3 1/8 inches wide by 7/8 inches tall metallic docking station from the cardboard tray.  Next, I removed the 40-inches long USB-C to USB-C cable, user instruction manual (FCC/IC statements/EU Declaration of conformity/Warranty information), and a multi-lingual user manual.  I was pleased with the included 40-inch USB-C to USB-C cable.  To test the cable, I gripped each of the 1/4 inches long metallic prongs and bent them forward/backward 25 times.  I then gripped the 25/32 inches long by 1/2 inches wide by 1/4 inches neck segment (UGREEN Printed onto the surface) and pulled it against the cable.  I bent each segment and attempted to remove the outer cover from the device.  Finally, I bent the cable at the neck segment, which measured 1/4 inches long by 1/4 inches in diameter, and tapered to the rubberized cable.  I was pleased with the robust design and the cable’s overall durability. The secure prong connections paired nicely with the neck/collar and rounded cable.  

The first two panels of the user manual provided an ink-outline drawing of the UGREEN docking station.  The front panel provided two USB-A ports for add-on peripherals, a USB-C port for data (flash drive/HDD/SSD), and a 5/8 inches wide by 1/4 inches-tall power button.  The rear panel provided an RJ45 port, followed by HDMI/PD ports for Display 1 and 2, respectively, then dual USB-C ports.  The first port showed a laptop icon designed to plug into your laptop, while the second port demonstrated a power icon for added power.  Both side panels had triangular vents, without any additional ports.  The lower panel had 2 7/8 inches long by 1/4 inches wide rubberized anti-slip feet along each edge and product specifications/manufacturing labels at the center.  Panels 3-10 detailed the multilingual setup process (EN, DE, FR, ES, IT, JP, CN), while panels 11/12 demonstrated the need to utilize only one of the ports from each display bundle.  

Plug the USB-C cable between a USB-C port on your laptop and the laptop labeled USB-C on the back panel.  The manual requested the user to download the DisplayLink driver before using the dock (https://www.synaptic.com/products/displaylink-graphics/downloads), 90912 product number. Panel 13/14 showed how to adjust the resolution settings for Windows 10/macOS, while panels 16/17 demonstrated Display Settings for Windows 10, and panels 17/8 demonstrated display settings for macOS.  Panel 19 listed the specification table on the packaging, while panels 20-33 provided FAQ regarding display and charging issues.  The final panels listed information regarding notices, after-sales, and a list of package contents. I liked the layout/design of the instruction manual and the multilingual inclusivity. 

I plugged my work laptop into the USB-C port and then HDMI cables from the dock into my dual monitor setup.  I enjoyed the ability to gain extra monitors through the setup.  I plugged my wireless mouse USB-A dongle into one USB-A port, my USB-A keyboard into the other USB-A port, and a RJ45 cable between my modem and the docking station. I tested the internet speed connection and found a download speed of 904.6 Mbps.  I removed the mouse and inserted a USB-A portable hard drive and found the drive capped at 104.3 MB/s write, and 105 MB/s read speeds.  I chose first to use the extend-mode (preferred), rather than the duplicate mode, as I rarely need to copy my monitor.  I found that I did not need to adjust the resolution, as the monitors auto-adjusted when I plugged them into the laptop.  Interestingly, when I connected/plugged in the docking station, I found an extra drive listed in my Windows Explorer for the hard drive with just under 200kb of data.  The icon contained driver links/URLS to download the drivers.  I downloaded the drivers and found the drive remained in the system link.  When I unplugged the device, the drive went away (like a thumb drive).  

I tried using the setup with my Pre M1 2018 MacBook Pro 15” and could not get the dock to display output. I was able to enjoy the USB-A ports and wired internet capabilities but was not able to access display outputs. The 9-in-1 device worked well for my work Windows-based laptop and paired nicely with my dual monitors. For now, I will continue to rely on my Apple USB-C to HDMI dongle and gain an extra monitor for my MacBook Pro. I suspect, with some internet search and some settings adjustment, that the dock/synaptic software may allow for display. Still, I suspect the average user will not want to go through those steps, especially when considering the price of the dock. I can plug monitors into my Thunderbolt ports to enjoy extra space and spend less on a smaller dock to gain more ports. I would have liked an extra USB-A port on the back and some cable management ties/connectors. Again, at or below the price point, you can enjoy various hubs/docks. The dock worked well for my Windows Laptop but did not work as well with my MacBook.

I was able to use the RJ45 direct connection to gain just under 1000 Mbps speeds and was able to utilize my USB-A hard drives for both my work Windows computer and home MacBook Pro. I used the Blackmagicdesign Disk Speed Test and found similar read/write speeds as those mentioned above.  The power input was rather impressive, charging my MacBook Pro in just under 2 hours through the PD 100W port and my work laptop in just 1.5 hours. For those with Windows-based laptops, you may find some deals on this or other docks to enhance your productivity. The device has a lot to offer with extra ports, wired internet, included drivers, generous USB-C cable, and size/shape of the dock. Oddly, the dock did not provide a 3.5mm AUX port for speakers/headphones, which felt a bit like an oversight. In summary, the device is good but shy of excellent.

Pros: 

• Sleek Design
• Dual USB-A ports
• USB-C port
• Dual Display Port/HDMI ports
• RJ45 Port
• USB-C Cable Included
• Good Power input.

Cons:

• No Power Adapter
• No Video Output on my 2018 MacBook Pro (Pre M1)
• Extra Hard Drive listed in Windows Explorer
• Software Download was clunky
• Pricey
• Limited Software Support Online
• No obvious way to upgrade firmware
• Would have liked 1-2 more USB-A. 
• No headphone jack/speaker jack

For more information, visit UGREEN, Facebook, or Twitter.

datAshur BT is a portable secure hardware encrypted USB flash drive.

The iStorage datAshur BT 64GB flash drive arrived in a 3 5/8 inches wide by 6 1/2 inches tall blister pack.  The main cover listed the iStorage company name, datAshur BT 64 GB product name, USB 3.2 (Gen1) Hardware encrypted flash drive, four product defining icons (Remote Management Ready, FIPS compliant, Automatic Antivirus, three years warranty), icons for Android/iPhone, and images depicting the Bluetooth connectivity. 

The lower section provided the www.iStorage-uk.com website address, and showed compatibility with Windows, Apple, Android, Linux, Citrix, and VMware.  I liked the upper/lower black segments, blue borders, white central segment, blue icons, and the centrally displayed USB-A flash drive.  The design provided a clear representation of the size of the device, capabilities of the device, and suggested utility.  The upper segment of the rear panel provided the same black/blue section as the title/cover.  Beneath the blue accent bar, you will find an image depicting the easy two-step process.  The picture showed the USB-A plug, insertion process, pin entry, and activity/access to the flash drive. 

The rear panels lower segment listed 10 product features (FIPS compliant 140-2 level 3 standards, Wireless unlock via mobile App 2FA via text, remote management, IP57 Rated, OS/Platform independent (any device with USB port), Multi-factor authentication, tough epoxy coating, drive reset feature, data at rest protection, 4gb-128Gb size options), details about the quick start guide, and a QR code link to the datAshur BT app on the App Store and Google Play store.  The lower black-colored rim provided an SKU barcode, product manufacturing labels, and patent information.  Before opening the packaging, I used the camera on my iPhone 14 Pro Max to access the datAshur BT app on the App Store. 

I then cut along the edge of the plastic container and removed the 0.6-ounce, 2 3/8 inches long by 3/4 inches wide by 5/16 inches thick iStorage DATASHUR flash drive and instruction manual.  I removed the USB-A cap, plugged the device into my UGREEN USB-C Docking Stating, and navigated through the multilingual instruction manual.  

With the flash drive installed and the App downloaded, I opened the App and selected the datAshur BT from the list.  I entered the device ID printed on the side of the USB connector and then tapped the red lock icon on the App screen.  I entered the default 11223344 password and then the red padlock again to unlock the drive.  I loved the visual symbolism when the red locked icon transitioned to a green unlocked icon.  I tapped the drive’s name again and was taken to a secondary panel.  I tapped “Change Name” and renamed the drive to MacSources, tapped “Change Password,” and added the old/new/confirmed password. 

You can use the sliders for 2-Factor Authentication, Password Recovery (will send recovery code to registered phone number as a text), Remember Password, and Active Face ID (will grey out the Remember Password if activated).  You can also activate the step-away Autolock feature or the time-based Autolock feature. This will allow you to adjust the timeline to 1, 5, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, or 60 minutes (defaulted to Never).  I found the 5-minute timeline to be the most useful. You can also set the drive to read-only, reset the drive, and activate remote wipe.  Lastly, you can activate the “Enable Apple Watch” feature. 

It is important to note that some features do not work together, and you may need to choose your preferred features.  I changed the password to a number/letter combination, decided to activate the 2FA, then entered my phone number, followed by the texted confirmation code.  The App quickly alerted that the 2FA setup was enabled “You will receive a text message with a security code to enter every time you unlock your drive.”  I loved the brief, clear messages, and the easy-to-navigate App.  With 2FA selected, the primary panel showed a 2FA within the drive banner panel. 

I activated/used the FaceID and attempted to start Enable Apple Watch.  I was warned that the Apple Watch feature could not be used with the 2FA, and the App instructed me to deactivate the feature.  I deactivated 2FA by sliding the toggle back and then attempted to activate the Enable Apple Watch feature again.  The App warned that the feature could not be activated with the current password (letters/numbers) and required only a number passcode.  I changed the password to an acceptable 7-15 character password, and finally activated the Apple Watch feature.  Lastly, I activated the remote wipe feature. 

 I quickly found the drive within Finder, selected it, opened the window, and transferred several BSA Merit Badge Workbook files into the drive. I was pleased with the speed of the transfer and the ease of the drag/drop utility.  I used the BlackMagicdesign speed test and found the device speeds similar to other USB-A flash drives (Write: 155.8Mb/s, Read: 118.1 MB/s).  Once the seven files were loaded (17.5 MB), I selected the eject button from the Finder window, ejected the drive, and reinstalled the USB-A cap. 

I drove to our local Office Depot and inserted the drive into the copier machine.  I selected Files as an option on their copier, and then opened the datAshur BT app on my phone.  The App immediately registered the presence of the drive, and I found that I could easily access the drive files through the copier machine.  I printed the scouting files, ejected the drive, recapped it, and pocketed the device.  

I tested the Apple Watch login feature and found the setup worked fairly well.  I navigated to the watch App, selected the DatAshur icon, and entered the numeric password.  The icon changed from red lock to green unlock, and I could open the device using the UGREEN USB-C Docking station.  Even though the Apple Watch login was convenient, I still preferred the ease of the 2FA iPhone 14 Pro login technique. 

I tested the Apple Watch login feature and found the setup easy to navigate.  I opened the watch App, selected the DatAshur icon, and entered the numeric password.  The icon changed from red lock to green unlock, and I could open the device using the UGREEN USB-C Docking station.  Even though the Apple Watch login was convenient, I still preferred the ease of the 2FA iPhone 14 Pro login technique. 

The reliable, secure data transfer and the ability to remote wipe, Apple Watch integration, face login, 2FA, etc, were all valuable features.  If you look at the device’s price, you may initially think it is too high for a jump drive.  If you are interested in a primary, low-feature jump drive, you can buy a single Cruzer 64 GB for $8.51 or a 10-pack of 64 GB USB-A 3.0 SanDisk Cruzer for $74.53, which was one of the better deals found with a reputable name (cheaper is not always better).  However, the ~$120 price for the 64GB datAsur BT (~$116 32GB or ~$158 128GB) is on par with similar devices like the Kingston IronKey Vault.  The features may well be worth the cost of data protection.

For more information, visit istorage-uk.com, Facebook, and Twitter.

Powerful yet compact MagSafe Compatible Vent Mount Charger

If you toured college dorms in the early 2000s, you might have observed numerous cable-centric, cord-heavy, daisy-chained fire hazards.  The constant game of cord Tetris led to my love for cable management and clean bundled lines within my built PC, work/home offices, and cars.  When MagSafe technology debuted for the iPhone (10/13/2020), I excitedly dreamt of a cord-reduced, clutter-free future. 

