Tag Archives: Bluetooth 5.2

Samsung Galaxy Buds FE Review : Affordable ANC Earbuds!

The Galaxy Buds FE is the latest wireless earbuds with active noise cancellation from Samsung!

Find out what the Galaxy Buds FE offers, and why this is really an affordable pair of ANC earbuds for the masses!

Samsung Galaxy Buds FE : What’s In The Box?

First, let’s take a quick look at what’s inside the box. Samsung kindly provided us with a better unboxing video than we could have done ourselves.

Inside, you will find the following items :

A pair of Samsung Galaxy Buds FE earbuds
Samsung Galaxy Buds FE storage + charging case
Guide Start Guide
USB-C to USB-C charging cable
Two sets of extra ear tips (small and large)
A set of stability bands (for small / medium ears)

Samsung Galaxy Buds FE : Key Features

The Samsung Galaxy Buds FE is focused on delivering an affordable set of active noise cancellation earbuds. Think of it as a budget version of the Galaxy Buds2 or Galaxy Buds2 Pro earphones.

New Wingtip Design

The Samsung Galaxy Buds FE comes with a new wingtip design to make sure they don’t fall off. People with smaller ears may want to try the optional stability bands.

These are closed earbuds with silicone tips. By default, they come fitted with medium ear tips, but the package includes small and large ear tips. Use the proper tips, and you will find that they are light and comfortable to wear for long periods of time.

Active Noise Cancellation

The Samsung Galaxy Buds FE supports three levels of noise cancellation – ANC (Active Noise Cancellation), Ambient (Transparency), or Off.

It is surprisingly good at noise cancellation when you turn on ANC. Budget ANC earbuds generally use only one microphone to receive ambient noise for cancellation. But the Buds FE appears to use two microphones for noise cancellation, delivering better than expected noise cancellation.

On top of that – when you take out one earbud, the other earbud cleverly switches to Ambient mode so you don’t get disorientated, and switches back to ANC when you put the earbud back on.

The Ambient / Transparency mode is decent – allowing you to hear conversations, or public announcements while still cutting down on ambient noise. It’s not as good as the Galaxy Buds2 Pro, of course, but you won’t realise it if you never compare them before.

IPX2 Splash Resistant

Unlike the Galaxy Buds2 Pro, the Galaxy Buds FE is only IPX2 splash-resistant, which means it’s rated to withstand some dripping water (up to 3 mm per minute), limited to a maximum tilt of 15°.

That basically means that these earbuds will withstand sweat and a little bit of rain. You can certainly wipe these down with a damp cloth. However, under no circumstances should you wash the Galaxy Buds FE under running water!

I should also point out that the charging case itself is NOT water-resistant, so please make sure you keep it dry. In addition, you must dry the Galaxy Buds FE before you put them back into the charging case.

Connectivity

The Galaxy Buds FE connects wirelessly to your devices using Bluetooth 5.2, but does not support Bluetooth multipoint connectivity, so they can only be connected to one device at any one time.

However, they support automatic switching between Samsung Galaxy devices using the same Samsung account. But if you want to switch from your Samsung Galaxy smartphone to your laptops you need to manually switch using the Bluetooth menu.

Bonus : You can use the SmartThings Find feature to remotely trigger a beeping sound to locate any misplaced earbuds!

Battery Life

The biggest problem I had with the Buds2 Pro was its short battery life of about 5 hours with ANC enabled. I could get about 8 hours with ANC disabled, but that’s still on the low side for premium earbuds.

The good news is – the Galaxy Buds FE actually lasts longer with a similar-sized battery (60 mAh vs 61 mAh in the Buds2 Pro) – about 6 hours with ANC enabled, and 8.5 hours with ANC disabled. Not quite as long as I would like, but still pretty decent at its price point.

Its charging case has an internal 479 mAh battery that provides another 15 hours of extra battery life (ANC enabled), or 24 hours (ANC disabled) – roughly 2.5 full charges.

The good news is – the Galaxy Buds FE supports quick charging – a 5 minute charge will get you about an hour of ANC-enabled battery life.

Pro Tip : Get into the habit of popping these earbuds into their case whenever you are not using, and you will never run out of battery life.

Recommended : Samsung Galaxy S23 FE Battery Review!

Samsung Galaxy Buds FE : Our Verdict

The Galaxy Buds FE is Samsung’s attempt to break into the $100 wireless earbuds market, and is targeted at the large number of Samsung fans who have not yet jumped onto the wireless earbuds bandwagon.

It offers Samsung fans the most important features of the Galaxy Buds2, at a more affordable price point. Now, you won’t get access to premium features like 360 Audio, AKG tuning, or a 2-way dynamic speaker system. But these features are not really deal-breakers for most users.

