Batlacit's stats
- Review count264
- Helpfulness votes935
- First reviewFebruary 13, 2016
- Last reviewJune 23, 2026
- Featured reviews0
- Average rating4.5
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- Answer count55
- Helpfulness votes101
- First answerSeptember 21, 2016
- Last answerJanuary 21, 2022
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Transform your workspace into the ultimate place for gaming and productivity with the Razer USB 4 Dock. Powered by ultra-fast USB 4 connectivity, unify your desktop or mobile setup with a 14-port design featuring dual display output, continuous power delivery, and ultra-low latency for all your devices.
Customer Rating
5
Great option to get the desktop experience
on January 21, 2025
Posted by: Batlacit
As laptops continue to get larger, heavier, and more feature rich, the demand for good docking stations capable of delivering the desktop experience with one has grown at a rapid pace. The supply of good docking stations, unfortunately, has often struggled to keep up. Razer's latest offering, in a somewhat unusual turn for them, seems to be attempting to fix that with a fairly streamlined product which focuses on the fundamentals to deliver something that feels a step above what you can generally expect from such a product, but does still have some of the same limitations that come with it.
The first thing that stood out to me upon opening the box was the design. Given the manufacturer I fully expected no less than 3 programmable RGB zones and some aggressive "gamer" accents, but it's actually rather unassuming. It's a simple black box with only a single pinprick of light on the power button to draw attention, built to the scale one would expect from a large power bank. When not in use it completely disappears into the shadowed space behind my monitor, and doesn't do much more to draw attention to itself when it's plugged in either. It also has something that I think may be unique out of all the docking stations I've tried: a replaceable cable connecting it to your laptop. I'd estimate the cable it came with to be about six feet, which is more than enough for my use and probably about as long as you'd want to go to make sure signal degradation doesn't become an issue.
As far as performance, I'd give it high marks. There are tons of ports here, they all work, and it had no issue maintaining high resolutions or refresh rates when I tested it out on my big desk displays. That said, it did highlight a few issues with usability for me that might be worth considering. One of the big ones being that a lot of the ports are actually quite hard to locate. With no lighting or splashes of color to pick them out everything on the front of the device pretty much immediately vanished once I had it in place, and around the back there's just too much variety to navigate it by feel. I don't think this is necessarily a cause for concern, as part of the whole point of a docking station is to hook up everything you need once and then leave it for when you need it, but I can definitely see slightly older users with less than perfect vision being very frustrated by the amount of black-on-black here. The second thing to be aware of is that the power supply is limited to 180 watts - I assume mostly because that's all you can usually get through a long USB-C cable. Normally, I'd consider this to be more than enough for a docking station but because it is a Razer product I have to assume that a lot of the people buying it will be using it on a gaming laptop - and gaming laptops still tend to work best when getting fed something in the 200-250 watt range. If that's you, the good news is that there's nothing stopping you from plugging in your normal AC adapter and just running off that during heavy gaming sessions. And, for the record, I found that 180 watts was "good enough" for sessions lasting a few hours providing the battery already had some charge in it at the start. But we're still short of the dream of plugging in a single cable and being good for the rest of the day.
Overall despite the minor annoyances, this is still a very easy recommendation for me. Most docking stations are still rather underwhelming, and this one definitely is not. So long as you're aware of the friction points going in, I think you're likely to be very pleased.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Future-proofs your smart home with blazing-fast tri-band connectivity up to 14000 Mbps with Multi-Link Operation and 4096-QAM.
Customer Rating
5
Solid performance, easy setup
on January 7, 2025
Posted by: Batlacit
If you've got a large home with spotty WiFi coverage, a mesh router can be the next best thing to running ethernet. Unfortunately the market is a decidedly mixed bag with several options being unreliable, hard to set up, or lacking in key features necessary for advanced users. ASUS's latest effort is none of those things, to the point that it may actually be gratuitous overkill for the majority of home users.
