Even though earbud manufacturers focus on improving the ANC technology, sometimes you need the opposite — to minimize the noise cancellation in favor of being aware of your surroundings.
OneOdio’s recent entry, the OpenRock Pro, is their first open-ear air conduction earbuds to help you achieve both. You can enjoy your music while also hearing the world around you.
But can these earphones provide a sound quality on par with popular modern earbuds? Follow our OneOdio OpenRock Pro review to find out.
Air Conduction vs. Bone Conduction
Many open-ear design headsets feature bone conduction technology, so let’s quickly look at how this differs from traditional air conduction.
Air conduction earbuds and bone conduction earbuds differ in how they transmit sound to your ears.
Air conduction earbuds are the traditional type that most people are familiar with. They produce sound waves that travel through the air and enter your ear canal. These earbuds sit inside or at the entrance of your ear and direct sound toward your eardrum. They create an enclosed listening environment, providing direct sound to your inner ear. Most common headphones and earphones, including the OneOdio OpenRock Pro wireless earbuds, fall under this category.
Bone conduction headphones work differently. They use bone conduction technology instead of sending sound through the air and into your ear canal. These earbuds rest on the bones near your ear, typically on your cheekbones. They generate vibrations that travel through your bones to the cochlea, bypassing the outer and middle ear. This is particularly useful for people with outer or middle-ear hearing impairment. Bone conduction allows you to perceive sound while keeping your ears open, which can benefit situational awareness, like during outdoor activities.
To sum it up, air conduction earbuds deliver sound through the air into your ear canal, while bone conduction earbuds use vibrations through bones to transmit sound directly to your inner ear, bypassing the ear canal.
OneOdio OpenRock Pro: First Impressions & Specs
The OpenRock Pro earbuds rely on air conduction technology. However, they feature an open-ear design simultaneously, making them an attractive choice for sports and other activities that require a lot of movement and being aware of your surroundings.
Instead of utilizing bone conduction technology, which can often compromise sound quality, the OpenRock Pro uses a sizable driver to direct sound towards the inner ear, which helps to deliver a unique auditory experience.
While the sound isn’t entirely sealed within the ears, the design aims to focus sound towards the ear, mitigating sound dissipation, especially at higher volumes. The OpenRock TubeBass technology enhances bass frequencies, providing a rich audio experience. Plus, the support for aptX codec ensures a high-quality audio transmission.
In terms of practicality, the OneOdio OpenRock Pro is an interesting alternative to conventional in-ear earbuds. It balances comfort and audio quality and caters to those seeking a longer, more comfortable listening experience.
Here’s a complete list of specs of the OneOdio OpenRock Pro:
- Dimensions:
- Weight: 0.2 lbs (90 g) for the set
- Microphones: CVC 8.0 dual noise-canceling microphone
- Supported codecs: aptX, AAC, SBC
- Driver size: 16.2 mm dynamic
- Bluetooth: 5.2
- Water resistance: IPX5
- Compatibility: A2DP, AVRCP, HFP, HSP
- Noise cancellation: yes
- Battery: 19 hours (headset only), 46 hours (charging case)
- Case battery: 400mAh
- Charging Port: Type-C
- Color: black, silver, khaki
- Price: $129.99 on the OneOdio website and on Amazon .
Design and Unpacking
The design of the OpenRock Pro earbuds deviates from traditional TWS earbuds. While resembling bone conduction headphones, these earbuds are larger and sit securely on the auricle, which ensures a snug fit. The flexible neck and adjustable ear hooks provide a customized and comfortable fit, making them ideal for extended use.
What’s in the Box
Here’s everything you’ll find in the box while unpacking your OpenRock Pro:
- OneOdio OpenRock Pro earbuds
- Charging case
- USB-A to USB-C charging cable
- User manual
When you first open the OneOdio OpenRock Pro earbuds box, you’ll notice how neat and organized everything is. The earbuds have a modern, comfy design. They’re not heavy, with only 0.2 lbs weight for the whole set, and they look fantastic with a smooth, non-shiny finish.
