Category: Hands-on
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Sony Xperia Z2 hands-on

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The Sony Xperia Z2 is finally here and despite coming to market just five months after the Xperia Z1, it improves quite a few bits of the package making for a very tempting upgrade.

The Xperia Z2 is only slightly taller than its predecessor but compensates with less width, girth and lower weight. More importantly, it fits a larger 5.2″ screen and stereo speakers at the front.The display itself comes with Sony’s latest tech, including the Triluminos tech and X-Reality Engine, and this time it’s an IPS unit for improved viewing angles. Read more »

The Sony Xperia T2 Ultra hands-on

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Sony announced the Xperia T2 Ultra back at CES in January 2014. It fills a growing market segment of large screen mid-range smartphones. The 6-inch phablet only has 720p resolution and is not powered by the fastest Snapdragon chipset around. But it offers one of Sony’s latest Exmor RS 13MP cameras with all the bells and whistles that you’d expect from a cameraphone.

At 7.65mm, the Sony Xperia T2 Ultra is really slim despite the generous battery capacity of 3000 mAh. The only thing missing is perhaps the water-proofing Sony’s high-end smartphones have been known for. Read more »

Pebble Steel smartwatch review

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Announced at this year’s CES in January, the Pebble Steel was one of the brightest stars of the show. The newcomer is the young company’s upscale sidekick to the original Pebble, which took Kickstarter by storm last year.

In addition to its sleek looks and premium build, the Pebble Steel arrives with a well-polished, dedicated store for apps and watchfaces. Read more »

Alcatel Idol X+ hands-on

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Alcatel has slowly been building momentum in the midrange segment, and has accrued quite a following in emerging markets, particularly in South America.

Its latest Alcatel Idol X+ offering is an update to its flagship Idol smartphone, this time with a “true” octa-core processor from Mediatek that also comes with a boost to its battery, but still manages to retain the same slick design at a competitive price point. Read more »

LG G2 mini hands-on

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The second-generation LG G family of smartphones is now complete with the launch of the G2 mini. The phone keeps the familiar design characteristics of the G2, which includes the rear-mounted controls as well as extra thin bezels.

The LG G2 mini packs a 4.7″ IPS LCD display, which LG claims takes 71% of the phone’s surface. Unfortunately, it’s only qHD resolution, which results in a pixel density of 234 ppi leaving it behind its 720p rivals. Read more »

Nokia XL hands-on

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Another member of the Nokia X family decided to pay our office a visit. The Nokia XL is the largest Android-powered member of the recently announced X-family of phones. Think of it as a grown-up Nokia X, as it packs a 5″ IPS LCD display of the same WVGA resolution as its smaller brother.

The Nokia XL features the same build materials and design as its smaller brother, but it’s notably heavier as you could expect. It weighs the rather hard to bare 190 grams and gives an almost tank-like impression. It really takes away portability points, though. Read more »

Sennheiser Momentum on-ear headphones review

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The Sennheiser Momentum on-ear headphones are the company’s most fashionable personal audio product at the moment. The headset brings the head-turning looks of the Sennheiser Momentum headphones in a more compact form factor, coupled with a lower price tag.

Founded in Germany in 1945, Sennheiser is one of the most revered audio equipment brands in the business today. The company’s vast product range covers everything from budget-friendly earbuds, through high-resolution digital recording microphones, all the way to integrated audio systems for use in conferences and conventions. Read more »

Sony MDR-10RBT wireless over-ear Bluetooth headphones review

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The Sony MDR-10RBT are Sony’s mid-range wireless Bluetooth headphones. Although they lack the noise cancelling feature from some of Sony’s more expensive models, they do include some niceties such as NFC connectivity and aptX support, not to mention a friendlier price.

We decided to give them a try and see what they sound like. Read more »

Nokia X unboxing and hands-on video

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This is not a joke! Nokia X has just arrived at HQ and joined our review queue. The Finns’ first Android-based handset running on the so-called Nokia X Software Platform is quite interesting indeed, so naturally we gave it our traditional hands-on treatment.

Nokia X platform is based on Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, with Microsoft services in its core replacing Google’s, plus a proprietary lightweight and Asha-like launcher. Read more »

Logitech FabricSkin Keyboard Folio for iPad Air review

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The FabricSkin Keyboard Folio for iPad Air sits on top of Logitech’s range of cases designed for Apple’s slate. The cover combines a Bluetooth QWERTY keyboard and magnetic cover in a lightweight, solidly-built package.

Founded in Apples, Switzerland more than thirty years ago, Logitech is a leader on the market for computer peripherals and mobile accessories. The company’s products are synonymous with superior design and ergonomics, so I have nothing but high expectations towards its iPad Air case. Read more »

Evutec Karbon SP Series case for iPhone 5s review

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The Evutec Karbon SP Series case for iPhone 5s blends style and strength in a lightweight body with DuPont Kevlar construction. The snap-on cover sits on top of the manufacturer’s lineup of iPhone cases.

Based in Walnut, California, Evutec Corporation makes smartphone and tablet accessories made from advanced composite and recyclable materials. The company’s philosophy is to unite ecology and technology. Read more »

Audio-Technica ATH-CKX9iS SonicFuel in-ear headphones review

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The ATH-CKX9iS headphones are the top in-ear model in Audio-Technica’s SonicFuel range. The headset aims to offer superior comfort and sound quality in today’s highly saturated, ultra-competitive sub-$100 price range.

Established in Tokyo in 1962, Audio-Technica is one of the most storied designers and manufacturers of audio equipment. The company’s headphones’ lineup ranges from sub-$20 earbuds, all the way to $1,000+ closed-back over-ear, audiophile-centric headphones. Read more »

HTC One (M8) battery life test

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The HTC One (M8) features a slightly bigger battery than its predecessor (2,600mAh vs. 2,300mAh) and an Extreme Power Saving Mode. That’s only for when you really need to stretch the last few percent though, otherwise it would be a shame to limit the speedy Snapdragon 801 chipset.

Note that for this test we didn’t use the power saving mode – we’re aiming to replicate regular daily usage and these modes limit the phone’s features and performance. Read more »

HTC One (M8) unboxing and hands-on video

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HTC One (M8) is now official with 5″ 1080p display, Snapdragon 801 chipset, dual UltraPixel rear cameras and Android 4.4 KitKat plus HTC Sense 6.0. The device is already on sale across several markets with many more expected to get it in the following days.

We managed to grab an HTC One (M8) unit and took it for a quick spin. As tradition dictates unboxing and UI demo are your first treat of the day. Read more »

Truffol Signature luxury case for iPhone 5s review

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The Truffol Signature case for the iPhone 5s is an unusual value proposition on the market for luxury cases. Available in three different versions, the two-piece cover is made from premium materials such as aluminum, Italian leather, and different types of exotic wood.

Founded by people with luxury watch industry background, Truffol combines modern craftsmanship and traditional materials. Read on to find out if it the case is worthy of dressing up your iPhone 5s. Read more »