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Garmin Forerunner 170 review: A solid running watch with no surprises

TechRadar Reviews - Fri, 07/10/2026 - 05:48

Garmin Forerunner 170: One minute review

The Garmin Forerunner 170 and 170 Music sit nicely between the cheaper Garmin Forerunner 70 and more expensive 570 and 970 duo, the latter of which features on our best Garmin watches guide. As such, both Music and non-Music versions are a bit of a halfway house; not quite cheap enough to be picked up on a whim by budget-conscious consumers, nor expensive enough to be stuffed with top-quality premium features.

However, it is stuffed with plenty of robust fitness features that will suit any active exerciser, especially runners. Sebastian Sawe, who who broke the world record by running a marathon under two hours in London, was toting a Garmin Forerunner 55 — Garmin’s cheapest, most stripped-back running watch.

What you’re paying for here is the Garmin Forerunner 70 — an excellent smartwatch on the cheaper end, and the successor to the popular Garmin Forerunner 55 — with additional smartwatch features attached. These include Garmin Pay, a virtual wallet which lets you pay with cards held on-watch, and the Smart Notifications feature, which allows you to view and manage alerts from a paired smartphone. The Forerunner 170 Music adds an extra 4GB of music storage.

If you’re largely uninterested in these features and you just want an excellent training tool, I’d get the Garmin Forerunner 70 instead, as it’s the best value of the three newcomers overall. But the Garmin Forerunner 170 Music does allow you to hit that Saturday morning parkrun, pay for your coffee, and jog home with headphones in — all without using your phone at all. It’s incredibly convenient, but not a package everyone will need or want.

Still, during my testing I found the watch good to use, comfortable to sleep in, and accurate against testing units like my Polar H10 heart rate monitor. Our writer Michael Sawh found the same with the Garmin Forerunner 70. You can read my full thoughts on the 170 Music below, but whichever watch you choose, you’ll be in good hands.

Garmin Forerunner 170 review: Specifications

Garmin Forerunner 70

Garmin Forerunner 170

Garmin Forerunner 170 Music

Price

$249.99 / £219.99 / AU$399

$299 / £259.99 / AU$479

$349.99 / £299.99 / AU$549

Dimensions

42.6 x 42.6 x 11.9mm

Weight

40g

41g

Case/bezel

Fiber-reinforced polymer

Display

AMOLED 390 x 390px

GPS

GPS, Galileo, GLONASS, Beidou, QZSS, SatIQ

L1 GPS, GNSS, Galileo, and BeiDou

GPS, Glonass, Beidou, Galileo

Battery life

Up to 13 days, all-systems GNSS mode: Up to 16 hours

Up to 10 days, all-systems GNSS mode: Up to 14 hours

Up to 10 days, all-systems GNSS mode: Up to 14 hours (6.5 with music)

Connection

Bluetooth, ANT+

Garmin Forerunner 170 review: Price and availability

Garmin Forerunner 170: $299 / £259.99 / AU$479
Garmin Forerunner 170 Music: $349.99 / £299.99 / AU$549
Garmin Forerunner 70: $249.99 / £219.99 / AU$399

The Garmin Forerunner 170 without music storage costs $299 / £259.99 / AU$479.

The Garmin Forerunner 170 Music, the upgrade with 4GB internal memory for music storage, costs $349.99 / £299.99 / AU$549. The Forerunner 70, which doesn’t have the 170’s smartwatch features such as Garmin Pay and Smart Notifications, is cheaper at $249.99 / £219.99 / AU$399.

We’re zeroing in on the Garmin Forerunner 170 today, and I think the watch is generally good value for money compared to some of the seriously expensive premium Garmins in the lineup, but perhaps not compared to the 70, which is $100 / £80 / AU$150 cheaper for a very similar watch. If you don’t want Garmin Pay or notifications, you’re better off saving your cash and getting the 70.

None of the Garmins have a particularly wide feature set compared to watches from Apple and Samsung at a similar price point, but their batteries last far longer — up to 10 days for the 170 — and their workout credentials are fantastic. This ensures you can get multiple battery-sucking GPS workouts in each week while still retaining enough smartwatch functionality to matter, all without needing a charge for ages. Each Garmin watch is durable too.

I’d say it’s generally a good value prospect, even if it does edge into the expensive end with the 170 Music.

Score: 4/5

Garmin Forerunner 170 review: Design

(Image credit: Future)

Iterates on existing Forerunner design
Surprisingly dull AMOLED screen
Elevate V4 heart rate sensor

The Garmin Forerunner 170 looks very much like every other Forerunner, but if this is your first Garmin that won’t mean much. It’s got a five-button configuration — up, down, light, start, stop or select, and back (or lap). You can use these, a touchscreen, or a combination of the two to navigate the watch, which is ideal if you’re wearing gloves.

It comes in a single size, with a 42.6mm screen, and its packing an AMOLED display rather than the duller digital-watch-style memory-in-pixel screen of older watches, but it’s not particularly bright even at full power. It comes with a silicon two-tone strap, and on the back it has one of Garmin’s older heart rate sensors, the Elevate V4. More expensive watches get the more accurate V5, but the V4 has been included here presumably to keep the cost down.

It’s very light, with a listed weight of 41g, and feels like less than that in the hand. A light watch is great for running and collecting wellness info as it’s easy to wear, and this checks the boxes.

Those familiar with Garmin products will be happy to know no liberties have been taken with the design of Garmin’s established software, either on-watch or in the Garmin Connect app. I think it’s the perfect mix of stripped-down and information-heavy, although there are a lot of menus to lose yourself in. The buttons make it fairly intuitive to navigate around for old hands. It’s a tried and tested design, that doesn’t break the mold in any significant way.

Design score: 4/5

Garmin Forerunner 170 review: Features

(Image credit: Future)

Advanced running dynamics
Limited smart notifications functionality
170 Music offers mp3 and streaming downloads

Plenty of running features abound here. As the name suggests, Garmin’s included its advanced running dynamics tools such as running power (a measure of your total running effort using motion data as well as heart rate), along with advanced statistics such as stride and cadence data after your run. During workouts, you can set up routes in Garmin Connect with virtual pacers to keep you on time.

You also get the usual health stuff, such as heart rate and sleep score, 80 workout modes (although not all have dedicated metrics or GPS enabled) and reports in the morning and evening that provide information about your training along with the weather and a motivational quote. The Garmin Forerunner 170 gets Smart Notifications, which allow you to answer some tests with simple replies and the Garmin Pay functionality which acts as a virtual wallet like Apple Pay.

The 170 Music’s 4GB of storage allows you to upload tunes directly onto the watch, including by saving playlists from the likes of Spotify. Even without the dedicated Music model, you can listen on apps like Spotify, Deezer, YouTube Music and so on through your phone, and control music on the watch there. The Garmin Connect IQ store has dedicated widgets for these services, along with thousands of other apps from a mixture of big-name brands and enthusiastic amateurs.

Otherwise, what’s missing? I wasn’t expecting full-color maps at this price, just the breadcrumb navigation and route direction common on most Garmin watches without maps, so I don’t feel like the feature is missing, as such.

However, to justify the price increase from the 70 to the 170 Music, I think it needs more hardware features. A microphone like the Garmin Forerunner 570, and the ability to take calls on watch and use Garmin’s simple voice assistant, would better separate it. As is, most people who want dedicated smartwatch features will just get one of the best Apple Watches or best Samsung watches instead.

Features score: 4/5

Garmin Forerunner 170 review: Performance

(Image credit: Future)

Accurate against a heart rate monitor
GPS works well against an Apple Watch Ultra 3
Comfortable and easy to wear day-to-day

I checked the Garmin’s heart rate accuracy against an electrical chest-mounted Polar H10 heart rate monitor — the gold standard of heart rate accuracy — during a 25-minute treadmill test, and was very pleased to report that despite the older sensor, both average and maximum heart rate were within 1-4bpm of the heart rate monitor; a very acceptable margin for error and not a statistically significant one.

GPS was accurate compared to my Apple Watch Ultra 3, and battery life was representative of its claims, with total drain taking just over a week with multiple GPS workouts completed. I feel as though the ‘up to 10 days’ listed battery life is reflective of reality.

Being lighter and smaller than many Garmins I’ve tested, it’s comfortable to wear every day and fine to sleep in.

Performance score: 4.5 / 5

Garmin Forerunner 170 review: Scorecard

(Image credit: Future)

Toshiba N300 4TB NAS HDD review: Can the extra cost over its rivals be justified by its performance?

TechRadar Reviews - Fri, 07/10/2026 - 05:30

While there are a few other brands, the hard drive market is essentially a three-horse race between WD, Seagate and Toshiba.

Having looked at WD and Seagate NAS HDDs recently, it seemed appropriate to look at what Toshiba offers that’s different to the other two.

Toshiba Electronics Europe launched the N300 NAS drive series in January 2017. By that point, Western Digital and Seagate had been in the dedicated NAS drive market for years. WD Red has been on sale since 2012, and Seagate IronWolf launched in 2016. Toshiba was late to this party, and that certainly coloured its product range from the outset.

The N300 launched at 4TB, 6TB, and 8TB, all carrying a 128MB data buffer and a 7200 RPM spindle. That last detail is the key one. Toshiba did not try to match WD and Seagate on their terms; instead, it went faster.

The N300 range runs at 7200 RPM on every capacity variant, from the smallest to the largest. That decision produces a drive with meaningfully higher sequential throughput. The N300 achieves up to 298 MB/s sustained transfer speed. The WD Red Plus manages around 180-190 MB/s. The IronWolf reaches 202 MB/s. The N300 leaves both behind in raw sequential performance.

And, this newer HDWG740EZSTC model covered here offers 512MB of cache, where older revisions had 128MB or 256MB.

However, there are tradeoffs here. On the hardware side, the additional rotational speed makes the N300 noisier, it generates more heat, and uses more power. That makes it less suitable for a NAS that’s sitting on the desktop, and more acceptable if you have a server room. And, the other awkward aspect of the N300 is that Toshiba has jacked the price up of this drive to around 50% more than what WD and Seagate are asking for the same capacity from some sources.

There are a few deals to be had on the N300, but it does make you wonder whether it's competing with the WD Red Plus and Seagate IronWolf, or the Red Pro and IronWolf Pro?

If only Toshiba would price the N300 more appropriately, it might become one of the best NAS drive options.

Toshiba N300 4TB: Price

Without doubt, the worst possible place to buy the N300 4TB drive is from Amazon.com and the Toshiba Store on that retailer.

The current asking price there is around $330, which is utterly outrageous. To put that into perspective, in January 2026, the price was $215.62, and in August 2025, it was $154.99. Therefore, it has seen a 212% price increase in just nine months. Given that I wouldn’t believe there is much interest in 4TB drives for Datacentres, this is purely corporate greed in action.

But what’s even more curious is that even in the US, you can get this drive for cheaper, since B&H Photo sells it for $244.99, and Newegg wants $299.

Outside of the US borders, the prices are still elevated but not as excessively. From Amazon.co.uk, the 4TB capacity is priced around the £200 mark, and across Europe on Amazon, it's €237.86, if they have stock.

For comparison, American customers on Amazon.com can pay $194.99 for the 4TB WD Plus drive, and the 4TB Seagate IronWolf is only $189.

In short, wherever you buy the N300, it's seen a much larger price increase than its competitors, and this is true across all regions.

One important difference to note is that the N300 is available in a much larger range of sizes than Red Plus and IronWolf. The smallest N300 is 4TB, and it is available in 6TB, 8TB, 10TB, 12TB, 14TB, 16TB, 17TB, 20TB and 22TB.

The Red Plus only goes from 1TB up to 12TB, and the IronWolf goes from 1TB to 16TB, with some truly odd sizes such as 7TB in between the usual capacity increases.

However, you look at the N300 pricing, this is an expensive drive that tries to go between the Red Plus/IronWolf and the Red Pro/IronWolf Pro product ranges.

What makes this more complicated is that while officially IronWolf Pro drives are made in 4TB capacities, I could only find 12TB and larger. But the 4TB WD Red Pro can be found for $249.99 on Amazon, which is cheaper than the N300 for the same capacity.

What’s genuinely confusing about the N300 range is that if you go looking for drives of a particular capacity, you might find that drive with three different part numbers, one being the retail number, others being OEM, and I managed with some sizes to find ones with 128MB, 512MB and 1024MB caches. Obviously, the larger caches are better, especially on bigger capacity drives.

As an example of how messed up Toshiba is on Amazon.com, clicking “Visit the Toshiba Store” sometimes takes you to Toshiba kitchen products.

These prices need to be more consistent and gouge less.

(Image credit: Toshiba)Toshiba N300 4TB: Design

Since its launch, Toshiba has developed several proprietary technologies for the N300 and has kept them consistent across the product line.

These include Stable Platter Technology, which uses a tied spindle motor to secure the drive shaft at both ends. This reduces system-induced vibration and is directly comparable with WD's 3D Active Balance Plus approach. Both address the same problem, where in a multi-drive enclosure, vibration from one drive affects the others.

Also special to the N300 is Dynamic Cache Technology, a self-contained algorithm with on-board buffer management that optimises cache allocation between read and write operations in real time. From the outset, the N300 has typically had more cache than its competition, so managing the use of that is important for performance.

One of the hidden issues with faster-rotating drives is wear, and on the N300, this is addressed in a few interesting ways, one being Ramp Load Technology. This parks the read and write heads on a ramp outside the platter surface when the drive is idle. It reduces head wear during power cycles and protects the media surface.

Error recovery control has also been present since the original launch, limiting recovery time to avoid RAID array ejections in the same way that WD's TLER does.

(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)

All these features I’ve mentioned arrived with the first N300 drives, but since then, the N300 has undergone some subtle changes, one of which is the introduction of NASLink Technology.

This fine-tunes drive behaviour for rapid data access and includes firmware-level optimisation for RAID performance through improved disk coordination. The more drives you have in an array, the more important it is that they’re all moving to a common beat, and Toshiba has baked that into the N300 via firmware updates.

Having larger arrays improves performance, but it introduces vibrations that can migrate from one drive to those either side of it. To combat this, the N300 also carries three built-in rotational vibration sensors. These detect and compensate for the knock-on vibration effects that become a serious problem once a NAS enclosure has more than four drives installed.

Overall, while Toshiba hasn’t come up with anything like Seagate IronWolf Health Management. In other respects, this is probably the most sophisticated drive serving the home and small-business NAS market.

However, when Toshiba only offers a three-year warranty and 180TB/year workload, it doesn't seem much like it's that special.

(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)Toshiba N300 4TB: Performance

(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)

Since Toshiba only provided two of these drives, there seemed little point in trying to work out what array advantages running the N300 offered. Therefore, I went with the same PC analysis that I used on the WD Red Plus and IronWolf drives

Here are my results:

Drives

Toshiba N300

WD Red Plus

IronWolf

Part No.

HDWG740

WD40EFPX

ST4000VN006

Capacity

4TB

Cache

512MB

256MB

Rotational Speed

RPM

7200

5400

AJA

Read

MB/s

282

187

190

Write

MB/s

283

179

185

ATTO

Read

MB/s

291.57

206.24

192.35

Write

MB/s

294.25

197.35

191.76

CrystalDiskMark Default

Read

MB/s

299.18

201.23

200.77

Write

MB/s

300.50

208.26

199.33

CrystalDiskMark RealWorld

Read

MB/s

286.95

212.46

200.22

Write

MB/s

290.01

204.42

199.11

PCMark

Score

651

801

677

Bandwidth

MB/s

99.87

124.49

103.69

MS Winsat

Random 16 Read

MB/s

2.37

1.71

1.6

Sequential 64.0 Read

MB/s

218.38

168.53

158.16

Sequential 64.0 Write

MB/s

289.31

204.65

190.5

Read Time with Sequential Writes

4.810

1.385

1.946

Latency: 95th Percentile

31.620

12.685

34.685

Latency: Maximum

75.357

64.723

62.341

Average Read Time with Random Writes

12.021

5.267

9.898

Aside from PCMark10, all other tests show that the N300 is a country mile faster than either of the alternative NAS drives with the same capacity. I can put those results down to the increased rotational speed and also the 512MB cache on the N300.

One extra test I did perform on a NAS was to take a single drive on a Ugreen NASync DXP4800 Plus NAS, connect to it over a 2.5GbE LAN link, and bench test it from my PC.

I achieved read and write speeds over 285MB/s, which is the practical limit of 2.5GbE LAN ports. That with a single N300 drive, you can saturate a 2.5GbE Link is impressive, and it implies that with four drives in a RAID 5 configuration, you should be able to saturate a 10GbE LAN port. To do that on both WD and Seagate would involve moving up to their Red Pro or IronWolf Pro range.

Based on these numbers alone, the N300 might be worth what Toshiba is asking for it, depending on how your NAS is configured and if raw speed is important to that system.

However, I should also point out that the power consumption on the N300 is dramatically more than on the Seagate and WD drives. The current 4TB N300 draws 7.43W typical under active operating load, where the Red Plus only consumes 4.7W and the IronWolf 4.8W.

And, the N300 will be converting most of that power into heat, regrettably. If you already have a machine room where the cooling isn't coping, then maybe using these drives might not be the best plan.

Toshiba N300 4TB: Final verdict

(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)

If this drive were cheaper and Toshiba had technology like the IronWolf Health Management scheme, there would be little debate about this being one of the best options.

However, there are a few things about NAS and RAID arrays that make this choice slightly more complicated.

For starters, the majority of NAS are bottlenecked by their LAN connections, so if you only have a NAS with a 1GbE or 2.5GbE LAN port, then you won’t see the improved performance of the N300 over the WD Red Plus or IronWolf. If you do have a 10GbE LAN port, it will be saturated with four drives; extra drives won’t make any difference unless you have multiple LAN ports and bandwidth aggregation.

What you do get with the N300 is internal NAS performance, which, if you are running AI on your NAS, might be a factor. However, most people using their NAS that way use NVMe drives for caching, allowing them to get higher performance from 5400RPM drives. Rebuilds will be quicker, but the value of that comes down to whether the NAS is a point-of-service or other mission-critical function, and it assumes that a drive (or drives) dies in the first place to trigger the rebuild.

The fly in this ointment is the price, because for a four bay NAS, that’s a jump from roughly $800 in storage to $1200, and for that increase, you might consider Pro-level media.

Interestingly, currently the WD Red Pro 4TB is $250, offers 7200RPM spindle speeds, for less than the 4TB N300 on Amazon.com. And deals on IronWolf Pro models undercut Toshiba's pricing at that retailer.

In the UK, the IronWolf Pro 4TB is only £169.99, the WD Red Pro is £234.75, making the £195.15 N300 4TB a better deal than the WD, but much worse than the Seagate drive.

That’s the biggest issue here, because Toshiba aimed this product to hit the open ground between the entry-level NAS drives and the Pro series mechanisms, and now adjusted the price to compete with the premium layer. These Pro drives have 300TB/yr workload ratings and a 5-year warranty, whereas the N300 only has 180TB/yr and a 3-year warranty.

Based on these Toshiba defined ratings, it can't compete on reliability.

While I expect that if I tested the N300 against the Pro hardware, it would do well, since both of the competing brands typically only include 256MB of cache, not 512MB. But those who buy those mechanisms are looking for longevity above all else.

Overall, I liked the N300, as it takes less time to get operational on a NAS and in small arrays, the performance is excellent. But I can’t get on board with Toshiba’s pricing, which seems excessively high in some regions and lacks any consistency.

For more storage solutions, we've reviewed the best NAS devices.

Categories: Reviews

The Westies arrives on MGM+ this weekend — you won't remember watching it in three months time, but this Irish mobster true story is fun while it lasts

TechRadar Reviews - Fri, 07/10/2026 - 02:01

If I'm going to watch yet another movie or TV show about a mafia-style gang in New York — because why bother in the wake of The Godfather and The Sopranos, right? — I want to come away from it having learned something new.

New MGM+ crime drama The Westies achieved this at conception, because I didn't know the first thing about the real-life Irish-American crime family of the same name. In fact, I didn't even know that they existed. But sure enough, they were known for racketeering, drug trafficking, and contract killing in Hell's Kitchen from 1960s-1980s.

I know what you're thinking: isn't Hell's Kitchen exactly where the Italian-American mob operated from in New York City. You'd be right in thinking that, and it's one of the main sources of dramatic tension across the show's eight-episode run.

Add in the fact that an FBI team has been tasked with tracking down our fictional version, led by family patriarch Eamonn Sweeney (J.K. Simmons), and you've got a proper old-school cat-and-mouse chase.

Interestingly, the biggest pro and con of The Westies is almost the same thing. While you're streaming it, you're engrossed — the storytelling itself is solid, dependable and superficially fun. But from the moment you switch it off, it will be completely erased from your mind.

Fans complained The Westies would be too tame just from the trailer — and I think they were right

After the above trailer for The Westies was released, I couldn't help but notice that the overwhelming fan response was to criticize scenes for being "too tame" compared to what mob behavior would have been like at the time.

Now that I've watched the entire season, I have to agree. Even if you don't know the story of the Westies, you're tuning into a gangster crime show expecting a severe level of violence — or even just an overarching sense of nasty brutality.

Of course, blood, guts and gore don't make a story any better objectively, but come on... we're trying to have some fun here. On top of that, it's difficult to invest in something new if you feel as though it is holding back, especially if it's aiming for a second season and beyond.

Still, the core storytelling is both engaging and well constructed. As Eamonn Sweeney's cronies face off against the local Italian-Americans, you're as engrossed in the inevitably fatal outcome as much as you are the complicated family dynamics.

