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Saturday, June 20, 2099

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Hello in many languageHello and welcome to my blog! Scroll down to read the posts. Click on the yellow tab to the lower right to contact me. If you're on mobile or the widget doesn't load, click here. You can also tweet me. I am @Tyw77. Please do follow me on Twitter where I will tweet links to new posts.
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Saturday, June 24, 2023

Review: Mobvoi Ticwatch Pro 5

I received the Mobvoi TicWatch Pro 5  as part of a review program in return for an unbiased review.  Mobvoi had no editorial rights to my review, and they received no preview copy of the evaluation.




The watch costs £329 at the time of this review.

Pro:
  • Extremely long battery life (upward of 4 days)
  • Lightweight
  • Activity tracker
  • A highly readable secondary display
  • Goes into an essential mode to save battery if there's no activity
  • Syncs Do Not Disturb (DND) with phone
Cons:
  • The vibration motor is a bit weak
  • Proprietary charger
  • No Google Assistant
  • Can go into essential mode and lose connection with the watch.


Style




The product inherits the design style of previous Mobvoi watches and subtly improves on it.  For example, the two protruding crowns that graced previous Mobvoi watches are gone.  Instead, the Pro 5 has one rotating crown and one recessed button.  A single tap of the top button triggers the recently used app list.  And double pressing that top button launches Google Wallet.  The rotating crown triggers the "back" button and the button to launch the app.  Double pressing the crown launches the most recently used app.  However, you can't customize the action of the controls.  For example, you can't change the app launched by double pressing the top button.

The crown is less pronounced than the previous generation watches, so that's a step in the right direction.  In addition, the crown is now rotating and can be used to scroll through items.

The watch utilizes a low-power secondary display that is easily read under bright sunlight.  The watch face of this lower power display cannot be changed, though.

The watch band of the Pro 5 is silicone, which means it does not suffer the stress creases of the Pro 3 Ultra.  Thankfully, the band is longer than the Pro 3 Ultra.  The band of the Pro 5 measures around 10 inches.

Technology

Activity tracking

The TicWatch Pro 5 (and just about most other smartwatches), this watch tracks heart rate, steps, activity, etc.  However, it comes with a few added features.  It has IHB AFiB Detection and 24-hour stress monitoring.  A "one-click measurement" feature measures pulse, Oxygen, breathing, and stress all in one go.  As with the Pro 3, the Pro 5 didn't sense the sport that accurately, and you had to manually select the sport.  The watch can auto-detect walks, runs, and cycling, but in my experience, it only said I had walked for 1 minute, while I know I have walked for at least 10-20 min during my commute to work.


Vibration motor

The vibration motor on this watch isn't as strong as the Samsung, but it's strong enough.

Battery life

Mobvoi watches are the king of battery life, and the TicWatch Pro 5 is no slouch.  The watch's battery easily lasts 2-3 days and, for me, pushes on to the 4th day.  This means I do not have to worry about charging my watch daily.  The watch also comes with fast charging, so it doesn't have to dwell on the charger for long. It can charge the watch from 30% to 100% in under an hour.  The website says a 30-minute charge will give you 65% battery.  And this technology is not reliant on the charger since the Pro 3 Ultra charger also gives you a fast charge on the Pro 5.

Mobvoi says it would last 80 hours in normal "smart" mode.  One new feature Mobvoi introduces with the Pro 5 is the "smart essential mode."  The watch will switch to essential mode automatically.  Under Smart Essential Mode, during the scheduled time slot, your TicWatch will only switch to Essential Mode if you wear it to sleep or leave it off your wrist for more than 30 minutes.

The essential mode only uses the secondary display and allows you to see your steps and battery life along with the time and date.

The Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 classic lasts about a day of heavy use and will often have 40% battery life at the end of the day unless I top it up during the day.

One drawback of the watch is that the TicWatch Pro 5 uses a proprietary charger.  However, this problem is not unique to the TicWatch Pro 5.  Even Samsung's wireless charger is proprietary and won't charge with ordinary Qi chargers.  However, Samsung sells a charger device that charges 2 devices plus a watch simultaneously.  And the watch can reverse charge from a Galaxy phone.

Wear OS version

The watch comes with Wear OS 3, upgradable to Wear OS 3.5.  With this change, you pair the watch with the Mobvoi Health app rather than a separate Wear OS app.  Unlike the Samsung Wear app, you can't fully customize the watch's settings through the phone.  However, like the Samsung device, TicWatch Pro 5's "do not disturb" setting syncs with the phone, which is a significant improvement over the previous watches.

