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- Review count72
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- First reviewOctober 24, 2013
- Last reviewSeptember 8, 2025
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- First review commentMarch 29, 2017
- Last review commentMarch 29, 2017
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- First answerOctober 3, 2020
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Take on your ultimate adventure with Galaxy Watch5 Pro~. It~s our most advanced outdoor watch yet, featuring a 2x stronger~ Sapphire Crystal Glass display. Power through intense activities, even with GPS on, with a long-lasting battery. Stay on the right trail even in unfamiliar terrain thanks to voice or vibration guided turn-by-turn navigation~. Push your body further with accurate sensors that help keep a closer eye on your heart rate~, and BIA~ measurements that help you track your physique. Get the rest you need to stay energized on your journeys with Advanced Sleep Coaching~. Look sharp on every expedition with bands and watch faces that you can match to any outfit. Plus, pair your watch with the rest of your Galaxy for a connected network of devices that work together to help go stronger and harder than ever before. Whether you~re hiking, kayaking~ or camping, get ready to take it to the extreme with Galaxy Watch5 Pro.
Customer Rating
3
Nothing Pro about it. It's a Galaxy Watch5 Plus.
on September 6, 2022
Posted by: KusMoG
It's called the Galaxy Watch5 Pro, but I feel like it's a marketing gimmick to broaden the potential market for it. Using Samsung's own naming conventions, I would call it the Galaxy Watch 5 Plus, or Galaxy Watch5 Ultra if I'm being generous.
Battery
Its standout feature for the average user is its larger battery, which delivers on battery life.
With Always On Display on, Wi-Fi on, Bluetooth on, heart rate measured every 10 minutes, An hour of streaming video played via the Samsung Internet app, Internet browsing, notifications, sleep tracking with snore detection on, using the flashlight a few times, several hours of GPS use (if I had to guess I'd say 3 hours), and 1 hour of working out on the elliptical, I got 2 days and 10 hours of battery life, enough to get 3 nights of sleep tracking because I started wearing it in the evening that I got the watch. So that was night 1. Then I was able to sleep with it for the next 2 nights. The 3rd night was a close call because the watch warned me that my watch won't last the night to sleep track. It was wrong.
Its standout feature for the average user is its larger battery, which delivers on battery life.
With Always On Display on, Wi-Fi on, Bluetooth on, heart rate measured every 10 minutes, An hour of streaming video played via the Samsung Internet app, Internet browsing, notifications, sleep tracking with snore detection on, using the flashlight a few times, several hours of GPS use (if I had to guess I'd say 3 hours), and 1 hour of working out on the elliptical, I got 2 days and 10 hours of battery life, enough to get 3 nights of sleep tracking because I started wearing it in the evening that I got the watch. So that was night 1. Then I was able to sleep with it for the next 2 nights. The 3rd night was a close call because the watch warned me that my watch won't last the night to sleep track. It was wrong.
With normal use: Always On Display off, Wi-Fi on, Bluetooth on, heart rate measured every 10 minutes, no streaming video, light internet browsing (checking up on US Open scores), GPS use (about 3 hours), and 1 hour of working out on the elliptical, I got 2 days and 23 hours.
So I would say it's safe to use intensively to still last you the day without the slightest worry of needing a charge.
Charging the watch takes a little over one hour using the stock charging puck.
However, charging it with the Samsung Duo charger takes about 4 hours. Evidently, the Duo charger doesn't take advantage of the Watch5 Pro's fast charging.
My Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra's reverse charging also charges at the pace of 4 hours for a full charge.
However, charging it with the Samsung Duo charger takes about 4 hours. Evidently, the Duo charger doesn't take advantage of the Watch5 Pro's fast charging.
My Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra's reverse charging also charges at the pace of 4 hours for a full charge.
Unfortunately, the Watch5 Pro's included watch band, the sports D-band, doesn't play nice with wide/long chargers because of its no-gap style that won't allow the watch to lay flat near the Watch5 Pro itself. The D-band also doesn't opento expose the bottom of the watch like a traditional band. Think of a Rolex watch band. It only opens via the clasp. You can't really push the band aside to expose the bottom of the watch to charge because the material is too stiff.
Style and comfort
It looks a lot like the Galaxy Watch5 (and Watch4 for that matter) expect that it's thicker, with a raised capacitive bezel. It kind of reminds me of a wrist compass.
I think if you're comfortable with wearing G-Shock watches, the thickness of the Galaxy Watch5 Pro will be no problem for you whatsoever. It looks worse in pictures than it actually is on your wrist, however it's going to look awkward on small wrists. Surprisingly, it doesn't feel as heavy as you'd think it would. Opting for titanium over stainless steel surely helped with that. I added a plastic case over the Watch5 Pro and it still doesn't feel that heavy to me.
I had no issues sleeping with it like others have, so your mileage may vary.
I found the sports D-band too bulky and restrictive to my liking. It feels comfortable, but I guess the magnet adds weight, and it's very inconvenient to adjust the size on the fly since it's designed to set it up to a fixed size similar to the typical d-band style watch band with metal links.
Fortunately, you can replace the watch band with most 20mm watch bands.
It looks a lot like the Galaxy Watch5 (and Watch4 for that matter) expect that it's thicker, with a raised capacitive bezel. It kind of reminds me of a wrist compass.
I think if you're comfortable with wearing G-Shock watches, the thickness of the Galaxy Watch5 Pro will be no problem for you whatsoever. It looks worse in pictures than it actually is on your wrist, however it's going to look awkward on small wrists. Surprisingly, it doesn't feel as heavy as you'd think it would. Opting for titanium over stainless steel surely helped with that. I added a plastic case over the Watch5 Pro and it still doesn't feel that heavy to me.
I had no issues sleeping with it like others have, so your mileage may vary.
I found the sports D-band too bulky and restrictive to my liking. It feels comfortable, but I guess the magnet adds weight, and it's very inconvenient to adjust the size on the fly since it's designed to set it up to a fixed size similar to the typical d-band style watch band with metal links.
Fortunately, you can replace the watch band with most 20mm watch bands.
Durability
Unlike the regular Watch5 which has an aluminum body, the Watch5 Pro uses a titanium body so it's more durable. I accidentally brushed my Watch5 Pro against the metal door handle at a Planet Fitness as I was exiting and I panicked. But when I checked my watch, there were no scratches. So it survived that test. Like the regular Watch5, it also uses a sapphire crystal display. After a week's use I haven't found any scratches on it. The raised bezel prevents it from being a point of accidental contact.
I have found the display to be kind of a fingerprint magnet though.
Unlike the regular Watch5 which has an aluminum body, the Watch5 Pro uses a titanium body so it's more durable. I accidentally brushed my Watch5 Pro against the metal door handle at a Planet Fitness as I was exiting and I panicked. But when I checked my watch, there were no scratches. So it survived that test. Like the regular Watch5, it also uses a sapphire crystal display. After a week's use I haven't found any scratches on it. The raised bezel prevents it from being a point of accidental contact.
I have found the display to be kind of a fingerprint magnet though.
Software
The Watch 5 Pro comes with One UI version 4.5 which is based on WearOS 3.5, the latest iteration of both.
Google Assistant comes preinstalled, but Samsung's own Bixby is still available. You can configure the top button's press and hold function to be assigned to either.
Google Maps can give you turn-by-turn navigation but only via driving, walking, or cycling. Transit directions are still notably absent and will need to be done from your phone to appear on the Watch5 Pro.
Many watchfaces allow the use of "complications" which are like widgets. For example, I use Samsung's My Photo+ watchface where not only do I use my own pictures, but I have the Battery %, Timer, Date and Weather, and Alarm complications set up. If I want to start a timer, I tap on the timer complication on my watchface and set the timer. Then on my watchface I can see the timer counting down in real time. The same goes with my alarm. I can set it up from my watchface then see the countdown from my watchface. It's extremely convenient.
The Watch 5 Pro comes with One UI version 4.5 which is based on WearOS 3.5, the latest iteration of both.
Google Assistant comes preinstalled, but Samsung's own Bixby is still available. You can configure the top button's press and hold function to be assigned to either.
Google Maps can give you turn-by-turn navigation but only via driving, walking, or cycling. Transit directions are still notably absent and will need to be done from your phone to appear on the Watch5 Pro.
Many watchfaces allow the use of "complications" which are like widgets. For example, I use Samsung's My Photo+ watchface where not only do I use my own pictures, but I have the Battery %, Timer, Date and Weather, and Alarm complications set up. If I want to start a timer, I tap on the timer complication on my watchface and set the timer. Then on my watchface I can see the timer counting down in real time. The same goes with my alarm. I can set it up from my watchface then see the countdown from my watchface. It's extremely convenient.
Health tracking
It has everything the Watch 4 had: ECG, Stress, Body Composition. And it also still doesn't have blood pressure in the US.
It can track your heart rate continously, where you can see what your current heart rate is in real time from the watch's heart rate panel, but you can't see the real time measurements graphed in the Samsung Health app. Instead it will show the range of your heart rate over a period of time.
There is a temperature sensor on the Watch 5 series, but it hasn't been enabled yet. There is no word or even the slightest hint of when this feature will be enabled. It may be enabled close to the release of the Galaxy Watch 5's successor, the way Google Assistant became available on the Watch 4 short months before the announcement of the Watch 5.
It has everything the Watch 4 had: ECG, Stress, Body Composition. And it also still doesn't have blood pressure in the US.
It can track your heart rate continously, where you can see what your current heart rate is in real time from the watch's heart rate panel, but you can't see the real time measurements graphed in the Samsung Health app. Instead it will show the range of your heart rate over a period of time.
There is a temperature sensor on the Watch 5 series, but it hasn't been enabled yet. There is no word or even the slightest hint of when this feature will be enabled. It may be enabled close to the release of the Galaxy Watch 5's successor, the way Google Assistant became available on the Watch 4 short months before the announcement of the Watch 5.
"Pro" features
So aside from the larger battery, the features Samsung sets aside exclusively for the Watch 5 Pro to label it "Pro" are:
-Routes: where you upload a GPX file of your route for turn-by-turn navigation. It explains the easiest way to upload a GPX file, which is to get it from your previous hikes or cycling tracked exercises from the Samsung Health app. So you will have to have gone through the route previously. But there are other ways to get a GPX file. You'll want to research that on your own because I won't have enough space in this review to explain them.
-Track back: which is basically an extension of Routes. It's only available on the Hiking and Cycling exercises, and accessible from the exercise's options (gear icon) after you start the exercise. You won't want to start Track back until you reach the point in your route where it's time for you to turn back to your starting point.
My issue with this is that it's like the crumbs of Hansel and Gretel, it will give you the same route you took to get there but in reverse. So if you were cycling in one-way traffic, this feature can be useless.
And that's it.
These are very niche features, and for the more seasoned adventurer, these Pro features may be lacking compared to the competition that were designed for the outdoors with longer battery life than the Watch 5 Pro.
So aside from the larger battery, the features Samsung sets aside exclusively for the Watch 5 Pro to label it "Pro" are:
-Routes: where you upload a GPX file of your route for turn-by-turn navigation. It explains the easiest way to upload a GPX file, which is to get it from your previous hikes or cycling tracked exercises from the Samsung Health app. So you will have to have gone through the route previously. But there are other ways to get a GPX file. You'll want to research that on your own because I won't have enough space in this review to explain them.