Dollar-for-dollar – the Galaxy Buds FE definitely offers much better value for your money. In fact, I expect it to cannibalise the sales of the Galaxy Buds2. Samsung fans will either opt to pay more for the premium Galaxy Buds2 Pro, or settle for the cheaper Galaxy Buds FE.

Now, there are slightly cheaper alternatives to be sure, but they won’t come across as well-polished. On top of that, you can count on regular software updates from Samsung.

For those reasons, I think it deserves our Editor’s Choice Award!

Samsung Galaxy Buds FE : Where To Buy?

The Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 is priced at RM399 / US$99.99 / £99 / A$199.

Here are some online purchase options (prices accurate as of 31 October 2023) :

Malaysia : RM399 | RM399 | RM399
United States : $99.99 | $99.99
United Kingdom : £99
Australia : $137.76

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Support my work through a bank transfer / PayPal / credit card!

Name : Adrian Wong
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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.

He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

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Samsung Odyssey Ark Gaming Monitor : A Quick Look!

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Samsung recently gave us a closer look at the massive 55-inch Odyssey Ark curved gaming monitor!

Samsung Odyssey Ark Gaming Monitor : A Quick Look!

The Samsung Odyssey Ark gaming monitor is truly a gamer’s dream come true – a massive 55-inch display with a 1000R curvature, and a 165 Hz refresh rate!

It is now just a large gaming display, it’s chockfull of gaming-specific features like:

4K display resolution, with 1 million to 1 contrast ratio, and HDR 10+ support
Up to 165 Hz refresh rate, with 1 ms (GTG) response time
Variable refresh rate support with AMD FreeSync Premium Pro
Quantum Mini-LED panel for next-generation colour depth and picture quality
sAGAR (Super Anti-Glare, Anti-Reflection) film reduces glare
Neural Quantum Processor Ultra automatically analyses each frame to improve image quality
Dolby Atmos with Sound Dome technology for immersive surround sound
Four corner speakers with two central woofers for a 60 watt 2.2.2 channel audio

It also comes with an exclusive Ark Dial that lets you quickly adjust screen size and ratio, to enjoy multiple content sources at the same time!

Even though it’s so large, the Samsung Odyssey Ark gaming monitor can be rotated clockwise to Cockpit Mode. It is not motorised but it’s not difficult to rotate the monitor.

In both vertical and horizontal orientations, its Multi View capability lets you take full advantage of its massive display by splitting it into sections.

You can add up to four screens in the standard landscape mode, and three screens in the vertical Cockpit Mode, allowing you to easily multitask. You can simultaneously game, while chatting on social media, or watching YouTube videos, all on the same display!

Samsung Odyssey Ark Gaming Monitor : Specifications

Here is a table I created of the 55-inch Samsung Odyssey Ark gaming monitor’s key specifications:

Specifications	Samsung Odyssey Ark
Display Size	55-inch
Type	Curved Gaming Monitor
Curvature	1000R
Display Resolution	3,840 x 2160 pixels
Aspect Ratio	16:9
Panel Type	VA
Response Time	1 ms (GTG)
Refresh Rate	Up to 165 Hz
Variable Refresh Rate	FreeSync Premium Pro
Brightness	1000 nits peak 600 nits typical 420 nits minimum
Contrast Ratio	1,000,000:1 (static)
Dynamic Contrast Ratio	Mega DCR
Local Dimming	Yes, 1,056 zones
HDR10+	Yes
Colour Support	Up to 1 billion colours
Colour Gamut	95% DCI-P3
Aspect Ratio	16:9
Viewing Angle	178˚ (Horizontal / Vertical)
Connectivity	4 x HDMI 2.1 ports (HDCP 2.2) 2 x USB 2.0 ports 1 x LAN port
Bluetooth Capability	Bluetooth 5.2
Other Features	Amazon Alexa Samsung Bixby Samsung SmartThings Samsung Game Bar 2.0 Eco Light Sensor
Camera	No
Ark Dial	Yes
Power Consumption	84 watt (typical) 0.50 watt (DPMS)
Stand Type	HAS PIVOT
Height Adjustment	Landscape : 0-270 mm (±5mm) Portrait : 0-30 mm (±5mm)
Tilt Adjustment	Landscape : -10˚(±2˚) to 10˚(±2˚) Portrait : -13˚(±2˚) to 10˚(±2˚)
Pivot	-90˚(±2˚) to 90˚(±2˚)
Swivel	No
Dimensions with Stand	1,174.8 mm wide 1,102.0 mm tall 379.0 mm deep
Weight with Stand	41.5 kg

Samsung Odyssey Ark Gaming Monitor : Price + Availability

The 55-inch Samsung Odyssey Ark gaming monitor (LS55BG970NEXXS) is available with immediate effect, at these price points:

United States : $2,999
United Kingdom : £2,599
Malaysia : RM13,999

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Support my work through a bank transfer / PayPal / credit card!

