• EBL 3.7V Li-ion Rechargeable Batteries — 3000 mAh
• Kiminors 3.7V 18650 Rechargeable Battery — 3200 mAh

Our recommended 18650 battery charger: XTAR VC2

About 18650 Batteries

What are the advantages of 18650 batteries? They are 3.7-volt lithium-ion batteries that can be recharged and are compatible with a wide range of electronics, including laptops, digital cameras, flashlights, and even electric car batteries.

Panasonic, Sanyo, Samsung, and LG are the top level 18650 cell manufacturers, making long lasting cells in a standard size (18 mm by 65 mm) that fits all 18650 compatible devices. Chinese knockoffs are available for cheaper but are prone to shorter lifespans and aren’t always uniform in size. As a rule, be wary of “protected” 18650 batteries, which have small circuit boards at the bottom that do not fit some electronics, such as flashlights.

High-drain batteries are safer and designed for high current devices, such as vaporizers. They are also less wasteful, meaning they have a longer life cycle and can last for more recharges.

18650 Battery Chargers

The best part about 18650 batteries is that they can be recharged. That means you will need a reliable charger to keep them energized and in working order. I like the XTAR VC2 charger because it has an informative LCD screen display.

The LCD screen tells you the real mAh capacity of your batteries, so you can make sure they are getting the advertised amount of fill or identify when they are losing efficiency.

The post The Best 18650 Batteries appeared first on Reactual.

• Samsung Galaxy Active Pro: Certified and tested to be military standard (MIL-STD-810G) for drops, shocks, vibration, rain, dirt, mud, sand, water, altitude, freeze & thaw, temperature range, temperature shock, and humidity
• Samsung Galaxy Tab Active2: Similar to the Pro, less expensive
• WinBridge S933L which runs Android and its rated at IP68 (this guarantees protection in water up to 1.5 meter deep for 30 minutes. It also ensures dust and shock resistance)
• Vanquisher 8″ tablet, which runs Windows and is IP67 rated (protection in water up to 1 meter deep for 30 minutes. It also ensures dust and shock resistance)

The Details: The Best Waterproof Tablet

Samsung’s Galaxy Active Pro is a ruggedized version the flagship Galaxy tablet. It is protected by protective silicone edging and a sturdy internal frame. It has an impressive IP67 rating, which means it has complete protection against contact from dust and is safe in up to 1m of water immersion.

I has some other ruggedized features:

• Water-resistant touch screen
• Glove mode for winter use
• Includes IP68-Certified Samsung S Pen
• Facial recognition for unlocking while wearing gloves

The Galaxy Active Pro is available on Amazon for around $745.

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The world’s thinnest tablet in the “mini” category, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S2, runs Android 5.0 (Lollipop) OS and has a 2048 x 1536 screen resolution. Its Quad 1.9GHz Intel processor and 32 GB Flash Memory makes it a capable machine for browsing the internet and for running apps from the Google Play Store.

The AMOLED display delivers the vibrant, lifelike colors with deep contrast and rich display that consumers have come to expect from Samsung’s flagship line of portable electronics. The Galaxy S2’s rear-facing 8-megapixel camera takes reasonably good pictures, although your phone likely has a better camera. Its battery life also leaves something to be desired. The battery lasts six hours on average.

The Galaxy’s most attractive feature is, of course, its svelte figure. At .22,” it is even thinner than the iPad Air 2. Other perks such as Samsung’s exclusive Smart Switch software and fingerprint scanning round out the tablet.

Samsung also offers a 9.7” edition of the Galaxy Tab S2.

The Thinnest Tablet Running Windows: Toshiba dynaPad

While the Android OS is fine for entertainment purposes, you will want a tablet with Windows OS if you intend to do serious work on your tablet. Think of the Galaxy Tab as an over-sized smartphone and of the dynaPad as an undersized laptop.