-Track back: which is basically an extension of Routes. It's only available on the Hiking and Cycling exercises, and accessible from the exercise's options (gear icon) after you start the exercise. You won't want to start Track back until you reach the point in your route where it's time for you to turn back to your starting point.
My issue with this is that it's like the crumbs of Hansel and Gretel, it will give you the same route you took to get there but in reverse. So if you were cycling in one-way traffic, this feature can be useless.
And that's it.
These are very niche features, and for the more seasoned adventurer, these Pro features may be lacking compared to the competition that were designed for the outdoors with longer battery life than the Watch 5 Pro.
There's just way too little from the Watch 5 Pro to differentiate itself to be called a "Pro". Everything I love about the Watch5 Pro is available on the regular version. The biggest distinguisable feature is the longer lasting battery.
It all comes down to your use case. If battery life was a problem for you with a smartwatch, the Watch5 Pro is definitely for you, and if you don't mind its thicker look, you'll love it. But for everyone else skip the Watch5 Pro. The Watch6 should have the worthy features to differentiate it from the standard Watch5 because the Watch5 Pro doesn't.
It all comes down to your use case. If battery life was a problem for you with a smartwatch, the Watch5 Pro is definitely for you, and if you don't mind its thicker look, you'll love it. But for everyone else skip the Watch5 Pro. The Watch6 should have the worthy features to differentiate it from the standard Watch5 because the Watch5 Pro doesn't.
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
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Hearing is believing. Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro pack a studio-worthy listening experience into our most comfortable design yet ~wear them as long as you want. Stimulate your senses with enhanced 360 Audio that surrounds you in your favorite beats like never before. Feel every note like you~re there with Hi-Fi sound quality. Stay focused on the sounds you love with Intelligent Active Noise Cancellation that quiets even the loudest outside sounds. Work out worry-free with moisture resistance that stands up to rain. Pair your Buds2 Pro with the rest of your Galaxy for new ways to enjoy pro-quality sound wherever you happen to be. If it~s a podcast, a call or your favorite playlist, listen blissfully with Galaxy Buds2 Pro. Whether on a call or during face-to-face conversations, hear real-time translations through your Buds with Galaxy AI.~
Customer Rating
4
1 of the best earbuds, but bad Samsung multi-point
on August 28, 2022
Posted by: KusMoG
Pros:
Comfortable fit
Understated but attractive design
Great sound quality even at 16 bit
Louder than the average wireless earbuds
Good ANC
Clean yet thumping bass
Earbuds can play independent from one another
Comfortable fit
Understated but attractive design
Great sound quality even at 16 bit
Louder than the average wireless earbuds
Good ANC
Clean yet thumping bass
Earbuds can play independent from one another
Cons:
Samsung integration
-requires the Wearables app on all devices for full functionality
-buggy "seamless earbud connection"
-Touch controls can be finicky
No custom EQ
Samsung integration
-requires the Wearables app on all devices for full functionality
-buggy "seamless earbud connection"
-Touch controls can be finicky
No custom EQ
Design/Fit
==========
The Buds2 Pro are lightweight and small enough that they don't protrude from my ears very much. The curved outer design allows me to sleep with them on without really hurting my ears. Keep in mind, everyone's ears are different so your mileage may vary.
When I take off my shirt, the Buds2 Pro don't fall out. What does happen though is that the shirt lifts my ears, which interferes with the touch controls.
The medium tips fit me fine, without falling off, and they feel very comfortable.
The matte black is lowkey but very attractive to me. They pair well with anything I wear, for casual or professional setting.
==========
The Buds2 Pro are lightweight and small enough that they don't protrude from my ears very much. The curved outer design allows me to sleep with them on without really hurting my ears. Keep in mind, everyone's ears are different so your mileage may vary.
When I take off my shirt, the Buds2 Pro don't fall out. What does happen though is that the shirt lifts my ears, which interferes with the touch controls.
The medium tips fit me fine, without falling off, and they feel very comfortable.
The matte black is lowkey but very attractive to me. They pair well with anything I wear, for casual or professional setting.
The case was a LOT smaller than I imagined they'd be. They're actually smaller than the case for the wireless earbuds I was previously using, which I thought already had a small case. Turns out the Buds2 Pro's case has them beat.
The problem with the case however is that the magnets that attract the earbuds into the case are not strong at all.
A slight shake while open and upside down will have the buds easily fall out.
The case's magnet that closes its clamshell is strong, however, and requires a bit of force to open. So they won't likely fall out from the case accidentally opening. It's when you're putting them back in the case where it could be an issue.
The problem with the case however is that the magnets that attract the earbuds into the case are not strong at all.
A slight shake while open and upside down will have the buds easily fall out.
The case's magnet that closes its clamshell is strong, however, and requires a bit of force to open. So they won't likely fall out from the case accidentally opening. It's when you're putting them back in the case where it could be an issue.
Battery
=======
Volume was set to a fixed 80 on my Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra for all tests.
Surprisingly, Samsung's battery claims are pretty accurate for average battery life.
With my first trial, where I had ANC on but occassionally used ambient mode purposely but mostly accidentally from touching the buds:
right earbud- 4 hours, 42 minutes, 52 seconds
left earbud- 5 hours, 16 minutes
=======
Volume was set to a fixed 80 on my Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra for all tests.
Surprisingly, Samsung's battery claims are pretty accurate for average battery life.
With my first trial, where I had ANC on but occassionally used ambient mode purposely but mostly accidentally from touching the buds:
right earbud- 4 hours, 42 minutes, 52 seconds
left earbud- 5 hours, 16 minutes
With my second trial with ANC on but little to no use of ambient mode:
right earbud- 5 hours, 19 minutes
left earbud- 5 hours, 30 minutes, 31 seconds
right earbud- 5 hours, 19 minutes
left earbud- 5 hours, 30 minutes, 31 seconds
I suspect the 1st trial was under the 5 hour claim because of the use of the microphones while under ambient mode.
With ANC off, on my first trial, again with occassional use of ambient:
left earbud- 6 hours, 55 minutes, 21 seconds
I missed recording the right earbud, but they died first.
left earbud- 6 hours, 55 minutes, 21 seconds
I missed recording the right earbud, but they died first.
The second trial with ANC off and touch controls off to prevent accidentally going into ambient:
left earbud- 8 hours, 28 minutes, 32 seconds.
Forgot to record right earbud but they died first and only a little before left.
left earbud- 8 hours, 28 minutes, 32 seconds.
Forgot to record right earbud but they died first and only a little before left.
So the claim of 5 hours ANC and 8 hours ANC off seems pretty fair to me.
Charging
========
The buds themselves charge surprisingly fast inside their case.
In just 10 minutes they went from 0% to 31%.
13 minutes- 40%
21 minutes- 59%
32 minutes- 71%
45 minutes- 82%
Once hits around 82-84% charging slows down to a crawl.
Then it speeds up around 94%.
From 0% to 100% it took me 1 hour and 7 minutes the first time.
It took me 1 hour and 14 minutes the second time.
========
The buds themselves charge surprisingly fast inside their case.
In just 10 minutes they went from 0% to 31%.
13 minutes- 40%
21 minutes- 59%
32 minutes- 71%
45 minutes- 82%
Once hits around 82-84% charging slows down to a crawl.
Then it speeds up around 94%.
From 0% to 100% it took me 1 hour and 7 minutes the first time.
It took me 1 hour and 14 minutes the second time.
The case holds 3 full charges, and for the 4th attempt it will take your buds from 0% to 35%.
While the case charges wirelessly, it doesn't do fast charging.
Wireless charging on Samsung's Duo charger takes about 11 hours, despite it just being 500mAh. For comparison, my S22 Ultra is 5000mAh and charges in about 2-3 hours on the same pad.
Wired charging, which uses USB-C, takes about 90 minutes.
Wireless charging on Samsung's Duo charger takes about 11 hours, despite it just being 500mAh. For comparison, my S22 Ultra is 5000mAh and charges in about 2-3 hours on the same pad.
Wired charging, which uses USB-C, takes about 90 minutes.
Sound
=====
On my S22 Ultra using the Samsung Scalable Codec, my FLAC audio sound amazing! The first thing I noticed is that they're loud. The Buds2 Pro's 80 volume setting is like my Jabra Elite Active 75t's 100. Besides that, at the highest volume they're loud without distorting.
The bass is evident and thumping but unlike some other buds, they don't sound exaggerated. The bass sounds clean with no muddy wamrth.
Sound separation is excellent too.
However I feel that the 24-bit audio may be gimmicky. I downloaded 24 bit audio samples along with 16 bit samples of the same song from the same website and played them with the app PowerAmp. My ears weren't able to tell the difference but they both sounded fabulous.
So while 24-bit audio is a Samsung device only feature, I don't think you're missing out on much with that.
I think a better way of putting it is that non-Samsung devices won't be able to use Samsung's proprietary SSC, which sound great.
=====
On my S22 Ultra using the Samsung Scalable Codec, my FLAC audio sound amazing! The first thing I noticed is that they're loud. The Buds2 Pro's 80 volume setting is like my Jabra Elite Active 75t's 100. Besides that, at the highest volume they're loud without distorting.
The bass is evident and thumping but unlike some other buds, they don't sound exaggerated. The bass sounds clean with no muddy wamrth.
Sound separation is excellent too.
However I feel that the 24-bit audio may be gimmicky. I downloaded 24 bit audio samples along with 16 bit samples of the same song from the same website and played them with the app PowerAmp. My ears weren't able to tell the difference but they both sounded fabulous.
So while 24-bit audio is a Samsung device only feature, I don't think you're missing out on much with that.
I think a better way of putting it is that non-Samsung devices won't be able to use Samsung's proprietary SSC, which sound great.
Playing them on my PC, which I assume uses the SBC codec, the sound was noticeably flatter/less depth.
I think the most important thing about the sound with the Buds2 Pro is that it has a great neutral sound signature.
With the Galaxy Wearables app, you have preset EQs, which cover a wide range of audio taste. The bass boost effectively gives you the exaggerated bass, but without muddiness.
Unfortunately, for the audio-savvy, there is no EQ that you can customize for yourself.
I think the most important thing about the sound with the Buds2 Pro is that it has a great neutral sound signature.
With the Galaxy Wearables app, you have preset EQs, which cover a wide range of audio taste. The bass boost effectively gives you the exaggerated bass, but without muddiness.
Unfortunately, for the audio-savvy, there is no EQ that you can customize for yourself.
I found the 360 audio very gimmicky and don't see any practical use for it with music.
For video, however, if you wanted that simulated 360 audio effect it's there. It just feels like a gimmick since the source audio isn't desgined for 360.
With head tracking on, the audio balance slides according to your head position. Sometimes there is a bit of a delay in tracking your head movement though.
For video, however, if you wanted that simulated 360 audio effect it's there. It just feels like a gimmick since the source audio isn't desgined for 360.
With head tracking on, the audio balance slides according to your head position. Sometimes there is a bit of a delay in tracking your head movement though.
ANC
===
The ANC is great for earbuds. Their main concentration is with low frequency sounds. It does an excellent job blocking out my fan, the AC, and my PC fans.
