In the Apple catalog it is possible to find several models of totally wireless Bluetooth headphones (not counting those from the Beats by Dr. Dre brand, which also belongs to Apple). The 3rd generation AirPods are the most balanced, with a relatively tight quality-price ratio for the figures managed by the company.
However, they lack a function that is becoming increasingly important: active noise cancellation. And since there are much cheaper Bluetooth headphones that do have it, they are no longer the first option for many users.
If you were to compare them to other Bluetooth headphones that lack active noise cancellation, the Marshall Minor III They could be an option, although their RRP is noticeably lower than the bitten apple proposal. So if you were thinking about purchasing wireless headphones, and ANC is not essential, you may be interested in the Minor III, and we are going to put them face to face to find out their characteristics, differences and prices.
Features Apple AirPods 3 and Marshall Minor III
Specifications
apple airpods (3rd generation)
marshall minor iii
dimensions and weight
3.08 x 1.83 x 1.93 cm and weight of 4.28 grams
4 grams
SOUND TECHNOLOGY
Adaptive EQ
Apple Custom High Excursion Transducer
Custom high dynamic range amplifier
Spatial audio with dynamic head tracking
12mm driver
Driver Sensitivity: 93 dB SPL (179 mV @ 1 kHz)
Controller type: dynamic
Frequency response: 20 – 20,000 Hz
SENSORS
Skin sensor, accelerometer with motion detection, accelerometer with voice detection and pressure sensor
Touch sensor for control
MICROPHONES
Two microphones with beamforming technology and inward-facing microphone
Yeah
CONNECTIVITY
Bluetooth 5.0 and H1 chip
Bluetooth 5.2 (SBC + aptX codecs)
CONTROLS
Press once to play audio, pause it, or answer a call
Press twice to go to the next song
Press three times to go back to the previous song
Press and hold to activate Siri
Say “Hey Siri” to listen to a song, make a call, get directions, and more
Control music
Receive, reject and end calls
Battery
Up to six hours of audio playback on a charge (up to five hours with spatial audio enabled)
Up to four hours of talk time on one charge
With the case up to 30 hours of audio playback and up to 20 hours of talk time
Up to five hours of playback
Up to 25 hours with the case
15 minute quick charge equals 1.5 hours
Wireless charging
endurance
Sweat and water resistant (IPX4)
Sweat and water resistant (IPX4)
price
From 199 euros
129 euros
sound technology– AirPods 3rd generation have adaptive EQ, Apple’s custom high-excursion transducer, custom high dynamic range amplifier, and Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking. The Marshall Minor III have 12mm dynamic drivers and a frequency response of 20 to 20,000 Hz.
Sensors: Marshall’s proposal incorporates a touch sensor to control content and calls. The Apple one offers a skin sensor, accelerometers with motion and voice detection, as well as a pressure sensor.
Microphones– Both headphones have microphones. The AirPods are two with beamforming technology.
Connectivity: The Marshall Minor III connects to devices via Bluetooth 5.2 and the Apple ones have Bluetooth 5.0, with an H1 chip.
Controls– Touch controls on both earbuds for music and calls.
Battery: AirPods 3 have autonomy of around six hours per charge and up to 30 hours with the charging case, but if Spatial Audio is activated the battery is reduced. The Marshall Minor III offers five hours per charge and up to 25 hours with the case, in addition to wireless charging.
Endurance: IPX4 protection in both cases.
Price: from 199 euros for the AirPods and 129 euros for the Marshalls.
AirPods 3rd generation VS Marshall Minor III, which Bluetooth headphones to buy?
The 3rd generation AirPods are one of Apple’s best wireless Bluetooth headphones. At least, they are the most balanced. But are not since they have a fairly high price, they lack active noise cancellation and their compatibility is limited to Apple devices.
The Marshall Minor III also do not have ANC and their autonomy is slightly less than that of Apple headphones, but they attract attention for their design and sound. Let’s discuss some details in more depth. that can make the difference between choosing one or the other.
sound technology
As has already been mentioned several times, both models of Bluetooth headphones lack active noise cancellationwhich is a function as interesting as it is useful for users looking for greater concentration or disconnection in saturated or noisy environments.
