Reviews

Anker Soundcore Space One Pro: Two-minute review

The Anker Soundcore Space One Pro are the most expensive headphones Anker has ever released. Sure, they're still a lot cheaper than the likes of the Sony WH-1000XM5, but it does pile on a bit of pressure for these headphones to deliver, especially considering top-rated headphones like the Sennheiser Accentum Plus come in at nearly the same price. Happily, though, the Anker Soundcore Space One Pro are a great-sounding pair of wireless headphones that kept me listening for hours on end, day in, day out.

Thanks to LDAC codec compatibility, you’re getting hi-res audio, which helps the Soundcore Space One Pro to deliver rich, well-weighted all-round sound. If you appreciate some depth, these will likely pique your interest, thanks to the impressively weighty bass and sub-bass on offer. More generally, audio is to a high standard – it's not always as sharp as it could be or as clean-sounding as some top-of-the-range headphones, but it'll satisfy the vast majority of listeners.

Thanks to the Soundcore app, you can also find the perfect sound for you. There are classic EQ settings, which include a huge array of presets and a custom option too. But what’s really exciting is the HearID setting which assesses your personal tastes and hearing capabilities to suggest the perfect calibration – something that even some of the best headphones don’t offer. Not only that, but there’s a Dolby Audio mode available for those looking for a more expansive soundstage when watching movies or TV shows on the go.

More broadly, you’re getting a strong feature-set here. There’s Easy Chat for having conversations without needing to pause your tunes, multi-point connectivity and adjustable active noise cancellation settings. Speaking of ANC, you’re getting cancellation that’s a cut above some of the best cheap headphones. Some high-pitched sounds will still creep through, even when listening at higher volumes, but overall, you’re not going to get too distracted by the outside world when using the Space One Pro.

You’ll also be able to listen pretty much unbroken thanks to two key factors: battery life and comfort. Firstly, you’re getting plenty of playtime with the Space One Pro, which can go for 40 hours with ANC on and 60 hours with ANC off – although beware, with hi-res audio switched on, this number will be significantly cut. In terms of comfort, it really doesn’t get much better. Wearing the Space One Pro is never grating, even after listening for multiple hours consecutively – a fantastic plus given a lot of over-ear headphones fall at this hurdle.

It’s not all sunshine and rainbows, though. One of the Space One Pro’s biggest flaws for me is their looks. Although when folded they’re ultra-compact, in use they appear chunky and a little bit disappointing quality-wise – especially the button controls. This might not be a deal breaker for many, but Soundcore has increased its asking price for these headphones. Don’t get me wrong, these are good quality cans, but with this amount of cash, there are some outstanding alternatives from the likes of Sony and Sennheiser available to you – are the Space One Pro better than these? I’m not too sure.

Still, they sound great and you’ll happily keep playing your favorite tracks for hours on end. The main issue is the strength of the competition. For example, in our Sennheiser Accentum Plus review, we gave these similarly priced headphones 4.5 stars, thanks to their impeccable sound quality – although their fit isn’t suited to every head. Some people may find the Soundcore more comfortable, and prefer them for that reason, but most people will probably want to go for the better sound quality.

Anker Soundcore Space One Pro review: Price & release date

• $199.99 / £149.99 (about AU$300)
• Launched on September 5 2024 in UK/US
• Launching in Australia in October 2024

With the Anker Soundcore Space One Pro headphones, the brand has ventured into slightly more premium territory. These cans will set you back $199.99 / £149.99 (about AU$300) – that puts them in the same ballpark as the Sennheiser Accentum Plus, which retail for $‌179.95 / £169.99 / AU$299, and the Sony ULT Wear, which go for $199.99 / £149 / AU$348.

It’s a significant price jump on the classic Soundcore Space One, which were just $99 / £99 at launch. Of course, the newer model is more compact, has more mics and higher-quality audio, but that’s still a big jump considering the Space One still has ANC, a very similar battery life and hi-res audio capabilities.

(Image credit: Future) Anker Soundcore Space One Pro review: Specs

(Image credit: Future) Anker Soundcore Space One Pro review: Features

• Solid active noise cancellation
• Hi-res audio capability
• Feature-rich companion app

Something I love about the Space One Pro is that they boast a pretty expansive feature-set. You get the classic options you’d expect from modern wireless headphones, including multi-point connectivity and EQ settings, but there’s a good amount more to uncover.

One of my favorite features was Easy Chat, which lowers the music volume playing and makes voices clearer. This was incredibly useful in an office setting, especially when I had to respond to questions or chat with colleagues briefly, making for a seamless transition from listening to talking. You can easily adjust the time it takes for music to fade back in after using Easy Chat in the Soundcore app, with 5, 10 and 15 second wait times available, although I found the default 5 was ideal. Sensitivity here was just right too; for instance, the sound of typing wouldn’t set off Easy Chat, making for a near-flawless user experience. You will have to resist singing along to the music, though…

Another neat little feature is Safe Volume. When I listen to music, I like to listen at loud volumes – maybe a bit too loud sometimes. However, the Soundcore app has a decibel reading meter that displays whether your volume level is normal, acceptable (ie, a bit on the loud side but probably okay), or too high. This is useful for keeping yourself in check, and you can set a high volume limit too, if you want to be on the cautious side, or to keep kids' hearing safe if you give the headphones to them.

As I mentioned, there are classic EQ settings here, including a bunch of neat presets for various genres and the option to make a totally custom sound. However, one of the coolest settings available is HearID Sound, which assesses your hearing capabilities at various frequencies and asks you to pick your preferred sound through a small handful of multi-choice questions to find your perfect sound. This worked fantastically well and gave me some added depth in the bass department, a little bit of additional height in the treble, with a dip in the mid-range – a calibration that suited my taste very nicely.

One more feature that enables you to customize sound is Dolby Audio. This is useful if you want a more immersive, expansive sound from your headphones, but is likely better suited towards people watching videos. I found that this did add a bit of width to the soundstage, but I rarely used it when listening to tunes. When you are blasting your favorite songs, though, you can activate the LDAC audio codec (compatible with most Android phones), which delivers richer, more detailed hi-res audio – something I kept turned on throughout most of the testing process.

(Image credit: Future)

Another part of the Space One Pro that’s decently customizable is ANC. You can toggle on Wind Noise Reduction when out and about and switch between full, normal, and transparent levels of noise cancellation. But how is the ANC itself? Pretty good actually.

In a café, I could still hear a conversation on my table with music at half volume, but at a more realistic listening level of 65-70%, I could barely hear any words at all. When listening to more mellow classical music, however, sounds like plates being placed down crept through sometimes, even at high volumes.

At around 60% with Wind Noise Reduction on, traffic was barely audible, although some higher pitched noises did seep through from time to time. Similarly, when using a hairdryer, the screech-like noise it emitted was still audible when listening to a bass-heavy track.

With the lower-frequency tones of a microwave, I heard almost nothing at 50-55% volume, although this didn’t surprise me a lot as the Space One Pro seemed to be very competent at blocking out lower-frequency sounds, as is common with the best noise cancelling headphones.

I compared this to the more budget 1More Sonoflow and Sony WH-CH720N in the same environments, and the Space One Pro were a clear upgrade over them both.

To top everything off, the Space One Pro have a very respectable battery life of 40 hours with ANC on and 60 hours with ANC off. This is, of course, reduced if you’re using hi-res audio. When testing battery life with ANC on, I found the 40-hour claim to be accurate.

Sure, there are some headphones out there, such as the Cambridge Audio Melomania P100, that can go for up to 60 hours with ANC on, but they’re about $80 / £80 more expensive. And this battery life is 10 hours longer with ANC on (and 20 hours with ANC off) than the considerably pricier Sony WH-1000XM5. So, all in all, it's fair to say the Space One Pro are a top choice if longevity matters a lot to you.

• Features score: 4.5/5

(Image credit: Future) Anker Soundcore Space One Pro review: Sound quality

• Full-sounding hi-res audio
• Satisfying bass
• Audio isn’t perfectly sharp

Overall, we were pretty positive about the original Anker Soundcore Space One’s audio, particularly because of its ability to offer strong bass, clear vocals and LDAC support. Thankfully, all of this holds true for the Pro model, which more generally delivers great audio quality.

Let’s start with bass: if like me you’re someone that appreciates lots of depth, these are gonna hit the spot. Sub-bass in Backseat Freestyle by Kendrick Lamar was perfectly weighted, never feeling overly dominant in the mix – a lot of cheaper headphones struggle to handle this level of depth, but not the Space One Pro. When listening to Black Eye by Allie X, the dynamism of the bass connecting up to the mid-range was impressive too, although the kick of the drum machine was slightly lethargic.

Mid-range sounds come through clearly and with solid levels of detail. When comparing these to the cheaper Sony WH-CH720N, the Space One Pro achieved a fuller sound, helping to expose a few more sonic intricacies. This is, of course, helped further if you activate the LDAC codec for hi-res audio.

Like the ‘non-Pro’ edition, these produce a pleasingly wide soundstage experience, which is ideal for atmospheric tracks like Rains again by Solji. This track sounded a little bit constrained with the CH720N, but when using the Space One Pro, the intro’s rain sound effects were natural and quieter vocal segments were more controlled. The soft vocals maintained their intended levels of delicacy too and highs often sounded sweet when using these headphones. From time to time, vocals could be a little harsh at top volumes, something I discovered when listening to the opening of SICKO MODE by Travis Scott, but this wasn’t too common.

All in all, I found the Anker Soundcore Space One Pro to be very good in the audio department. They’re not going to deliver the incredible accuracy, intricate detail and flawlessly clean audio that super-premium competitors can offer, but for some headphones below the $200 / £150 / AU$300 mark they perform well. Bass is the star of the show here, but there’s excellent customizability if you’re more of an avid podcast fan looking for an emphasis on clear vocals, for example.

• Sound quality score: 4/5

(Image credit: Future) Anker Soundcore Space One Pro review: Design

• Ultra-compact foldable design
• May be a little chunky looking for some
• Super comfortable fit

When I first unboxed the Anker Soundcore Space One Pro, I got more of an earmuff than headphone vibe. Initially, I was struck by how chunky they were – even the headband is pretty thick and padded. Don’t get me wrong: the Space One Pro aren’t horrible looking, but I don’t think there’s gonna be a rush to hang them in the Louvre.

Even in terms of build quality, I wasn’t massively impressed. That’s mainly because the buttons and silver detail on the headphones look and feel a bit cheap. I did, however, quite like the Cream White color that these cans came in, though a Jet Black alternative is also available.

It’s not all about the looks, of course, and thankfully these headphones are incredibly comfortable. Every day I’ve tested the Space One Pro, I’ve used them for at least five hours and have not once felt a smidge of discomfort, so if coziness is the number one thing for you, these are absolutely perfect.

Another smart aspect of these headphones is their compact nature. Thanks to what Anker calls a FlexiCurve Structure, these can halve in size when fully folded, perfect if you’re a bit limited for space in your backpack or tote bag.

A case is available for them (added free for initial order, but that may not be the case if you buy in the future) that's also waterproof, unlike the headphones themselves, which don’t have a dust or waterproof rating.

Something these do lack is touch controls – which may be pleasing to some, but I would’ve personally appreciated them. Instead, you’re stuck with plain old button controls and unfortunately they’re a bit lacking. I already mentioned they’re not the prettiest, but I also found the volume controls to be quite unresponsive and I had to hold down the power button for quite a while to switch the headphones on or off. You can customize which button controls do a little bit in the Soundcore app, but options are pretty limited.

Overall, I don’t love the Space One Pro’s button controls and I’m not an enthusiast when it comes to their looks either. However, what I can’t deny is that they’re massively comfortable and super-compact, making them totally user-friendly. Fashionistas – you’re probably best served elsewhere I’m afraid, but otherwise I’d urge you not to rule these out on looks alone.

• Design score: 3.5/5

(Image credit: Future) Anker Soundcore Space One Pro review: Value

• Anker’s most expensive headphones ever
• Stack up to similarly-priced competitors on features and sound
• Still a tad too costly at launch

I’ll be real, reader, I’m conflicted here. I’ve really enjoyed my time with the Anker Soundcore Space One Pro; they’re a great-sounding, ultra-comfortable pair of wireless headphones that have kept me listening for hours on end. But there’s a massive amount of competition in this price range from some of the most well-respected tech companies in the game.

For example, the aforementioned Sennheiser Accentum Plus offer confident, punchy sound, a longer battery life and a more attractive design for a similar price. And the Sony ULT Wear are also super comfortable and offer the LDAC codec – although in our Sony ULT Wear review we had a mixed response to its bass-boosting ULT button. Good options abound at this price point, making any one choice harder to justify.

And there are often bargains available on more premium options: for instance, the legendary Sony WH-1000XM4 are regularly available at a similar price to these these headphones, and they are going to offer almost everything you get here, but with even better audio and a classic design. However, it is worth noting that this only applies to when the Sonys have their price cut, and the Space One Pro will inevitably also see strong discounts, probably as soon as Black Friday, shortly after launch.

What I’m more confident in stating, though, is that these outperform the stronger budget wireless headphones, such as the Sony WH-CH720N and 1More Sonoflow, both of which we’ve spoken about highly on numerous occasions. These have considerably better ANC, audio quality and features. So, although I wouldn’t expect these to be listed at a way lower price, I think these will be extremely attractive on sale, when they’re closer to the $150 / £120 mark.

• Value score: 3.5/5

(Image credit: Future) Should I buy the Anker Soundcore Space One Pro? Buy them if…

Comfort is a priority for you
A lot of over-ear headphones tend to get uncomfortable after a while, but not these. The Anker Soundcore Space One Pro are a delight to wear, even for hours on end, thanks to their soft ear cushions and well-padded headband. Say goodbye to headphone fatigue, and hello to hours of back-to-back bangers.

You want highly customizable audio
If you have specific tastes when it comes to audio, these headphones are a good pick. That’s mainly because of the HearID feature, which provides a custom EQ configuration suited to your ears. There’s also Dolby Audio for a more expansive sound and LDAC compatibility for hi-res output.

Don’t buy them if…

You’re on a budget
These aren’t ultra-premium headphones or anything, but they’re not the most affordable cans out there either. If you’re on a budget there are so many fantastic cheap options out there for under $100 / £100 / AU$200, check out our guide to the best cheap headphones for some recommendations.

Style is your main concern
Everyone’s entitled to their own opinion, but I think many will agree with me here – the Space One Pro aren’t the most attractive cans out there. If you want some sleeker headphones, the likes of Sony and Bose have plenty of excellent options that avoid the chunky look that Anker has adopted here.

(Image credit: Future) Anker Soundcore Space One Pro review: Also consider

Sennheiser Accentum Plus
The Sennheiser Accentum Plus are a fantastic pair of mid-range over-ear headphones. They offer beautiful sound quality, a clean design, decent ANC and an epic battery life. And once you factor in their price, which is scarcely any higher than the Space One Pro, they become a very attractive option indeed – as you can see from the fact we granted them 4.5 stars in our Sennheiser Accentum Plus review.

Sony WH-CH720N
I’ve owned these headphones myself for about one year and can say they’re very good if you want a cheaper option than the Space One Pro. Sure, they don’t support LDAC or produce a super-expansive audio overall, but you still get a nicely balanced sound with solid detail. Not only that, but they have awesome battery life, 360 Reality Audio support, competent ANC and a lightweight design. Given they’ve gone on sale for less than $90 / £80 in the past, they’re an incredible option if you’re working with a tighter budget. Read our full Sony WH-CH720N review.

Anker Soundcore Space One Pro review: How I tested

• Tested for one week
• Used in the office, in a café and while on walks
• Predominantly tested using Tidal on Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4

I tested the Anker Soundcore Space One Pro over the course of a week. During this time, I took to a number of environments including a café, built-up roads, the office and my apartment. I typically connected the headphones to Tidal on my Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 with the LDAC codec active in order to access the best quality audio. I also tested the headphones with the FiiO M11S hi-res music player, my Windows laptop, and an iPhone 13 Pro. When listening to music, I went through the TechRadar testing playlist, which includes tracks from a number of genres, before expanding to a wider music selection. When appropriate, I also compared the Soundcore Space One Pro directly to the Sony WH-CH720N and 1More Sonoflow.

First reviewed: September 2024
Read more about how we test

We've got another PC gaming handheld on the market to take on the venerable Steam Deck: the Acer Nitro Blaze 7, and it looks like it might be a very strong contender against the current handheld champ, the Asus ROG Ally X.

The Blaze 7's specs are pretty solid. In terms of hardware, it is sandwiched below the ROG Ally X but definitely above the ROG Ally, Lenovo Legion Go, and well above what the Steam Deck can offer.

This includes a 7-inch 1080p IPS touchscreen with a variable refresh rate up to 144Hz, up to 2TB PCIe SSD storage, and 16GB LPDDR5x memory running at 7500MT/s.

The real star here, though, is the AMD Ryzen 7 8840HS SoC powering the whole thing. This is a slight step up from the AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme SoC found in the ROG Ally, Legion Go, and ROG Ally X, though only really in terms of its AI performance. 

While the core counts in the CPU and GPU are the same, as are their speeds, you do get a dedicated NPU in the Ryzen 7 8840HS that should help offload some AI tasks. How much this helps with AMD Radeon Super Resolution (AMD's hardware-based upscaler) remains to be seen, though.

Acer Nitro Blaze 7: Design

(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)

Design-wise, if one thing is immediately noticeable about the Blaze 7, it's that it feels a bit bulkier than the recently released ROG Ally X. However, it is nearly identical in terms of dimensions and is even a little bit lighter. Part of that comes from the ridged hand grips on the back of sides of the device, which felt a bit deeper than on other handhelds I've used recently. The spec sheet on the Blaze 7 isn't exactly clear on whether that difference is real or just my imagination.

The chassis is black plastic with white and red accents around the device, something I haven't seen on other devices. If nothing else, people around you will know you're playing on a Blaze 7 rather than some other gaming handheld.

(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)

Regarding ports, you get a lot here, including two USB4 ports, one on the top and one on the bottom, which will definitely make this thing easier to dock. Furthermore,  since the bottom port is Thunderbolt 4, it will support video output and power delivery.

The battery, meanwhile, is a substantial 50WHr, meaning you should be able to get solid gaming time in before you need to plug it in.

One noticeable component that is missing is any of the back macro buttons you get on the ROG Ally. Personally, I never use those on the ROG Ally X unless my ADHD-addled brain gets fidgity, as even a video game beamed right at my face from my hands isn't enough to keep the restlessness away.

The rest of the buttons are the standard dual-stick, control pad, and ABXY buttons, as well as two triggers and two bumpers along the top of the device. You also get a power button with a built-in fingerprint reader, volume buttons, a view button, a menu button, a dedicated Acer Game Space button, a mode switch button, an Acer quick menu button, and (my favorite) a pop-up keyboard button. 

Acer Game Space, meanwhile, is an all-in-one solution for managing your game library across different apps and storefronts that works reasonably well. It does remind you, though, just how terrible Windows 11 is as a platform for these kinds of handhelds.

Also of note is the heat vent along the top of the device. While playing Shadow of the Tomb Raider on the Blaze 7, that area of the device did get noticeably hot. This isn't unexpected — after all, energy = heat — and it wasn't something I noticed when holding the device as intended. I only felt the heat when my hand accidentally touched the vent (and the heatsink fins therein), so just something to keep in mind.

Acer Nitro Blaze 7: Performance

(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)

So I didn't get to run any benchmarks on the device, unfortunately, but Acer did conveniently have Shadow of the Tomb Raider running on the device I got some time with, and they enabled AMD's framerate tool to show the FPS on the device as you played it.

There were a couple of stutters here and there, but nothing you wouldn't get on any other device like this. On the whole, though, the Blaze 7 consistently got around or above 60FPS at 1080p with medium settings with FSR tuned to performance mode.

On a seven-inch screen, these settings looked fantastic, and the frame rate was very consistent unless you walked around an area with very complex geometry (and not really the temples so much, as you'd think, but more the people in the village seemed to be the worst offender).

We'll have to do a lot more testing to see how the device fares against the competition, but in my time with it, the Acer Nitro Blaze 7 looks like a very solid performer vis a vis its competition.

Acer Nitro Blaze 7: Price & availability

Unfortunately, we know nothing about the price or release date of the Nitro Blaze 7 at this time, though pricing and availability will surely be coming in the next few weeks.

That said, we can definitely expect it to be cheaper than the ROG Ally X since that handheld has 8GB more RAM than the Nitro Blaze 7, and memory right now is very expensive. Since the ROG Ally X sells for $799.99 / £799 / AU$1,599, the Nitro Blaze 7 needs to come in well below that to be competitive, so somewhere around $700 / £700 / AU$1450.

Any higher than that, and you're better off getting the ROG Ally X for the extra RAM.

Acer Nitro Blaze 7: Final thoughts

From what I've seen, the Acer Nitro Blaze 7 doesn't do anything especially well. It looks to be a fairly competent gaming handheld when it eventually goes on sale, but it's not without its charms.

I won't lie; the built-in keyboard button is something every handheld needs. Games that require keyboard input for names and other information really don't handle a virtual keyboard well and often never give you the option to use one. You're forced to try to escape to the desktop to bring in a keyboard from there, which can be a huge hassle in the middle of gaming.

The Ryzen 7 8840HS processor is also a solid improvement since it will bring some NPU power to bear, and hopefully, AMD RSR and other AI functions can properly leverage it.

All that is still an open question though, but I am excited to see what the Acer Nitro Blaze 7 can really do once we get a unit in for a more proper review.

Fujifilm Instax mini Link 3: two-minute review

One could spend hours pondering why people might want to make small instant prints out of their smartphone snaps – photos they could easily share with each other via WhatsApp or post on Instagram. Personally, I think it’s all about the fun, tactility and immediacy that can be derived from occasionally ‘going analogue’ in this increasingly digital world in which we live. Vive la difference, and all that.

 Fujifilm’s Instax mini Link 3 is the latest in the company’s line of portable battery-powered printers which, after linking up with a smartphone or tablet via Bluetooth, can spit out fast-developing instant photos. These photos, which are roughly the size of a credit card, can be given to friends and family, pinned on your corkboard or stuck on your fridge door or slipped in your wallet to look at whenever you like. It’s a simple device that does what it’s supposed to and does it well.

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(Image credit: Sam Kieldsen | Future) Fujifilm Instax mini Link 3 key specs

Film type: Instax mini film
Print size: 62mm x 46mm
Print time: 15 sec. approx..
Developing time: 90 sec. approx.
Connectivity: USB-C, Bluetooth
Dimensions: 90 x 37.3 x 125mm
Weight: 210g

I’ll talk about the prints themselves first. This won’t be news to anyone who’s used Instax mini film before, but these Polaroid-style photos look really impressive, with beautifully rich and vivid colours and an attractive glossy finish. That’s once they develop, of course: you’re looking at about three minutes in total from the time you starting printing until the finished photo is fully developed. Detail is pretty sharp, but the small print size puts a limit on that. The prints are hardy too: don’t expect them to fade quickly or fall to bits in your wallet.

They are also fairly expensive by portable printer standards however, with a standard 20-pack costing around $20/£15, which means about $1 or 75p a per print. Some rival printers using Zink or dye-sublimation methods offer a smaller per-print cost. I would say the Instax mini photos are better looking and more durable than Zink prints at least.

Part of the selling point with the mini Link 3 is the added functionality that comes from the mini Link companion app, and to be clear the printer is essentially useless without a smartphone to pair it with. The app offers light editing tools and a range of frames, effects and other adornments with which to customise and personalise your photos. These are all a bit cheesy and basic (I suspect few graphic design aficionados will be impressed) but if the point is to have fun, they hit the spot.

You can import photos from your camera roll or take new shots from within the app. In fact, the app’s Instax camera mode turns the printer itself into a Bluetooth remote control, allowing you to set your phone up and take a shot from afar by pressing the printer’s function button.

The app also features an augmented reality (AR) mode that lets you take photos on your phone complete with added-in objects, but to be honest I quickly gave up trying to use it due to the confusing setup and underwhelming effects. With the rest of the app functions being straightforward and easy to immediately grasp, this one feels out of place; I doubt it’ll prove popular with users.

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The mini Link 3 printer itself is an attractive object with its curvy lines, ridged surfaces and three-LED lighting system, which pulses and glows different colours depending on what you’re doing; it usually functions as a battery life indicator. There are three colour finishes available, too: Sage Green, Rose Pink and the Clay White model I was sent to review.

The mini Link 3 is lightweight and compact enough to slip into a large jacket pocket. I wouldn’t have any qualms about tossing it into a backpack either. The plastic body is sturdy and there are few buttons or moving parts that could get damaged: just one button for power, one function button that fulfils a number of functions (such as initiating Bluetooth pairing), a small sliding button to open the rear door when you need to load in a new film cartridge and a tiny flap that opens up to reveal the USB-C port used for recharging the internal lithium ion battery.

Fujifilm Instax mini Link 3 price and availability

The Instax mini Link 3 is available now, priced at £114.99 in the UK (where it’s available at a range of online stores including Amazon, Jessops and My Fujifilm). In the US it’s cheaper at $99.95 and available from the Instax site.  

