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I tested the Hinomi H2 Pro - and this office chair folds in half and has some wild lumbar support
Earlier this year, I tried out the Hinomi H1 Pro and was genuinely impressed by how well the chair performs. Now, with the H2 Pro, the team at Hinomi has taken what was great about the H1 Pro and upgraded a few key features.
First, they increased the number of adjustment points from 16 to 19, adding three more. Second, they reworked their lumbar support. Third, they updated and upgraded their armrest system. Fourth, they used slightly different materials, opting for an aluminum alloy frame and breathable mesh that is skin-friendly and ultra comfortable for all-day use.
After the H1 Pro impressed, I was keen to see how this newer model compared to the best office chairs I've tested.
Hinomi H2 Pro: Price and availability(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )The Hinomi H2 Pro is available from Hinomi's US site and UK site. It has a retail price of $759 / £759. Purchasing direction, you can add on the optional footrest, free shipping, and a 10-year warranty. I'm also seeing it on sale from online retailers, including at Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk.
(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )Hinomi H2 Pro: Unboxing and First ImpressionsThe Hinomi H2 Pro came in a simple box with clearly labeled parts, and the necessary tools for assembly were included. You won't need any other tools unless you choose to use them. I still love using my Hoto Electric Screwdriver for furniture builds, but you can use whatever you prefer. Hinomi makes sure that you are ready to go out of the box.
The assembly process took approximately 25 minutes, without any issues or needing a restart. Once I got everything assembled, I was able to grab a seat and start adjusting the ergonomics to fit my body. The mesh feels pretty firm, but not in a bad way. It feels like it’s not going to loosen over time, but instead will give firm yet comfortable support for a long time to come.
I will say that the lumbar support is very noticeable in this chair. For those who like to have less support here, this chair may not be your favorite, but if you are looking for something that can add a layer of support, help you stop slouching, or help with a sore lower back, this may just be what you need.
Hinomi H2 Pro: Design & Build QualityI found overall, this chair feels good quality for the money. It has a stable aluminum base, smooth casters, quality mesh upholstery, a good pattern, and good mechanics. It keeps the chair moving well without creaking or feeling like something will break over time.
(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )Hinomi H2 Pro: In useSpecsSeat Height Range: 18-22.8 inches
Seat Depth: 16.7-19.9 inches
Weight Capacity: 330 lbs
Dimensions: 26.8 x 25.2 x 20.5-inches
Warranty: 10 years
Sometimes chairs in this mid-price tier can be a weird mix between budget materials and a premium price, but the Hinomi H2 Pro fits its price quite nicely. Even though it’s not the highest priced nor the most feature-set, this chair provides all day comfort with ergonomic support, which at the end of the day is all that we are looking for.
Testing for the first day, the first few hours of this chair felt firm, I noticed the lumbar support very prominently, and I felt very supported. By hour four, I started realizing that this mesh was keeping me cool which was great. However, I wish the thigh support could extend a bit more for my very long legs (I’m 6’2”). By hour eight, I was noticing that my head and neck still felt supportive and I hadn’t noticed any squeaking nor looseness in the chair.
(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )Now, 60 days later, I still feel the same way. This chair has held up great, and I actually use the feature of folding down more than I thought.
At first, I thought it was a bit gimmicky and I was just using it because why not, and I wanted to use the fun feature, but now, as I mentioned, a full two months of having this chair in my rotation and used by my team, I find myself folding up the chair and pushing it under my standing desk when standing to get work done more often than not.
Rather than pushing it behind me into my office taking up more space, or pushing it off to the side, I now push it directly under my desk right where it is out of the way. Granted, if you have a smaller desk this may not work, but for medium to large desks, this is a spectacular plus to a chair like this.
Hinomi H2 Pro: Final verdictThe Hinomi H2 Pro is a welcome upgrade to an already great chair with the Hinomi H1 Pro. It’s a lumbar-prominent, breathable mesh, color popping, chair folding ergonomic addition that offers a great bang-for-the-buck.
It’s not the most luxurious of chairs, nor does it claim to be. It offers an appropriate experience for the price, while also throwing in the fact that it can fold flat like a party trick you never knew you wanted to be able to do.
Should you buy a Hinomi H2 Pro?Image 1 of 9(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )Image 2 of 9(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )Image 3 of 9(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )Image 4 of 9(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )Image 5 of 9(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )Image 6 of 9(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )Image 7 of 9(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )Image 8 of 9(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )Image 9 of 9(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )Value
Mid priced, and a mid chair, it's very fairly priced, good quality for the money
4 / 5
Design
Bold colors, nice mesh, and unique folding frame
4.5 / 5
Hardware
Sturdy mechanics, nice base, and hyper-mobile arms
4 / 5
Performance
High-comfort for long sessions, nice lumbar support, though not for everyone
4 / 5
Overall
A fun chair with some nice features, and great adjustments, though it may not be the perfect chair for all
4 / 5
Buy it if...You want highly adjustable armrests
These armrests are some of the most adjustable I have ever seen. So, if armrests are a big deal to you, you'll probably love this chair
You want to be able to fold your chair in half
There aren't many chairs that I've tested that fold in half, if you want this feature for storage or for ease of use, this chair may be perfect for you for that feature aloneView Deal
You want a more subtle or adjustable lumbar
This lumbar support is pretty pronounced, it may not be the right fit for you if you don't want to be forced into perfect lumbar positioning
You want a more minimal chair
This chair is bold, it's pronounced, and it is not understanted to say the least, if you are looking for a sleek and aesthetic chair, this may not fit your vibe
For more office furniture essentials, we've tested and reviewed the best office chairs.
Categories: Reviews
The CZUR ET24 Pro isn’t a perfect book scanner, but those who need one don’t have many choices
CZUR ET24 Pro: 30-second review
Most people think of scanners as that quaint mechanism that looks like an old photocopier on the printer, or an independent flatbed ideal for capturing receipts.
But in commercial terms, there are two pathways to bulk image capture: industrial document scanners that can handle hundreds of documents in short order, or devices like the CZUR ET24 Pro focused on book scanning.
Scanning books is a critical task for museums and archives where many people wish to see and read rare books, but the process is often detrimental to the documents.
The CZUR ET24 Pro is a camera solution designed specifically to cope with books where the scanning surface is likely to be curved, and the captured data will need to be flattened to provide the best viewing experience for others.
It features a 24MP camera mounted on a stand with its own lighting source and the electronics needed to profile the curve of the pages, and pass that information on to the scanning software to make appropriate adjustments.
The workflow allows the operator to turn the pages, hold them down and then trigger a capture using the foot pedal, hand switch or software-controlled, before moving on to the next page.
In addition to auto-flatten functionality, the software can also de-skew and includes OCR that can understand 180 different languages.
The CZUR ET24 Pro can scan any documents up to A3 size (16.5” x 11.7”), making it suitable for the majority of book scanning projects. CZUR makes a series of these devices, with the ET24 Pro being a mid-range option; it also makes cheaper, lower-resolution ET16 Plus and ET18 Pro models, in addition to the larger ET25 Pro and ET Max variants.
The only significant caveat with this device is the price, with the asking price being $649 for this model. That probably prices this hardware out for anyone who just wants to capture a single book, but for those who do this job regularly, it might be a solid investment.
(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)CZUR ET24 Pro: Price and availability- How much does it cost? From $649/£649/€629
- When is it out? Available now
- Where can you get it? Through an online retailer or direct from CZUR
The range of CZUR scanners can be purchased through Amazon and AliExpress, and the asking price on Amazon is $649 in the USA, in the UK it's £649 at Amazon.co.uk, and €629 in Europe. Though the Europeans have a voucher deal running that reduced that to €534, making it the cheapest place to get it via Amazon.
The AliExpress pricing is better for the UK at £507.07, but for both the EU and USA customers, it's more expensive to get it from AliExpress than it is from Amazon.
Book scanning appears to be a subject that CZUR has effectively ring-fenced, since many competitor products are rebadged versions of its products. There are hand scanners and a few cheaper versions of the same concept, but CZUR has a wide range of options progressing from small portal solutions to larger professional installations.
Because there aren’t many competitors, the price is the price, and only the potential purchaser can determine if that represents value for money.
For what hardware is in this equipment, it seems expensive to this reviewer, but for those scanning books every day, it might seem like a bargain.
- Value: ★★★★☆
Feature
Specification
Product Type
Smart Book & Document Scanner
Camera Sensor
CMOS, 24 Megapixels
Resolution
5696 x 4272 pixels (320 DPI default)
Max Scan Area
?A3 (420 x 297 mm / 16.5 x 11.7 in); Max: 480 x 360 mm (18.89 x 14.17 in)
Max Scan Thickness
35 mm (A3), 50 mm (A4)
Scan Speed
1.5 seconds per page (single/dual pages)
Image Format
JPG
Export Formats
JPG, PDF, Searchable PDF, Word, Excel, TIFF
Color Depth
24 bits
Video Streaming
MJPG
Preview
PC Visual Presenter: 3072 x 1728 @12fps; Scanning: 1536 x 1152 @20fps
Light Source
Built-in top LED and side lights
Focus Mode
Fixed focus
Trigger Methods
Device control, software, hand button, foot pedal
System Support
Windows XP/7/8/10/11 (32/64-bit), macOS 10.11+, Linux Ubuntu 16.04+
Processor
Dual-core OpenRISC 32-bit
Laser Assistance
3 laser rays
Memory
1Gbit DDR
HDMI Output
HDMI 1.4 (Visual Presenter: 1920x1080P 60Hz/50Hz, 1280x720P 60Hz/50Hz, etc.)
Display
2.4" LCD, 4:3, 320x240
USB
USB 2.0 High-Speed
Power
Input: AC 100-240V 50/60Hz; Output: DC 9V/1.5A-2A
OCR
ABBYY OCR, supports 180+ languages
Software Features
Flattening curve, smart paging, tilt correction, auto-cropping, fingerprint removal, background purifying, colour modes, auto/manual scan, watermark, screen/video recording, combine sides, blank page detection
Optical Features
EFL: 4.55mm, BFL: 3.4mm, F/NO: 4.5, IR Cut: 650±10nm, Field of View: 82°, Distortion:
CZUR ET24 Pro: Design- Mostly plastic
- Built-for purpose
- Plenty of options
I was initially somewhat disappointed with this device, or rather, specifically the build quality, as it is almost entirely made of relatively thin plastic.
Given the L-shaped form factor, I at least expected the base to be mostly metal to counteract the weight of the top arm that holds the camera. It’s not, and therefore, the whole construction isn’t far from toppling over if something or someone accidentally collides with it.
That said, it comes mostly in one piece, and the only feature that requires attaching other than cables is the side lighting component that is roughly halfway up from the base. This is attached using magnets, and again, they needed to be stronger magnets to avoid this part falling if knocked.
The base has four buttons and connections on the rear for attaching the various triggers, an included power supply and, on this model, a display via HDMI.
If you attach all the cables provided, including the foot pedal and hand button, there could be five cables coming out of the scanner, which is a bit messy.
One annoyance is that this uses generally old technology. The USB cable to connect it to a computer is Type-A, so that’s a pain for anyone with a modern laptop which has only USB-C, and the Type-A is USB 2.0, making for longer file transfers than are possible with better connectivity. Not that the scanned files it captures are huge, but USB has got better for many reasons with each subsequent release.
There is another way to use the scanner: use it for presentations and display what it sees via the HDMI output. This sounds super-useful until you realise that the maximum resolution supported by the HDMI is 1080p, whereas the captures are 5696 x 4272 pixels or nearly six times bigger. You can zoom the display to see more detail from the capture, but why this isn’t in 4K is a mystery.
(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)Another curiosity is that on top of the scanner, where the camera is supported, is a small colour LCD display, which shows what the camera is currently seeing. If you are sitting in front of the scanner, unless you are remarkably tall, you won’t be able to see the display unless you are standing up. That might be great for posture, but the idea of scanning a book while standing up seems mildly bonkers for those in the later stages of life.
There is an easy fix for this would be that the display was hinged, just like the ones that are on most 3D printers, and this would have worked for both standing and sitting operations. This evidently was either never considered by the designers or they rejected it on a cost basis. Whatever the reason, it was an obvious omission that needs to be rectified.
Along with the scanner and its cables, CZUR also provides two ‘finger cots’, curious devices I’ll discuss in the user experience section. And, also a CD with the software on it. No, that’s not a bit of my infamously odd UK humour, this scanner came with a CD, something I’ve not seen with a tech product in many a year.
Why wasn’t it a cheap USB flash drive? I’ve no idea, but I take it that CZUR thinks that the market for these devices is those still using technology from the end of the previous century.
And, as if to underline this point in neon marker, the software is provided in a version that runs on Windows XP, disturbingly.
To be clear, you can download the software and the manuals from the CZUR website if you can’t find a PC with an optical drive mounted.
- Design: ★★★★☆
- OpenRISC 32-bit
- 1Gbit DDR?
- Lasers?
CZUR describes the processor in the scanner as being a dual-core OpenRISC 32-bit, which covers a great many possible processors, none of which is especially impressive. The specifications also tell us that it has 1Gbit DDR. I find that hard to believe, because original DDR isn’t made these days, and also that would be 128MB/s of memory, which seems implausibly small for the job.
Perhaps those were typos, and it has 1GB of maybe DDR4, but I do wonder why they didn’t just take off-the-shelf phone electronics with their 64-bit ARM SoCs rather than building a complete bespoke platform to do the same job as phones do literally for pennies. And if they had taken that path, the scanner could have been wireless-capable and also have had USB-C inherently.
Another head-scratcher in the specs is that it indicates that the scanner has three lasers, which I presume are used to calculate the curve of the pages so they can be accurately flattened once scanned. My problem with this is that there is no evidence in use that there are any lasers, at least not ones that produce visible light frequencies.
I suspect this is another Chinese-made product where infrared and lasers are confused, as I can’t see anyone in the valuable book trade wanting their most valuable assets subjected to laser light if they could help it.
It should be noted that the profiling of the page has some significant limitations in the thickness of the book that can be scanned. The depth that can be adjusted for is 35 mm at A3 and 50 mm at A4. If your book is thicker than that, or you don’t hold it down to flatten it as much as possible, then you will end up with less than perfect scans.
(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)- Features: ★★★⯪☆
- Define a workspace
- Tons of features
- Lacks a clearly defined workflow
Setting up this scanner doesn’t just involve getting it out of the box, plugging it all together and installing the software, as there are some subtle nuances to the installation that I wasn’t aware of.
For starters, there is a black neoprene mat that comes with the scanner that shows exactly the area that the camera is focused on, and it has a notch cut on one side, which is where the scanner must be precisely placed. Failure to do this accurately will impact the scanning process, so make sure it's right.
One thing that I only realised after a few scans was that no objects other than the book and your hands can be inside the border of the mat, and that includes the cabling. If it crosses the threshold of the mat, the software will think it's something to scan, and that will throw all sorts of things out of whack.
The software, which I’ll get to shortly, is designed to realise what fingers look like and will remove them from the processed image if you are using them to hold the pages down. However, also included are two yellow ‘finger cots’, which are devices to perform the same page-holding function, but are easier for the software to erase. They also provide a means to touch the book without adding skin oils to the paper, which is also useful for rare publications.
The biggest issue I had in creating a suitable workspace for this device was the amount of space it required. To avoid cables crossing the mat meant the laptop needed to be well away from the scanner, and my 120cm long pine table was probably the minimum size that is workable. Anything smaller and the computer will be too close to the scanning mat, making the scanning exercise more challenging. It would probably work better with a desktop system under the desk, although where you would put the mouse and keyboard is debatable.
In a previous role, I worked with document scanners, and it was a two-person operation: one handled the scanner and documents, while the other operated the computer.
That might seem people-intensive, but it's significantly more efficient than having one person do the whole thing by themselves.
In my experience, working alone, this process turned out to be more complex than I’d originally anticipated. This was mostly down to the need to use both hands to hold down the book and then needing a third hand or a foot to trigger the scanning process.
There is an ‘Auto-scan’ function that can detect page turns, but it’s easy to make a slight adjustment with the finger cots and trigger another scan of a page you have already captured. Facing pages can be captured as left and right images or as a combined, flattened output, which allows some leeway in cropping and adjusting how the captures are processed on each side.
(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)There are, however, a few things missing that I’d have liked to have seen. Having worked with a repository containing millions of images, a golden no-no is having images with the same name, since this can lead to overwriting a file with something else.
What this software doesn’t offer is the unique label that is never reused and added to every filename. You can create daily or project-driven folders, but this system would be massively advantaged if the capture files were integrated with a database, possibly detailing who scanned them, what adjustments have been applied and other information, such as an index code for the book.
While it can scan barcodes present on the book, it doesn’t use the same logic to identify page numbers that can then be inserted automatically into the file naming model. That wouldn’t be difficult to achieve, and could make a file collection that is correctly sorted by page, irrespective of the order it was scanned.
What is more comprehensive are the options for exporting the files in PDF, Tiff and various other formats.
My assessment of the software is that it isn’t exactly intuitive, but I did eventually locate the features I was looking for. While I was reviewing the scanner, it was updated, suggesting that it does get improved on some basis, which is gratifying.
What it lacks is an inherent workflow, where a book goes in one end and scanned digital data comes out of the other end.
(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)- User experience: ★★★⯪☆
Typically, with me, first impressions play a big part, and the amount of plastic in this product I found off-putting out of the box. However, after I’d used it, my opinion of this device subtly improved, because in the end of the day it does what CZUR claims for it.
I still think it needs a heavier base to counteract the arm, and a swivel on the display to make it easier to see when sat in front, but the workflow is practical, and it's possible to scan even a large book in an afternoon.
Does this justify the price? Probably not, but given the minimal product options that anyone wanting to scan a book has, that might be something you are forced to deal with.
I should mention before I get complaints that there are potential legal pitfalls to copying books protected by copyright, and that those using devices like the CZUR 24 Pro need to be aware of where those limitations exist in their specific geography.
This equipment can scan any book or publication, but doing so may not be protected under the law. But, if you have publications you can justify digitising, the CZUR 24 Pro will do it reasonably efficiently with a bit of training.
