specifications

I’ve had the opportunity to try out what Dyson describes as its “lightest, most maneuverable” vacuum cleaner. Beyond the slogan, I wanted to see how much that focus on lightness and maneuverability really changes the cleaning experience at home. PencilVac Fluffycones It is not designed as a vacuum cleaner for everything, but as a very specific tool for hard floors, with a head of four conical brushes designed to reduce tangles from long hair and pets. With that clear premise, let’s see what it can offer for anyone in their daily life and is really worth the investment it entails. The first contact begins even before turning it on. The box is surprisingly compact and consistent with the product’s own approach. When I opened it, I found several pieces and, for a moment, I had that slight moment of uncertainty that usually accompanies the first assembly. However, the feeling does not last long because on one of the internal sides of the packaging there is a clear and numbered guide with the steps to follow. There is no need to look for a separate manual or interpret complex diagrams: the process is there, visible and explained logically, and that is tremendously useful and practical. Dyson PencilVac Fluffycones technical sheet Dyson PencilVac Fluffycones Vacuum cleaner type Cordless Handheld Electric Vacuum Cleaner height 1.60cm Length 22.6cm Broad 3.8cm autonomy 30 minutes Charging time 3.5 hours Cube volume 0.08L Suction power 55 AW Weight 1.8kg Filtration 99.99% at 0.3 microns price 499 euros Dyson PencilVac Fluffycones Vacuum Cleaner The price could vary. We earn commission from these links A proposal with obvious advantages and defined limits Once the basic assembly was completed, the next step was to start it up. The packaging itself invites you to download the MyDyson app via a QR code. The process is direct: scan, download and follow the instructions. After attaching the mast to the main body and fitting the handle where the battery is integrated, just turn it on to start the operation. Bluetooth pairing. In a few minutes, after selecting the language and confirming the connection, the vacuum cleaner is linked to the mobile phone. As soon as I connected it, a software update appeared that I decided to install before starting to use it, to evaluate the product with the most recent version available. Once set up, the app proves that it’s not just there to show a battery percentage. From my mobile I can check the charging status and receive notifications when it is advisable to perform maintenance tasks, especially cleaning the filter. The most interesting thing is the didactic approach: it includes clear videos that explain how to use the accessories, how to install the charging base, how to properly clean the filter or how to resolve possible incidents. So I can say with some certainty that that digital layer simplifies the experience. In hand, the first thing you notice is the weight contained. Beyond the official figure, which is 1.8 kg, the feeling is that we are looking at a vacuum cleaner designed to be used effortlessly, especially in short and frequent sessions. I think the narrow format favors a natural grip and the whole thing feels balanced when moving across the ground. Regarding materials, the plastics and adjustments convey a correct feel: They do not seek to impress for the sake of luxury, but they do not generate distrust either. The design is sober and functional, clearly oriented towards practicality. The differential element is the Fluffycones head. Instead of a single roller, it incorporates four soft conical brushes whose shape responds to a specific logic. When hair comes into contact with the moving cones, it tends to move toward the ends instead of staying coiled in the center, reducing the tangles that often accumulate in other systems. In practice, this translates into fewer interruptions for manual hair removal and more continuous collection, something especially relevant in homes with long hair or pets. Added to this proposal is the lighting integrated into the head. The green light located on the front and back projects a stripe that highlights fine dust above the floor, even in well-lit rooms. In my experience, it has been useful not only in low light conditions, but also in natural light, where certain particles blend into the reflection of the pavement. This additional visibility allows you to adjust the route and check with greater precision if the area has really been cleaned. During cleaning, the set follows the natural movement of the hand well. The head moves freely and facilitates tight turns, allowing you to work around furniture without awkward maneuvers. The power can be adjusted in three levels, which introduces a balance between performance and autonomy. There is a “Boost” mode that offers the highest suction, but significantly reduces the time available; The screen shows a countdown with the estimated time remaining and, in my tests, it was around eleven minutes. At the opposite extreme, Eco mode offers