March Gadget Reviews Roundup 2015

It’s a new month once again so we’re here to give you a roundup of all the devices we’ve reviewed recently. This includes the HTC Desire Eye, Cherry Mobile One, Microsoft Lumia 435 Dual-SIM, Meizu M1 Note, ASUS Zenfone C, the expensive Bose Lifestyle 535 Series III Surround Speakers, and a number of affordable AWEI headphones. Check out our Gadget Reviews Roundup for the month of March.

GRR-March2015

Full Review:

HTC Desire Eye

The Desire Eye, like many other HTC smartphones before it, is a thing of beauty. It is a well rounded, well-equipped handset that puts everything else in place. It has a good front-facing camera, great performance, water-resistant body, and excellent battery life.

 

Cherry Mobile One

For Php3,999 people can now own a Google-tested device without breaking the bank and be one of the first to receive the latest Android flavors when it comes out. And for a budget-conscious market like ours that’s a very good thing.

 

CloudFone CloudPad One 7.0

For Php7K you have a 7-inch tablet that performs well on casual browsing and video-watching. It comes across hangs and lags every once in a while, but could still get better once a newer update of Lollipop rolls out. Battery life is also impressive — which makes it something that would prove useful to bring around when you’re on-the-go.

 

Sennheiser Urbanite Headphones

So what do you get for almost Php12K? For one, you get a stylish pair of headphones that demand some quick glances from people as you walk the streets with its design. Build quality is also top-notch as we were confident enough to put serious amount of stress on its headband during our time with it. Sound quality is balanced all around with lows, mids, and highs unified.

 

AWEI TS-150vi In-Ear Headphones

The TS-150vi is capable of producing sounds of acceptable to good quality. It’s good with RnB, Acoustic, Jazz and Rock music but falls a bit short when it comes to the bassy Hip Hop and Club. Design-wise, its sporty look should appeal to people with active lifestyles. Quality-wise, it feels cheap which is the same thing I can say for its price. The Awei TS-150vi only costs Php490 which is less expensive than most in-ear headphones out there.

 

Bose Lifestyle 535 Series III Surround Speakers

This flagship speaker from Bose deserves to be the headliner in its home theater series. The speakers are easy to squeeze and blends effortlessly into any living room, sound quality is life-like, you have a sub-woofer that pumps out chest-shaking lows, it easily fills a large living room, and finally don’t forget about its easy setup.

 

AWEI ES-Q5 Noise Isolation Earphones

Priced at a little over Php200, the AWEI ES-Q5 delivered above-average sound quality for the value it’s asking for. There’s no in-line microphone or navigation buttons but you get a nice in-ear that you can easily bring around with, and has a nice touch of nature too. Is it a good buy? Yes. We’re just not sure about the durability of these in the long run, but for 200 pesos it doesn’t hurt the pocket that much.

 

Sennheiser Urbanite XL Headphones

Both the Urbanite and Urbanite XL have the same neat and easily-noticeable design, while having premium materials comprising it. They have commendable sound performance with slight differences, but overall provide an enjoyable musical experience. Comfort is also aced by both models so it’s just up to you if you prefer the feel of having bigger cups — although choosing the XL will set you back Php4K more.

 

AWEI ES100M In-Ear Headphones

Overall, its performance is better than most stock earphones that you see bundled with a phone. We’ve pointed this before on our previous AWEI review and it’s still the case here. What we’re seeing here is that the company is offering better alternatives for music-listeners that don’t want to break their banks.

 

AWEI ES900i In-Ear Headphones

The ES900i is like the opposite of the TS-150vi. It’s good when it comes to bass but doesn’t exercise a lot of control when it comes to trebles. It’s still a very good pair though considering its price. You won’t get in-line controls like the TS-150vi but you’ll get tangle-free flat cables and a much better build. And for just Php349, it certainly won’t break the bank.

 

Meizu M1 Note

There’s really no reason why shouldn’t go for the Meizu M1 Note if you have the money to buy it. The handset offers respectable performance, it’s got great design albeit undeniably patterned to the iPhone 5C and the battery life is outstanding, making it difficult to pass up the sweet Php7,990 deal that Novo7 Tech is billing for this exceptional mid-range smartphone.

