We’ve been able to spend a lot of time with a variety of the headphones and earbuds from 1MORE, and their over-ear headphones have been coming with a very compelling balance of functionality and pricing. Their latest, the 1MORE SonoFlow Pro, give a solid upgrade to battery life, as well as including a handy wired accessory.

1MORE SonoFlow Pro: what they are

Obviously, the 1MORE SonoFlow Pro are a set of over-ear headphones. These are wireless, most of the time, but they can also be wired, as they have a 2.5mm jack in the right earcup. This is where the accessory comes in. While it definitely is a wired cable, it also packs in a play/pause button, which is handy to use.

It’s with this wire that we start to see some differences from the non-Pro version that came before. With the 1MORE SonoFlow Pro, you do have to have the headphones charged to use them in wired mode. Why is that? Well, it’s because you can actually use ANC while wired, which is something the prior version did not allow (that said, you can the non-pro version wired even with a dead battery). So, you’re going to be worried about battery life, right?

Not really a concern here. Battery life is drastically improved, with an estimated 100h (with ANC off; 65h with ANC on) as compared to the 70 hours that the non-pro version offers. How did they accomplish that? There may be other things they’ve done, but our hunch is that the move from Bluetooth 5.0 to 5.4 allowed for a more efficient radio to be in the mix, help extend your time between charges.

Wrapping things up

At the end of the day, the 1MORE SonoFlow Pro headphones are very, very similar to the non-pro version. They both are styled similarly, and both come with a hard-shell travel case and charging cable. They both perform simililarly (as judged by my non-calibrated ears), and offer the same levels of comfort on the head.

However, the Pro does bring that extended battery life, which is nothing to sneeze at. They also seem to have worked on the hinges in the headband and the earcups, which helps cut down on the creaking you sometimes here. And, yes, there’s also that wired cable that adds in the play/pause button.

What’s interesting here is how these are priced. Funnily enough, when you look at the list price, the 1MORE SonoFlow Pro is actually a few dollars cheaper than the non-pro version. However, with the current discounts they have, the 1MORE SonoFlow Pro comes in at $87.99 (vs $74.99 for the non-pro). To us, that slight premium is well worth it for the improved battery life. However, if you need to be able to use the headphones in wired mode even when the battery is depleted, you’ll want the non-pro version. You can get yours directly from 1MORE, or over at Amazon (where the current coupon drops the price to just over $70!)

Tech Specs

These days, we have no shortage of options when it comes to setting up security cameras. Do you want to be wired or wireless? Do you want to hard-wire your cameras, or do you want them battery powered? What about video clip storage - do you want that on-camera, in the cloud, or somewhere else? For us, we like the idea of storage being local, so we retain control over the data. That’s where the Reolink Home Hub comes in.

Reolink Home Hub: what it is

The simplest way to think about the Reolink Home Hub is that it’s a WiFi router that plugs into your network. By that, we mean it sets up it’s own WiFi network that you can then connect the security devices to. This allows you to keep the cameras on the property from interfering with, say, your tablet’s connection, and vice versa.

What it also brings along is some additional storage. We’ve taken a look at a few Reolink cameras (and have a few more reviews in the works), and they’ve always done a good job of putting a microSD slot right on the camera, for you to then retrieve recordings from later. Well, what if someone absconds with your camera? You’re up a creek - unless the Reolink Home Hub is in the mix.

The Reolink Home Hub comes with two microSD slots built in, allowing it to have up to 1TB of storage, safely tucked away in your house (it ships with a 64 GB card). So, even if your camera is damaged or otherwise disappears, those recordings are elsewhere. Still local to you, just not local to the camera.

Setting it up

That image up above really shows the steps - they’re pretty simple. Once it has power and a hardwired ethernet connection, you set the hub in in the Reolink app on your phone. Then, you can get your existing cameras moved over from your home WiFi network to the new Reolink-specific one the hub creates. You can choose if you want it to spin up 2.4GHz or 5GHz bands, and you can name them as well as set your customized passwords on each. Additionally, you can setup encryption on the records the Home Hub stores, for extra piece of mind.