Setup was refreshingly simple, particularly coming from an older ASUS router like I was. Using the mobile app I was able to backup the settings from my previous router, including all my static IP assignments and firewall rules, and with a single click immediately transfer them to the new system. This is a feature I never even would have thought to look for outside of a professional grade router, and was very much appreciated. Apart from that, there was really very little for me to do. The satellites are all paired out of the box, and while the firmware needed an update all that was required was a single button press in the app. The biggest time sink turned out to be having to run new cables to take advantage of the total of 9 ethernet ports for devices, and I was still completely done in well under an hour.
I imagine most will stop there, as the default configuration is more than sufficient for most use cases. I, however, did not. I spent the next day exploring some of the new features that come with the router and making various tweaks to address some long standing issues with my network, and I have to say was very pleased with the results I got. ASUS's front end gives you tons of tools to optimize your setup, including the ability to create multiple SSIDs to deal with, for example, older smart home devices that don't fully support the 5 or 6GHz bands. It's just been a few days, but being able to shunt these into a dedicated IoT network that only uses 2.4GHz has already greatly reduced some persistent issues I've been dealing with where devices would lose their connection several times throughout the day after trying and failing to switch to a different band. And while I don't have many devices that fully support the latest WiFi standards, with those that do the speed and range is really quite incredible. I've gone from feeling like I wasn't fully utilizing my fiber line to seeing it as my network's biggest bottleneck.
Really, the only qualification I have to give for my recommendation is that it feels very much like a prosumer product. And even if you're a networking professional, I doubt you'd need more than half the features the system comes with. Still, if you've been burned by other options before, there is an undeniable appeal to investing in an over the top solution. So for those who have been persistently plagued by weird WiFi failures, it might be worth taking a look. Because odds are there's something in its toolbox that will help you solve it.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Introducing the Ninja Crispi Portable Cooking System. This compact powerhouse packs the 1500W power of a full-sized air fryer into a portable design*. It includes a small 6-cup TempWare container for personal meals and a larger 4-QT TempWare container that fits up to 4 lbs of wings or 2 lbs of fries. Also included are two crisper plates and storage lids. The PowerPod intelligently senses and adjusts to the container size, ensuring a perfect cook no matter what. Whether you~re whipping up quick single-serve meals in 7 minutes, sharing crispy snacks on the go, or serving a crowd, the Ninja Crispi makes it easy. The durable borosilicate glassware withstands extreme temperature changes from 22F-450F, and it~s safe to cook directly on granite countertops, laminate, quartz, butcher block, marble, and more. Cleanup is simple~the TempWare glassware, storage lids, crisper plates, and adapter are dishwasher safe and designed to nest for easy storage. Cook, serve, and store effortlessly with Ninja Crispi.
Customer Rating
5
A novel option for a second air fryer
on December 23, 2024
Posted by: Batlacit
Air fryers are everywhere these days, something that Ninja has certainly contributed to with what seems to be their mission statement to add one to every small appliance possible. At first glance, the Crispi seems like it'll be more of the same in a new form factor, but much to my surprise it seems to be trying something new. Rather than trying to be a jack of all trades it seeks to fill a very specific niche with a highly focused design: it's a machine for side dishes and leftovers.
There are a few things that you wouldn't even usually think of as features that have been omitted, like granular temperature control. This does have the upside of making it very easy to use, and makes you very grateful to have a way to actually watch whatever you're cooking through the glass container. It's by no means impossible to use it to cook like you would a regular air fryer, particularly if you're willing to use the recipes provided with it, but I certainly wouldn't recommend doing it regularly unless you plan to stick to a few simple recipes where you can work out the exact settings and times that work best.
Build quality overall is excellent. The glass containers used for cooking are sturdy and work great for leftover storage too. The material is said to be hardened against thermal shock and seems to be living up to it - going straight from the fridge to the fryer and back again is no issue. The no-stick platforms used to create room for air to circulate are also well made, and everything is dishwasher safe. That said, storage can be a bit awkward. The glass containers can't really nest due to the handles, only the smaller platform has integrated storage, and the air fryer unit itself is a bit of an awkward shape to cram into a kitchen cupboard.