longer use that approaches half an hour in normal conditions, sufficient for maintenance tasks in small spaces. It is not, however, a vacuum cleaner designed to be left charging for a few minutes and immediately continue with full autonomy; Battery recovery requires time, specifically 3.5 hours for a full charge. On a practical level, there are details that improve the daily experience. The LED located next to the battery visually informs about the charging process and, if we want to check the status before starting, the integrated screen offers the information by simply touching the corresponding button, without having to open the application. The accessory exchange system is also well resolved: Simply press the release button to detach the head and place the multifunction accessory, with a firm fit and virtually no play. If we talk about that accessory, I have used it in corners, baseboards and cracks where the main head does not reach with the same precision, as well as in window tracks and in narrow … Read more

I usually take walks with my wife. We solve the world (or at least, a little of our world) and we do it without a soundtrack. That was until a few days ago, because I was able to try the Xiaomi Mijia Smart Audio Glasses and I have realized that glasses can be something more than that. Let’s start telling truths like fists. Smart glasses are anything but smart. At least, for now. They are more like connected glasses, and that is not bad news at all. In fact, this is exactly what these glasses demonstrate, that they are a little deceptive with that “Smart” but they are honest with that other “Audio” that accompanies the name. Presented in Januaryhere we are facing a wearable that distances itself, for example, from the much more ambitious Meta Ray-Ban Display and that focuses on a single function: that your glasses are also your headphones. And for certain scenarios—very useful—it succeeds. Technical sheet of the Xiaomi Mijia Smart Audio Glasses Xiaomi Mijia Smart Audio glasses Models Pilot / Browline / Titanium Weight (with crystals) Pilot: 40.4 g Browline: 39.1g Titanium: 34.4g Battery 114mAh x 2 Charging time: 1 hour Autonomy: 13 hours continuous playback Connectivity Bluetooth 5.4 IP Rating IP54 Compatibility Android 10.0 / iOS 14 and above Price From 179.99 euros Xiaomi Mijia Smart Audio Glasses The price could vary. We earn commission from these links A design that deceives (for the better) More ambitious glasses like the Meta Ray-Ban 2 They still have that clearly more “techie” look. They are thicker, a little more bulky, and above all they include cameras that, even if they are somewhat camouflaged, still reveal whoever is wearing them. Not only do they give you away: they can even raise some concern due to that implicit message of “Well yes, I wear smart glasses with which I can take photos and videos of you without you realizing (much).” In the contents of the box there is a unique surprise: a printed manual that is quite dense because it includes brief instructions in a varied set of languages. Unlike that type of glasses, these Mijia Smart Audio Glasses achieve something striking: They go through traditional glassesboth in “seeing glasses” and sunglasses formats. In this last week I have been able to try the “Pilot” variant (there are two others, “Browline” and “Titanium”, which differ a little in the shape and width of the lens) in its sunglasses lens format, and the feeling is that at least for its nose bridge we are looking at completely normal glasses. They do not weigh 40 grams, and most of the weight is distributed on the temples, which makes them especially comfortable to use. The design is very similar to conventional glasses: almost nothing here (if you don’t look at the temples) tells you that these glasses are anything more than that. Image: Xataka. In fact, that weight and design make you forget that you are carrying a battery, speakers and four microphones above your ears. It wasn’t the case because I don’t wear glasses, but the fact that you can adjust the crystals It is what ends up closing the circle. This is not a gadget that you put on for a while—if you don’t want to—but a product that can live with you. Sound without isolation The sound experience of these glasses is, as I said at the beginning, that of having a personal soundtrack that only you hear. It’s a strange but satisfying feeling, because these glasses They do not isolate you from the outside world, but rather accompany it and they play music—or podcasts, or audiobooks, or calls—. One of the speakers of the Xiaomi Mijia Smart Audio Glasses. Image: Xataka. They do this through a speaker system integrated into the temples, in addition to four microphones that are crucial to be able to make hands-free calls directly from the glasses, or also to record calls or voice notes. The experience that these glasses offer us is similar to that offered by open headphones. The speakers sound surprisingly good despite being very well camouflaged in the temples, although logically