Reviews

Philips 5000 Series Dual Basket Air Fryer XXL Steam: One-minute review

There are plenty of dual-drawer air fryers on the market these days, but not too many come with a steam function. And that’s where the Philips 5000 Series Dual Basket Air Fryer XXL Steam comes in – as the name suggests, you can use the steam to not just cook meals, but it can even be used to clean the air fryer.

Cooking with steam means you can make dumplings or steamed vegetables easily, but the Philips 5000 Series XXL also has an air fryer+steam combo mode that I found to be quite handy. This not only cooks meat to perfection, retaining moisture, but also allows for crispy skin and crackling, albeit will need a few extra minutes air frying the perfect results.

In fact, pretty much everything I cooked in the Philips Series 5000 XXL turned out to be really good, although I’d recommend not bothering with the presets. They’re handy as a guide, but unless you have the exact amount of food that preset was meant for, it’s not going to cook your meal to perfection. Given its dual drawers, you can sync cook times, no matter what you have in either of them, but you can’t replicate the settings across both drawers because of their difference in size.

However, having the power of steam means you’ll need to deal with a few caveats. For starters, it’s available only for the larger drawer, so you will need to plan out what food item goes into which drawer before you start cooking. That also means steam cleaning is only available for the larger drawer and it requires you to manually scrub the basket and drawer anyway. So it’s not quite the magical solution I was expecting it to be. Well, at least both drawers, and the basket and tray, are dishwasher safe.

Given how well it cooks, though, it would be easy to recommend, particularly if you want steam cooking. You will, however, need to shell out a decent amount of cash for the privilege.

(Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar) Philips 5000 Series Dual Basket Air Fryer XXL Steam review: price & availability

• Announced November 2024
• Launch price of £249.99 / AU$499, but available for cheaper now
• Not available in the US at the time of writing

Philips came out with two dual-basket air fryers at around the same time in late 2024 – the 3000 Series and the 5000 Series. Both also have single-drawer options, but it’s only the 5000 Series Dual Basket model that has the steam functionality.

At launch, it came with a list price of £249.99 / AU$499 in the UK and Australia, but can now be had for £179.99 / AU$349. It’s currently not listed for purchase in the US.

This review is based on the Australian model with SKU NA551/00. The model available in the UK is NA555/09 with a brushed-steel finish.

I think the discounted price is quite competitive and could be excellent value for some users, especially those who’ll really make good use of the steam functionality to cook (the steam-clean mode is superfluous). That’s not to say it’s cheap, but it isn’t too much more in some markets compared to other dual-drawer models.

For example, the Ninja Foodi Max Dual Zone Air Fryer AF400 (has the model number of DZ401 in the US) costs $229 / £229.99 / AU$299.99 and the Instant Vortex Plus Versazone can set you back $199.95 / £199.99 / AU$399 at full price.

• Value score: 4 / 5

Philips 5000 Series Dual Basket Air Fryer XXL Steam review: specifications Philips 5000 Series Dual Basket Air Fryer XXL Steam review: design

• 800ml removable water reservoir on top of appliance
• Non-stick coating makes it easy to clean
• Clear touchscreen display, but requires small learning curve to master

If you’re already familiar with dual-basket air fryers, the Philips 5000 Series XXL Steam is not going to look too different, except for one very distinct feature – there’s a small rectangular plastic reservoir on the top to hold up to 800ml of water. It’s translucent, so you can see the level as it gets used up, and it has a cloud icon to indicate what could only be billowing steam. If you don’t notice the water level going down, there’s no need to worry as a warning light will appear on the touchscreen display.

The tank can be removed and washed, and it’s best not to leave any water in there when the appliance is not in use to avoid scale build-up. The good news is that the Philips 5000 Series Dual Basket XXL Steam has a descaling cycling built in, but better safe than sorry.

Like many dual-basket air fryers, the two drawers are different sizes – a larger 6L basket and a smaller 3L one. Philips says the larger drawer can fit a whole chicken in it, but you will need to make sure it’s not too large a chicken, and although the total 9L capacity sounds like a lot, it may not be enough for a family of four. And it’s only the bigger drawer that has steam functionality.

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The water reservoir has a cloud icon on its lid to indicate billowing steam (Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)Image 2 of 3

Both drawers, the large basket and the small tray are non-stick and dishwasher safe (Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)Image 3 of 3

The water reservoir fits into its own little niche (Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)

Having two drawers means the whole appliance has a large footprint, but it’s not overly large compared to other similar air fryers on the market. It is, however, slightly taller because of the water reservoir on the top.

The touchscreen display is very clear when it comes on, even if you have bright overhead lights shining down on the reflective surface. The top line of icons are the presets, below which you can choose the time and temperature for each drawer. There’s even the option to sync cooking times if you want. If you’re already familiar with air fryers, you won’t have much trouble finding your way around the functions on the display, although the steam cooking, air fry+steam combo, steam-clean mode and descaling option will be new to most people.

Unfortunately Philips doesn’t provide a proper user manual in the box – it has some diagrams, but they’re not easy to wrap your head around. A detailed manual is available on the HomeID app, which can be accessed via the QR code in the box or on the machine itself, but it’s not easy to find – after some digging, I found a link to the PDF buried in a Quick Guide article for the Series 5000 Dual Basket Steam air fryer.

The rear of the appliance is quite plain, but Philips provides cable management in the form of a clip-on brace. Above this are the two vents that, when you use steam, will puff rhythmically.

(Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)

All of Philips’ air fryers have one thing in common – the raised pattern at the bottom of the drawers. This is to help the company’s proprietary RapidAir technology circulate hot air within each basket more efficiently. This pattern also means you can’t cook directly in the drawer, as some other brands allow you to do. Both the drawers on the Series 5000 Dual Basket XXL Steam are non-stick, but no mention has been made on what the material actually is. That said, the large basket, the two drawers and the small tray are dishwasher safe.

One thing to keep in mind with the large basket: it might appear square, but it’s not. So if the basket isn’t fitting, just turn it around and slide it in. The basket has small silicone-covered feet that are prone to pressure, which can happen if you’re handwashing it. This causes the feet to move out of position and not let the basket fit back into the drawer – if this happens, you can gently reposition them.

• Design score: 4.5 / 5

(Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar) Philips 5000 Series Dual Basket Air Fryer XXL Steam review: performance

• Very useful time-sync functionality and shake reminders
• Plenty of presets, but they are guides only
• Not a smart (connected) air fryer

It might take you a while to get used to using steam in an air fryer, but once you do, it’s hard to not keep going back to it – I, for one, couldn’t stop experimenting with it. I used most of the functions on this air fryer and disappointments were rare – it really does cook nearly everything very well. From tender steaks to steamed dumplings, I can hardly fault it.

That said, nothing I made was using the presets. I found very quickly that unless you plan to cook the exact amount of fries, meat or vegetables the presets were designed for, you will not get the right results. The presets on the Philips 5000 Series are guides only, but you can always adjust cook time and temperature for better results.

During my testing I found that manual input of cook time and temperature was the best and, of course, you can always pull a basket out to check on what’s happening to see if any adjustments are needed. Opening a drawer will pause the air dryer – both drawers, in fact – and it automatically restarts when you push the basket back in. Time and temperature adjustments can be made while the appliance is running.

One thing to keep in mind with the Philips 5000 Series XXL Steam is that there is no preheat function here. This isn’t unique to this machine, with others like the Russell Hobbs Satisfry Dual Basket air fryer (available only in the UK) also missing out on it. A preheat would have been nice for things like cooking steaks, but I got good results even without it, albeit after a couple of attempts to get the right temperature and time settings for the perfect cook (medium for me, thanks).

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Cheese and garlic crumpets before cooking... (Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)Image 2 of 2

..and the final, slightly overdone results (Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)

One of the first cooking modes I tried in the 5000 Series Dual Basket XXL Steam was air fry+steam. This feature works by pumping steam and hot air alternately, so you will hear the sound change rhythmically. The chicken drumsticks that I experimented with were tender and moist, but the skin didn't get crispy. I popped them back in for five minutes more at 200ºC for just air frying, giving me wonderfully juicy chicken legs with crispy skin. The other dish I used the air fry+steam function was pork belly and, again, the meat was lovely, but I did have to use the air-fry mode to crisp up the skin. I’d imagine you could even use it to make some cakes if you want a fudgy interior, but I didn’t have any recipes (or ingredients) on hand to experiment with when it comes to baking during my testing of this air fryer.

I found the steam-only function rather useful though. Not only is it good to steam vegetables for a side, you can even make dumplings in this air fryer. The only issue here is the pre-planning. Given you have only one drawer (the larger one) with steaming abilities, you need to figure out beforehand what you should cook in it. For example, if you have a large piece of meat that you want to cook (time-synced) alongside vegetables, you’ll likely need to forgo steamed veg as the meat won’t fit in the smaller drawer. In which case, you will need to use the 6L basket twice, which isn’t ideal. However, if you’re making steamed fish with some roasted vegetables on the side, you can do them both together by putting the latter in the 3L drawer.

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Halloumi cooked in the air fryer (Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)Image 2 of 3

Chicken drumsticks cooked using the air fry+steam mode, then crisped for 5 minutes by air frying only (Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)Image 3 of 3

Stuffed portobello mushrooms cooked in the Philips air fryer (Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)

I found that the 800ml maximum water capacity in the reservoir will last you no more than an hour’s worth of cooking time, so you may need to refill it if you have anything that needs longer cooking. This Philips air fryer also has a maximum temperature of 200ºC, which isn’t as high as some other air fryers are capable of, but I found it still produces lovely crackling anyway.

Time synchronization works well and I appreciate that there is a shake reminder too. I love me some crispy, deep-fried bitter gourd (a childhood favorite) and I didn’t even need to lay the slices down in a single layer. The shake reminders were great when I just plopped handfuls in each basket to air fry and, at the end of 27 minutes, I had a Tupperware box full of my fave snack.

I cooked halloumi in the air fryer, as well mushrooms, steak and frozen foods. No matter what I threw at it, the results were to my liking, although I will emphasize that the presets won’t necessarily be too useful for first-time users.

Dumplings steamed in the large basket alongside prawn and chorizo skewers (Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)

As good as the cooking is, I was disappointed by the steam-cleaning function. As wonderful as it sounds on paper, it’s not quite what Philips makes it out to be – you will need to manually wash the basket and drawer to remove all traces of grease and burnt food after a 15-minute steam cycle, then pop it back in for a 2-minute hot-air drying session. Moreover, only the 6L basket has the advantage of steam to loosen caked-in grease. Thankfully both drawers and baskets are dishwasher safe.

Given it uses water, there is a descale mode available, but I haven’t had the appliance long enough to try it and, even after three months, have not seen any deposits in the water reservoir.

So while I would love to score this air fryer higher just for its cooking performance, I have to dock marks for the caveats surrounding the steam functionality.

• Performance score: 4 / 5

(Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar) Should I buy the Philips 5000 Series Dual Basket Air Fryer XXL Steam? Buy it if...

You’d love to cook with steam in an air fryer

While most air fryers let you do more than just air fry (like bake, roast, grill and more), the Philips 5000 Series Dual Basket takes it one step further and offers the steam function too. Importantly, it allows you to combine air frying and steaming, which is good for tender meat.

You want excellent results, no matter what you cook
This is a high-performing air fryer, even if you don’t always use the steam function. If you are comfortable experimenting, you’ll hit the right notes each time you cook in it.

You want to cook mains and sides together

While not unique to this Philips air fryer, the ability to make a main dish and a side simultaneously is time-saving. And you can have them both ready at the same time. This even works well if you have something steaming in the main drawer and something else in the smaller basket.

Don't buy it if...

You’re a first-time air fryer user

Not only is the user manual difficult to access, the cooking presets on this air fryer are just a guide and won’t work unless you have the exact same amount of the precise food it was made for. This cooking appliance will need some experimentation.

You can’t justify a premium air fryer

Despite being available at a competitive price, there are cheaper air fryers available. If you don’t need the steam function, you’ll be able to save by opting for a single-drawer air fryer. This also means you won’t need the extra space to store a two-drawer air fryer.

You have a large family

While the total 9L capacity sounds good on paper, the larger 6L drawer won’t fit a large chicken. In my opinion, this air fryer is suited to a 2-3 person household.

Also consider

Ninja DoubleStack

Offering two drawers but not taking up as much space, Ninja’s DoubleStack is one of a kind. In our tests, it produced some excellently cooked results, although you won’t have the power of steam here.
Read our in-depth Ninja DoubleStack review

Tefal Easy Fry Grill and Steam XXL 3-in-2 Air Fryer

Not widely available, and we haven’t tested this model yet, but it’s one of the few air fryers to offer steam cooking too. It’s a single-drawer model, so won’t take up as much room on your countertop as the Philips, but it is priced higher.

How I tested the Philips 5000 Series Dual Basket Air Fryer XXL Steam

• Used for five weeks to cook a variety of meals
• Cooked mushrooms, steak, cheese, chicken, fish and much more
• Tested most cooking functions and presets

(Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)

For a period of five weeks, I cooked nearly all my dinners in the Philips 5000 Series Dual Basket Air Fryer XXL Steam, as well as some lunches and a few snacks during the weekends. This gave me plenty of time to test several of the presets (I didn’t try the bread one though) and experiment with most of the cooking modes.

I’m not much of a baker at the best of times, but I did try to make some banana muffins in the air fryer, which didn’t quite turn out as I expected them to, but that had to do with my recipe rather than any fault of the appliance.

However, I also cooked various meats in the two drawers to test the roast, air fryer and air-fry+steam combo functions. These included a scotch fillet, chicken thighs and legs, a pork belly and beef sausages – the latter in the smaller basket.

The vegetables I cooked – both air fried and steamed – included broccolini, potatoes, cauliflower florets, carrots and snow peas. I also cooked some halloumi and portobello mushrooms.

In addition to cooking, I also tested the steam-clean mode a few times. I hand-washed the baskets and drawers most of the time but, when space allowed, I even put them in my dishwasher. The only function I couldn’t test during my review period was the descaling as there were no visible marks to tell me if the feature was working optimally or not.

Read more about how we test

[First reviewed February 2025]

OM System OM-3: two-minute review

The OM System OM-3 is a stunning camera – just look at it – even if it still stings for Olympus fans that you're reading OM System on that viewfinder hump.

With its flush faux leather frontage and silver top plate adorned with exposure dials, the OM-3 is as good as retro gets in the camera world. Oh, and there's also a new color mode dial – that's so on-trend.

Contrary to what its old-school exterior might suggest, this isn't a camera that's stuck in the past, and under the hood the OM-3 packs serious power. Its stacked 20MP Micro Four Thirds sensor delivers blazing-fast burst-shooting performance, up to 50fps with continuous autofocus; intelligent subject-tracking autofocus that works a treat (most of the time); and an array of computational photography modes that make light work of difficult shooting techniques such as focus stacking, which would otherwise require time-consuming edits (even if some of the end results aren't perfect).

Isn't she lovely? (Image credit: Tim Coleman)

I'm a big fan of what OM System has done with the OM-3. This is its best camera since its acquisition of Olympus in January 2021. From mind-bogglingly impressive in-body image stabilization (I've shot sharp images handheld with seconds-long shutter speeds – that's smartphone night-shot-like skills), to computational photography modes that encourage creative techniques such as long exposures, highly effective autofocus, a wide choice of lenses and a lightweight build (particularly the lenses), I've had a blast shooting with the OM-3 over several weeks.

As an everyday camera, most of the fun and creative computational photography modes feel more relevant in the OM-3 than they do in the serious OM-1 II, an alternative that's the better pick for serious photography such as wildlife.

There's so much about the OM-3 that just feels right. That said, I wish it was a rangefinder by design, like the Pen-F. Don't get me wrong: the OM-3 is 2025's best-looking camera so far. I just think that as an everyday camera that's best used with small and lightweight lenses, the Pen-F's smaller rangefinder-style body would have been the better way to go. After all, we already have other OM System cameras with a similar form factor to the OM-3, such as the OM-5.

At $1,999 / £1,699 / AU$3,199 for the body only, the OM-3 is also a pricey camera, especially when you consider that the Fujifilm X-T5 with its 40MP APS-C sensor is around $100 / £100 less. The bottom line for me, however, is that the OM-3 is a camera that I want to shoot with more than most. Its compact and retro design, together with its super-fun shooting modes, have encouraged me to new levels of creativity, and I can’t really put a price on that.

OM System OM-3: price and release date

• The OM-3 costs $1,999 / £1,699 / AU$3,199 body-only
• It's available bundled with the excellent 12-45mm F4 Pro lens for $2,299 / £1,999 / AU$3,799
• Available to pre-order now, with stock expected late February

On the one hand, the OM-3 is excellent value. It's the cheapest camera available with a stacked sensor, and packs many of the same features as the pricier OM System OM-1 II flagship. It feels like even better value when bundled with the 12-45mm F4 Pro lens for $300 / £300 / AU$600 more – this is no ordinary kit lens, but a super-sharp and versatile zoom.

However, when you consider rival cameras that you can pick up for around the same money or less, such as the Fujifilm X-T5 with its larger APS-C sensor and 40MP stills, suddenly the OM-3 feels expensive. Its stacked sensor is a costly component and will limit potential price reductions, but I'd hope that the price of OM-3 will settle at around $300 / £250 / AU$500 less than the list price by the end of 2025.

• Price score: 3.5/5

OM System OM-3: specs OM System OM-3: design and handling

• A thing of beauty, modelled on 1973’s Olympus OM-1 analog SLR
• Features a handy vari-angle touchscreen and dated 2.36m-dot EVF
• Useful dedicated dials for color modes and computational photography modes

For me, the OM-3 is almost the perfect embodiment of Micro Four Thirds photography; it’s compact and lightweight, highly rugged and attractive, and outright fun.

It’s the camera system that you want to slip into a jacket pocket for a day out or take away for a weekend break, and one that makes you obsessively creative – family and friends who've been with me during my review process have had to show extreme levels of patience while I've played around with the camera!

The OM-3 feels great in the hand with a small lens attached, and it’ll turns head too, if that seals the deal for you.

I say it’s almost perfect because for an everyday camera like this I think a rangefinder-style body would have been the better design choice – much like 2016’s Pen-F (which we’re told the OM-3 is the natural successor to).

After all, we already have a number of OM System cameras with a raised viewfinder hump, like the OM-5, so why not just squeeze the OM-3's modest 2.36m-dot EVF unit into the corner of a smaller rangefinder-style camera?

It's disappointing that we get a dated 2.36m-dot EVF, especially when the OM-1 II has a 5.76m-dot unit with clearer 0.82x magnification. I think the viewfinder placement and dated specs are my main design criticism of the OM-3; otherwise, it’s wider-than-average body allows space for controls to breathe, even if its grip-less body counts out easy handling with larger lenses.

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The OM-3 is a small camera befitting the Micro Four Thirds sensor format (Image credit: Tim Coleman)Image 2 of 6

I like the wider-than-average body – the design gives controls more space to breathe. (Image credit: Tim Coleman)Image 3 of 6

Such a classic-looking camera (Image credit: Tim Coleman)Image 4 of 6

The top plate is decked with plenty of dials and controls. (Image credit: Tim Coleman)Image 5 of 6

With the LCD screen packed away, the OM-3 looks even more old school. (Image credit: Tim Coleman)Image 6 of 6

The OM-3 has a decent flip-put touchscreen (Image credit: Tim Coleman)

If you like the OM-3’s looks, then you’ll also love how rugged and well built it is. OM System is one of the few camera brands to officially rate its cameras for weather-sealing, and the OM-3 is IP53-rated – that’s decently resistant to dust and water spray. So even though you won’t want to get this lovely-looking camera soaked in a rain shower, it can take it.

I also appreciate the new dedicated button and dials to directly access the OM-3’s color modes and computational photography modes, two creative options that are highly addictive and fun to play with.

You’re spoilt for choice for getting the look you like with four color mode settings, including a dedicated monochrome option, together with a practically infinite degree of customization.

Enthusiast filmmakers are well catered for too, with headphone and microphone ports and USB-C connectivity, although the micro HDMI port won't impress serious videographers, nor will the camera's single SD card slot.

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The color mode dial on the OM System OM-3 (Image credit: Tim Coleman)Image 2 of 6

Closeup of the OM System OM-3's Computational Photography button (Image credit: Tim Coleman)Image 3 of 6

Just the single SD card slot here. (Image credit: Tim Coleman)Image 4 of 6

A new shooting mode dial offers photo, video and S&Q (slow and quick) modes. I often found myself moving this dial accidentally when changing lenses. (Image credit: Tim Coleman)Image 5 of 6

There are plenty of dials to make quick adjustments to camera settings. (Image credit: Tim Coleman)Image 6 of 6

(Image credit: Tim Coleman)

Computational photography modes are the closest you get in a mirrorless camera to the smartphone photography experience and features like the Google Pixel's long-exposure mode.

For example, the Live ND Shooting option can reduce the amount of light the camera gathers, much like an ND lens filter, to enable long-exposure photography – and thanks to the camera’s highly impressive in-body image stabilization you can get this effect when shooting handheld too.

You don’t need a tripod and lens filters to get the long-exposure effect; you can simply take the camera out of your pocket, access one of the ND filter effects, with a max ND64 (6EV) strength, and start shooting. The ease with which you can get creative is what really makes the OM-3 such an addictive camera.

• Design score: 4.5/5

OM System OM-3: features and performance

• Stacked sensor delivers up to 50fps with continuous AF
• Very impressive 590-shot battery life
• Superb image stabilization performance
• Some computational modes take time to process

I have no complaints regarding the OM-3's features and performance – it's a surprisingly powerful little camera.

I have to start with its impressive stacked sensor, which delivers incredible speed; there are few cameras that can better its 50fps burst shooting with continuous autofocus, sustained for sequences of around 5-6 seconds before the camera starts to down.

I was able to squeeze slightly longer sequences out of the OM1-II, but the OM3's performance is more than enough considering the kinds of everyday photography people will likely use it for.

The OM-3's sensor is also stabilized – and OM System cameras, including predecessors bearing the Olympus name, offer exceptional image stabilization performance. With a steady hand you can shoot sharp images with shutter speeds that are several seconds long, depending on the lens you're using, and for video it's entirely possible to shoot smooth-looking clips when on the move.

The stacked 20MP Micro Four Thirds sensor is seriously fast (Image credit: Tim Coleman)

It's the impressive stabilization that makes the computational photography modes particularly accessible. For example, employing the Live ND Shooting mode with up to 6EV ND filter effect for long-exposure effects wouldn't be the same if you had to mount the camera to a tripod. But here we are, able to achieve the effect handheld – see my street and ocean shots in the gallery below.

The same can be said for the High Res Shot mode, which increases resolution to 50MP (with a tripod mount option further increasing detail to 80MP). We also get the latest graduated ND filter effect to reduce the difference in brightness between land and sky by up to 3EV, plus HDR modes.

Some of these modes go some way to nullifying the perceived shortcomings of the OM-3's 20MP Micro Four Thirds sensor and its lesser dynamic range, while other modes are simply downright fun.

Then there's the autofocus performance. In some regards it's exceptional – for example when detecting certain subjects such as birds – and there are sophisticated options for people, such as eye priority that can be further narrowed down to left or right eye priority.

However, there are other scenarios where I found the OM-3's autofocus less reliable than rival cameras, such as in dim, low-contrast light. Overall though, autofocus performance is very good.

I must also commend the OM-3's battery life. A decent-sized unit is squeezed into the camera and this delivers a 590-shot capacity, which for a camera this size is pretty impressive.

The OM-3 squeezes in an impressively large battery with decent 590-shot capacity. (Image credit: Tim Coleman)

• Features and performance score: 5/5

OM System OM-3: image and video quality

• Same image quality as the flagship OM-1 II
• 20MP stills, with a 80MP high-res shot mode
• 4K video up to 60fps, and no rolling shutter

Compared to the sensors in full-frame and APS-C cameras from the likes of Sony, Canon, Nikon and Fujifilm, the OM-3's Micro Four Thirds sensor is smaller, and comes with certain downsides in terms of image quality.

