Reviews

This review first appeared in issue 346 of PC Pro.

The first version of the ProArt Studiobook 16 OLED was one impressive beast. Not content with whacking in a cutting-edge AMD Ryzen processor and GeForce RTX 3070 graphics, it offered the novel combination of a built-in dial and glorious 16in OLED panel. This year’s update isn’t radical, but improvements all round make it even more appealing to the creative professionals that Asus is targeting.

I have only one disappointment: at the time that Asus announced this update, it also shared details of a 3D version of the laptop. Just like the Acer SpatialLabs View screens I reviewed two months ago, the ProArt Studiobook 16 3D OLED (note the “3D”) creates stereoscopic 3D images without the need for glasses. Such technology works fantastically, using eye-tracking software and micro lenses to beam slightly different images to each eye. When you want to switch back to 2D, it only takes one click.

Sadly, if that appeals then you must wait for a launch “later this year”. For now, you must make do with the non-3D version. And you will need to still wait until mid-June for that, at which point it will become available from Scan (code LN135615).

The 3,200 x 2,000 OLED screen is sharp, with rich colors and deep blacks (Image credit: Future)

Screening success

In terms of color accuracy and coverage, Asus throws everything it can at the screens in its ProArt range. Here, that includes Calman Verified and Pantone Validated certifications, with the guarantee that each panel’s average Delta E (a measure of color accuracy) will be under two. Our panel’s accuracy was even better: it averaged 0.51 and had a maximum Delta E of 1.12.

Color coverage is superb, too. You have a choice of color profiles, including DCI-P3, where it covered 99% of the gamut. Print designers who prefer to work in the Adobe RGB space should stick to the Native profile, with 98% coverage.

But what really matters about this OLED panel is that it’s gorgeous. You benefit from incredible sharpness thanks to a resolution of 3,200 x 2,000, and whether you’re watching a film or editing photos you’ll fall in love with the rich colors and deep blacks. While a peak brightness of 363cd/m2 may not sound noteworthy, support for DisplayHDR’s True Black 500 shows that it can go higher in localized areas in supported content.

The design is solid but understated, with just a subtle ProArt logo on the lid (Image credit: Future)

Gaming prowess

That includes games, and with a 120Hz refresh rate and 0.2ms response time there’s much here for gamers to love. The Studiobook ships with Nvidia’s Studio drivers rather than its Game Ready option, but it’s easy enough to switch if gaming is your preference.

Its results in our 1080p gaming benchmark suite were predictably high: 186fps in F1 22, 144fps in Shadow of the Tomb Raider, 101fps in Metro Exodus and 88fps in Metro Exodus Enhanced Edition. Those are all at High settings. Switching to the native resolution of 3,200 x 2,000 saw those figures drop to 105fps, 94fps, 56fps and 45fps.

All our results were with the Studio drivers and the laptop in “MSHybrid” mode, where it automatically switches between discrete and integrated graphics. You can choose to use only the discrete GPU, but that made no difference to our results so I suggest sticking with the default.

Not least because using integrated graphics will squeeze some extra life from the 90W battery. The Studiobook is a power-hungry beast, and the best result I saw was in PCMark’s idle test where it kept going for 6hrs 36mins. It lasted around five hours in both the video-rundown and light-use office tests, while switching to gaming reduced life to a mere 1hr 34mins. Those results are typical of a Windows workstation such as this, but the 16in MacBook Pro lasted for almost 20 hours in our video-rundown test.

(Image credit: Future)

Power on tap

Portability is hardly this product’s forte anyway. Quite aside from the 2.4kg weight of the laptop, you should allow for the 740g power supply. In return for the bulk, however, you’re buying an incredibly powerful system. Let’s start with a Core i9-13980HX processor, complete with eight P-cores that max out at 5.6GHz and 16 E-cores with a peak 4GHz frequency. That’s 32 threads ready to tackle any suitable task, which is why it reached 24,801 in Cinebench R23 and 21,043 in Geekbench 5. The MacBook Pro, by contrast, scored 14,700 and 15,061 in those tests.

Mind you, the Studiobook has the advantage of 64GB of DDR5-5200 RAM to the MacBook’s 32GB. And having two M.2 Gen4 SSDs in a RAID0 configuration is never going to hurt: these scorched through CrystalMark 8’s sequential tests with 7,015MB/sec reads and 6,431MB/sec writes. The only downside, especially compared to MacBooks powered by Apple’s M2 chips, is that the fans kick in as soon as tasks become demanding.

You can admire those fans for yourself by removing the ten Torx screws that secure the base. Doing so reveals how easy it will be to replace the memory and SSDs should the need ever arise; not something that’s possible to do on the latest MacBooks.

The Asus Dial below the keys could transform the way you work (Image credit: Future)

Touching interface

Asus also leans into another advantage of Windows laptops: support for touch. The screen is responsive to fingers, of course, but Asus includes one of its active styluses in the box. This works on the touchpad too, so it’s a shame that this isn’t even bigger. Still, a 6in diagonal provides room to play, and the haptic technology built in works brilliantly.

Then there’s the Asus Dial. Invest time to learn how it works and this could become an integral part of your daily workflow. Especially if you use Adobe’s Creative Cloud: the dial can scrub through timelines in Adobe Premiere Pro, adjust brush sizes in Photoshop and make minute adjustments in Lightroom. Anything where it’s useful to make granular or sweeping changes.

It’s also possible to put the Asus Dial to use in Windows and other apps, perhaps to adjust the volume, brightness and cycle through open tabs in your web browser. It’s hard to imagine these will make a great deal of difference to your daily life, though, so the dial is most useful if you’re using creative tools on a daily basis.

The included stylus offers another way of interacting with the laptop (Image credit: Future)

One minor annoyance is that you must load up two different Asus tools to tweak settings. There’s the ProArt Creator Hub, where you control the dial settings and access calibration tools for the screen. But you also have MyAsus, which offers a bunch more options – some of which, such as switching between performance modes, are duplicated in the ProArt Creator Hub. Both have different aesthetics, so they clearly haven’t been designed by the same teams.

When it comes to the hardware’s aesthetics, though, I have no criticisms. There’s none of the RGB bling found on many Asus gaming laptops, just a sleek and understated design. The metal lid is unadorned by fussy logos, with a subtle “ProArt” the only branding on show. It’s even covered with anti-fingerprint coating to keep the black finish looking swish.

This is one solidly built laptop, too, with Gorilla Glass to protect the screen and the promise of testing to military grade standards. These include shock, vibration and extreme temperatures. Nor can I complain about connectivity, with a generous helping of ports – including two Thunderbolt 4 and 2.5Gb Ethernet – and Wi-Fi 6E. And both the 1080p webcam and the speakers are from the top-quality drawer.

There’s no shortage of ports on offer, despite the slender chassis (Image credit: Future)

Final thoughts

This is a great update to the Studiobook and one that should particularly appeal to 3D designers – when that model becomes available. It will then be possible to rapidly iterate through prototypes: design, get feedback, tweak. If you can take advantage of the Asus Dial, the stylus and the sheer firepower within this laptop, then it could be a transformative purchase.

For everyone else, it’s probably overkill. Especially at this price. But if you like the idea of the integrated dial, then Google for “ProArt Studiobook 16 OLED” and you’ll find cheaper options based on last year’s silicon.

The ProArt Studiobook 16 OLED has a unique design, and if you need its skillset then you can be assured of top components and build quality throughout.

We also ranked the best free Adobe Illustrator alternatives.

Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves is finally here, and as the first entry in developer SNK’s legendary fighting game franchise in over 25 years, it’s got a point to prove. Especially in the modern fighting game landscape, where things like Street Fighter 6’s complex Drive Gauge system or Tekken 8’s focus on overpowering aggression have become the norm.

Review information

Platform reviewed: PC
Available on: PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC
Release date: April 24, 2025

By comparison, City of the Wolves feels refreshingly old-school. Neutral and defensive play is incredibly important here, and thanks to the fun-but-strict REV meter system, lengthy high-damage combos can be very costly. Risk-versus-reward gameplay is a huge factor, and it’s rare you’ll get to brute force your way out of a disadvantageous position; you’ll have to work for it instead.

In terms of presentation, City of the Wolves is utterly gorgeous, with SNK clearly refining the cel-shaded style it’s implemented in recent titles like Samurai Shodown and The King of Fighters 15. Animation is fantastic, characters are highly expressive, stages are awash with color and detail, and it’s all backed up by a tremendously catchy soundtrack.

It’s unfortunately not quite a home run effort, though. Menus still feel incredibly sluggish, with noticeable input lag as you navigate them. And even on a solid-state drive, there are some worryingly long load times even between individual rounds. Furthermore, offline modes are basic at best and uninspired at worst, and the usual Arcade and Survival modes are joined by a tedious main single-player mode that gets old within the first hour.

But overall, if you’re looking for a largely no-nonsense fighting game to learn and improve at in the months to come, Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves is very easy to recommend. It’s not a full-priced game, and it even includes its first-year season pass absolutely free of charge.

As a side note, before we dive in, I unfortunately didn’t get to test online functionality in the review build of Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves, as the servers weren’t ready for prime time.

REV it up

(Image credit: SNK)

Let’s start with the basics. Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves is a four-button fighting game, with light and heavy punches and kicks forming the core of your neutral offence. On a per-character basis, some of these buttons can be strung together to form a simple target combo or pressed after directional inputs to perform a special move.

The core gimmick in Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves is the REV system, governed by a gauge for each fighter. It starts out empty at zero percent, but fills up as you perform enhanced special moves (done by pressing both punch or kick buttons after a directional input) or by performing moves that are only available to you in the S.P.G. state (more on that soon).

As these enhanced special moves - known as REV Arts - can be canceled into one another for big-damage combos, you’ll find that your REV meter can fill exceptionally fast. If it fills up, you’ll overheat, which means you’ll be susceptible to guard breaks and won’t be able to pull off any more REV Arts or abilities until it fully cools down.

(Image credit: SNK)

While Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves features a relatively small roster of 17 characters at launch, all feel incredibly unique and diverse. Better yet, player expression is wholeheartedly supported with systems like the REV meter, feinting, and braking, allowing for a range of offensive and defensive playstyles.

Complementing REV is the S.P.G. (Selective Potential Gear) system. This is visualized on your health bar as a yellow segment, and it can be placed at the start, center, or end of it before a match. While your health is within the S.P.G threshold, you’ll also have access to REV Blows - a powerful invincible tool that can turn the tide on aggressive opponents, thus allowing you to skip neutral or end combos with it. It is another costly resource, though, and will eat into your overall REV meter.

I get that on paper, all this might sound very complicated, potentially exacerbated by your ability to brake or feint your own attacks. These essentially cut your moves short, allowing you to combo into other attacks or specials, and I found it to be a crucial thing to learn in order to access longer and more damaging combo strings.

It’s certainly a lot to take in, but City of the Wolves does an elegant job of teaching you all its systems via an in-depth tutorial, as well as character combo trials that introduce the concept of brakes, feints, and canceling REV Arts into each other, all in a practical fashion. Once you’ve got a proper handle on it all, it feels incredibly satisfying to take your practice into matches.

Offline woes

(Image credit: SNK)

Speaking of matches, and based on my time with the previous open betas, you’ll probably want to jump online in City of the Wolves as your primary port of call. In comparison, the game’s offline offerings are greatly lacking.

Arcade mode is here as standard, and it’s a good way to get a feel for a character and their story through eight matches against AI-controlled opponents (though bizarrely, guest fighter Cristiano Ronaldo isn’t playable here). Survival and Time Attack modes are also decent endurance challenges.

But it’s the main Episodes of South Town (abbreviated in-game as EOST) that’s the real let-down. An incredibly simple story mode that has you choosing battles on a map, EOST feels extremely phoned in compared to Street Fighter 6’s World Tour or even Tekken 8’s spectacle-filled story mode. There are some fun distractions here, like a bottle smashing minigame and tidbits of trivia for longtime SNK fans, but for me, the tedium began setting in very quickly.

EOST also highlights two of City of the Wolves’ biggest issues: user interface and menu navigation. Menu layout in general is pretty cumbersome, and there is noticeable input delay as you use the D-pad to cycle through options. Worse still, there’s no support for mouse control in this review build, which I sincerely hope can get patched in at launch or at least close to it.

South Town sights

(Image credit: SNK)

On a stronger note, City of the Wolves’ presentation is simply stunning. SNK has really mastered this cel-shaded look now. Characters and stages have a comic book sheen to them, and subtle filters really help to add depth to any given scene. Particle effects caused by special moves or other abilities are also just the right amount of flashy, not coming across as too intrusive.

Things like this create a smart but eye-catching visual style, and when paired with exceptional animation quality, you have a game that I think is going to be a real spectacle at major tournaments like EVO and Combo Breaker.

If that wasn’t enough, City of the Wolves is backed up by a tremendous soundtrack, with artists like Afrojack, Steve Aoki, and Salvatore Ganacci (who, yes, is somehow also a playable character) contributing music to the game. Overall, the presentation is a moreish audio-visual feast and one of the best things about City of the Wolves.

Should you play Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves? Play it if...

You want a fighting game experience that dials back the nonsense
While the REV system does allow for some bonkers combo potential, City of the Wolves is far more readable than Tekken 8’s noisy aggression and simpler to get to grips with than Street Fighter 6’s complex Drive system.View Deal

You’re fairly new to fighting games and want a fresh-feeling roster
If you’re unfamiliar with SNK’s output, chances are you might not yet be acquainted with iconic characters like Tizoc, Billy Kane, Hotaru Futaba, or Rock Howard. Guest characters Cristiano Ronaldo and Salvatore Ganacci are a little unorthodox for sure, but also still offer plenty of fun gameplay styles in their own right.View Deal

Don't play it if...

You like offline casual content in fighting games
Soul Calibur, this isn’t. City of the Wolves has largely thrown its eggs into the online basket, leaving little for casual single-player content.View Deal

Accessibility

Outside of the ability to reduce screen shaking in the options menu, there isn’t anything in the way of meaningful accessibility settings in City of the Wolves. The main gameplay consideration is the ‘Smart’ control style, however, which simplifies inputs and combo routes which can prove beneficial for those less familiar with fighting games or who’re unable to pull off more complex directional inputs.

How I reviewed Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves

I played Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves over the course of a week and a half for this review, totaling approximately 15 hours of playtime. That included Arcade mode runs for several characters, a full playthrough of EOST mode, numerous combo trials, and no shortage of training mode sessions to get familiar with a number of characters.

I reviewed the game on a gaming PC (via Steam) powered by the Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 Ti, and primarily played with a Razer Wolverine V3 Pro controller.

Acer PD3 Dual-Screen Portable Monitor: Two-minute review

(Image credit: Future / Jasmine Mannan)

While we already have a round up of the best portable monitors you can find, Acer aims to shake up the rankings with its Acer PD3 Dual-Screen Portable Monitor. This device, similar in fashion to other portable monitors, is small, lightweight and can be folded up to be taken with you on the go.

However what sets the Acer PD3 Dual-Screen Portable Monitor apart is the fact that it has two connected monitors, as the name suggests, for those who need the extra screen space.

One of the first things I noticed when unboxing the Acer PD3 Dual-Screen Portable Monitor is that the device is actually quite heavy, weighing in at over double that of my MacBook Air. Coming in at 2.33kg (5.14 lbs), it definitely isn’t too heavy to take on the go, but it’s by no means the lightest thing in your backpack and very well may make your bag quite hefty when combined with your current laptop.

(Image credit: Future / Jasmine Mannan)

The Acer PD3 Dual-Screen can be opened up like a laptop and used either horizontally or vertically. Initially I was worried the stand would be quite flimsy, but it's stable and holds up the device perfectly fine. In terms of design, the Acer PD3 dual-screen is very sleek and simple. Contained in a black, metal chassis, the device is simple and blends in seamlessly with any set up.

At 2.45cm (0.96in) thick, the device is quite chunky when compared to other laptops and portable monitors on the market. However, it’s worth noting that it's not this thick all the way around, with a large chunk of the monitor being quite thin, which makes it feel somewhat slimmer than it is.

The ports on the monitor are actually located underneath the stand, meaning the stand has to be pulled out in order to access them. While this isn’t the biggest deal in the world, it’s somewhat frustrating at times as you don’t always need to have the stand pulled out to have the monitor stood up.

(Image credit: Future / Jasmine Mannan)

Despite being an LCD panel, the Acer PD3 Dual-Screen Portable Monitor looks absolutely fantastic with a great range of colors and blacks. However one downside is the 250 nits screen, which isn’t the brightest, particularly when using the device on the go in different lighting environments. My laptop, which I used in conjunction with this monitor, has a screen brightness of 500 nits which makes the monitor appear even less bright in comparison.

With each screen coming in at 1920 x 1080p, it seems perfect as I didn’t have to worry about screen sizes and ratios changing when plugging my laptop in - which has the same resolution screen.

When using the Acer PD3 Dual-Screen Portable Monitor, it sufficed perfectly fine. It was easy to use, essentially just being plug and play with it syncing up to my laptop practically instantly.

It’s worth noting that the device can be VESA mounted - and while I didn’t mount it myself since I used it mainly on the go, it’s interesting that you can add it to a single monitor arm for a dual screened display, saving you even more space on your desk if needed.

(Image credit: Future / Jasmine Mannan)

It was easy enough to chuck the Acer PD3 Dual-Screen Portable Monitor in my bag and use it in different locations but I will say it wasn’t something I was comfortable pulling out while on a long train journey or in a coffee shop. The device itself is pretty large and looks quite elaborate so I didn’t find myself using it often when away from a desk. It was fine enough to take to my workspace, where it’s normal to use multiple screens.

However, considering the Acer PD3 Dual-Screen requires its own power outlet to work, it's not something which would be very easy to use on the go anyway. It comes with its own 45W power adaptor which plugs into the device via USB-C. This was frustrating as it meant I also needed to ensure I had the power supply with me when taking the device, which adds even more weight to my bag.

Acer PD3 Dual-Screen Portable Monitor: Price and availability

(Image credit: Future / Jasmine Mannan)

• How much does it cost? $449.99 / £469.99
• When is it available? Available now
• Where can you get it? Available in the US and UK

While quite pricey, the Acer PD3 Dual-Screen Portable Monitor is definitely a more premium option when it comes to these devices. At just under $450 (£469.99), it’s much more expensive than alternative portable monitor options like the AOC 16T3EA portable monitor which costs $129 / £187. However, the AOC 16T3EA is a single screened monitor, whereas the Acer PD3 is dual-screened.

Alternative dual-screen options like the Uperfect Portable Monitor come in at a similar price point to the Acer PD3, at around $449.99 / £449.99. This places the Acer PD3 Dual-Screen Portable Monitor an average priced option for the functionality, but it’s currently hard to judge as there aren’t many alternatives on the market just yet.

Acer PD3 Dual-Screen Portable Monitor: Specs

Here are the specs for the Acer PD3 Dual-Screen Portable Monitor at a glance.

Should I buy the Acer PD3 Dual-Screen Portable Monitor? Buy it if...

You need multiple displays for the workplace or regular business trips.

If you are going between a home and place of work or need more displays for a trip, then this is a great option.

You want something very simple to set up

Being plug and play, you don’t have to spend time setting this device up each time you use it.

Don't buy it if... 

You want something ultra lightweight

The device is quite heavy and adding the weight of the power supply makes your bag even heavier.

You want a device to use while commuting or in public

Considering this monitor needs an extra plug, and is quite large and elaborate, it likely won’t be something you use on the go.

Acer PD3 Dual-Screen Portable Monitor: Also consider

AOC 16T3EA

The AOC 16T3EA portable monitor is only a single screened display, but is significantly cheaper at $129 / £187. It’s also much lighter at 830g, making it easier to take on the go with you and doesn’t require its own power connector which is even less weight in your bag and easier to use.

Read our full AOC 16T3EA review

Arzopa Z1RC

The Arzopa Z1RC is a cheap and cheerful portable monitor, rated our best portable monitor option. Coming in at $120 / £129, it wont set you back as much as Acer’s edition, but again is only single screened.

Read our full Arzopa Z1RC review

How I tested the Acer PD3 dual-screen monitor

I spent a few weeks using the Acer PD3 dual-screen monitor alongside my laptop as a secondary display. I attempted to use the device on the go and take it to different locations with me.

I primarily used the device for working and productivity purposes like editing photos, responding to emails and writing articles. I also used the monitor to watch videos and movies to see how well it displayed different colours.

I’ve tested a range of different displays, monitors and portable devices over the years.

Read more about how we test

First reviewed April 2025

Hori HOTAS flight control system: one-minute review

(Image credit: Future)

If you want to take your flight sim experience to the next level, a HOTAS – hands-on throttle and stick – setup will make aviation a hundred times easier and more immersive than using a controller or mouse and keyboard.

Developed in partnership with War Thunder developers Gaijin, Hori’s HOTAS flight control system endeavors to provide exactly that solution. It’s marketed for combat flight sim pilots, but also just as useful for virtual commercial aviators who log their flight time in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 and the like.

There’s a vast array of switches, buttons, hat switches, paddles, and dials here to play with and map to your preferred commands, so no one’s going to feel short-changed in functionality terms here. The included desk mounts for the throttle and flight stick are also very welcome additions, well-constructed and satisfyingly weighty, allowing a nice ergonomic angle once you’ve mounted the peripherals to the left and right of your seating position.

But there’s a really uneven feel to the actuation of all those inputs. Some feel great, others don’t come anywhere close to the $499 / £449 pricing. When there are such legendarily good alternatives out there for similar pricing like Thrustmaster’s Warthog HOTAS, that’s a real problem.

Ultimately the sensation of the flimsy plastics used at the contact points where your hands interact with them and the wobbliness of some inputs makes this Hori offering difficult to rationalize next to the Warthog HOTAS, or even Logitech G’s cheaper, more limited, but sturdier X56.