The cast is stronger than its story

(Image credit: MGM+)

Bosch star Titus Welliver plays our ragged FBI lead Glenn Keenan, with an 80s "pornstache" so commanding that it might as well have had its own acting credit. When you can get past the facial accessories, you know you're in good hands... once Harry Bosch, always Harry Bosch, if you get what I mean.

If anything, I wish we had more of Simmons himself on screen. Sweeney isn't exactly the Don Corleone type, but it feels as though Simmons has somehow been a mobster boss in a former life. If you're selling him as number one on the call sheet, let's see that translated in each episode, please.

Really, I'm looking for holes when there aren't any — or at least I'm ripping tiny damaged flecks in the story's fabric into gaping tears. Because we've been so spoiled by shows such as Peaky Blinders and MobLand in recent years, we have to hold everything that comes after to an incredibly high standard.

Truthfully, The Westies just doesn't meet it. Not because there's anything wrong per se, but because the competition is so tough. It's kind of like studying really hard for an exam knowing you're going to get creamed by the kids who are naturally better at the same subject. Thems the breaks, so just enjoy the ride while it lasts.

Categories: Reviews

Decodo proxy service review

TechRadar Reviews - Thu, 07/09/2026 - 13:44

A year and a half after its rebranding, Decodo (formerly Smartproxy) ranks near the very top in our books thanks to its automation-friendly workflows and more than 125 million IPs across 195 locations.

With the public data access platform (as Decodo labels itself), users gain access to residential (dynamic and static), data center, and mobile proxies to level up their browsing security. There’s also a handy Site Unblocker feature that facilitates bypassing CAPTCHA and IP bans, and enables entry to restricted sites.

Besides the ethically sourced proxy pool, Decodo offers APIs for scraping, providing users with a wide array of options to automate the extraction of publicly available information from websites. These include several types of APIs for different levels of expertise and various objectives.

Plans and pricing

Decodo’s pricing is based on how many IPs you require, the volume of traffic, the type of IPs, and the volume of requests. At first glance, the pricing structure is complex, though the gist of it is that it scales directly with your data consumption. So, the more bandwidth or IPs you buy, the cheaper your rate becomes.

Decodo promotes its residential IPs starting from $2 per GB per month under enterprise pricing (excludes individuals and small businesses). However, you need to take the 1000 GB plan, which means you’ll be charged $2000 per month plus VAT (all the prices are VAT-less).

For $150 per month, you get 50 GB ($3 per GB) of traffic for residential IPs; $275 monthly equals 100 GB ($2.75 per GB), while you’d need to set aside $11.25 each month if you want 3 GB ($3.75 per GB) of traffic for the lowest plan.

Static residential proxies, priced by the number of IPs, monthly traffic, or the number of dedicated IPs required, start from $0.27 monthly per IP (that’s if you require 8,000 IPs and 50 GB of traffic). Furthermore, 500 IPs cost $165 monthly ($0.33 per IP), but 10 IPs cost $4.7 (that’s $0.47 per IP). In other words, the greater the number of IPs, the lower the unit cost of each IP.

The pricing for mobile proxies begins at $4.50 per IP with the 500 GB plan, and the price goes up per IP with the lower traffic requirement. Similar to static proxies, datacenter plans are also offered on a GB, IP, and dedicated IP basis. They start at $3,800 for the 10,000 GB plan, or $0.026 per IP if you go with the 4,000 IP option.

If you decide to go with the pay-as-you-go option for residential proxies, it’s priced by 1 GB, each costing $4. For mobile proxies, the price is $8 per 1 GB, while the static dedicated ISP and datacenter proxies don’t have the pay-as-you-go option available.

There’s a 14-day money-back guarantee if you’re not entirely satisfied with the service, although it’s not offered for every pricing plan. That said, you can first take it out for a spin during the rather short three-day free trial with 100MB of traffic before making a final decision.

All things considered, Decodo runs a pricing model that favors bulk users over individual ones and small businesses. So, if you run a large organization that needs many IPs and gigabytes, you’ll find the platform cost-effective due to the significant discounts. Otherwise, it might be expensive.

Features

Of course, registration is the first step, which you can complete with an email address, a Google account, or a GitHub account. Your account dashboard conveniently has all features located on the left, which you can easily sift through. Whether you need residential proxies, ISP proxies, or scraping, you can select the option on the left menu.

Decodo's dashboard (Image credit: Decodo )

Once you settle on a plan, you can add users either as proxy users or team members. And with administrative privileges, Decodo provides you with full control over the IP resources you’ll allocate to each proxy user. For example, you can give a user 1 GB of data and another 10 GB. Each user from your organization has unique credentials to access Decodo.

You can create and customize proxy connections from your dashboard. Your first order of business will be to choose a sticky or rotating proxy. Sticky proxies change at set intervals (up to 24 hours), while rotating proxies change with every connection request. Then, you can choose an IP from a specific country/city or a random one as your proxy. With these options set, you can start utilizing Decodo’s online protection.

Let’s dive deeper into the features of this app:

Residential proxies

Residential proxies route your web requests through real home internet connections rather than anonymous server hubs. This setup is ideal for evading localized geo-blocks or checking out regional search results.

Decodo heavily emphasizes that its proxy fleet is entirely "ethically sourced," meaning home users explicitly consent and are compensated for sharing their bandwidth. You can target traffic across 195+ global locations, with the largest concentration of active nodes located in India, the US, Germany, and the UK.

Our testing confirmed that their residential pool boasts exceptional connection uptime and swift, hitch-free speeds.

Static residential (ISP) proxies

Combining the speed of a datacenter proxy with the legitimacy of a home connection, static residential proxies solve the issue of long web automation sequences or managing multiple social media accounts. Whereas standard rotating IPs would get you flagged, Decodo's ISP proxies from premium internet service providers like AT&T, Verizon, Orange, and Tele2 lower block rates via permanent IPs.

They deliver an impressive 99.99% uptime, latency reaction times under 0.2 seconds, and full HTTP(S) / SOCKS5 protocol integration. Decodo offers them as shared ISP proxies for flexible scaling and dedicated ISP proxies for an exclusive single-user IP per project.

Mobile proxies

To mimic smartphone traffic, Decodo gives you access to a dedicated (and ethically sourced) mobile proxy pool of over 10 million real 4G/5G mobile carrier IPs covering 160+ locations and 700+ network providers. The bulk of this mobile network is concentrated across the United States (3.9 million IPs), Germany (1.2 million), the UK (940,000), and India (720,000).

Mobile proxies are highly resilient against blocks because web platforms are naturally hesitant to ban cellular IPs, which frequently rotate among hundreds of real users. Decodo boasts a 99.75% success rate with its mobile proxies, which makes them a key asset for mobile application testing, localized ad verification, bypassing content geo-restrictions, and heavy web scraping.

Datacenter proxies

When sheer speed and high-bandwidth processing matter more than stealth, Decodo's datacenter proxies are a good bet. These are offered as shared versions (aimed at projects with tight budgets for data collection) and dedicated versions (exclusive IPs for consistent identity), and count half a million IPs with a <0.3s response time and 99.94% success rate.

While Decodo’s shared datacenter servers span a wide array of global regions, its 100% dedicated datacenter servers remain strictly limited to US locations. For those engaging in data-driven scaling, the platform supplies real-time stats to keep track of your effort.

Site Unblocker

Described by Decodo as a proxy-like solution, Site Unblocker is an advanced web extraction tool built to act as an all-in-one scraper. Instead of writing complex custom scripts to manage connection retries or bypass security walls, the Site Unblocker automates the hard work.

It uses browser fingerprinting to forge unique browser identities for each request and handles dynamic JavaScript rendering without requiring resource-heavy headless browsers. The tool also features automated IP rotation to make sure you bypass target anti-bot blocks.

Scraping

Arguably, the biggest advantage of having Decodo in your software lineup is its automation-oriented approach. The service provides APIs and scraping templates that let you automate website data collection instead of doing it manually by yourself for every site.

This includes search engine results pages (SERPs) like Google (fully updated to cleanly parse the latest AI Overviews layouts), eCommerce websites, and social media. As of late, you can also effortlessly extract real-time responses from public AI tools, as well as YouTube video transcripts and channel metadata.

All of the above fall under the umbrella of Web Scraping API. It automatically handles all the infrastructure knicks and knacks, from IP switching to CAPTCHA bypassing, courtesy of machine-learning fingerprint rotation. It uses a flexible credit system to keep costs optimized, as developers can configure request complexity on the fly. That way, teams only pay for advanced residential pools and scraping power when targeting a highly locked-down website.

Beyond traditional HTML and JSON payloads, the API delivers diverse data outputs like screenshots, tables, CSVs, XHR, and clean Markdown tailored specifically for AI integrations.

Decodo's dashboard (Image credit: Decodo )

When it comes to social media scraping, users can choose between real-time synchronous queries or asynchronous callbacks, paying exclusively for successful results via automated retries. The API does a commendable job of transforming dynamic social streams into cleanly parsed, structured JSON or HTML payloads.

For instance, you’ll be able to track the engagement rates of influencers working with your brand, monitor your competitors’ follower numbers, or discover trending content in real time or at a specific time. The YouTube scraping engine allows efficient extraction of raw video transcripts, backend schema metadata, and engagement metrics without getting throttled.

Those eyeing eCommerce scraping will get the option to extract product data from over 50 major marketplaces, including Amazon, Walmart, and eBay. Doing so allows businesses to securely pull real-time data on pricing, full product listings, images, and customer reviews.

Developers can instantly deploy over 100 ready-made scraping templates to monitor dynamic pricing shifts, track localized stock levels, detect counterfeit items, or aggregate clean AI training datasets. Scraping tasks can be scheduled in advance, and you’ll receive an email notification once they’re done.

Decodo's dashboard (Image credit: Decodo )

Last but not least, the SERP scraping API provides an automated pipeline designed specifically to extract structured data from major search engines like Google, Bing, Yahoo, and Baidu. This allows businesses to scrape localized search engine results pages down to the city or zip-code level with 100% successful data delivery guaranteed through automated retries.

AI workflows

Decodo recently introduced a free, prompt-based AI Parser alongside a rapid Fast Search API. The system uses simple, natural language prompts to instantly translate unstructured web data into clean JSON or LLM-friendly markdown. This native formatting greatly contributes to development speed, as it strips out layout noise and drastically lowers token consumption when feeding live web data directly into an AI context window.

The ultimate evolution here is Decodo’s transition into an autonomous data-enablement platform natively integrated with AI ecosystems like LangChain, n8n, and the Model Context Protocol (MCP). For example, by supporting an MCP server, Decodo enables AI agents running inside environments like Claude or ChatGPT to autonomously navigate the web, switch proxy nodes, and handle scraping blocks completely on their own via natural language commands

(Image credit: Decodo)Ease of Use

Decodo’s user interface is easy to navigate. On the desktop, all features are arranged on the left side, and you can easily access your desired feature with a single click. With a white background, black text, and colorful buttons, the whole setup is pleasing to the eye.

Along with the website interface, Decodo offers a Proxy Checker that lets you test up to 10,000 proxies after uploading them with one click.

There are also browser extensions for Google Chrome and Firefox, which give you access to features like one-click IP rotation, customizable session length, and seamless switching between proxies. Additionally, they include WebRTC Leak Prevent to stop WebRTC from bypassing your proxy, masking both your real IP address and location.

Like the main Decodo interface, the extensions are easy to navigate.

Decodo's dashboard (Image credit: Decodo )

Decodo makes it easy to integrate its proxies with various third-party tools, such as eCommerce purchase bots, scraping software, SEO tools, and external proxy managers like MuLogin and AdsPower. The backend is all covered, so you just need to carry out a few steps to kickstart the integration from the intuitive dashboard.

Customer Support

Excellent customer support is one of Decodo’s strengths. This support begins with extensive technical documentation for its features. You can find tutorials and user guides concerning all features, with detailed screenshots illustrating the instructions. You can learn everything about the app in the Help Center, from a basic introduction until you reach more complex aspects.

Decodo has a YouTube channel with video tutorials about its features. This channel allows users to learn about the platform more interactively and has dozens of illustrative and engaging videos.

Decodo's dashboard (Image credit: Decodo )

Of course, customer support can’t be left to the customer alone. If you need help, Decodo's support team is available via live chat. You can contact the support team 24/7 and get speedy answers, although the response time varies depending on your time zone. You can also reach Decodo’s support team via email (for non-urgent inquiries) and expect a response within 24 to 48 hours.

Other complementary support resources include Decodo’s GitHub repository with code samples and a Discord channel where you can connect with other users and share solutions to common issues. Decodo also holds frequent webinars to help users learn the ins and outs of this platform and general trends in the proxy software market.

The Competition

There’s no shortage of competition in the proxy software sector. Decodo has robust competitors like IPRoyal, OxyLabs, and WebShare. It outshines many competitors by providing a broader range of global IP addresses and complementary features like the AI workflows and scraping APIs. However, our main issue is with Decodo’s pricing– it’s significantly more expensive than many rivals, especially for low-volume users.

If you’re a bulk user needing hundreds of proxy IPs, Decodo is an ideal tool. However, it’s too costly for individuals or small enterprises needing a few dozen IPs at most.

Final verdict

There are solid reasons why Decodo gets tagged as one of the better proxy networks in the game. It’s fast and reliable, offers a rather sizable IP pool, and the dashboard is clean enough that you won't pull your hair out setting it up. Plus, the company throws in a ton of great built-in tools to help you smash through aggressive anti-bot blocks and handle heavy scraping workflows.

The only real catch is Decodo’s focus on bigger dev teams and enterprise-level scaling. In case you're running a small operation or just tinkering with a solo project, some of the price tags will likely make you flinch.

We've also highlighted the best proxy and best VPN

Categories: Reviews

Amazfit Active 3 Premium review — Premium performance, just without the price

TechRadar Reviews - Thu, 07/09/2026 - 11:25

Amazfit Active 3 Premium: One minute review

Amazfit has been a company I’ve been keeping an eye on since their Bip 3 ‘budget’ smartwatch blew through all my expectations (and then some), followed by a slew of other watches across a range of price points, aiming to undercut the likes of Garmin — but most notably the $99 / £99 Amazfit Active 2, which earned five stars in our review. So when they put the word “Premium” on a product, it piques my curiosity.

Not only does the Amazfit Active 3 Premium have a bunch of excellent features that rival some of the biggest in the business, like excellent sleep and fitness tracking, but it’s also a fantastic-looking smartwatch.

The ‘Premium’ moniker signifies the addition of the super-tough sapphire glass coating, and the inclusion of the NFC payment feature. This was the distinction that the Amazfit Active 2 Premium used to separate itself from the base Active 2: however, there is no base Active 3, so even though this watch uses the ‘Premium’ model distinction, it’s the only watch in its range.

Despite this, it’s not an expensive buy. Sure, it’s pricier than the older Active 2, but it’s still undercutting the cheapest Apple and Garmin watches while delivering performance that belies its price. Another excellent example of a fitness tracker from Amazfit, a company which has by now shown itself to be a serious contender in the fitness tech space.

Amazfit Active 3 Premium: Specifications

Component

Amazfit Active 3 Premium

Price

$169 / £169 / AU$239

Weight

54.6g

Case/bezel

Metal and plastic hybrid

Display

1.32-inch AMOLED display

GPS

Dual-frequency GPS

Battery life

Up to 12 days

Connection

Bluetooth

Water resistant?

5 ATM

Amazfit Active 3 Premium: Price and availability

(Image credit: Amazfit)

Starts at $169 / £169 / AU$239
Not Amazfit’s cheapest, but still cheaper than many rivals
Available in three color options

It’s hard not to look at the Amazfit Active 3 Premium and not feel as though there’s a catch somewhere when it comes to its price, but it really is a sub-$170 / £170 / AU$250 fitness watch with the kinds of features and accuracy you’d have spent double that for not long ago. Our review unit is the Atlas Blue model, but it’s also available in Apex Silver and Aero White.

Value score: 5/5

Amazfit Active 3 Premium review: Design

(Image credit: Future)

Heavier than some alternatives
AMOLED display

Regardless of your color choice, the Amazfit Active 3 Premium is a looker. It has a circular body with a metallic finish, with the underside color-matched to the bands for Atlas Blue and Aero White (Apex Silver would be my pick, but the whole body is silver with a black strap).

The strap itself is the standard polymer-style you’ll have felt on just about any other smartwatch, but the fact that the Amazfit Active 3 Premium uses a pin system like a more traditional watch adds a touch of class (and some minor fiddliness). It’s got a 1.32-inch display, which isn’t large —but it’s the same size as the Amazfit Active 2. I didn’t feel like I was losing much in terms of screen space compared to some of Amazfit’s larger watches, but I was surprised to find it’s slightly heavier than the Coros Nomad I tested recently.

With that said, I’m not sure I’d consider it rugged. I wasn’t prepared to hurl my review unit to the ground to test its durability, despite its sapphire glass and scratch-resistant coating. It might not be the watch you’ll want to take on an ultramarathon, but it’ll stand up to runs, rides and gym workouts with ease.

Design score: 4.5/5

Amazfit Active 3 Premium: Features

(Image credit: Future)

Full-color maps
HybridCharge is great
170 sports modes

Ok, so the Amazfit Active 3 Premium is a looker, but does it have the smarts to back it up? Despite the relatively low price, the answer is a resounding yes. You’ll need to use the Zepp app, and while I’ve tested it before and found it to be a little cumbersome, I am pleased to report that (at least in the time I’ve been away), it’s much slicker these days.

You can use it as a dashboard, and there are badges to collect that include step goals, monthly targets, and much more.

Fitbit Premium’s Daily Readiness Score has led the charge to distill a bunch of complex metrics into an easy-to-read number that calculates how hard you can push your workout on any given day, and Amazfit’s version is called “HybridCharge”.

It takes into account sleep, heart rate, activity, and recovery, as well as subjective inputs like stress, health, and more, to help you make a judgment on whether today is a workout day or a rest day, and it does so pretty well.

One day during testing, I’d struggled to sleep and had an early start at work, and the app and watch understood that maybe I needed to take it easy and recover that day. It’s something you used to need a premium subscription for with other manufacturers, but I’m glad to see it’s included in the price of the product here.

PAI is also back, so those looking for a quick look at a glance to see how their natural fitness is holding up can check it out by testing their heart rate zones. The watch supports basic notification features, and of course offers that NFC payment digital wallet feature for convenience. A barnstorming inclusion is full-color maps, offering turn-by-turn navigation. This is a premium feature crammed into a value package, offering turn-by-turn navigation during runs, rides and walks.

Features score: 4.5/5

Amazfit Active 3 Premium: Performance

(Image credit: Amazfit)

AMOLED display
12 days of battery life
Excellent accuracy

Performance is uniformly excellent across the board with the Amazfit Active 3 Premium. Fitness tracking offers a deep suite of metrics, including running ones like stride length, ground contact, and just about anything else you could possibly ask for as a runner. And, if you’re just learning what all of these measurements are, fear not: Everything is handily explained within the Zepp app.

When you’re done, the app also does a great job at showcasing your fatigue level, which then feeds into the aforementioned HybridCharge metrics.

I very rarely check my sleep outside of Apple’s Sleep Score number, but the Amazfit Active 3 Premium does make me want to dig deeper — and offers plenty of data to do so. I was surprised at how often I was getting up in the night without realising it, and the Aura section of the Zepp app even includes relaxing music to help you settle back down.

Battery-wise, Amazfit claims you can get 12 days from a single charge. In my experience, it’s been closer to 10 days, but it’s still very respectable given the amount of data it’s collecting day in, day out. The AMOLED display is plenty bright for just about everything, even direct sunlight.

The only minor gripe I have with the Amazfit Active 3 Premium is that it doesn’t automatically offer to track a workout if you start walking/running/doing anything. As someone who still forgets to hit the button before setting out, it’s nice when devices like the Apple Watch give a nudge.

Performance Score: 4.5 / 5

Amazfit Active 3 Premium: Scorecard

I took over 1,000 shots with the Sony RX10 V across my kid’s sports day, a bird photography trip and more – here’s how Sony’s surprise new superzoom performed

TechRadar Reviews - Thu, 07/09/2026 - 09:00

Sony RX10 V: two-minute review

Just when you thought bridge cameras had been sunsetted, Sony returns after a nine-year gap with the new RX10 V — and it’s a genuine upgrade of the Cyber-shot RX10 IV, which was already the best camera of its kind.

We get the same winning combination of a 1-inch stacked 20MP sensor and 24-600mm F2.4-4 lens, but the mark V model has been enhanced with Sony's latest Bionz XR processor and AI chip, enabling improved burst shooting speed, 4K video features, and, most importantly, better autofocus performance.

Sony has also implemented multiple design tweaks to the control layout and ergonomics, and as a result the RX10 V looks much more like an Alpha camera than the RX10 IV, which feels more Cyber-shot compact, did. For a more detailed breakdown of the differences, check out my RX10 V vs Cyber-shot RX10 IV article.

There are additional exposure dials, an AF joystick has been added (thank you, Sony!), as has a USB-C terminal, and the higher-resolution viewfinder is larger, more pronounced, and easier to see.

Throw in a bigger and comfier grip, which hosts the larger NP-FZ100 battery for a 50% boost in shot life, and the RX10 V is all round a slicker camera than the discontinued RX10 IV.

The A7R VI is slightly bigger than its predecessor, with a larger grip housing a new, larger battery (Image credit: Tim Coleman)

It's not all good news, mind you, depending on which way you look at it — the weather-resistant body misses out on a built-in flash and top LCD, both of which were present in the older model.

