Reviews

Netgear Nighthawk RS200: One-minute review

(Image credit: Future / Cliff Joseph)

Netgear has always been happy to sit up at the more expensive end of the networking market but, following a management shake-up earlier this year, we’re pleased to see that it finally seems to be taking a more competitive approach with its pricing. The new Nighthawk RS200 is certainly the most affordable Wi-Fi 7 router that it’s released so far - although that low price does mean that it lacks some key features that most of its Wi-Fi 7 rivals take for granted.

Most notably, the RS200 is a dual-band router, which transmits a Wi-Fi signal on the 2.4GHz and 5.0GHz frequency bands – whereas most Wi-Fi 7 routers are ‘tri-band’ devices that can also transmit on the 6.0GHz band as well (as do previous generation routers with Wi-Fi 6E too). Some people might argue that this omission means that the RS200 doesn’t even qualify as a true Wi-Fi 7 router at all, but there are other technical features within Wi-Fi 7 that enable the RS200 to squeeze better performance out of the 2.4GHz and 5.0GHz bands. This ensures that it can outperform many of the older dual-band routers that are still in use in many homes, so it may be worth considering as an upgrade for people who are still using an old Wi-Fi 5 or Wi-Fi 6 router that was provided by their ISP.

Netgear Nighthawk RS200: Price and availability

• How much does it cost? $229.99/£199.99/AU$449.00
• When is it available? Now
• Where can you get it? Available in the US, UK, Australia

A price of $229.99/£199.99/AU$449.00 means that the RS200 is one of the most affordable Wi-Fi 7 routers we’ve seen so far – although, of course, Netgear had to omit support for the high-speed 6.0GHz band in order to achieve that price. However, its top speed of 6.5Gbps should still be adequate for most domestic broadband services. Netgear also states that it can connect to 80 different devices at the same time, and can cover homes up to 2,500sq.ft in size (although regions outside the US may quote that figure at 2,000sq.ft due to differences in national regulations).

• Value: 3.5/5

Netgear Nighthawk RS200: Specs Netgear Nighthawk RS200: Design

(Image credit: Future / Cliff Joseph)

• Tower design provides 360-degree Wi-Fi
• 4x Ethernet ports for wired connections
• USB for network storage

I still miss the streamlined design of the original Nighthawk routers, with folding wings that made it look like Darth Vader’s shuttle craft. But, like other new Nighthawk models since the introduction of Wi-Fi 7, the Nighthawk RS200 has a more upright design, looking like a tall, black obelisk that stands a full 249mm high. You’ll need to give it plenty of room when first setting it up, but this design does allow the router’s four internal antennae to more effectively transmit the Wi-Fi signal through 360-degrees all around, in order to achieve the high speeds that are provided by Wi-Fi 7.

(Image credit: Future / Cliff Joseph)

And, despite the low price, the RS200 provides wired good connectivity too, with a 2.5Gbps Ethernet port for a high-speed fibre or cable broadband connection. There’s another 2.5Gbps port to provide a wired connection for a PC or games console, and three Gigabit Ethernet ports for additional connections. It’s also possible to ‘aggregate’ – or combine – two of those Ethernet ports to provide a faster connection if required. There’s even a USB-A (3.0) port that will allow you to connect a USB storage device to your network, so that you can share files with other people at home or in an office.

• Design: 4/5

Netgear Nighthawk RS200: Features

(Image credit: Future / Cliff Joseph)

There’s no getting around the fact that omitting the 6.0GHz frequency band is an odd decision for a Wi-Fi 7 router, as anyone who has a shiny new PC or smartphone that supports Wi-Fi 7 will want all the speed they can get from it. However, a speed of 6.5Gbps is still more than adequate for most home users, and many business users too, and the RS200 does include Wi-Fi 7 features – such as reduced latency – that still give it an edge over older dual-band routers.

The Nighthawk app is well designed too, and makes it easy to set up your new network in just a few minutes. There’s a QR code printed on top of the router, and you can just scan this code and then leave the app to set everything up for you automatically. You can simply use the default network name and password if you want, but the app allows you to create a new name and password for extra security. The only thing that slows you down is the need to create a Netgear account in order to keep using the app after the initial installation.

Image 1 of 3

(Image credit: Future / Cliff Joseph)Image 2 of 3

(Image credit: Future / Cliff Joseph)Image 3 of 3

(Image credit: Future / Cliff Joseph)

To keep things as simple as possible, the Nighthawk app combines the two frequency bands into a single network and automatically connects your computers and other devices to the fastest band available in that particular location within your home or office. But while the app is very easy to use, it doesn’t offer many additional features.

You can create a guest network, and there are tools for running a speed check and monitoring network traffic to ensure that everything is working properly. However, the app’s parental controls are very basic, simply allowing you to pause Internet access for individual devices. There are no weekly scheduling controls, or content filters to block web sites that might be unsuitable for children.

If you do want those additional features then you’ll need to pay a subscription fee for Netgear’s Smart Parental Controls service. There’s a 30-day free trial available, but once the trial ends you’ll need to pay $7.99/month or $69.99/year to continue the service. The same thing applies to Netgear’s Armor security service, which also provides a 30-day trial, but then costs $99.99 per year.

As we’ve said – many a time in the past – there are rival routers that provide better parental controls free of charge, so parents that do need these features may want to consider alternative routers.

• Features: 3.5/5

Netgear Nighthawk RS200: Performance

• 6.5Gbps speed
• Dual-band Wi-Fi 7 (2.4GHz/5.0GHz)
• 4 internal antennae

The lack of support for the 6.0GHz frequency band is clearly disappointing – and for some users it may well be a deal-breaker. Even so, the improved performance of the Nighthawk RS200 still allows it to beat the aging dual-band router in our office, which was provided by our ISP.

Our office broadband runs at 150Mbps, but our old router can normally only manage a top speed of 120Mbps even when connecting to devices that are close by in the same room.

Netgear Nighthawk RS200: Benchmarks

BENCHMARKS:

Ookla Speed Test – Single merged network (download/upload)

Within 5ft, no obstructions: 150Mbps/150Mbps

Within 30ft, three partition walls: 150Mbps/150Mbps

20GB Steam Download - Single merged network

Within 5ft, no obstructions: 150Mbps

Within 30ft, three partition walls: 150Mbps

We also have an office at the back of the building that our old router struggles to reach at all, forcing us to rely on PowerLine adaptors to provide a wired network connection instead. In contrast, the RS200 immediately hit the full 150Mbps speed that was available when connecting to devices in the same room for both the Ookla Speed Test and for large file downloads on Steam.

That speed did dip slightly as I picked up my laptop and wandered along the hall to the back office, but the RS200 took just a few seconds to roll up its sleeves and bump the speed back up to 150Mbps once more, and eliminate the need for those PowerLine adaptors. If you already own an expensive laptop or iPhone 16 that has full support for tri-band Wi-Fi 7 then it probably doesn’t make much sense to compromise on an entry-level router such as the RS200 that doesn’t support the 6.0GHz band. However, the RS200 can still provide a fast, reliable upgrade for people who are using an older dual-band router that is past its sell-by date.

• Performance: 4/5

Should you buy the Netgear Nighthawk RS200? Buy it if...

You Need An Affordable Upgrade

The dual-band Wi-Fi of the Nighthawk RS200 certainly isn’t state-of-the-art, but it can still provide a good upgrade for people who are using an old dual-band router provided by their ISP.

You’re A Network Newbie

Netgear’s Nighthawk app is a little basic, but it’s quick and easy to use. All you have to do is scan a QR code to set up your new network and then create a Netgear account to get started.

Don't buy it if...

You’re A Speed Demon

The relatively low price of the Nighthawk RS200 means that it’s limited to dual-band Wi-Fi using just the 2.4GHz and 5.0GHz bands. Owners of new computers and mobile devices that support Wi-Fi 7 will be better off with a tri-band router that also supports the high-speed 6.0GHz band.

You Want Parental Controls

Netgear charges an additional subscription fee for its Smart Parental Controls service. There are rival routers that provide content filters and other parental controls free of charge.

Also consider

Netgear Nighthawk RS300

Owners of computers and mobile devices that already support Wi-Fi 7 may want to step up to the Nighthawk RS300. It’s 50% faster than the RS200, and also supports the high-speed 6.0GHz frequency band too.

Read our full Netgear Nighthawk RS300 review

Asus ROG Rapture GT-BE98

From the affordable to the outrageous – the GT-BE98 from Asus is an all-out speed demon. Designed for gamers, it provides quad-band Wi-Fi 7 with a top speed of 24.4Gbps, and 10Gbps Ethernet for high-speed broadband connections.

Read our full Asus ROG Rapture GT-BE98 review

This review first appeared in issue 360 of PC Pro.

Motorola’s latest high-end flip-phone is competitively priced. At £1,000 inc VAT it costs the same as an iPhone 15 Pro, and more importantly £50 less than its direct rival, Samsung’s Galaxy Z Flip6. So the question is: has anything been sacrificed?

It’s certainly not style. In fact, I’d argue that the Razr 50 Ultra is the coolest phone you can buy. It comes in four colors that are as striking as the names Motorola gives them, namely Spring Green, Midnight Blue, Peach Fuzz and a Hot Pink that’s a throwback to 2005’s pink Razr V3. Everything about the design is thoughtful and slick, from the soft, suede-effect “vegan leather” (i.e., plastic) back that shows off the paint job nicely, to the humongous cover display – but more about that later.

It feels great in the hand, too. I found the size and weight very comfortable, whether the phone was opened or closed, and the folding mechanism snaps open and shut so satisfyingly that it becomes addictive. An IPX8 rating means it can take a dunk underwater without issue.

The specs are not to be sniffed at, either. The UK model has 12GB of RAM as standard, plus a roomy 512GB of built-in storage, and is powered by Qualcomm’s shiny new Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 chipset. It’s a very tempting package with – as we’ll see – only a handful of shortcomings.

Displays outside and in

The most immediately striking thing about the Razr 50 Ultra’s design is its full-face cover display. It’s conspicuously bigger than the outer screen on last year’s Razr 40, and than the display on the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip6. As well as offering a decent amount of space for apps, it’s so sharp and bright – it’s rated at a maximum of 2,400cd/m2 – that it’s a joy to use in its own right.

The only catch with the outer display is the two holes punched out for the camera lenses, plus a third smaller one for the flash. I like the way the screen flows around the cameras, but it can cause practical obstacles – for example, some of the buttons on the Roku TV remote app were inaccessible. You can resize apps to fit better, but it’s a chore; this isn’t something that afflicts Samsung’s Galaxy Z Flip6.

The foldable inner display is even brighter than the outer one, at 3,000cd/m2. It looks just as good, and it opens out impressively flat: I couldn’t even see the crease unless I held the phone at an angle, and I could barely feel it when I ran my finger across the screen.

The foldable inner display opens out to an almost imperceptible flatness (Image credit: Future)

Software sins

The Razr 50 Ultra runs Motorola’s version of Android, but compared to other manufacturers the company has a light touch with customizations. The whole experience looks and feels a lot like using a Google Pixel, although Motorola only promises three major OS updates, versus five from Google and Samsung.

Motorola does, however, make a number of interesting additions to the Android interface, notably its gesture shortcuts. For example, I love the way you can open the camera app by twisting your wrist a couple of times. This works even when the phone is closed, which means you can grab a selfie by simply applying a quick double twist of your wrist, then holding the phone up in front of you. I also like the way you can “chop” the phone twice in the air to toggle the front light on and off.

Sadly, not everything about Motorola’s Android platform makes such a good impression. The Razr 50 Ultra software includes an AI wallpaper generator, which can in theory generate any background you describe – giving you a much freer hand than you’ll get with Google or Samsung phones.

Unfortunately, the results clearly suffer from the sort of AI bias I thought we’d left behind years ago. If you ask for people you’re certain to get white people, while “friends at the beach” produced images of girls in bikinis, and “a strong person” got me a shirtless muscleman. Such stereotyping leaves a sour taste in the mouth – and you can’t just keep trying until you get results you’re happy with, as there’s a limit to how many wallpapers you can render in a month. There’s not even an option to buy more images; you must wait until the following month to have another go.

Camera tricks

The Motorola Razr 50 Ultra is fun to shoot with in almost every situation. As I’ve mentioned, you can grab selfies without needing to unfold the phone, by just twisting your wrist (or tapping the Camera app). Open the phone up for portraits and the cover display gives the subject a handy view of what the camera’s seeing; it’s great to watch friends smile when they see themselves on the cover screen.

You can also use the phone’s folding design to stand it up on its own, and start a countdown by raising a palm. My favorite feature is the ability to switch into “camcorder mode” by simply opening out the screen halfway and aiming the camera at the action. The Razr Plus starts recording video automatically, and you can stop with a tap anywhere on the bottom half of the screen.

As for image quality, photos and videos captured by the Razr 50 Ultra make a great first impression, with bright, rich colors – but I did hit a few issues in my testing. Focusing didn’t always hit the mark, especially with close-ups, even after I’d tapped on my desired focus point; and while I took care to use the digital level, my landscape photos sometimes came out crooked. I also felt that blurred bokeh backgrounds looked processed and artificial, without the smoothness you’d get from a full-sized camera lens. Still, the overall quality is fine for everyday casual snaps, and I’m inclined to forgive a few foibles when the act of shooting is such a joy.

The superb outer display is extremely bright and highly practical (Image credit: Future)

Performance and battery

The Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 chipset inside the Razr 50 Ultra is a middleweight model, delivering similar levels of performance to last year’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (as in the Galaxy Z Flip5) but with lower power demands.

That means it can’t keep up with the Flip6, which includes the full-fat Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip: it scored 4,848 in Geekbench 6’s multicore test compared to 7,022 for the Flip6. But this remains a fast phone. My apps ran perfectly smoothly and snappily; even fancy tricks such as opening the camera with gestures, or moving an app from the big internal display to the smaller cover screen, worked without delay. The phone also did a great job playing games and movies, including high-resolution multiplayer games such as Call of Duty: Mobile.

The only hiccup I encountered was with Motorola’s AI features. Leaving aside my issues with the wallpaper generator, I found AI-enhanced features such as text editing and photo editing laggy, especially compared to similar features on the Pixel 8 Pro and Galaxy S24 – and sometimes tasks would fail completely.

It’s a clunky experience, but that may be down to first-generation software. Qualcomm claims the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 has a generous amount of on-device AI processing power, and I found Google Gemini ran smoothly on the Razr 50 Ultra’s cover display (something you can’t do on the Galaxy Z Flip6). Motorola says that new AI capabilities will be coming to the phone in future updates, so here’s hoping that overall performance will also be optimized and improved.

While the Razr 50 Ultra isn’t the fastest phone around, it’s admirably power-efficient. Its 4,000mAh battery is only 7.5% larger than the cell in the Galaxy Z Flip5, yet it achieves almost 50% more battery life. In our tests we regularly enjoyed more than 14 hours of screen time with the Razr 50 Ultra.

The phone supports fast 45W charging too, although there’s no charger included in the box, so if you want speedy top-ups you’ll need to source a suitable power supply separately. You can also recharge via a Qi2 wireless charger, although when I tried this I experienced an odd glitch where the screen woke up every few seconds while charging. Hopefully a future software update will fix this.

The “vegan leather” back adds to the phone’s good looks (Image credit: Future)

An open and shut case

If you’re sick of the same old smartphone designs, the Razr 50 Ultra is the perfect cure. Aside from the inherent appeal of the folding format, it’s bright and colorful inside and out, the king-sized cover display is both attractive and practical, and the hinge snaps open and shut with a terrifically pleasing action.

There are rough edges. The AI-powered image generator should never have been released with its current biases, and the other AI tools aren’t as snappy as they are on other handsets.

Frankly, though, you can ignore the AI gimmicks and still find much to like about the Razr 50 Ultra. Perhaps the best reason to hold off buying this phone is that, historically, Motorola has a habit of offering great discounts on its top-end handsets once the initial launch period has passed – and often also adds new colors to the range, in partnership with Pantone. Even at full price, though, the Razr 50 Ultra is a decent deal in a selection of great-looking finishes. It’s an easy recommendation for anyone looking to take a walk on the flip-side.

We also rated the best phones that incorporate artificial intelligence.

This review first appeared in issue 360 of PC Pro.

If the Razr 50 Ultra is too pricey, Motorola also offers a regular version of its latest flip phone. At only £800 inc VAT it’s the cheapest of the current generation of foldables, yet it manages to match much of the style and appeal of the Ultra.

It too comes in a cool choice of colors, ranging from sober Koala Grey through tasteful Beach Sand to Spritz Orange. The vegan leather casing remains, with its contoured edges and lightweight feel, and the updated folding mechanism opens and closes with a satisfying snap.

The Razr 50 also has a generously sized cover screen, with the same two punched-out holes for the camera lenses. It doesn’t quite cover the entire front of the phone as the Ultra’s does, but it’s big enough to be both useful and attractive, with a 90Hz refresh rate and a sharp 413ppi pixel density. You can happily capture selfies with the rear cameras, use the half-unfolded phone as a desk display and even run full apps without opening up the case. It’s protected by a Gorilla Glass Victus coating, and the whole thing boasts an IPX8 water resistant design.

The 6.9in OLED inner display looks great, too. This has the same sharp density as the outer screen, a smooth 120Hz refresh rate and a maximum brightness of 3,000cd/m2, making it a joy to use even in direct sunlight. The crease is visible, but less so than on older flip phones.

The outer screen has a 90Hz refresh rate and a sharp 413ppi pixel density (Image credit: Future)

One significant difference between the Razr 50 and the Ultra is that this model doesn’t have a telephoto lens, instead pairing a decent 50MP main camera with a 13MP ultrawide. I prefer this arrangement for vlogging, selfies and group photos, as the ultrawide lets you capture more of the scene, while an upgraded photo booth mode works with both the inner and outer displays. In camcorder mode the Razr 50 can capture 4K video at up to 60fps, in either vertical or horizontal positions, although there’s no HDR support.

The Razr 50 also benefits from the AI enhancements to improve photo quality and stabilize your videos, and when I compared image quality between this phone and the pricier Razr 50 Ultra I couldn’t see much difference. The colors are more subdued and dynamic range isn’t as good in the shadows, but the Razr 50 still produces fine photos. The biggest compromise is the all-digital zoom; it works pretty well, but look closely and zoomed-in images are smudgy compared to those taken with the 50 Ultra.

Another noteworthy difference between the Razr 50 and the Ultra is the processor. In place of the Ultra’s Snapdragon chip, the standard Razr uses a MediaTek Dimensity 7300X chip, which is a mid-range performer. It’s also backed up by a more modest 8GB of memory and 256GB of UFS 2.2 storage.

Even so, apps run smoothly, and in everyday use I barely noticed any difference between this phone and the Ultra. While it got a little hung up during intense battle scenes in Age of Origins, gaming is certainly achievable. Indeed, there’s an optional Turbo mode to eke out the best gaming performance possible, at the expense of battery life.

The outer screen comes into its own when you’re taking photos of friends (Image credit: Future)

I’m pleased to see all of Motorola’s software enhancements here, too. I love the personalisation options for the outer display, and the gestures such as chopping to instantly turn on the torch. The Razr 50 also includes Google Gemini, which can be accessed directly from the external display, but it’s worth noting that this phone won’t get the full set of future Moto AI features that are supposed to be coming to the Ultra. At this point it’s difficult to say how much that matters, but it could become frustrating over the lifetime of the phone. On that point, the Razr 50 also has a comparatively short software support period, with Motorola promising only three years of major Android updates.

One thing the Razr 50 isn’t short of is battery life. In our rundown test it managed an excellent screen-on time of 14hrs 37mins – almost half an hour longer than the Ultra – and in real-world use I’ve found it generally ends the day with a remaining charge of around 35%.

At only 15.9mm thick when closed, the Razr 50 is eminently portable (Image credit: Future)

For recharging, the Razr 50 supports fast 30W charging, which got me from zero to 58% in half an hour, plus 15W wireless charging for cable-free top-ups.

In all, the Razr 50 is an impressive proposition. Sure, it’s not the greatest flip phone in the world: if you want optical zoom, top-tier gaming performance and the full set of AI features you’ll need to pay the extra for the Ultra. Even so, the Razr 50 offers a laundry list of plus points, including a great outer screen, an attractive design with water resistance, decent performance, strong battery life and a pretty positive camera experience. For the price, it’s a fantastic deal.

We also tested the best Android phones.

This review first appeared in issue 360 of PC Pro.

Timing is everything when buying a gaming PC. You want to squeeze every last morsel out of your budget at the moment of purchase, and right now, CyberPowerPC is backing Intel’s mid-range Core i5-14400F processor due to its bang-per-penny: you have ten cores and 16 threads when you need them, but a single core can push up to 4.7GHz using Intel’s Max Turbo mode. A generous 32GB of DDR5 RAM means that memory will never be a bottleneck.

The Intel chip’s main partner in crime is Nvidia’s GeForce RTX 4060 graphics, which inevitably don’t have the numbers of the RTX 4070 Super in the Palicomp system opposite – their respective scores of 10,518 and 18,932 in 3DMark Time Spy underline the difference in power – but are enough for fluid 1440p gaming.

You may have to compromise on detail settings if you want to hit 100fps, however. At High detail, Cyberpunk 2077 averaged 80fps, Dirt 5 hit 97fps, Shadow of the Tomb Raider broke through to 103fps but Metro Exodus Enhanced managed only 63fps. Moving to Ultra detail dropped those respective results to 53fps, 77fps, 93fps and 59fps. 4K gaming is too ambitious with this set of games, only breaking the 60fps barrier when I activated DLSS in Shadow of the Tomb Raider.

(Image credit: Future)

For this PC’s foundation, CyberPowerPC chooses the MSI Pro Z790-S WiFi, which is part of MSI’s professional series. That means no RGB, with chunky black heatsinks the order of the day. This includes a shield to cover the main M.2 drive, a fast 1TB WD Black SN770, with a second M.2 slot available.

You also get Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3 built in, while the rear of the board offers a 2.5GbE LAN port, one USB-C 3.2 Gen 2x2 port (20Gbits/sec) and six USB-A ports. There’s no support for case-mounted USB-C ports, which may be one reason why CyberPowerPC opted for the Eluna 243 chassis. This includes three USB-A ports conveniently located along the front, next to the power button. The button kept sticking in my tests, but when I brought this to the attention of CyberPowerPC it assured me the problem had now been fixed.

That’s a relief, because this is a nice-looking chassis, with a subtle white grille effect on the front that allows the trio of RGB fans to shine through in a subtle haze rather than a blast of color. Naturally, there’s a tempered glass panel on the side to give an unimpeded view, which will be dominated by the 120mm RGB fan atop the Cooler Master air cooler. Having read Lee Grant’s views on liquid coolers this month, I’m more than happy with that choice.

