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Dodocool magnetic micro USB cable review

Once in awhile, a product comes along that changes your life.  I have run across a handful of those types of products, and rather than build up the suspense, I’ll just go ahead and say it.  The $11.99 Dodocool magnetic micro USB cable is the best cable I have ever owned.  Bar none. Is it perfect?  Well, no, but it is close.  Let me count the ways. 

First, the specs from the manufacturer:

Specifications

Material: OFC + TPE + Nylon braided cable
Color: Silver
LED indicator light color: Blue
Connection interface: 1 * USB 2.0 connector, 1 * Micro-USB connector
Data transmission speed: 480Mbps (Max.)
Input voltage: DC 5V
Output voltage: DC 5V
Input current: 2400mAh (Max.)
Conversion rate: Approx. 90%-96%
Compatibility: For Micro-USB equipped Huawei, Samsung, HTC, Motorola, Nexus, Nokia, LG, Sony, Blackberry, smartphones, tablets, MP3 players, power banks and more.
Item length: Approx. 3.9ft
Item weight: Approx. 0.71 oz

How it works

Since phones don’t come with magnetic power connectors built-in, the Dodocool cable solves this by providing you a small adapter that plugs into your micro USB port, and on the other end of the adapter is the magnetic Dodocool cable connector.  So you insert the adapter into the power connection on your device, then when the Dodocool cable gets close to it, it snaps into place with no effort.

What I loved

I lost track a long time ago of the times that I have struggled in the dark to get my charging cable plugged up to my phone.  And with micro USB the cable only goes in one way.  It makes me want to scream.  I would think that after plugging the cable up to my phone thousands of times it would get easier, but no.  Finally, an easier way.  Now I know how Mac users feel who use one of those MagSafe cables.

With the Dodocool cable, you just have to get the cable close to your device, and it snaps into place.  And it doesn’t matter which direction, up or down, that you attach the cable because it is reversible.  There is also a built-in LED indicator on both sides of the connector so that you know it is connected and charging.

What I would like to change

The things I have to complain about are relatively minor in my opinion.  There have been times when I needed to plug the cable up behind a desk or a bed, and it wasn’t long enough for me to sit on the bed and use my phone plugged up.  So I wish the cable was longer.

I wish that the LED light wasn’t so bright.  I mean, it lights up the room when I use it beside the bed at night.  If lights keep you up at night, that is a consideration.  I would simply cover it up with something if that is a concern.

One concern that some people may have is that the adapter you plug into the power connection on your device sticks out rather noticeably.  You can see the pictures below.  When I have the case on the phone, it isn’t noticeable at all.  But when I remove my phone case, it looks a little funny on the bottom there.

And finally, the biggest complaint I have is that I don’t have multiple Dodocool cables.  I need one in my house, and my car, and at work.  When you insert the adapter on the bottom of the phone, you don’t want to be constantly pulling it out so that you can plug up a standard cable, so I really need a Dodocool cable everywhere I need to plug up.  So I suppose I’ll just have to buy some more!

Final thoughts

It may seem that my list of dislikes is longer than my list of likes, but that isn’t the case. I love the Dodocool cable and now carry it with me everywhere I go in case I need a quick charge.  It works with the quick-charge feature on my phone, and the nylon braided design is much more durable than the typical black rubber type cable.  I highly recommend this product.

Source: The sample for this review was provided by Dodocool. Please visit their site for more info and Amazon to order.

 

Product Information

Price: $11.99
Manufacturer: Dodocool
Retailer: Amazon
Requirements:
  • micro USB port
Pros:
  • Works with Quick-Charge compatible devices
  • Ease of use
  • Sturdy braided nylon design
Cons:
  • Cable could be longer
  • Adapter can be obtrusive

Filed in categories: Cables, Batteries and Chargers, Reviews

Tagged:

Dodocool magnetic micro USB cable review originally appeared on on March 7, 2017 at 1:52 pm.

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Escort iX radar detector review

Last year I reviewed the Max 360, Escort’s feature-packed, flagship radar detector. With everything but the kitchen sink built into it, the device is quite the behemoth. Since then, Escort has released a new high-tech radar detector, the iX as a successor to their renowned Passport 9500iX. The Escort iX is a nice compilation of both, with many of the Max 360’s high end features in a smaller more compact form factor.