It's virtually futile with high frequency noises though. Talking, crying, honking can be heard.
On the NYC, I haven't found a single ANC headphones that effectively blocks its noise entirely. With the ceramic tiles amplifying the sounds, the subway is just too loud. But the Buds2 Pro does a great job of blocking the harsh offensive noise. It's dulled significantly. With music on a high volume you can block most of the sound out. Just not Showtime or the mariachi bands though.
===
The ANC is great for earbuds. Their main concentration is with low frequency sounds. It does an excellent job blocking out my fan, the AC, and my PC fans.
It's virtually futile with high frequency noises though. Talking, crying, honking can be heard.
On the NYC, I haven't found a single ANC headphones that effectively blocks its noise entirely. With the ceramic tiles amplifying the sounds, the subway is just too loud. But the Buds2 Pro does a great job of blocking the harsh offensive noise. It's dulled significantly. With music on a high volume you can block most of the sound out. Just not Showtime or the mariachi bands though.
Ambient mode/Speak to chat
==========================
Ambient mode works well when you just want to hear your surroundings as if you weren't wearing the earbuds. However when you start speaking, it can feel a bit uncomfortable. Your voice does sound a bit processed.
==========================
Ambient mode works well when you just want to hear your surroundings as if you weren't wearing the earbuds. However when you start speaking, it can feel a bit uncomfortable. Your voice does sound a bit processed.
Speak to chat works well and immediately but I can't find myself using it because I talk to myself sometimes, as well as like to sing along to music.
Calls
=====
Every call I've tried on them sounded clear from my end. When I asked the person on the other end how I sounded, they said I sounded clear. At no point was there ever any confusion in our conversation. Even with my AC on, the caller on the other end heard me clearly. The buds seemed to have made an attempt at blocking out background noise.
=====
Every call I've tried on them sounded clear from my end. When I asked the person on the other end how I sounded, they said I sounded clear. At no point was there ever any confusion in our conversation. Even with my AC on, the caller on the other end heard me clearly. The buds seemed to have made an attempt at blocking out background noise.
Calls can be made and received by a single earbud without relying on the other, so you can have one still in its case.
Controls
========
Touch controls can be finicky because the buds are small and rounded. If you have bad coordination, it can take some practice find the touch panel to tap. The top edge of the buds is a dead zone. Because they're touch, they're susceptible to accidental presses, sometimes from your own ears. Like if you lay your head against a wall or pillow, it pushes your fleshy ears in and can trigger the touch controls of your buds.
Other than that, the controls are the touch version of controls you'd find for buds with physical buds, bud instead of pressing it's tapping.
Single tap to pause/play.
Double tap for next track.
Triple tap for previous track.
Tap and hold will toggle ANC by default.
========
Touch controls can be finicky because the buds are small and rounded. If you have bad coordination, it can take some practice find the touch panel to tap. The top edge of the buds is a dead zone. Because they're touch, they're susceptible to accidental presses, sometimes from your own ears. Like if you lay your head against a wall or pillow, it pushes your fleshy ears in and can trigger the touch controls of your buds.
Other than that, the controls are the touch version of controls you'd find for buds with physical buds, bud instead of pressing it's tapping.
Single tap to pause/play.
Double tap for next track.
Triple tap for previous track.
Tap and hold will toggle ANC by default.
With the Wearables app, you can customize the touch controls. Tap and hold can be used to control the volume, however if you do that, the functions are fixed to their respective buds: tap and hold left is for volume down, right is for volume up.
Under Labs, the app's beta features, there is "Double tap earbud edge", which you can use for volume command.
However tapping the edge of the earbud itself is very hit or miss, hence why it's a beta feature. As many others on the internet have suggested, I found better success tapping that fleshy triangle part of my ears as my way of tapping the "earbud edge".
However tapping the edge of the earbud itself is very hit or miss, hence why it's a beta feature. As many others on the internet have suggested, I found better success tapping that fleshy triangle part of my ears as my way of tapping the "earbud edge".
Waterproof/Sweatproof
=====================
Waterproofing checks out. I've cleaned my earbuds under a running faucet several times with no issues. Music will still play while in contact with water too. Rest assured it will work perfectly fine if you're caught in the middle of a rain downpair while wearing the Buds2 Pro.
I had no issues with sound while sweating hard during my elliptical workouts. However, the sweat did loosen the seal of my silicone tips. Just not to the point where the buds would fall out. When I shake my head while sweaty on the elliptical, they still won't fall off.
=====================
Waterproofing checks out. I've cleaned my earbuds under a running faucet several times with no issues. Music will still play while in contact with water too. Rest assured it will work perfectly fine if you're caught in the middle of a rain downpair while wearing the Buds2 Pro.
I had no issues with sound while sweating hard during my elliptical workouts. However, the sweat did loosen the seal of my silicone tips. Just not to the point where the buds would fall out. When I shake my head while sweaty on the elliptical, they still won't fall off.
Multi-device
============
This is where the Buds2 Pro stumbles. Seamless connection is only supported by Samsung devices and it doesn't appear to be at a system level. It appears to be dependent on the Galaxy Wearables app. Unlike bluetooth's standard multipoint, Samsung's own method is a lot more buggy. Sometimes it works. Sometimes it doesn't. I can't make rhyme or reason as to why it behaves the way it does. When it does work, it works like multipoint, with the added convenience of visual notifications on the device letting you know your device connected to the buds. But it doesn't always work.
Despite not being a Samsung device, a PC can benefit from the seamless connection with Samsung's Galaxy Buds app (download from the Microsoft Store). But it's just as finicky as with my S22 Ultra and Tab S8 Ultra. All top of the line flagship devices. Samsung would've been better off with the standard Bluetooth multipoint. It doesn't have the bells and whistles but at least it works reliably on an Android system level.
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This is where the Buds2 Pro stumbles. Seamless connection is only supported by Samsung devices and it doesn't appear to be at a system level. It appears to be dependent on the Galaxy Wearables app. Unlike bluetooth's standard multipoint, Samsung's own method is a lot more buggy. Sometimes it works. Sometimes it doesn't. I can't make rhyme or reason as to why it behaves the way it does. When it does work, it works like multipoint, with the added convenience of visual notifications on the device letting you know your device connected to the buds. But it doesn't always work.
Despite not being a Samsung device, a PC can benefit from the seamless connection with Samsung's Galaxy Buds app (download from the Microsoft Store). But it's just as finicky as with my S22 Ultra and Tab S8 Ultra. All top of the line flagship devices. Samsung would've been better off with the standard Bluetooth multipoint. It doesn't have the bells and whistles but at least it works reliably on an Android system level.
Loved the Buds2 Pro and would recommend them.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Introducing Logitech MX Master 3S ~ an iconic mouse remastered. Designed for designers and engineered for coders, now with Quiet Clicks and 8K DPI any-surface tracking for more feel and performance than ever before. It~s ergonomic silhouette is crafted to support your palm and fingers and allows you to work comfortably for hours across multiple computers and operating systems in one fluid workflow. With MX Master 3S, you can truly master what you make.
Customer Rating
5
Very Customizable, Tracks glass, and now Silent!
on June 14, 2022
Posted by: KusMoG
Pros:
-Mouse can be used on virtually any surface, including glass
-Ergonomic; comfortable with any grip
-Very silent
-Pairs with up to 3 devices so you can switch between them (can only use with one device at a time)
-Long battery life
-Very smooth scroll and thumb wheels
-Extremely customizable when used with Logitech's Options+ software
-Logitech Flow allows use of mouse between up to 3 PCs at the same time and copy/paste across them
-8000DPI sensor for quicker movement on high resolution displays
-Mouse can be used on virtually any surface, including glass
-Ergonomic; comfortable with any grip
-Very silent
-Pairs with up to 3 devices so you can switch between them (can only use with one device at a time)
-Long battery life
-Very smooth scroll and thumb wheels
-Extremely customizable when used with Logitech's Options+ software
-Logitech Flow allows use of mouse between up to 3 PCs at the same time and copy/paste across them
-8000DPI sensor for quicker movement on high resolution displays
Questionable Pro:
-Uses Bolt receiver, which supposedly provides a more reliable connection
-Uses Bolt receiver, which supposedly provides a more reliable connection
Cons:
-May be jarring to users of the older MX Master series mice at first due to all the changes they made
-Bolt receiver is not backwards compatible and doesn't support Unifying receiver devices
-145Hz polling rate means it's not made for serious gamers
-Flow only compatible with Windows and MacOS
-(for left-handed people) It's a right-handed mouse
-May be jarring to users of the older MX Master series mice at first due to all the changes they made
-Bolt receiver is not backwards compatible and doesn't support Unifying receiver devices
-145Hz polling rate means it's not made for serious gamers
-Flow only compatible with Windows and MacOS
-(for left-handed people) It's a right-handed mouse
Questionable Con:
-Battery indicator is now just one bigger LED, no longer showing levels
-Battery indicator is now just one bigger LED, no longer showing levels
For some reason in 2022, Logitech appears to be the only brand with mice on the market that tracks on glass. So if you have a glass table to use your mouse on like I do, and don't want to use a mouse pad, Logitech's MX series of mice appear to be your only option. Thankfully, Logitech does an amazing job with the MX Master line making it feel like a premium device that it's worth.
Thanks to its ergonomic design, it never feels uncomfortable using the MX Master 3S. It's tall enough and curved in the right way to allow your hand and fingers to naturally rest on it. The soft rubberized texture of the base provides a comfortable feel. I've used the mouse all day and my wrist never feels tired from it.
What's new to the MX Master 3S that was absent from the Master MX 3 that preceded it are the silent left and right click buttons. What was once the loudest parts of mouse, on the 3S it's now the most quietest. The amazing thing is, it still feels tactile. It doesn't feel mushy or suppressed. You'll feel the click like you always do. It's just A LOT less noisy. The change is so dramatic that you may hate initially, like I did. I wanted a silent mouse, but when I first used the 3S I instantly felt regret and frustration. My brain was so used to expecting a sound when I click that when I didn't with the 3S it felt extremely jarring to me. I think I may have been clicking harder than I needed to out of reflex. Fortunately, within a half hour, maybe an hour at most, I got used to the silent click and wound up falling in love with it like I thought it would. Oh my GOD, I *WISH* I had this 20 years when I was up using a computer during late hours when my parents expected me in bed.
The left/right click buttons aren't the only thing that's gone quieter. The scroll wheel is also a lot more quiet, even in ratchet mode, where the wheel has tactile "steps" when you spin it.
The back/forward side buttons are also relatively quiet.
All in all this mouse seems to be designed to work quietly. The loudest part of the mouse is probably the thumb button.
The left/right click buttons aren't the only thing that's gone quieter. The scroll wheel is also a lot more quiet, even in ratchet mode, where the wheel has tactile "steps" when you spin it.
The back/forward side buttons are also relatively quiet.
All in all this mouse seems to be designed to work quietly. The loudest part of the mouse is probably the thumb button.
None of the buttons feel cheap. They all have a pleasant tactile responsive feel. No soft mushy feel. No sticky feel.