I tested the black earbuds. The silver parts and the logo also add a nice touch to them.
The charging case is also black with a matte finish. There’s no display, and the style is rather minimalistic, but I can appreciate that.
The charging case may seem too chunky for some, so you can buy a silicone case for carrying your earbuds separately or in a bundle when purchasing your OpenRock Pro. The silicone case is stylish and smooth, but the downside is that your earbuds won’t recharge when you carry them like that.
Another thing I appreciate about the earbuds’ design is using a physical button. Usually, the touch control annoys me, as it’s almost always laggy, and more often than not, it won’t react to my gestures from the first attempt. OpenRock Pro features a multifunctional physical button that you can use for different things like changing the volume, switching songs, and answering calls.
Getting the earbuds to connect to your phone (Android or Apple iPhone) or computer is easy, too thanks to the Bluetooth 5.2 support, which provides a strong and stable connection to your device.
The OneOdio OpenRock Pro earbuds are designed to look good, feel nice in your ears, and be easy to use. The packaging is tidy and has everything you need to use immediately — even the separate card explaining how to wear the earbuds correctly.
Performance & Features
The unique shape and fit of the OpenRock Pro earbuds stand out as a unique feature. Yet, the big question is: Do these earbuds give a good listening experience?
To make them even better than similar open-ear headphones, OneOdio used the special TubeBass technology. This audio refinement makes the lower sounds feel more surrounding and deep. Also, the vocals and speaking parts are clear and full in both phone calls and music tracks.
In terms of bass, this creates a more surrounding sound, especially when the volume is turned up. This offers a great listening experience without sound spilling out. It won’t disturb others as much as regular headphones at lower volumes, even at the highest volume.
Speaking of volume, when testing the earbuds on a busy street with lots of background noise, I had to raise the volume to 70-80% to continue listening to music comfortably. However, when I asked a friend to do the same, he complained that the earbuds weren’t loud enough, even at the maximum volume. So, depending on your sensitivity and volume preferences, you may be disappointed with the top volume that the OpenRock Pro can produce.
In a nutshell, the air conduction directs the sound well into your ear. Combined with the open design that balances air pressure, you can enjoy longer listening sessions without discomfort.
Sound Quality
Figuring out how to wear the earbuds and mastering the intuitive controls on each earbud should take little time and effort. You shouldn’t have a problem with the physical buttons, even with larger hands.
Whether in a call or in music, mastering the controls relies on quick, intuitive presses. The OpenRock Pro adds an intelligent touch with timed presses, preventing accidental song skips or call declines. Generally, the buttons are highly responsive, but there might be occasional hiccups where they pause instead of volume control or changing tracks.
After the initial pairing, Bluetooth 5.2 ensures a swift reconnection with your last linked device.
In its default volume range, the OpenRock Pro strikes a nice balance and provides an immersive audio experience while staying attuned to your surroundings. Even at max volume, complete noise isolation isn’t the aim, aligning with the open-ear design philosophy.
Despite the impressive dual noise-canceling microphones, environmental sounds may blend in. The dynamic drivers do great when it comes to sound transmission. However, depending on your environment, you may want to tweak it for the best possible sound quality.
Battery Life
If you’re looking for headphones with long-lasting battery life, the OpenRock Pro offers an impressive 46 hours of playtime on a full charge with its case, making it a tempting choice. However, it’s important to note that the case is relatively large, which could be a trade-off for some people. Plus, the case doesn’t sit flat, potentially making it wobbly on surfaces.
Without the case, you can enjoy up to nineteen hours using headphones, which should suffice for most outings. Remember that battery life may vary based on audio type, volume levels, and operating conditions. If you listen at maximum volume, expect a slightly shorter operating time.
