Read more about it below.

Samsung Galaxy A17 5G vs Galaxy F70 5G Specifications

As can be seen from the above comparison, both smartphones share the same display, chipset, camera setup, battery capacity, and charging support. Their dimensions and weight are also identical, while differences are seen in the available memory configurations and colour options.

Speaking more, Samsung had promised six major Android OS upgrades and six years of security updates for the Galaxy A17 5G. However, for the Galaxy F70 5G, this has been reduced to four major Android OS upgrades and five years of security updates.

Additionally, the newly-launched Galaxy F70 5G still comes with the Android 15-based One UI 7.0 custom skin, just like the Galaxy A17 5G at launch. Considering the gap between their launches, Android 16 out of the box would have been a welcome addition.

Looking into their pricing, the Galaxy A17 5G was introduced at INR 18,999 for its 6GB/128GB memory variant. The same memory configuration of the Galaxy F70 5G is priced at INR 22,999, which is INR 4,000 higher than the Galaxy A17 5G’s launch price.

With launch offers, customers will be able to get the Galaxy F70 5G’s 6GB/128GB variant at INR 20,999, which, even after these offers remains INR 2,000 more expensive than the Galaxy A17 5G’s launch price, despite offering largely the same hardware and a shorter software support commitment.

Stay tuned for more updates.

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But specifications only tell one part of the story. How does the SoundPEATS Air 6 HS actually perform in real-life usage? Let’s find out.

Design and Comfort

Starting with the design, the SoundPEATS Air 6 HS adopts a semi-in-ear design, and the White colour variant that we received offers a simple and clean appearance. Speaking more about the design, the charging case comes in a pebble-shaped form factor, somewhat similar to the SoundPEATS Air 5 Pro. At the bottom of the case, you will find a USB Type-C charging port, while the reset button is placed right next to it.

The earbuds themselves follow a stem-based design, with a narrow speaker grille positioned on the upper portion.

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According to the brand, the fit has been designed based on data collected from more than 10,000 ear profiles, with the aim of offering a natural and comfortable fit.

During our usage, the earbuds were comfortable to wear, though my ears are probably not among those 10,000 ear profiles, as most earbuds with this type of design always feel as if they might fall out. This may naturally vary from person to person depending on the shape of their ears and their preferred fit.

The left and right markings are also clearly visible on the stem area, making it easier to identify the respective earbuds before putting them on.

The earbuds further come with an IPX5 water-resistance rating, offering protection against sweat and light water splashes during regular everyday use.

Key Specifications

Speaking more about its specifications, the SoundPEATS Air 6 HS features a 13mm triple-magnet bio-composite driver and has received Hi-Res Audio certification. It supports SBC, AAC, and LDAC codecs, with LDAC offering higher-quality wireless audio playback on supported devices.

Bluetooth 6.0 connectivity is offered on the earbuds, along with support for dual-device pairing. For calls, the device uses a four-microphone system with AI noise cancellation to improve voice clarity and reduce surrounding noise.

The earbuds offer up to 9 hours of playback on a single charge, while the charging case extends the total listening time to up to 45 hours. Charging takes around an hour, while a 10-minute quick charge can provide up to 2 hours of playback.

SoundPEATS has also integrated the earbuds with its SoundPEATS app, which provides access to personalised EQ, different audio features, device settings, and several other customisation options.

Notably, the SoundPEATS Air 6 HS has also received the VGP 2026 Gold and Planning Award.

SoundPEATS App Experience

A significant part of the Air 6 HS experience revolves around the SoundPEATS app. Apart from letting users adjust audio-related settings and personalised EQ, the app also provides controls for features including LDAC, dual-device connectivity, Spatial Sound, Game Mode, Find My Earbuds, and a drainage function. Soon after connecting via the App, there was a new firmware update as well.

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Screenshot

The app displays the actual battery percentage of the earbuds, which makes it much easier to keep track of the remaining charge. Battery-related information has also been implemented quite well, as users get a clear idea of how much battery is left directly through the app. One important thing to note is that if you do not already have an account, you will need to create one by signing up within the app itself.

However, a few of these features come with certain limitations that users should know about.

Dual Connectivity

The SoundPEATS Air 6 HS supports dual-device connectivity, allowing the earbuds to be connected to two compatible devices. However, the implementation isn’t as seamless as we would have liked.

Dual connectivity is disabled by default, meaning users first have to open the SoundPEATS app and manually enable the feature before they can use it.

There are also a few limitations associated with how dual connectivity works in real-life use.

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For instance, as soon as the charging case is opened, the earbuds try to connect to the last connected device. If Bluetooth is disabled on that device, the earbuds do not necessarily switch over and automatically connect to the other previously paired device.

This makes switching between devices slightly less convenient than expected.

We also feel that SoundPEATS should provide an option to manually turn the earbuds on or off by long-pressing the stem. At present, if users want to restart the earbuds, they have to place them back inside the charging case, close the lid, and then open it again.

It is not a major issue, but a manual power control through the stem would have made everyday usage more convenient.

LDAC and Dual Connectivity Limitation

LDAC support is one of the highlighting audio features of the SoundPEATS Air 6 HS, but it is disabled by default and needs to be enabled through the SoundPEATS app.

iPhone users won’t be able to use LDAC, since Apple’s devices do not support the codec.

On Android smartphones, we noticed another important limitation — LDAC gets disabled when Dual Connectivity is enabled. This essentially means users have to choose between higher-quality LDAC audio playback and simultaneous dual-device connectivity.

For users primarily interested in audio quality, keeping LDAC enabled would likely be preferable, while those frequently switching between a smartphone, tablet, or laptop may find dual connectivity more useful.

However, having to choose between these two notable features does feel like a compromise, particularly considering that both are among the major highlights of the earbuds.