The Eluna 243 chassis provides lots of room for expansion (Image credit: Future)

This provides ample cooling to Intel’s Core i5 processor, which performed to its full in every test: along with the Geekbench 6 scores below, it scored 13,829 in Cinebench R23 multicore, while switching to the newer Cinebench 2024 (the scores aren’t comparable with R23) it hit 837 in the multicore section, 106 for a single CPU core and 9,747 in the GPU-specific test. That compares to 1,028, 110 and 18,785 for the more expensive Palicomp PC opposite.

A 120mm RGB fan sits on top of the air cooler (Image credit: Future)

CyberPowerPC’s choice wins for efficiency, however, consuming 52W at idle and peaking at 309W across our tests. It was a quiet guest in my lab, too, only going above a low hum when playing games. A high-quality 650W, 80 Plus Cooler Master power supply means you have plenty of “power budget” if you decide to upgrade any components, while there is room for internal expansion thanks to three empty PCI-E slots. Technically two DIMM sockets are also free, but you’ll need to switch coolers as its fan overlaps the first slot. Remove the chassis’ left-hand panel and you’ll also find space for three more drives, with one 2.5in drive mounting plate and caddies for two 3.5in disks.

I also appreciate the five-year warranty, with the first two years covering parts, labor and courier costs; the final three years are labor-only, and you’ll need to stump up for shipping to CyberPowerPC UK’s Gateshead base. In fact, I liked everything about this PC apart from the niggles I faced with that power button.

We also ranked the best gaming consoles.

This review first appeared in issue 360 of PC Pro.

While HP’s Elite x360 2-in-1 laptop would wear a bowler hat if it could, the Yoga 9i is a free spirit. It wants you to make art not presentations, to view films not spreadsheets, to sit in cafés not end-of-quarter sales meetings. That’s not to say it can’t look serious – if anything, the slim, dark blue metal chassis could be a funkier color – but it essentially screams entertainment.

The Yoga 9i is encased in a slim, dark blue metal chassis (Image credit: Future)

Let’s start with the 14in OLED panel. While it peaked at a modest 402cd/m2 in our SDR tests, its VESA TrueBlack 500 certification shows in punchy colors when watching films or playing games. It covers 119% of the DCI-P3 gamut and you can trust its colors, too, with an average Delta E of 0.45. The native color temperature is a fraction warm, so whites aren’t as blazing as I like when typing in Word, but a density of 242ppi thanks to its 2,880 x 1,800 resolution makes the edges of text look razor sharp.

Lenovo includes its Slim Pen stylus, which magnetically attaches to the top of the lid. I love the firmness of the connection, but it doesn’t charge at the same time; there’s a USB-C slot at the top of the pen. As ever when using a plastic tip on a glass surface you can’t expect a paper-like experience, but digital artists will appreciate the minimal 18ms lag, and the Smart Notes app is great for scribbles and sketches. At 1.3kg this isn’t an iPad rival, but I was happy holding it in the crook of my arm while doodling.

The keyboard is no ThinkPad in terms of “feel”, but there’s a generous 1.5mm of travel and the keys are large and easy to hit. Lenovo adds a bunch of shortcut keys on the right-hand side: eye-care mode, mute, a shortcut to its useful Vantage app for controlling settings, and a performance mode switcher.

This is by no means a bad laptop, but others offer better value (Image credit: Future)

During benchmarking I opted for Lenovo’s high-performance mode, but don’t get too excited.

Intel’s Core Ultra 7 155H is a fine processor, but the Geekbench 6 scores printed below won’t concern AMD or Qualcomm, while its PCMark 10 score of 6,392 is strong but not incredible. Likewise a multicore result of 816 in Cinebench 2024.

Where Intel’s chip continues to beat Qualcomm is gaming, and there is potential here: 41fps in Dirt 5 at 1200p is a respectable return, as is 30fps at the screen’s native resolution, but you’ll need to find less demanding titles to benefit from the panel’s 120Hz refresh rate. I thoroughly enjoyed Dirt 5’s pumping soundtrack through the Yoga’s speakers, though, with far more bass than I’m used to from laptops. That’s thanks to a pair of 2W woofers in the base.

(Image credit: Future)

Unlike the ThinkPad T14s (see p56), the Yoga 9i isn’t designed for easy maintenance. The difficulty isn’t so much in getting inside the chassis – four Torx T5 screws offer little resistance – as what you can do once you’re there. It’s good to see QR codes to help identify components, but I would only feel confident replacing the M.2 SSD – a scorching 1TB unit that returned 6,197MB/sec sequential reads – and the 75Wh battery.

Two months ago, I would have been full of praise about this laptop’s battery life: 12hrs 40mins under light use is a fine result. Or it was, until Snapdragon-based chips almost doubled my expectations. Still, that’s enough to mean you don’t need to sling the 65W charger into your bag on the daily commute, and it recharges speedily: 41% in half an hour, 75% after an hour.

Colors pop when watching films or playing games (Image credit: Future)

Lenovo is throwing in a couple of sweeteners. Use the part code 83AC000FUK and you’ll receive a swanky cover – complete with a loop for the stylus – and a three-in-one USB-C hub that adds USB-A, VGA and HDMI. These complement the three USB-C ports and one USB-A port tucked into the laptop’s narrow base (there’s a 3.5mm headphone jack, too). It’s a shame the hub doesn’t include an RJ45 port, and while I’m wishing it would also have been nice to see Wi-Fi 7 rather than Wi-Fi 6E. You can configure the Yoga 9i 2-in-1 Gen 9 on Lenovo’s website, with options such as 32GB of RAM, a higher-res screen and a grey finish rather than blue. But this pre-configured system is better value, especially as it was on sale for £1,500, a £200 discount, at the time of going to press. Still, I’m not convinced that’s bargain enough. Despite all the quality on show, the price feels like it should be closer to £1,300 to compete with the deluge of laptops currently appearing on shelves.

We also rated the best gaming PCs.

This review first appeared in issue 360 of PC Pro.

SMBs and home offices seeking an affordable all-in-one security router will find Zyxel’s USG Lite 60AX a worthy contender. This diminutive desktop unit teams up a Wi-Fi 6 access point (AP) with an integral multi-gigabit switch, and the price includes a lifetime subscription to Zyxel’s Security Cloud.

This service includes a firewall, ransomware and malware prevention, VPN proxy, intrusion, dark web and ad blockers, application identification, GeoIP country restrictions, and mail fraud and phishing protection. The optional Elite Pack licence enables the Trellix-powered real-time threat intelligence and web category filtering services as well as a Nebula Pro Pack and costs £33 per year.

The router is designed to be desk-mounted, with the small and flimsy base stand rotated round to keep it upright. The switch has two 2.5GbE multi-gigabit ports for WAN and LAN connections and partners them with another four gigabit LAN ports, while the AX6000-rated AP claims speeds of 1,148Mbits/sec on the 2.4GHz radio and 4,804Mbits/sec for the 5GHz one.

The tiny USG Lite 60AX has been designed to sit on a desk (Image credit: Future)

The router’s local web interface provides only a basic status view and, to manage it, you assign it to your Nebula cloud account. This is easy enough to do: we used the Nebula iOS app on an iPad to scan the QR code on its base and add it to our site.

The device appears in the Nebula dashboard as a new security router, and the main view can be easily customized. Dedicated widgets are provided for the router’s uptime and firmware status, threat detection by category and client, the top ten apps discovered by the application identification service and an OS chart of connected clients.

For wireless services, you can create up to eight site SSIDs each with their own WPA2 or WPA3 authentication scheme and decide which radios are active on each one. Setting the guest option on an SSID enables L2 isolation so wireless clients can’t see each other. You can assign custom captive portals with your own logos and greeting messages, a walled garden and clickthrough, voucher, Facebook or Nebula authentication.

Zyxel’s Nebula cloud portal provides remote management (Image credit: Future)

Wireless performance will depend on whether the application identification service is enabled – when testing Zyxel’s SCR 50AXE desktop router, we found it hit wireless speeds by up to 50%. Fortunately, the USG Lite 60AX has a more powerful quad-core 2GHz CPU so its impact was far less concerning.

We tested with a Lenovo Windows 11 Pro 24H2 client equipped with a TP-Link Archer TBE550E Wi-Fi 7 PCI-E adapter. With application identification disabled, we recorded close-range file copy speeds between the client and a server on the 2.5GbE LAN of 164MB/sec, which dropped by 16.5% to 137MB/sec with it turned on.

The six threat management components are accessed from the Nebula security router settings page and can be enabled or disabled using slider bars. Nebula’s threat report provides an activity graph, a map showing the countries they’re coming from and tables of threats by category and client, with the latter allowing you to instantly block systems if their hit rate is excessive.

Application identification provides options to apply custom app blocking lists and traffic shaping rules for selected clients. The Elite Pack licence is well worth considering as its web content filtering presents 103 URL categories and access can also be fine-tuned for clients or IP addresses.

The USG Lite 60AX is a great entry-level security router, and lifetime support for Zyxel’s Security Cloud service means there are no ongoing costs to worry about. Application identification does have a modest impact on performance but it delivers a fine range of security features, and businesses with remote workers will appreciate Zyxel’s Nebula cloud management.

We also compared the best routers for gaming.

BenQ Mobiuz EX321UX: Two-minute review

BenQ has built a strong reputation for delivering great monitors that cater to creators and gamers. Supporting both ends of the spectrum is the BenQ Mobiuz EX321UX. One of the finest 32-inch mini-LED displays released this year, this 4K monitor is highlighted by an IPS panel that features a peak brightness of 1,000 nits and DisplayHDR 1000 certification. Offering a fantastic contrast ratio of 1000:1, there are 1,152 local dimming zones with a color gambit covering 99% Adobe RGB and 99% P3.

That alone would make this a fine monitor for creatives who stream or edit photos and videos. Meanwhile, PixSoul Engine does a fantastic job of making game visuals top-tier by using BenQ’s Game Color Database for advanced game-specific color modes. It also incorporates AI calculations for real-time adjustments of brightness and contrast, meaning regardless of what style of games you’re into, the visuals will look fantastic.

Performance-minded gamers needing a competitive edge have much to appreciate about the EX321UX. Paired with the respectable 144Hz refresh rate, the EX321UX also has a 1ms response time and FreeSync Premium Pro capabilities. Then there are various graphic overlays for both frame rate counters and crosshairs as well. Outside of PC gaming, there are enough ports to satisfy streamers and multi-platform gamers alike. As with most higher-end BenQ monitors, the EX321UX comes with an intuitive remote control, which makes applying various settings an easy task.

Those ports also allow for KVM, letting you use a set of keyboard and mouse inputs on two video import devices. This is great for streamers who use one PC for gaming and another for streaming with software like OBS. On the sound side of things, an eARC HDMI port gives 7.1 channel audio support for your choice of speakers.

The EX321UX could be considered the best mini-LED display in the 32-inch space now if a few things didn’t hold it back. The most notable aspect is the high $1,199 price point, which, when compared to the rest of the best 4K gaming monitors available that offer similar performance, might be a bit too much. Then again, the image quality alone is worth the price of admission.

The other issue is that the focus on adding eARC compatibility means this monitor doesn’t have a built-in speaker system. If money isn’t a problem and you have a nice speaker or headset system ready for use, the EX321UX is an absolute must-buy.

BenQ Mobiuz EX321UX: Price & availability

(Image credit: Future / Ural Garrett)

• How much does it cost? $1,199/£ 1,099.99/ AU $2,199
• When is it available? Available now
• Where can you get it? Available in the US, UK, and Australia

The BenQ EX321UX is now available in the US, UK, and AU territories for $1,199, £1,099.99, and AU $2,199 respectively. Potential buyers across those countries can buy directly from the manufacturer’s online store or various retailers like Amazon. For an IPS mini-LED panel, the cost may seem like a lot compared to other 32-inch 4K gaming monitors. However, the 1,000 nits brightness, HDR, PixSoul AI Engine, and 99% P3 and Adobe RGB makes this one of the best looking gaming monitors available. That doesn’t even count the loads of extras from eARC HDMI and KVM capabilities to the selection of ports and overlays.

If that’s a bit much, the Gigabyte M32UC is a wonderful alternative for around $450 and comes with built-in speakers. One would say that for the $1,199 price range, potential buyers could move into the OLED realm through outstanding gaming monitors like the Samsung Odyssey OLED G9.

• Value: 4.5 / 5

BenQ Mobiuz EX321UX: Specs BenQ Mobiuz EX321UX: Design

(Image credit: Future / Ural Garrett)

• The overall design is more in line with function over form
• Features remote control and loads of ports

Weighing in at around 16 lbs, the BenQ Mobiuz EX321UX is easy to control during setup. There’s an attached screw at the base that connects to the neck which is then linked to the display’s back panel. Once that’s done, you can adjust for height, tilt, and swivel. Going for more of a three-leg base means that the front legs aren’t obtrusive and won’t take up much space.

When it comes to the visual design on the EX321UX, it’s definitely more function over form. The front looks pretty boring - but who cares when the image quality is that beautiful? Having an all white back panel does offer a slight amount of aggressive flair, and you won’t find customizable RGB lighting.

Power comes from a standard power port that connects to a brick adapter before the power socket. The power port sits next to a large number of ports that allow you to connect various video and audio outputs alongside features like KVM capabilities. Outside of the singular eARC HDMI port, there are two standard HDMI 2.1 ports and a singular DisplayPort 2.1. Then there are three USB-C connections for various usage in addition to three USB-A ports. Rounding out the ports is a 3.5mm headphone jack so you can connect one of the best gaming headsets available to make up for the lack of built-in speakers.

On the bottom center is the power button, thumbstick for settings navigation, and quick switch button. These do a good enough job of changing various options, but the included remote comes in pretty handy, too. Navigating menus to change settings such as audio, video, and feature settings or even just turning it on and off was a breeze.

• Design: 4 / 5

BenQ Mobiuz EX321UX: Features

(Image credit: Future / Ural Garrett)

• PixSoul Engine provides great image enhancement
• eARC HDMI allows great audio experiences
• KVM and various overlays significantly add to the total package

As mentioned previously, the highlight of the BenQ EX321UX’s outstanding image quality is an accumulation of its mini-LED IPS panel, high brightness, and 1,152 local dimming zones with a color gambit covering 99% Adobe RGB and 99% P3. Taking things over the top is the PixSoul Engine, which utilizes BenQ’s Game Color Database for game-specific color modes and integrated AI algorithms for real-time adjustments of brightness and contrast. This does a fantastic job of making games look better while providing necessary visual information and avoiding damage to the immersive experience. Though the pre-selected image filtering looks great, the default Display HDR mode is simply wonderful in terms of image quality.

Not many gaming displays feature eARC HDMI as many gamers usually use headphones anyway. However, having the port that supports 7.1 channel audio on hand is something special for video editors and gamers who don’t want to put on a headset. Of course, video content through YouTube or streaming services like Netflix could benefit from the capability if you’re fine with using supported speakers.

KVM capabilities are perfect for streamers who offset the heavy computing of games on one computer with high-fidelity video streaming on another device. It works pretty simply and switching between devices takes roughly as long as switching between video inputs. Finally, there are various overlays for frame rates and crosshairs for shooter fans. All of these features are controlled through the in-display thumbstick or handy remote control.

• Features: 4.5 / 5

BenQ Mobiuz EX321UX: Performance

(Image credit: Future / Ural Garrett)

• Image quality is outstanding and enhanced by PixSoul
• Game performance sets the standard for high-end gaming monitors

Modern PC gaming benchmarks of visual fidelity look amazing on the EX321UX, such as Cyberpunk 2077, Hellblade II: Senua’s Sacrifice, Alan Wake II, and more. The 1,000 nit brightness and 1,152 local dimming zones allow for bold, crisp color and incredibly deep blacks. HDR capabilities further enhance visuals without the brightness making images look flat. This even applies to more general computing tasks like web browsing where font reading is a pleasurable experience. Color accuracy is fantastic thanks to its high color gamut which many Adobe Suite users will appreciate.

Gaming performance is pretty top tier as well. The max 144Hz refresh rate allows for buttery smooth gameplay while the 1ms response time allows for lag-free tracking of on-screen elements. Holding all of that together to prevent screen tearing is FreeSync Premium Pro compatibility. Some of the games we tested, such as Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III, Forza Motorsport (2023), and Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon, proved that the EX321UX can handle fast-paced, twitch leaning gameplay. Add various overlays like crosshairs and competitive gamers will definitely have an edge with this display.

• Performance: 5 / 5

Should you buy the BenQ Mobiuz EX321UX? Buy it if...

You want fantastic gaming performance

Aspiring esports gamers or gaming enthusiasts are going to appreciate the 144Hz refresh rate, 1ms response time, and FreeSync Premium Pro.

You need outstanding image quality

The excellent image quality of this 32-inch mini-LED 4K gaming monitor is due to its 1,000 nits brightness, DisplayHDR 1000 certification, PixSoul AI Engine, and 99% DCI-P3 and Adobe RGB color coverage. This makes it ideal for gamers and creatives.

You want a lot of extra features

KVM and various screen overlays from frame rate counters to crosshairs are met with the fantastic PixSoul AI Engine.

Don't buy it if...

You need something affordable

$1,199 is likely out of the price range for more budget-minded consumers.

You want built-in speakers

Having a headset and eARC HDMI means users will be taken care of audio-wise, but other monitors for the same price offer in-display speakers.

Also consider

Gigabyte M32UC

Though the brightness and HDR doesn’t match the BenQ EX321UX, the $450 Gigabyte M32UC is more than serviceable for gamers in need of a 32-inch 4K gaming monitor.

Read the full Gigabyte M32UC review

Samsung Odyssey OLED G9

Paying over $1,000 for a gaming monitor with an IPS panel may not make much sense when OLEDs are making waves. For example, the ultrawide Samsung Odyssey OLED G9 could be something potential buyers can consider.

Read the full Samsung Odyssey OLED G9 review

How I tested the BenQ Mobiuz EX321UX

The BenQ Mobiuz EX321UX was tested over a two-week period. During the day, tasks primarily involved using Google Chrome and Slack. This included working with Google Docs, project management software Asana, and social media management tools like Hootsuite.

Slack was also used extensively for communication across different channels, providing an opportunity to test the monitor's performance during general everyday use. Additionally, Adobe Suite software, including Premiere Pro and Photoshop, was used to evaluate color accuracy on the monitor.

To assess overall image quality, games such as Alan Wake II, Forza Motorsport (2023), and Hellblade II: Senua’s Sacrifice were played, focusing on technical visual details and art direction. Performance and game enhancement features were tested with games like Fortnite and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III. Other games played included Starfield and Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon.

I have spent several years covering monitors and other PC components for TechRadar. In addition to gaming, I have over a decade of experience with Adobe Suite.

• First reviewed November 2024

AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D: Two-minute review

This generation of processors has been a mixed bag at best (and disappointing at worst), so it makes sense that Team Red would go all out to ensure the AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D delivered something that exceeded expectations.

In that regard, the 9800X3D is a smashing success, delivering substantially better gaming performance than the AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D that it replaces, though at a slightly higher $479 / £449.99 (about AU$700) price point. For gamers though, most will happily pay a bit more for a roughly 15% increase in gaming performance on average.

The chip isn't without faults, though. It isn't the absolute best processor for gaming in terms of framerates (that title belongs to the Intel Core i9-14900K over several games, averaged out), but where the last-gen Intel flagship simply threw raw wattage to get to the top, AMD's latest gaming processor uses substantially less power to come within 6% of the 14900K's overall gaming performance, a difference that is so close to being within the margin of variance and test setups that if I reran all my tests next week, the 9800X3D might beat it outright.

But, honestly, it doesn't need to do that. Intel's 14900K is overkill for anyone not running creative workloads like video editing, and the power cost is simply too high to justify getting an extra 6% overall gaming performance in synthetic tests. The Ryzen 9800X3D, meanwhile, will get you effectively identical actual performance and at a lower cost, both in MSRP terms, but also reduced power consumption and indirect savings like not needing to shell out for a 360mm AIO cooler to get the most out of the chip.

For that, the Ryzen 7 9800X3D is indisputably the best processor for gaming you can buy right now, and it cements 3D V-Cache as the second most impressive innovation for gaming hardware after AI upscaling and it's something that Intel just doesn't have an answer for it.

AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D: Price & availability

(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)

• How much is it? Its MSRP is $479 / £449.99 (about AU$700)
• When is it out? It went on sale November 7, 2024
• Where can you get it? You can get it in the US, UK, and Australia

The AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D is available now in the US, UK, and Australia for $479 / £449.99 / AU$799, respectively.

This is a bump up from the price of the Ryzen 7 7800X3D it replaces, which launched at $449 / £439 / AU$779. I would have loved to see the price remain the same, of course, but the last-gen chip wasn't exactly a cheap processor to begin with, and both chips are very much targeted at an enthusiast market where the price bump here isn't exactly going to be a dealbreaker—so long as the performance increase justifies the bump in price.

In terms of Intel's competing offerings right now, on the performance side, the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K (and Intel Core i9-14900K, for that matter) is $110 / £100 / AU$300 more expensive to get the same kind of gaming performance. As for in-class silicon, the 9800X3D is about 15-20% more expensive than the competing Intel Core Ultra 7 265K, and is roughly 33% more expensive than the AMD Ryzen 7 9700X.

Essentially, the 9800X3D is a specialist chip for gamers, and while it isn't a performance slouch, at this price it's really only for PC gamers who want the best overall gaming processor and don't much care about stellar performance elsewhere. For those who need more than just a gaming chip, other options from AMD and Intel will be a better fit for the price.

• Value: 3.5 / 5

AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D: Specs AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D: Features & chipset

(Image credit: AMD)

The fundamental specs of the 9800X3D aren't much different from the 7800X3D. They both sport the same 8-core/16-thread setup as the AMD Ryzen 7 9700X, but like the 7800X3D, the 9800X3D has an additional 64MB L3 cache while the Ryzen 7 9700X only has 32MB L3 cache.

This 3D V-Cache in the Ryzen 7 9800X3D has been redesigned from the previous two generations of AMD X3D chips. This second-generation 3D V-Cache, as AMD calls it, fundamentally changes how the 3D V-Cache die interfaces with the main processing die, which addresses some of the main complaints of the previous two generations of X3D chips.

In the first iteration of 3D V-Cache, the extra cache die was stacked on top of the main processing cores, but with 2nd-generation V-Cache, the extra cache die is underneath the main die, leaving the main processing cores free to directly interface with the CPU cooler.

This is a big deal, since the processing cores are where all the heat is being generated, so having an extra layer of silicon between it and the CPU cooler had a lot of implications for what the chip could do. Thermals had to be carefully managed, so clock speeds had to be kept in check and there was no ability to overclock the chip.

