The City Traffic: Fun, fast-paced, but shallow (review)

Like it or not, we always have to wait for stuff. We seem to be made to suffer. It’s our lot in life. That’s why it’s always good to have in your phone some games aimed at making your waiting times a bit more fun (or, actually, a bit less annoying). Enter The City Traffic, a game by developer MGDL, which takes one of the biggest inconveniences of our times (traffic) and turns it into a fun game with nice, welcoming graphics and engaging gameplay.

Developer: MGDL

Price: Free (with ads)

Setup

If you’ve ever downloaded a game from the Google Play Store, then you’re probably familiar with The City Traffic’s setup already. Just choose your Google Play Games account and away you go. This will let you upload your high scores to the Play Games platform and compare it with your friends that also have the game installed. Unfortunately, there’s no support for achievements yet.

Overview

The game itself is really simple. You are in control of four traffic lights: two for cars and two for pedestrians. The main objective is to dispatch them as fast as you can without triggering an accident (that is, don’t let cars crash either into each other or into pedestrians). Even though the concept is simple, the game can get hectic very fast, and you have to process a lot of stuff swiftly to avoid provoking a mess. Just ask the families of all the pedestrians I’ve killed while playing this.

The game starts easy enough…

Things wouldn’t be that hard (or interesting) without some kind of factor that keeps putting pressure on you. The catch in The City Traffic is that you can only have five cars piled up in both streets, and ten pedestrians fill up the two busy sidewalks of the city. If you let this limits overflow, it’s instant game over. Sure, when you start playing it’s fairly easy to control the limits, but as you keep going on, cars and people just keep coming at you without mercy, making it incredibly hard and requiring a lot of skill, concentration, and even luck to get as far as you can.

Fortunately, controls are responsive and work well enough in order to avoid becoming an inconvenience. The game has a nice pace that keeps getting harder the longer you play. Each successful car and pedestrian that makes it through the crossroad in one piece will give you points. Rack up points and you’ll advance through levels (read: the game will get harder).

When you finish a game, you get the option of returning to the main screen (for some weird reason, since it is nothing more than a way of starting the game again), restart the game, or look at your place on the leaderboard. You can also compare your current score with your highest score.

The controls are so simple that this is literally the only explanation you’ll need.

Sadly, this last part is more important than it should, since it’s the only element of the game that provides replay value. There’s no achievements or progression in the game: it’s just you against your high score.

This means that, after several times playing the game, you already have seen all it has to offer. Make sure you play in short bursts, then. You might start to get a bit bored of it after a while if you do otherwise.

Graphics

Absolutely every asset of the game is done in a pixelated way. You may or may not like the increasing influx of games featuring pixel art, but I think that, as long as it chooses a pattern and sticks with it to the end, it’s fine. Fortunately, The City Traffic has done a good job in making sure that every asset follows the same pattern for the most part. This results in a game with a cohesive appearance and that looks pretty.

My only complaint is that, in my opinion, perfect circles do not belong in a game with pixel art. There are some places where perfect circles are displayed (very apparent in the traffic lights you have to press to control the game), so they look a bit off when you see them against the buildings, cars, and pedestrians.

Things can get frantic really fast.

Sound

There’s one song that plays through each of your rounds. It has a very soothing and relaxing vibe to it (which is a nice contrast to the mayhem that’s happening on screen). There are some other sound effects sprinkled here and there, but nothing to write home about. Everything is appropriate and of a quality decent enough to not disturb the gameplay but enhance it.

Ads

There’s a small, persistent ad at the bottom of the screen at all times. That’s not bad at all, and something that a lot of games and apps do in order to avoid having to charge customers.

Get used to this screen, because you’ll se it a lot.

However, the big problem comes when you finish a game (and, as you may have figured, that will happen a lot). Sometimes, it will show a full-screen video ad, which is, in my opinion, the most unforgivable sin of mobile advertising. Nobody likes video ads, and even less when they’re full screen on a phone that probably has a limited amount of data. Unfortunately, with each passing day, video ads are becoming the norm rather than the exception.

