TechRadar Reviews

As this product isn't available, consider this a hands-on, as between now and its release, some of the issues I'll talk about might well be fixed.

Punkt. is a Swiss company that manufactures in Germany, and the MC03, as the name suggests, is the third iteration of its secure, minimalist phone design.

If you like minimalist things, perhaps in black and white, and your Android phone not spaffing your personal data around carelessly, then perhaps the MC03 could be for you.

Comparing it to the MC02 model, the new MC03 swaps up the Dimensity 900 to the newer Dimensity 7300 SoC, more RAM and storage, but largely the same camera.

However, the thing that makes this offering stand out is AphyOS, a fork of AOSP 15, a GrapheneOS-related development, according to Punkt., is inherently more secure and able to keep the user's data from being easily harvested.

However, the AphyOS-specific apps are unique to Punkt. platforms require a monthly or yearly subscription after the first year, on top of the $699 base price of the device.

In terms of the phone's specifications, it's decent, but hardly premium. The SoC is mid-range, 8GB of RAM, and 256GB of storage are hardly pushing the boat out, and a 64MP camera sensor is hardly cutting-edge. And, Punkt. phones have a reputation for bugs that linger over successive patches.

If you, or your business, are invested in the Proton suite the MC03 offers, including Mail, Calendar, Drive, VPN and Pass, alongside Threema for encrypted messaging, then perhaps the high cost and ongoing subscription might be worth it. But for regular Android users, the high cost of mid-range hardware and additional costs to ownership could be deal breakers.

Since this device hasn’t officially launched yet, it's way too early to say whether it is one of the best rugged phones yet.

Punkt. MC03: Price and availability

• How much does it cost? $699/£660/€699
• When is it out? On Pre-order
• Where can you get it? You can order it directly from Punkt.

Based on the most recent information, in Europe, the MC03 is on pre-order from the official site here, with the intention to ship at the end of April 2026. North American customers should be able to see this device in early Summer 2026, hopefully.

The pre-release pricing is $699/£660/€699. When exchange rates are taken into consideration, the most expensive place to buy is the UK, followed by Europe, where it's made, and the least expensive is the USA, which has tariffs on European goods. This makes zero sense, other than perhaps the market for secure phones in the USA is greater than in Europe.

As an alternative, Google's Pixel phones can run GrapheneOS, and a Pixel 10 is around $650 with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. And that phone has an optical zoom on its camera.

(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)Punkt. MC03: Specs

Item

Spec

CPU:

MediaTek Dimensity 7300 (MT6878), octa-core 2.5GHz

GPU:

Mali-G615 MC2

NPU:

MediaTek NPU 655

RAM:

8GB

Storage:

256GB

Screen:

6.67-inch OLED, 120Hz, HDR

Resolution:

2436 x 1080 pixels

SIM:

1x Nano SIM + eSIM + TF

Weight:

240 grams

Dimensions:

163 x 76 x 11mm

Rugged Spec:

IP68

Rear cameras:

64MP Primary Camera + 8MP Wide + 2MP Macro

Front camera:

32MP

Networking:

5G bands, WiFi 6, Bluetooth 5.4

Bands:

GSM 850/900/1800/1900

UMTS B1/2/5/8

LTE B1/2/3/5/7/8/9/18/19/20/28AB/34/38/40/41(194 MHz)/42/43(194 MHz)

5G NR n1/3/5/7/8/20/26/28/38/40/41/77/78 (SA)

OS:

AphyOS (based on Android 15 / AOSP 15)

Battery:

5200 mAh removable (33W wired, 15W wireless)

Colours:

Black

Punkt. MC03: Design

• Minimalist
• By-the-numbers layout
• Internal access and battery replacement

(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)

Punkt has always been a design company that happens to make phones rather than the other way around. The MC03 carries that forward. The aesthetic is stripped back and deliberate, favouring clean lines over the glossy excesses that dominate this market.

This device is assembled at Gigaset's facility in Bocholt, Germany, which Punkt uses as a selling point and rightly so, given that German assembly brings with it a baseline assumption of quality control that assembly lines elsewhere do not always guarantee.

The dimensions are 163 x 76 x 11mm with a mass of just 240 grams. That is a meaningful presence in the hand and not a light phone by any measure, but it’s also significantly closer to a normal phone than those typically marketed as rugged. The IP68 rating for dust and water resistance is where it should be at this price point and covers immersion up to a metre for 30 minutes, which is the standard you would expect.

The frame is aluminium, and I suspect the display is Gorilla Glass protected, though Punkt's own materials are somewhat vague on those specifics.

The button layout is as derivative as it gets, with the volume rocker and power button on the right, and a custom button on the left.

However, due to unresolved beta issues with AphyOS, the fingerprint reading doesn’t currently work, and there is no way to define what the custom key does. By accident, I discovered it takes a shot while using the camera, but there is no tool to adjust what it does at this time. I’m assuming that the fingerprint will be read via the power button, because I don’t see the rear sensor that the phone mentioned when I tried to use this feature.

The bottom edge of the phone has the SIM tray and USB port, which doesn’t require a rubber plug, thankfully. It’s slightly odd that there is an external SIM tray, since the entire back of the MC03 comes off, revealing the replaceable battery and the TF card slot. Since there is only one Nano SIM supported by the external slot, why this wasn’t placed inside is a mystery. You can have a second SIM by eSIM, so you can have two phone numbers and a TF card in place simultaneously.

Having a battery you can replace is certainly a great feature, especially in an IP68-rated phone, although the capacity of only 5200 mAh isn’t huge. On top of the battery is a wireless charging coil that enables the phone to charge at 15W without a cable being inserted if you have a Qi-compatible charger.

(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)

Probably the other standout feature of the MC03 is the screen, a 6.67-inch OLED with a 120Hz refresh rate, a dramatic improvement over the IPS panel the MC02 got. However, I do find a strong sense of irony in putting OLED on a phone that uses monochrome icons as part of its minimalist ethos.

Although not in the Punkt. specs, the peak brightness is around 550 nits, which is workable but not especially impressive for outdoor use in strong sunlight. OLED's inherent contrast advantage helps considerably, and the 120Hz refresh makes the interface feel responsive rather than sluggish in a way the old panel never could. Punkt describes the display as supporting HDR, which should benefit anything streamed from Proton or accessed via the Wild Web environment.

The MC03 certainly has a love-or-hate aesthetic based on how you feel about minimalism as a design concept. While I’m not a massive fan of excessive embellishments, there isn’t much to get excited about here from a style perspective either. Because I have the view that a lack of style isn’t an actual style, in the same way that black isn’t truly a color.

But, you might think differently, and the replaceable battery is something few alternatives can match.

Punkt. MC03: Features

• MediaTek Dimensity 7300
• 5200 mAh battery

The Dimensity 7300 is such a common SoC that I must have written a sixteen-part white paper’s worth of words about this octa-core chip that uses 2x Cortex-A78 @ 2.5GHz + 6x Cortex-A55 @ 2.0GHz.

Technically, it can address up to 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage, but on this device, you get half of that amount in each case. The issue here isn’t that the Dimensity 7300 is a poor SoC, because it's far from that, but frankly, it’s a mid-range SoC, not something built for a premium design.

That said, I’m wondering if the sort of customer Punkt. is aiming the MC03 at will care, because it’s unlikely they’ll be running the sort of tasks that demand more performance than the Dimensity 7300 has to offer. But it should be clear that if this phone were made in China, and not Germany, the justification for its asking price would be even more contradictory than it already is.

The one advantage of using a 4nm SoC design is that it can make the battery go a long way, and with only 5200 mAh of capacity under the hood, then maybe it was the right choice.

While it is possible to change this battery, this isn’t one of those situations where you would want to buy an extra battery to carry along to swap when you need more power. Replacing the battery requires partially dismantling the phone, and the connectors aren’t designed for repeated detachment and reattachment cycles. Swapping the battery is something you might do when it doesn’t hold a charge reliably, maybe three years from now, not because you forgot to charge it up.

(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)

With a battery of this size and 33W charging, it can be recharged from empty reasonably quickly, I estimate in under two hours.

And using wireless charging, it should take about twice that timeframe. That there doesn’t appear to be a provision for reverse charging is no huge surprise on a battery of this capacity.

Punkt. MC03: Software

(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)

AphyOS, developed by the Swiss firm Apostrophy, is the entire reason the MC03 exists and the source of its most interesting commercial divergence. The operating system is built on AOSP 15, meaning the Android foundation is familiar and functional, but Apostrophy has replaced the tracking and monetisation infrastructure that normally sits on top of that foundation with its own privacy-first layer.

The most visible expression of that approach is the dual environment. The Vault is the primary home screen and contains only applications that have been vetted and approved by Punkt and AphyOS.

In practice, that means the full Proton suite, including Mail, Calendar, Drive, VPN and Pass, alongside Threema for encrypted messaging and Punkt's own curated app selection. The interface in this environment is intentionally monochrome and minimal, which sounds austere, but the logic here is that it actively discourages the aimless scrolling that characterises most smartphone use.

The Wild Web is the second environment, accessible via a swipe, and it is where the MC03 reveals its pragmatism. Google Play is not installed by default, but users can enable it during the setup process if they wish. Third-party applications installed here operate within sandboxed environments with visible, adjustable permissions. The MC03 does not pretend the wider Android ecosystem does not exist; it simply insists that applications within it be contained and transparent about their data appetites.

Additional AphyOS features include Digital Nomad, a built-in VPN that encrypts traffic, and the Ledger, which gives per-app privacy controls ranging from full access to complete lockdown. The Ledger also includes a Carbon Reduction view showing background energy consumption by application, which is either a genuinely useful tool for the environmentally conscious or a conversation starter, depending on how you look at it.

(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)

The snag? The first twelve months of AphyOS are included with the device. After that, continued access to the full feature set costs $9.99 per month, or around $120 per year. Multi-year bundles reduce this significantly: three years of future subscription is priced at $129 (a saving of 45 per cent), and five years at $199 (a saving of 60 per cent).

Without a subscription, the phone reverts to a basic AOSP device, which means losing the Vault environment, the Proton integration, the VPN, and the managed app ecosystem.

Given the device's relatively high cost, is this additional subscription justified?

The honest answer is that value depends entirely on your existing outgoings and your threat model. If you already pay for Proton Mail and a separate VPN service, the MC03 subscription bundles several things you are already paying for into a device-level solution.

Many Proton users pay $9.99 per month for Proton Unlimited on its own, and that does not include device-level hardening or a Threema subscription. From that angle, the MC03 subscription is competitive with the status quo rather than additional to it.

For journalists, legal professionals, medical practitioners, activists in high-risk environments, or anyone handling commercially sensitive communications, the total cost-of-ownership argument is reasonably straightforward. For a general-purpose user who mostly wants social media and a decent camera, the case is harder to make.

Punkt. MC03: Cameras

(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)

• 64MP, 8MP and 2MP on the rear
• 32MP on the front
• Four cameras in total

Rear camera: 64MP Omnivision OV64b40 Primary Sensor, 8MP GalaxyCore GC08A3 Wide Angle, GalaxyCore GC02M1 Macro
Front camera: 32MP GalaxyCore GC32E1

Let’s cut to the chase, some of these sensors are decent, others less so, the thing they all have in common is that they are inexpensive. Evidently, Punkt. doesn’t consider its core audience to be interested in photography, which is why we see Omnivision and GalaxyCore sensors across the board.

While the 64MP Omnivision OV64b40 isn’t a bad primary sensor, it's not something I’d expect to see on a premium device, but rather on a low- to mid-tier device.

It can take some sharp photos in good light conditions, and it has ML-PDAF focusing, but it only has digital zooming, not optical, and its native 0.7μm pixels are smaller than many competitors.

But as I’ve seen more of the results of this sensor, I’ve also noticed that the dynamic range isn’t wide, and it tends to wash out bright areas too easily. Some of its deficiencies can be addressed by post-capture software processing, but I see little evidence of this on the MC03, resulting in missing detail in shadows, for example.

The redeeming aspect of this camera cluster is that it will take 4K video, even if the storage capacity of this phone isn’t ideal for doing that.

One disappointment is that Punkt. wouldn’t pay for the Widevine L1 license, only L3, so if you use the MC03 to watch streams from the likes of Disney or Netflix then the resolution will only be 480p, even if you have an HDR-rated display capable of better than 1080p.

In short, not a photographer's phone, although it can take the odd decent image.

Punkt. MC03 Camera samplesMark PickavanceMark PickavanceMark PickavanceMark PickavanceMark PickavanceMark PickavanceMark PickavanceMark PickavanceMark PickavanceMark PickavanceMark PickavanceMark PickavanceMark PickavanceMark PickavanceMark PickavanceMark PickavanceMark PickavanceMark PickavancePunkt. MC03: Performance

Phone

Punkt MC03

Motorola ThinkPhone 25

SoC

MediaTek Dimensity 7300

Mediatek Mediatek Dimensity 7300-Ultra

GPU

Mali-G615 MC2

Mali-G615 MC2

NPU

MediaTek NPU 655

MediaTek NPU 655

Memory

8GB/256GB

8GB/256GB

Weight

240g

171g

Battery

5200

4310

Geekbench

Single

1013

1050

Multi

2974

2998

OpenCL

2481

2602

Vulkan

2478

2527

PCMark

3.0 Score

13082

15115

Battery

13h 15m

14h 21

Charge in 30 Mins

%

39

55

Passmark

Score

13819

14125

CPU

6912

7077

3DMark

Slingshot OGL

6642

6090

Slingshot Ex. OGL

5188

5037

Slingshot Ex. Vulkan

4905

3676

Wildlife

3184

3185

Nomad Lite

350

349

Originally, I was going to compare this phone to the AGM G3 Pro, since it uses the same SoC, but instead, I went with the Motorola ThinkPhone 25, which also uses that platform. I could have used the Doogee V Max LR, Ulefone Armor 34 Pro or Ulefone Armor 30 Pro, as these all use it too.

As you can see from these numbers, the performance of the Dimensity 7300 is reasonably consistent irrespective of the brand of phone, and it delivers reasonable if unexciting results.

However, what I found genuinely interesting was that with less battery, 20% less, the Motorola managed to run for a little longer. That hints that when you reorganise the OS to be more secure, there might be an impact on power efficiency. And, the Motorola also charges more rapidly, because it can charge at 68W, not 33W.

But the most damning aspect of this comparison isn’t in these benchmark scores. It’s that the ThinkPhone costs only £275 in the UK (not available in the USA), and it comes with a far superior camera platform that includes an optical zoom.

Therefore, if you strip away the AphyOS part of the MC03 offering, it appears to be more than double the price that the hardware can reasonably justify.

Punkt. MC03: Early verdict

(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)

I can rationalise that some people find minimalist tech attractive, probably because of companies like Microsoft and others that overstuff their products with features their customers never asked for.

However, my experience with the MC03 didn’t make me want to embrace the ringfenced mindset behind this design for numerous reasons.

As a reviewer of this device, along with the device I was provided by the makers with a long list of critical, major and minor known problems with the MC03. Having had the phone for a month, none of these has been addressed so far, and I’ve found additional problems along the way. Considering that this phone is meant to be ready for customers at the end of April, it’s concerning that I haven't seen a rapid succession of updates.

If I do see a bug-squashing firmware release before it is available to purchase, I’ll add a note to that effect below.

But those flaws aside, my first complaint is that this device assumes, probably because the customer bought it, that they’ve entirely bought into the Punkt. ecosystem even before they’ve used the phone.

When you run through the typical question-and-answer system of a phone initialisation, you are told to create an Aphy account, which gives you one year of free use, and then it’s a paid subscription. You don’t get to skip this and come back to it later, which I personally hated.

Then it asks you which Aphy apps you want to install, even if you have no idea which ones you want, and it won’t accept the answer ‘none of them’. Again, the same approach to the customer is blatantly to do as you are told.

I randomly picked Proton VPN, and then I discovered that while you need an Aphy account to access the app, you also have to pay extra to use it.

It’s like at every turn, this device holds its hand up and declares that where you are heading is out of bounds. A personal favourite, and not one of the documented bugs, was that I couldn’t take screenshots of my benchmark results.

It told me that either the app or my organisation had not given permission for that! Yes, that overburdening corporation I work for decided I couldn’t take screenshots, even though I’m self-employed.

I could go on, but it’s all rather tedious to recount, and it made me just want vanilla Android more than ever.

Yes, I’m sure that what Punkt. has been built is technically more secure, and reducing the app model to this form has undeniable benefits. But, as has been the complaint with previous Punkt. phones, they’re expensive and can have significant bugs that the company seems slow to fix.

Others have commented that the security credentials of AphyOS come from companies that Punkt. does business with, where alternatives like Graphene have had independent third-party appraisals. I don’t have the inside knowledge to confirm or refute that view, but it would be interesting to see what the Mythos AI, created by Anthropic, made of this platform from a vulnerability perspective.

The security angle aside, the biggest issue here is asking this much for a phone with mid-tier components and additional subscriptions for the secure apps seems to shrink the number of potential customers for the MC03. But since this company has sold enough MC01 and MC02 devices to remain in business, it must be doing enough right to have brought us the MC03.

For more options, check out our selection of the best business smartphones we've tested.

Reolink Solar Floodlight Cam: two-minute review

Founded in 2009 by a team of engineers in Shenzhen, China, Reolink has grown into a global provider of smart, yet affordable, security cameras. A little while back I tested the Reolink Altas PT Ultra and was really impressed with the 355-degree pan and 90-degree tilt camera, though the design was a little bulky. This recently launched Reolink Solar Floodlight Cam is very different though.

While it doesn’t feature a rotating pan-and-tilt camera (instead it features a fixed lens with 150-degree field of view), it does boast two large LED panels capable of delivering up to 1,000 lumens of brightness. It’s also quite a bit cheaper than the Reolink Altas PT Ultra, currently retailing for around £85. Of course, the cheaper price tag does involve some trade-offs, not least the lower video resolution. Whereas the Reolink Altas PT Ultra offers 4K ultra high definition, the Solar Floodlight Cam is restricted to 2K (1440p) resolution. However, for the vast majority of people, 2K video resolution is more than adequate.

The camera's two extra-bright spotlights resemble 'ears' on either side of the main unit (Image credit: Future)

Designed to be placed on the outside of the property with a clear view of the sky at a height of around 2.5 to 3m, the Reolink Solar Floodlight Cam is reasonably easy to install. In the box there’s a mounting bracket with screws and wall plugs, as well as — unusually — a mounting wrench for tightening up the bracket.

Before installation, you will need to charge the unit using the USB-C cable provided and pair the camera with the Reolink app using the QR code on the back of the unit. Helpfully, the camera supports both 2.4GHz and 5GHz Wi-Fi frequencies and it tells you when it is successfully paired with your home network.

The camera comes with a mounting bracket and screws, plus a mounting wrench to tighten the bracket (Image credit: Future)

Unlike some apps, which can be confusing to navigate, the Reolink app offers everything you need within a reasonably clear interface. You can select the different types of object you want the camera to detect (human, animal, vehicle or other) and set a schedule for when you want recordings to happen (for example, switch off during the day if you know family members are going to be around). You can also exclude certain parts of the frame, which is handy if — like me — you are setting the camera up in a back garden and don’t want to record activity from your next-door neighbour’s property.

Alternatively, if you don’t want to use the Reolink app, the device can be fully integrated with Amazon Alexa, allowing you to view live video feeds on screen-enabled devices such as an Echo Show (though we didn’t test this facility). You can even control the floodlights using your own voice via the Alexa app.

The Reolink app has a refreshingly clear interface (Image credit: Future)

In addition to two powerful spotlights, a very loud 110dB siren is provided to help deter burglars. Alternatively, it’s possible to set your own custom audio tone if the alarm is triggered such as whispering ‘pssst’ to get intruders to look at the camera for better facial recognition.

Not only can the brightness of the LED spotlights be adjusted depending on your preferences, it’s also possible to adjust color temperature depending on whether you want your intruders to be bathed in a cold ‘blue-ish’ light or a much warmer yellow light.

You can adjust the brightness of the camera's twin spotlights, and even their color temperature (Image credit: Future)

Two-way audio is provided for communications with sound coming from a large-ish speaker on the bottom of the unit next to the PIR sensor and waterproof connections for the USB-C cable and Micro SD card.

Footage can be recorded either to the MicroSD card (up to a maximum of 512GB) or you can subscribe to Reolink Cloud to store footage in the cloud – see details below. This facility also includes AI Video Search so you can quickly find footage using natural language. For example, type ‘man wearing a red T-shirt’ and in the UK it will bring up the postman coming to the door and anyone else wearing a red T-shirt!

Reolink Solar Floodlight Cam: subscription options

Reolink Cloud, Single Device Plan: Up to 30-day cloud video history, one camera, 16GB cloud storage, AI video search. £2.71 (about $3.50 / AU$5) per month.

Reolink Cloud, Standard Plan. Premier Plan: Up to 30-day cloud video history, up to 5 cameras supported, 30GB cloud storage. £2.87 (about $4 / AU$6) per month.

See https://cloud.reolink.com/cloud-plan for further details

Reolink Solar Floodlight Cam: price and availability

• How much does it cost? Reolink Solar Floodlight Cam £85 UK, $US99, $AUD169
• When is it available? Since March 2026
• Where is it available? UK/US/Australia

First announced at CES 2026 in early January, the Solar Floodlight Cam is one of a number of devices Reolink is planning to release this year. Others include a 24MP triple lens outdoor camera (the OMVI X16 PoE) and an interesting Reolink AI set-top box designed to add AI functionality to non-AI cameras.

What’s more, the Floodlight Cam is also one of the cheapest outdoor cameras you can buy with local storage (although you will have to fork out for your own Micro SD card). Whereas some companies keep hardware prices relatively low by tying you into a subscription even for basic functionality, the Reolink offers a best of both worlds’ solution - cheap hardware combined with local subscription-free storage.

Nor is just about the money. For those worried about the security of cloud-based storage, local storage is a far safer option (providing the burglar doesn’t steal the camera with the MicroSD card inside, of course). However, there is always the option of taking out a monthly subscription if you so choose.

Whereas some manufacturers will charge you over £10 a month for basic functionality, at least Reolink Cloud is relatively cheap. Subscription prices have even come down since I last reviewed a Reolink product around 18 months ago. You can now get 30-days of recordings stored in the cloud for less than £3 a month. The cloud subscription also includes AI video search for finding recordings using short descriptions.

• Value score: 4.5/5

Reolink Solar Floodlight Cam: design

• Unique triple cube design
• Fixed solar panel
• IP66 waterproofing

Most outdoor security cameras comprise either one or maybe two main elements. There’s usually the camera itself plus a solar panel which is either mounted on the camera or housed in a separate device and connected via a USB-C cable. The Reolink Solar Floodlight Cam is unusual in that it really comprises four elements of similar size and shape.

First there’s the main cube where the fixed camera lens and PIR are located. Then there are the two flexible LED lights that sit either side like big flappy ears. Finally, there’s the solar panel, which sits on top of the main unit.

The solar panel is in a fixed position, so you need to be careful to mount the camera in a place where it will catch the sun (Image credit: Future)

Usually if the solar panel is integrated it can be moved manually towards the sun (or in the case of the innovative Baseus Security S2 the panel actually rotates with the movement of the sun). But that’s not the case here. Instead, the solar panel is fixed which means you will need to install the camera somewhere that is relatively sunny to ensure additional power.

Initially I had worried that the unusual cube design might make the Solar Floodlight Cam feel a bit more flimsy than some of the more conventional tubular shaped models. However, this white unit feels well-built and comes with IP66 waterproofing.

The camera is equipped with a dome-shaped motion sensor and a large speakerFutureThe camera is equipped with a dome-shaped motion sensor and a large speakerFuture

Underneath the camera are two weatherproof sockets (one for external power from a USB-C cable and one for power on/off and a MicroSD card slot). Also provided are a PIR dome motion sensor and large speaker. Finally at the back of the camera sits a metal ball joint that connects to the mounting bracket to provide ultimate flexibility when it comes to angling the camera.

• Design score: 4/5

Reolink Solar Floodlight Cam: performance

• Powerful 1,000-lumen illumination
• 2K resolution
• Color night vision

When it comes to performance it’s fair to say that the Reolink is solid rather than spectacular. Images from the 2K (1440p) camera lens aren’t the sharpest I’ve seen, certainly nowhere near as good as those from its stablemate, the Reolink Altas PT Ultra. However, where it comes into its own is its ability to capture footage in near total darkness. Virtually every night I tested the camera it captured wildlife in my garden, including several foxes and even a hedgehog! Thankfully no human intruders though.

Reolink's app is easy to use, and clips are neatly ordered for quick referenceFutureYou can schedule times when the camera should and shouldn't watch for activityFutureAdjusting the battery mode can extend the time between chargesFutureThe time lapse setting is unusual, but helpful for things like tracking the process of a building projectFuture

Whereas some security cameras have apps that are very difficult to navigate, Reolink’s are generally very easy to use. Underneath the main image there’s a timeline where you can scroll through captured footage — useful if you missed the push notifications on your phone. Each of the clips is categorized for easy reference with an image of a running person for an intruder, pawprint for animal or a circle for other sighting. This makes it much easier to find relevant footage.

As with many security cameras, I found the lens on the Reolink Solar Floodlight camera a little too sensitive at its default setting of 80. For example, sheets hanging on a washing line were routinely triggering alerts. As a result, I found it necessary to reduce the sensitivity to around 50 so it didn’t capture every minor movement.

