Philips OneBlade Pro Testing And Review

This arrived in a simple and branded lift top brown box. Once opened the OneBlade is inside its carry case which is wrapped in tissue. In the sides in separate boxes you get the charging stand, power lead for the stand along with click-on skin guard, click-on body comb, and a pack of multilingual instructions and warranty details. 

First impressions: the carry case is quite a unique design with a Velcro fastening strap, but it is also limited in size so is not able to hold the charging stand and power lead, it is also difficult to fit the accessories inside. The main unit is very nice with a simple but clear LED screen and a rubberised back for grip. The charging/power lead is a two pin cable but I find this is fairly standard for travel items such as razors and toothbrushes and I didn’t find it an issue.

I do use an electric razor in-between wet shaves as a daily clean up, but always return to a wet shave razor for what I consider a quality shave that leaves me nice and fresh. I was pleased to try this out as an alternative to an electric razor and see how close it could get to a wet shave blade.

I did initially test this out with the fitted blade which I later realised didn’t have the swivel head adjustment of the second supplied blade, although this only really makes a difference in some areas. The instructions are a little sparse and do rely mainly on images rather than step by step instructive text.

After giving the razor a full charge I tried it out, and i was quite impressed with the results. I did find that I had to go against the hair to get a good clean cut and going with the growth of the hair wasn’t nearly as effective. I found this actually gave a closer shave than my electric razor and at no point did I cut myself or even feel there was a chance of it happening.

I tried out the 14 length comb on my moustache which has quite a neat design, being able to adjust with a dial and clip on and off in seconds, and I found it did a really good job. I didn’t find at any point the razor pulled at hairs and found the shave nice and quick and it did give great results with precision.

Overall in my opinion this is a great alternative to an electric razor although I did forget it does not collect the cut hair the same, so you need to be over a sink or bowl when using it or have a lot of small hairs to vacuum as I did. The carry case is a bit of a let down for me due to it not holding everything but overall this is a very nice and useful gadget I have been using since it arrived, and will continue to do so.

About this item: Philips OneBlade Pro Face + Body - Electric Beard Trimmer, Shaver and Razor, with 14-Length Comb and Click-On Skin Guard, Body Comb and Travel Case (Model QP6651/30) Yellow

• OneBlade Technology: Philips OneBlade features a dual protection system with glide coated blades and features a fast-moving cutter (12000x per min) for efficient trimming.
• Shave comfortably: The precision shaving and trimming comb offers length settings from 0.4 to 10 mm, giving you an even trim at exactly the length you want.
• Dual-sided blades: Trim to your preferred stubble length and get the perfect lines in seconds with the dual-sided blades for a smooth shave after every use.
• Even shaving: Trim your beard to an even length with the included adjustable precision comb, get everything from a 5 o'clock shadow to a tight trim.
• Set includes: 1 x Philips OneBlade Pro Face + Body, 1x 14-length comb (0.4 - 10 mm), 1x Charging Stand, 1x Click-on skin guard, 1x Click-on body comb and 1x travel case.

Bosch Unlimited 7 BCS711GB Vacuum Review

This arrived in a colourful branded box with details and specifications on the outside, along with images and listed features. The box opens at the top with everything being surrounded in card and wrapped in plastic for protection. 

First impressions: everything is extremely well finished in grey and black with red trim. I thought the “universal floor nozzle with free-standing function” larger and heavier than I expected. You get three additional attachments with two of them locking in place when connected, and releasing easily with the release button. I didn’t think the multilingual manual was the best as it reminded me more of the sort of manual you get with a power drill rather than a vacuum. I did go online and checkout their online manual and instructions which I found slightly better and more informative.

The battery charges while fitted to the vacuum and this does not come with a charging dock. I did like that the battery is a fairly standard cordless power tool battery so interchangeable. After charging the battery and having a read through the manual I gave it a good test with various different items on carpet and hard floor. I found the performance really good, with really strong suction and it had no problem at all picking up everything I tried. 

I really liked the flexible suction pipe feature allowing you to vacuum under beds; cupboards etc without having to bend down or crawl around with a small attachment. I liked the long rubber attachment which I found really handy for getting to hard to reach and access areas. 

