Accessories

HiFiMAN Sundara review: A WFH audiophile’s dream

One of the best price-for-value pair of cans

Published

February 26, 2021

Luigi Leonardo

Because of today’s work-from-home lifestyle, everyone is rushing to grab the best laptops, PCs, webcams, and microphones to support their new home office. However, one overlooked accessory has yet to receive its time under the spotlight: a good pair of headphones. It’s even worse if you have audiophilic tendencies like I do. Today, I found one of the best price-for-value pair of cans well suited for both the home office and the hi-fi home audio setup: the HiFiMAN Sundara.

A pillow for your ears

Compared to anything I’ve tried in the past, the Sundara is extremely comfortable on my ears. When you’re looking at a headphone’s comfort, you’re considering a minmax combination of various factors: weight, cup size, clamp pressure, and flexibility. The Sundara handles all of those quite handily.

For a sizable pair, they are remarkably light; they don’t put too much pressure on your skull. Further, instead of the whole headband pushing down on your crown, the Sundara uses a suspended headband to cushion the weight. The softer secondary headband rests itself comfortably on my head without exerting too much pressure or trapping heat.

The earcups are also of notable size. They can fit my relatively smaller ears well. Though I do feel a bit of scrunching inside the cups, I never felt any pain or discomfort from wearing the pair for hours. I can wear the Sundara for four to six hours at a time without any pressing need to take them off.

In terms of durability, the Sundara is more than capable of withstanding major usage. Except for the two plastic portions at both ends of the headphones, the Sundara is made almost entirely out of metal. I did drop the headphones once while using it, and I couldn’t find a single scratch or dent. On a related note, the cups’ metal grille makes for an interesting but minimalist design — an epitome of its namesake, the Sanskrit word for “beautiful.”

Finally, since the headphones are open-back, leakage will always be a problem. However, compared to other open-back cans, the Sundara don’t leak as loudly. Likewise, even without noise cancellation, outside noise is only mildly annoying. That said, anyone sitting next to me can definitely hear whatever I’m listening to. And I can definitely hear whatever is happening beside me.

Playable in any genre

Armed with a planar magnetic driver, the HiFiMAN Sundara has one of the most impressive soundstages I’ve heard for a pair of cans in its price point. In practically any genre that I put the headphones through, there’s a remarkable level of depth. It’s almost as if I’m there where the music is happening. Christopher Tin’s orchestral To Shiver the Sky sparkled with every instrument, from wind to string to percussion. It’s the closest thing to attending a concert, especially in today’s times.

Though the headphones sport an impressive 6Hz to 75KHz frequency range, the Sundara leans marginally closer to the treble side. Instruments are sharper and tinnier, though still not at an uncomfortable level. However, if you listen close enough, sharp sounds can sound extra sharp on the Sundara, given the right track. Even then, the soundtrack for Cowboy Bebop, especially the iconic “Tank!” shines bright with the headphones.

Leaning over to the bass, the headphones can subsist on its own. They deliver a very mellow boom, as opposed to an offensive bombast well-advertised in today’s slew of headphones. That said, the Sundara is not a bass-heavy pair. If you’re looking for a bass monster, look elsewhere. Personally, I’m not a fan of bass-heavy tracks, so the Sundara is just the perfect fit for me. On lighter tracks, especially those from jazz, the bass caresses my ears just enough to tingle. On heavier metal music, like Nightwish’s Human :||: Nature, the lighter bass prevents overpowering and allows other instruments to come through.

For the mids, I’d say that the Sundara is attuned for it as well. I weaved the pair through more poppy tunes, like The Midnight’s Monsters. The vocals rose above other instruments without drowning them out.

Will you need an amp?

If you’re looking for some flaws in the almost-perfect Sundara, you might find it in the headphones’ amplification. The headphones are definitely a pair that can benefit from an external amp.

Just to be clear, the HiFiMAN Sundara can function well enough on its own. Regardless of whether you plug it into a smartphone, laptop, music player, or turntable, the device, sporting 37 ohms of impedance, can deliver audio at a workable clip.