The Reolink Solar Floodlight Cam doesn't capture the sharpest images in daylight...Future...but it really comes into its own after darkFuture

Alternatively, if you want to use the camera for creative, rather than security purposes, there’s an innovative time lapse setting. This can be set up to capture images at set intervals of between 10 seconds and six hours and also includes different pre-sets including one for construction — handy if you are tracking the progress of a building project.

• Performance score: 4/5

Should you buy the Reolink Solar Floodlight Cam?Reolink Solar Floodlight Cam score card

Attribute

Notes

Score

Value

Costing around £85, the Reolink Solar Floodlight Cam is excellent value for money considering it offers two large spotlights and a built-in solar panel.

4.5/5

Design

An unusual cube design, the Reolink is surprisingly sturdy with decent IP66 rating.

4/5

Performance

The Reolink produces solid rather than spectacular images. However, its menus are easy to navigate and it incorporates some useful features such as time lapse.

4/5

Average rating

If you want a decent security camera with powerful spotlights that you don’t have to keep recharging every few months then the Reolink Solar Floodlight Cam is a good option, especially given the competitive price tag.

4/5

Reolink Solar Floodlight Cam: also consider

Reolink Solar Floodlight Cam

Ring Spotlight Cam Pro (Solar)

IMOU Cell 3C

MP

Subscription price

None. Optional Reolink Cloud From £2.71 a month.

From £4.99 a month

None required. optional IMOU Protect from £3.49 a month)

Viewing angle

150° ultra-wide (diagonal)

140° view horizontal, 80° vertical

120° horizontal

Network connection

Wi-Fi (2.4GHz/5GHz)

Wi-Fi (2.4GHz/5GHz)

Wi-Fi (2.4GHz)

Audio

Two-way audio

Two-way audio

Two-way audio

Video

2K (1440p) video resolution

2K Video, HDR, Live View, Color Night Vision

2K (3MP) video resolution

Power

Battery/Solar

Battery/Solar (mains option also available)

Battery/Solar

Hardware price

£85 (with built in solar panel)

£199 (with separate solar panel)

£49.99 (with built in solar panel)

If you're not sure whether the Reolink Solar Floodlight Cam is the right device to protect your home, here are two other options you should consider:

Ring Spotlight Cam Pro (Solar)

Available in black or white, this outdoor security camera from Amazon-owned Ring comes in battery, solar and mains versions. Great functionality but relatively expensive, especially with monthly subs.

Read our full review of the Ring Spotlight Cam Pro

IMOU Cell 3C

A decent outdoor security camera with integrated solar panel. What it lacks in image quality the IMOU more than make up for in functionality and the price is extremely competitive.

Read our full review of the IMOU Cell 3C

Should you buy the Reolink Solar Floodlight Cam?Buy it if

You want to flood your property with light

One of the main benefits of the Reolink Solar Floodlight Cam are the two powerful spotlights providing up to 1,000 lumens of illumination.

You don’t want to have to recharge the device’s battery

The Reolink features a built-in solar panel so you don’t have to recharge the built-in lithium ion battery so often.

How I tested the Reolink Solar Floodlight Cam

• * I used the camera outdoors for 10 days
• * I set it up myself using the fittings provided by the manufacturer
• * The security camera was installed on the outside of my summer house

I installed the Reolink camera on the front of my summer house which also serves as a small gym and an office during the summer. Because the building is made of wood it makes it simple to install cameras using the screws provided, whereas if it was on a brick wall I would have to use a drill and the wall plugs provided for installation.

As the solar panel is fixed and the ideal location for the camera is under the eaves of the summer house I had worried that the solar panel would be ineffective. But, remarkably, after 10 days of testing (admittedly many of them actually sunny for a change), the camera’s battery is still at 100% charge. Part of the reason is that I turned the sensitivity of the camera down to reduce the number of false alerts. I also reduced the brightness of the spotlights so as not to annoy the neighbours with too much light pollution every time an alert is triggered.

QLVR ENDVR: Two minute review

Most running shoes feel familiar for a reason: the formula has barely changed in millennia. We have archaeological evidence of shoes being fastened with “shoelaces” as far back as around 3,500 BC, yet the basic lace-up running trainer remains the default.

QLVR (pronounced “clever”) set out to challenge that. Its debut shoe, the ENDVR, is a laceless “running slipper” built around a women-specific mechanical structure, with a slip-on Wing Fit system inspired by the way a bird’s wing opens and closes around movement.

The brand’s core argument is blunt: most athletic shoes are designed on men’s lasts (the mechanical devise used by manufacturers to create the foot shape) and scaled down for women, even though women’s feet tend to have different shapes and pressure points. So, they decided to literally break the mould and design something specifically for women’s feet.

It sounds like a noble ambition, although it didn’t necessarily start out as one. Originally the company was focused on doing away with laces. But co-founder and footwear designer Martin Dean soon realised this would be impossible with a unisex shoe.

“We were tweaking the design but we couldn't get it to work. The unisex fit system means it would just be too loose on the back of a woman's foot,” said Dean.

“That's when we realised that the majority of footwear is made to fit a man's foot. So we thought ‘let's launch this for women’.”

As a runner who often struggles with shoe fit, I could immediately relate to Dean’s explanation. I spend an inordinate amount of time fiddling with laces trying to get the fit around my ankle just right. I don’t want the laces to dig in, but I also don’t want my ankles rocking around. I also struggle with the width of running shoes finding that the toe box shape is never quite right. Typically, a lot of running technology, not just shoes but also some of the best running watches, are male by default.

When I heard about the QLVR ENDVR I was keen to try them out. Maybe, finally, this shoe would fit! Over the past couple of months, I’ve been testing the shoe on a range of activities. Treadmill intervals, 10k easy road runs, gym sessions and as an everyday trainer for trips around the shops.

As soon as I slipped the pair on they immediately felt different. But were they the shoe I was ultimately looking for?

(Image credit: Lily Canter)What makes it different?

The 'women-first’ part is not just a marketing line. QLVR is designed around a more 'triangular' female foot shape, with a narrower heel, wider toe area, and higher arches, rather than shrinking a men’s shoe and relying on laces to make up the slack.

The laceless part is the standout: the Wing Fit system is designed to sit in a closed, ‘laced-up’ position, flexing as you step in and then holding the rearfoot securely once your heel drops. In practice, it’s the first slip-on I’ve tried that feels like it’s meant to be run in. There is an immediate locked-in feel, and the foot is held snugly inside with minimal slippage. Being able to slip on a shoe and have the perfect heel fit straight away is a revelation.

Then there’s sustainability. QLVR leans hard into bio-based materials: a dandelion-derived foam it calls Dandelite, a Pebax Rnew polymer (from castor beans) for the Wing Fit system and propulsion plate, and a Tencel yarn upper made from eucalyptus fibres.

What it’s like to run in

The fit is the first shock. I used QLVR’s sizing guidance and went down to a UK 6.5 (I usually size up to a 7 in running shoes). Straight out of the box, they felt very snug: secure around the ankle and heel, with noticeably more arch presence than I’m used to.

But that sense of the arch’s prominence faded fast. Once I started moving, the shoe relaxed into something closer to a slipper-like comfort, without the wobbly, overly soft feeling some max-cushioned shoes can have. For easy treadmill miles, it’s been especially pleasant: quiet, stable, and easy to forget about.

The laceless convenience is not a gimmick, either. If you’re popping out for a short run, going from work to gym, or fitting training into the cracks of a day, sliding in and heading off is genuinely freeing. No lace bite across the midfoot, no fiddling to get heel lockdown just right. The rearfoot hold is simply “there” every time.

QLVR positions the ENDVR as a shoe that can handle everything from intervals to cross-training. Based on my testing, that checks out. It feels comfortable and controlled for steady running, and supportive enough for gym sessions where you’re moving laterally or lifting lightly.

But that doesn’t mean it’s perfect. For me, the snugness may be a limiter. On longer distances, feet swell and I like a little more room up front. With my toes close to the end of the shoe and a hint of heel rub developing, I’d be cautious about taking these beyond half marathon territory. But then again, they are designed as an all-round training shoe rather than a long distance running pair.

Grip has been mostly fine on roads, but on icy patches I felt less confident than in some of my regular winter-friendly trainers. And, subjectively, the look will be divisive: the Wing Fit silhouette is unapologetically bold, and personally I think they’re pretty ugly.

One extra practical win: QLVR says you can machine-wash the shoes cold after removing the insoles and using a laundry bag.

(Image credit: Lily Canter)Price and availability

The QLVR ENDVR costs £165 ($233, AUS $311) and is sold direct from the QLVR website. QLVR says it ships worldwide, although its FAQ notes US shipping is temporarily on hold while it assesses the impact of new import tariffs. The pricing is pretty much on-par with mid-range running and gym shoes.

QLVR ENDVR: Specifications

Type

Neutral multi-training

Drop

9mm drop with 35mm rear / 26mm forefoot stack height

Weight

270g (women’s size 6)

Sizing note

QLVR’s current guidance is worth considering carefully, as it is a little contradictory. The product page and FAQ suggest the shoe can size up a bit small, recommending going up half or a full size if you’re between sizes. But the size chart says if you follow its guide you don’t need to go up in size, as toe wiggle-room is built in. This is why I opted for a 6.5 after measuring my feet according to their metrics. If I wanted to run longer distances in these shoes, I would definitely size up to 7.

QLVR: Scorecard

Category

Comment

Score

Value

Appropriate for mid-range shoes

4/5

Design

Innovative and interesting

4/5

Performance

Great for mid-distance

4/5

QLVR ENDVR: Should I buy?Buy it if...

You're interested in new running tech

Been running in the same kind of shoes all your life? The QLVR is for runners interested in the experimental.

You care about the environment

The bio-based materials mean the shoe manufacturing process is eco-conscious.

Don't buy it if...

You're male

The QLVR ENDVR is specifically biomechanically designed for women's feet

You're a marathoner

If you’re a long-run purist or ultra runner who needs toe-box space when your feet puff up and a little more slack at the heel, then this might not be the solution you are seeking.

First reviewed: March 2026

InnoCN GA27S1Q: 30-second review

On paper, the GA27S1Q is a remarkably well-specified monitor at a price that seriously undercuts the established names. Whether InnoCN can deliver on those specifications in the real world is what I set out to establish in this review, and spoiler alert, it largely hits its marks.

This design was originally pitched as a gaming platform, but it’s impossible for businesses to ignore a 27-inch QD-OLED panel running at 280Hz with an ergonomically adjustable chassis and a $400 price tag.

Especially as that cost puts it some distance below the usual asking price for this class of display from the likes of LG, Samsung, and Asus.

The headline numbers are certainly striking. A 2560 x 1440 resolution, a 0.03ms GtG response time, dual HDMI 2.1 ports, dual DisplayPort 1.4, a 1,500,000:1 contrast ratio, and coverage claimed at 98% DCI-P3 all look very good on paper. The panel supports a 48 to 280Hz adaptive sync range, covers AMD FreeSync and is G-Sync compatible, and includes VESA DisplayHDR True Black 400 certification.

Where OLED always gives with one hand and takes with the other is brightness. The GA27S1Q is rated at 250 nits typical in SDR, which is a long way south of the figures that premium IPS and Mini-LED panels advertise. Therefore, this isn’t the screen for a brightly lit office, but it would work fine in a darker environment.

The design carries over the approach seen on other recent InnoCN monitors, with a flat panel, a three-sided frameless bezel, and a stand that offers height adjustment, tilt, swivel, and 90-degree pivot. RGB lighting sits on the rear cover, which can be switched off for those who would rather not have a light show behind their desk.

What the GA27S1Q offers for the business user is a highly affordable 27-inch panel with decent colour accuracy, low power consumption and sufficient input flexibility, all at a significant price reduction over branded options.

It might not be 4K or have enough nits of brightness for a premium HDR experience, but it ticks enough other boxes that it’s worthy of consideration for our best business monitors on value alone.

InnoCN GA27S1Q: Price and availability

(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)

• How much does it cost? $449.99
• When is it out? It available now
• Where can you get it? Direct from InnoCN

The GA27S1Q launched in late January 2026 with a price of $549.99. At that level, it sits in very interesting territory, undercutting well-known 27-inch QD-OLED competitors by a meaningful margin.

It's listed on the official website here - although at the time of review, it's sold out. However, it is available for $400 at Amazon.com.

InnoCN ships to the US, the UK, Canada, and EU countries directly, with free shipping included and a 30-day return window. A 12-month warranty covers manufacturing defects, with lifetime technical support promised beyond that.

UK and European pricing in local currencies had not been formally confirmed at the time of writing. The direct site prices in USD and the company's existing shipping infrastructure to this region suggest the GA27S1Q should be accessible to UK buyers, though it may need to be ordered directly from the InnoCN website rather than through a local retailer.

• Value: 5 / 5

InnoCN GA27S1Q: Specs

Specification

Detail

Model

GA27S1Q (also known as 2780s)

Panel size

27 inches (flat)

Panel type

QD-OLED

Resolution

2560 × 1440 (QHD / 1440p)

Aspect ratio

16:9

Pixel density

108.8 PPI

Refresh rate

280Hz (adaptive sync range 48–280Hz)

Response time

0.03ms GtG

Brightness (typical)

250 nits (SDR) / 200 nits minimum

Contrast ratio

1,500,000:1

Colour depth

10-bit (1.07 billion colours)

Colour coverage

98% DCI-P3, 99% sRGB, 94% Adobe RGB, 78% BT.2020

Colour accuracy

Delta E < 2 (factory claimed)

Viewing angles

178° horizontal / 178° vertical

HDR

VESA DisplayHDR True Black 400

Surface treatment

Non-glare (matte)

Bezel

Three-sided frameless

Connectivity

2× HDMI 2.1, 2× DisplayPort 1.4, 1× 3.5mm audio out

Adaptive sync

AMD FreeSync, G-Sync compatible

Speakers

2W × 2

Stand adjustment

Tilt -5° to +20°, swivel ±22.5°, pivot 90°, height 120mm

VESA mount

100 × 100mm

RGB lighting

Yes (rear cover)

Power supply

External adapter (DC 19V, 4.74A)

Power consumption

65W typical / 100W max

Dimensions (with stand)

611.1 × 513.5 × 221mm

Weight

5.7kg

Scaler

MT9802QDQTBX

Special features

Low blue light, flicker-free, PIP/PBP, anti-burn-in, Game Plus

InnoCN GA27S1Q: Design

(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)

• Thin and elegant
• Power brick
• Lacks a USB hub

The GA27S1Q follows a design language that InnoCN has been refining across its recent monitor range. The flat panel sits behind a three-sided frameless bezel, with only a thin chin visible at the bottom of the screen. The overall silhouette is clean and modern, without chasing the aggressive gamer aesthetic that dominates the other side of this market.

The stand is a genuine highlight at this price point. It offers 120mm of height adjustment, plus or minus 22.5 degrees of swivel, a tilt range from minus 5 to plus 20 degrees, and a full 90-degree pivot for portrait mode. There isn’t an orientation sensor, so if you switch, you will need to make some changes on the computer to output in portrait mode.

While hardly a business requirement, RGB lighting is present on the rear panel, but this can be switched off entirely via the OSD for those who prefer a calmer desk. VESA mounting is supported at the standard 100 x 100mm pattern, which means swapping to an arm is straightforward.

Connectivity is two HDMI 2.1 ports, two DisplayPort 1.4 inputs, and a single 3.5mm audio out. The dual HDMI 2.1 ports are useful for anyone running both a high-end PC and a console, with both capable of supporting 1440p at high refresh rates without an adapter.

The omission of a USB hub is notable at this price level, and the external power brick, rather than an integrated PSU, adds a small amount of cable-management friction, though this is common across OLED-class panels to better manage heat.

(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)

The OSD is navigated via a rear-mounted joystick, a far superior experience to the guess-the-button game that some monitors still embrace. However, you don’t need to use this at all, since a downloadable app is available which provides all the functionality of the OSD from the desktop.

Overall, this is a well-considered design that shows off how thin the QLED panel can make a monitor. It’s lightweight, enabling it to be easily moved around, and the OSD provides a wide range of configuration options for those who like to calibrate their screens.

There are some caveats to do with HDR and how that locks many features down, which I’ll talk about later, but there isn’t much about the GA27S1Q that makes it immediately identifiable as a low-cost option.

• Design: 4 / 5

(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)InnoCN GA27S1Q: Performance

• Under 250 nits
• 100% sRGB
• 99% AdobeRGB

Colour Gamut

Percentage

sRGB

100%

AdobeRGB

99%

P3

98%

NTSC

96%

Rec2020

85%

Gamma

2.2

Brightness/Contrast

Maximum Brightness

232.6

Maximum Contrast

N/A

These numbers show what OLED can offer, and it’s jolly impressive for anyone who works with colour on a regular basis. Those who get one of these and want to show off can send it into HDR mode and run some YouTube HDR demonstrations, and the colours are zinging.

However, it's not perfect, and the brightness limitations of this panel keep it from being ideal for HDR video work, as under 250 nits just isn’t enough to surpass HDR 400 ratings.

For HDR video work, at least HDR 1000 is needed, and this display can’t hit those notes.

But it’s evidence from the AdobeRGB 99% score that for less demanding colour work and photo editing, the GA27S1Q is more than up to the task.

One issue I need to make readers aware of is that this monitor doesn’t come with an excess of documentation. And, when I initially tried to test it using my Datacolor Spyder Pro calibrator, I found that all the optional modes were locked from modification.

While InnoCN didn’t mention this in the paperwork, I eventually discovered that when HDR mode is active on this display, you cannot adjust brightness, contrast, or select any other specific mode. Once HDR is deactivated, it's fully customisable again.

What’s important to understand is that the primary limitation of OLED (Organic Light-Emitting Diode) technology in terms of lifespan is the gradual and uneven degradation of the organic materials used to output light.

Unlike LCDs, which use a separate backlight, OLED pixels are self-emissive; each pixel generates its own light and wears out individually based on how much it is used. In OLED, this eventually causes pixels to wear out, which can cause retained images to burn into the panel and uneven wear, with blue pixels displaying more than red and green.

On paper, an OLED panel could last 10-20 years, but realistically, "real-world" usable life often ranges between 3 to 6 years for high-intensity use cases like computer monitors.

In an attempt to mitigate these issues and give this design the best chance of valuable use, the OSD contains a full spectrum of tricks and options to extend the lifespan of the panel.

These include pixel shifting, the dimming of static icons and the taskbar, boundary detection, and even a care mode. This level of detail is often missing on laptops with OLED displays, so it’s good to see that InnoCN included them here. Though some documentation to explain what all these features do would also be helpful.

The only other issue I have to report is that, for whatever reason, I couldn’t test the contrast ratio, which might have been due to the extreme nature of the contrast ramp on this display.

The quoted contrast is 1.5M:1, which is insane.

Overall, the performance of this OLED panel is the same level as I would expect from a branded monitor, and its only noticeable weakness is brightness. But, using typically around 65W, that lower brightness level does translate into a reduced power consumption.

(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)

• Performance: 5 / 5

InnoCN GA27S1Q: Final verdict

On specifications alone, the GA27S1Q makes a highly persuasive case. InnoCN has packaged a QD-OLED panel, a proper ergonomic stand, dual HDMI 2.1, and a 280Hz refresh rate at a price that sits noticeably below comparable offerings from established display brands. The 98% DCI-P3 colour coverage and factory Delta E less than 2 calibration suggest this should look excellent out of the box.

The practical caveats apply to the technology rather than to this specific panel. SDR brightness is modest by LCD standards, HDR True Black 400 is a step below the True Black 500 rating seen on some rivals, and there is no USB hub for peripherals. Those are known trade-offs with QD-OLED gaming monitors at this price level, and buyers who are aware of them going in will almost certainly find that the visual quality compensates for some of these issues.

For those looking at this display on the site and seeing the word ‘gaming’ and thinking this isn’t for business are missing the bigger picture, quite literally. This is almost the perfect display for creatives working with colour, as well as for anyone working in animation or game development.

I’m sure you can get exactly the same panel repackaged in black with a business brand logo on it, and pay at least twice the price for that. This is easily the best monitor I’ve experienced from InnoCN, and I’m excited to see what they do next.

(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)InnoCN GA27S1Q: Report card

Value

Cheap for this spec

5 / 5

Design

Nothing radical, but its missing a USB hub

4 / 5

Performance

Stunning colour gamut, contrast and refresh rate

5 / 5

Total

Easily worth what the maker is asking

4.5 / 5

Should you buy a InnoCN GA27S1Q?

(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)Buy it if...

You work in a controlled light environment
QD-OLED panels deliver stunning contrast and colour in dim or dark rooms. If your workspace has controlled lighting, the visual payoff versus an IPS or VA panel is immediately apparent.

You need colour accuracy
With 99% AdobeRGB and 98% P3, this screen can show you a gamut that is good enough for most uses where colour is critical.View Deal

Don’t buy if...

You work in a very bright room
At 250 nits typical, the SDR brightness is modest by LCD standards. In a sunlit home office or a room with overhead fluorescent lighting, a bright IPS or Mini-LED panel will be considerably more comfortable.

For more options, we've tested the best business monitors.

Narwal Flow 2: two-minute review

I’ll be the first to tell you that I have had a hate-love relationship with robot vacuums. However, over the years, I’ve watched as the technology has improved, resulting in better mapping, improved object avoidance, and exciting features. This is why I was all too glad to test the Narwal Flow 2 robot vacuum.

Narwal introduced its 2026 flagship robot vacuum in January, which resulted in a lot of buzz. It’s not the first robot vacuum to have dual cameras, but the way they work with the LM OmniVision AI Model feels like a big leap forward.

During testing, I observed the Narwal Flow 2 robot vacuum recognizing the dirtiness of a floor and adjusting the suction and mopping capabilities. Plus, its ability to 'smart clean', or recognize which areas of your house need deeper cleans, and avoid and identify obstacles is next to none. Although I don’t have pets or babies, the Pet Care Mode and Baby Care Mode are quite cool because they let the Flow 2 find your pet (and play with it), switch to quiet mode near cribs, and avoid crawling zones.

The charging dock can wash and dry the roller mop with hot air, and automatically empties the vacuum's dust bim (Image credit: Future)

Overall, I found the Narwal Flow 2 ’s smart capabilities very impressive, and its customization capabilities within the app particularly convenient. Its mopping capabilities are its best feature, and when paired with vacuuming, it does a great job of cleaning all floor types — though it doesn't fare as well with edge or corner cleaning. The suction capability wasn’t strong enough to pull super-fine materials like flour from a thick rug, but it did better than other robot vacuums I’ve tested. I would have also liked it to be half an inch shorter so it could fit under my kitchen cabinets.

The Narwal Flow 2 stands out in other ways too, such as its ability to climb over high thresholds, app and voice controls, and video feeds. The dock automatically empties the dust cup, and washes and dries the roller mop with hot water and hot air. I still think you’ll need a vacuum and a wet-dry vacuum on hand for deeper cleans or to reach spaces the robot vacuum can’t go, but the Flow 2 will do a stand-up job at keeping your home pristine between deep cleans.

The Narwal Flow 2 launched in the US in April 2026, with a premium price tag to match its high-end cleaning features. There are plenty of other great robot vacuums that are more affordable (even ones with cameras), but most don’t have the AI capabilities of this model, which really set it apart from the competition.

Narwal Flow 2: price and availability

• Price: $1,499 (about £1,100 / AU$2,100)
• Special price at launch: $1,099 (about £810 / AU$1,500)
• Launch date: April 2026
• Availability: US

The Narwal Flow 2 launched in the US on April 13, 2026, with a UK release expected at a later date. Although the list price for the robot vacuum and the base is $1,499, those who buy it during the launch can snag this combo for $1,099. It’s available directly from Narwal and Amazon, but may expand to other third-party retailers later.

The price makes sense considering that the Flow 2 is outfitted with high resolution cameras, a roller mop, and superb AI capabilities that lets it recognize shoes, cords, pets, and toys, and adjust the cleaning settings depending on the type of dirt, debris, or spill. The dock also has hot water and hot air-drying capabilities — something that lesser models lack. We consider the Narwal Flow 2 to be a premium buy since it costs more than $800 / £650 / AU$1,000 .

Our review unit came with one extra dust bag (Image credit: Future)

Our review model came with cleaning solution and one extra dust bag. Accessory replacements are available from Narwal.

Now the question remains, is this model worth $1,499? Considering all the features and control users have through the app, I would say yes. I just wish the edge and corner cleaning had matched my expectations. Perhaps an update will improve both settings soon.

• Value score: 3.5/5

Narwal Flow 2: design

• Circular robot vacuum and a self-emptying and self-cleaning base
• Anti-tangle mopping roller brush
• Dual high-definition cameras with a wide view

The Narwal Flow 2 is a black, circular robot vacuum that’s about 13.5 / 35cm inches in diameter and has the capability to lift over thresholds. At 3.7 inches / 9cm, the robot vacuum is relatively tall, and even though it can fit under my couch and baker’s rack, it doesn’t fit under my cabinets.

The Narwal Flow 2 is relatively tall and can't fit under all items of furniture (Image credit: Future)

It has a small rotating brush along the bottom edge that sweeps debris toward the zero-tangling floating brush, where the robot vacuum uses 30,000Pa to suck up debris. The Flow 2 uses a crawler mop for edges; think of it like a roller map that has been flattened so that it’s wide, long, and rotates, using 12N downward pressure to clean floors. The crawler mop can extend 1.8 inches / 5cm from the side.

