How do w rate the Best Fitness Trackers

Staying fit used to be one of the most tedious tasks anyone could ever go through. Not only was it difficult to get affordable fitness equipment, but keeping track of your progress was also a total nightmare. Fast forward several years, we now have a host of incredible fitness equipment, some of which are compact and affordable enough for you to bring them into your home. Fitness tracking has also improved tremendously. We are seeing a new generation of fitness trackers that come with vast features tracking different aspects of your fitness journey. These gadgets have also grown extremely accurate and comprehensive, making sure that no detail is left out. With more accurate data, it becomes extremely easy for one to monitor their progress and come up with a masterplan that can boost their fitness objectives further.

Fitness Trackers Vs. Smartwatches

Do we really need fitness trackers in the age of smartwatches? Well, this will depend on your fitness goal and budget. The smartwatch technology has advanced so much, and now we see incredible watches that can not only give you access to some of the basic functions of your phone, but they can also keep track of your physical activities. Take the Samsung Gear S3, for instance; this device is packed with lots of features that pull dozens of your phone’s functions all while it is still tracking some of your vitals such as your heart rate. It’s insane just how much stuff you can do from your wrist.

The best smartwatches are incredible in many ways. They feature a big display, they give you convenient access to your phone, and they also complement your fashion either subtly or through a bold statement. However, if you are looking for a reliable gadget that gives you as many details on your fitness as possible then what you need is a fitness tracker. These devices are, after all, solely designed for this very purpose. The best fitness trackers will give you accurate and extensive details on various aspects of your body, allowing you to make informed decisions on what you need to improve to finally reach your fitness goals. Some of them will also throw in a few extras such as delivering a couple of your smartphone’s notifications to the usually small display. A big majority of the smartwatches in the market don’t come anywhere close to this sort of performance, and the ones that do are usually expensive and out of reach for many fitness enthusiasts.

1.Fitbit Charge 2 Heart Rate + Fitness Wristband

It’s impossible to discuss fitness trackers without mentioning Fitbit products. Fitbit has mastered the ins and outs of this industry, and with their advanced technology, they consistently make some of the best fitness trackers in the market. This is evidently seen on the massive success that their trackers have had over the years, and the Fitbit Charge 2 is part of that culture.

This particular Fitbit tracker looks amazing, feels premium, and the OLED display is one that you will definitely enjoy interacting with. You will also find the tracker very comfortable to wear while going through your daily routine.

Charge 2 will keep track of your heartbeat throughout the day thanks to the PurePulse heartrate monitor. This means that you’ll be getting comprehensive data on everything that you are doing automatically. By everything we mean active minutes, stairs climbed, calories burned, distance covered, and the number of steps taken. With so much data being collected, you’ll receive comprehensive stats that can help you attain your fitness goals within a very short time.

To make it easier for you to monitor your progress, Fitbit provides the Cardio Fitness Score. This feature is integrated with a GPS which facilitates the real-time transmission of data on distance and pace.

The Fitbit Charge 2 can be connected with different devices running on different operating systems, including Android, iOS, and Windows.

Other Features

• All-day activity tracking
• Supports Fitbeat health and Fitness Apps
• Auto-exercise recognition
• Guided breathing sessions
• Guided coaching
• Personalized Insights for improved sleep quality and routine
• Connect and challenge your family and friends

2.Fitbit Charge 3 Fitness Activity Tracker

The Fitbit Charge 3 was supposed to be an upgrade to the Charge 2, but the boots appear to be too big for this tracker to fit. This does not mean that the Charge 3 is useless though because if you are looking for a simple yet elegant fitness tracker that is capable of monitoring all the essentials of your health and fitness, then the Fitbit Charge 3 Fitness Activity Tracker is one of your best options. This tracker monitors various essentials including your heart rate (this is done 24/7) and calories burned.

This device from Fitbit is also one of the best-selling trackers in the market, and one of the key reasons behind that is the numerous exercises modes that are included. The modes are designed by expert, and they are supposed to help you achieve specific goals. From the 15+ modes, you can easily switch between calories-burned, distance, and time-based goals. The modes provide real-time progress helping you to see how well you are faring and whether you are on track to hit your goal or if you need to up your game. These versatile options make sure that you remain healthy and fit from all fronts.

The Fitbit Charge 3 also comes with an auto-sleep tracking feature. This is tasked with helping you get better sleep by providing you with options of setting different sleep schedules. Bedtime reminders further enhance this feature. If you utilize this feature correctly, you are going to see incredible improvements with your sleep routine and overall sleep quality.

You can sync this tracker with your android smartphone and receive texts, calls, app alerts and even view a calendar through this tracker.

Other Features

• Swim-proof design
• Water resistant (up to 50m)
• GPS-enabled
• 7-day battery life
• Guided breathing sessions
• Supports Fitbit Health and Fitness App
• All-Day tracking
• Guided coaching
• Female health tracking (monitors periods, ovulation and fertility)

3.Letsfit Fitness Tracker HR

The LetsFit Fitness tracker HR is a decent option for all the budget-conscious fellas that want to get their fitness journey underway. This comes with what the manufacturer refers to as “Multi-Sport Management.”  In simple terms, this feature helps to track up to 14 different exercises, and this includes outdoor exercises such as riding and running. The tracker can also be connected to your phone’s GPS thus helping to deliver real-time stats.

The LetsFit Fitness Tracker also offers all-day heartrate tracking. At night, it will remain active to monitor your sleeping. With these two sets of data, it becomes really easy to understand both your fitness and health status. 

The tracker is designed to do more than just heart rate and sleep monitoring. It will also take down the data on calories burned; distance covered, active time, and steps taken.

LetsFit Fitness Tracker HR can be paired with smartphones to bring important notifications to your wrist. You should be able to access your incoming emails, text messages, and various other notifications through the device. Unfortunately, not many smartphones can be paired with this affordable fitness tracker.

Other Features

• Reminders to move
• Remote photography
• IP67 waterproof
• Supports VeryFitPro app
• 5-10 days battery life (will depend on how you use it)
• 0.96 OLED screen

Fitness Tracker Buying Guide

With so many options to choose from, it is vital that you are fully aware of what you are looking for failure to which you might end up with a tracker that is rather useless to you.

What are your fitness goals?

If you are all about doing activities like swimming and jumping rope, you’ll need to read between the fine print and get yourself a tracker that is capable of taking down this data. Also, if fitness to you is a non-stop activity and you need all the data on your vitals even when you are resting, then your best pick has to be an advanced tracker that’s capable of detecting all your activities automatically and tracking them consistently.

What’s your preferred design?

Fitness trackers come in many different designs, and this means that there is something perfectly suited for your unique preferences. If you are looking for a simple tracker with a minimalistic display, then you will have a lot of options to choose from. Likewise, guys who are looking for a tracker that draws attention with a slightly bigger LED display, a fancy look, and various other features will also have a good number of options at their disposal. You’ll also have the luxury of choosing between a tracker with a circular and square face.

It’s also under this category that you will have to ask yourself the type of tracker you’ll be comfortable wearing. Wrist-worn trackers are the most popular. These are very comfortable, and they also make it easier for you to access the data you need. Some trackers are attached to your clothing where a hook holds them. It’s also possible to get a single tracker that provides both of these options.

Which vitals do you want to be monitored?

The two main vitals that all fitness trackers monitors are calories burned and steps done. If that’s all you need in a fitness tracker, then you’ll be spoilt of affordable choices. However, we don’t recommend such trackers to anyone. It doesn’t matter whether you are a newbie or on a tight budget, but such a basic tracker will most probably become obsolete before you even know it. Do your best and get a tracker that takes down more data such as distance traveled, heart rate, sleep quality, and many others. You may also want GPS-capability, especially if you do a lot of outdoor exercises such as cycling and running. While scanning the specs for GPS, make sure that you also get some information on how long the tracker can function with the GPS turned on before the battery dies. You can also check the tracker’s ability to synchronize with your phone.

Are there any fitness tracker apps supported?

The best fitness trackers will allow you to use various fitness applications to increase the amount of data captured. This is very important as it not only increases accuracy, but it also makes it easier for you to make well-informed decisions on what you need to do to improve. They will also help you to note down your achievements, and this should motivate you to work even harder.

How do we rate the Best Dash cams?

Dash cams are an incredible invention that has helped in solving a lot of issues on the road. These cameras are literally an extra safety measure that has helped motorists make solid claims or avoid fraudulent claims against other motorists on the road. Previously, dashboard cameras were all about recording what is going on on the road. However, modern cameras are now designed to offer more than that with some of them coming with sophisticated tech that detects lane barriers, the car in front, and even traffic lights and other signals. These cameras are then engineered to trigger some signal whenever these sensors detect something that the drivers need to be aware of. Now, we have to admit that this tech does not work as perfectly as it sounds. Actually, when testing numerous dash cams before coming up with this review, the sensors from a big majority of the cameras failed to work correctly in real life. Therefore, you don’t need to let sophisticated features lead you into buying an expensive dash cam which might not even work the way it is supposed to.

With that said, it is crucial to focus on what really matters, and that’s getting a reliable dashboard camera that will capture all the events going on in the road. And you know what; dashboard cams are not just good in getting you out of some traffic, but they may also help you go viral with some rib cracking recording.