The iOttie Velox Magnetic Wireless Charger arrived in a classy 3 3/4 inches wide by 4 3/4 inches tall by 3 3/8 inches thick hanging style retail package.  The lime-green top and rear panels provided a catchy visual contrast against the clean white front/side/bottom panels.  The cover panel displayed the Velox name and generic “Magnetic Wireless Charger Mini Air Vent Mount” descriptor along the top of the panel in both English and French. You will find two product features, MagSafe compatible and 7.5W Wireless Charging, plus the iottie name along the bottom of the panel.  The main focal point of the cover was the clean, angled image of the Velox vent mount.  I liked the splashes of lime green on the lower edge and the crisp, near-life-sized image of the device. The right side panel displayed a vent-mounted Velox sans phone, while the left side panel showed the device with a vertically mounted iPhone.  Each image successfully employed a light/dark pattern that accentuated the contrast with the Velox charger.  

The bottom panel listed the product manufacturing labels, SKU barcode, and typical product legalese/information. The lime-green rear panel listed four main features of the device in a vibrant white font: 1. A Powerful Connection in a Compact Design. 2. Up to 7.5 Wireless Fast Charging. 3. Strong Magnetic Hold. 4. Made for iPhone.  Like the cover panel, each label provided the informational heading and subsequent descriptions in both English and French.  The lower edge of the panel listed information about the 2 year warranty, www.iottie.com address, and company name.  The lime-green top panel provided a green cardboard hanging tab and listed the MagSafe-compatible devices (iPhone 12 series or later). I liked the clean white background, splashes of vibrant color, and the overall layout/design of the packaging.  I appreciated that iottie listed the information without providing redundant imagery or text.  

I removed the top panel, lifted the inner tray out of the shell, and removed both the quick start guide and Velox device.  The Velox charger measured 2 5/16 inches in diameter by 1/2 inches thick and had an attached 59 1/2 inches long by 1/8 inches diameter USB-C cable.  The main panel had an outer 3/16 inches diameter magnetic attachment ring with an inner 1 3/4 inches diameter power ring.  The side panels had several heat vents, while the power cable jutted from the bottom.  The back surface had a 1 1/4 inches diameter concave central segment with a raised ~1/2 inches tall ball joint, while the lower rim provided the product specifications: 5V/2A 9V/1.67A input, 7.5W output, Model:VLXWCG211GY.  The 1 1/2 inches tall by 1 1/8 inches diameter vent mount had a shiny gold rim at the socket attachment point and tapered to a 1/2 inches by 3/4 inches rubberized vent bracket with “+” cutout. 

I aligned the prong slots with my Dodge Ram’s vent blades and pressed firmly to seat the mount properly.  The rectangular “+” cutout was designed to fit within your car’s vent and, more specifically, with the more superficial horizontal and deeper vertical risers/blades. Once the device was seated correctly, I connected the USB-C cable to a Klein tools multimeter and then the multimeter to a standard USB-C Aux adapter port.  When I placed my wife’s iPhone 12 or my iPhone 14 Pro Max against the magnetic mount, I noted the ball/socket joint provided a good friction point and did not sag under the weight of the phone.  Unfortunately, the combined weight of the phone plus stand caused the entire vent and mount to sag. With the vent pointing downward, I could angle the ball/socket joint to a more optimal viewing angle.  The robust USB-C prong (5/16 inches wide by 3/32 inches thick by 1/4 inches tall), rubberized collar segment (7/16 inches wide by 1/4 inches thick by 11/16 inches tall), and neck segment (1/4 inch diameter by 3/8 inches tall) stood up to several rounds of bending, flexing, tugging, and insertion/removal.  Additionally, the same attention to detail/design was employed at the neck segment (cable attachment point) at the base of the magnetic charger.  

Once I tapped my iPhone Pro 14 Max to the wireless charger, the Klein tools multimeter displayed 9.19V/1.03A.  I liked that I did not have to press any buttons or activate a “start” feature before enjoying a much-needed charge. Although wireless power pales in comparison to wired charging, the added convenience of magnet/wired charging is often a luxury.  To test the power capabilities, I placed my phone onto the charger at 9:23 am with 51% remaining power.  By 9:58 am, my phone had increased to 70%, and by 10:40 am, my iPhone 14 Pro Max was charged to 89%.  For a second test, I placed my wife’s iPhone 12 upon the charger and noted that the multimeter displayed 8.96V/0.67A.  Starting at 13% power at 8:15 in the am, her phone increased to 22% by 8:33 am, to 34% by 8:53 am, to 46% by 9:12, and 51% by 9:20 before removing the device to run into the store for her outing.  The solid magnetic attachment will hold onto MagSafe phones and allow for charging through thinner cases (those meant for wireless charging) but only minimally.  If the phones were within their protective cases, any bump or dip of my Dodge Ram would cause them to fall from the mount.  When placed upon the mount sans case, the improved magnetic connection between the phone/case prevented drops/falls.

With the push for increased hands-free utility, wireless charging features may upgrade your driving/charging experience for those MagSafe-compatible phones/cases.  Even though the magnetic attachment limited my ability to securely hold my iPhone 14 Pro Max inside of a Catalyst Influence Case, I could still affix the charger to my phone and place it over my cup holder to charge.  Without the added effect of gravity on the phone, the charging system worked nicely to charge my phone without the need to find/plug a lightning cable into the base of my iPhone.  The cable length was adequate to reach from the AUX port to my vent and from my dashboard to the cupholders.  I loved the simplicity of the device, the color, the design of the vent mount prongs, and the overall quality of the iottie Velox device.   

Learn more about the iottie Velox device and follow iottie on Facebook and Twitter.

3-in-1 MagSafe 5,000mAh Power Bank Wallet

Packaging:
The HaloLock Power Bank Wallet arrived in an attractive 4 1/8 inches wide by 6 3/4 inches tall by 1 inch thick hanging-style retail package.  The ESR company name and HaloLock product name were listed at the top of the cover panel, along with a generic Power Bank Wallet descriptor.  I liked the addition of the blue-green color within the ESR title/descriptor and the dark blue font/coloration on the packaging.  The panel provided five icons/descriptors regarding the wallet’s features: 1. 5,000 mAh Magnetic Wireless Power Bank with Vegan Leather Wallet and Adjustable Stand. 2. Power in a Snap. 3. throng 1200-g Magnetic Lock. 4. Adjustable Stand. 5. Securely holds 1 or 2 cards.  In addition to the labeled icons, you will find a small image depicting the wallet/card holder feature along the bottom and showcased an oblique image of the stand/phone along the middle of the cover panel.  The image demonstrated the stand feature plus the magnetic attachment to the iPhone.  Even though the cover did not specifically mention the details, the MagSafe-compatible iPhone was displayed sans case.  

The royal blue right side panel provided the ESR name and “TECH MADE EASIER” slogan, while the left panel listed the #esrgear hashtag and FaceBook/Twitter/Instagram icons.  The white-colored bottom panel listed the 2G513 model number, while the turquoise top provided the clear plastic hanging tab.  The rear panel ended up being a bit busier than the other panels. The top segment showcased a horizontal iPhone with a vertically oriented Halolock stand.  The clear image did a great job of suggesting improved productivity and was a great addition without being redundant. Below the image, you will find a multilingual (EN, FR, IT, DE, ES, PT, RU, PL, NL, KO, JP, SC, TC, AR) description of the icon/features listed on the cover panel (Power in a Snap. Strong 1200-g Magnetic Lock. Securely Holds 1 or 2 cards).  Beneath the segment, you will find a well-organized specification/contents section: Size 106x 66 x 16mm, weight 170g, battery capacity 5,000 mAh, magnet force 1200g, USB-C input 12W, USB-C output 12W, Wireless output 7.5W/5W, Halolock power bank, 3 Foot USB-C to USB-C cable.  The remainder of the panel displayed information about the product manufacturing (labels, Designed in USA, UPC barcode). 

Unboxing:

I cut the tape along the top panel and slid the inner turquoise tray from the primary packaging.  Within the box, you will find a light blue informational panel, which detailed information about becoming a super user (QR code, 24-month warranty, exclusive access to newly launched products), and a back panel with various products.  I removed the panel, then the tiny accessory box with USB-C cable, the clear plastic tray, the instruction manual, and the 6.2-ounce, 2 5/8 inches wide by 4 3/16 inches tall by 11/16 inches thick Halolock bank.  I plugged the 40-inch USB-C to USB-C cable between an Anker 511 Nano 3 30W USB-C wall charger and the Halolock power Bank, while perusing the instruction manual.

Power Cable: 

Each end of the 40 inches long USB-C to USB-C cable had a 1/4 inches long by 5 1/6 inches wide by 3/32 inches thick metallic USB-C prong attached to a 1/2 inches wide by 5/8 inches tall by 1/4 inches thick oval-shaped collar segment.  The silver-colored collar was attached to a black neck segment, measuring 7/16 inches tall, and tapered down to 1/4 inches diameter.  The rubberized component was connected to the 1/8 inches diameter black-colored rounded cable (37 3/8 inches long).  I tested each metallic USB-C prong by grabbing them and bending them forward-backward 25 times.  I then gripped the prong/collar and tugged outward.  I griped the neck/collar and bent the cable 25 times, and pulled on the jacket/collar section.  I gripped the cable, tugged at the neck segment, and then bent the cable forward/backward/side-side another 25 times.  Lastly, I plugged each of the prongs into a variety of USB-C wall outlets.  The prongs were well-machined and provided a good fit with various wall chargers.  The device’s cable held up to rigorous testing, and I was pleased with the durability and design.  The cable’s durability should allow for prolonged utility before breaking down.  

Instruction Manual/Setup:

I plugged a Klein tools multimeter into an Anker USB-C charger and a USB-C cable between my multimeter and Halolock power bank to charge.  While the multimeter displayed the 8.92V/1.20A charging rate, the LED along the lower segment of the power bank flashed to suggest it was charging.  As the Halolock device charged, I turned to the instruction manual to learn more about the device.  The accordion-style, multilingual instruction manual expanded from a credit card size to a 24-panel (front/back) informational packet.  The first panel provided a helpful QR code setup link and six labeled demonstration/ink-outline drawings of the device/features.  Each panel provided the diagram and a labeled instruction in one of fourteen languages (EN, IT, ES, RU, NL, JP, TC, FR, DE, PT, PL, KO, SC, AR).  The panels detailed the short press power on, the 3-second long press to power off, the location of the USB-C port, how to insert 1-2 cards, how to open the stand, and the method to use the stand adjustment.  

Panels seven through twenty showcased the lower edge of the charger, the LED’s, and provided a helpful LED legend (charged, USB-C output, USB-C input, Error) in each language. Each panel listed several important reminders/safety warnings: 1. Only use on a caseless iPhone or one with MagSafe Official case/ESR Halolock Case. 2. Wireless pass-through charging. 3. Max wireless charge rate 7.5W, Max USB-C input/output 12W.  4. No support for wireless and wired charging simultaneously. The system defaults to wired charging.  The remainder of the manual provided information regarding the FCC ID, IC, Declaration, product manufacturing information,  and an #esrgear panel.

When I started the charging process at 8:30 PM, a single LED flashed at the rightmost edge of the LEDs.  By 9:10 PM, the first LED was solidly illuminated while the second LED flashed. This process continued until the device was fully charged by 11 PM.  I slid a standard credit card and driver’s license into the credit card slot and affixed the stand to my caseless phone.  I was impressed with the magnetic grip and leathery surface of the MagSafe attachment point but disliked removing my Catalyst Influence case.  The stand could open to 70 degrees and accommodate my phone in a vertical or horizontal position. 

