Reviews

News

A rare family of barn owls moved into Manhattan's Upper West Side. New Yorkers are captivated
Brewers sweep the Dodgers to reach the World Series for the first time since 1982
Hit a midlife wall? This test identifies your strengths and what matters to you
Suspicious mailings to election officials, congressional offices under investigation
America's historic preservation law is in peril, advocates say. Here's what's at stake

NordVPN review: still the pinnacle of VPNs

TechRadar Reviews - Tue, 10/06/2026 - 16:21

How we tested NordVPNNordVPN review scores

Surfshark VPN review 2026 – a fully-featured, low cost privacy solution

TechRadar Reviews - Tue, 10/06/2026 - 15:18

How we tested Surfshark

There are two parts to our Surfshark review testing: lab testing and real world user experience. We do this to combine objectivity and subjectivity in our VPN reviews.

When I talk about “we” in this review, I’m referring to how Surfshark has performed in our VPN lab testing, as undertaken by TechRadar’s VPN Technical Editor, Mike Williams.

When I say that “I” did something in this review, I’m referring to me, Dan Sung, Editor in Chief of VPN at TechRadar, and I’m offering real world examples and insights from what I’ve learned using this product over many months.

Surfshark review scores

Below is a breakdown of our Surfshark review scores for each category of testing. Click on the links in the Comments column for a deeper read on our thoughts.

Category

Score

Comments

Total

85 / 100

Excellent value with plenty of feature choice. One of the best value VPNs available. Read more ▼

Price plans & value

10 / 10

Surfshark is the best cheap VPN available. Choose the Surfshark One tier, which includes a full antivirus product, for the best value price plan. Read more ▼

Features

10 / 10

Surfshark’s Alternative ID fake profile feature is one of many useful in-app products in this very well put together VPN. Read more ▼

Server network

9 / 10

Surfshark is slightly lower on server locations than some but its global reach is excellent and the Nexus infrastructure brings huge network benefits. Read more ▼

Read all of Surfshark's review scores ▼

Privacy

9 / 10

Surfshark has very high standards of privacy and extensive privacy features. This is only slightly tarnished by its choice of jurisdiction. Read more ▼

Security

9 / 10

Surfshark scores well for security thanks to its built-in antivirus and its near-flawless kill switch. Its PQE could be more developed though. Read more ▼

Speed

8 / 10

Still the fastest VPN at full tilt but the connection is less consistent than others, and speeds are more average using distant servers. Read more ▼

Unblocking streams

7 / 10

Surfshark unblocks Netflix libraries, Disney Plus, Prime Video and BBC iPlayer but it struggles with some niche streaming services where rival VPNs don't. Read more ▼

P2P & Torrenting

4 / 5

Torrenting is solid and seamless with Surfshark but there's no help from the company itself on how to do it. There's no port forwarding either. Read more ▼

Apps & Compatibility

5 / 5

Surfshark has excellent apps covering all modern platforms. Its iOS app is uncommonly good; iPhone users should definitely consider Surfshark. Read more ▼

Usability

4 / 5

Surfshark is easy on the eye and a pleasure to use. Any quibbles we have on the kill switch toggle are really very minor. Read more ▼

Accessibility

2 / 5

Surfshark is a reasonable choice for partially sighted users but there are better VPNs for accessibility. Language support is average and keyboard-only access is poor. Read more ▼

Customer support

4 / 5

Surfshark has excellent customer service. Its support site is one of the best out there its live chat and email channels bring timely solutions. Read more ▼

Track record

4 / 5

Surfshark has a clean record for data breaches. It passed a no-logs audit in 2025 but that ought to be repeated annually, and we'd like apps and infrastructure audits, too. Read more ▼

Surfshark price plans

Surfshark starts at $2.49 per month and is the best cheap VPN.
Surfshark One is the best value of the three plans.
Surfshark is the only premium VPN company with a 7-day free trial.

Surfshark normally starts at $2.49 per month, which is an excellent price for a top VPN, but there are actually three different Surfshark plans to choose from – Starter, One and One+.

You can sign up for just 1 month, 1 year or 2 years. Obviously, the longer you commit to, the cheaper the price you can get.

Whichever you choose, you get unlimited device connections, i.e. you can install a Surfshark app on as many different devices as you like on a single Surfshark account. There is a fair usage policy you can read on this but you'll be fine with 10-15, or even more devices, unless they’re all on, constantly, and downloading all the time.

Read more about Surfshark's price plans ▼

Even so, this unlimited connections policy is rare among the top VPNs and, for many, a good reason to choose it if you find the 10 device connections of NordVPN, ExpressVPN and Proton VPN, for example, not enough for your needs.

Like all VPNs, though, you do have to pay the total price for the entire length of and Surfshark plan upfront. The graph below is a good comparison of the total cost of each of the best VPN services we recommend at TechRadar.

Do be warned that unlike all other VPN companies (apart from NordVPN) Surfshark adds local tax to its advertised prices at checkout. So, if you’re in the UK, for example, you’ll have to pay VAT on top. And, of course, remember that these prices will fluctuate over the year.

Surfshark is cheaper than its biggest rivals. NordVPN’s cheapest 2-year plan is about 50% more expensive than Surfshark's. ExpressVPN Basic is nearly twice the price!

The table above shows the total prices for each Surfshark tier and plan length.

What sticks out to us from these totals are two things. First, the 1-month prices are terrible. Given Surfshark has a 7-day free trial, we’d advise you to sign up for a week instead and decide in that time if you want to commit for longer. Then, either go for the one or two-year plan.

The second, and more obvious, point on value is that the two-year plans are pretty tempting. You get the second year of Surfshark Starter, for example, for less than $10. That’s pretty compelling at that band, but arguably, it’s not quite as good for Surfshark One with the extra year only effectively half-price.

In other words, there's little point in going for 1-year Starter plan when the 2-year version isn't much more, but there's a decent argument for only shelling out for 12 months of Surfshark One.

If you’re looking for a real value proposition, though, it’s in the difference between Surfshark Starter and Surfshark One on the 1-year contract – just a couple of bucks, really which feels like a real no-brainer. There’s no point in going for the 1-year Starter when you can pick up Surfshark’s antivirus and ID breach alerts with the One plan instead.

Above is a table of the price per month for each Surfshark plan which is a slightly easier way to appreciate the value offer of each one.

There are cheaper VPNs out there – PrivadoVPN ($1.11) is a good option – but Surshark is an undeniable pound-for-pound sweet spot for price and features.

Score: 10/10

Features: What can Surfshark do?

Alternative ID is a superb email and postal address protection tool.
Surfshark is one of very few VPNs with a full antivirus included.
ID breach alerts didn't spot my leaked credit card information.

Don’t be fooled by the price. Surfshark Starter is a very well stocked bundle.

Alongside the VPN product itself, the most significant feature is CleanWeb. It’s a catch-all name for Surfshark’s advert and cookie consent pop-up blocking system which aims to allow you to surf the web in relative peace.

I've used similar systems from competitors, like NordVPN’s Next Gen Antivirus and Proton VPN’s NetShield. You can read more about CleanWeb in the Privacy section of this review.

Margarito Philip Leland – my Surfshark Alternative ID profile. Easy to edit. Ready to copy and paste. Available on all Surfshark plans. (Image credit: Future Publishing)

Alternative ID is an important feature to pay attention to. Other VPN providers, such as Proton VPN, offer fake email addresses that will front for your own while still allowing emails to get through.

Read more about Surfshark's features ▼

You get a randomly generated email address – to use to fill out online forms, or give to people you don’t like, or whatever your need – and it automatically forwards any mail it receives to your real email address. You then cut it off and generate another email alias when you’re done with receiving whatever marketing mail it’s now attracted.

Proton offers this too but Surfshark takes it further.

Alternative ID is, in fact, a broader ID. It’s a name, postal address, email and even phone number (US only) to plug in online and stop scammers, spammers, and everyone else seeing your real details.

Right now, for example, I’m Margarito Philip Leland of 21 North 28th Ave East, Duluth, Minnesota, DOB 07/26/2005. Don’t bother trying to contact me because I’ll have ditched this ID by the time you're reading this article.

Surfshark Starter

Surfshark One

Surfshark One+

VPN

✅

Ad blocker

✅

Cookie pop-up blocker

✅

Alternative ID

✅

Web content blocker

❌

✅

ID breach alerts

❌

✅

Antivirus

❌

✅

Email scam checker

❌

✅

Scam text protection

❌

✅

Incogni data removal

❌

✅

Identity theft coverage

❌

✅

I had a go at manually editing my Alternative ID persona. There are 10 email domains to choose from with options from the US, France, South Korea and Armenia, but I found I could write anything I wanted as the first part of the address.

For postal mail, the options I got were Australia, Brazil, Denmark, Germany Portugal and the US. Name and DOB can both be anything you want.

It's a great feature for signing up to services, giving to online stores and registering with news websites without having to worry about the spam. There's a handy quick-copy area on the homepage of the Surfshark app too which made filling in online forms all the faster. There's really very little not to love about it.

The only sad part is that the Alt number part is only in beta right now. It’s also only available in the States and you can’t use it to receive SMS verification codes, sadly, either. Still, I look forward to testing it out once it arrives in Europe.

Surfshark One

If you’re after antivirus too, then it’s time to step up to Surfshark One. PIA and Norton are the only other VPNs we recommend to have a full antivirus built-in along with the VPN.

NordVPN's Threat Protection Pro does have some AV features but it won't scan any apps and files you download, install, and use in real-time – and put a halt to any funny business before it’s too late – like Surfshark will.

The Surfshark antivirus ran daily scans of my entire device when I enabled it, and you can set to have it done at any time of day of your choosing. For obvious reasons, I opted for the dead of night.

You can toggle off either of these scans, and you can even opt out of scans of your storage drives, too.

None of these put our mobile battery life under any particular noticeable stress. With the real-time protection only kicking in when we installed apps and our daily scan set to nighttime when the phone was plugged in anyway, the extra processes were never a burden.

The menu of content you can prevent access to with Surfshark's new web content blocker tool. (Image credit: Future Publishing)

You can select to exclude certain apps if they keep pulling up false positives but it wasn't something I found I needed to do.

Surfshark One allows you to take the CleanWeb theme a little further with the Web Content Blocker tool, launched in October 2025. Still in beta, it still worked like a charm when I tried it.

It's very similar to Windscribe's content blocker. You choose from a list of eight different kinds of questionable content and decide what you don't want to be accessible through your browser. That includes adult sites, gambling, tobacco and vaping, hate and profanity, and others, as well as sites hosting phishing, scams, and malware.

What's really nice is that I was able to use it as a way of blocking access to these sites on my kids' phones without having to get involved with the often expensive and generally not particularly parental control apps.

That works because Web Content Blocker can be set up differently for each device you have and because you get unlimited devices connected to a single Surfshark account. I also really like that you don't have to have the VPN on to have Web Content Blocker activated, because I don't want the VPN masking my kids' browsing habits from me either.

Surfshark also launched Email Scam Checking for One (and One+) plans at a similar time. The tool uses AI to scan your emails for signs of a scam and flags any concerns found. Right now, it's only available for Gmail, but Surfshark is planning to extend support for the tool in future.

Surfshark has also now replaced its old Surfshark Search secure browser with a new tool, scam text protection. The browser was likely removed due to limited use by users, thankfully, the new scam text protection's toggle-and-forget nature should make it far more usable for most. Messages are securely held in the Surfshark app, meaning you're never at risk, and you can manage them safely from its dedicated section.

ID breach alerts

Alerts is a section unto itself in the Surfshark app. It's available in Surfshark One and One+ but I wanted to draw special attention to it because of something that happened while I was writing this review. More on that in a moment

Alerts (or 'ID breach alerts' as you'll find it called in the literature) scans the internet for any data breaches featuring your email addresses, credit card numbers and ID numbers too. It felt a bit strange handing over my info to Surfshark so that it could run those checks but the company promises that it doesn’t retain it.

Now, here's the interesting thing: chance had it that I was the victim of an attempted scam as I was writing this very section. I got a phone call from someone very convincingly pretending to be my credit card provider. They knew my card details, my name, my home address and clearly my phone number too.

They knew my card details, my name, my home address and clearly my phone number too.

They claimed to be from the fraud department and were questioning two transactions apparently made on my card in the UAE for around 27,000 Dirhams, and was I aware of them? Clearly I was not. So, the well spoken operator said they would then refund the amount to my account.

He asked me to open the app where I'd see a request for the refund. I opened the app. There was a request. But it was not for a refund. It was to make a payment of 27,000 Dirhams, about £5000.

"Press Confirm," they said.

"This is asking me to confirm a payment," I replied.

"No, this is the refund. Press confirm."

"No. It says 'payment'. I don't trust you."

They hung up.

I froze my card. I contacted my issuer and, I'm still shaking a bit at how close I just came to being defrauded. With stories about different UK retail stores getting hacked popping up every week, perhaps it's of little surprise.

My compromised credit card showing as 'no leaks found' according to the Surfshark Alert credit card monitoring system. Not a feature that's worked for me. Available with Surfshark One and One+. (Image credit: Future Publishing)

I'm also a little bit scared about my details too, and I'm pretty glad I'm writing reviews about products like Surfshark and that I've got the tools to help deal with this.

So, with that in mind, I put this particular bank card's details into Surfshark's credit card monitoring system. Sadly, Surfshark Alerts said No Leaks Found after scanning for a breach of this information. Hopefully, it will register it as exposed in the coming months but it's been a few weeks and I've seen no change yet.

It doesn't mean that Alerts doesn't work. It's very possible that my information was hacked and not exposed on the internet. It's just a pity that Alerts wasn't able to help in this instance.

If you're looking for a VPN for a very complete set of privacy and security features, then Surfshark is a great option

Alerts did a lot better with my email address. When I put in my general junky email, used for online forms and shops and such – where was Alternative ID when I needed it years ago – I was unsurprised to see 25 leak alerts. Thanks Adobe, DuoLingo, Last.fm, Houzz, Kickstarter MyFitnessPal and a bunch of other sites and services that are lucky I don’t have time to name and shame.

Surfshark detailed what was leaked of mine in each breach and then makes recommendations of what to do next. Probably a good idea to do what it says but, quite honestly, with 25 breaches do deal with, there just isn't enough time in the day. Hopefully, I'll be able to lower that number with every update of this page.

Surfshark One+

Top of the Surfshark price plan tree is Surfshark One+ which adds the Incogni which is designed to prevent the misuse of your personal data online.

If Alerts is your data health examination, then Incogni aims to be the cure. It's a data removal service which is currently only available in the US, UK, Canada, EU and Switzerland because of legal reasons. Those reasons are that, in those regions, data brokers are legally required to remove your details from their records when asked. And that’s what Incogni does on your behalf.

I’ve definitely noticed getting less spam in that time

I’ve actually been lucky enough to use Incogni on a long-term test now for over two years and apart from the odd email report, there’s not much visible that actually happens. I’ve definitely noticed getting less spam in that time but part of that has also been down to being more careful what I sign up for and whether I’m using my real ID or not.

Ultimately, it’s really difficult to evaluate and I wish I could give better advice here given that it's over 60% extra on top of the Surfshark One price.

Thankfully, you can also get up to $1 million in identity theft coverage if you get a One+ plan in the US. A bit like Incogni, it's difficult to tangibly assess the benefits of this without having my identity stolen, but it certainly adds value to the plan, given the massive price jump from a One plan.

While the effectiveness of all of Surfshark's tools is not crystal clear, it's obvious by looking at the VPN feature comparison table that customers get lots of them to use, more so than most other VPN service providers.

If you're looking for a VPN for a very complete set of privacy and security features, then Surfshark is a great option, and at an excellent price point too.

Score: 10/10

Server network and locations

100 countries with servers, 142 server locations, over 4,500 total servers.
Very few servers in Africa but that's similar to other VPNs.
FastTrack technology to bring higher network speeds in coming months.

Surfshark doesn’t cover quite as many countries (100) and locations (142) as the server network market leader NordVPN (135 countries and 211 locations), but it still gets top marks in this department.

That’s because its global spread is well chosen. It largely keeps up with just as many server countries in the traditionally less well-covered continents of Asia, South America and Oceania as most of its rival VPNs.

In fact, the European server network is as robust as the rest of the pack, too. It’s only Africa and the Middle East where, like ExpressVPN, it's noticeably shorter than NordVPN and Proton VPN.

Server list on the Surfshark Windows app. Plenty of US server locations available. (Image credit: Future)

Surfshark's 34 North America server locations are fine, just short of Proton's 35. But recent improvements to other VPNs mean its far below the likes of NordVPN (74) and ExpressVPN (71).

Read more about Surfshark's server network ▼

Surfshark states on its server list that some of the locations are virtual, and that’s refreshing given that other VPNs hide that. We spot checked the actual likely location of 25 servers on Surfshark’s list. It was accurate in all but one case where the company had accidentally marked Peru down as a virtual server when it really is based in Lima. If there are to be mistakes, then we’re certainly glad that they’re false positive ones.

Sever networks are about more than just quantity, though. Surfshark uses RAM-only servers which brings important benefits that we discuss in the Privacy section.

That's more or less a VPN industry standard but where Surfshark elevates itself is with how it connects those servers together. It's developed a holistic use of all of those pathways in what it calls its Nexus network infrastructure. It connects users to the entire network rather than the single VPN server they're choosing.

Through that system Surfshark can offer a fair few benefits, not least of which is FastTrack smart routing technology which aims to speed up connection by choosing the most time efficient pathways through the network.

It uses globally distributed probes which monitor the Surfshark network in real-time. They keep track of capacity and performance. That way the FastTrack system can figure out how to route VPN traffic to ensure that users get the fastest possible connections while still taking them to the end-point server that they've selected, and with an appropriate IP address.

FastTrack launched in August, 2025. Right now, it's only available on macOS and only when connecting to the Seattle, Vancouver or Sydney servers but Surfshark claims it's made up to 70% speed improvements for customers. We look forward to the company rolling it out across the board soon.

Something a little closer to home for those in Europe is the arrival of Surfshark's first 100 Gbps servers as unveiled in Amsterdam in October 2025. That's a 10 times improvement in server bandwidth designed to cope for the modern demands of 4K streaming, gaming, VR, and remote work.

It's certainly a good headline but, cynicism aside, it's an excellent sign. Surfshark has been a market leader when it comes to investing in the future of its server network in 2025.

Everlink, released in June, 2025, is another network quality boost from Surfshark. It's a patented backup system for your VPN connection. The idea is that if the VPN drops, your app doesn’t disconnect immediately. Instead, Everlink automatically connects you to a new and working server.

It might take a few seconds and, if you happen to be browsing at the time, it’s possible you’ll find a web page that doesn't download properly. But, for the most part, Surfshark says you won’t even notice anything.

We don’t have a test for Everlink yet, but it sounds promising. Dropped connections aren’t just a usability hassle, they also risk data and IP leaks. If Everlink can reduce unexpected disconnections, then that’s very good privacy news.

The other big benefits of Nexus, and its flexible, multi-server pathways, are Surfshark's rotating IP tech, new multi-IP tech, and its excellent MultiHop system. You can read more about those in the Privacy section.

For now, suffice to say that Surfshark's server network is cutting-edge and, from everything we've seen, we're only expecting improvements over the next 12 months.

Score: 9/10

Privacy

Super clear, user-friendly privacy policy; no-logs system.
Top privacy features: Camouflage Mode, MultiHop & Rotating IP.
Subject to possible 'Nine Eyes' international information sharing agreement.

Surfshark operates using a no-logs system. Its servers do record some information to check user access (encrypted credentials, timestamps and billing information) but it’s lost around 15 minutes after each user session. It never stores anything to do with traffic data such as destination IPs, DNS queries, data transferred, downloaded files or browsing history.

This is exactly how a secure VPN should operate and, having read through Surfshark’s privacy policy, we’re satisfied that there’s nothing else amiss here either. Surfshark uses standard good practice all the way.

As privacy policies go, it’s actually incredibly user friendly and worth taking a look at for yourself. It’s organised into a set of easily digestible questions and answers rather than swathes of contract-style legalese.

Surfshark doesn’t have its own, proprietary obfuscation technology like Proton VPN’s Stealth protocol. So, if it’s vital that you’re not spotted using a VPN, Surfshark probably isn’t the best option.

Read more about Surfshark's privacy credentials ▼

Nonetheless, it still offers ‘Camouflage Mode’ which kicks into action whenever you choose OpenVPN. The company says that it hides your traffic to bypass content filters. OpenVPN also means you’ll be on Surfshark’s dedicated Obfuscated Servers which are designed to make it particularly hard for your ISP to see that you’re connected to a VPN.

You can use the OpenVPN protocol in both UDP and TCP form. The former is better when high speeds are important (streaming, gaming or VoIP) and TCP is good for the kind of reliability you need when web browsing, emailing or during P2P file transfer.

If you’d rather err on the side of speed, then just stick with Surfshark's default option of WireGuard. IKEv2 is also a choice on Android, Mac and iOS but not Windows.

Like most of the best VPNs, Surfshark uses RAM-only servers with no hard drives or SSDs where it could store data. That makes it both faster and safer, from the user's point of view.

Any time RAM-only servers are switched off, any data stored on them temporarily is lost. So, if those servers are seized, then the parties taking ownership of them get nothing but the hardware in their hands. Equally, changes from a malicious software attacks could be undone by Surfshark simply turning the servers off and on again – an IT help centre’s dream.

The effect here is that no user data is logged or kept in any way, so you can rest assure that your online activities are kept utterly private by Surfshark.

Surfshark received a number of user complaints when it changed its legal jurisdiction from the British Virgin Islands to the Netherlands, given that the Dutch are part of the Nine Eyes international information sharing agreement but given there are no logs to share, it's hard to see that there’s any real disadvantage here. Don't let it put you off unless you really feel like you need that double layer of protection.

no user data is logged or kept in any way, so you can rest assure that your online activities are kept utterly private by Surfshark

Surfshark has some interesting options for the privacy-conscious when it comes to server connection. Normally, you connect to a server and it assigns you a random IP address until you disconnect and then a different one next time. But you can choose to maintain a static IP instead. This means that it remains the same throughout your session.

Now, in terms of privacy that’s maybe not great. It leaves more browsing behaviour connected to a single IP that a third party could trace from start to finish and therefore have a clearer picture about what a single user is doing. Keep up that browsing behaviour pattern long enough and they might even be able to figure out who you are.

At the same time, a static IP can be useful. There are web services that work by white listing IP addresses. A static IP that’s known and accepted will make it easier to access them wherever you are. It might remove a layer of authentication each time you access.

In general, though, static IPs aren’t a great idea for VPN traffic because it makes it easier to track you. So, we’d recommend enable the Rotating IP option, even if that makes for more CAPTCHAs.

That said, if you do often get blocked trying to access a certain site, and then find a Surfshark server that works, you might want add that location as a favourite and use it as a static IP.

Rotating IPs makes it harder for a website or web service to track you in its logs. In a single, long session, you’ll appear as multiple visitors. So, this is a definite boost to Surfshark’s privacy credentials. Only ExpressVPN offers something similar with its ShuffleIP.

Multihop (available on all Surfshark plans) is fully customisable. Create a connection to travel through any pair of Surfshark servers to help maximize privacy. (Image credit: Future Publishing)

Quite the opposite to a static IP, then, the system automatically connects you via a different IP address after 2-10 minutes – and all without the real world experience of a disconnection. (Streaming was a little more glitchy when using IP rotation, though, so do consider switching it off if you run into problems.)

You get a little status message letting you know when your next IP rotation will be and what address you’re assigned, although, actually, in practice, the timing was often quicker than stated. And, when we checked with WhatIsMyIPAddress.com, the address reported by Surfshark was accurate every single time.

So, how does Surfshark manage to switch your IP without dropping the connection? That's down to its Nexus network infrastructure (see Server Network section), ensuring that there's always a server somewhere along the path to provide online access while the IP on the destination server is switched.

The other excellent privacy application of the Nexus structure is Surfshark’s brilliantly flexible MultiHop VPN system, which is one of the very best out there.

The joined up nature of the Nexus-powered servers means that, unlike other VPNs, you can create your own double jump server pathways between almost any locations available, instead of the small handful of pre-programmed routing options that most other VPN providers offer.

That allows users to design custom, faster MultiHop connections, with start and end point servers which aren’t too far away from you and from one another.

In fact, you can even choose Fastest Location or Nearest Country within the MultiHop menu for the Nexus system to make the best suggestion for you. We particularly like that you can see latency speeds next to the options on the list so that you can really aim for maximal performance.

We checked to see the kind of effect you can expect when using two servers per connection like this. Using a pathway of two servers nearby (in our case, two different Ireland server locations) produced speeds very similar a single hop transatlantic connection which we benchmarked at 391Mbps. It was only once we started picking huge journeys, around the word for the first hop and then back all the way for the second, that we noticed speeds dipping.

Surfshark also launched Multi IP for Mac users in November 2025. This slightly differs from rotating IP, in that it gives you a new IP for every new website or session you start, but consequently serves the same goal of retaining a connection while reducing the ability of third parties to track what you do. Similarly, it also offers slightly less robust protection than a multihop connection. Regardless, it's a super handy feature for Mac users if you're looking to remain secure without risking sacrificing speed.

Of course, there’s no need to sacrifice speed on all your apps and services if you use Surfshark’s split-tunnel feature, Bypasser. It works on all four major platforms and allowed us to pick both individual apps and websites to either specifically exclude or include from the VPN tunnel.

This is a great way of working if you want to use Surfshark for something specific like torrenting, or if you want to watch your local streaming service without confusing it into thinking that you’re trying to tune in from somewhere else.

The only real privacy feature absent from the Surfshark roster is Tor Over VPN. We could still use the Tor browser manually after connecting to Surfshark on our Windows laptop but it’s not built into the app. If Tor's added layer of online anonymity is a feature you need, then you’ll want to use Proton VPN or NordVPN instead.

Unlike other VPNs, you can create your own double jump server pathways between almost any locations

Surfshark’s CleanWeb function takes care of your search by stripping out as many trackers and ads as possible. There’s a bit of a slow down when it comes to page load time but the results are well worth it.

It took all of the cookie consent requests out of our browsing as we read the football pages of the UK and European news sites. And the grey blocks where adverts used to be were certainly less distracting than all the sticky videos and other images that usually get in the way.

If you want to go the whole hog, though, try Surfshark’s very own in-app private search, available on Surfshark One and One+ plans. More details on that in the Features section above.

Score: 9/10

Security

Excellent kill switch available on all major platforms.
Decent phishing and malware protection boosted by a browser extension.
Post-quantum encryption not available on all platforms

Surfshark's choice of VPN encryption, and it's platter of security features, give us plenty of reasons for confidence. It doesn't hit the same heights as the other top VPNs in all of our results below but then it's a fraction of the price of most of them and our tests are pretty exacting.

Surfshark’s AES-256-GCM and ChaCha20 encryption algorithms are pretty standard, solid stuff when it comes to incredibly hard to crack encoding of your internet traffic.

The company uses 2048-bit RSA encryption keys which is easily enough safeguarding. Proton VPN takes things a little further with 4096-bit keys just in case you have extreme security demands.

Kill switch warning on the Surfshark Windows app explaining how kill switches work. (Image credit: Future)

A more pressing for issue for Surfshark is its post-quantum encryption (PQE) credentials. It deserves increasing attention as quantum computers, and their extreme number crunching powers, arrive on the scene.

Read more about Surfshark's security credentials ▼

Surfshark doesn’t have a huge amount to say about PQE on its website, just that “Surfshark has implemented post-quantum protection on top of the WireGuard protocol”.

Not wanting to remain behind the curve as we head into 2026, Surfshark recently announced that post-quantum cryptography (PQC) has been integrated into the WireGuard protocol for more devices.

The measure will enhance user security when it comes to quantum computing threats, like breaches and "harvest now, decrypt later" attacks, and is enabled by default on most platforms. These include Mac, Linux, and Android.

Although iOS and Windows are two big omissions from that list, getting them covered, too, should be the next step in Surfshark's plan of post-quantum protection.

This is nothing out of the ordinary currently. PQE technology in VPNs is still very much in the embryonic stage.

Only ExpressVPN has gone further in its 1200-word blog post about its implementation of PQE in its Lightway protocol.

Surfshark recently announced that post-quantum cryptography (PQC) has been integrated into the WireGuard protocol

Until then, there’s still plenty to keep you safe with Surfshark.

Auto-connect is a handy feature that prevents accidental leaks of your real IP address. It's a great privacy-boosted, and we really like Surfshark's version of it.

Once activated, it automatically connected using the VPN on any network that I specifically didn't mark as Trusted. I didn't want it to auto-connect on my home Wi-Fi, for example, where I want to choose what my ISP does and doesn't see, depending on what apps and services I'm accessing.

What I really like is that I can also choose which VPN server I want Surfshark to auto-connect to. I set it to auto-connect the 'Fastest connection' preset no matter what.

Auto-connect looks and works the same across iOS, Windows and Mac. The only exception is on Android which also allows you to use it on mobile networks too – great for privacy on the go.

The gold standard for IP leak safety, though, is the VPN kill switch and Surfshark’s got full marks in our tests. There’s a kill switch on all platforms, as we would expect.

It comes in two forms: Soft Mode, which blocks your internet access if the VPN unexpectedly drops; and Strict Mode which simply blocks any internet access unless the VPN is connected in the first place.

Strict Mode is the more secure option, certainly, but I found that it slowed my speeds a little. I also encountered more CAPTCHAs and blocked websites during my day-to-day browsing, as well as issues with apps that aren't compatible with the VPN.

Soft Mode is the better option for most people, especially as Surfshark's kill switch performs well by itself.

Surfshark is one of the only VPNs with a full antivirus built in. This is the desktop version. It's available on Surfshark One and One+. (Image credit: Future Publishing)

We tried breaking the VPN connection in a few different ways – turning the router on and off, walking out of range of a Wi-Fi hotspot, stopping services, closing processes and more – and Surfshark blocked the internet every time.

The only difference between Surfshark and the very best in this department, NordVPN, is that Surfshark didn’t always manage to recover the application and reconnect every time. NordVPN’s activated the switch, spotted the precise problem, resolved it, and then got us up and running again without us really noticing that anything had happened.

Surfshark still performed far better than most VPNs, and correctly blocked our internet in every test, though, and that’s what most matters for security.

Surfshark’s CleanWeb feature helps out for security, as well as its ad blocking and cookie consent pop-up blocking features we mentioned in the Privacy section. It cuts out phishing and malware websites too.

We tested CleanWeb with 50 up-to-date URLs for each, from the very newest phishing and malware sites sourced on the day of testing itself.

Surfshark's effectiveness for blocking sites that host phishing attacks is a little subpar, blocking only 48%. It's around half as effective as ExpressVPN (76%) and Proton VPN (88%), and a long way behind NordVPN (92%).

It's also adequate forad blocking, blocking 44% of ads, and if you use the Surfshark browser extension (available on Firefox, Chrome, and Edge) alongside your platform app, you'll maximize its chances of succeeding.

Surprisingly, ExpressVPN and Proton VPN didn't manage to detect and block access to any of the latest malware hosting sites in our last lab test. So, even the fact that Surfshark score 28% is actually a pretty strong result.

What's more, CleanWeb is available with all Surfshark plans, which start as low as $1.99 per month. NordVPN's high scores come courtesy with Threat Protection Pro technology which is not included in its entry level tier. To get the benefits of Threat Protection Pro, you'd need to pay a minimum of $3.89 per month – nearly double the price.

Also, bear in mind that the bar we set for the test above is a high one. The figures above would be considerably higher if we tested CleanWeb, and the others, against threats that were even just two days old. Nonetheless, the biggest names in antivirus, such as Norton, Bitdefender, and Avira deliver results to the same tests that are up above 90%.

So, is Surfshark’s CleanWeb a replacement for the very best dedicated AV? Not quite, but it’s well worth using and, like most of Surfshark's features, a bargain. More to the point, it will protect users against most of the nasties out there. So, do switch it on if you have it.

Score: 9/10

Speed

Among the fastest WireGuard VPNs to local servers.
OpenVPN speeds are good too, and long-distance performance has improved.
Surfshark has considerably higher latency and jitter than other top VPNs.

Previously rated as the fastest VPN available, Surfshark has seen its speeds increase dramatically since our last tests, though not enough for it to reclaim the title of 'fastest VPN overall'

Surfshark remains a top performer, though. What's more, it's also now released its Dausos protocol, which it claims to provide speed gains of up to 30%. That said, as yet, we've been unable to properly test these claims due to its availability being limited to only Mac.

Our last few rounds of review testing have seen us broaden our VPN lab speed testing process. We take even more data points than before and have increased our maximum speed capacity from 1 Gbps up to 10 Gbps.

Read more about Surfshark's speed ▼

Surfshark's fastest protocol, WireGuard – available on all Surfshark apps – clocked an average speed of 2005 Mbps, a huge increase on its prior result of just 1021 Mbps. What's more, this means Surfshark's speeds are currently only bested by Windscribe (2263 Mbps), Mullvad (2308 Mbps), and PrivadoVPN (2334 Mbps).

Over long distances (Europe to the US), Surfshark again looked much better than previously. Its 1739 Mbps result far exceeds the 935 Mbps it achieved previously and is considerably higher than the competition. That's something to consider if you're set to be accessing far-flung servers on a regular basis.

We were pleased to see download speeds are good with the more privacy-focused OpenVPN protocol on Surfshark, achieving 625 Mbps. This is around the same as NordVPN's 633 Mbps.

Surfshark's speed improvements are also bolstered by improved latency and jitter. This time round, the provider achieved 18ms latency and 2 ms jitter, which is slightly above average compared to other VPNs, a huge improvement from last time round where these figures were nearly twice as bad as the average.

In real terms, that means we would expect lower levels of lag than usual when gaming and less buffering than most when streaming.

A VPN engineer once said to me that, beyond certain speeds, it's really latency that's more important when considering VPN performance. Of course, speed testing is only ever a snapshot of a moment, with little regard for comparative server network conditions. All the same, it's good to see Surfshark making noticeable improvements to its results here in recent months

Score: 8/10

Unblocking streaming services

Surfshark unblocks Netflix libraries, and other services, but with major inconsistency.
Struggles to unblock US-only YouTube content from other countries.
CleanWeb needs disabling to stream ad-funded streaming services.

Surfshark isn’t quite in the same league as NordVPN when it comes to unblocking streaming services but it’s mostly a good choice on this front.

Like NordVPN, and most of the best VPN services, all of Surfshark’s servers are optimzed for streaming. I didn’t need to waste any time trying to find lists of streaming servers. I just found the country I wanted and connected to any server on the list.

We tested Surfshark to see if it could unblock Netflix in five different locations and it struggled. It took several attempts to access the US library, and failed entirely in the UK and Australia. That said, we had no issues in Canada or Japan.

Amazon US/UK

Disney+ US/UK

YouTube US

NordVPN

✅

❌

Surfshark

❌

ExpressVPN

❌

✅

Proton VPN

✅

❌

Read more about Surfshark's streaming service unblocking ▼

We also found that Surfshark servers couldn't be used to unblock Amazon Prime Video in the US or Australia, Canada, or Japan, no matter how we tried, though the UK was fine. This is a change from our last test when Surfshark saw success with this service.

YouTube US is one that none of our VPN services managed to unblock this time. We choose a licensed US-geo-locked test video and we weren't able to stream it from the UK with Surfshark or any of the others. This is worth considering if you tend to watch YouTube more than any other platform, although most videos tend not to be geo-specific.

Peacock was another US service Surfshark struggled with. While it would access the site successfully, the stream would then drop out on several instances during a one to two hour watching session. This is something we never experienced with other providers.

Surfshark proved useful at unblocking all of the free streaming services we tried in the UK and Australia, though. It has a cross next to ITV in the table below because Surfshark didn't manage to unblock it at the first attempt but, again, it did succeed after a server switch.

Surfshark had previously had similar issues when trying to access 10Play in Australia but there were no troubles in this round of tests.

BBC iPlayer

ITV

Channel 4

TVNZ Plus

NordVPN Plus

✅

Surfshark

✅

ExpressVPN

✅

Proton VPN

✅

❌

It's worth noting that you may need to disable CleanWeb when trying to watch shows on ad-funded streaming services such as Channel 4 and ITV. CleanWeb's built-in ad-blocker, and the streamer's need to serve reels of ads before and between the programming, don't work well together and cause things to grind to a halt.

The only downside, of course, is that it does leave you without web-based malware blocking for a time. So, make sure you're watching a trusted service. And make sure to turn CleanWeb back on after.

When we tested Proton VPN we found the same problem but the significant difference there is that we could turn off just the ad-blocking of NetShield while leaving the malware protection running. We also didn’t have to disconnect and reconnect to change the setting, unlike with CleanWeb.

Ultimately, if you're not prepared to tinker – and why should you – then NordVPN is the best streaming VPN but let Surfshark's results in this department put you off. It's still good for unblocking streams.

Score: 7/10

P2P and torrenting

Torrenting supported at all of Surfsharks server locations.
Search for P2P optimized servers for best performance.
No port forwarding.

Surfshark works well for torrenting thanks to its high download speeds and reliable privacy.

I opted for the OpenVPN protocol using TCP to be doubly sure my ISP wouldn't be able to see what I was up to. Sure enough, I've had no nasty letters through the post.

Using uTorrent, I didn't notice anything out of the ordinary as I chose a selection of different file sizes to download. Knowing that Surfshark performs significantly better over short connection distances (see Speed section) I made sure to choose the closest server possible.

All of Surfshark’s locations support torrenting but only some are optimised for P2P use and they’re not so easy to find as with Proton VPN or NordVPN, both which have P2P filters on their server choice lists in the apps.

We figured out that you can type ‘P2P’ into the search field of the server location list with Surfshark and the system will narrow to include only the torrenting optimized servers, but even then it’s very hard to tell that that’s what you’re looking at. There’s nothing in the knowledge base or help sections about it. How most people are supposed to discover this is a bit of a mystery.

The actual torrenting experience, though, once connected, is very similar to any of the top VPNs. My connection speed was limited more by the number and quality of peers for the file I tried to download.

Like many VPNs these days, Surfshark does not support port forwarding for reasons of security – understandable given that’s a VPN’s prime function. You can read Surfshark’s take on it here.

The article even suggests a way you can set up port forwarding manually but, if that’s really something you want that much, then you’re best off choosing Proton VPN which supports the feature directly in its apps.

Score: 4/5

Compatibility

Surfshark is compatible with all modern platforms.
Exceptionally large feature set available for iPhone users.
Use browser extensions for maximum privacy.

Surfshark does a good job of keeping consistency in look, feel, and functionality across its suite of apps. In fact, it scores better than most top VPN vendors with almost all of its features supported on mobile as well as desktop.

iPhone users should take particular notice. Surfshark’s iOS app is exceptionally well stocked compared to the normally underpowered versions peddled by most VPN companies. Split tunneling, auto connect, and use of all three of Surfshark’s VPN protocols are present and correct on both major mobile operating systems.

Like all the very top VPNs, Surfshark is compatible with every modern platform you’d care to mention. There are apps for the likes of Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV and Linux as well as the usual big four of Windows, Mac, Android and iOS.

Features available on iPhone

Surfshark

NordVPN

ExpressVPN

Proton VPN

Kill switch

✅

✅ (automatic)

✅

Autoconnect

✅

❌

Split tunneling

✅ (websites only)

❌

Protocols

WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2

NordLynx, OpenVPN

Lightway, OpenVPN, IKEv2

WireGuard, Stealth

Malware blocking

✅

❌

✅

GPS spoofing

❌

Custom DNS

❌

Read more about Surfshark's compatibility ▼

There are also Chrome, Edge and Firefox browser extensions and these are more important than you might think.

We’d recommend using Surfshark from within your browser to get the most out of the CleanWeb phishing, advert and malware blocking abilities of your VPN, for example. It’ll keep you a little safer online even if the VPN itself is turned off. See the Security section for more details.

But, there's more. Surfshark's browser extensions can mask your real location better than using just using your device's VPN app alone. That's because some websites can ask your browser its country-level location. That’s not something that’s related to your IP address.

We found we got fewer CAPTCHAs when we tried it. Searching Google for VPN-related terms often digs up request for bicycles, buses and road crossing identifications but it was a rare event with Surfshark's Chrome extension on.

We’d recommend using Surfshark from within your browser to get the most out of the CleanWeb phishing, advert and malware blocking abilities of your VPN

The browser extension doubles down on protecting your real location with its ‘Block WebRTC’ feature too. WebRTC (Web Real-Time Communications) is another internet technology which can be used by websites to find your real IP address. Surfshark’s browser extension should stop any red flags by making sure WebRTC doesn’t run on your device.

Putting a VPN onto your router is never a piece of cake but, like most good VPNs, it is possible with Surfshark. It requires a manual installation of the software but, beginners, be not afraid – there is an excellent post on the Surfshark blog of how to get this done, and a supporting article with information for specific routers, protocols (WireGuard/OpenVPN/IKEv3 and firmware (OpenWRT / OPNsense / TP-Link).

Surfshark does a good job of maintaining all of its apps with regular updates to many of them throughout the year.

We took a look at the number of updates that the big VPN providers made to their iOS apps between January and December 2025 for an indicator of how well they support their software. iOS apps are often the least well maintained.

@import url('https://fonts.googleapis.com/css2?family=Open+Sans:wght@400;700&display=swap'); #fv-chart-1765979335374-rw1ncji75 *, #fv-chart-1765979335374-rw1ncji75 *:before, #fv-chart-1765979335374-rw1ncji75 *:after { box-sizing: border-box !important; margin: 0; padding: 0; border: 0; font-size: 100%; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; } #fv-chart-1765979335374-rw1ncji75 { font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif !important; } /* Main Wrappers */ #fv-chart-1765979335374-rw1ncji75 { position: relative !important; overflow: visible !important; --riv-primary: #2E6E93; } #fv-chart-1765979335374-rw1ncji75 .fv-inner-wrapper { color: #1F2937 !important; background-color: #ffffff !important; padding: 1.5rem 1.5rem 2rem !important; border-radius: 0.5rem !important; box-shadow: 0 1px 3px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) !important; margin: 1rem 0 !important; display: flex !important; flex-direction: column !important; } /* Typography */ #fv-chart-1765979335374-rw1ncji75 .fv-chart-title { font-weight: bold !important; text-align: center !important; margin-bottom: 0.5rem !important; color: #1F2937 !important; font-size: 1.25rem !important; line-height: 1.2 !important; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif !important; text-transform: none !important; } #fv-chart-1765979335374-rw1ncji75 .fv-chart-subhead { font-size: 1rem !important; font-weight: 500 !important; text-align: center !important; margin-bottom: 2rem !important; color: #6B7280 !important; line-height: 1.7 !important; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif !important; display: block !important; text-transform: none !important; } #fv-chart-1765979335374-rw1ncji75 .rv-chart-caption { font-size: 15px !important; color: #6B7280 !important; text-align: center !important; font-style: normal !important; font-weight: normal !important; line-height: 1.7 !important; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif !important; display: block !important; } #fv-chart-1765979335374-rw1ncji75 .sr-only { position: absolute !important; width: 1px !important; height: 1px !important; padding: 0 !important; margin: -1px !important; overflow: hidden !important; clip: rect(0,0,0,0) !important; white-space: nowrap !important; border: 0 !important; } /* Footer */ #fv-chart-1765979335374-rw1ncji75 .fv-bottom-bar { display: flex !important; flex-direction: column !important; align-items: center !important; margin-top: 0.5rem !important; gap: 1rem !important; } #fv-chart-1765979335374-rw1ncji75 .fv-footer-content { text-align: center !important; width: 100% !important; } #fv-chart-1765979335374-rw1ncji75 .fv-logo { display: block !important; margin: 0 auto !important; width: 120px !important; max-width: 120px !important; height: auto !important; object-fit: contain !important; } /* Display Mode Controls */ #fv-chart-1765979335374-rw1ncji75 .fv-dropdown-container { text-align: center !important; margin-bottom: 16px !important; } #fv-chart-1765979335374-rw1ncji75 .fv-dropdown { width: 100% !important; max-width: 350px !important; padding: 8px 12px !important; font-size: 14px !important; line-height: 1.2 !important; border: 2px solid #d1d5db !important; border-radius: 8px !important; background-color: #ffffff !important; color: #374151 !important; cursor: pointer !important; appearance: none !important; background-image: url("data:image/svg+xml,%3csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' fill='none' viewBox='0 0 20 20'%3e%3cpath stroke='%236b7280' stroke-linecap='round' stroke-linejoin='round' stroke-width='1.5' d='m6 8 4 4 4-4'/%3e%3c/svg%3e") !important; background-position: right 12px center !important; background-repeat: no-repeat !important; background-size: 14px !important; padding-right: 35px !important; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif !important; } #fv-chart-1765979335374-rw1ncji75 .fv-dropdown:hover { border-color: var(--riv-primary) !important; } #fv-chart-1765979335374-rw1ncji75 .fv-carousel-title-controls { display: flex !important; justify-content: space-between !important; align-items: center !important; margin-bottom: 16px !important; width: 100% !important; gap: 12px !important; } #fv-chart-1765979335374-rw1ncji75 .fv-carousel-nav-btn { background: transparent !important; border: 1px solid #d1d5db !important; border-radius: 6px !important; padding: 6px 10px !important; cursor: pointer !important; font-size: 13px !important; color: #6b7280 !important; display: flex !important; align-items: center !important; gap: 4px !important; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif !important; } #fv-chart-1765979335374-rw1ncji75 .fv-carousel-nav-btn:hover { border-color: #9ca3af !important; } #fv-chart-1765979335374-rw1ncji75 .fv-carousel-counter { font-size: 14px !important; color: #6b7280 !important; text-align: center !important; margin-top: 1rem !important; } /* Legend */ #fv-chart-1765979335374-rw1ncji75 .fv-legend { display: flex !important; justify-content: center !important; flex-wrap: wrap !important; gap: 8px 16px !important; margin: 0 !important; padding: 0 !important; margin-top: 1rem !important; } #fv-chart-1765979335374-rw1ncji75 .fv-legend-item { display: flex !important; align-items: center !important; gap: 6px !important; font-size: 14px !important; color: #4B5563 !important; } #fv-chart-1765979335374-rw1ncji75 .fv-legend-color { width: 12px !important; height: 12px !important; border-radius: 3px !important; } /* Chart Core Styles */ #fv-chart-1765979335374-rw1ncji75 .fv-benchmark-group { margin-bottom: 1rem !important; } #fv-chart-1765979335374-rw1ncji75 .fv-benchmark-title { font-size: 18px !important; font-weight: 600 !important; margin-bottom: 16px !important; margin-top: 0 !important; padding: 0 !important; text-align: center !important; color: var(--riv-primary) !important; flex: 1 !important; min-width: 0 !important; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif !important; line-height: 1.3 !important; text-transform: none !important; } #fv-chart-1765979335374-rw1ncji75 .fv-bar-row, #fv-chart-1765979335374-rw1ncji75 .fv-stacked-product { display: flex !important; align-items: center !important; width: 100% !important; margin-bottom: 0.75rem !important; } #fv-chart-1765979335374-rw1ncji75 .fv-bar-label { width: 150px !important; flex-shrink: 0 !important; font-size: 14px !important; color: #4B5563 !important; padding-right: 10px !important; text-align: right !important; font-weight: 500 !important; display: block !important; } #fv-chart-1765979335374-rw1ncji75 .fv-bar-container { flex-grow: 1 !important; background-color: #E5E7EB !important; border-radius: 4px !important; height: 25px !important; border: 1px solid #D1D5DB !important; position: relative !important; display: flex !important; align-items: center !important; } #fv-chart-1765979335374-rw1ncji75 .fv-bar { height: 100% !important; border-radius: 3px !important; display: flex !important; align-items: center !important; transition: opacity 0.2s ease, width 0.8s ease-out !important; } #fv-chart-1765979335374-rw1ncji75 .fv-bar:hover { opacity: 0.8 !important; } #fv-chart-1765979335374-rw1ncji75 .fv-bar-inner-content { display: flex !important; justify-content: space-between !important; align-items: center !important; width: 100% !important; height: 100% !important; padding: 0 8px !important; color: white !important; font-size: 14px !important; font-weight: bold !important; text-shadow: 1px 1px 1px rgba(0,0,0,0.3) !important; overflow: hidden !important; } #fv-chart-1765979335374-rw1ncji75 .fv-bar-inner-label { white-space: nowrap !important; overflow: hidden !important; text-overflow: ellipsis !important; padding-right: 8px !important; } #fv-chart-1765979335374-rw1ncji75 .fv-bar-inner-value { flex-shrink: 0 !important; } #fv-chart-1765979335374-rw1ncji75 .fv-bar-value-outside { padding-left: 8px !important; font-size: 14px !important; font-weight: bold !important; color: #4B5563 !important; white-space: nowrap !important; } #fv-chart-1765979335374-rw1ncji75 .fv-bar-label.fv-primary-product { font-weight: bold !important; color: var(--riv-primary) !important; } /* Stacked Bar */ #fv-chart-1765979335374-rw1ncji75 .fv-stacked-bar { display: flex !important; overflow: hidden !important; } #fv-chart-1765979335374-rw1ncji75 .fv-stacked-segment { height: 100% !important; display: flex !important; align-items: center !important; justify-content: flex-end !important; padding-right: 8px !important; border-right: 1px solid rgba(255,255,255,0.3) !important; } #fv-chart-1765979335374-rw1ncji75 .fv-stacked-segment:last-child { border-right: none !important; } #fv-chart-1765979335374-rw1ncji75 .fv-segment-value { font-size: 14px !important; font-weight: bold !important; color: white !important; text-shadow: 1px 1px 1px rgba(0,0,0,0.3) !important; } /* Grouped Bar */ #fv-chart-1765979335374-rw1ncji75 .fv-grouped-bar-product { display: flex !important; flex-direction: column !important; width: 100% !important; margin-bottom: 1.25rem !important; } #fv-chart-1765979335374-rw1ncji75 .fv-grouped-product-title-wrapper { padding-left: 150px !important; } #fv-chart-1765979335374-rw1ncji75 .fv-grouped-product-title { width: 100% !important; text-align: left !important; padding-right: 0 !important; margin-bottom: 0.5rem !important; font-weight: 700 !important; font-size: 14px !important; color: #4B5563 !important; text-transform: none !important; } #fv-chart-1765979335374-rw1ncji75 .fv-bar-cluster { width: 100% !important; flex-grow: 1 !important; display: flex !important; flex-direction: column !important; } #fv-chart-1765979335374-rw1ncji75 .fv-bar-cluster .fv-bar-row { margin-bottom: 3px !important; } #fv-chart-1765979335374-rw1ncji75 .fv-bar-cluster .fv-bar-container { height: 20px !important; } /* Line Chart Grid */ #fv-chart-1765979335374-rw1ncji75 .riv-grid line { stroke: #D1D5DB !important; stroke-dasharray: 3 3 !important; } /* X-Axis */ #fv-chart-1765979335374-rw1ncji75 .fv-x-axis-wrapper { display: flex !important; width: 100% !important; margin-top: 0.5rem !important; } #fv-chart-1765979335374-rw1ncji75 .fv-x-axis-label-space { width: 150px !important; padding-right: 10px !important; flex-shrink: 0 !important; } #fv-chart-1765979335374-rw1ncji75 .fv-x-axis-chart-space { flex-grow: 1 !important; padding-right: 8px !important; } #fv-chart-1765979335374-rw1ncji75 .fv-x-axis-wrapper.fv-grouped-x-axis { margin-left: 0 !important; } #fv-chart-1765979335374-rw1ncji75 .fv-x-axis-line { border-top: 1px solid #D1D5DB !important; } #fv-chart-1765979335374-rw1ncji75 .fv-x-axis-ticks { display: flex !important; justify-content: space-between !important; padding-top: 4px !important; font-size: 13px !important; color: #6B7280 !important; } #fv-chart-1765979335374-rw1ncji75 .fv-x-axis-ticks span { position: relative !important; } #fv-chart-1765979335374-rw1ncji75 .fv-x-axis-ticks span::before { content: '' !important; position: absolute !important; top: -6px !important; left: 50% !important; transform: translateX(-50%) !important; width: 2px !important; height: 4px !important; background-color: #D1D5DB !important; border-radius: 1px !important; } #fv-chart-1765979335374-rw1ncji75 .fv-x-axis-unit { text-align: center !important; font-size: 14px !important; color: #6B7280 !important; margin-top: 8px !important; display: block !important; } #fv-chart-1765979335374-rw1ncji75 .fv-x-axis-title { text-align: center !important; font-size: 15px !important; color: #6B7280 !important; margin-top: 8px !important; margin-bottom: 16px !important; line-height: 1.5 !important; padding: 0 1rem !important; display: block !important; font-weight: bold !important; } #fv-chart-1765979335374-rw1ncji75 .fv-y-axis-title { font-size: 15px !important; color: #6B7280 !important; line-height: 1.5 !important; text-align: left !important; padding-left: 5.83% !important; /* Aligns with Y-axis line inside SVG (35/600) */ margin-bottom: 4px !important; display: block !important; font-weight: bold !important; } /* Mobile / Forced Mobile View */ #fv-chart-1765979335374-rw1ncji75.mobile-view .fv-pie-container { flex-direction: column !important; gap: 1rem !important; } #fv-chart-1765979335374-rw1ncji75.mobile-view .fv-grouped-product-title-wrapper { padding-left: 0 !important; } #fv-chart-1765979335374-rw1ncji75.mobile-view .fv-bar-row, #fv-chart-1765979335374-rw1ncji75.mobile-view .fv-stacked-product, #fv-chart-1765979335374-rw1ncji75.mobile-view .fv-grouped-bar-product { flex-direction: column !important; align-items: flex-start !important; margin-bottom: 1.25rem !important; } #fv-chart-1765979335374-rw1ncji75.mobile-view .fv-bar-label, #fv-chart-1765979335374-rw1ncji75.mobile-view .fv-grouped-product-title { width: 100% !important; text-align: left !important; padding-right: 0 !important; margin-bottom: 0.25rem !important; font-size: 14px !important; font-weight: 700 !important; } #fv-chart-1765979335374-rw1ncji75.mobile-view .fv-bar-container, #fv-chart-1765979335374-rw1ncji75.mobile-view .fv-bar-cluster { width: 100% !important; } #fv-chart-1765979335374-rw1ncji75.mobile-view .fv-x-axis-wrapper { margin-left: 0 !important; } #fv-chart-1765979335374-rw1ncji75.mobile-view .fv-x-axis-label-space { display: none !important; } #fv-chart-1765979335374-rw1ncji75.mobile-view .fv-x-axis-chart-space { padding-right: 0 !important; } #fv-chart-1765979335374-rw1ncji75.mobile-view .fv-benchmark-title { font-size: 16px !important; } #fv-chart-1765979335374-rw1ncji75.mobile-view .fv-logo { width: 60px !important; max-width: 60px !important; } #fv-chart-1765979335374-rw1ncji75.mobile-view .fv-carousel-nav-btn { padding: 6px 8px !important; font-size: 11px !important; } @media (max-width: 500px) { #fv-chart-1765979335374-rw1ncji75 .fv-pie-container { flex-direction: column !important; gap: 1rem !important; } #fv-chart-1765979335374-rw1ncji75 .fv-grouped-product-title-wrapper { padding-left: 0 !important; } #fv-chart-1765979335374-rw1ncji75 .fv-bar-row, #fv-chart-1765979335374-rw1ncji75 .fv-stacked-product { flex-direction: column !important; align-items: flex-start !important; margin-bottom: 1.25rem !important; } #fv-chart-1765979335374-rw1ncji75 .fv-bar-label:not(.fv-grouped-product-title) { width: 100% !important; text-align: left !important; padding-right: 0 !important; margin-bottom: 0.25rem !important; font-size: 14px !important; font-weight: 700 !important; } #fv-chart-1765979335374-rw1ncji75 .fv-bar-container { width: 100% !important; } #fv-chart-1765979335374-rw1ncji75 .fv-x-axis-wrapper:not(.fv-grouped-x-axis) { margin-left: 0 !important; } #fv-chart-1765979335374-rw1ncji75 .fv-x-axis-label-space:not(.fv-grouped-x-axis .fv-x-axis-label-space) { display: none !important; } #fv-chart-1765979335374-rw1ncji75 .fv-x-axis-chart-space { padding-right: 0 !important; } #fv-chart-1765979335374-rw1ncji75 .fv-benchmark-title { font-size: 16px !important; } #fv-chart-1765979335374-rw1ncji75 .fv-logo { width: 60px !important; max-width: 60px !important; } #fv-chart-1765979335374-rw1ncji75 .fv-carousel-nav-btn { padding: 6px 8px !important; font-size: 11px !important; } #fv-chart-1765979335374-rw1ncji75 .fv-y-axis-title { padding-left: 5% !important; /* (30/600) for mobile view */ } #fv-chart-1765979335374-rw1ncji75.fv-contains-line-chart .fv-footer-content { margin-left: -1rem !important; margin-right: -1rem !important; } } { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "Dataset", "name": "iOS app updates in 2025", "description": "This is the number of updates the iOS apps of each of these VPNs has had in 2025", "creator": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "TechRadar", "logo": "https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/dAwPEozB9GMMhAngdFJTHb.png" }, "isAccessibleForFree": true, "dateCreated": "2025-12-17T13:48:55.374Z", "citation": "Surfshark's apps are well cared for by the development team. The real outliers here are CyberGhost and PIA, neither of which appear to be putting much into app development right now.", "keywords": [ "NordVPN", "Surfshark", "ExpressVPN", "Proton VPN", "PureVPN", "Mullvad", "IPVanish", "Windscribe", "CyberGhost", "Private Internet Access", "iOS app updates", "benchmark", "comparison", "performance", "review", "TechRadar" ], "measurementTechnique": "Performance Benchmarking", "variableMeasured": [ { "@type": "PropertyValue", "name": "NordVPN – iOS app updates", "value": 23, "unitText": "number" }, { "@type": "PropertyValue", "name": "Surfshark – iOS app updates", "value": 21, "unitText": "number" }, { "@type": "PropertyValue", "name": "ExpressVPN – iOS app updates", "value": 25, "unitText": "number" }, { "@type": "PropertyValue", "name": "Proton VPN – iOS app updates", "value": 22, "unitText": "number" }, { "@type": "PropertyValue", "name": "PureVPN – iOS app updates", "value": 18, "unitText": "number" }, { "@type": "PropertyValue", "name": "Mullvad – iOS app updates", "value": 9, "unitText": "number" }, { "@type": "PropertyValue", "name": "IPVanish – iOS app updates", "value": 10, "unitText": "number" }, { "@type": "PropertyValue", "name": "Windscribe – iOS app updates", "value": 11, "unitText": "number" }, { "@type": "PropertyValue", "name": "CyberGhost – iOS app updates", "value": 0, "unitText": "number" }, { "@type": "PropertyValue", "name": "Private Internet Access – iOS app updates", "value": 3, "unitText": "number" } ]} iOS app updates in 2025

This is the number of updates the iOS apps of each of these VPNs has had in 2025

iOS app updates NordVPN 23 Surfshark 21 ExpressVPN 25 Proton VPN 22 PureVPN 18 Mullvad 9 IPVanish 10 Windscribe 11 CyberGhost 0 Private Internet Access 3 iOS app updates Data ProductValue (number) NordVPN 23 Surfshark 21 ExpressVPN 25 Proton VPN 22 PureVPN 18 Mullvad 9 IPVanish 10 Windscribe 11 CyberGhost 0 Private Internet Access 3 Surfshark's apps are well cared for by the development team. The real outliers here are CyberGhost and PIA, neither of which appear to be putting much into app development right now. (function() { function initialize() { var chartWrapper = document.getElementById('fv-chart-1765979335374-rw1ncji75'); if (!chartWrapper) { console.error('Chart wrapper with ID fv-chart-1765979335374-rw1ncji75 not found.'); return; } function animateBars(chartElement) { if (!chartElement) return; var bars = chartElement.querySelectorAll('.fv-bar, .fv-stacked-segment'); bars.forEach(function(bar, index) { var targetWidth = bar.dataset.targetWidth; if (targetWidth === undefined) return; // Bars start at width: 0% in HTML, so we just animate them setTimeout(function() { bar.style.width = targetWidth + '%'; }, index * 50 + 100); }); } function animateLineChart(chartElement) { if (!chartElement) return; var lineSvg = chartElement.querySelector('svg'); if (!lineSvg) return; var paths = lineSvg.querySelectorAll('.riv-line-path'); paths.forEach(function(p, i) { if (typeof p.getTotalLength === 'function') { var len = p.getTotalLength(); p.style.transition = 'none'; p.style.strokeDasharray = len; p.style.strokeDashoffset = len; p.getBoundingClientRect(); setTimeout(function() { p.style.transition = 'stroke-dashoffset 1s ease-out ' + (i * 0.1) + 's'; p.style.strokeDashoffset = '0'; }, 100); } }); var dots = lineSvg.querySelectorAll('.riv-dot'); dots.forEach(function(dot, i) { dot.style.opacity = '0'; setTimeout(function() { dot.style.transition = 'opacity 0.3s ease'; dot.style.opacity = '1'; }, 500 + i * 10); }); } var charts = chartWrapper.querySelectorAll('.fv-chart-item'); // Animate initial view if ("All Charts" === "All Charts") { charts.forEach(function(chart) { var chartType = chart.dataset.chartType; if (chartType === 'Line') { animateLineChart(chart); } else if (chartType !== 'Pie') { animateBars(chart); } }); } else if (charts.length > 0) { var firstChart = charts[0]; var firstChartType = firstChart.dataset.chartType; if (firstChartType === 'Line') { animateLineChart(firstChart); } else if (firstChartType !== 'Pie') { animateBars(firstChart); } } if (charts.length > 1 && "All Charts" !== "All Charts") { var currentChartIndex = 0; var subheadEl = chartWrapper.querySelector('.fv-chart-subhead'); var captionEl = chartWrapper.querySelector('.rv-chart-caption'); var placeholderSubhead = "Subhead to describe the test and what's being measured and why"; var placeholderCaption = "Add your caption to explain the data, the learnings and the key takeaways of the data being visualized"; var globalSubheadJSON = "This is the number of updates the iOS apps of each of these VPNs has had in 2025"; var globalCaptionJSON = "Surfshark's apps are well cared for by the development team. The real outliers here are CyberGhost and PIA, neither of which appear to be putting much into app development right now."; var globalSubhead = globalSubheadJSON === placeholderSubhead ? '' : globalSubheadJSON; var globalCaption = globalCaptionJSON === placeholderCaption ? '' : globalCaptionJSON; var subheadOverrides = {}; var captionOverrides = {}; var chartInfo = [{"id":"bar-iOS app updates","title":"iOS app updates"}]; var captionOverrideKeys = Object.keys(captionOverrides); var singleCaptionOverrideValue = captionOverrideKeys.length === 1 ? captionOverrides[captionOverrideKeys[0]] : null; if (singleCaptionOverrideValue === placeholderCaption) { singleCaptionOverrideValue = ''; } function showChart(index) { if (index < 0 || index >= charts.length) return; charts.forEach(function(chart, i) { chart.style.display = i === index ? 'block' : 'none'; }); currentChartIndex = index; var activeChart = charts[index]; var chartType = activeChart.dataset.chartType; if (chartType === 'Line') { animateLineChart(activeChart); } else if (chartType !== 'Pie') { animateBars(activeChart); } var activeChartId = chartInfo[index].id; if (subheadEl) { var subheadContent = (subheadOverrides[activeChartId] !== undefined) ? (subheadOverrides[activeChartId] === placeholderSubhead ? '' : subheadOverrides[activeChartId]) : globalSubhead; subheadEl.innerHTML = subheadContent; } if (captionEl) { var captionContent; if (captionOverrides[activeChartId] !== undefined) { captionContent = captionOverrides[activeChartId] === placeholderCaption ? '' : captionOverrides[activeChartId]; } else if (singleCaptionOverrideValue !== null) { captionContent = singleCaptionOverrideValue; } else { captionContent = globalCaption; } captionEl.innerHTML = captionContent; var captionContainer = captionEl.closest('.fv-footer-content'); if (captionContainer) { var hasContent = captionContent && captionContent.trim() !== ''; var shouldShow = hasContent || (captionContainer.parentElement && captionContainer.parentElement.querySelector('.fv-logo')); if (captionContainer.parentElement) captionContainer.parentElement.style.display = shouldShow ? 'flex' : 'none'; captionContainer.style.display = hasContent ? 'block' : 'none'; } } var dropdown = chartWrapper.querySelector('.fv-dropdown'); if (dropdown) dropdown.value = index; var carouselTitle = chartWrapper.querySelector('.fv-carousel-title-controls .fv-benchmark-title'); if (carouselTitle) carouselTitle.innerHTML = chartInfo[index].title; var counter = chartWrapper.querySelector('.fv-carousel-counter'); if (counter) counter.textContent = (index + 1) + ' of ' + charts.length; } var dropdown = chartWrapper.querySelector('.fv-dropdown'); if (dropdown) dropdown.addEventListener('change', function(e) { showChart(parseInt(e.target.value)) }); var prevBtn = chartWrapper.querySelector('.fv-carousel-nav-btn.prev'); if (prevBtn) prevBtn.addEventListener('click', function() { showChart((currentChartIndex - 1 + charts.length) % charts.length) }); var nextBtn = chartWrapper.querySelector('.fv-carousel-nav-btn.next'); if (nextBtn) nextBtn.addEventListener('click', function() { showChart((currentChartIndex + 1) % charts.length) }); } chartWrapper.querySelectorAll('.riv-line-legend').forEach(function(legend) { var chartId = legend.dataset.chart; var chart = document.getElementById(chartId); // Uses page-unique ID if (!chart) return; var lines = chart.querySelectorAll('.riv-line-path'); var dots = chart.querySelectorAll('.riv-dot'); legend.querySelectorAll('.riv-legend-item').forEach(function(item) { var productName = item.dataset.product; var line = chart.querySelector('.riv-line-path[data-product="' + productName + '"]'); var productDots = chart.querySelectorAll('.riv-dot[data-product="' + productName + '"]'); var highlight = function() { if (legend.querySelector('.isolated')) return; lines.forEach(function(l) { l.style.opacity = '0.3' }); dots.forEach(function(d) { d.style.opacity = '0.3' }); if (line) line.style.opacity = '1'; productDots.forEach(function(d) { d.style.opacity = '1' }); }; var clearHighlight = function() { if (legend.querySelector('.isolated')) return; lines.forEach(function(l) { l.style.opacity = '1' }); dots.forEach(function(d) { d.style.opacity = '1' }); }; var toggleIsolate = function() { var isIsolated = item.classList.contains('isolated'); legend.querySelectorAll('.riv-legend-item').forEach(function(i) { i.classList.remove('isolated') }); if (isIsolated) { lines.forEach(function(l) { l.style.opacity = '1' }); dots.forEach(function(d) { d.style.opacity = '1' }); } else { item.classList.add('isolated'); lines.forEach(function(l) { l.style.opacity = '0.3' }); dots.forEach(function(d) { d.style.opacity = '0.3' }); if (line) line.style.opacity = '1'; productDots.forEach(function(d) { d.style.opacity = '1' }); } }; item.addEventListener('mouseenter', highlight); item.addEventListener('focus', highlight); item.addEventListener('mouseleave', clearHighlight); item.addEventListener('blur', clearHighlight); item.addEventListener('click', toggleIsolate); item.addEventListener('keydown', function(e) { if (e.key === 'Enter' || e.key === ' ') { e.preventDefault(); toggleIsolate(); } }); }); }); } if (document.readyState === 'loading') { document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', initialize); } else { initialize(); } function sendMessageToParentWindow(typeOfMessage, message = null) { let url = (window.location.ancestorOrigins && window.location.ancestorOrigins.length > 0) ? window.location.ancestorOrigins[0] : '*'; window.parent.postMessage({ analytics: { ...message } }, url); } sendMessageToParentWindow('analytics', { type: "fv-loaded", timestamp: new Date().toISOString() }); })();

Looking at the table above, Surfshark is certainly one of the better companies for this with it pretty much on a par with other top VPNs Proton VPN, NordVPN and ExpressVPN.