And some of the old drawbacks remain, such as the relatively sluggish zoom of the lens, which is 'just' a 25x optical zoom. I like that range, but other lesser-quality bridge cameras zoom further, such as the Nikon Coolpix P1100.

A significant sticking point is price — the RX10 V had to cost more than its nine-year-old predecessor, which was already pricier than any other bridge camera available. It's a big price to pay for this type of camera, even if you are getting a lot of camera for your money.

All that said, I've thoroughly enjoyed my lengthy review period with the Sony RX10 V, during which I've shot everything from travel to bird and macro photography, with the camera handling those and other subjects with aplomb.

It's a neatly packaged camera, especially when you consider you're getting a 600m f/4 lens when fully zoomed in. The RX10 V is a dream all-in-one camera, especially for enthusiast wildlife photographers with deep pockets.

Sony RX10 V: price and release date

Announced on July 9 2026
It costs $2,300 / £2,200 (about AU$3,500)

However, the A7R VI is still pretty small (Image credit: Tim Coleman)

Sony's premium RX10 bridge camera series was always pricey compared to lesser-quality alternatives, and the latest version, the RX10 V, is even pricier. I'm not surprised: the RX10 IV launched for $1,800 / £1,500 / AU$2,000 almost nine years ago, and we should expect an inflation-based price bump at least. Still, $2,300 / £2,200 (about AU$3,500) for a camera of this kind is a fair whack of anyone's money, let alone the enthusiast wildlife photographers that this camera is practically perfect for.

So what else could you get for similar money? If you already own a Sony mirrorless camera, the 400-800mm super-telephoto zoom lens is worth a look, especially if wildlife and bird photography are key reasons why you're considering the RX10 V. Or, if its zoom range alone that you want, and you're less concerned about outright image quality, the Nikon CoolPix with its monster 125x zoom is another option, and it costs almost half the price.

All things considered, though, I think the RX10 V is reasonable value for money, considering what you get.

Price score: 4/5

Sony RX10 V specsSony RX10 V Specs:

Type:

Compact camera ('bridge')

Sensor:

20.1MP 1-inch stacked BSI CMOS

LCD:

3-inch tilt-touchscreen, 1.62m dots

Memory:

1x SDXC UHS-II

Video:

4K up to 60fps (no crop) / 4K 120p (cropped)

ISO range:

ISO 100-12,800

Burst shooting

30fps (electronic), 10fps (mechanical)

Viewfinder:

3.68m-dot EVF, 0.5-inch

Processor:

Bionz XR 2

Connectivity:

4k 30p live streaming, USB-C, 5GHz Wi-Fi

Dimensions:

136.4 x 94.5 x 151.3mm

Weight:

2.45lbs / 1.11kg

Sony RX10 V: Design

Same 24-600mm F2.4-4 optically stabilized zoom lens as the RX10 IV
Larger and more pronounced EVF with higher resolution and refresh rate
Improved ergonomics and joystick added, but flash and top LCD removed

(Image credit: Tim Coleman)

People buy a bridge camera primarily to get a superzoom lens, and the RX10 V has the exact same 24-600mm F2.4-4 lens as the RX10 IV — that’s a 25x optical zoom, with macro focusing up to a 0.49x magnification. Put simply, you’re covered for everything from landscapes and bird photography to close-ups of insects.

While the RX10 V is the same form factor as the RX10 IV, it has had a fairly major brush-up, and it feels a much better camera for it.

For one, the grip is comfier. It's a new shape with better ergonomics, and that's able to fit a physically larger battery than the previous model could, with a 50% boost in shot life.

If you're familiar with the RX10 IV, the top plate of this camera will take some getting used to; there are additional exposure control dials (one of which can be locked off) making quick changes to settings easier, while the shooting mode dial has been shifted to the right-hand side where a top LCD used to be. Personally I preferred the old setup.

A similar 3-inch tilt touchscreen to before, but with added feature such as vertical displayTim ColemanExtra control dials added, and the new shooting mode dial shifted to the right where a top LCD used to beTim ColemanA new shape gripTim ColemanThe camera's protective doors for its ports are slickerTim ColemanThe viewfinder is physically more pronounced and the display larger than in the RX10 IVTim Coleman

Another major change is that the built-in flash has been removed, though a hotshoe remains for use with accessories such as an external flash.

Also, the viewfinder is more pronounced, which makes it easier to look into, helped by the fact that it's a larger 0.5-inch unit with more-detailed 3.68m-dot display, whereas the RX10 IV has a 2.36m-dot 0.39-inch unit. Put simply, the viewfinder is a major upgrade.

On the camera's back side, an AF joystick has been added (Sony calls it a 'Multi selector'), which is a control I love to have for the likes of manual AF-point selection. For wildlife photography, I used it a lot, and can't imagine how I would have coped so easily in such a scenario with the older camera.

The zoom lens' position when the camera is turned offTim ColemanHere the camera is on, and the lens is set to its wide 24mm selectedTim ColemanAnd here's the camera's profile when the lens is zoomed all the way to the 600mm settingTim Coleman

Spin to the side, and the camera's ports are now neatly tucked away under rigid protective doors, with headphone and mic ports, plus a USB-C terminal has been added. The fact that the RX10 IV doesn't have a USB-C terminal is likely a reason it was discontinued, as per the EU's common charger regulations.

The tilt touchscreen is again a 3-inch type. It gets a small boost in resolution, and while that in itself isn't much of upgrade, its improved touch functions, and the fact that you can switch to a vertical format, are.

It’s possible to customize some of the buttons, including a speed-boost function during burst shooting — you can temporarily increase a medium speed, say of 10fps, to the maximum 30fps when the action begins. It’s a neat feature inherited from Sony's pro cameras, which minimizes how many photos you shoot, but the button placement is awkward for this feature — I would have liked a custom button on the front of the camera instead. A tally lamp has been added for video recording.

Here I've used the widest 24mm lens settingTim ColemanAnd from the same position, this is how tight the 600mm setting gets to distant subjects, in this case the London EyeTim Coleman

Design score: 4.5/5

Sony RX10 V: Performance

Sony's latest Bionz XR processor with AI chipset
Burst shooting upped to 30fps, with Sony's most up to date autofocus system that includes a wide range of subject detection modes
Now uses Sony's NP-FZ100 battery, delivering a 50% boost in shot life

Power and speed are where the major improvements are at. The RX10 V uses the same Bionz XR processor as the Sony A7 V mirrorless camera, with a combined AI chipset. The result is improved burst-shooting speeds and autofocus performance, and what Sony says is better color accuracy.

Burst-shooting speeds are boosted from the RX10 IV's 24fps to 30fps, when using the electronic shutter — which, in a camera like this with a stacked sensor, I have no problem doing. I'd hardly call this improvement in speed a reason to upgrade, though, especially since the mechanical shutter's maximum 10fps speed is enough for most scenarios.

When I was photographing action, such as for my child's sports day, or at my local nature reserve doing bird photography, I generally kept the camera to its 10fps setting, with one of the custom buttons set to a 30fps speed boost for when the action got really interesting.

This has allowed me to minimize the number of photos I've taken, while the way the camera groups burst sequences in playback makes files easier to navigate.

Something that makes the RX10 V feel like a snappier camera than the RX10 IV is that there is no viewfinder blackout, even for the 30fps setting, which is supported by continuous autofocus with Sony’s latest subject-detection autofocus.

It was a challenge tracking this bird in flight, but with bird-detection autofocus active and the speed boost in play, I came away with some keepersTim ColemanNot all my photos from the sequence were sharp, but this one is also on the money. I'm not convinced I would've got as good results with the older RX10 IVTim Coleman

Compared to the RX10 IV, the RX10 V is able to detect a wider range of specific subjects with real-time recognition, including dedicated modes for birds, cats, and more.

I generally made sure I selected the specific subject when I knew that was my focus, such as with bird photography, and have been seriously impressed by how sticky autofocus is. Even when birds were small in the frame, the RX10 V was regularly able to pick them up with the camera's autofocus area set to wide.

I had more issues when photographing my child's sports day, given that there were so many faces in a lot of the photos. For such scenarios, a quick jig of the autofocus area to a small area can help to avoid the camera focusing on people in the background instead of the subject.

Tim ColemanTim Coleman

I've mentioned it already, but like most of its recent mirrorless cameras the RX10 V also uses Sony’s popular NP-FZ100 battery, which is a longer-lasting unit than the NP-FZ50 in the RX10 IV.

Sony quotes shot life as up to 630 shots compared to 400 for the RX10 IV, which is a huge performance boost. Add on-the-go UBS-C charging, and the RX10 V is a better camera for heavy photography days.

For me, all the above performance improvements are key for a camera that people typically buy as an entry point for wildlife photography.

Performance score: 5/5

Sony RX10 V: Image and video quality

Same 20.1MP 1-inch sensor and 24-600mm lens as used by the RX10 IV
New processor boosts color and autofocus accuracy
4K video frame rates upped to 60fps (no crop) / 120fps (with crop)

Detail is nice and sharp in this street photo shot with a moderate wide 38mm focal length Tim ColemanI dialled in negative exposure compensation using one of the exposure dials here to keep the golden colorTim ColemanIn this daylight scene, I stopped the aperture down to f/7.1, and detail is really crispTim ColemanThis is how close you get to the moon with the 600mm focal length. I could crop down further if I wished. That said, detail in the JPEG, shot at ISO 1000, is a little muddyTim ColemanThe zoom range helped me frame the person down this long alleyway. A camera like the X100VI couldn't have got this shotTim ColemanThe wide 24mm settingTim ColemanAnd zoomed in to 600mmTim Coleman24mmTim Coleman70mmTim Coleman135mmTim Coleman600mmTim Coleman

Considering the versatility of the 25x optical zoom lens, image quality is impressively sharp, while the bright aperture helps with low-light quality, and is easily able to blur backgrounds when using the telephoto settings.

That being said, there are no major image-quality improvements over the nine-year-old RX10 IV; we're still getting 20.1MP photos in RAW & JPEG, and 4K video recording.

It's largely the indirect factors that positively improve image quality: better autofocus performance and subject recognition, enabling an increased hit ratio of sharp photos, and images with greater color accuracy based on detected subjects.

Some macro photos. At 600mm, the maximum magnification is 0.49xTim ColemanScroll to the next photo to see how far away I was in getting this photoTim ColemanYep, the dragonfly is in there, I promise you!Tim ColemanIn low light, detail can get muddy — this end of day photo was shot at ISO 5000 and I'm not sure it would pass for a big printTim ColemanTim ColemanTim ColemanTim ColemanTim ColemanTim Coleman

Other more direct improvements include a boost in 4K video frame rates: the RX10 IV was limited to 30fps, whereas the RX10 V goes up to 60fps with no crop, or 120fps with a crop. Like before, we still get a 240fps, but only in Full HD format.

And then there are the new color profiles to choose from, including Sony's popular S-Cinetone and S-Log3 for video, and the ability to import up to 16 custom LUTs profiles.

There are a bunch of extra features that make the RX10 V a better camera for video than the RX10 IV; a tally lamp, enhanced audio workflows, and it's also now possible to record an in-camera time-lapse sequence.

A few of my bird photos, all the original files, no editing or cropping. The camera had no problem detecting the subjects in all the following photosTim ColemanTim ColemanTim ColemanTim ColemanTim Coleman

If you already own a mirrorless camera, you're probably wondering if the RX10 V's quality is sufficient to replace a supertelephoto lens for photographing distant subjects. I was curious to find out, so I took the same photos of birds with the Sony A7R V professional mirrorless camera and Sony's longest telephoto lens, the 400-800mm, which is a similar price to the RX10 V.

You can see the direct comparisons between the RX10 V and Sony A7R camera with 400-800mm lens in my separate write-up. But to summarize here — yes, the RX10 V's detail is impressively sharp for a camera of this kind, but there is a reasonably obvious gulf in outright clarity from the larger and pricier Sony mirrorless setup.

Image and video quality score: 4.5/5

Sony RX10 V: testing scorecardSony RX10 V

Attributes

Notes

Rating

Price

It's a lot to pay for a bridge camera, but you are getting a lot of camera

4/5

Design

Excellent design tweaks improve handling, but built-in flash and top LCD are goine

4.5/5

Performance

Sony's latest processor, autofocus and bigger battery deliver where it matters most

5/5

Image and video quality

Nine years after the RX10 IV, and we still have the same 20.1MP sensor and 24-600mm lens. Best-in-class image quality, but a mirrorless camera with telephoto zoom will be even better

4.5/5

Should I buy the Sony RX10 V?Buy it if...

You want an all-in-one camera, but you're a regular wildlife photographer
Yes, the 24-600mm f/2.4-4 lens is super bright and versatile, but it's the telephoto settings that entice people to bridge cameras, and the RX10 V is the best of its kind.

You want a lightweight setup for wildlife photography
Bridge cameras are hardly small, but when you consider its size against a mirrorless camera with a lens that reaches up to 600mm, the RX10 V is positively tiny and lightweight.

Don't buy it if...

You own a working RX10 IV and are happy with it
If your several years-old RX10 IV is still doing the business, there are plenty of ways it matches the RX10 V, given it has the same sensor and superzoom lens.

You can stretch to a lens for your mirrorless camera instead
I would primarily use the RX10 V for wildlife photography, for which a Sony mirrorless camera with a lens like the Sony 400-800mm is a higher-quality setup, even if it is heavier and bulkier.

Sony RX10 V: also consider

Nikon Coolpix P1100

For outright zoom versatility, Nikon's Coolpix P1100 wins with its ridiculous 125x optical zoom — that's a 25-3000mm focal length range! It's also less than half the price of the RX10 V. However, this camera is much bulkier, and its sensor is tiny compared to the RX10 V's — and it shows in its lower-quality images.

Read our Nikon Coolpix P1100 coverage

Sony FE 400-800mm F6.3-8 G OSS

A left-field alternative, but if you already own a Sony mirrorless camera you'll get sharper bird photos by using the 400-800mm lens with it. Yes it's a much bigger setup, but if you're a serious enthusiast you'll want to use this lens more, and it's a similar price to the RX10 V.

Read our Sony FE 400-800mm F6.3-8 G OSS review

How I tested the Sony RX10 V

(Image credit: Tim Coleman)

Sony loaned me the RX10 V for the three weeks prior to its announcement
I took it travelling and on regular trips to my local nature reserve
I've used all the major camera and lens settings, plus made direct comparisons with Sony mirrorless gear

I made the most of my lengthy review period to properly test the RX10 V. I took it travelling where it was used in bright sunlight and hot weather, to my child's sports day, to my garden for macro photography, plus I regularly visited a nearby nature reserve which is a very popular spot for birding.

Across the various scenarios, I tested the different lens settings — the entire zoom and aperture range. I shot 20MP stills and 4K video clips, pushed the 30fps Drive Mode to its limits, tested the camera's close focusing capabilities, and shot until the battery drained.

And because I feel most people are interested in the RX10 V for wildlife photography, especially bird photography, I tested the various subject detection autofocus modes and pitted the premium bridge camera against Sony's longest lens, the 400-800mm F6.3-8, to see how it fared.

First reviewed: July 2026
Read more about how we test

Categories: Reviews

The Alienware AW3426DW is easily the best 34-inch ultrawide OLED I've ever used, and it's made me want to abandon my 45-inch monitor

TechRadar Reviews - Thu, 07/09/2026 - 08:00

Alienware AW3426DW: Two-minute review

(Image credit: Future / Isaiah Williams)

There's a new 34-inch ultrawide powerhouse in town, with the brand-new Alienware AW3426DW QD-OLED. After testing it with several games and movies, it's clear to me that this monitor stands well above its predecessors in terms of quality.

Unlike its predecessor, the Alienware AW3425DW, this display uses 5th-gen tandem OLED technology, delivering significantly higher brightness, improved efficiency, and better text clarity. The Penta (five-layer) tandem OLED stack also solves one of the biggest issues I've had with previous QD-OLED monitors, where brightness dimming from the automatic brightness limiter (ABL) would result in inconsistent brightness levels.

Frankly, coming from a 45-inch LG 45GS95QE QD-OLED ultrawide display that utilizes an 800R curve, I wasn't expecting to be blown away with greater immersion — but the AW3426DW delivers so much that I don't think I can do without a tandem OLED display going forward.

It also helps that Dolby Vision HDR support is included, which uses dynamic metadata to help shift brightness levels and tone mapping for each scene, and it's best used on games or movies that specifically support it.

For example, Battlefield 6's visual quality is elevated to a new level, specifically in sequences with chaotic explosions and fire particles that spread across the screen. You can see how good Dolby Vision is, when bright highlights are incredibly detailed, and since tandem OLED minimizes the need for ABL, there are no noticeable brightness dimming issues.

In games that don't support Dolby Vision, you can switch this off from the on-screen display (OSD) and enjoy HDR using the HDR Peak 1300 Bright or Display True Black 500 modes, although the former might have slightly more noticeable ABL. Other than a few errors that forced me to restart my PC after switching HDR modes and losing display signal, HDR functionality is great on the AW3426DW.

Without a doubt, this is one of the best gaming monitors money can buy, and certainly one of the best ultrawide monitors in 2026.

Alienware AW3426DW: Price & Availability

(Image credit: Future / Isaiah Williams)

How much does it cost? $799.99 / £709 / around AU$1,150
When is it available? Available now
Where can you get it? Available in the US and UK

For everything that the AW3426DW ultrawide has to offer, effectively making it one of the best ultrawide OLED monitors money can buy right now, the $799.99 / £709 price is more than reasonable. It's around the same price as its predecessor, the AW3425DW, but is much better, mostly thanks to its tandem OLED tech, but also thanks to its new anti-reflective coating.

Having used a far more expensive LG 45-inch ultrawide, which still sells at just above $1,000 / £1,000 (original retail price was $1,699.99 / £1,699.99), the AW3426DW is a steal in my book.

The LG display might have a virtual reality-like 800R curvature, but it's heavily limited in comparison due to its older WOLED panel, and utilizes the same 3440x1440 display resolution as the new Alienware 34-inch monitor does at 45 inches, which means pixel density is worse on the 45GS95QE.

If you're not ready to make the jump to the flagship Alienware AW3926QW 5K2K ultrawide launching later this year, especially due to the leap in GPU power requirements (it'll be more demanding than gaming at 4K), then the AW3426DW is the best monitor to opt for.

Value: 4 / 5

Alienware AW3426DW: Specs

(Image credit: Future / Isaiah Williams)

AW3425DW (Previous Model)

AW3426DW (Review Unit)

Screen size:

34-inch

Aspect Ratio:

21:9

Resolution:

3440x1440

Response Time:

0.03ms GtG

0.03ms GtG (Extreme Mode)

Panel Type:

QD-OLED / Q-stripe, 4-stack

QD-OLED Penta Tandem / RGB Stripe, 5-stack

Brightness:

250 nits (Typical), 1,000 nits (Peak)

300 nits (Typical), 1,300 nits (Peak)

Contrast Ratio:

1,500,000:1

Refresh Rate:

240Hz

280Hz

HDR:

VESA DisplayHDR True Black 400

VESA DisplayHDR True Black 500 & Dolby Vision

Screen Coating:

Standard anti-reflective

New anti-reflective coating

Connectivity:

HDMI 2.1 2x (VRR support), DisplayPort 1.4, USB Type-B upstream, USB Type-A downstream, USB Type C downstream (Power Charge up to 15 W)

HDMI 2.1 2x (VRR support), DisplayPort 1.4, USB Type-B upstream, USB Type-A downstream, USB Type C downstream (Power Charge up to 15 W), Built-in USB Hub

Alienware AW3426DW: DesignFuture / Isaiah WilliamsFuture / Isaiah WilliamsFuture / Isaiah WilliamsFuture / Isaiah WilliamsFuture / Isaiah Williams

Dell has kept the design for the Alienware AW3426DW simple, and it's almost identical to the previous AW3426DW model. The new monitor features the same sturdy stand and base, and I love the shiny and sleek finish it has.

In terms of connectivity, it's effectively the same again with two HDMI 2.1 ports that support variable refresh rate (VRR), along with a single DisplayPort 1.4. Fortunately, you can charge your devices while using the display, thanks to the USB-C 5Gbps downstream port, with a charging output of 15 W.

I'd appreciate it if this display had a slightly deeper curvature (perhaps 1500R) over its 1800R curve; however, that's likely my own bias coming from near-constant use of an 800R curved monitor, which is overkill to say the least.

Most Alienware monitors keep OSD navigation easy via a simple button, and that's also the case here. However, one personal gripe of mine is the lack of a remote control.

Some of LG's UltraGear ultrawide displays come with a remote control, which eliminates the need to physically reach over to the monitor button to change display settings. Fortunately, though, the Alienware Command Center application on Windows acts as an alternative option to access and control some of the OSD options.

The biggest highlight of the AW3426DW's design is its new anti-reflective coating. There's almost little to no glare when using this display in a bright environment, even with sunshine beaming in from open curtains.

Yes, a lot of this is thanks to the 5th-gen tandem OLED panel and the display's high brightness levels, but the anti-reflective coating is just as important in this case, with a 30% glare reduction — and at night, brightness truly blossoms better than I've ever seen before.

Design: 4.5 / 5

Alienware AW3426DW: FeaturesFuture / Isaiah WilliamsFuture / Isaiah Williams

The AW3426DW has a wide range of features available via its OSD, notably multiple HDR modes: DisplayHDR True Black 500, HDR Peak 1300, HDR Peak 1300 Bright, and Dolby Vision. The latter is what I used for most movies, specifically those that are made for Dolby Vision, especially since it dynamically shifts brightness levels and tone mapping based on each scene — but more on HDR later.