Emptying is fairly straight forward although it does not have a quick release button as is the case with some I didn’t really find this an issue. A feature I did like was a small turn ratchet on the dust collection part that knocks the residue out of the filter really well, and everything is easy to clean.

The vacuum is just under 4ft, and the main pipe length can’t be reduced, I did not find this a problem as I am 6ft but my wife is under 5ft and found is was too long for her and awkward to use. The stand/wall fitting works really well and needs to be placed in close proximity to a socket for charging. The attachments clip into the wall holder and release with the same system used to release them from the vacuum.

Overall in my opinion this is a very powerful and versatile vacuum with some nice features. It is just under 4ft so if you are under 5ft tall you may find it too long as the length can’t be reduced. A couple of very minor niggle I had were in my opinion the manual was not the best, and the battery had to be charged while fitted as it didn’t come with a charging dock. Overall despite a couple of niggles I have been using it for over a week now and it has cleaned the house top to bottom, and I am impressed with its performance and features.  

About this item: Bosch Unlimited 7 BCS711GB ProHome MultiUse Cordless Vacuum Cleaner, 1 Battery 40 minutes runtime - Anthracite

• EXTREMELY POWERFUL: No compromise on performance as this rechargeable cordless vacuum cleaner is as powerful as a corded vacuum*.
• FLEXIBLE CLEANING: Features a flexible cleaning tube for easy cleaning under low furniture, transforms to a lightweight handheld cleaner easily thanks to quick release nozzle.
• 40 MINUTE RUN TIME: Convenient, fast and thorough, for more flexibility for everyday cleaning on carpets, hard floors and upholstery (Dependant on power setting)
• POWERED BY BOSCH: This multi-use vacuum cleaner battery pack is compatible with many Bosch products thanks to the Power For All Alliance.
• SUITABLE FOR ALL FLOOR TYPES: The AllFloor DynamicPower Brush ensures impressive performance, with a dust pick-up of more than 99.9%. Thanks to the integrated LED floor lights you can clean even the darkest spots.

GoPro HERO9 Review

The GoPro HERO 9 arrived in a black canvas carry case inside a branded sleeve box, inside it comes with a battery, the USB type A to USB-C charging and data transfer lead, a curved cycle helmet type fixing along with the connection to the camera mount, a quick start/setup guide, a products questions and answers booklet and the main camera.

First impressions: I found the case rather disappointing having a moulded plastic insert to hold the camera and fixtures, it has a webbing to hold documents but lacks the bespoke foam insert I would expect with a high end product for added protection. The camera looks and feels extremely high quality with nice attention to detail and flawless finishing, the camera does not come with a manual or usage instructions and you need to obtain this in pdf form from their homepage, I prefer products to come with a hard copy but this seems to be normal with most products now.

After unpacking the camera I fitted the battery and a 64gb micro SD card (not supplied), the battery compartment has quite a unique opening system with a slider then hinged system that I found awkward to open at first but after a few times I got used to it and now find it fairly easy and straight forward. While the camera charged I acquired the user manual from their website and had a good read through, I found it very detailed, user friendly with specific sections itemised and easy to follow, once the camera had charged I started it up for the first time, I already use a GoPro Hero5 so had the application already on my phone and linking up the Hero9 was very simple and both cameras are easily selectable and switchable within the app.

Most of the adjustments are performed via the touch screen on the camera and I found the menu system easy enough to navigate although the touch sensitivity not as responsive/accurate as a mobile phone and having large hands and fingers I often selected the wrong item when adjusting settings. One thing I found very disappointing was that although I could preview image from the phone application it did not allow any preview while recording, I understand this is to optimise the lifespan of the battery but I really would have liked to have this as a switchable option so the choice is not taken out of my hands as I do use the viewing via the app a lot when recording away from the camera.

The front viewing screen works really well and makes it very easy to adjust to the perfect picture when self recording, I like that the front lens is removable and replaceable as it allows for replacing a scratched or damaged lens along with fitting modification lenses. Both the front and rear screens are adjustable within the menu system along with other personalised adjustments such as the volume of the camera bleep and LED lights on the camera

I have been trying out many of the different recording modes on the camera and this is really where it shines being very easy for a new user to select a pre-set recording mode along with having the ability for an advanced user to fine tune it to their desired setting. 