To evaluate the power output, I allowed my iPhone 14 Pro Max to charge via wireless power.  Starting at 5:13 PM at 23% charge, the phone increased to 32% by 5:28, 39% by 5:40, 45% by 5:50, 59% by 6:14, 74% by 6:43, 77% by 6:53, 82% by 7:12.  The battery was fully depleted by the end of the test.  With the ~4323 mAh battery of the iPhone 14 Pro Max, I found it interesting that the 5000 mAh battery only provided ~2550 mAh of power to my phone.  I recharged the battery over about a 3-hour timeframe and then charged my iPhone via USB-C to lightning.  I plugged the Klein Tools Multimeter into the battery, then the USB-C to Lightning cable between the multimeter and iPhone 14 Pro Max.  The multimeter displayed 5.12V/1.93A, while my iPhone displayed 61% at 7:52 PM.  By 7:56, my phone was at 65%; by 8:16, the phone was at 79%. It reached 87% by 8:32, 94% by 8:49, 97% by 9:05, and 100% when I checked back at 9:30. With 3 LED remaining, I plugged the USB-C to lighting cable into my wife’s iPhone 11 and used the remaining charge to get from 12% to 56% power. Despite the superiority of wired charging, the added convenience of wireless charging should not be overlooked.

Summary:

The ESR Halolock device will add a convenient upgrade to your MagSafe compatible iPhone. I was able to charge through my Catalyst Influence case but found the connection was markedly more secure with the careless iPhone. I enjoyed the stand and the ability to reposition the phone in horizontal or vertical viewing mode. The added weight did not detract from the experience and provided more versatility than expected. At ~$65, I felt that the 5000 mAh battery was a bit underwhelming; I typically prefer my portable power banks to run ~10,000 mAh to gain about 1.5-2 iPhone charges. However, the tradeoff for size provided dual charging options (wired/wirless), credit card storage and a kickstand in a classy design.

Learn more about the ESR HaloLock Power Bank Wallet and follow ESR on Facebook and Twitter.

Turn your tablet into a functional tablet-top with this dock.

Despite the positive functionality of my iPad Pro 12.9″ 5th generation and iPhone 14 pro max, sometimes the touchscreen is ineffective for needed tasks. For many of those instances, I often enjoy the keyboard, mouse, and bigger screen of my MacBook Pro 15″ and desktop. With the help of a docking station/hub, you may enjoy the benefits of a touchscreen tablet with many of the features of your home computer. Some may provide extra USB ports, video display ports, media slots, and even ethernet ports. A docking station can blend the features of a home computer/laptop with your tablet to create a tablet-top, a tech portmanteau.

Packaging

The plugable USB-C Docking Station arrived in a clean, white-colored, 6 inches wide by 9 1/8 inches tall by 2 inches thick retail package.  The black/hunter-green product name was listed atop the cover panel, at the top left of the lower panel, and within the lower table on the back panel.  I loved the black/green color, plus the clever use of a USB-A tail underline feature.  The cover’s lower edge provided a generic hunter green “USB-C Docking Station” descriptor and a muted grey “with Tablet or Phone Stand” lower descriptor. 

The main focus was the obliquely angled silver-grey baseplate and device stand.  The image showcased the rounded metallic hinges, the grey “plugable” name, dual USB-A ports, AUX headphone port, and sleek rounded edges.  Beyond the product name, the bottom panel listed the UDS-7IN1 model number.  The right side panel displayed an image of the right side of the plugable device.  The black background contrasted nicely against the silver outer shell, the dual USB-A 5 Gbps ports, and the Audio in/out port. 

The left panel displayed an image of the left side of the device.  The contrasting panel had a USB-C “To Host” port, plus SD/Micro SD ports. The top frame provided an image of the Plugable’s silver-colored back panel, the 100W USB-C charger input, and the 4K@ 30Hz HDMI output port.  

The back panel listed the product features in a helpful tabular format:

1. Dock Features an adjustable stand for optimal viewing angle and is compatible with all major mobile platforms, including Samsung DeX, iPadOS, and Microsoft Surface.
2. USB-C power delivery pass-through charging up to 91W.
3. Supports one external HDMI monitor up to 4K at 30Hz. 
4. Connect an SD, MicroSD, two USB 3.0 5Gbps devices, and 3.5mm audio input/output.

Beneath the features, you will find the specifications table:  USB-C with Power Delivery and AlternateMode Video support (Host Interface), HDMI up to 4K @30 Hz display, and USB-C input up to 100W/output up to 91W.  No USB-C power supply is provided. 

The third table listed the package contents: UDS-7IN1 Docking Station and Stand, 50cm/20in USB-C Cable, and Quick Start Guide. The final table provided a QR code, a link to questions, Facebook/Instagram/Twitter/YouTube icons/@plugable name, product manufacturing labels/warnings, a UPC scan tag, and the product name. 

I liked the hunter-green borders and grey font against the white background, and I felt that each frame provided a clear image without overburdening the user.  The tables, font, and written information successfully detailed the product and features.

When I lifted the lid from the box, I found a 20 1/2 inches long USB-C to USB-C cable (USB 3.2 Gen 1 5Gbps), a “HAVING TROUBLES?/LOVE IT?” plugable review card, and the 10.3-ounce hub/stand.  Interestingly, I did not find the quick start guide described on the back of the box until I removed the inner plastic tray and found it hiding between the layers.

The easy-to-follow, multilingual manual should walk even the most tech naive through the appropriate use scenarios:

1. Bend the stand to the appropriate angle, then place your phone/tablet (no laptop/MacBooks/iPhones) into the stand.
2. Connect to power by utilizing the USB-C port on the back of the hub.
3. Connect the dock to your phone/tablet through the USB-C port on the left side of the Hub (it must be a USB-C compatible phone).
4. Connect your desired peripherals (HDMI-Monitor, Keyboard, mouse, SD/MicroSD cards).  

Cable

The included USB-C to USB-C cable was a bit too short to serve as a reasonable wall charging option, but it was a great option to connect between the hub base and the device.  The included cable had 1/4 inch USB-C prongs, a 1/2 inches wide by 1/4 inch thick by 13 inches tall collar segment, a 1/4 inches tall by 1/4 inches diameter neck segment, and a 3/16 inches diameter rubber-coated cable.  I gripped each prong and bent it forward/back, each collar and tugged outward, each neck segment, and bent the cable. 

I repeated the process several times and was pleased with the durability of the included cable. I plugged the prongs into several USB-C outlets and found the connections to remain secure after >100 uses. The USB-C cable worked well for my iPad Pro Gen 5, Nintendo Switch, and iPad Mini Gen 6.  When I attempted to utilize an Apple-branded USB-C to lightning cable for my iPhone 14 Pro Max, I quickly understood why the company did not include one of its own.  The system will not work with non-USB-C devices.

User Impressions

The silver/black stand base measured 3 15/16 inches square by 5/8 inches tall.  The main silver unibody provided crisp, rounded edges, a classy “plugable” logo, and a sleek matte finish.  Each of the matte-black side panels contrasted nicely against the main silver shell.  The right panel had dual labeled USB-A 5Gbps ports and headphone peripheral port, while the left panel had the USB-C port to connect to your device plus SD/MicroSD ports.  The hub’s base had a ~1/32 inches thick by 3 3/4 inches wide by 3 5/16 inches tall foam anti-slip pad and centrally placed product information (QR code, UDS-7IN1 model number, plugable.com/use-7in1 address, product manufacturing labels, and the product serial number).  

The riser/stand base measured 11/16 inches long by 1 1/8 inches wide and was located ~1 inch from the back edge. The lower hinge-riser segment allowed for a 180-degree rotation about the base.  The riser measured 4 1/2 inches tall and connected with the wider 3 15/16 inches by 11/16 inches diameter upper hinge segment.  The upper segment allowed the stand to rotate from flush against the riser segment to approximately 270 degrees.  The top segment measured 3 15/16 inches wide by 3 3/4 inches wide and ended in dual curved lower shelves.  The inner surface of each curved stand had a rubberized protective liner.  Additionally, you will find a 2 3/16 inches long by 5/16 inches wide rubber backing plate above the 2 3/4 inches wide by 1 1/8 inches tall thermal cutout. 

Upon first impression, I thought the hinges seemed a bit stiff.  However, after positioning the plugable device into a more optimal position, I realized that the stiff hinges worked as intended to prevent collapse.  I was able to orient the hinges/stand to allow for top-down viewing of my Nintendo Switch, iPhone 14 Pro max, or iPad Pro 12.9”.  When using the larger-screened iPad Pro, I found that I needed to place the stand further in front of my viewing angle to enjoy a perpendicular screen. 

The stand could easily accommodate my iPhone 14 Pro Max or Nintendo Switch without much finagling, and it did not seem to matter how I positioned the devices thanks to their light weight.  The larger iPad Pro, however, required a bit of physics/angle management to avoid toppling forward.  For added support for larger tablets, you can fold the riser to allow the rim of the holder to rest against the table.  The added contact points should reduce the chances of the tablet toppling but may also change the ergonomic viewing angle.  If needed, you can slide the setup further away to improve neck mechanics. 

I did not like that the design/position of the padding missed the back of the iPad Pro, causing the stand’s metal to rub against the iPad.  Even though I did not experience any cuts, scrapes, dings, or blemishes, I was concerned that prolonged use could damage my iPad Pro Gen 5. To protect the back panel, I draped a whoosh microfiber cloth over the metallic hinges and then placed my iPad upon the stand.  I did not experience the same issue with my son’s iPad Mini Gen 6. 

I plugged a Klein Tools Multimeter into a MacBook Pro USB-C charger and then a USB-C to USB-C cable between the multimeter and stand.  I plugged an HDMI cable from the hub into my TV and noted that the multimeter displayed 5.220V/00A.  I plugged a USB-C to Lightning cable between the device and my iPhone Pro 14 Max, and the multimeter displayed 5.20V 0.05A. 

When I plugged my iPad Pro 12.9” via USB-C, the multimeter displayed 8.92V/2.18A.  I was able to create a second screen, and I tested the USB-A ports with my USB-A keyboard and USB-A mouse.  I could not get my iPhone to output to the TV, nor could I get my iPhone to charge.  I was surprised that the Nintendo Switch could charge (8.95V/1.70A) and would output to TV and computer monitor.  Interestingly, the $69 plugable device could be an extra Nintendo Switch Cradle.

The pluggable stand provided a valuable means to convert a tablet into a tablet-top workstation. I enjoyed the ability to add a second screen and to combine a full-size keyboard/mouse to better utilize the Pages App, Notes App, Safari, and Chrome Apps with ease.  The HDMI output allowed me to display on my monitor/television and provided a full-size viewing experience for movies, web searches, and work. 

I could search, add/remove files from my micro SD cards and enjoyed having a spare card reader on hand.  I liked that the stand could fold into a flatter orientation for travel but I would have encouraged the inclusion of a carry case for the stand, a USB-C cable, and possibly an HDMI cord.  

Summary

Even though the pluggable stand could not charge/output from my iPhone 14 Pro max, my 4-year-old daughter used the device as a hands-free stand for watching Bluey and Vampirina with her snack.  We found the most use of the stand with the kid’s iPad mini Gen 6 and the ability to employ a keyboard. 

I found use for the device as a Nintendo Switch stand, charger, and output dock.  In fact, I was truly surprised to find that the USB-C/base allowed for this functionality.  Again, the only negatives that I had were with the placement of the rubber pads.  The company should have added a bumper along the upper hinge segment and one above the cutout.  Second, I would have loved an included carry case.  Lastly, I think it may have been helpful to have a USB-A and USB-C port for modern peripherals.

Learn more about the plugable USB-C docking station and follow them on Facebook and Twitter.

Handheld Language Translator Device

According to a June 9, 2022, lingua.edu article, there are approximately 7106 living languages, 2508 Bible language translations, and 915 languages that are considered dying. When you ponder about travel and the ability to reach nearly any point on the planet within about a day (longest nonstop flight is Singapore to New York, 9537 miles at 18 hours 50 minutes), I wonder how long it will take for languages to blend/homogenize?  What will be the final tally when travel times seem to approach instantaneous?  What languages will be spoken by most people?

