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Earfun Wave Life over-ear noise-cancelling headphones on a wooden surface
Product Reviews

Earfun Wave Life review: mostly excellent, comfortable over-ears deliver at an enticing price

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We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best. Find out more about how we test.

Earfun Wave Life: two-minute review

To misquote Futurama’s robotic delinquent Bender, you’re in for “Earfun on a bun” if you take the plunge on the Chinese brand’s latest budget cans. Assuming I still have a job to take this review any further [only just – Ed.], I’ve been taken aback by the quality of the Earfun Wave Life. Seeing as they only cost around $50 / £50, these over-ear headphones are far better than I was expecting.

The Earfun Wave Life pack in enough features and sufficiently robust audio performance to make them absolutely worth considering if you’re on the hunt for a new pair of cheap over-ear cans. Sturdily built, extremely easy on the ears thanks to their lush foam cups and sporting an app that’s both intuitive and comprehensive with its EQ options, there’s a lot to like about these competitively priced noise cancelling headphones.

It’s a pity the Wave Life’s ANC features don’t fully convince. For the price Earfun are selling them, I was never expecting these over-ears to rival the best noise-cancelling headphones out there. Still, when it comes to snuffing out distracting ambient noise, ANC performance with these cheap cans is almost aggressively average.


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On the flipside, if you’re lucky enough not to have to endure regular noisy commutes, the Earfun Wave Life have more than enough plus points to make them worth recommending if you’re on a tight budget.

Bolstered by stellar software, a dedicated game mode and 40mm drivers that hand in convincingly deep bass levels, Earfun’s affordable headphones are thoroughly enjoyable. They might be cheap, but they certainly don’t feel it.

Not only are the Wave Life some of the most comfortable cheap cans I’ve ever worn, they’re also great for hands-free voice calls. During one of my least glamorous chats in recent memory – one that involved asking a plumber pal of mine about a broken toilet seat – I was reassured my voice was clear during the entire abode-centric chinwag despite me being in a different room than my phone during the call. Thank you very much, Bluetooth 5.4.

Will these cans’ soundscape blow you away (even after you tweak frequency settings with Earfun’s fantastic EQ software)? Probably not. Yet for the price, these supremely comfortable headphones, which also boast staying power of up to 60 hours if you switch ANC off, deliver more than they disappoint even they may not quite make it into the best over-ear headphones available.

If you want a pair of budget over-ears that will be comfortable on your cranium while (mostly) delivering satisfying sounds, you could do a whole lot worse than the Earfun Wave Life.

(Image credit: Future / Dave Meikleham)

  • EarFun Wave Life (Black) at Amazon for $59.99

Earfun Wave Life review: Price and release date

  • Release date: February, 2025
  • Price: $59.99 / £49.99 / AU$105 (approx.)

The Earfun Wave Life are priced super-aggressively at just $59.99 / £49.99 / AU$105 (approx.). They can often be found even cheaper than their official retail price courtesy of Amazon sales, too.

Though they’re obviously not as premium as the $79.99 / £79.99 / AU$167 (where sold) Earfun Wave Pro that impressed us big style early last year, they still deliver a satisfying sonic experience.

Sure, they’re not going to make audiophiles’ socks roll up and down. Yet considering their budget price point, I reckon most folks will be pleasantly surprised by these over-ear headphones’ pleasingly deep bass and relatively convincing trebles. The Earfun Wave Life are also far more comfy than I was expecting from such an affordable pair of cans.

In terms of alternative options, if you’re looking for some of the best cheap headphones for under $/£100, you’ll struggle to do better than the superb 1More Sonoflow Pro HQ51 (catchy moniker, right?). The Sony WH-CH520 are another great option if you’re in the market for a budget pair of noise-cancelling cans.

Earfun Wave Life review: Specs

Swipe to scroll horizontally

Weight:

264g

Drivers:

40mm Composite

Battery life:

37 hours (ANC on); up to 60 hours (ANC off)

Control:

app; physical/touch; voice

Connectivity:

Bluetooth 5.4; USB-C

(Image credit: Future / Dave Meikleham)

Earfun Wave Life review: Features

  • Up to 60 hours’ battery life
  • Intuitive app improves sound quality
  • Two devices can be paired simultaneously

Aside from their stellar battery life – more on which shortly – the Earfun Wave Life feature that impresses me most is their excellent software. The Earfun Audio app is available on both Android and iOS, and I’d consider it an essential download if you want to squeeze the best sound out of these cheap over-ear cans.

Easy to use, sporting an uncluttered design and with intuitive custom EQ calibration tools, the Earfun app can significantly improve the Wave Life’s already decent out-of-the-box audio.

I’m a big fan of the software’s custom equalizer that allows you to adjust the headphones’ soundscape across a variety of frequencies via a set of sliders. It’s a doddle to use, as you simply tweak each frequency until the app’s repeating ‘drip’ sound fades away.

After a couple of minutes of adjustments, I found the customized results to be significantly more satisfying than any of the 30 preset EQ profiles Earfun’s software offers. These span various musical genres, while various bass and treble boost presets are also provided.