Name : Adrian Wong
Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.

He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

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Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Review : Great Bang For Your Buck!

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The Galaxy Buds 2 is the latest AKG-tuned TWS earbuds with active noise cancellation from Samsung!

Find out just how good it really is, and why it offers such great bang for your buck!

Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 : What’s In The Box?

First, let’s take a quick look at what’s inside the box.

Samsung kindly provided us with a better unboxing video than we could have done ourselves.

Inside, you will find the following items :

A pair of Samsung Galaxy Buds 2
Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 storage + charging case
Guide Start Guide
USB-A to USB-C charging cable
Extra ear tips (small and large)

Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 : Key Features

The Galaxy Buds 2 is the latest AKG-tuned TWS earbuds from Samsung, and the lightest pair they ever made.

Despite its name, the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 is not really a second-generation Buds, but a more affordable version of the ultra-premium Galaxy Buds Pro.

Comfort

These are really the lightest and smallest earbuds I ever tried. Each earbud weighs just 5 grams, and if you fit them right – you can hardly feel them.

They come with three sets of ear tips – small, medium and large, allowing you to fit them snugly.

But please note that the Galaxy Buds 2 are not IPX7 water-resistant like the Buds Pro. These earbuds are only IPX2 sweat-resistant, so you should avoid wearing them in the rain.

Active Noise Cancellation

The Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 has two microphones to constantly monitor ambient noise, 98% of which Samsung says will be cancelled by its Active Noise Cancellation technology.

Its noise cancelling performance is good, delivering much clearer audio while driving (haven’t been flying lately!) and in noisier surroundings. However, don’t expect the same level of noise cancellation as premium over-ear ANC headphones like Sony WH-1000XM4 or Bose QuietComfort 45.

If you need to listen to someone speak, it has an Ambient mode (with 3 levels) that temporarily disable ANC and lets you listen to the outside world.

And when you take out one ear bud, the Buds 2 cleverly switches to Ambient mode so you don’t get disorientated, and switches back to ANC when you put the ear bud back on.

Audio Quality

The Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 has decidedly better audio quality than the original Galaxy Buds, but I suspect audiophiles will say that it lacks the refinement and richness of more premium earbuds like the Buds Pro or Sony’s WF-1000MX4.

That would not be a fair comparison, and it doesn’t really matter unless you are comparing them side-by-side. The Buds 2 sounds great, and you can further adjust it to suit your proclivities using its equaliser setting.

Instead of worrying about how it compares against its far more expensive competitors, it’s best to learn how to get the best fit possible for the best sound and active noise cancelling.

Connectivity

The Galaxy Buds 2 connects wirelessly to your devices using Bluetooth 5.2, with support for AAC, SBC and Samsung’s proprietary Scalable codecs, but not aptX.

The earbuds support automatic switching between Samsung Galaxy devices, but does not offer true Bluetooth multipoint connectivity – switching from your phone to your computer, for example.

Battery Life

There is a downside of the reduced weight though – a battery life of 5 hours with ANC enabled, and up to 7.5 hours with ANC disabled.

That may seem a little short for some, but it’s really not so bad because the ear buds support quick charging – popping them into the charging case for 5 minutes gets you another hour of use.

The charging case, incidentally, has enough juice for three full charges. That’s 20 hours of battery life in your pocket.

Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 : Our Verdict

The Galaxy Buds 2 is the cheapest and lightest pair of TWS earbuds from Samsung, and it boasts many of the best features from the far more expensive Galaxy Buds Pro.

Unless you have plenty of cash to splash, the decision is simple – just get the Galaxy Buds 2 and enjoy it!

Battery life is shorter and it’s not water-resistant, but the Buds 2 has a better fit and is both lighter in weight and on your wallet!

For those reasons, I think it deserves no less than our Reviewer’s Choice Award!

Frankly speaking, the Buds2 will kill a lot of budget TWS earbuds. Why settle for less when you can get an affordable pair of AKG-tuned ultra-light earbuds from Samsung?

Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 : Where To Buy?

The Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 is priced at RM499 / S$248 / US$149.99 / £139 / A$219.

Here are some online purchase options (prices accurate as of 28 October 2021) :

Malaysia : RM439 | RM469 | RM499
Singapore : $190 | $192 | $209
United States : $123.49 | $129.99
United Kingdom : £134
Australia : $197 | $197 | $197

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Support my work through a bank transfer / PayPal / credit card!

Name : Adrian Wong
Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.

He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

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vivo TWS 2 ANC + TWS 2e Earbuds : All You Need To Know!