The robot vacuum comes with a black base that’s 20.5 / 36cm inches tall, 14 inches / 36cm wide, and 17 / 43cm inches deep, and a cord that is 4.8 feet / 1.5m long. Separate clean water and dirty water tanks sit on top of a tank that holds the cleaning solution. Both the robot vacuum and the dock have filters.

The Narwal Flow 2 has a crawler mop that can extend from the side for cleaning close to edges (Image credit: Future)

The dock also features a dust bag that can last up to 120 days, and colored ambient lighting, which can indicate different things like when there is problem with the robot (eg flashing red lights).I

n addition to LED lights on the robot vacuum itself, the Narwal Flow 2 has dual 1080p cameras with a 136-degree field of view. The robot vacuum uses cameras and AI to recognize objects or pets and either avoid them or note them on the map, captures video and photographs, and provides deeper cleanings.

• Design score: 4.5/5

Narwal Flow 2: performance

• Climbs tall thresholds and avoids objects well
• Solid job at vacuuming and mopping
• Truly hands-free experience and easy-to-use app

I had no issue connecting the Narwal Flow 2 to Wi-Fi or the app. The robot mapped my house in 35 minutes. I had to split and merge a few rooms, but that was simple enough.

As part of my testing, I utilized the robot vacuum like anyone else might – letting it clean my entire house multiple times, directing it to specific rooms (like the kitchen after dinner), or to an area where I’d made a mess (like near my sewing machine). In doing this, I found that the vacuuming and mopping capabilities of the Narwal Flow 2 were solid. The water output was perfect, and by that, I mean my floors weren’t too wet and they dried very quickly.

One of my favorite aspects of this robot vacuum is the roller mop. Some brands opt for circular mop pads that spin, however, I always thought such pads just moved wet dirt and other materials around the floor before the robot had a chance to return to the base to wash the pads.

The Narwal Flow 2 has a roller map that’s wide (almost flattened), and as it rotates, the robot sends clean hot water to the mop so that it’s cleaning the mop as it cleans your floors. A 12N downward pressure of the roller mop also aids in removing stubborn or heavy messes. If the robot vacuum recognizes a significant spill, it will also return to the base to clean the roller before returning to clean the floor again.

The Narwal Flow 2 was able to clear door thresholds easily (Image credit: Future)

The robot easily climbed my thresholds – some of which are two inches / 5cm high – and avoided a lot of objects. In fact, I felt like it stayed too far from objects and edges at first, so I adjusted the cleaning to 'meticulous' within the app and was happier with the results.

I also watched it avoid low overhanging areas like my kitchen cabinets. At least the robot vacuum had the ability to extend the roller mop 1.8 inches / 4.6cm under the cabinet. Still, it wasn’t far enough to clean fully under the cabinet, so I had to use a vacuum to reach under there.

The robot vacuum got stuck once on my bath rug, which has fringe, but that was the only object that it ever has any issue with. it avoided cords and shoes, and even noted them on the map.

During testing, the Narwal Flow 2 managed to vacuum up all but one flower petal (Image credit: Future)

While I could customize the suction power of the vacuum, I liked to keep it on Smart so that the suction adjusted based on the floor type and whether the robot sensed dirt or a mess. I liked that the robot vacuum used the LED light in low light areas to clean better. The Narwal Flow 2 didn’t do well with suctioning large objects like medium-sized leaves from my poinsettia plants. This isn’t that big of a deal as most robot vacuums (or vacuums) don’t do well with suctioning larger items.

Although I used the app most of the time to direct the robot vacuum, occasionally, I used one of the 34 voice commands. Sometimes I had to use the app because the commands are limited. For instance, I could tell it to clean my living room, but I couldn’t say, “Clean up the living room and the hallway.” Combining commands wasn’t possible.

The robot vacuum took three hours to clean my entire 1,600-square-foot house, dropping to 31 percent in terms of the battery. In fact, the battery was only at 50% at the 2-hour cleaning mark. It took four hours to fully charge the robot vacuum, which is quick in my opinion.

Overall, I was very happy with how well Narwal Flow 2 kept my house clean of dirt, debris, and kitchen scraps. That said, after running some cleaning tests, there are some areas where it could improve.

Cleaning tests

To begin my testing, I placed ground coffee, flour, and dried flower petals on my kitchen laminate floor and on my living room rug and utilized the vacuum-only feature to see how well the robot could suction different materials. I even made sure to sprinkle ground coffee under my kitchen cabinets, along the edges of my kitchen, and in the corners. Here’s what I observed.

In the kitchen, the robot vacuum increased suction automatically when it went over the flour and the dried flowers, but not over the coffee. It suctioned all of the coffee, all but one flower petal, and most of the flour. Unfortunately, the wheels of the robot vacuum moved a thin film of the flour around on the floor. Where it didn’t succeed was suctioning coffee from the corners, edges, and under the kitchen cabinet.

The robot's wheels moved a thin film of flour around the floor (Image credit: Future)

To be fair, the robot couldn’t fit under the kitchen cabinet. When it came to corners, the robot vacuum suctioned coffee completely in one corner, but not the other. It failed quite miserably with suctioning coffee grounds along the edges.

As for the suction test on the rug, the robot vacuum automatically increased the suction to 'super powerful' when it recognized the material. On the first pass, the robot vacuum picked up some coffee grounds and flour but all of the dried flower petals. I also placed slightly damp poinsettia leaves on the carpet, and the robot vacuum did not pick them up but unintentionally moved them off the rug.

I was disappointed at first, until the robot vacuum went over the coffee and flour three more times – without me instructing it to do so. By the end, 98 percent of coffee grounds had been suctioned. A lot of the flour had been picked up, minus a small amount that had been pushed into the rug. In the end, I thought the suctioning capability on rugs was better than most robot vacuums.

The robovac automatically switched modes when it detected that it was on a carpet (Image credit: Future)

For the final test, I used the vacuum and mop features on my laminate floor. I covered the floor with flour, coffee grounds, a spilled glass of water, chocolate sauce, soy sauce, wing sauce, and creamer. The Narwal Flow 2 cleaned up the wing sauce, soy sauce, water spill, coffee grounds, and flour in a single pass. I was surprised by how smoothly it picked up the chocolate sauce since it’s a tough substance that dries quickly. (I test wet-dry vacuums and even many of them have issues with cleaning slightly dried chocolate sauce in two passes or more.)

When it came to the creamer, the robot vacuum recognized it as a 'spill', which meant it cleaned it up in a single pass then returned to the dock to clean the mop. It then repeated this two more times — cleaning that area and returning to the dock to clean the mop — before it moved on. The floor was not sticky by the time the robot vacuum had finished.

The Flow 2 picked up wet spills with ease, and left no residual stickiness behind (Image credit: Future)

I also placed coffee grounds under the cabinet, in the corners, and along the edges to see if the mop and vacuum combo would result in better cleaning capabilities. When the robot vacuum passed near the cabinets, it extended the mop to the side, and while it picked up a bit, unfortunately, the roller mop couldn’t extend far enough to pick up half of the coffee grounds under the cabinet

When it came to corners, the robot vacuum had the same results using the vacuum and mop as it did during the suction only test. It cleaned edges better with the mop than without it, but the results weren’t as good as I’d hoped. One edge was cleaned very well but a lot of coffee grounds were left along another edge.

The robovac's performance was less impressive when it came to edges and corners (Image credit: Future)

To sum it all up, I’d advise utilizing the vacuum and mop features on hard flooring to maximize the cleaning process. The Narwal Flow 2 does an average job edge and corner cleaning. When it comes to carpets, it can pick up a lot of debris, though for the finest materials like flour, you’ll probably need a more powerful vacuum.

Maintenance

When it comes to the Narwal Flow 2 , there isn’t much maintenance you’ll need to do daily or weekly. It took 16 uses of the robot vacuum before I was informed to refill the water tank and empty the dirty water tank.

I would suggest going through the app when you first start using the Narwal Flow 2 to set up the maintenance how you see fit. Head to the “Dock” section and choose what kind of mop drying intensity you prefer (silent, strong, or smart), as well as how often you want the dust bin to be emptied (every time of execution or when the robot determines it needs to be emptied). You can even choose the noise level of the dust emptying.

The base cleans the roller with 140-degree hot water and dries it completely with hot air. The dust bag holds up to 120 days’ worth of debris. In the future, Narwal may roll out a reusable dust bag. The debris filter is washable and should be cleaned once a month. You’ll need to remove the bottom tray of the base and clean it out once or twice a month as lots of debris and dirt accumulates there.

Within the app, you can keep an eye on which accessories need to be replaced and/or how much longer they will last. For instance, the zero-tangling floating brush on my testing robot is still good for another 144 hours of use.

• Performance score: 4/ 5

Narwal Flow 2: app

• Easy app with fantastic 2D and 3D mapping and insights
• Cleaning customization options (AI clean, vacuum and mop, vacuum then mop, vacuum, mop, and room customization)
• Video features and control through app

I had an easy time using the Narwal app to set up the Narwal Flow 2 . Although there is a 3D mapping option, I preferred using the 2D option and had an easy time labeling the rooms and seeing things like rugs on the map. I ran into some issues trying to split my living room and study on the map. The rooms have a wide doorway with pocket doors, so I understand the robot thinking they are the same room, but when trying to split them, the map says in doing so the rooms are “too small.” This is odd considering that my bathroom is about a sixth the size of each of those rooms and it was considered its own room on the map.

I tried to set up my corridor as a no-go zone (the floors are not sealed and can’t be mopped), but unfortunately, when I did this, the robot vacuum wouldn’t pass the corridor to clean the bathroom. Thankfully I was able to go around this with the room customization feature which allows me to customize the type of cleaning I want for each room. Therefore, I designed the corridor to be a vacuum-only space so that the robot vacuum would be able to reach the bathroom where I have it designated to be vacuumed and mopped.

Within the app, I can choose to clean the whole house, certain rooms, or even specific zones within those rooms. I can also customize this further by informing the robot vacuum to vacuum and mop, vacuum then mop, vacuum only, or mop only.

One of my favorite features is the Navo assistant that sits below the map offering insight on the cleaning or information that’s relevant, like if the vacuum has gotten stuck. If you click it, the assistant shows you the voice commands that you can use with the robot vacuum and lets you adjust the language and voice tone.

The app allows you to select whole rooms for cleaning, or just specific zones (Image credit: Future)

The Dock button informs users of the dust bag status and touch-on-demand features like dock dust emptying, dust bag dry and disinfecting, mop washing, mop drying, and adjusting the ambient lighting effects.

Users can watch a live video from the cameras on the Narwal Flow 2 . You can record or take videos, control the direction of the robot, and direct the robot to clean. There is also a Cruise feature that takes photos on a specific route through your house and stores them in the app.

On top of scheduling cleanings and monitoring the cleaning history, you can also adjust the cleaning settings, from the suction power to the mopping humidity, coverage precision (smart, standard, and meticulous), and set things like intensive corner cleaning, priority cleaning for carpet, intensive carpet cleaning, intelligent room splitting and rewashing of the mop, high altitude mode, child lock, do not disturb feature, obstacle avoidance strategy, and smart object detection. It’s also here where you can set up your Narwal Flow 2 with Alexa, Google Home, or Matter.

The Pet-friendly Mode section is very extensive. Users choose which pets they have (cats, dogs, or both) and designate either easy cleaning in specific pet areas or enhanced cleaning in areas that were missed because pets were present. It also allows you to find your pet and/or “play” with your pet by attracting the pet to the robot with a specific sound.

• App score: 4.5/5

Narwal Flow 2: specs

Wattage (robot):

65W

Robot diameter:

13.14 inches / 33cm

Robot height:

3.7 inches / 9cm

Cleaning path width:

Not specified

Dock dimensions (H x W x D):

17.7 x 14.1 x 20.8 inches / 45 x 36 x 53cm

Dock cord:

4.8ft / 1.5m

Weight (robot + dock):

33lbs / 15kg

Narwal Flow 2: should you buy it?Narwal Flow 3 score card

Attribute

Notes

Score

Value for money

A premium robot vacuum that is accurately priced for all the features you receive, though I expected better edge cleaning for the price.

3.5/5

Design

A black circular robot vacuum with dual cameras that can mop and vacuum at the same time with a wide roller mop that can extend 1.8 inches. The robot can cross tall thresholds and returns to a base that cleans the mop with hot water and hot air.

4/5

Performance

Automatically adjusts suction and water flow when it detects dirt, debris, and stains, and does a superb job with avoiding obstacles and smart cleaning. Edge and corner cleaning are average. Performs better when vacuuming and mopping hard floors. Suctions better on rugs than expected.

4/5

App

The Narwal app offers a dearth of customization and cleaning options. Plus, you can manage the video features and monitor the dock or accessory life within the app or set up the robot to interact with your pets. There is little this app can’t do.

4.5/5

Buy it if

You like a hands-free cleaning system that knows when the floor is dirty.

The AI or smart cleaning capabilities of this robot vacuum almost feel like a person in the way it pays attention to detail. It’s ability to increase the suction when it recognizes dirt or dust on the floor, or to go over a wet spill multiple times to prevent the floor from being sticky, is notable.

You want a super high-tech robot vacuum.
Not only does the Narwal Flow 2 have an app that lets you control every feature of this robot vacuum, but it’s outfitted with voice control and an integrated video camera that offers a live stream. Through the video, you can even control where the robot moves or see what your pet is up to when you’re away. Best yet, the dock does all the daily maintenance for you. The AI system offers adaptive cleaning for pet or baby households, adaptive obstacle avoidance, 3D mapping capabilities, and a battery management system that enables fast charging.

You dislike product maintenance.

The dock self-empties the waste bin into a dust bag, adds water and removes dirty water from the robot vacuum, plus cleans and dries the roller with AI Adaptive hot water and hot air.

Don't buy it if

You’re a stickler for edge or corner cleaning.

Unfortunately, the Narwal Flow 2 had mixed results when it came to cleaning along the edges or in corners. Sometimes it cleaned a corner thoroughly, and other times it didn’t. The same could be said for cleaning along edges, though it seemed to do better cleaning edges when the mop and vacuum features were being employed at the same time. View Deal

You love to use voice commands for everything.

The Narwal Flow 2 has 34 voice commands, but they don’t cover very specific cleaning commands. For instance, you could say “first vacuum, then mop,” or just “Start vacuuming,” but you can’t command the Narwal Flow to “vacuum my bathroom” (though you can say “clean up my bathroom) or “clean my bathroom and then the kitchen.” View Deal

You want a super high-powered vacuum.

The Narwal Flow 2 is a powerhouse when it combines the vacuum and mop features, however, its suction capability is still limited as most robot vacuums are. In our testing, it did a decent job in most areas, though it struggled with items like large leaves from plants or suctioning super fine materials from carpet or hard floors. Thanks to its AI capabilities, the robot vacuum will go over a section of flooring that it recognizes as being “dirty” multiple times and it can suction up quite a lot. I’m not sure if there is a robot vacuum with a better suction capability (there are others with a 30,000 Pa and some that have 35,000 Pa), but if you have a lot of carpets, you’d probably do better with an actual vacuum. View Deal

Narwal Flow 2: also consider

If you're not sure whether the Narwal Flow 2 is the right robot vacuum for you, here are two other options to think about.

Roborock Qrevo Curv

A robot vacuum and mop that delivers superb suction and great wet floor cleaning. It's the best robovac we've tested to date.

See our full Roborock Qrevo Curv review

Eufy X10 Pro Omni

Another two-in-one robovac with excellent cleaning on all floor types, plus strong mapping and navigation.

Read our full Eufy X10 Pro Omni review

How I tested the Narwal Flow 2

I tested the Narwal Flow 2 for two weeks on my laminate and historic wood floors and medium-to-large pile rugs. To review all the vacuuming and mopping capabilities, I conducted several tests with various materials (water, chocolate syrup, soy sauce, coffee grounds, and flour) on different types of flooring to see how well the robot suctioned and cleaned the floor. This included testing different features like spot cleaning, video capabilities, mapping, voice commands, and so much more.

Read more about how we test

First reviewed March 2026

DJI Osmo Pocket 4: One-minute review

I've been around the content creator's block enough times to say that the DJI Osmo Pocket 3 is easily the most popular vlogging camera for creators on the go. I've seen the tiny, gimbal-stabilized 4K camera in the hands of so many people, and with good reason — it's a fabulously discreet and powerful pocket video camera.

Ahead of what could be a stampede of new rivals, not least of which could be the rumored Insta360 Luna, DJI now looks to build on the success of its two-and-a-bit-year-old vlogging camera with a new and improved successor, the Osmo Pocket 4.

Considering the time between the two cameras, and how swift DJI has been in bringing genuine improvements to its camera gear in recent years, especially its drones such as the Mini 5 Pro, I expected a little more from the Pocket 4. That being said, there are a few notable upgrades worth knowing about — I've unpacked those in more detail in this Pocket 4 vs Pocket 3 article.

DJI has added two buttons under the screen for direct control to features such as the 2x lossless zoom, plus refined the joystick response. The gimbal arm accepts new magnetic accessories, such as a fill light, too. (Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman)

All the bits I appreciate about the Pocket 3 remain — the compact design, stellar video stabilization performance, crisp 4K video, the easy switch between vertical and horizontal video, and direct connection with wireless mics.

What DJI has done in the Pocket 4 is add some welcome polish. The new features might not leap out on a spec sheet, but in real use they combine for a slicker user experience.

Top upgrades include better slow-motion recording, now up to 240fps in 4K, better-quality 4K video with 10-bit color depth and wider dynamic range now up to 14 stops, slicker subject tracking which is available in more modes, better battery life, 107GB of internal memory, and refined controls, such as a new magnetic gimbal arm which accepts accessories such as a fill light (see the hero image).

It's not a big upgrade per se, but it's enough of an improvement that I would recommend Pocket 3 owners take a look, and it's an easy recommendation for first-time buyers looking for a powerful and small vlogging camera besides their smartphone.

DJI has tightened its stranglehold on this pocket video camera market, but for how long? When Insta360 enters the stage, it might just wrestle the spotlight away from this playing-it-safe Pocket 4 upgrade.

DJI Osmo Pocket 4: price and release date

• Announced on April 16 2026
• Available in Essential, Standard and Creator Combo kits
• Prices start at £429 / AU$749, with US availability and pricing TBC

Some of the Creator Combo accessories in play; the magnetic fill light, tripod grip and mini tripod. The kit also includes a battery grip and Mic 3 wireless mic. (Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman)

The DJI Osmo Pocket 4 was unveiled on April 16 2026 in Essential, Standard and Creator Combo packages. The Essential Combo costs £429 / AU$749, the Standard Combo is £445 / AU$769 and comes with the gimbal clamp and tripod handle, while the Creator Combo, which adds Mic 3 transmitter, wide-angle lens, magnetic fill light, mini tripod, and carry bag accessories, costs £549 / AU$959, and is better value for DJI newcomers.

There's no US pricing or availability at launch through official DJI channels, given DJI's ongoing issues in the US. Like most DJI products, the Osmo Pocket 4 is excellent value considering what it's capable of, and it'll be a tough ask for future rivals to beat it.

• Price score: 4.5/5

DJI Osmo Pocket 4: specsDJI Osmo Pocket 4 specs

Video:

4K and 1080p up to 60fps, plus slow motion up to 240fps

Photo:

Up to 9.4MP in RAW & JPEG, up to 37MP in SuperPhoto mode

Storage:

107GB internal, microSD card slot

Battery:

1,545mAh, up to 4 hours Full HD record time

Charger type:

USB-C / optional fast PD charger

Weight:

6.72oz / 190.5 g

Dimensions:

144.2 x 44.4 x 33.5mm (L x W x H)

DJI Osmo Pocket 4: Design

• Similar pocket-size dimensions to the Pocket 3, with rotating screen and gimbal-mounted camera
• USB-C fast charging and a handy 107GB of internal storage in addition to micro SD
• New controls added, and smarter joystick response

(Image credit: Future)

The Pocket 4 has a familiar look about it, because it keeps a similar Pocket 3 form factor that has won many admirers, even if it is a tiny bit taller.

I can't stress enough how important its compact dimensions are for vlogging on the go. The Pocket 4 is even more discreet for video than a phone, and in my experience I've never had anyone take issue with me filming in public with an Osmo Pocket. Put simply, you can film freely with one of these.

At first glance you might think there's nothing new in this latest model, but there are in fact some helpful design tweaks. For instance, the speed of the gimbal's movement responds to how firmly you push the joystick, making quick or more precise adjustments possible — whereas before the movement was a single speed.

DJI has also added two new buttons under the screen, which are only visible when the display is flipped horizontal, but which provide shortcuts to useful regularly used controls, including the 2x lossless zoom.

Future / Tim ColemanFuture / Tim ColemanFuture / Tim ColemanFuture / Tim Coleman

The gimbal arm has been fitted with a magnetic surface and electronic contacts, which can be used to pair accessories, such as the new magnetic fill light included in the Creator Combo kit (see below).

On connection, the light automatically fires up because it's powered by the camera. Its output is minimal, and of no real help in bright daylight, but it's certainly useful in dimly lit spaces or at night.

Otherwise, the design is mostly as you were. The gimbal is supremely effective for smooth video on the move, the rear screen still rotates 90 degrees to switch between horizontal and vertical recording, and there's still a micro SD card slot (now with a protective cover) and USB-C charging.

There are other additions regarding memory and power, which I'll get onto next.

• Design score: 4.5/5

DJI Osmo Pocket 4: Performance

• Improved subject tracking
• 107GB of built-in memory added
• Higher-capacity battery extends record times

Despite it effectively being the same size as the Pocket 3 (just a fraction taller), there's a higher-capacity 1,545mAh battery squeezed into the Pocket 4 — that’s 20% more power compared to the older 1,300mAh unit.

This new battery provides up to four hours shooting time, but the small print stipulates that this for recording 1080p video at 24fps, and with wireless connections and the screen turned off. If you're recording 4K video, expect shooting times to be significantly less.

Still, that's quite the feat for such a tiny camera, plus charge times have been reduced, so you can be ready to shoot again quicker. From flat, the Pocket 4's battery can get to 100% charge in 32 minutes, or an 80% charge in just 18 minutes. Again, the small print says those numbers are for using DJI's 65W PD charger (sold separately, or included in the Creator Combo kit). I don't have the numbers for regular USB-C charging.

Future / Tim ColemanFuture / Tim Coleman

In addition to microSD card memory (compatible with cards up to 1TB), DJI has fitted the Pocket 4 with 107GB of built-in storage. which is sufficient for many hours of 4K video files, while the Pocket 3 has none. Both can record onto microSD.

There’s next-gen Wi-Fi 6 and USB 3.1 support in the Pocket 4 too, plus faster wired transfer speeds, making for a speedier workflow on the move.

Subject tracking has seen a boost in performance, with an upgrade to DJI's latest Active Track 7.0 (the Pocket 3 uses Active Track 6.0). A double tap on your subject in the frame initiates tracking, with the ability to track people, animals, vehicles and more.

DJI has let subject tracking loose in that it's available in more shooting modes. It's one of many instances where the Pocket 4 feels like a more polished all-rounder than the Pocket 3, which has many similar features but is hampered by what feel like unnecessary restrictions on which shooting modes you can use them in.

One drawback that does remain, however, is that the Pocket 4 can get a little warm when using its more power-hungry features. I've not had any overheating issues, but you're aware of the camera warming up when you're holding it.

• Performance score: 5/5

DJI Osmo Pocket 4: Image and video quality

• 1-inch sensor and single camera with 4K video up to 240fps
• New color profiles added, including D-Log and filmic looks
• Low-light further boosts the improved 14 stops dynamic range

For most people, the outright image quality of the Pocket 4, while impressive for pro vloggers, won't be enough reason to upgrade from the Pocket 3, which was already impressive in this regard. Both cameras are fitted with a 1-inch sensor, but DJI says the Pocket 4's 4K video output is optimized with 14 stops of dynamic range and 10-bit color depth.

One factor contributing to improved tones is the addition of a D Log color profile, which is available in the Pro setting. It's DJI's best flat color profile (also found in the pricey Mavic 4 Pro drone) which gives greater editing scope for color graders. The Pocket 3 offers D Log-M, which is a bit like a light version of D Log.

DJI says that the Low Light mode further boosts dynamic range and overall image quality from its previous Pocket. I haven't directly compared the two, but from the recordings I've made with the Pocket 4, detail in dark scenes looks a little cleaner than I remember.

There are also six new film tones to choose from for stylized baked-in looks, handy for users who would rather not mess around with Log and color grading. I've happily used a couple of these profiles regularly – 'Movie' is nice and punchy.

Slow-motion recording receives a boost, in that the Pocket 4 can shoot up to 240fps — that’s 8x slow-mo — in 4K and 1080p. The Pocket 3 is limited to 120fps for 4K, but can also shoot at 240fps in 1080p.

For stills photography, a SuperPhoto mode ups resolution from 9.4 megapixels to 37 megapixels, for more detailed snaps. That's for 1:1 aspect ratio pics, the resolution drops to 33 megapixels when switching to 16:9.

Even in stills mode, the Pocket 4 is clearly a video-focused camera, in that it doesn't offer 3:2 and 4:3 aspect ratio stills common among photographers.

The 2x lossless zoom is easily selected by pressing the left of the two new buttons under the Pocket 4's display, and again DJI has loosened previous restrictions for this feature — it can now be used in photo mode and when subject tracking is active.

Yes, image quality upgrades are minor in the Pocket 4, but for professional users there's just about enough to merit swapping out their Pocket 3.