The wide variety of profiles the firm serves up may be impressive, but I found the majority to be a little too quiet. And not to be overly nitpicking, but flicking between these presets on both my iPhone 14 Pro and iPad Pro (2024) is painfully sloooooow.

Earfun’s app also lets you switch between the Wave Life’s four ANC modes. First up, there’s ‘normal’, which somewhat confusingly turns noise cancelling off. There’s then ‘ambient sound’, ‘wind noise cancellation’ and ‘noise cancelling’; with the latter two options snuffing out sounds most effectively.

(Image credit: Future / Dave Meikleham)

Sadly, Earfun hasn’t really cracked the ANC code with its cheap cans and I could still easily make out passing traffic when going out for strolls. Next to my Apple AirPods Max, noise cancelling on the Wave Life isn’t up to scratch. That said, comparing $60 headphones to Crew Cupertino’s $500 over-ear cans is like pitting a Morris Minor against a Lamborghini Aventador in a drag race.

Another selling point of the Earfun Wave Life that thankfully proves more effective is their multi-phone connectivity that lets you pair two devices simultaneously. During my testing it proved largely reliable, with the headphones syncing to my tablet and smartphone with little hassle. The only slight hitch I’ve encountered is when I enter the app on my duo of Apple devices, which often requires me to unpair one gizmo before I can tweak software settings on the other.

The Earfun Wave Life are battery beasts. On a full charge, they’ll last for 60 hours, with that number dropping to a still-impressive 37 hours with ANC enabled. During my fortnight of testing these cans, I only had to charge them twice, which is super-commendable considering how kind these headphones are on your change purse.

However, there’s no getting around the fact the bundled-in USB-C charging cable is comically short. I’m talking Smurf short. Still, I’m not going to grumble too much when I can get the Wafe Life to 100% juice in less than 30 minutes on my GaN charger.

As mentioned in the two-minute review, the four-mic, AI-assisted algorithm also makes hands-free calling a breeze. With a 49ft range, you don’t have to worry about being cut off when wandering around your apartment/house, either.

(Image credit: Future / Dave Meikleham)

Earfun Wave Life review: Design

  • Incredibly comfy to wear
  • Easy-to-reach on-cup controls
  • Materials feel premium for budget cans

No-frills is the name of the ultra-plain game when it comes to the Earfun Wave Life. With an inoffensive yet entirely forgettable design, these cans won’t keep you from hitting the hay and dreaming about how alluring they look.

Crucially, though, they don’t feel cheap. The quality of the plastics used in the construction of these over-ears feels far more premium than I’d expect from $60 headphones. I also appreciate the brushed metal that appears when you extend the Wave Life’s headband.

In terms of comfort, Earfun has absolutely nailed it with its latest budget cans. I wore them on a three-hour walk with my husky on an uncommonly warm Scottish afternoon recently and never once did they cause me any discomfort. That’s mainly due to their super-comfy foam cups which rotate 90 degrees, making them both easy to fold up and an absolute pleasure to wear.

The Earfun Wave Life weigh a relatively breezy 264g, which also means you don’t have to worry about neck strain or earache. Every time I put these cans on, it feels like giving my lobes a big fuzzy hug. I’ll take comfort over style all the livelong day.

The on-cup controls are also enjoyable to interact with. A soft plastic power button is wedged between equally squishy and easy-to-locate volume up/down controls, while I also had no problems switching between noise-cancelling controls thanks to the dedicated ANC button. My only slight beef? You have to hold down the power button a little too long for my liking.

There’s also a USB-C slot for both wired play and charging. As I stated previously, the cable that comes in the box is way too short, so you’d be better off investing in a longer third-party one if you want to go down the wired listening route.

As for colors, you’re limited to a single shade of black. If you like your headphones to be unfussy and not make you stand out on, say, a crowded train or bus, the Wave Life’s bog-standard noir won’t bother you. Personally, I like both white and colored cans, so I would have appreciated more than one hue.

(Image credit: Future / Dave Meikleham)

Earfun Wave Life review: Sound quality

  • A touch quiet without app tweaks
  • Software EQ adjustments save the day
  • Well-judged bass levels

Considering how affordable the Wave Life are, I don’t want to overly dunk on their sound shortcomings, and there are few glaring weaknesses with these cheap cans’ audio quality. There are, though, some that warrant mentioning.

My biggest bugbear is the default sound profile when you first unbox these over-ears. This is subjective, but the Wave Life were a tad too quiet when I first clamped them around my skull. Although initially underwhelmed by their audio, I calibrated a custom EQ via the Earfun Audio app to produce a listening experience that felt far more well-balanced and punchy.

Without software tweaks, vocals during my favorite tunes and dialogue on some of the best Netflix movies on my iPad felt muted and flat, so I definitely recommend downloading Earfun’s app. Considering the firm’s software is both robust yet never feels daunting to interact with, it would be uncharitable to slam the Wave Life’s default soundscape when it’s so simple and quick to make it appreciably better through minor app adjustments.