At 20MP, the OM-3 has less resolution than similarly priced rivals, a narrower dynamic range, and relatively modest low-light performance. However, I'm still very happy with the photos and videos that I've been able to capture, and for many scenarios the OM3's image stabilization and computational modes can turn the tables to deliver superb end results.

Not all of the computational modes can be relied upon for every scenario, however. For instance, focus stacking, which is used to increase depth of field and is especially useful for macro photography, exhibits a subtle but spottable ghosting effect in bright subjects, which I particularly noticed in a close-up image of a backlit mushroom.

Creative color Image 1 of 10

One of the many Art Filter effects (Image credit: Tim Coleman)Image 2 of 10

One of the many Art Filter effects (Image credit: Tim Coleman)Image 3 of 10

One of the many Art Filter effects (Image credit: Tim Coleman)Image 4 of 10

One of the many Art Filter effects (Image credit: Tim Coleman)Image 5 of 10

One of the many Art Filter effects (Image credit: Tim Coleman)Image 6 of 10

Here is one of the new creative color looks, with no customization (Image credit: Tim Coleman)Image 7 of 10

Here is one of the new creative color looks, with no customization (Image credit: Tim Coleman)Image 8 of 10

Here is one of the new creative color looks, with no customization (Image credit: Tim Coleman)Image 9 of 10

Here is one of the new creative color looks, with no customization (Image credit: Tim Coleman)Image 10 of 10

One of the monochrome looks - the one with harshest contrast. (Image credit: Tim Coleman)

The new color mode dial is worth highlighting too. This offers four options, including monochrome settings, new creative looks with four customizable settings, the long-present Art Filters, plus a Picture mode for a purely customized color profile.

Many of the Art Filters feel a bit dated now, but I still like some of the effects. I think most people will find that one of the new creative looks suits their style, especially given that you can manually tweak the look of each one, with control over curves, shading, sharpness, contrast, and color temperature.

OM System OM-3 sample video

There's also OM System's Log color profile for video, HLG, plus a couple of Cinelike color profiles for pleasing straight-out-of-the-camera grades.

Video resolution tops out at 4K with frame rates up to 60fps. If you're happy to drop to Full HD, then slow-motion 240fps is possible, while a Slow & Quick mode can be utilized for timelapse effects in addition to slow motion.

The OM-3 is a photography-first camera, but it's entirely possible to get gorgeous-looking and smooth video clips if you know what you're doing.

Computational photography sample images Image 1 of 5

I employed the Live ND Shooting mode and a 4 second exposure time to get this blurred water effect (Image credit: Tim Coleman)Image 2 of 5

I employed the Live ND Shooting mode and a 4 second exposure time to get this blurred water effect (Image credit: Tim Coleman)Image 3 of 5

A 1 second exposure time and Live ND Shooting mode was just right to blur the movement of passers-by. (Image credit: Tim Coleman)Image 4 of 5

The Live Graduated ND filter effect, maximum 3EV strength (Image credit: Tim Coleman)Image 5 of 5

The same photo without the graduated filter effect (Image credit: Tim Coleman)

For the above long-exposure-effect photos, I set the OM-3 to the Live ND Shooting ND64 setting, which reduces the amount of light the camera takes in by 6EV. This is the maximum strength available, and is sufficient to slow the shutter speed down to seconds long on a gray day, as in the London street and UK coastal images above.

All the above images were captured handheld, and detail in still subjects such as the rock and the ground is perfectly sharp. As such, I've felt confident enough to leave my tripod at home for most of this review. Not needing a tripod or ND filters makes creating long-exposure effects a breeze, and I sometimes found myself getting carried away creating such images, much to the annoyance of the people with me at the time!

OM System OM-3 further sample images Image 1 of 14

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Being able to shoot this static scene handheld with a 1-second shutter speed and still get a sharp image meant I could select a lower ISO and enjoy a cleaner end image, virtually free from noise. (Image credit: Tim Coleman)Image 4 of 14

Taken with the 90mm F3.5 macro lens (Image credit: Tim Coleman)Image 5 of 14

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2 seconds shutter speed, handheld, and detail is sharp (Image credit: Tim Coleman)Image 9 of 14

Image quality is ok here, but the low light and ISO 6400 setting needed mean that detail isn't quite so crisp (Image credit: Tim Coleman)Image 10 of 14

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Lovely natural colors (Image credit: Tim Coleman)Image 12 of 14

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(Image credit: Tim Coleman)

• Image and video quality score: 4/5

OM System OM-3: testing scorecard Should I buy the OM System OM-3? Buy it if...

You'd like to get obessively creative
OM System leads the way for smartphone-like computational modes, with plenty of creative effects to enjoy.

You love the old-school looks
It's not radically different from previous OM System offerings, and Fujifilm and Nikon are competitive in this space, but the OM-3 is the best-looking retro camera of the year so far.

You want a small camera and lens system for everyday photography
Micro Four Thirds beats larger sensor formats if you prefer small and lightweight gear, plus the OM-3 is a lovely choice for everyday photos.

Don't buy it if...

You're a wildlife and sports photographer
While it offers super-fast burst shooting and autofocus speeds, the grip-less body of the OM-3 is uncomfortable to hold when paired with large telephoto lenses.

You're on a budget
The OM-3's list price could prove to be a sticking point for many – it's a lot to pay for a casual everyday camera.

You're a regular night photographer
Versus larger-sensor rivals, the low-light image quality and autofocus performance of the OM-3 doesn't stack up.

OM System OM-3: also consider Fujifilm X-T5

For around $100 / £100 less than the OM-3 less you can pick up the Fujifilm X-T5, which is a highly capable mirrorless camera in a similar mold, sporting a retro body and offering powerful performance. You get a larger APS-C sensor with impressive 40MP resolution and 6K video skills, plus a solid build quality and handling, with neat exposure dials and decent in-body image stabilization.

Read our in-depth Fujifilm X-T5 review

Nikon Zf

For a bigger outlay, the Nikon Zf is our favorite retro mirrorless camera overall. Like the OM-3 it's inspired by an analog SLR – in this case the Nikon FM2 – and it's a compelling Fujifilm rival for retro fans. The full-frame 24MP sensor, superb manual focus-assist tools, easy access to black and white photography, plus Nikon's best-ever image stabilization, combine to great effect.

Read our in-depth Nikon Zf

OM System OM-1 II

If you love the modern tech of the OM-3, including its stacked sensor, computational photography smarts, and superb tracking autofocus, you'll get all of that with the costlier OM-1 II, which is better suited to wildlife and action photography thanks to its pronounced grip and comfortable handling with large lenses. It offers the same image quality and performance as the OM-3, plus it costs more, but you get a better design for demanding pursuits.

Read our in-depth OM System OM-1 II review

How I tested the OM System OM-1 II

(Image credit: Tim Coleman)

• OM System loaned me the OM-3 with the 12-45mm F4 Pro lens for several weeks
• I also used some of my own OM System gear with the camera – the 90mm F3.5 Macro lens and tiny 45mm F1.8 portrait lens
• I put the OM-3 through its paces in many and varied photo and video scenarios, and tried out the computational photography modes

I shot with the OM-3 for several weeks, together with the 12-45mm F4 Pro, 90mm F3.5 Macro, and 45mm F1.8 lenses. I was also using the OM-1 at the same time, which has enabled me to make comparisons between the handling of the two types of OM System designs.

The camera and lenses were with me come rain or shine, both day and night, during which time I tested the gear regularly, including the OM-3's photography modes, color profiles, and computational photography smarts.

I tested the High Res Shot and Long Exposure modes, both handheld and with the camera mounted to a tripod. I've also tested burst shooting performance, with standard cameras settings that we use for all of TechRadar's camera tests.

First reviewed February 2025

Dezctop Bifrost Elite 160: one-minute review

The Dezctop Bifrost Elite 160 is a gaming desk with a lot of optional extras, but not much in the way of integrated bells and whistles. It's a terrific option for anyone who primarily works from home and wants to jump into the world of standing desks, but not the cheapest model out there.

The build quality is absolutely top-notch, with a thick, polished wooden tabletop that’s impressively resistant to scuffs and stains. It has two chunky mechanized legs, a backboard with plenty of slots for shelves, monitor mounts, and other accessories, and some neat cable pockets to help with tidiness. It also rises to an impressive 51.2 in / 1.3m, and goes as low as 25.6 in / 65cm, which may seem excessive but it makes it appropriate for folks of any height.

Some competitors have additional features and can be picked up for a little cheaper, but it's by no means the most expensive standing desk on the block. So while adding in extra accessories ramps up the price, it's still one of the best standing desks and best gaming desks today.

(Image credit: Future) Dezctop Bifrost Elite 160: Price and availability

• List price: $900 / £999.90 / Around AU$1,100
• This is the price of the desk without any additional accessories…
• If you want the whole hog, you're looking at another few hundred

Let's get the elephant in the room out of the way: this is a premium product and its price tag reflects that.

Coming in at $900 without any of the additional bells and whistles, or approximately $1,270 with everything featured in my review, this isn't the desk to go for if you're on a budget. If you want to take your working space to the next level however, and you need a premium desk to last for years to come, the Dezctop Bifrost Elite 160 may be the answer.

The Flexispot E7, which we consider to be the best standing desk overall, will set you back around £280 ($340). And even at that price, the E7 has some features that the Bifrost Elite 160 lacks, despite being around triple the cost. This is also more expensive than the premium Secretlab Magnus Pro, which is more geared towards gamers and comes in cheaper at $799 / £770.

Paired with one of the best gaming chairs, the overall price of your setup will be very high. So while I can't recommend Dezctop's offering enough, it's not the best choice for those keeping a close eye on their budget right now.

(Image credit: Future) Dezctop Bifrost Elite 160: Specs Dezctop Bifrost Elite 160: Design and features

• Solo assembly
• Premium feel
• A range of heights

Everything about this desk oozes quality, with the walnut tabletop being the prime example. It's thick and polished, giving off a premium feel you don't find in cheaper desks.

I've upgraded from a cheaper gaming desk to the Bifrost Elite 160, and while my former fixture was big and capable of holding both of my monitors with room to spare, the low-quality wood used was scuffed over years of use and had started to warp. It was also nowhere near as nice to the touch, with sharp corners and edges, as opposed to the smooth, rounded sides of the Bifrost Elite 160.

It is also very sturdy, with two chunky mechanized legs that you definitely don't want to drop on a toe when putting it all together. That process was daunting at first because there are a lot of boxes, especially with all the extras thrown in, but once you unpack it all and get rid of the packaging, it becomes much more manageable.

It lacks a physical manual - you instead must scan a QR code and then find the correct instructions from a list on your device - but if you can look past that, it's a fairly straightforward job. Building it solo, provided you make no mistakes along the way, can be done in an afternoon.

The control box can be affixed to either the left or right-hand side of where you stand (or sit, when your legs are tired), and it's very simple to use.

The buttons themselves are responsive, with just a split-second delay between holding down the arrows and the desk moving, and it has four memory slots for your preferred heights. At 5ft 8in / 176.8cm tall, my ideal settings are 3ft 7in / 115cm when standing and 2ft 7 in / 82cm when sitting, both of which are assigned to the first and second presets.

(Image credit: Future) Dezctop Bifrost Elite 160: Performance

• Features effective cable tidies
• Plus good back board and monitor mounts
• RGB lighting kit is poor

The biggest challenge this desk has - which is saying something, because it's hardly a problem at all when you've finished building it - is how weak the cable tidies are.

The underframe has slots for these plastic, 3D-printed clasps to slot into, but these pop out at even the slightest tug. When the desk is assembled, this isn't a problem - I haven't had them come out once - but during the building process, you'll be rueing them as you put them back in for the umpteenth time.

At the rear of the desk, you'll find three huge cable pockets. I'm notoriously bad with cable management but these are a godsend. With magnetic covers, they are big enough to hold all the cables you could possibly have. Mine has an entire extension lead in the middle with each socket in use and plenty of room to spare on both the left and the right. The cables themselves are still visible behind the desk, but it's far neater than I'd manage with any standard desk.

One of the biggest selling points of the Bifrost Elite 160 is the D-board, and while you can buy the desk without this, why would you? This backboard comes in four separate pieces that slot together effortlessly, and once affixed, are completely stable. Each one has a myriad of diamond-shaped holes for your various extras.

I have two monitor mounts - one large, one medium - taking up most of the space, alongside two shelves, a small bucket-shaped container for any loose bits you need at arm's reach, and a couple of extra hooks attached if I decide to store anything else. On the underside of the tabletop itself, I also have a cup holder, headset holder, and USB 3.1 hub that connects to my desktop below. All of these accessories are welcome additions and help keep my desktop free of the clutter I used to be so prone to accumulating.

There's only one accessory I can't recommend picking up, especially for the $70 / £85 price, and that's the RGB Lighting Kit. You can make your own version for far cheaper with some off-brand RGB lighting strips, and the lights themselves aren't particularly bright.

Not to mention the accompanying remote feels cheap and tacky (mine has actually stopped working after only a week, so I can no longer change the colors of the lights), and while there is a switch you can stick on the underside of your desk for those moments you want to pretend to release the hounds, Mr. Burns style, the velcro fasteners aren't strong enough to keep it in place. Now I've used a command strip, it's holding strong, but it's an expensive accessory that should be better.

(Image credit: Future) Should I buy the Dezctop Bifrost Elite 160? Buy it if...

You want a quality standing desk that should last for years
Even after only a month of testing the Bifrost Elite 160 for this review, the build quality is so high that it's hard to imagine this not lasting for years to come.

You want more desk space
The available desktop space is impressive here, and when you include the D-board and mount your monitors, you have such a big workspace available.

You have the cash to invest in something premium
This isn't the most expensive standing desk available, but it is by no means cheap. If you can afford the outlay though, you won't regret picking this up.

Don't buy it if...

You're unsure if a standing desk is for you
This is a fantastic standing gaming desk, but it's a big investment if you want to test the waters first.

You're limited on space
This is a big ol' desk, so if you typically work from a laptop or don't have a dedicated working area, this is probably going to be overkill.

Also consider...

If you're still not sold on the Dezctop Bifrost Elite 160, here are two alternative standing desks to consider, both of which are a little cheaper.

The Bifrost Elite 160 may have the most premium feel of the options available, but that doesn't mean the others don't excel in other areas.

Flexispot E7
The Flexispot E7 is probably the most feature-complete standing desk you can pick up for a budget price, coming in at less than half the price of the Bifrost Elite 160. It also has a few more features, including an integrated Qi wireless charging port on the tabletop. If you're unsure about whether a standing desk is for you, this may be a safer investment.

For more information, check out our full Flexispot E7 review.

Secretlab Magnus Pro
Alternatively, if you're an avid gamer and need somewhere to work from, consider the Secretlab Magnus Pro. This is sleek and professional, with Secretlab known for its gaming peripherals, making this aesthetically more pleasing for that lifestyle. It also has plenty of optional extras, many of which are geared towards gamers.

For more information, check out our full Secretlab Magnus Pro review.

How I tested the Dezctop Bifrost Elite 160

• Used for a month on a daily basis
• Primarily during working hours in both standing and sitting positions
• Also during some long gaming sessions with both mouse + keyboard, and controller

The Dezctop Bifrost Elite 160 has become my sole workstation and since I work from home, this means I'm using the desk for at least eight hours every single day, often more if I work into the evening or play any PC games.

I'll usually start my day standing for the first few hours, and since I always listen to music when I work, I'm often moving around to keep the energy up in lieu of having a walking pad to get my steps in. Claiming it's dancing might be a step too far…

I'll usually go to the sitting height for the afternoon, reverting to standing for any meetings, and the ability to switch between the memorized heights with just a press of a button is a godsend.

The polished wooden tabletop is smooth too, so when you're resting your arms against it typing for long periods, there's no abrasion like you might find with a cheaper desk. This extends into the evening when I'm gaming, and while playing games can be done standing, I prefer that aspect sitting down.

Read more about how we test

First reviewed February 2025.

Lemokey L5 HE 8K: Two-minute review

The Lemokey L5 HE 8K is a gaming keyboard with Hall effect analog switches and an 8K polling rate – two factors designed to whet the appetites of serious players. The austere design isn’t complimented well by the dated design of the translucent outer keys, coming across a tad desperate in its attempt to appeal to games.

With that monolithic appearance comes a seriously heavy chassis, thanks to the aluminum construction. Some may prefer the extra stability this heft provides, but it’s certainly not as easy to move around as some of its rivals.

Perhaps because of this weight, the L5 HE 8K has no fold-out feet. I thought this would cause ergonomic issues, but thankfully the body isn’t too thick, and the keys are slightly tilted forward too, which makes typing and WASD positions more comfortable, even without a wrist rest – which is just as well, since it doesn’t come with one.

Rather than the standalone software that many of the best gaming keyboards come with, Lemokey has a web app for customizing the L5 HE 8K. This runs well for the most part, although I did experience a few UI issues, some of which required a refresh. Some might not like the idea of having to run a peripheral tool in a browser, either.

Once it’s working, though, it provides plenty of tweaking options, especially for the analog functionality, allowing you to make full use of those Hall effect switches. In addition to Rapid Trigger, single-key multi-input and snap action features, there’s also controller emulation, allowing you to replicate the analog behavior of triggers and joysticks.

In practice, this works well – to an extent: the precision offered by the analog keys is no match for that of an actual controller. The movements aren’t smooth enough, and I found that presses didn’t offer enough resistance to provide adequate control. This is true of analog performance more generally, as the Hall effect switches in the L5 HE 8K just aren’t as smooth or as precise as some of the best analog keyboards out there.

In other performance-related areas, though, the L5 HE 8K does better. The keys rebound quickly, allowing for rapid movements, and I found the concave nature of the key layout comfortable – two aspects that help with both gaming and typing. I wasn’t fond of the back-tilt of the space bar, though, as it resulted in hits on its edge rather than its top.

The L5 HE 8K is undeniably expensive, eclipsing many of its rivals. The SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL Gen 3, for instance, is slightly cheaper, and while it lacks quite the same number of analog adjustments, it makes up for it with its superlative performance and build quality.

(Image credit: Future) Lemokey L5 HE 8K review: price and availability

• $220 (about £175 / AU$346)
• Available now for backers
• Same price as the best analog keyboards

The L5 HE 8K will cost $220 (about £175 / AU$346) and is set for general release some time between April and May this year. However, it's available now for Kickstarter backers at the discounted price of $199. It comes with a braided USB-C-to-C cable (with a USB-A adapter included), a keycap puller, spare screws and rubber fixings, and screwdrivers.

This makes it about the same price as the SteelSeries Apex Pro Gen 3, already a pricey keyboard. However, it’s about the best analog keyboard I’ve experienced when it comes to performance. There’s also a wireless variant which is naturally more expensive, but the difference isn’t huge. It does miss out on a few analog tweaks that the Apex Pro Gen 3 has, though, such as controller emulation, and lacks the same 8K polling rate.

If you want a more budget-friendly alternative in the analog sector, the Turtle Beach Vulcan 2 TKL Pro isn’t a tempting proposition. Like the L5 HE 8K, it too offers gamepad emulation, although this isn’t as refined as I would’ve liked; Lemokey’s implementation is slightly better.

Value: 2.5 / 5

Lemokey L5 HE 8K review: specs

(Image credit: Future) Lemokey L5 HE 8K review: design and features

• Dated looks
• Very heavy
• Web app for customization

The L5 HE 8K is reasonably understated, although some of the outer keys adopt a translucent design with some kind of tech-based sigil, which looks outdated and gives the sense that Lemokey is pandering to a gamer stereotype. Thankfully, this look is kept to a minimum.

The sharp angles of the body add to its industrial aesthetic too. It’s also very heavy, thanks to the aluminium body, which at least makes it durable and very sturdy, although some will find this level of heft unnecessary.

It’s also reasonably thick, but not as substantial as some other gaming keyboards. It lacks feet and wrist support, but thanks to the slight forward tilt of the keys, I could still get a comfortable hand position.

The included cable is braided, but doesn’t feel particularly premium, and it’s not as long as some others, which may be a problem for desktop users depending on their setup. At least the USB-C port is angled upwards, which is a small but convenient design feature, as it makes it easy to locate and use.

The L5 HE 8K can be customized using Lemokey’s web app, which opens in a browser. As you would expect for a keyboard with Hall effect switches, there are various adjustments for the analog functionality. You can set the actuation distance between 0.10mm and 3.35mm, selectable via a slider offering increments of one hundredth of a millimeter.

You can also toggle Rapid Trigger mode, again via a slider offering the same increments, although the range dynamically changes depending on your actuation distance settings. What’s more, you can also split the trigger and reset distances, allowing you to adjust their sensitivity independently, which not every analog rival to the L5 HE 8K offers.

(Image credit: Future)

One of the best aspects of these adjustments – and one few analog keyboard software offer – is the visual indicator, which lets you see exactly where in the switch the actuation point you set is. It also shows the distance of your presses in real time, again to one hundredth of a millimeter, which is very useful for dialling in your preferred settings.

There’s also a bar that moves in tandem with your presses, and changes color to indicate when the key reaches the actuation point. This also allows you to see how your Rapid Trigger settings play out too, although unfortunately there’s no real-time millimeter readout for this.

Other analog adjustments include configuring up to four inputs for a single key, triggered depending on how far you press, and setting the Snap Action, with two options to choose from: Snap Click and Last Key Priority. These, along with controller emulation, amount to a large number of tweaks – more than many other analog keyboards offer.

The web app also offers common customization options too, such as key remapping (with plenty of system shortcuts available), macro creation, three profile slots and RGB lighting tweaks.

The web app isn’t without its issues, though. No doubt there’ll be some gamers who’d prefer a standalone app rather than having to open a browser tab. Also, there were occasions where certain settings failed to work as intended, with minor freezes and lock-ups, and certain text and UI elements failed to render properly. Thankfully, many of these were easy to remedy, and for the most part the web app runs well enough without causing too much frustration or major issues.

Design & features: 3 / 5

Lemokey L5 HE 8K review: performance

• Clicky and responsive switches
• So many analog adjustments
• Not the smoothest action

When gaming, the L5 HE 8K performs reasonably well. The 8K polling rate is sure to peak serious gamers’ interests, as it claims to provide next to no latency, and is a common spec found on the best gaming mouse contenders.

However, I struggled to notice much of an improvement over other gaming keyboards with lower polling rates, but hardcore gamers may well do. But unless you’re on the esport circuit, you’ll likely not require this polling rate boost in a keyboard.

The Hall effect switches are clicky with minimal dampening, which may deter certain gamers and please others. While I generally prefer a more cushioned press, I found them satisfying to use for the most part, if not as smooth as other magnetic switches I’ve experienced. There’s a small amount of resistance to presses – just enough to make hitting predefined actuation points relatively easy – but they rebound very quickly, which was something I liked as it allowed for faster taps.

The gamepad emulation works reasonably well, although the analog gradation isn’t as precise as the best PC controllers; it can be a little jerky at times, no matter how you alter the curve profile. Also, the switches could do with more resistance to provide better feedback and in turn make it easier to control in-game movements, especially those of vehicles.

Typing with the L5 HE 8K is pleasant enough, and it performs better on this front than some other gaming keyboards I’ve used. The concave nature of the key layout is more amenable to typing than I expected, even without wrist support, and that springy rebound helps with speed. It isn’t the quietest around, though, with the space bar being especially noisy.

Speaking of the space bar, its elevated seating and backwards tilt (along with all bottom row keys) meant I regularly hit its edge with my thumb rather than the top, which is less satisfying and more awkward. Some may prefer this positioning, but others will fall into the same camp as me.

Performance: 3.5 / 5

(Image credit: Future) Should I buy the Lemokey L5 HE 8K? Buy it if…

You want plenty of analog adjustments
With precise actuation point adjustments and modes such as Rapid Trigger, Snap Action, multi-input and gamepad emulation, there’s little it can’t do with its analog functionality.

You want good ergonomics
The sheer weight of the L5 HE 8K means it’ll stay in place, and the concave key layout is actually quite comfortable for the most part.