There’s no way of removing them for now through an in-app purchase, something the developer should consider since there are still people out there who are willing to pay for removing pesky ads.

Conclusion

The City Traffic is a nice game if you want to burn some minutes while waiting for the bus or to avoid making eye contact with the other patients at your doctor’s office. Solid graphics, decent sound, and a frenetic gameplay make this game suitable for short bursts. Don’t expect it to be a deep, story-driven game, though. Apart from improving your high score, there’s no replay value and nothing to bring you back other than your own addiction. If you don’t mind this, then it’s a fun, easy-to-play game that will serve you well.

Download The City Traffic from the Google Play Store.

The Syllable D900 Mini Earbuds are truly wireless and are easy on the wallet (Review)

The ability of electronics to be wireless has become a staple in our lives. I can’t count the number of times I’ve forgotten that my headphones are connected to my laptop, only to suffer minor whiplash while walking away. Talk about first world problems! The Syllable D900 Mini headphones are truly wireless earbuds that won’t leave you broke.

Build

• Model: D900 Mini
• Color: Black
• Bluetooth Version: V4.1
• Talk/Listening time: Up to 120 minutes listen or talk
• Weight: 5 grams

The package comes with left and right bluetooth earbuds, one extra eartip adapter, a micro-USB charger, a headphone carrying pouch, and a charging station

I was pretty blown away at how small these headphones were given that they are truly wireless headphones. The headphones weigh a minuscule 5g, which is equivalent to a sheet of paper. The diameter is roughly the size of a nickel. I found these headphones to be weightless and pretty comfortable.

The left earpiece is considered the main headset, while the right earpiece is considered the subsidiary headset. This means that the left earpiece must be on for the right earpiece to work. Each earpiece has to be powered on if you want to listen to both headphones, which became a bit tedious. The main left earpiece can be used own its own. It’s a great look if you want to look like a bodyguard.

Syllable keeps it simple with the headphone controls. There is only one button on each headphone to work with, and that button is the outside of the headphone. Due to the small nature of the headphones, having more than one button would complicate the earbuds. Long pressing the left headphone turns it on and makes it discoverable to your phone. The only things you can do are pause and play music and answer phone calls. Double-clicking the left headset will call your most recent contact. Most of your controls will be done through your phone.

Usage

I primarily used these headphones in the gym. I can assure you that these headphones will not fall off your ears. Over several weeks of usage, I did not have them fall out once. I’ve been quite fascinated with Olympic lifting movements and these headphones stayed put during my clean and jerk lifting sessions. They also stayed firmly in place during cardio sessions such as running on the treadmill or using the rower.

These headphones really benefit from being truly wireless. I know from experience that cords get in the way during a squat or bench press session. There have been countless times I’ve pumped myself up for a big lift only to have the wire disconnected from being pulled out. Even bluetooth headphones that connect earbud to earbud still get in the way from time to time.

Hands-free calling works well on this device. The left headphone is the only one that will work with this feature. I called my friends numerous times using the hands-free option and never had a problem with communicating with them. Occasionally the headphones would echo on the other end. There are very few headphones that never go without echoes. 

The charging unit is a unique feature of these headphones. The plastic case that comes with the earbuds doubles as a charging unit. Syllable claims that the charging unit can fully charge the headphones four to six times. I personally found that it was closer to four times. The charging unit is charged via micro-USB.

It’s a good thing the charging unit can charge the headphones multiple times because the battery life of these headphones are not great. I got around 90 minutes of use at 75% volume before they died on me. If you hear the indicator go off, you have about five minutes before they completely die on you.

Sound

The most important feature in any headphone is sound quality. With a focus on the mid-range and bass, the Syllable D900 Mini headphones are designed for upbeat music. Genres such as hip-hop and pop will benefit most from these headphones.