Note: Images can be clicked to view a larger size.

According to Escort “The All-New Escort iX keeps everything you love about the legendary 9500iX with more power, new features, and a sleek new design.” Escort’s new iX has faster/greater processing power, increased memory, integrated Bluetooth connectivity, and a high-performance multicolor OLED display. When paired with a smart device running the ESCORTLive app, the iX provides real-time speed limit data, speed trap notifications, speed camera locations, and shared radar alerts from nearby users.

I would guess the Escort iX is approximately 80% the volume of the Max 360. Though it’s smaller in size, the iX still packs a long list of capabilities, with the only feature missing from its big brother is the directional arrows found on the front of the 360. As you can see, the buttons/controls and speaker are located on the top of the device. Depending on how you mount the Escort iX in your vehicle, accessing the buttons may be difficult or a stretch but thankfully the mute control is available on the SmartCord.

In the Box:

  • ESCORT iX Radar/laser detector
  • EZ Mag Mount windshield mount
  • SmartCord USB power adapter
  • Quick Reference Guide
  • Zippered Travel Case

Specifications:

OPERATING BANDS

  • X-band 10.525 GHz ± 25 MHz
  • K-band 24.150 GHz ± 100 MHz
  • Ka-band 34.700 GHz ± 1300 MHz
  • Laser 904nm, 33 MHz Bandwidth

RADAR RECEIVER / DETECTOR TYPE

  • Superheterodyne, Varactor-Tuned VCO
  • Scanning Frequency Discriminator
  • Digital Signal Processing (DSP)

LASER DETECTION

  • Quantum Limited Video Receiver
  • Multiple Laser Sensor Diodes

GPS RECEIVER

  • SiRFstar IV

SENSITIVITY CONTROL

  • Highway, Auto, Auto No X and Auto Lo K

COMPACT SIZE

  • 1.25″ H x 2.875″ W x 5.125″ L

Installation:

Like the Max 360, setting up the Escort iX is a relatively simple task.  First, the magnetic suction cup mount adheres to the windshield, placed where it does not interfere with your field of view while driving. The iX snaps/clicks securely into place magnetically which is an excellent, convenient feature. For the month plus I have been testing the iX, the magnetic hold has yet to fail/release even on the bumpiest of gravel roads.

The SmartCord plugs into any 12-volt power port then into the device. In my car, the SmartCord is not in the way or an eyesore by mounting the detector low, near the dash. But if mounted higher, near the rearview mirror with the cord dangling down, I (and probably many others) would find that distracting and a bit irritating. That said, Escort and other manufacturers have direct-wired solutions that would provide a cleaner, more driving Zen solution. The SmartCord enables you to not only mute a notification, but double clicking it blocks that location from alerting you in the future.

Assuming you’ve already downloaded the ESCORTLive app, the final step is to pair your two devices and you are good to go. The ESCORTLive app is available for both Android and iOS devices and provides visually enhanced, integrated telemetry the radar detector is collecting. The ESCORTLive app has two views as seen above: Map and Dashboard modes. The Map mode is very Waze-like, providing a “real-time ticket protection network, which warns you of upcoming alerts received and reported by other users in the area, and gives you access to local speed limit data for over-speed alerts”.

Hardware:

On the front of the Escort iX is a very nice multi-color OLED screen that provides the speed limit, your speed, and what type of sensor/detector is within range of your vehicle whether it is: X-, K-, and Ka-band radar signals, laser threat, red light or speed cameras plus signal strength on the far right. The vivid display is readable in all lighting conditions and has four different color settings: blue, red, green, and amber. The OLED display has five levels of brightness including a “Full Dark Mode”.

The iX’s casing is made from sturdy plastic. Other than it’s front screen and buttons, the iX’s only other notable physical features are a miniUSB port and power plug port on its right side with its long range antenna protruding from its top.