The dynaPad packs much more impressive hardware in its extra .05” of thickness. It runs the powerful Intel Atom CPU and has 4GB of RAM and 65GB of internal storage. Engadget writes:

“The 1.28-pound tablet feels at once luxuriously light and reassuringly well-built. The secret ingredient is a carbon fiber frame that’s coated in a soft, rubbery paint that makes the device easier to grip than a big-screen tablet ought to be. It also helps that the device has a mix of rounded corners and flat, slightly chamfered edges.”

It has Gorilla glass screen, which is resistant to scratches and cracks, and a sturdy carbon-fiber frame. The dynaPad’s durability is a great asset for an ultrathin tablet, because it doesn’t require a bulky case for protection.

The dynaPad is now available for pre-order and will be sold online and in Windows stores later this month.

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A soundbar is a thin bar with multiple drivers. They point the speakers directly at your couch, with different tweeters and woofers replicating highs and lows. Newer soundbars include wireless connectivity options, making them hassle free compared to a full surround sound system. No soundbar will ever compete with the fidelity of traditional speakers, the drivers are just not large enough, but they can fill a small room with lush noise. These are the best soundbars available right now.

Best Overall Soundbar of 2016: Samsung HW-K950

The Samsung HW-K950 is the biggest leap forward in soundbar technology of the year. Released in summer 2016, the soundbar boasts Dolby Atmos, 4k/HDR, and 5.1.4 channel surround sound. One big drawback: it does not offer DTS-HD. So if you want the best possible sound quality out of a soundbar and don’t plan on playing Blu-rays on an older player, this is the soundbar for you.

Most soundbars simply can’t replicate the immersive multi-directional sound of a proper home theater system. Samsung shortens the gap with one of two soundbars released this year that features Dolby Atmos (the other is the Yamaha YSP-5600, which has DTS:X support but suffers from poor design). For those who don’t know, Dolby Atmos is an audio format designed to deliver three-dimensional sound. It’s what makes makes you think a helicopter is actually whirling overhead, or what clues you in to the sound of footsteps approaching from a distance.

The HW-K950 delivers Atmos sound from 15 built-in speakers. Most of those drivers come from the main soundbar itself, a minimalist 47 inch unit with metal grills and brushed metal dim plates. It has 3 forward firing channels, with twin mid-range drivers and a wide-range tweeter engineered just for the soundbar. Atop the wide bar are two upward firing full-range drivers that provide front overhead effects.  The rest of the sound comes from two wireless rear speakers with front and upward firing speakers and a wireless 160W sub-woofer. All drivers come with their own amplifier.

The sound is extremely crisp and expansive on Dolby Atmos and Dolby Digital 5.1 compatible files. It is extremely clean and captures everything from dialogue to bass-heavy music in a way you thought a soundbar could not. The set up is easy and, unlike many previous-generation high end soundbars, it comes with 2 HDMI plugs. So unlike the popular SONOS soundbar, your audio isn’t rerouted through a optical port.

There are two big drawbacks to this soundbar. The first is the price. It’s an expensive package, but it includes the sub-woofer and rear speakers. You can definitely find better quality used home theater equipment for the same price range, but you lose all the convenience and connectivity the soundbar offers. So it depends on your needs. If you’re building a home theater, look elsewhere. If you want three-dimensional Dolby Atmos sound in your apartment without a receiver and a bunch of speakers, this wireless setup can’t be beat.

The main drawback, and this is a huge one, is that it does not support DTS-HD Master Audio, the most common format for many Blu-Ray movies. Newer Blu-Ray players do support Atmos, so you will have to check your player.

Best Value Soundbar: Vizio SB3851-C0

If you don’t want to spend a grand on a soundbar but still want a powerful upgrade from your TV speakers, check out Vizio’s SB3851-C0. For less than $300 you get 5.1 sound with a wireless sub-woofer and 2 rear satellite speakers.

This model captures engrossing Dolby Digital 5.1 sound, faithfully replicating highs and lows. The 6″ driver on the sub delivers a serviceable bass, definitely the best you will experience at this price range. It has an impress 100dB sound with less than 1% total harmonic distortion. Connect music directly with a Bluetooth. The setup is easy, and the 38 inch aluminum accented soundbar looks nice in the living room.