All in all, as good as it is as crisping up fries or reheating leftovers, it just takes up too much space and doesn't have enough utility to justify it in a working kitchen. But then I also don't think that's the goal either. This is something you buy for your office, dorm room, or camper as an alternative to relying entirely on a microwave.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Experience next-gen immersion with the Razer Kraken V4 Pro wireless gaming headset. Gain full control with an all-new OLED Control Hub featuring over 20 customization options, including audio, haptics, and home screen personalization. Connect up to three devices simultaneously using dual USB-C ports and a 3.5 mm input. Powered by Razer Sensa HD Haptics, the headset offers real-time audio-to-haptics conversion for all content and supports game integration, delivering wideband HD haptics that accurately mimic in-game distance and directionality. With 4 connectivity options, including Razer HyperSpeed Wireless, Bluetooth, USB, or 3.5 mm, connect to your favorite systems such as PC, Mac, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, Steam Deck, ROG Ally, and smartphones. Simultaneous audio support allows you to mix 2.4 GHz and Bluetooth audio on two devices at once. The retractable Razer HyperClear Super Wideband Microphone ensures superior sound quality for crystal-clear team comms, retracting flush with the headset when not in use. Razer~s patented TriForce Bio-Cellulose 40 mm Drivers enable individual tuning of high, mid, and low frequencies for a powerful, lifelike auditory experience with natural high-end sound. The headset also supports THX Spatial Audio, a cutting-edge 7.1 surround sound system that provides realistic positional audio and expands your soundstage. Enhance your setup with 9-Zone Earcup Lighting, offering more Razer Chroma RGB effects. Customize each zone individually to create stunning visuals and light up your battlestation. Elevate your gaming with the ultimate headset that does it all.
Customer Rating
5
Best Headset I've Tried
on November 27, 2024
Posted by: Batlacit
I've tried many gaming headsets over the years that have claimed to be "premium" products. And, for the most part, I've found them all to be very similar to one another, distinguished only by a few small differences in frequency response or the odd gimmicks they've incorporated. After trying the Kraken V4, though, I now have a new benchmark to judge those headsets against. Razer has managed to distill the best aspects of various headset designs and produce something quite special which stands out as the best headset I've personally had the pleasure of using so far.
What makes the headset stand out isn't so much the audio quality (though it is excellent) but rather the engineering and user facing design. This, to put it lightly, a very feature-rich product. You've got multiple inputs going into the control box, programmable RGB, tunable audio, simulated surround, haptic feedback, a wireless interface, and the list goes on. it's a very tall order getting all that to work together, and an even taller one to make its use intuitive. Razer has exceeded my expectations in this regard. Controls are surprisingly minimal and yet give you immediate access to everything you might need in normal use, while the Synapse and Chroma apps (which you will be automatically prompted to install when you plug the control box into your PC) allow you to do all the fine tuning you might want and tie the product into the rest of your gaming accessory ecosystem - even if the other parts of it aren't built by Razer. There's also a great deal of care put into even mundane elements, such as the retractable boom mic which effectively marries the superior adjustability and space savings of a removable unit with the convenience of a flip-up one. And, perhaps most importantly, despite having what seems like half an electronics store crammed into the thing it's still lightweight and flexible enough to be comfortable for long gaming sessions.
That said, nothing's perfect and neither is this. While most of the standard features succeed brilliantly, the haptics touted as one of the key gimmicks for the Kraken V4 fell flat for me. When I first saw the word "haptics" I was imagining something like a virtual subwoofer, meant to give a bit more presence to the lower end of the audio which headsets generally struggle to properly reproduce. And based on how it responds I think that's certainly what it's trying to do, but I found the effect rather unconvincing. The best way I can think to describe how it feels is like someone lightly bumping the headset with their elbow as they pass by. Rather than adding to the immersion of a scene it really only serves to remind you that you are wearing a headset, and to make things worse can actually make it harder to hear game audio. It's also not helped by the fact that whatever system it uses to automatically fire off the haptics in response to the audio it gets is quite twitchy, to the point where it's often unclear what's triggering it. It's better with "Sensa-Integrated" games which have native support for the function, but even there I can't say I felt like I was missing out by just turning the haptics off. I won't say that it's worth avoiding the headset over it, but having tried it I wouldn't recommend anyone give it much weight when considering which headset to purchase.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Powerful, effective pain relief and reduced soreness and tightness meet performance-boosting deep massage in the Limited Edition Theragun Prime in Adventure Green. The perfect companion for the [hardworking] person in your life [who works - or plays - hard], Prime is powerful massage in a simple design. Now in rich green with gold accents, Prime in Adventure Green is for everyone in your life who works ~ and plays ~ hard, helping them recover from the daily grind and maintain the body~s peak performance with scientifically-proven deep muscle percussive massage therapy in an easy-to-use, durable design.
