About SteelSeries

Do you love gaming? No wonder, with the rise in technology many people have found their long-lost love for gaming. The craze for intense PC games is growing like never before. The adrenaline rush that one can feel like gaming cannot be put into words. Earlier, PC games were limited and there were not many options to enjoy gaming to the fullest. But now things have changed and people want to have a solid gaming experience.

No wonder, this can only be achieved if one gets their hands on the best gaming accessories. Just like a high-quality keyboard, gaming pad, mouse, etc, a premium pair of headphones is also important to amplify your gaming experience. The premium headset allows for handling intense gaming sessions and getting an extra edge over your opponents in multiplayer games.

It is very important to know about your opponent’s moves without seeing them in the game. The games like battle royale, survival horror, etc require you to be very alert and smart to outshine your fellow opponents. Hence, a premium pair of headsets will help you to get that extra edge over the others.

Today, there are many brands that are offering cutting-edge gaming headsets but the one brand which is stealing the show is SteelSeries. This brand has been offering some of the most amazing headsets and is winning the game like no other. Recently, it has launched the successor of the highly popular SteelSeries Arctis7 in the form of Arctis 7+.

About SteelSeries Arctis 7+

Having a solid and premium gaming headset is highly essential to amplify the gaming experience. SteelSeries Arctis 7+ has been successful in creating a great impact in the gaming world with its solid headsets. It is refreshing its previous workhorse and SteelSeries’s Arctis 7+ is similar to its predecessor. However, there are a few impressive changes made to it.

Similar to Arctis 9 wireless as well as Arctis Pro, the Arctis 7+ comes with a suspension frame along with a ski-goggle type elastic band. It has the same airweave ear pads which are soft, breathable, as well as flexible to adjust. This high-quality wireless gaming headset can be connected to various other devices as well apart from PC such as PlayStation 4 as well as 5, Nintendo Switch, along with Android smartphones that have USB-C ports. Moreover, it has various audio tweaks when it is connected to a PC.

PROS

The pros of SteelSeries Arctis 7+ are:

• It offers bass-forward and well-balanced sound.
• Its sonar software offers various headphones as well as microphone audio options. Also, it is capable of 7.1 channel surround sound.
• It comes with a USB-C transmitter which works fine with PC, Nintendo Switch, various Android smartphones, as well as PlayStation 4 and 5.

CONS

• SteelSeries Arctis 7+ mic is not that clear.
• There is a lack of Bluetooth connectivity.

Specifications

Here are some of the specifications of SteelSeries’s Arctis 7+ mentioned below:

• Compatibility – It is compatible with a PC that has a USB-C port and has Windows 10 and above, a Mac book that has a USB-C port, PlayStation 4 and 5 with a USB-C port, Oculus Quest 2 with a USB-C port, smartphones with USB-C port, and Switch with USB-C port.
• Software requirements – There is Sonar software required for ChatMix and Windows 10 and above. Also, for GG/Engine there is a requirement of Windows 8.1 and above, or Mac OS 10.12 and above.
• Speakers Drivers – The Arctis 7+ has 40mm, Neodymium drivers, with an effective range of 12m / 40ft and with a frequency response of 20- 20000 Hz. Also, the sensitivity of headphones is 98db and impedance of 32 Ohm. Also, its harmonic distortion is <3%.
• Microphone – The microphone frequency response of Arctis 7+ is 100 – 6500 Hz. Also, its pattern is bidirectional with -38db sensitivity. It offers microphone noise cancelation with a retractable microphone location.
• Wireless – SteelSeries Arctis 7+ is a wireless 2.4 GHz lossless gaming headphone with 12m, 40ft range and offers 30plus hours of battery life.