The overall story for us here is that Surfshark has done a really good job, and we’re confident that it will continue to do so on whatever platform you wish to use.

Score: 5/5

Usability

Make sure to disable the auto-renew function on set-up.
Clear and consistent UX across all major Surfshark apps.
Kill switch mode should be clearer on the UI.

After signing up for a Surshark account (don’t forget to take advantage of the Surfshark 7-day free trial while it’s here), the Surfshark online dashboard is a good place to start.

There’s a handy set-up guide to make sure you get the best of all the features – connecting to the VPN, setting up Antivirus, data leak alerts, and how to use Alternative ID. All well worth your time.

It’s also a good place to download your apps and extensions. The Download apps panel is surprisingly complete. There are QR codes to scan and buttons both of which offer direct links to the relevant app stores for smart TVs, browser extensions and Linux as well as the big four laptop, phone and tablet apps. You can even pick up the Android APK for any side-loading you might need to do.

Read more about Surfshark's usability ▼

The only thing to watch out for is that we got a little confused by the Windows app installer. It said “Welcome to Surshark One Security Suite Setup Wizard”, when we’d only purchased Surfsharker Starter originally. Sadly, it wasn’t a free upgrade. Ignore it. That’s how the standard installer lookers.

You can access the help center, view the length left of your subscription and, of course, upgrade to a dedicated IP address and an Alternative ID phone number while you're there, should you wish.

Switch off auto-renew and avoid a nasty price hike

Our top tip of all, though, is to head immediately to the Payments tab in the Your Subscriptions section of the My Account menu where you can switch off auto-renew and avoid a nasty price hike once the term of your original subscription ends. Ignore this at your peril, or face paying about twice what you did originally per month on a 12-month contract.

If you do get stung by Surfshark’s auto-renewal, though, don’t panic. The company cares about its reputation and its customers. A little sweet talk to the customer support within a week and you’re highly likely to get a refund.

User Experience

The Surfshark user experience is pretty much identical across the range. There are differences – Android has a home tab, Windows and iOS don’t, for example – but the look and feel is consistent and all the features and settings are in very similar places.

Like all good VPN apps, there are short explainers next to most of the settings and that’s important because it’s by far and away the easiest way to learn about the product. Only Proton VPN stands out as superior on this front with an info button that opens up some really clear pop-up explainers, that are as easy to understand as they are to dismiss.

There’s no map on any Surfshark app. All server locations are listed in alphabetical order and that’s perfectly sensible and easy to navigate. There’s also a search bar to stop you having to scroll to the bottom for UK, US and everything else that’s useful down there.

You can even search for the kind of server you want, instead of the location. Type in ‘P2P’ if you want one for torrenting, for example. We typed in ‘Frank’ and got not only the main Frankfurt server but also a list of those with static IPs as well as the preset MultiHop route of Frankfurt via the GB-London server.

Surfshark home page running on Android. It's a very clear interface easy access to VPN server selection and connection. There is tabbed access to the settings and product features at the bottom. (Image credit: Future Publishing)

If that’s not fast enough for you, there are connection shortcuts with buttons for your recently used servers, your fastest available connection and your nearest country too. There are also stars next to each server in the list so that you can favourite ones that you like or use most often.

We prefer the tabbed layout on the Windows app compared to the mobile versions but then that’s not a huge surprise given that there’s more space to play with on a laptop screen. The tabs make a bit more sense on a computer (VPN, Alternative ID, Alerts, Antivirus, and Settings). It’s quick access to pretty much everything you need right there.

Compare that to the four tabs on Android – Home, Products, News, Settings. News doesn’t really offer much but head to Products and you’ll find a list of the same tabbed sections as on the Windows app. In other words, access to the same areas is one step removed. It’s not a big deal and it still works fine.

The desktop apps are still actually quite small – more than the budget mobile port look and feel of cheaper VPNs like Hide.me, Windscribe and PrivadoVPN but nothing like the luxury of space you get with NordVPN, Proton VPN or ExpressVPN.

We don’t really mind that. It’s still attractive, tidy and maybe a massive VPN software windows is exactly the kind of getting-in-the-way that VPNs shouldn’t do. It’s also kind of fitting of Surfshark’s more reasonable price point.

Surfshark's desktop application is not a full screen desktop experience but I don't have a problem with that. It's neat, tidy, easy to use and doesn't get in the way of your other apps and files. (Image credit: Future Publishing)

It’s also a misnomer to think that its size means less complexity. The Surfshark Windows app has 23 buttons, icons and other areas where you can click something. NordVPN’s Windows app also has 23. Proton VPN comes in at a similar 19.

If you want something really stripped back but still nicely put together, then go for ExpressVPN with its 13 – but then that does mean fewer functions at your fingertips. It depends on what you’d rather trade off.

Probably the only part of the Windows UX that we find a bit odd is the VPN home page itself, or, more specifically, the information that’s on there. There’s data on connection time, VPN IP address, up and download data so far, what protocol you’re using and whether or not CleanWeb is on.

It’ll also tell you when the kill switch is enabled, but, the strange part is that it says nothing about the kill switch at all when it’s off – and that’s exactly when you need to know about the kill switch: when it’s not protecting you!

Oddly, Android users can tell if it’s off because it’s displayed as a toggle rather than the word On or Off.

Is it a problem? Well, potentially but you can avoid it by making sure your kill switch is activated by default. Otherwise, it would be a concern if your real IP was leaking and you didn’t know about it.

That aside, we really have no complaints to make about how Surshark has put its apps together. They’re easy on the eye and generally a pleasure to use.

Score: 4/5

Accessibility

Middling accessibility score for the Surfshark website.
Average language support.
Extremely poor for keyboard-only use.

Surfshark's accessibility credentials are so-so, at best with both the website and number of languages available in-app about average. Keyboard support is really quite poor but Siri voice commands for VPN functionality save the day for iOS users.

We used AccessibilityChecker to scan Surfshark’s home page and it came out with a score of 23%. It’s only a single page but it’s a good indicator of what to expect across its website.

That’s a long way behind the likes of Mullvad (95%) and NordVPN (65%), but in the same ballpark as providers like Proton VPN (35%), ExpressVPN (32%) and Private Internet Access (10%).

The audit report showed that Surfshark’s website passed all navigation tests. It was deemed to also have increasing issues surrounding screen reader support.

Read more about Surfshark's accessibility ▼

Equally, the site uses an appropriate color scheme, and text with strong contrast, even though it didn’t match color contrast standards across a few elements.

There’s clearly room for improvement here, but this isn’t a bad score. If you’re partially sighted, then, there are better options out there than Surfshark.

Looking at Surfshark’s desktop apps, we found that the Windows application supports 13 languages including common options such as English, French, German, Italian, Polish, Portuguese, Japanese, Korean and Chinese (Simplified and Traditional.)

There are 13 languages supported on Surfshark. Not as many as other VPNs and a few key options missing. (Image credit: Future Publishing)

But it’s missing others – Arabic, Norwegian, Swedish, Turkish – and many VPNs provide more. Norton VPN supports 26 languages, for instance, and Proton VPN has 28. So, if you would rather have a VPN that talks your native tongue, you might find more luck elsewhere.

Next we tried ditching our mouse. If a user can’t operate a mouse, they should be able to access every feature of the app from the keyboard. Sadly, Surfshark has extremely poor keyboard support.

Pressing Tab allowed us to move around the window, but in many cases the app didn’t highlight the current element (the button, the list, or whatever else we were accessing), leaving us with no idea where we were.

@import url('https://fonts.googleapis.com/css2?family=Open+Sans:wght@400;700&display=swap'); #fv-chart-1762344716262-c2xu98f4x *, #fv-chart-1762344716262-c2xu98f4x *:before, #fv-chart-1762344716262-c2xu98f4x *:after { box-sizing: border-box !important; margin: 0; padding: 0; border: 0; font-size: 100%; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; } #fv-chart-1762344716262-c2xu98f4x { font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif !important; } /* Main Wrappers */ #fv-chart-1762344716262-c2xu98f4x { position: relative !important; overflow: visible !important; --riv-primary: #2E6E93; } #fv-chart-1762344716262-c2xu98f4x .fv-inner-wrapper { color: #1F2937 !important; background-color: #ffffff !important; padding: 1.5rem 1.5rem 2rem !important; border-radius: 0.5rem !important; box-shadow: 0 1px 3px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) !important; margin: 1rem 0 !important; display: flex !important; flex-direction: column !important; } /* Typography */ #fv-chart-1762344716262-c2xu98f4x .fv-chart-title { font-weight: bold !important; text-align: center !important; margin-bottom: 0.5rem !important; color: #1F2937 !important; font-size: 1.5rem !important; line-height: 1.2 !important; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif !important; text-transform: none !important; } #fv-chart-1762344716262-c2xu98f4x .fv-chart-subhead { font-size: 1.1rem !important; font-weight: 500 !important; text-align: center !important; margin-bottom: 2rem !important; color: #6B7280 !important; line-height: 1.7 !important; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif !important; display: block !important; text-transform: none !important; } #fv-chart-1762344716262-c2xu98f4x .rv-chart-caption { font-size: 15px !important; color: #6B7280 !important; text-align: center !important; font-style: normal !important; font-weight: normal !important; line-height: 1.7 !important; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif !important; display: block !important; } #fv-chart-1762344716262-c2xu98f4x .sr-only { position: absolute !important; width: 1px !important; height: 1px !important; padding: 0 !important; margin: -1px !important; overflow: hidden !important; clip: rect(0,0,0,0) !important; white-space: nowrap !important; border: 0 !important; } /* Footer */ #fv-chart-1762344716262-c2xu98f4x .fv-bottom-bar { display: flex !important; flex-direction: column !important; align-items: center !important; margin-top: 0.5rem !important; gap: 1rem !important; } #fv-chart-1762344716262-c2xu98f4x .fv-footer-content { text-align: center !important; width: 100% !important; } #fv-chart-1762344716262-c2xu98f4x .fv-logo { display: block !important; margin: 0 auto !important; width: 120px !important; max-width: 120px !important; height: auto !important; object-fit: contain !important; } /* Display Mode Controls */ #fv-chart-1762344716262-c2xu98f4x .fv-dropdown-container { text-align: center !important; margin-bottom: 16px !important; } #fv-chart-1762344716262-c2xu98f4x .fv-dropdown { width: 100% !important; max-width: 350px !important; padding: 8px 12px !important; font-size: 14px !important; line-height: 1.2 !important; border: 2px solid #d1d5db !important; border-radius: 8px !important; background-color: #ffffff !important; color: #374151 !important; cursor: pointer !important; appearance: none !important; background-image: url("data:image/svg+xml,%3csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' fill='none' viewBox='0 0 20 20'%3e%3cpath stroke='%236b7280' stroke-linecap='round' stroke-linejoin='round' stroke-width='1.5' d='m6 8 4 4 4-4'/%3e%3c/svg%3e") !important; background-position: right 12px center !important; background-repeat: no-repeat !important; background-size: 14px !important; padding-right: 35px !important; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif !important; } #fv-chart-1762344716262-c2xu98f4x .fv-dropdown:hover { border-color: var(--riv-primary) !important; } #fv-chart-1762344716262-c2xu98f4x .fv-carousel-title-controls { display: flex !important; justify-content: space-between !important; align-items: center !important; margin-bottom: 16px !important; width: 100% !important; gap: 12px !important; } #fv-chart-1762344716262-c2xu98f4x .fv-carousel-nav-btn { background: transparent !important; border: 1px solid #d1d5db !important; border-radius: 6px !important; padding: 6px 10px !important; cursor: pointer !important; font-size: 13px !important; color: #6b7280 !important; display: flex !important; align-items: center !important; gap: 4px !important; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif !important; } #fv-chart-1762344716262-c2xu98f4x .fv-carousel-nav-btn:hover { border-color: #9ca3af !important; } #fv-chart-1762344716262-c2xu98f4x .fv-carousel-counter { font-size: 14px !important; color: #6b7280 !important; text-align: center !important; margin-top: 1rem !important; } /* Legend */ #fv-chart-1762344716262-c2xu98f4x .fv-legend { display: flex !important; justify-content: center !important; flex-wrap: wrap !important; gap: 8px 16px !important; margin: 0 !important; padding: 0 !important; margin-top: 1rem !important; } #fv-chart-1762344716262-c2xu98f4x .fv-legend-item { display: flex !important; align-items: center !important; gap: 6px !important; font-size: 14px !important; color: #4B5563 !important; } #fv-chart-1762344716262-c2xu98f4x .fv-legend-color { width: 12px !important; height: 12px !important; border-radius: 3px !important; } /* Chart Core Styles */ #fv-chart-1762344716262-c2xu98f4x .fv-benchmark-group { margin-bottom: 1rem !important; } #fv-chart-1762344716262-c2xu98f4x .fv-benchmark-title { font-size: 18px !important; font-weight: 600 !important; margin-bottom: 16px !important; margin-top: 0 !important; padding: 0 !important; text-align: center !important; color: var(--riv-primary) !important; flex: 1 !important; min-width: 0 !important; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif !important; line-height: 1.3 !important; text-transform: none !important; } #fv-chart-1762344716262-c2xu98f4x .fv-bar-row, #fv-chart-1762344716262-c2xu98f4x .fv-stacked-product { display: flex !important; align-items: center !important; width: 100% !important; margin-bottom: 0.75rem !important; } #fv-chart-1762344716262-c2xu98f4x .fv-bar-label { width: 150px !important; flex-shrink: 0 !important; font-size: 14px !important; color: #4B5563 !important; padding-right: 10px !important; text-align: right !important; font-weight: 500 !important; display: block !important; } #fv-chart-1762344716262-c2xu98f4x .fv-bar-container { flex-grow: 1 !important; background-color: #E5E7EB !important; border-radius: 4px !important; height: 25px !important; border: 1px solid #D1D5DB !important; position: relative !important; display: flex !important; align-items: center !important; } #fv-chart-1762344716262-c2xu98f4x .fv-bar { height: 100% !important; border-radius: 3px !important; display: flex !important; align-items: center !important; transition: opacity 0.2s ease, width 0.8s ease-out !important; } #fv-chart-1762344716262-c2xu98f4x .fv-bar:hover { opacity: 0.8 !important; } #fv-chart-1762344716262-c2xu98f4x .fv-bar-inner-content { display: flex !important; justify-content: space-between !important; align-items: center !important; width: 100% !important; height: 100% !important; padding: 0 8px !important; color: white !important; font-size: 14px !important; font-weight: bold !important; text-shadow: 1px 1px 1px rgba(0,0,0,0.3) !important; overflow: hidden !important; } #fv-chart-1762344716262-c2xu98f4x .fv-bar-inner-label { white-space: nowrap !important; overflow: hidden !important; text-overflow: ellipsis !important; padding-right: 8px !important; } #fv-chart-1762344716262-c2xu98f4x .fv-bar-inner-value { flex-shrink: 0 !important; } #fv-chart-1762344716262-c2xu98f4x .fv-bar-value-outside { padding-left: 8px !important; font-size: 14px !important; font-weight: bold !important; color: #4B5563 !important; white-space: nowrap !important; } #fv-chart-1762344716262-c2xu98f4x .fv-bar-label.fv-primary-product { font-weight: bold !important; color: var(--riv-primary) !important; } /* Stacked Bar */ #fv-chart-1762344716262-c2xu98f4x .fv-stacked-bar { display: flex !important; overflow: hidden !important; } #fv-chart-1762344716262-c2xu98f4x .fv-stacked-segment { height: 100% !important; display: flex !important; align-items: center !important; justify-content: flex-end !important; padding-right: 8px !important; border-right: 1px solid rgba(255,255,255,0.3) !important; } #fv-chart-1762344716262-c2xu98f4x .fv-stacked-segment:last-child { border-right: none !important; } #fv-chart-1762344716262-c2xu98f4x .fv-segment-value { font-size: 14px !important; font-weight: bold !important; color: white !important; text-shadow: 1px 1px 1px rgba(0,0,0,0.3) !important; } /* Grouped Bar */ #fv-chart-1762344716262-c2xu98f4x .fv-grouped-bar-product { display: flex !important; flex-direction: column !important; width: 100% !important; margin-bottom: 1.25rem !important; } #fv-chart-1762344716262-c2xu98f4x .fv-grouped-product-title-wrapper { padding-left: 150px !important; } #fv-chart-1762344716262-c2xu98f4x .fv-grouped-product-title { width: 100% !important; text-align: left !important; padding-right: 0 !important; margin-bottom: 0.5rem !important; font-weight: 700 !important; font-size: 14px !important; color: #4B5563 !important; text-transform: none !important; } #fv-chart-1762344716262-c2xu98f4x .fv-bar-cluster { width: 100% !important; flex-grow: 1 !important; display: flex !important; flex-direction: column !important; } #fv-chart-1762344716262-c2xu98f4x .fv-bar-cluster .fv-bar-row { margin-bottom: 3px !important; } #fv-chart-1762344716262-c2xu98f4x .fv-bar-cluster .fv-bar-container { height: 20px !important; } /* Line Chart Grid */ #fv-chart-1762344716262-c2xu98f4x .riv-grid line { stroke: #D1D5DB !important; stroke-dasharray: 3 3 !important; } /* X-Axis */ #fv-chart-1762344716262-c2xu98f4x .fv-x-axis-wrapper { display: flex !important; width: 100% !important; margin-top: 0.5rem !important; } #fv-chart-1762344716262-c2xu98f4x .fv-x-axis-label-space { width: 150px !important; padding-right: 10px !important; flex-shrink: 0 !important; } #fv-chart-1762344716262-c2xu98f4x .fv-x-axis-chart-space { flex-grow: 1 !important; padding-right: 8px !important; } #fv-chart-1762344716262-c2xu98f4x .fv-x-axis-wrapper.fv-grouped-x-axis { margin-left: 0 !important; } #fv-chart-1762344716262-c2xu98f4x .fv-x-axis-line { border-top: 1px solid #D1D5DB !important; } #fv-chart-1762344716262-c2xu98f4x .fv-x-axis-ticks { display: flex !important; justify-content: space-between !important; padding-top: 4px !important; font-size: 13px !important; color: #6B7280 !important; } #fv-chart-1762344716262-c2xu98f4x .fv-x-axis-unit { text-align: center !important; font-size: 14px !important; color: #6B7280 !important; margin-top: 8px !important; display: block !important; } #fv-chart-1762344716262-c2xu98f4x .fv-x-axis-title { text-align: center !important; font-size: 15px !important; color: #6B7280 !important; margin-top: 8px !important; margin-bottom: 16px !important; line-height: 1.5 !important; padding: 0 1rem !important; display: block !important; font-weight: bold !important; } #fv-chart-1762344716262-c2xu98f4x .fv-y-axis-title { font-size: 15px !important; color: #6B7280 !important; line-height: 1.5 !important; text-align: left !important; padding-left: 5.83% !important; /* Aligns with Y-axis line inside SVG (35/600) */ margin-bottom: 4px !important; display: block !important; font-weight: bold !important; } /* Mobile / Forced Mobile View */ #fv-chart-1762344716262-c2xu98f4x.mobile-view .fv-pie-container { flex-direction: column !important; gap: 1rem !important; } #fv-chart-1762344716262-c2xu98f4x.mobile-view .fv-grouped-product-title-wrapper { padding-left: 0 !important; } #fv-chart-1762344716262-c2xu98f4x.mobile-view .fv-bar-row, #fv-chart-1762344716262-c2xu98f4x.mobile-view .fv-stacked-product, #fv-chart-1762344716262-c2xu98f4x.mobile-view .fv-grouped-bar-product { flex-direction: column !important; align-items: flex-start !important; margin-bottom: 1.25rem !important; } #fv-chart-1762344716262-c2xu98f4x.mobile-view .fv-bar-label, #fv-chart-1762344716262-c2xu98f4x.mobile-view .fv-grouped-product-title { width: 100% !important; text-align: left !important; padding-right: 0 !important; margin-bottom: 0.25rem !important; font-size: 14px !important; font-weight: 700 !important; } #fv-chart-1762344716262-c2xu98f4x.mobile-view .fv-bar-container, #fv-chart-1762344716262-c2xu98f4x.mobile-view .fv-bar-cluster { width: 100% !important; } #fv-chart-1762344716262-c2xu98f4x.mobile-view .fv-x-axis-wrapper { margin-left: 0 !important; } #fv-chart-1762344716262-c2xu98f4x.mobile-view .fv-x-axis-label-space { display: none !important; } #fv-chart-1762344716262-c2xu98f4x.mobile-view .fv-x-axis-chart-space { padding-right: 0 !important; } #fv-chart-1762344716262-c2xu98f4x.mobile-view .fv-benchmark-title { font-size: 16px !important; } #fv-chart-1762344716262-c2xu98f4x.mobile-view .fv-logo { width: 60px !important; max-width: 60px !important; } #fv-chart-1762344716262-c2xu98f4x.mobile-view .fv-carousel-nav-btn { padding: 6px 8px !important; font-size: 11px !important; } @media (max-width: 500px) { #fv-chart-1762344716262-c2xu98f4x .fv-pie-container { flex-direction: column !important; gap: 1rem !important; } #fv-chart-1762344716262-c2xu98f4x .fv-grouped-product-title-wrapper { padding-left: 0 !important; } #fv-chart-1762344716262-c2xu98f4x .fv-bar-row, #fv-chart-1762344716262-c2xu98f4x .fv-stacked-product { flex-direction: column !important; align-items: flex-start !important; margin-bottom: 1.25rem !important; } #fv-chart-1762344716262-c2xu98f4x .fv-bar-label:not(.fv-grouped-product-title) { width: 100% !important; text-align: left !important; padding-right: 0 !important; margin-bottom: 0.25rem !important; font-size: 14px !important; font-weight: 700 !important; } #fv-chart-1762344716262-c2xu98f4x .fv-bar-container { width: 100% !important; } #fv-chart-1762344716262-c2xu98f4x .fv-x-axis-wrapper:not(.fv-grouped-x-axis) { margin-left: 0 !important; } #fv-chart-1762344716262-c2xu98f4x .fv-x-axis-label-space:not(.fv-grouped-x-axis .fv-x-axis-label-space) { display: none !important; } #fv-chart-1762344716262-c2xu98f4x .fv-x-axis-chart-space { padding-right: 0 !important; } #fv-chart-1762344716262-c2xu98f4x .fv-benchmark-title { font-size: 16px !important; } #fv-chart-1762344716262-c2xu98f4x .fv-logo { width: 60px !important; max-width: 60px !important; } #fv-chart-1762344716262-c2xu98f4x .fv-carousel-nav-btn { padding: 6px 8px !important; font-size: 11px !important; } #fv-chart-1762344716262-c2xu98f4x .fv-y-axis-title { padding-left: 5% !important; /* (30/600) for mobile view */ } #fv-chart-1762344716262-c2xu98f4x.fv-contains-line-chart .fv-footer-content { margin-left: -1rem !important; margin-right: -1rem !important; } } { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "Dataset", "name": "Language support", "description": "Language options available in the Windows apps of each of these VPNs.", "creator": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "TechRadar", "logo": "https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/dAwPEozB9GMMhAngdFJTHb.png" }, "isAccessibleForFree": true, "dateCreated": "2025-11-05T12:11:56.263Z", "citation": "Very average levels of language support for Surfshark. Worth checking to see if the languages you need for your VPN are included before you subscribe.", "keywords": [ "NordVPN", "Surfshark", "ExpressVPN", "Proton VPN", "PureVPN", "Mullvad", "IPVanish", "Windscribe", "CyberGhost", "Private Internet Access", "Languages supported", "no. of languages available", "benchmark", "comparison", "performance", "review", "TechRadar" ], "measurementTechnique": "Performance Benchmarking", "variableMeasured": [ { "@type": "PropertyValue", "name": "NordVPN – Languages supported", "value": 13, "unitText": "number" }, { "@type": "PropertyValue", "name": "Surfshark – Languages supported", "value": 13, "unitText": "number" }, { "@type": "PropertyValue", "name": "ExpressVPN – Languages supported", "value": 17, "unitText": "number" }, { "@type": "PropertyValue", "name": "Proton VPN – Languages supported", "value": 31, "unitText": "number" }, { "@type": "PropertyValue", "name": "PureVPN – Languages supported", "value": 12, "unitText": "number" }, { "@type": "PropertyValue", "name": "Mullvad – Languages supported", "value": 20, "unitText": "number" }, { "@type": "PropertyValue", "name": "IPVanish – Languages supported", "value": 8, "unitText": "number" }, { "@type": "PropertyValue", "name": "Windscribe – Languages supported", "value": 20, "unitText": "number" }, { "@type": "PropertyValue", "name": "CyberGhost – Languages supported", "value": 12, "unitText": "number" }, { "@type": "PropertyValue", "name": "Private Internet Access – Languages supported", "value": 18, "unitText": "number" } ]} Language support

Language options available in the Windows apps of each of these VPNs.

no. of languages available NordVPN 13 Surfshark 13 ExpressVPN 17 Proton VPN 31 PureVPN 12 Mullvad 20 IPVanish 8 Windscribe 20 CyberGhost 12 Private Internet Access 18 010203040 number no. of languages available Data ProductValue (number) NordVPN 13 Surfshark 13 ExpressVPN 17 Proton VPN 31 PureVPN 12 Mullvad 20 IPVanish 8 Windscribe 20 CyberGhost 12 Private Internet Access 18 Very average levels of language support for Surfshark. Worth checking to see if the languages you need for your VPN are included before you subscribe. (function() { function initialize() { var chartWrapper = document.getElementById('fv-chart-1762344716262-c2xu98f4x'); if (!chartWrapper) { console.error('Chart wrapper with ID fv-chart-1762344716262-c2xu98f4x not found.'); return; } function animateBars(chartElement) { if (!chartElement) return; var bars = chartElement.querySelectorAll('.fv-bar, .fv-stacked-segment'); bars.forEach(function(bar, index) { var targetWidth = bar.dataset.targetWidth; if (targetWidth === undefined) return; // Bars start at width: 0% in HTML, so we just animate them setTimeout(function() { bar.style.width = targetWidth + '%'; }, index * 50 + 100); }); } function animateLineChart(chartElement) { if (!chartElement) return; var lineSvg = chartElement.querySelector('svg'); if (!lineSvg) return; var paths = lineSvg.querySelectorAll('.riv-line-path'); paths.forEach(function(p, i) { if (typeof p.getTotalLength === 'function') { var len = p.getTotalLength(); p.style.transition = 'none'; p.style.strokeDasharray = len; p.style.strokeDashoffset = len; p.getBoundingClientRect(); setTimeout(function() { p.style.transition = 'stroke-dashoffset 1s ease-out ' + (i * 0.1) + 's'; p.style.strokeDashoffset = '0'; }, 100); } }); var dots = lineSvg.querySelectorAll('.riv-dot'); dots.forEach(function(dot, i) { dot.style.opacity = '0'; setTimeout(function() { dot.style.transition = 'opacity 0.3s ease'; dot.style.opacity = '1'; }, 500 + i * 10); }); } var charts = chartWrapper.querySelectorAll('.fv-chart-item'); // Animate initial view if ("All Charts" === "All Charts") { charts.forEach(function(chart) { var chartType = chart.dataset.chartType; if (chartType === 'Line') { animateLineChart(chart); } else if (chartType !== 'Pie') { animateBars(chart); } }); } else if (charts.length > 0) { var firstChart = charts[0]; var firstChartType = firstChart.dataset.chartType; if (firstChartType === 'Line') { animateLineChart(firstChart); } else if (firstChartType !== 'Pie') { animateBars(firstChart); } } if (charts.length > 1 && "All Charts" !== "All Charts") { var currentChartIndex = 0; var subheadEl = chartWrapper.querySelector('.fv-chart-subhead'); var captionEl = chartWrapper.querySelector('.rv-chart-caption'); var globalSubhead = "Language options available in the Windows apps of each of these VPNs."; var globalCaption = "Very average levels of language support for Surfshark. Worth checking to see if the languages you need for your VPN are included before you subscribe."; var subheadOverrides = {}; var captionOverrides = {}; var chartInfo = [{"id":"bar-Languages supported","title":"no. of languages available"}]; function showChart(index) { if (index < 0 || index >= charts.length) return; charts.forEach(function(chart, i) { chart.style.display = i === index ? 'block' : 'none'; }); currentChartIndex = index; var activeChart = charts[index]; var chartType = activeChart.dataset.chartType; if (chartType === 'Line') { animateLineChart(activeChart); } else if (chartType !== 'Pie') { animateBars(activeChart); } var activeChartId = chartInfo[index].id; if (subheadEl) subheadEl.innerHTML = subheadOverrides[activeChartId] || globalSubhead; if (captionEl) { var captionContent = captionOverrides[activeChartId] || globalCaption; captionEl.innerHTML = captionContent; if (captionEl.parentElement) { captionEl.parentElement.style.display = (captionContent && captionContent.trim() !== '') ? 'block' : 'none'; } } var dropdown = chartWrapper.querySelector('.fv-dropdown'); if (dropdown) dropdown.value = index; var carouselTitle = chartWrapper.querySelector('.fv-carousel-title-controls .fv-benchmark-title'); if (carouselTitle) carouselTitle.innerHTML = chartInfo[index].title; var counter = chartWrapper.querySelector('.fv-carousel-counter'); if (counter) counter.textContent = (index + 1) + ' of ' + charts.length; } var dropdown = chartWrapper.querySelector('.fv-dropdown'); if (dropdown) dropdown.addEventListener('change', function(e) { showChart(parseInt(e.target.value)) }); var prevBtn = chartWrapper.querySelector('.fv-carousel-nav-btn.prev'); if (prevBtn) prevBtn.addEventListener('click', function() { showChart((currentChartIndex - 1 + charts.length) % charts.length) }); var nextBtn = chartWrapper.querySelector('.fv-carousel-nav-btn.next'); if (nextBtn) nextBtn.addEventListener('click', function() { showChart((currentChartIndex + 1) % charts.length) }); } chartWrapper.querySelectorAll('.riv-line-legend').forEach(function(legend) { var chartId = legend.dataset.chart; var chart = document.getElementById(chartId); // Uses page-unique ID if (!chart) return; var lines = chart.querySelectorAll('.riv-line-path'); var dots = chart.querySelectorAll('.riv-dot'); legend.querySelectorAll('.riv-legend-item').forEach(function(item) { var productName = item.dataset.product; var line = chart.querySelector('.riv-line-path[data-product="' + productName + '"]'); var productDots = chart.querySelectorAll('.riv-dot[data-product="' + productName + '"]'); var highlight = function() { if (legend.querySelector('.isolated')) return; lines.forEach(function(l) { l.style.opacity = '0.3' }); dots.forEach(function(d) { d.style.opacity = '0.3' }); if (line) line.style.opacity = '1'; productDots.forEach(function(d) { d.style.opacity = '1' }); }; var clearHighlight = function() { if (legend.querySelector('.isolated')) return; lines.forEach(function(l) { l.style.opacity = '1' }); dots.forEach(function(d) { d.style.opacity = '1' }); }; var toggleIsolate = function() { var isIsolated = item.classList.contains('isolated'); legend.querySelectorAll('.riv-legend-item').forEach(function(i) { i.classList.remove('isolated') }); if (isIsolated) { lines.forEach(function(l) { l.style.opacity = '1' }); dots.forEach(function(d) { d.style.opacity = '1' }); } else { item.classList.add('isolated'); lines.forEach(function(l) { l.style.opacity = '0.3' }); dots.forEach(function(d) { d.style.opacity = '0.3' }); if (line) line.style.opacity = '1'; productDots.forEach(function(d) { d.style.opacity = '1' }); } }; item.addEventListener('mouseenter', highlight); item.addEventListener('focus', highlight); item.addEventListener('mouseleave', clearHighlight); item.addEventListener('blur', clearHighlight); item.addEventListener('click', toggleIsolate); item.addEventListener('keydown', function(e) { if (e.key === 'Enter' || e.key === ' ') { e.preventDefault(); toggleIsolate(); } }); }); }); } if (document.readyState === 'loading') { document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', initialize); } else { initialize(); } function sendMessageToParentWindow(typeOfMessage, message = null) { let url = (window.location.ancestorOrigins && window.location.ancestorOrigins.length > 0) ? window.location.ancestorOrigins[0] : '*'; window.parent.postMessage({ analytics: { ...message } }, url); } sendMessageToParentWindow('analytics', { type: "fv-loaded", timestamp: new Date().toISOString() }); })();

Even when we could see we had reached an important element, like the location list, it turned out not to be optimized for keyboard use.

For example, PIA’s Windows app allowed us to scroll up and down to highlight a country, and connected as soon as we hit Enter. That’s easy and intuitive, we figured it out right away.

With Surfshark, we could browse up and down the location list with the keyboard, but hitting Enter did nothing. Experimenting, hitting Tab and then Enter allowed us to connect some of the time, but we regularly got lost and had to use our mouse to start again.

Overall, if you need keyboard support then Surfshark’s Windows app isn’t a good choice. Check out PIA instead.

Score: 2/5

Customer support

Surfshark has 24/7 live chat, email and site customer support.
Handy and easy to use on-site knowledge base.
Email support will reply with a solution within 24-hours.

Surfshark offers customer support via a support site, live chat (24/7) and email (24/7).

We test VPN support sites by searching for common technical terms and issues, and exploring what comes up. Surfshark’s support site scores well for its vast number of articles.

When we searched for ‘DNS’, for instance, the site gave us 120 results including plenty of useful guides. That compares to 60 for ExpressVPN, and only 5 for Hotspot Shield (and only one of those was useful for setup or troubleshooting).

The only subject area almost completely absent was P2P and torrenting but perhaps for obvious thorny legal reasons.

Read more about Surfshark customer support ▼

All the help articles we read were well written, clear, nicely laid-out and very, very non-threatening.

Most Surfshark support users won't need the search, though, because the site is very well organised.

It displays links to its most important articles on the front page, grouped into topics such as ‘Getting Started’, ‘Fixing Issues’, ‘Billing’ and ‘Account’. It’s likely that many visitors will find the article they need in a couple of clicks.

We noticed that some of the support articles were a little out-of-date. Screenshots didn’t always match the latest version of the app, for instance. But that’s not unusual with VPNs that have a large number of articles, and we didn’t spot any guides where this genuinely had a significant negative result, like telling us to take an action which was no longer possible, for instance.

More to the point, all the articles we read were well written, clear, nicely laid-out and very, very non-threatening. Most people will feel confident of following the advice of this resource and rightly so.

Surfshark’s live chat appears to be well staffed. We were able to talk to helpful agents within a couple of minutes of opening a session. Getting some information about how to set the VPN up for P2P seemed like a good idea and the online agent did not let us down.

Surfshark’s live chat appears to be well staffed, and we were able to talk to helpful agents within a couple of minutes.

They said that all of their servers were fit to use for P2P, they suggested OpenVPN, with UDP for better speeds, and to make sure we had the kill switch on. All pretty sage stuff. And the whole chat took less than 5 minutes once we’d gone through a couple of layers of AI bot automation.

Email support isn’t as speedy. Proton VPN replied to a test question in minutes during its last review; Surfshark says it will reply in 24 hours, and our 21-hour wait suggests that’s about right.

Our reply was short, but friendly, accurate, and with an invitation to keep asking if we needed more help, and that earns a thumbs up from us.

Score: 4/5

User reviews

Like all user reviews, you should take Surfshark's scores on the Trustpilot and the mobile app stores with a pinch of salt, but they do paint the picture of a VPN that you can trust.

Across Google Play and the Apple App Store, it holds ratings on par with the very top VPNs. It's 4.3/5 Trustpilot rating is based on over 27,000 reviews. Around 9% of those are 1-star reviews.

Read them, and you'll most likely find that they're complaints over the auto-renewal system that most VPNs use, and it's easy to make sure that you don't become one of those statistics. You can turn auto-renew off from any point after signing up. Please do it.

Google Play

App Store

Trustpilot

NordVPN

4.6

4.7

4.2

Windscribe

4.6

4.7

Surfshark

4.6

4.7

4.3

Proton VPN

4.6

2.0

ExpressVPN

4.7

4.0

Track record: can you trust Surfshark?

Surfshark has never suffered any hacks or data leaks.
Apps, logging policy and server infrastructure has all been audited.
We'd like to see audits undertaken on an annual basis.

Currently, the NIST Vulnerability Database doesn’t have a single item with the keyword 'Surfshark'. That’s quite unusual.

Proton VPN has three old bugs in the database; ExpressVPN has three; NordVPN also has three old vulnerabilities (all from 2018.) Surfshark does have the advantage of being the youngest of all of these VPNs, though, launched, as it was, in 2018. For the record, Proton VPN is only one year older.

It’s a positive sign that hackers and security researchers haven’t found any major issues in Surfshark’s apps.

That said, the provider has now had an unfortunate security incident. In September 2026, Surfshark released a report explaining how, through human error, an internal engineering server was misconfigured in a way that made it accessible from the internet.

Signs of unauthorized access were first noticed on August 31st 2026. Thankfully, the server did not have access to user accounts, user credentials, other private data, or internet traffic.

According to Surfshark, ‘Some internal, build-related credentials had at times been committed to our code history.’ Thankfully, there was no indication of malicious activity, but Surfshark rotated or retired all the compromised credentials it identified anyway.

Surfshark's transparency on this matter makes it difficult to mark them down for it, especially given the actions taken in response and the lack of impact to users.

The biggest uproar was when the company decided to switch its legal HQ from the British Virgin Islands to the Netherlands.

Surfshark did, however, cause controversy when it added a ‘fake news detector’ feature to its browser extension. The idea was to highlight sources of misinformation, but the feature falsely flagged too many legitimate sites. It also raised a few eyebrows for privacy issues with the idea that this automated feature would decide, on its own, whether a particular source was trustworthy or not. Surfshark removed the feature in 2022 and the company hasn’t tried anything similar since.

Read more about Surfshark's track record▼

For sure, the biggest uproar, though, was when the company decided to switch its legal HQ from the British Virgin Islands to the Netherlands, as we mentioned in the Privacy section of this review.

Audited, but not as well or regularly as Proton VPN

Surfshark has had all the significant parts of its processes and infrastructure audited by third parties over the years but it could do with ramping up the frequency.

Surfshark had its no-logs policy reviewed by Deloitte in 2022. The report was released in January 2023 and agreed that Surfshark’s claims matched its real-life user data procedures. More recently its no-logs claims were audited in June, 2025, and, again, everything was found to be ship shape. (The full report is available to Surfshark users.)

It’s good to see any VPN provider have the courage to put itself through a public audit, but we'd like to see Surfshark do this a little more regularly.

Proton VPN has a no-logs audit every year, and Surfshark needs to do something similar. We’d like to see regular audits of the apps, too.

Thankfully, Surfshark has had another infrastructure audit now as of the start of 2026. Conducted by SecuRing, the testing wasn't as intensive as other audits we've seen, but found no major concerns.

It’s good to see any VPN provider have the courage to put itself through a public audit, but this can’t be a one-off event.

So, while it's not doing quite as much as other top VPNs in this regard, there's not a great deal to flaw Surfshark on here either.

Score: 4/5

Final verdict

(Image credit: Future / Gemini)

Surfshark is an excellent VPN. We rate it as the second best VPN for overall use. We also rate it as the best cheap VPN available.

We recommend the Surfshark Starter plan (from $1.99 per month) or Surfshark One (from $2.29 per month) which comes with antivirus built in. Both offer a 7-day free trial.

Surfshark is an excellent VPN. We rate it as the second best VPN for overall use. We also rate it as the best cheap VPN available.

We recommend the Surfshark Starter plan (from $1.99 per month) or Surfshark One (from $2.29 per month) which comes with antivirus built in. Both offer a 7-day free trial.

Who should use Surfshark?

✅ Anyone looking for cheap VPN: You can get two years of service for less than $70 total and there's a 7-day free trial which means you can try it out for nothing.

✅ People who want an antivirus product with their VPN: Surfshark is one of the few VPNs with a full antivirus system. None of NordVPN, Proton VPN nor ExpressVPN offer this. Make sure to sign up to Surfshark One or One+ for antivirus.

✅ P2P users looking for a good torrenting VPN: Surfshark gave us fast speeds when torrenting and is very easy to use.

Surfshark One – get the 7-day free trial

We rate Surfshark One as the best Surfshark plan. It's only a few dollars more than Starter and brings some worthwhile benefits:

✅ Full antivirus
✅ Data leak alerts
✅ Ad-free Surfshark search engine

Best of all, there's currently a 7-day free trial of Surfshark.View Deal

Who should try a different VPN instead?

❌ Streamers: Surfshark can certainly unblock most streaming services from abroad but it can be a little fiddly for some important ones like Disney Plus and ITV. NordVPN is better for streaming.

1. NordVPN – from $2.99 per month
The best VPN overall and best for streaming
If watching geo-blocked streaming services is the main reason you want a VPN, then NordVPN is a better choice than Surfshark. It's our #1 rated VPN overall and unblocked every streaming service in our tests at the first attempt. It's easy to use and excellent at everything else too. The only downside is that it's more expensive than Surfshark but you get what you pay for. Try it for yourself with a 30-day money-back guarantee.View Deal

Surfshark FAQsDoes Surfshark have a free trial?

Yes, a free 7-day trial is available to new users signing up to 1 and 2-year contracts for any of Surfshark's plans.

Is Surfshark VPN owned by China?

No. Surfshark was founded in 2018 by Vytautas Kaziukonis. It has offices in Lithuania and Poland, where the company remains today. Surfshark was registered in the British Virgin Islands until 2021 when its legal home was switched to the Netherlands.

Surfshark merged with NordVPN in 2022. The company offices are on the same campus in Vilnius, Lithuania, but remain separate from one another.

Is Surfshark VPN trusted?

Yes. Surfshark operates according to secure and trustworthy VPN practices. It uses a RAM-only server network and has an audited no-logs policy to prove that it does not collect of store user data. Surfshark has never had a hack or data leak. You can read more about this in the Track Record section of this review.

Is Surfshark blocked by Netflix?

No. We were able to access five different global Netflix libraries. These were Japan, USA, Canada, UK and Australia. Surfshark was able to unblock Netflix in these locations at the first time of trying – so without switching to any different servers and without changing any settings. (Read more about it in the Streaming section of this review.) We recommend Surfshark as a good VPN for watching Netflix wherever you go.

What are the downsides of Surfshark?

Even though Surfshark is excellent for unblocking Netflix streams, it's not quite as great for streaming as some other VPNs, such as NordVPN and ExpressVPN.

Is Surfshark legal in the US?

Yes. Surfshark is legal to use in the US and in all other locations where VPN use is not banned. VPN bans exist in countries such as Russia, China, Iran, Turkey, India, Saudi Arabia and a few other places. Find out more about where VPNs are banned.

Surfshark testing methodology

I’ve tested and written about VPNs for over five years. I’ve had Surfshark installed on my Windows PC and my mobile phone during that time along with nine other VPNs. Of those, Surfshark is my go-to VPN for my phone even when I'm not reviewing it.

I like the Android app and I particularly like having my Alternative ID at hand to copy into registration fields when I’m signing up for new sites and services. You can read my thoughts on Alternative ID in the Features section.

I use Surfshark most days and I update this review with my thoughts on the service and new Surfshark features each month. The latest this time is the Web Content Blocker tool which you can read about in the Features section too.

Our VPN test lab is where we put all VPNs through the same battery of tests to ensure a level playing field. Mike has been lab testing VPNs for over 11 years and has developed TechRadar’s VPN testing methodology over that time.

Read more our Surfshark testing methodology ▼

Each VPN is put through full lab testing every six months. As with all the VPNs, Surfshark has been tested for speed, ad-blocking, anti-phasing and malware, streaming service unblocking, local IP address leaks and the server network has been spot-checked to confirm that the VPN server locations are accurate.

As well as this, Surfshark’s privacy and security credentials have been checked in-lab by reading through the company’s privacy policy in detail and by looking through VPN configuration files and monitoring connection logs to ensure that each VPN protocol will operate appropriately.

Surfshark is my go-to VPN for my mobile phone even when I'm not reviewing it.

I have subjectively user tested the rest of Surfshark’s in-app privacy and security features on my own devices in real-world situations – on my mobile connection, on public Wi-Fi and on my home network too. These include Search, Autoconnect, Alert, and Alternative ID. You can read our findings in the Privacy and Security sections.

As with all of our VPN lab tests, Surfshark’s speed testing took place on our cloud PC set-up over a 10 Gbps line. We took 10 measurements from two different server locations (Dublin and Los Angeles) and recorded both local and transatlantic VPN connection speeds. We did this on both WireGuard (for a measure of the fastest speeds) and on OpenVPN (for those who wish to use a more secure connection).

Surfshark apps running on the four major operating systems in the TechRadar VPN lab. (Image credit: Future)

Our final scores are a median average of each set of 10 to avoid any skew from outlier data points. As with all VPN speed testing, it only provides a snapshot in time but, in our experience, it’s representative of average performance.

I’ve added my real-world user experience of Surfshark's speed performance to Mike’s results. You can read about both in the Speed section of this review

Mike tested Surfshark’s CleanWeb tool (anti-phishing and anti-malware) by exposing it to the 100 latest phishing and malware websites and seeing what percentage of these it could detect and block. You can see results in the Security section where I’ve added my thoughts on what it’s like to browse websites using CleanWeb, whether it makes a difference to the number of ads seen on pages, and whether it was able to reduce cookie consent pop-ups.

To test streaming service unblocking, Mike built a tool to sequentially run through a series of streaming platforms, as accessed from a different set of global locations. These include Netflix access to content libraries in Japan, the US, UK, Australia and Canada, access to Prime Video, Disney Plus, and local free streaming services such as BBC iPlayer, ITV, Channel 4, 10Play, 9Now and more.

The streaming tool checks whether or not Surfshark is able to access these services from abroad. If it fails, we try to access these services using different servers or by making tweaks to Surfshark’s set-up. For us, there’s a big difference in usability between a VPN that we need to tweak and one which will offer access first time.

Surfshark has been tested for speed, ad-blocking, anti-phasing and malware, streaming service unblocking, local IP address leaks and the server network has been spot-checked

I do a lot of streaming from abroad using VPNs – particularly with services such as Peacock, Sling and FuboTV. I regularly use Surfshark on my Windows PC for this. You can read my thoughts about Surfshark’s streaming quality and consistency, as well as Mike’s lab results, in the Streaming section of this review.

Finally, and certainly not least for the lab testing, is kill switches. This is arguably the most important feature we test in the lab. Mike sets up software to record the reported IP address of his test devices and switches on the VPN. He then performs a series of ways to break the VPN’s operation and checks that the kill switch kicks in without registering any leaks of the lab’s actual IP address.

The last port of call in our Surfshark testing was to test out its customer support. Mike puts his VPN knowledge to some pretty fiendish use and approaches live chat and email support with a complicated but not impossible technical query. You can see how Surfshark did in our Customer Support section.

Do take a look at our VPN lab testing methodology for a more detailed idea of Mike’s process.

This review has been fact checked across the VPN team, as well as with information provided by Surfshark. We update this review each month to include any new Surfshark features, or information about the product, to make sure that what you’re reading is 100% up to date and as you would find the product if you downloaded and used it today.

If you notice anything in your experience of using Surfshark that does not tally with what you read on this page, please let us know in the comments, or by emailing us direct, and we will endeavour to provide you with product support information or include corrections and warnings to other users, depending on which is appropriate.

Categories: Reviews

OM System PEN review: a classy, feature-packed rangefinder that's amazing value

TechRadar Reviews - Tue, 10/06/2026 - 09:30

OM System PEN: Two-minute review

Given the ongoing component shortages and price pressures, producing an affordable camera in 2026 is no mean feat — and that's exactly what OM System has achieved with the new PEN.

It has delivered the rangefinder-style mirrorless camera many PEN fans have been crying out for, and equipped it with in-body image stabilization, twin displays, a retro weather-proof design (IPX1-rated), and a range of fun computational photography modes — and kept the price to $1,000 / £850 / $AU1,800. Need a lens? The 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 III kit (see below) is just $100 / £100 / AU$300 extra.

Beyond that kit lens, the OM PEN is part of the Micro Four Thirds system, with hundreds of lenses to choose, covering just about any situation, though any of these will add to the cost. I found it to be a great pairing with the low-cost Olympus 45mm f/1.8 for portraiture.

The OM System PEN can be purchased body-only, or as a kit with the new 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 Mark III lens — both camera and lens are splash proof. (Image credit: Tim Coleman)

There's little that's new here, mind you — we have the same 20.4MP CMOS sensor with 5-axis image stabilization as previous models, including the OM System OM-5 II, and the same 121-point hybrid phase-detection autofocus, with stripped back subject-detection options. The vari-angle touchscreen and 2.36m-dot EVF are borrowed from previous models, too.

However, the OM PEN remains utterly compelling because it's so much fun to shoot the everyday with, so easy on the eye, and kind on the wallet. Sure, the PEN could be better in various areas (some of the controls are particularly fiddly), but all is forgiven when you consider the overall package, and that price tag.

Having used the camera for several weeks (and made direct comparisons with the excellent Lumix 10 premium compact), I think the OM System PEN as an ideal starter camera for smartphone upgraders — and it's the best beginner camera for 2026 so far.

OM System PEN review: Price and release date

(Image credit: Tim Coleman)

Announced in September 2026
Costs $999.99 / £849 / AU$1,499 (body-only) or $1,099 / £949 / AU$1,799 with new 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 III kit lens
Available in two colorways: all black, and black with silver trim

After years of rumors, OM System finally put its name on a successor for the Olympus PEN series of cameras. And like the OM-5 II before it, the OM System PEN is excellent value for money in an industry otherwise feeling the effects of component shortages and price hikes — where else can you find a new interchangeable-lens camera with a viewfinder and in-body image stabilization for less $1,000?

That price is for the body only, mind you, and if you're starting from scratch the best-value package is the camera with the new 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 III zoom lens, and that costs $100 / £100 / AU$300 extra. The third-generation kit lens was announced alongside the camera, and gains a splash-proof design, matching the OM PEN camera.

The camera is available for preorder now in two colorways: black, and black with silver trim.

OM System PEN review: specsOM System PEN specs:

Type:

Mirrorless camera

Mount:

Micro Four Thirds

Sensor:

20.4MP (effective) MFT CMOS

Autofocus:

121-point hybrid phase detection, subject detection; cats, humans, dogs (stills only)

Continuous shooting:

Up to 30fps (electronic shutter), 5fps mechanical

Video:

4K up to 30fps, C4K 24fps, 8-bit, OM-Log400 profile

Viewfinder:

2.36M-dot OLED EVF

Screen:

3.0-inch vari-angle touchscreen, 1.04m-dots

Storage:

Single SD/SDHC/SDXC slot

Connectivity:

2.4 and 5GHz Wi-Fi, micro HDMI, USB-C, mic

Battery

BLS-7, rated to 410 shots

Dimensions:

125.8 x 74.5 x 43.3mm

Weight:

13.9oz / 393g (with card and battery included, 344g without)

OM System PEN review: DesignTim ColemanTim ColemanTim ColemanTim ColemanTim Coleman

Compact, IPX1-rated body that weighs just 13.9oz / 393g
Twin displays: 2.36m-dot EVF and 1.04m-dot vari-angle touchscreen
USB-C charging, mic port and hotshoe

There's no shortage of OM System bodies, but the PEN is the first OM-branded rangefinder proper, with its 2.36m-dot EVF neatly tucked into the top-left corner of the compact, IPX1-rated retro body.

It's the same EVF that you'll find in the slightly pricier OM-5 Mark II — a camera that we awarded a 5-star rating, and which sits in top spot in TechRadar's best travel cameras guide.

