Reviews

Xiaomi Buds 5: Two-minute review

Like most Chinese tech companies, Xiaomi's product portfolio runs the gamut from smartphones and fitness trackers to tablets, air fryers, electric scooters and massage guns, and while you may know the company for a few of those gadgets, headphones may not be one of them. And it's true that the company has yet to feature in our roundup of the best earbuds we've tested, although we keep checking with reviews just like these. 

So while the likes of the Xiaomi 14 and Xiaomi 14 Ultra smartphones may be stealing headlines and winning hearts (we gave both 4.5/5), the Xiaomi Buds 5 have more of an uphill battle in order to win listeners over. And as you'll soon find out, the buds' favorite direction is actually 'down'.

The Xiaomi Buds 5 are new headphones that are some of Xiaomi's higher-end audio offerings, but still certainly fall into the 'best cheap headphones' category, bumping up against many options from rival audio brands as well as from market stalwarts.

There's a lot to like with the Xiaomi Buds 5, but enough to dislike that you may not want to put up with the good parts.

My main issue, which plagued testing from the day I started until the day I finished, was the fit of these earbuds. Without any silicone tip, or much of an arch in the design to hook them into your ear, the Buds 5 just refuse to stay in place. They'll start to slip if you so much as walk, and a head shake or jump will see them tumble from place. I found myself repeatedly pushing them back into my ear if I had to go on walks with them in.

I thought the issue was down to my ear shape but (after heavy sanitization) I made a few other people test them out too. They all commented, unprovoked, that the buds felt very loose. A decent fit in a design that doesn't use ear tips to achieve a seal something Apple's worked on extensively for its AirPods 4 rollout, and Xiaomi could learn a little for the Cupertino giant here. 

So you're only going to be able to enjoy your music if you're sitting still, or doing gentle activities like chopping veg for dinner or vacuuming your apartment. But then you're going to have to contend with an app that I found to be quite buggy.

Many times during testing, I'd pop the buds in my ears only to find that some key features weren't working. I found that the buds needed to be manually reconnected in the app for these features to work, with ANC and my custom equalizer only enabled after this. I can't imagine that this is an intentional feature, so I can only presume that it's a bug (hopefully, one that an update will fix).

These are two major issues but there are a few things that I'd consider significant 'cons' on better earbuds: the noise cancellation, battery life and call quality are all middling to poor.

So with that all in mind, why have I given the Xiaomi Buds 5 a fairly reasonable score? Well, it's largely down to the sound quality: they have a really distinctive and appealing audio balance that leans heavily on bass without losing trebles and mids. It's zealous, it's punchy and it's oh-so likeable! Music is high-quality, thanks to support for a few big codecs, and Harman Kardon tuning helps you appreciate your songs in a roaring and bordering on warm balance. That's if you can enjoy your music before the buds fall from your ears!

A few more features win the Xiaomi Buds 5 points too, including an audio-recording feature that you can enable straight from your ears, really convenient gesture controls, and a svelte and lightweight carry case. Honestly, the poor app and irritating fit let these otherwise promising earbuds down. 

Xiaomi Buds 5 review: Price and release date

(Image credit: Future)

• Unveiled in September 2024
• Sells for £69.99 (roughly $90, AU$140)
• On sale in Europe for now

The Xiaomi Buds 5 were announced in late September 2024, alongside the Mi Smart Band 9 and a range of smart-home products.

You can pick up the buds for £69.99 (roughly $90, AU$140) which makes these contenders for our round-up of the best cheap earbuds. Based on precedent, Xiaomi could release a pricier Pro version down the line, and its full audio range extends from pricier open-ear sports buds to some staggeringly cheap buds under its Redmi sub-brand.

At that price you’d be comparing these to a few rivals from other mobile brands including the CMF Buds Pro 2 and OnePlus Buds Nord 3 Pro, as well as the fantastic Sony WF-C510 and Earfun Air Pro 4.

There's no news on a release outside Europe just yet and Xiaomi doesn't release much of its tech in the US, but in Australia we could well see it go on sale based on precedent.

Xiaomi Buds 5 review: Specs Xiaomi Buds 5 review: Features

(Image credit: Future)

• Middling battery life and ANC performance
• Offers novel audio recording feature
• App has some bugs

The Buds 5 do offer active noise cancellation, but it’s nothing to write home about. There are two modes: Balanced and Deep, with an adaptive mode that’ll toggle between the two depending on your environment, but neither are particularly hardcore. They’ll take the edge off of annoying background noises but not muffle them in any significant way, and the lack of passive noise isolation from the buds’ design doesn’t help either.

The battery life of the buds isn’t fantastic, clocking in at 6.5 hours with ANC turned off according to Xiaomi. The company doesn’t provide a figure for listening time with it turned on, but I got the buds to last a touch over 5 hours with ANC deployed. The case will keeping ticking for a lot longer though, with 39 hours of playback when ANC is off according to Xiaomi. Based on my aforementioned figures, I’d estimate that you’d get 30 hours with ANC on.

For the rest of the features we need to jump into the app, but there’s a problem here. The Xiaomi Earbuds app had a big issue which affected the use of many of the Buds 5 features, and I can’t tell if it’s an intentional one or a bug.

Every time I put the earbuds in my ears, the app wouldn’t automatically realize that they were connected – I’d have to load it up and press ‘connect’. Before I did this, features including ANC control and the ability to tweak settings wouldn’t work, and it was an irritating extra step every time I wanted to listen to music. Other options don't do it; I can't imagine why it would be desirable. 

(Image credit: Future)

Some of the features offered by the buds are standard ones that we’ve come to expect in wireless earbuds (not that all rivals offer them, so their presence in the Xiaomi Buds are welcome). These include changing the gesture controls, toggling wear detection, setting up dual-device connectivity, checking the buds’ battery life, changing ANC modes and finding the buds if you’ve misplaced them.

The Xiaomi Earbuds app offers an equalizer, albeit one hidden away in the Audio Effects menu, as well as a few simple presets like Enhance Voice or Decrease Bass. I found myself using the Harman AudioEFX preset mostly, which I’ll explore in more detail later on.

You can also use Audio Effects to turn on ‘Dimensional Audio’, which is presumably Xiaomi’s answer to Spatial Audio, a feature that plenty of earbuds offer in order to make music sound like it’s surrounding you. However, this feature in the Buds 5 transports you to one space in particular: the cellar underneath a nightclub bar. It seems to simply slather on oceans of artificial reverb, as though you’re hearing tunes through several layers of brick, making music sound awful. Avoid!

One novel feature the Xiaomi Buds 5 offer is an audio-recording feature. While most earbuds will do this, as they’ll replace the audio input of your phone while connected, Xiaomi bakes this feature into the app, and also lets you enable it as a gesture control for the buds. 

It’s not a feature that everyone will find hugely useful, but I can see some finding it handy in certain situations. I found it convenient as a way to leave myself voice memos without having to find a pen and paper or my smartphone, and I see it being handy for anyone who likes hands-free note-taking like this. Just bear in mind the laws where you live regarding recording people without their consent, something the app does remind you about.

• Features score: 3.5/5

Xiaomi Buds 5 review: Design

(Image credit: Future)

• Earbuds keep slipping out
• Touch controls on the bud
• Lightweight carry case

Unlike many of its rivals and contemporaries, Xiaomi hasn’t put a silicon tip of the Buds 5. It didn’t for its predecessors, saving that for the Pro equivalents. It’s a shame because my biggest gripe with the earbuds is that they had trouble staying in my ears, a problem eartips would likely fix. 

This problem didn’t occur if I was seated or keeping my head relatively static, but when walking (or doing any other kind of movement) the Buds 5 would quickly start to slip – I’d have to constantly be re-adjusting the fit and pushing the buds back into my ears. 

Not only was this indescribably irritating, but buds that are half out the ear aren’t delivering on their full sonic potential, and also fall foul of sensitive wear detection too. This issue ruled me out form using the buds in the gym, and I stopped using them when cooking too as I didn’t want to push them back into my ears with messy hands – or have them fall into the pot. 

(Image credit: Future)

Each bud has a small button on the stem that you can squeeze for various controls: single, double, triple and long presses for different functions. It takes quite a hearty press to trigger the function but a light ‘click’ lets you know that your action was successful.

The buds are relatively light, weighing 4.2g each. They have an IP54 protection which means they’re safe from splashes of water and ingress of dust, but immersion in water will wreck them.

The Buds 5 come in a shiny plastic chrome-looking case, which I think is pretty neat-looking even though the reflections make taking review pictures an absolute nightmare!

Opening this clam-shell case reveals the entirety of the buds, unlike many other cases which hide the stems in the body – because of this I found it really easy to remove the buds when I wasn’t paying attention, as the process was less fiddly than almost all rivals on the market.

The case weighs 36.6g and comes with a USB-C port for charging, and not a lot else. You can pick up the buds in silver, white and black, and your choice affects the case and the buds.

• Design score: 3.5/5

Xiaomi Buds 5 review: Sound quality

(Image credit: Future)

• Great audio for price
• Tuning from Harman Kardon
• Support for good list of codices

The Xiaomi Buds 5 have 11mm drivers and tick quite a few audiophile boxes. These include support for a range of codecs including AAC, SBC, LC3, aptX Lossless and aptX Adaptive, connectivity using Bluetooth 5.4, and support for Bluetooth Low Energy. They also have an audio balance tuned by Harman Kardon, continuing a partnership between Xiaomi and the audio specialists which has also extended to its smartphones and speakers.

When I first started listening to the Xiaomi Buds 5, I was surprised just how much bass they offered for in-ear buds, and of all the buds I’ve tested recently they’re second only to Nothing’s recent audio offerings in terms of sheer thump-power (that’s the technical term). 

In the default audio balance, the Harman AudioEFX, here’s a distinctive focus on lower-focus instruments and pitches, making for a balance so warm that you’d think Xiaomi had used some tech from one of its kitchen gadgets. I can see some people loving the mix, and others really not getting on with it, but the other presets can balance the sound a little better.

Whether you like the balance or don’t, it’s hard to deny that the quality is great for the price; I don’t notice significant peaking or distortion, and the treble and mid were still palpable in the mix even if they weren’t the priority. Music had a level of energy that I’ve longed for in other similarly-priced rivals that I’ve tested.

Marring the otherwise-great audio quality is the bud fit issue that I mentioned before – music sounds great when the buds are sitting comfortably in your ears, but as soon as they begin to slip out you’ll be losing that music magic.

As mentioned earlier there’s an equalizer mode and I see most people relying on the presets due to the way they’re laid out in the app. These largely deliver on the promise in the title: increased bass, focus on voice and so on, with the default mode delivering the most nuanced mix.

• Sound quality: 4/5

Xiaomi Buds 5 review: Value

(Image credit: Future)

• Better audio than you'd expect for the price
• Perhaps hold out for a Pro model

When I first started testing the Xiaomi Buds 5 I didn’t know the exact price they’d launch for, and the cost that I guessed they’d retail for ended up being a slight amount more than the actual price. That is to say, I thought the earbuds would cost more than they do.

That’s mainly down to the audio chops: between the sound quality, specs list and Harman Kardon tuning, Xiaomi seems to have hit exactly what it aimed at, whether or not it’ll be to everyone’s specific tastes. You’re also getting all the features you’d expect for earbuds at this price and they mostly seem to work well.

The one thing I should flag though is the prospect of Pro buds: in the past Xiaomi’s Pro options have had silicon tips, unlike the standard models, and these would fit my ear fit issues. I can’t wholeheartedly recommend the Buds 5 if a reasonably-priced Buds 5 Pro could be around the corner.

• Value: 3.5/5

Should I buy the Xiaomi Buds 5? Buy them if… Don’t buy them if… Xiaomi Buds 5 review: Also consider How I tested the Xiaomi Buds 5

(Image credit: Future)

• Tested for two weeks
• Tested at home, in the office and on trips

The Xiaomi Buds 5 enjoyed a testing period of two weeks, though I used the buds for longer than that while I was writing the review itself. They were mainly connected to my Android phone though I paired them to a few other devices, including an iPad and Windows laptop.

Testing was mostly done at home or in my office but I also used the earbuds on a few walks and on public transport. I mostly listened to music using Spotify but also listened to spoken word, played games and watched TV shows on Netflix.

I've tested tech for TechRadar for over 5 years now and that includes countless Xiaomi devices and rival budget earbuds. I tested all of the Buds 5's close contemporary rivals.

• First reviewed in September 2024

• Read TechRadar's reviews guarantee

NovaBACKUP is a serious bit of backup software for businesses of all sizes as well as home users, and its German coders specialize in enterprise-level data protection – so we’ve got high hopes for this particular bit of software.

Indeed, if you head to NovaBACKUP’s website you’ll see products for specific tasks, like disaster recovery or Microsoft 365 backups, and even areas where the company caters to particular industries, from dentistry to accountancy.

At first glance, then, there’s plenty to like – but should you deploy NovaBACKUP in your business?

We've also highlighted the best disk cloning software right now.

NovaBACKUP: Plans and pricing

It may be good news that NovaBACKUP is a high-end backup solution designed for enterprise, but brace yourself for the pricing – because this app is not cheap.

A one-PC licence for NovaBACKUP costs €100, which at the time of writing converts to $110, including an admittedly generous 1TB of cloud storage. A single-server licence costs €400 – or about $443 – and includes 250GB of cloud storage.

If you need a bespoke solution for your business, then you’ll need to talk to NovaBACKUP to work on a solution together – which makes sense, because then you should get a backup deployment that works for you and maximises value.

NovaBACKUP offers products for companies that need endpoint protection for remote workers, for businesses that need centrally-managed local and cloud backup for PCs, laptops and servers, and even packages for managed services providers who want to provide Backup-as-a-Service to other organisations.

(Image credit: NovaBACKUP) Features

It’s expensive, yes, but NovaBACKUP is absolutely packed with features. You can preserve any files or folders, local or external drives, operating systems and send them to local drives, external drives, your 1TB of NovaBACKUP cloud storage space or any S3 compatible storage. Network-attached locations are also supported.

Additionally, NovaBACKUP now includes hybrid backup, which ensures more robust data protection by storing your data in three places, on two different types of media and with one copy stored offsite – what’s often referred to as a “3-2-1 backup strategy”. That’s important if you preserve mission-critical information in a commercial or healthcare environment.

It’s a comprehensive start, and NovaBACKUP also includes image backups for disaster recovery, VHD and VHDx backups, incremental backups, bare metal restoration and strong compression and encryption settings, including 256-bit AES and Blowfish encryption.

You can enjoy email notifications about your backup jobs – particularly helpful if you’re handling data in a business – and flexible file restoration means you can recover backups from any location.

NovaBACKUP offers extensive scheduling options, backup verification, custom commands to be performed around your backups, and there are extensive filtering options. In terms of core backup features, NovaBACKUP is excellent – there is nothing missing.

(Image credit: NovaBACKUP)

Opt for the Server product and you get support for Microsoft Hyper-V and VMWare backups and Microsoft SQL and Exchange support. Both apps include optional central management and monitoring features – ideal for businesses.

Upgrade to a Server Provider version – or another customised NovaBACKUP solution – and you can also add user account management, unlimited cloud storage, self-hosted cloud storage, and setup assistance.

Interface & Use

NovaBACKUP has every backup option that home and business users could possibly need, even if you wouldn’t know it from the aesthetic. The app looks decidedly old school, with old-fashioned fonts and graphics used throughout.

Still, if you get beyond the visuals then it’s pretty easy to use. Large icons on the home screen represent key backup options, and if you delve into the settings then it’s the usual list of backup sources on the left-hand side with more advanced options in a central window.

Backup logs and schedules are in their own tabs. And while there aren’t many easy wizard options for creating backup jobs, this enterprise-level app provides plenty of granularity that professionals will surely appreciate.

We tested our latest slate of backup apps with a 42GB document folder, a 2.5GB spreadsheet folder, a 162GB folder of media and an 82GB file that mixes all of those file types. We backed them up to three different SSDs to weed out any inconsistency.

And while NovaBACKUP was never slow, its results slipped consistently into the mid-table when stacked up with almost twenty other backup tools.

Its best results came when working with our Excel folder and our selection of mixed media files – it returned averages of four minutes and eighteen minutes respectively. Both of those numbers crept into the top half of our results tables.

Nova averaged sixteen minutes with our folder of documents, and seven minutes with our media files.

None of those results are slow, but lots of other apps are quicker – tools like Acronis Cyber Protect, EaseUS ToDo Backup and Macrium Reflect are notable options that easily outpace NovaBACKUP.

Support

(Image credit: NovaBACKUP)

Instead of taking the lead in the results tables, NovaBACKUP makes a big deal of its support offering – and rightly so.

You can submit support tickets, call a phone line that’s open between 9 am and 5 pm, and consult an extensive knowledge base. You can schedule appointments with the support team, dive into a forum, watch webinars, and get setup assistance depending on the product you’ve purchased.

Competition

NovaBACKUP jumps ahead of rivals like EaseUS Todo Backup and Macrium Reflect when it comes to support and sits alongside other enterprise-level offerings from products like Acronis Cyber Protect.

Verdict

Indeed, it’s probably the pricing that restricts NovaBACKUP’s appeal. While this is a fantastic tool for any business that wants to take backup seriously, especially if you want to build a bespoke package or protect servers, it’s probably overkill for home and small business users.

It’s got every feature you could possibly need, though, alongside excellent support options – there’s no doubt it earns its keep. And while it’s not the fastest, that is moot if you’re backing up to servers, network or cloud destinations.

NovaBACKUP is an excellent preservation option for businesses – expensive, sure, but you get what you pay for.

Wahoo Trackr: One minute review

The Wahoo Trackr heart rate monitor chest strap comes from a company known for working with Team GB athletes. As such this is a professional-grade bit of kit which now offers a rechargeable battery, making it more accessible for everyone than the last generation Tickr.

From running and cycling to fitness classes, athletics - and beyond - the Trackr makes for a super accurate way to get the most clear heart rate data. Since most metrics on smartwatches are now extrapolations from heart rate data, it pays to have the most accurate start point and this is what the Trackr is all about.

Sadly, it does lack the oxygen sensing capabilities of the more modern wrist-worn smartwatches, so data like SpO2 is lacking. For this, you'll need a separate bit of kit in the form of a muscle oxygen sensor.

The Wahoo Trackr is compatible with the company's own Wahoo app suite and plenty of popular third-party fitness apps including Cardio Mapper, Endomondo, and Runtastic. It also works with both ANT+ and up to three Bluetooth connections at once making it highly compatible in terms of hardware.

When it comes to battery life, this model goes for a solid 100 hours on a charge. This model is rechargeable (unlike the other Wahoo heart rate monitors before it) and the supplied USB 3.0 cable packs an LED to show charge status at a glance.

In terms of water use, it's not for swimming with just an IPX7 rating. That's not the best and means it's rated for a depth of one meter for 30 minutes, so it's not designed as a swim tracker and doesn't have onboard memory to make that a feature.

Overall this is one of the most convenient and compatible heart rate monitors that's also comfortable and super accurate - making it clear why this is used by professional athletes.

Wahoo Trackr: Price and release date

• Available to buy now in the US, UK, and Australia
• Priced at $89.99 / £79.99 / AU$149.95 RRP

The Wahoo Trackr launched on June 25 and is available across the globe. It launched with a price of $89.99 in the US, £79.99 in the UK and $149.95 in Australia.

The Trackr is a more affordable option than the other top-end options from the competition in the likes of Garmin and Polar. You can buy the Trackr directly from Wahoo or on sites like Amazon.

Wahoo Trackr (Image credit: Future) Wahoo Trackr: Design

• Comfortable to wear
• Small strap length
• Simple design

The Wahoo Trackr unit itself is pretty standard in terms of shape and size, although it is definitely one of the lighter options at 39g including the strap. As such it feels like it's barely there and you won't need to worry about it moving around due to its minimal weight.

The Trackr comes in one size with a strap that extends between 68cm and 91cm (27 inches to 36 inches) which sounds like plenty when you consider Wahoo says this works for up to 50-inch chest sizes. The reality felt quite different though as it was a snug fit even on a 42-inch chest.

Wahoo Trackr (Image credit: Future)

The straps feature skin-sensitive materials that work to detect your heart rate, without the need to wet them or do anything before getting started. There is a clasp system to attach the strap around your chest which is very easy to use and allows for quick adjusting as needed to find the right fit.

The fact that this model features LED lights for status and charging feedback is a really useful addition. As is that magnetic charging port, which makes it very easy to attach to the cable and get charged up.

The unit is IPX7 rated for water making it splash and sweatproof. Technically it's capable of withstanding being submerged in water at one meter depth for up to half an hour, but since it doesn't store data this won't work for swimming unless perhaps you have your phone poolside – although I didn't test that as the device isn't sold as a swim tracker.

Crucially, the Trackr is comfortable, if a little snug, and you won't notice it once you get going. That's the key, isn't it? So unless you specifically want this for water-based tracking there is very little to complain about.

• Design rating: 4/5

Wahoo Trackr (Image credit: Future) Wahoo Trackr: App and features

• App is simple but effective
• No swim tracking
• Lots of third-party app compatibility

The Wahoo Trackr comes with its own app which offers some useful tracking metrics, with some helpful heart rate-specific screens. Of course, you can do this with your training app of choice, so it might seem a little redundant. But for anyone new to this who wants to use the dedicated Wahoo app then it makes sense to have that available.

As mentioned, the Trackr requires an app to work, but it will also pair with a smartwatch. So it's possible to go out without a smartphone and still track all data associated with GPS while getting the chest strap level of accuracy. Usefully, the watch can then store that data so you have it uploaded on your apps of choice when you get back to a connection.

