Reviews | Gear Diary

OnePlus Nord N30 5G Review: At $300, It’s an Excellent, Budget-Friendly Smartphone Choice

The OnePlus Nord series is known for mid-range smartphones that deliver better-than-expected cameras, impressive performance for their class, vibrant displays with fast refresh rates, ample RAM, and features that are generally found on more expensive models; the new OnePlus Nord N30 5G is no exception. The unlocked N30 features a refined slab style, a 108-megapixel main camera, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 5G processor, 8GB RAM (adjustable to 16GB), 128GB user memory, a 5,000mAh battery, and more for just $299.99. Read on to see if this might be a good choice for you.

Reviews

Nomad x Peak Design Rugged Case Review: Exceptional Protection that Works with Peak Design’s SlimLink Mounting Technology

Nomad’s cases have been my go-to cases for the past few years. They are well-designed, look sharp, and are highly protective. They’ve saved my phone from drops more often than I want to admit. Their new Nomad x Peak Design Rugged Case for iPhone 14 Pro is something different, and it’s quickly become my new favorite.

Reviews, Health and Fitness

H2OAudio SONAR PRO with PLAYLIST+ Review: Bone Conduction Swimming Earphones with an Innovative Feature

I love when my pool is open, and I can swim laps; it’s a great form of low-impact exercise. But, let’s face it, doing fifty or a hundred laps is boring. Listening to music while you swim is a great way to pass the time, and the H2OAudio SONAR PRO seems like an innovative way to add headphones to your swimming goggles.

Reviews

Nomad Base and Nomad Stand Review: Familiar Looks with Serious Upgrades

Nomad’s wireless charging solutions are as elegant as they are efficient. We’ve enjoyed watching the evolution of their offerings and, after releasing the refined Base One and Stand One wireless charger, wondered what they would do next. Well, now there are the Nomad Base and Nomad Stand wireless chargers; they may look familiar but looks can be deceiving.

Reviews

Realme 11 Pro+ 5G Review: A Fashion-Forward Mid-Range Smartphone That Rocks a Flagship-Level Camera

Realme is known worldwide for offering feature-rich smartphones at affordable prices, and their latest model, the realme 11 Pro+ 5G, is no exception. Available in China last month and soon to be available in India and Europe (and available in the US if you don’t mind using a reseller), the 11 Pro + 5G boasts a 200-megapixel camera, 5,000mAh battery, 100W fast wired charging, and impressively, the base memory option starts at 8GB RAM and 256GB storage for well under $500.

Reviews

PhiGolf 2 Review: Elevate Your Golfing Experience to New Heights

Imagine being able to swing a golf club inside, see the outcome of your shot onscreen immediately, and not break your wife’s favorite vase; with the PhiGolf 2, you can. A remarkable piece of technology that brings the excitement of golf into your living room or backyard, the PhiGolf 2 offers innovative features, realistic gameplay, and impressive specs; it sets a new standard for virtual golfing experiences.

Reviews

IQAir Atem Desk Review: A Portable and Personal Clean Air Solution

Many of us think about air quality in ways we never considered before. We’ve realized that wearing a mask is a healthy choice when air quality is bad outdoors, and we’ve begun exploring ways to improve the air quality in our homes and places of business. The IQAir Atem Desk is a desktop air purification system that, in a post-Covid yet still very much polluted world, makes more sense than ever.

Reviews

Vivint Indoor Camera Pro Review: Keep an Eye on Your Home with Detection Zones, Alarms, and More!

I have been a user of Vivint products for a few years now and have had nothing but great experiences. The pro line of cameras has added many features, including detection zones and alarms. These features have been released in the new Vivint Indoor Camera Pro, and I was able to self-install one to test it out.

Reviews

Vivo V27 and V27 Pro Review: Quality, Affordability, and Impressive Cameras

We get quite a few good phones in the USA, but there are a lot of great devices out there beyond our borders. Vivo makes phenomenal phones, and we were given the chance to check out the Vivo V27 and V27 Pro devices. Are they worth seeking out if you have access in your country or if you’re willing to buy on the gray market? Read on to find out!

Crowdfunding, Reviews

CZUR StarryHub Review: A Smart Projector with AI Intelligence and Much More

I reviewed the CZUR Fancy Pro scanner some time ago and was impressed. So I was excited when the company reached out about an Indiegogo campaign for their newest product, the StarryHub AI projector. As they explain, “This revolutionary device combines a high-resolution projector and camera, offering an unparalleled immersive and interactive experience.” Let’s take a look.