The key difference between those two bodies is that the OM-5 Mark II has higher-rated weatherproofing, a pronounced viewfinder bump, and a larger grip — meaning it's better suited to inclement weather, outdoor photography, and use with larger lenses. The OM PEN is also a superb travel camera, but you'd typically use it on city breaks, for everyday and street photography with smaller lenses.

Tim ColemanTim ColemanTim ColemanTim ColemanTim ColemanTim ColemanTim ColemanTim ColemanTim ColemanTim ColemanTim Coleman

It has the retro charm we've come to expect from Olympus / OM System bodies, and I particular liked the black and silver version I had for this review. It's equipped with a hotshoe for accessories such as an external flash (there's no built-in flash), a Mono / Color profile switch, a USB-C port for charging, micro HDMI, mic jack and a single SD card slot.

Most of the buttons are small and can be a little fiddly. I found accessing the computational photography a pain — you need to hold down the 'CP' button while rotating the top dial (that the shutter button is set within) to access the menu. Why not require just a press of the CP button to open the menu?

The on/off switch is poorly designed, too — good luck trying to land on the photography setting without skipping past it to the video mode. If you have moderately large hands like I do, the whole layout might feel a little fiddly. And I'm sure there are some retro camera fans who will be disappointed that there's no cable-release thread in the shutter button. All that being said, I still very much enjoyed using the PEN.

OM System PEN review: PerformanceThe Live ND computational photography mode in action, handheld. It has blurred the moving water here for a long exposure effect. Tim ColemanThe same photo but in a regular shooting mode.Tim ColemanI switched to the Mono mode using the front dial on the cameraTim ColemanAnd here's the regular standard color modeTim ColemanI used the High Res Shot mode which suits this stationary scene well, boosting the resolution from 20MP to 50MP, handheld. Note though that the leaves in front of the cabin swaying in the wind are blurred.Tim ColemanI used the Live ND computational photography mode to blur the movement of the geese and water, but needed to rest the camera on a wooden post to ensure detail in the tree remained sharpTim ColemanOne of my favorite black and white photos with the OM PENTim Coleman

20.4MP CMOS sensor with 5-axis stabilization
BLS-7 battery with 410-shot CIPA rating
121-point hybrid phase detection autofocus with subject tracking

A 20.4MP Micro Four Thirds sensor is nothing to get too excited about in and of itself when you consider the larger-sensor, higher-resolution alternatives that are available.

Computational photography modes can close the gap where there are drawbacks; addressing the fewer pixels and lesser dynamic range versus larger-sensor alternatives, though they don't work for every scenario. (I've included some examples, above.)

With 5.5EV image stabilization, the High Res Shot mode can be used handheld to increase resolution from 20MP to 50MP, though it won't work for scenes with movement in them. The same can be said for the HDR modes, which also work by combining several images captured sequentially together into one, and would otherwise have ghosting in them where there's movement in the scene during capture. For still scenes, HDR works perfectly well for increasing dynamic range.

As a starter camera, however, the level of detail this tried and tested sensor is able to capture is easily sufficient for travel and everyday photography. Add a decent lens — and there are hundreds to choose from, including the low-cost 45mm f/1.8 for portraiture — and you have the foundation for smartphone-beating images.

Here I've used the 45mm f/1.8 lens set to f/1.8 for shallow depth of field (out of focus background) so the subject stands out. Tim ColemanIn this portrait, I'm using the 14-42mm kit lens, and when set to 75mm the maximum aperture is f/5.3, meaning it can't blur the background as muchTim ColemanBack to the 45mm f/1.8. If it were me, I'd struggle with the PEN if the only lens I owned was the 14-42mm kit lensTim ColemanMore 45mm f/1.8 portraitsTim ColemanThis scene could have been shot with the 14-42mm, but again I opted for the 45mm lensTim Coleman

There's nothing wrong with OM System's 121-point hybrid phase-detection autofocus system, despite its stripped-back selection of subject-detection options that includes humans or animals (cats and dogs).

I've used other systems with a wider range of subject-detection modes, but for the most part you'd struggle to see a major difference in performance — when tracking birds, for example, I found the animal-detection autofocus to be sticky. There's not the same degree of complexity for face and eye detection, though — it's reliable, but you can't manually switch which eye the camera autofocuses on.

Battery life is decent, being rated at 410 shots, but video specs are fairly basic for 2026 — 4K up to 30fps / C4K up to 24fps, with a wide choice of color profiles including OM System's flat OM-Log400 profile, but just 8-bit color depth. The slow and quick mode unleashes up to 120fps slow-motion recording, or down to 1fps quick motion, but in 1080p only. Image stabilization works for video, though, which is a major draw for a camera at this price point.

I've used the 45mm f/1.8 lens to blur the background and focus on the foliage in the foregroundTim ColemanThe human detection autofocus works very wellTim ColemanTim ColemanHere's the 14-42mm lens at its widest focal lengthTim ColemanAnd then zoomed in fully. It's a decent 3x optical zoom rangeTim ColemanTim ColemanTim ColemanShould I buy the OM System PEN?Buy it if...

You're a smartphone upgrader
The experience of using the PEN compared to a smartphone is both wildly different and somehow familiar — its retro design and viewfinder are highly appealing, while its modern features, such as computational photography, eke out the best image quality possible and encourage creativity, much as a good smartphone camera can. View Deal

You want a highly enjoyable everyday/ travel camera
The PEN's compact and classy design features a decent EVF, vari-angle touchscreen and capable image stabilization, making it a highly versatile and enjoyable walkaround snapper.View Deal

Don't buy it if...

You're more into outdoors and action photography
Yes the PEN is capable in all photography genres, but its design is less suited to long lenses and inclement weather, for which the slightly pricier OM-5 II is a better bet (or even pricier OM-1 II). View Deal

You're unlikely to buy more lenses
Micro Four Thirds cameras are blessed with a plentiful number of lenses. However, if you're only likely to buy the camera with the kit lens, you might find it doesn't scratch your photography itches — I would budget for a fast aperture prime. View Deal

OM System PEN review: also consider

Panasonic Lumix L10

The Lumix L10's design is strikingly similar to the PEN, and it also uses a Micro Four Thirds sensor. Where the cameras differ is how the Lumix model is a compact camera with no stabilization and a built-in 24-75mm f/1.8-2.8 lens and it costs more, while the PEN has stabilization and a MFT lens mount. I've compared the two cameras directly to find out which is best.

Read our Panasonic Lumix L10 reviewView Deal

OM System OM-5 II

If you like the sound of the PEN's features but you'd prefer a tougher body, chunkier grip for comfortable use with a wider range of lenses, plus pronounced viewfinder design, the OM-5 II is the camera for you — and it doesn't cost too much more than the PEN. The Fujifilm X-T30 III is another option, and it costs the same as the PEN, coming with an 26MP APS-C sensor, but no image stabilization.

See our OM System OM-5 II reviewView Deal

How I tested the OM System PEN

(Image credit: Tim Coleman)

OM System loaned me the black and silver version of the PEN and the 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 III kit lens for several weeks
I also used it with Olympus 45mm f/1.8 / Leica 12-60mm f/2.8-4 lenses
I took the camera to China for a work trip, and used it in a variety of scenarios, trying out the various computational photography modes

OM System sent me the black and silver version of the PEN with the new 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 III kit lens, and I used the kit regularly for several weeks, including during a work trip to China. I also paired the camera with an Olympus 45mm f/1.8 lens and a (Panasonic) Leica 12-60mm f/2.8-4 lens.

I've tried the various computational photography modes, used slow shutter speeds, and shot video handheld to test the image stabilization effectiveness, and tried out various autofocus modes.

I've used the camera in light rain and in bright light, testing its splash proof credentials and the brightness of its displays. Along the way, I compared the PEN to the Lumix L10, a similar MFT camera.

First reviewed: October 2026
Read more about how we test

Categories: Reviews

Roku Pro Series OLED TV review: an affordable way to OLED

TechRadar Reviews - Tue, 10/06/2026 - 06:04

Roku Pro Series OLED TV: One-minute review

I really like the Roku Pro Series OLED TV. And in some ways, it’s an improvement over the previous Roku Pro. Every time I look at that OLED panel, I think about when OLED TVs first came out and someone would comment about how they have such deep blacks, because they really do.

But in some ways, it’s not quite as good as the Roku Pro Series (2025) because it’s trying to keep the same price point while including a more expensive part (the OLED panel). So, there are trade-offs. The color and brightness are not as brilliant, though that’s par for the course with brightness and OLED. The audio has a little less in the low end. And the shadowbox design is gone, which also means less cable management.

So, I’m a little conflicted. The best TVs at this price point have a little more to offer outside of those deeper blacks. However, I also think it should rank among the best OLED TVs at this price, making OLED TVs just a little more accessible — especially because at the time of reviewing it had dropped to $999, and we're now seeing the price fall to a frankly ridiculous $799 for the 65-inch model.

If you’ve ever looked at an OLED TV and just stared in wonder, but then had to turn away because of the price, then the Roku Pro Series OLED TV is probably for you — as long as your room isn't too bright, because it's limited brightness makes it prone to reflections overpowering the screen.

Roku Pro Series OLED TV review: Price and release date

Roku Pro Series OLED showing contrast with a sene from Sinners (Image credit: Future / James Holland)

Released in September 2026
Launch prices: 55-inch: $999.99, 65-inch: $1,199.99
Prices for both have fallen since launch

The Roku Pro Series (2025) I covered last year already came with a limited number of options – specifically coming in 55-, 65-, and 75-inch – but the Roku Pro Series OLED TV reviewed here comes in even fewer flavors. There’s the 55-inch size, which launched at $999.99, and the 65-inch which launched for $1,199.99.

Much like the Roku Pro Series (2025), which was priced at $1,199.99 when first released and goes for $699.99 at the time of writing, the Roku Pro OLED has already had some discounts, with the 65-inch available for $999.99 during my review period. And at the time of publishing, it fell to just $799 for the larger model, which is astonishing value.

The Roku Pro Series OLED TV has been available since the beginning of September of 2026.

Roku Pro Series OLED TV: Specs

Screen type:

OLED

Refresh rate:

120Hz

HDR support:

Dolby Vision, HDR10+, HLG

Audio support:

Dolby Atmos

Smart TV:

Roku

HDMI ports:

4x HDMI 2.1 (1 eARC)

Built-in tuner:

ATSC

Roku Pro Series OLED TV: Benchmark results@import url('https://fonts.googleapis.com/css2?family=Open+Sans:wght@400;700&display=swap');@import url('https://fonts.googleapis.com/css2?family=Poppins:wght@400;700&display=swap');#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper *, #fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper *:before, #fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper *:after, #fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow *, #fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow *:before, #fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow *:after {box-sizing: border-box !important; margin: 0; padding: 0; border: 0;font-size: 100%; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;}#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper, #fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow { font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif !important; }#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper {position: relative !important; overflow: visible !important;--riv-primary: #2E6E93;}#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-inner-wrapper {color: #1F2937 !important; background-color: #ffffff !important;padding: 1.5rem 1.5rem 2rem !important; border-radius: 0.5rem !important;box-shadow: 0 1px 3px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) !important;margin: 1rem 0 !important; display: flex !important; flex-direction: column !important;overflow: hidden !important;}#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-inner-wrapper.fv-no-header.fv-is-image-compare {padding-top: 0 !important;}#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper.fv-full-bleed {width: 100vw !important;margin-left: calc(50% - 50vw) !important;}body {overflow-x: clip !important;}#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper.fv-full-bleed .fv-inner-wrapper {padding: 0 !important;border-radius: 0 !important;box-shadow: none !important;margin: 0 !important;background-color: transparent !important;}#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-inner-wrapper.fv-is-shop-the-look {padding: 0 !important;border-radius: 0 !important;box-shadow: none !important;margin: 0 !important;background-color: transparent !important;}#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow {position: relative !important;width: 100% !important;margin: 1rem 0 !important;--riv-primary: #2E6E93;}#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-slides-wrapper {position: relative !important;width: 100% !important;}#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-slide {width: 100% !important;animation: fv-fade-in 0.3s ease-in-out;}@keyframes fv-fade-in {from { opacity: 0; }to { opacity: 1; }}#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-slideshow-nav-row {position: relative !important;display: flex !important;justify-content: space-between !important;align-items: center !important;padding: 0 0 16px 0 !important;width: 100% !important;z-index: 20 !important;}#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-nav-btn {background-color: var(--riv-primary) !important;color: #ffffff !important;border: none !important;border-radius: 4px !important;padding: 8px 16px !important;font-size: 14px !important;font-weight: 700 !important;cursor: pointer !important;display: flex !important;align-items: center !important;justify-content: center !important;gap: 6px !important;transition: opacity 0.2s, background-color 0.2s !important;height: 36px !important;text-transform: none !important;box-shadow: 0 1px 2px rgba(0,0,0,0.1) !important;}#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-nav-btn svg {width: 18px !important;height: 18px !important;stroke-width: 3px !important;filter: none !important;}#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-nav-btn:hover {opacity: 0.9 !important;transform: translateY(-1px) !important;}#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-nav-btn.disabled {background-color: #E5E7EB !important;color: #9CA3AF !important;cursor: default !important;pointer-events: none !important;box-shadow: none !important;}#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-slide-counter {font-family: 'Poppins', sans-serif !important;font-size: 14px !important;font-weight: 600 !important;color: #374151 !important;text-align: center !important;min-width: 40px !important;background-color: rgba(255,255,255,0.8) !important;padding: 2px 8px !important;border-radius: 10px !important;}#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-slideshow-select {position: absolute !important;top: 10px !important;right: 10px !important;z-index: 20 !important;appearance: none !important;-webkit-appearance: none !important;-moz-appearance: none !important;background-color: white !important;border: 1px solid #d1d5db !important;color: #1F2937 !important;font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif !important;font-size: 14px !important;font-weight: 600 !important;padding: 6px 32px 6px 12px !important;border-radius: 4px !important;cursor: pointer !important;box-shadow: 0 1px 2px rgba(0,0,0,0.05) !important;background-image: url("data:image/svg+xml,%3csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' fill='none' viewBox='0 0 20 20'%3e%3cpath stroke='%236b7280' stroke-linecap='round' stroke-linejoin='round' stroke-width='1.5' d='M6 8l4 4 4-4'/%3e%3c/svg%3e") !important;background-position: right 0.5rem center !important;background-repeat: no-repeat !important;background-size: 1.5em 1.5em !important;}#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-slideshow-select:focus {outline: 2px solid #2E6E93 !important;border-color: #2E6E93 !important;}#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-chart-title {font-weight: bold !important;text-align: center !important;margin-bottom: 0.5rem !important;color: var(--riv-primary) !important;font-size: 20px !important;line-height: 1.2 !important;font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif !important;text-transform: none !important;white-space: normal !important;overflow-wrap: break-word !important;padding: 0 20px !important;}#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-chart-subhead {font-size: 18px !important;font-weight: 500 !important;text-align: center !important;margin-bottom: 2rem !important;color: #374151 !important;line-height: 1.7 !important;font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif !important;display: block !important;text-transform: none !important;padding: 0 20px !important;}#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .rv-chart-caption { font-size: 15px !important; color: #374151 !important; text-align: center !important; font-style: normal !important; font-weight: normal !important; line-height: 1.7 !important; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif !important; display: block !important; }#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-versus-chart { display: flex; flex-direction: column; width: 100%; margin-top: 1rem; }#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-versus-header { display: flex; justify-content: space-between; align-items: center; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0 1rem; }#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-versus-select-wrapper { flex: 1; min-width: 0; }#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-versus-select-wrapper.fv-left { text-align: center; padding-right: 1rem; }#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-versus-select-wrapper.fv-right { text-align: center; padding-left: 1rem; }#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-versus-select-container { position: relative; display: inline-block; max-width: 100%; width: 100%; }#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-versus-chevron { position: absolute; top: 50%; transform: translateY(-50%); pointer-events: none; width: 16px; height: 16px; flex-shrink: 0; }#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-versus-select-wrapper.fv-left .fv-versus-chevron { right: 0; }#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-versus-select-wrapper.fv-right .fv-versus-chevron { right: 0; }#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-versus-select { background: transparent; border: none; border-bottom: 2px solid; font-family: 'Poppins', sans-serif; font-weight: 700; font-size: 14px; padding: 0.25rem 0; cursor: pointer; outline: none; appearance: none; -webkit-appearance: none; -moz-appearance: none; max-width: 100%; width: 100%; text-overflow: ellipsis; overflow: hidden; white-space: nowrap; }#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-versus-select.fv-select-left { text-align: center; direction: ltr; padding-right: 1.25rem; }#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-versus-select.fv-select-right { text-align: center; padding-right: 1.25rem; }#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-versus-select option { font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-weight: 400; font-size: 14px; color: #374151; direction: ltr; text-align: left; }#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-versus-vs { font-family: 'Poppins', sans-serif; font-weight: 700; font-size: 14px; color: #374151; letter-spacing: 0.1em; padding: 0 1rem; }#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-versus-body { display: flex; flex-direction: column; gap: 1.5rem; }#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-versus-row { position: relative; height: auto; padding-top: 20px; margin-bottom: 0.25rem; display: block; }#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-versus-bar-container { position: relative; height: 32px; display: flex; align-items: center; }#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-versus-bar-left-wrapper { flex: 1; height: 100%; display: flex; justify-content: flex-end; align-items: center; }#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-versus-bar-right-wrapper { flex: 1; height: 100%; display: flex; justify-content: flex-start; align-items: center; }#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-versus-bar { height: 32px; width: var(--target-width); transition: width 0.8s ease-out; animation: fv-grow-max-width 0.8s ease-out forwards; display: flex; align-items: center; overflow: hidden; color: #ffffff; }#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-versus-bar-left { border-radius: 4px 0 0 4px; justify-content: flex-end; padding: 0 8px; }#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-versus-bar-right { border-radius: 0 4px 4px 0; justify-content: flex-start; padding: 0 8px; }@keyframes fv-grow-max-width {from { max-width: 0; }to { max-width: 100%; }}#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-versus-center-line { position: absolute; left: 50%; top: 0; bottom: 0; width: 4px; background-color: #ffffff; transform: translateX(-50%); z-index: 1; }#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-inside-left { white-space: nowrap; flex-shrink: 0; }#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-inside-right { white-space: nowrap; flex-shrink: 0; }#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-versus-val-text { font-family: 'Poppins', sans-serif; font-weight: 700; font-size: 14px; }#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-versus-pct-diff { font-size: 12px; font-weight: 600; }#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-versus-label { position: absolute; left: 50%; transform: translateX(-50%); top: 0; background-color: transparent; border: none; box-shadow: none; padding: 0; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-weight: 700; font-size: 14px; color: #374151; white-space: nowrap; }#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .sr-only { position: absolute !important; width: 1px !important; height: 1px !important; padding: 0 !important; margin: -1px !important; overflow: hidden !important; clip: rect(0,0,0,0) !important; white-space: nowrap !important; border: 0 !important; }#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-bottom-bar { display: flex !important; flex-direction: column !important; align-items: center !important; margin-top: 0.5rem !important; gap: 1rem !important; }#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-footer-content { text-align: center !important; width: 100% !important; }#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-logo {display: block !important;margin: 0 auto !important;width: 120px !important;min-width: 120px !important;max-width: 120px !important;height: auto !important;object-fit: contain !important;flex-shrink: 0 !important;}#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-dropdown-wrapper { text-align: center !important; margin-bottom: 16px !important; margin-top: 0 !important; }#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-dropdown-title-container { position: relative !important; display: inline-block !important; max-width: 100% !important; }#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-dropdown-title {appearance: none !important;-webkit-appearance: none !important;-moz-appearance: none !important;background: transparent !important;border: none !important;font-size: 18px !important;font-weight: 600 !important;color: var(--riv-primary) !important;padding-right: 28px !important;padding-left: 10px !important;cursor: pointer !important;text-align: center !important;text-align-last: center !important;width: auto !important;max-width: 100% !important;font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif !important;line-height: 1.3 !important;margin: 0 !important;text-overflow: ellipsis !important;overflow: hidden !important;white-space: nowrap !important;}#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-dropdown-title:focus { outline: none !important; }#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-dropdown-title::-ms-expand { display: none !important; }#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-dropdown-chevron {position: absolute !important;right: 0 !important;top: 50% !important;transform: translateY(-50%) !important;pointer-events: none !important;color: var(--riv-primary) !important;display: flex !important;align-items: center !important;}#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-carousel-title-controls { display: flex !important; justify-content: space-between !important; align-items: center !important; margin-bottom: 16px !important; width: 100% !important; gap: 12px !important; }#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-carousel-nav-btn {background: transparent !important; border: 1px solid #d1d5db !important; border-radius: 6px !important; padding: 6px 10px !important;cursor: pointer !important; font-size: 14px !important; color: #374151 !important; display: flex !important; align-items: center !important; gap: 4px !important; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif !important;}#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-carousel-nav-btn:hover { border-color: #9ca3af !important; }#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-carousel-counter { font-size: 14px !important; color: #374151 !important; text-align: center !important; margin-top: 1rem !important; }#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-legend { display: flex !important; justify-content: center !important; flex-wrap: wrap !important; gap: 8px 16px !important; margin: 0 !important; padding: 0 !important; margin-top: 1rem !important; }#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-legend-item { display: flex !important; align-items: center !important; gap: 6px !important; font-size: 14px !important; color: #374151 !important; }#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-legend-color { width: 12px !important; height: 12px !important; border-radius: 3px !important; }#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-multi-value-legend {display: flex !important;justify-content: center !important;flex-wrap: wrap !important;gap: 12px 24px !important;margin-bottom: 1.5rem !important;padding: 0 !important;}#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-multi-legend-item { display: flex !important; align-items: center !important; gap: 8px !important; font-size: 14px !important; color: #374151 !important; font-weight: 500 !important; }#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-multi-legend-swatch { width: 16px !important; height: 16px !important; border-radius: 3px !important; }#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-benchmark-group { margin-bottom: 1rem !important; }#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-benchmark-title {font-size: 18px !important; font-weight: 600 !important; margin-bottom: 16px !important; margin-top: 0 !important; padding: 0 !important;text-align: center !important; color: var(--riv-primary) !important; flex: 1 !important; min-width: 0 !important;font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif !important; line-height: 1.3 !important;text-transform: none !important;white-space: normal !important;overflow-wrap: break-word !important;word-wrap: break-word !important;max-width: 100% !important;}#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-bar-row, #fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-stacked-product { display: flex !important; align-items: center !important; width: 100% !important; margin-bottom: 0.75rem !important; position: relative !important; }#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-bar-label { width: 150px !important; flex-shrink: 0 !important; font-size: 14px !important; color: #374151 !important; padding-right: 10px !important; text-align: right !important; font-weight: 500 !important; display: block !important; }#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-bar-container { flex-grow: 1 !important; background-color: #E5E7EB !important; border-radius: 4px !important; min-height: 25px !important; border: 1px solid #D1D5DB !important; position: relative !important; display: flex !important; align-items: center !important; }#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-bar-commentary-inline { display: none !important; position: absolute !important; left: 150px !important; top: 0 !important; bottom: 0 !important; right: 0 !important; width: calc(100% - 150px) !important; margin: 0 !important; padding: 0 8px !important; font-size: 13px !important; color: #fff !important; background: rgba(0,0,0,0.8) !important; border-radius: 4px !important; line-height: 1.4 !important; font-weight: normal !important; text-transform: none !important; word-wrap: break-word !important; z-index: 10 !important; align-items: center !important; overflow-y: auto !important; }#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper.preview-wrapper .fv-bar-row:hover .fv-bar-commentary-inline, #fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper.preview-wrapper .fv-bar-commentary-inline:focus, #fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper.preview-wrapper .fv-bar-commentary-inline:focus-within, #fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper.mobile-view .fv-bar-row:hover .fv-bar-commentary-inline, #fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper.mobile-view .fv-bar-commentary-inline:focus, #fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper.mobile-view .fv-bar-commentary-inline:focus-within { display: flex !important; }#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-bar { height: 100% !important; border-radius: 3px !important; display: flex !important; align-items: center !important; transition: opacity 0.2s ease, width 0.8s ease-out !important; min-height: 23px !important; }#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-bar:hover { opacity: 0.8 !important; }#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-bar-inner-content { display: flex !important; justify-content: space-between !important; align-items: center !important; width: 100% !important; height: 100% !important; padding: 0 8px !important; font-size: 14px !important; font-weight: bold !important; overflow: hidden !important; }#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-bar-inner-label { white-space: nowrap !important; overflow: hidden !important; text-overflow: ellipsis !important; padding-right: 8px !important; }#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-bar-inner-value { flex-shrink: 0 !important; }#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-bar-value-outside { padding-left: 8px !important; font-size: 14px !important; font-weight: bold !important; color: #374151 !important; white-space: nowrap !important; }#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-bar-label.fv-primary-product { font-weight: bold !important; color: var(--riv-primary) !important; }#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-multi-bar-container { flex-direction: column !important; padding: 4px !important; align-items: stretch !important; gap: 4px !important; height: auto !important; }#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-multi-bar-item { display: flex !important; align-items: center !important; height: 25px !important; width: 100% !important; }#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-stacked-bar { display: flex !important; overflow: hidden !important; }#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-stacked-segment { height: 100% !important; display: flex !important; align-items: center !important; justify-content: flex-end !important; padding-right: 8px !important; border-right: 1px solid rgba(255,255,255,0.3) !important; }#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-stacked-segment:last-child { border-right: none !important; }#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-segment-value { font-size: 14px !important; font-weight: bold !important; }#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-grouped-bar-product { display: flex !important; flex-direction: column !important; width: 100% !important; margin-bottom: 1.25rem !important; }#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-grouped-product-title-wrapper { padding-left: 150px !important; }#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-grouped-product-title { width: 100% !important; text-align: left !important; padding-right: 0 !important; margin-bottom: 0.5rem !important; font-weight: 700 !important; font-size: 14px !important; color: #374151 !important; text-transform: none !important; }#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-bar-cluster { width: 100% !important; flex-grow: 1 !important; display: flex !important; flex-direction: column !important; }#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-bar-cluster .fv-bar-row { margin-bottom: 3px !important; }#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-bar-cluster .fv-bar-container { height: 20px !important; }#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .riv-grid line {stroke: #D1D5DB !important;stroke-dasharray: 3 3 !important;}#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-x-axis-wrapper { display: flex !important; width: 100% !important; margin-top: 0.5rem !important; }#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-x-axis-label-space { width: 150px !important; padding-right: 10px !important; flex-shrink: 0 !important; }#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-x-axis-chart-space { flex-grow: 1 !important; padding-right: 8px !important; }#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-x-axis-wrapper.fv-grouped-x-axis { margin-left: 0 !important; }#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-x-axis-line { border-top: 1px solid #D1D5DB !important; }#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-x-axis-ticks { display: flex !important; justify-content: space-between !important; padding-top: 4px !important; font-size: 13px !important; color: #374151 !important; }#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-x-axis-ticks span { position: relative !important; }#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-x-axis-ticks span::before { content: '' !important; position: absolute !important; top: -6px !important; left: 50% !important; transform: translateX(-50%) !important; width: 2px !important; height: 4px !important; background-color: #D1D5DB !important; border-radius: 1px !important; }#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-x-axis-unit { text-align: center !important; font-size: 14px !important; color: #374151 !important; margin-top: 8px !important; display: block !important; }#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-x-axis-title { text-align: center !important; font-size: 15px !important; color: #374151 !important; margin-top: 8px !important; margin-bottom: 16px !important; line-height: 1.5 !important; padding: 0 1rem !important; display: block !important; font-weight: bold !important; }#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-y-axis-title {font-size: 15px !important;color: #374151 !important;line-height: 1.5 !important;text-align: left !important;padding-left: 5.83% !important;margin-bottom: 4px !important;display: block !important;font-weight: bold !important;}#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper.mobile-view .fv-pie-container,#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper.labels-on-top .fv-pie-container {flex-direction: column !important; gap: 1rem !important;}#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper.mobile-view .fv-grouped-product-title-wrapper,#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper.labels-on-top .fv-grouped-product-title-wrapper {padding-left: 0 !important;}#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper.mobile-view .fv-bar-row,#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper.mobile-view .fv-stacked-product,#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper.mobile-view .fv-grouped-bar-product,#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper.labels-on-top .fv-bar-row,#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper.labels-on-top .fv-stacked-product,#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper.labels-on-top .fv-grouped-bar-product {flex-direction: column !important; align-items: flex-start !important; margin-bottom: 1.25rem !important;}#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper.mobile-view .fv-bar-label:not(.fv-grouped-product-title),#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper.labels-on-top .fv-bar-label:not(.fv-grouped-product-title) {width: 100% !important; text-align: left !important; padding-right: 0 !important; margin-bottom: 0.25rem !important; font-size: 14px !important; font-weight: 700 !important;}#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper.mobile-view .fv-bar-label,#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper.mobile-view .fv-grouped-product-title,#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper.labels-on-top .fv-bar-label,#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper.labels-on-top .fv-grouped-product-title {width: 100% !important; text-align: left !important; padding-right: 0 !important; margin-bottom: 0.25rem !important; font-size: 14px !important; font-weight: 700 !important;}#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper.mobile-view .fv-bar-container,#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper.mobile-view .fv-bar-cluster,#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper.labels-on-top .fv-bar-container,#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper.labels-on-top .fv-bar-cluster {width: 100% !important;}#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper.mobile-view .fv-bar-row .fv-bar-commentary-inline,#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper.mobile-view .fv-bar-row:hover .fv-bar-commentary-inline,#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper.mobile-view .fv-bar-row .fv-bar-commentary-inline:focus,#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper.mobile-view .fv-bar-row .fv-bar-commentary-inline:focus-within,#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper.labels-on-top .fv-bar-row .fv-bar-commentary-inline,#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper.labels-on-top .fv-bar-row:hover .fv-bar-commentary-inline,#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper.labels-on-top .fv-bar-row .fv-bar-commentary-inline:focus,#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper.labels-on-top .fv-bar-row .fv-bar-commentary-inline:focus-within {position: static !important; display: block !important; width: 100% !important; margin: 4px 0 0 0 !important; padding: 0 !important; background: transparent !important; color: #6B7280 !important; font-size: 12px !important;}#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper.mobile-view .fv-x-axis-wrapper,#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper.labels-on-top .fv-x-axis-wrapper {margin-left: 0 !important;}#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper.mobile-view .fv-x-axis-label-space,#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper.labels-on-top .fv-x-axis-label-space {display: none !important;}#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper.mobile-view .fv-x-axis-chart-space,#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper.labels-on-top .fv-x-axis-chart-space {padding-right: 0 !important;}#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper.mobile-view .fv-benchmark-title,#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper.labels-on-top .fv-benchmark-title {font-size: 16px !important;}#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper.mobile-view .fv-dropdown-title,#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper.labels-on-top .fv-dropdown-title {font-size: 16px !important;}#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper.mobile-view .fv-carousel-nav-btn,#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper.labels-on-top .fv-carousel-nav-btn {padding: 8px 12px !important; font-size: 14px !important;}#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper.mobile-view .fv-chart-title,#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper.labels-on-top .fv-chart-title {padding: 0 8px !important;}#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper.mobile-view .fv-chart-subhead,#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper.labels-on-top .fv-chart-subhead {padding: 0 8px !important;}#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper.mobile-view .fv-versus-header,#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper.labels-on-top .fv-versus-header {flex-direction: column !important; align-items: center !important; padding: 0 !important; gap: 0.5rem !important;}#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper.mobile-view .fv-versus-select-wrapper,#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper.labels-on-top .fv-versus-select-wrapper {flex: 1 !important; min-width: 0 !important; width: 100% !important;}#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper.mobile-view .fv-versus-select-wrapper.fv-left,#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper.labels-on-top .fv-versus-select-wrapper.fv-left {text-align: center !important; padding-right: 0 !important;}#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper.mobile-view .fv-versus-select-wrapper.fv-right,#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper.labels-on-top .fv-versus-select-wrapper.fv-right {text-align: center !important; padding-left: 0 !important;}#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper.mobile-view .fv-versus-select.fv-select-left,#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper.labels-on-top .fv-versus-select.fv-select-left {text-align: center !important;}#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper.mobile-view .fv-versus-select.fv-select-right,#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper.labels-on-top .fv-versus-select.fv-select-right {text-align: center !important;}#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper.mobile-view .fv-versus-vs,#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper.labels-on-top .fv-versus-vs {text-align: center !important; padding: 0.25rem 0 !important;}#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper.mobile-view .fv-versus-select-container,#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper.labels-on-top .fv-versus-select-container {max-width: 100% !important; width: 100% !important;}#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper.mobile-view .fv-versus-select,#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper.labels-on-top .fv-versus-select {font-size: 14px !important; width: 100% !important;}#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper.mobile-view .fv-stl-shop-all-btn,#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper.labels-on-top .fv-stl-shop-all-btn {bottom: 0.5rem !important; right: 0.5rem !important; height: 2rem !important; font-size: 0.75rem !important; padding: 0 0.75rem 0 2.5rem !important; max-width: calc(100% - 1rem) !important;}#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper.mobile-view .fv-stl-shop-all-logo,#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper.mobile-view .fv-stl-shop-all-icon,#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper.labels-on-top .fv-stl-shop-all-logo,#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper.labels-on-top .fv-stl-shop-all-icon {width: 2rem !important; height: 2rem !important;}#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper.mobile-view .fv-stl-shop-all-icon svg,#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper.labels-on-top .fv-stl-shop-all-icon svg {width: 14px !important; height: 14px !important;}#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper.mobile-view .fv-bar-commentary-inline,#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper.labels-on-top .fv-bar-commentary-inline {display: block !important; margin-left: 0 !important; width: 100% !important;}#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper.mobile-view .fv-y-axis-title { padding-left: 5% !important; }#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper.mobile-view.fv-contains-line-chart .fv-footer-content {margin-left: -1rem !important;margin-right: -1rem !important;}@media (max-width: 599px) {#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-pie-container {flex-direction: column !important; gap: 1rem !important;}#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-grouped-product-title-wrapper {padding-left: 0 !important;}#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-bar-row,#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-stacked-product,#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-grouped-bar-product {flex-direction: column !important; align-items: flex-start !important; margin-bottom: 1.25rem !important;}#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-bar-label:not(.fv-grouped-product-title) {width: 100% !important; text-align: left !important; padding-right: 0 !important; margin-bottom: 0.25rem !important; font-size: 14px !important; font-weight: 700 !important;}#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-bar-label,#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-grouped-product-title {width: 100% !important; text-align: left !important; padding-right: 0 !important; margin-bottom: 0.25rem !important; font-size: 14px !important; font-weight: 700 !important;}#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-bar-container,#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-bar-cluster {width: 100% !important;}#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-bar-row .fv-bar-commentary-inline,#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-bar-row:hover .fv-bar-commentary-inline,#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-bar-row .fv-bar-commentary-inline:focus,#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-bar-row .fv-bar-commentary-inline:focus-within {position: static !important; display: block !important; width: 100% !important; margin: 4px 0 0 0 !important; padding: 0 !important; background: transparent !important; color: #6B7280 !important; font-size: 12px !important;}#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-x-axis-wrapper {margin-left: 0 !important;}#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-x-axis-label-space {display: none !important;}#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-x-axis-chart-space {padding-right: 0 !important;}#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-benchmark-title {font-size: 16px !important;}#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-dropdown-title {font-size: 16px !important;}#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-carousel-nav-btn {padding: 8px 12px !important; font-size: 14px !important;}#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-chart-title {padding: 0 8px !important;}#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-chart-subhead {padding: 0 8px !important;}#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-versus-header {flex-direction: column !important; align-items: center !important; padding: 0 !important; gap: 0.5rem !important;}#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-versus-select-wrapper {flex: 1 !important; min-width: 0 !important; width: 100% !important;}#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-versus-select-wrapper.fv-left {text-align: center !important; padding-right: 0 !important;}#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-versus-select-wrapper.fv-right {text-align: center !important; padding-left: 0 !important;}#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-versus-select.fv-select-left {text-align: center !important;}#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-versus-select.fv-select-right {text-align: center !important;}#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-versus-vs {text-align: center !important; padding: 0.25rem 0 !important;}#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-versus-select-container {max-width: 100% !important; width: 100% !important;}#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-versus-select {font-size: 14px !important; width: 100% !important;}#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-stl-shop-all-btn {bottom: 0.5rem !important; right: 0.5rem !important; height: 2rem !important; font-size: 0.75rem !important; padding: 0 0.75rem 0 2.5rem !important; max-width: calc(100% - 1rem) !important;}#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-stl-shop-all-logo,#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-stl-shop-all-icon {width: 2rem !important; height: 2rem !important;}#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-stl-shop-all-icon svg {width: 14px !important; height: 14px !important;}#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-bar-commentary-inline {display: block !important; margin-left: 0 !important; width: 100% !important;}#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-y-axis-title { padding-left: 5% !important; }#fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper.fv-contains-line-chart .fv-footer-content {margin-left: -1rem !important;margin-right: -1rem !important;}}[{"@context": "https://schema.org","@type": "Dataset","name": "Brightness Measurements","description": "Subhead to describe the test and what's being measured and why","creator": {"@type": "Organization","name": "TechRadar","logo": "https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/dAwPEozB9GMMhAngdFJTHb.png"},"isAccessibleForFree": true,"dateCreated": "2026-10-02T09:37:08.570Z","citation": "Add your caption to explain the data, the learnings and the key takeaways of the data being visualized","keywords": ["Roku Pro OLED","LG B6","TCL QM7L","HDR Filmmaker Mode (10% window)","HDR Standard Mode (10% window)","SDR Filmmaker Mode (10% window)","SDR Standard Mode (10% window)","HDR Filmmaker Mode (Fullscreen)","HDR Standard Mode (Fullscreen)","SDR Filmmaker Mode (Fullscreen)","SDR Standard Mode (Fullscreen)","HDR Filmmaker Mode","HDR Standard","SDR Filmmaker Mode","SDR Standard","benchmark","comparison","performance","review","TechRadar"],"measurementTechnique": "Performance Benchmarking","variableMeasured": [{"@type": "PropertyValue","name": "Roku Pro OLED – HDR Filmmaker Mode (10% window)","value": 462,"unitText": "nits"},{"@type": "PropertyValue","name": "Roku Pro OLED – HDR Filmmaker Mode (Fullscreen)","value": 96,"unitText": "nits"},{"@type": "PropertyValue","name": "LG B6 – HDR Filmmaker Mode (10% window)","value": 835,"unitText": "nits"},{"@type": "PropertyValue","name": "LG B6 – HDR Filmmaker Mode (Fullscreen)","value": 150,"unitText": "nits"},{"@type": "PropertyValue","name": "TCL QM7L – HDR Filmmaker Mode (10% window)","value": 2270,"unitText": "nits"},{"@type": "PropertyValue","name": "TCL QM7L – HDR Filmmaker Mode (Fullscreen)","value": 723,"unitText": "nits"},{"@type": "PropertyValue","name": "Roku Pro OLED – HDR Standard Mode (10% window)","value": 587,"unitText": "nits"},{"@type": "PropertyValue","name": "Roku Pro OLED – HDR Standard Mode (Fullscreen)","value": 113,"unitText": "nits"},{"@type": "PropertyValue","name": "LG B6 – HDR Standard Mode (10% window)","value": 740,"unitText": "nits"},{"@type": "PropertyValue","name": "LG B6 – HDR Standard Mode (Fullscreen)","value": 150,"unitText": "nits"},{"@type": "PropertyValue","name": "TCL QM7L – HDR Standard Mode (10% window)","value": 2419,"unitText": "nits"},{"@type": "PropertyValue","name": "TCL QM7L – HDR Standard Mode (Fullscreen)","value": 774,"unitText": "nits"},{"@type": "PropertyValue","name": "Roku Pro OLED – SDR Filmmaker Mode (10% window)","value": 330,"unitText": "nits"},{"@type": "PropertyValue","name": "LG B6 – SDR Filmmaker Mode (10% window)","value": 192,"unitText": "nits"},{"@type": "PropertyValue","name": "LG B6 – SDR Filmmaker Mode (Fullscreen)","value": 183,"unitText": "nits"},{"@type": "PropertyValue","name": "TCL QM7L – SDR Filmmaker Mode (10% window)","value": 196,"unitText": "nits"},{"@type": "PropertyValue","name": "TCL QM7L – SDR Filmmaker Mode (Fullscreen)","value": 266,"unitText": "nits"},{"@type": "PropertyValue","name": "Roku Pro OLED – SDR Standard Mode (10% window)","value": 384,"unitText": "nits"},{"@type": "PropertyValue","name": "LG B6 – SDR Standard Mode (10% window)","value": 230,"unitText": "nits"},{"@type": "PropertyValue","name": "LG B6 – SDR Standard Mode (Fullscreen)","value": 196,"unitText": "nits"},{"@type": "PropertyValue","name": "TCL QM7L – SDR Standard Mode (10% window)","value": 463,"unitText": "nits"},{"@type": "PropertyValue","name": "TCL QM7L – SDR Standard Mode (Fullscreen)","value": 479,"unitText": "nits"}]},{"@context": "https://schema.org","@type": "Dataset","name": "HDR color gamut","description": "Closer to 100% is better. Taken using a colorimeter and test pattern generator.","creator": {"@type": "Organization","name": "TechRadar","logo": "https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/dAwPEozB9GMMhAngdFJTHb.png"},"isAccessibleForFree": true,"dateCreated": "2026-10-02T09:37:08.570Z","citation": "Add your caption to explain the data, the learnings and the key takeaways of the data being visualized","keywords": ["Roku Pro OLED","LG B6","TCL QM7L","UHDA-P3","BT.2020","HDR Filmmaker Mode","benchmark","comparison","performance","review","TechRadar"],"measurementTechnique": "Performance Benchmarking","variableMeasured": [{"@type": "PropertyValue","name": "Roku Pro OLED – UHDA-P3","value": 96.2,"unitText": ""},{"@type": "PropertyValue","name": "Roku Pro OLED – BT.2020","value": 71.1,"unitText": ""},{"@type": "PropertyValue","name": "LG B6 – UHDA-P3","value": 97.4,"unitText": ""},{"@type": "PropertyValue","name": "LG B6 – BT.2020","value": 72.5,"unitText": ""},{"@type": "PropertyValue","name": "TCL QM7L – UHDA-P3","value": 98,"unitText": ""},{"@type": "PropertyValue","name": "TCL QM7L – BT.2020","value": 90.5,"unitText": ""}]},{"@context": "https://schema.org","@type": "Dataset","name": "Picture accuracy","description": "A lower score is better. Taken using a colorimeter and test pattern generator.","creator": {"@type": "Organization","name": "TechRadar","logo": "https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/dAwPEozB9GMMhAngdFJTHb.png"},"isAccessibleForFree": true,"dateCreated": "2026-10-02T09:37:08.570Z","citation": "Add your caption to explain the data, the learnings and the key takeaways of the data being visualized","keywords": ["Roku Pro OLED","LG B6","TCL QM7L","Delta-E","SDR Delta-E","benchmark","comparison","performance","review","TechRadar"],"measurementTechnique": "Performance Benchmarking","variableMeasured": [{"@type": "PropertyValue","name": "Roku Pro OLED – Delta-E","value": 2.3,"unitText": ""},{"@type": "PropertyValue","name": "LG B6 – Delta-E","value": 1.1,"unitText": ""},{"@type": "PropertyValue","name": "TCL QM7L – Delta-E","value": 2.6,"unitText": ""}]},{"@context": "https://schema.org","@type": "Dataset","name": "Input lag","description": "Lower is better. Taken using a Leo Bodnar 4K HDMI Video Signal Lag Tester.","creator": {"@type": "Organization","name": "TechRadar","logo": "https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/dAwPEozB9GMMhAngdFJTHb.png"},"isAccessibleForFree": true,"dateCreated": "2026-10-02T09:37:08.570Z","citation": "Add your caption to explain the data, the learnings and the key takeaways of the data being visualized","keywords": ["Roku Pro OLED","LG B6","TCL QM7L","4K 60Hz","benchmark","comparison","performance","review","TechRadar"],"measurementTechnique": "Performance Benchmarking","variableMeasured": [{"@type": "PropertyValue","name": "Roku Pro OLED – 4K 60Hz","value": 9.1,"unitText": "ms"},{"@type": "PropertyValue","name": "LG B6 – 4K 60Hz","value": 8.9,"unitText": "ms"},{"@type": "PropertyValue","name": "TCL QM7L – 4K 60Hz","value": 9.4,"unitText": "ms"}]}]Previous1 / 4NextBrightness MeasurementsHDR Filmmaker ModeHDR StandardSDR Filmmaker ModeSDR StandardRoku Pro OLEDHDR Filmmaker Mode (10% window)462HDR Filmmaker Mode (Fullscreen)96LG B6HDR Filmmaker Mode (10% window)835HDR Filmmaker Mode (Fullscreen)150TCL QM7LHDR Filmmaker Mode (10% window)2270HDR Filmmaker Mode (Fullscreen)72307501,5002,2503,000nitsHDR Filmmaker Mode DataProductHDR Filmmaker Mode (10% window) (nits)HDR Filmmaker Mode (Fullscreen) (nits)Roku Pro OLED46296LG B6835150TCL QM7L2270723Roku Pro OLEDHDR Standard Mode (10% window)587HDR Standard Mode (Fullscreen)113LG B6HDR Standard Mode (10% window)740HDR Standard Mode (Fullscreen)150TCL QM7LHDR Standard Mode (10% window)2419HDR Standard Mode (Fullscreen)77407501,5002,2503,000nitsHDR Standard DataProductHDR Standard Mode (10% window) (nits)HDR Standard Mode (Fullscreen) (nits)Roku Pro OLED587113LG B6740150TCL QM7L2419774Roku Pro OLEDSDR Filmmaker Mode (10% window)330SDR Filmmaker Mode (Fullscreen)0LG B6SDR Filmmaker Mode (10% window)192SDR Filmmaker Mode (Fullscreen)183TCL QM7LSDR Filmmaker Mode (10% window)196SDR Filmmaker Mode (Fullscreen)2660100200300400nitsSDR Filmmaker Mode DataProductSDR Filmmaker Mode (10% window) (nits)SDR Filmmaker Mode (Fullscreen) (nits)Roku Pro OLED330N/ALG B6192183TCL QM7L196266Roku Pro OLEDSDR Standard Mode (10% window)384SDR Standard Mode (Fullscreen)0LG B6SDR Standard Mode (10% window)230SDR Standard Mode (Fullscreen)196TCL QM7LSDR Standard Mode (10% window)463SDR Standard Mode (Fullscreen)4790150300450600nitsSDR Standard DataProductSDR Standard Mode (10% window) (nits)SDR Standard Mode (Fullscreen) (nits)Roku Pro OLED384N/ALG B6230196TCL QM7L463479HDR color gamut

Closer to 100% is better. Taken using a colorimeter and test pattern generator.

Roku Pro OLEDUHDA-P396.2BT.202071.1LG B6UHDA-P397.4BT.202072.5TCL QM7LUHDA-P398BT.202090.50255075100HDR Filmmaker Mode DataProductUHDA-P3 ()BT.2020 ()Roku Pro OLED96.271.1LG B697.472.5TCL QM7L9890.5Picture accuracy

A lower score is better. Taken using a colorimeter and test pattern generator.

SDR Delta-ERoku Pro OLED2.3LG B61.1TCL QM7L2.60123SDR Delta-E DataProductValueRoku Pro OLED2.3LG B61.1TCL QM7L2.6Input lag

Lower is better. Taken using a Leo Bodnar 4K HDMI Video Signal Lag Tester.