The thumb button is easier to find and on the MX Master 3S than the 2S and older because it has a very slight bump to help feel your way to locating it. It also feels easier to press because there is now a groove on the side of the mouse to allow the button to be pressed deeper. You won't accidentally press it while resting your thumb there because of where the button is placed, in the center of the base of mouse on the left side. It's hard for me to explain. It's not easy to press the button by accident, but it's easy to press the button when you need to.
The thumb button is easier to find and on the MX Master 3S than the 2S and older because it has a very slight bump to help feel your way to locating it. It also feels easier to press because there is now a groove on the side of the mouse to allow the button to be pressed deeper. You won't accidentally press it while resting your thumb there because of where the button is placed, in the center of the base of mouse on the left side. It's hard for me to explain. It's not easy to press the button by accident, but it's easy to press the button when you need to.
There are 2 wheels on the mouse, the scroll wheel in between the left/right click buttons for scrolling with your index finger, and the thumb wheel on the side for scrolling with your thumb. There is no longer the rubberized coating on the wheels but they still have a good feel to them. I like this change as I imagine the wheel will be easier to clean over time as it collects dirt and grime. The rubber from the older versions made it tougher to clean as dirt would stick to it. Now it's just all steel.
The thumb scroll wheel is now placed above the back/forward buttons instead of beside them.
Thanks to this, the thumb scroll wheel is in its own row and the wheel is now wider making it more easier to use than ever before.
The scroll wheel has SmartShift, which automatically switches the scroll wheel from line-by-line scrolling to hyper-fast scrolling when you scroll faster.
Or you can use the Shift wheel mode button below the scroll wheel to switch between Ratchet (tactile steps) and Free spin (no tactile steps) immediately.
The thumb scroll wheel is now placed above the back/forward buttons instead of beside them.
Thanks to this, the thumb scroll wheel is in its own row and the wheel is now wider making it more easier to use than ever before.
The scroll wheel has SmartShift, which automatically switches the scroll wheel from line-by-line scrolling to hyper-fast scrolling when you scroll faster.
Or you can use the Shift wheel mode button below the scroll wheel to switch between Ratchet (tactile steps) and Free spin (no tactile steps) immediately.
With the use of Logitech's Options+ software, the mouse is extremely customizable. Every button on the mouse can be remapped. You can even map buttons for specific applications only, instead of making the changes global.
With Options+ you can also change the speed of both wheels, as well as change the direction of the scrolling of the wheels.
You can also change the pointer speed by changing the sensor range. The range is from 200DPI to 8000DPI by steps of 50 DPI. The default DPI out of the box, and without the Options+ software is 1000DPI. I found 8000DPI way too fast and frenetic for me to be precise with it with my use case, even though I have a 3 monitor setup with 4K monitors, but this may be helpful for others with a more expensive setup like a multi-monitors using 8K monitors which have twice as many pixels, making the average mouse pointer feel slower with the default sensor. The higher DPI sensor would allow the mouse pointer speed to move faster.
The Options+ software is also where you can set up the MX Master 3S with Flow. Flow allows you to use and control multiple computers with Options+ also installed seamlessly. Switch to another computer by simply moving your cursor to the edge of the screen. Flow also allows your to copy and paste content between those computers. However, since Flow is dependent on the Options+ software, it's only compatible with Windows and MacOS. So there is no first-party solution from Logitech for Linux, Android, or iOS.
With Options+ you can also change the speed of both wheels, as well as change the direction of the scrolling of the wheels.
You can also change the pointer speed by changing the sensor range. The range is from 200DPI to 8000DPI by steps of 50 DPI. The default DPI out of the box, and without the Options+ software is 1000DPI. I found 8000DPI way too fast and frenetic for me to be precise with it with my use case, even though I have a 3 monitor setup with 4K monitors, but this may be helpful for others with a more expensive setup like a multi-monitors using 8K monitors which have twice as many pixels, making the average mouse pointer feel slower with the default sensor. The higher DPI sensor would allow the mouse pointer speed to move faster.
The Options+ software is also where you can set up the MX Master 3S with Flow. Flow allows you to use and control multiple computers with Options+ also installed seamlessly. Switch to another computer by simply moving your cursor to the edge of the screen. Flow also allows your to copy and paste content between those computers. However, since Flow is dependent on the Options+ software, it's only compatible with Windows and MacOS. So there is no first-party solution from Logitech for Linux, Android, or iOS.
Whereas "MX" meant the mouse employs Darkfield technology to allow tracking on virtually any surface, the "Master" means the mouse is able to pair with up to 3 devices. With a button found under the mouse, you can switch between those 3 devices. Out of the box, "1" is paired to the included Bolt receiver.
What may comes as unfortunate news to loyal Logitech users is that the Bolt receiver is not compatible with devices that use the older Unifying receiver. First introduced with Logitech's business line of products, it was designed to be more secure and perform better under busy environments that would typically cause interference with the wireless connection. Typically when this happens, users are advised to get a USB extension cable to connect the USB receiver to, so you can bring it closer to the mouse for a more reliable connection. In theory, Bolt should help prevent this. Unfortunately, I'm not in an environment with that kind of interference so I can't test this claim.
What may comes as unfortunate news to loyal Logitech users is that the Bolt receiver is not compatible with devices that use the older Unifying receiver. First introduced with Logitech's business line of products, it was designed to be more secure and perform better under busy environments that would typically cause interference with the wireless connection. Typically when this happens, users are advised to get a USB extension cable to connect the USB receiver to, so you can bring it closer to the mouse for a more reliable connection. In theory, Bolt should help prevent this. Unfortunately, I'm not in an environment with that kind of interference so I can't test this claim.
Logitech claims it has a battery life of *up to* 70 days, carefully wording it so that 70 days is their claim max point. So don't expect 70 days. The reality is, how long it lasts will vary depending on the user and how they use it. For example, with me, I'm on the computer almost all day and night, over 8 hours a day. I haven't owned the 3S long enough to test its battery life in real time to see it go from 100% to 0% but I've seen it lose 10% of battery in my 3 days of use. That would amount to about 30 days, which is the same amount of battery life I got with my MX Master 2S, which Logitech also claimed "up to 70 days". So, if you're a previous MX Master 2S or Master 3 user, expect the same amount of battery life as that. To me, this is very good battery life, as I'm an abnormal user. I spend way too much time on the computer. Perhaps the average user will get 45-50 days out of it. For someone like my mom, who is elderly and not on the computer as much, 70 days is definitely possible. This is thanks to how power efficient the mouse is. It goes into sleep mode after a long period of inactivity. I have never felt the need to power my mouse off.
The mouse charges via USB-C, and Logitech claims 3 minutes of charging will give you about a full day's worth of use.I haven't been able to test this yet because I'm still working with the initial charge that it came with out of the box, which was 45%. In 5 days of use, I've only lost a reported 10%.
That's a notable thing about the battery reporting with the MX Master 3S. You can only see the battery percentage through the Options+ app or bluetooth if you have it connected via bluetooth. And it only reports the battery percentage in intervals of 5%. So the 35% battery I'm seeing now actually means 31% to 35%.
That's a notable thing about the battery reporting with the MX Master 3S. You can only see the battery percentage through the Options+ app or bluetooth if you have it connected via bluetooth. And it only reports the battery percentage in intervals of 5%. So the 35% battery I'm seeing now actually means 31% to 35%.
The battery indicator on the MX Master 3S is just a single LED, albeit larger and easier to see. On the MX 2S and older, there were 3 LEDs so you could see the battery level. With one LED, you can now only see whether the battery is above 10% (green), below 10% (red), or charging (blinking). I honestly don't think this is that bad because when it turns red, that's your reminder to charge it or else it will die. And being in the red with 10% will give you 3 days of extensive usage to do it, which is plenty of time.
For loyal MX Master mouse users coming from the 2S or older, you may be in for a real unpleasant shock from all the changes they've made to the 3S. But give it time and you'll fall in love with it like I did. Bolt is the future, and Unifying will get phased out. Got to start somewhere. 3S is a great start.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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The WH-1000XM5 headphones rewrite the rules for distraction-free listening. Two processors control 8 microphones for unprecedented noise canceling and exceptional call quality.
Customer Rating
4
Incredible if you don't mind that they can't fold
on May 31, 2022
Posted by: KusMoG
Pros:
-Rich in features
-Can charge the battery from 0% to 100% in less than an hour with a 45W PD charger.
-Excellent transparency mode
-Lightweight
-Touch panel is more responsive
-Long 30 hour battery life with noise cancelling and high resolution audio (LDAC) on.
-Settings save on the headphones including EQ
-Rich in features
-Can charge the battery from 0% to 100% in less than an hour with a 45W PD charger.
-Excellent transparency mode
-Lightweight
-Touch panel is more responsive
-Long 30 hour battery life with noise cancelling and high resolution audio (LDAC) on.
-Settings save on the headphones including EQ
Cons:
-No longer collapses to smaller size
-No wind reduction ambient mode
-plastic construction still prone to creaking
The XM5s are an addition to Sony’s 1000X line of headphones with 2 undeniable improvements over its previous generations and those are its microphones and its battery charging capabilities.
The rest are pretty subjective when compared to its previous iteration, the WH-1000XM4, which is a good thing that Sony is still keeping this model in the market.
-No longer collapses to smaller size
-No wind reduction ambient mode
-plastic construction still prone to creaking
The XM5s are an addition to Sony’s 1000X line of headphones with 2 undeniable improvements over its previous generations and those are its microphones and its battery charging capabilities.
The rest are pretty subjective when compared to its previous iteration, the WH-1000XM4, which is a good thing that Sony is still keeping this model in the market.
CONSTRUCTION/DESIGN:
It’s still made of the plastic similar, if not the same, as the XM4. Unfortunately, I’ve found this material to be prone to creaking ever since the XM3. After 5 days of wear my once silent XM5 began creaking whenever I move around while wearing them. It did go away 2 days later, but I wouldn’t be surprised if it returned.
The black version of the XM5 is prone to showing fingerprint stains a lot more easily than previous versions.
The cushioning is made of a different material from previous generations that feels more comfortable on the skin; smoother, less abrasive. The size of the cushion is less thick than the XM4 but I didn’t find it less comfortable. They still sweat up the ears on a warm day or after extended continuous use.
The headphones’ length adjustment is via stepless plastic rods so you’ll no longer hear clicks when adjusting them.
Unfortunately, the ear cups no longer collapse to a smaller size for portability.
They’ll still swivel, but when rested around your neck, the ear cups will swivel facing up.
The proximity sensor is no longer visible but it’s still there in the left ear cup.
The XM5s do not have any water or sweat resistance, and the included written materials advise users not to work out with them.
It’s still made of the plastic similar, if not the same, as the XM4. Unfortunately, I’ve found this material to be prone to creaking ever since the XM3. After 5 days of wear my once silent XM5 began creaking whenever I move around while wearing them. It did go away 2 days later, but I wouldn’t be surprised if it returned.
The black version of the XM5 is prone to showing fingerprint stains a lot more easily than previous versions.
The cushioning is made of a different material from previous generations that feels more comfortable on the skin; smoother, less abrasive. The size of the cushion is less thick than the XM4 but I didn’t find it less comfortable. They still sweat up the ears on a warm day or after extended continuous use.
The headphones’ length adjustment is via stepless plastic rods so you’ll no longer hear clicks when adjusting them.