Audio and Spatial Sound Experience

Coming to the actual listening experience, the 13mm drivers offer an enjoyable sound output with good clarity, while the option to personalise the EQ through the SoundPEATS app gives users additional flexibility depending on their preferred sound signature.

One feature that particularly stood out during testing was Spatial Sound.

We tested Spatial Sound primarily using its Music Mode, and it produced a noticeable 3D audio effect. Smaller and background sound elements could also be heard quite clearly, giving certain tracks a wider and more immersive presentation.

A separate Movie Mode is also available for users who want to use Spatial Sound while watching films or other video content.

However, Spatial Sound and Game Mode cannot operate simultaneously. Enabling Game Mode automatically turns Spatial Sound off.

Call Quality

Call quality was another area where the SoundPEATS Air 6 HS performed well during our testing.

The four-microphone system combined with AI noise cancellation and ENC (Environmental Noise Cancellation) offered good voice clarity. Even while speaking at a relatively low volume, the person on the other end of the call was able to hear the voice clearly.

Incoming audio was also clearly audible, making normal phone calls comfortable without requiring users to significantly increase their speaking or listening volume.

Overall, call performance turned out to be one of the positive aspects of our experience with the earbuds.

Gaming Experience and Battery Test

The earbuds also offer a Game Mode for users looking for a reduced-latency experience while gaming.

During our testing, we used the earbuds for gaming continuously for around one hour. At the end of the session, roughly one-third of the earbuds’ battery had been consumed.

While battery consumption can naturally vary depending on volume level, connectivity conditions, enabled features, and the type of usage, this gives users a rough idea of what they can expect during longer gaming sessions.

As mentioned above, turning on Game Mode automatically disables Spatial Sound.

Drainage Feature

Another interesting utility included through the SoundPEATS app is the drainage function.

When activated, the earbuds produce a strong sound and vibration through the speaker grille, intended to help remove trapped water or moisture.

The process runs for approximately 5 to 10 seconds and automatically stops once the drainage cycle has been completed. Users therefore don’t have to manually stop the sound after activating the feature.

It is a small addition, but one that could prove useful if the earbuds are exposed to sweat or moisture during everyday use.

Find My Earbuds

The SoundPEATS app also provides a Find My Earbuds function.

Users can individually select the left earbud, right earbud, or both earbuds. When both are selected, an alert sound plays through both earbuds, helping locate them if they are somewhere nearby.

During our testing, the alert automatically stopped after roughly 10 to 15 seconds.

The app also features a more detailed location information section. While we can’t comment much on the overall quality of the maps used inside the app, the location shown during our testing was certainly precise in identifying where the earbuds were located.

The audible alert also worked properly and should be particularly useful for locating misplaced earbuds around a room, desk, bed, sofa, or other nearby areas.

Battery Life and Charging

The earbuds are rated to provide up to 9 hours of listening time on a single charge, while the charging case increases the overall battery backup to up to 45 hours, as claimed by the company.

During our testing, battery performance was generally satisfactory for regular listening sessions, calls, and everyday use. However, as mentioned earlier, our one-hour gaming session consumed roughly one-third of the earbuds’ battery, suggesting that battery consumption can increase considerably depending on the mode and type of usage.

Charging takes around an hour, and SoundPEATS has also included fast-charging support. A 10-minute charge can provide up to 2 hours of playback, which can be particularly handy when users need to head out quickly and realise that the earbuds are running low on battery.

Combined with the battery percentage information available through the SoundPEATS app, keeping track of the earbuds’ remaining power is fairly convenient.

Verdict

After using the SoundPEATS Air 6 HS across regular music listening, calls, gaming, and its various app-based features, the earbuds leave a largely positive impression.

The 13mm drivers, LDAC support, Spatial Sound performance, good call quality, battery life, and extensive SoundPEATS app features are some of its biggest strengths.

Spatial Sound deserves a special mention, as the Music Mode produced a noticeable 3D effect during our testing and even brought out smaller background audio elements quite clearly. Call performance was similarly impressive, with voices remaining clear on both ends even when speaking relatively softly.

The Find My Earbuds feature also worked well during our testing, with both the audible alert and location information proving useful.

There are nevertheless some areas where SoundPEATS could improve the overall experience. Dual connectivity isn’t enabled by default, and switching between previously paired devices isn’t as seamless as it could be. More importantly, LDAC and Dual Connectivity cannot be used together, meaning users must choose between the two features.

We would also have preferred an option to manually turn the earbuds on and off through a long press on the stem rather than having to place them back inside the charging case to restart them.

Comfort was generally good as well, though slight discomfort did begin to set in after around two hours of continuous use in our case, so the experience may vary depending on the user’s ear shape and fit preference.

Leaving these shortcomings aside, the overall package is quite compelling. For users looking for semi-in-ear earbuds with good audio performance, LDAC support, useful app features, reliable call quality, impressive Spatial Sound, and good battery backup, the SoundPEATS Air 6 HS is certainly worth considering.

Also, these earbuds are available for purchase via the official SoundPEATS India website with a price tag of INR 5,999. Buyers can also get up to a 5% discount when making an advance payment.

The post SoundPEATS Air 6 HS Review: Impressive Spatial Sound, LDAC Support and Good Call Quality appeared first on The Tech Outlook.

Galaxy Z Flip 8 vs Galaxy Z Flip 7

If we talk about the pricing, the Galaxy Z Flip 7 was introduced in India at a starting price of Rs 1,09,999, while the Galaxy Z Flip 8 has launched at a starting price of Rs 1,24,999.

When unfolded, the Galaxy Z Flip 8 measures 6.1mm, and when folded, it measures 13.1mm; on the other hand, the Galaxy Z Flip 7 measures 6.5mm when folded and 13.7mm when unfolded. In terms of weight, the Galaxy Z Flip 8 is lighter at 180g, while its predecessor weighed 188g.