Hori HOTAS flight control system: Price and availability

• $499 / £449
• Thrustmaster Warthog HOTAS now sells for less
• Much more expensive than the Logitech G X56

The price is the Hori HOTAS’s major problem. It compares very unfavorably to Thrustmaster’s best-in-class Warthog HOTAS, nor does it blow cheaper models like Logitech G’s X56 out of the water. In all fairness, there are mounting brackets included in this model that aren’t in the others, and a huge number of inputs, but that doesn’t completely compensate for the flimsy construction feel.

For a more budget-friendly option, consider Turtle Beach’s $120 / £120 VelocityOne flight stick, which features two throttle inputson either side of the joystick itself.

Hori HOTAS flight control system: specs

(Image credit: Future) Hori HOTAS flight control system: design and features

• Looks convincingly pro at a glance
• Sensible ergonomic layout
• Let down by cheap materials

So, what does the virtual aviator want from their HOTAS? Two things. Firstly you’re looking for a control layout that makes flying a plane easier than it would be when using a pad or mouse and keyboard. That’s fundamental.

Flight sims are among the most mapping-heavy pieces of software in existence, and it’s always been a challenge to even memorize the inputs required to get a plane off the ground, talk to ATC, engage autopilot and navigation systems, and control your view, let alone map them to a comfortable and intuitive layout.

Sim racers have racing wheels that offer just about a 1:1 recreation of the inputs and displays they’d have on a real racing car, but for pilots that’s not feasible unless you drop many thousands on a room-sized rig.

Secondly, you want to feel immersed in the experience. You can control a plane’s throttle input using an analog stick on your Xbox controller, just like Flight Sim 2024 expects you to by default, and in truth, the difference in precision that this Hori’s twin throttle allows is unlikely to ever be the difference between crashing or staying aloft.

Instead, it’s about creating a sensory environment that feels like flying a plane. A matter of passion for the enthusiasts, and a crucial point for aspiring pilots supplementing their real air time with a flight sim.

(Image credit: Future)

It’s important to lay these two objectives out because Hori’s HOTAS is perfectly good at the first - making planes easier to fly by offering a sensible and numerous layout of inputs - but just can’t deliver what you’d expect for the price when it comes to immersion.

Let’s delve into those statements. You’ve got three modes on each peripheral, and a total of 61 different button functions. That’s… probably enough. In both War Thunder and Flight Sim 2024, I found I was able to map every input I’d conceivably need and have it within close reach.

In fact, the reality was that I’d mapped a bunch of inputs that I didn’t end up touching. There’s a surplus of functionality here, and it does indeed make flying planes much easier, in both a combat and commercial environment. We can put a giant tick in that box.

Immersion, though, is elusive when piloting with the Hori HOTAS. That’s because despite it looking the part from a distance, when you’re up close and interacting with the throttle and flight stick, it simply looks and feels closer to a toy than part of an aircraft. Certain inputs hold up their end of the bargain, specifically the metal toggle switches on the throttle’s base, the rudder paddles on the throttle and the one on the flight stick.

The two-stage trigger has a nice mechanical-feeling actuation to it too, which makes firing weapons very satisfying. Elsewhere though, the surfaces feel too light and flimsy to be believable and the buttons and hat switches have too much play to them. For over $400 / £400, it’s surprising and disappointing.

The throttle actuation also leaves a lot to be desired. I found that mine was prone to sticking at the 100% point, and along the plasticky track of its axis, there’s a juddering, notched feeling. It’s almost as though there’s a deliberate notch to help you find 50%, except there are two or three of these sticking points on my unit… and none of them are at 50%.

There’s a saving grace, though. The mounting brackets supplied with this HOTAS are top-notch and added a lot to the overall experience once I mounted the throttle and flightstick to them on my left and right. The clamps are adjustable, with four different heights on offer, and I must say once they were fitted to my ideal position and the green backlights of the inputs were gently glowing in my cockpit, the pricing started to make sense for a brief moment.

Then I put my hands on it and the moment went.

Hori HOTAS flight control system: performance

• Hall effect sensors for precise joystick input
• Useful backlit input controls
• Useable default schemes in most sims

I enjoy the precise feeling of this Hori flight stick. There’s just enough resistance and centering spring strength for my tastes, particularly in War Thunder where inputs tend to be of a more severe nature since you don’t have passengers and the contents of their stomach to consider.

It’s a little trickier to achieve those tiny, delicate bank angles in a commercial flight setting due to the strength of that spring, but after a couple of hours of acclimation, I found myself flying a bit more smoothly. There are Hall effect sensors to keep track of exactly where the flight stick is on its axis, theoretically making for more precise input recognition. I’ll level with you - I haven’t busted into the game code to verify exactly what’s happening there or how, but I will say that the sensation feels immediate and smooth to track.

Fortunately, in a performance setting, the issues I have with the grainy throttle don’t translate to in-game problems with thruster operation, and the previously mentioned loose feeling on some buttons doesn’t actually affect them being registered as inputs when you press them. So when you’re up in the air, the underwhelming build quality isn’t a de facto disadvantage. Just a shame.

I’ve sung the praises of those mounting brackets previously in this review, but they really do hold each peripheral firmly in place and in an ergonomic position when you’re sitting in your cockpit. Anyone who’s used a HOTAS or joystick whose base is too light knows how irritating it can be for your inputs to translate as peripheral wobble instead of flight control, and happily, that just doesn’t happen here.

It’s a strong performer then, but that doesn’t go all the way towards negating the problems this HOTAS has competing against similarly priced but better-constructed rivals like the Thrustmaster Warthog.

(Image credit: Future) Should I buy the Hori HOTAS flight control system? Buy it if...

You usually fly in combat flight sims
It’s perfectly good at commercial flight, but you’ll get the most out of the control layout in dogfights. Plus there are bundled in-game bonuses for War Thunder.

You’re tired of mapping inputs to your keyboard
There are enough buttons, dials, hat switches, and paddles to keep you from having to reach back towards your mouse and keyboard.

You don’t want to buy mounts separately
The sturdy, adjustable metal mounts are a big bonus of this package and add a lot to the sensation of being inside a cockpit.

Don't buy it if...

You’re on a budget
There are much cheaper options out there with comparable layouts and in some cases a better sensation, too.

You take flight on consoles too
This model’s a PC-only offering, so you’ll need to find a different peripheral for PS5 or Xbox piloting otherwise it’s back to the pad.

You want a compact setup
The HOTAS layout plus the mounts does take up space, so fairweather fliers might prefer a one-unit peripheral like Turtle Beach’s VelocityOne.

Hori HOTAS flight control system: Also consider

If the Hori HOTAS doesn’t make your heart soar, keep these cheaper alternatives on your radar.

Thrustmaster T.Flight HOTAS One
A time-honored budget option with far fewer inputs than the Hori HOTAS, but nonetheless a great overall package for the price.

For more information, read our full Thrustmaster T.Flight HOTAS One review

Turtle Beach VelocityOne Flightstick
The throttle-on-joystick design is unusual and means dual-thruster operation can be tricky, but the great build quality, numerous inputs, and cool digital display on the joystick itself make this another stellar budget option.

For more information read our full Turtle Beach VelocityOne Flightstick review

How I tested the Hori HOTAS flight control system

• Several weeks of regular use during testing
• Used on PC with and without mounts
• War Thunder, Flight Simulator 2024, and Elite Dangerous all tested

Since War Thunder’s all over the box due to that Gaijin partnership, this dogfighting sim felt like a sensible place to start.

I also logged plenty of flight time in commercial jets and prop planes in Flight Sim 2024, and sauntered around the Milky Way in Frontier’s infinitely impressive Elite: Dangerous. Functionality was great out of the box in all three titles and required just a few re-binds in the latter two.

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

Ninja 5-in-1 Grill and Air Fryer: one-minute review

Ninja is a trusted (and arguably the biggest) name in the air fryer market for a reason. Several of the brand's products feature in our best air fryers roundup, thanks to their top-tier performance, but that high quality comes with a premium (sometimes eye-watering) price tag. The Ninja 5-in-1 Grill & Air Fryer EG351UK, too, comes with a premium price tag, but one that's somewhat more affordable than its siblings while offering the same top-grade quality we've come to expect from Ninja. If your air fryer budget maxes out at £200 (roughly $250 / AU$450), this just sneaks in there.

It's still not cheap, but for that price you get a top-notch air fryer and indoor grill that offers pretty consistent results across its five cooking functions. The Ninja 5-in-1 Grill & Air Fryer makes baking, grilling (even from frozen), air frying, dehydrating, and roasting easy, though you may need to use some trial and error with certain foods and functions to get optimal results.

(Image credit: Vic Hood)

The included user manual and inspiration booklet are helpful, with notes on nearly any question you may have, but the food guidelines can be a bit optimistic at times. This isn't necessarily a deal-breaker but means you should keep a close eye on your food as you get to grips with it, as I had some issues with uneven cooking over overdone foods on the outside with the air fryer function. Thanks to the probe attachment, however, you have several avenues to check when your meat or fish is cooked, giving you some peace of mind.

The issues I had mostly arose with air frying foods and were exacerbated by the 5.7-liter cooking pot's lack of a handle, which made shaking foods like fries and vegetables for even cooking tricky. However, the other cooking functions offered impressive results, delivering perfectly baked muffins, delicious flatbreads and succulent chicken.

Perhaps my biggest issue with the Ninja 5-in-1 Grill and Air Fryer, however, is how much cleaning it requires for maintenance – and how tough it is to keep the appliance and its various attachments (particularly the splatter guard) clean, despite following the included instructions. That's something which could potentially cause further issues with performance over time.

Aside from this, the Ninja 5-in-1 Grill & Air Fryer is a solid air fryer for those who regularly grill and air fry their foods, combining the two in one appliance. If you haven't the space for a BBQ, it offers the same delicious results, with considerably less smoke, and is easy to use for seasoned air fryer users and newbies.

Ninja 5-in-1 Grill and Air Fryer: price and availability

• Price: £199.99 (roughly $262 / AU$419)
• This model is available in the UK, but not US or Australia
• Available from Ninja and third-party retailers

The Ninja 5-in-1 Grill & Air Fryer has a premium price tag of £199.99 (roughly $262 / AU$419), meaning it's one of the more affordable options if you have your heart set on a Ninja. It costs slightly less than the Ninja Foodi Max Dual Zone Air Fryer and considerably less than the Ninja Double Oven and Ninja Combi Multi-Cooker, so if you're after Ninja quality under the £200 mark, it's a great choice.

While this air fryer is on the pricier side, considering it packs in five cooking functions, including the ability to grill, with solid results, it's worth the price tag for those who plan to utilize its various functions. There's also a two-year guarantee included for those who register with Ninja, giving you extra peace of mind.

You can buy this air fryer from Ninja or third-party retailers like Amazon and Argos, with the latter likely to offer discounts during sales periods like Black Friday. You'll find today's best prices below. Unfortunately, this model isn't currently available in the US or Australia.

• Value score: 4/5

Ninja 5-in-1 Grill and Air Fryer: specifications Ninja 5-in-1 Grill and Air Fryer: design

• Modern black and steel-brushed design
• Thermometer probe for meat
• High-maintenance cleaning
• No handle for shaking

The Ninja 5-in-1 Grill & Air Fryer comes in a black and steel-brushed finish, with its top opening upward (like most grills) to reveal its 5.7L cooking pot inside. In the box, you get two ceramic-coated plates that slot easily into the cooking pot, a grill plate for grilling foods, and a crisper plate for most other cooking functions. On the front is a digital display, with its cooking functions clearly shown below and sizable buttons to adjust its settings.

Despite its capacity, this air fryer isn't as physically intrusive in my kitchen as others I've reviewed. It still takes up a decent chunk of counter room, making it potentially less suited for smaller kitchens but much easier to home than the Philips 5000 Series Dual Basket Steam Air Fryer, for example.

This air fryer is about the right size for a household of four, depending on what you plan to cook, with plenty of room for veggies and smaller items on the crisper plate and the grill plate easily fitting four chicken breasts or burgers. However, when it comes to larger items, like a whole chicken, for example, you may have some difficulty. While the Ninja website claims the appliance can fit a 1.4kg whole chicken in the cooking pot, the crisping plate is recommended for roasting, but this means the chicken needs to be smaller, about 1kg.

(Image credit: Vic Hood)

Fortunately, I was able to use the included thermometer probe to check my chicken was definitely cooked. The probe jack connects to the appliance, with the other end inserted into the thickest part of your meat, and allows you to set the meat type you're cooking (and desired doneness for relevant meats).

The appliance then displays your food's internal temperature and desired temperature and tells you when it reaches that temperature. This is usually a few degrees off the actual temperature the meat should be, as the air fryer tells you to rest the meat and counts down the resting time, too. The guidance on this is pretty thorough in the user manual – and on pretty much everything, in fact – and meant my meat always (internally, at least) was cooked to perfection.

(Image credit: Vic Hood)

That thorough user manual also comes with instructions on how to clean the air fryer and its attachments – a pretty high-maintenance affair. Ninja recommends hand washing the plates and splatter guard, understandably, after each use. The company even provides you with a cleaning brush with a scraper to help. While handwashing the cooking pot and crisping plate is pretty painless, I found cleaning the ceramic-coated grill plate and splatter guard a challenge (even with the included brush). Tough residue eventually came off the grill plate's many crevices with some elbow grease and soaking, but despite following the instructions and cleaning the splatter guard after every cook, during my week of testing, more and more grease built up on it.

I thoroughly cleaned it after each cook and even followed the deep cleaning instructions, boiling it in a pot, but that tough grease did not come off, and some had even made its way behind the splatter guard. The instructions mostly focus on cleaning the detachable parts rather than the appliance itself, so I tried wiping it off with a cloth to no avail. The problem is that while the Ninja 5-in-1 Grill & Air Fryer is largely smokeless, the tough grease started to cause more smoke, and I could not get it off following the included instructions. Over time, this could become a larger issue. So, for optimal performance, you need to be very thorough in your cleaning of each nook and cranny.

Image 1 of 3

Cleaning the splatter guard is a challenge, and it proved impossible to remove during testing (Image credit: Vic Hood)Image 2 of 3

Despite cleaning after each use, the splatter guard had accumulated a considerable amount of grease after a week of testing (Image credit: Vic Hood)Image 3 of 3

Dirt easily builds up in small spaces (Image credit: Vic Hood)

This isn't the only design issue I had with this appliance. In addition to its high-level maintenance, the Ninja 5-in-1 Grill & Air Fryer lacks a handle for its cooking pot, making shaking foods more difficult. Many competitors offer a heat-proof handle to grab, so you can easily shake veggies, chips, and other food items, but the Ninja 5-in-1 only has slightly protruding edges on its cooking pot for this, meaning you need to pick up the whole pot and shake it. This is tricky because you need to lift the 5.7L pot and try and shake its contents evenly, but also because those contents are hot. It's an addition that could have made air-frying certain foods much more convenient.

• Design score: 4/5

Ninja 5-in-1 Grill and Air Fryer: performance

• Air frying results are inconsistent
• Baking, dehydrating, roasting, and grilling are excellent
• Great recipes in inspiration booklet
• Quality-of-life features like automatic preheat function

The Ninja 5-in-1 Grill and Air Fryer has five cooking functions: grilling, air frying, baking, dehydrating, and roasting.

The grill feature is by far the highlight, with the included inspiration booklet offering recipes to help you utilize the feature, alongside tips and recipes for marinades, seasonings, and more. To kick off my testing, I tried one of the booklet's kickstarter recipes: barbecue chicken breasts.

The recipe required frozen chicken breasts, with the cooking time set to take about 25 minutes, which I was a bit skeptical about. However, after 25 minutes and several bastings, I had perfectly cooked BBQ chicken fillets that were sticky and smoky on the outside but succulent inside. This doesn't account for the seven-minute preheat time, with the appliance automatically preheating on most functions. If you're in the no-preheat club, have no fear, as there's a button to skip this if you want to.

(Image credit: Vic Hood)

Burgers provided the same consistent results, but when the appliance chirped to let me know to flip the burgers halfway through cooking, it didn't give me much time to do so as the time continued to tick on. Frustratingly, this meant the cooking time ended, and the resting timer began, but the burgers weren't done, and I had to reprogram the grill to finish them off as I couldn't easily add on a few extra minutes. To ensure they were cooked, I inserted the probe and set the function to beef and 'medium well', which allowed me to save my food.

Image 1 of 2

(Image credit: Vic Hood)Image 2 of 2

(Image credit: Vic Hood)

While I usually have a control chicken wing rub I use for tests, I decided to use the Everyday Spice rub laid out in Ninja's booklet. After following the booklet's advice of waiting 30 minutes before grilling and checking the food guidelines, I added my wings to the grill. While I followed the recommended time and temperature Ninja gave for chicken wings, mine came out quite overdone on the outside but perfectly cooked and tasty inside.

Again, when cooking any meats in this appliance, I highly recommend utilizing the probe more than the food time guidelines, as it's a safety net if your food appears to be overdone on the outside, but you don't want to pull it out in case it's not cooked inside.

Image 1 of 3

(Image credit: Vic Hood)Image 2 of 3

(Image credit: Vic Hood)Image 3 of 3

(Image credit: Vic Hood)

It's not just meats this grill provides solid results for, either. Following another of Ninja's recipes, I made flatbreads for the first time and cooked them to perfection, each taking only two minutes on the preheated grill.

These high-quality results were pretty consistent across the appliance's functions, as I perfectly dehydrated my leftover flatbread parsley in four hours, baked tasty lemon and blueberry muffins, and roasted my aforementioned harissa chicken with (relative) ease, so it was juicy inside and slightly crispy outside.

Image 1 of 3

(Image credit: Vic Hood)Image 2 of 3

(Image credit: Vic Hood)Image 3 of 3

(Image credit: Vic Hood)

The only issue I had with the Ninja 5-in-1 Grill & Air Fryer's performance was its air fryer function. I will caveat this by saying a lot of air fryers require some experimentation for optimal results, and food guidelines are helpful but not always 100% accurate. Ninja acknowledges this in a way, noting in its air-frying food guidelines section that its times are a guide, and you need to adjust to your preference, check your food frequently, and shake or toss it. I kept this in mind when testing carrots, courgettes, frozen fries, and fresh fries, and regularly checked on and shook my with some overdone and some underdone. For example, many of my carrots had burnt edges and were almost roasted after roughly 15 minutes, while others were underdone.

Image 1 of 4

(Image credit: Vic Hood)Image 2 of 4

(Image credit: Vic Hood)Image 3 of 4

(Image credit: Vic Hood)Image 4 of 4

(Image credit: Vic Hood)

Considering this is a premium air fryer, these results were disappointing, especially after the brilliant results of the other functions. Like many air fryers, it may take some trial and error to get optimal results with this function, but if you want an appliance that air fries consistently well off the bat, this may not be the appliance for you.

• Performance score: 4/5

Should you buy the Ninja 5-in-1 Grill and Air Fryer? Buy it if

You want that BBQ flavor in your kitchen

If you haven't room for a BBQ or simply love indoor grilling, this is a solid option with minimal smoke.

You want an air fryer with various cooking functions

In addition to grilling and air frying, this appliance can bake, roast, and dehydrate to a high standard, allowing you to cook a variety of food types to your liking.

You cook meat and fish regularly

If you regularly cook meat and fish and want to do so in an air fryer, the probe function on this appliance allows you to do so with peace of mind. There's nothing worse than cutting into your food only to find it's underdone inside. The included probe means you can track your food's internal temperature alongside its overall look, ensuring your meat and fish are cooked to perfection inside and out.

You want a Ninja air fryer under £200

Ninja air fryers are premium products, with many of the best costing over £250. With this appliance coming in just shy of £200, you can get that same Ninja quality but for a bit less.

Don't buy it if

You won't keep up with cleaning

This air fryer grill can be tough to clean, but thoroughly cleaning it and its detachable parts after each use is critical. While the included brush makes this a bit easier, the splatter guard and grill plate can prove particularly challenging.

You don't grill (or plan to grill) much

The biggest selling point of this air fryer is its ability to grill, so if you don't plan to utilize that function much, then it's probably not the air fryer for you.

You want an air fryer that works with little hassle

Frustratingly, the air fryer function on this air fryer is where we've had the most issues with uneven cooking. Like most air fryers, the more time you spend cooking food in this appliance, the more you'll get to grips with how to get the most optimal results. However, if you want a simple, consistent air frying function out of the box, this may not be the best choice for you.

Ninja 5-in-1 Grill and Air Fryer: also consider

Not certain that the Ninja 5-in-1 Grill and Air Fryer is right for you? Here are two other options you might like to consider.

Ninja Foodi Max Dual Zone

If you live outside the UK where the Ninja 5-in-1 Grill and Air Fryer isn't available, this is two-drawer air fryer is a great alternative. It looks smart, and produces consistently good results (though we'd appreciate a reminder to shake to food for even cooking).

Read our full Ninja Foodi Max Dual Zone review

Ninja Double Stack

If you don't have space for a full-width two-drawer air fryer, the Double Stack is the appliance for you. It's deeper and taller, but much narrower than the Russell Hobbs Satisfry or the Ninja Foodi Max Dual Zone, and in our tests it produced evenly browned, crispy fries every time.

Read our full Ninja Double Stack review

How I tested the Ninja 5-in-1 Grill and Air Fryer?

I used the Ninja 5-in-1 Grill and Air Fryer for a week, cooking a wide variety of foods including fries, chicken wings, fresh vegetables, and muffins. I tested all the air fryer's various modes and cleaned the air fryer in line with the instructions provided in the manual. For more details, see how we test.

First reviewed March 2025.

OpenRock S: One minute review

Audio brand OneOdio is back with its second-gen air conduction headphones – the OpenRock S are more affordable and longer-lasting than their predecessors the OpenRock Pro, but include quite a few extra features that unfortunately don’t work too well.