Customer Rating
5
Excellent update to the Theragun
on November 21, 2024
Posted by: Batlacit
I've used massagers like the Theragun for myofascial release for quite a few years now. As a hiker, biker, and long time sufferer of tech neck I don't think there's anything better to loosen up exhausted muscles or help deal with muscle and nerve pain. The latest generation of Theragun Prime doesn't set out to revolutionize the proven design, but rather adds a few subtle refinements to the winning formula.
The gun itself is a bit bulky, but very well designed. The triangular handle allows you to adopt several different grips to get to all the hard to reach parts of your back without straining anything or having to get assistance from someone else. The motor is powerful, but surprisingly quiet compared to some of the earlier versions. And a neoprene carrying case keeps the USB charging cable and all the various massage heads well organized. The Theragun app also does a very good job of teaching you how to use each attachment and running you through some basic routines for common issues. Speed can be adjusted manually or controlled by one of many programs built into the app, and once you hit the right spot relief comes almost immediately.
As far as maintenance goes, requirements are refreshingly minimal. A small sample of lubricant for the motor's shaft (which does heat up a lot) is included with instructions to apply oil every few months to keep the gun running quietly. The heads are all cast in soft foam rubber which can be wiped clean with a damp cloth. And the gun itself is all hard plastic and rubber, so keeping it clean of sweat or worse shouldn't be an issue.
Overall, this is an easy recommendation for anyone looking to address persistent muscle pain or hurry along their recovery after athletic activities but particularly for people new to massage guns. The adaptable grip and the app's guided routines eliminates most of the barriers to entry, and the softer massage heads make it a lot more forging of minor mistakes than other brands which often use hard plastic tips instead.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Shark - SpeedStyle Pro FLEX Professional Performance High-Velocity Hair Dryer System - Metallic Gray
Meet the Shark SpeedStyle Pro FLEX High-Velocity Hair Dryer System. Designed with professional performance in a compact, flex design without compromising power. Get salon-quality blowouts, defined curls, and high-gloss shine at home with high-velocity airflow reaching 100 mph in under a second, all without heat damage. Includes Scalp Shield ~ designed to protect 100% of new hair growth from extreme heat.
Customer Rating
5
Salon quality blowouts at home!
on November 18, 2024
Posted by: Batlacit
If one were ever going to feel intimidated by a hair dryer... this would probably be the one to fear.
At first glance, there doesn't seem to be that much to the SpeedStyle. It's about half the size of a normal hair dryer, and only gets smaller when folded. It's relatively lightweight. And when you turn it on, it's not particularly loud. The moment you actually point it at your head, however, any illusions about what it is will quickly be blown away. In terms of both wind speed and heat the dryer packs an impressive amount of power - and with the right attachments, it can also make for a great styling tool.
To give you some example of my use case, I have fairly short. fine hair that's quite thick around the edges and thinning somewhat at the top. My girlfriend, meanwhile, has long hair which is much more coarse and significantly thicker overall. This dryer works very well on both - albeit requiring very different attachments and settings. The ability to dramatically dial down the heat and rely only on air movement for drying makes it a lot more tolerable on my scalp than pretty much any other dryer I've used, and makes styling it after a shower significantly easier. And in my girlfriend's case, it can give her even more volume than she already has with a minimum of fuss.
There are a few downsides that one might want to consider, though. First up is perhaps somewhat obvious, but there's a definite learning curve to this that I don't think you get with most hair dryers. Shark has done their best to hold your hand through the process. Every attachment has a QR code attached which can take you to an online tutorial explaining what it's for and how it's to be used, and there's a booklet included explaining the basic function of every one available for the unit. The second thing to be aware of is that they've only included the attachments for some of the most common hair types. If your hair is straight, lightly styled, or thick and curly, you are definitely going to be covered. You may need to invest in some more parts though if you have really wavy hair or loose curls.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Whether you~re at home or on the go, experience true audio versatility and flair anywhere with the Razer Barracuda X Chroma. Featuring Razer SmartSwitch Dual Wireless, toggle between gaming and mobile use instantly with a lightweight wireless RGB gaming headset.