Within minutes of fiddling about with its frequency sliders, I landed on a custom profile that delivered a soundscape with decently weighty bass that dovetailed well with the treble levels I settled on. Yes, mids on the Wave Life get lost in the sonic shuffle somewhat, but overall, I’ve had far more enjoyable audio sessions with these cans than disappointing ones.

When testing headphones for the first time, I’ve got a small clutch of go-to bangers I always fire up. The almost hymn-like electronic stylings of Death in Vegas’ Girls sounds way more impactful than I was expecting from sub-$100 cans, while the pulsating trance beats of F*ck Buttons nine-minute The Lisbon Maru delivered all the bass my eardrums craved – thank you, Wave Life.

(Image credit: Future / Dave Meikleham)

I was less taken with my favorite live performance ever when listening to The Verve’s astonishing rendition of Sonnet from their spellbinding 1998 home concert from Wigan’s Haigh Hall, though. This classic Cool Britannia tune sounds amazing on my Sony Inzone H9 – surprising, considering it’s a gaming headset first and foremost. But on the Wave Life, Richard Ashcroft’s normally haunting vocals lack the audio oomph my Inzone cans drum up.

Speaking of which, Earfun’s budget over-ears come with a low-latency Game Mode that automatically kicks in if you fire up a title on either your Android or iOS device. Not that I actually noticed much difference when I disabled the feature when playing some of the best iPad games.

That’s not to say the Wave Life don’t do a more than passable job at being a decent gaming headset. Even though gamers aren’t Earfun’s target market, their latest over-ears’ ability to pick out subtle sounds during gameplay is admirable. I was particularly impressed (and oh so flustered) by how effectively they conveyed the constant nearby Xenomorph screeches in the nerve-shredding Alien Isolation. The Resident Evil 4 remake’s undead-slaughtering gun battles also popped in an impactful way I wasn’t expecting from such cheap cans.

It’s best to go in with low expectations regarding the Wave Life’s noise cancelling, though. Even the most effective of its modes isn’t great at kiboshing ambient sounds, so if quality ANC is important to you, look elsewhere.

  • Sound quality score: 3.5 / 5

(Image credit: Future / Dave Meikleham)

Earfun Wave Life review: Value

  • Great value for money, given the features
  • Sound quality expectations met for the price
  • No carry case

Considering the amount of features and general build quality, there’s zero doubt the Earfun Wave Life represent fantastic value for money.

Overall sound quality also surpasses the expectations I’d generally go in with when it comes to reviewing such a cheap set of headphones. Unless you’re a real elitist audiophile, you’ll be pretty smitten with what your $60 / £50 / AU$105 (approx.) outlay serves up sound-wise.

While a carry case would have been appreciated, that’s a bit too much to ask for such affordable cans. Earfun deserves a lot of credit for selling its Wave Life over-ears at such an attractive price point.

(Image credit: Future / Dave Meikleham)

Should I buy the Earfun Wave Life?

Swipe to scroll horizontally

Section

Notes

Score

Features

Bluetooth 5.4; excellent 60-hour battery life; simultaneous device pairing

4 / 5

Design

Incredibly comfy; easy-to-reach on-cup controls; another color would be nice

4 / 5

Sound quality

Optional app essential to overcome limited EQ presets; a touch quiet; ANC could be far better

3.5 / 5

Value

Fantastic value for money; sound quality to be expected at the price point

4.5 / 5

Buy them if…

Don’t buy them if…

Earfun Wave Life review: Also consider

Swipe to scroll horizontallyHeader Cell – Column 0

Earfun Wave Life

1More Sonoflow Pro HQ51

Sony WH-CH520

Drivers:

40mm composite

40mm dynamic

30mm

Active noise cancellation:

Yes

Yes

No

Battery life:

60 hours (37 hours ANC on)

100 hours (65 hours ANC on)

50 hours

Weight:

264g

246g

137g

Connectivity:

Bluetooth 5.4; USB-C

Bluetooth 5.2; 3.5mm

Bluetooth 5.2

Waterproofing:

N/A

N/A

N/A

How I tested Earfun Wave Life

  • Tested for nearly three weeks
  • Tested at home, on long walks and in ride shares

I tested the Earfun Wave Pro in a variety of conditions spanning songs, streaming content and video games over roughly a three-week period. This gave me the chance to get to know how versatile these over-ears can be.

Most of my time with these budget headphones was spent listening to music and podcasts on my iPhone 14 Pro. Away from revisiting my favourite tunes, I also used the Earfun Wave Life for Netflix and Disney Plus streaming, plus playing several games on my iPad Pro.

While most of my background centres around covering the best TVs and almost 20 years writing about video games, I’ve owned an absurd amount of headphones and earbuds in my life – from $500 Apple Airpods Max to budget buds from brands you’ve probably never heard of.

Currently, I have more sets of cans in my apartment than I do meals in my fridge. I should perhaps adjust my priorities in life, but hey, what can I say? I really love the best headphones.