Air conduction is a tech intended to let you listen to music while exercising without impacting your awareness of your surroundings, and it features heavily in our guide to the best open earbuds (often called the best open ear headphones). While the AirPods Pro 2 have Transparency Mode to intentionally boost the sounds of your surroundings and Shokz has its bone conduction, OneOdio’s solution is to dangle a mini speaker over your ear, so it’s not blocking out all your surrounding noises but instead traversing a bit of open space and still getting the job done.

While air conduction hasn’t historically leant itself to fantastic audio fidelity, the feature works for its intended purpose, and you can enjoy music while also being aware of vehicles, people, aggressive dogs or other hazards. Too aware, perhaps, as one of the S’ big problems is that its max volume is just too low. Lots of the time during my testing, music was all but drowned out by noises such as cars, treadmills or, as my parkrun testing will attest, the sounds of other runners!

That’s doubly true if you’re riding a bike or somewhere windy, as the sounds of gusts of wind rushing past your ears will all but drown out your tunes.

If you can get around this volume issue (if perhaps you listen during a yoga class, say), then you may well be impressed by the OpenRock S. Like their predecessors, the OpenRock Pro, they have an incredibly comfortable fit that keeps them secure on your ear; they’re lightweight too, and it’s easy to forget you’re wearing them.

Plus, the battery life here is absolutely incredible. You can listen to music for 19 hours non-stop before you need to charge the earbuds, and when you factor in the charge of the carry case itself, that number goes up all the way to 60 hours. You’d be hard-pressed to find a rival sports earbud that comes even close to that figure.

These are some of the most affordable sports earbuds too, costing roughly half the price of some of the best-known rivals from the likes of Shokz. A great pick for people on a budget.

As you can tell from that description, these are some solid sports earbuds at heart. OneOdio has added quite a few features which don’t work too well – the touch controls perform poorly and the EQ modes seem to have little effect whatsoever – but if you can ignore these, the OpenRock S are decent buds for fitness fans.

OpenRock S review: Specifications OpenRock S review: Price and availability

(Image credit: Future)

• Announced and released in October 2023
• Cost $99 / £89 (roughly $150)
• Some of the most buds with this kind of tech

The OpenRock S was announced in mid-October 2023 as the newest entry to OneOdio’s line-up of over-ear sports headphones.

You’ll pay just $99 / £89 (roughly $150) for them, which is a competitive price compared to rivals within and without of the company. This is the price that OneOdio announced them for, and that they’re selling for, but Amazon US lists this as a discounted cost down from $129. As far as we can tell, they’ve never actually sold for this price.

At this price, the S undercuts OneOdio’s own previous entry into the running earbuds space, the OpenRock Pro, which cost $119/£119 (around AU$185). For the most part, those are more premium, though in some areas (like battery life) the S is the better buy.

Most rivals cost more, like the Shokz Openfit which sells for $179.95 / £179.99 / AU$289. So you could well consider these budget options if you’re looking for air conduction earbuds, though of course, you can buy fitness earbuds for much cheaper if you don’t need this tech.

• Value score: 4/5

OpenRock S review: Design

Yes, that's an earbuds case, not a reading glasses case…  (Image credit: Future)

• Solid and light earbuds build
• Temperamental touch controls
• Carry case is big, bulky and heavy

There are two aspects to the OpenRock S’ design: the earbuds themselves and the carry case.

I’ll touch briefly on the carry case because you can't miss it: it’s a big sturdy plastic shell that charges the buds and keeps them safe when you’re not using them. However, it’s pretty long and wide, so it may not slip into your backpack’s side pocket like most other buds' charging cases will.

Now the buds: these are very comfortable. They’re lightweight at just 12g each, and have the hooked design common in sports earbuds that means they stay lodged on your ears whether you’re on a mountain bike or running around on an uneven surface.

The best testament to the design is to point out that not once during testing did they fall out. I will say, though, that the OpenRock Pro did feel even more robust on the ear, thanks to a tighter grip.

Ostensibly there are touch controls on the buds, but in testing these rarely worked reliably. You’re meant to be able to tap the OpenRock logo on the buds to control your music or calls, but I found it often failed to pick up touches. That was doubly the case if my hands were damp from rain or sweat, and I would sometimes end up just hammering at my ears trying to stop a track. I found it much easier to just use the paired phone to change tracks or hang up a call.

The OpenRock buds are IPX5 water resistant, which in theory means they’re protected from water jets and low-pressure streams. They’re certainly sweat-proof, which is the most important thing, but I wouldn’t recommend using them in heavy rain if you’re hoping to use the touch controls.

• Design score: 4/5

OpenRock S review: Features

(Image credit: Future)

• Air conduction makes sure you can hear your surroundings
• Possibly the best stamina on the market
• EQ modes have little impact

As was mentioned in the introduction, the OpenRock S are air-conduction earbuds. This means that a speaker on the bud hovers over your ear canal and ‘projects’ the music in – the whole point is that you can wear these and also hear surrounding sound, perfect for if you’re on a road or somewhere else where awareness is important.

For this purpose, the OpenRock S works really well – I could hear my music while also having situational awareness. The main issue would be that this is often too much the case – sometimes I couldn’t actually hear music, for reasons I’ll get into in the ‘Performance’ section.

There’s also fairly little audio spilling, so people around you aren’t going to hear you working out to an hour-long loop of Mambo No. 5 (unless you sing along, of course).

The best feature of the OpenRock Pro is back and even better for the S, and that’s the battery life. The Pro version of these sports headphones had incredible lasting power but OneOdio has turned that up to 11 for the OpenRock S.

(Image credit: Future)

The OpenRock S buds last for 19 hours straight of music or calls, but when you factor in the battery in the case, you can get a whopping 60 hours of use time before you need to power them back up. That’s an incomprehensibly long battery life when you consider that many sports headphones only last for 10 hours or less before needing a boost.

With this one feature, the OpenRock S make themselves invaluable for people doing long expeditions and trips, who want to listen to music but might not have reliable access to a charging point.

Not all the features of the headphones are this commendable though. One I’ll flag is OneOdio’s attempt to utilize adjustable EQ: pressing and holding both buds’ touch controls at once will toggle you between ‘Rock’ and ‘Relax’ modes. Sounds useful for whatever kind of exercise you’re doing, right?

Not quite right. Ignoring what I’ve already said about the messy touch controls, the difference between these two modes is incredibly minor. What’s worse, is that you can’t actually change the mode when you’re on a call or listening to music – you have to turn that off before you change the mode, making it harder to perceive the EQ changes. An app would work so much better for this function, but the OpenRock doesn’t have one.

• Features score: 3.5/5

OpenRock S review: Performance

(Image credit: Future)

• The design doesn't lend itself to great audio fidelity
• OneOdio's TubeBass only succeeds ensuring there's any bass
• Max volume is very low

Given the nature of air conduction technology, it’s understandable if you’d expect the OpenRock S to struggle in the audio performance department compared to other fitness bud rivals… and you’d be right.

The biggest issue I faced during the testing period is that the OpenRock S was just too quiet, even at max volume. The point of the tech is to let you hear surrounding sounds, but sometimes that’s all I could hear – for example at the gym, it was sometimes hard to hear parts of a song over the sound of surrounding treadmills, and when wearing the buds near a road, traffic could drown out a song. To be clear, this isn’t an issue I had with the OpenRock Pro to the same degree.

Of course, you don’t want to be deafened by earbuds, especially since air conduction tech could easily disturb people around you if it were too loud. But OneOdio would only have improved the buds by letting them crank out a few more decibels.

When you can hear them properly, the OpenRock S sound just fine – audiophiles won’t be impressed but with the drivers dangled close to your ears instead of directly in them you’re not getting the same treatment as you would for in-ear earbuds or headphones. Yes, the tech is improving a lot, but these earbuds aren't the best example of great sound in an open design.

OneOdio has a tech called TubeBass which offsets some of the issues of air conduction, as it’s designed to enhance bass. However its benefits can only go so far.

As I mentioned before, there are two sound profiles you can toggle between. Rock mode is the one I’d recommend – relaxed is just too tinny.

• Performance score: 3/5

OpenRock S review: scorecard OpenRock S: Should I buy them?

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

Battery life is important to you

The OpenRock S battery life is so good that it makes almost all other sports headphones feel rubbish in comparison. An easy recommendation here.

A lightweight bud is important

Depending on your sport, lightweight headphones might be much more valuable than good-sounding ones. The OpenRock S are easily the former, not so much the latter.

You need to hear your surroundings

The central feature of air conduction works well here (if anything, too well). Using these, you'll be able to hear traffic and people around you.

Don't buy them if...

You care about music quality

If loud, booming tunes are all you need for a good workout, you'll find that the OpenRock S doesn't really impress in that regard.

You need a svelte carry case

If you prefer to travel light at all times, you might find the OpenRock S' carry case is a little unwieldy. It won't fit in clothes or bag pockets very easily.

You rely on touch controls

If you want earbuds with stellar touch controls, so you can ignore your phone on a workout, avoid the OpenRock. The touch controls are too unreliable.

Also consider

(Image credit: Future)

OpenRock Pro

The OpenRock S' predecessor (and higher-end sibling) costs more and has a lesser battery life. However the audio sounds a little better, the fit is tighter (and therefore a little cosier) and the travel case is much smaller and lighter too.

Read our full OpenRock Pro review

Shokz OpenFit

These are perhaps the OpenRock Pro's closest rivals, as alternative air conduction headphones. They're smaller, lighter and better-sounding, but don't have as impressive battery lives and the fit isn't as customizable.

Read our full Shokz OpenFit review

How I tested

The full testing period for the OpenRock S ended up being well over a month, and while that was partly due to an illness which meant I couldn't test these buds for exercise purposes for the entire period, it does mean I got to use them a lot.

I tested the buds in the following ways: while cycling through a city along roads, while running in busy and quiet areas, while in gyms on various pieces of equipment, and also when at home in an otherwise-quiet area. I really put the OneRock S through their paces, with different activities and in different environments.

Mainly I streamed music through an Android smartphone, but I did test calling and video calls with them too. I also tested them side-by-side with the OpenRock Pro, to fully test out how they compare.

I've been writing for TechRadar for almost five years now, for several as a full member of team and several more as a freelance tester. I've tried various pieces of fitness equipment including earbuds, headphones, smartwatches, fitness trackers and sleep headphones and also tablets, smartphones, ereaders, speakers, scooters and a lot more.

• Read TechRadar's reviews guarantee

Razer DeathAdder V3 HyperSpeed: Two-minute review

The Razer DeathAdder V3 HyperSpeed is a wireless gaming mouse in Razer’s asymmetrical range with pro-level play in mind. It adopts a small and sleek form, with an offset shape that slopes away to the right, giving it a more ergonomic feel. It’s relatively small too, especially across its width, although it’s the same length as a typical full-size pointer.

At a mere 55g, the DeathAdder V3 HyperSpeed is very light – but it’s far from flimsy: Razer’s typically high standards are adhered to, and it feels robust.

The chassis material feels premium too, and although it’s not textured, the finish offers just enough grip on its own without requiring grip tape – which is convenient since none is included.

The buttons and scroll wheel also feel solid yet are as easy to operate as any of the best gaming mice, providing satisfying feedback. The texturing on the latter is a particular highlight, with its dotted design appealing to me more than the linear grooves you typically find on many other gaming mice.

Underneath the DeathAdder V3 HyperSpeed are two large PTFE skates (no spares are included), which cover a large surface area and offer very smooth glides. They aren’t thick enough to use on hard surfaces – but stick to using it on pads and you’ll be rewarded with effortless movements.

(Image credit: Future)

The USB-C cable included with the DeathAdder V3 HyperSpeed is of a similarly high quality, although it isn’t braided like those included with some elite gaming mice. It’s also not long enough to be practical for wired play; and even if your setup allows for it, it’s not light enough to prevent drag, although admittedly the effect isn’t as severe as with other non-braided cables.

The DeathAdder V3 HyperSpeed can be customized using Razer Synapse, the brand’s peripheral software. Here you’ll find many of the usual tweaks, with plenty of rebinding options for nearly every button, including the power and DPI selector underneath.

The left click isn’t rebindable unless you activate Razer’s Hypershift function, which allows you to designate one button as a modifier to give you access to a second layer of bindings.

Synapse also has some unique features for the DeathAdder V3 HyperSpeed, such as Dynamic Sensitivity, which lets you customize the curve for cursor acceleration based on the speed of your flicks. There’s also a setting for rotating the mouse’s angle to match the natural way you hold it, in order to help straighten horizontal movements.

Both of these will be useful to certain gamers I’m sure, but it’s a shame other advanced tweaks for the DeathAdder V3 HyperSpeed are missing, such as a slam click filter, lift-off distance adjustments, and an angle-snapping toggle.

Regardless of these omissions, however, the DeathAdder V3 HyperSpeed is still a joy to play with. It feels sharp and responsive, which combined with its smooth-as-silk gliding ability, allow for accurate aiming and frantic swipes equally.

(Image credit: Future)

I found the ergonomic shape comfortable as well, which I was pleasantly surprised by – I haven’t always gelled with mice of this ilk in the past, but the DeathAdder V3 HyperSpeed proved a natural fit for my hand and fingers.

What’s more, the mouse buttons were light enough for rapid clicks, yet stable enough to prevent misclicks. The side buttons were easy to access and actuate, while the scroll wheel felt easy yet secure to operate; I could middle click confidently without worrying about accidental flicks.

However, I did have an issue with the middle click, which felt a little awkward to press, failing to provide as much feedback as I would’ve liked. This resulted in inconsistent actuation, especially in the heat of the moment.

Thankfully, connectivity was consistent, and true to the HyperSpeed name, I experienced no issues with lag. It’s a shame, however, that there’s no Bluetooth option in addition to the 2.4GHz USB dongle, which would’ve improved its versatility for multi-device setups.

Razer claims the battery of the DeathAdder V3 HyperSpeed can last up to 100 hours when set to the maximum 1K polling rate (although 8K is possible with the optional HyperPolling dongle). Based on my tests, I can well believe this figure, as after several days, the battery dipped by only a few percentage points.

There’s no question the DeathAdder V3 HyperSpeed is an expensive gaming mouse, but its build quality and gaming prowess are excellent, and while the shape might not suit everyone, others will find it comfortable. A Pro version is available, which has a few upgraded specs, but the same basic form. Naturally, it’s more expensive.

If you want an even lighter gaming mouse, the Asus TUF Gaming M4 Air is about the best in this regard. It’s a great performer and considerably cheaper than the DeathAdder V3 HyperSpeed – although it lacks wireless connectivity.

(Image credit: Future) Razer DeathAdder V3 HyperSpeed review: Price & availability

• $99.99 / £99.99 / AU$179.95
• Available now in black only
• Competitively priced

The Razer DeathAdder V3 HyperSpeed costs $99.99 / £99.99 / AU$179.95 and is available now in one colorway: black. It comes with a 2.4GHz HyperSpeed USB dongle and a USB-C-to-A cable. Razer’s HyperPolling dongle can be purchased separately to boost the maximum polling rate all the way up to 8K.

For a wireless gaming mouse, the DeathAdder V3 HyperSpeed veers towards the top-end of the market, but considering the quality on offer, it remains competitive. A Pro version is also available, which we rate as the best wireless gaming mouse overall, thanks to its performance and ergonomics – the latter of which it shares with the V3 HyperSpeed. It’s more expensive, though, and slightly heavier.

If you’re looking for an even lighter pointer than the DeathAdder V3 HyperSpeed, the Asus TUF Gaming M4 Air is a great alternative, as it tips the scales at a mere 50g. It’s also much cheaper than, but lacks wireless connectivity. Still, you can’t do much better than the M4 Air if you want powerhouse performance in a featherweight package.

Razer DeathAdder V3 HyperSpeed review: Specs Should I buy the Razer DeathAdder V3 HyperSpeed? Buy it if...

You want something light
At 55g, the DeathAdder V3 HyperSpeed is certainly light, yet still retains a full-size length. It’s a little narrower than other gaming mice, though.

You want a semi-ergonomic shape
The rightwards slope of the DeathAdder V3 HyperSpeed is reminiscent of ergonomic mice, so some gamers might find it more comfortable to use.

Don't buy it if...

You want pro-level tweaking
Although Synapse is a capable piece of software, more advanced tweaks are missing for the DeathAdder V3 HyperSpeed, such as a slam click filter and LoD adjustments.

You’re left-handed
The DeathAdder V3 HyperSpeed is asymmetrical and only suitable for right-handers, so lefties will have to look elsewhere.

Razer DeathAdder V3 HyperSpeed review: Also consider

Razer DeathAdder V3 Pro
The Pro version of the HyperSpeed has an upgraded sensor capable of a 30K DPI – 4K more than the HyperSpeed can manage. It also has faster IPS speeds and acceleration, although it’s almost 10g heavier and more expensive. Still, it’s simply the best wireless gaming mouse we’ve experienced. Read our Razer DeathAdder V3 Pro review.

Asus TUF Gaming M4 Air
The TUF Gaming M4 Air only weighs 50g, so if lightness is a priority for you, there aren’t many better. What’s more, we found its form very comfortable and its switches nice and responsive, if a little on the heavy side. We also rate it as the best mouse for CS:GO and CS2 in the lightweight category. What’s more, it’s considerably cheaper than the DeathAdder V3 HyperSpeed, although it’s wired-only. Read our Asus TUF Gaming M4 Air review.

How I tested the Razer DeathAdder V3 HyperSpeed

• Tested for several days
• Played games and browsed
• Plentiful PC gaming experience

I tested the DeathAdder V3 HyperSpeed for several days, during which time I used it for gaming and general browsing.

I played Counter-Strike 2, which is a stern test for any mouse, given it requires incredibly fast movements yet pinpoint accuracy when aiming.

I have been PC gaming for over a decade, and during that time I have experienced a great deal of mice ranging in price, size, and features. I have reviewed numerous models as well, including other Razer products.

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

Noise Luna Ring (Gen 1): One-minute review

Smart rings are having a moment, and the Noise Luna Ring (Gen 1) wants in. While it’s not technically the brand's first ring, this version is being positioned as its first official release. It’s entering a space packed with competition, from premium names like Oura to value picks like the Amazfit Helio. So, how does it hold up?

The Luna Ring gets quite a lot right. It’s comfortable to wear day and night, tracks sleep and health metrics well, and offers genuinely helpful insights in the app – I liked the explanations of why scores or stats were outside of my usual range and a little “Health Monitor” dashboard gives you a quick glance at your key vitals.

But it also feels like a work in progress. The app is packed with info, but the copy and UI still need refinement. The design isn’t as sleek as some rivals – my gold version looked a little chunky and plasticky – and the battery life is a little less than rivals. There are also some quirks, like a clunky AI chatbot and occasional syncing glitches.

That said, Noise seems to know this. A second-gen version is already on the way, with promised upgrades to charging, battery, stress tracking, and design. I’m already feeling pretty confident it’ll enter our best smart rings guide in a strong position.

However, that leaves the Gen 1 I’m reviewing here in a tricky spot. Because I liked it, but with Gen 2 on the horizon and stronger rivals already on shelves, it’s hard to recommend right now – unless you’re specifically avoiding subscriptions and are happy to support an evolving brand.

Noise Luna Ring (Gen 1) review: Price and availability

(Image credit: Noise Luna ring)

• Available now for $300 / around £234 / AU$500
• Pricier than a lot of the competition
• Comes in several colors

The Noise Luna Ring (Gen 1) is priced at $300 / around £234 / AU$500, and comes in silver, gold, matte black, rose gold, and shiny black.

It’s cheaper than the Oura Ring Gen 4, which starts at $349 / £349, though premium finishes cost more – and Oura requires a monthly subscription for full feature access. The Samsung Galaxy Ring is more expensive than both at $399 / £399 / AU$749.

However, it’s significantly more expensive than budget-friendly rivals, like the Amazfit Helio Ring (around $199.99 / £169 / AU$269), which I recently tested and rated highly as a more affordable choice.

While not as expensive as the more premium picks, it’s still bold pricing for a new player. And while the Luna Ring holds its own in some ways, it’s hard to justify that price when refinement and hardware polish fall just a little short.

• Value score: 3.5 / 5

Noise Luna Ring (Gen 1) review: Specifications Noise Luna Ring (Gen 1) review: Design

(Image credit: Noise Luna Ring review)

• 3-4g depending on the size you get
• A very comfortable fit
• Felt a tad less refined than rivals

The Luna Ring is lightweight and comfortable, even for sleep tracking – and that’s no small thing. I wore it 24/7 during testing and rarely noticed it was there.

That said, it’s a little chunkier than rivals like the Oura or Amazfit Helio rings, standing off my finger slightly more despite being the correct size. Only ever so slightly, but that’s still significant on a ring this size. I ended up wearing it on my index finger for this reason, where it felt the most balanced.

(Image credit: Noise Luna Ring)

I was sent the gold version, and personally, I wasn’t a fan. The shiny gold finish cheapened the look and made the ring feel plasticky. I think other colorways would be a better bet for most people and there are plenty to choose from here – though be warned that matte finishes do tend to scratch more easily in my experience.

As ever, design is subjective. I know a lot of people like the bold, gold and shiny look. But Luna’s overall build feels just a tad less premium than the top smart rings on the market, especially considering the price. It’s worth mentioning here that the Noise team tells us the Gen 2 version will be smaller and lighter.

• Design score: 3.5 / 5

Noise Luna Ring (Gen 1) review: Features

(Image credit: Noise Luna Ring)

• Loads of data tracked
• LunaAI assistant needs work
• Adequate workout tracking

The Luna Ring tracks a wide range of metrics from its tiny sensors, including sleep stages and sleep score, resting heart rate (RHR), respiratory rate, HRV (heart rate variability), blood oxygen (SpO2), temperature changes, stress, activity score, readiness score and more.

That’s everything you'd expect from a full-featured health tracker, and the Health Monitor dashboard is a particularly nice touch. It gives you a quick snapshot of how your core metrics are doing day to day, without needing to scroll through graphs. I found myself using it regularly, especially when I didn’t want to dive into the data.