I tested out the horizon levelling which I found to be impressive and useful in some situations, I found the timewarp feature worked really well and will certainly be utilising this feature quite a bit, the hindsight although innovative the fact it still drains the battery is not something I think I would use and would leave the camera recording and just edit or delete unwanted footage, the scheduled capture worked as it should but again not really a feature I envisage using although it could be a very useful feature to some, the water drain on the microphone seemed to work well although I had nothing to compare it with.

Overall the recording quality is superb and it really delivers on a multitude of features and adjustments with many unique along with enhancing the recording quality, I was disappointed that you could not view while recording via the app which may not be an issue for some but it is for me, the front facing view screen is certainly a neat and useful feature, the touch screen is good although not as accurate as a mobile phone and big fingers such as mine may struggle with selection as I did. I would add that if you are transferring footage to a PC using the USB type A to USB-C lead rather than removing the micro SD card you need to go into connections on the camera menu and select USB connection MTP (Media Transfer Protocol) to allow the computer to see the camera and be able to transfer media.

Price: £429.99

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Anker Soundcore Motion Boom Speaker Review

This arrived in a branded lift top box splashed with pictures, features and function details, inside the main speaker came in a polythene bag and protective bespoke card each end to secure and protect it, the manual, warrantee along with additional details came in a small plastic bag in the top along with a USB-C to USB type A charging lead.

First impressions: the speaker is really solid and has a good weight to it; the design is very sleek with some subtle but nice details such as the music notes on each end, the rubber insert on the top of the handle embossed with Soundcore along with the charging ports rubber cover being embossed with Motion Boom, the finishing looks flawless and all the buttons on the front have a good positive click to them along with a nice bright LED illumination when in use, it has two large rubber pads on the bottom which make it sit very securely on a surface. The charge port has a handy addition of a USB type A outlet so it can be used as a power bank to charge a mobile phone or other device

While giving it a full charge I had a good read through the manual and installed the Soundcore application to my phone, at the time I recorded the video the Motion Boom speaker had not been added to it but was added the next day so I was able to give it a good test out, the app is simple but works really well having pre-sets for the equalizer of the soundcore signature, voice, treble boost and balanced, the custom function works really well instantly adjusting on the fly with minimum delay, the app also allows you to update the firmware when needed, set an auto power off for the speaker, turn voice prompt on and off along with simple music control.

I thought the sound quality excellent and the Bass button had a clear and noticeable change in the bass output, I was unable to test out the TWS (True Wireless Stereo) as I don’t have another speaker of the same make to try it with. The volume really surprised me how high it went for a speaker of its size and I tried out the waterproof feature which worked perfectly and dried out fairly quickly with a towel down.

Overall a very nice designed speaker with a great sound along with attention to detail, the button controls are simple and very responsive, the battery life is superb giving up to 24 hours playtime, the soundcore application works really well allowing fine tuning or selectable pre-sets with a few other basic features. 

Key Features

• Huge Stereo Sound: Even at high volumes, Motion Boom delivers crystal-clear sound outdoors.
• Enhanced Clarity: Motion Boom has drivers with 100% pure titanium diaphragms to extend the sound frequency range all the way to 40kHz to ensure music sounds ultra-clear.
• BassUp™ Technology: The bass is deepened and intensified in real-time thanks to Soundcore’s exclusive technology.
• 24 Hours of Playtime: The 10,000mAh battery keeps the music playing for longer in between charges.
• Fully Waterproof: IPX7-rated protection keeps all the important stuff in Motion Boom outdoor speaker dry.
• Customized EQ via Soundcore App: Choose from 4 EQ presets; Soundcore Signature, Voice, Treble Boost, or Balanced; to tailor the sound output to what you’re listening to.
• Bluetooth 5.0: Uses the latest Bluetooth technology for a fast, stable connection.
• Wireless Stereo Pairing: Take 2 Motion Boom speakers and use wireless pairing for huge stereo sound.
• Portable Build: Grab Motion Boom outdoor speaker by its built-in handle to take it on adventures.
• PowerIQ Technology: Motion Boom is equipped with Anker’s proprietary technology to charge your phone at the optimum speed while you listen to music.
• USB-C Charging: Fast and convenient charging.

