BLUETTI AC70.

Christmas is often a time when we like to think about getting gifts that will make friends and loved ones smile. While fun gifts are always a hit, sometimes a gift that’s more practical can be the biggest hit of all. If there’s someone on your list who loves the outdoors and can be found camping, hiking, RVing or just puttering around the backyard or garden, a potentially fabulous gift idea might be reliable portable power. BLUETTI, the go-to brand for portable power solutions, is giving you one final shot to snag a power station at an amazing discount—up to 30% off until December 25th.

Check Out BLUETTI’s Christmas Collection

BLUETTI’s power stations aren’t just handy—they’re the perfect practical gift for yourself, family, and friends. Keep those Christmas lights shining, whether you’re at home or out exploring the great outdoors. We’d like to say thank you to BLUETTI for sponsoring this post. They have been a fantastic sponsor of the blog this year which helps us keep the lights on and kibble in the old dog dishes, and we thank them for their support.

Portable Power on the Go: Meet the BLUETTI AC70
Starting at C$679 (previously C$799), that’s C$120 in savings!

The AC70 is the upgrade of the crowd-favorite EB70S. It’s your go-to power source for holiday camping or as a backup during emergencies. It’s portable yet sturdy, weighing only 10.2kg(22.5lbs), and delivers a solid 1,000W power for your gadgets. And guess what? You can control it remotely through the BLUETTI app, even while you’re snug in your sleeping bag on a camping trip.

Ready for the Outdoors: BLUETTI AC180 + PV350 Solar Generator Kit
Starting at C$1898 (previously C$2598), saving you a whopping C$700!

Looking for serious power for your adventures? The AC180 is your answer! This 16kg(36.1lbs) powerhouse can handle electric grills, coffee makers, and even some 2,000W loads in Power Lifting mode. Plus, it charges up lightning fast—reaching 80% in just 45 minutes via mains and hitting a full charge in 2 hours with 500W solar charging.

BLUETTI AC200MAX.

Expandable Power: BLUETTI AC200MAX + PV350
Starting at C$2698 (previously C$3798), saving a massive C$1100!

BLUETTI’s flagship model, the AC200MAX, is the ultimate power solution for road trips and emergencies. It charges everything from your fridge to your iPhones all at once. You can even expand its capacity with extra batteries and power up your entire motor home with folding solar panels like the BLUETTI PV350.

Versatile Home Backup: BLUETTI AC300 + B300
Starting at C$3299 (previously C$4399), saving you C$1100!

Need a reliable home backup? The AC300’s got you covered. It’ll keep your essentials—lights, fridge, heating system—running within 20ms of a power outage. It’s a modular system too, so you can customize it based on your needs and budget. Add up to 4 B300 batteries to scale up to a massive 12,288Wh of power!

Don’t Forget the Portable Solar Panel: BLUETTI PV350
Starting at C$899 (previously C$1199), saving you C$300!

When you’re off the grid, the BLUETTI PV350 foldable solar panels are a game-changer. Pop them in your car trunk or camper van and let the sun do its work. With an impressive 23.4% conversion rate, these panels produce 350 watts of electricity, rain or shine!

And there’s more to BLUETTI than just products. It’s about peace of mind and inspiring stories, like Tom Phease, who at 75, transformed his off-grid farming life with BLUETTI’s AC300 and AC500 systems. And then there’s rugby league star Latrell Mitchell, finding solace at Winmarra Farm, powered by BLUETTI generators during recovery.

Perfect Christmas gifts from BLUETTI

This Christmas, BLUETTI has special rewards for you! Get triple BLUETTI BUCKs on your order and a 5% discount for friend referrals. Make BLUETTI the special gift that unlocks endless possibilities for yourself and your loved ones.

The post The most powerful gift: BLUETTI’s Portable Power Stations appeared first on TechGadgetsCanada.com.

If you never heard of Joby before, you probably aren’t an avid photographer of content creator. But surprisingly, the company made tripods and other camera gear many years before social media popularized the term “selfie.” Joby is most famous for their GorillaPod flexible tripod products and with more folks gravitating towards streaming and vlogging, Joby has every incentive to leverage their popular designs and make some more dedicated vlogging gear. The 17-year-old company did just that by announcing the Joby Spin and Joby Swing products as well as a GorillaPod Mobile Vlogging Kit for budding streamers.

Recently Joby sent me a few of their newer vlogging gadgets to test out and review during my contact creation process. I’ll try each one of them out and let you know what I think. Let’s get things started with one of the basic items; the Joby GorillaPod Mobile Vlogging Kit.

Joby GorillaPod Mobile Vlogging Kit

If you only have a smartphone and you want to take that first step into serious vlogging, the Joby GorillaPod Mobile Vlogging Kit serves as a simple and quick way to uplift your video production values in various aspects.

Kits vs. Buying Separately

Before getting into the Joby’s vlogging kit review, you should know what to expect from kits in general. Generally, kits are the newbie-friendly approach for a blanket upgrade while buying accessories separately allows you to better focus on the features you want or the components you know you’ll need, ensuring every dollar goes to something you’ll use.

This means with some research, you may find yourself spending far less than say the Joby GorillaPod Mobile Vlogging Kit’s $220 USD asking price while ticking all the boxes of your required feature wish list. However, the challenging part of researching involves figuring out if your chosen set of accessories actually work well together.

A major benefit, then of the GorillaPod Mobile Vlogging Kit means some assurance of good integration as Joby developed every single product, and what remains is whether or not this kit is good value.

What You Get

This Joby vlogging kit bundles the Joby GorillaPod Mobile tripod with an adjustable smartphone mount, the Joby Beamo Mini LED light and the Joby Wavo Mobile on-camera microphone. There’s also a handful of accessories and components including additional arms to hold more gear, microphone connectors, a diffuser for the light and a windsock for the mic.

The GorillaPod Mobile Vlogging Kit is a kit geared towards classic iPhone owners as it includes a certified 3.5mm to Lightning cable allowing you to connect the included microphone to an iPhone. That adapter costs around $10 to $13 on its own and you won’t need it if you have an older iPhone model that came bundled with it. But if you are penny-pinching and have an Android phone or any of the new iPhone 15 models you might want to consider another kit or buying separately.

GorillaPod Mobile Rig

Let’s get a closer look at Joby’s popular GorillaPod 1K tripod stand which has flexible legs to customize how you can use it and what you can attach it to. It uses a combination of ABS plastic and stainless steel so it can handle cameras weighing 1 kg or less. The tripod itself is lightweight too at 0.145 kg and you can compress the legs and hold it like a monopod for vlogging, or even wrap the legs around almost anything to get your shot just where you want it.

Also bundled with the rig is the Joby GripTight PRO 2 mount which isn’t Joby’s latest model, but the phone clamp mount feels durable and can rotate 90-degrees to allow both portrait and landscape orientations. You can screw in a cold shoe mount on top in case you wish to add the bundled microphone and it has a dedicated socket on each side for adding the included GorillaPod arms.
The GorillaPod arms have the same flexibility as the tripod’s legs. With the included GoPro mount and cold shoe adapters, you can securely attach lightweight accessories to an arm such as the included Joby Beamo Mini or even GoPro’s latest HERO 12.