Unfortunately the unit lacks an HDMI connection. It also lacks EQ options to satisfy an audiophile.

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The Details

Unlike a mechanical hard drive, an SSD doesn’t have any moving parts. With more components and exposed circuitry, a HDD is vulnerable to mechanical failure. The SSD can access and write data much faster and is resistant to physical shock. But advertised SSD benchmarks are hard to pin down, as they depend on the type of data transfer and a drive’s age.

Although data shows that SDDs have a much lower fail rate than HDDs, lower end models have a lifespan of only a few years and decline with age. So while the spinning platter on a HDD can theoretically store infinite writes, data is rewritten on the chip in a SSD. Luckily, recent innovations in the way flash data is transferred maximize the speed of SSDs while extending their active life.

Fastest SSD Overall: Samsung 850 Pro SSD

I weighed a few factors to decide the fastest SSD. First, I wanted a close balance between read and write performance. Sequential read and write performance are based on how fast a hard drive can read and write data onto the drive. The read and write speeds are important if you are moving around large chunks of data as quickly as possible, as a web developer might. I also wanted strong IOPs (Input/output operations) performance based on real-world workloads.  The 4KB speed determines performance and speed during small transfers of data, like your quotidian browsing and gaming. Finally, I factored in reliability and lifespan, which vary wildly in the SSD market. By these metrics, I determined that the Samsung 850 PRO is the fastest SSD drive available.

The drive’s performance rests on the laurels of its V-NAND chip. The 850 PRO is the first commercial drive to use 3D NAND. NAND is the type of solid-state flash memory cell to which your data is transferred and stored. It is also endures a limited number of writes, which is why SSDs deteriorate over the years. Samsung stacked 32 cell layers vertically, allowing them to achieve higher density and the capacity to deliver higher performance and reliability over time. Instead of a 3 or 5 year lifespan, Samsung designed the 850 PRO  to handle a minimum of 150 Terabytes Written, or a 40 GB daily read/write workload over 10 years. It comes with a 10 year warranty, a true feat in the SSD world.

The innovative vertical flash is paired with a 3-core MEX controller and 1 GB DDR2 cache. As a result, the Samsung delivers the fastest speeds of any consumer SSD. It has a sequential read/write speed of 550/520 MB/s, and 4KB random read/write speeds of 100,000/90,000 IOPS. Wary of manufacturer provided benchmarks? I don’t blame you, as they vary wildly for SSDs and rarely translate to a typical consumer performance. But the Samsung 850 Pro dominates the effective speed category on userbenchmark.com, where PC owners can upload benchmark performance. So gamers, media professionals, and other PC users find the fastest bet in the Samsung Pro.

Other perks include rapid RAM cache acceleration, full drive encryption, and free data migration. The 850 PRO’s security complies with TCG Opal v.20 and gives you the option to instantly erase data and sanitize your drive with a crypto erase feature. It works with Windows 10/8/7/Vista SP1 and above (32/64 bit), Widows Server 2008 (32/64 bit), and is Linux Compatible.

The main downside is the price. A 1TB drive costs over $400, while 256GB costs over $100.

Another Option: Mushkin Reactor

Mushkin’s Reactor SSD drives deliver impressive performance and storage capacity at a discounted price. Every component in the Reactor is designed to deliver high benchmarks while lowering the cost of production. Its quad channel Silicon Motion controller delivers sequential read/write speed of 560/460MBs and 4K random read/write speeds of 74,000/76,000. At 1TB for just over $200, those speeds are an incredible value for gamers.

So what are the sacrifices, besides a 9% drop in effective speed? The Reactor does not come with any data transfer software, so you’ll need to use a cloning program like EaseUS. It uses MLC NAND flash memory, so it will not last as long as the 850 PRO. It comes with a 3 year warranty.