Dashboard Cam Buying Guide

What are some of the factors that you must look for when looking for the best dashcam in today’s complex tech market? Some of the primary factors that you need to consider here include:

Resolution

A big majority of the dash cams in the market come with 1080p resolution. You Can also get some cameras with 720P resolution, but unfortunately, the quality of video of such cameras is usually very poor, and it gets worse when you are driving in bad weather conditions. Some of the recent dash cams are also coming with a 4K resolution, which is superb because the image quality is usually very stunning. Here is the issue though 4k footages are normally massive in size, and hence you are going to need a lot of storage, and this can get expensive. It’s therefore reasonable and wise to settle for a 1080p dash cam especially if you are not engaged in any professional filming.

Form Factor

What’s the ideal shape and size of the best dashcam? Most people prefer dashboard cameras that are small in size and easy to disguise. This is why most dashboard cameras are designed to be mounted just behind the rear view mirror. This allows the cameras to keep recording without attracting too much attention both in and outside the car.

Going for a compact dashcam that’s easy to hide means that you are trading off an LCD screen. Instead of viewing the footage through an LCD as is the case with the other bulkier cams, you’ll have to view the footages to your phone through Wi-Fi. This means that dash cams without a display involve some rather intensive setting up to get them running. The good news is that there are lots of tutorials online and vivid guides to help you out with this. The advantage of dash cams that are Wi-Fi enabled is that viewing and downloading footage is very easy once they’re set up.

GPS

GPS is a crucial factor in dashboard cameras. This feature helps in recording the speed and location of your car. As you can guess, with this vital information, you can easily overturn a case against you in the shortest time possible and get on with your life.

Mounting option

Some Dashboard cameras are designed to be mounted using adhesive mounts while others take advantage of suctions. If you are installing the dashboard in your car and you have no plans of moving the camera frequently, you are better off going for the adhesive mounts. This will secure the camera onto your windshield firmly, thus making sure that the images you are getting are also of high quality. Meanwhile, dashboard cameras utilizing suction mounts are very helpful when you want to record footage on a leased car or in case you know that you’ll be moving your camera frequently.

Other features include:

• Voice control
• Parking mode i.e., the ability of the dashcam to keep recording even when the car is stationary
• Night vision
• G-sensor
• Memory partitioning
• Micro SD slot

3 Best Dash cams

1.Garmin Dash Cam 55

The Garmin Dash Cam 55 comes with everything you’d ever need in a dash cam today. This camera may seem small, and all but it is packed with lots of features to ensure that as a driver, you are getting all the advantages you need from a dashcam without it taking too much of your space to become a distraction.

The camera records videos in 1440p making sure that you can make out all the finer details you need when making a claim. The wide-angle lens will also give you all the advantage you need since it captures the entire road ahead of you. It comes with a 2-inch display that makes setting up and viewing footages super easy. The Garmin Dash Cam 55 is also fitted with GPS that provides accurate details on location and time.

The first generation of dashboard cameras was fine in recording but viewing and sharing the footages was a nightmare. The Garmini 55 shows just how far dashboard cameras have come especially in sharing of clips. With the inbuilt Wi-Fi, all you’ll need is to download the VIRB app (which is free btw) and just like that; you can sync the cam with all compatible devices such as smartphones tablets and even laptops.

The Garmin 55 also comes with a G-sensor that’s keen on detecting incidents such as accidents when they happen. When the sensor is triggered, the dash cam will immediately save the last, current, and next recording. 

Other Features

• Lane departure warning
• Forward collision warning
• Voice control
• The compact and inconspicuous design

2.WheelWitness HD Pro Dash Cam with GPS

The WheelWitness HD Pro Dashboard Camera is not just an excellent safety measure, but it is also designed to be a superb traveling accessory. For all the lovers of road trips, this dash cam will catch all your priceless moments in HD. The camera’s 2304 x 1296P resolution delivers crisp images that are worth a spot in your Instagram timeline.

This professional dash cam from WheelWitness features a 170-degree view to capture everything that’s going on in front of your car. The A7LA50 processor is also powerful enough to keep the camera recording quality videos consistently.

Another reason to love the WheelWitness HD Pro camera is the 3-inch colored LCD. You can view the footage recorded and navigate through the various settings of the dash cam from this display. Four physical buttons are included to aid with navigation and customization of the camera.

No longer do you have to incur losses simply because your dash cam could not endure bad weather or record images in poorly lit areas. The WheelWitness HD Pro comes with WDR technology that will deliver crystal clear images even through the rain or sunshine and regardless of whether it’s in the morning or late in the evening.

One major issue with WheelWitness HD Pro is that it automatically turns off when the ignition is turned off. This means that in case someone crashes your car in the parking lot while you are in the mall, then you’ll have no evidence or footage of what happened.

Other Features

• GPS enabled
• G-sensor
• Loop recording
• Easy to install
• Wide angle lens
• Control exposure value

3.Uber Dual Lens Dash Cam Crosstour

The Uber Dual Lens Dash Cam comes with an inbuilt GPS that records more than just the basic data we are used to. For instance, this dash cam will keep records of speed, longitude, latitude, and driving track to make sure that the exact location of your vehicle is pinpointed in case of any problem.

Another reason to love this camera is its dual lenses, which will capture both the front and the inside of the car. This makes sure that none of your memorable moments go undocumented. This particular feature also makes the dash cam ideal for uber and other cab drivers. Commercial vehicles can also take advantage of the two lenses to make sure that all incidents inside and outside the vehicle are recorded without having to invest in two different sets of cameras.

The Uber Dual Lens Dash Cam also has a parking mode. This makes sure that you get continuous protection even when your car is not running. This mode is perfectly engineered to remain effective without draining your car’s battery thanks to the sensor that automatically switches the camera on and off.

The dashboard camera can work in temperatures as low as -20 and as high as 60°C. This means that you can rely on the camera to keep a record of all your events through the hottest of summers to the coldest of winters without any faults at all.

You will also get some night vision through this camera courtesy of the WDR technology and the extremely sensitive Sony IMX 323 image sensors.

Other Features

• G-sensor
• Ultra-wide viewing angle (170-degree)
• Supports 32GB TF card
• Loop recording
• Gravity sensors
• Motion detection
• Time-lapse recording
• F1.8 front lens
• 1080P FHD front lens and the 720P inside the lens

How do we rate the Best 3D Printers

3D printers used to be a commodity reserved for laboratories and industries. Experts used these printers to make 3-dimensional objects for the sake of manufacturing and research, among other purposes. Back then, 3D printing was an expensive and somewhat complex affair that was reserved for the big industries. That has completely changed, though. Today, 3D printing can take place virtually anywhere, and you don’t even need to have too many technical skills to operate these machines. Thanks to advancement in tech, 3D printers have become insanely compact yet so incredibly made to produce remarkable objects. As you can guess, this has increased enthusiasm for 3D printing not just for official functions but also as a hobby.

Here is the thing though, even though 3D printers have come a long way, to get the best experience and results in this exercise, you still need to splash a significant amount of cash. How significant you may wonder; well, the very best 3D printers in the market are going for over $3,000! Yes, you’ll need more than three grands to get the ultimate 3D printer capable of doing perhaps everything such a printer is supposed to do to perfection. But don’t let this scare you away if your budget is slim. The best part about the tech world is that in most cases, there is always something for everyone. In this case, for instance, some manufacturers have developed entry-level 3D printers that are retailing for as low as $200. The tradeoff, however, is that you’ll have to compromise on some features and you’ll also need to keep your expectation within reasonable levels.

3D Printers Buying Guide

How do you identify the best 3D printer? You can tell the best 3D printers from other rather disappointing machines by looking out for the following key factors:

Type of Printer

There are two types of 3D printers i.e., FFF (Fused Filament Fabrication) also referred to as FDM (Fused Deposition Modelling) and SLA (Stereo Lithography). FFF 3D printers produce models by melting a filament inside a printhead while SLA printers utilize UV laser to make models by solidifying a resin.

So, which of the two is the best option? Well, that will partly depend on what you are looking for and your budget. For instance, FFF printers are usually more affordable and very easy to use, which makes them a decent option for all starters. On the other hand, the process involved in using SLA printers is complicated, but the results are usually very impressive with excellent details.

Printing Material

3D printers come with different printing materials, and these will hugely affect your entire experience. For FFF printers, the most commonly used materials are filaments, such as PLA, ABS, TPE, HDPE, and nylon. PLA-which are biodegradable-and ABS (plastic) are the most popular, and this is partly because they are available in different colors, which enhances your creativity. It’s important to note that all filament materials can either be found in 3mm or 1.75mm, and these two cannot be interchanged.

As you can see, FFF printers give users quite a lot of options to choose from, and this is a huge plus as compared to the SLA printers which limit your options.

While looking at the printing material, it is vital to consider whether the materials are rigid or flexible. How useful will that material be in your specific projects?

We would also like to draw your attention to some of the printers that are designed to work with a specific type of material only. These printers are usually very luring with low prices, and that’s because the manufacturer knows that you’ll be trapped into using their printing materials forever. This basically denies you the privilege of having options, and that’s why we do not normally recommend them.

Quality

Whenever we are talking about the quality of models printed by 3D printers, we also have to bring in the aspect of speed. That’s simply because 3D printers can allow you to get high-quality objects, but then this will require you to be extremely patient because the models may take hours to print. Meanwhile, some printers can help you get the models you need pretty quickly, but then the details in the models will be very wanting.

