SamG's stats
- Review count149
- Helpfulness votes865
- First reviewOctober 20, 2016
- Last reviewApril 21, 2024
- Featured reviews0
- Average rating4.4
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- Answer count3
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- First answerOctober 20, 2016
- Last answerMay 20, 2018
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Start your system in seconds, store up to 2TB of your irreplaceable files, and upgrade with a drive you can count on. Improve your system with the Crucial® MX500 1TB 3D NAND SATA 2.5 Inch Internal SSD, an SSD built on quality, speed, and security that’s all backed by helpful service and support. It’s worth it.
Customer Rating
5
Great Relatively Inexpensive SSD
on January 24, 2021
Posted by: SamG
from Portland, OR
This is a great fast storage solution that doesn't cost too much. It's not going match an NVMe drive in terms of performance, but it lives up to the advertised specs and works great for all my games with a negligible impact on loading time compared to the NVMe drive I typically use. If you're upgrading from a mechanical the difference will be night and day.
My one complaint is the drive doesn't come with any mounting screws for installation or a SATA cable. This won't really be an issue if you're installing it in laptop, but it's something to be aware of.
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The HW-Q950T has immersive sound quality with True 9.1.4ch sound. With Up-firing rear speakers including Q-symphony, Dolby Atmos, DTS:XUsability-, adaptive sound, game Pro Mode. Premium Design textile by Kvadrat along with seamless connectivity and built in voice assistant, this is the best fit for Samsung QLED TV.
Customer Rating
5
Epic Dolby Atmos Soundbar
on December 31, 2020
Posted by: SamG
from Portland, OR
It has pretty much everything I could ask for. Outside of a few questionable design choices this is the best soundbar I’ve ever used. It sounds great, supports every major surround sound format, and is easy to use. I would have liked to have seen an on-screen menu for settings and/or a better LED display, but overall it’s hard to say too many bad things about this.
Getting everything setup was pretty straightforward, though the individual components of this system are quite a bit larger than other soundbar systems I’ve used in the past. Not a knock against it necessarily, but something to be aware of and make room for. I do think the overall size of this system suits it better to TVs that are 65” or larger.
I connected to my TV via the HDMI out. The HDMI supports both ARC and eARC for lossless audio, but also has 2 additional HDMI inputs, which was handy for me since my TV doesn’t support eARC and I wanted to make sure my Xbox was passing the highest quality audio through for movies. With HDMI CEC the TV will automatically adjust volume and power the soundbar on and off. To my surprise my TV actually shows a separate input for my Xbox connected through soundbar, so even though it’s not directly connected to my TV I can switch to it just like it is (I’m using this with a 2019 Vizio TV, so your results on this may vary). There isn’t too much to setup on the soundbar, but I do wish there was an onscreen interface for better granular control because the LED display on the soundbar is tiny and also in the worst possible place. In general it’s not an issue if everything is all dialed in, but it’s still frustrating not being able to see it from the couch. There are some dot LEDs on the front hidden behind the fabric that will give you a basic indication of when volume is changing or the soundbar powers up or down, but I don’t think it would have killed the aesthetics of the thing to move the LED display to the front.
The sound quality has been excellent for all of the content I’ve listened to, especially Dolby Atmos tracks. The height channels work by bouncing sound off of your ceiling back down to you and the effectiveness is very much dependent on your room, but for my 8ft ceilings it works very well. There are 4 sound modes to choose from, 3 of which upmix all content up to 9.4.1. I chose to stick with the standard mode, which outputs all audio in its original format. For both gaming and movies/TV shows the sound really fills the room. To my ear it’s full and each channel has good separation from the others. My previous soundbar also had Dolby Atmos support, but it was virtualized through the front channels; it was good, but this experience is so much better. The wireless connection between the subwoofer and satellites also has been stable and I have noticed any dropped connections or anomalies.
Overall I’m really happy with the Q950T and it adds a lot to my home theater experience. I’m not currently utilizing the built-in Alexa support, but since they’re integrating the microphone array it’d be cool to see some kind of room correction feature in the future.