My experience with GorillaPod & Mount

I’ve owned one of Joby’s GorillaPod devices for almost a decade; my original smaller format GorillaPod finally gave up the ghost a few years ago and I upgraded to a more heavy-duty version. I’m a huge fan of these GorillaPod tripods as they give you a stable surface plus a ton of flexibility for shooting anywhere. The flexible legs can wrap around, hook onto or brace against almost anything so it’s a very versatile little tripod for solo vlogging, b-roll, and more.

While this particular GorillaPod is too lightweight for my preferences, it’s just fine for a beginner. The smartphone mount is OK. It gives you decent options for range of motion, but the flat panel mount with screw can be a little fiddly. I also find the way the mount is connected to the tripod doesn’t give you as much range of motion as something with a ball head does, by comparison. A game. This tripod will be just fine for beginners, but pros may wish for a little more fine-tuning. Where this mount does excel is with the small threaded holes where you can clip in the added arms, since these will allow you to toss any additional accessories onto your rig easily.

Shop the GorillaPod Mobile Rig on Amazon and Best Buy

Beamo Mini LED light

The Joby Beamo Mini LED is a nice companion to the GorillaPod Mobile Rig setup because it weighs roughly a hundred grams. It has a small built-in rechargable battery protected by a rugged waterproof housing and a covered USB-C port for recharging.

The back of the light is magnetic and you can add small accessories to it as well with the double cold shoe mounts.
If you aren’t comfortable in fiddling with the pair of small control buttons on the top, you can connect your phone to the light via Bluetooth and change the brightness settings and modes through the myJOBY app. You can pick from five brightness options with the brightest setting showing off the light’s full 1,000-lumen strength. The diffuser can be clipped on to avoid any harsh light.

My experience with Beamo

The Beamo late is an imperfect solution. It has a very narrow diameter of light which can make the subject look a bit like deer in the headlights. It also doesn’t really get bright enough to compete with a lot of other light sources. While this light will be handy in a pinch or four shoots on the go, it’s absolutely not a substitute for proper (three-point) lighting. I found myself using this light more to fill in dark spots when I was getting B-roll shots, and less as a sungun or primary subject light.

Shop the Beamo Mini LED on Amazon and Best Buy

Wavo Mobile Mic

Generally speaking, any external microphone should be an upgrade over your mobile device’s built-in one. The Wavo Mobile has a cardioid directional pattern so when properly attached to your vlogging kit, it should only capture sounds coming from the direction it is facing.

This shotgun microphone also comes with accessories including a windscreen and a shock mount to keep vibrations or knocking sounds from bleeding in. Weighing just 70 grams, the Joby Wavo Mobile is a lightweight addition to the kit.

My Experience with Joby Wavo Mic

I fiddled around with this microphone a head of an important video shoot. I connected the Apple connecter and tested it out and it seemed like it was working well. Unfortunately, I did opt to use it as my primary microphone and when I got back and listened to the footage, it was far too poor quality to actually use in my finished video. The primary subject voice level was extremely low, and I was picking up all kinds of other audio too, and in the large space echos muddied the sound too.

When I got home I tried a few more tests using the microphone with my iPhone and didn’t find the audio quality improved at all. The mic just doesn’t pick up audio at a good enough volume to make it usable in videos. Since there are no game buttons and no way to adjust any of the audio, I can’t recommend this as a solid or reliable sound solution.

Shop the Wavo Mobile Mic on Amazon and Best Buy

Overall review

Overall, this kit gives you a lot, but is not my favourite way to get access to Joby’s best gear. No knock on what’s here, I might have just outgrown it…

Bottom line here is if you are an absolute newbie and just looking to get your hands on some basic gear to get you started, Joby GorillaPod Mobile Vlogging Kit is a decent bundle for beginners until you figure out your preferences. The overall setup might look silly as the flexible arms and legs look like you are carrying some fancy doll, but all the components feel lightweight and get the streaming job done.

I would actually recommend you build your own kit, and opt for a few other options that I have found far more useful and infinitely more valuable.

I love the GorillaPod 3K tripod Pro with its metal ball head over the 1K tripod. It’s just more durable, and the additional weight gives it better stability.

I also prefer Joby’s GripTight Mount for MagSafe, which has a really cool magnetic attachment for an iPhone or you can swivel the clips around to cinch your phone in more securely. It’s also got threads so you can attach the arms if you want to add extra gear.

I also prefer the Joby Wavo Air wireless Mic kit, which I use with a DSLR camera.

Joby GorillaPod Mobile Vlogging Kit retails for about $220USD/$329CAD on Amazon and Best Buy. and Walmart

**A note about Affiliate Links: TechGadgetsCanada & TechGadgetsInternational is supported by our readers. Occasionally I will include affiliate links in my reviews. I do this partly for convenience of the reader (since I’ll almost always include a link to the company website or similar anyway) in case you want to read more or purchase, but I also may get a small commission from the click, which helps me keep the blog running. If you choose to use this link I thank you greatly for supporting the blog. There’s no obligation or cost to you for using these links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

The post Review: Joby vlogging gear – Swing, Spin, Mobile Vlogging Kit appeared first on TechGadgetsCanada.com.

Nine years ago, Apple made the big announcement to acquire Beats Electronics and Beats Music. Fast forward to 2023 and we still have Beats products on the market which is maybe surprising since Apple has their own lineup of headphones and speakers. Perhaps Apple wanted to keep their premium products with the usual Apple fit and finish and high price tag while Beats maintains its original hipster-rapper image. That subtle distinction may be step one in helping you decide if Beats headphones are for you, but there’s more to it than that. With its $349 USD ($439 CAD) price these are expensive, yes, and will fall into the premium headphone niche (but they’re still not as eye-watering as AirPods Max, or even Beats’ newer Studio Pro). Let’s see how this pair of headphones fares in a pretty crowded market.

What’s in the Box?

The Beats Studio 3 wireless headphones comes with a carrying case and a 3.5mm RemoteTalk cable. The included micro-USB charging cable is just a little reminder as to how long the Beats Studio 3 has been around, and it’s definitely giving me retro flashbacks—and not in the good way. You also get a quick start guide and a warranty card.

The power button on the headphones is small and incredibly hard to find with your fingers, which wouldn’t be a problem except it’s also used for engaging the noise cancellation.

On the left earcup you get a mercifully larger multi-function button which will answer calls, play-pause, and adjust volume.

Watch my video review of Beats Studio 3 headphones

Features

Apple released the original Beats Studio back in 2008 and Beats Studio 3 way back in 2017 and while headphones can grow into being timeless pieces if they have impressive audio quality, it’s still important to know what features you’ll be getting to see if you can squeeze out every ounce of performance per dollar.

Fit & comfort

The beats studio 3 headphones feel fairly sturdy and fold down to a smaller profile for travel. The hinges seem crisp but easy to maneuver, and not like they’re going to snap a day or two after the warranty expires.