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vivo just introduced the TWS 2 ANC and TWS 2e true wireless stereo earbuds that offer studio quality audio!

Find out if the new TWS earbuds are what you have been looking for!

vivo TWS 2 ANC + TWS 2e Earbuds : All You Need To Know!

vivo just introduced two new true wireless stereo earbuds – the TWS 2e and the TWS 2 ANC with active noise cancellation!

They both come with 12.2 mm speakers offering super strong bass, in a pair of feather-light earbuds.

Here is what you need to know about the new vivo TWS 2 series earbuds…

Comfortable Fit

Both vivo TWS 2 ANC and TWS 2e earbuds are ultra-light at just 4.7 grams. But more importantly, they were designed with a G3 curvature that conforms to the contours of your ears.

They also feature an innovative vent design, with front and rear chamber flow to help equalise pressure. You will hardly remember they are there!

Super Strong Bass

Both vivo TWS 2 models come with a large 12.2 mm speaker, which features a carbon fibre composite diaphragm to deliver powerful bass, with crisp mids and highs.

Active Noise Cancellation

The vivo TWS 2 ANC can continuously monitor and cancel the background sound, eliminating up to 40 dB of noise!

You can rely on its smart noise algorithm to intelligently adjust the degree of noise cancellation, or manually choose from three levels – high, normal and low.

It doesn’t matter how loud traffic gets – you will always hear every song and conversation crystal clear!

And a single tap activates the Transparency Mode which lets you clearly hear outside sounds, letting you hear announcements and chat with people as if you were not wearing the earbuds at all.

Microphone Noise Cancellation

Both models come with two external beam forming microphones to eliminate background noise while picking up your voice.

Their duct design also improves wind noise reduction by an astounding 148%, so your voice will always be clear even if you are running or cycling.

The TWS 2 ANC model has an additional microphone hidden within the earbud. This microphone has a high SNR to help pick up your voice even in the noisiest environment.

Multipoint Connection

Both vivo TWS 2 models can simultaneously connect to two devices, and switch seamlessly between them – like your vivo X70 smartphone and a laptop, for example.

If you receive a call on your phone while watching a video on your laptop, the earbuds will automatically stream the call and switch back to the video after you hang up.

Ultra-Low Latency

Both models have been enhanced with vivo’s dual-coupled antennas to reduce wireless latency, which is critical for online games.

The TWS 2e has a wireless latency of just 117 ms, while the TWS 2 ANC goes as low as 88 ms!

Battery Life

Both models have a battery life of about 7 hours, and 29-30 hours when used with the charging case.

With active noise cancellation enabled, the TWS 2 ANC has a 4 hour battery life on a single charge.

vivo TWS 2 ANC + TWS 2e Earbuds : Specifications

To make it easier for you to decide between the two models, we created this table to compare their key specifications :

Specifications	TWS 2 ANC	TWS 2e
Design	In-Ear Earbuds
IP Rating	IP54
Speaker Unit	12.2 mm voice coil
Frequency Range	20 Hz to 20,000 Hz
Active Noise Cancellation	Yes	No
Microphones	3	2
Voice Call Noise Cancellation	Yes, 3-Mic	Yes, 2-Mic
Wireless Connectivity	Bluetooth 5.2 Dual-Channel Transmission 2.0
Wireless Latency	88 ms (min.)	117 ms (min.)
Wireless Codec	aptX Adaptive / AAC / SBC	AAC / SBC
Wear Detection	Two capacitive sensors	None
Google Fast Pair	Yes
Controls	Pressure + Touch	None
Battery	45 mAh (each earbud) 505 mAh (charging case)
Battery Life (Noise Cancellation Off)	7.3 Hours	7.6 Hours
Battery Life (Noise Cancellation On)	4.1 Hours	–
Charging Time	60 minutes (earbuds) 110 minutes (charging case)
Charging Port	USB Type C
Earbud Dimensions	23.8 x 22.2 x 30.2 mm
Charging Case Dimensions	60.0 x 24.3 x 45.4 mm
Earbud Weight	4.7 g per earbud
Charging Case Weight	41.9 g

vivo TWS 2 ANC + TWS 2e Earbuds : Price + Pre-Order Deals

The vivo TWS 2e is priced at RM269 – approximately US$64 / £47 / A$88 / S$87.

But it only costs RM68, if you purchase it with a vivo X70 series smartphone!

The vivo X70 Pro is priced at RM369 – approximately US$88 / £65 / A$121 / S$119.

But it only costs RM98, if you purchase it with a vivo X70 series smartphone!

Please Support My Work!

Support my work through a bank transfer / PayPal / credit card!

Name : Adrian Wong
Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.

He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

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