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Thrustmaster is thrilled to offer a brand-new piece of gaming gear for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One and PC (Windows 10): its professional gamepad, designed for gamers looking to take their gaming to the next level, reach new heights of performance and achieve the best possible rankings. Featuring next-generation modules and cutting-edge T-MOD technology, the ESWAP X PRO CONTROLLER has been designed to adapt to all gaming styles thanks to its completely modular ergonomics, industrial-grade components, free configuration software for Xbox and PC (Windows 10) gamers, and an endless ecosystem of additional modules (sold separately). This product is an officially-licensed Xbox Series X|S device, and is also compatible with Xbox One, as well as PCs running Windows 10.
Customer Rating
4
No Wireless, but Good Alternative to Elite Series
on November 11, 2020
Posted by: SamG
from Portland, OR
There’s a lot to like to like about this controller and I’ve really enjoyed using it, but it’s a tough sell when it doesn't have wireless and the Elite Series 2 exists for only $20 more. That being said, I think this controller has more of a focus on durability and reliability, which is something I can say from personal experience the Elite Series controllers have had problems with. It has a good design and the buttons and thumbsticks feel like they’re made to hold up for a long time. The ability to swap the stick/D-pad positions is also great for anybody who prefers the PlayStation controller layout over the Xbox and the swappable pieces means you can really make this your own once those parts become available.
Getting into the box, you get the controller, a 10ft cable, some additional thumbsticks, and a tool for swapping the modules and parts. There’s also a small bag for everything that, with some effort, I could fit the controller and cable into, but not in a way I’d be comfortable storing; I have been using it to store the cable and the parts and have left the controller separate.
The controller is a tad larger than my Elite Series 2 and that’s evident putting them side-by-side, as well in the feel of holding it. My hands are on the larger side and it’s quite comfortable for me to hold; I also had my wife play with it a bit and it felt good to her as well. The materials throughout are hard plastic and not quite as nice to the touch as the soft rubberized materials on the Elite or even the softer plastic on the standard Xbox controllers, but it’s not bad by any stretch and I don’t have any concerns about the controller wearing down over time. The buttons are all very clicky and short-travel; they have good feedback and rapid presses are much easier on the Thrustmaster than on standard controllers. The triggers to me have a slightly shorter travel than the standard controller and that can be reduced further via switches on the bottom. The area that I don’t like quite as much is the D-pad, which feels just a bit mushy to me. In practice this didn’t translate to a bad experience, but I don’t make a lot of use of the D-pad anyway outside of selecting equipment in games, so your mileage may vary. Around the bottom of the controller are 4 customizable buttons that are by default mapped to ABXY in Profile 1 and LT/RT/LB/RB in Profile 2. The buttons are pretty easy to reach, though not quite as easy as the paddles on the Elite Series, but the upside of this is I don’t worry about accidentally pressing them like I do on the Elite Series. By the 3.5mm input there are buttons for volume control, mic mute, and profile select, as well as a button for remapping the controller buttons.
Customization is probably this controller’s biggest selling point. The thumbsticks and D-pad are very easy to remove and rearrange (though the D-pad does require the included tool to get it out). The other upside of this is if there is an issue with one of the sticks down the road you can just replace that and not the whole controller. The faceplate, grips, and triggers are all removable as well and this opens it up to really making it your own. The buttons can all be remapped on the controller or through the software. The software is easy to use and gives you a ton of options for dialing everything though. I was hoping on PC that the buttons on the bottom of the controller could be changed to support additional functions, though at this point they seem to only be able to mirror another Xbox button. I’m guessing compatibility issues swapping between Xbox and PC are probably the main reason for that limitation, but it’s a minor disappointment nonetheless.
Gaming with this controller has been great. It’s very comfortable to use. I only found one scenario while playing Celeste that my right middle finger became uncomfortable pressing against the controller, but that is mostly due to me gripping it too hard. I’ve owned both Elite controllers that Microsoft put out and I’ve loved using them, but I’ve encountered issues with parts falling off and stick drift. Time will tell if stick drift is an issue on this controller, but the emphasis Thrustmaster put on the stick design in their marketing materials makes me think it won’t be.
It’s disappointing that a controller that costs this much doesn’t at least have an option for wireless, but I know this isn’t Thrustmaster’s fault; Microsoft doesn’t allow 3rd party controllers to support wireless. The 10ft cable is certainly adequate for most people, but if you have a particularly large living room you might need an extension.