Detection:

The distance the Escort iX can detect threats is VERY impressive. From speed nagging road signs to automated intersection speed detectors, the iX does a great job letting you know that they are there in plenty of time to moderate your speed.

DEFENDER Database:

In addition to actively monitoring your surroundings and integrating data warnings from other users, the Escort iX comes preloaded with Escort’s database (the DEFENDER) of active red light and speed camera locations across the U.S. and Canada. Escort provides weekly updates via their website to keep your detector up-to-date. The application is actually pretty slick…it automatically recognizes your device by serial number and thus whether or not your subscription is up to date.

This database is a subscription based service that currently only works on Windows-based computers (aka no macOS).  One year of service is $24.95 with three years is $49.95.

This statement from the Escort website is more than a bit misleading. After a quick discussion with an Escort tech support person, I came to find out that the application does not work on macOS Sierra but is compatible with the last few iterations of OSX like El Captain. My MacBook Pro has Sierra on it but fortunately, the Gadgeteer Kid is a slacker and has not updated his laptop in forever. So, the application worked well on both platforms but was more polished in Windows 10. According to Escort, they are working on updating their Mac software.

IVT Filter:

I thought the In-Vehicle Technology (IVT) filter was pretty cool and a required/needed feature with an increasing number of vehicles with collision avoidance, adaptive cruise control and self-driving capabilities on the road. This updatable system automatically reduces false alerts from moving IVT sources.

Transportability:

Escort includes a very well made, semi-rigid foam lined travel case for transporting the iX with you. There is just enough room for the magnetic mount, SmartCord, and the iX itself. The Escort iX is relatively lightweight and nicely sized for travel.

Escort Radar Performance Guarantee:

The cost of getting a speeding ticket is high and constantly going up both in terms of paying the ticket but the potential increase in your insurance rates. There are many out there who have received tickets erroneously or were not aware of the current speed limit due to poor signage, construction, limited visibility, etc. The current line of Escort radar detectors does an excellent job of increasing your situational awareness…reminding you of the speed limit, how fast you are going, and where detectors/cameras do not only help you drive smarter but more safely. Like the Max 360, Escort believes so strongly in the iX, they offer a “Speeding Ticket Limited Guarantee” including both radar and laser speeding tickets when you purchase their flagship directly from their website.

Bottom line:

As I have said before:

The majority of the driving I do is behind the wheel of a small, zippy sports car. Though sadly, I occasionally get dogged by my friends and family for driving it like a little old lady. My typical response is that I enjoy the luxury of the vehicle’s interior and the drive itself, why would I ever want to rush that experience. I have never used a radar detector because 99% of the time I lock the cruise control near the speed limit, lean back and keep it between the lines.

That said, my absolute favorite feature of the Escort iX is the overspeed function. The ESCORTLive app enables you to set a maximum overspeed and both the iX and your smart device nag you when you go over that speed. For my review, I set the overspeed at 5 miles per hour. Every time I exceed the posted speed by 5 mph both devices beeped, turned red and told me I was going too fast. Let’s face it, many times we unknowingly go faster than we should for a multitude of reasons and it is great to have a travel companion other than your significant other yapping at you to slow down 😉 . The Escort iX’s Clear Voice technology is very understandable even over road noise and the car stereo. It includes English and Spanish languages.

The Escort iX is an excellent driving companion, always reminding you of your speed as compared to the posted speed limit. The situational awareness it provides only adds to your driving experience and knowledge of what lies ahead of you, all hopefully combining to increase your overall safety. At $500, the iX is not inexpensive but is one of the most feature-rich, capable devices in its class.

Source: The sample for this review was provided by Escort. Please visit their site for more info and Amazon to order.

 

Product Information

Price: $499.95
Manufacturer: Escort Radar
Retailer: Amazon
Pros:
  • Well made
  • Exceptional situational awareness
  • Vivid OLED multicolored display
  • Good iOS and Android ESCORTLive app
  • Responsive, long range notifications
  • Monitors X-, K-, and Ka-band radar signals & laser threats
  • Internal active red light and speed camera locations database
Cons:
  • Expensive

Filed in categories: Car Gear, Reviews

Tagged:

Escort iX radar detector review originally appeared on on March 7, 2017 at 8:01 am.

