Category: Reviews

STK Cuboid 2 4000 mAh battery pack – Review

Mobile battery packs are a way of life these days, a kind of safety blanket that you keep in your rucksack, laptop bag, briefcase or handbag. It just sits there waiting to be pulled out and expected to charge your phone or tablet as fast as possible. Choosing …

Sony Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact unboxing and initial impressions

It is here. The day I’ve been waiting for. My newly acquired Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact has arrived. Although I had to wait a little longer than I would’ve liked (due to issues with the shipping companies), it’s here now. So, let’s find out if it was worth …

Google Cardboard review

After almost a month, my Google Cardboard has turned up. This self-assembled version was ordered some time ago from dx.com and cost just over £2 in the end. Oh yes. I’m reviewing some cardboard construction that costs less than a pint of beer. I think I’ve made it …

Nokia Lumia 735 review

Nokia would like as many people as possible to get a Windows Phone in their hands and enjoy the experience. In fact Microsoft would also like that as it helps build out their platform even further, which is why the two companies working together under the Microsoft brand going …

Reviewed – Rock Jaw Arcana Headphones

Not too long ago we reviewed the Rock Jaw Hydra headphones. Call them in-ear headphones, call them earphones, call them what you like. They were a bit bloomin’ good and cheaper than a lot of the posh pricey competitors. Now we’ve got these Arcana headphones. They cost the …

Lenovo Yoga Tablet 2 10.1 – Review

Lenovo are capable of big things, they are involved in many different areas of modern day mobile technology. Be it phones, Android tablets, Windows tablets, hybrid laptops, Chromebooks and even just plain old laptops and desktop PCs. Each and every year they push out new and updated devices …

Lenovo Tab S8 unboxing

  Well here we have my first Intel powered Android device, in the form of the brand New Lenovo Tab S8. I picked this little beauty up in PC World for £149.99. It pretty much went on sale a few days ago. The device is so new they …

MiPow Mirror Power 3000 Review

How can a mirror power your phone? How can you make a portable charger cool? How can you make your tech product appeal to those beautiful, beautiful ladies? All these answers and more coming up my friends, for this is the Mirror Power 3000. It solves the problem …

EE Osprey – Review

EE recently announced a range of new mobile connected devices including a new tablet called Eagle, an in-car WiFi option called Buzzard and this new MiFi – the Osprey. Whilst in London for a few days I was given the opportunity to try out one of these and see just …

Halloween Smartphone Spookiness. Morph Costumes reviewed.

When I was young we didn’t really do a great deal at Halloween. It was all “Penny for the guy” a few days later for Bonfire Night / Guy Fawkes Night. However, Halloween now seems to be as popular here in the UK as it is in the …

Hauppauge mySelfie review

Are you a selfie fan? Want more control? Well, this weird little gadget should suit you. Or should it? The mySelfie is a Bluetooth remote for your smartphone or tablet. Not only that but it’ll work as an anti-theft key ring to locate your phone or your keys. …

Sony Xperia Z3 Compact – Review

Iterative products are just a way of life these days. We get a new slightly updated device every few months, sometimes every six months, sometimes even every year, Sony have mastered the iterative product cycle, releasing new products every six months ensuring they stay current. A manufacturer finds …

Lenovo Yoga Tablet 2 – Initial Impressions

Lenovo are gradually becoming a household name in the UK. Thanks somewhat to their rather nice looking and great value for money laptops and also thanks to their range of tablets. Last week they announced a new range of tablets, the Yoga Tablet 2 and the Yoga Pro …

Reviewed – Rock Jaw Hydra headphones

If I’m brutally honest with you, I’d never heard of Rock Jaw before I started writing this review. However, what I did know (after a few minutes of Googling) is that .. a) They have a very cool name b) They’re based up the road in Belper, Derbyshire, …

SwannCloud HD Pan & Tilt WiFi Security Camera Review

Having the latest smartphone or tablet is one thing, but doing something really useful with it is another. Now, in the past we’ve seen security systems here at Coolsmartphone that’ll talk to your iPhone, Android or Windows handset. Remotely monitoring your home or getting informed when there’s movement …

LINDY BTS-360 Bluetooth speaker review

It’s fair to say that there’s quite a few Bluetooth speakers available. I usually put them into three categories. First there’s the many, many Bluetooth speakers you’ll see kicking around for the £15-£30 mark. They usually “do the job” in the sense that they’ll make things louder than …

Tesco Hudl 2 – Initial Impressions

The tablet market is as competitive as the phone market, with many manufacturers releasing devices in all different shapes, sizes and colours. Tesco are on their second device now, the original Hudl was a small seven inch tablet that seemed to be designed for kids or people who …

Sony Xperia Z3 Review

Oooh it is thinner and ….. um … lighter. That is what most people who pick up the new Z3 will say. Beyond that there are few visible cues to the fact that they are holding a newer phone. For the phone aficionados (like us) we will pick …

Motorola Moto G 2014 – Review

  The original Motorola Moto G was a great phone, it redefined a genre, it showed people that a reasonably cheap device could offer performance and an experience similar to phones costing way more than it did. Not only did the Moto G offer a whole load of …