By moving the 3D V-Cache die underneath the main processor core complex, the thermal restraints around clock speeds and voltage no longer apply, so the 9800X3D is the first 3D V-cache chip to feature full overclocking support, allowing precise voltage controls at the same voltage limits as the rest of the Ryzen 9000-series lineup.

Compared to the AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D, then, the 9800X3D benefits from noticeably faster base clock and boost clock speeds out of the box, and overclockers can now tinker with their CPUs without too much concern that they'll brick the chip (though with overclocking, that is always possible and can void your warranty, so use caution).

Beyond that, the only major change from the previous generation is faster DDR5 memory support, from 5200MHz with the 7800X3D to 5600MHz with the 9800X3D, though both chips support AMD EXPO memory overclocking for even faster memory speeds.

• Features: 4 / 5

AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D: Performance

At the end of the day though, all that fancy new tech wouldn't amount to much if the chip's performance didn't deliver, and thankfully, it does - though not universally.

In the synthetic benchmarks, the Ryzen 7 9800X3D showed very strong single-core performance on par with the rest of the Ryzen 9000-series lineup. The Ryzen 7 7800X3D, meanwhile, lags behind its Ryzen 7000 siblings noticeably, owing to the need to control thermals by limiting clock speeds. The Ryzen 9800X3D does not have this problem. Likewise, its multi-core performance is also unconstrained, running ahead of the Ryzen 7 9700X across the board.

On the creative front, this is generally not going to be a chip for creatives to concern themselves with - though there is one exception. If you're a photographer or graphic designer who does a lot of work in Adobe Photoshop or its alternatives, the Ryzen 7 9800X3D's extra cache is going to be a serious benefit for your workflows, beating out even the Intel Core i9-14900K in PugetBench for Adobe Photoshop be a few hundred points.

Everyone else though, this chip is not going to do much for you.

On the gaming side, this is where the 9800X3D really shows off, though there's a bit of a caveat to that. In games where the main CPU bottleneck is game logic, such as Total War: Warhammer III or Civilization VI, the extra 3D V-Cache isn't necessarily going to help your game performance. In that instance, you're going to want something with the fastest clocks possible to plow through all those AI decision trees or physics calculations before a game frame is even drawn.

As such, Intel's last-gen (and even current-gen) chips have an advantage in some games like Returnal (where complex bullet and geometry physics are the main CPU workload) or Total War: Warhammer III (where a lot of individual actors need to have their logic calculated quickly) because these gaming workloads benefit from faster clock speeds.

Where 3D V-Cache really benefits gaming is when there's data being communicated from the CPU to the GPU, like texture files or model geometry, and that additional cache memory can retain these smaller-but-not-tiny files in the fastest possible memory that can hold it. This mitigates the latency introduced when drawing a new game frame when the CPU has to go back to RAM to fetch a file because it didn't already have it in its much closer cache memory.

Games like F1 2023 and Tiny Tina's Wonderland benefited mightily from the extra available cache. In the case of the former, the Ryzen 9800X3D just wallops the Intel Core i9-14900K, and in the case of the latter, runs a very close second to it.

Taken all together, the Intel Core has a slight advantage just given the mix of games I used to test these chips, but for most gamers, the odds are good that the thing you're going to be looking for is a processor that works with your graphics card the best most of the time, and in this case, that'll be the Ryzen 7 9800X3D.

Overall, then, with performance that comes in neck-and-neck with the best Intel processors in gaming workloads on average, the Ryzen 7 9800X3D would already be an incredible chip.

But I simply can't get over the fact that the 9800X3D can do this with just 53% of the power of the Core i9-14900K. Add to that the Ryzen 7 9800X3D's impressive single- and multi-core performance, surprisingly great Photoshop performance, and gen-on-gen performance gains at very little power or monetary cost, and the Ryzen 7 9800X3D is easily one of the best AMD processors ever made.

• Performance: 5 / 5

Should you buy the AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D?

(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler) Buy the AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D if...

On balance, the Ryzen 7 9800X3D is as good a gaming processor as you'll ever need.

Unlike its predecessor, the Ryzen 7 9800X3D can keep up with its peer class in general performance as well, not just gaming.

Don't buy it if...

If you're looking for more of a general-purpose processor, this chip isn't really for you.

The Ryzen 7 9800X3D isn't cheap, and for those on a budget, there are good processors out there that will get the job done.View Deal

Also consider

The Intel Core i7-14700K is still my favorite processor for its incredible performance at an accessible price.

Read the full Intel Core i7-14700K reviewView Deal

• Originally reviewed November 2024

Having reviewed several portable power stations from varying brands across the years, the noted mainstays of the industry was mainly copy and paste with few tweaks and features. Nearly all of them were of a large boxlike design often with a status screen, varying power in and outputs and maybe an app. Portable was only the word used in that you could pick it up and cart it off elsewhere, but some of them were bulky and pushing north of 20kgs in weight.

The Bluetti Handsfree 2 brings a whole new designed approach with portable the forefront of the product aimed at a niche of customers who may find this the very thing they are after. With a power bank shaped differently (narrower, flatter body shape) compared to the standard box. How does it compare to the best portable power stations? I put it to the test.

Bluetti Handsfree 2: Packaging

We received the Bluetti Handsfree 2 which is a Bluetti branded dark blue rucksack like bag, in it containing the power bank with 512Wh of power storage and a maximum combined output of 700W.

The box was a plain cardboard box which we have come to expect from Bluetti with only text on the outside detailing what’s within.

Pulling the bag out we found everything to be contained within the bag including the following:

• The aforementioned bag
• The Bluetti Handsfree 2 700W 512Wh power bank
• AC charging cable
• An XT60 to MC4 cable
• Manual and Warranty Card

Image 1 of 2

(Image credit: Bluetti )Image 2 of 2

(Image credit: Bluetti ) Bluetti Handsfree 2: Fit and feel

Firstly, we will have a look at the power bank, measuring 382mm high by 300mm deep by 99mm wide you can tell is not box shape, think more like the “under monitor PC case” often seen in business office shape.

When talking of the power bank we will be discussing it in its upright position as the lettering clearly indicates that this is the right way up for the unit. At the base of the unit are two large rubber feet on the bottom to prevent sliding or tipping. The sides of body have the now recognisable Bluetti ridge effect on the sides we have seen I the previously reviewed AC240 and AC200L. One of the sides is clearly considered the down side if the unit was to be laid flat as there are 10 rubber feet.

At the front is the status screen, more on this later, below the screen are the only buttons, they are the on/off buttons for the unit itself, DC and AC. Below that are two USB-C, both capable of 100W outputs, below that are two USB-A with 15W output. Lastly at the front is the XT60 DC input for the unit supporting between 12 to 45Volts with a max 8.2amp or 350W input to charge the power bank.

At the rear is the AC output outputting 230V with a maximum 700W, the inverter capable of Pure Sine Wave output at 50 or 60Hz, in the centre is the AC input, thankfully a standard C13 connector and lastly the earthing screw point for the unit.

It was noted that our review unit was originally built for the EU market as it came with the Schuko Type F AC cable and AC outlet built into the unit meaning that for us to use and review it, we had to use an EU to UK plug travel adapter. Of note, this power bank does have UPS capability.

The status screen is the typical layout expected in Bluetti products, if you have used their other power banks before, you’ll be familiar with this one. In the centre is the total % remaining with a rough running time below depending on in/outputs. On the left is the input wattage for both AC and DC, on the right is the output wattage for AC or DC with indication as to which one is being used.

Image 1 of 4

(Image credit: Bluetti )Image 2 of 4

(Image credit: Bluetti )Image 3 of 4

(Image credit: Bluetti )Image 4 of 4

(Image credit: Bluetti )

Now on to the ruck sack itself. The bag is made from a very high-quality Polyester fabric/material with padding in several places with some useful built in features.

At the front is the Bluetti logo, at the top is a small zip pouch, below that is a pouch with a hook and loop fastened flap with 6 loops of fabric tape that resembles MOLLE loops but isn’t and at the bottom is a large zip up pouch which contains some internal pockets for ID badges, pens etc. Between the flaps are buckles so that items and things can be looped through them.

Image 1 of 3

(Image credit: Bluetti )Image 2 of 3

(Image credit: Bluetti )Image 3 of 3

(Image credit: Bluetti )

Opening the first part of the bag reveals what I like to call “the personal compartment” of the bag, this has a more typical carryon luggage type of compartment, it has mesh compartments both zipped and not as well as the straps often found in such type of luggage. There is a zip the runs all the way around that allows you to expand the entirety of the compartment so that you may fill it with clothes, toiletries and personal effects.

Image 1 of 2

(Image credit: Bluetti )Image 2 of 2

(Image credit: Bluetti )

The next compartment I like to call the “equipment compartment”. This has a pouch for a laptop, I was able to easily fit a 13” and 15” laptop, both at the same time. This compartment has various padding dividers allowing you to customise the inside based on what devices you wish to carry such as cameras, drones etc.

(Image credit: Bluetti )

The last compartment and the one closest to your back is the power bank one, the space is a snug compartment for the power bank with hook and loop straps to hold it in and a top divider allowing you use the last 20% of the rear compartment for personal effects. The sides of this compartment have vented rubber like flaps which can be opened to allow access to the front and back of the power bank without having to remove it from the bag itself, inside this is also a nice little leather detail of Bluetti’s logo and a slogan. An odd note was that the covering flap said “only use with Handsfree 1” though this is the Handsfree 2?

Image 1 of 3

(Image credit: Bluetti )Image 2 of 3

(Image credit: Bluetti )Image 3 of 3

(Image credit: Bluetti )

Finally, some other points of the outside of the bag are, at the top is a security 3-digit combination lock for the equipment section, at the bottom are two carrying straps which can be used to cinch items to the bag, I pictured a camping mat. Some smaller loops on the front of the bag for hooking carabiners or as they show in their publication, portable solar panels to charge the power bank. On either side are two straps which can be used to hold the side flaps up and open for access to the power bank. There are two mesh pockets to stash water bottles or small items and towards the top bungee cords for securing longer items and objects.

Image 1 of 2

(Image credit: Bluetti )Image 2 of 2

(Image credit: Bluetti )

The two shoulder straps are well padded with various adjustment straps above the shoulders and at around the waistline. On the left strap is a non removable GoPro mount just above the chest strap. Then there are the waist straps which have little pouches built into them, I also located the storm cover in the right waist strap pouch. On that note all external zips have a rubber like lining to them to improve water repellency as does the fabric of the bag itself.

Image 1 of 4

(Image credit: Bluetti )Image 2 of 4

(Image credit: Bluetti )Image 3 of 4

(Image credit: Bluetti )Image 4 of 4

(Image credit: Bluetti ) Bluetti Handsfree 2: In use

Using it is as simple as charging up the power bank in your method of choice, slip it into the bag and fill it up with what you need. The first thing that was noticed was the heft of the bag even when empty weighing in at a little over 10Kgs.

Once filled with equipment and clothes at the maximum expansion, it was noted how chunky the bag was protruding from my back, in the image the manual is A5 in size. It is so big and heavy I don’t think it can be classed as carry on luggage at all, battery capacity notwithstanding as most airlines have a maximum lithium battery capacity size of 160Wh.

Image 1 of 2

(Image credit: Bluetti )Image 2 of 2

(Image credit: Bluetti )

The bag has no internal rigid frame meaning that the body of the bag is made by the battery, not a bad thing as it lightens the weight. One person pointed out that a frame with wheels at the base and a pull handle like those seen on carry-on and larger suitcases would have been a nice touch as carrying it by back or hand would rapidly be tiring.

I handed this to a person who works in emergency services, where remote power was often needed or necessary for on site incidents to have a go at using. Using it for a week, he noted that the external zips on the battery compartment flaps snagged the mesh pockets on the side, which in turn tore the mesh netting leading to a hole (see photo).

Image 1 of 3

(Image credit: Bluetti )Image 2 of 3

(Image credit: Bluetti )Image 3 of 3

(Image credit: Bluetti )

He noted that this was the only design flaw of the bag, he commented on how well built the bag was but that it wasn’t made for emergency services in mind as the compartments shape and size did not suit him. The weight was another factor as he was now carrying around a far bigger battery pack than before, also comments from colleagues about the sheer size of the bag.

So, who is this product made for? My guess, and that of Bluetti’s, is for the drone operator or photographer who needs to carry their equipment, needs an amount of portable power and maybe a change of clothes for an overnight shoot or job at a remote location which requires only walking to for that last mile or two from a larger base camp or vehicle. I cannot see this being used as an every day carry for daily use unless you want a work out.

There is the standard Bluetti App which faultlessly syncs to the battery giving you more control, status and options than the three buttons on the front. The app is well made showing you more detail on charge and discharge stats.

Bluetti Handsfree 2: Price

Currently this product isn’t available in the UK or EU markets, the US shows it retailing with a launch price of $399 but an RRP of $599 (£305 GBP and £460 GBP respectively). No tell of when there will be a UK or EU launch date for this product.

Oddly, you can buy the battery which comes with the bag or the bag itself for $199 USD (£152 GBP) but you can’t buy the battery alone, I would say that there is probably a market for those that want this battery size.

Bluetti Handsfree 2: Final verdict

Overall as a product, it is very well made, the battery power bank is large enough to handle most day to day charging of small electronic devices with ease without seeming to be underpowered when compared to smaller battery banks. If you need more output wattage then the bigger brethren of the Handsfree 2 would be needed such as the AC200L.

The ruck to carry it is very well made for a company who are not specialised in ruck sacks or equipment bags, its quite clear that Bluetti did their research and know that this product is aimed for the tech gear person who travels (but not by air) and needs portable power but not the heavy lifting of larger battery banks.

A great bag for drone operators as it has space for one or two drones, batteries and kit for them. Dare I say a certain country would love this product where they have plenty of field drone operators, the need for portable power in a small, agile product.

• ^ Back to top

Creative Zen Air SXFI: Two-minute review

The Creative Zen Air SXFI are true wireless earbuds at a tempting price with plenty of advanced features, from active noise cancellation (ANC) to Creative’s proprietary ‘spatial holography’ mode, Super X-Fi. But are these earbuds set to enter our best noise-cancelling earbuds guide – and ultimately, are they really worth your consideration?

The Zen Air SXFI Earbuds certainly look the part, with a tasteful matte gray colorway and metallic detailing, alongside a charging case and supplementary cloth bag (unusual!) for carrying around your earbuds in style. An IPX5 rating means they can withstand jets of water too (though not full submersion), so they might be a good choice for walkers, runners and other exercise freaks on a limited budget.

And I was a fan of the sound quality, at least when Creative let the earbuds do their own thing. It’s when additional modes come into the picture that things get tricky – whether it’s the Super X-Fi audio mode distorting the sound, or Ambient Mode funneling scratchy recordings of the outside world into your ear.

You get an impressive suite of features for the $80 / £70 price tag, though some of them are better ignored – so honestly, it can be hard to figure out what the Creative Zen Air SXFI earbuds actually offer in terms of stone cold value over the competition. However, there’s something to be said for its IPX5 water resistance and a lot to be said for the 39-hour battery life. Elsewhere, it's good to see Bluetooth 5.3 connectivity and important to note that these earbuds still get the key metrics right, despite some iffy implementation of their more premium features.

Creative Zen Air SXFI review: Price and release date

• $79.99 / £69.99 / AU$139.95
• Launched in June 2024

The Creative Zen Air SXFI headphones retail for $79.99 / £69.99 / AU$139.95, having been released in June 2024. That’s roughly the same price as the older Creative Zen Air Pro model was at launch, though the latter is now heavily discounted to make way for the new version.

If you're looking for over-ears, it's worth giving a shout-out to the May 2024-release Creative Zen Hybrid SXFI at $99.99 / £89.99 / AU$69.95. Here, we actually loved Creative's proprietary spatial audio side-sauce – which, as you'll soon see, sadly isn't the case here. 

Creative Zen Air SXFI headphones review: Specs Creative Zen Air SXFI review: Features

(Image credit: Future / Henry St Leger)

• Adaptive ANC and Ambient Mode
• SXFI app
• Bluetooth 5.3

The Creative Zen Air SXFI headphones use Bluetooth 5.3. This basically means that you’re getting fast, energy efficient connections with a good range that are unlikely to drop out easily, and the ability to connect simultaneously with other devices. (I did struggle connecting the earbuds to any device at first, but the issue seems to have resolved itself before I needed to call in a new unit, and I haven’t had a problem since.)

These earbuds do feature touch controls, which is a great inclusion for the price. Essentially, holding down the left earbud decreases volume, whereas holding down the right increases it – there’s no slider here. Double tapping the right earbud pauses or restarts playback, whereas double tapping the left cycles through ANC, ANC Adaptive, ANC off, and Ambient Mode.

As a refresher, ANC – or active noise cancellation – works by using built-in microphones to record outside noise and cancel out those wavelengths. Adaptive is the same idea, but it’s able to respond more dynamically to fluctuations in outside noise.

The ANC implementation works fine. It's not going to wow you for creating a bubble of silence around you (there’s only a minor reduction to extraneous low-level noise such as an AC unit above me) but it does do a little to soften environmental noise. Ambient Mode is where I ran into trouble, as you have to double tap the earbud to deactivate it, and I repeatedly ended up banging the microphone while doing so, sending a wave of static into my ear. And I wouldn’t generally recommend using the mode anyway, given that during my tests I found the mics actually made outside noise sound worse than if you weren’t wearing the headphones at all.

There’s also Creative’s SXFI, or Super X-Fi spatial audio tech, which is intended to capture “the listening experience of a high-end multi-speaker system in a professional studio”, by virtually upscaling its stereo audio into something approaching three-dimensional sound. There’s a dedicated SXFI app you need to download, before building a personalized sound profile based on the size and shape of your ears, but it is available for both desktop and mobile. I'll mention this in more depth in the audio quality section though, since there's plenty to say. 

Features score: 3.5 / 5 

Creative Zen Air SXFI review: Design

(Image credit: Future / Henry St Leger)

• USB-C charging case
• Lightweight with a cloth carry case
• Battery life indicator

For headphones that only cost $80, the Zen Air SXFI look pretty sleek. Each earbud is a light matte gray, with a small Creative logo (a metallic triangle) and a shape similar to the AirPods Pro (bulbous body with a thin pipe hanging down over the earlobe).

The charging case has the same color scheme, with the four letters of SXFI embossed on the top, a USB-C charging port along the underside, and a multifunction button on the front. There’s also a four-point indicator that tells you how much battery life is left, or whether it’s in pairing mode, though it can be hard to make out the green LEDs in light environments.

The case has lightly curved edges, making it comfortable to hold or stick in a pocket, and it doesn’t pick up fingerprints, meaning it stays pretty even after a few weeks of testing. The inside of the case is where the affordability of these earbuds shows, with a cheap-looking metallic finish, though you won’t have to look at it often! Just note that the charging case’s curved edges means that it’s a little wobbly when sat upright, especially when the case’s top is open.

In a nice touch, you also get a small cloth bag to pack the charging case – preventing loose earbuds rattling around in your luggage – though with IPX5 water resistance you shouldn’t need to worry too much about the earbuds getting wet.

Design score: 4 / 5

Creative Zen Air SXFI review: Sound quality

(Image credit: Future / Henry St Leger)

• Clear, warm audio
• 10mm drivers
• SXFI doesn’t quite land

So, does Creative’s Super X-Fi tech actually work?

I’ve tested other SXFI models I was impressed by – specifically the Creative Zen Hybrid SXFI over-ear headphones, which have enough of a wide soundstage to manipulate the audio for a more spatial quality.

These Zen Air SXFI earbuds, however, don’t offer the same luxury – with compact 10mm drivers, and more restricted in-ear hardware – and while there’s a slight difference in the sound during music, it’s hard to quantify or call an improvement.

I actually enjoyed using SXFI more during podcasts, where the difference is more notable, subtly shifting the voices of talking heads so that the sound appears to fill more of the room around you in a natural way.

But regardless of Creative’s virtual trickery, I was pretty happy during my time with the Zen Air SXFI earbuds. They have a clear, crisp sound – at least, for the price – without the harsh notes or sibilance that can plague lower-cost audio hardware. 

Sure, you’re not getting pinpoint detail, or the powerful bass of headphones with bigger, more impactful drivers, and these earbuds work best for pop vocals and mid-range frequencies, rather than thumping club tracks. 

Listening to Chappell Roan’s Good Luck, Babe!, the earbuds do a decent job of capturing the singer’s playful vocal inflections, with clear separation between the vocals, drums, and other instruments cutting across the soundstage. You lose a little of the fast transition between different notes – something Roan’s voice does so aptly – but it’s still a good time overall.

While the sound is a little soft around the edges, it does make the Zen Air SXFI earbuds very easy on the ears, and good for listening for longer sessions. With a frequency range of 20-20,000Hz, you’re getting the standard spectrum of sound recreation – and, unlike the Zen Hybrid SXFI headphones, we had no trouble using these earbuds for podcasts or streaming apps.

Sound quality score: 3.5 / 5

Creative Zen Air SXFI review: Value

(Image credit: Future / Henry St Leger)

• Active noise cancellation
• Sub-$100 price
• Stylish design for the price

The Creative Zen Air SXFI headphones are absolutely good value, with a slick design, Bluetooth 5.3, and a number of advanced features that include ANC and Super X-Fi Audio – even if the implementation is a little basic.

The touch controls are generally workable, despite when switching out of Ambient Mode, and overall you’re getting a good feature set with some sensible corners cut. For the price tag, these are acceptable true wireless earbuds with the ambition to be something better.

Value score: 4 / 5

Should I buy the Creative Zen Air SXFI? Buy them if… Don’t buy them if… Creative Zen Air SXFI review: Also consider How I tested the Creative Zen Air SXFI

• Tested for 2 weeks
• Used at home, on commutes, and in public cafes
• Predominantly tested using Spotify service on OnePlus 8

I’ve worked as a gadget reporter for seven years now, including a substantial stint at TechRadar as its News & Features Editor. I’ve tested countless headphones and reported on audio tech in London, Las Vegas, Berlin and Shanghai.

My first over-ear headphones, back in 2009, were made by Creative, so I have a long history with the brand, and was excited to test out their products a full 15 years later.

I spent two weeks testing out the Creative Zen Air SXFI headphones in my home office, alongside outdoor walks, runs, and commutes over train and bus throughout the city. I primarily used my Android smartphone, a OnePlus 8, for testing, but switched to a MacBook Air for wired listening also.

• First reviewed in September 2024

• Read TechRadar's reviews guarantee

The HyperX Quadcast 2 is an excellent pick for content creators who want a USB microphone. Just plug it into your PC and out of the box it will deliver great audio, with no tweaking of audio settings required.