However, according to my own tests, they benefitted greatly from an external amp. And you don’t even need an expensive amp. Even the portable (and affordable) FiiO A3 boosted the headphones to an extraordinary level. If you’re investing your hard-earned cash on the Sundara, you can’t go wrong with forking over a bit of extra cash on a small amp.

Is this your Gadgetmatch?

If you already have a home office setup, then you might like the Sundara. Keep in mind, though; a single-person home office is best for this pair. Because the headphones don’t have a built-in mic or any external functionalities, the pair exists solely as an audio device, not an office tool. It might just irritate any officemates you might have.

That said, the device’s extreme lightness is perfect for moving around the house. After a grueling day of working from home, you can unplug the Sundara from your PC and plug them into your hi-fi/entertainment setup.

With that in mind, though the headphones are light enough to move around the house, they don’t do well for a commuter, especially because of their leakage and lack of noise cancellation.

If you’re interested in the HiFiMAN Sundara, a pair will set you back by US$ 499. It’s definitely pricey. Compared to other more popular offerings, the Sundara belongs in an upper tier. However, for the quality you’re paying for, it’s a good way to start the next level of an audiophile habit.

Accessories

Samsung joins the clip-on earbud trend with the Galaxy Buds On

But it’s exclusive to South Korea for now.

Published

October 2, 2026

Luigi Leonardo

Audio wearables have been getting makeovers as of late. Besides the traditional form factors, the segment is experimenting with bone conduction and clip-on headphones. Today, Samsung is joining that trend with the Galaxy Buds On.

Debuting in South Korea, the Galaxy Buds On is Samsung’s first-ever clip-on earbuds. You’re likely familiar with how these earbuds look like, having seen them grace the ears of many a passerby today. Instead of plugging right into your ear canals, they actually do clip onto your earlobes. Samsung’s take, however, is a little bit heftier, which the brand claims gives it a wider surface area to balance the weight for your ears.

Additionally, the new earbuds has a TwinBoost speaker system. While the system adds better bass to the earbuds, it also adds automatic voice adjustments to better attune the sound according to your environment. It also has an Audio Leakage Reduction feature, so others won’t be able to hear what you’re listening to.

The Galaxy Buds On has a charging case almost identical to the Galaxy Buds4 case. Powered by the Snapdragon S7 Gen 1 Sound Platform, the earbuds can reportedly last up to 9.5 hours on a single charge.

Right now, the wearable is exclusive to South Korea, but Samsung says that a global rollout will happen in the future. In South Korea, the Galaxy Buds On costs KRW 299,000 (or approximately US$ 220).

Accessories

Spotlight: Nori AI Family Hub

More than just a digital frame!

Published

October 2, 2026

GadgetMatch and Michael Josh Villanueva

Between YouTube, travel, work, and marathon training, life gets chaotic.

So THE Michael Josh tried the Nori AI Family Hub to see if it could actually help him stay organized.

He let a digital calendar manage his schedules, marathon training, and daily tasks.

Check out ‪@Nori-family‬ and see how it can simplify your everyday life too.

* Visit https://go.heynori.com/Gadget23 and use code Gadget23 to get the best deal possible.

Accessories

UGREEN Nexode Pro 160W review: One mighty brick with a powerful trick

All the speed you need in one charging brick

Published

September 30, 2026

Vincenz

Chargers aren’t just tiny bricks we plug into the wall anymore.

As our everyday gadgets become hungrier in power, chargers have gotten mightier, too.

More wattage, more ports, and apparently, more brains. The UGREEN Nexode Pro 160W takes all of those in one thicc body.

A heavy charger with plenty of power

Let’s address the elephant in the room — literally and figuratively. The UGREEN Nexode Pro 160W is one CHONKY charger.

The US version weighs 310 grams, which is heavier than usual charging bricks you’d bring with you.

Visual comparison alone, this is how it tries to dwarf its 100W Uno cousin.

Then again, UGREEN’s Nexode Pro isn’t your conventional charger. And by that, it boasts a total output of 160W — though not saying every port gives a 160W output.