- Final score: ★★★★☆
Value
Seems expensive, till you realise the limited alternatives
4 / 5
Design
Simple but effective design that is quiet and attractive
4 / 5
Features
Odd hardware choices
3 / 5
User experience
Lots of features but lacks straightforward workflow
4 /5
Overall
Does whats required, but needs training
4 / 5
Buy it if...You need to scan some books.
While this isn't perfect at all, this is far superior to trying to use a flat-bed scanner or taking photographs.
You have no scanning strategy.
The worst possible approach to scanning documents is to assume its a photocopy exercise. If you think that, then the CZUR ET24 Pro or any other book-scanning equipment will be a wasted investment. Develop a plan that considers how the contents will be stored, retrieved and distributed, and then think about a scanner.
For more essentials, we've tested the best scanners and best home printers.
Categories: Reviews
Nitro PDF Pro 14 review
Editor's note
- Original review date: November 2024
- Issues with editing PDF content and line-spacing now fixed
- Prices have risen
Update - November 2025: In re-reviewing Nitro PDF, the latest version addresses one of the biggest issues we had with this software.
Originally, we were underwhelmed by the software's ability to seamlessly edit the content on an original PDF document. We even made a point of mentioning the issue with line spacing when altering the text. We're happy to report that's now been fixed (and we've removed it from the list of Cons above). Editing PDFs now feels much more consistent and intuitive.
Elsewhere, the feature-set and workflow remain the same. But there is one more big change: the price. And it's not an insignificant increase, either. Bumping the monthly cost from $11.24 to $15 is a hefty hike (jumping from $135 a year to a whopping $180), which sends this software to the top end of its market. Ouch.
Original review follows.
Nitro PDF Pro - now there’s a name that packs a powerful punch. The PDF editor is positioned as an essential tool for small businesses and individuals, and includes a mass of must-have features, like PDF conversions, eSignatures, OCR. Ideal, then, for improving workflow efficiencies and productivity within a single tool.
Available for Windows and Mac, there’s also a version of the PDF editor app for iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch. But how does the latest version measure up to the best PDF editor software we've used? We put it to the test.
Nitro PDF Pro 14: Pricing & plansNitro PDF offers both a one-off purchase or a subscription service (Image credit: Nitro)- One-time purchase with volume licensing available
There’s been a few changes since the release of version 14 of Nitro PDF Pro, not least of which is its pricing structure. Don’t worry: if you’re not a fan of subscription services (you know you’re in trouble when car manufacturers are starting to get in on the act), and that aversion is driving you to find the best Adobe Acrobat alternatives: this multi-platform PDF editor can still be purchased outright for the one-off fee of $180.
Yes, that’s not cheap, and you have to pay for every device you want to use this software on. Whether you need a PDF editor for Mac or Windows, the price per licence is the same. It's a far cry from the best free PDF editors available, for sure.
However, you now also have the option of subscribing to the service for $11.24 per user, per month. This ends up being roughly $135 for the year for each person.
Whichever path you wish to take, you’re offered a 14-day free trial, no credit card required (although you do need to set up a free account and give Nitro a valid email address, which has been pretty much de rigueur for most online services for a while now). So hop on over to www.gonitro.com, and let’s check it out.
- Pricing: 4/5
- Clean and doesn’t get in the way
Launch the software, open up an existing PDF, and Nitro PDF Pro’s interface is revealed to you.
The layout is quite clear and simple: all the tools you need are at the top, in a row of large icons showcasing the main tools, with a toolbar underneath, displaying additional ones (which are grayed out if the selected main tool doesn’t support that feature).
There’s a sidebar on the left hand side, which displays by default thumbnails of all your PDFs’ pages, but you can change that to show other useful information, such as your annotations, or any included attachments, among others.
- Interface & experience: 4/5
- Pretty much everything you need to annotate and alter a PDF
The purpose of Nitro PDF Pro is to allow you to make alterations to PDF documents, and it comes with all the tools you might expect.
Take online collaboration, for instance. You have at your disposal many ways to leave notes on pages. There’s a highlight tool which allows you to mark text in a variety of colors. You’ll find four default shades, with the ability to create three custom ones should you so wish. You’re also able to underline, strikethrough, or add a squiggle under any part of the PDF you’re working on.
All of this is most useful, but it can be hard to convey exactly what changes you want to see with a bit of a highlighter and some lines over the text. That’s where the Annotate tools come in.
Here, various text boxes reside, from just a plain box, to a comment, a thought bubble, a note (think of it as a collapsible post-it note), and a few others. More than enough for you to populate a PDF with as many comments as you need in order to convey what you need changed to other team members.
Editing the content of an existing PDF is also possible, of course, using the ‘Correct Text’ tool. Select a word, a sentence, or multiple paragraphs, and that tool will transform your selection into a changeable text box.
We did encounter an issue with the PDFs we experimented with: turning a section into editable text affected the line spacing, often making the paragraph overlap the following one. We tried with multiple PDFs. We encountered the same problem with each of them.
Although there are many tools available to modify text, like changing its color, italicizing it, changing its alignment, etc, we couldn’t find one that altered the line spacing. There are other competing software that do a better job at preserving the look of a document, like EaseUS PDF Editor.
- Tools: 4/5
- Start from scratch and convert into other formats
Altering PDFs is one thing, but like so many others, Nitro PDF Pro lets you create documents from scratch, using all the tools mentioned above, and more besides. This even includes form building, something Adobe Acrobat can struggle to present. This is a useful addition as it allows you to stay within a single app when working on all things PDF.
But people don’t always work within one PDF editor app, and that’s where Nitro’s format conversion comes into its own.
Like similar PDF editing software - think Foxit PDF Editor or Readdle PDF Expert - Nitro PDF Pro can convert PDFs into other formats, and vice versa.
However, it doesn’t do this via a dedicated ‘Convert’ command. Instead, the process is a lot more intuitive: need to convert Word to PDF? Go to File > Open, locate it, and Nitro will convert it automatically for you as it opens up in the software.
Nitro PDF Pro is compatible with a wide variety of file formats, including images. When it encounters a file with no selectable text within it, it will offer to initiate the OCR (Optical Character Recognition) process. Select the language the document is in, and Nitro will get to work. We found the results very acceptable, and of course, they are editable.
Should you need to convert a PDF into a different format, just go to File > Export. You have a few options at your disposal, such as Microsoft Office files - Nitro is a easily one of the best PDF to Excel converters and PDF to PowerPoint converters on the market. There’s also RTF, TXT, a handful of image formats, and PDF/A - which is used for archival purposes.
This is not all you can do with Nitro PDF Pro of course: there are other features, which include being able to merge PDFs together from emails to text files to spreadsheets, condensing them into a single, searchable PDF), digitally eSign documents, and create tables of content.
- Document creation: 4/5
Pricing
No subscriptions - just a one-off perpetual license
4/5
Interface & experience
Clean, modern, and simple to use
4/5
Tools
Has just about everything you need to edit and annotate documents
4/5
PDF creation
Excellent creation and conversion tools
4/5
Should I buy Nitro PDF Pro 14?(Image credit: Nitro)Buy it if...You need a feature-rich PDF editor
Nitro PDF Pro offers you many tools you would need to edit, annotate or even create a PDF document from scratch. You can bring in documents straight from your scanner, and its OCR capabilities are excellent. If you or your business often need to alter and annotate PDF documents, it might be worth downloading the free trial version and check it out.
You're a casual user or your needs are simple
If your needs are simpler, and you only want to browse through a PDF, then Nitro PDF Pro risks being overkill. It might also not be ideal with you like to edit the content of a PDF without altering its formatting, especially the line spacing.
Adobe Acrobat Standard
The original remains, in our opinion, the top choice for best PDF editor out there. It's rich with features and tools for editing, converting, and organizing all your PDF documents. The workflow and user experience is sublime once you get past the initially overwhelming interface. In our review, we couldn't help but not that "sometimes, the best solution on the market has its reputation for a reason."View Deal
Foxit PDF Editor
"Manipulate PDFs in style with a great multi-platform PDF editor" was how we kicked off our review of Foxit's excellent PDF editor. It's packed full of powerful tools, including an outstanding data redaction tool. Ultimately, we found it to be "a great app for businesses who need to manipulate, edit, redact and otherwise alter PDFs on a regular basis."View Deal
EaseUS PDF Editor
EaseUS PDF Editor offers much of what Nitro does, although you have the choice of a perpetual license or taking out a subscription. When we tested the product, we found "a powerful, PC-only PDF editing software tool that allows you to manipulate and alter documents with relative ease. It also comes with more standard features, such as a converter, and has good OCR capabilities."View Deal
For additional PDF editing software, we reviewed the best Adobe Acrobat alternatives you can download right now.
Categories: Reviews
EaseUS PDF editor review
Editor's note
- Original review date: November 2024
- No major changes to features and workflow
- Still not multi-platform
- Prices the same as last year
Update - November 2025: When re-reviewing the EaseUS package, we were hoping it would see the error of its ways and make the PDF software multi-platform, like so many other apps in their portfolio. But no: it’s still PC only.
That's ok, though. It’s still as good as it was - even if it’s just for Windows users. And there have been no noticeable changes since the last time we reviewed EaseUS PDF Editor.
What was surprising was that inflation doesn’t appear to be something EaseUs believe in: the prices it charged last year are the same this year, putting the competition to shame: $50 for the year, or $19.50 on a month-by-month basis. Even the lifetime one-off cost option is the same at $80. That’s something to be congratulated.
Original review follows.
EaseUS provides a vast array of tools for both Macs and PCs from backups and data recovery to multimedia capabilities like its video editor and screen recorder. Each tool to roll out has reviewed exceptionally well on TechRadar Pro, thanks to exceptional utility and a relaxed, intuitive user experience. But how does the firm’s fare compared to the best PDF editor software available for download? We re-reviewed the latest version to find out.
EaseUS PDF Editor: Pricing and plans- Free but limited, monthly subscriptions, and one-off lifetime purchase available
EaseUS PDF editor offers plenty to to work with, and this obviously comes at a price. But there are actually a few options available to you on that front.
You could choose to pay nothing, but you’ll only gain access to some basic tools in what might otherwise be one of the best free PDF editors, and your exported files will be watermarked. Still it’s a great way to get a feel of the software and see if it’s right for you.
Then, you’ve got a couple of subscription options: pay monthly ($20) or yearly ($50). Both unlock all features, including unlimited file conversion, 24/7 technical support, free upgrades (as long as you keep on paying), and no watermark.
It’s obvious that paying for a year is a lot cheaper, but if you plan on using this PDF editing software regularly for the foreseeable future, then the one-off price of $80 for the ‘Lifetime’ option is incredibly attractive. It’s cheaper than 2 years on subscription (4 months if you pay monthly), and the impressive cherry on top is: you also get free upgrades for life. What’s not to like?
You can check out EaseUS by clicking here.
- Score: 4/5
- Simple interface for easily navigating to editing features
Launch the PDF editor app for the first time and you’ll be graced with a very sparse interface. Most of it is empty, save for a row of icons offering you various options at the top, along with a sidebar on the right. Click on the ‘Tools’ button there to have the currently empty homepage replaced with rows upon rows of icons showcasing the app’s multiple functionalities.
As it stands, the interface does exactly what you expect it to do: offer you what you need, when you need it, while getting out of the way as you work on your document.
Open an existing PDF and you’ll be brought instantly into the ‘Read’ mode, but check the top of the interface to activate any functionality you’re after, from ‘Comment’, ‘Edit’, ‘Protect’, ‘Convert’, and more. Click on any of them for a secondary menu to appear just beneath the first, giving you all the toolset for your selected action.
Take ‘Edit’ mode, for instance: click on any paragraph for it to be entirely selected. This bounding box mechanism works for any object currently on the page. You’re able to resize these boxes, move them around, and even delete them. With an entire paragraph selected by default, it’s incredibly easy to make changes to a PDF’s existing text. When you consider that many of the competition restrict your editing to a line by line basis, EaseUS PDF’s approach is much more flexible and user friendly.
You can insert and modify links into the body of your text, and even include headers and footers (a great place to add page numbers for instance). All in all, we found EaseUS PDF Editor’s interface to be surprisingly competent.
- Score: 4/5
- Good selection of tools to convert formats or turn images into editable text
Editing PDFs might be this software’s bread and butter, but you can do so much more with it. For one thing, you’re able to convert PDFs to Excel, PDF to Word, and PDF to PowerPoint. There are even options to convert various image formats.
In the ‘Protect’ section, you’ll find various options to secure your PDF document, such as setting up a password for it, or redacting information you’d rather not divulge, but this is also where you can set up signatures, making it easy to fill in forms and sign documents digitally.
One tool we quite liked is its OCR functionality (we reviewed the best OCR software before), although we were disappointed to see that in order for it to work, you still need to convert an image to a PDF. It’s not a difficult process and EaseUS PDF Editor does allow you to convert images, like JPG or PNG to PDF, but it feels like a totally unnecessary step.
Still, once that’s done, you’ll be offered a long list of languages to choose from (English is selected by default in our version), along with a chosen format to save the output as (Word is your default option, but you can also choose TXT, Excel, Powerpoint, and PDF). Click on ‘Recognise’ and EaseUS PDF will get to work. The process doesn’t take too long - but that would obviously depend on the length of the document and your computer’s processing power.
- Score: 5/5
- Need to trim a PDF? Expect plenty of the usual tools for that
You’ll also find the usual features here that you typically see in PDF editing software, such as PDF merger tools to combine multiple documents into one, or split a PDF, turning it into several different ones. Deleting a page is also a handful of clicks away. This is actually pretty standard fare.
One of these we enjoyed using was the crop feature, which was very well implemented. Click on the ‘Page’ menu, and select ‘Crop’ from the available list of tools. You then click and drag on the document to create a marquee selection. If you’d rather type in values, you have ‘Top’, ‘Bottom’, ‘Left’ and ‘Right’ fields for that. You also have options to crop only the selected page, a range of pages, or the whole document. Click on the ‘Crop’ button, and you’re done. This is a great way to remove unwanted sidebars for instance, letting you focus on, and keep just the essentials.
- Score: 5/5
- Various tools for when you need to work with others on a particular document
Online collaboration is important when working with a team, and EaseUS PDF Editor has you covered on that front, by allowing you to annotate your PDFs.
It’s also easy to add comments, including boxes, arrows and lines to bring attention to a particular section of the document. You’re even able to send a copy of the PDF to other team members using email.
- Score: 4/5
Pricing
Flexible range of buying options
4
Easy start
A simple interface, an occasionally convoluted experience
4
Editing tools
Impressive selection of tools for editing PDFs
5
Formatting tools
Equally impressive toolkit for formatting PDFs
5
Note-taking
Easy to add notes, comments, and annotations
4
Should I Buy?The crop tool is simple, intuitive, and effective (Image credit: EaseUS)Buy it if...You need to regularly edit and manipulate PDF files in lots of different ways
EaseUS PDF Editor is packed full of tools allowing you total control of PDF documents, whether you're working on your own or as part of a team.
Don't buy it if...You only need to view PDF files
EaseUS is a full PDF editor, and if you only need to view them, a PDF reader will hit the mark instead. There are many on the market - some, like Adobe Acrobat Reader DC and Apple Preview, even have minor editing capabilities, such as merging and splitting.
Also consider...Adobe Acrobat Standard is our top choice PDF editor overall. Full of tools, features, and everything you'll ever need to manage, organize, create, and edit documents and files. But then, Adobe did create the PDF filetype. View Deal
Apple Preview is our favorite free PDF reader for Mac, and packs in a handful of editing functions for manipulating files. Best of all, it comes pre-installed on Mac computers. Earning 4 stars in our review, we said it "should be able to cater to all but the most demanding PDF road warriors."View Deal
pdfFiller is an excellent PDF editor for online collaboration, and a great choice if remote teamwork is essential. We recently re-reviewed this software, and it's still as good as it's always been. View Deal
For more PDF apps, we reviewed the best Adobe Acrobat alternatives you can get right now.
Categories: Reviews
pdfFiller review
Editor's note
- Original review date: November 2024
- No major changes
- Prices remain a sticking point compared to rivals
Update - November 2025: Any PDF editor, such as pdfFiller, which relies on the web for its functionality, will benefit from improvements to the network, so if you have a good ISP, and a steady and generous bandwidth, you’ll find pdfFiller to be as good as it’s always been: fast and responsive to the point you easily forget you’re working in a browser window.
In terms of features, there's not been any real changes - your workflow is pretty much the same as it was when we last reviewed the software last year.
Pricing remains a sticking point though. Its month-by-month subscriptions are very high, ranging from $20, $30 and $40 for ‘Basic’, ‘Plus’ and ‘Premium’ respectively. Thankfully, its yearly contracts are more in line with the competition (if on the high side for the top end), dropping the cost to the equivalent of $8, $12, and $15 per month.
Original review follows.
pdfFiller is designed to help businesses deal with PDFs documents, from the basics such as splitting or merging files, to converting files to and from that format, editing PDFs, signing them, password protecting them, and more.
pdfFiller is made by airSlate Inc, an American software company. airSlate maintains its headquarters in the city of Brookline, Massachusetts. This service is part of the airSlate Business Cloud, a software suite for enterprises to create and manage documents. We put the latest version to the test, to see how it compares to the best PDF editor software out there.
pdfFiller: Plans and pricingYou can check out the wares by selecting a subscription plan as this grants you 30 days to explore before the first payment kicks in (Image credit: airSlate)- Various options are open to you, all dependent on price, and the more you pay, the more features you get. No free plan though, but a free 30-day trial should help mitigate that
Since pdfFiller is an online service, you get to access its wares via a subscription. There are no free tiers available, but any plan you choose comes with a free 30-day trial, which should give you enough time to kick her tires and see how she runs.
For $8 a month (on a yearly contract), or $20 on a month-by-month basis, ‘Basic’ gives you, well, the basics: you can edit documents, such as erasing sections, highlighting others, merging files, and converting PDFs to Word; you’re able to access your documents online, or through a desktop app (for Mac and Windows), and have the support staff get back to you in a day.