Part of that ease of use comes from the HyperX app not offering lots of audio settings that you need to fiddle with. This won't be a dealbreaker for less demanding users considering the high-quality performance this mic delivers, but if you prefer having plenty of customization options you may want to look elsewhere.

Design-wise there’s not much to fault, with the mic coming equipped with useful tools like an in-built shock mount, a USB adapter so it can connect to your PC via USB or USB-C port, and useful RGB lighting which shows you which audio pattern is selected,. and if the mic is live or not.

The RGB lighting being only in red is a disappointment – if you want more variety in your lighting effects the upgraded HyperX Quadcast 2 S comes with full-color RGB options at an added cost.

Speaking of cost, at $149.99 / £124.99 the Quadcast 2 isn’t the priciest option out there, but it isn’t the cheapest either. You certainly get what you pay for, but while complete newcomers to content creation might appreciate this mic’s ease of use, its price positions it as more of a step-up option for those looking to make their first setup upgrade to one of the best microphones for streaming.

HyperX Quadcast 2: Price and availability

The HyperX Quadcast 2 is available in the US and UK for $149.99 / £124.99. The full-RGB HyperX Quadcast 2 S costs $199.99 / £169.99 – it comes with 32-bit / 192kHz audio compared to the base Quadcast 2’s 24-bit / 96kHz audio.

This means you get solid, high-quality audio out of either mic, though the HyperX Quadcast 2 S is worth upgrading to if you want the solid sound and visual boost it offers.

HyperX Quadcast 2: Specs HyperX Quadcast 2: Features and Design

• Simple audio features
• Red RGB only
• Different audio recording patterns

The HyperX Quadcast 2 offers four recording options – basically the standard set you’ll find on other mics: cardioid, stereo, omnidirectional, or bidirectional. You can flick between them using the HyperX Ngenuity app, or by holding down the mic’s volume knob for two to three seconds. The top of the mic will glow with different patterns to tell you which mode you're in: the front quarter for cardioid, the full ring for omnidirectional, the side quarters for stereo, and the front and back quarters for bidirectional.

Beyond the polar pattern the app also lets you turn the high-pass filter on or off and adjust the gain (mic volume), and that’s it. Given that the HyperX QuadCast 2 does a pretty good job out of the box, this lack of in-app audio manipulation isn’t a big loss. However, those who prefer having more control over their sound will want to turn to third-party audio apps, or grab a different mic like a Blue Yeti and its Logitech G Hub app.

(Image credit: Future)

Design-wise there’s plenty to like, even if here too the HyperX Quadcast 2 is relatively simple.

It comes with an in-built shock mount to reduce vibrational noise, and the in-box mic stand puts it at a good height for recording but it easily connects to a mic arm if you have one (HyperX’s own arm or a third-party alternative). The USB-C cable comes with an adapter so you can plug the mic into your PC’s USB-C port or a Type-A port – which is handy if you have plenty of PC attachments and are running low on port options.

There’s also a little bit of foam-like material inside the black honeycomb pattern of the mic's frame, but it doesn’t provide much in the way of an in-built pop filter to your harsh plosive ‘b’ and ‘p’ sounds. You can outfit the microphone with an add-on like the official HyperX shield (or a third-party alternative) but there’s also a free and low-tech workaround. For a solo recording simply angle the microphone at a 45-30 degree angle and position it so that you’re talking slightly over the top of it. In the cardioid setting it’ll still pick you up fine, but it won’t capture those annoying pops.

My favorite feature is the light. Not because I'm some RGB obsessed gamer, but because of its utility. Using the app you can set the mic to different presets to make it pulse or have the mic light up as you talk, but my go-to is the ‘Solid’ option at about 25% brightness.

(Image credit: Future)

It’s a super-handy and obvious indicator as to whether or not the mic is hot – as the light is off when it’s muted and on when it’s not. It greatly minimizes the risk of embarrassing mishaps in a work meeting or your livestream chat because you thought you the microphone wasn’t recording when it was. To mute it simply tap the top of the mic, and tap it again to unmute.

My only gripe is that the base model is stuck with red for the lighting color. For full light controls across the RGB spectrum you’ll need the HyperX Quadcast 2 S.

HyperX Quadcast 2: Performance

• Great sound out the box
• Good background noise cancellation
• Cardioid is the only option worth using

As a plug-and-play microphone for recording vocals, you won’t be disappointed by the Quadcast 2’s performance. Recordings are warm, and the cardioid mode boasts crystal-clear clarity; whether you’re hopping on a Discord call, taping a voiceover, or relying on the mic for your next gaming stream, you’ll sound great – and you won’t be disrupted by background noise.

What makes this performance especially awesome is the HyperX Quadcast 2 sounds this good out of the box. There are no fiddly audio settings that you have to spend time customizing, or add-ons you need to buy in order to get to a good baseline – you literally just plug the microphone into your PC and off you go.

(Image credit: Future)

I’ve been using this mic to record all of my at-home content for the TechRadar TikTok channel, and for participating in my regular Discord D&D sessions with friends, and it’s fantastic. The background noise cancellation is well-tuned – cutting out the distractions but not my voice – and my VO comes through really clear, even as I move around a little while gesticulating.

On settings other than cardioid, however, the mic is noticeably worse at cutting out background noise, so if you’re podcasting with multiple users you'll need to get every person their own microphone.

Should you buy the HyperX Quadcast 2? Buy it if…

You need something simple
The Hyper X Quadcast 2 just works, straight out of the box, and it sounds pretty darn good too. If you’re looking for a simple audio upgrade this is a mic to consider.

You need an all-rounder
This microphone is great for podcasting, streaming, shorts, and even as a gaming mic on PC or on a PS5. Plus, you can unhook it from the shock mount to make it a more portable and handheld microphone option for IRL content creation.

You want great audio
This mic delivers crystal-clear and great-sounding audio with zero hassle.

Don’t buy it if…

You’re on a tight budget
The Quadcast 2 isn’t the cheapest microphone out there, which means it isn't the perfect starter microphone for a newbie content creator. That said, if you can afford to splash out on it, the ease of use and audio quality count in its favor.

You want full RGB control
If you go for the base model you're stuck with red for the lighting color. For full control of the microphone’s lighting effects you’ll want to upgrade to the Hyper X Quadcast 2 S.

You need a non-USB mic
While this microphone has an adapter for flipping between USB and USB-C, you’ll need different hardware if you’re after a non-USB mic like an XLR.

Also consider

Rode PodMic USB microphone
This Rode mic is a little pricier but has a few advantages, such as an XLR connection option as well as USB.

For more information read our full Rode PodMic USB microphone review. View Deal

SteelSeries Alias
Another mic that's inspired by the world of gaming the Alias has its own striking aesthetic and offers similarly solid audio out of the box.

For more information read our full SteelSeries Alias review.

How I tested the HyperX Quadcast 2

To test the HyperX Quadcast 2 I used it as my go-to mic for several weeks. I’ve used it for Discord calls, producing content, and in-game chat. I also performed some test recordings in Audacity and listened back to those.

During my time testing the microphone I also downloaded the HyperX Ngenuity app to explore the light and audio settings it offers.

First reviewed November 2024

Dali Rubikore 2: Two-minute review

A longstanding concept in hi-fi (and indeed many other product categories) is that of ‘trickle down.’ The idea is simple enough; technology and design ideas that first appear in the flagship products is gradually made available at more terrestrial levels as time goes on. It’s a very important dynamic because, while many people will move upward through a product range as time goes on, rather fewer of them will make it all the way to the top. Bringing flagship technology down to a level more people can access is very important – and many of the best stereo speakers we've tested have been able to do just that. 

The Dali Rubikore range is a physical manifestation of the trickle down concept, indeed the ideal is so important to the their existence it is reflected in the name. The replacement for the long running and highly regarded Rubikon series of speakers and some of the advancements are derived from the Kore (stylised to 'KORE') technology that first saw use in the Kore floorstander which is yours for a brisk $110,000 / £85,000. The resulting speakers have their name revised to reflect this and are now the Rubikore range of which the Rubikore 2 is the only standmount model. 

The Rubikore 2 pitches in at $4,000 or a little over £2,000; a key price point for standmount speakers and one which is contested by a very large number of companies. To stand out from the pack, the Dali will need to be very good indeed. The omens are good; The Kore technology is used to improve some already very capable drivers, the claimed measurements look excellent and the range has some up to date thinking in terms of multichannel as well as having some very attractive finishes. Does this on paper ability translate to real world greatness? 

Dali Rubikore 2 review: Price and release date

(Image credit: Future)

• Launched in May 2024
• £2,200/$4,000/$4,200 AUD

The Rubikore range debuted in May 2024 with the wraps being taken off at the High End Show in Munich. The range comprises a pair of floortanding models, the standmount seen here, an LCR (a speaker engineered to be both a centre speaker and also operate as a stereo pair) and an on wall speaker. This range spans from £1,200 for the Rubikore On Wall to £6,000 for the Epikore 8. This is a fair amount of money but rather less than what Dali is asking for the Kore. 

The Rubikore 2 is available in the UK for £2,200. It is $4,000 in the USA and $4,200 in Australia. This price does not include a stand and neither does Dali make a dedicated version for the Rubikore 2. In a large number of the stock images, you’ll see the Rubikore 2 sat on stout bits of furniture which will work up to a point but you should budget for a pair of stands to get the best from them. I used a hefty if cosmetically unspectacular Custom Design stands throughout for testing. One positive attribute is that all four finishes have the same price, with none commanding a price premium.

Dali Rubikore 2 review: Specs Dali Rubikore 2 review: Features

(Image credit: Future)

• Kore Technology 
• Clarity Cone Midbass driver 
• Continuous flare bass port 
• Lightweight dome tweeter 

As a passive speaker, the Dali is not as sophisticated as powered and active designs but, given it’s a relatively small speaker made out of fairly well established materials, there is a surprising amount going on inside them. Dali has used the enormous amount of data gained the development of the Kore speaker to improve the Rubikore models. Obviously, there are many parts of a $110,000 speaker that don’t make it down to this level, but a number of ideas do.

This is most apparent in the drivers. The Rubikore 2 uses a 6.5inch (155mm) mid bass driver that employs technology that Dali refers to as Clarity Cone. The cone itself is made from Dali's preferred wood fiber; something that have been doing for a very long time but here you can see a pattern on the cone itself. This increases the stiffness of the cone as a whole and improves the breakup behaviour. Behind the driver, Dali's Soft Magnetic Compound is used as it reduces eddy currents and other unwanted effects, lowering distortion overall. 

This driver is helped by a rear firing bass port that employs a continuous flare along its length (that is to say it isn’t the same diameter along its length). This helps to keep the flow of air out of the port quieter as the diameter increases as the air accelerates allowing it to expand. This port helps the Rubikore 2 to reach down to 50Hz at a +/-3dB measurement – a usefully demanding way of measuring this.   

This mid bass driver is partnered with a soft dome tweeter that is built around the principles of reducing mass; a very desirable attribute in a high frequency driver. Traditionally, tweeters used a substance called ferrofluid to cool them but this adds mass and increases the response time. The Rubikore 2’s 1.2 inch (29mm) dome does without this to reduce the mass. The Rubikore 2 is the only member of the Rubikore family to not partner the dome tweeter with a ribbon device although given that the quoted upper frequency roll off is 26kHz (or, quite a bit higher than human hearing actually goes), this is unlikely to be a huge issue. 

The crossover for the two drivers hands over between them at 2.8kHz (relatively high by the standards of many rivals) and is quite unusual in 2024 terms because it supports biwring should you wish. Sensitivity is in keeping with most things at the price at 87dB/w but this is achieved at a slightly trickier 4 ohm impedance which means this isn’t a truly difficult speaker to drive but needs a little power to do its best work. The cabinet that houses everything is a relatively conventional type made of MDF sections; although something that is quite unusual is that both the front and rear panels have a gentle curve to them. The cabinets are extensively braced and substantial things though and the whole speaker feels usefully solid. 

• Features score: 4/5

Dali Rubikore 2 review: Sound quality

(Image credit: Future)

• Excellent bass 
• Tonally superb
• Some limits to soundstage and quiet running 
• Consistently good fun 

Placed on stands with absolutely no toe in applied (Dali is adamant that its speakers should point dead ahead), the Rubikore 2 doesn’t need vary long to start to impress. The first and most immediately noticeable aspect of the performance is the bass extension and the scale that goes with it. The Dali gives Ben Howard’s Every Kingdom a weight and authority that makes the performance utterly convincing. This album is not a bass monster but plucked bass notes and the sparse percussion it possesses are given a weight you feel as well as hear and the effect this has on the believability of the track is considerable. 

Tonally, the Rubikore 2 is a class act. Across standard challenges like voices, violins, cellos and pianos, it has managed to sound consistently right. This is not a showy or attention grabbing speaker. It doesn’t go in for the sort of emphasis on parts of the frequency response that is superficially impressive but that becomes wearying after a while. Instead it presents a frequency response that feels even and consistent and allows the music to generate its own emphasis. The astonishing Emily King track Forgiveness on her Scenery album is presented with King being the absolute focus of your attention. Everything else that should there is there but it’s subsumed by what the recording regards as the important part and the Dali following those instructions perfectly. 

Something else that is very welcome is that the when the quality of the material being played drops, the Dali still maintains a level of realism and overall quality that is extremely impressive. A blast through Greta van Fleet’s Anthem of a Peaceful Army delivers a healthy dose of the ‘I can’t believe it’s not Led Zeppelin’ sound without drawing too much attention to the limitations of the mastering as a whole. Instead the Rubikore does a fine job of making things sound usefully exciting and energetic, with a very pleasing level of get up and go to its overall performance. 

So far so good, but there are some areas where the Rubikore 2 is less effortlessly composed. It had the misfortune of following Tannoy’s odd but immensely talented Autograph Mini through testing and while it convincingly beats the Tannoy in terms of bass extension, it simply doesn’t create the same almost three dimensional soundstage of the material being played. Some of this is a bit of a puzzle because viewed objectively, the Dali isn’t doing anything wrong. The handover between the mid bass and tweeter is seamless and there is no real perception of congestion to the sound, even when very complex material is being played. Nevertheless, the Dali tends to produce a sound that sits between the two speakers rather than extends beyond it. 

There is also an element of the Dali's performance that might be a benefit or a negative depending on your listening situation. For what is a relatively compact device, the Rubikore 2 is capable of playing impressively loud and sounding effortless while it does so. Even rivals that boast a similar driver complement can struggle to match the way that the Dali handles the huge crescendo of Public Service Broadcasting’s Broadcasting House. Without sounding strained or pushing the limits of the cabinet, the Dali simply keeps hitting hard and sounding utterly composed while it does so. The caveat to this is that at lower levels, the Rubikore 2 sounds a bit on the safe side. If you don’t have the scope to open the taps every now and again, some of the abilities of the Dali will be less easy to enjoy. 

When you do give them a bit of level though, the Dali is consistently good fun. This isn’t simply fun in the ‘play fast music and nod your head’ ideal but an ability to get to the crux of the emotional content of the material being played. It’s the difference between listening to My Baby’s Tribulations and thinking, ‘that’s a nice song’ and sitting there rapt at one of the most stunning vocal arrangements I’ve had the pleasure of listening to.  

• Sound quality score: 4.5/5

Dali Rubikore 2 review: Design

(Image credit: Future)

• Four finish options 
• 350 x 195 x 335 mm
• 9.5kg each 

Dali is a Danish brand and while I’m not sure that some sort of official document exists to the effect that no Danish brand is allowed to make unattractive equipment, it does seem to be a rule they all work to. The Rubikore 2 is elegantly proportioned, with a pleasing ratio to the width and depth that is balanced by the size of the drivers contained within it. There are four finish options, including two wood veneers that have been chosen to complement both the proportions and the drivers very well. Even the white of the review samples; a finish I’m not traditionally enthused about, looks good against the contrast provided by various sections of the speakers. 

This effect is enhanced by just how well made and finished the Dali is. These aren’t cheap speakers but even so, the care that has gone into how they have been assembled and finished is impressive. About the only thing I can really say against them is that, where the vast majority of rivals use magnetic tabs for the grilles, the Dali still uses lugs. They’ve cleverly used screw fittings to hide some of the holes but there is still a visible one above the tweeter which looks a little unsightly. 

• Design score: 4.5/5

Dali Rubikore 2 review: Value

As noted a few times so far, $4,000 is not the sort of figure that most of us lose down the back of the couch, but it’s hard to argue with the feel or quality of the Rubikore 2 for this money. This is a brilliantly made and finished speaker that is built in Europe and comes with a five year warranty. It does a fine job of avoiding the nagging feeling of buyer’s remorse when you unbox them which is no bad thing. They will require decent quality equipment to partner them but not to the extent where they won’t improve an existing system of slightly less expensive electronics, so long as there is sufficient power to drive them. 

• Value score: 4.5/5

Should you buy the Dali Rubikore 2? Buy them if...

Tonality matters 

The Dali does a brilliant job of bringing voices and instruments to life. Even very talented rivals at this price can struggle to match their abilities in this regard. 

You like a bit of bass

Without ever sounding boomy or lacking in control, the Dali Rubikore 2 has tremendous low end for a sensibly size speaker. Very few rivals can hit as hard while matching the dexterity of the Rubikore 2.

Aesthetics are important to you

This is a good looking speaker that comes in four well judged finishes, none of which command a price premium. There a very few spaces where at least one of these options won’t look good and work well.

Don't buy them if...

You listen quietly 

At lower levels, the Rubikore 2 isn’t a bad speaker pair, but some of the attributes it shows at higher volumes are less apparent. 

Soundstage is everything 

The Dali never sounds congested or confused, but some rivals do a better job of extending their performance out beyond the speakers. 

You have a very low powered amp 

It would be a stretch to call the Dali truly insensitive but it will do its best work with a little bit of power and current behind it. If you have less than 40 watts on hand, this probably isn’t the best choice for you. 

Dali Rubikore 2 review: Also consider

The curious but lovely Tannoy Autograph Mini is the same price as the Dali. The product under review here completely demolished it in terms of bass extension and scale, but the stereo image it can produce is something that the Dali cannot match. The Monitor Audio Studio 89 is slightly less money but comes laden with technology and striking looks as well as an ability to resolve fine detail that very little near the price gets anywhere near. Outside of speakers we have looked at, Bowers & Wilkins, Neat and PMC are all formidable contenders at this price point and will keep the Dali honest. 

How I tested the Dali Rubikore 2

(Image credit: Future)

The Dalis were placed on a pair of Custom Design stands and run in a system built around a Naim Supernait 3 integrated amp; a slightly more expensive device than the Dali but able to deliver plenty of power and show what the Rubikore 2 was doing at any given time. 

Source equipment took the form of an Eversolo DMP-A8 streamer. This formidable digital front end offers superb UPnP streaming but also has an HDMI ARC connection allowing an LG OLED to be connected and routed through the system to the Dali. I tend to use the Eversolo via the Roon software platform because I control most things through that and tend to prefer it. 

I also made use of not one but two turntables under testing. The first is a resident Rega Planar 10 using the company’s newly released Nd7 moving magnet cartridge. The second was the newly released Pro-Ject Debut Evo 2 for which the Dali acted as a test speaker. Both turntables used a Cyrus Classic Phono for the phono stage. Material used has been a variety of styles and genres via The test material has been FLAC, AIFF, Tidal, Qobuz and Spotify as well as some vinyl. 

• Read TechRadar's reviews guarantee

Thrustmaster T.Flight Hotas One: One-minute review

Can you believe the Thrustmaster T.Flight Hotas One has been around for years? The entry-level stick offers everything you need to get started in Microsoft Flight Simulator or something more exotic, with a throttle, a comfortable stick, and the option to attach each or keep them separate.

The entire unit is cheaper than many flight sticks you can pick up without an additional throttle, meaning you’re getting plenty of bulk for your buck, if not bang. The throttle is lacking in resistance, and the casing of both halves is made of a relatively cheap-feeling plastic. Thankfully that does make it lightweight, meaning it’s easy to haul between desk and sofa setups across PC and Xbox.

Still, 14 buttons and 5 axes are more than enough for you to earn your pilot wings, and more intermediate features like a tactile hat switch and a nice, springy trigger make it feel much more comprehensive than rivals at this price point.

PlayStation gamers will also need to look elsewhere, but the Hotas One will work on PC and current generation Xbox consoles and will go as far back as the Xbox One. If you’ve got one of those platforms, the plug-and-play nature makes it easy to get started, and the Xbox buttons replicated across the unit can make it easy to make the jump for traditionally console-bound flyers.

All of this makes it an attractive entry-level flight stick that lacks additional axes and controls but offers a more cockpit-adjacent split throttle and stick form factor that it’s easy to feel impressed by. It’s not getting any younger, but with Thrustmaster continuing to re-release it in fresh colorways (including a Microsoft Flight Simulator option), it’s clear the company is standing by it as a first taste of flight stick for beginners.

(Image credit: Future/Lloyd Coombes) Thrustmaster T.Flight Hotas One: Price and availability

• List price: $99.99 / £89.99
• Available in black and Microsoft Flight Simulator options
• Launched in October 2017

The T-Flight Hotas One has been around for a while (there was a PS3 version at one point, which should tell you how long it’s lasted), and this particular model has been getting PC and Xbox gamers in the air since 2017.

It’s getting harder to find the plain black version now, but the Microsoft Flight Simulator version is the same product with a white finish, suggesting the stick isn’t going anywhere. That new color option is a lot brighter and makes the stick look more modern.

Regardless, you’ll find either for under $100 with discounts, making it more than competitive with some throttle-less options like the Turtle Beach VelocityOne. It’s drastically cheaper than mid-range options like Logitech’s X56 Hotas RGB, too, and it remains a great starter option because of its price.

Thrustmaster T.Flight Hotas One: Specs Thrustmaster T.Flight Hotas One: Design and features

• Ideal for desk usage
• Plastic feels cheap
• Can collect dust on the throttle base

The Thrustmaster T.Flight Hotas One was the first official flight stick released for the Xbox One (a console that launched in 2013), so it’s had some longevity. Still, its design feels very much of its time - it’s relatively sleek in all black, with some silver accenting and a striped F2 button on the stick.

Still, it’s very plasticky, which can lead to it audibly creaking during use - thank goodness it’s not a real plane! On the one hand that’s likely kept the price down, but on the other, it feels far from premium in comparison to more expensive sticks like Thrustmaster’s own T.16000M FCS Flight Pack.

While buttons can be remapped in your game of choice within their individual settings since the stick is a ‘generic’ option, I’m pleased to see the Xbox buttons represented here. So many flight sticks cater to PC almost exclusively that it’s nice to see the face buttons here, in color, for easier recognition. There’s even the Xbox button to call up the Xbox menu on PC or console.

