Sol Republic includes four different sizes of tips so you can find a fit for your ear shape. Although we were able to find a comfortable and secure fit, we discovered that these earbuds don’t do the best job of blocking external noise. You have to turn up the volume about 75 percent to block out all ambient noise. Fortunately, this pair of cordless earbuds is our loudest pick – it reached 75 decibels during our tests. The sound quality was detailed with a well-defined bass.

Not only were we impressed with sound quality for music, we found that the SHADOW has the best call quality. This is probably because the microphone rests on your neck, placing it closer to your mouth than if it were built in to the remote like other wireless Bluetooth earbuds.

Speaking of controls, don’t fret – this one still has them. A play and pause button, which also serves as a button for answering and ending calls, is on the right side, along with some volume controls. There is a separate button for powering on the earbuds and putting them in pairing mode. For whatever reason, we had some hiccups when trying to pair the earbuds to our computer, but pairing them to our smartphone took less than a minute. The SHADOW’s battery life is strong, lasting for eight hours.

These cordless earbuds have a one-year warranty, which is the same length as competing wireless earbuds. Sol Republic’s customer support agents are friendly and hold times were practically nonexistent. Besides phone calls, you can reach a support agent over email. Sol Republic also has social media accounts you can interact with, but the company lacks a live chat option.

Summary

Sol Republic’s SHADOW earbuds provided us with the best call quality and impressive sounding audio. However, the earbuds do let in some external noises. They are loud enough to drown it out but at the risk of damaging your hearing.

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Size & Fit

In a sense, earbuds are a lot like a pair of shoes. Some are more comfortable and fit better than others. With the JLab Epic earbuds, you can be certain you'll have a tight and comfortable fit, even if you have ears like Dumbo. You can even use these wireless earbuds when running. We also didn't have any issues with these earbuds falling out when lifting weights, jumping rope and doing calisthenics. JLab includes six different-sized silicone tips so you can get a secure and custom fit.

Even though the earbuds kept a tight seal and remained in our ears, they weren't as easy to put on as other earbuds. You have to wrap them around the back of your ear like a hook and then insert them into your ear canal upside down. The earbud's cord that wraps around your ear is flexible but remains secure. Weighing in at just 0.53 ounces, these earbuds are incredibly lightweight, and we were able to forget they were even there when wearing them for extended periods of time. If you aren't used to around-the-ear-style earbuds though, they may feel funny at first, but you get used to them after wearing them a few times.

Audio Performance

The sound of the Epic cordless earbuds is quite remarkable, considering their price point and the fact that they are wireless. During our sound quality tests, we noticed a trend with wireless earbuds – almost all of them have boosted bass, so you may want to increase the treble for a more balanced sound. This shouldn't be a huge problem, since several people listen to electronic, hip-hop or rock music while working out. While listening to Florence and the Machine's "Shake it Out," the vocals didn't sound as full as they would with a premium pair of headphones. Rest assured, the Epic earbuds sounded better compared to the other wireless earbuds we tested. They are capable of reproducing an array of frequency ranges and sound great.

Although we don't recommend using your earbuds at full volume, if you need to crank up the volume to block out your gym's radio, or any other background noise, these earbuds – which have an 8-mm driver – get quite loud. While wearing these earbuds in the office, people had to motion with their hands to get my attention, the seal is so strong. At the time, the earbuds weren't even at full volume.

Like other earbuds, the Epic has a three-button remote. To pair them to your smartphone, tablet, or computer, press and hold the center button. Pairing was seamless and took less than a minute. The remote, which is located behind your right ear, is easy to find and use. Other earbud remotes weren't positioned as well and felt harder to reach, especially while running.

Battery & Connectivity

The biggest annoyance with wireless earbuds is you have to remember to charge them. A rocking playlist can really make for a stellar workout. And when you open your gym bag, pull out your earbuds and put them in only to find out that they are dead, odds are you're going to be annoyed and a little less motivated to achieve your fitness goals. Fortunately, this pair of wireless earbuds have 10 hours of juice. Charging the buds with the included micro-USB cable on a Dell XPS laptop took a little more than three hours. A full charge lasted us an entire workout week.

We also tested the wireless range for these wireless Bluetooth earbuds. JLab advertises 30 feet, which is standard for most Bluetooth devices. We actually were able to go 85 feet away from our phone before the wireless signal started to break up. Your mileage will vary, depending on if you have lots of furniture or other obstacles that can impede the Bluetooth signal.

Convenience

These earbuds have a built-in microphone, so you can use them to make phone calls or interact with Siri or Google Now. However, since the mic is positioned behind your ear, it doesn't pick up your voice as well as a wired pair of earbuds would.