However, it must be taken into account that the 3rd generation AirPods have Spatial audio with dynamic head trackingwhich is a function that puts the user in the center of the content being listened to, whether movies, series or even music, and that surrounds and follows them as they move their head.
The Marshall Minor III does not have functions of this type, but they are compatible with the aptX codec, which is a technology that allows you to improve audio quality significantly and enjoy higher quality wireless sound.
Compatibility
It’s no surprise that Apple devices are a bit complicated when it comes to compatibility. Between them they work perfectly, but when used with those from other companies, problems appear. And although the incompatibility is not complete as in the Apple Watch and Android smartphones, AirPods functions diminish when used with, for example, a Galaxy device.
This is something that does not happen with the Marshall Minor III since they are not designed to work with specific devices. They work with both Android or Apple phones and tablets, as well as Windows or Mac computers.
The price
It must also be kept in mind that there is a price difference between Bluetooth headphones. The 3rd generation AirPods start at 199 euros for those with the Lightning charging case, and a little more if you want them to have the MagSafe charging case compatible with Qi bases.
The Marshall Minor III are not the cheapest wireless Bluetooth headphones on the market either, but they are cheaper than Apple’s, and if the budget is tighteror you have devices from different brands and compatibility is an essential requirement, they are more suitable.
You can be up to date and informed at all times of all the news from the Apple world and SamaGame Selección offers on our Twitter, Facebook and Telegram profiles.
Samsung will introduce the Galaxy S24 series on January 17, but the suspected euro prices have already emerged in the rumor circuit. It is noticeable that the Galaxy S24 and S24+ have a lower suggested retail price than their predecessors.
The European recommended prices have been shared by the German website SamaGame. According to the source, the Galaxy S24 will soon be sold for 899 euros. This concerns the version with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage space. The Galaxy S23 with the same configuration had a suggested retail price of 949 euros. The Galaxy S24+ is also 50 euros cheaper, the source said. The Galaxy S24+ costs 1149 euros. For this price you also get 12GB of RAM instead of 8GB on the Galaxy S23+.
It is striking that the Galaxy S24 Ultra, unlike the other two models, is actually 50 euros more expensive, according to SamaGame. The smartphone has a starting price of 1449 euros. You also get 12GB of RAM instead of 8GB with the S24 Ultra. In terms of storage space, you can choose between 256GB, 512GB and 1TB.
After the official introduction on January 17, we have listed all the specifications and official prices of the three flagship smartphones for you.
The provider Odido will increase the prices of its subscriptions on January 1, 2024. This concerns an inflation correction of 5.7 percent for customers who took out a subscription before October 1, 2023.
The provider’s website states that the price increase applies to both fixed and mobile subscriptions. The new price will be reflected on the first invoice customers will receive in 2024. No inflation adjustment will be charged to customers who took out a subscription after October 1, 2023.
People who have taken out their subscription with Tele2 will also continue to pay the old price. An inflation adjustment will take place for these customers in July.
It is no longer common to find televisions on the market that are not “smart”. The manufacturers They usually provide an operating system, Internet access and applications of streaming video services, among others, to provide the user with the possibility of consuming multimedia content from platforms such as Netflix, Prime Video, HBO Max or Apple TV+ at any time they wish.
However, experience varies wildly from brand to brand. Even from the same firm, opting for a mid-range or high-end model sometimes means an abyss in terms of performance and benefits (not to mention that they become obsolete sooner rather than later). This is why the best advice when buying a new television is to look for the one with the best panel and within the budget.
And this is because it is possible to make a television “smart” with external devicesthe so-called multimedia center or that are present in various formats: from the well-known Fire TV Stick or Google Chromecast to the “boxes” Nvidia Shield TV or Xiaomi TV Box.
One of the best on the market is the Apple TV 4K for its performance, application catalog and image quality. But it is not the only one to take into account, especially if we are talking about proposals with the Android TV operating system, since the Nokia Streaming Box 8010 is postulated as one of the best alternatives due to its possibilities and price, which is not as high as the bitten apple product. We compare them to know their characteristics, differences and prices.