The readouts on the Wahoo app are decent with nice big display data and the ability to pull in more from other hardware. So you could use this with a power monitor, for example, and that will also be displayed in the Wahoo apps. In the case of cycling that can be great for a connected bike and various data monitors all working at once. This is where that ability to use ANT+ and three Bluetooth connections at once comes in handy.

Wahoo Trackr (Image credit: Future)

The LED lights are helpful when charging to get your status, but are even more helpful when connecting to see what the device is doing – as well as getting a battery level update. That said, it connects quickly and easily and is always pairing-ready when you clip in and strap on, so the lights are more for to indicate isn't going as planned. I didn't have that issue as this connected first time with many devices.

Features are few, to be honest, but that's not a bad thing. This is a very smart and accurate heart rate monitor that doesn't try to reach beyond its core task, but rather focuses on doing that to the best possible ability – and in my testing across running, cycling, and HITT, it achieved this.

• Features & app rating: 3.5/5

Wahoo Trackr (Image credit: Future) Wahoo Trackr: Performance

• Super accurate
• Easy to setup and use
• Wide connectivity

Thanks to this HRM's electrocardiography (ECG) heart-rate sensor, you can expect a 99.6% accuracy as standard. While wrist-worn light-based monitors are better than ever, they're still reliant on less accurate input – making all the data extrapolated from that, using algorithms, less accurate too. In that way, this is a very powerful heart rate monitor that's superb for anyone that wants a greater level of accuracy.

All that said, when out running with the Garmin Forerunner 965 and the Trackr connected to an iPhone 15 Pro Max, the compared data was very similar. As heart rate changed, on a hill climb, for example, the chest strap stayed with me accurately and the watch took a little longer to adapt. As the run went on and averages were more detailed that became less varied between the two – but the watch did still have some lag behind the Trackr.

When glancing in a race situation or training hard where you can only spare less than a second to use the energy to crane your neck and move your wrist, the chest strap reliability and responsiveness were really welcome.

Wahoo Trackr (Image credit: Future)

The results were not quite so similar when it came to faster runs – the chest strap really stood out as better here. On doing a fast 5K race with both of these units on, it was clear that the optical Garmin sensor was not as good. It had my heart rate never topping zone three, even though I was all-out and set a PB. The chest strap, on the other hand, was far more accurate, detecting zone four at the back end of the race and my zone five kick-up at the finish. Perhaps this is due to arm movement while going at speed, and sweating, but whatever the reason this put the chest strap into a league of its own.

So, if you're looking to accurately track high-speed, sweaty running, or HIIT classes, then a chest strap is a must and this model makes it easy to set up, monitor, and use with whatever app or device you want. I now run with the Garmin as my display but use the Trackr as the HRM, disabling the optical sensor on the watch in favor of the chest strap's accuracy.

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

You're serious about heart rate training
A chest strap detects changes to your heart rate more quickly than a watch, which makes it a more accurate tool if you're training by heart rate zones.

You hate having to charge your fitness tracker
The Wahoo Trackr’s battery is rechargeable meaning you get a decent 100 hours of use and can then quickly charge back up, rather than faffing about with battery replacements.

Wahoo Trackr: Don’t buy it if…

You like to see your data presented to you in real-time
The Wahoo Trackr must be paired with a device to view the read-out. A phone can be awkward to view while running so you'll need a watch too. Although for cycling, with a mount, that doesn't apply.

You want ultimate ease
If accuracy isn't so important then a wrist-based sensor may be enough for you, with no need to put on the chest strap before you go out to exercise.

Also consider

Garmin HRM-Pro (£119 / US$129.99 / AU$159.00)

Designed for multi-sport use, the HRM-Pro is the most advanced heart rate strap Garmin produces. It’s also one of the most expensive options available. With the ability to connect to multiple devices via Bluetooth and ANT+, capture insights into your running form, and store workout data to its internal memory, the Garmin HRM-Pro has everything you need from a heart rate monitor strap. Although it’s probably of greater interest to those who already own Garmin products.

Read our full MyZone Garmin HRM-Pro review

MyZone MZ-Switch (£139.50 / $159.95 / AU$209.99.)

The MyZone MZ-Switch isn’t just a chest strap. The center sensor node features an ECG monitor as well as an optical sensor and pops out so it can be worn on the wrist like a smartwatch, your arm or even your swimming goggles, giving you the best of both worlds. And, when used in chest strap mode, the MZ-Switch’s accuracy compares with that of the Garmin HRM-Pro. A great alternative if you want to mix it up a bit.

Read our full MyZone MZ-Switch review

Are you someone who’s always informing your clients/customers/prospects about your availability and scheduling your meetings here and there?

If yes, then Squarespace may be able to help. Best known as one of the best website builders on the market, Squarespace also offers a powerful scheduling tool called Acuity. It helps you create customized appointments like a one-on-one consultation or a group class, setting durations for various sessions, and even branding those appointments with your brand’s logo and fancy, yet unique fonts and templates.

This tool comes in handy not just for digital business owners but also for various professionals like doctors to schedule online consultations, freelancers to book slots for their clients, and service-based businesses such as personal trainers and beauticians to create appointments for their prospects.

To help you get to grips with what Acuity offers and how it may benefit your business we have created a detailed review of the platform. From scheduling blocks and integrations with other software to associated costs, we did a deep dive into all aspects, curating this review for our readers.

Squarespace Acuity pricing

(Image credit: Squarespace)

Acuity subscriptions are separate from your Squarespace site subscription, meaning you can use Acuity on its own or integrate it with your Squarespace website.

There are three plans to choose from for this product, starting with the Emerging plan. This plan is ideal for start-ups and solo entrepreneurs. It costs $20/mo ($16/mo on annual billing) and offers essential appointment management features like calendar syncing and automatic reminder emails.

Next, the Growing plan at $34/mo ($27/mo for a yearly subscription) supports 2-6 calendars and additional perks like SMS reminders and support for packages, memberships, and subscriptions.

Lastly, the $61/mo ($49/mo annually) Powerhouse plan supports up to 36 calendars and includes advanced features like multiple time zones and custom API and CSS integration. In the end, it’s all about picking the right plan based on the size and complexity of your business.

Although you don’t need a Squarespace website builder subscription to use Acuity, building your website on the platform makes it super easy to integrate your site with the scheduling tool. Check out our Squarespace promo codes page to find the best discounts across the Squarespace range of tools.

Squarespace Acuity features

Email notifications

Acuity lets you send automated emails to clients about their appointments, packages, and subscriptions. Currently, you can send various notifications to your clients including initial confirmation, reminders, cancellations, follow-ups, package/gift certificate orders, and subscriptions, including payments, renewals, and cancellations.

If you're on the Growing or Powerhouse plans, you can send text message appointment reminders so your clients don’t miss a booking. Plus, to make sure your team stays on the same page, you can set up internal notifications to keep your staff informed about new, rescheduled, or canceled appointments.

Lastly, to reach out to your clients with promotions, updates, and more, you can also send marketing emails using Squarespace Email Campaigns.

Syncing appointments with third-party calendars

Acuity easily syncs with calendar programs like Google, iCloud, Outlook Office 365, Outlook Exchange, and Outlook.com. Any changes made to your appointments in Acuity, whether canceled, rescheduled, or edited, are automatically reflected in your synced third-party calendar. For instance, Google Calendar updates almost instantly, while Microsoft Calendars may take up to 10 minutes to reflect these changes. Plus, to prevent clients from booking appointments when you're busy, you can also block off time in Acuity for events on your third-party calendar.

You can even let your staff members see Acuity appointments on their personal calendars by syncing their third-party calendars. To do this, simply add them as a contributor if you're using a Squarespace account or as a user if you're logged in with an Acuity account.

Payment processor integrations

Squarespace lets you collect payments for appointments by integrating with popular payment processors like Stripe, Square, and PayPal. Before accepting payments, you must connect at least one of these processors to your Acuity account. However, once connected, you can manage your payment preferences and account settings through the processor’s online portal or mobile app.

Remember, the payment processors used in Acuity are separate from those in Squarespace Commerce, and each comes with its own terms and conditions. For instance, Square’s processing fees differ depending on how the payment is made, while Stripe’s fees vary by country (USA, UK, Ireland, and Australia).

Scheduling blocks

Squarespace Acuity's Scheduling Blocks let you smoothly integrate your scheduling page into your Squarespace site.

This means your visitors can book appointments directly without leaving the site. Setting up a scheduling block is simple; just edit the page, click "Add Block," and select "Scheduling." You can then choose which schedule to display, whether it's your general schedule or one for a specific calendar, appointment type, or category.

Similarly, you can display a calendar from an Acuity account that is not linked to the Squarespace website as a custom link. Plus, for improved privacy, you can password protect your scheduling page, limiting access to only those with the password.

Squarespace Acuity integrations

(Image credit: Squarespace)

Acuity integrates with Google Analytics to help you track how clients interact with your scheduler. With its valuable insights, you can refine your booking process and improve appointment rates.

Getting started is fairly simple. Just sign up for a Google Analytics account and follow the guide available on their site. After setting up the integration, it may take up to 24 hours for statistics to start populating in Google Analytics. Acuity will only send events that occur after the integration is live. When using Google Analytics for conversion tracking, keep in mind that conditions are case-sensitive. For instance, entering "Page_view" instead of "page_view" can stop your goals from tracking properly. So, it's better to consult Google's documentation on custom dimensions and metrics for accuracy before you get started.

Further, with the help of API services like Zapier, you can integrate with several third-party apps. Some key integrations include syncing your appointments with personal or business calendars, setting up video conferencing, and connecting with tools for social media, email marketing, accounting, conversion tracking, CRM, or other client engagement applications. These integrations help you to streamline your workflow and enhance your scheduling capabilities.

Squarespace Acuity: My verdict

With its wide range of features, seamless integrations, and flexible pricing plans, Acuity makes it easy to manage scheduling, payments, and client communications all in one place. Whether you just launched your first business or are part of a larger team, you get the tools to improve your booking flow, client engagement, and grow your business efficiently.

But, don’t just take our word for it, it's always best to try out the features for yourself. So, if you have a website on Squarespace or are currently on a free trial, give Acuity Scheduling a test run and see if it meets your expectations.

If you want to learn more about what Squarespace offers, you can read our full Squarespace review here.

Loewe We Hear Pro: Two-minute review

The We Hear Pro is the latest powerful outdoor speaker from luxury brand Loewe, and it comes with a luxury price tag too: it's more expensive than its sibling, the We Hear 2, and it's more expensive than many rivals too. However, it's also considerably more powerful than most of the best Bluetooth speakers with 100W of Class D amplification driving two woofers, two tweeters and two passive bass radiators. If budget allows, you can connect more than a dozen of these speakers to play simultaneously.

The We Hear Pro is a good-looking thing, especially in its neon option, and the design is familiar with some thoughtful touches. Having on-device EQ controls is unusual and useful, although the illumination on the controls isn’t visible in direct sunlight. 

The bass frequencies aren’t as low as some rivals but the low end is tight and doesn’t get unpleasant at higher volumes, and the volume of this speaker goes very high indeed. Like any single-speaker system it can get a bit tiring when you’re listening loud but as a go-anywhere speaker it’s very impressive in almost every respect: it's big enough to deliver a big sound but not so big you'll hate moving it around. 

This isn't the most expensive party speaker you can buy, but it is still considerably more expensive than most rivals. However, its closest rival, the JBL Xtreme 4, costs even more – and Ultimate Ears' loudest portable is more expensive still.

The We Hear Pro is available in two sober colors and this hugely entertaining neon option. (Image credit: Future) Loewe We Hear Pro review: Price & release date

• Released May 2024
• Costs £249.99 (about $319 / AU$489)

The We Hear Pro is available now with an RRP of £249.99. That’s significantly more expensive than its £159 predecessor the We Hear 2, but it has 40W more power and around seven more hours of battery life.

At this price the Loewe is competing with some of the best portable speakers by brands such as JBL, Ultimate Ears and Marshall.

Loewe We Hear Pro review: Specs

The Kylian Mbappé branding isn't too much: it's limited to initials on the bass reflex ports and on the optional carrying strap. (Image credit: Future) Loewe We Hear Pro review: Features

• Fast and stable Bluetooth
• Up to 24 hours of battery life
• Can charge your other devices

Setting up the We Hear Pro couldn’t be simpler: press the on button, press the connect button and it’ll appear in your phone’s Bluetooth list. Connecting is fast and remained stable; we didn’t suffer from a single dropped connection. There are nicely subtle audio cues on power up, power down and when you establish a Bluetooth connection.

The We Hear Pro has Bluetooth multipoint and can be paired with up to 14 other Loewe speakers if you have the desire and the cash, although unlike the JBL Xtreme it doesn't support Auracast multi-speaker streaming. It has an aux input as well as Bluetooth 5.3 and includes a mic so you can use it for voice calls via your phone.

The USB-C port isn’t just for charging the speaker; you can use it to charge your smaller devices too.

Unlike most speakers, where the EQ is controlled via your phone, the We Hear Pro enables you to adjust the bass and treble using controls on the top. We didn’t feel the need to change the standard EQ but it’s nice to have the option. It's most effective at lower volumes; at full pelt it doesn't make a great deal of difference.

Battery life is a claimed 24 hours, which seems accurate enough: if you run it at full power that’ll drain the battery more quickly but as we were listening at more neighbour-friendly levels in the evenings we were able to go the best part of a week between charges.

• Features score: 4/5

The on-speaker controls are really useful but the white illumination isn't visible in direct sunlight. (Image credit: Future) Loewe We Hear Pro review: Sound quality

• Very, very loud
• Sounds particularly good with dance music
• EQ controls are right there on top

This is first and foremost a party speaker – something for the football dressing room after a win, say. And that means it needs to be loud, it needs to deliver great bass and it needs to be able to connect to more speakers in larger spaces. The We Hear Pro delivers in all three respects. Its 100W Class D amplification with two drivers, two tweeters and two hard-working bass radiators is impressively loud and doesn’t push the drivers too hard into excessive distortion; like most party speakers it loses all subtlety at higher volumes but it remains punchy and fun, especially on dance tracks such as Charli XCX’s 360. Rock music, particularly classic rock such as AC/DC, works very well too, but it’s with dance music that this portable speaker really excels. 

In addition to our usual playlists we decided to try some party-themed songs too from The Associates’ Party Fears Two through LMFAO’s Party Rock Anthem and of course, Andrew WK’s Party Hard. They’re very different songs sonically – 80s synth-pop, chart-topping house and hard-driving party rock respectively – but the We Hear Pro delivered each one with plenty of enthusiasm. 

The frequency range doesn’t go quite as deep as some rivals – it’s 50Hz to 20kHz, while the likes of the JBL Charge 5 goes down to 20Hz – so if you’re looking for truly subterranean bass you might want to look elsewhere. But during our extensive listening we never felt that the Loewe was lacking in low-end; for solo indoor listening you might notice a difference but outside with friends it really isn’t an issue. 

We only had a single speaker to review so we weren’t able to test it as a paired speaker or as part of a multi-speaker setup.

• Sound quality score: 4/5

The USB port can charge other devices and there's an Aux port too. Both are located on the underside and protected with a seal. (Image credit: Future) Loewe We Hear Pro review: Design

• On-device controls are really useful...
• ...but the illumination isn't visible in direct sunlight
• Celebrity branding isn't off-putting

While the We Hear Pro's cylindrical design with bass ports at either end is a familiar silhouette, there are some nice touches here. On top the volume, bass and treble controls light up with a separate touch-sensitive bar to adjust them. It looks really nice in the evening but the choice of white illumination here means you can’t see it at all in direct sunlight.

The obligatory USB-C port and aux cable socket are on the bottom, protected by a weatherproof flap. It’s neat but it does mean that you’ll need to slightly angle the speaker if you’re using a cabled connection to an audio source.

There are three colour choices: black, blue and the eye-popping neon yellow of our review unit. That’s by far the best-looking option and means you’re very unlikely to misplace it. There’s also a matching carrying strap that enables you to wear the speaker like a satchel or to carry it like a small handbag; it’s a little scratchy feeling but it’s solid enough, and you’ll be glad of it: the speaker weighs a hefty 2.2kg.

The speaker is IPX6 water resistant but not waterproof, so while it’ll survive the odd rain shower it’s not a speaker you want to dunk in deep water. If you’re planning to party poolside you might be better off with a fully waterproof rival.

• Design score: 4/5

Loewe We Hear Pro: Value

• Very expensive compared to most portable speakers
• You're paying a lot for that extra power
• The same firm's We. HEAR 2 is a lot cheaper

The We Hear Pro is one of the most eye-catching outdoor speakers around, especially in its neon option, and it’s also one of the more expensive options. That’s largely because it has a larger battery and more power than similarly sized rivals, delivering 100W with 20-plus hours of listening time. You can also use it as a portable charger for your other devices. However, that price tag means it's up against some serious competition: at the time of writing the Sonos Roam 2, our current pick of the best portable Bluetooth speakers, is around $169 / £139. You could buy two for only slightly more than you’d pay for one We Hear Pro.

• Value score: 4/5

Should you buy the Loewe We Hear Pro? Buy it if… Don't buy it if… Loewe We Hear Pro review: Also consider How I tested the Loewe We Hear Pro

• I tested for two weeks as an alternative to Apple HomePods and UE's Wonderboom 4
• I used it indoors at sensible levels and loud outside
• I listened to Apple Music, my own library, Overcast podcasts and some of my own tunes too

I tested the Loewe We. HEAR Pro over the course of two weeks both indoors and out, testing it both as an everyday speaker inside and a party speaker outside. I have a go-to playlist that encompasses a lot of different genres including block-rocking bass and much more delicate recordings, and for this speaker I added in plenty more party anthems as that's the most common use of such a loud outdoor speaker. I used Apple Music and Overcast for streaming from my iPhone and also streamed from my Mac.

I've been a musician and audio obsessive for over 35 years now, and I've been reviewing audio kit – headphones, speakers and audio devices of all kinds – since the late 1990s.

Read more about how we test

• First reviewed: October 2024

Xiaomi 14T: Two-minute review

The Xiaomi 14T offers the design language and beautiful display of a current ultra-premium smartphone in a more affordable package, giving users a simply stunning screen and reliable performance for around half the price of a typical flagship. The compromises, notably in the camera department, are clear, but the 14T's display, battery life, and performance show Xiaomi isn’t just skimping, but making considered choices to deliver excellence in key areas.

The gorgeous 6.67-inch AMOLED display is the star of the show here. Photo and video content looks amazing on this panel, which packs a punch in terms of both contrast and detail. The tall, high-resolution screen makes the lightweight 14T a reliable and portable gaming machine – I found it could sustain demanding games like Call Of Duty: Mobile and Race The Sun with no drops in performance and without overly depleting the battery.

In day-to-day use, performance is snappy across the OS, though the phone can stutter a touch when switching between apps. The impressively large 5000mAh battery keeps the 14T going all day with regular use, and easily into the next with lighter usage; I found it genuinely difficult to run the phone down to 0% over the course of a normal day. 

A price tag like this necessarily implies compromises, and Xiaomi has made clear concessions in two areas. The telephoto and ultra-wide cameras, while nice to have, do not live up to the main camera’s standard. And the phone’s premium aesthetics don’t preclude concerns about durability – the front panel picked up a good amount of scratches in the course of normal use during my testing. 

Overall, however, Xiaomi has produced a solid mid-range flagship with the 14T. This is a big, responsive, feature-rich phone, and a reminder that the gap between standard and premium smartphones is narrowing. 

Xiaomi 14T review: Price and availability

• Not available in the US
• Starts at £549

The Xiaomi 14T starts at £549. As with most Xiaomi phones, it’s very unlikely that the 14T will be released in the US. It comes with 256GB or 512GB of storage and 12GB of RAM. 

As a mid-range flagship, the Xiaomi 14T sits next to rivals like the Samsung Galaxy S24 FE, which starts at £649, and the Google Pixel 8a, which starts at £499. The 14T’s starting price of £549 feels appropriate when you factor in the specs sheet and Xiaomi’s weaker brand recognition in Western markets. 

Here's a Xiaomi 14T price guide for the UK and EU. 

Xiaomi 14T review: Specs Xiaomi 14T review: Design

(Image credit: Future / Jamie Richards)

• All-aluminum chassis
• Four-ring camera housing
• Comes in four colors: Titan Gray, Titan Black, Titan Blue, and Lemon Green

The Xiaomi 14T has a blocky aluminum-alloy construction, with squared edges that round ever so slightly into the back panel. It’s lightweight, with just enough heft to allay any feelings of cheapness, and the rounded corners and matte finish on the rear panel make the 14T comfortable to hold in either landscape or portrait for extended periods of use. 

Xiaomi calls the specific material used a “metallic aluminum alloy”, which comes in three colors: Titan Gray, Titan Black, and Titan Blue. Xiaomi also offers a variant of the 14T in Lemon Green: the company says this variant uses vegan leather made from 50% bio-based materials, including lemon fiber, with 100% recycled PET in its construction. The unit I tested was the standard Titan Blue model, but I commend Xiaomi for offering a more environmentally conscious option. 

The 6.67-inch display and 20:9 aspect ratio from last year’s 13T and 13T Pro are unchanged – this remains an undeniably large phone. The Xiaomi 14T generally feels great to hold, but I can see reachability being an issue for those with smaller hands – you can enable a slightly fiddly gesture to access one-handed mode. 

A volume rocker and textured power button are built into the right side of the phone, with a USB-C port and dual-SIM tray along the bottom. A speaker on the bottom edge and the earpiece cutout along the top bezel of the display form a stereo pair for audio, which is serviceable for videos but a bit tinny for music. 