Currently, the top 10 languages are English (~1.45 Billion), Mandarin Chinese (~1.12 Billion), Hindi (~602 Million), Spanish (~548 million), French (~274 Million), Standard Arabic (~274 Million), Bengali (~272 Million), Russian (~258 Million), Portuguese (~257 Million), Urdu (~231 Million).  Interestingly, the Cinema Language of the Solomon Islands is the least spoken language with a single surviving speaker. Sadly, several languages are at extreme risk of extinction within the next few years and efforts are underway to attempt to capture examples in written and spoken forms.

The importance of communication expands as we become more interconnected and global in tourism, business, and education.  Beyond academic programs like university or primary school settings, one can turn to Apps/programs like Rosetta Stone or Duolingo.  These can provide some assistance for those interested in gaining some mastery over a single to few languages and learning some of the academic nuances.  For those who may travel to several countries with multiple distinct dialects/accents/languages, using a universal translator/software may provide a much-needed boost.  The ability to communicate with someone in their native language could open doors that would have remained inaccessible. 

Packaging

As a portmanteau of fluent/talk, the Fluentålk portable translator device strives to decrease language barriers. The device arrived in a 4 5/8 inches wide by 6 inches tall by 1 5/8 inches thick retail package.  The cover panel was divided into clean-white, larger segment toward the left, and a sea foam green smaller segment to the right.  You will find the product name at the top left, “portable translator” along the top right, T1 along the bottom right, and the main showcase product image at the center of the panel.  The slightly raised, glossy image of the phone-shaped translation device provided a great representation of the translator, the HD screen, and the three side buttons. 

The image of the screen suggested clear visual translation, and suggested WiFi, LTE, and Bluetooth connectivity based on the icons at the top of the panel.  The image on the screen showed a Spanish-to-English communication followed by an English-to-Spanish communication and provided a microphone icon at the bottom suggesting the ability to add audio communication to the visual dialog. The top/bottom and side panels listed the Fluentålk name, while the main spine listed five product-defining icons: 1. Small in 1/2 passport size. 2. 0.2-second instant translation. 3. 40 Languages 93 accents. 4. Quad-Core 12NM High-performance CPU. 5. Maximum 95% accuracy.  I liked the clean white edges and felt that the black-on-white contrast was well done.  Additionally, the sea foam green accent colors provided a refreshing splash of color.

Even though the rear panel proved to be a bit busier than the others, it ended up being a necessity.  The top section listed the product specifications (116.8 x 58.6 x 11.2 mm 115g, quad core arm 12NM 2.0GHz cpu, 3G RAM/32GB ROM, Android 10 OS, 4.0 Oncell 540×1080 screen size, 8 Megapixel camera, dual speaker, multi-microphone array, Type-C 5V/1A charging, 1500mAh battery, WiFi/Nano-sim/E-sim, 2g/3g/4g LTE wireless technology), four product defining icons (4 inch QHD+ touch screen, ask for directions/chat in multiple modes, multi-mic array, 2 year international unlimited data plan for free), and an attractive ink outline of the device.

The lower segment listed product manufacturing labels, Bluetooth icon, UPC barcodes, and two language defining tables (13 Pairs of offline translation, 40 languages/93 accents online): 1. English to Chinese/Japanese/Korean/French/German/Spanish/Russian.  2. Chinese to English/Japanese/Korean/French/German/Spanish/Russian.  Online languages include: English/Chinese/Japanese/Korean/French/German/Spanish/Russian/Portuguese/Italian/Dutch/Danish/Norwegian/Swedish/Finnish/Icelandic/Greek/Ukrainian/Czech/Slovak/Croatian/Bulgarian/Romanian/Slovenian/Thai/Vietnamese/Indonesian/Malay/Filipino/Telugu/Tamil/Hindi/Arabic/Turkish/Urdu/Catalan/Polish/Hungarian/Hebrew/Cantonese.  

Unboxing

I removed the outer plastic, then separated the left outer section of the box from the right/inner segment. Within the box, you will first find a cardboard accessory box containing a cardboard card/SIM removal tool and a 64-page multilingual instruction manual. Beneath the manual, you will find the 4.1-ounce, 2 5/16 inches wide by 4 9/16 inches tall by 3/8 inches thick translator. Lastly, hidden beneath the translator, you will find the accessory box with 6 1/2 inches long wrist lanyard and 39 3/4 inches long white-colored, rubberized, round-style USB-A to USB-C charging cable.  Overall, the product was well-packaged, organized, and presented.  

Before testing the device, I evaluated the surface features and button layout.  Resembling a book, the device had a rounded spine with three color-coded buttons, a flat grey top, bottom, and left side panel, and a front panel with a sleek 4 7/16 inches tall by 2 inches wide dark HD screen against a metallic grey frame. Along the right edge of the screen, you will find five speaker cutouts and indicator lights.  The rounded right side provided a circular 1/4 inches diameter power button with central yellow identifier, an oval-shaped 7/32 inches wide by 13/32 inches tall button with central blue oval identifier (other language), and an oval-shaped 7/32 inches wide by 13/32 inches tall button with a central red oval identifier (primary language). 

The flat top panel had two oval-shaped microphone cutouts, while the bottom panel had a lanyard slot, USB-C charging port, and a few other small cutouts for another microphone and speakers.  The flat left side panel had a port for a SIM card and a 5/8 inches long by 1/16 inches tall volume up/down button.  I liked the layout/design of the product and found the buttons perfectly aligned for quick access for a right-handed individual.  Holding the device in my right hand, I could easily access the three spine buttons with my thumb, while also accessing the volume buttons with my pointer finger.

I plugged the included USB-A to USB-C cable between a standard 5V/2A USB port and the device and was impressed with the quality of the bright HD screen.  Once the device was connected to power, it displayed a vibrant lightning bolt charging indicator, and a battery icon with percentile.  Excitedly, while the device charged (30-40 minutes out of the box) to full, I reviewed the English section of the multilingual manual.  The first page provided a helpful packaging list (translator, charging cable USB-A to USB-C, slot pin, wrist lanyard, and user manual) and button layout diagram. 

The second page detailed the basic unit operation (power on/off/restart, charging, install nano-SIM card, Use WLAN hotspot, lanyard installation, Gestures), while the third and fourth pages walked the user through the translation functions (One click Translation, Photo Translation, Ask for Directions mode, Listen Mode, Chat Translation, Offline Translation, Translation Settings).  The final two pages provided information about FAQ, product specifications, safety, warranty information, and contact information. The subsequent pages provided instructions in Spanish, Simplified Chinese, Japanese, German, French, Korean (Hangul), Arabic, Russian, and Traditional Chinese.

Device Use

I pressed and held the power button to activate the device.  The bright screen displayed the time along the top left of the screen, while the top right provided signal strength and battery icons.  The midsection of the screen showed a large bold white digital military time and date (day, month, date) above an image of the globe. The lower segment of the screen showed options for “one-click Translation,” “Photo Translation,” and the ability to change the two languages.  From the main screen, you will find one language with a blue icon (other language) and another with a red icon (native language).  To test the “One-Click” feature, I set the red button to English and the Blue button to American Spanish.  I sat down with my friend Jesus and had a fun little conversation.  Hold the red button, talk into the microphone, and the device will translate your statement.  “How are you today? Quickly translated as ¿Cómo estás hoy?  When the other button was held down, my friend was able to communicate back ¿Estoy bien y tú? (I’m good and you?)”  We were able to have a conversation and used the device to go back and forth.  If you tap the three hamburger icon, you can set the device for offline translation, adjust the speaking interval, or toggle on/off the voice announcement.  I did not find a feature to change the voice or to change the gender from female to male.  

The translation was quick and worked nearly flawlessly, living up to the 95% accuracy mentioned on the website and packaging.  My wife and I changed the language to English/French, and then Spanish/French, and found the translation worked great.  One of my son’s friends was taking the German language in school, while my son was taking Spanish.  We tested the App/features with some of their basic coursework and found that the translations were prompt, succinct, and grammatically well-constructed. 

From the main screen, tap the Photo Translation option to navigate to the photo screen.  The new panel will provide a 3×3 grid with instruction to “Keep text aligned with the reference line,” which runs vertically.  You can tap the photo icon along the bottom left to translate or you can snap a picture in real time.  I tested the Spanish to English translation using a few Billboards and comics and found the translation was passable but not as good as the voice to translate.  One of the downsides of the mode/feature is that you will need to make sure that you set the language before taking the picture. 

Unfortunately, it cannot register the language type and then translate it for you.  You will need to select the language prior to snapping the photo, or save it to translate at a later time (Note from Timekettle: The next generation-T1 mini can automatically identify the language you set).  I tried the feature with Russian to English, Spanish to English, French to English, German to English, and Chinese to English. I was impressed with the quality and speed of the translation but did note the translations were less literal/formal than with the text/speech options. 

Additional Modes

If you swipe from the right to the left, you will navigate to the third screen.  The panel had additional feature modes such as Ask for Directions, Chat Translation, Listen Mode, Voice memo, User Guide, Common Expressions, SOS, Settings.  The Ask For Directions feature provided a helpful/useful method to start a conversation.  I loved the ability to preset a custom statement of communication.  The default “Excuse me, can you help me? We can use this translator to communicate” summarized the need/utility quite well and served as a useful ice breaker.  You can add/change the default or hold-touch over the saved custom phrases to delete them.  The feature was quite useful as a conversation starter.  You can tap the three hamburger icon at the top right, add conversation starters for different languages/scenarios, and set them to default.  When you double-press the power button, the preset phrase will play. 

The “Chat Translation” feature opened a two-panel screen with one half facing toward you and another toward the other individual.  The dual Fluentålk translator microphones were designed to capture directional sound to translate your language to the other person, and then their language back to you. The mode captured the verbal conversation, composed the text in your language on your side, and then written text and audio on the other side.  If you want to hear the translation again, you can tap the microphone option to replay the sound clip. You can tap the language option in the top right of your segment to change the language selection. 

I liked the playback option, and the option to read/hear the translation.  I used the feature with English to Spanish, Polish to English, Polish to Spanish, French to English, and French to Spanish.  I did not have anyone locally to test other languages.  I found the translation to be quite well done for Spanish/French and was passable for Polish (per my test contact).  Some of the translations were a bit too literal but were understandable.  As noted above, the device appeared to maintain a 95% accuracy. 

The Listen Mode created a one-way real-time listen/written translate function, while the voice memo allowed the user to capture messages.  As an added convenience, you can adjust the speaking interval to the habits of each individual.  The helpful User Guide laid out each mode and provided several panels worth of information/guidance.  If you tap the Common Expressions mode, the panel will show the following options:  Urgency, Traffic, hospital, Bank, Hotel, Restaurant, Shopping, Attractions. If you tap/open one of the options, you can employ common phrases. 

As an example, if you tap Hospital you can select options like “Soy alérgico a los antibióticos,” “I am allergic to antibiotics,” or “Tengo un poco de resfriado y fiebre,” “I have a cold and fever.” You can tap Restaurant, “¿Hay mesa para tres personas?,” “Is there a table for 3 people?,” or ¿Cuánto tiempo tenemos que Esperar,” “How long do we have to wait.” This mode allows you to choose amongst a variety of standard quick phrase features.  Once the translator gives the information, hold the blue button on the device when the person answers for the translator to give you information back in your language. 

Throughout the testing process, we only had issues with busy/loud environments picking up ambient noise/sounds.  Moving to quieter locations improved accuracy and nuanced communication translation.  I loved the features, the easy-to-use system, and that each device provides 2-year’s worth of free international data.  I could pair the device to Bluetooth earphones, to my local network, and could enjoy downloaded languages when needed.  Through the settings section, you can change the base language, evaluate the storage space (32GB) and delete stored conversations (by date), adjust the date/time (sync network time or change between 12H/24H), adjust the SOS options/see the area code, and download languages for offline use. 