the quality and “punch” of the audio is not that of headphones. The speakers perform very well in terms of audio clarity, but they lack some emotion and the music sounds a bit flat. The volume achieved is not particularly notable either, which means that in noisy environments it may be a bit limited. But the truth is that the combination works surprisingly well if we understand who the product is aimed at. Headphones isolate you from the outside and the “transparency” systems of some models allow you to also hear the outside. This is just the opposite: the outside sound is always present, so one can even carry on a conversation while listening to music in the background. This is what I did for a couple of test days when I took a walk with my wife and continued talking to her while listening to a song. She couldn’t hear the song unless she walked up to me and turned the volume all the way up, even though that was outside. The touch gestures are functional and simple and the sensor is generous. Image: Xataka. When I left the glasses with her so she could listen to music and our conversation at the same time, she was impressed because of the possibilities that a product opened up. In fact, that “wow effect” caught my attention, which was not so present for me, but was notable for her. That said, the design of the speakers can mean that in closed environments the sound may be heard by other people if the volume is somewhat higher, and that is why Xiaomi has implemented a privacy mode that tries to reduce the sound from leaking, for example in voice calls. Its real validity is debatable: if you don’t want anyone to find out what they are telling you through … Read more

There was a day when that t-shirt you are wearing was made in Spain. It’s almost hard to believe it now that globalization has brought the mass manufacturing of T-shirts, pants and dresses to China, Vietnam or Bangladesh. Today, decades after that happened, Temu and Shein want to make us a new suit with fast fashion even more fastwith compulsive purchases and products that They flood the streets due to their low price. There is no doubt that They have made us Europeans a suit. And if we’re talking cars, that suit is custom made. We were thinking of stopping Chinese electric cars with tariffs. These seemed like the great threat, the paradigm shift facing the European industry. But not. Chinese manufacturers have understood well that not all Europe is the same. That not all of us need or want an electric car. The combustion engine continues to be useful and attractive to a large part of the population. And when combined with a large battery they have the best product for many. Electric in everyday life, peace of mind for traveling. Plug-in hybrids are another one of those tailored suits that have arrived from China. The European Union has not imposed tariffs on these. The problem is that you can see the seams on this Jaecoo 7 SHS. Jaecoo 7 SHS technical sheet Jaecoo 7 SHS Body type. Five-seater SUV. Measurements and weight. 4.50 meters long, 1.86 meters wide and 1.68 meters high. Wheelbase of 2.67 meters. Trunk. 340 liters. Maximum power. 340 HP for the PHEV. WLTP consumption. 0.7 l/100 km according to the WLTP cycle. 6.0 l/100 km depending on the brand with a dead battery. 90 kilometers of autonomy in completely electric mode according to the WLTP cycle. Environmental distinctive. Zero emissions. Driving aids (ADAS). Mandatory by the European Union. The brand refers to 18 ADAS aids with adaptive cruise control. Others Screen for the 14.8-inch instrument panel. Infotainment system compatible with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay (wireless). Head-Up Display. 50 W wireless charger. 540º camera for use off road. Heated and ventilated seats in the front and heated in the rear. Panoramic roof of 1.1 m2. Electric hybrid. No. Plug-in Hybrid. Yeah. 340 HP of power and 90 km of electric range. electric. No. Price and launch. PHEV from 38,900 euros before aid. Understanding the market Not all of Europe is advancing at the same pace. According to ACEA data9.4% of cars sold in Europe in 2025 were plug-in hybrids. Although they increased by 33.4% compared to the previous year, the figures are very far from the 17.4% market share of the electric car. A technology supported, above all, by Germany and Francecountries with greater purchasing power than Spain, in which they increased by 43.4% and 12.5%. Together they sold about 772,000 electric cars, more than 40% of the cars sold in Europe. The data contrasts with the Spanish. Here the plug-in hybrid It sold more than the electric one (9.52% market share compared to the 8.39% market share of the pure electric one). And in the first data from January the advantage is widening in favor of the plug-in with a combustion engine, according to Anfac data. The sale of Chinese cars in Spain also contrasts with the rest of Europe. These companies have not hesitated to enter the continent through our country, aware that we are less loyal to our brands, that we