Battery life is excellent. Fujifilm claims you can print around 100 shots from a full charge and while I haven’t personally tested that, being sent only three 10-shot cartridges of Instax mini film with my review sample, I didn’t need reach for the included USB-A to USB-C recharging cable once during my week with the printer (note that there’s no AC adapter in the box). If you do deplete the battery, you can fully recharge it in about two hours.

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(Image credit: Sam Kieldsen | Future) Fujifilm Instax mini Link 3: also consider

Fujifilm Instax mini Link 2
The predecessor to the mini Link 3, this model’s advancing age and recent replacement means you may be able to pick it up at a significant discount. It uses the same Instax mini film and works with the same mobile app, so functionality and image quality is very similar.

Canon Selphy Square QX10
This dye-sub portable printer produces 2.7in square photos, with each print taking about 40 seconds to emerge and, according to Canon, are durable enough to last for 100 years. The prints have a peel-and-stick backing means you can mount them quickly too.

Should I buy the Fujifilm Instax mini Link 3?

(Image credit: Sam Kieldsen | Future) Buy it if...

You want fast, vibrant prints
Instax mini prints develop in a matter of seconds and boast vivid, bold colours. They’re robust too, and won’t fade or rub off easily.

Don't buy it if... How I tested the Fujifilm Instax mini Link 3

• One week of use
• Tested with iPhone 13

I spent a week using the mini Link 3 in conjunction with my iPhone 13, testing each mode of the mini Link companion app with both freshly taken photos and older images from the smartphone’s camera roll. I also took the printer out ‘in the field’ with me, taking advantage of its battery and compact size to use it on a night out with friends.

First reviewed September 2024

Withings Scanwatch 2: One minute review

Want a smartwatch that doesn’t look like a smartwatch? You may want to check out the Withings ScanWatch 2, the best-looking hybrid watch we've reviewed yet.

It’s as close to looking like an analog watch as you’re likely to get, but with the smarts and tracking of a fitness tracker under the hood. In fact, if it wasn’t for the small display on the watch face, you’d never know.

That makes the ScanWatch 2 a truly gorgeous piece of kit, with a nice, shiny casing and no buttons outside of the crown. The duality of an analog watch design with a more modern set of ambitions does show itself, though: the display is too small for most fitness tracker basics like notifications, while there’s no option to install third-party apps a la watchOS or Wear OS. 

This makes the "smart" nature of Withings' best smartwatch a little redundant: it's a pure fitness tracker combined with an analog watch. Still, if that’s not a dealbreaker for you, there are few better-looking timepieces around.

Withings Scanwatch 2: Price and release date

• Priced at $349 in the US 
• £319 in the UK  
• ‎AU$599 in Australia

The ScanWatch 2 debuted in September of 2023, and you can find it at plenty of retailers. The price of entry is fairly high, however, at $349 / £319 / ‎AU$599.00. 

This price point makes it comparable in price to an Apple Watch Series 9, despite offering less in terms of functionality. You're paying for the premium look and feel, rather than advanced functions and smart capabilities. 

• Value score: 3.5/5

Withings Scanwatch 2: Specifications Withings Scanwatch 2: Design

(Image credit: Future / Lloyd Coombes)

• Beautiful analog design
• Small digital display
• Available in Black, Rose Gold, Blue or White

As I’ve alluded to, the reason you may want to pick up a ScanWatch 2, as opposed to something of a similar price, is that distinctive design, which comes in Black or White, as well as a Rose Gold option with a blue strap. It also comes in 38mm and 42mm sizes. All models are 5ATM water resistance rated.

Looking at it on the wrist, it’d be easy to assume it’s an analog watch, and in many ways it is. Hybrid smartwatches, analog watches with discreet smart elements, are gaining traction (alongside other discreet trackers like the best smart rings) because they often look much cooler than most other smartwatches.

However, look a smidge closer, though, and you’ll see a small display at the top of the watch face. This OLED panel is nice and easy to read in all conditions, but naturally comes a bit unstuck if one of the hands happens to be over it when you check. That said, there’s little chance of being sat there looking at it for hours when functionality is a little more stripped back. In fact, for the most part it’ll be showing you how many steps you’ve walked that day.

It also feels shallower than other smartwatches, perhaps because of its analog-like disguise, but it felt much flatter on the wrist than my Apple Watch Ultra.

Straps can be switched out with an elegant sliding pin, while it charges in a sort of mini-cradle that looks like the devices used to remove links from watch straps. It includes a USB-A to USB-C cable, but it’s pretty short. Overall? Looks fantastic, and wonderfully comfortable to wear. 

• Design score: 5/5

Withings Scanwatch 2: Performance

(Image credit: Future / Lloyd Coombes)

• Around one month of battery life
• No GPS
• Closer to a fitness tracker than a smartwatch

While it is a ‘smartwatch’ in terms of its size, the ScanWatch 2 is less of a smartwatch in terms of functionality and closer to a fitness tracker instead.

It can track your steps, activity, heart rate, and all of those standard fitness tracker features, but you shouldn’t expect to install additional apps or use your watch to pay for your shopping.

You can set timers and use it as a stopwatch, but anything beyond that you might want to go for a full-fat smartwatch.

Thankfully, as a health and fitness tracker it’s solid, although it lacks an internal GPS: you’ll need to connect to your phone. Sleep tracking is supported, and it also has a ECG (medical-grade!) for undertaking one of those wherever you are.

Workout modes are relatively basic but track fairly well so long as you’re connected to your phone’s GPS, but perhaps the ace up its sleeve is the temperature sensor.

This runs continuously, albeit at the cost of the 30-day battery life, but can showcase temperature variations that could be an indication of an oncoming illness. It’s primarily focused on just highlighting increases or decreases, though, so don’t expect to get an exact number for your temperature.

Of all the smartwatches I’ve tested, I feel like the ScanWatch 2 has the simplest pairing procedure. It’s not that it does anything different from its rivals, but it just worked almost instantly. It also offers a slick checklist of things you can tick off as it shows you, meaning you get a sort of tutorial when you first put it on.

Once that’s done, the app is split between Home, Measure, and Achieve. Home gives you some “missions” to check off, like setting a bedtime routine, or reading an article. It also tracks your daily activity to help you hit thirty minutes.

Measure shows your data, letting you drill down into activity and rhythms for any data you’ve collected, while Achieve lets you set Health Goals and work towards them. The app can write directly to Apple Health, and works alongside Strava and MyFitnessPal.

This is all backed up by a subscription service called Withings+ which offers a Health Improvement score that helps you improve your score week-on-week up to 100, while also giving you daily guidance and meal plans. It also unlocks additional data so you can interpret it more easily, but I didn’t see anything that felt super necessary.

• Performance score: 4/5

Scorecard Withings ScanWatch 2: Should I buy?

(Image credit: Future / Lloyd Coombes) Buy it if...

You want a smartwatch that doesn’t look like one

The ScanWatch 2 is slick to look at, and will go with just about any outfit at any time.

You want to track plenty of metrics

The temperature sensor here is a big boon, especially given many rivals have been slow to adopt it.

You’re new to fitness tracking

Even without buying the watch, the app is fantastic in its ease of use and variety of options.

Don't buy it if...

You want more smart features

The Scanwatch 2 can tell you you have a notification, but you won’t be able to read it on your wrist.

You’re a Nike Run Club user

While it can tap into Strava, Nike Run Club users are left in the dust with no integration.

Also consider

Garmin Instinct Crossover

A hybrid watch with physical hands, but in a G-Shock style instead of a classic watch. 

Read our full review

First reviewed: July 2024

One-minute review

How can you unlock a door? Let me count the ways. That's the ethos of the current generation of best smart locks, including the new Lockly Visage Zeno Series smart deadbolt. It will happily let you gain access with an old-fashioned key, fingerprint, pin code, your face, your smartphone, and even your smartwatch.

This is the second Lockly smart lock I’ve brought into my home and, if I'm being honest, I didn't have high hopes. My last Lockly worked well enough, but it also ate through AA batteries as if they were candy (eight at a time!), needed a dedicated and finicky Wi-Fi hub, and seemed incapable of remembering fingerprints for more than a week. It was also large, loud, and – as my wife often told me – ugly.

The Lockly Visage, though, is a welcome change of pace. Not only is it 35% smaller and more attractive-looking on both sides of the door, it finally uses a rechargeable battery pack, and it even ships with two batteries so that when one drains, you have another fully-charged one ready to go.

It's got built-in Wi-Fi (and Bluetooth), which means you no longer need to have a separate hub and, perhaps best of all, it's Apple Home Key-compatible, which means you can unlock your door with one of the best iPhones.

Unlike my last Lockly, the Visage does not include a video doorbell, but that's fine, since that only worked half the time with my old lock. Instead, there's a camera on the front that lets you use your face (once you've registered it) to unlock the door. While I got so tired of the various quirks of my previous Lockly that I didn’t bother to change out the batteries, so we were basically using it as a dumb deadbolt, the new Lockly Visage feels like its first truly smart lock.

In particular, the integration with Apple Home Key allows us to do proximity unlocking. When we pull into our driveway, the home network sees that we’re there and asks if we want to run the unlock routine before we even set foot on the front porch. I could get used to this.

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• List price: $349
• Available at Home Dept starting September 5
• Not currently for sale on Amazon
• US only

At $349, the Lockly Visage Zeno Series smart deadbolt ranks as one of the more expensive smart locks. The August Smart Lock Pro, which lacks features like facial recognition, and fingerprint unlocking (like the Lockly, it does support Apple HomeKit, Alexa, and Google) might run you a hundred less. Such is the price of versatility.

Along with the two control units (for the front and back of the door), the Lockly Visage ships with a pair of rechargeable batteries, the deadbolt, door-open sensors, and two keys.

The smart deadbolt is only available in the US for now. Lockly says: "The Zeno Series of locks will launch in the US first. The company will continue to bring new products to the global audience, including the Zeno Series, at a later date."

• Value: 4/5

Lockly Visage Zeno Series review: specifications Lockly Visage Zeno Series review: design and installation

(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)

• Helpful video guide
• Drops the ball on wiring storage
• Solid construction

Even under the best circumstances, deadbolt installation can be difficult. While much of the hardware is standardized, I’ve found that you often must make small adjustments to compensate for differences in hardware. Sometimes, this involves chipping away a bit of wood to make space for slightly different-shaped deadbolt plates, while other times you might need to carve out space for a sensor.

I was lucky, though. My previous Lockly smart deadbolt installation meant that most of the pieces of the Lockly Visage just fit. I didn’t even have to cut a new space for the magnet side of the deadbolt sensor; I just left the old one in place in my door frame and lined up the new sensor with it on the door side.

This is not to say there were no installation issues. Smartlocks use DC electricity and a bundle of wiring to make their magic and I found that while most of Lockly's installation instructions were clear, when I had to fit a cluster of cables behind the interior side lock and battery pack, they didn’t fit. It took me a bit of trial and error to realize that some of that wiring had to be shoved back inside the lock housing to properly seat the interior lock on my door.

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Lockly also shipped me an optional smart deadbolt insert that I could've used to get rid of the external door-closed sensors. Unfortunately, the installation would have entailed dismantling a sealed part of the Lockly Visage's interior housing, and I didn‘t feel comfortable doing that (at least not yet).

Once I had everything seated properly, both sides of the lock fit snugly against my door. The exterior plate is smaller and less cluttered than my old Lockly. I like that it no longer has what I saw as an unnecessary metal cover over the keyhole. 

The interior cover now slips off easily to access a battery compartment that takes one palm-sized battery pack. As soon as I put it in and pressed the program key for four seconds, the Lockly Visage began a self-check. I noticed that the battery was only 60% charged. I plugged the other one into a USB-C charger just to make sure it would be ready for when this one died. One of the benefits of using Apple HomeKit is that I can run the Lockly without Wi-Fi access and save a significant amount of battery life. I've left it on to see how quickly the battery drains and, after almost a week of use, its down to 58%, just 2% lower than where it started.

• Design and installation: 4.5/5

Lockly Visage Zeno Series review: control

• Decent app with a lot of options (sometimes hidden)
• The best use of Apple HomeKit
• Unlock the way you want

The app setup was easy, and integration with Apple HomeKit was a matter of scanning the code on the lock and then adding it to my Home.

Apple HomeKit and the Home app controller turned out to be a highlight of the Lockly Visage experience. The Home app asked me if I wanted to automate unlocking using my iPhone and I said yes. All four of my family members are registered as part of my Apple iCloud Family account, which means that now all of them can unlock the door with their phones.

To unlock, you need to hold your phone near the lock and using FaceID to confirm your identity.

Lockly Visage Zeno Series on Apple Home (Image credit: Future)

My wife, ever the skeptic about all things smart-home, was impressed that the system just worked. And when she found that she could set up the system to unlock when she arrived home she admitted, "That might be useful." And when it actually worked she called it "amazing." That's high praise indeed from someone who expressed outright hatred for our previous Lockly smart lock.

While I was happy to continue using my phone and watch to unlock the door, I did set up fingerprint recognition, which let me register multiple fingers in succession. I like that the fingerprint scanner is now on the front of the external lock instead of the side.

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For FaceID unlocking, I registered my face by looking at the lock from different angles as the app on the phone guided me through the process. Such operations require Bluetooth, which means I need to keep my phone close to the lock for face unlock to work.

I am a bit disappointed that Lockly went with Bluetooth 4.2 instead of the longer-range BLE 5.0. Similarly, it's unfortunate that the Lockly Visage only supports 2.4Ghz Wi-Fi and not 5GHz Wi-Fi.

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The magnetic door open/closed sensor (Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)

To unlock with my face, I need to tap a small circle on the Lockly Visage outside unit’s screen. It worked pretty much instantly. Both Lockly and Apple's Home App will notify me when the door is locked, unlocked, or jammed. I turned off the notifications from Apple's Home app because it was becoming too much.

Another nice but not immediately obvious upgrade is that this smart deadbolt is a lot quieter than my last Lockly. I can still hear the motor locking and unlocking but, it's noticeably quieter.

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Performance: 4.5/5

Should I buy the Lockly Visage Zeno Series ? Buy it if... Don't buy it if... Lockly Visage Zeno Series review: Also consider

Lockly Visage Zeno Series not for you? Try out one of these alternatives...

How I tested the Lockly Visage Zeno Series smart deadbolt

• I installed it in my home's front door
• We use it every day

I installed the Lockely Visage Zeno Series smart deadbolt in my home’s front door, which is our primary point of access.

We tested and continue to use all the features of the lock, especially the HomeKit-enabled automation features.

Read more about how we test

First reviewed September 2024

If you’ve heard of the HoverAir X1, you’ll already have some idea of what the DJI’s latest drone, DJI Neo is capable of. But in true DJI fashion, the Neo isn’t simply capable of incredibly easy-to-operate autonomous flight to capture photos and videos, it can also be flown like a camera drone and even used as an FPV drone when paired with DJI’s FPV controllers and goggles.

It’s often said that one size rarely fits all, but the Neo does an impressive job of catering to a wide range of drone pilots from absolute beginners looking for pure simplicity to advanced FPV pilots and everyone in between. It’s an interesting and exciting concept that moves the Neo away from simply being a clone of the HoverAir X1.

(Image credit: James Abbott)

It’s still an extremely simple drone, electronics and algorithms aside, with only downward visual positioning and a single-axis gimbal. Stabilization is provided in-camera unless switched off with Rocksteady or HorizonBalancing modes available. Stabilization is achieved thanks to the 1/2-inch sensor providing plenty of pixels to cover up to 45 degrees of horizontal tilt when capturing video.

Photo and video capture is pretty basic with 4K 30fps being the only UHD option, while FHD can be shot at 30, 50 and 60fps. 12MP photos can only be captured in JPEG format and can be set to 4:3 or 16:9 aspect ratios. This comes as little surprise given the competitive price of the Neo, but with multiple controller and flight options available, a little more functionality in the photo and video department is always welcome.

DJI Neo: release date and price

• Released September 5 2024
• The base kit costs just $199 / £169 / AU$299
• Fly More Bundle costs £299 / AU$539 but not available in the US

The DJI Neo was announced and is available for sale in the DJI Store and other retailers on September 5 2024. Despite the multiple ways the Neo can be controlled, there are two main kits available with the base kit including the drone, battery and accessories costing $199 / £169 / AU$299. 

This kit allows for controller-free and app-controlled flight, while the Fly More Bundle includes the drone, a DJI RC-N3 Controller, three Smart Batteries and a Battery Charging Hub. This kit costs £299 / AU$539 but isn't available in the US, where the DJI Neo Combo is on sale instead for $289 (which doesn't include the controller).

The Fly More Bundle allows for controller-free, app control and to fly the Neo like a camera drone using the RC-N3 Controller. The Neo can also be paired with the DJI FPV Remote Controller 3 and DJI Goggles 3 for manual FPV flight, or the goggles and the DJI RC Motion 3 for intuitive FPV control. 

If you don’t already own these devices, they will drive up the cost of the Neo substantially to the point where the DJI Avata 2 could be the better option if FPV is your thing.

(Image credit: James Abbott) DJI Neo: design and handling

• Micro whoop design
• Enclosed propellers
• Single axis gimbal

To cut a corner or two, the easiest way to describe the Neo is to say it’s a little like a mini DJI Avata 2; it has propeller guards, but with top and bottom guards to protect people during autonomous flight, and the camera sits at the front and moves and stabilizes mechanically on a single axis. Horizontal stabilization is applied electronically in-camera.

DJI Neo key specs

Camera: 12MP 1/2-inch sensor
Video resolution: Up to 4K
Frame rates: 4K 30fps / FHD up to 60fps
Video transmission range: 6.2 miles (FCC), 3.7 miles (CE/SRRC/MIC)
Flight modes: Sport, Normal, Cine (Manual with the FPV Controller 3)
Battery: 1435mAh / up to 18 minutes flight time
Charger type: USB-C / Battery Charging Hub
Weight: 4.76oz / 135g
Dimensions: 5.12x6.18x1.90in / 130×157×48.5mm

In DJI’s signature light grey that’s used for the Mini series of drones, the Neo is incredibly small and lightweight. It’s essentially slightly larger than the palm of your hand, which is ideal for palm take-off and landing, and weighs in at a mere 4.76oz / 135g. This makes it regulator-friendly in most regions since it’s below the all-important 250g threshold, but remember to check local rules if it’s your first drone.

Despite the low weight, the Neo is built to a high quality and feels robust in the hand. The top-mounted propeller guards are removable to allow the propellers to be changed when necessary, but the main propeller guards are part of the airframe. This suggests that home repairs won’t be possible if damage occurs in a crash so if you plan on using the Neo for FPV, taking out DJI Care Refresh would be a good choice.

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I’ve already listed all of the controller options so I won’t go into detail again, but will instead focus on the DJI Fly app and the RC-N3 Controller, which are part of the standard kits and are likely to be the most commonly used control methods. 

The Neo can be flown without an app, using just the mode button on the top to initiate autonomous flight, using the DJI Fly app as a ground station for autonomous flight or using the on-screen controls.

The Fly More bundle include the DJI RC-N3 Controller, which extends the transmission distance from 50m when using the app with the Neo’s WiFi to standard camera drone distances. 

These are, of course, governed by the aviation authority where you live. The RC-N3 Controller also makes the Neo behave like a camera drone, with standard controls and features such as Return to Home.

DJI Neo: features and performance

• Unremarkable flight speeds
• Intelligent flight modes
• AI subject tracking

The Neo is pretty pedestrian in terms of flight speed at just 1.11mph in Cine mode, 13.42mph in Normal mode and 17.89mph in Sport mode when flying autonomously or using the RC-N3 Controller. It feels slow but is certainly fast enough to track most subjects, including cyclists, with that top speed.

Flight speed is doubled to 35.79mph when using the DJI FPV Remote Controller 3 in Manual mode, so it does have some grunt tucked up its sleeve if you have the right controller and DJI Goggles 3. Not to mention, the skills and ability to fly in this mode alongside the cash available to purchase the controller and goggles if you don’t already own a set.

For beginners though, these speeds won’t cause any issues and the ability to fly the Neo with or without any other device, through voice control or manually like a camera drone using the DJI Fly app controls or the RC-N3 Controller is ideal. For drone-only use of the Neo, it can take off and land in the palm of your hand once the selected intelligent flight mode has completed, except for Follow mode.

(Image credit: James Abbott)

Intelligent flight modes include Follow, Dronie, Circle, Rocket, Spotlight and Custom (Omni, Helix, and Boomerang). AI subject tracking also aims to keep the subject in the centre of the frame during photo and video capture, so if you’re taking a group photo with the Neo, for example, you’d have to make sure you’re standing centre front.

The overall design of the Neo has safety in mind, and when used with the RC-N3 Controller you can enjoy GPS, an on-screen map and Return to Home. There’s no collision avoidance, but there are downward vision positioning sensors with a precision range of 0.5-10m. Plus, the Neo offers up to level 4 wind resistance, which is 18mph.

When used with the DJI RC Motion 3 Controller, as well as enjoying intuitive motion controls for FPV flight, you can also take advantage of Easy ACRO where you can Flip, Roll and 180° Drift the Neo. It’s an easy way to enjoy acro flight without advanced manual flight skills and is inherited from the Avata 2 when paired with the Motion 3. This is by far the easiest way to fly FPV flight.

DJI Neo: image and video quality

• 1/2-inch sensor
• Up to 4K 30fps video
• 12MP JPEG photos

The Neo features a 12MP 1/2-inch sensor which allows for 45 degrees of horizontal tilt when using Image Stabilization with either Rocksteady or HorizonBalancing modes. The camera provides a 117.6-degree field of view, with a full-frame equivalent focal length of 13mm, so nice and wide for close-to-subject tracking.

Keeping things simple, the aperture is fixed at f/2.8 with fixed focus providing focus from 60cm to infinity. The ISO range extends from ISO 100 to 6400 in both Manual and Auto shooting modes, with the shutter speed ranging from 1/8000 to 1/10 sec for photos and 1/8000 to 1/30 sec for video.

(Image credit: James Abbott)

Photo and video functionality is pretty basic, but you get everything you need at a consumer level with 4K video locked at 30fps with a bitrate of 75Mbps, so it’s reasonably compressed but not too much. 

The color profile is Standard for straight-out-of-camera footage, with no flat profile available for color grading within a professional workflow. Looking at the design of the Neo and the camera, it doesn’t look like it would support ND filters to control shutter speed, but I could be wrong.

Photos can only be captured in JPEG format, which is a shame but no big deal since DJI’s JPEG processing is respectable. Photos can be captured in 4:3 and 16:9 aspect ratios, with Single and Timed Shot available, so once again basic but adequate for a beginner drone.

There’s no microSD card slot on the Neo, but you do get 22GB of on-board storage which DJI says equates to 40 minutes of 4K 30fps video or 55 minutes of 1080p 60fps video. This can be transferred to the the DJI Fly App when connected to the Neo’s WiFi using Quick Transfer, or downloaded to your computer when the Neo is connected via the included USB-C PD cable.

How I tested the DJI Neo

• Limited access to features due to pre-release issues
• Flown with the DJI RC-N3 Controller
• DJI Fly app options checked

I was flying a pre-release version of the DJI Neo and faced several issues between my phone and the pre-release version of the DJI Fly app, which meant that the camera feed wasn’t showing in the app. 

This made simple autonomous flight impossible because the drone needs to see a face before it will take off. It was, however, possible to fly the Neo with my phone connected to the DJI RC-N3 Controller.

There was still no camera feed and capturing photos and video was impossible, but with GPS available and standard flight controls, I was able to test the flight performance. Plus, with the propeller guards.

I was able to confidently fly close to and through tight gaps; it wasn’t FPV, but it was still a clear advantage of the Neo’s design that provided enjoyable flights.

Once I have figured out the technical issues of the review sample provided by DJI for full control and photo / video capabilities, I will update this first impressions review with an in-depth review. 

First reviewed September 2024

Honor Magic V3: two-minute review

Honor already offered the world’s slimmest folding phone with its impressively sleek Honor Magic V2, but rather than resting on its laurels, the brand is back with an even skinnier book-style foldable: the Honor Magic V3.

It's hard to overstate just how slim this phone is – the rear section barely has enough room for its USB-C port. You could easily mistake the Magic V3 for a non-foldable device, and plenty of candy bar phones are actually thicker than Honor’s latest foldable (indeed, the Magic V3 is almost as thin as the iPhone 15 Pro Max).

Of course, dimensions are only one part of the puzzle, and with premium pricing, you want performance to match. On that front, Honor has stuffed the latest and greatest Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor into the Magic V3, along with 16GB of RAM, 512GB of storage, and a sizable 5,150mAh battery.

The cameras look to impress, too, with large sensors, wide apertures, and high resolutions across the board. The amazing Studio Harcourt portrait effects that debuted on the Honor 200 Pro are also available on this phone. It's a serious contender for the best foldable camera phone.