4K 60HzRoku Pro OLED9.1LG B68.9TCL QM7L9.4012345678910ms4K 60Hz DataProductValueRoku Pro OLED9.1LG B68.9TCL QM7L9.4window.iFrameResizer = {heightCalculationMethod: 'taggedElement'};(function() {window.fvAnimateCharts = function(chartWrapper) {if (!chartWrapper) return;function animateBars(chartElement) {if (!chartElement) return;var bars = chartElement.querySelectorAll('.fv-bar, .fv-stacked-segment');bars.forEach(function(bar, index) {bar.style.setProperty('width', '0%', 'important');bar.style.setProperty('transition', 'none', 'important');var targetWidth = bar.dataset.targetWidth;if (targetWidth === undefined) return;void bar.offsetWidth;var targetMargin = bar.dataset.targetMargin;var baseMargin = bar.dataset.baseMargin;if (baseMargin !== undefined) {bar.style.setProperty('margin-left', baseMargin + '%', 'important');}setTimeout(function() {var marginTransition = baseMargin !== undefined ? ', margin-left 0.8s ease-out' : '';bar.style.setProperty('transition', 'opacity 0.2s ease, width 0.8s ease-out' + marginTransition, 'important');bar.style.setProperty('width', targetWidth + '%', 'important');if (targetMargin !== undefined && baseMargin !== undefined) {bar.style.setProperty('margin-left', targetMargin + '%', 'important');}}, index * 50 + 50);});}function animateLineChart(chartElement) {if (!chartElement) return;var lineSvg = chartElement.querySelector('svg');if (!lineSvg) return;var paths = lineSvg.querySelectorAll('.riv-line-path');paths.forEach(function(p, i) {if (typeof p.getTotalLength === 'function') {var len = p.getTotalLength();p.style.transition = 'none';p.style.strokeDasharray = len;p.style.strokeDashoffset = len;p.getBoundingClientRect();setTimeout(function() {p.style.transition = 'stroke-dashoffset 1s ease-out ' + (i * 0.1) + 's, stroke-width 0.2s, opacity 0.2s';p.style.strokeDashoffset = '0';}, 100);}});var dots = lineSvg.querySelectorAll('.riv-dot');dots.forEach(function(dot, i) {dot.style.opacity = '0';setTimeout(function() {dot.style.transition = 'opacity 0.3s ease';dot.style.opacity = '1';}, 500 + i * 10);});}var charts = chartWrapper.querySelectorAll('.fv-chart-item');charts.forEach(function(chart) {if (window.getComputedStyle(chart).display === 'none') return;var chartType = chart.dataset.chartType;if (chartType === 'Line') {animateLineChart(chart);} else if (chartType !== 'Pie') {animateBars(chart);}});};function initialize(uniqueId, isSlideshow) {var root = document.getElementById(uniqueId);if (!root && !isSlideshow) return;function setupWrapper(chartWrapper) {if (!chartWrapper) return;function checkMobileView() {var width = chartWrapper.getBoundingClientRect().width;var isMobileDevice = window.screen && Math.min(window.screen.width, window.screen.height) <= 599;var isMobile;if (width === 0) {isMobile = isMobileDevice || window.matchMedia('(max-width: 599px)').matches;} else {isMobile = isMobileDevice || width < 600;}if (isMobile) {chartWrapper.classList.add('mobile-view');} else {chartWrapper.classList.remove('mobile-view');}}checkMobileView();if (typeof ResizeObserver !== 'undefined') {var ro = new ResizeObserver(function() {checkMobileView();});ro.observe(chartWrapper);}window.addEventListener('resize', checkMobileView);var labelsOnTop = chartWrapper.dataset.barLabelsOnTop === 'true';if (labelsOnTop) {var charts = chartWrapper.querySelectorAll('.fv-chart-item');var hasVisibleBarChart = false;charts.forEach(function(c) {if (window.getComputedStyle(c).display !== 'none') {var cType = c.dataset.chartType;if (cType === 'Bar' || cType === 'Stacked Bar' || cType === 'Versus') {hasVisibleBarChart = true;}}});if (hasVisibleBarChart) {chartWrapper.classList.add('labels-on-top');} else {chartWrapper.classList.remove('labels-on-top');}} else {chartWrapper.classList.remove('labels-on-top');}chartWrapper.querySelectorAll('.riv-line-legend').forEach(function(legend) {var chartId = legend.dataset.chart;var chart = chartWrapper.querySelector('[id="' + chartId + '"]');if (!chart) return;var lines = chart.querySelectorAll('.riv-line-path');var dots = chart.querySelectorAll('.riv-dot');var legendItems = legend.querySelectorAll('.riv-legend-item');legendItems.forEach(function(item) {var productName = item.dataset.product;var safeProductName = productName.replace(/"/g, '\"');var line = chart.querySelector('.riv-line-path[data-product="' + safeProductName + '"]');var productDots = chart.querySelectorAll('.riv-dot[data-product="' + safeProductName + '"]');if (line && !line.dataset.origStroke) {line.dataset.origStroke = line.getAttribute('stroke-width') || '2';}var highlight = function() {if (legend.querySelector('.isolated')) return;lines.forEach(function(l) { l.style.opacity = '0.2'; l.setAttribute('stroke-width', l.dataset.origStroke); });dots.forEach(function(d) { d.style.opacity = '0.2'; });legendItems.forEach(function(i) { i.style.opacity = '0.3'; i.style.transition = 'opacity 0.2s'; });if (line) {line.style.opacity = '1';line.setAttribute('stroke-width', '4');}productDots.forEach(function(d) { d.style.opacity = '1'; });item.style.opacity = '1';};var clearHighlight = function() {if (legend.querySelector('.isolated')) return;lines.forEach(function(l) { l.style.opacity = '1'; l.setAttribute('stroke-width', l.dataset.origStroke); });dots.forEach(function(d) { d.style.opacity = '1'; });legendItems.forEach(function(i) { i.style.opacity = '1'; });};var toggleIsolate = function() {var isIsolated = item.classList.contains('isolated');legendItems.forEach(function(i) { i.classList.remove('isolated'); });if (isIsolated) {lines.forEach(function(l) { l.style.opacity = '1'; l.setAttribute('stroke-width', l.dataset.origStroke); });dots.forEach(function(d) { d.style.opacity = '1'; });legendItems.forEach(function(i) { i.style.opacity = '1'; });} else {item.classList.add('isolated');lines.forEach(function(l) { l.style.opacity = '0.2'; l.setAttribute('stroke-width', l.dataset.origStroke); });dots.forEach(function(d) { d.style.opacity = '0.2'; });legendItems.forEach(function(i) { i.style.opacity = '0.3'; i.style.transition = 'opacity 0.2s'; });if (line) {line.style.opacity = '1';line.setAttribute('stroke-width', '4');}productDots.forEach(function(d) { d.style.opacity = '1'; });item.style.opacity = '1';}};item.addEventListener('mouseenter', highlight);item.addEventListener('focus', highlight);item.addEventListener('mouseleave', clearHighlight);item.addEventListener('blur', clearHighlight);item.addEventListener('click', toggleIsolate);if (line) {line.style.cursor = 'pointer';line.addEventListener('mouseenter', highlight);line.addEventListener('mouseleave', clearHighlight);line.addEventListener('click', toggleIsolate);}});});var versusCharts = chartWrapper.querySelectorAll('.fv-versus-chart');versusCharts.forEach(function(vc) {var dataJson = vc.getAttribute('data-versus-data');var leftColor = vc.getAttribute('data-left-color') || '#E53935';var rightColor = vc.getAttribute('data-right-color') || '#FFB300';if (!dataJson) return;var versusData = JSON.parse(dataJson);var leftSelect = vc.querySelector('.fv-select-left');var rightSelect = vc.querySelector('.fv-select-right');var rows = vc.querySelectorAll('.fv-versus-row');function updateVersusChart() {var leftProduct = leftSelect.value;var rightProduct = rightSelect.value;leftSelect.style.color = leftColor;leftSelect.style.borderColor = leftColor;rightSelect.style.color = rightColor;rightSelect.style.borderColor = rightColor;rows.forEach(function(row) {var index = parseInt(row.getAttribute('data-index'));var data = versusData[index];if (!data) return;var leftVal = data.productData[leftProduct] ? data.productData[leftProduct].value : undefined;var rightVal = data.productData[rightProduct] ? data.productData[rightProduct].value : undefined;var leftIsNum = typeof leftVal === 'number';var rightIsNum = typeof rightVal === 'number';var leftNum = leftIsNum ? leftVal : 0;var rightNum = rightIsNum ? rightVal : 0;var maxVal = Math.max(leftNum, rightNum, 0.0001);var leftWidth = leftIsNum ? (leftNum / maxVal) * 95 : 0;var rightWidth = rightIsNum ? (rightNum / maxVal) * 85 : 0;var winner = null;var pctDiffStr = null;if (leftIsNum && rightIsNum) {if (leftNum > rightNum) {winner = 'left';if (rightNum > 0) {var diff = Math.round(((leftNum - rightNum) / rightNum) * 100);pctDiffStr = '+' + diff.toLocaleString() + '%';}} else if (rightNum > leftNum) {winner = 'right';if (leftNum > 0) {var diff = Math.round(((rightNum - leftNum) / leftNum) * 100);pctDiffStr = '+' + diff.toLocaleString() + '%';}}}var leftDisplay = data.productData[leftProduct] && data.productData[leftProduct].displayValue !== undefined ? data.productData[leftProduct].displayValue : (leftIsNum ? leftNum.toLocaleString() : (leftVal !== undefined ? leftVal : '-'));var rightDisplay = data.productData[rightProduct] && data.productData[rightProduct].displayValue !== undefined ? data.productData[rightProduct].displayValue : (rightIsNum ? rightNum.toLocaleString() : (rightVal !== undefined ? rightVal : '-'));var unit = (data.productData[leftProduct] && data.productData[leftProduct].unit) ||(data.productData[rightProduct] && data.productData[rightProduct].unit) || '';var leftTextStr = leftDisplay;var rightTextStr = rightDisplay;var leftBar = row.querySelector('.fv-versus-bar-left');var rightBar = row.querySelector('.fv-versus-bar-right');var leftText = row.querySelector('.fv-inside-left');var rightText = row.querySelector('.fv-inside-right');var labelText = row.querySelector('.fv-versus-label span');var leftWrapper = row.querySelector('.fv-versus-bar-left-wrapper');var rightWrapper = row.querySelector('.fv-versus-bar-right-wrapper');var existingPctDiffs = row.querySelectorAll('.fv-versus-pct-diff');existingPctDiffs.forEach(function(el) { el.remove(); });if (winner === 'left' && pctDiffStr) {var pctSpan = document.createElement('span');pctSpan.className = 'fv-versus-pct-diff';pctSpan.style.color = 'rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9)';pctSpan.textContent = pctDiffStr;if (leftBar) leftBar.insertBefore(pctSpan, leftBar.firstChild);} else if (winner === 'right' && pctDiffStr) {var pctSpan = document.createElement('span');pctSpan.className = 'fv-versus-pct-diff';pctSpan.style.color = 'rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9)';pctSpan.textContent = pctDiffStr;if (rightBar) rightBar.appendChild(pctSpan);}if (leftBar) {leftBar.style.backgroundColor = leftColor;leftBar.dataset.targetWidth = leftWidth;leftBar.style.setProperty('--target-width', leftWidth + '%');leftBar.style.width = leftWidth + '%';}if (rightBar) {rightBar.style.backgroundColor = rightColor;rightBar.dataset.targetWidth = rightWidth;rightBar.style.setProperty('--target-width', rightWidth + '%');rightBar.style.width = rightWidth + '%';}if (leftText) {leftText.innerHTML = leftTextStr;}if (rightText) {rightText.innerHTML = rightTextStr;}if (labelText) {labelText.textContent = data.attribute + (unit ? ' (' + unit + ')' : '');}});}if (leftSelect) leftSelect.addEventListener('change', updateVersusChart);if (rightSelect) rightSelect.addEventListener('change', updateVersusChart);});var barRows = chartWrapper.querySelectorAll('.fv-bar-row');var globalCaptionEl = chartWrapper.querySelector('.rv-chart-caption');var fallbackCaptionHtml = globalCaptionEl ? globalCaptionEl.innerHTML : '';barRows.forEach(function(row) {var commentaryEl = row.querySelector('[data-commentary-key]');if (commentaryEl) {var commentaryText = commentaryEl.textContent;if (commentaryText && commentaryText.trim().length > 0) {row.addEventListener('mouseenter', function() {if (!chartWrapper.classList.contains('mobile-view') && globalCaptionEl) {globalCaptionEl.innerHTML = commentaryText;globalCaptionEl.classList.add('fv-bar-active-caption');}});row.addEventListener('mouseleave', function() {if (!chartWrapper.classList.contains('mobile-view') && globalCaptionEl) {globalCaptionEl.innerHTML = fallbackCaptionHtml;globalCaptionEl.classList.remove('fv-bar-active-caption');}});}}});var charts = chartWrapper.querySelectorAll('.fv-chart-item');var dropdown = chartWrapper.querySelector('.fv-dropdown-title');var prevBtn = chartWrapper.querySelector('.fv-carousel-nav-btn.prev');var nextBtn = chartWrapper.querySelector('.fv-carousel-nav-btn.next');var carouselTitle = chartWrapper.querySelector('.fv-carousel-title-controls .fv-benchmark-title');var counter = chartWrapper.querySelector('.fv-carousel-counter');var subheadEl = chartWrapper.querySelector('.fv-chart-subhead');var captionEl = chartWrapper.querySelector('.rv-chart-caption');var footerContentEl = chartWrapper.querySelector('.fv-footer-content');var bottomBarEl = chartWrapper.querySelector('.fv-bottom-bar');var logoEl = chartWrapper.querySelector('.fv-logo');if (charts.length > 1 && (dropdown || prevBtn)) {var currentChartIndex = 0;var titles = [];if (dropdown) {titles = Array.from(dropdown.options).map(function(o) { return o.text; });} else {charts.forEach(function(c) {titles.push(c.getAttribute('data-title') || '');});}function showInternalChart(index) {if (index < 0) index = charts.length - 1;if (index >= charts.length) index = 0;currentChartIndex = index;charts.forEach(function(c, i) {c.style.display = i === index ? 'block' : 'none';if (i === index) {var cType = c.dataset.chartType;if (cType === 'Line') {} else if (cType !== 'Pie') {window.fvAnimateCharts(chartWrapper);}var labelsOnTop = chartWrapper.dataset.barLabelsOnTop === 'true';if (labelsOnTop && (cType === 'Bar' || cType === 'Stacked Bar' || cType === 'Versus')) {chartWrapper.classList.add('labels-on-top');} else {chartWrapper.classList.remove('labels-on-top');}}});if (dropdown) dropdown.value = index;if (carouselTitle && titles[index]) carouselTitle.textContent = titles[index];if (counter) counter.textContent = (index + 1) + ' of ' + charts.length;var activeChart = charts[index];if (activeChart) {var newSubhead = activeChart.getAttribute('data-subhead');var newCaption = activeChart.getAttribute('data-caption');var currentChartType = activeChart.getAttribute('data-chart-type');var hideGlobalCaption = currentChartType === 'Countdown' || currentChartType === 'Image Comparison' || currentChartType === 'Shop the Collection';if (subheadEl) subheadEl.textContent = newSubhead || '';if (captionEl) {captionEl.textContent = newCaption || '';fallbackCaptionHtml = newCaption || '';}if (footerContentEl) {if (newCaption && newCaption.trim().length > 0 && !hideGlobalCaption) {footerContentEl.style.display = 'block';if (bottomBarEl) bottomBarEl.style.display = 'flex';} else {footerContentEl.style.display = 'none';if (bottomBarEl && !logoEl) {bottomBarEl.style.display = 'none';}}}}}if (dropdown) dropdown.addEventListener('change', function(e) { showInternalChart(parseInt(e.target.value)); });if (prevBtn) prevBtn.addEventListener('click', function() { showInternalChart(currentChartIndex - 1); });if (nextBtn) nextBtn.addEventListener('click', function() { showInternalChart(currentChartIndex + 1); });}var imageCompareWrappers = chartWrapper.querySelectorAll('.fv-image-compare-wrapper');imageCompareWrappers.forEach(function(wrapper) {var inner = wrapper.querySelector('.fv-image-compare-inner') || wrapper;var slider = wrapper.querySelector('.fv-image-compare-slider');var fgImage = wrapper.querySelector('.fv-image-compare-fg');var bgImage = wrapper.querySelector('.fv-image-compare-bg');var labelLeft = wrapper.querySelector('.fv-image-compare-label-left');var labelRight = wrapper.querySelector('.fv-image-compare-label-right');var isDragging = false;var scale = 1;var panX = 0;var panY = 0;var isPanning = false;var hasPanned = false;var lastClientX = 0;var lastClientY = 0;var initialDistance = null;var lastCenterX = null;var lastCenterY = null;function updateTransform() {if (wrapper.classList.contains('fv-image-compare-fullscreen')) {inner.style.setProperty('transform', 'translate(' + panX + 'px, ' + panY + 'px) scale(' + scale + ')', 'important');} else {inner.style.removeProperty('transform');scale = 1;panX = 0;panY = 0;}}function constrainPan() {var rect = wrapper.getBoundingClientRect();var maxPanX = Math.max(0, (rect.width * scale - rect.width) / 2);var maxPanY = Math.max(0, (rect.height * scale - rect.height) / 2);panX = Math.max(-maxPanX, Math.min(panX, maxPanX));panY = Math.max(-maxPanY, Math.min(panY, maxPanY));}wrapper.addEventListener('wheel', function(e) {if (!wrapper.classList.contains('fv-image-compare-fullscreen')) return;e.preventDefault();var zoomSensitivity = 0.005;var zoomFactor = Math.exp(-e.deltaY * zoomSensitivity);var newScale = Math.max(1, Math.min(scale * zoomFactor, 5));if (newScale === scale) return;var rect = wrapper.getBoundingClientRect();var mouseX = e.clientX - rect.left - rect.width / 2;var mouseY = e.clientY - rect.top - rect.height / 2;var ratio = newScale / scale;panX = mouseX - (mouseX - panX) * ratio;panY = mouseY - (mouseY - panY) * ratio;scale = newScale;constrainPan();updateTransform();}, { passive: false });wrapper.addEventListener('mousedown', function(e) {if (!wrapper.classList.contains('fv-image-compare-fullscreen') || scale <= 1) return;if (e.target.closest('.fv-image-compare-slider') || e.target.closest('button')) return;isPanning = true;hasPanned = false;lastClientX = e.clientX;lastClientY = e.clientY;});window.addEventListener('mousemove', function(e) {if (!isPanning) return;var dx = e.clientX - lastClientX;var dy = e.clientY - lastClientY;if (Math.abs(dx) > 2 || Math.abs(dy) > 2) {hasPanned = true;}lastClientX = e.clientX;lastClientY = e.clientY;panX += dx;panY += dy;constrainPan();updateTransform();});window.addEventListener('mouseup', function() {isPanning = false;});wrapper.addEventListener('touchstart', function(e) {if (!wrapper.classList.contains('fv-image-compare-fullscreen')) return;if (e.touches.length === 2) {e.preventDefault();var dx = e.touches[0].clientX - e.touches[1].clientX;var dy = e.touches[0].clientY - e.touches[1].clientY;initialDistance = Math.sqrt(dx * dx + dy * dy);var rect = wrapper.getBoundingClientRect();lastCenterX = (e.touches[0].clientX + e.touches[1].clientX) / 2 - rect.left - rect.width / 2;lastCenterY = (e.touches[0].clientY + e.touches[1].clientY) / 2 - rect.top - rect.height / 2;hasPanned = true;} else if (e.touches.length === 1 && scale > 1) {if (e.target.closest('.fv-image-compare-slider') || e.target.closest('button')) return;isPanning = true;hasPanned = false;lastClientX = e.touches[0].clientX;lastClientY = e.touches[0].clientY;}}, { passive: false });wrapper.addEventListener('touchmove', function(e) {if (!wrapper.classList.contains('fv-image-compare-fullscreen')) return;if (e.touches.length === 2 && initialDistance !== null) {e.preventDefault();var dx = e.touches[0].clientX - e.touches[1].clientX;var dy = e.touches[0].clientY - e.touches[1].clientY;var distance = Math.sqrt(dx * dx + dy * dy);if (initialDistance > 0) {var zoomFactor = distance / initialDistance;var newScale = Math.max(1, Math.min(scale * zoomFactor, 5));var rect = wrapper.getBoundingClientRect();var centerX = (e.touches[0].clientX + e.touches[1].clientX) / 2 - rect.left - rect.width / 2;var centerY = (e.touches[0].clientY + e.touches[1].clientY) / 2 - rect.top - rect.height / 2;var ratio = newScale / scale;panX = centerX - (centerX - panX) * ratio;panY = centerY - (centerY - panY) * ratio;if (lastCenterX !== null && lastCenterY !== null) {panX += (centerX - lastCenterX);panY += (centerY - lastCenterY);}scale = newScale;lastCenterX = centerX;lastCenterY = centerY;constrainPan();updateTransform();}initialDistance = distance;} else if (e.touches.length === 1 && isPanning) {e.preventDefault();var dx = e.touches[0].clientX - lastClientX;var dy = e.touches[0].clientY - lastClientY;if (Math.abs(dx) > 2 || Math.abs(dy) > 2) {hasPanned = true;}lastClientX = e.touches[0].clientX;lastClientY = e.touches[0].clientY;panX += dx;panY += dy;constrainPan();updateTransform();}}, { passive: false });wrapper.addEventListener('touchend', function(e) {if (e.touches.length < 2) {initialDistance = null;}if (e.touches.length === 0) {isPanning = false;}});function handleMove(clientX) {var rect = inner.getBoundingClientRect();var x = Math.max(0, Math.min(clientX - rect.left, rect.width));var percent = Math.max(0, Math.min((x / rect.width) * 100, 100));if (slider) slider.style.setProperty('left', percent + '%', 'important');if (fgImage) fgImage.style.setProperty('clip-path', 'polygon(0 0, ' + percent + '% 0, ' + percent + '% 100%, 0 100%)', 'important');if (labelLeft) {if (percent < 10) {labelLeft.style.setProperty('opacity', '0', 'important');} else {labelLeft.style.setProperty('opacity', '1', 'important');}}if (labelRight) {if (percent > 90) {labelRight.style.setProperty('opacity', '0', 'important');} else {labelRight.style.setProperty('opacity', '1', 'important');}}}function onMouseMove(e) {if (!isDragging) return;handleMove(e.clientX);}function onTouchMove(e) {if (!isDragging) return;e.preventDefault();handleMove(e.touches[0].clientX);}function stopDragging() {isDragging = false;window.removeEventListener('mousemove', onMouseMove);window.removeEventListener('mouseup', stopDragging);window.removeEventListener('touchmove', onTouchMove);window.removeEventListener('touchend', stopDragging);}if (slider) {var startDrag = function(clientX) {isDragging = true;handleMove(clientX);window.addEventListener('mousemove', onMouseMove);window.addEventListener('mouseup', stopDragging);};var startTouchDrag = function(clientX) {isDragging = true;handleMove(clientX);window.addEventListener('touchmove', onTouchMove, { passive: false });window.addEventListener('touchend', stopDragging);};slider.addEventListener('mousedown', function(e) {e.preventDefault();startDrag(e.clientX);});slider.addEventListener('touchstart', function(e) {e.preventDefault();startTouchDrag(e.touches[0].clientX);}, { passive: false });}var expandBtn = wrapper.querySelector('.fv-image-compare-expand-btn');var closeBtn = wrapper.querySelector('.fv-image-compare-close-btn');if (expandBtn) {if (window !== window.parent) {expandBtn.style.display = 'none';} else {expandBtn.addEventListener('click', function(e) {e.stopPropagation();wrapper.classList.add('fv-image-compare-fullscreen');document.body.style.overflow = 'hidden';if (fgImage && fgImage.dataset.highresSrc) {fgImage.src = fgImage.dataset.highresSrc;fgImage.removeAttribute('srcset');fgImage.removeAttribute('sizes');}if (bgImage && bgImage.dataset.highresSrc) {bgImage.src = bgImage.dataset.highresSrc;bgImage.removeAttribute('srcset');bgImage.removeAttribute('sizes');}});}}if (closeBtn) {closeBtn.addEventListener('click', function(e) {e.stopPropagation();wrapper.classList.remove('fv-image-compare-fullscreen');document.body.style.overflow = '';updateTransform();});}document.addEventListener('keydown', function(e) {if (e.key === 'Escape' && wrapper.classList.contains('fv-image-compare-fullscreen')) {wrapper.classList.remove('fv-image-compare-fullscreen');document.body.style.overflow = '';updateTransform();}});});var hotspots = chartWrapper.querySelectorAll('.fv-stl-hotspot-btn');var allProductsModal = chartWrapper.querySelector('.fv-stl-all-products-modal');var shopAllBtn = chartWrapper.querySelector('.fv-stl-shop-all-btn');var allProductsList = chartWrapper.querySelector('.fv-stl-all-products-list');var stlContainer = chartWrapper.querySelector('.fv-stl-container');function closeAllModals() {if (allProductsModal) {allProductsModal.classList.remove('is-active');var items = allProductsModal.querySelectorAll('.fv-stl-all-products-item');items.forEach(function(item) {item.classList.remove('is-highlighted');});if (stlContainer) {setTimeout(function() {if (!allProductsModal.classList.contains('is-active')) {stlContainer.style.minHeight = '';if ('parentIFrame' in window) {window.parentIFrame.size();}}}, 300);}}hotspots.forEach(function(btn) { btn.setAttribute('aria-expanded', 'false'); });if ('parentIFrame' in window) {window.parentIFrame.size();}}hotspots.forEach(function(btn) {btn.addEventListener('click', function(e) {e.stopPropagation();var hotspotId = btn.getAttribute('data-hotspot-id');var isExpanded = btn.getAttribute('aria-expanded') === 'true';closeAllModals();if (!isExpanded && allProductsModal) {btn.setAttribute('aria-expanded', 'true');allProductsModal.classList.add('is-active');var container = btn.closest('.fv-stl-container');if (container && container.offsetHeight < 450) {container.style.minHeight = '450px';}var targetItem = allProductsModal.querySelector('.fv-stl-all-products-item[data-product-id="' + hotspotId + '"]');if (targetItem) {targetItem.classList.add('is-highlighted');setTimeout(function() {targetItem.scrollIntoView({ behavior: 'smooth', block: 'center' });}, 100);}if ('parentIFrame' in window) {window.parentIFrame.size();}}});});if (shopAllBtn && allProductsModal) {shopAllBtn.addEventListener('click', function(e) {e.stopPropagation();closeAllModals();allProductsModal.classList.add('is-active');var container = shopAllBtn.closest('.fv-stl-container');if (container && container.offsetHeight < 450) {container.style.minHeight = '450px';}if ('parentIFrame' in window) {window.parentIFrame.size();}});}if (allProductsModal) {var closeAllBtn = allProductsModal.querySelector('.fv-stl-all-products-close');if (closeAllBtn) {closeAllBtn.addEventListener('click', function(e) {e.stopPropagation();closeAllModals();});}}chartWrapper.addEventListener('click', function(e) {if (!e.target.closest('.fv-stl-all-products-content')) {closeAllModals();}});if (allProductsModal) {allProductsModal.addEventListener('click', function(e) {if (!e.target.closest('.fv-stl-all-products-content')) {closeAllModals();}});}var iaNodes = chartWrapper.querySelectorAll('.fv-ia-node-button');var iaWrapper = chartWrapper.querySelector('.fv-ia-wrapper');var originalCaption = chartWrapper.querySelector('.fv-original-caption') || captionEl;var dynamicCaption = chartWrapper.querySelector('.fv-ia-dynamic-caption');var exploreBtn = chartWrapper.querySelector('.fv-ia-explore-btn');var currentIaIndex = -1;function closeAllIANodes() {iaNodes.forEach(function(btn) { btn.classList.remove('is-active'); });if (originalCaption) originalCaption.style.display = 'block';if (dynamicCaption) dynamicCaption.style.display = 'none';}function resetExploreBtn() {currentIaIndex = -1;if (exploreBtn) {var exploreSpan = exploreBtn.querySelector('span');if (exploreSpan) exploreSpan.textContent = 'Explore';}}iaNodes.forEach(function(btn, index) {btn.addEventListener('click', function(e) {e.stopPropagation();var isActive = btn.classList.contains('is-active');closeAllIANodes();if (!isActive) {currentIaIndex = index;if (exploreBtn) {var exploreSpan = exploreBtn.querySelector('span');if (exploreSpan) exploreSpan.textContent = 'Next';}btn.classList.add('is-active');if (dynamicCaption) {var title = btn.getAttribute('data-title') || '';var desc = btn.getAttribute('data-desc') || '';dynamicCaption.innerHTML = '';var strongTag = document.createElement('strong');strongTag.textContent = title;dynamicCaption.appendChild(strongTag);if (desc) {dynamicCaption.appendChild(document.createTextNode(' - ' + desc));}if (originalCaption) originalCaption.style.display = 'none';dynamicCaption.style.display = 'block';if (footerContentEl) footerContentEl.style.display = 'block';}} else {resetExploreBtn();}});});if (exploreBtn) {exploreBtn.addEventListener('click', function(e) {e.stopPropagation();if (iaNodes.length === 0) return;var nextIndex = currentIaIndex + 1;if (nextIndex >= iaNodes.length) {closeAllIANodes();resetExploreBtn();} else {currentIaIndex = nextIndex;var targetBtn = iaNodes[currentIaIndex];if (targetBtn) {if(targetBtn.classList.contains('is-active')) {targetBtn.click();}targetBtn.click();}}});}if (iaWrapper) {iaWrapper.addEventListener('click', function(e) {if (!e.target.closest('.fv-ia-node-button') && !e.target.closest('.fv-ia-explore-btn')) {closeAllIANodes();resetExploreBtn();}});}window.fvAnimateCharts(chartWrapper);var countdownContainer = chartWrapper.querySelector('.fv-countdown-container');if (countdownContainer) {var targetDateAttr = countdownContainer.getAttribute('data-target-date');if (targetDateAttr) {var targetDate = new Date(targetDateAttr);var primaryColor = countdownContainer.getAttribute('data-primary-color') || '#f97316';var subheadColor = countdownContainer.getAttribute('data-subhead-color') || '#ffffff';var pad = function(n) { return (n < 10 ? '0' : '') + n; };var updateCountdown = function() {var difference = +targetDate - +new Date();var d = 0, h = 0, m = 0, s = 0;if (difference > 0) {d = Math.floor(difference / (1000 * 60 * 60 * 24));h = Math.floor((difference / (1000 * 60 * 60)) % 24);m = Math.floor((difference / 1000 / 60) % 60);s = Math.floor((difference / 1000) % 60);}var daysEl = countdownContainer.querySelector('[data-time="days"]');var hoursEl = countdownContainer.querySelector('[data-time="hours"]');var minsEl = countdownContainer.querySelector('[data-time="minutes"]');var secsEl = countdownContainer.querySelector('[data-time="seconds"]');if (daysEl) daysEl.textContent = d;if (hoursEl) hoursEl.textContent = pad(h);if (minsEl) minsEl.textContent = pad(m);if (secsEl) secsEl.textContent = pad(s);};updateCountdown();setInterval(updateCountdown, 1000);}}}if (true) {var slideshowContainer = document.getElementById(uniqueId + '-slideshow');if (slideshowContainer) {var slides = slideshowContainer.querySelectorAll('.fv-slide');slides.forEach(function(slide) {setupWrapper(slide.querySelector('.fv-chart-wrapper'));});}var slideshowContainer = document.getElementById(uniqueId + '-slideshow');if (slideshowContainer) {var currentSlideIndex = 0;var slides = slideshowContainer.querySelectorAll('.fv-slide');var counter = slideshowContainer.querySelector('.fv-slide-counter');var prevBtn = slideshowContainer.querySelector('.fv-nav-btn.prev');var nextBtn = slideshowContainer.querySelector('.fv-nav-btn.next');var dropdown = slideshowContainer.querySelector('.fv-slideshow-select');function updateControls(index) {if (counter) counter.textContent = (index + 1) + ' / ' + slides.length;if (dropdown) dropdown.value = index;if (prevBtn) {if (index === 0) prevBtn.classList.add('disabled');else prevBtn.classList.remove('disabled');}if (nextBtn) {if (index === slides.length - 1) nextBtn.classList.add('disabled');else nextBtn.classList.remove('disabled');}}function showSlide(index) {if (index < 0) return;if (index >= slides.length) return;currentSlideIndex = index;slides.forEach(function(slide, i) {slide.style.display = i === index ? 'block' : 'none';if (i === index) {var chartEl = slide.querySelector('.fv-chart-wrapper');if (chartEl && window.fvAnimateCharts) {window.fvAnimateCharts(chartEl);}}});updateControls(currentSlideIndex);}if (prevBtn) {prevBtn.addEventListener('click', function() { showSlide(currentSlideIndex - 1); });}if (nextBtn) {nextBtn.addEventListener('click', function() { showSlide(currentSlideIndex + 1); });}if (dropdown) {dropdown.addEventListener('change', function(e) { showSlide(parseInt(e.target.value)); });}updateControls(currentSlideIndex);if (slides.length > 0) {var firstChart = slides[0].querySelector('.fv-chart-wrapper');if (firstChart && window.fvAnimateCharts) {setTimeout(function() { window.fvAnimateCharts(firstChart); }, 100);}}}} else {setupWrapper(root);}}if (document.readyState === 'loading') {document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', function() { initialize('fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj', true); });} else {initialize('fv-chart-1790933828569-b4lmm9szj', true);}})();Roku Pro Series OLED TV: Features

Roku Pro Series OLED's HDR support brings out more detail as show from this scene from A World of Calm (Image credit: Future / James Holland)

No hands-free control
Supports most HDR and spatial audio formats
Can integrate into a number of smart home ecosystems

I think one of the reasons that the Roku Pro Series OLED’s price is a little cheaper than previous versions of the Roku Pro Series, despite coming with an OLED screen, is the fact that hands-free control is no longer part of the package. This might be a benefit for those who don't like the idea of a voice-activated device always listening in, but it’s a nice feature that I always appreciate. And so it’s a feature I miss on this TV.

That said, there’s still voice support through the remote, so you can press a button and ask the TV to look something up, open settings, or even what the weather is. But it’s not a voice assistant that you can talk to.

As far as HDR support, the Roku Pro Series OLED comes with Dolby Vision, which adjusts the brightness and color on a per-scene basis, but it doesn’t come with the IQ version that I’ve been seeing on similar priced TVs, where the system also takes into account the ambient light levels of the room you're watching in. It also has HDR10+ support — and it's rare to TVs to support both (only Panasonic releases OLED TVs in the US that do both).

Roku hasn't announced any support for Dolby Vision 2, and indicated to TechRadar that there are no plans to add support in the future, at least currently.

Similarly, spatial audio support includes the most important that one would need, Dolby Atmos, but doesn’t come with any DTS support. Now, Dolby is much more prevalent and most people won’t notice the absence, especially if you’re just using the TV speakers, but it’s a notable exclusion. That, rival OLEDs such as the LG B6 and Samsung S85H are also lacking DTS.

If you care about integrating your TV into a smart home ecosystem (and allowing you to talk to it in a roundabout way), the Roku Pro Series OLED TV does support a number of ecosystems. Specifically, you can connect it to Roku Smart Home, Apple Home, Alexa, and Google Home. Oh, and since I mentioned Apple, Apple AirPlay is on hand.

For gaming, you've got 4K 120Hz support and variable refresh rate support, but there's not dedicated quick gaming menu as you get on most other models.

Features Score: 4 / 5

Roku Pro Series OLED TV: Picture Quality

Roku Pro Series OLED showcasing colors with scene from Coco. (Image credit: Future / James Holland)

Deep blacks as expected on an OLED TV
Color coverage is good but not spectacular
Low brightness means it's prone to reflections in bright rooms

What’s so interesting about the picture quality of the Roku Pro Series OLED TV is that, yes, it has a beautiful OLED panel, but its pedigree as a mid-range TV is still evident. While I’ll mostly speak about my personal experience using the TV, it’s worth mentioning some of the benchmarks and how they prove the point.

BT.2020 color gamut coverage is something touted as something to watch for despite very little content actually using that color range. Still, if content moves in that direction, the Roku Pro Series OLED’s 71% coverage in film maker mode is standard, only falling slightly short of the 72.5% achieved by the LG B6.

When similarly-priced, rival mini-LED TVs such as the TCL QM7L can hit 90.5% and even other OLEDs are hitting over 80% of the BT.2020 range, the Roku Pro OLED's number seems low, but it's in-line with other budget OLEDs. That said, what’s really important is the DCI-P3 color gamut coverage, and that’s a healthy 96% in our testing.

The Roku Pro OLED hit 462 nits of brightness in HDR Dark (its closest equivalent to Filmmaker Mode) on a 10% window. Compared to the rival B6, which hit 835 nits HDR peak brightness on the same 10% window in Filmmaker Mode, the Roku's number is low. While I found that its reflections weren't too different to other TVs I've tested in my bright room, the Roku certainly isn't a bright TV.

The black areas of a screen are just deeper thanks to OLED’s unique feature of turning individuals pixel offs to offer 'perfect' contrast. Because of this, shadows have more depth, benefitting movies like Sinners or The Batman, where much of those movies take place at night or in the shadows.

The screen is also very uniform. I didn’t see any vignetting in the corners or edges of the screen and solid colors looked the same across it.

Motion looks smooth without being unnatural when watching sports for the most part, though in things like slow motion replays things can come across a bit choppier.

I mentioned the color coverage earlier in terms of benchmarks, but during use, it is somewhat noticeable that the colors are good, but not great. They seem reasonably accurate, but they don’t pop off the screen like they would on the Hisense U7, for instance. Then again, the Hisense doesn’t have the impressive black tones of the Roku Pro Series OLED TV.

Picture quality score: 4 / 5

Roku Pro Series OLED TV: Sound Quality

Roku Pro Series OLED showing the various settings for adjusting the audio. (Image credit: Future / James Holland)

Not much low end
Mid-range and high-end sound good
Has Night Mode and Dialog enhancing settings

I go back and forth on the Roku Pro Series OLED TV’s audio. It’s clearly good enough to skip the soundbar for just standard TV viewing. But it doesn’t sound as good as the thicker Roku Pro Series TVs that preceded it. The OLED version, because it no longer has the thick shadowbox design of its predecessors, has less space for speakers or ports to help with audio.

If you want to hear rumble when Batman runs the Penguin off the road in The Batman, for instance, or really feel the impact of an offensive and defensive line battling it out at the one yard line, then you'll need something with bigger drivers and a subwoofer. This TV just doesn’t have the necessary bass to really offer that level of immersion. I think because of the lack of bass, there’s also a bit of boxiness in the sound quality as well.

However, the mid-range is balanced and rich sounding, while the high-end has a good amount of clarity without sounding harsh that audio still sounds good. The score on a soundtrack-heavy movie will sound full. Similarly, I had no trouble distinguishing dialog or voices in whatever media I’m watching.

As far as menu diving goes, the Roku Pro Series OLED TV offers six different sound modes including an Auto and Night Mode, both of which work as intended. There are also settings for enabling virtual surround sound, dialog enhancer, volume leveling, and adjustments for the bass and treble.

Sound quality score: 4 / 5

Roku Pro Series OLED TV: Design

The Roku Pro Series OLED switches from Roku's boxy look to one that shows off its thinness (Image credit: Future / James Holland)

Designed to show off thin OLED panel
Minimal cable management
Tool-less feet installation

The most notable change over previous Roku Pro Series TVs on the OLED is the fact that it no longer sports the shadowbox design. Frankly, I miss it. The shadowbox design did make those previous versions thicker, but they were uniform from end to end with recessed cable management so they could be mounted on the wall and be completely flush. Well, that’s gone.

Instead, to show off how thin the OLED panel is, only the bottom two thirds of the TV is thicker than the panel. At its thickest, it’s only 1.6 inches, so it does cut a somewhat svelte figure (for a TV). And while I do appreciate the fact that Roku isn’t resting on its laurels, this fundamental change in design means that there are some compromises.

I’ve mentioned the sound quality above, and I do think the change in this design affects it. There’s also much more limited cable management — basically there’s a clip on each foot to route cables through.

I do appreciate that the feet can be installed without any tools. Instead of needing a screwdriver, each screw has a large plastic head that can be tightened by hand. I also like the fact that the feet can be installed at two different heights.

The Roku Pro Series OLED doesn't need a screwdriver to install the feet. Notice the large dials attached to the screws (Image credit: Future / James Holland)

There are a few clues in some other areas that highlight the fact that the Roku Pro Series OLED is, essentially, an entry-level OLED TV. The fact that it comes with Wi-Fi 5 in an age where most cutting edge and more premium products come with Wi-Fi 6 at least, and it comes with Bluetooth 5.2 despite the existence of Bluetooth 6. These are not significant limitations, but they’re certainly shortcuts.

On the bright side, there is a 'remote locator' button on the side of the TV, which is nice for the more absent-minded among us. And it makes a fairly pleasant pinging sound. You won’t be tearing your couch apart trying to find the remote just to turn off the sound.

Lastly, despite having four HDMI 2.1 (one eARC enabled), only two have markings next to them for gaming. Maybe this is just a suggestion, but typically that means that the other two HDMI ports don’t support 4K at the 120Hz refresh rate. Confusing, but sadly the HDMI rules do allow this. At least, there’s a USB 2.0 and USB-C 3.0 port along with optical, ethernet, and coaxial.

Design score: 4 / 5

Roku Pro Series OLED TV: Smart TV & Menus

Roku Pro Series OLED showing its updated home screen look (Image credit: Future / James Holland)

Updated Roku Interface
Decent amount of free content
Lots of adjustments available, though only when watching content

If you haven’t used a Roku device in awhile, the state of the Roku interface at the time of this review is a little different than the OS of yore. It still takes inspiration from the more bubbly aspects of, say, an iPhone’s operating system with a changeable cartoony background (and screensaver) and an interactive list of tiles.

The tiles, however, are organized by categories. When first turning the TV on, I’m greeted with a selection of what Roku calls 'Top Picks For You', showing specific content based on previous behavior. Following that is a collection of the apps that I use most under 'Quick Access'. Then there are suggestions for what to watch next and a few other bundles of tiles before getting to the more traditional Roku experience where I can browse all the installed app tiles.

Free content is mostly accessible through the Roku app, though you’ll come across plenty if you browse the other sections such as the Live Action TV app and in the sports section.

The settings are baked into the operating system with plenty of accessibility options and a guest mode available. However, the deeper dives into picture and sound quality require you to have content open at the time. This is somewhat common now and it makes sense with TVs like this that have things like Dolby Vision where the screen adjusts settings behind the scenes based on what content is pulled up. Still, it’s a bit annoying.

At least, there are all the picture modes and plenty of fine-tuning available through the menu once something’s up on the screen. Adjustments like Micro and Dynamic Contrast are on hand as well as Action Smoothing and Clarity, not to mention the fact that you can adjust the Gamma Correction as well as color temperature and space.

Smart TV & menus score: 4 / 5

Roku Pro Series OLED TV: Gaming

Roku Pro Series OLED showcasing its gaming prowess with Alan Wake II (Image credit: Future / James Holland)

Good for gaming because of the OLED screen
120Hz refresh rate through HDMI 2.1 for next-gen consoles
Not much in the way of gaming-specific features

When it comes to what makes a TV a good gaming TV, there are two things to consider. The first is the TV’s performance that similarly affects all the other content, such as color coverage, HDR support, sound quality, and so forth. And in that regard, the Roku Pro Series OLED makes for a good gaming TV.

The sound is not perfect (more bass would make a big difference) but is good enough. And as far as picture quality goes, you get to play your games through an OLED panel and experience the contrast it has to offer, not to mention the HDR support it comes with.

Of course, this TV also supports 120Hz refresh rate, which helps give a smoother gaming experience, especially with a next-gen console or PC. There are TVs with higher refresh rates, but a PlayStation 5 maxes out at 120Hz anyway (and the difference between 120Hz and 144Hz/165Hz is not all that noticeable).

The second thing to factor in a gaming TV are the gaming-specific extras that come along with said TV. In that regard, the Roku Pro Series OLED is somewhat lacking. There’s no game bar or game-specific menu, so don’t expect to pull up a crosshair or fps counter. Not to mention, there's not much game-specific picture fine-tuning either.

There is, at least, a picture mode for gaming that also allows one to choose between different sub-modes. Basically, you get the choice between an HDR Dark, HDR Standard, and HDR Bright version of that picture mode.

Gaming score: 4 / 5

Roku Pro Series OLED TV: Value

Roku Pro Series OLED showing detail with a scene from The Batman (Image credit: Future / James Holland)

The cost of OLED results in some trade-offs
Very good price for an OLED TV
Non-OLED TVs are a cheaper and almost just-as-good alternative

Underneath the OLED panel, the Roku Pro Series OLED TV is a competent mid-range TV that unfortunately trades some overall performance for OLED's rich contrast. You get those deeper blacks, but it doesn’t sound as good and isn't as bright as the Roku Pro Series (2025) that it replaces.

At the time of reviews, the Roku Pro Series OLED had fallen to $999 at 65 inches — and then got a sale discount bringing it to just $799. Let’s take the LG B6 for comparison’s sake, LG’s 2026 budget OLED. A 65-inch model will set you back $1,299.99 as I write this, $500 higher than that of the Roku Pro OLED. However, there’s also the LG B6E cheaper version (which has very few differences from the B6, mainly some unimportant AI modes) for $999, so that’s only a $200 difference.

The B6 and B6E are of course available at wider size ranges (48 to 83-inches), but these models are about as budget as OLED TVs go, so the Roku Pro Series OLED is effectively as cheap as you can get an OLED without going for an older model.

Compared to the B6E, you're losing two ports capable of 4K 120Hz, some gaming modes, and getting lower brightness. Is that a fair trade off? If you're not bothered about gaming, saving the cash and putting it towards a soundbar with sub could be just want you want.

Value score: 4.5 / 5

Roku Pro Series OLED

Attributes

Notes

Rating

Features

All the smart home integration is nice, but I do wish this TV had hands-free control for its voice assistant available.

4 / 5

Picture quality

All the benefits of an OLED TV (deeper blacks), but with the drawback of notably lower brightness.

4 / 5

Sound quality

This TV actually sounds pretty good… as long as you don’t need any low-end. At least, the night mode and dialog enhancer work well.

4 / 5

Design

I miss the cable management of its predecessor, but appreciate the tool-less setup and the ability to see just how thin that OLED panel is.

4 / 5

Smart TV and menus

The Roku OS is reliable and intuitive as one would expect from one of the most mature TV OS’ out there.

4 / 5

Gaming

Games look good on this TV because of the OLED panel, but there are almost no gaming-specific features on offer.

4 / 5

Value

For an OLED TV, it’s about as good of a value as one can get.

4.5 / 5

Should I buy the Roku Pro Series OLED TV?Buy it if...

You want an affordable way into OLED

OLED TVs are not cheap. The Roku Pro Series OLED TV is probably one of the most affordable ways to get the benefits of an OLED panel.View Deal

You want a good mid-range TV

This TV might be Roku’s flagship, but it is a mid-range TV through and through, meaning that, on the whole, it’s competent if not quite as impressive as the top TVs out there.

You care to be in the Roku ecosystem

This is, outside of maybe its predecessor, the best Roku TV out there. If you want a TV with Roku built in, this is the way to go.

Don't buy it if…

You have a bright room

With low brightness and a glossy screen, this TV's images can be overtaken by reflections fairly easily in a brighter room.

You want big build-in sound

It sounds decent out of the box, but there's a limit to its scale and depth — if you're thinking about it being part of an impressive movie-viewing experience, you'll need to add some extra sound.

Also consider...

Roku Pro Series OLED TV

LG B6

TCL QM7L

Roku Pro Series (2025)

Price (65-inch)

$999.99

$1,299.99

$999.99

$899.99

Screen type

OLED

SQD Mini-LED

QLED

Refresh rate

120Hz

144Hz

120Hz

HDR support

Dolby Vision, HDR10+, HDR10, HLG

Dolby Vision, HDR10, HLG

HDR10, HDR10+, HLG, Dolby Vision

Dolby Vision IQ, HDR10+ Adaptive, HDR10, HLG

Smart TV

Roku

webOS

Google TV

Roku

HDMI ports

4x HDMI (2x HDMI 2.1 full 4K 120Hz support)

4x HDMI 2.1

4x HDMI (2x HDMI 2.1)

4x (2x HDMI 2.1)

LG B6

LG's affordable option for OLED is the LG B6 (or B6E): a TV with just a few more features (especially for gamers). The B6 offers more brightness in HDR and does a little better than the Roku Pro OLED when it comes to color coverage, but the Roku Pro is cheaper.

Read our full LG B6 review

TCL QM7L

While the Roku Pro OLED has the advantage of better black levels and more HDMI 2.1 ports, the TCL QM7L is a much brighter TV with better color coverage. Both are priced the same for a 65-inch, so this comes down to preference.

Read our full TCL QM7L review

Roku Pro Series (2025)

The Roku Pro Series (2025) comes with better sound quality, hands-free control, and a lower price tag than the newer OLED version. Sure, you get that OLED panel with the new one, but, you could also spend a little less and get a very comparable TV.

Read our full Roku Pro Series (2025) review

How I tested the Roku Pro Series OLED TV

I used the TV for a couple weeks
Tested with both TV, movies, music, and games

I used the Roku Pro Series OLED TV regularly for a couple weeks. I tested it using streaming shows, movies, music, and games (via PS5). I went through the various features to see if it work as advertised. I also spent time listening to the audio as well as paying attention to the picture quality.

After spending some time with this TV, it’s my humble opinion that this TV is ideal for those who want an OLED TV at mid-range prices and are okay with the trade-off required.

I’ve tested a lot of tech gear over the years from laptops to keyboards and speakers, and so have been able to use my expertise towards giving an honest and fair opinion, not to mention a critical eye, to any product I test.

First reviewed: September 2026
Read TechRadar's reviews guarantee

Categories: Reviews

Earfun Pro X review: highly capable headphones that seriously undercut rivals such as Bose on price

TechRadar Reviews - Sun, 10/04/2026 - 12:00

Earfun Wave Pro X: Two-minute review

Earfun is not a company known for unveiling premium tech. The audio specialist keeps to the budget side of the tracks, and we’re better off for it — see winning products such as the Air Pro 4 Plus in-ear buds or Earfun Clip 2 open options for starters.

The Earfun Wave Pro X aren’t premium headphones; they’re not going up against the AirPods Max 2 or Sony WH-100XM6 in our list of the best headphones you can buy. But nevertheless, they’re Earfun’s most high-end over-ears yet; the company says it took over 30 months to design them — and it’s clearly true, given the year-long gap between their announcement and actual release.

All of Earfun's typical traits — which I’ve come to really appreciate from the brand’s kit — are evident in the Wave Pro X. The battery life is great, lasting 90 hours if you turn ANC off, and the app is chock-full of useful features — including one of the most in-depth equalizers I’ve ever seen on headphones I’ve reviewed.

The Wave Pro X also have a more refined design than I’ve seen from Earfun headphones in the past. Neat flourishes and smart material choices make these feel like headphones that’d usually cost twice the price. Before them, I tested the Bose QuietComfort Headphones (2nd Gen), and these feel just as well-designed as those pricey options.

In fact, I was surprised by how how similar these cans are in general, focusing on comfort and solid noise cancellation. The Earfun don’t sound quite as good, but if you want budget Boses, these are a pretty solid pick.

You’re getting all that for a relatively affordable price. These won’t find a place on our list of the best cheap headphones by any means, but they’re an inexpensive option which you could feasibly buy as a gift or pick up for yourself without it being a scary purchase.

However they’re not perfect, and I wish the sound was a little bit more refined. The Wave Pro X offers a slightly muddy performance overall, which occasionally drowns out trebles with overstated mids and bass, and presents some peaking as well as a reduced soundstage.

In true Earfun fashion though, the list of features may overwhelm some, especially in the ANC menu (there are loads of different modes), and with a listening test that challenges you to pick your favorite in a carousel of honestly identical-sounding mixes. I also associate top-end headphones with fun color ways, thanks in part to Bose’s range of hues, and Earfun has nothing of the sort.

But these are affordable, offer some of the perks of the recent Bose headphones, and beat them in a few departments — including battery life. So they’re well worth picking up if you want a premium-adjacent set of headphones that won’t break the bank.

Earfun Wave Pro X review: Price and release date

(Image credit: Future)

Released in August 2026, almost a year after their official unveiling
Sells for $129.99 / £119.99 (about AU$240)
Earfun's most premium offering

The Earfun Wave Pro X had a long road to release; they were first announced in September 2025, re-announced in January 2026 with some tweaks, and then actually unveiled to buy in August 2026. Better late than never, then!

You can buy the Earfun Wave Pro X for $129.99 / £119.99 (about AU$240; Earfun does ship globally but the cost will be the current conversion from the USD price). So they’re not quite affordable cans — they’re a touch too pricey to qualify for our best cheap headphones round-up — but you’re not going to confuse these for premium cans.

The original Earfun Wave Pro sold for $79.99 / £79.99 (about AU$120) but they came out two and a half years prior, and so can be found for about half that price now.

Earfun Wave Pro X review: Specs

Drivers

40mm + 10mm

Active noise cancellation

Yes

Battery life

50 hours (ANC on), 90 hours (ANC off)

Weight

259g

Connectivity

Bluetooth 6.0, USB-C, 3.5mm

Frequency response

Not specified

Waterproofing

None

Earfun Wave Pro X review: Features

(Image credit: Future)

ANC good for most uses
Fantastic 90h battery life (with ANC off)
Range of app features including loads of EQ tools

You’ll get a solid, commendable amount of listening time with the Earfun Wave Pro X; the company estimates that they last for 90 hours with ANC turned off, or 50 hours with it turned on. And from my testing, those figures sound about right. That means these puppies will last for much longer than your standard flagship ANC cans, with top options from the likes of Bose, Sony and Apple generally lasting 20-30 hours, but they don’t quite match the longest-lasting options on the market.

The ANC works well, doing a reliable job of blocking out most annoying noises around you. I can’t pretend it’s best-in-class, suffering most to unpredictable and non-repetitive nearby sounds, but it’s close enough that you won’t mind if you’re not a silence connoisseur. Earfun overcomplicates matters with a range of different noise cancelling modes, such as "AI Ear Adaptive ANC" and "AI Environment Adaptive ANC", but take my advice: just slap on full-strength normal ANC, and leave it there.

‘Loads of features’ was likely another bullet-point on the flipboard when Earfun was workshopping these headphones, because the brand’s audio products always come chock-full of the kind of tools you’d be lucky to get on another device.

(Image credit: Future)

I’m talking hearing health protection modes; I’m talking gaming-focused low-latency settings; I’m talking dual-device connections, AI translation and the ability to change the volume and language for voice prompts. I know!

The highlight on the features list — which I don’t recall from other Earfun products — is an equaliser that beats basically anything else in the business right now. There are 30 presets, a 10-band custom EQ mode, a listening test to create a personal EQ, and a ‘Professional EQ’ tool which gives you even more control over filters, frequency and gain. It’s a wonderful range of customization — even if the listening test is quite hard to use.

If you really love EQ, a tool called SoundSense lets you adjust the EQ on the fly and customize it per song. That’s a lot of admin, but a way to fine-tune your favorites, if you're so inclined.

These all come courtesy of the Earfun Audio app, readily available on the Play Store or App Store. Over my several weeks of testing, connection was generally impeccable, save for one occasion in which my Android phone couldn’t detect the Wave and I had to ‘Forget’ then re-pair them.

Features score: 4.5/5

Earfun Wave Pro X review: Design

(Image credit: Future)

Comfortable to wear thanks to soft padding
Some premium materials; folds up small
No IP rating; useful buttons on cup

The Earfun Wave Pro X are the brand’s premium headphones, and it lets you know in their design. Banish the thought of some all-plastic, generic-looking cans; there are some refinements in the Wave.

Look at the headband, for example. It has a soft fabric top, and comfortable leather padding. Like in the Sony WH-1000XM6, a sleek cylindrical bar, not a thin plasticky beam, connects the band with the cups. They’re little details, but they paint the picture of a more refined design than we’ve seen from Earfun before.

The Wave Pro X is comfortable to wear; I used it for hours at a time without any kind of ear or head pain. The cans weigh 259g so they’re not particularly heavy, and the soft material used for the cups and band keeps your cranium happy.

(Image credit: Future)

You can rotate the cups inwards, extend the band a fair way, and fold the Wave Pro X up too; they even come in a protective carry case. Oh, and while I’m mentioning neat touches: they have a 3.5mm jack, which I can’t say about every pair of over-ear headphones I’ve tested recently.

That joins the power button, volume rocker and noise cancellation toggle on the right cup (all of which save the first can be customized to change their function). The left cup has the USB-C charging port.

If the Earfun Wave Pro X has an IP rating, I haven’t been able to find any information on it. That’s not particularly unusual for over-ear headphones, but worth knowing in case you were planning on wearing these in the rain.

Design score: 4/5

Earfun Wave Pro X review: Sound quality

(Image credit: Future)

40mm woofer + 10mm tweeter
Slightly muddy, bass-heavy sound
24-bit audio; LDAC, aptX, Snapdragon Sound

Are the Earfun Wave Pro X some of the cheapest over-ear headphones with dual drivers? Not quite, but only because the company itself has the even-cheaper Tune Pro. In the Wave Pro X you’re getting a 40mm dynamic woofer for low-end, as well as a 10mm diaphragm precision tweeter to handle the high-end; they’re positioned on top of each other to avoid undue sonic spacing.

So Earfun’s talking audiophile-grade language, but do those words translate to music? Unfortunately, not to the degree you’d hope.

Bass is controlled and powerful, instilling songs like Fire by Kasabian with a punchy undercurrent. Despite the tweeter, though, treble doesn’t have quite the sparkle you’d want, often falling low in the mix to bass and mids. In something like I IV V by Don McCloskey, it sometimes sounds like the singer is hiding behind their guitar.

(Image credit: Future)

It all gives the impression that the woofer and tweeter are working independently, not creating one cohesive sound. It’s like having some really great performers in your band, but no matter how great they shred or sing, they’re playing the song with no thought for their other band members — so it’s not going to sound especially harmonious. That’s especially true if one’s playing a loud electric guitar, and the other an ocarina.

Of course, you can use the numerous EQ tools to fix the audio a little bit, but it doesn’t help with the other issue: they often sound a little muddy. Mids are more prominent than I’m used to in consumer headphones like these, but they sound a little… gloopy, is the best word I can think of. At the same time, sounds from hi-hats and high-pitched acoustic guitars often turn into a hiss, reminding you of the artifice of what you’re listening to. The soundstage also isn’t what you’ll get from other headphones at this price.

You’re getting highly-detailed music, at least. The Wave Pro X supports 24-bit audio with Snapdragon Sound, and a range of codecs including LDAC, aptX, aptX Adaptive and apTX Lossless.

Sound quality: 3.5/5

Earfun Wave Pro X review: Value

(Image credit: Future)

In many areas, these are top-value headphones
The only minor issue is that the audio isn't exceptional

The Earfun Wave Pro X are a little pricier than some other headphones from the brand, but they justify that price in a few ways, particularly the design and noise cancellation. If you’ve been considering a budget option but would be open to a step-up alternative, you’ll get the uptick in quality you're paying for.

However, they're also a great step-down alternative to pricier options, like the aforementioned (and contemporary) Bose QuietComfort Headphones (2nd Gen). They're comfortable, long-lasting and full of features.

If they sounded better, Earfun could sell these for a fair-amount more, so if you don't care especially about top-tier audio quality, they're an even more tempting pick.

Value: 4.5/5

Should I buy the Earfun Wave Pro X?Earfun Wave Pro X score card

Attributes

Notes

Rating

Features

The battery life, ANC and feature roster are all solid, with the EQ modes a real highlight.

4.5/5

Design

The Earfun are comfortable and versatile, with handy buttons.

4/5

Sound quality

The sound is muffled, so it's really only excellent for bass-heads.

3.5/5

Value

The Wave Pro X feel surprisingly affordable, when you consider what you're getting.

4.5/5

Buy them if…

You need a long-lasting pair of cans
If you turn off ANC, you can get 90 hours of listening, or almost 4 days. That's fantastic for people who can't charge regularly.

You want comfortable headphones
The Wave Pro X were comfortable to wear for hours at a time, longer than most cans I've tested.

You like tweaking with your EQ
I can't get my head around how the Earfun have better EQ options than audiophile offerings.View Deal

Don’t buy them if…

Audio quality is your deciding factor
If you want audiophile-quality cans, these will disappoint you. Buy them for their features and value, not the sound.

You need some durable headphones
The lack of an IP rating means these might not survive a nasty spell in mother nature.

Earfun Wave Pro X review: Also consider

Looking for alternative over-ears? Here are a few we've tested and would recommend.

Earfun Wave Pro X

Soundcore Space 2

Nothing Headphone (a)

Drivers

40mm + 10mm

40mm

Active noise cancellation

Yes

Battery life (ANC on)

50 hours

75 hours

Weight

259g

264g

310g

Connectivity

Bluetooth 5.4, USB-C, 3.5mm

Unspecified Bluetooth, 3.5mm

Bluetooth 5.4, USB-C, 3.5mm

Waterproofing

Not specified

IP52

Soundcore Space 2
For the same price, these are just as comfortable and have incredible ANC. They also sound a little better, and are more colorful.
Read our full Soundcore Space 2 review

Nothing Headphone (a)
For a little more money, Nothing's boxy cans have a much longer-lasting battery, and they sound great.
Read our full Nothing Headphone (a) review

How I tested the Earfun Wave Pro X

Tested for over two weeks
Paired with Android phone for Bluetooth and USB-C
Used on walks around neighborhood, at work, and on public transport

I used the Earfun Wave Pro X for two weeks before writing this review, and it got another week of use during the writing process.

During this time, I used the headphones alongside an Android smartphone, paired mostly with Bluetooth but occasionally over USB-C. I mostly listened to music via Spotify, but also watched videos and played games. Listening was done at home and on walks around my neighborhood, as well as on public transport and while working out at the gym.

I've been testing gadgets for TechRadar since early 2019, and in that time have tested many other pairs of over-ears, and countless Earfun audio products.

First reviewed in October 2026

Read TechRadar's reviews guarantee

Categories: Reviews

Belkin Travel Bag for Nintendo Switch 2 review: A superb sling for your Switch 2 setup

TechRadar Reviews - Sun, 10/04/2026 - 02:00

Belkin Travel Bag for Nintendo Switch 2: review

Belkin’s Switch 2 travel bag is designed to carry your console and its various accessories in comfort, while providing protection from the elements and more.

As Switch 2 cases go, it's a somewhat plain affair. While the slight ruching of the outer material lends it a rugged appearance, and the green and lilac colorways are more lively than the black variant, there’s little in the way of branding or fanfare. This may disappoint those looking to make more of a statement, but those looking to stay discreet will no doubt be pleased with Belkin’s utilitarian approach.

(Image credit: Future)

Its materials, though, should appeal to everyone and rank among the best Nintendo Switch 2 accessories on this front. The outer fabric is soft and smooth, which, along with its ergonomic form and minimal weight, makes it very comfortable against your back. It’s not unlike something you might find lining a piece of outdoor kit — although it’s worth noting that Belkin doesn’t mention anything about the bag being water- or even splashproof.

The shoulder strap is also well made. It too feels smooth and comfortable; it didn’t dig into my collarbone, as such straps often do, despite lacking a padded covering. There’s more than enough adjustability to accommodate a broad range of user heights and preferences. Admittedly, actually adjusting the buckle can be a little hard sometimes, but this is a price I’m willing to pay in return for a secure fit.

What’s more, you can easily wear the bag over any shoulder, thanks to two fastening points at the bottom. You can attach it to either of these via the plastic carabiner at the end of the strap, which is strong enough to be secure, yet still easy to unhook when needed, thanks to the angling of the mechanism that makes it easier to push in.

(Image credit: Future)

In addition to the shoulder strap, there’s also a carrying handle at the top. This is slightly padded and soft in the hand, making it comfortable to hold.

The main compartment has a fair amount of space inside, with enough room to fit multiple accessories, including the Nintendo Switch 2 dock, controllers, power cables, and more. Its wide opening makes for easy access, too, thanks to the zips that run almost the entire length of both sides. They operate very smoothly, and I rarely experienced any snagging.

Within the main compartment are three others. One is designed for the console itself, and is lined with an exquisitely soft felt that prevents your screen from scuffs and scratches. A hook-and-loop strap goes over the top, which is quite slack, even with your Joy-Cons attached. However, the snug fit of the pouch itself is sufficient to keep your console in place.

(Image credit: Future)

What’s more, this slackness is actually a positive, since it allows you to store your console with bulkier, third-party controllers attached. For instance, I managed to fit the console in with CRKD’s Nitro Deck 2 attached.

Attached to the outside of the console compartment is another compartment that contains the game card sleeve, which is easily removable. The sleeve fits a reasonable 10 cards, but there are other Switch 2 cases that hold more, such as Turtle Beach’s PlayTrek 2-in-1 case (14) and PlayTrek travel case (12).

The compartment itself isn’t felt-lined, but it still has a soft material. You’ll struggle to fit much in the pouch inside, and anything bulky will compromise the space needed for the adjacent console compartment.

(Image credit: Future)

For such items, the netting opposite is more appropriate. It’s big enough to fit cables, power adapters, and both Joy-Con 2 controllers, although probably not all at the same time. And while the netting expands a fair amount, it has a tendency to sag when it’s fully loaded, even if the items in question aren’t particularly heavy. I also noticed that pointed items, such as paper manuals and the like, can stick right through its holes — a minor gripe, but one worth pointing out nevertheless.

On the outside of the bag, there’s a simple zip pocket on the front, which covers almost the entire length of the bag and is roomy enough to fit a few larger items, but you won’t fit items such as the dock, for instance.

(Image credit: Future)

On the matter of protection, the bag has a fair amount of cushioning on the bottom — which Belkin describes as an “impact-resistant base” — and around the sides. However, there’s less on the front and back, and since this isn’t a hard shell case, I wouldn’t be confident piling heavy items on top of it.

But if you don’t need this level of sturdiness, Belkin’s travel bag offers a lot more besides, and for a reasonable price at that. If you’re in the market for a light and comfortable over-the-shoulder bag for your Switch 2 and its accessories, it’s a fine choice that’s hard to beat.

Belkin Travel Bag for Nintendo Switch 2 review: Price & Specs

Price

$49.99 / £29.99 (about AU$54.95)

Dimensions

12.7 x 5.9 x 3.1in / 322 x 150 x 80mm

Weight

12.7oz / 360g

Game card slots

Compartments

Handle

Yes

Color

Black, Lilac, Olive

Should I buy the Belkin Travel Bag for Nintendo Switch 2?Scorecard

Attributes

Notes

Rating

Design

Very comfortable to wear, and every material feels high quality. It won’t provide as much protection as a hard shell, though.

4.5 / 5

Storage

Plenty of space and compartments, and the removable game card pouch is a smart addition, even if it doesn’t hold as many cards as some others.

4 / 5

Value

Considering the quality and features, it’s hard to do better at this price.

5 / 5

Buy it if…

You want to carry your Switch 2 over your shoulder
This is a very comfortable bag to wear, and can be adjusted to better fit whatever shoulder you choose to sling it over.

You want plenty of compartments
Despite its compact dimensions, there are plenty of compartments to keep your console and various accessories neat and separated.

Don't buy it if…

You want the ultimate protection
Given the soft materials, this isn’t a bag you’d want to chuck around or pile luggage onto.

You want the most game card slots
10 game card slots is pretty good, but there are Switch 2 cases out there featuring more.

Belkin Travel Bag for Nintendo Switch 2 review: Also consider

Turtle Beach PlayTrek 2-in-1 Case
As its name suggests, this PlayTrek product integrates a small case with a large one, featuring molds for your console, dock, power adapter, Joy-Cons, and a full-size controller. It has more game card slots than Belkin’s bag, too, and although the small case is soft, the large one is more of a hard shell. Read our full Turtle Beach PlayTrek 2-in-1 Case review.

How I tested the Belkin Travel Bag for Nintendo Switch 2

(Image credit: Future)

I tested Belkin’s travel bag for a couple of days, making sure to fill every compartment, fasten every zip, and adjust the strap length across its full range, as well as attaching it to both hook points. I carried it around on my commutes, fully loaded with the Switch 2 and numerous accessories.

I filled the bag with cables, manuals, and the Joy-Con 2s. I also stored the console with the CRKD Nitro Deck 2 attached to test the capacity of the console storage compartment.

Read more about how we test
First reviewed: October 2026

Categories: Reviews

Noble Audio FoKus Artemis review: the most hypnotic-sounding pair of headphones I’ve tested

TechRadar Reviews - Sat, 10/03/2026 - 13:00

Noble Audio FoKus Artemis: two-minute review

In Ancient Greece, Artemis was a goddess of many things: vegetation, hunting, wild creatures, childbirth… the list goes on. It’s fair to say that she was considered abundant in talent. And her moniker is not wasted on the Noble Audio FoKus Artemis: a set of wireless headphones that have far-reaching, broad talents of their own.

The FoKus Artemis are, put simply, an exceptionally strong performing set of cans. In fact, they might be the best-sounding pair of wireless headphones I’ve used. They have a triple-driver configuration, with dynamic, balanced armature, and planar drivers, affording them all of the dynamism, precision, and speed required to showcase your favorite tracks in their best light.

Like the best headphones around, the Artemis supply palpable yet regimented bass, beautifully detailed and textured mids, and expressive, articulate treble. But the real shining star is their excellent soundstaging. The Artemis bring forth an immense sense of space and scale, making for a highly immersive listen time after time. With aptX Lossless, LDAC, and USB-C audio, you also get high-resolution, nuanced sound that competes with the greatest headphones on the market.

But something else that sets these headphones apart from the crowd is their granular sound control. With help from Audiodo, Noble has included personalized EQ on the Artemis, which can account for hearing loss and provide optimized audio for all users. There’s also parametric EQ and a number of presets that will suit any listener.

The FoKus Artemis boast quite the suite of features, actually, with an effective companion app, wear detection and multi-point connectivity to give you the everyday convenience that you’d hope for at this money. ANC is here too, with a number of modes, including a transparency option. Noise cancellation here isn’t the best of the best, and the Artemis’ looser fit also means a fair few external sounds creep in now and then. But it’s still relatively effective, and will still help dull the world around you.

Spatial audio modes, though functional, also felt a little underwhelming to me during testing, but the Artemis’ wide soundstage means you get a nice and expansive listen from the headphones anyway. Call quality is strong, though, owing to the headphones’ seven-mic array, and you get up to 55 hours of playback (35 hours with ANC on), as well as a replaceable battery, adding longevity to the headphones.

In my view, the Artemis look great as well. Their metallic detailing, fabric headband, and textured ear cups ensure they exude all of the style and luxury you’d look for in an ultra-premium pair of headphones. There aren’t any touch controls, but the physical buttons work well, and are highly responsive. It also helps that the headphones are extremely well-fitting, and they feel comfortable to wear throughout the day.

But here it comes: the price. The Noble Audio FoKus Artemis cost a whopping $899 / £799 (about AU$1,200). Is the price-tag justified? It really depends on your outlook. They’re a seriously advanced set of headphones, with the triple-driver set-up, personalized EQ and premium build adding a lot in terms of value. But you can get phenomenal sound for less — even the Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 are $100 / £170 less than these.

Still, if you want truly stellar audio and ultra-precise sound control, then it really doesn’t get much better than the Noble Audio FoKus Artemis. They’re a wonderful pair of headphones, and if you’ve got the budget, then they’re pretty easy for me to recommend. But for some slightly cheaper yet excellent alternatives, be sure to head down to the ‘also consider’ section.

(Image credit: Future)Noble Audio FoKus Artemis review: price & release date

Priced at $899 / £799 (about AU$1,200)
Released in August 2026

The Noble Audio FoKus Artemis started shipping in August 2026, although I got to try them back in June, when the headphones were showcased at High End Vienna 2026. The Artemis are an ultra-premium pair of wireless headphones, and as a result, they carry a very hefty asking price. They’ll typically set you back $899 / £799 (about AU$1,200).

