TicWatch E3 Review: Budget Friendly, Next Gen Power, Wear OS!

Wear OS is seeing something of a renaissance.

Samsung partnering with Google for software. Qualcomm delivering a GREAT processor for wearables. And Mobvoi is packaging this all together in a great smartwatch which is easy on the wallet!

Folks looking for a computer on your wrist, this might be your jam! Continue reading “TicWatch E3 Review: Budget Friendly, Next Gen Power, Wear OS!”

Xiaomi Mi 11i Review: MIUI 12.5 and GREAT Hardware!

A month after launch, it’s clear Xiaomi is REALLY stepping up their game.

This is a fantastic “entry” level option for the premium tier of phones. Blurring the line between nicer mid-rangers and more expensive flagships. Compromises are NOT deal breakers if you know what you want!

Now running the newest build of MIUI, let’s geek out on a rad phone! Is it a “budget flagship” or a “premium mid-ranger”? Continue reading “Xiaomi Mi 11i Review: MIUI 12.5 and GREAT Hardware!”

Infinix Note 10 Pro Review: Good And Cheap!

Infinix Note 10 Pro review! I have a soft spot in my heart for budget phones that have LOTS of hardware features. Infinix is pricing this phone WELL below many other mid-rangers, but is it TOO cheap? Continue reading “Infinix Note 10 Pro Review: Good And Cheap!”

Samson Q9U Broadcast Microphone: Classic Sound, Low Price!

Samson Q9U review!

It looks the part. It won’t break the bank. Can it compete against the classic options we like to hear for radio and podcasting?

Let’s take a listen to this new hybrid pro-sumer microphone! Continue reading “Samson Q9U Broadcast Microphone: Classic Sound, Low Price!”

OnePlus 9 Pro Review: Justifying the Price?

OnePlus 9 Pro Review! This brand has changed. This is not a “flagship killer”. This is a flagship. What SHOULD we expect from a phone when prices climb? How does it compare against similarly priced competition?

It’s a totally different vibe when we talk about “Luxury” products, so let’s see how the 9 Pro stacks up. Continue reading “OnePlus 9 Pro Review: Justifying the Price?”

Black Shark 4 Gaming Phone: Premium Performance, Mid Range Price

Black Shark 4 Review!

Gaming phones are an interesting segment. The phones to get if you care about powerful performance, high refresh rate screens, and features like headphone jacks. The Black Shark 4 is a budget friendly options with some powerful internals, but how does it compare against premium phones from last year?

Black Shark 4 By The Benchmarks https://somegadgetguy.com/2021/05/04/black-shark-4-by-the-benchmarks-a-monster-mid-ranger/ Continue reading “Black Shark 4 Gaming Phone: Premium Performance, Mid Range Price”

Black Shark 4 By The Benchmarks: A Monster Mid-Ranger!

Performance is fun to test, but there are some exciting moments when we really balance performance against price. The Black Shark 4 arrives at a compelling price, and with some fun gaming hardware. Notably, this phone is the first we get to test using the Snapdragon 870. This SOC is a refresh on last year’s top of the line option from Qualcomm.

Often when we push a phone’s price to the mid-pack, we use a middle tier SOC. This year Qualcomm is offering two options for their 800 series chips. This introduces an interesting performance sub-tier. As a cost savings, we can often recommend a one year old flagship phone for those looking at cutting costs.

The Black Shark 4, as a brand new phone, looks to compete against last year’s premium offerings.

We should expect to see a lot of our tests land somewhere inbetween the most expensive phones from last year, and the premium tier phones from this year. Let’s see how this gaming phone handles some real world apps!

Performance testing is more involved than running a synthetic bench and comparing who’s number is bigger. Let’s dig a little deeper than that. Here’s the Black Shark 4: By The Benchmarks! Continue reading “Black Shark 4 By The Benchmarks: A Monster Mid-Ranger!”

Ultrasone Performance 880 Headphones: Sweet and Mellow

Performance 880 review!

The fun thing about premium audio, it’s less about “quality”, and more about crafting a specific sound. When you start figuring out what kind of tone or tuning you really like. Ultrasone delivers a specific vibe on the Performance 880, and it’s kind of delicious… Continue reading “Ultrasone Performance 880 Headphones: Sweet and Mellow”