Specifications:

• Input: 5V/2A
• Audio Output: 30w/2* 2.5’ Titanium drivers/
• Battery Capacity: 10000mAh
• Charge Time: around 4 hrs at 5V/2A
• Bluetooth Frequency Range: 2400 - 2485MHz
• Sound Frequency Range: 60Hz ~ 20kHz(-3dB)
• THD+N: 《1%
• Model number: A3118
• Product Dimensions 13.62 x 5.83 x 7.87 inches
• Item Weight 4.41 pounds
• Batteries 1 Lithium Polymer batteries required. (included)

What’s In The Box

• Motion Boom Outdoor Speaker
• USB-A to USB-C Cable
• Quick Start Guide

Price: £79.99

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Logitech Z407 Bluetooth Computer Speakers Review

This arrived very tightly packed into a lift top branded box with specifications and technical details all printed on the outside, when you open the box you are greeted by visual setup diagrams along with a link to their homepage support where you can get a full manual in PDF form which I would advise. Everything is extremely well packed, protected and secured.

First impressions: the finishing and quality on everything looks and feels very good, I like the wireless input button as it’s simple, sits well on my desk with rubber on the bottom to hold it nice and stable taking up little room and not looking out of place, the subwoofer is quite heavy in comparison to the two speakers which are quite light, the speakers have a simple but well designed slot in stand which allows them to either stand upright or on their sides and is simple and easy to adjust and change. 

After setting everything up and installing the batteries in the wireless input button I was ready to try it out, I also fitted the supplied 3.5 mm aux cable to the rear of my monitor as it also doubles as a screen for my XB Series X so wanted to be able to switch the sound output to that also giving the sound quality a good test. Setting up the Bluetooth connection was straight forward and painless. The input switching system is very simple and controlled with two buttons on the base of the wireless input button and controlling the volume you turn the button as a dial, to adjust the bass you hold the button for two seconds and use the button dial to take it up or down and holding the button for two seconds exits this mode.

I found the sound extremely good although I did find a noticeable lag/delay/latency between button control and actual adjustment, the bass feature works really well and I found it most noticeable and effective on console games, I did find while playing music and giving it a good stress test at the highest volume I was getting some slight distortion, the input switching system works really well and is simple but I would have like to have seen the wireless input button being self contained having a USB charging system rather than taking batteries.

Overall a nice computer speaker system, the sound quality is really good and personally I found it to be at its best when gaming giving a good rich bass to the experience, the wireless input button is a well thought out design and simple to use but I did find a noticeable delay between adjustment and activation of adjustment and would rather it had a rechargeable power system instead of batteries, I noticed a slight distortion at the highest volume when performing a stress test but in normal use you would probably never experience it.

Price: £79.99

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Jabra Elite 85t Review

These arrived in a branded sleeved box with images along with listing core function details, the box slides out with a glossy quick start guide on the top running through connecting the earbuds, getting the sound+ application, how to use them and labelled diagrams detailing the areas of the earbuds and their functions. Inside you get small cardboard two section tray containing in one section two different sized earbud tips making three pairs in total and the USB to USB-C charging lead, in the second section you get the earbud wireless charging case with the earbuds already inside, under the try you have a booklet with safety information and warranty details.

First impressions: the case is matt black and has a rubber feel to it with a USB-C port in the back for wired charging and the LED charging indicators on the front, the earbuds have a very similar finish to the case with the fine detailing on them appearing flawless, both buttons on the buds have a good positive click to them that only takes a small amount of pressure to activate, these have slight tweaks and improvements from the previous version such as the LED on the case being moved from the back of the case to the front, the charging pins are slightly further apart, the design of the earpiece has been changed to a more oval shape rather than round and the angle changed, the case is slightly larger I presume to accommodate the wireless charging technology, they are also slightly larger than the previous version I presume to accommodate the 12mm drivers and six microphones as opposed to the 6mm drivers and four microphones in the 75t’s.

I put the case on charge to ensure they had a full charge before use and to test out the wireless charging feature which worked as it should, once charged I set them up, as I already own the 75t version of these earbuds I didn’t need to get the Sound+ application and once they had connected it prompted me to give them a firmware update which I did taking around 15 minutes with an onscreen walkthrough. After they had updated I gave them a try out.