Sure, some rivals, like the Bang & Olufsen Beoplay H100 and Focal Bathys MG, will set you back even further, but I won’t pretend that the Artemis aren’t a huge investment. And you can get exceptional sounding headphones for considerably less — for example, the Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 are a good $100 / £170 less than the Artemis at $799 / £629 / AU$1,299.

Noble Audio FoKus Artemis review: specs

Drivers

1x dynamic, 1x balanced armature, 1x planar

Active noise cancellation

Yes

Battery life

55 hours (35 hours with ANC on)

Weight

324g

Connectivity

Bluetooth 6.0, USB-C

Frequency range

10Hz-40kHz

Waterproofing

IP52

(Image credit: Future)Noble Audio FoKus Artemis review: features

Personal EQ can account for hearing loss
Strong battery life of up to 55 hours
ANC is acceptable, rather than great

Noble Audio has put a ton of thought and effort into the feature-set of the FoKus Artemis, and this results in a great user experience.

Where to start? Well, I think the most interesting function is the personalized EQ, which offers surprising depth. Noble Audio partnered with Swedish firm Audiodo to implement a hearing test on the Artemis, meaning you can unlock a sound that suits you — it even accounts for hearing loss. Using Noble’s app, you’ll be asked to listen to a set of prompts, which test your hearing across the frequency range in each ear, and you’ll get a custom EQ that provides bespoke, optimized audio.

This works really well, and can be toggled on or off. There are also a number of presets and a parametric equalizer if you want more granular control. Few headphones offer this attention to detail, and even though I loved the default tuning on the Artemis, they really can sound however you want them to.

There are also some spatial audio modes, with a subtle and immersive option. I didn’t love these so much — I found that tracks sounded less clear and concise, and given that the Artemis whip up an impressive sense of space anyway, I kept this off.

Let’s talk about one of the most important features next, ANC. The Artemis have a seven-microphone system with multiple noise-cancelling modes, including low, mid, and strong ANC and a transparency mode.

So, how good is noise-cancellation with the Artemis? Well, it’s decent. I used them across a huge range of environments: flights, trains, when out on walks, in the office, and at home. When using the strongest mode, I found that they eliminated sounds like typing and light chatter nicely, but more intensive stuff, like a plane’s engine running and passing-by traffic, tended to seep in quite easily. In part, this comes down to the more relaxed fit and clamping on the Artemis, but I did expect a bit more in terms of noise-crushing from these cans, given their price.

Something the mics handle very well, though, is calls. Whenever I made a video or voice call, people on the other end of the line reported that my speech was clear, and never tinny or obscured. This was also the case when I made some recordings and listened back.

The Artemis also impressed me a fair bit in terms of battery life. They offer up to 55 hours of playback with ANC off, and 35 hours. That’s slightly above the standard 30 hours that a lot of premium models offer, and means you’ll be able to listen for days on-end without having to charge the Artemis at all. The battery is also user-replaceable, which is becoming more common with EU legislation making this a requirement for portable devices.

Controlling the Artemis is also pretty straightforward. They feature traditional button controls, favored by a lot of audiophiles for their reliability. Personally, I’m a fan of touch controls (when done right), but this is omitted on the Artemis. Something that does feature, though, is wear detection and this is highly responsive and accurate — it can be toggled off if you’d prefer. Finally, the app is incredibly easy to use and well-laid out. I’ve seen some reports of iOS users having issues, but on my Android phone, the companion software worked perfectly.

Features score: 4/5

(Image credit: Future)Noble Audio FoKus Artemis review: sound quality

Triple driver configurations delivers exceptional balance across the frequency range
Wide soundstage creates a hypnotic listening experience
Top-tier codec support and USB-C audio passthrough

It may not surprise you to find out that the Noble Audio FoKus Artemis are a truly spectacular-sounding pair of wireless headphones. In fact, they’re up there with some of the best performers I’ve tested here at TechRadar.

This model stands out from the crowd due to one specific design choice: its triple driver configuration. Dynamic drivers are great for handling the bass and mids, but balanced armature and planar drivers enable the Artemis to deliver enhanced precision, speed, and fidelity. But what’s the actual listening experience like?

Well, the most striking thing about the Artemis for me is their ability to conjure up a tremendously spacious, wide sound. For closed back, wireless headphones, the scale on offer is striking, and I was always treated to an almost hypnotic experience, no matter what genre I threw on.

In What We Got by Midas Field and Marjin Jensen, pumping bass hit with great impact and dynamism, without ever shrouding vocals in the mid-range or percussion up high. The speed and responsiveness of the low-end is excellent, and extends nice and low, meaning that even the darkest sounds in the frequency range sound full-bodied and controlled. Drums in the treble range were also precise and expressive without sounding overly bright, helping the Artemis to perfectly capture the energy of the track.

Switching over to Miracles by Change, and the Artemis continue to impress. Electric guitars were perfectly weighted in the mix, and sounded beautifully textured. They were also expertly separated from emotive vocals, which were in turn given plenty of room to express themselves. Subtle percussive elements were also perfectly audible, and the wide soundstage opened up a highly immersive listening experience.

As my phone supports both LDAC and aptX, I was able to get a highly detailed listen from the FoKus Artemis. USB-C audio passthrough also opens up genuine lossless playback, and with this, the Artemis offer up a phenomenally revealing, layered, and nuanced sound that helps to justify their high asking price.

Sound quality score: 5/5

(Image credit: Future)Noble Audio FoKus Artemis review: design

Stunning design with fabric headband and metallic detailing
Very comfortable in use, though looser fit has its downsides
IP52 dust and waterproof rating

If I could use one word to describe the look of the Noble Audio FoKus Artemis, it would be ‘striking’. The silver metallic detailing on the earcups is bold and eye-catching, and truly exudes a sense of luxury. The fabric headband is also built to a great standard, and the plush earcups appear textured and stylish.

There are a few plastic elements on the Artemis, and you could argue that some parts — like the buttons and carry case — don’t exactly look the most premium. But overall I think that the Artemis are a great-looking pair of headphones. They’re also relatively flat and low-profile, which I really like — I’ve never been a fan of the bulkier look of headphones like the Sony WH-1000XM6.

On top of this, the Artemis are amazingly comfortable in-use. I happily kept them on for hours upon hours when making a long train journey, and never found them to be uncomfortable or overbearing. On my (relatively large) head, I’d say that the Artemis fall on the looser side, fit-wise. While this ensures great comfort, it could sometimes mean that external noises crept in a bit too easily — combined with the fairly middling ANC, this means that the Artemis fail to challenge the gods of the ANC domain, such as Bose and Sony.

Something that’s good to see, though, is that the Artemis have an IP rating. Sure, it’s nothing ground-breaking at IP52 — meaning they’re protected against dust ingress and water sprays — but very few over-ears actually display a rating, so kudos to Noble Audio for this.

Design score: 4.5/5

(Image credit: Future)Noble Audio FoKus Artemis review: value

Undoubtedly expensive
But the exemplary sound quality helps to justify this
Still, exceptional performers are available for less

Look, the Noble Audio FoKus Artemis are a very expensive pair of wireless headphones. At $899 / £799 (about AU$1,200), they sit right up there with models like the Focal Bathys MG, and even exceed the excellent Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 in cost.

But are they really worth it? It honestly depends. If you want some of the best-sounding wireless cans on the market, then you’ll get just that with the Artemis. I’m not sure I’ve experienced any wireless headphones that outperform these. Their spacious, nuanced sound is a delight, and has made me never want to take them off. They also look great and offer a real sense of luxury, while features like the personalized EQ are rarely seen elsewhere.

Still, I can’t help but feel that their ANC could be better for the price, and you can still get incredible sound for a fair bit less with a luxury design from the Px8 S2. As a result, I’d consider the Artemis to be good value if you’re all in on sound, but perhaps consider the options in the ‘also consider’ section if you want to spend a little less.

Value score: 3.5/5

(Image credit: Future)Should I buy the Noble Audio FoKus Artemis?

Attribute

Notes

Score

Features

Great EQ options, good call quality and app, but ANC could be better.

4/5

Sound quality

Hypnotic, spacious sound with excellent balance across the frequency range.

5/5

Design

Fantastic looks, comfortable fit, but looser fit can let quite a lot of sound in.

4.5/5

Value

Top-tier sound quality and great features, but you can still get amazing quality for less.

3.5/5

Buy them if…

You want top-class wireless audio
The reason that the Artemis net such a high score from me is that their sound quality is absolutely top-tier. You get balanced sound, with hard-hitting yet controlled bass, rich and detailed mids, and articulate, snappy treble, largely thanks to the headphones’ ingenious triple-driver configuration.

You’re looking for granular sound control
With personalized EQ that accounts for hearing loss, a parametric ten-band equalizer, and a few presets for good measure, the Artemis are some of the most accomplished headphones on the market when it comes to sound customization.

Don’t buy them if…

You want class-leading ANC
Perhaps my biggest criticism of the Artemis is that their ANC isn’t the best. Will they dull your surroundings effectively? Sure. But will they give you that silence-inducing ANC that cans like the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Gen 2 provide? Not quite.

You want the ultimate value-for-money option
At full-price, the Artemis are eye-wateringly expensive. And while I think they sound absolutely spectacular, and I commend their expansive EQ options, you can still get incredible-sounding headphones for considerably less — see the Px8 S2 below.

Noble Audio FoKus Artemis review: also consider

Noble Audio FoKus Artemis

Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2

AirPods Max 2

Price

$899 / £799 (about AU$1,200)

$799 / £629 / AU$1,299

$549 / £499 / AU$999

Drivers

1x dynamic, 1x balanced armature, 1x planar

2 x 40mm dynamic full-range carbon cone

Apple-designed dynamic driver with new 'custom high dynamic range amplifier'

Active noise cancellation

Yes

Battery life

55 hours (35 hours with ANC on)

30 hours (ANC on)

20 hours (ANC on)

Weight

324g

310g

386.2g

Connectivity

Bluetooth 6.0, USB-C

Bluetooth 5.3, USB-C

Frequency range

10Hz-40kHz

10Hz-30kHz

Not stated

Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2
For the money, the Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 are easily some of the best-sounding wireless headphones on the market. But they also offer excellent build quality, a strong suite of features, and solid noise cancelling. Like the Artemis, they’re pretty pricey, but we still think they’re well-worth the investment. Read our full Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 review.

AirPods Max 2
Want incredibly spacious sound at a slightly easier-to-stomach price? Then the Apple AirPods Max 2 might be exactly what you’re looking for. They provide stronger ANC than the FoKus Artemis, are phenomenally stylish, and, of course, sound great too. You’ll need an iOS device to get the best out of their feature-set, and their battery life is certainly on the low side, but they’re still a great pair of over-ears. Read our full AirPods Max 2 review.

How I tested the Noble Audio FoKus Artemis

(Image credit: Future)

Tested for one month
Used on flights, trains, on walks, and in the office
Mainly streamed tunes over Tidal

I spent one month testing the Noble Audio FoKus Artemis, using them as my primary set of headphones. I used them on flights, trains, and buses, but also when out on walks, working at the office, or relaxing at home. Using them in such a range of environments helped me to fully understand the effectiveness of their ANC capabilities.

When listening to music, I typically streamed tunes over Tidal on my Xiaomi 17 phone, which supports aptX and LDAC codecs, but I also dipped into Spotify from time to time. As always, I sifted through the TechRadar reference playlist when testing, but I also listened to countless hours of music from my personal library.

More generally, I’ve spent years testing audio gear here at TechRadar, including everything from wired IEMs like the Beyerdynamic DT 30 IE to party speakers such as the Marshall Bromley 750. I’ve also tested a whole host of premium headphones, including the Sony 1000X The Collexion and Bang & Olufsen H100, so I know exactly what a pair of headphones needs to stand out in a highly competitive market.

Read TechRadar’s reviews guarantee
First reviewed: October 2026

Categories: Reviews

Anker Nano 45W Smart Display Charger review: a quirky and compact charging companion

TechRadar Reviews - Sat, 10/03/2026 - 10:00

Anker Nano 45W Smart Display Charger review

Anker’s back with another quirky, display-equipped charger that somehow adds a splash of fun into the process of juicing up your phone. I’ve spent a week testing it out at home, using it to revive a number of devices, and it’s impressed me overall — but is it worth the money? Stick around for my verdict.

Let’s start with the display, which is the big selling point of this model. First of all, there’s a lil’ charging blob character that appears, and expresses a variety of emotions depending on charging status, temperature and so on. This adds a bit of charisma and charm to the charger that most plain white or black blocks just don’t exude.

The display itself is bright, responsive, and well-sized — but it’s not just here for fun, it’s also pretty informative. You can touch a button next to the screen to get the visual on a range of factors — like power output and temperature. But you can also use it to toggle on Care Mode, which keeps the charger about 20°C cooler than international safety limits allow, and your actual device’s battery around 5°C cooler, which can protect your devices’ long-term battery health. That in itself is a function that even some of the best iPhone chargers skip on.

In practice, I never found that this model got too hot when in use, even in spite of its small size. Speaking of its size, this charger has a brilliantly compact form factor. It has a considerably smaller footprint than a lot of 45W chargers on the market, making it ideal for use in tight spaces or taking on the go. My only nitpick would be that the UK model I tested doesn’t have foldable prongs. This isn’t ideal if you want to stow the charger in your pocket, as the prongs can cause discomfort when pressed against you, though it’s worth flagging that the US variant folds away fully.

In terms of performance, this charger works as well as you’d hope. I tried charging my Samsung Galaxy S24 FE, which has a battery capacity of 4,700mAh. It brought the phone back to life just as quickly as I’d anticipated (about 80 minutes from 0%). However, my main device, the Xiaomi 17, cannot charge at maximum capacity with this model. That phone supports 100W wired charging, so if you have a device with similarly advanced charging capabilities, then it may be worth looking for something with a higher total power output, like the Anker Prime 100W GaN Wall Charger.

Something else worth noting is that this charger has a single USB-C port, so you can only charge one device at a time. That’s fine if you just want a simple phone charger, but there are models that let you charge your phone and other devices simultaneously, like the UGreen Nexode Charger 65W with Retractable USB-C Cable.

Still, there’s a lot to admire about this compact charger. For example, this model has dynamic, three-stage charging, with a Fast, Steady, and Trickle mode, automatically supplying your device with the power it needs in a safe, managed way. There’s also smart device recognition for iPhones, meaning that the charger can recognize your specific model, and will display it on the screen. Free updates are also planned to recognize upcoming iPhone models.

Another thing I love about the Anker Nano 45W is its look. It comes in a range of color options, intended to mirror those of the iPhone 17 line, and they all look fantastic. I used the Orange model, which is bold and eye-catching, but also built to a high standard. This helps to justify the $39.99 / £34.99 (about AU$55), which is by no means cheap, but fair for the quality and performance you get in return.

All in all, the Anker Nano 45W Smart Display Charger is a very solid model that supplies consistent and reliable performance, considerable visual flair, and an informative, personality-filled display. It’s not the most powerful option on the market, but if 45W is all you need, and you’re fine with a single USB-C port, then I’d certainly recommend it.

(Image credit: Future)Anker Nano 45W Smart Display Charger review: price & specs

Price

$39.99 / £34.99 (about AU$55)

Total power output

45W

Number of ports

Port type(s)

USB-C

Dimensions

3 x 1.4 x 1.3 inches / 77.3 x 35.8 x 34mm

(Image credit: Future)Should I buy the Anker Nano 45W Smart Display Charger?Buy it if…

You want an ultra-compact charger for travel
The Anker Nano 45W Smart Display charger is incredibly compact and very lightweight, making it ideal for taking on the go. Its small size also makes it ideal for slotting into tighter spaces, say if your power outlet is close to your desk.

You want a charger with character
This charger has an emotive, personality-filled display, and comes in a range of funky colors — including the Orange model I tested, which is my personal favorite.

Don't buy it if…

You need to charge multiple devices at once
This model from Anker has a single USB-C port, meaning you can only charge one device at a time. There are plenty of rivals with multiple ports if you want to juice up your phone as well as a pair of wireless earbuds, for example, without having to revive them individually. If you need multi-device charging, check out my recommendation in the ‘also consider’ section.

You have a particularly power-hungry handset
My Xiaomi 17 phone supports wired charging up to 100W, so this Anker model can’t provide me with top-level performance. While 45W is plenty for a lot of flagships, such as the iPhone 17 Pro Max, look elsewhere for peak performance. My personal go-to is the UGreen Uno Charger 100W.

Anker Nano 45W Smart Display Charger review: also consider

UGreen Nexode RG 65W
Need a bit more power, but still want a charger with a fun display? Then look no further than the UGreen Nexode RG 65W. It can be found for a very similar price as the Anker Nano 45W Smart Display Charger, has three ports (two USB-C and one USB-A) for juicing up multiple devices at once, and will make quirky faces at you while bringing your gadgets back to life. Read my full UGreen Nexode RG 65W review.

Categories: Reviews

TCL QM7L review: the best mid-range TV of 2026

TechRadar Reviews - Fri, 10/02/2026 - 18:00

TCL QM7L: Two-minute review

The TCL QM7L is difficult to review. Largely because it’s basically the same TV as the TCL QM8L we recently reviewed but at a cheaper price point with fewer dimming zones and lower peak brightness. Outside of that and the fact that it has a more limited version of Dolby Vision, it’s functionally the same.

If you were to put the two TVs side by side, you would probably be tempted to go for the TCL QM8L and shell out over the extra five hundred bucks, assuming you’re going for the 65-inch size.

But that is a lot of money and the differences are minor enough that I think the TCL QM7L is one of the best TVs in terms of value, especially if you still want a somewhat premium experience. There are plenty of decent TVs under a grand, of course, but this TV is a step above those.

Despite the lower specs compared to some of TCL’s other offerings, the TCL QM7L is still impressive with up to 2,100 local dimming zones, up to 3,000 nits at peak brightness, TCL’s anti-halo and color enhancing tech, and AI features such as the imperfect generative voice assistant in Google Gemini. The sound is still provided by Bang & Olufsen and the refresh rate (and passthrough from HDMI ports) is high enough that it will make for one of the best gaming TVs for those trying to strike a balance between premium performance and price.

TCL QM7L review: Price and release date

The TCL QM7L showcasing its color coverage with a scene from Coco. (Image credit: Future / James Holland)

Release date: April 2026
55-inch: $999.99
65-inch: $1,299.99
75-inch: $1,499.99
85-inch: $1,999.99
100-inch: $2,999.99

The TCL QM7L is an exercise in value. To be clear, there are many cheaper options available from TCL, even mid-range offerings such as the TCL QM6K, but this TV inches a little closer to premium flagship territory but with a still somewhat comfortable price tag.

Released at the same time as the TCL QM8L and TCL X11L (April 2026), the TCL QM7L hits a lower price point with a range starting at $999.99 for its smallest size (55-inch) and ending at $2,999.99 for its biggest (100-inch). If you want something on that smaller 55-inch end, the TCL QM7L is the only way to go, as the TCL QM8L and TCL X11L aren’t available in that size.

TCL QM7L review: Specs

Screen type

SQD Mini-LED

Refresh rate

144Hz

HDR support

HDR10, HDR10+, HLG, Dolby Vision IQ

Audio support

Dolby Atmos, Dolby Digital, DTS:X

Smart TV

Google TV

HDMI ports

4 (1 eARC, 2x HDMI 2.1 @144Hz, 2x HDMI 2.0 @60Hz)

Built-in tuner

ATSC 3.0

TCL QM7L review: Benchmark results@import url('https://fonts.googleapis.com/css2?family=Open+Sans:wght@400;700&display=swap');@import url('https://fonts.googleapis.com/css2?family=Poppins:wght@400;700&display=swap');#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper *, #fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper *:before, #fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper *:after, #fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow *, #fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow *:before, #fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow *:after {box-sizing: border-box !important; margin: 0; padding: 0; border: 0;font-size: 100%; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;}#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper, #fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow { font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif !important; }#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper {position: relative !important; overflow: visible !important;--riv-primary: #2E6E93;}#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-inner-wrapper {color: #1F2937 !important; background-color: #ffffff !important;padding: 1.5rem 1.5rem 2rem !important; border-radius: 0.5rem !important;box-shadow: 0 1px 3px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) !important;margin: 1rem 0 !important; display: flex !important; flex-direction: column !important;overflow: hidden !important;}#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-inner-wrapper.fv-no-header.fv-is-image-compare {padding-top: 0 !important;}#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper.fv-full-bleed {width: 100vw !important;margin-left: calc(50% - 50vw) !important;}body {overflow-x: clip !important;}#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper.fv-full-bleed .fv-inner-wrapper {padding: 0 !important;border-radius: 0 !important;box-shadow: none !important;margin: 0 !important;background-color: transparent !important;}#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-inner-wrapper.fv-is-shop-the-look {padding: 0 !important;border-radius: 0 !important;box-shadow: none !important;margin: 0 !important;background-color: transparent !important;}#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow {position: relative !important;width: 100% !important;margin: 1rem 0 !important;--riv-primary: #2E6E93;}#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-slides-wrapper {position: relative !important;width: 100% !important;}#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-slide {width: 100% !important;animation: fv-fade-in 0.3s ease-in-out;}@keyframes fv-fade-in {from { opacity: 0; }to { opacity: 1; }}#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-slideshow-nav-row {position: relative !important;display: flex !important;justify-content: space-between !important;align-items: center !important;padding: 0 0 16px 0 !important;width: 100% !important;z-index: 20 !important;}#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-nav-btn {background-color: var(--riv-primary) !important;color: #ffffff !important;border: none !important;border-radius: 4px !important;padding: 8px 16px !important;font-size: 14px !important;font-weight: 700 !important;cursor: pointer !important;display: flex !important;align-items: center !important;justify-content: center !important;gap: 6px !important;transition: opacity 0.2s, background-color 0.2s !important;height: 36px !important;text-transform: none !important;box-shadow: 0 1px 2px rgba(0,0,0,0.1) !important;}#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-nav-btn svg {width: 18px !important;height: 18px !important;stroke-width: 3px !important;filter: none !important;}#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-nav-btn:hover {opacity: 0.9 !important;transform: translateY(-1px) !important;}#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-nav-btn.disabled {background-color: #E5E7EB !important;color: #9CA3AF !important;cursor: default !important;pointer-events: none !important;box-shadow: none !important;}#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-slide-counter {font-family: 'Poppins', sans-serif !important;font-size: 14px !important;font-weight: 600 !important;color: #374151 !important;text-align: center !important;min-width: 40px !important;background-color: rgba(255,255,255,0.8) !important;padding: 2px 8px !important;border-radius: 10px !important;}#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-slideshow-select {position: absolute !important;top: 10px !important;right: 10px !important;z-index: 20 !important;appearance: none !important;-webkit-appearance: none !important;-moz-appearance: none !important;background-color: white !important;border: 1px solid #d1d5db !important;color: #1F2937 !important;font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif !important;font-size: 14px !important;font-weight: 600 !important;padding: 6px 32px 6px 12px !important;border-radius: 4px !important;cursor: pointer !important;box-shadow: 0 1px 2px rgba(0,0,0,0.05) !important;background-image: url("data:image/svg+xml,%3csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' fill='none' viewBox='0 0 20 20'%3e%3cpath stroke='%236b7280' stroke-linecap='round' stroke-linejoin='round' stroke-width='1.5' d='M6 8l4 4 4-4'/%3e%3c/svg%3e") !important;background-position: right 0.5rem center !important;background-repeat: no-repeat !important;background-size: 1.5em 1.5em !important;}#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-slideshow-select:focus {outline: 2px solid #2E6E93 !important;border-color: #2E6E93 !important;}#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-chart-title {font-weight: bold !important;text-align: center !important;margin-bottom: 0.5rem !important;color: var(--riv-primary) !important;font-size: 20px !important;line-height: 1.2 !important;font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif !important;text-transform: none !important;white-space: normal !important;overflow-wrap: break-word !important;padding: 0 20px !important;}#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-chart-subhead {font-size: 18px !important;font-weight: 500 !important;text-align: center !important;margin-bottom: 2rem !important;color: #374151 !important;line-height: 1.7 !important;font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif !important;display: block !important;text-transform: none !important;padding: 0 20px !important;}#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .rv-chart-caption { font-size: 15px !important; color: #374151 !important; text-align: center !important; font-style: normal !important; font-weight: normal !important; line-height: 1.7 !important; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif !important; display: block !important; }#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-versus-chart { display: flex; flex-direction: column; width: 100%; margin-top: 1rem; }#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-versus-header { display: flex; justify-content: space-between; align-items: center; margin-bottom: 1.5rem; padding: 0 1rem; }#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-versus-select-wrapper { flex: 1; min-width: 0; }#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-versus-select-wrapper.fv-left { text-align: center; padding-right: 1rem; }#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-versus-select-wrapper.fv-right { text-align: center; padding-left: 1rem; }#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-versus-select-container { position: relative; display: inline-block; max-width: 100%; width: 100%; }#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-versus-chevron { position: absolute; top: 50%; transform: translateY(-50%); pointer-events: none; width: 16px; height: 16px; flex-shrink: 0; }#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-versus-select-wrapper.fv-left .fv-versus-chevron { right: 0; }#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-versus-select-wrapper.fv-right .fv-versus-chevron { right: 0; }#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-versus-select { background: transparent; border: none; border-bottom: 2px solid; font-family: 'Poppins', sans-serif; font-weight: 700; font-size: 14px; padding: 0.25rem 0; cursor: pointer; outline: none; appearance: none; -webkit-appearance: none; -moz-appearance: none; max-width: 100%; width: 100%; text-overflow: ellipsis; overflow: hidden; white-space: nowrap; }#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-versus-select.fv-select-left { text-align: center; direction: ltr; padding-right: 1.25rem; }#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-versus-select.fv-select-right { text-align: center; padding-right: 1.25rem; }#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-versus-select option { font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-weight: 400; font-size: 14px; color: #374151; direction: ltr; text-align: left; }#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-versus-vs { font-family: 'Poppins', sans-serif; font-weight: 700; font-size: 14px; color: #374151; letter-spacing: 0.1em; padding: 0 1rem; }#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-versus-body { display: flex; flex-direction: column; gap: 1.5rem; }#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-versus-row { position: relative; height: auto; padding-top: 20px; margin-bottom: 0.25rem; display: block; }#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-versus-bar-container { position: relative; height: 32px; display: flex; align-items: center; }#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-versus-bar-left-wrapper { flex: 1; height: 100%; display: flex; justify-content: flex-end; align-items: center; }#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-versus-bar-right-wrapper { flex: 1; height: 100%; display: flex; justify-content: flex-start; align-items: center; }#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-versus-bar { height: 32px; width: var(--target-width); transition: width 0.8s ease-out; animation: fv-grow-max-width 0.8s ease-out forwards; display: flex; align-items: center; overflow: hidden; color: #ffffff; }#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-versus-bar-left { border-radius: 4px 0 0 4px; justify-content: flex-end; padding: 0 8px; }#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-versus-bar-right { border-radius: 0 4px 4px 0; justify-content: flex-start; padding: 0 8px; }@keyframes fv-grow-max-width {from { max-width: 0; }to { max-width: 100%; }}#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-versus-center-line { position: absolute; left: 50%; top: 0; bottom: 0; width: 4px; background-color: #ffffff; transform: translateX(-50%); z-index: 1; }#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-inside-left { white-space: nowrap; flex-shrink: 0; }#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-inside-right { white-space: nowrap; flex-shrink: 0; }#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-versus-val-text { font-family: 'Poppins', sans-serif; font-weight: 700; font-size: 14px; }#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-versus-pct-diff { font-size: 12px; font-weight: 600; }#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-versus-label { position: absolute; left: 50%; transform: translateX(-50%); top: 0; background-color: transparent; border: none; box-shadow: none; padding: 0; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-weight: 700; font-size: 14px; color: #374151; white-space: nowrap; }#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .sr-only { position: absolute !important; width: 1px !important; height: 1px !important; padding: 0 !important; margin: -1px !important; overflow: hidden !important; clip: rect(0,0,0,0) !important; white-space: nowrap !important; border: 0 !important; }#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-bottom-bar { display: flex !important; flex-direction: column !important; align-items: center !important; margin-top: 0.5rem !important; gap: 1rem !important; }#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-footer-content { text-align: center !important; width: 100% !important; }#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-logo {display: block !important;margin: 0 auto !important;width: 120px !important;min-width: 120px !important;max-width: 120px !important;height: auto !important;object-fit: contain !important;flex-shrink: 0 !important;}#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-dropdown-wrapper { text-align: center !important; margin-bottom: 16px !important; margin-top: 0 !important; }#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-dropdown-title-container { position: relative !important; display: inline-block !important; max-width: 100% !important; }#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-dropdown-title {appearance: none !important;-webkit-appearance: none !important;-moz-appearance: none !important;background: transparent !important;border: none !important;font-size: 18px !important;font-weight: 600 !important;color: var(--riv-primary) !important;padding-right: 28px !important;padding-left: 10px !important;cursor: pointer !important;text-align: center !important;text-align-last: center !important;width: auto !important;max-width: 100% !important;font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif !important;line-height: 1.3 !important;margin: 0 !important;text-overflow: ellipsis !important;overflow: hidden !important;white-space: nowrap !important;}#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-dropdown-title:focus { outline: none !important; }#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-dropdown-title::-ms-expand { display: none !important; }#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-dropdown-chevron {position: absolute !important;right: 0 !important;top: 50% !important;transform: translateY(-50%) !important;pointer-events: none !important;color: var(--riv-primary) !important;display: flex !important;align-items: center !important;}#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-carousel-title-controls { display: flex !important; justify-content: space-between !important; align-items: center !important; margin-bottom: 16px !important; width: 100% !important; gap: 12px !important; }#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-carousel-nav-btn {background: transparent !important; border: 1px solid #d1d5db !important; border-radius: 6px !important; padding: 6px 10px !important;cursor: pointer !important; font-size: 14px !important; color: #374151 !important; display: flex !important; align-items: center !important; gap: 4px !important; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif !important;}#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-carousel-nav-btn:hover { border-color: #9ca3af !important; }#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-carousel-counter { font-size: 14px !important; color: #374151 !important; text-align: center !important; margin-top: 1rem !important; }#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-legend { display: flex !important; justify-content: center !important; flex-wrap: wrap !important; gap: 8px 16px !important; margin: 0 !important; padding: 0 !important; margin-top: 1rem !important; }#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-legend-item { display: flex !important; align-items: center !important; gap: 6px !important; font-size: 14px !important; color: #374151 !important; }#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-legend-color { width: 12px !important; height: 12px !important; border-radius: 3px !important; }#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-multi-value-legend {display: flex !important;justify-content: center !important;flex-wrap: wrap !important;gap: 12px 24px !important;margin-bottom: 1.5rem !important;padding: 0 !important;}#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-multi-legend-item { display: flex !important; align-items: center !important; gap: 8px !important; font-size: 14px !important; color: #374151 !important; font-weight: 500 !important; }#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-multi-legend-swatch { width: 16px !important; height: 16px !important; border-radius: 3px !important; }#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-benchmark-group { margin-bottom: 1rem !important; }#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-benchmark-title {font-size: 18px !important; font-weight: 600 !important; margin-bottom: 16px !important; margin-top: 0 !important; padding: 0 !important;text-align: center !important; color: var(--riv-primary) !important; flex: 1 !important; min-width: 0 !important;font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif !important; line-height: 1.3 !important;text-transform: none !important;white-space: normal !important;overflow-wrap: break-word !important;word-wrap: break-word !important;max-width: 100% !important;}#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-bar-row, #fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-stacked-product { display: flex !important; align-items: center !important; width: 100% !important; margin-bottom: 0.75rem !important; position: relative !important; }#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-bar-label { width: 150px !important; flex-shrink: 0 !important; font-size: 14px !important; color: #374151 !important; padding-right: 10px !important; text-align: right !important; font-weight: 500 !important; display: block !important; }#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-bar-container { flex-grow: 1 !important; background-color: #E5E7EB !important; border-radius: 4px !important; min-height: 25px !important; border: 1px solid #D1D5DB !important; position: relative !important; display: flex !important; align-items: center !important; }#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-bar-commentary-inline { display: none !important; position: absolute !important; left: 150px !important; top: 0 !important; bottom: 0 !important; right: 0 !important; width: calc(100% - 150px) !important; margin: 0 !important; padding: 0 8px !important; font-size: 13px !important; color: #fff !important; background: rgba(0,0,0,0.8) !important; border-radius: 4px !important; line-height: 1.4 !important; font-weight: normal !important; text-transform: none !important; word-wrap: break-word !important; z-index: 10 !important; align-items: center !important; overflow-y: auto !important; }#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper.preview-wrapper .fv-bar-row:hover .fv-bar-commentary-inline, #fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper.preview-wrapper .fv-bar-commentary-inline:focus, #fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper.preview-wrapper .fv-bar-commentary-inline:focus-within, #fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper.mobile-view .fv-bar-row:hover .fv-bar-commentary-inline, #fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper.mobile-view .fv-bar-commentary-inline:focus, #fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper.mobile-view .fv-bar-commentary-inline:focus-within { display: flex !important; }#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-bar { height: 100% !important; border-radius: 3px !important; display: flex !important; align-items: center !important; transition: opacity 0.2s ease, width 0.8s ease-out !important; min-height: 23px !important; }#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-bar:hover { opacity: 0.8 !important; }#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-bar-inner-content { display: flex !important; justify-content: space-between !important; align-items: center !important; width: 100% !important; height: 100% !important; padding: 0 8px !important; font-size: 14px !important; font-weight: bold !important; overflow: hidden !important; }#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-bar-inner-label { white-space: nowrap !important; overflow: hidden !important; text-overflow: ellipsis !important; padding-right: 8px !important; }#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-bar-inner-value { flex-shrink: 0 !important; }#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-bar-value-outside { padding-left: 8px !important; font-size: 14px !important; font-weight: bold !important; color: #374151 !important; white-space: nowrap !important; }#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-bar-label.fv-primary-product { font-weight: bold !important; color: var(--riv-primary) !important; }#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-multi-bar-container { flex-direction: column !important; padding: 4px !important; align-items: stretch !important; gap: 4px !important; height: auto !important; }#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-multi-bar-item { display: flex !important; align-items: center !important; height: 25px !important; width: 100% !important; }#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-stacked-bar { display: flex !important; overflow: hidden !important; }#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-stacked-segment { height: 100% !important; display: flex !important; align-items: center !important; justify-content: flex-end !important; padding-right: 8px !important; border-right: 1px solid rgba(255,255,255,0.3) !important; }#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-stacked-segment:last-child { border-right: none !important; }#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-segment-value { font-size: 14px !important; font-weight: bold !important; }#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-grouped-bar-product { display: flex !important; flex-direction: column !important; width: 100% !important; margin-bottom: 1.25rem !important; }#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-grouped-product-title-wrapper { padding-left: 150px !important; }#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-grouped-product-title { width: 100% !important; text-align: left !important; padding-right: 0 !important; margin-bottom: 0.5rem !important; font-weight: 700 !important; font-size: 14px !important; color: #374151 !important; text-transform: none !important; }#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-bar-cluster { width: 100% !important; flex-grow: 1 !important; display: flex !important; flex-direction: column !important; }#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-bar-cluster .fv-bar-row { margin-bottom: 3px !important; }#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-bar-cluster .fv-bar-container { height: 20px !important; }#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .riv-grid line {stroke: #D1D5DB !important;stroke-dasharray: 3 3 !important;}#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-x-axis-wrapper { display: flex !important; width: 100% !important; margin-top: 0.5rem !important; }#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-x-axis-label-space { width: 150px !important; padding-right: 10px !important; flex-shrink: 0 !important; }#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-x-axis-chart-space { flex-grow: 1 !important; padding-right: 8px !important; }#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-x-axis-wrapper.fv-grouped-x-axis { margin-left: 0 !important; }#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-x-axis-line { border-top: 1px solid #D1D5DB !important; }#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-x-axis-ticks { display: flex !important; justify-content: space-between !important; padding-top: 4px !important; font-size: 13px !important; color: #374151 !important; }#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-x-axis-ticks span { position: relative !important; }#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-x-axis-ticks span::before { content: '' !important; position: absolute !important; top: -6px !important; left: 50% !important; transform: translateX(-50%) !important; width: 2px !important; height: 4px !important; background-color: #D1D5DB !important; border-radius: 1px !important; }#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-x-axis-unit { text-align: center !important; font-size: 14px !important; color: #374151 !important; margin-top: 8px !important; display: block !important; }#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-x-axis-title { text-align: center !important; font-size: 15px !important; color: #374151 !important; margin-top: 8px !important; margin-bottom: 16px !important; line-height: 1.5 !important; padding: 0 1rem !important; display: block !important; font-weight: bold !important; }#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-y-axis-title {font-size: 15px !important;color: #374151 !important;line-height: 1.5 !important;text-align: left !important;padding-left: 5.83% !important;margin-bottom: 4px !important;display: block !important;font-weight: bold !important;}#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper.mobile-view .fv-pie-container,#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper.labels-on-top .fv-pie-container {flex-direction: column !important; gap: 1rem !important;}#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper.mobile-view .fv-grouped-product-title-wrapper,#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper.labels-on-top .fv-grouped-product-title-wrapper {padding-left: 0 !important;}#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper.mobile-view .fv-bar-row,#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper.mobile-view .fv-stacked-product,#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper.mobile-view .fv-grouped-bar-product,#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper.labels-on-top .fv-bar-row,#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper.labels-on-top .fv-stacked-product,#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper.labels-on-top .fv-grouped-bar-product {flex-direction: column !important; align-items: flex-start !important; margin-bottom: 1.25rem !important;}#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper.mobile-view .fv-bar-label:not(.fv-grouped-product-title),#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper.labels-on-top .fv-bar-label:not(.fv-grouped-product-title) {width: 100% !important; text-align: left !important; padding-right: 0 !important; margin-bottom: 0.25rem !important; font-size: 14px !important; font-weight: 700 !important;}#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper.mobile-view .fv-bar-label,#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper.mobile-view .fv-grouped-product-title,#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper.labels-on-top .fv-bar-label,#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper.labels-on-top .fv-grouped-product-title {width: 100% !important; text-align: left !important; padding-right: 0 !important; margin-bottom: 0.25rem !important; font-size: 14px !important; font-weight: 700 !important;}#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper.mobile-view .fv-bar-container,#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper.mobile-view .fv-bar-cluster,#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper.labels-on-top .fv-bar-container,#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper.labels-on-top .fv-bar-cluster {width: 100% !important;}#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper.mobile-view .fv-bar-row .fv-bar-commentary-inline,#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper.mobile-view .fv-bar-row:hover .fv-bar-commentary-inline,#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper.mobile-view .fv-bar-row .fv-bar-commentary-inline:focus,#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper.mobile-view .fv-bar-row .fv-bar-commentary-inline:focus-within,#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper.labels-on-top .fv-bar-row .fv-bar-commentary-inline,#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper.labels-on-top .fv-bar-row:hover .fv-bar-commentary-inline,#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper.labels-on-top .fv-bar-row .fv-bar-commentary-inline:focus,#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper.labels-on-top .fv-bar-row .fv-bar-commentary-inline:focus-within {position: static !important; display: block !important; width: 100% !important; margin: 4px 0 0 0 !important; padding: 0 !important; background: transparent !important; color: #6B7280 !important; font-size: 12px !important;}#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper.mobile-view .fv-x-axis-wrapper,#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper.labels-on-top .fv-x-axis-wrapper {margin-left: 0 !important;}#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper.mobile-view .fv-x-axis-label-space,#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper.labels-on-top .fv-x-axis-label-space {display: none !important;}#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper.mobile-view .fv-x-axis-chart-space,#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper.labels-on-top .fv-x-axis-chart-space {padding-right: 0 !important;}#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper.mobile-view .fv-benchmark-title,#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper.labels-on-top .fv-benchmark-title {font-size: 16px !important;}#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper.mobile-view .fv-dropdown-title,#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper.labels-on-top .fv-dropdown-title {font-size: 16px !important;}#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper.mobile-view .fv-carousel-nav-btn,#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper.labels-on-top .fv-carousel-nav-btn {padding: 8px 12px !important; font-size: 14px !important;}#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper.mobile-view .fv-chart-title,#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper.labels-on-top .fv-chart-title {padding: 0 8px !important;}#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper.mobile-view .fv-chart-subhead,#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper.labels-on-top .fv-chart-subhead {padding: 0 8px !important;}#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper.mobile-view .fv-versus-header,#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper.labels-on-top .fv-versus-header {flex-direction: column !important; align-items: center !important; padding: 0 !important; gap: 0.5rem !important;}#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper.mobile-view .fv-versus-select-wrapper,#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper.labels-on-top .fv-versus-select-wrapper {flex: 1 !important; min-width: 0 !important; width: 100% !important;}#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper.mobile-view .fv-versus-select-wrapper.fv-left,#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper.labels-on-top .fv-versus-select-wrapper.fv-left {text-align: center !important; padding-right: 0 !important;}#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper.mobile-view .fv-versus-select-wrapper.fv-right,#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper.labels-on-top .fv-versus-select-wrapper.fv-right {text-align: center !important; padding-left: 0 !important;}#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper.mobile-view .fv-versus-select.fv-select-left,#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper.labels-on-top .fv-versus-select.fv-select-left {text-align: center !important;}#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper.mobile-view .fv-versus-select.fv-select-right,#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper.labels-on-top .fv-versus-select.fv-select-right {text-align: center !important;}#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper.mobile-view .fv-versus-vs,#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper.labels-on-top .fv-versus-vs {text-align: center !important; padding: 0.25rem 0 !important;}#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper.mobile-view .fv-versus-select-container,#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper.labels-on-top .fv-versus-select-container {max-width: 100% !important; width: 100% !important;}#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper.mobile-view .fv-versus-select,#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper.labels-on-top .fv-versus-select {font-size: 14px !important; width: 100% !important;}#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper.mobile-view .fv-stl-shop-all-btn,#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper.labels-on-top .fv-stl-shop-all-btn {bottom: 0.5rem !important; right: 0.5rem !important; height: 2rem !important; font-size: 0.75rem !important; padding: 0 0.75rem 0 2.5rem !important; max-width: calc(100% - 1rem) !important;}#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper.mobile-view .fv-stl-shop-all-logo,#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper.mobile-view .fv-stl-shop-all-icon,#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper.labels-on-top .fv-stl-shop-all-logo,#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper.labels-on-top .fv-stl-shop-all-icon {width: 2rem !important; height: 2rem !important;}#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper.mobile-view .fv-stl-shop-all-icon svg,#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper.labels-on-top .fv-stl-shop-all-icon svg {width: 14px !important; height: 14px !important;}#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper.mobile-view .fv-bar-commentary-inline,#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper.labels-on-top .fv-bar-commentary-inline {display: block !important; margin-left: 0 !important; width: 100% !important;}#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper.mobile-view .fv-y-axis-title { padding-left: 5% !important; }#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper.mobile-view.fv-contains-line-chart .fv-footer-content {margin-left: -1rem !important;margin-right: -1rem !important;}@media (max-width: 599px) {#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-pie-container {flex-direction: column !important; gap: 1rem !important;}#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-grouped-product-title-wrapper {padding-left: 0 !important;}#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-bar-row,#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-stacked-product,#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-grouped-bar-product {flex-direction: column !important; align-items: flex-start !important; margin-bottom: 1.25rem !important;}#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-bar-label:not(.fv-grouped-product-title) {width: 100% !important; text-align: left !important; padding-right: 0 !important; margin-bottom: 0.25rem !important; font-size: 14px !important; font-weight: 700 !important;}#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-bar-label,#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-grouped-product-title {width: 100% !important; text-align: left !important; padding-right: 0 !important; margin-bottom: 0.25rem !important; font-size: 14px !important; font-weight: 700 !important;}#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-bar-container,#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-bar-cluster {width: 100% !important;}#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-bar-row .fv-bar-commentary-inline,#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-bar-row:hover .fv-bar-commentary-inline,#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-bar-row .fv-bar-commentary-inline:focus,#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-bar-row .fv-bar-commentary-inline:focus-within {position: static !important; display: block !important; width: 100% !important; margin: 4px 0 0 0 !important; padding: 0 !important; background: transparent !important; color: #6B7280 !important; font-size: 12px !important;}#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-x-axis-wrapper {margin-left: 0 !important;}#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-x-axis-label-space {display: none !important;}#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-x-axis-chart-space {padding-right: 0 !important;}#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-benchmark-title {font-size: 16px !important;}#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-dropdown-title {font-size: 16px !important;}#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-carousel-nav-btn {padding: 8px 12px !important; font-size: 14px !important;}#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-chart-title {padding: 0 8px !important;}#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-chart-subhead {padding: 0 8px !important;}#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-versus-header {flex-direction: column !important; align-items: center !important; padding: 0 !important; gap: 0.5rem !important;}#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-versus-select-wrapper {flex: 1 !important; min-width: 0 !important; width: 100% !important;}#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-versus-select-wrapper.fv-left {text-align: center !important; padding-right: 0 !important;}#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-versus-select-wrapper.fv-right {text-align: center !important; padding-left: 0 !important;}#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-versus-select.fv-select-left {text-align: center !important;}#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-versus-select.fv-select-right {text-align: center !important;}#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-versus-vs {text-align: center !important; padding: 0.25rem 0 !important;}#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-versus-select-container {max-width: 100% !important; width: 100% !important;}#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-versus-select {font-size: 14px !important; width: 100% !important;}#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-stl-shop-all-btn {bottom: 0.5rem !important; right: 0.5rem !important; height: 2rem !important; font-size: 0.75rem !important; padding: 0 0.75rem 0 2.5rem !important; max-width: calc(100% - 1rem) !important;}#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-stl-shop-all-logo,#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-stl-shop-all-icon {width: 2rem !important; height: 2rem !important;}#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-stl-shop-all-icon svg {width: 14px !important; height: 14px !important;}#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-bar-commentary-inline {display: block !important; margin-left: 0 !important; width: 100% !important;}#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper .fv-y-axis-title { padding-left: 5% !important; }#fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s-slideshow .fv-chart-wrapper.fv-contains-line-chart .fv-footer-content {margin-left: -1rem !important;margin-right: -1rem !important;}}[{"@context": "https://schema.org","@type": "Dataset","name": "Brightness measurements","description": "Subhead to describe the test and what's being measured and why","creator": {"@type": "Organization","name": "TechRadar","logo": "https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/dAwPEozB9GMMhAngdFJTHb.png"},"isAccessibleForFree": true,"dateCreated": "2026-09-08T13:34:39.542Z","citation": "Add your caption to explain the data, the learnings and the key takeaways of the data being visualized","keywords": ["TCL QM7L","TCL QM8L","Roku Pro Series (2025)","HDR Filmmaker Mode (10% window)","HDR Filmmaker Mode (Fullscreen)","HDR Standard Mode (10% window)","SDR Filmmaker Mode (10% window)","SDR Standard Mode (10% window)","HDR Standard Mode (Fullscreen)","HDR Filmmaker","HDR Standard","SDR Filmmaker","SDR Standard","benchmark","comparison","performance","review","TechRadar"],"measurementTechnique": "Performance Benchmarking","variableMeasured": [{"@type": "PropertyValue","name": "TCL QM7L – HDR Filmmaker Mode (10% window)","value": 2270,"unitText": "nits"},{"@type": "PropertyValue","name": "TCL QM7L – HDR Filmmaker Mode (Fullscreen)","value": 723,"unitText": "nits"},{"@type": "PropertyValue","name": "TCL QM8L – HDR Filmmaker Mode (10% window)","value": 3719,"unitText": "nits"},{"@type": "PropertyValue","name": "TCL QM8L – HDR Filmmaker Mode (Fullscreen)","value": 759,"unitText": "nits"},{"@type": "PropertyValue","name": "Roku Pro Series (2025) – HDR Filmmaker Mode (10% window)","value": 820,"unitText": "nits"},{"@type": "PropertyValue","name": "Roku Pro Series (2025) – HDR Filmmaker Mode (Fullscreen)","value": 373,"unitText": "nits"},{"@type": "PropertyValue","name": "TCL QM7L – HDR Standard Mode (10% window)","value": 2419,"unitText": "nits"},{"@type": "PropertyValue","name": "TCL QM7L – HDR Standard Mode (Fullscreen)","value": 774,"unitText": "nits"},{"@type": "PropertyValue","name": "TCL QM8L – HDR Standard Mode (10% window)","value": 3771,"unitText": "nits"},{"@type": "PropertyValue","name": "TCL QM8L – HDR Standard Mode (Fullscreen)","value": 795,"unitText": "nits"},{"@type": "PropertyValue","name": "Roku Pro Series (2025) – HDR Standard Mode (10% window)","value": 841,"unitText": "nits"},{"@type": "PropertyValue","name": "Roku Pro Series (2025) – HDR Standard Mode (Fullscreen)","value": 390,"unitText": "nits"},{"@type": "PropertyValue","name": "TCL QM7L – SDR Filmmaker Mode (10% window)","value": 196,"unitText": "nits"},{"@type": "PropertyValue","name": "TCL QM8L – SDR Filmmaker Mode (10% window)","value": 229,"unitText": "nits"},{"@type": "PropertyValue","name": "Roku Pro Series (2025) – SDR Filmmaker Mode (10% window)","value": 434,"unitText": "nits"},{"@type": "PropertyValue","name": "TCL QM7L – SDR Standard Mode (10% window)","value": 463,"unitText": "nits"},{"@type": "PropertyValue","name": "TCL QM8L – SDR Standard Mode (10% window)","value": 518,"unitText": "nits"},{"@type": "PropertyValue","name": "Roku Pro Series (2025) – SDR Standard Mode (10% window)","value": 876,"unitText": "nits"}]},{"@context": "https://schema.org","@type": "Dataset","name": "HDR color gamut","description": "Closer to 100% is better. Taken using a colorimeter and test pattern generator.","creator": {"@type": "Organization","name": "TechRadar","logo": "https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/dAwPEozB9GMMhAngdFJTHb.png"},"isAccessibleForFree": true,"dateCreated": "2026-09-08T13:34:39.542Z","citation": "Add your caption to explain the data, the learnings and the key takeaways of the data being visualized","keywords": ["TCL QM7L","TCL QM8L","Roku Pro Series (2025)","UHDA-P3","BT.2020","HDR Filmmaker","benchmark","comparison","performance","review","TechRadar"],"measurementTechnique": "Performance Benchmarking","variableMeasured": [{"@type": "PropertyValue","name": "TCL QM7L – UHDA-P3","value": 97.6,"unitText": ""},{"@type": "PropertyValue","name": "TCL QM7L – BT.2020","value": 90.3,"unitText": ""},{"@type": "PropertyValue","name": "TCL QM8L – UHDA-P3","value": 98,"unitText": ""},{"@type": "PropertyValue","name": "TCL QM8L – BT.2020","value": 90.3,"unitText": ""},{"@type": "PropertyValue","name": "Roku Pro Series (2025) – UHDA-P3","value": 96.9,"unitText": ""},{"@type": "PropertyValue","name": "Roku Pro Series (2025) – BT.2020","value": 80.6,"unitText": ""}]},{"@context": "https://schema.org","@type": "Dataset","name": "Picture accuracy","description": "A lower score is better. Taken using a colorimeter and test pattern generator.","creator": {"@type": "Organization","name": "TechRadar","logo": "https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/dAwPEozB9GMMhAngdFJTHb.png"},"isAccessibleForFree": true,"dateCreated": "2026-09-08T13:34:39.542Z","citation": "Add your caption to explain the data, the learnings and the key takeaways of the data being visualized","keywords": ["TCL QM7L","TCL QM8L","Roku Pro Series (2025)","Delta-E","SDR Delta-E","benchmark","comparison","performance","review","TechRadar"],"measurementTechnique": "Performance Benchmarking","variableMeasured": [{"@type": "PropertyValue","name": "TCL QM7L – Delta-E","value": 2.6,"unitText": ""},{"@type": "PropertyValue","name": "TCL QM8L – Delta-E","value": 3.7,"unitText": ""},{"@type": "PropertyValue","name": "Roku Pro Series (2025) – Delta-E","value": 2.5,"unitText": ""}]},{"@context": "https://schema.org","@type": "Dataset","name": "Input lag","description": "Lower is better. Taken using a Leo Bodnar 4K HDMI Video Signal Lag Tester.","creator": {"@type": "Organization","name": "TechRadar","logo": "https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/dAwPEozB9GMMhAngdFJTHb.png"},"isAccessibleForFree": true,"dateCreated": "2026-09-08T13:34:39.542Z","citation": "Add your caption to explain the data, the learnings and the key takeaways of the data being visualized","keywords": ["TCL QM7L","TCL QM8L","Roku Pro Series (2025)","4K 60Hz","benchmark","comparison","performance","review","TechRadar"],"measurementTechnique": "Performance Benchmarking","variableMeasured": [{"@type": "PropertyValue","name": "TCL QM7L – 4K 60Hz","value": 9.4,"unitText": "ms"},{"@type": "PropertyValue","name": "TCL QM8L – 4K 60Hz","value": 9.5,"unitText": "ms"},{"@type": "PropertyValue","name": "Roku Pro Series (2025) – 4K 60Hz","value": 9.3,"unitText": "ms"}]}]Previous1 / 4NextBrightness measurementsHDR FilmmakerHDR StandardSDR FilmmakerSDR StandardTCL QM7LHDR Filmmaker Mode (10% window)2270HDR Filmmaker Mode (Fullscreen)723TCL QM8LHDR Filmmaker Mode (10% window)3719HDR Filmmaker Mode (Fullscreen)759Roku Pro Series (2025)HDR Filmmaker Mode (10% window)820HDR Filmmaker Mode (Fullscreen)37301,0002,0003,0004,000nitsHDR Filmmaker DataProductHDR Filmmaker Mode (10% window) (nits)HDR Filmmaker Mode (Fullscreen) (nits)TCL QM7L2270723TCL QM8L3719759Roku Pro Series (2025)820373TCL QM7LHDR Standard Mode (10% window)2419HDR Standard Mode (Fullscreen)774TCL QM8LHDR Standard Mode (10% window)3771HDR Standard Mode (Fullscreen)795Roku Pro Series (2025)HDR Standard Mode (10% window)841HDR Standard Mode (Fullscreen)39001,0002,0003,0004,000nitsHDR Standard DataProductHDR Standard Mode (10% window) (nits)HDR Standard Mode (Fullscreen) (nits)TCL QM7L2419774TCL QM8L3771795Roku Pro Series (2025)841390TCL QM7LSDR Filmmaker Mode (10% window)196TCL QM8LSDR Filmmaker Mode (10% window)229Roku Pro Series (2025)SDR Filmmaker Mode (10% window)4340150300450600nitsSDR Filmmaker DataProductSDR Filmmaker Mode (10% window) (nits)TCL QM7L196TCL QM8L229Roku Pro Series (2025)434TCL QM7LSDR Standard Mode (10% window)463TCL QM8LSDR Standard Mode (10% window)518Roku Pro Series (2025)SDR Standard Mode (10% window)87602505007501,000nitsSDR Standard DataProductSDR Standard Mode (10% window) (nits)TCL QM7L463TCL QM8L518Roku Pro Series (2025)876HDR color gamut

Closer to 100% is better. Taken using a colorimeter and test pattern generator.

TCL QM7LUHDA-P397.6BT.202090.3TCL QM8LUHDA-P398BT.202090.3Roku Pro Series (2025)UHDA-P396.9BT.202080.60255075100HDR Filmmaker DataProductUHDA-P3 ()BT.2020 ()TCL QM7L97.690.3TCL QM8L9890.3Roku Pro Series (2025)96.980.6Picture accuracy

A lower score is better. Taken using a colorimeter and test pattern generator.

SDR Delta-ETCL QM7L2.6TCL QM8L3.7Roku Pro Series (2025)2.501234SDR Delta-E DataProductValueTCL QM7L2.6TCL QM8L3.7Roku Pro Series (2025)2.5Input lag

Lower is better. Taken using a Leo Bodnar 4K HDMI Video Signal Lag Tester.