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BeatsX Wireless Earphones review

It feels like ages ago when the iPhone 7 was officially announced, putting to rest the rumors on whether or not it would do away with that ubiquitous feature that graces almost every mobile device… the headphone jack. In classic Apple fashion, their self-described bold move was backed by a new wireless audio technology that would quickly be found in several of the popular Beats earphones, the W1 chip.

I believe it was in November when the BeatsX were shown off and finally, three months later, I was finally able to secure a pair for myself. Not because it was in short supply… they were simply delayed that long. I assume it was to add some cushion for Apple to sell its own diminutive AirPods. So here’s the big question… were they worth the wait? So very much.

I should address this W1 chip right off the bat. What’s the big deal? The W1 is a standard Bluetooth receiver, compatible with any other Bluetooth device, but when paired with an iPhone, iPad, Apple watch or iMac, it gains several important improvements. Once you connect the earphones to one of your Apple products, it’s automatically paired with all your devices signed in with the same iCloud account. Switching the device the earphones are connected to takes one simple tap. The chip also massively increases the range. I was easily able to leave my iPhone on my desk and walk around the entire office without losing a signal.

Only a handful of earphones utilize this technology so far — several other Beats products and Apple’s AirPods, which were in short supply at launch — and this technology is, to me, what made the BeatsX worth the wait. But what about the actual headphones, themselves? Let’s get into it.

Contents of Beatsx Packaging

All those earbud options!

Here’s what’s in the box:

  • BeatsX earphones
  • Eartips with four size options
  • Removable secure-fit wingtips
  • Pocket-sized carrying case
  • Lightning to USB-A charging cable
  • Quick start guide

The unit that I purchased also came with a promotion for 3 free months of Apple Music. I’m already a subscriber, but was able to convert the offer value into iTunes store credit, which was just like chopping money off the cost of the earphones and moving it into apps I’ll eventually buy, anyway. Pretty good deal.

One of my favorite features in any earphone I’ve tried, the magnetic clasp.

As for the earphones themselves, they are extremely lightweight, seem rather sturdy and sweat/water resistant. The earbuds form a good seal and didn’t shake loose while jumping around and shaking my head. They’re designed for sports, workouts, running, biking… anything where a long cable would be considered a nuisance. I don’t do a lot of that right now, being winter and living in the northeast, but I imagine when it’s warmer and I start jogging again, they’ll go with me.

Inside the earbuds are two small magnets that clasp together to keep them from swinging around when they’re not in your ears. This is probably my favorite feature of any earphones I’ve owned. I have a fair amount of talk time at work, so it’s nice to be able to keep my earphones around my neck, lanyard-style, when I’m engaged in a conversation or walking around the office, and go right back to listening in one quick motion.

On one cord, there is a simple volume clicker with a center button for answering calls and music controls. The mic is located on this bit and hangs close enough to your mouth to pick up normal conversation levels.

They stay out of the way and don’t sway around too much.

The earphones have an interesting construction. There’s a flexible neck strap that rests on the back of your neck, kept in place by the weight of the two battery packs on both sides. One of the battery packs houses the power/pairing button with a tiny charging indicator LED. The other has a Lightning port for charging, which is fantastic. I have several Lightning cables at work, in my car and at home, so an opportunity for a battery top-off is close at hand.

The battery life is quite good… eight hours on a full charge. The Beats brand touts what they call Fast Fuel rapid charging, giving them the ability for 2 hours of battery off a 5 minute charge.

You’re probably thinking by now, “Yeah, okay, that’s a lot of really neat stuff, but how do these things actually sound?”

I mean, that’s kinda of the whole point, right? I wouldn’t consider myself an audiophile by any stretch of the imagination, but as a casual earphone user, I’d award them a solid B. They’re not the best, in terms of clarity, but they’re certainly a step up from any stock earphones that you’d get with a phone or a wired pair you’d drop $50 on.

