Best March Madness apps for Android in 2018

The NCAA Tournament is in full swing. These apps will help you keep up with your bracket.

Game on. The 2018 NCAA Tournament (that’s college men’s basketball, in case you’re not into such things) is underway. That means countless work hours lost over the next couple weeks, but specifically in these early days as we all pore over our brackets, hoping to avoid the bust and advance to the next round.

Sadly, we don’t all have televisions in our offices. But seeing as how this is 2018, there’s more than one way to keep up with the tourney. A trusty web browser is one, of course. But you’re on the go. That’s where these handy Android apps come in.

• theScore
• NCAA March Madness Live
• ESPN Tournament Challenge
• CBS Sports

theScore

theScore is a longtime sports staple on Android. Follow leagues, teams and even individual players. You’ll get real time updates on scores, stats and news, and the ability to fine tune and personalize that feed. It’s got a dedicated tournament section, with a smartly designed sort of bracket that’s using Android design guidelines instead of the sort of pan-and-zoom thing you’ll find elsewhere. It’s really well done.

The app is ad-supported, but it’s also one of those apps that can very well stick around once you try it. So try it.

Download theScore (free)

NCAA March Madness Live

This one’s the official app from the folks putting on the tournament, so you know it’s good. It’s also very much sponsored by AT&T, Capital One and Infiniti, so you’ll be subjected to ads from those three throughout. But if you’ve got a cable subscription this is a great way to watch all the games live.

And with Chromecast support built in, you can stream to a larger TV or monitor if you’re not in the same room as your cable box. Plus there are scores, info on every team in the tourney, and the ability to keep up with your bracket, at least until it gets busted.

Download NCAA March Madness Live (free)

ESPN Tournament Challenge

This one’s less about following the tournament and more about a bracket challenge. Specifically, if you’re playing with ESPN’s brackets. (If you’re not, just move on.) You can follow up to 25 brackets and get alerts on the latest news. You also get access to Bracketcast which allows you to see how upsets or underdogs have affected your own brackets. Following scores is fairly simply, but the app also is (unsurprisingly) pretty ad-heavy.

Download ESPN Tournament Challenge (free)

CBS Sports

CBS consistently has had some of the best sports apps out there, and that continues this year with the latest iteration of the CBS Sports app. At launch you’ll be asked if you want to use location services to follow local (or regional) teams. Do or do not, there is no try. You also can designate specific teams in any of the sports that you want to give special attention to.

From there, it’s all sports, all the time. That means you’ll see other events lumped with the basketball games. Just duck into the drawer on the left for quick links to scores and news, the full brackets, and expert pics. (And CBS has added the NIT tournament for good measure.) You also get Chromecast support, live streaming radio, and personalized alerts for the news stories that you don’t want to miss.

If you’re looking for a really good all-around sports app, this is one to have.

Download CBS Sports (free)

Your turn

Those are still our favorite picks. Did we miss something that’s worth checking out? Let us know in the comments. And may your bracket live beyond the weekend.

Updated March 2018: We’ve updated our favorites for following this year’s big dance.

These are the U.S. carriers that have updated the Galaxy S8 to Android Oreo

Available first on Verizon and T-Mobile.

Android Oreo has been rolling out to unlocked models of the Galaxy S8 and S8+ since February 22 after Samsung fixed a bug with its initial build, but there’s been no word as to when U.S. carriers would begin updating their versions of the phone. Thankfully, that’s starting to change.

Verizon

Verizon recently updated its official support page for the Galaxy S8, indicating that Oreo started being pushed to the phone on March 15, 2018. The build number for the S8 is G950USQU2CRB9, whereas the one for the S8+ is G955USQU2CRB9.

Similar to what we’ve seen for past updates, Oreo adds picture-in-picture, the Autofill API, and much more to the S8/S8+. This changes the Samsung Experience to v9.0, and it also adds the February 2018 security patch. I’m not sure why we didn’t get the more recent March patch, but I digress.