(Image credit: Future / Luke Baker)

Of course, in 2024, there's more competition than ever in the foldable space. Google, Samsung, OnePlus, and Vivo all offer very compelling options, but the Honor Magic V3 still has one of the most stacked spec sheets around, as well as wider availability than much of its Chinese competition.

However, it's not perfect. Despite having a large battery pack, the Magic V3's longevity failed to impress. It's serviceable, but even with all the extra milliamp hours, it doesn't seem to last any longer than the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6. On the flip side, it charges a lot quicker, which makes it easier to live with.

Then there's the software, which takes a very different approach to Android with many iOS-inspired choices. It definitely won't be for everyone, and multitasking could use some work, but there are a lot of cool features built-in, and I have grown quite fond of it.

On the whole, I've loved living with the Honor Magic V3. If you're keen on a big screen foldable, but find their typical size and weight off-putting, this is the device for you. It's a real feat of engineering that feels premium through and through.

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The Magic V3 in its protective vegan leather case (Image credit: Future / Luke Baker)

• Costs £1,699
• Available in the UK and Europe; no release for the US or Australia

Honor Magic V3 was originally launched in China on July 12, 2024, before being released globally at IFA 2024 on September 5. It's now available to pre-order in most regions across the world, but as usual, that list excludes the United States.

In the UK, it costs £1,699 and is available in Tundra Green, Velvet Black and Red color options. There's also a Snow (white) version with a unique textured rear panel, but that one's only available in China.

Honor Magic V3 review: specs

 Here’s a look at the Honor Magic V3’s key specs:

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• The slimmest foldable so far
• Velvety-feeling matte glass back
• IPX8 water resistant

The most striking thing about the Honor Magic V3's design is how slim it is. The phone measures just 9.2mm thick when folded, which is almost 3mm slimmer than the Galaxy Z Fold 6 – Samsung's slimmest foldable to date. It's also one of the lightest large-format foldables around, tipping the scales at just 226g. For reference, that's a couple of grams lighter than Honor's own non-folding flagship, the Honor Magic 6 Pro.

Combine these dimensions with some smooth curved edges, and you have a device that feels impossibly thin. It's especially apparent when unfolded, as there's barely room for the USB-C port on the phone's 4.35mm frame.

Unlike some of the competition, the Magic V3's cover display has fairly typical smartphone dimensions, and this makes it feel very natural to use folded down. It's one of the only foldables that I’ve repeatedly mistaken for one of my non-folding phones; the dimensions are so similar that it's easy to get confused at a glance.

While the phone remains slim elsewhere, there's a very sizable centrally-placed camera bump on the rear. It effectively doubles the thickness of the phone in that specific area. However, it does so for good reason, as there are some serious sensors on this device. 

The camera island is a circular number finished with black glass, and it has a smooth octagonal aluminum bezel around its perimeter. I'm a big fan of the positioning, as it gives me a nice shelf to rest more of my forefinger on when I'm holding the phone one-handed.

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The Magic V2 (left) and Magic V3 (right) (Image credit: Future / Luke Baker)

The volume rocker and power button are placed on opposite sides of the phone when unfolded, and this means that they're staggered by a few millimeters when the phone is shut. It didn't bother me when I was using the cover display, but it takes some getting used to when it's unfolded, as most other foldables place these buttons on the same side. It's easy enough to adapt to, and if you're coming from the Honor Magic V2, you're all set, as they're in the exact same place.

The global version of the V3 comes in three color options, and I've had hands-on time with the black and green variants. Both of these versions have a similar velvety-feeling matte finish on the rear glass and dark gray metallic accents around the camera and frame. If you opt for the red model, you'll get a faux leather rear and golden accents; it's easily the flashiest of the bunch.

There's a very nice vegan leather case included in the box, and it comes in a matching hue. It's the kind of case you'd expect to pay a premium for; it feels luxurious, and it's well-designed. This case is more protective than most, too. There's a section that protects the hinge, a thick metal ring to keep the lenses safe and even an adhesive bumper to protect the front section.

The metal ring that surrounds the cameras can be folded out and doubles up as a kickstand; it's a very smart design. It's not always the most sturdy stand, depending on the angle you choose, but the subtlety makes up for it and it's certainly better than having no kickstand. I also found myself flicking it out and using it like a pop socket on occasion – I'm not sure if that's an intended use, but it works fairly well for one-handed use of the Magic V3’s main display.

• Design score: 5 / 5

Honor Magic V3 review: display Image 1 of 4

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• 6.43-inch 120Hz OLED cover display
• 7.92-inch 120Hz foldable main display
• 5000-nit cover display, 1800-nit main display

If you're looking at foldable phones, then you obviously care about displays, and Honor aims to impress with both of the panels on the Magic V3.

On the outside, there's a 6.43-inch OLED display with a 1-120Hz adaptive refresh rate and an ample 1060 x 2376 resolution. It's an extremely bright display, able to output up to 5000 nits at peak, and it's protected by Honor's super tough NanoCrystal 2.0 glass tech. I've been daily driving the Honor Magic 6 Pro for a while now, which has a similar coating, and I've been impressed by the lack of scratches despite using it without a protector. Hopefully, the Magic V3 fares just as well in the long term. 

Honor reckons its glass is up to 40 times more impact-resistant than the glass on the Galaxy S24 Ultra. I didn't fancy whacking it with a hammer, though, so I'll just have to take the company’s word for it. 

The glass has symmetrical, subtly curved edges on three sides, and slightly less of a curve on the hinge side. The curves are small enough to avoid creating distracting reflections, but they still make gesture controls feel super smooth; it's a great middle ground.

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Opening the device up, you're greeted with a spacious 7.92-inch foldable display and one of the shallowest creases I've seen on a phone like this. It's still present, of course, but it's miles ahead of the groove that runs through the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6’s display, and the far less glossy screen protector serves to hide it even more. This protector is supposedly tougher, too – Honor says it's up to five times more scratch-resistant than previous versions.

The foldable display also boasts a 1-120Hz adaptive refresh rate and has a resolution of 2156 x 2344 pixels. It's not as bright as the outer display, maxing out at just 1800 nits, but I never had trouble seeing it, even outside on bright sunny days.

The only thing that I don't love about the main display on the Magic V3 is the positioning of the selfie camera cutout. It matches the outer screen and is centrally placed on the right-hand side of the display. This means that when you're watching letterboxed 16:9 content, the selfie camera will often cut into the image. I still prefer it over Samsung's distracting under-display unit, but I wish it was positioned in the corner, as on the Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold.

Both screens look excellent in use with vibrant, accurate colors and smooth motion. Watching HDR content on Netflix and YouTube really lets the panels show what they're made of, with dazzling highlights and tons of shadow detail.

If you're concerned about eye health, Honor has arguably done more in this department than any other brand. For starters, this phone has some of the highest PWM dimming rates of any foldable phone, with 3840Hz supported on the inside and 4320Hz on the outside. Then, there are all the usual low blue light and adaptive brightness features, plus a brand new feature called AI Defocus Display.

To be completely honest, this feature is a little beyond my understanding, but it uses AI to simulate a myopic defocus lens. The goal is to reduce eye strain when using the display for long periods. As someone who stares at screens all day anyway, I didn't notice a huge difference, but it's probably a good thing in the long term.

• Display score: 5 / 5

Honor Magic V3 review: cameras

(Image credit: Future / Luke Baker)

• 50MP main (f/1.6)
• 50MP 3.5x telephoto (f/3.0)
• 40MP ultra-wide with PDAF (f/2.2)

As the chunky camera bump suggests, the Honor Magic V3 has some impressive imaging hardware on the inside. There's a 50MP main snapper with a wide f/1.6 aperture and a 1/1.56-inch sensor, a 50MP 3.5x telephoto, and a 40MP ultrawide with macro capabilities.

Each screen gets its own 20MP f/2.2 punch-hole selfie camera, but since this is a foldable phone, you can easily use the rear trio for selfie snaps as well.

The Honor Magic V3 produces poppy sharp images with vibrant colors and excellent dynamic range. It finds focus quickly, and just like the Magic 6 Pro, it's great at freezing motion for action shots in the daytime. At night, the phone continues to impress with its sharp visuals and wide dynamic range, but motion blur and noise become more of an issue, particularly when using the ultra-wide.

The main camera produces the cleanest shots, especially in the dark, but I found myself using the 3.5x telephoto just as much, if not more. It's roughly equivalent to a 90mm lens on a full-frame camera, and it's a great focal length for portraiture and street photography.

You can digitally zoom all the way up to 100x in the camera app, but you shouldn't, as your images will look like an AI-generated mess if you do. Having said that, I was pleasantly surprised by the results up to around 15-20x zoom, where you can capture very usable images.

The ultra-wide isn't quite as sharp as the other lenses, but it's a useful focal length for architecture, landscapes, and group shots. I was pleased to see that it has autofocus, as well as macro shooting capabilities, which makes it all the more useful – take notes, Samsung.

The selfie cameras are decent but unremarkable. You get an identical unit on both displays and they're great for video calls and casual snaps, but if you're looking to impress, it's well worth flipping the phone around and using one of the rear lenses.

That becomes even more true when you activate the new Studio Harcourt portrait mode, which only works on the rear lenses. This is a feature that was introduced with the Honor 200 Pro recently, and the results are just as impressive here. The big difference is that it's easy to use these effects for selfies, thanks to the folding form factor.

Honor has also added a new AI eraser to the suite of editing tools, so you can easily remove unwanted items or people from your photos. It's nothing groundbreaking, but it works well. 

When it comes to video, you can shoot at up to 4K 60fps on every rear camera, and up to 4K 30fps on the selfie cameras. The stabilization is solid and the microphones sound decent but the videos are a little more contrasty than I'd like as standard. Thankfully, this is easily remedied by applying one of the built-in filters, and if you switch to Pro Video mode, you can even add your own LUT.

• Camera score: 4 / 5

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(Image credit: Future / Luke Baker) Honor Magic V3 review: performance and software Image 1 of 2

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Zenless Zone Zero on the Magic V3 (Image credit: Future / Luke Baker)

• Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset
• 16GB RAM and 512GB storage
• Magic OS 8.0, based on Android 14

The Honor Magic V3 is powered by Qualcomm’s top-performing chip in 2024, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, and it's paired with a generous 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage.

Unsurprisingly, this results in zippy performance in all situations and it games like a champ, too. I put a few hours into my current favorite timesink, the graphically challenging Zenless Zone Zero, and it happily ran at max settings with very few frame drops.

After a while, the phone does get pretty hot to the touch, but that’s to be expected with such a powerful chip in a slim chassis. On the plus side, it never became concerningly warm, and performance didn't seem to take too much of a hit, either.

The Magic V3 runs the same software as Honor’s other recent devices, MagicOS 8.0. It's a heavily modified version of Android 14 that takes a lot of inspiration from iOS, and it's guaranteed to divide opinion.

I’ve spent a lot of time using Honor phones lately, and though it took a while to adapt, I have grown quite fond of MagicOS. I particularly like Honor's Dynamic Island clone, Magic Capsule, as it gives you quick access to timers and playback controls no matter what you have running in the foreground.

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Magic Capsule on the Magic V3 (Image credit: Future / Luke Baker)

Another standout feature is Magic Portal, which lets you drag images and text from one app to another, as a contextually aware menu pops up at the side of the display. I mainly use it to quickly reverse image search with Google and drag addresses into Google Maps, but it can do a lot more than that, as there are now over 150 apps that support Magic Portal.

Honor is continually adding more AI-powered features to Magic OS, too. It can now reduce background noise on your voice calls in both directions, live translate text and audio using Google's Cloud AI, and soon, it'll be able to detect deepfakes in video calls to protect you from scammers.

Since this is a large-screen foldable, multitasking is quite important, and I feel like Honor could have done more with the Magic V3. You get a quick-access taskbar, and you can split the display or use floating windows, but there's not a whole lot added compared to default Android options. 

Comparatively, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold has a much more intuitive layout, while the OnePlus Open stands out with its awesome Open Canvas mode. The Magic V3 is perfectly capable of multitasking, but it could be so much better. 

• Performance & software score: 4 / 5

Honor Magic V3 review: battery

(Image credit: Future / Luke Baker)

• 5,150mAh silicon-carbon battery
• 66W wired charging
• 50W wireless charging

The Honor Magic V3 uses silicon-carbon tech to cram a sizable 5,150 mAh battery into its tiny chassis, and it also uses AI-based battery enhancements to increase efficiency. These two factors gave me high hopes about this device's stamina, but the reality was slightly more underwhelming.

The phone never failed to make it to the end of the day, but it would often cut it fine. Generally speaking, I found the battery performance to be quite similar to that of the Galaxy Z Fold 6, with its comparatively small 4,400 mAh pack. In fairness, the majority of my testing was done on pre-release firmware; there's every chance battery life could improve as updates roll out.

Where this phone does have the edge, though, is with its charging speed. The Magic V3 charges at up to 66W with a wire or 50W using Honor's Wireless SuperCharger. Yep, that's double the Galaxy Z Fold 6's wired charging speed without needing to plug in – impressive stuff. 

I found I was able to go from flat to fully charged in under an hour, which makes keeping this device topped up very convenient. What's more, the 66W wall adapter comes included in the box, so you can enjoy the top speeds from day one. Nice work, Honor.

• Battery score: 3 / 5

Should you buy the Honor Magic V3? Buy it if...

You want the slimmest, lightest book-style foldable
Simply put, if you're looking for a skinny book-style foldable, they don't come slimmer than this. Plus, there's the fact that the Magic V3 is lighter than some of its non-folding competition. It's a big-screen delight without the usual drawbacks.

You don't want to compromise on cameras
Surprisingly, despite having such a slim frame, there's no compromise in the imaging department. An array of speedy cameras with relatively large sensors keeps you well-equipped for all kinds of photography.

You hate the crease
Of course, creases are inevitable with folding displays, but the Magic V3 has one of the shallowest and least noticeable creases of the current crop. It's easy to forget about, which is exactly what you want.

Don't buy it if...

You need ultra-long battery life
The Magic V3 may boast a relatively large capacity battery, but in practice, it's less impressive. It should still get you through the day, but it doesn't have the stamina of some rivals.

You want a vanilla Android experience
Magic OS 8.0 is a heavily modified Android skin that starts to resemble iOS more than stock Android. It's not a bad system, but it's certainly not for everyone.

Honor Magic V3 review: Also consider

The Honor Magic V3 is a powerful large-format foldable with speedy performance and impressive displays, but there's plenty to be said for its competition, too.

Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold
If Honor's Magic OS 8.0 software sounds a bit too Apple-influenced for your tastes, then consider the antithesis, Google's Pixel 9 Pro Fold, which has the most Android-y Android software available. It also boasts a bigger main display and a fetching flat-sided design.

Read our Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold review

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6
Samsung's latest foldable goes all in on AI features, and while Honor has some tricks of its own, it can't come close to matching Samsung's comprehensive suite of tools. You'll have to be OK with a smaller cover screen and a pretty significant screen crease, though. 

Read our Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 review

How I tested the Honor Magic V3

• Review test period: Two weeks
• Testing included: everyday use including web browsing, social media, photography, video calling, gaming, streaming video, music playback
• Tools used: Geekbench 6, 3DMark, GFXBench, native Android stats, included charger and Honor Wireless SuperCharge stand

I used the Honor Magic V3 as my main handset for around two weeks before reaching any conclusions. I used it exactly as I would use any other phone, taking lots of pictures, gaming, messaging, working, streaming video and navigating with Google Maps. It even accompanied me on an international flight.

I also compared my experience of playing graphically demanding games like Zenless Zone Zero, Genshin Impact, and PUBG Mobile to my experience with other Android foldables like the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Vivo X Fold 3 Pro. To confirm my findings, I ran a suite of benchmarks on the handset including 3DMark, GFXbench and Geekbench to compare stats across models.

Battery performance was assessed based on my real-world usage and charging times were measured using the included wall adapter and cable. I also tested the wireless charging using Honor’s Wireless 100W SuperCharge stand.

Read more about how we test

First reviewed September 2024

Review info

Platform reviewed: PlayStation 5
Available on: PlayStation 5
Release date: September 6, 2024 

Sony surprised players with the genre-defining Astro Bot Rescue Mission back in 2018. Japan Studio’s PSVR captured our hearts with fun platforming and brilliant use of the DualShock 4 controller. While 2020’s Astro’s Playroom was a glorified tech demo for the PlayStation 5, it still had the charm and soul of its predecessor and left me wanting more.

And more has finally come. With Astro Bot, Asobi Studio has created one of the best modern platformers in history, and definitely one of the best PS5 games going. Now with no virtual headset required! Platform mascot giants like Mario and Sonic really need to watch out for Astro, as he can stand toe to toe with them. Astro Bot is also a celebration of PlayStation’s history, and the game brings plenty of nostalgic memories to the fore. The game makes me feel excited about Astro’s future but also makes me appreciate the past.

Astro Bot starts off with our adorable and lovely mascot Astro as he flies in a PS5-inspired spaceship but gets caught by a giant green alien that rips it apart. Crash landing on a desert planet, Astro now has to scour different galaxies to find all the missing parts and put the spaceship back together again. While Astro Bot isn’t a story-heavy game, the setup is simple enough for a family-friendly adventure that lets the most important aspect do the talking: the action and gameplay. 

(Image credit: Team Asobi/SIE) A journey across the universe

Astro’s unique abilities are built to complement the game’s colorful and astounding level design. From a chicken jetpack to clapping monkey cymbals, there’s always a sense of awe and wonder about how you’re going to progress through the levels or find a collectible with them. For example, there’s a level completely dedicated to a mouse ability that makes Astro small, and Asobi designed some really clever ways to hide collectibles. 

There are a few instances where you have to crawl under something while in Astro’s small form, then switch to being normal-sized again to uncover the secret underneath. Another ability has Astro curl up into an indestructible ball like Samus and cross dangerous areas that he normally couldn’t like an entire path filled with spikes. Astro Bot constantly rewards you for thinking outside the box and keeps you engaged throughout each level.

Best bit

(Image credit: Team Asobi/SIE)

Astro Bot’s ingenious level design makes every planet feel distinct and memorable. The sheer creativity in designing Astro’s abilities around each of the levels continually keeps the gameplay fresh and exciting.

The main collectibles in Astro Bot consist of Astro finding other bots scattered throughout the universe’s levels. Some are plain, but many others are cameos from PlayStation’s first-party franchises and also quite a few third-party ones. There’s nothing more exciting than finding a cameo bot and discovering which franchise it's from. Astro can also find map pieces that help unlock new features, such as camera mode and a gacha machine. Don’t worry though, no real-world currency is involved. Instead, in-game coins are commonly spread around levels and can be spent on the gacha machine to purchase new cosmetics like costumes for Astro and skins for his ship.

One type of collectible I found annoying was the portals to Lost Galaxy levels, which act as a type of bonus level. In a few of the normal levels, you can find a portal that leads to a brand-new level in a separate galaxy. When this happens, the game treats the current level as complete, meaning you have to start it over even if you didn’t get to the intended normal end. It detracts from the game’s pacing a bit, especially if you’re trying to find as many collectibles as you can the first time around on a new level.

(Image credit: Team Asobi/SIE) A little help

Astro Bot also takes advantage of the DualSense Wireless Controller to a huge degree. The haptic feedback feels lifelike as Astro jumps onto platforms with a thud. It doubles as an indicator of whether you’ve landed correctly, which is helpful for a platformer because you need to be as precise as possible. Elsewhere, every time Astro punches an enemy or shoots laser beams from his tiny legs, there’s a particular vibration that matches the action that runs through the DualSense, making the experience feel more immersive.

The adaptive triggers are put to good use too. For example, when Astro descends into a level riding his PS5 DualSense-shaped ship, you can hold down on the L2 and R2 triggers to fire off thrusters to move faster. Some of the collectibles can actually only be found this way, making it a compelling reason to start the level even earlier. A few of Astro’s new abilities, such as the frog-shaped boxing gloves, get a feeling of springy tension with the adaptive triggers when he’s punching enemies from a distance, too.

Fortunately, after completing a level at least once, on subsequent attempts you can spend a few coins that you’ve accumulated to summon a bird that puts out a signal when an undiscovered collectible is nearby. It’s a convenient way to mop up any remaining collectibles you missed the first time around and makes finding collectibles much less of a headache.

Astro Bot’s main campaign can be completed in between 10-15 hours. Completionists, however, might be looking at 20 or a little bit more hours to conquer everything the game has to offer, including finding all its collectibles. The game isn’t difficult by any means, but there are a few surprises at the end that might make you want to pull your hair out. So in rare instances, player skill is involved.

The relatively short run time for Astro Bot might leave some wanting more, especially since it’s a full-priced game, but those hours are filled with some of the best modern platforming gameplay ever. You won’t regret a single hour or penny. 

(Image credit: Team Asobi/SIE) Accessibility

Astro Bot has a good amount of accessibility options, such as the ability to change all the gyro controls to stick, in order to accommodate those who can’t perform motions. There are also plenty of visual aids like aiming reticles that can help players perform specific actions easier. Camera options allow you to do things such as recenter the camera.

Should you play Astro Bot? Play it if...

You love platforming games and nostalgia
Astro Bot’s level design is unparalleled and surpasses its predecessors. It also expertly blends PlayStation’s legacy into a fun and family-friendly game. You won't find another game like this. 

You enjoy games that embrace the DualSense's features
While some games implement the bare minimum with DualSense features, Astro Bot was made with them in mind. Asobi Studio went all out in trying to make the game as immersive as possible right down to the smallest details, and the results are a huge success.

You’re looking for a short and sweet adventure
Astro Bot bucks the trend of many developers and publishers wanting their games to last forever. Astro Bot only stays around for a few hours, but it’s an unforgettable experience. 

Don't play it if...

You don’t want to feel joy
This might sound like a joke but I’m not really kidding: Astro Bot brings unbridled joy to anyone who plays it, so if you're after more serious affairs, you'll have to move on.

How I reviewed Astro Bot

I played about 22 hours of Astro Bot on PlayStation 5 with a DualSense Wireless Controller, and I’m currently on my way to earning the Platinum trophy. I played it through my PlayStation Portal as well when I was cleaning up the rest of the collectibles after beating the main campaign.

I played the game on an Insignia 50" Class F30 Series LED 4K UHD TV, using the Razer Leviathan V2 X Bluetooth gaming speaker. I also recently revisited Astro’s Playroom to check out the new content updates Sony added in, mainly finding the new collectible bots. Astro Bot takes all of Rescue Mission and Playroom’s ideas up a notch. 

First reviewed August/September 2024

Two-minute review

As the name would suggest, the Backbone One 2nd Gen is the second version of the Backbone One mobile controller. It’s available in two distinct flavors, a plain Black and the white PlayStation Edition. Which of these you choose will ultimately boil down to your personal aesthetic preferences, though I think the PlayStation Edition edges ahead thanks to the smooth DualSense Wireless Controller style clear plastic used for its buttons, which feels slightly more premium than the rougher plastic of the Black and is reminiscent of some of the best PC controllers.

Both the Black and PlayStation Editions can be purchased with either a USB-C, which will work with most Android phones and the iPhone 15 series, or a Lightning connector for older iPhone models. While it may be tempting to pick up the Lightning model if it's the connector found on your phone, I would suggest that you hold off on your purchase until you have upgraded to a more recent iPhone if you already have any plans to do so. As USB-C is now the dominant standard across iOS and Android, you run the risk of splashing out on a Lightning controller that you can't use with your next device.

The Backbone One 2nd Gen offers all of the same features as the original Backbone One, which is to say that it’s a capable mobile controller. There have been some choice upgrades this time around, though, including improvements to its d-pad and buttons. The buttons are just as tactile as the original, but feel a little firmer and less fragile to the touch. Although it looks largely unchanged, the d-pad is also a vast improvement. It’s much less stiff and is absolutely butter-smooth in its motion. It allows for much faster, more accurate inputs that are absolutely perfect for fast-paced mobile games like Call of Duty: Warzone Mobile or Dead Cells.

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There have also been improvements to how the controller fits around your phone. The Backbone One 2nd Gen can extend a little further, letting it comfortably clasp my iPhone 15 Plus. The fiddly rubber adapters that were included with the original Backbone One have been replaced with slick magnetic ones that are remarkably quick to change once you get the hang of it. The included large adapters even allow the controller to be used with most phone cases - completely eliminating one of my biggest complaints with the original model.

The only problem with the Backbone One 2nd Gen is less the fault of the controller and more reflects changes in the mobile controller market. There wasn’t much competition when the Backbone One first launched in 2020. Now, however, there are loads of compelling alternatives to choose from, some of which offer comparable features at a fraction of the price. Even within its price range, it’s still facing stiff competition from similarly designed Bluetooth alternatives such as the Scuf Nomad. While the Backbone One 2nd Gen still comes out ahead thanks to its quality build, a small price cut would have made this revision much more competitive

(Image credit: Future) Backbone One 2nd Gen: Price and availability

•  $99.99 / £99.99 / AU$179.99 
• Black and PlayStation Edition available 
• Discount for original owners 

Every model of the Backbone One 2nd Gen costs $99.99 / £99.99 / AU$179.99 and is easy to find at retailers like Amazon. This includes the licensed PlayStation Edition, not to mention the Lightning and USB-C variants of each. Existing Backbone One owners with an active Backbone+ subscription, which costs $3.99 / £3.99 a month, can claim a 30% discount from the official store when they upgrade to the 2nd Gen model without needing to trade in their controller.