• Image and video quality score: 4.5/5

DJI Osmo Pocket 4: testing scorecardDJI Osmo Pocket 4

Attributes

Notes

Rating

Price

Bang for buck, the Pocket 4 is excellent value, and has no real rival

4.5/5

Design

Welcome design tweaks improve the overall user experience, but it is a fraction bigger than the Pocket 3

4.5/5

Performance

Stellar stabilization, subject tracking and improved battery life

5/5

Image and video quality

Still a single-lens 4K camera, but the quality has been upped through better low-light performance and color profiles

4.5/5

Should I buy the DJI Osmo Pocket 4?Buy it if...

You want a discreet and powerful video camera
No other vlogging camera this small produces such crisp, stabilized 4K video, complete with reliable subject tracking.

You need the polish it brings over the Pocket 3
Sure, the headline features such as 4K up to 240fps, D-Log color, built-in memory and exclusive accessories are welcome, but it's just how much more polished the Pocket 4 feels that stands out day to day. There are less restrictions on how you can use many of its features.

Don't buy it if...

You're happy vlogging with your phone
The latest smartphones, especially flagship models from China, can for the most part match the Pocket 4’s quality, if not its discreetness

You're happy with your Pocket 3
The Pocket 4 is a reasonable upgrade when all it's improvements are considered, but the core features are largely the same as the Pocket 3's.

DJI Osmo Pocket 4: also consider

DJI Osmo Pocket 3

In the immediate future, I expect the Pocket 3 to remain on sale, and it can be had for less than the Pocket 4. It's slightly smaller and features all of the same core features, but you'll miss out on 4K 240fps, built-in memory and new accessories, including the fill light. Check out my Pocket 4 vs Pocket 3 deep dive.

Read our in-depth Pocket 3 review

(Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman)How I tested the DJI Osmo Pocket 4

• DJI loaned me the Creator Combo kit a few weeks before the product's launch
• I regularly used the Pocket 4 and all of its accessories
• I've tested its new features, including 240fps slow-mo recording

DJI loaned me an Osmo Pocket 4 Creator Combo kit, which comprises the camera, gimbal guard, magnetic fill light, grip handle, battery handle, mini tripod and DJI Mic 3 transmitter. I used all of these accessories throughout my review period ahead of the product launch, which spanned the best part of a month.

I briefly compared how the Pocket 4 differs to the Pocket 3 by holding both products side by side, though I haven't shot like-for-like videos with the two cameras to compare quality.

I've shot video in all resolutions and frame rates — that's 4K and 1080p up to 240fps — utilized subject tracking, and shot comparison clips using the various color profiles, including D-Log and the six presets, and used the SuperPhoto and regular photo modes in RAW and JPEG format.

I've recorded onto the camera's internal memory, and run the camera battery down and checked recharge times using a standard USB-C cable.

• First reviewed: April 2026
• Read more about how we test

Lepow TriScreen Pro: 30-second review

The Lepow TriScreen Pro arrives as several parts: the main 27-inch display with two 16-inch panels that can be attached to the side in either landscape or portrait orientation, the stand and some cables. The assembly takes a good ten minutes and can be a little fiddly, despite the quality of all the CNC aluminium, which gives it a premium feel.

The main 27-inch display is impressive, with a thin metal bezel, a matte anti-glare finish, and a build quality that will look great in any office, home, or even design studio.

Where this monitor differs from all others is the modular 16-inch panels, which can be connected to the main monitor via Transformer connectors. Not only do these connectors enable the attachment of the additional panels, but they also contain the power and data connectors, so once clicked into place, there’s no need for any additional connections.

To start the test, I set up the monitors with my MacBook Pro, and thankfully, the instruction manual was reasonably clear; it soon became apparent there would be no hope of figuring out the setup without it.

Essentially, a USB-C cable carries all the required data, or you can use an HDMI cable and a secondary USB connection for the data. You’ll also need to download and install the USBDisplay app, which can take some time to find.

Once the software is installed, things can start to get a little tricky, as USBDisplay requires Screen and System Audio Recording permissions in the Mac Settings> Privacy and Security options. If these permissions have not been granted, the side panels won’t work.

Once you work this out, as it isn’t obvious in the manual, it all makes sense. On PC, the process is closer to plug and play; in both cases, once the software is in place, it gives you the additional options that include adjusting the monitor's orientation so you can mount them landscape or portrait.

After I’d got through the initial configuration process and everything was running across all three screens, the usefulness of this setup became apparent.

When it comes to display quality, the main 27-inch 4K display is bright, sharp, and colour-accurate enough for content creation and social media work, with 98% DCI-P3 coverage that makes it well-suited to anyone working with video and online imagery. The side panels at 1920×1200 are not color-critical displays, so for email, terminal windows, chat applications, and reference material, that’s where they’re really become useful.

The connector mechanism that links the side panels to the main display is clever, but it’s also the design's weak point. During the review, one of the side panel connectors wouldn’t clip correctly at first, leaving a very slight tilt that took plenty of fiddling to resolve.

However, once fully clipped in, everything felt solid, and tilt and articulation work well, with both side panels mirroring the angle of the main display as a single unit.

While there are a few rough edges with the product, the concept is sound. After a month of using it as my main display, it doesn’t quite match my studio panels for quality, but the price and the amount of desk space it saves make it definitely worth consideration.

Lepow TriScreen Pro: Price and availability

• How much does it cost? From approximately $1059
• When is it out? Available now
• Where can you get it? Directly from Lepow official store

The Lepow TriScreen Pro is available direct from the Lepow website, where it's priced at $1059.

The system includes the 27-inch main display, two 16-inch side panels with proprietary connectors, an HDMI cable, a USB-C cable, a power supply, and a carry case.

• Value: 4 / 5

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)Lepow TriScreen Pro: Specs

27-inch Main Display

Resolution: 3840 x 2160 (4K UHD)
Panel: IPS, 10-bit colour
Refresh rate: 60Hz
Colour gamut: 98% DCI-P3 / 100% sRGB
Brightness: 500 nits
Factory calibration: ΔE <2
Viewing angle: 178°
Finish: Anti-glare, CNC aluminium chassis
Speakers: Built-in stereo
VESA: 100 x 100mm

Dual 16-inch Side Displays

Resolution: 1920 x 1200 (WUXGA)
Aspect ratio: 16:10
Panel: IPS
Refresh rate: 60Hz
Brightness: 350 nits
Colour gamut: 100% sRGB
Viewing angle: 178°
Weight: 0.75kg per panel
Connection: Proprietary clip connector to main display

Lepow TriScreen Pro: Design

The TriScreen Pro's CNC aluminium chassis looks great and marks it out against many of the plastic-bodied monitors on the market; however, a close look shows that the CNC design is simple, and maybe doesn’t have the close attention to design detail that I’ve seen on many high-end displays.

That said, the main 27-inch display still feels solid and has a slim metal bezel, a matte anti-glare surface, and a solid base with decent height adjustment and tilt, enabling good flexibility in positioning the screen.

On the back of the monitor are the buttons for the on-screen display’s menu access. This menu is functional but basic in appearance; however, that also makes it straightforward to navigate for brightness and colour adjustments and some more advanced options.

As a standalone 27-inch monitor, it’s a well-made solution and nicely finished, but it’s the modular expansion that makes this monitor somewhat unique. Connectors on the back enable you to attach the two 16-inch side panels. It’s actually possible to mount even more monitors using these connectors if you feel the need.

The connectors feature a dual-mechanism system, magnetic for initial alignment, followed by more robust physical clips that properly secure the connection. In practice, the magnetic element makes it easy to position a panel quickly, but the clip mechanism requires a firm press and careful checking.

The first panel I mounted crashed to the desk surface, leading me to check the connection more closely as the test progressed. I will say, the panel itself was absolutely fine despite the small drop.

The right-hand panel, which was the one that didn’t clip correctly, took time and effort to clip in correctly, and for a while, I left it with a slight tilt, eventually using a bit of force to ensure it was all properly seated. When you first set up these displays, it's worth spending time to check everything is secure, and don’t assume the magnetic connection and click of the clasp has done the job; a second check and wiggle of the connection seems to be needed.

Once assembled and properly clipped, the side panels articulate nicely; they can be drawn inward for a more immersive configuration or pushed back for a wider spread, and they hold position well.

Tilt adjustment on the main display moves all three screens as one unit, which works well. What really stood out to me is that despite there being three monitors, the overall footprint on the desk is kept to a minimum, one stand rather than three, and it’s all good and solid.

The connection ports are all around the rear of the 27-inch display and include HDMI, USB-C, and DisplayPort inputs alongside the power input. When it comes to the 16-inch side panels, they each draw their signal and power through those connectors interfaced with the main display. You can then connect to the machine using a single USB-C cable or an HDMI and USB-C cable, which is required to carry data. In this review, I’ve used HDMI and a USB connection.

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)

Once assembled and properly clipped, the side panels articulate nicely; they can be drawn inward for a more immersive configuration or pushed back for a wider spread, and they hold position well.

Tilt adjustment on the main display moves all three screens as one unit, which works well. What really stood out to me is that despite there being three monitors, the overall footprint on the desk is kept to a minimum, one stand rather than three, and it’s all good and solid.

The connection ports are all around the rear of the 27-inch display and include HDMI, USB-C, and DisplayPort inputs alongside the power input. When it comes to the 16-inch side panels, they each draw their signal and power through those connectors interfaced with the main display.

You can then connect to the machine using a single USB-C cable or an HDMI and USB-C cable, which is required to carry data. In this review, I’ve used HDMI and a USB connection.

• Design: 4 / 5

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)Lepow TriScreen Pro: Features

Unlike most displays that only feature a single monitor, here there are three, the 27-inch and then the two 16-inch. There’s also the stand and the connectors, which all need assembly.

The features of the main 27-inch display are about average for a monitor at this price, and there is a premium for the metal build and innovative design. When it comes to the main panel, it’s 4K with a resolution of 3840×2160 using an IPS panel with 10-bit color, 98% DCI-P3 and 100% sRGB coverage, and ΔE <2 factory calibration.

This specification is mid-range and makes it a great option for content creators, social media producers, and general office use. If you’re looking for a display for critical colour work that requires Adobe RGB, then this monitor won’t come up to spec.

It’s worth noting if you’re a professional photographer or videographer, as you’ll need a monitor with a wider color space. That said, for online content, social media, and video work, the P3 coverage is more than sufficient.

The brightness at 500 nits and 1000 nit HDR figure gives you a good amount of flexibility and should be bright enough for most locations and uses.

Alongside the visuals, the monitor also features built-in stereo speakers, which are designed for web conferencing and calls.

Finally, coming onto the two 16-inch side panels, these are identical and feature the contacts to connect to the main monitor. Each is rated at 100% sRGB with no DCI-P3 claim, which just highlights that the main monitor is for the main work, and the two side monitors are for productivity, reading email, media, etc.

These monitors are 1920×1200 with a 16:10 aspect ratio, and can be mounted either landscape or portrait, which means you can adapt them to your use, which makes them a good choice for email, browsing the internet and through this test, terminal sessions.

While on a PC, there is some plug-and-play functionality; on the Mac, the USBDisplay software needs to be installed before you start. This software enables the Mac to recognise the displays and seems to be an extremely lightweight application that essentially sits in the menu bar on Mac. You only need to open it if you need to change the orientation of one the side monitors.

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)

• Features: 4 / 5

Lepow TriScreen Pro: PerformanceBenchmark scores

Spyder X2 Calibration Results

27-inch Main Display

Gamut: 5.0/5
Tone Response: 3.0/5
White Point: 4.5/5 | Measured 6600–6700K
Contrast: 5.0/5 | Peak 1740:1 at 25% brightness
Luminance Uniformity: 4.5/5
Colour Uniformity: 4.0/5
Colour Accuracy: 4.0/5
Overall Rating: 4.5/5
Peak brightness (measured): 353.7 nits at 100%

16-inch Side Panel

Gamut: 5.0/5
Tone Response: 4.5/5
White Point: 2.5/5 | Measured 7200–7500K
Contrast: 5.0/5 | Peak 1700:1 at 25% brightness
Luminance Uniformity: 2.5/5
Colour Uniformity: 4.5/5
Colour Accuracy: 3.5/5
Overall Rating: 4.0/5
Peak brightness (measured): 333.2 nits at 100%

Throughout the test, I had several mini PCs land on my desk, so it seemed this monitor would be a perfect option for these small machines. Alongside the variety of Mini PC’s, I also used my MacBook Pro and a Windows desktop PC, and in all cases the TriScreen Pro provides a solid performance once set up.

The first thing that I noted about the monitor was that it isn’t simple plug and play on the Mac to a greater degree than the PC; software is required to make it work properly, and without that installation, the two side monitors won’t work at all.

Thankfully, the manual is pretty good, or at least better than many that I have come across recently and getting the monitors set up was relatively straightforward, especially on the PC.

On the Mac, however, the process was a little more challenging, as I had to locate the software download I needed, and the official website had very little in the way of support materials or direct links to what I needed; thankfully, the manual gives you just enough to complete the process .

Once the software was installed and I’d gone through the initial permissions and authorisations needed to work on the Mac, both monitors flickered to life, and I was able to use the Mac OS to configure the screens in a way that I wanted.

After a bit of adjustment, the monitor layout I decided on was to have the main 27-inch display, mirroring the MacBook screen, the left panel showing email, and the right panel showing a terminal window for ongoing development. This configuration just makes seeing everything without having to flick through the screen much easier; all the apps and windows that I would usually flick between are all open.

Through the test, the 27-inch display was used as the main display, and this proved to be a decent option for the content creation and social media work. The colour and tone looked great, and I liked the matte finish of the screen.

However, when the monitor arrived, the screen did look a touch too warm, and popping into the settings, I was quickly able to adjust this to cool the colours and get a more natural-looking display.

To make sure the screen quality was as good as it could be, I then used the Spyder X2 Ultra calibration tool to calibrate the monitor before running tests.

The Display Analysis confirmed a high score for the 27-inch monitor, with Gamut and Contrast both scoring 5.0/5, Luminance Uniformity at 4.5/5, and Colour Accuracy at 4.0/5.

The lower Tone Response at 3.0/5 was a bit of a surprise with the monitor set to a gamma of 2.2 by default, while this is not obviously apparent in everyday visual use, it’s something worth noting.

I was also surprised when the peak brightness result came in at 353.7 nits at 100%, which is well below the claimed 500 nits. However, as you should never use the monitor at 100% especially in a studio environment, the brightness for the intents of this review is fine.

Alongside the 27-inch monitor, there are the two 16-inch panels that use those specialist connectors to clip into the side of the unit. These monitors are of a much lower specification; still, despite being limited to a 1080p resolution, the results for Gamut and Contrast both scored a full 5.0/5.

One point I initially noted about the smaller monitors was that their colour temperature was notably different out of the box. Measuring the white point for the 16-inch shower, a value of 7200–7500K, while it read 6600–6700K on the main display.

This difference is notable, and again, once the Spyder calibration was run across all three panels, it brought them far closer in appearance. If you’re working in a colour-sensitive environment, calibrating before use is definitely a good idea.

Essentially, if you’re looking to use this monitor in office use, the difference in colour temperature between the monitors can be adjusted using the brightness settings through the OSD.

As ever, where these additional displays come into real use is when editing. Using Final Cut Pro X on the main display while having Adobe Podcast on one of the small screens processing audio, while an email was displayed on the other small display, really did help to save time.

It was good to see that even with the additional monitors attached, there didn’t appear to be any dropped frames or lag. I was also pleased to see that the USBDisplay app ran quietly in the background with no prompts or anything to distract during use.

On one occasion during the test, I had the MacBook screen open as a fourth display alongside the three TriScreen panels, and was impressed, as this is well beyond the typical MacBook Pro display output limit, which really highlights just how effective the USBDisplay approach is.

Switching between Mac and PC required minimal reconfiguration; all that was needed was for the HDMI cable to be moved to the PC, the USB-C reconnected, and the software was installed if not already.

On PC, the setup was far more straightforward than the initial Mac configuration, but once set up and permissions granted, there was little to split the use between the two operating systems.

• Performance: 4 / 5

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)Lepow TriScreen Pro: Final verdict

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)

The Lepow TriScreen Pro is a great idea and very innovative. While I initially had a few issues with the connection and the Mac setup was a little convoluted, the end result worked incredibly well.

After a month of daily use, I have warmed to the design, especially the amount of space it saves with the two smaller monitors around the large 27-inch.

and4K main display is great fneral office use and social content creation, being well-built, colour-accurate, and comfortable to use, with those three screens enabling you to see all your applications open at once.

The initial setup process on Mac does need to be better documented, as some steps, such as the software download, are included but not explained. Then there’s the side panel connector mechanism, which is again a great innovation but just feels like it needs a little more refinement to ensure consistent, solid clipping the first time.

The white point difference between the main display and side panels before calibration is an issue. If you’re using these for creative work, however, this is easy to calibrate if you have the likes of the DataColor Spyder X.

I was also surprised to see that the monitor even at 100% brightness didn’t come close to the expected brightness, however in practice in the studio office where the monitor brightness was set at around 50%this wasn’t an issue.

At $1,059, the TriScreen Pro is a decent purchase, especially considering it replaces three separate monitors with one unit and gives you back a decent amount of desk space in the process.

Should I buy the Lepow TriScreen Pro?

Value

Three screens for $1,059 with a full aluminium build, making it neater than buying three equivalent separate monitors.

4

Design

CNC aluminium chassis and matte finish look premium. The connector mechanism, however, needs more refinement.

4

Features

27-inch 4K at 98% DCI-P3 is well specified for the office and content creation, and the design of the side panel mounting is innovative.

4

Performance

Main display measures 4.5/5 overall from Spyder. While there is a white point mismatch with the side panels, it’s easy enough to resolve

4

Overall

A well-built triple-screen system that uses a unique setup that cuts down on cables and desk space. 

4

Buy it if...

You need three screens in minimal space.

The TriScreen Pro manages space better than three separate monitors and keeps all three displays as one integrated unit.

You're a content creator. 

The 27-inch 4K display at 98% DCI-P3 is well-suited to online video and image content work, and the side panels are a definite asset.

Don't buy it if...

You need total color accuracy.

The side panels are 100% sRGB only, with no Adobe RGB or DCI-P3 specification.

You want a gaming monitor. 

The 60Hz refresh rate across all three panels and the size differential between the 27-inch centre and 16-inch sides make this best for productivity and creative work.

For more picks, see our guides to the best business monitors and the best portable monitors.

Sony Inzone H6 Air: two-minute review

True to its name, the new Sony Inzone H6 Air wired gaming headset is incredibly lightweight. Coming in at just 7oz / 199g (and only slightly more with the detachable cardioid microphone attached), it’s among the lightest gaming headsets on the market.

This isn’t just impressive on the spec sheet either; when paired with the wonderfully soft earcups, it easily creates one of the most comfortable headsets I’ve tested. You can wear the Sony Inzone H6 Air for hours at a time with minimal fatigue. In fact, it’s easy to forget that you’re even wearing it at all.

Sony hasn’t made many compromises to achieve that impressively slight weight either. The overall design is very similar to the equally superb Sony Inzone H9 2, albeit with numerous holes in the aluminum outer earcup shells to create an open back. Under the hood, the Sony Inzone H6 Air packs the same drivers as Sony’s open-back MDR-MV1 studio monitor headphones, which is known for excellent sound. Studio monitor headphones are generally quite flat, but the drivers have been specifically adapted for gaming with enhanced bass.

The sound is far from unbalanced, though, and I’d argue that the default profile is pretty much perfect for almost all uses. The open-back design creates a lovely, wide soundstage that adds a real depth to gaming audio. Every time I fired a weapon in a match of Battlefield Redsec, the soft clink of spent bullet casings was impressively life-like and sounded just like it existed in a real 3D space.

FutureFutureFuture

The Inzone H6 Air is still good for music listening and more general use, too, as the bass isn’t overly strong in its default configuration. Jumping into the compatible Inzone Hub software lets you customize the equalizer (EQ) profiles and save them to the included USB-C audio box for use across console platforms.

Although I stuck with the default settings for the most part (finding them to be by far the most balanced), the ‘RPG/Adventure’ profile (designed in collaboration with the PlayStation Studios team) is a highlight — enabling an immersive spatial effect that’s perfect for getting lost in vast virtual worlds.

Sadly, this is pretty much the only reason to touch the software, as the few other features it offers aren’t particularly compelling. The aggressive bass boost mode is frankly unlistenable, while the dedicated first-person shooter (FPS) settings seem a tad unnecessary when the strong directional sound already gives you a decent advantage in competitive settings. The software’s dedicated 360 spatial mode is also highly unpleasant, creating an unconvincing surround effect at the cost of rendering all sound incredibly tinny and weak.

These software shortcomings are only minor gripes, though. At the end of the day, you’re still getting absolutely amazing audio right out of the box.

Sony Inzone H6 Air review: price & availability

• $199 / £175 / around AU$330
• Mid-range price for high-end components
• Strong value proposition

The Sony Inzone H6 Air is priced at $199 / £175 / around AU$330, putting it in the mid-range market segment. It is slightly more expensive than the Turtle Beach Atlas Air — another open-back model designed for gaming, which costs $179.99 / £159.99 / AU$299 but lacks the premium materials of the Sony headset.

Sharing its studio-grade drivers with the MDR-MV1, the Sony Inzone H6 Air also has significantly stronger audio chops. Better still, Sony’s Inzone offering is roughly half the price of its MDR-MV1, making for a strong value proposition.

Sony Inzone H6 Air review: specs

Price

$199 / £175 / around AU$330

Weight

7oz / 199g

Compatibility

PC, Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, Mobile

Connection type

Wired (3.5mm / USB Type-C)

Battery life

N/A

Features

Detachable cardioid mic, spatial sound

Software

Inzone Hub

Sony Inzone H6 Air review: design and features

• Similar design to the Sony Inzone H9 2
• Intuitive controls
• Premium materials

There’s a tendency for particularly lightweight products to feel cheap, but that’s far from the case with the Sony Inzone H6 Air. Its design is similar to the sleek and stylish Sony Inzone H9 2, maintaining the same overall shape and a winning headband that offers a good level of adjustment. The main difference between the two is the perforated shells on the outside of the H6 Air’s earcups, which are constructed from a premium, sturdy-feeling aluminum.

These holes are what make the H6 Air an open-back headset and allow for a much wider, more natural-feeling soundstage than closed-back designs. There are some caveats inherent with all open-back models, though, namely the tendency for background noise to seep through. Sound also leaks out of the headset through these holes, so it’s not a design you’ll want to wear in a public setting.

The on-board controls are very basic but highly intuitive, with everything located on the left earcup. There’s a big clicky microphone mute button (with a distinct bumpy texture that makes it easy to find without looking), volume dial, 3.5mm audio input, and a 3.5mm port for the detachable cardioid microphone. My headset came with the volume dial cranked down all the way to mute, so don’t panic if your model doesn’t make any sound when you first plug it in — fiddle around with it for a moment and set it to your desired level.

The headset comes bundled with a USB-C audio box — a little dongle that can save any settings you create in the Inzone Hub software and allow you to bring them over to your console or phone. It seems to be the same audio box included with the Inzone E9 in-ear gaming headphones, which offer similar functionality.

(Image credit: Future)Sony Inzone H6 Air review: performance

• Pristine audio
• Ideal for gaming and audio listening
• Background noise can be an issue

Unlike most gaming headsets, the Sony Inzone H6 Air has quite a neutral sound profile. There is some level of punchy bass, but unlike some gaming models, it’s never overpowering.

Clarity and directionality seem to have been the goal for Sony here, and the Inzone H6 Air excels on both fronts. This is most obvious when listening to music, as the impressively wide soundstage allows for excellent instrument separation.

In a gaming context, every individual sound effect is clearly defined, even in moments of intense action. Dropping into a match of Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 on the hectic Nuketown 2025 map, I was pleased to find that enemy footsteps were easy to track despite an abundance of gunfire, explosions, and other loud audio cues.

The same was true in a few matches of Battlefield Redsec, where the clean, crisp sound gave me a newfound appreciation for the game’s high-fidelity weapon effects.

(Image credit: Future)

It’s not just great for FPS titles, either; the Sony Inzone H6 Air excels at a wide variety of genres. Modern open-world role-playing games (RPGs) are a particular treat, especially ones that already benefit from strong sound design.

Wandering 16th-century Japan in Assassin’s Creed Shadows showcased this well; the game’s strong atmosphere was elevated by perfectly reproduced details like the faint trickle of running water from nearby rivers and the subtle rustlings of trees in the wind. Enabling the ‘RPG/Adventure’ profile in the Inzone Hub software kicks all of this into overdrive, adding an extra layer of directionality to the sound.

The included microphone is great too. It won’t replace a premium standalone model, but it captures your voice and does a decent job of drowning out background noise. You still won’t want to use this headset in loud environments, though, as it lets in a lot of background sound.

You can hear your own voice clearly while chatting with friends, keyboard taps, and any passing sirens. This is an inevitable trade-off in any open-back model. I think the sound quality on offer more than makes up for it here, but it will make the Sony Inzone H6 Air a poor choice for some.

If you need strong noise cancellation, consider the Sony Inzone H9 2 (which boasts some effective ANC) instead.

(Image credit: Future)Should I buy the Sony Inzone H6 Air?Buy it if…

You want an incredibly comfortable headset
The Sony Inzone H6 Air is incredibly lightweight, weighing just 7oz / 199g. It’s very comfortable to wear as a result, and is ideal for even the longest gaming sessions.