 

Bowers & Wilkins T7 Bluetooth Speaker

The Bowers & Wilkins T7 is one of the nicest-looking Bluetooth speakers we’ve used so far. It supports aptX technology, has great quality and build, a simple yet attractive design, and long battery life. Sound-wise, the T7 can produce really good sounds that should satisfy listeners of all kinds of music. Overall, the T7 is a great Bluetooth speaker.

 

HTC Re

It’s a fun, nice-looking and easy to use action camera that deserves a second look (especially if you’re an HTC fan). One minor concern though is the lack of accessories, even a carrying case.

 

Microsoft Lumia 435 Dual-SIM

With an asking price with just a little over Php4K, the Lumia 435 Dual-SIM is a good phone to keep in mind if you find yourself having affinity for Windows phones and at the same time are tight on budget. We had some trouble with our Microsoft account but it carried everyday tasks smoothly. The need to convert high-res videos into lower resolution is cumbersome, but on the bright side the speakers are powerful which is not common for entry-level phones.

 

Asus Zenfone C

The Zenfone C is a decent entry-level smartphone with an adequate performance. Marking itself as one of the most affordable Intel-equipped smartphones in the market today, its lauded design and build also seen on its other siblings, the increased screen size and battery capacity, and the software skin that is of the ZenUI are some of its great points not to be missed out.

 

Quick Review:

JBL Clip

If we are to bring a compact speaker for a trek or hike, we will definitely include the JBL Clip to our choices. Its portable design and loud yet clear output is already a good selling point. Add to that the Bluetooth and hands-free feature. However, the lack of water-proofing is a let-down. With an SRP of Php2,995, it is a good option for those who need it.

The post March Gadget Reviews Roundup 2015 appeared first on YugaTech | Philippines, Tech News & Reviews.

March Gadget Reviews Roundup 2015

It’s a new month once again so we’re here to give you a roundup of all the devices we’ve reviewed recently. This includes the HTC Desire Eye, Cherry Mobile One, Microsoft Lumia 435 Dual-SIM, Meizu M1 Note, ASUS Zenfone C, the expensive Bose Lifestyle 535 Series III Surround Speakers, and a number of affordable AWEI headphones. Check out our Gadget Reviews Roundup for the month of March.

GRR-March2015

Full Review:

HTC Desire Eye

The Desire Eye, like many other HTC smartphones before it, is a thing of beauty. It is a well rounded, well-equipped handset that puts everything else in place. It has a good front-facing camera, great performance, water-resistant body, and excellent battery life.

 

Cherry Mobile One

For Php3,999 people can now own a Google-tested device without breaking the bank and be one of the first to receive the latest Android flavors when it comes out. And for a budget-conscious market like ours that’s a very good thing.

 

CloudFone CloudPad One 7.0

For Php7K you have a 7-inch tablet that performs well on casual browsing and video-watching. It comes across hangs and lags every once in a while, but could still get better once a newer update of Lollipop rolls out. Battery life is also impressive — which makes it something that would prove useful to bring around when you’re on-the-go.

 

Sennheiser Urbanite Headphones

So what do you get for almost Php12K? For one, you get a stylish pair of headphones that demand some quick glances from people as you walk the streets with its design. Build quality is also top-notch as we were confident enough to put serious amount of stress on its headband during our time with it. Sound quality is balanced all around with lows, mids, and highs unified.

 

AWEI TS-150vi In-Ear Headphones

The TS-150vi is capable of producing sounds of acceptable to good quality. It’s good with RnB, Acoustic, Jazz and Rock music but falls a bit short when it comes to the bassy Hip Hop and Club. Design-wise, its sporty look should appeal to people with active lifestyles. Quality-wise, it feels cheap which is the same thing I can say for its price. The Awei TS-150vi only costs Php490 which is less expensive than most in-ear headphones out there.

 

Bose Lifestyle 535 Series III Surround Speakers

This flagship speaker from Bose deserves to be the headliner in its home theater series. The speakers are easy to squeeze and blends effortlessly into any living room, sound quality is life-like, you have a sub-woofer that pumps out chest-shaking lows, it easily fills a large living room, and finally don’t forget about its easy setup.

 

AWEI ES-Q5 Noise Isolation Earphones

Priced at a little over Php200, the AWEI ES-Q5 delivered above-average sound quality for the value it’s asking for. There’s no in-line microphone or navigation buttons but you get a nice in-ear that you can easily bring around with, and has a nice touch of nature too. Is it a good buy? Yes. We’re just not sure about the durability of these in the long run, but for 200 pesos it doesn’t hurt the pocket that much.