Don’t buy it if…

You want plenty of dampening
The clicky and somewhat loud key presses might irk some gamers, although as someone who usually prefers more dampening, I actually didn’t mind the feel of them.

You want the best software
Despite the level of customization the web app offers, I did experience some issues, and there’s no standalone variant.

Lemokey L5 HE 8K: Also consider

SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL Wireless Gen 3
The analog action of the Apex Pro is simply divine, but it does lack a few advanced analog adjustments, such as gamepad emulation. It’s also mighty expensive, just like the L5 HE 8K, but if only the best analog performance will do, you’ll be hard pressed to find a better alternative. A wired variant is available for slightly less. Read our SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL Wireless Gen 3 review.

Turtle Beach Vulcan 2 TKL Pro
The Vulcan 2 TKL Pro is another analog keyboard, but it’s much cheaper than the aforementioned Apex Pro. What’s more, it offers controller emulation, which the Apex Pro doesn’t. However, the implementation isn’t the best, and Lemokey’s is slightly better. That aside, though, the Vulcan 2 TKL Pro is still a solid performer. Read our Turtle Beach Vulcan 2 TKL Pro review.

How I tested the Lemokey L5 HE 8K

• Tested for several days
• Used for gaming and productivity
• Plentiful keyboard reviewing experience

I tested the Lemokey L5 HE 8K for several days, during which time I used it for gaming, working, and general browsing.

I used it to play Counter-Strike 2, a great test for peripherals as it demands quick and precise movements, and helps to expose any issues with lag that they may suffer from.

I have reviewed many keyboards before, and have been PC gaming for over a decade. I have owned and used a great deal of keyboards in that time, spanning various brands, switch types, and price points.

• First reviewed January 2025
• Read more about how we test

This review first appeared in issue 355 of PC Pro.

Unlike the other Copilot Pro tools, Copilot for Excel is labelled prominently as “beta”. But even in this qualified state, it has the promise of being a game-changer for anyone who needs to work with data but doesn’t want to become an expert in writing formulas, working out the best way to pivot data or spotting trends in large data sets.

Copilot for Excel exists in the toolbar, but sometimes it’s greyed out. That’s because it only works on . xlsx or .xlsm files saved in OneDrive or SharePoint. When the button is green, hitting it allows you to write natural language instructions to create formulas, analyze data or highlight cells according to whatever criteria you want. If you’ve ever struggled with creating a complex formula (or even a simple one), you’re going to love it.

The first thing to note is that Copilot only works within tables; if your data is unstructured, it won’t let you do anything with it. This probably isn’t a big deal for most people (every serious Excel user I have known has lived or died by tables), but it’s a limitation that may affect some users of large and disparate data sets.

If your data is in a table, though, Copilot is miraculous. You can ask simple queries, such as how much you spent between two dates, or what categories you spend the most on. It’s also great at creating graphs: just type, “make a pie chart showing expenditure based on month”. And you can manipulate existing data, say by asking it to use conditional formatting to highlight specific ranges of numbers, something that’s easy to get wrong for people who aren’t Excel experts.

(Image credit: Future)

You can also use Copilot to look for outliers in the data and highlight them, which helps if you’re trying to clean up a dataset or are finding results just aren’t what you think they should be. If you’re using a big dataset, that’s a wonderful time saver. It’s nothing that you can’t do with Excel’s existing tools – but for users who don’t live in Excel, it would involve quite a bit of searching online to know where to start.

Where the real power kicks in is when you ask it to make formulas for you. I created a simple table of expenditure for a small business, tracking spending across a range of categories. But I also wanted to have a column indicating the running total of my expenditure. This isn’t an easy formula to make if you don’t know much about Excel because it involves a SUMIF function that’s based on the row’s date, comparing it to others in the table.

I asked Copilot to “add formula columns to summarize total expenditure so far in this date sequence”, and within seconds it had created a formula and added it to the end of the table.

This kind of formula creation is going to save users of Excel hours, and if you regularly work with data but wouldn’t call yourself an expert, it’s probably worth the money on its own. Even on occasions where I wanted to do something that I knew how to do, I found myself using Copilot instead because it created better results than the various hacks, shortcuts and cheats that I have learned over the years.

We also ranked the best customer relationship management software for small businesses.

This review first appeared in issue 355 of PC Pro.

Long before the arrival of Copilot, Microsoft Teams became my go-to app that was always active on my desktop. It’s the central tool I use to stay updated about my organization’s activities and it’s where I plan my daily tasks, share content, have meetings and plan long-term goals. Now Microsoft has added Copilot, it has become even more indispensable.

This is most obvious in meetings. The responsibility of capturing important meeting details typically rests on a single person, a task that’s rarely enviable and often challenging. Even with transcription features enabled in Teams, sifting through conversations to find pertinent information was daunting. This is an area where Copilot excels, making it easy to summarize the discussion and draw up action points.

I also find it useful with conferencing, especially long meetings that drag on, when your attention can wander. If I briefly zone out, or I need to head off for any reason, Copilot can offer summaries at any juncture. If you arrive late, or simply don’t get to the meeting at all, being able to ask Copilot for a summary of the meeting with the key action points and follow-up tasks is a huge boon. As is its ability to revisit discussions and extract insights.

This isn’t just theory. Over the past six months I’ve asked Copilot to pinpoint staff disagreements, outline specific risks discussed, verify project timelines and summarize crucial decisions with pros and cons. Using Copilot for these kinds of enquiries saves time by reducing the need to consult busy colleagues, delivering on two fundamental promises of AI: it streamlines communication and enhances my efficiency.

Copilot packs in several other useful features, too. Managers may love (a little too much, perhaps) its ability to analyze participation in meetings by generating metrics showing the percentage of words spoken by each colleague, shedding light on both the most and least active participants. And one standout feature in Teams Premium, not available in the standard version, is the intelligent meeting recap. It parallels Copilot’s meeting notes and holds the information for 30 days. The “follow meeting” function in Teams Premium allows users to capture meetings, pose questions to Copilot post-event, and even analyze the sentiment, although this yields mixed results and is a little creepy.

Copilot in Teams can also save you time. It adeptly transforms meeting notes into Office 365 documents and drafts emails from discussions. And it uses Microsoft Graph to efficiently link and track communications across documents, meetings and chats on specific subjects. This is great if your memory isn’t too good, so this is my favorite feature. As Microsoft states, however, “Copilot is an assistant, not a replacement for human oversight”. It’s crucial that you review Copilot’s output, particularly when it pertains to significant decisions, to ensure accuracy and relevance. So while Copilot boosts efficiency, there is a risk that users may become too dependent on the tool, which could lead to a decline in critical thinking and problem-solving abilities.

Finally, in organizations where cybersecurity is paramount, outputs generated by Copilot don’t automatically carry over the security classifications of the original files. This poses a significant risk when dealing with sensitive information. Consequently, it becomes the responsibility of the employee to meticulously review the AI-generated content to confirm that the data is correctly classified and evaluated for potential risks.

To misquote a certain masked superhero, with great AI power comes great responsibility to check its results.

We've listed the best Microsoft Teams alternatives.

FiiO JM21: One-minute review

If we’ve all come to rely on FiiO for anything, it’s for specification and performance that’s out of proportion with the amount of money it’s asking for a given device. The latest product to demonstrate this happy knack in action is the FiiO JM21 digital audio player.

It’s compact, it’s more than adequately built and finished, it’s specified like a much more expensive device, and it’s simple to set up and use. Battery life is well above average for a product of this type, in much the same way that the price is well below. You can spend getting on for twice as much money on a Sony equivalent and it won’t buy you anything more where the quality of construction or the standard of specification is concerned.

So, does it sit among the best MP3 players on the market? It's an unequivocal yes from us.

FiiO JM21 review: Price and release date

(Image credit: Future / Simon Lucas)

• Released January 2025
• Priced at $199 / £179 / AU$369 (approx.)

The FiiO JM21 digital audio player was announced at CES 2025 and launched towards the end of January 2025. In the United Kingdom it currently sells for around £179, while in the United States it goes for $199. Customers in Australia are likely to have to part with AU$369 or thereabouts.

FiiO JM21 review: Features

(Image credit: Future / Simon Lucas)

• 2 x Cirrus Logic CS43198 DACs
• Balanced and unbalanced headphone sockets
• Bluetooth 5.0 with SBC, AAC, aptX HD, LDAC and LHDC codec support

You have to hand it to FiiO – it may have set out to produce the most affordable digital audio player it could realistically manage, but that doesn’t mean it’s felt the need to scrimp on the features.

Which means the FiiO JM21 is ready for any eventuality. It’s fitted with twin Cirrus Logic CS43198 DAC chipsets for compatibility with resolutions up to 32bit/384kHz and DSD256, and these are paired with high-performance op-amps in a fully balanced layout. Its main control, DAC and headphone amp sections are shielded and isolated in their own zones in an effort to reduce signal interference and cross-talk.

Wired outputs consist of 3.5mm and balanced 4.4mm headphone sockets – the 3.5mm socket is a hybrid number that can be used as an SPDIF output for use with an external DAC. The USB-C slot that sits between them can be used for data transfer as well as battery-charging and the 2400mAh battery is good for more than 12 hours of playback between charges. That's as long as you’re using the unbalanced output and not going to town with volume levels, of course.

The JM21 has three ‘gain’ settings, each with a different volume curve. This is especially useful if you intend to use the FiiO as a source hard-wired to an amplifier or a powered speaker – set the output to ‘LO’ and no harm will come to your equipment – and it also means the JM21 should have no problem driving even quite demanding headphones. And if you connect the FiiO to a laptop (for instance) via its USB-C socket, it can function as a USB DAC and enhance your listening pleasure more than somewhat. Used this way, it’s able to deal with 32bit/768kHz and DSD512.

Where wireless connectivity is concerned, the JM21 is both a Bluetooth transmitter and receiver. When it’s sending to headphones, wireless speakers or what-have-you, its Bluetooth 5.0 is compatible with SBC, AAC, aptX HD, LDAC and LHDC codecs. Use it as a receiver and it can deal with SBC, AAC and LDAC. Dual-band Wi-Fi is on board, of course, and the JM21 is DLNA compatible and supports Apple AirPlay, too.

There’s plenty more, from the custom crystal oscillators (with ceramic gold-plated bases) that are screened at the femtosecond level to ensure consistent, stable output to the proprietary ‘digital audio purification’ system that separates the main processing module to the co-processing equivalent. But by now I think the broad point is made: the compact form-factor and relatively low price of the JM21 is not reflected in its specification.

Features score: 5 / 5

FiiO JM21 review: Sound quality

(Image credit: Future / Simon Lucas)

• Open, detailed and composed presentation
• Good tonal balance and a fair amount of dynamism, too
• Not absolutely comfortable at highest volumes

Everything is relative, of course, and everything needs to be put into context, but when you keep the price of the FiiO JM21 uppermost in your mind, it’s hard to find meaningful fault. That doesn’t mean I’m not going to give it a good go, you understand, but between you and me I’m struggling…

No matter if you listen wirelessly via the aptX codec to something like the Bowers & Wilkins Pi6 true wireless in-ears or the Dali IO-8 using aptX HD, using a pair of Sennheiser IE900 connected to the player’s 4.4mm balanced output, or make the FiiO part of a full-size system by connecting it to a Naim Uniti Star using the unbalanced 3.5mm output, it’s a composed, lively and admirably detailed listen. No matter if you listen to a DSD256 file of Mike Oldfield’s Tubular Bells, a 24/96kHz FLAC of When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? by Billie Eilish or a 16bit/44.1kHz file of De La Soul’s 3 Feet High and Rising, the JM21 doesn’t put a foot wrong. It’s a remarkable little device.

It balances the frequency range really nicely – from the deep and textured low frequencies to the politely shining top end and all points in between, there’s an evenness of emphasis and a lack of choppiness that speaks of a properly sorted player. It hits hard at the bottom end, but with no lack of control: its straight-edged attack means rhythmic expression is confident and convincing. There’s bite and drive at the top end, but it’s composed and never even hints at becoming hard or edgy. And in between, the mid-range is open and revealing, so a vocalist is allowed complete expression of the character and motivations.

(Image credit: Future / Simon Lucas)

The tonal balance is equally well-judged. It’s on the cool side of neutral, but not by very much and not to the detriment of the music it’s playing. Meanwhile, the attention to detail the JM21 demonstrates is really admirable – even those transient details in a recording that are gone almost as soon as they arrive are picked up on and put into appropriate context.

The fact that the FiiO establishes a quite large and easily understood soundstage doesn’t do any harm, either. Even a borderline-chaotic stage like that which Mike Oldfield creates is opened up by the JM21, and the amount of properly defined space it can put between each element of a recording is quite something. There’s plenty of space on the ‘left/right’ axis and even a stab at creating a proper sensation of ‘front/back’, too. Dynamic headroom is considerable, so when a recording indulges in big shifts in intensity or volume, the player has no difficulty in keeping up and making them absolutely apparent.

In fact, as far as I can tell the only way to make the FiiO JM21 sound anything other than entirely comfortable and confident is to wind the volume up towards ‘ill-advised’ levels. When it’s playing at its upper limits, some of the three-dimensionality of its presentation goes astray, dynamic variations become flattened, and the overall sound gets rather shouty. But you should pay attention to your parents/doctor/own common sense – you really shouldn’t be listening at this sort of volume anyway.

Sound quality score: 5 / 5

FiiO JM21 review: Design

(Image credit: Future / Simon Lucas)

• 121 x 68 x 13mm (HxWxD)
• Aluminium and plastic construction
• 156g

You don’t see many ‘two-tone’ digital audio players, do you? The FiiO JM21 is one, though. It's impeccably built and finished from a combination of high-quality plastic and aluminium, is sky blue on its top half and silver on the bottom. The bottom is quite interestingly textured, too – although you may not get to experience this, as FiiO supplies the player pre-fitted with a protective transparent plastic case.

The top of the machine is basically all touch-screen - it’s a 4.7-inch, 750 x 1334 affair, and it’s big enough and bright enough to display a lot of information without becoming illegible. Despite the relatively large screen, though, at 121 x 68 x 13mm (HxWxD) the JM21 is smaller than even the most compact smartphone, and at 156g it’s no kind of burden to a pocket.

Design score: 5 / 5

FiiO JM21 review: Usability and setup

(Image credit: Future / Simon Lucas)

• Android 13
• 3GB RAM, 32GB ROM (of which 22GB is usable)
• 8-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 680 processor

The FiiO JM21 uses an extensively adapted version of Android 13 as an operating system, and thanks to an 8-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 680 processor it’s fast and stable in operation. FiiO is open enough to acknowledge that Android 13 is fairly memory-hungry, though, and given the JM21 has just 3GB of RAM available (in order to keep both costs down) it suggests only loading those essential music-streaming apps and avoiding peripheral stuff. It also suggests avoiding running multiple apps simultaneously if at all possible.

The 22GB of usable ROM isn’t going to last long, but there’s a microSD card slot on one side of the player - and it can handle memory cards of up to 2TB, which is enough to store all the hi-res stuff you could possibly want to listen to.

Physical controls are arranged on the edge of the player, too. On the left side (as you look at it) there’s a power on/off button with an LED tell-tale just below it. Beneath there is a volume up/down rocker. On the right, meanwhile, there’s play/pause, skip forwards and skip backwards. Everything you need, in other words, and just as reliable and positive in their action as the touchscreen controls are.

Setting up the JM21 is simplicity itself for anyone who’s ever owned a smartphone. Charge the battery (from ‘flat’ to ‘full’ takes around two hours), put the player on your local network, install the apps you need to install (only the essentials, remember), and away you go. I’m struggling to think of how it could be any more straightforward.

Usability and setup score: 5 / 5

FiiO JM21 review: Value

I’ll say it as directly as I can, for the avoidance of doubt: the FiiO JM21 is tremendous value for money, at $199 / £179 / AU$369 (approx.). It’s as well-made and -finished as any sub-£500 digital audio player you care to mention, it’s specified beyond its asking price, and it sounds great when playing at real-world volumes.

Yes, it could do with more internal memory - but then the physical size, as well as the price, would very probably increase. SO make sure to budget for a microSD card of worthwhile capacity - you’ll still be in possession of a great-value portable music player.

Value score: 5 / 5

Should I buy the FiiO JM21? Buy it if... 

‘Small and affordable’ fits your digital audio player wish-list
Other devices from other brands are as compact, but none are as aggressively priced

You want one of the very best pound-for-pound digital audio players around
Sure, bigger and pricier alternatives sound even better, but they’re quite a lot bigger and an awful lot more expensive

You admire a two-tone finish
It’s not a huge point of difference, to be fair, but the multicoloured nature of the FiiO JM21 is pleasing (to me, at least)

Don't buy it if... 

You don’t own a microSD card and don’t intend to buy one
There’s not much internal memory here, and even less of it is usable

You’re determined to listen at top volume
Some of the FiiO’s admirable composure and spaciousness goes astray if you insist on listening at the sort of levels you’re supposed to avoid

FiiO JM21 review: Also consider

Sony NW-A306
The problem here is that the FiiO JM21 has, at a stroke, made such products as the Sony NW-A306, which previously constituted ‘entry level’, look overpriced and sound pretty ordinary. The Sony is more poised when playing at the biggest volumes, sure, but there’s not a huge amount in it – certainly not to justify the extra outlay.
See our full Sony NW-A306 review

Activo P1
As for the Activo, which always looked a bit weird, it's made to look (and sound) almost juvenile by the FiiO JM21. So, all in all, ‘also consider’? Consider spending a great deal more money if you want to make a meaningful upgrade on the JM21…
Read our full Activo P1 review

How I tested the FiiO JM21

• Tested for two weeks
• Listened to both streamed and downloaded content
• Tested with both wired and wireless headphones, Bluetooth speaker and amplifier

First things first: I installed the Presto Music and Tidal music streaming service apps via the Google Play store, and I also inserted a 512GB SanDisk microSD card loaded with lots of high-resolution content into the player’s slot.

Then I used a variety of wired and wireless headphones (including, but not limited to, some Sennheiser IE900 in-ear monitors via their 4.4mm socket and a pair of Bowers & Wilkins Px8 connected via Bluetooth), as well as connecting the player to a Bose SoundLink Max Bluetooth speaker and to a full-size stereo system by connecting its 3.5mm output to a line-level input on a Naim Uniti Star amplifier/network streamer.

And at every stage, I listened to lots of different types of music, stored in a number of different file types, and used a variety of Bluetooth codecs when the FiiO was connected wirelessly.

• First reviewed in February 2025

• Read TechRadar's reviews guarantee

Asus ROG Pelta: one-minute review

The ROG Pelta is another banger device from Asus’ gaming division. Compatible across most platforms with wired (via USB-C, no 3.5mm in-line sound) and wireless (Bluetooth and 2.4GHz dongle) connectivity, the Pelta gets the important things right and skips the over-the-top extras.

The headphones, which are a step down in price and features from the flagship ROG Delta II, axe things like an extensive battery life, full-range size adjustment, extra cushioning and excessive RGB (though you’ll still find a programmable, glowing ROG logo on both sides).

Simplifying the things that made the Delta II such an attractive headset into a more affordable unit makes sense when it feels like everything is getting expensive around us. The same microphone and 50mm audio drivers are used between the Delta II and the Pelta, so you’re not missing out on sound and performance, but perhaps you’ll miss the comfort and battery life boasted by the top model.

Moreover, the greater points of adjustment present on the Delta II would have been welcome on the Pelta, as it can be difficult to find that comfort sweet spot when you only have three size options instead of telescopic arms. The microphone will also be tiresome if you’re the type to remove it when it’s not in use, as its plastic exterior needs to align perfectly with that of the headset if it’s to make a successful connection.

Finally, there’s no 3.5mm headphone jack for audio between your machine and your headphones (again, unlike the Delta II), so if you want to connect this thing over a wired connection, you’ll need to settle for a USB-C cable. Not a huge issue, but it may be a dealbreaker for some users.

For me, though, I’ve been very satisfied with this headset and its feature set. I’ve enjoyed it for the features it offers, including a useful pause/play button on the side and a slider that toggles between Bluetooth/off/2.4GHz, and I’d happily continue to use it instead of my Logitech G Pro X2 headset.

(Image credit: Zachariah Kelly / TechRadar) Asus ROG Pelta: price and availability

• How much does it cost? $129.99 / £124.99 / AU$269
• When is it available? Available now in US/UK, coming soon to Australia
• Where can you get it? Available in the US, UK, Australia and other regions

Coming in at a much lower price point than the ROG Delta II headphones (those were priced at $229 / £219 / AU$369 when they released late last year), the Pelta streamlines a lot of what made the top-end ROG headset so good. In our ROG Delta II review, we criticized the headphones for perhaps being a bit feature light, and the Pelta keeps this up but at a much more attractive cost.

That being said, even the ROG Pelta is in hot competition with more feature-rich rivals, such as the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5 ($129.99 / £129.99 / AU$299) and its companion app. The Pelta, though, doesn't give the impression it's losing out on the features front.

(Image credit: Zachariah Kelly / TechRadar) Asus ROG Pelta: Specs Asus ROG Pelta: Features

• 50mm titanium-Plated Diaphragm Drivers
• Immersive stereo sound
• Great physical buttons on the left cup

The Pelta recontextualizes the ROG headset offering. The Delta II was already skimping on extras when it was released last year, but the Pelta adapts the Delta II’s impressive upgrades (in particular its titanium drivers) into a much more affordable package.

That means, for the most part, you’re getting the same high-end beast but cheaper. The 20Hz - 20KHz audio frequency response is the same across both units, as is the 100Hz - 10KHz microphone.

I’ll swear by the sound quality and microphone quality of the Pelta. It’s rich, deep and loud, maintaining high-quality sound to its loudest volume and allowing for a lot of customization in ROG’s Armory Crate application. Though heavy bass does suffer compared to a headset like the Logitech G Pro X2.

The 900mAh battery capacity is impressive, offering up to 90 hours with lighting off and 60 hours with it on. Using the headset casually across four weeks, between games and watching TV shows and Twitch streams, I only needed to charge it twice while having the RGB enabled. It’s an acceptable battery life and a welcome downsize from the enormous 1,800mAh battery in the Delta II.

(Image credit: Zachariah Kelly / TechRadar)

The microphone is removable and can be bent around freely, though I found putting the microphone back into the jack could be a pain if you don’t align it just right, due to its unique triangular shape.

Finally, the buttons present on the headset feel very sensible. A volume wheel is there with a decent amount of travel for your fingertip, alongside a microphone off/on button and, my favorite, a pause/play button. Given I'd been using a keyboard that doesn’t have media controls during my testing period, this has been a fairly useful feature and one that I hope more headsets adopt. The off/on slider is mixed with a connection toggle – the central position selects off, sliding up selects Bluetooth, and down selects 2.4GHz. A soundbite played through the headset will indicate if it’s turning on or off and if it’s connecting to either the dongle or Bluetooth.

Just keep in mind that the ROG Pelta uses a USB-C dongle – in case you don’t have a free USB-C port on your device, this may present itself as an issue.

• Features: 5/5

Asus ROG Pelta: Sound quality

• High-end audio in a cheap unit
• Terrific adjustment options
• Good but not the best deep bass

Carrying over the audio quality from Asus’ top gaming headset, the ROG Pelta doesn’t disappoint where it matters. The standard stereo sound profile is well balanced for all kinds of audio-visual media, which of course includes games, but it’s also fit for music streaming, TV shows and movies. Sound is crystal clear even with the volume cranked to maximum, though bass depth may leave you craving something with a bit more punch.

Asus’ ROG Armory Crate app offers a decent user experience for making sound quality adjustments. For the most part, I set the headset to the ‘communication’ sound profile as it offered the balanced mix I preferred the most (as I switch between a racing, shooting, RPG and sim game quite readily), though I was pretty blown away with the depth of the FPS preset, which made projectiles and explosions in Marvel Rivals really jump out at me. Still, finding the mode that set the best experience across all uses kept me from constantly dipping in and out of Armory Crate, so that’s what I did.

(Image credit: Zachariah Kelly / TechRadar)

Of course, you don’t merely have to use a preset. There are plenty of sliders to fiddle with so you can tailor the sound to your ears, and there’s also some useful sliders for bass boosting, voice clarity and voice compression.