Although the watch has the same apps as Google's and Samsung's Wear OS 3.5 watches, the TicWatch Pro 5 doesn't come with Google Assistant.  However, during my 2 weeks of use, I rarely used the assistant on my watch.  Although it supports control of my smart home devices, it does not support routines.  When I'm at home, I tend to use my Google Home devices anyway, and if I'm on the way, I will use my headphones to trigger the Google Assistant from my phone.

Now let's segue to software updates.  When it comes to smart devices, OS updates are just as important as hardware features.  Mobvoi doesn't have the best track record for updating their watches.  The Pro 3 and Pro 3 Ultra's promised OS 3 update was severely delayed.  And according to XDA developer, Mobvoi told a customer that the update would come in Q3 of 2023.  This spans a 3-month period from July to September.

Mobvoi released a statement on Twitter, which says the reason for the delay is due to the dual system architecture used by the E3, Pro 3, and Pro 3 Ultra:

We sincerely acknowledge your concerns and understand that you may be disappointed by the fact that our TicWatch Pro 3 Ultra, TicWatch Pro 3, and TicWatch E3 have not yet been upgraded to Wear OS 3. We apologize for any inconvenience and frustration this may have caused. Our commitment to delivering the upgrade remains unwavering. We share the same enthusiasm and eagerness as you do about this upgrade.

Please allow us to clarify the reasons behind this. Our TicWatch utilizes the SDW4100 chipset and a Mobvoi proprietary dual system architecture. This necessitates further architecture upgrades and performance debugging when updating to Wear OS 3 to guarantee the highest level of software quality and user experience. Rest assured, we are actively working on this matter.

We will soon be conducting an extensive closed beta testing phase. Please stay tuned for our official announcements if you are interested in participating.

According to this post on Reddit, Mobvoi has once again slipped their Q3 deadline

I emailed the Mobvoi rep for their plan to update the Pro 5 to WearOS 4, and they replied to me with the following statement:

Hi,


Sorry I missed your email. For the W4 update, currently we have not received such information. We will announce it as soon as it is confirmed 


Sleep sensing

The watch comes with sleep sensing, which tracks the quality of sleep.  Compared to previous watches, the watch now comes with real-time SPO2 sensing.  Also, the watch is more comfortable to wear during sleep.

TicWatch Pro 5 Watch specs (from TicWatch website)

Physical specs

Dimensions (mm): 50.1(H) x 48.0(L) x 12.2(D)
Weight: 44.3g
Color: Obsidian (Black)
Watch Case: Metal, 7000seriese aluminum and high-strength nylon with fiberglass
Watch Strap: Solid silicone (interchangeable), 24mm.
Durability: 5ATM, Open Water Swim/MIL-STD-810H

Technical specs

Operating System: Wear OS 3.5
Chipset Platform: Snapdragon® W5+ Gen 1 Wearable Platform
Memory: RAM: 2GB / ROM: 32GB
Display: 
  • 1.43 "466*466 326ppi
  • Full Color Always On Display AMOLED + Ultra-low-power Display
  • Corning Gorilla Anti-fingerprint Cover Glass

Connectivity

  • Bluetooth 5.2
  • Wi-Fi: 2.4GHz
  • GNSS: GPS+Beidou+Glonass+Galileo+QZSS
NFC Payments: Google Pay, 13.56MHz
Battery Capacity: 628mAh (typical)
Compatibility: Android 8.0 or newer
Application: Mobvoi Health

Additional features:

  • Speaker
  • Mic
  • Vibrator
  • PPG
  • Barometer
  • Compass
Sensors:
  • Accelerometer
  • Gyro Sensor
  • HD PPG Heart Rate Sensor
  • SpO2 Sensor
  • Skin Temperature Sensor
  • Low Latency Off-Body Sensor
  • Barometer
  • Compass

Conclusion

Mobvoi is a champion with battery life, and their dual-display technology is extremely legible even in bright sunlight.  TicWatch Pro 5 continues this trend of excellence in the TicWatch Pro 3 and Pro 3 Ultra.  

The watch has a couple of minor negatives.  But the biggest is Mobvoi's track record regarding software upgrades.  Their TicWatch E3, Pro 3, and Pro 3 Ultra have not received the promised Wear OS 3.0 update.  Even then, Wear OS 3 is 3 generations behind Wear OS 3.5.  Plus, there is Wear OS 4 on the horizon, making Wear OS 3.0 4 generations behind.

