TechRadar Reviews

SFollowing in the footsteps of Stalker: Heart of Chornobyl and Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, Avowed is another former Xbox-exclusive that has made its way to PlayStation platforms a year after its initial release.

Review info

Platform reviewed: PS5 Pro
Available on: PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC
Release date: February 17, 2026

Similar to those titles, Obsidian Entertainment's fantasy action role-playing game isn't just sloppy seconds on the PS5 and PS5 Pro, but rather the definitive edition of an already fantastic experience.

Avowed's arrival on Sony's consoles not only benefits from a year's worth of additional polish and bug fixes, but also plenty of fresh content and PlayStation-specific bells and whistles, like brilliant DualSense Wireless Controller integration.

DuelSense-fueled fighting

(Image credit: Microsoft / Obsidian Entertainment)

While I began an Avowed playthrough on my Xbox Series X a year ago, I didn't get to dig very deep into its rich, potential-packed universe. What I remember most from my brief time braving the Living Lands as an envoy of the Aedyr Empire is the game's rewarding combat, which feels better than ever on the PS5.

Fast, fluid, and superbly supported by weighty impacts of blades, bullets, and arcane abilities, the monster-slaying action was already satisfying as hell. But the combat's been amped up significantly thanks to the DualSense's immersion-ratcheting capabilities.

Obsidian didn't sleep on the gamepad's proprietary tech, fully leveraging its adaptive triggers and haptic feedback to make every input – from meaty melee strikes to slow simmering spells – feel as fantastic in your hands as they look on the screen.

Of course, this also folds in that fresh content I mentioned above, as the game's massive anniversary update introduces a new Quarterstaff for wizard builds. No mere reskin of an existing melee weapon, this two-handed tool of destruction allows mages to crack skulls up-close – as well as unleash powerful spells – in an epic fashion that'd make Gandalf proud.

Coupled with its next-level DualSense effects, it's quickly become my favorite way to bring death to the Living Lands.

An update worthy of the gods

(Image credit: Microsoft / Obsidian Entertainment)

While the Quarterstaff is my personal favorite addition, this sorcerer's best friend barely scratches the surface of the brimming update.

A deep photo mode – with plenty of options for customizing effects, filters, and color gradients – as well as a New Game+ option, will keep both existing envoys and new recruits busy. Beyond that, a trio of new races – Orlans, Aumaua, and Dwarves – join the Humans and Elves, bringing more character customization, perks, and fresh personality and lore to this already layered fantasy universe.

A slew of new difficulty modifiers also invite adventurers of all skill levels to tweak and tailor their experience to their hearts' content. Factor in the past year of smaller updates – adding everything from polish, bug fixes, and quality of life touches – and PlayStation fans are getting yet another definitive take on a title that was born on Xbox.

If the PlayStation version stumbles at all, it's in its lack of PS5 Pro-specific enhancements. It packs the now-standard quality (30 frames per second) and performance (60 frames per second) options, as well as a more in-the-middle setting for those with 120Hz displays. You can also chase faster performance by unlocking the frame rate, a welcome inclusion for sure. But there are no meaty ray-tracing features or other enhancements that allow you to truly harness everything under the Pro's hood.

And what is offered didn't seem to make much of an impact during my testing. In terms of both visuals and performance, my time playing on the Pro looked and felt pretty comparable to my Xbox Series X experience. Similarly, the standard PS5 and Pro seem to offer near-identical visual quality and performance, with no notable differences between the two.

Don't sleep on it a second time

(Image credit: Microsoft)

While Pro owners might pine for more features to justify their pricey hardware purchase, the finger can be partially pointed at the fact that Avowed already played smoothly and impressed visually upon its release a year ago. That same sentiment translates to many other elements of the game, including its fantastic storytelling, colorful character interactions, and vibrant, varied world, covered extensively in TechRadar Gaming's original review of the game.

Unsurprisingly, upon its release, Avowed was another compelling, polished action-RPG from a studio that's been honing and perfecting its craft for over two decades, starting with 2004's Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords. Sadly, it got somewhat lost in the sea of last year's acclaimed genre entries.

Thankfully, that oversight can now be remedied with its PS5 release, which not only reintroduces everything that was great the first time we faced its fungal plague but also brings a brimming treasure chest of fresh features, enhancements, and content.

Whether you're a PlayStation owner craving the most immersive experience from behind the DualSense or an existing envoy ready to wield the Quarterstaff as one of the new races, Avowed's second coming is as impressive as a Living Lands sunset…which you'll definitely want to capture in photo mode.

Should you play Avowed on PS5?Play it if...

You missed out on Avowed the first time
Given the glut of awesome RPGs that landed last year, you could be forgiven for overlooking Avowed's original release. That said, there's no excuse not to jump in now, as one of 2025's best genre entries is better than ever. If you're a fantasy RPG fan who missed this one the first time around, you're in for a real treat.

You've played Avowed, but have been craving fresh content
Even if you've already conquered the Dreamscourge, Avowed's anniversary update is reason enough to dive back in. Its New Game+, photo mode, and a trio of additional races offer fresh ways to experience the game, while its awesome, two-handed Quarterstaff is worth the price of admission (which is free if you already own the game) for wizard-wannabes.

You don't own an Xbox
If you're a PlayStation stalwart pining for a new action-RPG, Avowed has you covered and then some. Like last year's Stalker: Heart of Chornobyl and Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, Obsidian's fantasy-fueled romp is another previous Xbox exclusive that arguably plays better on Sony's console thanks to its immersion-cranking controller.

Don't play it if...

You're a PlayStation 5 Pro owner looking to justify your purchase
Avowed offers up a visual feast running at a peppy framerate on the PS5 Pro, but the same can largely be said for its standard PS5 and Xbox Series X versions. If you're looking for meaningful Pro features and enhancements, you won't find them here.

(Image credit: Microsoft)Accessibility features

Prior to its PS5 release, Avowed already offered an admirable slate of accessibility options for camera adjustments, subtitle settings, difficulty levels, and even an arachnophobia mode for those averse to creepy crawlies. But the game's new version builds further on this solid foundation, especially in the difficulty department.

A new "custom" difficulty setting allows players to tweak over two dozen modifiers, adjusting everything from player damage and stamina to carrying capacity, enemy attack speed, and much more. But while Avowed more than delivers in most accessibility areas, it still doesn't offer the suite of colorblind options that have become pretty standard in other games.

How I reviewed Avowed on PS5

I explored The Living Lands for just over 40 hours, adventuring primarily on my PlayStation 5 Pro, but also putting plenty of time into my standard PS5 and Xbox Series X for visual and performance comparisons. I found the best, most balanced experience playing on my Pro in quality mode with the framerate unlocked.

I focused on testing the game's anniversary update additions, specifically its custom difficulty settings, new Quarterstaff weapon, races, and photo mode. I played primarily on my budget TCL 4K display, with HDR enabled and using its built-in stereo speakers, paying particular attention to the game's DualSense controller integration for vibration and audio effects. I also played a few hours on my PlayStation Portal with PlayStation Pulse Explore earbuds.

First reviewed February 2026

Kensington SD7100T5 EQ Pro: 30-second review

I still have questions about the cart-before-horse nature of Thunderbolt 5 docks, where we have so many dock choices when there are virtually no TB5 peripherals, and a tiny percentage of laptops have this port.

Ignoring those salient points, the Kensington SD7100T5 EQ Pro is yet another slice of Thunderbolt technology for those lucky enough to have a TB5-capable system and can afford a top-tier docking station to go with it.

Straight up, this is easily the nicest Thunderbolt dock I’ve ever seen from Kensington, combining some elegant chamfered corners and a cool-to-the-touch metal exterior.

The front side has a great selection of ports, including card readers for three different standards. And at the back are even more connection options, including a few I’ve never seen on a dock, such as a TOSLINK optical for digital audio.

Having nineteen ports is an important selling point, but this dock can also operate as a Thunderbolt-connected SSD using a provided M.2 PCIe 4.0 slot, if you install an SSD.

However, when you combine this level of build quality with unique features, the first casualty is the budget, and this is one of the more expensive TB5 docks. And that price might easily be doubled if you want one for home and work.

Throw in some Thunderbolt-to-DisplayPort or HDMI adapters, and you might easily exceed $1500 for two docks and a 2TB NVMe drive.

If you need only one dock and have monitors that can accept Thunderbolt directly, then the outlay might be easier to justify. But with TB4 docks hovering around $200, the performance benefits of this dock might need to be documented.

Ignoring the price, this is easily one of the best laptop docking stations I’ve tested with Thunderbolt 5, even if it doesn’t have any direct HDMI or DisplayPort outputs.

Kensington SD7100T5 EQ Pro: Price & availability

(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)

• How much does it cost? $279/£223/€260
• When is it out? It’s available now
• Where can you get it? Direct from WavLink

From what I understand, there are two variants of this dock: K33611NA (standard) and K33612NA (Mac-optimised). That makes little sense, since Thunderbolt 5 is meant to be a standard, and not something that needs to be optimised for on a particular platform. Unless Apple took it on themselves, uncharacteristically, to adopt a piece of technology and then break it?

You can get either directly from Kensington in the USA, but these are oddly missing from the European Kensington websites. The cost of both models directly from the maker is $449.99, which serves as an MSRP for this hardware.

However, it's cheaper via the Kensington outlet on Amazon.com, where it's available for only $404.99. The Newegg price is $435, curiously.

UK pricing via Amazon is only £389.10, and the EU price is around €430.

That $449.99 MSRP price is the single biggest conversation point of this dock, and with good reason. That is roughly double the cost of a well-specified Thunderbolt 4 dock, and it puts the SD7100T5 firmly in the corporate IT procurement bracket rather than the individual buyer market.

The justification for the price is the unique combination of features. As no other TB5 dock at any price currently bundles a PCIe M.2 SSD slot, CompactFlash reader, optical audio, programmable hotkeys, and three Thunderbolt 5 downstream ports into a single unit.

The bottom line is that if you can afford a laptop with TB5, you probably won’t be concerned about the cost of this hardware, and it is easily one of the best docks available.

• Value: 4 / 5

Kensington SD7100T5 EQ Pro: Specs

Feature

Specification

Compatibility

Thunderbolt 5, Thunderbolt 4, USB4, USB-C (Windows 11 23H2+, macOS 14.5+)

Total Ports

19-in-1

Thunderbolt 5 (upstream)

1x TB5 host port (80Gbps / 120Gbps Bandwidth Boost)

Thunderbolt 5 (downstream)

3x TB5 ports — support up to 140W PD and display output

USB-A ports

4x USB-A 3.2 Gen2 (10Gbps)

USB-C ports

2x USB-C 3.2 Gen2 (10Gbps); 1x up to 30W charging

Video — Windows

Triple 4K@144Hz or Dual 8K@60Hz

Video — Mac

Dual 6K@60Hz (M-Series Pro/Max required)

Power Delivery

Up to 140W (USB PD 3.1 EPR, 28V/5A)

KonstantCharge

Yes

Storage Slot

1x PCIe 4.0 NVMe M.2 SSD slot (lockable, SSD not included)

Card Readers

CF 4.0, UHS-II SDXC, UHS-II microSDXC

Network

1x 2.5GbE Ethernet

Audio

3.5mm headphone jack, 3.5mm mic jack, 3.5mm speaker jack, TOSLINK optical

Hotkeys

2x programmable (iPhone backup + DND on Mac; custom on Windows)

Mounting

Pre-drilled holes for optional bracket (K34050WW, sold separately)

Security

Kensington lock slot (cable lock sold separately)

Thermal

Passive cooling

Construction

97% post-consumer recycled (PCR) aluminium

Warranty

3-year limited

Kensington SD7100T5 EQ Pro: Design

(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)

• Recycled aluminium construction
• Lockable M.2 slot
• No display outputs

The SD7100T5 represents a design departure for Kensington, moving away from the brand's more conservative corporate aesthetic towards something that looks more at home on a creative's desk.

The marketing presentation declares that the case is constructed from 97% post-consumer recycled aluminium, a genuine sustainability credential if true.

The metal used in this dock is critical to the heat dissipation from the Thunderbolt electronics and the SSD, if you mount one. It did get slightly warm in use, but not too hot to touch, even after several hours of activity.

Due to the SD7100T5's lateral design, it is intended exclusively for horizontal desktop use, and Kensington sells a secure mounting plate accessory that attaches to the threaded holes on the underside.

Without that accessory, which isn’t included in the box, there are two security slots on the left side that work with Kensington's own cable locks, unsurprisingly.

(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)

The top panel is removable via a single screw, revealing the M.2 SSD slot beneath. This screw is small and requires a tiny Phillips screwdriver, which Kensington doesn’t include with the dock. With the screw removed, the M.2 slot can be populated with any PCIe 3.0 or 4.0 specification NVMe drive, and made accessible from the computer.

Thermal pads inside the slot thermally connect the drive to the case, but these don’t allow for drives that have attached heatsinks to be used. The counter to that downside is that the slot supports drives of different sizes, with 2232, 2240 and 2260 being supported alongside 2280.

Getting a drive installed and running takes a relatively short amount of time, assuming you have a suitably sized screwdriver.

I’m not going to list all the ports, because it's tedious, but there are some unusual ones that need to be mentioned. I’ve already spoken about TOSLINK Optical Audio, but for those using headphones and a microphone, 3.5mm audio jack inlets are included.

The typical arrangement for Thunderbolt docks is to have a single uplink port to the laptop that carries power and data, with two downlink ports usually on the rear of the dock. That’s not the case here, because there are three downlink ports, with one conveniently on the front.

My only issue with downlink ports is that the maximum power they can deliver is 30W, which makes them less than useful for charging phones. However, this dock does have KonstantCharge, another made-up word for keeping power available to attached hardware when the host system is turned off or disconnected. I like that idea, and I wish more docks had that feature.

There are two programmable hotkeys on the top surface, which some might find useful. On macOS, one handles iPhone photo backup and the other acts as a Do Not Disturb toggle; on Windows, both are customisable via the Kensington Konnect software.

Overall, this is an extremely nice dock with plenty of useful features and a few things that are less than must-have. Of these, the M.2 slot and the three TB downlinks are the ones that customers will probably buy this hardware for.

• Design: 3.5 / 5

Kensington SD7100T5 EQ Pro: Features

• TB5 Bandwidth Boost
• Built-in M.2 SSD slot
• CompactFlash + optical audio

The SD7100T5's feature list is what separates it from every other dock on the market. Starting with the connection: Thunderbolt 5 delivers 80Gbps bidirectional bandwidth as standard, increasing to 120Gbps under Bandwidth Boost when driving video-intensive workloads.

To put that in context, a decent USB-C dock, like the WavLink WL-UG75PD1-DH2, operates on 10Gbps USB-C, which gives the SD7100T5 twelve times the bandwidth available to share across its ports.

The built-in PCIe 4.0 NVMe M.2 SSD slot is arguably the dock's most distinctive feature. It is lockable (the top panel is secured by a screw rather than friction), making it suitable for shared or office environments where physical security matters.

Often, laptops are given a modest amount of storage, like 1TB, but sometimes even less, and having another 2TB, 4TB or even 8TB of drive space when you connect to the dock could make data-intensive tasks easier to handle.

The SSD is not included and must be purchased separately, but even if it merely provides a means to back up the laptop, it's probably worth the investment.

The card reader selection goes further than any competing dock: CF 4.0 (CompactFlash), UHS-II SDXC, and UHS-II microSDXC. I’ll be honest and admit that I haven't used Compact Flash in at least 14 years, but I also know that some professional photographers still use older high-end DSLRs that require it. If you are one of those, then this might be another reason to invest in this design.

(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)

Audio connectivity is similarly comprehensive: separate 3.5mm headphone, mic, and speaker jacks plus a TOSLINK optical output. The optical connection enables lossless audio passthrough to external DACs and high-end audio systems, making it extremely helpful for anyone editing video or audio.

Features like the CF support and TOSLINK are quite unique for a TB5 dock, and while it could easily be argued that they’re somewhat niche, those that need them won’t care.

However, the lack of any direct HDMI or DisplayPort might also put off those looking for a more general-purpose device, since that requires additional budget to add adapters for monitor connectivity.

• Features: 4 / 5

(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)Kensington SD7100T5 EQ Pro: Performance

• 80Gbps upstream bandwidth
• No DisplayLink compression
• TB5 Bandwidth Boost for video

The fundamental performance story of the SD7100T5 is the inverse of those docks that use USB-C or even Thunderbolt 4. On those devices, the issue of bandwidth management becomes critical, as they might be trying to service 55Gbps worth of ports (or more) with as little as a 10Gbps uplink.

The SD7100T5 operates on 80Gbps, rising to 120Gbps under Bandwidth Boost. The bandwidth pie is dramatically larger, which means port oversubscription is far less of a practical concern in real-world use. Bandwidth boost, in particular, enables display data not eat into the bandwidth for other devices, which it would on lesser docks.

In USB-C and Thunderbolt 4 docks, this is often mitigated using DisplayLink, which uses CPU-side video compression to minimise the amount of bandwidth required to support displays.

Critically, the SD7100T5 does not use DisplayLink. All video output goes through native Thunderbolt 5 signalling, meaning there is no CPU-side video compression, no software driver requirement for display output, and no compression artefacts or lag on moving content. Triple 4K@144Hz on Windows is native and uncompressed, a capability that is fundamentally impossible on DisplayLink-based solutions.

The proof in this pudding is that it is possible to connect a monitor via a Thunderbolt-to-HDMI or Thunderbolt-to-DisplayPort adapter, have that running, transfer a large file to an NVMe drive installed in the M.2 slot, and still achieve full speed. And critically, there is no impact on the image quality on the display.

The caveat to all this functionality is that the host system must have a Thunderbolt 5 port. Running this dock from a Thunderbolt 4 host rather than TB5 will still work, but the connection will be capped at TB4's 40Gbps, which means the Bandwidth Boost is unavailable and maximum display configurations are reduced.

The dock is fully backwards-compatible; you simply won't be able to access the full specification without a TB5 laptop, and, as a good TB4 dock is half the price, the extra cost of this device was largely pointless.

• Performance: 4 / 5

Kensington SD7100T5 EQ Pro: Final verdict

(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)

The Kensington SD7100T5 EQ Pro is the most comprehensively specified docking station available today. Its combination of three TB5 downstream ports, built-in M.2 SSD slot, CompactFlash reader, optical audio, 140W power delivery, and programmable hotkeys in a single recycled aluminium chassis is, at the time of writing, without direct competition.

If you have a Thunderbolt 5 laptop and can make use of what this dock offers, it is worth the $449.99, even if that’s a significant investment.

The problem, and it’s an awkward one, is that TB5-capable laptops are like hens' teeth. Normally, this is part of the review where I say that this situation will get better when X, Y and Z happen, but I’d be lying in this instance.

Intel's 2026 Panther Lake will not natively support TB5, meaning the total addressable audience remains primarily Apple M4 Pro/Max MacBook users and a relatively small number of Intel Core Ultra 200H/HX Windows users. For everyone else, a Thunderbolt 4 dock at $200-250 will deliver 80% of the practical benefit at half the cost.

For the right user, however, this dock genuinely transforms a single-cable laptop setup into a fully featured workstation. The M.2 SSD slot alone is a workflow improvement that has proven difficult to go back from, once experienced. The three-year warranty and Kensington's established reliability record add further confidence for IT procurement decisions.

If you are lucky enough to have the right platform to attach it to, the Kensington SD7100T5 EQ Pro is probably the best dock so far, if you can afford one.

Kensington SD7100T5 EQ Pro: Report card

Value

Expensive but no other dock matches this feature set at any price

4 / 5

Design

Premium recycled aluminium, lockable SSD slot, thoughtful hotkeys

4.5 / 5

Features

Best-in-class: M.2 slot, CompactFlash, optical audio, 3x TB5 downstream, KonstantCharge

4 / 5

Performance

Native TB5 video, no DisplayLink, full PCIe 4.0 SSD speed, consistent throughput

4 / 5

Overall

The most capable dock available, but only for those who genuinely need what it offers

4 / 5

Should I buy a Kensington SD7100T5 EQ Pro?

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

You have Thunderbolt 5
Apple M4 Pro/Max MacBook users or Intel Core Ultra 200H/HX Windows users will access the full 80–120Gbps bandwidth and unlock the complete display configuration options.

You need 140W charging
Very few docks deliver USB PD 3.1 EPR at 140W, a power level that’s essential for high-performance mobile workstations that require more than the standard 100W. View Deal

Don't buy it if...

You have Thunderbolt
While this dock might work with a Thunderbolt port if it downgrades to USB 3.2, a much better experience can be had with a Thunderbolt dock. And, they don't cost any more.

Your laptop has Thunderbolt 4 only
The dock is backwards-compatible but caps at 40 Gbps on a TB4 host. A CalDigit TS4 or a similar TB4 dock costs roughly half as much and will serve you better today.

Also consider

Kensington SD5000T5 EQ
More of a hub than a dock, but overall, it is a well-specified dock for those planning to head down the TB5 rabbit hole. However, the lack of machines with this port and peripherals to connect does make it largely overkill at this point. But cheaper than the SD7100T5 EQ Pro.

Check out our Kensington SD5000T5 EQ reviewView Deal

CalDigit Thunderbolt Station 4
The CalDigit Thunderbolt Station 4, or TS4 as it is also known, is a full-featured Thunderbolt dock that works with Thunderbolt 4/3 and USB-C. It is not designed to be a portable dock but specifically to support a laptop user who comes to the office and wants a single cable connection to the network and a host of peripherals. To that objective, it has no less than 18 ports and can deliver up to 98W for charging a connected system. If you don't have TB5, then this is a good alternative.

Check out our CalDigit Thunderbolt Station 4 (TS4) review

It’s been a while since I last reviewed Adobe Lightroom, and as always with Adobe, many features have been added and a host of others have been improved, so let’s take a look at Lightroom 9.2 and see what it’s all about.

But before we do, I need to point out that there are two versions of Lightroom: Lightroom, and Lightroom Classic.

Lightroom is a simpler, more user friendly version, whereas Classic is aimed at the professional user or someone demanding a higher degree of control, who prefers to store their media on their local hard drives. I’ll be primarily covering the Classic side of things here.

Adobe Lightroom Classic: Pricing & plans

• Three subscription options
• No perpetual license
• Additional AI credits available

As with most of Adobe's professional software, Lightroom Classic is subscription-only - and here, there are three options available.

Grab Adobe’s entire portfolio with Creative Cloud Pro for US$70 a month. Alongside Lightroom, this unlocks other popular apps such as Photoshop, Illustrator, Premiere Pro, After Effects, the works.

For a less expensive, photo-focused subscription plan, there's the Photography bundle. This brings together both versions of Lightroom as well as Photoshop for $20 a month. Alternatively, you could just limit yourself to Lightroom and Lightroom Classic for $12 a month.

These are monthly costs, based on a year-long contract. They also come with Generative Credits, from 250 a month for the cheapest option to 4,000 for the high end plan. Those credits don’t roll on: if you don’t use them in a month, they don’t get added to your next allotment the following month.

If you’re really into generative AI creation, Adobe has add-on plans to suit your appetite, from an additional 2,000 credits for $10 a month, to 50,000 for $200 a month.

• Pricing & plans: 3.5/5

Adobe Lightroom Classic: What is it?

(Image credit: Adobe // Future)

• Very well designed app
• Easy to organize, alter, and share your work

Let’s start with the basics: what is Lightroom Classic?

Quite simply, it has the dual purpose of storing and cataloging your photos, while also allowing you to make alterations to them and prepare them to share with others. Any change is non-destructive, so the original photos are never altered, and you can go back to the source to make additional tweaks without ever suffering from quality degradation.

I feel the interface is very well designed - and interacting with interfaces is what I do most of the time! You have seven different sections, all accessible through a large menu bar, top right. By default, you’re in ‘Library’, which is where you can see all the photos you’ve imported and worked on.

You can actually do a fair amount of work there, such as rotating an image, adding tags, a star rating, keywords, and even perform some light colour correction. But if you want to get fully immersed in image manipulation, then ‘Develop’ is the place to be.

This is where you get to apply in-depth colour correction, cropping, remove red-eye, correct for lens distortion, completely remove an object from a scene, and mask specific sections to fine tune which part of an image to alter - among many others. You’ll find the tools at your disposal are quite extensive.

But Lightroom Classic goes beyond that. You have the ‘Map’ section where you can see all the photos you took in a specific location (and alter a shot’s metadata should you need to), there’s a section dedicated to designing a ‘Book’, or creating a ‘Slideshow’, ‘Print’ selected photos, or upload them to the ‘Web’. Although, truth be told, this is something consumer software like Apple’s Photos offers too.

All in all, Lightroom Classic makes it easy to organise your shots, make them look their best with a wide range of tools, and share them in numerous ways. But what does its latest release bring to the table? Let’s find out.

• Score: 4.5/5

Adobe Lightroom Classic: What’s new?

(Image credit: Adobe // Future)

• New AI features can save time
• But I found results vary in quality
• And it’s not like you get your credits back if you’re not happy

While the general workflow remains unchanged from previous versions, the big new features are primarily AI-based. This will delight some, and send shivers down the backs of others.

The most useful application of AI is ‘Assisted Culling’. Currently in Beta (Adobe calls it ‘Early Access’), it’s designed to accelerate the photo selection process upon import, by automatically filtering out blurry, closed-eye, misfired images, and more. You’re given a few sliders to determine the intensity of the cull, and can choose which options to filter for. After a few seconds (depending on how many images you’re importing and your computer’s capabilities), the results are ready to be reviewed.

I found the process works very well, identifying with ease any issues it’s designed to look for, and if it made a mistake, you can alter the decision shot by shot. This makes looking through a series of very similar photos a much quicker process (and if you don’t like a machine doing that kind of work for you, you can always disable the feature). As an added bonus, this AI tool is free… Unlike Lightroom Classic’s new ‘Generate using Firefly’ options.

(Image credit: Adobe // Future)

Now why would we want Generative AI in Lightroom? Well, if you’re not well-versed in Photoshop, then it’s a quick way for somewhat clever algorithms to perform relatively complex actions for you… but I admit having a few issues with such technology.

As an example, I asked AI to colorize a black and white photo of my brother and I when I was just a baby. It should’ve been a simple process, and indeed the colours used do look good. However, it added an object on top of a chest of drawers, and changed my brother’s face. In another shot, it cleaned up a tray. Although I can appreciate the virtual maid having tidied up, it’s not what I had asked for. Plus if you’re not satisfied, you don’t get your generated credits back.

To be fair, other results were better, and Firefly didn’t alter the faces of other ancient family members of mine - even my great great grandmother was faithfully updated. The resolution of the resulting version can be set up to a maximum of 2K. Great for older images that have lower resolutions, but not so good for more modern shots.

If you have credits to burn, you can bring a photo to life by turning it into a video. I found this a bit disturbing, although others around me loved it. And it must be said, Firefly did an impressive job of bringing my long-gone relative to life (Dr Frankenstein would be proud).

• Score: 4/5

Adobe Lightroom Classic: Classic vs Lightroom

(Image credit: Adobe // Future)

• Lightroom is much simpler
• Generative Upscale tool is better than Classic’s gen AI features

Before finishing up, I wanted to quickly dip into the simpler Lightroom, as there’s a feature there that’s worth mentioning: ‘Generative Upscale’.

It’s worth mentioning as this AI-based upscaling isn’t actually done by Adobe but in partnership with Topaz Gigapixel instead, and unlike the Firefly option we explored above, you don’t leave Lightroom when using it, which is a definite plus.

The feature not only tells you how many credits you’ll need, but also how many you have left - a useful addition which is sorely missed in Classic’s Firefly. The downside though is, as with Firefly, you have no control over the process. You get what you get, whether you’re happy with it or not.

Overall, Lightroom Classic is a very good image management and manipulation tool, and its new AI-based additions will no doubt please some, but aside from the useful Assisted Culling feature, you have next to no control over the output of AI.

• Score: 4/5

Should I buy?

Buy it if...

You’re looking for a high-end, easy to use and feature rich image management tool, and appreciate the growing proliferation of AI tools within it.

Don't buy it if...

You don’t like subscriptions, and having more and more AI in your software irks you, not to mention that you have to pay extra for those tools.

We tested out the best photo editing PCs and the best laptops for photo editing and these are our top picks. 

Specs

Type: Thermal label printer

Connectivity: Bluetooth, USB

Max print speed: 72 labels/min

Max paper size: 4-inch

Print quality: 203 dpi

Apple AirPrint: no

Consumables included: 20 4x6-inch labels; 40 dual-color labels

Dimensions: 8.19 x 3.54 x 2.95 in / 208 x 90 x 75 mm (WxDxH)

Weight: 1.49 lbs / 676g

An inkless label printer that can print color? Well, sort of. Thermal printing works by heating special thermal media so there’s no ink, making it ideal for portable printing. The downside is it can only make black marks on thermal paper — until now.

Munbyn’s latest printer is compatible with dual-color thermal paper which adds either blue or red, but not not both. You have to choose between red/black or blue/black media, so it’s not like Hollywood discovering Technicolor, but dual-color labels are certainly more impactful and allow some cute creativity.

The other potential advantage of the Munbyn RealWriter 405B, is its readily replaceable printhead. With no ink cartridges to consider, and relatively few moving parts, this is probably the most cost effective way to print shipping labels, box stickers and price tags.

How does the RW405B compare to the best label printers? I took tested it out to see how it stacks up.

Munbyn RealWriter 405B: Design and build

(Image credit: Munbyn // Future)

This is a portable desktop label printer rather than a handheld, so it’s small enough to pack up and carry, but not in your pocket. Like the simpler Munbyn RealWriter 403B I reviewed, you feed paper through its intake rather than loading rolls of paper inside the printer.

But with this step-up model, you are getting the crucial roll dispenser that attaches to the printer. That doubles the footprint, although it’s still very easy to separate and store the whole assembly in a drawer whenever you want to clear your desk. It also has the advantage of ensuring your labels feed through smoothly so fewer are wasted through misalignment.

The smooth white and silver plastic looks good and feels sturdy enough when you lift the panel. Unlike the previous model, the printhead on this one unclips so you can clean or replace it more easily. There are just three buttons: paper feed, reverse feed and power.