‘Plus’ take it up a notch for $12 a month for a year, or $30 each month. Its additional features include being able to create templates, insert fillable fields, password protect documents, get access to an iOS and Android app, and have customer support get back to you within 30 minutes.
And finally there’s ‘Premium’ which adds the ability to sign docs and get others to sign them as well, offers a library of US legal forms, manage users and permissions, collect payments, set up custom branding, and gets you instant support, all for $15 a month for a year, or $40 each month.
As mentioned above you can explore these features without giving the company your payment details, but rest assured no money will be taken for the first 30 days.
You can check out pdfFiller from airSlate by clicking here.
- Score: 4/5
- A busy, yet easy to navigate interface that makes it easy for you to upload your documents, templates and contacts, and have access to them wherever you are, whether through a web browser, a desktop app or through your iPhone or Android device (as long as you’ve chosen the plan that includes those, of course)
Having logged in, you’ll be able to access pdfFiller either online, or by downloading an app. The concept is pretty much the same, as whichever option you use, your documents will be uploaded to pdfFiller’s servers, enabling you to work on them wherever you have access to a computer or web browser.
Upload a document and you’ll be able to interact with it within seconds. In that respect it makes for a great and easy interface: no matter where you are, as long as your documents are with pdfFiller, you’ll be able to get access to them, online or via a dedicated app.
The sidebar on the left lets you see your documents, templates, contacts and more, while the rest of the interface is dedicated to whichever menu you’ve selected in the sidebar. It’s all pretty simple and straightforward.
You’re able to import your contacts from Google or add them manually, and your documents can be uploaded to pdfFiller as mentioned above, or accessed from one of four online storage solutions: Dropbox, Google Drive, Box, or OneDrive. It shouldn’t take you any time at all to understand your way around.
- Score: 4/5
- All the tools are available in one place, which is great for efficiency and eases workflow. They’re all easy to use, and do their job as expected. A great interface, with good, powerful tools
What we really appreciated is the fact that once you’ve opened a document, you can do pretty much everything you need to directly from there. When you consider the fact that many of pdfFiller’s competitors require you to access specific tools one at a time, having to close the document first, and reopen it in that new tool to continue working, being able to do it all in one go sure feels like a breath of fresh air. It feels like the interface is working for you, rather than you having to work against it.
All the tools you’re looking for are there: you can re-order pages, and delete others straight from the thumbnail sidebar on the left. Should you need additional options, select ‘more’ from any of these thumbnails to reveal the ‘rearrange pages’ popup window from which you can also add and duplicate pages, along with what you could already do in the sidebar.
The rest of the tools can all be found at the top of the page, in a row. You can add text boxes, images, ticks and crosses, draw on the page, and more. It’s all very simple: select the tool, and apply it wherever you wish.
And as with true premium PDF services, you’re able to alter a PDF’s existing content, one line as a time. It’s not ideal as we’d prefer services that allow you to select entire paragraphs instead, but it works fine to change the odd word, or fix a typo here and there. Problems can occur should your alterations need to be more extensive.
Signatures are a simple matter of selecting the ‘sign’ tool, and placing it wherever it needs to be on the page. You can even resize it at will.
When it comes to redaction, you have an ‘Erase’ and a ‘Blackout’ tool. They both do the same thing: block out a portion of the text, either in white or black, preventing a reader from seeing those sections, and more importantly, preventing them from selecting the text that is now redacted.
Even better, your modifications are saved automatically which means that you can make changes on one device, and when you check on the other, those alterations are already reflected there. It makes for a seamless experience.
- Score: 4.5/5
Buy it if...
You’re looking for a powerful and well implemented PDF editing service which you can access online, via a desktop app, or through your iPhone and Android device.
Don't buy it if...
You don’t need so much control over your PDFs, and you certainly don’t want to be saddled with yet another subscription package.
For more PDF recommendations, we tested the best Adobe Acrobat alternatives.
Categories: Reviews
Foxit PDF Editor review
Editor's note
- Original review date: November 2024
- No major changes
- Prices have slightly risen
Update - November 2025: Every time we go back to Foxit PDF Editor, we're reminded just how good it is, especially when it comes to editing a PDF’s existing text. Being able to link text boxes together so your writing flows from one to the other as you write brings PDF editing as close to working with a word processor as you can get. It's so good, it's worth repeating and praising here once more.
After a re-review, we haven’t noticed any major changes. The app remains smooth and responsive, and is still one of the best out there.
As for its cost, well, inflation affects everything, and you can now subscribe to PDF Editor for $130 a year ($10.83 a month), or Editor+ for $160 ($13.33 a month).
Original review follows.
Editing PDFs can be very important for businesses - and a limited PDF editor will stifle productivity and slam the brakes on otherwise efficient workflows.
Foxit’s PDF Editor sidesteps all of that, and more besides, making it easier to tweak an existing document. No more going back to the software where the file was originally created, performing the changes, exporting it as a PDF, only to discover another problem and go through the whole process again.
We took the latest version of this software out for testing, to see how it compares to the best PDF editors we've reviewed.
Foxit PDF Editor: PricingYou can choose from two subscription services - ‘+’ is aimed more at businesses (Image credit: Foxit)- Flexible pricing with free trials, monthly & annual subscription, and perpetual licenses
Foxit’s PDF editing software comes in two editions: PDF Editor, and PDF Editor+.
PDF Editor is the cheapest option. It’s designed to work on the web and on Desktop computers (be they Mac or Windows), includes an AI assistant, advanced editing capabilities, the ability to convert PDFs to Microsoft formats, it can scans files and OCR them, it can compare two versions of a document to review all differences, and offers the ability to password protect PDFs. You can have this for $110 a year, or $11 when billed monthly.
PDF Editor+ is aimed more at professionals and businesses and as such includes more advanced features, including the ability to sign documents (which includes legally binding signatures), request signatures, and track responses in real time, allows you to redact sensitive information, and grants you access to Foxit on your iOS or Android device. This will cost you $140 a year or $14 a month.
There are no free versions of Foxit PDF Editor, although you can try Editor+ free for 14 days. For alternatives, we reviewed the best free PDF editors.
You can check out Foxit PDF editor by clicking here.
- Pricing: 4/5
- A clean, easy to understand interface
The interface is quite simple, with a row of commands at the top, representing different aspects of the work you wish to carry out, such as ‘Edit’, ‘Convert’, ‘Protect’ and ‘Share’.
Click on any of them and the row of icons beneath it changes to display the tools suited for the selected action. The interface is well organized, only showing you the tools you need when you require them. If you're looking for a less overwhelming alternative to Adobe's Acrobat software, Foxit may serve you very well.
If you just opened the app, you’ll also see some ‘Tool Wizards’ in the middle of the interface, which allow you to quickly access frequently performed actions, namely ‘Edit PDF’ and ‘Merge PDF’.
- Interface & experience: 5/5
- Almost as easy as using a regular word processor
Should you need to make changes to an existing PDF, you need to take a trip to the ‘Edit’ section - which is actually automatically selected once you open a document.
You’ll find your PDF is divided into text boxes, which can be selected, moved around and resized at will. The text contained within one will automatically reflow as you alter its size. This also happens when you alter the content of these boxes.
You might notice that the main body of the document will likely be split up into multiple such text boxes, making editing a bit of a pain, as words won’t automatically flow from one box to another. However, Foxit has solved that problem with its ‘Link & Join Text’ feature.
Select it, then click (in order) the boxes you wish to connect together. Once done, go back to your editing, and you’ll be able to write seamlessly through the boxes.
When it comes to text tools, you have the basics you’d expect from any word processor. You’re able to change the font, its size, color and alignment. Bold, italics, underline, strikethrough, and so on, are also available, as are options to alter character, line and paragraph spacing, and character scale.
Foxit PDF editor pretty much covers most, if not all, the functions you’d need to make your necessary changes. There’s even a built-in spellchecker. It is the most versatile, flexible and extensive PDF editor we’ve yet come across.
- Editing: 5/5
- Convert data from one file format to another
Foxit PDF Editor can also help you convert documents into other file formats, such as Office docs like PDF to Word, PDF to PowerPoint, and PDF to Excel. You can also convert RTF, plain text, HTML and even various image formats. This level of flexibility is great should you need to extract the content of the PDF to create something new based on it.
This conversion process works in the opposite direction too, allowing you to convert files like Word to PDF. You have options to convert from an existing file, from your scanner, based on copied data stored in your computer’s clipboard, or even convert HTML to PDF.
The latter sounded interesting but we encountered some problems: we tried converting www.techradar.com, www.apple.com, and even www.microsoft.com, but we only got various errors for our troubles. It seems it might only work for less complex, less animation heavy, less processing-in-the-background pages.
Regarding the scanner option, it’s great that Foxit PDF Editor can connect directly to your device. You can even choose for the software to automatically perform an OCR pass automatically, enabling you to edit as soon as the process is done.
This OCR software functionality isn’t restricted to the scanning process, meaning that you can use it to convert any scanned PDF in your possession. You’re given two main options: turn the scanned image into a searchable one (meaning you can use the search field to find specific text only), or convert the file to make the text editable. We found the results to be pretty good.
- Conversions: 4/5
- Work as a team, thanks to a long list of annotating tools
As Foxit PDF Editor is aimed at businesses, it stands to reason that you’ll find online collaboration tools. These are located in the ‘Comment’ section.
From there, you and your team are able to highlight text (with multiple colour choices), link said highlighted section to a note, add a free floating note, strikeout, replace, or insert text, draw shapes, and more. There are many options here to make sure other members of your team know exactly which changes need to happen.
- Online collaboration: 4/5
- Keep sensitive information away from prying eyes
Businesses need to protect their information. In certain industries, it’s absolutely imperative to stay compliant with global data laws - with the threat of operational, financial, and reputational damage hanging over any firm that doesn’t treat data security seriously.
There are basic ways to redact information, usually by placing a black box over sensitive data, but if it’s not done right, you can still select, copy and paste what was supposed to be restricted.
Foxit PDF Editor doesn’t work like that.
The tools for this job reside in the ‘Protect’ section. From there. You could use ‘Whiteout’, for instance. This is a simple one: click and drag the section you wish to delete, and it’s permanently removed from the document. You can’t even undo this. It’s also not possible to see if any info was there in the first place.
Another option is the ‘Mark for Redaction’ tool. This allows you to select text to be blacked out. You have more control than the Whiteout tool, although you don’t appear to have the ability to edit your selection (undoing your action is possible though). Once you’re ready, click on ‘Apply Redaction’, and after confirming this, the chosen content is no longer selectable or editable (or undoable).
It’s a powerful tool which also allows you to perform search and redact options, automatically looking through the document for a specific word for instance, or instructing Foxit PDF Editor to redact all phone numbers or emails in the file.
- Redactions: 5/5
- AI is one of those features you need to try to see if it’ll work for you… or if it’ll be as useful as a MacBook Pro’s Touch Bar
It seems software isn’t software these days without some kind of AI creeping into the code, and Foxit PDF Editor is no exception. The latest version comes with an AI-Assistant, which can help you in various ways, such as being able to summarise a document, rewrite it, translate it into over 30 languages, and if you’re not sure how to do something, ask it a question, and it will come up with instructions on how to perform the action you’re struggling to perform.
However, interestingly enough, when we tried that feature, the AI replied to us in French, even though we asked it in English and the document in question was written in English. This glitch only happened once, mind. Maybe the AI got confused by the reviewer’s surname!
- AI: 3/5
Pricing
Monthly & annual subscriptions and perpetual licenses available (software dependent)
4
Interface & experience
Clean UI, simple to find what you need
5
Editing
Incredibly simple with some clever touches
5
Conversions
Plenty of conversion tools and OCR functionality
4
Online collaboration
Good remote collaboration integration
4
Redactions
Excellent way to remove sensitive data in documents
5
Should I Buy?Buy it if...You need to regularly and quickly edit PDFs
Foxit PDF editor is a great tool for businesses, with flexible and fair prices - especially the perpetual license, where available, when you need to modify or edit PDFs on a regular basis. The PDF editing software even comes with a outstanding OCR capability, and being multi-platform is just icing on the cake.
You’re a casual user
Foxit PDF Editor might be overkill though. Most people don’t need to edit the content of a PDF. And combining or splitting PDFs are functions that many traditional PDF readers even include, so shouldn’t be considered ‘Pro’ features.
Adobe Acrobat Standard is our top recommendation PDF editor for most people - though Foxit PDF Editor certainly gives it a run for its money, in our experience. View Deal
Apple Preview is a free PDF reader and manipulator for Macs. Coming preinstalled on Apple machines, in our review we hailed its powerful editing tools.View Deal
EaseUS PDF Editor is an impressively powerful PDF editor with plenty of tools up its sleeves. We recently re-reviewed this outstanding tool and it's still just as good as it's been for a long time. View Deal
For additional PDF editing tools, we tested out the best alternatives to Adobe Acrobat you can get right now.
Categories: Reviews
Adobe Acrobat Standard (2024) review
Editor's note
- Original review date: March 2024
- No major changes to features and workflow
Update - November 2025: The family of Acrobat products has changed a little since we last reviewed this product, beyond the addition of ‘Studio’ at the top end of the portfolio. However, that hasn’t affected Adobe Acrobat Standard.
We've looked again at what's on offer in the current version. You can still edit text and images, password protect your documents, and apply digital signatures, among others. As part of the more advanced features Adobe are introducing with ’Studio’, are more AI tools.
Price-wise, you can subscribe to Adobe Standard for $13 a month, but if you already have a Creative Cloud Pro plan (for $70 a month), you’ll have Acrobat Pro included in that subscription.
In short, no major changes - it remains an excellent choice for business use, although larger firms and PDF power-users may get more out of Adobe Acrobat Pro.
Original review follows.
Adobe Acrobat - the original PDF reader and editor - today comes in three distinct versions for a variety of different use-cases. But Acrobat Standard with the broadest appeal for document management.
In our Acrobat Reader review, we explored Adobe’s basic PDF viewer, while our Adobe Acrobat Pro review looked at the best-for-business option. Adobe Acrobat Standard sits in the middle of this line-up, as PDF creation and editing software capable of delivering most tools for most users, in both casual and professional settings.
We’ve long-rated Acrobat as the best PDF editor - but how does it compare to the competition? We put Adobe’s top tool to the test.
Adobe Acrobat Standard: Price & plans- Subscription-based software that's pricier than some of the competition
As with most Adobe products, you'll need a subscription to get the most from Acrobat. But it's not like the the Reader and Pro versions.
As mentioned in our Adobe Acrobat Reader review, Adobe's basic PDF viewer is free, while Acrobat Pro offers you a free trial. To get to grips with Adobe Acrobat Standard, however, you have to subscribe. There is no free trial, no free anything. Thankfully, you can request a refund after 14 days, but that still requires effort on the subscriber’s part to remember to cancel in time when trying an app out.
Alternatively, you can opt to get Pro’s free trial to get a sense of the Standard offering. Aside from a handful of features such as bulk e-signature requests, and admin tools to manage teams, the toolset is virtually identical.
If you decide Adobe Acrobat Standard is for you, you have a choice from the usual Adobe subscription plans: annual paid monthly, monthly, and annual plans are available (and, as you’d expect, paying upfront for the year is the cheapest option).
The price is quite a lot more expensive than some of its competition, such as Easeus PDF Editor, FoxIt PDF Editor, or ILovePDF, but you get a good amount for your money if you’re a PDF power-user.
- Pricing & plans: 3.5/5
- Simple, and easy to find the tools you’re after, while offering you a soupçon of customization
If you’re familiar with Adobe Acrobat Reader, you’ll feel right at home in Adobe Acrobat Standard, and the same will be true should you ever jump to Adobe Acrobat Pro. But unlike Acrobat Reader, all the tools on display actually work - rather than a bid to entice you to upgrade. It might be the one of the best free PDF readers for now, but for any real document management, Acrobat Standard or Pro are all but essential.
Acrobat’s sidebar on the left gives you quick access to your files, those you’ve recently worked on or read, those that reside in your online Adobe Cloud Storage, any Agreements you’ve signed or requested a signature for, and files stored on your computer, some support for some of the best cloud storage services, such as Box, Dropbox, GoogleDrive, OneDrive and SharePoint.
Click on ‘Recent’ to see a handful of available tools, like ‘Edit PDF’, ‘Create PDF’, and ‘Combine Files’, but if you want to see all available options, click on the ‘Tools’ tab, to the right of the ‘Home’ tab, top left of the interface. If you’re already in the ‘Recent’ section, you also have an ‘See All Tools’ button to the right which does the same thing.
These tools are listed by category, depending on what you need to do, and their titles are self explanatory: ‘Edit & Create’, ‘Forms & Signature’, ‘Share & Review’, etc. To the right you’ll find a sidebar with another list or commonly used tools. That sidebar is totally customizable: reorder the list by dragging items up or down, remove tools you don’t need, and add some not currently displayed by selecting them from the main list. This helps you focus on the main tools you find yourself using all the time.
- Interface: 4/5
- An example of good design - a wealth of tools are well-organized, versatile, and easy to use, coupled with a flexible interface designed to work the way you do
You may think that Adobe Acrobat Standard only lets you work on one particular function at a time, but this would be to misunderstand the underlying elegance of the software. Sure, each tool has its own icon, and you can customize the sidebar to the right as discussed above, but that doesn’t mean the functionalities are segregated.
Take the ‘Combine Files’ tool for instance. As its name implies, this is where you import multiple PDFs and merge them into one. But what if you’d like to remove some pages, or reorder others? Do you have to click on another icon for that? Well, no. Once you’re in the editing section, you are actually free to do pretty much whatever you like with your PDF. So you can reorder and delete pages from the ‘Combine Files’ section. You can also annotate, or even edit the existing text and images, without having to select another tool. All your editing options are available via the toolbar at the top.
Some tools will reveal another toolbar, like the ‘Edit Text & Images’ icon, but you can do everything you need to do without having to interact with the right sidebar… unless you want to of course.
Access a tool like ‘Combine’, and notice you can use others right from its interface, offering you great flexibility in the way you work (Image credit: Adobe )It’s this kind of flexibility of working that we love in a well designed app: you’re offered multiple ways of performing the same action, and it’s up to you to decide which one fits your workflow best, without that being forced upon you by a developer.