I find them a lot more comfortable than the 75t’s which are quite comfortable but I found with these I could wear them for 4 plus hours at a time still hardly noticing I had them in as opposed to around 2 hours with the 75t’s when I feel I need to take them out for a refresh, I found the size difference negligible and the only difference being visual when compared and not noticeable when being used. I found the initial default sound slightly lighter than that of the 75t’s concentrating more on a mid range rather than the heavy base although of course sound output is a preference and I set them up through the Sound+ app to my normal taste.

I tested out the ANC (active noise cancelling) multiple times in different scenarios and could not really say there was a enough difference between these and the 75t’s since they got their firmware update to add ANC, in some cases I thought the 75t’s better and in others cases the 85t’s although the ANC on the 85t’s is adjustable which helps, I tested out the autopoint connection which worked perfectly, I do really like the push button system on these and I know some consider push button a thing of the past and touch sensor is always the way to go, I find accidently brushing a touch sensor earbud often leads to unwanted change or function so prefer buttons, these have a slightly lower protection rating than the 75t’s being IPX4 rather than the IP55 or IP57 you get with the sports version 75t’s, this makes no difference to me and my usage but may be an issue for some, I did find these connect to my phone slightly faster out of the case than the 75t’s and is almost instant.

Overall these have a fantastic sound quality, they are very comfortable and hold in the ear well, I think the Sound+ application is superb and allows a mass of customisation to get the exact sound you want along with adjusting the button functions and more, the minor flaw for me and the same with the 75t’s is you can’t use just one earbud, for some it may not be an issue but I find at times it’s irritating and would have like to have seen the ability to do this added to the new version.

Price: £215.33

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MUSE S Brain Sensing Headband Review

This arrived in quite a unique branded box which unfolds to reveal two separate boxes and a ‘get started’ leaflet, in one box you get the main power and sensing unit along with a USB to micro USB charging lead, and in the other the headband. The instructions are very basic assembly and charging instructions which then point you to get the Muse Meditation application for your device, this is not necessarily a negative being as this is totally reliant on the connection between the two and the application is packed with information, help and click through links for assistance.

First impressions: the headband part is a nice soft material padded at the front and sides for comfort along with holding the sensors, the back elastic strap is easily adjustable and has a very strong magnetic clip connection that would not come apart unless manually released so very secure. The quality seems very good with all stitching and finishing appearing flawless, on the front it has rubber wedges which the main sensor connects again very solidly using magnets. The main sensor is fairly light and has a main power button, a micro USB charging socket and a line of three orange LED’s at the bottom to indicate charging progress along with connection, the whole unit clips together very neatly.

After I had fully charged the sensor unit I went and got the Muse Meditation application for my phone, you do have to register but this is a fairly straight forward process and the application walks you through setting up the headband and sensor. The application is very professional and quite impressive with good introductory training making it fairly easy to familiarise yourself with the headset and how to use it properly with training tutorials covering every section and use.

I have been using this now since it arrived at night for sleep and have used and gone through the mind, heart, body, breath, and guided meditation, everything is set out to be easy to follow and the tutorials along with the audio control prompts and incentive goals quickly allow you to become familiar with the usage process even for a complete novice in meditation.

I have no hair on my head at all so good contact was not an issue for me and the connection always remained good and solid, I did find a couple of times during sleep the headband came off but after some fine adjustment to the fit I have not had it come off since and would think if you had hair it would not come off at all, I found it very comfortable and after a couple of minutes I forget I have it on.

I have tried several of the downloadable soundscapes for sleeping and found them well put together along with assisting the relaxing and sleep process, I was impressed with the data you get from the application breaking down your sleep stages, deep sleep intensity, sleep position tracked during the night, heart rate and stillness along with allowing you to add a journal entry and reaction on completion.

I found that I needed to leave my phone charging during the night as running this is quite a drain on the battery, I also found that using this overnight would drain the sensor battery to the point it needed a full charge again, I understand there must be a fine balance between weight and battery capacity but this does mean you have to ensure the unit is fully charged before using it for sleep, and it will need to be charged the next day which takes around four hours so it rules out any daily meditation exercises for at least the first four hours of the day, the charge port is micro USB and perhaps a USB-C connection may have enabled a faster charge time.