Read more about how we test

First reviewed: June 2025

EarFun Wave Life: Price Comparison



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Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time gets a visual boost thanks to Switch 2 update
Game Updates

Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time gets a visual boost thanks to Switch 2 update

by admin


Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time has received an update that offers visual improvements when played on the Switch 2, a nice bonus for fans who want to pick up and play the RPG on the new console.

These improvements include graphic enhancements such as new shadow and reflection efforts, as well as an extension to the distance objects are rendered at. For example, you can now see a forest off into the distance clearly, whereas before it may have looked like a low-poly blur of green shrubbery.

In the official update blog post uploaded to the games’ official website, we see that exact example in a side-by-side comparison, as well as a pair of screenshots showing water effects on the Switch vs the Switch 2. Water now has lovely reflections of light on it. A little thing for some, but a little boost for those willing to make the leap to a new console, cosy RPG in hand.

You can check out an official Fantasy Life I trailer here!Watch on YouTube

Other features of this update include an automatic lock-on feature that should make combat a little easier, as well as an adjustment to the Hagram build feature allowing players to press the cancel button and return a moved object to its original position.

God’s Touch was adjusted too! It can now be cancelled by attacking or dodging, plus the button assigned to activating God’s Touch has been relocated on the game pad. Game pad users also have an increased selection of key configurations, and all players can benefit from a new depth of field graphical option.

For those unaware, Fantasy Life i; The Girl Who Steals Time is a very popular RPG that got off to an outstanding start, selling 500,000 copies in just three days. In response to this success, the developers offered free DLCthat included new recipes and expanded content earlier this year.



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Billingham Hadley Pro 2020 camera bag outdoors on a park bench
Product Reviews

Billingham Hadley Pro 2020 review: a camera bag for life

by admin



Why you can trust TechRadar


We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best. Find out more about how we test.

Billingham Hadley Pro 2020: two-minute review

Billingham began making bags in 1973. The world’s changed a lot since then, but its satchels have stood the test of time. Known for their premium materials and classic style, Billingham bags are the kind you can use for years, then gift to the next generation.

So it is with the Hadley Pro 2020. A gently updated version of the established Hadley Pro, it’s a camera bag built in the British tradition of leather and canvas craftsmanship. It’s also one that’s perfectly sized for most photographers on the go. Combining field-ready functionality with rugged good looks, it’s easy to see why the Hadley Pro is a best-seller.

Granted, it demands a pretty significant up-front investment. In our list of the best camera bags, you’ll find options that cost half the price of the Hadley Pro which can carry the same amount of gear (or more). But what you’re paying for here is enduring quality. Read around online and you’ll find praise from users who’ve carried a Hadley for decades.


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Today’s best Billingham Hadley Pro 2020 Camera Bag deals

Image 1 of 4

(Image credit: Chris Rowlands)(Image credit: Chris Rowlands)(Image credit: Chris Rowlands)(Image credit: Chris Rowlands)

Unboxing the bag, it’s immediately clear why. From the straps to the reinforced handle, every inch of the Hadley Pro 2020 gives a sense of durability. You can spec the bag with a cotton canvas or synthetic FibreNyte shell. Either way, you get three-layer waterproofing. That’s complemented by solid brass fittings and full-grain leather edging. It’s all got a hard-wearing, workhorse quality.

So much so, that I initially found the leather quick-release straps not so quick to release. I’m assured that these will ease up with use over time. In fact, the whole bag feels like one that will wear well. It’s certainly one that’s designed to adapt to your gear. Those buckles on the front allow you adjust how tightly the lid straps shut. You also have the option of looping extra accessory pockets onto each end.

Most users won’t need to do that. What appears at first glance to be a modest messenger bag actually turns out to be something of a Tardis. With the padded insert slotted into place, the capacity of the Hadley Pro 2020 is surprisingly cavernous. Thanks to its flexible sides, the satchel can swallow a lot of kit. You also get two vertical and two horizontal dividers which can be arranged using velcro tabs to help you manage the space.

It can comfortably accommodate an APS-C system with a trio of mid-sized lenses. Equally, I had no trouble fitting an enthusiast DSLR body with a nifty fifty attached, plus wide-angle and telephoto zooms. Those velcro dividers give you the flexibility not just to separate lenses, but also to create shelves which suspend smaller accessories closer to the top of the bag. The insert also has a padded lid piece as well, which can be folded back out of the way for easier access.

Image 1 of 4

(Image credit: Chris Rowlands)(Image credit: Chris Rowlands)(Image credit: Chris Rowlands)(Image credit: Chris Rowlands)

Longer lenses are where you’ll find the limits of the Hadley Pro. The bag isn’t exactly shallow, but bigger body and glass combinations will need to be laid sideways to fit in. If you want all of your kit stacked vertically, you’ll need to divide camera and barrel in the name of neatness. This is really the only compromise to speak of: the Billingham is bigger than you think.