So, Adobe Acrobat Standard is an incredibly well-designed and flexible software, which aims to help you manipulate, annotate, and edit PDFs. You’re able to do the simplest things, from transforming a PDF into a variety of other formats, such as Word, Excel, JPG, HTML and a few others, to creating a file from scratch, and everything in between, including filing in and signing PDFs. The list is pretty extensive and what’s best is how easy and intuitive the tools are to use.
Considering Adobe created the format, it’s little surprise they’d design a best-in-class application to manipulate it - even in the face of some of the best Adobe Acrobat alternatives. It’s obviously far better than Acrobat Reader which mostly felt to us like an advert for this software. This is Acrobat as you expect it to be, with a wide array of tools to help you work in the PDF format and achieve what you need to achieve - mostly.
There are a few limitations, most of which are covered by the ‘Pro’ version, such as converting files into the PDF format, redacting information, and comparing two versions of a PDF. Such functions are deemed by Adobe to be higher end, and should not be needed by the vast majority of its target audience, unless of course they do, which is where Acrobat Pro comes in.
- Tools: 4.5/5
Pricing & plans
Subscription-based, no free trial
3.5
Interface
Simple, well-designed interface for productivity boost
4
Tools
Loads of tools, intuitively placed and flawless in use
4.5
Should I buy?You can transform a PDF file into a wide number of other formats, from Microsoft, to HTML, to images and more besides (Image credit: Adobe )Buy it if...You need a well designed piece of software that allows you to work with a PDF file, from basic management, to filing in and signing documents, to creating some from scratch.
Don't buy it if...You'd rather save money with the best free PDF editors, or your document modifications are more modest - Acrobat is full of features, and you may not need them all.
Adobe Acrobat Standard: AlternativesWe've tested a range of Acrobat substitutes - and our top-rated apps include:
pdfFiller, a surprisingly feature-rich web-based editing tool.
EaseUS PDF Editor, which offers a low-cost annual subscription compared to PDF24 Creator, which is our favorite, feature-filled PDF tool you can use completely free.
We tested the best PDF readers for Windows - and here's our top picks
Categories: Reviews
Dreame's new mop-swapping robot vacuum is the most innovative and ambitious robovac I've ever tested
Dreame Matrix10 Ultra: two-minute review
The Dreame Matrix10 Ultra is probably the most advanced hybrid robot floor cleaner that I've ever reviewed. At the heart of the design is a unique mop-swapping system that works like a vending machine. Instead of having a single pair of spinning mop pads like its competitors, this model's docking station stores three sets of mop pads, each tailored for different surfaces or rooms.
These mops are swapped automatically, depending on the room or surface it has been tasked to clean. Oh, and there are three cleaning fluid options, which can auto-switch, too. The aim is to ensure each floor receives an appropriate type of cleaning, and to help prevent cross-contamination. Not everyone will feel the need for that, but if you're meticulous about hygiene, or have more extreme mopping needs, this could well be the best robot vacuum for you.
Mopping performance is reinforced by dual rotating mop heads that apply consistent pressure to deliver deeper cleaning. And, like all good mopping systems, water flow is adjusted based on floor type and the mops are always lifted when the robot transitions onto carpets. The base station also handles self-cleaning of the mops (with hot-water washing and drying) and auto-emptying of detritus into a larger-than-average 3.2-liter bin bag.
Given that this robovac boasts an industry-leading 30,000 Pascals of suction power, I had high hopes for its vacuuming ability. In practice, it handled its everyday tasks exceptionally well, including collecting an awful lot of hair shed by my two Labradors, and delivering thorough hard floor vacuuming. However, it struggled to pick up large debris from a carpeted floor – it made a decent fist of it, but it wasn't quite as thorough as I'd expect given those stunning suction specs.
Navigation and mobility are extremely impressive since the bot has a retractable navigation puck to sneaking beneath low furniture, AI-assisted obstacle avoidance, and a chassis that can launch it over thresholds and floor obstacles up to a total of 3in / 8cm total height, or 1.6in / 4.2cm if it's a single step.
The enormous dock will rule it out for smaller homes, where in any case, such a complex setup may not be necessary. It's a perfect model for residents of large houses with mixed floor types, hairy pets or a desire to maintain high hygiene standards. I think it's also worth considering for use in most commercial premises like single-level offices, village halls, or small sports halls.
That's the short version; read on for my full Dreame Matrix10 Ultra review.
(Image credit: Future)Dreame Matrix10 Ultra review: price & availability- List price: $1,999.99 / £1,399 / AU$3,499
- Launch date: September 2025
- Available: Widely, including US, UK, Australia
The Dreame Matrix10 Ultra sits firmly in the premium end of the robot-cleaning arena and its standard price – $1,999.99 in the US, £1,399 in the UK, and AU$3,499 in Australia – reflects that position. However, I've already spotted big discounts that suggest you might not need to pay that kind of price – I've seen it on sale for $1,800 in the US, just £999 from the UK, and AU$2,499 in Australia. It's available to buy direct from Dreame, as well as via various third-party retailers.
Those discounts – in the UK and Australia, at least – bring the Matrix10 Ultra within reach of buyers who want high-end automation without tipping into the ultra-luxury tier. Granted, even at this reduced price it's still a substantial investment, but given the convenience and the ace level of autonomy it offers, I think it still delivers impressive value for money. I'd perhaps hold out for a better discount if you live Stateside, though.
(Image credit: Future)The Matrix10 Ultra's high level of sophistication does come with trade-offs. For instance, the mop-swapping dock is enormous by comparison to others on the market, and the machinery is complex. Hence, if you live in a small space, have uniform flooring or don't need frequent mopping, its advantages dramatically shrink and the upfront cost feels harder to justify. But for large homes with mixed surfaces (and even some commercial properties), this type of hybrid bot starts to make a lot of financial sense.
If the Dreame Matrix10 Ultra seems like too big a financial commitment, perhaps give one of the Chinese company's earlier models some consideration. The L40 Ultra might not have swappable mops but it's still a cracking bot that now retails at a significantly lower price than the Matrix10 Ultra. Alternatively consider the equally excellent Roborock Qrevo Series, for a similarly affordable price.
- Value for money score: 3.5 out of 5
Max suction:
30,000Pa
Robot size (L x W):
in / 35 x 35.1cm
Robot height:
3.5 in / 8.9cm
Dock dimensions (H x W x D):
23.2 x 16.4 x 17.9 in / 58.9 x 41.6 x 45.5 cm
Dust bin volume (base):
3.2L
Water tank volume (base):
5.5L (clean); 4L (dirty)
Mop type:
Auto-interchangeable dual spinning mop pages
Base type:
Charge, empty dust, wash mop pads with hot water, dry mop pads with hot air, automatically swap from three mop pad sets, auto-dispense one of three cleaning fluids
Max threshold clearance:
1.6 in / 4.2cm (one step) or 3in / 8cm (two steps)
Navigation:
Retractable LiDAR Pathfinder
Obstacle avoidance:
Double laser+AI+RGB+LED
Carpet detection:
Ultrasonic
Dreame Matrix10 Ultra review: design- Features include step-vaulting feet and a retracting LiDAR puck
- Enormous dock vends different mop types and cleaning solutions
- Hi-tech and advanced navigation and object avoidance systems
The Dreame Matrix10 Ultra is a cutting-edge robovacs, starting with its navigation system, which is one of the most technically impressive I've come across. There's a retractable DToF LiDAR unit (complete with attractive blue ring light), 3D sensing and an AI-enhanced RGB camera that combine to deliver fast, accurate 360-degree mapping while still allowing the robot to lower its profile and slip under furniture with a clearance of just 3.5in / 9cm.
Like the Roborock Saros 10, this ability to retract its LiDAR turret gives the Matrix10 Ultra both the precision of high-end LiDAR mapping and the physical flexibility to reach recessed areas many robots miss.
(Image credit: Future)Its vision system, meanwhile, adds a second layer of intelligence: a structured-light 3D sensor paired with the aforementioned RGB camera. Together, these navigation tools identify and classify a wide range of objects, allowing the robot to plan collision-free routes that seem logical, at least when compared with some other models I've reviewed.
I've been astonished by how confidently and intelligently this model has mapped and navigated my home – and even a huge village hall – without any hiccups whatsoever. It just works.
Robot designThe Dreame Matrix10 Ultra's industry-leading 30,000 Pascals of suction power is a major bonus, especially when it comes to removing most trapped dust particles in carpet and rugs. Couple this suction power with Dreame's dual rollers (one with added bristles) and and an extendable side sweeping brush for great pick-up coverage along skirting boards and furniture edges, and you have one very efficient floor sweeping system. Like most Roborocks, you're offered five levels of suction with this model – Quiet, Standard, Turbo, Max and Max+.
(Image credit: Future)However, what really sets this model apart from almost all others bar the Mova Mobius 60 (a sub-brand of Dreame) is its advanced mopping hardware. Instead of using a single pair of spinning mop pads to clean the entire floorspace, the Matrix10 Ultra supports a range of three different mop types that can be allocated to different rooms, and these mops are swapped automatically in the charging dock (more on this in the section directly below).
Like all good modern hybrid robot vacuums, the Matrix10 Ultra automatically lifts its mops when moving over carpets, or leaves them in the dock if not required. And when it's mopping, it also raises both the twin brush rollers and the side brush so they remain muck-free.
Many high-end bots are capable of scaling thresholds and low steps but this one performs better than most. It's able to quite literally climb up a pair of steps, a sliding door track up to 3in / 8cm in height, or single steps up to 1.6in / 4.2cm, by raising its chassis and launching itself forward. (You can see the system in action on a different Dreame bot in TechRadar's Dreame X50 Ultra Complete review.)
(Image credit: Future)Because this model is equipped with a decent RGB camera up front, you can also use the Dreame app to manually steer the robot around like an RC car. I've always thought of this function as a bit of a gimmick, but I was proven wrong the other day in our village hall: the Matrix10 Ultra got stuck in a tight spot to the side of a toilet bowl and its sensitive sensors prevented it from jiggling itself out of trouble. I simply launched the app from my location, selected the camera icon and managed to steer it out manually. I then tasked it to continue cleaning and all was well again.
(Image credit: Dreame / Future)However, there is one genuine gimmick added to the camera function that I see no use for, aside from a bit of amusement. If you select the speaker-and-dog icon you can choose from a selection of noises – a cat meowing, purring, a dog bark, some footsteps and the ticking of a clock.
Dock designLet's first address the elephant in the room – the size of the dock. While attractive enough to look at, it is huge by comparison to the majority of other models. In fact most people might ask why you elected to put an under-counter fridge in your living room. It certainly looks a bit like one.
At 23.2in / 58.9cm in height, a whopping 16.4in / 41.6cm in width and a depth of 17.9in / 45.5cm with robot ramp attached, this dock dwarfs most others on the market and that will most certainly be an issue for anyone with a smaller home. But then again, Dreame likely never envisaged this model being used in anything other than large homes – its unique multi-mop system bears this out.
(Image credit: Future)The Dreame Matrix10 Ultra's dock is one of the most technically sophisticated charging stations ever paired with a hybrid robot. Aside from automatically emptying the contents of the robot's tiny bin into its larger-than-average 3.2-litre dust bag, the dock can also store multiple mop types and automatically switch them using a jukebox-style system.
In a nutshell, the bot leaves the dock and waits a minute or so while a module behind the front door raises up to grab the required magnetically-affixed mops from their holding base before placing them face down on the dock's cleaning plate mechanism. The robot then returns to the dock where the mops are attached. It's a very clever system, no doubt, but the jury's out on the amount of moving parts involved and the reliability of the system in the long term.
(Image credit: Future)You get three sets of pads included and each one is slightly different and designed for a specific purpose: the yellow pads have scrubbers fitted for deeper cleaning in greasy areas like a kitchen; the grey pads are thicker and more absorbent for bathrooms or flooring where you want less streaking; and blue are for general-purpose mopping of living areas. However, you can use the Dreame app to set which types of mops you want used for each room.
(Image credit: Future)The million dollar question is whether you really need three sets of mops for different rooms. Dreame says it's mostly for hygiene purposes and the prevention of cross-contamination and I can see this being a valid reason for anyone with toddlers on the floor who doesn't want a toilet mop to then clean the living room floor, even if it's self-cleaned between tasks. But is avoidance of the possibility of cross-contamination really that important? If it is, then this model is unequivocally the one for you.
Given that this model is best suited to larger abodes, the dock houses two extra-large water tanks – a huge 5.5-liter tank for clean water and a 4-liter tank for the filthy stuff. Once a mopping task is completed, the bot returns to dock where the mops are thoroughly washed in hot water at 212F / 100C. This water is then purged into the dirty water reservoir ready for emptying at your leisure or whenever the app tells you to do so.
(Image credit: Future)This hot-water cleaning cycle does a far better job of breaking down grease, grime and detergent residues than the lukewarm rinses found in many competing systems. Once cleaned, the mop pads are dried with hot air to prevent bacterial growth and eliminate damp smells.
Meanwhile, the multi-solution compartment – a first in my book – lets the dock dose different cleaning fluids automatically, adjusting formulas to match floors or cleaning modes. You get three types of solution in the package – one liter of Dreame Floor Cleaning Solution, 200ml of Pet Odor Solution and 200ml of Wood Floor Care Solution.
I'm always slightly wary of gadgets with lots of moving parts, because the more complex the engineering, the more potential points of failure there are further down the line. However, I didn't experience any issues with the dock – or the robot itself for that matter – during my review period.
- Design score: 4.5 out of 5
- Expert navigation, accurate object avoidance and powerful mapping
- Excellent vacuuming on hard floor, and very decent on carpet
- Complex mop system works well and mopping is a cut above average
So how does the Dreame Matrix10 Ultra hold up in practice? Let's take a look at the performance. I've broken this section up into different parts to make it easier to digest.
Navigation performanceI've been extremely impressed by this bot's navigation performance and its initial mapping sequence was insanely good. In fact, it's the first robot vac to ever accurately map my open plan home with all spaces highlighted correctly and with no dividing or merging of rooms required. It even automatically named four of the five rooms it had mapped. This means it was accurately spotting the dining table in the dining room, the sofa in the living room and the kitchen by its layout. Furthermore, it did all this in a smidge under five minutes.
I then installed the whole system in our huge village hall – 121 square meters – and it mapped the hall, kitchen and toilets in 10 minutes, and even correctly named the two toilets and dividing hallway. Moreover, unlike other models I've tested in the hall, the Dreame's main map has remained stable with no shifts in the map's perspective. LiDAR is known to struggle when mapping huge areas like a commercial hall, especially if it has many windows with bright sunlight pouring in. But this model has so far bucked that trend.
Click to enlarge (Image credit: Dreame / Future)
During my tests the Matrix10 Ultra has planned efficient, seemingly logical cleaning paths rather than wandering around randomly. It's also adjusted dynamically when furniture was moved or when unexpected obstacles appeared, updating its routes mid-clean to maintain full coverage without wasting time or missing too many corners.
Unfortunately I wasn't in a position to test its ability to scale high thresholds and small steps because I don't have any access to them. However, I have seen demonstrations of this bot negotiating a threshold and roll-steel furniture legs and it has simply sailed over them.
Obstacle avoidanceThe Dreame Matrix10 Ultra's obstacle avoidance is one of its most impressive performance features, combining advanced sensors and AI to navigate real-world environments with finesse. As mentioned in the Design section, the robot uses a combination of retractable DToF LiDAR for precise distance mapping and structured-light 3D sensing paired with an AI-enhanced RGB camera. This fusion of sensors allows it to detect a wide range of objects, from small items like cables, socks, shoes, bags and pet toys to furniture legs and other household obstacles.
(Image credit: Future)In practice, this means the Matrix10 Ultra rarely bumps into or gets stuck on objects, though I'll admit that a loose pair of scissors caught it out on one occasion. In my first home test, it manoeuvred between a loose glove and tape measure without any touching, but rode slipshod over the scissors; and yet it avoided the scissors in a subsequent test. I put this first failure down to the robot having approached the scissors from an acute angle beyond the line of sight of its RGB camera.
I then set up another obstacle test in the village hall using a clutch of pens, a book, a plastic Dyson vacuum nozzle and the same tape measure. Remarkably, it negotiated all obstacles without any touching and you can see this in the attached demonstration video.
Would I rely on the Matrix10 Ultra to avoid a dog poop? No I wouldn't, though on evidence of my tests, I'd say that there's a much better chance of this bot avoiding it rather than smearing it all over the carpet.
Vacuum performanceThe Dreame Matrix10 Ultra delivers very decent vacuum performance. It dual-brush system lifted dust, debris and pet hair with ease on my hard floors, while its automatic edge brushes did a grand job of scuttling debris from corners into the path of its suction portal.
It has spent two weeks vacuuming my home with no glaring signs of it having missed anything and it's been absolutely faultless in the village hall, too, with a perfectly cleaned swathe of wooden flooring and very little evidence of any forgotten debris along the skirting boards. The Matrix10’s cleaning ability on hard floor is as good as the best I’ve seen from any robot vacuum brand.
Image 1 of 3(Image credit: Future)Image 2 of 3(Image credit: Future)Image 3 of 3(Image credit: Future)However, I was a little underwhelmed by its performance on a medium-pile rug, even when I had the suction set to Max+. For this test I selected zone cleaning in the app and sprinkled a good dollop of oats, rice and small chunks of crushed dried pasta. The robot duly headed to the rug and proceeded to ramp up the suction power when its sensor detected extra debris. It then performed a series of tight circles in these areas before continuing in an up-and-down parallel fashion to finish the job.
It definitely left more debris behind than I expected, given the ultra-powerful 30,000 Pa suction spec. Despite the supposedly higher suction, it didn't perform as well on carpet as my Roborock 10R or Roborock 10 in this particular high-debris test.
Image 1 of 3(Image credit: Future)Image 2 of 3(Image credit: Future)Image 3 of 3(Image credit: Future)I am mindful that this was an extreme task and one that would normally be performed to much better effect by a human with a decent cordless stick vac. The Matrix10 Ultra's day-to-day carpet cleaning has been perfectly acceptable – the robot’s bin has always been full enough to suggest it had collected a lot of pet hair – just not quite as outstanding as I'd hoped for. At just 54.9dB from about six feet away, it's also one of the quietest bots I've ever tested.