The rubber under the stick helps prevent dust from getting into the mechanism, but the same can’t be said of the throttle which has no shielding from dust or the elements underneath - if you’re using it regularly that won’t be a problem, but it’s definitely worth mentioning that it’s likely to collect dust.

The stick plugs in via USB-A, with a breakaway cable that’s ideal in case someone yanks the cable while you’re playing. It calls to mind the original Xbox’s cables, and you’ll be thankful for it if it stops your console or PC from toppling.

(Image credit: Future/Lloyd Coombes) Thrustmaster T.Flight Hotas One: Performance

• Plug and play on console and PC via USB-A
• Splitting sections is easy, although cable management can get fiddly
• Hat switch is a nice touch

Setting up the T.Flight Hotas One couldn’t be simpler - just plug it in via USB-A. While the industry is moving away from it, it lives on here, so bear in mind you may need a USB-C adapter depending on your port selection.

Once it’s plugged in, it just works, both on console and PC. I enjoyed Elite Dangerous on each, and was barrel-rolling and nosediving with reckless abandon within minutes either at my desk or on the couch. The stick is responsive, and the Z-axis rudder can be used via the rocker on the throttle which I found to offer more granular control when listing left or right.

One of my favorite parts is the hat switch, which comes in a four-way version here. This nifty input on the top of the flight stick can act as a D-Pad, letting you do things like open the landing gear in Elite Dangerous with a press. It’ll be hard to go back to mouse and keyboard or controller, that’s for sure, but naturally eight-way hat switches will double the available commands that are a thumb flick away.

It’s easy to take the stick and throttle apart, but the two are connected by a cable. Once you put them back together, you’ll likely want to run the wire underneath through a trench on the underside, and that can be fiddly in my experience.

(Image credit: Future/Lloyd Coombes)

The relatively low price of admission can also be felt in the throttle. It’s not bad, it’s just lacking any resistance which makes it feel less like a piece of aerospace equipment and more like a toy. It’s hard to escape the feeling that this is where corners were cut, and when pushing to hyperspace in a space sim like Elite Dangerous, it feels lacking in any meaningly pushback. It makes sense at this price point but it’s worth mentioning.

On the flip side, I will say the trigger on the stick feels nice and snappy, springing back into place in a way that feels nice and tactile while also ensuring you can line up those laser cannon blasts in something like Star Wars: Squadrons and have the trigger ready to fire again almost instantly.

I’m also pleased to report the T.Flight Hotas One is great for Microsoft Flight Simulator, which might be to be expected with its officially branded version. The split design means you can position a keyboard in the middle of the throttle and flight stick which then allows for a much broader array of commands than the T.Flight Hotas One is able to provide because of its lower button count.

As I mentioned earlier, though, the plastic construction can cause the stick to creak a little, and it’s lightweight enough that it’s not too difficult to accidentally shift it about the desk with relatively minor effort.

Should I buy the Thrustmaster T.Flight Hotas One? Buy it if...

You want to try a flight stick without spending too much money
What’s on offer here is great value, with a detachable throttle setup that similarly priced rivals simply can’t match.

You’re planning to play across PC and console
This helps save you from buying two sticks, so long as you’re on Xbox. PS5 players will need to look elsewhere. Still, its split sections make it ideal for couch and desk use.

Don't buy it if...

You want a stick geared more for experienced pilots
There are better, more premium sticks for anyone looking for something more extensive.

Also consider...

Still not sold on the T.Flight Hotas One? Here’s how it compares to two similar products.

Turtle Beach VelocityOne

The Turtle Beach VelocityOne is priced very closely to the T.Flight Hotas One but is just a stick with no additional throttle. Offering more buttons, the VelocityOne features an improved hat switch and a more premium feel but comes at the cost of a full-sized throttle. It does offer some satisfying resistance, however, and a nifty OLED display, and will also work on both PC and Xbox.

For more information, check out our full Turtle Beach VelocityOne review.View Deal

Thrustmaster Viper TQS Mission Pack

This Thrustmaster effort looks like it’s been ripped straight from a fighter jet. It’s incredibly premium-feeling, with a whole host of buttons and switches, but it does require a joystick, too - making it a pricey option. We’ll have a full review in the coming days, but if you’re looking for mechanical switches and a true-to-life throttle, you’ll struggle to find anything more realistic.

How I tested the Thrustmaster T.Flight Hotas One

• Tested over the course of two weeks
• Used both in split and singular unit modes
• Tested on multiple games across two platforms

I spent around 15 hours playing Elite Dangerous and Star Wars: Squadrons, both on PC and via an Xbox Series X.

I played each game for several hours, before switching platforms and switching back again to ensure consistent performance across games and platforms.

I also played Microsoft Flight Simulator on PC for a further five hours, splitting the Hotas One and using it as one unit to test its comfort in both configurations.

Read more about how we test 

First reviewed November 2024

T3 SinglePass X: two-minute review Product info

Note: The SinglePass Smooth X is not to be confused with the SinglePass X. The latter has wider, 1.5in / 38mm plates better best suited for thicker hair and has five temperature settings compared to the Smooth X’s nine. Due to these larger plates, the SinglePass X is less compact than the Smooth X, but still features the same SinglePass technology and CeraGloss plates.

The T3 SinglePass Smooth X may not be at the top of my best hair straighteners list, but when you factor in its design, functionality, tech and value for money, it's not far off. I love its Satin Blush color, and the sleek, pastel pink finish isn't just stylish but practical, as it resists fingerprints and smudges. The rose-gold accents on the hinge and logo add a touch of luxury, while the color of the ceramic plates blends well with the blush tone, giving it a cohesive, high-end feel.

The plates are 1in wide and 20% longer than standard straighteners, which allows for faster styling by covering more hair in each pass. This is a bonus for my long, thin hair and it took a little over two minutes to finish straightening my whole head. Made from T3's CeraGloss ceramic, these plates also help to smooth frizz and add shine and while they might not glide as effortlessly as other straighteners, like the GHD Chronos, (learn more in my GHD Chronos review) they still perform well, especially when curling. The StyleEdge design of these plates, which give them beveled edges, also makes sure curls and waves are created without leaving creases, which is welcomed.

Measuring 11.8in / 30cm long and weighing 14.7oz / 417g, the SinglePass Smooth X is compact, lightweight and well-balanced. I was initially concerned the added length might make it cumbersome, but it was easy to move around my head during styling. The PrecisionControl hinge keeps the plates gliding smoothly without the need for excessive pressure, too, which adds to the overall comfort.

The temperature controls are located near the base of the styler, with a row of nine LED indicators representing its nine heat settings – from 260F / 127C to 410F / 210C. This range gives flexibility for a host of hair types, with lower settings ideal for fine and fragile hair and higher settings best suited for thicker, coarser textures. The SinglePass technology and CeraSync heaters inside the styler then help distribute this heat evenly, reducing the need to go over the same section multiple times and helping to minimize heat damage. This also helps create more uniform curls that last.

During my tests, the SinglePass Smooth X lived up to its name, straightening my fine, naturally curly hair with minimal frizz. However, after straightening, I found my hair looked a little too sleek and flat, which is common for finer hair like mine but was a tad disappointing.

Overall, the T3 SinglePass Smooth X holds its own among the best hair straighteners, with its sleek design, ease of use, and strong performance for both straightening and curling. Minor drawbacks like the placement of the power button, which makes it easy to accidentally change the heat setting, plus the overly sleek results for my thinner hair weren't dealbreakers for me, but did lessen the appeal. However, if you prefer a straight, smooth, frizz-free finish or your hair is long and thick, then chances are you will love it.

Read on for my full T3 SinglePass X review...

T3 SinglePass Smooth X review: price & availability

• List price: $149.99
• Available: US only
• Replaces the T3 Lucea 1" flat iron

The T3 SinglePass Smooth X replaces the Lucea 1in flat iron and costs $149.99. It's only available in the US, and is only sold in a single Satin Blush color.

Its price and technology positions the SinglePass Smooth X in the mid-range of T3's wider straightener lineup. It sits below the $249.99 Smooth ID styler, which has the added feature of real-time personalized heat settings, and the $189.99 Lucea 1.5in styling iron, which has wider plates.

It then costs more, and offers more, in terms of tech and performance than the travel-friendly SinglePass Compact Flat Iron, which retails for $89.99 and has a smaller, more portable design.

The closest model to the Smooth X is the T3 SinglePass Stylemax. It has the same plate size, same SinglePass, CeraGloss and StyleEdge technology and design, and costs the same. Yet it offers more customizable temperature options, and a Curl Mode, which optimizes the heat for curls and waves.

Outside of T3, similar rivals in terms of features and design include the $160 Moroccanoil Perfectly Polished Titanium flat iron, and the £109 mdlondon Strait which has similarly long, bevelled plates and multiple heat settings but is only sold in the UK and ROI.

In comparison to most of its siblings, and rivals, the Smooth X's price – which initially felt high – represents much better value than may first appear. Largely because of its built-in tech, and design as well as its performance. You get more features with the SinglePass Stylemax for the same price, but that model is less attractive, less sleek and doesn't have the longer plates, which are a bonus on the Smooth X.

You can buy the SinglePass Smooth X in the US directly from the T3 website, as well as third party retailers like Amazon US.

• Value score: 4 out of 5

T3 SinglePass Smooth X specs T3 SinglePass Smooth X review: design

• 1-inch wide, ceramic-coated plates
• 9 different heat settings
• Longer-than-usual plates

T3 is renowned for making attractive and elegant stylers and the SinglePass Smooth X is no exception. It comes in a single, pastel pink-rose color, officially called Satin Blush, and has a soft, matte finish.

This not only looks and feels premium, but means it doesn't pick up fingerprints or show up grease like black stylers tend to do. Even the plates match the main blush color, and there are rose gold metal accents on the hinge, logo and controls.

(Image credit: Future)

The plates are noticeably longer – 20% longer than standard – than other straighteners I've used, including the GHD Platinum Plus, but are on par with plates on the mdlondon STRAIT. They're made from what the brand calls CeraGloss ceramic, which is ceramic material coated in a gloss-like finish.

This is the default for plates across the T3 straightener range and has been designed to smooth frizz and add shine without snagging or pulling the hair. In my experience, this works well and while it's not the smoothest flat iron I've tried (that prize goes to the GHD Chronos) it does a great job.

These plates also use a so-called StyleEdge design. This means their edges are beveled and smooth making them great for creating curls and waves without causing creases or kinks.

(Image credit: Future)

In terms of size, the plates are one inch wide and the overall dimensions of the straightener is ‎11.8 x 1.2 x 3.6 in / 30 x 3 x 9.1 cm in size. It weighs 14.7 oz / 417g. This makes it compact and light enough for easy handling and for packing in a suitcase or bag, without being too small to work on longer hair.

I found the straightener to be well-balanced. I was initially concerned that the added length would cause my wrist to ache or be slightly cumbersome while moving it around my head, but this wasn't the case. It isn’t too heavy, but it has enough weight to feel sturdy and comfortable.

The PrecisionControl hinge keeps the arm tension just right, allowing for a smooth, even glide without any stiffness or looseness. You don't have to squeeze too hard to get the best results, nor do the plates aggressively spring back into position. This all adds to the premium feel.

The Power button on the Smooth X doubles up as a temperature control and is found near the base of the styler near the 360-degree, 9ft / 2.7 meter swivel cord. Above this button is a slim row of nine LEDs, each one representing a different temperature setting as follows:

1. 260F / 127C
2. 280F / 138C
3. 300F / 149C
4. 320F / 160C
5. 340F / 171C
6. 360F / 182C
7. 380F / 193C
8. 400F / 204C
9. 410F / 210C

The lower settings (1-4) are designed for fine or fragile hair, the medium settings (5-6) are better for normal or "medium-textured" hair, while the 7-9, high settings are ideal for thick or coarse hair. That said, T3 does suggest dropping the temperature down 1-2 settings if your hair color-treated.

(Image credit: Future)

When the straightener reaches your chosen temperature, the flashing lights turn solid to let you know it's ready to use. The Smooth X will then remember your chosen setting for the next time you use it. A small downside is that the position of the power button makes it easy to accidentally change temperature mid-style.

If you have thicker or longer hair, or your hair has been damaged from chemicals or over styling, you'll likely get much more use and benefit from having a wide temperature range. I've never been overly fussed about having a range of temperatures choices as my fine hair is pretty malleable. However, I welcomed the ability to drop or increase the heat as and when needed.

Features-wise, the Smooth X uses the same SinglePass technology found in all of the stylers in the SinglePass range. This technology uses a microchip that continuously monitors the temperature, preventing hot or cool spots. This means you can style your hair in a single pass, reducing the need to repeatedly glide over the same section. This not only saves time but helps reduce heat damage.

The CeraSync Heaters inside the styler then make sure the heat is distributed evenly across the plates for fast and consistent styling. These heaters work in tandem with the ceramic plates and SinglePass tech to keep an optimal and steady temperature. All of this combines to make the Smooth X a good-looking, easy-to-use and effective styler for a wide range of hair styles and types.

• Design score: 5 out of 5

T3 SinglePass Smooth X review: performance

• One pass is enough to smooth hair
• Longer plates allow for faster styling
• Excellent straightener for curling

The well-thought-out design and functionality of the SinglePass Smooth X really comes to life when you start using the flat iron for different styles and finishes. For me, with my long, thin and naturally curly hair, the extra-long ceramic plates are a particular strength. They not only glide smoothly through the hair, for both straightening and curling, but the added length and SinglePass technology means I can finish styles quickly and efficiently.

It took a little over two minutes to straighten my long hair, and I styled the majority of sections with a single pass on my preferred temperature setting of 340F / 171C, or setting 5. Technically, my hair is fine and color-treated so, based on T3's advice, I should be styling on setting 2 or 3. However, I found that while it still styled my hair well at this temperature, the style didn't hold anywhere near as well.

The consistent, even heat across the plates seemed to make a difference in speed, but also in minimizing frizz. This was particularly noticeable when curling my hair; other straighteners tend to create curls that are uneven, the Smooth X heated every part of hair and curl evenly ,meaning the shape was more uniform from top to bottom.

The beveled edges of the plates then allow for smooth curling without leaving creases in the hair, something I’ve struggled with when using other straighteners with more blocky plates. The shape, size and design of the Smooth X also makes creating waves a doddle, and the results during my tests were always polished and consistent.

(Image credit: Future)

Sadly I was underwhelmed with how my hair looked after being straightened. This is partly due to how thin my hair is, but also, ironically, because of how well the plates glide and flatten frizz. As my hair is naturally curly, I usually only use a flat iron to knock out this frizz. I don't like to create super sleek, straight styles as they tend to leave my thin hair looking limp, flat and greasy. This was the case with the Smooth X, unfortunately.

It almost straightened my hair into submission and there was very little movement. It is possible to bring movement to straight hair without having to sacrifice a smooth finish – as I experienced with the mdlondon Strait – but the Smooth X did not achieve this balance. That said, if you have thicker hair or love sleek looks, the Smooth X will likely work exactly as you expect, and want.

(Image credit: Future)

Plus, moving the tool around my head was always comfortable, no matter which style I created. The swivel cord gives plenty of room and movement, and the weight of the straightener is balanced enough that it didn’t feel too heavy, even after styling for a while. The heat-up time is fast too, reaching setting 5 in just 10 seconds and setting 9 in 15 seconds.

I found that the power button, though convenient for switching settings before styling, can easily be pressed during use, which can be a bit annoying mid-styling. Some online reviewers have also said that the hinge tension can loosen over time, which can make it harder to maintain even pressure across the plates. I didn’t experience this myself during my review, but it’s something to keep in mind for long-term use.

• Performance score: 3.5 out of 5

Should I buy the T3 SinglePass Smooth X? Buy it if...

You have long or thick hair

The extra-long plates coupled with the wide range of temperatures available make the Smooth X a great choice for people with thick, long hair.

You like to curl your hair with straighteners

The Smooth X's biggest strength is the way it creates curls and waves. The long plates, streamlined shape and even heat make it quick and easy to curl your hair in minutes.

You prefer or need multiple heat settings

With nine temperature settings, you can easily adjust the heat on the Smooth X to suit your hair type and avoid damage.

Don't buy it if...

You're on a budget

While you get a lot of tech, and quality with the Smooth X, its $150 price tag may push it out of the reach of people on a budget.

You need a travel-friendly tool

While compact, the Smooth X's extra length means there are other, smaller stylers that may be better for travelling. It's also not dual-voltage, which can be limiting for international travel.

You have short or mid-length

The Smooth X's extra-long plates are welcome for long and thick hair but if you have a style that takes little effort, you may not need the longer plates.

How I tested the T3 SinglePass Smooth X

• Tested a range of temperature settings
• Created a range of straight and curly looks

For my T3 SinglePass Smooth X review I spent a month using it as my main hot styling tool. I created a series of different looks for different occasions including straight, curly and wavy styles and put a range of temperature settings to the test. I timed how long the styles took to complete and monitored the finish and condition of my hair.

First reviewed: September 2024

Smeg Combi Steam Oven: one-minute review

There’s no denying that the SmegCombi Steam Oven is a sleek and beautiful piece of kitchen technology that cooks food well in a variety of ways. I tried out the bake, convection bake, air fry, and steamer functions as well as a number of the preset recipe functions. Every single item I made came out perfectly delicious, though I did need to keep an eye on my food and I took a couple of items out early to prevent overcooking.

However, there is one major issue I had with the Smeg Combi Steam Oven. I cannot figure out exactly who this countertop oven is for or what it might replace in one’s kitchen. I already own an oven and a toaster oven and the Combi can’t replace either of those. It’s too small to replace an oven, unless you live in space that doesn’t have room for a full-sized oven. I suppose it could replace a toaster oven, but it has a much larger footprint than the (similarly-sized on the inside) toaster oven I already own. And while I’m sure you can make toast in it, like in any kind of oven, there is no designated toast feature on the Combi.

Smeg Combi Steam Oven: price and availability

• List price: $999.95 (about £770 / AU$1,500)

That’s right, the Smeg Combi Steam Oven is over $1,000 once you pay sales tax. It’s available at upscale kitchen stores like Williams-Sonoma and Crate and Barrel.

The Smeg Combi Steam Oven is only available in the US at the time of writing, but it may become available internationally at a later date.

• Value score: 3/5

Smeg Combi Steam Oven: specifications SMEG Combi Steam Oven: design and features

• Beautiful mid-century aesthetic
• Two knobs to access a variety of functions
• Bake, air fry, steam, and more

The Smeg Combi Steam oven is advertised as a 10 in 1 oven. Just don’t call it a toaster oven! It’s a countertop oven that cooks in a whole bunch of different ways. According to Smeg, the oven uses "Galileo Multicooking technology: innovative airflow patterns and professional algorithms for outstanding results in a compact design.” It offers traditional cooking functions like bake and convection bake along with steam and air fry functions to perform a variety of cooking tasks.

The Combi has 33 automatic chef recipes that take the guesswork out of cooking meat, fish, vegetables, bread, pizza, and desserts. Just choose your preset, pop in your food, and get ready for some deliciousness.

(Image credit: Karen Freeman / Future)

The enamel mid-century design is sleek and gorgeous. You can choose from five different colors: black, white, red, cream, and light blue. It comes with the following cooking accessories: two grill racks, an enameled cooking tray, and a perforated cooking tray. The guides along the sides of the oven have two different positions so you can cook on the upper level, lower level, or both at once. The guides can also be removed so you can easily access the sides of the oven for easier cleaning. The window is large and the light inside is always on while cooking so you can keep a close eye on your food’s progress.

The top of the Combi opens up to reveal a water compartment, where you pour in water for the steam function. The interior of the lid has a cheat sheet with all of the chef presets listed as well as a QR code so you can access the owner’s manual, how-to videos, and other information. This water tank is why the Combi is so large - much larger than any toaster oven I’ve ever seen. However, the interior is virtually the same size as my large toaster oven, just two inches wider.

(Image credit: Karen Freeman / Future)

There are two dials for controlling the SMEG Combi Steam Oven and a screen between them. There are three menus you can access via the left dial: Traditional Cooking Menu, Steam Cooking Menu, and Chef Menu. The Traditional Cooking Menu lets you choose broil, air fry, bake, convection bake, convection bottom bake, warm, and defrost.

Within the Steam Cooking Menu, you can choose convection (for pure steam cooking), convection bake (for bake plus steam), and convection broil (for broil plus steam).

When you enter the Chef Menu, you can choose from among 33 presets for a variety of meats, fish, vegetables, desserts, and breads. The use of the dials definitely takes some studying of the user manual and some practice. It’s not necessarily intuitive.

• Design score: 4.5/5

Smeg Combi Steam Oven: performance

So how did the Combi perform? Overall, excellent. I cooked a bunch of meals in the Combi and there wasn’t a dud in the bunch.

There was definitely a weird smell the first couple of times I used it, even though I performed the one hour burn off (empty oven on highest setting) to get rid of any residues left from the manufacturing process. And it’s quite noisy, getting up to 65 dB(A) at times.

However, unlike every toaster oven I’ve used, it doesn’t get hot on the outside. Even when going full tilt, it only reached a very touchable 76 degrees on the outside. The fan stays on while the oven cools down after cooking is complete, presumably to help it cool down faster. It does take some time to cool down, and a progress bar on the screen lets you know how the cool down is progressing.

(Image credit: Karen Freeman / Future)

I made two different kinds of (sweet potato) french fries: from scratch and pre-made frozen. For the scratch variety, I cut up a sweet potato and coated the wedges in oil and seasonings.

(Image credit: Karen Freeman / Future)

The frozen ones I just dumped out on the tray. I used the French Fry Chef Menu preset for both, which was actually a traditional baking mode rather than an air fry mode as you might expect. In both cases, the fries came out crisp on the outside, soft on the inside, and totally delicious. I also baked a sweet potato whole using convection bake as I typically would and that also came out great.

(Image credit: Karen Freeman / Future)

I baked blueberry muffins using the Muffin preset from the Chef Menu, which includes steam. The muffins came out moist and delicious. I’d say the browning was a bit uneven; I took them out one minute early because I was afraid some of them might overcook. I probably didn’t need to do that, though.

(Image credit: Karen Freeman / Future)

I used the Roasted Vegetables preset many times, since I eat them just about every day. The most challenging vegetables I made in the Combi this way were brussels sprouts. I make them all the time; when I make them on the stovetop they tend to be slightly soggy but when I make them in the oven they tend to dry out (unless I use a ton of oil.) In the Combi, I used a minimal amount of oil, just a quick spritz all over. They came out crisp, tender, and amazing.

(Image credit: Karen Freeman / Future)

I also tried making vegetables in Air Fry mode, using a recipe I found online. I put broccoli, red peppers, and a frozen veggie burger patty in for 10 minutes at 390 degrees. Again, the veggies were delicious: crisp and tender. The burger was fully cooked, just right.

