Accessories

Kovol 65W 4-port charging station Hands-On

Small in size, big on power

Published

January 28, 2022

Nearly everyone I know carries around two to three devices. It’s some combination of a laptop, smartphone/s, and tablet/s. Imagine having to lug around these devices along with their power bricks. That’s a significant weight added to your bag. Enter the Kovol 65W 4-port charging station. This thing, as the company says, is small in size but big on power.

Personally, I’m a member of this multi-device tribe. I almost always carry with me a laptop and two smartphones. That’s excluding any other smartphones or laptops I may be reviewing at the time.

This is part of the reason why I’m in the ‘USB-C Everything’ camp. It would make our lives as tech reviewers just that much better. But since that reality may not be happening anytime soon, multiport GaN chargers like this are the next best thing.

Regulated power

Just because it has 65W written on it, doesn’t mean that it’s the only power output available. It can smartly allocate power to each device based on its needs. The 65W ranges from 65W, 45W, 30W, 25W, 20W, and 18W. So, whichever fast charging output your device supports, that’s what it’s getting.

There’s also a 120W version of the charger and it can output at 87W aside from others that have already been mentioned.

Kovol also claims it has low-heat and safe-charging. This means there will be no risk of overheating and overcharging your device. During my time using the charger, I can say I never felt any sort of unusual heating from it.

How fast is it, really?

But of course, the real question is how fast it actually is in real world use. Fret not, I have you covered. I’ll list the charging times of the three devices I primarily use.

Before we start though, I would like to describe my normal usage. I’m totally not the type who lets the devices reach red levels of the battery indicator. Small beads of sweat immediately form around my head as soon as my devices’ battery indicator shows anywhere between 40% to 50%.

Go ahead. Laugh all you want. But I’ve been in waaaay too many situations when I forgot to juice up only to need to charge but without any power outlet nearby. It’s a sticky situation I would like to avoid as much as I can.

With that said, here are the charging numbers I recorded. Duration in minutes (mins) is how long it took to reach 100%.

iPhone 11 Pro

At 30% – 40 mins
At 40% – 32 mins
At 50% – 23 mins
At 65% – 16 mins

OPPO Find X3 Pro

At 10% – 59 mins
At 30% – 46 mins
At 40% – 37 mins
At 50% – 25 mins
At 65% – 18 mins

13” M1 MacBook Pro

At 35% – 1 hour, 41 mins
At 40% – 1 hour, 26 mins
At 50% – 1 hour, 10 mins
At 65% – 40 mins

Naturally, these numbers will vary depending on your devices and the kind of wired fast charging they support. But what’s evident is that these are more than decent charging speeds. These are especially useful if you only have a limited time access to a power outlet when you’re out and about.

Small for its power

The charging speeds are impressive but what really takes the cake is how small the Kovol 65W 4-port charging station is. It’s a little chunky, but it’s short enough that it’ll easily slide into your bag without taking up much space.

Personally, I carried it in this tiny-gadgets-and-cables pouch I normally bring around whenever I step out.

Its small size is also helpful when you have limited table space. It can sit just right next to your devices without taking away any wiggle room you might need.

Price and availability

Some manufacturers are following Apple’s lead in taking away the power bricks from brand new devices. It’s a good reason to invest in a multiport GaN charger other than the ones already mentioned.

The Kovol 4-port charging station comes in two variants. Pricing are as follows:

65W – US$ 49.99
120W – US$ 99.99

Accessories

CASETiFY introduces Peach Haze Impact Case

Plus new Bounce Cases in Matte finish

Published

May 3, 2024

GadgetMatch

CASETiFY has introduced the Peach Haze Impact Case, offering customers a new protective case that suits the summer vibe pretty well. The brand has also released new Bounce Cases in Matte finish for those who prefer a simplistic, non-glossy look for their cases.

The Peach Haze Impact case retails for US$ 70 for the MagSafe compatible variant for iPhone 14 and 15 models. Meanwhile, the non-MagSafe case for iPhone 15 and Samsung S24 Ultra are priced at US$ 65 and US$ 70, respectively.