 

Sennheiser Urbanite XL Headphones

Both the Urbanite and Urbanite XL have the same neat and easily-noticeable design, while having premium materials comprising it. They have commendable sound performance with slight differences, but overall provide an enjoyable musical experience. Comfort is also aced by both models so it’s just up to you if you prefer the feel of having bigger cups — although choosing the XL will set you back Php4K more.

 

AWEI ES100M In-Ear Headphones

Overall, its performance is better than most stock earphones that you see bundled with a phone. We’ve pointed this before on our previous AWEI review and it’s still the case here. What we’re seeing here is that the company is offering better alternatives for music-listeners that don’t want to break their banks.

 

AWEI ES900i In-Ear Headphones

The ES900i is like the opposite of the TS-150vi. It’s good when it comes to bass but doesn’t exercise a lot of control when it comes to trebles. It’s still a very good pair though considering its price. You won’t get in-line controls like the TS-150vi but you’ll get tangle-free flat cables and a much better build. And for just Php349, it certainly won’t break the bank.

 

Meizu M1 Note

There’s really no reason why shouldn’t go for the Meizu M1 Note if you have the money to buy it. The handset offers respectable performance, it’s got great design albeit undeniably patterned to the iPhone 5C and the battery life is outstanding, making it difficult to pass up the sweet Php7,990 deal that Novo7 Tech is billing for this exceptional mid-range smartphone.

 

Bowers & Wilkins T7 Bluetooth Speaker

The Bowers & Wilkins T7 is one of the nicest-looking Bluetooth speakers we’ve used so far. It supports aptX technology, has great quality and build, a simple yet attractive design, and long battery life. Sound-wise, the T7 can produce really good sounds that should satisfy listeners of all kinds of music. Overall, the T7 is a great Bluetooth speaker.

 

HTC Re

It’s a fun, nice-looking and easy to use action camera that deserves a second look (especially if you’re an HTC fan). One minor concern though is the lack of accessories, even a carrying case.

 

Microsoft Lumia 435 Dual-SIM

With an asking price with just a little over Php4K, the Lumia 435 Dual-SIM is a good phone to keep in mind if you find yourself having affinity for Windows phones and at the same time are tight on budget. We had some trouble with our Microsoft account but it carried everyday tasks smoothly. The need to convert high-res videos into lower resolution is cumbersome, but on the bright side the speakers are powerful which is not common for entry-level phones.

 

Asus Zenfone C

The Zenfone C is a decent entry-level smartphone with an adequate performance. Marking itself as one of the most affordable Intel-equipped smartphones in the market today, its lauded design and build also seen on its other siblings, the increased screen size and battery capacity, and the software skin that is of the ZenUI are some of its great points not to be missed out.

 

Quick Review:

JBL Clip

If we are to bring a compact speaker for a trek or hike, we will definitely include the JBL Clip to our choices. Its portable design and loud yet clear output is already a good selling point. Add to that the Bluetooth and hands-free feature. However, the lack of water-proofing is a let-down. With an SRP of Php2,995, it is a good option for those who need it.

The post March Gadget Reviews Roundup 2015 appeared first on YugaTech | Philippines, Tech News & Reviews.

January Gadget Reviews Roundup 2015

With January out of the way, it’s time to look back at the gadgets we reviewed last month. This includes the Lenovo Vibe X2, Cherry Mobile Cosmos One Plus, Huawei Honor 6, and LG G3 Beat. Read our Gadget Reviews Roundup for January 2015 below.

Full Review:

Lenovo Miix 2 10-inch

Lenovo blurs further the hybrid laptop and tablet-with-a-dock segments with the release of their Miix 2 Series. It works as an alternative to laptops and utilizes the power of Windows to make a nice productivity slate-and-dock combo for everyday use. Overall, the Lenovo Miix 10 is a decent device with an above-average performance, and it certainly doesn’t disappoint for my day-to-day work matters.

O+ Fab Elite 2.0

The Fab Elite 2.0 from O+ is decent phablet with a 1GB RAM bottleneck that limits its multitasking capabilities. But since it has a 6.5? display, it’s perfect for watching movies and editing files on the go.

KingCom Zeus Thunder dB Bluetooth Headset

Although KingCom has a good thing going with their new vibrantly-colored wireless headset, it will be an uphill battle for them to convince consumers to go for the Zeus Thunder dB instead of other slightly more expensive options from the big players in the audio industry. But they are off to a great start.