If you ever need to check the battery status, you’ll find a button at the bottom of the charging case. A green light indicates a healthy range of 51% and above, while orange (21-50%) and red (0-20%) lights signal the remaining battery percentages.
Even if the battery is low, a quick charge of 5-10 minutes using the included USB cable provides an additional hour of use.
Should You Buy the OneOdio OpenRock Pro?
If you’re an active person on the lookout for sports earbuds with a long battery life, the OneOdio OpenRock Pro is definitely worth buying. These open-ear earbuds allow you to listen to music and podcasts and take calls comfortably without compromising the sound quality too much.
Even if you’re not looking for a pair of sports earbuds, I recommend getting the OpenRock Pro as a spare set of headphones for long trips and long hours of airport wait. The open-ear design and flexible ear hooks provide a comfortable fit while allowing you to overhear important announcements about your flight.
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If you don’t have a full-sized printing machine at home and often need to print a document on the go, check out the Newyes portable printer . This wireless printer is lightweight and small enough to fit in your bag. Not to mention it’s environmentally friendly, since it uses thermal paper instead of ink.
Follow our review of the Newyes portable wireless thermal printer to see if it suits your printing needs.
Newyes Portable Wireless Thermal A4 Printer: First Impressions & Specs
When I was a student, I remember my university always required hard copies of documents. Luckily, there was a print shop on campus where I could always pop in to print something.
Then I became a professional, and to my surprise many life spheres still required me to have printed versions of documents with me. Of course you can get your own full-sized machine to print things at home, but if like me you live in a small apartment, you value every extra bit of space and don’t want a massive printer to take it up.
One day, when I was looking for a neighbor with a printer to help me with my event tickets, they introduced me to the concept of a portable printer. Seeing how easy it is to use, I immediately wanted to get my hands on one of those. So here I am, reviewing one of the most useful gadgets I received recently – the Newyes portable thermal printer.
Before we continue with this review, here is the full list of specs of this printer.
- Model: Newyes LD0801
- Dimensions: 10.4 x 1.2 x 2.28 in (265 x 58 x 30.5 mm)
- Weight: 16.8oz (475g)
- Paper format: A4
- Paper width: 210mm or 218mm
- Printing Type: thermal paper
- Resolution: 203DPI
- Connectivity: Bluetooth
- Charging port: USB type-C port
- Input Voltage: DC 5V / 2A
- Battery: 1200mAh lithium battery
- Charging time: 75 min
- Automatic shut down: after 30 minutes
- Stand-by: about 30 days
- Extra features: LED light, reset, on / off switch button
- Color: white, black
- Warranty: limited one year warranty
- Price: $199 on the Newyes website
If you find yourself in need of hard copies of important documents while on the move, the Newyes portable wireless thermal printer will become your go-to gadget. Newyes calls it “the world’s smallest printer”, and with the weight of under 500g this seems plausible. This mini printer offers a handy solution for those moments when you need to quickly print an important document but don’t have access to an office setup.
Operating this printer is a breeze – a simple Bluetooth connection is all that’s required. Once connected, just fire up the app, choose the file you want to print, and send it over. Efficiency is at the forefront, and you can easily print multiple sheets by inserting new pages back to back.
The only limitation this printer has is that it can only print in black. So even if your original file is in color, the printed document will still come out in black and white. Other than that – you can print a variety of file types including Excel, Word, PDF, JPG, PNG, and web pages – and it only takes seconds.
The Newyes portable wireless printer combines convenience, portability, and efficiency – all the things I appreciate in a modern gadget.
Design and Unpacking
Let’s have a closer look at the design and build of this smart printer, as well as what you get included in the package when you purchase it.
