Best of MWC 2024: AI Takes Focus, but Hardware Still Rules

Best of MWC 2024: AI Takes Focus, but Hardware Still Rules

Mobile World Congress (MWC) – the trade show that’s all about mobile tech – just took place in Barcelona last week, so here’s a recap of the best stuff I saw at the event. Not surprisingly, AI was the buzzword du jour at MWC this year – just like it was at CES in January – but this didn’t detract from manufacturers launching some interesting products and showing off exciting concepts.


Eufy Video Doorbell E340 and Floodlight Cam E340 Review: Dual Cameras on Your Porch and a Tracking Floodlight Offer Excellent Peace of Mind

Video doorbells have become a huge product sector after homeowners started being victimized by porch pirates, targeting deliveries from Amazon and other online retailers. In an aim to defeat porch pirates once and for all, there is a new eufy Video Doorbell E340 which offers dual cameras, one facing forward and one facing down, so you can see your packages. For lighting and security in other areas outside the home, there is the eufy Floodlight Cam E340.




OnePlus 12R Genshin Impact Edition: The Perfect Smartphone If You’re a Fan of the Game (or the Color Purple)

If you read Dan’s review of the OnePlus 12R, you already know it delivers a premium experience in almost every way. But if you’re a Genshin Impact fan or the Iron Gray and Cool Blue colorways don’t quite do it for you, you’ll be glad you waited for this. The OnePlus 12R Genshin Impact Edition inherits the OnePlus 12R’s flagship specs, specifically tailored for Genshin Impact enthusiasts.


Box Refresh Is a Great Way to Give 50 Shipping Boxes a Second Life

If you’re like me, you do a lot of shopping online, and you know what that means — tons of cardboard boxes that need to be broken down for recycling (best case) or trash pickup (worst case). I try to reuse as many boxes as possible, but some are so stickered up that I’ve nearly destroyed their integrity by ripping the top layer of cardboard down to the inner ribs while trying to remove some of the shipping labels. Box Refresh offers a practical, eco-friendly alternative to reusing your boxes without dealing with that.


Xiaomi 14 Series: Flagship Smartphones with Advanced Imaging, Powerful Performance, and Innovative Features

Xiaomi has been collaborating with Leica on their flagship smartphones’ camera optics since last year’s Xiaomi 13 series, and now they have just announced the global launch of the Xiaomi 14 Series featuring Leica Summilux optics. Well, to clarify — it’s a global launch as long as you don’t include the United States, which is, unfortunately, pretty typical with many of the cool smartphones coming out of China these days. So, what does the Xiaomi 14 series bring to the table beyond excellent cameras?




New Game Monday, February 2024 Edition: First Impressions of Four Games That Are Being Actively Hyped to Me

Hello, Readers! It’s the year of our Lord 2024, and I’ve cranked out quite a few reviews, each seemingly longer than the last. I enjoy writing, but I’m currently in a bit of a pickle as to what to put my grubby meathooks on next. A lot of stuff has been launched recently by the usual murderer’s row of development teams, but to be honest, none of it really interests me. So, I’m going to start a series called New Game Monday that I may or may not update monthly; it just depends on what’s new and interesting.


Get the ZVOX AccuVoice AV120 Compact TV Soundbar with Bluetooth for $49.99, and You’ll Be Able to Hear the Dialogue in All Your Favorite Shows

If you often find yourself rewinding to catch the dialogue in your favorite shows or relying on closed captions during intense TV moments, ZVOX’s range of TV speakers, soundbars, and headphones might be the solution you need. We’ve just got word that the $149.99 ZVOX AccuVoice AV120 compact TV soundbar with Bluetooth (in Bronze) will be available for under $50 for a limited time, so there’s never been a better time to give AccuVoice technology a try!



3 Legged Thing WRAPZ Review: A Way to Separate, Shield, and Keep Your Gear Dry Without the Need for Custom Cases

How many times have you started to load a bag with gear for an outing, only to realize that you didn’t have a good way to separate and protect your more delicate items, like cameras, lenses, lights, filters, or, in my case, multiple smartphones when I’m going out for a day of taking comparison shots? 3 Legged Thing WRAPZ is a new, versatile solution that keeps your valuable gear separated, shielded, and dry in any environment.


OPPO Find X7 Ultra Review: A Premium Photography Powerhouse, but You Should Expect a Few Trade-offs, Since It’s a Chinese Market Exclusive

There’s a certain allure to having a different smartphone than anyone else, and there are so many interesting phones with amazing hardware that are only meant for the Chinese or other global markets that far too often do not include the United States. The China-exclusive OPPO Find X7 Ultra is just such a device, but there is still much to admire, even if it isn’t specifically meant for the U.S. market.


EcoFlow Valentine’s Day Sale Will Power You at Home and Away!

The gift of power is a great way to tell your special someone you love them on Valentine’s Day. EcoFlow has become an industry-standard in the portable power market, and they continue to innovate and improve their products. Just in time for Valentine’s, they are having a huge flash sale, with savings of up to $2,399!




Vosteed Mini Nightshade Review: Perfect EDC for Your Pocket

A great pocketknife is a handy tool for many daily tasks. If I have pockets, I always have a knife on me. Daily carry can be rough on a pocket knife, so having a sharp, rugged knife is at the top of my list. I was recently sent the Vosteed Mini Nightshade to carry; let’s take a look at its performance.


YASHICA Vision Binoculars Offer a Full-Color Night Vision Mode for as Low as $139

YASHICA, a leading Japanese camera brand that’s been in business for over 75 years, has just unveiled the YASHICA Vision—a groundbreaking night vision device that’s currently available to back on Kickstarter. If you’ve ever wished for a better view while trying to engage in low-light observation, you’ll love that YASHICA Vision promises to be a valuable companion for you to explore the mysteries of the night with clarity and precision.


The WASAGUN Folding Portable Grill Table Is the Ultimate Outdoor BBQ Companion

Whether you’re camping, on the back patio, or tailgating, having a portable table that’s perfect for meal prepping, cooking, and serving makes a big difference, which is why the new WASAGUN Folding Portable Grill Table looks especially intriguing. This portable table boasts a foldable design that allows it to be easily moved and quickly set up in just a few steps. With two layers of shelves for ample storage and a side shelf design that expands the tabletop area, the WASAGUN folding portable grill table looks like the perfect solution for many outdoor cooking scenarios.


Gear Diary’s 2024 Valentine’s Day Gift Guide & Giveaway: Tell Me What You Want, What You Really, Really Want!

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner. Feeling unprepared? No worries! Check out our 2024 Valentine’s Day Gift Guide for tons of inspiration that’ll make your special someone grin from ear to ear! Whether you’re after something romantic, thoughtful, or that will make their life more comfortable, we’ve got the perfect picks waiting for you. From heartfelt gestures to practical gear, get ready to charm your sweetheart like never before! As always, we’ve got a great giveaway, so be sure to enter!