Since these headphones are designed for people on the go, it is imperative that they can get loud to drown out background noise. These certainly get quite loud because I never turned them up to 100% and they never got distorted or crackly. I noticed that even with the volume turned high, there is very little sound leaking out of the headphones. This saves me a lot of embarrassment when I have Call Me Maybe on repeat at the gym.

Conclusion

The Syllable D900 Mini headphones are certainly designed for a specific type of user. True wireless headphones are a rarity right now, but are gaining traction with companies like Apple and Samsung joining the mix.

These headphones are designed for those who don’t want to be connected by wires, even if they are connected by earbuds. The Syllable D900 Mini are no larger than a nickel, have a portable charger, and are tuned for upbeat music. They can be found on Amazon for only $49.99 with free shipping. Wireless freedom comes at a cost, and that is battery life. The Syllable D900 Mini headphones only get around 90 minutes per charge, which is on par with Samsung IconX earbuds which cost four times as much. 

Roundup: Five essential tech accessories for the holiday travel season

With the holidays on the horizon, many of you will be traveling somewhere across the country. Thanksgiving is the most traveled holiday of the year, with Christmas right behind it. It’s when we get off time from work and school to take time to relax and spend time with loved ones.

Our dependence on smartphones and tablets is higher now than ever. We use our devices to entertain, capture memories, stay in contact with friends, family and work colleagues, get directions, research topics, and even as boarding passes for flights. Being prepared for the holiday season may prevent headaches from traffic, delayed travel, sickness or even lost luggage.

We’ve gathered five incredibly useful accessories for your smartphone that you should consider taking on your trip.

RavPower 22000mAh Ace Series power bank

With three smart USB 2.0 ports available, and 22000mAh of power, this portable power bank is built for power users, families and long trips. It’s sizable at 6.81 x 0.87 x 3.19 inches, and just over a pound in weight. All three ports will work at the same time, providing a max output of 5.8 amps.

Most smartphones have internal batteries that range in size from 2500-3800mAh. Generally those sized batteries equate to almost a full day of average usage no matter which phone you are using. If you are talking on the phone, texting, watching movies, or listening to music while traveling, your battery will consume energy at a much faster rate. Wall outlets are limited at airports, so bring your own power along for the ride.

The RavPower Ace Series 22000mAh can get most single users through a full week without ever needing power from an outlet. Or it can charge three devices at the same time keeping everyone in the family happy and connected.

RavPower has made quality accessories for years and the Ace Series portable power bank is another great buy at $39.99 at Amazon. Once you’re done with your holiday travels, this power bank also serves as a great backup source for power during power outages.

TrackR Bravo

The TrackR Bravo is a Bluetooth and GPS tracker that will help you locate lost items. It’s an invaluable accessory when home, but even more so on the road. We’ve heard of way too many stories of losing wallets, tablets, smartphones and keys. It is a coined sized device that slips into your wallet, clips onto your keyring, and connects to your phone or tablet through the iOS or Android app, to provide distance, GPS and audio functionality for locating your precious items.

It’s made out of aluminum for maximum durability and minimal weight.

A single TrackR is only $29.99, while a pack of three is on sale for $89.99 with free shipping at http://www.thetrackr.com. If the TrackR saves your keys, mobile device or wallet one time, it already paid for itself. Hopefully you won’t ever need to really use it and the investment is for your peace of mind on your travels.

Zhiyun Z1 Gimbal – Say goodbye to bouncy videos

It goes without saying that our smartphones are incredibly important for capturing memories. And we snap and record more memories on vacation than at other times.

Have you ever wondered how people manage to get such steady photos and videos? Chances are they’re using a gimbal. Gimbals were originally designed to keep compasses or chronometers horizontal in moving vessels and so captains could maintain direction when steering. Engineers adapted the technology for average consumers to use with their personal smartphones to end shaky photos and videos.