Features of SteelSeries Arctis 7+

Before buying any gaming headphones, it is essential for everyone to know their features. Here are some of the best features of this headphone listed below:

• Simple and comfortable – This headset come in all-black, matte plastic backs, and with wide elastic bands that offer ski-goggles like suspension. Also, its large ear pads are very soft combined with breathable fabric. Its left earcup has a built-in microphone and has a red indicator LED to know when it is muted. Overall, it is very simple and comfortable to wear whole gaming.
• Various connections – The best feature of Arctics 7+ is that it wirelessly connects with various devices like PC, Nintendo Switch, Android phones, PlayStation 4 as well as 5, and Mac through flat and quadrilateral USB transmitters. The transmitter is around one inch wide and half-inches deep.
  However, a Bluetooth-less transmitter is necessary for wireless use if one wants to plug in it USB-C port but one can use it with a 3.5mm wired connection. The headset also comes with USB-C – USB-A cable which can connect the transmitter to devices that have USB-A ports. Also, when the headphone is connected to a PC, one can change the settings of it via GG engine software as well as the new Sonar section.

• Robust sound for gaming as well as music – Arctis 7+ offers solid bass and doesn’t sound like a subwoofer. Its bass synth notes, as well as kick drum, hits the bass test track. It is strong and offers balanced audio for music. There are various games like Fortnite which Arctis 7+ handles very nicely as it has EQ present in Sonar. The effects of the sound come very clearly and its 7.1-channel virtual feature operates for free as well as a software-based feature. It is great for both music as well as games.
• Impressive & Improve Battery – The Arctis 7+ clearly outshines it’s predecessor with an incredibly enhanced battery life. It can easily offer over 30 hours of unstoppable wireless usage to the users. One can easily play games round the clock on a single charge via USB-C.

How it can amplify your gaming experience?

SteelSeries Arctis 7+ wireless gaming headset is powerful and feature-filled. It offers various tweaks for the use of PC and connects easily with Android phones, Nintendo Switch, as well as PlayStation 4 or 5. It is comfortable to wear and offers great sound for music as well as gaming. This headset has various features as well which can make your gaming experience much better than before. Also, its Sonar software offers various audio options. It is a complete powerhouse that can improve your level of gaming as well.

Is it Easy To Control Arctis 7+?

One can find a very basic range of on-ear controls that are quite comfortable to control or use. You can find the mic mute button and the volume dial on the backside of the left headphone whereas the game controlling dial, chat mix, and power button are on the right headphone.

How’s the battery performance?

On a single charge, the headphones can last over 30 hours or more. It can easily outshine other gaming headsets exceptionally in the battery performance. It takes over 2 hours to charge it on the USB-C port.

Does It Block Noise?

Well, it does it well, but not anything exceptional about it. In noise cancellation, it’s pretty average. You may hear noise from the surroundings if you are going to use it while traveling or somewhere out.

Who Should Use It?

If you are a versatile gamer who plays on various platforms then you must purchase it without thinking twice. Also, if you are someone who attends a lot of Zoom calls then you can wear it comfortably while enjoying it’s suspension headband.

Is It Worth Considering?

Well, it is a great upgrade over SteelSeries Arctis 7+ and offers a great value for money. It has shown a lot of improvements and has become a better option to consider than it’s predecessor.

The battery life is phenomenal and can give tough competition to other gaming headsets in the market. On top of that, it’s USB-C dongle amplifies it’s wireless charging compatibility to a great extent. And, it offers a great wireless audio experience with a bunch of amazing gaming features.

Hence, it’s worth considering amplifying your versatile gaming requirements on different platforms easily without giving any kind of technical glitches. Overall, it’s a great pair of gaming headsets ticking most of the boxes.

Conclusion

With so many options, it can be confusing to choose the right headset for gaming. The SteelSeries Arctis 7+ has various features and specifications which are hardly available in any other wireless gaming headset. It is a great option for people who want a robust and comfortable headset for gaming. Moreover, it is perfect for intense gaming sessions, music streaming, and Zoom calls.

Robotic vacuums are getting a whole lot better. Roborock has been building them for a while now, and its higher-end options are arguably the best in the business. Recently, we reviewed the Roborock S6 MaxV and loved it. But there’s a step up from that model. There’s a robotic vacuum that’s even more expensive, and even better: The Roborock S7+.

As mentioned, the Roborock S7+ is not cheap. While the non-plus model comes in at an already expensive $650, the S7+ steps up the price to an eye-watering $950. Is the Roborock S7+ worth the cash? Or should you save some money for a more modest robotic vacuum? I’ve been using the Roborock S7+ to find out.