As with its predecessor, the Xiaomi 14T features a large camera bump. In contrast to the 13T’s futuristic black camera module, the 14T’s camera housing seems to be made of the same aluminum-alloy as the rest of the phone, and this gives the 14T a refreshingly industrial aesthetic. 

The camera bump houses three cameras and a flash that gets its own lens-like ringed frame – initially, this seemed like an effort to make the device seem more premium than it actually is, but with time I’ve come to appreciate the visual symmetry this choice provides. 

Design score: 4 / 5

Xiaomi 14T review: Display

(Image credit: Future / Jamie Richards)

• 6.67-inch AMOLED
• 144hz adaptive refresh rate
• 4,000 nits peak brightness

The 6.67-inch display on the Xiaomi 14T is its best feature and true selling point. It seems to be the same display as on the Xiaomi 13T Pro, but that’s no issue with a phone of this price: as we found in our 13T Pro review, this is a gorgeous AMOLED panel that is consistently bright, sharp, and contrasty in a range of environments. Videos, photos, games, and anything else you can put on this screen all look fantastic. The 20:9 aspect ratio means the punch-hole selfie camera sits right on the edge of 16:9 video content, a considerate piece of design. 

With a resolution of 2712 x 1220 and an adaptive refresh rate of up to 144Hz, the 14T’s display is fluid and detailed. The display reaches a peak brightness of 4,000 nits, which is probably unnecessarily bright, but it means you certainly won’t have any issues using it outdoors. 

The tall aspect ratio and high resolution make the Xiaomi 14T’s display great for gaming, too – that extra space on either side gives your thumbs a place to sit without obscuring much of the screen’s center. Web browsing, social media, and other day-to-day activities are smooth, with several color profiles and in-depth display settings allowing users to calibrate the look of the 14T’s display to their liking. 

An under-display fingerprint scanner offers biometric security for unlocking the phone and creating passkeys. 

One area where the display appears to fall down, unfortunately, is durability. I noticed a few clusters of scratches on the front panel in my week or so of regular use. These aren’t noticeable in the vast majority of situations, but it does leave me wondering how well the 14T will hold up over time. 

Display score: 4 / 5

Xiaomi 14T review: Software

(Image credit: Future / Jamie Richards)

• Android 14 with HyperOS
• Google Gemini out of the box 

The Xiaomi 14T ships with Android 14, styled as the company’s proprietary HyperOS user experience. It’s a responsive and uncomplicated implementation of Android that comes with some great customization options.

HyperOS is a slick Android wrapper that keeps the amount of extras to an acceptable level. Some of the inbuilt apps are compatible with Xiaomi’s account system but they’re far from essential – Xiaomi’s App Mall and Mi Browser sit alongside the Google Play Store and Chrome on the home page, and it's likely most users will head straight for Google’s platforms. The Xiaomi 14T also comes with Google Gemini pre-installed, accessible via a half-second press of the power button, though I didn’t find much use for these AI features during testing. 

There is some pre-installed bloatware, which robs the 14T of some of its premium sheen, but for the most part these can be easily dispatched or consigned to the app drawer. As a deployment of Android 14, HyperOS is smooth and rich in customization features, and Xiaomi’s own animated wallpapers and overall aesthetic choices add a sense of flair and excitement to using the 14T. 

Software score: 4 / 5

Xiaomi 14T review: Cameras

(Image credit: Future / Jamie Richards)

• 50MP main camera
• 50MP telephoto with 4x optical zoom
• 12MP ultra-wide

Xiaomi has put photography at the forefront of the marketing push for the 14T and 14T Pro, but I found the cameras to be a mixed bag. The main camera takes great photos – pleasantly colorful and decently detailed with especially great results in bright conditions – but zooming in with the telephoto camera or out with the ultra-wide lens produces results of varying quality.

As with last year’s model, Xiaomi partnered with Leica to develop the 14T’s camera module. The main 50MP wide camera produces vibrant, contrasty photos even in overcast conditions, but can struggle with finer details. The telephoto camera gives the 14T a 4x optical zoom and 20x digital zoom, controlled by an intuitive scroll wheel. Colors and contrast feel contiguous across the main and telephoto cameras. 

However, taking photos at higher zoom levels seems to trigger an aggressive post-processing routine, which returns an overly smoothed and brightened image. The camera app’s settings don’t seem to have any options to curb this processing, meaning long-range photos are more limited in their detail than images taken at lower zoom levels and subsequently cropped in on. The ultra-wide camera is also just okay, offering a useful 0.6x magnification but producing a much warmer and less detailed picture. 

The camera app is brimming with settings and options that give you a satisfying amount of control over the final image. Leica lends its name to two toggleable ‘styles', Leica Authentic and Leica Vibrant, which respectively produce a more grounded or more colorful image; I preferred the contrast and saturation of Leica Vibrant. There’s also a HDR option (on Auto by default), a range of tasteful filters, and a Pro mode stacked with controls. An impressive night mode delivers photos that feel both visible and realistic. 

As for video, the 14T can record 1080p footage at 60fps or 4K at 30fps. Videos capture a lot of detail, but come out a little over-sharpened. There’s a Movie mode that applies a depth-of-field effect to people in the frame, similar to Apple’s Cinematic Mode, and a Director mode with a camcorder-style interface. I noticed the 14T getting a little warm when using the camera for an extended period of time, but not uncomfortably so. 

Some of the 14T’s photography limitations are explained by its pricing, but even within this price range there are higher-resolution sensors and more reliable image processing pipelines. Still, the 14T is very much capable of producing great photos, and the control the software offers allows for some real creativity. 

 Cameras score: 3.5 / 5 

Camera samples Image 1 of 5

(Image credit: Future / Jamie Richards)Image 2 of 5

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(Image credit: Future / Jamie Richards) Xiaomi 14T review: Performance

(Image credit: Future / Jamie Richards)

• MediaTek Dimensity 8300-Ultra chipset
• GPU: Arm Mali-G615 MC6 
• 12GB of RAM

In typical use, the Xiaomi 14T is snappy and responsive, handling web browsing, social media, and system apps with ease. The MediaTek Dimensity 8300-Ultra chipset that powers the 14T comprises an octa-core CPU and dual-core GPU, enabling the 14T to power through demanding games like Call of Duty Mobile and PUBG with ease. 

In fact, it’s kind of surprising that Xiaomi has pushed the 14T as a camera phone when it’s clearly so good for gaming. This reliably strong performance works in tandem with the unit’s relative light weight and excellent display to offer a portable, powerful mobile gaming platform. This feels like the 14T’s secret power, and I’m confused as to why the company has made next to no noise about this aspect of the phone, instead focusing almost exclusively on photography. 

The phone can get a bit warm during extended gaming sessions, but not unbearably so, and battery life takes a noticeable hit when driving multiple demanding apps. I did experience the occasional stutter when switching between apps, too. However, the 14T’s performance remains impressive overall, especially considering its price bracket. 

Performance score: 4 / 5

Xiaomi 14T review: Battery

(Image credit: Future / Jamie Richards)

• 5,000mAh battery
• All-day battery life
• 67W wired charging, no wireless charging 

As seems to be the case for Xiaomi phones, the 14T can easily sustain a day of use on a single charge. It’s equipped with an impressively massive 5,000mAh lithium-polymer battery, and it shows. I actually struggled to drain the battery in the course of a normal day, and standby times are truly impressive. 

The Xiaomi 14T supports 67W wired charging, which is certainly fast, but far from on a par with the 120W speeds the 14 Pro can handle. Somewhat annoyingly, the base 14T misses out on the 14T Pro’s 50W wireless charging upgrade, and in fact doesn’t support wireless charging at all. That’s not a huge concern given the fast wired charging speeds and reliably long battery life, but it’s a little disappointing nonetheless. 

You get a USB-A to USB-C cable in the box, but not a wall plug. I tested the phone’s charging speed with a Huawei 40W power adapter and found it charged reasonably quickly. I’ll update this review when I’m able to test the 14T’s maximum charging speed. 

Battery score: 3.5 / 5

Should you buy the Xiaomi 14T? Buy if...

 You’re a mobile gamer

The Xiaomi 14T has all the components of a great gaming phone – its high-resolution display, long battery life and reliably fast performance make it ideal for modern titles.

You want a long and reliable battery life

With an immense capacity of 5,000mAh, the Xiaomi 14T confidently boasts all-day battery life. It’s something of a challenge to bring the battery from 100% down to 0% in the span of a normal day. 

You want premium aesthetics

The Xiaomi 14T's visage is reminiscent of its more premium contemporaries – the aluminum-alloy construction and moderate curves make this phone both beautiful and ergonomic.

You want a cost-effective all-rounder 

The Xiaomi 14T is a strong reminder that mid-range handsets are inching ever closer to pro standards, and while I wouldn’t call it cheap, it’s certainly more wallet-friendly than a premium flagship. 

Don't buy if...

You need something rugged 

The Xiaomi 14T may have a premium look, but it’s clearly not built to the same durability standards as some of its peers. The display, while beautiful, picks up scratches easily.

You want the very best cameras  

The Xiaomi 14T’s 50MP main camera takes reliably great photos, but the 50MP telephoto and 12MP ultra-wide cameras leave something to be desired. It’s a shame, too, because the phone comes with a comprehensive array of camera settings and photography controls. 

Xiaomi 14T review: also consider

Samsung Galaxy S24 FE

The latest phone in Samsung’s long-running line of cheaper FE flagships, the S24 FE features a 6.7-inch 120hz display and Samsung’s iconic triple camera system.

Read our hands-on Samsung Galaxy S24 SE review

Google Pixel 8a

The cheapest Pixel handset is a great value buy, with Google’s own Tensor G3 chipset and a massive 4,492mAh battery.

Read our Google Pixel 8a review

iPhone 16 

Taking one or two steps up the price ladder, we find Apple’s latest flagship. The iPhone 16 is a clear choice for photographers with its new Camera Control button. 

Read our iPhone 16 review

How I tested the Xiaomi 14T

•  Review period: One week 
• Testing included: Everyday use: social media, web browsing, photography and video recording, gaming, calls and messages, music playback, and charging tests 

My testing of the Xiaomi 14T included a number of specific usage tests as well as everyday use over the course of about one week. The model reviewed had 512GB of storage and 12GB of RAM in the Titan Blue color option.

I put the Xiaomi 14T through its paces with games like PUBG, Call of Duty: Mobile, and Race the Sun, streamed video with YouTube and music with Spotify, and scrolled through Instagram and Google Chrome. I went out to take photos with all three cameras in a variety of conditions. I then applied my knowledge of smartphone specs and journalistic training to assess the qualities and overall value proposition of the Xiaomi 14T.

For more on our smartphone testing process, check out our guide to how we test.

First reviewed September 2024

Suunto Race S review: One-minute review

The Suunto Race S is a cracking smartwatch that is a credible alternative to any of the dedicated running watches that Garmin produces. With tracking capabilities like on-board GPS and heart rate monitoring, the smartwatch provides all that is needed for accurate measurements.

The AMOLED display looks great thanks to its high-definition resolution. Navigation using the touchscreen is easy and natural, although the device is a little bit let down by the underperforming crown button. Overall build quality is very good, though, with robust components that will stand the test of time. The watch itself is most definitely on the larger side so it won't suit everyone but if you have a wrist that can accommodate it, then it'll certainly look the part.

In addition to its features for athletes, the Race S also offers smartwatch functionality like notifications and music control. It has a long battery life, which can last around 10 days in smartwatch mode and up to 30-35 hours in training mode.

While the Suunto Race S offers a great set of features for athletes, it lacks some of the features found in other smartwatches. If you're more into performance tracking, then the Race S is up there with the best.

Suunto Race S review: Specifications Suunto Race S review: Price and availability

(Image credit: Future)

The Suunto Race S 45mm model costs $349 / £325 / AU$599. There are an abundance of strap options, including Black, Powder Grey, and Powder Pink. For the test, I have the gorgeous orange strap, which has a graduated color from orange to purple. All strap options cost the same. 

The watch is available in the US, UK, and AUS. If you'd like the slightly larger 49mm model, then that goes by the name 'Suunto Race' and attracts a slightly higher price, especially if you opt for the titanium strap. It is not only larger but also has a longer battery life.

Suunto Race S review: Design

• Great-looking watch
• Abundant strap options
• Solid build quality

The Suunto Race S is a great-looking watch, especially with the Powder Orange strap that I tested. With seven different strap colors available, there are no shortage of ways to customise the watch. We'll come back to the strap in a minute but let's focus first on the watch itself.

The first thing I was struck by was how chunky this watch is. The 45mm diameter provides a fantastic display size with enough real-estate to display all your vital metrics. Unfortunately, the thickness of the watch is nearly 12mm, which makes the whole thing sit very proudly indeed. The overall dimensions make it very similar to the Garmin Forerunner 265, which is similarly bulky. At this size, and with a weight of 60g, this is a watch for thick wrists that can accommodate it; otherwise, it'll just look plain odd.

The stainless steel case looks great with the simple color palette, causing the watch display to take centre stage. It houses an AMOLED display with a 466 x 466 pixel resolution. As a result, all of the on-screen graphics look super sharp with no sign of any pixelation. Unfortunately, Suunto has left a tiny gap between the glass and the case that catches dirt, and because it's so thin is difficult to remove.

The build quality of both the watch and the strap are second to none. I used it while performing various types of exercise, including contact sports, and never managed to damage it. In fact, I was never concerned about doing so, such was the quality of the components.

(Image credit: Future)

The three buttons are all located to the right-hand side of the watch and are small enough to not rub against your hand. The top button launches you into activity mode by taking you straight to a list of exercise types, while the bottom button takes you back to a menu.

Between the two standard buttons is a crown, which is very similar to what is now seen on other smartwatches, including the Apple Watch. A crown-style button is great to have but I don't think Suunto has nailed the engineering of it. I found it tricky to rotate predictably and, because it sits lower than the watch face, it's actually quite difficult to use with one finger. I actually ended up ditching it in favour of swiping.

As with all smartwatches, the sensor is on the back. It's a little prouder than I would have liked, but it does enable a range of tracking types as well as training functionality.

The strap not only looks great but is extremely comfortable. Most importantly, it wipes clean, an essential for athletes who sweat a lot. The catch is unique in its design but it provides the necessary security to keep the watch safely on your wrist.

All in, I've really enjoyed wearing the watch. It's comfortable, makes a statement, and functions incredibly well. At this price, the design competes with even the best that Garmin has produced. If they can improve the crown and the overall thickness, then this would be the running watch to beat.

• Design score: 4/5

Suunto Race S review: features

(Image credit: Future)

• Numerous features designed for runners
• Extensive tracking capabilities
• Lacks some key smartwatch features

Suunto Race S boasts a range of training features and support for all types of exercise including heart rate zones, power zones, and pace alerts. 

If you love to be prepared ahead of time, then you can plan your route before you even leave the house. It shows you where you're located and gives you updates on what you're about to encounter. In that regard, you'll always feel prepared. You'll have no worries about getting lost thanks to support for all types of sections.

Features include heart rate sensing, an altimeter, and a gyroscope. These accurately track your movements and provide feedback on how you're getting on. Whatever exercise you're doing, the watch can capture your data accurately every time. I had no problems with any GPS signal dropouts, even when sweaty or wet. In general, I was very impressed with the speed of readouts and the accuracy of them.

Sleep tracking monitors your sleep quality while also feeding back if your sleep patterns might be affecting your performance. Personally, I wasn't overly keen on using the watch as a sleep tracker, as it was just uncomfortably big to wear at nightime. 

(Image credit: Future)

The watch has a wide range of features, with a particular focus on athletes and those keen on staying fit. It also offers features that will appeal to those who just want it to integrate with their smartphone. For example, you can control music playback from the watch, helping you stay focused on your exercise.

Additionally, the watch receives notifications for calls and messages, so you don't have to keep checking your phone. For the price, I would have liked functionality to allow for replying to text messages but, then again, this is primarily a running watch. The watch is compatible with both Android and Apple phones, although I only tested it with an iPhone.

In conclusion, the Suunto Race S is a smartwatch that is focused primarily on athletes. All of the tracking abilities provide the necessary data for mid-exercise updates and post-exercise reports.

• Features score: 4/5

Suunto Race S review: performance

(Image credit: Future)

• Fast and responsive
• Accurate GPS
• Amazing battery life

The Suunto Race S is a strong all-round performer, especially for athletes like runners, swimmers, and cyclists. Getting the watch set up took no time at all, with charging to full taking no more than one hour. Downloading the Suunto app and pairing the watch was equally straight-forward. I was up and running, pardon the pun, in no time at all.

Then it was time to get exercising. The first thing I did was jump on my bicycle to test the GPS and tracking functionality. Once I was outside, the watch picked up GPS quickly and easily. I had initially tried to launch it while inside but it failed to connect, a common problem with all GPS enabled devices.

Once on my bike, the Suunto Race S coped admirably, tracking my route perfectly along with accurate distances and measurements. All of the data is displayed on the large 45mm display but there are also additional screens that provide further more in-depth information.

The Suunto app provides even more data for you to drill down into how you are performing. The app is really well designed with a good layout that is easily navigated. I especially love the maps of routes travelled and graphs providing health data. It also provides some reporting so you can improve on your performances each time.

I've already discussed the sketchy performance of the crown button in the design section but in general, interaction with the watch was very positive. The touchscreen responsiveness is good and I had little problem moving around the menus. The swipe gesture was able to handle moving up and down long lists without any fuss. The responsiveness was even fine while sweating or when I had just gotten out of the swimming pool.

The battery life delivers great performance too. Having worn the watch for a couple of months, I was able to test it for long periods with both light use and heavy use. Just using the device as a watch and a few other features, including checking messages, I was able to get about two or even three weeks out of the battery.

Tracking exercise with GPS enabled had an expected effect on battery life. When I used it for daily cycling commutes, playing football, and running, I found that the battery would last around five to seven days. The battery life was so impressive that each time I actually had to think about where I had left the charger because it had been so long.

• Performance score: 4/5

Should I buy the Suunto Race S? Buy it if...

You want an affordable running watch
The watch had a good range of features and great build quality, and it's not as expensive as many of the Garmin alternatives.

You want a high resolution screen
The 466 x 466px AMOLED display looks fantastic, with all text and graphics as sharp as you need. It's also bright enough to use in the midday sun.

You want unbelievable battery life
With light use, this watch will last around two to three weeks. Even with heavy use, you'll still get several days' life out of it.

Don't buy it if...

You want a slender-looking watch
The Suunto Race S may be the smaller version but it's at 45mm diameter and nearly 12mm deep, you'll need a wrist that's thick enough to warrant it.

Suunto Race S review: also consider

Apple Watch Series 9
The Apple Watch Series 9 is the best smartwatch for most iPhone users. It offers a Double-Tap gesture, all-day battery life, and excellent health features. Read our full Apple Watch Series 9 review.

Garmin Fenix 7
Garmin's other premiere outdoors and fitness watch, the Fenix 7 was the top ultra-marathon watch around until the Enduro 2 tore its crown off its head. Still worth a look if you can find it at discount. Read our full Garmin Fenix 7 review

Suunto Race S review: how I tested

I've been proudly wearing the Suunto Race S for two months and have tried to put it through as many types of exercise as I can, including running, playing football, swimming, and table tennis. It's incredible how many different types of activities it supports, so I thought it only right to try as many as I could! 

To test it's waterproof rating, I took it while swimming and managed to get it down around 3 m. It's nowhere near the advertised 50 m but I figured my test would be sufficient for most users.

I also paired it with the Suunto app to get a fuller picture of what the watch is capable of. The pairing process was simple and straightforward, and I loved the app.

Lexar Play 2280: One-minute review

I would recommend the Lexar Play 2280 if you’re able to find it at a heavily reduced price. At the moment, the 2TB model will set you back around $229.99 / £174.99 and the 4TB is available for $379.99 / £329.99. This wouldn’t be too bad in most cases but it’s important to note that this is a dynamic random access memory (DRAM)-less model that uses host memory buffer (HMB) technology. A reliance on HMB would normally be associated with a much cheaper product and, although not a complete disaster on PS5, does mean that you lose a lot of potential speed on console.

When drives with DRAM, like the blazing fast Samsung 990 Pro and licensed models like the Seagate Game Drive M.2 SSD for PS5, can easily be found at similar prices to the Lexar Play 2280, there are very few reasons to consider this model above the others. 

It’s a shame, as the Lexar Play 2280 still manages to scrape by in real-world scenarios. Though slower than other models in our copy testing, it achieved an okay reading of 6,135MB/s on the internal PS5 benchmark and offered perfectly serviceable performance with no major hiccups in the games themselves. The 2TB and 4TB capacities are also a good fit for most modern game libraries, especially if you own lots of large titles like Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 and Horizon Forbidden West. 

With an 8TB model on the way later this year, I could still see the Lexar Play 2280 finding a good niche as a lower-cost alternative to many of the best SSDs for PS5 or best PS5 external hard drives. Lots of the manufacturer’s other drives have received substantial price cuts in the time after release, especially around major sale periods, so I’m optimistic that this will eventually be the case.

(Image credit: Future) Lexar Play 2280: Price and availability

• 2TB is $229.99 / £174.99
• 4TB is $379.99 / £329.99
• Very high price for the specs

You can pick up the Lexar Play 2280 via Amazon. A 2TB model is available, which costs $229.99 / £174.99, in addition to a 4TB variant for  $379.99 / £329.99. Both of these prices seem extremely high for what you’re getting, especially considering the lack of DRAM. You can easily find higher-spec alternatives at roughly the same prices, including premium options like the Samsung 990 Pro, Corsair MP600 Pro LPX, or Seagate FireCuda 530.