Customer Rating
5
Another solid headset from Razer
on November 11, 2024
Posted by: Batlacit
I think most people who buy from Razer are pretty aware of what they're getting at this point: Blinky lights, good quality hardware, and lots of customizability. In this, at least, the Barracuda X does very little to rock the boat. It is a versatile, comfortable, well performing headset that should be seriously considered for your next gaming setup.
First let's start with the key feature of any Razer device: the RGB. Each earcup is divided into six programmable lighting zones, allowing for a variety of different effects to be programmed in. The Razer RGB utility isn't the easiest one out there to use but it is one of the most capable overall, making it very easy to integrate into a larger RGB setup.
Moving past the lighting though, the headset has quite a lot to offer. The included wireless dongle is designed for USB-C, but comes with an adapter to use USB-A. In both configurations I found audio quality to be excellent. Even with a variety of other wireless peripherals I experienced no issues with syncing or dropouts, the surround sound effects were convincing, and battery life was quite good.
For comfort, again I have to give the Barracuda X top marks. It seems well sized for larger heads, and fits comfortably around the ears. It does tend to heat up after a while, a problem that most high end headsets have, but I had no issue wearing it for several hours at a time. The removable boom mic can't quite compare to the convenience you get with designs offering flip up or retractable designs, particularly when you need to rapidly mute/unmute in chat, but makes up for it with superior adjustability. How much of an advantage that is will likely come down to personal preference for most, but speaking for myself I found it an acceptable trade.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Experience unparalleled audio with Bowers & Wilkins Pi6 True Wireless Earbuds, featuring a true 24-bit connection and aptX Adaptive technology for dynamic, high-resolution sound. The 12mm bio-cellulose drivers, adapted from our Px7 S2e headphones, reduce distortion and enhance high-frequency details, delivering lifelike clarity. Great for commuting, these earbuds boast advanced active noise cancelation and three microphones for crystal-clear calls. The noise cancelation adapts to your environment, ensuring uninterrupted sound. Crafted with premium materials, the Pi6 offers an ergonomic fit and features an intuitive single-button control, supporting multiple functions. Stay powered throughout the day with quick charge support, providing an extra 2 hours of use with just a 15-minute charge. Enjoy up to 8 hours of earbud battery life and an additional 24 hours with the charging case. These durable and versatile earbuds come with an IP54 rating for protection against water and dust, making them suitable for a range of activities, from running and working out to enjoying music outdoors. Use the Bowers & Wilkins Music App, compatible with iOS and Android, to stream music from services like TIDAL, Pandora, Qobuz, Deezer, and SoundCloud, ensuring you always have your favorite tunes at your fingertips.
Customer Rating
4
High quality audio - but not without some flaws
on October 21, 2024
Posted by: Batlacit
The Pi6 is a stylish, high performing set of earbuds that unfortunately also caused me a fair bit of frustration.
The first three days I had them, I was somewhat less than impressed. The large earbud bodies are a bit oddly weighted compared to what I'm used to, causing the right one to fall out a few times when I went walking around the neighborhood. The audio was frequently crackly and prone to dropping out every few minutes. And the touch controls seemed prone to triggering at the drop of a hat. I came close to giving up, but decided to persevere.
Eventually I got used to the way they sit in my ears, re-paired them with my phone a few times, and redownloaded the B&W app and discovered that when they're working right, there's quite a lot to like. The earbuds offer clear and crisp sound (though admittedly slightly lacking in bass response compared to some.) They do an excellent job blocking out ambient noise. Audio quality on calls is excellent, as is environmental passthrough. and once you get used to how sensitive it is, the touch controls on the sides are very pleasantly responsive.
