August Gadget Reviews Roundup 2014

It’s the start of the -ber months and that means we’re just a few months away from the Holidays, which also means we have new exciting gadgets to look out for this season. But before we get excited let’s have a quick glance at the list of gadgets we’ve handled last month which includes the Nokia Lumia 930, Xiaomi Redmi Note, and the Cherry Mobile Tegra Note 7. Read on for our Gadget Reviews Roundup for the month of August 2014.

Full Reviews:

Harman / Kardon NC Noise-Cancelling Headphones

The Harman / Kardon NC can certainly deliver what it promises – a pair headphones made of high-quality materials with exceptional acoustic performance. The premium build, impressive noise-cancelling technology and passive playback mode are great features that are well implemented. In terms of sound quality and usability, it is one of most enjoyable over-ear headphones we’ve used so far.

Playground BS-200 Bluetooth Speaker

The Playground BS-200 Bluetooth Speaker is easily one of the best looking wireless speakers in the sub-Php1,500 segment. It’s got a respectable build to match its straightforward design, and the hands-free feature adds more value to this speaker.

Lenovo S850

The Lenovo S850 sets a good example of what features a mid-range smartphone should start with – good form factor and build quality, really clear and vibrant display, and good performance and battery life.

Xiaomi Redmi Note

The Xiaomi Redmi Note is one of those phablets that we don’t mind recommending, not just because of the specs but because of the price. At an expected price tag of around Php7,000USD 119INR 10,112EUR 114CNY 869 and with this kind of build and quality, this is almost a steal.

Quick Reviews:

AKG K550

The AKG K550 is a rugged-looking pair of cans that would look great on anyone. Although we’re definitely not fans of its uncontrolled brightness in sound reproduction, it’s a trade-off we’re willing to take in exchange for its wide soundscape and powerful mids. Their claim of producing headphones that both have the quality of both designs was impressively met.

Playground Cam100 Action Camera

For those who want an alternative camera without breaking the bank, there’s the Playground Cam100 action camera that’s way more affordable than mainstream sports cameras. It’s capable of good video quality, has a built-in display, comes with a handful of accessories, and a battery that lasts a but longer than the GoPro’s.

Playground Smart Watch

The Playground Smart Watch is an interesting piece of gadget as it not only functions as a regular smart watch that can display time and notifications but also works as a dialer. It’s a bit awkward to use in public though but if you dig this fancy feature, this smart watch’s got you covered.

Nokia Lumia 930

The Nokia Lumia 930 features an aluminum alloy frame, polycarbonate back cover, Gorilla Glass 3, and a 20 megapixel PureView camera with Zeiss optics. It is powered by a Snapdragon 800 CPU, 2GB of RAM, and Windows Phone 8.1 OS, which makes it one of the most desirable WP-powered smartphone to date.

Cherry Mobile Tegra Note 7

The Tegra Note 7 is an able device with its performance built both for gaming and multimedia – there’s no doubt about that. Speakers give off good sound and navigation of the interface is a breeze. The device is hefty too, which can be a curse or a blessing depending on the one using it. The implementation of an HD display leave us wanting more, but is generally capable of producing good colors and clear details.

Bose QuietComfort 20

The Bose QuietComfort 20 is the first in-ear noise cancelling headphones from Bose. It has the looks to appease stylish users and top-notch noise cancelling performance to satisfy demanding users. It retails for Php17,000USD 290INR 24,558EUR 276CNY 2,110, which is steep, but the quality and overall experience will be worth the extra buck.

Starmobile Quest

At Php6,590USD 112INR 9,520EUR 107CNY 818, the Starmobile Quest is a nice offering for those who need a capable smartphone with decent performance and dual-SIM capabilities at a low price.

Cherry Mobile Flare 3

The Cherry Mobile Flare 3 is a device that brings a lot to the table without asking for much. Although we’re not fans of an all-plastic build, it’s got the latest version of Android OS, a decent processor, and a spacious display all under Php4K. We could say that it’s worth the Php3,999USD 68INR 5,777EUR 65CNY 496 if you’d snag a Flare 3 for yourself.