Beats have always been punchy and bass-heavy, and while the tiny drivers in these are surprisingly loud, they tend to be a little too muddy for my taste. The highs aren’t as crisp as I’d like, but overall they sound pretty good. The sound certainly benefits from the earbud construction, forming a tight seal in your ear canals. They do block quite a bit of outside noise, even when nothing is playing, so that’s something to keep in mind for traffic safety if you’re going to be biking or running or, I don’t know, walking on some railroad tracks. Take heed!

It’s the combination of the W1 chip, smart construction and good sound that makes the BeatsX an easy recommendation at $129. That may be a tall order for some looking for a simple pair of earphones. While the headphone jacks of the world don’t seem to be going anywhere in a big hurry, any future iPhone I’ll be purchasing will certainly be devoid of that option, and I sure do hates me some converter dongles. For me, wireless is the way to go, and these came in at a much lower price than many of the other options out there.

Source: The sample for this review was purchased with my own funds. For more information, visit the Beats by Dre site and Amazon to order.

 

Product Information

Price: $149.95
Manufacturer: Beats by Dre
Retailer: Amazon
Pros:
  • W1 chip = simple pairing and super long range
  • Decent sound
  • Long battery life
  • Lightning cable charging
Cons:
  • Relatively expensive
  • Not the best sound you could get for the price vs. wired earphones

Filed in categories: Audio, Video, TV, Reviews

Tagged:

BeatsX Wireless Earphones review originally appeared on on March 6, 2017 at 11:49 am.

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DecaTxt one-handed Bluetooth keyboard review

What do all QWERTY keyboards have in common from the large clickity clackity USB keyboards to the smaller wireless keyboards? They all have dozens of keys. But less is more right? If that’s your motto then I don’t think you’ll ever look at another traditional keyboard again once you see the DecaTxt one-handed Bluetooth keyboard.

What is it?

The DecaTxt is a one-handed Bluetooth keyboard that has only 10 keys, but those 10 keys provide all the same letters, numbers, punctuation symbols, function keys and even some media control keys that a full-size traditional keyboard has, but in a form factor that is about the same size as a deck of cards.

Design and features


The DecaTxt keyboard looks like some sort of game or puzzle device with all the letters and graphics printed on it. But it’s really a fully functioning keyboard that has a total of only 10 keys.

There are 8 hard plastic keys on the front. Each key has good travel and tactile feedback. Printed on the keys are two letters. The top letter is what you get if you press the key all by itself and the bottom number is what will be typed if the number lock is enabled. Below each key are two more letters in red and blue. The red letters will be typed when the E key on the top edge is held while the key is pressed and the blue letters will be typed with the F key on the top edge of the DecaTxt is held down while a key is pressed. Then there are even more characters printed next to each key.

The E/6 and F/5 keys are used to switch to the second and third set of alphabet keys and are also used like a shift button if you press them at the same time, let go and then press the desired letter.

Yes, that’s a mini USB port that you see on the bottom edge of the DecaTxt keyboard and I was just as surprised as you probably are to see it. I had to scrounge around in my drawers to find an old cable because unfortunately, a mini USB cable is NOT included with the keyboard.

Fully charging the keyboard takes between 2 – 4 hours and will power the keyboard for about a week. During charging, a faint red LED below the D/0 key will light up.

On both sides of the keyboard are rough sandpaper-like strips that help you grip and hold the keyboard against your side, leg, etc while typing on it.

Using the DecaTxt keyboard

To use the DecaTxt with your computer, phone, tablet, etc, you first have to charge it using a mini USB cable. When charging is finished, you can then press a key on the keyboard to wake it up and then go into the Bluetooth settings on your device to search for DecaTxt in the Bluetooth devices. When you select that device, it will pair and vibrate 3 times to let you know it’s connected.

The DecaTxt is held in one hand, left or right with the E and F keys facing up and the rough edge resting against the fleshy pad of your palm below your fingers. The other side of the keyboard should then be pressed against your side, leg, hip, etc to anchor it.

In this position, you’ll easily be able to use your 5 fingers to press letters A through Z. A through J can be printed with a single finger press. To get K through R, you need to hold down the E button, press the key and then release both keys. S through Z uses the same procedure, but with the F key held down.