The ring also includes basic workout tracking, with activity options like walking, running, cycling, football, and freestyle modes. It’s not built for serious training – no smart ring is yet – but the inclusion is still useful. You can also sync workouts from third-party apps via Google Fit and Apple Health.

Then there’s LunaAI, which is a chatbot-style assistant baked into the app. It’s clearly a flagship feature for the brand, but right now, it feels undercooked. It can provide explanations for sleep and recovery metrics, and even build basic workout plans. But when it told me I’d “exceeded my sleep by 27,690 seconds,” I wasn’t exactly blown away. Technically true, but not exactly meaningful, similar to the AI insights on Garmin Connect+. It’s more a glossary and content hub than a true AI assistant.

As for the app itself, I really liked it. The layout is intuitive, the calming colors are nice, and the home screen dashboard feels Oura-inspired in a good way. On the home screen you'll find everything you need to know about your day and how you’re doing. Then along the menu bar your data is divided into Sleep, Readiness and Activity, all of this is on the home page, but you can dig deeper in each of the dedicated sections.

My only bugbear with the app is the copy could use refinement. Some of the text sounds clunky and is oddly worded and also looks quite tiny, which takes the shine off what is otherwise a premium-feeling experience.

• Features score: 4 / 5

Noise Luna Ring (Gen 1) review: Performance

(Image credit: Noise Luna ring)

• Good sleep tracking
• Nice contextual insights
• Disappointing 3-4 days battery life

Overall, performance was solid, especially when it came to sleep tracking, which is clearly a key focus for the Luna Ring. It accurately picked up my sleep and wake times, even on restless nights (which many trackers have missed). You get detailed sleep stage breakdowns, insight into what’s affecting your score, and helpful trends over time. The sleep planner is also a great addition, letting you set sleep and wake targets to build a more consistent routine – perfect if you’re trying to reset your sleep habits.

Activity tracking is more of a mixed bag. There are several workout modes available, but none dedicated to strength training or yoga – my two go-to workouts. That said, the freestyle mode delivers decent data, including duration, calories burned, max and min heart rate, and a well-designed bar graph showing your time in heart rate zones. If more activity types were included, you'd likely get more accurate calorie data, but as a general log, it’s fine. Syncing with Apple Health or Google Fit helps fill in the gaps if you’re already using another fitness platform.

Accuracy overall was strong. I tested the Luna Ring alongside several other smart rings and wearables, and the data for heart rate and sleep consistently matched up. Step counts were slightly underreported at times, but never dramatically so.

Connectivity was decent once things were set up. I ran into a few syncing issues during setup and when the battery was running low, but after that it was mostly smooth sailing. Bluetooth pairing worked reliably, and the app refreshed with new data quickly.

One feature I genuinely appreciated was the contextual insights. When, for example, my temperature deviated from its usual range, the app didn’t just flash a warning – it explained what might cause the change and how to address it. This kind of guidance makes the Luna Ring feel smarter than many other wearables, which often highlight problems without offering any helpful next steps.

That said, the in-app advice's tone and wording could use some polishing to better match the premium feel Noise is aiming for. At times, the wording felt slightly robotic or abrupt. For example, when some of my data synced, the app flagged it with a red alert that simply said “Pay attention”, which felt vague and a bit cold, especially in that context.

(Image credit: Future / Becca Caddy)

Another time I received a “Proceed as planned” message after a strong readiness score. Technically accurate, but it lacked warmth or context, making the experience feel slightly jarring. I don’t expect emotional support from a wearable, but I do expect the language to feel well-considered and aligned with the rest of the experience. Right now, the tone just doesn’t quite land. Other wearables strike a better balance here.

Battery life, however, is one of the Luna Ring's weak spots. Luna claims 5–6 days, but I consistently got just under 4. That’s significantly shorter than the Oura Ring 4 (6 days), Ultrahuman Ring Air (6–7 days), and even the upcoming Samsung Galaxy Ring (up to 7 days). Battery life is crucial in a smart ring – the whole appeal is wearing it 24/7, and frequent charging breaks that flow. This is one of the areas the brand says it will improve in Gen 2, and it absolutely needs to.

Charging is handled via a small base, which requires placing the ring in a very specific position to connect. It’s not intuitive at first, but becomes second nature with regular use – still, a snap-on charger would be much easier.

• Performance: 4 / 5

(Image credit: Noise Luna Ring) Scorecard Should I buy the Noise Luna Ring (Gen 1)? Buy it if…

You’re looking for an Oura alternative without a subscription
It’s a little cheaper than the Oura, and you don’t need to pay to subscribe, which is a plus.

You want a ring that goes beyond basic stats
I felt like the explanations and info presented here could genuinely help me make positive changes rather than bombard me with stats.

You’re comfortable supporting a product that’s still evolving
Let’s be clear, it’s good. It just has that Gen 1 feel because, well, it is and a newer version is on the way soon.

Don’t buy it if…

You’re on a budget: There are cheaper smart rings that offer many of the same metrics and will give you a similar experience.

You’re not in a rush: A Gen 2 version is already on the way imminently with some design and feature upgrades that could address many of my issues with the Gen 1.

You expect premium hardware at this price: It doesn’t quite match up to the best rings on offer, but it’s not too far off.

Noise Luna Ring (Gen 1): Also consider

Oura Ring 4

A more refined smart ring experience, with great app design, color options, and accurate tracking. But it’s pricier – and you’ll need a subscription to unlock all the features.

Read our full Oura Ring 4 review

Amazfit Helio Ring

A surprisingly capable smart ring at a lower price point. It lacks some of the health insights of premium rings, but it’s a great option for fitness fans on a budget.

Read our full Amazfit Helio review

How I tested the Noise Luna Ring (Gen 1)

(Image credit: Noise Luna Ring)

• Paired with an iPhone 14 Pro
• Wore the ring 24/7
• Tested loads of wearables over 12+ years

I tested the Noise Luna Ring (Gen 1) for several weeks, paired with an iPhone 14 Pro. I wore it 24/7 – through outdoor runs, gym sessions, long workdays in coffee shops, evenings at home, and while sleeping. The only time I took it off was for charging and showers (even though it’s waterproof, I didn’t want to risk soap and shampoo interfering with the sensors).

I’ve tested dozens of wearables over the past decade, including smart rings from Oura, Ultrahuman, RingConn, Motiv, and more. Having worn so many, I’ve got a strong sense of what makes a smart ring truly useful – from design and comfort to performance, app quality, and long-term wearability.

• First reviewed in April 2025

• Read TechRadar's reviews guarantee

Sony WF-C710N: Two-minute review

Sony's WF-C710N earbuds find themselves in a similar spot to The White Album in 1968: you want to better the absolute barn-stormer that was Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band a mere year later? Good luck. But of course, the Beatles managed it (was it transcendental meditation, or was it simply a clean mind?). So, has Sony done the same with its update on the WF-C700N? Yes and no, Dear Prudence. And given that Sony actually had two years to work on its follow-up, that may not feel enough initially.

The model the C710N are based on topped our pick of the best noise-cancelling earbuds in the budget space for over a year following their release, until Nothing's (a)-suffixed set of buds came in and did almost everything the Sony buds did just that little bit better – and looked slightly classier doing it. And although there are improvements here, a few in-app foibles and initial pairing issues left me struggling to find a reason to pick the Sony WF-C710N over the rivals… until I tested the ANC.

Here, Sony has truly upped its game. On a packed commuter train, I drifted off into my own happy bubble of music. I genuinely didn't expect the blissfully quiet backdrop they served up. The uptick in ANC efficacy is almost certainly aided by the extra mic in each earpiece, but however Sony achieved it, it's commendable.

Also, (because I'm still talking about those mics), call quality is very good for the money here, thanks to Sony's new AI-enhanced voice pickup technology. So, if you regularly take calls on your earbuds, there's an extra value add.

The overall sound profile and fit? It's still good despite the size increase – but it's not better than the outgoing model (Sony has essentially said that little about the driver and acoustic setup changed), so if you've picked up the older set for a discount, you may be tempted to stick with them unless you need that improved ANC.

In fact, other than the much-improved noise cancellation, it's a case of incremental upgrades rather than anything headline-grabbing or ground-breaking.

Yes, there's now a 'Find Your Equalizer' tab, but it works by asking you to pick from a selection of pre-made sound profiles rather than dishing out any otoacoustic tests or splodges to denote where your hearing might be lacking, unlike JBL's Personi-Fi or Nothing Ear's hearing tests (although it's true that you have to pay a little more to get those). The two basic 'Which do you prefer?' tests offered by the WF-C710N don't feel quite as comprehensive, detailed, or involved as those rivals.

See the wires in the case? (Image credit: Future)

Also back for 2025 is Sony's entry-level DSEE upscaler, so Spotify streams will sound better, plus there's that Sony-special 360 Reality Audio support. However, since Tidal parted ways with the format, your only source options for listening to this particular spatial-audio-adjacent offering now are Amazon Music Unlimited and Nugs.net.

Do I still like the new transparent blue colorway now that I've tested it? Not as much as I'd wanted to. The shiny plastic avidly collects fingerprint smudges, and at the risk of stating the bleedin' obvious (as these cases have almost always been plastic, dear reader), this one feels overly plastic. It's also a little bigger than the older model. That said, Sony's more traditional matte black, off-white and pink colorways are available too.

For sound, there's no addition of LDAC, but they're still a solid listen with good volume and energy levels, albeit sacrificing a modicum of dynamic nuance, detail and sonic placement to get there. They're still good for the level, but that's my point, good is simply no longer great in budget 2025 noise-cancelling earbuds.

To really hammer it home: in 2023, when the WF-C710N's predecessor made its grand entrance, earbuds bearing these kinds of features had never been seen at that level. But the competition really upped its game in the following 24 months, didn't it? One can even buy inexpensive open earbuds with excellent ANC now (see the Honor Earbuds Open), something unheard of, even considered impossible, until very recently. So, the fact that these Sony earbuds fit well, boast slightly better stamina and offer auto-off isn't quite enough to trounce the competition these days. But the ANC? If you prioritise noise-nixing, that'll make up the difference…

Sony WF-C710N review: Price & release date

• Released on March 25, 2025
• Priced $119 / £100 / AU$189

Yes, Sony has won this territory before (see the April 2023-issue Sony WF-C700N I keep going on about), but that was before the excellent Nothing Ear (a) arrived, a year later in 2024.

The fact that Sony released these follow-up earbuds at the same MSRP as their older counterparts is welcome but unsurprising news: we've seen it with everything from AirPods to Bluetooth speakers. Why? Because competition is rife, and once-flagship tech (comprehensive ANC, wearer detection, EQ tweaks, spatial audio tech, customisable on-ear functions, and so on) keeps trickling down to entry-level products.

If you've done even a little research into this end of the market, you'll know the current class leader is the Nothing Ear (a) mentioned above, with the insanely cheap $30 / £30 / AU$70 JLab Go Pop ANC or even the $69 / £59 / AU$110 (approx.) Earfun Air 2 NC not far behind.

So have the few extra perks offered by the new WF-C710N – slightly better battery, an auto-off feature, improved call quality, a rudimentary equalizer test and much better noise cancellation – trounced the Nothings? Depending on your priorities, yes, but it's all about that last point…

See the mesh over the mic? (Image credit: Future) Sony WF-C710N review: Specs

(Image credit: Future) Sony WF-C710N review: Features

• Dual noise sensor tech (feedback and feedforward mics) for ANC
• Auto-off is a welcome addition
• AI-enhanced voice pickup for clearer calls

Let's start with the above bullet points: call-handling? It was good before, but it's even better now. That's thanks to the implementation of AI-enhanced voice pickup technology, which works a treat even on crowded, windy and rainy London Soho streets during rush hour (trust me on this one).

Wearer detection for auto-off is perhaps the biggest usability perk added this time around, which means music pauses when you remove one bud (or both) and resumes once you put it back in. It doesn't sound like a big deal, but once you're used to it, you'll always be reaching for buds that can do it.

OK, so Sony's 360 Reality Audio – 24 object-based channels arranged in a 360-degree soundstage (launched back in 2019) – isn't the big ticket feature it used to be, since few streaming platforms support it and Tidal waved goodbye to its support in July 2024.

As noted, Sony's Headphones Connect app is gone, but it's been replaced by the Sony Sound Connect app. Adaptive Sound Control still takes the wheel as far as noise profiles go, optimized according to what you're doing – yes, they know when you're 'Staying'. And although you can't manually up the noise cancellation levels on the fly (although you can tailor the ambient awareness on a slider from 1-20), if you tap the cog under 'Optimize switching for you', you can tailor each sound profile according to your actions. So if you want Adaptive ANC to kick in on your commute, here's how you do it.

That extra mic has paid dividends because the WF-C710N's dual noise sensor tech (feedback and feedforward mics) provides much more robust noise-cancellation performance. On a packed train from London to Dorset, I was struck by how cocooned in my music I felt.

Any omissions worth mentioning? Although there's multi-point to two devices now (you can toggle it off if you want, but why would you?), there's still no LDAC support. Why mention this? Because the WF-C710N's main rival, the Nothing Ear (a) do boast it.

Also, while there's now a 'Find Your Equalizer' tab in the app, it's a little basic compared to any hearing tests to create splodge-type graphs of your hearing profile you might have tried. Essentially, playing your choice of music, there are five profiles to pick from, and then a further four based on your initial pick. It's more than the older model offered, but given the lengths the competition is going to these days (see JBL, Nothing and Denon to name a few, and, of course, the AirPods Pro 2, for a surcharge), it feels a little basic. Yes, the WF-C710N are budget earbuds, but the Nothing Ear with their lengthy hearing tests are roughly the same price now…

• Features score: 4.5/5

(Image credit: Future) Sony WF-C710N review: Sound quality

• Agile, fun, energetic listen
• Minor treble distortion if we're being picky
• LDAC would be a great addition

The sound, as with the older option, is good for the money, but there are incremental gains to be had here. The opening keys in Grian Chatten's All of the People are textured and three-dimensional. There's a human quality to the depressing of each key that most entry-level earbuds cannot convey through the upper midrange.

Out of the box, the older WF-C700N feel just a little congested and treble-centric in direct comparison – although it took me a while to set up this comparative test, since once paired to either set of buds, my phone flat-out refused to pair to its siblings, and I'm still unsure why. Anyway, the Beatles' Helter Skelter is a great test of the stereo imaging, and with the C710N, drums sit dutifully in my right ear (until the fill, when the kick drum darts between each ear) as the driving bass sits in my left concha with pinpoint precision.

In more layered, complex and groove-heavy tracks (Michael Jackson's Billie Jean, for instance), timing and musicality are bang on across the frequencies. I can detect a minor shortfall in dynamic nuance to get all of that exuberance and volume – these are loud and proud earbuds, and for the most part, that's great news. There's just a small compromise to be made in the leading edges of lower-mids and bass notes, and just a shred of distortion through the treble, very occasionally.

Look, I'm nitpicking – and I'm better able to do it because the noise cancellation here provides such a glorious backdrop. Of course, you can tweak the sonic curve to your liking in the Sound Connect app, but it's important to note that, by default, these are zealous, unafraid earbuds. Compare them to the excellent Technics EAH-AZ100 and you'll get a greater rise and fall through each pensive, building musical passage in Dom Sigales' The Ghost is Me, with exhalations of breath, jagged keys, and waves of strings given an extra ounce of due diligence to be impactful. It's hardly a fair test given the price difference (the EAH-AZ100 retail for $299 / £259 / AU$479), but it's important to note that the sound is very good here for the money, rather than just very good, period.

• Sound quality score: 4.5/5

(Image credit: Future) Sony WF-C710N review: Design

• Bigger but still ergonomic earpieces
• Case is a little bigger – and a little cheap?
• Capacitive touch controls aren't very customisable

These are still some of the most comfortable earbuds I've had the pleasure of wearing (besides the aforementioned Technics), even though the buds and case are bigger this time around. While 4.6g to 5.4g may not sound like much of a size increase, it is noticeable. Given that the WF-C700N really were small, that's perhaps not such a bad thing, depending on your ears.

I still found them easy to fit. That said, the shinier plastic of my glass blue colorway did affect the in-ear security, and the right one fell out on a train. I don't think the fit was an issue, as they feel beautifully weighted and slipped easily into my ears with very little work. I think I just need a more matte, brushed plastic finish – and that is available.

See the difference in case (and earpiece) size, against the WF-C700N (Image credit: Future)

One potential bone of contention is the case: it's bigger – well, deeper – than the older WF-C700N case, and it feels a shade off high-end. Do I love the transparent finish? I'm not sure. Seeing the little red, yellow and black cables under the casework is novel, but the overall aesthetic feels a bit (dare I say it) cheap and cheerful, compared to the way Nothing has implemented transparent sections within its earbuds design language.

And the physical button is gone. I liked it, but it seems I'm in the minority. And to be honest, the new touch capacitive sensor is aided by a slightly larger concave top plate to help your finger find it, and it works fairly reliably.

My main gripe with this? You can now control volume in addition to playback, sound modes, and access to a virtual assistant, but a little more scope for customisation on what each tap does would be a huge bonus. Right now, the only way to up the volume a little is a quadruple press on the right earbud, and a quadruple press on the left lowers it just a tad. As you can probably imagine, these constant quick presses are hit-and-miss. Ah, well – and it hurts your tragus and external auditory meatus (the bit right before your ear canal) a little, after a while.

• Design score: 4/5

The case is quite a bit deeper than the previous model (Image credit: Future) Sony WF-C710N review: Value

• For ANC, there's real value-for-money here
• 360 Reality Audio isn't the draw it once was – LDAC would be excellent
• Nothing's products look and feel more premium

Before the Nothing Ear (a) arrived, with their LDAC and great audio quality, I'd have no issue recommending the Sony WF-C710N above all else. But times have changed. Nothing's earbuds are here, and they are impossible to ignore.

The design of the Sony WF-C710N is fine rather than groundbreaking, and the feature set is good, although 360 Reality Audio support is not the big draw it once was.

Then again, here I sit at our shared table-slash-desk, my partner hitting the keys of his MacBook Pro keyboard heavily, because he's under a tight deadline and is stressed. Can I hear him? Not really. And there's the value, folks – because I've never heard ANC this good for this money…

• Value score: 4.5/5

(Image credit: Future) Should I buy the Sony WF-C710N? Buy them if...

You need great ANC for budget money
These earbuds are some of the most gifted at noise-nixing as I've tried for the money, thanks to that new mic array.

You have an Amazon Music Unlimited account
Link Amazon Music Play Now (after taking photos of your ears, all guided by the app) and you unlock Sony's proprietary 360 Reality Audio for Sony's own spatial audio solution.

You like earbuds that pause the music when you take one out
The WF-C710N now have wearer detection, and you love to see it.

Don't buy them if...

You prioritize on-ear volume control
You can do it, but you still need to press each bud four times quickly to get an incremental increase or decrease. It's a bit much.

You're expecting buds the same size as the C700N
There's a difference: the C710N are a little bigger and heavier owing to that extra mic and capacitive touch plate

You want LDAC
No dice, sadly. You'll need to look to Nothing's Ear (a)

Sony WF-C710N review: Also consider

Nothing Ear (a)
The battery life isn't as good, and the ANC is close but no cigar. But if you need a better level of dust- and waterproofing and want LDAC audio support, these buds are oh-so-stylish and just slightly cheaper than the Sony WF-C710N.
Read our Nothing Ear (a) review for more information

Sony WF-C510
What if you want quality Sony sound in Sony's smallest earbuds (smaller than the WF-C710N) and even better battery life, because you don't care about ANC? This is the model you need, and you'll save money. But just to be clear, the noise cancellation is the WF-C710N is very good… 
See our Sony WF-C510 review for the full scoop

How I tested the Sony WF-C710N

(Image credit: Future)

• Tested for two weeks, compared against the Sony WF-C700N and Technics EAH-AZ100
• Used in the office, walking through London, on a train, and at home
• Listened to Apple Music Lossless tracks, Qobuz, Deezer and Spotify on an iPhone 12 Pro and a MacBook Pro

As always when testing portable earbuds, the Sony WF-C710N became my musical companions for two weeks – after a thorough 48-hour run-in period.

They accompanied me to work (walking brusquely to Weymouth station at an ungodly hour; boarding a train to London Waterloo; and at the office – yes, I really do this) and throughout a long weekend at Seaham, collecting sea glass from the stunning County Durham shoreline.

To better test the comfort and battery life claims of the Sony WF-C710N, I wore them throughout the working day on numerous occasions – and as you can see from the above over-share, my working days can be long.

To get through it all, I listened to various playlists (spanning everything from Korn to Dom Sigalas) on Apple Music and Tidal, but also to podcasts and albums on Qobuz and Deezer – and YouTube tutorials (mostly about making music on Cubase and using Cakewalk, since you ask) from my MacBook Pro.

I’ve been testing audio products for well over five years now. As a dancer, aerialist and musical theater performer in another life, sound quality, fit and user experience have always taken priority for me personally – but having heard how wonderful ANC can be when done well, I know what to look for.

Read more about how we test

• First reviewed: April 2025

Oppo Reno 13 Pro two-minute review

Before even picking up the test unit for this Oppo Reno 13 Pro review, I was ready to draft a headline comparing it to the recent Google Pixel 9a – after all, I spent much of my Reno 12 Pro review comparing that phone to the Pixel 8a, as their similar release window and price makes them natural Android rivals.

Last year, the victory easily went to Oppo, but in a surprise and potentially appeal-ruining blunder, the company has shot itself in the foot with the Reno 13 Pro.

First, some context: the Reno series of smartphones is the mid-range offering from Chinese manufacturer Oppo, and the 13 Pro is 2025’s top-end member of the family. It arrives alongside a non-Pro model, the Oppo Reno 13, and an even cheaper equivalent in the form of the Oppo Reno 13F. For all the flashy features of Oppo’s expensive Find X8 Pro or folding Find N5, I’ve long preferred its Reno models, given how often they've shaken up the mid-range Android market.