Wrapping things up

The Reolink Home Hub can handle up to 8 cameras (we presume to manage the networking and storage), or you can go to the Pro version with handles up to 24 cameras. For me, the Reolink Home Hub adds some additional piece of mind - and redundancy - to my home camera setup. No, you don’t need it to run many of their cameras (they’ll happily communicate directly to you via the app), but I think it’s a good addition to the eco system. Particularly if you’ve decided that you’re going all Reolink, and not a mix of products.

The Reolink Home Hub is available now, with an MSRP of $139.99 (the Pro version goes for $339.99, and adds in wired camera support). However, they often have deals, and right now, it’s at 20% off, so a price of $111.99. You can get it from Amazon, or directly from reolink.com

Storz & Bickel sounds like a Swedish law firm, but they’re best known for making some of the best and most rugged vapes around. Their flagship, the Venty, is a $449 behemoth with huge batteries and a clever LCD readout. The $249 Veazy, on the other hand, is a lower-cost but not lower-quality solution for the discerning paper.

The Veazy sits in the middle of the Storz & Bickel lineup, and it feels designed for people who want the company’s engineering without the bulk or price of its flagship devices. It is smaller, lighter, and more direct in how it works. You load it, press the front button, and inhale. You can boost and super-boost the temperature by clicking the button twice after each increase in temperature.

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Under the hood, the Veazy uses the same basic idea that defines the rest of the brand’s products: a mix of convection and conduction heating. That means it heats both the air moving through the herb and the chamber itself, which helps extract flavor evenly without burning. The result is dense vapor that stays consistent from the first draw to the last, without the harshness you get from combustion.

What stands out right away is the airflow. The draw feels open, almost effortless, and that changes how you use it. You are not fighting the device or trying to time your pulls. You just inhale and it responds. That ease makes it more forgiving than older portable units, especially for people who do not want to think about technique.

The Veazy is also built for portability. It is compact enough to carry without planning around it, and it heats quickly enough that you can use it in short sessions. It is not chasing maximum power or long session endurance. It is trying to be something you actually pick up and use throughout the day. It’s also nice because it doesn’t look like a robotic lung. Instead, it looks more like an old-timey microphone, and it’s small enough to hide in a pocket or bag.

There are limits. You do not get the raw output or deep customization of higher-end models like the Venty. The controls are simpler, the power is lower, and the experience is less tunable. But that is the point. This is a device that trades edge-case performance for consistency and ease.

The vape comes with a complete cleaning kit and instruction booklet, and the company notes that it’s not for tobacco use. I’ve found S&B to be consistently high quality, so I have little concern that this rugged little vape will keep ticking even under heavy use.

In practice, the Veazy trips the vape category back to its basics and executes them well. If you want a portable vaporizer that delivers clean flavor, steady performance, and minimal friction, this is exactly what it is built to do.

I like throwback clothing. Not costume pieces, not Go Go boots or Nehru jackets. I mean gear that pulls from old workwear and military issue, things that were built for a job and still carry a little cool. The Fieldworth Type 45 Flight Jacket fits that mold. It looks like something you would dig out of a dusty Army Navy store, but it lands with cleaner lines and better materials.

The Type 45 takes its shape from the CWU-45P, first issued in 1972 to U.S. Air Force pilots. Those jackets were made for cold, harsh conditions, often worn in unheated aircraft where function mattered more than comfort. The name itself, Cold Weather Uniform, says it all. Thick nylon shell, bulky insulation, bright orange lining for visibility. Fieldworth keeps the outline but removes the excess. This version is lighter, easier to wear, and built for the street rather than the cockpit.

The biggest change is the fabric. Instead of nylon, it uses cotton Bedford cloth. It has a dry feel and a visible vertical grain that gives it some texture without looking busy. There is a bit of stretch woven in, just enough to make it comfortable without turning it soft or shapeless. It still feels structured, which is the point.

The details stay close to the original pattern. A zip front with an interior wind flap. Snap-adjusted hem. Flap pockets at the waist and a zip pocket at the chest. The stitching is solid, nothing flashy, just built to hold up. Inside, a cotton poplin lining keeps it breathable, which matters because this is not meant to be a deep winter jacket.