So, following that logic, if you wanted to type the word “cat”, you would press the C key with your ring finger, press the A key with your index finger, hold down the F key with your thumb while pressing the B key with your middle finger and then release both keys.

If I had wanted to capitalize one of the letters, I would have needed to press both the E and F keys at the same time, released them and the pressed the desired letter. If I had wanted to capitalize the T, I would have needed to press the E and F at the same time, released them, held down the F key and the pressed the B key.

With a little practice, I was able to type single words with little effort, but not with a lot of speed.

But things get infinitely more complex when you add numbers, punctuation and other symbols into the mix. Luckily, pretty much everything you need to figure what key to press to type the desired character or symbol is printed right on the keyboard itself. Notice the colored bars next to the keys and the colored symbols printed next to the keys? This is your built-in guide.

Can you figure out how to do that by looking at the image above? Give up? The # symbol is gray and there’s a gray bar next to the C key. So you hold the C key with your ring finger, press the D key with your pinky and voila!

See the $ symbol next to the I key? Notice how there are two $ symbols on top of each other? One is gray and one is pink. Do you know how to type it? You have to hold down the C and the D while pressing the I. Yes, it’s getting more complicated.

What about spacing, pressing enter, and backspacing? To insert a space you have to hold your thumb down on the E and F keys on the top edge of the DecaTxt and press the A key with your index finger. You can also hold down all three keys to continuously space. To backspace, you hold down the E and F and press the G key. The backspace will also repeat if you hold down all three keys. The enter key is typed by pressing the A and G keys at the same time.

Final thoughts

Using the DecaTxt keyboard is not physically difficult, but it could be considered mentally difficult because you need to remember the various key press combinations to type punctuation characters, symbols, numbers, etc. There is a definitely learning curve with the DecaTxt once you get past typing letters A through Z.

I can imagine that the DecaTxt would be really useful for someone with just one functioning hand or someone who needs to type while walking around. But for someone like me who is at a desk all day, it feels much slower and error prone compared to using a traditional keyboard. But then again, I don’t think a typical desk jockey is who the DecaTxt has been designed for.

Would you use a keyboard like the DecaTxt one-handed Bluetooth keyboard?

Source: The sample for this review was provided by DecaTxt. Please visit their site for more info and Amazon to order.

 

Product Information

Price: $125.00
Manufacturer: Decatxt
Retailer: Amazon
Pros:
  • Small
  • Can use with one hand
  • Can be used with either hand
Cons:
  • Expensive
  • Learning curve
  • Charges via mini USB and a cable is NOT included with the keyboard

Filed in categories: Bluetooth Gear, Computer Gear, Reviews

Tagged:

DecaTxt one-handed Bluetooth keyboard review originally appeared on on March 6, 2017 at 6:30 am.

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Axess “Superior” Extended Vegetable Tanned Leather RFID-blocking V-shaped wallet review

I am on a quest for a great leather wallet. I really enjoy using my Garzini Essenziale Finestra wallet, but are there others out there that I might like better? When the Gadgeteer was offered an Axess leather wallet to review, I volunteered to do so. I chose the Axess “Superior” Extended Vegetable Tanned Leather RFID-blocking V-shaped wallet because I need a lot of pockets for the number of cards I carry. How did it measure up to my Garzini wallet?

Design & Quality

The Axess “Superior” Extended RFID-blocking V-shaped wallet came in a very nice black box, wrapped in a black sheet of non-woven polypropylene material (or poly non-woven which is the same material used in reusable grocery bags).

The Axess “Superior” Extended wallet is a professional looking wallet that is handmade using full grain vegetable tanned Tuscany leather and measures 8 cm x 11 cm. The Tuscany leather is supposed to age well and develop a rich patina over time. The leather is smooth and has a wonderful smell and color. It is also very thin to minimize the amount of space the wallet takes up. Even though the wallet appears to be well made, because the leather is so thin, the wallet does not have a very robust feel.

This wallet has three credit card slots on the front with a side slot to the right of them. The thread used in this wallet is a “polyester/cotton corespun thread. The edges are hand cut.”