Even other Lexar drives are much better value. The 4TB Lexar NM790, another HMB model with a PS5 compatible heatsink fitted, costs just $281.99 / £229.99 at the time of writing. This is about where I would expect the Lexar Play 2280 to be, so it’s a little baffling that it’s currently not available at around this price.

Lexar Play 2280: Specs Lexar Play 2280: Design and features

The Lexar Play 2280 has quite a stylish design, though not as elaborate as some competitors. It's fitted with an absolutely mammoth heatsink, one so large that I was initially slightly worried that it wouldn't fit in the PS5. Thankfully, the installation process was very smooth and it slotted in nicely under the console’s SSD bay cover. The heatsink is predominantly black, though does have two silver fin-like shapes on top that give it some extra flair. It’s also labeled with a white Lexar Play logo, creating some pleasant contrast. 

In terms of features, this is an HMB drive. As previously outlined, this means that it does not have any DRAM. DRAM is usually used to store mapping information, effectively telling your machine where to find certain pieces of data quickly. This can improve performance and drive longevity, but often makes SSDs with DRAM more expensive than other models. In an HMB drive, this information is all normally stored memory of the host device instead. This is no problem for a PC but is not something that is currently supported by the PS5.

In practical terms, this can lead to much more uneven performance on your console. Sony itself states that users with an HMB drive “may experience slower-than-expected performance because the PS5 console does not support HMB.”

(Image credit: Future) Lexar Play 2280: Performance

Despite the lack of DRAM, I found that the Lexar Play 2280 performed acceptably on the whole when you don’t consider the price. The 4TB configuration achieved a 6,134MB/s read speed in the console’s internal SSD benchmark, which is towards the lower end of what you would expect but still above the 5,500MB/s recommended by Sony.

It’s the kind of reading that you would find with a budget drive, which goes even further to show that the current cost of this model is a little ridiculous. For the sake of comparison, this figure is far below the just over 6,500MB/s achieved by the Samsung 990 Pro in the same capacity - a top-end drive that is a little cheaper than the Lexar Play 2280 right now.

Performance was just about okay in my other testing, which saw me copying a wide variety of files to the drive from the PS5’s internal storage. A 69.75GB installation of Zenless Zone Zero took 34 seconds to copy, while the 49.97GB Star Wars Outlaws was fully playable in 24 seconds. A 90.23GB installation of Alan Wake 2 copied in a respectable 48 seconds and the 85.72GB The Last of Us Part 2 came in at 38. Stellar Blade, which is 31.46GB, was copied in 17 seconds.

The Alone in the Dark remake, which comes in at 30.67GB, was copied in 18 seconds, and finally, the 9.49GB Asphalt Legends Unite was copied in 17. That very last figure is particularly high for the relatively small file size, demonstrating some of the shortcomings associated with HMB drives.

Thankfully unless you sit around moving games all day, you likely won’t notice a lot of this. I’ve been using the drive for a few weeks now, playing my usual rotation of games on it. During that time I did not experience any noticeable in-game performance differences when compared to playing on the PS5’s internal storage. Don’t get me wrong, the performance of the drive is fine overall, but just nowhere near what you would want or expect for the price.

(Image credit: Future) Should I buy the Lexar Play 2280? Buy it if...

You want a high-capacity drive
The Lexar Play 2280 is available in both 2TB and 4TB capacities. This could make it a solid option to consider if you’re after a particularly large model for your game library.

You find it on sale
The one thing the Lexar Play 2280 needs to properly compete in the SSD space is a sizable price cut. If you can find it at the right discount, this model could be a great alternative to more premium options.

Don't buy it if...

You want top performance
The performance of the Lexar Play 2280 is fine for a HMB model, but it’s not what you would expect for the price. Consider high-end options like the Samsung 990 Pro if performance is your biggest concern. 

Also consider...

If you want to weigh up the Lexar Play 2280 against some other options, here are two great alternatives.

Seagate Game Drive M.2 SSD for PS5
The Seagate Game Drive M.2 SSD for PS5 is a great officially licensed pick. It loses out in terms of capacity, with just 1TB and 2TB options, but is worthwhile if you want a drive that will deliver flawless PS5 performance. 

For more information, check out our full Seagate Game Drive M.2 SSD for PS5 review

Samsung 990 Pro
The 4TB model of the Samsung 990 Pro is often available on sale for around the same price at the Lexar Play 2280. It’s significantly faster, features DRAM, and has a more stylish overall design.

For more information, check out our full Samsung 990 Pro review

(Image credit: Future) How I tested the Lexar Play 2280

• Used for over two weeks
• Tested daily in my PS5
• Compared to other SSD models

I tested the 4TB Lexar Play 2280 for over two weeks, fitting the drive to my personal PS5 and ensuring that it was used during my daily play sessions. During that time I was careful to assess the performance of the drive, both in-game and when moving a wide variety of files around on the system. I also recorded the data from the in-built PS5 storage benchmark.

I constantly compared the experience using the drive to my previous hands-on testing with a wide range of other PS5 SSD models. This included the Samsung 990 Pro, WD Black SN850, WD Black SN850P, Seagate Game Drive M.2 SSD for PS5, Samsung 980 Pro, and more.

Read more about how we test

First reviewed October 2024.

Sony Bravia Theater Bar 8: One-minute review

When Sony announced its 2024 AV lineup, it wasn’t just its TVs that received a more straightforward naming system, but its soundbars too. This year, the potentially tricky-to-remember model numbers have been replaced with a much simpler Bravia branding. The Sony Bravia Theater Bar 8 replaces the HT-A5000 as the company’s mid-range model – sitting below the Theater Bar 9 and the Bravia Theater Quad four-speaker audio system – and arrives with the aim to be one of best soundbars.

As with the HT-A5000, this latest model is a standalone Dolby Atmos soundbar. There are no wireless rear speakers included, nor is there a wireless subwoofer, but these can be added as optional extras if you wish to create an even more immersive surround sound experience. Despite the Sony Bravia Theater Bar 8 cramming 11 speakers into its slimline body to create a “bubble of sound” in Sony’s words, we would recommend true movie buffs consider adding at least a subwoofer to handle the low-end.

The Bar 8 is smaller than its predecessor – by some 30% – and is low in height, meaning it slots effortlessly in front of a TV. Connectivity is good rather than great with just two HDMI ports, one of which is eARC to connect to your TV. Thankfully, however, the other HDMI input is the 2.1 standard and it supports 8K/60Hz and 4K/120Hz passthrough, meaning you can confidently connect external devices including games consoles and 4K Blu-ray players. Elsewhere there is Spotify Connect, AirPlay 2 and Bluetooth for streaming music.

While some may expect more from a soundbar that costs $999 / £999 / AU$1,499, where connections or additional rear speakers are concerned there’s no denying the Sony Bravia Theater Bar 8 does an excellent job of boosting the sound of your TV. Although as for true Dolby Atmos it does fall a little short of the competition. The company’s 360 Spatial Sound Mapping tech does work in creating phantom speakers, but we found during our testing that the soundfield was more of a half-dome as opposed to a full-dome covering an entire room.

We also found that the Bravia Bar 8 performed at its best in small to medium-sized rooms, as it seemed to lack the power to fill a larger open space. Adding the optional rear speakers and/or a subwoofer will undoubtedly help (we didn’t have them for this review), but the total cost of such a package adds up to far more than tried and tested complete Dolby Atmos soundbar packages, despite the Bravia Bar 8 receiving what seem to be permanent price cuts globally (as of September 2024, it's typical street price is generally around $849.99 / £799 / AU$1,249).

So while it might not be the outright best option for your main TV viewing room, the Sony Bravia Bar 8 can certainly find a spot in a bedroom or smaller TV room. The only question you’ll need to ask yourself is if you’d rather opt for the Sonos Arc. It doesn’t cost that much more than the Sony, handles music better and has the added potential benefit multiroom functionality.

Sony Bravia Theater Bar 8 review: Price and release date

• Launched in July 2024
• List price of $999 / £999 / AU$1,499
• Has received price cuts since launch

The Sony Bravia Theater Bar 8 was announced in April 2024 and went on sale in July 2024 in the US, UK and Australia for $999 / £999 / AU$1,499. That puts it right in the firing line of the Sonos Arc, which also goes without a wireless subwoofer or rear speakers included.

It’s less than the MSRP of the Samsung HW-Q990D – our current favorite Dolby Atmos soundbar on our list of the best soundbars – although recent price drops against Samsung's soundbar make it approximately the same price as the Sony Bravia Theater Bar 8 in most regions.

Samsung’s flagship bar comes with a wireless subwoofer and rear speakers included, although the rears do require constant power. Sony’s selection of optional rear speakers run off rechargeable batteries and so could prove to be a more appealing option for anyone short on power outlets in their room.

Sony Bravia Theater Bar 8 review: Specs Sony Bravia Theater Bar 8 review: Features

• 5.0.2 speaker channels
• Phantom speakers for extra 'virtual' channels
• HDMI 2.1 with 4K 120Hz support

(Image credit: Future / Max Langridge)

As you’ll find with soundbars from the likes of LG and Samsung, the Sony Bravia Theater Bar 8 can connect to a Sony TV from 2021 or newer and use it as a center channel via Bravia Acoustic Center Sync. It would have been nice for this to have worked via HDMI – whereby the soundbar should be able to detect it’s connected to a Sony TV – but you have to connect them together using the included cable. If you don’t own a Sony TV, but your TV has an S-Center speaker input, you can take advantage of this feature via the same 3.5mm cable wired connection (the 3.5mm port on the rear of the Bravia Bar 8 can only be used for this feature and can’t be used as an input from external devices).

There are only two HDMI ports on the Bravia Bar 8, and with one needed to connect to a TV via eARC, there is just one spare for external devices. Fortunately, this input does support 8K/60Hz and 4K/120Hz passthrough and gamers will appreciate that it supports auto low latency mode (ALLM) and variable refresh rate (VRR). Having just one spare HDMI input shouldn’t alienate too many users, but the previous HT-A5000 had two spare, so it’s peculiar as to why Sony has dropped one this time around.

Setting up the Bravia Bar 8 is incredibly easy. Simply connect it to your TV via the aforementioned HDMI port, open up the Bravia Connect app on your iOS or Android device and connect it to your network. Once done, you’ll want to run a calibration to ensure the soundbar is optimized for your specific room. It’s a process that only takes around 20 seconds and sees the soundbar emitting various tones to determine the acoustics of your room to optimize the sound output based on your usual seating position.

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(Image credit: Future / Max Langridge)

There’s no option to manually adjust speaker channel settings as you can with other soundbars such as the Samsung HW-Q990D, but you can choose from three height modes – lower, default and higher – and three different sound field settings. The default option here is Sony’s 360 Spatial Sound Mapping, but you also have the option of DTS Neural:X or Dolby Speaker Visualizer. You can also turn the sound field mode off entirely if you wish (I’ll discuss the effects of this further down in the performance section). And, when rear speakers are connected, the Sony Bravia Theater Bar 8 can deliver an IMAX Enhanced certified audio presentation.

There aren’t any sound modes along the lines of ‘Movie’ or ‘Music’, which is an interesting omission, and there’s also very little mention of AI being used. The only AI-related feature of the Theater Bar 8 is to detect human voices and make them clearer via “AI sound separation”.

If you want to play music through the Bar 8, you can do so via HDMI, Bluetooth, Spotify Connect or AirPlay 2. Hi-Res audio is supported from compatible sources along with Sony’s LDAC wireless codec. You can also stream songs mixed in Sony’s own 360 Reality Audio via Amazon Music Unlimited.

• Features score: 3.5/5

Sony Bravia Theater Bar 8 review: Performance

• Powerful with genuine height
• Bass handling would benefit from a dedicated subwoofer

With 11 speakers inside the bar, including two up-firing and two new side-firing drivers, the Sony Bravia Theater Bar 8 is certainly capable of delivering powerful, expansive sound into your room. But expansive doesn’t necessarily mean enveloping, as I found it to produce more of a half-dome of sound rather than a complete bubble to include sounds coming from behind my viewing position.

I began my testing in a smaller room of the house, with the soundbar connected to the Sony Bravia 8 OLED TV and a scene from The Incredibles streaming on Disney Plus – the part where the children are in the jungle escaping from Syndrome’s henchmen. There was obvious height and width to the sound, with the flying saucer-like vehicles shooting across the screen and up above the listening position when they went off screen.

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The Bravia Theater Bar 8 nestles perfectly in front Sony's own 65-inch Bravia 8 OLED TV. (Image credit: Future / Max Langridge)Image 2 of 2

Optional feet can be attached to the Bravia Bar 8, so that it slides over the feet of 2024 Sony Bravia TVs. (Image credit: Future / Max Langridge)

For the majority of my testing, I had the height sound setting set to ‘higher’ as it provided the most immersive experience. I toggled between ‘default’ and ‘lower’ settings but found both to have a negative impact on the movie I was watching. I wasn’t personally able to find a scenario where either of these settings would be useful when watching a film.

Sony says the Bravia Bar 8 is capable of bouncing sound off the ceiling to create phantom speakers behind the listening position, but I wasn’t able to distinguish these during my testing. Dedicated rear speakers would no doubt alleviate this, as they’ll be on hand to actually deliver sound from behind the viewing position.

Dialogue was notably impressive, however, coming through crystal clear even when the volume was turned up. I also found the Voice Mode – activated within the Bravia Connect app or on the supplied remote control – did indeed give dialogue a boost without sacrificing too much of the rest of the soundtrack. And as for the Bravia Bar 8’s bass handling during the same scene in The Incredibles, I was pleasantly surprised by the depths it could go to, especially given the absence of a wireless subwoofer.

But, those same opinions didn’t translate over to the chase scene in The Batman – I loaded up a 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray on a PlayStation 5 and was left a little disappointed. The engine growl from the Batmobile was lacking impact and the chase as a whole lacked excitement. The bass output from the Theater Bar 8 is good, but it was apparent it had a limit to its capabilities. A subwoofer would help here as it would take away much of the low-end duties from the soundbar, leaving it to focus on other tasks.

A positive to come from this sequence, however, was that bullets fired at the Batmobile’s windows did pierce through the presentation, which is something I’ve found other soundbars such as the Sonos Arc can falter on.

There are just two HDMI 2.1 connections on the Sony Bravia Theater Bar 8 soundbar, one of which is reserved for an eARC connection. (Image credit: Future / Max Langridge)

I also streamed music to the Bravia Bar 8 via AirPlay from my iPhone using Amazon Music Unlimited. I loaded up a few tracks that had been mixed in Sony’s 360 Reality Audio format, but that were also available in Ultra HD – Amazon’s version of Hi-Res – so I could switch between the two.

Put simply, songs streamed in the latter format sounded much better. Miley Cyrus’ Flowers, for example, was delivered with extremely good vocal clarity and decent low-end bass when streaming in the Ultra HD format. Having the soundbar’s 360 Spatial Sound Mapping soundfield selected also added some extra expanse to the performance, resulting in something that was perfectly enjoyable and listenable. However, switching it to the default setting did yield a more natural-sounding performance.

It wasn’t such good news when moving over to the 360 Reality Audio version of the same song. Bass was essentially eradicated and the overall performance sounded tinny and not too dissimilar to a very cheap Bluetooth speaker. I tried to fix it by turning off the soundfield setting, but it didn’t make a huge amount of difference, other than removing any notion of height from the song.

• Performance score: 3.5/5

Sony Bravia Theater Bar 8 review: Design

• Premium build with cloth wrapping
• Suits 55-inch to 75-inch TVs
• A front display would be nice

Sony’s website claims the Bravia Theater Bar 8 outputs sound in a 5.0.2-channel configuration – the same as the Sonos Arc – but we’ve also been told directly from Sony’s product managers that this isn’t so definitive. This is because the sound output will be different for every room, as Sony’s 360 Spatial Sound Mapping technology calibrates the output on a room-by-room basis. Plus, it makes use of phantom speakers with the intention of creating a bubble of sound.

The Bravia Theater Bar 8 is pretty attractive by soundbar standards. It measures 1100 x 64 x 113 mm, making it slightly shorter than a 55-inch TV (which roughly measures 1200mm). I had it setup in front of a 65-inch Sony Bravia 8 OLED and a 77-inch LG G4 OLED TV (top image) during my testing and in both instances it looked perfectly fine, meaning it would be well-suited to be placed in front of a 75-inch TV, too. Coincidentally, 55-, 65- and 75-inch are the three sizes the Sony Bravia 8 OLED TV is available in and, to further highlight how both 8-series TV and soundbar are ideal partners, Sony includes a set of feet in the box with the soundbar to raise it slightly so that it can slide over your TV’s feet if your TV bench isn’t deep enough to accommodate both.

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Sony supplies optional feet and screws to attach to the bottom of the Sony Bravia Theater Bar 8 soundbar. (Image credit: Future / Max Langridge)Image 2 of 3

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(Image credit: Future / Max Langridge)

If you want to add rear speakers to the Bravia 8, you have a choice of the SA-RS3S or SA-RS5, although only the latter pair features dedicated up-firing speakers. As for subwoofers, you can pair the Bravia Bar 8 with either the 200W SA-SW3 or 300W SA-SW5.

The entire soundbar is covered in a cloth fabric which means when you’re watching TV the soundbar’s top panel won’t reflect the screen above it.

A small LED is the only indicator for power and input. (Image credit: Future / Max Langridge)

One feature I would have liked to see is a proper front panel display for information such as current input or even volume level. There are two small LEDs on the front right of the Bar 8, one to indicate when you’re adjusting the volume and one to indicate the current source. An HDMI device shines white, for example, while Bluetooth is expectedly blue. For more information relating to volume level and source input, you need to open up the Bravia Connect app.

• Design score: 4/5

Sony Bravia Theater Bar 8 review: Setup & usability

• Quick sound calibration
• Bravia Connect app and remote for easy control
• HDMI eARC connection to TV

(Image credit: Future / Max Langridge)

Setting up the Sony Bravia Theater Bar 8 is a relatively straightforward affair. All you need to do is connect an HDMI cable from the soundbar to your TV (Sony supplies one in the box), wait for it to register and you’re away. You’ll need to turn to the Sony Bravia Connect app for iOS and Android to get it connected to your home Wi-Fi network and to carry out the speedy sound optimization calibration.

A remote control is supplied too, for those moments when you don’t want or need to use the app. There is a central button for volume control (you can’t press and hold to turn the volume up and down), along with a dedicated button to adjust the bass level, turn the soundfield mode on or off (but not toggle through them), and toggle voice mode and night mode. The Bar 8 does work via HDMI-CEC, allowing you to adjust the volume using your TV’s remote control.

• Setup & usability score: 4.5/5

Sony Bravia Theater Bar 8 review: Value

• Premium price
• Similarly-priced competitors include rear speakers and subwoofer
• Not a class leader

While it launched at $999 / £999 / AU$1,499, the Bravia Theater Bar 8 appears to have received a regular discount in all territories, seeing its price drop to $849.99 / £799 / AU$1,249. In the US at the time of writing, it can be picked up with a further discount of $150. At its MSRP, the Bravia Bar 8 was immediately pitted against the Sonos Arc, which we consider to be one of the best standalone Dolby Atmos soundbars and which does outperform the Sony.

Now it appears to have received a price cut, it’s a more appealing option and somewhat helps stomach the extra cost for a wireless subwoofer and/or wireless rear speakers, should you want to add them. Considering its performance isn’t quite at the level we were expecting, it’s not the obvious choice for anyone looking to create a Dolby Atmos experience at home.

Our current pick for the outright best Dolby Atmos soundbar is the Samsung HW-Q990D, which can regularly be found for much less than its launch price in all territories. If you have one of Sony’s 2024 Bravia TVs, then the Bravia Theater Bar 8 is a natural pairing, but for anyone else, the Samsung soundbar still gets our vote.

• Value score: 3.5/5

Should I buy the Sony Bravia Theater Bar 8? Buy it if...

You want a simple solution for a smaller room
The Bravia Bar 8 will struggle to fill a large space, but if you want boosted TV sound in a smaller room or bedroom, it's worth an audition.

You want a full-range soundbar that supports Dolby Atmos
The Bravia Bar 8 can indeed deliver a expansive soundstage with good object placement, and it has the option of additional hardware to create a complete system.

Don't buy it if...

You want an authentic Dolby Atmos experience
Without the rear speakers or subwoofer included, the Bravia Theater Bar 8 can't deliver a true Dolby Atmos experience, despite its best efforts through calibration techniques.

You own Sonos speakers
This may sound strange, but if you already own Sonos speakers such as the Era 100 or Era 300, you're better off getting the Sonos Arc. It has the same speaker configuration as the Sony, but can be paired with speakers to create a full home theater. Plus, it handles music more confidently.

Sony Bravia Theater Bar 8 review: Also consider

Sonos Arc
It’s been mentioned throughout this review for good reason. The Sonos Arc doesn’t cost much more than the Sony Bar 8, yet delivers a more authentic and immersive audio performance. It’s much better with music and has the obvious additional benefit of being able to be added into a larger multiroom system.

Read our full Sonos Arc review

Samsung HW-Q990D
You may need to pay a little extra to pick up Samsung’s latest Dolby Atmos soundbar, but it is absolutely worth it. Wireless rear speakers and a subwoofer are included in the box to deliver a sensational home cinema experience. It also has an extra HDMI 2.1 input, making it better for owners of multiple playback devices or games consoles.