When I swiped from left to right, the translator device showed a clock for Tokyo and Washington.  When I tapped the clocks, I found that I could change to Americas: USA, Mexico, Canada, Argentina, Brazil, Dominica Republic, Chile, Cuba, Colombia, Europe: France, Spain, Italy, Turkey, Germany, United Kingdom, Austria, Greece, Russia, Portugal, Switzerland, Sweden, Ireland, Monaco, Liechtenstein, Ukraine, Poland, Netherlands, Finland, Denmark, Norway, Hungary, Romania, Croatia, Luxembourg, Belgium, Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Iceland Asia: China, Thailand, Japan, Malaysia, India, Vietnam, South Korea, Singapore, Saudi Arabia, UA, Iran, Bahrain, Jordan, Israel, Oman, Qatar, Lebanon, Phillippines, Indonesia, Africa: Morocco, Egypt, South Africa, Tunisia, Algeria, Zimbabwe, Côte d’lvoire, Botswana, Namibia, Mozambique, Oceania: Austrian, New Zealand, Fiji, Papua New Guinea. Many of the countries had additional options.  If you select USA, you can change between Washington, Anchorage, Los Angeles, Salt Lake City, Las Vegas, Chicago, New York.  As an example, I set the time to Paris GMT+01:00 (04:56 am) and Chicago GMT-06:00 (21:56 PM).

Below the clocks, you will find a currency exchange feature, allowing you to evaluate the exchange rates between countries 1D=17.966MXN=0.910FR EUR=6.890 CNY YUAN etc.  I compared the values at the time of the writing to online sources and found the device had accurate spot prices. I liked the main screen Translation Record feature, which allowed the user to scroll back through the recent One-Click Translation history. I liked that the feature maintained the last conversations so that I could return to review the conversation chain at a later time.   Additionally, if you tap each translation, you can play/hear them again.

Charging

I used a USB-A to USB-C 5V/2A wall charger with the USB-A to USB-C cable.  Starting at 1642 at 1%, the translator increased to 5% by 1646, to 24% by 17:00, to 40% by 17:10, and 50% by 17:18. The translator was at 100% when I rechecked it at 18:05.  I was pleased that the product took just over an hour to charge to full.  I could use the device for several hours at a time over a weekend before needing to charge the device.  You can expect the device to last several days on a single charge if offline and in airplane mode.

Summary

My only complaint/gripe/plainte/queja (etc.) was that the device did not have a carry case or screen protector (Note from Timekettle: This is already in process for the accessory list and it’s expected to be sold in the next half year).  A belt loop holster would have been very helpful for easy access or possibly, a small felt pouch.  Despite the single negative, I found so many positive features of the device.  I loved the small cellphone-like size, the button layout, the touch controls, and the intuitive mode/screen layouts.  The mid-screen one-touch translation was likely the most used feature, followed by the Chat Translation. 

The included common expressions were a fantastic option for those who wanted a quick conversation starter.  The ask-for-directions feature provided a helpful/useful method to start the conversation, a quick, easy-access button combination, and the ability to adjust the ice-breakers as needed.  I loved the ability to preset custom statements of communication.  The default “Excuse me, can you help me? We can use this translator to communicate” summarized the need/utility quite well.  

If you want a highly portable, easy-to-use, offline-abled, handheld device, look to the Timekettle T1 Fluentålk device.

For more information, visit fluentalk.com, Facebook, or Twitter.

Speaker Turns Shower Time into Party Time

The Tribit AquaEase speaker arrived in a 4 7/8 inches wide by 5 1/8 inches tall by 3 inches thick retail package.  The cover panel displayed the company and product name/logo along the top edge, just above the generic “Portable Wireless Speaker” label.  The showcase of the panel was the large, slightly raised, glossy image of the portable speaker/clock.  At the risk of gendering/stereotyping, my first impression of the pastel rainbow colors plus the blue or pink shell/wrist lanyard suggested young child/female. However, upon further testing, the image did not appropriately capture the quality features of the speaker.

The front panel displayed the company/product name at the top left, a speaker/USB-A icon along the top right, and three images along the bottom: 1. Have you Heard. 2. Triple infinity Y loop. 3. Tribit App Download.  The left side panel displayed the generic Portable Wireless Speaker name and listed helpful information about the speaker: Bluetooth 5.3, IPX7 Waterproof (resistance), Stereo Mode, Long Battery Life, Beat-driven light, and superior sound.  The right side panel displayed a large green/white OK sticker, a product QR code sticker, an SKU sticker, a support web address, and a short thank you statement.  The bottom panel listed the product manufacturing labels alongside the company’s US/EU/UK/JP addresses.  

I lifted the top panel and removed the 93-page multilingual instruction manual and the quick start “How to control” card.  Next, I removed the 9.2-ounce, 4 1/4 inches diameter by 1 7/8 inches tall flat/conical speaker.  From a top/down view, you will find a 2 1/4 inches wide by 2 3/16 inches tall, semicircular blue-metallic speaker with a lower Tribit logo and upper status LED indicator.  Surrounding the circular speaker, you will find six 9/16 inches wide by 3/8 inches tall buttons:  Power, Bluetooth, Play, -, +, and Light.  The speaker/buttons had a soft blue pastel color that extended to and surrounded the 1 3/32 inches wide by 9/16 inches tall LCD screen.  You will find a 5/8 inches tall white LED layer between the top buttons and the lower body/shell of the speaker. 

I liked the pastel blue-colored scheme/design and the sandwiched white LED layer.  The base provided four 3/8 inches long by 5/16 inches wide by 1/16 inches tall rubberized feet, several vent holes, a 3 7/8 inches long wrist lanyard, and a centralized 1 7/8 inches wide by 15/16 inches tall pill-shaped cutout.  The midline cutout provided the BTS11 model number, ICC/FCC ID, Battery information (3.7V/2200mAh/8.14Wh), product manufacturing labels, and contact information.  Lastly, you will find a 1 5/8 inches long by 3/8 inches tall AquaEase rubberized access port along the top of the device. If you remove the 5/16 inches-thick rubberized plug, you will find a micro-SD card slot (up to 32 GB) and a USB-C charging port.  

Power Cable:

I removed the included 20 3/8 inches long USB-A to USB-C cable and evaluated the end prongs.  The metallic USB-C prong measured 5/16 by 3/32 inches by 5/16 inches tall and attached to an oval-shaped 7/16 inches by 1/4 inches by 11/16 inches tall black body segment.  The 1/4 inches tall by 1/4 inches diameter neck segment then tapered to the 1/8 inch diameter round cable.  The boxy USB-A metallic prong measured 1/2 inches wide by 3/16 inches thick by 1/2 inches tall and attached to an oval-shaped 5/8 inches by 5/16 inches by 11/16 inches tall body segment.  The body attached to the 3/16 inches tall by 1/4 inches diameter neck segment, which then tapered to the 1/8 inch diameter round cable.  

To test the integrity of the charging cable, I evaluated each of the prongs, body, neck, and mid-cable segments.  To start, I gripped the metallic prongs and body segments. I bent each of the prongs forward/backward and side-to-side twenty-five times.  I was pleased with the design/strength and the fit within USB-C and USB-A ports.  Next, I gripped the body segment/cable and pulled it outward to attempt to remove the body.  The rigid body segments stood up to the test and protected the attachment point with the prongs.  I gripped and bent the neck segment and then the neck/cable segment without any movement or concern with the design.  The USB-A to USB-C cable should stand up to several rounds of charging and seems well-designed to reduce typical wear/tear at the neck segments. 

Speaker/Features:

I plugged a DROK USB-A multimeter into a USB-A port on a BESTEK Multihub and noted that the multimeter displayed 5.05/0.92A.  After an hour of charging, the red LED at the speaker’s top extinguished, informing me that the speaker was ready for use.  I pressed the power button and heard a jingle, a female announcer who stated, “Battery 100%,” another light jingle, and found a flashing blue LED at the top of the speaker.  I unlocked my iPhone 14 Pro Max, navigated to Settings and Bluetooth, and then selected “Tribit AquaEase” from the list. The speaker made a clicking jingle and paired with my iPhone 14 Pro Max via Bluetooth without issue.  When I pressed the light button, I was greeted with a bright rainbow illumination feature and a pleasant pulsing music-centric glow. When I pressed the button again, the light quickly extinguished.  I would have liked a dimming feature, the option to choose a specific color or a solid light option.  However, the programming only allowed the single RGB on/off mode.  Additionally, even though I loved the shape of the light, the waterproof design, the button layout, and the clock feature, I wish that there was a way to change the clock to red or to turn it off.  

Similar to the light button feature mentioned above, the volume up/down buttons and the MFB (multi-function button) allowed for quick/easy speaker adjustments.  I liked that the speaker utilized individual single-press volume up/down buttons for volume up/down and a click-hold feature.  The setup allowed for responsive, quick/efficient changes of volume/function on my iPhone and iPad. The MFB button had several helpful programming combinations.  While in listening mode, a single press allowed me to play/pause a track.  A double press allowed me to progress to the next track, while a triple press returned to a previous track.  If you press-hold the button, the speaker lights will turn on, and the Siri Voice Assistant will activate on your iPhone or iPad.  During a call, a single press will answer/end the call.  Press-hold functionality allows you to pause a call, or transfer a call.  During three-way calling, you can single-press the MFB button to transfer between the two callers, or press-hold to end the call for the caller on the other line.  Lastly, if you hold the MFB button for 5 seconds, you can adjust between 24H/12H mode, and adjust the clock.  Unfortunately, I could not find a method to change the bright blue background or light blue numbers on the screen. Even though the controls were intuitive, responsive, and well-programmed, I would have loved a programming key/legend on the underside of the device.  The manual did a great job of detailing the labeled outline, and the tables of features.  However, you may not have the manual with you when needed.  What was the transfer sequence?  What was the hold sequence?  

As a portable speaker, the AquaEase provided better-than-expected sound and convenient IPX7 waterproofing.  My family and I just returned from our first cruise aboard the Royal Caribbean Liberty of the Seas and enjoyed every minute of 2200 mAh battery. The 5W output power will not likely excite the audiophiles, but the ability to use the device in the shower, on the go, at the beach, and the pool creates a compelling counterargument.  My daughters enjoyed their Perfect Day on Cococay playing at the beach, and jammed to Baby Shark while in the splash park.   We enjoyed Secret Life of Pets in our stateroom and appreciated the ability to hear/enjoy movies without the need to blast the sound.  We also enjoyed pairing the device with a second AquaEase to enjoy Stereo mode.  Pairing one speaker to another proved to be just as simple as the initial pairing of a single device.  Ensure both devices are powered on; hold the Bluetooth button on speaker A, then press the Bluetooth button on Speaker B.  The announcer will vocalize “stereo mode” and the speakers will assume left (primary) and right (secondary) channels.    

To test the sound parameters of the AquaEase speaker I navigated to the audiocheck.net website for the low/high-frequency tests, channel programming, and staging. If you have read any of my speaker/earphone reviews, then you know that I start with the Low-Frequency Response and Subwoofer Audio Test (10-200 Hz).  The test begins with a male announcer vocalizing frequency changes starting at 10Hz and increasing by 10Hz levels.  Typically, high-quality speakers with optimal/full bass support should provide sound at the 20Hz level and have frequency representation through 20kHz.  When I completed the test with the AquaEase speakers, I did not hear/feel sound until 40Hz, which suggested a limited deeper bass experience.  I repeated the test at 25%, 50%, and 75% volume, finding distinct volume stages instead of a steady increase.  Despite the volume changes, the speakers did not provide frequencies below 40Hz.  I tested the bass quality with “Ring of Fire” Homefree, “Far over the Misty Mountains” Hobbit, Disturbed “Sound of Silence,” and Joker Theme “Why So Serious?” and found the bass to be acceptable.  The sound felt weak/limited beneath ~50% volume and provided average to slightly above average sound at 60-75% volume.  Interestingly, as the volume increased above 50% the speakers appeared to provide an additional kick.  However, without the lower frequencies/bass, the sound output appeared a bit brighter and less full than the JBL Go 3.  Despite the limitations, the speaker output never felt harsh, bright, or too tinny. 