Munbyn RealWriter 405B: Features & specifications

(Image credit: Munbyn // Future)

The Munbyn RealWriter 405B can print on a wide range of thermal media from large 6x4 inch panel labels down to one-inch round price tags. And now the list includes dual-color labels.

These look just like regular white stickers, but embedded in the white thermal paper is either blue dye or red dye, depending on which roll you choose. In other words, Munbyn’s color innovation has nothing to do with hardware and everything to do with software and paper. I expect the black and white Munbyn RealWriter 403B will be updated to dual-color compatibility at some point.

Auto-calibration is another key feature that allows this printer to line up each label with surprising accuracy. So long as you load the paper roll with some care to keep the feed straight rather than diagonal, the leading edge will always be automatically lined up just right. That’s an important point for a label printer without internally loaded paper.

With no display of its own, the Munbyn RealWriter 405B is best controlled by the free Munbyn Print app designed for MacOS, Windows, iOS or Android. I found the software quite convoluted, but with it you can design your own dual-color labels and choose from a wide selection of templates and graphic elements.

In the box with your printer and roll holder are some blank thermal media to get you started. These include 4x6-inch fan-fold labels, a standard size for parcel labels, and some red/black and blue/black 1-inch round stickers.

Munbyn RealWriter 405B: Setup and operation

(Image credit: Munbyn // Future)

This is a true plug and play device. With no ink to install or Wi-Fi to connect to, it’s a simple case of connecting the power cable, downloading the Munbyn Print app to your phone and connecting the two devices via Bluetooth.

The label holder is easy to assemble with its three plastic parts, so you probably won’t need the printed quick-start guide at all. It’s actually quite fun to use.

Munbyn RealWriter 405B: Performance

(Image credit: Munbyn // Future)

The Munbyn RealWriter 405B printed quickly and reliably throughout the test, with no misprints or jams. The image quality is very good for a thermal printer, which is to say that it’s nowhere near as sharp as an inkjet or laser, but it achieves a darker and more consistent imprint than a lot of inkless solutions. Munbyn’s claim of “crystal clear prints every time” is optimistic.

The 203dpi print resolution is pretty low, but it’s good enough to print readable bar codes and QR codes. There is a limit though. Print your postage label too small, as I did experimentally, and it won’t scan. Always print at the correct size and you may never again have to wait in line at the post office.

Black imprints appear nice and dark, on the whole, with the quality being on par with the Munbyn RealWriter 403B, but there are times when the thermal process leaves a less than bold black finish. Take a closer look at my test stickers to see what I mean.

Feed in some dual-color labels, and the advantage of the Munbyn RealWriter 405B is revealed. Adding red, or blue to the design can make your stickers way more impactful. With just these colors, you might be able to print your brand logo or highlight a keyword in a label.

On the downside, there are limitations to which design elements you can color and the dual-color paper itself lets some ghostly red or blue show through unintentionally, so it’s not perfect.

Munbyn RealWriter 405B: Consumables

(Image credit: Munbyn // Future)

With no ink to think about, your only consumables cost is the thermal paper. It comes in the form of rolls, or fan-folds, or stickers and naturally, thermal stickers are more expensive than regular ones.

And dual-color thermal stickers are more expensive again, but on the whole, ink is more expensive than paper, so thermal printing will usually work out as the more cost effective way of labelling. Munbyn suggests a figure of 3 cents per label.

The RealWriter 405B comes with some dual-color two-inch round stickers and some 6x4-inch labels in the box. When you come to buy more, you’ll discover a pretty broad range of compatible stickers in varying shapes and colors.

Munbyn RealWriter 405B: Maintenance

(Image credit: Munbyn // Future)

The only maintenance this little printer needs is an occasional wipe with a dry cloth along its print head to keep it clean. The print head detaches easily, which is good news as it’s the only component of a thermal printer that’s likely to need replacing. Munbyn says it should last around six times longer than rival printers and won’t need replacing for at least 970,000 labels.

Munbyn RealWriter 405B: Final verdictMunbyn // FutureMunbyn // FutureMunbyn // Future

There’s no denying the convenience of a dedicated label printer and this practical application of thermal print tech is a perfect example. For me, the Munbyn RealWriter 405B turned out crisp parcel labels that scanned reliably every time and made it possible to print a very wide range of stickers.

Could the accompanying Munbyn software be improved? Definitely. The app makes it possible to print all kinds of great stickers with plenty of graphic elements to play with - and now that includes red/blue dual-color designs too. I found the app unintuitive and frustrating, but for simply printing parcel labels or plain tags, it’s a pleasure to use.

As a reliable, low maintenance, and low cost labeller, the Munbyn RealWriter 405B is hard to beat.

For more, I've tested out the best home printers and the best small business printers.

Cast your mind back to 2022, when BBC smash hit period drama Peaky Blinders was wrapping up its sixth and final season. Loveable local gangster Tommy Shelby (Cillian Murphy) was tricked into believing that he was about to die from syphilis, making himself a recluse in the process.

However, this was all a lie, with Tommy tracking down the doctor responsible but failing to kill him. In this moment, Tommy learned the ultimate lesson of grace, and his legacy was forever changed (and more importantly, left on a high).

At least, this was the case until new Netflix movie Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man. We've picked up with who's left of the gang in 1940, with Tommy's now grown-up eldest son Duke (Barry Keoghan) involved in a plot to foil the Second World War. In short, he's helping the Nazis distribute counterfeit money across the country, making him rich to the tune of £70 million in the process.

But never fear! It's Tommy to the rescue... well, at least after he's done dithering over whether it's the right thing to do. Duke's aunt Kaulo (Rebecca Ferguson) and Tommy's sister Ada (Sophie Rundle) are on hand to try and coax him back to Birmingham, and I bet they wish they hadn't bothered.

The biggest problem with The Immortal Man is how overwhelmingly depressing it is. The first half struggles to get itself going, with the second half abruptly ending in unnecessary tragedy.

If you're looking for jaunty fights, slick laughs and Tommy back on fighting form, you've come to the wrong place. Netflix has instead penned a funeral to the show we once loved, and simultaneously paved the way for an incredibly uninspiring sequel series.

I'm not joking when I say that I never want to watch Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man again

It breaks my heart to be the bearer of such bad news after an agonizing four-year wait, but let's dig deeper into what's gone so wrong. More than anything else, it's the actual storyline that The Immortal Man has chosen to flesh out.

Fans have been waiting a long time for a spectacular Tommy Shelby comeback, wanting more of the same explosive energy that we got during the original series run. Instead, Tommy has become a man who is incredibly unsure of himself.

He's got good reason to be, as fans will find out in the first 20 minutes. But sadly, this all makes for incredibly drab viewing. It's easy to sum the entire movie up as this:

The first 45 minutes is Shelby continuous saying "No, I can't possibly go back to Birmingham" to the few people on hand to listen. The middle 25 minutes is Tommy at his best, punching and shooting layabouts who don't respect their elders. For the final 40-odd minutes, we're back to misery, as Tommy has all but given up the ghost.

Our original crew has practically dissipated before our eyes, too. By the time The Immortal Man closes out, we're largely left with new or B-plot characters, none of whom we actually give a damn about. That's not amazing news if the BBC does intend to develop a sequel series in the future…

In essence, it's out-and-out dread, which isn't exactly what you want to sit down and stream after a long week. Tommy's ending in season 6 was much more fitting too, and I really wish it remained his final hurrah. The Immortal Man ends suddenly, sadly, and with little resolution for the characters we dedicated almost a decade to.

Not everybody else is a great fit either

Stephen Graham is onscreen for all of 5 minutes. (Image credit: Netflix)

When we talk about period dramas, the term 'iPhone face' is sometimes bandied about. This describes someone who looks so modern that you just know they've seen an iPhone, therefore is not a successful fit for a story set in the past. Barry Keoghan suffers from something I'm going to term 'iPhone haircut'.

Sporting an on-trend fade and more sticker-style tattoos than I could count, Keoghan's styling completely takes us out of the 1940s moment. Thanks to Saltburn, Eternals, Master of the Air, The Banshees of Inisherin, Crime 101 and the upcoming four Beatles movies, the man is absolutely everywhere, so perhaps it was already going to be difficult to buy him as anyone other than a modern actor.

Even so, it speaks to the disjointed feeling that The Immortal Man hosts, a patchwork of old and new that sits in a no-man's land in between. There's light to be found in the dark, including multiple touching tributes to Helen McCrory's character Polly Gray and, ironically for something so bleak, the best lighting in a Netflix movie I've possibly ever seen.

On the whole though, these minor wins don't make up for the dull and depressing bigger picture. My advice? Watch The Immortal Man's trailer before binging Peaky Blinders season 1-6 all over again. Trust me, it's a much better use of your time.

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Nothing Headphone (a) review

The Nothing Headphone (a) are just about the dream tech version 2.0 launch. As the follow-up to the Nothing Headphone (1), launched in 2025, they fix the sound problems I had with those headphones, they keep the excellent stuff I liked, and they somehow cut the price in half in the process (in one country, at least).

What more could you ask from something that's looking to go from audio also-ran to ranking among the best headphones available today? At their official price of $199 / £149 / AU$329, I think the Nothing Headphone (a) are arguably the best cans in their category — just with a few reasons why you might want to choose something else over them.

Let's start with the most important area: the sound. As soon as I fired these up, I felt a sense of relief. Nothing's first headphones baffled me in my Nothing Headphone (1) review with their oddly narrow soundstage that felt like the breadth of a song's traffic was being crammed down a single-lane road.

The Nothing Headphone (a) immediately feel like a big expansive highway in comparison – it's an open, wide and free-flowing soundstage that allows songs to spread out and to feel more energetic, emotive and satisfying. And when I say "in comparison", I mean I broke out the original $299 / £299 / AU$549 model for a listen, and while they have their strengths (a nicely refined frequency balance), the new model is so much more enjoyable to listen to.

There are 40mm drivers under the mesh (Image credit: Future)

And this improvement has come without any major downsides, though there's one quirk worth discussing. My unit came with the 'More Bass' setting activated out of the box, and this was certainly much more generous with the bass than the Headphone (1) was, to the point of wandering into the 'bass-heavy' category.

This was no problem at all with electronic or pop music — the strength of the lower frequencies gives a glorious foundation to deep drum machines or sinking synths. It's also well integrated into the overall balance, despite being so muscular, with the Headphone (a) having no problems delivering lower mids that can stand up to, or transition from, the bassier parts.

But it was too much for some tracks with real instruments. In Regulars by Allie X, the double bass that opens the song sounded like the instrument was collapsing under its own vibrations. I pulled up the EQ in the Nothing app, saw it was set to 'More Bass', switched to 'Balanced' instead, and immediately the double bass went back to sounding like a double bass, instead of a quadruple bass.

This took a bit of a punch out of electronic songs when I switched back to those, but the bass still had good depth, its integration with the rest of the sound was still excellent. But Nothing's superb app gives a nice option here that I decided to take it up on: I set one of the controls to be an instant EQ switch, so I could get the extra bass if I wanted it.

The oval section is more rounded on these headphones than the original (Image credit: Future)

The Headphone (a) provide loads of space for the mid-range to express itself, with a nice chunkiness to guitars, the ability to handle a lot of complex instruments going on at once, and a nice clarity to vocals through it all.

Moving to the treble, it's again just very well worked into the sound, able to stand up for itself without ever feeling harsh or like it's overblowing in order to be heard even when songs get really energetic.

But there is a slight softness of detail to the Headphone (a)'s sound. They're not poor in this area by any means, but switching to the similarly-priced Sennheiser Accentum Plus reveals a slightly more convincing edge to the guitar strings and tambourine in Fleetwood Mac's Go Your Own Way, and more texture to the beat of sticks on drumskins in Sonny Rollins' St. Thomas. There's also better instrument separation in the mix.

The Sennheiser Accentum Plus also have a more neutral sound overall, but this comes alongside a shortfall in bass depth and less dynamic attack in playback. I probably prefer the Nothing Headphone (a) overall for sound given my personal predilection for electronic music, but if you're more of an acoustic fan, you may be better off leaning towards the Sennheiser.

This doesn't change when switching to Hi-Res Audio and listening over USB-C, or with LDAC higher-quality wireless, both of which are supported here (along with a 3.5mm headphone jack). The USB-C mode maybe had a little extra lightness of touch with instrument separation and detail, but any difference was minor.

The overall design vibe is a little more 'regular' than the original Nothing headphones (Image credit: Future)

The Sennheiser cans are also much lighter than the Headphone (a) at 227g, versus 310g for the Nothings. That's an improvement on the 329g that the Headphone (1) weigh, but is still higher than most of the competition, and means they still need a stronger clamping force to stay on your head than lighter competition.

Again, this isn't inherently a bad or good thing, but you will 'feel' them more than other headphones, and the synthetic pads aren't designed to be particularly breathable, so left the sides of my head feeling warm over time.

It's probably worth talking about the overall design for a moment here, which is very similar to the original, but has been 'softened' in a way that makes them feel less like they make you look like a cyborg (a good thing), but the ear cups look less like cassette tapes (a shame). Aluminum is now plastic, and gentler curves to the raised section in the middle of ear cups makes all the difference.

Original flavor on the left, new flavor on the right (Image credit: Future)

Sadly, I don't love the new yellow and pink colorful options. I think there's not enough color for it to really work – the yellow in particular looks like a fried egg, because the rounded yellow mound is surrounded by white. I think there needed to be more color throughout. I love the changes in the white and black models, though – undeniably Nothing, but more mainstream than the divisive Nothing Headphone (1).

Nothing has kept a quirk of headphone design that I don't like here, in that the size is adjusted at the top of the head, rather than by the ears, which I find makes it harder to make micro-adjustments, but isn't a big deal overall.

The headband adjustment is way higher up than on most cans (Image credit: Future)

What is a big deal is that Nothing has kept the fantastic set of controls from the Headphone (1). In particular, the roller for volume control is my favorite control system on any pair of headphones, period. It feels so high quality, it moves reliably under the thumb, and audible clicks tell you that it's moving up through volume tiers. Anything else feels crude in comparison.

That is paired with a 'rocker' control underneath, which is also super-intuitive. Nudge it one way to skip forward, and the other way to skip back. At the top of the right ear cup is a round multi-function custom button that was set to trigger your Voice Assistant by default; I changed it to EQ control, as I mentioned, but it can also work as a camera remote trigger (a new feature for this model) or a mic mute button, or a few other options.

The roller control at the top, with the rocker underneathFutureThe fully customizable button on the outside of the earcupFutureThe on switch, USB-C and headphone jack port on the bottomFutureThe Bluetooth pairing button hides on the inside of the earcupFuture

And you'll absolutely want to play around with this, because Nothing's app is so good. Not only are the headphones customizable in so many ways — different noise cancellation options, different spatial audio types, multiple EQ controls — it's also just really simple to find the key features you want to turn on and off, such as the low-lag mode for gaming, or dual-device connectivity (which really should be on by default, but most devices have it off, so I won't knock Nothing hard for that).

We recently knocked the Sony WF-1000XM6 earbuds for making it hard to find its essential features, so it's nice to see Nothing show how it should be done.

I mentioned spatial audio options before, and while you don't get head tracking or Dolby Atmos here, there are two options with processing handled by Nothing: Concert and Cinema. Concert does a good job of moving sound out from the ear cups, and making it feel like more of a speaker setup across and in front of you.

Cinema adds more left and right sound to that, while also pushing the EQ a little more towards the treble — going for more of a 'surround sound' experience and boosting voices, I suspect — and I found it useful for picking dialogue out of movie soundtracks, so I'd happily use it when watching while traveling.

Speaking of traveling, the noise cancellation here is strong, though not mind-blowing, and that's just fine for this level. Walking along a busy road while listening to music, I wasn't bothered by outside sounds at all. I could hear podcasts clearly while on public transport. The Transparency profile also works as advertised, and never makes things robotic or tinny.

But I want to briefly call out here that Nothing provides the best sounds to indicate what noise mode you're in. Switching to Transparency is announced by an exhaled breath as if sound is escaping; noise canceling is announced by the sound of something being sucked down and then slammed shut. There's no ambiguity here, and no annoying voice.

Nothing promises a phenomenal 75 hours of battery life with active noise cancellation turned on, and 135 hours with it turned off. I couldn't possibly test both claims fully in my time with them so far, even if I used them every waking hour. But I can say that they seem to live up to it, with the battery indicator dropping by 20% after around 13 hours of use.

This makes them essentially best in class, and phenomenal value. In general, I'd say these are about as good as headphones value gets in this space between the budget and premium options. There are only really two knocks against their value worth mentioning.

The first is that it's a shame they don't have an auto-pause feature (also called wearer detection) for when you take them off. It's pretty standard even in affordable stuff these days and while I'm not mad about it since they offer so much elsewhere, it's still surprising.

The second is that in lieu of a hard case (presumably dropped for cost reasons; again, it's understandable) they come with what I can only describe as a swimbag. Yes, it's like a smooth plastic fabric. Yes, it closes with a drawstring. Yes, it made me kind of nostalgic. No, it doesn't feel like a premium addition.

(Image credit: Future)

The thing with the Nothing Headphone (a) is that all the knocks I have against it are either minor like the above, or are more subjective, like the weight and clamping force.

There are enough little downsides or quirks that I can't quite give them full marks, but make no mistake that I think these are excellent headphones, that they'll be ideal for a lot of people, and that they're superb value.

Nothing Headphone (a) review: Price & release date

• Released on March 13th, 2026
• $199 / £149 / AU$329

The Nothing Headphone (a) arrive with an impressive price of $199 / £149 / AU$329, meaning that they come in at half the price of the earlier Nothing Headphone (1) and their £299 launch price in the UK, while they're a third cheaper than the $299 Headphone (1) price in the US. In Australia, the drop from AU$549 for the Headphone (1) is between those two percentages.

I should note that they Headphone (1) have been available for as little as $254 / £199 / AU$350 in sales events, though — but I have no doubt the Headphone (a) will see juicy discounts too.

Instead of putting them in direct competition with high-end releases from the likes of Bose and Sony, the Headphone (a)'s mid-to-low price tag puts them up against the likes of Sennheiser's Accentum Plus or Soundcore Space One Pro.

Nothing Headphone (a) review: Specs

Drivers

40mm

Active noise cancellation

Yes

Battery life (ANC off)

135 hours

Weight

310g

Connectivity

Bluetooth 5.4, LDAC, USB-C audio, 3.5mm jack

Frequency response

20Hz - 40kHz

Waterproofing

IP52

(Image credit: Future)Should I buy Nothing Headphone (a)?

Attribute

Notes

Score

Features

They're generally best-in-class for features, but miss just a few minor options.

4.5 / 5

Sound quality

Expansive and exciting with excellent balance, but a little soft on detail.

4.5 / 5

Design

The best controls of any headphones, and a premium build – but a little heavy.

4 / 5

Value

An excellent mix of features and performance for a very fair price.

4.5 / 5

Buy them if…

You want excellent all-rounders for Android or iPhone
No matter which platform you're on, the Headphone (a) deliver an excellent range of features, great sound, and their mighty battery life.View Deal

You like a big and energetic sound
The Nothing Headphone (a) deliver fun and dynamic audio that's finely balanced, and is much more expansive than the Nothing Headphone (1).View Deal

You don't like to think about charging
75 hours with ANC on, and 135 hours without it, are as good as it gets in headphones right now.View Deal

Don’t buy them if…

You want a neutral, hi-fi sound
They're well-balanced, but still like to juice up songs a little — the Sennheiser Accentum Plus can deliver a more neutral sound with a little more instrument separation.View Deal

You don't like to 'feel' your headphones
Nothing has made these lighter than its first pair, but they're still heavier than most other options, and clamp the head more firmly as a result.View Deal

You need a protective case
If you don't treat your headphones very well in your work or gym bag, the flimsy plastic drawstring sack the Nothing Headphone (a) come with won't do much to help them.View Deal

Nothing Headphones (a) review: Also consider

Sennheiser Accentum Plus
If you'd like a more 'hi-fi' sound than the Nothing provide, in a lighter body, then these are ideal. They're a bit more detailed and neutral, and battery life is great at 50 hours. You'll miss out on a lot of features in comparison, though – but we do like them, as our Sennheiser Accentum Plus review explains.View Deal

Sony WH-1000MX4
Still available to buy over five years since they launched, and now available for a price in the same range as the Nothing Headphone (a). Good sound, great noise cancellation, a super-comfortable fit, and a hard case, for those who want one. They have a solid range of features, but not as many as the Nothing – and the battery life is 30 hours with ANC on. Still, they're great cans – you can read our original Sony WH-1000XM4 review there.View Deal

How I tested the Nothing Headphone (a)?

These look a little more natural on the head than the Headphone (1), thanks to some tactical curvier design (Image credit: Future)

• Used for a week in my day-to-day life
• Tested largely over standard Bluetooth and USB-C hi-res wired audio
• Tested with a pre-release update to the Nothing X app

To test the Nothing Headphone (a), I started carrying them everywhere with me and made them part of my normal life. I used them on both walking and public transport commutes, around the house, and at the office.

I compared them directly to the Nothing Headphone (1), Sennheiser Accentum Plus and Sony WH-1000XM4 headphones, switching back and forth, as the headphones I think are the biggest alternative options. I had access to an early version of the Nothing X app with support for their features, so some details may change there before launch.

I lead TechRadar's AV team, and I've been reviewing audio gear for well over a decade, from the budget end of things all the way to up to high-end audiophile tech. I reviewed the earlier Nothing Headphone (1), as well as this newer model.

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

My favorite thing about WWE 2K26 is a relatively minor feature. At the start of every match, you get the choice of what actions your character will take. Do you bumrush your opponent and try to knock them down out of the gate? Do you go in for a staredown or a handshake? Or do you hang back and play to the crowd? Yearly sports games don't tend to feature massive overhauls, but this implementation of a little bit of psychology shows me that deep down, Visual Concepts gets it.

Review info

Platform reviewed: PS5
Available on: PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC, Nintendo Switch 2
Release date: March 13, 2026 (Early access on March 6, 2026)

Since returning with WWE 2K22, these games have gotten steadily better with each release, and WWE 2K26 is no different. The grappling feels better thanks to the aforementioned change and an updated stamina system that forces you to play tactically; the roster is huge, and the updated match types are mostly winners. But as is the tale with the WWE 2K series, its improvements are undercut by what feels like new ways to make money.

Hotdogging and grandstanding

(Image credit: Visual Concepts/2K)

One major change to WWE 2K26 is the absence of the traditional "buy a pack, get x wrestlers" DLC model. This year introduces the ringside pass, of which there will be 6 across the entire year. There's also a free route, which is how you unlock WWE Legends this year as opposed to previous years, where there was an in-game shop or unlock-everything DLC to grab. I don't blindly hate battle passes in games, but in 30 hours of playing WWE 2K26, I've barely hit the halfway point of the first pass.

Sure, there are ways to gain levels faster, such as your MyRise playthrough or Showcase mode – the latter of which is one-and-done – while the quickest ways seem to be through The Island and MyFaction, two modes that are playable without spending a penny but far easier for those who do invest. Paired with the ability to buy level skips, it feels like a rough trade from simply getting the characters you pay for – especially when there are still characters locked to MyFaction card drops through random number generating (RNG) on top of that. And while you can complete these battle passes at any time across the year, you can only work towards one at a time, meaning anyone who isn't playing consistently from day one will get left behind.

This is paired with another symptom of the yearly sports release, that some things just don't get touched. Aside from the ability to book intergender matches, MyGM – which should be my favorite mode as someone who was begging for a booker mode in these games from 2008-2022 – remains practically unchanged from WWE 2K25, and thus my same issues persist (namely, the super restrictive class and alignment systems).

Best in the World

(Image credit: Visual Concepts/2K)

The highlight of this year's modes is 2K Showcase – the yearly mode focusing on a story, be that of a wrestler, a family, or a show in which you play recreations of classic matches – with this year's focusing on cover star CM Punk. While there are some notable omissions from the mode, like the absence of Jeff Hardy, Chris Jericho, and Daniel Bryan from WWE, stopping those feuds from being included, it's a lengthy selection that covers the bases.

Punk notably had a very public falling out with WWE in 2014 before returning in 2023, and part of this year's Showcase is imagining what would happen if he didn't leave. These include the likes of his planned showdown with Triple H at Wrestlemania 30, taking on AJ Styles at his first Wrestlemania, and fighting Bray Wyatt as The Fiend. These are the absolute highlights of this mode and made me wish deep down we could've seen them happen in real life.

I typically prefer MyRise – a storyline featuring a created character – most years, but sadly, I'm a bit let down by this year's edition. Don't get me wrong, The Comeback and the story of The Archetype is one of the best stories told in the series to date, but you can feel the budget ripped out of this mode as you play.

As opposed to the separate men's and women's division stories of previous years, it's pretty much the exact same story across both, with recurring dialogue and events, just with women instead of men in roles. And like last year, side quests are gone entirely; instead, you play Rise matches, which are simple exhibition matches against wrestlers to earn stars. These are fine as a side thing to buff your character, but you're forced to play them between pretty much every main storyline, and it feels like tedious, artificial padding.

Boy Stable

(Image credit: Visual Concepts/2K)

After hating it last year (I called it "a superfluous mode that feels focused on money"), The Island returns this year, and shockingly, it feels a lot more interesting. Instead of still images and text, the mode features actual cutscenes this year, making it feel like an extension of MyRise in ways.

But once again, you create a new character for The Island, and this character’s stats are upgraded via VC – the game’s premium paid currency, which can also be earned in-game. So if you want to play one of the mode's towers, which challenge you to play a gauntlet of matches on one health bar, you're going to have a far rougher time with your base stats. Plus, you can battle other players online on The Island, and I don't need to tell you that the person who spends money will have a better time.

Best Bit

(Image credit: Visual Concepts/2K)

The CM Punk Showcase mode, filling in the blanks of his decade-long WWE absence, was filled with genuinely great 'What If?' moments, like him retiring Kurt Angle at Wrestlemania 35 or answering John Cena's US title open challenge.

But ultimately, I think, why would I want to spend money on this? I received a review code for the Monday Night Wars Edition of the game, which comes with a substantial amount of VC anyway, but I still feel like I'm wasting it to buff up a character I frankly don't care about. And given MyRise has gotten smaller both years The Island has been included, I can't say I'm a fan of this tradeoff from one of my favorite modes to one I can't see myself thinking about too often.

I'd much rather save the VC for MyFaction – the game's Ultimate Team equivalent. But not because I'm madly into MyFaction, but because exclusive versions of superstars are often locked behind this mode's RNG. Do you want Drew McIntyre's 2010 version with his fantastic theme song? Better hope you get him. What about Booker T's iconic King Booker gimmick? Well, you're going to need to get five Oddities cards, which are random drops. Plus, you straight up can't play certain missions or challenges without having access to certain cards, so get spending, I guess.

WWE 2K26 continues the series tradition of frustrating me with every entry. There's a fantastic wrestling game in there; the roster is great, the showcase is an excellent piece of throwback and fantasy about one of the best wrestlers of all time, and MyRise continues to be a fun story despite feeling majorly cut back. But the Ringside Pass is another red flag on top of the existing red flags of previous years and something that will need to be significantly tweaked for me to consider it a suitable replacement for the previous method.

Should you play WWE 2K26?Play it if...

You want a great wrestling game
WWE 2K26 is great grappler that improves upon last year's entry in solid iterative ways. It's not going to be a major overhaul for series regulars, but smart changes make for a more engaging battle system. And there's a lot of it among the specific modes.

You're a fan of wrestling history
The CM Punk Showcase mode is already a brilliant edition in its own right, but the inclusion of those "what if I never left" matches offers an interesting take on what is one of the most significant events in wrestling history.

Don't play it if...

You get fomo
You won't unlock everything in WWE 2K26. It's updated all year with new exclusive characters locked to MyFaction cards, and with the addition of grindy battle passes this year, that's only going to get worse.

You're extremely averse to microtransactions
You can play WWE 2K26 entirely without spending a penny, but some of the modes are made far more accessible and easier for those willing to put a bit of coin in.

Accessibility features

WWE 2K26's accessibility features are mainly focused around mini-games. You can change the timing-based pinfall minigame to a rapid press motion if you please, or change the rapid press submission game to a slider, alongside the option to include held inputs for both, but these won't be changed for any online modes. Outside of that, there's not much to write home about, with four difficulty options and manual AI sliders. However, there are no options for colorblindness, unfortunately.

How I reviewed WWE 2K26

I played 30 hours of WWE 2K26 on PS5 Pro using a DualSense Wireless Controller, and an LG C5 OLED TV with its built-in sound.

During this time, I played all of Showcase mode, a Babyface men's division run of MyRise, and the first few chapters of a Heel women's division run. I played a few months of My GM and Universe mode, a few chapters of The Island, and about four hours of MyFaction – mostly the towers. I also played a good few regular matches along the way.

First reviewed February-March 2026

There has never been a better time to be Rachel Weisz, or indeed, a Rachel Weisz fan. Since The Favorite in 2019, she's been in a string of steamy TV sessions from Prime Video's Dead Ringers remake in 2023 to brand new Netflix show Vladimir, based on the hit novel of the same name.

I could wax lyrical about how refreshing it is to see a woman over 50 consistently and unashamedly explore her sexuality onscreen until the cows come home, but the projects Weisz is picking are so much more than that. For one thing, Vladmir is possibly the most uncomfortable binge watch of my entire adult life.

Let me explain. Weisz's character, simply know as The Protagonist (let's call her P for clarity) is a professor at a university with her husband John (John Slattery), who has been suspended after numerous sexual assault allegations against him have come to light.

At the same time, new professor Vladimir (Leo Woodall) arrives on campus — and despite them both being married, P becomes infatuated with him, fantasizing about the idea of Vladimir whenever she can.

It's a morally conflicting watch, making it something you can barely tear your eyes from. Much like P, we can't fight the pull of overwhelming desire, but we know what's unfolding is abhorrently wrong at every level. For that alone, I think Vladimir is the first truly unmissable TV show of 2026.

In Vladimir, sex has never been more sordid or scandalous

Netflix invites us to "descend into sexy madness" while watching Vladimir, and that's an incredibly apt summary. M is clearly an academically smart and well-educated woman, but when it comes to her moral compass, she's operates like a clueless teenager.