Read our full Samsung HW-Q990D review

How I tested the Sony Bravia Theater Bar 8

• Connected to the Sony Bravia 8 and LG G4
• Tested with a variety of sources
• All soundfield modes tested

I tested the Sony Bravia Theater Bar 8 over a period of two weeks. I connected it to a Sony Bravia 8 TV in a small room to test its sound output and any same brand exclusive features. I also moved it to a much larger room and connected it to an LG G4.

The majority of testing was conducted with the highest soundfield setting enabled, although I did toggle between the other options to analyze the sound output.

I played content from streaming services and 4K Blu-ray discs to test the Bravia Theater Bar 8's ability to handle Dolby Atmos soundtracks, and analyzed not only its spatial sound performance, but also bass, trebles and vocal clarity.

I also streamed music via Bluetooth and Wi-Fi to test music playback. I played hi-res audio, Atmos and Sony 360 Reality Audio tracks via Amazon Music Unlimited and Apple Music.

Read more about how we test

• First reviewed: September 2024

McAfee+ Premium is an easy-to-use security suite with some very welcome features. There’s supremely accurate antivirus for unlimited mobile or desktop devices, for instance; a full and unlimited VPN (no missing features, no data limits); a password manager; powerful data breach monitoring for email addresses, phone numbers, credit cards, bank accounts and more; mobile apps include a scam detector to spot and block links in dangerous texts, and privacy tools  help you lock down your social media settings, find and remove your personal data from web brokers, and locate and close down old and unused web accounts.

It’s an appealing feature set, and in this review we’ll take a closer look at McAfee+ Premium to see just how well it performs in real world use, and whether it might be one of the best antivirus software.

(Image credit: Future) McAfee+ Premium: Pricing

McAfee+ Premium is available in two flavors.

McAfee+ Premium Individual includes antivirus for unlimited devices, a password manager, unlimited VPN for up to five devices, and online account cleanup and data management tools for one person. It’s priced at $49.99 in year one, $149.99 on renewal.

McAfee+ Premium Family extends the package with online account cleanup and data management tools for two people, and throws in parental controls, too. It’s a little more expensive at $69.99 in year one, $169.99 on renewal.

If you only need the security basics, McAfee Total Protection Essential offers antivirus, a password manager and unlimited VPN for up to five devices, and is priced at a low $35.99 in year one, $119.99 on renewal.

Alternatively, upgrading to McAfee+ Advanced gets you identity theft protection, credit monitoring, identity theft insurance and more. Prices start at $89.99 in year one, $199.99 on renewal.

These are extremely low first year prices, especially if you could use the VPN or have a lot of devices to protect. But if you don’t need unlimited devices then you might save a little money elsewhere. Norton 360 Deluxe has antivirus and a VPN for five devices, parental controls and 50GB cloud backup, for example, and it’s good value at $49.99 in year one, $119.99 on renewal.

(Image credit: Future) McAfee+ Premium: Getting Started

McAfee+ Premium looks similar to many Windows security suites, with a dashboard showing your security status, and common tasks like running an antivirus scan or activating the VPN just a couple of clicks away.

While this seems straightforward, we noticed that some of the status information didn’t match the details we saw elsewhere. The app warned us that its ID monitoring had detected ‘100 breaches’, for instance; we clicked the ID monitoring button, McAfee’s website loaded, and it listed 216 breaches.

Some important features require extra setup steps before they’re working properly. McAfee’s web protection is based on its WebAdvisor browser extension, for instance, which must be activated before it can protect you. The McAfee+ app does its best to help, though, warning you about key features which aren’t enabled, and pointing you to the right places (like the WebAdvisor app store download page) when necessary.

McAfee+ Premium keeps its dashboard relatively straightforward by tucking the more advanced features away in a left-hand ‘My Protection’ sidebar. We sometimes had to go searching for features (we expected the list of excluded files to appear on the main scanning page as it applies to every scan type, but McAfee placed it under Real-Time Protection), but after a few minutes exploring we began to find our way around.

McAfee scores well with the big testing labs right now. (Image credit: Future) McAfee+ Premium: Protection

McAfee currently has great protection results in independent testing. As we write the company is currently equal third with Avira in AV-Comparatives Real-World Protection Test, just behind Avast and AVG, and it scored full marks in both AV-Test’s last Windows report and SE Labs’ consumer endpoint protection test,

We calculate an overall score covering nine of the most important reports across four different labs. Right now that places Avast in first and Bitdefender second, but McAfee is an excellent third, outperforming both Norton and Avira.

McAfee didn’t detect most of our test phishing sites. (Image credit: Future)

We began our own tests by attempting to access 50 brand new phishing sites, and logging what happened. McAfee WebAdvisor blocked a well below average 32%. It’s better than nothing - some VPNs who claim to shield you from malicious URLs don’t block a single site - but it’s also far behind even free antivirus from providers including Bitdefender (64%), Avira (90%) and Avast (94%.)

There’s a second problem. McAfee WebAdvisor is a browser extension, which means it can’t protect non-standard browsers or other apps. We use a custom browser for testing, and it was able to freely access every one of our phishing sites without McAfee even noticing.

McAfee scans downloads as they’re saved to your device. (Image credit: Future)

Moving to our malware test, we tried downloading dangerous files from 50 malicious sites. McAfee blocked a solid 88%, but was still a little behind Avira (90% in its last test), Avast (94%) and Bitdefender (an excellent 100%.)

Finally, we matched McAfee against our own custom ransomware simulator. McAfee got off to a great start, immediately killing the threat before it could touch a single file. But when we modified our file just a little, it got past McAfee and managed to encrypt thousands of documents.

That’s not bad, but others have done better. Norton spotted and killed our simulator after it encrypted six files, and Bitdefender stopped the threat before it could cause any damage at all.

Put it all together and we think our results broadly confirm the lab reports: McAfee does offer very strong protection, but it’s not quite leading edge, and Avast and Bitdefender score fractionally higher.

(Image credit: Future) McAfee+ Premium: Secure VPN

McAfee+ Premium comes with an unlimited version of McAfee Safe Connect VPN, which itself uses the popular TunnelBear VPN underneath.

The VPN is built into the McAfee+ app, making it very convenient to access. The app dashboard has a ‘Secure VPN’ panel which shows whether you’re connected or not, and if you need browsing protection, you can turn it on in a couple of clicks.

(Well, that’s the idea. During our review, the VPN once hung on ‘Connecting’ for several minutes. The app has no way to cancel a connection, a very basic design flaw, so all we could do was reboot.)

(Image credit: Future)

McAfee’s VPN has a marginally above average choice of 48 countries. Unlike TunnelBear, there’s no choice of city or regional locations (McAfee has one US location, TunnelBear has 13.) 

McAfee’s location list doesn’t include five of the countries most commonly supported by VPNs: Hong Kong, India, Israel, Russia and Turkey. But it has servers everywhere else we would expect, and delivers more coverage than usual in Africa (Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa) and South America.(Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Columbia and Peru.)

Connection times could be slow on our test Windows system, sometimes ten seconds or more. If you’re used to faster services (ExpressVPN typically takes less than a second), that can become frustrating.

(Image credit: Future)

McAfee VPN has very few settings. There’s a kill switch (called Safe Reconnect) to protect your traffic if the VPN drops, and some Automatic Connect options to automatically connect when using untrusted or specific networks, but  no choice of protocol, no split tunneling or anything more advanced.

Testing revealed an issue with the ‘Safe Reconnect’ kill switch. It performed well in most cases, but we noticed that if the VPN’s driver failed, then the kill switch wasn’t able to fully activate, and our now-unprotected web traffic continued to flow. 

This isn’t an issue you’re likely to see in real world use, but if privacy is a priority then it has to be a concern, and most specialist VPN providers do much better. When we put NordVPN through the same test, it didn’t just block our internet correctly, it also quickly diagnosed the problem, restored the driver, and automatically reconnected.

(Image credit: Future)

We test VPN download speeds by connecting to a number of speed test sites from a cloud PC with a fast 1Gbps connection. McAfee Safe Connect managed a best average speed across multiple sessions of 270Mbps, well behind the performance champions (Surfshark and others reach 950Mbps+), but enough for browsing, streaming and most other tasks.

McAfee sells Secure Connect VPN for its privacy and security, and doesn’t mention unblocking streaming sites at all. We ran unblocking tests for Netflix and a number of other streaming sites anyway, but with poor results. McAfee got us into ITV and Channel 4 in the UK, and 9Now in Australia, but it couldn’t unblock Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney Plus or BBC iPlayer.

(Image credit: Future) McAfee+ Premium: True Key Password Manager

True Key is a basic password manager which allows users to create secure logins, store and share them across all their devices. With Android and iOS apps for mobile devices, and browser extensions for Chrome, Edge and Firefox covering everything else, you can run it almost everywhere.

We imported existing logins from Dashlane without any issues. True Key can also import stored passwords from Edge, Chrome, LastPass, and generic CSV support might allow True Key to read logins from elsewhere.

True Key also has a Wallet where you can store personal details - names, addresses, phone numbers, date of birth and more. But the app can’t use this information to fill forms, unlike Dashlane and other top password managers.

In terms of the password management basics, though, True Key works reasonably well. Usernames and passwords are captured automatically as you enter them. When you’re creating an account, it can generate and enter a secure password in a couple of clicks. When we opened a login page, True Key displayed any matching profile (that could include multiple usernames if you’ve several accounts on the site), and clicking the profile logged us in successfully.

There’s not much in the way of advanced functionality. True Key doesn’t have secure password sharing, for instance, and there’s no ‘Password Health’-type feature to warn you about reused or weak passwords.

(Image credit: Future)

True Key does a great job of protecting your account with its excellent two factor authentication support. You can still log in with a master password alone, but for extra safety you can optionally choose a second factor, including a known trusted device, a second device, your Windows Hello PIN or biometric authentication.

Overall, True Key is a basic but decent tool which handles simple login tasks with ease. It’s better than the typical password managers we see in security suites, but if you need form filling or other advanced features, you’re still much better off with Dashlane, LassPass or the best of the competition.

(If you’re unsure and would like to try before you buy, download True Key’s Freemium version. It only supports 15 logins, but that’s enough to sample the service and get a feel for how the app works for you.)

(Image credit: McAfee+ Premium) McAfee+ Premium: Online Account Cleanup

McAfee Online Account Cleanup (OAC) is an interesting web-based tool which discovers and helps you remove old web accounts which you no longer need or use.

The service identifies old accounts by scanning your email Inbox for keywords, finding old account reminders or other messages you might have forgotten. That’s a clever idea, but has a few problems.

The first is that you might not want to give McAfee permission to regularly read your Inbox. We don’t see this as a major risk (McAfee tries to reassure by saying ‘We only review the sender’s name, subject line, timestamp, and a few words of each email…’), but it may be a step too far for some.

The second is that OAC can only scan inboxes for Microsoft, Google or Yahoo email accounts. If you use another service, Online Account Cleanup won’t work.

The third issue is that you can only choose one of these email addresses. If you set up web accounts using more than one email, OAC won’t be able to cover everything.

If these aren’t concerns for you, OAC works very well. The service can automatically access your email, scanning is fairly quick, and when it’s complete, you get to see a very long list of your current accounts.

(Image credit: Future)

If you’ve 50 or more accounts to explore, then that could be intimidating. OAC does its best to point you in the right direction, though, by highlighting accounts which hold financial information (bank account or credit card details), other sensitive information (passport number, social security numbers), or you perhaps don’t use any more (they’re very, very old.)

While that’s helpful in identifying accounts you really should remove, you mostly have to sort out the actual removal process for yourself. OAC gives you a link to the service website, but it’s up to you to figure out how each account can be closed.

McAfee Online Account Cleanup is an unusual service which could be very helpful for some users. It won’t help others at all, though, and if you’re really keen on closing old web accounts, spend an afternoon browsing your inbox and you can probably get almost as much done for free.

(Image credit: Future) McAfee+ Premium: Personal Data Cleanup

McAfee Personal Data Cleanup scans data brokers to see if your name, date of birth and home address are being sold on data broker sites. Sounds good, but McAfee+ Premium scans for data only, and won’t ask browsers to remove your information unless you upgrade to the top-of-the-range McAfee Total Protection Ultimate plan.

We ran a check anyway, and within a few minutes McAfee reported that it had found three data brokers which ‘may’ have ‘some’ of our personal data. We looked at the report for each broker, but these simply said: ‘this data broker collects a wide range of personal data in your country, but they don't provide a way to search for specific individuals, so we're unable to access their records to confirm if they're collected yours.’ In other words: they might have our data, they might, but there’s no way to help.

The advice the report offered was even less helpful, just 'we recommend visiting the broker's site to request the removal of any info they may have collected about you' (without even giving us a link to the site), or that, if we upgraded our plan, 'removal requests will automatically be sent.'

We can’t judge Personal Data Cleanup on a single search, and you may get much better results. But as most plans don’t help you remove data, and doing it manually can be complex (you’ll need to verify your identity and repeat the process regularly), we don’t think the feature adds any real value to McAfee+ Premium.

(Image credit: Future) McAfee+ Premium: Social Privacy Manager

McAfee Social Privacy Manager (SPM) is a browser extension which can scan your Facebook, X/ Twitter, YouTube, Google, Instagram, TikTok and Linkedin accounts for weak privacy settings, then recommend improvements and update your settings itself with a click.

Some products of this type give the same advice to everyone, but McAfee is smarter than that. It asks what sort of social media user you are - do you explore other posts, say, or share content, but rarely post yourself - and then tailors its recommendations to your needs.

Scanning your accounts can be surprisingly simple. If your browser is already logged into Facebook, say, then just choose Facebook on the McAfee site and SPM scans your settings and delivers its advice in seconds.

(Image credit: Future)

SPM organizes its recommendations into four sensibly-chosen categories. Content Visibility is all about controlling who can see your profile and content; Ad Preferences controls how the platform uses your data to choose ads; Social Interactions controls how others find and interact with you, and Platform Experience is all about general personalisations.

The amount of guidance we received varied widely, with YouTube (3 tips) and Google (6) a little disappointing, but the Facebook (21 recommendations) and LinkedIn (26) reports giving us far more to explore.

SPM gave us some useful advice. By default, LinkedIn uses all kinds of data to personalize ads, but SPM recommended we turn off 16 ad-related settings, and allowed us to do that with a single click. If you’re not the type to spend an age exploring the darker corners of your account dashboard, looking for important settings, this will save you time and improve your privacy.

If there’s a problem here it’s that SPM often has the most basic privacy settings only. We scanned our Google account, for instance, and SPM gave us a single Yes/ No option to prevent Google logging any of our web activity. Google’s own settings give you so much more control, allowing you to choose custom options for Search, Chrome, Ads, Maps, Google Play and more. 

There’s no doubt that SPM is far simpler than the standard account dashboards, and if you’re just looking for a quick way to turn everything off, it could be all you need. But if you’re more about fine-tuning your privacy settings for the best results, Social Privacy Monitor won’t help you very much.

(Image credit: Future) McAfee+ Premium: Dark Web Monitoring

Many antivirus apps now include some form of dark web monitoring, where they raise an alert if your personal details show up in a data breach. But often they’ll only search for email addresses, something you can already do for free at sites like haveibeenpwned.com. 

McAfee tramples all over these vendors with the ability to monitor up to 10 email addresses, 10 phone numbers, your date of birth, 10 usernames, two passports, two national IDs, two health IDs, 10 credit cards, 10 bank accounts and two tax IDs. Enter whatever details you like, launch a scan, and McAfee+ Premium displays the total number of breaches discovered both in its web dashboard and in the app. 

As usual with this kind of service, the information you get may not be very helpful. For example, McAfee told us that our email address showed up in a breach which contained ‘birthdays, names, email addresses, physical addresses and other personal information.’ Interesting, but we don’t know which account our email came from, or whether the breach included any of those extra details. It’s telling us what we know already - some of our data is available online - but there’s no action we can take to address any of that.

(Image credit: Future)

If you’d like data breach monitoring anyway, there are similar (and maybe better) services around. Norton Identity Protection can’t match McAfee everywhere (no health IDs, no national IDs, no tax IDs, only supports five email addresses), but it does watch for a couple of important extra items in your real-world addresses and your mother’s maiden name.

Norton makes it easier to add some items, too. Add a phone number to McAfee and it sends a verification code by SMS to confirm that you own it; great for privacy, not so welcome if it’s a landline or can’t receive SMS. Norton doesn’t require verification, so it works with any number.

McAfee does have some welcome advantages, though. In particular, the web dashboard highlights especially important breaches which include a password; Norton just lists breach names, forcing you to open each one in turn to see what it contains.

Put it all together and while McAfee Identity Monitoring isn’t ground breaking in any way (and we really wish it looked out for addresses), it’s still a capable service which tracks more details than most of the competition.

(Image credit: Future) McAfee+ Premium: More Features

McAfee+ Premium includes a basic firewall which prevents untrusted applications from making connections to the outside world. That’s useful, but it doesn’t do much else. The firewall has no significant configuration options, and McAfee+ doesn’t look at incoming connections at all (it leaves Windows Firewall to do that.) Bitdefender and Norton’s suites have far more capable firewalls.

McAfee File Shredder securely wipes files containing confidential data to make sure they can’t be recovered. Even if someone steals your laptop and manages to undelete some sensitive documents, they’ll only see the wiped and empty versions.

(Image credit: Future)

File Shredder is convenient to use. Delete private documents as usual, open File Shredder, and you can have it securely wipe the contents of the Recycle Bin in a click: done. We had an odd issue during testing - occasionally File Shredder simply told us that the files couldn’t be deleted, without any explanation - but mostly it worked very well. If you’re an experienced Windows user who would like more,, though, tools like Eraser or Microsoft’s command line SDelete give you many more expert-level secure deletion features for free.

Tracker Remover protects your privacy by deleting tracker and other browser cookies, browser history, temporary files and the contents of the Recycle Bin. It works as advertised, but there’s nothing here that you can’t do elsewhere. And as with File Shredder, you can get similar but far more capable cleanup tools - like Avast’s CCleaner, for free. 

McAfee+ Premium: Final verdict

The McAfee+ Premium highlight is its antivirus engine, which does more to keep you safe than most. The dark web monitoring tracks way more personal data than the rest of the competition, too, but the browsing protection and the underpowered VPN let the suite down.

If price is your top priority then it might still be worth signing up for the first year deal: $49.99 for an antivirus this good covering unlimited devices, and a full VPN thrown in, is as good a deal as you’ll get anywhere. (A one year TunnelBear account costs $59.88 all on its own.)

If you expect more from a security suite, though, consider competing suites such as Avast One Gold or Bitdefender Total Security for extra features and even better protection.

We list the best cloud antivirus.

Sometimes, a tiny change can make all the difference. So it is with the Iiyama ProLite XCB4594DQSN. It's a large, 32:9 aspect ultrawide productivity monitor with a native resolution of 5,120 by 1,440. The difference is that it measures 45 inches where 49 inches has typically been the norm for the best ultrawide monitors we've reviewed.

That makes it a touch more ergonomic in terms of desk space. But it also improves the pixel density by a small but arguably critical quotient. To that you can add VA panel technology with strong all-round specifications, including 165Hz refresh and sub-1ms claimed response, plus excellent connectivity including USB-C with 90W of power delivery and a KVM switch.

All told, this new Iiyama amounts to a single monitor with the desktop real estate of dual 1440p panels, plus good connectivity. It's a very appealing proposition for anyone who needs one of the best business monitors to multitask, view several applications in parallel and generally have plenty of on-screen elbow room.

Iiyama ProLite XCB4594DQSN: Design & features

(Image credit: Iiyama)

• Needs lots of desk space
• Excellent connectivity
• OSD could be more intuitive

Specs

Panel size: 45-inch

Panel type: IPS

Resolution: 5,120 x 1,440

Brightness: 450 cd/m2

Contrast: 3,000:1

Pixel response: 0.8ms MPRT

Refresh rate: 165Hz

Colour coverage: 100% sRGB

HDR: DisplayHDR 400

Vesa: 100mm x 100mm

Inputs: DisplayPort 1.4 x1, HDMI 2.0 x1, USB-C with 90W power delivery x1

Other: USB-A hub, LAN, KVW switch

Iiyama doesn't traditionally go in for aesthetic theatrics, and that's no different for the Iiyama ProLite XCB4594DQSN. Sober suited, you could say anonymous, albeit with slim bezels on three sides that add a contemporary air, it's nevertheless well-built and has all the features you'll likely want for a high-spec productivity monitor.

The stand offers a good array of adjustment, including height and tilt, plus a touch of pivot to help get the horizontal level just right, though the lack of swivel is a disappointing omission. Still, it's good to have decent adjustability on a 45-inch panel like this where the sheer size alone makes for challenging ergonomics.

On the subject of size and scale, this is a curved panel but courtesy only of a relatively gentle 1500R arc. With such a large wide-aspect format, a little more curve would arguably make viewing the furthest extremities a bit more comfortable.

As for connectivity, that's the real highlight. For starters, you get USB-C with 90W of power delivery for effortless single-cable connectivity of a laptop. There's also a triple-port USB-A hub. Thus with the single cable you can not only drive the display and keep a laptop charged, but also connect peripherals like keyboard, mouse and external storage.

Even better, there's a LAN port, too, enabling comprehensive connectivity through that single port. Once you've gone single-cable, you won't want to go back to that old rat's nest of cables. The USB hub also allows for support for KVW switch capability, so you can easily share this display and any connected peripherals across two PCs.

Those highlights aside, the rear of the display also includes a pair of HDMI ports and DisplayPort, all of which support the full 5,120 by 1,440 resolution at 165Hz. The catch? All these various connectivity features are harder to set up than need be.

