Brightech Madison Wireless Charging Table & LED Lamp review

REVIEW – I feel like I’m integrating my house with more technology every time I review a product and today is no different with a review of the Brightech Madison Wireless Charging Table & LED Lamp. Now I have a great looking side table with some great charging capabilities. Lets take a closer look!

What is it?

This is a designer side table with an LED lamp, Qi charging area, standard electrical outlet and USB port.

What’s in the box?

All of the parts and pieces needed to assemble the table, including an LED light bulb.

Design and features

The table has a Qi charging pad on the top shelf, with a green indicator light on the front next to the electrical outlet and USB port. Constructed with light weight components, the table is easy to move but still very sturdy. There is a low and middle shelf for storage and then the upper table top.

Setup

Pretty straight forward, you assemble the table per the instructions and plug it into the wall. Putting it together was extremely easy and the pieces are all labeled by a letter that is easily referenced in the instruction manual.

Performance

The light provided emits a good amount of light and the various methods to charge all work well. It’s very convenient and great to be able to charge without having to plug in. With the additional USB, we are able to charge our iPad via lightning cord as well. The stylish design makes it a nice fit in the room as well. Additionally, it is available in two different colors: classic black and havana brown. Finally, the lamp arm swings from side to side if you need to give yourself more light.

What I like

  • Three different ways to charge
  • Quality design and sturdy construction
  • Very stylish and sleek
  • Excellent price point

What I would change

  • I think I would pay more to have two Qi charging spots on the top, but that’s just a personal preference since we both have iPhones that allow for Qi charging.

Final thoughts

I really like the Madison charging table, it fits great into our theater room providing light, charging and a convenient storage option in our busy room. For anyone looking for a new side table with great features, I’d definitely recommend this table.

Price: $89.99
Where to buy: Brightech and Amazon
Source: The sample of this product was provided by Brightech.

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Brightech Madison Wireless Charging Table & LED Lamp review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on August 28, 2019 at 11:00 am.

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Aukey 60W and Dual-Port 36W PD Wall Charger review

REVIEW – Charging your devices is a necessary evil and usually rears its head at the most inopportune times. The best plan is plug in and steal a few minutes of charging when we can. There are multiple solutions for charging out there and we’re going to take a look at two specific USB-C chargers from Aukey that are optimized for efficiency in two unique ways. They are the 60W PD Wall Charger with GaN Power Tech and the Dual-Port 36W PD Wall Charger with Dynamic Detect. Long names aside, there’s some cool here.

What are they?

The 60W PD Wall Charger with GaN Power Tech is a wall charger that uses advanced gallium nitride technology to reduce weight and size for the same output. The Dual-Port 36W PD Wall Charger with Dynamic Detect is a wall charger that is able to tell if one or two devices is connected and intelligently adjust output for both devices to be as efficient as possible. Both chargers utilize the ‘Power Delivery’ charging standard that enables compatible devices to charge at a higher power and therefore faster speed than normal which helps in those quick charge scenarios. Check the stats on your device if you’re unsure of your compatibility.

What’s in the box?

Each of these are sold separately, so the bullets below are per product.

  • 60W Wall Charger, Manual, Warranty Sticker
  • 36W Dual-Port Wall Charger, Manual, Warranty Sticker

Hardware specs

60W PD Wall Charger with GaN Power Tech

  • Model Number: PA-D4
  • Input: AC 100–240V 50/60Hz
  • USB-C Output (Power Delivery 3.0): DC 5V 3A, 9V 3A, 12V 3A, 15V 3A, 20V 3A
  • Max Power Output: 60W
  • Dimensions: 64 x 60 x 29mm / 2.52” x 2.36” x 1.14”
  • Weight: 122g / 4.3oz

Dual-Port 36W PD Wall Charger with Dynamic Detect

  • Model Number: PA-D2
  • Input: AC 100–240V 50/60Hz
  • USB-C Output 1/2 (Power Delivery 3.0): DC 5V 3A, 9V 3A, 12V 2.5A, 15V 2A, 20V 1.5A
  • Max Power Output: 36W
  • Dimensions: 64 x 60 x 29mm / 2.52” x 2.36” x 1.14”
  • Weight: 115g / 4.1oz

Design and features

The first thing you’ll notice is what these two wall chargers have in common.
They share the exact same enclosure design and size.