At $138, it sits in an odd place. It is not cheap, but it is not trying to compete with high-end reproductions either. Most modern bomber jackets drift past $150 without much thought, so this comes in just under that line. You can find older flight jackets online for less, if you are willing to deal with wear, sizing issues, and whatever history they carry. This one gives you the look without the guesswork.

There is always a part of me that prefers the real thing, something that has been worn hard and carries its past with it. But that comes with tradeoffs. Fieldworth is not trying to fake history. It is taking a familiar form and making it usable now. That is a safer move, but in this case it works.

Gaming headsets usually look like gaming headsets. They’re usually made of glowing plastic, features odd angles and enough visual clutter to make you embarrassed wearing them outside the house, and sound like something a bomber pilot would user in 1945. The $199 SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7 Gen 2 avoids most of that nonsense. It looks restrained, is surprisingly light, and does almost everything well enough that you stop thinking about the hardware and just use it.

The Arctis Nova 7 Gen 2 sits in the middle of the SteelSeries lineup, below the Nova Pro but above the cheaper entry-level sets. It is designed as a multi-platform wireless headset for PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch, and mobile devices. The main selling point is versatility. You can run low-latency 2.4GHz wireless and Bluetooth at the same time, which means you can game on your PC while taking a call from your phone without switching devices. It includes audio cables for connecting directly to your computer or audio device as well as a dedicated wireless dongle for phones.

The design is familiar if you have used SteelSeries gear before. There is a suspended elastic headband, breathable fabric ear cushions, and a retractable microphone that disappears neatly into the ear cup when you do not need it. The construction mixes matte plastic with a metal headband and avoids the cheap creaking feel that plagues a lot of wireless gaming gear. Mute and volume controls are on left side of the headset with the microphone and there are power and bluetooth controls on the right side along with a slider to manage “ChatMix” which brings the game or the in-game chatter to the fore.

Battery life is one of the biggest improvements in the Gen 2 version. SteelSeries claims up to 54 hours on a charge, which is a substantial jump over the older Nova 7. In real-world use, I saw solid battery life of about 40 hours before I needed to charge the headset. In fact, battery life is so good you might end up forgetting to charge your headset.

The sound signature leans clean rather than exaggerated. Bass is present but not absurdly boosted, and the headset works well for music in addition to gaming. SteelSeries also pushes its Sonar software heavily, offering game-specific EQ presets and parametric controls for people who want to fine-tune things endlessly.

Remember: this is not an audiophile headset. You will absolutely noticed a difference between this headset and, say, a properly powered and amped audio-only headset. Drum and Bass and game music sounded great on this headset, but you’re absolutely going to notice a bit of tinniness when listening to fiddly guitar or treble sounds. Interestingly, these cans offer excellent noise repression thanks to their cushy ear pads and closed cups.

What’s most important thing is that these headphones are comfortable. I wore them for a good eight hours one day and barely noticed them. I love the analog wheel for volume and the retractable microphone is extremely handy. Again, this is a gaming headset so the question here is comfort in front of a screen instead of comfort on a train or plane.

The weak point is probably the microphone. It is usable for Discord, multiplayer games, and casual calls, but several folks noted that it sounds thinner and less natural than competing headsets in the same price range. That said, most people buying a headset like this are not recording podcasts or streaming professionally. For normal gaming use it gets the job done.

Another interesting addition is SteelSeries app that allows you to control a number of audio features and even tune the headset for certain games. As someone who rarely, if ever, downloads the app for a pair of headphones I probably would never use it but it’s nice to know they’ve thought of all audiences.

What I like most about the Nova 7 Gen 2 is that it does not scream “gamer.” You could wear these on a train or in a coffee shop without looking like you are about to join an esports tournament. The headset folds into daily life fairly naturally, and that matters more than most gaming companies seem to realize. SteelSeries even lets you swap out the decorations on the ear pads, something quite clever. The company sells “Booster Packs” from different designers and you can pick them up for about $20 to customize your headphones.

SteelSeries has spent years refining this design rather than reinventing it, and that is probably the right call. The Nova 7 Gen 2 is not flashy but it definitely works. Because it includes a number of input and output methods, you can use it with your phone, your laptop, your console, and your gaming PC with equal success. And at $199 you’re getting something that sounds acceptable even when you’re not stabbing aliens on a deserted space station.