The microphone quality was a bit middle-of-the-road, but I didn’t expect breathtaking clarity. The much more expensive Logitech G Pro X2 has the same microphone arrangement and produces similar results. You’ll have no problem being understood with this microphone, but it’s certainly not broadcast spec.

On the whole, the headset's sound quality is immersive and had no trouble bringing the worlds of Avowed, Marvel Rivals, Forza Horizon 5, The Headliners and other games to life.

• Sound quality: 4.5/5

(Image credit: Zachariah Kelly / TechRadar) Asus ROG Pelta: Design

• Comfortable ear cushions
• Only three points of adjustment
• Microphone can get a bit annoying

I’m content saying that these are extremely comfortable headphones, particularly for long gameplay sessions in the summer. My home doesn’t have air conditioning, and I’ll typically play games at my computer for hours, often leading to discomfort in and around my ears from the sweat and the constant contact. The ROG Pelta headset hasn’t been irritating my skin as much as other headsets have in the past, and I feel like I can play for longer durations with its comfortable cushioning.

Still, design is another area where the Pelta took a noticeable step down from the Delta II. It features slightly lower-end mesh fabric cushioning around the ears (as above, I personally found this fine), along with only three points of size adjustment for the headband as opposed to the telescoped design you’ll find on many other high-end headsets. This means that it can be difficult to find that comfort sweet spot and, unlike telescoping headsets, you’re stuck with the one size you’ve selected unless you go through the (admittedly easy) process of removing and reapplying the headband. This is no dealbreaker and, indeed, the sizing options are far reaching enough to satisfy a good range of users.

(Image credit: Zachariah Kelly / TechRadar)

The only other thing that irked me on the design front was the microphone. It’s surrounded by a triangular plastic casing and needs to be inserted at the exact angle. It’s not easy if you aren't looking at the port while plugging it in, and it’ll feel firmly inserted even if the jack isn’t making proper contact with the port. This led to some audio technical difficulties on Discord a couple of times, but once you catch it, it’s easy to identify.

The inclusion of a red light on the end of the microphone boom to indicate if you’re muted or not is also a great feature and I appreciated it being there.

• Design: 4/5

Should you buy the Asus ROG Pelta? Buy them if...

You want high-quality sound without the price tag

Sporting the same drivers as the ROG Delta II, you’ll likely be comfortable with the sound achieved by the Pelta.

You’re already in the ROG-o-sphere

For the sake of lowering the amount of peripheral programs on your computer, you may want to skip these if you don’t want Armory Crate.

Don’t buy them if…

You’re an Xbox gamer

Due to the lack of a 3.5mm jack, the Pelta isn’t natively compatible with Xbox consoles.

You’re concerned about it fitting on your head

The three size options may be a bit limiting if you tend to take some time to find the perfect fit for your head.

Also Consider

Asus ROG Delta II

More premium and more expensive, the ROG Delta II might be attractive for its longer battery life, greater comfort and more flashy RGB.

Read our full Asus ROG Delta II review

SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5

Available at the same price in many markets, the Arctis Nova 5 is considerable for its great battery life, build quality and brilliant companion app.

Read our full Steelseries Arctis Nova 5 review

Razer Barracuda X Chroma

Similar to the ROG Pelta, the Barracuda X Chroma offers top-end audio quality as a more budget-friendly model.

Read our full Razer Barracuda X Chroma review

How I tested the Asus ROG Pelta

• Tested for four weeks
• Used across various Windows PCs
• Mostly used for gaming, also used for watching TV and music streaming

From the moment I received the Asus ROG Pelta for review, I immediately got to work testing them. I used the headset across a mix of Windows devices and my Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra phone, but I primarily used them for gaming.

The games I tested the headset with include Marvel Rivals, Avowed, The Headliners, Forza Horizon 5. Across these games, I changed up my audio settings with the ROG Armory Crate app, and used both the Bluetooth and 2.4GHz connections, along with the wired connection. I would play games and watch shows for hours on end with the Pelta headset and often wear them while doing housework and cooking.

• First tested in February 2025

Apple iPhone 16e: Two-Minute Review

The iPhone 16e is a good phone. It has a pleasing design, and it feels like a true member of the iPhone 16 family. It is not a great phone, though – how could it be with a retro notch in the Super Retina XDR display and just a single 48MP camera?

There are 'budget' phones that cost far less and which have larger screens and multiple rear cameras. They're not iOS handsets, and that counts for something – any new iPhone joins an expansive and well-designed ecosystem offering connective tissue between excellent Apple services and other Apple hardware. I mostly live in that world now, and I appreciate how well my iPhone 16 Pro Max works with, for instance, my Mac, and how all my cloud-connected services know it's me on the line.

It's been a while since I've had such conflicting feelings about an iPhone. I appreciate that Apple thought it was time to move away from the iPhone SE design language, one that owed most of its look and feel to 2017's iPhone 8. I'm sure Apple couldn't wait to do away with the Lightning port and the Home button with Touch ID (which lives on in Macs and some iPads). But instead of giving us something fresh, Apple took a bit of this and a bit of that to cobble together the iPhone 16e.

The display is almost the best Apple has to offer if you can ignore the notch, aren't bothered by larger bezels, and don't miss the Dynamic Island too much. The main 48MP Fusion camera is very good and shoots high-quality stills and videos, but don't be fooled by the claims of 2x zoom, which is actually a 12MP crop on the middle of the 48MP sensor. I worry that people paying $599 / £599 / AU$999 for this phone will be a little frustrated that they're not at least getting a dedicated ultra-wide camera at that price.

Conversely, there is one bit of this iPhone 16e that's not only new but is, for the moment, unique among iPhone 16 devices: the C1 chip. I don't know why Apple's cheapest iPhone got this brand-new bit of Apple silicon, but it does a good job of delivering 5G and even satellite connectivity. Plus, it starts moving Apple out from under the yolk of Qualcomm, Apple's cellular modem chip frenemy. That relationship has been fraught for years, and I wonder if Apple had originally hoped to put the C1 in all iPhone 16 models but the development schedule slipped.

The iPhone 16e (center) with the iPhone 16 (right) and iPhone SE 3 (left). (Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)

In any case, while it's hard to measure the connectivity benefits (it's another good 5G modem), Apple says this is the most efficient cellular modem it's ever put in an iPhone (that seems like a swipe at Qualcomm), and helps to deliver stellar battery life: a claimed 26 hours of video streaming. Battery life in real-world use will, naturally, be a different story.

On balance, I like this phone's performance (courtesy of the A18 chip and 8GB of RAM), its looks, and how it feels in the hand (a matte glass back and Ceramic Shield front), and I think iOS 18 with Apple Intelligence is well-thought-out and increasingly intelligent (though Siri remains a bit of a disappointment); but if you're shopping for a sub-$600 phone, there may be other even better choices from the likes of Google (Pixel 8a), OnePlus (OnePlus 13R) and the anticipated Samsung Galaxy S25 FE. You just have to be willing to leave the Apple bubble.

Apple iPhone 16e: Price and availability

Apple unveiled the iPhone 16e on February 19, 2025. It joins the iPhone 16 lineup, and starts at $599 / £599 / AU$999 with 128GB of storage, making it the most affordable smartphone of the bunch. It's available in black or white.

While some might consider the iPhone 16e to be the successor to the iPhone SE 3, it has little in common with that device. In particular, that was a $429 phone. At $599, Apple might be stretching the definition of budget, but it is $200 cheaper than the base iPhone 16. The phone's price compares somewhat less favorably outside the iOS sphere. The OnePlus 13R for instance is a 6.7-inch handset with three cameras, and the Google Pixel 8a matches the iPhone 16e's 6.1-inch screen size (though at a lower resolution), but also includes two rear cameras.

You won't find more affordable new phones in the iOS space. The iPhone 15 has the main and ultra-wide camera and the Dynamic Island, but it costs $699 / £699 / AU$1,249. A refurbished iPhone 14 costs $529, but neither it nor the iPhone 15 supports Apple Intelligence.

• Value score: 4/5

Apple iPhone 16: Specs Apple iPhone 16e: Design

• No trace of the iPhone SE design remains
• Hybrid iPhone 14/15 design
• Sharper edges than the current iPhone 16 design

Image 1 of 5

(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)Image 2 of 5

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(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)

There's no question that the iPhone 16e is a part of the iPhone 16 family. At a glance, especially when the screen is off, it's almost a dead ringer for the base model; the aerospace aluminum fame is only slightly smaller.

Upon closer examination, those similarities recede, and I can see the myriad differences that make this a true hybrid design. This is now the only iPhone with a single camera, which almost looks a little lonely on the matte glass back. The edges of the metal band that wraps around the body are noticeably sharper than those of any other iPhone 16, but the phone still feels good in the hand.

The button configuration is essentially what you'd find on an iPhone 15. There's the power / sleep / Siri button on the right, and on the left are the two volume buttons and the Action button. Unlike the rest of the iPhone 16 lineup the 16e doesn't get the Camera Control, but at least the Action button is configurable, so you can set it to activate the camera or toggle the Flashlight, Silent Mode, Voice Memo, and more. I set mine to launch Visual Intelligence, an Apple Intelligence feature: you press and hold the Action button once to open it, and press again to grab a photo, and then you can select on-screen if you want ChatGPT or Google Search to handle the query. Apple Intelligence can also analyze the image directly and identify the subject.

The phone is iP68 rated to handle water and dust, including a dunk in six meters of water for 30 minutes. The screen is protected with a Ceramic Shield to better protect it from drops, though I'm not sure it does much to prevent scratches.

I put a case on the phone, never dropped it, and handled it gingerly, and yet within a day I noticed a long scratch on the screen, although I have no recollection of brushing the display against anything. I had a similar situation with the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra; I await the phone that can handle life in my pocket (empty other than the phone) without sustaining a scratch.

Overall, if you like the looks of the iPhone 16 lineup (or even the iPhone 14 and 15 lineups) the iPhone 16e will not disappoint.

• Design score: 4 / 5

Apple iPhone 16e: Display

• Almost Apple's best smartphone display
• The notch is back
• The bezels are a little bigger

(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)

If you're coming from the iPhone SE to the iPhone 16E, you're in for quite a shock. This 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED screen is nothing like the 4.7-inch LCD display on that now-retired design.

The iPhone 16e features a lovely edge-to-edge design – with slightly larger bezels than you'll find on other iPhone 16 phones – that leaves no room for the dearly departed Touch ID Home button. Instead, this phone adopts the Face ID biometric security, which is, as far as I'm concerned, probably the best smartphone face recognition in the business. Face ID lives in the TrueDepth camera system notch, which also accommodates, among other things, the 12MP front-facing camera, microphone, and proximity sensor.

While I never had a big problem with the notch, I can't say I'm thrilled to see it return here. The rest of the iPhone 16 lineup features the versatile Dynamic Island, which I think most would agree is preferable to this cutout.

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The iPhone 16e shares the iPhone 16's 460ppi resolution, but it does lose a few pixels (2532 x 1170 versus 2556 x 1179 for the iPhone 16). It still supports True Tone, Wide color (P3), and a 2,000,000:1 contrast ratio. The only area where it loses a bit of oomph is on the brightness front. Peak brightness for HDR content is 1,200 nits, and all other content is 800nits. The iPhone 16's peak outdoor brightness is 2,000 nits. As with other non-pro models, the refresh rate on the iPhone 16e sits at a fixed 60Hz.

Even so, I had no trouble viewing the iPhone 16e screen in a wide variety of lighting situations, and any shortcomings are only evident in the brightest, direct sunlight.

In day-to-day use, everything from photos and video to AAA games, apps, and websites looks great on this display. Colors are bright and punchy, and the blacks are inky. I'm not distracted by the notch on games, where it can cut a bit into the gameplay view, and most video streaming defaults to a letterbox format that steers clear of it, with black bars on the left and right sides of the screen.

• Display score: 4 / 5

Apple iPhone 16e: Software and Apple Intelligence

• iOS 18 is a rich and well-thought-out platform
• Apple Intelligence has some impressive features, but we await the Siri of our dreams
• Mail and photo redesigns leave something to be desired

iOS 18 is now smarter, more proactive, and more customizable than ever before. I can transform every app icon from 'Light' to 'Tinted' (monochromatic), fill my home screen with widgets, and expand them until they almost fill the screen. This customizability carries through to the Control Center, which is now a multi-page affair that I can leave alone, or completely reorganize so the tools I care about are available with a quick swipe down from the upper-right corner.

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Apple Intelligence, which Apple unveiled last June, is growing in prominence and utility. It lives across apps like Messages and Email in Writing Tools, which is a bit buried so I often forget it exists. It's in notification summaries that can be useful for at-a-glance action but which are sometimes a bit confusing, and in image-generation tools like Image Playground and Genmojis.

It's also in Visual intelligence, which, as have it set up, gives me one-button access to ChatGPT and Google Search.

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Apple Intelligence Clean Up does an excellent job of removing those big lights (Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)Image 2 of 2

See? (Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)

I think I prefer the more utilitarian features of Apple Intelligence. like Clean Up and Audio Mix. The former lets you quickly remove people and objects from photos as if they were never there in the first place. Audio Mix is a powerful way to clean up the messiest audio to make it usable in social media, podcasts, or just for sharing with friends.

iOS 18 also features updated Photos and Mail apps with Apple Intelligence. I've struggled a bit with how Photos reorganized my images, and I've had similar issues with how Mail is now reorganizing my emails. I hope Apple takes another run at these apps in iOS 19.

Siri is smarter and more aware of iPhone features than before. It can handle my vocal missteps, and still knows what I want, but remains mostly unaware of my on-device information, and feels far less conversational and powerful as a chatbot than Google Gemini and ChatGPT.

• Software score: 4.5 / 5

Apple iPhone 16e: Camera

• 48MP Fusion is a good camera
• The front-facing camera shines as well
• A single rear camera at this price is disappointing

(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)

With a more powerful CPU, a bigger screen, and the new C1 chip, I can almost understand why Apple set the iPhone 16e price as high as it did. Almost… until I consider the single, rear 48MP Fusion camera. Most smartphones in this price range feature at least two lenses, and usually the second one is an ultra-wide – without that lens you miss out on not only dramatic ultra-wide shots but also macro photography capabilities. Had Apple priced this camera at $499, I might understand.

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Still, I like this camera. It defaults to shooting in 24MP, which is a bin of the 48MP available on the sensor (two pixels for each single image pixel to double the image information). There's a 2x zoom option, which is useful, but it's only shooting at 12MP because it's only using the central 12 megapixels from the full 48MP frame. These images are still good, but just not the same resolution as the default or what you could get shooting full-frame.

Overall, the camera shoots lovely photos with exquisite detail and the kind of color fidelity I appreciate (in people and skies especially) in a wide variety of scenarios. I captured excellent still lifes, portraits, and night-mode shots. I was also impressed with the front camera, which is especially good for portrait-mode selfies. Much of this image quality is thanks to the work Apple has done on its Photonic Engine. Apple's computational image pipeline pulls out extraordinary detail and nuance in most photographic situations, even if it is for just these two cameras.

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• Camera score: 4 / 5

Apple iPhone 16e: Performance

• The A18 is an excellent and powerful CPU
• It's ready for Apple Intelligence
• C1, Apple's first cellular modem, is effective for 5G and satellite connectivity

If you're wondering why the successor to the iPhone SE is not a $429 smartphone, you might look at the processing combo of the powerful A18 and the new C1.

The A18 is the same chip you'll find in the iPhone 16, with the exception of one fewer GPU core. I promise you'll never notice the difference.

Performance scores are excellent, and in line with the numbers we got for other A18 chips (and slightly lower than what you get from the A18 Pro in the iPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max).

The A18 has more than enough power not just for day-to-day tasks like email and web browsing, but for 4K video editing (which I did in CapCut) and AAA gaming (game mode turns on automatically to divert more resources toward gaming). I played Asphalt 9 United, Resident Evil 4, and Call of Duty Mobile, and made things easier for myself by connecting my Xbox controller. My only criticism would be that a 6.1-inch screen is a little tight for these games. The audio from the stereo speakers, by the way, is excellent – I get an impressive spatial audio experience with Resident Evil 4.

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There's also the new C1 chip, which is notable because it's Apple's first custom cellular mobile chip. Previously Apple relied on, among other partners, Qualcomm for this silicon. I didn't notice any difference in connectivity with the new chip, which is a good thing – and I was impressed that I could use text via satellite.

(Image credit: Future)

I didn't think I'd get to test this feature, but AT&T connectivity is so bad in my New York neighborhood that the SOS icon appeared at the top of my iPhone 16e screen, and next to it I noticed the satellite icon. I opened messages, and the phone asked if I wanted to use the Satellite texting feature. I held the phone near my screen door to get a clear view of the sky, and followed the on-display guide that told me which way to point the phone. I got a 'Connected' notification, and then sent a few SMS texts over satellite. It's a nifty feature, and it was a nice little test of the C1's capabilities.

• Performance score: 5 / 5

Apple iPhone 16e: Battery

• Long lasting
• Wireless charging
• No MagSafe

(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)

It's clear that Apple has prioritized battery life on the iPhone 16e over some other features. That would likely explain, for instance, why we have wireless charging but not MagSafe support – adding that magnetic ring might have eaten into battery space. The C1 chip is apparently smaller than the modem chip in other iPhone 16 models, and even the decision to include one camera instead of two probably helped make room for what is a larger battery than even the one in the iPhone 16.

Apple rates the iPhone 16e for 26 hours of video-rundown battery life – that's about four hours more than the iPhone 16. In my real-world testing the battery life has been very good, but varied use can run the battery down in far fewer than 26 hours.

On one day when I did everything from email and web browsing to social media consumption and then a lot of gaming, battery life was about 12 hours – gaming in particular really chewed through the battery and made the phone pretty warm.

My own video rundown test (I played through episodes of Better Call Saul on Netflix) returned about 24 hours of battery life.

I used a 65W USB-C charger to charge the phone to 57% in 30 minutes, with a full charge taking about one hour and 50 minutes. I also tried a 20W charger, which charged the phone to 50% in 30 minutes.

• Battery score: 5 / 5

Should you buy the Apple iPhone 16e? iPhone 16e score card Buy it if..

You want an affordable, smaller iPhone

This is now your only brand-new 'budget' iPhone choice.

You want sub-$600 access to Apple Intelligence

Apple squeezed a A18 chip inside this affordable iPhone to give you access to Apple's own brand of AI.

Don’t buy it if...

You're a photographer

A single, albeit excellent, rear lens won't be enough for people who like to shoot wide-angle and macros.

You never liked the notch

Apple bringing back a none-too-loved display feature doesn't make a lot of sense. If you want the Dynamic Island at a more affordable price than the iPhone 16, take a look at the iPhone 15.

You want a real zoom lens

The 2x zoom on the iPhone 16e is not a true optical zoom; instead, it's a full-frame sensor crop. If a big optical zoom is your thing, look elsewhere.

Apple iPhone 16: Also consider

iPhone 15

For $100 more you get two cameras, the Dynamic Island, and the Camera Control.

Read TechRadar's iPhone 15 review.

Google Pixel 8a

As soon as you step outside the Apple ecosystem you'll find more affordable phones with more features. The Pixel 8a is not as powerful as the iPhone 16e, but it has a nice build, two cameras, excellent Google services integration, and affordable access to Gemini AI features.

Read TechRadar's Google Pixel 8a review.

Apple iPhone 16: How I tested

I've reviewed countless smartphones ranging from the most affordable models to flagships and foldables. I put every phone through as many rigorous tests and everyday tasks as possible.

I had the iPhone 16e for just under a week, and after receiving it I immediately started taking photos, running benchmarks, and using it as an everyday device for photos, videos, email, social media, messaging, streaming video, and gaming.

First reviewed February 26, 2025

Gamakay TK75 V2: one-minute review

The Gamakay TK75 V2 is a wireless mechanical keyboard that's designed to match the performance of more expensive rivals while being more affordable.

It adopts a retro-modern aesthetic, with a thick, squared-off chassis harking back to more traditional mechanical keyboard designs. However, its pristine white base, combined with some choice colors for certain keys, helps to make the TK75 V2 more appealing, and the RGB lighting adds vibrancy, too.

The TK75 V2 is well built, with every panel of the unit feeling solid to the touch. The PBT keycaps are especially premium, sporting a super-smooth texture, rivaling those adorning the best keyboards.

Many keyboards of this depth usually include a wrist-rest; unfortunately, this isn't the case with the TK75 V2. However, I found it perfectly comfortable to use without one (and I nearly always use one). This is largely thanks to the two-stage feet and the forward tilt of the keys themselves.

The layout is fairly compact, yet the keys are still easy to hit accurately, and Gamakay has managed to squeeze in a volume wheel and a small TFT screen.

This can display information such as battery life and CPU temperatures, and there’s a section for adjusting the RGB lighting. There's a timer, too, which shows how long you’ve been using the TK75 V2 for, which is useful for those who like to keep track of such stats. Note that the screen is quite small and the resolution isn’t the sharpest; but many others don’t fare much better.

Gamakay also provides software to customize the TK75 V2. This offers a pleasing number of rebinding options, with multiple layers that can be switched between using Fn shortcuts. Speaking of which, the stock Fn shortcuts on the TK75 V2 are surprisingly numerous, making it a versatile keyboard.

The software isn’t perfect, though, and it can suffer from slow loading times (unusual for peripheral software) and it did crash once during my time with it. It also lacks some of the more advanced features and functions that gamers would welcome, such as Easy-Shift.

The most positive aspect about the TK75 V2 is the typing performance. The ultra-damped tactile switches in my unit were an absolute joy to use, being super satisfying yet extremely quiet – perhaps the quietest I’ve ever used. For gaming it was similarly adroit, and the switches proved responsive enough for fast inputs.

The connectivity options of the TK75 V2 are impressive as well, with Bluetooth and 2.4GHz options available. With the former, you can hot-switch between three devices using Fn shortcuts. There’s also a wired connection, although the USB port doesn’t appear to offer the most robust physical connection; even so, I didn’t experience any dropouts with it.

The battery life of the TK75 V2 seems reasonable, since it dipped only one bar out of five following a full day of varied use and connectivity modes. However, charging it seemed unduly slow, as it failed to reach full capacity after more than five hours; it’s possible this is something that can be fixed in a firmware update, however.

The TK75 V2 offers a lot for the money: mechanical switches, good build quality, customization software, and multiple wireless connectivity options. Best of all, performance is great.

However, there are even cheaper alternatives available that offer great performance. For instance, the Roccat Magma is great for gaming, and the Keychron C3 Pro offers mechanical switches at a seriously low price. All things considered, though, the TK75 V2 does enough to earn its place alongside the big names in the space.

(Image credit: Future) Gamakay TK75 V2 review: price and availability

• $89.99 / £75 / $AU148
• Available now with two switch types
• Great value for the spec

The Gamakay TK75 V2 costs $89.99 / £75 / $AU148 and is available now, configurable with either Pegasus (tactile) or Phoenix (linear) switches as stock (although this isn’t permanent, as the board is hot-swappable). It comes with a braided USB-C cable, keycap puller, and spare case screws.

For a wireless mechanical keyboard with numerous wireless connectivity options, the TK75 V2 represents good value. However, if you want an even cheaper mechanical keyboard, the Keychron C3 Pro is one of the best. We found this board’s switches tactile yet relatively quiet, and you can customize it via QMK or VIA; however, this doesn’t offer the level of tweakability that gamers hanker for.

If you want the best gaming keyboard while keeping cost down, then the Roccat Magma is a great alternative. It doesn’t have mechanical switches; but despite this, we still found it delivered a good feel, and offered useful customization options, too.

Value: 4.5 / 5

(Image credit: Future) Gamakay TK75 V2 review: specs

(Image credit: Future) Gamakay TK75 V2 review: design and features

• Retro yet modern looks
• Decent build quality
• Useful software

The TK75 V2 has a retro-inspired design, with its thick and square body. However, the bright white shade helps to modernize its look, as do the various keycap colors, which all complement each other well. Combined with the vivid RGB lighting, this is a vibrant-looking board.