Game Diary, Reviews

Shadows Over Loathing Review: A Fun 2D RPG with More Depth Than You’d Expect

Upon looking at this article, your first instinct might be, “why on earth is Flint playing a children’s game?” I’d then ask you to stop drooling on the floor and open your mind a bit because, while the art is simplistic and this game requires a fair amount of reading, those who like witty banter and silly humor are in for a real treat. Shadows Over Loathing is an excellent and specific type of game whose intricacies cannot be seen by simply looking at screenshots. I played the game for about 10 to 11 hours, and here are my thoughts.

Reviews

Vosteed Grandknife Minibarbar Review: This Sharp Cleaver Is a Workhorse and an Absolute Pleasure to Use

A chef friend recently discussed the importance of his knife roll and how those tools shape how he works in the kitchen. I do a lot of cooking and cooking reviews and figured I needed to work on my knife roll. It just so happened I had the opportunity to review the Vosteed Grandknife minibarbar.

Reviews, Crowdfunding, Outdoors

40-Quart Anker EverFrost Powered Cooler Review: A Fantastic Way to Keep Food and Drinks Chilled Everywhere You Go

Cooler season is upon us; it’s time to camp, picnic, BBQ, and take trips to the beach! It is much easier and less messy if you do not have to haul ice to keep everything chilled. Anker EverFrost, now on Kickstarter, is billed as the world’s longest-lasting battery-powered cooler, and we took an early look. Read on to see how the EverFrost cooler performs.

Crowdfunding, Reviews

DREO ChefMaker Review: Use It to Make Perfect Steaks and More!

Anytime I can find an excuse to cook, I jump on it. Recently, I was able to try out the DREO ChefMaker. Sure, we have all seen the next big thing in cooking, so how good can it possibly be? Well, I gave it a try, and let me tell you, I was impressed! Let’s take a look.

Reviews

Mackie DLZ Creator Review: Whether You’re a Seasoned Podcaster or Just Getting Started, This Powerful Tool Can Help!

Are you thinking about getting into podcasting? Are you a seasoned podcaster looking to improve your podcast’s quality and simplify the process? If so, the new Mackie DLZ Creator digital podcast mixer is a tool you’ll want to check out. It makes getting started with a podcast simple, but it’s packed with features advanced podcasters will love.

Game Diary, Reviews

Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order Review: Thank Heavens It’s a Star Wars Game, Otherwise…

If this weren’t a Star Wars game, Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order would be total ass; that’s my hot take. Now that you know my mood as I write this, be ready for some snark. The marketing for Fallen Order says the combat and world take inspiration from Metroid and Dark Souls, but all that means to me is that they’ve gone out of their way to make things really annoying. Besides one amazing moment at the end of the game that I will spoil (sorry), nothing was really exemplary besides the fact you get to use a lightsaber.

Reviews

Engino London Eye Kit Review: A Fun Concept with 1490 Pieces That Will Haunt My Nightmares

I love building things. It’s insanely fun to open up a kit of random parts and make them into something amazing. Luckily, my son shares this interest, so we were both super excited to check out the Engino London Eye kit. But did we tackle more than we could handle? Read on to find out!

Reviews

Escort MAX 360 MKII Review: Expect Improved Range and Performance with Advanced False Signal Filtering

The Escort MAX 360 MKII is a high-performance radar detector that is packed with advanced features and cutting-edge technology. I know what some of you are thinking, radar detector? Do people still use those? To be completely honest, I myself have not used one in more than twenty years. Are they worth using? In a nutshell, it depends.

Reviews, Health and Fitness

Baliston by STARCK Review: Quantify and Analyze Your Steps, Gait, and More with a $249.99 Eco-Friendly Shoe Subscription

It’s kind of a minor miracle of physics and evolution that we can walk as efficiently as we do; our feet coordinate with our knees, hips, back, and shoulders to keep us upright and moving, but that doesn’t mean we can’t improve along the way. Baliston by STARCK is all about figuring out how to quantify and improve your stride while also improving your style! How do they do? Let’s find out!

Reviews

Ca’Lefort 15″ 100-Can Beverage Refrigerator Review: Keep the Party Going with Ready-to-Serve Cold Beverages

I recently received the Ca’Lefort 15″ 100-Can Beverage Refrigerator to test, and so far, I’m impressed. I had never seriously considered getting a refrigerator explicitly designed for beverages, but after having the Ca’Lefort for a short while, I’m already thrilled it is in the house; it’s so convenient. Let’s take a look at how I’m using it.

Reviews, Outdoors

Anker PowerHouse 767 Review: A Massive Power Station Perfect for Emergencies and Off-Grid Use

As we approach summer, camping, outdoor activities, and storm power outages leave many with a need for a power solution. The Anker PowerHouse 767 is a portable power station that promises to keep the lights on and devices powered up. It is essential to have versatility in a power station, and Anker has developed a product that checks off many boxes.