A $129 DAC doesn’t sound like it could do very much to your music. The iFi Zen Air DAC 2, however, is something different and, dare I say, well worth the price.

Basically, this is a USB-C DAC for your desktop. It supports RCA out for speakers as well as 1/4-inch and balanced headphone outputs. When you plug in a pair of good headphones or monitors you essentially get a surprisingly good audio system with lots of headroom and plenty of detail.

Housed in iFi’s familiar curved desktop chassis, the ZEN Air DAC 2 strips away some of the premium materials found in the company’s higher-end models while retaining the core audio technology that made the original ZEN series popular among headphone enthusiasts. Basically it’s a plastic box clad in rubber which doesn’t give a premium vibe but is definitely cool looking.

At the heart of the ZEN Air DAC 2 is a Burr-Brown True Native DAC chip paired with a 16-core XMOS USB processor. This combination allows the unit to handle PCM files up to 32-bit/384kHz, native DSD256, DXD, and MQA content. Unlike many entry-level DACs that convert everything to a single format internally, the Burr-Brown architecture preserves the original data stream, helping maintain the character of the source material.

The ZEN Air DAC 2 functions as both a standalone DAC and a headphone amplifier. A front-mounted 1/4-inch headphone jack is paired with an analog volume control, while rear RCA outputs allow the unit to feed powered speakers or an external amplifier. PowerMatch gain adjustment helps users match the amplifier output to different headphones, whether they are using sensitive in-ear monitors or more demanding over-ear designs.

One of the most useful features is XBass+, iFi’s analog bass enhancement circuit. Rather than using digital signal processing, XBass+ adds low-frequency weight through an analog circuit that can help compensate for headphones that sound thin or lack extension in the lower registers. The effect is subtle enough for daily listening and can add welcome warmth to smaller headphones without overwhelming the rest of the frequency range.

In use, the ZEN Air DAC delivers the smooth, slightly warm sound signature that has become associated with iFi products. Vocals sound natural, instruments retain good separation, and the presentation avoids the harshness sometimes found in budget DACs. While it lacks the outright power and refinement of more expensive desktop amplifiers, it offers a substantial improvement over the audio outputs built into most laptops, desktop computers, and gaming systems.

I compared the Zen Air with the Fosi Audio ZH3 and there was honestly no contest. Bass was deeper, resolution was better, and, as you’d expect, the ZH3 was $100 more expensive than the Zen Air. That said, the Zen Air performed admirably in comparison to the ZH3 and an older tube DAC I use but, in the end, you get what you pay for.

The ZEN Air DAC is aimed at listeners taking their first steps into dedicated desktop audio. It combines broad format support, solid headphone performance, and useful analog features in an affordable package. For anyone looking to improve their listening experience without building a complicated audio system, it remains one of the strongest values in the entry-level DAC and headphone amplifier category. The bottom line? Plugging this into your computer and adding a nice pair of entry-level headphones will change your life when it comes to digital audio. It’s a great first step for anyone wondering what the fuss is about when it comes to dedicated audio hardware and it’s well worth the price of admission.

Specs

DAC

Bit-Perfect DSD & DXD DAC by Burr Brown

DIMENSIONS

158 x 117 x 35 mm

6.2” x 4.6” x 1.4”

DNRLine Section:

>113dB(A) @ -60dBFS

FORMATS SUPPORTED

44.1/48/88.2/96/176.4/192/352.8/384kHz PCM

2.8/3.1/5.6/6.2/11.2/12.4MHz DSD
353/384KHz DXD
MQA

INPUT

USB2.0 B Socket

INPUT VOLTAGE

DC 5V/2.5A

NET WEIGHT

315 g

0.694 lbs

When it comes to spring- and summertime (and sometimes early fall) weather in the midwest, a good, lighweight jacket to help you stay dry is a handy thing indeed. We’ve reviewed a number, and as of late, I’ve had ones that have more of a lining to them, which is helpful for temps below 60 F. But what about when it’s warmer? You don’t need that heavy, insulated lining. That’s where the Free Country Deluge Jacket comes in.