The share the same folding prongs which fold back with a satisfactory ‘SNAP’.

The faceplates share a power indicator logo and LED, but the 60W has a single USB-C port while the 36W has two.

Setup

Both of these wall chargers are BYOC or Bring Your Own Cable. So grab your favorite cable and make sure it’s got a USB-C end for connecting to one of these two chargers. I used the Apple USB-C cable that came with my devices for my review.

Performance

Charge time is a pretty good metric for measuring performance. I used Netflix on my iPad Pro until it flat shut off. Killing the battery on my work laptop is never all that hard as there’s always more work to do. I ran that down to 1%, then killed all the apps and let it blackout in a non-sleep setting. I then plugged both of them in and started a timer on my phone.

Using Aukey’s 36W charger, it took 129 minutes to charge my iPad Pro 11″ from zero to full (above right). This is about an hour faster than using the adapter that came with my iPad. After reading through some of the info on their website, this charger is set to max out at 30w when using a single port. If you’re using two, each will top out at 18w, so just note that the charge times will vary depending on what and how many devices you’re connecting. It may be bigger than my iPad charger, but it’s smaller and faster than both my iPad and iPhone chargers together. I call that a win.

The 60W charger (above left) from Aukey took about 90 seconds to get my MacBook Pro 15″ (2017) to a grey screen and recover, and then 123 minutes to charge from zero to full (leaving it alone). This is slightly slower than the larger (87w) power brick that came with my Mac, but not enough to outweigh the size and weight reduction. Take a look at the size difference.

There’s not all that much else to know. The LEDs are super low key which I appreciate. You’ll need to rely on the devices themselves to tell you if they’re charged which is simple enough. The prong orientation makes it block the second position in a standard wall outlet, but if you use the lower position, you can still squeeze a regular cord in. That’s about it.

What I like

  • The diminutive size of the 60W charger
  • USB-C positive cable connection
  • Charging speeds
  • The fact that they’re both the same size makes packing/traveling easier

What I’d change

  • Need a power strip if you want to plug more than one of these into a single wall outlet

Final thoughts

These chargers are fast, small and priced well. Whether you’re looking to reduce the size of your laptop charger or carry less chargers all together, these are a solid bet if you have PD compatible devices.

Price: $39.99 (60W PD), $35.99 (Dual-Port 36W PD)
Where to buy: Aukey and Amazon
Source: The sample of this product was provided by Aukey.

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Aukey 60W and Dual-Port 36W PD Wall Charger review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on August 28, 2019 at 9:00 am.

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Hydaway 25-Ounce Collapsible Water Bottle review

REVIEW –  I’m a big fan of lightweight travel, but hate to “go without” or pay exorbitant prices for water. Hydaway’s collapsible bottles solve both issues with Gadgeteer style.

What is it?

Hydaway’s collapsible water bottle is a liquid-carrying vessel that has accordion-like bellows that enabling it to be compressed into a space-saving flat disk.

Hardware Specs

  • 8 x 4 inches when expanded, 1 x 4 inches when compressed (1-1/4 inches using the carbon filter lid option)
  • 25-ounce capacity
  • Weighs 6.2 ounces empty

What’s in the Box?

  • Hydaway bottle
  •  Cardboard display and information “card”

Optional:
  • Carbon filter flip-type spout lid
  • Three carbon filters
  • Instructions

Design and Features

I previously reviewed Hydaway’s original bottle and 18-ounce bottles and have been sufficiently pleased with them to make them go-to travel companions. Easy to clean, top-rack dishwasher safe and expertly crafted, I was thrilled to give their largest size 25-ounce bottle a test ride.

The bottle arrived in a sturdy box with plenty of biodegradable packing material.