You’re after studio-quality drivers for less
Powered by the same drivers as the significantly pricier MDR-MV1 studio monitor headphones, the Sony Inzone H6 Air gives you high-quality audio at a reasonable cost.

Don’t buy it if…

You play near others or in loud settings
The open-back design means sound can easily get in or out. Consider alternatives if you play near others or in environments with lots of background noise.

Sony Inzone H6 Air review: also consider

Here are two other great headsets to consider alongside the Sony Inzone H6 Air.

Sony Inzone H6 Air

Turtle Beach Atlas Air

Sony Inzone H9 2

Price

$199 / £175 / around AU$330

$179.99 / £159.99 / AU$299

$348.00 / £299.00 / around AU$489

Weight

7oz / 199g

10.6oz / 301g

9.2oz / 260g

Compatibility

PC, Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, Mobile

PlayStation, PC, Nintendo Switch, Mobile

PC, PS4/PS5, Xbox Series X/S (wired only), iOS/Android, Switch, Switch 2, Steam Deck

Connection type

Wired (3.5mm / USB Type-C)

Wireless 2.4GHz / Bluetooth 5.2 / Wired

2.4 GHz Wireless, Bluetooth, USB Wired, 3.5mm Analog

Battery life

N/A

50 hours

30 hours

Features

Detachable cardioid mic, spatial sound

Flip to mute high-bandwidth mic, floating ear cups, 40mm drivers

Detachable mic

Software

Inzone Hub

Swarm II app

Inzone Hub

Turtle Beach Atlas Air
This open-back model from Turtle Beach is weaker than the Inzone H6 Air on an audio front, but makes up for it with a lower price tag and wireless connectivity.

For more information, check out our full Turtle Beach Atlas Air review

Sony Inzone H9 2
If you’re willing to spend a little more, you can pick up the superb Sony Inzone H9 2 gaming headphones instead. They sound great and boast desirable features like ANC, but are heavier and have less directional sound.

For more information, check out our full Sony Inzone H9 2 review.

How I tested the Sony Inzone H6 Air

• Used for over a week
• Tested with a wide range of games
• Compared to other gaming headsets

I tested the Sony Inzone H6 Air ahead of its official reveal, going hands-on with a unit for more than a week. During that time, I used it extensively for work (that meant plenty of meetings), play, and music listening.

I tried the headset with a wide range of games from a variety of genres, including racing in Forza Horizon 5 and Need for Speed Unbound, FPS with Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 and Battlefield Redsec, and RPG in Assassin’s Creed Shadows.

Although the majority of my time spent with the headset was on PC, I also used it with my PlayStation 5, mobile phone, Xbox Series X, and Nintendo Switch 2 to assess its compatibility.

Read more about how we test

First reviewed April 2026

Activo Scoop review

The Activo Scoop in-ear monitors are designed to be as smooth as a pebble, in just about every way possible. Physically, they’re light, rounded, and sculpted. Sonically, Astell & Kern’s sub-brand Activo has attempted to craft IEMs with “smooth resonance,” and supply a sound that’s as natural and “gentle” as possible.

If we’re talking about design, I’d argue that Activo has just about nailed the audio-equipped pebble. The Scoop IEMs are sleek, have a polished feel and with an attractive white finish. They are a little bit chunky in the ear, and the attached cable is on the thick side, but I found the IEMs to be pretty comfortable for longer listening sessions, and I never had to deal with over-zealous cable noise or any connectivity issues.

But I want to focus more on the Scoop’s sound, and how well it adheres to the pebble theme. As you’d expect from a pair of IEMs, the overall sound profile is fairly balanced, and the Scoop are largely focused on an “organic” presentation that steers clear of harshness, according to Activo. But how good do they really sound? And can they really compete with some of the best wired earbuds on the market?

Well, I’m pleased to report that they’re pretty strong performers, especially given their budget-friendly pricing. Their five-driver setup — which features one 8mm dynamic, two 6mm dynamic, and two balanced armature drivers — supplies clean, articulate sound, with subtle detailing and a genuinely impressive soundstage.

In This Is All I Have for You by Makoto Matsushita, I was struck by the Scoop’s revealing sound. In the introduction, rhythm guitar was beautifully balanced in the mix, almost occupying its own unique pocket. However, it never sounded incoherent with other instruments in the mix — it danced beautifully alongside rapid and responsive percussion and full-sounding, funky bass.

Even after vocals entered the fray, the Scoop maintained a disciplined and balanced approach. And as subtle strings and percussive elements reared their heads, the Scoop ensured that they were clear, but never over-emphasized.

When I compared the Scoop against my trusty Sennheiser IE 200, I found that the former had less of a ‘warm’ sound profile, opting for more of an agile and snappy bass response. Sure, that may be a bit less exciting for some listeners, but for professional users — or those who simply prefer a more neutral sound — that could be a positive.

All in all, I did feel as if the Scoop took a more natural approach than the IE 200, although I did realize that they went a bit more aggressive on the highs.

In Entertainer by Ruze, higher-pitched percussion sounded more forward in the Scoop. That’s not to say that treble sounds were tinny or harsh — but they were noticeably more subdued using Sennheiser’s in-ears. In other tracks, like Tale of Two Cities by Darren Rahn, claps in the build-up again sounded pretty eager on the Scoop, and I do think that some may prefer how the IE 200 stayed their hand up top.

To be clear, I did still enjoy the Scoop’s expressive treble overall, and although I think some may prefer a bit more emphasis in the low-end for casual listening, I commend their rich, detailed sound. You get capable and solid instrument separation, with just about every part of the frequency range celebrated and with room to express itself, as well as controlled audio, even at higher volumes.

(Image credit: Future)

Beyond their admirable audio, the Activo Scoop supply quite a few positives. The most obvious is their broad selection of connectivity options: 3.5mm, 4.4mm, and USB-C. If you want to switch from 3.5mm to USB-C, for instance, all you have to do is unscrew the 3.5mm connector, plug the USB-C alternative in, twist that on…and hey presto — you’re away.

Having so much variety makes the Scoop ideal for using while mixing or mastering in a professional setting, or using on your modern smartphone for casual listening sessions. There’s no in-line controller, which is pretty common for IEMs, but otherwise they’re very well-equipped.

For instance, you get a bunch of different-sized eartips, and picking the right size will be crucial. A perfect seal won’t only deliver optimal audio quality, but it will improve passive noise isolation — crucial for blocking out pesky external sounds in your environment.

I went for the medium size as usual, and getting a comfortable feel was fairly straightforward. I found the foam eartips to be a little fiddly, although they did work very nicely — especially when it came to noise isolation. The clear silicone alternative was my go-to, however, both for ease-of-use and for its clear look, which was a better match for the white IEMs, visually speaking.

It would also be remiss of me not to mention the included case, which is very similar to that of the Activo Volcano. It offers plenty of room for your IEMs, different connectors, and eartips, it’s fairly compact, and it only boosts the Scoop’s value-for-money score.

Speaking of value, I have to say, the Activo Scoop are priced very generously indeed. They come in at $99 / £99 (about AU$140), and they feel worth every penny. With well-refined audio, wide compatibility, good passive noise isolation, high build quality, and even a case thrown in, it’s hard to knock these IEMs, value-wise. The buds themselves are even detachable, meaning you can add your own cable if you’d prefer, making them a versatile option.

Downsides? OK, I do find the Scoop quite chunky in-ear, and their bulky cable and connectors can’t compare to the diminutive Sennheiser IE line. And yes, you would be able to get IEMs with a bit more space for vocals and even better detail at a higher price point. On a personal note, I’d probably prefer the slightly bassier and sexier Meze Audio Alba, but they’re about $60 / £40 (about AU$100) more than Activo’s IEMs, making the latter a seriously tempting proposition.

All in all, the Activo Scoop are a great pair of in-ear monitors that — in spite of their low price — don’t skimp on quality. Their versatile connectivity and natural sound signature makes them a swell choice for both personal and professional use, they offer solid customizability, and they’re pretty comfortable to boot.

They’re not the most compact, and those with smaller ears may be better off with a model like the Sennheiser IE 200. Sennheiser’s rival IEMs also produce a bassier sound, with more subdued treble, which fans of certain genres may prefer. In the end, though, the Scoop seem like an improvement on Activo’s previous lower-priced effort, the Volcano, and I can’t help but admire their sonic and physical fidelity to the humble, water-sculpted pebble.

(Image credit: Future)Activo Scoop review: price & release date

• Priced at $99 / £99 (about AU$140)
• Released in March 2026

In March 2026, Astell & Kern revealed that the Activo Scoop were coming to the UK market. They are typically priced at £99, placing them heavily on the budget end of the spectrum. The Scoop will cost $99 when they’re available in the US, which we're told is a certainty, although we’re not aware of a specific release date just yet.

Activo Scoop review: specs

Drivers

1x 8mm dynamic, 2x 6mm dynamic, 2x balanced armature

Weight

5g (per bud)

Frequency range

20Hz-20kHz

Connectivity

3.5mm; 4.4mm; USB-C

(Image credit: Future)Should I buy the Activo Scoop?

Attribute

Notes

Score

Features

Detachable cables, multiple connectivity options, solid passive noise isolation, no in-line controller.

4.5/5

Performance

Natural sounding IEMs with impressive detail and soundstage, bass not seismic, but well controlled and agile.

4/5

Design

Well-finished and built to a high standard, but pretty chunky driver housings with a bulky cable.

3.5/5

Value

Fantastic low price for the features and sound quality they deliver.

4.5/5

Buy them if…

You want audiophile quality at an affordable price
If you want to take the step into audiophile-grade sound, then the Activo Scoop are a strong entry-level option. They offer plenty of attention to detail across the frequency range, and nail the natural sound signature they set out to provide.

You need IEMs for casual and analytical purposes
The Activo Scoop come with three different connectors: 3.5mm, 4.4mm, and USB-C. That means you can easily hook them up to a laptop, some decks, your phone…you name it. That makes them ideal for all kinds of devices, and all kinds of listening.

Don’t buy them if…

You want imposing bass
The Scoop’s sound signature is intended to be gentle and organic, meaning that deep dark bass doesn’t sound particularly imposing. Their approach to the low-end is more centered around agility and cleanliness, which results in brilliantly responsive, but less forward-sounding bass.

You’ve got smaller-sized ears
For me, the Activo Scoop felt a tad chunky in ear, something I also found when using the Activo Volcano. Those with smaller ears will probably experience this to a stronger degree, but don’t worry, the options listed below are top alternatives, and still come in at a modest price-point.

Activo Scoop review: also consider

Activo Scoop

Sennheiser IE 200

Meze Audio Alba

Price

$99 / £99 (about AU$140)

$149.95 / £129.99 / AU$239.95

$159 / £139 / AU$239

Drivers

1x 8mm dynamic, 2x 6mm dynamic, 2x balanced armature

7mm dynamic

10.8mm dynamic

Weight

5g (per bud)

4g (per bud)

14g (with cable)

Frequency range

20Hz-20kHz

6Hz-20kHz

15Hz-25kHz

Connectivity

3.5mm; 4.4mm; USB-C

3.5mm

3.5mm; USB-C

Sennheiser IE 200
I’m a big fan of the Sennheiser IE 200, which are affordable, lightweight, and stylish. Sonically, they’re arguably the Yin to the Activo Scoop’s Yang. After all, they have a deeper, darker sound, with warm bass and more subdued highs — a contrast to the more agile, light bass of the Scoop, which also opt for a more forward presentation up top. They still sound spectacular, though, and in spite of their singular 3.5mm connectivity option, I’d still recommend them highly. Read our full Sennheiser IE 200 review.

Meze Audio Alba
The Meze Audio Alba are some of my favorite budget IEMs thanks to their stunning looks, awesome audio quality, and incredibly comfortable in-ear feel. If you want a little more bass, then these are a great choice. Sure, they have a relatively neutral tuning, but their slight bump in the low-end is tasteful and engaging. They’re slightly pricier than Activo’s buds, but their looks alone feel worth the increase, in my view. Read our full Meze Audio Alba review.

How I tested the Activo Scoop

(Image credit: Future)

• Test over the course of several weeks
• Mainly tested using Tidal
• Tried using various connectivity modes

I tested the Actio Scoop IEMs over the course of multiple weeks, and used their various connectivity methods along the way — predominantly listening via 3.5mm with my Windows laptop and USB-C alongside the Nothing Phone 4(a).

When listening to music, I started — as usual — with the TechRadar testing playlist, which includes tracks from a wide variety of genres. However, I also listened to tunes from my personal library. For the most part, I used Tidal to stream music, however I also dipped into Spotify from time to time.

In the past, I’ve tested the Activo Volcano, so I had clear expectations in mind for Activo’s budget friendly IEMs, but I’ve also tested other budget models from the likes of Meze, and have tested more premium monitors like the Sennheiser IE 600 and Shure Aonic 3.

• Read TechRadar’s reviews guarantee
• First reviewed: April 2026

Shokz OpenFit Pro: Two-minute review

Shokz knows its way around a pair of open earbuds. At the time of writing, the brand has three entries in our best open earbuds with good reason — it is one of the few companies out there dedicated to the fitness headphone/bone conduction market.

With the OpenFit Pro, though, Shokz seems to be courting new customers. Whereas the OpenRun Pro 2, clip-on OpenDots One and our market leader the OpenFit 2+ were targeted at a sports-specific market where audio accompaniment of any kind saves us from the monotony of a freezing early-morning January run or a rain-lashed cycle commute, the OpenFit Pro are different.

Sure, they're still tailor-made for runners, cyclists and general sporty types — including tennis, in my case — but the OpenFit Pro are pushing the barriers of what open earbuds can be for dyed-in-the-wool audiophiles. Want Dolby Atmos with head-tracking tehcnology? They've got it. Want customizable EQ profiles, in addition to the five provided by the Shokz app? They've got them. Want support accessories for an even more secure fit? Yep, them too.

Even want active noise cancellation? OK, they've not quite got that — these are still open earbuds, after all — but they do have what Shokz calls 'noise reduction', courtesy of a synchronized dual-diaphragm driver and triple-mic system with the Shokz ear-adaptive algorithm. This is incredibly rare in open earbuds and the results are mightily impressive. Sure, they can't block out everything in the way a pair of in-ears with active noise cancellation can, but in 'noise reduction mode' they do a damn good job if you need to keep regular life at bay and concentrate.

With Bass Boost selected from one of the five EQ presets, they deliver a punchy, nuanced sound that is impressively clear and detailed. The Dolby Atmos with head tracking is a welcome addition, especially in an office environment when turning your head from side to side to speak to colleagues, and delivers responsive sound to the ear that is closest to the source device.

Design-wise, the carry case is small enough to fit into your pocket, battery life is superb-to-relentless and the comfort akin to wearing air. On more than one occasion, I'd forgotten I was wearing them. While exercising, I never felt like they would slip, let alone fall out, especially after I fitted the rubber o-ring for extra stability.

The Shokz OpenFit Pro, then, are audiophile-friendly open earbuds that fully warrant their place in the best we've tested. They may be a little on the expensive side compared to the competition, but when you consider the aural additions these feature that almost no other open ears possess, they're worth it.

Open earbuds used to be the sole preserve of runners or cyclists who wanted to listen to background music without getting mown down by traffic. Not any more.

Shokz OpenFit Pro review: Specifications

Component

Value

Water resistant

IP55

Battery life

12 hours (earbuds, noise reduction disabled), 50 hours (total)

Bluetooth type

Bluetooth 6.1

Weight

12.3g per earbud

Driver

Ultra large 11 × 20-mm synchronized dual-diaphragm

Shokz OpenFit Pro review: Price and availability

(Image credit: Future / Andy Murray)

• Released January 2026
• Priced at $249.95 / £219 / AU$399

The Shokz OpenFit Pro launched at CES in January 2026 and went on sale immediately. You can pick up the OpenFit Pro for $249.95 / £219 / AU$399 RRP, though there are some discounts available already via some retailers.

That makes them a fairly hefty chunk more expensive than our class-leading Shokz OpenFit 2+ ($179.95 / £169 / AU$350), but still (just about) cheaper than the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds at launch. So the big questions are what bang do you get for your extra buck(s), and are they worth the expense?

In order: lots, and yes.

Shokz OpenFit Pro review: Features

(Image credit: Future / Andy Murray)

• 12-hour battery life, 50 hours with case
• Noise reduction, not cancellation, is excellent
• Bluetooth 6.1; IP55 for water- and dust-resistance

The biggest criticism usually laid at any open earbuds' door is their lack of versatility. Sure, they're great if you want to listen to something while working out — that's why a sporty type, like me, is doing this review while TechRadar's brilliant audio editor Becky Scarrott, who did the initial experiential, is indisposed with a frozen shoulder — but you would want something much punchier and full-blooded for everyday listening. They're a second pair, nothing more.

The Shokz OpenFit Pro want to be more, and we'll come on to that, but first let's deal with their fitness side. I hate anything jammed into my earhole, so their open-ear design is perfect for me, and allowing external ambient sounds through is essential for the running and cycling I mostly did while wearing them during a month-long stint working at the recent 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan.

While cycling, your ears are your mirrors and the balance between listening to Only God Knows by Young Fathers and hearing traffic behind me was about perfect. When running, especially the 3.5km between hotel and office at the Winter Olympics, I could at all times hear the maniacal Milanese drivers who would otherwise have mown me down without a second's thought had I been too zoned in on Fontaines D.C.'s Romance LP.

Connection, that includes multi-point pairing, was never a problem thanks to the Shokz' uber-stable Bluetooth 6.1 technology and nor was getting extra sweaty with their IP55 rating good for water and dust resistance.

In my (windowless) office in Milan, I also used the OpenFit Pro to transcribe athlete flash quotes and take reliably crystal-clear calls from reporters despite the high-pressure, higher-noise newsroom environment surrounding me. The same was true when calling my fiancée — your aforementioned Techradar audio editor, no less — from a packed pizzeria and an evening watching figure skating from opposite ends of the arena (it's a long story).

(Image credit: Future / Andy Murray)

The battery life is more than above average and borders on the relentless. Shokz promise 12 hours of listening from a single charge, plus another 50 hours from the slimline and lightweight case, which I found to be about bang on. On a couple of occasions I ran into the office with only the earbuds, used them regularly to listen to and transcribe interviews on a 10-hour shift and ran back to the hotel. They lasted all day and even got me back into the office the following morning (this time with the charging case in my back pocket).

In a bit of rush? No problem, 10 minutes of fast charging will give you four hours' listening. Wireless charging is also an option, albeit at a slower pace. Sure these figures come down a bit when you turn on 'noise reduction' mode — six hours from a charge, another 24 from the case — but we're still talking about listening periods firmly in the 'every day' territory.

Time to talk about why you'd want to. That 'noise reduction' mode really is excellent for a pair of open earbuds. It's basically impossible for the Shokz to have ANC but the noise reduction technology, helped by the brand's SuperBoost technology, ear adaptive algorithm and synchronized dual-diaphragm driver, does a great job of blocking out more of the world.

The companion Shokz app is also a boon. It's home to five EQ presets, plus two options to create your own sound profiles, and is also the destination to turn on 'noise reduction' (touch control toggles are also available), Dolby Atmos and head tracking technology. You can also customize those multi-point connections and use the very useful 'Find My Earbuds' function.

The overall impression is very positive. Sure, closed earbuds have a bigger feature set in general — but the fact that all this exists in a set of open earbuds, is pretty impressive indeed.

• Features score: 5 / 5

Shokz OpenFit Pro review: Sound quality

(Image credit: Future / Andy Murray)

• Noise reduction excellent for open-ear design
• Dolby Atmos and head-tracking technology
• Treble can overwhelm

The difference in price between the Shokz OpenFit Pro and the vast majority of their competitors can be explained in how they sound, or at least, how they try to sound. Remember, at a price touching $250, Shokz are going after an audiophile market here.

For the most part, they succeed. The detail at the low end — especially with EQ preset Bass Boost turned on in the Shokz app — is impressively dynamic, and weighty enough to almost make you forget that these are open earbuds. Wet Leg's Chaise Longue loses none of its lustrous early bass power thanks to that synchronized dual-diaphragm driver, while Age of Consent by New Order enhances the propulsive force of Peter Hook's four-string.

If treble is your bag, you're also in luck, but you've really got to love it. Treble Boost brings forward guitars and vocals — only accentuated further if you switch on the Vocal setting in the app – which sound at their best for semi-spoken word songs like Go! by Public Service Broadcasting but for my money it's to the detriment of the overall sound profile.

Bass gets lost and the treble overwhelms to the point it sounds a little tinny, rendering a song as good as The Concept by Teenage Fanclub almost unlistenable — so much Norman Blake and Raymond McGinley rhythm guitar and almost no Gerard Love woozy bass.

(Image credit: Future / Andy Murray)

You can also create your own EQ in the app, which, though a little fiddly, does do a good job in establishing a Goldilocks setting just for you. In the end, though, I listened almost exclusively in Bass Boost mode and felt all the happier for having done so.

The OpenFit Pro's aforementioned noise reduction mode does as good a job as can be expected from a set of open earbuds. Helped by a triple-mic system (up from two in the OpenFit 2), Shokz's ear-adaptive algorithm can predict external noise and delivers a solid reduction in what you hear. In the app, you can also select how much noise reduction you actually want with a toggle, although I didn't notice much difference. You will, though, have to crank up the volume to a Spinal Tap 11 if you want to block out the world around you — in doing so, I had a notification on my phone telling me I had "exceeded the recommended limit for audio exposure" over the previous seven days. This has never happened to me before.

I tended to use noise reduction only when in an office environment and needed to focus — I'm not the biggest fan of ANC in general and found the noise reduction here too manufactured to the point of slight nausea — but it's easy to turn on and off with either the buds themselves or using the Shokz app. On my flight home, it also made an appreciable difference to both aircraft and wailing baby noise, albeit nothing compared with my Cambridge Audio Melomania P100s, which combine an over-ear seal with ANC.

Elsewhere, the combination of Dolby Atmos and head-tracked spatial audio is a winner. It upscales TV on the Radio's Wolf Like Me without sounding too muddy, while listening again to Tidal's Dolby Atmos version of Wet Leg's Chaise Longue was a transformative experience. With both Dolby Atmos and head-tracking switched on, the bass-heavy intro is punchier, with extra clarity, and you feel 'in the mix' much more throughout.

When a breathy 'what?' halfway through the first verse appeared from apparently behind my right ear, I genuinely turned around, certain a prank was being played on me by a sleep-deprived Olympics colleague. Only when the same happened moments later in my left ear, having turned my head, was I finally assuaged that it was vocalist Rhian Teasdale with some Dolby Atmos help. You might think it's a gimmick, but it genuinely felt like she was in the room.

• Sound quality score: 4.5/5

Shokz OpenFit Pro review: Design

(Image credit: Future / Andy Murray)

• Super-comfortable and endlessly tactile
• Portable charging case
• Sound leakage at upper volume a problem

The best thing to be said about the OpenFit Pro's design is that on numerous occasions after pausing a track to deal with a work enquiry, I simply forgot I was wearing them. They really are that comfortable, especially over long periods. They sit snugly around your ear, too, with a handy demonstration from the Shokz app of how to fit them if you're a luddite like me.

Weighing 12.3g, each bud may be a little heavier than our current open-ear market leaders the OpenFit 2+ (9.4g) but, typical of the Shokz oeuvre, the OpenFit Pro's general silicone stylings are supremely tactile. The driver housing is made from an 'aerospace-grade aluminium PMI dome cap' which adds security and a well-positioned nub that sits perfectly to direct sound straight into the ear. It's the same with the charging case, which feels premium and is small enough to fit in your pocket — whether jeans or even running shorts, as I found.

Thanks to the OpenFit Pro, for the first time in my 30 years' playing competitive tennis (yes, my name really is Andy Murray), I listened to music during match training. How your opponent hits the ball is your biggest clue to their shot — its pace, its spin and even its trajectory — and despite listening to Queens of the Stone Age banger The Lost Art Of Keeping A Secret, while warming up I could still hear and track the ball in the way I always have. I wouldn't wear the Shokz for anything more than a 15-minute warm up — my addled brain can only cope with doing so many things at once — but they brought a new way of interacting with a sport I love.

Unlike running and cycling's repetitive movements, tennis' reactive twisting and turning really gave the OpenFit Pro a stability workout to stay on my ears. And they managed it. In tougher rallies, I found my right earbud feeling slightly unstable, but attaching the supplied ultra-soft silicone o-rings to the inside of earpiece sorted that in a heartbeat. I always wear a baseball cap when playing tennis, as well as a helmet while cycling, and neither interfered with the Shokz sitting snugly around my ears.

I regularly put on and took off jumpers, T-shirts and sportswear without having to take out the buds. As if to prove a point, I just put on a hoodie while writing this sentence. The fit really is excellent. The buds, that is. The hoodie has probably seen better days.

Evidence of how easily-bendable the hook is. (Image credit: Future / Andy Murray)

Whether in white or the review sample black I tested, the OpenFit Pro look sleek, smart and unobtrusive — numerous colleagues in Milan were surprised when asking me a question and I'd respond by either taking off the Shokz or using the buds' touch controls to pause.

Those touch controls are great, by the way. Each bud has an easily accessible nub, which does everything. One quick press on either bud for pause, and answer and end call; double click for skip track; triple click for previous track; a quick press followed by a continuous hold does volume up (right) and down (left); and press and hold to toggle noise reduction. These are all customizable in the Shokz app, too. Listening to Fontaines D.C.'s Starburster over and over with that triple click saw me through a couple of 3.5km PBs.