What’s in the Box
Here’s everything you’ll find when unpacking your Newyes portable thermal printer:
- The Newyes portable wireless thermal printer
- Bracket
- USB type-C cable
- Storage/carrying pouch
- 100pcs thermal printing paper
- User manual
You can use the Newyes portable printer right out of the box, as you’re all set with essential accessories. Aside from the printer itself, the package includes a bracket which will make printing more than one page smoother, a convenient storage bag for carrying your printer with you, a USB-C cable for charging, and a supply of 100 pieces of thermal paper to get you started.
One important thing to remember is that this printer only works with thermal paper. While thermal paper is significantly more expensive than normal paper, this printer also uses inkless printing and works without a ribbon and toner. Since you don’t have to spend money on ink, carbon ribbons or toner cartridges, you ultimately end up saving money with thermal paper.
The Newyes LD0801 is a pocket-sized printer that features straightforward design. For the purpose of this review, I had a printer in white color. The printer looks like a small white brick with just two pressable buttons on top – one for switching it on and off, and another for opening the printer’s cover. You’ll also see the paper entry slot on top of the printer.
On the side of the printer, you’ll find a single charging port.
The printer is made of plastic, but the build feels sturdy. I never have to worry about throwing it into my bag or damaging it when traveling. Besides, you can use a nice carrying pouch included in the package for protection.
Performance & Features
According to Newyes, the portable printer has a “handheld size and two times the weight of an iPhone”. This can give you an idea of how portable and convenient this little gadget is. In a month of testing, I used it at home, in a store, and even in a car while on the road.
Using the printer is unbelievably easy. Connect it to your mobile phone via Bluetooth, press the button to turn the printer on and put a sheet of thermal paper into the paper entry slot. Make sure to use thermal paper and not standard paper, and put it with the black marks facing down. Bear in mind that the thermal printer can only print in black and white and only on one (marked) side of the thermal paper sheet.
Then open the iPrint app on your smartphone. If you’re printing an A4 document, you can select one of two options – Photo Printing and Document Printing . Then choose the document from your phone’s files and print it.
The printer is reliable and in the time that I used it the Newyes LD0801 never let me down. The printing quality will surprise you, as it’s sometimes better than what you get from a full-sized printer. The printer supports printing in various formats, and you can use it to print documents from your smartphone (Android and iPhone), iPad, and Android tablet.
When fully charged, the printer can support up to 90 pieces of paper continuously, which is very impressive for a gadget of such a small size.
Software
The Newyes portable printer requires an iPrint app to operate. The app is available for free on iOS and Android. You’ll need to download the app on your device from the App Store or Google Play before you begin printing your documents.
The app has a simple and user-friendly design. You’ll need to pair your device with the printer on the first use via Bluetooth.
Depending on the type of document you want to print, you can choose different options from the app. There’s photo printing, document printing, web printing, and banner printing.
The app also has Materials and Template sections, where you can find various pictures and templates for printing to-do lists, post-its and holiday cards. You can also use the Newyes LD0801 as a label printer using these templates.
Battery Life
The Newyes portable wireless thermal printer is equipped with a decent 1200mAh lithium battery. This high-capacity battery allows you to print on the go without constantly worrying about running out of charge. When I received the printer, I charged it fully once, and it still hasn’t run out of battery after one month of use (I use it to print something almost every other day).
Charging this printer is quick and takes just over an hour to charge the printer from zero to full. The type-C charging cable facilitates a rapid charging experience. And if you run out of battery while on the go, you can quickly charge the printer from a portable power station or a power bank to continue printing.
The printer doesn’t support wireless charging, so I’d recommend always bringing the usb-c cable with you just in case.
Should You Buy the Newyes Portable Wireless Thermal Printer?
The Newyes portable thermal printer ensures high-quality wireless printing while on the go and easy operation. It’s not the most budget-friendly option, but this purchase will save you money and nerves in the long run thanks to its versatility and portable nature.
Personally, I can say that this printer made my life easier. So much that it’s probably my favorite smart gadget of the year. If you’re looking for a portable printer that won’t take any space in your house, I’d certainly recommend considering the Newyes LD0801 model.
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