I'm not a massive fan of Picture-in-Picture or Picture-by-Picture (PIP or PBP) modes on monitors, specifically with multiple inputs. However, there are several options available in terms of positioning and sizing, which are more than welcome on any ultrawide display, where productivity is one of the main appeals.

For competitive players, the eSports mode should come in handy, as it transforms the display into a 25-inch monitor, with the option to position the active area at the top, center, or bottom of the screen. It's a reasonable option to include in a monitor with a 280Hz refresh rate, and one that has a 0.03ms GtG response time, and helps simulate a 25-inch monitor gaming experience.

VRR works fine on both DisplayPort 1.4 and HDMI 2.1 inputs, ensuring frame rates are high, matching the 280Hz refresh rate, and reducing screen tearing. Nvidia's G-Sync is also enabled to improve smoothness and latency, so screen tearing isn't a concern on this display whatsoever.

Features: 4.5 / 5

Alienware AW3426DW: Performance

(Image credit: Future / Isaiah Williams)

I tested this monitor playing several games, such as Destiny 2, Crimson Desert, Dragon's Dogma 2, Resident Evil Requiem, and Battlefield 6, and I was left amazed at how impressive the AW3426DW performs. With Dolby Vision enabled in supported games (i.e., Battlefield 6), visuals are absolutely breathtaking, with highly detailed bright and dark areas on screen amid blood-soaked action.

With Dolby Vision enabled, there are effectively no ABL issues, or at the very least, if there are, it isn't very noticeable. Of course, it's not just Dolby Vision's inclusion alone doing the heavy lifting in this respect, but also the fact that this is a 5th-gen tandem OLED display, directly increasing brightness capabilities.

Not every game or movie has Dolby Vision support, and that's exactly why the other HDR modes are vital — and I'm happy to report that HDR Peak 1300 Bright is fantastic. It doesn't come without its faults, and in particular, gamers should be ready to deal with some level of ABL.

However, again, because of the tandem OLED layers, I could play games like Destiny 2 or Dragon's Dogma 2 and enjoy very bright experiences without losing detail in bright and dark areas on screen. It's also a huge benefit that the AW3426DW is seemingly well calibrated out of the box in terms of color profile and HDR calibration, as I hardly had to configure any settings in that regard.

Essentially, Dolby Vision should only really be used for movies and games where it's supported, and HDR modes such as HDR Peak 1300 and DisplayHDR True Black 500 for most games that don't support Dolby Vision.

There aren't many games that can reach the 280 frames per second mark (at least when playing on higher graphics settings), but if you have a powerful enough rig, it's a joy to experience a game that feels so smooth when in motion.

It's also pleasing to see that text clarity issues have been solved, which stems directly from the RGB stripe subpixel layout, and that makes this a great choice for any PC user looking for a QD-OLED display that caters to both work and play.

Performance: 4.5 / 5

Should I buy the Alienware AW3426DW?Alienware AW3426DW scorecard

Attributes

Notes

Rating

Value

The Alienware AW342DW is among, the best 34-inch ultrawide QD-OLED displays you can buy, and its price should be seen as a steal, despite being expensive.

4 / 5

Design

This monitor's design is simple yet attractive, and has just about enough ports to satisfy those after greater productivity.

4.5 / 5

Features

With several HDR, PIB/PBP, input options, and an eSports mode, this monitor makes it fairly feature-rich.

4.5 / 5

Performance

Dolby Vision and HDR Peak 1300 Bright help elevate the AW3426DW's immersion to new heights over predecessors, and its ultimately thanks to the 5th-gen tandem OLED panel.

4.5 / 5

Average rating

It's not a massive display like the flagship Alienware 5K2K, but in the UWQHD class, it stands above many competitors.

4.37 / 5

Buy the Alienware AW3426DW if…

You want a bright and colorful gaming experience
The Alienware AW3426DW utilizes its 5-layer tandem OLED panel, Dolby Vision, and other HDR Peak 1300 Bright to significantly boost brightness levels, without sacrificing details in dark and bright areas on screen.

You want a monitor that doesn't dominate your desk
In the same vein as other 34-inch displays, the AW3426DW is one of the best options on the market that still provides high-level quality and immersion, at a manageable size on your desk.

You want a monitor with a high refresh rate
With a 280Hz refresh rate, there is plenty for eSports gamers and high refresh rate enthusiasts to enjoy using the AW3426DW, making every game experience look incredibly smooth.

Don’t buy it if…

You’re out for a bigger ultrawide
If the 34-inch ultrawide monitor size is a feature you want to get past, it's best to seek out a larger 39-inch or 45-inch ultrawide display, possibly a 5K2K monitor.

You're tired of the UWQHD resolution
The UWQHD 3440x1440 resolution is great to stick with for good performance and immersion, but doesn't quite match up to 4K monitors or even LG's UltraGear 5K2K displays.

Also Consider

MSI MPG 491CQP QD-OLED

While significantly bigger than AW3426DW QD-OLED, the MSI MPG 491CQP arguably provides more immersion via its 32:9 49-inch wide screen. It's not a tandem OLED; however, it's currently around a very similar price to Alienware's new display and still provides great quality in HDR performance.

Read our full MSI MPG 491CQP QD-OLED review

How I tested the Alienware AW3426DW

Tested for a week
Played several modern games and watched multiple movies
Tested mostly using Dolby Vision and HDR Peak 1300 Bright modes

I used the Alienware AW3426DW for a week, mostly for gaming and watching movies. The games I tested include: Destiny 2, Resident Evil Requiem, Dragon's Dogma 2, Dead As Disco, Battlefield 6, and Crimson Desert. Some of the movies include Avengers: Infinity War and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2.

I also spent the same amount of time using the AW3426DW for work duties and found that it eliminates one of the biggest pain points on OLED monitors, which is text fringing. I had no issues with reading text or simply navigating on web browsers, and also found that both HDR and SDR are visually fine to use outside of gaming (or non-HDR activities).

The monitor was also placed in a brightly lit room for most of the review period, with direct sunlight positioned directly on it, and found that there was little to no glare, thanks to the anti-reflective display.

First reviewed July 2026

Categories: Reviews

This shapeshifting Dreo fan can be a pedestal fan, a desktop fan or an air circulator — I made full use of its extensive customization options in the recent heatwave

TechRadar Reviews - Thu, 07/09/2026 - 06:58

Dreo Smart TurboPoly Fan 765S: two-minute review

The Dreo Smart TurboPoly 765S is one versatile fan. It can be tall or short pedestal fan, or you can swap out the base and turn it into a desktop model. You can choose from a generous 11 speed modes, as well as six 'special modes', and horizontal or vertical oscillation (or both at once, turning it into a very effective air circulator).

You're spoiled for choice when it comes to control options, too — you can use the remote, touchscreen buttons on the top of the fan head, or adjust settings on your phone using the Dreo companion app.

In that app you'll find an absolute ton of customization options: I've tested some of the best fans on the market, and it's rare to see a fan that offers such precise control over when, where and how it blows. While Dreo does a good job of laying out the app so it's nice and useable, I do wonder how many people really need quite so many options.

So what about that basics? The Dreo Smart TurboPoly 765S delivers an even, effective flow of air, with a great range of settings. The lowest speed is whisper-quiet and gentle yet still perceptible, and the highest is impressively punchy. The Turbo setting — separated out as a special mode — is a miniature tornado. At higher settings, it's not the quietest fan I've used, but neither is it excessively loud.

You're paying a premium for the versatile form factor, as well as the extensive customization options and smart functionality. If you don't need all those things, there are cheaper, equally effective fans that'll fit the bill better. However, if flexibility and precise control is what you're after, the Dreo Smart TurboPoly 765S is a standout choice.

(Image credit: Future)Dreo Smart TurboPoly Fan 765S review: price & availability

List price: $159.99 / £169.99
Available: US, UK

At list price, the Dreo Smart TurboPoly fan 765S costs $159.99 in the US and £169.99 in the UK (which equates to about AU$230, though at the time of writing it's not available in Australia). That puts in in the premium price bracket for fans, but it goes some way to justifying the cost with its versatile desktop-or-pedestal design and smart features.

That's especially true when you compare the wider market alternatives. For example, the original Shark FlexBreeze costs $199.99 / £199.99 / AU$249.99 at list price. The Shark option lacks smart features, but it can be used cordless (whereas the Dreo can't). Another alternative is the Meaco 1056P, at $189.99 / £149.99 (about AU$270). This is the model I have at home, and it's less versatile than the Dreo TurboPoly 765S, but quieter at higher speeds.

If you don't need app control and are happy to commit to either a desktop or a pedestal model, there are cheaper options available to you.

Value for money score: 4 out of 5

Dreo Smart TurboPoly Fan 765S specs

Type:

Pedestal / tabletop

Speeds:

Oscillation:

150° horizontal, 100° vertical

Dimensions (W x H, floor mode):

11 x 39–44 inches / 27.9 x 99-111.8cm

Dimensions (W x H, desktop mode):

16.7 x 19.3 inches / 42.4 x 49cm

Control:

Buttons, remote, app

Cordless:

Special modes:

Auto, Turbo, Natural, Sleep, Custom

Max reach:

121.4ft / 37m

Timer:

Yes (12 hours)

Dreo Smart TurboPoly Fan 765S review: design

Versatile design can be a desktop or pedestal fan or air circulator
App control is excellent; buttons / remote best for basic functions
Wide speed range, precise oscillation control and multiple special modes

As fans go, the Dreo Smart TurboPoly 765S is one versatile performer. You can choose from a generous 11 speed modes, as well as six 'special modes', horizontal and vertical oscillation, and a timer option. You can direct the fan head at a specific target, or unleash the full range of oscillation to use it as an air circulator.

It can be used as pedestal fan, and in this mode it's possible to adjust the height to a taller or shorter floor-standing option. Alternatively, you can remove the base altogether and swap on a different one to turn it into a desktop fan. I especially like the design of the tabletop base — its opening mechanism protrudes so when you press it down on a flat surface the legs extend outwards to form a stable base.

(Image credit: Future)

The fan feels well-built and sturdy, and the pedestal base is reassuringly heavy, so I was never concerned about knocking it over. I also appreciated the inclusion of a moulded handle on the fan head, which makes it easy to carry it from the top.

Some competitors offer magnetic remotes that snap onto the fan itself when not in use, but that's not the case here. Instead there's a remote control holder that snaps onto the pole. It could feel more intentional but does the job perfectly fine.

(Image credit: Future)

There are a couple more advanced features the Smart TurboPoly 765S lacks. It can't be used cordless, so you'll have to commit to staying near a power outlet. There's also no misting capability — this is a newly popular concept in the fan world, and appears on a handful of modern fans including the Dreo 516S. It can be a bit of a game-changer if it's really hot.

App and controls

That 'S' in the product code tells me there's an app I can use to control this fan. I can't overstate how jam-packed with options this app is. You can use it to turn the fan on and off, switch modes or adjust fan speed, and change the angle of the fan head. You can also precisely set the oscillation angles, including an option for asymmetrical oscillation.

There's a scheduling area where you can either choose when the fan will go on or turn off, and you can also set it to come on at a certain time (and speed / mode) on certain days. One minor missed opportunity is that you can't then schedule when it turns off — I wanted to set it to run for a couple of hours each evening as I go to sleep, but that doesn't seem to be possible.

Dreo / FutureDreo / Future

The app is well laid-out and easy to use, although the fact there are so many precise customization options means it can feel fiddly at times. If you don't want to get your phone out, you can also control the fan using the remote control, or via touchscreen buttons on the top of the head.

These are responsive, and, to a point, straightforward. Changing the speed, swapping modes or adjusting the angle the head is pointing in is easy. However, for fine-tuning I found it far easier to use the app. (In fact, I had such trouble working out some of the functions that I emailed Dreo's general customer services address to help — and they get major brownie points for replying quickly, with a clear answer.)

Design score: 4.5 out of 5

Dreo Smart TurboPoly Fan 765S review: performance

A little noisy on higher settings
Great range of settings, including an ultra powerful Turbo mode
Easy to direct the air exactly where you want it

Overall, I was very impressed with the Dreo Smart TurboPoly Fan. The speed settings cover a good range, with level 1 delivering a gentle but perceptible flow of air, while level 11 is pleasingly powerful, and Turbo mode all-but blew me away. I can't imagine many situations where you'd need such strong airflow, but it's nice to have the option.

One small but welcome detail is the fact that the windspeed settings cycle from 11 straight to 1. That meant if I knew I wanted a higher setting, I could work backwards and save some button presses.

Also in its favor is how precisely you can adjust where the airflow is directed. In static mode, arrow controls enable you to easily change where the fan head is pointing. It's also possible to finely adjust the vertical and horizontal oscillation; even making it asymmetrical if you want. And of course, you can extend / retract the pole or swap from pedestal to desktop mode if you want to alter the height more dramatically.

(Image credit: Future)

I used it to keep me cool in my home office during two UK heatwaves, and adjusted it to a very narrow range of oscillation where it was essentially just blowing from side-to-side on my back. The effect was absolutely dreamy.

I also used it as an air circulator (in its full vertical and horizontal range of oscillation) to amplify the effects of our newly-purchased portable air con unit. It did an excellent job of rapidly distributing the cool air as it was being pumped in, filling the bedroom much quicker than the AC could manage on its own.

In terms of noisiness, I'd give the Dreo middling marks. On setting 1 it's whisper-quiet, but as I moved up the settings the sound ramped up, and on level 11 it was noticeably louder than my usual fan (a Meaco air circulator). It's certainly not the noisiest fan I've come across, though.

Moving on to the special modes. They are as follows:

Normal: runs at fixed speed
Auto: speed increases or decreases depending on room temperature
Turbo: runs at maximum speed
Natural: speed fluctuates to mimic a natural breeze
Sleep: decreases speed after 30 mins, up to two times
Custom (via Dreo app): speed changes at specified times or temperatures

I was pleased to see there's a Sleep mode included, and the setup for this one is pretty standard, allowing you an hour to drop off. It's worth pointing out that the lights on the Dreo Smart TurboPoly 765S switch off automatically as standard a few seconds after you've finished adjusting them — something I appreciated as I hate to have a glowing LED illuminating my room as I'm trying to sleep. (You can change this setting if you prefer the display to stay on.)

Auto mode is useful, too, if you're using the fan throughout the day. The ambient temperature measurement seems accurate, and matched that of my other fan.

(Image credit: Future)

I wasn't so enamored with the Breeze mode. I've seen this mode listed on a few different fan models recently, and have always been curious about it. On test, though, I found the fluctuations in speed and accompanying shifts in noise distracting more than anything. That said, it did feel somewhat like a natural breeze, and I can imagine some people enjoying this effect.

Performance score: 4.5 out of 5

Should you buy the Dreo Smart TurboPoly Fan 765S?

Attribute

Notes

Rating

Value

Premium pricing, somewhat justified by its versatility and smart functionality.

4 / 5

Design

Versatile design — can be used at a range of heights, controlled in a number of ways, and with plenty of setting options to explore.

4.5 / 5

Performance

Great range of airflow settings, including an ultra-powerful Turbo mode. A little noisy on higher settings, and controls can feel fiddly.

4.5 / 5

Buy it if...

You need a tabletop and a pedestal fan

The Dreo Smart TurboPoly 765S can be used as a pedestal fan with a telescopic pole, or the base can be switched to turn it into a tabletop model.

You want lots of precise control

This fan is not lacking in customization options — there are plenty of ways to change exactly how, when, and where the Dreo TurboPoly 765S unleashes its airflow.

You'd like to be able to control the fan remotely

Smart functionality means you can operate this fan via a companion app on your phone.

Don't buy it if...

You just want a tabletop OR pedestal fan

There are cheaper, as effective options if you don't need the 2-in-1 functionality.

You like to keep things simple

Some people won't want all the various control options, in which case there are cheaper and more straightforward fans that would fit the bill better.

How I tested the Dreo Smart TurboPoly Fan 765S

I tested the Dreo Smart TurboPoly 765S over three weeks in June/July, which happened to encompass two UK heatwaves, with temperatures reaching 37C or higher (around 98F). I used it extensively during the day while working from home, as well as at night, and tested all the special modes. I also tried out all the control methods, including digging into the app. I compared my findings with other fans I've used, but predominantly my trusty Meaco air circulator.

Read more about how we test

First reviewed July 2026

Categories: Reviews

Razer wants the Seiren V3 Pro to be the ultimate gaming mic, but you probably don’t need it

TechRadar Reviews - Thu, 07/09/2026 - 05:37

Razer Seiren V3 Pro two-minute review

When I look for a gaming microphone, my requirements are modest – I want my teammates to hear me clearly and my foes to know what I really think of them (just kidding, those obscene thoughts stay in my head). I’d wager that most gamers have similarly unpretentious needs.

Razer, however, thinks gamers could do with more – a lot more. And so it’s brought out the Serien V3 Pro, a microphone that’s stuffed to the gills with high-end features that take it way beyond your common-or-garden gaming mic.

But to be fair, it’s not just positioned for gamers. Razer pitches the Seiren V3 Pro as the perfect partner for “musicians, podcasters, and creators who demand more than entry-level gear,” and it’s outfitted its “studio-quality” device with a range of features that might tickle the fancy of users a little more discerning than your average CoD goon.

(Image credit: Future)

That includes 32-bit float. Razer has included this expanded capture range to rescue audio that’s been subject to a few too many what we might call “gamer moments.” It can handle more extreme volume spikes – the type that might be prompted by jump scares, frustrating moments and clutch kills – with the idea being that streamers won’t have to worry about clipping and distortion during their broadcasts.

Razer has supplemented this feature with a fistful of other premium addons, including dual 48kHz and 96kHz sample rates, a built-in shock mount and removable pop filter, and a 30mm dynamic capsule. There’s a digital signal processing (DSP) that enables features like an audio expander, compressor, AI noise removal, and more. Razer has also included an XLR connector in addition to USB-C, just in case you want to run your mic through a dedicated audio interface.

(Image credit: Future)

Again, it’s all geared towards pros and enthusiasts rather than your average video game enjoyer.

Audio performance is obviously the most important part of any microphone – you can have all the bells and whistles, but if you end up sounding muffled or distorted, they’re not much use to you.

Here, the Seiren V3 Pro impresses. My audio was crisp and clear right out of the box, with no adjustments necessary. Razer walks you through a brief set-up process in Synapse when you get started, and it’s worth doing so the mic can be tweaked to your surroundings. The AI noise suppression in Synapse did a great job cutting out the whirr of my desk fan, while the pop filter put a stop to most unwanted plosives throughout my recordings and voice calls.

The on-device controls worked well, especially the mute button. It’s large and touch-sensitive, so it’s very easy to press in a flash (just be careful you don’t accidentally activate it). Both the button and the mic’s RGB ring turn red when you’re muted, giving a clear visual cue. Only a small nub of the gain dial protrudes from the underside of the device’s body, though, which can make it tricky to find.

(Image credit: Future)

As far as visuals go, the Seiren V3 Pro blends understated looks with a few choice touches. Its matte black finish and angled stand are easy on the eye, while this wouldn’t be a Razer product without a smattering of RGB lighting – in this instance, it’s about halfway up. Above it is the removable pop filter cover that hides the mic’s grille and built-in shock absorber. There’s a large touch-sensitive mute button on the front and ports for USB-C and XLR on the bottom alongside a 3.5mm headphone jack and a gain dial.

The build quality feels rock solid, with plenty of reassuringly weighty metal to be found. There’s a hefty foot to keep the mic grounded on your desk, but you can opt to screw the mic onto a boom arm if you prefer. The absurdly long USB-C cable (3.15m at our count) ensures you can trail it far from your PC.

That’s the hardware, but what about Razer’s notoriously finicky software? 32-bit float is only available through Razer’s app, so love it or loathe it, you’ve got to use it to get the full experience.

(Image credit: Future)

Synapse is full of controls to tweak the mic to your needs. You can adjust EQ filters and frequencies, change the vocal bass and ramp up the vocal exciter, mess with the stream mixer levels for input and output, enable a noise gate, reverb and AI noise suppression, and even dial in the RGB lighting if required.

To the average gamer, this is all a bit excessive unnecessary, even daunting. But if you’re a podcaster or musician – or just someone who wants as much control over their audio as possible – there’s plenty here to play with.

And that sums up the Seiren V3 Pro as a whole, really. The mic’s high-level features and equally lofty price tag mean it’s simply off the radar for most gamers. But if you know you need it and are willing to pay, you’ll find there’s a lot on offer here.

Razer Seiren V3 Pro review: Price & release date

Available to buy now
Priced at $249.99 / £249.99 / AU$429.95
Optional “Main Character Bundle” including the Seiren V3 Pro and Razer’s Kraken Kitty V3 Pro headset

The Razer Seiren V3 Pro is available now from Razer’s website or from third-party retailers. It’s priced at $249.99 / £249.99 / AU$429.95.

That makes it pretty expensive for a gaming microphone, so you should think carefully about whether you need all of its extra features before pulling the trigger. If you spend most of your time on video calls with family or yelling profanities at enemies in Call of Duty, you could probably make do with something more affordable.

Razer sells an optional “Main Character Bundle” that includes the Razer Seiren V3 Pro and the Razer Kraken Kitty V3 Pro headset. That’s sold for $429.98 / £429.98 / AU$759.90.