Iiyama has chosen some suboptimal default settings, for instance, which means you'll have to spend a fair amount of time in the unfriendly OSD menu just to get this monitor running at the right resolution and refresh over various inputs. Once you've got everything configured correctly, it's all good from there. But Iiyama would do well to look again at the OSD and default settings.

Iiyama ProLite XCB4594DQSN: Performance

(Image credit: Iiyama)

• Punchy, quick VA panel
• Decent pixel density
• Limited HDR support

We've seen plenty of 49-inch panels with the familiar if still spectacular 5,120 by 1,440 pixel native revolution. The difference here is that the Iiyama ProLite XCB4594DQSN is a 45 incher.

That obviously makes it a touch smaller while still being a very expansive display. It also bumps the pixel density up from 108 DPI to 118 DPI compared to those 49-inch panels. That isn't a dramatic improvement. But it's just enough to make a visible difference to the crispness and quality of fonts.

For sure, a 27-inch or even 32-inch 4K monitor has much better pixel density again. But the increase to nearly 120DPI definitely helps and is particularly noticeable in MacOS, which arguably benefits even more from the DPI bump than Windows. That detail aside, this is a very nice example of the VA breed of LCD panel. It's very punchy, with a brightness rating of 450 nits, and boasts excellent contrast.

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It's nicely calibrated, too, albeit this isn't a panel aimed at content creation pros and doesn't offer pre-calibrated Adobe RGB or DCI-P3 modes. Overall, this is a really vibrant, pleasant display. OK, it's no OLED panel. But then you'd be looking at far, far more money for an equivalent OLED monitor.

Speed-wise, this panel will almost certainly be plenty quick enough for most users. The 165Hz refresh ensures nice, low latency and the 0.8ms response spec is impressive. That said, there is some noticeable overshoot with the response-accelerating overdrive feature set to one of its more aggressive modes. It's not a huge problem, but if you're sensitive to that kind of thing, an IPS panel remains a better option.

Another relative weakness is HDR support. For starters, this isn't a true HDR panel. It offers basic HDR signal processing. But there's no local dimming, so the ultimate dynamic range is limited. Iiyama likewise hasn't done a great job of calibrating SDR content in HDR mode. So, you'll really need to jump between SDR and HDR modes depending on content types, which is a bit of a pity.

Iiyama ProLite XCB4594DQSN: Final verdict

(Image credit: Iiyama)

The Iiyama ProLite XCB4594DQSN doesn't do anything radical. However, the large panel and ultrawide format makes for an extremely effective productivity tool. For sure, it's an intriguing alternative to a pair of 1440p monitors.

The 45-inch as opposed to 49-inch diagonal also makes for slightly improved pixel density and font rendering. That also applies to the comparison with more conventional 27-inch 1440p monitors. This Iiyama is just that little bit crisper while still providing a huge canvas for multitasking.

The actual panel quality is good, too, with a slick 165Hz refresh and fairly speedy responses for a VA panel. Factor in the 450 nit brightness and basic HDR support and this panel is well up for some multimedia and games on the side.

Connectivity is another strong point, with USB-C, LAN and a KVM switch. All told, this is a genuine productivity powerhouse and the only obvious snags are a slightly frustrating OSD menu and some poorly chosen default settings, none of which are enough to spoil what is otherwise a strong overall package.

For more pin-sharp displays, we tested the best monitors for MacBook Pro.

The BenQ MA32OU is one of those monitors, and the moment I connected to it, I knew there was something special about this display. I rotate monitors like some people rotate their socks. I've gotten pretty good at knowing if any of the best business monitors will be a hit after only spending a little bit of time with it. The BenQ MA32OU is from BenQ's line of monitors specifically designed for Mac users. It's sleek, white, minimal, seamless MacOS integration and incredibly similar color profiles to the MacBook.

The BenQ MA32OU is packed with color calibration and integration software with Mac, solving the color inconsistency between MacBook displays and larger external monitors.

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future) BenQ MA32OU: Pricing & availability

The BenQ MA32OU is a premium external display option for MacBook users at $600. While it's more affordable than Apple's Studio Display, it still holds plenty of advanced features tailored to MacOS users. As of September 2024, BenQ has made the MA32OU available for pre-order with a general release slated for later this year.

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future) BenQ MA32OU: Unboxing & first impressions

Like every other monitor I tried from BenQ, unboxing the MA32OU was straightforward and clean. The monitor was securely packed alongside essential accessories including a USB-C cable, HDMI cable, power cord, and necessary documentation. Setting up the monitor itself is super easy, and it took only a few moments. The MA32OU was up on my desk and operational moments after arrival, fitting beautifully on my monitor arm.

The overall design language fits the Apple ecosystem, with simplified ports on the back, much like an Apple monitor. However, what is remarkable is that, unlike an Apple monitor, this display has an HDMI option.

BenQ MA32OU: Design & build quality Specs

Screen size: 32” IPS panel
Resolution: 3840 x 2160 (4K UHD)
Aspect ratio: 16:9
Peak brightness: 600 nits (HDR)
Color accuracy: 99% sRGB, 95% DCI-P3
Ports: 2x HDMI 2.0, 2x USB-C (90W/15W), USB-A hub
Contrast ratio: 1300:1
Speakers: 2x 3W
Adjustments: Height, tilt, swivel, pivot
Response time: 5 ms
Eye-care tech: Low Blue Light, Flicker-Free

Whether this is the best monitor for MacBook Pro is a matter of taste. But the BenQ MA32OU features a MacBook-like inspired design with a sleek white chassis and slim bezels, making it a stylish addition to any workspace. The Ergonomic stand offers essential height, tilt, swivel, and pivot adjustments, making for a great and highly customizable viewing angle. However, my preferred use case for monitors is to put them on a monitor arm for aesthetics. The ports are great, just enough to give me everything I need. It has USB-C with PD charging, another with charging capabilities, a USB-C port, and two HDMI Ports. These ports were able to get me set up for success without much work at all. Lastly, I appreciate that this monitor doesn't use any barrel connector but uses IEC, making it easy to power.

The build quality is solid, and the picture quality is gorgeous. Plugging into this monitor makes my MacBook display feel monstrous, thanks to the high resolution and clean 16:9 aspect ratio, and since the port offering is simple, it works excellently alongside my Thunderbolt Dock.

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future) BenQ MA32OU: In use

I've had the opportunity to use the BenQ MA32OU monitor as my primary display for a couple of weeks now. Over this time, I have been thrilled with the performance of this screen. It shines with vivid color accuracy and high resolution, allowing for even more content on the screen at once, 99% sRGB, 95% DCI-P3 coverage, and proprietary Mac color-tuning technology. When I move between my MacBook Pro's screen and the MA32OU, I can't tell the difference between the two color-wise. This is a huge win, especially if I'm working on creative projects or just for my sanity of moving between displays constantly throughout my day.

Depending on my working setup, I try to balance simple, minimalist, and frictionless. What I mean by frictionless is that it doesn't take a long setup time or any time for me to get to work. When I used to do a lot of voiceovers and vocal work, I had a mic on my desk; now that I don't do that as much, my mic is still in my home office but not as readily accessible. I treat my entire setup with this same logic. Simple and minimal-ish while keeping frictionless. The MA32OU is that kind of monitor to me. It doesn't mess around by adding what could be in a dock, if needed, somewhere else. But it also hasn't minimized so far that it only has Thunderbolt. At my setup, in particular, I have (as you can see in the picture with the ports) the main computer Thunderbolt plugged into a Satechi Thunderbolt 4 Dock, giving me a few more ports to run to my MacBook Pro. However, I also have the HDMI running to an HDMI cable that can be used to plug into another laptop or desktop I am testing, and I am using the other USB-C ports to keep things tidy and run my BenQ monitor lightbar and my Insta360 Link.

Continuing down the line of frictionless work, Display Pilot 2 software makes using this monitor as seamless as if I were working with a first-party Apple monitor. I can sync brightness and volume controls in a way I cannot do with any other monitor. While it sounds small, it has been super handy to adjust to. For those working long hours, BenQ’s eye-care features, such as Low Blue Light and Flicker-Free technology, help reduce eye strain, making it suitable for extended use. The HDR performance is good but not exceptional, with the 600-nit brightness providing decent contrast but not technically being as bright as I would like it if I weren't in a basement dungeon of a home office (only one tiny window)

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future) BenQ MA32OU: Final verdict

The BenQ MA320U is an impressive external monitor that excels at delivering a seamless MacBook experience with stunning color accuracy, flexibility, and frictionless usability. While it may not have the absolute best HDR performance or audio capabilities, it remains an excellent choice for creative professionals seeking a reliable, MacBook-optimized display at a competitive price. If you're a MacBook user looking for a great monitor, you must check this out. If you don't use a MacBook but want a reasonably priced monitor, the MA32OU may still be a great option.

We tested the best monitors for the Mac mini - and these are our top recommendations.

Portable power stations have grown in popularity over the years with the rise in battery technology and the push for solar power. At first, these were backup-only solutions, now they can be used for off-grid power solutions as well. Over the years Bluetti has grown as a serious contender in the Portable Power Station realm, especially with powerful models such as the AC500 and AC300 inverters, with their respective batteries.

After reviewing all the best portable power stations, we can safely say the Bluetti AC500 represents the latest in modular energy solutions, offering homeowners, RV users, and off-grid enthusiasts a scalable, reliable, and eco-friendly backup power system.

The AC500 specifically boasts a 5,000W pure sine wave inverter and compatibility with up to six B300S batteries totaling nearly 24,000Wh of usable battery. The AC500 can power a wide range of devices, from small electronics to essential household appliances like refrigerators and HVAC systems. With solar input support, seamless expandability, and the ability to run silently indoors, Bluetti has positioned the AC500 as one of the most powerful modular plug-and-play energy systems available. 

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future) Bluetti AC500: Pricing & availability

The Bluetti AC500 starts at $2,600 for the standalone unit, but you'll need to purchase compatible external batteries such as the BS300S to store the energy that the BS500 inverter will utilize. Bluetti offers a bundle with the AC500 and a single B300S battery for $4,500. For those who need a full setup with six batteries, it will cost upwards of $10,400.

While the upfront cost may be high, the modular nature of this portable power offering from Bluetti allows for incremental upgrades over time as needs -- or budget -- allow. Bluetti is also notorious for offering frequent discounts on its products, making this incremental build a bit more budget-friendly.

You can purchase the Bluetti system directly from Bluetti's official site, or through online retailers such as Amazon.

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future) Bluetti AC500: Unboxing & first impressions

The AC500 arrives in a hefty box that includes a lot of padding. The AC500 is fairly heavy, and from the first time I picked it up, I recognized the quality build and overall durability. Additionally, I could tell that this setup, while technically portable, is not fun to move around such as a power bank or something I'd throw in the back of my Jeep. This power station is more designed to be put in place and left there, with the understanding that it can be moved, thus the portable part of the name, however, it's not going to be something you move frequently, weighing nearly 70lbs / 30kg.

In the box are the Bluetti AC500, the power cables for both AC and DC input, a manual, warranty cards, and solar charging cables. My BS300S (I chose to start with one, but will most likely be expanding sometime in the future as my needs expand) came in a separate box.

Bluetti AC500: Design & build quality Specs

Inverter: 5,000W continuous / 10,000W peak
Battery (optional): B300S (3,072Wh each, up to 6 units)
Max Capacity: 18,432Wh with six B300S batteries
Solar Input: Dual 1,500W MPPT (up to 3,000W total)
AC Output: 120V single-phase, multiple 20A/30A outlets, 50A port
DC Output: 12V/30A, 24V/10A, 12V car port, USB-C (100W), USB-A (18W)
Weight: 66 lbs (30 kg)

The Bluetti AC500 has a very boxy and rugged design with built-in handles on the top sides and wireless chargers integrated into the top. Bluetti chose durable and high-quality materials to help ensure a sturdy and reliable product, even with heavy use. The feet have non-slip rubber and the handles have a nice grip to them, plus Bluetti has designed the different elements to stack quite nicely, allowing for a sleek and streamlined setup. I have the battery on the bottom and the AC500 on top of that. If you have multiple units or multiple inverters, you can even intermix the stacking as seen in the picture below, which goes to show that Bluetti has used the same design and footprint across their product lineup.

The touchscreen interface is simple and easy to navigate, though the plastic finish and low resolution feel a bit dated especially compared to my iPhone 16 Pro. Similarly, the touch screen's response feels a bit sluggish compared to the same phone, but for the few times I use the OSD for checking battery levels and enabling outputs, it's just fine. Most of the time, I use my phone to control the settings anyway. 

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future) Bluetti AC500: In use

The AC500 performs wonderfully, and even a bit better than expected in my real-world testing. Shortly after arrival, the area where I live experienced a huge storm. A good friend of mine lives in the country about 30 minutes away from my house and they lost power entirely to their house and outbuildings on their farm due to a downed power line. Since it needed extensive repair, we knew he would be out of power for quite a while (turned out to be only a couple of days). We were able to set up the AC500, AC300, and their appropriate batteries to run his entire farm with ease. On the AC500, we were able to run his freezer, fridge, lights, a well pump, and the first stage of his HVAC unit. The AC300 was able to easily run his barn with basic lighting and a corn dryer.

One of the major advantages is the ability to use this system indoors, as it produces no fumes and operates quietly even under high loads. Fans kick in under very heavy use, but they are still very quiet all things considered. 

In this scenario, we didn't get a chance to integrate solar panels, but if we had the time, we could add up to 3,000W of solar panels, that can power the inverter, and any excess power can be stored in the connected batteries.

In off-grid use cases, the AC500 can also be re-charged with a standard car outlet, though it will charge considerably slower than a standard wall outlet.

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future) Bluetti AC500: Final verdict

The Bluetti AC500 is an excellent choice for anyone in need of a powerful, expandable energy solution. Its ability to scale up to six batteries, combined with a robust 5,000W inverter, makes it ideal for backup power and off-grid living. While its lack of a built-in battery and 120V limitation might be drawbacks for some users, it excels in most scenarios, particularly with solar integration and modularity. At its price point, it’s a serious investment, but one that pays off in reliability and performance. If you are looking to get started in your power station journey, make sure to check out the Bluetti AC500 Portable Power Station System.

Philips 5400 LatteGo: two-minute review

The Philips 5400 LatteGo is a bean-to-cup coffee machine capable of making 12 different types of coffee. With its easy-to-use TFT LCD display, you can customize each cup by tweaking the amount of beans, milk and water you want. Best of all, the 5400 remembers these settings, giving you the option to save it to one of four profiles, saving you the hassle of adjusting the options every time.

Setting up the 5400 LatteGo is simple enough, though some important details are missing from the instructions. For example, it doesn’t mention that a rubber band must be attached to the filter in order to slot into the water tank. Once you’ve placed the machine in your kitchen or office, the 5400 is easy enough to maintain. The water tank, found on the right side, can be easily slid out from the front for refills.

The machine's water tank is easy to remove, and you'll get an alert when it needs refilling (Image credit: Daryl Baxter)

Longevity is a big theme of the 5400, self-cleaning after each use to prevent any grime from clogging up its internal pipes. Though it’s worth noting that when it’s working, especially when grinding the coffee beans you’ve put in, it can be noisy. We measured noise levels of up to 79 dBA (about the same as a phone dial tone), so we’d recommend not making a cup during the night if others are sleeping nearby.

The 5400 offers plenty of customization options, such as different milk foam levels. However, the milk spout can’t be turned, so you have to carefully position your cup between the milk and coffee spouts. Nevertheless, the 5400 made a fantastic drink every time, and we didn’t experience any issues that dampered our experience of using it — apart from setting it up for the first time.

Overall, this mid-range coffee machine is designed to appeal to users with different skill levels when making coffee, and the 5400 succeeds in that regard. Granted, the Breville Barista Express Impress offers something similar, but it lacks a helpful LCD display and the useful modularity of the 5400 that makes it so easy to clean. If you’re new to machines like this, we can’t recommend the Philips 5400 LatteGo enough. 

It's not possible to adjust the direction of the milk spout, so you'll need to be careful how you position your cup (Image credit: Daryl Baxter) Philips 5400 LatteGo: price and availability

• List price: £679.99 (around $900 / AU$1,320)
• Launch date: December 2021
• Availability: UK

At the time of writing, you can only buy the Philips 5400 LatteGo on Amazon UK, or the Philips website with a list price of £679.99 (discounted to £619.99 at the time of writing). The coffee machine isn’t available in the US or Australia, but the 3200 is a smaller version of the 5400 that's more widely available.

The best bean-to-cup coffee machines are never cheap, and considering what the Philips 5400 LatteGo is capable of, you’re getting a fantastic machine that sits comfortably at the mid-range price bracket, with a lot of features helpful for beginners.

• Value for money score: 5/5

Philips 5400 LatteGo: specs Philips 5400 LatteGo: design

The Philips 5400 LatteGo looks every bit like a £619 coffee machine — high-quality, big, and sleek with its chrome finish. However, taking it out of the box, we were surprised by its depth (14.6in / 37.2cm), and you may find it comes close to the edge of your kitchen counter.

Setting the machine up was straightforward. The instruction booklet outlined out how to put the right compartments in, such as the water tank and the waste tray. The 5400 LatteGo also comes with an optional filter, called AquaClean, which Philips claims can help avoid descaling for up to 5,000 cups of coffee. While the instructions explained how to install the filter, it left out an important point. You see, there’s a black elastic band that must attach to the filter - otherwise, it won’t slot into place. We only found this out after coming across a post on Reddit, as we were under the impression that the filter just had to be placed into the tank. Not so. Including this detail in the instructions would help prevent this frustrating moment for others.

Once set up, we switched on the 5400 LatteGo and followed the prompts on the bright TFT display to prepare it for its first cup of coffee. Putting in the coffee beans, bought from a nearby independent coffee shop, was easy enough. You simply pour them into the designated section of the machine, and the 5400 LatteGo does the rest. Every time you select a coffee from the display, you can choose how much coffee, water, and milk you want — even choosing whether or not to include milk foam.

The bright display makes the 5400 LatteGo very easy to use (Image credit: Daryl Baxter)

It’s worth noting that the colorful TFT display is very helpful, making it easy for beginners and advanced users to personalize their coffee. Best of all, the machine remembers your preferences, saving you the chore of tweaking the coffee, water, and milk every time.

When it comes to cleaning the 5400, everything is simple enough to take out, such as the water tank, the drip tray, and more. It makes the machine feel modular — almost like working on a car engine. Everything has its place, but it’s easy enough that you can put every part back in as before once they’ve been cleaned. The machine even takes care of its internals by rinsing its pips regularly. But the machine’s design ensures that cleaning never feels like a chore.

There’s little here we can criticize, except for the unclear instructions. Everything in the Philips 5400 has its place, and everything works as you expect. Just be sure to not put anything in the bin when you set up the machine for the first time.

• Design score: 4.5/5 

Philips 5400 LatteGo: performance

When it comes to mid-range coffee machines in this price range, there are usually plenty of knobs and levers to get accustomed to - but not with the Philips 5400 LatteGo. Instead, the TFT display lets you easily pick the coffee you want, with a bunch of customization options to make sure the machine will brew the right amount of beans, foam the right amount of milk, and use enough water.

The Philips 5400 LatteGo offers 12 different drink options as standard:

1. Americano 
2. Cappuccino 
3. Café au lait 
4. Caffe Latte 
5. Caffé crema 
6. Coffee
7. Espresso
8. Espresso lungo
9. Frothed milk 
10. Flat white 
11. Latte macchiato
12. Ristretto 

It can also dispense hot water for making tea, and has a dedicated travel mug function.

First off, I picked a regular caffe latte from the TFT display, using the physical buttons on the machine to scroll through the list. Once selected, I could easily choose how much coffee, milk and water I wanted by tweaking the levels of each. After I pressed ‘OK’, the 5400 got to work.

It was noisy during the three minutes it took from pressing the button to having a fresh cup of coffee, but everything worked as expected. One important note is that the spout can’t be adjusted, so you have to make sure that the cup is lined up with both the milk spout and the coffee dispenser.

The color display is accompanied by physical buttons for selecting options (Image credit: Daryl Baxter)

Afterwards, I decided I wanted more milk foam, so I simply went back to the display, selected ‘milk foam’, and the machine delivered. The coffee tasted fantastic, especially using fresh coffee beans from Stokes Coffee in my home town of Lincoln. Once the machine finishes making a drink, it automatically self-cleans, which takes a minute, and is noisy. So, if you’re wanting coffee late at night, make sure there’s no one sleeping nearby.

Another useful feature of the Philips 5400 is its ability to save your preferences as one of four profiles. This allows you to quickly select your custom drink without having to manually adjust your settings every time. I found this very useful, setting up three profiles for the different types of coffee I usually have in the morning, afternoon, and when I need to get some urgent work done.

The 5400 LatteGo's interface is easy to understand and use, even for beginners (Image credit: Daryl Baxter)

Overall, I’ve been very happy with the Philips 5400 LatteGo. Although the initial setup process was frustrating in places, the daily routine of picking and choosing the types of coffee was a breeze. The water tank simply slides out from the front for easy refills, and maintaining the machine’s other parts were also straightforward when needed. Granted, the 5400 can be noisy, with sounds of up to 79 dBA when grinding beans and steaming milk. However, that’s admittedly part of the package when you want a freshly brewed cup with steamed milk. For everything it offers, the Philips 5400 is a fantastic buy for anyone looking for a high-quality coffee machine.