Included was the carbon filter lid pack in a separate box.

The bottle is sold with just an informational cardboard display.

Hydaway’s 25-ounce bottle is virtually identical in function to the previous version. Accordion folds in the rubbery body allow the bottle to be compressed into a very compact form.

The lid is wide enough to fill the bottle with ice cubes, or alternatively, crackers or snacks, however, Hydaway states the bottle is not designed for hot beverages. The wide-mouth opening makes cleaning easy.

Not being insulated, cold drinks will cause the bottle to form condensation on the outer surfaces.

The standard lid has an integrated handle, making it easy to carry, but like the previous versions, a good jolt would separate the handle from the lid so use caution.

 

I appreciated the inclusion of the carbon filter lid pack. The lift-up spout is easier to drink from and much more secure than the standard lid.

Carbon filters fit into the underside of the lid. They help eliminate funky tastes and odors from water for up to three months. I sometimes travel to exotic locations with questionable water and would be thrilled if Hydaway would offer a bacteria and virus filter option!

The standard lid has no spout so the lid needs to be loosened or removed to let air in and out to expand or collapse the bottle. For this reason, plus spill prevention, I wholeheartedly recommend the pop-up spout lid.

On one occasion, my fast-food soft drink cup was defective, dripping soda as I walked. I was able to transfer my cola into the Hydaway bottle and carry it onboard my flight with no additional mess! If I didn’t have the Hydaway bottle with me, I would have needed to discard my beverage.

What I Like

  • Small size
  • Eliminates the need for disposable bottles
  • Easy to clean

What I Would Change

  • Include the pop-up spout as standard equipment
  • A purification filter would be outstanding!

Final Thoughts

I’ve included a Hydaway bottle in my backpack since my first review in October 2017 and have probably saved hundreds of dollars.  It’s no secret I’m a big fan of Hydaway bottles, particularly the new 25-ounce size. The design is innovative, well-constructed and ideally suited for travel.

Price: Starts at $30
Where to buy: Hydaway Bottle and Amazon
Source: The sample for this review was provided by Hydaway Bottle.

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Hydaway 25-Ounce Collapsible Water Bottle review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on August 27, 2019 at 11:00 am.

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BlitzWolf BW-FYE7 True Wireless Earbuds review

REVIEW – It’s not a state secret that I’ve reviewed quite a few Bluetooth earbuds over the past few years and although some have worked better for me than others, I am always on the hunt for the next pair that might more closely suit my needs.  The BlitzWolf BW-FYE7 True Wireless Earbuds caught my attention because of their ergonomically-angled ear tips, small size, and full-featured charging case.  But how did they work out for me?  Let’s find out.  Gadget on!

What is it?

The BlitzWolf BW-FYE7 True Wireless Earbuds are a pair of cord-free wireless earbuds that include their own charging/storage case.

What’s in the box?

  • BW-FYE7 earbuds
  • Small, Medium, and Large silicone ear tip pairs
  • Charging/storage case
  • Micro USB charging cable
  • Instruction manual

Hardware specs

  • Weight:
    • Single Earbud: 5g
    • Charging Case: 55g
    • Total Weight: 65g
  • Bluetooth:
    • Version:V5.0
    • Chip:AIROHA1526P
    • Supported Profiles:HSP/HFP/A2DP/AVRCP
    • Transmission Distance:33 feet (10m)
    • Frequency:2.402GHz-2.480GHz, Class 2
  • Charging
    • Current:500MA-1A
    • Charging Time:
      • Time in Charging the Earbuds——2H
      • Time in Charging the Battery Case——2H
  • Input Voltage:DC5.0V
  • Battery Capacity:
    • Earbud: 50mAh Polymer battery
    • Charging Box: 500 mAh Polymer battery
  • Battery Time:
    • Monaural Earbud with Full Electricity——3-4H
    • Consuming All the Electricity of the Charging Box——Up to 16H
    • Standby Time:120h
    • Call Time:3h
  • Materials:Polycarbonate + ABS
  • Dimensions:
    • Earbud: 26*13*30mm
    • Charging Box: 70*33*35.5mm
  • Water Resistance: IPX4
  • Operating Temperature:0℃ ~45℃

Design and features

My initial impressions of the BW-FYE7 True Wireless Earbuds were twofold: the earbuds themselves were quite small, and the charging/storage case was solid, and both looked and felt very high quality.