T-Mobile

Just a day after Verizon started pushing Oreo to the Galaxy S8, T-Mobile was quick to follow in its footsteps. We’ve received multiple tips from our readers (thanks to everyone who let us know!) that T-Mobile is now updating the S8 and S8+ to Oreo, and while it’s unclear at this time which security patch is included, we’ll update this post with additional info as we know more.

If you’ve got a Galaxy S8 or S8+ on Verizon, have you gotten the Oreo update yet?

Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8+

• Galaxy S8 and S8+ review!
• Galaxy S8 and S8+ specs
• Everything you need to know about the Galaxy S8’s cameras
• Get to know Samsung Bixby
• Join our Galaxy S8 forums

Verizon
AT&T
T-Mobile
Sprint
Unlocked

Updated 3/17/18: Added T-Mobile to the list!

Answer your doorbell from anywhere with Ring’s $199 Video Doorbell Pro

Ding dong, who’s there?!

Ring’s popular Video Doorbell Prp is back down to just $199 at both Amazon and B&H for a limited time. This doorbell normally sells for around $250.

Keep in mind, to use the Video Doorbell Pro properly you will need to have an existing hardwired doorbell in the place you want to install this one. Installation is super simple and only takes a few minutes once you get started. Ring includes a variety of faceplate colors so you can pick the one that matches your house.

B&H doesn’t charge sales tax at the time of purchase to those who live outside of NJ and NY, and also has the Video Doorbell 2 on sale for $179.

See at Amazon

Today’s best deals you won’t want to miss

Whether you’re looking for new tech gear or household items, we’ve got you covered.

Right now there are great discounts on Ring’s Video Doorbell Pro, Vizio’s 50-inch 4K TV, the Hyperkin RetroN 2 gaming console and so much more!

View the rest of the deals

If you want to know about the deals as soon as they are happening, you’ll want to follow Thrifter on Twitter, and sign up for the newsletter, because missing out on a great deal stinks!

Best Horror games for PlayStation 4

If you’re looking for a way to increase the scares in your life, this is a solid place to start.

If you are anything like me, then sometimes you absolutely love to get the pants scared off of you. Unfortunately, not all horror games are created equal. There are loads of games which intend to give you the creeps but fall way short of the target. If you want some of the best scares available on the PlayStation 4, then read on.

• Until Dawn
• Alien: Isolation
• The Evil Within 2
• Resident Evil 7: Biohazard
• P.T.

Until Dawn

Generally speaking, Until Dawn is not a perfect game. However, it is one of the best horror games I’ve ever had the pleasure to play. Supermassive Games does a great job of developing a creepy mood which just drips off the screen. Also, it’s always nice when a developer creates a decision-making mechanic that actually seems to have an impact on how the game plays out. It is this decision making which also adds to the replayability of the game. With a $20 price point, you get a ton of scares and gameplay for your dollar.

See at Playstation

Alien: Isolation

Holy macaroni, I loved this game. If you are a fan of Ridley Scott’s original Alien film, then you are going to love this. Developer, Creative Assembly managed to capture the mood and visual style of the first Alien film almost impeccably. From the moment the game started, I was giddy to be interacting with that world. On top of that, it is chock full of truly tense and frightening moments. The original Alien film was essentially a slasher film in space and that is exactly what Alien: Isolation feels like as you try to creep, hide, and run away from the alien which is after you. It’s been out a while now, so you can pick it up for only $20.

See at Amazon

The Evil Within 2

I wasn’t a huge fan of the first game in the series but I sure am glad that Tango Games took another swing at it with The Evil Within 2. If you’re on the hunt for a solid survival horror experience then this game is certainly worth your time. Despite the fact that there are moments where The Evil Within 2 seems to rehash to pretty well-trod tropes, they do a great job of building and cranking up tension when it’s needed. A copy can be had on Amazon for only $26.