The earcups feel a little on the small side, and though my ears are normally sized, the cups encircle them right to the edges, which for me became a bit constricting and uncomfortable. Ditto the tight headband: Beats have a strong ability to clamp around the head and while it makes them more securre, I felt the pressure in my jaw and found I was often nudging the Beast Studio 3 around my head for relief and a less constricting fit.

The ear cups have a visible seam and the faux-leather wrap on them feels quite dated when compared to newer over-ears I’ve worn.

In short, I personally am not a huge fan of the fit of these.

Apple W1 Chip

Having built-in Bluetooth, the Beats Studio 3 wireless headphones is a pair of headphones you can pair up with iOS, Android, and Windows devices. However, you won’t be getting your best bang for the buck unless you have an iOS device.

Borrowing from Apple’s older AirPods products, the Beats Studio 3 has a built-in Apple W1 chip. This proprietary chip improves power efficiency, Bluetooth stability and eliminates the occasional stutters you’d normally get from Bluetooth pairing as long as you pair it with a supported Apple device (running iOS 10 or later).

While the W1 chip is certainly better than nothing, the chip is a bit dated once you compare it with the H1 chip found in the AirPods Max or the H2 chip present in the AirPods Pro 2. I wouldn’t call the W1 chip a dealbreaker (and if I’m being honest, only about 2% of shoppers probably even understand what the chip does or why it might matter anyway) but if you can’t find the Beats Studio 3 on sale, you’ll essentially be paying a big price for something that lacks cutting-edge technologies like spatial audio and other audio improvements.

Active Noise Cancelling

Active Noise Cancelling or ANC of beats headphone studio 3 is the key reason why this is priced the way it is, so make sure you really need this feature. ANC uses digital signals to detect and cancel out ambient noise (while you also get passive noise isolation from the padded over-ear cups)

I’m glad to say the noise cancelling is okay for this vintage, and even if you are trading away some battery life. You can turn it on by double-clicking the power button, which is all but impossible to feel and I often had to take the headphones off to locate it.

I test ANC out in two ways; I engage it and use it with no music or audio playing so I can hear how well it’s working without competing audio. Then I try it with sound playing.

With audio off and ANC engaged I got an okay amount of noise blocking, but it’s actually not the greatest, mainly because ANC technology has come a long way since 2017. On its own merits I’d give the ANC a 7/10, but compared to newer gadgets like AirPods Max and others from Jabra, they’re lacklustre at best.

Sound quality

Let’s get to the key feature of beats headphone studio 3 you care about; the sound. Fortunately Beats Studio 3 sound great, which probably explains the long lifespan of these headphones. The musical minds behind the Beats brand created them to match tech used in the recording industry, and you can tell.

With an outstandingly balanced and finely-tuned sound, they sound exceptional.  The bass is both full and snappy on tracks like Beyonce’s Crazy in Love, and vocals simmer cleanly along the top.

Switching to Mariah Carey and Snoop’s Say Somethin it was easy to hear lots of the subtleties in the music, like the tight and raspy snare, or deep breaths.

Keeping up the old school tracks to match the vintage of the Studio 3’s, I rounded out my old school vibe listening test with St Germain’s So Flute, and caught all the buzzy, breathy peeps in detailed glory.

Coles Notes: Beats Studio 3’s have aged like fine wine in the sound quality department.

RemoteTalk Cable

The old school throwbacks continue: Beats Studio 3 headphone comes with a 3.5mm cable which might be a little useless considering most modern devices don’t even have a headphone jack. But if you are still rocking an older iPhone or iPad, you can take advantage of the added controls found on this cable. The RemoteTalk cable features dedicated volume buttons as well as a multipurpose center button for answering or declining calls. Holding that center button can bring up Siri too. But again, for most of us buying this product today, it will probably stay wrapped up in the box.

Battery Life

Although the microUSB port might put some potential buyers off, the Beats Studio 3 at least boasts decent battery life. With the ANC feature turned off, Apple claims you can get close to 40 hours. Using ANC cuts the battery life in half which is a significant cut but still a decent amount of juice, even for commuters or long haul travellers. Possibly a moot point since a short 10-minute charge can add 3 extra hours of non-ANC playback.

Overall Thoughts: Beats Studio 3

The real selling point of the Beats Studio 3 wireless headphone in 2023 is the retro-fresh design and kaleidoscope color options. Newer and similarly priced noise-cancelling headphones from the competition will outperform the Beats Studio 3 in the ANC department but if pure sound is all that matters to you, these are still a solid choice for current-day listening. Keep in mind they will also likely become even more obsolete with the expected launch of a Studio 4 at some point, but then you’re bound to see the remaining Studio 3 stock offered at fire sale prices, so I’m willing to bet this review will still be handy.

So on the pro side of beats studio 3 headphone; we’ve got great sound, fun colour options and included ANC. When it comes to the Cons, the fit isn’t the most comfortable, and the materials feel quite dated. Plus the ANC is no longer top of game.

My assessment is if you’re a Dr Dre fan and these are a must-have brand for you, then snatch them up, because they sound great. If you’re looking for the full package and modern technology with high end features that make you forget the high price, you’ll want to wait for the Studio 4.

Imagine a Beats Studio 4 with USB-C, the H2 chip, and other Apple-esque sprinkles thrown in. That could very well be something worth paying top dollar for, especially if you find the AirPods Max too costly to stomach. If you want a piece of history, the Beats Studio 3 is a decent buy if you have an iPhone or iPad and can find the headphones at half price.

Beats Studio 3 is available from Amazon.

The post Beats Studio 3 headphones review appeared first on TechGadgetsCanada.com.

Back to school signals a lot of things; for many of us it feels like the start of a whole new year. For others, it’s the first harbinger of winter. For me, I always like to use it as a time to reassess my tools to see what’s working for me, and what needs an upgrade; just like when I used to find reasons to get a new Trapper Keeper binder and a slate of sharp new pencil crayons.

Back to school these days means fewer pens and looseleaf sheets, and more tablets, laptops and accessories.

While a great laptop is a must for most students these days, there are some other strong picks you’ll want to click ‘Add to cart’ on too.

It’s that wonderful (albeit a little stressful) time of the year again – back to school! Before you start groaning, remember that a new school year isn’t just about pop quizzes or Monday morning alarms; it also means a golden chance to revamp your tech arsenal. So, let’s get real geeky and check out some top-notch gadgets that’ll switch your study game way up.

See Better, Learn Better with a 4K Monitor

ViewSonic 4K monitor.

Students and laptops have always been a perfect match, but when you’re trying to get some serious work done, a laptop screen just isn’t enough. That’s why a monitor might be the best dorm room investment you’ll make all year.

viewsonic 4kMonitors 32 inch expand your visual workspace. You can spread out your tabs, view multiple applications all at once, and bid farewell to the constant clicking and tab-switching.