The Zhiyun Z1 Gimbal isn’t a cheap investment at $199.99, but it’s compatible with a wide range of smartphones from Android and iOS. When you’re watching the videos you made a year or several years from now, you’ll be glad you invested in this gimbal as your memories will be recorded properly.

WHOOSH! – It’s time to take tech hygiene seriously

Hygiene is one of the most important lessons humans learned over the last 200 years and has contributed to longer lifespans. We brush our teeth, wash our hands, and put on clean clothes everyday. Yet most of us almost never clean the devices we use the most; some of you even use those devices in the restrooms which makes for some nasty devices.

It’s peak flu season during the winter months, and viruses and bacteria are ripe for infecting unsuspecting victims. Make tech hygiene a regular habit and it may help prevent you from getting sick. Our resident Editor and Scientist Derrick Miyao reviewed WHOOSH earlier in the year and swears by it.

WHOOSH! starts at $10 for a 1oz bottle and is a worthy investment for the holiday season.

Bluesmart One – The smartest luggage you can buy

The Bluesmart One smart luggage is one of the most well rounded travel accessories on the market. Not only is it a hard suitcase with wheels, but it is also a portable power station with GPS tracking abilities that connects to your smartphone. It also has a built-in scale to ensure you don’t overpack, and can be remote locked to prevent would be thieves from stealing your laptop or other valuables.

Over 10,000 backers made the Bluesmart One possible through Indiegogo almost two years ago, and it is still selling like hot cakes.

Oh yeah, it can also pack your clothing too!

The Bluesmart One measures at 22″ x 14″ x 9″ with a storage capacity of 34L. It’s perfect to use as a carry-on for 2-3 day trips. It can be purchased at Amazon for $449 with free Prime shipping.

Wherever you might be traveling this holiday season, the writers here at AndroidGuys wish you all safe travels and well wishes. Make sure to put down your devices and appreciate the loved ones in your lives.

Cat Torrent: A torrent client in need of some updates (review)

Torrents have been available since around 2001, and the main purpose was to facilitate file transfers among different locations. However, since its inception, it’s been mostly used for shady, illegal purposes. For those of you who use torrents for legal transfer, you might know that there are some pretty good clients in the Play Store. Household names such as uTorrent and BitTorrent have extended their offerings to Android after enjoying much success in desktop environments, while other newcomers such as Flud and tTorrent provide Android-focused solutions.

Developer Pirate Cats has now unleashed Cat Torrent to the masses, promising a straightforward, no-nonsense experience with support for SD cards, speed limits, and a nice interface.

Developer: Pirate Cats
Price: Free

Setup

Some visual glitches hinder the app’s interface.

Apps that require no setup processes or tedious account creation are always good, and it’s obvious that this developer thinks exactly as I do. Upon launching the app for the first time, you are immediately shown the main screen. No setup needed, no nagging users to create accounts, nothing. Most of the time, if you’re downloading a torrent client, it’s because you know exactly what you’re doing, so Pirate Cats decided to omit a tutorial or other similar introductory views. If you are new to the torrent world, however, then you might want to read something about it first before using this app.

Overview

To start torrenting files, simply press the FAB at the bottom and a file explorer will open. This way, you can navigate to the place you downloaded your .torrent file.

Also, when you download a .torrent file from your browser, Android will detect that Cat Torrent can open this kind of file and will show up a dialog in which you will be able to configure the save path and whether segments should be downloaded in parallel with other segments or sequentially after the current one is over.

Cat Torrent lets you see useful information about your torrents.

Upon starting your download, the app will show in its main interface the list of all of the torrents you’re downloading. This will show essential information, such as download and upload speed, and the progress of your torrent. More detailed data is a click away. Here you will be able to see the files in your torrent, peers, and comments.

You can also check out torrents in different statuses from the side drawer. Hitting the hamburger button at the top left of your screen will open the options to filter your torrents in different categories such as Seeding, Done, Active, and Inactive. I feel like an easier way of filtering your torrents would have been by adding the option to the top bar instead of hiding them under the navigation drawer, but that’s personal preference. It’s easy to navigate the app, nonetheless.