I would still hesitate to recommend them to everyone. I still wouldn't trust them to stay in my ears while jogging, for instance, and I'm not entirely sure what to make of the initial connectivity problems I had. These are definitely more for the audiophile or fashionista looking for something small and portable to wear during a morning train ride or slip into a carry on bag for the plane. But they do certainly sound good.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Introducing MX Creative Console, streamline your creative workflow with intuitive and customizable backlit LCD keys and tactile controls for precise adjustments on the dialpad. MX Creative Console lets you quickly access shortcuts and actions on your favorite apps with recommended profile configurations, or customize it to fit your own workflow.
Customer Rating
4
A Macro Fiend's Best Friend
on October 16, 2024
Posted by: Batlacit
When you're working with photo editing, video editing, or CAD programs there can be a staggering number of tasks where the intended way to carry them out is to go through five nested menus and clicking on a single button. Most will eventually get tired of this and start trying to set up keyboard shortcuts, however depending on how many you have to memorize this isn't always much better. That's where products like the MX Creative console comes in. With the ability to set up pretty much however many shortcut buttons you want with each one being labeled, it can be a godsend for the macro hounds among us. And, for the most part, it does what it sets out to do.
First, let's cover the pros. A lot of the supplemental keypads on the market can be fairly large and difficult to place on a desk - so this one stands apart in how compact it is. The 9 key pad can be set either flat on the desk or propped up with an included weighted stand, and while there are larger options which require less scrolling through pages I didn't find myself missing them. The wireless jogwheel is a bit bulkier but since it doesn't need a USB connection it's a lot easier to find a spot for it. Build quality feels very good throughout too. There's no wobble or rattle in any of the moving parts, the screen is bright and very easy to read even with relatively small fonts, and everything feels as durable as one would expect from a professional focused product. It did admittedly take a little getting used to trying to integrate it into my workflow, and it's still an ongoing process, but it can definitely be a nice little time saver and save you a lot of aggravation trying to memorize yet another application specific keyboard combination.
That said, there are definitely a few headaches here that keep me from giving it full marks. Right now there are only a handful of officially supported applications that have profiles already set up, most of which were produced by Adobe. While this certainly makes sense I was a little surprised to see no options for a CAD suite or something similar, which is what I find myself using it for the most. Getting a new application added can definitely be a bit tedious but more importantly I noticed that the software sometimes struggles to figure out when to automatically switch to the appropriate profile for anything you added yourself. Additionally the only option for a connector in the box was a USB-C cable. While this is fine for a Mac or most laptops, a lot of workstations are still lagging behind in that area and Logitech in particular seems to be rolling out a lot of USB-C only hardware lately that's quickly filling up the ports I do have. Fortunately the cable isn't permanently attached, but it seems like an odd decision. Finally, the jogwheel is the first wireless device I've seen in a very long time that opts for disposable AAA batteries instead of an internal rechargeable. Since it's lacking a screen I imagine battery life should be pretty decent here, but honestly I don't think I would have minded another cable hookup (or at least the option for one) instead of having to rely exclusively on bluetooth or an RF link, as both can be a bit unreliable in some environments. Most annoying, though, is the fact that neither of the two wheels have any kind of detente to allow for more precise stepping. Logitech mice have been using adjustable wheels that can swap between precision and smooth modes for years, so it feels a little underwhelming that the feature is completely absent from a more focused productivity tool like this.
All in all I don't think these will be dealbreakers for most. It's still a very good productivity tool, at the end of the day. But I don't think it'll necessarily win everyone over either.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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The PowerDetect NeverTouch Pro robot vacuum and mop system is designed to capture more, reach farther, and need you less (vs. Shark Matrix 2-in-1). Its five powerful cleaning technologies help to target hidden debris, stuck-on stains, edges and to optimize cleaning for every floor type, handling the toughest cleaning challenges. Whether vacuuming or mopping, the PowerDetect robot does the dirty work, so you don't have to. It deep-cleans and mops your floors, while the NeverTouch Pro base means you don~t have to worry about cleanup or maintenance for weeks at a time. After every cleaning run, the robot will return to the base to empty debris, refill the water tank, and wash and dry the mopping pad so it~s always ready for its next clean~ maintenance-free cleaning for up to a month. With NeverStuck Technology, the robot lifts itself over obstacles and across thresholds to avoid getting stuck. When mopping, it keeps the pad above carpets to prevent wet messes and deliver whole-home coverage. While the robot handles your cleaning chores for you, the bagless base with Anti-Allergen Complete Seal captures and traps 99.97% of dust and allergens (down to .3 microns, allergens refers to non-living matter).