Kingston HyperX Cloud

There are a lot of gaming headsets that you can buy for $100, but we can only think of a few candidates that can truly match the Kingston HyperX Cloud on performance and overall design. It’s one of those gaming headsets that sounds as good as it looks, which has become quite a rarity since the advent of gimmicky headsets that only offers one or the other.

Lenovo Vibe X2

Lenovo got it right with the Vibe X2. It has a fantastic display, great performance, Android KitKat with an attractive UI, dual-SIM with LTE, good battery life, and sub-Php20k price tag. And with Android Lollipop promised for the device, things are looking good for the Vibe X2.

Cherry Mobile G2

2014 is, undoubtedly, the year of smartwatches and not surprisingly, Cherry Mobile tried to ride that fad and released their second wearable, the Cherry Mobile G2. The watch sports a few upgrades both in the aesthetics and functionality departments from the previous model, and the best part is that these improvements only resulted in to a minimal price hike.

Quick Review:

Huawei Honor 6

So far, we’re pretty impressed with the Honor 6. Huawei did a good job at the design and specs department then coupled it with a very affordable price that even local flagship phones would find hard to match.

Pioneer SE-M531

The Pioneer SE-M531 is designed for your home without a doubt, and if you like listening to musical instruments and other elements in audio and movie material that has a lot of background sound and special effects, this one does the job incredibly well, period.

Cherry Mobile Cosmos One Plus

Cherry Mobile definitely has a superphone right here with the Cosmos One Plus. The high-end hardware configuration is evident from the top performance in our benchmark tests. It comes with dual-LTE connectivity which is rare and first seen with the Huawei Ascend Mate 7. They top it off with 3GB of RAM that only flagship handsets tend to carry nowadays and a very capable Sony sensor for the camera.

LG G3 Beat

The LG G3 Beat is a great phone in our opinion, but the name could be quite misleading. The G3 Beat is not the LG G3 in a smaller form factor, meaning you don’t get the same specs and performance – but what you do get is a similar experience in a more affordable package.

SOL REPUBLIC Punk

SOL REPUBLIC’s Punk is a handy speaker to have around. It not only functions well indoors, but also outdoors with its protection from water, dust, and accidental drops. The strength of Bluetooth connectivity was above average and it won our favor. If you’re out for an ultra-portable wireless speaker, make sure to put this lil’ Punk on your list.

O+ 360 Extreme

The O+ 360 Extreme is a smartphone that we’ll consider as decent. It has an acceptable display quality, good performance, long battery life, USB OTG support, and useful 360 Touch Technology. Build quality on the other hand is modest. Even with the glass back the Extreme is far from premium. The worst part though is its asking price of Php12,995 which is expensive for what it has to offer. Although O+ is thoughtful enough to throw in a free O+ Tag and Sennheiser earphones it’s not enough to justify the price.

O+ EVO 4G

The O+ EVO 4G has got some easily-loved design going on. It strikes a familiar feeling of appreciation since it largely resembles the design of the HTC One M8. A bit hefty on the hand, but some like it that way. Performance-wise, it runs fairly smooth with slight to no lags, while its LTE proved to be reliable until you go inside buildings where issues of inconsistencies in network connection arises.

AKG Y50 Headphones

The AKG Y50 is a good set of headphones especially for bass lovers. In addition, it’s good at blocking outside noise which adds quality to your listening experience. It may be large to some but it’s comfortable and easy to carry thanks to its collapsible design. As for the price, the AKG Y50 has the same price tag as the Y40 at Php4,990. So if you don’t like the small design of the Y40, the Y50 is your next best bet.

The post January Gadget Reviews Roundup 2015 appeared first on YugaTech | Philippines, Tech News & Reviews.

January Gadget Reviews Roundup 2015

With January out of the way, it’s time to look back at the gadgets we reviewed last month. This includes the Lenovo Vibe X2, Cherry Mobile Cosmos One Plus, Huawei Honor 6, and LG G3 Beat. Read our Gadget Reviews Roundup for January 2015 below.

Full Review:

Lenovo Miix 2 10-inch

Lenovo blurs further the hybrid laptop and tablet-with-a-dock segments with the release of their Miix 2 Series. It works as an alternative to laptops and utilizes the power of Windows to make a nice productivity slate-and-dock combo for everyday use. Overall, the Lenovo Miix 10 is a decent device with an above-average performance, and it certainly doesn’t disappoint for my day-to-day work matters.