The first USB-C port (C1) is capable of delivering up to 140W. Meanwhile, USB-C2 supports up to 100W, while the lonesome USB-A port can supply up to 22.5W.

To make it even crazier, it also has a retractable USB-C cable — more on that later.

These all mean I can plug in my MacBook Pro, high-end Android flagship, iPhone, and other accessories without ever bringing separate charging bricks for each one.

And honestly, when there’s so much power inside one brick, I’ll generously accept that added heft.

Watt you see is watt you get

One trick up in Nexode Pro 160W’s sleeves is that, it has a front display.

With a touch capacitive button above the USB-C1 port, the display can show not just the general (or combined) charging wattage. It can also show real-time speeds in watts (W), voltage (V), and even ampere (A).

For regular users, it’s probably something you’ll glance at occasionally. For stats nerds? It’s eye candy. For a gadget reviewer like me? A charge test companion.

Seeing real-time charging data gives me a better idea if I have the best charging cable possible for each device. More so, if those devices actually get the charging speeds they require.

And, if something suddenly starts charging slower than usual, those numbers can help me determine whether the device, charger, or cable might be the culprit.

I can only have my sigh of relief when I see it’s pulling the amount of power I expect.

Even if I always say numbers aren’t everything, the real-time charging data I see with my two eyes is more believable than just relying on that “Fast Charging” indicator.

So, watt did I even get?

Of course, I couldn’t just take that 160W figure just at its face value.

In a not-so-typical GadgetMatch Charge Test, I tried and tested the charger by occupying all ports with the devices I regularly use and watched the numbers fly.

Mind you, I tried my best to make them as equal as possible by draining every device down to 0%. Just so the actual charge test starts at the very base.

From a lengthy documentations in my Notes app, I tried simplifying the results into these table instead:

*Port*	*Device*	*Cable Type*	*10-minute charge*	*30-minute charge*	*1-hour charge*
*USB-C1*	14” M2 Max MacBook Pro	Apple MagSafe 3 to USB-C	15%	45%	84%
*USB-C2*	Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max	USB-C to Lightning	7%	21%	42%
*Retractable USB-*C	vivo X300 Ultra* *wireless charging	USB-C to UGREEN MagFlow 2-in-1 Foldable Magnetic Wireless Charger	2%	3%	7%
*USB-A*	HONOR Watch 5 Ultra	USB-A to wireless charging base	18%	58%	76%

Aside from the charger itself, there are more factors that contribute to a device’s charging output.

One is basically how many devices are connected. Another would be the type of cable used (standard 3A cable or faster yet thicker 5A or 6A cord).

More so, if the best charging mode is used. Even actual room and device temperatures matter, too.

In easier words, a charger boasting 160W power doesn’t mean every device gets its maximum charging speeds simultaneously.

The charger still has to distribute its available power between everything connected.

Pull it, use it, and never lose it

Perhaps its most “secretive” trick is hidden within.

UGREEN has managed to fit a 70cm retractable USB-C cable in its squarish body. Pull it whenever you need it and retract it back inside once you’re done.

It’s incredibly handy when I don’t want to dig through my big and messy backpack.

Worst case scenario? Whenever I forget to bring a cable — which already happened numerous times as an aging young adult who keeps being unnecessarily forgetful.

Vincenz’s two cents? He would NOT always rely on using it.

For one, there’s the matter of longevity.

A regular USB-C cable eventually breaks? Replace it. A retractable cable permanently attached to your charger? That’s a different story.

Another would be all about its actual charging speed output. Not every device behaves the same way with that built-in cable.

*Device*	*Max Charging*	*Observed Power*	*30-minute charge*	*1-hour charge*
*14” M2 Max MacBook Pro*	96W	68.6W	53%	87%
*vivo X500 Pro Max*	90W	20.2W~23.6W	34%	62%
*vivo X300 Ultra*	100W	9.6W~12.9W	26%	52%
*HONOR 600 Pro*	80W	16.5W	35%	64%
*Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8*	45W	17.8W	41%	74%

For instance, my vivo X300 Ultra supports 90W FlashCharge speeds. Yet, I observed only around below a 13W output during one test. Thus, only achieving 26% in thirty minutes.