The Galaxy Z Flip 8 arrives with Samsung’s new Flex Titanium technology that makes the device thinner and panels stronger. This enhances display support and reduces the crease visibility compared to the Galaxy Z Flip 7. Also, Galaxy Z Flip 8 features an anti-reflective coating on the display.

In terms of processor, Galaxy Z Flip 8 comes with an Exynos 2600 SoC that offers up to 3.8GHz of clock speed and an Xclipse 960 GPU, while the Flip 7 arrived with an Exynos 2500 SoC that offers 3.3GHz of clock speed and an Xclipse 950 GPU.

Coming to the software, the new Flip device comes with One UI 9, which means upgraded features, while the Flip 7 arrived with One UI 8. Though the One UI 9 upgrade will be released for the Galaxy Z Flip 7 as well, which means the features will be reaching to this device as well.

Other than this, both the flip smartphones feature similar cameras, battery and display specs. You can check out the spec comparison table below.

Galaxy Z Flip 8 & Galaxy Z Flip 7: Comparison table

Based on all the features and specs, Galaxy Z Flip 8 arrives with minor upgrades over the Galaxy Z Flip 7 device, but Samsung did focus on key areas with its latest offering. Galaxy Z Flip 8 comes with a better processor, a slimmer design and upgraded software. However, hardware specs like display, battery and camera have been retained from the previous generation.

The post Galaxy Z Flip 8 vs Galaxy Z Flip 7: Check out the comparison before going for an upgrade appeared first on The Tech Outlook.

Let’s compare the newly-launched Samsung Galaxy A27 5G and last year’s Galaxy A26 5G smartphones and find out which device stands as the better option among the two.

Samsung Galaxy A27 5G vs Samsung Galaxy A26 5G Specifications

Samsung Galaxy A27 5G vs Samsung Galaxy A26 5G Specifications

Based on the overall specifications of the two smartphones, the newly-launched Samsung Galaxy A27 5G has turned out to be the better smartphone device when it comes to performance, storage type, software, and display brightness.

Firstly, the Galaxy A27 5G comes powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 processor, while the Galaxy A26 5G is equipped with the Exynos 1380 chipset. Speaking more, the Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 chipset is said to have achieved an AnTuTu v10 score of around 840,000 to 868,000 points, whereas the Exynos 1380 chipset powering the Galaxy A26 5G has reportedly managed to score around 579,811  points (via GSMARENA). This clearly gives the Galaxy A27 5G a notable advantage in terms of overall performance. While the Galaxy A26 5G came with One UI 7 based on Android 15, it has now been upgraded to One UI 8.5 based on Android 16, but the Galaxy A27 5G already ships with One UI 8.5 based on Android 16.

Notably, the Galaxy A27 5G comes with up to 8GB of LPDDR5X RAM and up to 256GB of UFS 3.1 storage, whereas its predecessor, the Galaxy A26 5G, offers up to 8GB of LPDDR4X RAM and up to 256GB of UFS 2.2 storage. This means that apart from the chipset upgrade, the newer device also gets an advantage in terms of faster RAM and storage standards.

As far as the display specs are concerned, both smartphones feature a 6.7” Super AMOLED display with a 1080 x 2340 pixels resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate. However, the Galaxy A27 5G offers a higher peak brightness of 1400 nits, while the Galaxy A26 5G supports up to 1000 nits of brightness. Furthermore, the Galaxy A27 5G has a punch hole front display, whereas the Galaxy A26 5G has an infinity U-shaped display.

Regarding the camera specs, both the devices have a 50MP OIS-supported main camera and a 2MP macro camera at the rear. However, the Galaxy A26 5G features a better 8MP ultrawide camera, while the Galaxy A27 5G only has a 5MP ultrawide lens. The selfie camera is also slightly better on the Galaxy A26 5G, as it comes with a 13MP front camera, compared to the 12MP front-facing camera offered on the Galaxy A27 5G.

Coming to the battery specs, both smartphones are backed by the same 5000 mAh battery and support 25W wired fast charging. This means that there is no major difference between the two devices in terms of battery capacity or charging capability.

The post Samsung Galaxy A27 5G vs Galaxy A26 5G: What Has Changed? appeared first on The Tech Outlook.

Let’s compare the REDMI Turbo 5 and POCO X8 Pro smartphones, and find the best device among the two.

REDMI Turbo 5 vs POCO X8 Pro

Clearly, both the REDMI Turbo 5 and POCO X8 Pro smartphones arrive with an almost similar set of specifications, and the two devices also share the same MediaTek Dimensity 8500-Ultra chipset.

Speaking about the pricing, the recent price hike has increased the pricing of several handsets, and looking at the current pricing of the POCO X8 Pro in India, its 8GB/256GB variant now stands at INR 34,999, up from its launch price of INR 29,999. The 12GB/256GB variant is now priced at INR 37,999, up from its launch price of INR 32,999.

On the other hand, the REDMI Turbo 5 has also been launched in the same memory options, and is priced at INR 35,999 for the 8GB/256GB variant and INR 38,999 for the 12GB/256GB variant with launch offers. This makes the REDMI Turbo 5 INR 1,000 costlier than the POCO X8 Pro. However, the REDMI Turbo 5 is also being offered with a 60% buyback promise if it is returned within one year.

So based on all these factors, without doubts, the REDMI Turbo 5 takes a slight edge over the POCO X8 Pro when battery, added design features, and buyback promise are considered. However, performance-wise, both smartphones feature the same chipset and there won’t be much of a difference between the two.

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Here is more to it.