Here is our recommendation to you; if you have a considerable budget spared for a 3D printer, go for the best ones that allow you to choose between different quality settings i.e., you should be able to select either high quality but slow speed or low quality but fast printing. This brings in some flexibility which you’ll find very useful.

Print Volume

Print volume refers to the size of models that a 3D printer can make. Once you know what you are expecting to use the printer for it becomes easier to determine the ideal size of a 3D printer that you should go for. Make sure that you look at the individual dimensions as this will determine how wide, tall, or deep your models will be.

Our Top Picks

1.FlashForge 3D Printer Creator Pro

The FlashForge Creator Pro is arguably the best budget-friendly 3D printer you can get at the moment. This printer packs all the features a professional would need in making a highly detailed model, yet it goes for just $800. We understand that $800 might be quite a stretch for some people, but if you need something that takes you as close to a professional 3D print as possible, then this is it.

The FlashForge Creator Pro uses FFF printing technology, which gives you quite a variety of options on the printing materials that you can use. Some of the materials compatible with this printer include ABS, ABS Pro, PLA, color change, Elastic, PVA, PETG, TPE, HIPS, and TPU. The printing chamber is perfectly enclosed to insulate your prints.

The printer is designed with a metal frame which offers excellent stability compared to the previous generation of printers from FlashForge. According to the manufacturer, the build volume of this printer is 8.9 by 5.8 by 5.9 inches. The filament diameter is 1.75mm or 0.069 inches. 

Meanwhile, the layer resolution varies from 100 to 500 microns.

This 3D printer is compatible with various software, including FlashPrint and ReplicatorG. You can also use it with Simplify3D, but you will have to pay for the software since it’s a third party product.

Specs

• 5 liters build volume
• Adjustable 0.1-0.3mm layer thickness
• 0.4m nozzle diameter
• Compatible with Windows, Mac, and Linux
• Can print via a USB cable or from an SD card
• Input file types supported: gcode, STL, x3g printing build envelope

2.ANYCUBIC Photon UV LCD 3D Printer

The ANYCUBIC Photon is another brilliant 3D printer that pays extra attention to your models, making sure that all the details are perfectly captured. It is, after all, an STL 3D which goes a long way to say just how perfect the printer will be in getting the details down to the micrometer.  Interestingly, the printer is retailing at less than $500, making it one of the most affordable STL 3D printers in the market at the moment.

This printer features a 2K LCD masking screen and thanks to the SLA/DLP printing processes; it will do an excellent job in expressing all the details in your 3D models.

As the name suggests, this particular printer comes with a colored touch screen with photon technology. This allows you to preview the models in your SD card, and it also supports real-time display printing. The photon system is also equipped with a computer board. With this board, you won’t need to rely on SD cards or other expensive hardware to print the models because you’ll be able to do it directly from a USB.

The ANYCUBIC Photon features a UV-LED that’s designed to deliver both uniformity and durability. The 80 x 80mm heat sink supports this.

We would like to highlight some downsides associated with this printer. One, the resin is mildly toxic, which means that you must always have your gloves on when handling it. It will also require a lot of washing to maintain it. Personally, I found the sticky nature of this resin very annoying too. The ANYCUBIC Photon is also quite small and incapable of making a model bigger than 4.5 by 2.5 by 6.1 inches.

Specs

• LCD masking printing technology
• 405nm photosensitive printing resin
• Integrated computer board

3.LulzBot Mini Desktop 3D Printer

LulzBot Mini is one of the best 3D printers in the market today. The printer may look tiny and somewhat simple, but its features, performance, and output will completely change what you think about “user-friendly” 3D printers.

First of all, this printer gives the option of how complex you want it to be. You can go for a basic interface that handles all the standard stuff and then move all the way to advanced level which now brings you to the more pro features required for accurate and detailed 3D prints. This essentially makes the LulzBot Mini the ideal 3D printer for all students who are looking for “simple” equipment that will also remain useful once they’ve mastered the basics involved in 3D printing.

The LulzBot Mini is an FFF 3D printer that supports vast printing materials such as polyester filaments, nylon, polycarbonate, and ABS. You will also have quite a lot of printing software to work with. Some of these software includes MatterControl, Cura LulzBot Edition, BotQueue, Pritrun, OctoPrint, among many others.

The printer also packs several other features that will make your everyday use of this equipment a breeze. These include auto-nozzle cleaning, auto-bed leveling, PEI print surface, which is easy to maintain and a new easy-to-use Cura software.

Specs

• Layer resolution: 50 – 500 micron
• Print volume: 6 by 6 by 6.2 inches
• Max temperature: 572 °F (300 °C) around the hot end and 248 °F (120 °C)
• Top print speed: 275mm/sec at 0.18mm height
• 50mm nozzle
• Hexagon hot end with active cooling around the heatsinks

How we rate the Best Wireless Earbuds

Saying the first generation of wireless earbuds was a disappointment is a gross understatement. These buds were faced with so many challenges, and the biggest one of them was the poor connection between them and the audio gadgets, which made the entire experience too much of a struggle. The best thing that came out of these earbuds is that they laid the foundation upon which the new generation of true wireless earbuds will flourish.

The Bluetooth tech has grown tremendously while the audio drivers have also seen a massive improvement. This has resulted not just in better wireless connection but also on deeper and richer sounds. As of today, we have hundreds of wireless earbuds in the market, some of which are competing up there with the best high-end headphones.

This means that the problem is no longer on whether true wireless earbuds are worth your time and dime but rather which is the best wireless earbud that you can get within your budget? To answer this question, we’ve prepared a sample of some of the best wireless earbuds in the market today. This list features the top performers in our rigorous tests where we tried the earbuds for audio quality, comfort, their ability to stay fit in the ears, battery life, and overall performance. In the end, we came up with the following wireless earbuds that we believe offer the best features.

1. Jabra Elite Active 65T Alexa Enabled True Wireless Sports Earbuds

At the top of the list is the $189 Jabra Elite Active 65T Earbuds. Now, it doesn’t matter how much money you have to splash around, but if you are going to spend close to $200 on a pair of tiny earbuds, then they better be able to sort all your issues as far as music entertainment and making a call is concerned. And guess what, the Jabra Elite earbuds have done precisely that.

These earbuds are fitted with Bluetooth 5.0, which means that connection will be the least of your worries. And then we have the speakers themselves which are nothing short of brilliant. Expect to receive crystal clear audio through these earbuds. The drivers are engineered to offer just the right balance between bass and the highs. This works to ensure that you receive your music as it is with absolutely no downgrade in quality. In case you’re the kind of person who needs a bit more bass or treble in audio be it permanently or temporarily then you can take advantage of the Jabra Sound+ app to play around with the equalizer.

The active in the name of these earbuds stand for an active lifestyle because that’s exactly what these earbuds will support. If you always kick start your day on a treadmill in your garage, and you don’t want to shake the whole house with your $1000+ Soundbar then you can use the Jabra Elite Active 65T. These will give you the entertainment you need without experiencing the inconvenience that is sloppy earbuds. This has been achieved by the snug and secure fit designing of the earbuds that allow them to stay put in your ears as you push your body beyond its fitness limits. Of course, when this is going on a lot of sweating is bound to happen, and this is yet another department that these earbuds have you covered; the buds are IP56 rated which means that they are water and dust resistant.

The earbuds also pack a couple of sensors, including motion sensors that track your fitness.

When the earbuds are fully charged, you will get talk and music time of up to 5 hours. This is extended further to 15 hours by the included charging case. It’s also worth noting that 15 minutes of charge is enough to see you through 1.5 hours of use.

The Jabra Elite Active 65T serves you with all the three popular voice commands i.e., Google Assistant, Sir and Alexa. It all comes down to your preference.

Other Features

• 4-microphone tech
• IP56 rating
• Rapid charge
• Accelerometer’
• Customizable equalizer

Verdict: An almost $200 asking price comes with lots of expectation, but the Jabra Elite Active 65T has proved that it is indeed worth it. We loved the audio quality, and the ability to interact with the equalizer was also highly welcomed. They are also weatherproof, and their snug nature makes them more than ideal for an active lifestyle.

2. Apple Airpods

Everyone knows about Apple Airpods and their crazy price tag, but not a lot of people know what exactly it is they have to offer. 

First of all, Apple Airpods are perhaps the best smart airpods in the market. These buds feature modern technology with various sensors which boost their performance significantly while also making them very easy to use on a day-to-day basis.

The Airpods are fitted with motion sensors that are quick to detect whenever they are taken off. This will then pause your music automatically. As a result, you get to save your battery, and the second you put them back on your music will automatically come on.

Another department where the AirPods outshine their competitors is on range, which is a staggering 100 feet! This is quite a lot, and of course, you need to make sure that obstructions minimized for a better connection. The fun part about having a range this big is that you don’t have to be carrying your phone to use them. You could easily have your iPhone charging in the living room as you make some sandwich in the kitchen while enjoying some pop music on your AirPods.

You’ll also enjoy the presence of Siri voice commands and the convenience that it comes with.

In audio quality, AirPods are not the best you can get, but by no means are they useless. We just found the quality not as premium as we’d expected from high-end earbuds made by a company such as Apple.

In terms of battery life, Apple AirPods gives you 5 hours of talk and music time, which is slightly less than what our top pick offers. On the bright side, the charging case gives you up to 24 hours of talk time before you are forced to recharge the case.

One challenge that some people face with the AirPods is getting them to fit correctly in the ears. 