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• The Fastest External Hard Drive: Samsung T3
• The Fastest Mechanical External Hard Drive: Seagate Backup Plus Fast

In our mobile world it is more important than ever to be able to move large amounts of data at quick speeds. Right now there are three popular methods of moving and storing files: flash drives, cloud storage, and external hard drives. Of these options, external hard drives are your best bet.

While affordable, USB Flashdrives are just way too slow for all but the simplest of file transfers. And while cloud storage is an increasingly viable option, it does require an internet connection and opens you up to security threats. The Dropbox hack proves that sensitive data should be stored on physical hard drives. Finally, it takes a long time to transfer data over the cloud. External hard drives have the advantage of both speed and security. I looked at the recent generation to determine the fastest external hard drive.

The Fastest External Hard Drive: Samsung T3

The Samsung T3 combines solid state drive technology with a USB-C connection to provide the fastest read-write speeds of any external storage unit. It achieves 450MBs read/write speeds, which puts it on par with many internal SSDs. But it really shines when compared to even the fastest mechanical external hard drives, which sustain speeds around 230MBs. The T3 isn’t just the fastest external hard drive, it delivers the best overall experience, albeit at a very high price tag.

So why is this drive so fast? First, it benefits from Samsung’s experience as the industry leader in the internal SSD market. Samsung’s 850 PRO and EVO SSDs use V-NAND flash memory to store data, 32 vertical NAND cell layers that have a higher density and better efficiency than regular flash memory. The T3 uses this technology as well, allowing for a capacity of up 2TB in a small case.

It also incorporates a USB-C connector that supports USB 3.1 gen 1, which offers a transfer rate of 5GBps. USB 3.1 gen 2 reaches 10GBps, but is not yet supported by any external SSDs. The T3 also supports UASP, a USB protocol that speeds up data transfer. Reviewer benchmarks found that the T3 excelled at transferring incompressible data such as HD video files.

In addition to speed, the T3 outperforms external HDDs in both portability and durability. The palm-sized device is truly portable, letting you carry 2 TBs in your pocket without a second thought. It’s a lightweight 1.8 ounces, and has a dimension of 2.9 x 2.3 x 0.4 inches, making other SSDs seem bulky. And unlike a mechanical hard drive, a SSD has no moving parts. That makes it shock resistant and protects your data against accidental drops or magnetic fields. The T3 has rugged aluminum casing and an internal frame that is shock resistant up to 1500G force. You can accidentally knock it off your desk without having a heart attack.

In addition to safeguarding against clumsiness, the T3 protects your files against digital threats. It includes AES 256-bit encryption algorithm. It is compatible with Windows, Mac & Android OS.

The downside is that you need to pay for speed. The T3 costs about $0.4 per gigabyte, which is 10x more expensive than the fastest HDDs.

The Fastest Mechanical External Hard Drive: Seagate Backup Plus Fast

The major advantage mechanical hard drives hold over SSDs remains their price. The truth is that they deliver way more storage for a fraction of an SSD’s cost. So if you want both value and speed, go with the 4TB Seagate Backup Plus Fast. It is the fastest external HDD on the market and costs the same as a 500GB T3.

The Backup Plus Fast delivers transfer speeds that top off at 230MBs. That’s about half the peak performance of the T3, but 2x faster than most external HDDs. Inside the black plastic casing you’ll find two hard drives stacked on top of each other. This design accounts for the fast speed and immense memory, but makes the drive very bulky. In fact, it weighs nearly a pound and is almost an inch thick. You definitely won’t be carrying it around in your pocket.

It hooks up to your Mac or PC via a USB 3.0 cable and comes with backup software. Unfortunately, you might need that backup software because the drive is susceptible to RAID0, a type of data loss that occurs if one of the two drives should fail.  The Backup Plus Fast comes with a 3-year warranty, but its best to use the drive as a backup for important files.

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The Details

Portable electronics are only as useful as their battery life. If you get caught away from a power outlet with a low charge and no external power source then it doesn’t much matter what other specs your device has. But an answer is out there. Portable chargers are an inexpensive and convenient answer to one of the modern world’s little frustrations. They are ideal for vacationers, business travelers, and just about anyone who is worried that their cell phone or tablet might not make it through a full day of extensive use.

