Accessories

LuMee Case review

Published

December 15, 2016

Isa Rodriguez

Any self-respecting millennial knows that a good selfie can get you places. It’s the best social media tool for your well-curated life on Instagram and Snapchat — just ask Kim Kardashian West, queen of social media, who took it upon herself to raise awareness on the art of illuminated selfies. Enter: the LuMee case.

The brainchild of a professional lighting director, the LuMee case boasts the ability to “brighten your life,” one glorious selfie at a time. The infamous accessory has graced the phones of countless celebrities, and claims to be behind millions of flawless photographs.

So, does this case really work? Will this thing give me optimum party snaps? And more importantly, will it really give me fleek selfies that my online persona needs? I set out to find the answers to these questions.

The awkward first date

The lightweight LuMee Original attaches to your phone and uses LED lights that’ll brighten up any selfie. Just press the button at the back, and it turns on using power from its own external battery. (Thanking the LuMee gods for not touching my phone’s already fragile battery life!) The case’s battery lasted me days, and gave me at least a week’s worth of selfies on one charge.

I may be cute in this selfie, but my hands were struggling to keep hold of my phone with the LuMee on; it was just too big for my small girl grasp.

But, the LuMee’s size leaves a lot to be desired. The case almost doubles the size of the phone! Holding on to the iPhone 6s is hard enough with my small, delicate hands — what more with the bulky LuMee? Imagine trying to hold on to this thing in a bar setting, while alcohol-infused and attempting a cutesy snap. Definitely a con, as I’m sure any drunken party girl with small hands can attest to.

My iPhone 6s with the LuMee compared to a plain iPhone 6s. The LuMee’s charging port is also visible in this photo.

The case took all my party clutch space and left no room for other stuff like my power bank and makeup, which are party essentials!

Finding the light

(L-R) Without the LuMee; with the LuMee at its brightest and showcasing all my facial flaws; with the LuMee, after adjusting the brightness.

The LuMee is definitely good at what it’s supposed to do, but maybe even too good.

A simple press and hold of the button adjusts the light’s intensity — either go brighter (if your makeup is totally on fleek) or dimmer (for softer light and a flawless selfie finish).

Personally, I’m not a fan of the brightest light setting for selfies, as I feel my fresh face realness gets overexposed. But, it works wonders for snaps and videos, because it gives you the perfect amount of lighting for the movement shown in the GIFs below:

Doggie snap in a low-light scenario, because doggie snaps are life. The LuMee lighting makes a world of difference.

I even tried the LuMee in a tricycle ride, because you never know when you’ll need a good snap. Results were conclusive: I was still cute, and the LuMee worked wonders.

Even on a dark street, the LuMee lighting does not disappoint!

The case works well not just in low-light situations, but also in crazy light scenarios (shadows, strobe lights — you name it). The LuMee assures perfect photo situations every single time. The separate power button at the back of the case is amazingly convenient, too. No need to struggle with your phone’s interface to turn it on while navigating to your Snapchat app.

Is this your GadgetMatch?

I have to admit (as with all first dates) I was skeptical about the case when I first tried it out because, really, who actually needs a phone accessory dedicated solely to selfies? I was convinced that good lighting can be achieved by other means. But, again and again, the LuMee proved useful and convenient during the time I spent trying it out.

The LuMee Original has one job, and it does that one job well. However, for its size and discounted retail price of $40, I would’ve wanted more in terms of functionality. The LuMee Duo, a newer model priced at almost $70, now has LED light bulbs installed at the back of the case for lighting your rear-facing camera, too. But, even then, I feel like the bulky size and extravagant price tag does not compensate for just those additional functions.

Me working the LuMee and the joy it now brings to my life.

So, how many flawless selfies does one actually need? The answer is a lot, apparently — and every single one has to be flawless! Since the LuMee gives you the opportunity to take better photos, it’s hard to go back to the dark, blurred selfies of the past. But, for the steep price, I might just have to resort to daytime selfies and content myself with evenings undocumented on social media. For $40, I’m buying myself good MAC foundation, and I’ll just look good in person instead.

[irp posts=”3906″ name=”The OPPO F1s is an affordable ‘selfie expert'”]

Accessories

F1’s Daniel Ricciardo spotted with an unreleased Beats Pill

LeBron James was also spotted with the same thing

Published

May 3, 2024

Luigi Leonardo

Image source: Formula 1 | Instagram

In a world inundated with leaks, spotting an unreleased device out in the wild is less of a spectacle these days. However, there are still some sneak peeks that manage to catch our eyes. One such example is the sudden appearance of an unreleased Beats Pill in the hands of F1 driver Daniel Ricciardo.

A Beats Pill is not an easy speaker to find these days. After all, the company discontinued the last one back in 2022. Unless they particularly love old devices, it’s likely not a coincidence if a popular personality is somehow toting one out in public.

In preparation for the upcoming Miami Grand Prix this weekend, Daniel Ricciardo, who currently races for the Visa Cash App RB team, strolled into the paddock carrying a golden Beats Pill. It’s also interesting that the Pill is positioned perfectly to display the Beats logo.

As if that’s not a sure sign already, LeBron James was also spotted with the same speaker before a game back in April. Serendipitously, the pictured speaker swung perfectly to display the Beats logo in the NBA star’s photo.

Because Beats has not announced a revival yet, it’s difficult to see what the audio company has in store for its next portable speaker. However, one thing’s for sure: A new lanyard will make it easier to carry around. It’s also safe to assume that the device will come with USB-C this time around.

Accessories

CASETiFY announces new Star Wars ‘dark side’ collection

May the 4th be with you

Published

May 3, 2024

GadgetMatch

Every year, fans anticipate May the 4th to celebrate all things Star Wars. This year, CASETiFY is joining the party. Its latest collaboration with Lucasfilm is for an exclusive collection of Star Wars inspired cases and other accessories.

It is the third collaboration between CASETiFY and Lucasfilm. Previous collections which featured the iconic Star Wars logo and its movie titles have sold out in minutes. This time, CASETiFY’s lineup takes fans to the “Dark Side.” Starting May 3rd in a tribute to Episode 1: The Phantom Menace.

Fans will be able to shop a rare collectible laser-engraved Death Star aluminum case, as well as a Darth Vader leather embossed case. Customers may choose from a variety of cases depicting the Death Star, Vader’s helmet, Storm Troopers, the empire’s symbol, and more. Most of the cases sport a dominant black body with white and red accents to complement the overall look.

Designs in the collection retail from US$ 38 to US$ 112. Aside from iPhone cases, fans may choose from accessories made for iPhone, Samsung, Google Pixel, AirPods, AirPods Pro, Apple Watch, and iPads. Moreover, there are also designs for CASETiFY’s Snappy ecosystem including MagSafe chargers, Power Banks, and Card Holder Stands.

The latest Star Wars CASETiFY collection launches worldwide on casetify.com/co-lab and the CASETiFY Co-Lab app available on the App Store. For offline shoppers, visit CASETiFY Studio locations.

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.