Tag: hauls

Amazon Tech Haul 16! Prime Day 2026 Edition

It’s time for another gadget tech haul! This time I have a collection of seven new items that I found of interest ahead of Amazon’s 2026 Prime Day(s)! Check out the video here!

You can find a compensated affiliate link to the complete list here. Many of the items are on sale for Amazon’s big summer promotion. With the exception of the Logitech Mouse below, all of these items came in free of charge from their manufacturers. All links below are compensated affiliate links.

The first device is the Aurzen D1R Air portable projector. It operates on the Roku TV platform and weighs approximately 2.6 pounds. The unit projects a 300-lumen image, which is optimized for an 80-inch display in darkened environments. It supports standard streaming applications and wireless display casting from computers, though the integrated speaker is basic and the input lag makes it less suitable for fast-paced video games. The device features automatic keystoning and focusing, and it can be powered via a traditional wall outlet with its included power cable or a 65-watt USB-C power supply (not included). The manufacturer also provided me with an optional tripod accessory equipped with an internal battery capable of powering the projector for roughly two and a half hours.

The Logitech Mobi Fold is a full sized bluetooth mouse that is optimized for travel thanks to its foldable design. It features standard left and right buttons, a capacitive scroll area, and forward/back navigation controls built into the center scroll surface. It charges via USB-C, pairs with up to three separate devices, and includes a user-replaceable battery.

Anker’s Soundcore Work is a meeting recorder that has server-based AI features for transcription and summarization. The hardware features a detachable, wireless microphone that magnetically clips to clothing, with the base unit able to attach to phones via Magsafe. Users receive 300 free minutes of transcription per month, after which a subscription fee applies. The device can be used without a subscription, but audio extraction is currently limited to the manufacturer’s proprietary app only.

In the diagnostic category, Treedix sent along their awesome USB Cable Tester. This tool identifies the specifications of connected cables, such as USB 4 or Lightning, by reading pinouts and e-marker data. It can also conduct a resistance test. It operates on a single AAA battery or direct USB-C power.

The Zima Board 2 is a fanless mini PC/server equipped with an Intel N150 processor, 8 gigabytes of non-upgradeable RAM, and 32 gigabytes of eMMC storage. It features a PCIe slot on the side for adding expansion cards (even GPUs), along with two powered SATA connectors for attaching external storage. It utilizes a custom operating system designed to simplify Docker container installations and does so more effectively that many competing NAS devices. However, the software defaults to older versions of these applications, requiring manual intervention to secure the latest updates. It’s priced higher than other comparably spec’ed Mini PCs that have more upgrade paths. But I found its headless design and Zima OS to be interesting enough to include in this lineup as there is potential here.

For portable power, Sharge sent over their Shargeek 170 power bank. It features a transparent casing that exposes its circuitry and battery cells, a 24,000 milliamp-hour capacity, and can deliver a maximum output of 170 watts. The built-in display provides real-time data on wattage and remaining runtime. In testing, it successfully powered the Aurzen projector and charged a dead mobile phone simultaneously while accepting an incoming charge. Plus it looks super cool.

The last items on the list is the ClonerAlliance Box Pro Pocket, a standalone video capture device. It records up to 1080p video at 60 frames per second via HDMI, but its standout feature lies with its analog inputs for RCA, component, and VGA connections. In the video I demonstrated capturing the VGA output from my 29 year old college laptop along with a VHS capture and upscale to 1080p. The device features an integrated screen and saves video directly to external storage (USB or SD card), providing a straightforward method for digitizing legacy media formats.

If you liked this lineup I have over a dozen more similar hauls I’ve done over the last couple of years! Check them out here.

Gadget Haul 15 is Up! Eight More Gadget Reviews !

I accumulated enough stuff to do my next video in my Gadget Haul series! Some of these items were purchased with personal funds, while others were provided by manufacturers for review. No external parties have reviewed or approved these observations prior to publication, and all opinions expressed are my own.

Check out the video here and see the most of the featured items on Amazon (compensated affiliate link).