See at Amazon

Resident Evil 7: Biohazard

The king is back! There were some moments in the previous decade where I was pretty certain that the Resident Evil franchise had lost every ounce of its creepy mojo and we would never see a great entry again. However, in 2017, Capcom dropped Resident Evil 7 in our collective laps. Not only is it a fantastic Resident Evil game, it may just be one of the best horror games of all time. With solid scares, a great mood, and pacing so tight you can bounce a quarter off of it, it is worth every bit of the $47 it costs to own a copy.

See at Amazon

P.T.

It hardly seems fair to include this game in a roundup. After all, you can’t get your hands on it unless you want to buy a whole PlayStation with PT preloaded on it for hundreds of dollars on ebay. That being said, I would be remiss if I neglected to include it. P.T. is bar none the most frightening “game” I have ever played on any console. Dropped into the PlayStation store in 2014 without so much a murmur it was the brainchild of the mad scientist of gaming, Hideo Kojima. Unfortunately, when Kojima and Konami split the sheets the project was shelved and P.T. was pulled from the PSN store. It really is amazing. If you want to get a feel for it and don’t feel like dropping hundreds of dollars to do it, you can watch all kinds of playthroughs on YouTube.

Just like horror films, there are a lot of video games released in the genre but precious few shining gems. I often find myself disappointed when a horror game falls short, but when it’s done right it’s one of the best gaming experiences in the world.

See at PlayStation

What are some of your favorite horror games on PS4?

Let us know what games have had you making sure your doors and windows were locked in the comments below.

Why are we talking PlayStation 4 games on Android Central? Let us explain.

PlayStation 4

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• PlayStation VR Review
• Playing PS4 games through your phone is awesome

Amazon

Democrats aim to subpoena Apple, Twitter over private chats

The House of Representatives’ investigation into Russia’s election interference may have ended, but Democrats are still discussing what they’d like to do if and when they regain a House majority — and it could have significant repercussions for the tech industry. Their recently published memo in the aftermath of the investigation calls on the House Intelligence Committee to subpoena Apple, Twitter and WhatsApp for info regarding encrypted chat apps and private messages. The Democrats want to know which apps key actors in the 2016 US election used, and what they said.

In Apple’s case, the Democrats want records for downloaded secure chat apps from “key individuals,” including Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner. The politicians would also subpoena WhatsApp for messages between “key witnesses of interest.” Twitter, meanwhile, would be pressed to hand over direct messages from Trump staff as well as WikiLeaks, its founder Julian Assange and suspected Russian hacking front Guccifer 2.0.

The possibility of these requests going forward is contingent on the Democrats winning a House majority in the 2018 mid-term elections, giving them subpoena power. That could put the companies involved in a tough spot, as the Intercept noted. Apple does retain download records and would hand them over if ordered, but it and WhatsApp use end-to-end encryption that they themselves can’t crack. If they could supply messages (WhatsApp doesn’t store them), the info would likely remain useless. Investigators might have to be content with metadata like profiles. And if they aren’t, this could put them in yet another difficult position where authorities are asking them to provide information they technically can’t deliver.

Via: Intercept, 9to5Mac

Source: House of Representatives (PDF)

Uber may offer its self-driving technology to Toyota

Lyft and Waymo might not be the only ridesharing companies developing self-driving technology with hopes of making it available to others. Nikkei has claimed that Uber is in talks to slip its autonomous vehicle system into a Toyota minivan, marking one of its first reported attempts to sell its tech to someone else. The Japanese paper said that Uber chief Dara Khosrowshahi recently met with Toyota leaders (including its American AI development lead, Gill Pratt) at his company’s research center in Pittsburgh. It’s not clear how far along the progress would be or what exactly was discussed at the meeting.

In a statement to Reuters, Toyota said its staffers “regularly exchange” self-driving information with Uber, but said that there hadn’t been any decisions made beyond existing involvement. It’s not a confirmation, then, but nor is it a denial. Toyota is no stranger to working closely with Uber: it invested in the company in 2016, and this January formed a partnership to develop a driverless vehicle system for everything from ride hailing apps to couriers.