(Image credit: Karen Freeman / Future)

I had to make pizza in the Smeg Combi Steam Oven. There is a dedicated Pizza preset in the Chef Menu, but since Smeg is an Italian company, I know it was talking about homemade pizza. I wanted to make frozen pizza. In fact, I made two different ones over the course of my testing period.

In both cases, I followed the directions on the box. I did one in convection bake mode and ended up taking it out a couple of minutes early so it didn’t burn. I did the second one in regular bake mode, and actually had to add a couple of minutes to the bake time. In the end though, both pizzas came out perfect: lightly browned, fully cooked in the middle, not burnt anywhere.

(Image credit: Karen Freeman / Future)

I steamed frozen pierogies (potato dumplings) using the steam mode. The pierogies came out fully heated through, moist, and delicious.

I didn't make toast. Why? Because there is no dedicated toast function. Obviously you can Google how to make toast in any oven, but I cannot for the life of me figure out why Smeg didn’t include a toast setting in the Chef Menu.

Cleanup isn't exactly a breeze, because everything is hand wash only. The trays definitely take some elbow grease, but I was able to get them completely clean every time. The oven itself is another story. The instructions say to let the oven cool and then use a regular cleaner, nothing abrasive, to clean the Combi. I did exactly that, using Dawn Powerwash and a Scrub Daddy (gentle sponge).

When that wasn’t enough, I went out and bought some Dawn Professional Heavy Duty Degreaser. That didn’t do it either, despite plenty of elbow grease. I don’t want to damage it with an abrasive cleaner or steel wool, so it just isn’t as clean as I’d like.

• Performance score: 4.5/5

Should you buy the Smeg Combi Steam Oven? Buy it if

You want a sleek and stylish countertop oven

The Smeg Combi Steam Oven is a beauty for sure. Since it comes in five different colors, at least one of them will look amazing in your kitchen.

You want a multi-functional mini oven

The Combi lets you air fry, bake, steam, and more with a flick of the dials.

You want an easy way to cook quick and delicious food

I’m all about getting a good meal on the table without a lot of fuss and the Combi definitely helped make that happen.

Don't buy it if

Money is a consideration.

At over a grand (with sales tax) this costs more than some full-sized ovens and far more than a toaster oven.

You want to replace one of your current appliances

The Combi takes up a lot of counter space and I don’t know what appliance this would replace. Maybe your toaster oven, but only if you have no need of a dedicated toast function.

You want easy cleanup

I’ve cleaned and cleaned the Combi but it remains stained at the bottom. An abrasive cleaner might do the trick, but Smeg warns against using abrasives.

Smeg Combi Steam Oven: also consider

If you're not sure about the Smeg Combi Steam Oven, here are some other options to consider...

Ninja Double Oven Air Fryer

Cook two different items two different ways at the same time in this two-compartment air fryer oven. While not cheap, it’s a lot cheaper than the Smeg Combi Steam Oven, and earned a place in our roundup of the best air fryers.

Read our full review here.

Ninja Combi Multi-Cooker

This ultra-flexible countertop oven bakes, steams, air fries, and more. While it’s not nearly as pretty as the SMEG Combi Steam Oven, it has a lot of the same functionality for a lot less money.

Read our full review here.

How I tested the SMEG Combi Steam Oven

• I used multiple Chef Menu functions
• I tested air fry, bake, convection bake, and steam modes
• I cleaned it after each use

I’ve tested quite a few kitchen appliances over the years, both for review purposes and in my private life as the primary cook in my family for several decades. I love a cool cooking gadget and anything that lets me get a nutritious meal on the table fast.

I tested the Smeg Combi Steam Oven for about two weeks. I cooked a variety of foods using a variety of cooking modes, as detailed in the Performance section above. I used a few different presets in the Chef Menu section, as well as the bake, convection bake, steam, and air fry modes. I cooked a variety of fresh vegetables, french fries (both fresh and frozen), muffins, pierogies, veggie burgers, and frozen pizzas. After each cooking session, I cleaned all the accessories and the oven itself to assess how easy it was to clean.

Read more about how we test.

Anker Nebula Mars 3: two-minute review

If you’ve been looking for a projector you can wow your friends with, the Anker Nebula Mars 3 might be the one. Despite looking like a monster-sized flashlight, the Nebula Mars 3 is a portable projector designed for use both on the go and at home. To that end, it has a built-in battery that lets it operate at full brightness for upwards of two hours, plus the Android TV smart TV platform for streaming and fairly beefy speakers, though they regrettably play in mono. It’s well constructed, and works effectively, letting you set it down and get up and running quickly.

Where the Anker Nebula Mars 3 really impresses is its brightness, which knocks it out of the park compared to most other battery powered examples of the best portable projectors. It’s not enough to challenge daylight, but it’ll sizzle at night. At just over $1,000, it has competition, and you can also find 4K models around that price, though few have the portability on offer here. You can also get better color from triple-laser options like the LG CineBeam Q or JMGO N1S Pro, albeit at a lower brightness for the LG and no on-the-go use for the JMGO.

If you’re planning to do most of your viewing at home, it’s probably worth getting a projector that skips the battery and puts more effort into picture quality. But if you want a robust all-in-one theater you can tote anywhere, the Anker Nebula Mars 3 is a commendable option.

Anker Nebula Mars 3 review: price and release date

• Release date: July 2023
• Price: $1,099 (around £850 / AU$1,645)

The Anker Nebula Mars 3 launched in 2023 and is now readily available in the US for $1,099. It can occasionally be found for less, however, and was $50 off at the time of writing.

The Nebula Mars 3 features a sliding lens door and is IPX3 water resistant (Image credit: Future) Anker Nebula Mars 3 review: Specs

The Nebula Mars 3's rear-panel ports cover and flashlight feature (Image credit: Future) Anker Nebula Mars 3 review: design and features

• Built for portability and durability
• Convenient on-device controls
• Built-in speakers and Android TV operating system

The Anker Nebula Mars 3 follows Anker’s Nebula series design language, bearing considerable resemblance to the Nebula Cosmos 4K SE projector. That said, there are considerable differences that make the Nebula Mars 3 stand out.

This model is built for more of a rough-and-tumble, on-the-go lifestyle. It features a hardened case that can withstand half-meter drops and has IPX3 water resistance. The front has a sliding lens cover and the rear includes a rubber cover over the ports. A sizable, hard handle stretches across the top of the projector, extending from the front to the back. While it includes a remote control, the handle also has built-in controls for volume and navigation of the projector’s onboard operating system. Neither of these control options is quite perfect though, as the remote is fairly limited in what you can access with a single press and the built-in buttons lack many of the typical controls for navigating the projector’s Android TV smart TV interface.

A key part of the portable nature of the Anker Nebula Mars 3 is its ability to operate outdoors. To that end, the projector integrates a beefy battery geared up to run for anywhere from 2 hours at full blast to 5 hours in a dimmer Eco mode. To help you keep track of power, the handle has a ring of lights that display battery level. The projector can also double as a Bluetooth speaker or a flashlight. A three-speaker built-in audio system resides near the front. It can pump out a good deal of sound, though only in mono and the dynamics are fairly weak. Meanwhile, an LED light bar sits along the rear, stretching out above a large exhaust vent and below the port cover.

Since the Anker Nebula Mars 3 isn’t designed to have a permanent home, it has a small, adjustable stand underneath to help angle it up at projection surfaces wherever it’s ultimately set up. It also features a quick and effective system for automatically adjusting image focus, keystone, and framing.

The projector’s Android TV 11 smart TV system is a little dated, but still effective as a streaming platform. Like many other projectors, though, it doesn’t get the Play Store version of Netflix, instead relying on a sideloaded version that offers a generally sub-par experience. If you’re off the grid and don’t have internet, the projector has a USB-A port and supports local media playback.

To upgrade the audio experience, you can wire it up to external powered speakers using the AUX port or wirelessly pair it to a Bluetooth speaker.

• Design and features score: 4/5

The Android TV platform is used by the Nebula Mars 3 for streaming (Image credit: Future) Anker Nebula Mars 3 review: picture quality

• Good, but not exceptional picture
• Decent color and detail
• Enough battery power for a 2-hour-plus movie

The Anker Nebula Mars 3 features an LED DLP projection system rated for 1,000 lumens and 1080p resolution. That’s about what should be expected from a projector sitting at around $1,000.

Anker’s battery powered portable has a good-looking picture, but not an exceptional one. It isn’t the type of projector you’ll want if you’re viewing in a bright room, since its 1,000 lumens just aren’t enough to handle much ambient light. You might get by if you’re watching bright cartoons, but you really should be viewing with it in a dark space, and that extends to the outdoors as well. Controlling ambient lighting outdoors is even more difficult than indoors, and if you’re expecting a good viewing experience with lots of urban lighting present, you’ll be disappointed. That said, if you’re in a more rural area without much light pollution, the Anker Nebula Mars 3 should provide ample brightness after sunset.

The color you’ll get from the Anker Nebula Mars 3 is decent, but no match for triple-laser portable projectors like the LG CineBeam Q. It doesn’t feel utterly lacking or poorly managed, and a show like Ru Paul’s Drag Race still had plenty of visual spark when I viewed it. Colors have modest vibrance, but just don’t get the same level of pop I’ve seen from HDR-capable projectors reaching toward 100% coverage of the UHDA-P3 color space. The same is true of its resolution. At a projected image size of around 65 inches, the projector's 1080p image looks reasonably crisp, but go far above that and you will seeing more softness unless you sit further back. A larger image will also show an artifact of the projector’s DLP chip, which shows up as noticeable dithering (an effect like writhing small dots) when displaying dark colors over a large portion of the screen.

The projector has a motion smoothing setting buried slightly in the settings menu under the label MEMC that is set to on by default. While it can smooth out certain motions, it creates all sorts of distracting effects, especially in action sequences like those in Gladiator. It’s worth turning off, which results in more natural motion.

Many of the image trade-offs are a result of Anker needing to squeeze a battery in for the $1,099 price. And the battery makes it worth it. At full brightness, the Nebula Mars 3 was able to run for the entirety of a two-hour movie at 50% volume with a little over 20% charge to spare, which let it go for nearly 30 minutes longer. Annoyingly, if you’re nearing the end of your movie or show and the battery power starts to get low, your experience will be thoroughly interrupted by several low-battery warnings in a window that occupies a large portion of the display.

• Picture quality score: 3/5

A remote control is included, and there are also controls located on the projector's handle (Image credit: Future) Anker Nebula Mars 3 review: value

• Great for portable use
• Brighter than other compact portables
• Better options for picture quality, but not portability

The Anker Nebula Mars 3 is an interesting package. It’s not a great home theater projector for the money, as there are far more appealing options available in the same ballpark. But it’s an overall decent projector and a powerful portable one. The Nebula Mars 3 is quick to set up, and can run for hours at a time. It’s a knockout next to something like the Samsung The Freestyle 2nd Gen, which has a portable setup with an optional battery pack but isn’t nearly as bright.

A competent projector you can bring anywhere and easily get up and running is something special, and the Anker Nebula Mars 3 nails the concept. It’s built to withstand surprises and has clever elements (like the lens cover and waterproofing) that let you easily grab it and go without worrying about a protective case.

• Value score: 4/5

The carrying handle control buttons (Image credit: Future) Should I buy the Anker Nebula Mars 3?

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

You want an easy on-the-go projector: The key feature of the Anker Nebula Mars 3 is its ability to operate just about anywhere. Its handle is ready for travel and its battery lets it run for upwards of 2 hours at full brightness.

You’re rough with your gadgets: The Nebula Mars 3 isn’t indestructible, but it‘s a good deal more durable than other projectors. With hardware that can withstand 0.5-meter drops and rain, you can be a little more rough with this device.

You’re outdoorsy: The Nebula Mars 3 isn’t just a projector. It has a lamp that can come in handy at a campsite, and if you're not watching something, the built-in speaker can serve as a Bluetooth speaker. You can even use it as a power source for charging other electronics.

Don’t buy it if… 

You’re never taking it outdoors: The Nebula Mars 3 is decent, but not exceptional when it comes to home theater viewing. You can easily get a cheaper projector with equivalent picture quality.

You want a really big, bright picture: The Nebula Mars 3’s 1080p resolution and 1,000 lumens brightness don’t really cut it for big-screen viewing unless you’re not picky about picture detail and have a dark viewing space.

You want great built-in sound: The Nebula Mars 3 has some hard limits when it comes to audio. Its built-in speakers are regrettably mono and there’s no optical digital or eARC ports to tap into higher-quality sound devices.

Also consider...

LG CineBeam Q
The CineBeam Q is absolutely tiny next to the Anker Nebula Mars 3, and it’s nowhere near as bright, but benefits from a far more colorful projection system, 4K visuals, and a much better streaming platform. For viewing in the dark, it can work wonders.

Read our full LG CineBeam Q review

Samsung The Freestyle 2nd Gen
Samsung’s The Freestyle 2nd Gen is a smaller, somewhat cheaper alternative, though that depends on any discounts. It has greater portability size-wise, but requires an external battery pack. Next to the Anker Nebula Mars 3, it’s kind of a toy projector.

Read our full Samsung The Freestyle 2nd Gen review

Xgimi Horizon Ultra
The Xgimi Horizon Ultra is just about as compact, but isn’t portable. Instead, you get a much higher class of home theater projector. It’s stylish, bright, colorful, and just an altogether more competent machine for more static setups.

Read our full Xgimi Horizon Ultra review

(Image credit: Future) How I tested the Anker Nebula Mars 3

• Tested at home in multiple, real-world viewing conditions
• Presented the display with a variety of media and formats
• I have tested numerous projectors and displays over the last half-decade

I tested the Anker Nebula Mars 3 at home, in real-world conditions. This saw it faced with ambient light coming in from numerous windows, in-room lighting, as well as ambient noise that both the projector and speaker systems had to overcome. The projector was tested both against a bare, white wall and an Akia Screens CineWhite screen. It was presented with streamed content, both HDR and non-HDR.

My testing evaluates the projector’s performance with respect to its price and competition from other models I and colleagues at TechRadar have tested.

I have been testing projectors since 2021 and displays for even longer.

First reviewed: November, 2024

• Read TechRadar's review guarantee

Sonos Arc Ultra review: Two minute review

The Sonos Arc Ultra is the new flagship in Sonos’ soundbar line-up, and it takes everything that was good about the original Arc and cranks it up to the next level. Better Dolby Atmos effects, better bass, better speech clarity, better connectivity.

The Sonos Arc Ultra is a huge step up for music quality over the original Sonos Arc, and while it’s less of a jump up from the original with movies, it’s still a clear and obvious improvement, and ranks among the best soundbars.

Is it worth upgrading from the original Sonos Arc? I think that’ll depend on how much of a cinephile you are; I really appreciated the improved sound balance and the clearer speech, and the obvious improvement to Dolby Atmos effects positioning, and found it hard to go back – but the original Sonos Arc is no slouch, and more casual viewers may find the difference to feel less essential.

The Sonos Arc Ultra keeps the original’s biggest flaw, which is not having any HDMI passthrough port in an era when HDMI ports are becoming a bit of a premium, and effectively all its key rivals offer this. The lack of DTS is also a shame, but won’t be a big problem for most people. I still thoroughly recommend the Sonos Arc Ultra, but it just may not be the best fit for your setup because of its HDMI limitation.

For those wondering about Sonos’ app, I had no problems setting it up, playing with different configurations, and changing settings.

I’m reviewing the Sonos Arc Ultra as a single soundbar here, though I have tested it with the Sub 4 and rear speakers, and I’ll talk about that experience too.

I think the Sonos Arc Ultra gives you the best cinematic experience you can get from a single-unit soundbar for under $1000 / £1000. However, in the UK, you can get the Samsung HW-Q990D for around the same price during sales events, and if you’re happy having a four-box surround system, you’ll get a far more immersive experience. And Sony’s Bravia Theater Bar 9 is a key competitor around the world – it's a single-box soundbar like the Arc Ultra, but it offers the missing HDMI port, and with 4K 120Hz support, no less. It officially costs a lot more than the Sonos Arc Ultra, but sales season discounts bring it down to around the same price. It’s even bigger than the Arc Ultra, though.

(Image credit: Future) Sonos Arc Ultra review: Price & release date

• Released on October 29, 2024
• Priced at $999 / £999 / AU$1,799

The Sonos Arc Ultra is priced pretty well at $999 / £999 / AU$1,799, considering that other flagship one-box soundbars can be far higher, such as the $2,399 / £1,990 / AU$3,999 Devialet Dione, or the $1,399 / £1,399 / AU$1,795 of the Sony Bravia Theater Bar 9.

Obviously, it's not cheap, and you can find the Samsung HW-Q800D for significantly less, but that's not a one-box soundbar, and building high-quality sound into a single unit that isn't huge (which the Devialet Dione especially is) is hard. For a premium soundbar, the Arc Ultra is competitive.

Sonos Arc Ultra review: Specs

The Sonos Arc Ultra features the first use of Sonos' Sound Motion driver tech. (Image credit: Future) Sonos Arc Ultra review: Features

• 9.1.4 speaker channels, with Sound Motion bass driver
• All Sonos' usual special skills, plus Bluetooth
• Dolby Atmos support, but no DTS

Much like the original Sonos Arc, this is a Dolby Atmos soundbar with HDMI eARC connectivity, Sonos multi-room wireless support, and optional voice control from Alexa or Sonos’ own more limited voice assistant.

The biggest new feature is the Sound Motion driver, which delivers big bass performance from a small speaker, and a generally improved speaker setup that now promises 9.1.4 channels of sound, compared to 5.0.2 from the original Sonos Arc.

There’s also Bluetooth connectivity in the Arc Ultra, which is a first for a Sonos soundbar, but is now standard on the best Sonos speakers at last, including the recent Sonos Era 100 and Sonos Era 300.

Naturally, the Sonos Arc Ultra works with Sonos’ Sub options (including the new Sub 4 as well as older models) and you can connect it to rear speakers for a real surround sound setup. The Arc Ultra is the first Sonos soundbar that doesn’t work with the Sonos Play:1 or Play:5 speakers – but it still works with Sonos One, Sonos Five, the Era models, or with two wired speakers connected to a Sonos Amp.

Sonos’ TruePlay room-tuning tech is here, and it’s finally available on Android in a new ‘quick’ version, which is also available on iOS. This new version will probably be preferable for a lot of people because it’s much easier. It uses the Arc Ultra’s own mic array to test your room using a series of pet-alarming tones, to adjust the system’s sound for better precision and Dolby Atmos surround effects. On iOS, it still asked me to hold my phone where I sit for a set of measurements there first, which is what the full TruePlay system does – but then I didn’t have to walk around the room waving my phone up and down.

The biggest flaw in the Sonos Arc is the lack of any HDMI passthrough ports. Most premium soundbars have more than one HDMI port – one to connect to your TV, and then at least one other that passes video through to your TV, so that you don’t lose the use of one of your HDMI ports for connecting consoles or other video boxes. This is doubly annoying in the majority of TV models available today, which only have two HDMI 2.1 ports for 4K 120Hz support at most, and the HDMI eARC is usually one of those ports, so you’re losing one of the most important ports. (Many LG and Samsung TVs have four HDMI 2.1 ports, so this is less of a problem, and in 2025 far more TVs will have four HDMI 2.1 ports thanks to a new chip from MediaTek – but that doesn’t help TVs today.)

Even ignoring the type of ports, four video devices is not an uncommon amount for people to want to connect to a TV here in 2024, and yet if you have the Sonos Arc Ultra, you can only connect three.

It’s so frustrating, given that it was a complaint I had about the original Sonos Arc when that launched in 2020. I’ve spoken to Sonos about the topic, and the company’s stance has been that HDMI passthrough adds complexity and it wants its soundbars to be as simple as possible. But that only holds true if someone doesn’t then have to deal with the headache of what a good solution is if they want to connect more devices than they have ports free, once the Arc Ultra is connected. I think Sonos has simply off-loaded the complexity to users. With an HDMI passthrough port, I’d have been seriously looking at giving the Arc Ultra a five-star rating overall.

The other notable issue is a lack of DTS decoding. This is not a big problem if your TV or playback device will decode DTS-HD to LPCM, as many will. I had a great time playing DTS-HD Blu-rays while testing the Sonos Arc, and getting the big, powerful, high-quality sound I was expecting. The lack of DTS:X is the more annoying part for purists, especially with it now used on Disney Plus for some movies, but it really isn’t a dealbreaker for the vast majority of people.

The Sonos Arc Ultra works with the audio-swap feature of the Sonos Ace headphones, so you can watch anything that plays on your TV with great spatial audio on the headphones to avoid disturbing others in the house – our Sonos Ace review has more on how well that works, but it’s not affected by the Sonos Arc Ultra's performance, so I won’t go into it here.

• Features score: 4 / 5

I tested the Arc Ultra on its own, and with Sonos' complete Dolby Atmos setup. (Image credit: Future) Sonos Arc Ultra review: Performance

• Excellent dynamic range
• Very strong Dolby Atmos effect
• Very clear speech and detail

In my opinion, the Sonos Arc Ultra is the best-sounding single-box soundbar you can get for under $1,000 / £1,000. It delivers fulsome balance and exciting sound with clear speech, and superb height and width. The Devialet Dione maybe does this all better as a single-unit soundbar, but at around twice the price and twice the size, it’s a harder sell in several ways.

Dolby Atmos surround effects don’t seem like they’re coming from behind you, inevitably, but they do feel like they reach you when there are movement effects in particular. Height channels have motion and precision, despite being part virtual – Sonos claims four channels of overhead sound, but there are only two drivers, with the width drivers combining with the height drivers for a sense of four channels, and it works well.

Sound is layered very impressively in Dolby Atmos, with a sense of 3D positioning across the whole space in front of you.

Everything is an improvement over the original Sonos Arc. It’s not quite night and day, but it’s a clear step up anyway. That especially goes for speech clarity and Dolby Atmos effects in movies, with everything feeling just more expansive and more in the room than from the older soundbar.

I tried Sonos’ new and upgraded speech enhancement tools for the Arc Ultra, and they’re very effective, but they affect the sound balance (as do all such tools), and I found that I really didn’t need them anyway on the Arc Ultra. It’s a bit unoriginal to say that the speech in Christopher Nolan movies is hard to hear, but I tested the old and new Arc with them, and there was a big jump in legibility on the Arc Ultra that meant they really weren’t hard to follow any more (generally).

Surprisingly, the new bass driver didn’t create that big an effect compared to the original Sonos Arc in movies that already ramp up the bass, but it does help to make the sound feel fuller in general. It makes the bass that the Arc Ultra can generate better connected through to the mid-range, so the overall balance in low-end-heavy scenes is stronger – and just excellent overall. There’s a good dispersal of the bass so that it doesn’t feel too directional, and the impact is really pleasing for such a relatively compact soundbar.