Although I can recommend the watch based on hardware features alone, Mobvoi's updated track record is not the greatest.  And the reply from the Mobvoi rep isn't reassuring.  Therefore, I can only recommend with the caveat that the watch will be delayed in being updated to Wear OS 4 or not updated at all.  If the software is important to you, I would give this a miss.

Tuesday, March 14, 2023

Quick camera test Dell WB5023 vs Logitech Brio

Photograph test

Dell WB5023

Low light (no lamp)


Illuminated by lamp

Logitech Brio


Low light (no lamp)


Illuminated by lamp

Video test






Dell webcam video test



Logitech Brio audio / Video test








Original video



Conclusions

The Logitech Brio beats the Dell webcam in most conditions, despite shooting at only 1080p (2.1 MP) on a Chromebook; the Dell webcam, on the other hand, shoots at 3.7 MP (1444p) on the same Chromebook.

In addition, the audio quality of the Logitech is much better than the Dell webcam. The Dell webcam's microphone is disabled by default. According to Dell, you must enable the setting through the Dell Peripheral Manager (DPeM) software first. And the software is only compatible with Mac and Windows.



Thursday, June 23, 2022

AEG 8000 Series AP81A25ULT Cordless Vacuum Cleaner review

Today I will be reviewing the AEG 8000 Series AP81A25ULT Cordless Vacuum Cleaner - Bronze.  I needed a new vacuum cleaner since I move to a new property.

Pros:

  • Agile in vacuum mode
  • Decent price
  • Decent battery
  • Light at the end to see dark spaces
Cons:
  • Heavy to use one-handed and if you're trying to vacuum the ceiling
  • The trash bin is tricky to open

The AEG 8000 costs £390 from AO.

I was initially considering a Dyson cordless cleaner.  I had worked for Curry's before and I liked the lightweight nature of a Dyson.  They kinda have a reputation for being one of the best cleaners.

However, the AEG gives Dyson a serious run for the money.

The vacuum picks up dirt quite well.  It is agile when vacuuming the floor.  However, it is not so comfortable for one-hand operation for cleaning ceilings and other tight spaces.

Although it seems like a gimmick, it allows me to see when I'm vacuuming in dark spaces.


The interface of the vacuum is pretty simple too.  There are only two buttons.  One to turn it on, and the other to adjust its suction strength.  The battery indicator isn't too granular and can only measure the remaining power to the nearest 30%

The cleaner also comes with a "tree" to charge and hold all the accessories.  That's rather neat and handy for those living in a small house.


However, the vacuum cleaner's bin is a bit tricky to release and re-install. In addition, you have to touch the dust a bit when removing the filter "cap" for the bin.

All in all, the device is a good device at a decent price. The pros of the device greatly outweigh the cons.

Thursday, January 6, 2022

Review: Mobvoi TicWatch Pro 3 Ultra

Today I'm reviewing the Mobvoi TicWatch Pro 3 Ultra worth, as of the time of this review, £267.43 on Amazon UK.   The LTE version costs £329.99.  I received the TicWatch Pro 3 Ultra LTE product as part of a review program in return for an unbiased review.  Mobvoi had no editorial rights to my review and they did not receive any preview copy of the review.


Pro:
  • Extremely long battery life (upward of 3 days)
  • Lightweight
  • Faux leather/silicon wrist strap (if that's your style)
  • Activity tracker
  • An extremely readable secondary display
Cons:
  • Short wrist strap
  • The vibration motor is meh
  • Protruding side buttons
  • Leather wrist strap 
  • Proprietary charger
  • LTE version locked to Vodafone
TicWatch Pro 3 Ultra... that's quite a mouthful.  It seems the company is just tacking on words to the name.  It reminds me of this video by Mrwhosetheboss.



But I digress.  If you have the TicWatch Pro 3, the Ultra version is more or less the same as the TicWatch Pro 3.  Unlike the Pro 3, the Ultra has an internal compass.  They both have great battery life.  In fact, no watch to date beat Mobvoi's Pro 3 and Pro 3 Ultra in terms of battery longevity.

Style

The TicWatch Pro 3 Ultra LTE has a dual-screen display.  The second low battery secondary display reminds me of the Casio non-smartwatches.







Unlike the non-Ultra version ie TicWatch Pro 3, the TicWatch Pro 3 Ultra's Secondary display can change colors.  However, that setting isn't in the main watch settings and is controlled by the Essential mode app.

