Check out JBL's Charge 3 waterproof speaker in action as we put it through some brutal tests

By Joshua Smith Published August 20, 2016

When it’s summer time you don’t want to have to worry about your tech when out and about with your friends. That’s where speakers like JBL’s Charge 3 come in. The latest in JBL’s impressive Charge lineup, the Charge 3 offers a rugged design, warm and clear audio, and water resistance with an IPX 7 rating. Translation: you can dunk this thing, splash it, or leave it in the rain, and it will keep on rocking. No matter the season, that’s what you want from a speaker.

It’s great to have good tunes playing at the family barbecue and around the pool, but it’s even better to know that you don’t have to be careful with your speaker, even around the most brutal “party fouls.” With the Charge 3, you can just let the good times — and the good tunes — roll. But waterproof and durability are just part of the package.

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As the name implies, the Charge 3 will charge your smartphone. That feature has been improved in the latest iteration of the Charge, however, as this speaker doubles the playtime over the Charge 2 to just around 20 hours. Like most portable speakers, it moonlights as a speaker phone and also allows you to plug in directly with a 3.5mm input.

In this video we go hands-on with the new Charge 3 to see if it can withstand the everyday routines of a busy summer. From the basketball courts to the pool to the street, we put this speaker through some serious paces to find out just how well it can hold up in this quick video review. Spoiler alert: we weren’t disappointed in the slightest.

Offering a fashionable-yet-durable design, rich sound, and a low starting price of around $150, could JBL’s Charge 3 be the speaker of the summer? Check out the video to find out.

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This smart 4K projector is nearly half-price in Walmart’s sale

The Wimius smart 4K projector on a desk.

If you've been thinking about installing a projector in your living room to create a cinematic experience, you won't want to miss this offer from Walmart. The Wimius smart 4K projector, which is originally priced at $360, is down by nearly half to only $190, for huge savings of $170. We're not sure how much time is remaining before this bargain ends though, so if you're interested, we highly recommend completing your purchase as soon as possible.

Why you should buy the Wimius smart 4K projector
Setting up a home theater projector is an excellent way to create a movie theater vibe at home, and you won't have to spend hundreds of dollars if you go for the Wimius smart 4K projector. Its projection size ranges from 50 inches to as large as 300 inches, so if you've got a big enough wall or projection screen, it will really be like you're watching movies at the cinema. The projector is capable of 4K Ultra HD resolution, and it has an extremely long lamp life of 200,000 hours so it will be a long time before you need to replace its bulb. It also offers auto focus and keystone correction technology for even better visuals.

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These Sony OTC hearing aids offer optimized audio and all-day comfort

Man wearing Sony CRE-C10 OTC hearing aids.

There's a lot to be said about OTC or over-the-counter hearing aids. They're more accessible, usually because they're more affordable, and you don't need a prescription to get some. That's precisely why they're called "over-the-counter." Of course, they're really meant for mild to medium hearing loss, however. If you experience severe hearing loss you'll need to go to your local physician, as you might expect. But also one of the great things about this relatively new, untapped category of sound devices is that there are a lot of great options from brands you wouldn't expect. Take Sony, for instance, which has several OTC hearing aid options, and they're available at Best Buy of all places.

You can walk in, off the street, and walk out with them same-day, or buy them online and have them shipped to your house. How's that for excellent service and accessibility? But if you need a quick introduction to some of Sony's best OTC hearing aid options, we've got you covered.

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Now is the time to get the best noise-canceling headphones

The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones in Diamond color resting against a headphones stand.

Noise-canceling headphones' performance has been pushed with each passing product release, and the crown regularly passes between between Bose, Sony, and Apple as they attempt to one-up each other. Currently, Bose stands above the rest with the QuietComfort Ultra Headphones -- and right now they're $100 off until December 2.

What is it the Bose do so well? To start off, they offer the best noise-canceling performance available from a pair of headphones. In his review, Simon Cohen found that "The QC Ultra provide impressive levels of hush in a variety of scenarios." You can still get slightly better isolation with the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds or Sony WF-1000XM5 earbuds, but for most of us, having something in your ear for a long flight gets uncomfortable pretty fast. Plus, there's the worry an earbud will fall out (I find the fit on the Sony earbuds in particular doesn't always feel very secure).