Other Features

• Lightning connector
• Over 24-hours battery life through the charging case
• Dual optical sensors
• Motion accelerometer
• Dual beamforming microphones
• 100 feet range

Verdict: Apple Airpods are costly ($200), but they do perform pretty well thanks to a collection of excellent audio drivers, beamforming microphones and a variety of sensors that make using them a breeze. 

3. Samsung Galaxy Buds

Samsung Galaxy Buds offer premium sound with superb bass thanks to engineering genius from AKG. This makes sure that music passing through your ears is perfectly balanced for optimal enjoyment.

The earbuds are also packed with a dozen other features that make them one of the best earbuds of 2019. This includes Ambient Aware, a unique feature that allows you to control how much external noise is getting through to your ears. This comes in very handy, especially when you want to communicate with someone, but you don’t want to remove the earbuds completely. The mode is also useful especially when you are outdoors in a place where you need to be aware of your surroundings e.g., in not-so-safe public spaces and in traffic or any other place where your attention may be drawn.

To make sure that the buds fit perfectly, Samsung has designed the ear tip and wingtips to be adjustable. Everyone should be able to make the pair fit in their ears without any issues of discomfort or falling buds.

The Samsung Galaxy Buds offer 6 hours of talk time when fully charged. The storage casing also doubles up as a charging case, and this will offer an additional 7 hours to the buds. Therefore, Samsung Galaxy Buds offer the best battery life on a single charge as compared to the two earbuds discussed above, but it comes last when the charging case is taken into account.

Other Features

• Quick Ambient Mode
• Compatible with Android and iOS
• Splash resistant
• Three adjustable ear tip
• Works with Siri when used in iOS

Verdict: Samsung Galaxy Buds are the most affordable of the three earbuds. These buds look, feel, and sound like premium gadgets. For around $128, you get unparalleled performance in terms of audio quality, comfort, and compatibility, and that’s exactly why they earned a spot in our list.

How we rate the Best Wi-Fi Extender

It’s really annoying when you have to struggle to stream a video or even refresh a page from a certain room in your house yet you’ve spent so much on a Wi-Fi connection. This is a very serious problem not just to the guys with big houses or multi-story homes, but it can happen to some people with smaller houses. And why is that? Well, it can be due to various reasons including a weak router or rather a weak signal coming through to your router.

To get yourself out of this situation, you need gadgets that can boost your Wi-Fi signal to ensure that every inch in your room is covered. This gives you more freedom to do your online stuff from virtually every part of your home.

If you are in the market looking for such a gadget, then you will realize that you can buy either a Wi-Fi repeater, Wireless range extenders, or a Wi-Fi network extender. What’s the difference between them and which one of them is ideal for you?

Wi-Fi Repeater

Wi-Fi repeaters are programmed to rebroadcast the Wi-Fi signal coming from the router. Repeaters are usually placed somewhere in the room where they will receive the Wi-Fi signal as it comes from the router and rebroadcast it to extend its reach in the house. This means that the quality of the Wi-Fi signal received by the repeater is not the same as the signal strength coming from the router. Repeaters are a good option for standard needs, but not if you need a strong Wi-Fi signal for streaming, downloading, or connecting multiple devices.

Wireless Range Extenders

Wireless range extenders are placed between the router and the region with poor signal. The extenders will grab the Wi-Fi signal as it comes and then rebroadcast it on a different wireless network from that of your router. Wireless Range Extenders have to be placed correctly for them to work properly. Poor placement means that they won’t receive enough signal, which will consequently affect the quality of the signal they rebroadcast.

Wi-Fi Network Extenders

If you are looking for a reliable Wi-Fi booster, then these are your best pick. Wi-Fi network extenders are designed to connect directly to your router where there’s a strong signal, and then they rebroadcast the signal in another room or floor. These extenders deliver a strong signal, consistently making your online gaming and video streaming experience effortless.

Top 3 Wi-Fi Extenders

1.NETGEAR Wi-Fi Mesh Range Extender EX8000

The NETGEAR EX8000 is not your typical Wi-Fi extender. The gadget doesn’t just fix dead zones in your home or office, but it makes sure that every gadget connected is receiving strong signals with speeds going up to 3000mbps! This is enough for all your multiplayer gaming and 4K streaming needs. The strength of the extender also makes it an ideal choice for every home/office with high demands for strong signal e.g., when there are numerous devices to be connected (up to 50). To that end, the extender offers three different bands to choose from. This reduces interference and lagging.

Setting up the NETGEAR EX8000 is also very easy. The extender has a dedicated WI-FI band that communicates with your router to improve signal strength. This means that you don’t require a lot of complex connection to link the extender to the router. Actually, it’s all a matter of getting the perfect location for placing the extender and pressing a single button.

Customizing the extender is also super easy. It comes with parental control that helps your children access the Wi-Fi safely. You can also take advantage of the NETGEAR Wi-Fi App to schedule the Wi-Fi.

The only major issue with the NETGEAR Wi-Fi Mesh Range Extender is the price. At $178, the extender is among the costly Wi-Fi boosters in the market, and this may limit the number of people that can afford it.

Other Features

• 2500 sq. Ft. Wi-Fi range
• Universal compatibility with all wireless routers, cable modem, and gateway
• Wired Ethernet Ports
• SPA/WPA2 and WEP security protocols

2. TP-Link AC2600 Wi-Fi Range Extender

The RE650 AC2600 is another powerful Wi-Fi extender that utilizes 256 QAM and 4-Stream tech to improve capacity and data stream to two Wi-Fi bands. This basically means that the extenders improve your experience as far as 4K streaming and gaming, and the best part is that you’ll be able to enjoy smooth gaming without downgrading your game’s settings.

One of the major challenges with streaming 4K videos, online gaming, or downloading huge files is that it tends to weaken the signal for other devices. Sometimes it even becomes impossible to load a page simply because someone is watching some 4K videos somewhere in the house or office. To save you from fighting your family member or coworkers, TP-Link has developed this extender with Intelligent Processing engine. The engine redirects Wi-Fi traffic to a dedicated processor, thus leaving the extender’s dual-core CPU free to handle other needs. As a result, all your devices will remain connected regardless of whether someone somewhere is downloading 89GB of Red Dead Redemption 2 or streaming The Grand Tour in 4K. The extender’s performance is further boosted by the 4 x 4 MU-MIMO.

To increase coverage, the extender is fitted with 4 high-powered antennas. These will kill all the dead spots in your home, making sure that every room and corner doesn’t just receive the Wi-Fi signal, but it gets a strong and fast connection.

The Wi-Fi range extender comes with Gigabit Ethernet ports. These can be used either to connect the extender to gaming consoles or smart TVs, or you can connect it directly to the router for a stronger connection.

Setting up this extender is also super easy. They’ve integrated an LED light which lets you know whether the spot you are placing the extender has a poor (red) or strong (blue) connection. The TP-Link Tether app gives you access to the extender’s settings, such as scheduling, guest privileges, and device management. The extender is also designed to be portable, and hence, you can move it occasionally depending on your changing needs.

At $108, the TP-Link RE650 AC2600 is a bit costly.

Other Features

• Universal compatibility with all modem routers, access point, and Wi-Fi routers.
• Dual-band Wi-Fi 1733mbps on 5GHz and 800mbps on 24 GHz
• Beamforming tech improves signal in selected devices

3. NETGEAR AC1200 Wireless Wi-Fi Range Extender EX 6200

The NETGEAR AC1200 is the perfect choice for anyone who’s looking for an affordable Wireless Wi-Fi range extender. This gadget goes for just $70 and with it comes a powerful dual-core ARM A9 processor that delivers impressive Wi-Fi performance and a 700mW design with 5dBi external antennas that extend coverage to boost the Wi-Fi signals throughout your house. The extender also features AC dual-band Wi-Fi, which takes your internet speeds all the way to 1200mbps.

The EX6200 is also equipped with Beamforming+ that helps to improve the Wi-Fi signal in wireless devices. In case you need a wired connection, you can use any of the 5 Gigabit Ethernet Ports for enhanced speeds.

The NETGEAR AC1200 is also very easy to set up. You can do it through a simple push of a button, or you can utilize the highly-intuitive apps to set up and customize the extender.

The major downside with the NETGEAR EX6200 is the lack of a dedicated backhaul channel. This doesn’t come as much of a surprise, but it is an okay tradeoff for such an incredible and affordable Wi-Fi Extender.

Other Features

• USB 3.0 port gives you access to the USB storage
• Dual Band Wi-Fi; 5GHz and 2.4GHz
• Universal compatibility with routers, ISP gateway or other gateways

Buying a Wi-Fi Extender

The above list features the best Wi-Fi extenders in different price points. We hope that you have gotten the appropriate extender that satisfies all your Wi-Fi needs while sticking within your budget. In case you are still looking to explore your options, then we’d advise you that you consider the following factors before settling for any one particular Wi-Fi extender:

• Range
• Speeds
• Ease of setup
• Design
• Other additional features

Introduction to the Best Soundbars

TV displays have been getting really insane with each passing years. Not long ago we saw the rise of 4K televisions which took over the market with all sorts of display technologies from OLED to QLED. This has seen the size of a typical television reduce significantly. We’ve also seen a couple of other companies including LG and Samsung, release 8K televisions with crazy displays and super-thin bodies. While these TVs are gorgeous to look at, they do come with a number of issues, and the biggest one is on the quality of audio output. As TVs are getting slimmer, it becomes difficult for the manufacturers to fit good-sounding speakers. This is one of the reasons why we have also seen companies start to make a TV with a separate soundbar which also doubles up as the nervous system for all the connections. The perfect example here is Samsung’s The Wall.