The padded insert is complemented by front pockets that are similarly roomy. These are ideally placed for quick access to accessories. The 2020 version of the Hadley Pro also benefits from a weatherproof zip pocket for storing documents on the rear. What you don’t get is a dedicated laptop slot, although you can unofficially fit a 13-inch MacBook Air between the padded insert and the back wall of the bag.

In short, the storage capacity of the Hadley Pro is limited more by the weight you can bear than by space in the satchel itself. The advantage of a messenger bag is that you can keep your gear within arm’s reach, but the single-strap setup means the burden falls on one shoulder. You can also haul the Hadley Pro using its reinforced carry strap or sling it over a suitcase handle using the built-in retainer. But most users are going to rely on its removable shoulder sling.

And if you do, you’ll want to shell out for the optional SP40 shoulder pad. This clip-on leather strip is as beautifully made as the rest of the bag and ships in four colorways to match. For the price of the pack, it should really be included as standard. Without it, the cotton webbing can cut into your shoulder when the bag is heavily laden.

Image 1 of 4

(Image credit: Chris Rowlands)(Image credit: Chris Rowlands)(Image credit: Chris Rowlands)(Image credit: Chris Rowlands)

Still, in for a dime, in for a dollar. Adding the shoulder pad makes an already expensive camera bag that bit more costly. But it’s hard to feel hard done by. If you’re serious about photography, either as a hobby or a profession, this is a camera bag that will see you through. Count up the cost per use over the many years you’ll be toting it and the equation soon becomes a more reasonable one.

The Hadley Pro is certainly at home on the job. Its traditional aesthetic might not be to every taste, but the classic approach is both professional and versatile. It can go from wilderness to wedding and not look out of place. Plus it’s robust enough to survive both, a hundred times over.

If you really need room for more gear, the Hadley One is an even larger version with a proper laptop sleeve. But for my money, the Billingham Hadley Pro 2020 gets it just right. It’s a fantastic daily satchel for photographers. Practical to the core and well-crafted in every respect, it’s hard to find fault. If you like the look, this is a camera bag that’s very much worth the investment.

Billingham Hadley Pro 2020 review: price

Billingham released the Hadley Pro 2020 camera bag in August 2019. It’s a slightly updated version of the company’s best-selling Hadley Pro. New features for the 2020 edition include a reinforced carry handle, built-in suitcase retaining strap, removable shoulder strap and weatherproof document pocket.

The Hadley Pro 2020 is officially priced at $383 / £308 (around AU$625). It can be found for less from some online camera equipment stores. There’s no escaping that this is a premium camera bag, but you get what you pay for. Use it for decades and the real cost per use becomes very reasonable.

Every Hadley Pro 2020 has leather detailing and can be ordered with a canvas or FibreNyte exterior. The bag comes in eight standard color and material combinations:

  • Navy canvas / chocolate leather (chocolate lining)
  • Black canvas / tan leather (olive lining)
  • Black FibreNyte / black leather (olive lining)
  • Khaki canvas / tan leather (olive lining)
  • Khaki FibreNyte / chocolate leather (olive lining)
  • Burgundy canvas / chocolate leather (chocolate lining)
  • Sage FibreNyte / chocolate leather (olive lining)
  • Sage FibreNyte / black leather (olive lining)

Billingham Hadley Pro 2020 review: specs

Swipe to scroll horizontally

External dimensions

41 x 16 x 28cm

Internal dimensions

34 x 80 x 21cm

Weight

1230g

Total volume

8.5L

Carry-on friendly

Yes

Laptop sleeve

No

Waterproofing

3-layer waterproof fabric

 Should I buy the Billingham Hadley Pro 2020? 

(Image credit: Chris Rowlands)

Buy it if…

Don’t buy it if…

Billingham Hadley Pro 2020 review: Also consider

Swipe to scroll horizontallyHeader Cell – Column 0

Billingham Hadley Pro 2020

Peak Design Everyday Messenger 13 V2

Gomatic McKinnon Camera Pack 35L

External dimensions

41 x 16 x 28cm

39.5 x 36 x 19cm

56 x 34 x 23cm

Internal dimensions

34 x 80 x 21cm

35.3 x 31 x 9.5cm

53 x 32 x 13cm

Weight

1230g

1210g

2600g

Total volume

8.5L

16L

35L

Carry-on friendly

Yes

Yes

Yes

Laptop sleeve

No

Yes

Yes

Waterproofing

3-layer waterproof fabric

Water-repellent coating, waterproof bottom liner

Optional rain cover

How I tested the Billingham Hadley Pro 2020

  • Carried around every day for two weeks
  • Packed with a DSLR plus three lenses
  • Used in different settings and conditions

If you’re buying a camera bag that promises to last for years, you’ll want it to perform in all kinds of shooting scenarios. So that’s exactly how I tested the Billingham Hadley Pro 2020. My aim was to get a first-hand impression of its durability and utility, working in a range of environments.