Despite appearances, the TK75 V2 isn’t weighty, especially at this price point. The same is true of the PBT keycaps, which feel silky smooth.

The compact layout helps to keep its overall size to a minimum, yet Gamakay has still managed to include a volume wheel and even a small TFT screen. The former operates smoothly, with light notching to provide some useful feedback.

The two-stage feet are also well made, with the mechanisms feeling solid and stable. However, I did find them a little too easy to knock down when moving the TK75 V2 around, but this is a small gripe. A bonus feature is the slot under the left foot to store the included 2.4GHz dongle, which is handy.

The included cable is long, and is unexpectedly shiny, adding some flair to an otherwise drab accessory. It’s much better than the cable included with the TK101, although the physical connection didn’t seem the most secure, as it had a small amount of wobble to it. Thankfully, though, I didn’t experience any dropouts.

The TK75 V2 also includes a TFT screen, which displays various aspects, such as battery life (represented with five bars, not a percentage) and CPU temperature. There’s also a run timer, which is handy for those who like to track their usage. The menu is controlled via the volume wheel, and there’s also a section to adjust the RGB lighting.

(Image credit: Future)

However, the display area is quite small, and the resolution isn’t that sharp – but these are charges you can level at many built-in screens. Where it does fall behind its rivals, though, is the lack of game-specific information, which boards such as the SteelSeries Apex Pro offer.

Despite the lack of dedicated shortcut keys, there are plenty of shortcuts available on the TK75 V2 via the Fn key. These include typical functions such as media playback controls, opening the calculator or file explorer, and switching between connected devices, to name just a few. Unfortunately, none of these is labelled on the keys concerned, so you’ll need the included manual to hand.

The shortcuts can be customized using the Gamakay software, along with individual key presses, which can be remapped to other characters, media controls, system shortcuts, mouse buttons and movements, and combinations with the modifier keys. Unfortunately, though, the volume wheel can’t be customized.

There are eight layers for remapping keys, although layers aren’t available for Fn shortcuts. Also, only three layers can be switched between using Fn and the Z, X, and C keys.

The software also features a macro recorder, as well as a section to customize the TRT screen, with options to draw your own pictures and animations, or upload them from your files.

All these customization options are welcome, but it’s a shame there aren’t more gaming-related tweaks, such as Easy-Shift functionality; and although you can adjust sensitivity of presses, I barely noticed a difference between low and high settings.

What’s more, the GUI isn’t the sharpest, plus you'll encounter loading times as various settings changes take effect, which is unusual for peripheral software. I also experienced a crash on one occasion; but in the main, it ran well enough.

Design & features: 4 / 5

Gamakay TK75 V2 review: performance

• Fantastic dampening
• Comfortable angle
• Useful connectivity options

The TK75 V2 really comes into its own once you start typing. The tactile Pegasus switches in my unit were a delight to use, with an ultra-damped feel, yet still providing plenty of snap and feedback (and if you don’t like them, they’re hot-swappable).

The Cherry keycaps are also relatively thin compared to those on other mechanical keyboards, which I welcome as someone who prefers typing on laptop-style boards. The slight downward slant of the switches was also welcome in this regard. All of the above make the TK75 V2 one of the best mechanical keyboards for typing that I’ve ever used.

What’s more, it’s also one of the quietest keyboards I’ve used, in line with Gamakay’s claim. If you prefer your key presses with more click than thock, then the heavily damped switches of the TK75 V2 might not be for you. However, I wager most will welcome the combination of easy actuation and cushioned impacts.

When gaming, the TK75 V2 performs admirably. There’s enough snap to presses and response times are good enough for most gamers. However, the aforementioned lack of adjustments and customizations specifically for gaming is a shame.

Despite the aforementioned thickness of the body, I didn’t find it uncomfortable to use the TK75 V2 without a wrist-rest, which is fortunate since one isn't included. The feet offer meaningful adjustments, too, which helps to get the right angle.

(Image credit: Future)

The various connectivity modes work well for the most part, and switching between them is quick and easy via the toggle switch. Switching between devices connected via Bluetooth using the Fn shortcuts was similarly hassle-free.

However, even though you're supposed to be able to use these shortcuts to manually switch between Bluetooth, 2.4GHz and wired modes as well, this didn’t work for me – it was only the toggle switch that worked for me.

The battery life of the TK75 V2 seems good: since there’s no percentage provided via the software or the TFT screen, I was unable to gauge depletion precisely; but I can say that after a day’s worth of use – during which I typed and gamed, and switched regularly between Bluetooth and 2.4GHz modes – it only dropped a single bar.

Charging the TK75 V2 via a desktop PC proved disappointingly slow, however. Even after five and a half hours, the keyboard still wasn’t at full power, reaching only four bars out of five. It’s possible this might be a firmware issue, so there’s every chance an update will remedy this at some point.

Performance: 4.5 / 5

Should I buy the Gamakay TK75 V2? Buy it if…

You want exquisite typing feel
This is simply one of the best-feeling – not to mention quietest – keyboards I’ve ever used; if you like soft dampening yet still want snappy performance, it won’t disappoint.

You want multiple connectivity options
With three-way Bluetooth switching, a 2.4GHz dongle and a USB cable, you can go between all your devices with ease.

Don’t buy it if…

You want serious gaming pedigree
While performance is great, the TK75 V2 lacks more advanced features and tweaks that gamers might want, such as Easy-Shift functionality.

You want a number pad
The TK75 V2 is only available with a 75% layout, which might be a deal-breaker for those who want to use it for some serious productivity.

Gamakay TK75 V2 review: also consider

Keychron C3 Pro
If you want a seriously cheap mechanical keyboard, look no further than the C3 Pro. It offers great performance, and you can customize it using QMK and VIA. It might not cut the mustard for hardcore gamers, but it’s good enough for most.

Read our Keychron C3 Pro review

Roccat Magma
If gaming is your primary concern, but you don’t want to spend the earth, the Magma could fit the bill. We think it’s the best gaming keyboard for those on a budget, thanks to its capable performance and useful features, such as Game mode, which turns the Caps Lock into an Easy-Shift modifier. It might not be mechanical, but at this price, that’s to be expected.

Read our Roccat Magma review

How I tested the Gamakay TK75 V2

• Tested for several days
• Used for gaming and working
• Plentiful keyboard experience

I tested the TK75 V2 for several days, during which time I used it for working, gaming, and general browsing. I tested it on two different Windows 10 PCs.

I spent a lot of time typing with TK75 V2 (including for this very review), and played S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl, a first-person shooter requiring quick inputs and wider key use beyond those in the WASD position.

I have reviewed numerous keyboards in the past, covering models designed for gaming as well as for productivity. I've been PC gaming for more than a decade, and have owned many keyboards from different brands at different price points and with various switch types.

• First reviewed January 2025
• Read more about how we test

Acer Swift 14 AI: Two-minute review

(Image credit: Future / Jasmine Mannan)

With so many laptops hitting the scene at the moment, Acer has thrown it’s hat in the ring with the Acer Swift 14 AI. This mighty laptop has swept me off of my feet almost immediately and could very well be a contender for one of the best laptops on the market right now.

Boasting a gorgeous OLED screen, I was stunned by the visuals I was getting when watching videos or editing pictures. You also get a great battery life which will last you all day when working and with some juice left in the tank afterwards. While it didn’t live up to the 17 hours claimed by Acer, it came in pretty close at 14 hours. I took some issues with the design because it just felt a bit clunky, but this is something that you likely wouldn’t notice unless you were specifically looking for issues.

Coming in at $1,199 / £899 / AU$1,899 (currently on sale in the UK), this laptop is on the pricier side, with similar alternatives also coming in around this price point. However, when factoring in the sale price, I am genuinely gobsmacked that you’re able to get a laptop of this quality in terms of both hardware and performance, for less than £900 ($1,200).

Acer Swift 14 AI: Price and availability

• How much does it cost? $1,199 / £899 / AU$1,899
• When is it available? Available now
• Where can you get it? Available in the US, UK, and Australia

The Acer Swift 14 AI comes in at $1,199 / £1,199 / AU$1,899, which is definitely not a budget-friendly option when it comes to laptops, however you get some very good specifications for this price point. You can currently pick it up in most regions. It’s on sale at Currys in the UK at the moment, with the Intel edition sitting at a much more affordable £899. On the US side of the map, you can pick it up on sale at Amazon, Best Buy, Newegg, and other similar retailers.

Alternatives on the market include the Asus Zenbook A14, which has similar specs and also features an OLED screen. It sits at a higher price point of $1,399.99, though. Another alternative is the Apple MacBook Air 2024 edition, which features the M3 chip and comes in at $1,199. This makes the Acer Swift 14 AI a great option to pick up while it's on sale, but it’s still decent value when it's not.

Value: 5 / 5

Acer Swift 14 AI: Specs

You can get an Intel or a Qualcomm version of the Acer Swift 14 AI. In the UK these are the same price, however the sale over at Currys only applies to the Intel version, which does make the Qualcomm one more expensive. Elsewhere in the world, you’ll also spend more on the Qualcomm edition as it can deliver more power. All of the rest of the specifications are the same.

As of right now, you can’t configure these specifications, however considering everything other than the processor is identical it doesn’t seem like you’d need to. The Acer website does state that this laptop comes with up to 32GB of RAM suggesting that other configurations may be in the works.

Acer Swift 14 AI: Design

(Image credit: Future / Jasmine Mannan)

When first unboxing the Acer Swift 14 AI, I was somewhat underwhelmed. While it is housed in a high quality and sturdy chassis, it doesn’t have any particular flare in terms of design. It weighs in at 1.28kg (2.82 lbs), which is definitely lightweight, but not the lightest option on the market with the Asus Zenbook 14 coming in at under a kilogram (2.2 lbs).

Something that particularly irked me when using this laptop was the fact that the edges weren’t rounded off properly which made it feel a bit clunky. You’ll also find a slightly thicker bezel around the webcam which again subtracts from the sleekness of the design. However, the Acer Swift 14 AI is 1.49cm (0.59 inches) thick, which keeps it slimline. It’s easy to stick in a backpack or sleeve and take on the go with you.

You get two USB-C ports, either can be used for charging. You also get two USB-A ports which is greatly appreciated. As someone who uses a range of peripherals, whether it be a USB headset, keyboard, mouse or extra monitors, I found there were enough ports for me to use this laptop as part of my workstation, just about. You also get an HDMI port.

The chassis of this laptop is made of metal rather than plastic like some other lightweight alternatives making for a more premium feel. The keyboard is very low profile, making for satisfying key presses. You’ll find that the keys are the same texture as the rest of the laptop too rather than being made from plastic which again contributes to the higher quality feeling.

Design: 4 / 5

Acer Swift 14 AI: Performance

(Image credit: Future / Jasmine Mannan)

Using the Acer Swift 14 AI did feel like a bit of a step down from the Asus Zenbook A14 I just tested, however at £200 less this is to be expected. Using it on the go wasn’t as satisfying as my typical MacBook Air despite it being a similar size and weight, with it feeling more clunky when putting it in my bag.

When booting up the laptop, I was stunned by the screen. The 2K OLED panel is gorgeous and makes for a fantastic experience when watching videos or movies. For creatives who design graphics or video assets, seeing the screen bring your creations to life through color is amazing. With most laptops being able to deliver great performance, they now have to stand out with other features and the OLED screen does a great job of this.

Acer Swift 14 AI: Benchmarks - Gaming laptops only

Here's how the Acer Swift 14 AI performed in our suite of benchmark tests:

3DMark: Night Raid: 36616 ; Fire Strike: 8898 ; Time Spy: 4438

GeekBench 6: 1884 (single-core); 7657 (multi-core)

CrossMark: Overall: 978 Productivity: 914 Creativity: 1082 Responsiveness: 883

PCMark 10 Battery Life: 14 Hours 7 Mins

TechRadar movie test: 13 Hours 43 Mins

While this laptop isn’t made for intensive tasks, I still put it to the test. Things like basic photo and video editing on Abode Photoshop and Adobe Premiere Pro worked absolutely fine, and while Premiere Pro did feel a bit sluggish, it was by no means unusable. Taxing 3D animation is certainly off the table here but using this laptop for standard everyday productivity is perfectly fine.

I was sure to try multitasking here too, with a range of programs open at once and to my surprise, it functioned quite well even with just 16GB of RAM. Even being in a video call while also creating a PowerPoint and watching a video, the laptop didn’t stutter at all. This felt like a decent upgrade from my old Macbook Air which immediately starts whining when I open a second Chrome tab.

Even when using this laptop on the go, it stayed very quiet which was great. One of my biggest fears is booting up my MacBook on a train and its begins to sound like a rocket taking off, and I never had to worry about that with the Acer Swift 14 AI.

Of course you get the benefits of CoPilot+ with this laptop too but for me this is no longer a standout feature and instead just expected.

Performance: 5 / 5

Acer Swift 14 AI: Battery life

When using the Acer Swift 14 AI in my day to day life I found that the battery life was pretty impressive. It wasn’t a device you could go days without charging by any means, but you could certainly get through a full workday and still have some battery left over at the end of the day.

Acer claim that this laptop boasts 17 hours of battery life and our testing came in pretty close…but no cigar, at 14 hours of continuous video playback - which is obviously not how many people will be using their device on a day-to-day basis.

Battery life: 4 / 5

Should I buy the Acer Swift 14 AI? Buy it if...

You want a slightly more affordable laptop

Currently on sale to £899 ($1,199), the Acer Swift 14 AI delivers the same performance as higher priced alternativesView Deal

You want good battery life

You can easily work all day and have battery left over. View Deal

You want to be able to multitask

The laptop will happily run multiple programs at once without stuttering or slowing downView Deal

Don't buy it if...

You want something easy and satisfying to travel with

Despite being thin and lightweight, the design leads to a clunky feeling device. View Deal

You want something with a lot of processing power

While this device is powerful, it won’t be able to undertake super intensive tasksView Deal

You want a device you can game on

This laptop is just not made for gaming and while you likely could play some titles on here, they wouldn’t be the best performanceView Deal

Also Consider

If our Acer Swift 14 AI review has you considering other options, here are two laptops to consider...

Asus Zenbook A14

If you’re looking for a premium option that's lightweight and easy to take with you on the go then the Asus Zenbook A14 is the laptop for you. You still get the stunning OLED display and a powerful processor with even better portability. It does come with a slight price tag increase, though.

Read our full Asus Zenbook A14 reviewView Deal

Apple Macbook Pro 16-inch (M4 Pro, 2024)

If you want a laptop that's capable of performing more intensive tasks like 3D Animation or heavy video rendering then the M4 Pro processor in the Apple Macbook Pro is going to help you out more.

Read our full Apple Macbook Pro 16-inch (M4 Pro, 2024) reviewView Deal

How I tested the Acer Swift 14 AI

I spent two weeks using the Acer Swift 14 AI as my every day laptop for work and leisure. I was sure to use the device all day for my typical work day, and then also watched videos, movies and browsed social media on it in the evenings. I took it on the go with me to different locations where I needed to work to see how it would feel outside of my workstation. As well as using it every day I also benchmarked the laptop using a range of different benchmarking software.

First reviewed February 2025

Gamakay TK101: one-minute review

The Gamakay TK101 is a wireless mechanical keyboard with a compact form factor at a reasonable price. It adopts a more retro aesthetic, reminiscent of older style mechanical keyboards. The multicolored keycaps do help to add interest, and their rounded edges are inviting.

They also feel as good as they look since they’re made from double-shot PBT. They have a slight yet satisfying texture, and are more premium than you might expect at this price point. In fact, the whole construction of the TK101 is admirable.

The chassis is quite thick and reasonably heavy considering its small layout. There’s no included wrist rest, though, which is a shame since I had to bend my wrists uncomfortably for most of the time.

While there are various shortcuts you can perform using the FN and other keys, there’s no labelling on the keys themselves for these extra functions, so you’ll have to refer to the manual. What’s more, unlike with many of the best wireless keyboards, there isn’t any customization software, which means more advanced tweaks are missing. This makes it less amenable for gaming, where such tweaks can be important.

The unit I had came with tactile switches, and while I found them satisfying to use thanks to their dampening and lubrication, they are quite heavy, and not as snappy as I would’ve liked for gaming. For typing, I found the MDA profile of the keycaps too thick, as I generally prefer low-profile laptop-style keys. And despite what Gamakay claims, I didn’t find them to be quiet either.

Connecting to multiple devices is easy, and the quick switching shortcuts work well. Up to three Bluetooth devices can be switched between, in addition to devices connected via the included 2.4GHz wireless dongle or a USB cable.

While I wasn’t able to deplete the battery completely during my time with the TK101, after a few days of varied use it dropped to about 50%, which isn’t a very impressive performance.

For the price, the TK101 punches above its weight thanks to its premium construction and hardware. However, I found the tactile switches a little too heavy, and the lack of customization hurts it. If you’re after a keyboard with an even lower price but still has great performance, the Keychron C3 Pro is a great choice, and for something more gaming-orientated, the Logitech G213 Prodigy may be a better alternative.

(Image credit: Future) Gamakay TK101 review: price and availability

• $89 / £76 / AU$150
• Available now in multiple colorways
• Good price, but some cheaper alternatives

The Gamakay TK101 costs $89 / £76 / AU$150 and is available now in three colorways: White & Grey, Black & Red, and Cyan & Grey. You can configure it with Saturn (linear) or Pluto (tactile) switches, although these are hot-swappable, with Gamakay selling more on their website.

The TK101 is well-priced for a wireless mechanical keyboard with multiple connectivity options. The Logitech G213 Prodigy, one of the best mechanical keyboards, is even cheaper than the TK101, but it lacks wireless connectivity, and while we enjoyed using it, we weren’t hugely impressed with its build quality. It can be customized, though, which may make it better for gamers.

There’s also the Keychron C3 Pro, which is the best keyboard with mechanical switches and a compact layout in our eyes. It’s even cheaper than the TK101, and we were very impressed with the feel of its mechanical switches. But, again, it lacks wireless capabilities.

Value: 4 / 5

(Image credit: Future) Gamakay TK101 review: specs

(Image credit: Future) Gamakay TK101 review: design and features

• Retro looks
• Thick chassis
• No software

The TK101 harks back somewhat to traditional mechanical keyboards, thanks to its chunky-looking keys and basic design. It’s certainly not as brash as other gaming keyboards, although the multi-tonal colorways do add elements of interest and vibrancy.

While the 98% form factor of TK101 feels compact, the spacing of the keys is still wide enough for comfortable finger placement. To achieve this, though, dedicated media keys and a volume wheel have been sacrificed.

It’s reasonably thick and heavy, although not as substantial as some other mechanical keyboards. The overall construction is solid, and the mirrored back panel – which frames the USB-C port, power switch and a compartment for storing the 2.4GHz USB dongle – is a nice touch.

The two-step feet are useful, offering meaningful height adjustments to meet individual preferences. These also feel well-made and didn’t create any wobble when propping up the keyboard.

(Image credit: Future)

The rounded double-shot PBT keycaps appear quite thick despite their MDA profile, but they’re comfortably indented and their texturing feels premium, being smooth while offering enough grip. If you don’t like them, though, you can swap them out, along with the switches, as the TK101 is hot-swappable.

While various keys have alternative functions accessible via the FN key, these aren’t labelled, meaning you’ll have to acquaint yourself with the manual. Functions include media playback controls, opening Windows Explorer, adjusting the RGB lighting.

These shortcuts are welcome, but it’s a shame there’s no software for the TK101 to provide further customizations, such as key rebinding and macro creation. Many other keyboards, especially those in the gaming sector, provide such tweaks via software.

What isn’t limited, however, is connectivity. The TK101 can connect to devices wirelessly via the 2.4GHz USB dongle or via Bluetooth. Up to three devices can be connected simultaneously via the latter, which can be switched between by using the FN and number keys. The USB port can also be used for establishing a wired connection as well as charging, which adds to the versatility of the TK101.

Design & features: 3 / 5

Gamakay TK101 review: performance

• Nicely damped
• Heavy tactile switches
• Could really do with a wrist rest

The performance of the TK101 is somewhat mixed. The gasket mounting helps to cushion presses, while the tactile Pluto switches I had preinstalled in my unit were well lubed. However, they felt a little too heavy, offering more resistance than others, which can cause fatigue after a while. If you’re after something more snappy, then these switches probably won’t suit you. However, the MDA profile of the keycaps does at least shorten travel distance.

For typing, though, I still found this profile too thick, as I generally prefer low profile keys for productivity tasks. And despite Gamakay’s claims regarding its sound-deadening design, I found the TK101 quite noisy too.

Most egregious of all, though, is the lack of wrist support, since the aforementioned thickness of the chassis forces your hands to angle sharply no matter how you adjust the feet. This makes gaming equally uncomfortable when adopting the standard WASD position, and also causes your thumb to hit the edge of the space bar rather than the top. Both these issues were remedied when I used my own wrist rest. Combined with its lack of customization options, the TK101 isn’t as capable as the best gaming keyboards.

(Image credit: Future)

I had no problems connecting via Bluetooth or the 2.4GHz dongle, and switching between three Bluetooth devices using the keyboard shortcuts was easy and responsive. However, the manual states that switching to a 2.4GHz connection can also be done via these shortcuts, but this didn’t work for me; only toggling the rear switch did.

I wasn’t able to test the battery to exhaustion, but it dipped to about 50% after several days of varied use, connecting to multiple devices via Bluetooth and the 2.4GHz dongle. This isn’t exactly a stellar performance, and many wireless keyboards do last longer.

Performance: 3.5 / 5

Should I buy the Gamakay TK101? Buy it if…

You want a well-priced mechanical keyboard
You usually have to pay a premium for mechanical keyboards, especially wireless variants, but not so for the TK101.

You want to connect to multiple devices
The TK101 can handle three Bluetooth connections and one 2.4GHz connection, with hot-switching between them. Wired connectivity is also an option.

Don’t buy it if…

You want light actuation
The Pluto tactile switches I had in my unit were a little too heavy for my liking, which means you won’t get the snappinest performance.

You want to customize
Since there's no software for the TK101, you won't be able to remap keys or tweak performance settings.

Gamakay TK101 review: also consider

Logitech G213 Prodigy
It might not be a mechanical keyboard, but the G213 Prodigy feels close to one, making it great for gaming. It’s also one of the best budget keyboards around, since it offers plenty of features and some decent typing prowess. It has an inbuilt wrist rest as well – something that the TK101 could really do with. Read our Logitech G213 Prodigy review.

Keychron C3 Pro
It’s hard to find a better value mechanical keyboard than the Keychron C3 Pro. The performance it delivers for both gaming and typing is commendable at this very low price point. It even offers customization options via QMK or VIA. Unlike the TK101, though, it’s wired only. Read our Keychron C3 Pro review.

How I tested the Gamakay TK101

• Tested for several days
• Used for gaming and productivity
• Plentiful keyboard experience

I tested the TK101 for several days, during which time I used it for working, gaming, and general browsing.

I did plenty of typing with it, and played Counter-Strike 2, a good test for any peripheral given the game’s demand for fast and accurate inputs.

I have been PC gaming for over 25 years, and have experience reviewing keyboards for both gaming and productivity purposes.

• First reviewed January 2025
• Read more about how we test

SABnzbd is a free and open-source NZB downloader that simplifies downloading from Usenet with an intuitive, browser-based interface. It runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, NAS devices, and even Docker containers, making it widely accessible and easy to integrate into various setups.

Built on Python, SABnzbd prioritizes flexibility and ease of use, offering a range of automation features and a web-based interface that works across multiple platforms. However, it is not as lightweight as NZBGet, which is written in C++ and optimized for minimal system resource usage. While SABnzbd may consume more CPU and memory, it compensates with an extensive feature set and broad compatibility.

With helpful automation tools like RSS filtering, custom scripts, and integration with popular NZB indexing services, SABnzbd is a favorite among Usenet users. It automatically handles unpacking, repairing, and organizing files, making Usenet transfers easy.