•  Performance score: 4.5/5 

Should you buy the Philips 5400 LatteGo? Buy it if

You love a variety of coffee-based beverages
The 5400 isn’t sparse on the types of coffee it can make. If you want a latte with extra milk foam or one with none but more coffee in, it can happen. There’s plenty of customization here, so you may discover a type of coffee you’ll end up loving.

You want to save a trip to Starbucks
A regular cup from Starbucks or another big chain soon adds up. With the 5400, there’s the potential to save a trip and some money for your coffee fix, especially with the many types of coffee it can make.

You want to explore the world of coffee beans
Using this machine is a perfect opportunity to try out a variety of coffee beans that many independent stores offer. For instance, we tried this variant from Stokes Coffee, based in Lincoln, UK, which had a fantastic berry aftertaste, perfect for this time of the year. 

Don't buy it if

You’re on a budget
A high-quality bean-to-cup coffee machine can be expensive, to be prepared to, not only buy the 5400 LatteGo at a high price, but to maintain it with good quality coffee beans, filters to prevent build up of grime, and more.

You’re looking for a small and simple coffee machine
There’s no escaping how long the 5400 is. If you’re short on space in your kitchen, you should reconsider where it’s going to be. 

You want to make large amounts of coffee for you and your family
Don’t expect to make a round for your workmates or family — the 5400 is meant to do one cup well, so take that into account. 

Philips 5400 LatteGo: also consider

Not completely sold on the Philips 5400 LatteGo? Here are two alternatives you should consider:

Smeg BCC13

The BCC13 is much pricier than the Philips 5400 LatteGo, but has a more stylish design and a boiler that can generate more pressure for better quality steamed milk.

Read our full Smeg BCC13 review

Casabrews 5700Pro

If you want more of the barista experience, this machine gives you the fun of inserting the portafilter, pulling a shot, and foaming your milk, but guides you through the process to make it straightforward.

Read our full Casabrews 5700Pro review

How I tested the Philips 5400 LatteGo

I used the Philips 5400 for several weeks at home in my kitchen, making three to four types of coffee every day via the display that allowed me to choose new variants every time.

With every coffee made, I noted the time it took for one to be made, the noise, and flavor, alongside what it was like to clean and maintain the coffee machine. I also made coffee with different levels of milk, water, and beans, as well as choosing different amounts of milk foam. Learn more about how we test.

First reviewed September 2024

Fezibo is yet to feature heavily in our best standing desks list, but don't write the standing desk maker off; it has a superb range of premium-looking desks and accessories, such as the the Executive B, that are competitively priced albeit typically at a higher price point to budget options.

Enter the Worland: it's a reversible L-frame standing desk, available in various finishes, multiple sizes and in single or triple motor options. This review is of the 'Rustic Brown' 63 x 47.2 inches / 160x120cm triple-motor version.

(Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman) Fezibo Worland: Unboxing and First Impressions

Two boxes securely hold and protect the Fezibo Worland parts, including those triple metal leg motors and robust tops, that when combined make for a very heavy setup.

On unwrapping, it's immediately clear that each part is well made, even if the tops are made from plastic board rather than solid wood, while the necessary tools are provided for the build; a simple spanner and hex key.

Clear your diary, the unboxing and build of the Fezibo Worland is a lengthy process, and for which you will need a second person for the final part given how heavy the triple-motor reversible L-frame standing desk is. I drafted my tweenager in for support, who also enjoyed helping with the straightforward project, and he was indeed able to be helpful.

(Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman)

The build happens upside down from top to bottom, as in you begin with the slimmer raised tops face down on the floor – the part of the desk that is designed to hold items such as a monitor. You add the sides that support the raised tops and then you start attaching the main surface, at which point you ideally need to improvise to prop up those larger (and heavy) main surfaces to avoid them tipping, ensure they are level, and therefore the screws go in straight.

Specs

Desktop: 63 x 47.2 inches / 160 x 120cm (also available in 63 x 55.1 inches / 160 x 140cm)

Height range: 28 - 47.6 inches / 71 - 121cm (without wheels)

Lifting Capacity: 308lbs / 140kg (for the triple motor version, or 180lbs / 80kg for the single motor version)

Leg shape: T-shape

Instructions are clear and easy to follow throughout, though there's crucial point in the build where you determine the orientation of the L-frame; an L or a reverse L so to speak. You therefore need to know ahead of time where the desk is going to live.

Figuring out my desired orientation for the build (a reverse L) was simple enough when piecing the three top pieces together, however I found it a head scratcher figuring this part out for the metal legs – I messed up and had to redo a small part of the project once I had figured out my mistake.

It also wasn't immediately clear in the instructions that the clear plastic tubes provided were in fact handy guides for dropping screws into the inside of the metal legs. Without these tubes, it's a near impossible task to feed the screws through the inside of the legs by hand and line them up with the holes on the other side for attaching the legs to the desktop.

With the metal frame / legs assembled and on the desktop, the controller needs to be attached and connected – easier done with the desk still upside down. Personally, I think the Worland's cable management is a tad rudimentary; the power supply is attached to the desk's underside with an adhesive pad, while it's tricky to fully hide the cables from the controller along the length of the desk with the cable fasteners supplied (see below).

Also, as elegant as the desk appears itself, the trailing cables down to your wall plug, which also includes the cables of your devices such as monitors and laptops, somewhat spoil the look.

(Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman)

Still, I didn't have one of the optional accessories which could hide those cables, such as an underdesk filing cabinet (from £69.99), of which there are options to match the desk's aesthetic and are worth looking into.

There's also an optional cord management accessory (£19.99) that looks like it would do a much better job of organizing the cables than relying on the supplied fasteners, but I didn't have that for the review. It's a shame the cord management accessory doesn't come supplied with the Worland, or indeed a power strip for your devices which would reduce the number of trailing cables to the wall supply.

Rival standing desk brand Flexispot includes a magnetic sheath in models like the E7 Pro, designed to hold the cables between the two central metal struts of the frame. That same desk also includes a power strip and the result is a much tidier looking setup. This cable management solution by Flexispot helps keep those essential wires tucked away.

(Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman)

If you don't mind forking out extra for the Worland's cord management and / or filing cabinet accessories, and you're industrious enough to pick up your own power strip and figure out a way of attaching it to the underside of the Worland, then you too can have a slicker-looking setup. It's just a shame that these are all extra steps.

With the entire desk assembled, you ideally need a second pair of hands to flip it over and to move it into position. There are wheels supplied for the legs to ease moving the desk around, but given I knew where I wanted to position the desk, I opted against adding these wheeled feet.

As for the fabric drawers, they simply need the firm base inserted in order to maintain their shape, and they slot in snuggly and securely.

(Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman)

I figure that the entire build, from unboxing to being in position, took around 3.5 hours, not including the 30 minute u-turn I needed to make to reattach the legs for my desired orientation. That's a pretty lengthy build time, but it was overall really simple step-by-step.

Fezibo Worland: Design and Build Quality

As far as the best office desks go, Worland sure is one of the more attractive. It's sleek and understated, with tucked away drawer storage under the raised tops. Then there's the nice little details like the under desk hanger for items like headphones (see below).

It also comes in a variety of finishes that includes Rustic Brown, Black Walnut, Light Walnut, Oak, White and Black to cover any kind of decor. I gravitated to Rustic Brown – a classic look.

(Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman)

I asked Fezibo what material the Worland desktop is made from because it's not listed on the site, and was told that it's particle board. Before you get disappointed, given the higher-than-average price for a desktop that isn't made from 'proper' wood, it's an extremely durable material.

I had the smaller of the two triple-motor stand options that measures 160x120cm. There's also a 190x160cm option, or a 160x140cm single-motor option.

The T-shape legs proved to provide deep enough clearance that my legs never once bumped into them.

Fezibo Worland: In use

The triple-motor option has a generous 308lbs / 140kg payload, which drop to 180lbs / 80kg for the (slightly cheaper) single-motor option.

That payload of the triple-motor version would easily be enough to support me sitting on the desk, not that I'm in that habit, and certainly enough for the super-large curved 32:9 aspect monitor (pictured), laptop and various bits that made up my office setup during this test. I'd have no qualms adding additional monitors, a printer and so on, given the desk's payload.

I opted to position my wide monitor in the desk's corner and tuck myself in when seated, with quick reach to my left and right and for a comfortable working position. However, the long 160mm side of the L-shape desktop would also be sufficient to fit the display.

(Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman)

The controller features manual up / down keys, plus three presets and a button to save those presets, while the height adjustment range is 28 - 47.6 inches / 71 - 121cm (without wheels).

After using the desk for several months, I largely stuck to two settings; one for sitting and one for standing. However, I can see the use in a third preset for homes with multiple users with different standing heights.

Switching between sitting and standing is as simple as the press of a button, and the motors proved to be quiet when in action.

The lowest possible setting is roughly equivalent to a standard fixed desk height, which for someone like me who's 6ft 1in can feel a fraction low and not great for posture over a full day sitting at a desk.

What surprised me as a previously infrequent standing desk user, therefore, is how useful the option is to tweak that lowest height up by an inch or two to improve my posture when seated – standing desks aren't just about standing.

With the Worland, I can have my office chair to the height I wish for a comfortable position for my legs, and then tweak the height of the desk so my back is straight.

(Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman)

For my height, around 43 inches / 110cm proved a suitable desk height for standing. There's an additional 4.5 inches / 11cm to work with on top of that, and so even the exceptionally tall are catered for here.

As for the desktop size, it is generously wide, albeit a fraction shallow. The total depth including the raised tops is 24 inches / 60cm, but the working space is 14.2 inches / 36cm, which proved a bit of a squeeze for my 16-inch MacBook Pro M1.

That shallow working distance also meant my curved monitor was a little close for me liking. My solution? Positioning the monitor in the corner of the desk.

I've been using the Worland for more than three months and have no doubt that it'll last many years. It's a superb-quality desk.

(Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman) Fezibo Worland: Final verdict

Rudimentary cable management aside (which can be dealt with through extra accessories or industrious solutions), the FEZiBO Worland is a stellar standing desk, with a versatile reversible L-frame. The desktop might be made from particle board, but it's available in a range of attractive finishes and crucially, is robust. The same can be said for the powerful and quiet leg motors which can support a heavy payload, while offering precise and versatile height adjustment. I love the raised top that provides additional height for a monitor (and extra clearance above a laptop), plus the generous surface area with its elegant look with slick drawer storage, although the desk could do with additional depth for a better working distance from a monitor. It might take a while to build, but the Worland is a dream focal point for any office space and comes highly recommended.

Complete your workspace set-up - we review the best office chairs

CRKD Atom: One-minute review

The CRKD Atom is far and away the smallest controller I have ever tested. Billed as a collectible keychain controller by its manufacturer, the Atom is an impressively compact 3 inches (about 76mm) from left side to right. This alone makes it remarkably portable-friendly and is easily stored in your pocket or even on your keychain.

A range of attractive colorways also add to the Atom’s collectability factor, and the controller sits at a reasonable price, thus making that collectible nature broadly more achievable for those who are interested. And of course, for stalwart CRKD heads, the Atom has the manufacturer’s app integration, allowing you to scan for your product’s overall rarity and unique number via near-field communication (NFC).

It’s a neat little controller in the aesthetics department, then, but I’ve also been impressed by its overall gaming performance. Compatible with Nintendo Switch, PC, and mobile devices, I found the CRKD Atom to have pin-sharp responsiveness across both wired and Bluetooth connections. As such, it’s an excellent choice for retro games or ones that don’t need to rely on analog sticks to play.

(Image credit: Future) CRKD Atom: Price and availability

• List price: $19.99 / £19.99 / AU$33
• All colorways are the same price
• Available at CRKD’s website and Amazon in all regions

The CRKD Atom is available to purchase now from the brand’s official website or its Amazon store page. All color options retail at $19.99 / £19.99 / AU$33, making for an affordable bite-sized controller that doesn’t price gouge on some of the nicer variants. There are eight colorways available, and they are as follows: 

• Atomic Purple: translucent, dark purple design 
• CRKD Grey: a matte grey finish with pink and orange face buttons 
• Glacier Blue: translucent, icy blue colorway 
• Hot Pink: a striking matte pink finish 
• Leaf Green: an airy, bright green finish 
• PAL Grey: a matte grey design with multi-colored face buttons inspired by the European SNES controller 
• Sky Blue: a light blue matte finish 
• Yuzu Yellow: bright yellow with nicely contrasting black face buttons and d-pad 

Amazon stock tends to fluctuate greatly between designs, but all colors are more reliably available on CRKD’s official website. Do keep in mind, though, that as the Atom is under $25 / £25 on the brand’s own site, you will have to pay a little extra for shipping.

I mentioned the CRKD Atom is the smallest controller I've ever tested. It's also the cheapest, with the closest point of comparison being the GameSir Nova Lite which retails at $24.99 / £29.99 (around AU$40). Similar to the affordable GameSir wonder, the CRKD Atom is a cheap controller that I can wholeheartedly recommend.

CRKD Atom: Specs

(Image credit: Future) CRKD Atom: Design and features

• CRKD hasn’t skimped on quality despite the Atom’s small size
• Very much a ‘what you see is what you get’ design
• May just be too small for some

Like other impressively compact devices such as the Game Boy Micro, the CRKD Atom’s most striking design trait is its size. It’s so small that it could legitimately fit inside a Nintendo Switch Joy-Con controller. Of course, given its stature, the Atom has to miss out on analog sticks (though if CRKD does eventually make a follow-up with Hall effect thumbsticks, I’d be very impressed). Additionally, ZL and ZR - typically triggers on the best Nintendo Switch controllers - have been converted to tiny, tactile buttons nestled between the larger L and R bumpers.

Despite the omissions that keep the Atom’s size (and presumably, costs) to a minimum, CRKD hasn’t ditched its penchant for quality. Materials feel great in spite of the pad’s near-nonexistent weight, with solid casing and delightfully tactile buttons.

(Image credit: Future)

On the Atom, in addition to those bumper and ‘trigger’ buttons, you’re also getting a d-pad, four face buttons with the typical Switch layout, Start and Select, and a Home button in the center. There’s also a USB-C port at the top, an NFC touchpoint on the back for use with the CRKD app’s collection system, and a groove at the bottom-left of the controller where you can thread through the included wrist strap.

The Atom is a lovely collectible item - especially given its price - but if you are planning on playing games with it, definitely don’t underestimate its tiny size. True to its name, the Atom is minuscule and thus isn’t well-suited to folks with larger hands. It certainly isn’t best suited to longer gaming sessions, either, given your hands will be closely wrapped around its small casing. On the flip side, the Atom does make for a fun, affordable gift for younger players.

CRKD Atom: Performance

• Excellent responsiveness 
• 10-hour battery life is decent, given its size 
• Well-suited to retro gaming 

A lack of analog sticks makes the CRKD Atom a poor choice for most modern games. However, it seriously excels at retro gaming, and titles that don’t require the use of analog sticks. Nintendo Switch Online’s retro libraries are a great example, and during my testing I found myself diving into games including The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, Blaster Master, and Fire Emblem. Other Switch hits like Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition, and Vampire Survivors are also fantastic fits for the CRKD Atom.

You can expect solid results via Bluetooth connectivity, too. The Atom is brilliantly responsive when used wirelessly, and the pairing process on both Switch and mobile was near-instantaneous. However if you’d prefer a more reliable connection overall, the Atom does support a wired USB-C connection which also makes it usable on PC.

(Image credit: Future)

There are some ancillary functions available on the Atom, too, accessible via button input macros. For example, you can change the d-pad to instead function as a left or right analog stick by holding Select and left or right on the d-pad respectively for five seconds. I didn’t get much use out of this feature, really; the SNES-style layout already makes the Atom a poor fit for titles that primarily make use of analog sticks, and it certainly doesn’t benefit from the additional sensitivity that sticks provide. A more useful inclusion, however, is the ability to take screenshots by pressing the Start and Select buttons simultaneously.

In terms of battery life, you’re getting an impressive 10 hours with the CRKD Atom. That’s not a lot in the grand scheme of things, especially compared to the 20 hours from the 8BitDo Ultimate or the 40-50 hours from the Nintendo Switch Pro Controller. However, given its size - and the fact that the Atom is best suited to shorter play sessions - this is more than an adequate amount of battery life, I feel.

Should I buy the CRKD Atom? Buy it if...

You’re after a truly portable controller
The Atom’s small size makes it a perfect choice for portable gaming on both Nintendo Switch and mobile devices.

You’re a collector
Eight lovely color options and a relatively low price tag make the Atom a fantastic collector’s item.

Don't buy it if...

You want a proper controller
There’s no avoiding the fact that the Atom is a novelty gamepad. A great novelty, for sure, but without analog sticks, grips, gyro, and other Switch controller hallmarks, those after a more fully-featured controller should consider something else.

Also consider...

If the CRKD Atom isn’t quite to your liking, we’ve highlighted a couple of other fantastic controllers that are well worth your consideration. 

8BitDo Ultimate
Having tested several Nintendo Switch controllers over the years, I still think 2022’s 8BitDo Ultimate is the best of the bunch. Sublime build quality, Hall effect thumbsticks, and the inclusion of a charging dock all make for superb value for money. You’re also getting full gyro support, but the gamepad does lack an NFC touchpoint for amiibo scanning.

For more information, read our full 8BitDo Ultimate review.

Nitro Deck
CRKD’s very own Nitro Deck is one of the best Nintendo Switch accessories you can buy. It’s a fantastic controller/dock for handheld Switch players who’re after something sturdier and more reliable than the Joy-Con controllers.

For more information read our full Nitro Deck review. 

How I tested the CRKD Atom

• Tested for one week
• Platforms tested: Nintendo Switch, PC, mobile
• Primarily used Bluetooth connectivity, with USB-C wired connection on PC

I tested the CRKD Atom over the course of a week, primarily playing titles on Nintendo Switch. Given its small size, I found the Atom to be better suited to shorter play sessions overall. That, paired with the SNES-style layout, made it a great fit for Nintendo Switch Online’s retro library, as well as games like Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and Vampire Survivors that don’t require the use of an analog stick.

I also found the Atom to pair well with various retro compilations on PC, including Sonic Origins Plus, Mega Man Zero/ZX Legacy Collection, and the Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster titles. As the Atom doesn’t include a 2.4GHz or Bluetooth adapter in the box, I went with a USB-C wired connection on PC. 

Read more about how we test

First reviewed September 2024

24 inches? For a monitor aimed at photographers? Oh dear, this is going to be a blocky, low-res 1080p affair, right? Nope. The BenQ SW242Q is actually a 1600p panel. With a 16:10 aspect ratio, that makes for 2,560 by 1,600 pixels.

Many creative pros and photo editors might prefer a 4K panel, for sure. But a 4K monitor with the kind of feature set offered here costs serious money. So the BenQ SW242Q's proposition is to offer a slightly smaller screen that still offers decent pixel density, plus a very strong feature set at an appealing price.

What kind of feature set, you ask? Highlights include USB-C with 90W of power delivery, Pantone and Calman verification, factory calibration, broad colour coverage, plus a few extra frills like an SD card reader and more. Overall, it's a strong package in the field of best monitors for photo editing. And an intriguing value proposition versus a cheap 4K panel for similar money that doesn't come with the comprehensive creator-friendly feature set.

BenQ SW242Q: Design & features

(Image credit: BenQ)

• Great build quality
• Fully adjustable stand
• Comprehensive connectivity

Specs

Panel size: 24-inch

Panel type: IPS

Resolution: 2,560 x 1,600

Brightness: 400 cd/m2

Contrast: 1,000:1

Pixel response: 5ms

Refresh rate: 60Hz

Colour coverage: 98% DCI-P3

HDR: HDR10

Vesa: 100mm x 100mm

Inputs: DisplayPort 1.4 x1, HDMI 2.0 x1, USB-C with 90W power delivery x1

Other: USB-A hub, SD card reader

When it comes to screens aimed at content creators, the 24-inch BenQ SW242Q feels distinctly compact. But it's very nicely built and feels like a quality item throughout. The stand is sturdy, while the faux-leather pad on the base adds an unusual aesthetic and tactile flourish, while the minimalist design looks contemporary and is unlikely to date.

You also get full adjustability, including height, tilt, swivel and rotate into portrait mode. Connectivity is another strong point. The usual HDMI and Displayport interfaces obviously feature. But given how popular laptops now are with photo editing pros, the USB-C connector with 90W of power delivery is the main highlight.

The single-cable connectivity it allows for laptops is something you won't be able to live without once you've experienced it. The BenQ SW242Q also has a two-port USB-A hub and an SD Card slot. So you can use that USB-C magic to do everything from drive this display, keep your laptop charged, and connect peripherals like keyboards, mice and external storage.

All told, it;'s a slick package and the compact proportions make it a great choice if desk space is at a premium. It's usefully smaller than the 27-inch and 32-inch panels that are more common in the creator monitor market.

BenQ SW242Q: Performance

(Image credit: BenQ)

• Lovely IPS panel
• Decent pixel density
• Excellent accuracy and colour coverage

An immediate concern with any 24-inch monitor is pixel density. That's because 1080p is very much the norm when it comes to native resolution with 24 inchers. But not here. The first clue that the BenQ SW242Q does things a little differently is its 16:10 rather than 16:9 aspect ratio.

That give you a little more vertical space than usual. That slightly taller form factor means that this monitor offers 1,600 vertical pixels, a useful number more than commonly seen on 2,560 by 1,440 panels, otherwise known as 1440p.

Anyway, that higher resolution translates into 125 pixels per inch, a notable upgrade on the 92DPI of a standard 1080p 24-inch monitor. It's admittedly lower density than both 27-inch and 32-inch 4K monitors. But it still allows for nice, crisp fonts and plenty of image detail. Notably, this monitor looks great with MacOS and Apple MacBooks, which really benefit from decent pixel density.