For the second test, I utilized the High-Frequency Response and Hearing Audio Test (22-8 kHz).  Like the Low-Frequency test above, the announcer will start at 22kHz and will dictate each frequency change.  This time, however, he moved downward by 1 kHz instead of up by 10 Hz.  I found that I could hear the high-pitched sound at 15 kHz, which was on par with my level of hearing.  My 14-year-old son could hear at 16 kHz, while my 4-year-old daughter, 8-year-old daughter, and 11-year-old son could hear 17 kHz.  As we age and experience sound trauma/pollution, we tend to lose higher frequencies before the lower frequencies.  The Tribit speakers provided a good blend of sound, and I was pleased with the output, color, character, and staging.  I utilized the Left/Right/Center test for the third test and was pleased to find appropriately programmed channels.  For the final test, I used the Stereo Perception and Sound Localization Test and listened to the binaural knocking sounds.  The test proved to be rather neat when completed in paired stereo mode. I placed speaker A about a foot away from my left shoulder and speaker B about a foot from my right shoulder and played with the stereo features of the dual-paired Tribit AquaEase speakers.  I listened to Disturbed Sound of Silence in 8D, Pentatonic Halleluia in 8D, 8D Audio Gladiator Now We at Free, Queen Bohemian Rhapsody in 12D Audio, and Metallica Fade to Black 12D.  I loved feeling the sound rotate and shift back and forth between the ears and the sensation of staging when placed equidistant from my ears.  

My son and I tested the Bluetooth capability of the paired Stereo speakers over the last month. We loaded up our 35-pound hiking backpacks, attached a paired speaker to our chest strap via carabiner, and set out on our practice Philmont Scout Trek. We started with 3 miles and steadily increased to hiking 6 miles twice weekly. We listened to the LItRPG Level Up or Die Underworld series as we hiked. I played the Audible book through my iPhone 14 Pro Max and noted that I needed speaker A (left channel) to be closest to me while we hiked. My son could move to about 25 feet away before cracking/disruption in sound was noted through speaker B. Similarly, if we placed both paired speakers more than 30 feet away from the phone, the sound became distorted.

To finish my review, I used Amazon Prime Music, Apple Music, and YouTube to test a variety of songs.  The BT codecs allowed YouTube, Paramount+, HBO Max, Amazon Prime video, Movies Anywhere playback without lag. I listened to my typical test tracks, Bohemian Rhapsody Soundtrack, Rocketman Soundtrack, several selections from Alabama, Hotel California by the Eagles, Pentatonix and Home Free, the Beatles, and Journey.  I used YouTube to watch several music videos by Michael Jackson, Charlie Puth, Lady Gaga, Meghan Trainor, and AJR Bang!  I liked the poppy feel and felt the bass provided some depth but could have used extra support.  I liked the blend with instrumental tracks from several Sousa marches, the Far and Away Soundtrack, Robin Prince of Thieves Soundtrack, and Enya, but I missed the rumbling bass. 

The ~$39.99 price was fair when considering the BT 5.3, USB-C charge capability, 18-hour battery life, device size, and waterproof status.  However, I would have loved for a slightly improved bass and an included carabiner.  Luckily, I had several Harbor Freight carabiners, and a few suction cups for the bathroom.  The speaker will work well for a dorm, bedroom, poolside music/movie session and should fill moderate spaces with plenty of sound.  For added depth, add the second speaker for stereo mode. 

APP:

I logged into the 2.5* Tribit App, tapped the + icon at the bottom, and the Tribit AquaEase speaker immediately showed up.  I selected the speaker from the list and noted the App displayed the available battery.  I was able to turn on/off the light, adjust the speaker volume, play/pause the track, move to next/previous tracks, update the firmware (fully updated at the time of shipment), synchronize the network time (or adjust manually), factory reset the device or adjust the Equalizer modes between Music, Audiobook, Rock, Party, Classical, and Jazz. I adjusted the custom equalizer and played around with the settings, and found that the sound output could be increased slightly.  The app could allow some additional customization beyond the base settings. 

Pros:
* USB-C charging w/ USB-A to USB-C cable
* Small size
* TWS Pairing
* IPX 7 Waterproof
* Clock/lights
* Attractive appearance
* 18-hour battery life
* Single or Paired Stereo mode

Cons:
* Lacking Bass
* Inability to change clock color
* Clock is angled downward/difficult to read when hanging
* Short lanyard
* Lights turn off with no sound playing

Learn more about the Tribit AquaEase Shower Speaker and follow Tribit on Facebook.

Ergonomics and Comfort without breaking the bank on an office chair.

I am not sure that I will ever move from Padawan to Master status, as I feel that I am a perpetual student amassing nuggets of wisdom.  Beyond gems like never eat yellow snow, or never pee into the wind, one of the most valuable pieces of information received was to never skimp on one’s back or feet.  I have taken this information to heart when purchasing mattresses, shoes, backpacks, and chairs. 

As the pandemic created a different work environment, I spent more time in front of my MacBook, iPad, and work computer.  With more dedicated sitting time, I needed a chair to provide comfort and support to reduce back/neck strain without breaking the bank.  Thankfully, the ergonomic Sihoo chair provided the missing link. 

Unboxing

The Sihoo M18 chair arrived in a large 13 inches wide by 29 1/2 inches long by 21 1/2 inches tall tan cardboard box.  Each side panel listed the M18-M148 model number, product dimensions, product manufacturing, and Made in China labels.  The front/back covers provided the SIHOO name along the top left, the M18-M148 model number along the bottom right, and several weight warnings along the right edge.  

The main focal point of the cover was the side view of an ink-outline skeleton in a seated posture.  The scientific diagram provided an air of credibility by demonstrating proper knee height, armrest height, hand active area, normal line of site, and the maximum line of sight.  Additionally, the image demonstrated a protractor/angled view of the 90-120 degree office work posture, a small relaxed wedge from ~105-120 degrees, and a lying angle from 120-135 degrees.  The design/image created a desire for workplace optimization and a draw for a more comfortable seat. 

Assembly

When I opened the lid, I found packing material, cardboard liners, chair parts, and a single small white glove which was a good fit for my 7-year-old daughter’s hand.  I removed each piece from the box, starting with the armrests, and then moved to the headrest, seat cushion, backrest, swivel mechanism, and three cardboard accessory boxes. 

Each piece was meticulously bubble or plastic wrapped, securely positioned, and arrived without any damage.  I opened the accessory boxes and found a five-point leg/caster frame within one box, the five legs/caster posts in another, and the casters, riser, and hardware in the third.  Once I removed all the components and packing materials from the box, I found the second glove hiding at the bottom.

I removed the instruction manual from the seat cushion bag and followed the first two pages of instructions.  The subsequent pages provided a two-panel diagram/description in German, French, Italian, Spanish, and a character language (likely Chinese).  I opted to follow the instruction manual instead of the available YouTube video.  For the first step, I removed 10 of the M6*12 screws and the hex wrench from the hardware punch card, unwrapped each of the caster legs/casters, and then installed the caster legs onto the base. 

I was pleased with the setup, the blue thread locking material on each of the M6*12 screws, and the machined attachment points.  Once the legs were attached to the central base, I inserted each caster into the posts.  I then inserted the silver-foot trim, followed by the air-pressure rising rod, into the middle of the base to complete the second step of the installation process.   

For the third step, I attached the left then right armrests to the seat cushion with the included M6*25 screws/small washers. The instruction manual showed the cushion base, the hex screwdriver, and the proper washer positioning.  I installed the riser/tilt mechanism to the seat cushion with the M6*20 screws for the fourth step.  For the fifth step, I removed the three M8*45 screws and installed the back plate to the seat cushion. 

For the sixth step, I installed the cushion/back plate with mechanism onto the base’s gaslift arm.  For the final step, I slid the headrest into the slot on the back of the back plate and then adjusted the headrest to the appropriate position.  Once fully installed, I tested each of the chairs features.  I loved the adjustable headrest, the armrest height adjustment mechanism, the seat height adjustment button, the backrest tilt tension, the breathable mesh backing (no sweating), the lumbar support depth and height adjustment, and the casters/mobility.  Lastly, the instruction manual provided a helpful parts list and generic safety instructions.  

Testing

Upon first impression, the chair seat cushion and back plate appeared rigid and stiff.  However, after using the chair over the past few weeks, I found my initial assumption wrong.  Instead of an overly firm, inflexible surface, I found a supportive Goldilocks, just-right feel to the base.  I enjoyed the lumbar support depth adjustable knob and found the chair provided an impressive amount of lower back support for my 5’9”, 158-pound frame. 

If you remove your weight from the chair, you can tilt the seat height adjustment lever to raise the chair.  This will allow you to rest with your feet on the floor and prevent a tiny legs big chair situation.  Set your weight back into the chair and press the lever again to lower the chair to the optimal height.  Slide the backrest tilt angle adjustment rod to lock the chair into the upright position or pull it out to gain the ability to rock/tilt.  

To further optimize the experience, I adjusted the backrest tilt tension adjustment and placed the headrest in the perfect position for my head.  I loved the ability to slide the headrest up/down (~3.5 inches), and the ability to rotate the headrest forward/backward (~45 degrees).  The chair armrests could be raised/lowered to taste/need and allowed the chair to slide under my desk when fully lowered. 

Each armrest could be adjusted individually, which allowed for additional customization.  In summary, the chair provided quite a bit of customization and allowed for prolonged comfort for typing/reading/activities.  In fact, I typed this review and a few others from the comfort of the Sihoo chair without a sweaty back or fatigue/discomfort.

If I had one wish to improve the Sihoo chair, it would be for the casters to be replaced with slightly larger/rubberized wheels. The casters will not work well on taller carpets unless you have an under-desk mat.  I had no issues when utilizing the chair with the shorter carpet in my basement/outdoor style carpet, nor did I have any issues on my hardwood floor.  However, the chair was less maneuverable than needed when used on my plush upstairs taller-style carpet.  There are better casters for the carpet; you can remove/upgrade the casters if desired.  

Summary

I was pleased with the packaging, the ~20-minute installation/setup, the hextool/driver, and with the firmness of the foam seat cushion and backplate.  I would have preferred slightly larger casters for improved carpet utility, but this did not detract from the overall review.  Packaging 4/5, customization/comfort 4.5/5, cost 5/5. 

Learn more about the SIHOO M18 chair and follow Sihoo on Facebook and Twitter.

Earbuds enhance ambient sounds without plugging your ears

I regularly search for the perfect pair of earphones and love to try/test new devices.  Despite the testing process, I often return to a pair of Soundcore (ANKER) over-ear style headphones for home use and Apple AirPods Pro Gen 2 for on-the-go Ambient/Noise Cancelling needs.  Even though I enjoy both devices and their features, I wanted a device that would allow for safer use while walking/jogging/hiking.  Additionally, I wanted a device that could allow for music/sound enjoyment without eliminating ambient noise.  Thus, I wanted to try an open-style pair of earphones.

Unboxing/Packaging

The Cleer Arc Ear Free True Wireless Headphones arrived in a 5 3/8 inches long by 3 5/8 inches tall by 1 7/16 inches thick hanging style retail package.  The Cleer company name was displayed along the top left of the cover panel, upon a clean white backdrop.  The main focal point of the cover was the large photo-quality image of a young male wearing headphones. You will find a 5/8 inches-thick grey wrap-around accent along the bottom of the cover that contained a United Soccer League logo and the golden-metallic ARC name. 

Lastly, the cover listed the red dot winner 2021 logo near the lower left corner.  When I rotated the packaging and placed it face down, the right side panel listed the company name and a fun “own the moment” slogan.  The left panel provided three labeled product features/icons: Open ear headphone design for situational awareness, Bluetooth 5.0 with aptX high-quality music streaming, 16.2mm drivers, and custom DSP for immersive listening.  The top white panel provided a white product hanging tab, while the bottom panel provided UPC barcodes, Bluetooth information, California Pro 65 risks, and product manufacturing labels.  