Features and size

Another aspect of the BW-FYE7’s design that piqued my initial interest was that the earbud “posts” were oriented at an angle to the main body of the earbuds.  My suspicion was that this was a feature to help situate the earbuds in the user’s ear in a more anatomic position.

Above and below are some photos of the earbuds themselves from various angles.  Another thing I noticed about these earbuds was that they just looked very high-tech and high quality, with the brass/gold colored posts and charging contact points, transparent components, and so on all combining to give a very expensive look and feel for a very affordable ~$40.

The BW-FYE7 included three pairs of soft silicone ear tip sizes.  Each had a core of hard plastic that helped keep them attached to the earbud posts.  Because of my larger than average ear canals, I immediately selected the largest-sized ear tips.

The ear tips were easy to install; I simply gave them a little twist as I pressed them down onto the earbud posts and did a visual check to confirm that they were fully seated.

The BW-FYE7’s main body had an oblong, essentially oval shape.  At first, it seemed to be a strange design choice—-many other true wireless earbuds are not shaped like this.  However, their shape did turn out to be significant; more on this later.

The photos above and below give a sense of the size of the BW-FYE7 earbuds.  I found them to be quite small and lightweight, which I like.

Setup

The outside of each of the earbuds had a single button and a tiny LED.  The button on each earbud is used to perform various functions.  For starters, a 3-second long press on the buttons will turn the earbuds on, while a 4-second long press will turn them off.  Three short presses will get Siri’s attention for voice commands.  When a call is incoming, a short press will answer it, a long press will reject it, and another short press will end an answered call.  A short press of either the right or left button when listening to music or podcasts will pause, a second short press will resume.  The only audio control that I found to be a bit challenging to learn was going to the next song, which required a 1.5-second longish press on the right earbud (I kept either pausing the music or shutting the earbud off altogether until I got the hang of it).  Similarly, going to the previous song required a 1.5-second longish press on the left earbud.  Overall, however, the BW-FYE7’s controls were more straightforward, intuitive, and reliable than just about any other Bluetooth earbuds I’ve tried.

Pairing the BW-FYE7  earbuds for the first time was quite straightforward.  I simply pulled each of them from their charging case and they turned themselves on automatically.  By the time I had situated them in my ears, a voice prompt was already pleasantly informing me, “Pairing mode activated.”  I went into the Bluetooth settings on my iPhone XR, ensured it was “discoverable” and quickly both BW-FYE7 R and BW-FYE7 L popped into the list.  I selected each of them and both connected to my iPhone XR and the pleasant voice informed me thusly.  I should mention here that in the vast majority of situations, the earbuds automatically re-connected themselves to my iPhone XR whenever I removed them from the charging case.  However, on a few occasions, such as if I removed them from the case and my iPhone XR was not within range, I did have to manually re-pair them with my iPhone XR, but the manual stereo re-pairing process was quite easy as well: simply hold down the multi-function buttons for 3 seconds to enter pairing mode (the tiny LEDs turn blue as seen above) and they reconnected to my iPhone XR on their own, without me even having to select them from the Bluetooth devices list again.  I’ve never tried a pair of Bluetooth headphones that stayed connected so well and were so easy to re-connect if needed.

Charging Case

As mentioned at the outset of this review, my initial impression of the BW-FYE7 True Wireless Earbuds’ charging/storage case was that it was solid and both looked and felt very high quality.