JLab Epic earbuds are water- and sweat-resistant so if you get caught in the rain or have an intense workout, you shouldn't worry about them breaking. They aren't completely waterproof, so you shouldn't wear them while swimming laps or in the shower. But make sure that the micro-USB port door is shut when wearing them everywhere else to lower the risk of potential water damage. Overall though, these headphones are quite durable. Even though JLab includes a case, we still threw them in a gym bag with sweaty clothes, tennis shoes, and a leaky water bottle without the case. The earbuds came out unscathed and fully operable. The same can be said when they were stashed in my work bag. They withstood the weight of 15-inch MacBook Pro no problem.

Help & Support

JLab provides fantastic customer support. These earbuds come with a one-year warranty. If you need help pairing the earbuds to your device or have any issues, you can reach out to the company by email, telephone or through JLab’s many social media channels. There isn't a live chat option, but JLab does have a FAQs page.

Summary

These are arguably one of the best pairs of wireless earbuds. They have impressive sound quality, a wide wireless range and are incredibly durable. The Epic earbuds fit in most sizes of ears and remain secure, even during the most strenuous of workouts. Not only that, they are comfortable, water-resistant and have a long lasting battery.

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Xiaomi made its first appearance at CES this year with the announcement of Mi TV 4 – which is just 4.9 millimeters thick – a whole 30 percent thinner than the iPhone.

The screen almost has no bezel, and it definitely turns some heads. However, it isn't the thinnest. LG unveiled its OLED TV W7, which is just 2.57 mm thick.

 

The display of the Xiaomi Mi TV 4 comes in three different sizes: 65, 59 and 49 inches. The 65-inch version comes with a separate sound bar, and Xiaomi claims the entire system will cost less than $2,000.

The largest model features a modular design that separates the panel from the rest of the components like the CPU and motherboard. These are connected to the display by a single proprietary cable. It also incorporates Dolby's upward-firing Atmos speakers which bounce sounds off your ceiling to create a unique surround sound effect. We saw a demo featuring a clip from the western "Magnificent Seven." The lead character was walking on a balcony above a saloon and the sound of footsteps really seemed as though they were coming from above our heads.

Besides the television, Xiaomi debuted its new Mi Router HD that has up to 8TB of built-in storage. The Wi-Fi router has an attractive aluminum casing and four powerful antennae that deliver speeds up to 2600 Mbps in 802.11ac standard. You can use the router as a NAS server if you wish. We also liked that it supports automatic syncing with Dropbox and lets you back up your devices with Time Machine. As far as pricing goes, the 1TB version will cost under $200; the larger 8TB version should cost less than $500.

Lastly, Xiaomi announced a white version of its Mi Mix smartphone, which will launch later this year. The phone features a gorgeous 6.4-inch (2020 x 1080) IPS LCD display, a speedy Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 processor, 4GB or 6GB of RAM, 128GB or 256GB of internal storage and a 4400 mAh battery.

To our disappointment, Xiaomi still hasn't announced U.S. availability of its products. Currently, the company only ships its products in China. The company says it does plan to launch its smartphones in the States "eventually," but it's hard to say when that will be.

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CES is likely the most opportune time to see and hear what electronics manufacturers are most excited about and what they predict the buying public will be interested in. CES 2017 continued that tradition with more companies than ever trying to win consumers' attention and business for headphones.

Prices for headphones range from bargain basement to the stratosphere. While there’s certainly some correlation between price and quality, there are some remarkably well-priced headphones that will meet the needs of lots of people under myriad circumstances. Here are a few over-the-ear headphones that opened our eyes at CES 2017.

If the Sky’s Not the Limit

If you have absolutely no room for compromise in your audio gear, not to mention virtually no limit to your bank account, there’s only one choice, the fabled Sennheiser HE-1 electrostatic headphones. After waiting for a couple of years in anticipation, CES 2017 was the first time I actually had an opportunity to listen to them, and it was an experience that I’ll not soon forget. Even firing them up is exciting as the eight vacuum tubes emerge from the amplifier that powers them. The amp is made of Carrara marble for a luxurious feel that lets you know that you’re special.

But how do they sound? As near to perfect as I can imagine. I simply heard the music, uncolored by the equipment that delivers it. And that’s the goal of audiophile gear. Pure music as the artist intended with no nuances blocking the way. The Sennheiser HE-1 is, as far as I can tell, the best headphone available. Period. The price, though, is well beyond the reach of almost all of us at $55,000. I certainly will never own a pair. Indeed, I don’t know anyone who is likely to buy them, but dreaming is free.

Beyond the HE-1, Sennheiser ranks consistently among our favorite headphones, and there are many from which to choose, including three wireless models announced at CES 2017.

Standouts That Real People Can Afford

Blue is a company that’s known for microphones. From studio models to a wide range of USB microphones, Blue is a favorite among podcasters. The company has added a range of headphones to its lineup. The new lineup, sporting female names including Ella, Sadie and Lola rather than model numbers, is notable. I particularly liked Ella, which, rather than the ubiquitous dynamic drivers design, is based on the superior technology of planar magnetic drivers. The sound is exceptionally clear and detailed.