Only in one design area does the OpenFit Pro suffer, and it's one familiar to any regular open earbuds wearer. Despite the clever noise reduction mode, to really block out the world around you'll need to crank the volume, making sound leakage a problem. At 50% volume in a silent room it's barely audible, but start to push things further to drown out external stimuli and it's immediately obvious.

On the morning commute this shouldn't be a problem if you don't want your neighbor to know you're getting your groove on to Chappell Roan's Pink Pony Club, but while my fiancée was watching TV, she could hear my dirty secret from across the room when I tried to drown out her weekend Homes Under the Hammer catchup. Nor does the 'Private' EQ setting particularly help – there's only a negligible improvement for your companion and the bass suffers significantly for you. I wouldn't bother.

• Design score: 4.5/5

Shokz OpenFit Pro review: Value

(Image credit: Future / Andy Murray)

In the general scheme of things, the Shokz OpenFit Pro aren't that expensive, it's just that for nearly $250 they come in at the north end of the open earbud market, albeit not quite as pricy as the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds. With noise reduction, Dolby Atmos and head-tracking technology, though, Shokz seem to be targeting these as the only buds you need in your listening arsenal.

So, are they worth it? In audio terms, absolutely. You quite simply won't find a better-sounding set of open earbuds with this feature set, and as sturdy a battery life. I wouldn't necessarily throw out your regular over-ears or ANC in-ears just yet, though. There are times when you need to zone in and hear nothing of the outside world.

That being said, as a pair of sports-specific open earbuds, I don't think you'll find better.

• Value score: 4.5/5

Shokz OpenFit Pro review: scorecard

Category

Comment

Score

Features

It's a packed set, with as much on offer as can be expected from a set of open ears.

5/5

Sound quality

Noise reduction is effectively ANC for an open-ear design, with Dolby Atmos and head tracking nice extras. Tinny treble, though.

4.5/5

Design

So comfortable and tactile you'll forget you're wearing them, but sound leakage at upper volumes is an issue.

4.5/5

Value

They're still a second set, but what a great-sounding second set to have.

4.5/5

Shokz OpenFit Pro: Should I buy them?

(Image credit: Future / Andy Murray)Buy them if...

You want to upscale your exercise
From the excellent noise reduction to head-tracked Dolby Atmos and a punchy bass, the OpenFit Pro will keeping you running, cycling and even hitting tennis balls for hours on end. You won't find better.

You're often on the go
The Shokz's battery life is superb to relentless in general and, with a charging case that fits in your pocket, you'll go days without having to go in search of electricity.

You like wearing air
Yeah, the OpenFit Pro really are that comfortable. You just won't notice you've got them on.

Don't buy them if...

You don't dig much treble
It overwhelms in general, and I always had Bass Boost on to compensate. Fine for me, but maybe not for you.

You only want one pair of buds
Shokz aren't quite there yet with a one-set-of-open-earbuds-to-rule-them-all policy. If you fly a lot or need to block out the world to concentrate, you'll need another pair. That makes them slightly expensive.

Also consider

Component

Shokz OpenFit Pro

Shokz OpenFit 2+

Bose Ultra Open Earbuds

Water resistant

IP55

IP55

IPX4

Battery life

12 hours (earbuds, noise reduction disabled), 50 hours total

11 hours (earbuds), 48 hours (total)

7.5 hours (earbuds), 27 hours (total)

Bluetooth type

Bluetooth 6.1

Bluetooth 5.4

Bluetooth 5.3

Weight

12.3g per earbud

9.4g / Charging case: 56g

6g / Charging case: 43g

Driver

Ultra large 11 x 20mm synchronized dual-diaphragm

21mm x 11mm custom dynamic driver

12mm

Shokz OpenFit 2+
Our previous open earbud market leader has some competition, but the fact the brand's in-house alternative isn't so good for glasses wearers is a problem.
Read our full Shokz OpenFit 2+ review

Bose Ultra Open Earbuds
These clip-on open ears are even more expensive than the OpenFit Pro and less sound leakage, but not the noise reduction.
Read our full Bose Ultra Open review

How I tested

(Image credit: Future)

I tested the Shokz OpenFit Pro for well over a month, which is longer than our regular testing period at TechRadar.

The buds were paired to an iPhone for the entirety of the testing, using Tidal's high-res and Dolby Atmos audio outputs. I used them at home at work and also on runs, while cycling and even playing tennis, at which I've competed at a high level for 30 years.

Read more about how we test

• First reviewed: April 2026

UGREEN NASync iDX6011 Pro: 30-second review

The UGreen NASync iDX6011 Pro is substantial, measuring in at 349 x 260 x 212mm, it sits closer to an ITX PC case than anything you would ordinarily describe as a NAS, and lifting it out of the packaging highlights that this is a serious piece of kit that’s impressive design makes you want to keep it out on show rather than hidden away.

Once positioned in a prominent place in the office, the matte grey aluminium chassis and rounded edges give it a premium, stylish look that departs from the larger rack-mount aesthetics of more industrial NAS hardware. The design and aesthetics are perfect for any design or photo Studio space.

Getting started with the iDX6011 is as straightforward as the other UGreen NAS systems that I’ve looked at. Essentially, each of the six front bays is secured by a flathead key lock, which once pressed, releases so the tray can slide out. You then drop in a 3.5-inch hard drive all without the need for a single screw, then slide it back, and lock. The whole process takes under 30 seconds per drive.

For this review, I installed four 4TB Western Digital drives, configured in RAID 5 via the guided UGOS Pro setup, for a total of 12TB of usable storage, with one drive's capacity matched to the RAID 5 configuration. I used the two M.2 NVMe slots for caching and installed two 1TB sticks.

On the front of the machine is a small vertical 3.7-inch touch LCD that lets you flick through a few stats and information from the system. This is genuinely helpful and interesting, especially as you start to delve into the local AI to monitor resource usage.

One of the uses of this screen came into play during the initial setup, where I was able to quickly see the NAS IP address. It’s only a small thing, but genuinely helpful. The screen also provides a quick glance at CPU, GPU, NPU, RAM, storage, and network load without opening a browser.

Through the initial part of the test, I put the standard NAS functions to the test, and setting up storage for local and shared use worked well. I especially liked that I could use it as a local Dropbox to share files with clients without paying for an external service. I was also able to set up a local media server, although apps such as Plex aren’t currently in the main library, so you can either use JellyFin or Theatre, or use Docker or SSH through the terminal to install and set up.

This is where this machine comes into its own. Through UGOS, it has given you plenty to get started, but if you want more, it seems to support an incredible amount of customisation.

The main focus is on the local LLM options. By default, you have UIiya, which provides a chat interface you can use to perform basic tasks, such as finding documents and photos. What stands out here is that it runs locally with no online connection needed.

As I delved deeper into using AI on the system, I soon ran into limitations with the onboard AI. It’s good, but not as involved as I wanted. However, connecting to the ChatGPT API and to the paid cloud service enhanced the AI tool set to the point that it wasn’t just useful, but could sort through and catalogue a huge volume of images and videos. This not just makes it useful, but completely invaluable, ploughing through mundane tasks at a relatively fast pace.

The AI potential, alongside the standard NAS options, instantly makes this a valuable asset to any studio or business working with multiple files that need to be organised. It enables human commands and a little AI connection to go well beyond any machine I have used to date.

UGREEN NASync iDX6011 Pro Price & availability

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)

• How much does it cost? $1559
• When is it out? Now
• Where can you get it? Available May

The UGreen NASync iDX6011 Pro is currently available on Kickstarter here and on the UGreen website where it had an early-bird price of $1,559. The pre-order deposit page here has, unfortunately, sold out. The standard retail pricing has not yet been confirmed.

Shipping for the iDX6011 begins May 2026 and will launch with a three-year warranty and five years of security updates. It’s also worth considering that the drives are sold separately.

• Value: 5 / 5

UGREEN NASync iDX6011 Pro: Design

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)Specifications

CPU: Intel Core Ultra 7 255H
AI compute: 96 TOPS
RAM: 64GB LPDDR5X
System SSD: 128GB
Drive bays: 6x SATA HDD/SSD bays up to 196TB
M.2 slots: 2x M.2 NVMe
Expansion: PCIe Gen4 x8 slot, OCuLink port
Networking: Dual 10GbE LAN
Ports: 2x Thunderbolt 4 (40Gbps), USB 3.2 Gen 2 (10Gbps), SD 4.0 card reader
Display output: HDMI 8K
Front display: 3.7-inch touch LCD
RAID support: RAID 0, 1, 5, 6, 10, JBOD, Basic
OS: UGOS Pro
AI platform: Uliya (on-device LLM), supports Llama, Mirai, DeepSeek, Qwen; cloud API via OpenAI / Claude
Dimensions: 349 x 260 x 212mm

The iDX6011 Pro is a relatively large NAS unit that requires a good amount of space, not only for the NAS itself but also to enable plenty of airflow around the back. If you have limited space, then the size and, for that matter, weight might well be an issue.

If you’re considering putting it on a shelf, the 10kg weight of my review unit loaded with four drives might give you an idea of the scale, and at 35 x 26 x 21.5cm, you’ll need some pretty substantial shelving to take the load.

Size aside, this is a stunning-looking piece of kit, so a prominent spot, if only for purely aesthetic reasons, is well worth it. Once positioned, its matte grey aluminium chassis, rounded edges, and numbered front panel with that vertical touch screen all add to the unique look, far removed from the usual utilitarian look of traditional high-capacity NAS hardware.

The six front drive bays across the front are numbered, and in this review, I filled four of them with 4TB WD Red drives, which are an additional purchase. Each drive tray is secured in place with a push-release mechanism, secured by a flathead key lock, making the drive trays completely tool-free. Getting a drive in and out takes under 30 seconds, and the mechanism feels solid.

Alongside the drive bays and the screen, the front also features two Thunderbolt 4 ports, a USB-A and an SD card reader.

The SATA SSDs do require screws, and the M.2 NVMe slots require heatsinks, while the SSDs aren't supplied, everything else is. The NVMe slots are accessible via the right side panel, which uses a hex-key fastener; a driver is included.

The rear of the machine includes three USB-A ports (one 3.2 and two 2.0), dual 10GbE LAN, HDMI 8K, OCuLink, PCIe Gen4 x8, and the power input. The back also features a magnetic dust mesh filter that covers the main fan grille. This simply pulls free to clean when needed, and it's a feature I’m increasingly seeing on NAS systems. Essentially, for a device expected to run 24/7 in a studio environment, keeping dust under control is crucial, so anything that makes cleaning easier is definitely welcome.

One issue with many NAS systems is noise; however, here it is well controlled by a hydraulic rear fan that runs at 29–34 dB. During testing, including sustained transfers and AI processing tasks, the machine remained noticeably quieter than most NAS units at this capacity.

There is of course, the usual hard drive activity sounds, clicks and soft whirs as drives spin up and seek data, but the overall noise is more than acceptable for open studio use.

• Design: 4 / 5

UGREEN NASync iDX6011 Pro: Features

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)

The hardware specification of the iDX6011 Pro reads more like a mini PC than a NAS. The Intel Core Ultra 7 255H brings 16 cores, 16 threads, a 5.1GHz boost clock, and 96 TOPS of combined AI compute from the CPU, integrated Arc GPU, and NPU.

That processing power is paired with 64GB of LPDDR5X RAM, soldered and non-upgradeable, though 64GB is more than sufficient for any workload this machine is realistically expected to run. Through the test, it proved capable of handling multiple simultaneous large-file transfers, AI indexing, transcription, and network file serving without significant slowdown.

As a six SATA bay NAS there’s plenty of flexibility when it comes to how you configure the storage capacity, in this review I filled four of the six bays, but maxed out this system will support hard drives or SSDs up to a theoretical 196TB, that includes two M.2 NVMe slots that are able to add fast caching or dedicated SSD volumes.

On top of the removable storage, there's also a separate 128GB system SSD used for the UGOS Pro, Uliya, and system apps, which are kept separate from user data. When it comes to how you configure the installed storage, you can choose RAID 0, 1, 5, 6, or 10, and the system guides you through the initial configuration.

Through the bulk of the test, I had the NAS connected to the wired network, which enabled fast transfer over the dual 10GbE networking ports. I also tested the system over the wireless network to check for any compatibility issues.

What I noted during the test was consistent speed throughout, with fast transfers, and the dual Thunderbolt 4 ports that can provide a theoretical transfer rate of 40Gbps, which also proved handy for direct-attached transfers from portable SSDs and Memory cards.

Roughly 10GB of data transferred via Thunderbolt 4 in around 10 minutes for 572 files, averaging approximately 300MB/s. This made offloading a shoot's worth of CFexpress cards to storage a relatively quick option and enabled me to access and share the contents easily without needing to rely on a paid-for service. This alone makes this a valuable investment, with the cost of my WeTransfer subscription topping over £200 a year.

The traditional NAS functions and features are well integrated, and the UGOS is slowly developing into a solid platform. However, it’s the AI platform centred around Uliya, UGREEN's own on-device assistant, that really starts to make this NAS interesting and something totally different to anything else on the market.

Out of the box, it runs UGREEN's own lightweight language model, and additional models, Llama 3.1 8B, Mirai 7B, DeepSeek 7B/8B, can be installed through the AI Console app or via Terminal, which through the use of the NAS I came to rely on to get the most out of the system and not just for the AI features.

The full use of some features or models did require Terminal setup and cloud API keys for the Cloud-enabled features; however, these were all relatively easy to sort out. Support for connecting to cloud APIs, such as OpenAI GPT-4/5 and Claude, is available through a paid API key.

Once connected, you get away from the unique offline AI feature, and the full potential of this machine starts to unlock. The difference between available offline/local and cloud-dependent functions is significant, and I’ll go into this more in the AI and Performance sections.

One of the biggest features of the offline AI abilities is the Voice Memos feature. This isn’t installed by default and needs to be installed from the App section. The Voice Memos app, along with the relevant transcription model, enables on-device audio transcription, summarisation, and mind-mapping.

To test this out, I loaded a 17-minute, 22-second audio file, which was transcribed locally in approximately 2 minutes, with speaker identification, a summary, and a mind map generated without the file leaving the machine or utilising any online service. If you have any type of interview- or meeting-heavy work, client review transcription, or meeting minutes, this feature makes this box incredibly valuable again.

AI is the big feature of the iDX6011 Pro, and it works on several levels that you can get started with right out of the box. Essentially, this NAS has been designed with privacy-first features for the AI assistant, meaning that it’s 100% local to the machine and doesn’t rely on any type of connection to a cloud service.

This means that if you have it on an isolated network, you’re still able to use the AI features to help you organise files, recognise photos, and conduct searches of your drive's content using natural language. You can also use the chatbot to help answer questions about your data.

In practice, some features run locally, and the Uylia does contain an impressive amount of information, even if the knowledge is limited to a cut-off date in June 2024. While most AI features are directly available in the UGOS, others require a Terminal window to get the full experience, and if you want the really advanced interaction, then a paid cloud API is required.

Through the test, I found a huge number of the features worked well locally. Uliya's chat function is a decent offline assistant for general questions. Through the test, it answered photography technique questions with surprising accuracy, generated formatted spreadsheet templates that could be copied into Excel or Google Sheets, and provided useful reference information at a speed that, whilst slower than a cloud equivalent, was still.

For a general-purpose knowledge tool running entirely on-device, it is honestly impressive at its weight class.

Voice transcription, once downloaded and installed, proved to be one of the most impressive features, processing a 17-minute audio file to produce a full transcript with speaker identification, a summary, and a mind map. Essentially, if you have any workflow that involves client interviews, meeting recordings, or video content requiring transcripts, this feature is instantly of interest and requires no API, no subscription, and no data leaving the building.

Photo recognition and file organisation are where the gap between what I expected and what was possible was most apparent. The photo indexing works, but requires re-indexing after new uploads to reliably recognise content, and even then, I found it a little hit-and-miss.

Training the model on specific individuals by adding five to ten sample images of a person improves face recognition to a usable standard. Semantic search for documents worked well for labelled files, but was less effective at finding content within documents.

However, these basic features are already covered by other NAS systems, and I was really looking for something altogether more ambitious. Essentially, sorting out years of image files into an organised filing system. This would require physically moving and sorting thousands of files into date-and-subject folders, processing an entire drive's image library with accurate recognition, and generating contact sheets.

To do this, I needed more power than the onboard language model could provide, so I connected to a cloud API via a Terminal SSH session. Once GPT-5 was connected via the OpenAI API, the machine became a genuinely impressive combination of fast local hardware and cloud intelligence, able to sort, tag, rename, and organise files at a scale and speed that were not achievable with Uliya alone.

There is an issue with this workflow; it requires familiarity with SSH, careful pre-planning of exactly what you want the system to do, and ongoing API costs, which get away from the out-of-the-box solution. But knowing it’s there and usable adds another level to this box.

• Features: 4 / 5

UGREEN NASync iDX6011 Pro: Performance

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)

As a pure NAS, the iDX6011 Pro performs incredibly well and offers everything you would expect, including storage and apps. In my review sample, I installed four 4TB Western Digital drives in RAID 5 configuration and dual M.2 NVMe SSDs configured as cache, then connected the machine to the wired network and made it accessible through the Wi-Fi router.

Connection speeds on both connections were fast and essentially stable, and through the UGOS, you can easily monitor activity as files cross from one device to another.

The ease of use of the NAS is apparent from the outset: the drives slot into place tool-free, and once powered on, the UGOS guides you through the RAID setup.

Essentially, after inserting the drives and powering on, a QR code on the touch display opens the browser setup, which then guides you through drive detection, RAID selection, and storage pool creation in an easy-to-understand sequence.

For this test, I opted for RAID 5, which gave 12TB of usable capacity from the 16TB of drives installed. I also added two M.2 SSDs as cache, which were allocated via the UGOS Storage Centre. Using SSDs as cache noticeably improves small-file transfer performance, and since I’m using this for website code and images, allocating space on the SSDs for caching makes sense.

The UGOS Pro operating system is well-designed, and having used it in the past, it’s good to see it evolving and becoming increasingly polished. Although the pre-production software I was using had a few stability issues during the review, most were easily fixed.

An example is the Universal Search feature, which disappeared from the desktop app after one update, although it remained available through the browser login. Then Uliya, the AI chatbot, stopped responding altogether after a Terminal session that involved installing and uninstalling multiple language models in succession. Reinstalling the Uylia model seemed to fix the issue.

Quite often if there was an issue, almost always after an SSH session, a full reboot resolved the problem. It’s also worth noting that these problems occurred in an environment where the system was being pushed much harder than most users would. For most standard NAS use, file serving, backup, and media streaming, as was carried out during the later stages of the test, the NAS provided solid performance.

One of the features that I initially thought was more of a gimmick than anything was the front touch display; however, it provides a useful real-time performance view. Watching CPU, NPU, and RAM utilisation during AI transcription and file transfer just gives you feedback on how the hardware is working through the tasks. The display also came in handy during setup, showing the device's IP address without requiring access to the router's admin panel.

Cooling for the NAS seemed well controlled, and while you can hear the fans kick in under sustained load and with AI processing, the machine ran warm but never too hot. The fan noise increased slightly during intensive AI tasks, but it was never overly distracting.

In the initial part of the test, I used the NAS as a straight-out-of-the-box solution, ran the setup, and allocated storage, both local and shared. I then offloaded a CFexpress Type B card from a studio shoot using the Thunderbolt 4 port on the front, and this was all easy enough.

Using the UGOS interface to make the transfer from the CFExpress to the NAS. I then set the new folder to be shared and was able to send it to a colleague for review without using a third-party service such as WeTransfer.

I then copied additional material from a portable SSD, and again the transfers averaged around 300MB/s for a mixed file set of 572 items across approximately 10GB. This was fast enough that backing up a full shoot's card set and moving footage to a working drive felt relatively quick, if not as fast as a direct-attached drive.

What I liked about all stages of using the iDX6011 Pro is that the UGOS Pro operating system offers an easy-to-use user interface, and this ease of use is apparent from the outset.

Through the UGOS, I was then able to use the onboard AI, Uylia, to check the files and the contents of other data I had copied to the NAS. Even after connecting the image files to the Photos App and ensuring everything was properly indexed, the quality of the AI search and file integration through the chatbot was slightly limited. Essentially, it felt more like a chatbot than a true AI assistant at this level.

That said, there are tasks that are genuinely useful, and as I trained the photo model to recognise vehicles, places, and people, it did become progressively more useful. This is a feature that feels like it is still developing, and tighter integration is still required.

Where the onboard AI really comes into its own is with the voice memo app, which can transcribe audio. This worked completely offline and proved to be incredibly accurate and detailed. Not only does it transcribe, but it can also summarise. The initial transcription is quick: 17 minutes of audio takes around 2 minutes to transcribe, while the summaries and mind maps take a bit longer.

The onboard AI is genuinely useful, but still feels limited in its approach and application. However, the potential really comes through when you connect to a cloud model. This does require an API and incurs costs, but the potential is huge.

Once I had connected, I created a “To Process” folder on the NAS, and then a “Photo-Processed” and “Videos-Processed folder”. I then dropped in several GB of images into the “To Process” folder, and the NAS scanned the entire folder of nearly 10,000 images, organised them by date and a descriptor, and provided a contact sheet for each.

To get this to work, I first set up the API, which was straightforward using ChatGPT, then connected via SSH in Terminal on the Mac and gave the machine commands to do exactly what I wanted. This wasn’t a straightforward process, and there was quite a bit of back and forth with the commands, but eventually it worked and with great effect.

This really highlighted just how powerful this machine could be with the right level of skill.

What’s more, the LLMs that I was using were relatively small due to the resources available. However, with an eGPU connected via the OCuLink port, the potential of this processing will open up even further.

As a standalone six-bay NAS, the iDX6011 Pro is an impressive piece of kit, but once you start incorporating the Ai, both offline and online, the potential of this NAS is huge.

• Performance: 4.5 / 5

UGREEN NASync iDX6011 Pro: Final verdict

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)

The UGreen NASync iDX6011 Pro is a major advancement for this level of NAS, and at the price is just about affordable for small to medium-sized businesses and studios. The hardware is impressive, and I haven’t seen anything anywhere near as powerful in a NAS before. The fact that it features a Core Ultra 7, 64GB of RAM, dual 10GbE, dual Thunderbolt 4, six drive bays, and on-device AI is impressive at every level.

If you’re a creative professional or small studio that needs fast, private, high-capacity storage with the processing power to do more than just hold files, this machine is exceptional, with loads of as-yet untapped potential.

The integrated AI is useful in some areas, such as voice transcription, document summarisation, and general knowledge queries, and the fact that it runs offline is also impressive and can be useful depending on your business.

For more advanced automation and file organisation, I found I needed to connect to a more powerful cloud API’s, and to do so, some familiarity with SSH is required, which is quite technical.

That may change as UGOS Pro advances, and the fact that it already has some automated feature Apps, such as image recognition and voice transcription, means there’s plenty of scope for the future.

If you’re a photographer or videographer who wants fast local storage, offline AI transcription, and the option to connect to more powerful AI models, the iDX6011 Pro is a great option. For anyone expecting a plug-and-play AI assistant out of the box, it’s good but nowhere near as fast or as good as some online models.

Should I buy a UGREEN NASync iDX6011 Pro?

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)

Value

Workstation hardware at a NAS price, great value for the specification, worth highlighting that AI features are still developing.

4.5

Design

aluminium case, excellent build quality, touch display, and dust filter all add to a stunning design

5

Features

Dual 10GbE, dual Thunderbolt 4, six bays, OCuLink, PCIe expansion, voice transcription, and a local LLM, a unique feature set. 

4.5

Performance

Fast transfers, capable AI processing offline, and a RAID setup process that any level of user is able to navigate.

4.5

Overall

A unique NAS with an AI platform that works offline and has huge potential as the platform develops

4.5

Buy it if...

You need fast storage with  AI potential.

Fast transfers, private local storage, and impressive offline voice transcription make this a great choice for photographers and videographers .

You are comfortable with Terminal.

If SSH sessions and cloud API setup don't faze you, the iDX6011 Pro has an incredible amount of potential.

Don't buy it if...

You expect an out-of-the-box AI

The AI chat interface isn't the autonomous file manager it promises yet; Terminal and a cloud API are still needed for the best results. 

Kickstarter risk concerns you.

The hardware feels finished; however, I sense the software is still developing. At $1,559 on Kickstarter, that is a huge initial commitment.

For more storage solutions, we've tested the best NAS devices.

If you want to get looks, clip a Maxell Wireless Cassette player to your backpack and watch the astonishment roll in. My coffee guy could barely contain himself: ''Wow, classic! Boy!" I walked away with coffee, a bagel, and a smile on my face.

At the office, a small crowd gathered around to examine it. All men in their 30s, 40s, or 50s, they recognized the iconic shape and buttons. "What a blast from the past," smiled one. Another pointed and asked incredulously, "It works with Bluetooth?" Yes, I told them, it does, though there's more to that story.

I spotted the "Remix" Maxell Wireless Cassette Player a few weeks back and, though I quickly discovered we'd written about it (or a Maxell very much like it), I wondered if we'd tried it out.

Its appearance on Amazon is part of an ongoing trend: analog, retro gear. Gen Z, in particular, is cozying up to film cameras, physical books, vinyl records, and record players — actually record players that connect via Bluetooth to some very nice speakers.

So, I'm not surprised that this Bluetooth-ready cassette machine exists, but unlike the resurgence of vinyl, I didn't think that cassette manufacturing was similarly on the rise.