To access Usenet newsgroups with SABnzbd, you’ll need a Usenet subscription. Check out our best Usenet provider guide for our top recommendations.

SABnzbd: Features

(Image credit: SABnzbd)

• Cross-platform compatibility: Runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, NAS devices, and Docker, making it easy to install on virtually any system.
• Web-based interface: Manage and monitor downloads from any browser.
• Automation-friendly: Supports RSS feeds, API access, and integration with automation tools like Sonarr and Radarr.
• Smart download management: Handles NZB queueing, prioritization, and automatic retries for failed downloads.
• Automatic unpacking and repair: Uses built-in PAR2 verification and unpacks files automatically to save time.
• Multi-server support: Allows users to configure multiple Usenet servers for improved reliability and speed.
• Extensive plugin support: Works with third-party scripts and add-ons to enhance functionality.
• Supports over 18 languages: SABnzbd's web interface is available in more than 18 languages.

SABnzbd: Performance

SABnzbd is a well-optimized downloader capable of handling high-speed Usenet connections with ease. However, due to its Python-based architecture, it consumes more system resources than lightweight alternatives like NZBGet. In contrast, NZBGet’s C++ foundation allows it to run with minimal CPU and memory usage, making it a better option for lower-powered devices.

Despite this, SABnzbd’s robust feature set, built-in queue management, parallel connections, and post-processing capabilities offer an efficient experience. Users with fast Usenet providers will benefit from SABnzbd’s ability to fully utilize their bandwidth.

SABnzbd: Installation and setup

Installing SABnzbd is simple, with dedicated installers for Windows and macOS. Docker, Snap, Flatpak, Ubuntu, Debian, and FreeBSD users can also deploy it easily using images and guides, which can be found on the SABnzbd downloads page.

(Image credit: SABnzbd)

Once installed, the initial setup is guided through a wizard that helps users configure their Usenet server settings, download preferences, and automation features.

Adding Your Usenet Server Settings:

To start downloading, you need to add your Usenet provider’s server details:

1. Open SABnzbd’s web interface in your browser.

2. Click on Servers

3. Enter your Usenet provider’s details, including:

• Server address
• Port number (typically 563 for SSL, 119 for non-SSL)
• Username and password for your Usenet account
• Connection limit
• Click ‘Save Changes’

4. Click ‘Test Server’ to ensure connectivity.

5. Save Settings: Once the connection is successful, click “Save Changes’ to store your server settings.

SABnzbd: Pricing

SABnzbd is free and open-source, with no fees or premium upgrades. You can download the latest version directly from its official website or the SABnzbd GitHub page.

SABnzbd: Support

The SABnzbd website offers comprehensive guides on installation and configuration, along with detailed step-by-step instructions and FAQs to help users optimize their setup. There is also an active community forum where users can ask questions, share tips and ideas, and receive support from both experienced users and developers.

SABnzbd: Final verdict

SABnzbd is an excellent choice for both beginners and advanced users, thanks to its user-friendly web interface and deep automation capabilities. While it may require more system resources than some alternatives, namely NZBGet, seamless integration with popular Usenet tools and hands-free downloading features make it a reliable NZB downloader.

Beats Powerbeats Pro 2: Two-minute review

I'll be frank (you can still be whatever your name is): a lot has changed in the world of Bluetooth audio since May 2019. That's when the Powerbeats Pro 2's forefathers burst onto the relatively new true wireless earbuds scene and promptly cornered its fledgling athletic sub-genre.

The thing is, the wealth of reliable earbuds any of us can pick up now for as little as $20 were inconceivable six years ago, so the Powerbeats Pro 2 arrive as an interesting (quite large – cumbersome even) proposition. If their storied heritage did not exist, we might actually question what Beats was doing releasing a set of earbuds with a large curling tail on one end that does not facilitate open-ear listening, but instead includes a more traditional driver housing and neck for creating a closed seal betwixt its ear-tip and your ear canal.

One might argue that in the past few years engineers have collected substantial data and used it to create concha-fit and droplet-shaped ergonomic driver housings, which means we no longer need arms for our earbuds – even for sports. We might even think it odd for Beats to be pitching such a design at athletes – because other bright sparks have invented open-ear true wireless earbuds in the past four years, and these let us easily hear traffic or our trainer's voice as we work out.

But the Powerbeats Pro 2 get a pass for most of this, owing to the love we still have for the then-groundbreaking inaugural Powerbeats Pro. I remember the huge video ad I saw every day at London's Waterloo Station, featuring Serena Williams serving both looks and tennis aces while wearing an ice-white, Wimbledon-friendly set of Powerbeats Pro. Those earbuds – which arrived before the inaugural AirPods Pro and actually, before the 'Pro' suffix became a mainstay of the audio vernacular – soon seemed as iconic as the superstars who wore them.

So we need to be asking not only how the Powerbeats Pro 2 stand up against the best noise-cancelling earbuds aimed at regular users, but also how they compare to the best open-ear headphones that, until recently, were the preserve of athletes. Okay, as a set of 'regular' wireless earbuds, the case you'll be toting around is quite big – not quite coffee coaster big, but close. However, if you're an Apple Music subscriber the head-tracked spatial audio works very well, and the noise cancellation is quite good; neither is as good as what you get with the AirPods Pro 2, but the spatial audio in particular isn't far off.

Slipping them on isn't as quick a job as it is with other earbuds, but once they're on, if security is your main issue with Apple-styled buds you'll be pleased – these Beats ain't going anywhere. Also, at 10 hours from the buds and a further 3.5 charges in the case (for a whopping 45-hour total) the battery life is impressive, although if you're using ANC or spatial audio it's eight hours and a maximum playtime total of 36 hours. For clarity, you'll only get 5.5 to seven hours from your AirPods Pro 2 before they need charging. Not bad, eh?

See the sensor? (Image credit: Future)

However, for a set of sports-focused earbuds that sit inside the ear, a good transparency mode is important, and despite Beats' assurance that this is the most natural-sounding transparency mode in any set of Beats earbuds (with the adaptive algorithm powered by the H2 chip updating over 200 times per second) I've heard many more effective transparency profiles – and simply turning ANC off isn't something I'd advise, since this listening profile adds to the already-slightly tinny issues through the top end, making the soundstage a little too forward and sweet overall.

Price-wise, they're also a little hot and heavy-handed at $249.99 / £249.99 / AU$399.95. Despite arriving at the same price as their older siblings, times have changed. You can buy similar designs for considerably less now; you couldn't then.

But stop everything! We need to talk matters of the heart. Because make no mistake, you should feel ready to place your heart in Powerbeats Pro 2's hands here, either via the Health app or your compatible, linked fitness app. Beats told me heart-rate monitoring had been on the company's mood boards for inclusion since 2014, and the feature's debut here is the result of well over four years on the bench with engineers (and subsequently in the ears of over 1,000 real-world athletes for testing).

What I can tell you is that the heart-rate monitor is here now, beautifully implemented in certain third-party apps when linked with Apple's Health app. And because of the pulse readings, the super-secure fit and the excellent battery life, you may be prepared to forgive the few shortcomings I've talked about so far, plus a couple of sonic shortfalls I've yet to get into.

Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 review: Price & release date

• Unveiled on February 13, 2025
• Priced $249.99 / £249.99 / AU$399.95

How often can a product come in at the same $249.99 / £249.99 / AU$399.95 price as its 2019 counterpart and still not be considered great value? Simply put, competition has brought prices right down. These days, $100 / £100 is top-end for inclusion in our best budget wireless earbuds guide, and anything above that goes into mid-range and flagship territory.

For a brief comparison in the world of 'regular' buds, Bose's QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds come in at $299 / £299 / AU$449 and Technics' outstanding EAH-AZ100 are also in the same ballpark, at $299 / £259 / AU$499. Apple's AirPods Pro 2 regularly cost under $199 / £199 / AU$349. Sports-focused options often come in a fair way under these kinds of figures (the Shokz OpenFit Air arrived in summer 2024 with a $149 / £119 price-tag for example) although the Bose Ultra Open buck the affordable trend – they can now be yours for a similar $249 / £249 / AU$349.95, having arrived at $50 more than that.

All of this is food for thought, but don't forget that none of the options I've listed above can monitor your heart rate…

(Image credit: Future) Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 review: Specifications

(Image credit: Future) Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 review: Features

• Heart-rate monitoring is useful – unless you use an Apple Watch
• Spatial audio with head-tracking enhances commutes
• Disappointing IPX4 splash-proof rating

Let's start with the ticker-taker. Heart monitoring from the ears is not a new concept as I've already mentioned – Beats wanted to include it back in 2014 – but it's been a long time in development. The tiny sensor at the helm in Powerbeats Pro 2 (which is derived from the Apple Watch, but is actually 1/16th of the size of the sensor in the Apple Watch Series 10) contains a photodiode, an optical lens, an accelerometer and an LED sensor, but Beats admits that this component wasn't that minuscule at first. And while the ear is actually a great place to access your pulse, developing a sensor small, light and accurate enough to wear comfortably in a headshell was a difficult process.

Well, it's here now – and if you're not using anything else, it's good. You need to be wearing both earbuds to get a reading, because when you do, that green LED light sensor in each earpiece pulses over 100 times per second, then measures the light reflected back to calculate how many times your heart is beating per minute.

Accessing the feature might seem a little limited or even disappointing at first (there's no juicy 'Heart-rate' bubble in your iPhone Control Center when you click through, as I might have hoped), but this is because the Powerbeats Pro 2 are really meant to only start taking readings when you begin a workout, rather than constantly monitor your pulse throughout the day or whenever you choose to summon a reading.

That said, you can dig into your iPhone's Health app, then either tap Browse at the bottom-right then Heart > Heart Rate to call up a live figure, or go to Summary at the bottom-left then Show All Health Data > Heart Rate, to see a graph of your live heart rate. But really, you're meant to be in training and with a third-party fitness app. The only currently supported one I use is Nike Run Club, but once you've linked the app and given the necessary permissions in Settings, it works a treat.

It's worth noting two things: if you wear an Apple Watch while using the Beats, the Watch readings are always prioritized over the Powerbeats' readings; and secondly, the Powerbeats Pro 2 don't work with Apple Fitness Plus currently (and no Strava support, i.e., the one I'd really like it to work with). At the time of writing, heart-rate monitoring through the Powerbeats Pro 2 is available in these iOS apps: Peloton, Slopes, Ladder, Open, Runna, YaoYao, and Nike Run Club, so plenty of activities are covered.

If you're on Android, it's different again (and arguably, better). Here, the feature will work with any fitness app that supports heart-rate monitoring; you just need to manually start each training session with a double tap and hold on either earbud.

On both iOS and Android you can turn the feature off in the settings if you don't want it taking readings.

Yes, I love the color so much, I did this…  (Image credit: Future)

Now, on to Personalized Spatial Audio with Dolby Atmos and dynamic head-tracking. This is Apple's 360-degree sound tech that adjusts the audio based on the shape of your ears, head, and – if you toggle it on – using your Apple device as a source so the audio has a fixed point of origin (and this moves between each ear as you move your head towards said source device). I really rate this in Powerbeats Pro 2, thanks to the solid fit and seal the design promotes, particularly when listening to more acoustic tracks. Want to hear how good it is? Try listening to Sam Fender's Arm's Length and holding your device at arm's length. Good, no?

The Powerbeats Pro 2 only support lossless audio with ultra-low latency on the Apple Vision Pro, so while high resolution is possible on these earbuds, it's an expensive route – and I do not own a Vision Pro headset (but leave a comment if you've tested it – I'd love to know whether there's a notable uptick in audio quality).

Call quality? It's good: the Powerbeats Pro 2 have a total of six microphones (three per earpiece) and callers throughout my testing said I sounded very clear and, on one occasion, "particularly empathetic". Beats says there's machine learning-based noise isolation tech at play, so callers will hear your voice at its best, aided by a voice accelerometer to detect when you're speaking and thus enhance clarity. What I can tell you is that if you take calls often on your earbuds, you'll be pleased here.

Other notable features include the option to customize what a press-and-hold of the physical 'b' button does on each earpiece (between Siri and noise-control functions), automatic ear detection, Find My to locate a lost earbud in iOS (you can select which earbud you'd like to emit a beeping noise if it's around the house, or see where they are on a map) and Find My Beats on Android via the companion app. But there's no U1 chip in the charging case for precise location tracking – and no inbuilt speaker as there is in the AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods 4 with ANC's charging nests, so the case itself is silent. There's also an ear tip fit test that's actually quite picky; I had to adjust to smaller ear tips to get the green light in both ears, even when I personally felt like I had the fit right.

As any AirPods owner will know, there's no cross-platform multi-point connectivity in Apple earbuds – and that hasn't changed here. They can auto-switch between your Apple devices as needed, but not between an Android phone and a laptop, say. You can 'share' the audio you're hearing in your Powerbeats Pro 2 to other Beats or Apple earbuds in the vicinity using Apple's proprietary Share Audio option. You cannot tweak the EQ on a dedicated tab with the Powerbeats Pro 2 – although on iOS you can go into your iPhone's settings > Apps > Music > EQ to tweak things a little.

Finally (and I'm putting this under 'features' rather than 'design' since any sports-specific earbuds really ought to focus on durability) there's a somewhat disappointing IPX4 rating for the earpieces, and the case is neither water- nor sweat-resistant at all. What that means is that while wearing the buds for sweaty workouts should be fine (the Powerbeats Pro 2 will survive light rain, humid environments and splashes of water), they absolutely positively cannot be submerged in the drink, which seems at odds with their, er… athleticism. And it's not that it can't be done: the Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro earpieces boast an IP57 rating, meaning they'll survive a 30-minute full submersion in water up to a depth of one meter.

• Features score: 4/5

(Image credit: Future) Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 review: Sound quality

• Energetic and forward-sounding – almost to a fault
• A little tinny in some profiles; beaten by the original Powerbeats Pro for bass weight
• Turning off noise cancellation negatively affects the sound

This is not quite the glowing praise that long-term fans of Beats' Powerbeats Pro might have been hoping for. The 3.5-star rating for sound quality below is not bad and make no mistake, the sound here is not without merit, but this is a huge and hotly-anticipated seventh-iteration Beats earbuds product and the heavily-leaked follow-up to the iconic Powerbeats Pro, nearly six years on. And the sound simply isn't excellent – and not just because the relatively lowly SBC and AAC codecs are supported (ie. no hi-res audio, unless you're using them with the Vision Pro).

Perhaps in part because the driver is smaller than in the original Powerbeats Pro (a 9.5mm dual-layer driver versus 12mm in the originals) the sound is very different, and just a little more constricted. Deploying noise cancellation gives the Pro 2 the best chance to shine, and here, with dynamic head-tracked spatial audio also toggled on, there is separation and a healthy serving of detail in Tom Petty's textured vocal in Free Fallin', with guitar strings grazing each ear and a bridge as dynamically abrupt and agile as I remember. Nevertheless, cue up Gunna's One of Wun and the smouldering track is notably moodier, fuller and more resonant through the low end in both AirPods Pro 2 and my Technics EAH-AZ100. Listen with the Technics and I'm dropped into the mix; switch to the Beats and I'm just a little bit above it, wanting to get stuck into the bass a little more.

The lengthy acoustic guitar intro in Rod Stewart's Maggie May (known as 'Henry' and played by Martin Quittenton) has energy and pep – there's no faulting the Powerbeats Pro 2 for timing across the frequencies – but as the track continues, the forward-focused nature of the Powerbeats Pro 2 rather over-emphasises the keys and mandolin in the upper mids, even making Rod-the-Mod's voice sound a touch tinny.

And sadly, things don't improve when you turn noise cancelling off, which appears to heat the soundstage up a notch, as if I'm listening on cassette tape. Cue up the transparency mode and it helps quash the marginal sweetness, but during a run I simply didn't feel like enough ambient noise filtered in – and there's no way to tweak the levels of filtering in (or being nixed) here rather than 'Transparency', 'Off', or 'Noise cancellation'.

• Sound quality score: 3.5/5

(Image credit: Future) Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 review: Design

• A triumph for security (and for on-ear volume tweaks)
• Case is smaller, but still big by today's standards
• They take a few seconds to fit – especially if you wear glasses

I've mentioned the slightly disappointing 'only splash-proof' IPX4 rating, so that's out of the way. I've also praised the up-to-45-hour stamina, which is a huge plus. Other than that, there's a lot to celebrate in the design department.

Said design (including the case, which can now charge wirelessly) is quite big by today's standards, but the Powerbeats Pro 2 are only as big as some of the best open-fit earbuds – the kind with the arm that slinks around your ear. In fact, you'd be forgiven for thinking this is an open-fit pair of earbuds given their size, but they're not – and for me, it's one of their biggest strengths.

In 2025, it's a very unusual proposition. Each earpiece also has a physical volume rocker on the bar above the 'b'-branded driver housing and because nothing works as consistently and reliably as physical buttons (maybe you're wearing gloves 'cause you're skiing; maybe your phone's in your kit bag) it's an excellent decision. It also means you're not fiddling with multiple presses of a main multi-function button to switch volume, which, as anyone used to this knows, can often mean unintended track skips or Siri piping up.

And the praise keeps coming! The colorways are excellent (see the 'electric orange' and 'hyper purple' colorways as well as your more standard black and 'quick sand' gray) and despite squeezing in that heart-rate monitor, Beats has made the Powerbeats Pro 2 light, very comfortable and unmovable. I tried to dislodge them during aerial hoop and silks training, spinning upside-down at speeds I've no business attempting these days, and they never even moved.

In combination with the extra pair of ear tips in the box, to equal five sizes rather than four (the ear tip fit test won't let you off lightly either), they're honestly some of the most well-fitting earbuds I've ever tested.

The only downside to all this security? Fitting them requires a little bit of work and if you're someone who tends to leave the house in a rush, you might find yourself reaching for earbuds you can throw in and go with fiddling. Unlike the best open earbuds, you do need to make sure the Powerbeats Pro 2's headshell is properly in your ear, then snake the arm around your ear, then twist everything back towards your crown, to lock it in.

I often found myself accidentally pressing playback buttons while doing this or dropping one if I didn't sit calmly to perform these tasks, especially since I wear glasses to look at my screen (and the arms of your glasses sit in the same spot as the arms of the Powerbeats Pro 2, behind the ear). The thing is, if security is your main issue, it's worth it. Ultimately, the design here is still a hit with me.

• Design score: 4.5/5

(Image credit: Future) Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 review: Value

• Excellent battery life
• Heart-rate monitor is unique right now
• Sonically they can be beaten for the money

At $249 / £249, the Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 are not cheap for a sports-focused set of earbuds – and indeed against Apple's AirPods lineup, considering Apple now makes its new AirPods 4 for just $129. But the Powerbeats Pro 2 do contain a ticker-tracking sensor no other AirPods can currently boast, and stamina levels that far exceed anything most earbuds can boast.

For me, the design is one of this proposition's biggest strengths; to others, the case may be a little big for the class of 2025. They aren't winning any awards sonically either – but the audio performance is a step up on most of the cheaper, sub-$100 wireless buds on the market when you deploy noise cancellation and dynamic head-tracked spatial audio. As always, it's a matter of priorities.

Honestly, I never thought I'd recommend a product that can't boast top-tier sound. But these earbuds go on for hour after hour, take your heart-rate and feel super-secure in your ears, so here we are…

• Value score: 4/5

(Image credit: Future) Should I buy the Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 review:

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

You need buds for gymnastics, athletics, dancing or training
Niche? Maybe. But these earbuds offer the most secure fit I've ever tested in a true wireless design.

You want to track your heart rate (without a watch)
The heart-rate monitor is currently an Apple- and Beats earbuds first, and it works very well.

You're willing to pay for better stamina
A 45-hour maximum playtime is up there with the best battery life we've ever seen – and it leaves AirPods for dust.

Don't buy them if...

Sound quality is king
The sound here is a shade under excellent across the frequencies, feeling a little light in terms of bass weight, and a little heavy-handed through the treble.

You want an in-app tweakable EQ tab
No dice here, friend…

You want to keep your ear canals uncovered
Given their larger, sports-focused design and ear 'hook', you'd be forgiven for assuming this is an open-ear design in 2025. But make no mistake, these are in-ear earbuds.

(Image credit: Future) Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 review: Also consider

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds
Prefer device-agnostic head-tracked spatial audio plus some of the best ANC in the business? These September 2023-issue earbuds from Bose are a great shout – and the in-ear security is nearly as good as the Powerbeats Pro 2. You'll have to forego multi-point connectivity, super-stamina (it's only 6 hours here) and a heart-rate monitor, but you'll get more detail from the sound quality.
Read more in our Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds review

Cambridge Audio Melomania M100
The ANC-off and transparency profiles are much more enjoyable here – as is the sound quality generally. You also get a similar battery life and the option of Matt Berry on voice prompts (his "Waiting to pair!" is a delight). The overall aesthetic isn't as striking though, and they aren't as secure in your ears – also you can forget about having your pulse read… 
Read our full Cambridge Audio Melomania M100 review

(Image credit: Future) How I tested the Beats Powerbeats Pro 2

• Tested for two weeks; listened against the AirPods 4, AirPods Pro 2, Cambridge Audio Melomania M100, Technics EAH-AZ100, JBL Live Beam 3, Bose QuietComfort Earbuds Ultra
• Used at work, at home, during aerial training and on a beach in Florida
• Listened to Tidal, Apple Music and Spotify on an iPhone 12 Pro, a Sony Xperia 1 V and a MacBook Pro

The Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 became my musical travel companions for two full weeks – after a thorough 48-hour run-in period. They accompanied me while running errands (fast walking; commuting), at home and throughout a surfing vacation in Florida – although they never joined me in the water (they're not waterproof, you see).

To better test the fit and security of the Powerbeats Pro 2, I wore them during a particularly upside-down aerial silks training session, a lyra (aerial hoop) class and a pole class, and they didn't budge once.

To test the audio quality across the frequencies, I consulted TechRadar's reference playlists spanning everything from electro-pop to blues (see our guide on how we test earbuds for more on this) on Apple Music, Qobuz and Tidal, but also to podcasts and albums on Spotify, and YouTube tutorials (mostly about how to bleed car brake pads, in case you were interested) on my MacBook Pro.

I’ve been testing audio products for just over six years now. As a dancer, aerialist and musical theater performer in a previous life, sound quality, the overall user experience and security have always been non-negotiable markers for me – and having heard how effective (and stress-relieving) ANC can be when the anti-phase tech is done well, I have grown to love it.

Read more about how we test

• First reviewed: February 2025

Iniu B6 power bank review

There are a lot of power banks on the market that seem great on paper, but it can be hard to know how they hold up in the real world. Iniu is one of my favourite brands thanks to very high-quality power banks with great features and a long warranty, but just as importantly, very reasonable prices. That said, when shopping online, the list price is often quite high, but the power bank is typically sold for much less.

The little Iniu B6 offers a lot considering the price tag, with a 10,000mAh (37Wh) capacity and a 20W (9V, 2.22A) PD 3.0 output, which will fast charge most phones fully at least once, with enough leftover for other devices or a second charge later on. The B6 measures 13.6 x 7 x 1.5cm, weighs 210 grams – a better-than-average size and weight for the capacity, making it ideal for slipping into a pocket, purse or bag.

(Image credit: Future)

The B6 has a single USB-C port, as well as two USB-A ports and a large easy-to-read digital display that shows the capacity still available to use. In the box, you get a USB-A to USB-C cable and a carry bag – the latter is a nice inclusion, as the soft-touch coating on the B6 is great to hold but prone to scratches. The soft-touch coating also holds fingerprints and fluff, and I do worry that it might degrade and feel sticky in the future but, so far, it's held up well.

The power bank has an LED torch that can be turned on by double pressing the power button. Sure, it’s not very bright, but I've found it very useful for finding lost items in a dark bag. Plus, it will literally run for days – I often use it as a portable night light when travelling. For example, a bit of dim illumination is very helpful when trying to find the bathroom in a dark, unfamiliar hotel room, and avoids needing to turn on the main lights.

The B6 also has a pull-out phone holder that turns the power bank into a stand when charging – also very handy when travelling.