look for more affordable cars or with best quality-equipment-price ratio. And there, Chinese plug-in hybrids have a lot to say, with fewer ties than an electric car and without the obligation to pay tariffs that mitigate their competitiveness in the final price compared to traditional firms. It is no coincidence that, as of January, three of the 10 best-selling plug-in hybrid cars are Chinese. He BYD Seal U aspires to repeat as the best-selling plug-in hybrid in Spain but the Omoda 9 and the Lynk&Co 01. All of them are cars that want to offer a good image, great autonomy and a lot of space for less money than their competitors. In that same space, the Jaecoo 7 SHS wants to compete, the plug-in hybrid version, of a car that we already had the opportunity to test briefly in its gasoline version and that left us with some doubts about its behavior but for which we saw a very clear market niche in a Spain eager for an affordable offer that does not want to give up the pyrotechnics of modern cars. Neither yes, nor no, nor quite the opposite If the Jaecoo 7 reminds you of a Land Rover, let me tell you that I understand you. It is not a coincidence because Chery (group to which Jaecoo belongs) and Land Rover They have been and are partners in China. The proposal, from what I get, I like. The car attracts attention and attracts the eyes of those looking for a compact vehicle that treads in the 4.50 meter area but that provides a feeling of greater volume or packaging. Inside, things are different. Like? I think it draws attention. And all-screen cars continue to attract attention and feel groundbreaking. Maybe not among car enthusiasts but among those who are approaching the new car market for the first time after many years. Let us remember that The average age of the Spanish vehicle fleet is 14.5 years. It is through the eyes where it enters the Jaecoo 7 SHS and most of the Chinese proposals. The client, who is also evaluating a Dacia Duster and you have found a very plastic and certainly rough interior, you sit here in a good electric seat, with soft materials within reach and a 14.8-inch screen with very good visual quality. Through the window, the salesperson shows you an endless list of equipment that the car already includes as standard. Electric seats, heated steering wheel, cameras with 360º vision (Jaecoo calls it a 540º camera) to see what is under the car, … Read more

The role of ink printers in homes and small offices has been quite reinvented in recent years. Connectivity, configuration guidance and integration with smartphones have been incorporated into even the most basic models. But the great push has been given by the use of the ink tanks. The Epson EcoTank ET-2956 It is the most interesting model for the domestic environment from the Japanese manufacturer and offers the consumer everything they can expect from a general purpose model in these times: connectivity, ease of use, speed and most importantly in a home today, ink durability and printing cost. Technical sheet of the Epson EcoTank ET-2956 Epson EcoTank ET-2956 functions Print, copy and scan print speed B&W 30 ppm / Color 20 ppm print resolution 4,800 x 1,200 dpi double sided printing Automatic Connectivity USB 2.0 and Wi-Fi (Wi-Fi Direct) input capacity Up to 100 sheets compatibility Windows, Mac, iOS, Android weight 5kg scanner 1,200 dpi x 2,400 dpi Without automatic feeder price 369 euros EcoTank ET-2956 white A4 multifunction printer with ink tank, Wi-Fi connection, scanning, copying, duplex printing and ink included for up to 3 years The price could vary. We earn commission from these links Manual mid-range multifunction Although we have just mentioned the improvements that home inkjet printers have been incorporating over the years so as not to be completely forgotten by the user, we must begin by talking about the aspect that can most disappoint anyone who approaches these printer models after a few years: the design. The Epson EcoTank ET-2956 The design that we have known for multifunction printers for years does not hardly change. It is true that it introduces updated elements that are necessary at this point, such as touch controls, but apparently we are looking at a rectangular model that aims to be compact when we are not using it, and somewhat more voluminous when we deploy the paper tray or the control and screen wing. The weight of the equipment is 5 kg, very manageable to move around the house. The Epson EcoTank ET-2956 is nothing innovative in design. It focuses on being compact when not in use and very simple and quick to start up. The simplicity of the design facilitates something that is not trivial: a very quick start-up. Simply use the app (preferable to the printer’s built-in screen) and follow the instructions. They are not complicated at all and are summarized in removing the protections and blocking of moving parts, emptying the ink bottles and initializing the system. Step-by-step setup for “dummies” The great point in favor of ink bottle technology is not only how