This would represent a new step for both sides, however. Toyota already has its own self-driving hardware, so it’d be supplementing its own work. And for Uber, this would help its system evolve from a relatively in-house affair (albeit with the help of other brands) into something it can pitch to automakers. The company could theoretically make the most of its development work and even turn it into a viable side business if enough customers are interested.

Via: Reuters, CleanTechnica

Source: Nikkei

Learn how to change your gamertag on an Xbox One in just a few simple steps

If you’ve been on Xbox One for a long enough time, you’ve probably seen your fair share of terrible gamertags. For some of you, though, you are that person with the terrible username, but you don’t have to be. It might seem tricky to change your username at first, but learning how to change your gamertag on an Xbox One is easier than it looks.

What’s especially nice about changing your gamertag on Xbox Live is that you can make the change on a variety of platforms. Below, we’ll show you how to change your gamertag on Xbox One, and through Xbox’s website.

Keep in mind that Xbox only allows you to change your gamertag for free if your original gamertag was created for you when you signed up for Xbox Live. Anytime you want to change your gamertag afterwards, you’ll have to pay a fee (which varies by region.)

Changing your gamertag through Xbox One

Step 1: Press the Xbox button on your controller to bring up the Xbox guide and select your gamerpic, which appears at the top of the guide.

Step 2: Select “My profile,” then “Customize profile.”

Step 3: In the “Customize Profile” menu, select your gamertag to edit.

Step 4: In the editing screen, type in your new gamertag and hit “Enter.” If you’ve picked a name that is already active, or that Microsoft deems offensive, you may see an error message that reads, “Sorry, this gamertag is now reserved. Try another one.” If you do, try a slight variant to your preferred gamertag. You might also want to read up on Xbox’s rules of conduct to make sure you’re working with the rules.

If you don’t have a handle in mind, Xbox suggests some available options. If you don’t like any of the suggested handles, select “More” to generate a new set of potential gamertags.

Step 5: After you’ve chosen your new gamertag, select “Claim it” and then, “Sounds good.”

Changing your gamertag through a web browser

Step 1: Go to account.xbox.com, and sign in with the email address and password associated with your gamertag.

Step 2: From the home page, click on your gamerpic in top-right corner of the window. Using the drop-down menu, select “Profile” to go to your Xbox profile and activity feed.

Step 3: Press the Customize button in the title card at the top of the profile page.

Step 4: On the customize profile screen, select “Change Gamertag.”

Step 5: Enter in your new preferred gamertag, and then click “Check availability” If you receive a message saying that gamertag is taken, then try a slight variant on your preferred gamertag.

Step 6: After you find a gamertag that works for you, select “Claim it.”

Editors’ Recommendations

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What is USB OTG? Here’s how to use USB drives and more on your Galaxy S9

Mark Jansen | Digital Trends

So you’ve bought a brand new shiny Galaxy S9. You’ve just finished setting it up, using Samsung’s Smart Switch to transfer all the data from your old phone. You disconnect the USB-A to USB-C adapter used during the process and wonder … what else can this be used for?

As it turns out, quite a lot. The adapter that ships with Samsung’s Galaxy S9 is a fully fledged USB OTG connector, and can be used for a bunch of fun things you didn’t realize you could do. Here is a handful of the coolest features that an OTG adapter makes possible.

But wait, what is OTG and does it work with my phone?

Simon Hill / Digital Trends

Before we start, it’s worth explaining what OTG is and what it does.

USB OTG, or USB on-the-go, is a feature that allows your device to read data from USB devices, essentially becoming a “USB host”. While not every phone has this option, it has become more and more common over the years, and it’s quite likely that at least one of your devices supports it. USB OTG works with both USB-C and MicroUSB connections, and finding out whether your phone has OTG is as simple as downloading and running a single app.

