Devices View – a Techsponential Company

This is not a fake Apple product

August 21, 2026August 21, 2026 - by Avi Greengart

This is not a fake Apple product even if the packaging design and materials are nearly identical to what Apple uses for its watches and iPhones, complete with pull tabs on the heavy cardboard box and paper ties on the braided white USB cable. It’s a Laifen travel shaver. I unbox a lot of Apple products, and this is WILD. This goes way past best practices or homage to something else — and as much as it helps Laifen stand out today, it’s inhibiting the company from developing its own identity. What about the product itself? Well, it’s expensive — …

Status Audio Pro: Triple Driver Wireless Earbuds

July 13, 2026July 13, 2026 - by Avi Greengart

For months before Status Audio launched the Pro X earbuds late last year I was blanketed with ads on social media. That’s not always a good indicator that the product itself will live up to the claims, but it’s been nine months since I first got the earbuds in for review and I still use them as part of my rotation. The Status Pro X specs are pretty wild: Those are premium specs and they started out at $300. They now appear to be permanently discounted to $250, but that is still in the thick of the premium end of …

Accessories

Whoosh! Cleans Stuff

July 12, 2026July 12, 2026 - by Avi Greengart

Simple post for a simple product. Whoosh! PR sent over various sizes of its gadget cleaning solution. I’ve been using this stuff for years because it works, and you can plainly see the results. This is my wife’s phone before/after. She then stole a bottle and cleaned her laptop and monitor.Note: this is NOT good for nano textured monitors; you’ll want to follow the directions that the manufacturer provides (usually just the fancy microfiber cloth that the monitor comes with. Disclosures: Whoosh! PR sent bottles of its cleaning product for review. Devices View does not accept paid posts, does not …

Smartphones

moto razr fold Makes a Big First Impression

June 26, 2026June 26, 2026 - by Avi Greengart

Motorola, Lenovo’s phone brand, has been profitably moving upmarket over the past few years, but nothing says premium like a fold-larger phone. The moto razr was a folding smartphone pioneer, and the compact foldable has been refined year after year. I have been testing an EU razr 70 ultra review unit from Motorola with a real wood rear panel, and it continues to excel in its ability to run full Android apps on the front display. That enables you to put your shopping list there and not open your phone and get distracted by video in the middle of the …

Wearables

Meta Launches Lower-Priced Smart Glasses

June 25, 2026June 25, 2026 - by Avi Greengart

Meta chose to launch its new mainstream glasses just in time for summer sunglass season and ahead of competition from Google and its partners. I attended Meta’s event where we got to sample the three new styles, see multiple color options, and test the new Muse Spark AI model that is shipping alongside the new glasses. Two of those things went better than the other. (The AI demos mostly failed, but I expect they’ll work better in real life.) The three styles were designed and manufactured by Essilor-Luxottica and will be sold in Essilor-Luxottica retail outlets like Lenscrafters and Sunglass …

Accessories / Computing / Gaming / Industry

Micro Center Thrives Despite Retail Trends and RAMpocalypse: A Photo Essay

June 2, 2026June 2, 2026 - by Avi Greengart

Selling PCs and components at retail has undone retailers from Radio Shack to CompUSA to Fry’s, but Micro Center is thriving, opening new locations and renovating existing stores. I visited its most recently updated store, in Patterson, NJ, just ahead of its grand re-opening recently to attempt to see the changes and understand how Micro Center is succeeding where almost everyone else has failed. First, fair warning: if you have even a passing interest in PCs, gaming, 3D printing, or networking, this can be an expensive visit. I did not escape unscathed myself, picking up a retro numeric keypad to …

Accessories / Audio

Soundcore Space 2: Still Comfy and Affordable, Now a Bit Better

May 6, 2026May 6, 2026 - by Avi Greengart

Anker’s Soundcore division has been cranking out Bluetooth speakers and earbuds for years – the Liberty 3 Pro from all the way back in 2021 remain in my collection for their sound quality – but it has struggled a bit in wireless over-the-ear headphones. The company’s first effort in 2024, the Space One, were exceptionally comfortable and sounded fine but didn’t offer very effective ANC. I’ve been testing the new Soundcore Space 2, and it’s definitely better, but the competition hasn’t stood still. At $130, the Space 2 is priced well below the best ANC headphones from Sony and Bose …

Computing / Gaming

Seagate Takes On The Consumer Data Explosion

April 24, 2026April 24, 2026 - by Avi Greengart

Even in the modern age of cloud-based storage subscriptions, local storage is as important as ever. We’re creating more content, we need immediate access to it, and crucial personal and business data should never be fully entrusted to a third party. To address what they’re calling the “consumer data explosion,” Seagate just launched three new products, including the OneTouch backup drive pictured here that they sent over for me to review. The base model here starts at 8TB, costs just $260, connects with a single USB-C cable, and comes with software so you’re not relying entirely on the cloud. It …

Computing / Gaming

Need a Laptop? Microsoft Offers College Students $500 In Software, Gaming

April 17, 2026April 17, 2026 - by Avi Greengart - Leave a Comment

With PC prices rising — and new competition from Apple at lower price points — Microsoft is putting together a compelling software and gaming package for college students who need a new laptop for finals. The promo includes a year of Microsoft 365 Premium, a year of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, and a custom Xbox controller. Microsoft is putting the value at over $500, and while most college kids aren’t buying Microsoft’s productivity software (either at all, or at retail prices), it really is a nice package. Offsetting rising hardware prices in this way is smart. The controllers are terrific …

Accessories

Anker 10-in-1 Charging Station Adds Versatility, Keeps Your Desk Clean

April 1, 2026 - by Avi Greengart - Leave a Comment

Today’s gadget: Anker sent over this clever 70W charging station that clamps onto your desk so it appears to be tiny on the surface, yet has 6 outlets, 2 USB-A, and 2 USB-C. It does not have a screen or touch controls (unlike some of its other chargers), it just charges things and stays out of view. I like it! I installed it on my desk in place of a larger charging station that had fewer outlets. Not much more to say! It charges all the things. It should work with most desk edges; mine is from IKEA.Link for convenience …