Unfortunately, that preference streak ends here: the Oppo Reno 13 Pro has seen a surprising increase in price over its predecessor – I’m not talking mere pennies, but a whopping £150 in the UK and AU$300 in Australia. Oppo sells full-blown phones in its A series that cost less than that price hike!

It’s hard, then, to compare the Reno 13 Pro to the Google Pixel 9a (which hasn’t seen a similar price hike this year), given that the Oppo device is significantly more expensive. This year’s victory goes to Google, it seems.

As a butchered Spider-Man quote goes, with great financial cost comes great expectations, and some of the budget trappings of the Reno family feel bizarre in a phone that’s now only a spitting distance from the Samsung Galaxy S25 in terms of price.

For instance, Reno phones are almost always stuffed with pre-installed bloatware, unwanted third-party apps, and games at first boot-up. That’s still the case in the 13 Pro, despite its shiny new price tag. Similarly, the lack of a microSD card is a notable omission for a phone that you may feasibly expect to use for professional work.

Lots of my issues with the Reno 13 Pro stem from this price-related disappointment, but in most departments, it's a great phone – it’d just be a Google Pixel-killer if it were cheaper.

In the camera department, for instance, the Reno 13 Pro has perhaps the best zoom capabilities of any mid-range phone, boasting 3.5mm optical zoom and three 50MP snappers (plus one 8MP ugly duckling). It brings some useful modes and features, too, including the novel underwater photography mode. If you like going swimming with your phone – and if you do, why? – this will be an interesting device for you.

The Reno 13 Pro is also really powerful, fast to charge (it boasts wireless charging), has a big and high-res display, and benefits from some of the best water resistance of any mobile on the market (as you’d hope, given the underwater photography feature).

There’s no doubt about it – this is a good smartphone. However, it could have been a great one if it wasn’t for the meaty price hike. I can see that high number putting some buyers off, and if you’re one of them, I don't blame you. Thankfully, the Reno 12 Pro is still being sold in most places.

Oppo Reno 13 Pro review: price and availability

(Image credit: Future)

• Sells for £649 / $1,299 (around $830)
• Big price hike over Reno 12 Pro
• Available UK and AU, not US

Like most Oppo phones, the Reno 13 Pro rolled out slowly across the world, with this model first arriving in late 2024. In the UK and Australia, it went on sale in April 2025, but it hasn't been released in the US yet – and based on precedent, it likely never will.

You can pick up the phone for £649 / $1,299 (around $830), so it’s at the upper end of the mid-range Android phone market. The non-Pro model costs £499 / AU$899 (around $640), while the Reno 12 Pro went for £499 / AU$999 (around $640), so there’s a serious price jump between generations.

That price hike is quite a surprise, and it ruins the Oppo’s ability to honestly rival the Google Pixel 9a, which starts at $499 / £499 / AU$849. Long have the Reno Pro mobiles trounced their Pixel a-series contemporaries by offering better specs at a similar price, but that streak ends with the Reno 13 series, as it’s no longer comparable in terms of price.

And before you ask: the standard Reno 13 misses out on some of the best features of the Pro, like its zoom camera, big display, and wireless charging, so it’s not a viable Pixel rival.

Oppo Reno 13 Pro review: specs Oppo Reno 13 Pro review: design

(Image credit: Future)

• Thin and light Android phone
• Comes in lilac or black
• IP69 protection

While the Oppo Reno 13 Pro doesn’t redefine the mid-range Android look that every manufacturer seems to trot out on autopilot these days, it does perfect it to a tee.

This is a thin and light device: its dimensions are 162.8 x 76.6 x 7.6mm, and it weighs just 195g, so it feels slender despite its big screen. The bezel is tiny, as is the front-facing camera cut-out, so the screen feels like it takes over the entire front of the device.

The back of my lilac model has a gently textured shine which blossoms in light (I didn’t test the other version, a black model). I like the look, even if most people will hide it in a case straight away.

The phone is so thin that you’d be forgiven for being surprised that it even has space for a USB-C charging port on the bottom – and there was apparently no room for a 3.5mm headphone jack or anywhere to put a microSD card.

On the right edge of the Reno 13 Pro, you’ve got a power button and volume rocker. Both were easily within reach for me, as was the in-screen fingerprint scanner, which worked reliably. The back of the phone has a camera bump for the three lenses and a fairly large flash module. It sticks out enough that the phone has no hope of staying flat on a table.

A pretty rare spec that Oppo has utilized in the Reno 13 Pro is IP69 protection. This standard has the same total dust protection that phones with the more common IP68 rating have, and also the same ability to survive being immersed in water for half an hour, but it has an additional assurance against high-pressure water jets and steam. Most devices that have an IP69 rating are intended to be used alongside medical or food preparation, and so few people will need it in their smartphone, but it’s certainly a nice layer of protection to have.

• Design score: 3.5 / 5

Oppo Reno 13 Pro review: display

(Image credit: Future)

• 6.83 inches, 1272 x 2800 resolution
• Gorilla Glass 7i provides protection
• 120Hz refresh, high max brightness

The Oppo Reno 13 Pro has a 6.83-inch screen. That’s big, even by mid-range Android standards, and it’s one of the largest displays you’ll find on a phone without moving into Ultra or Pro Max territory.

The resolution is 1272 x 2800 or FHD+, which is pretty standard on smartphones these days. The refresh rate goes up to 120Hz, though by default it’s on an automatic mode that changes it based on your use, and I’d recommend sticking to this for battery life reasons.

Like its predecessor, the Reno 13 Pro has an AMOLED display with a nice, high 1,200 nits max brightness, support for HDR10+, and a color gamut of over a billion colors. Those are important specs for games and TV shows to look good on a mobile, for sure, and this device ticks all the boxes in that department.

Continuing the ‘protection’ theme from the Design section, the glass of the screen is Corning Gorilla Glass 7i. The unique selling point of this panel is that it’s more durable and scratch- and drop-proof, something which I (accidentally) tested quite a bit during the review period.

• Display score: 3.5 / 5

Oppo Reno 13 Pro review: software

(Image credit: Future)

• Android 15 with Oppo's ColorOS 15 over the top
• Bloatware problem
• Familiar interface to Android users

As with most of its contemporary Android phones, the Oppo Reno 13 Pro comes with Android 15 pre-installed. Oppo has promised that the phone will get at least 3 years of updates, a restrained number in the ‘Android updates arms race’, but it’s better than nothing.

Layered over the top is Oppo’s Android fork, ColorOS, or ColorOS 15 to give it the full name. This version’s unique features include a plethora of pre-installed tools with the suffix ‘AI’ slapped at the end, like an image clarity upscaler and deblurring, plus a few other features you’ve seen before, like AI summaries, AI text replies, and text-to-speak from web pages. The last of that number is, at least, a handy accessibility feature.

Mostly, though, this is an Android fork that’ll feel familiar if you use any other manufacturers’ equivalent – I don’t use an Oppo as my day-to-day device, but the Reno 13 Pro's software still felt easy to jump straight into; I knew where all the features, customizations, and settings were.

Usually in the software section of Oppo reviews, I start by complaining about the bloatware; the fact that I wanted to vary my structure up doesn’t mean that it’s not a huge problem here. When you boot up the phone, you’re faced with an ungodly number of pre-installed Oppo apps, third-party services, and random games. Cue ten minutes of frantic deleting if you want your new smartphone to feel yours.

Bloatware is an infuriating but stalwart aspect of cheap and mid-range mobiles, but when you’re paying a premium price for a phone, you’re allowed to expect better.

• Software score: 3 / 5

Oppo Reno 13 Pro review: cameras

(Image credit: Future)

• 50MP main, 50MP telephoto and 8MP ultra-wide cameras, 50MP for selfies
• Iffy AI features
• Small but appreciated improvements over predecessor

The debate about whether the Reno 13 Pro still counts as a mid-range phone notwithstanding, Oppo has consistently dominated the market for inexpensive camera phones, and it’s continued its lead with this new model.

Specs-wise, the Reno 13 Pro is mostly the same as its predecessor: you’ve got a 50MP main camera, an 8MP ultra-wide camera, a 50MP telephoto camera, and a 50MP selfie camera. The main improvement is in that second snapper: it now has a 3.5x lens, and given how rare any kind of zoom lens is on a budget phone, that’s an achievement.

Zoom lenses are primarily used to close the distance from a far subject without relying on digital zoom, which simply crops an image and loses resolution quickly. But they’re also popular for photographers thanks to the depth-of-field they create on closer subjects, and the Reno 13 Pro is great for photography like that as a result.

Smaller but noticeable differences abound in the Reno 13 Pro: images are just as bright and bold as you’ve come to expect from a Reno, but there’s a little more detail in darkness, a little less grain in low-light areas, and a little more dynamic range to differentiate similar colors. The presence of something called a ‘color spectrum sensor’ may help in this area, or it could be better optimization and post-processing.

(Image credit: Future)

A few rough edges affect image quality slightly, and the more I used the Oppo, the more it became evident that this wasn’t quite a Samsung Galaxy or iPhone rival. The autofocus was rather unreliable, while Portrait mode returned mixed results in the bokeh department and zoomed-in images could sometimes lack quality.

I’m always excited to see the new photography modes introduced in camera phones, and the Oppo Reno 13 Pro didn’t let me down. It has an underwater mode which lets you utilize the mobile’s water protection for shots in the sea or a swimming pool (or in any other body of liquid, I suppose). It deactivates the on-screen button, so you have to use the volume rocker to take photos or videos, and when you’re done, it vibrates the phone to remove moisture. It’s a novel feature, and while it’s terrifying to dunk your phone into any kind of liquid, it did seem to do the job when I stuck my review sample in a container of water.

Beyond that, there’s the standard assortment of photo modes: standard, Portrait, night, and panorama. Video recording goes up to 4K/60fps and video modes include slow-mo, time-lapse, and dual-view.

The phone’s Photos app brings a few AI modes to help remove background people, remove reflections, and enhance clarity. The main one is obviously AI eraser, an answer to Google’s equivalent feature, but I wasn’t impressed by the results in the Oppo – it often failed to remove people, and when it succeeded, it did so by creating an obviously artificial background that looked worse than the offending photobombers.

• Camera score: 4 / 5

Oppo Reno 13 Pro camera samples Image 1 of 8

A picture of blossom taken at 3.5x zoom. (Image credit: Future)Image 2 of 8

A picture of a flower taken at 1x zoom. (Image credit: Future)Image 3 of 8

A lake landscape taken at 0.6x zoom. (Image credit: Future)Image 4 of 8

The previous lake landscape captured at 1x zoom. (Image credit: Future)Image 5 of 8

The previous lake landscape photographed at 3.5x zoom. (Image credit: Future)Image 6 of 8

A photo of two trees captured at 1x zoom. (Image credit: Future)Image 7 of 8

A daffodil photographed at 1x zoom. (Image credit: Future)Image 8 of 8

A selfie taken on the front-facing camera in Portrait mode. (Image credit: Future) Oppo Reno 13 Pro: performance and audio

(Image credit: Future)

• Mid-range Dimensity 8350 chipset
• 12GB RAM, 512GB Storage
• No headphone jack, Bluetooth 5.4 and stereo speakers

The Oppo Reno 13 Pro comes with the MediaTek Dimensity 8350 chipset, a nice solid mid-range chipset that marks a pronounced improvement over its already-decent predecessor.

Multi-core benchmark tests for the new Reno on Geekbench returned an average score of 4042, which is over twice as high as the scores achieved by the 12 Pro’s Dimensity 7300 Energy – that’s less an iterative update and more a much better chipset.

As a result, the Reno 13 Pro is a dab hand at gaming and handling photo editing apps. It’s not the most powerful phone on the market, with some budget gaming phones getting scores in the 6000s, but it’ll do everything you need it to with aplomb.

The version of the Reno 13 Pro on sale in the UK and Australia has 12GB RAM and 512GB storage; in some regions, you can also get 16GB and anything between 256GB and 1TB storage, but not in the regions we cover.

Briefly mentioning audio: there’s no 3.5mm headphone jack, but the Reno 13 Pro supports Bluetooth 5.4. The on-board stereo speakers aren’t amazing, but they’re par for the course for phone speakers.

• Performance score: 3.5 / 5

Oppo Reno 13 Pro review: battery life

(Image credit: Future)

• Big 5,800mAh battery
• Lasts for about two days of use
• 80W wired charging, 50W wireless

The Oppo Reno 13 Pro boasts a bigger battery than its predecessor, in line with market shifts that are making the 5,000mAh power packs of yesteryear look svelte. Instead, the 13 Pro has a 5,800mAh power pack, which roughly lasted for a day and a half during my testing, or two days if I used the phone sparingly.

The phone's charging speed is the same as last year's model, at 80W, which is nice and fast without being too fast (and by that I mean, speedy enough that you invariably damage your battery health by using it). Also back on the Reno 13 Pro is the ability to charge other gadgets by plugging them into your phone using a USB cable – this is really handy for people who need to charge their earbuds or smartwatch on the go.

New on the Reno 13 Pro is a surprisingly fast 50W wireless charging capability. That’s a premium feature that you don’t often see in mid-range mobiles, especially at such a high speed. However, a word of warning: the camera bump means you can’t put the phone totally flat on surfaces, which meant I could wirelessly power up the device on my charger.

• Battery score: 4 / 5

Oppo Reno 13 Pro review: value

(Image credit: Future)

With the Oppo Reno 13 Pro, you’re basically getting what you pay for: decent specs at a mid-range price.

I’m sad to have to write that, though, because Oppo Reno phones usually knock it out of the park in the value section. Instead, the Reno 13 Pro gets a passing grade and nothing more.

You can get almost-as-good phones for much less, including the Reno 12 Pro. And given that bona fide flagship smartphones only cost a small amount less these days, people who aren’t on a tight budget don’t have to pay that much more to get better.

• Value score: 3 / 5

Should you buy the Oppo Reno 13 Pro? Buy it if...

You're a photographer on a budget
Want the best camera phone that won't break the bank? Look no further than the Reno 13 Pro.

You carry around multiple gadgets
The Reno's reverse charging feature is really handy for those who constantly forget to charge their earbuds.

You need a well-protected phone
Between its Gorilla Glass display and IP69 rating, this phone is well protected against the elements.

Don't buy it if...

You hate bloatware
There's no shame, we all do. If you don't think you can put up with it, the Oppo isn't the phone for you.

You're on a tight budget
If you're looking for a truly affordable phone, then you'll need to look elsewhere, because this mid-ranger is verging on the premium market in price.

Oppo Reno 13 Pro review: Also consider

If the Oppo Reno 13 Pro's price hike has given you cause for concern, here are some other handsets you could consider.

Oppo Reno 12 Pro
Oppo's last-gen mobile has a lesser zoom camera, a weaker chipset, and a smaller screen, but it's a lot cheaper and is very similar in many ways to the newer model.

Read our full Oppo Reno 12 Pro review

Google Pixel 9a
The Reno's natural competitor may have no zoom camera, a much smaller screen, and slower charging, but its software is cleaner and it costs a significant amount less.

Read our full Google Pixel 9a review

Samsung Galaxy S25
It's a little bit more expensive, but Samsung's newest flagship isn't that much pricier than the Reno 13 Pro, and it feels more premium by comparison.

Read our full Samsung Galaxy S25 review

How I tested the Oppo Reno 13 Pro

(Image credit: Future)

• Review test period = 2 weeks
• Testing included = Everyday usage, including web browsing, social media, photography, video calling, gaming, streaming video, music playback
• Tools used = Geekbench 6, Geekbench ML, GFXBench, native Android stats

I used the Oppo Reno 13 Pro for about two weeks before I started writing this review.

To test it, I used it as my normal phone. That means I played games, took photos, texted, and streamed lots of music with it, while seeing how well the battery performed as I did so.

I also tried some 'lab' tests, which included benchmarking, charging testing, and dunking the phone in a jug of water to see if it would take photos, or immediately get wrecked.

I come to this review having spent over six years writing and testing tech for TechRadar, with plenty of Oppo phones (including the first-gen Reno) among the devices I've reviewed.

Read more about how we test

First reviewed April 2025

Hori Racing Wheel Apex for PlayStation: One-minute review

I’m glad that the Hori Racing Wheel Apex for PlayStation exists. When it comes to the PlayStation 5, there just aren’t all that many budget PS5 racing wheel options available. But the Apex is one I can just about recommend for those not wanting to shell out on some of the best racing wheels including the pricey Logitech G923 or the Logitech G Pro Racing Wheel.

The Hori Racing Wheel Apex for PlayStation costs significantly less than either of those products. And while I was generally happy with the performance it provides - not to mention the ease of setup - the concessions made to hit its low price point are immediately apparent.

Much like the Nintendo Switch-facing Hori Mario Kart Racing Wheel Pro Deluxe (with which the Apex has many similarities including its chassis and overall performance), build quality leaves much to be desired. You’re getting an overtly plasticky build here, exacerbated by a pair of unsatisfyingly weightless pedals.

Force feedback is also off the table, which will likely be a deal breaker for players looking to purchase a racing wheel for that added level of immersion and feel. But if you can get over these cutbacks and are just looking for an inexpensive steering wheel for Gran Turismo 7, F1 24, and more, you’ll still find an acceptable racing experience with the Hori Racing Wheel Apex for PlayStation.

(Image credit: Future) Hori Racing Wheel Apex for PlayStation: Price and availability

The Hori Racing Wheel Apex for PlayStation is available to buy now at Hori’s website for $119.99 / £99.99. That’s just a touch higher than the Hori Mario Kart Racing Wheel Pro Deluxe ($109.99 / £89.99) and firmly places it in the budget category. Especially in the UK where it’s difficult to find a decent racing wheel under that £100 mark.

The key thing to note here is that while much more affordable than mid-range plug-and-play options like the Logitech G923 or the Thrustmaster T300RS GT Edition, you can expect features to be decidedly stripped back here. If you can afford pricier options like these, they are worth considering if you’d like features like force feedback and better overall build quality.

Hori Racing Wheel Apex for PlayStation: Specs Hori Racing Wheel Apex for PlayStation: Design and features

Hori has used the Apex’s chassis before, chiefly with the Mario Kart Racing Wheel Pro Deluxe for Nintendo Switch. If you’ve seen that wheel, then you’ve essentially seen the Apex, too. The key difference here, naturally, is that the Apex is emblazoned with PlayStation’s logo and has a PlayStation-adjacent button layout.

Some button placements have shifted, too. On the Switch wheel, the ZL and ZR trigger buttons were found on the steering wheel itself. On the Apex, the left and right shoulder and trigger buttons are all lined up above the D-pad and face buttons respectively. There are also dedicated L3 and R3 buttons on the Apex, too.

(Image credit: Future)

The wheel itself is the best thing about the Apex in terms of design. The textured grips feel nice in the hands and ensure sturdy, non-slip play sessions. The flappy paddle gear switches behind these grips are significantly less refined, though, with a flimsy plastic build that feels like they could snap easily after long-term usage.

That same flimsiness also applies to the pedals, which are the same here as they were with the Mario Kart wheel. While they mostly get the job done, they (alongside the included clip-on footrest) have an overtly plastic and lightweight build, meaning they can easily slide around on harder surfaces.

The wheelbase, thankfully, is much sturdier and has a nice weight to it. You’ve also got two options here when it comes to securing the base in place; a clamp and a set of suction cups. You should avoid using the latter unless you lack a surface that you can easily clamp the wheel to. As with the Mario Kart wheel, I found the suction cups offered little to no purchase for the wheel on my desk. The included clamp, meanwhile, gets the job done just fine.

Hori Racing Wheel Apex for PlayStation: Performance

Despite my quibbles with some design and feature aspects, I can’t fault the Hori Racing Wheel Apex for PlayStation much when it comes to overall performance. The experience you’re getting here is far from mindblowing, especially thanks to the lack of force feedback, but it’s still more than up to the task of providing a decent wheel feel for less, offering robust value for money

I tested the Hori Racing Wheel Apex for PlayStation across PS5 and PC racing games, including Gran Turismo 7, EA Sports WRC, and F1 24. It’s clearly designed for PlayStation consoles first, as when loading into GT7, the wheel was ready to go with a preset control layout in place.

(Image credit: Future)

On PC, via XInput, some customization was required in F1 24 as the wheel wasn’t recognized in-game by default. In cases like this, you will need to set your own custom control layout. Thankfully there were no issues here, with buttons and steering all recognized as inputs without fuss.

I do miss the wider rotations available on mid-range racing wheels. The Hori Apex caps out just 270 degrees, which means it’s not best suited to serious simmers like iRacing, Assetto Corsa EVO, or indeed Euro Truck Simulator 2. But you should get by just fine in more casual friendly racers like GT7 and F1 24.

Should I buy the Hori Racing Wheel Apex for PlayStation?

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

You’re on a budget or buying for a younger player
It’s as simple as that. If you can’t / won’t buy a more expensive mid-range to premium racing wheel - or you’re buying for a kid - the Hori Apex is good value for money.

You want an easy, plug-and-play experience
Many pricier wheels - particularly direct drive models - usually require a more setup. By comparison, the Apex just requires you to hook it up to a console or PC via USB and you’re good to go. It’s really as easy as that.

Don't buy it if...

You want a more immersive experience
A lack of force feedback is understandable given the Apex’s price, but it does mean that you lose a lot of that authentic racing feel here. A limited 270-degree turning angle also hurts in this regard.

Also consider...

If the Hori Racing Wheel Apex for PlayStation isn’t quite doing it for you, have a look at these two PS5-compatible alternatives.

Thrustmaster T248
A bit of an old dog as far as racing wheels go, but one that’s nonetheless reliable and another solid budget pick. While pricier overall, the T248 does offer basic force feedback and a novel on-wheel display. 900 degrees of rotation is also fantastic for a wide variety of sim racers.

Read our Thrustmaster T248 review

Logitech G923
Arguably the first name in PS5 racing wheels, the Logitech G923 rules the roost even years after its initial launch. With fantastic build quality and immersive force feedback, it’s the mid-range plug-and-play racing wheel we recommend first for PS5 players.