Roborock S7+ review: Design

If you’ve seen a robotic vacuum before, the overall design of the Roborock S7+ won’t surprise you. The vacuum is round and around 13.8 inches wide, and 3.8 inches tall. It’s a bit larger than some other robotic vacuums, but still not overly large.

The Roborock S7+ is available in black and white, and both look decent. We’re reviewing the white model, which looks fine, however, I would have preferred the black model given it would have looked a little more subtle.

On the top of the device, you’ll get three buttons. There’s a Dock button, which returns the vacuum to the dock; a power button, which can be pressed once to clean, or held to power the device on or off; and a spot clean button. It’s pretty simple, however, generally, I used the controls in the app instead of on the device itself.

Then there’s the dock. With the Roborock S7+, you’ll get Roborock’s Auto Empty Dock. It has a large dust bin and can store much more dust than the vacuum itself. When the vacuum returns to the dock, it’ll suck up the dust from inside the vacuum, and collect it until you empty it. During the review period, I didn’t have to empty the dock once. Generally, it should last at least a few weeks or more of usage. It’s nice to get, but may not be necessary for some, especially given the fact that it adds $300 to the price of the vacuum. It’s also pretty large, so you’ll have to find a good spot for it in your home.

The vacuum has a few different accessories and components that you’ll remove from time to time. Of course, there’s the dust bin, which can be found under a hatch on the back of the vacuum and is easy to do so. There’s also a water tank for the mopping function, and the mop pad itself. Unlike other robotic vacuums, the Roborock S7 can raise the mop pad as needed, meaning you can keep it attached to the vacuum at all times, if you want.

Roborock S7+ review: Setup and app

Setting up the Roborock S7+ is pretty simple. You’ll start by downloading the app and signing in to your account or creating a new one. Then, select the button to add a new device, select the vacuum, and follow the on-screen instructions. During the process, you’ll have to connect to your Robot’s own Wi-Fi network, which is the only slightly complicated part, as it can fail to work sometimes. I had no issues with it though.

The Roborock app is great. I have two Roborock vacuums — one of which is at my office. It’s easy to switch between the two and add more if needed.

Most will only have one vacuum, and it’s easy to tweak the settings, look at the vacuum’s map, and more. In the app, you can set the device to quickly clean a small area, in case of a spill. Or, set it to clean a whole room. You can also set where the vacuum should vacuum and mop, and in case you forget, the device has automatic carpet detection.

While the app is well-designed, you may find yourself digging around to find certain settings. That’s due to the fact that it’s so feature-packed. There are settings to schedule cleaning, remotely control the vacuum, see your cleaning history, and more. And, the app will show you maintenance schedules — so you can know exactly when you need to replace things like the brushes, filters, and mop.

Roborock S7+ review: Vacuuming

Generally, I found the Roborock S7+ to offer excellent vacuuming performance. The device uses LiDAR for mapping, and it’ll map your area during the first clean. After that, it can use the map to determine the best route for cleaning. That usually involves cleaning around the edges of a room, then working in a pattern to clean the inside. Smart.

The vacuum seemed to be careful around obstacles too. It slows down as it approaches an obstacle, then softly touches it and moves back. This means that it won’t really move things like stools and other light furniture. That said, if you have something fragile on furniture like an end-table, for example, you should set a “no-go zone” in the app to avoid the vacuum even touching that furniture.

The device was easily able to pick up almost all of a simulated baking disaster, which included flour and sugar all over the floor. A few remnants were left over, but the device picked that up on a second go. Accessories like the brush were also pretty easy to remove to clean hair off, which will wrap around the brush.

Roborock S7+ review: Mopping

The mopping function on the Roborock S7 is far more convenient than other robotic vacuums. On the Roborock S6 MaxV, the mop pad has to be installed or removed depending on whether or not you want to mop. On the S7+, it can raise or lower automatically to mop or not, meaning that you have to interact with it a whole lot less. That’s super helpful.