O+ Fab Elite 2.0

The Fab Elite 2.0 from O+ is decent phablet with a 1GB RAM bottleneck that limits its multitasking capabilities. But since it has a 6.5? display, it’s perfect for watching movies and editing files on the go.

KingCom Zeus Thunder dB Bluetooth Headset

Although KingCom has a good thing going with their new vibrantly-colored wireless headset, it will be an uphill battle for them to convince consumers to go for the Zeus Thunder dB instead of other slightly more expensive options from the big players in the audio industry. But they are off to a great start.

Kingston HyperX Cloud

There are a lot of gaming headsets that you can buy for $100, but we can only think of a few candidates that can truly match the Kingston HyperX Cloud on performance and overall design. It’s one of those gaming headsets that sounds as good as it looks, which has become quite a rarity since the advent of gimmicky headsets that only offers one or the other.

Lenovo Vibe X2

Lenovo got it right with the Vibe X2. It has a fantastic display, great performance, Android KitKat with an attractive UI, dual-SIM with LTE, good battery life, and sub-Php20k price tag. And with Android Lollipop promised for the device, things are looking good for the Vibe X2.

Cherry Mobile G2

2014 is, undoubtedly, the year of smartwatches and not surprisingly, Cherry Mobile tried to ride that fad and released their second wearable, the Cherry Mobile G2. The watch sports a few upgrades both in the aesthetics and functionality departments from the previous model, and the best part is that these improvements only resulted in to a minimal price hike.

Quick Review:

Huawei Honor 6

So far, we’re pretty impressed with the Honor 6. Huawei did a good job at the design and specs department then coupled it with a very affordable price that even local flagship phones would find hard to match.

Pioneer SE-M531

The Pioneer SE-M531 is designed for your home without a doubt, and if you like listening to musical instruments and other elements in audio and movie material that has a lot of background sound and special effects, this one does the job incredibly well, period.

Cherry Mobile Cosmos One Plus

Cherry Mobile definitely has a superphone right here with the Cosmos One Plus. The high-end hardware configuration is evident from the top performance in our benchmark tests. It comes with dual-LTE connectivity which is rare and first seen with the Huawei Ascend Mate 7. They top it off with 3GB of RAM that only flagship handsets tend to carry nowadays and a very capable Sony sensor for the camera.

LG G3 Beat

The LG G3 Beat is a great phone in our opinion, but the name could be quite misleading. The G3 Beat is not the LG G3 in a smaller form factor, meaning you don’t get the same specs and performance – but what you do get is a similar experience in a more affordable package.

SOL REPUBLIC Punk

SOL REPUBLIC’s Punk is a handy speaker to have around. It not only functions well indoors, but also outdoors with its protection from water, dust, and accidental drops. The strength of Bluetooth connectivity was above average and it won our favor. If you’re out for an ultra-portable wireless speaker, make sure to put this lil’ Punk on your list.

O+ 360 Extreme

The O+ 360 Extreme is a smartphone that we’ll consider as decent. It has an acceptable display quality, good performance, long battery life, USB OTG support, and useful 360 Touch Technology. Build quality on the other hand is modest. Even with the glass back the Extreme is far from premium. The worst part though is its asking price of Php12,995 which is expensive for what it has to offer. Although O+ is thoughtful enough to throw in a free O+ Tag and Sennheiser earphones it’s not enough to justify the price.

O+ EVO 4G

The O+ EVO 4G has got some easily-loved design going on. It strikes a familiar feeling of appreciation since it largely resembles the design of the HTC One M8. A bit hefty on the hand, but some like it that way. Performance-wise, it runs fairly smooth with slight to no lags, while its LTE proved to be reliable until you go inside buildings where issues of inconsistencies in network connection arises.

AKG Y50 Headphones

The AKG Y50 is a good set of headphones especially for bass lovers. In addition, it’s good at blocking outside noise which adds quality to your listening experience. It may be large to some but it’s comfortable and easy to carry thanks to its collapsible design. As for the price, the AKG Y50 has the same price tag as the Y40 at Php4,990. So if you don’t like the small design of the Y40, the Y50 is your next best bet.

The post January Gadget Reviews Roundup 2015 appeared first on YugaTech | Philippines, Tech News & Reviews.