Here is the thing though, it’s very easy for companies such as LG and Samsung to include a separate Soundbar in their high-end TVs but what about the budget 4K televisions. We’ve all used or at least interacted with the slim 4K televisions, and we all know just how terrible a big majority of them sound. What’s the point of watching crystal clear images on your 4K UHD screen if the sound you are receiving from it is scratchy and painful to the ears?

If you’ve found yourself in this predicament, then we’re here to let you know that there is a way out of it. What you need is a soundbar, and the good news is that there are hundreds of them out there. These come at different prices with different features, some of them packing even the best Dolby Atmos technology.

How to Choose a Soundbar

When you have hundreds of options to choose from, it is very easy to get overwhelmed and end up making the wrong choice. The funny thing is that you could have a really fat budget, but if you don’t know what it is you are looking for then you can easily find yourself with an expensive soundbar that is no better from your TV’s speakers! To save you from such losses and embarrassment, we’ve prepared a brief guide that’ll help you do informed shopping.

Subwoofers

We all know that some Soundbars come with subwoofers and they usually cost more while others are more affordable but without the subwoofers. This begs the question; how important are subwoofers and are they really a must-have? The answer is a resounding, yes! Subwoofers will go a long way towards delivering a lively and engaging entertainment, especially when you’re watching movies. Therefore, the question shouldn’t be on whether you should get a soundbar with a subwoofer or not but rather which subwoofer rating is acceptable! To this end, you will come across a myriad of great options. You can even decide to take a different road and purchase a subwoofer separately in case you find the soundbar you fell in love with doesn’t have the best subwoofer. Obviously, you will need to pay more for the best subwoofers, but the experience is usually well worth it, trust me.

While checking out the subwoofers, it’s important to check how they connect to the soundbar. Personally, I prefer subwoofers that connect wirelessly as they save me from all the hassle of cable management

Channels

I’m sure you’ve come across numbers such as “2.0,” “3.1,” and “5.1.4” while doing your research into soundbars. What the heck do the numbers means, you may wonder? Well, if you a soundbar’s specs read 2.0 then it means it has two channels/drivers (left and right side) and no subwoofer. On the other hand, 3.1 refers to three channels/drivers (left, center, and right) and a subwoofer. If you see more than 3, it means that the soundbar has more drivers probably at the back or top which are supposed to deliver a surround sound effect.

If you come across a soundbar with three numbers such as 5.1.4, the final numbers show how many drivers are dedicated to delivering the incredible Dolby Atmos Surround Sound. Everyone loves soundbars with Dolby Atmos, but not all of us can afford them so you may have to make some compromises here.

Connections

The idealSoundbarr should connect to your TV using just the HDMI. Some bars use optical which works fine, but they don’t produce quality sound as is the case with HDMI.

IR Sensor

One of the most aesthetically pleasing entertainment setups usually has a TV on a gorgeous TV stand with the soundbar sitting at the bottom just in front it. While this picture is usually pleasing in so many ways, it poses a serious problem when you want to control the Tv. That’s because with the soundbar sitting in front of it, it is difficult for the signals from your remote to reach the TV’s signal sensor. To solve this issue, most soundbars usually have an IR sensor which allows the signals to pass through and into the TV sensor. It’s best if you can get a soundbar with these sensors; otherwise, you’ll have to be creative on how you’ll set up the bar to avoid blocking the signals.

1. Samsung HW-MS650/ZA Electronics Sound + Premium Soundbar

The Samsung HW-MS650 is perhaps the best sounding soundbar in the market. It seems to have everything figured out as far as entertainment goes. By entertainment, I’m not just talking about movies alone but also music. ThisSoundbarr comes with bass that isn’t just deep, but it is also extremely clear, and with the dynamic treble, the sound output is nothing short of mind-blowing. What’s crazier is the fact that it doesn’t come with any subwoofer, yet Samsung has somehow managed to make the sounds resonate with utmost clarity and liveliness. The end result is a cinematic feel that will have you feeling like you are in Imax or a virtuoso theatre.

The soundbar also features a wide-range tweeter that fills up the room, allowing you to enjoy quality sounds from all parts of the room.

The simplicity of the soundbar isn’t just seen through the lack of other components such as a subwoofer, but also through how it connects to other devices. You can connect the HW-MS650 to your TV wirelessly through WiFi or Bluetooth. Just take a moment and imagine how neat your setup would look without all the annoying wires that run from your TV to home theatre system! The HW-MS650/ZA delivers all this without taking anything from your experience thanks to this incredible piece of engineering genius.

What more? The soundbar features smart Distortion Cancelling tech, which predicts audio distortions and cancels them before they even happen! The soundbar can also be controlled through the OneRemote that comes with the latest Samsung TVs. You can also connect the soundbar to your TV using an HDMI through the 4K pass-through for a true 4k experience.

Other Features

• 9 speakers
• 40Hz Bass response
• Multiple Smart sound mode to choose from
• Sound+ adjusts the settings of the soundbar to match with the movie or music genre you are playing
• Sound+ allows you to stream music from your phone through a WiFi or Bluetooth connection
• You can improve the experience further through sound + subwoofer or Rear Wireless speakers which are sold separately

2. Bose SoundTouch 300 Soundbar

The Bose SoundTouch 300 is an amazing choice for anyone who’s looking for an excellent cinematic soundbar. The soundbar supports both Dolby and DTS surround sound which delivers the immersive experience necessary for any movie. Sadly, the sound decoding of this soundbar is not the best when it comes to music. This may come as a deal breaker for all music lovers that are looking for a versatile soundbar. They do, however, offer you the opportunity to personalize the presets and readjust them depending on what you are listening to.

While on the subject of music, it’s important to point out that the SoundTouch app allows you to stream music from the Deezer, Spotify, and other internet radios. You can also listen to music from your phone by connecting your gadget directly to the soundbar via Bluetooth or WiFi.

Something else that the Bose SoundTouch 300 has going for it is looks; boy, this soundbar is stunning! It has a premium glass top with an elegant metal grille wrap-around. The soundbar looks and feels like a high-end gadget that’ll definitely add richness to your home décor.

Other Features

• Works with Alexa voice control
• 4K pass-through through HDMI
• You can add Virtually Invisible wireless surround speakers and a wireless bass module for an even crazier experience
• Audio room calibrations to fill your room with rich sounds

3. Sonos Beam Compact Soundbar

The Sonos Beam is an incredible smart soundbar. Even though theSoundbarr works with Amazon’s Alexa only, it does give you access to quite a lot of functions rendering a remote control useless. Through this voice control and the HDMI ARC and CEC Controls, you don’t just get to control theSoundbarr, but it also gives you access to basic TV functions. This makes using the soundbar and your general entertainment gadgets very easy. In case your television does not have HDMI ARC, you can still use the soundbar by connecting it via the included Optical Audio Adapter.

The soundbar can also be controlled through the Sono’s Application. You can stream music to the soundbar through this intuitive app. It also allows you to connect the soundbar to other Sonos speakers should you decide to add a subwoofer or other surround speakers in the future.

We don’t just love the Sonos speakers for how great they sound, but also for how easy they are to set up. You can set up the various speakers in different rooms and integrate them to the main soundbar over WiFi.

Other Features

• 5 Amplifiers
• Built-in Alexa voice control. Sonos have also promised to add Google Assistant in the near future.

How we select the Best Wireless Routers

Most people say that slow internet is worse than no-internet. We are part of the many people who share that sentiment. No one wants to stream a show and spend half of the time staring at the screen as the video is buffering. No gamer out there would ever want their missions cut short by poor connectivity.

Picture this; you’ve finally invested on a really good internet package offering excellent speed, but then you find yourself still struggling to keep your gadgets online simply because your router is not up for the task. The funny thing is that this is a prevalent issue, and most people would struggle with poor internet connectivity for quite some time before they realize that the problem is actually coming from the router. If you’ve decided to go through the sweet trouble of investing in premium internet connectivity, it’s only fair that you get an equally great router for you to get the best out of your internet.

What’s a “great router” though? The answer here is not as easy as you may think. There are dozens and dozens of wireless routers out there coming from all corners of the world. We even came across some routers manufactured by companies we’ve never heard of before. This should give you a picture of just how difficult it is to get the right router. For any buyer with no tech knowledge, getting the perfect router here will be almost impossible. Even for the guys with some tech background, sieving through all the routers available can be quite a hefty task.

To make your work easy, we invested the time and effort to go through a few wireless routers available today to try and come up with a short list. A list that is small enough for you to review and make a choice between the top of the cream in the wireless routers universe.

Before we even go further in this review, we would like to highlight that not all wireless routers are meant for everyone, thanks to capitalism. What are we saying by that? Well, we did come across excellent routers with premium features, but the biggest drawback was the price tag. Most of these routers are limited to guys who are planning on using them for commercial purposes. But of course, if you have a substantial amount of cash to spend on a router then by no means should you settle for anything less.

In this review, we have tried to include wireless routers on different price points. This should make it easier for you to get one that is affordable to you.