Ever heard of “tech neck”? It’s that annoying stiffness you get from bowing down to your laptop screen for extended periods. A monitor lets you elevate your screen to eye level, promoting better posture.

Having a monitor at the ready also allows you to use your laptop screen as a secondary display. You can type on one screen while reading references on another.

Best 4K Gaming Monitors

For example, this ViewSonic 32-inch 4K monitor has made writing easier with its high-resolution screen. Video editing has been a breeze, too, as the horizontal space makes scrubbing much easier.

But if you’re the type to hoard homework, then you might need a more specialized monitor. LG has just the solution with its Ultrawide monitor. It isn’t your run-of-the-mill monitor; it’s a behemoth with a 21:9 aspect ratio packed in a 34-inch screen, just enough room to run a space mission on or read three documents simultaneously.

Shop ViewSonic or LG Ultrawide monitors on Amazon

Never Buy Another Notebook Again

Kobo Elipsa 2E.

Are you tired of having to buy new notebooks every year? Then you should look into digital notebooks.

Best Digital Notebooks

Kindle Scribe and Kobo Elipsa are the two main players in this segment, and they use the same digital E-ink technology in marking up textbooks and making notes with a stylus. But it’s important to remember that these devices are meant primarily for reading, so don’t expect to get the same sensation as writing on paper.

Speaking of writing on paper, check out Rocketbook notebook. It’s technically a digital notebook in the same category as Kindle Scribe and Kobo Elise. However, it’s a whole different story than its competitors. It uses reusable paper instead of a screen that you can digitize using a mobile app. What’s truly amazing about the Rocketbook is that once you’re done with your notes, you can wipe the page with rocketbook pens with the included microfiber cloth and immediately reuse it.

Shop Kindle Scribe, Kobo Elipsa, and Rocketbook on Amazon

Why Tablets are the Ultimate All-in-One Device

If you don’t need a keyboard but still want a slightly bigger screen to read and watch lectures on, then a tablet is your best bet.

Tablets are lightweight and compact, making them a practical choice for younger students or those constantly on the move. Despite their size, they offer substantial storage capability and computing power comparable to laptops – perfect for managing large quantities of digital learning materials.

Tablets are also quite versatile. You can use it as a media player, a note-taking device, a portable gaming console, or even a video conferencing device. If you have room in the budget for just one device for all your school needs, a tablet can fit the bill.

Samsung Tab S9

Best Tablets

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 is noteworthy for students and media enthusiasts. Filled to the brim with features, it sports superior performance with the new Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset, adeptly handling anything from online classes to gaming sessions.

Perhaps one of its most alluring features is the vibrant 11″ AMOLED display that brings colors to life, making it perfect for presentations, movie marathons, and e-book sessions.

It also boasts a commendable battery life, a water-resistant design, and an improved S-Pen stylus for a decent writing or drawing experience.

iPad Mini & iPad Pro

Of course, you can also go with an iPad and its many different versions if you’re locked into the Apple ecosystem. I really love my Apple Macbook Pro, but sometimes you just need a smaller device, particularly when walking, commuting or using transit. I love my Apple iPad Pro (and the Apple iPad Mini, reviewed here) because I can get almost all the functionality of my Macbook, without the bulk and weight. Plus, I use it for things like reading magazines on the plane or train, writing articles in a coffee shop, and of course watching videos on Apple TV and Crave.

For students, it’s perfect for writing term papers and essays using Pages, or doing online research. Plus for those in the artsy pursuits, you can add the Apple Pencil for drawing, sketching and other creative uses.

Shop Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 on Amazon

Shop Apple Macbook Pro, iPad Pro, iPad Mini, or Apple Pencil on Amazon

Steer Clear from Carpal Tunnel with a Better Mouse

For such a small and inexpensive upgrade, you wouldn’t think that an ergonomic mouse can greatly impact your overall comfort. After all, it’s only a mouse. But an ergonomic mouse is designed to fit your hand better and reduce the strain on your wrist. It’ll also give you more control over the cursor while reducing hand fatigue over time.

Best vertical mouse

A vertical mouse, such as the Kensington Vertical Mouse, is considered more ergonomic than a horizontal one mainly because it promotes a more natural hand position, reducing muscle strain and preventing various wrist and forearm issues. While using a vertical mouse, the forearm is in an anatomical rest position, requiring less muscle use.

This “handshake” position allows you to control the mouse with your forearm, minimizing wrist movement, which can benefit those suffering from wrist strain and carpal tunnel syndrome.

Shop Kensington Vertical Mouse on Amazon

Put the World on Mute with ANC Headphones

Studying in a noisy space? Headphones can help keep distractions at bay and make homework time significantly more fun.

Best headphones for Back to School

The Sennheiser Momentum 4 is one of the best headphones on the market, and there are plenty of reasons why. For starters, they boast a jaw-dropping 60-hour battery life that outlasts your longest study sessions or even a week’s worth of classes.

You also don’t have to deal with annoying background noises, courtesy of their Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) feature. And, if you need to stay alert to your surroundings, the Transparency Mode is also quite useful.

Their sound quality is a real game-changer; it brings lectures, audiobooks, and your favorite study tunes to life in full vibrant audio detail.

If you want a less bulky option, you can choose to go with earbuds. Apple’s bestselling Airpods Pro should do the trick as it also has noise-canceling tech, perfect for long study sessions. The Airpods Pro are also compact and lightweight, which makes them a great option for those who are always on the go. You can also check out Beats by Dre Solo3 wireless, reviewed here
since they can let you focus on reading or study, by playing background sound like white noise, soothing ambient-genre study music, or just by letting them listen to their phones without bothering YOU.

Shop Sennheiser Momentum 4 headphones on Amazon 

Shop AirPods Pro on Amazon

Shop Beats by Dre Solo3 Wireless headphones on Amazon

Power Banks that Keep You Going

Between classes, after-school activities, and study sessions, your gadgets can quickly be sucked dry of battery power. Enter the humble power bank: a real lifesaver.

Best portable power

You can choose between a portable power bank from Anker or Belkin or a high-capacity battery station from Bluetti. The AC60 is a particularly recommendable option that is compact, lightweight and has endless applications.

It can support everything from small appliances to your essential electronic devices. In addition to standard AC plugs, devices can also be plugged in via USB-C ports, USB-A ports, or even DC car outlet connections.

It even features a 15W wireless charging pad. The power stations themselves boast simple recharging solutions with dual-purpose DC/solar inputs along with an AC input that connects directly to a wall outlet.

So, whether you’re on the field for a research paper or just need to get your laptop going again, you’ll have the power you need with the Bluetti AC60.

Shop portable power banks from Anker or Belkin  on Amazon

Shop Bluetti battery power station on Amazon

Never Lose Your Valuables Again with Trackers

Ever scrambled to locate misplaced keys or dreaded losing that trusty backpack in a sea of identical bags? It’s a common problem, especially in a crowded campus.

This is where trackers can swoop right in to save the day. Trackers are more than just fancy tech gadgets – they’re a bona fide lifesaver for students juggling numerous responsibilities.