To change the color:

  1. Open the Essential Mode app (using its launcher icon)

  2. Swipe left for settings

  3. Scroll down until you get the option for backlight color

Thanks to u/DYNALogix on r/WearOS


If you want to boost the brightness of the screen, you can double-click the top page button.

The LTE version is made of faux leather/silicon hybrid.  Although it looks more stylish than the non-Ultra or non-LTE version, the leather band has a few caveats.


After about two weeks of wearing, it suffered some stress on the bands, causing marks around the holes.

Also, I find the buttons a bit protruding and uncomfortable under certain conditions.  The bezels on the watch are also large, making the watch a bit bulky.  However, unlike the Samsung Watch 4, the bezels are useless; it does not have a rotating crown.  Although the crown on the Samsung may be a bit of a gimmick for some, I use it fairly often, especially when it's raining since the touches may misregister if the screen is wet.

For me, the strap was a bit small.


In fact, out of the three watches I own, the Pro 3 Ultra is one of the smallest circumference bands.  However, you can probably get bigger bands aftermarket.

Technology

Activity tracking

As with the TicWatch Pro 3 (and just about most other smartwatches), this watch tracks heart rate, steps, activity, etc.  However, it comes with a few added features.  It has IHB AFiB Detection and 24 hours stress monitoring.

The step counter was fairly accurate and was about 50 steps off from the Galaxy Watch 4.  This is a small margin of error and can be attributed to perhaps me being more dominant on the arm that I wore the Galaxy Watch 4.  One good thing about the Mobvoi watch is that it syncs with Google Fit, unlike the Samsung watch.  Samsung Watch only syncs with Samsung Health and you need a third-party app like Health Sync.  In my experience, it didn't sense the sport that accurately and you have to manually select the sport.

Vibration motor

The vibration motor on this watch isn't that strong compared to the Samsung but it's strong enough.



Synergy with phone

One feature on the Samsung that I miss is the synergy with the phone.  The Samsung Watch syncs the do not disturb mode with the Samsung Note 20 Ultra.  In addition, with the Samsung, any alarms ringing on the phone also ring on the watch, which is nice.  The TicWatch Pro 3 and Pro 3 Ultra, however, lacks this feature.

Google Assistant

Unlike the Samsung watch, the Pro 3 Ultra comes with Google Assistant.  However, during my 2 weeks of use, I rarely use the assistant on my watch.  Although it supports control of my smart home devices, it does not support routines.  When I'm at home, I tend to use my Google Home Hub Max anyway and if I'm on the way, I will use my headphones to trigger the Google assistant from my phone.

4G/LTE

Although my version provided by Mobvoi is the LTE version, it is tied to the Vodafone network.  However, there is an unofficial workaround on Reddit.  The Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 is slightly more open but I found out only certain networks and certain plans support the esim on the watch.  Your watch and your phone must be with the same provider.  

In other words, if you want to use the watch to make independent calls, you need to be with a certain network (on your phone) and you have to pay more to support the watch.  Last I checked, none of the supported providers support the watch on their PAYG plan.  You need to be in with a contract with the network.  There isn't a PAYG plan just for the watch.

I miss my Huawei Watch 2 when you can simply pop a sim into the smart watch and use it as a phone.

Battery life

The TicWatch Pro 3 Ultra has no contender in the battery life category.  It has extremely long battery life.  With its 577 mAh battery and secondary FSTN display, the TicWatch Pro 3 Ultra is the king of battery life.  Mobvoi says it would last 72 hours in normal "smart" mode and 45 days in the essential mode.  The essential mode only uses the secondary display and allows you to see your steps and battery life along with the time and date.


Wear OS version

The watch comes with Wear OS 2.33.  However, no other smartwatch apart from the Samsung Watch 4 comes with Wear OS 3.0, so I'm not going to count this as a con, unlike other review sites.  The TicWatch Pro 3 and Pro 3 Ultra are slated to be upgraded to Wear OS 3 later this year.

Watch Specs

These are the watch details from Mobvoi's website.