Backbone iPhone 5s Wireless Charging Case Review

We see a lot of cases here at Coolsmartphone but we’ve been seeing an increasing profile from the people at Dog and Bone. This one is a bit special because it’s a case which makes your phone charge wirelessly and it comes with a clever charging base too. …

Lightning Rabbit phone cable review

This might be a bit of a short review if I’m honest. What can you say about that cable that arrives in the box with your mobile? One ends connects to your phone whilst the other either plugs into your charger or your computer for transferring files. All …

RHA MA 750i Earphones Review

RHA have been producing quality products from their Glasgow headquarters for a number of years now.  From their entry level MA350‘s to the more expensive MA600i’s, every product has so far oozed excellence from start to finish. Prior to the recent launch of the brand new high end …

My coverage of Bart’s Bash 2014

Well the event is done and now it’s time to review how the event went and how once again mobile tech helped me during the event. As those of you who read my previous article will know I was planning on covering the event for the site by …

Gigaset Tablet 8″ Review

I have been sent a new tablet through for review, this being The Gigaset Tablet 8 QV830 ( black version ). Never heard  of Gigaset ? well neither had I prior to hearing from them regarding this review. Gigaset is a German company that is one of the …

Sony Xperia Z3 Compact – Initial Impressions

Sony have carved themselves out a niche in the world of modern day smartphones. A niche for great looking, powerful, waterproof and damn good fun to own smartphones. The latest generation having only just been unveiled at IFA in Berlin a few weeks ago, when I saw the …

FIFA 15 Ultimate Team Launches on smartphones everywhere

With little fanfare, the latest instalment of FIFA has crept onto the app stores a little earlier than expected, bringing with it the usual high expectations. FIFA has much to live up to, but does it live up to the hype? Featuring the Ultimate Team format, FIFA 15 …

Edifier Bric Connect Review

We’ve had a variety of speakers here at Coolsmartphone and there’s a big range in quality. Some are quite small, lightweight and OK for carrying around on holiday. Others are definitely beefier, with some hefty sound and more suitable for sitting at home or the office. This is …

Misfit Shine Review

Well, I have to say, I didn’t think I’d gel with this thing to begin with. I’ve not worn a watch for a good many years and when I saw the rubber strap I presumed that this wouldn’t be my thing. The Misfit Shine is a fitness and …

Inateck BP1002B Bluetooth speaker review.

Following on from my other Inateck speaker  review I have been sent a further bluetooth speaker to review, this one being the entry level BP1002B portable speaker. Features : Bluetooth v2.1 and EDRAux-inBuilt-in-mic for handsfree calling. Charge via micro-USBBuilt in Li-Ion battery1 x 3W speakerDimensions: 61.5 x 61.5 x 71.5 …

Wait! Never mind the iPhone 6, what’s wrong with the iPhone 5s ?

Today we’re due to see the arrival of the iPhone 6. Apple are in the best position possible really. Whatever they produce. Whatever they announce, it’ll sell. It’ll sell incredibly well, and then some. Before I get the almost inevitable criticism, I should point out that I’m usually …

Hannspree CT23H0B Android All In One – Review

The lines between devices are becoming blurred these days, what with phones getting bigger, tablets getting smaller, laptops trying to be tablets, desktop PCs trying to still be relevant and Android and Windows 8 both trying their hardest to work well on all of those devices. I have …

LG G3 Otterbox Symmetry Case – Review

Owning a flagship device is tough sometimes, the constant anguish over potentially smashing your phone into dozens of pieces is a daily problem for me and as such I always try and buy the most rugged and tough case I can find for my lovely phone. With my …

Taking a ride with the READYACTION chest harness

Morning all. How’s your Tuesday? Put your hands up if you remember our piece about the READYACTION chest harness? We showed how it worked in an all-action video of my kitchen. Oh yes. Rock ‘n ROLL! However, there’s a lot more potential in the READYACTION kit, and this …

Travelcard Charger – Review

Back in March I did a small post about a portable battery pack, I was keeping an eye on over on Kickstarter, called the Travelcard Charger (see here), anyway I finally got my unit through, so after popping it on charge I thought I would give it a …

Solar Technology Freeloader Solar Charger – Review

There are many constants within life, one being that the sun will rise every single day, providing us with warmth and energy. The other most important constant in life is that your phone will probably need charging at some point in every single day of your life. Solar …

MiPow PLAYBULB review

The bulb you screw into your light fitting has one simple task – to provide light. It’s a standard and rather boring task but, with the new eco-friendly bulbs costing more than the old-style bulbs, why not add something extra? This, for £59.99 (although I’ve seen them cheaper), …

Reviews – Get Notified of Reviews for your favourite apps

Reviews is an iOS app targeted towards developers. It allows you to monitor reviews for apps from all App Store territories. The creators clearly have an eye for design: leaving out all unnecessary chrome and features. Reviews first opens without any apps added. This is probably for the best …

Going on holiday? Don’t forget to use protection

Some months ago I wrote up a review of this TouchAbility waterproof case. If I remember correctly I splashed it with water, got the hose-pipe on it and gave it some positive feedback. However, it’s rare that reviewers get enough time to do a full-on test. Say, for …