Don’t abandon ship if you’ve lost your OTG connector, or simply don’t have one — Amazon sells USB-C and MicroUSB connectors that will work just as well with any phone that has OTG capabilities.

Now you know what it is, let’s dig into what you can actually do with it.

Lay down the pwnage in games with a wired controller

Mark Jansen | Digital Trends

While smartphones can deliver everything we need in a pocket-sized device, if you’ve ever tried to play a game not designed for a touchscreen on a mobile device, then you know they’re not perfect. Sure, you can grab yourself a Bluetooth controller, but if you have a wired controller sitting around, then your OTG connector could save you a little bit of cash. Just plug that controller into your OTG adapter and into your phone, and you can play some of the best mobile games using a controller.

This doesn’t work for every game since some games were meant to be played with a touchscreen — so don’t bother trying Clash of Clans — but for classics like Sonic the Hedgehog or GTA: Vice City, a controller can make a huge difference in your experience. We tested an Xbox 360 controller with Sega’s Sonic 2 and it worked perfectly without any need to calibrate or change any options. Additionally, if you’re using a service like Moonlight to stream PC games to your smart device, then you can use your game controller to control the action.

If you’re also lucky enough to own a Gear VR headset, then you can use your OTG connector to use that same controller in VR games. Just attach your connector to the USB-C plug at the bottom-right of the headset, and plug your controller in.

Of course, there is an issue with this setup — since the OTG connector uses the USB-C slot, there is no way to charge your phone’s battery at the same time, which could be an issue in especially power-hungry games. So make sure you keep an eye on your battery level during your gaming sessions.

Transfer files to increase phone storage space

Mark Jansen | Digital Trends

Running out of memory is never fun. MicroSD cards and cloud drives help, but what if your phone doesn’t have expandable storage, or you don’t have a data connection to access Google Drive? Wouldn’t it be a lot easier if you could just jam a USB stick into your phone and transfer some files over? That’s something you can do with USB OTG, and a solid reason to own an adapter.

It’s really easy to get this going. Just attach your OTG connector and pop your USB stick in. Then tap the Android System notification marked USB drive to be taken to a file folder. Now you can start transferring files. While this is one of the least exciting features of the OTG connector, it’s definitely one of the most useful and one that we can see ourselves using a lot.

Transfer files to another device, or boost up its battery

It’s not just USB sticks you can transfer files to and from. Since the primary use of the OTG connector is to transfer files and documents via Samsung’s Smart Switch, it makes sense that you can use the connector to quickly and easily access files on another device. Just connect the phones up using the other phone’s charging cable, tap the Android System notification, select Transfer files, and then navigate to the other phone by tapping the other Android System notification.

That is not all you can do with another phone —  since you have your trusty OTG connector, you can plug their charging cable into your phone and give their phone some of your phone’s juice. Once connected, tap the Android System notification and make sure Charge connected device is selected. However, be aware that some larger devices like tablets will not be able to charge with the low power charge coming from your device.

Make your own Dex Station

Mark Jansen | Digital Trends

Alright, so it’s not exactly the same as Samsung’s Dex Station — but if you own a USB hub then you can get a desktop-like experience by hooking your phone up to a keyboard and mouse. By using a hub you can connect multiple USB devices at the same time, and give yourself a handier and faster way of typing.

It’s useful for messaging apps and for writing longer messages, but as you might expect for a non-official implementation, it’s more than a little janky. While the mouse cursor still appears on the screen, you’re forced to use your device’s homepage in a portrait orientation, and can’t flip it into landscape mode. It’s definitely not the one-stop desktop solution that the Dex Station or all-new Dex Pad are, but it’s still fun to play around with.

Use an external microphone

Mark Jansen | Digital Trends

What is the point in having a bulky setup of microphones and laptops when all you really need is your phone, your trusty OTG connector, and a USB microphone? Whether you’re an enthusiast podcaster, a businessperson who takes part in a lot of conference calls, or someone who needs to travel with audio equipment, it’s important that you strike the right balance of sound quality, ease of use, and size.