The Android phone I used for testing was midrange at best, and the app did a poor job of adjusting itself to my low screen resolution. Text overlapped in some views, making for a really poor user experience and something that should’ve been tested further. Other than that, the app performed well under different conditions.

Options

There are useful options, but some essential ones are missing.

There’s a decent amount of options available to play with. First and foremost, AMOLED screen users will be happy to know that the app not only supports changing the theme to Dark but also to full-on Black color. This should help in keeping those pixels turned off and conserve battery. Another useful option is the “WiFi only mode,” and I welcome the fact that it is turned on by default. This prevents your data from being slaughtered by the constant upload and download of files.

Other settings that users might appreciate are the default downloading location, download files only when charging, and download/upload speed limits. I’ve seen other torrent clients offering the option of moving torrents when finished (so you can save them to your internal storage and then move them to the SD), maximum permitted downloads/uploads, limits (or shutdown) on torrents after a certain battery percentage has been reached, and scheduled start and shutdown times, but, unfortunately, Cat Torrent still doesn’t have that many options available.

Conclusion

Cat Torrent is a fairly new torrent client in the Android ecosystem, but it’s a really solid one, nevertheless. The main functionality of the app is flawless, the interface adheres well to Material Design, and the options it has work just as advertised. However, some more established clients have a wide range of options (which is actually understandable, since they had a head start). Also, some UI flaws make it look unpolished and more like a beta instead of a real app. On the bright side, with some updates to add some useful options, Cat Torrent can easily become a strong contender in the torrent client segment so it’s worth keeping an eye on for future development.

Download Cat Torrent from the Google Play Store.

808 Hex Light: Portable light-show on your hand (review)

The 808 Hex Light Bluetooth speaker is equipped with all the right tools to ensure that you are the life of the party. The combination of six color light modes and an EQ bass booster bring all the elements of a rave-like atmosphere in a compact package.

Build

• Price: $79.99
• Size: 3.55″ wide x 6.3″ tall x 3.55″ deep
• Weight: 1 pound
• Color: Black

The speaker is a conical shape design that starts off narrow at the top and gets wider towards the bottom. The foundation is made of metal that has a hexagonal grill. The top of the speaker is where all of the controls lie. There are buttons to increase and decrease volume, the power button, change light modes, hands-free calling, and the EQ bass booster. Pairing the speaker requires long-pressing the power button.

Sound

The compact speaker packs a pretty mean punch in the volume department. It can get pretty loud before the sound starts to distort. When the volume gets too high, the music starts to sound crackly.

The Hex Light speaker has an EQ mode, which is basically a bass booster. The combination of the EQ mode and the bass radiator provides a significant boost in the bass, while dialing back the mid-range. I could physically feel the table vibrating when the EQ mode was on. This is a good option for those that like bass-heavy genres, such as hip-hop. I personally felt that the bass slightly overpowered the vocals in certain songs and turned the EQ mode off. I noticed that navigating to new songs will chop off the first couple seconds of the song.

Lights

The highlight of this speaker is definitely the lights. The color options include everything in the rainbow spectrum. There are six light modes: Solid, Pulse, Breathe, Chase, Chill and Rave. My favorite option was Breathe and Rave.

The Breathe option slowly lights up in rotating colors, while the Rave option lights up to the beat of the song. You can also turn this option off if the lights start to get annoying.

Usage

I found myself using this a lot around the house. This speaker claims to have an eight hour battery life.  I only used it for 4-5 hours before I put in back on the charger. I personally do not like to let my electronics die. I used it at around 60-70% max volume with the light mode turned on. The battery life may decrease if used at a higher volume. However, the speaker will probably not be used at such high volumes anyways due to the distortion of sound. It was the perfect device to listen to music while playing Settlers of Catan. Pairing the speaker to my phone was relatively pain-free. However, the speaker makes a somewhat obnoxious sound when it is turned on and off.