Overall I’m pretty happy with this controller. I’ll likely continue to use it more often than my Elite just out of fear of wearing that one out. No wireless does suck, but if you need a good controller that’s going to hold up I think this is the one to consider.
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+24points
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The Immersion Blender delivers performance you can trust. Create ideal textures from whole-food ingredients like greens and frozen fruit, and enjoy the convenience of blending in your favorite container.
Customer Rating
5
Great Upgrade Over Our Previous Immersion Blender
on October 30, 2020
Posted by: SamG
from Portland, OR
This is a super powerful and easy to use immersion blender. It’s definitely an upgrade over the Kitchenaid model that we’ve been using for the past several years and I’d recommend it to anyone that makes frequent use of a lower end model that’s looking for something a little more professional.
The overall package is pretty simple. It comes with the main unit and the blending attachment. I’ve seen similar products that come with other accessories like whisks and our Kitchenaid came with a few of those, but we never really made use of any of them, so I’m fine with the lack of additional attachments here. The build quality is excellent; the metal construction definitely gives it a bit of heft, but not to the point of making it unwieldy. The power cord attached is about 6ft long and was plenty enough for us.
Using this blender we immediately noticed the difference in power from our other one. We made a pretty thick soup with it and had no issues getting a whirlpool going in there. The splashback was also pretty minimal for the amount of power it was putting out. You do need to hold the power button down to use it and there is a button to toggle the speed directly underneath it. The grip design makes it really easy to get at both buttons with a single hand (right or left) and it feels comfortable to use. It’s also tall enough to get into some pretty large containers, though probably not tall enough for professional use.
Overall we’re really happy with this immersion blender. For the price I’d probably recommend it to someone who has experience using one and is looking for an upgrade.
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Why wait for the perfect weather to have a great gardening day? Meet the AeroGarden Farm 24XL, a hydroponic garden that grows up to 24 of your favorite herbs, veggies, or flowers year-round, up to 36" high. The indoor garden's two 60W LED grow lights promote rapid plant growth and can be adjusted independently, so your large vegetables can fully mature while you also grow shorter herbs and flowers. The light settings, such as light intensity and the automatic sunrise/sunset feature, are fully customizable to match the schedule in your home. The easy-to-use touchscreen control panel displays your garden's vital statistics and gives you reminders for when to add water and plant food. Throw in vacation mode and you've got one of the most advanced indoor gardens ever. You can also control your garden's settings remotely with the Farm 24XL's WiFi connectivity or the AeroGarden app. The AeroGarden Farm 24XL looks great anywhere - kitchen, office, you name it. Not to mention, the included Salad Bar Seed Pod Kits grow a mixture of crisp heirloom lettuces, zesty herbs, and juicy vegetables that will keep your family wanting a salad with dinner every night.
Customer Rating
5
Indoor Gardening Made Easy
on October 18, 2020
Posted by: SamG
from Portland, OR
We’ve kept a small vegetable garden in our backyard for the past couple years with varying results. My wife really likes gardening, though the space and amount of light we have for it is not ideal. The AeroGarden could not be a simpler way to get going with indoor gardening and we were seeing results within days of planting. It’s a great all-in-one solution that takes most of the guesswork out of gardening and I’m really excited to see how the plants continue to progress over the next few weeks and months.
For me, with some help, the total unboxing, assembly and setup experience took about 2-3 hours in total. Assembly was simple, but not completely effortless. Even with the holes completely lined up I ended up needing to use a ratcheting screwdriver to get a few of the screws to take hold, so I’d recommend something a little more robust than the included hex key. Thankfully though all the screws at all points of assembly are the same, so you only need the one toot to complete the entire assembly. I would recommend assembling this with another person’s help; attaching the LED lights to the hanging points would have been particularly challenging for me to do on my own. Besides a couple minor hiccups though the whole thing was very easy to assemble and the instructions were clear.