The rear panel provided the company name along the top of the panel and then five product features: customize EQ levels with the Cleer+ app, Clear calls with beamforming technology and 2-microphone design, Open ear headphone design for situational awareness during music playback, Up to 7 hours playback from a single charge, 10 minutes quick charge for 1-hour playback, and 16.2mm drivers with customized DSP for an immersive listening experience on bass enhance mode.

I liked the attractive image of the open case at the top right of the panel.  Combined with the image on the cover panel, the two images clearly represented the product and charging case.  The remaining segment of the panel displayed the Qualcomm aptX logo, App Store and Google Play Store logos, and a list of the packaging contents. 

I removed the outer plastic, slid the inner box toward the side, and was impressed to find a metallic gold leaf slogan at the top left of the matte black inner box.  The inner box contained a 5 inches long by 3 1/4 inches tall by 1 1/8 inches tall, 3.7-ounce carry case, plus a ziplock style bag with the instruction manual and quick start fitting/charging guide.  The tweed style, heather-grey carry case had an attractive silver “cleer” logo along the middle segment of the cover and an 11 1/2 inches long water-resistant zipper along the periphery. 

When I gripped the metallic-black zipper pull and unzipped the case, I was disappointed with the rigidity/tightness of the mechanism.  However, the zipper loosened up a little after a few open/close cycles.  The inner surface of the pocket-friendly case was lined with a black nylon material and had a rigid/strong core to the clamshell design.  The lower segment housed the built-in charging cradle for each of the 0.4-ounce earbuds and a wraparound 11 3/8 inches long USB-A cable.

I lifted each earbud out of the case, removed the plastic liner, reinstalled the earbuds, and then plugged the USB-A cable into a standard USB output port (5.06V/0.13A display on Drok USB-A multimeter).  

Testing

While the earbuds charged, I perused the instruction manual and quick start fitting/charging guides. The fitting card demonstrated the over-ear ARC device installation and the ability to rotate the main body of the headphone at the ear hook hinge before sliding the ear hook behind the ear. The reverse panel showed the built-in pouch and details regarding the lack of an internal case battery or wall adapter. 

I found the lack of an internal battery to be a large setback/disappointment when other similarly priced devices allowed for multiple charges or wireless charging.  I liked the flat easily pocketable case design and the lightweight nature.  However, the case was too large not to have an internal case battery. Even with the quick charge feature of 10 minutes of power=1 hour playback, it will take several hours to charge the device completely.

Additionally, you must find a power source between charges instead of relying on an internal battery.  The limitation precludes using the device for camping weekends (without USB batteries) or many outdoor activities where people are away from a dedicated USB power source.  The included power cable/cable management was a big plus but did not outweigh the glaring omission of an internal battery. 

I opened the 16-panel instruction manual and reviewed the contents.  Each of the 0.4-ounce earbuds had a rounded Cleer touchpad/earphone segment, a hinged segment, and the earhook segment with LED indicator and power button.  The manual did a good job of representing the features, even though the flow was not provided in a typical left-to-right pattern.  To flow through the manual, start at the top left and move down one panel.  Then move to the next column and move down again, repeating this process. 

The manual demonstrated the title/box contents in column 1, the overview/fitting in column 2, correct wearing position and quick start guide in column 3, and information about the cleer+ app and Bluetooth paring in column 4.  The reverse panels demonstrated the Earbuds control Playback/call/volume plus LED breakdowns and charging in the first column. 

The second column reviewed the mechanism to factory reset the earphones, the product specification table (16.2mm neodymium driver, SBC/aptX CODEC support, 20-20,000 Hz frequency, USB-A 5V/500mA input, 10min charge-1hour playtime, 7-hour max playback, BT 5.0, A2DP v1.3, AVRCP v1.6, HFP v1.7 support, and 14.5G weight per earbud/96.5grams case+earbuds), and listed information about the Warranty.  The third and fourth columns provided additional warranty information and finished with Notices. 

I removed each earbud from its carry base, bent them at the hinge segment, and draped them over my ears.  The open-ear earbuds immediately entered a powered-on state, while a female announcer provided a vocal “power on” alert.  After about five seconds, the female announcer vocalized “Looking for device.” 

I navigated to Settings, Bluetooth, and then selected Clear ARC from the list.  Once selected, the device beeped twice and connected without any fanfare.  I was pleased that I did not have to follow any additional steps or button sequences; the instruction manual provided details about powering on/off the device outside of the case and to long press the power button to enter into pairing mode. 

After pairing, I returned the devices to the case and they powered off appropriately.  When I removed them from the case again, the female announcer vocalized “power on” and the earbuds again paired with my iPhone 14 Pro Max.  To turn off the devices, you can place them back into the case. If left alone for approximately fifteen minutes, the devices will auto-power down.

Once connected, I tested the sound output of the Cleer Arc earbuds with the audiocheck.net website.  During the Low-Frequency Response and Subwoofer Audio Test (10-200 Hz), the announcer voiced frequency changes at 10Hz levels.  The test showed that the earbuds could output sound starting at 40-5Hz, which suggested limited deep bass sounds between the 20Hz-40Hz frequencies.  Unfortunately, the bass was a bit weaker than expected. 

I attempted the test at 25%, 50%, and then 75% volume and followed the instruction manual technique to turn up the volume (double tapping the right earbud x 2 and then holding). The sound felt weak/limited beneath ~75% volume and had an average to slightly above average sound at 75%+ volume.  I rarely listen to music at nearly full volume and was concerned with the need for prolonged listening. 

Alas, I appreciated the quality/improvement once the volume was increased.  Despite the finicky (sometimes too sensitive, and sometimes not sensitive enough) touch controls, the limited bass was weaker than expected. Without the lower pitches/tones, the sound output appeared brighter and less complete.  Luckily, the sound never felt tinny or too bright to enjoy audiobooks, music, and movies.  It just felt undersupported.  If you are looking for authentic audiophile sound for music/movies/audiobooks, an in-ear system will likely provide a more extensive, fuller sound.  

When I used the High-Frequency Response and Hearing Audio Test (22-8 kHz), I could hear sound starting at 15 kHz.  I was pleased with the output, with the color/character, and with the blend.  For the test, the announcer vocalized each descending frequency starting at 22 kHz.  As we age or suffer trauma from pressure/loud noises, we tend to lose our upper range of hearing.  Thus, the high-frequency response test is more of an individualized limit than one for the earbuds. For example, my 11-year-old son could hear sounds at 17kHz, while my 14-year-old could hear sounds at 16kHz. 

I used Amazon Prime Music, Apple Music, Spotify, and YouTube to test a variety of songs.  I listened to the Bohemian Rhapsody Soundtrack, Rocketman Soundtrack, several selections from Jackson 5, Alabama, Home Free, Beatles, Eagles, Journey, Charlie Puth, and Meghan Trainor.  I liked the poppy feel and felt the bass provided some depth but insufficient support.  I liked the blend with instrumental tracks from Enya and the Far and Away Soundtrack but missed the depth present with many in-ear systems. 

Like the bass tests above, I had to turn the volume higher than average to appreciate the effects.  For the third test, I utilized the Left/Right/Center test to evaluate the internal programming and was pleased to find appropriately programmed channels.  I used the Stereo Perception and Sound Localization Test for the final test and listened to the binaural knocking sounds.  Like the tests above, I was met with average surround perception and staging results.

Sound/Use

My 14-year-old son and I have used the Cleer Arc earbuds over the past month during our Sunday BSA practice treks (3-4 mile practice hikes for our upcoming 61-mile Philmont Boy Scout trip).  We charged them overnight (~3-4 hours to charge) and then utilized the on-ear systems to listen to audiobooks (He Who Fights With Monsters (Book 8) by Shirtaloon). 

We loved the ability to pick up ambient sounds, road noises, background sounds, and the ability to communicate without shouting.  The sound quality was sufficient to provide clear audio at ~80% volume, despite background noises.  Unfortunately, we both noted irritation to the antihelix segments of our ears after a few hours of use. 

As we walked, the hinge segment rubbed against the outer ear, leading to some listening fatigue. To counteract this feature, we initially traded back and forth at hour intervals and then charged the device with a portable battery every few hours.  To the merit of the manual, we did appreciate nearly an additional hour of listening after only 10-15 minutes of charging. 

After the first week, we amended our activity/plan. We discovered that my son could walk to my left with the right earbud in place, while I utilized the left earbud. We were able to listen to the same song/book and could rotate/exchange ears as needed.  Through this process, we uncovered a potential workaround to the limited 6-7 hour battery life.

By using a single earbud at a time, users could essentially double the length of use. Unfortunately, if you use a single earbud, it limited the paired touch control functions.  The Bluetooth strength was sufficient to allow us to walk at ~10-15 feet apart (front-back, or side-side) with minimal interruptions in sound.  I was pleased with the connectivity, the codecs, the programming, and with the lack of glitching sound.

The added convenience of an internal charging cable did not go unappreciated.  The feature eliminated the need to hunt for a cable or the need to bring along an extra cable that could get lost in the bottom of a bag, pocket, or backpack. Unfortunately, damage to the short USB-A cable could spell doom for the entire system.

The lack of an internal battery and lack of water resistance (IPX3-4) was a near deal breaker for travel/outdoor needs; it would be unreasonable to use the devices for outdoor hiking without access to power, without any element protection, and without an internal battery to recharge the earbuds.  I could not find an actual waterproof rating in the instruction manual or quickly on the website. 

An answer from a seller in the Amazon question/answer segment stated “Thanks for your question. At this point in time, we have not received an IPX4 rating so I cannot recommend running in rainy weather. ”  Subsequent searches on the Cleer website provided additional information about possible IPX4 ratings.  Unfortunately, the information was not forthcoming and lacked definitive evidence.  

I liked the concept of the open-ear design and felt that the device could be a fantastic asset to the outdoor enthusiast.  We found that the over-ear hooks helped to maintain placement and did provide a better-staying power than some of the in-ear systems including Apple AirPods Pro Gen 1/2.  However, the over-ear hook added a downward drag on the ear and felt odd with glasses or ball caps.  I did not find the weight uncomfortable but disliked the rubbing on the outer aspect of my ear while moving/hiking.   

I believe that the Cleer Arc open-style earbuds have a lot to offer.  Furthermore, I expect a generation 2 device could fix many of the abovementioned limitations.  For sound output, I would give the earbuds a 3.5/5, for comfort a 3/5, for battery life and portability 2/5, and overall features 3/5.  To turn the earbuds from a 3/5 to a 4+/5, they would need to provide improved bass within the 20-40Hz range, allow the case to provide at least one additional charge, improve touch sensitivity, and provide at least an IPX4-5 rating.

Do not misinterpret my tough rating on sound to suggest it is bad.  I believe that the sound output was rather good but the lack of in-ear pressure/location meant that I had to increase the volume to higher levels than expected. I missed out on the bass support that I have grown to expect with many of the tests.  Lastly, phone call conversations were good but airy with background noises. 

I was surprised by the >$100 cost with such a short playtime and the lack of similar product features. For a similar price, the Tranya Open Ear Bluetooth Earphones provide 32 hours of playtime (8-hour earbuds + 24 hours from the case), 16-mm drivers, 4-microphones, IPX5 waterproofing, but lost the attached cable.  With a smaller case, more power, more noise cancellation, and a similar shape, there may be better options for the cost.    

PROS:

• Built-in USB-A cable
• 10-minute charge=1 hour of playtime. 
• Case design/shape (no internal case battery)
• Transparency/Ambience is better than in-ear programming (no hissing/rushing/pressure)
• Good sound quality (loses some compared to in-ear type). 
• No pressure within the ear canal

CONS:

• No charging Case/battery
• Included/attached charging cable is short.
• Included Charging cable is a weak link: If the cable breaks you must buy a whole new system.
• Phone calls pick up ambient noise a bit.  
• Finicky touch controls (Sometimes over-sensitive)
• Questionable IPX water resistance means concern for outdoor use/rainy weather
• The hinge segment presses against the antihelix. May be uncomfortable
• Limited Bass starting at 40-50Hz. 
• Price >$100

Learn more about the Cleer Arc Open Earphones and Follow Cleer on Facebook and Twitter.