It's hardly a spoiler to say P throws her family, career and sanity out of the window in order to objectify and clamor over Vladimir while he shows very little signs of reciprocation. When we meet him, he's a true family man, putting his daughter and marriage to fellow troubled colleague Cynthia (Jessica Henwick) before professional ambition.

I like that there's no real reason for P self-sabotaging, as we often don't understand those who choose to in real life. She hates John for putting her in such a precarious position, but equally uses him as a vessel to act on her feelings for the version of Vladimir she's created in her head.

You might think this sounds like a modern feminist icon, shunning the conventions of marriage and professionalism in order to be fully liberated by sex and passion. However, her stance on the female complainants against her husband puts an end to this, with P making it clear that she believes the women in question are just as at fault.

We're left with a complicated soup of unadulterated mess to sift through, making us critically engage in ways we're normally afraid to... and this is our real breath of fresh air moment.

Content is arguably taking the safe route, trying not to ruffle any feathers or give viewers any pause for thought. There's a reason why the likes of Virgin River and Sweet Magnolias are championed by Netflix, and with Vladimir, it's going against the grain.

Don't get me wrong, it's an incredibly uncomfortable binge

Reality, or an illusion? (Image credit: Netflix)

Don't get me wrong, though... you'll likely find Vladimir an incredibly tough watch. Not just because the subject matter is morally dubious, but because the new Netflix show really turns up the spice.

Almost all of the 8 episodes feature a hot and heavy sex scene, and showrunner (and original author) Julia May Jonas has spectacularly nailed the spice. Nothing is gratuitous or unnecessary, and desires are explicitly explored with nothing off-limits. Honestly, it's all you could ever ask for.

By this point, it hopefully goes without saying that Weisz is completely mesmerizing, and she's head and shoulders above the additional cast. In a way that brings Notes on a Scandal, Misery and Fleabag together, she frequently breaks to fourth wall to talk directly to viewers, yet it remains difficult to understand exactly what she's going to do next.

Jonas frequently distorts P's imagination and reality, combining them into the same indistinguishable scene. Vladimir is an incredibly easy binge watch too, with all 8 episodes coming in under the 30-minute mark. It's all like taking a medicine you know isn't really any good for you.

Sure, John inserts himself too heavily into the story when he's the last thing we care about, but everything else about Vladimir is sexy from start to finish. Sexy is often unhinged when you take off the rose-tinted glasses, and this is truly a warts-and-all experience.

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LG Sound Suite Immersive Suite 7 Pro review

Dolby Atmos FlexConnect is well and truly here. And the LG Sound Suite Immersive Suite 7 Pro is among the first systems to make use of this technology. This sound system – composed of an LG H7 9.1.6-channel soundbar, two 2.1.1-channel LG M7 wireless speakers, and the LG W7 sub, all available separately too – is a powerful, dynamic, and expansive-sounding system. But is it capable of outdoing the home theater big boys — particularly Samsung?

Well, let’s start by tackling the Immersive Suite 7 Pro’s unique feature: its Dolby Atmos FlexConnect capabilities. This enables you to enjoy optimized sound and Atmos effects even with your speakers in non-optimal positions for traditional surround setups – the speakers map their position in the room, and adjust their output so you'll still get as close to 3D sound as they can provide. So, if your living room isn’t suited to having rear speakers to the left and right behind you, this could be a real solution.

And FlexConnect works really well in practice on the Sound Suite, helping it to stand out among the very best soundbars. I tried placing the two M7 speakers – which can work wired or wirelessly – across various spots in our TV testing space, and I was treated to clear, impactful, and balanced sound with each configuration. All you have to do is recalibrate the speakers each time you change their position, which is quick and easy to do in the LG ThinQ app.

More generally, the calibration tool provides accurate, streamlined sound, no matter where you’re seated. I had to retry this a couple of times during testing for the most accurate reading, but this wasn’t too troublesome. I did experience a couple of errors later on in my testing, but was almost certainly due to a network issue in our weird corporate network in our test rooms, so setup is likely to be straightforward if you’ve got stable home connectivity.

I want to talk about the Suite 7 Pro’s sound more generally now, because it really impressed me. Surround sound is phenomenal, and I often felt like I was truly enveloped in the movies or music I was playing. When viewing a 4K Blu-ray of 2024’s Nosferatu, I truly felt like I was at the center of the action — the movie's eerie score came through with immense power and control, high-pitched screeches pierced through the center channel and never sounded tinny or distorted, while bass was rippling yet regimented.

In addition, I was struck by the accuracy and expansiveness of the Suite 7 Pro’s Dolby Atmos performance when switching over to The Mask on 4K Blu-ray. At one point, the titular character flung through a glass door like a tornado with a truly palpable smash, and the system mapped his wild movements across the screen with tremendous precision.

Something that a lot of Dolby Atmos soundbars struggle to nail is height effects, but that’s not the case for the Suite 7 Pro. I threw on Top Gun Maverick, and during the scene where Tom Cruise flies his jet over Ed Harris, the verticality of the move was captured with commendable fidelity. The continued upward movement was traced well too, making for a highly immersive viewing experience.

One audio feature that some people may miss is support for DTS audio, meaning there’s no decoding of DTS HD or DTS:X onboard here – but that was to be expected after LG dropped DTS from its TVs in 2025. If your TV or video player supports decoding DTS, that should be fine.

But let's take it back to the fundamentals, where the Suite 7 Pro performs admirably. Dialogue is clear and direct, bass is intent-filled but doesn’t overwhelm other sounds in the frequency range, and treble is both clear and expressive.

I didn’t think music sounded perfect on this system, though, with vocals in the mid-range sometimes getting slightly obscured in the mix. Still, tunes generally sounded strong with clean bass and the Suite 7 Pro made great use of its various channels, especially with Atmos tracks. There’s AI-powered upmix mode if you want to convert a stereo audio signal into an expansive multi-channel format.

In fact, there are quite a few sound modes available, including an AI Sound setup, bass, and voice settings. Personally, I enjoyed the standard sound mode the best— it felt like the most balanced and revealing of the available options to me. But the options don’t stop there. You can adjust channel levels to suit your preferences, adjust the lighting on the rear speakers, and even activate Sound Follow mode, which centers audio on you, rather than a position in the room.

Combine all of that with Wi-Fi connectivity — which opens up hi-res 24-bit/96kHz audio and supports for the likes of Tidal Connect and Spotify Connect — and you’re looking at a feature-rich system. You’ve also got Bluetooth 5.4 connectivity at your disposal.

(Image credit: Future)

One thing that didn’t quite bowl me over was the Suite 7 Pro’s look. Don’t get me wrong, it’s still a nice-looking system overall and I appreciated its display, but the H7 bar itself does look a bit basic, lacking the sleek, modern look of a Sonos model or the eye-catching luxury of a bar like the Marshall Heston 120.

I did quite like the curved W7 sub, though, which can stand upright or lay flat. It's not the smallest, but that’s to be expected for a model that reaches down to 25.9Hz and packs a maximum power output of 220W. The mighty M7 wireless speakers are pretty appealing too, and their customizable downward lighting really won me over. On top of that, the included remote feels as if it's built to a very high standard, and it's highly responsive.

What I was a little disappointed by, however, was the lack of HDMI passthrough. See, when you use a soundbar system like this, you already have to sacrifice your TV's eARC port for enhanced sound. And given that many modern TVs only have two HDMI 2.1 ports, this means you can be pretty limited there – if you’ve got a couple modern consoles, say, then that may prove to be inconvenient. That’s something where the Samsung HW-Q990F outdoes the Suite 7 Pro, given that the former supports 4K 120Hz passthrough.

It would be remiss of me not to mention price, too. The H7 soundbar is priced at $999 / £899, with the W7 sub costing $599 / £599, and the M7 speakers coming in at $399 / £399 a piece. That means you’ll be fronting almost $2,400 / £2,300 for the Suite 7 Pro.

Sure, this is an almighty system, rammed with 21 speaker units, a swathe of height channels, game-changing FlexConnect technology, and excellent all-round audio. And given that we’ve tested models like the Yamaha True X Surround 90A, which comes in at $3,499 / £2,199 — a model with fewer channels and no FlexConnect — I don’t think the price is totally unwarranted.

But when you can grab a sensational system like the aforementioned Samsung Q990F for almost $1,000 / £1,000 cheaper, the Suite 7 Pro’s price could prove to be a difficult pill for some to swallow.

With that said, the LG Sound Suite Immersive Suite 7 Pro is certainly something special. It uses Dolby Atmos FlexConnect tech to great effect, its audio performance is very admirable indeed, and the speaker configuration opens up exceptionally immersive movie watching.

Yes, the lack of HDMI passthrough is a shame, and it comes at a very premium price, but if you’re looking for a system that’s designed to suit your specific needs, then this is about as good as it gets.

(Image credit: Future)LG Sound Suite Immersive Suite 7 Pro review: price and release date

• Sound Suite H7 soundbar priced at $999 / £899 (about AU$1,400)
• Sound Suite W7 sub costs $599 / £599 (about AU$840)
• Sound Suite M7 speakers are $399 / £399 (about AU$560) each
• Whole system will set you back approximately $2,400 / £2,300 (about AU$3,400)

The LG Sound Suite Immersive Suite 7 Pro is pretty pricey, coming in at about $2,400 / £2,300 (around AU$3,400) in total. The individual components of this system got a price drop ahead of release, making it pretty competitive over the likes of Sonos, which also offers different parts of its system individually.

You can connect up to four of the M7 or the cheaper LG M5 speakers up to the Suite H7 soundbar, or connect speakers directly to your TV if you have a compatible model, like the LG G5 or LG C5.

LG Sound Suite Immersive Suite 7 Pro review: specs

Dimensions

Soundbar: 47.2 x 2.5 x 5.6 inches / 1200 x 63 x 143mm; Sub: 16.1 x 16.3 x 7.6 inches / 410 x 415 x 194mm; Surround speakers: 7 x 9.4 x 7 inches / 177 x 238 x 177mm

Speaker channels

9.1.6 (H7 soundbar), 2.1.1 (M7 speakers)

Connections

1x HDMI eARC, USB, Bluetooth 5.4, Wi-Fi

Dolby Atmos / DTS:X

Yes / No

Sub included

Yes

Rear speakers included

Yes

(Image credit: Future)Should I buy the LG Sound Suite Immersive Suite 7 Pro?

Attributes

Notes

Rating

Features

Dolby Atmos FlexConnect is excellent, hi-res streaming, but no HDMI passthrough or DTS.

4 / 5

Performance

Amazing Atmos, unrivalled flexibility, powerful bass, clear dialogue.

5 / 5

Design

Soundbar not the prettiest, but convenient and sleek sub and M7 speakers are excellent.

4.5 / 5

Setup & usability

Had to recalibrate a couple of times for best accuracy, but wireless setup is easy and straightforward.

4.5 / 5

Value

A pretty pricey overall package compared to some rivals, but FlexConnect makes it a standout, and overall quality is very high.

4 / 5

Buy it if…

You want a system with Dolby Atmos FlexConnect
Is your room not best suited for a traditional sound system setup? No problem. Dolby Atmos FlexConnect means that you can place the Sound Suite’s various speakers in whatever position suits your space best, but you still get well optimized audio for mesmerizing viewing experiences.

You want top-tier performance
Not only does FlexConnect work like a dream, but Dolby Atmos is awesome on this system in general. The Sound Suite 7 Pro whips up a wide spatial impression with stellar height effects and mapping. More generally, audio quality is exceptional, with rumbling bass, clear dialogue, and expressive treble.

Don't buy it if…

You need HDMI passthrough
If you need a soundbar with HDMI passthrough, then the H7 – which sits at the core of this system – might not work for you. If you have multiple devices that use HDMI 2.1 but your TV only has a couple of these ports, then you’re going to be left feeling a little underserved.

You want a system that supports DTS audio
The Suite 7 Pro does not support DTS audio formats, which really is a shame. That means you don’t get access to DTS:X spatial audio, among other variants — something that the two rival models supply below.

LG Sound Suite Immersive Suite 7 Pro review: also consider

LG Sound Suite Immersive Suite 7 Pro

Samsung HW-Q990F

JBL Bar 1300MK2

Price

$2,400 / £2,300 (about AU$3,400)

$1,999 / £1,699 / AU$2,099

$1,699 / £1,299 / AU$2,299

Dimensions

Soundbar: 47.2 x 2.5 x 5.6 inches / 1200 x 63 x 143mm; Sub: 16.1 x 16.3 x 7.6 inches / 410 x 415 x 194mm; Surround speakers: 7 x 9.4 x 7 inches / 177 x 238 x 177mm

Soundbar: 48.5 x 2.8 x 5.4 inches / 1232 x 70.8 x 138 mm; subwoofer: 9.8 x 10.0 x 9.8 inches / 249 x 251.8 x 249 mm; surround speakers: 5.1 x 8.0 x 5.5 inches / 129.5 x 201.3 x 140.4mm

Soundbar: 40.6 x 2.3 x 5.4 inches / 1030 x 58 x 136mm; subwoofer: 12.4 x 10.9 x 10.8 inches / 315 x 277 x 275mm; surround speakers: 8 x 2.3 x 5.4 inches / 202 x 58 x 136mm

Speaker channels

9.1.6 (H7 soundbar), 2.1.1 (M7 speakers)

11.1.4

11.1.4

Connections

1x HDMI eARC, USB, Bluetooth 5.4, Wi-Fi

1x HDMI eARC, 2x HDMI 2.1 in, digital optical, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.3

1x HDMI eARC, 3x HDMI in, digital optical, USB (playback US-only), Ethernet, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.3 (surround speakers use 5.4)

Dolby Atmos / DTS:X

Yes / No

Yes / Yes

Yes / Yes

Sub included

Yes

Yes

Yes

Rear speakers included

Yes

Yes

Yes

Samsung HW-Q990F
It’s hard to think of a better value surround sound system than the Samsung HW-Q990F. It comes with impeccable performance, a boat-load of features, HDMI passthrough at 4K 120Hz, and a regularly discounted price tag. There’s no FlexConnect here, of course, but it’s still an excellent option. Read our full Samsung HW-Q990F review.

JBL Bar 1300MK2
The JBL Bar 1300MK2 is an almighty soundbar system with 29 drivers and a maximum power output of almost 2,500W. Its battery-powered rear speakers are versatile and compact, it supports Dolby Atmos as well as DTS formats, and it's priced pretty generously to boot. Again, no FlexConnect here, but it’s an excellent pick. Read our full JBL Bar 1300MK2 review.

How I tested the LG Sound Suite Immersive Suite 7 Pro

(Image credit: Future)

• Tested across the course of a week
• Used at our TV testing space at Future Labs
• Played 4K Blu-Ray, streamed movies and streamed music over Wi-Fi

I spent a week testing the LG Sound Suite Immersive Suite 7 Pro, using it alongside the LG G5 OLED TV via HDMI eARC. I tested the system using various configurations, and tried the system with the wireless speakers across many parts of our TV testing space at Future Labs.

During my testing time, I viewed and listened to a wide variety of content. I began by throwing on some movies via Netflix Premium, as well as higher-quality 4K UHD Blu-rays, which I played using the Panasonic DP-UB820. I also connected my phone up to the Suite 7 Pro and listened to some tracks via Tidal Connect, using both Dolby Atmos and stereo formats.

Of course, I made sure to exhaust the Suite 7 Pro’s various features as well. I listened using all of the different sound modes, messed around with Dolby Atmos FlexConnect, and tried out the Sound Follow feature.

More generally, I've tested a load of soundbars here at TechRadar, and have tried out everything from ultra-cheap models like the Sony HT-SF150 through to luxurious alternatives like the JBL Bar 1300MK2. My experience testing rival models means that I know exactly what it takes for a soundbar system to stand out, in what is a highly competitive market.

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

Norton has long been a household name for antivirus software, yet despite launching its first VPN, Norton WiFi Privacy, in 2017, it's never achieved the same pedigree status in the space. Its original iteration, Norton Secure VPN, offered little to shout about, though a recent revamp seems to have set the service on a much more promising path.

Although not yet rivaling the likes of NordVPN, Norton VPN offers surprisingly quick speeds, a super-friendly interface, and a great array of features you’d expect from a top VPN service. While some gaps in the service remain, it’s clear the Norton VPN team is striving to bring the same security pedigree seen on its antivirus software to its VPN, and pretty quickly, too.

We’ve put this new and improved service to the test. Both in day-to-day scenarios and more rigorous, proprietary tests, we’ve uncovered where the service has made great strides, and where it should look next to ensure it reaches the heights it's aiming for, all to help you decide whether Norton VPN is the choice for you.

Features

Norton VPN’s recent revamp has seen a host of expectable but mightily important features arrive across several platforms. Plus, it continues to improve its fundamentals – even if some areas still have some work to do.

As far as VPN protocols go, Norton offers OpenVPN, WireGuard, IPSec, and Mimic, its proprietary protocol designed for obfuscation.

iOS and Mac users had previously been limited to only IPSec and Mimic, which was disappointing given OpenVPN and WireGuard’s improved capabilities. Luckily, Norton has now announced that WireGuard is available across all Apple platforms. This is a huge win for iOS users, since although IPSec can be fast, WireGuard offers a faster, less device-intensive experience.

Commenting on the addition, Paul De Lange, Lead VPN Engineer, said:

"WireGuard was a highly requested addition, and we’re excited to deliver it on Apple platforms. This upgrade brings faster performance and modern security, while continuing to support key Norton VPN features like Pause VPN and Advanced servers, ensuring customers never have to choose between speed and protection.”

Users on iOS and macOS had previously been limited to only IPSec and Mimic protocols — making WireGuard a more than welcome addition (Image credit: Future)

As for extra features built into Norton VPN, there aren’t any particularly unique choices, though each is beneficial and often seen among top VPNs. Wi-Fi detection allows you to auto-connect to the VPN when connecting to public Wi-Fi. On macOS, it also auto-connects on “compromised networks”. It’s unclear how Norton decides if a network is compromised, but all wireless networks are considered public by default.

Norton also offers ad and tracker blocking. Tracking is blocked at a DNS level to reduce the risk of your data being used for targeted ads while you browse online, and can be turned on by simply toggling the option. Although the tracker appeared to work, its ‘Trackers Blocked’ counter seems to run on a delay, rather than in real time, so while we know 50 trackers were blocked across a period of our testing time, we don’t have any indication of when each was blocked.

Ad blocking is undertaken by a browser extension. Although this means another download and sign-in process, we did find the ad blocker to be effective – even if not quite as effective as dedicated ad-blocker services. Scoring 77% in our tests, it is definitely worth turning on should you use Norton VPN, though don’t expect a flawless display. NordVPN and Surfshark only achieved 84% in our latest tests, and ExpressVPN only achieved 90%, so there isn’t far for Norton VPN to go before leading VPNs in this field.

A key area of improvement has been in Norton VPN’s security-focused features. Firstly, Norton VPN offers a simple-to-use kill switch, ensuring your internet traffic stops immediately when you lose connection to the VPN, preventing you from broadcasting unencrypted traffic over public Wi-Fi networks. If you’d prefer, you can choose whether you’d like to keep your access to local devices over a LAN even when the kill switch is active. The kill switch isn’t enabled by default and requires you to dig through a few menus to set it up, but if you’re on macOS, Norton gives you an easy set of guidelines to follow so you can quickly set it up.

The new Norton VPN app houses all of its improved features in an easy-to-use design resemblant of other Norton products (Image credit: Future)

Outside the kill switch, Norton VPN has added an array of features. In April 2025 alone, Norton VPN gained Double VPN, IP Rotation, Pause VPN capabilities, and the ad-blocking browser extension mentioned above.

Double VPN is available across 8 servers. While your connection options are fixed, for example, USA via Canada, they are bi-directional, and give you access to Australia, Canada, Germany, Japan, New Zealand, Taiwan, the United Kingdom, and the United States. While it’s not completely customizable, like Surfshark’s Nexus technology allows, its 8 locations put it only two behind NordVPN, which offers 10.

IP rotation also features, something not even NordVPN can say. Only Surfshark also offers IP rotation among the best VPNs. While Norton’s offering isn’t quite as expansive, it does offer servers in the US, Japan, Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom, and Germany to use. What’s more, Norton’s offering is much simpler to access and connects in almost no time at all, no matter the server you pick. In our testing, our IP seemed to change every few seconds, meaning it should be good enough to give you a new IP for every website you visit.

Pause VPN is the final feature worth mentioning. Overlooked by the likes of PIA and ExpressVPN, pause VPN gives you the choice to temporarily end your VPN connection for a set time, with the VPN reactivating once the time ends. This is a great tool should you briefly wish to search for something or use an app outside of the connection without risking forgetting to turn your VPN back on. Norton VPN’s implementation is extremely simple to use, and is easily accessed, though it’d be great to see a minimum pause time shorter than 15 minutes as, frankly, most times when we’ve needed it we’ve been finished in five minutes rather comfortably.

Features score: 7/10

Server Network

Norton VPN’s server network isn’t up there with the very best VPNs quite yet, but it’s seen massive expansion in recent months. Since our last review, Norton VPN has expanded from servers in 29 countries to servers in 65, with 104 total locations. For comparison, Norton VPN now has more locations than Mullvad, which offers 89, and only a few less than Windscribe, which offers 112.

What’s good is the spread Norton VPN offers. 25 locations in the US are great for streaming enthusiasts, plus 6 countries in South America and 5 countries in Africa is superb given the lack of coverage these areas traditionally recieve. Asian coverage is weaker, with only 12 countries, though the most popular locations are included among these.

Given Norton VPN’s rate of increase, it wouldn’t surprise me if its country spread increased further over the coming months. If so, it’d be good to see the service fill the various gaps left in Asia and, since it already has a strong presence in South America and Africa, bulk out its presence in Europe and the US to account for key sites and services located in currently omitted regions.

Server network score: 7/10

Norton VPN's global coverage is especially impressive in South America and Africa, though its Asian coverage could be better (Image credit: Future)Apps

Norton’s VPN app is available for Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS. It’s also available on Apple TV and Android-based smart TVs. For Android TVs, you need version 10 or later, whereas Apple tvOS requires version 17 or later.

Notably, there’s Linux support, so if you need to cover your Ubuntu or Linux Mint install, Norton won’t cut it quite yet - there’s not even support for a command-line VPN. Norton does not offer configuration files for OpenVPN or WireGuard either, so there’s no way to use Norton with an unsupported device.

Thankfully, Norton VPN has recently announced support for Fire TV devices (running FireOS 8 or later). This was previously another hole in Norton's app support. Speaking on the addition, Himmat Baines, Norton VPN Product Lead, said:

“Supporting Fire TV is about meeting our customers where they stream. With Norton VPN on Fire TV, we’re extending trusted privacy and security into the living room — without compromising performance or simplicity.”

It’s worth mentioning that Norton VPN’s apps have several instances of feature disparity. As highlighted already, iOS and macOS users already lack OpenVPN, but these platforms also lack split tunneling and some auto-connect functionality.

Otherwise, there’s nothing really to dislike about Norton VPN’s apps on any platform. They’re simple to look at, easy to navigate, and look so unapologetically Norton-like that anyone new to VPNs who’s familiar with its antivirus tools will quickly gain the sense of security often felt when using other Norton tools.

Apps score: 8/10

Ease of use

Norton VPN is a breeze to install, likely thanks to the years of experience Norton has with its other products in making complex systems simple to introduce.

Once you’re in, the experience is impressively simple, though at the expense of a couple of handy extra tools. The menus aren’t overcomplicated with features, settings, and data – though the option to set favorites or see the best servers at any time would be nice – the settings are all explained in simple enough terms for beginners, and there’s easy access to any extra tools you might have in your plan, or guides you may need to help set up your VPN connection how you’d like it.

In true Norton fashion, the experience you have is as close to identical as possible across any device you might have, too. This makes Norton VPN a superb choice should you be new to VPNs and looking for easy, quick access to the settings you need, without worrying that your usual server, connection type, or setting may be hiding somewhere new.

Even Norton VPN’s Advanced Servers, meaning its P2P-optimized, double VPN, and IP rotation optimized servers, are easily accessed. With dropdown menus giving you the information you need to understand where you’re connecting to, and any additional routing your connection might take.

Ease of use score: 9/10

Speed and performance

Norton’s speeds are its biggest area of improvement since our last round of testing. Starting with the headlines, we recorded an average speed of 909Mbps download using WireGuard from our testing server in the UK, rivalling the likes of NordVPN, ExpressVPN, and Proton VPN as a result.

Our connection to the US wasn’t quite as impressive, as we only recorded speeds of 463Mbps, which is around the middle of the pack. It’s still more than enough to watch multiple 4K streams simultaneously, but it’s a sizeable dropoff compared to our initial UK tests.

How we perform speed tests

(Image credit: Shutterstock)

We test from two different virtual PCs, one in the UK and one in the US. We’re expecting big things out of NordVPN, as both of these servers have a 1 Gbs connection. You can find out more in our VPN testing methodology.

As for OpenVPN performance, Norton didn’t do as well. Our average speeds were around 260-275Mbps, whether connecting to the UK or US, which is also more than enough for most internet activities, but pales in comparison to the speeds we’ve seen elsewhere.

Our latency recordings were roughly what we’d expect for a top-tier VPN connecting to UK servers. In Norton’s case, 3.5ms. Most of the providers we’ve tested clock in around the 2-5ms mark, which is barely perceivable. One or two milliseconds' difference won’t make a difference to most internet apps or online gaming sessions.

As for the US connection, Norton tops our list in terms of low latency at 66.6ms, just barely beating out NordVPN to take the top spot. If you’re gaming or running a video call and want your connection to be as responsive as possible while connected to the US, Norton is the ideal solution.

Speed and performance score: 8/10

Unblocking

We’ve tested Norton VPN works with them with loads of your favorite streaming services, and it worked with them all! Netflix is cracking down on VPNs, but we were able to watch Netflix US, UK, Australia, Canada, and Japan all from our local testing centers. The same goes for Amazon Prime and Disney+; however, we weren’t able to access US YouTube.

As for regional providers, it’s a mixed bag but mostly positive results. We were able to access BBC iPlayer, ITV, Channel 4, 7Plus, and 9Now, but TVNZ+ intermittently failed, and we couldn’t access 10Play at all.

Norton VPN does have P2P capabilities, and our testing showed it works reasonably well. It’s worth mentioning that Norton doesn’t support port forwarding, which means that you won’t get incoming requests for sharing when torrenting, limiting your connectivity.

Norton only has two P2P servers, one in the Netherlands and one in Dallas. It’s a far cry away from the full P2P connectivity of a provider like PIA, but even Avast’s competing SecureLine VPN offers eight P2P servers.

On the plus side, Norton does allow you to connect automatically when you boot up a supported P2P app, but you’ll have to enable this option from the settings menu first.

Unblocking score: 8/10

Privacy and security

Norton is clearly taking the necessary steps to ensure its VPN is secure and private. Its no-logs policy is extensive yet clear, outlining the data collected by the VPN app at any instance, your browsing data is never stored on their servers, including DNS requests, which are instead served by a private DNS server run by Norton, preventing ISP spying, and it’s had its no-logs policy audited to ensure trust.

In August 2024, VerSprite audited Norton’s policy, noting two issues that could result in sensitive user information being disclosed. Norton took the necessary steps to address these issues, and once remedied, VerSprite agreed that the no logs policy was both accurate and implemented correctly.

However, Norton does collect some anonymized information from the VPN client. This includes connection timestamps, platform details such as OS and timezone, and crash logs. They also aggregate overall data transmission for network planning. So, if you’re extremely concerned about your privacy, Norton might collect slightly too much information for comfort. As it stands, Norton’s acceptable for day-to-day browsing, but you might consider Proton VPN instead if you need rock-solid privacy guarantees.

Norton is clearly taking the necessary steps to ensuring its VPN is secure and private."

Rob Dunne - VPN Editor, TechRadar

Something that may ease some privacy concerns would be if Norton VPN implemented RAM-only servers. These servers wipe when rebooted, meaning you cannot store any data on them, thus eradicating the risk of any user data being available should a data request be submitted by authorities. Not having RAM-only servers isn’t an issue as such, though it adds a layer of trust for users, and is becoming increasingly common among top VPNs.

Given its privacy focus, we wanted to know more about Norton VPN’s proprietary Mimic protocol. In addition to offering obfuscation, Mimic is powered by TLS 1.3 ciphers (AES-256 and ChaCha20), as well as CRYSTAL-Kyber-512 for post-quantum cryptography. It’s good to hear that Norton is already thinking ahead when it comes to quantum security, which puts them significantly in front of most of the VPN industry.

Meanwhile, Norton's standard VPN protocols, OpenVPN and WireGuard, use AES-256-GCM and ChaCha20-Poly1305 encryption, respectively. These are considered the top encryption methods used by all of the best VPNs, a strong demonstration, therefore, of Norton’s intent to found its service on strong privacy staples.

Privacy and security score: 8/10

Track record

Gen Digital, Norton’s parent company, is headquartered in the USA and the Czech Republic. It’s the result of a merger between Avast and Norton in 2022, and now owns other big-name brands, including Avira, AVG, and CCleaner.

Despite the merger, Norton continues to be run as a separate company with their own range of products. Norton has decades of experience in providing digital security products, but until now, the VPN offering has lagged behind the industry standard.

The merger with Avast seems to have been a kickstarter to the impressive changes we’ve seen in the product in recent months. Norton claims the merger has prompted progress that “combines our ‘best of breed’ technologies to provide safer, faster, and more reliable performance for the customer,” with Norton VPN being the first product to benefit from this work.

The current iteration of Norton VPN is a substantial upgrade from versions we’ve seen in the past."

Rob Dunne - VPN Editor, TechRadar

In the past, Norton VPN had suffered from DNS leaks and a nearly non-existent feature set, both of which have been fixed since. The current iteration of Norton VPN is a substantial upgrade from versions we’ve seen in the past, but it still has some way to go.

It should be noted that the service has now also undergone a no-logs audit, and users can read the in-depth executive summary report at their leisure. Plus, if you’re concerned about the kinds of requests no-logs policies help protect against, Norton now publishes transparency reports. These reports, updated twice per year, outline all the requests Norton receives from authorities for user data, and explain why Norton is unable to comply with them since its no-logs policy means there’s nothing to provide.