While the S9 has a good enough microphone, it doesn’t have the same omnidirectional or cardioid capabilities as a true microphone. Instead of compromising or spending large amounts of money on a voice recorder, try using your phone with an external microphone.

Setup is easy — just plug your USB microphone into your OTG connector and into your phone. Then, pull down your notification shade, and hit the Android System notification. From the Use USB to menu, hit Connect as a MIDI device to allow the microphone to be used as an input device — then open your app of choice and away you go.

Control your DSLR

Daven Mathies/Digital Trends

This is definitely one of the coolest uses of the OTG connector, and it’s something that photographers are going to love. By using your OTG connector to connect your phone to a DSLR camera, you can use your phone as an extension of the DSLR’s own screen, taking advantage of the much larger screen and higher resolution to take even better snaps.

The best app for this is probably DSLR Controller, and while it’s expensive for an Android app at $8, it comes with a huge array of features that make the high cost of entry worthwhile for everyone but the most occasional of photographers. You can see your subject in real time, adjust the focus of your shot, view and change settings like the ISO, white balance, aperture, and even view your gallery of taken shots. If you’re constantly wishing your camera had a larger screen, or struggle to see the camera’s display while shooting at odd angles, then this is definitely the app for you.

There is a free version of the app that functions as just a remote release, so you can test compatibility with your camera. The app works best with Canon cameras and has limited functionality with Nikon and Sony cameras, so make sure you test your camera before you buy. DSLR Controller’s website also has a ton of information that is useful for using the app, so make sure you read up to get the most out of your snaps.

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JLab Epic Air review

Research Center:
Jlab Epic Air

True wireless earbuds are no longer a niche sub-category. While the term “cord cutting” is typically used when people abandon traditional cable TV, the term could definitely apply to headphones in the current market as well. All wires are disappearing in the Bluetooth headphone space faster than ever, and it seems everyone wants in on the action.

JLab’s Epic Air are the latest to add to the growing pile. Designed as a pair of stylish sports buds, the Epic Air aim to hook people in (literally) and keep the music playing longer than many others on the market. We checked them out to see how they stand up to the expanding field.

Out of the box

The Epic Air come mounted behind a plastic enclosure, perched above the rest of the packaging that includes eight sets of ear tips of varying size, with a few flange ones aimed at tighter passive noise isolation. Of the range inside, there are no Comply Foam tips included.

The oversized, pill-shaped charging case includes a short and flat micro-USB cable that wraps around it. A quick start guide with illustrations rounds out a pretty basic unboxing experience.

Features and design

JLab makes it obvious the Epic Air were meant for active users who want loud volume and durability in the gym or when out exercising. The IP55 rating for water and dust-resistance reflects that, though they aren’t robust enough to be used for waterborne activities. The primary focus is on withstanding sweat, which is why JLab asks you to wipe both earpieces dry before placing them back in the charging case after use, or risk voiding your warranty.

The Epic Air cater well to active users who want loud volume and durability.

The earbuds themselves aren’t particularly flashy, but the style stands above many over-the-ear buds of this nature, and the build quality is good with a practical design. Key to that are the flexible ear hooks that keep the buds firmly in place, and JLab angled the 8mm drivers in such a way that the Epic Air effectively anchor to the inner ear. Admittedly, we actually had to follow the visual instructions in the quick start guide to learn how to put them on and take them off gracefully.

The hooks’ flexibility makes them easy to wrap them around each ear, but we did have to fiddle with the overall fit the first few times we tried them. Part of the reason is because the power button is on the inner side of the earpiece.

In cases where we needed to manually turn the Epic Air on — while still wearing them — we had to finagle our fingers in to push them. Triple-pressing the button turns on auto-pairing, so the Epic Air connect when removed from the case, negating the need to turn them on manually.