The first item is the Trustkernel Plugmate (compensated affiliate link). While it resembles a standard memory stick, it is actually a self-contained Android 14 computer on a stick powered by a MediaTek Helio G80 processor with 4 GB of RAM and 128 GB of storage.

It connects to a host device—whether running iOS, Android, Windows, or macOS—via USB and streams its interface through a dedicated app. This setup is designed for privacy, as data remains on the stick rather than the host. It is paired with a host device with a QR code – nobody can pick it up and just start using it. Just don’t lose the booklet the QR code is printed on! In addition to the secure pairing, it requires a pin code to access on the host device. A duress password can also be set that triggers an immediate data wipe.

During testing, the metal casing became significantly hot to the touch, and the USB connection introduced enough latency to make fast-paced gaming difficult. It does not have an internal battery and relies on the host device for power. The Plugmate came in free of charge from the manufacturer.

The Wuben X1 Pro (compensated affiliate link) is a heavy, all-metal tactical flashlight rated at IP65 for water resistance. It features a turbo mode capable of 12,300 lumens, which activates an internal cooling fan to manage heat. The device uses two replaceable lithium-ion batteries and includes a USB-C port that allows it to function as a power bank for mobile devices. It offers both spotlight and floodlight configurations, and the system remembers the last brightness setting used. The flashlight came in free of charge from Wuben.

The next item is the Roku Voice Remote Pro (compensated affiliate link) that I purchased with my own funds. The primary update to this version is a motion-activated backlight for better visibility in dark rooms. It adds physical buttons for a live TV guide and a customizable button for app shortcuts. The remote supports hands-free voice commands, including a remote finder feature, though the microphone can be disabled with a physical switch to extend battery life. It charges via USB-C and is compatible with most existing Roku hardware, including low-end streaming sticks and Roku TVs.

Next up are a couple of USB-C docks. The first is the Beelink Mate Pro (compensated affiliate link), a USB 4 and Thunderbolt-compatible device that serves as a port expander, speaker/microphone and a direct-attached storage array. It contains four NVMe slots supporting up to 32 TB of storage. It also includes an integrated speaker and microphone for conference calls, and it can deliver 96 watts of power to a host computer. However, performance benchmarks showed some limitations: The 2.5 gigabit Ethernet port delivered approximately 1.1 gigabits on downstream tests, and the storage read/write speeds were lower than expected for NVME storage, likely due to the internal configuration of the dock’s USB bus. The dock came in free of charge from Beelink.

Another docking option is the EZQuest 8-in-1 portable hub (compensated affiliate link). While labeled as USB 4 on the casing, its data modes operate at USB 3.0 Gen 2 speeds at 10 Gbps. It successfully supported two 4K displays at 60Hz during testing, but users should note that high-speed Thunderbolt peripherals will not operate at their full potential through this hub and sometimes not at all. But it does provide seven USB-C ports in total and supports 100-watt power delivery pass-through.

For personal cooling, I tested the Dyson Hushjet (compensated affiliate link), a portable USB-rechargeable fan I purchased with my own funds. It operates at 65,000 RPM to move air through a narrow column. While effective at directing airflow toward the face, the fan produces a significant level of noise even on lower settings. It includes an adjustable head and a neck strap for hands-free use.

Finally, I examined two products from OhSnap that you can find here (compensated affiliate link). The first is a magnetic grip and stand designed for MagSafe-equipped phones. It allows for both portrait and landscape orientation and remains thin enough to permit wireless charging without being removed.

The second Ohsnap item is the Snap Pack, a 5,000 mAh battery. It features Magsafe attach points on both the front and back, allowing other accessories—such as the grip stand or a portable hard drive—to be stacked on top of the battery while it is attached to the phone. It supports Qi2 wireless charging at 15 watts and can provide 20 watts of power through its USB-C port. Note that the rear magsafe port does not provide power.

I hope you enjoyed this latest gadget haul! I’ll do another one after I accumulate more stuff ! See my previous hauls here and subscribe to my gadget picks channel for more like this!