Design and Packaging

The earbuds come in a white box featuring Dolby Audio, Hi-Res Audio, and LDAC branding on the front. Inside the box, you’ll find the charging case finished in a silverish, glossy tone with the Sounpeats logo in gold on the top. The charging case has an LED indicator on the front, with a USB Type-C port and a button at the back. Inside the box, there was a USB Type C cable and the User manual.

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Upon opening the charging case, the two earbuds are neatly placed inside. These earbuds feature a soft loop-style hook that helps secure them comfortably in the ear. The main body has a smooth, rounded design, while the stem carries metallic accents. Sounpeats has used a 0.6 mm memory wire in the earhook, which they call the N-Flex Arch™ structure. In simple terms, the wire bends easily and adjusts to the shape of your ear, helping the earbuds stay in place. It also feels light on the ear and doesn’t create discomfort even when worn for longer durations. The section that sits inside the ear includes a speaker grille, and at the top are openings for the microphones. The outer part’s surface is glossy with a geometric pattern of the Sounpeats logo and also functions as a touch panel. I even tried scratching the case with my nails, but it didn’t leave any marks and still looked shiny.

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The earbuds are truly lightweight, weighing just about 5 grams each, while the charging case weighs around 50.5 grams without the earbuds. These Clip buds sit well on the ears, and even while jogging, I never felt like they were going to fall off. Additionally, the earbuds come with an IPX5 waterproof rating, meaning they can withstand light rain. Although there’s no official mention of sweat resistance, they held up perfectly during my workout sessions, even with my heavy sweating, without any issues.

And yes, these earbuds support AutoSense Smart L/R Channel Adaptation. You can place either earbud in either ear, and they instantly detect which side they are on. They then automatically adjust the audio channels with zero delay. I tested this myself, and it worked flawlessly.

Connectivity and Features

To begin with, you’ll need to install the Sounpeats app from either the Play Store or the App Store. After that, you’ll have to sign up if you haven’t already. Since I had previously reviewed the Sounpeats Air 5 Pro, I already had an account, so I simply logged in.

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As soon as you open the charging case, the earbuds automatically enter pairing mode, and setting them up on my iPhone 12 was quite easy. Once you’ve connected them via Bluetooth, you can open the Sounpeats app. It will ask you to agree and continue, and then enter the login credentials you used during signup. After that, the home screen appears, showing the earbuds and charging case with their remaining battery levels. However, the app doesn’t show an actual percentage—only a plain bar. It would have been nicer to see the exact percentage, and hopefully Sounpeats adds this in a future update.

The app also includes a “Find My Earphones” feature, which plays a sound on the earbuds if you can’t locate them. But the sound keeps ringing until you manually go into settings and turn it off. It would’ve been better if touching the earbuds stopped the sound, or if you could trigger it again directly from the settings page of the app.

Right on the home screen, you’ll find the toggle for Dolby Audio, which offers two modes: Movie and Music. Personally, I noticed only a slight—almost negligible—difference when switching between the two.

Another feature is in-ear detection, which, when enabled, pauses the music when you remove an earbud and resumes playback once you put it back in.

You can also customise the touch controls or disable them entirely from within the app. Coming to the EQ settings, it includes the DynamicEQ™ Pro algorithm, which optimises sound across genres by making real-time adjustments—boosting frequencies at low volumes to keep them audible or reducing harsh frequencies when needed. Along with this, it offers several preset EQ profiles, and you can create and save your own. However, the Adaptive EQ stood out as the best for me, mainly because I love listening at high volumes, and this feature enhances the sound accordingly.

Since it supports dual connectivity, you can connect two devices simultaneously. But it will only play audio from one device at a time. Once playback stops on the first device, it will automatically switch to the second, and vice versa. Unlike the Sounpeats Air 5 Pro, though, it doesn’t pause the previous device when switching—audio only starts on the current device once the other is inactive.

The earbuds come with Bluetooth 5.4, and during my testing, even when my phone was about 12 feet away, I didn’t face any connectivity issues. I also played Call of Duty with the Game Mode turned on, and I still didn’t experience any noticeable latency, even small in-game sounds like footsteps were clear and timely. And yes, the settings I customised on my iPhone remained the same when I switched to my OnePlus smartphone.

Sound Quality

The earbuds use the BES2710IA chip, 12 mm dual-magnet dynamic drivers with titanium PVD coating, and support LDAC and Hi-Res Audio for high-resolution playback.

With Dynamic EQ turned on, I felt the sound wasn’t as loud. But when I switched to Adaptive EQ, the audio quality improved significantly—the bass became punchier and the vocals clearer. While listening to NGT by KIR, even the small giggle at the beginning of the song was clear.

That said, don’t expect very heavy bass. These aren’t in-ear earbuds; they sit outside the ear canal. This is true for all clip-style or open-ear earbuds since they don’t isolate sound as effectively. Still, the bass was decent, and the vocals were crisp and loud.

During calls, I noticed a slight delay in my voice. The other person said my voice sounded crisp and clear, thanks to the special internal C-shaped structure that reduces wind noise. But during long calls—52 minutes + 41 minutes + 30 minutes—I occasionally noticed slight voice garbling when the volume was high.

The earbuds support AAC, SBC, and LDAC codecs. Since the iPhone doesn’t support LDAC or aptX Lossless, I tested LDAC on the OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite. After enabling it, the music quality noticeably improved with more detail.

Battery

Each earbud has a 45 mAh battery, and the charging case packs a 450 mAh battery. Sounpeats claims up to 8 hours of playback on a single charge. In my usage(with Dolby Audio turned on), I made a total of 123 minutes of calls and started using the earbuds around 11:45 AM. I didn’t use them continuously—I took breaks, checked back later, and even played Call of Duty. By evening, around 6 PM, the battery bar in the app had turned yellow, but there was still some charge left.