economical it is (we will talk about them later) but that the implementation and Filling of the tanks is done safely and completely cleanly.. It’s not even easy to get dirty. The bottles have a secure closure and the filling system is very well thought out. The connectivity of the Epson EcoTank ET-2956 is the usual one at this point: the USB that cannot be missing for emergencies or local start-up and Wi-Fi 5 (802.11a/b/g/n/ac). It supports Wi-Fi Direct, Apple AirPrint, and Epson cloud services. The screen is not touch screen and if we have the phone nearby we will almost never use it. To control the printer, in addition to the application, we can use the 3.7 cm diagonal color screen. It is not touch-sensitive (thank goodness because with that size it would be complicated to handle) so you have to resort to touch controls. The physical control of the printer is practically a curiosity and we will use it basically when we do not have a smartphone with the Epson application to manage it. Ink tanks are always a success at home Once the printer is up and running, it is time to take advantage of its connectivity and printing capacity. As we have mentioned, the printer Comes with 1 complete set of ink (one 127ml black bottle and three 70ml cyan, magenta and yellow bottles). That is exactly the nominal capacity of the ink tanks, whose access is direct and have direct view of remaining ink in each of them. The nominal capacity offers a theoretical yield of 6,600 pages for black ink and 5,500 pages for color prints. The spare parts are also very economical for what is usually the inkjet printer consumable: about 16 euros for the black replacement and the color ones at about 10 euros. The ink tanks, which cost us around 40 euros to refill, offer more than three years of printing at a rate of 5-6 pages per day The Epson EcoTank ET-2956 offers borderless printing with a resolution of up to 4,800 x 1,200 dpi with a minimum droplet size of 3.3 picoliters and the use of 400 black nozzles and 128 nozzles per color. Offers automatic double-sided printing and work margins for maximum A4 size and minimum photo size of 10×15 or 13×18 cm. It is always useful to have a direct view of the remaining ink by color The capacity of the output tray is 30 sheets and the input tray is 100, with grammage between 64 and 300 gr/m2perfect figures for a home environment even printing on photographic paper. The print quality meets expectations, especially in basic documents, whether in black and white or color, always speaking of the domestic environment. The maintenance cartridge for ink for head cleaning is very accessible With photography we can get by if we choose the right photographic paper but it is not a specialized printer. The strong point is decidedly the printing cost per page. It does offer good print speed data, with 30 pages per minute in monochrome mode and 20 pages per minute in color. Being a multifunction model we cannot fail to mention the scanner mode. It is not automatic and therefore we do not have a feeding tray and it is not the model to choose if your priority is scanning numerous documents. The scanner gets us out … Read more

The Thermomix is ​​the PlayStation of the kitchen; Every time a new model comes out it is quite an event. The Thermomix TM6 It came out in 2019 and it was already due to be renewed, what I didn’t expect was that it had been renewed so much. I’ve been testing the new one for a month Thermomix TM7 and this is what it seemed to me. Technical characteristics of Thermomix TM7 Thermomix tm7 DIMENSIONS 33.6 x 25.3 x 40.5cm WEIGHT 8.6kg SCREEN 10 inch touch COOKING MODES Without lid, Brown, Steam, Knead, Blend, Egg cooking, Kettle, Thicken, Rice cooking, Slow cooking, Vacuum, Fermentation, Heat, Turbo, Pre-wash, Peel, Grate, Laminate, Spiral cutter, Thermomix Sensor and Sugar Points ABILITY 2.2 liters in the glass 6.8 liters in total (including Varoma) ACCESSORIES INCLUDED TM7 Central Module, stainless steel glass with thermal insulation, basket, Varoma, butterfly, spatula, blades and three free months of subscription to the Cookidoo platform. PRICE 1,549 euros The price could vary. We earn commission from these links The Thermomix that doesn’t look like a Thermomix First of all, I want to say that I have had a Thermomix TM31 for… I don’t know how many years. I had seen pictures of the new model, but even when I took it out of the box I was surprised by how different it was. Vorwerk completely breaks with the classic design of your food processor, which now has a flat base with a huge touch screen. The glass maintains the shape we knew, but it is no longer made of metal. Well, yes it is, but it is covered by a plastic casing and we don’t see it. The black color further distances the style of the previous models and gives it a more elegant appearance, as if it wanted to be a decorative object in the kitchen as well as a functional one. Inside, the glass has hardly changed, but on the outside it looks different. The glass is one of the novelties that I liked the