With a tracker, locating your must-have essentials becomes smooth sailing. They’re not just for the small stuff, either. Got some pricy gear like laptops or a shiny new tablet? Secure them with a tracker, and breathe easy, knowing your ownership is protected from theft or unfortunate losses.

Using a tracker is a piece of cake! They’re user-friendly, integrate with your favorite software platforms, and are geared towards making life simpler when it decides to turn sideways.

Recommendations:

The two best trackers in the business are Apple’s AirTag and Tile. The AirTag is undoubtedly the best because it uses proprietary technology that uses iPhone signals to locate the device.

Tile comes in at a close second best because it uses GPS and Bluetooth, which can sometimes be unreliable. You can also keep tabs on that frequently misplaced stuff with a Tile Tracker.

These Bluetooth trackers can be attached to almost anything, and they come in different shapes and thicknesses. Slip it into a book, wallet, or loop it onto the neck of a water bottle, or put it in the pocket of a bag or backpack. When it goes missing, use the Tile app to find it, and it will make a loud beeping sound so you can hunt it down.

You need juice! Get a Wireless Belkin charging pad

Keeping all our devices charged up is key. Many devices now are compatible with wireless or Qi charging, like the Belkin Qi Charging pad. It’s so easy to just lay your phone or headphones or other Qi devices on the pad and let them charge while they’re still visible and within reach. No wires to fuss with. I keep a couple of these around the house so everyone can get charged up wherever they are. Also great for the office.

Charging/Battery Case for your smartphone

I use my phone for so much; it’s a calculator, a notebook, a library and my social portal, so no wonder my battery dies. To keep your phone going longer, a charging battery case is a great idea.

The Apple Smart Battery Case is compatible with Qi-certified chargers. You can charge your iPhone and battery case simultaneously for increased talk time of up to 33 hours, Internet use of up to 21 hours, and even longer audio and video playback. With the Smart Battery Case on, the intelligent battery status is displayed on the iPhone Lock screen and in Notification Centre, so you know exactly how much charge you have left.

Protect & identify: AirPods cases by Felony Case & Laut

Cases offer protection too and we all need that. If you got your kids some headphones, you can get them a case or wrap that can keep them scratch free, or protect them from small drops. Bonus, these cases from Laut also let you tell whose is whose in the house. A time saver in the mornings! Felony Case is another brand we love here on the blog. With bold colour cases for phones or AirPods, Felony Case is always on trend.

Get a comfortable and good looking, well-organized backpack

If you’re carrying all your tech, you need a carry-all that’s comfortable, functional, and organized.

Targus’ Mobile ViP backpack is a minimalist and chic backpack that has plenty of space for your stuff. A SafePort Sling inside a section of the pack keeps your laptop (up to 15.6″) from hitting the floor even if you set the bag down hard. The pack also has an airport-approved checkpoint-friendly design which allows you to open the bag flat for a clear X-ray scan. In many U.S. airports this means you can leave the laptop in the bag, which is safer and more secure.

The Mobile ViP backpack also has plenty of pockets and roomy compartments for your phone, headphones, tablet and more with smooth easy-grasp zippers to store all your stuff while keeping it organized. A trolley strap lets you loop the bag easily over your suitcase handle for the ultimate in portability; that means quick getaways off the train or plane and no fumbling with your
The backpack you need for work – Targus accessories

**A note about Affiliate Links: TechGadgetsCanada & TechGadgetsInternational is supported by our readers. Occasionally I will include affiliate links in my reviews. I do this partly for convenience of the reader (since I’ll almost always include a link to the company website or similar anyway) in case you want to read more or purchase, but I also may get a small commission from the click, which helps me keep the blog running. If you choose to use this link I thank you greatly for supporting the blog. There’s no obligation or cost to you for using these links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

The post Back to school tech & gadget picks for 2023 appeared first on TechGadgetsCanada.com.

In fact, you don’t even need an Amazon account at all because you can find all of these discounted BLUETTI products at BLUETTI’s official website as well from July 1^st to July 20th!  BLUETTI offers a wide range of different products for outdoor use as well as for battery backup purposes. Here are some of the notable BLUETTI products getting the discount treatment. We’d like to say thank you to BLUETTI for being a sponsor of the blog. Their support helps us keep publishing great content and important deals, so we’re grateful for the company’s support.

The Versatile Pick: BLUETTI AC200P (CAD $1,599 $2,299 / 30% savings)

With a 2,000Wh LiFePO4 battery and weighing slightly more than 60 pounds, the AC200P offers the perfect balance between reliable off-grid power and portability. Load it up to the back of your car, van, or RV and take it to any campsite you wish without worrying about not having enough juice. The 2,000W AC output (4,800W surge) means that your car fridge, electric grill, coffee maker, and various other RV appliances should work nicely with the BLUETTI AC200P.

Your journey with the BLUETTI AC200P doesn’t end either when the generator runs out of battery because you may conveniently charge it with your car or with an optional 700W solar panel as a zero-emissions approach. At home, you can even use the AC plug to charge in conjunction with a solar panel to fully power the battery even faster!

The Hot-Selling Combo: BLUETTI AC300 + B300 Home Battery Backup (CAD $3,799 $4,598 / CAD $799 savings)

If you are looking for a solution that is better equipped for emergencies, meet the BLUETTI AC300 + B300 Home Battery Backup combo. The AC300 unit itself is a 3,000W (6,000W surge) Inverter Module Generator with 16 different power outlets and a pure sine wave UPS function.

The included B300 battery gives the generator a 3,072Wh capacity and a 2,400W solar input. Because you may add up to three additional B300 batteries to the AC300, you can have up to 12,288Wh worth of power storage to play with whenever your house experiences a multi-day blackout! Like other BLUETTI battery products, every B300 expansion battery uses LiFePO4 cells giving the battery a huge lifespan of 3,500+ cycles translating to at least 10 years of use at a single discharge per day.

The Powerhouse Duo: BLUETTI AC500 & B300S + Free Folding Trolley (CAD $5,798 $6,148 / CAD $350 savings)

One of the best long-term investments you can make for your home is a home backup power station that can energize virtually anything in your house. The AC500 & B300S system can serve as your starting point, providing a staggering 5,000W (10,000W surge) worth of continuous power and a larger solar charging capacity of 3,000W.

Then when you are ready to prepare for lengthier blackout periods, you can utilize the AC500’s modular nature and add five more B300S batteries to expand the generator’s total capacity to a whopping 18,432Wh! Remember, the generator stays separate to the individual batteries making them easy to move around and perfect for cabins and rural areas.

The Camping Trio: EB3A, EB55, and EB70S (starting at CAD $279 / 30% savings)

Not willing to pay 4-digit prices for reliable backup power? BLUETTI has some portable, camping-friendly budget options as well! Meet the EB3A, EB55, and EB70S models which weigh between 10.14 pounds and 21.4 pounds as they come in different capacities, from 268Wh to 716Wh. The EB3A is the lightest portable power station in the trio but it can still charge an iPhone 12 up to 25 times as well as power a 5-watt light for 30 hours straight!. You don’t sacrifice on outputs either as these models offer several USB ports, car outlets, AC ports, and wireless charging pads.