Features Apple TV 4K and Nokia Streaming Box 8010
Specifications
apple tv 4k (2022)
nokia streaming box 8010
dimensions and weight
3.1 cm x 9.3 cm x 9.3 cm and 208 grams (214 grams the model with Ethernet)
SDR with AVC/HEVC up to 2160@60 fps, Dolby Vision up to 2160@60 fps, HDR10+/HDR10/HLG with HEVC up to 2160@60 fps, H.264 and MPEG-4
4K@60fps, H.265, VP9, AV1 and Dolby Vision HDR
sound
HE-AAC (V1), AAC (up to 320 Kbps), Protected AAC (iTunes Store), MP3 (up to 320 Kbps), MP3 VBR, Apple Lossless, FLAC, AIFF, WAV, AC-3 (Dolby Digital 5.1), E-AC-3 (Dolby Digital Plus 7.1 surround sound) and Dolby Atmos
Dolby Atmos and DTS up to 7.1 through its HDMI port and 5.1 pro SPDIF (not compatible with streaming apps)
OS
tvOS 16
android tv 11
connectivity
HDMI 2.1 (CEC), Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.0 and IR receiver. Top model with Gigabit Ethernet and Thread support
HDMI 2.1 (CEC), USB-C (power only), USB 3.0, USB 2.0, Gigabit Ethernet, AV Jack, MicroSD, WiFi 6 and Bluetooth 5.0
remote control
Siri Remote with Bluetooth 5.0, IR transmitter, USB-C for charging, TV control via CEC or IR, physical buttons for direction, pause/play, volume, mute and microphone for Siri
Backlit Bluetooth remote control with full keypad. Shortcuts to YouTube, Netflix, Google Play, Prime Video and Google Assistant. Volume up/down, channel change, mute, pause, resume…
others
Siri, frame rate matching and native dynamic range, game controller support, HomeKit switchboard
Chromecast built-in, 7,000+ apps available, game controller support
price
From 169 euros
129 euros
Processor: Apple TV 4K is powered by the A15 Bionic chip, the same one the company has used in some tablets and smartphones, so there’s no performance issue with any task you can do. The Nokia Streaming Box 8010 has a 64-bit Amlogic quad-core processor with which there will be no problem running the operating system either.
RAM and storage: Both media centers come with 4 GB of RAM, although there are differences in the amount of internal storage: 32 GB on the Nokia and 64 or 128 GB on the Apple TV 4K.
video and sound: Both proposals can reproduce multimedia content in high resolution 4K Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos sound.
OS: Apple TV 4K runs tvOS 16 and the Nokia Streaming Box 8010 comes standard with Android TV 11.
connectivity: Both devices have HDMI 2.1, WiFi 6 and Bluetooth 5. However, the Nokia has a pair of USB-A, Gigabit Ethernet as standard (you have to pay a little more on Apple TV to have it), AV jack, MicroSD and USB-C (for charging only).
Others: Apple TV 4K features Siri, frame-matching and native dynamic range, support for game controllers, and HomeKit switchboard. The Nokia Streaming Box 8010 has Chromecast, access to more than 7,000 applications, and also supports game controllers.
Price: Apple TV 4K (3rd generation) is available from 169 euros, and the Nokia Streaming Box 8010 has an RRP of 129 euros.
Nokia Streaming Box 8010 VS Apple TV 4K (3rd generation), which media center to buy?
The Apple TV 4K is one of the most unknown devices of the brand for the general publicsince it does not generate as many expectations nor is it as “essential” as an iPhone, iPad or Mac. But that is not why it is useless, since there are many users who use it to access their favorite content even if they have a latest model television of thousands euros with a recent operating system, especially if they are immersed in the Apple ecosystem.
However, like the Nokia Streaming Box 8010, It has some delicate points or that make it directly a discard for certain groups of usersBesides, it is quite expensive. So we are going to analyze them in depth to know their strengths and weaknesses.
Yield per flag
The 3rd generation Apple TV 4K is one of the most powerful multimedia centers on the market. That’s how it is. That Apple has endowed it with the chip A15 Bionic It is the assurance that the user will not find any type of performance problem when using it.
Since the Apple TV is not only a device to consume multimedia content from Netflix or Prime Video, but also it is also a “game console”. The Apple Arcade subscription service allows users to enjoy titles such as , , , , , among many others, and the device is compatible with game console controls such as the PS4, the PS5 DualSense or the Xbox.