Once everything was assembled we set off on planting the included seed pods.Each of the 2 water bowls needs to be filled with 2 gallons of water, so having a large watering can to cut down on trips to the sink is handy. The touchscreen interface will take you through a step-by-step for each side of the garden to set up the type of vegetables or herbs you are growing. For the herbs and tomatoes that were included it appeared that both of these worked out to the same 15 hour light cycle, but there may be some additional nuance with the watering there that I’m not seeing. The small touchscreen at the top does a good job of giving you an at a glance status of how everything is doing and lets you adjust a lot of different settings so you can dial it in exactly how you want it. The LED lights are motorized and can be individually raised and lowered as needed. The included magnetic trellis is nice and gives you quite a bit of flexibility with how you want to position it, but if things get too out of sync one side does have a habit of pulling the other side down; not a huge criticism, but something to be aware of when you’re working with it.
After getting everything planted it was mostly just a matter of watching it work. It’s been about a week and every seed pod that we planted has sprouted and most of them to the point where we could remove the plastic covers. It’s at a point that would normally take 2-3 weeks outside and I’m blown away by how quickly everything's coming in. The AeroGarden does connect to WiFi so you can use the app, which is mostly just the touchscreen that’s on the device itself, but it will notify you when it’s time to add water/food, etc. It looks really nice just about anywhere, but at full brightness the LEDs can be a bit distracting in some environments. We ended up putting it in a spare bedroom closet and set the light cycle to sync up with our sleep schedules, but you can temporarily turn the system off when needed and it will automatically go back to its programmed schedule later on. I was a little concerned that this might uncomfortably warm up the small room that it’s in, but that doesn’t appear to be happening.
Overall I’d say you should have more than a passing interest before jumping into this, but if you have a passion for gardening I don’t think you’ll be let down.
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At GE Appliances, we're bringing craftsmanship to your countertops, with reliable and durable drip coffee makers. Equipped with either a sleek glass or insulated thermal carafe, our coffee makers have convenient functions such as Delayed Start and Timer, to make the brewing process simple and user-friendly. And all GE Appliances drip coffee makers are finished with tasteful and durable stainless steel, making them the perfect accent for any kitchen or office – all from a brand you trust.
Customer Rating
5
Simple, Well Designed Coffee Maker
on October 17, 2020
Posted by: SamG
from Portland, OR
This is a great coffee maker that does exactly what it needs to do and has a great design. I like the stainless steel design; it looks great on the counter and doesn’t take up too much space. It also feels very sturdy and I like the twist-off top design for the carafe instead of the snap-in plastic hinge that often breaks on other coffee pots I’ve used. It’s dead simple to use and clean and coffee out of it tastes good. Not much else to say about it, but if you’re looking for a simple, high quality coffee maker you can’t go wrong with this one.
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Print your memorable photos with this Canon SELPHY Square QX10 compact photo printer. The compact, lightweight design offers easy portability, while the dye-sublimation technology delivers quality quick-drying 2.7 x 2.7-inch prints that last for a long time. This Canon SELPHY Square QX10 compact photo printer has a built-in battery for cordless hassle-free printing.
Customer Rating
4
Good Compact Photo Printer
on September 24, 2020
Posted by: SamG
from Portland, OR
I have nothing particularly bad to say about the Selphy Square QX10. It’s simple, easy to use, and prints very high quality photos. The per photo cost feels like it’s on the high side, but it’s not too unreasonable.
The box includes the printer, USB charging cable, and a ‘sample’ pack of 3 sheets and an ink cartridge. I guess I shouldn’t have expected media to be included and you can get 20 sheets and a replacement ink cartridge for $15, so that’s about $.75 per photo. It doesn’t look like you can buy additional sheets or ink in any other quantity, so I assume one cartridge is good for 20 photos. The printer charges via an included micro-USB cable. Mildly disappointed they didn’t go with USB-C, but it’s not the end of the world. The printer itself is pretty compact and has a nice understated look that I appreciate. It’s nothing you could really keep on your person, but easily small enough to store in a drawer or bag when not in use.
Everything is done through the Selphy Photo Layout, which works pretty well and has some nice little embellishments you can add to the photo like frames and stamps. Your phone connects to the printer via a direct WiFi link that’s created when you scan a code on the ink cartridge door. Printing the actual photo takes about 45 seconds and you’ll see it come out in multiple stages as it applies the different color layers. The finished photos look really great and feel like they’ll hold up over time. You can also peel and stick them and the adhesive is light enough that you can pick them up and reposition them pretty easily. I could definitely see using these in a card or something similar to give it a personal touch. The photos are 2.7 x 2.7 inches and there’s about a .5” space below them to write a little note; part me does wonder if it would be possible to utilize that space for wider photos.