To test its carrying capacity, I loaded it up with all the gear I’d want to carry on a standard shoot. That included a DSLR body, a 50mm prime, a 70-300mm telephoto and a 10-24mm wide-angle zoom. I also packed out its pockets with accessories, including battery chargers, lens hoods and a compact flashgun.

I then took the Hadley Pro out and about, walking extensively through streets and fields alike. I tried carrying the bag both with and without the optional shoulder pad fitted, to see how much of a difference it made in terms of comfort. I also switched lenses from bag to body, to get an idea of how easy the Billingham would be to work with on the fly.

While the relatively brief duration of my test means I can’t give long-term feedback, a fortnight was enough time to form a detailed impression of the build quality and usability of the Billingham Hadley Pro 2020. It helps that I’ve been working with cameras – and carrying them around – for more than a decade, so I know what to look for in a good camera bag.

First reviewed June 2025



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Anna Washenko
Product Reviews

Google will reduce battery life for some Pixel 6a phones to prevent overheating

by admin


Google’s Pixel 6a has been a winner in many respects, but a new issue with the smartphone’s battery may pose a safety concern. After Android Authority reported on a pair of instances where a Pixel 6a battery overheated to the point where the device caught fire, the publication spotted some details in the latest Android 16 beta indicating that as a precaution, the Pixel 6a battery capacity and charging speed will be reduced. In addition, Android Authority received this statement from Google:

A subset of Pixel 6a phones will require a mandatory software update to reduce the risk of potential battery overheating. The update will enable battery management features that will reduce capacity and charging performance after the battery reaches 400 charge cycles. We’ll contact impacted customers next month, with all the information they need to address the issue.

The Pixel 6a is due to receive software support until July 2027, but it’s just the latest entry in this device line to have battery problems this year. In January, Google rolled out an update that reduced battery life of the Pixel 4a to increase stability for the 2020 phone model. Then in April, the company launched a program of repairs and payments after some instances of batteries “swelling” in the Pixel 7a.



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Davante Adams embracing new life with Rams - Feel 'rejuvenated'
Esports

Davante Adams embracing new life with Rams – Feel ‘rejuvenated’

by admin


  • Sarah BarshopJun 10, 2025, 06:12 PM ET

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      Sarah Barshop covers the Los Angeles Rams for ESPN. She joined ESPN in 2016 to cover the Green Bay Packers for ESPN Milwaukee. She then moved to Houston to cover the Texans. She came to ESPN after working as a writer and editor for Sports Illustrated.

LOS ANGELES — Davante Adams has only been in Los Angeles for one offseason, but the new Rams wide receiver said he feels “rejuvenated” compared to his last few NFL seasons.

Adams, who was traded from the Las Vegas Raiders to the New York Jets last season, said signing with the Rams was “exactly what I needed.” Adams signed a two-year deal with the Rams after he was released by the Jets in March.

“I feel like this is what I needed just based off the vibe and the aura of the building,” Adams said. “And everybody’s in a good mood. It’s not like a dark cloud over the building. And I’ve experienced that quite a bit over the last few years. So it’s a glaring difference when you come into a building like this.”

Adams compared the atmosphere in the Rams’ facility to a “college-type camaraderie,” pointing out the crossover he has noticed between position groups. The receiver said he felt like it took him more time to “get integrated into the Jets team than it was getting here,” although he noted that part of that was due to the fact that he was traded during the season.

Editor’s Picks

When asked what about his experience with the Rams allowed him to feel that rejuvenation, he said: “It’s just about ball. It’s no other BS.

“And [they’ve] got a really good quarterback in here,” Adams said. “Got a really good young team that shows a lot of promise and was obviously really close to being able to have a chance at the whole thing last year. So just knowing how hungry this team is and seeing the work that they’re still putting in after having a year last year just kind of confirms that I’m in the right place.”

In 11 games last with the Jets, Adams had 67 catches, 854 yards and 7 touchdowns. Including his three games in Las Vegas, Adams topped 1,000 yards for the fifth season in a row. Adams joins a revamped Rams receivers room after Los Angeles released Cooper Kupp in March.

Earlier this offseason, Adams said he was heavily recruited by McVay, including texting Adams highlight tapes of his film that the head coach had narrated. Adams said he’s enjoyed getting to know McVay and seeing his process on the practice field.

“You can see why he’s had so much success and why everybody kind of looks at him and looks to him the way that they do in this building,” Adams said. “And before I even got a chance to really get together with a lot of these guys, I’d heard some of the feelings and sentiments from different players about him and I don’t think I’ve ever seen any uniformity toward any individual ever in the past before that.

“And getting to know him now, it just kind of backs it up football-wise and him as a person. So when your leader is that way and it makes it easy to come to work, it just makes the whole thing a lot more fun.”



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Paralives, the long-anticipated indie Sims-like, finally announces an early access release date, adding to 2025's already packed life sim line-up
Game Reviews

Paralives, the long-anticipated indie Sims-like, finally announces an early access release date, adding to 2025’s already packed life sim line-up

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It’s been almost exactly six years since developer Alex Massé (of PewDiePie’s Tuber Simulator fame) announced his indie life sim Paralives; now, the game finally has an early access release date, courtesy of its appearance at last night’s PC Gaming Show at Summer Game Fest. And, as promised, it’s going to be coming out this year – although you’re going to have to wait until December 8 to get your hands on this painterly Sims-like.