Even without that offer, the controller is frequently available on sale. You can often find it for $69.99 / £69.99, which is an absolutely killer price for what you’re getting. Given the rise of cheaper alternatives like the GameSir X2s Type-C, which costs only $45.99 / £49 / AU$69, it’s a shame that this discounted rate is not the standard rate.

Backbone One 2nd Gen: Specs

(Image credit: Future) Backbone One 2nd Gen: Design and features

• Same great design as the Backbone One
• Improved d-pad and buttons 
• Now fits a phone case 

On the surface, very little has changed between the Backbone One and the Backbone One 2nd Gen. The Backbone One 2nd Gen maintains the same overall design, with two halves of a regular controller separated by an extending mechanism where your phone rests. The biggest changes here are in the buttons which are extremely tactile and have a pleasant, audible click. The same was true of the original model, but they are now a little firmer and more consistent.

The d-pad has also received an overhaul and is vastly improved. It’s less stiff and has quite a bouncy feel to it. The closest point of comparison is the d-pad of the Nintendo 2DS, minus all of the sponginess. The little adapters, located on either side of the extending back, have been upgraded too. They are now attached magnetically, rather than weakly slotting in, and are therefore much easier to swap out. A pair of large adapters is included in the box, which fit perfectly around my iPhone 15 Plus in its official silicone case. You can even use the controller without any adapters fitted at all, which could come in handy for those with a particularly thick phone.

Like the original Backbone One, the Backbone One 2nd Gen features charging passthrough via a USB-C port on its right-hand grip. The left-hand grip has a 3.5mm headphone jack, which is perfect if you have a wired pair of any of the best gaming earbuds. 

The Backbone One 2nd Gen is also compatible with the Backbone app. It allows you to tweak your controller settings and can be accessed at any time by hitting the orange Backbone button on the controller. It’s a decent hub, but the optional Backbone+ subscription leaves a sour taste. It costs $3.99 / £3.99 a month and unlocks some additional features such as video capture, in-app voice chat, and some in-game perks. 

Thankfully, no integral features are paywalled but that just leaves this subscription feeling like a bit of a waste of money overall. Luckily, a free trial is available so you can at least see if it is for you before committing to a payment plan.

(Image credit: Future) Backbone One 2nd Gen: Performance

• New d-pad and buttons are great
• Great for mobile games and game streaming 
• Compatible with lots of games and apps

If you’ve ever used the original Backbone One, then you’ll know pretty much exactly what to expect from the performance of the Backbone One 2nd Gen. The only real differences come from the improved buttons and d-pad, which do make games that require extensive use of the d-pad or rapid button inputs more satisfying and responsive. The controller is compatible with a wide range of games and apps, including some game streaming services such as Amazon Luna and GeForce Now, and offers a much more console-quality experience than relying on on-screen touch controls - though it’s still a little behind the incredible comfort offered by more premium alternatives like the Razer Kishi Ultra.

I tried a wide variety of games including Zenless Zone Zero, Genshin Impact, Call of Duty: Warzone Mobile, Minecraft, Diablo Immortal, and much more, and was very satisfied with the performance. While perfectly compact, the Backbone One 2nd Gen sits comfortably in the hands and never feels too cramped even over periods of extended use.

Being able to use the controller with a phone case attached is also a bit of a game changer. One of the biggest issues with the original Backbone One was the fact that you needed to constantly take off your phone case in order to use it - leaving your precious device unprotected and giving you one more thing to keep track of on the move. I would say that this difference alone makes the Backbone One 2nd Gen a worthwhile upgrade if you are a phone case user, especially if you have access to the 30% discount or find it on sale. If you don’t own a Backbone One but are currently shopping for one, then this is definitely the model to go for.

(Image credit: Future) Should I buy the Backbone One 2nd Gen? Buy it if... Don't buy it if... Also consider

If you’re not interested in what the Backbone One 2nd Gen brings to the table, then seriously consider these two other excellent mobile controllers. 

(Image credit: Future) How I tested the Backbone One 2nd Gen

• Tested over a week
• Compared to other mobile controllers 
• Tested against the original Backbone One model 

I tested the Backbone One 2nd Gen mobile controller over the course of a week. During that time I played with both the regular Black version and the PlayStation Edition using my iPhone 15 Plus. I tried a wide variety of compatible mobile games, sourcing suggestions from the Backbone App. This included plenty of Call of Duty: Warzone Mobile and Zenless Zone Zero, in addition to a few hours in Dead Cells, Diablo Immortal, Minecraft, and some streamed games via Amazon Luna.

Throughout my time with the controller, I compared its performance to other mobile controllers such as the Razer Kishi Ultra, Scuf Nomad, GameSir X2s Type-C, Rog Tessen, and, of course, the original Backbone One. For my audio, I relied on the wired Final VR500 earbuds and a pair of Beats Solo 4 headphones.

Read more about how we test

First reviewed August 2024

Elecrow’s CrowView Note is a portable monitor that can turn a single-board computer, such as the Raspberry Pi 5, into a 14” laptop in just a few steps.

Specifications

Display size: 14 inch

Panel technology: FHD IPS

Brightness: 300 nits

Power consumption: 8W when display is on, 2W when sleep

Audio power output: 2W stereo

Number of video interfaces: One mini-HDMI, one Type-C

Weight: 1.2 kg

Dimensions: 334 mm x 223 mm x 20 mm

Battery: 5AH

With its FHD IPS screen, the self-powered unit has a 5Ah LiPo battery, a touchpad, and a pair of speakers. The silver casing can be easily mistaken for premium models offered by HP or Apple, but for $169, the plastic case feels flimsy and tends to bend under keystrokes.

A KVM in disguise, the Note can connect to several display interfaces while a multifunction USB hub expands the Type-C or Type A connector to several peripherals and a spare USB Type-A socket. The 84-key keyboard has function keys for screen settings and a numeric pad shared with other keys. The supplied 48W adapter charges the battery in less than one hour and will also power devices connected through Type-C in PD mode.

Elecrow provides adapter boards that connect to popular embedded platforms such as the Raspberry Pi or the Jetson Nano.

The CrowView Note is funded through a Kickstarter campaign and will retail for $169. It is an excellent value for money, with campaign rewards for early adopters at $130.

(Image credit: Future) CrowView Note: Design

The CrowView Note is thin at 20mm and lacks a fan or air vents for cooling. The grey plastic case, which can open to 180 degrees, looks solid initially. However, the drawbacks of being a plastic product become apparent once the user starts to type something on the keyboard, with each keystroke sounding hollow. The unit weighs only 1.2 kg for 334 mm x 223 mm x 20 mm and ships with a 48W 12V adapter.

The CrowView Note uses four rubber pads at the bottom to grip the work surface. Stereo speakers face downward and provide almost no bass through the plastic case. Two dual-purpose keys control the two-watt output, which should be sufficient for simple applications like watching a movie. In addition, the right side holds a 2.5 mm audio socket that allows a pair of headsets to connect to the unit.

The Note is a fancy portable screen with two display inputs: a USB-C DP supporting Alt mode and a mini HDMI connector. It also contains an innovative USB hub connecting either the Type-A host socket on the left side or the Type-C on the right. With a button press, the two can be switched between, enabling a simple KVM solution on the go. The hub drives a USB device socket, the keyboard, and the audio system.

Elecrow has used an excellent LCD panel in this product. We were impressed by the vivid color and 300 nits brightness of the 14” FHD screen. The on-screen menu requires time to get used to and will show status messages whenever a function key is pressed. A small hole beside the keypad hides a microphone. No camera is present.

(Image credit: Future) CrowView Note: In use

The user has three ports on the left that provide 25W of power for an AC adapter, a mini HDMI input, and a USB device connection to the onboard peripherals. The right side offers two sockets, one for USB devices such as a USB key and a Type-C supporting 15W through PD that can connect to a smartphone. ElecCrow offers multiple PCBs that bridge the Note to embedded platforms such as the Raspberry Pi or the Jetson Nano.

The device turns on with a short press on the power button, while a long press turns it off. Charging with the 12V adapter takes about one hour, with a red LED indicating it is in progress. The unit's built-in battery offers about one hour of use with a Raspberry Pi 5. The Raspian OS does not currently read the battery level, meaning the unit will shut down without warning when the battery is depleted.

The CrowView Note's best use case is as a Keyboard-Video-Mouse adapter for two hosts. For example, an embedded platform used for development connects to the left of the display, while a smartphone used for entertainment connects to the right. In this setup, the Note performs exceptionally well, switching between the two setups by pressing the F1 key. Power isn’t lost for the two setups, even while using the battery, and a seamless USB switchover occurs.

The CrowView Note isn’t the most energy-efficient display around. While the system is off, consumption hovers around one to two Watts. When turned on, the display consumes around eight Watts. The dual-purpose function keys, which also act as system keys, take some time to get used to. Finally, no battery level is present while the Note is charging.

(Image credit: Future) CrowView Note: The competition

The Dopesplay portable monitor with keyboard looks strikingly similar to the CrowView Note but only offers one USB port to connect to the host device. The lack of a second connection prevents the Dopesplay monitor from becoming a KVM. The Note is a universal platform for embedded devices and achieves this with two adapter boards, something lacking with the solution offered by Dopesplay. Finally, with an MSRP of $399, the Dopesplay unit is more than twice the price of the CrowView Note.

(Image credit: Future) CrowView Note: Final verdict

The CrowView Note is one of those gadgets that becomes essential once you start using it. It packs a crisp FHD display, stereo speakers, a LiPo battery, and, above all, two USB host sockets, allowing it to become a true KVM. As a secondary display, it is light and offers a large viewing area. The multi-touch trackpad complements the compact keyboard well, while the build and material quality could be better. For $169, it will pay for itself with increased productivity away from the desk.

Buy the CrowView Note if

you constantly switch between two displays but have limited space.

Don’t buy if

you are looking for a premium product that will last for a while.

We've listed the best portable power stations.

Review info

Platform reviewed: PS5
Available on: PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC
Release date: September 9, 2024 

Loud, boisterous, and gleefully violent, Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 delivers a thrilling power fantasy. Saber Interactive’s third-person slaughter-fest invites you to step into the power-armored boots of a 10-foot-tall superhuman Space Marine as you carve your way through hordes of alien Tyranids and Chaos cultists. Crunchy, bloody, and immensely satisfying, Space Marine 2’s core gameplay loop distinguishes the title, ensuring that occasional moments of ambitious overreach or old-school jankiness are easily forgotten.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 is a lovingly maintained relic of a bygone era. To stomp through its gorgeous, detailed levels is to bask in the third-person glory days of the late 2000s. The pressures of 2024’s open-world-saturated design environment are nowhere to be seen here. Space Marine 2’s punchy single-player campaign and generous co-op missions are linear, well-structured affairs. This allows for an attention to detail when it comes to encounters and level design alike and, while this may be off-putting to some, those wishing to nestle into the comforting embrace of a traditional action game will find their desires met.

(Image credit: Saber Interactive/Focus Entertainment)

However, this is not to say that Space Marine 2 rejects the advantages of modern design approaches either. When it comes to realizing the immense scale of Games Workshop’s beloved Warhammer 40,000 dystopian sci-fi universe, Space Marine 2 makes generous use of modern hardware. Awe-inspiring vistas come almost every minute in Space Marine 2. Looming gothic structures loom across busy battlefields populated by swarms of enemies. The Space Marines themselves tower over human and alien foot soldiers alike, a sense echoed by weighty animations which capture the sheer bulk and presence of these immense killing machines.

That said the game occasionally bites off more than it can chew. The scale of its ambitions cause some sections of the campaign to feel rushed. For instance, while they look great at a distance, many of your mortal human allies during the campaign use canned and dull animations - a stark contrast to the gorgeous and deliberate movements on show from the Space Marines themselves. Allied tanks stay quiet, their massed machine guns pointing at the enemy seemingly never to fire. Additionally, though chocked full of unlockables, Space Marine 2’s co-op mode asks for a serious amount of grinding from players, leading to a stolid progression system that lets down the otherwise joyful co-op missions.

(Image credit: Saber Interactive/Focus Entertainment) Party like it's 2011

Missteps aside, the combat loop at the core of Space Marine 2 reaches lofty heights. At its best, it induced in me a Doom-like flow state of action and re-action, with controls shifting seamlessly between ranged attacks and melee cut and thrust. This alone is an exceptional achievement. 

Space Marine 2 boasts a panoply of over-the-top weapons, each of which feels like a violent, adolescent fever dream brought to life. Brutal automatic rifles stand alongside deadly plasma weapons and precision laser snipers. While the selection in melee is a little more limited, it is no less captivating. Warhammer 40,000’s iconic chainsword (that’s a sword that’s also a literal, actual chainsaw) is captured lusciously. Its blades roar with each attack as the weapon’s side radiators billow with excess heat. On the other end of the spectrum, we have the Thunder Hammer, a heavy, deliberate weapon specialized in crowd control through massive swings crowned with explosive detonations. 

In contrast to what you might expect from a third-person action game, Space Marine 2 does not use a cover system. Instead, Space Marines recover health by slaying enemies in dramatic executions. These brutal over-the-top animations elicited excited shouts of “bruh!” from myself and anyone else who chanced into the living room at the time. Smaller targets can be executed with a well-timed parry, while larger foes must be beaten into submission with crunchy melee attacks or ruthless barrages of gunfire. This fluid process does a great deal to feed into the power fantasy at the heart of Space Marine 2, refining the system as it was first introduced in Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine (2011). 

(Image credit: Saber Interactive/Focus Entertainment) Bruh? Bruh.

Space Marine 2 builds on its predecessor in every conceivable respect. The battles are louder, the setpieces more dramatic and the central campaign more audacious - with the notable exception of its lackluster finale. 

Throughout the roughly 12-hour-long main campaign, you play as Demetrian Titus - the star of the first game. A roller coaster rather than a sandbox, Space Marine 2’s campaign takes advantage of a linear mission structure to dole out gorgeous cutscenes and satisfying setpieces at an impressive, if occasionally overwhelming, pace. You’ll fight through alien-infested jungles, ancient facilities, forgotten tombs, and towering megacities to defend humanity from a sinister conspiracy and an alien menace. 

Despite this breadth, the campaign rarely loses its grounding, thanks, in part, to the supporting cast. For most of the campaign, you’ll be followed by two subordinates who’ll back you up and even revive you should you fall. Their constant presence adds a sense of camaraderie, reinforcing the sense of siblinghood at the heart of Space Marine culture. 

Co-op mode doubles down on this sense of camaraderie, offering six exciting missions which each slot into the story of the single-player campaign, adding plenty of extra context and worldbuilding. However, though these missions fully capture the well-paced ebb and flow of the campaign missions, the fact that there are only six available at launch makes the co-op feel like an ancillary feature, subordinate to the main story. 

(Image credit: Saber Interactive/Focus Entertainment) You want it darker?

What is never subordinate, however, is the rich Warhammer 40,000 setting which is lovingly and impressively presented throughout. Die-hard fans will notice references to significant events throughout the canon which help to place Space Marine 2 in a wider context. That said, the title remains remarkably accessible for a newcomer. The first few hours of the campaign gently dole out key concepts, ensuring that the exposition never gets bogged down in unnecessary minutia. Space Marine 2 also boasts the most dramatic and impressive opening crawl and prologue mission that I’ve ever seen for a Warhammer 40,000 game.

Best bit

(Image credit: Saber Interactive/Focus Entertainment)

Between missions, Titus and pals rearm and recuperate on the battle barge, a massive spaceship that houses an entire company of Space Marines. Little snippets of dialogue and visual storytelling in this area give a welcome sense of continuity between missions which helps you feel like you’re part of a protracted military campaign.  

What’s more, the writers take the opportunity to deliberately crack the image of the stoic, Space Marine killing machine through occasional glimmers of human dialogue. While you shouldn’t expect hyper-developed characters, these Space Marines feel well-rounded. This is especially true in softer moments of conversation. Some of the dialogue between the supporting cast (whom you control in co-op mode) is so earnest and wholesome that it veers towards the homoromantic.

This sort of hidden depth is a hallmark of Space Marine 2. While its characters, storylines, and set pieces lack the depth of more story-heavy action-adventure titles like The Last of Us, they absolutely contain more than meets the eye. Coupled with an exceptionally satisfying combat system and a heartfelt dedication to the source material, this quality helps lift Space Marine 2 comfortably out of forgettability and easily into the realm of the genuinely entertaining. While elements of Space Marine 2 may feel rushed or overstretched, the title stands on its own two feet, distinctive, bombastic, and proud.  

(Image credit: Saber Interactive/Focus Entertainment) Accessibility

Space Marine 2 offers bare-bones accessibility features, sporting a colorblind mode and adjustable subtitles. Players can also toggle off-screen markers allowing for clearer gameplay - useful for those with visual impairments. There are also a range of difficulty modes. 

Unfortunately, the title offers little else when it comes to accessibility. An adjustable parry window or an option for automatic parries would have been most welcome. An option for colour cues to distinguish between heavy and light melee attacks is also conspicuously absent. 

 Should you play Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2?  Play it if...

You love action-packed combat
Space Marine 2’s core combat loop is remarkably satisfying and likely to please action game fans of all stripes.

You want an immersive Warhammer 40,000 adventure
Like its predecessor, Space Marine 2 brings Warhammer 40,000 to life with impressive dedication and skill and will delight long-time fans of the universe.

You want a satisfying title that doesn’t take years to finish
I was able to wrap up Space Marine 2’s campaign in 12 hours, making it a memorable sci-fi adventure that doesn’t demand buckets of time.  

Don't play it if...

You’re looking for a deeper narrative-driven Warhammer 40,000 experience
While Space Marine 2’s characters feel fleshed out, there are no great philosophical or emotional exchanges here. For that, you’ll be better served by Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader.  

You’re just here for the multiplayer
While Space Marine 2’s multiplayer offering places thrilling combat and gorgeous visual design front and centre, it’s held back by a narrow mission pool and steep unlock curve.  

(Image credit: Saber Interactive/Focus Entertainment) How I reviewed Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2

I played Warhammer 40,000 Space Marine 2 for roughly 16 hours, taking time to complete the campaign, replay some of my favorite missions, and play through almost every co-op mission with both AI allies and other players. Since the game was in a pre-release state, there was an insufficient pool of players to evaluate the PvP mode. 

I reviewed the game in performance mode on PS5 using a Dualsense Wireless Controller on a 48-inch LG C2 OLED 4K TV. The game ran smoothly and, while there were some frame rate drops, these were few and far between, amounting to less than half a dozen over my 16-hour playtime.  

GoPro fans who were hoping for 8K video or a new and bigger sensor in the Hero 13 Black are going to be disappointed right now. That's because GoPro's latest flagship, which comes 12 months after the Hero 12 Black, is largely the same as its predecessor.

There's still the 8:7 aspect ratio sensor with 5.3K video and 27MP photos, industry-leading HyperSmooth stabilization, and waterproofing up to 33ft / 10m – you'll even get all of that in the older-again Hero 11 Black.

And since those previous-generation models launched, the action camera competition has raised its game: DJI's Osmo Action 4 has better low-light performance than GoPro's (and rumors say it'll be replaced by the Osmo Action 5 Pro really soon), while Insta360 dropped the Ace Pro, an 8K video beast. 

The picture doesn't look good for an iterative update then, but I'm here to say don't write the GoPro Hero 13 Black off. GoPro has been a long-time player in the action camera space, its Hero 12 Black still sits at the top of our best action cameras buying guide, and there are some tweaks in the Hero 13 Black that actually go a long way to making it an even more compelling choice, especially for serious filmmakers.

The Anamorphic Lens Mod, available in 2025, attached to the Hero 13 Black  (Image credit: Future | Tim Coleman)

No other brand can offer such a wide range of accessories, and GoPro has introduced a whole lot more of them alongside the Hero 13 Black, namely the HB-series of lenses and ND filters. 

GoPro has announced the Ultra-Wide, Macro and Anamorphic Lens Mods, as well as a 4-pack of ND filters. These mods rotate into place over the Hero 13 Black's built-in lens, which has a newly designed mount that can auto-detect which mod is attached and adjust the camera settings accordingly. 

With one simple new feature, the camera becomes an infinitely more creative tool, and compelling for a wider range of users. 

GoPro has also taken a leaf out of the competition's book by finally utilizing quick and reliable magnetic mounting, which is added to its existing 'fingers' and 1/4-20-inch mounting options. 

Better battery life and heat dissipation are two other areas that have been addressed: the redesigned 10% higher-capacity 1,900mAh battery is capable of shooting 5.3K video for up to 1.5 hours and Full HD 1080p videos for around 2.5 hours.

The Hero 13 Black's newly designed battery. (Image credit: Future | Tim Coleman)

Although the maximum video resolution remains at 5.3K, there's now Hybrid Log Gamma (HLG) HDR video to minimize lost detail in highlights and shadows, plus better slow-mo recording, now up to 13x in a 720p 400fps Burst Slo-Mo mode. Content can be uploaded 40% quicker thanks to the introduction of Wi-Fi 6 tech. 

GPS is also back, following its disappointing omission from the Hero 12 Black. Through the Quik app, Performance Stickers can be added to embed info such as speed, altitude and G-force into video clips, as well as the location info.

Those are the highlight improvements. Like I said, there's not a whole lot that's new, but progress isn't always about big moves in headline specs like video resolution; it's as much about real-world performance, and here the Hero 13 Black feels like the most compelling action camera package out there for serious creators. 

GoPro Hero 13 Black: release date and price

• List price is $399 / £399.99 / AU$649.95 or $599 / £599.99 / AU$979.95 for the Creator Edition
• Available from September 10 2024
• New HB-series of lenses and filters, starting from $69.99 / £69.99 / AU$119.95

The GoPro Hero 13 Black starts at $399 / £399.99 / AU$649.95, while the Creator Edition, which includes the Media Mod, Light Mod and Volta grip costs $599 / £599.99 / AU$979.95. The camera will be available to buy from September 10.

Alongside the camera, GoPro unveiled a the new HB-Series of lenses and filters, including the Macro Lens Mod ($129.99 / £129.99 / AU$249.95), Ultra Wide Lens Mod ($99.99 / £99.99 / AU$169.95) and a new ND Filter 4-pack ($69.99 / £69.99 / AU$119.95), all of which will also be available from September 10. 

Another noteworthy accessory is the Contacto, which replaces the battery door to enable charging on the go via a magnetic mount, without compromising waterproofing, and costs $79.99 / £79.99 / AU$139.95. GoPro also announced the Anamorphic Lens Mod ($129.99 / £129.99 / AU$219.95), although this lens won't be available until 2025. 

There are too many accessories available for the Hero 13 Black to easily list here, so do check out GoPro's website for more info. 

(Image credit: Future | Tim Coleman) GoPro Hero 13 Black: design and handling

• Same size as the Hero 12 Black
• 10% larger capacity battery
• New Lens Mod mount detects the attachments
• Quick magnetic mounting finally introduced

Used a GoPro Hero Black camera before? The Hero 13 Black will be familiar, being as it is identical in size to previous models, with external dimensions of 71.8 x 50.8 x 33.6mm, albeit with a larger-capacity battery squeezed in and a negligible weight gain, tipping the scales at 5.6oz / 159g.

GoPro Hero 13 Black key specs

Sensor: 27MP multi-aspect 8:7
Video: 5.3K 60fps, 4K 120fps, slow-mo 720p 400fps
LCD: 2.27-inch rear touchscreen, 1.4-inch front
Video modes: TimeWarp, Time Lapse, Slo-Mo, Night
Connectivity: USB-C 3.2, Wi-Fi 6GHz, Bluetooth 5.0
Weight: 159g

Battery capacity is upped by 10% to 1,900mAh – with run times up to 1.5 hours of 5.3K video or up to 2.5 hours of 1080p video. GoPro lists the real-world improvement over the Hero 12 Black as averaging 13.5% with airflow and 26.7% without airflow – that's a decent bump in performance.

The battery isn’t backwards compatible with the Hero 12 Black and earlier models, as it’s a different size and design. Nor are older batteries forwards compatible, so if you’re upgrading you’ll need to factor in the cost of any additional batteries.

I rigged the Hero 13 Black for go-karting in 30-degree heat, recording 5.3K video for a total of around one hour, with both the front and rear screens and GPS active, and the battery went from around 80% power to being almost fully out of juice, which isn't bad going. I’ll run more tests during my in-depth full review.

The Hero 13 Black’s Lens Mod mount is new. Not in the way that you attach a Lens Mod, but because it has a point of contact with the new HB-series of lenses and filters, which means it can detect the attached lens – a feature that mirrorless and DSLR camera users are familiar with.