Customer Rating
5
Great set-and-forget option
on October 14, 2024
Posted by: Batlacit
The NeverTouch Pro is very much a vacuum built for the gadget lovers among us. This highly capable floor cleaner tries to address a host of minor complaints with elaborate engineering solutions which, for the most part, work in its favor. But it does come with a few tradeoffs and absent features that might prove to be dealbreakers for those looking for more precise control over their cleaning regimen.
To start, there is a pretty long list of areas where the vacuum did very well. Setup was fairly quick and mostly painless, with the most complicated bit proving to be figuring out where to set up the (admittedly quite large) base station that would meet all the criteria provided (a hard floor, no direct sunlight, with at least moderate clearance on three sides. The vacuum itself came fully assembled and the base station only required the addition of a small ramp and the removal of a lot of packing material, so I had it unpacked and charging in preparation for its first cleaning run in less than an hour. I deliberately avoided cleaning my home for a couple days before getting it to see how it did in a worst case scenario, so it embarked into a home with mixed tile and carpet stuffed with spills, dust, fall leaves, and shed fur from both a dog and a cat. By the time it was done, little to none of this mess remained. The navigation system proved to be second to none, deftly steering around hazards, chairs, and household pets to generate a very accurate floorplan of the area it was responsible for. Cleaning performance is likewise very good on both hard floors and carpeting. Given how quiet it was when it first ran I was a little concerned it might not have the suction power to handle larger debris or dirt that had been ground into the carpet but it proved surprisingly adept at both. Mopping performance is likewise quite good. It's using a flat mopping pad rather than rotating brushes, which isn't quite as effective and getting out hard stains, but they've compensated for this to a degree by letting it lightly scrub it back and forth as it goes and giving it a pretty decent set of sensors to let it identify when multiple passes are needed. It's also able to extend the mop pad all the way to the edge of the robot - letting it get into corners in a way that I don't think anything else on the market can really compete with at the moment. And once it was done the base did a great job of cleaning out both the robot and the mop pad, so you really do almost never need to touch it apart from emptying the bin and gray water tank, doing a monthly filter cleaning, or refilling the cleaning solution tank. They even thought to include a small carbon filter/air freshener to cut down on exhaust odors. Finally while the parts all look very sturdy, I'm pleased to say that pretty much everything can be easily swapped out with replacements available from the Shark online store, so with a bit of care it can last you a very long time.
Unfortunately there is a bit more to the story than its raw cleaning performance, which does need to be addressed. First up is the fact that the app being used to control the vacuum is surprisingly rudimentary compared to the vacuum itself. It's got everything it needs to achieve minimal functionality but a lot of small quality of life improvements that I'd typically expect from a flagship robot are curiously absent. Biggest being that scheduling only allows you to launch a routine to clean the entire house (with or without the mop) at a specific single time during the day. This is, to be frank, off-putting. Most of my home would be fine getting vacuumed every other day or so but there are a few high traffic areas that quite frankly could probably benefit from getting multiple daily runs. Giving me the option to set that up seems like a no brainer. I don't know why this function is missing and the app FAQ suggests they might add it in the future, but as a long-time user of Shark Vacuums they've been saying that long enough at this point that I'm losing hope it'll happen. The second big issue I had was with the dock. I think every robot vacuum out there has some very specific rules on how the charging dock should be placed in your home. And in my experience, you can usually bend or outright ignore most of them without much issue. This vacuum will not let you get away with that. You really do need to make sure it's going down on a hard level floor or the odds of the vacuum successfully being able to dock drop significantly - which can be a drawn out and annoyingly loud process as it tries to fix it. And you can absolutely forget about trying to put it on carpet or a rug unless you want it to shoot water into it on a regular basis every time if pulls out the mop. Because while it has the intelligence and agility to avoid dampening an area rug while it's out cleaning up, I'm pretty sure it doesn't start looking for them until it's already set up and ready to go. Finally, there seems to be a huge issue with smart home integration if you have more than one Shark vacuum in the home (something that's becoming increasingly common on homes with multiple floors. While the app itself handles this scenario very well, when linking it to my Google Home the app only passed along information for the first vacuum I'd added to it. As a result I'm unable to activate the new one with voice commands to deal with smaller messes, and always have to dig out my phone to start spot cleaning jobs from the app.