The back of the Extended version of the “Superior” wallet has another three credit card slots with a side slot as well, whereas, the non-extended version does not have these.


The wallet has two RFID-blocking pockets, one of which is the side slot on the front of the wallet as shown above on the left. The second of the RFID-blocking pockets is the side slot on the back of the wallet (above on the right).

RFID stands for radio frequency identification. According to creditcards.com,

RFID is actually the granddaddy of NFC and a generic term for technologies that use radio waves to identify people or objects. It also refers to the long-range communication technology that’s used in, for example, highway toll payment devices.

But NFC is a type of RFID that requires you to be within inches of the card reader, so fraudsters cannot skim your information easily. Still, as use of NFC-enabled mobile payments grows, contactless payment cards are being phased out.

Thus, if you are using contactless cards that allow you to wave your card over a card reader, then you may want an RFID-blocking wallet. Even though your information may be emitted from the chip on such a card, it usually requires that you be within inches away from the card reader and thus a thief would have to be that close to steal your information.

EMV (stands for Europay, Mastercard & Visa) is the current standard used in credit card chips today and requires direct contact with the card reader (the chip looks like that in the photo above). These cards require you to insert the chip end of your card fully into a card reader and they use tokenization which means that such a card “transmits a unique code for each transaction” thus making “it nearly impossible to counterfeit the card” according to creditcards.com. (Mobile wallets like Android Pay and Apple Pay also use tokenization). When using EMV chipped cards, you would not need to have an RFID-blocking wallet.



Anyway, continuing on with my review. In addition to the four slots on each side of the wallet, there is a V-shaped center pocket that holds paper money. This V-shaped opening allows the user easy access to the bills.

Each of the pockets (the paper money slot, the RFID slots, and the six credit card slots) is lined with a shiny nylon or polyester type of material. The lining of each of the pockets feels like it is covering a thin layer of cardboard to provide rigidity.

The wallet has a slim profile and is about 5 mm thick when empty. The uniformity of every aspect of this wallet makes it look like it is mass produced rather than handmade.

Use


In the front of the wallet, I inserted three plastic cards into the credit card slots and also inserted one plastic card into the RFID-blocking side slot. In the center slot, I had only one $20 bill.

On the back of the wallet, I inserted two plastic cards in the top and bottom credit card slots and three paper cards into the center slot. I also inserted two paper cards into the side slot.

With all of my necessities inserted, the wallet ended up measuring about 7/8″ thick.

Final Thoughts

The Axess “Superior” Extended Vegetable Tanned Leather RFID-blocking V-shaped wallet appears to be a well-made wallet and uses vegetable tanned Tuscany leather which develops a unique patina over time. New, it already has a wonderful color and smell. It is what I would describe as a professional looking businessman’s type of wallet. The wallet, being constructed so uniformly, has the appearance of being a mass produced wallet even though the website says Axess wallets are handmade. It also does not have a very robust feel to it so I cannot say how long it will last.

The V-shaped center opening is useful for easy access to your paper money, however, I found that the wallet expanded freely on the open side and was, therefore, less compact than I would like it to be. This, of course, is a matter of personal preference. Axess offers a handful of different styles of wallets and knowing what I know now about the opening, I may have been happier with the “Smooth” – Extended Vegetable Tanned Leather RFID-blocking compact wallet (caramel).

If you like professional looking leather wallets with the V-shaped style center pocket to hold your paper money, you are sure to enjoy using the Axess “Superior” wallet, however, I personally prefer my Garzini wallet.

Source: The sample used in this review was provided by Axess. Please visit their website for more information or to purchase one. You can also find their wallets on Amazon.

 

Product Information

Price: $45.00
Manufacturer: Axess
Retailer: Amazon
Pros:
  • Well-made wallet using full grain vegetable tanned Tuscany leather
  • Beautiful color and wonderful leather smell
  • Has two RFID-blocking pockets
Cons:
  • V-shaped pocket allowed the wallet to expand too much for my taste

Filed in categories: Reviews, Wallets

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Axess “Superior” Extended Vegetable Tanned Leather RFID-blocking V-shaped wallet review originally appeared on on March 5, 2017 at 9:53 am.

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