Mopping performanceThe Matrix10 Ultra's mopping is genuinely among the most advanced of any hybrid combos. Its rotating Dual Omni‑Scrub mop technology applies consistent downward pressure, scrubbing hard floors deeply rather than simply swiping across them. Moreover, the base station supports a full cycle of mop‑pad care – heated water washing, drying and automatic water refill of the robot's smaller water tank. This level of automation keeps the mop pads hygienic, fresh and ready for repeated cleaning, without any manual scrubbing or pad wringing.
(Image credit: Future)Of course, one of this model's most clever touches is its ability to switch mop pad types automatically, depending on what the space demands. Water flow is also regulated automatically depending on floor type and expected dirt levels, which helps avoid over‑wetting.
In my daily tests, the mopping system delivered smooth, even results with no streaking. It also handled a spill of some milk with no issues to report. However, no hybrid robot is flawless when it comes to removing deeply ingrained grime, thick stains or sticky messes.
(Image credit: Future)While this model will tackle them to some degree, programming it to head to a specific spot by creating a zone in the Dreame app is a world of pain and takes more time to set it up and the robot to perform the task accurately enough than it does to simply grab a mop, kitchen towel of a decent cordless hard floor cleaner like the excellent Roborock F25 Ultra.
Dock performanceAs previously mentioned, rather than just charging the robot, the Matrix10 Ultra's dock stores three sets of mop pads and automatically selects the correct one for each room. It also washes them in 212F / 100C water before drying them with hot air. The jukebox-style pad selection system is undeniably clever, but I can't comment on the long-term reliability of this complex mop-swapping innovation. I should add that I personally haven't experienced any issues, but who knows how well it will behave in a year or two.
(Image credit: Future)What I will wholeheartedly praise is the dock's excellent bin emptying system. I've often experienced issues with some robot vac docks that have clogged up when faced with too much pet hair in the robot's smaller bin. To date this model has performed immeasurably well and I think I know why.
A bit like the Eufy Omni S1 Pro, this model's dock goes through a pre-suction process whereby it performs a full power suck for about a second to loosen any clumped hair in the robot's bin before pausing another second. It then goes into full suction for about 8 seconds. After umpteen emptying sessions, I have no blocked suction tubes to report and that's a major bonus in my book.
(Image credit: Future)Another point in this dock's favor is the low volume it emits while going through the emptying process. I measured it at 64.2dB from about 10 feet away and this is pretty quiet for a dock of this nature. But perhaps more importantly, the low sound frequency of the emptying process is so much easier on the ears than many other docks, specifically some of those by iRobot which emit an ear-splitting high-frequency scream whenever emptying the contents of their robots' bins.
Battery performanceI was initially concerned about this model's battery capacity when first putting it through its paces. I'd fiddle with it for no longer than 10 minutes with pauses in between and the battery would show something in the region of 91%. Hence I didn't hold out much hope of the battery lasting for an entire vacuum clean of a 121-square meter village hall without having to recharge midway through the cleaning session.
But I was wrong, because I've checked the Dreame app's Care History section and, on average, the Matrix10 Ultra has completed every task – the hall, kitchen and toilets – in one go in around 117 minutes with +/- 28% of battery life remaining. And that's a very reassuring stat for anyone thinking of purchasing this autonomous hybrid vac for their country mansion.
- Performance score: 4.5 out of 5
- Extremely comprehensive
- Slowish to respond
- Not that easy to navigate
The Dreame app offers a highly capable and feature-rich experience, giving users minutely detailed control over their robot vacuum and mop. From the first LiDAR scan, it builds an accurate map of your home, allowing you to name rooms, create zones, set no-go zones, create multi-floor maps and adjust cleaning parameters like suction strength or mop water flow rates on a per-room basis. Scheduling, remote control and notifications help keep cleaning convenient, while smart-home integration with Alexa, Siri and Google Assistant adds hands-free flexibility.
Click to enlarge (Image credit: Dreame / Future)
However, it took me a while to get a handle on this app and an especially long time to work out how to set up routines. Even then, I needed to make sure I'd saved and tapped on any tick icons or it didn't save anything. I'd have preferred to see a system like that adopted by Roborock which saves its routines (a series of pre-programmed short cuts like ‘vacuum the hall', ‘mop the kitchen' and ‘clean the dog rug') on the homepage for instant accessibility. I've also noticed that the Dreame app is a bit slower to react to commands and send them to the robot – but we're talking seconds here.
Despite these small niggles, I've been mightily impressed by the huge wealth of customisation you can achieve in this app. However, I would advise spending a good deal of time learning about all the settings because, by ignoring them, you almost certainly won't get the most out of this sterling autonomous home helper.
- App score: 4 out of 5
Attribute
Notes
Rating
Value
Ultra-premium at list price, but it looks like discounts won't be hard to come by – and it does boast an awful lot of tech.
3.5 / 5
Design
Ambitious and complex, with a mop-pad dispensing dock, feet for vaulting over steps and a retractable LiDAR puck.
4.5 / 5
Performance
Generally extremely impressive, with excellent mopping and hard floor vacuuming, and accurate navigation and object detection. Its carpet performance not as outstanding as I'd expect for those suction specs.
4 / 5
App
Perhaps a little too comprehensive for its own good – technophobes may have trouble getting a handle on it.
4 / 5
Buy it if...You have advanced mopping needs
The Matrix10 Ultra really shines when it comes to its mop setup, with multiple mop types and cleaning fluids (and the ability to swap between them automatically).
You're worried about cross-contamination
The Matrix10 Ultra provides different mops for different rooms, to keep things contained.
You have a big home with lots of obstacles
This model delivers some of the most accurate and efficient mapping and navigation I've experienced – perfect for large, challenging spaces.
Don't buy it if...You don't have much room for the dock
The Matrix10 Ultra's dock is about the size of a small fridge, so not ideal if you're short on space.
You don't need auto mop pad swapping
Is the specter of cross-floor contamination really an issue? If you're not fussed about reusing your bathroom mop pads in the kitchen (with a clean in-between), there are plenty of cheaper and simpler alternatives to choose from.
You don't have that much hard floor
The USP here is really the mopping – if you're not going to be making the most of the different mop pad types and cleaning fluids, I'd pick a different bot.
How I tested the Dreame Matrix10 UltraI've had this model running on two separate floor spaces – at home and our large village hall, where it currently resides. Aside from evaluating both the robot and unique mop-swapping dock, I let it loose at home for two weeks and left it to its own devices using a series of daily cleaning schedules. I then performed a hard-floor pick-up and mopping test in the kitchen before hauling it up to the hall (it's heavy) where I performed a carpet cleaning and obstacle avoidance test before leaving it to run five scheduled vacuum and mopping sessions per week. It's been doing this for the past two weeks with no hiccups to report.
Read more about how we test robot vacuum cleaners
- First reviewed December 2025
Categories: Reviews
I tested the Antigravity 360 drone – and only a sky-high price tag brings this unique DJI rival down to earth
Antigravity A1: one-minute review
The idea of a 360-degree drone may sound like an impossibility, but the Antigravity A1 is exactly that. What’s more, it manages to implement this concept in a sub-250g drone that includes collision avoidance, and which is controlled via 360-degree FPV goggles and a motion controller. You’ll have to read on to discover whether it’s one of the best drones you can buy, but it’s undoubtedly one of the most interesting.
The idea of a 360-degree drone isn’t a new one, and the fact that Antigravity is an offshoot of Insta360 may shed a little light on its pedigree in this department. But this isn’t Insta360’s first experiment in this arena; first, there was an Insta360 / BetaFPV 360-degree collaboration with the SMO 360 camera for some FPV drones. Then there was the Insta360 Sphere, which was a 360-degree camera that attached to the DJI Air 2 and Air 2S.
Both were great ideas, but – no pun intended – they simply didn’t take off as hoped. The Insta360 Sphere was an interesting idea because it attached to a standard camera drone, but operation was fiddly, and it was tied to a drone model that would inevitably become obsolete.
The Antigravity A1 addresses this issue, as the 360-degree camera is built into the drone. You wear FPV goggles with head tracking that give you a 360-degree view during flight, while control is mostly via a motion controller with head tracking of the goggles. One thing I must stress at this point is that the A1 is not an FPV drone. It’s a 360-degree camera drone that uses goggles and a motion controller, rather than a standard controller and phone.
(Image credit: James Abbott)Antigravity A1: price and release date- Launched on December 4 2025
- Expensive compared to standard camera drones
- Three kits available
The Antigravity A1 was launched on December 4, 2025. The drone is more expensive than other sub-250g drones due to the high-quality goggles and motion controller that come with the three available kits. These certainly provide an immersive experience, but it would have been massively more affordable if the drone used a standard stick-based controller with a phone attached, or even a smart controller.
There are three kits available: the Standard Bundle, the Explorer Bundle and the Infinity Bundle. In a nutshell, the Standard Bundle includes the drone, motion controller, FPV goggles and one battery. The Explorer Bundle is all that, but it comes with three batteries, a battery charging hub, a shoulder bag, and spare propellers. The Infinity Bundle is the same as the Explorer, but it includes higher-capacity batteries for longer flight times.
The Standard Bundle costs $1,599 / £1,299 / AU$2,099, the Explorer Bundle costs $1,899 / £1,399 / AU$2,599 and the Infinity Bundle costs $1,999 / £1,499 / AU$2,799. To cut to the chase, you'll want to avoid the Standard Kit because one battery isn’t enough, as it doesn’t provide a long flight duration. The best-value package is the Explorer Bundle, while you can enjoy more flight time by paying a bit more for the Infinity Bundle, if you’re happy for the weight of the drone to exceed 250g.
- Price score: 3/5
Camera:
Dual 1/1.28-inch sensors
Video resolution:
8K
Frame rates:
8K up to 30fps / 5.2K up to 60fps / 4K & 1080p up to 30fps / 4K & 1080p slow motion at 100fps
Video transmission range:
Up to 6.2 miles / 10km (Tested in FCC environments)
Flight modes:
Cinematic, Normal, Sport
Battery:
2360mAh, up to 24 minutes flight time / 4345mAh, up to 39 minutes flight time
Charger type:
USB-C / Battery Charging Hub
Weight:
8.78oz / 249g
(10.26oz / 291g with the high-capacity flight battery)
Dimensions:
Folded: 5.56 x 3.79 x 3.20 inches / 141.3 x 96.2 x 81.4mm
Unfolded (propellers extended): 12.15 x 15.05 x 3.51 inches / 308.6 x 382.3 x 89.2mm
- Standard folding mini drone design
- Vision googles for a 360-degree camera view
- Motion controller
The A1 sports a standard folding design that makes it look a lot like most sub-250g drones, but it also has an undeniably unique look. The two cameras that provide the 360-degree view to effectively make the drone invisible are on the top and bottom of the front section of the drone. This is dampened and has two forward-facing binocular vision sensors that look like cameras.
There's also a downward binocular vision system, alongside a 3D infrared sensor at the bottom of the drone. Without going into exact dimensions, the A1 is the same sort of size as all other sub-250g drones, but where it differs most notably is the retractable landing gear: two legs extend when the drone is switched on and when it’s landing, while they retract when it has taken off.
This functionality keeps the lower camera off the ground, helping to maintain the invisible drone aspect of the camera stitching for clean footage. Furthermore, when you use the Antigravity landing mat, it provides a precise Return to Home point if you choose to use this functionality to bring the drone back to you at the end of flights. It works surprisingly well, too, so no complaints here.
Image 1 of 4(Image credit: James Abbott)Image 2 of 4(Image credit: James Abbott)Image 3 of 4(Image credit: James Abbott)Image 4 of 4(Image credit: James Abbott)The overall design of the A1 makes it a camera drone, but rather than using a standard controller, the A1 uses a motion controller paired with FPV goggles. The motion controller is easy to use and intuitive, and when you first connect everything, you’re taken through a short and useful tutorial that familiarizes you with the controls.
The Vision Goggles provide the camera view on dual 1.03-inch Micro-OLED screens with a 2560 x 2560px resolution. Yes, that’s square, and quite different to the usual FPV goggle widescreen view, but it works well with a 360-degree drone. I was surprised because I’m much more familiar with FPV goggles offering a 16:9 ratio image, but I found this square view worked well for the A1. The battery for the goggles can be attached to an included and comfortable lanyard that you can conveniently wear around your neck – a well-thought-out and simple solution.
There are also diopters with a range of -5.0 D to +2.0 D, which is great if you wear glasses and need to correct the view to your prescription. Plus, there’s 30GB of internal storage and a microSD card slot for capturing goggle footage. The goggles are comfortable to wear and provide a clear image for flight, while the head tracking functionality provides intuitive control alongside the motion controller.
Image 1 of 4(Image credit: James Abbott)Image 2 of 4(Image credit: James Abbott)Image 3 of 4(Image credit: James Abbott)Image 4 of 4(Image credit: James Abbott)There’s also a screen on the front-left of the googles, so people can see the forward-facing camera view while you fly. The downside to a goggles-based approach is that you need a spotter to maintain visual line of sight of the drone while you fly. This makes it much less convenient than a standard camera drone, despite the A1’s immersive and fun flying experience.
The A1 features two battery options, with the 2360mAh option offering up to 24 minutes of flight time, and the 4345mAh option providing up to 39 minutes of flight time. The higher capacity takes the overall weight of the A1 over 250g, so bear this in mind if you plan to opt for the kit with these batteries.
I used standard batteries during testing, and these typically provided around 16 minutes of flight time before Return to Home was automatically initiated. One feature of the batteries that stands out is that you only have to touch the rear end of the batteries and the lights showing the charge level light up – this is rather than pressing a button, as on other drone batteries, and is a subtle yet neat feature.
- Design score: 5/5
- Intelligent flight modes
- Solid flight performance
- Subject tracking
The A1 flies incredibly well, while the FPV goggles and motion controller approach suit the system. But – and it’s a big but – this does add cost, and requires pilots to have an observer with them to remain safe and legal during flights. Both, you could argue, are a hassle. If Antigravity had taken a standard controller-and-phone approach it would have kept the price down and removed the need for an observer, without sacrificing much, if anything, in terms of flight performance.
You would lose the immersive flight experience, of course, and the two flight modes, FreeMotion Mode and FPV Mode, are enjoyable. The former requires you to point the controller target in the desired direction of flight, while head tracking on the goggles allows you to turn. You can also use a dial on the motion controller to do this. One point I must make is that you should read about how FPV Mode works before flying it, because it’s completely different to FreeMotion Mode, and the drone feels like it’s out of control if you try to use FreeMotion-style control.
FPV Mode isn’t true FPV, but it does allow for more sweeping and flowing drone movements where you simply tilt the motion controller left and right to turn. This was my favorite mode for flight, although I preferred FreeMotion when I needed more precision, such as when flying back to the take-off point to land.
Standard flight modes include Cinematic, Normal and Sport, although even Sport is quite pedestrian in terms of speed and agility. The A1 certainly lacks the excitement of the DJI Avata and Avata 2, but again this isn’t an FPV, drone despite the goggles and controller. This means that flight is fun, but not exciting. With a fly-first, frame-later approach, where you reframe photos and videos in software, you can increase speed here and make the drone appear to dive, flip and roll like an FPV drone to some degree.
I’ve reviewed many drones, and I’m not normally impressed with Quickshots-style automated flight patterns, but the A1’s equivalent, which are called Sky Genie, did impress me. Then there’s Sky Path, which is waypoints, where you can pre-program a flight path and someone else, a non-pilot, can wear the goggles and look around as the drone follows its course. With the goggles, you get a full 360-degree view as you turn around, look up and look down.
Sky Genie modes include Orbit, Spiral Ascend, Comet, Antigravity Line, Fly Away and Ascend. These allow you to achieve flight that’s not possible with the motion controller, which makes them invaluable, particularly in situations when you want to fly around a subject for visually interesting video reframing later.
There’s also a subject-tracking mode that works well once a moving subject is selected. The drone dutifully follows, and like with Sky Genie, the drone does all the work for you, focusing on the subject so you can reframe your video later. This uses Insta360's impressive Deep Track technology. And if you’re looking for a bit of fun, Virtual Cockpit in FPV mode provides an overlay that aims to inject augmented reality fun into flights. At the time of writing, you can fly with a dragon, and more skins will be added in the future. It’s a bit of a gimmick and not for me, but other people may enjoy it.
- Performance score: 4/5
- Image quality on a par with 360-degree cameras
- Fly-first, frame-later approach
- Invisible drone technology
If you’ve ever used an Insta360 camera, such as the X5, you’ll find the Antigravity A1 as easy and intuitive to use, since Antigravity is an offshoot of Insta360. What’s more, Antigravity Studio is a reskinned version of Insta360 Studio, so if you’re already familiar with it, you’ll be right at home. There is a learning curve if you’ve never used it, and it takes time to get to grips with the software, but it’s far from rocket science.
The software allows you to reframe the A1’s aerial photos and videos in the same way you can with a standard 360-degree camera. The only difference is that the drone is being flown rather than the camera being held, attached to a selfie stick or something else. This ultimately combines the advantages of 360-degree cameras with the aerial capabilities of a drone.
The dual cameras both feature a 1/1.28-inch sensor and an f/2.2 aperture. These create a 360-degree view where the drone is invisible, so you don’t have to edit it out – just like invisible selfie sticks with standard 360-degree cameras. Photos can be captured in INSP and DNG
formats at a resolution of 14MP (5248 x 2624) and 55MP (10486 x 5248). Shooting modes include Normal, HDR, Burst, AEB and Interval. You can reframe photos in various formats and even create animated photos.