Based on my testing, you can expect around 5–6 hours of playback on a single charge. With the charging case, total playback could go up to 32 hours as claimed, but realistically, I think it will be slightly lower.

Charging the earbuds takes about an hour, and the case takes roughly two hours to fully charge.

Final Verdict

After using the Sounpeats Clip 1 for a week, they come across as a practical option for anyone who prefers clip-style, open-ear earbuds. The lightweight build and secure fit are the main positives, and they remain comfortable during regular use as well as activities like jogging or workouts.

Sound quality is good for this open-ear style. You won’t get the deep bass of traditional in-ear earbuds, but the audio is clear, detailed, and gets much better with Adaptive EQ turned on. Switching on LDAC on an Android phone brings out even more clarity and separation in the music. During calls, I didn’t experience any delay in hearing my own voice. The person on the other end did mention a slight distortion a couple of times, but that was likely because we were just a room apart, which can sometimes cause interference or echo.

Feature-wise, Sounpeats has done a commendable job. AutoSense channel switching works perfectly, the touch controls are responsive, and dual-device connectivity is genuinely useful. That said, the app still needs polishing. Not showing the exact battery percentage feels like a basic miss, and the Find My Earphones feature could be more intuitive.

At $70, the Clip 1 sits within the expected range for its design and feature set. It has strengths in comfort and stability, but it also comes with limitations in audio, app functionality, and call consistency. The overall experience aligns with what is typically seen in this category.

The post Soundpeats Clip 1 Review: Great Comfort, Decent Sound, but App Needs Improvement appeared first on The Tech Outlook.

Design and Packaging

The earbuds arrived in a neatly packed box with the Snapdragon Sound logo displayed on the front, along with images of the stem‑style earbuds and badges for Hi‑Res Audio and LDAC support. As soon as I opened the package, I noticed the pebble‑shaped charging case in black. On the front of the charging case, there is an LED indicator, the USB Type‑C connector is positioned at the bottom of the case, and the SoundPEATS logo is printed on the back.

Opening the charging case reveals the two earbuds, also in black, and they certainly look premium. They feature a sleek semi‑in‑ear design with stems that have a metallic outer frame, giving them a premium look. The rounded heads ensure a comfortable fit, and the charging case is compact enough to slip easily into a pocket. The earbuds feel lightweight, weighing around 4.8g each, and with the charging case, the total weight is around 50.3g.

A green LED light on the charging case shows it is fully charged, while a yellow light shows charging is between 20–69%. If the battery of the charging case is below 20%, it will show red. There is also a button next to the USB Type‑C slot on the charging case. There is also a button next to the USB Type‑C port; pressing it makes the LED flash according to the charge status. One thing I missed is a small LED light on the earbuds themselves to indicate whether they are connected or disconnected.

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Air5 Pro

Inside the package, apart from the USB Type-A to Type-C cable, there are two extra sets of ear tips (small and medium), while the large ones are already on the earbuds. The default tips fit my ears comfortably, as I have large ears. One thing missing from the package was a printed instruction manual, but it wasn’t a deal breaker, as I was able to find it on the SoundPeats official website. The earbuds also have an IPX5 rating, which means they are protected against light rain. While there is no specific mention of sweat resistance, I had no issues while using them at the gym despite heavy sweating.

Connectivity and Features

Because there was no printed manual in the box, I initially downloaded the wrong SoundPEATS app. To use these earbuds properly, you need to install the PeatsAudio app on your smartphone. Another thing to note is that you have to register for an account to use the app. This was the first time I needed to register to use earbuds, and although it felt unnecessary, it was only a minor inconvenience.

The earbuds support dual connectivity, and I was able to switch between my iPhone 12 and OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite without any hassle. They use Bluetooth version 5.4, and while I couldn’t find details on the range, in my testing, they worked perfectly even when I moved about 10 metres away from my iPhone 12.

It did take some time to sign up on the app, but it was worth it. The earbuds initially came with an older firmware version, and I felt the sound quality was not impressive at first. However, after updating the firmware through the app, the sound quality improved dramatically. I will cover that improvement later in this article, but first, let me explain the features available in the app.

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From the app’s home screen, you can see both earbuds with individual battery indicators and three listening modes: Noise Reduction, Normal, and Transparency. There’s also a toggle to enable Game Mode, disable all touch controls, or turn on Dual Device Connection, allowing the earbuds to connect to two devices simultaneously.

In the settings menu, the app offers options such as Device Information, Firmware Upgrade, Reset Headset, and the ability to change the prompt tone or adjust its volume. You can also run a Fit Test and use the Find Earbuds feature. The equaliser section lets you pick a preset or customise sound frequencies according to your preference. The touch controls are fully customisable, allowing single, double, or triple taps and long presses on each earbud to trigger actions like volume control, play/pause, voice assistant, noise reduction, or track skipping. In the EQ settings, you have four presets by default, but it also gives you an option to customise the EQ settings and save them.

One feature I particularly liked is the dual connection option, which allows you to pair two devices at the same time. For instance, if you are playing music on one device and then start playback on the other, the first will pause automatically while the second begins playing. Plus, I also liked the option to disable all touch controls, which prevents accidental touches on the earbuds.

I highly recommend enabling Game Mode, as it delivers voice clarity with bass when gaming or listening to music. I also ran a latency test, which showed no noticeable delay in sound

Another great feature I liked is that once you log in on another device, all the settings remain the same across both devices, regardless of where you make the changes.

Sound Quality

These earbuds come with ANC and many of the features mentioned above. The sound quality is impressive, powered by Hi‑Res Audio and Snapdragon Sound™ with the Qualcomm® QCC3091 chipset. I listened to “MALA FAMA” by TEENWXVE, “FUNK MI CAMINO”, and “PASSO BEM SOLTO”. The beats are okay for this price range, although at higher volumes the sound tends to lose some quality. The ANC has four presets, and while I was in a traffic‑heavy area, the music remained clear thanks to AI Adaptive Noise Cancellation, which reduces noise by up to ‑55 dB.

