ESHLDTY T1 RGB splash-proof surge protector (Hardware)
Official GBAtemp Review
Product Information:
What do you get when you mix RGBs, Indiegogo, and electricity? A shocking idea, literally, in the form of the ESHLDTY T1 surge protector. Finding itself funded to the tune of $7,292--161% more than its crowdfunding goal--we have the ultimate gamer accessory: RGBs that have the power to power other RGBs. Let that sink in. I've made it no secret that I love fancy lights. If I had the money, my entire room would look like a disco rave gone awry. Which is why I absoutely fell in love with the concept of the Eshldty T1; it promised bright colors and serious utility, but could it deliver upon all its glowy glory?
My first impression of the surge protector wasn't immidiately positive, honestly. In order to get my blocky laptop power cord plugged in, I had to use way too much force--it was almost like it didn't want to go in all the way. Anything that has a third prong (otherwise called a grounded plug) was a little fiddly with the Eshldty, compared to normal two-prong plugs that plugged in perfectly. There wasn't any issue with the strip powering the devices, but it did lack that "premium" quality a higher-end power strip would have.
After having poked and prodded at the surge protector, my second reaction was to plug as many things as possible into the thing, in hopes of testing how it'd handle all nine sockets, three USBs, and one USB-C ports all going at once. With a respectable amount of power being drawn, the Eshldty handled it with absolutely no issue, to my joy. It did get a little hot under duress, though if it does manage to breach any unsafe levels of heat, it has a mechanism that'll turn the whole thing off to protect it and your devices from any fire-related problems. Additionally, the USB ports are 2.4A, while the USB-C port has 20W power delivery, which can charge your smartphone up pretty fast.
Not content at just being an RGB surge protector, the Eshldty is also waterproof, to the tune of IPX6. What better way to test its mettle by leaving it out, plugged in during a good old-fashioned Houston rainstorm? Its claims of waterproofing were on-point, as it trucked on, even as it was doused with water, powering a plugged-in, equally drenched phone charger with no issue. Interestingly, any water that got in sideways into the internals funnelled into the center of the power strip, and drained out through vents on the bottom. Having never dealt with a waterproof plug before, I was pleased with the results. According to the spec sheet, you can even submerge the whole thing for a short time, and it'll work perfectly, so long as you let it dry. I wasn't willing to take the strip up on that particular challenge, but at this point, I'd believe it.
As the power strip has a waterproof design, it immediately reminded me of yet another RGB product I've covered before: the JBL Pulse 4, a speaker packed with lights inside, and built for pool parties, given how its product images had it constantly near pools and that it boasted being waterproof as well. These two would work pretty well in tandem together, with the strip powering the speaker, and both pulsing brightly to music in the dusk at an outdoor party.
That brings me back to the most important point of the surge protector--the RGBs, of course! They line the sides, the base, and the top, flashing, pulsing, and glowing rather brightly. In fact, the lights are surprisingly bright, even in a fully-lit room, let alone when you turn the lights off. By tapping the top of the Eshldty, you can cycle through a collection of color options, such as full colors, blended combinations, and rhythm lighting. The color cycle patterns look best, especially if you keep the surge protector near a wall, where the lights can further bounce off of. Should you find the RGBs to be a little too distracted, while you're say, watching a movie in a dim room, you can cover the top of the tower with your palm, which turns off all the lights with one swift movement. Tapping it again afterwards will resume whatever pattern you were on previously.
For an Indiegogo project with a budget of $7,000, I think the Eshldty T1 is a really great idea, and turned out nicely, even if it comes with a few flaws in terms of its build quality being a little cheap. The company delivered exactly on their promise to create an RGB surge protector that can handle even the more torrential of downpours. If you're looking for a unique gift for a gamer that loves their RGBs, or you want a power strip designed for outdoor party use, it's well worth your time to check the Eshldty T1 surge protector.
Verdict
- Super bright
- Can handle a serious amount of water without issue
- Has an absolute ton of ports, for both sockets and USBs
- You sometimes need a little more force than normal to plug things in
- Doesn't have the best build materials
Options
View top chatters