Read our Logitech G923 review

How I tested the Hori Racing Wheel Apex for PlayStation

• Tested for one week
• Tested across PS5 and PC
• Compared with the Hori Mario Kart Racing Wheel Pro Deluxe

I tested the Hori Racing Wheel Apex for PlayStation over the course of a week. During that time, I hooked the wheel up to both PS5 and PC to test a variety of racing games including Gran Turismo 7, F1 24, and EA Sports WRC. While a lack of force feedback and a limited rotation means it’s not the most ideal for sim racers, I did find the Apex to be a good fit for arcade racers like Tokyo Xtreme Racer.

Read more about how we test

First reviewed March 2025

OneOdio Studio Max 1: Two-minute review

According to friends of mine who've tried it, and a quick Google check to see if they know what they’re talking about, the best headphones for DJs (and other kinds of live music performers, by all accounts) are wired ones. Why? Latency – going wireless incurs a lag, and that's just not OK when you're building a set or trying to keep to a beat. But all of this is something OneOdio seems set on challenging with its new Studio Max 1 DJ headphones.

These new wireless cans aren’t aiming for our list of the best wireless headphones, but instead aim to provide musicians with a tempting wireless rival to the current wired hegemony – with the option to go back to wired if you'd like to. So, a sort of best wired headphones hybrid proposition, if you will.

In many ways they work, with a range of useful features and some handy in-box extras that you don’t see in many rivals. However, TechRadar is first and foremost a consumer website and for everyday non-DJ cans – or even people who want an audio solution for work and for play – and the Studio Max 1 don’t cut the mustard I'm afraid.

The primary issue is that the headphones just don’t sound good. Audio is oddly crunchy and with overblown bass that drowns out most everything else, and treble is so weak that even spoken-word audio doesn’t sound great.

The Studio Max 1 are also a little tiresome to set up, with a Bluetooth pairing process that’s a bit confusing and a design that needs some untangling when you use them, despite the lack of cables.

But there’s a lot to like here. OneOdio isn’t just giving you a pair of headphones in the box but several different cables (the cans have multiple ports) as well as a wireless transmitter to give you much further range for Bluetooth. For many users, the inclusion of this transmitter is all that it’ll take to make the Studio Max a must-buy; cutting the cable gives DJs a lot more freedom anyway, and the transmitter gives you even longer range.

A further potential downside of wireless over wired DJ headphones is that they need recharging, unlike wired ones. However OneOdio has given the Studio Max 1 such a big battery life that it lasts a whopping 120 hours between charges, a figure so high that it dwarfs even its longest-lasting rivals. Honestly, if battery life is important to you and you’re not a DJ, it still might make these cans a great buy.

These fantastic features aren’t quite enough to offset the poor audio quality in terms of my star rating for this review, but they'll definitely give some buyers a reason to ignore my rating and pick up the OneOdio Studio Max 1 anyway.

OneOdio Studio Max 1 review: Price and release date

(Image credit: Future)

• Released in February 2025
• Sell for $169.99 / £135 / AU$275

The OneOdio Studio Max 1 were announced in December 2024, and were released a few months later in February 2025.

You can pick up the headphones for $169.99 / £135 / AU$275, which is a little north of some of our favorite Bluetooth headphones but a reasonable price when you consider what comes in the box: there’s a carry bag, a USB-C to USB-C charging cable, 3.5mm-3.5mm audio cable, 3.5mm-6.35mm audio cable, 6.35mm audio adaptor and special Bluetooth transmitter. Yes, it's all included in that upfront cost.

The world of wireless DJ headphones features few competitors so far, and OneOdio’s offering is relatively affordable compared to, say, the AIAIAI TMA-2 which costs $300 / £250 (roughly AU$500). Of course, DJs or musicians can also find many worthy offerings by heading over to our list of the best headphones, but they won’t all have the full range of jacks and features.

Here's the thing: for accessories and functionality, there's value here. The problem is, headphones need to sound good first and foremost – ideally to anyone who listens, whether pro mixer or dedicated music lover. And as we'll see, that's the main issue with the OneOdio Studio Max: I don't think they'll appeal to either listener.

OneOdio Studio Max 1 review: Specs OneOdio Studio Max 1 review: Features

(Image credit: Future)

• Impressive 120-hour battery life
• Myriad connectivity options
• No ANC or app (but that's not really the point)

Let’s start with the OneOdio Studio Max 1’s best feature: its battery life. Stamina here stretches to a whopping 5 days of listening time. That’s right, days and not hours – OneOdio puts the figure at 120 hours.

That’s by far one of the longest battery lives you’ll find on wireless headphones, making this a fantastic pick for all kinds of users who may be unavailable to charge (or to remember to charge) their headphones regularly.

Certainly helping that battery life, but not helping all listeners, is the lack of any kind of noise cancellation in the Studio Max 1 (beyond the natural damping and passive isolating effect of the ear pads).

Given that you may want to use the DJ headphones in, say, busy music-filled halls where you’d want to cut away audience and reverb and projected music to hear just your turntables, it feels an odd choice in 2025 – although it's true that traditional DJ cans don't come bearing ANC. The thing is, it also makes these headphones a little less appealing for everyday listeners, although again, hybrid users will likely look to all the other things they can do that others can't.

(Image credit: Future)

So back to the Studio Max’s unique features, then: in the box OneOdio has included something called the Transmitter M1. You plug this into your musical instrument or DJ deck to greatly extend the Bluetooth connection range, and I can see this being useful in many a professional or casual situation. It also lets you plug into devices that don’t have on-board Bluetooth like guitar pedals, certain DJ decks and, very usefully for me, custom-build PCs which don’t have Bluetooth adaptors.

Also helping connectivity is a feature which OneOdio calls Rapid WiLL+, and it’s basically an improved latency for everyday Bluetooth connection. That’s not its only connection option though as the headphones, as mentioned, have a 3.5mm and 6.25mm jack as well as in-box cables to use them. There are a plethora of connection options available, making these really adaptable headphones.

Bluetooth users beware though: I found the Studio Max hair-pullingly annoying to set up via the standard in the first instance, due to (as I found out later) the headphones defaulting to pairing in a different mode. I never normally say this, but you’ll need to keep two eyes on the in-box instruction manual to make sure you set this up properly.

If you’re using your Studio Max 1 alongside a smartphone or tablet, you might miss the lack of a companion app and any of the features it might bring (an equalizer, touch control customization, visual indicator of battery life, etc). Almost all the features of these headphones boast are musician-friendly ones, and although notable and niche, the Studio Max 1 do therefore lack certain perks mere mortals may have become used to – and I do mean those you'd find in an app.

• Features score: 4/5

OneOdio Studio Max 1 review: Design

(Image credit: Future)

• Bulky body
• Many ports
• Many more buttons

The Studio Max 1 are rather large 'I'm the DJ' headphones – as far as I can recall, they’re the first headphones I’ve ever tested which I could see in my peripheral when worn normally. So don’t expect svelte little things, these are industrial-strength and industrial-sized.

The Studio Max 1 are big over-ear headphones with a padded headband and thick padded cups that tip the scales at 350g. Something I grew to really appreciate about them is how moveable they are, making them easy to fold for a bag, fit on different heads or listen with just one ear pressed against the corresponding driver: each cup rotates across 90-degrees inward to fold as well as 180 degrees on the x-axis and almost a full 360 degrees of tilt.

This did get a little confusing sometimes when I wanted to quickly listen to music, yet had to spend ages fiddling about and rotating cups, but I’m still in support of it.

(Image credit: Future)

The OneOdio take quite a lot of getting used to, and that’s because of how many different ports and buttons the headphones have. On the left cup you’ve got the USB-C charging port and the 6.25mm jack – so far, so simple. However, on the right side we’ve got the 3.5mm jack as well as a volume up button, a power button, a volume down button and another icon which simply says ‘B’ that I constantly forgot the function for (it’s for changing pairing modes).

When listening to music, I’d find it impossibly hard to feel out which of these little plastic stumps was for volume, and I quickly decided to stick to my input device’s volume buttons instead.

I couldn’t find an IP rating for the Studio Max 1 – they’re not exactly streamlined enough for swimming, but it’s something to bear in mind if you’re DJing at, say, a pool party or foam party (in case you take a time machine back to the 90s).

• Design score: 3/5

OneOdio Studio Max 1 review: Sound quality

(Image credit: Future)

• Tinny-sounding audio
• Overwhelming bass
• One issue better, one worse with wired audio

Given the range of features and the target audience of live musicians on a budget, you can begin to understand that perhaps connectivity was key and music quality wasn’t the most important aspect when delivering the OneOdio Studio Max 1 to meet a brief. I need to say that to get you in a forgiving mood, because these headphones don’t sound great.

The one thing going for the Studio Max 1 is a meaty amount of bass, so if that’s all you care about, then you might find the headphones acceptable. But it’s an indistinct and crunchy one-note kind of bass, so while you can feel your head shake, it’s hard to make out the actual strumming of a bass guitar or timbre of lower-register instruments.

(Image credit: Future)

I also struggled to enjoy vocals and other treble lines when they were barely audible behind the bass, a problem that also affects mid-register instruments and… well, anything that isn’t bass, really. Boy, did I wish that OneOdio had given these things some kind of equalizer I could use to reduce bass!

Another issue with the sound quality was simply that music sounds a little tinny, most notably in the usual suspects like drum hi-hats and rhythmic guitar riffs but apparent, per song, in everything from vocals to classical instruments. I say “a little” to indicate that it’s not as bad as in, say, cheapie $30 headphones, but it’s more than I’ve come to expect at this price.

It's worth noting that I did most of my testing in Bluetooth mode. When I connected the headphones via wires, the bass problem was noticeably diminished. However, the audio was inexplicably even crunchier across the frequencies, which put me off using cables.

• Sound quality: 2.5/5

OneOdio Studio Max 1 review: value

(Image credit: Future)

On their own, the OneOdio Studio Max 1 don’t quite justify their price, with the iffy audio quality making other headphones much more tempting.

However, OneOdio tilts the balance in its favor with all the in-box extras: the multiple cables, transmitter and carry bag and just their imposing size and meatiness all help the headphones to justify their cost.

• Value: 3.5/5

Should I buy the OneOdio Studio Max 1? Buy them if…

You often struggle with Bluetooth range
If you're often wandering outside the Bluetooth range of your headphones, whether it's for specific use cases or you're just a pacer, the in-box transmitter with the Studio Max will stop your songs sounding patchy.

You have the worst memory for charging
Reliably forget to charge your gadgets for weeks at a time? The 120-hour battery life of these headphones means you don't need to.

Don’t buy them if…

You care about audio first and foremost
Audio isn't the most important aspect of headphones for everyone, but if it is for you, then the Studio Max 1 won't impress you very much.

You want lightweight headphones
There's no denying that the OneOdios are some pretty hefty headphones, and they won't win you fashion points.

OneOdio Studio Max 1 review: Also consider

OneOdio Studio Wireless C
These alternative headphones to the Studio Max from OneOdio have many similar features, including a very long battery life and 50mm driver, but without any of the DJ trappings. Oh, and they're much cheaper… 

AIAIAI TMA-2 Wireless
If you want DJ headphones, the AIAIAI options here are much more lightweight options. The battery life isn't comparable but they also come with a wireless transmitter. (Our AIAIAI TMA-2 experiential is incoming, but until then, you can read more about the older TMA Studio Wireless+).

How I tested the OneOdio Studio Max 1

(Image credit: Future)

• Tested for two weeks
• Tested with smartphone, computer and keyboard

I tested the OneOdio Studio Max 1 for two weeks before writing this review. For the most part I used them alongside my Android smartphone via Bluetooth but I also used them alongside my PC and plugged into a digital keyboard at several times too.

I listened to music and audiobooks with the headphones, both at home and about, and also watched a movie and several hours of TV with them at home. The keyboard I used them with was a cheapie one, and this part of the testing was largely to appreciate the versatility that the in-box wires provides.

I've been testing gadgets at TechRadar for six years, so have a wealth of knowledge to draw on for this review. I've been playing the keyboard for about 20, but that didn't help out here too much.

• First reviewed in April 2025

• Read TechRadar's reviews guarantee

Bird Buddy Smart Bird Feeder Pro: one-minute review

The Bird Buddy Smart Bird Feeder Pro uses the same Bird Buddy Smart Bird Feeder housing that features in our Best Bird Feeder Cameras round-up, but the camera has been upgraded to a new 'Nature Cam' unit.

Being the same size as its predecessor, the new camera unit simply slots into the housing and is held in place with a magnet. Installation and set-up proved easy and I was up and running in minutes. The new camera is noticeably better, offering an improved dynamic range and color, but most importantly it is now 2K in resolution which can be activated with a Bird Buddy Premium subscription.

There is a good level of control over the notifications you receive, with the options to receive every possible visit to your feeder, or just the smart notifications of the visits that may be of interest, such as new bird species. Within the app, visits, or 'Postcards' as they are called, are saved to Collections, where you can go in and see all of the different birds (and other animals) that have stopped by. You can also see other Postcards that users around the world have chosen to share.

(Image credit: Future)

The overall Bird Buddy system is very design-oriented and full of nice touches, from the way that the optional solar panel roof can be fitted, to the food hatch on the rear, the bright yellow or blue color of the feeder and the neat but stylish packaging and app design; everything has been thought out with a purpose.

There is a range of additional accessories for the Bird Buddy, including the solar panel roof. This neatly slots into position, and as long as it is angled into sunlight for a part of the day, it should provide enough power that you don't need to remove the camera for charging, especially during the summer. Other accessories include a 3-in-1 Nutrition kit, which provides a water bottle, a fruit spike and a 'Jelly Tray', each designed to meet different birds' nutritional needs.

One area that could be seen as lacking are the additional features that other cameras offer. For example, the Birdfy range is effectively repackaged home security cameras, with all the capabilities such cameras provide, such as built-in lights and alarm systems - both of which can also be used (usually unsuccessfully) to scare away squirrels. If you are looking for a birdfeeder camera that doubles up as a security camera for your garden, then Bird Buddy won't be the camera for you, it doesn't have those features.

For those who purely want to enjoy the avian visitors to their garden and share those images with family and friends on social media, the beautifully designed Bird Buddy app and high-quality photos and video footage will provide hours of pleasure. There is still the buzz of excitement when you get a notification of a new bird species stopping at your feeder.

Bird Buddy Smart Bird Feeder Pro: price and availability

• Available now, lsit price $279/ £160
• There are plenty of optional accessories
• You'll need a premium subscription to unlock the best features

The Bird Buddy Smart Feeder Pro cost $279 / £219 but is currently reduced by 35% from its original price and can be had for $189 / £160.77 at the time of writing.

If you want the Solar Roof version, it is priced at a reasonable $219 / £186.29. The Bird Buddy can be purchased directly from the Bird Buddy website, which has US and EU store options. It is also available on Amazon via their Global Store, so it should be available worldwide. It can also be purchased from John Lewis and Curry's in the UK.

The optional add-ons are the Perch Extender ($24), Solar Roof ($59), 3-in-1 Nutrition Set ($39), Wall Mount ($29), and Suet Ball Holder ($14). Again, each of these is available via the Bird Buddy website or Amazon, depending on your location. Prices are converted to GBP.

There are two optional Premium subscription services available in Individual and Family versions. As detailed, these provide a range of new features, most importantly 2K Ultra video resolution and unlimited online storage of footage. The Family option allows you to grant family members access to the live feed from your camera. To find out more about the differences in the plans, see Bird Buddy Plans.

Bird Buddy Smart Bird Feeder Pro: specs Bird Buddy Smart Bird Feeder Pro: design

• Compact All-In-One design
• Great design touches to keep everything neat and tidy
• Solar Roof reduces the need to remove and recharge the camera

Setting up the Bird Buddy Smart Feeder Pro was straightforward. After reviewing the previous version of the camera, I already had the app installed, so installation was as simple as selecting "add a new Bird Buddy" in the app menu and following the on-screen instructions. The instructions are very clear and have a human feel to them. Setup is simple, and you don't need previous experience to easily pair the camera to your phone and then your Wi-Fi system.

As Bird Buddy sent me the new Nature Cam to install in my existing Bird Buddy feeder, I simply removed the cable linking the original camera to the Solar Roof and pulled out the camera, which is held in a recess with a strong magnet. Fitting the new camera was the reverse procedure, with the magnet reassuringly ensuring the camera was locked in tight. Again, the USB-C charging port was connected to the Solar Roof.

As supplied by Bird Buddy, the feeder has a mount that can be connected to a post, or it comes with a rope for hanging from a tree or feeding pole. I opted to hang the feeder from a branch of a tree and tried to position it so that the solar panel was oriented to get as much sunlight as possible.

The feeder itself is made from strong plastic. It has a small panel at the top of the rear that can be opened to pour in bird feed. In fact, the feeder comes with a Feed Scoop. It can be a little bit fiddly given I had to climb a ladder, with the feeder is swinging from a tree, but it is quite a neat solution. There is an optional Wall Mount that allows you to swivel the feeder around for easy access to the rear for loading food.

(Image credit: Future)

The feeder was placed around 12m from the nearest Wi-Fi access point, which was in my house and through a glass window. I had no problems connecting to the camera when wanting to view, although there was a short delay while I had to wait for the live view to appear on my phone. In reality, this was no longer than if I tried to connect to view my Ring camera live view.

If you have followed any of my previous bird feeder reviews, you will know I have an issue with squirrels raiding the feeders in my garden. The Bird Buddy has no Squirrel deterrents like the Birdfy feeder cameras. However, the good news is that little damage has been done to the housing despite it being scratched and chewed by squirrels, over the course of a year and a half hanging in my garden.

Having the feeder hanging rather than strapped or mounted to the tree has made it more difficult for the squirrels to get to it, but they still find ways of jumping and climbing to reach the food. At least the feeder is still intact.

The other thing worth noting is both Individual and Family subscriptions are possible. The primary reason for a subscription is to unlock the Ultra 2K resolution, which has noticeably better, less compressed image quality.

The subscription also adds the Remote Feeder Unlock to see feeders from around the world, Unlimited Cloud storage of your photos and video, the Name That Bird feature, which allows you to give a nickname to a specific bird individual bird, Bird Care which will alert you about injured or sick birds and offer advice on how to keep your birds healthy, and finally Bird Buddy Experiments which give the user access to new features that may be trialled.

Although you can add family and friends to your account to see video clips from your feeder, the Family Premium subscription allows friends and family to log in and see the live view from your feeder.

Image 1 of 6

(Image credit: Future)Image 2 of 6

(Image credit: Future)Image 3 of 6

(Image credit: Future)Image 4 of 6

(Image credit: Future)Image 5 of 6

(Image credit: Future)Image 6 of 6

(Image credit: Future) Bird Buddy Smart Bird Feeder Pro: performance

• 2K video available via a subscription only

The image quality from the Nature Cam is noticeably better than that of the original camera if you fork out for a subscription which unlocks 2K resolution. Do so, and images have more fine detail, and the HDR image brings out more colour and detail.

There are limitations; the camera sensor is still 1/2.7", which is about on par with a smartphone camera. However, the low resolution offers reasonable dynamic range performance, which can be seen in shadow details.

Highlights are easily blown out, as you would expect, and direct sunlight can cause lens flares, so it is important to position the feeder, and therefore the camera, at an angle where these will be minimized, or at least at times of day when you are most likely to get footage from the camera.

Light is everything when it comes to photography, and the placement of the camera in relation to the sun can make a big difference in the images you get from the camera.

It should be noted that the Bird Buddy creates portrait-orientation videos, which are perfect for viewing on a smartphone. However, if you eventually want to view them on a TV screen or computer, you might want to look elsewhere for the best viewing experience.

Compared to other bird feeder cameras I have tested, there is more of a delay in receiving notifications, so you won't always catch the bird on the live stream. However, the Postcards you receive are a nice touch. You can turn notifications off entirely and check in on the app occasionally to catch up the action you have missed.

The camera focuses well on smaller birds, with plenty of room on the feeder for them to perch and pick at the feed. However, larger birds struggle to land and also to balance on my hanging feeder. The optional perch add-on would be a great addition for most users. It allows larger birds to land and their heads to be further from focus. If you want to capture larger birds clearly, I would recommend getting the perch as an accessory.

I have had the original Bird Buddy Smart Feeder hanging outside in my garden for over a year. It has seen bright sunshine and freezing snow, and the recyclable plastic structure is in tact, although the color has faded slightly from the UV light. I had the new Nature Cam installed for a few months for testing, and it has also seen heavy rain, freezing conditions, and bright sunshine. It is in great condition, and it is still performing perfectly.

The Solar Roof has been a great accessory, and in the winter months, the camera doesn't need to be taken in and charged despite the lower light levels. In the summer, I know I might have to reposition it to avoid foliage casting shadows on the roof, but this may be negated by the fact that there will be more daylight hours.

Video and photo samples Image 1 of 6

(Image credit: Future)Image 2 of 6

(Image credit: Future)Image 3 of 6

(Image credit: Future)Image 4 of 6

(Image credit: Future)Image 5 of 6

(Image credit: Future)Image 6 of 6

(Image credit: Future) Should you buy the Bird Buddy Smart Bird Feeder Pro? Buy it if...

You love garden tech

If you love gadgets, the Bird Buddy Smart Bird Feeder Pro is a great addition to your garden. If you have the premium subscription it is possible to link to Alexa to get a summary of daily visits, with more features on the way. However, I struggled to get this feature to work.

You love birds and wildlife

This one is obvious, but if you love the wildlife in your garden, the Bird Buddy Smart Feeder is great. You can collect the Postcards from birds that have visited almost like they are Pokémon, with a daily round-up of the number of different species and visits you have had each day. The small AI generated information about the birds is also a great way to learn and engage with the nature in your garden.

You want a stylish feeder cam

Of all the bird feeder cameras available, I think the Bird Buddy Smart Bird Feeder Pro is the most neat and stylish both in the physical design of the feeder and also the app.

Don't buy it if...