Handily, thanks to the communication between camera and lens, your settings are automatically updated to accommodate the lens in play. It’s a small detail, but it makes switching between lenses that bit easier, and propels the Hero 13 Black into new realms of creativity.

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(Image credit: Future | Tim Coleman)

The Macro Lens Mod is a revelation, reducing the close-focusing distance to 4.3 inches / 11cm – that’s 4x closer than the Hero 13 Black's built-in lens. Traditionally, action cameras can’t focus particularly closely, which all but counts them out for vlogging – when I’ve tried in the past, I feel like I have to hold the camera further away than I would like, nor could I capture little details. That totally changes with the Macro Lens Mod. If GoPro wanted to improve the shooting experience for a huge slice of potential users, this lens should be the ticket.

The Anamorphic Lens Mod was not available for use during my hands-on testing (though I did get my hands on it), nor was GoPro's new ‘Contacto’ accessory. The latter replaces the battery / memory card door, and has a magnetic charging mount for on-the-go charging. The supplied USB-C cable works with any compatible charger. You don’t sacrifice waterproofing either – this remains rated to 33ft / 10m – and theory you could film underwater while charging the camera via the Contacto, obviously provided that the power source is either waterproof or not submerged the water – for which you might need a long cable.

If you regularly change what your Hero 13 Black is mounted to, the new magnetic mounting will be a godsend. The likes of DJI and Insta360 already utilize magnetic mounting, and GoPro has thankfully has followed suit – it really needed to – and introduced some ball-head mounts for easy repositioning of the camera.

GoPro continues to embrace its legacy 'fingers' mounting method – the lowest-profile option – plus 1/4-20-inch mounting, easing the transition for those already familiar with the GoPro system.

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(Image credit: Future | Tim Coleman) GoPro Hero 13 Black: features and performance

• Limited capture time for new Burst Slo-mo video modes
• New HLG HDR video color profile 

As with the Hero 12 Black, regular 5.3K video recording remains at up to 60fps, but you can up that rate to 120fps – that’s 4x slow motion – using the new Burst Slo-Mo video option. 

In the same Burst Slo-Mo menu there’s also a 400fps option at a resolution of 720p, plus 360fps at 900p. All these burst modes are limited in capture time: the 5.3K 120fps option can run for five seconds, while the other two last for 15 seconds. 

It takes the Hero 13 Black approximately the same amount of time to process the files before you can start shooting again. As such, I wouldn’t rely on these new burst modes in all situations because of the processing time, during which you could be missing the moment in demanding shoots. Burst Slo-Mo is an example of a feature that's impressive on paper, but which has limited real-world usefulness.

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(Image credit: Future | Tim Coleman)

In the video preset menu you can choose between standard, HDR and Log color profiles. Depending on which option you select, and if you’ve got a Lens Mod in play, the maximum video resolution and frame rates available might change.

For example, with the Ultra-Wide Lens Mod attachted you can’t shoot 5.3K video; you’re limited to 4K. For HDR video, you can’t shoot at 60fps because 30fps is the limit. It takes a while to figure out what you can and can’t do with the Hero 13 Black – those headline features aren’t available at all settings.

I’m not knocking GoPro for this – I can’t think of another action camera that shoots unlimited 5.3K 120fps video, nor one that has Lens Mods for different looks. I’m just managing your expectations.

Battery life and overheating are hot topics with GoPro cameras (no pun intended), and as mentioned there are improvements in both of these areas. You'll notice much improved battery performance for video runtime when there isn't airflow, for example when you're recording in a room or simply walking about. 

I was using the Hero 13 Black in Spain in 30C heat and, although it was getting warm, it never gave me any problems. I'll do more in-depth testing on this in the coming weeks. 

GoPro Hero 13 Black: image and video quality

• Same 8:7 aspect ratio sensor as the Hero 12 Black 
• Improved slow-mo video record modes

To get a feel for the Hero 13 Black's image quality, you can take a look at our Hero 12 Black review – after all they share the same image sensor, and the same maximum video and photo resolution. 

Using GoPro's Lens Mods it's possible to shoot different kinds of images, and I look forward to using the Macro Lens Mod more, plus the anamorphic lens next year. 

I've included a few video samples that I'm able to share, below, and I'll unpack video and image quality in detail in my full review. 

How I tested the GoPro Hero 13 Black

• A few days with limited scenarios
• Paired with the Macro and Ultra-Wide Lens Mods
• Used with various mounts for sports

During a two day hands-on with the Hero 13 Black ahead of its release, I was able to shoot behind the scenes at the MotoGP (from which video clips can’t be shared), making timewarp sequences, plus it had a proper run out around a go karting track. I attached it to a crash helmet and to an arm for different perspectives, used the Ultra-Wide Lens Mod and tried out the various color profiles, including HDR. The slow motion burst modes were utilized, too, to slow down movement of water and bottles of bubbly on the post race podium. I also tested the close focusing capabilities with and without the Macro Lens Mod. Since that trip, I've been using the camera on bike rides and will be running more tests in the coming weeks to complete the full review.

First reviewed September 2024

reMarkable Paper Pro: Two-minute review

You don’t own the reMarkable Paper Pro, it owns you. This is a tablet with a single purpose – to capture your ideas. It does that almost perfectly. There are other things you can do with the reMarkable Paper Pro, but it won’t do anything as well as keeping your thoughts and ideas organized and flowing.

It does this by doing almost nothing else. The reMarkable Paper Pro is the follow-up to the reMarkable 2, a monochrome writing tablet with an E Ink display and a Wacom-licensed EMR stylus. The earlier reMarkable earned fans by offering simplicity and a distraction-free environment. It's so well designed and pleasant to use that it becomes addictive, and that’s why I keep using it. 

I bring my reMarkable 2, and now my reMarkable Paper Pro, to every event I cover as a journalist. It’s not just because I love flashing the most pretentious, manicured, single-minded tablet you can own; it’s because the reMarkable feels free and easy in a way my laptop cannot. 

When I have to type notes on a keyboard, I feel constrained. I need to sit. I need to follow the rules of the document app. I can’t easily create and organize notes in the way I want, not without fighting the app.

When I use my reMarkable, I can put my ideas to paper the way I like, and I still get to save everything to Google Drive. In fact, reMarkable has finally relented, and you can now edit documents from the reMarkable app, away from the tablet. That’s been a long-requested feature from reMarkable’s devoted fan base.

(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

The Paper Pro finally gives the most-requested features to reMarkable fans, including a front light for reading in the dark (seriously, you can’t read the reMarkable 2 in the dark), and – drum roll please – a color E Ink display!

I wasn’t expecting a color reMarkable this year, because the color E Ink tablets I’ve seen haven’t been spectacular. reMarkable has incredibly high standards, and the company seemed in no hurry to launch a new, sub-par product.

The reMarkable Paper Pro is a different color E Ink panel from anything I’ve seen before – I’ll talk later about the technology that brought reMarkable out of Kansas to the Land of Oz.

The reMarkable Paper Pro is electronic paper (ePaper), pure and simple, and it’s best not to expect too much from this tablet. It’s the best ePaper you’ve ever used. Since the reMarkable 2 launched in 2020, the company has spent a great deal of its effort improving the writing experience beyond all expectations. There's no perceptible lag between the pen and the ePaper. Writing feels like writing, as it should.

If that doesn’t appeal to you, you may be outside of reMarkable’s target audience, because the reMarkable Paper Pro is truly a luxury device for people who want the feeling of writing on paper, with the convenience of digital storage. This is not a versatile tablet. The list of things the reMarkable cannot do is longer and more surprising than the list of what it can.

There's no web browser on the reMarkable Paper Pro, because the company says the primary goal of the Paper Pro is to help you avoid distractions. To that end, not only can you not browse the web, you can’t even check the time. There's no visible clock on the Paper Pro. No web windows, no clocks – it’s like a Las Vegas casino, if Vegas was about creativity instead of gambling.

Why is there no clock? Because reMarkable knows this won’t be your only screen, or even your second screen. This is the device you buy after your iPhone and MacBook, instead of a distractingly bright and colorful iPad.

The reMarkable Paper Pro is the anti-iPad (Image credit: Future)

The company is unapologetic about its spartan attitude. It takes pride in rejecting far, far more feature requests than it grants: around 95% of the features that users request are rejected, according to reMarkable reps.

If you want a tablet that does a lot more, get an iPad. If you want an E Ink tablet that does a lot more, like running apps and a browser, get an Onyx Boox Note Air 3. If you want an E Ink tablet that's good for reading books, buy an Amazon Kindle Scribe.

The reMarkable Paper Pro will have none of that silliness. This tablet is not for reading, and it’s not for apps, and if you want those things in an ePaper tablet, it’s not for you, either.

reMarkable Paper Pro review: price and availability

(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

• Starts at $579 / £559 / AU $929 with a Marker
• New Type Folio available at launch for $229 / £180 / AU $330 extra

The reMarkable Paper Pro is very expensive, especially considering how much this tablet doesn’t do. An Apple iPad costs from $449 / £499 / AU$749, without an Apple Pencil of course, and Apple’s tablet can do just about everything. The reMarkable Paper Pro, on the other hand, seems positively archaic by comparison. 

That’s entirely the point, and the design and materials are deceptively advanced, as I’ll discuss below in the Design section. This is an ultra-premium, luxury device, even though it lacks features we normally associate with luxury tablets. 

Depending on your region, reMarkable might try to sell you a tablet without a Marker, but don’t buy it – or rather, buy the Marker. You need it. The reMarkable Paper Pro isn’t a very good reading device. Also, unlike the reMarkable 2, the new Paper Pro doesn’t use Wacom’s EMR technology for its pen. The Marker is now proprietary reMarkable technology, so you can’t just get the tablet and then buy your own cheaper pen. A Samsung S Pen will not work with the reMarkable Paper Pro, as it will with a reMarkable 2.

You really should use a case or folio with this tablet, and the reMarkable Book Folios are very nice, whether you choose the recycled fabric or the leather. The newer Book Folios have a strap to hold the Marker in place. If you don’t like these covers, just wait a bit, because I’d expect a robust market for third-party covers will pop up on Etsy, just as it did for the reMarkable 2.

(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

If you want to type on the reMarkable Paper Pro, in addition to writing with the Marker, reMarkable is offering a Type Folio keyboard for $229. Just like the tablet itself, the Type Folio keyboard is incredibly thin. With the Type Folio attached, the reMarkable is about as thick as most tablets with a basic folio cover. The Paper Pro is a larger tablet than the reMarkable 2, so the older Type Folio will not work with the new reMarkable.

The reMarkable 2 will still be available, now for even less. A bundle starts at $379, which is a drop from the previous $399 / £399 / AU$679 pricing, though still more than the Kindle Scribe, which sells for $339 / £329 / AU$549.

Unfortunately, reMarkable will not be accepting any older tablets as a trade-in for the new reMarkable Paper Pro. This is a big mistake, but for a company that started on Kickstarter, I get it. It’s not like reMarkable makes a new tablet every year and encourages regular upgrading. If you have the reMarkable 2, just keep it, it’s still great.

• Value score: 4/5

reMarkable Paper Pro review: specs

(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future) reMarkable Paper Pro review: display

(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

• New E Ink Gallery 3 display isn't being used in other tablets
• Color is built into the pixels, not a separate layer

If you’re not familiar with E Ink, you should know about ePaper first. Unlike an LCD or OLED computer monitor, ePaper is a category of display that is designed to emulate paper. You can read an ePaper display outdoors in bright sunlight because it reflects light. An ePaper display also usually looks the same whether it's powered on or off. 

There are a few different types of ePaper technology, and reMarkable uses an ePaper display from a company called E Ink – the screen tech is also called E Ink. Amazon’s Kindle e-reader tablets all use E Ink displays, and so do the reading and writing tablets from Kobo and Onyx. 

E Ink is an amazing technology. Where your phone screen lights up and makes a picture when electricity passes through it, E Ink doesn’t light up at all. It makes a picture with tiny, almost microscopic balls. These balls sit in tiny little wells, and when electricity is applied, they rise to the top so you can see them. 

The benefit of E Ink displays is that they can consume less power, because the screen will draw a page of words and then… do nothing. It sits still while you read, and it doesn’t require any juice. The screen only uses power when you have to turn the page, or scroll down. This makes it ideal for applications like reading and writing, where there isn’t a lot of page-turning and scrolling.

(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

E Ink is very bad at displaying video and any task that requires a lot of movement on-screen. The screen cannot refresh nearly as quickly as a phone screen. Your phone's display can update at up to 120 times per second, while the fastest E Ink screen can barely top 10-15 frames per second – and even then, it’s drawing a lot more power than an E Ink screen was intended to use.

The reMarkable Paper Pro is a brand new E Ink screen, at least for tablets. The E Ink Gallery 3 technology has been used in digital signage commercially, but it hasn’t been used in a successful writing tablet. reMarkable is calling its brand of Gallery 3 E Ink the Canvas display.

There are other E Ink color tablets, like the Onyx Boox Tab Ultra C and the Kobo Libra Colour. Those tablets use an E Ink Kaleido screen. The difference is where the color sits. On the Kaleido display, you have a black-and-white E Ink layer, just like any e-reader. Then you have a layer of color that sits just above the black-and-white layer.

The Kaleido display can refresh quickly, but the color has to allow the black and white layer to be visible beneath, so it uses a lower color resolution. The color does not look very saturated. If you see one of these screens in person, they almost have a layered effect to the color that seems off compared to color print or a similar medium.

Macro close-up of the reMarkable Paper Pro's E Ink display (Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

The new Gallery 3 E Ink panel on the reMarkable Paper Pro, on the other hand, puts the color in the same layer as the black-and-white. This gives you better color resolution and a sharper image, but it takes the display longer to draw and update color. In fact, E Ink told me that while the black ink can refresh in 350 milliseconds (ms), the color ink can take anywhere from 500ms to 1.5 seconds to finish drawing, for the most accurate color.

We’ve been waiting four years for a new reMarkable tablet, and the addition of color was highly anticipated by fans, though I was skeptical, as I’ve seen tablets that use color E Ink ‘Kaleido’ panels. I can’t say that the reMarkable color display is perfect, but it definitely looks better than the E Ink competition, and it adds a layer of usefulness.

The colors are still faint, even though reMarkable has added a light to the new Paper Pro tablet. The light is very dim, just barely bright enough power to let you read in the dark. Unlike the Amazon Kindle Scribe, which packs a bevy of LED backlights, the reMarkable Paper Pro gives you a meager candle for reading, and little more.

That said, if you know where to look for the quality, you’ll find it. The reMarkable Paper Pro looks like paper and ink. The display may seem a bit grey, but it looks bone-white compared to other ePaper tablets. The ink color is highly visible and looks like real ink, no matter what color you now choose. The display feels great for writing – not so much like paper, but like expensive stationery. All around, this is a writing tablet for connoisseurs of writing tablets.

• Display score: 4 / 5

reMarkable Paper Pro review: Design

(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

• Thinner than an iPad Pro, even with the new lights
• Accessories are a must, not a maybe

The reMarkable Paper Pro is an incredibly well-built device, and it has a premium finish and design that is truly… impeccable. Even though the new reMarkable Paper Pro has a larger battery than the reMarkable 2, a fully-lit display, and new color E Ink technology, it remains one of the thinnest tablets you can buy, if not the thinnest. 

The new iPad Pro that Apple brags is its thinnest product ever? That 5.3mm fatso needs to lose a couple tenths of a millimeter if it wants to brag against the 5.1mm reMarkable Paper Pro, or the even thinner (and still available) 4.7mm reMarkable 2. 

The latest reMarkable is larger than before, so unfortunately the older accessories like the Type Folio won’t work. And you’re definitely going to want a case for this tablet. It feels solid, but it's so thin and light that I’d hate to put its durability to a stress test. The reMarkable folios are all very high-quality, and I expect third party options will appear before long. 

• Design score: 5/5

reMarkable Paper Pro review: Software

(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

• Not so much software, more like paper with some features
• No apps, no home screen, just notes

The reMarkable Paper Pro keeps things very simple. You have notes (called Notebooks) and folders. That’s it. You can tag your notes, then search those tags later to jump to a specific notebook or section in a book. 

There is no app store. There is no home screen with widgets and icons. You can see your folders, and you can click on the folders to see the notes inside them. That’s all. I love the simplicity. If you’re tired of saving photos or files on your phone, then having no idea where they went, the reMarkable Paper Pro is a soothing balm. You will never lose anything, because it’s simply right in front of you. 

When you write a note, you can handwrite or type text. There's an onscreen keyboard for typography if you don’t buy the Type Folio. 

The Paper Pro can convert handwriting to typed text, but the feature is very rudimentary. It was able to recognize most of my writing, but when it could not figure out my chicken scratch, it just skipped that word. 

Worst of all, the final product is ugly and hard to correct. In fact, a huge weakness of the reMarkable software is how difficult it can be to edit, change, and move things around, especially typed text. It's very hard to select the right word, or a group of words, because the screen can feel unresponsive. It is almost impossible to create a proper layout using type – you’re better off just drawing what you want. 

Sadly, there are very few helpful drawing tools, either. There is no help making straight lines, and nothing to make shapes. You can’t create stickers to add to your documents, which would be a boon for journaling fans.

Close-up of the highlighter tool on the color reMarkable Paper Pro (Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

You can write in color, or paint in color, or highlight in color, but the color features are just as limited as everything else. Don’t expect the reMarkable Paper Pro to be your new drawing tablet. The color options are scant and unalterable. You can’t tap to fill a space with color, for instance.

You can’t even pick your own colors. You get the colors reMarkable has chosen, and that’s all. No color picker, no blending colors. Colors are for organization and ideas, not, well, coloring.

Actually, that’s not true, because I downloaded a PDF with some mindfulness exercises that include coloring, and though my color options are limited, I can still have fun making pretty pictures. You can load any PDF or ePUB document onto the reMarkable Paper Pro, either through the mobile or desktop app, or using a Chrome extension that converts web pages into PDFs. Once you have a document loaded, you can draw and color upon it to your heart’s content.

• Software score: 2/5

reMarkable Paper Pro review: Performance

(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

• Amazing pen response, with new pen technology
• Screen can feel very sluggish with touch, especially swipes

The reMarkable Paper Pro has a lot more power than before, but for what? The most advanced feature, and maybe the only advanced feature, is handwriting recognition, a technology that predates the earliest iPhone. 

Actually, I’ve talked to developers who work with E Ink who tell me that the screen technology is astonishingly difficult to program, so perhaps the improved performance is driving the more complex color display. 

The problem is that the reMarkable Paper Pro feels very slow. Not when you’re writing. Writing works at light speed. The new Marker uses an active technology, powered by a rechargeable battery, that makes response time even faster, according to reMarkable. Writing feels very fast and fluid, with absolutely no discernible lag. 

Navigating the reMarkable Paper Pro, though, feels like a serious drag. Swiping to the next page often took multiple swipes. Scrolling could be unresponsive on longer documents, and pinch-zooming might not work on the first attempt. 

Once you have your document template set up, everything feels snappy. Writing, drawing, and coloring with the new brushes works with perfect fluidity. It feels like writing on real paper, not writing on a laggy screen. Once you’re done, have some patience, because it could take a while to send your file, or navigate to the next folder. 

• Performance score: 3 / 5

reMarkable Paper Pro review: Battery

(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

• Two weeks of battery life, even with the light continually on
• That's because the light is very dim

Before you get impressed by the two weeks of battery life that the reMarkable Paper Pro can offer, remember that an Amazon Kindle with an E Ink display can last more than a month with steady use. The reMarkable is impressive, but it isn’t the best ePaper device for battery life. 

It’s still much better than competing devices from Onyx, like the Onyx Boox Air 3. Onyx pushes its E Ink displays to the limit, and Boox tablets can actually display videos, or browse regular web pages, or even run games, like any other Android tablet (almost). Pushing E Ink faster drains power very quickly, though. E Ink is meant to be slow and steady, not fast. 

The reMarkable Paper Pro charges via USB-C, and it comes with a charging cord. I’m not sure how fast it charges because the battery lasts two weeks, so I didn’t mind a slower charge-up. 

• Battery score: 5 / 5

Should I buy the reMarkable Paper Pro?

(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future) Buy it if...

You want a premium digital pen and paper experience
At its heart the reMarkable Paper Pro is simply electronic pen and paper, with all the benefits of the cloud. If you embrace that simplicity, you’ll love it.

You need freedom from distractions
There is no web browser, no games, no app store, not even a clock to tell you how long you’ve been procrastinating.

You’ve been waiting for a color reMarkable with a light
A color screen and a light are by far the two biggest requests I hear from vocal reMarkable fans. Those folks get their wish with the Paper Pro.

Don't buy it if...

You want to read books, or do anything else but write
The reMarkable Paper Pro can read PDF files and ePUB books, but it's better for marking up documents than for reading a novel.

You’re going to complain about what it can’t do
Look, the reMarkable Paper Pro can’t do a lot, that’s the point. It’s time to simplify! If you can’t get with that, buy something complicated.

You lose pens all the time
The Paper Pro Marker pen is proprietary, so there are no cheap third-party options, and it’s easy to lose since it only attaches magnetically.

Also consider

Amazon Kindle Scribe
If you read more than you write, get the Amazon Kindle Scribe, which gives you access to Amazon’s huge Kindle library, without all the distractions of an iPad or Android tablet.

Read our full Amazon Kindle Scribe review

Apple iPad 10.9
If you need a lot of distractions, or a more capable tablet, the Apple iPad is the same price as the reMarkable Paper Pro, and it has a lot more colors. It’s very distracting, indeed, and it works with an Apple Pencil.

Read our full Apple iPad 10.9 review

How I tested the reMarkarble Paper Pro

I received the reMarkable Paper Pro a few weeks before this review was published, and I used it as my primary note-taking and journaling tool, both for work and personal use. I normally use a reMarkable 2 for these tasks, so I'm familiar with the tablet’s capabilities and limitations. 

I charged the reMarkable Paper Pro at the beginning of my review period and then didn't charge it again until I needed to take photos for this review, to ensure that reMarkable’s battery-life claims were accurate. After two weeks, I tested charging again on my standard USB-C charger. 

I connected the reMarkable Paper Pro to my Google Drive account for document synchronization, as well as the Google Chrome browser. I used the reMarkable app on my MacBook, Android phone, and iPhone. 

I gave the reMarkable Paper Pro to folks with more drawing ability and artistic talent than I have and asked them what they think. I did not tell them what tablet they were using. I also downloaded a number of third-party PDF files from Etsy to try them with the reMarkable Paper Pro.

I used the reMarkable Paper Pro with reMarkable’s Book Folio and Type Folio cases, typing extensively with the keyboard. 

Read more about how we test.

• First reviewed: September 2024

Pico 4 Ultra: Two minute review

The Pico 4 Ultra is giving me serious deja vu, and it’s not entirely the good kind.

That’s because its launch is extremely reminiscent of its predecessor; the base Pico 4. A Meta Quest VR headset is the dominant force in the budget/mid range market (then the Meta Quest 2, now the Meta Quest 3), and Pico is launching a device with better specs at an only marginally higher price.

In this instance, the Pico 4 Ultra will net you the Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 chipset, 256GB of storage, and 12GB of RAM for £529 (around $695 / AU$1025). Meanwhile, the Meta Quest 3 ($499.99 / £479.99 / AU$799.99) only boasts 128GB of storage and 8GB of RAM with the same chipset.

But despite that additional oomph, the Pico 4 Ultra (like the Pico 4 before it) is let down by a lack of software with which to demonstrate its hardware superiority. 

With  Meta picking up more and more hard-hitting exclusives that you can’t play on Pico systems – including entries in major gaming franchises like Assassin’s Creed and the Batman Arkham series – the severe lack of return fire from Pico is disappointing. Couple that with Meta’s superb OS support and optimizations which the Pico operating system isn’t matching (at least right now) and it’s clear the Pico 4 Ultra isn’t winning in every area – and software-wise the fight isn’t even close. 

The Pico 4 Ultra does, however, have a few unique features that could entice you and software developers to pay it some respect. 

The first is its spatial footage capture. While it is inconvenient and something of a useless novelty in practice, if a few OS updates can bring some quality improvements this tool could be a fun one for recording memories or creating an experimental stereoscopic film (if you’re willing to put in the effort) without needing to buy an iPhone 15 Pro or Apple Vision Pro.

More importantly it has Meta Connect, a free Virtual Desktop alternative that allows you to connect to your PC wirelessly or use a compatible USB-C cable for productivity and PCVR gaming. In my testing it worked very well and seems a little more feature rich and reliable than Meta’s free Air Link.

Last but by no means least are the Pico 4 Ultra’s standout Motion Trackers. Annoyingly, you have to pay extra for them, but these foot trackers bring a great level of immersion to compatible apps for only £79 (around $100 / AU$150) for a pair – or a lot less if you pick up the preorder bundle or a different deal that I’m sure we’ll see during future sales events like Black Friday. These alone could be the best reason to pick up the Pico 4 Ultra.