Hopefully, at least some of these issues can be solved with future firmware/app updates. The hardware on display here is ridiculously good, so it would be a very good time for Shark to pivot and focus on bringing the software side up to snuff. But, again, the status quo has existed for too long for me to be confident that'll be how it goes. So if you think you can make do with its current eccentricities, the superior cleaning performance makes it an easy recommendation.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Add high-end performance to your everyday life with the Google Pixel XL. A quad-core processor, a 5.5-inch LED screen and 32GB of memory ensure this phone is able to handle daily life, and Corning Gorilla Glass 4 protects the screen. Easy cloud storage ensures you never run out of space on the Google Pixel XL.
Does your Best Buy Pixel phone have the Verizon crapware on it?
There are three verizon apps - but all are fully removable. Once they're gone, it's like they were never there to begin with.
9 years, 8 months ago
by
Batlacit
Add high-end performance to your everyday life with the Google Pixel XL. A quad-core processor, a 5.5-inch LED screen and 32GB of memory ensure this phone is able to handle daily life, and Corning Gorilla Glass 4 protects the screen. Easy cloud storage ensures you never run out of space on the Google Pixel XL.
Does this version of the phone have a locked bootloader?
Yes, the Verizon branded Pixel does come with a locked bootloader. Only ones bought directly from Google don't.
9 years, 8 months ago
by
Batlacit
Add high-end performance to your everyday life with the Google Pixel XL. A quad-core processor, a 5.5-inch LED screen and 32GB of memory ensure this phone is able to handle daily life, and Corning Gorilla Glass 4 protects the screen. Easy cloud storage ensures you never run out of space on the Google Pixel XL.
Is this water resistant?
I'm afraid not. But you may be able to find case options that can at least improve that.
9 years, 8 months ago
by
Batlacit
Orbi Whole Home WiFi System delivers up to 3.0Gbps high-performance WiFi. Sleek, modern design with high-gain internal antennas for up to 5,000 square feet of coverage. FastLane3 Technology creates a dedicated Tri-Band WiFi for seamless 4K streaming and gaming everywhere in your home. Keep a single WiFi name for uninterrupted connections as you move from room-to-room. Circle Smart Parental Controls runs on Orbi Routers for a smart way for families to manage content and time online, on any connected device. Provide internet access to guests without sharing your personal network password. Orbi is ready right out of the box and compatible with your ISP. Just use the Orbi app to get started with better WiFi, everywhere in minutes.
do you have to have an internet service before this will bring in the wi fi
You can use it to set up a local network, but if your goal is to watch netflix or look stuff up on google, yes, you need to have internet service.
9 years, 9 months ago
by
Batlacit
Orbi Whole Home WiFi System delivers up to 3.0Gbps high-performance WiFi. Sleek, modern design with high-gain internal antennas for up to 5,000 square feet of coverage. FastLane3 Technology creates a dedicated Tri-Band WiFi for seamless 4K streaming and gaming everywhere in your home. Keep a single WiFi name for uninterrupted connections as you move from room-to-room. Circle Smart Parental Controls runs on Orbi Routers for a smart way for families to manage content and time online, on any connected device. Provide internet access to guests without sharing your personal network password. Orbi is ready right out of the box and compatible with your ISP. Just use the Orbi app to get started with better WiFi, everywhere in minutes.
Q I am looking for1 Orbi router and 3 Orbi satellites for my big home, since Netgear is not giving the option to buy satellites individually ,will I be able to order two boxes of Orbi and be able to use one of Orbi router as a satellite ,? interchange
From what I can tell, no, you can't get the same seamless integration with two routers in the system. The satellite and router look mostly identical, but there are some differences. You might be able to configure the second one as an access point... but that might defeat the point a bit.
That said, they've stated they are going to release individual satellites eventually.
That said, they've stated they are going to release individual satellites eventually.
9 years, 9 months ago
by
Batlacit