Top 3 Wireless Routers

1.NETGEAR Nighthawk AC1900 Dual Band WiFi Router

NETGEAR is a renowned company with vast experience in the production of networking hardware. The company has dozens of wireless routers in the market, competing against each other and also against some of the best brands in the market.

The most interesting bit about this particular router is not the fact that it comes from an experienced company, but due to the sort of performance, it delivers while remaining affordable. For just $150, you will get premium features that were commonly found in other high-end routers.

First of all, the overall designing of this router is impressive. The stealth finishing and sleek corners more than earn it the name Nighthawk. It comes with three antennas that you can easily detach from the body.

Beyond its appearance, the router offers you speeds of up to 600mbps through the 2.4ghz band and 1,300 Mbps on the 5ghz band. As you can see, the speeds on both the two bands are really impressive. Match this router with an equally brilliant internet service provider and your online experience will never be the same again!

We also have to mention that we didn’t come across lots of issues in terms of slowdowns when testing and researching the gadget.

You’ll also love the AC900 for the simple fact that it supports OpenVPN. It also has a parental control feature.

While on the subject of controlling the router, it’s vital to point out that you can manage both the downstream and upstream of your connection through the Quality of Service feature found here.

The Nighthawk AC1900 can also be used with DD-WRT which allows it to run Linux-based third-party firmware.

Pros

• Affordable
• The 5 gigahertz band offers outstanding performance
• Brilliantly designed

Cons

• It feels a bit bulky
• The 2.4 gigahertz band does not provide the best performance you can get

2. Google WiFi System 3-Pack Router

Calling the Google WiFi System, a router is a gross understatement. This unique system is nothing like what you see in the market every day. As the name suggests, this system comes in three identical units that are designed to deliver unparalleled performance.

The three units are shaped like small cylinders measuring 4.1 inches in diameter and 2.7 inches in height, and that’s it! Yes, there aren’t any long antennas or anything of the sort fitted to them. These measurements also show just how compact they are as compared to the bulky alternatives in the market. Google has gone further to give the units an elegant touch by finishing them with fresh white paint and a warm LED light that will bring exquisite ambiance into your home.

Installation of the system is a breeze. All you have to do is download a free Android app or iOS, connect your unit to the modem and power source, and scan the QR code on the unit. The app will then take you through the short process of finalizing the setup, i.e. setting up your network name and password and pairing it to the secondary unit. You can then label the secondary units in the app, and just like that, your system will be ready to use.

In the department of features, the Google WiFI system surpassed our expectations. The gadget comes with a 512MB RAM and a 710MHz quad-core processor, and the result of all this is an undefeated performance.

With the three units, the WIFI system is more than capable of serving an extra-large home of up to 3000-4500 square feet. If that doesn’t offer enough coverage, you can go ahead and purchase another unit that’ll expand it even further.

The unit has dual band WiFi of 5Ghz and 2.4GHz that is compatible with IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n/ac standards. You can get speeds of more than 450mbps with the 5GHz band and 100mbps for the 2.4GHz band when you are within close proximity. When the whole system is running, you should be able to get even faster speeds with a bigger range. It also has Gigabit Ethernet ports, i.e. LAN and WAN. You can use both of these ports for LAN functions on the secondary unit.

Something else fascinating about this system is that you can control it using Google Home or Alexa voice commands.

Since it’s a Google product, you can expect seamless customization of the system. You can easily schedule the system on when it should be running and when your internet connection should be paused. You can also manage the smart lights and choose a particular device which can be prioritized to function at a certain bandwidth.

Here is the thing though, the Google WiFi system costs in excess of $250, which is beyond some people’s reach. This explains why we couldn’t rank it at the top as it seriously limits the number of people that can acquire it.

Pros

• Excellent performance
• Compact and modern finishing
• You can control most of the functions through the free up

Cons

• You must have a google account logged in to use the system

3. NETGEAR R6700 Nighthawk X10 AD7200 802.11ac/ad Quad-Stream WiFi Router

The NETGEAR R6700 is another insane router designed to offer the ultimate experience in terms of 4K streaming and VR gaming. No longer will your gaming experience be limited by Ethernet cables thanks to this beast.

This is what makes the R6700 router special:

It comes with three WIFI bands; 60GHz, 5.0GHz and 2.4Ghz. You will get additional 7 Gigabit Ethernet ports (1WAN 6 LAN) and 10 Gigabit SPF and LAN ports. You will also get MU-MIMO, i.e. Multi-User Multiple Input Multiple Output data streaming. Mobile devices should experience faster speeds thanks to the 160 MHz WiFi tech.

When it comes to performance very few routers can match the R6700. Actually, it’s hard to find one within its price point that could match the speeds of the various bands it offers, especially when in a same-room test. At 60GHz band, the speeds were up to 960mbps while the 5GHz and 2.4 GHz bands scored speeds of up to 550mbps and 100mbps respectively. You can also combine 2 Gigabit Ethernet ports to get up to 2Gbps!

With the 1.7Ghz quad-core processor, 4K streaming and online gaming feel so effortless; as it should!

In terms of design, the R6700 is not the most compact you can get. It features four antennas, and it’s also quite bulky.

Using the router has been made even easier by the NETGEAR genie application, which allows you to customize most of your home network functions remotely.

Sadly, the price of this router is on the higher end. At the moment, the NETGEAR R6700 is going for over $380. It’s quite a lot of money, but it’s definitely worth every dollar, especially if you are looking for a super-fast and reliable wireless router.

Pros

• Installing and using the router is very simple
• Impressive performance with insane speeds

Cons

• It is costly
• The signal cannot go through walls.

Final Thoughts

We can try and run away from the subject of price, but at the end of the day, the router you will get is only as good as the budget you have. To get a high-performance router that can penetrate through walls will require you to invest a considerable amount of cash. But then, you really don’t need a high-end router that will cost you a lot of money if your internet consumption is rather standard. With the above items, we believe that you can get an item that is within your price point. One that will offer you more than just the basic functions of a router.

How to pick the Best VPN for your needs

So much stuff is happening online nowadays. The internet has become part and parcel of our day-to-day life. While this has significantly helped in making our life more convenient, it has also come with some serious concerns. Every time you go online, be it for some random research or just to stream some videos, you always leave traces of your activities. This may not seem like a big issue to you until you learn that this information can be used to monitor your online activities. It doesn’t matter whether you are checking out usual legal stuff or if you are doing some not-so-legal stuff, but no one wants to have people checking out their every step. This is where VPN or Virtual Private Network comes in.

VPN masks your identity whenever you go online. This gives you the freedom of conducting your online business with the privacy you deserve. How does this happen? Well, when you are using a VPN, your connection usually goes through many servers located in different parts of the world before your device is finally connected. Since your connection is bounced to various locations in the world, it becomes difficult for the government or anyone for that matter to pinpoint your location. This results in two key benefits; First, you are assured of privacy. Second, it gives you access to content that you could have otherwise been unable to access due to geo-restrictions.

Here is the thing though, if your gadget already has a malware leaking your data, then a VPN is in no position to shield you from online creeps. What you need is an antivirus to get rid of the malware for your VPN to theoretically guarantee your privacy.

The good news if you are shopping for a VPN is that you are not limited in terms of options. There are so many VPNs out there each one of them claiming to be better than the rest. Needless to say that a significant majority of them are just terrible. It’s also in the public domain that VPN is available both for free and at a price.

So, why would anyone spend their hard-earned cash on a VPN when there’s an alternative that comes at no cost at all? Here is my question to you; where do you think the companies offering free VPN get their financing from? There are so many issues attached to free VPN service providers that should never be ignored. Some of these providers rely on adverts to stay in business. We can all agree that ads are very annoying, and some of us are even forced to pay for services that can make our online experience ad-free. Secondly, some free VPN providers are believed to stay afloat by selling users data. Are you sure you still want to source your protection from free-VPN providers? There are a few companies that are known to deliver decent free VPN services with no strings attached. These are great, but unfortunately, they usually cap your limit to maybe 500mb, 2gb or 5gb per month. Also, they may limit your online experience as some of them do not support various streaming services, and they may also block torrenting. All in all, I’d always prefer going for a paid VPN where privacy is almost 100% assured. After all, that’s the whole purpose of getting a VPN in the first place.

Top 3 VPN

1. NordVPN

NordVPN comes at the top of our list for good reasons. To begin with, NordVPN, which is based in Panama, has over 5300 servers located in more than 60 countries across the world. In our research, we could barely come across any other VPN that had more servers than NordVPN. The vast number of servers does not just boost privacy and options to you as a user, but it also helps you to get around geo-restrictions. To lift geographical limitations, NordVPN also comes with a SmartPlay feature. This should help you access all types of content from across the world. You can also do some torrenting with NordVPN. A good number of their servers also managed to unblock Netflix.

NordVPN is designed with 2048-bit encryption and strong DNS leak protection. The double encryption puts together two servers to come up with an ultra-secure connection. They also offer various kill switches that are system-wide and application-specific. These switches significantly reduce the risk of your data ending up with the wrong people. Speaking of data, it’s important to note that NordVPN does not maintain any logs from its users.

Using NordVPN is also quite easy. They have user-friendly applications that virtually anyone can navigate with ease. The company also offers proxy extensions for both Firefox browsers and Chrome.

With NordVPN, you can connect 6 devices simultaneously. The VPN also runs on different platforms, including iOS, Android, ChromeOS, Linux, Windows, Mac, and routers.

