July Gadget Reviews Roundup 2014

We’re finally done with the month of July and that means a quick look at all the reviews we’ve finished last month. This includes the LG G3, ASUS Zenfone 5 and 6, Canon PowerShot G1X Mark II, Acer Aspire Switch 10, and a Tegra Note 7 tablet. Take a look at our Gadget Reviews Roundup for the month of July.

ASUS Zenfone 5

With almost nothing to complain about, the ZenFone 5 is one of those phones that say “premium but affordable devices are possible”. Hardware and software combined, the ZenFone is very polished. However, we do have a few gripes with the overall performance, and we’re hoping an update comes to fix that, but apart from what we mentioned, this is one affordable smartphone that’s greatly put together.

Lenco BTS-110 Bluetooth Speaker

Truth be told, the Lenco BTS-110 doesn’t bring anything new to the table that we haven’t seen on other Bluetooth speakers in the past. That is not to say though that it’s not worthy of your time and money, I mean the sound output alone, not to mention the lack of distortion even at high volume, is worth more than half of the price of admission.

We think that the subpar sound range is somewhat forgivable considering its price and the fact that it is a portable speaker, not a full-sized sound system. Still, we think that audiophiles will not give this speaker a second look, but its portable size and acceptable sound performance may just be enough to win over the casual listeners.

Lenovo A526

Despite of its relatively cheap price tag (Php5,999USD 102INR 8,666EUR 97CNY 744), we still feel that some consumers, especially those who are very paricular with the specs, will have a hard time grabbing the Lenovo A526 off the shelves because there are other handsets in the market with roughly the same price tag but has a better specs than this. However, the not-so-nitpicky crowd should give this handset a second look because it offers decent battery life and good overall performance without breaking the bank.

Acer Aspire Switch 10

To conclude, the Acer Aspire Switch 10 is an embodiment of what a new netbook should be. It has a great build, portable design, affordable price tag, and capable of multiple modes – a feature that is mostly found on more expensive laptops. Based on the pros, users like businessmen, travelers, students, and other professionals who need to do some work on the go will definitely appreciate what the Switch 10 can offer.

LG G3

It is equivocally apparent that the LG G3 is a huge jump from its predecessor. It’s better, faster, meaner, bolder — a fitting upgrade to LG’s strong position in the flagship arena. If not for the slightly reduced battery life, we would not have any reason or qualms about not putting it ahead of the pack. It’s a drawback that has been traded against that super-clear and gorgeous display.

Don’t get us wrong. It’s still one of our top contenders and we’re impressed with the over-all results but, as they say, it’s close to impossible to really have it all in one device. Yes, it’s that close to perfection.

Homecare Fly One Tegra Note 7

After having the Tegra Note 7 for a couple of weeks, we could say it’s not the best 7-inch tablet in the local market today. The issues of build quality, screen resolution, and speakers are to be considered when purchasing this Tegra 4 powered tablet. The good-old Nexus 7 (2013) is still the best option but it does not have a stylus and the exclusive Tegra-enchanced games. If you need Tegra 4 and a stylus for digital sketching, then you may purchase this tablet with sleeve included at Reeco for Php12,499USD 213INR 18,056EUR 203CNY 1,551.

Canon PowerShot G1X Mark II

The Canon PowerShot G1X Mark II is a good all-around compact camera that can take pictures with impressive quality and the addition of wireless functionalities further expands its capability beyond photography. However, we still think that users deserve something more for their money, particularly better battery life and improved video recording capabilities.

ASUS Zenfone 6

During our entire time with the Zenfone 6, it proved to be a joy to have around. The camera’s UI isn’t blazing fast but you can do so many things with its features and effects. Its spacious 6-inch 720p display also makes it enjoyable to watch videos and play games. ZenUI’s new look is definitely refreshing and makes navigation generally a breeze. For Php11,995USD 204INR 17,328EUR 195CNY 1,489, you get a well-built device, beefy internals, and impressive display best for multimedia usage.