The vacuum is able to mop and vacuum at the same time, and it performed excellently when mopping. In the app, you can choose either Standard Mopping or Deep Mopping, which involves the vacuum moving in a tighter formation, and mopping an area twice. You can’t vacuum when in that mode, however.

Roborock says that the device uses Sonic Mopping technology to scrub the floors at between 1,650 and 3,000 times per minute. That’s faster than most of the competition, and while it’s hard to tell the exact effect of it, the device was indeed excellent at mopping.

Roborock says that you should run the mop pad under water before mopping. That ensures that it’s wet when you start cleaning. I wanted to let the device clean on its own while I was working, so I did not do that. I found that the mop wasn’t wet at the start of the cleaning process, so it didn’t effectively mop a few feet worth of cleaning. After that, however, it had trickled enough water onto the mop pad to clean well. Ultimately, it may clean slightly quicker if you wet the pad, but if you don’t, it should still do the job decently well.

Ultimately, I found the Roborock S7+ to be good enough at mopping for day-to-day cleaning. It won’t, however, handle super large or very sticky cleans. You should still clean those yourself.

Conclusions

The Roborock S7+ is an excellent robotic vacuum. It’s easily powerful enough for the vast majority of basic cleaning tasks. And it’s easy to integrate into your cleaning routine, thanks to the scheduling features. Thanks to the raised mop pad, it requires less human interaction than most other robotic vacuums, which is very helpful.

The competition

It’s worth considering the Roborock S7 instead of the S7+. The S7 comes with a charging dock that doesn’t have a dust bin, so you’ll have to empty the dust bin in the vacuum itself much more frequently. But the trade-off is that you’ll save $300. That said, if you can afford the extra cash, the external dust bin is absolutely convenient.

Ultimately, if you want an all-in-one vacuuming and mopping vacuum, the Roborock S7 and S7+ are the best out there. If you don’t need mopping, however, it’s worth considering the Roborock S4, which still offers excellent vacuuming functionality.

Should I buy the Roborock S7+?

Yes. If you can afford to spend this much cash on a robotic vacuum, the Roborock S7+ is among the best out there.

About Polaroid

No wonder the craze for cameras and clicking pictures has always been there among people of all ages. Clicking pictures with a fine quality camera is equal to capturing the moment and cherishing it for years to come. One can see tremendous growth in the real cameras and no doubt they have come very far with so many improvements. The traditional film cameras are an old thing and even the craze for DSLRs is fading with time. With the latest range of smartphones and cameras, photography has taken a giant leap.

But the love for pictures and cameras remains the same. People are mad over clicking pictures through new methods and cameras. One of the most popular cameras nowadays is the instant film camera which is known to click and show you pictures right at the moment. The camera comes in the form of Polaroid Now+ which is stealing the hearts of people. This camera can be called the next generation instant film camera as it is backed with some of the mind-blowing advanced features and specifications.

The newly reshuffled Polaroid company, known for it’s incredible cameras and photography equipment all across the world, has brought Bluetooth-backed instant cameras while keeping the photography basics intact.

The brand new Now+ plus app will give you an immersive menu featuring incredible features that we are going to talk about in the review below.

How it is different from others?

Polaroid Now+ brings in something new to the table. It has maintained its old-school aesthetics but comes with modern functionality. No wonder, this camera is a combination of modern and vintage camera systems. The Polaroid Now Plus is completely different from others as it has a new revamped mobile app that allows the user to use a wide range of creative options with so much ease. This Polaroid App is available for Android as well as iOS. Also, it includes a remote shutter, night as well as double exposure modes. It also comes with aperture priority mode. The camera also has a complete manual function which allows the user to enjoy independent control over its aperture, focus, flash, as well as shutter speed.

The iconic styling of Polaroid Now+ remains intact but is it not backed with 21st-century conveniences. For people who like to have better creative control over instant images, this camera is the best option for them.