Track record score: 9/10

Customer Support

Norton’s customer support staff are very helpful. There’s a community forum where you can post issues you’re having with Norton VPN, where other members and support staff can pitch in with their own advice. From the interactions we’ve had, they’re very knowledgeable and quite prompt in returning with information.

However, the support materials on the site are a different matter. When you search for help topics on Norton’s website, you’re immediately given an AI prompt for your search, which looks like it’s powered by Gemini. It’s not totally useful when you’re trying to find specific help on a topic, and you have to scroll past it to get to the actual results.

As for the knowledge base, it’s not particularly in-depth - most of the articles consist of bullet point lists and some are thinly-disguised marketing material. If you want help with Norton, we’d stick to contacting their customer support directly through the forum or over the phone. There’s also a 24/7 helpdesk upgrade if you need around-the-clock customer service.

Customer support score: 7/10

Pricing and plans

Norton offers three tiers of pricing. The standard VPN package starts at $39.99 for the first year, which works out at roughly $3.33 per month. After the introductory offer is over, it renews at $79.99 per year. That makes Norton one of the cheapest VPNs we’ve see.

However, there’s one major limitation: you’re only allowed five device connections (or worse, only one if you’re in some regions, including the UK), significantly under the 8-10 you’ll find from most other providers. Surfshark and PIA both go even further, offering unlimited device connections on their cheapest subscription plans. It should also be clarified that Norton’s device limit isn’t a traditional simultaneous connections limit. Instead, Norton’s five-device limit refers to the number of devices with the VPN installed. Should you wish to install on a sixth device, you’d instead be asked to remove one of the previous five devices, rather than merely disconnecting from the VPN.

Upgrading your subscription costs an extra $10 per year, making your subscription cost $4.17 per month initially and $109.99 every year after that. There’s no meaningful change to the VPN, but you get extra features from Norton’s security suite, including virus protection, password management, dark-web scanning, 10GB encrypted cloud storage, and AI-powered scam detection.

The Ultimate subscription package will set you back an extra $20 per year, making it $5 per month initially and $129.99 per year after the first. In addition to extra family-safety features for monitoring your child’s devices, the device count is bumped up to 10, so you can take full advantage of Norton’s security features on most of your household’s devices, and you get 50GB of secure storage (or 150GB should you activate auto-renewal).

To its credit, Norton offers an above-average 60-day money-back guarantee and a true 7-day free trial when you sign up. We love 7-day free trials as an entry point into VPNs, as they offer a ‘try before you buy’ solution, without some of the hassles caused by a 30-day money-back guarantee. Seeing Norton VPN be one of the first to offer this, then, puts it in good standing to be among the best VPNs for beginners in the future.

Switching from its current install-based device limit also seems like an easy win that Norton VPN could take advantage of. While increasing the device limit with more premium plans does help this slightly, removing the confusion of registering and removing devices is an easy way to make the service more accessible to newer users and takes away the sting of the small device limit on the standard plan.

Pricing and plans score: 7/10

Should you use Norton VPN?

Norton VPN is a rapidly improving VPN. In the space of a few months, it’s brought in a spread of features you’d expect to see in a top VPN, alongside some features some top VPNs don’t think to include. Its performance has risen to a point where it can rival top VPNs like Surfshark and NordVPN, it has apps simple enough for anyone to use, and it brings Norton-pedigree security to make anyone trust its privacy guarantees.

That said, there are several areas it still needs to address. Primarily, sorting the device install limit will add to its already high-value package by reducing connection roadblocks for users. Outside of this, expanding the feature pool, adding Linux support, and eradicating the feature disparities for macOS and iOS users will quickly put Norton VPN among the best value VPNs available if done right.

For many, now might not be the right time to pick up Norton VPN due to any one of the limitations mentioned. That said, it’d be wise to keep an eye on Norton VPN over the coming year or so, as, from what we’ve seen already in 2025, it looks as though the provider could quickly become a high-value, high-security VPN from a name renowned for its security capabilities.

Total score: 78/100

Norton VPN alternatives

1. NordVPN – The best VPN overall
NordVPN combines security, speed, and usability in a single VPN package that can’t be beat on value. In addition to lightning-fast servers, NordVPN offers some unique features like Threat Protection Pro, which integrates anti-virus, anti-phishing, and ad-blocking capabilities into a single product. Try it today with a 30-day money-back guarantee.View Deal

2. Surfshark – get the 7-day free trial
When you buy a Surfshark subscription, you get unlimited simultaneous device connections, 100+ countries to connect to, and advanced IP rotation features powered by their own Nexus software-defined network. It's perfect if you need to cover a household full of devices. Try Surfshark risk free with a 30-day money-back guarantee or a 7-day free trial.View Deal

3. ExpressVPN – The best secure VPN
ExpressVPN consistently ranks as our most secure VPN thanks to its forward-thinking security features, like quantum-resistant encryption. It's all thanks to their proprietary Lightway VPN protocol, designed from the ground up for mobile-first support. The ExpressVPN app is perfect for beginners with a simple interface across all platforms, plus 24/7 support on hand to walk you through setting it up. Express also comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.View Deal

GMKtec NucBox K16: 30-second review

GMKtec has been on something of a roll lately, churning out mini PCs with genuine gusto. Where some of its stablemates have leaned on older or obscure silicon, the NucBox K16 takes a different approach, reaching for the AMD Ryzen 7 7735HS. This chip has been quietly powering a decent slice of the mini PC market since 2023, and it also made an appearance in some laptops.

The 7735HS is essentially a Rembrandt Refresh, which is a Zen 3+ architecture part built on TSMC's 6nm node. It is not, let us be clear, a cutting-edge processor. AMD has since moved on to Zen 4 and is now very pleased with itself about Zen 5. Yet the 7735HS remains a competent and well-understood chip, and crucially, one that GMKtec has used before in the K2 model.

Here it's connected to 32GB of DDR5 memory, not its fastest possible option, but enough to feed its Radeon 680M GPU, and dual 2.5GbE LAN ports.

The chassis is a step up from the plasticky boxes that characterised this segment not long ago. A CNC-machined aluminium C-frame with a sandblasted anodised finish gives the K16 a premium, almost Zen-like quality on the desk.

As NUCs go, this one is extremely compact, being 107 x 111 x 56 mm and yet packs an astonishing amount of connectivity into its footprint.

The headline connectivity act is the combination of OcuLink and USB4, both of which can be used to attach external graphics. OcuLink, running at 64 Gbps over PCIe 4.0 x4, is the faster of the two and the better choice for an eGPU enclosure. USB4 at 40 Gbps provides a more broadly compatible, if slightly slower, alternative. The dual 2.5 GbE LAN ports and Wi-Fi 6E round out a networking suite that would embarrass many a budget desktop.

The main caveat, and it is a rather substantial one, is the price. At launch, the K16 starts at $679.99 (£541) for the 32 GB + 512 GB configuration, with the 1 TB variant pushing to $729.99. For a machine built on a Zen 3+ platform, that is an assertive number, particularly when newer Ryzen 8000-series mini PCs are circling at similar or occasionally lower prices. Those later designs, like the 8040, have an integrated NPU, which this chip can’t match.

Due to the age of the hardware and the choice to use regular DDR5 rather than LPDDR5X, this design is not among the best mini PC systems we've tested, but it's perfectly serviceable for less demanding roles.

GMKtec NucBox K16: Price and availability

• How much does it cost? From $680/£540/€620
• When is it out? Available now
• Where can you get it? Direct from GMKtec and via online retailers

The K16 is available direct from the GMKtec website, alongside online retailers like Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk.

There are two configurations available, both with 32 GB of soldered DDR5 RAM. The base model ships with a 512 GB SSD at $679.99, whilst the 1 TB variant commands $729.99. Both launched at a discount from their listed MSRPs of $899.99 and $949.99.

Normally, MSRPs should be ignored, but for those buying via Amazon.com, that’s about the price you are expected to pay, worryingly. UK Amazon.co.uk prices are equally outrageous, starting at £809.96.

Because of this discrepancy, I’d recommend buying directly from GMKtec, and there is another reason for doing this. GMKtec is bundling a 8-in-1 USB Hub Dockign station with every purchase, which is a thoughtful touch..

The increased cost of DDR5 memory is impacting all pre-built systems, altering the competitive landscape. This is impacting new products coming to market, like the K16, that must contend with cheaper units built before the recent price hikes for components.

The Bosgame M4 (see my review here) in a comparable 32 GB + 1 TB configuration was available for around $579.99 at launch. Rival mini PCs based on the Ryzen 7 8845HS, a Zen 4 part with meaningfully superior iGPU performance, hover in a similar or only modestly higher bracket. GMKtec's counter-argument is the premium chassis quality and the OcuLink port, which not every competitor offers at this price point.

However, on Amazon.com, I found the Minisforum UM880, which uses the Ryzen 7 8845HS, 32GB of RAM, and 1TB of storage for just $749, and it also has OCuLink.

As in my previous review of the K13, there are questions here about the cost of this equipment and how the rising cost of memory and storage is distorting the pre-built PC market.

• Value: 3 / 5

(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)GMKtec NucBox K16: Specs

Item

Spec

CPU

AMD Ryzen 7 7735HS (8C/16T, up to 4.75 GHz, Zen 3+)

GPU

AMD Radeon 680M (RDNA 2, 12 CUs, up to 2200 MHz)

NPU

None

RAM

32 GB LPDDR5 6400 MT/s (soldered, non-upgradeable)

Storage

512 GB or 1 TB M.2 2280 PCIe 3.0 (default)

M.2 Expansion

1x additional M.2 2280 PCIe 4.0 x4 (up to 8 TB per slot; 16 TB total)

Display Outputs

1x HDMI 2.0, 1x DisplayPort 1.4, 1x USB4 (DP 1.4) — triple display support

Front Ports

1x OcuLink, 1x USB4 Type-C, 2x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A, 3.5mm audio, power button

Rear Ports

2x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A, 1x HDMI, 1x DisplayPort, 2x 2.5 GbE RJ-45, DC power

Networking

Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2, 2x 2.5 GbE LAN

Performance Modes

Silent 35W / Balanced 45W / Performance 50W

OS

Windows 11 Pro (pre-installed); Linux supported

Dimensions

107 x 111 x 56 mm

Weight

Approx. 0.65 kg

Included Accessories

30W USB-C PD adaptor, VESA mount bracket, HDMI cable, power brick, manual

GMKtec NucBox K16: Design

• Premium aluminium chassis
• Dual-fan active cooling
• Easy access

The NucBox K16 marks a notable step forward in build quality from the broader GMKtec catalogue. The CNC-machined aluminium C-frame chassis, finished with a sandblasted anodised treatment, lends the machine a solidity that others lack.

At 4.21 x 4.37 x 2.20 in (107 x 111 x 56 mm), the K16 is compact without veering into the sort of extreme miniaturisation that sacrifices sensible port placement. The front panel is well considered: the OcuLink port and USB4 Type-C sit alongside two USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A ports and the 3.5mm audio jack, with the power button tucked neatly at one end. The logic of placing OcuLink at the front is debatable, but it is a cosmetically minor quibble.

The rear panel is rather busier, accommodating dual 2.5 GbE LAN ports, HDMI, DisplayPort, two more USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A ports and the DC power input. Hot air exits through the rear vents, which is a tidier thermal arrangement than some competitors that exhaust downwards or sideways across connected cables.

If you didn’t notice, there has been a trade-off here. This machine only has one USB4, with the bandwidth that might have provided another is used for the OCuLink presumably.

(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)

Cooling is handled by a dual-fan arrangement with copper heat pipes that’s a more serious thermal solution than the single-fan setups found in cheaper mini PCs. GMKtec has also included three selectable performance modes: Silent at 35W, Balanced at 45W, and Performance at 50W.

These can be toggled via the BIOS or a dedicated utility, which is the kind of user-facing flexibility that working professionals will appreciate when they need to dial back noise during a video call or unleash full performance for a render job.

As with most of GMKtec's recent output, the K16 ships with a VESA mounting bracket, allowing it to be affixed to the rear of a compatible monitor. There is also a Kensington lock slot for environments where the temptation to pocket a small, premium-looking PC might prove too strong for some colleagues.

Access to the inside is extremely easy. The four feet unscrew to release the silver shroud, and then four small screws are revealed that hold a fan bracket in place before you can get to the storage layer.

One of the two M.2 2280 slots is occupied by the provided SSD, leaving the other entirely free. Both slots are PCIe 4.0, enabling up to 7500 MB/s with appropriate drives.

What there isn’t any sign of is the memory, since this is soldered to the other side of the mainboard. That’s one of the disappointments of this design, but in most respects, it's nicely engineered and easy to upgrade.

• Design: 4 / 5

(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)GMKtec NucBox K16: Hardware

• AMD Ryzen 7 7735HS
• 32 GB DDR5 6400 MT/s
• Lacks an NPU

The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 6850U is a mobile processor featuring eight cores, launched in April 2022 as an offshoot of the Ryzen 6000 series. And, the closest silicon from the core series is the Ryzen 7 6800H, a Zen 3+ (Rembrandt) architecture chip made for Socket FP7.

The AMD Ryzen 7 7735HS requires a little context. It is a mobile processor built on AMD's Zen 3+ architecture, fabricated on TSMC's 6nm process node. It debuted in 2022 as part of the Rembrandt Refresh family, and is in most practical respects extremely close to the Ryzen 7 6800H that preceded it. Eight cores, sixteen threads, a base clock of 3.2 GHz and a boost up to 4.75 GHz, entirely respectable numbers for a mini PC that is not attempting to position itself at the extreme budget end of the market.

The integrated graphics are Radeon 680M, based on the RDNA 2 architecture with 12 Compute Units running up to 2200 MHz. AMD's Radeon 680M is well understood at this point: it is meaningfully ahead of the older Vega-based iGPUs, broadly comparable to a GeForce GTX 1050 Ti in rasterised tasks.

The issue, as I’ll talk about more in the performance section, is the memory chosen and its configuration. Reading the GMKtec promotional material, it talks about LPDDR5 at 6400 MT/s. But this NUC doesn’t have LPDDR5X, it's just a low-power version of DDR5, and that means less memory bandwidth. LPDDR5X offers up to 33% higher data rates (up to 8,533+ MT/s vs 6,400 MT/s), and roughly 24% better power efficiency, but the AMD Ryzen 7 7735HS doesn’t support it.

There is also an issue with the use of memory channels in this design that I’ll discuss in the performance section.

(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)

The storage situation is worth examining carefully. The K16 features two M.2 2280 slots, both of which support PCIe 4.0 x4. This is a meaningful specification advantage over mini PCs that top out at PCIe 3.0 on their secondary slot. Combined capacity is rated up to 16 TB with 8 TB per slot, a generous amount even for a creative professional workload.

The default shipped SSD is, however, a PCIe 3.0 drive. This is a slight disconnect: GMKtec has fitted PCIe 4.0-capable slots and then shipped a PCIe 3.0 drive installed, presumably to manage the retail price. Aftermarket upgrades to a PCIe 4.0 NVMe drive are straightforward given the accessible design.

The OcuLink port runs at 64 Gbps via PCIe 4.0 x4, which is the fastest external GPU interface available on a mini PC at this price point. Thunderbolt 4 eGPU connections are limited by the PCIe 3.0 x4 tunnel that Intel imposes; OcuLink sidesteps this entirely. Paired with GMKtec's own AD-GP1 eGPU dock, the K16 can act as a credible light gaming or GPU-compute machine when equipped with a suitable discrete card.

Memory is the one area that gives pause. The 32 GB of LPDDR5 is soldered directly to the motherboard, making it entirely non-upgradeable. For the majority of users, 32 GB will be more than adequate; for those running large language models locally or editing 8K video, it is a ceiling that cannot be raised.

• Hardware: 3.5 / 5

GMKtec NucBox K16: Performance

Mini PC

GMKtec NucBox K16

GMKtec NucBox M7 Ultra

CPU

AMD Ryzen 7 7735HS

AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 6850U

Cores/Threads

8C 16T

8C 16T

RAM

32GB LPDDR5 (2x16GB)

16GB DDR5 (2x8GB)

SSD

1TB TWSC TE3420F1TO NVMe

512GB AirDisk SSD

Graphics

Radeon 680M

Radeon 680M

3DMark

WildLife

10320

9846

FireStrike

4508

4149

TimeSpy

1813

1495

S.Nomad

1634

1420

Cine24

Single

84

90

Multi

595

401

Ratio

7.08

4.47

GeekBench 6

Single

1957

2096

Multi

7170

8582

OpenCL

24105

22656

Vulkan

22401

21484

CrystalDisk

Read MB/s

3549

3558

Write MB/s

2649

2520

PCMark 10

Office

6785

6973

WEI

Score

8.1

8

Logically, the system should be compared to the GMKtec K2, since it uses exactly the same AMD Ryzen 7 7735HS. And, I have reviewed that exact hardware.

Unfortunately, I don’t have that machine to hand, and the data I have from it pre-dates the use of the CineBench24 and GeekBench6. But I will come back to the K2, I promise.

What I did have was recent data from the GMKtec NucBox M7 Ultra, which uses the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 6850U. That’s a Zen3+ Ryzen 6000 series chip from 2022, whereas the K16 uses a 2023 Ryzen 7000 CPU that also uses the Zen3+ architecture.

As you can see from the numbers, the results are remarkably close, partly because these chips both have the same number of cores/threads, and the Radeon 680M GPU, and these limiting factors.

However, when I tested this system, something didn’t seem right. Because while I didn’t have much comparison data from the older K2, I did have 3DMark scores, and they told an entirely different story.

The Wildlife score on the K2 was 16647, whereas on the K16 it's only 9846. How?

What made this doubly odd was that, because the K16 uses LPDDR5, it should have slightly more bandwidth than the standard DDR5 used in the K2.

Digging back into my review files, I discovered that the K2 had a DDR5 memory arrangement where it used two SODIMMs of DDR5 4800 MHz, and these were 64-bit modules, used by the system as eight 32-bit channels.

So what has the K16 got? Well, it has two 16GB modules at 6400MHz, but disturbingly, these are just 32-bit LPDDR5.

The K2 with two 64-bit modules could effectively run as quad channel, where the K16 is only dual channel, thus the performance discrepancy between them.

If this arrangement had been quad channel, it would have represented roughly a 33% bandwidth increase over DDR5 4800MT/s, but because it’s only dual channel, that’s not the case.

Another interesting aspect of this system, which I discovered in the CPU-Z analysis, is that this CPU can be run with a 50W TDP, and the TDP limit is confirmed at 45W from the CPU-Z data, with PL1, PL2 and PPT all locked at 50W. Therefore, GMKtec has set this unit running at its maximum performance configuration by default.

Another takeaway from the benchmarking is that this machine has M.2 PCIe 4x4 slots, but GMKtec only used a Gen 3x4 drive, which lowered performance.

Despite these points, for general productivity such as office applications, web browsing, video conferencing, and code compilation, the K16 will feel snappy and capable. The 32 GB of RAM, even in its soldered form, is generous enough to support heavy multitasking without complaint.

Light gaming at 1080p on older titles or less-demanding current games is entirely achievable with the 680M; do not expect to push anything particularly modern at high settings without using that OcuLink port.

The three performance modes are a useful feature. Silent mode at 35W keeps the fans barely audible whilst still delivering perfectly adequate desktop performance. The full 50W mode delivers tangible improvements for sustained workloads, but at the cost of more noticeable fan noise. Balanced mode at 45W will be the sensible default for most users.

For those curious, all my benchmarks were done in Performance mode to show you what the best possible numbers look like.

While not poor, the results from the K16 reveal yet another mini PC that never reached its full potential due to some creative choices made by the makers.

• Performance: 3.5 / 5

GMKtec NucBox K16: Final verdict

(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)

The GMKtec NucBox K16 is a machine that rewards scrutiny, though not always in the ways its marketing materials might suggest.

On paper, the specification reads impressively: a capable Ryzen 7 7735HS, 32 GB of fast memory, dual PCIe 4.0 M.2 slots, OcuLink, USB4, and dual 2.5 GbE LAN in a premium CNC aluminium chassis. In practice, the way the memory is organised and the use of a PCIe 3.0 SSD don’t make the most of this Ryzen platform.

What the data also confirms is that GMKtec has set the K16's power limits aggressively, with PL1, PL2 and PPT all fixed at 50W. There are no conservative defaults to contend with here; instead, this machine ships running flat out, which will flatter benchmark results whilst also keeping the fans busier than a more gently tuned configuration might.

None of this makes the K16 a bad machine. The connectivity story remains excellent, OcuLink is still a class-leading feature at this price point, and the build quality is genuinely above average for the segment. But the memory specification warrants a footnote in any purchasing decision, particularly at a price point where honesty in the small print matters.

The biggest issue here is undoubtedly the price, and that might be something we’ll need to accept given the huge hole in memory and storage supplies AI has created. But with so many alternatives in the channel made before memory became stupidly expensive, new designs like the K16 might find the competitive market even more of a problem than it typically is.

Should I buy a GMKtec NucBox K16?

Value

Premium price for a Zen 3+ platform

3/5

Design

Excellent CNC aluminium chassis, well-placed ports

4/5

Hardware

OcuLink, USB4, dual 2.5 GbE, PCIe 4.0 M.2 slots

4/5

Performance

Not as quick as it should be on paper

3.5/5

Overalls

A premium mini PC let down by memory choices and its asking price

3.5/5

Buy it if...

You need OcuLink for eGPU expansion
If a discrete GPU is in your future for gaming, video transcoding, or GPU compute workloads, then the K16's OcuLink port provides the fastest external GPU interconnect available at this price point, well ahead of what USB4 or Thunderbolt 4 can typically deliver.View Deal

Dual 2.5 GbE LAN is a priority
For network-attached storage, virtualisation, or environments requiring high-bandwidth networking, the dual 2.5 GbE ports make the K16 a genuinely useful headless server or home lab node in addition to a desktop machine.View Deal

Don't buy it if...

Upgradeable RAM matters to you
The soldered LPDDR5 means you are permanently fixed at 32 GB. For most users, this is fine today, but if you expect your requirements to grow, a machine with socketed SODIMM slots provides more flexibility for the long term.View Deal

You want the latest silicon
Zen 3+ is a solid architecture, but AMD's Zen 4 and Zen 5 derivatives offer meaningfully improved CPU and GPU performance, NPU capabilities, and more modern feature support. At the K16's asking price, alternatives built on newer platforms deserve careful consideration. View Deal

Also consider

GMKtec NucBox K8 Plus 
Built on the Ryzen 7 8845HS with Zen 4 architecture and a Radeon 780M GPU, the K8 Plus offers a more modern platform at a comparable price point. It sacrifices OcuLink but gains a more powerful integrated GPU and NPU support.

Check out my GMKtec NucBox K8 Plus review View Deal

GMKtec NucBox K6
The older K6 uses the Ryzen 7 7840HS in a similar form factor to the K16 and is typically available at meaningfully lower prices. A sensible alternative if the K16's premium pricing seems hard to justify for your specific use case.

Check out my GMKtec NucBox K6 review View Deal

Cambridge L/R S: Two-minute review

The Cambridge L/R S is the first out of the gate of the British audio brand's new ‘L/R’ wireless range to attack the best stereo speaker systems market. It's also the most affordable: this L/R S sells for Ruark MR1 Mk3-adjacent money, which seems less than accidental.

The money buys a crisply accomplished standard of build and finish, as well as some proper specification highlights — not least of which is that this is an active, rather than a powered, speaker system with a dedicated block of amplification for each of its drivers and an active DSP crossover. A choice of five quite fetching colors doesn’t do any harm, and neither does the option of a real walnut veneer alternative — even if the latter comes at additional cost. Support for aptX HD Bluetooth connectivity, along with line-level analog, USB-C and digital optical inputs, means the L/R S can support a reasonably diverse and expansive set of sources. The provision of a pre-out for a subwoofer is a nice touch, too, although (as we shall directly see) not super-necessary.

No matter the source of the music it’s playing, the L/R S is a big, bold and quite assertive listen; but that’s not the same as saying it’s unsubtle. There’s plenty of detail retrieved to go along with the attack, good insight to complement the dynamism, and a fairly natural and neutral way with frequency response and tonality. Or, at least, there is until you reach the bottom of the frequency range — here the L/R S is rather too confident, and gives a little too much weighting to bass information. This isn’t at the expense of rhythmic expression or forward drive, though.

All of which means the Cambridge L/R S is immediately one of the very best pound-for-pound desktop stereo systems around, and one that demands very careful consideration indeed.

(Image credit: Future / Simon Lucas)Cambridge L/R S review: Price & release date

• $549 / £399 / AU$949
• Released April 1, 2026 (in US/Europe)
• Originally announced in January 2026

The Cambridge L/R S wireless active stereo speaker system is on sale from April 1, 2026 in Europe and the USA — in APAC (Asia-Pacific) countries it’s already available.

In the United States it will cost $549. Or, at least, it will in any of the five colors in which it will be available — if you fancy the real walnut veneer you're looking at $599. In the United Kingdom it's going to go for £399/£449, while in Australia it is already selling for AU$949/AU$1049.

So the price, as well as the basic configuration, is very close indeed to Ruark’s class-leading MR1 Mk3. Coincidence? Hmm…

(Image credit: Future / Simon Lucas)Cambridge L/R S review: Features

• 100 watts of Class D amplification
• 21mm tweeter, 76mm mid/bass driver
• Wired and wireless input options

First things first: this is a genuinely active, rather than a powered, stereo speaker system. Any rival product at this sort of money uses one powered speaker to deal with inputs, outputs, amplification, decoding and all the rest of it, and then sends amplified analog information to a passive partner.

With the L/R S, though, Cambridge has gone another, more complex and inevitably more expensive way: although only the primary speaker receives mains power, there are two channels of amplification for each speaker, and a full DSP crossover which serves a PWM (pulse-width modulation) signal to each of the amplifiers. A bespoke four-conductor cable connects the primary speaker to the secondary, along which all power and digital audio signals travel. I don’t think I can be criticized if I use the word ‘over-engineered’ here, so I will – but I am also quite happy to use the word ‘admirable’.

The rear of the secondary speaker features a screw-down socket for connecting that inter-speaker cable, and a bass-reflex slot along the top. The primary speaker has these features too, but it also includes USB-C, line-level stereo RCA and digital optical inputs, plus a pre-out for a subwoofer, and Bluetooth wireless reception (with aptX HD codec compatibility). The optical and USB-C inputs support resolutions of up to 24bit/96kHz PCM – every incoming signal is resampled to 24bit/48kHz in the DSP before its delivery in PWM form to the amplifiers.

Power, incidentally, is of the Class D variety, and there’s 100 watts of it. Each driver gets 25 watts to play with — there’s a 21mm hard-dome tweeter behind a waveguide and phase cap above a 76mm mid/bass driver in each speaker. Cambridge suggests this layout results in a frequency response of 55Hz - 24kHz. The rear of the primary speaker also includes a button that operates as both a power on/off switch and as an input selector. It also features three toggle switches: one to let the speaker know if it’s the left or the right channel, one to tell it if the system is being used on a desktop or not, and one to let it know if it’s in free space or near a wall. And there’s a figure-of-eight socket for mains power, too.

• Features score: 5 / 5

(Image credit: Future / Simon Lucas)Cambridge L/R S review: Sound quality

• Expansive, detailed and upfront sound
• Direct and positive sonic attitude
• Slightly overplays its low-end hand

Yes, the L/R S is on the larger side for a desktop system but the sound it delivers is appreciably larger than that. Connected via USB-C and with a 24bit/44.1kHz FLAC file of Cate Le Bon’s Are You With Me Now? incoming, the scale and spaciousness of the presentation is initially quite startling.

The overall sense of scale is complemented nicely by the Cambridge’s ability to generate an organized, convincing soundstage and to focus well. There’s a fair amount of separation to the overall presentation, but at the same time a decent sense of singularity that prevents even complex recordings from sounding disjointed or untogether. Add in sufficient dynamic headroom for when the going gets especially loud or intense, and the Cambridge system sounds both bigger and more confident than its physical dimensions might suggest.

The tonal balance is fairly neutral despite a suggestion of heat at the bottom end, and frequency response once you get above the lowest of the low frequencies is smooth and even – the crossover between the two drive units is all-but imperceptible. The top of the frequency range balances attack against substance nicely, while the midrange communicates in a manner easily described as ‘lavish’. The system’s ability to reveal detail of any significance and give it appropriate weighting means voices are delivered with plenty of character and attitude.

There’s a little issue at the bottom of the frequency range. Basically, the Cambridge is slightly too pleased with the amount of low-frequency presence it’s able to liberate from recordings and just fractionally overplays its hand. There’s a little too much emphasis on the bottom end in the context of the overall frequency response available here, a minor bloom at the very bottom of the extension that can make bass sound just a touch too prominent and therefore slightly too remote from everything that’s going on above it.

Despite this, the L/R S controls its low-end activity carefully enough to ensure rhythms are expressed convincingly and momentum levels never dip below where they should be. And besides, I know perfectly well that if it comes to a straight choice, there are plenty of listeners who would choose ‘a little too much bass’ over ‘not quite enough bass’ every time.

All of the above applies if you choose to listen at volume levels somewhere between ‘background’ and ‘really quite loud’. Go beyond that and the L/R S loses a little of its admirable composure and its previously nicely open stage starts to sound a little flat and two-dimensional. It’s hardly a fatal flaw, though, and besides… it’s easily fixed. Just turn it down a touch.

• Sound quality score: 5 / 5

(Image credit: Future / Simon Lucas)Cambridge L/R S review: Design

• 226 x 134 x 180mm (HxWxD)
• Choice of six finishes, including a (cost-option) real wood veneer
• No grilles supplied

It is, admittedly, a little larger than the Ruark MR1 Mk3 that would appear its primary target, but the Cambridge L/R S is nonetheless compact enough at 226 x 134 x 180mm (HxWxD) to sit happily on even a modestly sized desk (as long as it’s reasonably tidy). At the same time, it’s just about big enough to not look too lost on a pair of regular speaker stands.

No matter where you want to position it, though, there are lightly rubberized little feet integrated into the bottom of the recessed plinth on which the main body of the speaker sits (which is why, from some angles, it seems to float), and there will be the option of a pair of angled ‘tilt’ stands to help aim the tweeters more overtly at your ears if the system is on your desk. These stands, of course, are a cost option.