The project originated as a solo effort from Massé, but the Paralives team has now expanded to around a dozen developers, supported by a Patreon that pulls in around $30K a month from fans eager to see a serious indie rival to EA’s long-running The Sims franchise.

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Paralives clearly takes a lot of cues from the life sim giant that’s been doing the rounds for a full quarter-century now, and long-time Simmers will be on familiar footing when they encounter the core gameplay loop. But there’s plenty to recommend Paralives on its own merits, from its softly stylised art style that advertises its crowd-pleasing cosiness, to its back-to-basics approach to life simulation that aims for loving detail over expansive scope.

The release date trailer confirmed my suspicions that Paralives could well be considered a spiritual successor to earlier generations of The Sims, focusing on daily life in an impossibly gorgeous little town where the architecture and decor of aspirational yet lived-in family homes take centre-stage. Paralives also seems very grounded – there’s no sign of the urban fantasy themes that frequently slip into The Sims (which I love, for the record, but recognise that not every Simmer does) – with trailers focussing on that ideal of middle-class suburbia that was a hallmark of The Sims back in the day.

Grab a coffee with friends, go to yoga class, play catch with your adorable two-point-five kids on your well-manicured lawn, and then have a sobbing breakdown in the bathroom once the family’s in bed – this is surely the dream of adulthood that was sold to me when the life sim genre first hit it big at the turn of the millennium.

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Massé’s team have previously asserted that they plan to keep Paralives add-ons free for all players – in stark contrast to EA’s practice of expanding The Sims with countless paid DLCs at various price points – and although they haven’t yet outlined exactly how they plan to do this, it’s reasonable to suspect that some kind of early access deal for Patrons might be part of the plan.

Paralives isn’t the only life sim in the news this week, as fellow Sims rival inZOI has emerged from hiding to announce a release date for its first major content update since its launch; the update finally remembers to properly enable same-gender romance (just in time for Pride Month!) as well as the much-anticipated arrival of mod support. And The Sims 4 itself hasn’t been quiet either, releasing a summer content roadmap teasing the long-awaited return of fairies in the new Enchanted By Nature expansion pack that’s being officially revealed this month, too.



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High On Life 2 Adds More Alien Guns And Skateboarding
Game Reviews

High On Life 2 Adds More Alien Guns And Skateboarding

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Screenshot: Xbox / Kotaku

During today’s Xbox Summer Game Fest showcase, Xbox and Squanch Games announced High On Life 2, which appears to be a bigger sequel to its hit comedy-FPS, High On Life.

And here’s how Xbox and Squanch describe the upcoming fast-paced comedy shooter sequel that features the new ability for players to ride around on a skateboard while shooting silly aliens with even sillier (and weirder) guns that are actually aliens.

An intergalactic conspiracy threatens the fate of humanity! Team up with a wide cast of talking alien guns as you shoot, stab, and skate your way through the exotic locales to take down the bad guys and save your favorite species (humans)!

The Top 10 Most Played Games On Steam Deck: February 2024 Edition

In High On Life 2‘s announcement trailer, we got a look at some of the new alien guns players will use, including a shotgun and a bow and arrow. We also see a ton of new enemies, more varied environments, and a playable skateboard.

The original High On Life launched back in 2022 on Xbox, PC, and Game Pass and was a runaway surprise hit, becoming one of the most popular games on the service. The game’s snappy gunplay and jokes connected with a lot of people. But soon after its launch, Justin Roiland—the creator of Rick and Morty and co-founder of Squanch Games—found himself in hot water over troubling allegations of abuse. That lawsuit against him was eventually dropped, but not before he left the studio. Roiland also voices characters in the game. It’s unlikely he’ll return.

High On Life 2 is arriving this winter on Xbox, PC, and Game Pass. Here is the new trailer for High On Life 2. The original game eventually landed on other platforms after launching on Xbox and PC.

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High on Life 2 announced with an exciting trailer
Esports

High on Life 2 announced with an exciting trailer

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The hilarious FPS High on Life is getting a sequel this Winter. High on Life 2 was unveiled during today’s Xbox Games Showcase and puts its players on a cosmic quest against an intergalactic conspiracy that threatens the fate of humanity

Raleigh, NC [JUNE 8, 2025] – Today, Squanch Games is elated to reveal the first official trailer for High On Life 2 exclusively at the Xbox Games Showcase. The gaming phenomenon first took the first-person shooter genre by storm with its initial installment, High On Life, in 2022. Having since accrued an outstanding player base spanning over 20 million to date, the indie studio is set to infiltrate consoles on a global scale with its latest hilarious action-packed adventure this winter.High On Life 2 puts its players on a cosmic quest against an intergalactic conspiracy that threatens the fate of humanity. Longtime followers will be enthused to recognize multiple characters from their arsenals making an epic return including Gus, Sweezy, Creature and Knifey, the latter of which was at the forefront of 2023’s High On Knife DLC. 