Free Country Deluge Jacket: what it is

The Free Country Deluge Jacket is a 100% nylon (with a mesh polyester lining) water-resistant jacket. So, no, this is not the coat you throw on when you’re going to be spending all day outside in a downpour. But if you’re thinking there might be some rain when you’re out camping, on your daily commute, or just out for a walk? That’s where this comes in.

With the mesh lining, the jacket has some space away from your body to let some airflow (the mid-body detail are just flaps, not vents), which keeps you from feeling to damp (which can happen with a fully waterproof jacket). Being water-resistant, this will keep you dry, though you will eventually see water starting to soak into the fabric. Even if it does that, the lining should help keep that from you.

Even on my oversized head, the hood of the Free Country Deluge Jacket is generously sized, giving some drape over the forehead, and a high zipper. Combined with the drawstrings, you can cinch things tight to keep the rain out.

You’ve also got a dropped hem at the back, to help keep water from running down your backside should you lean over; up front you’ve got two slash pockets at the hips. For the sleeves, you’ve got elasticized cuffs that allow your hand to get through, while allowing the sleeves to also be pushed up if you want.

Putting it to the test

I put the Free Country Deluge Jacket to work right away, as it was a handy layer to grab for the office commute. If there was some light rain, I was covered. Sometimes, though, you’ve just got some cooler temps in the mornings that you need something light - and this got the job done.

I have used it a number of times in the rain, including one fast-moving storm that caught us while we were camping. In all of those cases, I stayed dry, and didn’t feel like I was getting over-heated or like I was creating my own humid micro-climate inside of the jacket. In other words, this jacket did the job it was designed to do, and did it well.

Wrapping things up

As with any sort of outdoors gear, you need to assess what your needs truly are. If you need something that will keep you fully dry for hours on end out in the rain, the Free Country Deluge Jacket is not the jacket for you. However, if you want a light layer to keep you dry while you go about your day, in and out, running errands, getting to the office, and the like, this is great for that. Especially for warmer weather.

While our reviewer came in their vine color (which feels like a khaki color), there is also a grey shade. Oh, and while the jacket shell is 100% nylon, it has a very soft feel to it. You do get a little bit of that nylon noise when the sleeves rub on the body of the jacket, but it’s not what we’d call a noisy jacket at all.

If you want to get yours, they’re on sale right now. While they’re normally $94.50, the code SUMMER40 drops it to $56.70. Check it out - and the rest of the Free Country lineup (and yes, we’ve got some other reviews in the works) directly over at freecountry.com

Details

• Shell: 100% nylon; machine washable

• Full polyester mesh lining

• Water-resistant

• Wind-resistant

• Lightweight

• Attached hood with adjustable drawcord

• Full zip fron with inner storm placket

• Mid body flange detail

• Elastic back cuffs

• Drop back tail with inner adjustable elastic

I’m an emulator obsessive. I love tiny handhelds that let me play endless Nintendo, Sega, and arcade games with reckless abandon, and I love to purchase said emulators over and over in hopes of finding one that scratches all of my itches. The $139 Anbernic RG Rotate may be just the thing.

The RG Rotate is the latest addition to Anbernic’s wide line-up of handheld emulation devices. Many of them are simple emulators without a full operating system like the $52 Anbernic RG35XX Pro, but the RG Rotate is essentially an Android 12 handheld full of emulator software and a few other goodies.

The Anbernic RG Rotate is built around an unusual swivel-screen design. Its 3.5-inch fully laminated IPS display has a square 720 by 720 resolution and can rotate to suit different games, apps, and viewing angles. When closed, the device can also work as a small desktop clock, giving it a second life beyond portable gaming.

Inside, the RG Rotate uses a Unisoc Tiger T618 processor with Mali-G52 graphics, 3GB of memory, and 32GB of built-in storage. It runs Android 12 and supports Android games along with more than 30 emulator formats. A microSD card slot allows storage expansion up to 2TB, while Wi-Fi 5 and Bluetooth 5.0 support online play, streaming, wireless audio, and multiplayer features. Basically, it’s an Android phone without the phone.