There’s not even the option of any grilles, though. Having said that, there’s a hint of visual interest thanks to the identically sized black circles on the front baffle inside which the drivers are positioned which wouldn’t be available if grilles were fitted. Nor is there much to be gained in aesthetic terms by hiding away the orange tweeter or its waveguide, either.

The standard of construction is beyond reproach. The cabinet edges and corners are crisp rather than pointy, the recently updated brand logo at the rear of the top surface looks confident, and the sort-of kind-of matte finish feels as good as it looks in any of the five colors that are available. Take your pick from the white of my review sample, black, a bright orange, a fairly dark green or an unarguably dark blue — or if you don’t object to some extra expenditure, you can choose a real walnut veneer that tackles the L/R S even further into Ruark MR1 Mk3 territory.

• Design score: 4.5 / 5

(Image credit: Future / Simon Lucas)Cambridge L/R S review: Usability & setup

• Bluetooth LE remote control
• Selection of EQ presets
• ‘DynamEQ’ technology included

First of all, of course, the primary speaker must be plugged into the mains. Then use the supplied 2m length of cable to join the two speakers together (Cambridge is readying a 5m alternative, for which it will naturally want some more money). After that, it’s just a question of establishing the physical or wireless connections you need to make.

There is no control app here, of course — this is not a networked system, after all. Nor are there any physical controls on either of the speakers (except that trio of toggle switches that help orientate the system before it’s running, the on/off power button or to cycle through the inputs), which could be considered an oversight. The only way to control the L/R S is by using the remote control handset that’s supplied in the packaging.

The handset itself is small, made of quite hard plastic and is not backlit but it covers off every function, and because it’s a Bluetooth rather than an RF device it’s far less reliant on having line of sight to the ‘primary’ speaker. It also gives access to a trio of EQ presets: they’re designated ‘normal’, ‘movie’ and ‘voice’.

Cambridge has included its ‘DynamEQ’ technology here, which is a gesture towards automated usability. It’s described as ‘intelligent optimization’, and makes bass and treble adjustments in response to any changes in volume you might indulge in.

• Usability & setup score: 4.5 / 5

(Image credit: Future / Simon Lucas)Cambridge L/R S review: Value

• Excellent sound for the price
• Lots of colorways, even if you have to pay extra for the walnut finish
• Expansive specification

Judge it in terms of engineering excellence, obvious competence where construction and finish are concerned, and the useful and reasonably expansive nature of its specification, and it’s hard to suggest the Cambridge L/R S doesn’t represent decent value for money.

And when you factor in the sound it’s capable of producing, well, it then starts to put it squarely in the 'market leaders' bracket for active speaker systems.

• Value score: 5 / 5

Should I buy Cambridge L/R S?Cambridge L/R S scorecard

Attribute

Notes

Score

Features

Active system, with USB-C, line-level stereo RCA and digital optical inputs; Bluetooth wireless (with aptX HD codec compatibility).

5 / 5

Sound quality

Expansive, detailed and upfront, but slightly overplays its low-end hand.

5 / 5

Design

Very solid build; six finishes, but walnut is a cost option; no grilles supplied.

4.5 / 5

Setup & usability

Bluetooth LE remote control; trio of EQ presets; no control app.

4.5 / 5

Value

Engineering excellence, plus superb sound, make it a pound-for-pound contender at the price.

5 / 5

Buy them if…

You want a desktop system that can nevertheless fill a room with sound
The L/R S sounds significantly larger than it looks.

You want a full-on system that can sit on a desktop if needs be
See above, but in reverse: despite the scale of its presentation, the physical dimensions of the L/R S make it fine for desktop use.

You’re (almost) all ‘bout that bass
The L/R S is no one-trick pony, but it does like a bit of low-frequency action.

Don’t buy them if…

There are inquisitive people in your home
A lack of grilles can sometimes be an invitation to prying fingers.

You like to turn it up to ‘11’
The Cambridge will play loud, but it’s not at its best this way.

You prefer your speakers in a wood finish
Real walnut is available, but it will cost you.

Cambridge Audio L/R S review: Also consider

Ruark MR1 Mk3
The most obvious alternative to the Cambridge L/R S, it features a phono stage for use with a turntable, it’s available in a real wood veneer at no extra cost, it’s even more compact and desktop-friendly and, most importantly of all, it’s got loads to recommend it where sound quality is concerned. As a powered speaker system of the more common type it’s not quite the Cambridge's technological tour de force, though, and the fixed-grille design could conceivably look a little frumpy next to the crisp minimalism of the L/R S. Here's our full Ruark MR1 Mk3 review.View Deal

How I tested the Cambridge L/R S

I tested the L/R S on a desktop, where it was wired via USB-C to an Apple MacBook Pro running Colibri software.

It was also connected wirelessly to an Apple iPhone 14 Pro (via the AAC codec) and a FiiO M15S (using aptX). It was also tested when positioned on a pair of Custom Design speaker stands and with a (pre-amplified) Technics SL-1300G turntable and Rega Apollo CD player connected to the analog RCAs and the digital optical socket respectively.

• Read TechRadar's Reviews Guarantee
• First reviewed: March 2026

IMOU Cell 3C: two-minute review

Founded in 2015 as a spin-off from the Chinese surveillance giant Dahua Technology, Hangzhou-based IMOU has quickly established itself as a major player in the value segment of the smart home market. While other brands such as Reolink and Ring target the premium 4K bracket, IMOU's strategy with the Cell 3C seems to be to provide high-end features at a price that undercuts most of its major rivals.

Like the more expensive Baseus Security S2, the IMOU Cell 3C features a built-in solar panel mounted directly to the top of the camera body. However, while the Baseus features a clever motorized tracking system to follow the sun, the IMOU offers simpler manual adjustment. To maximize power you simply angle the 2.2W panel towards the sky, making sure you connect the USB cable supplied to the camera’s USB-C input. Alternatively, if the camera doesn’t have direct access to the sun, you can mount the solar panel separately in a sunnier location using the bracket provided.

Tilt the solar panel to face the sun, or mount it away from the camera if it's in a shady spot (Image credit: Future)

Whereas many security brands — particularly Amazon-owned Ring — charge a large monthly subscription to store recorded clips, one of the most compelling reasons to buy IMOU’s Cell 3C is the ability to store clips locally using a MicroSD card up to 256GB (not provided). Not only does this save you a significant amount in annual monthly subscription fees, it also ensures that potentially sensitive data stays within the home rather than on a remote server.

That said, if you don’t want to store recorded clips on a MicroSD card, it's possible to sign up to IMOU’s subscription service from £3.49 (about $5 / AU$7) a month — see the 'Price and Availability' section below.

Designed to be installed on the outside of a property with a clear view of the sky, the IMOU Cell 3C is supplied with a reasonably sturdy mount complete with wall plugs and screws.

I installed it on the outside of a garden office in my back garden at a height of around two meters. However, it can easily be installed in a front porch or high up on the outside of your main property (remembering you will still need to access it for recharging every few months unless you live in a very sunny climate).

The camera's mount is reasonably sturdy, and easy to install (Image credit: Future)

Whereas some outdoor models are dual-band Wi-Fi compatible (some will even work on 4G/5G cellular networks), the IMOU is only compatible with the 2.4GHz band. However, it connected to my broadband repeater at the back of the house without any problems. Featuring IP66 waterproof rating, IMOU claims the Cell 3C will work in temperatures between -20 degrees centigrade and 50 degrees centigrade, but this wasn’t put to the test.

Once installed, which takes around 20 minutes, it’s simply a case of downloading the IMOU Life iOS/Android app and adding the camera via the QR code on the side of the device. Unlike some apps, which boast very user-friendly menus (particularly those from companies such as Ring and Blink), IMOU’s app is much more difficult to navigate around.

IMOU Life isn't the easiest app to navigate (Image credit: Future)

That said, it offers everything you need when setting up. For example, you can select ‘activity zones’ where you want it to capture footage, such as a locked door or window, and ‘non-detection zones’ where you don’t want it to record such as a neighbour’s garden or a main road. You can also set the device to only operate during certain hours, such as after dark, and only alert you if it detects a human rather than movement from a tree or a car going past.

One unusual feature is a time-lapse mode that will automatically capture images at selected regular intervals. Pre-set modes include cloud movements (10secs), flowers (five minutes) and building construction (50 minutes). Alternatively, you can set the timer manually to take shots between 10 seconds and six hours.

Videos can be saved locally on a MicroSD card, meaning you don't have to pay for cloud storage unless you really want to (Image credit: Future)

Finally, to help deter burglars a built in 110dB siren and reasonably powerful spotlight (in flashing or solid modes) are also on board. These can be activated manually or, for the really paranoid, automatically when the devices senses movement. There’s also a built-in speaker and microphone for talking to someone on your property.

IMOU Cell 3C: price and availability

• Costs $55 / £49 / AU$129
• Available since September 2024
• Sold in US / UK / Australia

Typically, outdoor security cameras retail for between $200 / £150 / AU$300 and $250 / £200 / AU$400. So with a price tag of around $55 / £49 / AU$129, the IMOU Cell 3C certainly is excellent value for money — especially when you consider it comes with its own solar panel.

Also, whereas many manufacturers are effectively able to subsidize the price of the hardware through hefty monthly subscriptions, with the IMOU Cell 3C this isn’t necessary. Instead you can buy a MicroSD card for under £20 which can store up to 256GB of video footage — a far cheaper option than a monthly subscription.

However, if you really do want to pay for a monthly subscription there is that offer too. IMOU offers three subscription tiers. For £3.49 (about $5 / AU$7) a month IMOU Protect Basic provides seven days of cloud storage and AI detection, while for £5.29 (about $7 / AU$10) a month IMOU Protect Plus offers 30 days of cloud storage and AI detection.

Best of all is IMOU Protect Pro (£9.99, or about $13 / AU$19 per month), which not only supports multiple devices and 30 days of cloud storage, but also offers additional functionality such as Descriptive Alerts — summaries of what was detected so you know what happened without having to watch the whole video (much like Ring's AI-generated video descriptions).

• Value score: 5/5

IMOU Cell 3C: design

• MicroSD card slot for local storage
• Flexible battery/solar power options
• Lightweight tubular design

Like the Baseus Security S2 camera, the IMOU Cell 3C is a long, tubular device that — at first glance — looks more like a Bluetooth speaker than a security camera. Of course, the big giveaway is the solar panel that sits on top of the camera to provide additional power. This connects to the camera via a cable to a USB-C socket located on top of the device.

Screws and wall plugs are provided for mounting the bracket to the wall and the solar panel can either be unscrewed and mounted separately or kept on top of the camera (we opted for the latter). I had initially worried that the tubular design might be a little unstable when mounting to a wooden summerhouse/office. However, it’s actually pretty lightweight, tipping the scales at just 360g (13oz) without feeling too flimsy.

The MicroSD card slot has a weather-resistant cover to keep your recordings safe (Image credit: Future)

Underneath the camera there’s a weather-sealed flap covering the USB-C socket. This is used for charging the camera via the mains (a 5000mAh rechargeable battery is built in). Here you’ll also find a slot for a MicroSD card, supporting up to 256GB for local recording, as well as sync button for use during set up as well as a modest built-in speaker.

On the front of the device, there’s the 2K lens for capturing recordings, PIR (passive infrared) sensor for accurate movement detection, a small microphone for two-way audio and a reasonably powerful spotlight. Finally, there’s the solar panel on top of the camera which can be manually adjusted towards the sun to maximize power.

• Design score: 4/5

IMOU Cell 3C: performance

• Reasonable 2K image
• Stable video connection over 2.4GHz Wi-Fi
• Reliable human detection and fewer false alerts

When it comes to performance, outdoor security cameras face multiple challenges. First of all, there’s the issue around power and how to keep the device running without a mains connection nearby. Thankfully IMOU has addressed fitting its device with a 5,000 mAh rechargeable lithium-ion battery and a solar panel. As a result, even after using regularly for a couple of weeks, the device still has over 90% charge.

If you really want cloud storage, the option is available through IMOU ProtectFutureAdjusting the camera's sensitivity to light and sound can help prevent false alertsFuture

Then there’s the issue around video stability, given the distance between the home router and the security camera. Again, this didn’t prove to be an issue at all, with the device maintaining a steady connection throughout the testing period. Finally there’s the images themselves, both in terms of quality and quantity.

Given this is a 2K camera, image quality certainly isn’t the sharpest I’ve seen — nowhere near as good as from the 4K Baseus Security S2 camera which we reviewed last year (and which this model so closely resembles). Night vision is particularly disappointing, even with the reasonably powerful spotlight on.

Image quality isn't the best around, particularly at night (Image credit: Future)

However, where the IMOU excels is in the quantity of images. Whereas some models trigger loads of annoying false alerts, the IMOU records only what’s useful, thanks in part it seems to dedicated human detection algorithms.

• Performance score: 3.5/5

Should you buy the IMOU Cell 3C?IMOU Cell 3C score card

Attribute

Notes

Score

Value

When it comes to value, it’s difficult to beat the IMOU Cell 3C. It’s a pretty decent outdoor security camera with bags of features and a solar panel for under £50. Bargain!

5/5

Design

A long white tubular design, it looks very similar to the Baseus Security. However, it’s not quite as sturdy or as well designed as the Baseus model.

4/5

Performance

Picture quality from the 2K lens is a little disappointing. However it does deliver very accurate motion alerts and battery life is good.

3.5/5

Overall

A pretty decent outdoor security camera. What it lacks in image quality, it more than make up for in functionality and the price is extremely competitive.

4/4

Buy it if

You want a cheap solution

At £49.99, it is one of the most affordable solar-powered options on the market.

You hate monthly subscription fees

You don’t have to pay for a monthly subscription to keep your videos in the cloud. Instead, clips can be stored locally on a MicroSD card (available separately)

Don't buy it if

You want the sharpest images

While video quality is OK, if you want to zoom in on a particular area of detail in some captured footage, you may be left disappointed.

You have a very shaded garden

The solar panel needs direct sunlight. Otherwise, you’ll have to be taking the camera down every few months for recharging.

IMOU Cell 3C: also consider

Not sure if the IMOU Cell 3C is the right security camera for you? Here's how it stacks up against two of its closest rivals.

IMOU Cell 3C

Baseus Security S2 4K

Eufy 4K S330 security camera

Ring Outdoor Cam Plus

Subscription price

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

None

None

From £4.99 a month

Viewing angle

120° horizontal

145° horizontal

360° view

140° horizontal

Network connection

Wi-Fi (2.4GHz)

Wi-Fi (2.4GHz)

Wi-Fi/4G

Wi-Fi (2.4GHz/5GHz)

Audio

Two-way audio

Two-way audio

Two-way audio

Two-way audio

Video

2K (3MP) video resolution

4K video resolution

4K video resolution

2560 x 1440 (2K)

Power

Battery, solar

Battery, solar

Battery, solar

Mains, battery, solar

Hardware price

£49.99 (with built in solar panel)

£199 (with solar panel)

£189 (with solar panel)

£69 (£99 with solar panel )

Baseus Security S2

An outdoor camera with an innovative twisting solar panel to maximize power from the sun. Features 4K video resolution and a MicroSD card slot for storing footage locally.

Read our full Baseus Security S2 Outdoor Camera reviewView Deal

Eufy 4K S330 Security Camera

An innovative battery- and solar-powered camera, the Eufy 4K S330 can be used with the supplied 4G Sim card to capture recordings - ideal for those who live in areas with poor Wi-Fi/broadband.

Read our full Eufy 4K S330 Security Camera reviewView Deal

How I tested the IMOU Cell 3C

• I used the camera outdoors
• I installed it myself
• I tested all the features, including the siren (the neighbors weren’t happy)

Testing a solar powered camera in a rainy UK environment is far from ideal. However, as luck would have it, spring sprung during testing and I was able to check out the effectiveness of the solar panel in the sunshine.

After two weeks of testing, battery levels are still over 90%, which seems pretty good — though in the depths of winter it would be a different matter of course. I particularly like the fact that, while the app isn’t the easiest to navigate,

I haven’t been overwhelmed with lots of false alerts when a tree has swayed too much or a bird has flown past. Instead, it just sends me a push notification and stores the video clip each time a human is detected!

For more details, see how TechRadar tests, reviews, and rates products.

GMKtec NucBox K13: 30-second review

Looking back, the GMKtec NucBox K13 is the first mini PC that I’ve covered that uses the Intel Core Ultra 7 256V I’ve tested. It’s a Lunar Lake-era processor built on TSMC's 3nm process, not on Intel fabs that can’t handle such small track sizes. But it also represents GMKtec's first foray into the new generation of AI-capable, efficiency-first processors, and it makes a rather decent fist of it.

Where other makers adhere to their 4-inch boxes, GMKtec has gone with a shape and size that looks more like a docking station on the K13. The alternative layout offers plenty of room for port placement and extra room inside for an additional M.2 PCIe Gen 4 slot.

By replacing the 512GB or 1TB M.2 NVMe drive supplied with the K13 and utilising the second slot, it is possible to add 16TB of storage to this mini PC. However, while the storage can be enhanced, the memory is fixed at 16GB of LPDDR5X 8533 MT, as this is soldered to the mainboard.

That’s one weakness, and the lack of an OCuLink port is another. Though you can attach an external GPU using USB4, the 40 Gbps bandwidth of that technology is less than the 64 Gbps of an OCuLink configuration.

Overall, this is a powerful, small system with plenty of potential for power users. The only issue for any potential buyer is how much memory you might want, as AI tasks generally need lots, and how this system's price compares with others that might offer 32GB or more.

The lack of upgradability and OCuLink stop the K13 from entering our hallowed best mini PC collection. But it could be perfect for users who don’t need discrete graphics or more than 16GB of RAM.

GMKtec NucBox K13: Price and availability

• How much does it cost? From $670/£540/€610
• When is it out? Available now
• Where can you get it? Direct from GMKtec and via online retailers

The NucBox K13 is available direct from the GMKtec website, as well as online retailers like Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk.

Two configurations are available, both with 16 GB of soldered LPDDR5X RAM. The base model has a 512 GB SSD for $669.99, and the 1 TB variant is $719.99. Both are currently offered below their stated MSRPs of $899.99 and $949.99, respectively.

UK pricing is £536 and £580, and the Euro price is €609.99 and €659.99.

Based on the current exchange rates, US prices are about 7% higher on average. Not sure why that would be, but those are the prices GMKtec decides.

Those expecting a bargain on Amazon are likely to be disappointed, since the price on Amazon.com via the GMKtec Store is the MSRP of $949.99 for the 1TB option.

The price on the UK Amazon.co.uk is equally inflated at £788.96, and that’s just for the 512GB option.

Resist the temptation to buy through Amazon unless a significant coupon brings the price in line with the direct store. At MSRP, it represents poor value compared to gmktec.com.

In terms of alternatives to the K13 that use the same platform, there are only two that I’m aware of, and both are made by Acer. The Acer Veriton NUC (VN1502G) and Acer Veriton NUC AI, but both of these options are north of $1000, if you can find them.

In that context, a GMKtec NucBox K13 direct from the maker looks like a bargain. However, other platforms are available at this price point, and some offer more processing power and features that the K13 doesn’t match.

• Value: 4 / 5

GMKtec NucBox K13: Specs

Item

Spec

CPU

Intel Core Ultra 7 256V (8C/8T, up to 4.8 GHz, Lunar Lake, TSMC 3nm)

GPU

Intel Arc 140V (8 Xe2 cores, up to 64 TOPS GPU compute)

NPU

Intel AI Boost, 47 TOPS; Total system AI: 115 TOPS (INT8)

RAM

16 GB LPDDR5X 8533 MT/s (soldered, on-package, non-upgradeable)

Storage

512 GB or 1 TB M.2 2280 PCIe 4.0 (pre-installed)

M.2 Expansion

1x additional M.2 2280 PCIe 4.0 slot (up to 8 TB per slot; 16 TB total)

Display Outputs

1x HDMI 2.1 (4K@120Hz), 2x USB4 (DP 1.4 Alt Mode) — triple 4K support

Front Ports

2x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A, 3.5mm audio jack, power button

Rear Ports

1x HDMI 2.1, 2x USB4 40Gbps (PD 3.0 100W), 1x USB 2.0, 5 GbE RJ-45, 3.5mm audio, DC-in, reset button

Networking

Wi-Fi 6E (up to 2.4 Gbps), Bluetooth 5.2, 1x 5 GbE LAN

Power (TDP)

17W–37W configurable

OS

Windows 11 Pro (pre-installed); Linux supported

Dimensions

186 x 88 x 33.2 mm

Weight

523 g

Included Accessories

30W USB-C PD adaptor, 120W DC power brick, VESA mount bracket, HDMI cable, manual

GMKtec NucBox K13: Design

(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)

• Docking station-inspired chassis
• Sophisticated cooling
• Easy access

The NucBox K13 makes, in physical terms, quite the statement. At 33.2 mm tall, it is the slimmest mini PC in GMKtec's current catalogue, and it achieves this thinness without resorting to the sort of brutalist cost-cutting that usually accompanies such design ambitions. The chassis is clean and purposeful, with a form factor that would not look out of place mounted behind a monitor or tucked beside a display on a reception desk.

Since Intel declined the opportunity to lead by example in the NUC market, we’ve seen more diversity, and the K13 is a prime example.

With a 186 x 88 mm footprint, the K13 is actually slightly wider than most of GMKtec's cube-format mini PCs, which is a reasonable compromise for the reduced height. The overall volume is modest, and the 523g weight makes it light enough to easily carry.

The front panel is fairly restrained: two USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A ports and a 3.5mm audio jack sit alongside the power button. Including a USB4 port on the front might have been a useful option, but these are both on the back. They aren’t cut-down USB4 variants, as they both support PD 3.0 (100W) and DisplayPort Alt Mode, which, when combined with an HDMI 2.1 port, enables up to three monitors to be connected to the K13.

Also on the back are a 5GbE LAN port, a USB 2.0 port, and a second 3.5mm audio jack. The choice of a single 5GbE port over dual 2.5GbE will delight some customers and horrify others, especially those who might want to segment a LAN. Given that you can add inexpensive 2.5GbE LAN ports to the USB 3.2 Gen 2 or USB4 ports using adapters, that’s something of a non-issue.

(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)

Cooling is managed by dual copper heat pipes and a single turbine fan. This configuration has proven effective in the slim NUC form factor, and Intel's own power budget helps considerably.

With a TDP ceiling of 37W, the K13 is not a machine that will heat a room, and in practice, the fan is rarely audible under normal desktop workloads. GMKtec claims the design incorporates a dust-resistant architecture, though the specifics of it aren’t obvious from my internal inspection.

Access inside is probably the easiest I’ve experienced this year, with a single tiny screw holding the entire underside in place with the help of some magnets. With this removed, the two M.2 PCIe 4.0 2280 slots are accessible, along with a 2230 slot for the Wi-Fi adapter and the motherboard clock battery. There is no memory access, because that’s not removable from the mainboard.

The VESA mounting bracket is included as standard, and the K13's slim profile makes it an excellent candidate for monitor mounting. Deployment in this way adds minimal depth to the back of a display and keeps desk surfaces uncluttered.

In some promotional pictures, GMKtec placed the K13 on its end, but I’d strongly advise against doing so. There are no feet on either end, so either way you cut it, you will cut off airflow through the vents on those surfaces, which could lead to overheating.

Overall, this dock-style system seems a successful alternative to the common squashed-cube form factor beloved by many makers.

• Design: 4 / 5

(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)GMKtec NucBox K13: Hardware

• Intel Core Ultra 7 256V (Lunar Lake)
• Arc 140V iGPU
• 47 TOPS NPU

Luna Lake is a notable departure for Intel, as previous Core Ultra generations were straightforward evolutions, whereas Luna Lake is a complete rethink. The on-package memory architecture, borrowed conceptually from Apple's playbook, places LPDDR5X directly alongside the compute die, slashing memory latency and dramatically improving bandwidth efficiency.

The result is a processor that punches well above its 17W–37W power envelope, particularly in graphics and AI workloads.

The Arc 140V iGPU is notably better than the Iris Xe graphics that preceded it, and the 47 TOPS NPU combined with the 64 TOPS GPU compute, the total is 115 TOPS. That is a useful amount of AI processing, and not just a marketing exercise.

The CPU features eight cores arranged in a hybrid layout comprising four Lion Cove performance cores and four Skymont efficiency cores, and none of these cores has hyperthreading.

What I find truly odd about the Luna Lake chips is that prior to this, on both AMD and Intel silicon, it wasn’t uncommon to see cores with hyperthreading performing like those that didn’t have that feature. This was often due to code that tried to weave two parts of a process across different threads, where passing data from one thread to another on the same core caused delays that negated the duality.

That doesn’t happen on this chip, because each core can only handle one thread. But as I’ll talk about in the benchmarks, this processor can, in certain circumstances, appear to operate as if it were only a four-core processor, since some tasks won’t use the efficiency cores.

What I can’t deny is that single-threaded performance is strong, and the 3nm fabrication allows for excellent thermal distribution, enabling the turbo mode to be liberally utilised.

The real story, however, is the memory architecture. Rather than connecting to system RAM across a relatively slow off-package bus, Lunar Lake integrates LPDDR5X memory directly into the package using Intel's Foveros packaging technology.

The K13's 16 GB of LPDDR5X runs at 8533 MT/s, delivering a theoretical peak bandwidth of around 137 GB/s. To put that in context, the Ryzen 7 7735HS (as used in the NucBox K16) achieves approximately 100 GB/s with its LPDDR5X 6400 MT/s configuration. The K13 is approximately 37% faster in raw memory bandwidth, and the Arc 140V iGPU uses every bit of it.

(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)

The Arc 140V integrated graphics are built on Intel's Xe2 (Battlemage) architecture, representing a generational leap over the Xe-LP graphics found in 12th- and 13th-generation Core processors. With eight Xe2 Execution Unit clusters, the Arc 140V delivers performance broadly comparable to a GTX 1650 in rasterised gaming.

That’s a significant step up from the Radeon 680M, and a rather humbling improvement over Intel's own previous integrated efforts. Hardware ray tracing is supported, as are XeSS upscaling, AV1 hardware encoding, and the full suite of Intel's media pipeline. Quick Sync, in particular, remains one of the strongest hardware video encode/decode implementations available in integrated silicon.

To be clear, it's not the AMD Radeon 8060S great, but for an integrated GPU, this is as good as it gets for Intel these days.

Another strength of this silicon is its integrated NPU, which can work alongside the CPU and GPU for AI processing. The NPU is 47 TOPS, meeting Microsoft's Copilot+ PC requirement and enabling local inference for AI features, including live captions, Cocreator in Paint, and the suite of Recall-adjacent productivity tools that Microsoft is gradually rolling out for Windows 11.

When the CPU, GPU and NPU are all working in conjunction through AI compute, throughput reaches 115 TOPS. That’s a meaningful figure for anyone running local large language models, AI-assisted code completion or automation workflows. It’s ideal for the Clawdbot agent if you’re feeling confident using that notorious tool.

Another factor in its AI usefulness is the second M.2 slot, making the K13 a credible candidate for a local AI inference workstation where fast NVMe access to model weights is useful.

This platform has seen duty on some expensive laptops, but it's almost unknown in the mini-PC space. Its appearance here hints that Intel is trying to clear existing Luna Lake chip stock before something new is released (Panther Lake), so this might not be the only small system we see it used on.

• Hardware: 4.5 / 5

GMKtec NucBox K13: Performance

Mini PC

GMKtec K13

ECS LIVA Z11 Plus

CPU

Intel Core Ultra 7 256V

Intel Core Ultra 7 255H

Cores/Threads

8C 8T

14C 14T

RAM

16GB LPDDR5

32GB DDR5 (2x16GB)

Storage

1TB Huawei eKitStor Xtreme 200E

256 GB Phison M8256GCB5ECS-E192

Graphics

Intel Arc Graphics 140V

Intel Arc Graphics 140T

3DMark

WildLife

22653

21370

FireStrike

7364

7185

TimeSpy

3413

3879

Steel Nom Lt.

1914

3160

CineBench24

Single

116

127

Multi

508

872

Ratio

4.39

6.87

GeekBench 6

Single

2731

2879

Multi

9429

14465

OpenCL

25982

38919

Vulkan

26274

35463

CrystalDisk

Read MB/s

7132

3526

Write MB/s

6338

1843

PCMark 10

Office

7781

7404

WEI

Score

8.6

8.3

As no other machine I’ve seen uses the Intel Core Ultra 7 256V from September 2024, I thought another NUC that utilises a Core Ultra 200-series silicon might provide some interesting insights into the K13 and what makes it different from most small PCs.

The ECS LIVA Z11 Plus uses the Intel Core Ultra 7 255H, an Arrow Lake-H chip from early 2025. On paper, the chip in the Z11 has a significant edge on cores, but its memory bandwidth is less, and the base clock speed of the 256V is 2.2GHz, over 2GHz on the 255H.

(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)

What the comparison boils down to is that the Arc 140V GPU, with the extra bandwidth of LPDDR5 8533 MT/s, delivers more graphics performance for those tasks.

However, the single-core speed of the 255H is better, and with the extra cores, it wins all the multi-threaded tasks. And, as the graphics tests become tougher, as in Time Spy and Steel Nomad Lite, the 255H has a significant advantage.

One curious diversion is that the ECS LIVA Z11 Plus only had one 2280 M.2 slot, though it was rated for PCIe Gen 4x4 bandwidth like those on the K13. However, ECS only used a Gen 3 drive on that system, which couldn’t hit half the read or a third of the write speed of the one used on the K13.

That choice in the K13 was a major factor in the better PCMark and WEI scores, since SSD speed was what dragged down those results on the Z11.

What I haven’t included results for is AI, since while I have them for the K13, they weren’t collected for the Z11.

What’s worth noting is that the NPU on the 255H is only rated for 13 TOPS, whereas the one in the 256V is 47 TOPS. For those using AI Compute, that’s a big difference, and the 256V is definitely the processor you will want.

• Performance: 4 / 5

GMKtec NucBox K13: Final verdict

(Image credit: GMKtec)

The GMKtec NucBox K13 is, in the bluntest possible terms, the mini PC that Intel's Lunar Lake deserved from the outset. GMKtec has done due diligence by pairing the chip with the fastest possible memory configuration, designing a chassis that leverages Lunar Lake's efficiency, and adding 5GbE connectivity.