NordVPN has different subscription packages. You can get a one-month plan for $11.95 per month or a 1-year plan charged at $6.99 per month. The best deal you can get here is from their 3-year plan, which is charged at $2.99 per month. If you are a new user, you can take advantage of the 30-day money-back guarantee and try the VPN for a month to see whether it suits your needs. Payments can be made through PayPal, Credit Cards, or Bitcoin.

2. Express VPN

Express VPN is another incredible VPN service that offers excellent performance both in terms of speed and privacy. They have over 3000 servers located in more than 160 locations across 94 countries. They also boast of having over 30,000 IP addresses.

With Express VPN you’ll receive top of the line encryption (AES-256) and DNS/IPv6 leak protection, split tunneling and a kill switch to deliver ultimate privacy. The VPN also comes with various protocols, including IKEv2, IPSec, and OpenVPN. These allow the VPN to work with different platforms such as Android, iOS, Linux, Mac, Windows, and Android. The VPN also worked with Blackberry devices. It also has a custom firmware that allows it to work with routers.

Streaming via Express VPN is enhanced through the DNS content-unblocking feature that works well with smart TVs and other media streaming devices. You can easily access content from Netflix, Prime Video, HBO, Hulu, VUDU, BBC, Spotify, and many other media outlets.

One major downside with Express VPN is that it can only connect to 3 devices simultaneously.

On subscriptions, Express VPN charges $12.95 per month for their one-month plan, $9.99 per month for their 6-month plan and $6.67 per month for their annual plan. They also have a hassle-free 30-day money back guarantee that should help you get your money back should you find their services, not at par with your expectations. Payments can be made in various ways, including Bitcoin.

3. IPVanish

IPVanish has over 1200 servers across 60 countries in the world with over 40,000 shared IP addresses. They offer incredible protection supported by AES-256 encryption. You will also receive unlimited P2P traffic and OpenVPN, L2TP/EPsec, and IKEv2 protocols.

The VPN supports up to 10 simultaneous connections. It can be used with devices running on Windows, Android, iOS, and Mac. It can also be used with Fire TV. The IPVanish applications on these devices are also very user-friendly.

Another brilliant thing with IPVanish is their incredible unlocking abilities. The VPN can be used to unblock US Netflix, BBC iPlayer, and many other streaming platforms. They also allow for anonymous torrenting.

A one-month plan is charged at $7.5 per month, which is really high as compared to other VPNs. You could also subscribe to their 3-month plan that costs $6.75. The first three months are charged as $20.24. They also have an annual plan that offers better value at just $4.87 per month. Their 7-day money-back guarantee is really short compared to the competitors that provide a cover of up to 30 days.

Unfortunately, IPVanish belongs to a US-based company. This means that they can be ordered to release user’s personal information, which could then be shared not just in the US but also in the UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. Also, there aren’t any kill switches on the mobile applications.

Factors to Consider when Buying a VPN

1. How many connections can it support simultaneously – Most VPN providers will allow you to connect between 3 to 5 gadgets. The exact figure here will vary depending on the specific service provider involved. Typically, providers will charge you slightly more to have more gadgets connected. It should be noted that the ability to connect several devices simultaneous does not mean that a single VPN account can be used by different users. Sharing a VPN account can easily lead you to trouble.
2. How many servers are available and how well are they spread out – The more the servers, the more the options for you as a user. However, having hundreds of servers does not necessarily translate to better performance. Also, when the servers are well-spread out to different regions in the world, you should be able to go beyond geographical limits and enjoy more shows and services across the globe.
3. Does the service provider keep logs on your online activities – In the last couple of years, we’ve seen VPN service providers get into trouble due to retaining logs on users’ online activities. You need to read through Terms of Service of a provider to understand the policies regarding the logs collected by the provider. Ideally, the right VPN provider should collect as little logs as possible, and they should be disposed of as soon as possible, i.e. when you end your session.
4. Price – Make sure that you are fully aware of the pricing policy of your provider. Don’t go for a company with a low initial cost after which they will charge you hefty fees that you weren’t aware of. Also, avoid extremely cheap providers because there’s always a catch.
5. Ease of Use – The ideal VPN should give you a smooth experience. Get a VPN with user-friendly apps. Little things such as creating a fav list of servers will also come in very handy.

How we rate the Best Mechanical Keyboards

It’s very easy to assume that any keyboard is as good as any so long as you can still type and submit your reports or assignments on time. However, not all keyboards are the same. Yes, they may all get the letters to appear on your monitor, but the ultimate typing experience is more than just getting letters to the screen. Gamers will tell you that a single difference on the type of keyboard they use can be enough to stand between them and a championship.

This brings us to the rather popular type of keyboards known as a mechanical keyboard. What makes these keyboards so popular and are they really worth the extra few dollars you’ll spend on them?

Mechanical Keyboards Overview

If you spend a lot of time on a keyboard gaming, writing codes, reports, articles, or any other pieces, it’s vital that you invest on a proper keyboard. Mechanical keyboards pack a variety of features which may seem minor, but they contribute to a hassle-free typing experience.

For instance, mechanical keyboards usually accentuate the keys. This means that the keys are brought closer to your fingers, and this will benefit you in various ways. First, you’ll no longer have to bottom out the keys. A light touch will be enough to register the keystroke. Secondly, since the keys are closer and registering keystrokes is faster, your typing speed will increase significantly. Finally, accentuated keys don’t just bring the keys closer to the fingers, but it also helps to separate the keys. If your typing precision with the crowded dome-switch keyboards is already above average, then you can expect even better accuracy with mechanical keyboards. This will keep typos on the low, thus reducing your work significantly.

Another reason to love mechanical keyboards is their sturdy nature. These keyboards are made with durable materials that will remain functional for a very long time, regardless of how frequent they are used. This is one of the reasons why mechanical keyboards are also very popular in gaming because the rapid and constant pressing of keys makes sure that they do not die on the users prematurely.

Finally, most of us love mechanical keyboards for the simple, satisfying feeling that we get when using them. They don’t feel clumsy or mushy like the dome-switch keyboards. Pressing a mechanical keyboard has an authoritative vibe which can get very addictive, making it impossible for you to move back to other traditional keyboards and why would you ever want to go back anyway?

With that in mind, here are the best mechanical keyboards of 2019:

1. Corsair K95 RGB Platinum Mechanical Gaming Keyboard

The Corsair K95 is designed to deliver the ultimate PC gaming experience. It features a sleek design which feels as brilliant as it looks. You will also get a wrist rest with a smooth finishing that will deliver the comfort you need desperately to dominate the Battlefield. You can also detach the wrist rest in case you feel like it is standing in your way or when you are using the keyboard for other regular duties.

The 100% Cherry MC key switches make it possible to perform quick functions or fast typing without missing even single keystroke. The 1.2mm actuation has also improved typing speeds dramatically.

With the Corsair K95, you’ll never have to worry about killing the keys due to intensive gaming and typing. That’s because the gold switches are incredibly durable, making sure that you get full value for your money before you are forced to go back into the market in search for another keyboard. Durability is supported further by an anodized aluminum frame.

The Corsair K95 features backlit keys with a wide variety of vibrant colors to choose from. Apart from choosing the color for each key, you can also adjust how bright they illuminate. They also provide interesting animations that will keep your keyboard attractive.

Corsair K95 comes with two USB 2.0 ports and 8mb profile storage. You also get hardware macro and lighting playbacks. The 6 programmable G-keys can be configured to deliver complex multi-key combos or a single keystroke.

Drawbacks

The keyboard is quite bulky.

2. Razer BlackWidow Chroma V2

Razer is a very popular producer of gaming accessories, and the Razer BlackWidow Chroma V2 is one of their best gaming keyboards today. The keyboard features “Green” mechanical switches that produce an audible click whenever the keystroke is registered. This, together with the tactile bumps, makes it easier for gamers and typists to know when a keystroke is registered. In case you feel like the click is too much for you due to too much typing or for any other reason, then you can switch up for the silent “Orange” and “Yellow” switches which deliver the tactile feeling without the sometimes nagging click.

The overall designing of the keyboard was done with comfort and durability in mind. The mechanical switches are strong enough to deliver 80 million keystrokes. The keyboard also features an ergonomic detachable wrist rest for enhanced comfort to sustain you through long gaming marathons before fatigue sets in.

The Razer BlackWidow Chroma V2 also comes with five dedicated macro keys with an audio & USB pass-through port. You also get a microphone input and audio output ports. The keys can be programmed using the Synapse desktop software.

The keys are individually lit and can be customized into 16.8 million different color options! This is more than enough to personalize the keyboard and keep it looking fresh with new colors every once in a while.

You will also get 10 key anti-ghosting which allows you to execute 10 commands simultaneously. This will come in very handy, especially among professional gamers.

Drawbacks

The BlackWidow Chroma V2 does not have any media keys. This is not a deal breaker as such, but for a $145 mechanical keyboard, we expected the media keys to be included.

3. Corsair K70 RGB MK.2 Mechanical Gaming Keyboard

The Corsair K70 RGB Mk.2 is a brilliant gaming keyboard that’s designed to elevate your typing skills. Not only is this keyboard one of the best in terms of features offered and ergonomics, but it is also a very good-looking one. Plug this keyboard in, take a step back, and you will watch the gorgeous RGB backlighting bring the keys to life. The keys can be customized into multiple colors with unlimited options to choose from. All you have to do is use the iCUE software to configure the backlighting to fit your preferences. The same software will also help you do some macro programming and synchronize the lighting of the keyboard with other Corsair devices, including fans, coolers, etc. 