most. The coating is great because we can manipulate it without fear of burning ourselves. The way to disassemble it to scrub it is also very convenient: you just have to move a small lever and we release both the glass and the blades. The glass is covered by another plastic glass. It is one of the most notable changes and is very useful because it makes it almost impossible to burn ourselves. The fact that the base is completely flat is also very useful when cleaning it because it does not have any nooks and crannies. The only drawback I can find is that it is too big. Visually it doesn’t seem like it because we no longer have that base that “embraces” the glass and everything is clearer, but takes up a lot of space on the bench. Of course the accessories have also been redesigned: spatula, Varoma and basket. The spatula is what has changed the most and now has an elongated design that is much more comfortable when it comes to “scraping” the glass, for example if we are making a cream. Screen: yes It is not the first Thermomix to have a screen. The Thermomix TM5 had a 3.5-inch screen and the TM6 doubled its size to 6.8 inches. With the TM7, Vorwerk seems to have said “hold my hat” and fitted a 10-inch panel. To put it in perspective, the Basic iPad It has an 11-inch screen. Personally, I think there was no need for such a large screen. For what we are going to use it for, the 7 inches of the previous model was already more than enough. It is not a screen designed to view content, but still It is very sharp and bright. Of course it is tactile and I have had no problems handling it while cooking; Even with slightly dirty or wet fingers it responds well to touches. Interface and user experience The design changes are notable, but the functionalities remain very similar and the cooking experience is not far from what I already knew from my old TM31. The part that changes the most is that there is not a single physical dial and everything is done through the screen. At first it seemed a little strange to me, but once I mastered the menus I had no problem. The recipes are very well explained and you can follow them step by step. From the machine itself we can browse Cookidoo, Vorwerk’s recipe platform that has 100,000 recipes of all kinds. It requires login and, if you want access to all the content, you have to check out. Vorwerk gives a month’s trial, but after that they are 60 euros a year. What can I say that in a machine that costs more than 1,500 euros they could include the subscription. In a machine that costs more than 1,500 euros they could have included the Cookidoo subscription, but no. Navigating through the recipes is quite simple. We can search for dishes directly by typing the name, but we can also explore categories and special collections with seasonal recipes and for events such as Christmas. We can also plan what we want to cook each day and make our own lists of favorites. The interface is very intuitive and Cooking is as simple as following the steps. Not only does it tell you the ingredients to put in, it allows us to weigh them, and programs the time and temperature so that we only have to press ‘play’. This whenever we want to follow a recipe from Cookidoo, but we also have others manual modes available as grinding, boiling, heating, steaming and also manual control mode to be able to cook on your own. The experience here is the same as with my old TM31, only instead of dials, I have to choose the speed, time and temperature from the screen. Washing mode before and after One of the modes … Read more

We knew Fairphone well for its smartphones, but little by little we are also getting to know it for its headphones. In 2023 they already launched the first generation of Fairbuds XLand now these supra-aural headphones have been renewed to win whole numbers in the sound section, which perhaps had been one step behind competitors in that price range. The arrive Fairbuds XL (2025). What does not change is that same differentiating element of everything this company does: repairability and modularity are incomparable and are once again the protagonists in headphones that promise to last us and accompany us for a long time. Especially because if something breaks, we can easily change it. Let’s listen to them closely. Fairbuds XL technical sheet (2025) Fairbuds XL (2025) diaphragm unit 40mm 20Hz – 20KHz 32 ohms Sensitivity: 99±2 dB at 1 KHZ Design and weight They can be folded 190 x 180 x 70mm 330 grams Connection Bluetooth 5.1 Use with USB-C cable noise cancellation Active Compatibility Any Bluetooth device CODECS SBC, AAC, aptX HD Microphones 6 (2 on the left, four on the right) Autonomy 26 hours with volume at 80% and ANC 30 hours at 80% volume without ANC Burden USB type C 50% charge in 15 minutes More than 500 charge cycles (they maintain 80% battery capacity after these cycles) replaceable battery extras IP54 certification Easy to repair Price 249 euros Fairphone Fairbuds XL (2025) The price could vary. We earn commission from these links The design