Unfortunately, the ear cups no longer collapse to a smaller size for portability.
They’ll still swivel, but when rested around your neck, the ear cups will swivel facing up.
The proximity sensor is no longer visible but it’s still there in the left ear cup.
The XM5s do not have any water or sweat resistance, and the included written materials advise users not to work out with them.
SOUND:
The XM5’s sound is easily the most balanced since the XM2 going away from the bass-heavy and generally muddy sounds of the XM4 and especially the XM3, without losing much of the punchiness. It’s a cleaner-sounding bass. The default sound is Sony’s typical warm sound but thanks to the customizable and responsive EQ using Sony’s Headphones app, you can change this to get a more neutral sound. The EQ settings save directly on the headphones themselves so the sound will stay that way no matter what device you connect to, until the next time you change the EQ settings from the app.
I always struggle to describe sound quality because I’m not an audio expert, but music of all genres sound great to me on the XM5.
Supported codecs are SBC, AAC, and LDAC. Like with the XM4, AptX is not supported. This may not be a huge deal if you’re using the headphones on Apple, PC, or newer Android devices as they’ll support the theoretically best option for those.
While I didn’t experience any latency issues with videos except one time with YouTube (turning headphones off and on again fixed issue), I did for gaming.
The XM5’s sound is easily the most balanced since the XM2 going away from the bass-heavy and generally muddy sounds of the XM4 and especially the XM3, without losing much of the punchiness. It’s a cleaner-sounding bass. The default sound is Sony’s typical warm sound but thanks to the customizable and responsive EQ using Sony’s Headphones app, you can change this to get a more neutral sound. The EQ settings save directly on the headphones themselves so the sound will stay that way no matter what device you connect to, until the next time you change the EQ settings from the app.
I always struggle to describe sound quality because I’m not an audio expert, but music of all genres sound great to me on the XM5.
Supported codecs are SBC, AAC, and LDAC. Like with the XM4, AptX is not supported. This may not be a huge deal if you’re using the headphones on Apple, PC, or newer Android devices as they’ll support the theoretically best option for those.
While I didn’t experience any latency issues with videos except one time with YouTube (turning headphones off and on again fixed issue), I did for gaming.
NOISE CANCELLING:
The XM5 still lives up to being one of the best in the market for active noise cancelling headphones in its price range. When compared to some of its competitors using their demo display at my local store, it’s embarrassing to hear how much better the XM5 was.
At the same time, it claims to have the best noise cancelling yet with the help of 2 processors. I still own the XM4 and to my ears, the XM4 still does a better job and cancelling noise than the XM5.
However, when record the sound inside the earcups with noise cancelling on using a tiny microphone for both the XM4 and XM5, to my surprise, the XM5’s do produce lower decibels of sound than the XM4.
I’m no expert at this, but if I had to come up with some sort of explanation I think it may be because the XM4 produces a more apparent white noise sound that’s mostly absent on the XM5. While this white noise helps mask outside noise better for my ears, it still does attribute to noise volume. The noise cancelling on the XM5 produces a much cleaner sound with less cabin pressure.
The XM5 also has an active optimizer that uses the mics to assess your surroundings and change the noise cancelling characteristics accordingly. My issue with it though is it doesn’t work the way you want it to sometimes.
I can tell it’s working when I hear the sudden changes with no music playing. The easiest way I can get it to noticeably work is by turning the air conditioner on. As I move closer to it, I can hear the noise cancelling change like a flick of the switch. I also feel a change in air pressure with my ears. One way of resetting this is by going into transparency mode.
But there are times when the noise cancelling changes to make it sound worse and allows the noises that I consider more annoying, to be more easily heard. I liken the auto optimizer as an audio version of a camera’s auto focus. Sometimes it focuses to a noise cancelling profile I wasn’t aiming for. You have no control over the auto optimizer, not even from the app.
What shines is the ambient mode, which is customizable to 20 levels with 20 allowing the mode outside sound. It almost sounds like you’re not wearing any headphones at all, or perhaps more accurately, wearing open back headphones. I feel comfortable enough to wear them while watching TV and talking to people.
The bad? Wind Noise Reduction is now missing from the Ambient mode settings. And no, the XM5’s noise cancelling isn’t effective enough to eliminate wind noise.
The XM5 still lives up to being one of the best in the market for active noise cancelling headphones in its price range. When compared to some of its competitors using their demo display at my local store, it’s embarrassing to hear how much better the XM5 was.
At the same time, it claims to have the best noise cancelling yet with the help of 2 processors. I still own the XM4 and to my ears, the XM4 still does a better job and cancelling noise than the XM5.
However, when record the sound inside the earcups with noise cancelling on using a tiny microphone for both the XM4 and XM5, to my surprise, the XM5’s do produce lower decibels of sound than the XM4.
I’m no expert at this, but if I had to come up with some sort of explanation I think it may be because the XM4 produces a more apparent white noise sound that’s mostly absent on the XM5. While this white noise helps mask outside noise better for my ears, it still does attribute to noise volume. The noise cancelling on the XM5 produces a much cleaner sound with less cabin pressure.
The XM5 also has an active optimizer that uses the mics to assess your surroundings and change the noise cancelling characteristics accordingly. My issue with it though is it doesn’t work the way you want it to sometimes.
I can tell it’s working when I hear the sudden changes with no music playing. The easiest way I can get it to noticeably work is by turning the air conditioner on. As I move closer to it, I can hear the noise cancelling change like a flick of the switch. I also feel a change in air pressure with my ears. One way of resetting this is by going into transparency mode.
But there are times when the noise cancelling changes to make it sound worse and allows the noises that I consider more annoying, to be more easily heard. I liken the auto optimizer as an audio version of a camera’s auto focus. Sometimes it focuses to a noise cancelling profile I wasn’t aiming for. You have no control over the auto optimizer, not even from the app.
What shines is the ambient mode, which is customizable to 20 levels with 20 allowing the mode outside sound. It almost sounds like you’re not wearing any headphones at all, or perhaps more accurately, wearing open back headphones. I feel comfortable enough to wear them while watching TV and talking to people.
The bad? Wind Noise Reduction is now missing from the Ambient mode settings. And no, the XM5’s noise cancelling isn’t effective enough to eliminate wind noise.
FEATURES:
*Speak-to-chat allows you to enter ambience mode with the “Focus on voice” option on automatically whenever you speak. While it’s supposed to make you hear voices better, “Focus on voice” option does so at the expense of making the environment sound less natural and your own voice sound muffled. Unfortunately, with Speak-to-chat there is no way to enter ambience mode without the “Focus on voice” option. This mode also isn’t great to have on if you’re the type of person that likes to sing along to the music while listening to it as that would activate Speak-to-chat.
*Covering the right ear cup with your palm enters Ambient mode in its max 20 setting, as long as it stays covered. It returns back to the mode you were previously in once you uncover the right ear cup. This is convenient for times when you want to be alert of your surroundings for a brief or sudden moment.
*Multipoint allows the headphones to connect to 2 different devices at the same time. Unfortunately, this still won’t work with the LDAC codec.
*Automatic Power Off allows the headphones to automatically turn off after a certain period of time when you aren’t wearing your headphones.
*”Pauses when headphones are taken off” allows you to do just that. While they are taken off, the touch panel is disabled as well so it prevents accidental inputs. Wearing the headphones again will unpause. This is all provided that the app that’s playing supports pausing. For example, it won’t work with watching live channels on the ESPN app.
*Quick Access is the replacement of the Custom button function of the older gens. Double-pressing or triple-pressing the NC/AMB button allows you to assign a Service function to it. Unfortunately, it’s essentially a beta with these headphones since the only service that works for it is Spotify. You can’t even assign a voice assistant to this button anymore. The voice assistant is accessed by press-holding the right ear cup.
*Voice assistant: When set to Google Assistant and Alexa you will still need to be connected to a device with these apps as they cannot be used with the headphones alone. The XM5 just natively supports them to allow faster responses and the ability to read your notifications out to you. You can also use it for any other voice assistant, but it is basically just a Bluetooth audio extension of your phone and slower.
*Speak-to-chat allows you to enter ambience mode with the “Focus on voice” option on automatically whenever you speak. While it’s supposed to make you hear voices better, “Focus on voice” option does so at the expense of making the environment sound less natural and your own voice sound muffled. Unfortunately, with Speak-to-chat there is no way to enter ambience mode without the “Focus on voice” option. This mode also isn’t great to have on if you’re the type of person that likes to sing along to the music while listening to it as that would activate Speak-to-chat.
*Covering the right ear cup with your palm enters Ambient mode in its max 20 setting, as long as it stays covered. It returns back to the mode you were previously in once you uncover the right ear cup. This is convenient for times when you want to be alert of your surroundings for a brief or sudden moment.
*Multipoint allows the headphones to connect to 2 different devices at the same time. Unfortunately, this still won’t work with the LDAC codec.
*Automatic Power Off allows the headphones to automatically turn off after a certain period of time when you aren’t wearing your headphones.
*”Pauses when headphones are taken off” allows you to do just that. While they are taken off, the touch panel is disabled as well so it prevents accidental inputs. Wearing the headphones again will unpause. This is all provided that the app that’s playing supports pausing. For example, it won’t work with watching live channels on the ESPN app.
*Quick Access is the replacement of the Custom button function of the older gens. Double-pressing or triple-pressing the NC/AMB button allows you to assign a Service function to it. Unfortunately, it’s essentially a beta with these headphones since the only service that works for it is Spotify. You can’t even assign a voice assistant to this button anymore. The voice assistant is accessed by press-holding the right ear cup.
*Voice assistant: When set to Google Assistant and Alexa you will still need to be connected to a device with these apps as they cannot be used with the headphones alone. The XM5 just natively supports them to allow faster responses and the ability to read your notifications out to you. You can also use it for any other voice assistant, but it is basically just a Bluetooth audio extension of your phone and slower.
CONNECTIONS:
*Bluetooth 5.2
*3.5mm audio: works without battery use but without noise cancelling/transparency, and works with battery to use powered functions like noise cancelling/transparency. Bluetooth functions do NOT work while wired, so you cannot use microphone. Inline wired microphones will NOT work because jack doesn’t support input.
*USB-C for charging only; does NOT support USB audio.
*Bluetooth 5.2
*3.5mm audio: works without battery use but without noise cancelling/transparency, and works with battery to use powered functions like noise cancelling/transparency. Bluetooth functions do NOT work while wired, so you cannot use microphone. Inline wired microphones will NOT work because jack doesn’t support input.
*USB-C for charging only; does NOT support USB audio.
CHARGING:
I used a Samsung 45W Fast Wall Charger and to my surprise I got way better than advertised results!
3 minutes of charging gave me 3 hours and 50 minutes of LDAC playtime with noise cancelling.
Charging from 0% to 100% took only 52 minutes. I dramatic improvement from the XM4 which took 2 hours and 50 minutes using the same charger.
I used a Samsung 45W Fast Wall Charger and to my surprise I got way better than advertised results!
3 minutes of charging gave me 3 hours and 50 minutes of LDAC playtime with noise cancelling.
Charging from 0% to 100% took only 52 minutes. I dramatic improvement from the XM4 which took 2 hours and 50 minutes using the same charger.