The weaknesses are real but hardly fatal. Sixteen gigabytes of soldered RAM will give some buyers pause, particularly in a machine otherwise configured for demanding workloads. The absence of OcuLink limits eGPU flexibility, but it’s not a port commonly found on cheap NUC models.

The LAN configuration supports 550 MB/s file transfers with the right infrastructure. And with USB adapters, it is still possible to make the K13 useful as a dual-homed firewall.

But if your use case is modern, efficiency-focused desktop computing, perhaps content creation, AI experimentation, clean-desk professional work, or a powerful behind-monitor media machine, then K13 makes a compelling argument.

Its iGPU is the best Intel integrated graphics available in a mini PC at this price, its AI credentials are genuine rather than marketing-department aspirational, and it achieves all of this whilst remaining practically silent under most workloads.

There is plenty to like here, and relatively few reasons to avoid this machine, not least the price.

Should I buy a GMKtec NucBox K13?GMKtec NucBox K13 Scorecard

Value

Competitive but needs monitoring vs Zen 4/5 rivals

4/5

Design

Strikingly slim; with well-considered rear I/O

4/5

Hardware

Arc 140V, 115 TOPS AI, 5 GbE LAN

4.5/5

Performance

Strong iGPU and AI, but modest multi-core vs AMD rivals

4/5

Overall

A modern, efficient mini PC for the right buyer

4/5

Buy it if...

You want practical AI features
With 115 TOPS of total AI compute and full Copilot+ PC compliance, the K13 is one of very few mini PCs that can run local LLM inference, AI-assisted productivity tools, and NPU-accelerated Windows features without compromise.View Deal

You need a slim, quiet machine for a professional environment
At 33.2mm tall and practically silent under normal loads, the K13 is purpose-built for desk-constrained, noise-sensitive settings. Mounted behind a monitor, it essentially ceases to exist as a physical presence.View Deal

Don't buy it if...

If 16 gigabytes of non-upgradeable RAM concerns you
The on-package memory is fast but fixed in size. If you foresee needing more than 16GB for large VM stacks, memory-hungry AI models, or future-proofing against increasingly bloated software, then a machine with socketed SODIMM slots offers more flexibility.View Deal

You need maximum multi-threaded CPU performance Lunar Lake trades Hyper-Threading for efficiency, and the eight-core/eight-thread configuration trails the AMD Ryzen 9 8945HS and similar high-TDP mobile parts in sustained, heavily threaded workloads. If rendering, compilation, or simulation defines your workflow, consider the GMKtec K11 or the EVO-X2 instead.View Deal

Beelink ME Pro: 30-second review

The Beelink ME Pro is a hybrid Mini PC and NAS in one, powered by the lightweight Intel 95 CPU with integrated Intel UHD graphics. Like any mini PC, it features a full version of Windows 11, in this case, the Home edition, so if you want to access it directly and you're familiar with Windows, it's extremely easy to use. If you just want it as a NAS, you can install TrueNAS or similar.

However, once connected to your network, you can then simply connect other Windows, macOS, or Linux devices to access the internal storage in the same way as any normal NAS.

You can also utilise it as your media server, and while it comes pre-installed with Windows 11 Home, the machine is also fully compatible with a range of NAS OS options, such as FNOS, UNRAID, and TrueNAS. You can also run Linux or a virtual machine such as Proxmox (PVE) or ESXi.

During this review, I utilised the pre-installed Windows 11 Home OS and configured network access for my Apple computers, enabling me to use my wired network as a central resource for storing files.

From the outset, it struck me just how versatile the small machine is. With those 3.5-inch bays, you can install large-capacity HDDs, for example, two 4 TB Western Digital Red drives. Then there’s space for three M.2 SSDs, with the machine pre-installed with a 120GB option that includes Windows 11 Home.

During the test, I also installed a couple of blank SSDs, which allowed me to install TrueNAS and test how the machine performed when used as a true streaming server throughout the Home.

One aspect that struck me from the outset was the build quality, just how well thought out this small machine is. Out of the box, it’s quick to get started, but over time, you can expand the storage to a massive 72 TB, which is really impressive for a device of this size.

Used to serve my storage needs in the office, mainly images and video, I was impressed by the speed over the wired network, and after setting up the two WD Reds as shared access for all machines on the network, I was also able to utilise the Plex media server.

However, while the ME Pro works well as a storage device, when used as a day-to-day PC, the power of the N95 CPU is rather limited, as reflected in the benchmarking scores. Even Microsoft Office applications, if pushed, struggled with anything too complex. Then there’s the integrated UHD graphics, which is perfect for video playback but not much more.

As a compliment to one of Beelink’s mini PCs this is a great option, but if you're thinking about buying this because it's a mini PC and NAS in one, then I would suggest you invest in one of the best mini PCs in our guide. Then pair it with the ME Pro as part of the ecosystem on your network rather than a day-to-day mini PC and NAS in one.

Beelink ME Pro: Price and availability

• How much does it cost? $369
• When is it out? Now
• Where can you get it? Widely available

Depending on the configuration and the storage you intend to place inside, the price of the ME Pro can vary greatly. Our review sample is the N95 option with 12 GB of RAM and a 120 GB SSD, which will cost around $369 or £320.

For the more expensive option featuring the Intel N150, 16 GB of LP DDR4 RAM, and a 1 TB SSD, you would likely spend US$529.

At present, the Beelink ME Pro hybrid NAS and mini PC is available directly from the Beelink website, as well as Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk.

• Value: 4 / 5

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)Beelink ME Pro: Specs

CPU: Intel N95 / Intel N150
Graphics: Integrated Intel UHD Graphics

RAM: 12GB LPDDR5 / 16GB LPDDR5

Storage: Up to 1TB SSD
Ports: USB-A, USB-C (10Gbps), USB 2.0 ports, HDMI

Connectivity: 5GbE, 2.5GbE, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth

Size: 166 x 121 x 112 mm
OS Installed: Windows 11 Home
Accessories: Power adapter, mounting hardware, documentation

Beelink ME Pro: Design

The Beelink ME Pro hybrid NAS mini PC is an innovative design for what is essentially a two-in-one machine. Alongside access to a very capable NAS with both 2.5 and 5 GbE connections, two 3.5-inch bays and three PCIe 3.0 SSD slots, it’s also a Windows Mini PC.

Considering it’s a NAS and Mini PC, it’s extremely small at 166 x 121 x 112 mm and weighs 2.1kg, though that is without the power adapter, any HDDs, or the SSDs installed. This still makes it one of the smallest NAS devices on the market, even for a two-bay model, and the fact that it’s also a fully functional Windows machine makes it even more impressive.

But there’s something more about the Beelink ME Pro that I really like, and that’s the fact that they have made it modular, so whilst at present the only options available are the Intel N95 or the Intel N150 motherboard, the motherboard can actually be withdrawn from the system and replaced with an AMD or ARM option, although at present these aren’t available, but are highlighted as future options on the website.

Installing the drives is simple, with the two bays pulling out, your 3.5-inch HDD sitting inside, and then screwing tightly into the bay, holding it steady. Beelink is keen to highlight that this holder design helps reduce vibration, avoiding any damage that might occur compared with NAS drive bays that hold drives loosely in by small plastic grommets.

The three SSDs are bolted and slotted into the underside, and the machine actually ships with one small 128GB drive pre-installed. I used the other two slots to hold additional storage and an alternate operating system.

Another feature of the device is the amount of cooling that has been incorporated, so through the front and base of the machine, air is drawn in, helping to ensure that the drives , motherboard, CPU and RAM stay as cool as possible, optimising performance.

Another nice design feature is that on the back, there’s a magnetic dust cover that is easily removed so that you can remove dust and ensure the airflow remains consistent. Again, it’s just an extra level of thought in the design.

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)

When it comes to ports, these are well laid out, with two LAN ports on the back, one of which is 2.5GbE, the other 5GbE, and HDMI so you can plug it directly into a monitor, two USB-A ports, and then around the front, there is another USB Type-A.

Through the test, I found this extremely useful, as I had a keyboard and mouse plugged into the two Type-A ports on the back when I was installing the TrueNAS operating system onto a secondary SSD, and I was able to do that using the USB key through the front USB Type-A port without having to reconfigure the rear ports. Obviously, after this, the port, along with the USB-C on the back, can be used to directly transfer files to the ME Pro.

Once everything was installed into the system and plugged in, there was just the usual process of finishing the installation for Windows 11 Home, then configuring the two HDDs into a RAID configuration or Windows equivalent and the SSDs. Since the machine is so small, I was able to position it happily on the shelf behind my monitor and plugged it directly into the router so it could be accessed by other machines on the network as well.

• Design: 4.5 / 5

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)Beelink ME Pro: Features

The ME Pro is an interesting hybrid device, being both a NAS and a mini PC in one, and it balances that job pretty well with two HDD bays for mass storage and three SSDs for faster storage options. In the case of my review unit, I have two HDDs configured in Windows Simple (RAID 0) equivalent and the three SSDs, one installed with Windows 11 Home that ships with the machine, one with TrueNAS, and the other just as a mass storage device, all of which could be accessed easily from other machines on the network.

The machine is also available in other configurations, with the option that I’ve looked at in this review coming with the Intel N95, 12GB of LPDDR5 4800MHz and a 128GB SSD; this chipset is also available in a 512GB SSD option, then you can take the upgrade to the Intel N150 which has 16GB of LPDDR5 4800MHz and a 512GB SSD, and that again is available in a 1TB option.

Whichever option you choose, the HDD bays are up to you in terms of capacity, and each bay can hold up to 30TB. Alongside the SATA 3.5-inch HDDs there are also three M.2 NVMe drive slots, and these take M.2 2280 PCIe 3.0, and each is capable of taking 4TB, so you can get up to 60TB through HDD and a further 12TB through the SSDs, bringing you to a grand total of 72TB, which is one of the highest capacities that I have seen in this size of machine.

Beelink’s small NAS and mini PC in one is impressive, and the engineers have obviously looked very carefully at the cooling. Through the literature, the company is keen to point out just how much innovation has gone into the cooling system. Air is drawn through the front and base of the machine, pushed through the system and out of the back above the motherboard.

One of the things I didn’t realise during the test was just how cool the system ran. It wasn’t too hard to push the system hard because of that N95 processor, copying terabytes of data to the two HDDs and utilising Plex to watch back video. The machine was more than capable of keeping up with the demands, as long as you didn’t expect too much from it on the processing side.

Due to the design of the machine and its hybrid use, you have the option to install many common OSs; as I’ve previously mentioned, it comes with Windows 11 Home installed, but you can also install Linux if you so wish. Alongside either of those operating systems, you could also use it to run a dedicated NAS OS such as FNOS or TrueNAS, and in this review, I ran TrueNAS because it is an open-source option and free. You can also run a virtual machine, such as Proxmox (PVE) or ESXi, so potentially you could have your OS installed on one of the SSDs and another virtual machine on the final SSD, tailoring it to whichever use case you want.

Whilst the N95 is a relatively low-powered CPU, the integrated UHD graphics are great for running Windows. What that does mean is that it runs on extremely low power, so having this NAS sit in the background working will cost you a lot less than many of the larger, more powerful options on the market.

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)

• Features: 4 / 5

Beelink ME Pro: PerformanceBenchmarks

CrystalDiskMark Read: 212.58
CrystalDiskMark Write: 204.26
Geekbench CPU Multi: 2034
Geekbench CPU Single: 1056
Geekbench GPU: 3190
PCMark Overall: 2786
Cinebench CPU Multi (Threads): 2601
Cinebench CPU Single (Threads): 900
Fire Strike Overall: 1064
Fire Strike Graphics: 1136
Fire Strike Physics: 5822
Fire Strike Combined: 394
Time Spy Overall: 362
Time Spy Graphics: 316
Time Spy CPU: 2261
Wild Life Overall: 2258
Steel Nomad Overall: 0
Windows Experience Overall: 8

Starting out with the Beelink ME Pro is straightforward. Just think of it in the same way that you would any standard mini PC; essentially, you run through the Windows 11 Home set-up process, finish off the last few steps connecting to your network, and essentially you’re set and ready to go. It’s a mini PC, albeit not an especially powerful one, as was proven with the performance tests.

However, if you do want to use it for basic word processing, office work, browsing the internet, and watching videos on YouTube, then it’s more than adequate for that. You can always connect a webcam and use it as an office meeting machine. Whilst the N95 isn’t especially powerful compared to the latest mini PCs on the market, it’s still a well-balanced option, especially for work-focused machines where high-end graphics and processing power aren’t usually required.

However, this is also a NAS, offering network-connected storage, and it comes with Windows 11 Home pre-installed. It just makes the whole process easier, so if you work in a small home office and don’t have much IT experience, this could be an ideal solution for you.

To get started, I simply plugged the Beelink ME Pro into the back of my network hub, then attached the monitor, keyboard, and mouse so I could complete the Windows set-up and install two 4TB HDDs. I used Western Digital Red drives and configured these as the Windows equivalent of RAID 0, essentially a simple storage space. And, of course, you have the option to go for mirror or parity, the RAID 1 or RAID 5 equivalents.

The process is relatively easy: install the drives, then go to System > Storage in the Advanced Storage Settings. Select your storage space, create a new pool, select both HDDs, choose Simple, and you’re essentially done. You then have those 4TB drives as one usable 8TB drive. There’s no redundancy with the Simple configuration, but it does give you the speed. If you do want backup, set the drives as a mirror, which is the RAID 1 equivalent; again, it’s the same process, you just select Mirror rather than Simple.

Used in this way, those 8TB were fast to access, so I used them to back up my image and video files directly to the shared space I created on those drives.

When it came to the rest of the storage options using the SSDs, one of them was obviously taken by Windows 11 Home, and the other two slots I installed two Lexar 512GB SSDs; I installed TrueNAS on one and left the other as straight storage for TrueNas, and again, it was all very easy to do.

The SSD storage was prepared through TrueNas and once formatted it could be accessed directly or through the network. It’s worth pointing out that TrueNAS, needed to be installed from a separate USB key, and here I was really pleased to see that there was a USB Type-A slot on the front of the machine; the two on the rear were already taken up with the keyboard and mouse, and I didn’t want to unplug these or use an adapter.

The TrueNAS set-up was relatively straightforward, taking slightly longer than anticipated to run through the settings and connect the machine to the wired network, but once it was up and running, I was able to stream from Plex and use it again as a mass storage device. One of the issues here is that Simple (RAID 0) storage capacity that I had setup in the Windows install wasn’t accessible from the TrueNAS install. What really stood out here was just how well suited the N95 CPU was, and whilst it’s limited for general day-to-day use as an office machine, it makes perfect sense when used within a NAS.

The other point is that whilst the integrated UHD graphics might not be that impressive for the latest games, when it comes to streaming 4K footage it does surprisingly well and means that here we have an inexpensive solution that’s easy to understand compared with many standard NAS options.

Another point is that it can be left on 24/7; after the test, once it was installed, I literally just left it running in the background. After giving the TrueNAS installation a test, I switched back to Windows 11 Home and left it running as a large-capacity storage solution in the office. Whilst there were limited additional options compared with TrueNAS, it was just easy to connect to and use.

One of the main reasons I installed the Plex Media Server for Windows was to point it to the 8TB internal storage set-up and have Plex running as a background service all the time, directly accessible from all the machines in the house and then office.

By the end of the test, the ME Pro proved to be one of the easiest NAS solutions I’ve come across, offering easy integration, especially for Windows-based set-ups, and it will suit many home offices without IT backup or support.

• Performance: 4 / 5

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)Beelink ME Pro: Final verdictAlastair JenningsAlastair JenningsAlastair JenningsAlastair JenningsAlastair JenningsAlastair Jennings

The concept of the Beelink ME Pro is a great one. It offers a straightforward, easy-to-understand network-attached storage solution, and the fact that it comes pre-installed with Windows 11 Home means that almost anyone can set it up and use it just like another PC in your house or office, it just has more storage potential and the ability to be used as an effective shared network drive.

What I like about it is that you can easily install two large-capacity HDDs, and again, they’re set up using the Windows 11 storage solution which is familiar. The Windows 11 storage solution is just straightforward, and whether you choose to create a single large drive or mirror the drive, the process in the Windows interface is straightforward.

Then, once it has been created, right-click and select the share options so that anyone else on your network can access it. It really couldn’t be simpler.

The fact is, that for most home office workers this system is simple, essentially it’s another small machine with fast network connectivity with the ability to share its contents. Whilst it is a Mini PC, it should really be seen as a NAS or Media Server, the fact that it runs Windows 11 Home just makes it familiar and easy to use.

If you do want to take things a little bit further and turn it into a home media server, then with the installation of Plex you can instantly stream video from that master storage to any machine or smart device that you want, and whilst this does take a little bit more know-how and set-up, it is still relatively straightforward and there are plenty of user guides out there on how to do it.

But what really makes this interesting is the fact that you have those three SSDs on the base, so if you do want to install another operating system or NAS OS, such as I did with TrueNAS, then this again is possible, and you can use it in the home or office as a small home lab for experimentation, or if you turn it completely over to TrueNAS you have a very compact, large-capacity NAS that will offer you all of the usual features.

Whilst my review sample waseasy to use, straightforward, and worked exceptionally well for everything I wanted, many will feel that Windows 11 Home offers fewer features than some of the more involved NAS set-ups, but you can still install those over the Windows 11 installation. And what I really like is the part modular design.

The fact that you can insert so much storage, but also in future updates install an AMD or ARM motherboard all further add to its flexibility. If you are running a home lab and need to experiment with different CPUs and set-ups; this one small machine and the ability to slide the motherboard in and out again makes it extremely interesting.

At the end of this test I will definitely say the Beelink ME Pro is a perfect partner to Beelink’s other mini PCs, but more so to anyone with a mini PC looking for an easy way to boost its network storage without delving into something as complex as standard NAS box, and if you do run a home lab, again this is a great option with plenty of flexibility.

If, however, you’re just looking for a straight NAS with all the features and apps, then maybe something a little more advanced with a bit more processing power would be a better option.

Should I buy a Beelink ME Pro?

Value

Affordable hybrid mass-storage mini PC option that you can expand as your budget allows

4

Design

Extremely premium, compact all-metal build that will fit almost any space

4.5

Features

A great set of features and flexibility, meaning it can be as simple or complex as you need 4/5

4

Performance

Low-power CPU makes it okay for standard office work and being used as a NAS, but nothing too advanced

4

Overalls

Easy-to-use and extremely versatile home office NAS system

4

Buy it if...

You're crafting an office media hub
The ME Pro is ideal if you want a quiet, compact device for backups, Plex streaming, and centralised storage with fast networking.

You're running a small home lab
Got a set-up that needs flexible storage expansion and light virtualisation? This is a top pick without investing in a larger rack-mounted NAS system.

Don't buy it if...

You demand intensive processing
If you're planning to run multiple demanding virtual machines or CPU-intensive workloads, it's likely going to be just too much for the N95 model.

You want a machine for high-end gaming
Integrated graphics are not suitable for modern gaming or GPU-heavy creative applications.

For more essential computing, we've reviewed the best NAS devices.

Oscal Marine 3: 30-second review

The Oscal Marine 3 is a surprisingly stylish, slimline, rugged smartphone that breaks the usual design conventions. Gone are the cyberpunk-style, bulky rubberised outer casings; in their place is something a little bit slimmer and more refined in looks at least.

It is much simpler in design than its larger and heavier rugged smartphone counterparts. However, it does feature a technological illustration on the back plate, and the rubberised edges and corners, whilst not as dominant, are retained, highlighting that this isn't just a standard consumer phone but something altogether more rugged.

The phone is slim, and put side-by-side next to an iPhone 15 Pro, the actual thickness is pretty much identical, although it does feature a slightly longer screen, giving a bit more screen real estate for browsing the internet, answering emails and enhancing images.

Despite the slimline design being closer to consumer-level phones than rugged models, it is still fully waterproof. In testing, it was submerged for 10 minutes in a fast-flowing stream, then dropped and put through its paces to test its strength and ruggedness. Although it’s worth highlighting that the USB-C port at the base for data transfer and charging is open to the elements and this does caused me some concern.

The camera, both for daytime shooting and the infrared option, is on the whole pretty decent, not groundbreaking, and there's no cutting-edge imaging technology for the camera itself, although there are AI imaging Apps. They're just good standard cameras. Alongside the standard camera app, Oscal have included several AI applications, including ImageX. This offers impressive capabilities, but like all apps added to the standard DokeOS 5.0, after a few quick uses of the AI features, you're prompted to subscribe to the app's different AI models, and these all cost a lot.

Alongside the camera and imaging is a decent speaker which, considering its size, is surprisingly loud. Whilst it is a little bit tinny and requires a good shake after being submerged in water, it’s fine for listening to the radio whilst you work or for multimedia playback.

Through the test I found that the battery, whilst substantial, would last a good three days between charging depending on use, as long as I didn't use it too heavily for gaming or watching video. While it’s advertised as fast charging, the 18W charger takes around 2 hours to reach 50% from flat, which, by any standard, is not fast. However, a good overnight charge, and you're all set for another 2 to 3 days of solid use.

The main issue with this rugged smartphone, however, is the processor, which is behind what you'd expect for a modern smartphone despite it’s AI credentials. Switching between applications is often laggy, and the screen can become unresponsive when running more intensive applications such as Lightroom. The analysis time in Lightroom is significantly slower than I have seen with many other modern rugged smartphones, and whilst the device's design makes it desirable, the processor's speed does let it down.

In reality, whilst the slimline design makes for a quite appealing rugged smartphone, the processor speed does limit its use, apps just take that much longer to load, but once loaded they generally run fine. Whilst it has a relatively decent camera and runs most apps at a moderate speed, if you need it for anything more intensive, especially switching between apps, you will find its processing speed is limiting.

Because of that, it's unlikely to trouble the devices in our best rugged phone guide. Ideally, this phone is suited to someone who wants a relatively lightweight, slim, rugged smartphone that they just need for occasional calls and checking email.

Oscal Marine 3: Price & availability

• How much does it cost? $399
• When is it out? Now
• Where can you get it? Widely available

The Oscal Marine 3 can be purchased from Oscal's Amazon storefront via the website clicking here. It's currently priced at $400 / £400.

The rugged phone is also available from a limited number of alternative online stores, most notably in the US.

• Value: 2.5 / 5

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)Oscal Marine 3: Design

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)Specifications

CPU: MediaTek Helio G81
Graphics: Mali-G52 MC2
RAM: 8GB (+ virtual expansion)
Storage: 128GB + microSD/TF (Up to 2TB)
Left Ports: Dual SIM / microSD tray
Right Ports: Power button, volume controls
Connectivity: 4G LTE, WiFi, Bluetooth, GPS
Audio: Single loudspeaker
Camera: 16MP rear + IR night vision, 13MP front
Size: 174.6 x 83 x 10.7mm
OS Installed: Android with DokeOS 5.0
Accessories: Charger, cable, SIM tool

When I first opened the box and looked at the Oscal Marine 3, I was instantly struck by its slimline design and smartphone aesthetics. It was far nicer and easier to handle than most rugged smartphones. It also had a good premium feel and, whilst it is slimmer than most, it still has a good solid weight, and the overall design quality and build is exceptionally good.

Checking the phone itself, there’s a nice graphical detailing on the back that sets off the infrared, multi-AI cam, Infrared and main camera, whilst on the front, the surface is dominated by the large 6.56-inch 90Hz display with Selfi camera.

It retains the feel of many other rugged smartphones, with dimensions of 174.6 x 83 x 10.7 mm and a weight of 245 g. That's only just heavier than a standard consumer smartphone.

One of the other features that I liked about the phone from the outset was the number of physical buttons around the body. You have a customisable orange button alongside the microSD and dual SIM card slots on the left-hand side of the body. Then, on the right-hand side, you have the power button with fingerprint recognition, above which are the usual volume up and down buttons.

Otherwise, the rest of the phone is pretty simple, with just the main charging USB-C port on the base. Surprisingly, for a rugged smartphone, this isn't sealed, so it is open to the elements. During the test, I found this was something I had to watch out for, as mud and water can get into the port, and it can be a little tricky to clear it out.

One of the other features that I did like when using the camera was that you could assign that custom button as the shutter button, and this was especially relevant when using the underwater camera, as it essentially enables you to disable the touchscreen so that the physical button is used to operate the camera, which works extremely well.

Ultimately, this is a rugged smartphone designed to withstand the elements, and a key feature is its usual rugged certifications, including IP68, IP69K, and MIL-STD-810H, meaning it can be submerged in water and dropped from a height without too much issue.

• Design: 3 / 5

Oscal Marine 3: Features

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)

The Marine 3 is one of a number of new rugged smartphones that feature AI abilities, and this is a big part of this particular model. Behind that 6.56-inch 90Hz HD display the phone runs Doke OS 5.0 based on Android 16 and there’s the AI Software suite known as Doke AI 2.0.

The ruggedness is obviously the top feature of this smartphone and with MIL-STD-810H certification it just means it can stand up to more than most consumer phones, so it can be dropped from height and, with IP68 and IP69K ratings, it will withstand being dropped into water and covered in dust and dirt without issue, making it ideal for anyone who works outside or is looking for a decent smartphone that will withstand the elements.

Whilst rugged smartphones aren't really known for the quality of their cameras, it's interesting to see that this model features a 13MP infrared night vision camera, accessible through the standard app by tapping the night vision icon, which swaps the main 16MP camera for the infrared camera.

The camera app also features an underwater camera mode that essentially disables the touchscreen and enables you to configure the physical button to operate the camera.

The main camera is 16MP, which is very conservative for a modern camera. However, given the resolution, the picture quality actually seems very well balanced, and on the front, there is, of course, a 13MP selfie camera for video conferencing and selfies.

The 6.56-inch IPS touchscreen has a maximum brightness of 450 nits, which is pretty decent for general use, though in bright summer conditions it might get a bit tricky to see. However, on the flip side, during winter, with modes such as Glove Mode 2.0, the screen is surprisingly responsive even with touch-sensitive gloves.

Through the test, one common rugged smartphone feature that I was pleased to see is the ability to configure the custom side key, setting is a quick access to an app or feature.

As a rugged smartphone, navigation technology is essentially although it is a bit surprising that it's only 4G and not the latest 5 G. However, it does feature four-in-one navigation with GPS, GLONASS, BDS and Galileo.

The company has also included a toolbox of handy apps, including the usual compass, protractor, plumb line, and many others, which are useful if you're working in a trade or just need a few extra tools out and about.

One of the phone's more quirky features is the Smart-K speaker, which is surprisingly loud and louder than my iPhone 15 Pro. It is a bit tinny, but at least you can hear it in almost any situation.

The battery is another big part of any rugged smartphone, and here, with a 5000mAh battery, it supplies plenty of power for general phone use. It also offers fast charging. That battery will enable up to 6 hours of gameplay, 6.5 hours of video, 11 hours of web browsing, 22 hours of making calls, 25 hours of listening to music, and 288 hours on standby. There's a deep power-saving mode that works automatically in the background.

The phone does support reverse 5W charging, which means that if you have other mobile devices or electronics that need a charging boost, then this phone can act as a power bank.

The phone runs Doke OS 5.0, based on Android 16, and offers a good number of built-in apps, including all the usual Google options. There's also plenty of AI-powered features, including several bundled apps and a very decent system manager that enables you to free up space and keep the smartphone optimised. I also like that it features Notebook 3.0, which lets you easily keep notes and other content on your smartphone neatly organised.

Alongside the main OS, there’s Doke AI 2.0. This essentially offers DeepSeek-R1, ChatGPT-4o Mini, Gemini, Hi Doki, ImageX, Vidgen and Soundle. Whilst some of the features are free, given the processor speed, they all run surprisingly quickly, the only thing to watch out for is that some of these apps require a subscription after a certain amount of use. Many of those subscription values are expensive.

Whilst the AI apps do make your AI tasks that much easier they can come at quite a cost which is something to be aware of if they are of interest to you.

At the heart of this phone is the MediaTek Helio G81 processor, backed by 24GB of RAM (8GB + 16GB expandable), giving it plenty of memory to handle data. When it comes to storage, there's 256GB of ROM built in, and you can expand it to 2TB via a TF or microSD card.

No rugged smartphone would be without dual SIM support, and in the carrier tray, you can pop in two 4G SIM cards alongside a TF card to boost the storage. Other connectivity options include NFC support, so if you want to use contactless payment, then that's perfectly possible with this phone, along with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 5.0.

• Features: 3.5 / 5

Oscal Marine 3: Performance

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)Benchmarks

CrystalDiskMark Read: 570.4 MB/s
CrystalDiskMark Write: 160.39 MB/s
Geekbench CPU Multi: 1332
Geekbench CPU Single: 397
Geekbench GPU: 979
SlingShot: 1718
SlingsShot Extreme: 1196
Wild Life Extreme Overall: 171
Wlidlife Overall: 634
Steel Nomad Overall: 61

The Doke OS, which is based on Android 16, is really well thought out, and there's plenty pre-installed to get you started, including the Doki and its selection of AI applications alongside what you usually expect from Google.

One of the first things I noticed about the phone, while running through some tests and opening some apps, was that app load times were relatively slow. They weren't instantaneous on opening and, when switching between applications, there was often a slight pause as the phone seemed to need time to catch up.

However, once the applications were open and I started to delve into their use, things started to smooth out. Looking at Google's suite of applications, including Docs and Sheets, both opened relatively quickly, and making adjustments to existing documents or adding to them was all relatively straightforward.

Likewise, opening Gmail and answering a few messages proved that this phone was more than fast enough for general day-to-day calls, email browsing, and using lighter apps.

As I progressed through the test, the fact that I was reverting to a standard 4G connection rather than 5G became an issue. Around my office, where generally we just get 4G, the speeds were okay, a little bit slower compared with my iPhone 15 Pro, but as soon as I went up to Salisbury, where 5G coverage is relatively good, the slower data speeds were very apparent.

The other point here was that whilst I'd expect those data speeds at 4G to be pretty solid in 4G-only areas, they were still slightly slower than on my iPhone 15 Pro, reaching a maximum of 20 to 30MB per second compared with the iPhone 15 Pro at 30 to 40MB per second.