I was wrong. One report claimed that cassette tape production surged 400% between 2015 and 2023.

But the truth is, I never see cassettes in the wild. Sometimes I see a guy trying to hand me a CD mix in Manhattan, but even that's rare. There are, though, by some estimates, 30 billion cassette tapes in circulation, and even if just a fraction of them are still with consumers, I bet people are itching for a chance to listen to them again. The Maxell model is not alone, by the way. There's also, among others, this very retro-looking Bluetooth Miko model.

When I decided to buy one of the $99 players from Amazon, I quickly discovered that they're in demand: a 5-to-6 week wait was predicted.

By the time it did show up, I'd all but forgotten about it.

Price and availability

The Maxell Wireless Cassette Player launched in February 2026 and costs $99.99. It is not currently available in the UK.

Specs

Maxell Wireless Cassette Player

Dimensions

6.5 x 1.7 x 5.8 inches

Weight

210 grams

Connectivity

Bluetooth 5.4, wired

Battery

8 hours wireless
11 hours wirelss

Ports

USB-C (charge), 3.5mm headphone jack

Design and setupLance Ulanoff / FutureLance Ulanoff / FutureLance Ulanoff / FutureLance Ulanoff / Future

Despite being designed for media made 40 years ago, the Maxell player has a pleasing modern look, with a mostly white, composite body and a band of silver/gray running around the edge that leads you to the simple gray buttons (Fast-forward, Rewind, Play, and Stop) and to the, volumne wheel, ports and tiny Bluetooth button on the side. It's a less fussy design than you'll find on the pricier, $160 player from GenZ (talk about an on-the-nose brand name)

There's also a large clip on the back so you can slip the player on your belt or backpack. I tried both, though settled on the backpack — more on that in a bit.

The face of it has the classic capsule-shaped cutout so you can see your tape and maybe a little bit of the album name. There's a small lip on the right side that you use to flip open the cover so you can slip in a tape. I tried opening the player by putting two fingers on the lip side and my thumb on the other. That was a mistake. It flips open easily with just one finger tip.

Because the entire face of the Maxell Wireless Cassette Player is the cassette door, you can't seat it on its base when you want to load a cassette — the bottom edge will get stuck or make the whole thing tip over. It's not a big deal, but I do wonder if there was a better way to make that cover.

As with virtually all cassette players made over the last 50 years, the cassett slips in top first and with the exposed tape facing up.

Connecting and playing

(Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)

I was not a mix-tape guy, but I used to have a small collection of audio cassettes that I played in my old Hyundai's built-in cassette player. Since that car was gone, I had to go searching for my old box of tapes. I found it under a layer of dust, but the cassettes were in relatively good condition.

I had an old Carly Simon album, the original Broadway production of Chess cast album, some personal recordings of my CBS News Radio appearances (hear me talk about how Internet Explorer 4 might finally overtake Netscape!), and The Traveling Wilburys. You might not know that band name, but back in 1988, they were one of the original super groups, comprising Tom Petty, Roy Orbison, Bob Dylan, and George Harrison. I loved that album.

I slipped in that last tape and then plugged in a pair of wired headphones (just to see if the thing worked). It does not ship with headphones or a charging adapter, but you do get a USB-C charging cable.

There's also no power switch or button. Instead, if you hit any of the three main buttons and it just starts, winding, rewinding, or playing. I pressed play, which was quite satisfying, I must admit, and heard the quartet's instantly identifiable sound coming through my headset.

Bluetooth connectivity turned out to be somewhat more challenging.

Making the connection

(Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)

Directions for Bluetooth connectivity are relatively spare, and it's in moments like this that you realize just how spoiled we are by ever-present screens.

The only indication of the player looking for and establishing a Bluetooth connection is a tiny blue light. It flashes in search mode and stays on when the connection is established.

My goal was to connect the Maxell Wireless Cassette Player to my Apple AirPods Pro 3. The Maxell manual instructs you to put your Bluetooth device in pairing mode and then press and hold the Bluetooth button on the player to put it in pairing mode. That's it. They should find each other.

They did not.

No matter what I tried, I could not get the AirPods Pro connected. At one point, though, I thought I heard a sound from my TV in the next room. After 30 minutes of trying, I walked into the living room and turned on my LG C5 OLED TV. Then I placed the Maxell cassette player in front of it and hit play.

Yep, it had connected to my TV.

On the bright side, I could hear the music, but I also didn't plan to take my TV with me.

Take 2

,The next day I took the Maxell player with me to work and, while sitting on the train, I was able to successfully connect to the AirPods Pro. My guess is there was just too much Bluetooth crosstalk in my house.

Maxell claims that after the first connection, the headphones should automatically connect to the Maxell Player. Sometimes that was true, but not consistently.

For my walk to work, I put the Maxell Wireless Cassette Player on my belt. Unfortunately, it could not connect to my AirPods. So I moved it up to a backpack strap that put it inches from my head.

Bingo.

It worked, and I listened to clear, rich audio with great highs, excellent mids, and good-enough lows. The connection, though, was not always solid. It literally broke if I turned my head the wrong way. Even so, I enjoyed the experience and the reactions.

Battery life

(Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)

Maxell rates the player for 11 hours of playback wired and 8 hours using Bluetooth. I unboxed it and started using it, and have yet to charge the player. Again, though, the lack of a screen means I have no idea how much juice is left

Listening to cassette tapes is not just analog; it's a serial experience. Songs are lined up sequentially on tape. You can't jump around or see either what you're playing or what's coming up. Oh, and if you want to hear the rest of the album, you must remove the tape, turn it over, and slip it back into the player.

Mostly, I didn't mind this. I also don't care about the lack of recording capabilities. I don't plan on creating new cassette tapes. Though it was fun rediscovering tapes I last played when I was in my 30s, hearing my youthful, recorded voice opining on the state of the browser wars, and the young voices of my now adult children. None of that would've been possible without the $99 Maxell Wireless Cassette Player, and it's worth it just for that.

First reviewed April 2026

The Hbada X7 Smart made an entrance from the moment the box hit my front step. It’s big. And by big, I mean massive.

I’ve reviewed probably coming up on almost 100 office chairs in my time and in that time, very few if any have come a box so large. But while some chairs feel big when you sit in them, but look average. This one is large in feel and looks, giving the term “robust” a very real example.

Assembly was fairly straightforward, nevertheless, though even with the hefty nature of the beast, my hands were a bit too large to comfortably connect one cable head, though that may have been due to missing a note to connect it earlier on in assembly.

Now, it's absolutely packed with features - that's the main selling-point here, coming loaded with massaging, heating, and cooling functions. And in the main, they work very well. But what really stops it from appearing in our guide to the best office chairs is the build quality, which feels rickety at times.

HBADA X7 Smart Ergonomic Chair: Unboxing and First Impressions

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )

After taking about 15 minutes to assemble the chair from cutting the box open to sitting back and reclining, I got everything plugged in, and then I kicked back to learn the controls.

Most chairs have a combination of levers and dials; the X7 Smart not only has those, but also gizmos and gadgets to go along with its whosits and whatsits. The controller is attached to the bottom-left seat of the chair via a cable and looks and feels a bit like an old iPod Classic.

Once I got over that brief bout of nostalgia, I got to work by plugging in my chair and setting the lumbar right where I wanted it, checking the heat and ventilation, and testing the massaging function.

My first massage was impressive, it’s not just a vibration, but an actual apparatus moving around the muscles in my lower back. Sure, there’s a pattern, but that’s to be expected. I cranked this up to full power and sat back, enjoying the relief in my lower back that I had not felt in quite some time.

Every time after that, I’d choose medium or high power pretty much every time. Letting that chair dig into my lumbar and offer sweet relief from my days.

The cooling and heating worked wonderfully as well. My wife and son would actually fight over who got to sit in this chair when we were all hanging out as a family.

HBADA X7 Smart Ergonomic Chair: Price and Availability

The Hbada X7 Smart is available direct from Hbada in the US here for $1227 (discounted from $1509 at the time of review). From the UK website here, it's £1299 (also on sale down from £1509).

The chair is also available from Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk for a similar price.

Now, that price putting it into premium chair level, similar to the likes of Steelcase and Herman Miller chairs. And while I'm not convinced the build quality is comparable, it's certainly got a lot of features here, including a built-in leg rest that often comes as an optional extra from some chair-makers.

These chairs come with a 5-year warranty and a 30-day money-back return policy if you decide this chair isn’t for you. And, for some, that may be the case. It’s a pretty massive chair, but if you have the space and don’t mind the spaceship look, the comfort you get from this seat is impressive.

HBADA X7 Smart Ergonomic Chair: Design & Build Quality

As I say, this office chair is one big beast, with a broad seat and look that wouldn't feel out of place aboard a spaceship in a sci-fi movie.

Where it falls apart (not literally), is the build quality. The main part of the chair feels robust, yet there are elements that feel a bit rickety. The leg rest could be a little more stable, though it’s definitely nowhere near the worst I have seen. The headrest feels cheap and like I might break it when adjusting.

The controller, while nostalgic, feels dated. But, the chair itself, the mesh seat and backrest, the armrests, the massager, heater, and ventilation/cooler are all spectacular. So, a mixed bag overall.

HBADA X7 Smart Ergonomic Chair: In use

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )

As I mentioned above, this chair has become a firm favorite of my 7-year-old son, who has a taste for the bougier chairs, as well as my (at the time) very, very, very pregnant wife.

When you sit back in this chair, you can pull out the wired iPod Classic-looking controller and choose an automatic mode, which I rarely use, or manually set a power level and a temperature. I’d pretty frequently choose to cool it, since I run warm, but my co-testers loved cranking the heat on this thing. If cooling, a faint blue light would shine through the lumbar, and if heating, a faint red light would shine through the lumbar.

Day-to-day use, this chair is pretty cumbersome. It’s large, can be hard to move, and feels more like an entire monolith rather than just a chair. Other chairs with heating and cooling elements I have tried have been smaller or more sophisticated, though they were not nearly as built-in as this.

Perhaps the cumbersome nature is simply part of the give-and-take of a chair like this. Regardless, if you’ve got the space and the desire for a chair that is far more than just a place to hold you upright while working, then the HBADA X7 Smart Ergonomic Chair is worth the research and consideration.

HBADA X7 Smart Ergonomic Chair: Final verdict

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )

The Hbada X7 is one of the most over-the-top office chairs that I have ever tested. It's designed to be.

It's meant to be comfy, feature-packed, and loaded with goodies. The cooling is fantastic, the heating is great, the massaging actually feels good, and the leg rest helps you enjoy it that much more.

I wish the build quality of elements like the footrest and headrest were stronger - while everything else is a delight, this is the sort of issue that makes it difficult to easily justify the higher cost.

Still, overall the chair is very comfortable (just ask my son), and if you can get over the massive size of the chair, there's not much else like this climate-controlled massaging throne on the market.

Collin Probst // Future Collin Probst // Future Collin Probst // Future Collin Probst // Future Collin Probst // Future Collin Probst // Future Collin Probst // Future

For more options, we've tested the best business monitors and the best monitors for video editing.

I feel like there are more power stations than ever these days. Currently, I've become very interested in some of the smaller form factors and what they can offer. While I'm still trying to understand the differences in technicality between a power bank and a power station when they come to this size, I do know that the Jackery 240D has actually really impressed me with its ability and how easy it fits into my workflow, though it's not perfect.

In short, it is a small capacity portable power station with simple, helpful ports, no AC plug, a tiny little screen, and a built-in cable/handle hybrid, making it more useful. Jackery rightfully has promoted this cable as being the flagship feature of this power station, and they are correct in doing so.

The small size of the Explorer 240D may make it not perfect for everybody. For most people looking for a higher capacity units, our guide to the best portable power stations offers a little more in that regard.

However, for those who need a compact, ultra-portable solution - I'm thinking photographers, videographers, day-trippers, campers, and professionals on a business trip - then it's going to tick a lot of boxes.

Jackery Explorer 240D: Price & availability

The Jackery Explorer 240D is available from Jackery in the US for $209 - coming as a standalone unit or as part of a bundle with other accessories.

It's also available from Walmart for $150 at the time of review.

Unfortunately, I'm struggling to find it outside the US right now.

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )Jackery Explorer 240D: Unboxing and First Impressions

Unboxing the Jackery Explorer 240D is a pretty straightforward process. In the box is simply the power station itself, the braided cable/handle, and some documentation.

The cable and handle is about a 1m / 3ft cable that connects via locking connectors to either side of the power station.

The port offering is great for a small unit like this; however, I would note it pretty quickly that there was no AC port. There are some units in this size category that do have an AC port, though only one, which gives them a leg up in some scenarios.

I would assume that most people who need a power station around this size don't necessarily need an AC port, as USB-C is growing in popularity and availability.

The cable / handle is surprisingly good. It feels like a quality braided cable. The ports feel good plugging into any of my devices, and the attaching mechanism feels sturdy enough that I am not worried about it when I am carrying the power station around via the cable handle hybrid.

Last, while there is shoulder strap available, I would probably just continue to throw this in a backpack if I am carrying this with me somewhere due to its smaller size.

Jackery Explorer 240D: Design & Build Quality

The Jackery Explorer 240D is compact and easy to carry with the built-in handle or with a shoulder strap. It's also incredibly easy to be able to throw into a backpack or the back of a vehicle, if desired. I've even thrown this in the side saddle of my Lectric XPedition 2.0 a couple times for some power on those longer bike rides just in case.

The screen adds a simple display to help with basic information on battery capacity and run time.

As most compact power stations do at this size, all of the ports are on the front of the device, meaning that there is really easy access if you place it somewhere or have it tucked on the side of a bag.

What's super nice about this kind of power station is that, since it is so easy to carry and yet has enough capacity and output, this could be your one device that you bring with you if all you need to power is a tablet, a phone, a computer, or something like that and nothing bigger.

For example, if I were to be going on a quick camping trip. There's a pretty good chance that this would be the only power station I would need to bring. It's just enough power to recharge my phone a couple times in case of emergencies. Pair this with a simple portable solar panel (like the one I have that has a simple USB-C out), and you have unlimited power for the essentials.

Jackery Explorer 240D: In use

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )

I've been using this power station around the house for the last couple of months for miscellaneous things. I've also used it during a few power outages that we have had during the storm season in the Midwest.

During that time, the only things that I've needed to grab a different power station for are scenarios where I need to power a bigger device or when I need to power those odd devices that still require only an AC outlet.

For example, when blowing up an air mattress that has a built-in pump that requires an AC outlet, I couldn't use this Jackery Explorer 240D power station and I had to reach for something else. Outside of those scenarios, though, this has been a phenomenal device. Especially since I don't have to also then keep track of cables, which seems like such a small thing on paper but actually makes a huge difference in day-to-day usage.

This is the kind of power station that makes me really thankful that almost all of my devices are moved over to USB-C now. Because of that universal cable standard, there is no longer a need for cable roulette.

Jackery Explorer 240D: Final verdict

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )

I won’t lie to you — the Jackery Explorer 240D is not a perfect power station; however, it is fairly fantastic for those who need just a small, slightly larger-than-standard battery bank but smaller than the average power station.

For those who need something just in between a simple power bank and a full-sized portable power station, the Jackery Explorer 240D proved to be a pretty phenomenal intermediary.

If you're looking to add just a little bit of power for peace of mind on the camping trip, or if you want something to have in the back of your car in case of emergencies, especially perhaps during those winter months or long travels, then the Jackery 240D is a great option.

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The Lenovo ThinkStation P3 Ultra SFF Gen 2 is a spectacular compact powerhouse of a PC.

Specs-wise, it packs in an Intel Core Ultra 9, an Nvidia RTX 4000 SFF ADA Generation GPU with 20GB, 64GB RAM, up to 4TB SSD, a wide range of ports, and a massive 330W power supply.

For my testing model, I have an Intel Core 9 285, the Nvidia RTX 4000 SFF ADA Generation GPU with 20GB, 2x 32GB of DDR5, and a 1TB SSD. It’s definitely not the most built-out, but it absolutely gets the job done.

The one key thing that is hard about all this power crammed into a small space, though, is that the fans to keep everything cool are insanely loud under load.

When it comes to complex professional workloads, it's one of the best mini PCs around - although it's incredibly expensive and the fan noise under load are loud.

Lenovo ThinkStation P3 Ultra SFF Gen 2: Price and availability

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )

The ThinkStation P3 Ultra SFF Gen 2 is available direct from Lenovo US, Lenovo UK, and a broad range of online retailers.

It comes in a range of configurations, with the base model costing $1,399, but once you upgrade it, you can easily exceed $4,000.

Keep in mind, you could get similar hardware in a standard desktop tower, but you’re paying more for the compact space-saving footprint of this chassis.

Lenovo ThinkStation P3 Ultra SFF Gen 2: Unboxing and First Impressions

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )

The Lenovo ThinkStation P3 Ultra SFF Gen 2 includes everything you’ll need to get up and running, except the display. Lenovo even sends a basic keyboard and mouse in the box, if you’re in desperate need — though I’d strongly suggest picking up a better one.

I chose not to hook up the antennae as I was going with a wired connection, and I didn’t need the keyboard and mouse that came with the computer since I have plenty lying around.

During boot-up, while benchmarking, and while running heavy programs, the fans on this computer whirred to an impressive decibel level, though it still handled quite a bit of power.

Setup was fairly easy outside of that, just plug in, get your mouse and keyboard set up, and then log in. As an IT Pro, you could get this done in minutes, prepping it to help your team.

Lenovo has done a phenomenal job of incorporating spectacular ports on the front and back of this machine, designed for real power and real use.

Yes, there isn’t Thunderbolt, but there are two 20Gbps USB-C ports that can still be great for transferring files, just maybe not consistent 6k footage (though this machine isn’t really meant to be a primary heavy video workflow machine)

Lenovo ThinkStation P3 Ultra SFF Gen 2: Design & Build Quality

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )

The ThinkStation P3 Ultra feels like Lenovo’s answer to the (in)famous Mac Studio. It’s compact, but not the most compact, a slightly thicker version of the also well-known Mac mini, or in the Lenovo world, the P3 Tiny.

The P3 Ultra has a 3.9L footprint and can be propped upright or vertically, or set horizontally and fit under a monitor, mount, or similar. Either way, make sure that the fans you see have plenty of clearance and room to breathe.

The team at Lenovo did a great job with the port layout on the P3 Ultra, placing the plug-and-forget ports on the back for easy cable management and a clean desktop. The front of the machine has quick ports for file transfer, a well-spaced split of ports for different needs, and all are compatible with thicker USB-A plugs.

Outside of design, the build quality is good and up to what I expect from Lenovo these days. Sharp corners, well-laid out, quality materials that should last for a long time, even with heavy, everyday, high-power use. Some machines are built to handle “perfect conditions,” and others are meant to withstand “real conditions” that everyday machines withstand.

Lenovo definitely favors the real-world conditions side, building machines designed to withstand the everyday grind and strain that always-on or relied-upon machines endure.

Lenovo ThinkStation P3 Ultra SFF Gen 2: In use

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )

The ThinkStation P3 Ultra has been an impressive machine through and through. It’s been able to handle even intense workloads thrown at it, it’s benchmarked well, and in the most important sense, it hasn’t had any issues day to day.

I’ve run my full workload on this machine, pushing a 52-inch 6K display at full resolution, and it hasn’t even stuttered. While not everyone will be running that massive of a monitor, it’s great to know the P3 Ultra can deliver impressive graphics performance, especially for a business machine, not a graphics or media machine.

This desktop is a phenomenal option for CAD users, 3D rendering machines, and those handling large LLMs or large coding projects. It’s great for data admins who need to have a thousand tabs open at once, and it can handle those with 40GB of Chrome eating up their memory because they never close tabs.

Continuing the real-world usability, the ports are great. So far, I haven’t had to reach around or hope for another set of ports. Everything I’ve needed at setup was on the back, and everything I’ve needed since then have been on the front of the unit.

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For more options, we've tested the best business computers.

There are a lot of business professional computers out there right now. I’ve got several that I’m actively testing right now on my desk, even. But most of those are designed for power, for maximum output, or for computational prowess.

For some, a several-thousand-dollar powerhouse is not what they need. For admins, front desk workers, data entry, or those who simply help manage calendars and email via a web browser, they don’t need a big machine, they just need something that can boot up quickly, operate reliably, and get the job done.

That’s where the land of mini or compact PCs comes in. Smaller units that can plug into any monitor size, hide away, and work as needed. That’s exactly what a good chunk of the professional workforce needs.

These machines need ports and basic functionality more than they need enough power to break records. Further, the front ports make plugging in drives, adapters, or other devices super easy, while the back ports are fantastic for plug-and-play peripherals.

For me, the price is slightly too high for what you get. Compare what's on offer here to a mini PC like the Geekom A8 Max (review here) and you see a wide gulf.

For that reason, it's never going to top our list of the best mini PCs we've tested. But if you’re a classic business professional who doesn’t need to max out their machine, this may be a great option to consider for office and home office use.

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )Lenovo ThinkCentre Neo 50q QC: Unboxing and First Impressions

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )

Right off the bat, this is a spectacular representation of a compact machine. It’s great, not sacrificing too much for its compact size, balancing portability and real-world usability with the right workplace demand.

The fact that within the box, Lenovo have sent a mounting bracket as one of the only accessories in the box shows the focus on having this machine tucked away in a convenient or more aesthetic position, depending on the user.

The bracket makes it very easy to VESA mount, mount under a desk, behind a monitor on a wall, or something similar. That right there shows quite a bit of what you’d need to know about this unit before deciding whether to purchase.

We’ll go further into it later on in the review, but TLDR: it’s a solid machine that can fit just about anywhere, as long as your computing needs won’t outpace what it has onboard.

Lenovo ThinkCentre Neo 50q QC: Design & Build Quality

I’ve mentioned the smaller size, but perhaps this is the right time to go into the port offering. It has most of the ports on the back, with only a headphone, USB-C, and a USB-A on the front.

On the back, with all the ports, there are two DisplayPorts (on this model), an HDMI, a power port (sadly not USB-C), four USB-A ports, Ethernet, and an antenna port for adding a Wi-Fi antenna if desired. For most scenarios that this is designed to run in, I’d suggest hard-lining the internet, but that’s just one man’s opinion.

One thing to note is that there are not a lot of USB-C ports on this machine, even though it’s 2026 and USB-C is pretty common. I genuinely believe it’s because Lenovo knows its target. They aren’t trying to market to those who are brimming with the newest technology with this device; they care more about reaching the people and companies

Lenovo ThinkCentre Neo 50q QC: In use

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )

The Lenovo ThinkCentre Neo 50q QC is a spectacular “behind-the-scenes admin machine” providing usability, ports you actually want, and easy setup. One of the great things about a monitor like this is the ability to connect any monitor you so choose.

For me, right now, I have rotated this machine around a few monitors during my testing.

The current monitor I have it on is the Dell 52-inch monster that was just released (review coming soon), but I have also used this mini PC on some BenQ monitors, some portable monitors, and others. It’s worked well on all of them, though pushing the 52-inch 6K beast at 100% scaling (small and sharp) was a bit much for this guy, so I had to scale it a little bit. But that’s understandable and was not a shock.

Using this machine as a kiosk, a front desk, or a basic always-on machine is exactly what it’s meant for. It works quickly and reliably, and it’s got enough ports not to need adapters. What else could you want for your basic office uses?

Because I wanted to simulate an office setup I have seen, I hooked this PC up to dual 1080p Dell monitors, and it worked great. Even going up to dual 4K still ran fine.

Another great option for this kind of setup is hot desking. Some companies need to have machines that can be used by multiple people via a network login or a guest login. This machine is great for that due to the abundance of ports, smaller profile requiring less desk space (or none if mounted), and good balance of power and price.

Lenovo ThinkCentre Neo 50q QC: Final verdict

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )

In a world where everyone is boasting about the most advanced "this-or-that" machines, the ThinkCentre Neo 50qc QC is quietly puttering along as the machine most businesses would actually be interested in, not just flabbergasted by in a demo.

It’s got a great balance of power, price, and ports, making it a serious contender for a basic business machine.

To be frank, on paper, the specs won’t impress. This desktop PC isn't some advanced supercomputer that will power through every task. Despite that, the price is relatively high when compared to other Windows 11 mini PCs we've reviewed, and I wouldn't blame some for looking elsewhere to get a little more power for the same (or slightly less) cost.

Beyond that, though, this is a solidly built mini PC from a well-known brand that's well-specced for day-to-day business use, and it's difficult to find many faults if you know what you're getting into.

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For more options, we've tested the best business computers.

The Eureka Ergonomic Opal Executive Desk is the kind of desk you’d see in movies. It’s the desk that the professional whose life is put together has in their beautifully aesthetic office.

It’s got a great look. Rounded edges to make it feel like a design statement, not just another slab of wood in the center of an office. This standing desk isn’t just a height-adjustable surface to put things on, but it’s a statement. And, with that, there are some cons to match the pros. But, if your focus for your workspace is curvature and perhaps soft, inviting tones, then this may just be your dream desk. I know several people who would absolutely adore this desk.

Much like other Eureka Ergonomic products I have tested over the years, the Opal is designed first. Even if it weren’t for the design focus and sketched out diagram on their website, I’d be able to tell that this desk was designed by looking first, and that has a lot of positives with it.

Beautifully, to the eye, in photos, in meetings, and in video, this desk looks great. There are just a few practical things that I feel are missing.

Eureka Ergonomic Opal Executive Desk: Price and availability

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )

The Opal Executive Office Desk is available from $1999 from the Eureka Ergonomic website.