Battery Life:
I got 30 hours of battery life with noise cancelling using LDAC while playing a 24-bit FLAC album on a loop. So their battery claims are accurate; not an oversell or undersell.
I got 30 hours of battery life with noise cancelling using LDAC while playing a 24-bit FLAC album on a loop. So their battery claims are accurate; not an oversell or undersell.
I'll miss the portability of the XM4 but the incredible charging time of the XM5 and the amazing transparency mode is what seals the deal for me. Ambient mode has NEVER sounded this good and natural on a Sony noise cancelling headphone, and very close to a leading competitor known for having this quality. Highly recommended if you don't mind that it can't fold anymore.
My biggest concern is its durability over time.
My biggest concern is its durability over time.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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The Linksys E9450 WiFi 6 router covers 2800 square feet* and handles 30+ devices at speeds up to 5.4 Gbps. This compact Dual-Band router lets you surf, stream, and game all at the same time to keep you connected to the things that matter most. With Parental Controls and separate Guest Access, your network will always remain safe and secure. Easily add devices to your network with a push of the WPS button
Posted by: KusMoG
from Brooklyn, NY
Don't let the lack of external antennas fool you, the E9450 delivers on its promised range and even performs better on range than another router I had that had 4 adjustable external antennas, which actually had dead zones in one of our bedrooms, the garage, and the front porch on the 5GHz band. The E9450 on the other hand still operated in those locations under 5GHz while still delivering our max internet speed of 230Mbps.
The router is compact and yet has a good solid heft, giving it a premium feel, and won't move around while cables are plugged in when standing vertically, which is also supported by the rubber feet on its stand.
You can actually lay the router horizontally, but out of the box it will slide around on a flat smooth surface. If you place it on a rubber mat or attach non-slip feet on them, it will work out fine.
You can actually lay the router horizontally, but out of the box it will slide around on a flat smooth surface. If you place it on a rubber mat or attach non-slip feet on them, it will work out fine.
Setup is incredibly simple and done using any internet browser. You simply connect to the router's wifi connection using its SSID and sign in with the credentials noted on the included written materials, then enter 192.168.1.1 on any browser to get to the router's configuration page. The router will walk you through the initial setup.
The configuration page itself is fast to navigate through, with a clean and easy to understand interface.
The configuration page itself is fast to navigate through, with a clean and easy to understand interface.
UPnP (universal plug and play) works out of the box. The E9450 was able to set up the port forwarding for my Plex Media Server automatically without me having to do anything, and even labeled it correctly as "Plex Media Server".
The E9450 has a USB 3.0 port which allows you to connect an external disk to it and turn it into a NAS (network attached storage) as a SMB, FTP, or UPnP media server. The configuration page has a relatively mature external storage section, allowing you to see the USB speed protocol the connected device is running at, shared folders, the ability to format the drive and safely eject the drive.
The supported formats for external storage on the E9450 are FAT32, NTFS and HFS+.
The supported formats for external storage on the E9450 are FAT32, NTFS and HFS+.
Missing from the router is the ability to host a VPN server. This is not to be confused with connecting to a VPN server, of which the E9450 has no problems doing. It supports IPSec, PPTP, and L2TP VPN passthrough. But if you want to create a VPN server of your own for your home network to allow it to be accessible outside of your home, you can't. Furthmore, to my knowledge, DD-WRT doesn't support this router.
Fast AX wifi speeds with reliable range and an excellent, speedy and informative configuration page makes this a router I can easily recommend.
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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eufy Smart Wi-Fi 2k Video Doorbell with Chime is a battery powered (or wired- you choose) video doorbell that is the perfect protection for your home. With no monthly fee, enjoy 2K resolution so that you can see who is at your door, clearly. Talk to them via the 2-way mic, and be alerted when a human is at the door instead of the neighborhood dog. IP65 Weatherproof Ensures the Video Doorbell camera continues to operate in extreme temperatures from minus 4~F to 122~ F (minus 20~C to 50~C). Installation is easy. No need to mess around with complicated wiring, self-installation in minutes. Wireless Video Doorbell camera will also work with old chimes.
Customer Rating
5
Solid home security camera with free local storage
on July 24, 2021
Posted by: KusMoG
from Brooklyn, NY
The Eufy Battery 2K video doorbell with chime is a great cost-effective option for home security. Thanks to local storage, you don't need to have a paid subscription to record events from your video doorbell. The downside to local storage is that you won't be able to access your recordings if your doorbell isn't actively connected to the wifi. However, like its competitors, Eufy also has its own subscription cloud storage service so your recordings are stored on the cloud and viewable from anywhere even when your doorbell is not connected to the internet.
The local storage is located on the bundled chime instead of the doorbell, so it's inside your home. It uses microSD, which makes it expandable to 128GB according to Eufy, though it comes with a 16GB microSD card.
Setup was straight forward and easy. Although this doorbell is battery powered, you also have the option of installing it wired. The power source will still be the battery but the wired setup will continually charge the battery so you won't need to remove the doorbell from the mount to recharge it.
Recharging the doorbell is a bit of a drag. The battery is non-replaceable so you'll need to detach the doorbell from the mount using a SIM-card removal type tool that's included each time you need to charge it. Sadly, it still charges via micro-USB. Recharging the doorbell takes about 6 hours, so that's 6 hours of downtime.
I personally find the doorbell to be attractive but glossy black is all you'll get. There are no faceplates. There is a ring light on the doorbell button that lights up when motion is detected.
The video quality is excellent- clear and bright, although this largely relies on the stability of your doorbell's wifi connection at the location it's installed so keep this in mind. The included chime acts as a wireless extender for the doorbell as well, but sometimes it may still not be sufficient. Unfortunately, I live in an apartment building so I'm unable to comment on its performance under low light since the hallway that my doorbell is installed at is always lit.
The doorbell has motion detection, which it can send you notifications for, but frequent activation of this will greatly impact the battery life. Since I live in an apartment building, I don't get any false positives as only people roam around the hallways. I have no trees, bugs, or cars in range to possibly trigger its motion sensors.
I can't confidently confirm Eufy's battery claims of 180 day battery life, but from my usage that could be the case. In a whole day the battery either didn't drain a percent, or went down 1%.
Notifications were pretty quick, and also include a live picture thumbnail.
The app is pretty straightforward as serves as a platform for the Eufy ecosystem of home security devices, such as their cameras. However, you won't find any social Neighborhood watch type features on it.
The app is pretty straightforward as serves as a platform for the Eufy ecosystem of home security devices, such as their cameras. However, you won't find any social Neighborhood watch type features on it.
While the chime can be used to play a digital chime, you can also disable it. This is useful for a wired setup, where it will still use your original chime which you may prefer. You can also set up Amazon Echo dots as a chime from the app.
The Eufy doorbell works with both Google Assistant and Alexa.
Competitively priced and without the need for a paid subscription to view recordings of older doorbell events, I would recommend the Eufy Wired/Battery 2k video doorbell to anyone in the market for one.
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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How much content can you hold with your fingertips? With the Crucial X6 Portable SSD, the answer is: A lot! Whether you~re downloading videos for off-line travel, organizing family photos, collaborating with classmates, or heading off on a great adventure, the Crucial X6 features up to 2TB of portable storage capacity and is ready to go wherever you do.
Posted by: KusMoG
from Brooklyn, NY
At 2.5" L x 2.625" W x 0.5" it is very portable, which a square and flat design that hides away in most shirt and pants pockets without bulging out. It is also very light.
I think the best thing about the external SSD's design is that the USB port on it is the standard USB-C. So while the USB-C to USB-A cable is included with the SSD, if you lose it or need a longer cable, you can always replace it with any standard USB-C cable. Keep in mind though that all USB-C cables are not the same, and to get the full speed of the SSD you'll need a USB 3 speed USB-C cable.
When used while the SSD is at cool or normal temperature, it is extremely quick for transferring large single files, faster than a lot of comparable SSDs at this price point. When transferring many small files that add up to a large file size, the speed is dramatically slower, like a lot of competing SSDs at this price point but it's not any slower than the competition.
This external SSD's biggest flaw is the speed throttling that happens when the SSD becomes warmer (I've never had it become 'hot' although this is probably because the speed throttling never allows it too. I'm almost sure of it.) What this means is that, when the SSD gets really warm, the file transfer speeds become dramatically slower. From 2x to 4x slower; the hotter it gets, the slower it becomes. How it gets hot is through extended use of the SSD over a very short period of time. The good news is, it transfers very quickly.
However, if you're using it for backup transfers that are 256GB or larger that can take minutes, this will heat up the SSD and eventually it will slow to a crawl, and the initial 10 minutes you see can end up being over an hour.
For less intensive transfers like transferring a large ISO file from one device to another, this SSD is perfect.
However, if you're using it for backup transfers that are 256GB or larger that can take minutes, this will heat up the SSD and eventually it will slow to a crawl, and the initial 10 minutes you see can end up being over an hour.
For less intensive transfers like transferring a large ISO file from one device to another, this SSD is perfect.
As advertised, this external SSD works with Android flawlessly as well, provided your device has a file manager installed to browse the data on the SSD. If speeds are slow on the Android device, it's possible that it's your Android device's USB port that's the issue, and may not be capable of the max speed transfers of the SSD because the SSD itself is extremely fast.
Summary: Small, lightweight, and extremely fast, the Crucial X6 SE is an excellent travel companion for the casual user, but not ideal for the IT professional transferring large amounts of data constantly over a short period of time. The thermal throttling makes it unreliable for large, lengthy file transferring projects that require timeliness.
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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The HTM6 S2 Anniversary Edition delivers clear dialog and power in a compact form for Home Theater. Continuum mid-bass drive units provide make it easy to hear actors and robust bass lines for action films while Decoupled Double Dome Tweeters create an enveloping sense of space and clarity. Featuring upgraded crossovers for even more transparency and a unique trim-ring to celebrate this milestone, the HTM6 S2 Anniversary Edition is the most sophisticated, affordable center channel Bowers & Wilkins has ever made. The HTM6 S2 Anniversary Edition is the matching center channel for the 600 Series Anniversary Edition range of products. Over the last 25 years, the 600 Series has been our most affordable performance range of loudspeakers, and we~re celebrating our love of sound with acoustic improvements to the crossover network for overall greater levels of clarity and smoother high frequencies so you can enjoy a compelling listening experience across the range of products.
Customer Rating
5
Amazingly clear speakers. Great for center channel
on December 31, 2020
Posted by: KusMoG
from Brooklyn, NY
I need to preface this review by saying I am by no means an audiophile. I'm not familiar with the science or the technical jargon so I'm not going to pretend like I'm an expert at sound quality. I categorize myself as an enthusiast. I've invested in a decent receiver, home theater system, cables, etc. And I care about what I listen to enough to know what I like and don't like, and notice when something is lacking.
The design is a rather conservative rectangular box with sharp edges. The only eye catching aspect of its design are the silver cones. The finish is a matte black vinyl-looking plastic. Some may find this boring, but since I use it in my home theater setup, I prefer less eye catching things in my field of vision while I'm watching something on TV.
The grill attaches to the speaker magnetically, which I love. It's easy to remove or install it to the speaker with one hand, and effortless since the magnets always guide it to attach in its proper position. it's no longer a chore to remove the grill if I ever want to sport an industrial look.