The new Impact Case is 16% slimmer and offers 8.2-feet drop protection. It is made partially from Re/CASETiFY pellets and 65% recycled and plant-based materials. Obviously, it has a refreshing and distinct peach-colored look for those who want to add style to their summer experience.

Meanwhile, new Bounce Cases are priced at US$ 90 and are available in solid purple, pink, and black matte colorways. They are available for iPhone 14 and 15 models and are wireless charging and MagSafe compatible. For those who want other designs, the case also comes in different prints and patterns.

These new Bounce Cases are likewise 16% slimmer, and offer maximum shock absorption from all angles. CASETiFY incorporated compression ribs on the corners of this variant to fortify the phone’s weakest spot. Considering most phone drops land on its corner, that’s a welcome innovation. The new corner design ensures users of protection even during accidental drops at up to 21.3 feet.

For more CASETiFY products, as well as their collaborations, click here.

Accessories

Logitech announces G PRO X TKL gaming keyboard

Compact, cordless, portable

Published

May 1, 2024

GadgetMatch

Logitech has announced the G PRO X TKL gaming keyboard, a compact and cordless peripheral meant to assist gamers in the highest levels of competition. The G PRO X TKL comes with a pro-inspired tenkeyless design for more room and comfort, and Lightsync RGB lighting for style. It features dual-shot PBT keycaps for durability and wear and tear prevention.

The keyboard’s standard layout allows users to customize it with third-party keycaps and additional media keys. Users may also set up macros and create quick access while grinding. Speaking of customization, they may pick between Tactile, Linear, or Clicky Switches to tailor-fit the keyboard to their feel.

The G PRO X TKL connects via Lightspeed, ensuring users of lag-free performance at up to a 10-meter range. That’s better responsiveness than standard Bluetooth. Additionally, it has a 1000Hz polling rate. Long gaming sessions are a breeze too, as the keyboard’s battery lasts up to 50 hours. Lastly, for gamers on the go, the G PRO X TKL is portable and comes with its own carry case.

Logitech’s latest gaming peripheral is now available online and at all partner retail outlets, including PC Express, Silicon Valley, DataBlitz, Octagon, Electroworld, Complink, iTech, Techwarez, GameOne, Interpace Computer Systems, GameXtreme, TTI, DynaQuest PC, Digi-Serv Solutions, Concept Computer, NUTECH, DFE (Davao Futurebright Enterprises), Villman, PCWorx, Abenson, Digistore, and Greenware.

Accessories

TP-Link Wi-Fi 7 devices now official: Price, availability

Blazing fast connectivity

Published

April 26, 2024

GadgetMatch

TP-Link has officially announced its new Wi-Fi 7 capable devices, including two new Archer routers and the DECO BE25 mesh. Particularly, the Archer BE230 which promises 49% better transmission speed is now available via TP-Link’s Shopee and selected retailers.

TP-Link’s Wi-Fi 7 products revolutionize the way users experience wireless connectivity. Aside from blazing-fast speeds and reduced latency 20% better than previous generation devices, these products come with several features like Multi-Link Operation to optimize network efficiency.

Users can expect better allocation of resources, reduced interference, and smoother data transmission overall. The devices also offer better and more reliable coverage across larger areas, reducing dead zones. The products also come with new security features and enhancements for better network protection. Among them are stronger encryption standards and enhanced defenses against emerging threats.

New Tapo lineup

Aside from the Wi-Fi 7 products, TP-Link has also unveiled a new lineup of smart home products, including the Tapo C425 wire-free security camera. The brand has also released the Tapo Smart Battery Video Doorbell, Tapo C720, and 2K QHD Smart Floodlight Camera, to name a new. These solutions will be released by May 2024.

Price, availability

The TP-Link Archer BE230 is priced at PhP 5,990. The brand will release another router, the Archer BE400, during the third quarter of 2024.

On the other hand, the TP-Link DECO BE25 mesh will be available by June 2024. It will come in the two-pack and three-pack options for PhP 13,990 and PhP 19,990, respectively.

Lastly, the RE235BE range extender and Archer TBE400UH adapter shall be released in June and July 2024, respectively. They are priced at PhP 4,990 and PhP 3,190.