Overall the MuseS works really well and I found the Muse Meditation application not only to be very informative with very good tutorials it also had good depth with the ability to add additional meditation routines, I found the day time meditations very good and well put together with good walk through tutorials along with audio cue incentives that help you through. I did think the battery life could have been better and found the long charge time limited the usage time when it was charging, I would have liked to have seen a USB-C port rather than micro USB but overall I was impressed and it certainly helps with sleep and meditation.

Price: £296.03

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UMI Ergonomic office chair by Amazon Review

The chair arrived in a large brown box with all the parts either individually wrapped, in plastic bags or separated by card to avoid damage during transit. I unpacked the box and unwrapped all the parts, I gave everything a good look over to check for flaws or bad finishing and found everything to be well finished to a high quality with no apparent defects. I had a look at the assembly instructions; these are fairly easy to follow and have itemised diagrams to identify all the parts, I did notice I had a couple of additional bolts according to the count which is far better than not enough :)

I was ready to start the assembly. I found the whole process fairly straight forward although I did make a schoolboy error of putting the arm rests on the wrong way round, this was easily and quickly rectified. The main test for me was going to be how comfortable and adjustable it was, I have been using it now since it arrived and spend anything between 10 and 15 hours a day working at the computer so a comfortable supporting chair is essential.

The arm adjustment work well and they are quick and easy to adjust while being nice and secure when in place, the arm rest pads are PU (Polyurethane) and give good support without being too hard. The main seat is nice and thick but also soft enough not to be uncomfortable, the chair tilt system is linked/attached to the base and works really well allowing you to either tilt right back or lock it at three different angles. I like the back to the chair being mesh as it stops the chair getting too hot over long periods of sitting or no doubt in the summer and it has a neat support system.

With everything on the chair looking and feeling nice and having good adjustment and support the main thing was how comfortable is it, I have previously fallen foul of getting a chair that ticked all the boxes but wasn’t actually very comfortable or supportive, when I first started using it I wasn’t sure but now after getting used to the change I really like it, I find it to give good support, the headrest works well with the system on the back of the chair giving really good support along with being nice and cool with the mesh. The arm rests adjust to exactly the height I need, the seat is firm but well padded and comfortable.

Overall a really nice and comfortable chair, as I sit at the computer for long periods comfort and support are essential and this chair delivers exactly that, the support is very good, the adjustment allows me to get exactly the sitting position I require, the tilt system along with the headrest work really well as does the mesh to keep the chair nice and cool so overall I am impressed with this chair. 

Product Description: UMI. by Amazon - Ergonomic office chair, Swivelling Mesh Computer Chair with Adjustable Lumbar Support and PU Armrests, Breathable Mesh Back and Padded Seat, 150 kg Max Load（Green）

CLASSIC BACKREST - The classic outer frame is made of eco-friendly PA materials, which is sturdy and durable to ensure your safety. The design of a slight S-shaped backrest combines the rear adjustable lumbar pillow, which fits to protect your cervical spine and lumbar spine, reduces back pain. When you feel tired from work or study, you can easily lock the three angles of 102-110-130 by adjusting the backrest level to release physical and mental pressure.

BREATHABLE & COMFORTABLE - The backrest and headrest are made of high-quality breathable polyester mesh to keep you cool and comfortable. High-density foam-filled seat cushion resists deformation to provide support that lasts all day long.

FREE ADJUSTMENT - Adjustable headrest and armrests show the flexibility of the ergonomic office chairs, you can adjust the height of the headrest and armrests according to your needs, finding the best position to perfectly support your neck, cervical spine, shoulders and arms to get the maximum relaxation. By adjusting the seat height to meet your work and daily needs.

SAFE & RELIABLE - The three-stage steel gas spring and heavy-duty nylon legs with max. load of 150 kg, certified by BIFMA and SGS. The thickened explosion-proof steel chassis is hard-wearing, all the details make this desk office chair use longer. The quiet chair wheel wrapped by PU can smoothly rotate 360° and is suitable for almost all floors.

PREMIUM SERVICE - This executive office chair has a 3-year warranty. If you have any quality problems, please contact us immediately, we will provide you with a 100% satisfactory solution. Besides, this mesh office chair comes with clear instructions and a full set of assembly tools, so don't worry completely.

Price: £179.99

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