The Sound Motion bass speaker did really jump out during music though. This actually was a night and day difference from the original Arc, with a massive improvement across the whole frequency range. For music, the original Arc sounded unclear and subdued compared to the Arc Ultra at the same volume. Having said that, I would still put the Arc Ultra essentially on par for music quality with the Sonos Era 300, which is half the price. It’s easier to fill out that sound when you can be thick and tall, unlike a soundbar.

(Image credit: Future)

Running TruePlay tuning helps the Dolby Atmos and finer details to come through more clearly, so I absolutely recommend it. There wasn’t a clear difference between the quick version and the full version in my setup, so as I mentioned above, the quick version should be all that most people need to bother with.

To repeat myself from the start of this section, I think the Arc Ultra delivers the best-value cinematic experience from a single-box soundbar. It’s the best combination of a demure design, effective sound reproduction and 3D effects, and a reasonable price given what it can do. More expensive soundbars may do better, but the audio package here is excellent.

I’m reviewing it as a single unit for all the scores here, but I also tested it with a Sub 4 and Era 300 speakers in Sonos’ full-power ultimate system. I also tested it with a Sub 4 only, and then slotted it and the Sub 4 into my existing setup using my Sonos One rear speakers.

Make no mistake – despite the Sound Motion tech being very impressive for bass, the Sub 4 adds a whole new dimension of bass you can feel, in frequencies the soundbar alone simply can’t touch. You will literally get more from your movies with a big sub, though obviously for a premium of $799 / £799.

In the full elite surround mode, with Era 300 units behind as well, you can really feel the overall power of the system. Even with one sub (you can connect a second to more fully spread the bass around) you can feel the power of the low frequencies everywhere, with excellent fullness through to the mid-range, and a clear separation of higher frequencies from that mix. It’s a really well-connected whole system, and testing against the Samsung HW-Q990C, I say you get a more satisfying overall sound profile from the Sonos setup. However, not by that much, considering you’ll pay a lot more for the Sonos system – it kind of proves why Samsung’s top-end soundbars are five-star products among the best Dolby Atmos soundbars. Still, for those with the ear, I think the Sonos system’s sound is superior.

Even with my Sonos Ones as rear speakers, I felt like I was getting a different sound profile from the rears (post TruePlay) than with my Sonos Arc and Sub Mini that I usually have. They felt punchier and with a little more bass added to them, perhaps to match the broader sound profile the bar is capable of compared to the original Arc. I feel that swapping the Arc for the Arc Ultra in my setup would be an upgrade, albeit one that I would enjoy as someone who’s obsessive over sound and setups – perhaps someone more casual about home theater wouldn’t find it to be as good value.

• Performance score: 5 / 5

The concave volume control matches other recent Sonos releases. (Image credit: Future) Sonos Arc Ultra review: Design

• Very well made and subtle
• Some key buttons hidden at the back
• Shorter but wider than original Arc

The Sonos Arc Ultra is 18% smaller by volume than the original Sonos Arc, according to Sonos, and this manifests in it being less tall (which is very welcome) and less deep (also welcome for those with chunky TV stands, though it’s still somewhat deep because it has a chunky bar across the back). However, it’s actually wider than the Sonos Arc. It’s still good for TVs of 55 inches and up, though, and the shorter height can make a real difference with some TVs.

It comes in black and white, and the overall look is very simple and classy. A hard, curved grille covers the entire thing, and it’s good at just disappearing into the room, which is what most people will want. The new design seems to pick up fingerprints worse than the old one, so be warned if you’re fastidious and have handsy kids.

The button for activating Bluetooth pairing mode is on the back, which is inconvenient for a soundbar, especially if it’s wall-mounted. You can pair from the Sonos app instead, but it would be better still if the Bluetooth button was on top, for maximum flexibility – especially since the button layout here was redesigned anyway, including moving volume over to the right, for whatever reason. In the middle, you still have buttons to play/pause, and skip tracks.

The switch to kill the voice control mics is also on the back, and is turned on by default, so the privacy conscious should remember to hit this before getting it situated. Also on the back is an Ethernet port, and then the power and HDMI ports are on the sides of the bit port cutaway on the rear – just like the original Arc.

The Arc Ultra is wall-mountable and works on the same mounts as the original Arc, which is nice for upgraders – though some of the mount may be visible, due to the change in size.

• Design score: 4 / 5

The connections are all in that recessed area. (Image credit: Future) Sonos Arc Ultra review: Setup & usability

• Use Sonos app to get started
• TruePlay is now easier, and very useful
• Once connected to the TV, very little effort needed

If you have read or watched anything about recent Sonos releases, you will have seen strong opinions about the new Sonos app. We can’t post a video covering Sonos without a cascade of comments saying no one should ever buy Sonos again because of the state of the software. At launch, earlier in 2024, the app was missing a lot of features, and a lot of people had problems accessing or making changes to their systems.

At the time of writing this review, Sonos says that it has added 90% of the missing features back in, and is still committed to updates every two weeks to address bugs and performance while adding the remainder of the features.

I had no problems at all setting up the Arc Ultra at home through the app, making the settings adjustments I needed, and then adding/breaking multiple different surround setups while I tested different configurations of Sonos setups.

I did have trouble setting the surround system up in our office testing rooms, where the connection between the components would drop regularly – but this is pretty common on our office Wi-Fi outside of Sonos. I’ve had a problem getting Samsung’s soundbars to connect to register on the SmartThings app, and it can be difficult with smart home tech, so I don’t blame Sonos for this – but it’s only fair to note it if I’m going to dig into the experience. At home, on my normal mesh router setup, I had no problems at all.

The usability of Sonos’ soundbars continues to be a slightly mixed bag – I think if you designed an app for controlling a soundbar as its first priority, rather than playing music as its first priority, you probably wouldn’t bury settings like the Speech Enhancement that far down in the settings.

I’d love to see Sonos change how it approaches its Now Playing screen when you’re connected to HDMI, so it puts more emphasis on making settings available to you instead of a lack of artwork.

But setting it up was smooth, and most people won’t need to go back into the app, especially if you won’t connect other devices. As I mentioned, I found the speech clear enough without using the enhancement, and I didn’t think the EQ needed adjustment. TruePlay will be suggested as part of the setup too, and it worked with my remote (over HDMI-CEC, but infrared is also enabled by default) out of the box with no tinkering required.

• Setup & usability score: 4 / 5

The Sonos Arc Ultra with the Sub 4. (Image credit: Future) Sonos Arc Ultra review: Value

• Premium, but competitive price
• As good sound as you can get for the price
• Surround-ready products available around the same price

The Sonos Arc Ultra isn’t cheap, but if you want powerful, expansive, clear Dolby Atmos sound from a single inoffensively-designed soundbar, you can’t do better for the price – as long as you’re not tight on HDMI ports.

You can get a full surround setup for a similar price to this, but the core Sonos Arc Ultra is designed for people who don’t want to deal with having four boxes including a hefty subwoofer. And I think it’s the best, most cinematic single box you can add to your TV for the price, making it very strong value.

But as I say, if you’re already filling your HDMI ports, that value is harmed, because the Arc Ultra may create a new problem for you. For the price, it should really offer you the solution.

• Value score: 4 / 5

Should I buy the Sonos Arc Ultra? Buy it if...

You want the best sound from a single-unit soundbar
At this price, and without extra satellite speakers, nothing beats what the Sonos Arc Ultra can do.

You want clearer speech and Dolby Atmos cinematic effects
The Arc Ultra is a big step up over the Arc for dialogue, and boosts Dolby Atmos positioning skill at the same time.

You want Sonos' extra skills
Part of a multi-room music system? Check. The ability to add other speakers in the future to improve the sound? Check. TruePlay room tuning? Sound check.

Don't buy it if...

You're short on HDMI ports
No HDMI passthrough really could be a dealbreaker.

You want the best value sound and could have more than one box
The Sonos Arc Ultra is very good value for a one-box system, but if you can live with more hardware, you can get bigger sound for the price.

You're a home theater purist about DTS
Sonos' continued lack of DTS support will irk those those with physical media in DTS:X.

Sonos Arc Ultra review: Also consider

Sony Bravia Theater Bar 8
We didn't rave about this soundbar overall in our Sony Bravia Theater Bar 8 review, but it's cheaper than the Sonos Arc Ultra and offers 4K 120Hz HDMI passthrough, so it might be the most practical option for some people – or its more expensive sibling, the Sony Bravia Theater Bar 9 is the beefier-sounding option, but is pricier than the Sonos.

Sonos Beam 2
Want to go even more compact and have Sonos' options for expansion? The Beam 2 delivers surprisingly full sound for such a compact soundbar, and supports Dolby Atmos, but not with anything like the effectiveness of the Arc Ultra. But it's half the price, so swings and roundabouts – definitely read our Sonos Beam 2 review if you want to know more.

Samsung HW-Q990D
Look, if you can find this full Dolby Atmos surround system for close to the Sonos Arc Ultra's price, know that it will give you a truly mind-blowing Dolby Atmos home theater experience – as long as you can live with four boxes instead of one. We gave it five stars in our Samsung HW-Q990D review.

How I tested the Sonos Arc Ultra

The Arc Ultra sitting on top of the original Arc. I didn't test it like that, obviously… (Image credit: Future)

• Tested over a week
• Tested at home, in my usual setup
• Tested with Sonos surround configurations

For the crucial portion of this review, I used the Sonos Arc Ultra at home, in the same setup where I usually use the original Sonos Arc, so I had a good point of direct comparison. I directly compared the sound of the two bars to gauge the difference, but mostly I just used the Sonos Arc Ultra for my normal viewing, which included 4K Blu-rays and streaming. I listened in both lossless quality and compressed, as well as in Dolby Atmos, regular 5.1 surround sound, and in stereo.

As mentioned above, I tested the Sonos Arc Ultra on its own mainly, but also tried it with the Sub 4, and then with the Sub 4 and different Sonos rear speaker options.

I also tested a Sonos surround setup for a short time compared to the Samsung HW-Q990C in TechRadar's TV testing rooms. On our corporate Wi-Fi systems, I had connections problems that meant I couldn't do longer-term comparisons; at home, I use a Google Nest Home mesh Wi-Fi system and had no problems with the Sonos app or network connectivity.

• First reviewed: November 2024
• Read more about how we test

Herman Miller Aeron gaming chair: One-minute review

The Herman Miller Aeron has had a refresh and is now being marketed as a gaming chair. Now made with ocean-bound plastic, it's essentially exactly the same as its office döppelganger, with slightly different pricing. Still, whether I'm pitting it against those on our best office chairs, or best gaming chairs list, it has to do something really special to get my attention at a whopping $1,805 / £1,371.

The Herman Miller Aeron places itself as a premium, office-style gaming chair with ergonomics placed firmly at the forefront, and really makes an effort to deliver the goods. While it's certainly one of the most comfortable gaming chairs going, and brings a highly adjustable edge to a battle for ergonomic perfection, I can't help but expect a little more for my money.

In the premium gaming chair landscape, there are two kinds to look out for – those with headrests and those without. The Aeron sits firmly in the no-headrest classification, meaning as comfortable, ergonomic and adjustable as it might be, there's no way to kick back and have a nap when it all gets too much. The lack of width adjustability on the armrests is a little disappointing, and it's almost offensive to omit a headrest for the price, especially when you can get ergonomic wonders like the highly adjustable Humanscale Freedom chair for less.

Let's be fair, with a Herman Miller chair you're paying for a known variable. A brand name that's synonymous with comfort, and one you can expense to whatever corporate tower you're currently filing papers in. The Aeron really does exemplify Herman Miller's attention to detail and mechanical prowess, and it does so with time-poor gamers with corporate design sensibilities in mind. I just wish there was somewhere to lay my head and lament all that money I just spent.

(Image credit: Future) Herman Miller Aeron gaming chair: Price and availability

• List price: $1,805 / £1,371
• Available at the Herman Miller online store
• Available in the UK and US

The Herman Miller Aeron Gaming Chair comes in two sizes. Unlike its office counterpart, it isn't as configurable and isn't made to order, but it is cheaper. The Herman Miller Office Aeron with chair tilt, adjustable lumbar support, and 3D armrests costs $1,995/£1,558, but you can opt for less adjustability to push that price down a little. The Aeron Gaming chair, however, doesn't confuse us with configuration options. It's a single price point of £1,371 / $1,805.

There's a Herman Miller premium added to whatever configuration you choose, though I appreciate the fact that both sizes come in at the same price. It's also a bit cheaper than the Herman Miller x Logitech Emobdy gaming chair too ($1,995 / £1,570).

Unfortunately, the Herman Miller Aeron is not available in Australia, but UK and US residents can get hold of it on the Herman Miller online store. There are also more height options in the US.

Herman Miller Aeron gaming chair: Specs Herman Miller Aeron gaming chair: Design and aesthetics

• Highly adjustable
• Kinda retro corporate design
• Not as configurable as office counterpart

The first thing I noticed getting the Herman Miller Aeron out of the box – fully built might I add – is its retro design. The frame's intense curvature makes it look like it was designed for one of those '60s minimalist mansions. The mesh back and seat mean it could easily blend into a corporate office, but I've never seen mechanisms quite this… liquidious. It's almost like the armrests are melting like a clock in a Dali painting. Still, it's an attractive chair if you're going for that corporate vibe.

There are no colour options, just jet black and that's your lot. There's no option to have bright colour configs like the Herman Miller x Logitech Vantum, for example, but it's a lot more refined and unassuming.

As far as adjustable forward tilt and adjustability for something called PostureFit. It's essentially a fancy word for lumbar support, which has a nifty little roller handle that sits behind your back to push it in. While the mechanisms provide an immense amount of movement, it's missing a couple of things that other, cheaper chairs still manage to deliver. Namely, the lack of armrest width adjustability and an actual headrest.

(Image credit: Future) Herman Miller Aeron gaming chair: Comfort and Adjustability

• Premium feeling mechanisms
• Lacking armrest width adjustability
• Design forces ergonomics on you

There are a few things you want a gaming chair to do, other than be comfortable. You want the mechanisms to be intuitive and safe, you want it to fit against your desk, and you want it to be sturdy. The Herman Miller Aeron Gaming Chair does all this without any fuss. Sitting in it for a week straight, I can say I've had a blast using it. None of the mechanisms are clunky, and all are relatively intuitive. Their silicon handles give them a nice premium feel, too, and it means they don't slip through your hand while you're using them.

There's a lovely bounce when you sit down in the Aeron that's very satisfying. It's not like the clunk of sitting on your average office chair – there was thought that went into giving it butt suspension. The whole time I've been sitting in it, not once has it felt wobbly or unstable either. There's zero rattle on the arms, which are extremely well-padded and have a fantastic Y-axis rotation. They slide all the way back, too, so you can get right up against the desk. The arms do slide forward without locking which can be a problem for some chairs, but they're nowhere near as easy to trap your fingers with as the Herman Miller Vantum, for example. There's a slow, purposeful step to all the mechanisms that really exemplifies the impressive build quality.

The main problems I've encountered have been with the plastic surrounding the backrest and the bucket-style seat. Due to the lack of a headrest, I've found myself threading my fingers behind my head to make up for it. The issue is that I appear to be just the right height that my shoulder blades then dig into it. It might just be worth checking the exact back height versus where your shoulder blades rest before purchasing – thankfully the chair is the same price whether you choose small, medium, or large.

Similarly, any time I try to tuck my feed up under myself I'm thwarted by the plastic surround on the bucket seat that loops up and around my posterior. Essentially, its ergonomic prowess comes from forcing you to sit in a specific position to keep you from ruining your posture. Clever, though not the best for anyone who sits awkwardly like me.

(Image credit: Future) Herman Miller Aeron gaming chair: Assembly

The fact the Aeron comes with no assembly necessary is also a blessing, especially if you can't spare the assembly time. For your average gaming chair that could be anything from 30 minutes to an hour. And who has that to spare during a busy day of ergonomic gaming?

Having no assembly necessary bar opening the box and rolling the chair out is convenient but also inspires confidence too: there's no need for you to even attempt at getting bits misaligned or connected wrong, and the experts have done it for you already.

(Image credit: Future) Should you buy the Herman Miller Aeron gaming chair? Buy it if...

You stand for impeccable build quality
The Herman Miller Aeron is one of the most sturdy and well-built chairs we've tested. While it's missing arm width adjustment, the suspension, and other mechanisms are fantastic.

You haven't got time to assemble
The Aeron comes fully assembled, which means you don't have to spend the best part of an hour on the floor with an Allen key putting it together.

Don't buy it...

You're trying to save money
Even in its most basic configuration, the Aeron is going to rip your wallet a new one. For less you can get far more adjustable chairs, though you'll forgo the Aeron's superior quality.

You prefer to sit askew
The Aeron is highly ergonomic, and forces you to sit with both legs bolted to the floor. It's for people who are serious about ergonomics.

Herman Miller Aeron gaming chair: Also consider

If you're still not sure whether the Herman Miller Aeron is for you, there are a few other options to consider that are more customisable, and might save you money. As far as premium build quality goes, though, the Aeron is very hard to beat.

Also consider the Herman Miller X Logitech Embody
While the Herman Miller Embody has even less adjustability on the armrests, it at least comes with a lovely headrest and just as much configuration around the rest of the chair. It's a little more on the expensive side, however.

For more information, check out our full Herman Miller X Logitech Embody review.

Steelcase Series 2 Task Chair
A highly configurable office chair alternative, and currently the one sitting at the top of our best office chair list is the Steelcase Series 2 Task Chair. In plain, monochrome colouring, you can get this sturdy beast with a headrest for a lot less.

For more information, check out our full Steelcase Series 2 Task Chair review.

(Image credit: Future) How I tested the Herman Miller Aeron gaming chair

• Tested over the course of a couple of weeks
• Rocking back and forth, playing with the levers
• Pushing it to its limits

Sitting in the chair several times a week for a couple of weeks, I got a good feel for the mechanics by switching them up a lot and trying to push them beyond their limits on purpose. I sat in a range of positions to see how well it coped with awkward sitters. Above, I made comparisons to cheaper chairs that almost match the level of adjustability and customisability of the Aeron and considered what you would need to sacrifice to get more out of an office chair for less money.

Read more about how we test

First reviewed October 2024

Shark Cordless Pro: two-minute review Product info

This model has slightly different names and product codes in different territories:

US: Shark Cordless Pro Vacuum IZ562H (Amazon only)
UK: Shark Cordless Pro Vacuum IZ562H (Amazon only)
AU: Shark Cordless Pro With Clean Sense IQ IR300

For this review, I tested the US version. There may be minor differences between different countries' models.

The Shark Cordless Pro is one of this brand's most affordable cordless stick vacuums, and delivers excellent value for money. While not the most advanced Shark vacuum based on specs or features, it punches above its mid-range price tag with features such as automatic suction adjustment based on dirt levels. At full price it sits in the mid-range price bracket, but it's often heavily discounted in the US, taking it into the budget category.

Shark has an excellent track record when it comes to producing reliable, long-lasting products, and the Cordless Pro is no exception. If you want something fairly simple but effective and budget-friendly, I think this is one the best Shark vacuums you can buy, and perhaps even one of the best cordless vacuums overall.

Considering the Shark Cordless Pro is a budget-friendly cordless vacuum, it still packs in decent suction, cleaning up most debris on hard floors in just one to two passes while in its lowest Eco mode. The automatic suction adjustment worked as promised, and was genuinely useful because rather than only relying on my eyes, this so-called 'Clean Sense IQ technology' would let me know when a spot was clean and I could move on. It helped me tackle fine dust and hair that may not have been otherwise visible.

The Cordless Pro is an ideal vacuum for hard floors and lighter cleaning needs, and did a decent job on carpet too, although if you have lots of carpet you might want to invest in something a little more heavy-duty. During my tests, I found it could struggle with pulling concentrated debris on this type of flooring in my testing, even when in the highest Boost mode.

I found it relatively easy to maneuver with a good rotation range to get into nooks and crannies, but a flexible wand – included with most Shark vacuums – would've been helpful to reach under furniture. As with most cordless stick vacs, it can be converted into a handheld.

I should also give a special shout-out to the anti-hair wrap brushroll. Many brands make big claims about their tangle-busting features, but this actually delivered. It still looks as good as new after two weeks of testing. There are more useful design features too: when it's time to store the Shark Cordless Pro, it slots into a stable notch right on the wand, and the battery is removable for charging anywhere. Just don't expect to get a crazy long runtime out of this vacuum, as it taps out after a maximum of 40 minutes.

Sure, there are more powerful and feature-packed vacuums on the market if you're willing to shell out a bit more. But for your average, everyday cleaning needs, it's hard to beat the compact, solidly built Shark Cordless Pro. Read on for my full review.

(Image credit: Future) Shark Cordless Pro review: price & availability

• List price: $399.99 (regularly discounted) / £334 / AU$499.99
• Available: US, UK and Australia

The Shark Cordless Pro has a list price of $399.99. Originally, it was available to buy direct from Shark, but it now seems to only be available via third party retailers like Amazon. Shoppers in the UK can also purchase it via Amazon, but it's an imported model from the US.

In addition to the main vacuum components, the US version I tested comes with two attachments: a Duster Crevice Tool and a Pet Multi-Tool. Additional accessories like replacement Odor Neutralizer cartridges, attachment tools, and wands are available, ranging in price from about $10 to $40.

The Shark Cordless Pro can also be found in Australia, retailing for AU$499.99. Both territories feature similar configurations, though in Australia, the attachment accessories are slightly different, with a Crevice Tool and Dusting Brush on offer.

If purchasing in the US, it’s common to find the Shark Cordless Pro discounted and often steeply. A discount of $100 off is common, and on Amazon it has occasionally dropped as low as $250. That's one of the very cheapest Shark vacuums you can buy, and especially if you want a cordless model – the Shark Stratos Corded Stick vacuum is cheaper at $299.99, but you'll have to put up with being tethered to the wall.

At ticket price, the Shark Cordless Pro sits in the mid-range price bracket, but it regularly dips into the budget category. Given the solid build quality and excellent performance, I think it's good value even at full price. There are also features that I'm surprised to see at this price point – namely, automatic suction adjustment based on dirt levels. If you're willing to pay more, you'll unlock features like longer battery life and higher levels of suction, but the Cordless Pro is excellent value for what it delivers.

Seasonal sales are always a good time to shop for home appliances, and I suspect this model will feature amongst the best Black Friday deals this year. Given that this model is no longer available to buy direct from Shark in the US, I'm not convinced it's going to be sticking around much longer, so if you do spot a deal, snap it up.