But what should you look for in a portable charger? It depends on what you need. If that need is to simultaneously charge multiple devices, veer toward high capacity chargers.

The capacity of a battery is expressed in milliampere-hour (mAh), a unit of electric charge  that measures power delivered over discharge interval. The higher the mAh, the larger the charging capacity. A 3000 mAh portable charger will charge an iPhone 6 once. A 20000 mAh charger will fill the phone 7 times.

Lower mAh batteries will recharge a device quicker than their high capacity competitors, so go with them if you prize speed over quantity. They also are smaller and lighter because they have less cells.

Ruggedized and waterproof options are also available for those who need to recharge their phone or tablets on the beach.

Ultimately, try and strike a balance between value, portability, durability, capacity and speed.

Best Overall Portable Charger: Intocircuit External Battery

Durable, compact, easy-to-use and lighting fast, Intocircuit’s portable charger is the best all around external power source on the market. It has Samsung Grade A Lithium-ion cells that supply over 1000 lifetime charges.

This is the best balance between charge capacity and speed. It is rated at 15000mAh, which is enough to charge an iPhone 5S 7 times. The 4.8 dual USB output is 2.4A per port, as well as a respectably fast input of 5V/2A.

We also appreciate the brushed metal exterior, which provides the lithium ion battery cells with better protection. Since it uses a material that is more durable than the standard thick plastic, it has increased portability.

The Intocircuit also has smart technology that automatically detects what device charges at and adapts to maximum speed, so you don’t need to worry about cross-referencing your device with the correct USB charger. LED lights also indicate how much charge is left in the battery, eliminating some of the annoying guess work.

The Intocircuit External Battery is available on Amazon for around $37.

Best High Capacity Charger: MMSA Power Bank

MMSA Power Bank has 20,000mAh of charge, which is enough to refill an iPhone 6 7 times and a Samsung Galaxy S5 5 times. It has a 5V/1A input and an impressive four USB outputs, enough to charge the whole family’s portable electronics at once.

This is also quite a bit lighter than other 20k batteries on the market. High capacity chargers tend to run on the heavy side, because they house larger batteries than their smaller counterparts. High capacity chargers also are slower, but this is one of the faster ones on the market. Still expect it to take a 5-10 hours before you get a full charge on most phones and tablets.

The MMSA Power Bank is available on Amazon for around $35.

Best Hyperspeed Charger: Patriot Fuel

If want one device charged fast, use a hyperspeed charger. Look at a charger’s output to determine how fast it can charge your portable device. A 1A (5W) charger is the slowest, 2A (10W) cuts the charge rate in half and a 2.5A (12.5W) charge is one of the fasted currently available. Recharge speeds also depend on the cord. Newer Apple devices are outfitted with lightning charging cords and some Android devices work with Turbo chargers.

The Patriot Fuel is outfitted with a 2.5A USB output for hyperspeed charging. It has a 9000mAh capacity and two USB ports (1A and a 2.5A). It has a built in self-monitoring system to prevent under or over charging and to optimize charging efficiency. It can get smartphones back to full charge in around 1 hour. It also comes with a 2 year warranty.

The Patriot Fuel charger is available on Amazon for around $25.

Best Waterproof Charger: Unifun Waterproof External Battery

This dustproof, waterproof and rugged charger is perfect for use in the great outdoors. It is IP66 waterproof rated, which means it is totally dust-proof and protected against string water jets and waves. The 10,400mAh lithium polymer core provides up to 1,000 lifetime charges, and each charge will refill an iPhone 4 times. It has 2 USB outputs.

Rechare your iPhone 6 Plus 5S, 5C 4 4S, iPad Air/iPad Mini, Samsung Galaxy S5 S4 S3, Google Nexus 7, cameras, and tablets at the ski lodge, on the beach, poolside, camping, at a construction site, or in the desert with this durable and waterproof portable charger.