I reviewed this center speaker along with the 603 S2 Anniversary edition floorstanding speakers and not only do they complement each other perfectly, they share similar characteristics. The clarity lives up to its claim. For OTA TV sound, it's just clear without sounding muffled or muddy. Likewise with movies. The great thing about these speakers is I'm able to hear dialog clearly even in low volume. It doesn't lose its high resolution.
I highly recommend this speaker in a home theater setup. The center channel is where the dialog in movies is predominantly played and with this speaker it's a joy to listen to.
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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The 603 S2 Anniversary Edition combines outstanding power and clarity that makes them perfect for larger rooms and ideal for home theater. Continuum mid-range cones provide clarity for singers, Decoupled Double Dome Tweeters create an enveloping sense of space and twin bass drivers deliver scale and authority. Featuring upgraded crossovers for even more transparency and a unique trim-ring to celebrate this milestone, the 603 S2 Anniversary Edition is the most sophisticated affordable floor-standing loudspeaker Bowers & Wilkins has ever made. The 603 S2 Anniversary Edition sits atop the 600 Series Anniversary Edition range of products. Over the last 25 years, the 600 Series has been our most affordable performance range of loudspeakers, and we~re celebrating our love of sound with acoustic improvements to the crossover network for overall greater levels of clarity and smoother high frequencies so you can enjoy a compelling listening experience across the range of products.
Customer Rating
5
Great soundstage, bass response, clear speakers
on December 31, 2020
Posted by: KusMoG
from Brooklyn, NY
I need to preface this review by saying I am by no means an audiophile. I'm not familiar with the science or the technical jargon so I'm not going to pretend like I'm an expert at sound quality. I categorize myself as an enthusiast. I've invested in a decent receiver, home theater system, cables, etc. And I care about what I listen to enough to know what I like and don't like, and notice when something is lacking.
The speakers were tested in a 7.1.4 Dolby Atmos-enabled speaker home theater setup, although digital music (FLAC) and vinyl LPs were tested using a pure direct setup, eliminating the use of all the speakers and subwoofer except for the 603 S2 anniversary edition floorstanding speakers, since they are my front L/R speakers in my setup.
My equipment used that's relevant to the 603 S2 Anniversary Edition:
Receiver: Marantz SR8012
Speaker wire: Mediabridge 14 gauge speaker wire, terminated with banana plugs on receiver end, bare speaker wire on speaker end, with a length of approximately less than 10 feet.
Left/Right front speakers: Bowers & Wilkin 603 S2 Anniversary Edition floorstanding speakers (bi-wired)
Receiver: Marantz SR8012
Speaker wire: Mediabridge 14 gauge speaker wire, terminated with banana plugs on receiver end, bare speaker wire on speaker end, with a length of approximately less than 10 feet.
Left/Right front speakers: Bowers & Wilkin 603 S2 Anniversary Edition floorstanding speakers (bi-wired)
I have used the speakers for at least the recommended 15 active hours for "burn-in" as the manual suggests. Personally though, even after 15 hours, my ears couldn't notice any changes. But again, I'm not an audiophile and apparently not sensitive enough to these subtle changes. What's important to note is that it should now sound the way it was intended to, according to the manual.
The speakers come with a plinth (base) that's around 14.5" x 13", but I didn't bother using them because they made the speakers too wide for my speaker placement, where I have limited space in my living room. However, at 7.5" x 13.5 (13.75" with the grill on), it's slim enough to fit.
The speaker grill is magnetic, making installation and removal an effortless breeze that can be done with one hand. I prefer to keep the grills on since I have a home theater setup and prefer to have less eyecatching distractions in my field of vision. However, if I ever want that industrial look with the cones exposed it's no longer a chore for me to remove the grills to do so.
The design is pretty conservative. Cones and rear port aside, it's a rectangular box with sharp edges and a matte vinyl finish. I tend to prefer this minimalist approach although some may find it boring.
I previously had Pioneer SP-FS52 floorstanding speakers and at the time I thought those speakers were great. Upon replacing them with these 603 S2's I immediately noticed how much clearer the sound was. Dialog was clearer, and sound separation was more apparent.
When I started playing my vinyl LPs and FLAC albums to test how music sounded, it was the wide soundstage that became immediately apparent to me, especially with my FLAC albums. I kept checking my receiver to make sure I didn't have virtual surround or dynamic EQ on and I really didn't. Despite running off just the left and right speakers (no center, no subwoofer, no surround) the soundstage was wide and full. It sounded like I had surround sound on when I didn't.
The bass response is another highlight from these speakers. They're fantastically powerful and engaging without being muddy. It's very clear, particularly in the highs and mids. The bass response is so powerful that I feel like I don't even need my subwoofer. The vibrations are easily felt even in low volume, which may be a problem for some people, including myself since I live in an apartment. I've had to use the included foam bungs to reduce the bass.
Speaking of volume, going back to the clarity of these speakers, I am absolutely amazed at how clear sound emitting from these speakers are even at low volume. The sound doesn't lose its high resolution under low volume. I've never been able to set the volume as low as I do with these speakers and still be able to hear stuff clearly, like dialog from a TV program.
These are easily the best speakers I've ever used in my home theater system setup, and I highly recommend them.
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Bring your A-game anytime, anywhere. Introducing a universal mobile gaming controller that fits most smartphone devices, designed to bring console-level control to your on-the-go gaming. With this controller by your side, wherever you go, victory will follow.
Customer Rating
3
Great but cheap dpad, questionable quality control
on October 3, 2020
Posted by: KusMoG
from Brooklyn, NY
Minimum phone height: About 5.25" from top to bottom (NOT diagonally the way manufacturer's advertise their phone in terms of screen size). Phones smaller than this will not be compatible because there will be no tension support in the center and the left controller part will dangle away from the right part.
***Do NOT use an adapter if your phone isn't USB-C. The controller's left and right parts are supported by a spring-based tension band on the back. This tension may eventually break your adapter and possibly your port as well due to the small size of the adapter not being able to support the force of that tension.
***Do NOT use an adapter if your phone isn't USB-C. The controller's left and right parts are supported by a spring-based tension band on the back. This tension may eventually break your adapter and possibly your port as well due to the small size of the adapter not being able to support the force of that tension.
Max phone height: About 6.5" from top to bottom (again, not screen size but device height). Max phone height with needing to angle the left controller to fit the top of the phone is 6 1/8".
At 6.49", the Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra is just at the limit of the Razer Kishi and will fit.
At 6.49", the Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra is just at the limit of the Razer Kishi and will fit.
Phone width: From 2 7/8" to about 3". Phones wider than 3" will not fit because that is the absolute max before it hits hard plastic.
Max phone depth: 3/8" with rubber insert. 7/16" without rubber insert.
Your phone may work with a case but it's probably very few. You can remove the rubber inserts to try to fit the case in. If it doesn't fit, do NOT force it in, or else you may damage the hard plastic case of the controller.
Pros:
- Usability -
The Razer Kishi essentially turns your phone into something kind of like a Nintendo Switch, especially for phones that allow you to use your home screen in landscape mode. The phone stays in securely thanks in part to the rubber inserts that grip it while preventing damage to it while it's attached.
Depending on your phone, at its widest, the Razer Kishi is 1.25" wider than the Nintendo Switch at 10.5". At its narrowest, without any stretching, it's the same width as the Switch at about 9.25"
With more generous/wider curves and a recessed spot on the back on the controller, it feels more ergonomic to hold than the Nintendo Switch.
- Usability -
The Razer Kishi essentially turns your phone into something kind of like a Nintendo Switch, especially for phones that allow you to use your home screen in landscape mode. The phone stays in securely thanks in part to the rubber inserts that grip it while preventing damage to it while it's attached.
Depending on your phone, at its widest, the Razer Kishi is 1.25" wider than the Nintendo Switch at 10.5". At its narrowest, without any stretching, it's the same width as the Switch at about 9.25"
With more generous/wider curves and a recessed spot on the back on the controller, it feels more ergonomic to hold than the Nintendo Switch.
The controls and buttons mimic the Xbox's with X/Y/A/B, Back, Start, Home, L button, L trigger, R button, R trigger, left analog stick, button on left analog stick, right analog stick, button on right analog stick, and cross (+) dpad. Thanks to the availability of these buttons, the controller is also very friendly with any current emulation on Android, including Playstation and Dreamcast. Many of these apps have already been updated to natively support the Razer Kishi and have the buttons mapped accordingly.
- Zero Latency -
The box advertises "Ultra-low latency gameplay" but I experienced no latency. It's a direct USB-C connection and Android recognizes it as a external controller. I wondered if the possible latency concerns may have something to do with the left controller part since it's the right part that has the USB-C connection, but the Kishi doesn't have any bluetooth. From inspecting the box, there's no wireless radio certification noted on it. So the whole construction of the Kishi controller is probably hardwired, and the left controller part is probably wired through the expanding tension band.
The box advertises "Ultra-low latency gameplay" but I experienced no latency. It's a direct USB-C connection and Android recognizes it as a external controller. I wondered if the possible latency concerns may have something to do with the left controller part since it's the right part that has the USB-C connection, but the Kishi doesn't have any bluetooth. From inspecting the box, there's no wireless radio certification noted on it. So the whole construction of the Kishi controller is probably hardwired, and the left controller part is probably wired through the expanding tension band.
- Analog sticks -
The analog sticks feel great to me. They're tight and responsive. They're tight enough to allow me to play platformers like Sonic the Hedgehog 2 with. The clickiness of the button on the analog sticks feels right too and requires the same amount of pressure to click as a regular Xbox controller, so you won't press them accidentally.
The analog sticks feel great to me. They're tight and responsive. They're tight enough to allow me to play platformers like Sonic the Hedgehog 2 with. The clickiness of the button on the analog sticks feels right too and requires the same amount of pressure to click as a regular Xbox controller, so you won't press them accidentally.
Just OK:
- USB-C passthrough phone charging -
The Kishi does not require any external power or use any batteries. It is powered through your phone, so when you have the Kishi connected, know that your phone's battery will drain quicker than usual.
However, the Kishi does have USB-C passthrough charging. Located on the bottom of the right controller part is a power-only USB-C port. So while you're playing with the controller, you can ensure that your phone doesn't lose any battery life, or even charge your phone.
This feature is only "Just OK" for 2 reasons:
1. It doesn't support data. You can't plug it into your computer and access or transfer data through the Kishi's USB-C port. You also can't plug in peripherals like a keyboard or a USB card reader or thumb drive. No data means no data.
- USB-C passthrough phone charging -
The Kishi does not require any external power or use any batteries. It is powered through your phone, so when you have the Kishi connected, know that your phone's battery will drain quicker than usual.
However, the Kishi does have USB-C passthrough charging. Located on the bottom of the right controller part is a power-only USB-C port. So while you're playing with the controller, you can ensure that your phone doesn't lose any battery life, or even charge your phone.
This feature is only "Just OK" for 2 reasons:
1. It doesn't support data. You can't plug it into your computer and access or transfer data through the Kishi's USB-C port. You also can't plug in peripherals like a keyboard or a USB card reader or thumb drive. No data means no data.