The Cherry MX switches used here make sure that nothing is taken away from your experience. A single switch can sustain up to 50 million keystrokes! These switches rest on an anodized aluminum frame which is more than capable of handling intensive typing. You’ll also love the fact that the K70 comes in different switches ranging from Blue, Brown, Red, Speed to Silent. Everyone should be in a position to get the feel and experience that aligns with their preferences.

The keyboard is also engineered with 100% anti-ghosting which ensure that your gaming or typing speed is not hampered. You will never have to miss out or press a single key twice because every press will be registered.

You’ll also get a USB pass-through port to hook your mouse or headset and 8MB of inbuilt profile storage. Volume wheel and media controls are also included.

Drawbacks

The keyboard can only be connected through a cable. This may pose flexibility challenges.

How do we rate the Best Gaming Laptops Under $1000?

It’s difficult to imagine anything going for less than $1000 being termed as cheap but believe or not the $1,000 price point is perhaps as affordable as it gets as far as gaming laptops are concerned. PC gaming is very expensive, and we can even mention a couple of expensive gaming laptops that go for over $3,000 which is crazy, but it’s the price you have to pay to get the best graphics, refresh rates and so on that you require to run the best of games. Sadly, not all of us can afford to spare more than $3000 to get the very best gaming laptops, and this is where you have to get smart. This means compromising a bit to get a laptop that is within your price range without sacrificing so much in terms of specs and overall performance. The good news is that at $1000, you can still get decent gaming laptops as we are going to see in a short while.

But before all that, what are some of the key factors that you must consider even when you are struggling to stay within your budget?

Factors to Consider when Buying a Budget Gaming Laptop

Graphics Processing Unit (GPU)

You can compromise on so many things when looking for an affordable gaming laptop, but the GPU isn’t one of them. This is the component that processes the graphics of games you’ll be playing. It helps to process the images, animations, and everything else you see and interact with a game. Any serious gamer has to play some graphically-intensive games once in a while. With a poor GPU, your entire gaming experience will be ruined.  You may find yourself downgrading the quality and specs of a game just so you can get it to run in your laptop. Even worse, you might find yourself incapable of playing certain games simply because your system is not up for the task.

Therefore, to future-proof your gaming system and get the most immersive gaming experience, you have to make sure that you are getting if not the best, then an above average GPU. Unfortunately, GPUs go hand in hand with pricing. For instance, laptops with Nvidia’s GeForce GPUs are likely to cost a lot more (for obvious reasons) as compared to systems using other GPUs.

RAM

RAM is just as vital as the GPU. Remember that your game loads onto the RAM, which means that the speed and size of your RAM will directly determine how well the game runs and the overall performance of your laptop. It’s for this reason that we encourage all gamers to get the best RAM they can get their hands on. For instance, with 16GB of RAM, you can expect even the most intensive of games to run smoothly in your system. An 8GB RAM will also perform reasonably well plus it’ll save you quite a lot of cash, but it may get overwhelmed considering how “heavy” games are becoming nowadays.

CPU

Of course, it would be nice to get Intel Core i7, but we understand that not everyone would be in a position to get GeForce GPU, 16GB of RAM and Intel Core i7 within a single unit. If that’s the case, then you can sacrifice a bit and go for the Core i5 which will still get the job done despite the fact that it won’t perform as brilliantly as its bigger brother.

SSD

A slow SSD results in longer load times and dents the overall gaming experience. Ideally, you should have a hybrid drive or a fast SSD for the files used frequently and a slower but larger hard drive for all the other files and are used less frequently. This enhances the entire experience making sure that everything is running smoothly.

If budget is an issue, we’d recommend you to go for a faster SSD which you can then upgrade in the future and even get an external drive later on. This makes sure that your current experience is not compromised, but instead, you get to enjoy your games as you save up for a better experience with upcoming games.

Other factors that you should also consider include:

• Battery life
• IPS display
• Portability (if you’re planning on carrying the laptop around)

1. Acer Aspire 7 Casual Gaming Laptop

Why Should You Buy it? Mention anything it is you need in a gaming laptop, and the Acer Aspire 7 Casual probably has it. Talk of powerful GPU, CPU, Display, and anything else. Acer has brought all these items into a single unit, and the best part is that they won’t milk you dry since the laptop costs just $920. It’s also the perfect choice for anyone who’s looking for an incredible gaming laptop that can perform equally well in other daily functions. To that end, Acer made sure that the laptop has a slim body for easy portability.

The Acer Aspire 7 is fitted with the 8^th Generation Intel Core i7 processor. This works side by side with the Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050 Ti GPU. Even though the graphics card is not the best you can get, it stills performs very well facilitating the smooth running of all the best graphic-intensive games such as Battlefield V and Assassins Creed Odyssey. We have to put it out there that since the 1050 Ti is not the most powerful card, there is a possibility that it might not run newer upcoming games. As of right now, though, there is perhaps nothing this little beast cannot run.

The laptop comes with an 8GB RAM, which is really the best you can get at this price point. The laptop’s performance also gets a significant boost from the included 128Gb SSD. There is an additional 1TB HDD of your other storage needs. If you find the HDD too small for your needs, you can swap it with a bigger hard drive through the easy-to-access door to the HDD compartment.

Acer has also thrown a few extras to improve the overall performance and use of the laptop. For instance, logging into the laptop is as simple as scanning your fingerprint. The screen is a 15.6” Full HD IPS display (1920 by 1080). While the sound output features engineering genius from Dolby Audio premium and Acer’s TrueHarmony.

Other Features

• Dual digital microphones for crystal clear audios
• USB 3.1 Type-C delivers up to 5Gbps data transfer speeds
• 2*2 MIMO wireless tech boosts data processing
• 4GB GDDR5 VRAM
• 7-hours battery life

2. Lenovo Legion Y520 15.6” FHD Gaming Laptop

Why Should You Buy It? The Lenovo Legion Y520 is another incredible gaming laptop that can have you exploring the open world of Days Gone for the most part of the night and wake up the following day to use the same laptop in preparing a report for your professor. What makes it stand out, even more, is how it features some of the best features any average gamer would ever need while still keeping the laptop at a very reasonable price.

The Legion Y520 features 7^th Gen Intel Core i5-7300 that delivers as much as 3.50 GHz. The processor is further enhanced by the 8GB Ram and the additional 128GB SSD while the primary storage is a 1TB hard drive.

The laptop is fitted with Nvidia’s GeForce GTX 1050 Ti which is an old graphics card, but it still performs pretty well even with some of the latest games. You should expect the performance of this graphics card to drop slightly when playing more demanding games on ultra.

One of the repercussions of intensive gaming is overheating. To solve this issue, Lenovo has strategically placed the vents and fans to facilitate the continuous flow of air in and out of the laptop. The fans are also located closer to the processors and the graphics card to ensure that the performance of the laptop does not drop. If you require intensive cooling, you can activate the Extreme Cooling shortcut in the Lenovo Nerve Sense to keep the processors cool.

Since Lenovo made this laptop with versatility in mind, they were keen to design the laptop in a thin and lightweight nature to improve portability. That said, the laptop is just 25.8mm (1.01″) thick weighing only 2.5 kg (5.3lbs).

The major downside with the Lenovo Legion Y520 is that it offers between 3 to 4 hours max of run time.

Other Features

• 15.6” FHD LED Lit Display (1920×1080)
• Red backlit keyboard
• Lenovo Nerve Sense allows you to customize the laptop and record your gaming
• Two 2W Harman speakers are engineered with Dolby Audio Premium for an immersive gaming experience

3. ASUS TUF Thin & Light FX504 Gaming Laptop

Why Should You Buy It? If you are looking for a gorgeous gaming laptop that can double up for other official or entertainment purposes, then the ASUS TUF Gaming Laptop is a great option.

The laptop runs on 8^th Gen Intel Core i5-8300 and 8GB of RAM. This delivers excellent performance for most of the standard games and an above-average performance when playing slightly demanding games. The 1TB Solid State Hybrid Drive does a decent job of boosting the speeds and performance of the laptops. However, you are likely to struggle when playing the most intensive games on ultra, and you’ll probably have to reduce the settings to get them running smoothly.

The Asus TUF uses the GeForce GTX 1050 graphics card. The card is good enough to keep most of your games interesting, but you won’t find the visuals as vivid and impressive as they are in other high-end gaming laptops with a better graphics card.

The laptop is also ergonomically designed to support its versatility. The keyboard, for instance, is perfectly designed for comfortable use whether you are gaming or working, and it is also strong enough (20-million keystrokes) to remain functional even after prolonged gaming. Its overall construction is also sleek and sturdy enough for durability. It can easily fit into your backpack just in case you have official duties calling or if you are going for some serious group gaming with your colleagues down the block.

On the flip side, Asus was very economical in terms of ports. The laptop comes with only 7 connections i.e., three USB ports, One HDMI, Power port, headphone jack, and one Ethernet port, all of which are located on one side of the laptop.

Other Features

• 8GB DDR4 2666MHz RAM
• 15.6” FHD IPS Display
• Gigabit wave 2 Wi-Fi delivering up to 1.73Gbps
• 256GB SSD M.2 SATA
• 4-5 hours of running time