changes… The new Fairphone Fairbuds XL are misleading with their name, and the same thing happened with their predecessors because these are not ‘buds’, which aim for an in-ear (intra-aural) format, but we are talking about some supraaural headphones which, yes, are not especially large when it comes to enveloping the ear. The headphones are available in green and black. You could almost say that they are compact supra-aural headphones, and their ability to fold is notable, which means that they can take up less space when moving them from one place to another if we do not want to wear them or wear them around our neck. What they are is dense, perhaps due to that somewhat more compact design: the 330 grams are noticeableespecially when my personal wireless headphones, the Sony WH-1000XM4they weigh 254 grams. The Fairbuds XL adapt perfectly to the user, although it is true that they seem to want to be a little closer to the ear, perhaps due to their weight or the elasticity of the materials that makes them press slightly compared to the Sony, although it is an almost imperceptible sensation: once you put them on, the grip is comfortable and we have not had any problems when we have worn them for several hours. This design is very similar to the original model, but here the headband is covered with a fabric with a unique mesh texturethe same as the pads. In both cases the new material replaces the vegan leather of the 2023 Fairbuds XL. The headphones do not have any indicator of which is the right or the left. The right earpiece is the one that has the three major elements necessary to interact with them. The first, the USB-C charging port, which also allows us to use them connected with a cable even if the headphones do not have enough battery, a welcome idea from Fairphone. The second, the button with which we activate the pairing, but which also serves to select the active noise cancellation mode (active, ambient sound, inactive). The third is the small directional joystick which allows us to turn the headphones on or off with a press of about three seconds. From there we can make short and somewhat longer presses to pause/play or take calls or hang up, and we can move up and down to increase or decrease the volume and right or left to go to the beginning of the song or move to the previous one (two touches to the left) or the next one (two touches to the right). The interaction is comfortable and fast, and it is certainly a valid alternative to the touch controls that many headphones in this price range typically offer. In certain cases the tactile interaction is faster and more accessible (a quick touch to pause is, for example, faster by touch than with the joystick), but in general the interaction is very correct. …the sound too At Fairphone they have improved the design and features of the 40mm drivers which are the heart of these Fairbuds XL, and which are largely responsible for the sound quality offered by these headphones. These new drivers have been retuned to offer a more balanced sound that is especially appreciated with warmer and more tempered music and sounds. In my tests with some of the songs that I listen to the most, I was able to verify that the quality is notable, although the user profile is clearly different from that offered, for example, by the Sony model. Thus, with ‘So Far Away’ by Dire Straits the sound is somewhat less dense and flatter than with the WH-1000XM4, and the same thing happened when listening to ‘Hasta el final’ by Coque Malla, ‘Carolina’ by M-Clan or ‘I Don’t Want a Lover’ by Texas: that initial guitar solo sounds more electric with the Sony headphones. The bass is really enveloping with the Fairbuds XL, and the volume margin is enormous: turning them up to the maximum in some songs shows the power of those drivers. These headphones make use of the Bluetooth 5.1 standard and although this means that they do not have support for some modern codecs, they do offer support for aptX HD if we use audio platforms capable of offering 24-bit wireless streaming. Although the standard is not the newest, we do have an important option: that of being able connect them to two different devices via Bluetooth simultaneously. Thus, I have used them connected to … Read more

When I was little I had a calculator that did not have batteries and was recharged with sunlight or artificial light. That seemed magical to me, and years later the sensation is almost the same when trying the Logitech Signature Slim Solar+ K980a keyboard with a name that is as long as it is descriptive (we will abbreviate it from now on) and that has many lights (wink, wink) and few shadows. This is a keyboard that comes with a fundamental novelty: instead of using batteries that we recharge with a USB adapter, this model is recharged with its solar cells. The result is surprisingly convincing, although it is not without some limitations. One of them, important. Logitech Signature Slim Solar+ K980 technical sheet Logitech Signature Slim Solar+ K980 Dimensions and weight 