Image 1 of 9(Image credit: James Abbott)Image 2 of 9(Image credit: James Abbott)Image 3 of 9(Image credit: James Abbott)Image 4 of 9(Image credit: James Abbott)Image 5 of 9(Image credit: James Abbott)Image 6 of 9(Image credit: James Abbott)Image 7 of 9(Image credit: James Abbott)Image 8 of 9(Image credit: James Abbott)Image 9 of 9(Image credit: James Abbott)Video can be captured in 8K up to 30fps, 5.2K up to 60fps, 4K & 1080p up to 30fps and 4K & 1080p slow motion at 100fps. The maximum bitrate is 170Mbps and can be encoded in H.264 or H.265. Photo and video editing can take place in the Antigravity phone app or the Antigravity Studio Desktop app. The former has more templates for creating reframed videos, which is a shame because it would be great to see these available on the desktop app, where working with 8K footage makes more sense.
Reframed videoImage quality is great for a 360-degree camera – it’s what you’d expect, and capturing photos and videos in the highest resolutions possible allows you to maximize image quality. I shot in Auto mode when capturing both photos and videos, and found that the A1 did a great job in all light conditions; the exposure was balanced. The downside to this, compared to shooting in manual, of course, is that shutter speed can change during video capture.
Animated photoImage quality isn’t, however, on par with standard camera drones – in the same way standard 360-degree cameras aren’t as good as standard action cameras. This has always been the case, and the trade-off for being able to capture an all-encompassing field of view at up to 8K. 8K, while it produces huge file sizes, isn’t as high-resolution as it sounds when you realize it’s the entire 360-degree view, as opposed to a 16:9 view at 4K or above with standard camera drones.
- Image and video quality score: 4/5
Attributes
Notes
Rating
Price
The A1 is expensive as a result of the goggle-based approach.
3/5
Design
While the overall design is fairly standard, there are some innovative and unique aspects to the drone.
5/5
Performance
Excellent all-round performance, but flight feels quite pedestrian in terms of speed and agility.
4/5
Image and video quality
Great image quality in 360-degree terms, but not as good as a standard camera drone.
4/5
Should I buy the Antigravity A1?Buy it if...You'd like a 360-degree drone
It goes without saying that if you would like 360-degree photo and video capture in a drone, the A1 is the only option available.
You’d like an immersive flight experience
If you’d like an immersive flight experience without the speed and risk of FPV drones, the A1 blends camera drone flight with FPV goggles and the motion controller.
You appreciate innovation
The A1 is undoubtedly an innovative drone with some impressive features that could pave the way for future drone innovation.
You’re on a budget
The A1 isn’t cheap, coming in at double the price, or more, of other sub-250g drones, so it’s far from being a budget option.
You'd like the best image quality
If you want the best image quality available in a sub-250g camera drone, the DJI Mini 5 Pro is a more suitable option.
You'd prefer simplicity
Since the A1 relies on FPV goggles for the camera view and some control of the drone, you’re going to need to have a spotter with you every time you fly.
DJI Mini 5 Pro
If you’d like a standard camera drone but the best sub-250g model ever made, then look no further than the DJI Mini 5 Pro. This compact drone somehow manages to pack in a rotating camera with a 1-inch sensor and some seriously impressive performance. This is a drone that beginners and professionals alike will love, thanks to its fantastic image quality, safety features and compact size.
See our DJI Mini 5 Pro reviewView Deal
DJI Neo 2
The DJI Neo 2 offers a huge upgrade on the original model released in 2024. It’s arguably not the best selfie drone, with the HoverAir X1 Pro and ProMax offering some serious competition in this area, but the Neo 2 is an impressive performer when it comes to subject tracking. What’s more, it offers obstacle avoidance and multiple controller options, including FPV.
See our DJI Neo 2 reviewView Deal
(Image credit: James Abbott)How I tested the Antigravity A1- All flight modes tested
- Photos and videos captured
- Automated features tested
I tested the Antigravity A1 for a couple of months to experience all the features and functionality available, including FreeMotion and FPV mode. I captured photos and videos in the highest quality possible, and captured them in a range of conditions to assess overall camera performance.
I tested all Sky Genie Modes (Orbit, Spiral Ascend, Comet, Antigravity Line, Fly Away, and Ascend), alongside subject tracking and SkyPath functionality. I tested the motion controller and googles for usability, and tested the fly-first, frame-later reframing workflow extensively.
- First reviewed: December 2025
- Read more about how we test
Categories: Reviews
Apple Final Cut Pro (2025) review
For thirteen years, Final Cut Pro was branded as Final Cut Pro X, having been rebuilt from the ground up from its Macromedia origins, with its version number firmly stuck at X (read ten).
Every major update since its launch in June 2011 only got a decimal point increase. But last year, all that changed: Apple dropped the X, and introduced the world to Final Cut Pro 11. Does this brand new numbering system (now at 11.2) mean radical changes for Apple’s best video editing software? Let’s check it out…
Final Cut Pro: Price & availability(Image credit: Apple // Future)- You pay once, and it’s yours forever, including any future updates, large or small. That’s one heck of a deal, and it’s been this way for 14 years.
First things first, how much does it cost? Surprisingly little. I mean, it’s not subscription based, so you’re not renting your software month after month like Adobe Premiere Pro. But it’s also not free, like DaVinci Resolve.
Final Cut Pro sits comfortably in the middle, and will set you back $300 / £300 / €350. That might sound like a lot at first, but consider this: every single update, large or small, has been free since the original Final Cut Pro X was released. Even the mighty version 11 I’m looking at here, was included in the price. That’s one heck of an incentive.
- Score: ★★★★⯪
- It has a small amount of customizability, but you can’t move panels around. They can be resized a little, though. Yes, it does feel like it’s Apple’s way or the highway, but at the same time, you can sit in front of any FCP interface and get to work without trying to figure out where everything is.
If you’re new to FCP, or are wondering if you should be using it over a competing product, let’s take a quick look at its interface. Unlike Premiere Pro, which prides itself in its impressive customisability, FCP’s interface is pretty rigid. You’ve got your list of libraries on the left (where all your media is stored), your inspector sidebar to the right (where all the changeable parameters can be found), the lower third is for the timeline, and roughly in the centre is your preview window. Many editors have two preview windows, FCP only has one. It may feel confusing but it actually works very well: mouse over a clip in your library and it’ll appear in that section; do the same in the timeline, same result.
You can’t move these sections around, but it’s possible to hide or reveal them, so they’re there when you need them, and disappear when you don’t. You can also resize the borders between these sections to a certain extent, so you can see more or less of them as you require. Definitely useful, but compared to Premiere Pro, it’s pretty anemic.
But what you lose in customisability, you gain in familiarity: I can step in front of any FCP interface, and get to work immediately, without wasting time trying to figure out someone else’s highly individual layout!
One thing I’d like to quickly mention is the ‘magnetic timeline’. Usually, when you work on an edit, and delete a clip in between others, you’re left with a gap, which you then need to fill with a new clip, or by dragging to the left all the clips to its right.
This still happens in FCP, but not when working in the primary timeline. When you resize or delete a clip there, all the clips to its right are automatically shunted to the left. It can take a while to get used to, especially since clips on other layers are actually tethered to clips in the primary timeline; delete a clip that has other clips tethered to it, and they all go.
It requires a little bit of management because of that, but when you’re used to it, you edit so fast. Interestingly, Adobe recently released Premiere Pro for iPhone, and guess what? It uses the magnetic timeline concept, even though the desktop version of Premiere Pro doesn’t. Apple’s been ahead of the curve for a long while with that one.
- Score: ★★★★☆
- There’s a bunch of little touches that are so useful when editing, you have to wonder why they hadn’t been implemented before. And yes, there are big tentpole attractions too, which are powerful and well implemented - as long as your Mac can run them.
I could obviously go through the long list of features new to version 11 and above, but I'm going to focus on the ones I’ve grown to love over the months. Yes, you’ve got a couple of new effects, and a couple of fancy transitions. However, the absolute best feature - the one I still think “why didn’t they implement this years ago?” - is a simple keyboard shortcut to move clips up or down a different layer without having to drag them around.
The problem with dragging is, more often than not, the selected clip(s) might move a few frames along the timeline as you do that. There are ways to prevent this, but they’re sadly not foolproof. And fixing the timing takes time. Now, I just need to select the clip(s) I wish to move, hold down the Option key (you might know it as Alt), and press the up or down arrow key as many times as I need. That’s it. It has saved me so much time, it’s worth the price of admission alone.
Another welcome improvement takes place in the library: when you sync clips together, or create a Multicam clip, the original files are automatically hidden. Sure, you could do it manually before, but every second you save through automatic decluttering, can and is put to good use later on in the editing. It doesn't sound like much, but it’s the little things, you know.
(Image credit: Apple // Future)One feature I’ve found I can’t do without is more technical: the magnetic mask. It’s oh so clever: it uses special algorithms to analyse an item on the screen, allowing you to select it, while ignoring the rest. Once you’re happy with what’s highlighted, FCP analyses the entire clip and tracks it over time. It works if the object (or person) moves, or even turns around, and the camera doesn’t need to be static either. You can fine tune the results should you need to of course. It’s a great way to separate an item from its background, remove the background entirely, perform separate colour corrections on both, let your imagination run wild. Goodbye manual rotoscoping! Highly impressive (and so fast on a Mac equipped with an Apple Silicon chip).
One cool feature I’ve used a few times is applying colour correction to an adjustment clip which is placed above others in the timeline. Doing so changes all the clips beneath it. Fine tune the adjustment clip, and it affects all the clips beneath it in one go. Another great time saver.
Then there’s the one I’m dying to use but can’t: automatic transcription and captioning: FCP uses more clever algorithms to create written words from spoken dialogue, making subtitles appear at the right time on the screen. Apple is seriously behind with this feature, and it’s a much needed addition. I’ve tried it myself on a Mac other than my own, and it’s fast, and surprisingly accurate. So why can’t I use it? Because I’m still on an Intel Mac, and powerful though my machine still is, only Macs equipped with Apple Silicon can take advantage of this feature (grumble grumble).
And since I’m grumbling, I might as well mention that version 11.2 removes support for FireWire devices if you’re running macOS Tahoe. It breaks my heart to see FireWire disappear like that. If you don’t know what FireWire was, it used to run rings around USB, and could do things USB-C still can’t. Oh well, that’s technology for you.
All in all, Final Cut Pro is a powerful video editor, and these new additions help it catch up to the competition once more. I would easily put it in the top three - the other two being Premiere Pro and Resolve. Editing with it is fluid, it has many powerful features, with third party hooks to add additional effects and transitions. The newest features certainly do make it so much better, especially if you own an Apple Silicon Mac. Most features still work on old venerable Intel Macs, although the writing’s all too clearly on the wall for those.
- Score: ★★★★⯪
I've always been a fan of Final Cut Pro. Yes, it's an underdog in the video editing world - despite having the backing of one of the biggest forces in the creative industry. Of course, it being limited to Mac devices isn't going to help - even more so with Apple now limiting some of its best features to high-spec Macs and MacBooks.
But in terms of editing video, it's fluid, intuitive, and the new features really speeds up the entire workflow. Sure, it does feel like Apple's playing catch up with the other top names in the arena - notably Adobe's Premiere Pro. However, at least those modern editing tools are coming online now, and not festering away, unloved and forgotten. Honestly, it used to feel like Apple has abandoned Final Cut Pro, so I'm happy to see the renewed support.
And I can't knock that one-off cost with lifetime updates and upgrades. For that, no other video editor comes close.
- Final score: ★★★★☆
Buy it if...
You’re looking for an affordable video editor for your Mac, don’t like too much customizability, but appreciate a fancy, fluid and fast way of working, with powerful tools to create great edits.
Don't buy it if...
You don’t appreciate new editing concepts and would rather stick to the tried and true traditional way of editing video, and if you don’t own a Mac.
For more alternatives, we've tested the best free video editing software, best video editing software for beginners, and the best video editing apps for phones and tablets.
Categories: Reviews
The Abandons review: New Netflix western is no Yellowstone, but Gillian Anderson shines
Who knew Taylor Sheridan's titan reign at Paramount was going to be such a disaster for Netflix? Well, just about everybody – and the new western series The Abandons completely proves that.
Let's set the scene. Instead of the usual Kevin Costner-style male dominated environment, two matriarchs rule this version of the Wild West. Wealthy tyrant Constance Van Ness (Gillian Anderson) rules the town of Angel's Ridge with an iron fist, determined to control every last inch of it.
Unfortunately for her, poor rancher Fiona (Lena Headey) is a woman who stands her ground. She's fighting to keep her found family's ranch in their hands, resulting in a fatal clash between the two women. Or a 'mother-off', as the kids on TikTok might say.
It sounds like an almighty spectacle, and in some respects it is. The action is big scale on a big budget, the ensemble is fully invested and the production of all seven episodes is absolutely outstanding.
But then there's the overarching storyline, and the overall effect. When you're releasing a western series in the 21st century, it will naturally be compared to 'Sheridanverse' juggernauts like Yellowstone, Landman and 1923. If you watch them all and remember The Abandons, I'd be very surprised.
The Abandons is cursed by an environment way out of Netflix's controlIf any main streamer or broadcaster releases a western these days, we're watching it with intense scrutiny. A decade ago, nobody would have batted an eyelid, but the genre has been single-handedly resurrected by Sheridan and Paramount's partnership. As he continues to churn out smash hit shows, that doesn't really leave room for anyone else.
For Netflix, this means that any content that isn't an automatic smash hit is likely to be forgotten, and I think The Abandons falls into this category. It's had more success with new western-romance shows like Ransom Canyon, and I think if the streamer wants to be an industry leader in the genre, that's where it should direct its efforts.
This makes it sound like The Abandons is absolutely dreadful, and it's anything but. However, it doesn't stray to far from "fine". Every element of its composition is solid and delivers what it needs to, but exceptional? Memorable? I'm not so sure about that.
Part of the problem is due to how the overarching storyline unfolds. In episode 1, we're thrown into a myriad of plots that aren't properly explained – and I don't mean that we should naturally be kept in suspense, like a murder mystery.
As an example, Fiona comes from Ireland and has managed to congregate a found family on the Abandons ranch over the course of a few years. How she got to the US, and how they all found each other, becomes convoluted too quickly.
I'm all for a bit of "show don't tell," but I need enough of an understanding to full sink my teeth into the western illusion. Instead, I'm flailing around like a bystander caught in the middle of a gunslinging duel. This effect continues over the series, and that's not amazing incentive to keep on binging.
Gillian Anderson and Lena Headey mother the house downThis image alone got me to tune in. (Image credit: Netflix)However, it's not all doom and gloom – let's do my favorite thing in the world and talk about Gillian Anderson. I don't think this is her best role of the year (that would be in Trespasses on Channel 4 in the UK), but she never turns out a bad performance. Obviously, because she's Gillian Anderson.
Constance Van Ness is everything you want in an archetypal villain, and remains calculated, cold and cruel in every decision she makes. She's quite literally on her high horse here, metaphorically (and sometimes physically) kicking every person and mutt who dares to get in her way. For a Gillian Anderson fan, it's everything that you could possibly want, and I see new YouTube fan edits in her future.
Of course, Lena Headey isn't far behind Anderson. Fiona is as tenacious as she is decisive, almost single-handedly driving the plot forward with dangerous inciting incidents and turning points. At the same time, she's guarded and elusive, and the urge to learn more about her becomes overbearing. Scenes between the two are actually few and far between, but when they happen, they're golden.
Obviously, anything these two are in automatically holds more weight, but to say the good in The Abandons rests solely on their shoulders isn't fair. Their ensemble cast is strong, and the ranch, Angel's Ridge and the natural countryside beauty are almost all characters in their own right.
I don't think the new Netflix western will be the most satisfying TV binge this December, but you won't be wasting your time by watching, either. It's certainly a budget version of a Taylor Sheridan show (metaphorically speaking, not in production value), but if you're a fan of our leading ladies, The Abandons is a slam dunk.
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Categories: Reviews
The Galaxy S25 FE has all the looks of the Galaxy S25 Plus, but none of the snap
Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge review: One-minute review(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
The Fan Edition range, now dubbed FE, offers a premium flagship experience at a more affordable price, but this is naturally achieved through compromises on the specs sheet. This year’s Galaxy S25 FE tries to be a lower-cost Galaxy S25 Plus, and toward this goal, Samsung has completely delivered.
The Galaxy S25 FE features a solid specs sheet and an experience that’s mostly akin to its more expensive siblings, but some of the tradeoffs result in an experience that’s hard to recommend. The Galaxy S25 FE delivers the same battery life and charging speeds, the same great display, and two of the three cameras are also identical. Yet, the reduction in RAM to 8GB and the switch to last year’s Exynos 2400 processor resulted in performance I found considerably wanting.
A key challenge is the competition - rivals are proving that Samsung may need to tweak its approach to the Fan Edition to deliver on its value. If you’re in the US, the Galaxy S25 FE is much easier to recommend at its starting price of $650, but even then, the OnePlus 13R is a worthy alternative.
In the UK, the Galaxy S25 FE is much harder to recommend. It's starting price is still £649, but there are competitors in this price range that you won't find in the states, like the Honor 400 Pro and Poco F7 Ultra, which both offer more powerful chipsets, better cameras, faster charging, and longer battery life.
That ultimately sums up the biggest challenge for the Galaxy S25 FE. It offers a solid, yet unremarkable experience that doesn’t excel in any particular area and struggles to stand out against its rivals, whether from Samsung or others. It’s a good phone that’ll keep you mostly happy, but there are better choices out there.
Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge review: Price and availability- Starts at $649 / £649 / AU$1,099 for 128GB/8GB configuration
- That’s $350 / £350 / AU$600 less than S25 Plus, although this has double the storage.
The US and UK launch prices for the Galaxy S25 FE are competitive, especially as they’ll likely reduce further with sales, and Samsung is offering incentives such as a free Watch 7 and Buds in the UK. It’s worth noting that this pricing applies to the 128GB storage option; the 256GB model costs an extra $50, £50, or €50. If you want the top 512GB model, it’ll cost you a further $100, £100, or €100; at $799 in the US, other devices offer a true flagship experience and also come with similar amounts of storage.
At $649, the Galaxy S25 FE offers considerable value for US audiences and fills an emerging market need. Still, Samsung could do more to deliver a truly competitive experience at this price point.