Pico 4 Ultra: Specs Pico 4 Ultra review: Price and Availability

The Pico 4 Ultra has only one model (the specs are listed above, but the notable stats are 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage) and it goes on sale in the UK on September 20 for £529 (around $695 / AU$1025). No Australia or US launch has yet been announced.

The Pico 4 Ultra preorder bundle (Image credit: Future)

Preorders go live on September 6 and if you preorder the Ultra you’ll get a few free goodies; namely two free motion trackers (more on those in the Features section) as well as four games: 

• Blade & Sorcery: Nomad
• Infinite Inside
• Let’s Get Fit VR
• FootPool

The lack of a truly global launch schedule isn’t unheard of for Pico – the original Pico 4 still isn’t available in the US – but it’s always a surprise to see Pico’s headsets dodge a major market, especially this time when the Ultra boasts such impressive internals. Yes, it’s a little pricier than a Meta Quest 3 ($499.99 / £479.99 / AU$799.99) but offers an additional 4GB of RAM and 128GB of storage which is an upgrade that could entice a lot of VR users; that is, if they weren’t locked out because the Pico 4 Ultra is unavailable in their part of the world.

• Value score:  4/5  

Pico 4 Ultra review: Performance

• Every VR game and app runs smoothly
• Nothing feels like it needs 12GB of RAM

The Pico 4 Ultra boasts some fantastic hardware upgrades over its predecessor, which help it deliver a stronger performance in VR and MR. The principal upgrades are to its chipset with the Ultra relying on Qualcomm’s Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 chipset (instead of the Gen 1 like the regular Pico 4) and 12GB of RAM (up from 8GB).

When testing the headset with a good mixture of games – Infinite Inside, Arizona Sunshine 2, All-In-One Sports VR, and Angry Birds VR – everything ran smoothly and looked good on the new device. 

The battery is housed at the back of the strap (Image credit: Future)

There were no hiccups in mixed reality either. Infinite Inside jumps between MR and VR while Angry Birds VR offers a dedicated MR mode for all of its levels. Both titles ran really well in this blended real-and-virtual setting – even when large chain reactions in Angry Birds sent pigs and many blocks that formerly made up their structures flying in different directions. 

Now it’s officially announced, with any luck we should see some next-gen upgrades make their way to Pico 4 Ultra games and apps too – just like we saw with Quest 3 titles when Meta’s Quest line made the jump to the XR 2 Gen 2.

My only concern so far is I feel I’ve yet to experience anything that pushes the Pico 4 Ultra in a way which warrants that extra 4GB of RAM over other mid-range VR headsets with an XR2 Gen 2 chipset which only have 8GB (i.e. the Quest 3). Games and apps on those rival systems also run really well, and if Pico is asking us to pay more than its rivals charge because of the Ultra’s improvements, I’d like to see some really concrete reasons why that higher RAM and price is worthwhile.

Hopefully, some made for Pico 4 Ultra software will highlight how necessary the upgrades are, though we’ll have to wait and see what’s announced. For now we can at least enjoy the very solid mid-range headset Pico has delivered.

• Performance score: 5/5 

Pico 4 Ultra review: Design

• Counterbalanced design is appreciated for comfort
• No silicon facial interface in the box

The Pico 4 Ultra (unsurprisingly) takes plenty of design cues from the base Pico 4; so much so you might assume they’re the same device at a glance. The Ultra is almost the same weight (580g instead of 586g), features more prominent mixed-reality sensors, and its controllers have lost their icon spiral tracking ring – in favor of the Quest 3 handsets’ tracking ring-less design.

However, you still get a VR gadget clad in a light gray plastic casing, with an adjustable plastic head strap that creates a counterbalanced design – as the device’s battery is housed at the back of the strap (so the battery sits at the back of your head) to offset the weight of the display and other components that are sitting on your face.

Pico 4 Ultra controllers (Image credit: Future)

While this certainly aided the Pico 4 Ultra’s overall comfort, the headset was let down by its facial interface and rigid head strap cushion that left me wanting more in terms of support and fit. As a result, the headset didn’t feel leaps and bounds ahead of its non-counterbalanced headset counterparts. I’d go as far to say it was merely on par which was a shame.

I’m also disappointed that Pico – much like other headset makers – refuses to give you a silicon face cushion in the box. Fabric cushions get sweaty even if you don’t plan to play fitness apps meaning they’re generally gross to share with others, and cleaning fabric interfaces is a real pain. Silicon facial interfaces should be standard, not an additional purchase. At least it comes with a spacer attachment so you can make room for your prescription specs without needing to buy bespoke lenses (*cough* Apple Vision Pro *cough*).

The last negative aspect – though one I’m more torn on – is a fan that blows inside the headset while you’re wearing it to prevent the lenses fogging. While this can be handy I often found the breeze annoying as it kept blowing in my eyes causing them to feel extra dry. After a while you get a bit used to it, but the same feature was present in the Pico 4 and online forums suggest it’s one of those things people either love or hate. I’m more in the hate camp, but it comes down to personal preference.

Otherwise, the Pico 4 Ultra is fairly standard. It boasts USB-C charging and a familiar control layout on its handsets – save for two additional menu buttons meaning that the left controller has a dedicated button for the main Pico menu and another for the in-game pause menu, while the right controller has the same main Pico menu button and a dedicated screenshot button (which comes in handy for capturing impromptu clips).

Last but not least, the Pico 4 Ultra boasts continuous interpupillary distance (IPD) adjustment from 58-72mm. IPD adjustments are essential for ensuring the VR headset’s lenses are spaced the correct distance apart for your eyes to avoid blurriness, and a continuous adjustment setup allows for a higher degree of personalization compared to the three or four pre-set distances offered by some models (i.e. the Meta Quest 2).

• Design score: 4/5 

Pico 4 Ultra review: Software

• Many great VR and MR games and apps
• Pico lacks meaningful exclusives

Coming into this review my main concern for the Pico 4 Ultra was its software. It might have the best specs we’ve ever seen on a mid-range standalone VR headset but without software to take advantage of this performance there’d be no point buying one.

I’m therefore pleased to report that the Pico 4 Ultra’s software library is good, bordering on great.

Navigating the virtual store is more of a pain then it should be – a cleaner layout and better app curation would go a long way here – but using the search bar to look up my favorite titles (Walkabout Mini Golf, The Last Clockwinder, Painting VR, and Pistol Whip to name a few) I found almost everything I was looking for. Best of all, the titles were all as content-packed and feature-complete as their counterparts on other platforms (something that hasn’t always been true for the Pico 4 system).

My only concern is that the Pico 4 Ultra is lacking in notable exclusives beyond its TikTok VR app. I know, I know, exclusive software is a contentious subject and I agree that overall they’re a bad deal for consumers. But under its belt the Meta Quest 3 (the Pico 4 Ultra’s main rival) has some massive hitters which Pico can’t currently compete with – we’re talking Beat Saber, Resident Evil 4 VR, Assassin's Creed Nexus, Asgard’s Wrath 2, Batman: Arkham Shadow, Xbox Cloud Gaming, and soon (ironically because it was originally announced as a Pico 4 exclusive) Just Dance VR, among others.

Where is Pico's Arkham Shadow competitor? (Image credit: Meta / Camouflaj)

Some major upcoming titles like Just Dance VR and Alien: Rogue Incursion (which is also due out on the PSVR 2) could get Pico 4 Ultra release dates after the headset’s launch now that the device isn’t a secret, but Pico really needs to start swinging with some major games and apps you can’t find anywhere else. Until then there’s a clear winner in terms of the headset that’ll give you the most complete VR software experience, and it isn’t Pico.

What’s more, cross-platform titles will have to play to the lowest common denominator. That means they won’t be optimized for the Pico 4 Ultra’s 12GB of RAM; they'll also be designed with headsets in mind that only have 6GB or 8GB of RAM. This means you won’t get the most out of the extra specs you’re paying for unless the app creators devote extra time to Ultra-exclusive upgrades (which there’s no guarantee they will).

At least you can connect the Pico 4 Ultra to a PC to play SteamVR games, helping to expand its library further. You do so using the Pico Connect app which facilitates both wired and wireless experiences in much the same way as the third-party Virtual Desktop app. I tried the wireless version for some SteamVR games and found it ran pretty well, though your experience will depend on your home Wi-Fi speed – so you may find a wired connection is more stable.

My only critique is that when using Pico Connect for productivity apps like Google Docs I didn’t have a virtual keyboard. Using a real one in mixed reality is fine, but the option of a floating keyboard would have been appreciated.

I also found the Pico 4 Ultra’s operating system to be fairly clean. It’s very similar to Meta’s HorizonOS – likely because both are built on Android – so transitioning to it was simple enough, and I expect VR newcomers would be able to navigate fairly easily too. It does noticeably lack some of HorizonOS optimizations and smoothness at times, but Pico could address this in future updates.

• Software score: 3.5/5 

Pico 4 Ultra review: Features

• Motion Trackers are impressive
• Spatial image camera seems pointless

As for features, the one you’ll all want to know about is the Pico 4 Ultra’s mixed-reality performance. Again the simple descriptor I’d go for is ‘it’s good’. For mixed reality the Pico 4 Ultra boasts two 32MP cameras, and a depth sensor – a step up on the base model’s single 16MP lens and no depth sensor setup. The end result is a vibrant passthrough image with less (but not quite zero) distortion than what we’ve seen from Pico before – at the fringes I did notice the passthrough feed shifting unrealistically at times.

Though it’s far from lifelike, there’s the same graininess you’ll find from other mid-range devices like the Meta Quest 3 – graininess which you’ll also see in the footage recorded by the Pico 4 Ultra’s new spatial camera.

Here's one of the Motion Trackers... (Image credit: Future)

That’s right, just like the Apple Vision Pro you can use the headset to record spatial video that you can watch later. It’s interesting, sure, but far from useful. Someone on Reddit or X will post a video of them carrying their Pico 4 Ultra around to capture moments in spatial video or as spatial photos, but 99.99% of people won’t. Instead they’ll do exactly what I did – take a picture of their office / their living room / another space in their home, say “huh, that’s neat” when they see the stereoscopic image, and promptly never use it again.

I think spatial content capture is better handled by phones or accessories like the Xreal Beam Pro as these are devices you can reasonably carry with you to capture moments you’d like to remember and relive – and the quality would be higher too.

Finally, let's talk about the Motion Trackers, easily the best of the Pico 4 Ultra’s accessories.

When I strapped them to my ankles I expected the trackers would pick up general leg motion but might struggle with specifics – for example, it wouldn’t be able to tell the difference between me raising my foot with my knee bent, and raising my foot keeping my leg straight. I was very wrong.

I tried a bunch of maneuvers trying to trick the ankle bracelets, and the little VR avatar the app showed me mimicked my poses perfectly.

... and here's one of the weird poses I tried to use to trick them (Image credit: Future)

They were also super easy to set up and calibrate, with the only (minor) inconvenience being that I had to remember to roll my jeans up so that the trackers were exposed and not hidden behind my clothing (as I write this I realize I could have instead put them over the top of jeans, but regardless it was the most minor of minor inconveniences anyway).

Obviously, the thing to note is that unless you’ve picked them up as part of the preorder bundle – or another deal that comes later during Black Friday or otherwise – the Motion Trackers cost £79 for a pair. What’s more, they only work with a few titles – Pico says “20+” for standalone Pico 4 Ultra games as well as any motion tracker enabled SteamVR experiences.

If you play these titles regularly I think the trackers can add a fair amount of immersion – actually getting to kick a virtual football or feel like the headset was properly tracking my full body movement was a blast – though I’d recommend trying to get them as part of a discounted bundle if you can (or only picking them up if your digital library is well stocked with compatible experiences).

• Features score: 4.5/5 

Should you buy the Pico 4 Ultra? Buy it if… 

You want the best specs for a mid-range device
The Pico 4 Ultra has some really solid specs for its price, so if you value the best hardware for your budget then it could be just what you’re after.

You want foot tracking
With its optional Motion Trackers you can bring accurate foot tracking to several VR titles. Yes, they’re an additional add-on, but they’re not an accessory every standalone headset can support, so it could be worth picking an Ultra up for that reason alone. 

You hate Facebook
If Meta has rubbed you the wrong way with its privacy practices over the years, or you don’t enjoy the Quest ecosystem’s Facebook integrations, then the Pico 4 Ultra is the best mid-range, non-Meta headset you can buy right now.

Don’t buy it if… 

You want the broadest VR software library
The Pico 4 Ultra is lacking many major standalone VR titles because they’re exclusive to its biggest rival (Meta). If you’re desperate to play any of them (like, say, Batman: Arkham Shadow) you shouldn’t buy a Pico 4 Ultra.

You’re after something cheaper
While the Pico 4 Ultra is good value for money, it is pricier than other mid-range standalone headsets like the Meta Quest 3. Not by a lot, but the £50 difference could instead be spent on software or something non-VR related.

You want a spatial image capture device
Yes, the Pico 4 Ultra can be used for spatial image capture – a unique feature for mid-range XR headsets – but the quality isn’t high enough, nor the feature anywhere close to convenient enough, for it to be a deciding factor in your purchase decision. 

Also consider

Meta Quest 3
Surprise, surprise after it was name-dropped a few times throughout this review. If you’re looking at mid-range VR headsets, you can’t not consider the king of them. Yes the Pico 4 Ultra has some advantages, but so does the Meta Quest 3, so you seriously don’t want to dismiss this alternative.

Meta Quest 3S
Okay, so this headset isn’t even announced officially yet, but I’m dropping it in here because so many leaks (including several from Meta itself) say it’s coming and that it’ll be announced on September 25 at Meta Connect 2024. It likely won’t boast the same specs as the Pico 4 Ultra but is expected to be a lot cheaper, so it might be worth waiting a little longer to see if the Quest 3S is announced and if this more budget-friendly device tickles your fancy.

Xreal Air 2
These AR smart glasses are a very different prospect to the Pico 4 Ultra VR headset, but with the help of the Xreal Beam Pro they offer many useful features in a similarly priced package – including a wearable private movie theater and high-quality spatial footage capture.

Read more about how we test

• Frist reviewed: September 2024

Review info

Platform reviewed: Nintendo Switch
Available on: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
Release date: September 6, 2024 

Why should Phoenix hog the spotlight? Why are we always trying to find the good in people? Why don’t we wear a quaff red suit with more ruffles than an 18th-century aristocrat? What if we just want to send some bad guys behind bars by uncovering guilt, rather than saving people?

What if I just want to be a pompous prosecutor with a pompadour? Ace Attorney Investigations Collection might be the for you.

This latest Ace Attorney remastered collection from developer Capcom completes the set of bringing every game in the beloved franchise to modern consoles, and for those of us in English-speaking territories also brings the final untranslated adventure in the series to the West for the very first time. 

This set houses two games in the Nintendo DS-era spinoff starring Miles Edgeworth as the protagonist (Ace Attorney Investigations: Miles Edgeworth and Ace Attorney Investigations 2: Prosecutor's Gambit), but two Switch games (also available on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC) of which only the first ever made its way outside Japan upon its initial release. Poor sales led to the second game remaining unlocalized from 2011 until now. 

Enhanced Interrogation

(Image credit: Capcom)

A few enhancements have been brought to the collection over the original adventure. All art has been redrawn for HD screens, although those who love the pixel-art walking animations of characters in investigation sequences can use them if desired. With the new art remaining the only option for dialogue and the pixel art backgrounds standing up to scrutiny poorly on larger screens, however, the new art was certainly preferable. A gallery allows you to revisit old illustrations and listen to music (including orchestral arrangements of some songs) at will, with character designs and bonus illustrations also a welcome bonus.

The major appeal of this new title is the move from the courtroom to the mind and machinations associated with the role of prosecutor. In this role, you’ll investigate the scenes of crimes - murder and otherwise, though the latter will likely lead to murder at some point. This is Ace Attorney, after all - and uses logic and reasoning to find the true culprit and bring them to justice.

Notably, in this game such justice is inflicted all without entering a courtroom, as you freely move Edgeworth through crime scenes using the analog stick to seek out clues and speak to suspects. Speaking to suspects involves testimony and cross-examination using evidence that plays identically to such scenes in the court in mainline games, but you won’t see Miles standing at the prosecutor’s bench during your time in the world of Ace Attorney Investigations. 

(Image credit: Capcom)

For those used to the point-and-click puzzling through environments associated with mainline entries in the series, the ability to control these pint-sized protagonists at will and wander around environments in search of anything suspicious is an unusual feeling that takes some time to adjust. The actual mechanics of finding points of interest to add clues to your evidence is functionally identical otherwise, as is speaking to characters and examining evidence, but it serves as a way to differentiate the two characters and their approach.

Acting as a prosecutor rather than a defense attorney, your arsenal of tools to uncover the truth alongside your approach to each case is different from those of Phoenix Wright. Alongside clues, you’ll pick up on pieces of logic that will be added to a bank of logic statements. Collect a bunch from your investigations and you’ll be able to combine them to create new leads or deepen your understanding of a case, perhaps finding the thing you need to uncover the truth in the process.

Best bit

(Image credit: Capcom)

Using Mind Chess to bide your time as your opposition witness slips new information, only to use that moment to speak up, brings dynamism to the game’s frequent confrontations that never gets old. 

In the third case of the first game involving kidnapping and murder inside of a theme park based around the lovable police mascot, it’s possible to piece together the existence of three used cups in the kidnapper’s hideout alongside a trio of folding chairs to reveal that there are actually three kidnappers involved in the case instead of the original two you first believed, a vital clue in unmasking the real culprit.

While a cool idea in theory, it also reveals the biggest flaw with this game’s unique approach: it’s too simple. At their best, Ace Attorney games thrill through their challenge, the complex investigations spanning a mass of environments, interrogations, and cross-examinations, confounding conundrums that only become clear of a culprit at the very end. Here, logic rarely involves more than a few statements that can easily be pieced together and, by consequence of them being highlighted as logic statements in the first place, only make it more clear what the key pieces of evidence are when you confront and cross-examine statements from witnesses and suspects later.

Investigations are also disappointingly streamlined. Rather than spanning numerous environments and crime scenes that intersect to unveil the truth, you’re locked into a single environment at a time to investigate for every clue before moving to the next in a railroaded fashion that feels lacking in freedom and control. Together with logic, it makes much of the game feel formulaic.

Rook-ie Mistake

(Image credit: Capcom)

At least, it feels too simple at first. This is a game of two halves, quite literally in this case. For much of the first game in this spin-off duology, I had yet to encounter prior to this review, I found myself somewhat saddened by how simplistic I found the experience compared to the puzzling heights of The Great Ace Attorney or twisting tales of the mainline titles. Towards the end of the first game, I finally saw the potential of the idea, before the second game expanded affairs further with new mechanics that completely transformed the title into one of the most dynamic in the series to date.

In the second game, Miles Edgeworth uses a new talent to get the truth out of his adversaries: Mind Chess. Rather than your typical ‘health bar’ that reduces whenever you use the incorrect piece of evidence, you instead enter a new Matrix-like environment where you converse with your opponent-of-sorts in a more dynamic fashion. As they share their side of events you can choose to retaliate with words or bide your time in the hope of leaking more information, at which point you can shoot a pawn at their words to break their defenses and, eventually, Checkmate them into bringing more information.

In a way that even the most enthralling in-game cross-examinations fail to achieve, the achievement of this mechanic is in its bringing of the intensity and pressure of a real interrogation to the series. A time limit forces you to act and react to statements on the fly, with real consequences if you mess up. It’s easier to fail, but more satisfying to catch their knight in the act or corner them with a well-timed counter to their words backed up by the facts of the case that force them to confess or share new evidence.

If I were to call the first Ace Attorney Investigations a decent, entertaining experience but perhaps the weakest title in the franchise, its sequel bursts into Western markets as one of the stronger entries to date for this mechanic alone. As cases become more brooding and dark the mechanic opens up new avenues to seek out the truth, and alongside featuring the better of the two overarching stories single-handedly makes a case for the collection’s existence solely for being the reason this title has its first English localization after 13 years. 

Accessibility 

Alongside language options, the game provides options to turn off screen shaking and flashes, remove controller vibration for those with sensitive hands, and adjust the transparency of the text box. Autoplay of text is also possible with a chance to set the amount of time text remains on screen after fully rendering before proceeding to the next text box.

Should I play Ace Attorney Investigations Collection? Play it if...

You love Miles Edgeworth
Whereas Phoenix Wright or Apollo Justice hog the spotlight, Miles Edgeworth only appears as a prosecutor for a few select cases. This is the chance for him to take the lead role, and fans of the character will enjoy the game for that opportunity alone. 

You want something new from Ace Attorney
As much as each game introduces new ideas and stories, many keep the same core gameplay. From walking around the environment to flipping the script to avoiding the courtroom, this is Ace Attorney as you’ve never seen it before

Don't play it if...

You lack patience
Since skipping any case without playing it first will prevent you from appreciating the game’s story, you will have to work through a few weaker cases in the first game to reach the collection’s best moments. Those lacking the patience to work through those may feel bored or give up before reaching the best part,

How I reviewed Ace Attorney Investigations Collection

I played the game on a Nintendo Switch OLED model primarily in handheld mode, although sections of the game were also played on an ASUS VG27AQL1A gaming monitor in docked mode. I primarily played the game with AirPods for audio and put in roughly 30 hours of time to the experience in total across both games.

First reviewed August/September 2024.

If the CRM industry is a zoo, Salesforce is an 800-pound gorilla. It’s one of the best CRM platforms on the market powered by cutting edge AI and hosted on the cloud. It also has separate modules for managing customer relationships across sales, service, marketing, commerce, and more, making it a great fit for almost any team in any business. 

With over 150,000 customers worldwide, Salesforce CRM has been a driving force in the digital transformation of businesses for over two decades. 

However, its dominance doesn't necessarily mean it's the best fit for every organization. In this in-depth Salesforce review, I'll dive into the platform's core capabilities, ease of use, integrations, customer support, value for money, and company trajectory to help you determine if it’s the right choice for your business. 

While we’re going to focus primarily on Sales Cloud, Salesforce’s most popular CRM module, this review is also going to weave in features from other Salesforce offerings like Customer Success and Einstein 1. 

My hope is to present you with a well-rounded perspective of Salesforce’s core CRM offerings. While not every feature will be available on every module, Salesforce makes it very easy to build your own version by combining different aspects of its suite into a package called Customer 360. You can read our dedicated Salesforce Sales Cloud CRM review here. 

Salesforce CRM core capabilities

At its core, Salesforce provides a robust set of CRM features to effectively manage customer relationships throughout the entire lifecycle. On the whole, I've found the core relationship management capabilities to be quite intuitive. 

Creating, editing, and organizing contacts is straightforward, with the ability to capture detailed information like communication preferences, activity history, and custom fields relevant to my business. I can easily store and organize detailed information about individual contacts, including their role, communication preferences, and interaction history.  Plus the account hierarchy feature is particularly useful for managing complex B2B relationships with parent and child companies.

You can easily score leads based on criteria like demographics, behavior, and engagement. A visual kanban-style lead workspace allows you to drag-and-drop leads through different stages of the sales cycle, from new to qualified to converted. I appreciate the flexibility to customize lead stages and automate assignment rules based on unique sales processes.

I can track deals across every stage, from prospecting to closed-won or closed-lost. Salesforce’s opportunity record provides a complete view of the deal, including products, competition, quotes, and revenue projections. There’s also a collaborative forecasting feature, which allows sales managers to view and adjust team forecasts while providing executives with real-time visibility into the pipeline.

Speaking of visibility, Salesforce provides a wide range of standard reports out-of-the-box, covering everything from sales performance to customer service metrics. I've been impressed with the report builder, which allows me to easily create custom reports using a drag-and-drop interface. The ability to schedule and share reports with key stakeholders will improve your team's efficiency and accountability.

Apart from this, Salesforce's mobile app is a useful addition for field sales reps. I can access and update critical customer information, track activities, and even close deals right from my smartphone or tablet. Push notifications keep me informed about important updates, like when a key opportunity stage changes. Salesforce’s mobile experience is intuitive, mirroring the desktop version, ensuring a seamless transition between various devices.

Salesforce has recently enhanced its CRM platform with several AI features, by introducing a new module called Einstein. It’s integrated across various Salesforce Cloud applications, including Sales Cloud, Marketing Cloud, Service Cloud, and Commerce Cloud. Einstein’s conversational AI assistant can automate day-to-day tasks like summarizing records, generating customized communications, and streamlining case resolutions.

Salesforce Einstein 1 offers powerful tools for managing and building customer relationships. (Image credit: Salesforce)

While it offers a wealth of features, I have encountered a few limitations with Salesforce too. For example, the email templates can be basic compared to other marketing automation platforms. The forecasting tool, while powerful, does require some setup and training to leverage.

Speaking from a more general perspective, Salesforce CRM also features a bit of a learning curve and has a pricing structure that’s somewhat prohibitive for small businesses.

But overall, I've been impressed with the core capabilities of Salesforce CRM. The platform provides a comprehensive set of features to manage the entire customer lifecycle, from lead to loyalty. While there may be a learning curve for some advanced functionality, the benefits in terms of productivity, collaboration, and customer insights far outweigh any challenges.