Razer Seiren V3 Pro review: Specs

Polar patterns

Cardioid

Frequency range

50Hz – 16kHz

Connectivity

USB-C, XLR

Audio

24-bit / 32-bit (32-bit float via Synapse)

Sample rate

48kHz / 96kHz

Should I buy the Razer Seiren V3 Pro?Razer Seiren V3 Pro Scorecard

Attribute

Notes

Score

Features

Lots of premium extras, plus plenty of control in the Synapse app

4.5

Performance

Excellent audio performance from the get-go

4.5

Design

Solid design, if unexceptional

3.5

Value

Expensive and much more than most people need, but decent value for pros

3.5

Buy it if…

You’re concerned about loud noises on your recordings
With 32-bit float support, there’s more leeway to capture loud sounds without ruining your audioView Deal

You don’t like fiddling with settings
This mic sounds great right out of the box, making it ideal for anyone who wants to get up and running quickly. And there’s a guided setup process in Synapse in case you need itView Deal

You have an audio interface
With XLR connectivity, Razer’s Seiren V3 Pro can be hooked up to an audio interface for even more controlView Deal

Don’t buy it if…

You’re on a budget
There are definitely more straightforward options available for less cashView Deal

You want something simple
All those extra features are probably more than most gamers needView Deal

You need more than one polar pattern
The supplied cardioid polar pattern is great for streamers, but not so much for podcast hosts interviewing guestsView Deal

Also consider

Blue Yeti

This classic mic is tried and true, with fantastic sound quality and superb ease of use. It sounds great out of the box and doesn’t require any additional apps to run. It’s also a fraction of the price of the Razer Seiren V3 Pro. That all makes it our pick for the best streaming mic money can buy.View Deal

SteelSeries Alias

The SteelSeries Alias is one of the best streaming microphones around. It comes with handy features designed for gamers, including a built-in shock mount and helpful mute indicator, plus an ingenious LED display that shows handy info (such as if your input volume is a touch too high). Like the Blue Yeti, it’s also more affordable than Razer’s offering.View Deal

How I tested the Razer Seiren V3 Pro

I created test recordings and also analyzed the mic’s performance during games and on audio calls with friends
The microphone was tested on both my PC and my Mac
I also spent time testing out the microphone’s software features in the Razer Synapse app

I spent a week testing the microphone on both my PC and my Mac. I created various audio recordings, used it during gaming sessions and put it through its voice-calling paces with friends.

Read TechRadar’s reviews guarantee
First reviewed: July 2026

Categories: Reviews

I've watched all of Little House on the Prairie and finally understand why Netflix rebooted the classic Western drama — but it's a shame that new episodes look exactly like every other show on the streamer

TechRadar Reviews - Thu, 07/09/2026 - 02:01

"I just can't watch it... I don't want them to ruin what's already been" is a direct quote from my 60-year-old mother when I told her that Netflix was set to re-adapt the Western family drama classic, Little House on the Prairie.

The tales of Laura Ingalls Wilder's real-life childhood have always held a distinct sense of importance in my household. As a child, my mum raced through the original book series — and encouraged me to do the same when I was old enough — and voraciously watched all nine seasons of the 1974 TV show when she was 12.

As with any classic story that's being readapted for the umpteenth time without much in the way of explanation as to why, there was always going to be a valid sense of trepidation around bringing the Ingalls family back to life. But as an initial skeptic, my mind has been changed after watching all eight episodes.

Sure, it resembles the Hallmark series When Calls the Heart a little too much for my liking (and has a lot of underlying issues surrounding how it looks, but more on that later). But watching Laura Ingalls (Alice Halsey) navigate moving to a new town reminded me how important it is to be brought back to the core things that matter in life.

We so often get lost in overhyped marketing, complicated lore, and visual effects that the core components of storytelling no longer have merit on their own. There's no big dramatic narrative in Little House on the Prairie, just family, feelings, and a strained sense of love.

TV is stripped as far back as the Ingalls' bare wooden house, and I think 2026 viewers will really benefit from the show's no-frills style of storytelling. That being said, there's a lot left to be desired in the bigger picture.

Little House on the Prairie still serves purpose in 2026 — even if nothing really happens

Interestingly, Little House on the Prairie neither feels like gripping, unforgettable television, nor does it feel like placid, put-on-in-the-background streaming. Your mind can go blissfully numb while watching, but subconsciously, you're being recalibrated.

It's not perfect, but empathy, understanding, and a childlike sense of wonder are bursting from the seams here. Seeing life through Laura's eyes automatically realigns us to what's important in life — respect, understanding and a willingness to grow. Halsey is a knockout in the role, and you want to strive to be a better person just by watching her open heart expand even further.

Frankly, our child actors are running rings around the adult cast in general. Together, they carry the weight and heart of the show and have more chemistry between them than any of the parental figures, including dad Charles (Luke Bracey) and mum Caroline (Crosby Fitzgerald).

Youngest Osage member Good Eagle (Wren Zhawenim Gotts) is another standout and a testament to the suitable level of sensitivity when it comes to navigating Native American history. This could have so easily backfired or been grossly overlooked, but instead feels evenly tempered.

You couldn't pay me $1000 to pick Little House on the Prairie episodes out of a Netflix lineup

(Image credit: Netflix)

I'm honestly sick of complaining about this, but the biggest drawback of Little House on the Prairie is undoubtedly its look. This means that episodes look exactly like any other period drama or Western content that Netflix has ever made. But who is surprised?

Once again, this takes me back to my ongoing argument that the streamer uses the same lighting, visual style, and effects to mold its content into one, homogenised, cookie-cutter preset. Why? I still haven't figured that out. But if it's to brand Netflix content into a signature style, the result falls flat.

Netflix likens the new series to pre-existing hits such as Virgin River and Ransom Canyon, and if you took away the bonnets, you'd have a difficult time knowing which show was which. I yearn for a sense of individual creativity when it comes to this aspect of the streamer's creations, and it looks like I won't be stopping anytime soon.

This is also the closest Netflix has come to straying into Hallmark territory in its original content. What I mean by this is that the drama is often so twee that you'd expect someone to randomly burst into song like it's a production of Oklahoma!

It can be grating, but if you look past the form, the content is meaningful. Season 2 has already been renewed, and unexpectedly, I'm already looking forward to it.

Categories: Reviews

I reviewed Sony's new mid-range Dolby Atmos soundar, and while I love some features, overall its one step forward and two steps back

TechRadar Reviews - Wed, 07/08/2026 - 12:00

Sony Bravia Theater Bar 7 review

I’m not going to sugar-coat this. I’ve been a big fan of Sony’s soundbars, but its latest generation can feel like a step backward, and that includes the Sony Bravia Theater Bar 7.

I genuinely like some of the choices Sony has made: these new speakers are simple and elegant, becoming one with your room. They’ve also got a much smaller footprint, making placement (both in front of a TV and on a wall) much easier.

The included remote has fewer buttons, giving it a friendlier feel than the previous models. And Sony’s 360 Spatial Sound Mapping might be the easiest room correction feature ever baked into a soundbar.

(Image credit: Future)

You get an HDMI input for passthrough as well as the HDMI eARC connection to the TV, which is a soundbar feature that’s becoming harder to find; it comes with every cable you need, plus a wallmount kit; and you no longer need to spend $1,000 to get up-firing drivers (an essential ingredient for convincing Dolby Atmos sound). They’re included in the $869 / £699 / AU$1,199 Bravia Theater Bar 7.

And yet despite these benefits, the Bravia Theater Bar 7 (AKA model HT-A7100) nixes some of my favorite features from the previous generation.

There’s no built-in subwoofer, no on-screen setup menus, no alphanumeric front display, no hi-res Bluetooth codecs, no ability to connect wireless headphones, no Chromecast support, no Google Assistant/Amazon Alexa compatibility, and no playback via USB storage or UPnP (for streaming music from a networked server).

(Image credit: Future)

Of these omissions, the one I noticed most is the lack of a built-in subwoofer. While it’s true that too much low-frequency sound can be, at times, unwanted — for instance, if you’re a condo-dweller with thin walls between units — I believe that’s a good problem to have. You can always dial the bass down if the neighbors complain. But not having enough bass to start with? That’s tough to accept, especially at this price.

It’s not that the Bar 7 has no low-end; it does. It’s just that it doesn’t get low or loud enough to provide what I think of as a truly cinematic experience, even with the available bass adjustment set to ‘max’.

The obvious and easy way to overcome this limitation is to buy the Bar 7 with Sony’s Bravia Theater Sub 7 wireless subwoofer, a combo that only costs $230 / £100 more. If you buy the Theater Sub 7 after the fact, it will cost you $329 / £249 / AU$299. Sony sent me a Sub 7 to test, and it does the trick, restoring the weight and punch that the Bar 7 lacks.

Still, if bass isn’t your thing, the Theater Bar 7 delivers crystal-clear mids and highs, and can do so at volume levels that are shockingly loud. Dialogue is crisp and well separated from the rest of the soundtrack. Sony deserves top marks for this — poor dialogue clarity has become something of an epidemic in the last decade, and the Theater Bar 7 really helps.

With dedicated up-firing drivers for height channels and side-firing units designed to bounce rear channel sound to your listening position, the Theater Bar 7 should deliver a compelling, immersive experience, especially when playing Dolby Atmos or DTS:X content.

(Image credit: Future)

I don’t want to be too harsh in my analysis; the Theater Bar 7 definitely creates a soundstage that is taller, wider, and deeper than non-Dolby Atmos speakers, but given its price, I expected more.

I use a number of different test clips when evaluating spatial immersion, such as the Aston Martin chase scene from No Time To Die, the opening of Mad Max: Fury Road, and the first sandworm reveal from Dune.

The Theater Bar 7’s strengths (its clarity and power) created a strong sense of energy and immediacy — both vital elements for enjoying cinematic sound — but these couldn’t overcome the soundbar’s struggles to place key effects like bullet impacts or whispery voices accurately in my space.

Normally, when a soundbar underperforms my expectations, I reach for the settings menus, where you can usually tweak everything from bass and treble to the levels of individual channels.

Unfortunately, Sony doesn’t provide any way to tweak the Bar 7’s tuning. There’s no equalizer, no set of bass/treble adjustments, and no EQ presets. If you find the sound signature too emphatic when it comes to the high frequencies (as I definitely do), there’s not much you can do about it.

(Image credit: Future)

All of this adds up to a soundbar that finds itself in the anti-Goldilocks zone. The less expensive Sony Bravia Theater Bar 6 may not be expandable, but out of the box it can deliver more cinematic punch thanks to the included wireless sub.

By the same token, if you spend just a little more than the price of the Theater Bar 7, you can get the Bravia Theater Bar 8. With its built-in sub, you get all of the sleek, single-speaker appeal of the Bar 7, with genuinely good low-end bass (and lots of expansion options).

Sony Bravia Theater Bar 7 review: Price & release date

Released April 2026 (US), May 2026 (UK), July 2026 (Australia)
$869.99 / £699 / AU$1,199

As the name suggests, Sony has priced the Bravia Theater Bar 7 to sit between the existing Theater Bar 6 ($699.99) and the Theater Bar 8 ($999.99).

While the Theater Bar 6 comes with its own subwoofer, it can’t be expanded later with optional surround speakers. If you want that, you’ll have to buy the more expensive Bravia Theater System 6, which comes with a sub and surrounds.

Both the Bravia Theater Bar 7 and Theater Bar 8 can be expanded with subs and/or surrounds, however the Theater Bar 8 has a built-in sub, which may provide enough low-end for some people (especially for those in apartments or other small spaces).

(Image credit: Future)Sony Bravia Theater Bar 7 review: Specs

Dimensions

37.5 x 2.6 x 5 inches

Speaker channels

5.0.2

Connections

1x HDMI eARC, 1x HDMI input, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth

Dolby Atmos / DTS:X

Yes / Yes

Sub included

Rear speakers included

Should I buy Sony Bravia Theater Bar 7?

Attribute

Notes

Score

Features

Excellent spatial audio format support plus HDMI passthrough. But a severe lack of settings and some hi-res options holds it back.

3.5 / 5

Performance

Top marks for dialogue, but bass isn't cinematic and spatial immersion is lacking.

3 / 5

Design

Low-profile, with clean lines, it blends into the base of any TV.

4 / 5

Setup and usability

Easy, app-based setup, but no on-screen menus, no front display, and no controls on the speaker itself.

3.5 / 5

Value

It needs Sony’s subs and surrounds to reach its potential, making it average value on its own.

3 / 5

(Image credit: Future)Buy it if...

You have thin walls
The Bravia Theater Bar 7’s lack of deep low-end means noise complaints from neighbors should be less of an issue, even if you’re listening at relatively loud levels.

Dialogue clarity is a top consideration
The Theater Bar 7’s center channel is crystal clear. If you still can’t understand what people are saying with this speaker, your speaker may not be the problem.

You want expansion options
With its HDMI input and the ability to add a variety of Sony’s wireless subs and surround speakers, you can easily extend the Theater Bar 7’s capabilities as your needs, budget, and space allow.

Don't buy it if...

You want versatile hi-res streaming music options
With no support for Google Cast, DLNA, or Tidal Connect, there aren’t many ways to get the Theater Bar 7 to deliver top-notch music performance without the use of third-party devices like an Apple TV 4K or Nvidia Shield TV.

You want full cinematic immersion from a single speaker
It’s possible to get fabulous Dolby Atmos from just a soundbar, but with its poor bass performance and underwhelming spatial rendering, the Theater Bar 7 isn’t the way to go.

You like to take control of your sound
Sony has always taken a less-is-more approach to its soundbar settings, but the Theater Bar 7 has almost no adjustments to let you tailor the sound to your liking.

Sony Bravia Theater Bar 7 review: Also consider

Sony Bravia Theater Bar 8
It’s a little more expensive, and it adds exactly zero features on the Theater Bar 7’s list of capabilities, except in one area: bass. But since low-end is so critical to delivering cinematic immersion, that one area matters a lot. Alternatively, you can buy the Theater Bar 7 with a wireless sub, but you lose the appeal of a single-speaker system.
Read our full Sony Bravia Theater Bar 8 review

Klipsch Flexus Core 200
In the opposite direction, price-wise, is the Klipsch Flexus Core 200. It doesn’t have Wi-Fi (so no AirPlay or Spotify Connect), but I can’t say enough about how fabulous it sounds. Its power and immersion is truly impressive for a single unit, and the low end that I find so absent on the Theater Bar 7 is served up in heaping piles here. If you ever want more, it’s expandable via Klipsch’s optional wireless subwoofers and surrounds, or you can plug in your own wired subwoofer — a great option for anyone who has one of these units kicking around.
Read our full Klipsch Flexus Core 200 review

How I tested Sony Bravia Theater Bar 7

(Image credit: Future)

Used the Sony Bravia Theater Bar 7 as my main audio system for one week
Tested in my basement media room
Sources: Apple TV 4K, Nvidia Shield 2019, and streamed music from various apps

After setting up the Sony Bravia Theater Bar 7, I used it as my main audio system for watching movies, TV shows, and music in my basement media room. Over the course of a week, I played a variety of Dolby Atmos test clips from movies such as No Time To Die, Ford v Ferrari, Mad Max: Fury Road, Dune, and Unbroken. I took careful note of details like dialogue clarity, surround sound, and height channel immersion.

I streamed most content from an Apple TV 4K connected via an LG OLED TV, which fed the Theater Bar 7 from its ARC output. However, I also connected an Nvidia Shield TV to the soundbar’s HDMI input to test Dolby Atmos in Dolby TrueHD, and see what, if any video passthrough issues came up.

I evaluated the effect of Sony’s limited sound modes as well as its 360 Spatial Sound Mapping room correction feature.

For music, I used a variety of apps, including Apple Music, Tidal, Qobuz, and Amazon Music, listening to a wide range of genres and formats, like Dolby Atmos Music. Some were played from apps on the Apple TV 4K and Nvidia Shield, while others were streamed wirelessly using AirPlay and Bluetooth.

Read TechRadar’s reviews guarantee
First reviewed: July 2026

Categories: Reviews

Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced feels like the definitive, modern way to play one of the best games in the series

TechRadar Reviews - Wed, 07/08/2026 - 05:00

After almost 30 hours sailing the high seas in Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced, one of the series’ best games has its hooks in me all over again, and I can’t wait to play another 30 (or more) and complete every single activity a second time.

Review info

Platform reviewed: PS5 (on PS5 Pro)
Available on: PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC
Release date: July 9, 2026

Embarking on a journey to remake one of the series’ finest entries and to ensure the story of one of the best protagonists stays true to its original, Ubisoft has largely succeeded with Resynced. The experience feels fresh and modern, but also has me feeling the same pirate-y feels that only the original ever could.

It’s not without flaws, though. Some particular bits of Black Flag remain that inject some unwanted repetition; some of the cut content is a little disappointing, and there are some rogue bits of oddness in the new additions, as well as overall balances of features.

But those are not huge complaints, and only apparent with close comparison to the original. Zoom out just a tiny bit, and it’s easy to appreciate what Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced is: a fantastically fun version of a brilliant game.

One of the best to ever do it

(Image credit: Ubisoft)

Revisiting the story of Edward Kenway, chancer and dreamer turned privateer and then assassin — perhaps the only protagonist who can hold a candle to series legend Ezio Auditore da Firenze — Resynced has largely kept the core narrative, characters, and experience as it was with the original. Which is the right approach, as all were excellent.

Bouncing from Caribbean island to Caribbean island with Kenway and his crew on the Jackdaw is the backdrop for a time-enduring Assassin’s Creed story that still holds up today and makes for a great swashbuckling adventure. There’s a certain satisfying way that the game’s narrative weaves living in the golden age of piracy and core characters within that with its own lore of the enduring Assassin’s vs Templar battle.

Exploring mysterious, overgrown islands searching for hidden treasures or hunting down stashes from messages in a bottle, traversing the high seas in the Jackdaw ship, and taking on huge ships from the Spanish and British navies, and following Kenway’s desire for fortune and experiencing him tracking down age-old secrets is all still fantastically fun and ensures the core experience remains exquisite.

The most tangible and clearest way that this core experience has been elevated is naturally the visuals. I said that Assassin’s Creed Shadows was the best-looking game in the series when I reviewed it last year, but now there's a new kid on the block. Resynced is simply wondrous, verdant, gorgeous, and incredibly detailed in its presentation of the Caribbean, and my eyes can’t get enough of it.

Being a new version of Assassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag, it’s still an absolutely fantastic video game and is the same brilliant original under the surface. But “not all treasure is silver and gold, mate”: it’s not just the impressive visual upgrade which makes the remake a success, as there have been loads of improvements, and a few notable changes or omissions which really make up the meat and potatoes of the differences Resynced offers over its original.

A modern assassin

(Image credit: Ubisoft)

Each change itself isn’t huge, but when you factor them all in, there’s a huge collection of improvements that paint a bigger, better picture are aesthetic or functional changes, whereas others are much-needed modernizations that bring the game forward a decade and a half.

At their most basic, the changes to menus, controls, and the inventory screen are almost all welcome alterations and bring the game up to speed with the likes of Mirage and Shadows in the modern Assassin’s Creed pantheon. Everything is slick and smooth. The use of the newer Anvil engine and what that allows, such as dynamic weather, a day-night cycle, and so on, is also put to great effect.

In-game minigames like Kenway’s fleet have been overhauled too, and even with the removal of that fun and cartoon-y one in the original, these changes are largely slick and well done. There are also dedicated locations to interact with such things in Kenway’s manor and base of operations on Great Inagua, which has been expanded to include dedicated spots for upgrading the manor or interacting with the fleet.

The island’s upgrades — your Harbourmaster, general store, etc — all have more depth and levels of upgrade to invest in. It’s not as comprehensive as the base-building systems in Shadows, but it’s still very satisfying and drives you to plunder more to unlock the best for your island and ship.

Best Bit

(Image credit: Ubisoft)

Taking on a powerful enemy ship with the Jackdaw and planning your attacks while simultaneously navigating the open waters is an absolute thrill — and the sense of satisfaction and relief in pulling off a difficult encounter with a fraction of health left is mighty.

Combat and parkour are both areas with substantial changes as well. Parkour doesn’t look or appear brand new — and once again not as transformative as the change that came after Black Flag with Unity, sadly — but it does genuinely feel smoother and more fluid than before; where there once would have been brief pauses or stutters mid-run, there now aren't.

Combat has definitely taken inspiration from Mirage and largely works as a new style for Kenway. It’s a shame to see some omissions, as Kenway sticks only to cutlass weapons (which sometimes feel a bit messy and button-mashy) but the heavy and light attacks and parries combine to make something more engaging than the parry and finish of the original games. Even so, after a while, it can drag a bit and get repetitive — especially when you’re having to board and take ship after ship after ship to farm upgrade material — and lacks the dynamism of the original at times.

Opening up more of the world has been a success in Resynced, at least. The ability to dive anywhere and swim everywhere in the ocean opens up more areas for discovery and exploration, and the simple addition of a crouch button means that you can explore enemy compounds and warehouse locations rather than just murder your way through them.

A balancing act

(Image credit: Ubisoft)

More substantial changes to content are more mixed, though, and in the face of so many great updates, upgrades, and enhancements, Resynced has to walk a tightrope of new additions and working with — or avoiding — the original source material.

I really enjoy the new endings that some of the best characters in the game get through new side quests, for example — and there are even new lines, scenes, and actions back at Kenway’s headquarters after those too, which is a nice touch.

The new officer recruitment missions are also good fun; as well as offering a tangible benefit for new ship features or weapons, these are some quite good contained missions. However, the pacing sometimes feels a little odd as you successfully recruit the new officer, midway through their story, and even when they seem unconvinced about joining you.