Model: TicWatch Pro 3 Ultra GPS
Dimensions (mm): 47 x 48 x 12.3
Weight: 41g
Color: Shadow Black
Watch case: Stainless steel and high-strength nylon with fiberglass
Screen: Corning Gorilla Anti-fingerprint Cover Glass
Operating System: Wear OS by Google
Chipset: Qualcomm® Snapdragon Wear™ 4100 Platform and Mobvoi dual processor system
Memory
  • RAM: 1GB
  • Onboard storage: 8GB
Display: 1.4“ 454x454 326ppi Full Color Always On Display AMOLED + FSTN
Connectivity
  • Bluetooth 5.0
  • Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n (Wifi 4)
  • GNSS: GPS+Beidou+Glonass+Galileo+QZSS
NFC Payments: Google Pay

Additional features:
  • Speaker
  • Mic
  • Vibrator
  • Barometer
Sensors
  • Accelerometer
  • Gyro Sensor
  • HD PPG Heart Rate Sensor
  • SpO2 Sensor
  • Low Latency Off-Body Sensor
  • Barometer
Battery capacity: 577mAh
Durability: IP68, Pool Swim/MIL-STD-810G

Conclusion

Mobvoi is a champion with battery life and their dual-display technology is extremely legible even in bright sunlight.  TicWatch Pro 3 Ultra continues this trend of excellence in the TicWatch Pro 3.  It has a couple of negatives though.  The watch is slightly bulky and the wristband is smaller than other watches, including the TicWatch Pro 3.  Also, unless you're with Vodafone or plan to switch to Vodafone, don't get the LTE version.  The Bluetooth version will suffice and you will save a couple of bucks as well.  For a more in-depth review, please see Brian Burriston's excellent review on Notebookcheck.net: https://www.notebookcheck.net/Mobvoi-TicWatch-Pro-3-Ultra-GPS-in-review-Small-update-of-a-good-smartwatch.574006.0.html.

If battery life is your main concern, get the TicWatch Pro 3 Ultra.  If you have a Samsung phone and would like the greater synergy between your phone and watch, get the Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 classic.

This blog participates in the Amazon affiliate program and if you buy through the links, we may earn an affiliate commission.  This does not affect the quality of the review, however.

Saturday, November 20, 2021

Fossil Gen 6 Watch (FTW6078) review

Today I'm reviewing the Fossil FTW 6078, which currently sells for £255.82 (as of November 22, 2020).





Pros: 
  • Stylish
  • Fast
Cons:
  • Battery drain (doesn't last 2 days)
  • Slips off-hand if moving

Battery

Right off the bat, I would like to say, the battery of the Fossil sucks.  If you turn on background HR, you won't last 2 days.  At most the battery would last 1.5 days.  By the end of Day 1 after charging, the battery remaining was 25%.




My suspicion is confirmed with Fossil replying to my comment asking how big are their batteries.  It is only 300 mAH, which lasts up to 24 hours with normal usage

When the watch reaches low power, the watch suggests switching to watch-only mode, which basically turns the smartwatch into a dumb watch that only shows the time.


The display turns off when not in use.

On the plus size, owing to the small battery size, the watch charges relatively quick.  In my experience, it charges to 100% in just like 30 minutes.

Style

There's no denying that the Fossil is stylish, and I think it would be good for formal events as a dress watch.  The watch is a bit bulky though but that's expected from smartwatches nowadays.

The turning dial is a nice touch, but I don't find it as useful.  Throughout my two-week trial, I barely used the rotating side dial.  However, I like the fact that the Fossil has two assignable buttons.

In addition, during my outdoor trials, I find the watch sliding around when I'm in motion.
 

Connectivity

The watch has the following sensors: " Accelerometer, Altimeter, Ambient Light, Compass, Gyroscope, Off-body IR, PPG Heart Rate, SPO2."  That seems to be the standard on most modern smartwatches.  The watch uses the "Wellness" app to gather data in addition to Google Fit.  The Wellness app, however, doesn't reliably update heart rate to the Google Fit servers.  Also, it does not update the SPO2 data to the Google Fit servers.  To make matters worse, the Fossil Watch does not have a companion fitness app like Samsung Health, Huawei Health, or Mobvoi Health.  With my TicWatch Pro 3, although SPO2 data doesn't upload to Google Fit, I can view it on the Mobvoi Health app, which is a good workaround.