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(Image credit: TechRadar) Iniu B6: Price & specs Iniu B6: Test results

I conduct comprehensive testing of power banks to make sure they can meet the manufacturer's claims. All in all, the B6 gives excellent results that are well above average – especially considering the price.

In testing, the B6 has excellent voltage accuracy and can output 85% of its rated capacity at 20W (9V, 2.22A) and an even better 91% at 5V. These are very impressive results considering the affordable price. The B6 also supports PPS mode from 5V to 11V at 2A, and 5V to 5.9V at 3A, allowing compatible phones to charge faster and more efficiently. Note that while the B6 is listed as 22.5W, that's at 5V 4.5A (or 4.5V 5A) which is not supported on most phones.

I first tested this Iniu B6 back in May 2023, and have used it as one of my main power banks ever since. Along the way, I have performed periodic cyclic testing and have not turned up any appreciable capacity loss, so I am very confident that the B6 will last well long term. But of course, it’s worth mentioning (again) that Iniu offers a generous three-year warranty, providing peace of mind if you do have an issue.

(Image credit: TechRadar) Should I buy the Iniu B6? Buy it if...

You need an affordable power bank
The B6 is one of the best-value power banks available, and is often on sale for even less from retailers like Amazon. The B6 offers features, specs, warranty and test results that are as good as premium power banks.

You plan to charge a phone
The 10,000mAh capacity and 20W output is perfect for topping up small devices when on the go. It’s also just the right size to slip into a bag and not even notice it’s there.

Don't buy it if...

You want to charge a laptop
While great for charging small devices like phones, tablets and earbuds, a higher output power bank is a better option for laptops or handheld gaming devices.

You need to charge multiple devices
The 10,000 mAh capacity is perfect for topping up a phone, but if you want to charge multiple devices, a larger 20,000 mAh power bank is a better option.

(Image credit: TechRadar) Also consider

The Iniu B6 is one of the best affordable power banks available, but below are a few other options if you are looking for something different.

Iniu B41 power bank
The B41 is slightly slimmer and lighter than the B6, but doesn’t offer fast charging. Still, that’s a perfectly fine trade-off depending on your charging needs.

Read our full Iniu B41 power bank review

Iniu B5 20,000 mAh power bank
For those who like the look of the B6 but need a larger capacity, the Iniu B5 has the same number of ports and output voltages and amperage as the B6, but has a 20,000mAh (74Wh) battery. It includes the same torch, but no phone holder, and measures in at a larger 13.5 x 7.1 x 2.5cm and weighs 362 grams.

Read our full Iniu B5 power bank review

How I test power banks

I get hands-on with every power bank I can, and performance extensive testing in both the lab and real-world scenarios. Using equipment like the ChargerLab POWER-Z KM003C, I check charge voltage, protocol support, and log capacity tests.

Each power bank is also tested with real devices, including phones, tablets, laptops, and others, and connected to a programmable load tester for multiple charge cycles. I carry a selection daily in both pockets and bags to assess their durability and ability to withstand rough, everyday use.

All measurements and weights are personally verified, ensuring accuracy beyond the manufacturer’s listings.

Want to know more? Read about how we test.

Two-minute review

The Echo Show 15 is back, with some moderate hardware upgrades and quality-of-life improvements that make for a slightly more rounded offering. The original Echo Show 15 sat a little on the periphery of Amazon’s smart display range, with the more popular Echo Show 8, Echo Show 5 and the more snazzy Echo Show 10 taking center stage. So, does the new Echo Show 15 (2024) earn a place alongside its siblings on our list of the best smart displays you can buy today?

The first Echo Show 15 found itself on the sidelines following a slightly lackluster launch and early performance – at least that was the case until Amazon released a Fire TV update. Despite its weak sound and underwhelming display, that upgrade made the Echo Show 15 a far more interesting proposition as a smart display for kitchens, offices and other rooms where even a small TV might be too obtrusive.

The 15-inch smart display has always suffered from a bit of an identity crisis, having been designed to cater to the relatively small niche market of “small TV-shaped smart hubs” by offering app support for various streaming services in addition to the standard array of music streaming platforms supported by the best smart speakers, as well as some basic smart home controls.

(Image credit: Future)

However, following the release of the Echo Hub in early 2024, which arrived rocking a new user interface and features specifically designed for smart-home control, I had high hopes that some improved smart-home… well, smarts, from the Echo Hub’s user interface would make an appearance in the second-generation Echo Show 15 as well as the all-new Echo Show 21.

Sadly, that’s not the case. Instead, the Echo Show 15 once again serves the dual purpose of being an entertainment and smart-home hub, this time made complete with built-in Fire TV at launch, widgets, and an Alexa Voice remote and a few added hardware upgrades. It also totes an improved camera, display and audio, as well as connectivity supporting Matter, Thread and Zigbee, all in response to customer feedback from the first generation and to ensure that the hardware meets current smart home and entertainment needs.

By and large, Amazon has addressed the bare minimum upgrades needed to make the Echo Show 15 a more attractive option; unfortunately, not enough has changed for me to recommend the device as a must-have smart display. Especially with the release of the all-new Echo Show 21, the Echo Show 15 doesn't even have "being the biggest Amazon Echo Show" going for it anymore. It is, however, a nice-to-have screen that might fill a relatively small gap in your smart-home ecosystem, and is plenty capable for what it is.

(Image credit: Future) Echo Show 15 (2024): Design

• Simple picture frame design
• Super easy setup
• Includes Fire TV remote

Echo Show 15 (2024): Specs

Screen size: 15.6 inches

Dimensions: 15.8 x 9.9 x 1.4 inches / 40 x 25 x 3.5cm

Resolution: 1080p resolution

Connecivity: Matter, Wi-Fi, Thread, Zigbee, Bluetooth

Voice assistant: Alexa

Camera: 13MP

Weight: 4.85lbs / 2.2kg

The design of the Echo Show 15 (2024) is suitably unassuming for a device that’s intended to be functional rather than being a centerpiece, retaining the simple, picture frame-esque form of the original model. The main frame is black, with a white matte surrounding the 15.6-inch screen.

It’s wall-mountable out of the box, with a super easy sub-five-minute setup – or, if you owned the original model, you can switch it straight out as it uses the exact same frame – and it’s also compatible with standardized VESA mounts, which are widely available. It can be set up in either a horizontal or vertical orientation, but you’d need to re-fit the included bracket to do change the orientation. It’s a nice option, though I’d imagine most users would opt for horizontal to use its screen for TV and film, and you can opt to buy a third-party rotating wall mount if you regularly want to switch between the two.

A variety of stands are also available, including the official stand made by Sanus (sold separately for $33 / £34; it’s not yet sold in Australia) which allows you to use the Echo Show 15 in tabletop mode. Whichever way you set it up, the main thing to consider other than visibility is the camera field of view – this has seen a significant upgrade in the newer model, but if you want to make use of Vision ID and video calls you’ll need to make sure the camera is unobstructed and has a good view of the room.

(Image credit: Future)

Along the top edge are the manual controls: a physical switch for the camera’s privacy shutter, as well as volume and mute buttons. At 15.8 x 9.9 x 1.4 inches / 40 x 25 x 3.5cm, its footprint is considerable, and that only increases if you opt to use the tilt stand, which adds a further 7.5 inches / 19cm to its depth. Along the top edge (in horizontal orientation), the camera is seated centrally in the white matte instead of in the top-left corner per its predecessor.

Also included is the Alexa Voice Remote, which can be used to control the new Fire TV interface – this is just a standard Alexa remote, which you’ll be familiar with if you own one of Amazon’s Fire TV sticks.

(Image credit: Future) Echo Show 15 (2024): Performance

• Bright and vivid screen
• Improved audio and camera specs...
• ... however audio quality is still lacking

Thanks to some moderate hardware upgrades, performance is the area where the Echo Show 15 (2024) stands above the first-generation device, although unfortunately not by enough to make it a meaningful upgrade if you already have the original Show 15.

Let’s start with the display. It’s bright and clear, and the 1080p resolution is perfectly passable for a screen of this size, and is well-suited to streaming, web browsing and reading from any distance. However, the lack of HDR is something we had a complaint about in the original model, and, unfortunately, Amazon didn’t deign to upgrade the display specs for the second generation to boost contrast and color saturation. Still, black levels are plenty good enough, and given that this isn’t the kind of screen I’d expect users to have their eyes glued to, it’s a forgivable omission.

Audio specs saw a significant upgrade in the second-generation Echo Show 15, with the newer model housing dual 2-inch woofers in addition to two 0.6-inch tweeters, versus the original model’s two 1.6-inch full drivers.

Does this change have a noticeable impact? Absolutely – the new Echo Show 15 is certainly louder than the first-generation model, and the bass is more pronounced. However, it suffers from issues that seem common to many of Amazon’s speakers: a lack of detail in the highs, muddy bass that’s lacking in dynamics, and boosted mid frequencies which mostly serve to create considerable distortion at high volumes.

(Image credit: Future)

Listening to Fleetwood Mac’s The Chain, there’s a whole lot of bass – enough to overpower the already-subdued vocals – but the audio lacks the drive and meat needed to compliment the track. Complex and textured tracks like Radiohead’s 15 Step are all too easily muddied, with the Echo Show 15 lacking the fidelity and stereo separation to handle the mix. The scratchy electric guitar strums and bass sit right up front alongside Thom Yorke’s mournful vocals for much of the track, which would be fine were it not for the fact that the rest of the track feels muddy and directionless, with dull highs and flat percussion letting down the Echo Show 15.

While its handling of music might not be the most balanced, I will say that the Echo Show 15 is well suited to the spoken word, and in this regard it’s again leaning into its role as a small smart TV rather than a smart display. Still, I’d have hoped to see a little more improvement and bang for your buck in this second-generation model, and a little more range.

Also upgraded in this new model is the now-13MP wide-angle camera, which is primed for improved Alexa video calls, using Amazon’s Drop In feature, as well as for calls using Zoom or Skype. It’s a notable step up from the previous model’s 5MP camera, especially thanks to the new auto framing and 3.3x zoom, and as with all camera-equipped Echo devices the Echo Show 15 doubles as an in-home security camera that you can check in on when you’re away.

(Image credit: Future) Echo Show 15 (2024): Software

• Quick and clear Alexa responses
• Fire TV support out-of-the-box
• Customizable widgets make smart home control quicker

Alexa’s responses are zippy, offering all the usual Alexa Skills and commands we’ve come to expect from Amazon’s smart speaker and displays thanks to its Octa-core AZ2 system-on-chip. Much like other available Echo Show devices, by default the Echo Show 15 displays a customizable widget control center, framed by a rotation of content from default images to your own photos, news, and content suggestions.

In a similar vein, the screen UI is pretty clean and runs smoothly, benefitting from years of Echo Show software development despite using the same hardware as the original Echo Show 15. By comparison, the Echo Hub’s newer, smart home-first interface was a little on the buggy side, but I would still have much preferred to have the option to switch to a more smart home-device-oriented alternative.

The included Alexa Voice Remote is a nice touch that serves to drive home the fact that this screen is well suited for streaming, but a slight niggle I have is that it can only control the Fire TV interface and music. Especially during the evening, when I don’t want to quarrel loudly with Alexa, I prize manual control features that don’t involve me standing; I’d love if the remote was configured to control the entire UI, inclusive of smart-home devices to this end.

Any excuse to re-re-re-watch Studio Ghibli's Spirited Away... (Image credit: Future)

However, the remote is handy for Fire TV navigation, especially given that the display doesn’t always play ball with touch controls. The Echo Show 15 comes pre-loaded with many of the best streaming services and support for a wide range of platforms, but Amazon again misses a trick hereby not leaning further into its smart TV functionality and incorporating Miracast/WiDi support for screen mirroring.

Widgets are great, but once again they’re underutilized in Amazon’s smart display interface. With woefully few customization options to reshape, resize, configure or create your own widgets, this feature still feels half-baked. Amazon’s first-party widgets are naturally the most useful, and there are a decent amount to choose from, but it’s not the magic bullet the Echo Show 15 very much needs for its smart-home offering.

However, I really appreciate the option to customize widgets and interfaces based on user profiles, meaning whole families and households alike can benefit from the assistive tech on board the Echo Show 15. During my testing, I switched out with my partner several times in an hour, and Vision ID correctly identified each time who had just walked in, showing them their personalized content suggestions.

(Image credit: Future) Echo Show 15 (2024): Price and availability

• Release date: December 2024
• Price: $299 / £299 / AU$549

The Echo Show 15 is available from Amazon in the US, UK and Australia for $299 / £299 / AU$549 respectively. That’s a small price increase over the original model, and while you do now get an included remote and slightly better specs, I’m very much ‘whelmed’ by Amazon’s efforts here, in terms of value for money.

That’s especially true of the stand situation; it would have been perfectly reasonable, given the volume of customers who don’t have the option or desire to wall-mount their screens, to include a small, stable kickstand. Instead, you have to opt for either the official Sanus stand (sold separately for $33 / £34. It’s not yet sold in Australia) or for one of the many alternative – and often pricey - VESA mounts.

(Image credit: Future) Should I buy the Echo Show 15? Buy it if...

You want a small, smart TV

If you fit into the relatively small niche of people who want a smart entertainment hub that also houses Alexa, this is the screen for you.

You mostly want to stream video

Between its moderate audio and display specs and the included Fire TV remote, the Echo Show is well suited to streaming TV shows and movies.

Don't buy it if...

You want to upgrade your original Echo Show 15

Unless you’re really desperate, not enough has changed nor improved from the original model to justify this upgrade.

You want a smart-home-first display

The Echo Show 15 leans more towards entertainment than it does granular, accessible smart-home control.

Amazon Echo Show 15: also consider

If you're not sure the Amazon Echo Show 15 is the right smart hub for you, here are further options to consider:

Amazon Echo Show 8 (3rd gen)

The latest generation model boasts better audio, faster performance and added support for Matter, Thread and Zigbee. The only big thing that holds it back is its uptick in price.

Read our full Echo Show 8 (3rd Gen) review

Amazon Echo Show 21

The new 21-inch Amazon Echo Show offers much the same as the new Echo Show 15, but in a bigger frame.

Read our full Echo Show 21 review

(Image credit: Future) How I tested the Echo Show 15 (2024)

• I used the Echo Show 15 as my primary smart home hub for one month
• I tested its display, audio, and camera specs with real-world testing
• I used all of its various smart-home control features

To put the Echo Show 15 through its paces I tested all of its significant feature and hardware upgrades against the first-generation model, other Echo displays and speakers in my home, and Google Nest devices.

I watched and listened to a variety of media to test the range and performance of the smart display, as well as trying out all of the various features and unique selling points. I incorporated the Echo Show 15 into my wider smart home ecosystem, which is also populated with smart security cameras, lights and appliances, and used it to control my home.

I’ve been testing smart-home devices for three years and using them personally for even longer, during which time I’ve learned everything there is to know about what makes a good smart display or speaker. I use Alexa and other smart assistants every day to run my home.

Govee RGBIC LED Strip Light review

The Govee RGBIC LED Strip Light is a Bluetooth-controlled length of customizable LED lights that can be applied around interior surfaces to create a subtle or eye-catching light feature. Govee has a large range of LED strip lights available, but this particular model appears to be available only at Amazon at the time of writing. There’s a list price of $28.99 / £27.99 for the 32.8 ft / 10-meter H617C model of the Govee RGBIC LED Strip Light I’ve tested, and there’s also the shorter 16.4 ft / 5-meter H617A model available, retailing at $14.99 / £19.99. Longer lengths can be purchased in packs of two reels, with the 65.6 ft / 20 meter H617E costing $52.99 / £45.99, and the 100 ft H617F at $69.99.

The back of the length of the LED strip has double-sided tape ready-applied; not 3M tape, which is a shame, but the strength of the tape seemed satisfactory over the time I tested it. It’s important to note that the longevity of the hold from any adhesive relies on factors like the surface it’s applied to, and any tension due to cable positioning, etc.

(Image credit: Future)

When it came to applying the Govee RGBIC LED Strip Light around corners, I was pleased to find that the strip was very flexible, as long as there wasn’t a bit of hardware on the part of the strip that needed to bend. This is why it’s always advisable to check the positioning of any stick-on light strips before committing. Other than the generic double-sided tape, the quality of the Govee RGBIC LED Strip Light looked satisfactory for the money, though of course, how the unlit strip looked isn’t what’s important here.

Before delving into the fancier features, I used the control box to turn on the Govee RGBIC LED Strip Light to observe the quality and brightness of the light. The LEDs were all in working order, performed well, and had no problem playing out sequences and switching between different colors.

The Govee Home app was required to make the most of all the Govee RGBIC LED Strip Light’s features. I’m already a big fan of the Govee companion app, as I made clear in my review of the Govee Table Lamp 2, thanks to its attractive and easy-to-navigate interface. Syncing the Govee RGBIC LED Strip Light to the Govee Home app took mere seconds as the app detected it almost instantly, and connected to the LED strip quickly upon selection.

(Image credit: Future)

There are a lot of features available, a simple but useful one being the brightness adjustment bar on the main page. Under different tabs I found more adjustable settings, including customizable color selections that could be applied to the entire strip or specific segments, and a great selection of ready-made scenes, which changed the lighting effect to reflect my choice of sunrise, forest, or glacier, to name a few.

There’s also an AI feature which, in my experience, wasn’t the most inspiring. I took a photo of a sunset-colored travel mug I own, and a bit of my grey and white marble-effect desk could be seen in the background. I can’t say I could see the resemblance in the resulting light combination, but I think this feature is best suited to highly saturated colorful images. For any custom color palettes or effects I created, there’s a DIY section where I could save them, making it easy to store and access my favorites.

(Image credit: Future)

As the Govee RGBIC LED Strip Light doesn’t have smart capabilities, I wasn't able to connect to my Amazon Alexa, so I naturally couldn’t use voice control or set routines, no matter which of the best smart home devices I owned. Fortunately, however, there’s a timer function on the Govee Home app, with several slots to choose which time and days you want the light strip to power on, and when to power off again. There’s also a wake-up feature that once set will gradually build up to maximum brightness in the ten minutes leading up to the assigned time.

Overall, I’m quite fond of this Govee light strip. While there are many cheaper RGBIC LED light strips out there, I haven’t encountered any to date that rival the ready-made scenes or the level of customization available via the Govee Home app. If you’re interested in brightening up your home with smart lighting I recommend checking out our best smart lights guide for a variety of products that cater to different requirements.

(Image credit: Future) Govee RGBIC LED Strip Light review: Price and specs Should I buy the Govee RGBIC LED Strip Light? Buy it if...

You want something simple
This LED strip is easy to install, set up, and use (even for the not-so-tech-savvy) thanks to the large-buttoned control box.

You want the best of both worlds
With a variety of pre-set colors and scenes to choose from and a load of customizable settings too, you can make things as simple or specific as required.

Don't buy it if...

You want to add to your smart home setup
One thing this Govee light strip lacks is smart connectivity, so if you’ve got the rest of your lighting set to a routine and want your light strip to fall in line, this isn’t the one for you.

You want something cheap and simple
If you just want to add a little ambiance with single colors and prefer a physical remote to app control, then you may find cheaper LED strips that tick all your boxes.

Govee RGBIC LED Strip Light review: Also consider

WiZ LED strip smart light
If you happen to prefer the reassurance of 3M adhesive, this Wiz LED strip smart light connects via 2.4GHz Wi-Fi and is Matter compatible, although curiously it doesn’t connect via Bluetooth. The available smart features mean that this strip can easily be incorporated into your current ecosystem, or be used as your first building block. To learn more, check out our full WiZ LED strip smart light review.

How I tested the Govee RGBIC LED Strip Light

• I tested the Govee RGBIC LED Strip Light for one week
• I looked at the quality and flexibility of the LED strip
• I tested the app's different features and customizable settings

I set up the Govee RGBIC LED Strip Light and synced it with the Govee Home app. I took a close look at the quality of the materials used, including the adhesive and the hardware. I tested how flexible it was and how well it handled corners. I checked that all LEDs were working, ensuring there were no gaps in the run of lights.

I assessed how easy it was to control the Govee RGBIC LED Strip Light, and looked at the different customizable settings. I created my own color palettes before saving them in the DIY folder, tested out the AI feature, and ready-made scenes.

• First reviewed: February 2025
• Read more about how we test

ThisWorx Corded Car Vacuum Cleaner review Product info

The UK model I’ve tested has since become unavailable to purchase, with no details to suggest when it might be back in stock. There are identical-looking car vacuums available under a different brand, but we cannot guarantee that these would perform the same.

The US model is still available and looks identical. However, the specifications may vary from those of the UK model I’ve tested.

The ThisWorx Corded Car Vacuum Cleaner is a cable-powered and easy-to-wield handheld vacuum cleaner that comes with some helpful accessories and a storage bag. It has a list price of $36.99 at Amazon, and was available in the UK until recently, with no hint of when it may be back in stock. There’s a variety of budget handheld vacs available on Amazon, and results can be somewhat hit-and-miss, but in the case of the ThisWorx Corded Car Vacuum Cleaner, it’s a low-cost vacuum that’s worth the money.

I must admit, the ThisWorx Corded Car Vacuum Cleaner appealed to me straight out of the box simply because it has rose gold buttons on – clearly I’m easily pleased. Aside from this detail, I was happy with the overall aesthetic and the materials used. It mostly comprises not-too-cheap-looking matt black plastic, with a smoky black translucent dust cup that makes up the front end of the vacuum. ThisWorx hasn’t provided a capacity for the dust cup, but it doesn’t look much smaller than the dust cup of the Temola TS20BS Cordless Handheld Vacuum.

(Image credit: Cesci Angell / Future)

I liked how the air outlet vents have been somewhat made into a feature, as they’re fin-like and curved. The integrated handle is easy to hold and while at 2.4lbs / 1.1kg it’s not as light as other car vacuums I’ve tested, it’s still light enough and easy to wield. The rose-colored buttons are clearly differentiable and easy to use. There’s a simple slide switch engraved with a power button symbol and a rounded button that releases the catch holding the dust cup when pushed.

While many users prefer a wireless vacuum, I found the 16ft / 4.8m power cord offered plenty of length to vacuum my whole car. It plugged into my car's 12V outlet easily, and this constant power meant that I wasn’t limited to a 10-15 minute run time as many cordless of the best handheld vacuums are. The dimensions of the ThisWorx Corded Car Vacuum Cleaner are fairly average, measuring ‎13.4 x 3.9 x 4.3 inches / 340 x 102 x 109mm, so it was small enough to use in my footwells. For harder-to-reach areas, the extension tube and flathead nozzle came in handy, as this allowed me to get down the sides of the seats. This car vac also comes with a brush head, spare HEPA filter, filter cleaning brush, a storage bag, and a hanging car freshener, too.

(Image credit: Cesci Angell / Future)

I consider it a bonus when a handheld vacuum comes with a storage bag. The one that comes with the ThisWorx Corded Car Vacuum Cleaner could not only hold the vacuum and the accessories but it was easy to carry as well. The quality isn’t fantastic, I must say. The material is thin and looks like it could get easily torn, so I can’t speak of its longevity, but it was convenient over the week I tested this car vac.

Getting the ThisWorx Corded Car Vacuum Cleaner ready to rumble was pretty easy. There was no charging time to factor in thanks to its corded design, and I just needed to follow the instructions that stated I’d need to remove and reinsert the HEPA filter. The user manual stated this may be difficult to do at first, and they weren’t wrong, but after that point, it was easy to put back in place and remove. I liked that there was a plastic bar across the center of the filter, as this made life easier when it came to removing it, which is especially useful as the filter needed to be removed each time I needed to empty the dust cup.

(Image credit: Cesci Angell / Future)

Despite only having one power setting, the ThisWorx Corded Car Vacuum Cleaner had no issue vacuuming up the oats I’d spread over my car’s floor mat. It picked up basically everything in its path on the first pass, spare a couple of smaller particles, but it picked these up quickly when I went back over those spots. It performed well when vacuuming up the mixture of fine biscuit crumbs and flour, too, but there were some very fine particles within the pile that it wasn’t quite powerful enough to suck up.