The oval-shaped BW-FYE7 earbuds each fit perfectly into oval-shaped slots in their charging case.  Also, they magnetically attached to the case, which helped not only secure them into the case but also helped properly orient them into their respective slots every single time—they just snapped right into position.  When the BW-FYE7 earbuds were placed in the charging case, the tiny LEDs on each of them illuminated red to indicate that they were being charged via the battery in the case.   I used the BW-FYE7 earbuds during multiple workout sessions lasting anywhere from 45 minutes to just shy of 2 hours, and as long as I kept placing them back in the storage case afterward, I never fully drained them.  However, I did experiment a bit to see how long it would take to drain them completely and it took just shy of 3 hours.  From fully drained, the earbuds took about 1.5 to 2 hours to fully charge.

The lid of the charging case was nearly opaque but was also sufficiently transparent that you could see the LEDs through the lid enabling you to determine if the BW-FYE7 earbuds were still charging.  I found this to be a handy feature indeed.

The rear of the charging case had two notable features.  The first was a small, oval-shaped button (more on this button below).  The other was the micro-USB port for the charging cable.

The charging case itself had four tiny LEDs on its front.  When connected to a computer or outlet via the micro-USB port on the rear, these LEDs blinked to indicate the level of charge that has been obtained.  Once disconnected from power, these LEDs were not normally illuminated, but pressing the small, oval-shaped button the back of the charging case (see above) illuminated the LEDs on the front briefly to indicate the charge level of the case’s battery.  I found this to be another very handy feature.  The charging case took about 1.5 to 2 hours to fully charge.

The charging case was a nice size, but my only critique of it was that it was a bit of an awkward shape—it didn’t feel very comfortable when slid into a pants pocket.  If it had been a little more rounded and contoured, it would have been better.  Still, I did like its styling, how solid it felt, and that it was loaded with useful features.

Fit

I’ve reviewed quite a few Bluetooth earbuds, both wired and wireless, and the BW-FYE7 earbuds did fit into my ears in a bit of a unique way.  They were fairly low profile and didn’t protrude much from my ears, and the combination of their angled posts plus their oblong, somewhat “hook” shape seemed to help keep them in my years better than any earbuds I’ve tried yet, either wired or wireless.

When placed in the ear with the angled posts oriented straight down the ear canal, their oblong shape sort of “rested” in the little notch toward the bottom of my ear, as seen in the image above.  This seemed to really help capture them and keep them in place, even when I was exercising.  The only time they even started to come loose was when I became excessively sweaty during some very intense workouts.  In fact, even when I wore them in the rain, they stayed put, and they also continued to function without issue through both sweating and rain, which demonstrated that their water-resistance was not exaggerated.

Audio Performance

Last, but certainly not least—how did they sound?  (They *are* audio devices, after all!)  I will preface my answer to this by first stating once again that I have reviewed many different Bluetooth earbuds, and to be honest, the audio quality of most of them was acceptable—not bad by any means, but just not great.  However, I was very pleasantly surprised by the BW-FYE7 earbuds, whose sound quality was actually noticeably good to my ears.  The highs were crisp and the lows were deep, even for a very small pair of Bluetooth earbuds.  I attributed this to both their dual 6mm dynamic drivers and their solid fit in my ear canals—while their silicone ear tips did not appear to be anything unique, the combination of their anatomically-oriented posts and the way their shape  “locked” into position in my ears helped really cut down on ambient noise, allowing me to hear more of whatever I may have had pumping through their tiny speakers.

What I like

  • Sound quality is excellent
  • Earbuds are small and lightweight AND they stayed in my ears during all but the most strenuous (and sweaty) exercising
  • Charging case is well-built, solid, and has several useful features
  • Good battery life for both the earbuds and charging case
  • Generally stayed pair to my iPhone and were easy to re-connect if necessary
  • Audio controls were intuitive and worked consistently

What I’d change

  • Charging case could be a bit more rounded and contoured to feel more comfortable when in a pants pocket

Final thoughts

If you’ve read the above, by now you probably have a good idea that I was quite impressed with the BlitzWolf BW-FYE7 True Wireless Earbuds.  They really hit all of my requirements and included some features that I hadn’t expected or that worked even better than I did expect.  For a very affordable ~$40, the BlitzWolf BW-FYE7 True Wireless Earbuds are worth a serious look if you are in the market for a set of Bluetooth true wireless earbuds.