You should also check out TechGadgets’ full, hands-on review of the EB3A here.

The Rugged Rangers: BLUETTI AC60 and AC180 (30% savings)

If you need some portable power for the beach or boat, the BLUETTI AC60 or AC180 models could be your best friends! Both models boast an IP65 rating for water and dust resistance while providing the same core BLUETTI technologies. The AC60 model weighs just 20.1 pounds and has its own 403Wh LiFePO4 battery, but you can add up to two extra B80 battery packs effectively expanding the capacity to 2,015Wh!

The AC180 sacrifices a bit of portability for a larger 1,152Wh base capacity and a 1,800W max power out. Its coolest trick is the ability to charge the battery from 0 to 80% in just 45 minutes using 1,440W turbo charging along with support for 500W solar charging. The BLUETTI AC180 is also compatible with B80, B230, and B300 expansion batteries making them nice portable companions to larger BLUETTI modular power generators. Go get them now for a 30% off early bird price until July 20^th!

There is no better time to order these amazing power solutions than this Prime Day 2023 sale as you can enjoy up to 31% savings! Plus, any orders you place between July 11 and July 12, can score you cool freebies if you exceed the CAD $2,000, $3,500, $4,500, and $6,500 thresholds and gain triple BLUETTI bucks too which you can redeem for coupons. Check out https://www.bluettipower.ca/ for more details.

The post How to save on BLUETTI power solutions appeared first on TechGadgetsCanada.com.

Managing power needs while on the go can be a challenge. While there’s no shortage of portable power stations and power packs out there for your electronic devices, they have traditionally come with two problems: The ones that are smallest and most compact and portable don’t hold enough juice, wile those that offer a bigger power punch are usually too big, heavy and awkward to want to lug around. It’s a problem power innovators BLUETTI has been working to solve, and they’ve just announced a new product pair that is sure to be popular this summer in Canada.

We’d like to thank BLUETTI for their ongoing sponsorship of our website, since it helps us keep the lights on—literally and figuratively!
Beginning June 20, you can get your hands on the new BLUETTI AC60 and BLUETTI B80, the smallest solar generator with expandability.

What is BLUETTI AC60?

The BLUETTI AC60 is a solar generator with a 600W inverter and a 403Wh LFP battery that can connect to even more power by teaming up with the new BLUETTI B80 expansion battery (more on that coming up) for capacity boosting.

With a compact size (11.4 x 8.1 x 9.2 inches) and light weight (20.06 lbs), it is portable enough to carry easily.

With a robust seven outlets including two AC outputs, one USB-C port with that can power devices up to 100 W, one cigarette lighter port, two USB-A ports and a wireless charging pad, the AC60 can charge anything from smartphones, to batteries, laptops and even small heaters with ease.

Water and Dust-proof

When you’re off grid or out in nature, it almost doesn’t matter what size of portable power option you have it it can’t stand up to the weather.

The AC60 Bluetti has been upgraded over older models and now features dustproof construction and waterproof housing. In fact, BLUETTI AC60 is rated IP65 against water and dust ingression, making it a perfect power source for a beachside barbecue, backcountry campsite or a day at the lake.

Fast Silent Charging

BLUETTI has made recharging easy with four ways to power up: The AC60 supports a wall plug, car charger, solar panel and even generator re-charging.

Even with a fully zapped battery, the AC60 can still be your travel companion since it recharges quickly. With a 600W AC turbocharging, it takes just 40 minutes to recharge the AC60 from 0 to 80%.

Plus, since no one at the campsite wants to sit next to a noisy generator, BLUETTI’s engineers have designed a power solution that respects the silence of the great outdoors: AC60 operates quietly at 45 dB, or below 40dB when using its handy Silent Charging Mode, ideal in confined spaces like a small room or even a tent.

Smart Power-Saving

Sometimes we all forget, so BLUETTI has built in a feature that will automativally save your power if nothing is plugged in. Known as advanced ECO mode, the AC60 will automatically shut off to save power if no loads are connected.

For powering small loads, AC and DC outputs can be adjusted separately to 10-30W and 5-20W respectively on the BLUETTI App. That can reduce its self-consumption and keep it running for 1-4 hours. Plus, it has ultra low stand-by loss when not in use.

Easy Monitoring & Control

The key to creating a portable power station you want to bring along is to not only make it light and easy to move, but easy to use and understant too. Some portable power solutions seem to require a degree in advanced electronics, but not BLUETTI devices: The AC60 is both high-tech and user-friendly, with an intuitive colour LCD screen that shows battery percentage at a glance as well as charge/discharge time remaining, output/input power and other handy data. Plus, the BLUETTI App offers real-time monitoring and control from anywhere in case you need ongoing management.

What is the B80 Expansion Battery?

B80 battery is Designed to complement the AC60, it uses the same reliable LFP cells, the most stable and safest battery for energy storage that deliver over 3500 cycles, meaning your battery will have a good long life.

Two B80s, 806Wh each, can expand the capacity of AC60 to a maximum of 2,015Wh. The Bluetti B80 battery can also work as a stand-alone DC power source with three DC ports: a USB-A, a USB-C, and a car outlet. It can also be recharged on its own via its input ports or in connection with the AC60.

Reliable and Safe

As reliable and safe as the AC60 Blueeti, the B80 comes with an advanced battery management system to ensure maximum efficiency and prevent over-voltage, over-temperature and short-circuit and other safety problems.

It’s 6-year warranty should also bring peace of mind.

Compact Size for Outdoor

The AC60 and B80 are each about as small as a shoebox, and carrying is made easy with the solid fold-down handle. Like the AC60, the B80 expansion battery is IP65 rated: weather-proof and ready for any outdoor activities.

Availability & Price

BLUETTI AC60 and B80 will be available on BLUETTI’s official website.  The  Bluetti AC60 has a special early bird price of $799. As a special bonus, TechGadgetsCanada readers can get an extra discount of $20 by using the code PRAC60 during the debut price period — June 21 to July 5.

The post This portable power station solves your biggest problems: BLUETTI AC60 & B80 Review appeared first on TechGadgetsCanada.com.

When the weather improves each spring here in Canada, we head out into nature as soon as the snow melts. After a season of being cooped up indoors, camping becomes hugely popular once again. While unplugging from our devices is nice, in some cases being without power isn’t the goal. That’s why BLUETTI, a leading energy storage company has announced it’s unveiling a brand new portable power station: the Bluetti AC180, on June 20th.

Enhance safety and security during your camping trips with this comprehensive BLUETTI power station review.

As the successor to previous portable stations like the EB150 and EB240, the  BLUETTI AC180 boasts several improvements that take it to the next level, making it one of the best portable power station for camping that’s ideal for emergency backup, sudden blackouts, travel use, and more. It’s here we’d like to thank BLUETTI for their ongoing sponsorship of our website, since it helps us keep the lights on—literally and figuratively!