The Unifun Waterproof External Battery is available on Amazon for around $17.

The post Portable Chargers With Longest Battery Life 2016 appeared first on Reactual.

The Toughest Camera: Olympus TG-4

The Olympus TG-4 is a shockproof and freeze-resistant camera that will capture beautiful images in extreme environmental conditions. It works underwater, and can snap pictures in RAW with a wide-angle lens. See our full review.

The Toughest Tablet: Samsung Galaxy Tab Active 8.0

Samsung’s Galaxy Tab Active 8.0 is a rugged water and dust resistant tablet that can survive in rough-and-tumble workplaces. Enjoy the vibrant colors and ultra-high resolution of Samsung’s flagship line of portable electronic secured in a MIL STD 810G rated anti-shock case. See our full review.

The Toughest Laptop: Panasonic Toughbook 31

The Toughbook 31 combines military quality drop-shock protection and best-in-class performance to create the world’s best ruggedized Windows notebook. A full magnesium alloy case safe-guards a powerful touch-screen notebook from hazardous environmental conditions and accidental drops and blows. See our full review.

The Toughest Smart Phone: Droid Turbo 2

Frequent phone droppers rejoice — Motorola has created the world’s first truly shatterproof smartphone, the Droid Turbo 2. An innovative five layer plastic AMOLED screen and aluminum chassis keep the Droid Turbo functioning even after drops of over 900 feet. See our full review.

The Toughest Audio Player: Cowon Plenue 1

Audiophiles in search of a portable audio player with high-fidelity sound and durable construction need to check out the Cowon Plenue 1. This tough device forgoes cheap plastics for a diamond-cut aluminum chassis. The solid-metal frame makes this MP3 player the toughest in the field, and a Burr-Brown DAC gifts the discerning listener with great sound quality and diverse file support. See our full review.

The Toughest Headphones: V-MODA XS

Listen to music with the peace-of-mind that your headphones can survive the use and abuse of daily transit. The V-MODA XS offer hi-fi sound in a solidly constructed shell. It has a steel frame, detachable cloth braided cords and a headband that bends but doesn’t break. See our full review.

The Toughest Portable Charger: Unifun Waterproof Battery

Keep your portable electronics fully charged in harsh environments with this dustproof and waterproof external battery by Unifun. The lithium-polymer battery is water-resistant and protected by a hard plastic case and shock-absorbing rubber edges. Plastic cover seals the Unifun’s two micro-USB charging ports from water. See our full review.

The Toughest USB Drive: Survivor Stealth USB 3.0

Transport your files in aircraft-grade aluminum with the Survivor Stealth USB 3.0, a military-style data transport that can endure extreme environments. An EPDM waterproof seal keeps water out and a molded shock damping collar protects this USB drive from drops and crushing. See our full review.

The Toughest External Hard Drive: U32 Shadow

Edit HD video and store your files on the U32 Shadow, a compact Solid State Drive housed in a stylish and durable aluminum case. Store up to 256 GB of files and run them through USB 3.0 at a speed of up to 400 MB/s. See our full review.

The Toughest Keyboard: Topre Type Heaven

Discover the joy of typing on this luxurious Japanese keyboard, the Topre Type Heaven. The solid, heavy design features electrostatic capacitive key switches at an affordable price point. The Topre Type Heaven will win over any typist with its satisfying tactile feedback and silent stroke. See our full review.

The Toughest Mouse: G602 Wireless Gaming Mouse

Get over 20 million clicks with the G602, a wireless mouse with 11 programmable buttons and a crazy long battery life. The G602 is outfitted with mechanical switches to increase lifespan and uses Delta Zero Sensor Technology for ultra-accurate cursor control. See our full review.

The Toughest Compact Flashlight: Titan Plus

The brightest and strongest ultra-compact flashlight is the SureFire Titan Plus. This flashlight that shines with 300 lumens at its highest setting — more than enough light to illuminate a forest trail. A nickel-plated brass body gives rugged protection that brushes off scratches and prevents corrosion. See our full review.

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