Portable Pocketable EDC Flashlight

I suspect many GenX, Xennials, and Millenials grew up in Maglight households. Even though we had several lights within our home, they seemed to be optimized more as bludgeoning weapons than portable light torches. My dad had one in his truck, we had one in each bathroom and under the sink. Despite their near indestructible design, they often suffered from underwhelming light output. Some provided a bit more throw than others, while some provided a flood-like pattern. Either way, they were bulky and unwieldy. Luckily, modern LED flashlights improve upon the concept and provide plenty of light, recharging capabilities, and all within the palm of your hand.

Packaging:

The ACEABEAM Pokelit 2AA EDC Flashlight arrived in a clean white 2 5/8 inches by 6 1/8 inches tall by 1-inch thick retail package. The ACEBEAM company name was displayed at the top of the cover panel in an attractive orange/black font, while the orange-colored product name was listed at the bottom. The orange highlights provided a refreshing contrast against the white background but paled compared to the central clear plastic window.  As a display technique, the transparent window provides the user with a direct understanding of the product. I have yet to find a more exciting product presentation method.  The left side panel provided the orange-black company name, while the right panel provided an SKU barcode sticker and a 5-year product warranty label.  The rear panel listed the contact information (address/phone number/webpage), QR codes for their webpage/FaceBook, and product manufacturing labels. 

Unboxing:

I removed the clear inner tray from the outer packaging and then separated the 1.5-ounce blue-green flashlight, 1.5-ounce 1600 mAh 3.7V 5.92Wh battery, small zipper-style bag with two o-rings, the 8 3/16 inches long USB-A to USB-C charging cable, and the user manual.  I plugged a DROK USB-A Multimeter into a standard 5V/2A wall charger and then the USB-A to USB-C cable between the multimeter and the ACEBEAM 1600 mAH Li-Ion, 3 7/8 inches long by 9/16 inches diameter battery.  I aligned the USB-C prong with the USB-C port at the battery’s positive terminal and observed the RED charging Led.  I allowed the battery to charge for two hours before the LED changed to green.  During that time, I reviewed the features of the flashlight. 

The 5 11/16 inches long flashlight could be broken down into several segments.  First, the 15/16 inches long by 11/16 inches diameter head segment had a 519A CRI>90 5000K LED emitter.  The white-font ACEBEAM name and Pokelit 2AA were printed on the side panels in an appealing white font.  The second segment contained five grip-style ridges, measuring 3/4 inches long by 11/16 inches in diameter. The third segment measured 1 inch long and was 5/8 inches in diameter. The fourth segment contained 40 narrow-spaced ridges/grooves and measured 11/16 inches in diameter.  The fifth segment measured 5/16 inches long by 5/8 inches in diameter and held the black metal two-way pocket clip.  The penultimate segment measured 7/8 inches long by 11/16 inches in diameter and contained a 1/4 inches long region with narrow-spaced vertically oriented ridges.  Lastly, the 3/16 inches tall by 3/8 inches diameter black tail cap button had a rubberized grippy texture at the top.  I loved the machined appearance, the textured grip, and the overall design of the light.  

Testing:

To test the power output, I installed the 1600mAh battery.  For the first test, I pressed the button to activate the low 20-lumen beam.  Starting at 07:00 am, I allowed the light to remain powered on and rechecked it the following morning.  I was pleased that the Pokelit 2AA light had sufficient power to stay activated at 07:05 the next day.  The instruction manual stated the lower power mode should last ~23 hours on a charge.  I removed the battery, recharged it over ~2 hours, and then tested the light with 2 Energizer Max Alkaline AA batteries.  The low mode, at 0.5 lumens, was not very bright and could be compared to moonlight mode on other lights.  The benefit of the low mode was the ~12-13 days of available light.  At 0.5 lumens, you can see into a bag, can add some light to a trail, can navigate a tent, can illuminate a urinal/outhouse, and should not blind someone with light.

To test the high mode, press the button to deactivate the light and then press it again to reactivate it.  The manual stated that the high mode would start at 300 lumens and then step down to 100 lumens and then 50 lumens over 35s/3H 13 min/28 minutes.  It is important to note that the step-downs are not like stairs, but rather like a throttling decrease or dimming; I did not appreciate an abrupt change in brightness. Once the 1600mAh battery was charged, I replaced it into the aluminum housing and tested the high mode. The manual promised 600 lumens for 35 seconds and a step down to 300 lumens with up to 1 hour 44 minutes at 300 lumens. I loved the dual mode High/low, but missed an intermediate level.  I would have loved a 100-200 lumen medium mode, which could last ~6-8 hours.  The bright light provided a nice throw with minimal floodlight characteristics and did a great job illuminating objects at a distance.  Unfortunately, there was a massive difference between the high and low levels for illumination.  

I repeated the 2x Alkaline and 14100P Li-Ion battery tests three times each for the high and low modes of the Li-Ion battery.  I allowed the light to run continuously for 72 hours with the alkaline batteries and found that it was a sufficient test.  Once the light was extinguished, I could still power the device for a bit longer as the batteries were not fully depleted.  I loved the option to utilize the included 1600 mAh rechargeable battery or 2 AA batteries (Ni-MH or Alkaline).  I have read several users who utilized Eneloop batteries, Amazon rechargeable AA batteries and did quite well.  The instruction manual clearly stated to avoid using 14500 Li-Ion batteries due to the excess voltage/output 

As a fan of the Pokelit AA light, I missed having a third mode on the Pokelit 2AA, which was most notable with the alkaline battery test.  The 0.5 lumens was below the threshold of use for most people, outside of late-night tent needs/backpack needs; it may be too low to read comfortably and too low for a night trek. However, it may be okay to navigate an enclosed room/campsite.  The high beam was sufficiently strong, provided an excellent round throw up to ~100 meters away, and had a smaller high spot, lower secondary spill/spot, and minimal leak/overspill.  I found this to be true for the AA alkaline and rechargeable battery tests.  I preferred the 20/600-300 modes of the rechargeable over the 0.5/300-100-50 modes of the AA alkaline battery.  I liked the round spot and the beam projection while on high mode, but noted the flashlight head became hot to the touch (115.1 F [46.2C] Nubee Infrared Thermometer).  The raised ridges acted a bit like a heat sink, keeping the body cooler at ~80.1F [26.7C], while the head of the light emitted more heat. 

The tail clip design allowed for secure pocket mounting and attachment to the brim of my hat.  Even though I liked the strength of the Pokelit 2AA light, the three-ounce weight was a little too heavy for my hat.  For that use, the smaller Pokelit AA may be ideal.  I liked that the clip securely affixed the light to my pocket, without grinding the pocket/destroying the fabric.  Additionally, the hat clip provided a secure attachment point without damaging the surface

Summary/Final:

Overall, you cannot go wrong with the aluminum Pokelit 2AA device. You can utilize the include rechargeable battery or add 2AA batteries in a pinch. The head of the light was easy to remove, the company provided a few extra o-rings, and the aluminum frame should survive daily use/localized drops. During testing, I did have a single drop from my kitchen table after my 4-year-old daughter accidentally knocked it onto the hardwood floor.  Even after bouncing a few times, the Pokelit 2AA light continued to function. The only thing keeping this light from 5/5 stars is the lack of a medium illumination mode. 

Pros:

• Sleek Aluminum machined body
• Grippy surface and attractive design
• Inexpensive
• Included rechargeable battery 
• Utilize 2AA batteries if needed
• Quality High CRI>90 with 5000K neutral color
• USB-C charging Battery

Cons:

• Must remove the battery to charge with USB-C
• May get hot to the touch
• Absent medium mode.
• Low mode 0.5 lumens with Alkaline/Ni-MH is too low
• No Memory Function (returns to low mode)

Learn more about the Pokelit 2AA Flashlight and follow Acebeam on Facebook

I recently had the pleasure of reviewing the Ekster Parliament AirTag Wallet and have carried the device over the last two weeks.  I had previously carried a Big Skinny Wallet with too many cards, a few folded checks, a couple of stamps, too many small monetary bills, a Nite-Ize Quickstand, and a PlusUS 5.1V/1500mAh Lifecard, which is a credit card-sized battery backup.  Loaded with numerous items, the nylon ultra-thin wallet reached mega-thick leather wallet territory.  Intending to reduce bulk and limit my everyday carry items to things I needed, I rummaged through the wallet to reduce some items.  

I loved having the battery and phone stand but realized I had not used them in the past year.  I reduced the check/stamp to a single item each, added loyalty/redemption cards to my iPhone, added gift cards to their respective website accounts, dropped the amount of cash to a few bills, and transitioned to the Ekster Parliament Wallet for most days.  When I heard about the EKSTER Multi-Tool Card, I quickly thought that it would fall into a similar category to the devices mentioned above, something I would not need or use.  I have used the Ekster Multi-Tool Card more in the last two weeks than the previously mentioned devices in the previous two years. 

The card arrived in a 2 inches wide by 3 9/16 inches tall by 3/16 inches thick cardboard box.  Like the Parliament Wallet, the cover panel proudly displayed the glossy-black EKSTER magpie logo upon a matte black background.  I loved the “E” shield, the dual crossed magpies, the EKSTER name, and the overall design; the logo has become one of my favorites.  I slid the inner black tray out from the outer shell and removed the 1.2-ounce (34.02g), 1 7/8 inches wide by 3 7/16 inches tall by 1/32 inches thick, 304 stainless steel card from the package.  The 7-in-1 device felt cool to the touch and provided a reassuring, durable, well-laid-out, feature-packed design.  It is important to note that the thin card was designed to resemble a standard credit card, but the width was 7/32 inches less, and the length was 1/8 inches longer than a standard credit card.   Despite the differences, the card worked great within the EKSTER Parliament wallet’s back pocket, front pocket, retention strap, and in my Big Skinny Wallet.  You may have some issues with slide-in style card holders due to the length of the tool card. 

I was impressed with the tools/layout of the card.  The top left corner provided a flat-head screwdriver, while the left side panel provided a machined 2-inch long imperial ruler and awl posts at 1/2 inch increments.  The right side panel provided a 7cm ruler with awl posts at 1cm marks.   The bottom edge provided a 1 inches wide by 1/16 inches tall wedged edge that you could use as a gentle pry tool.  The lower left corner provided a tapered box opening tool with a nice angle/tapered edge.  The center portion of the tool provided several additional features.  The attractive EKSTER name/logo was etched into the surface along the upper segment.  Beneath the name/logo, you will find a magnetic post with a SIM card ejection tool, and hex cutouts for 3/16”, 1/4”, 5/16”, 1/2”, and 9/16” wrenches.  The lower segment provided a standard bottle opener.  Last but not least, you will find a 1/16 inches wide by 3 3/16 inches long cutout adjacent to the imperial ruler.  You can insert a credit card into the slot and use the card as a horizontal phone stand.  The design did not accommodate a phone in vertical mode. 

I have carried the Multi-Tool Card within the Parliament wallet for two weeks.  My wife, children, and I recently visited our local park with some sandwiches for a picnic. We grabbed a few bottles of soda/root beer for the kids from a local market thinking they were twist-off style bottles. Unfortunately, we incorrectly assumed the bottle type. The Ekster bottle opener tool proved invaluable in opening the bottles on the trip.  Since then, I have used the card to remove/replace a broken light switch cover and the box opener on several occasions, but I have not yet utilized the wrenches, rulers/awl posts, or SIM card ejection tool. 

As a lightweight multi-tool, it has fulfilled my needs on several occasions.   I was pleased with the device’s overall design, layout, and aesthetics.  I liked the flat back, the wedged corners, and I found a use for most of the included features.  The credit card phone stand slit worked okay but not as well as the Nite-Ize Quickstand, which fit nicely into the retention strap on the parliament wallet. With so many credit card tool options, finding one that solves all of your needs can be a struggle. The key is to plan for the most common scenarios and to develop a plan for everything else.

Learn more about the Ekster Multi Tool Card and follow Ekster on Facebook and Twitter.