Bill Roberson/Digital Trends

Bill Roberson/Digital Trends

Bill Roberson/Digital Trends

Bill Roberson/Digital Trends

Rather than have one dedicated side always maintain the connection you can choose which side you want to be the master. We tried both, but ultimately settled on the left side because we often use pockets on our left. Once that initial connection was made to our phone, the primary earpiece then connected and synced to the other automatically.

The outer surfaces on each side feature touch-sensitive controls. On the left earbud, a single tap will play or pause (and answer or hang up calls), while a double-tap activates Siri or Google Assistant. Holding it for one second lowers the volume. On the right earbud, a single tap skips a track, and a double-tap goes back a track, while holding it raises the volume. The process takes a while to get used to, but the touch controls were responsive and worked well in our testing.

JLab engineered the 8mm drivers to punch through on the lows, not on balance with the mids and highs.

The buds charging case is massive compared to most competitors, and that’s to both accommodate the size of the earbuds themselves, but also for the larger battery inside. On their own, JLab claims the earbuds can muster six hours of battery life per charge, and that checked out in our testing (more on that below). Add an extra five charges courtesy of the case and you get up to 36 hours total – far better than many other true wireless earbuds can manage.

On top of that, JLab took the unusual step of making the case a portable charger for other devices, too. You can plug in your smartphone to charge in a pinch, which is a handy feature, though the size and weight makes the case better suited to a small bag than a pants or shirt pocket. Additionally, fewer devices use micro-USB, so you’ll need to tote around a Lightning or USB-C charging cable for phone charging.

Tuning up

JLab offers a dedicated app for both iOS and Android to tune the Epic Air. It’s designed to “burn-in” the earbuds by playing white noise and other sounds in 10-minute increments each time. JLab suggested doing that for up to eight hours per day in the first week (to hit 40 hours total), which simply wasn’t possible for a few reasons.

First, there is no way to do it in the background, meaning you’ll have to stay on the app and turn off auto-lock on your phone to keep the screen from going to sleep. Second, the sheer amount of time required makes it hard to even hit two hours, much less eight in one week. And lastly, the app doesn’t reveal how much time has elapsed.

We get that burn-in helps loosen the diaphragm and push the drivers, but we can’t really understand why that process couldn’t just happen while listening to actual music. Improved audio quality is the end goal of the whole process, and JLab could’ve done a better job explaining that. We did notice a performance improvement after several hours of going through the burn-in process, but we believe simply listening to countless hours of music helped that along.

Audio performance

The Epic Air support both aptX and AAC Bluetooth codecs, making them capable of getting the ideal audio stream for both iOS and Android devices. Coupled with the power in the drivers, audio quality is agreeable to anyone looking for an audio boost out of the box.

Other true wireless earbuds struggle to deliver good bass. The Epic Air prioritizes it. 

By default, the lows pound through to a point that muddies the midrange and treble. For example, Ed Sheeran’s Shape of You sounded fine because of how the track’s bass thumped with depth throughout, whereas AC/DC’s Back in Black was less balanced because of the higher treble mixed on that track. The Black Panther movie soundtrack sounded punchy, thanks to a track list that benefitted from the bass response.

Not surprisingly, this somewhat skewed spectrum suits listeners who prefer hip hop and electronica as genres of choice. Given other true wireless earbuds have struggled in delivering good bass, the soundstage here could be ideal for listeners demanding it. In fairness, one of the main reasons the bass suffers with other models is because of the fit. Use the right ear tip and ensure proper placement in the ear, and improved bass generally comes out.

No matter what we were doing, the Epic Air were excellent at staying put. We rarely had to adjust the fit during playback, and never once felt concerned they might fall off. But the fit isn’t the only reason for better low-register response. It’s obvious that JLab engineered the drivers to purely punch through on the lows, not on balance with the mids and highs.