This was the perfect opportunity to try out the extension tube and brush. Both ends of the hose look similar, but there’s a helpful arrow on the end that should be inserted into the vac. Both accessories were easy to fit in place, and the brush enabled me to clean up the finer particles, although it took a few passes, making it more effort to use than the Shark Ultracyclone Pet Pro Plus, the overall champion of our best car vacuum, but this is understandable considering the substantial price difference.

(Image credit: Cesci Angell / Future)

The position of the air outlets was good, as the fin-like vents were positioned on the sides of the vacuum and blew backward, so I didn’t have any issues with the stream of air shooting oats and biscuit crumbs around my car, as happened when I tested the Homekane Handheld Vacuum Cleaner Cordless.

I tested ThisWorx Corded Car Vacuum Cleaner in a full car clean, and my driver's footwell was no easy task. I was pleased to find the suction was strong enough to get small bits of leaf debris and gravel out of my car's carpeting, something weaker vacuums I’ve tested struggled with. This car vacuum tackled the leaves and bits of gravel well, although I needed to empty the dust cup halfway through as the one-inch leaves unavoidably covered the filter. It took a few minutes, and I needed to finish off with the brush to get the finer debris out of the carpet pile, but overall I was pleased with the results from the ThisWorx Corded Car Vacuum Cleaner.

In a nutshell, I’d happily spend $36.99 on this handheld vacuum cleaner. It looks nice, is easy to hold and, in my opinion, the corded power is a bonus as I don’t need to wait for it to recharge if I want to do a thorough clean. While the storage bag is a little on the cheap side, it still proved useful, and the accessories were a suitable quality for the price. If you’d prefer a named-brand vacuum, take a look at our selection of the best car vacuums, handheld vacuums, and cordless vacuums to learn about our favorites.

ThisWorx Corded Car Vacuum Cleaner specs Should I buy the ThisWorx Corded Car Vacuum Cleaner? Buy it if...

You don’t want to risk running out of juice
Many people love a cordless vac, but if, like me, you like to spend time doing a thorough job, this corded design means you won’t be cleaning against the clock.

You want something easy to store
Whether you’d keep this handheld vac in your car or in a cupboard, the small size and storage bag make it easy to pack away when you’re not using it.

Don't buy it if...

You want a cordless vac
Corded vacs can have their limitations, especially if you own a motor home or a large vehicle. If this is the case for you, then a cordless handheld vacuum would be your best bet.

Don’t buy if you want control over suction power
While this vacuum had a good level of suction, there may be situations where you require more or less power. If so, a handheld vac with different suction modes might prove more efficient.

ThisWorx Corded Car Vacuum Cleaner review: also consider

Temola TS20BS
The TS20BS is satisfyingly lightweight and easy to use. It's cordless, has two speeds to choose from, and even has a helpful LED light for better visibility when vacuuming awkward spaces. The only downside to this efficient car vacuum is that there doesn't appear to be separate filters to purchase, so that's something to bear in mind. If you'd like to learn more about this Temola vac, check out my full Temola TS20BS review.

How I tested the ThisWorx Corded Car Vacuum Cleaner

• I used the ThisWorx Corded Car Vacuum Cleaner to clean my car
• I assessed its ability to vacuum both large and fine debris
• I tested the included accessories

I took a close look at the design and materials used for the ThisWorx Corded Car Vacuum Cleaner. I put it through its paces against the TechRadar vacuum testing process in my car. This involves testing a vacuum's ability to pick up fine and coarse particles, namely oats, and a mixture of flour and fine biscuit crumbs.

I assessed the fit of the accessories and used each of them to see how effective they were. I also looked at how easy and efficient the dust cup emptying process was.

• First reviewed January 2025
• Read more about how we test vacuum cleaners

Amazon Echo Show 21: two-minute review

The idea of combining a smart speaker with a flat screen is certainly not a new one for Amazon. Amazingly, it’s over seven years since the first-generation Echo Shows launched, and three since the original Echo Show 15 first arrived in homes. At that time, its 15-inch display made it the largest Echo device inside Amazon’s stable. But not anymore. That accolade now goes to the newly-launched Echo Show 21.

Essentially, the Echo Show 21 is a larger version of the latest Echo Show 15, complete with Alexa, built-in Fire TV, and an Alexa voice remote. It even features the same mounting bracket as the Echo Show 15, which is handy if you have multiple devices you want to swap over. Capable of being installed in portrait or landscape orientation, it’s best to think of the Echo Show as a rather large web tablet (albeit one with much better speakers). So, in the same way you might use an iPad to display a recipe in the kitchen or control your home’s heating, so you might use an Echo Show to do these things.

It’s much more than that, though. Once you’ve gone through the setup process, pairing the Echo Show with your home’s Wi-Fi and the Alexa voice remote, there’s the option of customizing it all. Usefully, because the Echo Show 21 has Fire TV built in, you can use it much like you would a smart TV. Buttons are provided on the Alexa voice remote for accessing Prime Video, as well as Netflix. Alternatively, you can press the app button to access other apps you have downloaded to your device such as Apple TV, Disney+, and YouTube. You also have the option to display images from your Amazon photo library when the device is not use.

However, the Echo Show really comes into its own with all the other widgets you can add. Just swipe down from the top of the display and hit ‘widget gallery’. There you will find everything you need to help you organize your life, from sticky notes to shopping lists and from calendars to daily reminders. It can also display local weather, so you're fully prepared when you leave the house.

The Amazon Echo Show 21 is a good-looking device with an attractive wooden frame (Image credit: Chris Price)

Once you’ve made your choice, each of the widgets is then displayed on the home screen. And if you want more details, you only have to touch the screen to bring up more information. For example, while the weather widget shows the temperature for the next four hours, you can find out more information (such as the likelihood of rain and whether you need an umbrella) by pressing the weather option on the home screen to bring info up across the entire display.

Want to control connected devices within your home, such as your smart thermostat, lights, and home security cameras? There’s a ‘smart home favorites’ widget for that. Not only will this allow you to control options such as the temperature of your property, it will also do things like display footage from a connected video doorbell if someone comes to the door. Support is provided for Matter and Thread, which means you can use the Echo Show 21 as a Zigbee Hub.

Finally, also on board is the Echo Show 21 is a 13MP selfie camera (complete with privacy shutter) for video calls. This includes Alexa Drop Ins, which lets you get in touch via video or voice using other connected devices in the household. It’s particularly handy if you want to tell the kids that dinner is ready and they’re not responding to yells from the kitchen because they are on their devices.

Amazon Echo Show 21: price and availability

• $399/£399.99 without stand, $100/£100 extra with stand
• Available now
• Available in the US and UK

Released in November 2024, the Amazon Echo Show 21 costs £399 or $399 direct from Amazon for the standard wall-mount installation (at the time of writing it's not available in Australia). However, if you want a desktop/counter stand you will have to pay an additional $100/£100 on top of that. That makes the Echo Show 21 the most expensive device in Amazon’s line-up, at $100/£100 more than the smaller Amazon Echo Show 15.

It’s not an excessive amount of money for what it is, but it's not an absolute bargain either. A decent 43-inch smart TV will now set you back less money, so it does seem a little pricey.

That said, the Amazon Echo Show 21 is much more than a smart TV. It offers much greater functionality and interactivity for starters, including the ability to control your smart home, music and calendars, as well as being able to stream content from video services.

Importantly, it also feels very solid and well made, with an attractive wooden frame around the outside. It certainly makes a nice addition to the kitchen, living room or office, especially if you are looking for all of the features of an Echo Show device, but with a bigger screen.

• Value score: 3.5 / 5

Amazon Echo Show 21: specs Amazon Echo Show 21: design and installation

• Mounting bracket for portrait/landscape orientation
• Solid design with black wooden frame around 21.5-inch screen
• Alexa voice remote

Designed to be mounted on the wall, the hefty Amazon Echo Show 21 comes with a metal bracket in the box (alternatively, you can buy a desktop stand but our review sample didn’t include one). This means you will need a drill, a spirit level and hammer for installation. Four screws and four wall plugs are provided in the pack, as well as paper wall-mount template that helps you drill holes into the right places.

The Echo Show 21 is supplied with a bracket that lets you mount it vertically or horizontally on a wall (Image credit: Chris Price)

Once the bracket is installed, you simply slide the Echo Show 21 into place in either landscape or portrait orientation. I used it extensively in both modes, but personally preferred it in portrait because I found it better for displaying the widgets. Around the actual screen is a white background and around that is a black wooden surround, giving the Echo Show the look and feel of a large photo frame. Large speakers are built into either side of the display and on top (in landscape mode) are buttons for volume up/down as well as two pinhole microphones.

For privacy, there’s also a button that switches the microphones on and off (this glows red when activated) and a privacy shutter that covers the 13MP camera. The power cable needs to be inserted into a recess on the back of the display before it’s mounted to the wall, but at 1.5m it’s not overly long, which could limit your options when it comes to positioning it. Finally, you will need to pair the display with the Alexa Voice Remote (it is the same as the one you get for Amazon Fire Sticks).

The power cable plugs into the back of the Echo Show 21, but isn't very long (Image credit: Chris Price)

This can only be paired with one device at a time, and can’t control skills and services outside the Fire TV experience. Also, while some video streaming services such as Amazon Prime can be fully controlled using the touch screen display, other services such as Netflix provide only limited functionality without the remote.

In addition to the circular navigation pad and usual forward/rewind and home buttons, the remote includes an Alexa option with a pinhole microphone for use instead of the smart display’s far-field microphones. As with other Alexa devices, you can change the wake word of the Echo Show 21 – handy if you have several Amazon devices near to one another.

• Design score: 4.5/5

Amazon Echo Show 21: performance

• Crisp 1,920 x 1,080 display
• Maybe a little too bright
• Much improved sound system and onboard 13MP camera

The largest display in Amazon's Echo series, with nearly double the viewing area of the Echo Show 15, the Echo Show 21 certainly cuts an imposing figure once mounted on the wall. In fact, it seems more like a much larger smart TV than a glorified touch screen display with built-in Alexa, especially when mounted in landscape mode.

With double the viewing area of the Amazon Echo Show 15, the Echo Show 21 makes a real statement when mounted on the wall (Image credit: Chris Price)

Boasting a highly reflective 1,920 x 1,080 display, the Echo Show 21's picture quality is excellent, delivering crisp, bright images. However, it’s arguably a little too bright especially when watching video content. The first thing I had to do once I switched the display on was to swipe down from the top to turn the brightness down. However, switching adaptive brightness does help a little, automatically adjusting brightness levels based on the ambient light levels in the room. Turn down the room’s lights and the screen will dim too, turn them up and the screen will brighten.

Also on board is a proximity sensor, which adjusts what’s on the screen when you aren't actively using it. When no one is nearby, it closes the control panel and rotates through a variety of screens. For example, it could display various content suggestions such as jokes or football scores or act as a large photo frame, cycling through images in your Amazon picture library. It will also support multiple users, switching between different profiles using facial recognition when the camera is active or via voice recognition instead.

The Amazon Echo 21 features various widgets that let you see information at a glance, and what's displayed can change depending on your proximity (Image credit: Chris Price)

One of the criticisms of previous Echo Show devices was the poor quality of the onboard camera. Thankfully this has been addressed with the Echo Show 21. Supporting auto-framing, 3.3x zoom and noise reduction technology, the built-in 13MP camera works extremely well – whether you're using Alexa Drop In to tell the kids that the dinner is ready, or calling someone for a business meeting. However, if you are worried about privacy you can always cover up the camera using the Camera Shutter button on top of the display, as well as switch the onboard microphones off.

Some reviewers thought sound from the first Echo Show 15 was poor, Amazon has decided to improve it considerably on the new generation smart displays (both 15- and 21-inch versions). In fact, sound on the latest 21-inch model is surprisingly punchy, thanks to reasonably large side mounted speakers complete with two 2-inch woofers and two 0.6-inch tweeters (the previous Echo Show 15 only had two 1.6-inch tweeters).

The Echo Show 21 works well in landscape mode for entertainment, but it really shines as a smart home hub in portrait mode (Image credit: Chris Price)

Over a period of three weeks, I listened to a range of music from various streaming services, including Spotify and Amazon, and found the experience really enjoyable. However, it’s fair to say that the Echo Show 21 still only offers sound quality as good as a modest smart TV, so if it’s a high-quality home cinema system you want, you're best looking elsewhere.

In summary, when it comes to performance, the Echo Show 21 comes highly recommended. And while I think it is rather more successful in portrait mode as a touchscreen home hub, it also doubles as a pretty decent smart TV in landscape mode for sitting back and watching streaming video content.

• Performance score: 4/5

Should you buy the Amazon Echo Show 21? Buy it if

You want a large touchscreen display

At 21.5 inches, this is the largest of all the Echo Show devices, offering nearly double the viewing area of the Amazon Show 15. This makes it an excellent choice if you want to display lots of widgets or simply want a bigger picture for streaming video content.

You need to consult recipes while cooking

Ideal for mounting in the kitchen, the Echo Show 21 is a perfect companion for when you're cooking. It’s also great for looking up recipes on the internet or listening to music when you are preparing the ingredients for a meal.

You want to control smart home devices

Providing support for Matter and Thread, the Echo Show 21 is a really good way of controlling your home. And because it has such a big display, you can see footage from connected security cameras really clearly.

Don't buy it if

You just want to watch TV

Put simply, there are much better and cheaper displays out there for watching TV/streaming services. Unlike the Echo Show 21 these can be connected to a TV aerial too for those who still like to watch good old fashioned TV channels.

You want a portable smart display

Designed to be mounted permanently on the wall, the Echo Show 21 is a big heavy beast requiring specialist installation, unless you pay even more for the table-top mount.

Amazon Echo Show 21: also consider

If you're not sure the Amazon Echo Show 21 is the right smart hub for you, here are a couple of other options to consider:

Amazon Echo Show 8 (3rd gen)

The latest generation model boasts better audio, faster performance and added support for Matter, Thread and Zigbee. The only big thing that holds it back is its uptick in price.

Read our full Echo Show 8 (3rd Gen) review

Amazon Echo Show 15 (2nd gen)

The new generation 15-inch Amazon Echo Show offers much better audio quality than its predecessor, putting it on a par with the new 21-inch model. Amazon has also upgraded the auto-framing camera for improved video calls.

How I tested the Amazon Echo Show 21

• I mounted on the wall in my home office for three weeks
• I used it in both landscape and portrait modes
• I tested it both as a home hub and smart TV

To get a good grasp of what a product like the Echo Show 21 can do, you really need to spend as much time with it as possible. That’s because it offers so much functionality! Even after three weeks I’m still finding apps I can download and new things I can do with it.

As I installed it in my home office, I used the Echo Show 21 mostly for listening to classical music while I was working and for features such as the checking the weather before taking the dog out for a lunchtime walk. But I also used it for other things too, including watching video content, turning the heating up and down and viewing images from Amazon Photos.

Personally, I preferred it in portrait mode, although using it landscape mode might work better if you have it installed in the living room or a bedroom. However, you ideally need to use the Echo Show for its advanced smart home control features to get the most out of it. Read more about how we test.

First reviewed February 2025

Two Point Studios have established a legacy of goofy simulators with their previous games, Two Point Hospital (the spiritual successor to 1997’s Theme Hospital) and Two Point Campus, asking players to succeed in institutional entrepreneurship through their set of distinctly silly business-building systems.

Now, the studio is solidifying its position with a third installment, Two Point Museum, which tasks you with fixing up a, you guessed it, failing museum after its previous owner suspiciously dipped out. Capitalizing on the series’ goofy sense of humor and forgiving gameplay, Two Point Museum isn’t hell-bent on reinventing the studio's tried and tested formula. Still, despite this overly familiar setup, Two Point has delivered a beginner-friendly management sim PC game that I found surprisingly hard to put down.

Review info

Platform reviewed: PC
Available on: PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC
Release date: February 27, 2025

In Two Point Museum, your time is spent balancing your income through ticket sales and donations, as well as compelling guests with rare exhibits and intriguing interactive equipment like dino playgrounds and sound booths. The people are fickle, though, and it’s not enough just to have a caveman trapped in ice or a stegosaurus tail slide. You’ll also need to dress up that caveman with thematic decor, as well as send your hardworking explorers out to find more icemen in the wild, too.

To do this, you’ll participate in a mixture of active and idle gameplay, setting up Expeditions — which play like a passive resource-collecting minigame — and maintaining your customer’s happiness by building up local amenities and cleaning the museum clean.

Your staff are the hardworking backbone of your success, with essential work split between Experts, Janitors, Assistants, and Security Guards. If you can manage and train them well, the outer wilds of the game’s map become your playground, with your team able to steal enough artifacts to make your museum the greatest tourist destination in the world. The Natural History Museum might have whale bones, but it doesn't have a plant that births a clown every few minutes, does it?

(Image credit: Two Point Studios/SEGA) You are not serious people

Early in the campaign, your primary consideration is whether to send your staff on expeditions or leave them back to work, though admittedly, this isn’t a particularly challenging choice. Both exploits earn them experience to level up and learn new skills that make them more efficient, and you can comfortably stretch to afford multiples of each staffing type from the early game. This is until you start to explore further afield, and the expeditions become more dangerous.

At first, the trips you’re making look straightforward, and you can choose your staff based on who will be missing from work rather than who is the least likely to die. That doesn’t last long, though, as certain areas on the map will eventually prop up complex Event Cards that dictate riskier barriers to success. Here, the goal becomes matching your worker and their skill to the event to nullify the issue or pay the price.

On one occasion, my under-prepared archaeology expert got IBS on a job and couldn’t work, so I had to ship him off to the hospital for a hefty cost. A few trips later, my favorite janitor went MIA, and I had to train another staff member to replace him, leaving me unable to run the missions until everyone was up to speed.

Unpredictable events also attempt to sully your best efforts and pop up mid-mission, asking you to make decisions about the expedition, with the wrong decision resulting in illness or worse. Where previously I had been haphazardly shipping off anyone to earn precious loot, I quickly began playing favorite, taking the time to neutralize threats. This consideration added a much-needed layer of strategy that did well to keep me focused and drew my attention towards staff management as an essential metric rather than an afterthought.

Best bit

There’s something so funny about sardonic British tannoy playing overhead in your local shop, a humour Two Point Studios clearly understands with Two Point Museum. As you potter along, designing exhibits and sending your employees on perilous expeditions, an occasional voice will sound off, delivering informational addresses loaded with contempt. While there were far too many good ones to choose from, my favorite arrived as I set up my first tour, with the voice overhead announcing: "Childish behavior will be met with childish retribution."

Outside of Expeditions, special events occur randomly, drawing your attention back to the Museum. For example, health inspections and unique visitors require the space to be in top shape when they arrive, with cleanliness and exhibit quality adding to the overall experience. While these metrics aren’t hard to hit, having a few more considerations to juggle on my way to total success was nice.

Two Point Studios’ wacky British humor is visible in almost every aspect of Two Point Museum. Throughout the campaign, I was delighted whenever a text window would pop up or a tannoy would play overhead, giving me another chance to giggle at the goofy writing. This style applies to the non-verbal aspects of the game, with the NPCs acting out and interacting with my historical pieces in unlikely ways.

As my exhibitor numbers skyrocketed, the space became more like a Where’s Wally book of cartoonish weirdos, and all it took was me to zoom in randomly and watch someone pop out of a carnivorous plant or lick an ancient amber pod. These irreverent moments of stupidity not only made me giggle but did well to break up the repetitive nature of Two Point Museums' more tedious management activities.

(Image credit: Two Point Studios/SEGA) Life finds a way

Designing rooms and exhibits is where Two Point Museum really shines, and I thoroughly enjoyed placing tropical shrubbery and plotting dinosaur feet decals as if guiding guests through a Universal theme park ride. Visitors are most attracted to exhibits with ‘Buzz’, a metric related to how new the piece is and how well it’s dressed. Certain exhibits require specific decor to earn Buzz boosts, offering light touch guidance to your interior design exploits.

Your exhibits must also have educational prowess, with some patrons preferring edutainment over pure pizazz. Much like the rest of Two Point Museum’s forgiving gameplay, balancing these metrics isn’t overly complicated. Thankfully, the UI sorts the specific set dressing by room, so you don’t need to trawl through random menus to find your missing piece.

If dinosaurs aren’t your thing, Two Point Museum also offers alternative Museum genres, each with its own unique goal. The ghost-infested Wailon Lodge encourages you to explore a rift between worlds and house found poltergeists in unique homes that match their time period. Alternatively, Passwater Cove asks you to dive for all manner of fish and build lavish coastal aquariums to house them in. The alternate areas aren’t just extensions of the base and offer unique decor and mechanics that flesh out Two Point Museum’s foundational gameplay nicely.

(Image credit: Two Point Studios/SEGA)

Unfortunately, as much as I adored going big on design, a densely packed space was more profitable for success in nearly every scenario. While I did find time to flex my creative muscles through frosty flooring and flora-forward props, the urge to min-max my staff routes often fell higher on my to-do list than style alone. The call towards efficiency isn’t helped by the game’s ‘Kudosh’ currency, which allows you to unlock additional cosmetics by hitting specific achievements. When my bags of income arrived without much extra work, Kudosh enabled a more instrumental style play, occasionally creating a strange bottleneck for my design goals.

Thankfully, Two Point Museum’s Sandbox mode is the salve to many of these issues. Split into three sections (Creative, Career, and Hardcore), this mode opens doors to those who want to build bespoke structures, like myself, or those, ahem, masochists who are looking for a much more complex and punishing management experience.

Despite the pressure to deliver financial success and the plethora of passive systems to consider, my time with Two Point Museum was surprisingly worry-free. As I consistently dipped into the financial red and sent my overpaid workers on expeditions, I never found myself on the verge of bankruptcy or failure - a far cry from the heightened emotional investment of Frostpunk 2. Still, I felt compelled to return to my museum even without impending doom on my coattails coaxing me on, which speaks to the game’s idiosyncratic charm and accessability.

(Image credit: Two Point Studios/SEGA) Should you play Two Point Museum? Play it if...

You like a management sim with a heavy dose of comedy
Two Point Museum might be a management simulator, but it doesn’t hold back on the jokes. Whether you’re watching your expert puke onto the floor or watching a visitor faceplant on a fossil.

You want to play something casual
Despite the management simulator tag, Two Point Museum is reasonably forgiving, so you can pick up and play without making any plans.

Don't play it if...

You want a super complex management simulator
While Two Point delivers a moreish hand approachable simulator, those looking for something more challenging like Satisfactory or Factorio might not be satisfied with its more forgiving array of systems.

Accessibility

In Two Point Museum, you can access the settings submenu from the Pause menu at any time in the game. From the main Game subhead, you can toggle on and off camera shake, flash effects, and character limit. You can also choose your Game Autosave frequency (Ingame - Every Month, Every Three Months, Every Six Months) and your Career Auto Save Frequency (Every Change, Most Changes). From here, you can also toggle on Subtitles and a Player Idle Message, as well as toggle UI Scale (Small, Medium) and Status Icon Filter (All Icons, Reduced Icons, Minimal Icons, Vital Icons).

Where sound is concerned, you can tweak individual streams, such as Tannoy, SFX, and UI, using a slider from the Audio submenu Settings menu. In the Controls Menu, you have the option to toggle on/off Inverted Vertical and Horizontal Camera Rotation, as well as Camera Edge Scrolling, Controller Input, and vibration. From here, you can also use a slider to dictate camera sensitivities for panning, pitch, zoom, and rotation. You can also rebind keys to suit your set-up.

(Image credit: Two Point Studios/SEGA) How I reviewed Two Point Museum

We played Two Point Museum’s campaign and sandbox mode on the base model Steam Deck and gaming PC for around 20 hours. I used an AOC 27-inch QHD VA 144Hz gaming monitor for my PC, a Logitech MX Master 3S mouse, and a Logitech G915 TKL keyboard. I used my external Creative Pebble V2 computer speakers and Audio Technica ATH-MX50X headphones plugged into a Scarlett 2i2 interface for sound. My GPU is an RTX 3080, and my CPU is an AMD Ryzen 9 3950X.