V-Moda offers a wide range of quality headphones and earbuds. Its wired models generally have corresponding wireless offerings. The news here is in the quality of the Bluetooth headphones compared to their wired counterparts. I listened to the Crossfade Wireless headphones in both wired and wireless modes, finding there to be close to no difference. That says a lot, since we’d expect wireless sound quality to be less. V-Moda could be on to something here, and I’m anxious to test them in our own lab.

A wide selection of excellent headphones is available for listening at CES 2017. The new Sound Reality Hi-Res Audio models are exceptional. Sound is crisp and clean. Clean deep bass, strong mid-range and exhilarating treble is apparent in these phones. In-ear models are also available.

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For too long, it’s been easier to share the photos you take with your smartphone than those grabbed with your trusty DSLR. No matter how great your DSLR might be or how fine your skills are, when you just want to share that perfect moment to Twitter, Facebook or Instagram, using your smartphone is a guarantee that your friends and family will quickly see what the fuss is about. Using your camera means waiting until you can get home and fiddle with SD cards and oversized images.

No longer. At CES 2017 in Las Vegas, Nikon announced that it has integrated Wi-Fi, NFC and Bluetooth into one of our top picks for entry-level DSLRs: the 24.2MP D5600. It’s a move that could change the photo sharing game.

Why You Should Care

With its new and improved connectivity, every time you take a picture using a D5600, a low-res version gets automatically uploaded to your phone via Nikon's Snapbridge app – no more SD cards to transfer or cables to hook up between your camera and a computer. On top of that, the D5600 is one of the few DSLRs to sport a touchscreen, which means you can use your fingers to focus, shoot, crop and edit your pictures.

The D5600 also has a dedicated mic port and supports 1080p video recording at 60 fps, which makes it a good choice for budding filmmaker. Other specs include a 24.2MP sensor, 5 fps continuous shooting and an ISO range from 100 to 25,600.

Pricing & Availability

The D5600 will be available in late January 2017, starting at $799 for a kit including an 18-55mm lens. There will also be a kit featuring an 18-140mm VR lens for $1,200 and a two-lens kit with an 18-55mm lens and a 70-300mm lens for $1,150.

Outlook

The D5500 was already among our favorite DSLRs under $1,000, and with its new built-in Wi-Fi, NFC and Bluetooth, as well as simpler sharing and new touch-based controls and cropping, the D5600 is well-worth a $100 increase in price over its predecessor.

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Entry-level DSLRs are a fantastically reliable way to capture high-quality images and have remained the go-to choice for photography enthusiasts on a budget. In recent years, mirrorless cameras have been the real headline grabbers, boasting smaller, slimmer designs while entry-level DSLRs remain reliable as ever yet experience little more than incremental updates once a year or two.

This year at CES, the U.S. release announcement for the Nikon D5600 was the only update we saw for entry-level DSLRs, and while it’s an incredibly capable camera, most of its changes are relatively small. Those most noteworthy are its new Snapbridge connection, touchscreen scrubbing and in-camera time lapse creation.

The Snapbridge connection is an always-on low-power connection that the camera uses to automatically sync full-sized JPEGs with your smartphone or tablet. This is a relatively small change since Nikon’s entry-level DSLRs have had Wi-Fi and NFC for a while, but the automatic nature of it all could prove to make a big difference. The more steps we can take out of the process from shooting to sharing, the better.

The D5600 features a swiveling touchscreen display much like the cameras that preceded it. But regardless of the display, browsing through photos after a heavy day of shooting has always been challenging with the relatively basic controls found on an entry-level DSLR. To help alleviate this, the D5600's touchscreen now allows you to scrub through your photos much like you would scrub through a video on your phone, rather than swiping through photos individually.

In-camera time lapse is a great feature for those looking to create more than just photos with their camera. This mode lets you choose the duration, resolution and framerate of your photo, then the camera automatically takes photos at your predetermined intervals, combining all of the photos into a finished MOV file. It makes getting a DSLR-quality time lapse easier than ever before.

Aside from its stand-out features, there are many specs from the D5500 that carry over into the new version. The D5600 retains the same EXPEED 4 image processor, 5 fps continuous shooting and 39-point autofocus system as its predecessor. It also has essentially the same sensor.

The D5600 will ship with a 24.2-megapixel CMOS sensor. Like the sensor found in the D5500, it lacks an anti-aliasing filter. This can increase the instances of moiré, a strange effect caused by extremely fine or complicated patterns, but it makes for sharper, clearer images on the whole and is generally seen as a positive move.