Storage
US price
UK price
AU price
128GB
$649
£649
AU$1,099
256GB
$699
£699
AU$1,199
512GB
$799
£799
AU$1,399
- Value score: 4 / 5
The Galaxy S25 FE is effectively a pared-back version of the Galaxy S25 Plus at a lower price. It weighs the same, has the same-sized screen, the same battery life and charging speeds, and two of the three cameras are also identical.
To achieve this, Samsung chose to cut down on the RAM (from 12GB to 8GB), reduce the peak brightness of the screen to 1,900 nits, and drop the Snapdragon 8 Elite processor for its own Exynos 2400 processor. The periscope camera is lower resolution and has a longer focal length, but it still offers the same 3x optical zoom.
The 4,900 mAh battery is identical to the Galaxy S25 Plus, as is the 45W charging, which is faster than the 25W included in the more expensive Galaxy S25. There’s also 15W wireless charging and Qi2-Ready cases that add magnetic wireless charging support. As it launches with Android 16 and One UI 8 out of the box, the Galaxy S25 FE will receive one more software update than its namesake siblings.
Samsung Galaxy S25 FE
Dimensions
161.3 x 76.6 x 7.4 mm
Weight
190g
OS
OneUI 8, Android 16, up to 7 major Android upgrades promised
Display
6.7-inch Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, 1,900 nits peak brightness
Chipset
Exynos 2400 (4nm)
RAM
8GB
Storage
128GB / 256GB / 512GB
Battery
4,900mAh
Rear cameras
50MP main, 12MP ultra-wide, 8MP telephoto
Front camera
12MP
Charging
45W wired, 15W wireless
Colors
Icyblue, Jetblack, Navy, White
Samsung Galaxy S25 FE review: Design- The same familiar design as the rest of the Galaxy S25 lineup
- The rear finish is less prone to scratching than the S25 Plus
Put the Galaxy S25 FE and Galaxy S25 Plus next to each other, and by design, they’re virtually indistinguishable. The Galaxy S25 FE offers most of the Galaxy S25 Plus experience at a lower price by retaining the same design language as the rest of the Galaxy S25 series.
The exception to this is in the rear glass finish. Almost a year after the Galaxy S25 Plus, the Galaxy S25 FE solves one of my key problems with the Plus's navy finish: it scratches extremely easily. Although there’s no notable change to this finish, during my time with the Galaxy S25 FE, I’ve found that the rear finish is more durable than the Galaxy S25 Plus, which is a welcome improvement that wasn’t even applied to the Galaxy Z Fold 7 a few months ago.
Beyond this, the build is virtually identical to the Galaxy S25 Plus, right down to the same 190 grams weight. By virtue of larger bezels — more on that below — the Galaxy S25 FE is almost 3 mm taller and 1 millimeter wider than the Galaxy S25 Plus, but this doesn’t have a large impact on daily usage. Instead, it feels just like the Galaxy S25 Plus does.
If you’ve seen a recent Samsung phone, the design of the Galaxy S25 FE will feel instantly familiar. However, I hope that, in future versions, Samsung aims to differentiate it somewhat so it feels unique, in much the same way that the Galaxy S25 Edge feels familiar yet unique within the rest of the Galaxy S25 family.
- Design score: 4 / 5
- Large, vibrant display that's on par with the Galaxy S25 Plus and Galaxy S25 Plus
- Just as capable as the best Samsung phones.
The key selling point for the Galaxy S25 FE is that it offers a display of the same size and quality as the flagship Galaxy S25 Plus, but at a more affordable price. In this vein, the 6.7-inch screen on the FE absolutely delivers, and it’s one of my favorite features on this phone.
A peak brightness of 1,900 nits is lower than the Galaxy S25 Plus (which reaches 2,600 nits) and lower than key rivals such as the Pixel 10 (up to 3,000 nits) and OnePlus 13R (up to 4,500 nits). Yet, under the bright sunshine in Bali over the past few days, I’ve had zero issues with this lower brightness and it’s proven to be just as capable as its siblings in direct sunlight. There’s also the same 1-120Hz dynamic refresh rate and HDR10+ support, although it lacks the Dolby Vision support that some non-Samsung rivals continue to offer.
Although the screen size is the same, the bezels around the Galaxy S25 FE display are slightly larger than on the Galaxy S25 Plus, but this doesn’t affect daily usage. Similarly, the drop from Gorilla Glass Victus 2 to Gorilla Glass Victus+ on both the front and rear hasn’t led to any reduction in protection, at least in the time I’ve been using it, especially since both feature the same Mohs hardness rating for durability.
Samsung consistently makes my favorite smartphone screens, and the Galaxy S25 FE screen is up there with the best Samsung phones. If you want a large, vibrant, and colorful display, this one hits the mark!
- Display score: 5 / 5
- Seven years of Android and security updates
- Slower AI performance thanks to more reliance on the cloud
The Galaxy S25 FE runs One UI 8 on top of Android 16 out of the box, and comes with the same seven-year commitment towards software and security updates as the rest of the family. By launching with the latest Android version out of the box, the seven-year commitment means it will support up to Android 23, whereas the rest of the Galaxy S25 is only guaranteed to support up to Android 22.
Samsung has proven to be quite adept at rolling out updates quite quickly — a stark contrast to its past history of being amongst the slowest — so it’s likely that the Galaxy S25 FE will receive updates in a timely way like the rest of the lineup.
One UI 8 remains one of the most polished Android experiences you can find, and the Galaxy S25 FE does nothing out of the ordinary that you won’t find on the rest of the lineup. However, the lower RAM and change in processor — more on that below — also mean AI performance is far weaker, with more tasks requiring cloud assistance rather than being performed on-device.
Samsung’s Galaxy AI suite has all the features you’d expect from an AI suite on a flagship smartphone, but the lack of performant capabilities means you are less likely to use these. That’s a shame as Writing Tools, editing in the Gallery app, and Circle-to-Search are all features I use quite often. On the Galaxy S25 FE, I’ve found I use them less often simply because there’s a notable delay in responses and completing requests.
Beyond this, you’ll find that the Galaxy S25 FE feels just like any other Samsung smartphone. It’s designed to be instantly familiar to anyone who has used a modern Samsung smartphone, and it delivers the same experience and interface as the One UI 8 update for the Galaxy S25 Ultra, Galaxy S25 Edge, and Galaxy S25 Plus.
- Software score: 3 / 5
- A nearly identical experience to the Galaxy S25 Plus camera
- A poorer telephoto camera, that's even farther behind the competition
Look at the Galaxy S25 Plus camera and the Galaxy S25 FE camera, and you'll notice that they're virtually the same. This is both a blessing and a curse, as it's easy for Samsung to use this camera system again — it's been the same in many recent Samsung phones — but it continually struggles against the competition.
However, dive deeper, and you'll notice that while the 50MP main and 12MP ultrawide cameras are the same as the Galaxy S25 Plus, the 8MP telephoto is a step lower than the 12MP telephoto in the Galaxy S25 Plus. As a result, average telephoto performance on the Plus is even worse on the Galaxy S25 FE.
The net result is that while this camera is mostly as capable as the rest of the Galaxy S25 family — save for the flagship Galaxy S25 Ultra — it's not a true flagship camera. Instead, the main and ultrawide cameras are slightly above average at best, while the telephoto is below average, especially compared to the competition.
Despite this, the Galaxy S25 FE does retain one of my favorite camera features on any smartphone camera: color point in portrait mode.
Samsung's portrait mode has proven more versatile than the competition, with a variety of options that can be adjusted before or after taking a photo.
Color Point is the most unique feature on a phone. It lets you keep a subject in color while turning the background grayscale. While performance is less capable on the Galaxy S25 FE than on other Samsung phones, it still lets you capture unique photos that no other phone can natively.
Then there's the 12MP selfie camera, and this delivers the same performance as the rest of the lineup, which uses the same selfie camera. I've found that images are a little soft and lacking in detail, but this is true of most of its siblings.
That mostly summarizes the entire Galaxy S25 FE camera experience: it's virtually identical to the Galaxy S25 Plus, but this isn't necessarily a positive, especially as the Galaxy S25 Plus camera is slightly above average at best. However, the Galaxy S25 FE offering this at a lower price does mean it's better than most phones at this price point.
- Camera score: 3 / 5
- Average performance from the Exynos 2400 processor in daily tasks
- Below average performance under heavy usage, or when using AI features.
If there's one area where the Galaxy S25 FE has proven disappointing, it's performance.
Samsung managed to reduce the price of the Galaxy S25 FE (compared to the Galaxy S25 Plus) by switching from Qualcomm's flagship Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy to last year's Samsung Exynos 2400. While this is acceptable for daily use, it has a marked impact on performance under gaming, heavy loads, and AI.
Simply put, the Galaxy S25 FE begins to struggle under heavy loads, especially since the lower RAM means it's often bumping up against the edge of available memory. This is also readily apparent in the camera app, where image processing takes considerably longer than on the Galaxy S25 Plus.
In most daily tasks, the Galaxy S25 FE delivers flagship-level performance, but if you're a heavy user, you will likely find it wanting. Similarly, the fingerprint sensor remains one of the worst on a smartphone to date — just like the rest of the Galaxy S25 family — and Samsung needs to improve it considerably in future phones, especially as the competition is significantly better.
- Performance score: 3 / 5
- Solid battery life that delivers a day of use with a little to spare.
- 45W charging is also a welcome improvement
The Galaxy S25 FE features the same 4,900 mAh battery as the Galaxy S25 Plus, and as such, it delivers mostly the same battery life.
During my time with it, it has mostly lasted a full day of use with around 5-6 hours of screen time, but it doesn't achieve much more than that. With heavy usage, this slips to just under five hours, and the battery needs recharging by the end of the day, but this is mostly when using the camera extensively or gaming heavily.
When you need to recharge the battery, charging speeds have improved from 25W to 45W, reducing overall charging time to around an hour.
However, like the rest of Samsung's lineup, achieving the top speeds requires using Samsung's own 45W charger, or another higher-rated PPS charger. When plugged into my trusty Nomad wall charger — which can deliver up to 100W for most phones — or my Anker power bank, I've experienced charging speeds closer to 30W, and overall charging time dropped to around an hour and 20 minutes.
Then there are two different occasions where the Galaxy S25 FE decided to trickle charge and took over 3 hours to charge to full. When I next charged it with the same charger, it had suddenly returned to the fast charging speeds, and even restarting the phone didn't help when it had entered this trickle charging mode. There's no specific reason this should have happened, and I've yet to replicate it beyond those two occasions, but it's puzzling and a little concerning.
Overall battery life is more than good enough for most people, but the charging situation remains somewhat puzzling. It can deliver a fast charge in an hour, but it can also take much longer, and there seems to be little rhyme or reason for it.
- Battery score: 3 / 5
Value
If you want a Galaxy S25 Plus at a more affordable price, the Galaxy S25 FE delivers. However, rivals stand out for key reasons in ways that the Galaxy S25 FE just can't.
4/5
Design
An improved rear finish over the Galaxy S25 Plus, but otherwise this is virtually indistinguishable from the rest of the Samsung's lineup. I wish Samsung had found a way to make it stand out.
4/5
Display
The same great display I saw on the Galaxy S25 Plus (with the same below-average fingerprint scanner). It’s vibrant and sharp, even in direct light despite the lower peak brightness, but it remains one of the best screens on a phone.
4/5
Software
Samsung’s One UI looks as good as ever, though the lack of performance means the AI features are less useful than ever. Thankfully, this phone still gets seven years of updates so is a solid buy for long-term support.
3/5
Cameras
The cameras are virtually identical to the Galaxy S25 Plus, meaning you get the same above-average camera experience. Yet, this is the same camera system found on Samsung phones for years, and doesn't stand out in any way, especially when rivals offer better zoom performance.
3/5
Performance
The Exynos 2400 is a key difference to the rest of the Galaxy S25 family, and also a source of disappointment for overall performance, but especially on-device AI features. An older Snapdragon chipset would likely have performed better here.
3/5
Battery
Solid but unremarkable battery life, that's just shy of the battery found on the Galaxy S25 Plus.. The 45W charging is a welcome improvement, but doesn't markedly change overall charging times and neither stands out against the competition.
3/5
Buy it if...You want a cheaper Galaxy S25 Plus
The Galaxy S25 FE is effectively a more affordable Galaxy S25 Plus, so if your budget doesn't stretch that far, or deals aren't as widely available, you should consider the Galaxy S25 FE.
The camera isn't as important to you. If you don't take many photos or don't care about the best camera, the Galaxy S25 FE is worth considering.
Don't buy it if...You want the best phone.
If you want the best phone, look elsewhere. The Galaxy S25 FE is fine, but there are better phones you can buy at a similar price.
You want a camera that doesn’t disappoint.
The Galaxy S25 FE's camera can be disappointing if you want the best or if you take a lot of photos.
Samsung Galaxy S25 Plus
The Galaxy S25 Plus is a better version of the Galaxy S25 FE, and is often available at a similar price, especially outside the US. If it's between these two, the Galaxy S25 Plus is a much better purchase.
Read our full Samsung Galaxy S25 Plus review
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra.
If you want the best Samsung phone you can buy, this is it, as it comes with an S Pen, anti-glare screen, two zoom lenses, incredible battery life, and up to 1TB of storage. The only problem? It's twice the price.
Read our full Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra review
How I tested the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge- I used the phone as my primary phone for a week, and as a secondary phone for another two weeks.
- I took over 100 photos and videos in a variety of lighting conditions
- I played games and watched movies
- I checked my email, posted on social media and worked in Slack
- I used AI features extensively
I've been using the Galaxy S25 FE for over two months since its launch in early September.
Before posting this review, I used it extensively in the US, UK, and Bali for a week, complete with two active SIM cards. I tested all of the AI features on both Wi-Fi and mobile data connections, as well as
Future Labs tests phones using a mix of third-party benchmark software and proprietary, real-world tests. We use Geekbench, CrossMark, JetStream, WebXPRT, Mobile XPRT, and 3DMark for performance testing. We test a phone's performance on video tasks using Adobe Premiere Rush. We also measure display color output and brightness.
For battery testing, we perform proprietary tests that are the same for every phone, which enable us to determine how long it takes for the battery to run down.
Why you can trust TechRadar☑️ 100s of gaming laptops reviewed
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Categories: Reviews
I tested the world’s first rollable laptop - and the Lenovo ThinkBook Plus Gen 6 Rollable's extendable display changed my understanding of what working on the go really means
Now, I love my trusty M4 Pro 14-inch MacBook Pro. It helps me run all of what I do for my business, all my clients, and beyond. But, when I got word of a laptop with a rolling display from Lenovo, I knew it was going to be something uniquely incredible.
I've tested some of the best business laptops around. Some that have incredible performance, some with incredible screens, some with more power than some entire companies can produce, and some with features that are sweet and enhance productivity in cool ways. But a rolling laptop with an extendable display at the touch of a button is something that I never expected. After all, as Lenovo is keen to remind us, this is the world's first rollable laptop for working on the go.
The ThinkBook Plus Gen 6 Rollable's extending display isn't even a gimmick; it works, and it works well. It's genuinely helpful, and it's something that I have learned to love and cannot wait to see what version 2 looks like.
Lenovo ThinkBook Plus Gen 6 Rollable: Price and availability(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )The Lenovo ThinkBook Plus Gen 6 Rollable is a first-generation device. No other laptop has done this before, so I don't expect this to be a budget laptop. On top of that, this computer packs an Intel Core Ultra 7, Windows 11 Pro with Copilot, 32 GB of soldered memory and a terabyte of storage. This would be a capable business machine even without the rollable screen, that's just the icing on the cake.
Lenovo ThinkBook Plus Gen 6 Rollable: Unboxing and First Impressions(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )The Lenovo ThinkBook Plus Gen 6 Rollable Laptop is the first time that I haven't left the charger in the box in a long time. Usually, I jump to using an Anker or UGREEN charging brick and cables due to being more compact and powerful than most laptop bricks (except for the monster workstations I test), or I know I'm going to be hopping from docking station to docking station and only need to maybe top off on the go. But, with Lenovo's GaN charger in the box, I may actually keep this one in my bag for a while as my USB-C Charger on the go, or at least I don't feel the need to change it up right away.
Beyond that, the computer comes with docs, and the laptop itself. pretty straightforward. Right away, after I started the computer, of course the first thing I had to do was open the rollup screen. That first time even to now, after using this computer in my personal rotation for 99 days at the time of writing this, I am still blown away at the display. It feels magical every time.
It's taken a little bit to get the settings dialed in the way I want, mostly with choosing to finally disable the smart widgets when I extend the display. For some, I could see this being super helpful, but for me, when I extend the screen it's because I want to control what is down there, not have Lenovo throw a calendar and some other widgets at me, but then again, maybe that's showing my control issues a bit too much.
Lenovo ThinkBook Plus Gen 6 Rollable: Design & Build Quality(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )The rolling mechanism still shocks me. I've opened and closed this display countless times, and still, I'm blown away. The motor-driven display is smooth, easy, and surprisingly fast.
Beyond the display, the keyboard is comfortable, even for all-day typing, and I appreciate the full-function row on the top. The touchpad is good, nothing amazing, but nothing negative so far, and the built-in fingerprint reader is a nice touch.
Lenovo made the ThinkBook Plus Gen 6 Rollable MIL-STD 810H-certified, with a still 50% recycled aluminum bottom cover.
Lenovo ThinkBook Plus Gen 6 Rollable: In use(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )SpecsCPU: Intel Core Ultra 7 258V
GPU: Intel Arc Graphics
Memory: 32 GB
Storage: 1 TB SSD
Display: 14″ (2000 × 1600) → 16.7″ (2000 × 2350) POLED, 400 nits, 100 % DCI-P3
Camera: 5 MP + IR
Ports: 2 × USB-C (Thunderbolt 4 / DisplayPort 2.1 / PD 3.1), 1x 3.5 mm audio combo
Connectivity: Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4
Battery: 66 Wh Rapid Charge (up to 80 % in 1 hr)
Dimensions: 303.5 × 230.6 × 19.9 mm
Weight: 1.69 kg (3.72 lb)
Like I mentioned above, I've had this computer in my rotation for almost 100 days at the time of writing this. It's been one of the most fun laptops to carry around because everyone around stops and stares and asks questions, regardless of if I am working from an office I frequent, a coffee shop, a co working space, on a train or even in my own home, my three kids are shocked every time they see it, even my one-year-old daughter gasps "whoaoww" every time I extend the display.