Bill Roberson/Digital Trends

Unfortunately, as is common with many true wireless buds, there were instances of the signal itself falling off. It was odd in how it would randomly happen in close proximity, yet play perfectly fine 15 feet away from the phone. It wasn’t something we experienced constantly, but it was often enough to determine it a pattern. We were fine if we kept the phone close enough on the side we paired with, noticing the most disruptions when switching pants pockets to the opposite side.

We also experienced instances of shifting stereo image, where audio would veer left to right. It went that way because the left earpiece was paired with our phone, indicating that there could be some signal loss from one side to the other. This didn’t happen often, and it was usually a result of the phone’s placement causing a disruption, but it’s something we’d like to see eliminated at this price point.

Battery life

Even at 50 percent volume, the Epic Air were already loud enough to wear in the gym for our ears. Even if you really like your music blaring, we can’t imagine going above 75 percent for a sustained period of time. That enabled the Epic Air to almost always hit the rated six-hour mark in testing.

Jlab Epic Air Compared To

Jabra Sport Pulse Wireless Special…

Samsung Gear IconX (2018)

V-Moda Forza Metallo Wireless…

Optoma NuForce BE6i

Apple AirPods

Jaybird X3

Sol Republic Amps Air

Optoma NuForce BE Sport 3

Jabra Halo Smart

Plantronics BackBeat Go 3

Erato Apollo 7

Bragi Dash

Jabra Sport Pace Wireless

Jabra Sport Coach

Jabra Sport Wireless Plus Bluetooth

In fact, with five extra charges, we didn’t have to recharge the system until well over a week later. The only problem is that the case’s size and weight makes it more challenging to be truly portable. Other cases, such as those for Apple’s AirPods or Jabra’s 65t, have a much smaller footprint, though they admittedly don’t offer as many recharges.

Warranty information

JLab offers a standard one-year warranty covering parts and labor for repair and replacement, but doesn’t necessarily include damage from sweat. There is a 30-day guarantee, with exchange or return from the point of purchase.

Our Take

For any pair of true wireless earbuds, you want something dependable, and JLab’s Epic Air holds some merit in that regard. The build is sturdy, the fit is tight, the sound is loud, and the battery lasts. Gym rats and regular runners will appreciate that combination because it checks off the important boxes. These are best worn when active, since you won’t be holding your phone enough to trigger connectivity drops.

If you don’t count yourself among that crowd, though, you best look elsewhere because better audio quality and more reliable connection is available at competing price points, not to mention a smaller charging case.

Is there a better alternative?

Apple’s AirPods always gets a nod because, while not being the first, they’re the earbuds that helped bring the category out into the open, and moreover, they do so in a package that just works. They’re similarly priced, except the Epic Air is clearly built for more rugged endurance. The Jabra Elite Sport are among the best available, especially because of their reliability and three-year warranty, but you’ll have to pay around $220 to get them at time of publication. The newer Jabra Elite 65t can be had for $170 and are indeed “elite” for everything they offer, selected as our favorite in the genre at time of publication.

A similar product to the Epic Air, like the Rowkin Surge, can be had for $100, but they aren’t as consistent as the Epic Air. They may lack the ear hooks, but the Optoma NuForce BE Free8 offer a more balanced soundstage for the same price. The one key downside is there are no onboard volume controls, like the Epic Air has.

How long will it last?

The most critical part of the Epic Air’s longevity is durability. If you’re using these while active, it’s best to always clean them from time to time, making sure excess perspiration is gone. Since the warranty won’t really cover sweat-induced damage, that kind of TLC is a must to keep them fresh.

The other factor is the connectivity. True wireless earbuds aren’t perfect at maintaining the connection on both sides, but they’ve gotten much better. We were a little concerned at some of the inconsistency with this pair, but didn’t find it to be onerous enough to fear degradation over time.

Should you buy it?

Assuming you’re okay with the potential for connection cutouts and want the bass these deliver, then the Epic Air might be a good fit. They stay put and play loud tunes for a good hour or so longer than most others do. If you’re looking for higher fidelity and fewer connection woes, we suggest looking elsewhere.