4K 60HzTCL QM7L9.4TCL QM8L9.5Roku Pro Series (2025)9.3012345678910ms4K 60Hz DataProductValueTCL QM7L9.4TCL QM8L9.5Roku Pro Series (2025)9.3window.iFrameResizer = {heightCalculationMethod: 'taggedElement'};(function() {window.fvAnimateCharts = function(chartWrapper) {if (!chartWrapper) return;function animateBars(chartElement) {if (!chartElement) return;var bars = chartElement.querySelectorAll('.fv-bar, .fv-stacked-segment');bars.forEach(function(bar, index) {bar.style.setProperty('width', '0%', 'important');bar.style.setProperty('transition', 'none', 'important');var targetWidth = bar.dataset.targetWidth;if (targetWidth === undefined) return;void bar.offsetWidth;var targetMargin = bar.dataset.targetMargin;var baseMargin = bar.dataset.baseMargin;if (baseMargin !== undefined) {bar.style.setProperty('margin-left', baseMargin + '%', 'important');}setTimeout(function() {var marginTransition = baseMargin !== undefined ? ', margin-left 0.8s ease-out' : '';bar.style.setProperty('transition', 'opacity 0.2s ease, width 0.8s ease-out' + marginTransition, 'important');bar.style.setProperty('width', targetWidth + '%', 'important');if (targetMargin !== undefined && baseMargin !== undefined) {bar.style.setProperty('margin-left', targetMargin + '%', 'important');}}, index * 50 + 50);});}function animateLineChart(chartElement) {if (!chartElement) return;var lineSvg = chartElement.querySelector('svg');if (!lineSvg) return;var paths = lineSvg.querySelectorAll('.riv-line-path');paths.forEach(function(p, i) {if (typeof p.getTotalLength === 'function') {var len = p.getTotalLength();p.style.transition = 'none';p.style.strokeDasharray = len;p.style.strokeDashoffset = len;p.getBoundingClientRect();setTimeout(function() {p.style.transition = 'stroke-dashoffset 1s ease-out ' + (i * 0.1) + 's, stroke-width 0.2s, opacity 0.2s';p.style.strokeDashoffset = '0';}, 100);}});var dots = lineSvg.querySelectorAll('.riv-dot');dots.forEach(function(dot, i) {dot.style.opacity = '0';setTimeout(function() {dot.style.transition = 'opacity 0.3s ease';dot.style.opacity = '1';}, 500 + i * 10);});}var charts = chartWrapper.querySelectorAll('.fv-chart-item');charts.forEach(function(chart) {if (window.getComputedStyle(chart).display === 'none') return;var chartType = chart.dataset.chartType;if (chartType === 'Line') {animateLineChart(chart);} else if (chartType !== 'Pie') {animateBars(chart);}});};function initialize(uniqueId, isSlideshow) {var root = document.getElementById(uniqueId);if (!root && !isSlideshow) return;function setupWrapper(chartWrapper) {if (!chartWrapper) return;function checkMobileView() {var width = chartWrapper.getBoundingClientRect().width;var isMobileDevice = window.screen && Math.min(window.screen.width, window.screen.height) <= 599;var isMobile;if (width === 0) {isMobile = isMobileDevice || window.matchMedia('(max-width: 599px)').matches;} else {isMobile = isMobileDevice || width < 600;}if (isMobile) {chartWrapper.classList.add('mobile-view');} else {chartWrapper.classList.remove('mobile-view');}}checkMobileView();if (typeof ResizeObserver !== 'undefined') {var ro = new ResizeObserver(function() {checkMobileView();});ro.observe(chartWrapper);}window.addEventListener('resize', checkMobileView);var labelsOnTop = chartWrapper.dataset.barLabelsOnTop === 'true';if (labelsOnTop) {var charts = chartWrapper.querySelectorAll('.fv-chart-item');var hasVisibleBarChart = false;charts.forEach(function(c) {if (window.getComputedStyle(c).display !== 'none') {var cType = c.dataset.chartType;if (cType === 'Bar' || cType === 'Stacked Bar' || cType === 'Versus') {hasVisibleBarChart = true;}}});if (hasVisibleBarChart) {chartWrapper.classList.add('labels-on-top');} else {chartWrapper.classList.remove('labels-on-top');}} else {chartWrapper.classList.remove('labels-on-top');}chartWrapper.querySelectorAll('.riv-line-legend').forEach(function(legend) {var chartId = legend.dataset.chart;var chart = chartWrapper.querySelector('[id="' + chartId + '"]');if (!chart) return;var lines = chart.querySelectorAll('.riv-line-path');var dots = chart.querySelectorAll('.riv-dot');var legendItems = legend.querySelectorAll('.riv-legend-item');legendItems.forEach(function(item) {var productName = item.dataset.product;var safeProductName = productName.replace(/"/g, '\"');var line = chart.querySelector('.riv-line-path[data-product="' + safeProductName + '"]');var productDots = chart.querySelectorAll('.riv-dot[data-product="' + safeProductName + '"]');if (line && !line.dataset.origStroke) {line.dataset.origStroke = line.getAttribute('stroke-width') || '2';}var highlight = function() {if (legend.querySelector('.isolated')) return;lines.forEach(function(l) { l.style.opacity = '0.2'; l.setAttribute('stroke-width', l.dataset.origStroke); });dots.forEach(function(d) { d.style.opacity = '0.2'; });legendItems.forEach(function(i) { i.style.opacity = '0.3'; i.style.transition = 'opacity 0.2s'; });if (line) {line.style.opacity = '1';line.setAttribute('stroke-width', '4');}productDots.forEach(function(d) { d.style.opacity = '1'; });item.style.opacity = '1';};var clearHighlight = function() {if (legend.querySelector('.isolated')) return;lines.forEach(function(l) { l.style.opacity = '1'; l.setAttribute('stroke-width', l.dataset.origStroke); });dots.forEach(function(d) { d.style.opacity = '1'; });legendItems.forEach(function(i) { i.style.opacity = '1'; });};var toggleIsolate = function() {var isIsolated = item.classList.contains('isolated');legendItems.forEach(function(i) { i.classList.remove('isolated'); });if (isIsolated) {lines.forEach(function(l) { l.style.opacity = '1'; l.setAttribute('stroke-width', l.dataset.origStroke); });dots.forEach(function(d) { d.style.opacity = '1'; });legendItems.forEach(function(i) { i.style.opacity = '1'; });} else {item.classList.add('isolated');lines.forEach(function(l) { l.style.opacity = '0.2'; l.setAttribute('stroke-width', l.dataset.origStroke); });dots.forEach(function(d) { d.style.opacity = '0.2'; });legendItems.forEach(function(i) { i.style.opacity = '0.3'; i.style.transition = 'opacity 0.2s'; });if (line) {line.style.opacity = '1';line.setAttribute('stroke-width', '4');}productDots.forEach(function(d) { d.style.opacity = '1'; });item.style.opacity = '1';}};item.addEventListener('mouseenter', highlight);item.addEventListener('focus', highlight);item.addEventListener('mouseleave', clearHighlight);item.addEventListener('blur', clearHighlight);item.addEventListener('click', toggleIsolate);if (line) {line.style.cursor = 'pointer';line.addEventListener('mouseenter', highlight);line.addEventListener('mouseleave', clearHighlight);line.addEventListener('click', toggleIsolate);}});});var versusCharts = chartWrapper.querySelectorAll('.fv-versus-chart');versusCharts.forEach(function(vc) {var dataJson = vc.getAttribute('data-versus-data');var leftColor = vc.getAttribute('data-left-color') || '#E53935';var rightColor = vc.getAttribute('data-right-color') || '#FFB300';if (!dataJson) return;var versusData = JSON.parse(dataJson);var leftSelect = vc.querySelector('.fv-select-left');var rightSelect = vc.querySelector('.fv-select-right');var rows = vc.querySelectorAll('.fv-versus-row');function updateVersusChart() {var leftProduct = leftSelect.value;var rightProduct = rightSelect.value;leftSelect.style.color = leftColor;leftSelect.style.borderColor = leftColor;rightSelect.style.color = rightColor;rightSelect.style.borderColor = rightColor;rows.forEach(function(row) {var index = parseInt(row.getAttribute('data-index'));var data = versusData[index];if (!data) return;var leftVal = data.productData[leftProduct] ? data.productData[leftProduct].value : undefined;var rightVal = data.productData[rightProduct] ? data.productData[rightProduct].value : undefined;var leftIsNum = typeof leftVal === 'number';var rightIsNum = typeof rightVal === 'number';var leftNum = leftIsNum ? leftVal : 0;var rightNum = rightIsNum ? rightVal : 0;var maxVal = Math.max(leftNum, rightNum, 0.0001);var leftWidth = leftIsNum ? (leftNum / maxVal) * 95 : 0;var rightWidth = rightIsNum ? (rightNum / maxVal) * 85 : 0;var winner = null;var pctDiffStr = null;if (leftIsNum && rightIsNum) {if (leftNum > rightNum) {winner = 'left';if (rightNum > 0) {var diff = Math.round(((leftNum - rightNum) / rightNum) * 100);pctDiffStr = '+' + diff.toLocaleString() + '%';}} else if (rightNum > leftNum) {winner = 'right';if (leftNum > 0) {var diff = Math.round(((rightNum - leftNum) / leftNum) * 100);pctDiffStr = '+' + diff.toLocaleString() + '%';}}}var leftDisplay = data.productData[leftProduct] && data.productData[leftProduct].displayValue !== undefined ? data.productData[leftProduct].displayValue : (leftIsNum ? leftNum.toLocaleString() : (leftVal !== undefined ? leftVal : '-'));var rightDisplay = data.productData[rightProduct] && data.productData[rightProduct].displayValue !== undefined ? data.productData[rightProduct].displayValue : (rightIsNum ? rightNum.toLocaleString() : (rightVal !== undefined ? rightVal : '-'));var unit = (data.productData[leftProduct] && data.productData[leftProduct].unit) ||(data.productData[rightProduct] && data.productData[rightProduct].unit) || '';var leftTextStr = leftDisplay;var rightTextStr = rightDisplay;var leftBar = row.querySelector('.fv-versus-bar-left');var rightBar = row.querySelector('.fv-versus-bar-right');var leftText = row.querySelector('.fv-inside-left');var rightText = row.querySelector('.fv-inside-right');var labelText = row.querySelector('.fv-versus-label span');var leftWrapper = row.querySelector('.fv-versus-bar-left-wrapper');var rightWrapper = row.querySelector('.fv-versus-bar-right-wrapper');var existingPctDiffs = row.querySelectorAll('.fv-versus-pct-diff');existingPctDiffs.forEach(function(el) { el.remove(); });if (winner === 'left' && pctDiffStr) {var pctSpan = document.createElement('span');pctSpan.className = 'fv-versus-pct-diff';pctSpan.style.color = 'rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9)';pctSpan.textContent = pctDiffStr;if (leftBar) leftBar.insertBefore(pctSpan, leftBar.firstChild);} else if (winner === 'right' && pctDiffStr) {var pctSpan = document.createElement('span');pctSpan.className = 'fv-versus-pct-diff';pctSpan.style.color = 'rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.9)';pctSpan.textContent = pctDiffStr;if (rightBar) rightBar.appendChild(pctSpan);}if (leftBar) {leftBar.style.backgroundColor = leftColor;leftBar.dataset.targetWidth = leftWidth;leftBar.style.setProperty('--target-width', leftWidth + '%');leftBar.style.width = leftWidth + '%';}if (rightBar) {rightBar.style.backgroundColor = rightColor;rightBar.dataset.targetWidth = rightWidth;rightBar.style.setProperty('--target-width', rightWidth + '%');rightBar.style.width = rightWidth + '%';}if (leftText) {leftText.innerHTML = leftTextStr;}if (rightText) {rightText.innerHTML = rightTextStr;}if (labelText) {labelText.textContent = data.attribute + (unit ? ' (' + unit + ')' : '');}});}if (leftSelect) leftSelect.addEventListener('change', updateVersusChart);if (rightSelect) rightSelect.addEventListener('change', updateVersusChart);});var barRows = chartWrapper.querySelectorAll('.fv-bar-row');var globalCaptionEl = chartWrapper.querySelector('.rv-chart-caption');var fallbackCaptionHtml = globalCaptionEl ? globalCaptionEl.innerHTML : '';barRows.forEach(function(row) {var commentaryEl = row.querySelector('[data-commentary-key]');if (commentaryEl) {var commentaryText = commentaryEl.textContent;if (commentaryText && commentaryText.trim().length > 0) {row.addEventListener('mouseenter', function() {if (!chartWrapper.classList.contains('mobile-view') && globalCaptionEl) {globalCaptionEl.innerHTML = commentaryText;globalCaptionEl.classList.add('fv-bar-active-caption');}});row.addEventListener('mouseleave', function() {if (!chartWrapper.classList.contains('mobile-view') && globalCaptionEl) {globalCaptionEl.innerHTML = fallbackCaptionHtml;globalCaptionEl.classList.remove('fv-bar-active-caption');}});}}});var charts = chartWrapper.querySelectorAll('.fv-chart-item');var dropdown = chartWrapper.querySelector('.fv-dropdown-title');var prevBtn = chartWrapper.querySelector('.fv-carousel-nav-btn.prev');var nextBtn = chartWrapper.querySelector('.fv-carousel-nav-btn.next');var carouselTitle = chartWrapper.querySelector('.fv-carousel-title-controls .fv-benchmark-title');var counter = chartWrapper.querySelector('.fv-carousel-counter');var subheadEl = chartWrapper.querySelector('.fv-chart-subhead');var captionEl = chartWrapper.querySelector('.rv-chart-caption');var footerContentEl = chartWrapper.querySelector('.fv-footer-content');var bottomBarEl = chartWrapper.querySelector('.fv-bottom-bar');var logoEl = chartWrapper.querySelector('.fv-logo');if (charts.length > 1 && (dropdown || prevBtn)) {var currentChartIndex = 0;var titles = [];if (dropdown) {titles = Array.from(dropdown.options).map(function(o) { return o.text; });} else {charts.forEach(function(c) {titles.push(c.getAttribute('data-title') || '');});}function showInternalChart(index) {if (index < 0) index = charts.length - 1;if (index >= charts.length) index = 0;currentChartIndex = index;charts.forEach(function(c, i) {c.style.display = i === index ? 'block' : 'none';if (i === index) {var cType = c.dataset.chartType;if (cType === 'Line') {} else if (cType !== 'Pie') {window.fvAnimateCharts(chartWrapper);}var labelsOnTop = chartWrapper.dataset.barLabelsOnTop === 'true';if (labelsOnTop && (cType === 'Bar' || cType === 'Stacked Bar' || cType === 'Versus')) {chartWrapper.classList.add('labels-on-top');} else {chartWrapper.classList.remove('labels-on-top');}}});if (dropdown) dropdown.value = index;if (carouselTitle && titles[index]) carouselTitle.textContent = titles[index];if (counter) counter.textContent = (index + 1) + ' of ' + charts.length;var activeChart = charts[index];if (activeChart) {var newSubhead = activeChart.getAttribute('data-subhead');var newCaption = activeChart.getAttribute('data-caption');var currentChartType = activeChart.getAttribute('data-chart-type');var hideGlobalCaption = currentChartType === 'Countdown' || currentChartType === 'Image Comparison' || currentChartType === 'Shop the Collection';if (subheadEl) subheadEl.textContent = newSubhead || '';if (captionEl) {captionEl.textContent = newCaption || '';fallbackCaptionHtml = newCaption || '';}if (footerContentEl) {if (newCaption && newCaption.trim().length > 0 && !hideGlobalCaption) {footerContentEl.style.display = 'block';if (bottomBarEl) bottomBarEl.style.display = 'flex';} else {footerContentEl.style.display = 'none';if (bottomBarEl && !logoEl) {bottomBarEl.style.display = 'none';}}}}}if (dropdown) dropdown.addEventListener('change', function(e) { showInternalChart(parseInt(e.target.value)); });if (prevBtn) prevBtn.addEventListener('click', function() { showInternalChart(currentChartIndex - 1); });if (nextBtn) nextBtn.addEventListener('click', function() { showInternalChart(currentChartIndex + 1); });}var imageCompareWrappers = chartWrapper.querySelectorAll('.fv-image-compare-wrapper');imageCompareWrappers.forEach(function(wrapper) {var inner = wrapper.querySelector('.fv-image-compare-inner') || wrapper;var slider = wrapper.querySelector('.fv-image-compare-slider');var fgImage = wrapper.querySelector('.fv-image-compare-fg');var bgImage = wrapper.querySelector('.fv-image-compare-bg');var labelLeft = wrapper.querySelector('.fv-image-compare-label-left');var labelRight = wrapper.querySelector('.fv-image-compare-label-right');var isDragging = false;var scale = 1;var panX = 0;var panY = 0;var isPanning = false;var hasPanned = false;var lastClientX = 0;var lastClientY = 0;var initialDistance = null;var lastCenterX = null;var lastCenterY = null;function updateTransform() {if (wrapper.classList.contains('fv-image-compare-fullscreen')) {inner.style.setProperty('transform', 'translate(' + panX + 'px, ' + panY + 'px) scale(' + scale + ')', 'important');} else {inner.style.removeProperty('transform');scale = 1;panX = 0;panY = 0;}}function constrainPan() {var rect = wrapper.getBoundingClientRect();var maxPanX = Math.max(0, (rect.width * scale - rect.width) / 2);var maxPanY = Math.max(0, (rect.height * scale - rect.height) / 2);panX = Math.max(-maxPanX, Math.min(panX, maxPanX));panY = Math.max(-maxPanY, Math.min(panY, maxPanY));}wrapper.addEventListener('wheel', function(e) {if (!wrapper.classList.contains('fv-image-compare-fullscreen')) return;e.preventDefault();var zoomSensitivity = 0.005;var zoomFactor = Math.exp(-e.deltaY * zoomSensitivity);var newScale = Math.max(1, Math.min(scale * zoomFactor, 5));if (newScale === scale) return;var rect = wrapper.getBoundingClientRect();var mouseX = e.clientX - rect.left - rect.width / 2;var mouseY = e.clientY - rect.top - rect.height / 2;var ratio = newScale / scale;panX = mouseX - (mouseX - panX) * ratio;panY = mouseY - (mouseY - panY) * ratio;scale = newScale;constrainPan();updateTransform();}, { passive: false });wrapper.addEventListener('mousedown', function(e) {if (!wrapper.classList.contains('fv-image-compare-fullscreen') || scale <= 1) return;if (e.target.closest('.fv-image-compare-slider') || e.target.closest('button')) return;isPanning = true;hasPanned = false;lastClientX = e.clientX;lastClientY = e.clientY;});window.addEventListener('mousemove', function(e) {if (!isPanning) return;var dx = e.clientX - lastClientX;var dy = e.clientY - lastClientY;if (Math.abs(dx) > 2 || Math.abs(dy) > 2) {hasPanned = true;}lastClientX = e.clientX;lastClientY = e.clientY;panX += dx;panY += dy;constrainPan();updateTransform();});window.addEventListener('mouseup', function() {isPanning = false;});wrapper.addEventListener('touchstart', function(e) {if (!wrapper.classList.contains('fv-image-compare-fullscreen')) return;if (e.touches.length === 2) {e.preventDefault();var dx = e.touches[0].clientX - e.touches[1].clientX;var dy = e.touches[0].clientY - e.touches[1].clientY;initialDistance = Math.sqrt(dx * dx + dy * dy);var rect = wrapper.getBoundingClientRect();lastCenterX = (e.touches[0].clientX + e.touches[1].clientX) / 2 - rect.left - rect.width / 2;lastCenterY = (e.touches[0].clientY + e.touches[1].clientY) / 2 - rect.top - rect.height / 2;hasPanned = true;} else if (e.touches.length === 1 && scale > 1) {if (e.target.closest('.fv-image-compare-slider') || e.target.closest('button')) return;isPanning = true;hasPanned = false;lastClientX = e.touches[0].clientX;lastClientY = e.touches[0].clientY;}}, { passive: false });wrapper.addEventListener('touchmove', function(e) {if (!wrapper.classList.contains('fv-image-compare-fullscreen')) return;if (e.touches.length === 2 && initialDistance !== null) {e.preventDefault();var dx = e.touches[0].clientX - e.touches[1].clientX;var dy = e.touches[0].clientY - e.touches[1].clientY;var distance = Math.sqrt(dx * dx + dy * dy);if (initialDistance > 0) {var zoomFactor = distance / initialDistance;var newScale = Math.max(1, Math.min(scale * zoomFactor, 5));var rect = wrapper.getBoundingClientRect();var centerX = (e.touches[0].clientX + e.touches[1].clientX) / 2 - rect.left - rect.width / 2;var centerY = (e.touches[0].clientY + e.touches[1].clientY) / 2 - rect.top - rect.height / 2;var ratio = newScale / scale;panX = centerX - (centerX - panX) * ratio;panY = centerY - (centerY - panY) * ratio;if (lastCenterX !== null && lastCenterY !== null) {panX += (centerX - lastCenterX);panY += (centerY - lastCenterY);}scale = newScale;lastCenterX = centerX;lastCenterY = centerY;constrainPan();updateTransform();}initialDistance = distance;} else if (e.touches.length === 1 && isPanning) {e.preventDefault();var dx = e.touches[0].clientX - lastClientX;var dy = e.touches[0].clientY - lastClientY;if (Math.abs(dx) > 2 || Math.abs(dy) > 2) {hasPanned = true;}lastClientX = e.touches[0].clientX;lastClientY = e.touches[0].clientY;panX += dx;panY += dy;constrainPan();updateTransform();}}, { passive: false });wrapper.addEventListener('touchend', function(e) {if (e.touches.length < 2) {initialDistance = null;}if (e.touches.length === 0) {isPanning = false;}});function handleMove(clientX) {var rect = inner.getBoundingClientRect();var x = Math.max(0, Math.min(clientX - rect.left, rect.width));var percent = Math.max(0, Math.min((x / rect.width) * 100, 100));if (slider) slider.style.setProperty('left', percent + '%', 'important');if (fgImage) fgImage.style.setProperty('clip-path', 'polygon(0 0, ' + percent + '% 0, ' + percent + '% 100%, 0 100%)', 'important');if (labelLeft) {if (percent < 10) {labelLeft.style.setProperty('opacity', '0', 'important');} else {labelLeft.style.setProperty('opacity', '1', 'important');}}if (labelRight) {if (percent > 90) {labelRight.style.setProperty('opacity', '0', 'important');} else {labelRight.style.setProperty('opacity', '1', 'important');}}}function onMouseMove(e) {if (!isDragging) return;handleMove(e.clientX);}function onTouchMove(e) {if (!isDragging) return;e.preventDefault();handleMove(e.touches[0].clientX);}function stopDragging() {isDragging = false;window.removeEventListener('mousemove', onMouseMove);window.removeEventListener('mouseup', stopDragging);window.removeEventListener('touchmove', onTouchMove);window.removeEventListener('touchend', stopDragging);}if (slider) {var startDrag = function(clientX) {isDragging = true;handleMove(clientX);window.addEventListener('mousemove', onMouseMove);window.addEventListener('mouseup', stopDragging);};var startTouchDrag = function(clientX) {isDragging = true;handleMove(clientX);window.addEventListener('touchmove', onTouchMove, { passive: false });window.addEventListener('touchend', stopDragging);};slider.addEventListener('mousedown', function(e) {e.preventDefault();startDrag(e.clientX);});slider.addEventListener('touchstart', function(e) {e.preventDefault();startTouchDrag(e.touches[0].clientX);}, { passive: false });}var expandBtn = wrapper.querySelector('.fv-image-compare-expand-btn');var closeBtn = wrapper.querySelector('.fv-image-compare-close-btn');if (expandBtn) {if (window !== window.parent) {expandBtn.style.display = 'none';} else {expandBtn.addEventListener('click', function(e) {e.stopPropagation();wrapper.classList.add('fv-image-compare-fullscreen');document.body.style.overflow = 'hidden';if (fgImage && fgImage.dataset.highresSrc) {fgImage.src = fgImage.dataset.highresSrc;fgImage.removeAttribute('srcset');fgImage.removeAttribute('sizes');}if (bgImage && bgImage.dataset.highresSrc) {bgImage.src = bgImage.dataset.highresSrc;bgImage.removeAttribute('srcset');bgImage.removeAttribute('sizes');}});}}if (closeBtn) {closeBtn.addEventListener('click', function(e) {e.stopPropagation();wrapper.classList.remove('fv-image-compare-fullscreen');document.body.style.overflow = '';updateTransform();});}document.addEventListener('keydown', function(e) {if (e.key === 'Escape' && wrapper.classList.contains('fv-image-compare-fullscreen')) {wrapper.classList.remove('fv-image-compare-fullscreen');document.body.style.overflow = '';updateTransform();}});});var hotspots = chartWrapper.querySelectorAll('.fv-stl-hotspot-btn');var allProductsModal = chartWrapper.querySelector('.fv-stl-all-products-modal');var shopAllBtn = chartWrapper.querySelector('.fv-stl-shop-all-btn');var allProductsList = chartWrapper.querySelector('.fv-stl-all-products-list');var stlContainer = chartWrapper.querySelector('.fv-stl-container');function closeAllModals() {if (allProductsModal) {allProductsModal.classList.remove('is-active');var items = allProductsModal.querySelectorAll('.fv-stl-all-products-item');items.forEach(function(item) {item.classList.remove('is-highlighted');});if (stlContainer) {setTimeout(function() {if (!allProductsModal.classList.contains('is-active')) {stlContainer.style.minHeight = '';if ('parentIFrame' in window) {window.parentIFrame.size();}}}, 300);}}hotspots.forEach(function(btn) { btn.setAttribute('aria-expanded', 'false'); });if ('parentIFrame' in window) {window.parentIFrame.size();}}hotspots.forEach(function(btn) {btn.addEventListener('click', function(e) {e.stopPropagation();var hotspotId = btn.getAttribute('data-hotspot-id');var isExpanded = btn.getAttribute('aria-expanded') === 'true';closeAllModals();if (!isExpanded && allProductsModal) {btn.setAttribute('aria-expanded', 'true');allProductsModal.classList.add('is-active');var container = btn.closest('.fv-stl-container');if (container && container.offsetHeight < 450) {container.style.minHeight = '450px';}var targetItem = allProductsModal.querySelector('.fv-stl-all-products-item[data-product-id="' + hotspotId + '"]');if (targetItem) {targetItem.classList.add('is-highlighted');setTimeout(function() {targetItem.scrollIntoView({ behavior: 'smooth', block: 'center' });}, 100);}if ('parentIFrame' in window) {window.parentIFrame.size();}}});});if (shopAllBtn && allProductsModal) {shopAllBtn.addEventListener('click', function(e) {e.stopPropagation();closeAllModals();allProductsModal.classList.add('is-active');var container = shopAllBtn.closest('.fv-stl-container');if (container && container.offsetHeight < 450) {container.style.minHeight = '450px';}if ('parentIFrame' in window) {window.parentIFrame.size();}});}if (allProductsModal) {var closeAllBtn = allProductsModal.querySelector('.fv-stl-all-products-close');if (closeAllBtn) {closeAllBtn.addEventListener('click', function(e) {e.stopPropagation();closeAllModals();});}}chartWrapper.addEventListener('click', function(e) {if (!e.target.closest('.fv-stl-all-products-content')) {closeAllModals();}});if (allProductsModal) {allProductsModal.addEventListener('click', function(e) {if (!e.target.closest('.fv-stl-all-products-content')) {closeAllModals();}});}var iaNodes = chartWrapper.querySelectorAll('.fv-ia-node-button');var iaWrapper = chartWrapper.querySelector('.fv-ia-wrapper');var originalCaption = chartWrapper.querySelector('.fv-original-caption') || captionEl;var dynamicCaption = chartWrapper.querySelector('.fv-ia-dynamic-caption');var exploreBtn = chartWrapper.querySelector('.fv-ia-explore-btn');var currentIaIndex = -1;function closeAllIANodes() {iaNodes.forEach(function(btn) { btn.classList.remove('is-active'); });if (originalCaption) originalCaption.style.display = 'block';if (dynamicCaption) dynamicCaption.style.display = 'none';}function resetExploreBtn() {currentIaIndex = -1;if (exploreBtn) {var exploreSpan = exploreBtn.querySelector('span');if (exploreSpan) exploreSpan.textContent = 'Explore';}}iaNodes.forEach(function(btn, index) {btn.addEventListener('click', function(e) {e.stopPropagation();var isActive = btn.classList.contains('is-active');closeAllIANodes();if (!isActive) {currentIaIndex = index;if (exploreBtn) {var exploreSpan = exploreBtn.querySelector('span');if (exploreSpan) exploreSpan.textContent = 'Next';}btn.classList.add('is-active');if (dynamicCaption) {var title = btn.getAttribute('data-title') || '';var desc = btn.getAttribute('data-desc') || '';dynamicCaption.innerHTML = '';var strongTag = document.createElement('strong');strongTag.textContent = title;dynamicCaption.appendChild(strongTag);if (desc) {dynamicCaption.appendChild(document.createTextNode(' - ' + desc));}if (originalCaption) originalCaption.style.display = 'none';dynamicCaption.style.display = 'block';if (footerContentEl) footerContentEl.style.display = 'block';}} else {resetExploreBtn();}});});if (exploreBtn) {exploreBtn.addEventListener('click', function(e) {e.stopPropagation();if (iaNodes.length === 0) return;var nextIndex = currentIaIndex + 1;if (nextIndex >= iaNodes.length) {closeAllIANodes();resetExploreBtn();} else {currentIaIndex = nextIndex;var targetBtn = iaNodes[currentIaIndex];if (targetBtn) {if(targetBtn.classList.contains('is-active')) {targetBtn.click();}targetBtn.click();}}});}if (iaWrapper) {iaWrapper.addEventListener('click', function(e) {if (!e.target.closest('.fv-ia-node-button') && !e.target.closest('.fv-ia-explore-btn')) {closeAllIANodes();resetExploreBtn();}});}window.fvAnimateCharts(chartWrapper);var countdownContainer = chartWrapper.querySelector('.fv-countdown-container');if (countdownContainer) {var targetDateAttr = countdownContainer.getAttribute('data-target-date');if (targetDateAttr) {var targetDate = new Date(targetDateAttr);var primaryColor = countdownContainer.getAttribute('data-primary-color') || '#f97316';var subheadColor = countdownContainer.getAttribute('data-subhead-color') || '#ffffff';var pad = function(n) { return (n < 10 ? '0' : '') + n; };var updateCountdown = function() {var difference = +targetDate - +new Date();var d = 0, h = 0, m = 0, s = 0;if (difference > 0) {d = Math.floor(difference / (1000 * 60 * 60 * 24));h = Math.floor((difference / (1000 * 60 * 60)) % 24);m = Math.floor((difference / 1000 / 60) % 60);s = Math.floor((difference / 1000) % 60);}var daysEl = countdownContainer.querySelector('[data-time="days"]');var hoursEl = countdownContainer.querySelector('[data-time="hours"]');var minsEl = countdownContainer.querySelector('[data-time="minutes"]');var secsEl = countdownContainer.querySelector('[data-time="seconds"]');if (daysEl) daysEl.textContent = d;if (hoursEl) hoursEl.textContent = pad(h);if (minsEl) minsEl.textContent = pad(m);if (secsEl) secsEl.textContent = pad(s);};updateCountdown();setInterval(updateCountdown, 1000);}}}if (true) {var slideshowContainer = document.getElementById(uniqueId + '-slideshow');if (slideshowContainer) {var slides = slideshowContainer.querySelectorAll('.fv-slide');slides.forEach(function(slide) {setupWrapper(slide.querySelector('.fv-chart-wrapper'));});}var slideshowContainer = document.getElementById(uniqueId + '-slideshow');if (slideshowContainer) {var currentSlideIndex = 0;var slides = slideshowContainer.querySelectorAll('.fv-slide');var counter = slideshowContainer.querySelector('.fv-slide-counter');var prevBtn = slideshowContainer.querySelector('.fv-nav-btn.prev');var nextBtn = slideshowContainer.querySelector('.fv-nav-btn.next');var dropdown = slideshowContainer.querySelector('.fv-slideshow-select');function updateControls(index) {if (counter) counter.textContent = (index + 1) + ' / ' + slides.length;if (dropdown) dropdown.value = index;if (prevBtn) {if (index === 0) prevBtn.classList.add('disabled');else prevBtn.classList.remove('disabled');}if (nextBtn) {if (index === slides.length - 1) nextBtn.classList.add('disabled');else nextBtn.classList.remove('disabled');}}function showSlide(index) {if (index < 0) return;if (index >= slides.length) return;currentSlideIndex = index;slides.forEach(function(slide, i) {slide.style.display = i === index ? 'block' : 'none';if (i === index) {var chartEl = slide.querySelector('.fv-chart-wrapper');if (chartEl && window.fvAnimateCharts) {window.fvAnimateCharts(chartEl);}}});updateControls(currentSlideIndex);}if (prevBtn) {prevBtn.addEventListener('click', function() { showSlide(currentSlideIndex - 1); });}if (nextBtn) {nextBtn.addEventListener('click', function() { showSlide(currentSlideIndex + 1); });}if (dropdown) {dropdown.addEventListener('change', function(e) { showSlide(parseInt(e.target.value)); });}updateControls(currentSlideIndex);if (slides.length > 0) {var firstChart = slides[0].querySelector('.fv-chart-wrapper');if (firstChart && window.fvAnimateCharts) {setTimeout(function() { window.fvAnimateCharts(firstChart); }, 100);}}}} else {setupWrapper(root);}}if (document.readyState === 'loading') {document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', function() { initialize('fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s', true); });} else {initialize('fv-chart-1788874479540-wz2y2k87s', true);}})();TCL QM7L review: Features

The TCL QM7L TV showcases its Halo Control via a scene from the movie Soul. (Image credit: Future / James Holland)

Has Dolby Vision IQ
Google Gemini is useful but flawed
Uses proprietary Halo Control System for anti-blooming

The TCL QM7L is fully featured with support for HDR and spatial audio, as well as the ability to adjust screen brightness according to ambient light, aka Dolby Vision IQ. While not as powerful as Dolby Vision 2 Max, which adjusts colors on a much deeper level, it still does a great job in making things easier to see whether you’re in a dark room or sunnier room like where I had this TV set up. Even with glare from the outside or light fixtures, I’m still able to make out everything that’s happening on the screen.

Also worth mentioning here is the use of Google Gemini. It’s implemented the same way as I’ve experienced on every other Google TV. It’s informative, conversational (with a nice range of different voice timbres), and almost well executed. Like most learning language models right now, which it is, it’s flawed in the information it pulls up as I’ve come across a few mistakes including where to stream certain content (this won’t be an issue if you’re pulling up something well known like a Disney movie). I also don’t like the fact that I can talk to it and it will respond to commands, but I can’t get it to open and play content.

At least the TCL QM7L still utilizes the brand’s Halo Control System for limiting blooming and Deep Color System for a wider range of colors.

Features Score: 4 / 5

TCL QM7L review: Picture Quality

TCL QM7L showing its detail and motion handling via a scene from The Batman. (Image credit: Future / James Holland)

Screen almost as good as more expensive models
Good control of blooming
Image quality is very good, but just lacks a little depth

The TCL QM7L is basically a slightly worse version than the QM8L, which, in turn, is a slightly worse version of the X11L. But, let me be clear, that doesn’t make it bad. The differences are much less noticeable if you can’t A/B(/C) these TVs, while the price difference is fairly substantial.

To look at the TCL QM7L specifically, a TV that offers up to 2,100 local dimming zones (TCL doesn’t publish the local dimming zones per size), up to 3,000 peak nits of brightness, and TCL’s anti-halo and color enhancing tech, it looks pretty good on paper. Its color accuracy has a Delta E of 2.6, which is on par with other mid-range premium-ish TVs (closer to zero is better). Similarly, its P3 color coverage of 95% is also in the same range as the TCL QM8L, X11L, and Hisense U7. The LG C5 is 99% (100% is best) P3 color coverage for comparison.

Where the TCL QM7L’s lower price tag shows up in terms of picture quality is in brightness and luminance. Its SDR peak of 463.3909 nits in standard mode is about 9% less bright than the QM8L. Its luminance benchmark is likewise just a little lower.

In terms of peak HDR brightness, the QM7L's peaks of 2,270 nits and 2,419 nits HDR brightness (in Filmmaker and Standard respectively) are much lower than the QM8L's (which registered 3,719 and 3,771 in the same Filmmaker and Standard modes), but still very good for a TV in this price range.

Benchmarks don’t necessarily always tell the story, but they line up with what my experience has been using the TCL QM7L. Namely, that the picture quality is 97% of what one gets with the QM8L.

Whether I was watching a TV show or a movie with lots of vibrant colors or even a YouTube video, the image was sharp with great motion clarity. Thanks to TCL’s Halo Control System, any kind of blooming or halo effect was kept at bay. A rewatch of Soul helped confirm that, particularly the scene where the main character, Joe Gardner, first wakes up in the afterlife as an illuminated human-shaped blob on a mostly black background. With TVs that experience serious blooming, you can see a whole cloud around him where you really shouldn’t. And here, it’s barely discernable.

The colors look great as well. Coco also got a rewatch (I have some go-to’s for certain testing if that’s not clear) and all the vibrant colors depicted in the land of the dead have the vibrancy one would want to see when watching a movie from this.

And The Batman made for a good showcase of the TCL QM7L’s clarity during busy scenes with a lot of motion. I like to use the Penguin chase scene for testing since it’s raining the whole time, there's some shaky cam, and an explosion as well as all the actual chasing. Everything came through clearly on this TV — I even felt like I could see the rain clearly. You could pause at any moment and have a snapshot clear enough to use a screenshot for this article.

Because of all the HDR support, I feel like I can see details in shadows. But this TV has a more limited Dolby Vision (Dolby Vision IQ vs Dolby Vision 2 Max) than its more expensive siblings. I think between that and the slightly lower brightness, the image this TV gives just feels a little flatter than the QM8L. It’s almost as good, and, in a vacuum, it would be hard to find fault with this TV. But those various slight limitations keep the screen from having quite the depth of better (and more expensive) TVs.

Picture quality score: 4.5 / 5

TCL QM7L review: Sound Quality

The TCL QM7L has dedicated drivers in the back for a fuller audio experience. (Image credit: Future / James Holland)

Detailed high-end and full mid-range good enough to skip soundbar
Not a lot of low-end and has narrow soundstage
Limited amount of settings for finetuning

Most people focus on picture quality and how it improves from budget to mid-range TVs and beyond — and they should! But probably what I enjoy most when leveling up is not the improved HDR response, brightness, and color accuracy, but using a TV with sound quality good enough to skip a soundbar.

On the TCL QM7L, the sound quality is much the same as on the TCL QM8L, insofar that it’s tuned by Bang & Olufsen and the mid-range is not hollowed out like it is on cheaper TVs. Budget rivals always seem to sound thin like there’s no mid-range and shrill as if the highs have been boosted to make up for that. I might be exaggerating there, but not by much.

Now, there’s not much in the way of low-end, especially in the sub-bass region. So if you want that wall-shaking home theater experience, you’ll still need an external audio system capable of providing that. The same goes for any surround sound or spatial audio, though the TV does support all the necessary formats for one to experience them through an attached external system. I will say that there’s no internal virtualized spatial audio, which the TCL QM8L does have.

Outside of that, the mid-range has plenty of presence so that dialog is easy to hear and the sound is fairly balanced, though I do find it a slightly too mid-forward for a TV. On top of this, there's a dialog mode that works decently at boosting the specific mid-range frequencies for those who might be a little hard of hearing.

The high-end offers good clarity so that I can hear the detail in violins and such in instrumental scores playing during a dramatic scene in a movie — or British police procedural as plenty of that has been played on this TV.

I will say that the soundstage is a bit narrow — something I didn’t expect on a 75-inch TV. So while I do hear some side-to-side movement in audio tests like those on YouTube or a scene from Top Gun: Maverick where I should hear planes whizzing by, it’s not as wide as it should be. Like the lack of low-end, this doesn’t really take away from the enjoyment of the audio here, but does hamper its immersiveness.

As far as audio adjustments go, the sound settings menu is pretty minimal with just a treble and bass slider as a loudness setting, a few audio modes (Movie, Sports, Game, etc.), and a toggle for whether the TV is mounted or on stands. I do appreciate that Bang & Olufsen’s unique EQ wheel is available here for some more fine-tuning, though I would have preferred a five, seven, or even ten-band EQ instead.

Sound quality score: 4 / 5

TCL QM7L review: Design

The TCL QM7L has four 2.1 HDMI ports. (Image credit: Future / James Holland)

Adjustable center base with cable management
Two HDMI 2.1 ports
Battery-powered remote is straightforward and on the slimmer side

The TCL QM7L follows quite closely in the same mold as the QM8L. It has a center base that can be adjusted to different heights, but only during installation. It also has a removable backplate that comes off for cable management, just like the QM8L.

The bezels on the TV are thin as is the TV itself, measuring 2.2 inches thick, not to mention it’s pretty light, weighing 39.70 lbs without a stand (43.90 lbs with a stand) for the 65-inch size. If you’re looking to mount your TV, I think the TCL QM7L’s physical size and weight make it ideal for doing so.

While there is a good selection of ports — there are a couple USBs, an ethernet, optical, and RF input — this is one place where the cost cutting shows up, namely with the HDMI ports. Instead of having four 2.1 HDMI ports, which support 4K @ 120Hz, the TCL QM7L has two, with HDMI ports 3 and 4 being the slightly older 2.0 HDMI ports that are capped at a 60Hz refresh rate.

The remote for the TCL QM7L is TCL’s standard battery-powered model, with streaming app hotkeys, a talk button, and the directional dial. It’s not quite as small as a Roku remote but it’s slim enough to feel comfortable to hold.

Design score: 4.5 / 5

TCL QM7L review: Smart TV and Menus

The TCL QM7L's Google TV home page shows a rotating banner of suggested content. (Image credit: Future / James Holland)

Uses Google TV with a bias towards Google content
Plenty of free content through multiple streaming apps
Navigating the TV menu is straightforward and intuitive

The TCL QM7L, like the other new TCL TVs that have come out in 2026, use Google TV as the interface. That means that the layout when using the TV is as follows: quick links at the top of the screen, a rotating banner of highlighted / sponsored content with a focus on Google-based apps, followed by rows of various types of more specific content, such as “Top Picks,” “Apps,” “Continue Watching,” and “Free Live TV” to name a few.

Regarding that last one, there’s plenty of free content on offer through Google TV Freeplay, as well as TCLTV+ and plenty of it is mostly syndicated content. Thankfully, there’s plenty of decent stuff there, and not just bottom of the barrel ‘my neighbor is a chicken and is trying to kill me’ type schlock.

Because this is a Google TV, there are a number of screens to go through for setup, meaning it's not quite plug-and-play — though this seems to be typical of every TV I come across these days. Still, the time required to get from turning on to watching something is probably about ten minutes. A lot of the prompts are regarding how to interface with Google Gemini and consenting to a more personalized experience — essentially whether you’re okay with the TV sending information back to Google about your watching habits… and possibly whatever it hears from you talking.

Navigating the menu is pretty straightforward. Pressing the settings icon on the remote pulls up quick settings where there’s a link to see all the settings. Some TVs have the intelligent or AI based settings squirreled away into a separate category, but that’s not the case here and navigation is better for it. For instance, turning on “Dynamic Brightness,” which automatically adjusts the backlight according to what’s on the screen is listed with all the other brightness-related settings. Easy-peasy.

Smart TV & menus score: 4.5 / 5

TCL QM7L review: Gaming

The game bar takes a couple presses to access, but is helpful during gaming sessions. (Image credit: Future / James Holland)

Up to 144Hz refresh rate
Gaming-specific features like AMD Freesync Premium Pro
Game bar on demand

After spending some time gaming on the TCL QM7L, the only real limitations are directly related to the picture quality — the same limitations one experiences with any other content. The image is a little flatter than on the QM8L because of the more limited dimming zones, lower peak brightness, and more limited Dolby Vision.

But if you’re not comparing this TV to more expensive TVs like the QM8L, it’s impressive. Maybe its HDR isn’t at the level of the QM8L or X11L, but it’s there and it still allows me to see detail in shadows — something that’s important in gaming. And, of course, the Halo Control allows a clear delineation between dark and light pixels that are right next to each other.

I played a number of games through a Playstation 5 on this TV and, whether it was Madden ‘26 or Star Wars: Outlaw, the picture was sharp and the action was smooth. I didn’t experience any stuttering or jitters. And even when creeping in the shadows, I was also able to see everything on the screen clearly.

After all, the TV's 144Hz refresh rate is more than enough for smooth, crisp motion handling during gaming. It also helps that the TCL QM7L comes with some features focused on frame rates. For instance, AMD Freesync Premium Pro is on hand to match the frame rates between the TV and the source, while the Game Accelerator 288 feature upscales the fps to twice the amount.

And since two of the HDMI ports are of the 2.1 variety, they support 4K @ 120Hz passthrough, allowing you to make the most of current consoles like the Playstation 5 and Xbox Series X.

I also appreciate how easy it is to pull up the Game Bar — the gaming-specific settings menu — just by holding down the hamburger button on the remote (the button with the three horizontal line icon). When pulled up, I could turn on a crosshair, adjust gaming-specific picture modes, and see an FPS counter.

Gaming score: 4.5 / 5

TCL QM7L review: Value

The TCL QM7L TV showing its brightness with a scene from Coco. (Image credit: Future / James Holland)

Almost gets to flagship territory on a smaller budget
Cheaper alternatives don’t look or sound as good
Great option for those wanting an almost premium experience

Whether you consider the TCL QM7L great value might depend on your own budget and what you’re looking for in a TV. In terms of TCL’s offerings though, it is a good deal. The step down from what the TCL QM8L offers is not significant for day-to-day use, unless you’re a stickler for a completely premium experience, yet you save about $500 when comparing the 65-inch sizes. The QM8L goes for $1,799, while the QM7L goes for $1,299.99 at that size.

TCL does have more affordable TVs though, like the TCL QM6K (the review is for last year’s model, but this year’s only received a very minor update). And the QM6K has a lot to offer for those trying to keep under a thousand for a TV, with a 65-inch going for $999.99. But it’s much more limited than the TCL QM7L, most notably having worse audio quality and a lower peak brightness.

If we look at the competition, something like the Hisense U7 — which goes for $699.99 for a 65-inch TV — hits a lot of the same beats. It’s a Google TV with hands-free control via Google Gemini. Its sound quality is pretty good for a TV and it has a fast refresh rate. But its screen isn’t quite as good.

So what does this all mean? Basically, this TV is good value if you’re still trying to reach for a premium TV watching experience.

Value score: 4.5 / 5

Attributes

Notes

Rating

Features

The TCL QM7L is feature-filled including the somewhat flawed Google Gemini, not to mention all the HDR and spatial audio support one could need.

4 / 5

Picture quality

It might not have the depth of its more expensive siblings, but this TV looks very good thanks to a combination of good color coverage, Dolby Vision IQ, and TCL’s Halo Control System.

4.5 / 5

Sound quality

The sound quality, provided by Bang & Olufsen, is good enough to skip getting a soundbar, though there’s not much low-end.

4 / 5

Design

There’s little to find fault with this TV with the highlights being an adjustable center stand, two HDMI 2.1 ports, and thin bezels.

4.5 / 5

Smart TV and menus

Using Google TV as an interface, this TV is intuitive to use with plenty of free content. Just be aware that its suggestions are going to be biased toward Google-hosted content.

4.5 / 5

Gaming

Between the 144Hz refresh rate, AMD Freesync Premium Pro, and Game Bar, this TV has all the makings of a great TV for gaming.

4.5 / 5

Value

While the TCL QM7L isn’t cheap, it offers great value, especially compared to the more premium TVs it almost reaches in terms of performance and features.

4.5 / 5

Should I buy the TCL QM7L?Buy it if...

You want an almost premium TV at mid-range prices
The TCL QM7L is, experientially, not that far below the QM8L, (which itself is a step below the flagship X11L), but it’s quite a bit cheaper. Ideal if you want to upgrade but are trying to stay closer to mid-range prices.

You care about blooming
This is common across TCL’s mid-range and premium TVs, but this TV does a great job of minimizing blooming — something you invariably get to some degree with brighter mini-LED TVs.

You’re a gamer
Whether it’s the almost premium screen, 144Hz refresh rate, 2.1 HDMI ports, Game Bar, or AMD Freesync Premium Pro, this TV has all the bonafides for a great gaming experience.

Don't buy it if…

You want the best
This TV is great, but it’s two steps below TCL’s finest and, if you really have that attention to detail, you might notice the lower (but still great) quality picture.

You expect a lot out of hands-free control
Google Gemini has a lot of good to it, but it’s an imperfect voice assistant, which makes its hands-free control an exercise in frustration, especially if you need it due to an impairment.

TCL QM7L review: also consider

TCL QM7L

Roku Pro Series (2025)

TCL QM6K

TCL QM8L

Price (65-inch)

$1,299.99

$899.99

$999.99

$1,799

Screen type

SQD Mini-LED

QLED

Mini-LED

SQD-Mini LED

Refresh rate

144Hz

120Hz

144Hz

HDR support

HDR10, HDR10+, HLG, Dolby Vision IQ

Dolby Vision IQ, HDR10+ Adaptive, HLG

Dolby Vision IQ, HDR10+, HDR10, HLG

HDR10, HDR10+, HLG, Dolby Vision IQ

Smart TV

Google TV

Roku

Google TV

HDMI ports

4 (1 eARC, 2x HDMI 2.1 @144Hz, 2x HDMI 2.0 @60Hz)

4 (2x HDMI 2.1)

4x HDMI 2.1

Roku Pro Series (2025)
The Roku Pro Series (2025) is a little more expensive, but comes with a lot of the same features, has a similarly fast refresh rate for gamers (though no game bar), and has a unique shadowbox design that makes it sit flush on the wall when mounted, making it the better TV for that situation. Read our full Roku Pro Series (2025) review.

TCL QM6K
The TCL QM6K is just as good value if you’re looking for a mid-range TV for almost budget prices. Of course, this means it’s about a level down in every regard, particularly the audio, but it still has a relatively great picture quality with vibrant colors, good contrast, and a lack of blooming. Read our full TCL QM6K review.

TCL QM8L
The TCL QM8L is only a tiny bit better a TV than the TCL QM7L while being a just a bit more expensive, thanks to a better screen with higher brightness and more local dimming zones. It might otherwise be functionally the same TV, but it does come with Dolby Vision Max. Read our full TCL QM8L review.

How I tested the TCL QM7L

I used the TCL QM7L for a couple weeks
Tested with both TV, movies, music, and games

I used the TCL QM7L SQD MiniLED TV regularly for a couple weeks. I tested it using streaming shows, movies, music, and games (via PS5). I went through the various features, particularly the hands-free Google Gemini, to see if it work as advertised. I also spent time listening to the audio, as well as paying attention to the picture quality.

After spending some time with this TV, it’s my humble opinion that this TV is ideal for those who are looking for a premium TV but want to pay closer to mid-range prices.

I’ve tested a lot of tech gear over the years, from laptops through keyboards to speakers, and so have been able to use my expertise towards giving an honest and fair opinion, not to mention a critical eye, to any product I test.

First reviewed: October 2026
Read TechRadar's reviews guarantee

Categories: Reviews

Gears of War: E-Day review: old-school action is a breath of fresh air in 2026

TechRadar Reviews - Fri, 10/02/2026 - 10:50

Sometimes the old ones really are the best, and Gears of War: E-Day is unapologetically retro. This third-person cover shooter could have easily fallen out of a time machine straight from the Xbox 360 era, were it not for its incredible graphical fidelity.

Review info

Platform reviewed: PC
Available on: Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC
Release date: October 6, 2026

If you’ve played any Gears of War game, then you know exactly what to expect going in: intense combat encounters as human soldiers fight a desperate war against an invading mutant menace. Does E-Day reinvent the series? Not at all, though it does make some small changes by introducing somewhat more open levels and refining the weapon upgrade system introduced in Tactics.

That's far from a bad thing, though. Gears of War is an acclaimed series for a reason. Mowing down waves of baddies is still as fun as it ever was twenty years after the release of the first game, even if the story campaign feels a bit drawn out at times in between the bombastic set-piece moments, and the suite of competitive online multiplayer modes offers plenty of reasons to hone your skill and keep coming for more.

Back to the very beginning

(Image credit: Xbox)

E-Day does plenty to appeal, even if you haven’t played a Gears game before. It’s a prequel, set more than a decade before the events of the first game’s story, so it doesn’t require any prior knowledge to understand. It takes place on the titular ‘Emergence Day’, when the evil Locust army first emerged from underground and began its full-scale invasion of the series’ fictional Earth-like world. The story is a relatively small-scale one, focusing entirely on the initial first few days of the war in the city of Kalona.

The campaign is extremely strong in its opening hours, which really dial in on the more horrific and brutal elements of the franchise. Although still an experienced soldier, long-time protagonist Marcus Fenix faces a then-unknown threat that he and his companions, a ragtag group of his friend, a fellow soldier, Dominic Santiago, along with strangers Mags Carter and Lucas Reyes, are completely unprepared for.

There’s a real sense of chaos as the Locust tear through the city streets, with civilians running in panic, cars crashing, trains derailing, and huge sinkholes starting to tear up the floor. Weapons are limited at first, but you steadily gear up as the story unfolds. Experimenting with new assault rifles, snipers, shotguns, grenade launchers, and so on as you unlock them leads to a satisfying feeling of progression, further enhanced by a steady stream of unlockable upgrades for each and every one of them.

(Image credit: Xbox)

These range from basic stat buffs to more in-depth overhauls that fundamentally change how the weapons operate and can be paired together in interesting ways. The slow-to-reload lever-action Gnasher shotgun, for example, becomes an entirely different beast when you outfit it with a full-auto firing mode and the ability to replenish shells when stowed. It’s supremely enjoyable to experiment and, even without any upgrades, all of the guns are suitably punchy with satisfying sound effects that make each shot a joy.

E-Day introduces a small handful of large, more open environments to explore, with short side missions here and there. There’s plenty of guidance, and you’re always being funneled towards the next objective, so it doesn’t ever feel like you’re in a true open-world, but there are still plenty of collectibles to hoover up.

Their placement isn’t sophisticated, and you can easily find most of them without straying too far from the beaten track, which does seem like something of a missed opportunity.

Beauty in destruction

(Image credit: Xbox)

Luckily, you don’t need much encouragement to really take your time soaking in each and every environment, as they are absolutely gorgeous. This is without a doubt one of the most graphically impressive games ever released, with a level of fidelity that is simply leaps and bounds ahead of other recent releases.

The detail is truly staggering, with everything from sweeping views across the city to the individual items on sale in an abandoned convenience store realistically rendered and beautifully lit. I constantly found myself stopping to zoom in on every little thing, impressed with the sheer number of references to in-universe history.

Best bit

(Image credit: Xbox)

Some of the early segments set at the very start of the invasion take an almost survival horror turn, with your squad investigating blood-covered rooms in seemingly abandoned buildings, trying to work out what's going on. They're tense, with a few good scares too.

All of this helps Kalona really feel like an actual place in a way few other video game settings do. The layout of its roads and public transportation network is totally believable, and your journey feels truly grounded, as you move through the game – even later on when the streets have been reduced to near-ruin.

There are some definite low points, though. This is by far the longest Gears of War campaign, taking me roughly 25 hours to complete while chasing every collectible and optional side mission, and a few hours in the middle should have been shaved off. Encounters are well-balanced in the opening and final acts with a good variety of foes and plenty of cover, but there are some sequences near the midpoint that just involve facing off a steady stream of overly tanky enemies in quite small arenas.

The shooting is so compelling that pumping them full of bullets for minutes at a time isn’t a dealbreaker; their removal would just have created a much tighter overall experience.

Continuing the fight

(Image credit: Xbox)

A Gears of War game wouldn’t be complete with a suite of multiplayer modes, and E-Day is no exception. The player versus player (PvP) deathmatch mode is excellent, challenging two small teams to face off and rack up kills with weapons from the campaign. Simplistic, yes, but that doesn’t mean that it’s not incredibly fun to blast away at others.

The player versus environment (PvE) games are more complicated, with 12 players divided into four squads tackling multiple objectives in a large open space to earn currency to spend on upgrades and defensive gear.

Bizarrely, the teams don’t interact with each other that much aside from the odd shared boss fight, so I don’t really see why the format needs 12 players, though any excuse for more of the strong combat is a good thing. There’s also a more traditional wave survival mode, which I can see becoming a favorite among friends looking for something more casual.

Throw in a wealth of unlockables, and you have a recipe for a good time even if, like the story campaign, it’s not anything revolutionary.

Should I play Gears of War: E-Day?Play it if…

You’re after an old-school shooter
Gears of War E-Day is a fantastic choice if you’re looking for a good, old-fashioned third-person shooter. After exploding in popularity throughout the Xbox 360 generation, there aren’t that many new AAA entries in the genre anymore – making E-Day a breath of fresh air.

You’re a Gears of War fan
Detailing the beginnings of the Locust invasion and delivering everything you would expect from a new Gears of War game, this is a must-play if you’re a long-time fan.

Don't play it if...

You’re hoping for something more brief
This is by far the longest Gears of War game, so you might find it a bit drawn out and overly long if you go in expecting a roughly ten-hour experience like the old ones.

Accessibility features

Gears of War: E-Day has a wealth of accessibility settings, found in the dedicated accessibility menu. There are multiple menu narration options alongside the ability to customize the size of UI text, enable subtitles, show speaker names, and fully tweak subtitle background color and opacity.

Distinct content filters are present for gore, profanity, and online chat content, plus visual settings such as a color blind mode, high-contrast mode, and navigation aids.

How I reviewed Gears of War E-Day

(Image credit: Xbox)

I played Gears of War: E-Day on my Nvidia RTX 4090-powered gaming PC. With this rig, it could easily hit a rock-solid 75 frames per second (fps) at ultra settings while playing at 1080p and using Logitech peripherals: the newly announced X3 Superstrike mouse, Pro X2 Rapid keyboard, and Pro X3 Lightspeed headset.

I played the game for over 25 hours, during which time I completed the campaign and saw the vast majority of side content. I also dived into the multiplayer modes for a few hours to check them out and compare them to other online games.

First reviewed October 2026

Categories: Reviews

Fairphone 6 Plus review: an eco-friendly phone that's finally available in the US

TechRadar Reviews - Fri, 10/02/2026 - 09:27

Fairphone 6 Plus: Two-minute review

To many in Europe, Fairphone is seen as a niche yet reliable Android manufacturer that specializes in one thing: fair phones. Its devices are made from eco-friendly materials, in factories that respect their workers, and are designed to last ages so they don't become e-waste.

But the new Fairphone 6 Plus — officially called the Fairphone Gen 6 Plus — is not just for European buyers. It's the first of the Dutch brand's smartphones to be released in the US, giving a whole new audience of green-minded consumers the chance to buy a phone that aligns with their ethical beliefs.

If that's you, the Fairphone 6's slightly newer successor is an easy recommendation; there's no real competition in the environmentally-friendly phone space, at least since Teracube stopped making new devices. But there are other reasons to pick up the Fairphone 6 Plus, too.

For starters, it boasts impressive durability credentials, with a military-grade chassis and plastic body that shrugs off drops and bumps with ease. If you do damage something, the phone is easy to open up at home, allowing you to replace parts instead of throwing the device away or shelling out loads of money for a company to repair it.

In fact, that's Fairphone's whole schtick: it wants your phone to last as long as possible, to avoid it going into landfill (they're eco-friendly, remember). So the 7 years of software updates make sense too.

Okay, so you're now brushed up on Fairphone, but let's fully rip the band-aid off: the brand's phones are rarely good value for money if you compare them with similarly priced rivals. It's the same with Fairphone's audio products, like the Fairbuds XL: you pay for longevity, not features.

Samsung, Google, and Motorola all offer Fairphone 6 Plus-beating phones for the same price, and if you live outside the US, a whole host of Chinese brands offer superior specs for a fraction of the cost. The Fairphone 6 Plus doesn't match its rivals in performance, camera capabilities, or slimness (though longevity, of course, is a different conversation).

Normally with Fairphones, you're paying for their eco-friendly credentials and high level of repairability. But a price hike for the Fairphone 6 Plus over the non-Plus model makes this trade-off a little harder to stomach, especially when the specs are barely different. And sure, price hikes are rife these days — Fairphone isn't alone in charging more for not much more — but they're harder to justify when the handsets weren't that competitive anyway.

But that 4-star score? As a devout green buyer, I'd still recommend the Fairphone 6 Plus. It lets you talk the talk and walk the walk, as long as you don't need a flagship phone. For me, Fairphone is the only company whose tech is actually, genuinely green — there's no greenwashing going on here (at least to my knowledge).

Still, the Fairphone 6 Plus is only worth it if you have the money to spare, plan on keeping your handset for a long time, or find it discounted in the sales. And if it is on sale in your country, keep tabs on the Fairphone 6 too: it's basically the same phone for a slightly lower price.

Fairphone 6 Plus review: price and availability

(Image credit: Future)

Released in August 2026 in Europe and US
Sells for $649.99 / £569 (roughly AU$1,100)
Price hike over predecessor

The Fairphone 6 Plus was revealed in mid-August 2026, a little over a year after the unveiling of the ‘standard’ or non-Plus model. This is Fairphone’s modus operandi: it often releases main-series phones every other year, bridging the gap with ‘Plus’ models in the meantime.

This latest Plus model justifies that suffix with its price, though. The Fairphone 6 Plus costs $649.99 / £569 (roughly AU$1,100, though Fairphone doesn’t sell its tech in Australia), which is a sizeable price hike over the Fairphone 6’s £499 (roughly $680 / AU$990) starting price. The latter phone remains on sale as a valid alternative to the newer handset, especially for cost-conscious buyers.

Given the relatively few upgrades the new model offers, for a higher price, its value proposition just isn’t as competitive.

Notice how I could share a US price for the Fairphone 6 Plus? That's because it's the first of the brand’s mobiles to be sold in the States, finally giving green-minded US buyers a phone to buy since Teracube went quiet.

As I'll mention later in the review, the Fairphone 6 Plus is designed to be repaired, and you can easily buy spare parts on the brand's websites. These range in price and vary by region, and so instead of reeling off a massive list, I'll simply refer you to Fairphone's website for the full list.

It's worth noting, too, that the Fairphone 6 Plus — like many previous Fairphone models — is also available in a de-Googled /e/OS configuration from Murena, which puts privacy at the forefront of the experience. This version of the phone costs $699.99 / £599 (around AU$1,009). We'll be publishing a separate feature on the de-Googled Fairphone experience in the coming weeks.

Fairphone 6 Plus review: specsFairphone 6 Plus specs

Specs

Dimensions:

156.6 x 73.3 x 9.6mm

Weight:

193g

Screen:

6.31-inch FHD (1,116 x 2,484mm) 120Hz OLED

Chipset:

Snapdragon 7s Gen 3

RAM:

12GB

Storage:

256GB

OS:

Android 16

Primary camera:

50MP, f/1.9

Ultra-wide camera:

13MP, f/2.2

Front camera:

32MP, f/2.0

Audio:

Stereo speakers

Battery:

4,415mAh

Charging:

30 wired

Colors:

Cobalt Blue, Forest Green, Horizon Black

Fairphone 6 Plus review: design

(Image credit: Future)

Bulky handset that stretches the hand
Neat touches like a switch, a side-mounted fingerprint scanner, and military protection
Easily repairable and modifiable

People often turn their noses up at Fairphones for their middling specs, but I’ve used most of them, and to me, I'd say their designs are an equal reason why some users may be put off. These phones are bulky. The 6 Plus measures 156.5 x 73.3 x 9.6mm and weighs 193g, so in this age of super-slim mobiles, it feels like a dinosaur.