There is a hands-free calling option on the speaker which allows you to take calls. I called my friend using this feature and he said he could hear me clearly without any distortion. It is a convenient feature that doesn’t force you to disconnect.

I really liked the sturdiness of the speaker. The main frame is made of metal with a unique hexagonal grill.

I feel comfortable taking this outside and not worrying about it breaking if it does fall on the ground. The speaker is not waterproof, so use it next to a pool with caution.

Summary

The Hex Light Bluetooth Speaker offers a bass-focused music experience. The single-driver packs a pretty mean punch in the volume department. At $79.99 on Amazon with free shipping, this speaker is a bit pricey compared to the other options available at 808 Audio. However, it offers a unique light-show experience that kids will love. If you are a hardcore music lover this is probably not the speaker for you. This speaker is designed for the younger age group that focuses more on entertainment rather than sound quality.

Jaybird X3 Wireless Sport Headphones: Improved sound, comfort and price make the X3s a winner

Jaybird has been a pioneer in wireless audio for almost a decade, and in a field that seems crowded and stagnant, it continues to push the limits. Almost a year after Jaybird announced the next iteration the ultra popular X2 wireless sport headphones, it has finally released the X3 Wireless Sport Headphones.

Arguably wireless headphones are more important now than ever with Apple doing away with the 3.5 audio jack. Yet Jaybird saw the need for wireless headphones way before Apple ever dreamt of killing off the audio jack, and is now several generations into its products.

Unlike other manufacturers that have vast product lines, Jaybird focuses solely on wireless headphones and the results speak for themselves. The X3 headphones are the latest shining star from Jaybird and are well worth your attention if you love listening to music.

Design

If you know the Jaybird X2 Wireless Sport Headphones, then you’ll be familiar with the X3s. They aren’t true wireless headphones with one wire that connects each earpiece, however there is no cable that connects to your audio device. The X3 headphones are made with metal and ultra durable polymers that are about 40% smaller than their predecessor.

An inline remote house the power button (play/pause, answer/end call), microphone, and +/- buttons for controlling volume and tracks. The inline remote is also where you charge the headphones with the included adapter. The design is very familiar to other wireless headphones, but remember that Jaybird was one of the first to come up with this design.

The wire that connects the two earbuds is worn behind the neck with the remote hanging just below your ear.

What creates the sound are 6mm drivers in each ear piece that are tunable through Jaybird’s iOS and Android MySound app. Almost all other wireless headphones are tuned to suit a large audience, but with the MySound app, you can adjust the sound settings and firmware within the X3 headphones for complete control and customization.

6mm drivers allowed Jaybird to shrink the size of each earbud. Size has been a typical limitation with most users as wireless earbuds are usually large and generally only suitable for men.

Similar to its other headphones, Jaybird designed the X3 headphones to last eight hours on a single charge.

The X3 headphones are also waterproof which is important since they are designed for sport use.

Included in the box are Jaybird’s patented ear fins, comply foam and silicone tips, shirt clip, charging cable, carrying case, cable shorteners, and a carrying case.

Sound and Usage

If you know Jaybird, then you know that it focuses on the entire package. Build, functionality, fit and sound quality are all equally important. It must master each category before it releases a product, and the X3 Sport Wireless Headphones definitely checked each box.

For me, nothing matters more than sound quality. But sound quality won’t really matter if the headphones don’t fit right, and fit won’t matter if the headphones aren’t durable. That’s why Jaybird gives users the ability to customize the sound anyway they want with the MySound app, while offering a plethora of tips and ear fins to get the right fit.

I chose to go ear fin free, and wore my X3s over my ears with cable shorteners to keep the headphones behind my head. This offered the most comfortable fit for me, especially in the gym. I am a gym rat and have been for the past 20 years. I can’t do wireless headphones that rest on my neck. When I am squatting, the bar sits across my traps and neck and can be extremely uncomfortable when a few hundred pounds is pressing a wire into my neck.