• Value for money score: 4.5 out of 5

Shark Cordless Pro specs Shark Cordless Pro review: design

• Button-operated, with LEDs to indicate mode and battery level
• No flexible wand, as found on most Shark vacuums
• Notch to enable it to stand on its own when not in use

The Shark Cordless Pro doesn't revolutionize the design of cordless stick vacuums, keeping a look and size similar to most others with its floorhead, wand, and motor/dustbin – all of which come apart for use as a handheld vacuum. Weighing 8.25 pounds and measuring 11.42 x 10.43 x 51.18 inches, it's easy to handle. During testing, the only time it felt cumbersome was when attempting to clean a ceiling fan. A sleek light blue, white, and black finish helps differentiate the Shark Cordless Pro from the rest of the range, and the solid metal and plastic build held up perfectly over my few weeks of testing.

Setting up the Shark Cordless Pro was a breeze, taking me around 5 minutes; all that's required is to snap the stick vacuum components into each other. The most difficult aspect of the installation was popping in the Odor Neutralizer cartridge; it slots right into the floorhead and is meant to keep your vacuum smelling fresh.

Shark also recommends charging the battery to full before your first use. That battery is removable if you prefer to charge it detached from the vacuum. LED lights will pulse as it charges, indicating the current level of the battery, and shutting off when finished.

(Image credit: Future)

There's no wall mount option, but Shark has added a notch on the front of the wand where the main part of the vacuum can be clipped when not in use. It remains relatively secure in that spot and can even be wheeled around.

The floorhead, referred to as the PowerFins Plus floorhead (this guide to the Shark vacuum technologies is a helpful companion when navigating this brand's various jargon), is ready to work on both hard or carpeted floors and is full of useful features.

On the underside is one plush, microfiber roller that features flexible silicone fins to help pick up various debris sizes including fine dust, while preventing hair wrapping. Should anything get stuck in the roller, it's removable, although it does take a bit of effort to unlock it from the floorhead. Unfortunately, there's no option for the brush to lift or stop spinning on certain flooring.

Around the front of the floorhead, two LED lights help highlight dust and dirt in your path that might otherwise be missed. These are helpful, although nowhere near as bright or effective as the lasers you'll find on the (far pricier) Dyson Gen5detect or Dyson V15. On top of the floorhead is the Clean Sense IQ Clean Indicator LED – part of a highlight feature on the vacuum.

(Image credit: Future)

Clean Sense IQ uses sensors inside the nozzle of the handheld vacuum to automatically boost power in areas with higher levels of dirt and debris. While testing, I could hear and feel the increase in suction, but an indicator light strip on the floorhead will also illuminate to show when the vacuum detects a particularly dusty bit of floor. The highest amount of dirt causes the strip to be fully lit. When the space is clean, the light will recede.

This is a surprising inclusion at the relatively low price point, but pricier Shark vacuums take things a step further on the automation front. The Detect Pro and PowerDetect lines can both adjust suction based on when they move from hard floor to carpet, and around the edges of rooms, for example.

(Image credit: Future)

Cleanse Sense IQ is switched on via the Mode button on the handheld part of the vacuum. The only other button on the vacuum is the power on/off button, so it's all straightforward and easy to navigate.

Beyond Clean Sense IQ, there are two other power modes: Eco to save on battery life and Boost for an extra burst to pick up the messiest of messes. An LED screen on the handheld vacuum will indicate the power mode it's in as well as the battery level.

(Image credit: Future)

The handheld vacuum component also houses the bagless dustbin, which holds 0.72L of dirt. An anti-allergen seal is in place to keep fine dust and dander from releasing back into your space. When the dustbin is ready to be emptied, there's a no-touch release to drop everything in the garbage without getting your hands dirty. However, you may need to reach your hands in the dustbin to remove stuck hair or dust occasionally. More advanced Shark vacuums, such as the Shark Detect Pro, have an optional auto-empty dock, but that's not available here.

The wand that holds the floorhead and handheld vacuum together is solid. The two vacuum components feel secure when slotted into the wand and easily release from the catch when needed. A rigid wand is actually fairly unusual for this brand – many Shark models have so-called 'MultiFlex technology', where you can press a button and the wand will bend forward, enabling you to reach easily under low furniture. I'd have loved it if that had been included here. At least the floorhead offers a wide swivel range for easier access to tight spots.

(Image credit: Future)

Beyond being a stick vacuum, the Shark Cordless Pro is an effective handheld vacuum. The US version has a Duster Crevice Tool and a Pet Multi-Tool, making cleanup even easier. Those tools slot into the handheld vacuum or the wand, providing extra versatility. However, there's nowhere to store them when not in use.

• Design score: 4 out of 5

Shark Cordless Pro review: performance

• Decent suction, great on hard floors
• Clean Sense IQ's automatic power adjustments work commendably
• Loud, and struggles to clean larger debris on carpets

The Shark Cordless Pro is an absolute breeze to use and performed admirably in most of my testing. Whether I had it in stick mode on my laminate hard floors with various low-pile rugs or cleaning my window sills and couch cushions as a handheld vacuum, it managed to pick up most of the debris in its path within one to two passes. Sure, it might not have the suction of a corded vacuum but it works great for lighter cleaning needs and is much easier to deal with. (Both the Shark Stratos Cordless and Shark PowerDetect Cordless Stick vacuum pack more power, too, but you will need to stump up more money for those.)

In stick mode, performing regular cleaning tasks, I often left the vacuum in the Clean Sense IQ setting, which allows the vacuum to recognize bigger messes and automatically increase suction. When there were obvious, larger amounts of debris in the floorhead's 10-inch path, the vacuum would increase the suction power.

It was handy that in addition to visibly hearing that change, I could see it represented on the light bar at the top of the floorhead. I knew I was clear to move on from a spot when the light subsided. Sometimes, the vacuum would notice the dirt that wasn't visible to my eye, which was a huge boon, ensuring the cleanest home possible.

(Image credit: Future)

There are two other modes on the vacuum: Eco and Boost. Swapping to those modes involves pressing the mode button near the LED screen on the vacuum, and cycling until the desired mode is reached. Admittedly, I often pressed the power button, mistaking it for the other and vice versa. After becoming more familiar with the vacuum, this became less of a problem.

As for the other two modes, during daily tasks, I found Boost mode was unnecessary most of the time. It worked fine but is only needed for those large concentrated messes. Eco mode also easily cleans up dog hair and dust within one or two passes. Overall, I preferred the convenience of Clean Sense IQ mode automatically increasing the suction where needed, and I was happy to sacrifice battery life for the cause.

One feature I didn't think I'd love as much as I did was the two LED lights at the front of the vacuum. They did an excellent job highlighting fine hair and light dust that I couldn't initially see. It's amazing how much debris gets all over your space daily.

I'd also be remiss not to mention the self-cleaning brushroll. To my shock, no hair has gotten stuck around it yet. It looks almost completely new, with little to no wear after two weeks. If it needs to be removed for cleaning, a coin allows you to unlock and remove the brush. Just note that it does do a good job of sucking up power cords and rug edges, so be aware as you maneuver it around your space.

(Image credit: Future)

Speaking of maneuvering, generally, the Shark Cordless Pro navigates with ease, even making sharp 90-degree turns to fit into corners (it's not quite as maneuverable as a Dyson). It feels almost effortless to use on hard flooring, only getting tripped up on certain rug edges and becoming a little more challenging to push on rugs and carpets. The floorhead is also relatively shallow, allowing it to squeeze under most furniture. Unfortunately, the wand isn't flexible like other Shark models, so it didn't reach completely under my couch or bed.

The bagless 0.72 qt dustbin holds a good amount of dirt. I only had to empty it every once in a while, depending on how often I was vacuuming. It's easy to take the vacuum off the wand and hold it over the garbage, pressing the release to open the bin door. Some hair can get wrapped around certain components, making it necessary to reach in and pull stuck-on gunk on occasion.

As with all vacuums, the filters require semi-regular cleaning (and must also be replaced periodically). Shark provides clear instructions for this: they just need to be rinsed with water. The Clean Sense IQ sensor inside the vacuum will also need to be wiped down occasionally, and an FO error code will flash on the display panel when the sensor is fully blocked.

For some reason, Shark continues to include the pointless (in my opinion) Odor Neutralizer, which releases a clean scent as you vacuum. The smell lasts all of two minutes, so I'd never waste my money replacing it. (Ed's note: other testers have been extremely enthusiastic about this feature, so your mileage may vary!)

Beyond daily vacuuming tasks, I put the Shark Cordless Pro through more vigorous testing to see how it handled fine dust using flour and larger debris with oats on both hard floors and carpet. Even on the lowest setting, Eco, the vacuum easily picked up the flour with just one pass. There was super light sprinkling left, that I had to touch to feel. A second pass picked up everything that was left. Using Clean Sense IQ and Boost mode, the flour was fully cleaned up after one pass. I had similar results on the rug.

(Image credit: Future)

As for the oats test, I was pleasantly surprised that most oats were cleaned in just one pass in Eco mode on the hard floor. However, on carpeting, it was a completely different story. It took multiple passes (around five or six) on Clean Sense IQ and Boost to pick up all of the oats. The vacuum even managed to throw some oats around. That's slightly disappointing, but not all that unusual – typically, I find corded vacuums are the way to go in heavily carpeted homes.

(Image credit: Future)

During testing, I also used a decibel meter to measure noise levels. In Eco mode, the Shark Cordless Pro averaged about 75 dB. It's definitely not quiet and on par with average vacuum cleaner noise levels (i.e. loud enough to disturb others in your space when it's in use). In Boost mode it got even louder, hitting around 80dB. The noise is tolerable but not pleasant. Luckily, I was usually not in this mode for long. The Clean Sense IQ setting tended to shuffle between 75dB and 80dB; usually staying towards the quieter side of the range.

(Image credit: Future)

Of course, this stick vacuum also converts to a handheld, and the attachments it comes with depend on the territory. I'm in the US, so I received the Duster Crevice Tool and Pet Multi-Tool. Both feature brush tops that can be removed. The Duster Crevice Tool gets into tighter spaces like between books on my bookshelf and the window sills, though it didn't always pick up all the dust or dirt.

During testing, I just so happened to start fostering a puppy with fine fur, and the Pet Multi-Tool was a godsend. It got the hair off my couch, duvet, and more with relative ease, though I found the tool tended to perform better without the brush attached. The only problem with the handheld vacuum is it gets a bit heavy at times, especially with the wand attached and reaching for higher spots like ceiling fan blades.

• Performance score: 4 out of 5

Shark Cordless Pro review: battery life

• Runs up to 40 minutes in Eco mode
• Takes about three hours to recharge
• Battery is removable

The Shark Cordless Pro's battery is located right on the back handle of the device. It can juice up while still attached to the vacuum or snap off to charge – a handy feature if you store the vacuum in an area away from an outlet, and also useful if you want to buy a second battery to hot-swap in.

(Image credit: Future)

On one charge, I found the battery lasted around 35 minutes in Eco mode using the floorhead with the rotating brush. A little more juice can be eked out of the vacuum as a handheld, putting it right at Shark's claim of 40 minutes. Clean Sense IQ and Boost mode will drain the battery quicker. On test, I got about 25 minutes of vacuuming time with Clean Sense IQ, but that time varies depending on how much dirt is detected in a space. Boost mode lasted just under 15 minutes, which isn't surprising given the strong suction power.

That battery performance is average for cordless vacuums. Most will find that's sufficient time to clean up your space. I had no problem hitting almost every inch of the floor in my sizable two-bedroom, two-bathroom apartment when in Eco and Clean Sense IQ modes, and there was even enough juice for a quick handheld vacuum of the window sills and furniture. However, if you have a larger home, there are models that offer up to an hour of cleaning on one charge – or occasionally a little more. Those vacuums will cost you more, though.

Shark makes it simple to tell when the battery is running low, as the vacuum's LED screen has three bars to indicate the level of charge, and when the final bar begins blinking, your time is running out – I usually had four more minutes of vacuuming time once that started.

A slightly longer battery life would be nice, as it'd be great not to worry about charging the battery after almost every use. Recharging takes a while, at about three hours. You'll know it's done when the charging light on the actual battery goes out.

• Battery life score: 4 out of 5

Should I buy the Shark Cordless Pro? Buy it if...

You're on a budget

This is one of the cheapest Shark cordless vacuums, and often discounted too. Given the features and build quality, it's excellent value for money.

You want to be sure your floors are clean

This vacuum is able to automatically adjust based on how dirty the floor is, with indicator lights showing when there's no dust left. Dust-illuminating LED headlights also help ensure you don't miss any spots.

You want something simple but effective

This is a straightforward design, and on test I found the process of emptying, and charging the Shark Cordless Pro is as easy as can be. It's even set up for storage without wall mounting.

Don't buy it if...

You need a vacuum that reaches under low furniture

Although the floorhead on this vacuum is relatively shallow, the wand doesn't flex like other stick vacuums, making it hard to reach under deeper sofas, chairs, and beds.

Your home is heavily carpeted

The Shark Cordless Pro performs best on harder surfaces. It does a solid job of picking up finer dirt and dust on carpets and rugs but takes several passes to clean up larger debris.

You have a very large home

At the maximum, this vacuum offers around 40 minutes of cleaning time in Eco mode. That time drops significantly when using Boost mode. It's far from the worst battery life in a stick vacuum, but pricier models will deliver longer cleaning times.View Deal

How I tested the Shark Cordless Pro

I used the Shark Cordless Pro for over two weeks in my two-bedroom, two-bathroom home with hard floors and low-pile rugs. Beyond average, daily cleaning tasks like vacuuming messes in the kitchen in stick mode or using the handheld attachments to get my foster dog's hair off furniture, I did further testing. These tests involved scattering oats and flour on hard and carpeted flooring in a concentrated area, observing how well it picked up debris of varying sizes in each of the vacuum's three modes. I ran the battery fully down in each of the three vacuum modes as well to see how long it could be expected to last.

Read more about how we test vacuum cleaners

• First reviewed October 2024

• ^ Back to top

Belkin SoundForm Wired Earbuds with USB-C Connector: Two-minute review

The Belkin SoundForm Wired Earbuds with USB-C Connector are spectacularly unspectacular. For a pair of cheap wired earbuds, they do everything you’d expect – nothing more, nothing less: audio that’s average at best, a basic yet decently practical design and a lightweight feel.

So, of course, it’s worth starting with a disclaimer. These earbuds have a very low list price of just $24.99 / £14.99 / AU$29.95. As a result, it’s unreasonable to expect great audio from these buds – even if Belkin itself insists that they offer “superior sound quality” (spoiler alert, they don’t). And perhaps unsurprisingly, the overall listening experience you get from the Belkin SoundForm Wired Earbuds with USB-C Connector – which will here-on be known as the Belkin SoundForm USB-C – isn’t a good one.

The key issue here is that audio is often pretty tinny. When I compared them to the Skullcandy Set USB-C – which sit on our list of the best wired earbuds – I found the Belkin buds to offer less clarity and instruments often sounded inauthentic. For instance, when I tuned into Holy, Holy by Geordie Greep with the Belkin buds, bass was quite muddy, the choppy guitar lacked sharpness and the usually theatrical, showstopping vocals couldn’t find their defined, satisfying position in the overall mix. Percussion in the treble frequency range would often sound quite grating at higher volumes too, making for a pretty unimpressive listening experience.

I should say, though, that if you’re not too picky on sound quality and just want cheap buds, these can certainly do the job. There were no horrible technical hiccups like audio cutting out, low volume levels or compatibility issues with devices. Sure, a lack of instrumental separation and narrow soundstage can leave music sounding pretty restricted, but bass has a decent (albeit not booming) kick and treble – although sometimes grating – can be bright when listening to more upbeat tracks.

However, some sonic shortcomings could admittedly be quite frustrating, even if you’re a more casual listener. When listening to Rains again by Solji, the vocalist’s high notes came through in a rather brash manner, which was a little uncomfortable on the ear. On a slightly different note, I found cable noise to be pretty prominent with the SoundForm USB-C. This is accentuated when you’re on the go or moving around a fair bit, making these far from ideal if you need some buds for workouts or walks. In fairness, however, cable noise is pretty typical with wired earbuds and you often have to splash a bit more cash to avoid this – pricier models like the Shure AONIC 3 are pretty competent in tempering the issue.

Other than cable noise, I had very few problems with the Belkin SoundForm Wired Earbuds with USB-C Connector’s design. The attached controller, although a little on the chunky side, is responsive, works well and has volume controls, as well as a play/pause button that can also be used to take calls or skip songs. The actual USB-C connector is decent too, didn’t protrude out of the port when using a Samsung Galaxy S24 FE and isn’t too large when holding the device in-hand. To cap that off, these have a pleasingly comfortable in-ear feel. Unlike a lot of cheap buds, I never felt that these were falling out of my ears, even when listening for multiple hours consecutively. Belkin also includes a selection of different sized ear tips, so no matter your ear size you can form a pretty tight seal for use.

On the topic of fit, it’s important to get a strong seal when using the SoundForm USB-C. As wired buds; they’re not going to offer active noise cancellation and instead rely on passive noise isolation for banishing external noise. I used the medium-sized ear tips and found passive noise isolation to be quite good. I could still hear some external noises such as typing with volume at around 60-70%, but this was pretty dulled. For the price you pay, I definitely felt that the quality of noise isolation was above average.

If you’re concerned about the SoundForm USB-C accruing damage when walking in the rain, you can rest assured. These have an IPX5 waterproof rating, meaning they can survive direct contact with water jets – so even if it’s raining cats and dogs you should be good here. Alas, this is where my praise meets its bitter end.

That’s because it’s time to talk about the actual look of these buds. In my view, these aren’t at all easy on the eye. Sure, the rounded shape of the buds is decent and pretty practical, plus the Pink and Blue color options (available in the US and Australia) are quite appealing, but that’s about it. The buds themselves look very plasticky and the glossy exterior only really accentuates that. In addition, the wire is flat, rather than rounded, making for a not-so-elegant appearance. Beyond that, I found the wire to kink pretty easily, so don’t expect peak durability. The “tangle-free” claim is also an exaggeration – I found, like most wired buds, the SoundForm USB-C could get in a twist after pocketing them or placing them into tight spaces.

Finally, a word on the inbuilt mic, which Belkin says can offer “clear” call quality. But it can’t. I tried making a voice recording and I won’t dress it up – the results were poor. My voice sounded pretty tinny and there was an audible hiss present throughout the recording. When making a phone call, my voice was clear enough to hear on the other end of the line, but it wasn’t particularly clean and there was static too. So, if you want an upgrade on your phone’s inbuilt mic, don’t expect to be satisfied by what the SoundForm USB-C have to offer.

So, despite the low price-point of the Belkin SoundForm USB-C are they really worth considering? In my view, no. There are definitely some positives here – noise isolation is pretty good, you get a comfortable fit and the IPX5 waterproof rating is a nice touch. But as always, what matters most is sound and these buds don’t fare well in this department. Overall audio is pretty tinny, narrow and treble can get quite grating too. On top of that, mic quality is disappointing and the buds’ design lacks finesse. Sure, these have an ultra-low price and are totally functional, but you’ll certainly find better quality from competitors in our guide to the best cheap headphones.

(Image credit: Future) Belkin SoundForm Wired Earbuds with USB-C Connector review: Price and release date

• $24.99 / £14.99 / AU$29.95
• Launched in 2019

The Belkin SoundForm USB-C earbuds released in 2019, so they’re not the freshest on the market, but will work perfectly well with any modern handset or device with USB-C. On Amazon UK they’re only available in Black and White, although Amazon US and Australia have them in more enticing Pink and Blue options.

These wired buds have a list price of $24.99 / £14.99 / AU$29.95, meaning they’re a super-cheap option. This is a pretty competitive space – there are some good options from the likes of Skullcandy and Final, so make sure to assess alternatives before snapping these up.

Belkin SoundForm Wired Earbuds with USB-C Connector review: Specs

(Image credit: Future) Should you buy the Belkin SoundForm Wired Earbuds with USB-C Connector? Buy them if...

You’re searching for decent passive noise isolation at a cheap price
For all of their shortcomings, the Belkin SoundForm USB-C do offer pretty solid passive noise isolation. They’re super cheap too, so if you’re not picky about audio quality, these could be an option for you.

You hate charging your wireless earbuds
If you’re someone that often forgets to charge wireless buds, then it could be time to re-familiarize yourself with the way of the wire. Of course, you won’t have to charge these, although there are better wired options about.

Don't buy them if...

You’re an audiophile
At this point it’s a given, but if you have a keen ear, don’t buy the Belkin SoundForm USB-C. Audio is regularly tinny, there’s a narrow soundstage and treble can come through in a harsh manner.

You want a fancy feature-set
If you want exciting features like active noise cancellation or EQ settings, you need to look beyond these wired buds. In fact, the vast majority of wired buds have little in the way of a feature-set, so you may be better off going for a cheap pair of wireless buds, such as the great JLab Go Pop ANC.

Belkin SoundForm Wired Earbuds with USB-C Connector review: Also consider

Skullcandy Set USB-C
If you’re looking for some better USB-C earbuds than these ones from Belkin, the Skullcandy Set USB-C are a very decent challenger. In honesty, they don’t offer amazing audio, but it is better than the SoundForm USB-C. The sound profile isn’t massively detailed and full-sounding, but grating sound and tinniness is less common with these – even at higher volumes. The main attraction here is the sleek, curved design of the buds, not to mention the diverse set of funk color options to choose from. Read our full Skullcandy Set USB-C review.

SoundMAGIC E80D
OK, reader, I’m fully aware that the SoundMAGIC E80D are a fair step up price-wise over Belkin’s buds, but these are still an incredible value pick. For less than $50/£40/AU$70 you get wired earbuds that boast detailed, balanced audio – in part thanks to an inbuilt DAC. You also get impressive noise isolation and a comfortable fit, making these a very strong option overall. Read our full SoundMAGIC E80D review.

Belkin SoundForm Wired Earbuds with USB-C Connector review: How I tested

(Image credit: Future)

• Tested over the course of multiple weeks
• Used in the office, while on walks and at home
• Predominantly tested using Tidal on the Samsung Galaxy S24 FE

I put the Belkin SoundForm Wired Earbuds with USB-C Connector to the test over the course of multiple weeks. I predominantly used them while listening to music on Tidal with the Samsung Galaxy S24 FE, but I also played tunes on Spotify and watched video content via YouTube. I used the buds in an office environment and while out on walks near busy roads to trial their noise isolation capabilities, but also at home for more zoned-in listening sessions.

When listening to tunes I played tracks from the TechRadar testing playlist, which contains tracks from a variety of genres, although I also spent hours blasting bangers from my personal library. When appropriate, I pitted these buds against the similarly priced Skullcandy Set USB-C, to compare audio quality, comfort and design choices, among other things.

• First reviewed: November 2024
• Read more about how we test