There are benefits to this chunky size. Not only does it ensure the phone is easier to repair — more on that later — but it means it's better protected too. Case in point, the Fairphone 6 Plus has the military-grade MIL-STD-810H compliance, and IP55 protection against dust and water jets. I used the handset without a case and never felt like it was at risk.

On the left edge of the phone you get your power rocker, and on the right there’s a power button with a fingerprint scanner embedded. This worked flawlessly in my testing, unlocking the handset instantly and never failing to recognise my thumb, though some prefer phones with under-display scanners.

The right edge also has a physical switch, which can be programmed for different functions like turning on Airplane mode, enabling the torch, or enabling Fairphone’s Moments (which basically turns your handset into a ‘Lite’ mode with only access to certain apps). The switch is useful if you use it right, but it’s a shame that the list of functions is a little limited. I can’t use it to instantly open Google Maps, for example, or turn on NFC.

You can buy the mobile in a fetching blue, as you can see in the images, which is new for the Plus model. There are also green and black options, matching the Fairphone 6’s hues (but no white, as was offered for the previous model).

Now onto one of the big draws of Fairphone handsets: they’re designed to be repairable. This means you can remove various elements using a simple Fairphone screwdriver, and replace them if anything is damaged. If you smash the screen of your handset, scratch the lens, or find the battery health greatly diminished, you can simply swap the offending components out instead of buying an entirely new phone.

A side-effect of this modularity, which Fairphone has greatly leaned on in recent years, is that you can remove the parts for another purpose: buying accessories. You can swap out the phone’s back and replace it with a card holder or finger loop, for instance, the latter of which you can see in all of these review pictures (I absolutely love using it to hold the phone).

There are other accessories available from the My Fairphone app, and they all vary in price.

Design score: 4 / 5

Fairphone 6 Plus review: display

(Image credit: Future)

6.31 inches, 1,116 x 2,484 resolution
120Hz refresh rate, 1,400 nits max brightness
Decent display, but nothing special

Despite the Fairphone 6 Plus feeling like a pretty chunky phone in the hand, its display is a little smaller than those of many Android rivals.

The panel measures 6.31 inches diagonally, and it's broken up by a top-center punch-hole cut-out for the front camera. It's got a 1116 x 2484 resolution, 120Hz refresh rate, and 20:9 aspect ratio; the size, OLED build, and 1400-nit max brightness all match the specs of the Fairphone 6’s panel.

A note on the refresh rate: by default, it’s set to 90Hz, so bump it up in the Settings app if you don’t mind the resulting lower battery life.

I can’t pretend that this is the best-looking screen on any Android phone, but the difference between ‘best’ and ‘good enough’ is tiny, and the Fairphone 6 Plus’ display will seem as good as any other to most users. Unless you’re doing something wild like professional photo editing, you’ll find the display to be bright and responsive.

One small annoyance: at the top of the display is a speaker grille, which is much larger than most you see in this day and age. It proved quite the fluff magnet when the phone was in my pocket; I kept having to pick bits of tissue out of it.

Display score: 4 / 5

Fairphone 6 Plus review: software

(Image credit: Future)

Stock Android 16 (or /e/OS in alternative model)
And I mean stock: there's no bloatware or extra features
Seven years of OS updates

The Fairphone 6 Plus comes with Android 16 pre-installed — and I mean stock Android, not ‘almost-stock’ like some other brands use. So you’re not getting loads of random pre-installed social media and holiday apps here. There's a single pre-installed app (which I'll get to later), and beyond that, you’re getting a clean slate with the bare minimum Google apps that all Android phones come equipped with.

A clean interface is great, but you’re also lacking other brands’ customization options here. If you like tweaking the look of your phone until it’s truly unique, you’ll find the Fairphone lacking — though I’ll applaud the accessibility options like high-contrast icons and text outlines that make writing easier to read.

Otherwise, you’re getting the ‘standard’ Android experience: a home screen in which to bury apps, widgets and shortcuts, plus a familiar quick-settings menu if you swipe down from the top of the phone, though I occasionally faced a recurring bug that wouldn’t let me close it easily. I also missed Circle to Search, a close-to-universal Android feature that isn’t available on Fairphones.

This aforementioned extra app is My Fairphone, which you won’t be using all the time, so you can hide it in the App Gallery. It lets you check your phone’s health (including storage use, temperature, and runtime since last reboot), and buy accessories or spare parts for your phone. If you’re planning to keep your Fairphone running for years, this latter option will be the most intriguing — although some may find the My Fairphone app unnecessary.

Fairphone has pledged that its Gen 6 Plus phone will get at least seven Android updates (bringing you to Android 24, if Google’s software naming stays true), which is one of the best commitments we’ve seen for Androids. It helps the company's longevity promise; this phone will keep working for a long time.

Not sure about using Google’s hegemonic operating system? A version of the phone is available with /e/OS, an open-source ‘anti-Android’ operating system designed around data control, privacy and security. Given that it’s not Android, it’s not designed for the average buyer, but some people who want something more secure might consider it. However, I haven’t tested it, so I can’t give a personal take on how it works.

Software score: 4.5 / 5

Fairphone 6 Plus review: cameras

(Image credit: Future)

50MP main, 13MP ultra-wide, and 32MP front cameras
Basic, expected range of camera modes
Very light-touch optimization (perhaps too light-touch)

Fairphone decided to keep its camera array unchanged from the Fairphone 6 to the new model, which means I'm going to keep my camera score similarly unchanged.

We're looking at a 50MP f/1.9 main and 13MP f/2.2 rear duo, with a 32MP f/2.0 front-facing camera rounding out the party. Okay, there's been one tweak: the main snapper now has a smaller aperture, but the changes aren't huge.

I wouldn't recommend a Fairphone if you're looking for an accomplished camera phone, and as the unchanged specs show, the 6 Plus hasn't changed my stance. It's totally fine for the average buyer — your holiday snaps or selfies will be perfectly acceptable — but you won't be taking anything particularly amazing.

You can see this from the camera samples below, and the handicap is that the image optimization isn't particularly game-changing. Look at the field of flowers, or pizza: another handset would add much more saturation and contrast. The phone can perform better, but only in really well-lit scenarios. But, as I keep saying, its cameras are mostly fine. You can drop your photos into Photoshop if you want, to make up the difference.

The Fairphone 6 Plus offers the expected range of modes, including Portrait, low-light Night mode, and a Pro mode, but there's nothing especially unique, as you'd find in a Samsung or Google Pixel device.

I took the Fairphone on vacation, and the one thing I really missed was a way to zoom in. You can use digital zoom up to 10x, but anything over 2x looks a little too grainy to use. I would've loved to see a dedicated zoom lens added to this phone, but those only show up on devices designed for photography (or phones that cost significantly more).

Camera score: 3.5 / 5

Fairphone 6 Plus camera samplesA snap of some palm trees on a sunny day, taken on the 1x zoom camera.FutureA photo of an orange flower, taken on the main camera, to show its color processing.FutureA portrait picture of a man, taken in Portrait mode.FutureA wider picture than before, of a city fountain, taken on the 1x camera.FutureA photo taken on the main camera, but with Super Night mode enabled.FutureThis grid of palm trees was taken on the ultra-wide camera, to contrast the next two snaps:FutureThis grid of palm trees was taken on the main camera.FutureThis grid of palm trees was taken on at 2x digital zoom, which uses the main camera.FutureHere's a field of flowers, taken on the 1x main camera, showing color management of a wider subject.FutureA photo taken on the main camera of a pizza.FutureFairphone 6 Plus review: performance and audio

(Image credit: Future)

Snapdragon 7s Gen 4 chip, 12GB RAM, and 256GB storage
Mid-range performance, though it starts sluggishly
Bluetooth 6.0 but no headphone jack

Arguably the main Fairphone 6 Plus upgrade versus its regular sibling is its performance. The RAM capacity is up to 12GB (something I asked for in my review of the Fairphone 6), and the chipset is now a Snapdragon 7s Gen 4 (the previous model had a Gen 3). That’s the same chipset as you'll find inside the Nothing Phone (4a), so it’s no slouch on the performance front.

I’ve previously found the Snapdragon 7-series chips to be fine for mid-range devices like this, and the Fairphone 6 Plus is no exception — even if it did struggle now and then to run certain games. Most users will find it enough for most tasks, though this isn’t really a device designed for gamers.

When I put the phone through benchmarking tests, it returned an average Geekbench 7 multi-core score of around 3,500. Geekbench 7 is fairly new, so we haven't used it on enough phones to give useful comparisons, but the tool's browser library suggests this is a similar result to other mid-range mobiles.

On 3DMark, I put the phone through various tests. The results showed that the handset lags quite far behind flagships, even ones from several years ago, but it does stand as more powerful than the 'standard' Fairphone 6.

Just bought the Fairphone 6 Plus and finding it surprisingly slow? Most mobiles take a little while to get up to speed, but mine took a few days more than I’m used to. Give it some time before you declare something’s wrong.

Like most phones, the Fairphone has stereo speakers and no 3.5mm jack, so you’ll probably be relying on its Bluetooth 5.4 support for audio. One minor upgrade from past models is that the device supports aptX Lossless, so in theory, it’s better for audiophiles, but it still doesn’t support LDAC, so this is only a small win.

Performance score: 3.5 / 5

Fairphone 6 Plus review: battery life

(Image credit: Future)

Relatively small 4,415mAh battery
Lasts roughly a day of use
30W charging, no wireless or reverse powering

The Fairphone 6 Plus has a 4,415mAh battery — on paper, that’s a little lower than most contemporaries, which usually offer power packs of 5,000mAh or above. However, in the past, I’ve been wowed by the battery life of Fairphone devices, which have often outperformed their spec sheets.

Not so much in the 6 Plus. Its battery life is ‘fine’, but the RAM and chipset upgrades from the past model clearly take their toll. The Fairphone lasts for about a day of average use, which is nothing to turn your nose up at, but it’s nothing exceptional, either. When I took the device on holiday, I relied on battery saver mode to make sure I had all the juice I needed.

You can power the phone up at 30W, which isn’t especially fast, but since fast charging can adversely affect battery health, it’s a hard thing to be critical of. You’ll have to plug the phone in for over an hour to charge it to full. There’s also no wireless or reverse power functionality.

Battery score: 4 / 5

Fairphone 6 Plus review: value

(Image credit: Future)

I have the same problem every time I review a Fairphone; any other device with the same specs would cost a lot less, but with a Fairphone, you’re buying a device that lasts longer than rivals and takes much less of a toll on the environment.

Does that mean they’re good value or not? Because of their longevity, I usually say 'yes'. Fairphones aren't cheap, but if they last you twice as long as a rival phone would, and you’d end up buying two alternatives instead of one Fairphone, the price is justified.

But the Fairphone 6 Plus' price hike over the Fairphone 6 gives me pause to second-guess this. This phone is still a green marvel that will keep ticking for years, but its high price will probably deter most people from picking it up — and that's a shame.

Value score: 3.5 / 5

Should you buy the Fairphone 6 Plus?Fairphone 6 Plus scorecard

Attributes

Notes

Rating

Value

The Fairphone will last a long time, but the upfront cost is a barrier to entry.

3.5 / 5

Design

The device may look rough and rugged, but its repairability and hardiness mostly make up for it.

4 / 5

Display

The Fairphone's screen matches most rivals at this price: it looks pretty good.

4 / 5

Software

Android here is nice and basic: no bloatware, no excess. The 7 years of guaranteed software updates ensure the handset's longevity.

4.5 / 5

Camera

The cameras aren't terrible, but this phone isn't designed for photography.

3.5 / 5

Performance

While the chip and RAM are fit for purpose, this isn't a gaming phone.

3.5 / 5

Battery

At a day of lasting power, you're basically getting the average Android battery life here.

4 / 5

Buy it if...

You care about the planet
It's the whole point of the Fairphone 6 Plus, and the reason you've got this far in the review. This is the unbeaten eco-friendly handset.

You want something that lasts a long time
Between its hardy build, repairable nature, and long software span, this is a phone you'll keep for years and years, not something to upgrade the next time a new model is released.

You like side fingerprint scanners
They're pretty rare nowadays, but many people (myself included) prefer side-mounted fingerprint scanners. Thankfully, the Fairphone 6 Plus has one.

Don't buy it if...

You need a gaming or photography phone
The Fairphone 6 Plus is a jack of all trades, but a master of none, and that includes both gaming and photography. Buy a different phone if you need something solid in those areas.

You can buy the Fairphone 6
I hate to disparage a Fairphone, but the older phone is cheaper, and almost equal in specs to this new model.

Fairphone 6 Plus review: Also consider

Not convinced by Fairphone's latest eco-phone? Here are some alternatives, all of which ostensibly have a green angle.

Fairphone 6
I've mentioned it enough in this review. The Fairphone 6 is slightly weaker but costs less, and has all the same eco credentials as the Plus model.

Read our full Fairphone 6 review

HMD Fusion
It's a bit older, so much so that it's no longer receiving software updates, but a lot cheaper. This HMD phone is designed to be easily repairable, and it's also modular with attachable back plates. According to iFixit, its repairability is second only to the Fairphone. Its specs aren't great, though.

iPhone 17
Apple's iPhones aren't eco-friendly by any stretch of the imagination, but lots of their components are recycled, which is better than nothing. Plus, the packaging avoids plastics.

Read our full iPhone 17 review

Fairphone 6 Plus

Fairphone 6

HMD Fusion

iPhone 17

Starting price (at launch):

$649.99 / £569 (roughly AU$1,100)

£499 (roughly $680, AU$990)

$250 / £229 / AU$499

$799 / £799 / AU$1,399

Dimensions:

156.5 x 73.3 x 9.6 mm

164.2 x 75.5 x 8.3 mm

149.6 x 71.5 x 7.95 mm

Weight:

193g

202.5g

177g

OS (at launch):

Android 16

Android 15

Android 14

iOS 26

Screen Size:

6.31-inch

6.56-inch

6.3-inch

Resolution:

2484 x 1116

1612 x 720

2622 x 1206

CPU:

Snapdragon 7s Gen 4

Snapdragon 7s Gen 3

Snapdragon 4 Gen 2

A19 Bionic

RAM:

8GB

12GB

4GB / 6GB / 8GB / 12GB

Not specified

Storage (from):

256GB

128GB / 256GB

256GB / 512GB

Battery:

4,415mAh

5,000mAh

Not specified

Rear Cameras:

50MP main, 13MP ultra-wide

50MP wide, 13MP ultra-wide

108MP main

48MP main, 48MP ultra-wide

Front camera:

32MP

50MP

12MP

How I tested the Fairphone 6 Plus

(Image credit: Future)

Tested for one month
Everyday usage, including web browsing, social media, photography, video calling, gaming, streaming video, music playback
Benchmarked using Geekbench 6, 3DMark, native Android stats

To write this Fairphone 6 Plus review, I used the device for one month. I conducted lab-style testing during one week of this month-long period, but for the other three weeks, I popped my SIM into the 6 Plus and used it as my normal smartphone.

This means I used it for texting, playing games, streaming music, working, and taking pictures as anyone else would. During this time, I also used the 6 Plus abroad during a vacation, so it really got put through its paces.

I've been reviewing Android phones for TechRadar since the start of 2019, and was on the team for much of that time. This means I've tested plenty of other competitors and past Fairphone models (including the Fairphone 6), as well as some other gadgets from the company, including its headphones.

I also recently published a long-read piece on gadget repairability for TechRadar, which included an interview with Fairphone's Head of Product.

Star Wars: Galactic Racer review — an exhilarating roguelike racer that gets the blood pumping

TechRadar Reviews - Fri, 10/02/2026 - 07:00

Fuse Games' Star Wars: Galactic Racer isn't what I anticipated. A fun Star Wars racing game that lets you take part in a series of high-octane relays across the galaxy? Sounds great; you had me at "Star Wars." But a heart-pounding roguelike sweat-fest that had me squeezing my DualSense wireless controller in a death grip and yelling at my monitor as Kestar Bool once again beat me in the final race by the skin of my teeth? Not what I was expecting!

Review info

Platform reviewed: PS5
Available on: PS5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC
Release date: October 6, 2026

Galactic Racer takes place after the fall of the Empire and during the New Republic Era, where the lawless and ex-pilots of the Outer Rim take part in the unsanctioned, high-stakes Galactic League. You play as Shade, a faceless human cargo pilot recruited to the league and who has a major grudge against the oppressive Bool family, particularly Kestar Bool, the guy who also happens to be the reigning champion of the Galactic League. Shade, for reasons you'll discover as you progress the campaign, has a long history with Kestar and is dead set on beating him, and you feel that rivalry grow after every attempt at completing the tour.

This particular Star Wars tale is contained without the bigger stakes we often see in the movies or TV shows, and while it's not a sweeping cinematic experience like Star Wars Zero Company or Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, with not much exploration in the way of character depth for Shade as the playable character, it's simple yet effective; Galactic Racer is first and foremost a racing game with an emphasis on replayability, buildcraft customization, and a tailored progression system.

A race across the stars

(Image credit: Fuse Games)

The freedom to choose how to proceed through the campaign is a core feature I greatly enjoyed, and players must first complete the qualifiers, then the main Galactic Tour. There's no randomized track selection; instead, a clever system of branching paths lets you choose a route and compete in races that fit your preferences, minimizing the risk of losing your League Tokens, which let you race in the first place.

There are standard races that present a variety of gripping courses, and you can come in first or 12th place; Field Tests, which I did find a bit repetitive and not as challenging after completing them numerous times; Mystery Encounters; and Eliminator races, an event where the driver in last place is disqualified until only the top three pilots remain, plus you'll lose a League Token, which makes it the riskiest race in the bunch.

Roguelikes can be hit or miss for me, but Galactic Racer's run-based structure offers an exhilarating and chaotic gameplay loop that excels at providing a highly engaging, heart-pounding experience despite the rinse-and-repeat system.

(Image credit: Fuse Games)

Even after beating my fellow racers and making it all the way to the finals, only to fail miserably, the notion of having to replay the entire process after losing should've been off-putting. Instead, I found myself not only eager to improve, but excited to get back on the track with the knowledge and skills I'd gained from previous runs, a feeling that not many roguelikes can achieve.

The game has a learning and difficulty curve due to its roguelike framework, and it may not be for everyone, but it's purposefully designed to make you become the best racer in the galaxy, since you likely won't be a winner straight away.

Best Bit

(Image credit: Fuse Games)

Star Wars: Galactic Racer's roguelike structure is the game's best feature, offering an incredible amount of replayability across a host of brilliantly constructed courses across the galaxy.

More often than not, you'll smash headfirst into an obstacle or fly off a cliff because you didn't drift in time, so it's incredibly satisfying how the game makes you feel like you're gradually improving after every run.

At the beginning of each tour, you choose a loadout, including your vehicle, Favours that provide a competitive edge, and a Racer Style, an additional preset that dictates your speeder's behaviour and active perks and feels more personalized to your playstyle.

Galactic Racer offers three vehicle types — landspeeders, speeder bikes, and skim speeders, as well as podracers during select missions — but in the end, I personally favored the speeder bike; its compact agility, vectored thrust, and kinetic burst felt incredible as I sped across dunes and whizzed around tight corners on slippery glaciers.

If at first you don't succeed...

(Image credit: Fuse Games)

When I started, I absolutely sucked. I frequently collided headfirst into walls and mismanaged my abilities, but the roguelike structure works so well that my muscle memory began kicking in the more I played; by the end of the game, I was hardly crashing and knew the tracks like the back of my hand.

It's no smooth ride; every choice shapes your prospects, and the challenge of not only trying to win while overcoming planetary effects like lava or acid, and outplaying your fellow pilots, takes the stakes even higher — it's a testament to how well the roguelike framework works and how brilliantly designed the courses are.

(Image credit: Fuse Games)

The game puts a huge emphasis on customization — the build possibilities are endless — and the system stands out against the competition as you gradually update your vehicles by applying upgrades, installing parts (and making sure they're not damaged), and unlocking new power-up abilities; there's an abundance of them, and they make a world of difference in close-call encounters and improve your odds of a podium position.

Not to beat the dead tauntaun, but seriously… this is podracing! Playing on the base PS5, Galactic Racer is a visual and audio feast, offering a gorgeously smooth experience at 60fps, while sweeping you up in the frenetic action.

The speeds you can reach are ridiculous when you have the right upgrades, and there's nothing more gratifying than going to the maximum with your Ramjet and executing perfect landings and sharp corners without crashing your speeder into a million pieces.

The best of the best

(Image credit: Fuse Games)

Racing is at the soul of the campaign, and it's a damn good time, but the game also allows you to interact with other pilots; they aren't just random racers, but fully written NPCs with unique personalities and playstyles, and I loved how Fuse represents these characters on and off the track.

You'll build rivalries, learn their backstories, and discover random encounters with multiple dialogue options, which also come with rewards and consequences, making the lawless world you're competing in all the more real.

With Kestar Bool, for instance, I chose to insult him after he tried to swindle me out of some credits, and since he basically runs the show, my speeder was sabotaged; it exploded at the start of the next race, and I lost two speeder upgrades in the process, putting me at a huge disadvantage for the rest of the tour. This is such a unique feature and a significant factor in the game's progression system that drives home the competitiveness among your opponents.

(Image credit: Fuse Games)

Jakku and Crait are probably my favorite out of the six available planets, which are all stunningly authentic to the Star Wars universe and a joy to experience from a brand-new perspective as a fan; the scale of their set pieces, whether it be the underbelly of a Star Destroyer skeleton or kicking up red salt in crystalline caverns, creates a sense of awe alongside the game's competitive atmosphere as you maneuver through various routes.

Fuse has designed a riveting racing game with creatively constructed tracks that compel you to keep playing even after a major fumble. At first, it's all about mastering the track — which corner to take to put you ahead, when to speed up or slow down — and the game does a great job of making each one distinctly different. Soon enough, however, these races get pretty aggressive, to the point where they'll turn into outright battles as your opponents try to ram you off the course (screw you, Griff Halloran).

(Image credit: Fuse Games)

Alongside the campaign, players can unlock Sebulba's storyline, a side activity where you play podraces from his past; it's a neat addition to the main story that offers up some amazing tracks while also providing additional backstory on the guy who had it out for little Anakin Skywalker. Surprisingly, Sebulba became a standout in the storyline, and I appreciate that Fuse didn't simply throw him in for the sake of nostalgia.

Playing on the base PS5, Galactic Racer is a visual and audio feast, offering a gorgeously smooth experience at 60fps, while sweeping you up in the frenetic action.

The game also offers other side activities like Scenarios that let you play as each racer, an Arcade feature, both worthwhile additions for after you complete the campaign, and a proper multiplayer mode. During the review period, I had access to several multiplayer sessions, a standard online PvP experience featuring quick race modes and Tours with 12 players and crossplay enabled.

From what I was able to play, I enjoyed the multiplayer as much as the campaign, and it has a lot of potential if Fuse plans on updating the game post-launch; it feels just as entertaining and competitive as the story, with extra unlockables and missions that incentivize you to keep playing after the campaign. While I didn't get to play too much due to time constraints, I already know I'll be sinking more hours into it, and I'm particularly excited about trying out the Podracing Tour mode at launch — it was locked during the review period — because there wasn't nearly enough of it in the campaign.

Should you play Star Wars: Galactic Racer?Play it if...

You're a Star Wars fan
If you enjoy Star Wars beyond the movies and TV shows, Star Wars: Galactic Racer will take you on an exhilarating journey across the Outer Rim.

You like roguelikes
If you welcome the challenge of roguelikes and don't mind the rinse-and-repeat process, Star Wars: Galactic Racer is a must-play.

If you enjoy racing games and want fast-paced action
Star Wars: Galactic Racer is one of the best racing games I've played in a long time and offers a high-octane experience like no other.

Don't play it if...

You don't get on with roguelikes
If you're a racing game enthusiast, you'll enjoy this game, but the roguelike structure may put you off if you don't like the idea of repeating races until you beat the game.

You're a Star Wars fan just looking to experience the story
You may be put off by the game's roguelike system if you continuously lose, which in turn can get in the way of the main story if that's all you want to experience.

Accessibility Features

Star Wars: Galactic Racer offers a ton of accessibility features in the form of your typical settings across visuals, audio, and subtitles. There are also some great controller remapping options, which can be adjusted to your preferences (these make a huge difference on the track), toggleable controls, and more.

How I reviewed Star Wars: Galactic Racer

I spent almost 30 hours playing Star Wars: Galactic Racer on the base PlayStation 5 with my Gigabyte M32U gaming monitor and my Sony WH-CH520 wireless headphones for audio.

First reviewed October 2026.

Categories: Reviews

Focal Mu-so Hekla review: a potent, super-immersive wireless speaker in a sleek soundbar's clothing

TechRadar Reviews - Thu, 10/01/2026 - 18:00

Focal Mu-so Hekla review

The Focal Mu-so Hekla is a wireless speaker in soundbar's clothing, featuring superbly detailed, sizable sound, a stunning build and a jumbo price. Weirdly, Focal insists it's not a soundbar, despite it sounding like a soundbar, connecting via eARC like a soundbar and looking an awful lot like a soundbar.

Named Hekla after one of Iceland’s most active stratovolcanoes — known semi-affectionately) as the ‘Gateway to Hell’ to locals — it's also been released under the Focal sister brand, rather than Naim's like the rest of the Mu-so line. So it does feel like the Hekla might be a bit confused about its identity... and honestly who could blame it?

(Image credit: Future)

At 4.65 x 39.37 x 11.61 inches / 118 x 1000 x 295mm, the Hekla is certainly proportioned like a soundbar. The fact that it’s compatible with Dolby Atmos, features side- and up-firing drivers to facilitate a spatial audio effect, and has an HDMI eARC socket for connection to a TV is quite soundbar-y too.

And the knowledge that this product has been branded ‘Focal’ (or, more specifically, ‘Focal powered by Naim’) because the French company is perceived to have greater credibility in the audio-visual and home cinema markets doesn’t really do anything to support Focal’s declaration that it’s primarily an all-in-one system either. Even at on Focal's website, it’s referred to as an ‘immersive Home Cinema system’ quite early on.

Get beyond these mild oddities, though, and the Focal Mu-so Hekla remains an intriguing device. Its black aluminum casing features anodized and shot-blasted aluminum heatsinks for a bit of visual drama on top of their practical applications, and the overall standard of build and finish is basically impeccable.

If you’re familiar with the Naim Mu-so (2nd Gen) wireless speaker, there will be nothing in the way the Mu-so Hekla looks that will come as any great surprise. It even features the same oversized control dial that’s been a feature of Naim equipment for a decade or more.

(Image credit: Future)

There are 15 individual speaker drivers across the cabinet, powered by an all-in total of 660 watts of Naim-designed Class D power. Across the front, there are three 130 x 60mm bass drivers, a pair of 60mm midrange drivers and a couple of 25mm tweeters — the bass drivers get 60 watts of power each, all the rest receive 40 watts each.

Each side of the cabinet features two 70 x 40mm full-range drivers, and there are two more of these drivers positioned on the top, behind those areas of perforated metal. It’s an arrangement that’s designed to deliver 7.1.2-channel spatial audio and a frequency response of 30Hz - 20kHz.

Getting the audio information on board in the first place can be done in a few different ways. There’s a digital optical input (which can comfortably handle up to 24bit/96kHz) alongside the HDMI eARC socket on the rear of the cabinet, where you’ll also find a pre-out for use with a subwoofer.

There’s dual-band Wi-Fi 6 on board, with the antennae integrated into the heatsinks. This means the Mu-so Hekla is compatible with (among other things) the ‘Connect’ versions of Qobuz, Spotify and TIDAL music streaming services, Apple AirPlay 2 and Google Chromecast. It’s also UPnP-compatible, can access internet radio provided by Naim servers, and it features Bluetooth 5.1 with SBC and AAC codec compatibility.

(Image credit: Future)

The Mu-so Hekla is able to deal with pretty much any worthwhile file type, and quite a few of the less worthwhile alternatives too. It can handle resolutions of up to 32bit/384kHz and DSD128 for two-channel stuff and up to 24bit/192kHz for multichannel and spatial audio content.

That large, illuminated and entirely gratifying control dial is useful for getting at the Focal’s headline functions. But for granular control of the Mu-so Hekla, the Focal & Naim control app (free for Android and iOS) is where the action is.

First and foremost, here’s where you get access to the nuts and bolts of the Focal’s spatial audio reproduction. You have a choice of five settings: Dolby Movie, Dolby Music and Dolby Night, along with a couple of Focal’s own designs called Sphere Movie and Sphere Music.

The idea is that the Sphere settings are best suited to small-to-medium rooms that have had a degree of acoustic treatment while the Dolby alternatives are better suited to larger rooms with less treatment.

Regardless of which one you decide best suits your purposes, though, you can properly stick your oar into the sound you receive. There’s a three-band EQ, ‘+/-10’ sliders to adjust settings labelled ‘height’, ‘surround’, low frequency effects’ and ‘voice enhance’, and the ability to trim the level of each of the 10 individual channels that comprise the Mu-so Hekla’s 7.1.2 layout.

The one thing you can’t do where spatial audio is concerned is turn it all the way off. It doesn’t matter what you feed into the Focal — two channel stuff, old-school 5.1 surround sound content, full-on Dolby Atmos soundtracks, you name it — the Mu-so Hekla will use all of its drivers, even if you feed in stereo content and select ‘stereo’ mode.

(Image credit: Future)

Between its room-correction routine and its spatial audio algorithms, the Mu-so Hekla is convinced it can deliver a sound that’s optimised to your space, every time, using every one of its 15 drivers.

Otherwise, the Focal & Naim control app is stable, extensive business as usual. Here’s where you get to control playback, access the various inputs, nominate as many as five shortcuts to favorite radio stations, playlists or what-have-you, and run the ‘ADAPT’ room correction algorithm.

On top of that, you can adjust the brightness of the lighting around the control dial, check for available updates, incorporate the speaker into a multi-room setup (using as many as 32 individual Focal or Naim streamers), and there’s a fair bit more too. The Focal & Naim app has been the subject of more-or-less continuous updates for years now, and it shows.

(Image credit: Future)

Given the best stuff to work with (and in this instance ‘best’ = ‘native Dolby Atmos’), the Mu-so Hekla is, in broad terms, one of the most successful one-box spatial audio solutions around.

There’s really not a huge amount of difference between the five spatial audio modes (at least, not much is apparent in my listening environment), but the Focal is a lively, robust, eloquent and, perhaps most importantly of all, spacious listen in every circumstance.

Certainly the soundstage it can summon is noticeably larger than the cabinet it comes from. There’s a gratifying amount of width and height to the presentation, and the Mu-so Hekla moves effects around from left to right, from top to bottom and from front to back confidently.

The spaces and silences between occurrences are given due prominence, too — but despite this, there’s no suggestion of remoteness or a lack of cohesiveness about the sound. Dolby Atmos movie soundtracks and music mixes sound unified and singular, and on occasion deserve the description ‘immersive’.

(Image credit: Future)

It’s even-handed where tonality is concerned, with a fairly neutral and natural approach to the timbre of the entire frequency range. And where frequency response is concerned, there’s just a suggestion of bloom at the very bottom end to disrupt what is otherwise a smooth and even line from the top end down.

Those lowest frequencies may be fractionally overstated, but they’re nevertheless nicely shaped, properly controlled and loaded with detail both broad and fine — the combination of punch and variation makes the Focal’s bass response very enjoyable, and it has no trouble expressing musical rhythms with real positivity thanks to the attention it pays to the decay and, especially, attack of individual notes or hits.

At the opposite end of the frequency range, the Mu-so Hekla is similarly revealing of detail in treble sounds, and summons enough substance to prevent the top end becoming hard or edgy even at volume. Don’t imagine for a moment the Focal isn’t capable of prodigious volume though.

(Image credit: Future)

The balance in the midrange is just as nicely judged. It’s articulate with voices, whether speaking or singing, and loads on the details to the point that everything from tone and timbre to breath control and vocal attitude are made perfectly apparent.

And while the unity of the presentation is never in doubt, the midrange in general and voices in particular project well — dialogue is always distinct, even when it’s surrounded by sonic chaos.

As well as being fully equipped where outright volume is concerned, the Mu-so Hekla has a generous amount of dynamic headroom — the distance it can put between quiet and loud (which is especially apparent during a big Hollywood set-piece) is huge.

So when the going gets intense during a symphony, or the whispered exposition transitions to an almighty explosion, the Focal can make the transitions absolutely apparent.

Focal Mu-so Hekla review: Price & release date

Launched at the end of 2025 in parts of Asia
Released to the rest of the world from late March 2026

The Focal Mu-so Hekla launched in South Korea and China at the end of November 2025, and became available in the wider world from late March 2026.

In the United Kingdom, it’s priced at £2,999, while American customers will need to spend $3,599, and in Australia it goes for AU$6,499.

(Image credit: Future)Focal Mu-so Hekla review: Specs

Dimensions

4.65 x 39.37 x 11.61 inches / 118 x 1000 x 295mm

Speaker channels

Up to 7.1.4

Connections

HDMI eARC; digital optical; WiFi 6; Bluetooth 5.1

Dolby Atmos / DTS:X

Yes / No

Sub included

Rear speakers included

(Image credit: Future)Should I buy the Focal Mu-so Hekla?

Attribute

Notes

Score

Features

Greater Bluetooth codec compatibility would be nice, as would the ability to listen in unprocessed stereo. Otherwise has everything you might reasonably expect.

4 / 5

Performance

Big, detailed and properly organized sound with just a hint of low-end overconfidence.

4.5 / 5

Design

Hard to make a big speaker look anything but ‘functional’ but the Focal enjoys coherent industrial design.

4.5 / 5

Setup and usability

Swift, simple, logical, and with an excellent control app.

5 / 5

Value

If you want as little compromise as possible when it comes to the sound of your one-box spatial audio system, it’s going to cost you.

4.5 / 5

Buy it if...

You want a big taste of spatial audio without the need for multiple speakers
The Mu-so Hekla can’t compete with a similarly priced multi-speaker system, but it gets a fair bit closer than most.

You have a top-tier music streaming service subscription
The Focal is just as adept with Dolby Atmos music as it is Dolby Atmos movies.

You like nice things and you want everyone else to know you like them too
The Mu-so Hekla is a great big block of good taste where industrial design is concerned, and is the audio equivalent of a highbrow hardback book on a coffee table.

Don't buy it if...

You’re expecting the best spatial audio performance £3K can buy
The Focal represents simply the finest one-box spatial audio performance your £3K can buy.

You like to listen to stereo music in stereo
The Mu-so Hekla will attempt to work its magic on two-channel stuff, even if you’ve selected ‘stereo’ mode.

You think you might fancy a soundbar
It’s NOT a soundbar How many times do I have to say it?

Focal Mu-so Hekla review: Also consider

Focal Mu-so Hekla

Bang & Olufsen Beosound Premiere

McIntosh RS250

Dimensions

118 x 1000 x 295mm / 4.6 x 39.3 x 11.6 inches

160 x 932 x 121mm / 6.3 x 36.7 x 4.8 inches

145 x 630 x 324mm / 5.7 x 24.8 x 12.8 inches

Speaker channels

7.1.2

Not listed

2.0 (Stereo)

Connections

1x HDMI eARC, 1x Optical TOSLINK, 1x RCA subwoofer output, 1x Ethernet (RJ45), Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.1

1x HDMI eARC (4K 120FPS / 8K 60FPS passthrough), Analogue audio via USB-C (3.5mm via adapter), 3x Ethernet (1Gbit switch), Dual-band Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 5.4

1x HDMI ARC, 1x Optical TOSLINK, 1x Moving Magnet (MM) Phono input, 1x 3.5mm Aux, 1x 1/4" Headphone jack, 1x Mono RCA Subwoofer output, 1x Ethernet, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0

Dolby Atmos/DTS:X

Dolby Atmos

Sub included

Rear speakers included

Features

15 speaker drivers, 660W total Class D amplification, Naim streaming engine, Apple AirPlay 2, Google Cast/Chromecast, Spotify Connect, TIDAL Connect, Qobuz Connect, UPnP streaming, Focal & Naim app multiroom support (up to 32 devices), illuminated top dial control

10 custom drivers, 550W total amplification, 7.1.4 Dolby Atmos decoding with True Image up/downmixing, Wide Stage technology, 90 responsive internal LEDs, Apple AirPlay 2, Spotify Connect, TIDAL Connect, Beolink Surround support, Cradle to Cradle Certified Bronze

8 speaker drivers (2x tweeters, 4x midranges, 2x down-firing woofers), 650W total power output, Illuminated digital output meters, Apple AirPlay 2, Google Chromecast, Spotify Connect, TIDAL Connect, Roon Ready, aptX HD & Low Latency Bluetooth

Bang & Olufsen Beosound Premiere
A soundbar that’s prepared to admit it’s a soundbar, the Premiere is predictably ostentatious and predictably high-achieving. If the Mu-so Hekla seems a bit underdesigned and a bit too affordable, here’s the product you need.

McIntosh RS250
No spatial audio pretensions and no great shakes where ‘design’ is concerned either — but the RS250 is nonetheless an absolute powerhouse of a wireless all-in-one audio system. And it has VU meters too.

(Image credit: Future)How I tested the Focal Mu-so Hekla

Connected to a Philips OLED TV via HDMI eARC
Streaming via Qobuz Connect, TIDAL Connect and internet radio
Tested for well over a working week

I used a QED HDMI cable to connect the Mu-so Hekla to my Philips OLED806 TV via each machine’s HDMI eARC socket. The TV features Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, National Theatre at Home and Netflix apps, so plenty of streamed content is available, including Dolby Atmos stuff — and it’s also connected to a Panasonic DP-UB820 4K Blu-ray player and a Sony Playstation 5.

I stream wirelessly using both Qobuz Connect and TIDAL Connect. Which, again, makes plenty of content available at a whole range of resolutions including music mixed in Dolby Atmos.

UPnP connectivity allows me to access a Buffalo Terrastation NAS device loaded with content of up to 24bit/192kHz and DSD64 resolution. And I listen to a mixture of these input options and file formats for more than a working week (if, like me, you count a ‘working week’ as Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm).

Read TechRadar’s reviews guarantee
First reviewed: October 2026

Categories: Reviews

Bird Buddy 2 Review: my six months with the solar powered smart feeder camera

TechRadar Reviews - Thu, 10/01/2026 - 10:39

Bird Buddy 2: Two-minute review

The Bird Buddy 2 is the next-gen smart feeder on from the sleek, popular Bird Buddy Smart Feeder Pro. It shares the same integrated solar roof panels but has a new circular magnetic camera unit that pops out and rotates instantly between 9:16 portrait and 16:9 landscape modes.

More than six months after first hanging the Bird Buddy 2 in my garden, I'm delighted with its build quality and solar efficiency; however, it's fair to say my relationship with this smart feeder is still a mix of genuine appreciation and lingering frustration.

The feeder's integrated solar roof has kept the camera powered continuously for over half a year without me needing to bring it inside to charge once (which is good, as this is a fiddly job).

Combine that with its neat, easy-wipe, plastic build, clean refill design, and a charming app full of postcards and daily highlights, and I think it remains one of the most enjoyable, albeit pared-back smart feeders on the market. The equally popular Birdfy ecosystem offers more functionality, whereas I see Bird Buddy aiming for a simpler user experience.

Although it's easily rotatable, the camera is fixed facing forward, and framing isn’t quite right for landscape mode. The shallow seed tray means smaller birds sitting right in the seed for a good munch get cropped at the bottom of the frame. But now that 2K Ultra video resolution is available to Premium users, it takes the clarity of footage to an impressive level.

As I’ve said, one of the big selling points of the Bird Buddy app is how user-friendly and engaging it is, but this can come at the detriment of basic usability features – such as having customizable sleeping hours – meaning my camera regularly missed the earliest (and often most active) morning visitors because it’s not awake to record them.

Lauren ScottLauren ScottLauren ScottLauren Scott

But I do love how easy it is to keep your feed organised. New postcards will stay in your active feed for a week. From here, you can choose to collect or discard them (and the collection is where postcards stay permanently), which means the onus is on you to curate your sightings and choose the best clips and stills.

I'm not sold on the app feature to give images filters and birds outfits – but if it helps entice younger users into birdwatching, then maybe it's not such an awful idea. There's also a lot of educational content, with Birdy Buddy feeding you tidbits of facts about identified species.

Interested what other options are available besides the Bird Buddy 2? Check out our best bird feeder cameras guide.

I found live streaming to be occasionally laggy, sometimes not loading at all, and even when I set the camera to Frenzy Mode, the AI postcard capture missed birds I could clearly see sitting on the feeder from my kitchen window. It’s not the most reliable feeder I’ve used, and not ideal if you want to capture every single bird and build a picture of their visiting habits; however, it does stop your feed from getting clogged with thousands of similar clips.

Despite these niggles and quirks, I really enjoy the core experience. The AI bird identification is almost perfect, the postcard collection system provides a handy highlight reel, and the solar roof means near-continuous use.

The Bird Buddy 2 is a sleek, low-maintenance smart feeder with strong app design and best-in-class solar performance. For now, it earns its spot in my garden (and believe me, I have four smart feeders on the go), though I can’t help thinking about its price and hope tighter bird detection lands in future updates.

Lauren ScottLauren ScottBird Buddy 2: Price and availability

Wider release rolled out in mid-2026
Available via Amazon US and Amazon UK
$299 in the US (approx. £300)

At $299 in the US and about £300 on Amazon UK, the Bird Buddy 2 sits firmly at the premium end of smart bird feeders. It demands a serious investment compared to standard single-camera setups and sits noticeably higher than competitors like the Birdfy range (even the dual-lens Birdfy Feeder 2 Pro at $279).

Bird Buddy is fully functional without a paid subscription, however, giving you AI species identification, live streaming, and daily Postcards for free. The Bird Buddy Pro subscription ($5.99/month or $59.99/year) is optional and unlocks longer video clips, 2K Ultra Resolution, Alexa integration, species-specific AI filtering and more.

US buyers can order directly from Bird Buddy or Amazon, but the brand doesn't currently ship the Gen 2 directly to the UK via its official site. That leaves Amazon UK (around £300) as the main route for UK buyers to get hold of one.

That price tag covers the built-in solar roof, but you don't get accessories like a wall mount in the box, and mounting poles are separate, too (less surprising). The Bird Buddy 2 is undoubtedly a steep purchase, with extra costs for the Premium features like 2K Ultra footage. I think a handful of keen and more technically-minded birders spending this much might feel short-changed.

Bird Buddy 2: Specs

Feature

Specification

Sensor

1/2.8"

Photo quality

5MP - HDR, 66–150mm (2.6–5.9 in) focus range with a 135-degree FOV

Video quality

Up to 2K @ 30fps (with HDR), Slow motion up to 95-120fps @ 960p

Memory

N/A - online storage

Dimensions

160 (W) x 230 (H) x 175 mm(D)

Weight

600 g (approx. empty)

Weather resistance

IP67 Certified

Battery

3900 mAh rechargeable lithium-ion

Connectivity

Dual-band Wi-Fi (2.4 GHz / 5 GHz) and Bluetooth

Lauren ScottLauren ScottBird Buddy 2: Design

Flush solar roof for cable-free, continuous power
IP67-rated weatherproof housing
Magnetic camera module for quick portrait and landscape switching

I found setting up the Bird Buddy 2 pretty painless; a booklet in the box details assembly, plus an app walkthrough. Like all smart feeders, you need to download the app first, then follow a series of illustrated steps to set up the Wi-Fi connection between your phone and the camera. It takes no more than five minutes and has been well thought through.

Initially, I connected the Bird Buddy 2 to my main internet router (likely about 12 metres away), as it said there was a strong signal. But each day I checked the app status, and it flagged that there was a low, unstable signal, and this may affect the number of postcards I was getting. Well, reader, it did just this, as I regularly watched a couple of blue tits land, feast and fly off from my kitchen window without any notifications.

I then added a wireless extender much closer to the garden and the camera. You can't change the Wi-Fi network on the camera directly in the app and instead have to factory reset the device and pair it again as a new one. This doesn’t lose postcards and your history as I thought it would; it’s more just a faff.

I’ve tested over ten smart bird feeder cams in my garden before, and the Bird Buddy 2 stands out for its clean aesthetics. It’s still plastic (recycled ASA plastic with an IP67 weather rating) rather than wood or bamboo, but the housing feels solid and has resisted any signs of UV fading over a very hot, bright British summer. Crucially, I’ve also found it fairly easy to keep clean, but you can't dunk the whole feeder in water to avoid getting the USB-C charging point wet.

(Image credit: Lauren Scott)

On earlier units, you could pop the camera out to charge and leave the feeder hanging outside. With the Gen 2, because the solar roof and camera housing are wired together, offline charging requires unhooking the entire dirty feeder or wrestling with the mounting bracket outdoors. At least the solar roof panels sit flush against the top without trailing cables or awkward side arms. Top-ups are easy thanks to a rear-sliding tray that lets you pour seed in without spilling. There’s less room for access than other feeders I’ve tried where the lid totally comes off, but it’s nice and secure.

The biggest design change on this second-generation unit is its circular, rather than pill-shaped camera module. It attaches in a magnetic socket behind a scratch-resistant Gorilla Glass lens, and can be twisted 90 degrees to flip between vertical (9:16) and widescreen (16:9) modes on the fly. For bird photographers who are more accustomed to landscape framing, I think it’s a welcome addition.

(Image credit: Lauren Scott)

However, I found that the seed tray depth negates some of the benefits of having two different views. Because the tray floor sits close to the lens mount, small garden birds often drop low into the seed to feed. In both portrait and landscape orientation, this leaves their bodies cut off by the bottom lip of the frame, resulting in video clips that showcase plenty of background trees but only the top of a bird's head.

There are several ways to mount the Bird Buddy 2. The easiest is to use the metal hanger wire included in the box, which keeps the feeder suspended from a hook or branch in your garden. I used this option and found the wire very strong, though the Feeder did sway slightly in high winds.

A bottom bracket adapter is included in the box, though Bird Buddy sells a metal mounting pole separately. A wall mount for fence panels and outside walls is another optional add-on, which is a shame, as rival Birdfy usually includes this option in the box.

Bird Buddy 2: Performance

Flawless solar power over months
5MP images detailed in bright light; quality drops off in shade
Engaging app experience, though the live stream is laggy

If there’s one good reason to buy the Bird Buddy 2, it is the battery performance. Over six months of continuous outdoor use, the solar roof kept the battery topped up continuously and is still at 100% as I write this review. I haven't needed to bring the camera inside to plug it into a wall outlet even once—a massive win for an outdoor smart device—even if I have had to bring it in for cleaning and firmware updates.

Lauren ScottLauren ScottLauren Scott

Like any camera, the Bird Buddy 2’s image quality depends on the light quality. When mounted in gentle, direct sunlight, I found the 1080p videos and 5MP photos captured were crisp and vibrant. Close-ups show some feather textures, eye reflections, and accurate colors, particularly on bright birds like blue tits. The 2K Ultra footage (available to premium users) truly has the sharp look you might expect at a $299 / £300 price point.

For smartphone viewing and social media sharing, both the 1080p and 2K Ultra clips look great – colorful, sharp, instantly recognizable, and easy to download and share to your camera roll. It's a shame that the downloaded images have the Bird Buddy watermark, but this isn't unique to the brand.

Lauren ScottLauren ScottLauren ScottLauren ScottLauren ScottLauren Scott

The wider 135-degree field of view also gives a nice sense of surrounding garden action, but I still find it frustrating how much of the bird gets cut off when sat straight in the feeder.

Like most small-sensor outdoor cameras, image quality drops off noticeably in flat or shaded light, and noise becomes noticeable. In high-contrast situations (like bright sun filtering through trees), the dynamic range struggles, leading to blown-out highlights or heavy shadows on dark-plumaged birds. The built-in microphone is clean enough for the app's AI audio identification features to work effectively.

(Image credit: Lauren Scott)

As for AI species identification, only a handful of entries weren't identified, usually because the bird in question (Common wood pigeon) was too close to the camera, but you can edit the species manually if you want. When it does trigger automatically, however, the digital Postcards are delightful. Instead of spamming your phone with hundreds of motion-alert notifications like standard security cameras, the AI compiles a daily highlight reel with accurate species identification. It turns checking your garden activity into an enjoyable daily routine rather than notification clutter.

Detection consistency is an area needing refinement. The app prioritizes simplicity over granular controls, which means you can’t adjust the camera's sleep and wake hours. As a result, the feeder frequently stayed asleep past dawn, missing early-morning feeding rushes.

Even when I toggled it to Frenzy Mode for maximum recording sensitivity, the feeder frequently ignored birds clearly visible with the naked eye. Live streaming initially suffered similar latency issues, often taking 15 to 20 seconds to establish a connection, but improved with time. Maybe like the hobby of birdwatching itself, the Bird Buddy 2 just requires a bit of patience and learning to get into the swing of things.

(Image credit: Lauren Scott)Should you buy the Bird Buddy 2?Buy it if...

You want to swap camera orientations

The twistable magnetic camera unit lets you instantly swap between 9:16 portrait (good for socials) and 16:9 landscape framing to suit your preference, common species or photo collection. No app required.

You want a stylish, low-maintenance design

The integrated solar roof kept my camera fully powered for over six months without ever needing to bring the unit inside to charge. The housing stands up to the weather well, is easy to wipe down, and I think it looks good despite being made from plastic instead of wood.

Don't buy it if...

You want to capture a log of every visitor

The detection rate can be sporadic even in Frenzy Mode, and fixed sleeping hours mean the camera might miss early morning visits. If you're a birdwatching purist who wants a complete log of garden visitors, options like the Birdfy range are more steadfast trackers.

You want round-the-clock watching

The Bird Buddy 2 enters a power-saving sleep state at dusk, whereas some rivals in the Birdfy line, the NatureSpy BirdCam and smaller brands have infrared sensors to capture night vision.

Also consider

Birdfy Bamboo

If the Bird Buddy is a little too loud and plastic an ornament for you, Netvue's bamboo-constructed option is for bird watchers hoping for something more naturalistic in design. It's built from sustainable bamboo boards and looks far more integrated in a traditional garden setting. You still get AI species identification, while the app is slightly more home-security-style, but it's still a full-featured HD feeder camera. Just note that because it's real wood, it needs more upkeep and is more likely to be chewed by squirrels.

Read our Netvue Birdfy Bamboo reviewView Deal

Bird Buddy Pro (with solar roof)

The Pro version with a solar roof is a similar proposition to the Bird Buddy 2 but slightly cheaper. The Pro Solar has the same set-and-forget power potential, meaning you can forget about charging for months. The camera is vertical-only, meaning you miss out on landscape mode. Image quality is on par, with HD video and 5MP images, though 2K is only unlocked by subscription.

Read our Bird Buddy Pro reviewView Deal

(Image credit: Lauren Scott)How I tested the Bird Buddy 2

Tested for 6 months
Hung in a UK garden between April and September
Tried HD and 2K video and stills

I tested the Bird Buddy 2 for more than 6 months, hanging it from a pole in my UK garden where small birds and squirrels visit regularly through the seasons. I left the feeder in the same spot, only bringing it inside briefly once a month for cleaning.

I paired the feeder to my iPhone 15 Pro using the Bird Buddy app, and set up a nearby Wi-Fi extender in my kitchen to ensure it always had a strong connection. I tested the feeder's reliability for recording sightings, assessed the AI recognition and tested all the features and settings available in the Bird Buddy app.

Before May, I filled up the feeder more fully with a premium garden bird seed mix. During the summer months, I followed RSPB guidance on feeding birds and left small amounts of mealworms and suet in the base of the feeder.

First reviewed October 2026

Categories: Reviews

RunStar 8E SmartScan Pro review: An excellent smart scale for family life

TechRadar Reviews - Thu, 10/01/2026 - 06:02

RunStar 8E SmartScan Pro: One minute review

The RunStar 8E SmartScan Pro is one of the best smart scales designed for ease of health monitoring for the entire family, fitness enthusiasts who want metrics on their body fat and muscle, and general users desiring to track their body composition over time.

The smart scale delivers 28 metrics, which, for this price, is rather impressive. There’s also a pregnancy and baby mode, which offers safe measurements thanks to its zero-current technology (as opposed to most smart scales, which use electrical currents sent through the body to determine body composition). The only features I was left craving were heart-related, including heart rate and blood oxygen.

During testing, almost all results were within reasonable variation compared to the more expensive Withings BodyScan 2. Seven of the metrics are clearly displayed on the large color LCD display, with the full array of data presented in the easy-to-use Starfit app. If you can’t justify the extra spend, then the 8E Pro is a solid alternative to the top-range Withings.

Setting up the smart scale was easy thanks to the step-by-step guide in the app and a strong Bluetooth signal. I liked the ability to create multiple profiles so that every member of my family could use it. I also appreciated that it automatically detects who is standing on the scale, based on its previously recorded measurements.

The scale itself is well-built with 6mm tempered glass and gold-colored electrodes. The black plastic material used throughout the base and handlebar is solid and robust, with no concerns that damage would be done to the internals.

(Image credit: Future / Paul Hatton)

The display is a TFT-LCD, which delivers when it comes to clarity, brightness, and definition. Unfortunately, the display is covered by a thin layer of plastic that is flexible enough to allow a user to press it in and touch the screen itself, potentially causing damage.

All in, the RunStar 8E SmartScan Pro is a respectable smart scale that delivers accurate results inside a solid, compact body. If you can forgo heart health measurements and don’t mind a cheap-feeling display in comparison to the rest of the scale, then this smart scale will deliver everything you need.

RunStar 8E SmartScan Pro: Specifications

Component

RunStar 8E SmartScan Pro

Price

$219.99 USD / £218 GBP

Dimensions

14.92 x 16.96 x 2.75 in / 38 x 43 x 7 cm

Weight

5.29 lbs / 2.4 kg

Material

6 mm tempered glass

Display

TFT-LCD

Battery

1x Lithium Polymer Battery, USB Type-C

Connection

Bluetooth

RunStar 8E SmartScan Pro: Price and availability

$219.99 USD / £218 GBP
Not available in Australia
Expensive but premium quality

RunStar sells a wide range of smart scales, with the budget-friendly RunStar 4E at the bottom end and the 8E Ultra at the other. Sitting just below their most premium Ultra offering is the RunStar 8E SmartScan Pro, to use its full title, at $219.99 USD / £218 GBP, although this is often significantly discounted, at times going as low as $129.98 / £168.

A similarly priced and specced alternative is the Withings BodyFit. Both are DEXA-validated, although the BodyFit claims to be “ideal for GLP-1 drug users who are prioritizing keeping muscle while losing fat.” If you’re looking for even more superior results and are happy paying a premium for it, then the Withings BodyScan 2 is a good choice.

Value score 4/5

(Image credit: Future / Paul Hatton)RunStar 8E SmartScan Pro: Design

Large color TFT-LCD display
Well-engineered retractable handlebar
Eight electrodes and USB-C charging

The large 5 x 7 cm color screen displays seven key metrics: weight, heart rate, BMI, body fat, muscle mass, bone mass, and body water. Each metric is measured and presented one at a time before providing a full read-out of all seven metrics at the end. The display is clear and bright, although only protected by a thin layer of clear plastic, which is unfortunately so flexible that it presses in quite significantly when forced.

To measure 28 different metrics in total, which include the initial seven displayed on the scale plus additional metrics viewable in the app, the 8E Pro uses eight electrodes: four for the feet and four for the hands. These are positioned to accommodate a wide range of people with varying feet and hand sizes. The retractable handlebar used to connect your hands performs adequately and, when not in use, attaches to the base via magnets.

The bulk of the scale is made from strong plastic and covered in a thick 6 mm tempered glass, which protects the unit and houses the four foot electrodes. At the bottom of the base are four large rubber feet, which ensure the device remains in position at all times.

The overall design looks and feels premium, with the gold-colored electrodes setting the scale apart from cheaper and more basic alternatives. The unit contains a single non-removable lithium polymer battery that is recharged via USB-C. A full recharge lasts for three months. Despite regular use from five family members, we experienced zero issues with wear and tear.

Design Score: 4.5/5

(Image credit: Future / Paul Hatton)RunStar 8E SmartScan Pro: Features

28 metrics with DEXA validation
Measurements across five body zones
Delve deeper into the metrics with the Starfit app

RunStar says every metric reading is DEXA-validated with ≥98.5% correlation. Accurate results and precise body composition tracking are produced thanks to the advanced dual-frequency bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA). This smart scale provides the features and accuracy for users who want to work towards a specific weight, track their health, and hit their fitness goals.

Unlike cheaper whole-body smart scales such as the RunStar 4E, the 8E Pro records measurements and provides analysis across five key body zones: arms, legs, and trunk. Providing weight and muscle data across five key areas of the body enables users to quickly see if their body is imbalanced and work towards specific goals for targeted areas of their body.

As well as viewing seven metrics on the display, if you sync the device with the Starfit app, you can see the full set of 28 metrics alongside more detailed tracking and analysis. The app is easy-to-use and laid out intuitively. If you plan on using the smart scale with multiple people, then up to 24 profiles can be set up using the app.

Other features include the ability to sync with Apple Health, Google Health and other major platforms as well as generate printable, clinic-grade reports. Finally, the 8E Pro operates with zero current, so it’s safe to use during pregnancy and with babies.

Features Score: 4.5/5

(Image credit: Future / Paul Hatton)RunStar 8E SmartScan Pro: Performance

Accurate results
Reliable data compared to the more expensive Withings BodyScan 2
Metrics are clearly laid out

To provide comparison data, I took measurements from the Withings BodyScan 2 at the same time as the 8E Pro. Both are DEXA verified, with the BodyScan 2 validated up to 99% and the 8E Pro up to ≥98.5%. The two smart scales measure a similar set of metrics and are easily compared through the two apps.

Beginning with weight, I weighed in at 61.4 kg, which was only 170 grams different from the Withings. As for BMI, a reading of 19% wasn’t far off the 18.2% reported by the comparison scale. The 8E Pro is quick to deliver these measurements and does so prior to all other body composition metrics.

As for fat-related readings, the 8E Pro provided measurements for visceral fat, subcutaneous fat, and body fat percentage that were all within reasonable deviations compared to the Withings. When I came to measure body fat mass, I was surprised to find that it was the Withings that threw up problematic readings, and the 8E Pro proved significantly more accurate.

(Image credit: Future / Paul Hatton)

Accurate and acceptable readings continued for muscle rate, lean body mass, body water percentage, and basal metabolism. The app provides independent fat and muscle breakdowns for arms, legs, and trunk. Despite these being clearly presented as an overlay on a 2D illustration of a person, I much preferred the 3D graphic that is present in the Withings app.

The 8E Pro delivered similar results to the BodyScan 2 in almost all areas. Considering the 8E Pro costs half the price of the BodyScan 2, I think the RunStar is a useful and viable alternative for anyone wanting accurate results at a more affordable price.

Performance score: 4.5/5

RunStar 8E SmartScan Pro: Scorecard

Cambridge A100 SE review: cheap wireless earbuds that hit all the right notes

TechRadar Reviews - Thu, 10/01/2026 - 04:00

Cambridge A100 SE: Two-minute review

At a glance, not much separates the Cambridge A100 SE true wireless in-ear headphones from their older A100 stablemates — and that’s because not much does.

The most obvious difference on first acquaintance is the addition of a (very attractive) deep blue finish — and when you glance at the spec-sheet, it’s only the (admittedly not inconsiderable) addition of Dolby Audio functionality that justifies the ‘SE’ in the model name.

Which means that the A100 SE are, at the asking price, a lavishly specified pair of wireless earbuds for the the best budget earbuds market. Class A/B amplification, aptX Lossless and LDAC codec compatibility, 10mm dynamic drivers featuring a lot of recycled Neodymium, adaptive hybrid active noise cancellation, and very nearly 40 hours of battery life from the ‘buds and their charging case are high up on the list of highlights.

And in practice, the way the A100 SE perform is almost all ‘gain’ and very little ‘pain’. They are spacious and organised, control a soundstage well, offer plenty of detail, balance their frequency response and tonality pretty well, and include voice, touch and app as control options.