Watch Specs

These are the watch details from Fossil's own website:

Product Details

Sku: FTW6078
Platform: GEN 6 SMARTWATCH
Case: 42 mm, Stainless Steel
Strap: 18 mm, Interchangeable
Lifestyle: Always on Display now brighter with more colours. Thousands of watch faces to personalise your look and always see the time. Hundreds of apps from assistant to fitness, payments, music, social, news, games, stop watches, and more. With a 3 ATM design and charging in about half an hour, it’s perfect for all your activities.
Health: Automatically tracks activity goals, steps, sleep, heart rate, cardio level, SPO2 (blood oxygen), and more. Activity modes with GPS keep you on track with your distance and path. Advanced sensors provide the data to power all your health and fitness apps.
Preloaded Apps: Agenda, Alarm, Battery-Optimised Activity Mode, Calendar, Cardio Level Tracking, Cardiogram, Contacts, Enhanced Phone Dialer App, Facer, Google Assistant, Google Fit (Workout, Heart Rate, Goals, Breathe), Google Maps, Google Pay™, Google Play Store, Nike Run Club, Noonlight, Smart Battery Modes, Spotify, Stopwatch, Timer, Translate, Wellness App with Sleep Tracking

Tech Specs

Operating System: Powered with Wear OS by Google
Compatibility: Wear OS by Google works with phones running the latest version of Android™ (excluding Go edition and phones without Google Play Store) or iOS. Supported features may vary between platforms and countries with compatibility subject to change.
Processor: Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ Wear 4100+
Memory: 1 GB RAM, 8GB Storage
Display: 1.28" Color AMOLED / 416 x 416 / 326ppi
Input: 2 Additional Push Buttons (configurable), Rotating Home Button, Touchscreen, Voice
Sound/Actuator: Loudspeaker, Microphone, Vibration
Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.0 LE, GPS, NFC SE, WiFi
Sensors: Accelerometer, Altimeter, Ambient Light, Compass, Gyroscope, Off-body IR, PPG Heart Rate, SPO2
Battery: 24 Hr + multi day Extended Mode **Varies based on usage and after updates install**. USB data cable with magnetic dock snaps to split rings on watch caseback and spins 360 degrees for ease of use. Approximately half an hour to reach 80%.
Water Resistance: 3 ATM

Watch gallery








 Concluding remarks

Personally, I think the watch is more style over function.  While stylish, the watch's short battery life is a major handicap.


Friday, September 24, 2021

Review of Sony WF 1000XMF


I'm sure WF100XMF is on everybody's shortlist when they're looking for new earbuds.  As of this review, the earbuds cost £249 on Amazon.

Right off the bat, I would say the WF100XMF offers one of the best active noise cancellations and it completely removes transport noises.  It also has, on paper one of the longest battery life.  However, its software and comfort leave much to be desired.



One thing I don't like about the headphone is that you have to choose the function of the left and right earbud. You can't customize the gesture. By default, it's the right ear control music playback and Google assistant while the left controls noise cancellation levels and pass-through mode. As you notice, this means if you want to adjust the volume, you have to change one of the default configurations. If you switch the left ear's shortcuts, you lose the ability to turn off noise cancellation on demand and the ability to have a pass-through mode (hold to turn off noise cancellation and turn down media volume).

This is somewhat mitigated by the speak to chat mode, which detects your voice and kills media audio, and turns off noise cancellation. You can also set it up so that the app detects your location and turn off noise canceling when you arrive at that location. The app can also detect the movement and set the headphone into "sitting, walking, running, or commuting" mode. However, if you're on the bus, it will occasionally return to sitting mode when the bus pulls into a bus stop. This can be a bit distracting if you have set up sitting mode to have noise cancellation turned off. The GPS mode switch is a bit glitchy at times as it detected that I'm at a place a good few distances from my place. For example, I have set up the headphone to turn off noise cancellation when I'm at the local bus station but it detects that I'm at the bus stop when I'm at the other side of the city, 0.3 miles from the bus station. The chat to talk can be a bit sensitive also. It thinks I'm talking when I'm just coughing.

This headphone comes with native Google Assitant.


However, this Google assistant is unavailable unless you assign a "playback" shortcut to one of the two earbuds.  This feature is nothing to sing and dance about.  it's just as good as the Google Assistant on your phone.

That said, the audio of the headphone sounds OK. It doesn't have that deep bass but the music comes in nice and clear. You can customize the sound using the inbuilt equalizer. The foam head tip does its job keeping outside noise out.

Now we come with my biggest complaint about the headphone. Comfort. For me, the headphone is a bit uncomfortable. The hard flat part of the headphone causes pain in my ear as I move my head around. Only completely removing the headset from my ear removes this pain. Also, I found out that the foam tip comes off the headphones and remains in the ear! Not exactly great when you're nowhere near a first aid kit. I have this happen once when I was in town and to my chagrin, nobody in town had a tweezer in their first aid kit.

In summary, the head bud has:

  • Great active noise cancellation
  • Good audio quality
  • Excellent battery
  • Low comfort
  • Not easily customizable software
  • Earbud shortcuts can be a bit rigid.