Features of Polaroid Now+

• Bluetooth connectivity – This instant camera offers Bluetooth support for better mobile phone app connectivity. Bluetooth connectivity feature allows the user to experience better opportunities and experiment a lot.
• Autofocus system – This instant camera comes with a dual-zone autofocus system that allows the camera to either select standard or close-up lenses automatically. Also, one has the freedom to manually select the flash as well as compensate for the camera exposure depending on the situation.
• Camera modes – The camera supports various modes. For instance, its tripod mode is beneficial and can be used with its camera tripod mount. It allows understanding of the length of the exposure. Also, its portrait mode tells whether a person is too far or too close. It also has light painting mode which allows to start the exposure, turn the flashlight of the phone and automatically stops when the painting is done.
• Rechargeable battery – Polaroid Now+ comes with a rechargeable battery that can be charged with a USB charging cable. This allows the creativity of the person to flow without any interruption.
• Push-on lens filters – The camera comes with 5 unique lens filters for various moods. It allows to saturate the photos in color, add beautiful effects, and deepens the contrast with the help of five lens filters blue, yellow, starburst, orange, as well as a red vignette.
• Camera silhouette – The silhouette of the Polaroid Now+ camera is softer and has modern lines. In the front, the camera has a 40mm equivalent lens, flash, viewfinder, as well as shutter button. Also, there is a Bluetooth button and indicator light and at the bottom, there is a film ejection slot. At the side of the camera, there is a micro-USB charging port and at the base of the camera, there is 1/4in a standard tripod socket as well. Whereas the rear camera has the power button, joint flash, LED display, as well as an exposure compensation button.
• Polaroid App – The smartphone app of Polaroid Now+ is presented nicely and is super simple to navigate. This app is available for both Android as well as iOS which expands the creative capabilities of the camera. It also offers dedicated modes for better exposures, portraits, light painting, as well as night photography. For beginners, there are some tooltips.

Technical Specifications of Polaroid Now+

Here are some of the technical specifications of Polaroid Now+ mentioned below:

• Camera – The dimensions of Polaroid Now+ camera is 5.9 in / 150.16 mm (L) x 4.4 in/ 112.2 mm (W) x 3.8 in/ 95.48 mm (H). Also, its weight is around 457grams without the film pack.
• Battery – The battery of this instant camera is made of a lithium-ion battery.
• Outer shell – The outer shell of the camera is made of polycarbonate + ABS lens and the lenses are made of polycarbonate resin.
• Focal length – The focal length offered by the standard lens is 102.35 mm which is 40mm/35 equivalent. And the close-up lens offers 94.96 mm which is 35mm. 35 equivalent of focal length.
• Flash system – It has an auto-adjust output vacuum flash system along with a discharge tube strobe system.
• Other specifications – It also comes with a lens filter fit, a neck strap that has a tripod mount, as well a USB charging cable.
• Field of view – The camera offers 40 degrees of the horizontal field of view and 41 degrees of vertical field of view.
• Development time – Polaroid Now+ takes 10-15 minutes of development time for color film and 5-10 minutes of development time for black and white film.

PROS

• It offers big and square instant pictures.
• The camera offers easy one-button operations.
• It comes with a mobile phone application for better creative control.
• The camera comes with a tripod socket as well as a USB charging cable.
• It offers color, black and white, as well as limited-run films.

CONS

• Its color films do not offer consistent results.
• There is no option for a selfie mirror.
• The film with the camera is expensive.

Who Should Buy It?

• If you are someone who wants large print-sized pictures like Polaroid print then you should go for it.
• If you are looking for an instant camera with various shooting modes such as point-and-shoot feature along with the lens filters, etc, then you should buy it.
• If you want exceptional picture quality then go for it. It features a twin autofocus lens to give you impressive detailing in pictures.

Who Should Not Buy It?

• If you are tight on budget then don’t go for it. Although it’s worth every penny, still you can get cheaper options.
• If you are looking for a highly portable option then don’t consider it. It comes with a classic retro design with some added weight.
• If you are not into buying expensive things then you should not consider it.

Final Thoughts

The Polaroid Now+ offers some impressive features which can ease the user experience. It comes in beautiful color options like Blue, grey, etc. This instant camera comes with Polaroid App which is free to download and uses a quick Bluetooth connection. Overall, this camera is backed with some solid features and specifications which offer a premium feel. Thus, buying Polaroid Now+ can be a great move for camera enthusiasts.