The model I have is the height-adjustable variant, though for those who may not need or want the height adjustment, there is an option for a cheaper Opal model that lacks the standing desk functionality.

You can choose between three finish options: the Black Birth with Wood Veneer (reviewed here); the Cream with Sintered Stone and Birch Wood Veneer; and the Cream with Birch Wood Veneer.

All options ship in about 4 boxes and weigh nearly 300 lbs, so be prepared.

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )Eureka Ergonomic Opal Executive Desk: Unboxing and First Impressions

The Opal was delivered in four massive boxes, totaling a weight of nearly 300 lbs. It’s hefty, and it will take a bit to unbox, but it’s not terrible. The hardest part is the desktop box which weighs around 90 lbs on it’s own. I carried it on my own, and immediately regretted it, so if you can, or are just smarter than me, have a buddy help you out.

As most companies do, Eureka Ergonomic makes sure to send the assembly tools required, though I still prefer to use my Hoto Electric screwdriver to safely speed up the assembly process. But you can do as you prefer.

Right off the bat, I was blown away with the unique shape of the desktop. It has a very elegant and elevated design, making my studio space feel not good enough almost for this level of design.

The oval desktop is not something that I have had before, so that was new for me, but the rounded edges added to a level of sophistication that my square-edged desks cannot match. The fluted cabinet design with beautiful trim feel very exquisite as well, but once opening them, they were a bit smaller than I expected since they have the standing desk legs within them.

While this is still fine and functional, if these are your only storage solution, you may be a bit disappointed. But, if this is more for the looks than having robust storage capacity, then you’ll probably be okay.

One thing I noticed right away is that there is no real good way to manage cables. This desk is pretty clearly designed for a laptop, iPad, or an all-in-one, but not a multi-monitor setup or one with a lot of gadgets.

That’s probably on purpose, as this desk is pretty clearly designed for the looks and vibes, not robust productivity, but nevertheless, I thought it would be worth sharing.

Eureka Ergonomic Opal Executive Desk: Design & Build Quality

The desktop is made out of a manufactured wood core and a solid wood veneer, making it a bit cheaper and lighter yet still having a premium look. It’s not a solid wood desktop, so if you want to drill into it to mount something, I’d be careful. But, for pretty much anything else, it’s solid. The weight capacity is still around 220lbs, so enough to hold whatever you need, but not enough to climb on it.

The wood cabinets look better than I expected them to be, honestly. I expected them to be cheaply done, but in true Eureka Ergonomic fashion, they actually look quite sharp. They are manufactured wood cabinets that are painted, but the fluting, the molding trim, and the hardware all make this look elevated (no pun intended).

I do wish that the legs took up less of the cabinets, though I don’t exactly know how this would work in practice. At least, not without affecting the overall shape and design of the desk, which is clearly the focus of this particular desk.

Eureka Ergonomic Opal Executive Desk: In use

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )

My team and I have had this in our fleet of desks for a little while now, and so far, this desk has performed quite well.

Yes, it’s not going to be our most built-out desk with all the bells and whistles, but it is a beautiful desk that can stand on its own, not needing accessories to make it look finished. And that’s saying something. It's designed to be paired with the Eureka Ergonomic Serene office chair, continuing the curved and elegant look.

I mentioned it briefly in an earlier section, but this desk is pretty clearly designed for simplistic beauty. It’s for a laptop, maybe a tablet, and that’s about it. Minimalist simplicity at its core, and that’s a beautiful thing to have.

If you need a few accessories to get your job done, you can tuck them in the small drawer under the desk or in the cabinets, but this desk isn’t supposed to hold everything you could ever need for any role; it’s meant to feel serene (again, no pun intended), it’s meant to feel refreshing.

Eureka Ergonomic Opal Executive Desk: Final verdict

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )

It’s clear what the goal of the Eureka Ergonomic Opal Executive Standing Desk is, besides having a very clear and long name, it’s meant for simplicity.

For those looking for a more traditional standing desk, this won't fit the bill. While it's got all the core features you'd expect, it's a large, executive-style desk that's beautifully focused on form over functionality.

Ultimately, this is a showstopper desk. It’s meant for an executive workstation that has minimal gear, an open desk, and an open mind. Like the company's other office furniture, this is all about design. It’s meant to be in the center of a room, as a showcase piece.

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For more office furniture essentials, see our guides to the best standing desks and the best office chairs we've tested.

Secretlab Magnus Evo: Price and availability

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )

Secretlab is behind some of our top-rated office furniture for hybrid gaming and working in the home office.

So, I was keen to see how the company's Magnus Evo stacks up in comparison to the magisterial Magnus Pro. This is a more home office-focused desk that's a lot cheaper, but with a more simplified design and feature-set.

While it's unlikely to top the list of the best standing desks we've tested, it might be the ideal alternative to the Magnus Pro for gamers or professionals looking for a stealthy all-black set-up.

As ever with Secretlab products, it's widely available direct from the company in the US (here), the UK (here), and Australia (here). At the time of review, it's on sale for $699 / £599 / AU$849, coming in two different sizes, and two different add-on packages.

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )Secretlab Magnus Evo: Unboxing and First Impressions

My first impression of this desk was one of relief and excitement, as I saw that, even though this is the entry-level or budget version of the Secretlab line-up, it still has an integrated power and height controller.

That’s a feature that is very 'Secretlab'. I was expecting it to skimp on some of these feature offerings due to price. But nope, here they are.

Speaking of the legs, I loved seeing just how tightly packed the Secretlab desk was. It shows that they care about not just packaging, but also using space well, which is showcased in their integrated controller as well, utilizing the desk thickness as a way to hide the module for controlling the height.

Unlike other desks, this one came in one box, as a cohesive system, not a set of legs and a hunk of desk like most companies.

Further, even with the addition of the extension pieces, this desk still feels sleek and high-end, making the price tag feel a bit more justified.

The last thing that stood out right away is the controller itself. You don’t often see a controller with colored lights, but the subtle color on the up and down buttons adds a refined pop that is very welcome.

Secretlab Magnus Evo: Design & Build Quality

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )

The main standout features of the Secretlab desk lineup are the cable management tray and compartment, the built-in controller, and the in-leg power. Those are three pretty standout features that are just as prevalent in this cheaper model. Plus, thanks to the magnetic elements and the extra width, this desk has enough room for those who love accessories or having ample space on their desk.

The cable management tray is still one of the best on the market. While companies like Grovemade have moved their cable management to an entirely new system below, creating art in and of itself.

Secretlab has nearly perfected the “hiding in plain sight” style, turning the last few inches of the desk's depth into a flip-up with cable management below. Again, utilizing their space in ways that other companies do not, or have not figured out, just like their integrated controller.

It becomes even more functional when you add in the in-leg power element. Now, that power port that runs through the leg, another way of utilizing space better, outputs right at the edge of this drop zone, giving you a simple place to run all your cables.

This, plus the slit in the desk to still pull cables out, you need to turn chaos to calm, transitioning the messiest zone of most desks to the most feature-packed and functional.

Secretlab Magnus Evo: In use

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )Specs

Height Range: 28.3-46.2 inches
Max Load: 265lbs
Warranty: 5-year electronics

Day to day, the Magnus Evo is great. I’ve tried a handful of different setups, ranging from super simple to quite complex with this desk, and it’s handled them all.

It’s sleek enough to be able to look good without having to get dressed up but also is featured enough to not look lacking for a fully built out desk setup. It’s no secret that I not only have had, but actively have a lot of desks.

Some are simple, with just a laptop. Some have a monitor and a docking station, and some would take me hours to disassemble fully if needed simply because of how complex they are. The Secretlab Magnus Evo is the kind of desk that could be either, it could be a simple laptop desk or a complex workstation ready to take on the world.

The cable management tray in the back is just as good as I expected it to be, having used the previous variations of the Magnus Pro standing desk. Honestly, other than the solid desktop, there aren’t many differences.

This cable tray can fit those beefy power bricks that never seem to be in the right place, and are annoying to start with, it can also fit the excess cable length, a dock or accessory you need but don’t want to see, and so on, all with a single power out, running down the integrated power line through the leg and then out. No cables dangling. No spaghetti mess of cables on top of desk. Just clarity. Simple, clarity.

When I wanted to add a few monitors, I could add them with Secretlab's mounts, allowing the monitors to sit within the desk in a unique way, latching onto the inside of the crevasse that is created between the main part of the desk and the back part that can open up.

Secretlab Magnus Evo: Final verdict

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )

The Secretlab Magnus Evo is a fantastic option for those who want a modern feeling, feature-packed, standing workspace, but don’t want it to cost as much as those normally do.

I found the Magnus Evo to be a great option if you want to get into the sit-stand desk space without the full cost while only sparing a few elements of the “full” experience you'd find with the heavyweight Magnus Pro.

The only question you have to ask yourself is if those few changes are worth the cost.

For most, they probably aren’t. And that makes the Secretlab Magnus Evo even more intoxicatingly enticing — for it’s sleek look, feature set, organization and the pricetag.

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For more office furniture essentials, see our guide to the best office chairs we've tested.

D-Link Aquila Pro AI R95: One-minute review

Most routers are fairly boring black boxes that just sit in a corner and occasionally flash a few lights at you.

However, D-Link has decided to go its own way with its new R95, which is part of the company’s Aquila Pro AI range (yes, AI has even got into routers now). The router’s sweeping curves look more like the wings of an aquatic manta ray than a conventional router.

It’s not clear if that design has any practical function, but it certainly looks interesting, and the use of tri-band Wi-Fi 7 ensures that the R95 will really make your wireless network fly at top speed. It also provides good support for older computers and mobile devices that may not have Wi-Fi 7.

(Image credit: Future)D-Link Aquila Pro AI R95 review: Price & release date

• How much does it cost? $254.99/£180 (around AU$355)
• When is it available? Now
• Where can you get it? Available in the US, UK

Wi-Fi 7 routers are still fairly expensive, but the R95 is competitively priced for a high-end Wi-Fi 7 router, costing $254.99/£180, which compares well with high-end rivals such as the Acer Predator T7.

Unfortunately, Wi-Fi 7 products still tend to take a while to reach Australia, and the R95 isn’t currently available in that region, although the US price translates to approximately AU$355.

D-Link Aquila Pro AI R95 review: Specs

Wi-Fi:

Tri-band Wi-Fi 7 (2.4GHz, 5.0GHz, 6.0GHz)

Wi-Fi Speed:

9.5Gbps

Ports:

1x 2.5Gb Ethernet (WAN), 3x Gigabit Ethernet (LAN)

Dimensions:

220 x 238 x 207mm

Weight:

0.94kg

D-Link Aquila Pro AI R95 review: Features

• Eye-catching design
• Well-designed app
• Dual-network support

The external design of the R95 is certainly its most obvious feature, with gracefully curved ‘wings’ that look nothing like any conventional router that we’ve seen recently. The real headline feature, though, is the router’s performance, boasting tri-band Wi-Fi 7 that uses the 2.4GHz, 5.0GHz and 6.0GHz bands to provide a total speed of 9.5Gbps (strictly speaking, it’s actually 9,334Mbps, but manufacturers always like to round these numbers up).

It devotes two of its four antennae exclusively to the high-speed 6.0GHz band in order to provide maximum performance for computers and mobile devices that support Wi-Fi 7, while the other two antennae handle the 2.4GHz and 5.0GHz bands for older devices. Its wired connectivity is right up to date as well, with a 2.5Gb Ethernet port available for high-speed broadband services, and three more 2.5Gb ports for connecting devices, such as a PC, games console or smart-TV, that will benefit from a lag-free wired connection.

The Aquila app works well too, allowing you to quickly scan a QR code in order to connect to the R95’s new network. It then gives you the option of simply keeping the default name and password for the R95 network, or changing the name and password for extra security.

(Image credit: Future)

And, in order to provide the best performance for different types of devices, the Aquila app creates two separate networks, with the 2.4GHz and 5.0GHz bands combined into a single network for older computers, while the 6.0GHz band creates a separate network for newer devices that do support Wi-Fi 7.

You also have the option of creating a guest network that provides only limited access for visitors and guests, and a separate IoT network (Internet of Things) for smart lights, security cameras, and other smart devices. The R95 also supports the Matter standard for controlling smart home devices, and can be used to create a mesh network when used with other Asus routers or range extenders.

Our only complaint is that the parental controls within the app are fairly basic. The app does allow you to create a schedule to limit Internet access for the devices used by your children, but its web filtering options require you to manually enter the web address for any unsuitable sites that you want to block. It doesn’t provide the preset filters that are available with some of its rivals, which automatically block different categories of unsuitable material, such as ‘violent’, ‘adult’ or ‘gambling’.

• Features: 4.5/5

D-Link Aquila Pro AI R95 review: Performance

• Tri-band Wi-Fi 7
• 2.5Gb Ethernet ports
• Dedicated 6.0GHz network

Benchmarks

Ookla Speed Test – 2.4GHz/5.0GHz (download/upload)

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

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

20GB Steam Download – 2.4GHz/5.0GHz

Within 5ft, no obstructions: 150Mbps

Within 30ft, three partition walls: 150Mbps

Ookla Speed Test – 6.0GHz (download/upload)

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

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

20GB Steam Download - 6.0GHz

Within 5ft, no obstructions: 150Mbps

Within 30ft, three partition walls: 150Mbps

My old office router is crying out for an upgrade, as it only supports the 2.4GHz and 5.0GHz bands that are available with Wi-Fi 5 and 6. It can provide decent performance for devices that are nearby, but struggles to reach an office at the back of the building, where I have to use PowerLine adaptors to provide a more reliable wired connection.

The office broadband runs at 150Mbps, but the 2.4GHz band of the old router can only manage a speed of around 70Mbps for nearby devices for both Steam downloads and the Ookla Speedtest. The 5.0GHz band works better, giving a full 150Mbps for devices that are nearby but, as mentioned, the router’s Wi-Fi signal isn’t strong enough to reach all the way to that back office.

The R95 eliminated my Wi-Fi problems with no trouble at all. Even its slower network, using the 2.4GHz and 5.0GHz bands, immediately hit the full 150Mbps for nearby devices for both Steam and Ookla. More importantly, it reaches right into the back office as well, and achieves full speed in both tests. It did take a few seconds for Steam downloads in that office to ramp up from 130Mbps to 150Mbps, but the R95 was then able to maintain that speed consistently.

(Image credit: Future)

Given the strong performance of that 2.4GHz/5.0GHz network, I wasn’t surprised to find that the faster 6.0GHz network hit the ground running, immediately hitting 150Mbps for both Steam and Ookla, and maintaining full speed throughout my tests.

There are less expensive routers that only provide dual-band Wi-Fi 7 – omitting the high-speed 6.0GHz band – and these can be a good option for people who own older computers and mobile devices that don’t need the full speed of Wi-Fi 7. But if you have a gaming PC or other devices that do support Wi-Fi 7, then the D-Link R95 provides excellent performance at a competitive price.

• Performance: 5

Should I buy the D-Link Aquila Pro AI R95?

Attribute

Notes

Score

Features

The parental controls could be better, but the R95 provides versatile connectivity and a well-designed app to help you get started.

4.5/5

Performance

A speed of 9.5Gbps will be more than fast enough for most users, and we like the dual-network options that cater to a wide range of computers and mobile devices.

5/5

Value

There are less expensive Wi-Fi 7 routers, but the R95 provides high-end performance at a mid-range price.

5/5

Buy it if…

You need speed
With a top speed of 9.5Gbps, and a dedicated 6.0GHz network, the R95 is more than fast enough for gaming and streaming 4K video.View Deal

You still have older devices
Along with that high-performance 6.0GHz network, the R95 also creates a second network using the 2.4GHz and 5.0GHz bands for older computers and mobile devices.View Deal

Don’t buy it if…

You don’t need Wi-Fi 7
Many people are still using older devices that only support Wi-Fi 5 or 6, so you don’t need to buy an expensive router with Wi-Fi 7 just yet.View Deal

You’re on a budget
The R95 is competitively priced, but few of us really need that sort of high-end performance. There are many more affordable options if you’re on a limited budget.View Deal

Also consider

D-Link Aquila Pro AI R95

Netgear Nighthawk RS100

Asus ROG Rapture GT-BE98

Price (as reviewed)

$254.99/£180.00

$129.99/£129.99/AU$259.00

$749.99 / £699.99 / AU$1,499

Wi-Fi

Tri-band Wi-Fi 7

dual-band Wi-Fi 7

quad-band Wi-Fi 7

Wi-Fi Speed

9.5Gbps

3.6Gbps

24.4Gbps

Connectivity

1x 2.5Gb Ethernet (WAN), 3x Gigabit Ethernet (LAN)

1x 2.5Gb Ethernet (WAN), 4x Gigabit Ethernet (LAN)

1x 10Gb Ethernet (WAN/LAN), 1x 2.5Gb Ethernet (WAN/LAN), 1x 10Gb Ethernet (LAN), 3x 2.5Gb Ethernet (LAN), 1x USB-A (3.0), 1x USB-A (2.0)

Processor

Not Specified

quad-core 2.0GHz

quad-core 2.6GHz

Memory

Not Specified

1GB RAM

2GB RAM

Storage

Not Specified

512MB Flash

256MB Flash

Dimensions

220 x 238 x 207mm

184 x 66 122mm

350 x 350 x 221mm

Asus ROG Rapture GT-BE98
If money is no object then the GT-BE98 from Asus is the no-compromise option. It provides quad-band Wi-Fi 7 with a blistering speed of 24.4Gbps and even 10Gbps Ethernet for you Internet connection.

Read our full Asus ROG Rapture GT-BE98 reviewView Deal

Netgear RS100
There are several affordable Wi-Fi 7 routers that keep their price down by omitting the 6.0GHz band, but Netgear’s RS100 still provides very respectable dual-band performance running at 3.6Gbps for little more than $100.

Read our full Netgear RS100 reviewView Deal

• Read TechRadar’s reviews guarantee
• First reviewed: April 2026

Although I’ve watched countless pieces of media or played dozens of video games and board games that draw on the Cthulhu mythos and the works of HP Lovecraft, I was suddenly struck by one question I don’t think I’ve ever properly considered while writing this review of Big Bad Wolf’s solid investigation puzzler, Cthulhu: The Cosmic Abyss. What does Cthulhu want?

Review info

Platform reviewed: PS5
Available on: PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC
Release date: April 16, 2026

As I’m trawling through audio logs, video diaries, and messages left by a research crew and its billionaire funder in an abandoned underwater facility and an otherworldly city, I witness how they all succumb to the call of the Great Old One and become fixated on bringing about his/its/their return.

And while by the end I’d solved some mysteries and smugly puzzled out how to keep Cthulhu slumbering, I still didn’t know what the big tentacle-faced beast got out of it all apart from a few mindless, raving fans.

Can I be your number one fan?

(Image credit: Big Bad Wolf / Nacon)

I guess you could argue that’s the whole point. Cthulhu is supposed to be a being beyond our comprehension, from a place with impossible geography, so I should just take the win and be happy I was able to stop him from awakening before being subsumed into the fandom.

But while some things may never be understood, Cthulhu: The Cosmic Abyss is all about solving what you can. As an occult investigator, Noah, you use tech and your wits to explore the grotesque and fascinating environments of a flooded bayou to the sunken city of R’lyeh. It’s a game of scanning for clues, absorbing the relevant information, making connections, and figuring out how it will help you stop Cthulhu.

What that ultimately means is that this is a game with a lot of reading, a lot of listening, and a lot of work outside the game, shuffling the facts around inside your brain as you piece it all together. Fortunately, it’s never interrupted by the threat of a monster attack or an enemy stalking you throughout the area like a Soma or Amnesia. Some wrong moves or wayward exploration will result in death, but it’s easy to avoid this if you’re paying attention.

(Image credit: Big Bad Wolf / Nacon)

To help visualise all of your clues, you do get given a mind map of sorts that allows you to move clues around and draw connections where you think they are relevant, but most of the time, the game will prompt you on the important questions that need answering to progress.

Added to that is an energy system that allows you to analyze clues and items, to better understand what they are and how they can be useful to your investigation. And while this is supposedly a limited resource, each area is full of the fungus that you can use to recharge it (yep, Noah basically powers up like Mario), so I just ended up scanning everything when I had the chance. Because of that, the whole system feels superfluous.

The same goes for the upgrades and augments you can find or earn from special tablets or shrines dotted around each area. You can only equip a limited number based on your maximum capacity, but when all they offer are small bonuses, such as an increase in your scanner range or a chance to restore energy when analyzing clues, the decision of what to equip doesn’t matter all that much.

Fortunately, you can still investigate and puzzle solve fully while both the energy and augment systems just exist in the background without requiring you to engage with them. I can only assume they must have been added to make Cthulhu: The Cosmic Abyss feel more gamey, but I don’t think they add anything of value.

Jarvis, activate 'see everything' mode

One aspect you will be engaging with a lot is the sonar built into your AI companion, Key. Using the frequencies you gain from analyzing clues, you can set and search for nearby items that match the frequency. This becomes a loop for part of the game’s puzzle-solving.

(Image credit: Big Bad Wolf / Nacon)

For example, a component made of a specific alloy might be missing from a piece of equipment, so you can scan the surrounding area for alloys that match that frequency to find it. Relatively straightforward, then, but the game does expand on this idea a handful of times by making certain key frequencies harder to find or requiring you to combine frequencies to find more specific items and secrets.

Best bit

(Image credit: Big Bad Wolf / Nacon)

There’s little else quite so satisfying as connecting the dots between various pieces of seemingly unrelated information and working out exactly what you need to do to progress. Cthulhu: The Cosmic Abyss has several moments like this, and when you get deep into a puzzle that comes together in one intricate and elegant solution, you feel like a genius.

I liked it enough as an idea, but as with all of these special vision types in games (I'm looking at you, Arkham detective mode), I ended up simply cycling through what I thought was a relevant frequency and spamming it in each new location to be sure I wasn’t missing any clues.

That’s not to say the game’s puzzles are bad. I did enjoy investigating a lot, with many solutions requiring you to take in all of the information given to you. There are moments where you feel like you are uncovering the secrets of an ancient civilization, learning how to use their bizarre technology, or piecing together the lives and relationships of the original research team as they descended into madness.

What’s also interesting is that chapters give you two possible solutions to the main puzzle: one that pushes you more towards the corrupting influence of Cthulhu, and another (often slightly more elaborate) that lessens the Great Old One’s control over you and the world. It’s a neat idea that rewards you for following a different path than the obvious one and encourages you to fully consider all the clues presented to you.

A sacrifice I am willing to make

(Image credit: Big Bad Wolf / Nacon)

The choices you make can affect the state of the world, characters, and your final ending, so I really appreciate a usually very linear puzzle game offering up some more freeform elements that give you more influence over the story — and a chance to try alternate paths if you feel stuck on one route or are keen for a second playthrough.

I doubt I’ll be diving in again, though, as I feel happy with everything I got out of Cthulhu: The Cosmic Abyss on the first go. It has some rough edges, namely an inconsistent autosave, which meant I had to repeat some steps when loading my game on a few occasions. There are also fussy item manipulation mechanics and some ideas that aren’t fully realised.

However, its core investigation gameplay is strong, and the atmosphere is suitably sinister, so I’m sure anyone who enjoys a puzzle game with a dash of cosmic horror will come away satisfied enough — especially for a budget release.

Should you play Cthulhu: The Cosmic Abyss?

(Image credit: Big Bad Wolf / Nacon)Play it if…

You want a good investigation and puzzle game
The majority of puzzles in Cthulhu: The Cosmic Abyss are well-designed and fun to solve, while the investigation gameplay feels detailed and rewarding.

You enjoy cosmic horror
Naturally, the game is steeped in the lore and atmosphere you would expect from a work set in the Cthulhu mythos, and Big Bad Wolf nails this overall tone.

Don’t play it if…

You want a survival horror experience
While the game does feature some threats and has a generally spooky atmosphere, you are free to explore and investigate in peace without worrying about monster attacks or jump scares.

You get frustrated with jank and fiddly mechanics
Some elements of navigation and a few very specific puzzle mechanics don’t fully work as intended or are frustrating to deal with, and while some bugs may be ironed out over time, the rough edges are annoying.

You might need to dip out at any moment
Cthulhu: The Cosmic Abyss uses an autosave feature that only seems to trigger under specific circumstances, so if you need to quit the game at a moment’s notice without triggering one of these conditions, you may risk losing some progress.

Accessibility

Cthulhu: The Cosmic Abyss has two difficulty modes: Investigation and Exploration. The first is the standard experience, while the second allows you to ask your AI companion for hints and shows the clues available in each location. You can also set a custom option to tweak how much corruption affects you and how energy is used.

Elsewhere, there are three color blind modes for green, red, and blue color blindness, the option to make subtitles clearer, disable head movement to ease motion sickness, and fully rebind all controls.

How I reviewed Cronos: The New Dawn

I played Cthulhu: The Cosmic Abyss for around 8 hours on a PlayStation 5 Pro on a Samsung S90C OLED TV and Samsung HW-Q930C soundbar while using a DualSense Wireless Controller.

I played the whole game in Performance mode and still experienced a few technical hitches and moments of slowdown, so I wouldn’t risk Quality mode without a major patch.

In my time playing, I completed the game once and saw one of the possible endings, although I did have to replay an early chapter three times due to an autosave issue, which should now be fixed in the full release. However, I did still find the autosave unreliable, and that probably bumped up my total playtime by at least an hour.

First reviewed April 2026.