(Image credit: Ubisoft)

The most noticeable change to content, however, has been unsuccessful, in my view: entirely removing the modern-day sections is a shame and a missed opportunity. I find myself longing for these bits where you are deep-diving into Desmond’s DNA and scoping out the modern-day Templar offices; the change of pace worked with the original game and played its own robust part in the lore and narrative of the series. While removing tube content was largely welcomed by many and may have seemed like a good idea, in the context of playing the game, it feels a bit of a shame. With Resynced being positioned by Ubisoft as a remake that semi-reinterprets but also modernises and improves parts of the original, it’s a wasted opportunity not to give the modern-day segments the same treatment as other areas of the game and to instead jettison it entirely.

This remake is a blast, and I cannot wait to seek out every corner of the Caribbean and solve every mystery all over again

Some 2013-isms remain in this 2026 game, too. Notably, the AI and enemies are as dumb as ever. Being able to whistle and attract a whole heap of guards to a single stalking location and murder all of them in one big bloody pile is still too easy. And while the tailing missions have been changed to be less punishing, you can now just murder your target, loot the info, and scarper just like any other objective in the game.

Despite the drawbacks, though, as a long-time Assassin’s Creed fan, this remake is a blast, and I cannot wait to seek out every corner of the Caribbean and solve every mystery all over again. Those of us who yearn for more from the stories of the Assassins in every game will be extremely happy, I’d wager, with Resynced’s re-look at one of the best games in the series, with the extra story beats for some of the best characters being such examples.

Despite a few creases here and there that raise the eyebrow, this is a solid remake and a wonderful game, and could offer an interesting insight into Ubisoft’s future approach to its older games, which is very exciting.

Should you play Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced?Play it if...

You want an enhanced and modern version of a classic AC game
Resynced is a fantastic new experience for a classic and top-tier entry in the series and will provide an engaging and satisfying modern way to play the game for new and returning fans.

You’re looking for a fantastic pirate action-adventure game
Complete with the same excellent naval combat from the original, Edward Kenway’s assassin-pirate all-action adventure is still swashbucklingly excellent in Resynced — remake or not — so it's a brilliant game in its own right in 2026.

You’ve enjoyed the modern feel of the most recent AC games
If you’ve liked the overhauls to combat and traversal in particular that the more modern games have offered in the Assassin’s Creed series, then you’ll likely find a lot to love in both ways in Resynced.

Don't play it if...

You really disliked the repetition in earlier games in the series
Sadly, you’ll still be seeing a lot of the same activities and engaging in repeated encounters in Resynced despite all the modernizations and improvements. If these are a big turn-off for you (such as the same fights when boarding enemy ships), then Resynced won’t win you over.

You know you’ll miss the modern-day content
While some hated it, a lot of people loved and were invested in the modern-day sections in Black Flag’s era of Assassin’s Creed games, and to have it totally and utterly removed may well disappoint many fans — especially in the face of so many other improvements in the game.

Accessibility features

Ubisoft has done another great job of offering a whole host of accessibility options in its latest flagship game. You can easily alter difficulty settings with a number of sliders affecting different factors such as stealth, naval combat, and activities, and a number of playstyle assists are also present, such as aim assist, parkour assists, camera settings, and even unlimited oxygen to make swimming in the game easier.

The dedicated accessibility menu is broken down into five categories of accessibility presets: Motor (affecting number of actions or precision and timing), Motion & Camera (to reduce motion and camera effects like screen shake), Colors (text colors and so on, but also setting for Red-Green color blindness and Blue-Yellow color blindness), Vision (for changes to the HUD, and subtitles etc), and Hearing (volume, speaker names, etc). All offer substantial options, and accessibility needs are very well served indeed.

How I reviewed Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced

I played nearly 30 hours (and counting) of Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced on a PS5 Pro teamed with an Acer X32QFS gaming monitor and SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Omni headset for this review. I used a standard DualSense Wireless controller, and I also spent many hours playing the game on my PlayStation Portal.

I tested the game thoroughly in all its graphics modes and found that the balanced mode (offering high graphical fidelity and a targeted 40 frames per second) was by far the most enjoyable and my personal preference.

Having followed the Assassin’s Creed series for years and years, and playing a whole heap of them straight for a year a short while ago, I am very familiar with the games and what makes a good one, a great one, and a less good one, so I am well placed to cast an opinion over Resynced.

First reviewed July 2026

Categories: Reviews

ExpressKeys Password Manager Review: Pros & Cons, Features, Ratings, Pricing and more

TechRadar Reviews - Wed, 07/08/2026 - 01:54

ExpressVPN, one of the best VPNs around today, is a highly trusted brand in the online privacy and security space.

Naturally, then, it’s worth digging into its dedicated password management solution to see whether it works only as an extra integrated feature bundled with the VPN subscription or if it can hold its own against the best password managers around – especially now that ExpressKeys is available as a dedicated app for iOS and Android devices, along with browser extensions.

It offers unlimited password storage with security and encryption protocols in line with modern market standards. You can autofill credentials, generate strong passwords, and even generate 2FA codes, all from within its dedicated app.

ExpressKeys: Plans and pricing

(Image credit: ExpressVPN)

Right off the bat, you should note that ExpressKeys is not available as a standalone product – there’s a standalone app, yes. But you will have to get a full bundle of security products from ExpressVPN, which includes ExpressKeys. The bundle starts at $4.49 per month (Advanced plan) for a 24-month commitment, and you get four additional months free.

Along with access to all ExpressKeys features, you also get ExpressVPN, with 12 simultaneous connections and thousands of servers in 105 countries. There's also ExpressMailGuard with six email domains and five dedicated subdomains, as well as three days of unlimited daily data with holiday.com eSIM access.

Agreed, the price may seem a bit steep when compared with alternatives like Keeper, which costs $3.58/month, or Bitwarden at $1.65/month. However, those prices only include a password manager. ExpressVPN, on the other hand, offers a full suite of security products, including a VPN, password manager, and a secure email provider.

You can also upgrade to its Pro plan, starting at $7.49 per month for 28 months, with expanded ExpressMail Guard features and additional ExpressAI access with 500 credits per day.

ExpressKeys: Features

ExpressKeys packs all the basics and, simply put, gets the job done for most users. You can store an unlimited number of passwords, credit cards, and secure notes in your vault, with the option to import passwords from other password managers you may have used previously.

There’s also a handy temporary one-time password generator (TOTP), which removes the need for multiple authenticator apps. You can securely generate temporary codes for services such as social media logins or banking applications.

Once you have added or imported your passwords, you’ll also find ExpressKeys’ password health feature quite useful. It can quickly assess your vault to identify weak, reused, or exposed passwords, then alert you to update them before they become a security risk.

ExpressKeys also follows a zero-knowledge architecture, meaning your data is encrypted on your device before being stored on the provider’s servers. As a result, not even ExpressKeys can read or decrypt your information, which can only be accessed using your master password.

However, ExpressKeys still does not support password sharing, which may be a deal breaker for users who regularly need to share credentials securely. Similarly, there is no passkey support yet.

ExpressKeys: Interface and in use

(Image credit: ExpressVPN)

Up until recently, ExpressKeys functionalities were bundled with the ExpressVPN app on mobile devices. However, a dedicated ExpressKeys app is now available for Android and iOS, making the initial setup process much easier than before.

Once you download the application, you need to log in with your email account and enter the six-digit verification code sent to your email.

(Image credit: ExpressVPN)

Next, you have to set a primary password. It should be strong yet something you can remember easily. That’s because if you lose the master password, you could lose access to all the passwords stored in your ExpressKeys Vault. Note that you will also receive a recovery code, which you should store securely offline.

(Image credit: ExpressVPN)

Once the initial setup is complete, you can start adding passwords by clicking the plus icon in the top-right corner and creating new logins. If you want to use ExpressKeys on desktop, you’ll need to rely on the official browser extensions available for Edge, Chrome, and Safari. Unfortunately, there is still no Firefox extension.

The setup process for the browser extensions is fairly similar. After installing the extension, click on it to open ExpressKeys in a new tab.

(Image credit: ExpressVPN)

Click “Set up ExpressKeys,” choose a primary password, and save your recovery code. After that, you will be required to verify your account using the six-digit code sent to your email.

I also found it quite easy to add passwords within the ExpressKeys app. All you have to do is click the plus icon in the bottom-left corner and enter your login details. If you need a new password, you can select the “Need a new password” option, and ExpressKeys will automatically generate a strong one for you.

(Image credit: ExpressVPN)

Once your passwords are saved in the vault, you can use ExpressKeys’ autofill feature to automatically populate usernames and passwords on supported websites. A small ExpressKeys icon appears on login pages – simply click it and choose the account you want to use.

(Image credit: ExpressVPN)

Overall, I found ExpressKeys easy to set up and use. The interface closely resembles the ExpressVPN app, with minimal lag or delays. Most features are easily accessible from a single menu across both the mobile app and browser extensions, making it a beginner-friendly option.

ExpressKeys: Support

ExpressVPN offers a vast library of how-to and help articles, with detailed step-by-step guides for tasks like setting up your account, saving passwords, or importing them from other password managers. I found this especially useful, as it can quickly resolve common queries without the need to contact a support representative.

However, if you run into an issue not covered by these articles, you can contact customer support through the 24/7 live chat feature. Although the platform lacks direct email or phone support, the knowledge base and live chat should be sufficient for most users.

ExpressKeys: The competition

Since ExpressKeys isn't a standalone password manager, it lacks some of the advanced features you'll find in high-end password managers like Dashlane or Bitwarden.

For instance, Dashlane allows users to create passkeys on websites that support the technology. Passkeys work by creating two cryptographic keys for each account: a private key stored in your password manager and a public key stored on the website. Whenever you log in, the password manager authenticates your account using these keys instead of traditional usernames and passwords. ExpressKeys currently lacks this feature.

That said, Dashlane is on the more expensive side, with plans starting at $4 per month. In comparison, ExpressVPN gives you a password manager, VPN, and secure email service for just $4.49/month (2-year plan), which makes it a compelling overall package.

ExpressKeys also lacks shared vaults, a fairly standard feature offered by many competitors. For example, Bitwarden provides shared vaults for teams, allowing multiple users to securely store, manage, and share credentials collaboratively. It is also highly affordable, with plans starting at just $1.65 per month.

ExpressKeys: Final verdict

ExpressKeys is a solid basic password manager aimed at users looking for an all-in-one security bundle. It includes essential features like password generation, autofill, unlimited vault storage, zero-knowledge architecture, and 256-bit AES encryption to keep your credentials secure. However, these are features you can expect from most modern password managers today.

Where ExpressKeys falls short is in more advanced functionality, particularly secure password sharing and passkey support. Still, many individual users may never feel the absence of these features in day-to-day use.

To put it simply, if you’re looking for both a VPN and a password manager, ExpressKeys is easily out as one of the better bundled offerings available. But if you already use a VPN and simply want a feature-rich standalone password manager, alternatives like Dashlane, Bitwarden, or Keeper Security may be a better fit.

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Categories: Reviews

Coveron (formerly NordProtect) made me rethink how I protect my personal information online

TechRadar Reviews - Wed, 07/08/2026 - 01:41

Coveron may seem like a new identity theft protection platform. However, that's not the case. NordProtect rebranded itself as Coveron in May 2026 to build a brand identity distinct from its other products.

Nord Security, the company behind one of the best VPNs, NordVPN, first introduced NordProtect in late 2023. At the time, it was only offered as part of NordVPN's Prime plan in the U.S. In early 2025, however, the company expanded its availability, and NordProtect became available as a standalone product. It has now been rebranded as Coveron.

In this article, we'll go into the details of the newly rebranded Coveron identity theft protection service, covering its plans and pricing, key features, and interface while comparing it with other seasoned providers in the market.

Coveron: Plans and pricing

(Image credit: Coveron)

Coveron offers monthly, yearly, and two-year plans, allowing users to stay flexible with their subscriptions. However, we'll be talking about the pricing of the one-year plans, as we have done in all our identity theft protection reviews.

Coveron has one of the cheapest entry-level plans, with its Starter plan costing $0.99 per month ($23.76 for the first 24 months). With this plan, you get $10k in identity theft insurance and dark web monitoring, where Coveron scans illegal online marketplaces to look for any of your personal data that may have been breached.

However, Coveron's best value-for-money offering is its Silver plan, costing $4.99 per month ($119.76 for the first 24 months). Along with dark web monitoring, you also get credit monitoring from one bureau and monthly credit scores. There's also credit freeze assistance, where Coveron experts guide you on how to freeze your credit with the bureau. The best part about this plan is its extensive insurance coverage, including up to $1 million in identity theft insurance, $50k in cyber extortion insurance, and $10k in online fraud insurance.

If you're looking for a bundled plan, your best bet is Coveron's Gold plan, which costs $7.49 per month ($179.76 for the first 24 months). Besides everything included in the Silver plan, you also get an additional credit lock feature that allows you to lock your TransUnion credit to prevent unauthorized access, along with $10k worth of cyberattack insurance. Additonally, you get access to a high-speed, secure VPN with 7,400+ servers across 118+ countries, along with Nord's Threat Protection Pro, which can block dangerous websites, detect phishing scams, scan your downloads for malware, and block ads and trackers.

Lastly, there's the Platinum plan, costing $9.99 per month ($239.76 for the first 24 months), which offers credit monitoring from all three bureaus. This is also the first plan where you get detailed credit reports, along with short-term loan monitoring and financial account monitoring. Additional features include malware breach alerts and criminal record monitoring.

Coveron: Key features and offerings

Coveron offers a big bag of identity and credit monitoring features. For starters, there’s dark web monitoring which continuously scans illegal online marketplaces as well as forums and underground communities to detect any leaked personal data, such as email addresses, phone numbers, and Social Security numbers.

You would receive immediate notifications when your information is compromised, allowing you to react promptly and reduce potential security threats. Then there’s credit monitoring that detects financial identity threats, including unauthorized account inquiries and new accounts opened using your personal information.

(Image credit: Coveron)

One of the standout features of Coveron is that it allows you to lock your TransUnion credit directly from its dashboard with the toggle of a button. You don't need to visit the TransUnion website separately to request a credit lock. Coveron's strategic partnership with TransUnion facilitates seamless credit locking.

Other features included in the highest-tier plans are short-term loan monitoring, which tracks any payday loans opened in your name, and financial account monitoring, which alerts you to new account applications or credit inquiries made using your identity. You also get the Incogni feature on the Platinum plan, which scans top data broker sites and submits personal data removal requests on your behalf.

(Image credit: NordVPN)

Besides this, Coveron offers the standard $1 million in identity theft insurance coverage. This coverage extends to eligible expenses, including legal fees, lost wages due to identity theft, and mental health counseling costs. The identity restoration process is supported by dedicated case managers who provide personalized assistance throughout your recovery journey. The service guides you in freezing your credit and helps you navigate the complex task of restoring your credit score.

The identity protection insurance cover from Coveron also includes a couple of add-ons. The first is cyber extortion protection, which covers up to $50k for cyber extortion incidents such as ransomware attacks. The second is online fraud insurance of up to $10k, which reimburses you if you end up losing money due to incidents like phishing, stolen funds, or other forms of online fraud.

Coveron: Interface and in use

Coveron's features are currently accessible through its web-based dashboard, which means you get a similar browsing and usage experience across platforms including Windows, Android, macOS, and iOS.

Once you log in to your dashboard, you'll see the features laid out in a menu on the left-hand side, divided into five headings: Monitored Assets, Alerts and Notifications, Dark Web Monitoring, ID Protection Benefits, and Credit Monitoring Services.

(Image credit: NordVPN)

Upon clicking each of these tabs, you are taken to a dedicated dashboard showing information related to those specific sections. For instance, when you click on Alerts and Notifications, you'll see all current instances of security breaches or suggestions that Coveron considers important. The alerts are divided into two main categories: security alerts and warnings.

Similarly, the Monitored Assets tab shows you the information being monitored across the dark web. Overall, Coveron's layout is pretty simple and easy to use without much of a learning curve. You can also get assistance in English by phone by dialing +1 (833) 439-5214 between 10 AM and 6 PM EDT.

Coveron: Support

Coveron offers comprehensive customer support primarily through its robust online Help Center, which features extensive FAQs, tutorials, and troubleshooting guides covering various topics, including account management, billing, connectivity, and app usage. For more personalized assistance, customers can readily access 24/7 live chat support, which is recommended for urgent issues due to its typically quick response times.

You can also get assistance in English on phone by dialing +1 (833) 439-5214 between 10AM to 6PM EDT. Alternatively, for more complex inquiries or when immediate assistance isn't critical, customers can opt for email support, with responses usually provided within a few hours. Overall, Coveron's combination of self-help resources and direct messaging options aims to provide thorough and accessible support for its diverse customer base.

Coveron: The competition

At first glance, Coveron may seem pretty bare-bones when it comes to identity protection features. It certainly lacks some useful functions, such as social media monitoring, which is a standard offering with many other providers. Besides this, you only get up to $1 million in insurance coverage, whereas providers like IDShield offer up to $3 million and Aura offers up to $5 million.

Similarly, the three-bureau credit scores on the highest Platinum plan are updated only once a year, which defeats the purpose of regular financial monitoring. Almost all other providers, such as McAfee+, update scores at least monthly (and even daily on some plans) so that you can keep a constant check on your credit standing.

However, one thing to keep in mind while comparing various identity protection platforms is that Coveron comes at a pretty affordable price. Even its highest-tier plan costs only $9.99 per month, which is often the starting price of other platforms. For instance, Aura's individual plan starts at $12 per month, whereas IDShield's individual plans start at around $14.95 per month. Sure, you might get additional features with other providers, but they often cost more than Coveron.

Coveron: Final verdict

If you’re on a budget and looking for a reliable identity theft protection solution, then Coveron from Nord Security is a pretty good choice. Even its highest-tier plan is more affordable than the starting plans of some other platforms. Not only do you get comprehensive dark web monitoring, but you also benefit from three-bureau credit monitoring and the ability to lock your TransUnion credit directly from the Coveron dashboard.

Of course, there's also award-winning VPN protection and comprehensive online protection through Nord's Threat Protection Pro. However, if you're looking for higher insurance coverage or advanced features like social media monitoring, more frequent credit monitoring, credit score simulators, home and auto title monitoring, or medical ID tracking, you'll need to consider alternatives such as IDShield, Aura, or McAfee+.

Why is identity theft protection important?

For many, much of our day-to-day life is now handled online, including financial management, shopping, family connections, work collaboration, and more. While digital technology offers numerous advantages, it also poses multiple security risks that threaten users both financially and personally.

Today's cybercriminals are constantly refining their tactics, deploying increasingly sophisticated attacks, including phishing scams, data breaches, and ransomware threats. These menacing strategies aim not only at financial theft but also often target our most sensitive data, leading to a cascade of complications that can significantly disrupt our lives.

This is where a dedicated identity theft protection service, like Coveron, becomes invaluable. Acting as a real-time shield against potential threats, it provides proactive monitoring that continually watches over your personal information around the clock. Picture receiving rapid alerts at the first hint of suspicious activity; this timely response can make all the difference in mitigating damage before it spirals out of control.

But it doesn't end there. Comprehensive recovery assistance provided by these services ensures that if the worst does happen, you're not navigating the aftermath alone. Specialists work with you to recover compromised accounts, restore your credit, and rebuild your digital identity, guiding you through each step with expertise and support.

Categories: Reviews

I was surprised how easy it was to use MyFico identity theft protection

TechRadar Reviews - Wed, 07/08/2026 - 01:29

The FICO score is a type of credit score developed by the Fair Isaac Corporation (FICO). This is the score most lenders look at when evaluating your credit file. Composed of various components such as payment history, amounts owed, length of credit history, credit mix, and new credit, the FICO score can range between 300 and 850. The higher the score, the better.

While there are various platforms and credit monitoring institutions you can use to keep an eye on your credit score, there's arguably very few better than using the platform developed by FICO itself, MyFICO. MyFICO is a credit and identity monitoring solution that gives you a bird's-eye view of all your important credit accounts, along with identity theft alerts.

In this article, we'll dive into MyFICO's features, pricing, and in-use experience in detail so that you can make an informed decision about whether it’s worth your attention and money.

MyFico: Plans and pricing

(Image credit: MyFICO)

MyFICO offers a range of plans to help consumers monitor their credit and identity, with pricing structured across different tiers. The free plan provides basic coverage, including a FICO Score 8 based on Equifax data, monthly Equifax credit reports, and 24/7 credit monitoring.

For more comprehensive coverage, MyFICO has three paid subscription tiers that automatically renew each month:

Advanced Plan: Priced at $29.95 per month, this plan offers three-bureau coverage (Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax) with credit reports and FICO Score updates every three months. It includes comprehensive credit monitoring, FICO Score monitoring with alerts, and identity monitoring. Additionally, it provides $1 million in identity theft insurance and 24/7 identity restoration. Features like the FICO Score Simulator and "How Lenders View You" analysis are also included.

Premier Plan: This top-tier plan costs $39.95 per month and offers a few additional benefits over the Advanced plan. Firstly, your credit scores and reports are updated every month instead of every three months. Secondly, you get an additional simulator for your FICO mortgage score. This lets you see how different financial actions can impact your FICO Scores 2 and 4, which are used by mortgage lenders. Besides this, all other benefits remain the same as the Advanced plan.

MyFico: Features

MyFICO offers a comprehensive suite of features designed to empower you with knowledge and protection over your credit and identity. With MyFICO, you receive FICO Scores and credit reports from all three major credit bureaus: Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax. This is essential because 90% of top lenders rely on FICO Scores. By reviewing your reports from all three bureaus, you can identify discrepancies and errors that may be negatively impacting your scores.

Additionally, MyFICO provides credit monitoring and alerts, continuously tracking significant changes such as new accounts or inquiries. This allows you to quickly detect potential identity theft or fraudulent activity and take immediate action if necessary. You will also benefit from FICO Score monitoring and a history graph, which visually displays your score's progression over time, helping you understand how your financial decisions impact it.