Overall I’m pretty happy with this printer. It’s sort of single purpose item, but it does what it does very well.
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Now the Roomba i3+ EVO robot vacuum is smarter than ever, learning and mapping your home room-by-room so it can clean the room you want, when you want—with 10x the Power-Lifting Suction* and Premium 3-Stage Cleaning System. Powered by iRobot OS, it stays one step ahead of everyday messes, by learning your life and suggesting cleaning schedules—to clean when you’re out enjoying life. On-demand cleaning is only a command away, with Google Assistant and Alexa compatibility** that let you direct your robot to messes right when they happen. With Clean Base Automatic Dirt Disposal, Roomba will return itself to the base when the bin is full, automatically empty and resume cleaning, so you don’t have to think about emptying the bin for months at a time. (*Compared to the Roomba® 600 series cleaning system)
Customer Rating
5
Great Upgrade Over the 690
on September 21, 2020
Posted by: SamG
from Portland, OR
I’m writing this review from the perspective of someone who has owned and used the Roomba 690 for the past few years. The i3+ is a huge improvement in every way and the Clean Base lets me set it loose on large areas without having to worry about emptying the bin. It doesn’t have the mapping features of the higher end models, but after seeing it in action and how it handles multiple rooms it’s not something I’m going to really miss. Unless you need to be able to specify cleaning to specific areas I don’t see any reason not to get this over the i7.
The clean base makes for a nice dock just for how much more substantial it is compared to my 690’s dock. I have had issues in the past with my 690 not quite lining up with its dock and it just ended up pushing it around for a while. Besides being taller it doesn’t take up all that much more space than my old Roomba and I was able to put it in the same spot. The base does use a bag that says it can hold up to 60 days of dirt. I’m guessing your mileage will vary on that one, but at least the box does include one replacement (as well as a replacement filter), so you should be good for a little while out of the box. Setting it up through the app was super easy and I’ve enjoyed seeing the improvements that iRobot has made over the years.
Onto the actual cleaning, I started off using it on my first first floor, which is all hardwood. It’s a single room consisting of a hallway, living room, dining room, and kitchen. It covered that area in 53 minutes the first day and 37 minutes the next day. I did notice an improvement in how much dirt it picked up and the navigation is much more predictable than my 690. It’s also much quieter. It does emit a low hum that seems to be amplified somewhat by my hardwood, but we had no issues hearing the TV while it was on. It didn’t bump into my furniture as aggressively as the 690 either, which was never too much of an issue before, but something I noticed. I also have the Bravaa m6 mop, which can be setup to run after the i3 finishes and that worked as expected. At the end of each job the vacuum returned to its base and was emptied. The base I will say is quite loud when it is sucking dirt out of the vacuum. It sounds like a shop vac. I don’t really have an issue with that, but if you’re not paying attention it might startle you.
At the end of the day, picking up dirt and dust from my hardwood was something my 690 did pretty easily. I moved the i3 upstairs to my 2nd floor, which carpeted. Its layout is 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, and a hallway. I was very pleasantly surprised to see that the i3 was able to navigate to each room, make trips back to the base to empty its been, recharge once, and remember where it had been the whole time. I watched it stop in the middle of cleaning the master bedroom, drive back to the base in the hallway, empty its bin, and drive right back to where it had been. There was a section of carpet in one of the bedrooms that I thought it wasn’t going to get, but it ended up coming back there towards the end of its job to get it. I know this doesn’t have the mapping functions of the higher end Roombas, but I really wouldn’t know it watching it. I’m not sure what magic they’re using to make this happen, but I’m genuinely impressed. It left the carpet clean enough that I didn't feel the need to go over it with a regular vacuum for a while and it was long overdue for a good cleaning. I will say this isn’t going to beat a good upright vacuum, but I don’t think any robot vacuum can do that. Overall with the bin emptying and recharging (which took about 45 minutes), it covered this area in about two and half hours.
I was ready to criticize the i3+ for not having built-in mapping, especially with competing vacuums offering that at a lower price, but after seeing it run these past few days I just don’t see it as that big of a deal anymore. Roombas are still the more expensive option in robot vacuums, but I think you’re getting your money’s worth with this one.