The handheld also includes stereo speakers, a six-axis gyroscope, vibration, wireless screen projection, and swappable high-profile L2 and R2 shoulder buttons. Its 2,000mAh battery is rated for up to five hours of use. You can choose between the Aurora Silver version, which has a full aluminium-alloy body, and the lighter Polar Black model, which combines aluminium alloy with ABS plastic.

I’d say the RG Rotate is Anbernic’s most unique handheld to date. Its rotating display, square screen, metal construction, and built-in clock mode give it a distinct identity, while Android support makes it flexible enough for emulation, game streaming, media playback, and lighter mobile games.

Is the Anbernic RG Rotate a good emulator?

First, this device is decidedly unlike Anbernic’s cheaper models. First, there are no games included on the device, which I suspect is due to the Android 12 support. Google probably doesn’t want its Play Store-authorized handhelds full of pirated games.

This means you have to add games onto an SD card or simply download them using Chrome. Further, Android MTP may not work for your macOS device, so I’d recommend a file transfer app like WiFi File Transfer or the like.

The RG Rotate isn’t built for chasing high-end emulation, and that’s probably for the best. It runs on the familiar Unisoc T618 with 3GB of RAM, the same combination found in plenty of other retro handhelds. Yes, it’ll boot some GameCube and PlayStation 2 games, but the lack of analogue sticks makes them a bit frustrating. Instead, you should focus on games with simpler controls.

In fact, that’s where this little machine really shines. Game Boy and Game Boy Color games look incredible on the square display. The colors pop, the pixels are crisp, and the screen feels almost purpose-built for Nintendo’s original handhelds. Interestingly, this is where my Gen X sensibilities lie anyway, so having a pixel-perfect rendition of Contra is right up my alley.

The SNES, PSP, and PlayStation also work well, even though they’re aimed at wider screens. You give up a little screen space compared to a wider display, but the trade-off is worth it because everything remains sharp and balanced. Not that you’ll have to unpack .7z compressed ROMs before uploading them to the emulator.

One pleasant surprise is Android itself. The RG Rotate ships with Android 12 and includes the Play Store out of the box. Because of the rotating screen and compact design, it feels just as comfortable running casual Android games as it does emulators. Unlike dedicated emulators, this Android device is essentially a little phone without the cellular radio, making it an interesting alternative to a regular mobile.

How does the digital audio player work?

The RG Rotate supports headphone dongles like Apple’s own USB-C audio adapter. The resulting sound through earbuds is just fine, and the device can play back nearly any file type.

I’m not going to say that this is an audiophile device, but because of the size, shape, and touchscreen, you’re basically getting what amounts to a small DAP that plays games as well. It’s a fun add-on to an already interesting device.

Should you buy the RG Rotate?

If you’re looking for an ultra-lightweight, ultra-compact Android handheld with a touchscreen, the RG Rotate is an easy recommendation. There are plenty of larger devices on the market, the Retroid Pocket 5 immediately comes to mind, that offer more power and can emulate more demanding systems. They also cost considerably more and include features like dual analogue sticks, larger displays, and more ergonomic controls. If you’re serious about PlayStation 2, GameCube, or modern Android gaming, those extra features are worth paying for.

The RG Rotate takes a different approach. Instead of trying to be everything, it focuses on portability. It is small enough to slip into a pocket, sturdy enough to take with you every day, and versatile enough to serve several purposes. The rotating display is more than a novelty. It transforms the device from a retro handheld into a compact Android tablet, a digital audio player, an ebook reader, or even a small desktop clock when you’re not gaming.

For retro gaming, it hits a sweet spot. Game Boy, Game Boy Color, NES, SNES, PlayStation, and PSP all feel right at home on the square display, and Android support adds a layer of flexibility that most handhelds in this size simply don’t have.

The only real caveat is knowing what you’re buying. If you’re expecting one device that can comfortably play every console from the Atari through the PlayStation 2, you’ll probably come away disappointed. The controls and display simply aren’t designed for that. But if your goal is a beautifully made, highly portable handheld for classic games and everyday Android use, the RG Rotate is one of Anbernic’s most interesting and enjoyable devices to date.