Even the shiny new vivo X500 Pro Max wasn’t exempted in the list with only being able to achieve 34% in the same time frame.

For added context, using their bundled FlashCharge adapters would have already filled the phones way past the 60% mark.

This doesn’t necessarily mean the built-in cable is bad. It just means you shouldn’t expect every proprietary charging standard to hit its advertised maximum just with the cable alone.

So while it’s one of my favorite conveniences here, I still see it as a handy backup rather than the only cable one would ever need.

Connect to inspect

I can’t believe I’m saying this. A charger can now be connected via an app.

Just like me, you’re probably scratching your head the moment you are reading this. Well, after much use, it actually made sense to me.

With their new and very own UgreenConnect app, not only you can see and capture charging stats, UGREEN lets you switch between charging modes as well depending on your charging needs.

Heck! You can even turn off ports individually without affecting other devices being charged.

Furthermore, you can also change the display’s brightness and sleep time, customize wallpapers. The Nexode Pro 160W also supports OTA updates.

Again, it’s mostly nerdy. But that’s precisely why I like this charger more than what I already have and use.

Feel the heat, keep it neat

The Nexode Pro gets warm. Quite warm, actually.

But, with a charger this large and powerful, that’s hardly surprising given all the charging components packed inside.

Thankfully, the temperature remained manageable throughout my use. UGREEN also lists Thermal Guard Temperature Control alongside GaN Infinity technology and SmartCharge power distribution.

The different charging modes can also help manage and lessen that heat further.

If I don’t need something charged immediately, I can opt for smarter or lower-temperature Thermal-safe charging instead of constantly pushing as much power as possible. Power when I need it. Less heat when I don’t.

Although for my day-to-day use-case, Priority Charging makes the most sense.

Case in point: I tested this with the vivo X300 Ultra I’m dilly dallying.

vivo X300 Ultra	*Adaptive Charging*	*Priority Charging*
Charging Output	*9.6W ~ 12.9W* *8.1V / 1.6A*	*26.8W ~ 27.2W* *7.9V / 3.5A*
*START TIME (from 0%)*	9:11PM	12:31AM
3 minutes	4%	6%
5 minutes	5%	8%
*10 minutes*	9%	16%
15 minutes	13%	21%
*30 minutes*	26%	42%
45 minutes	39%	61%
*1 hour*	52%	80%

Adaptive Charging obviously charged it slower than ever. But when I enabled Priority Charging, it initially pulled around 30.8W to 31.2W for the first two minutes before settling around 26.8W to 27.2W. That’s still higher than the output through Adaptive Mode.

More so, it was able to reach 42% after 30 minutes and 80% after an hour in contrast to the 26% and 52% level of the former.

My MacBook Pro and flagship Android phones need significantly more power than smaller accessories. So, instead of letting everything fight equally for those watts, I can prioritize whichever device actually needs the extra juice.

Is the UGREEN Nexode Pro 160W your GadgetMatch?

At PhP 4999 / SG$ 140 / MYR 419, the UGREEN Nexode Pro 160W might sound like an overkill if all you need is something to charge your phone every night.

But, if you’re someone like me who owns lots of gadgets and constantly switches between a laptop, several smartphones, at least one tablet, a smartwatch, wireless headphones, and many other gadget ever imaginable, owning this charger quickly makes sense.

That’s most especially for the ultimate convenience it brings by only using one socket and fits right inside your bag’s tight pocket. I can fully rely on one brick instead of carrying multiple clunky chargers around.

Additives include its display that lets me see stats while doubling as a useful review tool to legitimize the charge tests in the reviews I do.

Charging modes lets me decide which power-hungry device deserves more juice. Priority when I see one getting slow. Thermal-charging if I sense that it’s getting warmer than the usual.

That retractable cable? It’s a real wonder as it will truly save me whenever I forget one in another unintentional scenario.

The UGREEN Nexode Pro 160W now has a permanent spot in my charging arsenal. It is a Swipe Right, Super Swipe, and definitely a worthy recipient of the GadgetMatch Seal of Approval.