Price: $39.99
Where to buy: Amazon (use code RJ7NAGP9 at checkout to save 25% – code expires 8/31/19)
Source: The sample of this product was provided by BlitzWolf.

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BlitzWolf BW-FYE7 True Wireless Earbuds review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on August 27, 2019 at 9:00 am.

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UTEN Vacuum Sealer review

REVIEW – With only the two of us in our household, grocery shopping can be a bit of a challenge.  Many items come in bulk or in large quantities.  I often end up buying food items and have them go to waste because it is more than I need.  I have been wanting a vacuum sealer for a while, so when this popped up I jumped at the chance to review it.  Let’s see if it helps to solve some of my bulk food issues.

What is it?

The UTEN vacuum sealer is exactly what it says it is.  It is a vacuum food sealer.  It can seal bags and it also comes with a hose attachment to let it vacuum the air out of storage containers that have the proper fitting.

What’s in the box?

The sealer came well packaged in a basic cardboard box.  It had a nice film strip over the top of the sealer to protect the finish.  There is an extra strip of protective film over the stainless stripe at the bottom of the top cover.  That is what the blue-colored stripe is.  The following items were inside the box.

  • Five large (9.84 x 13.78 in), ten medium (7.87 x 11.81 in), and five small (5.91 x 9.84 in) vacuum bags
  • The vacuum sealer
  • Suction hose attachment
  • User manual

Hardware specs

  • Voltage: 110V
  • Frequency: 60Hz
  • Motor Power: 125W
  • Vacuum Degree: -40 ~ -55Kpa
  • Sealing Width:0.1in
  • Sealing Length: ≤ 11.8in
  • Dimension: 14.4*4.5*2.4in
  • Net Weight: 0.98Kg

Design and features

I really love how the vacuum sealer has a storage compartment for the power cord.  It makes putting the appliance away very easy.  Cabinet space is a premium in my kitchen and I was able to just slide this puppy into a very small spot.

The picture above shows the sealer opened up.  The sealer has four different options.  The first is just vacuum.  You would use this if you had a separate storage container you wanted to suction the air out of using the hose attachment.  The hose attaches to the protrusion just on the right side of the drip tray.  The seal button can be used if you have a roll of vacuum bags.  You would use it to make the initial seal on the bag.  The next button is the food button.  I have more information on it below.

Performance

I purchased two containers of chicken wings.  One was drumsticks and the others were the flats.  There were way too many for a single serving for my husband and myself, so I decided to use those as my test subjects.  When sealing food in vacuum bags, you first choose if the food is dry or moist.  The moist option will take longer to seal.  In the case of the chicken, I chose the moist option.

I loaded the bag up with the wings and then placed the open end of the back to where the opening was over the drip tray.  The silver band at the bottom is where the heat will be used to seal the bag.  I closed the sealer making sure both buttons on the side of the sealer popped out with clicks letting me know it was closed all of the way.  I then pressed the last button on the right labeled ‘Vac Seal/Cancel’.   That button vacuumed out the air and then sealed the bad with the heat strip.  Any time during the process I could have pressed cancel to stop it.

The above picture shows the chicken wings fully sealed.  I think it did a great job.  I ended up making three bags of wings.  I placed a video below showing the vacuum process.  The blue blinking light stops when the sealing process is complete.

What I like

  • Very reasonably priced.
  • Gets the job done exactly like it is supposed to
  • Nice storage compartment for the power cord.
  • Very compact

What I’d change

  • Nothing that I can think of!

Final thoughts

If you have been thinking about getting a vacuum sealer then don’t wait any longer.  You will have a tough time beating the price.  Maybe other sealers have more features, but this one gets the job done and is very easy to store.

Price: $39.99
Where to buyAmazon
Source: The sample of this product was provided by UTEN.

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UTEN Vacuum Sealer review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on August 26, 2019 at 11:01 am.

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