To enable LDAC, you need to turn off dual connectivity. By default, LDAC is disabled and can be enabled through the app. While playing Call of Duty on my OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite, the sound quality was impressive—footsteps and gunshots were distinct and immersive.

During live voice calls, there was no background noise for the person on the other end, but to me, the sound felt slightly unnatural—clear but not perfectly balanced. Since iOS does not natively support LDAC or aptX Lossless codecs, I tested those on the OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite. Keep in mind that enabling LDAC disables both dual connectivity and Game Mode.

Battery

Both earbuds have a 32 mAh battery each, while the charging case has around 520 mAh. Although I didn’t get a chance to completely check the battery usage, during my test I used them for around two hours, then left them idle, and after four hours I tested them again by playing a game and listening to music for another hour. The earbuds still had power available. Although the app showed the battery in yellow, it still showed some charge. One thing that could have been better is if the app had displayed the exact battery percentage, as it would be more helpful. Hopefully, this feature may come in a future update.

The company claims you can get a playback time of 7.5 hours on a single charge, and with the case, you can get around 37 hours. Plus, in 10 minutes of charge, you can get two hours of playback time. Normally, the charging case would take around two hours to completely charge, while the earbuds would take around one hour. As per the instruction manual, you should use a charger between 2W and 5W.

Final Verdict

The SoundPEATS Air 5 Pro delivers an impressive all-around experience for its price point. The design is sleek, lightweight, and comfortable, with metallic stems that give a premium look. The compact case is easy to carry, and the IPX5 rating makes them suitable for workouts or light rain.

After the firmware update, the sound quality stands out — clear vocals, punchy bass, and decent ANC with four presets that work well in noisy environments. Game Mode offers low latency, making it a good choice for gaming. The PeatsAudio app is feature‑rich, with customisable EQ, touch controls, and dual‑device connectivity.

There are a few limitations: the app does not show exact battery percentages, there’s no printed manual in the box, and enabling LDAC disables dual connectivity and Game Mode. Call quality, while clear for the other party, felt slightly unnatural on my side.

Overall, the Air 5 Pro offers good value for money, at around USD 52.

Pros:

Premium design with comfortable fit and lightweight build

Rich, detailed sound with strong bass and clear vocals

Effective ANC with four presets

Low latency in Game Mode

Dual‑device connectivity with easy switching

Feature‑rich app with customisable EQ and controls

Cons:

No exact battery percentage in the app

No printed manual included in the package

LDAC can’t be used with dual connectivity or Game Mode

Voice call audio feels slightly unnatural on the user side

Update on July 26th 2025, at 12:54 AM: added link to the SoundPEATS Air Pro

The post SoundPEATS Air 5 Pro Review: A Practical Look at Design, Sound Quality, and Features appeared first on The Tech Outlook.

This article will be all about the mblu 22 Pro smartphone, and we will be taking you notably through its performance, gaming, display, camera, and battery related aspects and will also be discussing a few of its other key features and who this phone is suitable for.

Why waste time? Let’s get started right away. 

Unboxing

Before we dive into the hardware and software specs of the device, let’s first get to know what is offered within the packaging box. The well-packed packaging box directly opens into the smartphone model and below which, enclosed within a separate packaging box, users will be able to find the necessary documentation, a plastic screen protector, as well as a transparent back case. Inside the box, an 18W charging adapter (not brick-like), a USB Type-A to USB Type-C cable, and a sim ejector tool can also be found.  

On the packaging box, one will be able to find details regarding the smartphone marked on the front, top, and also on the left and right sides. The variant that we have had for testing is the Deep Sea Blue color variant, and it is the 4GB/128GB storage option (with up to 8GB virtual RAM support). 

Features and Specifications

The top features of the smartphone as listed by the brand are the 50MP ultra HD camera system, 48-month claimed smooth experience, Elegant Design, high capacity battery, Titan Shield Architecture, and ultra smooth display. In addition to the 50MP primary shooter, there is a selfie camera of 8MP given at the front. On the performance side, MediaTek’s Helio G81 chip is equipped within the device and is coupled with up to 16GB of dynamic RAM (8GB inbuilt + 8GB virtual) and up to 256GB of storage. The 5000 mAh battery supporting 18W wired fast charging is also a key feature, along with the high strength material build that has allowed the device to qualify different quality tests. Its 6.79″ LCD HD+ display with 120Hz refresh rate and Deep Sea Blue/Snow White/Titan Black color choices are further specs.

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Design

Speaking about the design, at the rear, Meizu has given a seemingly-large circular Black-colored rear camera module positioned at the top-center portion. Around the camera module, a concentric ring design has also been added throughout the rear panel, along with a gradient coloring. [To note, the Titan Black variant defies this design and offers a matte brushed appearance at the rear.] Also, the device has a glass rear panel and it adds to the overall design of the smartphone.  

Within the camera module, a center circular portion can again be spotted with the marking ‘50MP CAPTURE GREATNESS’. Around it, on the top, right, and left sides, there are camera units given, and at the bottom – the LED flashlight. 

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The middle frame however is plastic, but this doesn’t really mar the in-hand experience of the device and a solid feel is given to users. Furthermore, using the back case provides a better grip to the device (~ best to use it to prevent accidental drops). At the right side panel, the volume rocker and power button has been placed, and the power button that is accentuated in Red color doubles as a side-mounted fingerprint scanner too. The bottom portion has the card tray, microphone hole, USB Type-C port, and speaker holes. Added speaker holes for the second speaker as well as a 3.5 mm headphone jack have also been given at the top. 