The trailer further marks the first appearance of several additional alien weapons and traversal capabilities emboldening users to embrace next-level combat and visionary scenes. With a wider armory and an all-new skateboard to bat, fans can expect to shoot, stab, and skate their way through a variety of exotic locales during gameplay.

Squanch Games promises a showstopping escapade that is available NOW for wishlisting on Xbox, PlayStation, Steam, and the Epic Games Store. High On Life 2 will also appear Day One on Xbox Game Pass, a sure-fire success following the accolades collected by the original title on the service. During High On Life’s debut, it quickly became the biggest Xbox Game Pass release of 2022, the largest 3rd Party Launch in Game Pass history, and the biggest single-player launch ever on Game Pass for the era. With a resumé already packed with achievements, Squanch Games is prepped to once again redefine gaming with its vivid medley of artistic, high-impact, and comedic verve.

WISHLIST HIGH ON LIFE 2 NOW ON XBOX, PLAYSTATION, AND PC!

For the latest High On Life news, follow @highonlifegame on X, Instagram, Facebook, and Threads.

ABOUT HIGH ON LIFE 2

You’ve done it. You’ve taken down an intergalactic cartel, brought humanity back from the brink of extinction, and hunted dangerous bounties to the far corners of the galaxy. Bounty hunting has brought you fortune, fame and love! But when a mysterious figure from your past reappears and puts a price on your sister’s head, your cushy life gets thrown into chaos. 

Do you have what it takes to risk it all and bring down an intergalactic conspiracy that once again threatens your favorite species (humans)?

High On Life RETURNS as you and your beloved rag-tag team of alien misfits shoot, stab, and skate your way through weird alien worlds all across the galaxy to blow up an evil pharmaceutical conglomerate hell-bent on putting a price tag on human life!

Stay tuned to GamingTrend for all your gaming, tech, and entertainment news!


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‘Doll-House Life Simulation’ Game Paralives Launches Into Early Access This December
Game Updates

‘Doll-House Life Simulation’ Game Paralives Launches Into Early Access This December

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Paralives Studio has revealed that its “doll-house life simulation game,” Paralives, will launch into Early Access on PC via Steam this December. More specifically, players looking for a new spin on the popular life-sim genre can jump into Paralives on PC and Mac starting December 8.

Paralives Studio announced this Early Access release date during today’s PC Gaming Show with a new trailer highlighting what players can expect in the game. Check out the new Paralives trailer for yourself below:

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Paralives gained traction quickly, thanks to more than 7,000 Patreon subscribers who raised $2.5 million in funding for the game. Through Early Access, Paralives Studio hopes to improve the game alongside its community further.

While waiting for December, check out some additional Paralives screenshots below:

 

Are you going to try out Paralives this December? Let us know in the comments below!



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Sunless Sea studio Failbetter's Mandrake is a rural life sim with a folklore twist
Game Reviews

Sunless Sea studio Failbetter’s Mandrake is a rural life sim with a folklore twist

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Sunless Sea and Mask of the Rose developer Failbetter Games has unveiled Mandrake, its very first project away from the Fallen London universe. It’s a rural life sim set in a “world of old, wild powers” where horticulture is forbidden, and it’ll eventually be making its way to PC.


Taking inspiration from British history and folklore, Mandrake casts players as the last in a line of horticultural sorcerers – one who finally returns to their family’s abandoned home in the ‘small, complicated’ village of Chandley after a long time away.


Initially at least, Mandrake sounds like pretty familiar stuff. You’ll tend to your garden, fish, forage, cook, and craft furniture to decorate your home; you’ll venture into the woods, to the beach, to the mine in search of minerals, and into the community to befriend the locals, learning their stories and becoming intertwined with their lives.

Mandrake announcement trailer.Watch on YouTube


But Failbetter’s announcement hints at something a little darker and more mysterious around Mandrake’s periphery, and it’s here the studio’s knack for the peculiar starts to peek through. Soon, for instance, you’ll be trading turnips and runner beans for stranger, more intriguing seeds; you can befriend a river, eavesdrop on the dead, drink with a god who lives in your chimney, and spend a haunted night at the Butcher’s Oak.


The eccentric locals, meanwhile, include a hunter who makes pacts with the woods, and a girl saved from the sea, who still hears voices calling to her from beneath the waves. Chandley is home to spirits and other strange creatures too, including the long-armed Granny Jakes who lives in a hidden orchard, and Hroame, “sometimes stone and sometimes not”. But not everything is friendly. “Don’t go out after dark,” Failbetter warns, “the night is not for you.”


Mandrake doesn’t have a release date yet, but Failbetter says that due to its complexity and “some very unusual features” it’ll be seeking player feedback as the game continues its journey toward launch. To that end, it expects to run a number of playtests prior to Mandrake’s release, so curious sorts should considering wishlisting it on Steam.



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