(Image credit: MyFICO)

One particularly helpful tool is the FICO Score Simulator, which enables you to explore "what if" scenarios, such as how paying down debt or applying for a new loan could affect your score. This feature empowers you to make informed financial choices before taking action.

(Image credit: MyFICO)

Beyond credit monitoring, MyFICO offers identity monitoring by scanning the dark web and public records for your personal information. If your information is compromised, you will receive alerts. In the unfortunate event of identity theft, you are protected by identity restoration services and up to $1 million in identity theft insurance. This coverage includes 24/7 access to specialists who can assist you in recovery and provide financial protection for related expenses.

Finally, MyFICO provides valuable credit education and customer support to help you understand the complexities of credit and offer assistance whenever needed. Together, these features give you a complete picture of your financial health, proactive protection, and the tools to confidently manage your credit and identity.

MyFico: Interface

MyFico truly stands out in the realm of identity theft prevention software, especially when compared to many other programs that often resemble outdated tax software from a decade ago.

Once you log into your main MyFICO dashboard, you'll see three gauge charts showing your credit scores from all three credit bureaus. On the side panel, you'll find various options to drill down into your scores, such as General Credit, Credit Cards, Mortgages, and Other Loans, which show how each of these factors is impacting your current credit scores.

(Image credit: MyFICO)

On the top bar, you'll find four options: Scores, Alerts, Reports, and Simulator. The mobile app is also pretty simple to use, with the same gauge chart at the top, followed by the various loan types and insights below.

The app boasts an intuitive layout, allowing users to easily navigate and access key features. Checking your credit score is a swift and straightforward process, while delving into potential credit issues or assessing identity theft notifications is just as seamless.

MyFico: Support

Users who are facing problems can get assistance from the MyFico support team. A direct toll-free number is provided, along with what appears to be an email address but, upon selecting it, directs the user to a support portal. The business is open Monday through Friday from 6 AM to 6 PM and on Saturday from 7 AM to 4 PM PST. However, we didn’t find any live chat option.

Additionally, MyFICO offers a knowledge hub where you can search for frequently asked questions on topics such as payments and billing, FICO scores, credit reports, and more. Overall, the support options are decent, given the platform's relative ease of use. You're unlikely to encounter any unusual technical hurdles while using it.

MyFico: The competition

While MyFICO is the official consumer division of FICO and offers direct access to the widely used FICO Scores, several strong competitors provide comprehensive credit monitoring services, often with different focuses.

One of the most prominent competitors is Experian, one of the three major credit bureaus. Experian offers its own free credit monitoring service, providing access to your Experian credit report and FICO® Score. They also have a unique feature called Experian Boost, which allows users to potentially increase their FICO Score by including on-time payments for utilities, phone bills, and streaming services. While MyFICO also offers FICO scores, Experian's direct connection to one of the bureaus and its Boost feature offer a distinct advantage for some consumers.

However, both MyFICO and Experian are primarily credit monitoring tools rather than identity theft protection platforms. Sure, MyFICO does offer some identity theft features, but they are more ancillary in nature. Other platforms like IDShield and IdentityForce are more focused on identity theft protection.

For instance, both platforms offer comprehensive real-time identity breach alerts coupled with deep dark web and social media scans. There's also a smart SSN tracker that sends you instant alerts if any suspicious names or addresses are associated with your Social Security number. Lastly, some platforms like Norton LifeLock can also scan various data broker websites for your information and submit removal requests on your behalf.

MyFico: Final verdict

If you’re someone with a lot of investments, financial accounts, or lines of credit and want to monitor your finances closely at all times, then MyFICO is one of the best choices for you. You get detailed reports and scores from all three credit bureaus, along with instant alerts for any changes or new accounts. You can view your FICO scores and score history graph, along with a FICO score simulator that helps you plan your future finances.

However, MyFICO is a bit on the expensive side, with plans starting at $29.95 per month. It also isn't a dedicated identity theft protection platform and offers only limited features in that regard. If you're looking for a full suite of identity protection features, such as deep dark web scanning, SSN tracking, address and phone monitoring, as well as identity restoration services, you'll have to consider other platforms such as Norton LifeLock, Aura, or Bitdefender.

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Categories: Reviews

Bitdefender Identity Theft Protection review

TechRadar Reviews - Wed, 07/08/2026 - 01:16

Bitdefender is a popular name in the online security market, primarily known for its robust antivirus solution. However, it also offers an all-around digital identity protection service called Bitdefender Identity Theft Protection.

If you’re an individual (especially a beginner) looking for an easy-to-use, affordable platform, Bitdefender could be the one for you. It helps you actively monitor your online identity, check for known breaches, and manage your financial accounts.

In this article, we will drill down into the various features of Bitdefender Identity Theft Protection, compare it with other products on the market, and examine its user experience. Read on to find out whether Bitdefender Identity Theft Protection is for you.

Bitdefender Identity Theft Protection and Bitdefender Digital Identity Protection are two separate products. This review will examine Bitdefender Identity Theft Protection. For our review of Bitdefender Digital Identity Protection, please click here.

(Image credit: Bitdefender)Bitdefender Identity Theft Protection: Plans and pricing

Bitdefender Identity Theft Protection offers two plans: Standard and Premium. The Standard plan costs $69.99 for a yearly subscription, which boils down to $5.83 per month, making it one of the cheapest identity theft protection solutions on the market. This is also cheaper than Norton LifeLock's entry-level plan, which costs $10.46 per month.

With this plan, you get basic features like breach monitoring, credit reports and score, lost wallet protection, and identity theft insurance up to $1 million, along with one-bureau credit reports and monitoring.

The Premium plan costs $99.99 ($8.33/month). In addition to everything in the Standard plan, you get sex offender registry monitoring, bank, credit card, and investment account monitoring, and an additional $50,000 in ransomware protection and social engineering scams. Along with this, the plan also offers three-bureau credit record monitoring.

Bitdefender Identity Theft Protection: Features

Bitdefender offers a bundled collection of features, ideal for anyone looking for all-around identity monitoring and protection. For starters, there’s a smart SSN tracker, which alerts you if an unfamiliar name or address is associated with your Social Security number.

Then there’s dark web monitoring, which scours thousands of websites, black market chat rooms, and other sources to alert you to any sale of your personal information. You can also access your credit reports and scores from all three credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion.

There’s also a pretty handy credit score simulator, which helps you plan your finances and see how your future financial decisions may impact your credit score. You are also promptly notified if your personal details are used to apply for new credit, utility payments, or loans.

Much like other platforms, even if you’re unlucky and end up getting your identity compromised, Bitdefender offers restoration services from certified protection experts around the clock. These experts help you with paperwork and legal procedures while actively assisting you through the challenging process of identity restoration.

(Image credit: Bitdefender)

With Bitdefender, you also get up to $2 million in identity theft insurance and an additional $25,000 for ransomware resolution and reimbursement in case you end up losing money due to ransomware attacks during your Bitdefender subscription.

Similarly, there’s a $25,000 social engineering resolution and reimbursement provision, which comes in handy if you fall prey to social engineering scams like phishing and end up incurring financial losses.

The Bitdefender website also lists credit freeze as one of its features. However, I found this to be a bit misleading, since Bitdefender only offers expert assistance with credit freezes. To actually place a credit freeze, you will have to contact the various agencies yourself. In comparison, platforms like Norton LifeLock allow you to instantly freeze your credit from the dashboard itself with a simple toggle button.

Bitdefender also offers a separate Digital Identity Protection product that gives you a 360-degree view of all your personal data. Much like its identity theft protection platform, digital identity protection also scans the public web and dark web for your personal data and sends you instant alerts if it finds any.

Besides this, there are simple one-click actions that help you close gaps in your digital footprint. You also get a graphic digital identity protection score, which tells you how well you are protected against common cybersecurity and identity theft threats.

We would have liked to see these features in the primary identity theft protection suite as well. But sadly, these essential features are missing. If you need them, you’ll have to get both products, but that would increase your total monthly cost to $9.16. Sure, that’s still pretty affordable, but managing two different subscriptions can be inconvenient in practice.

Bitdefender Identity Theft Protection: Interface and in use

In addition to being affordable, it’s nice that Bitdefender is also easy to set up and use. Once you have logged into your account, you will see a sleek and intuitive dashboard with all features suites listed on the left-hand side panel. You need to click on Identity Theft Protection to access all its functions.

Inside that, you'll find options such as Identity Vault, Breach IQ, Alerts, Credits, and Help listed on the top panel. Simply click on any of these options to access your data.

The Bitdefender interface enables you to quickly visualize data and view suggested actions (Image credit: Bitdefender)

For instance, if you click on Credits, you will be able to see your credit score in the center of your dashboard, along with detailed credit summaries including open accounts, credit utilized, and hard inquiries made.

However, the in-use experience is pretty smooth. There are hardly any lags or complicated hidden menus, making the platform very beginner-friendly.

Bitdefender Identity Theft Protection: The competition

Identity Theft Protection’s biggest advantage is its affordable pricing, with plans starting at just $69.99 per year. Even if you’re looking for three-bureau data credit monitoring, you effectively pay only $8.33/month with its annual plan, compared to IdentityForce's $34.90/month or Norton LifeLock's $29.17/month.

That said, I found Bitdefender a bit barebones when it comes to its feature set. Sure, it has everything you need to protect your identity, but it does lack certain advanced features offered by competitors. For instance, Norton LifeLock comes with an automatic data broker removal service, where the platform scans top data brokers and submits periodic opt-out requests so your data is not shared or sold on third-party websites.

Also, while Bitdefender’s identity insurance coverage of $2 million is certainly nothing to sniff at, Norton LifeLock gives you up to $3 million whereas Aura up to $5 million.

Bitdefender Identity Theft Protection: Final verdict

Bitdefender Identity Theft Protection is an ideal choice if you're an individual looking for basic identity protection services. The platform offers everything from social media monitoring, dark web monitoring, and identity breach alerts to credit monitoring and three-bureau credit reports. You also get identity theft protection of up to $1 million with the higher-end plan.

That said, if you're looking for identity theft protection for families, Bitdefender might not be the perfect pick, since it only offers individual plans. In that case, you'll have to look at other alternatives such as Aura or Norton LifeLock. Bitdefender also lacks certain advanced features, such as the ability to manage credit freezes from the dashboard and data broker removal services.

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Categories: Reviews

Allstate Identity Protection review

TechRadar Reviews - Wed, 07/08/2026 - 00:54

Allstate Identity Protection is offered and serviced by InfoArmor, Inc. – a subsidiary of The Allstate Corporation – and provides a comprehensive suite of identity protection plans designed to safeguard your personal information and assist in the recovery in the event of identity theft.

It stands out with its proactive approach, providing you with real-time alerts for social media monitoring. If your account is hacked, you receive an immediate notification, enabling you to act swiftly before a small breach becomes a full-blown crisis. But is it the right choice for you? Read on to find out.

Allstate Identity Protection: Plans and pricing

(Image credit: Allstate Identity Protection)

With an understanding that each individual and family has unique needs, Allstate Identity Protection offers both individual and family plans available across several tiers, each tailored with distinct features and pricing to cater to a variety of requirements.

Among the options available, the Essentials Plan is an excellent starting point for individuals and families looking to secure their identities. Typically priced at about $9.99 per month for individuals and $18.99 per month for families, this plan features essential identity monitoring services along with financial fraud protection.

Customers benefit from one-bureau credit monitoring and access to 24/7 full-service remediation support, ensuring help is always available when needed. Additionally, the plan includes lost wallet assistance and significant reimbursement coverage, offering up to $1 million in identity theft expense reimbursement and up to $50,000 in stolen funds reimbursement.

For those seeking enhanced protection, the Premier Plan offers a step up with a monthly cost of around $17.99 for individuals and $34.99 for families. This tier builds upon the Essentials Plan by adding features such as financial account transaction monitoring and social media monitoring, which are crucial in today’s digital landscape. Furthermore, users benefit from stolen tax refund advances and increased coverage for stolen funds reimbursement, which can go up to $500,000, giving families added peace of mind.

The most complete option available is the Blue Plan, usually priced around $19 per month for individuals and $36 per month for families. This comprehensive plan includes family digital safety tools and a cybersecurity toolkit featuring antivirus software and a virtual private network (VPN).

Additional benefits include robocall and ad blockers, three-bureau credit monitoring with credit lock/freeze assistance, and an amplified stolen funds reimbursement of up to $1 million, as well as up to $1 million coverage for stolen 401(k) funds.

All plans share common features designed to provide proactive monitoring and support. Customers receive dedicated 24/7 remediation specialists who can assist with identity theft issues, along with identity theft expense reimbursement and privacy management tools to help individuals maintain control over their personal information.

Besides these tiered plans, there’s a special monthly plan called Identity Restoration, costing $3 per month for individuals and $6 per month for families, designed specifically to help users through the identity restoration process. While this plan does not include any protection or monitoring features, it can assist you with full-service identity restoration if you experience an identity breach. You also get $25k in identity theft coverage with this plan.

One impressive thing about Allstate is that its family plans can cover up to 11 members, including yourself. This means the per-member cost can go as low as $32.73 per year per person, even on its highest-tier plan. Moreover, all the plans except the monthly-only one come with a 30-day free trial, letting you trial the service risk-free before committing.

Allstate Identity Protection: Features

Allstate offers one of the most jaw-dropping collections of features we have seen across the industry. Of course, you get excellent identity monitoring, which thoroughly examines multiple sources across the dark web along with public databases for your Social Security numbers, driver’s licenses, and financial account information.

(Image credit: Allstate Identity Protection)

Additionally, Allstate's wide range of restoration features and insurance offerings reflects the confidence the company has in its own capabilities. While most platforms offer home title and auto title fraud reimbursement, Allstate goes above and beyond by offering stolen tax refund reimbursement, which compensates you if someone files a tax return in your name and claims a refund.

You also get up to $1 million in insurance coverage if funds are stolen from your 401(k) or HSA accounts, as well as reimbursement for fraud involving deceased family members.

In case your identity is breached or you become a victim of a scams, you get full support from Allstate Identity Protection through its Full-Service Identity Restoration service. If identity theft strikes you the company provides a dedicated Privacy Advocate to oversee the complete restoration process. The process involves working with creditors to freeze your credit and resolve any fraudulent accounts that have been opened.

(Image credit: Allstate Identity Protection)

Allstate also offers pretty robust credit monitoring features, including three-bureau credit monitoring on its highest-tier plan. You can access reports from all three bureaus and view your credit scores and trackers directly from the Allstate dashboard.

One particularly impressive feature is the ability to lock your TransUnion credit report with just the click of a button through Allstate. Besides this, you can set transaction alerts on your credit cards and bank accounts, and Allstate will send you a notification every time a transaction exceeding a specified threshold (say, $1,000) is made on your account.

(Image credit: Allstate Identity Protection)

Another impressive Allstate feature is its Digital Footprint, which provides a complete record of your online activity, including the sites you've shopped at and online accounts you've created or forgotten about. This enables you to see where your personal data exists across the web and how different companies use this information. Higher-tier plans also provide as essential features that include Virtual Private Networks (VPNs), password managers, antivirus protection, and browsing safety tools.

(Image credit: Allstate Identity Protection)

Lastly, there's the Family Digital Safety suite, which is included in the Blue plan and offers features like web filtering, screen-time management, and location tracking for family protection. Parents can use these features to detect cyberbullying and block inappropriate content and websites. They can also set screen-time limits for their children and monitor their location in real time.

Allstate Identity Protection: Interface

(Image credit: Allstate Identity Protection)

We hope you have a strong appreciation for the color blue, as Allstate Identity Protection prominently features a deep, calming shade of blue on both their website and mobile app.

The interface adopts a no-frills approach, reminiscent of TurboTax, prioritizing straightforward navigation over elaborate design. Users will find essential categories such as Digital Footprint, Credit Monitoring, Dark Web Monitoring, Financial Transactions, and Social Media Monitoring are clearly laid out on the left panel of the dashboard, making the platform easy to navigate and the most important features easy to access.

Allstate also offers mobile apps for both Android and iOS. While they are great for quickly accessing the dashboard and checking various alerts, these apps offer limited options for editing information within Allstate. We also noticed that updates for these apps are not very frequent, which may raise some security concerns.

For this reason, we recommend primarily using Allstate's web interface to manage your identity monitoring needs. Overall, while Allstate Identity Protection has a solid foundation, enhancing the user experience with more intuitive design elements and interactive tutorials could make it an even more valuable tool for safeguarding personal identity.

Allstate Identity Protection: The competition

Allstate offers one of the most affordable identity protection plans considering the vast range of features included. Even its highest-tier plan costs only $190 per year, which comes to around $15.83 per month.

Its most direct competitor would be Aura, which offers similar parental control features such as content filtering and screen-time limits, along with identity theft and credit monitoring features. Aura's bundled plans start at $12 per month and offer features comparable to Allstate.

One advantage of Allstate, however, is that it allows up to 11 individuals on its family plan, whereas Aura only allows up to five adults along with unlimited children. Aura does, however, provide a more comprehensive data removal service, scanning more than 200 data broker sites and submitting removal requests on your behalf. Additionally, its identity theft insurance goes up to $5 million, one of the highest coverage amounts in the industry.

Just as Allstate allows you to lock your credit directly with TransUnion, IdentityWorks allows you to do the same with Experian. The latter also offers comprehensive credit monitoring features such as a daily Experian FICO score tracker and quarterly three-bureau credit reports and FICO scores. That said, IdentityWorks is slightly on the expensive side, with plans starting at $24.99 per month.

If you're looking for something more affordable, you could consider Norton LifeLock, where plans start as low as $10.42 per month for individuals. It offers a good mix of two-bureau credit monitoring, one-bureau monthly credit reports and scores, along with direct assistance from identity restoration specialists.

Allstate Identity Protection: Final verdict

If you're someone who needs a comprehensive security suite instead of just an identity theft protection platform and also doesn't want to burn a hole in your pocket, Allstate is one of the best options you can choose. Its highest-tier individual plan costs only $190 per year, which comes to less than $16 per month. If you want to protect more than one family member, its highest-tier family plan costs only $360 per year and allows you to add up to 11 members. This brings the per-member cost down to around $32.73 per year.

At this price, you get comprehensive credit monitoring, identity monitoring, full-service identity restoration, up to $1 million in identity theft coverage, along with an additional $1 million in stolen funds reimbursement and 401(k)/HSA reimbursement. Additionally, there are several useful privacy management features such as Digital Footprint monitoring, ad blockers, scam alerts, and cybersecurity tools such as a VPN, password manager, antivirus protection, firewall, and webcam protection.

The list doesn't end there. There are also family digital safety tools that allow you to block malicious or harmful websites for your children and manage their screen time. All in all, Allstate offers one of the densest collections of features we have seen in the industry. However, if you're looking for something lighter and not as feature-packed as Allstate, platforms like Norton LifeLock and McAfee+ may offer better value for money.

We've also highlighted the best identity theft protection

Categories: Reviews

What I Learned After Using IDShield Identity Protection

TechRadar Reviews - Wed, 07/08/2026 - 00:39

The dangers of identity theft are no longer a distant worry; they have become a salient threat that looms over individuals and families as digital footprints continue to grow. This is why you need a dedicated identity theft protection platform to safeguard your identity online.

One such popular provider is IDShield, offering capable identity protection through active breach alerts, as well as comprehensive social media and dark web monitoring. It even offers plans bundled with a VPN and password manager. In this article, we put IDShield to the test and examine its features, pricing, and interface while also comparing it with other similar tools on the market.

Read on till the end to find out whether IDShield is the ideal identity theft protection solution for your needs.

IDShield: Plans and pricing

(Image credit: IDShield)

IDShield pricing varies primarily based on whether you opt for one-bureau or three-bureau credit monitoring.

For individuals, plans typically start around $14.95 per month for one-bureau credit monitoring (usually Experian). If you want more comprehensive credit oversight, the three-bureau option (monitoring Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax) is available for approximately $19.95 per month.

For families, IDShield provides coverage for two adults and eligible dependent children under 18 living in the same household. A one-bureau family plan typically costs around $29.95 per month, while the three-bureau family plan is approximately $34.95 per month.

What we like most about this pricing structure is that you get all the features IDShield has to offer, even with its basic Individual and Family plans. The only point of difference is the number of credit bureaus that track your credit score and financial accounts. So, if you’re someone with limited financial exposure but need a feature-rich identity protection plan, IDShield is a good choice.

This is much cheaper than Identity Force, where you have to pay $34.90/month for credit monitoring. That said, IDShield’s three-bureau credit monitoring is still more expensive than Bitdefender’s Identity Theft Protection plan, which effectively costs only $8.33/month.

IDShield: Features

IDShield has one of the most comprehensive feature sets we have seen across identity theft protection platforms. For starters, you get all the usual protection features, such as Social Security number monitoring, dark web monitoring, and social media monitoring.

Along with this, there are some niche features such as court record monitoring, which scans legal databases to alert you to any criminal identity theft, and address change monitoring, which scans the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) National Change of Address database and alerts you if any change-of-address request is filed in your name.

Besides monitoring your identity, IDShield also does a good job of keeping tabs on your finances with continuous credit monitoring and a monthly updated credit score tracker. IDShield also instantly alerts you whenever a financial institution makes a hard credit inquiry.

(Image credit: IDShield)

The platform also offers a pretty interesting financial threshold monitoring feature, which lets you set alerts on a financial account for large credit card purchases, low account balances, and unusually large withdrawals. There's also a pretty nifty payday loan monitoring feature, which tells you if a scammer tries to secure a payday loan using your identity.