Mobile Submission: False
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+32points
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Master it, anywhere with MX Anywhere 3 –a compact performance mouse designed for mobile work –from the home office, to the cafe, to the airport lounge.The electromagnetic MagSpeed scroll wheel is faster, quieter, and more precise. A low-profile design is contoured for the shape of your hand –with silicone side grips ensure that it’s always soft to the touch.MX Anywhere 3 is built to withstand the bumps and drops of mobile work. And a track-anywhere sensor means you can work on virtually any surface.App-specific button customizations speed up your workflow in the apps you use most.
Customer Rating
5
The Best Gets Better
on September 18, 2020
Posted by: SamG
from Portland, OR
I’ve had the MX Anywhere 2 for a few years now and generally it’s been my favorite mobile mouse with my only real frustration with it being that it didn’t have a middle click. Logitech has always been my go-to for mice and keyboards and I had been hoping they’d release an MX Anywhere 3 ever since the MX Master 3 came out last year. Now that it’s here I can say that I’m extremely happy with almost everything they did with the new mouse. The design is a bit plain and that bums me out a little, but overall this is a really high quality mouse that earns its MX moniker.
Addressing the major changes between the 3 and 2 (and also 2S), the design is the first thing I noticed. It’s a single color accented by the metal scroll wheel and much more rounded off compared to more angular looking two-tone Anywhere 2. I still like the look overall and it fits with the MX Master 3’s aesthetic, but I wish it had a little more personality. The Micro-USB port has been switched to USB-C, which is great. You can also middle click on the scroll wheel now (!!). The scroll wheel doesn’t tilt left and right for horizontal scrolling anymore, but if you hold down one of the side buttons and scroll you can still get this functionality. It’s a little clunky, but the option is there at least. You also get a higher resolution sensor from the 2 to the 3 (1200 DPI vs. 4000 DPI, though the 2S also had a 4000 DPI sensor). The overall size is about the same, maybe slightly more compact, but still just as comfortable.
In my day-to-day I’m using the M720 Triathlon for work and the G703 Lightspeed on my personal PC. I immediately noticed the difference from switching from the M720. Tracking is super smooth and using the same USB receiver I haven’t noticed my mouse getting ‘stuck’ at all like my M720 sometimes does. The sensor is 4000 DPI and by default looks to be set at 1000, which felt about right for me. The scroll wheel automatically switches from a detented line-by-line scroll to free-wheeling based on how fast you spin it and this works really well (the sensitivity of it can also be adjusted in Logitech Options). You can also manually switch between detent and free wheel scrolling with the button above the wheel, but I never felt the need. The scroll wheel and general just feels really nice and I appreciate the metal material choice here. The mouse isn’t quite as comfortable on my hand as the M720 or G703, but for its size I think they did a good job with the ergonomics. The Logitech Options software also lets you load profiles that change the behavior of the mouse for different applications. In Chrome for example I noticed that clicking in on the scroll wheel and scrolling activates the zoom function, which is super handy. Other applications like Microsoft Teams repurpose the buttons near your thumb for audio/video control instead of forward/back. I’ve experienced these application-specific profiles on the Craft keyboard, but they feel much more thoughtful in Anywhere 3.
Battery life is listed at 70 days, which is long enough to not ever really need to think about it. You can still pair with up to 3 devices via Bluetooth or Logitech’s USB receiver. I’ve been using Bluetooth on my laptop and the USB receiver on my work PC and both connections have been solid. Logitech also has a little trick in its software called Flow that lets you use the mouse across multiple PCs at the same time, which is handy for anyone working with multiple devices at the same time.
I think Logitech nailed it again on this mouse and I’m happy to have something portable enough that I can really get some work done with.
Mobile Submission: False
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+4points
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Without sound, they’re just sunglasses. Thoughtfully refined and strikingly elegant, Bose Frames Tenor style feature a refined square frame and distinctive keyhole bridge, for those who crave a modern take on a classic style. Bose Open Ear Audio technology produces clear, lifelike sound, leaving you free to engage with the world around you while discreetly listening to music. Bose Frames also feature an advanced mic system that lets you make crystal clear calls, scratch-and-shatter-resistant polarized lenses and a rechargeable battery that plays for up to 5.5 hours. All this housed in a lightweight frame crafted from ultramodern materials for a luxurious look and feel.