While comply memory foam tips are very comfortable and form fitting, I also chose to go with the soft silicone tips since they don’t dampen sound. With a proper fit, the headphones block out almost all of the outside noise and that allows me to truly enjoy my music. I did play with some of the sound presets that Jaybird offers in the app, but was more than satisfied with the balanced sound signature out of the box.

I’ve listened to dozens of different earbuds, wired and wireless, and Jaybird makes the best sounding wireless earbuds you can buy under $200. I’m not sure how the engineers managed to deliver so much sound over Bluetooth and compact 6mm drivers, but they sound detailed, rich and have a large sound stage. Lows are punchy and deep, highs are crisp and clear, and the mids are energetic and balanced that round out the entire sound package. However if you want more bass, less treble, or any combination, you can adjust the firmware settings through the app.

The mid-range sound is probably the most important aspect of sound reproduction. Many sport headphones, and generally many wireless headphones, focus on over emphasizing bass since people love to feel their music. That’s what you get with Beats Audio, but that kind of sound isn’t typically favored by most audiophiles.

Headphones that are too focused on highs can be detailed and analytic, but are tiring to listen to after a short period of time. I can imagine Jaybird sound engineers spending hundreds of hours in a sound lab perfecting the sound signature and they hit a home run with what they produced. If I were one of those engineers, I’d be pretty damn proud of myself for the X3 headphones, because they’re extremely good.

Battery

Jaybird claims eight hours of playback on the X3 headphones, and that amount is on the high end for wireless headphones. I averaged 6-9 hours of playback over two weeks of solid usage. I work out everyday, for a minimum of one hour and went about a week between charges.

Charging the headphones from almost dead to full took less than an hour. Jaybird managed to squeeze the batteries into each earbud while shrinking the size and maintaining the same playback time as its larger predecessor.

Wireless connection and microphone

The Jaybird X3 Sport Wireless Headphones have a newly designed antenna that offers an incredibly strong wireless connection. If you’re using a smartphone, you don’t have to worry about carrying it in front of your face to maintain a strong connection. Or if you’re using a smartwatch that allows music streaming without a smartphone like current Android Wear devices, there will be no signal issues no matter which wrist you wear it on.

I paired my X3 headphones to multiple smartphones, carried them in both pockets, and even left my phone underneath the dumbbell rack while I wandered the gym. I easily walked over 30 feet away and forgot my phone was across the room until the signal cut out  at about 50 feet away. Other than that one signal drop from 50 feet, I never once experienced a connection issue with my Nixon Mission Android Wear, iPhone 7 Plus or Pixel XL.

I took several calls on the X3 headphones while I was on vacation in Maui. With a strong wireless signal, and clear microphone, I never once experienced issues with background noise or poor call quality. Keep in mind, Maui gets rather windy in the afternoons, and I dealt with that and background noise while laying out at the beach.

Many manufacturers make call quality a throw in feature, but Jaybird made sure this was an area that met its high standards.

Overall

Jaybird managed to build a great set of wireless headphones in the X3s. They’re not cheap at $129.99, but considering the quality of the build, sound output, battery life, MySound app, and call quality, it’s one of the better priced headphones when you factor in the entire package.

The Jaybird X3 Sport Wireless Headphones are designed to fit all ears, from small to large and are good enough to use beyond sport activities. If you’ve never used Jaybird headphones, or if you own the X2s, I highly recommend you try out the X3 Sport Wireless Headphones. You will not be disappointed.

Jaybird X3 Wireless Sport Headphones are expected to be available at jaybirdsport.com on Oct. 27, 2016 and in Best Buy stores and bestbuy.com in the U.S. and Canada in November 2016, for a suggested retail price of $129.99. The wireless headphones areavailable in four colors with metal accents: Blackout (Black and Silver), Sparta (White and Gold), Alpha (Military Green and Dark Chrome) and Road Rash (Red and Dark Chrome).