142.9 x 430.8 x 20.2mm 700g Backlight No Light indicators Battery status, Easy-Switch keys Total number of keys 108 Number of programmable keys 23 Special buttons and keys Key to start AI Action key Meeting control keys Settings app Logi Tune / Logi Options+ Battery Battery rechargeable with sunlight or ambient light (>200 lux) Battery life: 10 years autonomy Up to 4 months on a full charge Connectivity Logi Bolt USB-C (receiver not compatible with Unifying) Bluetooth Low Energy Price 119.99 euros Logitech Signature Slim Solar+ K980 for Business, Wireless Keyboard, Discreet Typing, Secure Receiver, Bluetooth, Windows, Mac – Graphite – QWERTY The price could vary. We earn commission from these links Blessed solar cells The first thing that surprises you about the Logitech K980 is not the keyboard, but its packaging. A simple cardboard box that when opened allows us to find three things. The first, the keyboard itself, wrapped in a small case of fine padded material. The second, the instructions for use printed on the inner cover of the box. And the third, the Logi Bolt USB-C receiver, “inserted” in the center of the bottom edge of the box. In my case I didn’t even use that receiver: the Logitech keyboard includes Bluetooth Low Energy connectivity, and I quickly saw how that standard was perfectly suitable to start using it with my Mac mini M4. The keyboard detection is immediate, and from then on I started using it without paying attention to something that precisely defines this keyboard. You forget that it needs energy. The keyboard does not connect to any charger to power or recharge it, nor does it use batteries. It uses an internal rechargeable battery that is recharged in a unique way: using solar energy or even ambient light. That ambient light should be above 200 lux, meaning the room you are in should be moderately lit. In an office or classroom, for example, lighting usually ranges between 300 and 500 lux. Logitech calls this charging technology LightCharge. In my case there was no problem in this regard either: a window to my left provides a lot of ambient light, and the artificial lighting, when I have to use it, also exceeds those levels, which basically means that the keyboard is always charged. If it is not, a warning appears through a small LED in the upper right part. We can also check the battery status in the Logi Options+ application. Thus, the most notable and unique thing about this keyboard is curiously something you don’t even pay attention tobecause it is an almost invisible technology. And that’s wonderful, because it means that with very rare exceptions you will never have to worry about the battery of this totally wireless keyboard again: there are no connection ports that we can use to connect it to a computer. The keyboard in action The Logitech K980 is a striking successor to the K760, the “solar” keyboard that Logitech launched more than a decade ago. We are looking at a product that uses low profile keys (hence the “Slim” in its name and that has 108 keys, of which 23 are programmable. Thus, we have key labels that allow us to quickly identify the special Windows and macOS keys (curious that they do use macOS iconography, but not Windows) and even It has a key that allows you to “start the AI” at the bottom left, if we want to use that shortcut. That key is assigned by default to launch CoPilot on Windows computers and Gemini on computers with ChromeOS, but we can configure it so that, for example, ChatGPT or any other model opens. The keys in the function row have traditional access to quick functions (raise and lower brightness and volume, control multimedia playback, enable and disable camera and microphone, etc.) but can be programmed with other types of tasks. There are special programmable keys such as the key with a large “O” above the numeric keypad that can also be programmed to launch a macro preconfigured by the user. Here the customization is notable, and it is possible to get a lot out of these physical accesses. The configuration of all these accesses and shortcuts can be done with the Logi Options+ application, and we also have three keys that are part of the Easy Sitch area in the upper right part (above the Insert-Home-Page Up keys) with which we can switch up to three different devices so that the keyboard can be used on all of them easily. We are, however, facing a membrane keyboard, and that keyboard design island-shaped and low-profile keys makes it very similar to the experience we have on laptop keyboards. The feel of each key is slightly rough, which prevents the fingers from “slipping” when pressing each key, and the travel and pressure required are very similar to that portable experience. If you like that type of keyboards, you will feel at home. If you prefer the experience of a mechanical keyboard, of course, the feel and travel of the keys—and the sound, almost nonexistent when using the K980—is totally different. The light dominates everything, but no backlighting It is ironic that the big … Read more