You want to view on TV

The video quality is good, however, as it is recorded vertically, it is better for viewing on a smartphone and sharing on social media. If you want to watch footage on a television it may not be the best choice.

You have squirrels

I have tested quite a feeder feeders and squirrels have fed from all of them. And despite the design and materials of the Bird Buddy withstanding damage from squirrels, it doesn't have the squirrel deterrents like some other feeders.

You don't want to buy accessories

For the best experience I would recommened that you buy the Solar Roof and the Perch for the Bird Buddy; the solar roof virtually elimates the need to charge the camera, the perch addition makes a better experience for larger birds to land - resulting in better photos and video.

How I tested the Bird Buddy Smart Bird Feeder Pro

• I hung the feeder in a tree for 6 months
• It was connected to my home Wi-Fi
• I monitored the birds visiting daily via the Bird Buddy app

I tested the Bird Buddy Smart Bird Feeder Pro by hanging it from a tree in my garden that birds (and squirrels) regularly visit. The feeder was strapped to the tree, and the camera was set up using an iPhone and the Bird Buddy app.

I left the feeder up there for months through all weather conditions. During that time, I monitored the birds visiting via the app in real-time and reviewed photos and videos that had been captured.

I have also looked at AI recognition and the various capabilities of the app.

• First reviewed April 2025

Corsair VOID Wireless V2 review: one-minute review

(Image credit: Future/Ford James)

The Corsair VOID Wireless V2 is, as you'd expect from the name, the second iteration of the VOID Wireless range. It's been over seven years since we reviewed the Corsair VOID Pro RGB Wireless, which is the V2's predecessor, and the original impressed us at the time. I'm happy to report the V2 improves upon pretty much every aspect, and retains the same price point as the first to boot.

This gaming headset aims to be the only audio device you'll need no matter which platform you play on: it's compatible with PC, Mac, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, and iOS/Android (sorry, Xbox players).

Thanks to its dual wireless and Bluetooth connectivity, you can link two separate devices simultaneously and switch between them with the press of a button.

There's really very little to complain about with the VOID Wireless V2: the battery life is excellent, allegedly running at approximately 65-70 hours of continuous use, though that's so long I haven't had it run out despite using it for multiple days in a row without charging it.

It's lightweight at just over 300g, and as a result, very comfortable. The sound quality across every platform is fantastic too, especially PC and PS5 thanks to some special features… more on those below.

Corsair VOID Wireless V2 review: Price and availability

• List price: $119.99 / £99.99 / AU$189
• Cheaper than many premium gaming headsets
• Offers superb value for money

While you can pick up a budget gaming headset for about half the price of the Corsair VOID Wireless V2, it's not going to turn many heads, nor is it likely to be built to last. And the same goes for the other end of the scale: there are plenty of headsets that will cost double, but will you get double the amount of performance from them? It's unlikely, which makes this one of the best value-for-money gaming headsets you'll find.

At $119.99/£99.99, it's cheaper than some of our favorite products on our best wireless gaming headsets and best PC gaming headsets pages, such as the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless and the Razer BlackShark V2 Pro.

It's also more than capable of going toe-to-toe with them, and as the flashy new kid on the block thanks to its April 2025 launch, it's likely to be a headset in demand when gifting season rolls around later this year.

(Image credit: Future/Ford James) Corsair VOID Wireless V2 review: Specs

(Image credit: Future/Ford James) Corsair VOID Wireless V2 review: Design and features

• Easy to set up and connect
• Clean, sleek design
• Rotatable - but not detachable or retractable - mic

There's no instruction manual or booklet included with the Corsair VOID Wireless V2, but that's because it really doesn't need one. The box contains the headset, USB 3.0 dongle, and USB 3.0-to-USB-C charging cable, and that's it.

Charge the headset, connect the dongle to your device of choice if you're connecting through the 2.4 GHz wireless connectivity, and turn on the headset, the two should automatically pair, and you're away.

A USB-C wireless receiver would be ideal too, as we gradually move away from USB 3.0, and it would also enable another connectivity option for devices like a Nintendo Switch or MacBook, but it'd be harsh to criticize it too much for that.

If you're using the VOID Wireless V2 on PC, you should install both the Dolby Access app and the Corsair iCUE software though. The former will detect your headset if it's set to be your primary audio output and allow you to enable Dolby Atmos' Spatial Audio feature, while the latter is essential for customization and getting the most out of your new cans.

You can change the function of the custom button on the headset, such as making it toggle the mute, or have it play/pause music. Meanwhile, on PS5, you can enable the Tempest 3D Audio via the console's sound settings as usual.

The design of the headset itself is sleek. My review unit is mostly white with light grey memory foam padding and a silver adjustable frame to ensure it sits tight on your head. Two skinny RGB lighting strips complete the look, facing the way you're looking. If you use the headset in a remote work meeting, however, be prepared for your colleagues to comment as if you look like you belong in a sci-fi TV series, as happened to me.

The only complaint here is that while the microphone is easy to use and fits in with the profile of the headset itself, it'd be a huge quality-of-life upgrade if it was detachable rather than just rotatable. You can swivel it up to sit vertically, but if it could be removed, the Bluetooth feature would make this suitable for listening to music on the go. As it stands, though, you don't really want to commute with a microphone attached to your headset.

(Image credit: Future/Ford James) Corsair VOID Wireless V2 review: Performance

• Lightweight and comfortable to wear
• Terrific 3D audio on PC and PS5
• Incredible battery life

Thanks to how light the headset is, combined with the memory foam cushions, I've worn it for hours at a time without feeling any discomfort. It saw me through a solid eight-hour Atomfall session on PS5 while sitting on my sofa, along with a similar length gaming Sunday playing a variety of games on PC.

On the former, it added to the already eerie, post-apocalyptic atmosphere of the British countryside by enhancing the groans of Ferals and the chatter of Outlaws in the area, along with the Tempest 3D Audio helping me pinpoint exactly where enemies were.

Of all the games I tested it with on PC, Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 is where the impressive audio was most noticeable. Listening for footsteps and gunshots is incredibly important in the first-person shooter game, and they were crystal clear with the VOID Wireless V2.

I also spoke with friends on Discord while using it on both platforms and had feedback that the voice quality was as good as it could be. It also has very good noise cancellation, which really helps with the immersion.

Finally, I'd be remiss not to talk a little more about the battery life. Coming in at around 70 hours, it blows a lot of its competition out of the water. I tried to use it for a number of sessions repeatedly without charging it, in order to get a rough ballpark for how long it lasts against that claimed 70-hour figure, but the light never changed from green to imply the battery was even starting to die.

(Image credit: Future/Ford James) Should you buy the Corsair VOID Wireless V2? Buy it if...

You’re after one of the latest gaming headsets that has it all
Seriously, you're unlikely to find better than this on the market at this price point. It's one of the best examples of a complete product you'll find.

You find other headsets to be too heavy or uncomfortable
This is so light and easy to wear for long periods, if it weren't for how good the noise cancellation is, you'd forget you're wearing it at times.

You want a headset compatible with multiple platforms
It's simple to unplug the USB receiver from one device and plug it into another, without needing to reconnect it. Connecting via Bluetooth is also as simple as pressing the power button on the headset to open up the pairing. Find the headset in the list of Bluetooth devices nearby and voila!

Don't buy it if...

You need a headset for Xbox
Unfortunately, the Corsair VOID Wireless V2 isn't compatible with Xbox consoles. However, Corsair does have other Xbox headset offerings, such as the HS65 Wireless.

You have a premium headset already
Don't get me wrong, this is one of the best headsets I've ever used, but part of that comes due to its value. If you have a $200+ headset already that you're happy with, you don't need to abandon it for this one.

Also consider...

If, despite all this praise, you're still not sold on the Corsair VOID Wireless V2, consider these two other wireless headsets instead, at slightly more expensive price points but similarly feature-laden.

Razer BlackShark V2 Pro
It's almost double the price, but the Razer BlackShark V2 Pro is currently our best-recommended wireless gaming headset. It offers pretty much everything the Corsair VOID Wireless V2 does, but it's also compatible with Xbox consoles. The design of the headset may also be to your personal preference over the VOID.

For more information, check out our full Razer BlackShark V2 Pro review

SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless
This offering comes at a much steeper cost, but it does have a few additional features to balance it out. It uses a wireless base station for connectivity, which works in a similar way to a USB dongle receiver but means it can be connected to two sources simultaneously, both wirelessly, as opposed to one through Bluetooth. This one also has a fully retractable mic, making it better suited for non-gaming purposes.

For more information, check out our full SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless review

(Image credit: Future/Ford James) How I tested the Corsair VOID Wireless V2

• Used for nearly four weeks for all my gaming sessions
• Tested with both PS5 and PC games
• Also used it to listen to music while working, in meetings, and on Discord

Prior to getting my hands on the Corsair VOID Wireless V2, my audio device of choice on PC was the Philips Fidelio X3. That is an absolutely phenomenal pair of headphones, but it is not a gaming peripheral. It's made for music, doesn't feature much noise canceling, and doesn't come with a mic, so I also have a Blue Snowball desktop mic to hand. I'll likely continue to use the Fidelio X3 for all music purposes, but the VOID Wireless V2 has taken over every other aspect because of how well-rounded it is.

It's been used for a number of gaming sessions, both long and short, and thanks to the connectivity range, I can walk around my apartment while still talking to friends on Discord. I've played Atomfall and The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt on PS5, along with Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 and Monster Hunter Wilds on my gaming PC.

First reviewed March/April 2025

Read more about how we test

This review first appeared in issue 347 of PC Pro.

Video conferencing (VC) continues to enjoy unprecedented growth levels since the pandemic, and Biamp now wants a piece of the action. It makes its play for the small to medium-sized meeting room market with the imposing Parlé VBC 2500.

Measuring nearly one metre in length, this all-in-one conferencing bar takes a lot of the technology Biamp has developed over its 46 years in the professional audio-visual (AV) space and hands it to SMBs. Whereas most competing VC bars offer a beam-forming array made up of five or six microphones, the VBC 2500 boasts a highly accurate beam-tracking array comprising 27 microphone elements.

It sports a 4K UHD camera capable of delivering up to a 2160p resolution at 30fps and teams this with a wide 120° field of view (FoV) plus digital pan, tilt, zoom (PTZ) functions with 5x zoom capabilities. The camera incorporates a mechanical shutter that automatically obscures the view when a meeting has finished or a user disables video from their UC app.

The VBC 2500 delivers great video quality and its digital auto-framing is rapid (Image credit: Future)

Sound output is a cut above the rest, too, as Biamp has designed the speaker array to accurately reproduce human speech. The array comprises a pair of 20W speakers in sealed enclosures plus passive radiators to improve bass, and it uses active distortion compensation to ensure a flat response.

Placement options are plentiful: the VBC 2500 has an integral hinged desk stand and the kit includes a metal wall-mount bracket. Behind the rear removable panel is an external power supply socket plus a USB-C host connection port – for BYOD operations you can connect the VBC 2500 to Biamp’s optional Devio SCR-10 desktop unit.

A standout feature is Biamp’s automated room configuration: simply plug the bar in, press the Launch button underneath and stand back. The bar measures the room’s acoustics by emitting a series of sounds that wouldn’t be out of place in a 1950s sci-fi movie.

It uses the audio feedback to optimize the mic array, speakers and integral digital sound processor (DSP) specifically to its environment. The upshot is that anyone can set up the VBC 2500, and the same process is used if it’s moved to another room.

Installation took seconds. We plugged the VBC 2500 into a USB port on a Windows 10 Pro host and all necessary drivers were automatically loaded. As to which VC software platform to use, the choice is yours – the VBC 2500 is UVC (USB video class) compliant and we had no problems using it with Skype, Microsoft Teams and Zoom.

The imposing Parlé VBC 2500 is supremely easy to set up (Image credit: Future)

Video settings can be tweaked to suit using Biamp’s free Camera Controller app. Auto-framing and backlight compensation can be disabled, PTZ functions manually operated, the image mirrored or flipped, UC profiles for Microsoft Teams, Google Meet and Zoom applied and three presets saved for further use.

Video quality at 1080p is impressive, and we found the image was sharp and clear with great contrast and color balance. Backlight compensation works well, as does auto-framing, with the camera snapping to the active speaker in a couple of seconds and tracking them if they moved around the meeting room.

Audio quality is even better – this is easily the best-sounding VC bar we’ve yet tested. Biamp’s speaker technology delivers a superb sound, with a warm, deep bass, natural-sounding voices and none of the shrillness you’ll find with smaller VC bars.

It’s loud, too, as we had to drop volume levels to 40% for our 24 square meter meeting room. Crank it up to maximum and it’ll go with you as the sound doesn’t break up at all.

The Parlé VBC 2500 isn’t as versatile as Logitech’s Rally Bar, which offers BYOD and standalone modes courtesy of its Android OS, but Biamp can’t be beaten for presentation quality. Video and audio are exceptionally good, digital auto-framing is fast and the smart launch mode makes meeting room setup a piece of cake.

We also ranked the best small business website builders.

This review first appeared in issue 348 of PC Pro.

The WS AR-X6700 makes good use of its £4,500 budget, with a solid balance of components. Workstation Specialists has chosen the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X, which offers 16 cores and 32 threads, with a base 4.5GHz clock and boost up to 5.7GHz. This is backed by 64GB of RAM, provided as two DIMMs, so there’s room to upgrade. It’s 5,200MHz DDR5, which the Ryzen 7000 series now supports.

Graphics acceleration comes from the Nvidia RTX A5000. With a hefty 8,192 CUDA cores and 24GB of GDDR6 frame buffer on a 384-bit bus offering 768GB/sec of bandwidth, it’s a potent workstation accelerator. Its quartet of DisplayPort 1.4a connections support up to four 4K screens at 120Hz, or two 8K screens at 60Hz.

Apart from the decidedly skinny Lenovo chassis, the Fractal Design Define C Tempered Glass case here is the most compact this month. There’s still room for a couple of 3.5in or 2.5in drives, plus up to three 2.5in units. The only storage supplied, however, is a 2TB Samsung 990 Pro NVMe SSD, which when tested with CrystalDiskMark 8.0.4 delivered competent 7,457MB/sec sustained reading and 6,915MB/sec writing.

(Image credit: Future)

The overall result in the PC Pro benchmarks of 731 is superb compared to systems from any previous year, but in this month’s company it’s joint second slowest. For everyday tasks, Intel’s Core i9-13900K has the lead. The multicore rendering result in Maxon Cinebench R23 of 36,030 is similarly both excellent while still being third slowest this month. The Blender Gooseberry render took 282 seconds with the CPU, however, which is more competitive.

Sadly, with so many powerful systems in this test, the Nvidia RTX 5000 manages performance only in the middle of the pack. Looking at the SPECviewperf 2020 v3.1 results, the score of 178 in 3dsmax-07 is the third slowest, although 535 in maya-06 is a bit higher up the rankings. Only Lenovo’s P620, with its RTX A4000, consistently falls behind. The OpenCL rendering result in LuxMark 3.1 of 15,489 is in line with our expectations for an RTX A5000, while GPU rendering with Blender took 148 seconds, which is also mid-range.

Overall, while the Workstation Specialists WS AR-X6700 is well put together and specified, it doesn’t have the leading performance of this month’s Labs Winner.

We also rated the best all-in-one computers.

RUGD Power Brick: review

The RUGD Power Brick is a power bank designed for outdoor excursions, thanks to its durable design and useful features. Although its form prioritizes function, it’s not without some interesting and even stylish aspects, and the orange colorway of my test unit certainly made it striking – and hard to lose.

As you would expect, it’s very-well built, too. All panels are solid with virtually no flex to them, while the shock-proof silicone outer rim feels tough.

Despite its ruggedness, though, the RUGD Power Brick is pleasingly small and relatively light, even for one of the best power banks, which makes it ideal for carrying around. It’s just about thin enough to fit in a pocket, although its square shape might make it a little too wide for some.

There’s no interface to speak of, apart from four LED lights to indicate its battery life. It’s a shame, however, that they’re virtually invisible when viewed from an angle, which is inconvenient when you merely want to glance at its status.

However, convenience is restored thanks to some handy features, such as the integrated hook on the outer rim, to which you can attach the included carabiner. There’s also a giant flashlight that takes up the entire back panel, and provides plenty of luminescence.

Activating the flashlight is a little laborious, as it requires holding the button for too long, rather than a simple double-tap. What’s more useful, though, is the ability to make the light even brighter by tapping the power button once on, and make it flash with a further tap for an SOS signal.

The RUGD Power Brick features one USB-A port and one USB-C, both hidden under a flap on the outer rim. This flap can be a little awkward to pull out, but it at least offers sufficient protection for the ports. However, the string that attaches the flap to the body doesn’t feel particularly strong, making me doubt its ability to withstand repeated or more vigorous tugs.

What’s more, there’s only one flap for both ports, leaving one port exposed while using the other, which is something of an oversight given the RUGD Power Brick’s commitment to providing the utmost protection.

Both ports provide 18W of power, although only the USB-C port has input capability for charging the bank itself. Simultaneous charging is also supported. It comes with a charging cable, although I would’ve welcomed a C-to-C connection rather than C-to-A.

The RUGD Power Brick managed to charge my Google Pixel 7a, which has a 4,385mAh battery, from empty to full in just under two hours via the USB-C port. That's not a particularly impressive performance when other banks are capable of charging it in about 90 minutes.

This RUGD Power Brick lost one of the four LED dots in the process, meaning you should get about two or three full charges from it, which aligns with its 10,050mAh capacity. Charging the RUGD Power Brick itself from empty to full took two and a half hours, which is acceptable given that aforementioned capacity.

For those that don’t require an all-proof design, the RUGD Power Brick doesn’t exactly represent good value, considering its lack of ports and middling capacity for the price. But if you’re someone who frequently battles the elements, the RUGD Power Brick should make for a practical and hardy companion for keeping your smaller devices topped up.

(Image credit: Future) RUGD Power Brick review: price & specs

(Image credit: Future) Should I buy the RUGD Power Brick? Buy it if…

You want something tough
With its IP67 certification, the RUGD Power Brick is water, shock, and dust proof, so it’s ideal for taking on your outdoor adventures.

You want practical features
Along with its toughness, the RUGD Power Brick is also convenient, thanks to its integrated hook, included karabiner, and huge back-panel flashlight.

Don't buy it if…

You have many devices
The RUGD Power Brick only has two ports, so if you want to charge several devices at once, you should look elsewhere.

You need to charge large devices
The 18W output and 10,050mAh capacity are enough for multiple smartphone and tablet charges, but insufficient for laptops and other large devices.

RUGD Power Brick review: Also consider

Iniu B61
If you want a similar output, but don’t need all that ruggedness, then the Iniu B61 is a great alternative. It has a slightly higher output (22.5W) and essentially the same capacity (10,000mAh), but it has two more USB-A ports and is cheaper than the RUGD Power Brick, so represents better value for those who don’t need outdoors-based features. Read our Iniu B61 review.

Shark Cryoglow: One minute review

Whether you have fine lines, rosacea, acne or puffy under-eyes, Shark’s CryoGlow can address a wide range of skincare concerns. It combines LED face mask technology with Peltier-effect cooling pads that could replace your weekly trips to the salon.

CryoGlow is my first foray into light therapy technology. While I’m eager to see further studies into the long-term benefits (and potential risks), I must say, I’ve been impressed with Shark’s first skincare device.

Of course, it’s not fully effortless. I spent over seven hours strapped into the CryoGlow in my two months of testing, using one of its three settings almost every night to put it through its paces.

It’s not been without its drawbacks. I travel a fair amount, spending half my time at my partner’s home and half at mine, plus going on press trips, and, unfortunately, CryoGlow is bulky and inflexible. The device isn’t built for effective packing, and can’t be put in a checked bag owing to its lithium-ion battery. Battery life might prove to be irritating, too, especially over time and if you’re following the advised daily-use routine.

(Image credit: Future)

That being said, it’s still a whole lot more convenient and cost-effective in the long run than weekly trips to your salon to receive the same treatment. If, like me, you’re a regular under-eye mask wearer, this is a much more sustainable way to minimize your puffy eyes.

The biggest question, of course, is whether or not CryoGlow delivers results. For me, the answer is a tentative yes; after over two months of consistent testing, my acne has noticeably reduced outside of hormonal outbreaks, my fine lines seem reduced and, in defiance of my terrible sleep schedule, my under-eye puffiness has lessened. Best of all, the routine of it all encourages me to moisturize daily (the mask itself is quite drying) and means I have to use fewer pimple patches and eye masks.

Is it the sea-change I was hoping for? No, and the results aren’t long-lasting unless you continue to regularly use the mask after the initial eight-week regimen. Still, I’m pretty impressed with what I’ve seen, and it’s the best alternative I’ve found to regular, professional skincare treatments.

Shark Cryoglow review: Price and availability

(Image credit: Future)

• Announced and released in late 2024
• Costs $349 / £299
• Comfortably mid-range among LED face masks, plus with added benefits.

The Shark CryoGlow is available for $349 / £299 (as of writing, it’s not available in Australia) and can be purchased directly from Shark as well as a number of third-party retailers such as Amazon. In the UK, that marks a small increase in price in the few months since its launch, when it cost £249.

Out of the box, the CryoGlow comes with a travel bag, an extra set of InstaChill Peltier-effect plates and the mask itself with the attached remote. You can also buy a charging stand for the mask for $49.99 / £49.99, which gives the mask a tidy home.

In terms of value for money, the CryoGlow may be pricey, but it stands to benefit your beauty budget in the long run. Its biggest competition in home treatment comes from the likes of Currentbody, which costs $469 / £399 for its latest Series 2 model. While regular salon treatments can range from $25-200 / £25-200 each trip, which adds up quickly if you want to sustain the results.