As I started pushing the phone a little more, first using Lightroom, I was surprised by how long it took the app to load. Once it had loaded, I was able to access the image files on the phone and load them in, and again, it took a while for Lightroom to run through its standard analysis before I could start making any adjustments. Each image would take at least 20 to 30 seconds to properly load and be analysed before those adjustments could be made. However, once the phone had run through its assessment, all additional adjustment work were instantaneous.

I then decided to use CapCut. Using video footage taken from the phone, edits were relatively quick, and the phone responded well to putting together a short production. However, again, when loading CapCut and sometimes loading those video clips, there was a slowdown in processing, and whilst when everything had loaded things were quick and responsive, you just have to be patient while the phone catches up.

I then switched over to the Doke AI suite of applications, and here the phone seemed to handle them much better, applying AI enhancements to existing images and generating AI content. However, as I've witnessed with these Doke AI apps before, you only get a few uses before you're charged a monthly or yearly fee to continue using them. Whilst there are offers, it does feel like a bit much to pay such an amount per app rather than having a longer trial period for each.

One of the final tests was just to check how the phone would perform for gaming, and I was actually quite surprised by how well it handled games like Asphalt Legends, with relatively smooth gameplay and decent audio from the internal speaker.

In many more advanced games, the loading times are excessive. Once it's all loaded into the system however, the gameplay is relatively decent, and what really stands out here is that the speaker is far higher quality than I've come to expect from most smartphones, although again it's still a little tinny.

Checking out all the benchmarking tests again just re-emphasised that this is a good, solid smartphone for day-to-day use, as long as you don't want to run too many apps or play some of the more advanced games. Also, for almost any app you open, load times can be relatively slow, so in reality, this phone is best used if you want a slimline phone for making calls, using a few apps, and surviving out in the elements.

The final test was to check out how rugged this smartphone is, leaving it in a stream for 10 minutes to see if it would survive being submerged. Here, it had absolutely no issues whatsoever, with my only concern being that the USB-C port is exposed. During the test, as I started dropping it into muddy water and dirt, debris got into that port. At one point, it made it difficult for me to actually plug it in to recharge.

• Performance: 3 / 5

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)Oscal Marine 3: Final verdict

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)

At the end of the test, whilst I like the phone's design, there are quite a few quirks. At the same time, the fact that applications take quite a long time to load is a bit of an issue, especially as it seems to take a long time to analyse images, video, and other data.

Even when switching from one Android app to another, there can sometimes be a glitch or delay, and what really bugs me beyond anything else is that many of the apps are tied to advertising, so you can tap a functional feature and find yourself on the Temu website without warning. Some of the other apps will open up other subscription offers and models when all you want to do is get on and use the phone.

If you're after a straightforward phone with some AI enhancement, then this is an okay option. If I were going to buy this, I would probably suggest removing most of the AI-enhanced apps, since the subscriptions are expensive and they tend to redirect you to shopping websites.

There's also the issue that it's only 4G, not 5G, and everything is just a little bit sluggish. Another major issue is the price. At nearly £399 / $399, this isn't a cheap phone, and in reality, there are many other options out there that provide far greater processing power for a lot less money. Really, you're paying that much for rugged credentials rather than performance.

Should I buy an Oscal Marine 3?

Value

Expensive for the processing power, slightly balanced by the robust design

2.5

Design

Great looking design, slim with a very premium feel, but the USB port is exposed

3

Features

Night vision, durability and large screen are key features for this rugged phone

3.5

Performance

Entry-level but usable daily if you don't want anything too processor-intensive 

3

Overall

Tough tool for outdoor workers, limited appeal due to the power of the processor

3

Buy it if...

Outdoor survivability is essential
With these rugged specs, the Oscal Marine 3 is a durable phone for wet, dirty conditions where reliability matters more than gaming performance or speed.

You need a waterproof phone
You regularly work near water or in conditions where your kit and equipment can get wet, this ticks the right boxes.

Don't buy it if...

You run a lot of apps
Because of that slow processor, the phone is not good if you frequently multitask, edit images, or expect your apps to open instantly.

You need fast charging
Avoid this device is you expect fast charging speeds and processing performance from your smartphone.

For more durable devices, we've tested and reviewed the best rugged laptops and best rugged tablets.

One minute review

The Canon RF 45mm F1.2 STM is a beautiful mess of a lens. It's impossibly light, cheap, and wide, but nonetheless comes with a few optical niggles that will likely make the more discerning pixel peepers baulk.

At $599 / £479 / AU$699.95, the RF 45mm f/1.2 has the potential to be an essential component of any Canon shooter's kit bag. And, it has to be said, it's a lens that doesn't really have any rivals or alternatives at this price point. No other brand, third-party or otherwise, offers an autofocus full-frame lens with f/1.2 for $600. Canon is definitely worthy of praise for this - it's an innovative, forward-thinking lens from a brand that's often criticized for its closed mount.

As mentioned, however, optically, the RF 45mm f/1.2 leans more towards 'character' than perfection. The bokeh is busy and swirly, while the chromatic aberration is off the charts at the widest aperture. Even with in-camera corrections, this lens imparts its character on every image if you're shooting wide.

You also don't get weather sealing or a lens hood. While this lens is well built and a great pairing with any of the brand's high-end mirrorless bodies, it's very much a lens that's been shoehorned into a specific price point. I can forgive the lack of weather sealing, but paying extra for the hood feels slightly miserly to me.

(Image credit: Future / Alex Whitelock)

If you can look past its flaws, however, the 45mm f/1.2 does offer a lot for the price. No other Canon lens right now offers as many creative options as this 45mm in the standard focal length. Emphasis on the 'creative' here, mind you, because the wide aperture opens possibilities for shots simply not possible on the usual kit lens.

Aside from serious low-light chops, this lens is also fantastic for environmental portraits, where you can blow out the background on a relatively wide scene.

In summary, the 45mm is an often frustrating lens, but one I can't help but like. I don't think it's a 'killer' lens that will cause Nikon and Sony users to switch, but it certainly is unique and praiseworthy. Is it one of the best Canon lenses? Technically, absolutely not. But is it worth it? Absolutely... if you're looking for 'character' rather than 'perfection', that is!

Price and availability

• It costs $599 / £479 / AU$699.95
• Lens hood is a separate purchase

At $599 / £479 / AU$699.95, the RF 45mm f/1.2 is cheap for a Canon full-frame RF lens, let alone one with such a wide aperture. It's much closer in price to the entry-level Canon RF 50mm F1.8 STM (£239 / $219 / AU$299) than premium L-series glass - and offers a similar level of optical quality for the budget-conscious.

It's a good thing Canon has made this lens, too, as the brand currently doesn't support third-party glass on its full-frame mount. Unlike rival mounts from Nikon and Sony, Canon users have fewer low-cost alternatives outside of the usual starter primes and kit lenses.

Luckily, this lens is a great example of Canon doing something a little different. It's not quite a budget lens, but it's certainly unique, and definitely a sign that the brand is willing to try new things for its RF mount.

Canon RF 45mm F1.2 STM: specsCanon RF 45mm STM f/1.2 specs

Type:

Standard prime

Mount:

Canon RF

Sensor:

Full-frame

Focal length:

45mm

Max aperture:

f/1.2

Minimum focus:

0.45m, 0.13x max magnification

Filter size:

67mm

Dimensions:

78 x 75mm

Weight:

12.2oz / 346g (lens only)

Canon RF 45mm F1.2 STM: design

• Extremely lightweight for such a prime
• AF/MF switch, but otherwise very basic
• Customizable control ring

The RF 45mm f/1.2 features a customizable control ring and MF/AF switch, but is otherwise very minimalist (Image credit: Future / Alex Whitelock)

As you'd imagine from a relatively affordable lens, the RF 45mm f/1.2 has quite a minimalist design. You do get a few handy controls, however, such as the MF/AF switch and a fully customizable control ring right next to the lip of the lens' barrel.

The action on the focus ring is smooth and well-damped, but the control ring has a nice solid click to it that pairs nicely with its burled metal finish. Otherwise, the lens features a wholly plastic build apart from the mount — you can expect a metal mount in all modern Canon lenses, including the higher-end L series models.

Speaking of which, build quality for the RF 45mm f/1.2 doesn't feel that far off from the premium lenses. There's nothing here to suggest that this is a cheaper lens in the RF line-up, aside from the lack of the distinctive red barrel ring. In the hand, the RF 45mm f/1.2 feels solid and sturdy enough for a lens of this type.

With that said, Canon has cut a few corners to build this lens at a price. For one, you don't get a lens hood included - nor does the lens feature any weather sealing. Perhaps the lens will hold up to some light rain, but I certainly didn't want to risk it with my review unit.

(Image credit: Future / Alex Whitelock)

These points aside, the most impressive thing about the RF 45mm's design is that it weighs just 12.2oz / 346 grams - something that feels almost impossible for a lens with this kind of aperture. It really is the main selling point for this lens, in my opinion. The 45mm is so compact that you'd be mistaken into thinking this lens is an f/1.8 prime, given its size.

As you can see from the product pictures on this page, the 45mm pairs nicely with the EOS R6 Mark II, which is a full-frame body with a substantial hand grip. The lens is actually twice the weight of Canon's RF 50mm F1.8 STM prime (160g), but it's still light enough to hit that sweet spot where you don't feel like you're lugging around a huge piece of glass everywhere.

As stated, I tested this lens on the R6 Mark II. I think you'll also be fine if you pair this 45mm up with the Canon EOS R8, but the R8's comparatively small grip may result in a slight amount of front-heaviness. This is a light prime considering the aperture, but it's certainly no pancake lens.

Canon RF 45mm F1.2 STM: Performance

• Significant chromatic aberration at f/1.2
• STM autofocus is reliable
• Good center sharpness at all apertures

(Image credit: Future / Alex Whitelock)

You may be wondering - if the RF 45mm is cheap, small, and extremely wide, what's the catch? Well, unfortunately, there are a few quirks when it comes to outright image quality for the 45mm F1.2 STM. This is definitely a 'character lens', for better or worse.

Firstly, the good stuff. If you're looking for those dreamy, blown-out backgrounds, then this lens definitely delivers. The aperture is so massive that you can get a good level of background separation here, even with relatively wide scenes. I could see this being a good option for environmental or full-body portraits on a budget.

The 45mm also offers a good level of sharpness. This is particularly the case in the centre of the frame, but stopping down the lens offers a great level of edge-to-edge sharpness. But of course, who's buying this lens to stop it down?

Canon R6 Mark II, JPEG, taken at f/1.2Future / Alex WhitelockClose of up corner bokehFuture / Alex WhitelockCanon R6 Mark II, JPEG, taken at f/1.2Future / Alex WhitelockClose of up corner bokehFuture / Alex Whitelock

No, people are going to buy this lens because they want to make full use of that f/1.2 aperture at this exceptional price. Annoyingly, there are a few caveats when shooting wide open with this lens, however.

The first is the busy bokeh - something which I think will likely be the most contentious attribute for prospective buyers. There's no escaping that, at f/1.2, you get a significant cat's-eye effect on the bokeh with the 45mm. Once you see it, you can't really un-see it, and the swirling effect gets more extreme towards the edge of the frame. I think some people will love the distracting swirly effect of this lens, whereas others will find it too busy.

After using the lens in a range of scenarios, I'm somewhere in the middle of the two camps. As you can see from the samples, the bokeh balls not only have quite strong cat's-eye shapes, but also hard to remove fringing. They're technically very imperfect, but there's obviously something to be said for a lens with this much character if you're going for a certain 'vintage' look. It's definitely subjective.

Canon R6 Mark II, JPEG, taken at f/1.2Future / Alex WhitelockFuture / Alex Whitelock

One thing I'm less on the fence about, however, is the extreme level of chromatic aberration this lens exhibits at its widest aperture. I don't think I've used a modern lens with this much CA in recent years.

The image above is a good example. You can see a significant amount of purple fringing around the backlit pattern on the wall. Towards the center of the frame, CA is relatively well controlled, but the fringing gets progressively worse toward the edges. It's notable because this particular shot is a JPEG straight from the Canon EOS R6 Mark II, with all in-camera lens correction applied.

If you do buy this lens, you're going to have to get well acquainted with the de-fringing tool in your photo editing app of choice. Luckily, this is one of the quickest and easiest fixes that anyone can make these days, so it's not a complete deal breaker for a relatively affordable lens like this.

In terms of focusing, the RF 45mm F1.2's proprietary STM stepping motor isn't as quick or silent as the ones featured in Canon's higher-end models, but it is more than sufficient, and able enough to provide quick and reliable autofocus at f/1.2 when paired with the brand's latest full-frame bodies.

One thing I did notice is a very small amount of focus breathing when close focusing at f/1.2. There is also a very slight whining noise when acquiring focus, which again, could be something worth considering if you're thinking about using this lens for video. With the example I've included above, you can see the lens slightly hunting for focus when it attempts to re-lock on the closer object.

Canon RF 45mm F1.2 STM sample imagesCanon R6 Mark II, JPEG, taken at f/1.2Future / Alex WhitelockCanon R6 Mark II, JPEG, taken at f/1.2Future / Alex WhitelockCanon R6 Mark II, JPEG, taken at f/1.2Future / Alex WhitelockCanon R6 Mark II, JPEG, taken at f/1.2Future / Alex WhitelockCanon R6 Mark II, JPEG, taken at f/4Future / Alex WhitelockCanon R6 Mark II, JPEG, taken at f/1.2Future / Alex WhitelockCanon R6 Mark II, JPEG, taken at f/5.6Future / Alex WhitelockShould you buy the Canon RF 45mm F1.2 STM?Buy it if...

You want to shoot environmental portaits
I think this lens is perfect for slightly wider scenes where you still want to separate the subject from the background.

You shoot a lot of low-light work
What's an f/1.2 aperture good for? Low light, of course! It shouldn't even need to be said that this lens's extremely wide aperture is fantastic for making sure as much light as possible hits your camera's sensor.

Don't buy it if...

You need something weather sealed
As a cheaper lens in the Canon line-up, the RF 45mm doesn't feature any environmental sealing. This one isn't for use in extreme inclement weather.

You need perfect image quality
While the RF 45mm offers an extremely wide aperture, this comes with some optical trade-offs. This lens has a lot of character, unlike the more 'perfect' L-Series models.

How I tested the Canon RF 45mm F1.2 STM

(Image credit: Future / Alex Whitelock)

• Canon provided me a sample unit for one week
• I paired the lens with the Canon EOS R6 Mark II
• I compared optical performance at various apertures

Canon provided TechRadar with the Canon RF 45mm F1.2 STM for one week only, which is a relatively short window for a lens review. With that said, I was able to fully test the lens in both studio and real-world scenarios.

During my week with the Canon RF 45mm F1.2 STM, I tested the lens across a wide range of apertures for both video and photography. In that time, I made sure to try to get examples at f/1.2 to show prospective buyers what to expect with such a wide aperture - including the various flaws that this lens sometimes showcases.

First reviewed March 2026

Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra: Two-minute review

Nowadays, smartphone changes can usually be measured in millimeters and gram fractions. The era of sweeping hardware redesigns is all but done. Most of the updates we see seem to be in material swaps and growing and shrinking camera array plateaus. That's not a bad thing, certainly not judging by the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra I hold in my hand.

It's eminently familiar but also stunningly powerful and aesthetically sublime – even without last year's titanium. It's not a perfect Android phone (some day, Samsung will adopt MagSafe or something like it), but easily one of the best I've ever used or tested. It's the full package. A relatively slim and light big-screen mobile communicator, and a powerful pocket computer that, with its hidden S Pen, can even excite creative types or compulsive note takers.

Samsung gets away with not changing much by still delivering on all the promises of a great flagship phone.

It has excellent cameras, easily the best of not just the S26 lineup, but all recent Galaxy phones (even the foldables). It has the fastest chip, even, thanks to a bit of customization from Qualcomm, outdoing the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 you might find on other Android phones.

The new S26 Ultra is on the left, the last, slightly squarer S25 Ultra model on the right. (Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)

The S26 Ultra hides a pair of truly remarkable features that are not evident at first glance but will surely be the most talked-about updates for some time to come. One is the Privacy Display, a true bit of display hardware innovation that has no equivalent on any other modern smartphone. Then there's the built-in gimbal. Strike that – it's not really a gimbal, just a wild bit of hardware and software engineering that lets you turn your camera up to 360 degrees while keeping the footage perfectly level.

It's a handset overstuffed with AI possibilities, adding this time Perplexity to Bixby (because why not?) and upping the creative and assistive capabilities of Galaxy AI. Google uses the S26 Ultra to give us a sneak preview of the agentic possibilities soon arriving on Pixels and all other supporting Android phones.

The list of AI abilities is long, overwhelming, and perhaps too much. It's not a weakness, per se, but I still don't know why one phone has so many. But then you also might wonder why the iPhone 17 Pro Max still has so few.

Samsung backs up the power and performance of this smartphone with way better heat and power management and excellent battery life.

And to top it all off, it's still $1,299 (£1,249 / AU$2,149). That's not affordable, but it is the same price as last year, which is more than can be said for the Galaxy S26 and S26 Plus.

There's not enough here to trade in your still wonderful Galaxy S25 Ultra, but it would be a big leap from, say, the S23 Ultra or anything earlier, and will undoubtedly end up atop our Best Android Phones buying guide.

Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra review: Price and availability

Samsung unveiled the Galaxy S26 Ultra, along with the S26 Plus and S26, on February 25, as part of its Unpacked event (it'll hold another one later this year for foldables). It ships on March 11, 2026.

While the Galaxy S26 and S26 Plus saw price hikes, the Galaxy S26 Ultra still costs the same in the US as the Galaxy S25 Ultra did last year: $1,299.99 ( £1,279 / AU$2,199).

It's available in a choice of seven colors wherever you buy: Cobalt Violet, Sky Blue, Black, White, and the online exclusives: Silver, Shadow, Pink Gold.

The phone ships in either 256GB, 512GB, or 1TB storage configurations, and every variant comes with 12GB RAM (16GB of RAM if you buy the 1TB model). If you go for more storage space, you will pay somewhat more than you did last year. In the US, the 1TB model is now $1,799.99, roughly $140 more than last year (you do get the extra RAM, though).

The Galaxy S26 Ultra is still a little more expensive than the base iPhone 17 Pro Max ($1,199 / £1,199 / AU$2,149), and both do start with 256GB of storage and offer comparable features. However, the S26 Ultra does include the integrated S Pen and all of that on-board AI. For now, the S26 Ultra might be the better value.

• Price: from $1,299 / £1,279 / AU$2,199

Storage

US price

UK price

AU price

256GB

$1,299.99

£1,279

AU$2,199

512GB

$1,499.99

£1,449

AU$2,199

1TB

$1,799.99

£1,699

AU$2,649

For the latest Galaxy S26 Ultra deals in your region, check out this Samsung Galaxy S26 deals page.

• Value score: 4.5/5

Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra review: Specs

Here's a look at the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra's key specs:

Dimensions:

163.6 mm (height) x 78.1 mm (width) x 7.9 mm (depth)

Weight:

214g

Display:

6.9-inch AMOLED 2X display

Resolution:

3120 x 1440 pixels

Refresh rate:

1-120Hz

Chipset:

Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy

RAM:

12GB / 16GB

Storage:

256GB / 512GB / 1TB

OS:

Android 16

Main camera:

200MP; f/1.4; 0.6µm sensor

Ultrawide camera:

50MP; f/1.9; 0.7µm sensor

Telephoto camera 1

10MP; f/2.4; 0.7µm; 5x optical zoom

Telephoto camera 2

50MP; f/2.9; 0.7µm; 10x optical quality zoom

Selfie camera:

12MP; f/2.2; 1.17µm

Battery:

5,000mAh

Charging:

Super Fast Charging 3.0, Super Fast Wireless Charging

Colors:

Cobalt Violet, Sky Blue, Black, White, Silver Shadow, Pink Gold

Price

From $1,299 / £1,279 / AU$2,199

Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra review: design

• A subtle design refresh
• Thinner and looks a bit more like the S25 Edge (and like all the other Galaxy S26 phones)
• No more titanium

Leading from the rear, the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge has had signifcant influence on the look of the entire Galaxy S26 lineup. Nowhere is this more evident, perhaps, than in the new Galaxy S26 Ultra.

At a glance, the 6.9-inch S26 Ultra looks a lot like the S25 Ultra, but if that new raised camera array looks familiar, it's because it's clearly based on the S25 Edge's two-camera platform. The platform makes sense when you realize the S26 Ultra is slightly thinner and lighter than its predecessor (7.9mm vs 8.2mm and 214g vs 218g).

The S26 Ultra has a slightly softer and more pleasing look, thanks to the four corners adopting a more curved profile. Samsung also swapped out a key material, trading titanium for Armor Aluminum. Honestly, it's not something most people will notice, and I wonder if it helped Samsung save a little money on production costs. The other benefit might be that aluminium, a softer material, makes it easier to apply a wider variety of richer colors. My Cobolt Violet review unit is lovely, but I would've liked to see a few wilder hue swings like deep green or, yes, orange.

Lance Ulanoff / FutureLance Ulanoff / FutureLance Ulanoff / FutureLance Ulanoff / FutureLance Ulanoff / FutureLance Ulanoff / Future

As you would expect, the screen is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass Armor 2 and the back by Gorilla Glass Victus 2. These materials should help protect it from scratches and cracks (if you drop it [Author's note: I did not purposely drop it]).

Beyond those updates and changes, nothing has changed. The power/sleep/Gemini button and long volume button are in essentially the exact same spots. There are a pair of microphone holes along the top edge. On the base are the SIM slot, speaker slot, and USB-C charge port.

Next to that trio is the S Pen. You press it to release the pen, which looks quite similar to the last S Pen but is in fact slightly thinner. I didn't find that it made any noticeable difference in usability.

Lance Ulanoff / FutureLance Ulanoff / FutureLance Ulanoff / Future

The entire phone is still rated IP68, which means it can handle a rain shower (or worse) and dust.

Think about the design this way: If you liked the looks of the S25 Ultra, you'll probably like the S26 Ultra. Sure, the camera bump grew (without demonstrably updating the camera hardware), but it's generally an attractive, big-screen Android smartphone with fresh colors to attract those who found the titanium hues wanting.

• Design score: 5/5

Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra review: Display

• Size, resolution, and brightness unchanged
• Still an excellent display
• Privacy Display borders on breakthrough innovation

Samsung left its 6.9-inch Dynamic AMOLED display mostly unchanged. it stil offers up to 3,120x1440 QHD+ resolution (though it defaults to 2,340x1080 FHD+ to save on battery life). It has the same brightness and ability to smoothly transition from 1Hz for a sleep screen to the buttery-smooth motion of 120hz. There's still a selfie camera cutout near the top of the display and a very thin channel between the frame and the screen for one of the loud and clear stereo speakers.

None of this is news.

(Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)

The marquee feature and one that is, in fact, unique among smartphones is the Privacy Display.

As the name implies, this feature adjusts the screen so that people standing on either side of you, behind you, or even in front of you cannot read what is on your display. There are a few remarkable things about this feature. First, it's a hardware innovation, accomplished by controlling two different kinds of pixels: narrow and wide. These pixels are set in an every other pixel pattern: wide, narrow, wide, narrow.

In standard mode, both pixels are on, providing a 180-degree view of your S26 Ultra screen.

@lanceulanoff

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In Privacy Display Mode, the wide pixels turn off, and then anyone off-axis only sees a grayed-out or nearly black screen unless their face is perpendicular to the S26 Ultra display.

Here's the other remarkable thing: Because this is at a pixel level, the Privacy Display can be set to only hide a portion of a screen: think notification popups, password, and PIN entry.

You can access Privacy Display through settings or the Quick panel. On there, it lets you turn it on for the whole screen or set conditions: "PIN, Pattern, password, Notification popups."

I turned on Privacy Display and could immediately see it at work. First, I noticed that my own screen view looked slightly desaturated (maybe from the loss of wide pixels), second, the default Privacy Display mode isn't that effective. I could still make out the dimmed content, even when viewing the screen from an angle.

To really see the magic, you have to turn on "Maximum privacy protection." Once I did that, my screen looked almost black from an off-angle, and the same was true when I set it for conditions, like only blacking out my notification popups.

The third and perhaps best Privacy display feature is that you can enable it on a per-app basis. Imagine you don't want anyone see what your TikTok or Instagram algorithm looks like. Just turn on Privacy Display for those apps, and whenever you use them, they'll only be visible to you. I set it up for my TikTok and Instagram, and it worked perfectly.

This is the kind of feature I expect competitors like Apple, OnePlus, Motorola, and others to copy in short order. Privacy Display will change the equation when deciding which S26 is right for you (none of the other have this) and could tip the scales in Samsung's favor when considering a platform switch.

• Display score: 5/5

Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra review: S Pen

• Slightly smaller
• Still a great always-ready creative, notation, and AI tool

(Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)

Direct comparisons of the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra with, say, Apple's iPhone 17 Pro Max don't entirely make sense. Afterall, only one of them has shipped with an integrated S Pen since the Galaxy S22 Ultra.

As an amateur artist, I love having the S Pen always on hand, perfectly hidden inside a powerful Android 16 smartphone.

The latest S Pen looks a lot like the last one, but it is slightly thinner, and the back end is now curved to match the curve of its S26 Ultra housing.

(Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)

In use, this S Pen is just as useful as its predecessors. It's a great implement for note-taking, marking up images, creating rough sketches for AI image generation, and making art. It recognizes pressure and orientation. There's even a button on the side that, in the Sketchbook app, gives you instant access to an eraser.

The S26 Ultra is also aware of the S Pen, and if it's been outside the phone and not used for a while, the phone will ask you if you have your S Pen.

Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra review: cameras

• Same camera array as the S25 Ultra
• Apertures grew on the lenses you'll use most
• Selfie camera got a big field of view upgrade
• Generally excellent image capture capabilities
• Noticeably less grain on night shots
• Super Steady to the max

(Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)

Before we dive into the photographic performance of the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra, let's pause a moment to look at the virtually unchanged camera array and selfie camera:

• Main camera: 200MP f1.4
• 5x telephoto: 50MP (also provides the 10x zoom through a sensor crop) f2.9
• 3x optical: 10MP f2.4
• Ultra-wide: 50MP f1.9
• Front-facing camera: 12MP f2.2

What's not evident there, though, are two significant changes on the 200MP Main camera and 10MP 5X optical zoom. Both cameras feature wider apertures (represented by lower f-stop numbers), which allows them to capture more light and makes them more effective in low-light situations.

In practice, this is an excellent set of lenses, and based on megapixels, they all beat the iPhone 17 Pro Max's 48MP lenses. However, even on the 200MP camera, you'll default to shooting at a binned 12MP (multiple pixels of information are applied to each final pixel). The iPhone 17 Pro Max defaults to shooting at 24MP.

I shot photos using all the cameras, often capturing the exact same image with the Galaxy S25 Ultra and the iPhone 17 Pro Max.

All of these phones offer excellent cameras, and I found the image quality generally excellent. If anything, the S26 Ultra appears to have pulled even with the iPhone 17 Pro Max in most photo scenarios.

The S26 Ultra camera array on the left, the S25 Ultra cameras are on the right. (Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)

Samsung told me that their image processing now allows the phone to understand the native noise signature of each lens and adjust accordingly. What this means is my photo results are clearer and cleaner. Between that and the larger apertures, the low-light photography, especially nighttime photography ("Nightography"), shows a significant improvement. I noticed far less graininess in my star photography.

At one point, I shot a hyperlapse video that captures moving nighttime clouds and what might have been a pair of high-altitude jets. It's a lovely, low-grain seven-second video.

(Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)

Color, truth, clarity, detail, and skin tones are the best I have ever seen for a Galaxy series phone, and they rival what I can get on the iPhone 17 Pro Max.

(Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)

We have the same 3X and 5X optical zoom options, as well as a 10MP zoom accomplished by doing a sensor crop on the 50MP telephoto. I like a good 5X zoom and appreciate the 10X option, even if it's not a true telephoto lens. What I steer clear of are the 30X and 100x space zoom options. They, too, can provide some eye-popping results, but I'm highly skeptical of the amount of AI applied to deliver these results. If you want photos that reflect reality, these AI-supported image creation modes are not for you.

The 12MP selfie camera. (Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)

While Samsung didn't upgrade the front-facing selfie camera's megapixels or even add the ability to do landscape photos while holding the phone in portrait mode (called Center Stage), they did significantly increase the field of view to 85 degrees. When I took a selfie of myself, I was startled to see just how much of the surrounding scene the S26 Ultra can pull. I bet I'll fit a lot more people in my next Galaxy selfie.

(Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)

On the video front, the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra boasts some pro-level video capabilities, including the APV codec, and 8K at 30 fps video capture. Yes, you can shoot that high-resolution video and edit it on the phone (including applying things like the AI-powered Audio Eraser). However, I still can't edit 8K 30fps video on my go-to Android video editor, PowerDirector. But the feature that will easily impact most regular people is the Super Steady update that adds horizontal lock.

This is not just smoothing out tilts and turns. Using the S26 Ultra's gyroscope and accelerometer (and clearly some software and probably sensor cropping tricks), it is capable of holding the horizontal plane even as you turn the phone a full 360 degrees. I’m not kidding. I tried it. It works incredibly well and far exceeds the iPhone’s Action Mode.

@techradar

♬ Dream - Alex Lustig

• Cameras score: 5/5

Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra review: camera samplesLance Ulanoff / FutureLance Ulanoff / FutureLance Ulanoff / FutureLance Ulanoff / FutureLance Ulanoff / FutureLance Ulanoff / FutureLance Ulanoff / FutureLance Ulanoff / FutureLance Ulanoff / FutureLance Ulanoff / FutureLance Ulanoff / FutureLance Ulanoff / FutureLance Ulanoff / FutureLance Ulanoff / FutureLance Ulanoff / FutureLance Ulanoff / FutureLance Ulanoff / FutureLance Ulanoff / FutureLance Ulanoff / FutureLance Ulanoff / FutureSamsung Galaxy S26 Ultra review: software and AI

• Brimming with AI
• Bixby has a better LLM for local queries and Perplexity for general knowledge
• Google updates Gemini for the Ultra
• Galaxy AI has more image manipulation and creation capabilities

Few phones illustrate our over-saturated era of generative AI more than the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra. It has Bixby, Perplexity, Samsung Galaxy AI, and, of course, Google Gemini. Each has a role – some multiple roles – and there can be some overlap.