Overall, we were impressed by the D5600 during our brief encounter with it at CES. However, with a retail price of $799.95, it’s definitely on the expensive end for an entry-level DSLR, but not unexpectedly so considering its robust feature set. For those looking for the same great image quality at a lower price, check out our other reviews .

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One exciting trend we saw at CES 2017 was the surge in gaming laptops priced below the $1,000 mark. In a category dominated by tricked-out gaming rigs that sell for thousands of dollars, the introduction of NVIDIA’s new GeForce GTX 1050 and 1050 Ti graphics open up new affordable options for anyone who wants gaming capability in an inexpensive laptop design. These discrete graphics cards offer gaming-grade performance on current titles, delivering 60 frames per second at full HD (1080p) resolution. In this affordable gaming category, we saw several new models announced by major manufacturers, including Acer, Dell, Lenovo and Samsung.

While there are some strong similarities between these four new systems, especially on the hardware front, they are far from identical. Varied features, capabilities and aesthetics make each one distinct. However, they all have one important thing in common: a price that puts PC gaming in the reach of many, many more people.

Dell Inspiron 15 Gaming

While Dell has primarily sold gaming systems under the Alienware brand, it announced an updated version of its unsung gaming hero, the Dell Inspiron 15 Gaming. We called it out recently as the best sub-$1,000 gaming laptop, and Dell has upped the ante with new hardware and an improved design.

The previous model was essentially a regular Inspiron with a fancy paint job, and the new version gets a makeover, with larger rear-facing ventilation grilles for better cooling, a patterned lattice speaker grille across the front of the chassis and a new aesthetic that makes it clear the laptop is built for the gaming grid.

The updated model benefits from NVIDIA’s new entry-level gaming graphics cards. While that’s a far cry from the multi-monitor 4K- and VR-ready performance more expensive models offer, gaming at 1080p is perfectly acceptable for the budget gamer. It’s even more acceptable in terms of price, with starting configurations selling for $799.

Lenovo Legion

Lenovo has renamed and rebranded its gaming laptop line. The once drab-sounding Ideapad Y series is now the Lenovo Legion line of gaming laptops. This week, Lenovo announced the first two members of the Legion family: the 15-inch Legion Y520 and the 17-inch Legion Y720.

The new Legion Y720 has plenty of gaming chops and some new glowing features. The laptop now has a multicolor backlit keyboard – a feature previously restricted to the most premium models. More importantly, it comes with the now standard NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 graphics and can be configured with up to a quad-core Core i7-7700HQ processor. New functions abound, with optional Microsoft Hello and surround sound, and VR capability comes standard on models with at least an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 GPU.

Lenovo has also added some software to expand the usefulness of your VR headsets. A VR media center lets you watch movies in a virtual theater and gives you the option to play many non-VR games through the headset, using your gaze for aiming and cursor control. The laptop has Xbox controller support built in, so there’s no need for any clunky dongles just to use your favorite gamepad.

The 15-inch Legion Y520 will be available this February with a starting price of $899, while the larger and better-appointed Legion Y720 should be available in April, with base configurations selling for $1,399 or more.

Samsung Odyssey

Samsung has jumped into gaming with both feet with the new Notebook Odyssey line of gaming laptops. These slim, affordable gaming rigs feature lightweight plastic designs with a lot of visual pizzazz. A glowing logo adorns the lid while a glossy, LED-backed visual feature surrounds the touchpad. Samsung points out that the Notebook Odyssey has sculpted keycaps for comfort and a dedicated button for performance boost.

The underside of the laptop is essentially an integrated cooling pad, allowing better airflow thanks to a patterned ventilation grille. The grille panel can also be removed, providing access to user-upgradeable RAM and SSD slots. The laptops will offer a number of configurable options, but the 15-inch model can be outfitted with up to 32GB of RAM, while the 17-inch boasts up to 64GB. The Notebook Odyssey will be available in 15- and 17-inch sizes, with both black and white options for the 15-inch model and the 17-inch available only in black.

The 15-inch Samsung Notebook Odyssey will be available sometime this spring, and the 17-inch model will follow later in the year. Pricing details were not yet available as of this writing.

Acer Aspire VX 15 Notebook

While Acer has been in the affordable gaming category for years with its Predator and Aspire Nitro V model lines, it also has something new up its sleeves for the introduction of NVIDIA’s new budget gaming cards. The Acer Aspire VX 15 may not have the snazzy Nitro name, but it looks a lot more like a gaming system, with a red-on-black color scheme, large red-ringed ventilation grilles on the back and a red backlit keyboard.

The Aspire VX 15 can be outfitted with up to an Intel Core i7-7700HQ quad-core processor and 16GB of RAM, though users can upgrade it themselves to as much as 32GB. It will also be available with either the new NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti or the VR-ready NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060. The laptop is available this month, starting at $799.

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