A price-comparable alternative such as the JBL Live Beam 4 can go even further where battery life is concerned, and have a more naturalistic way with rhythmic expression — the A100 SE are just slightly lumpy in this regard — but ultimately they’re ‘different’ rather than obviously ‘better’. Because at this sort of money, finding something obviously ‘better’ than the Cambridge A100 SE is going to prove tricky.

Cambridge A100 SE review: Price and release date

(Image credit: Future)

Released on October 2, 2026
$149 / £129 / AU$249

They're hot off the press at the time of writing, friend! We're publishing this review to meet their embargo. What you need to know is, the A100 SE earbuds arrived on October 2, 2026. So, they're new — albeit very much built upon their older siblings.

And that's a big plus. The original Cambridge Audio Melomania A100 arrived in June 2025 (Cambridge has since dropped the 'Audio' from its moniker and, it seems, the 'Melomania' from its buds) to a resounding five-star review.

So while the price of these new earbuds is hardly huge, it does mean that the older set can now be found for around $99 / £79 — being superseded by newness can have this effect. So, there's plenty to consider…

Cambridge A100 SE review: Specs

Type

True wireless in-ear

Drivers

10mm full range dynamic (Neodynium)

Active noise cancellation

Yes

Battery life

39 hours (maximum)

Weight

4.7g (earbud); 38g (charging case)

Frequency response

Not stated

Connectivity

5.4; LDAC, aptX Lossless codec compatibility

Waterproofing

IPX5

Control

Touch; app

Cambridge A100 SE review: Features

Class A/B amplification2
Bluetooth 5.4 with aptX Lossless and LDAC compatibility3
39 hours battery life (maximum)

There’s no need to offer any kind of ‘at the asking price’ qualification here — the Cambridge A100 SE have a very worthwhile feature set, full stop.

The use of the same Class A/B amplification that’s at the heart of the company’s well-regarded CX and EX full-size integrated amplifiers delivers a hit of hardcore hi-fi credibility. Compatibility with cutting-edge aptX Lossless and LDAC Bluetooth codecs means the biggest wireless streams possible are available from source devices that are capable of delivering it. Snapdragon Sound (complete with dual-core 240MHz Qualcomm Kalimba DSP) should mean ultra-low latency, and dual-point connectivity means content from two connected devices can be switched between seamlessly. Sound itself is delivered by a pair of 10mm full-range dynamic drivers, and they make liberal use of recycled Neodymium in their composition.

Three QualComm cVc mics per earbud handle voice assistant interaction, telephony, and the adaptive hybrid noise-cancellation system. With ANC engaged, the earbud and the charging case offer more than 21 hours of playback time between them, and if you switch ANC off this figure rises to closer to 39 hours. And you can spend these many hours in pretty much any realistic environment, thanks to the earbuds’ IPX5 rating.

Features score: 5 / 5

(Image credit: Future)Cambridge A100 SE review: Sound quality

Open, detailed and controlled sound
Good sense of dynamic variation
Not the most naturalistic where rhythms are concerned

Some true wireless in-ear headphones are more in-ear than others when it comes to the sound they make — the sensation of music being inside your head can be strong with some designs, and quite oppressive it is too. That’s not the case with the A100 SE; even without their ‘Dolby Audio’ mode being engaged they’re a notably open and airy listen, and when it’s switched in they become even more spacious. It’s not like listening to loudspeakers, of course, but it’s a lot less stifling than some alternatives.

It doesn’t do any harm in this respect that the Cambridge are quite adept when it comes to creating and controlling a soundstage. They have outright scale on their side, especially when it comes to the width of the stage, and they have absolute authority over the elements on it. There’s appreciable space between instruments, but a commonality and unity to the sound at the same time — the sensation of space doesn’t compromise the idea of ‘performance’.

A listen to a big FLAC file of LCD Soundsystem’s Daft Punk is Playing at My House allows the A100 SE to demonstrate a very even-handed way with frequency response and tonality. Leave the EQ settings out of the equation and the top-to-bottom presentation of the frequency range is smooth and undramatic in the best way — there’s no sense that the earbuds want to meaningfully favour any particular area of information over any other, and the same is true of the fairly neutral tone the Cambridge adopt. In ultimate terms they hint at spotlighting and gently heating the lowest frequencies, but overall they’re significantly less coloured than quite a few price-comparable rivals.

(Image credit: Future / Simon Lucas)

The A100 SE handle detail retrieval well, and are alert to even quite minor variations in timbre and texture — events deep in the mix or at the outer edges of the soundstage are not overlooked, and they’re given an appropriate amount of weighting in every circumstance. Details around the dynamics of harmonics are attended to well, and the more overt dynamics of attack and intensity are made absolutely apparent.

Really, it’s only where rhythmic expression is concerned that the Cambridge are anything less than really quite assertive. They’re reasonably adept when it comes to the attack and decay of bass sounds, and they certainly don’t drag at tempos — but they’re not as straight-edged as they might be, and consequently they handle rhythms in a relatively stiff, upright manner. ‘Lurch’ is too strong a word, but ‘lumpy’ isn’t — the A100 SE are, in absolute terms, just a little lumpy in this regard.

Sound quality: 4.5 / 5

Note the stabilizer fins and separate tips (Image credit: Future)Cambridge A100 SE review: Design

Choice of three finishes
App and touch control
Dolby Audio functionality

You’ve a straight choice if you’re designing a pair of true wireless in-ear headphones: either the pebble-like ‘twist to fit’ shape, or the dangly stem alternative popularised by Apple. For the A100 SE, Cambridge has gone down the second route.

The earbuds, and the slender charging case they travel in, are made to a perfectly acceptable standard, mostly from plastic that’s unremarkable both in look and feel. My review sample is a new dark blue finish, but more usual black or white alternatives are available.

The outer section of the top of each earbud features a capacitive touch surface, and here it’s possible to control playback, to handle telephony, to cycle through your ANC options, and to summon your source device’s native voice assistant (should it have one). They’re not as reliable as they might be in operation, but patience brings its rewards. Eventually.

You can also control the A100 SE using Cambridge’s ‘Melomania Connect’ control app. It’s a fair bit more reliable than the touch controls, and as well as being where you can engage (or disengage) the earbuds’ new Dolby Audio feature (which has the very welcome knack of bring a little more space to the sound, and a little less of the ‘directly into your head’ sensation some IEMs can suffer from) it allows you to remap the touch controls to get the sequence on taps, presses and holds you prefer.

It also features a seven-band EQ — there are six presets and the option to save a few custom settings of your own. It’s also where you can switch the ‘wear detect’ function on or off, engage ‘game’ mode, check for firmware updates and, perhaps most importantly of all in this instance, select your preferred ‘audible feedback’.

Not for the first time where a pair of Cambridge wireless headphones are concerned, the usual options of ‘off’, ‘tone’ and quite a quantity of different languages are available, along with a ‘Southwark’ option which turns out to be Matt Berry really Matt Berry-ing it up. It’s a frivolous, profoundly funny option that I am nowhere near tiring of — and TechRadar's Audio Editor agrees wholeheartedly.

Design score: 4 / 5

(Image credit: Future)Cambridge A100 SE review: value

Great specification
Some proper performance highlights
Matt Berry!

This is a very competitive area of the true wireless headphones market, and Cambridge has done a lot to ensure the A100 SE can be seen to represent good value for money.

The type of amplification that’s on board, the extensive Bluetooth codec compatibility, the spacious, detailed and dynamic nature of their presentation all point to a product that’s well worth the asking price, with only the slightly hit-and-miss touch-control implementation and slightly lumpy rhythmic expression counting against them.

Value: 4.5 / 5

(Image credit: Future)Should I buy the Cambridge A100 SE?

Attributes

Notes

Rating

Features

Class A/B amplification, great call-handling, aptX and LDAC codec support

5/5

Sound quality

Detailed and controlled with a good sense of dynamic variation, just not the most naturalistic rhythmically

4.5/5

Design

Three finishes and highly functional, just a little unremarkable

4/5

Value

A competitive area, but nevertheless there's great sound-per-pound value to be had here

4.5/5

(Image credit: Future)Buy them if…

You like open sound
There’s a proper sensation of space to the way the A100 SE present music, especially where ‘Dolby Audio’ mode is engaged.

You enjoy long listens
The Cambridge are relatively comfortable earbuds, and they have the battery stamina to let you listen right around the clock.

You appreciate a point of difference
No other manufacturer has the ability to let you hear Matt Berry gleefully over-reading “waiting to pair!” and other classics of TWS audible feedback.

Don’t buy them if…

You’re easily frustrated
The touch controls are not absolute perfect in operation, and you’ll need to remain calm at times in order to get what you’re asking for.

You’re rhythm-focused
The A100 SE are talented in many respects, but they don’t express rhythms with quite the confidence or the fluency of some rivals.

You’re expecting a premium look and feel
This Cambridge product is keenly priced, so while the quality of construction is well up to standard there’s nothing luxurious about it.

Cambridge A100 SE review: Also consider

The JBL Live Beam 4, while slightly more expensive, are probably the most impressive price-comparable rival to the A100 SE right now — and it seems fair to say that they’re slightly different, rather than obviously better or worse, than the Cambridge model.

They struggle to match the noise-cancellation the A100 SE offer, for instance, and don’t have quite as pronounced a spatial audio effect — but they hit back with a more convincing way of describing rhythms and straightforwardly impressive battery life of as much as 48 hours between charges.

Any other products of note? Yes, Apple's new AirPods 5 with Wireless Charging are right at this level and if you own an iPhone, they certainly look competitive on paper — just not for codec support (see "if you own an iPhone", above) or stamina. Our full review of Apple's newest buds is incoming, but food for thought at any rate.

(Image credit: Future)How I tested the Cambridge A100 SE

With Apple and Android devices
With file types from MP3 to DSD3
Indoors and outdoors

I used the Cambridge A100 SE at my desk, while out walking and on public transport. I connected them to an Apple MacBook Pro, an Apple iPhone 15 Pro and a FiiO M15S hi-res player.

This allowed me to access Qobuz and Tidal music streaming services, internet radio via Airable, and hi-res content stored on the DAP’s internal memory. I listened to lots of different genres of music and plenty of spoken-word content — and I did so, on and off, for two weeks.

First reviewed in September 2026

Read TechRadar's review guarantee
Learn more specifically about how we test earbuds at TechRadar

Categories: Reviews

Chefman Coffee Station Pro review: ambitious all-in-one brewing with mixed results

TechRadar Reviews - Thu, 10/01/2026 - 01:00

Chefman Coffee Station Pro: two-minute review

The Chefman Coffee Station Pro is a great idea. People like their coffee brewed in different ways, and it's easy to end up with two or even three coffee machines on the counter to accommodate households with multiple coffee drinkers. For example, my husband usually drinks drip coffee, but occasionally likes an espresso. I rotate between drip, espresso, and iced coffee, depending on my mood and the weather. I also like my Nespresso machine, since the capsules are available in some interesting flavors I occasionally enjoy. I also drink a lot of tea, so an instant hot feature is welcome. We don't often drink lattes or cappuccinos, but when our kids or guest come to visit, they often do. We could easily end up with three different coffee machines (plus a frother and a tea kettle) in our coffee nook, but the Chefman Coffee Station Pro can do all that and more.

Sounds like a dream, but unfortunately it doesn't do everything well, or even acceptably. For example, it doesn't brew Nespresso capsules fully or correctly, resulting in a weak and tiny brew. If you don't need every single feature, this machine might be a perfect fit for you because it does a lot of things well. I tested everything and found that it did some things far better than others.

(Image credit: Karen Freeman / Future)Chefman Coffee Station Pro: price and availability

Available on Chefman's website and other retailers
Retails for $399.99 (about £300 / AU$570)
Just one colorway, black and silver

You can buy the Chefman Coffee Station Pro on Chefman's website as well as brick-and-mortar and online retailers like Best Buy and Target. The retail price is $399.99, which is about £300 / AU$570, though it's not currently sold in the US and Australia.

Chefman Coffee Station Pro: specs

Name

Chefman Coffee Station Pro

Type

Semi-automatic

Dimensions

13 x 11.7 x 13.9 inches / 33.02 x 29.72 x 35.31 cm

Pressure (for espresso brewing)

20 bars

Brew styles

Espresso, single serve, drip, cold press, cold brew

Milk frother

Yes

Connected device

Chefman Coffee Station Pro: design

Smaller than you might expect
Has storage for accessories
Ten in one machine

The Chefman Coffee Station Pro is designed efficiently so it has a lot of features in its reasonably-sized footprint. The machine provides ten different brewing methods: espresso (with grounds or Nespresso capsules), cold press espresso, latte, cappuccino, milk frother, K-cup pods, carafe of drip coffee, drip over ice, cold brew, and instant hot water. You control everything with a touch-screen interface.

It comes with everything you need to make all of the beverages listed above. The big 100-ounce water tank fits onto the back of the machine. On the coffee side, you get a coffee filter holder and a reusable coffee filter basket. If you prefer, you can use paper filters instead. There is also a K-Cup adapter for brewing K-Cups. The glass carafe holds anywhere from four to twelve cups of coffee and it rests on a warming plate (which has a "hot" indicator light.) When you're brewing a single serve K-Cup rather than using the carafe, there is a fold-down cup platform with a removable rubber trivet for resting a mug.

On the espresso side, you get a portafilter with three different filters you can put inside. There's small filter for brewing single espresso, a larger one for double espresso, and an adapter for Nespresso capsules. You get a two-sided espresso tool, one side is a measuring scoop and the other side is a tamper. The included 16-ounce milk reservoir can be removed when not in use.

The Chefman Coffee Station Pro stores its own accessories cleverly. It has a hook on the side to store the portafilter and a compartment on top to store other accessories.

Karen Freeman / FutureKaren Freeman / Future

When you first set up the Chefman Coffee Station Pro, you'll want to set the clock for the correct time. There is a Delay Brew feature so you can set the machine up when you go to bed and you'll have a hot carafe of drip coffee waiting for you in the morning. The Keep Warm feature will keep your carafe hot for up to two hours.

There is a hot water spout, which runs separately from the coffee so you don't have to worry about stale coffee taste mixing with your hot water. This is perfect for making hot chocolate, tea, and other hot beverages with ease. I suppose you could even use for making instant ramen or really anything you might need hot water for. It's worth noting that it's hot but not boiling.

As with any coffee machine, it does need to be cleaned regularly. Since this one has so many features, there's more cleaning that needs to be done. Every time you use it, you'll want to wash any accessories you use, run a clean cycle on the milk frother wand, and wipe down the exterior as needed. Of course you'll want to remove the milk reservoir and refrigerate any unused milk right after use.

On a weekly basis, empty and wash out the water tank, empty and wash the milk reservoir, run a clean cycle on the espresso side, and flush the frother system if you're using it daily. Every month or two, you'll want to do a deep clean of the frother's internal parts.

Roughly every 100 cycles (or 50 for hot water), you'll need to descale the coffee, espresso, and hot water systems. The owner's manual included detailed instruction on how to do all of that, plus you can find videos on Chefman's YouTube channel for guided instruction.

Karen Freeman / FutureKaren Freeman / Future

Design score: 4/5

Chefman Coffee Station Pro: performance

Fairly easy to use
Most of the features work well
Some features don't result in good coffee

In my testing, most of the drinks I made came out really well. Some came out ok, and some came out actually undrinkable.

Espresso

The espresso came out fine and it had a nice crema. It was pretty easy to do, just measure your grounds with the provided scoop, pour your grounds in the portafilter with the appropriate filter inside. Use one scoop in the smaller filter for a single espresso or two scoops in the larger filter for a double espresso. Tamp them down firmly with the included tamper, and then twist the portafilter into place. Select your drink from the touch-screen menu and you'll have espresso in just a minute or so. I used a carefully measured flat scoop, and found the espresso to be rather weak, but your tastes may vary.

Karen Freeman / FutureKaren Freeman / FutureKaren Freeman / FutureKaren Freeman / FutureKaren Freeman / FutureKaren Freeman / FutureKaren Freeman / FutureKaren Freeman / FutureEspresso with Nespresso capsule

Using the Nespresso capsule basket in the portafilter, you can brew any Nespresso or Nespresso-compatible capsule. Note that this is only for the small original line capsules, not the larger Vertuo line capsules.

This was a big fail, in my opinion. The capsule was only pierced partway, there was water left in the portafilter, and the resulting brew was sour and weak and had very little crema. It was not worth drinking.

Karen Freeman / FutureKaren Freeman / FutureKaren Freeman / FutureKaren Freeman / FutureKaren Freeman / FutureKaren Freeman / Future

In the photo gallery below, I compare the results of brewing the same kind of Nespresso capsule in both the Chefman Coffee Station Pro and my actual Nespresso machine. In both machines, I brewed it as a small or single espresso. The Nespresso machine results are on the left and the Chefman on the right in both photos.

Karen Freeman / FutureKaren Freeman / FutureLatte and cappuccino

Technically, a latte and a cappuccino are pretty different. Though they are both espresso drinks with frothed milk added, the proportions are different. A cappuccino is one third espresso, one third steamed milk, and one third milk foam.

Karen Freeman / FutureKaren Freeman / FutureKaren Freeman / Future

A latte is one-third espresso and two thirds steamed milk with a light layer of milk foam on top.

Karen Freeman / FutureKaren Freeman / Future

You can probably tell from my photos above, they don't look all that different. They didn't taste all that different, either, though they were both delicious.

I also tried just frothing some milk and then brewing an espresso separately and putting them together. Again, it just made a lovely foamy milky beverage.

Karen Freeman / FutureKaren Freeman / FutureKaren Freeman / FutureKaren Freeman / FutureCold-pressed espresso

This was just a fail, in my opinion. It was so weak that I couldn't even drink it. Again, that's just my taste, yours may be different.

Note that pretty much every time you do a cold-pressed espresso brew, the machine will prompt you to run a cooling cycle on the carafe side first in order to prime the machine for cold press. It's not a big deal, but you'll have to factor in the extra time and place a container under it to catch the flushed water.

Karen Freeman / FutureKaren Freeman / FutureKaren Freeman / FutureK-Cup

Using the included K-Cup adapater on the carafe side of the machine, you can make any K-Cup you like. I actually thought the Chefman Coffee Station Pro did a great job with this one. I'm not generally a fan of K-Cups but this machine brewed it as well as any Keurig machine I've tried. Note that unlike a Keurig machine, you are using a separate adapter part that you'll probably want to wash each time you use it before putting it away. So it is an extra step.

Karen Freeman / FutureKaren Freeman / FutureKaren Freeman / FutureKaren Freeman / Future

There is also an option to brew the K-Cup pod as cold brew. But I can't recommend it, unless you like a super weak iced coffee. I used the same kind of pod, but look at the difference.

Karen Freeman / FutureKaren Freeman / FutureKaren Freeman / FutureDrip coffee in carafe

The drip coffee came out great. It was easy to do, just like any traditional drip coffee machine. I used the metal and plastic reusable filter, but you could use a paper filter if you prefer. You have the option to set up a delayed brew, so you can get everything ready the night before and have a hot, fresh carafe of coffee when you wake up. The metal plate under the carafe can be set to keep your carafe warm for up to two hours, and an indicator light will let you know that it's hot.

Karen Freeman / FutureKaren Freeman / FutureKaren Freeman / FutureKaren Freeman / FutureKaren Freeman / FutureCold Brew

The Cold Brew feature brews your coffee slower, cooler, and with less water in order to extract the most flavor and give you less ice melt. This came out very well. It does take longer to brew, and it does usually require running a cool cycle first, but the results are tasty.

Karen Freeman / FutureKaren Freeman / FutureKaren Freeman / FutureKaren Freeman / FutureOver Ice (in carafe)

The Over Ice funtion is a little different from the Cold Brew. It's brewed into the carafe just like regular hot coffee but a bit stronger to compensate for ice melt. This worked fine, and it wasn't watered down too much. However, it was less smooth than the Cold Brew method and more bitter to my taste.

Karen Freeman / FutureKaren Freeman / FutureKaren Freeman / FutureHot Water

Hot water comes from a separate spout, not through the coffee system. It works fine and just tastes like pure water with no hint of coffee taste.

I selected maximum temperature setting, but water measured just 163°F/73°C. So, it's certainly hot enough to make hot cocoa, certain delicate teas, and perhaps your instant ramen. But it's not that all that close to boiling water, which would be 212°F/100°C.

Karen Freeman / FutureKaren Freeman / Future

Performance score: 3/5

Should you buy the Chefman Coffee Station Pro?Chefman Coffee Station Pro score card

Attribute

Notes

Score

Value

The price is similar to other multi-functional semi-automatic machines

4/5

Design

The clever design allows for many functions in a not-too-huge footprint

4/5

Performance

This was very much a mixed bag; some types of brew came out great and some definitely not.

3/5

Buy it if

You have a multi-coffee-drinker household

The Chefman Coffee Station Pro does it all: espresso, latte, cappuccino, drip coffee, cold brew, iced coffee, K-cup, Nespresso capsule, and even hot water on demand.

You don't have space for many machines

While this isn't a small machine, it's certainly a lot smaller than separate machines for all of the different functions.

You want lots of options for guests

Even if your household doesn't need all of the features, it's nice to have just about any coffee option available for guests.

Don't buy it if

It's out of your price range

You can get a simple espresso machine plus a drip coffee machine and a basic frother for less than this all-in-one.

You want all of the features to be great

Though there are a lot of ways to brew coffee beverages with this machine, not all of them produce a great result.

You have extremely limited counter space

Considering how many features it has, the footprint isn't that huge. But it's still quite a bit bigger than most coffee machines.View Deal

Chefman Coffee Station Pro: also consider

Ninja AutoBarista Pro Fully Automatic Espresso Machine

This machine lacks the drip coffee carafe function and doesn't accept pods, but it has most of the other functions. Plus it has a built-in coffee grinder and comes with two different hoppers you can easily swap out.

Read my Ninja AutoBarista Pro Fully Automatic Espresso Machine reviewView Deal

Terra Kaffe TK-02

No pods here but you can make excellent drip coffee and espresso with just a tap. Use the built-in grinder or the ground coffee chute. The attached milk frother expands this machine's repertoire to six figures. Yes, you read that right. The Terra Kaffe TK-02 connects to an app (and Alexa!) so you can start your brew before you get out of bed.

Check out my Terra Kaffe TK-02 review.View Deal

How I tested the Chefman Coffee Station Pro

I brewed and drank every kind of coffee beverage the Chefman Coffee Station Pro makes. I brewed a Nespresso capsule and a K-cup. I brewed espresso from grounds, both hot and cold-pressed. I frothed milk (barista-style pistachio milk) and added a shot of espresso. I made latte and cappuccino. I brewed a carafe of drip coffee. I made cold brew and coffee over ice. I used the hot water feature, tasted it, and measured the temperature.

First reviewed September 2026

Categories: Reviews

PacketStream Review: Pros & Cons, Features, Ratings, Pricing, and more

TechRadar Reviews - Wed, 09/30/2026 - 15:32

Founded and headquartered in California in 2018, PacketStream was launched specifically to address the high cost and complexity of residential proxies, which are IP addresses sourced from real devices around the world. The company runs a peer-to-peer (P2P) bandwidth-sharing network, which allows users to elegantly bypass geo-restrictions when accessing all sorts of data.

In this model, device owners share their unused internet bandwidth via a background app in exchange for compensation ($0.10/GB). On the other side, businesses and developers get to purchase cheap residential IP bandwidth for $1.00 per gigabyte.

As you can imagine, there are some risks involved. Though the setup makes proxies more affordable, it comes at the cost of reliability and speed. Then, there’s the potential issue of unreliable IP addresses within the network. Despite offering secure proxies in general, PacketStream doesn’t fully control the IPs sold through its network.

PacketStream: Plans and Pricing

There are loads of proxy providers with fairly complex pricing plans, and then there’s PacketStream. The vendor keeps things simple, charging per bandwidth at a flat fee of $1 per GB, with no recurring subscriptions and a purchased balance that never expires. This way, you get access to the entire network of residential proxies, which is considerably more straightforward and may even be a cheaper alternative to providers charging for individual IP addresses or monthly commitments.

Speaking of cheap, the $1 per GB price tag is one of the most affordable options in the industry. A quick look at the competitors confirms that most of them charge a lot more. For instance, entry pricing for IPRoyal begins at $7/GB for pay-as-you-go, whereas Bright Data starts at $8.40/GB, and Webshare will cost you $3.50/GB for residential bandwidth, though it scales down to $1.40/GB.

The caveat is that you’ll need to buy at least $50 worth of bandwidth to activate an account. This means you can’t buy just $1 of bandwidth to take the platform for a spin before deciding, as the $50 minimum deposit is a must. Still, PacketStream offers rotating proxies and sticky sessions (there are no true static/dedicated ISP proxies), which hold the same residential IP address for up to 60 minutes. So, in case one IP address doesn’t work, you can switch to a different one in a jiffy.

If you’re adamant about testing the service before committing, PacketStream offers trial credits, but without an automated, instant process. You need to fill out a trial request form or contact support, where a team member manually evaluates your workload before approving discretionary credits. This process can feel cumbersome for individual users who just need to test a few gigabytes' worth of proxies.

PacketStream accepts payments through PayPal and major credit cards, with bank transfers available for enterprise or reseller tier orders ($500+ minimum).

PacketStream: Features

Besides simply shelling out for proxies as a user, PacketStream also allows you to acquire the proxies and sell them on to offset costs. You can also sell your unused device bandwidth for profit, starting at $0.10 per GB. The minimum payout is $5 and is sent to your PayPal account within one week, with a 3% fee applied to cashouts.

During our testing, an interesting thing happened. Microsoft Defender blocked the download and installation of PacketStream, identifying it as a program that “displays deceptive product messages.” This is typically how ‘scareware’ is described, or software that makes deceptive or fraudulent claims about your computer’s health to trick you into buying unnecessary or potentially unwanted products, which may not be inherently malicious in the same way as other malware.

However, since PacketStream doesn’t make any scary claims about your device, the flagging as potentially malicious could be due to the application’s process of using your computer to route third-party traffic when you share your bandwidth with other users. Hence, the antivirus interprets the app’s behavior as unusual or questionable. So, if you fail to install PacketStream, this could be the reason.

Residential Proxies

PacketStream’s bread and butter is its P2P residential proxy network spanning 190+ countries. These proxies are sourced from real devices whose owners sell their bandwidth on the PacketStream network. Before you start worrying about illegally sourced IP addresses (a significant issue among many proxy providers), you’ll be glad to know that every IP address on PacketStream was consensually added by its owner to earn money.

The company offers both rotating (per-request) and sticky session options. Rotating sessions switch exit IPs with every new connection for maximum anonymity, while sticky sessions hold the same residential IP connection for up to 60 minutes for workflows requiring persistent logins or multi-step requests. Notably, PacketStream doesn’t offer true permanent static ISP proxies, as sticky sessions remain dependent on active peer device availability. Selection of the session type is configured directly via your proxy authentication URL string.

PacketStream’s proxy IP addresses were reliable during our test and offered reasonable speeds. We chose IP addresses from different countries, and they provided fast connections, although the speed varies depending on the country and peer device bandwidth. PacketStream lets you pick proxies from all around the globe, but you can’t select by city or state, which we consider a disadvantage. Several rival proxy providers allow you a granular selection of proxies from specific cities or ZIP codes (not to mention ASN targeting) to boost your odds of circumventing geographical limitations.

(Image credit: PacketStream )

The platform supports HTTP, HTTPS, and SOCKS5 proxy protocols, which differ in how they handle traffic and their compatibility, each with its own strengths and downsides. Having SOCKS5 in particular is important as it operates at a lower network layer than HTTP/HTTPS, which makes it ideal for general-purpose tasks and specialized scraper setups.

While we’re on the subject of setups, residential proxies can be employed for many things. A good example is data scraping, wherein people use proxies to bypass website geo-restrictions and scrape relevant information.

Let’s say you run a website that tracks the prices of commodities and delivers this data to users. Running a price monitoring site requires extracting data frequently and quickly from many websites. The websites (primary data sources) are privy to external data scraping and block it by implementing geographical and IP restrictions. They can identify specific IPs from data scraping bots and block them from further access. They can also ban IP addresses from an entire country from accessing their information.

Through PacketStream, you gain access to a sizable network of residential IP addresses you can then use to evade restrictions and scrape commodity price data. Thanks to automatic IP rotation, in case one IP address gets discovered and blocked, your next request is instantly routed through a fresh peer connection. Although specific numbers fluctuate dynamically based on active peer devices, PacketStream routes traffic through millions of active household connections across 190 countries, so you’ll have plenty of new proxies to get your hands on the data you need.

Another frequent use case for residential proxies is online retail. Many people use automated scripts to snap up fast-selling products, placing orders before they run out of stock. But, e-commerce sites aren’t particularly keen on this and tend to blocklist bot IP addresses. PacketStream’s residential proxies let users circumvent this block and get their desired product.

As far as an e-commerce site is concerned, residential proxies belong to legitimate devices. They are inherently difficult to detect and block because doing so might lead to high false-positive rates, which could result in inadvertently locking out legitimate customers who share those same IP addresses. Even when e-commerce sites block a residential proxy, a sticky session can be refreshed to visit the site in question under a new peer identity.

That leads us to what is arguably PacketStream’s biggest drawback: it only offers residential IPs. It doesn’t have datacenter IPs in its lineup, which are faster and more reliable. Datacenter IPs are sourced from dedicated servers with more speed, making them ideal for massive data scraping tasks. Large enterprises are the main users of datacenter proxies, but PacketStream doesn’t serve this cohort well. Instead, it’s best suited for individuals and small businesses seeking affordable residential proxies.

PacketStream doesn’t offer dedicated mobile-specific IPs, which is surprising since mobile device IP addresses are present organically on this P2P network. Yet, you can’t specifically filter or target mobile carrier networks. Many businesses use mobile IPs for app testing and ad verification, but performing these tasks with PacketStream is difficult.

Likewise, you won’t find ISP proxies here. Sourced directly from Internet Service Providers, these proxies (static residential) provide higher data throughput and reduced delay than P2P residential proxies, but you’ll have to get them elsewhere.

Selling Bandwidth

As a PacketStream user (or ‘Packeter’), you can sell your unused bandwidth and make money. Just add your IP address to the network and earn money when people use your device as a proxy (with no inbound ports or port forwarding required). Pricing is $0.10 per GB shared, which can help you offset the cost of buying bandwidth on PacketStream.

The bandwidth-sharing process is fairly easy, as the primary requirement is a stable internet connection. Of course, you’ll have to download the PacketStream client on your PC, available for Windows, macOS, and Linux (where it can be installed via Docker). The client is lightweight and runs on low-end PCs without noticeable hiccups.

After installing the PacketStream PC app, open it any time you feel like sharing a connection and activate the mode. Your payout is automatically calculated based on the amount of data your shared connection transmits. Closing or stopping the PacketStream app immediately terminates the shared connection and offers you complete control over the process. PacketStream can’t use your connection without your consent, which you give by running the app.

There’s no limit to the amount of bandwidth you can share. The minimum payout is $5, earned by transmitting 50 GB of bandwidth, which corresponds directly to the $50 minimum deposit threshold for buyers. Earnings are paid out in USD via PayPal and processed within one week. Keep in mind that a flat 3% fee applies to every cashout.

Reseller API

PacketStream offers white-label reselling services via a dedicated Reseller API, designed for entrepreneurs and business clients interested in launching their own proxy brand. This model allows you to sell PacketStream’s residential proxy bandwidth under your own branding with zero PacketStream mentions or attribution.

(Image credit: PacketStream )

Through the Reseller API, it’s possible to programmatically create and manage subaccounts, allocate bandwidth limits, track subaccount balances, and monitor real-time usage data. Resellers purchase wholesale bandwidth at $1.00 per GB (matching the standard platform rate), which is subject to a $500 minimum purchase threshold. Resellers can set their own retail pricing to determine their profit margins and are responsible for providing direct customer support to their end-users.

Any peer device added to PacketStream’s network automatically becomes accessible to your subaccounts. This feature isn’t for individual users, but we consider it worth discussing to give a complete PacketStream review.

PacketStream: Ease of Use

It’s safe to say that PacketStream outdoes several of its peers in user-friendliness. It offers one of the most streamlined interfaces in the proxy space, largely due to its highly focused portfolio.

(Image credit: PacketStream )

All the features are neatly arranged on the left menu, and the main dashboard lies on the right side. With a white background and a few contrasting colors, PacketStream’s interface feels visually appealing and easy to navigate. The average person won’t have any issues understanding this interface, which, sadly, can’t be said for some proxy providers.

There’s a drawback, though. PacketStream doesn’t offer a browser extension to manage proxies. Instead, users must copy their proxy authentication endpoint and username parameters directly from the web-based dashboard and enter them into their scraping scripts or third-party software. An extension lets you switch proxies at the click of a single button, but PacketStream doesn’t provide this benefit.

PacketStream: Customer Support

This is an area where PacketStream lags behind its competitors. It offers direct support only via email and web contact form, with no live chat or telephone option. Though incoming tickets are monitored around the clock, PacketStream doesn’t state a guaranteed SLA response time. Replies vary and can take up to 48 hours, with no option to hold a real-time conversation with support staff.

Self-help support is organized under a dedicated Resources page on the website. It includes quickstart and proxy gateway references, guides, tutorials, insights, and runnable code examples hosted on GitHub (a big plus for devs), among other things. The overall documentation is compact and largely on par with what we’ve seen in other proxy providers.

PacketStream: The Competition

PacketStream has numerous competitors, the most notable being Bright Data, Oxylabs, and Webshare.

Bright Data offers residential, static ISP, and datacenter proxies. It also offers advanced web scraping APIs, scraping browsers, automated web unlockers, and pre-built datasets. In contrast, PacketStream offers none of these, except residential IPs. If you need PacketStream’s proxies for automated data scraping, you’ll have to get an external platform for the APIs.

But at $1 per GB (with a $50 minimum deposit), PacketStream’s residential proxy service is much more affordable than Bright Data’s, which costs around $8.40 per GB on standard pay-as-you-go plans (scaling down to $3.00/GB with monthly commitments).

Oxylabs provides residential, static ISP, mobile, and datacenter proxies, with a pool of over 100 million residential IP addresses. It also has a Web Unblocker and web scraping APIs for enterprises in its lineup. Oxylabs is undoubtedly the more sophisticated platform, with more reliable and speedy proxy IPs and complete control over its proxy network.

Still, Oxylabs’ residential IPs cost around $8.00 per GB on pay-as-you-go tiers, compared to PacketStream’s $1 flat rate.

Webshare offers residential, static ISP, and datacenter proxies, but lacks built-in web scraping APIs. Its pool of 80 million+ residential IP addresses across 195 countries is on par with Oxylabs and Bright Data, but larger than PacketStream.

With residential pricing starting at $3.50 per GB (scaling down to $1.40 per GB on volume commitments), Webshare is one of the most affordable proxy providers for enterprises. Yet, PacketStream’s $1 per GB flat rate beats it in entry-level per-gigabyte pricing.

In summary, PacketStream lags slightly behind most competitors in certain advanced features and customer support. Nonetheless, it outperforms them in ease of use and affordability, helped by the lower costs of running a P2P network and the opportunity to earn money through offering your bandwidth to other users.

PacketStream: Final words

At $1.00 per GB, PacketStream is among the most affordable residential IP providers, although the minimum purchase is $50. This makes it ideal for individual users or small businesses that require rotating and sticky (up to 60 minutes) residential proxies for everyday data collection and web browsing tasks.

Having said that, enterprises will probably find PacketStream lacking for any large-scale data scraping needs. There are no datacenter or ISP proxies; it doesn’t offer granular targeting or built-in scraping APIs, and has limited customer support.

We've rated the best VPN services.

Categories: Reviews

Trails in the Sky 2nd Chapter review: yet another triumphant remake

TechRadar Reviews - Wed, 09/30/2026 - 15:00

Nihon Falcom is on a real hot streak right now, and it’s showing no signs of slowing down with Trails in the Sky 2nd Chapter. The remake of 2006’s acclaimed Japanese role-playing game (JRPG), The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky SC, is packed full of excellent quality-of-life updates that are sure to delight veteran players and newcomers alike, with full English voice acting, a visual overhaul, and modernized combat.

Review info

Platform reviewed: PS5
Available on: PS5, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, PC
Release date: September 17, 2026

But just how good is Trails in the Sky 2nd Chapter? Should you play it? Here are my thoughts after countless hours of gameplay.

I absolutely loved this game’s predecessor, which launched last year and was among the best RPGs released in 2025. Yes, Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter was a phenomenon, supplying a beautiful blend of action and turn-based combat, silky smooth performance, and a brilliantly revamped UI. I sunk so many hours into that game, and so I was delighted to find that everything I loved about 1st Chapter transferred across to this follow-up.

A first-rate follow-up

(Image credit: Nihon Falcom, GungHo)

I’ll start by talking about gameplay, which feels just as tight and refined as it did in 1st Chapter. You can rush around the world and attack enemies with Arts and basic attacks in Quick Battle. This is great if you want to mow through enemies — especially weaker ones — without having to spend too long strategizing, and it feels incredibly rapid and responsive. Being able to hack, slash, and whack your foes in a flash means that the game feels well-paced, and longer dungeons don’t seem too daunting.

However, you also have the choice to partake in turn-based Combat Battles to vanquish your opponents, and this is where a lot of the depth comes in. You have to carefully manage your Craft Points (CP) and Energy Points (EP), which enable you to use brutal physical and magical attacks and support options, while also carefully positioning your units to manage health.

It's also crucial to keep an eye on turn order to avoid getting KO’d before you unleash your attacks, choosing when to steal bonuses from your foes to heal or deal critical damage, and when to launch a deadly all-out team attack.

Best bit

(Image credit: Nihon Falcom, GungHo)

My absolute favorite part of this game was simply managing my Orbments — building out the ideal set of Quartz to buff my allies, to protect against almighty attacks, and to unleash mega damage on my foes.

As you can gather, there are a lot of mechanics to consider, and there’s plenty of depth to be found in command battles. But perhaps the most important thing is to manage your Orbments properly.

Orbments string a number of gems together, known as Quartz, which determine the Arts that you can use in battle. Carefully curating your Orbments for each character is crucial, and I had an absolute blast tinkering around to build the ideal build for every boss.

By travelling the world and taking on optional battles and quests, you can unlock some seriously powerful Quartz too, which makes exploration feel truly rewarding.

This may seem like a lot to take in at once — especially for newer players. But don’t worry — there are plenty of difficulty options to choose from to fit your desired level of challenge. There’s everything from Very Easy to Nightmare (one for the true sadists). I selected Advanced this time out, which is somewhere between Normal and Hard, and while the road got tough at times, the Orbment system gave me all the tools I needed to shield my allies from devastating attacks.

Hey bro, wya?

(Image credit: Nihon Falcom, GungHo)

The follow-up from the 1st Chapter is seamless gameplay-wise, and also in terms of narrative.

You can watch a recap of the first game if you want a refresher (or if you missed it entirely), and you’re reminded that Joshua (the protagonist Estelle’s adopted brother…lover? Both?) has fled. I won’t delve into the reasons why in this review, but essentially, Estelle decides to attend a specialist training camp to bolster her skills and track him down herself. It sounds pretty basic, but the story is pretty engrossing, actually. Like the first game, there are deeper political elements to explore, and you get to learn more about the mysterious secret society, Ouroboros.

The narrative remains gripping throughout, and there is no shortage of characters who join Estelle on her journey, be they returning faces like the travelling musician and romantic Olivier or the alcohol-loving Senior Bracer, Scherazard.

(Image credit: Nihon Falcom, GungHo)

Voice acting is strong across the board, and breathes so much life into this colorful and charismatic cast. Some of the more low-key parts of the story and side content are only voiced partially, though, meaning you can get one character narrating their thoughts aloud while others sit in silence with text boxes. This was also in Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter, and can create a slightly awkward atmosphere in moments, though I understand this is more of a nitpick.

It’s also worth noting that this is a true anime-inspired JRPG with all of the melodrama and theatrics that you’d expect from the genre dialled up to 11. While this produces some stronger emotive moments and a good amount of comic relief, it may feel overbearing for some players. A few characters, like Anelace, go on pretty long monologues about the importance of wearing pretty bows while facing your foes. The wandering priest, Kevin, likes to let Estelle know how pretty she is about 10 times in the space of five seconds during the game’s opening section, too.

While this is by no means something that ruins the experience, I did find some of the characters a little unlikeable. So yes, some dialogue can feel superfluous at times, and it can also stretch on for quite a while. But there is a speed-up mode, and there’s nothing stopping you from skipping over the less crucial dialogue segments.

Robustly revamped for the modern era

(Image credit: Nihon Falcom, GungHo)

On top of what I’ve already mentioned, Trails in the Sky 2nd Chapter is filled with a slew of masterful modernizations that really make the game click.

Like last time out, the UI has been considerably revamped and feels incredibly intuitive to sift through, while also looking great. Managing items and skills is seamless and easy, and you can access your quest list, recipe book, and the map in an instant. The speed-up option is also very welcome if you want to fly through your quick battles or travel over a long distance when fast-travel isn’t available.

The visuals are also great once again. Shimmering water, rich forest environments, and character models all look spectacular, at least on the PS5 version I played. By default, the game runs at silky 60fps with next-to-none hiccups whatsoever, but you can also play in performance mode, which targets 120fps at the expense of some graphical fidelity. This is perfect for fast-flowing action combat and exploring vast open areas. Loading screens are also incredibly brief, and I continue to be blown away by how well these games play on modern platforms.

One more thing I absolutely love about this remake is its stellar soundtrack. There’s an eclectic mix of delicate acoustic tracks, funk-infused high-energy tunes, and grandiose, hard-hitting battle themes that totally immerse you in the land of Liberl. Again, you have the option to pick between standard, arranged, or original background music – something that long-time fans no doubt appreciate.

All in all, Trails in the Sky 2nd Chapter is another exceptional remake that effortlessly maintains the strong momentum its predecessor picked up. Gameplay is varied, depth-filled, and addictive; the narrative is engaging, and the quality-of-life upgrades make it feel almost like a brand new game — all while carrying over the beloved aspects of the source material. Sure, the game’s melodramatic nature might not be to everyone’s taste, but if you’re a fan of the JRPG genre and want an epic adventure to sink your teeth into, then look no further.

Should you play Trails in the Sky 2nd Chapter?

(Image credit: Nihon Falcom, GungHo)Play it if...

You want a deep combat system to sink your teeth into
Combat is excellent in Trails in the Sky 2nd Chapter, with a brilliant blend of action and turn-based battles available. The depth of the combat system is also impressive; you need to be considerate when it comes to your Orbments, turn order, stealing bonuses, and so much more.

You’re looking for a game with peak performance
I was absolutely wowed by the performance in Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter, and luckily that remains the case for its sequel. It's visually striking, runs at an incredibly smooth 60fps, and there’s even a performance mode that targets 120fps if you have a compatible display.

Don't play it if...

You’ve never played a Trails game before
While there’s an option to catch up on the events of Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter, I’d strongly recommend playing that title before you jump into this one. This is a direct sequel, and a lot of the story elements won’t make much sense if you start here. The first game is the ultimate entry point — so be sure to get that finished before hopping into this.

You’re not a big fan of anime-style melodrama
If you’re not a fan of the classic anime tropes and over-the-top characters, you might find it a little challenging to get on with the case in Trails in the Sky 2nd Chapter. I still like a lot of the characters here personally, and the core narrative is very strong, it has to be said.

Accessibility features

You can adjust the subtitle language to English, German, French, or Spanish, and select either English or Japanese voice acting. There are a number of ways to customize the camera’s behavior, too, such as normal or inverted configurations, camera movement speed, and camera distance.

On top of this, there are difficulty options, including a Very Easy mode if you just want to focus on the game’s story. Unfortunately, there is no colorblind mode.

How I reviewed Trails in the Sky 2nd Chapter

(Image credit: Nihon Falcom, GungHo)

I spent two weeks playing through Trails in the Sky 2nd Chapter, during which time I played through the main story, took on a bunch of side quests, and sunk hours into exploring the land of Liberl.

For the most part, I played the game on my PS5 while connected to the Sky Glass Gen 2 TV and my Marshall Heston 120 soundbar. However, from time to time I dipped into the title on my PlayStation Portal remote player, and had the Sonos Ace Ultra headphones connected to listen to in-game audio.

More generally, I’ve spent years reviewing gaming software and hardware at TechRadar, where I serve as a Senior Reviews Writer. I reviewed the previous game in this series, Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter, and have covered a wider range of JRPGs here, including Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave, Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake, and The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales.

First reviewed September 2026

Categories: Reviews

Samsung Galaxy Watch 9 review: making smartwatches easy

TechRadar Reviews - Wed, 09/30/2026 - 11:46

Samsung Galaxy Watch 9: One minute review

Every time a new smartwatch is released, it’s sold on its ability to collect new and improved types of health data. Any old fitness tracker knows more about your body’s comings and goings than you do, but without interpretation, these figures, statistics and metrics are all just numbers to you and I. A graph of my blood oxygen through the day, or my HRV while sleeping, won’t tell me how fit I am.

That’s why the Samsung Galaxy Watch 9 feels like a breath of fresh air. Its core upgrade isn’t some new facet of health to track, or a different kind of number which it can count, but something simpler. It ties into recent Samsung Health changes to actually provide actionable advice based on your data.

It’s the aggregate watch. All your workouts and body data are condensed into a Fitness Index, which compares your wellness in several different departments to other Samsung users on average, and helps you expand your exercise regimen to improve. Your sleep schedule, daily cadence and heart rate turns into your Energy Score, which helps you understand if, and when, it’s time to workout.

All of that is to say, that the Samsung Galaxy Watch 9 is far more useful than most wearables I’ve tested, because it actually makes your data mean something. Its smarts may be unnecessary for prolific exercisers, who already know how to use their data, but the average person who cares about health but hasn't yet dived into their fitness with the same granuarity will find it incredibly useful.

Perfect it is not. There are all the usual smartwatch quirks: navigation, and information locations within the UI, can sometimes feel counterintuitive, and it’ll easily pick up scuffs and marks over time. More significantly, the battery life is poor: it’ll go for about a day of use on a single charge, or even less if you’re doing multiple exercises per day, but this has always been a sticking point with Samsung watches.

Some features are also only available if you own a Samsung Galaxy smartphone, and although one could argue that these are more minor tools, it’s still a shame that not all buyers get the same smartwatch.

Still, this feels like one of the most accessible smartwatches you can buy, in terms of its feature set and performance. It’s worth buying if you’ve been on the fence, liking the idea of a smartwatch but never feeling like they justify themselves; this one does.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 9: Specifications

Component

Samsung Galaxy Watch 9 (40mm)

Samsung Galaxy Watch 9 (44mm)

Price

From $379.99 / £349.99 / AU$647

From $409.99 / £379.99 / AU$697

Dimensions

42.7 x 40.4 x 8.6mm

46.0 x 43.7 x 8.6mm

Weight

30g

34g

Case/Bezel

Armor Aluminum

Display

1.3-in super AMOLED

1.5-in super AMOLED

GPS

GPS, Glonass, Beidou, Galileo

Battery Life

Up to 30 hours

Up to 40 hours

Connection

Wi-Fi, NFC, Bluetooth 6.0

Water Resistance

5 ATM

Samsung Galaxy Watch 9: Price and availability

(Image credit: Future)

40mm Bluetooth model starts at $349.99 / £319 / AU$649
44mm model starts at $399.99 / £349 / AU$699
Available to pre-order July 9

The Samsung Galaxy Watch 9 was unveiled at Galaxy Unpacked on July 22, 2026, alongside the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2, Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra.

There are many variants of the watch. You can choose between Bluetooth or LTE connectivity, in 40mm or 44mm size, in a range of body and band sizes and colors, with certain different types of band. You can see some of the prices below for the main four configurations.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 9 prices

variant

40mm Bluetooth

$379.99

£349.99

AU$647

40mm cell / LTE

$429.99

£399.99

AU$747

44mm Bluetooth

$409.99

£379.99

AU$697

44mm cell / LTE

$459.99

£429.99

AU$797

At that price, the watch slightly undercuts the Apple Watch Series 11 – bearing in mind that Apple’s sizes are slightly bigger. However it’s slightly more expensive than the Galaxy Watch 8 was, which is sad but unsurprising in the current tech market given the supply chain crisis.

It’s worth pointing out that lots of the new Galaxy Watch 9 features come from Samsung Health, and many other Samsung wearables are also compatible – and get many of the new tools as a result. They won’t be baked into the watch interface like on the Watch 9, but you’ll still get access to the new tools for cheaper.

And of course, if you’re not interested in this aggregated data, there are budget wearables for literally a fifth of the price which will do the job just fine. If you need any old smartwatch or tracker, you can get one offering a lot better value for money.

Value score: 4/5

Samsung Galaxy Watch 9: Design

(Image credit: Future)

Relatively thin and lightweight: solid on wrist
3,000 nits screen works well outdoors
Unchanged design from Watch 8

To look at it, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 9 is incredibly similar to its predecessor. You’re getting the same circle display, housed in a squircle metal ‘cushion’. The similarities are more than aesthetic: design-wise, this is basically the same watch.

That’s not a complaint; we gave the Watch 8 a five-star design score. It’s a sleek watch, with two barely-protruding but easy-to-tap buttons on the right edge. It’s small enough to be comfortable to wear in bed, and light enough not to wiggle around when you’re running or working out.

The watch has a 5ATM rating for waterproofing (up to 50 meters), a MIL-STD-810H certification for protection (against extreme temperature, altitude, dust, drops and many more military-grade requirements) and is also IPX8 rated. That is to say, it’s pretty well protected… though it’ll show its war wounds. My review unit, as you’ll see in images, quickly picked up a few dings and scrapes.

All these similarities extend to the screen. A Super AMOLED panel with a max brightness of 3,000 nits, it’s nice and bright for when you’re out in sunlight, or to double as a torch if you need one. Not once did I struggle to see what was going on.

(Image credit: Future)

Mostly, the screen was responsive, but a few times it wouldn’t recognize my touch if my swipe began off the screen (as the screen isn’t huge, it’s easy to miss on gestures). On the 40mm, then, some gestures can be a little finickity, but I don’t imagine this is the case on the 44mm model.

You can buy the watch with Sport, Misty or Fabric bands, in a range of colors. My test sample had the former, which quickly gave me a rash; if you have sensitive skin, I’d recommend avoiding this strap. Luckily, loads more are available to buy online, and they’re easy to replace with a simple press-to-release catch system on the watch body.

The watch’s user interface seems quite simple on the surface, but mastering it can speed up the way you use your watch. Swiping down for quick settings or right for notifications is easy, as is pulling up to see your app drawer. Swiping left brings you Tiles, which are basically on-watch widgets which you can customize. They let you easily see metrics, start tracking certain activities or see information from weather or calendar apps, and learning to use these properly transformed my time with the watch.

It’s not quite perfect, and there are some navigation quirks which are quite annoying. It’s hard to change app on the fly; for example if you’re tracking your cycle ride while also navigating on Google Maps and managing your tunes on Spotify, you’ll constantly have to jump back to the main menu rather than swiping between menus. But these are minor gripes.

Design score: 5/5

Samsung Galaxy Watch 9: Features

(Image credit: Future)

Aggregates all your data for useful scores
Offers pointers and feedback which are mostly useful
Requires Samsung phone for all features

The Samsung Galaxy Watch 9 feature set revolves around the brand’s redesigned Samsung Health. The key note change is this: instead of simply recording and reporting all your health and fitness metrics, the watch (and app) will boil all your data down into several key metrics, and then provide feedback and analytics.

Some are really useful. Fitness index was a handy way to compare my strengths and weaknesses in several departments, while Heart Health is a handy way to nudge you towards best cardiovascular practice. However not all are equal: Daily Cardio Load should help you decide whether you’re exercising enough, but it only takes into account logged workouts, rather than actual activity (ie, 20,000 steps will count for less than a 100 meter run), so its feedback doesn’t feel relevant. Likewise, the energy score felt light years from accurate; I’d wake up feeling exhausted, and be told by the watch that my energy level was ‘excellent’.

But for good or ill, it’s great that Samsung Health actually does something with the data the Watch 9 collects. Features like the sleep score and sleep coaching, and the aforementioned Fitness Index, can give you useful pointers towards various goals. For example, the latter tool can give you recommendations to hit health targets, and show you data over time.

Again, the results are sometimes mixed. Running coach – which is admittedly in beta – gave me a laughably incorrect assessment of my running habits, giving me a 4-week training plan which I could complete in two days.

(Image credit: Future)

Some might find the Samsung Galaxy Watch 9’s approach a little oversimplistic, and if you’re in that camp, you might need a device geared more towards pros.

I was constantly surprised by what the Galaxy Watch 9 could track. You can use its sensors to measure body composition, stress and antioxidant levels in the body – obviously these won’t match the accuracy of an actual medical test, but it’s useful for contributing to the aforementioned metrics. I also really appreciated receiving a sweat loss figure during runs, telling me how much to rehydrate.

During testing, I paired the Galaxy Watch 9 with both a Samsung phone, and later a non-Samsung one. Unfortunately, some features are gated for Galaxy device owners, like ECG or blood pressure, so if you have another device you’re missing some of the tech you’re paying for.

Generally, Bluetooth connection was reliable. I had a few unexpected drop-outs, but most of the time, the watch could re-pair to my phone easily. Only once did I need to reboot the watch to regain connection.

Beyond the fitness tools, the Galaxy Watch has plenty of useful extra tools like a torch, music controls and Play Store for extras. I really appreciated the ability to set vibration alarms, so my wrist-mounted wake-up call wouldn’t also rouse my partner, and set alarms on my wrist before bed.

Features score: 4/5

Samsung Galaxy Watch 9: Performance

(Image credit: Future)

Mostly accurate for exercises and sleep tracking
Battery only lasts a day per charge
Lots of activities to train, but they range in usefulness

Let’s start with one of the weak elements of the Samsung Galaxy Watch 9: its battery life. In my testing, it generally lasted a day of serious use; by that I mean workouts tracked most days (sometimes multiple a day), a night of sleep tracking, and notification handling. In fact, during busy days, I’d have to top it up in the afternoon.

A sole day of battery life isn’t ideal, as it means charging the device takes up a significant amount of your potential use time. By reducing my workout frequency, turning off raise-to-wake and reducing notifications handled, I managed to get the device to last closer to two days, but not everyone will want to switch off many features of their fancy smart device.

When it comes to tracking activities, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 9 felt largely accurate. Its location results matched other trackers I’ve used, as well as GPS mapping tools, and heart rate data was comparable to another fitness watch I used at the same time.

Sleep tracking was a little more iffy. The watch was great at recognizing sleep time versus idling in bed time, avoiding a common wearable problem in which your pre-sleep book reading or post-wake-up dawdle would count as more sleep. However it didn’t always catch my waking up during the night, and sometimes didn’t report all my sleep data after I woke up. Oh well – I was just happy to wear a fitness tracker which wasn’t so big that it disrupted my sleep.

(Image credit: Future)

The watch’s sleep coaching is quite useful: after a test, I was told I sleep like a penguin, and given some tasks to accomplish to get better rest. Since many of these are self-reported, I lied a little bit – yes, Galaxy Watch, of course I meditated before bed – but pointers to get out of bed quickly after an alarm were handy.

Generally, the Samsung is adept at auto-recognizing pauses in your workout: when I stopped at traffic lights, it could tell when I was motionless, and when I’d resumed. It’s a little more unreliable for auto-tracking exercises though. When I took the watch on holiday and spent days wandering around a city, it’d sometimes track my wanders and other times neglect to. Don’t rely on this tool.

The Galaxy Watch has about ten activities available to track via its menu, but you can easily add more from a pre-determined list, or create your own activity if your favorite one is missing (there was no bouldering, so I had to make my own). These are often quite basic – when making bouldering, I could only set it to track duration and calories burnt – but it all contributes to the fitness metrics.

Done a workout? Good luck finding the data. As far as I can tell, you can’t see past workouts on the watch, even via the Samsung Health applet. You can see any done on that day on Samsung Health, but your long list of past workouts is hidden incredibly well within the app (I only found it by clicking a ‘View Records’ pop-up at the top of the app – not the other ‘View Records’ which takes you to your steps. It’s silly!) . Presumably, the brand doesn’t think you’re going to want to see historic data, but I often find this useful to check against.

Performance score: 4/5

Samsung Galaxy Watch 9: Should I buy?

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

You want advice, not numbers

The Galaxy Watch 9’s focus on actionable intel means it’s useful for general health users who could do with some advice, motivation or pointers in order to work out better.

You want something lightweight

I really appreciate how slender and non-bulky the Galaxy Watch is. You can run with it or sleep in it without it weighing you down.

You want something that survives everyday life

This is no rugged Ultra watch, but its protections ensure it’ll survive normal life. No bumps, splashes or unexpected dust storms are going to stop it working.

Don't buy it if...

You’re on a budget

This isn’t a super cheap smartwatch, and plenty of brands make good-value wearables for a much lower price. They won’t do everything the Samsung does, but they’ll do a lot.

You don’t have a Samsung phone

Some features are exclusive to Samsung phones, which also have the necessary Watch software pre-installed.

You need a multi-day device

Because of its low battery life, I can’t recommend the Galaxy Watch for multi-day use. Expect to charge it regularly.View Deal

Also consider

Apple Watch Series 12

Apple’s newest fitness tracker mostly offers AI-centric upgrades, but it’s still the best wearable for Apple fans due to its wide range of features and tools. You'll need an iPhone though.

Review coming soon

Garmin Venu 4

A weighty, powerful watch and the best Garmin watch for generally active people.

Read our full Garmin Venu 4 review

How I tested

I used the Samsung Galaxy Watch 9 for three weeks, wearing it on my wrist most of the time over that period. For the first week it was used alongside my Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8, and the second two with the Fairphone 6 Plus.

During that span of time I slept with it, wore it while working, and took it on a week-long holiday. I also tracked various kinds of exercise including runs, walks, bouldering, cycles and tennis, and used all of Samsung Health’s features all that time.

I’ve been reviewing gadgets for TechRadar for eight years, and in that time have tested countless smartwatches and Samsung Galaxy devices. I’ve completed multiple marathons and am training for another, giving the Galaxy Watch 9 something to work towards.

Categories: Reviews

Main menu

Error message

Technology

Navigation

News

Reviews

Reviews

New forum topics

NordVPN review: still the pinnacle of VPNs

Surfshark VPN review 2026 – a fully-featured, low cost privacy solution

OM System PEN review: a classy, feature-packed rangefinder that's amazing value

Roku Pro Series OLED TV review: an affordable way to OLED

Earfun Pro X review: highly capable headphones that seriously undercut rivals such as Bose on price

Belkin Travel Bag for Nintendo Switch 2 review: A superb sling for your Switch 2 setup

Noble Audio FoKus Artemis review: the most hypnotic-sounding pair of headphones I’ve tested

Anker Nano 45W Smart Display Charger review: a quirky and compact charging companion

TCL QM7L review: the best mid-range TV of 2026

Gears of War: E-Day review: old-school action is a breath of fresh air in 2026

Fairphone 6 Plus review: an eco-friendly phone that's finally available in the US

Star Wars: Galactic Racer review — an exhilarating roguelike racer that gets the blood pumping

Focal Mu-so Hekla review: a potent, super-immersive wireless speaker in a sleek soundbar's clothing

Bird Buddy 2 Review: my six months with the solar powered smart feeder camera

RunStar 8E SmartScan Pro review: An excellent smart scale for family life

Cambridge A100 SE review: cheap wireless earbuds that hit all the right notes

Chefman Coffee Station Pro review: ambitious all-in-one brewing with mixed results

PacketStream Review: Pros & Cons, Features, Ratings, Pricing, and more

Trails in the Sky 2nd Chapter review: yet another triumphant remake

Samsung Galaxy Watch 9 review: making smartwatches easy

Pages

Main menu

Error message

Technology

You are here

Navigation

News

Reviews

Reviews

New forum topics

Pages

Search form

User login