If you are going to install many applications, especially video games, you have to take into account the internal storage capacitysince the base model of the 3rd generation Apple TV 4K comes with 64 GB, there is a superior option with double, 128 GB.
The Nokia Streaming Box 8010 is not up to the performance of the Apple TV 4K (2022), but this is not a problem either if it is going to be used mainly for its purpose: watching series and movies. And it is that Its processor, together with 4 GB of RAM, makes the operating system run wonderfully and the experience is optimal, which is what fails in alternatives such as Google or Xiaomi: fair hardware, bittersweet experience.
The software problem
If the 3rd generation Apple TV 4K wants to shine for its hardware, it’s the software that keeps it in the shade. And not because tvOS 16, its operating system, is bad, but it is very limited and does not take advantage of the full potential that the processor can offer. This is because apps from the store can’t squeeze it, and Apple doesn’t allow users to install apps that aren’t on the App Store.
Thus, unless the user is willing to tinker a bit, they cannot enjoy emulators or one of the most widely used applications in multimedia centers: KODI, which is a media player with Virtually endless possibilities thanks to the option to install plugins () and unleash its full potential. This is possible with the Nokia Streaming Box 8010 when using Android TV.
In addition, there is the issue of the ecosystem. It is not necessary to have another device from the company to enjoy Apple TV, but it is true that it is designed for use by users who, at least, have an iPhone or iPad. And it is that it benefits from having more products from Californians by offering AirPlay 2, integration with HomeKit and support for the HomePod, so the speaker can be converted into a sound bar that provides very good quality audio.
The same happens with users who have Android devices and the Nokia Streaming Box 8010, because when using Android TV comes with Chromecast and Google Assistantand Google is working to make the unified experience even more powerful.
Automatic adjustment of the frame rate (refresh)
This could be something that fits perfectly into the previous point, but it is so important that it deserves to be mentioned separately. Automatic frame rate adjustment is a feature that allows Apple TV to play content the way it was recorded for proper consumption.. It may seem simple, but it is a feature that is not implemented in all devices of this type; even some as popular as Amazon’s Fire TV only do it halfway because almost no app is adapted (although Netflix recently added support).
The Nokia Streaming Box 8010 does not have the automatic refresh rate adjustment function because it comes with Android TV 11, and it is a feature that Google integrated natively in Android TV 12, so you have to wait for the device to is updated (although there is no news about it). In fact, the only device that does it officially is the Chromecast with Google TV.
This makes Apple TV one of the best multimedia centersbut it must also be taken into account that not all applications are developed with this function and we will find the problems suffered by the alternatives, but the number of compatible apps is greater.
Clarify that not all users are affected in the same way for him for several reasons. The first is that not everyone is equally sensitive, and some notice it more than others. The second is that the television plays a fundamental role, since there are models and brands that manage this feature natively better than other alternatives.
connectivity
Nokia Streaming Box 8010 connections
The 3rd generation Apple TV 4K is not badly equipped in terms of connectivity because Apple is clear about its function: play streaming series and movies. That is why we will not find any physical port beyond the power or Ethernet if we opt for the 128 GB model, which has it integrated. This multimedia center bets everything on wireless connectivity with its WiFi 6 and Bluetooth 5.0.
Although the Nokia Streaming Box 8010 is also designed to play streaming movies and series, It has a USB-A 3.0 port, another USB-A 2.0, MicroSD card slot (with which to easily expand the internal storage), AV jack, WiFi 6 and Bluetooth 5.0.
These extra ports allow users to recharge wired devices or connect external storage media to play movies that are downloaded locally. A configuration proposal would be to occupy USB-A 2.0 with a USB receiver for a keyboard with a trackpad (many models designed for Smart TVs do not work with Bluetooth) and use USB-A 3.0 to put a hard drive and play multimedia content.
There are very powerful applications that take advantage of these ports, such as the vlc player or the aforementioned KODI.
And the price
We end with the point that is usually one of the decisive purchase factors: the price. There is not a big difference between the two, as if it could exist if compared to the proposals of Google or Amazon. The 3rd generation Apple TV 4K starts at 169 euros and the Nokia Streaming Box 8010 is priced at 129 euros.
You can be up to date and informed at all times of all the news from the Apple world and the SamaGame Selection offers on our Twitter, Facebook and Telegram profiles.