How easy is Salesforce CRM to use?

Salesforce’s layout is clean and well-organized, with key features and data easily accessible from the navigation menu and dashboard. The use of consistent iconography and naming conventions makes getting around the platform easy and fast. However, given the sheer breadth of features on offer here, a certain learning curve is expected.

It also allows administrators to tailor the user interface to match their organization's specific needs and terminology. I've been able to create custom fields, page layouts, and workflows that align with unique sales processes. While the customization options are extensive, Salesforce provides a user-friendly setup menu and guided wizards to help admins make changes without needing to write code.

Trailhead, Salesforce’s learning platform, offers a wealth of onboarding and training resources to help new users get up to speed quickly. It takes a gamified approach to training, with bite-sized modules and hands-on challenges that cover everything from basic navigation to advanced features. I think that this is an engaging and effective way to onboard new team members, with the added benefit of allowing them to learn at their own pace.

In addition to Trailhead, Salesforce offers extensive documentation, how-to guides, and community forums where users can find answers to common questions and best practices. The Salesforce Success Community is a particularly valuable resource, connecting users with experts and peers who can provide guidance and support.

Trailhead is a valuable resource for businesses that are rolling out Salesforce to multiple individuals and teams.  (Image credit: Salesforce)

Based on my own experience, I think that most users can navigate the basic features and perform essential tasks with Salesforce within a few days of training. More advanced features and customizations may take a few weeks to master, but the platform's intuitive design and robust support resources make the learning process manageable.

Whilst this flexibility is a strength for enterprise customers, it can also be overwhelming for small business and probably isn’t the best CRM for startups that don’t have an extensive onboarding budget or lots of ramp-up time. Salesforce’s initial setup and configuration process is a great example of this, requiring a significant time investment and a certain level of technical knowledge to get everything configured optimally.

Despite the issues, however, I've found that the long-term benefits of Salesforce's scalability far outweigh the initial setup hurdles. Once the platform is tailored to your organization's specific needs and processes, it becomes an incredibly powerful and efficient tool for managing customer relationships.

Salesforce CRM integrations

Salesforce provides both pre-built integrations and an open API for custom data exchange. Beyond that, there’s comprehensive documentation, code samples, and developer resources to support integration development and usage. 

With the AppExchange marketplace, Salesforce offers a vast library of pre-built integrations and applications from partner companies. These out-of-the-box solutions cover various business functions, such as marketing automation, customer support, accounting, and more. 

With over 3,000 pre-built apps already available, businesses can easily find and deploy integrations that align with their specific requirements. Popular integrations include Mailchimp for email marketing, Zendesk for customer support, QuickBooks for accounting, and Jira for project management.

For businesses with unique integration needs, Salesforce provides a robust and well-documented API. The Salesforce REST API allows developers to access and manipulate data programmatically, enabling custom integrations with internal systems and external applications. 

Salesforce’s API supports standard HTTP methods and exchanges data through JSON or XML responses, making it compatible with a wide range of programming languages and tools. It supports various protocols and data formats, such as REST, SOAP, and bulk data operations, giving developers flexibility in designing integrations.

Salesforce also provides robust data management capabilities to maintain data integrity during integrations. Features like data mapping, transformation, and cleansing ensure that data is properly formatted and synchronized between systems. Additionally, Salesforce's data governance tools help enforce data quality standards and compliance requirements, giving businesses confidence in the accuracy and security of their integrated data.

During my time with the CRM, Salesforce's integration capabilities appeared reliable and performant. Pre-built integrations from the AppExchange worked quite seamlessly. Plus the API was stable and responsive, allowing for efficient data exchange and real-time updates. Data synchronization was consistent and timely for both pre-built integrations and custom ones.

However, it's important to note that the success of integrations largely depends on proper implementation and adherence to best practices. Salesforce’s Developer Community provides guidelines and recommendations for integration development, such as understanding limits, securing data, and implementing authentication methods. Custom integrations can be built using popular programming languages like Java, C#, and Python, making it accessible to a wide range of developers.

Additionally, Salesforce's partner network includes a wide range of integration specialists and consultants who can assist businesses in designing and implementing complex integration solutions. Plus the company releases regular updates and new features that expand its integration capabilities and improve overall performance.

Salesforce CRM customer support

Salesforce offers several different support channels, including both live and self-service options. Users can reach out for assistance via phone, chat, and email, depending on their preference and the urgency of their issue. Based on user testimonials, support representatives appear to be knowledgeable, patient, and genuinely interested in providing a satisfactory resolution.

Live chat offers quick and convenient assistance for less complex queries. Representatives are more than happy to offer step-by-step guidance or direct you to relevant resources. For more involved queries, you can contact the support team via phone at +1-800-664-9073. Email support, while not as immediate as phone or chat, is a reliable enough option for less urgent matters, with representatives typically responding within a day or two.

In addition to live support, Salesforce offers a vast collection of self-help resources under the umbrella of Salesforce Help. It’s a comprehensive knowledge base that covers every aspect of the platform, from basic setup to advanced customization. The articles, videos, and documentation are all well-prepared, easy to follow, and frequently updated to reflect the latest features and best practices.

Part of the larger self-help infrastructure of Salesforce Help, there’s also Trailhead. It’s a guided and gamified learning module that offers an interactive way to quickly familiarize yourself with the platform’s most important features and functionality. You can use Trailhead to upgrade your Salesforce skills, earn badges for each milestone, then promote your services and expertise through the associated community.

Speaking of community, Salesforce Trailblazer connects users from around the world to share knowledge, ask questions, and collaborate on solutions using a dedicated forum. A quick look at the platform shows you how active and helpful the community is, thanks to both internal experts and other users. Every day, the community forum highlights active members to reward them for their participation. This makes sure that users feel rewarded for helping others navigate the platform and troubleshoot their issues.

In terms of response times, Salesforce generally meets or exceeds industry standards. Customer satisfaction with Salesforce support is consistently high, as demonstrated by a 4.5 star rating on platforms like G2 and TrustRadius. While the learning curve for new users is steep, Salesforce’s generally reliable and helpful support system makes it much easier to adopt.

That said, there is always room for improvement. Some users have reported longer wait times during peak hours or when dealing with particularly complex issues. It also seems that the quality of help received is directly influenced by the support tier you’re on. Customers who purchase Premier+ Support or Mission Critical Support receive priority access to better agents. Meanwhile, standard users are mostly stuck using the self-service options.

Salesforce CRM value for money

As one of the most expensive CRM solutions on the market, Salesforce demands a significant investment, but it also delivers a robust platform that can grow with your business. A per-user pricing model allows for flexibility as your team grows, but it can become costly for larger organizations. 

Salesforce employs a tiered pricing model with four main editions: Essentials, Professional, Enterprise, and Unlimited. The Essentials plan starts at $25 per user per month while the Unlimited plan costs $300 per user, per month. 

However, Salesforce offers a breadth of features even in lower-tier plans. Essentials, while basic, still includes features like account and contact management, opportunity tracking, and email integration. But, advanced capabilities like lead scoring and collaborative forecasting are only available from Professional, while workflow automation is restricted to Enterprise and Unlimited. 

The company offers a 14-day free trial. After that, Salesforce offers annual billing for all plans except Essentials, which can be paid monthly. While opting for annual billing often comes with a discount, it requires a larger upfront investment and less flexibility for businesses with fluctuating needs. 

Apart from the core plans, Salesforce also offers various add-ons that can enhance the CRM's functionality. While these can provide excellent value for businesses with specific needs, you should calculate costs thoroughly to make sure the investment justifies the ROI.

When comparing Salesforce to other CRM solutions, it's important to consider the total cost of ownership. While the initial price may be higher, Salesforce's extensive customization options, robust app ecosystem, and scalability can provide you more long-term value. Its ability to integrate with a wide range of third-party applications can also lead to increased efficiency and productivity, potentially offsetting the higher cost. 

But for smaller businesses or those with simpler CRM needs, Salesforce’s pricing may prove prohibitive. Unless you need all the advanced functionality, there are more affordable options on the market that offer similar core functionalities at a lower price point. 

Saleforce trajectory

Salesforce has maintained its position as the dominant player in the CRM market, consistently innovating and expanding its offerings. As of 2023, it commanded 21.7% of the global CRM market share, easily outpacing its nearest competitors Microsoft (5.9%), Oracle (4.4%), SAP (3.5%), and Adobe (3.4%). 

In the current fiscal year, Salesforce reported a total revenue of $34.86 billion, 11% more than last year. Meanwhile, the company's subscription and support revenues, which form the core of its business model, grew by 12% to $32.54 billion. Its growth trajectory is supported by strategic acquisitions, such as Tableau and Slack, which have expanded its capabilities and reach.

Going beyond the financials, Salesforce's user community is one of the largest and most active in the software industry. Its ecosystem, including customers, partners, and developers, continues to grow rapidly. Right now, 150,000+ businesses utilize its services globally. 

As a CRM, Salesforce was named a leader in various analyst reports, such as The Forrester Wave and IDC MarketScape, which evaluate solutions based on criteria like market impact, vision, and capability. The company's Pledge 1% initiative, which encourages companies to donate 1% of equity, product, and employee time to charitable causes, has garnered participation from over 15,000 companies worldwide. 

Looking ahead, Salesforce's trajectory appears promising, with projections indicating continued growth in both market share and revenue. The company's focus on integrating AI-driven insights into its platform is expected to further enhance its offerings and maintain its competitive edge. 

With regular updates, an active user community, and strategic partnerships through Salesforce AppExchange and Partner Innovation Awards, Salesforce continues to operate as the undisputed leader of the CRM space — despite competition from giants like Microsoft, Oracle, and Adobe.

Salesforce CRM review: Summary

After a comprehensive evaluation of Salesforce CRM, I find that the platform excels in several key areas, offering a robust set of core capabilities and extensive integration options. It’s a great choice in particular for medium-to-large enterprises, with a pricing structure and learning curve that may not be the best CRM for small businesses. 

Ubigi is a popular eSIM provider and a part of the NTT group offering data plans in more than 200 destinations for travelers and remote workers. Founded in 2018, Ubigi won the MVNO of the Year Awards 2023 and is trusted by leading brands such as BMW. It has, in fact, been integrated by many car manufacturers. 

Ubigi offers various data plans – from 1-day plans to unlimited ones – directly from the Ubigi app, which is available in an impressive 8 languages. It's really affordable, too, which is one of its major advantages.

The eSIM is also pretty easy to set up, and there are a lot of guides and videos on the website that help you with any issues you might have. However, one thing that might upset a few of you is that Ubigi doesn’t offer any voice calls or SMS on its plans, so you’ll have to use the Internet to make calls through apps like WhatsApp, Instagram, Skype, etc.

Ubigi: Plans and pricing

Ubigi’s presence in over 200 destinations comes with various validities: one-time, monthly, annual, and unlimited. The one-off plans are available for 1 day, 7 days, 15 days, and 30 days. 

The prices are more affordable than competitors like Airalo and aloSim, with the lowest being $2.5 for 500MB data in Japan. Here are some popular Ubigi plans. 

You can purchase a data top-up directly from the Ubigi app. One good thing is that even if you run out of data or Wi-Fi connection, you can still run the Ubigi app to top up. However, it's always recommended to set up an eSIM and purchase a plan before you land at your destination. 

It's also worth noting that Ubigi supports multiple payment methods, such as Apple Pay, Google Pay, credit cards, etc.

These are the best eSIM for international travel in 2024.

Ubigi: Features

Let’s now look at some really handy features offered by Ubigi:

5G coverage

Ubigi offers 5G coverage in more than 40 countries currently with benefits like high speed, ultra-connectivity, and low latency. The best part is that you don’t have to pay anything extra to switch to 5G – if your device supports 5G and you’re in a country where Ubigi offers 5G coverage, you can simply switch to a 5G network. 

France, Brazil, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, Switzerland, UAE, and Vietnam are some countries where Ubigi offers 5G connectivity. The list is expanding quickly, and new countries are added every month.

Tethering

Ubigi supports seamless data tethering without any restrictions, allowing you to share your data. So, if you’re a couple visiting a country, you don’t need to get two Ubigi eSIMs – just purchase one eSIM and share your data through tethering. 

Full MVNO

Ubigi is a part of the Transatel brand (which is now a part of the NTT Group) –  Europe’s leading MVNO (Mobile Virtual Network Operator) enabler. Ubigi is a full MVNO, which means that it has a full-scale proprietary core network. 

This translates into higher speeds and seamless connectivity for users. This also gives Ubigi a lot of flexibility in its connectivity offering, which can be seen in its diverse plans for various regions.

Ubigi also has partnership agreements with 200 Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) around the world. This means you’ll experience fewer data disconnections and low data latency with Ubigi when compared to other providers. 

Ubigi: Installation

(Image credit: Ubigi)

Installing and activating an Ubigi eSIM is pretty easy and takes only a few minutes. We found a lot of extensive guides and videos on the Ubigi website with step-by-step illustrations on how to activate your eSIM. You have two options to install an Ubigi eSIM: 

• Use the Ubigi app to download your free eSIM profile and then create an account and choose your plan.
• Use the Ubigi website to first purchase a plan and receive a QR code to activate your eSIM profile.

The process is largely the same on both Android and iPhone. However, on Android devices, you’ll need to configure your APN settings. Here’s how:

• Tap on Mobile Networks and then click Access Point Names. 
• Select the eSIM profile from the bottom of the screen and then add a new APN. For Ubigi, the APN settings are: Name: ubigi, APN: mobiledata
• Save when this is done, and ensure your new APN is selected on the Access Points Name page. 

You’ll need to ensure that you still use your primary SIM card for voice calling and SMS purposes since Ubigi is a data-only eSIM provider. But, of course, you can use Ubigi to make VoIP calls through apps like WhatsApp, Skype, and so on. 

If you’re installing Ubigi on your iPhone, we recommend disabling the “Data switching” option. If enabled, your iPhone may automatically switch data usage to your primary SIM, leading to a hefty data roaming bill.

Ubigi app's security credentials are also solid, as there's biometric login enabled, allowing you to quickly login with your OS' Face ID or fingerprint unlock functionality.

Ubigi: Support

(Image credit: Ubigi)

You’ll need to fill out a contact form to get in touch with Ubigi’s customer support. Live chat is also available in English and French, subject to the availability of agents. What's more, even if you don’t find the chat option, you can expect a reply to your query ticket within 24 hours.

In our experience, you won’t need much support from the Ubigi team in the first place, given how easy it is to install and use their eSIMs. Plus, there are hundreds of FAQs and lots of support documents and troubleshooting guides on the website’s ‘Assistance’ page – enough to answer any questions you might have. We also liked that the website is available in 4 languages to accommodate different users.

Ubigi: Final verdict

Ubigi, with its affordable data plans in 200 destinations, high-speed 5G connections, and an easy installation process, is an excellent eSIM for your next trip. It is a full-MVNO provider and a part of the NTT group. This means you get high connection speeds and almost no data disconnections.

Ubigi also allows you to share your data with others through tethering – and if you run out of data or find no Wi-Fi connections, you can still top up your plan using the Ubigi app, available in 8 languages. There are also various plans to choose from one-time (1-day, 7-day, 15-day, and 30-day plans), monthly, and annual.

However, one downside is that you don’t get voice calls or SMS with Ubigi’s plans. The customer support is also limited to just live chat (that is also if agents are available) and an online form. That said, you won’t need much support from Ubigi in the first place, as there are a lot of extensive help articles on the website that will guide you through any doubts. 

Ubigi: FAQs Can I install Ubigi eSIM using QR code?

Yes, you can install an Ubigi eSIM on your device using a QR code. For this, you’ll need to visit the Ubigi website and purchase a plan. After this, you’ll receive a QR activation code on your email within 15 minutes. Scan the code on the device you want to install the eSIM on and follow the prompts. 

Do I get 5G connectivity with Ubigi?

Yes, Ubigi currently offers 5G connectivity in 35 countries, thanks to its MVNO status and partnerships with mobile networks around the world. You don’t need to pay anything extra to enable 5G on your device. 

If your phone is compatible with 5G and your Ubigi plan offers 5G, you’re good to go. However, 5G connections consume a lot of data, and you may run out of your data limits quickly.

How many plans do Ubigi offer?

Installing and activating an Ubigi eSIM is completely free – there are no activation or set-up charges. You only have to pay for the data plan you need, which starts at $2.50. There are several one-time plans with various validities: 1-day, 7-day, 15-day, and 30-days. Besides this, you can also choose from monthly and annual plans if you’re a frequent traveler.

LG XBoom XTO2: Two-minute review

The LG XBOOM XO2T is not the company’s first attempt at a stylish portable speaker – the slightly larger XO3C is still available, for instance – but it is, in LG’s own estimation, the best iteration. At least, that is how it was presented to me when LG gave a demonstration on this speaker.

While I can’t confirm how it stacks up against LG’s previous iterations (since those weren't made available to me), I’ve spent plenty of time with the XO2T reviewed here and I have to say that I’m impressed. Is it among the best Bluetooth speakers out there? I think so, though it does depend on your needs.

To start with, there’s plenty of volume on tap that stays surprisingly clear at higher volumes, plus it sounds very good for its size. It might not be audiophile-grade, sonically speaking, but most people will be impressed with the amount of low-end it musters up, not to mention the detail-rich sound. The high-end is ever-so-slightly dull and is the main difference, audio-wise at least, that keeps it from rivalling a truly premium, Bang-and-Olufsen-style product. But it gets close.

Due to its form factor, you’ll miss out on stereo audio, unfortunately, though you can always pair it with a second one for that. But there are plenty of features available, mostly through the app, to make up for it. Also, this is a portable speaker meant to deliver quality audio no matter where you’re located in relation to it. 

Just as striking as its audio performance is the way it looks. Not many portable speakers make me want to upgrade my furniture to something from Ethan Allen or grab a bourbon on the rocks. This one does. It has a sleek, almost teardrop shape, but also mood lighting for an experience you just don’t get from most portable speakers. The only real issue is that its fabric covering does tend to attract hair, so if you have a pet, you might end up with a somewhat fluffier LG XBoom XO2T.

Groovy baby!  (Image credit: Future) LG XBoom XTO2 review: Price and release date

• $199.99 / £199.99 (about AU$300)
• Launched March 2024

Since the LG XBoom XO2T is a relatively new speaker, having been released in March of 2024, it is not a model you’re going to see a whole lot of offers for – yet. While you can certainly wait to hopefully get a discount, the asking price of $199.99 / £199.99 (about AU$300) is really not a bad figure for what you get – although it's true that you can buy myriad rugged, outdoorsy barrel-shaped Bluetooth speaker options for a lot less.

It’s currently only available in one color, unlike the XO3, which is available in black and beige. More importantly, it seems to not be available in Australia at the moment. Whether that will change in the near future remains to be seen since it’s relatively new. However, this review is coming out five months (August 2024) after the speaker’s initial release.

(Image credit: Future) LG XBoom XTO2 review: Specs

(Image credit: Future) LG XBoom XTO2 review: Features

• Customization for both sound and lighting
• Can link with other LG speakers
• Multipoint connectivity

When it comes to features, the LG XBoom XO2T has a good assortment. Just about all the features discussed here are available through the app including the ability to adjust the sound and lighting. As far as adjusting the sound goes, it might seem light at first glance as there’s a Standard, Soundboost for listening to music, and Custom selection available. However, when choosing custom, you can pull up a six band EQ tab with up to 6 dB of boost per band. That’s pretty significant.

There’s actually much more in the way of customization when it comes to the light at the top of the speaker. There are three different types of mood lighting available: Ambient, Nature, and Party, with each type having three presets and a My Pick selection where you can customize the hue and saturation. Plus, the Ambient and Party modes have a Candle Effect and Party Strobe effect to add some movement to the lighting. My particular favorite is the “Comfort of a cozy night” setting under the Ambient selection. You can also adjust the lighting’s brightness.

There are some other features on hand as well, such as the Wireless Party Link mode that lets you use multiple LG speakers at one time. This is where you can pair two XO2Ts together for a stereo experience. There’s also an XBoom Lab selection, where you can play with new features. Currently, there’s a "Healing Therapy" section listed, where you can download and play healing sounds that are pre-paired with specific mood lighting settings. Also worthy of mention is a One Touch Mode that gives you the ability to hold the Lighting button on the speaker for two seconds to bring up a specific playlist and lighting setting. However, it only works with the Apple Music Library or Apple Music (at least on my iPhone). At least multipoint connectivity is available.

• Features score: 4.5/5

(Image credit: Future) LG XBoom XTO2 review: Design

• Chic lamp-like design
• Bluetooth-only connectivity
• Good battery life

The LG XBoom XO2T resembles a fancy 1960s lamp more than a portable speaker, and it’s a design choice that I truly appreciate. I’ve tested and used quite a few different Bluetooth speakers and very few inspired me from a design perspective. This one is one of the few.

Of course, it probably resembles a lamp because it is. Sure, you have the bulk of the body covered by a fabric as well as an upward-facing silver grill to emanate audio in all directions. But, it also has an overhang that houses a downward-facing LED light.

The light can get pretty bright, though I wouldn’t use it to replace anything but a nightlight. It’s better for use as mood lighting (which is what it’s advertised as anyway) via the app’s customization mentioned above.

While a lot of the features are available just via the app, the capacitive controls on top are good enough for general usage. The Bluetooth icon is the only one that stays lit, but a quick tap will light up all the available controls including Volume Up, Play / Pause, Volume Down, and Lighting.

The port selection is pretty minimal as there’s no Aux or 3.5mm input, just a USB-C port for charging. The LG XBOOM XO2T is a purely bluetooth experience. Plus, the USB-C port has a covering that’s difficult to pull out, though this is most likely to maintain the speaker’s IP55 rating, making it a little safer to use outside.

A little more impressive is the battery life. It’s rated as offering up to 15 hours of use. While there are some other speakers that offer more, this is not the type of speaker I imagine someone would take on a hike, so 15 hours is more than adequate. In fact, I actually appreciated running it over night for ambient music and a night light and only using 40% of the battery after 8 hours.

• Design score: 4.5/5

(Image credit: Future) LG XBoom XTO2 review: Sound quality

• Goes nice and loud
• Great performance in the lows and mids
• High-end can come off a tad dull

First things first, this thing can get loud! Though LG doesn’t offer a specific dB rating for the LG XBoom XO2T, I was able to get it up to 90 dB. Pretty impressive for something this size with what appears to be a one-inch tweeter, a three-inch driver and passive radiator handling the sound. On top of that, it stays fairly clear at higher volumes except for loud, aggressive bass sounds.

More importantly, the XO2T sounds very good. Whether I was listening to Kavinsky’s Nightcall, Jidenna’s Long Live the Chief, or The Weeknd’s I Feel It Coming, the low-end is punchy and full. There’s not much in the way of sub-bass, but that’s to be expected.

Often smaller speakers – and I would consider the LG XBOOM XO2T to be in this category – you end up with something where the low-end and high-end (or bass and treble) are boosted while the mids suffer, offering a somewhat hollow sounding listening experience. Or, the mids are a bit too full so that you feel like you’re getting a good listening experience, but the audio isn’t exactly clear. 

Higher quality speakers thread the needle and the LG does so well, as the mids are full but balanced. Voices and guitars (as well as other upper midrange instruments) have body to them without sounding distorted as I experienced with Paramore’s Now and Cocteau Twin’s Heaven or Las Vegas. Another example is Chris Stapleton’s version of Tennessee Whiskey, where I felt the full range of his voice – rich and full without sounding compressed or distorted.

The only place where the sound quality leaves something to be desired is in the high notes. While you can surely boost treble frequencies through the app’s EQ, there’s a slight shortfall in terms of detail here, as if there’s a very thin blanket over the audio. Considering the speaker’s construction – again there’s a 3-inch driver, a one-inch upward firing tweeter and a passive radiator – it’s not a huge surprise.

• Sound quality: 4.5/5

(Image credit: Future) LG XBoom XTO2 review: Value

The LG XBOOM XO2T’s price tag of $199.99 / £199.99 (about AU$300) may seem to be in the premium bracket for portable speakers, it’s actually more in the midrange. Offerings from premium brands such as Bose, with the Bose SoundLink Max, will certainly put this speaker’s price tag into perspective, especially when you consider all that the LG XBoom XO2T has to offer.

The Ultimate Ears Everboom, for instance, also delivers 360-degree with plenty of oomph and comes with a nice aesthetic and build. It does have a little more battery life and a slightly better IP67 rating. But it will also set you back $249.99 / £249.99 / AU$349.

The Sonos Roam 2 is another portable speaker in this range with its slightly lower $179 / £179 / AU$299 price tag. While you have access to the Sonos ecosystem for multi-room setup, you could do the same with the LG via the Wireless Party Link feature (more on that later). Plus, the LG XBOOM XO2T has better battery life and at least a more unique look, not to mention that mood lighting.