BLUETTI AC180 is equipped with a constant output power of 1800W and a capacity of 1152Wh, which covers the power demands of essential devices both at home and in any campground; even if you’re well off-grid. Even so, a Power Lifting Mode with a 2700W output, means it can also manage high-powered devices including kettles, hair styling tools, and even microwaves, because some of us prefer glamping to camping!
Portable power stations like those in the BLUETTI lineup are an ideal camping companion, since they can keep a variety of devices charged, including smartphones, cameras, batteries, gaming consoles and portable speakers.

For those with higher energy needs, the BLUETTI AC can be connected to either a B230 or B300 external battery, which acts as an extra power bank to provide even more power. The AC180+B230/B300 bundle also includes a free P090D to DC7909 connection cable (valued at $89).

“We are committed to meeting the increasing market demand through continuous innovation. Our research and development team envisioned a power station that combines portability, capability, and cost-effectiveness, and now we have made it a reality. The AC180 has everything users could possibly need—without breaking the bank,” explains James Ray, marketing director of BLUETTI.

Pack lighter

The BLUETTI AC180 has been designed with portability in mind, measuring only 340mm x 247mm x 317mm (H x W x H) and weighing just 17kg. It takes up minimal space in your camper, van or RV. It’s the best portable power station  for camping if you’re  heading to Crown land, BLM land, or other off-the-books camping locations.

BLUETTI says the AC180 supports up to 1440W Turbo Charging, allowing it to reach 0-80% of a full battery in just about 45 minutes. Just make sure it’s fully charged before loading up for your getaway, and you’ll have a substantial amount of power at your fingertips.

Uninterrupted Power Supply: perfect for work from home too

BLUETTI AC180 is also made for those who work from home, and who need data security. With its Uninterrupted Power Supply or UPS system, there’s no need to worry about data loss or hardware damage in the event of a power outage. Keep your laptop or router plugged in to the AC180 if you know there’s going to be an outage (or if one suddenly takes place) and you’ll never be offline. The AC180 can automatically detect blackouts the moment they occur and seamlessly switch over in just 20 milliseconds, so you won’t even notice the transition. That makes this an ideal solution too for mobile executives and creative types for whom losing hours of work thanks to a blackout is just not an option.

Consistent Power with Peace of Mind

BLUETTI takes its technology development seriously, and is constantly innovating its products. The company has a long history of making high quality products and maintains excellent customer reviews online. The BLUETTI AC180 is just the latest example of this: With safety and longevity in mind, BLUETTI has utilized safe and durable LiFePO4 battery cells in the AC180 and offers a remarkable 5 year warranty, setting it apart from many competitors in the market.

See status at a glance

Keeping ease of use in mind, BLUETTI AC180 features an updated 1.7-inch LCD display with larger font size, giving users an easy to read and understand snapshot of the AC180’s power consumption and helping interpret troubleshooting status if needed.

Keep tabs with the BLUETTI app

We’re big fans of technology here so we’re glad to see BLUETTI has created a clever app to help you keep tabs on your portable power station. You can easily set up working modes, check system conditions, and perform any needed updates with just a few clicks.

Learn more or shop the AC180 here on BLUETTI’s website.

The post Best Portable power for camping & vanlife: New BLUETTI AC180 appeared first on TechGadgetsCanada.com.

When will Ring Car Cam be available?

We have been trying hard to get our hands on one of these unique cameras to test and review. Availability to date has been almost non-existent, with the camera annoucned more than two years ago for the first time, and initial promises of February 2023 shipping. Ring had later said on its website that availability would be coming in the summer of 2023, but a quick check on the site now shows it will be at least October before the Car Cam is ready for the public. Does this mean there are problems with Car Cam itself, or supply chain issues? No one’s saying. While we wait along with the rest of you, here’s what you need to know about this car camera.

What is Ring Car Cam?

At first, it’s quite confusing why Ring wouldn’t just name their newest car-mounted camera a dashcam like everyone else, but once it becomes clear that Ring is positioning the Ring Car Cam as a multi-purpose device, it makes more sense., since this is a two-in-one security system that watches over your car both in motion and when parked in your driveway.

What Makes ring Car Cam Unique?

It wouldn’t be fair to say that the Ring Car Cam is just a dashcam, or for that matter, a simple security camera, as it’s trying to do a bit of both.

It’s a camera system with a front camera that looks over the hood of the car and everything else within that 120-degree wide-angle lens; it has another high-definition interior-facing camera that records whatever is happening within the car’s cabin. It also has a microphone for audio recording and a speaker for two-way communication.

The Ring Cam for Car stands out because it records what’s happening in and around your car and driveway even when it is turned off. This means it could also look over your front door and see who’s coming and going while recording what’s happening inside your car. The Ring Car Cam installation is also the first car-mounted camera to alert your phone when it detects motion or sound within and in the car’s periphery… like if someone were breaking into it or trying to steal it.

How to connect Car Cam (using OBD-2 port)

One of the most intriguing features of this dashcam is that it must be connected to your car’s OBD-2 port, unlike other dashcams that connect to USB ports via auxiliary power outlets. This means that the Car Cam can draw power from the battery even when the car is off, enabling it to record when needed.

That means even with the car engine turned off, the camera stays in ultra-low power mode and automatically turns on when it detects motion in the driveway or if it’s triggered by the driver.

How do I know if my car is compatible?

OBD-2 ports live under your dash and are fairly common in modern cars, and relatively easy to find if you know where to look. Even so but they’re implemented differently from one car to another, so you can figure out where yours is by typing your car model and ‘OBD-2 port’ into Google.  Even in cars with compatible OBD-2 ports, the mounting process can differ slightly. To ensure that the Ring Car Cam installation will function without a problem, you can verify your car’s compatibility via Ring’s website.

Key features:

Motion detection

Motion detection is one of the most important features of the Car Cam. It allows you to capture footage even when your car is parked and unattended, which is especially useful if you typically leave your car parked in the driveway. Motion detection also works for the interior camera, meaning you can capture footage of a thief breaking into your car and stealing valuables from inside.

GPS tracking (optional)

With an optional Ring Protect Go subscription, you can keep an eye on your car even when you’re not around. The Ring Protect Go subscription provides an LTE connection to the Car Cam and lets you see your car’s GPS location at any given time, along with how fast it’s moving. This can be especially useful if your vehicle ever gets stolen or goes missing; using the GPS tracking feature, you can track down your car, report it to any authorities and hopefully get it back before anything bad happens.

Record Traffic Stops

Traffic Stop recording is another feature that can prove extremely useful. This feature, triggered by saying “Alexa, record,” starts recording on both cameras and microphones for 20 minutes when your car is pulled over. You can then review the footage, which can be helpful if you’re involved in a traffic violation or accident. There’s quite a bit of interest in keeping tabs on traffic stops, so this is a subtle, quick and easy, hands-free way to do it.

When does Ring Car Cam ship?