Regarding the display, a better viewing area has been offered thanks to the thin bezels and punch-hole centrally-placed selfie camera – but the chin is on the thicker side. 

In total, the overall design of the smartphone is good and as indicated – it is ‘elegant’. Moreover, the 8.5 mm thin body weighing just 212 gm prevents the occurrence of hand/wrist aches from longer usage periods.   

Performance, User Interface, and Gaming

Now coming to the performance, first thing’s first – this is not a performance-oriented phone but a budget 4G device that guarantees a decent performance. That being said, users can expect Meizu’s mblu 22 Pro to handle daily tasks and perform certain productivity functions. 

Looking at the Geekbench and AnTuTu benchmark scores of the device, they are not that impressive. Also, on AnTuTu’s stress test, performance throttling and device heating were experienced, and this can be expected when running heavy tasks. Even though the HTML5 test of AnTuTu suggests that the device will offer decent performance for daily web browsing and lighter web-based tasks, limitations can be seen when loading demanding web contents or tasks.  

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Interestingly, there is one aspect on the side of performance that will catch the attention of users – a clean, ad-free, bloatware-free user interface. Yes, the device which comes with the Android 15 based Flyme Lite 1.0.2.0G custom skin assures a great user experience on the device, with snappy responses and exciting animations. A few added features can also be found across the system and these include the Camera/Microphone Access Denial, Dark Theme, Color Inversion, Night Light, Extra Dim, Color Correction, Bedtime Mode, Live Caption, Song Search and Music Control Bar, Sensitive Notifications, Flash Notifications, Adaptive Battery, RAM Expansion, Sound Enhancement, Adaptive Brightness, Adaptive Refresh Rate, Digital Wellbeing & Parental Control, and DuraSpeed.

Also, on the gaming side, there aren’t many issues with usual simulation and role-playing games. However, occasionally the device was seen freezing, but would then go on without the need for any troubleshooting. So, its high-end gaming experience is highly doubtful and users are advised not to go to that extent as the longevity and reliability of the device could be affected. 

Display, Camera, and Audio

Meizu’s mblu 22 Pro smartphone as mentioned features a 6.79” large display screen, and its users are being offered a quite commendable display quality and brightness with better color depiction. The above-mentioned display-related UI features such as Dark Theme, Color Inversion, Night Light, Extra Dim, and Color Correction further enhances the viewing experience of the users by tailoring it for their particular needs. 

Now coming to the camera specs and features, even though we are able to find three camera sensors at the rear, the brand itself is marketing a dual rear camera system for the smartphone – meaning the third camera unit may be an auxiliary lens or it could be a dummy unit. For selfies, an 8MP front-facing camera is on offer. Modes such as Time Lapse, Video, Photo, Portrait, 50M, Night Shot, Panorama, and Professional are supported for the rear camera system, while only Video, Photo, and Portrait modes are given for the selfie cam. Flash Controls, HDR, AI capability, Timer, and Filters are also present within the Camera app.  

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Meizu mblu 22 Pro – Camera Sample

In real-life scenarios, mostly the camera has a tendency to over expose the images. Also, the colors are a little popped and slightly far from natural. Day time shots offer better clarity and details, while shots at night and during low light conditions may not be the best – but can be considered as decent or good. At a particular instance, when switching between camera modes, the camera app all of a sudden crashed too and it took some time to get back to normal. The absence of EIS and OIS are easily identifiable from the video samples given below, and extra care and strain will have to be taken to keep the video output steady. Walking and shooting? No, the output is really bad. 

The audio experience on the device is quite good, and this could be useful for several users. Its dual speakers are loud, and a 300% Audio Booster Mode is also supported to deliver both louder and deeper audio output for a better multimedia experience. The earpiece and mic also works really well with good quality on both, ensuring a good calling experience.  

Battery Life and Charging

As pointed out, the Meizu mblu 22 Pro packs a decently large 5000 mAh battery within it and this is more than enough to get its users throughout the day. But, users may experience a battery drain when doing heavy tasks or while gaming on the device. Also, there is an 18W wired fast charging feature supported on the device, and for charging from 0% to 100%, about 2 hours is needed.  

Pricing and Availability

The storage options available for the mblu 22 Pro smartphone of Meizu, apart from the 4GB/128GB version that we have with us, are the higher 6GB/256GB and 8GB/256GB storage versions. These three are priced respectively at USD 99, USD 119, and USD 129. [Just to add, during the launch of the device, the brand made certain early bird offers available to its users and fans, dropping the pricing of these storage options to USD 79, USD 99, and USD 109 respectively.]

Final Verdict

So for the final verdict, is the Meizu mblu 22 Pro a good smartphone device or not – Yes, it truly is a great affordable option now currently available in the market and as mentioned by Binbin Gu – Executive Director of Meizu’s Global Business, it has been designed for value-driven consumers ensuring a proper balance between affordability and performance.

Looking at the pros first, the unique design which has been marketed as ‘Elegant Design’ really lives up to the user expectation and the Deep Sea Blue color variant that we have been testing kind of gives users a similar premium vibe as that of the Vivo X200 series Blue color variant. The system UI is the next key highlight and a clean user experience is not always offered on such a budget and affordable device – Meizu really deserves praise for this. The display experience and speaker output are also good, as well as the battery and charging features. The multifarious camera modes are also a great addition, and these can meet different user needs.

About the cons, while the UI experience is great, in our testing, at certain intervals, there were crashes experienced through different parts of the UI and the first one noticed was the Clock widget issue on the Home Screen. As given in the image below, the Clock widget would crash and become non-operational, and to fix this, we were deleting the widget and adding it again – just to see it again crash after some time. In certain cases, just tapping the Clock widget had fixed it, but not always.