• Value score: 4.5/5

Shark Cryoglow review: Design

Yes, that's an earbuds case, not a reading glasses case…  (Image credit: Future)

• Solid and inflexible mask
• Attached remote
• Features Peltier-effect under-eye cooling plates

Unlike many of its competitors, Shark’s CryoGlow is a rigid, hard-shelled light therapy mask with added cushioning for comfort around the eyes and on the forehead. While it’s a little heavy and inflexible (675g) for my liking when it comes to travel, it’s still pretty comfortable in use, owing to the adjustable straps across the top and sides of the head that spread the mask’s weight, and its holes for the eyes, mouth and nose.

While these cutouts are sufficiently comfortable, I’d argue against using this mask while doing anything other than relaxing or maybe some light doomscrolling. The eye cushions adequately block out most of the light from behind the mask, but I found that after a few weeks of testing, I started to suffer eye strain and headaches, which I attributed to using screens in a dimly lit room while wearing the CryoGlow every evening. The contrast between the LED light bleeding into my periphery against the light on my TV or phone didn’t quite agree with my eyes, it seems. For wellness’ sake, I suppose it’s better to treat your skin routine more meditatively.

The remote is wired into the mask itself and features a small LCD screen, which lets you track and select your skincare routines and the time remaining during a treatment, and a dial for selecting options. The mask charges via a USB-C connector in the remote.

Under the hood, CryoGlow features 160 tri-wick LEDs, which translates to 480 light sources across the three light therapy programs (red, blue, and deep infrared light). Beneath the eye holes are the InstaChill cooling pads, which use the Peltier effect, a thermoelectric phenomenon that creates a cooling effect on the skin side of the cooling pads when powered, and fan technology to deliver under-eye bag-busting cooling. Clever stuff. By default, the mask features just one set of these cooling pads, but if you find it more comfortable, you can add the included second pair to bring the cooling closer to your face.

It’s worth highlighting that a vast majority of competitor products feature a more flexible form factor, which may be more accommodating for different face shapes and sizes. However, from what I’ve found so far in my own testing, consumer reviews and the opinions of my friends and family who’ve tried Shark’s mask, the hard shell, one-size-fits-all approach seems to be fairly universal. Plus, you benefit from the under-mask fans, which keep everything cool and refreshing in use.

• Design score: 4.5/5

Shark Cryoglow review: Performance

(Image credit: Future)

• Various treatments for different skin needs
• Three controllable coolness settings for the under-eye
• Battery life unimpressive

How it works

Shark’s CryoGlow has three light therapy routines that address different skincare goals: Better Aging, Blemish Repair and Skin Sustain Treatment. Each mode uses different LEDs to penetrate the skin.

Better Aging uses Red LEDs and Infrared over a six-minute cycle to reduce fine lines and firm skin, with a recommended eight-week course.

Blemish Repair adds Blue LEDs to the mix across an eight-minute routine to reduce blemishes, smooth skin and improve the appearance of pores after a four-week course.

Once you’ve completed a full treatment cycle, Skin Sustain combines all three light treatments into one, four-minute cycle designed to maintain the results.

Using the remote, you can add under-eye cooling with one of three intensity settings, or use the fourth treatment option, Under-Eye Revive, to de-puff your eyes for up to 15 minutes without LEDs.

I tried the Blemish Repair and Better Aging treatments in my time with the mask, starting with Blemish Repair for the full four weeks. Though my quest for a fully effective, adult acne-blasting solution continues, I did at least notice a reduction in my symptoms. With consistent, daily use, my pimples reduced in size, severity and redness. I have very large pores that were at least somewhat tightened and smoothed by the treatment, and, overall, my acne was quicker to heal, drying out much more readily than I’m used to.

For me, that’s worth it; I have found few solutions that are at all effective in making my acne easier to live with. However, it’s still a big investment for moderate results, and I can only anecdotally say it had a slightly noticeable effect on my skin. I’ll be using CryoGlow for as long as I can to see if the improvements continue, but as the search for my acne’s silver bullet continues, so might yours.

Following Blemish Repair mode, I took a two-week break to test how lasting the results are, and found my skin slowly returning to form towards the end of the break, when I picked up the mask once more to try Better Aging mode. As of writing, I’m just over halfway through the treatment, and I’ve seen some positive early results when it comes to fine line reduction - however, it’s worth noting these aren’t (yet!) too much of a problem for me. That being said, I do struggle with skin puffiness, especially when I’m run down, and the red light therapy proved effective in soothing my inflammation.

For me, easily the most effective part has been the InstaChill under-eye cooling. No longer do my puffy eyelids and under-eye bags betray my terrible sleep schedule, thanks to daily cooling treatments that leave me feeling refreshed and relaxed. I’ve been using single-use eye masks for a few months, and CryoGlow is both more effective and less wasteful; a double-whammy of cosmetic coolness.

The cycles of all of the CryoGlow treatments are relatively short, meaning it doesn’t feel too large of a commitment, but the short battery life only sees three or four treatments through, and if you’re regularly on the move you might find toting it around frustrating in the long term.

Overall, I’ve been really impressed with the Shark CryoGlow, but as with all beauty tech I’ll hazard that results may vary; mine were noticeable, yes, but it’s a big, daily commitment to ongoing skincare at a fairly high cost. That being said, it’s encouraged better skincare from me all-round, and is more affordable in the long-term than salon treatments, single-use eye masks and a whole lot of pimple patches.

• Performance score: 4.5/5

Shark Cryoglow review: scorecard Shark Cryoglow: Should I buy it? @techradar

♬ original sound - TechRadar Buy it if...

You’re looking for a salon alternative

Up-front, it’s a pricey investment, but if you’re really into your light therapy, it might be more cost-effective in the long run.

You suffer from under-eye puffiness

Anecdotally, this is the most noticeably effective treatment offered by the CryoGlow, even though it’s really just an added benefit for the product.

Don't buy it if...

You’re on a budget

It’s not cheap, and you might be able to get away with a cheaper, LED-only mask.

You travel often

Its size, bulk and battery life make the CryoGlow a slightly annoying travel companion.

How I tested

I've been using Cryoglow for months by the time I sat down to write my review, running a full course of its blemish-busting treatment and making it most of the way through its Better Aging Treatment.

In addition to the Treatments, I tried using the under-eye cooling pads at various temperature settings, testing from day-to-day to see how much (or little!) they reduced the dark circles under my eyes, as well as key specs like the battery life. I tried using the mask at different times of the day to see if it had much of an impact on the immediacy of the results, and even tried using it on a plane!

I've been writing for TechRadar for almost four years now, reviewing everything from beauty tech to smart home and wellness devices. I've tried different LED face masks, as well as various high-tech skin treatments, to build an idea of what good looks like, always factoring in important factors like price, comfort and longevity.

• Read TechRadar's reviews guarantee

Apps help businesses engage and connect with customers in a more personalized way. However, building apps can be complex and expensive, creating a huge blocker for many businesses. This is where app builder platforms can help.

Wix, best known as one of the best website builders on the planet, also offers a great app building platform. Wix App Builder is the company's DIY mobile app creation platform. It allows users to build native apps for iOS and Android, without coding.

In June 2024, Wix upgraded the platform by adding an AI-powered chatbot. You simply describe your app goals and the AI generates a customized app with all features and layouts included. The platform manages everything from design to deployment, including submitting the app to Apple's App Store and Google Play.

Users can create apps with logos and design elements, as long as they have a paid subscription. The premium Branded App Plan starts at $99 per month. However, you may be able to get this cheaper with one of our Wix promo codes. There are also separate registration fees for publishing the app: $99 annually for Apple's App Store and a one-time $25 fee for Google Play. What makes Wix App Builder unique is its smooth integration with Wix websites. It allows real-time syncing between website and app content, with automated updates to avoid confusion.

(Image credit: Wix) Wix App Builder: Pricing & plans

Starting in 2025, the Wix App Builder is a part of the premium Branded App Plan, which starts at $99/month. This plan gives you access to essential tools to create, launch, and maintain a native mobile app. It includes AI-driven design tools, customization features, and deployment help. You can create apps for both iOS and Android. The plan also offers features for stores, bookings, forums, and more business solutions. If you already use a Wix website builder plan (ranging from $17 to $159 per month when billed annually), App Builder can be an added investment for mobile growth.

But keep in mind that there are extra costs for app publication beyond the Wix fee. You’ll need to pay Apple’s App Store registration fee of about $99 per year. Google Play also has a one-time developer fee of $25. These fees go directly to Apple and Google, not Wix, and you must pay them to publish any app, no matter how it was created. Plus, your app must meet Apple and Google’s approval requirements, which can be another challenge.

Wix App Builder: Features

Wix App Builder has always been easy to use, but the newly-added AI-powered features from 2024 take this even further. Users can create custom mobile apps simply by chatting with an AI. You describe your goals and vision. The chatbot then asks about business needs, desired features, and branding. Based on this, it generates a complete mobile app, which you can tweak via the visual editor.

Wix offers many customization options for branding and design. Users can create a unique app icon and tailor the layout to fit their vision. Beyond looks, Wix App Builder integrates with hundreds of business solutions. This includes ecommerce, booking systems, forums, membership areas, and notifications.

A key feature is automatic synchronization between the website and app. This means any updates made on a Wix website show up instantly in the mobile app. It removes the hassle of managing content on multiple platforms. Plus the system also takes care of updates, ensuring compatibility with the latest iOS and Android versions. All of this greatly reduces the technical work usually needed to keep mobile apps running smoothly.

(Image credit: Wix) Wix App Builder: Setup

Setting up a mobile app with Wix App Builder is simple and user-friendly. You begin by entering your app title and choosing a color scheme.

Alternatively, with the AI chatbot introduced in 2024, you start by chatting about your business and app goals. First, share your goals for the app. Once the AI confirms the layout, it asks about desired features. No need to use technical terms; just explain the app's purpose. The bot understands and suggests relevant features. You can also upload a logo before the final design is created.

After choosing a template or letting the AI generate the initial app design, you can edit it if you want. The platform has a built-in previewer, allowing users to check the app's user experience before submitting it to app stores. Wix also guides users through the complex submission process for both the App Store and Google Play. Once the app is published, Wix continues to add value by supporting automatic updates and new features.

Wix App Builder: Support

Wix uses the same solid support system for App Builder that helps its website builder customers. The key resource is Wix's Help Center. It has detailed articles, video tutorials, and guides on app creation, submission, and maintenance. These resources are organized into clear sections, which help users find what they need.

For more personal help, Wix offers 24/7 customer support on all paid plans. This includes chat, callback requests, and ticket-based support in multiple languages. Users can reach support through the Wix app or website. Response times vary based on the subscription level.

The support team helps with technical issues, design questions, and app store submission problems. Wix also has video tutorials in its Help Center that guides users through the app creation process. While there is no separate support channel for the App Builder tool, its simple process means most users won't need much technical help.

Wix App Builder review: Final verdict

Wix App Builder is a strong choice for businesses wanting to reach mobile users. It helps them do this without high costs or needing technical skills. The 2024 update adds AI features, making app creation as easy as having a conversation. Users can share their ideas and the system creates a professional app. For those already using Wix, the easy integration and automatic syncing of website and app content save time and avoid duplicate content issues.

However, you should think about the ongoing costs and limits of the platform too. The $99 monthly fee, plus extra app store registration costs, can be a lot for small businesses or startups that aren't already invested in mobile. While the App Builder offers good flexibility, it doesn't allow the same level of customization as custom-developed apps, or even other advanced no-code platforms. It also ties businesses to the Wix ecosystem, so users without an existing Wix website won't find much use here.

In the end, Wix App Builder is a great option that sits between simple app makers and costly custom development. It balances customization, professional features, and ease of use, appealing to small and medium businesses wanting to create simple apps for iOS and Android. For those with Wix websites who want to invest in a dedicated mobile experience, the value is strong despite the higher price.

(Image credit: Wix)

Dell Inspiron 14 Plus 7441: Two-minute review

(Image credit: Future / James Holland)

The best way to think of the Dell Inspron 14 Plus 7441 is as a Windows version of a MacBook Air. Not as superpowered as a Dell XPS (or a MacBook Pro), but snappy performance, a thin and light chassis, and long battery life are all features you can expect here.

For the right person, namely someone who wished there was a Windows MacBook Air, the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus 7441 might be the best laptop for them. Its performance, powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon CPU, is snappy while being power efficient. The battery life is very, very impressive, even if it doesn’t reach its advertised heights. And as one of the many laptops built in the mold of the clamshell MacBook, it’s thin, light, and encased in an all-aluminum chassis.

It’s also at a similar price point, though it doesn’t get much more expensive at its maxed out configuration. Of course, since it is a tinier bit cheaper, there are elements that feel a little lower quality than I would expect. Namely, the keyboard, touchpad, and audio quality are a bit underwhelming considering the price. They’re all fine, but feel like they belong on a computer a couple hundred dollars cheaper.

Still, the pros vastly outweigh the cons. The quality of the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus 7441’s performance and battery life bode well for future Qualcomm-equipped laptops, and offer a solid alternative to the MacBook Air and other $1,000 Ultrabooks.

Dell Inspiron 14 Plus 7441: Price and availability

(Image credit: Future / James Holland)

• How much does it cost? Starting at $949.99 (about £760 / AU$1,470)
• When is it available? Available now
• Where can you get it? Available in the US, UK, and Australia

Since it’s a solid mid-range option utilizing Snapdragon ARM CPUs, it’s no surprise that the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus 7441 is available just about everywhere. While it leans more mid-range than a premium Ultrabook, its starting price of $949.99 (about £760 / AU$1,470) feels a little high. I would expect it to be closer to around an $800 / £600 price point.

At the very least, going up in price is not hugely significant. Going from a 256GB to 512GB SSD adds just about $50 to the price. It should be noted that this configuration with the slightly larger drive is the base configuration in the UK and Australia with a price point of $999.99 / £749.99 / AU$1,597.20. Going up to the max configuration with the slightly more powerful Snapdragon X Plus X1E-80-100 CPU and 1 TB SSD goes for $1,099.99 / £899.99 / AU$1,897.50.

For around the same price, you can get the base configuration of the Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M3) with 8GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD, which has better battery life and at least equal performance. However, upgrading the RAM or SSD adds quite a bit to its cost – the configuration with 16GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD is pricier at $1,299 / £1,299 / AU$2,099.

If you want more performance in a similarly slim form factor and are okay sacrificing battery life, the slightly older version of the Acer Swift X14 starts at the same price point (the new 2024 version got a bit of a price bump).

• Value: 4 / 5

Dell Inspiron 14 Plus 7441: Specs

When it comes to different configurations, the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus 7441 only allows a small amount of customization. Not including software upgrades (Windows 11 Home vs Windows 11 Pro primarily), you can choose between just two CPUs: the 10-core 3.4GHz Snapdragon X Plus X1P-64-100 and the 12-core 3.4GHz Snapdragon X Plus X1E-80-100 that can be boosted to 4.0 GHz. There are also three SSD options: 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB. The faster CPU and the 1TB SSD are tied together, so if you upgrade one, you have to upgrade the other.

It’s also worth noting that there’s an additional M.2 slot if you want to expand the memory at a later date.

The display that comes with the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus 7441 is a 14-inch 1600p screen with a 16:10 aspect ratio and 400 nits of brightness. It’s also a touch screen. Only the one screen is available - no luck if you were hoping to upgrade a mid-tier performance laptop to have an OLED screen.

Dell Inspiron 14 Plus 7441: Design

• Utilitarian Ultrabook form factor
• Light and thin
• Keyboard and touchpad are nothing special

The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus 7441 follows in Dell’s Inspiron line insofar that it’s a bit utilitarian in its design. Well, that’s certainly the case here. It fits that Ultrabook mold of trying to compete with Apple’s more entry level laptops, with a focus on non-power users who want a competent, portable, and attractive device. So, then this laptop is thin, light, and comes in an attractive if discreet silver aluminum chassis.

I’ll cover its competence in the next section, but it’s certainly thin at just over a half-inch thick and light at a little over three pounds. You don’t have to worry about portability with this version of the Dell Inspiron. And the aluminum chassis feels sturdy as well if you tend to throw your laptops in a backpack with a case.

(Image credit: Future / James Holland)

As far as the display goes, it’s a sharp 1600p touchscreen with up to 400 nits of brightness. While HDR is not on hand, the color accuracy is good enough for photo editing with a 97.6% sRGB, though its DCI-P3 color coverage is 69% so video editing, especially with HDR is not a good idea here.

The keyboard is responsive and attractive with its white backlighting, but is a little stiff to touch. I do wish the individual keys had a little more of a concave shape to them as well. Essentially, it’s good enough, but a little below what I would expect for a laptop like this.

The touchpad is likewise good enough. It’s not the smoothest feeling I've used, but it does the job and is as responsive as it should be.

Lastly, the port selection is about par for this form factor. There are two USB-C 4 ports (one of which is taken up by the charger when plugged in), one regular USB port, an audio jack, and a microSD reader. The last one is something you won’t find on a MacBook Air, by the way.

Image 1 of 3

(Image credit: Future / James Holland)Image 2 of 3

(Image credit: Future / James Holland)Image 3 of 3

(Image credit: Future / James Holland)

• Design: 4.5 / 5

Dell Inspiron 14 Plus 7441: Performance

• Speedy performance for day-to-day tasks
• Has Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4 for speedy connectivity
• Audio and webcam are adequate

The Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus X1P-64-100 and integrated Adreno Graphics are plenty powerful for everyday users. It’s not powerful enough for any real gaming as is to be expected and video editing is going to be an exercise in patience. But, if you need enough power to have 15 tabs open without suffering a slowdown even while streaming, then this laptop can do it.

I was even able to do some light gaming, so if you like to blow off some steam with less demanding titles like Counter-Strike, you shouldn’t have any issues. For most people, the performance on tap is enough.

Dell Inspiron 14 Plus 7441: Benchmarks

3DMark: Fire Strike: 5965; Time Spy: 1903; Wild Life: 16797

GeekBench 6.3 2436 (single-core); 13281 (multi-core)Handbrake 1.8.1: 7:02

CrossMark: Overall: 1234 Productivity: 1145 Creativity: 1383 Responsiveness: 1098

PC Mark 10 Battery Test (Office): 9:55

PC Mark 10 Battery Test (Video): 18:19:44

It’s also pretty quick when it comes to connectivity as it comes with Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4. That also helps with having those 15-20 tabs open, not to mention that connecting devices should be speedy as well.

The audio and webcam are similar to the keyboard and touchpad in that they’re serviceable, but just that. Again, I would expect slightly better. Starting with the audio, it gets plenty loud, but also gets a bit boomy as the volume goes up.

The webcam is sharp enough at 1080p. The 30 fps it’s capable of is okay, but isn’t the smoothest. Plus, there’s some graininess to it as well. At least, there’s a physical privacy shutter.

• Performance: 4 / 5

Dell Inspiron 14 Plus 7441: Battery life

(Image credit: Future / James Holland)

• Lasts over 18 hours on a single charge
• Takes awhile to charge back up

The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus 7441’s battery life both fails to meet its advertised benchmark, though it's still utterly impressive. When a laptop is supposed to last 21 hours and gets pretty close, it’s quite the feat.

In test, this laptop made it to almost 18 hours and 20 minutes on a single charge. During use, that means I’ve been able to cart this laptop around and use it when needed for three days without plugging it in and still have 50% battery life.

Since the battery life is so long, it does take some time to get back to full. It took me about 35 minutes to back up to 99%. While that’s not bad at all, you’ll want to give it some time to juice back if you get it down to nothing.

Another bright spot with the battery life is the fact that, like MacBooks and unlike many other Windows laptops, the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus 7441 doesn’t use a whole lot of battery when inactive, but not off. There have been plenty of laptops that I’ve used where the battery life would still drain from when the lid is closed to when the laptop is woken back up.

• Battery life: 5 / 5

Should I buy the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus 7441?  Buy it if…

You want a very, very long battery life

Partially because of the efficiency of the Qualcomm CPU, the battery life on this laptop is ridiculously long. Even if it doesn’t quite hit the advertised 21 hours, almost 18 and a half hours is very impressive.

You wish you could get a MacBook Air with Windows

If you ever wanted the appointments of a MacBook Air, specifically long battery life and quick performance in a slim package, the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus 7441 does a very good job of filling that niche.

You want to try an ARM-equipped laptop

If you want something outside of the usual Intel or AMD offerings, the Qualcomm CPU on here provides very good day-to-day performance.

Don't buy it if...

You want premium throughout

There are a few areas, notably the keyboard, touchpad, audio, and webcam, that don’t feel as premium as the rest of the laptop (or its price tag). If you want something without any cut corners, spend a little more on a Dell XPS.

You want the most value possible

The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus 7441 is a lot of things, but a value proposition it’s not. The price isn’t bad, but it feels just slightly overpriced, not to mention that it’s more for those that want a competent laptop, not a cheap one.

Also Consider

If our Dell Inspiron 14 Plus 7441 review has you considering other options, here are two laptops to consider...

Acer Swift X14

For around the same price, the Acer Swift X14 offers an interesting alternative. Instead of a more power-efficient and snappier ARM CPU, it comes with a solid one from Intel. But, you also get discrete graphics that can handle gaming and more demanding editing while still retaining the slim form factor. The Acer does have a much shorter battery life.

Read our full Acer Swift X14 review

Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M3)

The Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M3) offers excellent performance with a long battery life thanks to Apple’s own M3 system-on-a-chip, is incredibly lightweight, not to mention attractive, and provides an intuitive user experience. Of course, its base configuration comes with just 8GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD, upgrading either adds quite a bit to the price tag.

Read our full Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M3) review

How I tested the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus 7441

• Tested for a couple weeks
• Used it for work, gaming, and streaming
• Tested the hybrid features

I used the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus 7441 for a couple weeks, doing some light gaming, watching some online content, and working on it. I also used it on the go and tested its various features like the webcam and audio.

The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus 7441 takes advantage of Qualcomm’s Snapdragon ARM CPUs to offer snappy and efficient performance in an Ultrabook form factor. It’s slightly pricey for what it is, but is ideal for those that want something utilitarian, yet attractive and powerful enough for extended day-to-day work on the go.

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