Resolution aside, the main highlight is the quality of the IPS panel. It comes factory calibrated with sub 1.5 DeltaE across the board and you can really see that, whether it's the perfectly balanced colours or the accuracy of flesh tones.

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It's worth noting that you're getting a clear step up in terms of calibration, accuracy and validation with this panel compared to a generic IPS display, including Pantone Validation, Calman verification and 16-bit 3D LUT support and 98% coverage of the DCI-P3 digital cinema colour space. So, it's right up there with the best monitors for video editing too. You also get a year's free subscription to the Pantone Connect Premium smartphone app.

While this is primarily an SDR display and lacks features like local dimming, it can hit 400 nits, which is plenty punchy and also supports HDR10, and so is capable of showing HDR colours correctly.

What's more, the SDR colour calibration is actually excellent in SDR mode, giving you the option of leaving this display in HDR mode and thus not needing to toggle between modes depending on content type.

If you're looking for weak points, well, the contrast levels are nothing compared to an OLED panel. And the pixel response is nothing special. But these are givens with an IPS panel with no local dimming. If you want an OLED or mini-LED monitor with pro features, you'll be paying many, many times more.

BenQ SW242Q: Final verdict

(Image credit: BenQ)

A 24-inch monitor for content creators would normally be a hard sell. But the BenQ SW242Q is a surprisingly appealing package. Partly that's down to the strong feature set. The USB-C interface is central to that, with single-cable connectivity that includes 90W power delivery, an SD card reader and a USB-A hub.

Then there's the broadly excellent image quality, thanks to a quality factory-calibrated IPS panel and plenty of creatures for content creators, including Pantone validation and good colour coverage. `of course, the real kicker is the 2,560 by 1,600 resolution.

That's a notable step up on the 1080p norm for 24-inch monitors and makes for both more desktop working space and improved pixel density. It also means this monitor is a great companion for both PCs and Macs, with the latter particularly appreciating decent pixel density.

Granted, the BenQ SW242Q lacks true HDR support and the 24-inch panel size will be restrictive for some users. But if either your desk space or budget is too limited for the usual 27-inch and 32-inch suspects in the prosumer photo editing monitor market, the BenQ SW242Q is well worth a look. It's a very strong package at an appealing price.

For more content creation displays, we tested the best monitors for graphic design.

The Panasonic Toughbook 40 is a fantastic, rugged laptop designed for professionals operating in the most extreme environments. While many computers boast portability, lack of bezels, thin form factors, lightweight design, and sleek designs, the Panasonic Toughbook is the opposite. It has a fully rugged MIL-STD-810H and IP66-certified build, offering extreme durability.

We've reviewed the best rugged laptops, and while most people won't need this kind of laptop, for those who do, such as military, emergency services, fieldwork, and so on, this is a great option. The Toughbook 40 stands out due to its modularity, ability to expand internal storage, built-in IO ports, etc.

When I see large and bulky laptops, I immediately flash back to my old Dell laptop from 2010. It was clunky, had a terrible battery, would sound like a fighter jet taking off when I launched a program, and would scorch my lap if I had it on there for too long. This bulky laptop is helping me refine that mindset. Bulky doesn't mean slow here, it just means durable. And the Panasonic Toughbook 40 is a great example of that.

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future) Panasonic Toughbook 40: Pricing & availability

The Panasonic Toughbook 40 starts at $4,899 for the base model, including an Intel Core i5, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB SSD. The Toughbook 40 can be upgraded up to an Intel Core i7, 16GB RAM, and 4TB of storage if desired, obviously jumping the price up quite a bit as well.

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future)

Uniquely to this laptop, the Modular xPAK expansions allow for additional storage, optical drives, security card readers, and more. This helps the Toughbook 40 become a truly all-in-one beast of a durable machine with over 6,000 possible configurations through modular components.

The Panasonic Toughbook 40 can be purchased on Amazon, Panasonic's website, and other Toughbook/rugged book retailers.

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future) Panasonic Toughbook 40: Unboxing & first impressions

The Toughbook 40 arrives in minimalist packaging, focused on protection and durability rather than aesthetics and portability. Unboxing this computer feels like taking a warhead out of top-secret packaging it's so intense. Opening up the packaging reveals what looks like it could be another case, except this time it's the laptop in all its glory. I will say, that Panasonic, even with the painfully obvious rugged design, has tried to make it a bit more portable with the inclusion of a carrying handle. However, the need for a carrying handle to add portability is also an admission of the lack of portability in the first place.

My first impressions of this machine are similar. The highlight is that this laptop has a robust magnesium alloy build, reinforced with bumpers and protective port covers. This isn't your ordinary business laptop that you throw in a backpack. This is the laptop you bring in the field knowing that it will get beat up and (probably) being okay with that.

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future) Panasonic Toughbook 40: Design & build quality Specs

Processor: Intel Core i5-1145G7 (base model), Intel Core Ultra 5 or i7 options available
Memory: Configurable up to 64GB DDR5 RAM
Storage: 512GB to 4TB SSD with quick-release functionality
Display: 14-inch FHD 1920 x 1080 touchscreen with up to 1200 nits of brightness
Battery Life: 12 hours on a single charge, up to 24 hours with a second battery
Weight: 7.4 lbs
Durability: MIL-STD-810H, IP66

The Panasonic Toughbook 40's bulk is prominent, but also necessary for its incredible durability. This design adheres to the MIL-STD-810H and IP66 standards, ensuring that it can withstand nearly any brutal environment when it comes to rain, dust, shock, and extreme temperatures. The included modular components are something that I don't see very often on even the best business laptops as most of those are resorting to thin and streamlined form factors and minimalist ports, relying on Thunderbolt to push dongles and adapters for those needing legacy ports. With the Panasonic Toughbook 40, however, Panasonic has included xPAK slots that allow users to swap out whatever combination of additional accessories they so choose, making this one of the most customizable rugged laptops on the market. Further, integrated port covers ensure that the internal components remain protected, and the laptop’s physical build, including a reinforced magnesium alloy chassis, feels indestructible.

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future) Panasonic Toughbook 40: In use

As I briefly mentioned, I have a bad habit of feeling like bulky laptops are slow. It's a terrible bridge in my mind that I need to remove, but bulky laptops make me feel like the laptop is going to be sluggish, overheat, and underpowered. The Panasonic Toughbook 40 is the laptop that is destroying that mindset for me. So far, I have been blown away at just how powerful this laptop is. My unit has 64GB of RAM and an Intel Core Ultra 7 165 Processor. This thing is nowhere near sluggish. In my daily tasks, it excels, and even in 3D rendering, and 3D Modeling software that I played around with on here, there was not even a moment of hesitation with the files I was using.

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future)

Panasonic is also thinking ahead with the Toughbook 40, as its dedicated Neural Processing Unit (NPU) enhances AI capabilities, making it ideal for real-time data analysis, especially in remote or disconnected environments. Essentially, this laptop is not built for "just in case this computer goes into a rough environment" it's built for those people who will, without a doubt, be in those rough environments and need the power to work through their needs.

The 14-inch FHD display with 1200 nits brightness ensures clear visibility even in outdoor environments which continues the tale of this laptop being built for outdoors. Power is great, durability is great, but if that is paired with a dim screen that can only be seen inside, then that power is wasted.

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future)

Somehow, Pansonic has made the touchscreen work with gloves and even while wet. While I was able to test this with gloves on, and I can attest that the touchscreen still works as it should, I did not take my laptop into the shower, nor did I go swimming with it, however with the IP66 rating, this laptop is noted to be protected from splashing, sprays, ocean waves, and heavy rain, but it is not technically waterproof. So, consider that before you bring your Toughbook 40 deep sea diving, or before you try and consider any other laptop for your ocean-side exploration.

The base configuration provides up to 12 hours of battery life, with the option to extend to 24 hours using a second, hot-swappable battery. This battery life is huge for those who are working in remote areas, or perhaps are just on the move for their job.

Lastly, this laptop has a great port offering. Especially since you can add whatever IO you want through the modular xPAK system.

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future) Panasonic Toughbook 40: Final verdict

The Panasonic Toughbook 40 is an impressive choice for professionals who need both computing power and extreme durability. Its modular design makes it highly adaptable, while its performance and rugged good looks set it apart. Though its size and weight might not appeal to every user, this is a tool built for serious, high-stakes environments.

For more durable devices, we tested the best rugged phones, the best rugged tablets, and the best rugged hard drives.

Yale Smart Video Doorbell and Doorbell Chime: two-minute review

The Yale Smart Video Doorbell and Doorbell Chime set lets you see and speak to visitors no matter where you are in the world, providing you have a mobile phone connection. Although the concept isn’t new (Ring pioneered the video doorbell concept a few years back), this is a very good alternative solution – and one that works out cheaper too. 

There are two options: either use your existing doorbell wiring, or charge the doorbell via its built-in rechargeable battery using the provided USB-A to USB-C cable. We chose the latter which means it does need to be unclipped from its bracket and topped up with power every couple of months, depending on how much it is used. 

Installation is surprisingly straightforward, thanks in part to the video installation guides within the Yale Home app that talk you through the various options. Simply attach the white mounting plate to the door frame with the screws/wall plugs provided, using the additional ‘wedge’ if you need to angle the plate slightly.

An additional wedge-shaped mounting plate lets you mount the doorbell at an angle, if necessary (Image credit: Chris Price)

Then, once charged, clip the video doorbell into the bracket. This can be removed later for re-charging using the security pin provided (the same kind of pin you use to take a SIM card out of your phone). For added security, a tamper alert notification can be sent to your phone if someone tries to remove the doorbell from its housing. 

After pairing the Yale video doorbell with your home’s Wi-Fi (a quite straightforward process via the Yale app), it’s then a case of customizing to suit your needs. For example, using the ‘house settings’ option you can name the house, even add a photo of it, as well as edit house owners so your partner, house mates or children get alerts if someone comes to the door.

The doorbell is supplied with screws and wall plugs, plus double-sided tape (Image credit: Chris Price)

In addition to house settings, there also options for adjust speaker volume (handy if you live on a noisy street), image brightness, night vision and video quality. Two recording options are available, either medium (720p) or high (1080p). In addition to operating as a video doorbell showing you who is at the door when pressed, you can also detect and record movement like a standard security camera. However, while human detection is provided as standard, you will need to subscribe if you want alerts for pets, packages and vehicles on your driveway.

Two subscriptions are available, both free for the first month. For £3.50 (about $5 / AU$7) a month the camera plan offers AI motion detection and cloud recording for one camera while for £9 a month (about $12 / AU$20) you get cloud recording for all cameras plus a cellular back up (see subscription options below). 

Adding the Yale Doorbell Chime lets you hear when a visitor calls from elsewhere in your house, and offers different chime options (Image credit: Chris Price)

Finally, the Yale Video Doorbell is designed to be connected to other home devices including Yale’s range of smart locks, smart alarms and home security cameras. We paired ours to Yale’s plug in door chime which comes with a volume button and multiple tones, much like a standard doorbell.

For added connectivity, we also linked the doorbell with Yale’s Amazon Alexa so we could receive alerts via a number of Echo Dot devices (support is also provided or Apple HomeKit and Google Home products). 

Yale Smart Video Doorbell: subscription options

Yale Camera Plan: AI motion detection, cloud recording for one camera, Yale home app. £3.50 a month.

Yale Secure Plan: Automated call alert, AI motion detection, cloud recording for all cameras, cellular back up, Yale home app. £9 a month.

Yale Smart Video Doorbell and Doorbell Chime: price and availability

• RRP: Yale Smart Video Doorbell £129.99 (about $170 / AU$250), Doorbell Chime £29.99 (about $40 / AU$60)
• Launched January 2024
• Available in UK only

Although wired-only video doorbells are usually a cheaper option, a wireless (battery powered) doorbell is obviously much more convenient if you have less technical expertise, or don’t already have wiring in place. Considering it offers both wired and wireless connectivity, Yale’s Smart Video Doorbell and Chime therefore represents pretty good value for money at £129.99 (about $170 / AU$250) for the doorbell alone, and £29.99 (about $40 / AU$60) for the additional chime. 

The price of the hardware is broadly similar to its closest competitor, Ring’s Battery Video Doorbell Plus and Chime. You may also find bundled deals if you decide to buy the two components - doorbell and chime - together (though it is possible to just use the doorbell by itself if you so choose).

Of course, as with many home security products, it isn’t just the cost of the hardware you have to bear in mind, but also the subscription plans. Here, Yale fares quite well too. Its basic subscription is particularly good value for money costing £3.50 (about $5 / AU$7) a month for free cloud storage after a free month’s trial. This compares to $4.99 / £4.99 / AU$4.95 for the basic Ring subscription plan. 

Rather more expensive is the premium Yale subscription plan at £9 a month (about $12 / AU$20). However, this is probably only worth it if you have multiple cameras you want to monitor via the app - for example if you are the landlord of several AirBnB properties. It may also be necessary if you live in an area where WiFi is very patchy and need to rely on the cellular network to keep the security system going. 

Value score: 4/5

Yale Smart Video Doorbell and Doorbell Chime: design

• Easy to install mounting bracket
• Solidly built video doorbell
• Simple plug-in chime 

Unlike smart cameras, even the best video doorbells usually require some level of DIY skill. Thankfully this is minimal with the Yale video doorbell given its wireless design. Just mount the bracket on the door frame using the wall plugs and screws provided, then clip the solidly built video doorbell inside. A tall, narrow weatherproof (IP65) design, the doorbell incorporates three elements – the wide angle (154 degrees) lens and sensor at the top and the large doorbell button marked with a chime symbol underneath. 

The Yale Smart Video Doorbell is easy to install, and comes with all the fittings you need (Image credit: Chris Price)

As soon as you get within range of the doorbell this illuminates green and triggers motion recording while pressing the button will send a notification to connected smart phones and devices (Alexa, Google Home etc).  Just one thing you need to be careful of and that’s to mount the video doorbell at the right height. Because the camera is on top, it’s easy to place the doorbell a little higher than it needs to be. Best play around with the doorbell first before installing the bracket. Finally, the doorbell chime needs to be plugged in where everyone can best hear it – in our case the hallway was best.

• Design score: 4.5/5

Yale Smart Video Doorbell and Doorbell Chime: performance

• High quality 1080p image resolution
• Stable connection
• Slow video streaming

When it comes to performance, there are two aspects to a video doorbell. One is how it captures motion, the other – arguably more important – is how well it acts as replacement doorbell. If you live on a busy street then chances are you have a lot of passers-by and maybe quite a bit of passing traffic too. Unless you want to record everything going on (which will really use up the battery) we recommend adjusting motion detection settings. 

We recommend adjusting the motion detection settings to avoid accidental triggers from passing pedestrians and traffic (Image credit: Chris Price)

Thankfully the Yale isn’t overly sensitive. Nevertheless, for optimum results we found it best to keep motion sensitivity to low or medium and to use to use Detection Zone settings so that the camera only tracks motion within a certain area (and doesn’t pick up people walking or driving past your house). Clip length can be adjusted between 10 seconds and one minute, or ended as soon as motion stops. In low-light situations, the camera automatically switches to night vision and there are both 720p and 1080p recording options. 

Once the camera has recorded movement, notifications are pushed through to the user’s mobile phone (either via text or text with image). Alternatively, you can go in via the app and click the Activity tab at the bottom to view them. Our only criticism is that they tend to take a few seconds to load even with a fast internet connection. Recordings can be downloaded onto your device or a snapshot taken from them. 

You can review footage from the doorbell in the mobile app (Image credit: Chris Price)

When it comes to using the Yale Video Doorbell to speak to people coming to the door, results are a little more mixed. Video is very good and sound is generally OK (though we found we needed to turn it up to higher levels because of traffic noise). However, there can be a slight delay ‘waking the camera up’ before talking to someone at the door. One time, a courier who rang the bell didn’t wait for the call to be connected and decided just to leave the parcel on the porch rather than take it next door (thankfully it wasn’t stolen).  

• Performance score: 4/5

Video quality is good, but there's a noticeable lag if you want to speak to a caller (Image credit: Chris Price) Should I buy the Yale Smart Video Doorbell and Doorbell Chime? Buy it if

You want to track movement around your property
Thanks to customizable detection zone settings, the Yale is great for capturing motion

You want easy installation
It’s a versatile security solution offering mains and battery powered options

Don't buy it if

You regularly need to speak to people on the doorstep
We experienced a delay answering calls from people ringing the doorbell.

You have a poor Wi-Fi connection
Like most video doorbells, you will need a good Wi-Fi connection unless you want to pay a premium subscription for cellular backup. 

Yale Smart Video Doorbell and Doorbell Chime: also consider

Not sold on the Yale Smart Video Doorbell and Chime? Here are two alternatives you should consider.

Ring Battery Video Doorbell Plus

Amazon-owned company Ring has firmly established itself as the ‘go to’ company for video doorbells and now has several including this latest wire-free model. 

Read our full Ring Battery Video Doorbell Plus review

Arlo Video Doorbell

An affordable wired video doorbell, the Arlo device offers a lot of useful features, but you will need to pay for a subscription to benefit from many of them.

Read our full Arlo Video Doorbell review 

How I tested the Yale Smart Video Doorbell and Doorbell Chime

• I used the doorbell every day for several weeks
• I set it up myself without any assistance (expert installation is available for £90)
• The doorbell  was set up on the front door facing towards the road

To put the Yale video doorbell to the test, I installed on my front door for over two weeks, covering up my existing entry-phone system. During this period it captured hundreds of clips, most of which were generated from delivery people and friends coming to the door. 

On most occasions when the doorbell was pressed we were in the property and the chime in the hallway was triggered. However, on a few we were out. Unfortunately on at least occasion the courier left a parcel on the doorstep on full view because it took too long to connect the call from the video doorbell to my smartphone!

First tested: September 2024

The HP EliteBook X was easily one of the highlights of the HP Imagine 2024 event, showcasing that despite the tech giant launching high-performing AI PCs with the latest in AI-powered CPUs and NPUs, it's not satisfied resting on its laurels. Instead, HP continues to push the envelope in terms of specs and performance, attempting to give us the best laptop on the market.

The EliteBook X was touted as the "most powerful AI device" available right now and, judging from the specs that HP has provided us with, I'm inclined to agree. At the very least, this AI PC outfitted with an AMD chip does feel like an evolution in terms of design as well as hardware.

HP EliteBook X: price and availability

As of right now, we don't have either an official price point, release date, or availability for the HP EliteBook X. However, judging from previous HP AI PCs, the laptop should be available in the US, UK, and Australia at the very least.

HP EliteBook X: specs

Here are the specs for the HP EliteBook X at a glance. 

HP EliteBook X: design

(Image credit: Future)

The outside of the laptop is a beautiful light silver, almost white, color. The chassis is lightweight yet feels sturdy and the hinges are solid. Opening it up, it has a standard keyboard with well-sized keys with a nice snap as you type, along with a responsive touchpad that's the perfect size.

One of the best features of the laptop is the fact that it has a manual switch for the webcam, which is ideal for proper security as it ensures that potential hackers can't hack into it and spy on you. It also has a pretty solid port selection, easily one of the best for an AI laptop so far, including two Thunderbolt 4 with USB Type-C ports, one Type-C port, one USB Type-A port, one headphone and mic combo jack, and one HDMI port. If it had an ethernet cable port and an SD card slot, it would be perfect.

It also has a lovely display, with two options for an LED screen and an OLED screen. One is a WUXGA (1920 x 1200) display and the other is a 2.8K (2880 x 1800). Both feature 400 nits, though the former has sRGB 100%, a touch screen, and a 120Hz refresh rate.

Not only does it boast an aesthetically pleasing design, but a sustainable one as well. According to HP, the EliteBook X is built with 60% of its major parts containing recycled material including up to 80% recycled aluminum in the covers, 21% recycled cooking oil in the bezel, 30% ocean-bound plastic on the speaker box, a heat plate made with 50% recycled copper, and 100% sustainable materials on the packaging.

HP EliteBook X: performance Image 1 of 2

(Image credit: Future)Image 2 of 2

(Image credit: Future)

The most promoted part of the HP EliteBook X is that it has the highest performance of any AI PC currently on the market. Normally this claim would be hyperbole at best and completely unfounded at worst, but the fact that HP currently has the only NPU that runs at a staggering 55 TOPs as well as a much higher speed memory makes it clear why this boast is most likely true - for now.

That said, we can't fully verify these claims as of yet, at least until we get our hands on an EliteBook X and thoroughly test it ourselves.

It does have another feature that's sure to keep performance running as high as possible, which is Wolf Security. It comes with a host of tools and programs that will protect this laptop including external attacks and cyber threats. As a bonus, Wolf uses the NPU for AI security, which reduces the load on the CPU and GPU and prevents slowdown.

There are other features as well including a hyperbolic cooling system that should prevent overheating, Suresense to protect your laptop from malware, and Smart Hibernate that detects if the laptop is in a bag. Both are powered by an accelerometer sensor.  Finally, there's Onlooking detection which blurs the screen when someone approaches the laptop.

HP EliteBook X: early verdict

(Image credit: Future)

Though we still have yet to properly formulate a final verdict, so far the HP EliteBook X looks and sounds promising. Visually it's a beautiful laptop that's easy to transport with a stunning display. Its performance looks to match its appearance, fitting a ton of power in its thin frame.

I'm most excited to get my hands on an AMD-powered AI PC to see how well it compares to both Qualcomm and Intel's own chips. Coupled with it supposedly being the most powerful AI PC, it'll be fascinating to see how well that claim holds up. Regardless, this is definitely one laptop to keep an eye out for in the coming months.