The Ring Car Cam was originally announced in 2020 but was only officially launched on February 15, 2023. While some early orders have already been delivered, according to both Amazon and the Ring website the next batch of orders will be fulfilled when stocks replenish in July. That’s a long time to wait. If you already got yours, we’d love to hear what you think and how it’s been working for you in comments below.

The post Ring Car Cam: when it’s REALLY coming appeared first on TechGadgetsCanada.com.

Launched in 2020, BLUETTI AC200P seemed to be just another an all-in-one power station, but with with a 2,000W inverter, a 2,000Wh LiFePO4 battery, 7 charging options, plus 17 outlets, this chameleon meets power needs in nearly all places and situations, whether indoors or outdoors.

What’s in the Box?

In addition to the Bluetti AC200P itself, the box comes with several cables which provide some of the ways to charge the power station. You get a standard AC adapter along with an MC4 to XT90 cable for connecting to a solar panel. You also get a car charging cable as well as an XT90 to aviation plug so you can hook up the power station to larger vehicles. The usual user manual, warranty card, and certificate are included as well.

What you get

The Bluetti AC200P is a large and weighty unit, tipping the scales a bit over 60 pounds (27.5 kg) but the 16.5 × 11 × 15.2 in (42 × 28 × 38.65 cm) dimensions mean that you can still fit it into the  back of a small car. The AC200P has a built-in handle on each side which allows the portable station to keep its sleek cubic look and makes it convenient for two people to carry.

Durable LiFePO4 battery

The reason behind the station’s massive weight is the 2000Wh LiFePO4 battery within its housing. Although you cannot replace the internal battery or expand the unit’s capacity, this is a safer, longer-lasting battery type than the Lithium-ion variation and it does have a rating of 3,500 life cycles to 80% capacity along with a generous 4-year warranty. Even if you are unsure of Bluetti’s reputation as a company, the fact that the battery is a LiFePO4 or Lithium Iron Phosphate battery is a good indicator of longevity as these types of batteries boast superior chemistries resulting to a longer lifespan and improved safety while requiring zero maintenance.

Moreover, it is more eco-friendly than Lithium power stations as the LiFePO4 requires no heavy metals such as cobalt, nickel, and manganese in its making.

Expandable capacity

If you have larger than average power needs, you can also connect additional batteries, such as the Bluetti B230 or B300 expansion battery pack, to increase its capacity to 4,048Wh and 5,072Wh respectively. This is particularly useful for longer trips, glamping, overlanding, prolonged power outages, or even for running appliances at an off grid cabin or cottage—whenever extra power is needed.

AC Pure Sine Wave Inverter

The power supply also uses an AC Pure Sine Wave Inverter providing up to 2,000W of AC electricity with 4,800W surge. “Pure Sine Wave Inverter” is an important detail to keep in mind when shopping for a large backup power generator as it ensures that the generator provides the exact same current as your power grid. This also has the benefit of allowing Bluetti AC200P to run quietly while providing a smooth, uninterrupted current that won’t risk damaging your electronic devices.

Desktop PCs with true rated power supplies are just one of the several types of electronics that absolutely need a pure sine wave inverter source to prevent any damage to the components.

What can I connect to a portable power station like Bluetti AC200P?

The Bluetti AC200P’s front panel offers a grand total of 15 outputs that can all get a slice of the 2000W pie. It is nice to see each of these ports having their own built-in covers for protection. Here’s a quick rundown of them:

• 6 × AC 120V/20A outlets
• 4 × USB-A 5V/3A ports
• 1 × USB-C 60W port
• 2 × 5.5mm DC 12/3A outlets
• 1 × Car 12V/10A outlet
• 1 × RV 12/25A outlet

There are a few things you need to take note of regarding these options. First all the AC outlets are 120V only. That shouldn’t be a problem for most folks but if you bought any appliances overseas and have them with you here, check the power specifications as 220V equipment won’t work with AC200P. The USB-C port should be able to charge most laptops that have the USB Power Delivery spec but larger laptops like the 16-inch MacBook Pro’s may charge slower or may not even charge at all while you use it. Therefore, you will have to use the less efficient AC outlets for full speed charging.

If you find the USB port selection to be a bit lacking, the AC200P does offer two wireless charging pads on the top of the battery to charge supported gadgets. Both provide up to 15W watts.

Charging Bluetti AC200P

Using the provided 400W AC adapter, you can fully recharge a drained AC200P directly from your wall outlet for about 5.5 to 6 hours straight. If you have a car, you can use the car’s 12V outlet instead although that will take about 20 hours.

Fast solar recharging

If you decide to buy AC200P with a PV350 solar panel, you could get faster charging especially during sunny days with lower temperatures.

The AC200P supports up to 1,200W dual AC+Solar input, or 1000W dual AC input with optional  T500 adapters at a low cost. You can pair the AC200P with the BLUETTI PV200 or PV350 folding solar panels to get 700W solar power when you’re on the go. Additionally, if you have the D050S charging enhancer, you can get an additional 500W, for a total of up to 1,200W of solar charging power to achieve GENUINE power sufficiency via solar.

The Bluetti AC200P provides 4 additional charging methods if you purchase some other accessories. For instance, buying a second AC adapter lets you charge from two outlets cutting your charging time in half. You can also charge with a solar panel and an AC adapter simultaneously for similar results. If you have a spare lead-acid battery, you can buy the Bluetti lead-acid battery charging cable so the AC200P can draw power from that source. The fastest charging setup involves two solar panels and a D050S DC charging enhancer which can boost the charging to its 1200W peak effectively reducing the charging time to under 3 hours.

Touchscreen control

The AC200P has a small touchscreen on the front panel which shows the dashboard as soon as you power it on. This lets you see the battery status along with some power usage information for all the main ports. The dashboard also lets you toggle the power states of the DC and AC ports. The dashboard’s side menu has a Settings page for changing a few options such as the output voltage and frequency along with an ECO Mode feature to enable if you wish to conserve power.

Special offers – BLUETTI solar generator kits

BLUETTI AC200P offers the most budget-friendly price of its kind. The AC200P is priced at just $1799, in comparison, power stations that provide around 2 kWh capacity from other well-known brands are normally priced at $300 to $800 higher in spite of their lower life cycles.

As one of BLUETTI’s flagship models, the AC200P offers a powerful and affordable option for easier access to mobile power, especially solar energy anywhere. You can choose a solar generator kit for emergency backup or off-grid living. With three pieces of PV200 solar panels, you can fully charge your AC200P in 6 hours with 600W solar power in full sun. There is also a kit with PV120 to produce 360W solar power for you. Just in time for summer’s busy camping and outdoor season, there is special pricing.

BLUETTI AC200P + PV350 for C$2,798, save C$200 from the original price of C$2,998
BLUETTI AC200P + B300 for C$4,398, save C$700 from the original price of C$5,098
BLUETTI AC200P+2*PV350 for C$3,797, save C$200 from the original price of C$3,997

*Pricing is current as of May 31, 2023. Please check BLUETTI website for updates.

The post Bluetti AC200P portable power station: closer look appeared first on TechGadgetsCanada.com.