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Also, the Flash did not work at a given point of time and it was only fixed when the device was restarted again. Just like pointed above, users may not be able to quickly switch between camera modes as the app would either crash or the camera thereafter won’t focus properly. The device was also seen skipping animations, and just opening the next screen or menu by popping it on the display. This smartphone is not at all ready for heavy tasks, and it is sure – users will find screen freezes. During our testing, the screen freeze was only present for a quick second, but the real test is after a few months and we’ll have to find out whether or not the claimed 48-month smooth experience is truly there. As indicated in the performance tests, the device will heat in real-life use too, but not at extreme levels and it was far lower than in the test outputs. [Also, this is a 4G device with no 5G network connectivity support.]

Most of the above issues, just like on other affordable and budget smartphones, can be fixed or eradicated to some extent by enabling RAM expansion (turned on by default). The device also provides users with the option to set the required virtual RAM space (3GB/4GB/6GB/8GB). However, it has to be kept in mind that inbuilt RAM and virtual RAM are not the same, and the quick read-write cycles on the internal storage may affect it with time. [Do check out our article regarding this matter to know more.]

Considering all these pros and cons together, we would recommend this phone to light users only – like students, normal users, and senior citizens. Youths can also prefer it, but keep in mind their needs before making the purchase. For heavy users like gamers and professionals, the device won’t properly suffice their needs and is not recommended.

The post Meizu mblu 22 Pro Review: A Decent Affordable 4G Smartphone Now in Market appeared first on The Tech Outlook.

First Impressions

The TOZO PE1 arrived in a simple white box, and the review unit I received was blue in colour. It features a slightly different design, TOZO has added a hook on top instead of the typical rope you find with most small portable speakers. I was able to hang it on a door handle while it was charging, and it still played music just fine in that position. Also, it took around 7-8 seconds for me to press the power button to turn it on and turn it off.

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Inside the box, you get the instruction manual and a USB Type-C cable. In terms of audio, the sound quality is quite good at higher volumes, but at lower volumes, I felt something was missing — it lacked a bit of depth. Thankfully, the companion TOZO app offers more customisable EQ options to help balance the sound to your liking. The app also includes a handy “Find Me” feature for locating the speaker.

Design and Connectivity

It is indeed a compact portable Bluetooth speaker, featuring a mesh grille at the front and a smooth plastic finish on the back. On top, there’s a hook — one end of which can be unhooked, making it easy to attach the speaker to various surfaces.

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All the control buttons are placed on the side, including power, music shuffle, and volume controls. At the bottom, you’ll find the USB Type-C port, and right next to it is an LED indicator that lights up solid when the speaker is connected to a device.

The speaker comes with Bluetooth version 5.4, and I didn’t encounter any issues during the initial pairing process. It also supports dual connectivity, allowing you to easily switch between two devices by double-pressing the connect button located next to the power button.

As with other TOZO Bluetooth speakers, the PE1 includes the “Twins” feature, which lets you pair it with another TOZO PE1 speaker. This enhances the overall sound output and provides a stereo surround sound experience.

Sound and Performance

With a 43.5mm dynamic driver, the sound output was quite impressive. Although I felt the audio lacked fullness at lower volume levels, the music really started to shine once it crossed the one-third volume mark. I played PASSO BEM SOLTO (Slowed) and didn’t miss a single beat, it handled the track well, especially considering its compact size.

Next, I tested the calling functionality, and there was no interference or distortion. It also supports three-way calling, allowing you to attend one call after another without disconnecting the first one. Additionally, you can double-press the power button to activate the voice assistant on the connected device. I tried this with my iPhone 12, even with the phone locked, Siri activated smoothly and followed the instructions I gave her without any issues.

Mobile APP

What I like about TOZO is that the mobile app is easy to use and quickly detects the device. I did face some initial hiccups while connecting it to the app, but after restarting my phone, it worked smoothly.

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The app also includes a Bass+ option in the EQ settings, which boosts the bass. That said, don’t expect heavy bass, but for the speaker’s size, it performs reasonably well.

Another useful feature in the app is the Find My Earbud option. When you tap it, the connected device emits a ringing sound, helping you locate it easily.

Battery

Under the hood, it carries a 1200 mAh battery, and TOZO claims it offers up to 32 hours of battery life. While I wasn’t able to test the full battery duration, I did play music for around 3–4 hours and left it on standby for about 12 hours, and there was still charge left.

Water Test

The TOZO PE1 comes with an IPX8 waterproof certification, which means it can be submerged in up to 1 metre of water for around 30 minutes. I didn’t test it for the full duration, but I did submerge it briefly to check its performance, and it continued to work even while underwater.

 

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Water did get inside through the mesh grille, but after shaking the speaker for two to three minutes, most of the water was expelled.

Final Verdict

The TOZO PE1 is a practical and compact Bluetooth speaker suitable for everyday use, especially in outdoor settings. It offers a decent mix of essential features like IPX8 water resistance, Bluetooth 5.4, and dual device connectivity. The build includes a detachable hook, making it easy to hang or carry, and the app provides basic EQ adjustments and a “Find Me” function.

Audio quality is acceptable for its size, though it lacks depth at lower volumes. The app can improve the sound to an extent, but expectations should remain realistic, particularly around bass performance. Battery life is claimed to be long, and in short-term use, it held up reasonably well.

Pros:

Compact size with detachable hook for easy placement

IPX8 waterproof rating

Bluetooth 5.4 with dual connectivity support

App support with EQ options and device finder

Stereo pairing with another PE1 speaker

Voice assistant activation supported

Cons:

Weak audio output at lower volumes

Bass performance is limited

Requires a long press (7–8 seconds) to power on/off

Occasional issues connecting with the TOZO app initially

The post TOZO PE1 Review: Compact Bluetooth Speaker with Solid App Support, Decent Sound, and IPX8 Durability appeared first on The Tech Outlook.