(Image credit: IDShield)

One of the best features of IDShield is its 24/7 emergency assistance from dedicated licensed private investigators who work closely with you to help restore your identity in the event of identity theft. Additionally, there's also $3 million in reimbursement for unrecovered costs and losses incurred due to any identity theft that takes place during your subscription period.

The kicker is the complementary cybersecurity and device protection features that IDShield offers. This includes a VPN, password manager, and malware and antivirus protection. All these features are offered in partnership with Trend Micro. However, we found these add-ons to be quite limited during our testing.

For instance, you can only connect to 30+ VPN locations using the VPN, which also lacks essential features like a kill switch. The password manager lacks password inheritance and secure sharing, and it marked weak passwords as strong in some instances. Competitors like Norton LifeLock and Bitdefender also offer such bundled packages and perform better than IDShield.

IDShield also offers a pretty unique reputation management dashboard, which lets you improve your online reputation by cleaning up social media posts and comments and improving your Google search results. For starters, you'll see a reputation score on a color-coded semicircle graph out of 1,000. Below this, you'll see various suggested actions you can take to improve this score.

(Image credit: IDShield)

You can review each of the scanned results and mark them as positive or negative. Of course, you'll need to connect your various social media accounts, such as X, LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram. Although a niche feature, this might come in handy for influencers or public figures who are trying to build a personal brand.

IDShield: Interface and in-use

IDShield’s dashboard is pretty simple and easy to navigate. You'll see a list of options on the left: Home, Credit Security, Inbox, and Accounts. The Home dashboard displays your credit score at the top on a color-coded scale, followed by all your recent identity and credit monitoring alerts.

If you want to use the security suite that comes with IDShield, you’ll have to go through a separate installation and setup process for Trend Micro Maximum Security. You only get the license key with IDShield’s subscription. The same is true for the included VPN and password manager tools.

IDShield: Support

IDShield offers multiple support channels to ensure timely and convenient assistance.

For immediate assistance, customers can call IDShield's dedicated phone support line at 1-888-494-8519, available from Monday through Friday, from 7 AM to 7 PM Central Standard Time (CST). IDShield also offers email support along with a live chat option for customers who prefer real-time assistance.

In addition to these support channels, IDShield also provides a comprehensive knowledge base and frequently asked questions (FAQs) section on their website. Customers can find answers to common questions, troubleshooting tips, and other resources without contacting support directly.

IDShield: The competition

IDShield is a pretty attractive identity theft protection platform, even given its affordable starting price of $14.95 per month. That said, it does not offer the best value for money, even at this price point.

Take Norton LifeLock, for example. While you have to pay $19.95 per month with IDShield for three-bureau credit reports, the same is available for just $16.67 per month with LifeLock. Besides this, you also get new AI protection features such as Card Exposure Control and Suspicious Charge Alerts.

While IDShield promotes its bundled security suite, VPN, and password manager, they don’t perform as well as some other bundles on the market. LifeLock, for instance, offers protection and a VPN for five devices, along with identity insurance and breach alerts, for just $8.33/month, offering better value for money.

Similarly, Bitdefender’s bundled plans start at $89.99/year ($7.50/month), offering a VPN with 3,000+ servers, a password manager, an ad blocker, and essential identity theft protection.

IDShield: Final verdict

You should choose IDShield if you're looking purely for an identity theft protection platform. It has all the important features, such as breach alerts, dark web and social media protection, along with identity restoration services. At just $19.95 per month, you can get three-bureau credit monitoring along with everything the platform has to offer, with nothing hidden behind paywalls.

That said, if you're tempted by IDShield's bundled offering of a VPN, password manager, and security features, there are better value-for-money options available. You could look at Norton LifeLock or Bitdefender's bundled plans for all-round protection, both of which cost less than IDShield.

Take a look at our full guide to the best identity theft protection

Categories: Reviews

How McAfee+ Identity Protection Changed My Digital Habits

TechRadar Reviews - Wed, 07/08/2026 - 00:25

Protecting your digital identity has become increasingly important. With the rise of sophisticated cyber threats, such as phishing scams, identity theft, and data breaches, choosing a robust identity protection service is essential for safeguarding your personal information.

One such popular tool is McAfee identity protection, offering real-time identity breach alerts, recovery support, and a user-friendly interface. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of the platform, examining its key features, effectiveness in preventing identity theft, and overall value for consumers.

Additionally, we'll explore how McAfee+ compares with other identity protection services on the market. By the end of this review, you'll have a clearer understanding of whether McAfee Identity Protection is the right solution for securing your sensitive personal information.

McAfee+: Plans and pricing

McAfee does not offer a separate identity theft monitoring plan. Instead, you get a complete suite of protection and security tools. Plans start at $29.99 for the first year for the Basic plan, which covers protection for one device.

From an identity protection point of view, this plan only includes identity monitoring and alert features, which scan for your personal information on the dark web and send you real-time alerts. Additionally, you get a Scam Detector, an award-winning antivirus, a secure VPN, and comprehensive web protection. It's worth noting that these features are available with all of McAfee’s bundled plans.

(Image credit: McAfee)

The identity monitoring features remain fairly limited even in the Premium plan, which costs $49.99 for the first year for individuals and $69.99 for the first year for families covering up to six members. In addition to identity monitoring and alerts, this plan also helps you identify websites that sell your personal information and alerts you so that you can request its removal.

However, we found McAfee’s Advanced plan to offer the best value for money if you are looking purely for identity protection features. It's priced at $89.99 for individuals and $119.99 for the first year for families (up to six members). This is the first plan that offers credit monitoring from one bureau, along with monthly credit scores and reports. You also get up to $1 million in identity theft coverage and identity restoration support. Preventive features such as Security Freeze and Credit Lock are also included in the plan.

(Image credit: McAfee)

Lastly, there’s the Ultimate plan, priced at $199.99 for the first year for individuals and $249.99 for the first year for families (up to six members). In addition to every identity monitoring feature included in the Advanced plan, you also get bank account takeover monitoring, payday loan monitoring, and ransomware coverage of up to $25,000.

Credit monitoring is also more comprehensive in this plan, covering all three bureaus along with daily credit scores and reports, as well as increased identity theft coverage of up to $2 million.

McAfee+: Features

Let’s first talk about McAfee’s Identity Protection solutions, since that’s what you’re here for. For starters, you get identity monitoring and alerts, which cover more than 60 types of personal information across all of its plans, which is a big plus. Besides this, I found McAfee’s identity protection features limited but sufficient for personal and family needs.

(Image credit: McAfee)

In addition to alerts, McAfee offers credit monitoring from all three bureaus and daily credit reports, depending on the plan you choose. You can also get identity theft coverage of up to $2 million, along with dedicated restoration support from licensed experts in case your personal data or identity gets stolen. Real-time alerts for credit card and bank account transactions, along with active bank account takeover monitoring, are also included.

(Image credit: McAfee)

Now, besides identity protection features, McAfee also offers a pretty handy Protection Score, which gives you a numeric score out of 1,000 reflecting how protected you are against online security and cybersecurity threats. This score takes into account various factors such as viruses or malware on your devices, web protection in your browser, Wi-Fi threats, leaked personal data found in data breaches, and more. The higher the score, the better your online security posture.

(Image credit: McAfee)

Some other handy McAfee+ features include:

Antivirus and Antimalware: McAfee+ provides real-time protection against viruses, malware, spyware, ransomware, and other malicious threats. It scans your system to detect potential threats, preventing them from causing harm. Unlike many online identity protection suites, this feature is essential for personal security.

Firewall Protection: A built-in firewall monitors and controls incoming and outgoing network traffic, protecting your device from unauthorized access and blocking suspicious connections.

Web Protection: This feature helps safeguard your online activities by blocking malicious websites, phishing attempts, and dangerous downloads. It also scans email attachments and instant messages for potential threats, making it especially useful for children online.

Identity Theft Protection: McAfee+ helps protect your personal information from being compromised by monitoring potential identity theft risks. This may include features like credit monitoring, social security number tracking, and alerts for suspicious activity. McAfee’s Identity Theft Protection service monitors over 40 data broker sites to identify whether your personal information has been compromised.

Safe Browsing: McAfee+ provides secure browsing extensions or plugins for popular web browsers. These tools warn you about unsafe websites in search results and block harmful ads or pop-ups.

Credit Monitoring: Depending on the selected plan, credit bureau monitoring looks for threats to your identity and monitors the Dark Web for associated risks.

Password Manager: This unique tool securely stores your login credentials and assists in creating strong, unique passwords for each website or application you use.

Secure VPN: McAfee+ includes a virtual private network (VPN) feature that encrypts your internet connection and anonymizes your online activities, adding an extra layer of privacy and security.

System Optimization Tools: McAfee+ also offers system optimization tools to improve your device’s performance by cleaning up unnecessary files, managing startup programs, and optimizing system settings.

Parental Controls: McAfee+ products include parental control features that allow you to monitor and restrict your child's online activities, block inappropriate content, and set usage time limits.

McAfee+: Interface and in-use

(Image credit: McAfee)

The McAfee+ interface is pretty similar to McAfee’s other programs. You’ll first need to activate your registration code and sign in to your McAfee online account. On the main dashboard, you will see various shortcuts such as Scam Detector, a Secure VPN button that you can toggle on or off directly from the dashboard, Identity Monitoring, and Personal Data Cleanup.

On the left-hand side, there’s a rail menu listing all the features available with McAfee+, divided into five categories: Scam Detector, Identity, Privacy, Web, and Device. Upon clicking any of the features in this section, you’ll see a dedicated dashboard for that feature. For instance, if you click on Credit Monitoring, you will see your credit score on a color-coded semicircle graph along with your credit reports.

Overall, the platform is pretty easy to use. You’ll need to play around with the options for a few hours to get the hang of it, but there’s no steep learning curve or anything overly technical about using McAfee+.

McAfee+: Support

As would be expected from a veteran provider, McAfee offers numerous methods for support. On the direct side, there's 24/7 phone support along with a 24/7 virtual assistant, and we did find a chat to a real person available for English speaking countries (and 9am to 6 pm on business days for the rest of the world).

There’s also a dedicated Countries and Phone Numbers button, which, when clicked, shows you a detailed list of phone numbers in various countries along with their operating hours. However, we did not find an email address or a support portal as alternative methods for direct contact.

There are some options on the self support as well. I found a Support Home page, with a search bar, which had jump offs to YouTube videos, a FAQ, and related articles. There are also links to McAfee social media sites, including a Twitter feed that is active with recent updates.

McAfee+: Competition

Since McAfee+ isn’t a standalone identity theft protection platform, we’ll need to compare it with similar providers offering bundled plans. Two of the main competitors are Bitdefender and Norton LifeLock.

Bitdefender also offers Ultimate Security plans, which start at $89.99 per year. Much like McAfee+, these plans include device security features such as antivirus and scam protection, along with privacy features such as a password manager and unlimited VPN traffic.

However, we found McAfee+ to deliver better value when it comes to identity protection features. For instance, at the same price of $89.99 per year, you get McAfee’s Advanced plan, which includes credit monitoring from one bureau along with monthly reports. You’ll need to spend at least $119.99 per year with Bitdefender to get single-bureau credit monitoring.

Norton, however, is more comparable to McAfee+ when it comes to features. You get protection for up to 10 PCs, Macs, tablets, or phones across all plans. Even with the base plan, you get up to $25,000 in reimbursement for stolen funds, along with other identity management features such as real-time alerts, dark web monitoring, and stolen wallet protection. Of course, there’s also a VPN, password manager, and antivirus included.

That said, Norton’s packages are quite expensive compared to McAfee+, with its base plan starting at $99.99 for the first year. The Advantage plan costs $199.99 for the first year and adds features such as Identity Lock and bank and credit card alerts. Although the features are robust, the cost outweighs the benefits for many users.

McAfee+: Final verdict

To put it in a nutshell, if you’re looking for a packaged, all-around online security solution that also includes identity theft protection, then there’s hardly any looking past McAfee+.

The platform offers some of the best value for money when it comes to bundling identity theft features with a robust antivirus, secure VPN, and password manager. You get up to $2 million in identity theft insurance, along with real-time transaction alerts and access to McAfee’s proprietary Protection Score, which tells you how well protected you are against online cybersecurity threats.

That said, if you are looking only for identity theft protection features without the bundled security suite, you’ll need to consider other platforms such as Norton LifeLock, Aura, IDShield, or IdentityForce.

We've featured the best internet security suites

Categories: Reviews

Asus ProArt PA32KCX review: Over $8K for a 32-inch 8K monitor and a whole lot of dimming zones

TechRadar Reviews - Tue, 07/07/2026 - 12:26

You might want to be sitting down for this. The Asus ProArt PA32KCX clocks in at just under $8,800. Undoubtedly, this 32-inch monitor is a technical tour de force. But $8,800? Really?

The highlights among a long list of impressive specifications that go at least some way to justifying that staggering sticker price are 8K native resolution, an IPS panel with 4,032 dimming zones, 1,200 nits of peak HDR brightness, a motorised colorimeter for automated calibration and utterly comprehensive connectivity.

No question, then, this is one of the most highly specified displays on the market today. By some metrics, for instance, it positively blows away the likes of the Apple Pro Display XDR, which offers a mere 6K resolution and 576 dimming zones.

Speaking of 6K monitors, some models make for a rather uncomfortable comparison with the Asus ProArt PA32KCX. Take Asus's own ProArt PA32QCV. That's a 6K monitor that can be had for literally one eighth the price of this 8K monster. Can the jump from 6K to 8K really be worth that much?

And, more generally, how can this megabucks monitor justify itself against the best business monitors we've tested, all of which are far cheaper? Time to find out.

Asus ProArt PA32KCX: Design and featuresFutureFutureFuture

Utterly comprehensive connectivity
Automated calibration
Underwhelming build quality

Specs

Panel size: 32-inch

Panel type: IPS

Resolution: 7,680 x 4,320

Brightness: 1,200 nits

Contrast: 1,000:1 (static)

Pixel response: 5ms

Refresh rate: 60Hz

Color coverage: 97% DCI-P3, 95% Adobe RGB

HDR: Display HDR 1000

VESA: 100mm x 100mm

Connectivity: HDMI 2.1 x2, DisplayPort 2.1 x1, Thunderbolt 4 x2 with 96W PD, USB hub with USB-C x1 and USB-A x3

When you're charging the thick end of $10,000 for a PC monitor, that does rather raise expectations. And the Asus ProArt PA32KCX doesn't meet them in every regard.

The main problem is distinctly underwhelming build quality. Compared to any given mainstream monitor, the plastic chassis is perfectly functional. But at this price point, it feels thoroughly low rent.

The I/O panel on the rear looks particularly cheap for such an expensive display and the usual plastic creaks and groans as you adjust the height, tilt or swivel of the display really stand out. Again, all of this is normal for, say, a $500 monitor, or even a $1,000 panel. But at $8,800, you might expect better.

No question, the Asus ProArt PA32KCX isn't even in the same galactic super cluster for build and engineering as Apple's Pro Display XDR and its lush all-alloy materials. That said, in terms of features, the ProArt has any Apple display comprehensively beaten.

Connectivity is a particular strong point with HDMI, DisplayPort, USB-C, Thunderbolt and more all included. There's also a KVM switch, display daisy chaining support and a USB hub. So, pretty much every eventuality is covered.

The motorised colorimeter is pretty nifty, too. It swings out from the bottom left of the display, allowing the ProArt PA32KCX to self-calibrate any among the long list of colour spaces it supports. What's more, that calibration can be scheduled to take place automatically at regular intervals.

You also get proper Mac support including brightness controls directly in MacOS when enabling HDR. In short, this is a very highly specced monitor, it's just not a beautifully engineered monitor.

Asus ProArt PA32KCX: PerformanceFutureFutureFutureFuture

Incredible pixel density
Local dimming is hit and miss
Noticeable fan noise

For a lot of applications, 8K native resolution is overkill. Just to clarify, that's 7,680 by 4,320, over 33 million pixels or four full 4K grids crammed into this 32-inch display. The pixel density works out to a staggering 275 DPI. That's smartphone territory and double the density of a 32-inch 4K monitor.

In many ways, the most apt comparison is with 6K 32-inch displays, which come in a little over 200 DPI. In terms of aspects like text rendering, the benefit of 8K over 6K in daily use is marginal.

Likewise, you're not really getting any extra usable screen space. You'll likely use similar scaling settings whether you go for 6K or 8K. And, you can get 6K monitors for as little as around $1,000. So, where does the benefit of 8K come in?

That'll be professional video and image editing. Broadly, there are two upsides. For video, the 8K resolution allows you to view and edit content in full 4K while leaving oodles of space for toolbars, timelines and the rest. 4K video pixel-for-pixel at full resolution occupies just a quarter of the screen. Remarkable.

As for image editing, well, high resolution images look absolutely stupendous on this monitor. The detail really is breathtaking. There's a practical benefit, too, in the sense of more easily assessing image detail, less need for zooming in and so on. Frankly, once you've edited images on this thing, a 4K monitor feels a bit clunky.

The other really significant feature is the local dimming. This is an LCD panel with full-array backlighting rather than an OLED panel. Asus has configured it with 4,032 zones, which is very high by the standards of this type of mini-LED backlight. But it still isn't anything like per-pixel lighting.

The results are fairly mixed. I've certainly seen worse local dimming implementations. But you can still detect plenty of evidence of the backlight at work. There are lots of tell tale signs, even flaws, like the mouse pointer going dim over dark backgrounds, visible brightness gradients across the screen. In the right circumstances you can even see lighting zones popping on and off.

All of this is somewhat inevitable with mini-LED backlight tech. But it has to be said that Apple's backlight algorithms are definitely better. It's very notable when, for instance, you have a MacBook Pro with similar backlight technology next to this display, just how much more consistent and refined its backlight algorithm is.

Admittedly, the backlight mostly works really well for HDR video. This panel has some serious pop and with over 4,000 dimming zones and up to 1,200 nits of peak brightness, much of the time there's enough precision to do real justice to HDR content.

But, day-to-day, the shortcomings are obvious enough that you may actually want to turn local dimming off, at which point you are looking at an awfully expensive IPS panel with very limited contrast compared to an OLED panel.

Of course, it's a really lovely IPS monitor, with full 10-bit-per-channel and all that good stuff. But, wow, is it pricey. And, of course, it only runs at 60 Hz, which is another example of the ways in which you have to compromise to have that 8K resolution. As is the, on occasion, very noticeable and quite distracting noise from the cooling fans.

Asus ProArt PA32KCX: Final verdictFutureFutureFuture

The Asus ProArt PA32KCX has some pretty obvious shortcomings. The build quality is ordinary and its local dimming algorithm could do with some work. For $8,800, those issues are pretty hard to stomach. Indeed, by several metrics including lighting control, speed, viewing angles and more, the latest 4K 32-inch OLED monitors comprehensively wallop this IPS monitor and its mini-LED backlight.

But here's the thing. If you want 8K, you simply can't have that with OLED technology. Indeed, there are very few options, period. And there are undoubtedly benefits to 8K in a content creation context. Once you've seen high resolution images on this panel, going back to 4K really does feel like a major step backwards.

So, the value proposition offered by the Asus ProArt PA32KCX won't make sense for most users, even most creative professionals. That's especially true when even the likes of Asus itself, not known for its sharp pricing, will do you a similarly sized 6K monitor for about an eighth the price.

Admittedly, this monitor is incredibly well specified when it comes to connectivity. Some creative professionals will also really appreciate features like automated self calibration. And if you have the kind of very particular workflows that will benefit from 8K specifically, well, you may just be able to make the numbers add up. But for everyone else, a 6K monitor for way less money such as Asus's own ProArt PA32QCV model almost certainly makes more sense.

FutureFutureFutureFuture

For more ultra-high-resolution displays, we've reviewed the best 5K and 8K monitors.

Categories: Reviews

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Garmin Forerunner 170 review: A solid running watch with no surprises

Toshiba N300 4TB NAS HDD review: Can the extra cost over its rivals be justified by its performance?

The Westies arrives on MGM+ this weekend — you won't remember watching it in three months time, but this Irish mobster true story is fun while it lasts

Decodo proxy service review

Amazfit Active 3 Premium review — Premium performance, just without the price

I took over 1,000 shots with the Sony RX10 V across my kid’s sports day, a bird photography trip and more – here’s how Sony’s surprise new superzoom performed

The Alienware AW3426DW is easily the best 34-inch ultrawide OLED I've ever used, and it's made me want to abandon my 45-inch monitor

This shapeshifting Dreo fan can be a pedestal fan, a desktop fan or an air circulator — I made full use of its extensive customization options in the recent heatwave

Razer wants the Seiren V3 Pro to be the ultimate gaming mic, but you probably don’t need it

I've watched all of Little House on the Prairie and finally understand why Netflix rebooted the classic Western drama — but it's a shame that new episodes look exactly like every other show on the streamer

I reviewed Sony's new mid-range Dolby Atmos soundar, and while I love some features, overall its one step forward and two steps back

Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced feels like the definitive, modern way to play one of the best games in the series

ExpressKeys Password Manager Review: Pros & Cons, Features, Ratings, Pricing and more

Coveron (formerly NordProtect) made me rethink how I protect my personal information online

I was surprised how easy it was to use MyFico identity theft protection

Bitdefender Identity Theft Protection review

Allstate Identity Protection review

What I Learned After Using IDShield Identity Protection

How McAfee+ Identity Protection Changed My Digital Habits

Asus ProArt PA32KCX review: Over $8K for a 32-inch 8K monitor and a whole lot of dimming zones

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