Samsung's long-term goal is for people to see this as an AI phone but not think very much about which AI got you where. Basically, the phone will get smarter over time, especially as its Agentic capabilities grow – and start to proactively do your bidding.

We're not there yet. In fact, the Agentic stuff, which lives with Gemini, is only with Uber for now (other third-party apps will follow). You're supposed to be able to ask Gemini to book you an Uber ride, and it will run off in the background, gather all the relevant bits, and have it set up in Uber so all you have to do is approve the ride.

I installed Uber on the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra and then asked Gemini to book me a ride to the airport. Gemini told me it could help, but it first asked for key information like my pickup address, pickup time, and the kind of ride I prefer.

While Gemini said it booked the ride. Nothing was booked. It also later told me it could not help with canceling the non-existent ride. (Image credit: Future)

Gemini told me it had booked the ride, but when I checked Uber, nothing was booked. I told Gemini to cancel the ride (in case I was confused), but Gemini couldn't do anything about the non-existent ride.

In general, though, my experience with Gemini (the default is Fast model mode) was good. I had many conversations with it and used it to identify things in my shelves, and with the live view, have it explain how to fix a leaky bathroom faucet. It's far from foolproof and has yet to learn how to pronounce my last name.

Gemini on the S26 Ultra is also a showcase for what's coming to other Android smartphones that can support the generative platform. For example, the phone supports Circle to Search's new Find the Look capabilities. These let you circle someone's whole outfit in an image, and Gemini will find all the clothing.

(Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)

I looked up an image of John Lennon from the 1970s, pressed down on the virtual home button, and launched Circle to Search. After circling Lennon, I asked Gemini to find the look (it identified his vintage white jacket), and then I asked Nano Banana to generate an image of me in the same look. I never got that to work, but Nano Banana did create a new image of John Lennon in the same look, with the rest of the Beatles standing nearby. I was a little surprised Gemini was willing to create imagery of a known figure. I also did the same operation with a photo of the actor Walter Goggins.

Samsung's own Galaxy AI is already a powerful and pervasive generative AI platform on the Galaxy S phone line; however, it now has some features.

I used it, for example, to make a simple cartoon sketch of my face and then transform it into a more polished comic, which I then used to generate stickers that I can now send to friends over Messages.

(Image credit: Future)

Galaxy AI's photo editing capabilities are very strong. I grabbed an apple, put it on a table, and took a photo. Then I asked Galaxy AI to take a slice out of the apple and put the slice next to the Apple. After a few seconds, it complied, and the results look real. When I had it take another AI shot at the photo, I noticed that the slice and the cutout on the apple didn't match up quite as neatly as they did on the first generated shot.

(Image credit: Future)

Next, I sketched a dinosaur eating the apple and asked Galaxy AI to convert it into art. The result was a tiny crocodile crawling behind the apple. Bascially my rough sketch was little more than inspiration.

In another instance, I asked Galaxy AI to add flowers to my orchid. It added flowers, but they were all carnations. I told Galaxy to make sure to add orchid flowers. It did, but put them next to the carnations.

(Image credit: Future)

Bixby is better at conversational queries, but it can still take some work to get Samsung's homegrown digital assistant to do what you want. I asked it to change the aspect ratio on my photos to 16:9, but had to repeat myself a few times to make it understand. Saying "sixteen colon nine" did the trick.

(Image credit: Future)

For questions that do not relate to the phone, Bixby now has Perplexity AI. If you ask, as I did, about the capital of Montana, Bixby won't hesitate but will tap directly into Perplexity in the cloud to get the answer. You'll notice that the result has a little Perplexity logo on it.

The truth is, I don't understand what Perplexity is doing here. Afterall, I can ask Gemini that same question and get the same (or even more tailored) result. Why did Bixby need general knowledge? Perhaps I'm underestimating how many people use Bixby.

(Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)

The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra has a collection of "Now" features, including "Now Brief," which shows up as a home screen (and lock screen, if you choose) widget, Now Bar for adaptive reminders, and the new "Now Nudge," which can give you contextual reminders and information where and when you need it.

Now Brief is a fine widget with information about the weather, my schedule, and news, but I didn't find much use in the rest of the Now tools. I think I need to spend more time with the phone and let it learn a whole lot more about me before these tools become truly useful.

(Image credit: Future)

Last year, Samsung unveiled its powerful Audio Erase, which can remove distracting background audio from your videos. You can reduce voices, crowd sounds, and background noises, with customizable sliders for each control. It's effective, but if you turn the noise reduction all the way down, voices can end up sounding a bit robotic.

More intriguing is Audio Eraser's new third-party app capabilities, which you access via the Quick Panel. I tried it with TikTok and YouTube and could tell it sharpened and raised the dialogue a bit over background noises, but otherwise did not find it all that useful.

(Image credit: Future)

I like many of these AI tools, but I do think the system is a bit overloaded with options. I look forward to a time when there's a more consistent AI approach with zero redundancy. If one on-board AI can handle a task, there should not be another waiting in the wings to do the exact same thing.

• Software AI score: 4.5/5

Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra review: Performance

• A fast Qualcomm Snapdragon Gen 8 Elite 5 for Galaxy chip
• Snappy performance in every task

Every year, Samsung gets the fastest available Snapdragon for its flagship smartphone, and every year it convinces Qualcomm to customize the chip, squeezing out a few extra Ghz of speed just for its phones.

In truth, the Qualcomm Snapdragon Gen 8 Elite 5 for Galaxy is about more than just speed. It's customized to work better for the Galaxy S26 series across a range of tasks. Samsung claimed that it brings faster CPU, GPU, and NPU performance. This translates into better Geekbench benchmarks than the similarly named Snapdragon chips in last year's Galaxy S25 Ultra. Single-core and multi-core scores eclipse those on Apple's A19 Pro. GPU screens are harder to compare, though the iPhone 17 Pro Max silicon appears to be significantly ahead of those on the S26 Ultra.

Lance Ulanoff / FutureLance Ulanoff / FutureLance Ulanoff / Future

Benchmark numbers tell you little about real-world performance. In everyday use, that last Ultra was fast, and this new S26 Ultra is fast. There's enough headroom that I doubt anyone will notice the difference. The NPU powers some pretty impressive local AI (like my cut Apple, and AI art generated from my primitive sketches).

I played PUBG and Asphalt 9 Legends on the phone and was impressed with how the games looked and the smooth and fast performance (Side note: I paired the S26 Ultra to the new Galaxy Buds4 Pro and loved the fit and surround-sound audio quality). Better yet, the S26 Ultra never got warm. I'll credit the new vapor chamber with the cooler performance.

The Galaxy S26 Ultra's CPU is backed by 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. I can get 16GB of RAM if I pay for the pricey 1TB model.

Overall, this is a fast device ready to accomplish a range of tasks, including running some impressive local AI models.

• Performance score: 5/5

Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra review: Battery

• 5,000 mAh
• Fast wireless charging
• No MagSafe

I'm honestly impressed by the Galaxy S26 Ultra's battery life. Even with brightness turned up, the screen refresh set to a max 120hz, and resolution turned up to QHD+, it carried well past 24 hours of operation. If I lower the brightness and work with FHD+ resolution (which still looks great), it can last two days on a charge.

The 3-nanometer Qualcomm Snapdragon chip is efficient, and the OneUI 8.5 platform knows how to squeeze the most life out of a single charge.

Recharging can be done with a 45W charger, reaching 75% in about 35 minutes. A 65W wired charge could reportedly do the same in 30 minutes. I had my phone fully charged in under an hour.

The phone supports fast wireless charging with up to a 25W charger. What's missing, though, is any kind of MagSafe-style support. There are no magnets in the back of the S26 Ultra, which is a bit of a surprise considering we got Pixel Snap on Google's Pixel 10 phones.

Samsung is only promising that all the cases it sells will come with built-in magnets.

• Battery score: 4.5/5

Should I buy the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra?Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra score card

Value

Keeping the same price while increasing capabilities, speed, and photo quality is always a good thing. It's a pricey flagship but I think the inclusion of the S Pen makes it a better value than most.

4.5/5

Design

If you liked the design of the last Ultra, you should appreciate this incremental update that slims the phone down, makes it lighter and just a little bit softer around the edges. The new colors are a bonus, too.

5/5

Display

It's a fantastic 6.9-inch AMOLED that makes every image pop. Plus it has that fast and buttery-smooth 120hz refresh rate. The marquee update, though is Privacy Display, a one-of-a-kind innovation that actually does what it promises

5/5

Cameras

While this is essentially the same set of cameras as with the S25 Ultra, Samsung has upgraded the aperture on a couple of key lenses, thereby effectively upgrading light-capturing capabilities and we have a selfie camera that can fit more friends and family in the frame. Photos taken with all the lenses are excellent and Super Steady with horizontal lock is shockingly effective.

5/5

Software and AI

Samsung has stuffed the Galaxy S26 Ultra full of AI possibilities to the extent that the options can be overwhelming. You can use the powerful Gemini, the photo and creativity-enhancing Galaxy AI, the phone system-knowledgeable Bixby, or its new partner Perplexity. Each lets you do many AI-infused wonderful things (though some things don't always work as anticipated). Some consolidation is in order. At least OneUI 8.5 feels more consistent and useful than ever. The Now Brief is a useful widget, but I remain unmoved by Now Nudge and Now Bar.

4.5/5

Performance

The S26 Ultra's Qualcomm Snapdragon Gen 8 Elite 5 for Galaxy is more powerful and efficient than ever. It's hard to find a task it can't handle.

5/5

Battery

Fantastic battery life; days if you keep settings to a mid-range resolution.

5/5

Buy it if...

You want the best Android phone on the market
There are cheaper Android phones, but few mix the power, performance, battery life, maximum AI options, and creative possibilities of the S26 Ultra. Honestly, it lives up to its name.

You own other Samsung products
I've said this before, and I'll say it again: Samsung lacks the same kind of deeply connected ecosystem that Apple has across its products, but it's not non-existent, and for every Samsung product you own, the utility of a Galaxy S26 Ultra to connect and sometimes control it all increases.

You want multi-day battery life and no-compromises power
The Galaxy S26 Ultra has not just Qualcomm's fastest mobile chip, it has one customized for the Galaxy line, which means even more power and bespoke performance.

Don't buy it if...

You're on a budget
Even though the S26 Ultra is no more expensive than the S25 Ultra, it's still an expensive smartphone (though I encourage you to check out the many deals and trade-in options). There are cheaper and quite performant Android options like the new $499 Google Pixel 10a. Just know that you give up telephoto, an S Pen, and more than a few other flagship capabilities.

AI is not your thing
One of the S26 Ultra's biggest selling points is comprehensive AI possibilities. It has four (seriously) AI engines, and while that offers a lot of generative possibilities, some people just want a classic smartphone.

Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra review: Also consider

Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max
The Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max pushes the iconic iPhone in bold new directions and colors. It's recognizable, but different in ways that make it eye-catching. The performance is stellar, and the cameras set a new high-water mark for smartphone photography. For people who demand more from their smartphone, there may be no better choice.

Read our full Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max review

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6
The Galaxy Z Fold 6 is a bold reimagining of Samsung’s flagship foldable smartphone. If a 6.9-inch display isn't enough for you, and you want to stick with Samsung and get most of that AI goodness, this foldable is the obvious choice.

Read our full Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 review

Google Pixel 9 Pro XL
The Pixel 9 Pro XL is just a bigger Pixel 9 Pro, but that's good enough. It doesn't have exclusive camera features or extra RAM for a boost, it's just got a bigger display and a bigger battery. That means the Pixel 9 Pro is an even better pick this year, but it also means that you can choose your Pixel based on the size you like, not the features you need.

Read our full Google Pixel 9 Pro XL review

Galaxy S26 Ultra

iPhone 17 Pro Max

Galaxy Z Fold 6

Google Pixel 9 Pro XL

Price (at launch):

$1,299.99 / £1,279 / AU$2,199

$1,199 / £1,199 / AU$2,149

$1,999.99 / £1,799 / AU$2,899

$1,099 / £1,099 / AU$1,849

Dimensions:

163.6 mm (height) x 78.1 mm (width) x 7.9 mm (depth)

163.4 x 78.0 x 8.75 mm

72.8 x 158.4 x 8.9mm (folded)
143.2 x 158.4 x 4.2mm (unfolded)

162.8 x 76.6 x 8.5mm

Weight:

214g

233g

215g

232g

Displays

6.9-inch AMOLED 2X, 120Hz

6.9-inch OLED

Main display:

8-inch QXGA+ Dynamic AMOLED

(2184 x 1968), 120Hz adaptive refresh rate (1~120Hz)

Cover display::

6.5-inch FHD+ Dynamic AMOLED

2X Display(2520 x 1080, 21:9), 120Hz adaptive refresh rate (1~120Hz)

6.8-inch Actua display

Cameras

200MP main, 50MP ultra-wide, 10MP telephoto, 50MP telephoto

48MP wide (24mm, f/1.78), 48MP ultra-wide (13mm, f/2.2), 48MP telephoto (8x optical zoom)

200MP wide, 12MP ultra-wide, 10MP 3x telephoto, 10MP cover-screen, 10MP main-screen

50MP wide; 48MP ultra-wide; 48MP telephoto (5x zoom)

Chipset:

Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy

Apple A19 Pro

Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite for Mobile Platform for Galaxy

Google Tensor G5

How I tested the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra

• Tested the phone for almost one week
• Took photos across all the lenses
• I used the extensive AI tools
• I did work and play on it
• I benchmarked using Geekbench to see the comparative increase in performance over the last Ultra and how it stacks up with the iPhone 17 Pro Max's A19 Pro

Despite a historic East Coast snowstorm, I somehow received the Galaxy S26 Ultra on the same day Samsung announced it at Unpacked in San Francisco. I unboxed and started testing it within minutes of receiving it.

Since then, I've used it constantly and have done my best to push the limits of its processor and entertainment, AI and creative capabilities.

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I connected the phone to Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro to listen to video, social media, and podcasts. I also connected the phone to a Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra to help it track my activities and, hopefully, enhance the Now Brief reports

Read more about how we test

First reviewed: March, 2026

Have you ever seen the meme of an old British lady called Brenda shouting into a street microphone: "You're joking... not another one? Oh for God's sake, I can't stand this." Well, that's how I feel about adaptations of Sherlock Holmes.

After Benedict Cumberbatch took the role on in the self-titled BBC series, I didn't think that the fictional detective could be bested. However, new Prime Video series Young Sherlock has proved me wrong. We leave the comfortable familiarity of 221b Baker Street behind for Sherlock's (Hero Fiennes Tiffin) younger years, following his antics at Oxford University when brother Mycroft (Max Irons) gets him a job as a porter after a brief prison stint.

There, he meets eventual enemy Moriarty (Dónal Finn), together working to uncover a mystery that intimately involves Sherlock's family, especially his sly dad Silas (Joseph Fiennes). In a nutshell, it's the Holmes family as we've never seen them before.

It shouldn't feel ingenious for a snapshot of Sherlock's teen years to feel like a unique idea, yet it feels like something we've never watched before. Why? Unlike Netflix's Enola Holmes series, which focuses on an adapted version of Sherlock's sister, Sherlock himself becomes more accessible by digging deeper into the family history from his perspective.

Add Guy Ritchie's signature action and explosive energy into the mix, and you've got a solid end product that's vibing on pure adrenaline. Everything from the production design to casting of Young Sherlock is on point, and if we never got another detective adaptation again (which won't happen), we'd be going out with a bang.

Sherlock's stale story gets an electric revamp — think Peaky Blinders meets Fight Club

The first rule of Fight Club is not to talk about fight club, but I'll be recommending Young Sherlock to anybody who will listen. When I first watched the above trailer, I didn't really understand the show's intended motive. Why make something about teen Sherlock who seemingly likes punching people as much as he enjoys reading books?

Now I've seen the series, I see how surface-level the trailer actually is, and perhaps the fact so much has been withheld is the sign of a trailer well done. Understanding what made the man is at the key of the Prime Video show, turning him from an aloof intellectual prodigy into a vulnerable young man full of emotion, care, and reason.

The elephant in the room is Sherlock's mother and sister, reimagined as Cordelia Holmes (Natascha McElhone) and Beatrice, who we see in flashbacks. While Enola Holmes went in a different direction, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's books make little mention of Sherlock's family, meaning creatively, they're there for the taking.

Cordelia is the key to understanding Sherlock's mind, with Tiffin's leading man prepared to lay down his life to protect her. Their minds work in the same way, and they're as enthused by the adventures and dangers of life as each other. They are kindred spirits, and yin and yang who fit lovingly together in a world that doesn't want to understand them.

Sherlock's relationship with Moriarty has drastically changed too. Instead of fiery villains, the pair are more like The Chuckle Brothers of the detective game. In hindsight, it's a shame to think that this connection ever changed, and perhaps with time, Young Sherlock can reinvent that. For now, the impeccable double act is a refreshing as a cool glass of water.

Young Sherlock's firing on all cylinders, from script to set design

Don't discount Zine Tseng. (Image credit: Prime Video)

The Gentlemen and MobLand taught us that Ritchie knows how to pack a punch on the small screen, and with a bigger studio budget comes bigger risk-taking. In Young Sherlock, they all pay off, taking us cross-continental on a journey across Constantinople, Oxford and the Parisian streets of the French Revolution.

These are all big set pieces, with my favorite in particular a trip to the Folies Bergère cabaret hall in episode 6, complete with every bombastic detail you could imagine. It's this sense of well-rounded craft that elevates the entire production, having through through the broadest scope to the most insignificant prop.

A special shoutout must be made to the theme tune, which is a compliment I seldom get to give these days. If the scenes played prior to its use haven't got you pumped up, you'll be wanting to throw yourself into a detective-filled mosh pit by the time it's over.

The stellar performances, the whistle-stop pace and dialogue being flawlessly executed at a million miles a minute are a heady mix. Sherlock's 'mind palace' is shown in a completely new light, with action sequences never committed to half-heartedly.

It's shows like Young Sherlock that rejuvenate your excitement about what TV can achieve, the impressive direction entertainment and design can collectively take. As far as I'm concerned, throw all the money at Ritchie that he wants if he keeps producing projects as dazzling as this.

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Pokémon Pokopia has been somewhat of a mystery since its first announcement; it was evidently set to be a cozy game, but of what variety few could tell. Well, the answer is here; it’s part life sim, part town-building sim, part sandbox, and 100% great fun.

Nintendo passing the reins to Koei Tecmo’s Omega Force for this proved wise; their experience in making Dragon Quest Builders 2 proved invaluable in balancing Pokopia’s Animal Crossing-like cuteness and coziness with a solid storyline and satisfying gameplay loop. It's most certainly one of the best Nintendo Switch 2 games.

Review info

Platform reviewed: Nintendo Switch 2
Available on: Nintendo Switch 2
Release date: March 5, 2025

As you’d expect, there’s always at least a little room for improvement, but overall, I am solidly impressed with the results; I found Pokopia incredibly hard to put down, and considering I’ve been working on a deadline to write up my review, that’s proved problematic!

Some prospective fans might be surprised to find that Pokopia is pretty story-driven; there’s ample side-questing, construction work, and resource collection to be enjoyed, too, but you’ll need to progress through the main quest lines to unlock new powers, areas, and Pokémon. While I love a sandbox game, the story focus of Pokopia really helps draw out the experience; had I not been working to a deadline, I could have comfortably enjoyed the first chapter (which I completed in roughly eight hours) for thrice as long.

I’m willing to hedge my bets that this will be a hugely popular title for the Nintendo Switch 2, and perhaps even a system seller; limited perhaps only by the fact that non-Pokémon fans might assume you’d need to love the monster-collecting role-playing games to enjoy Pokopia. Sure, you might miss out on a few references here and there, but I’d point any cozy game lover in the direction of Pokopia in a heartbeat.

(Image credit: Nintendo/The Pokémon Company)Kanto region as you’ve never seen it before

In Pokopia, you play as a Ditto who awakens to a post-apocalyptic and alarmingly underpopulated world. It’s your mission to restore the land to its former glory, entice back the missing Pokémon, and perhaps, even, the humans that seem to have completely vanished without a trace. It’s a great concept with some surprisingly dark undertones, though no more sinister than movies like WALL-E, which broach similar topics.

For the uninitiated, the Ditto species has the ability to transform into other creatures; it’s relatively rare that the ability is used to transform into humans, but this particular Ditto, longing for its long-lost trainer, can maintain their former partner’s human form. Even more unusually, it’s able to concurrently mimic other Pokémon’s abilities, and it’s with these powers you’ll terraform the land around you. By all accounts, it seems like we’re in the Kanto region; in-game clues hint as much, though I’ve not reached a point in the main storyline where there’s absolute confirmation on that.

There’s a solid variety of really useful skills on offer, from Bulbasaur’s grass-growing Leafage to the power to glide acquired later in the game. These scale with you as your adventure progresses in a really satisfying way, speeding up the rate at which you can improve the environment and travel around the world. They do come with limitations; you’ve got a PP meter that refills each day, however, it’s pretty easy to refuel.

(Image credit: Nintendo/The Pokémon Company)

To learn these abilities, Ditto needs to see them in action, so the first call to order is creating habitats that missing Pokémon can live in. As you explore the various locations in the game, you’ll find hints for different habitats, which use a combination of natural objects like rocks, trees, flowers, and tall grass, environmental factors like height, as well as man-made furnishings to lure home different species.

Many are relatively easy to form, but some will require you to find or build items. I’d wager that despite powering through the storyline, I’m only about halfway through both the Pokédex and Habitat dex; there’s a lot of content to enjoy here.

It takes a village

The rarity of the Pokémon dictates how quickly it will appear, but after some waiting, different species will arrive and offer their support to Ditto as it works to improve the local towns. Each Pokémon has abilities to help these efforts; some can refine items like bricks and ingots, others can join your party to help as you quest around town, and some just know how to bring a great vibe to any function with abilities like Hype. Each have their own likes and dislikes, too, when it comes to decor.

Much like in Animal Crossing: New Horizons, there are archetypes for characters and dialogue, and while there are lots of different topics, there’s a fair amount of duplication in line delivery when you stop to chat with Pokémon. It’s somewhat understandable given just how many species there are, but it’s frustratingly close to nailing it. The first time you meet a Pokémon, there’s a unique interaction that gives you a good idea of the wide-ranging personalities of these species, only to be quickly traded for more generic interactions. Conversations between other Pokémon are pretty consistently charming, at least, and show off their unique qualities much better.

Plus, there’s a distinct lack of sass here, too; you’re told Pokémon like Dartrix are “narcissistic” in the Pokédex, and yet he’s sweet as pie most of the time when you interact. Given there are so many mischievous, egotistical, and even downright aggressive Pokémon species, this feels like another missed opportunity from Nintendo to bring back some bite to its characters.

Best bit

(Image credit: Nintendo/The Pokémon Company)

Listening in as Kricketot helped Diglett find his groove in an impromptu jam sesh. So. Darn. CUTE. I also love the photo opportunities to capture various Pokémon hanging out in the wild.

Still, I love that the Pokémon walk around your town, interacting with furnishings and decor you’ve placed as well as eachother. Sometimes they’ll bound over to you for a chat, to make a request or even to play a minigame like hide and seek – while these are pretty easy, it’s nice to break away and build your relationships. The world feels really lively, and I wasn’t convinced it would from early game footage nor my demo experience last month; I’m always glad to be wrong in moments like this.

Some smaller details like this do get lost in the mix; for example, sometimes, you might struggle to find a specific Pokémon you need. Presumably to offload the weight of having lots of Pokémon in one area at once, sometimes the game will remove residents from the world – but they also can just have strayed far from home. I happened to notice that it was possible to use the Pokédex to search for them around the map, and it’s only through an item description that I learned you could use honey on a habitat to summon its resident back into the world. Missing these tips meant I spent a good few hours earlier in my gameplay running in circles, ironically, trying to find Far’fetchd.

Broadly, though, the game handles these quality-of-life features and attention to detail incredibly well, and feels like Nintendo learned a lot of huge lessons from the early versions of Animal Crossing: New Horizons, even if I can still foresee an impatient younger player missing a trick or two and facing some frustration off the back of it.

Make a house a home

(Image credit: Nintendo/The Pokémon Company)

The centrepiece of each town is its Pokémon center, which you’ll need to rebuild; thankfully, the PC stationed nearby grants access to the Poké Life app, where you’ll find daily challenges and shop items to help on your journey as well as launch multiplayer modes and claim rewards.

Broadly, you progress through the game by improving the town’s environment level, which can also be tracked on the PC. You accomplish this by improving the habitats of your new pals; each day, they’ll request everything from decor to environmental changes, and meeting their demands will help you level up. You might find that these satisfaction levels even change for the worse if, for example, it starts raining and your fire Pokémon doesn’t have shelter, so it’s well worth checking in every day to see how things are changing for your Poképals.

If a Pokémon’s natural habitat just isn’t working out, that’s fine too; you can build everything from quick and space-efficient shanty huts for smaller species to grander block houses that multiple Pokémon can call home. Making your own structures and placing blocks can be a teensy bit fiddly at times, especially if you’re repairing pathways or dealing with larger-scale buildings, but you can use mouse mode, which allows for a little more fine motor control. Personally, I didn’t get on with this control system; however, I have dyspraxia, so I struggle with mouse mode at the best of times. I can see some players finding it useful, though.

(Image credit: Nintendo/The Pokémon Company)

There are also ample opportunities for customization, especially when it comes to building. I think players are going to have a lot of fun with this feature, which will be massively appreciated when it comes to the multiplayer experience, where players can show off their home islands.

Plus, some great tech mechanics make building much more than a cosmetic exercise, some of which I’ve barely scratched the surface of; from minecarts to electricity circuits and beyond, it will take a lot to recreate the world as humans left it. Thankfully, Drifloon can whisk you away to a different dream island every day, where you can gather more resources if you’re running dry.

Strafing difficulty levels

(Image credit: Nintendo/The Pokémon Company)

Overall, the game is quite well balanced in terms of difficulty, but there are a lot of shortcuts you can figure out to speed your way through questlines and unlock more powerful moves more quickly.

The real-time element of the game is great for pacing, but it does have its quirks. Certain tasks like teams of Pokémon taking on construction work or processing materials, make you wait for the results, but in both cases, you can still make use of the Pokémon for other tasks at the same time, unless they’re operating machinery. And anyway, it’s actually pretty easy to build multi-resident houses yourself in Pokopia; all you really need is a one-block high wall, a doorway, three pieces of furniture, and voila, you can move in a few Pokémon and more quickly improve their satisfaction levels.

Plus, ome Pokémon abilities are pretty busted. You can bring most plant-type Pokémon along with you to any vegetable gardens you’ve planted and use their abilities to speed up crop growth – sure, they might run out of energy, but a quick Leppa berry sees them hop straight back to work. I’d have preferred it if, like with furnaces and other workstations, farming had been an assignable task, as its current setup somewhat flies in the face of the real-time cycle.

(Image credit: Nintendo/The Pokémon Company)

These kinds of min/maxing workarounds are often tantalizing, but it’s up to you as the player to moderate yourself and choose to enjoy the non-demanding pace Pokopia offers. Perhaps the game could have a few more guardrails, but it doesn’t make it any worse to play unless you’re looking for reasons to rush through.

Besides, there’s just so much to do in Pokopia. You want to build a museum and proudly display your collectibles? You got it. Want to focus on rebuilding all that which the humans left behind? There’s plenty of ruins to go around. Want to shirk off Ditto’s mission and just create 3D models of Pokémon out of dirt blocks? You do you, boo boo.

Most of my issues with this game have been surface-level, really; the attention to detail here is fantastic, it’s consistently great fun to play, and brimming with evident care for the now-30-year-old franchise.

Every aspect of Pokopia feels like a warm hug; the graphics are super cute, the interfaces are clean, the music is bright and comforting, and it’s full of life. It’s a breath of fresh air to have a spin-off that adds so much to the already-teeming world of Pokémon, and I, for one, am incredibly excited to see how players design their own cities and islands.

Should you play Pokémon Pokopia?Play it if...

You love a peaceful adventure
Part life-sim, part sandbox, part town-building sim, there’s a lot to love about Pokémon Pokopia and very little to raise your blood pressure.

You’re craving some self-expression
From character design to furnishings to building materials and beyond, you can really make the world of Pokémon feel like your own with very few restrictions.

You want an environmental feast
Pokopia is so darn cute to look at. Cutesy pastel hues, animated and vibrant Pokémon, and a great stripped-back soothing soundtrack make it a wonderful and immersive cozy experience.

Don't play it if...

You want Pokémon battles
While even I hoped for some semblance of classic Pokémon fighting, in a trainer-less world, it makes little sense to include any fighting mechanics.

You have poor self-control
The worst thing about this game, really, is that it’s easy to work around a lot of its real-time restrictions. If, like me, you’ve got poor impulse control and crave the dopamine hit of completed tasks, you might struggle to enjoy the slow pace – but there’s still plenty to enjoy.

Accessibility features

There are many of the standard expected accessibility features: text speed, customizable controls, camera speed and distance controls, as well as auto-adjust/follow.

However, outside of these, there’s little on offer; I’d expect and hope at the very least for font size adjustments, control sensitivity, UI settings, and closed captions for in-game sound effects, which would drastically improve the experience for a wide range of prospective players. I really hope these come in a future update.

(Image credit: Nintendo/The Pokémon Company)How I reviewed Pokémon Pokopia

I spent 40 hours playing Pokémon Pokopia on my Nintendo Switch 2, working my way through as much of the main quest as possible in that time while also working towards rebuilding the various towns to my taste. I completed most of the early-game side quests, gathered a sizeable chunk of collectibles, and created a wide variety of habitats for my Pokémon.

I mostly played in docked mode, playing with my Nintendo Switch 2 Pro controller and using standard settings on my Sony KD-49XH8096 TV, using Logitech Multimedia Z200 speakers or my Corsair Void MAX Wireless v2, but I also spent around 6 hours in handheld mode and tried mouse mode for easier block placement.

I compared my experience with Pokémon Pokopia to some of my favorite cozy, sandbox, and town-building games, from titles like Stardew Valley, Minecraft, and Terraria to Animal Crossing: New Horizons and games from the Two Point tycoon series.