Customer Rating
4
Kind of Different, Kind of Great, Room to Improv
on September 5, 2020
Posted by: SamG
from Portland, OR
I got these more out of curiosity than a strong desire to own sunglasses that are also headphones. I was a bit underwhelmed when I first started using them and questioned the logic of using these instead of just regular sunglasses and headphones, but the more I’ve used them the more I’m beginning to appreciate what Bose is doing here and genuinely enjoy using them. If I were to rate each element (the headphones and the sunglasses) individually I’d call them average, but the combination actually works pretty good. Overall I’d consider these a niche product, but if Bose could improve the bass and maybe collaborate with some other brands on design I think there’s a lot of potential here.
The sunglasses disguise their electronic guts pretty well besides the bigger arms and they’re extremely lightweight; only a tiny bit heavier than my Wayfarer sunglasses I normally wear. Speaking of Wayfarer, that’s probably the closest style I would equate with the Tenor frames, which Bose calls a ‘square’ style. They fit my face well and don’t move around a lot, but I also have a pretty big head, so I would try them on first just like any pair of sunglasses. Overall I think they look pretty good and they feel pretty sturdy, but as sunglasses they don’t really exude an expensive quality and that's a little disappointing. If Bose could do some kind of collaboration with Ray-Ban or use slightly higher quality materials I think that would do a lot for them. The lenses do appear to be polarized and are easy to pop out if you want to use them indoors or at night. I don’t know if the option exists to replace lens with a prescription variety, but that would be a plus if true.
You set the Frames up on the Bose app and that’s straightforward enough. There’s a few options you can adjust in the app, but not a whole lot of customization besides that. It would be nice to have an EQ to maybe help with the bass. Volume on the headphones is adjusted via a touch surface on the arm that is very intuitive - I actually adjusted volume that way before I even knew it was there. You double tap on that same surface to activate Google Assistant or Siri. Further back on the arm is a small button near where it meets your ear that handles power, play/pause, and skip functions. It’s easy enough to locate by feel, but I wish the voice assistant trigger could be remapped to play/pause/skip functions instead. As of writing this the app does not allow you to reconfigure that, but I’m hopeful a future update could change that.
The sound from the Frames is… interesting. I was initially very disappointed by it. The bass is almost non-existent, even compared to some cheap earbuds I have. They also don’t get particularly loud and I typically had them at 75-100% volume in almost every scenario I used them. That being said the sound that does come through is extremely clear and detailed, especially for voices and simple acoustic tracks. The way the sound reached my ears felt so much more natural than other headphones I’ve used. The sound feels more like I’m right next to it and not something that’s being piped directly into my ears like it would be with regular headphones. It’s difficult to describe, but going to the beach the other day and wearing them felt so much better than my earbuds because I still felt like I was present in my environment and I really didn’t notice the lack of bass as much anymore once I got used to them. I still think Bose could have done a better job on tuning the low end though. I did made a couple test calls and both my ability to hear the caller and my voice quality on the other end was excellent; having my wife talk through them and listening to her I could hardly tell she was speaking through a Bluetooth headset.
I didn’t see a water/sweat resistance rating on these Frames. I know the previous generation was IPX2 and I’m guessing that is the case here, which means they have some water resistance, but don’t go jumping into the lake with them. Battery life is rated at 5.5 hours and I haven’t fully ran mine down yet, but so far they seem to be on track to meet that.
So overall I’m more impressed than I thought I would be. If you’re somebody who’s out and about and does a lot of outdoor activities I think there’s a lot to like here. There’s also the argument for just having a good pair of sunglasses and a good pair of headphones. If you’re interested though I think they’re definitely worth a try. I like the direction Bose is going with these; these address a few of the shortcomings of the last generation of Frames and if there's a generation after this one I’m excited to see it.
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I would recommend this to a friend!
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Complete your HT-Z9F surround system with this Sony rear speaker. Place it on a stand or shelf, or mount it to your wall for unobtrusive performance, and connect to other components wirelessly to keep unsightly cables out of your space. This Sony rear speaker's S-Master amp outputs 50W for powerful rear audio.
Will these work well with the ht-nt5?
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