• Value score: 4/5

(Image credit: LG) Should I buy the LG XBoom XTO2? Buy it if… Don’t buy it if… LG XBoom XTO2 review: Also consider How I tested the LG XBoom XTO2

• Tested for 2 weeks
• Listened to all sorts of genres of music as well as podcast and streaming video
• Predominantly tested using high fidelity streaming through Deezer and Podcast app on an iPhone 13

I spent two weeks testing the LG XBoom XO2T, having listened to all sorts of genres of music through the HiFi tier of the Deezer streaming app as well as watching some YouTube videos and listening to some podcasts through the iOS Podcast app. I also played around with the LG XBOOM app, to test all the features including customizing the lights and audio.

The LG XBoom XO2T, after all is said and done, seems to made for those that don’t want to pay quite the premium prices of Bang & Olufsen or Bose, but still want a quality speaker that looks as good as it sounds.

I’ve spent the last few years reviewing tech gear including audio equipment, where I’ve gotten a feel for what to look for and how to put a piece of kit through its paces to see whether it’s worth the recommendation.

Read more about how we test

• First reviewed: September 2024

Eureka J20 robot vacuum two-minute review

The Eureka J20 provides the next generation of mopping technology thanks to its RollRenew mopping system. This is one of the best mopping solutions I’ve seen on any robot vacuum. It achieves superior performance by not only mounting the mop pad onto a roller but also spraying fresh water onto it as it rotates around. This helps to ensure the mop is always cleaning the floor with a clean pad. This leaves oscillating mopping solutions in its wake and seems likely to become become the go-to option for customers prepared to pay a premium for the best robot vacuum.

As well as excellent mopping capabilities, the J20 is also very capable when it comes to vacuuming. My tests with crushed digestives biscuits, flour, and oats were adequately dealt with when I increased the suction power to either Turbo or Super Strong. There were times when I needed to carry out a small follow-up sweep, but this was only on larger and more stubborn debris. All in all, the vacuuming performance of the J20 is up there with the best.

LiDAR mapping and AI obstacle detection performed incredibly well, leading to an accurate and reliable map of our house. It handled table legs and other furniture with ease, although this did add to the amount of time required to map the space. Eureka’s app is equally good, with outstanding mapping technology and customizable cleaning schedules.

(Image credit: Future)

The robot vacuum is only half the story, though. The J20 is backed up by an impressive base station that fulfils a range of duties, including charging, self-emptying, and refilling the vacuum water tank. It carries all of these out with very little fuss; all you have to concern yourself with is making sure the base station is filled up with water and the debris receptacle is emptied every so often. The station is a little on the large side, however, so you’ll want to make sure you have enough room for it before investing in this product.

The design of every part of the vacuum and base station is well considered and perfectly engineered. Premium materials are found throughout, helping not only to improve the user experience but also increase the longevity of the device.

There’s little not to love about the J20. This is a premium robot vacuum solution that delivers great vacuuming and mopping performance. The €1,399 price point will put a lot of people off but if you have the money to cover the investment, there aren’t many better alternatives on the market.

Eureka J20 robot vacuum review: price & availability

• Launched: Summer / fall 2024 
• Price EU $1,399 / $1,399 (equivalent to £1,100 / AU$2,075)
• Available in Europe, US and Australia launches to follow, no launch date for UK

At the time of writing the Eureka J20 is available in four European countries: Germany, France, Italy, and Spain. The €1,399 price tag puts it at the higher end of robot vacuum cleaners and TechRadar's premium price bracket, but that's reflected in the feature set. Robot vacuums do tend to attract discounts around major shopping events like the Black Friday sales, though, so there's a chance you might be able to avoid paying that full list price. 

In North America the J20 will be available on eureka.com with a retail price of $1,399, although during the US launch period there will be a $300 coupon, making the final price $1,099. An Australian launch is expected but there's no word on pricing, and so far there's no mention of a UK launch from Eureka.

• Value score: 4 out of 5

Eureka J20 robot vacuum specs Eureka J20 robot vacuum review: design & features

• 8,000 PA vacuum
• RollRenew mopping system
• Bagless self-emptying base station

The Eureka J20 vacuum and base station are relatively compact, especially considering the overall functionality and number of features. That doesn’t mean it’s particularly small, though. With dimensions of 423 x 462 x 452.5mm, you’ll need a fairly good amount of space to keep it out of the way. I was fortunate to have a space in my utility room that meant it wasn’t in the way of foot traffic. If you’re tight on space and have a small hallway or kitchen, you’ll need to look for a smaller unit.

Everything was safely packaged, guaranteeing nothing was harmed in transit. After unboxing everything, I plugged the base station in, placed the robot inside, and waited for it to be fully charged. The robot connects to the charging point through two metal plates, which automatically line up without any requirement for human intervention.

In the meantime, I downloaded the Eureka app, which is essential for use as well as for maximizing all the features. Connecting the robot to the app was a breeze, and my phone was able to find it with no problems at all.

While the robot is off mapping your house, the app displays all the progress in a simple and straightforward floor map. It is only after mapping the whole space that rooms can be labelled and zones specified. All in all, the app is incredibly intuitive and easy to navigate. If you’ve never owned a robot vacuum before, then controlling it from a phone will take a bit of getting used to, but you’ll soon get the hang of it.

(Image credit: Future)

All parts look and feel premium, helping to ensure durability when moving around the house. The reality is that at times it might have to interact with children or pets, but there are no concerns that the J20 won’t be able to withstand the test. The units are made from powder-coated dark grey plastic, helping to hide any scuffs and marks that will inevitably come their way. All parts of the robot and base station are easy to wipe clean.

The robot itself is fairly simple in design, with two buttons located on the top of the unit. One is for sending the robot back to its base station for charging, while the other starts and pauses the cleaning process. The same two buttons are also located on the base station for ease of access.

(Image credit: Future)

Underneath the robot is where all the magic happens. Sensors and brushes help to keep the robot on track as well as pick up dirt. The mop assembly is the crowning feature of the vacuum. Engineering it onto a belt means the mop pad stays cleaner for longer and that fresh water is regularly applied to the surface being cleaned. This sets it apart from a lot of traditional robot vacuums that only vibrate a mop pad across the surface.

(Image credit: Future)

One of the best things about the base station design is how easy it is to remove and insert the various tanks, including the clean water and waste water tanks. These fit seamlessly into the casing and are super easy to fill up/empty.

• Design score: 4 out of 5

Eureka J20 robot vacuum review: performance

• Great vacuuming capabilities
• Roller mop picks up spills nicely
• Fantastic mapping technology

The biggest evolution for Eureka and for the industry as a whole is the proprietary RollRenew mopping system. This did a fantastic job of cleaning up spills, as long as you got the vacuum to work on them pretty quickly; if it was left for a while, the J20 found it harder to take care of them in the time it was gliding over them. More water would have helped but that’s not usually desired, especially on real-wood floors. The J20 performed better than the Eureka E10s, thanks to the roller mop functionality.

Moving onto vacuuming, my tests involved sprinkling a mix of crushed digestives and flour, as well as oats, onto my carpet and hard floor before seeing how the Eureka J20 performed on its Quiet, Standard, Turbo, and Super Strong suction strengths. The lower settings didn't pick up anywhere near enough debris to make them worthwhile, either on carpet or hard floors.

The Turbo and Super Strong settings were much more capable of picking up the flour and biscuits to a satisfactory standard, although you’ll have to be prepared to put up with nearly 70dB of noise while it’s happening.

(Image credit: Future)

After testing the core elements of vacuuming and mopping, I turned my attention to the amount of noise the device was making. This is important because the quieter the vacuum, the more likely users are going to be able to utilize it at the end of each day without the fear of interrupting a quiet night in.

The audio volume of the J20 increases from 60dB on its lowest suction to 70dB on its highest. This is comparable with Eureka’s other models, such as the E10s, which had an almost identical audio range. The audio levels are not particularly comfortable, especially if you’re trying to relax at the same time. I prefer to put the robot to work either while I’m out during the day or when I’m doing other jobs.

After performing a clean, the J20 will return to its base station and empty its contents. The advertised capacity of the base station receptacle is 75 days, a length of time that is obviously dependent upon your home and how much dirt needs cleaning. In reality, it will need emptying as regularly as any standard upright vacuum would.

(Image credit: Future)

Eureka has always done a fantastic job of integrating state-of-the-art mapping and navigation technology into its robot vacuums. The same is true for its J20 model. Despite taking a while to map out our home and making a number of wrong turns in the process, the resulting map was incredibly accurate. Our rooms have a lot of table legs, which I thought would confuse the robot, but instead it gradually and methodically worked its way around.

The overall performance of the J20 among the best I have ever seen. It effectively picks up dirt, mops up spills, and requires very little human intervention to finish cleaning tasks.

• Performance score: 4.5 out of 5

Eureka J20 robot vacuum review: app

• Intuitive to use
• Specific room and zone mapping
• Ability to schedule cleans

Eureka has managed to create an app that is not only remarkably easy to use but also offers a lot of functionality. Having used the app with the Eureka E10s, I continued to be impressed by all that the app offers.

Downloading and installing the app was an absolute breeze. After connecting the vacuum, I proceeded to carry out an initial mapping of the space. The vacuum and app linked seamlessly to provide a usable scan of the house, including a map of scanned rooms. Each of these can be labelled for easier navigation and customization as well as the ability to set no-go or no-mop zones, perfect for carpeted floors.

(Image credit: Future)

Eureka provides a number of different ways to get your space cleaned. The first is to select specific rooms on the map and hit the clean button. This is ideal if you know you have mess in a set number of rooms but don’t want to carry out a full clean. Alternatively, zones can be specified, which is perfect for cleaning those high-use areas.

By far the easiest and most hassle-free option is to set up scheduled cleans and let the vacuum just crack on with doing what it does best. The app lets you specify a time, a repeat schedule, and a number of cleaning cycles. Each scheduled clean can also include the rooms that you want cleaned.

I found all of these features to be incredibly easy to use but I would understand if someone less tech-savvy needed a little bit of help getting everything set up. There were also occasions when troubleshooting was required and if you weren’t able to work through these problems yourself, then I could see how it could become a little frustrating.

• App score: 4.5 out of 5

Eureka J20 robot vacuum review: battery life

• Battery lasts up to three hours
• Takes around three to four hours to recharge

The 6,400mAh battery is advertised as lasting 180 minutes. This running time is only remotely achievable when used with the lowest level of suction power. You can expect this to reduce by as much as half when using the highest power setting.

Given the fact that this level of suction is required almost all the time, you’ll want to weigh up whether you’re happy with this battery performance. Measuring your space is a good start. I found the robot able to cover in the region of 750-850 square feet per charge.

Recharging the robot from empty takes around three to four hours, which is more than easily achieved between cleans. The robot is also intelligent enough to know when it needs a boost and will return to the base station accordingly.

• Battery life score: 3.5 out of 5

Should you buy the Eureka J20 robot vacuum? Buy it if...

You want a roller mop

The selling-point of the Eureka J20 is the mop that is mounted to a roller. This helps to ensure that fresh water is applied to each new stain, thereby improving the overall performance of the mop.

You want a self-emptying base

The J20 robot vacuum transfers all of its debris into the base station every time it returns. This reduces the number of times the main dustbin needs to be emptied.

You love great design

The J20 really looks the part. Every individual element has been expertly designed and crafted to provide a beautiful looking unit.

Don't buy it if...

You are on a budget

At €1,399, the Eureka J20 is far from affordable for most people. The benefit of paying this much money is that you’ll get to enjoy a range of premium features that are not available on cheaper alternatives.

You need a long battery life

The J20 provides a reasonable battery life but at the highest suction power, the battery does begin to struggle a little. If you have a particularly large home and want to complete it in one charge, you might run into some problems.

You want a tried and tested model

The J20 is a relatively new entry into the world of robot vacuums and despite the great features, it hasn’t built up a sufficient track record to make it one of the greats.

How I tested the Eureka J20 robot vacuum

• Tested with several full cleans of my home
• Used all vacuum and mopping settings
• All floor types, including carpet and hardwood

My 600-foot home was perfect for testing the Eureka J20. The mix of carpets, hardwood floors, and a low-pile rug meant I could test all the features of this impressive robot vacuum. After setting it up and mapping the space, I endeavored to let the robot get on with its cleaning, independent of my involvement. There’s no use having a robot vacuum if you’re always going to have to intervene.

More specifically, I included a fine dust and larger debris test to check its vacuuming capabilities. The former was made up of crushed digestives and flour, with the latter consisting of oats. These helped me see how well the vacuum was able to handle different types of mess.

Read more about how we test

First reviewed: July 2024

Smeg BCC13: one-minute review

The Smeg BCC13 is a fully automatic bean-to-cup espresso machine with an automatic milk frother, which produces consistently well extracted coffee time after time.

The BCC13 is built to a very high standard, with thoughtful touches like an easy to access dump bucket for grounds; refill, cleaning, and descaling alerts; and smooth interior surfaces that are a piece of cake to keep clean. The machine warns you whenever refilling or cleaning is necessary, and a quick clean cycle of its milk and dispenser system takes just one minute from start to finish.

It has presets for nine different drinks, plus hot water for making tea, and you can tailor the length of lattes, cappuccinos, and americanos to suit the size of your cups. The most popular drinks are available with a single tap of the buttons on top of the machine, and less common options can be accessed by holding a button to access a secondary menu. It's not always immediately obvious which button relates to which drink, so you may find yourself relying on the quick start guide for the first week or so, but you'll soon get the hang of it.

This is the first machine in the BCC series with an automatic milk frothing system (Image credit: Future)

This is the first coffee maker in the BCC series with an automatic milk frother, and it works extremely well. Just pour your milk into the robust container (which has an airtight lid so you can store it in the fridge), immerse one end of the rubber tube, and gently push it into place on the side of the dispenser. The BCC13 produces thick, creamy foam for cappuccinos and lattes, and the milk is heated enough to break down the lactose for a delicious, sweet foam without ever being scalded.

It doesn't work well with plant-based milks (even barista ones), but that's typical for a coffee maker with an automatic frother and Smeg does warn you that results won't be the same as they are with dairy. If you enjoy oat or soya in your lattes and cappuccinos, you might prefer to opt for one of Smeg's coffee makers with a manual steam wand, which give you total control. Our guide to the best espresso machines includes lots more options to check out.

Smeg BCC13: price and availability

• List price: $1,200 / £799.95 / AU$1,199
• Launch date: July 2024
• Availability: global

The Smeg BCC13 launched in July 2024, as a successor to the Bean to Cup BCC02. It has a list price of $1,200 / £799.95 / AU$1,199, and although it was only available in the UK initially, it can now be bought worldwide.

That's more than the BCC02, which retailed at around $1,000 / £680 / AU$970 depending on the retailer, but the price increase isn't huge considering the BCC13 has been upgraded with a fully automatic milk frother.

Bean-to-cup machines always carry a premium price tag, but the BCC13 certainly isn't the most expensive coffee maker of its type. The De'Longhi Dinamica Plus is an excellent machine, but at $1499.95 / £1199.99/ AU$1529 , it's beyond the budget of all but the most serious espresso lovers.

If you're on a tighter budget, I recommend considering a manual espresso machine like the Breville Bambino Plus, which retails at $499.95 / £399.95 / AU$649. There's more of a learning curve and you'll need a separate coffee grinder, but it's half the price and earned four and a half stars from our reviewer.

• Value score: 4.5/5

The BCC13 heats milk enough to break down lactose for a sweet foam that never tastes scalded (Image credit: Future) Smeg BCC13: specs Smeg BCC13: design

• Sleek, modern look
• Thoughtful touches for easy cleaning
• Drink option buttons need a reference guide

The Smeg BCC13 looks almost identical to the BCC02, but instead of a steam wand permanently attached to the front, it has a removeable rubber hose for its automatic milk steaming system. It's a stylish machine, with a smooth black, white, or emerald green case and a brushed aluminum front. 

The dispenser on the front slides up and down with a smooth motion to accommodate different cup sizes, and has a port in the side for the milk hose. You can remove the milk pumping system by opening the front of the dispenser and pulling the unit out for cleaning.

Coffee beans are loaded into a hopper on the top (the BCC13 will warn you when it's empty) and there's a large water reservoir at the back, with a carry handle so you can easily take it to the tap or use a filter jug to refill it. The reservoir has a generous maximum capacity of 47.34oz / 1.4L, so it doesn't need refilling often, and the machine will automatically purge the water line when the reservoir is re-inserted,

The reservoir is generously sized and well designed, with a sturdy carry handle that makes it easy to remove from the back of the BCC13 (Image credit: Future)

A side door in the machine allows you to access the machine's brew group, which will sometimes need cleaning to remove buildup of coffee grounds. Just press the buttons on the side of the group unit, then gently pull to remove it. Once it's out, you can simply rinse it under a tap to get rid of buildup, then give it a dry with a tea towel before replacing it.

You'll receive a warning from the machine when the brew group needs cleaning, and a light will illuminate on top if you've accidentally left the panel off.

The machine has a removable side panel that lets you access the brew group for cleaning (Image credit: Future)

The drip tray slots onto the front of the machine, and you'll receive a warning when it's starting to get full. It has a generous capacity so it doesn't need emptying too often, despite the machine's automatic purging function, and like all parts of the BCC12, it feels robust and durable.

Used grounds are dropped into a convenient waste caddy at the bottom of the machine, which you'll find by removing the drip tray and sliding out a drawer. The caddy holds up to seven pucks of used espresso, and again, the BCC13 will warn you when it needs emptying. The caddy simply lifts out, and you can wash it using dish soap and water.

Used grounds drop into a caddy in the bottom of the machine, and the machine will warn you when it needs emptying (Image credit: Future)

A set of five buttons on the top of the machine let you choose the type of drink you'd like to make. When they are illuminated white, you can pick from espresso, coffee, hot water for tea, cappuccino, and latte macchiato. Pressing the slightly larger button underneath them will switch the lights to orange, and let you choose
espresso light (a less extracted shot), long coffee, americano, espresso macchiato, or foamed milk.

It's obvious what some of the buttons will do from the icons alone, but until you've used the machine for a few days, you'll probably need to consult the quick start guides included in the packaging to remind you what each ones does.

The final button, on the right, starts the machine's quick clean cycle. It will flash after you use the BCC13's milk frothing system, prompting you to fill the cleaning container with water, insert the end of the hose, and press the button for three seconds to purge the system. Dirty water will be flushed out, leaving the machine ready to use again next time.

You can carry on making drinks without performing the cycle, but I timed it, and the process only takes one minute from start to finish.

You have a choice of nine drink types, plus hot water for tea. The button at the bottom serves as a 'shift' button on a keyboard, letting you pick a secondary option (Image credit: Future)

The machine is supplied with a sturdy milk container with a maximum capacity of  500ml / 16oz, which has a rubberized lid so you can store it hygienically in the fridge when it's not in use. It's easy to clean by hand with dish soap and warm water.

• Design score: 5/5

Smeg BCC13: performance

The appeal of a premium bean-to-cup coffee maker is consistency, and the Smeg BCC13 excels, creating perfect shots of espresso with thick, rich crema every time. You can tinker with the grind size if you like, but I found the default settings produced a well extracted espresso with no adjustment. The entire process of brewing an espresso took 1:04 minutes from pressing the button to completion, and the BCC13 reached a maximum volume of 67dB (though most of the brewing process was much quieter).

I carried out our regular test of an espresso by placing a teaspoonful of demerara sugar on top. It sat for a few seconds before sinking through the crema, which is a sign of a good shot.

Espresso has a rich, thick crema every time, and is consistently well extracted (Image credit: Future)

The inclusion of a hot water setting is a welcome addition that we don't see with all fully automatic espresso machines, and means you don't need a kettle for brewing tea. The foamed milk feature is also thoughtful, providing a babyccino on demand (just dust on some cocoa when it's done).

The built-in milk frother is very consistent, producing thick and creamy foam for cappuccinos and lattes. Milk was never overheated either; the BCC13 warms it enough to break down the lactose for a sweet taste, without scalding it. As with the well extracted coffee, the results are the same time after time, with no manual alterations necessary.

Depending on the size of your cups, you may want to adjust the volume of lattes, cappuccinos, and americanos by changing the amount of milk or water dispensed. You can do this by holding down one of the drink selection buttons until you hear a tone, then pressing the button again once the machine has dispensed the right amount. The BCC13 will save this preset for future use.

If you want to stop dispensing the current drink early, you can do so by tapping the drink selection key. This won't affect the presets.

Scooping out a spoonful lets you see just how much foam the BCC13 can produce for a latte macchiato (Image credit: Future)

The only real downside is that the Smeg BCC13 can't handle plant milks particularly well. Smeg's documentation advises that although you can steam non-dairy alternatives using its machines, you'll get better results with cow milk, and that certainly proved to be the case. A cappuccino made using barista oat milk had barely any foam on top (as shown in the picture below), and the machine overheated the milk rather than incorporating air. Smeg does warn you about this, and it's standard for a machine with an auto milk frother, so the BCC13 doesn't lose marks for it.

If you want to use oat, soy, almond, or coconut milk to make drinks then you may be better served by the Smeg BCC02, which has a manual steam wand so you can adjust the pressure and use your own technique to get the right texture. Alternatively, you could opt for the BCC01 espresso machine, which has no steam feature at all, and pick up a standalone milk frother like the Dreo BaristaMaker, which has presets for plant milks.

Smeg warns that plant milks may not froth as well as dairy milk, and it's not wrong - an oat milk cappuccino (left) had barely any foam compared to the same drink made with full-fat dairy (right) (Image credit: Future)

Fully automatic coffee makers are wonderfully convenient when you just want to make a drink with the minimum of fuss, but the moving parts mean they tend to be more of a hassle to clean than a manual machine. Thankfully the BCC13 keeps that to a minimum by prompting you to carry out regular cleanup tasks so things never get too messy.

You will be promoted to purge the dispenser and tubing each time you use the milk frother, which is sensible and prevents buildup of bacteria. When the quick clean button flashes, fill the square cleaning container with plain water, place it under the dispenser, and insert the end of the milk tube. Hold the button for three seconds and the machine will flush its whole dispensing system with hot water and steam, and pump the resulting waste into a reservoir in the cleaning container. It's impressive just how much it cleans out each time. 

You'll be prompted to run a quick cleaning cycle after using the automatic milk frother (Image credit: Future)

A few stray coffee grounds inevitably end up falling inside the machine as it works, but not too many, and they're easy to clean up. The bottom of the BCC13 is easy to access with the drawer pulled out, and its smooth interior surface means you can use a brush or a piece of kitchen towel to wipe it out in a few seconds. The whole machine is made and finished to a very high standard, and there's nowhere for stray grounds to get trapped.

• Performance score: 5/5

Should you buy the Smeg BCC13? Buy it if

You value ease of use

The Smeg BCC13 is fully automated, and is the easiest way to enjoy freshly ground and brewed coffee from bean to cup. It will deliver consistently good results time after time, with little to no tinkering required on your part (just a little cleaning when prompted).

You make several coffees daily

The BCC13 is a big investment, so you'll need to be frequent coffee drinker to justify the expense. Making a drink can take as little as one minute from start to finish, so it could be a real time-saver if you usually brew up several times during the day.

Don't buy it if

Coffee-making is your hobby

This is a fully automated machine, so there's not too much space for taking things into your own hands. Smeg also produces some great manual espresso makers (like the stylish EMC series, which you should check out if you like the look of the BCC13 but enjoy the full home barista experience.

You enjoy plant-based milk

As Smeg says, the BCC13 works best with dairy milk, and doesn't handle plant-based alternatives nearly as well. If almond, soy, oat, or coconut is more your thing, you could opt for an espresso machine with a manual steam wand that gives you full control, or skip the steamer altogether and opt for a standalone frother like the Dreo BaristaMaker, which has presets for plant milks.

Smeg BCC13: also consider

If you're not sure about the Smeg BCC13, here are a couple of other options to think about:

Smeg BCC02

If you like the sound of the BCC13 but you enjoy plant-based milk, the slightly older BCC02 would be a great option. It has a steam wand rather than an automated frother, putting you in control of the heat and air integration - and it costs a little less as well.

Read our full Smeg BCC02 review

Casabrews 5700Pro

This machine has its own grinder, and will help with weighing and dosing, but you get more of the barista experience by putting you in control of adjusting the grind size, tamping the grounds, and pulling the shot. The biggest downside is that it's only available in the US at the time of writing.

Read our full Casabrews 5700Pro review

How I tested the Smeg BCC13

I had the Smeg BCC13 on loan for two weeks, during which time I used it to make all sorts of drinks using high quality medium roasted Brazilian espresso beans, and compared them to the same drinks made using a manual Gaggia Classic machine.

I tested the BCC13's automatic milk frother using both chilled whole dairy milk and barista-style oat milk, and compared the results with those created by foaming milk with a manual steam wand.

I tested the BCC13 using Brazilian Arabica coffee beans (Image credit: Future)

I measured the volume of the machine throughout the brewing process using a decibel meter app on my phone, and used my phone's timer to see how long it took to brew a drink and complete a quick cleaning cycle.

Read more about how we test.

First reviewed August 2024