2. The Kishi's USB-C port does NOT support any sort of fast-charging. So those 45W, 25W fast chargers are rendered useless with the Kishi as it will drop back down to standard USB charging speeds. My Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ takes about 3.5 hours to charge from 0 to 100% using the Kishi USB-C port making it 3 times longer than without the Kishi USB-C port using a fast charger.
- Buttons -
Aside from the analog buttons, the others feel "Just OK."
The home/back/start buttons feel very rigid and don't feel soft like all the major console home/back/start/option buttons that I'm used to.
Aside from the analog buttons, the others feel "Just OK."
The home/back/start buttons feel very rigid and don't feel soft like all the major console home/back/start/option buttons that I'm used to.
The front-facing X/Y/A/B buttons are decent. I find them comparable to that of the Xbox 360's front facing buttons. Not too clicky but I also don't think they're too mushy like some people have reported they are. The good thing for me is that they're relatively quiet.
The L/R shoulder buttons feel somewhat similar to the front facing ones. They're also relatively quiet. They're also taller than the trigger buttons behind them, so you're not likely to accidentally confuse the buttons.
The L/R trigger buttons are EVER so slightly convex to avoid the concave slippage feel on the Dual Shock 3's concave trigger buttons.
They are also relative quiet with about the same amount of depth and tension, in terms of the trigger button press, as an Xbox 360's trigger button (not the Dual Shock 4, which has more give/less tension than the Kishi's trigger button).
They are also relative quiet with about the same amount of depth and tension, in terms of the trigger button press, as an Xbox 360's trigger button (not the Dual Shock 4, which has more give/less tension than the Kishi's trigger button).
- Supports MS Game Pass -
The button colors are reversed, and the Home button takes you to the Home screen instead of the Game Pass app, but otherwise the $20 cheaper Android Kishi supports Game Pass just the same as the Xbox branded one. You can always remap the Home button using a third party app.
The button colors are reversed, and the Home button takes you to the Home screen instead of the Game Pass app, but otherwise the $20 cheaper Android Kishi supports Game Pass just the same as the Xbox branded one. You can always remap the Home button using a third party app.
It does NOT support PS4 Remote Play but this because of Sony not Razer. Sony only allows Dual Shock 4 or touch controls for its app.
Cons:
- Flex -
If you use it aggressively, the controller parts can flex inwards, towards you due to the expandabilty/stretch of the back of the Kishi. It won't flex backwards though.
- Flex -
If you use it aggressively, the controller parts can flex inwards, towards you due to the expandabilty/stretch of the back of the Kishi. It won't flex backwards though.
- Directional pad (Dpad) -
The dpad isn't as bad as the Xbox 360 controller but like it, it has trouble with definite 4-way (left/right/up/down) inputs.
Playing puzzle games like Lumines, the Kishi would accidentally go down-right or down-left when I press down.
Playing fighting games like Garou: Mark of the Wolves, I had difficulty executing SNK's weird super moves that have diagonal inputs in them.
It's hard to rely on precision with the Kishi's dpad.
The dpad isn't as bad as the Xbox 360 controller but like it, it has trouble with definite 4-way (left/right/up/down) inputs.
Playing puzzle games like Lumines, the Kishi would accidentally go down-right or down-left when I press down.
Playing fighting games like Garou: Mark of the Wolves, I had difficulty executing SNK's weird super moves that have diagonal inputs in them.
It's hard to rely on precision with the Kishi's dpad.
Also, with my dpad, the button presses will emit a high-pitched squeak. I suspect this is a manufacturing defect and have already contacted Razer customer support to address this. They told me to try blowing it with compressed air, which I tried using the straw attachment to blow directly into the crevices of the dpad to get underneath it. That didn't fix the issue. I'm still awaiting an email from them for the warranty process.
- Quality control -
Upon researching my issue with the Kishi's squeaky dpad I found threads with similar complaints regarding Kishi controller quality. So it seems to me that Razer is more about just getting their product out there to sell and taking their chances with those customers who actually complain later. There will be people quick to defend Razer because they didn't receive a defective product but that there is the problem. Quality control. The good get mixed with the bad and what you get is a game of chance. It seems that I got a Kishi with a bad dpad because when I showed the video of my dpad to a Raxer support agent, they agreed it shouldn't be like that and even went as far as to question if I abused or dropped my controller for that to happen (I didn't).
Upon researching my issue with the Kishi's squeaky dpad I found threads with similar complaints regarding Kishi controller quality. So it seems to me that Razer is more about just getting their product out there to sell and taking their chances with those customers who actually complain later. There will be people quick to defend Razer because they didn't receive a defective product but that there is the problem. Quality control. The good get mixed with the bad and what you get is a game of chance. It seems that I got a Kishi with a bad dpad because when I showed the video of my dpad to a Raxer support agent, they agreed it shouldn't be like that and even went as far as to question if I abused or dropped my controller for that to happen (I didn't).
- App -
Razer's app is horrendous. Despite my phone being one of the supported phones (Samsung Galaxy Note 10+), the firmware update button on the app doesn't work. When I tap on it, it does nothing. It's also non-intuitive. To get to the firmware section of the app, you tap on the profile/avatar looking button.
The design also looks like that of a homebrew illegal app instead of one that's more professional.
The good thing is, the app is optional. You don't need it to use the Kishi. Its main use is to update the firmware (which doesn't even work for me), and as a frontend for apps that are compatible with the Kishi. The search function for the apps is hidden in the category section. To search for a particular app, you need to select the "All" category first and only then will you find the magnifying glass icon to search for an app.
Even in regards compatibility it's questionable.
For example, Street Fighter IV Champion Edition is "compatible". But the controller does not function in any of the menus or player select screen. Those are touch-only. The Kishi only works during fights.
The Razer Kishi app is also missing apps that are fully compatible with it. Games such as Sonic the Hedgehog 2. You won't find it in the Razer Kishi app, but it works with Kishi and as "compatible" as the apps listed on the Razer Kishi app. You won't be able to map the buttons, but this is true for some of the games listed as compatible on the Razer Kishi app. It all comes down to what Razer has personally tested for themselves. The omission of Sonic 2 shows that they don't take this task seriously and eventually will end up being an obsolete list of supported games if and when Razer loses complete interest in updating their list on the app.
Razer's app is horrendous. Despite my phone being one of the supported phones (Samsung Galaxy Note 10+), the firmware update button on the app doesn't work. When I tap on it, it does nothing. It's also non-intuitive. To get to the firmware section of the app, you tap on the profile/avatar looking button.
The design also looks like that of a homebrew illegal app instead of one that's more professional.
The good thing is, the app is optional. You don't need it to use the Kishi. Its main use is to update the firmware (which doesn't even work for me), and as a frontend for apps that are compatible with the Kishi. The search function for the apps is hidden in the category section. To search for a particular app, you need to select the "All" category first and only then will you find the magnifying glass icon to search for an app.
Even in regards compatibility it's questionable.
For example, Street Fighter IV Champion Edition is "compatible". But the controller does not function in any of the menus or player select screen. Those are touch-only. The Kishi only works during fights.
The Razer Kishi app is also missing apps that are fully compatible with it. Games such as Sonic the Hedgehog 2. You won't find it in the Razer Kishi app, but it works with Kishi and as "compatible" as the apps listed on the Razer Kishi app. You won't be able to map the buttons, but this is true for some of the games listed as compatible on the Razer Kishi app. It all comes down to what Razer has personally tested for themselves. The omission of Sonic 2 shows that they don't take this task seriously and eventually will end up being an obsolete list of supported games if and when Razer loses complete interest in updating their list on the app.
Conclusion:
The Razer Kishi plays best with Emulation apps.
Cheap dpad and quality issues are its most serious concerns.
The Razer Kishi plays best with Emulation apps.
Cheap dpad and quality issues are its most serious concerns.
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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KusMoG's Review Comments
Make your home an internet haven with this versatile Linksys Velop wireless Wi-Fi system. Three identical tri-band dual-stream AC2200 routers, each equipped with a quad-core ARM Cortex-A7 processor, deliver lightning-fast internet. Equipped with Bluetooth 4.0/LE, this Linksys Velop wireless Wi-Fi system is simple to set up and pairs easily with computers, tablets and smart devices.
Overall3 out of 5
3 out of 5Optimized for distance, not speed. Limited admin
By KusMoG
First off, let me preface by saying that I'm coming off using an EA9500, a traditional router that costs $100 less than a Velop 3 pack. I also live in an apartment building with a highly congested 2.4GHz space; so bad it affects speeds dramatically and makes the connection highly inconsistent.
With that said, I wasn't really impressed with the Velop at all, for the amount of money it will cost you. It runs on 2.4 and 5.0GHz bands but which your device is connected to is entirely managed by the Velop mesh router themselves. You can't select it yourself. So for some *stupid* reason, even though my Galaxy Note 5 is capable of connecting to the 5.0GHz band, it connects me to 2.4. Because of this I get a slower and inconsistent connection due to the 2.4GHz congestion in my building.
There's also no web administration page, so you can't configure your Velop Wi-Fi from a computer. You need to do it through their app. That means your doing all the heavy lifting of port forwarding and such, from your phone. I'm not sure if they have an app for tablets.
As far as range goes, it will do the job. You will get a strong signal as long as you are near one of the nodes. But the catch is it only extends the wireless signal for as well as it currently performs in your environment at 100% signal and you have no control over which wi-fi band it connects to, like you do with a traditional router. So if your 2.4GHz band wi-fi is terrible to begin with at 100% signal, I suggest you stay very far away from this unless you want buyer's remorse.
I can only recommend the Velop wi-fi 3-pack to users, most especially with wi-fi dead spots in their home, that have great consistent connection in terms or speed and reliability on both 2.4 and 5.0GHz band with a traditional router at 100% signal. This mesh router will be music to your ears since it will be capable of extending your wi-fi range through your house with minimal signal loss.
I can't stress this enough but this router isn't 5.0GHz friendly. I suspect it recognizes when a device is a phone and connects it to the 2.4 GHz band to prioritize distance. It just doesn't offer the flexibility and power administrators want to manually control these connections. I'll be putting all my wireless devices back on my EA9500 because it clearly outclasses the more expensive, less admin-friendly Velop.
KusMoG
Attention Kristine the Linksys Support rep
March 29, 2017
Hi Kristine,
So I called the number you gave me and spoke with a Linksys representative named Kim (Badge ID# 21791) and she agreed with my review. She said it was a product limitation and that users are not able to select the wi-fi band since it's designed to run on a singular network. She also said there is a web UI but it's virtually the same as the app and offers no additional settings or features. So I stand by my review.
It's an awful lot of spend to spend to have so little control. 2 5.0 GHz bands exists on the node but it's USELESS if and when the Velop decides on its own not to connect using that band, instead choosing the inferior 2.4GHz band. This router is a huge step back for IT professional users.
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KusMoG's Questions
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KusMoG's Answers
Bring your A-game anytime, anywhere. Introducing a universal mobile gaming controller that fits most smartphone devices, designed to bring console-level control to your on-the-go gaming. With this controller by your side, wherever you go, victory will follow.
Will it fit the Galaxy Note 20 ultra
Yes it will. The Galaxy Note 20 Ultra, while not officially listed as supported, probably because it wasn't available for Razer to test at the time, is the Kishi's limit.
4 years, 11 months ago
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KusMoG