When you first use the extended screen, Lenovo suggests using their smart workspace feature that allows for pinning apps or widgets for quick access. Personally, I didn't find anything worth putting there, but that could be due to my particularity.
What I do like to do, though, is when I want more screen, I will simply wait for it to fully extend while working on whatever I am working on, then I will use a quick command or the trackpad to pull the window down to the bottom third or half. That section is also great for messaging apps such as Slack or Project management tools like Notion. However, Lenovo has made this display so seamless and excellent that you don't even need to think of that extended display as an extension, but rather a continuation of the main display.
(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )Lenovo ThinkBook Plus Gen 6 Rollable: Final verdictThe ThinkBook Plus Gen 6 Rollable laptop changes what I think of when I think of a laptop. It also changes what is possible when it comes to working remotely or on the go.
Granted, adding two inches of screen real estate is not the same as bringing along the Sotsu Portable monitor or whipping out a tablet for extra productivity, but it also isn't trying to be. This is a whole new way of thinking about laptop size and functionality.
Much like how when the Cybertruck hit the market and shook up the truck world by being a truck but not a truck, the ThinkBook Plus Gen 6 Rollable laptop is a laptop, but its more.
Should you buy a Lenovo ThinkBook Plus Gen 6 Rollable?Image 1 of 13(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )Image 2 of 13(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )Image 3 of 13(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )Image 4 of 13(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )Image 5 of 13(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )Image 6 of 13(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )Image 7 of 13(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )Image 8 of 13(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )Image 9 of 13(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )Image 10 of 13(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )Image 11 of 13(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )Image 12 of 13(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )Image 13 of 13(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )Value
First-Gen rollable laptop, yet reasonably priced for what it is
4 / 5
Design
Sleek design with smooth OLED rollable display
4.5 / 5
Hardware
Fast chip, fast ram, fast wireless, and a fancy display
4.5 / 5
Performance
Great for productivity, which is what it's designed for
4.5 / 5
Overall
This laptop is clearly for the individual that is productivity-focused, this is a really unique and powerful option
4.5 / 5
Buy it if...You like new technology
Rolling displays are still on the forefront, so if you want to hop on the bandwagon of new technology, check this out.
You always want more screen
If you're the kind of person always wishing they had a bit more screen real estate, look no furtherView Deal
You're needing the most powerful laptop experience
This laptop is a productivity machine, but not the most powerful of workstations. It's a business laptop first and foremost.
You need a lot of ports
Sadly, this laptop only has two USB-C/Thunderbolt ports. If you need more, this just does not have it, sadly
For more, we've tested the best Lenovo ThinkPad laptops.
Categories: Reviews
I tested the MSI Cubi NUC AI+ 2MG and it's perfectly placed if you want a simple productivity mini PC with onboard AI
I'm a big fan of compact desktops. The more I do and grow in my professional career, the more I appreciate their value. Not only are compact desktops great for administrative roles, but also front desks, stationary desktops for employees to be able to utilize, perhaps you have offices where part-timers, or hourly employees need to be able to work and access company data or systems, or maybe the setup that you have you need to have a compact workstation and a laptop doesn't make sense for whatever reason.
Mini PC's are phenomenal in these areas. Now, for this review, I am not going to act like this is the most powerful machine I have worked with and that it is capable of running large LLM Models, a massive codebase, edit 12K videos and teach you how to perform open heart surgery all at the same time, I understand that while there are machines that are built to be powerhouses, this is meant to be a compact machine, it's meant to give you the power that is needed at a reasonable price and a better footprint.
MSI isn't trying to break records with this machine; they are trying to create a machine for everyday users. It wanted to make a machine that can be plugged into any display and perform basic tasks, or run headless and connect to servers, run processes in the background, or something along these lines.
MSI Cubi NUC AI+ 2MG: Price and availability(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )The MSI Cubi NUC AI+ 2MG is widely available from online retailers like Amazon. I'm seeing prices starting at around the $1000 / £1000 mark depending on where you buy.
MSI Cubi NUC AI+ 2MG: Unboxing and First Impressions(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )The Cubi NUC is a simple setup. It's included in a basic package, which consists of power, a VESA mount, and an extended power button, if needed. The VESA mount design is excellent, allowing you to easily use it or forget it exists without altering the layout, restricting access to key ports, or requiring the purchase of an accessory. The VESA mount is ideal for mounting behind a monitor, TV, or display, or for attaching to the underside of a desk, wall, or other surfaces.
Like so many of the best mini PC machines I've used, the size of the Cubi NUC lends itself to plenty of different use cases as well. It's ideal for tucking away in a cabinet at a medical office, on a cart in a hospital, in a digital screen display kiosk, in a classroom, at a welcome desk, and more. That's where a machine like this thrives.
I was pleased to see the port layout, which makes quick-access ports extremely easy to reach, along with a fingerprint scanner for added security. Additionally, for setups and use cases where the computer may be tucked away, mounted, or hidden out of reach, MSI includes an external power button with a long cable, allowing you to place it in a readily accessible area and keep the machine where you ideally want it.
MSI Cubi NUC AI+ 2MG: Design & Build QualitySpecsCPU: Up to Intel Core Ultra 9 Processor 288V
Graphics: Up to Intel Arc Graphics 140V
Memory: Up to 32GB
Storage: 1x M.2 2280 SSD
IO: 4x USB-A, 1x MicroSD, 1x Headphone, 2x USB-C Thunderbolt 4, 2x RJ45, 1x HDMI
Wireless: Up to Wi-Fi 7
The design is both minimal and functional. Unlike some machines that place all ports on the back to maintain an ultra-minimal look, MSI understands that this approach is not always the most functional.
Therefore, they opted to divide the ports on the front and back to maximize productivity. The quick access ports are on the front, accessible if the machine is mounted or on top of a desk, and the (typically) one-time-plug-in-and-forget-about-it kind of ports are in the back. This layout facilitates cable management, as it positions the majority of the cables to the back of the desk, or at least away from the user.
For a business machine that isn't competing in any beauty pageants, this design is excellent, focusing on productivity and functionality.
(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )MSI Cubi NUC AI+ 2MG: In use(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )MSI's Cubi NUC AI+ 2MG has been in my fleet (yes, it's a fleet at this point, as I currently have 18 computers in my review queue) for 92 days. In that time, I've had it set up at my secondary desk in my home office, plugged into my BenQ EW2790U on my Flexispot E7 Plus Desk Setup. It's been great for background tasks, writing, emails, and some productivity work as well.
The ease of having a machine always ready to go is fantastic. I like having a server computer that I can remotely access using a VPN, Remote Desktop, or my recent favorite, Chrome Remote Desktop, to modify my network drives. Locally access my Synology, rip content without slowing down my primary machine, transfer data, or perform other tasks that don't require my primary machine.
Having a computer ready to go, plugged in at all times, is also great if you want the least amount of friction possible to get from not working to working and then back to not working again. You just have to sit down, press a key on a keyboard and you are good to go.
The dual network lines came in handy when I tested connecting to my Synology BeeStations and Disk Stations for some updates to the newest DSM software, while I also wanted to connect to my LAN. Granted, Synology allows for LAN access, but I wanted to transfer some content quickly to my NAS as well, making this a perfect solution.
Another great use case for the dual Ethernet would be if you need to connect to a redundant network, a secure network, and a more open network, a server, a network audio controller, or really any other network-controlled device. It’s a little machine like this that can take your workstation, studio, office, or role to the next level, harnessing the simplicity and power of its ease, connectivity, and possibilities as a headless unit to run tasks for you in a more efficient way.
(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )There are some scenarios where these armrests may not be ideal, but for most, they’ll be fine, or worth the lack of adjustment if you like the style and overall aesthetic and feel of this chair.
Some chairs you give up look and design for overall comfort and features. The Serene Nox by Eureka is the exact opposite, you give up highly adjustable armrests and lumbar for the overall aesthetic.
That’s another element of this chair that you should probably know. You’re not going to want to use this chair with a cheap folding desk, nor at the kitchen table, where your temporary workspace is, you won’t even want to use this chair in a bullpen, you want to use this chair in offices, in executive corner suites, you want this chair at the reception desk of a high end corporation so that it can look the part and still provide comfort.
MSI Cubi NUC AI+ 2MG: Final verdictThe MSI Cubi NUC AI+ 2MG is not for everyone. In fact, it may not even be for most people. But it's well-specced for those who need an easy office machine. It'll capably handle tasks like a Windows headless unit to run a server, running multiple digital displays, or an always-on machine that can be on dual networks at once.
It’s a discreet and smart machine that may just be the building block to a more efficient chain of automations, or simplified workflows, or introducing AI into your sphere, all without taking up precious real estate on your desk, or locking you into a non-upgradable display that may or may not meet your desired specifications.
Should you buy a MSI Cubi NUC AI+ 2MG?Image 1 of 6(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )Image 2 of 6(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )Image 3 of 6(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )Image 4 of 6(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )Image 5 of 6(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )Image 6 of 6(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )Value
Upper mid range, strong ports and usability for the right business applications
4 / 5
Design
Sleek, compact, and thoughtful layout and port offering
4 / 5
Hardware
Modern chips, great ports, Thunderbolt, fingerprint sensor
4 / 5
Performance
Quiet, responsive, reliable, great for headless access and server access
3.5 / 5
Overall
A great mini PC for the right user, always-on needs, digital signage, server companions, and perhaps remote access
4 / 5
Buy it if...You need a compact, always-on, Windows machine
While this may not be the powerhouse your creative department needs, this could be what your development team could use for accessing servers, running background processes, or running digital signage
You want a solid, redunant-backed, connection
Dual LAN ports are vital for those who want a redundant backup for a vital piece of machineryView Deal
You need a machine for your creative department
This is not the machine you want for graphic intensive proceses or workstation-level performance.
You need something portable
While this mini PC is ultra-portable, it's still nowhere close to the power and performance you can get in a quality laptop, so unless there is a unique usecase, check out some of our best laptops.
For more professional-grade computing, we've tested the best business laptops and best business computers.
Categories: Reviews
I tested this genuine leather office chair - and the Eureka Ergonomic Nox is the perfect fit for executives
I've reviewed a number of products from Eureka Ergonomic - office chairs, standing desks - and each one always has a certain style to them that goes beyond the usual office furniture designs. So, when I had the chance to review the Nox genuine leather office chair, I had to check it out.
It doesn't fit the mold of most of the best office chairs I've reviewed, and maybe that's just what makes it a space in the market. This chair has a distinct vibe that will be an absolute dream - if you don't mind the executive price-tag.
Eureka Ergonomic Nox: Price and availability(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )The Eureka Serene Nox is an upgrade to the Standard Serene chair that I have reviewed in the past. The Nox is made of genuine leather and, like the Model T Ford, is offered in only one color: black.
It's currently available direct from Eureka Ergonomic's website, retailing for $750 - although at the time of review, it's down to $600.
(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )Eureka Ergonomic Nox: Unboxing and First ImpressionsThe Eureka Nox came in quality packaging, nice protective material and a quality box. The setup was quick and painless, only taking about 20 minutes by myself to build. While most chairs have a handful of colorway options, by very nature of the name itself, the Nox comes in black, and only black.
This, paired with the sleek metal frame makes this chair look stunning. The lumbar has a slight pattern to it which is super interesting to look at, and other than that, the angular armrests are artistic over functionality, though they are fine most of the time.
Eureka Ergonomic Nox: Design & Build QualitySpecsDimensions: 26.77" D x 26.77" W x 48-51.5" H
Weight: 42.88 lbs.
Weight Capacity: 300 lbs.
This chair doesn't scream but confidently whispers high-end, professional office chair. Whether that is a top-tier executive or Bondian super-villain, I cannot tell yet. It's a bold design, all about strong lines gently tapering at the lumbar support, sweeping padded armrests that glide around the chair to the seat base. It's striking in all the right ways.
The chair has simple, yet capable controls, offering tilt and lock options, height adjustments, and tension control. The lumbar section of the chair provides a good amount of support, but doesn't affect that silhouette, remaining cool, calm, unobtrusive. One part that I noticed even more than the lumbar is the waterfall-style seat, caressing the sides of my legs and alleviating pressure at the same time.
All around, this chair is supportive, firm, yet comfortable, and minimal, all while looking beautiful. It’s perfect for a professional office, an executive suite, the Batcave.
(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )Eureka Ergonomic Nox: In use(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )I’ve had this chair in my rotation for my team for 100 days. Member of my team and I have spent entire days in this chair, all without any discomfort or need to switch to another chair. The lumbar support is not the most aggressive, but that’s okay, not every chair needs to have intense lumbar protrusions.
Even after a full work day, we have not had any complaints of back pain, so I’d be willing to say that lumbar support is a strong suit of this chair. Another interesting note is that even though these armrests are not adjustable, I have yet to have a team member complain. Perhaps that is because when you sit in this chair you don’t expect it to be something that it’s not, you sit in this chair and you feel like an executive.
You could be sitting in this chair in your office with literally nothing to do, no power, on your first day and you’ll feel like you are starting with a leg up due to this chair. That’s just how this chair makes you feel when you sit in it.
(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )There are some scenarios where these armrests may not be ideal, but for most, they’ll be fine, or worth the lack of adjustment if you like the style and overall aesthetic and feel of this chair.
Some chairs you give up look and design for overall comfort and features. The Nox is the exact opposite, you give up highly adjustable armrests and lumbar for the overall aesthetic.
That’s another element of this chair that you should probably know. You’re not going to want to use this chair with a cheap folding desk, nor at the kitchen table, where your temporary workspace is, you won’t even want to use this chair in a bullpen, you want to use this chair in offices, in executive corner suites, you want this chair at the reception desk of a high end corporation so that it can look the part and still provide comfort.
Eureka Ergonomic Nox: Final verdictThe Eureka Serene sits in a very specific niche. It’s for professionals, it’s for executives, its for those who want something that looks the part, looks professional, looks high end, and looks luxury. This chair isn’t the kind you’d see at a budget operation, but one that you would see at a highly successful firm.
And, as a result, this kind of chair makes anywhere that it is feel a bit elevated. If you are looking for a quality chair that fits an aesthetic first and foremost, then you should absolutely consider the Eureka Ergonomic Nox. But if you’re on a budget, or want something that is more lumbar supportive, than this may not be the best chair for you, maybe send the link to your boss.
Should you buy a Eureka Ergonomic Nox?Image 1 of 8(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )Image 2 of 8(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )Image 3 of 8(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )Image 4 of 8(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )Image 5 of 8(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )Image 6 of 8(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )Image 7 of 8(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )Image 8 of 8(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )Value
Premium materials, premium craftsmanship, premium price.
3.5 / 5
Design
Executive office styling, quality materials, statement-making design
5 / 5
Hardware
Quality frame, comfortable seat, smooth recline
4.5 / 5
Performance
All-day comfort, comfortable lumbar, quiet operation, but fixed arms
4 / 5
Overall
Luxury office chair for those who are willing to pay the price for the design
4 / 5
Buy it if...You want a premium, leather executive chair
The Eureka Ergonomic Nox is a nice chair, but it's really designed for those who want a comfortable chair that looks like a really nice executive chair as well.
You sit for a long time
This chair doesn't have a lot of adjustability, but it may not need it as it focuses on making sure that what features it does have, it does very well.View Deal
You need adjustable armrests
While the seat is comfy, and the armrests look pretty, they do not adjust, so if you need some that can move, this chair is not for you
You're on a budget
If you're on a budget and care more about value or functionality than just a certain aesthetic, then check out another chair on our best of list9
For more office furniture essentials, we've tested and reviewed the best standing desks.
Categories: Reviews
Octopath Traveler 0 is yet another fantastic RPG for the series, but it’s less Octopath than ever
Octopath Traveler 0 is a different kind of Octopath game.
It still features the series’ distinctive HD-2D aesthetics, the tried and tested break and boost battle system, and even returning characters and locations. It also mixes things up from the now well-understood formula.
Review infoPlatform reviewed: Nintendo Switch 2
Available on: PS5, PS4, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, Xbox Series X|S, PC
Release date: December 4, 2025
The plot, for example, doesn’t feature the namesake eight-character storylines – the octo paths, as it were. Instead, your adventure focuses on your own player-created character for the first time, who is on a quest of retribution against the villains that destroyed their home town – each embodying the vices of Wealth, Power, and Fame.
You are still joined by other adventurers – over 30 in fact, though I haven’t unlocked them all yet – however, they are along for your ride rather than you following each of their distinct journeys like we would in the other series entries.
The eight-person theme isn’t wholly lost, thankfully, with combat being redesigned to feature eight-person parties – a team of four in the front, and four in the back. I’ll go into more details on why I love this change below, but know that it provides a lot more depth and customisation possibilities to party composition without making fights feel too trivially easy.
Something wicked this way comes (Image credit: Square Enix)Both of these changes make sense; however, when you remember Octopath Traveler 0 isn’t a new game. It’s adapted from the Octopath: Champions of the Continent mobile gacha game. A free-to-play system necessitates a wide array of characters to unlock, can’t have its story focus too much on your party because you might not own those travelers, and would want to allow for bigger teams so you can use more of the cool units you’ve invested in financially.
Now, Octopath Traveler 0 isn’t a gacha game. I’m just saying you can feel remnants of the game it’s based on from what’s presented, and it can feel a little jarring at first because it isn’t Octopath as we’ve known it – in fact, you could convince me it's a lost 2D Final Fantasy at times.
Stick with this adventure, however, and you’ll see it has plenty to offer on an engaging adventure that will keep you entertained for tens and tens of hours – no additional purchases necessary.
Revenge and reconstruction(Image credit: Square Enix)As I mentioned in the intro, in terms of its story, Octopath Traveler 0 doesn’t feel very ‘Octopath’ at all. Rather than following eight plots for eight distinct adventurers which coalesce into a finale, you instead follow your own adventure – and can recruit over 30 different heroes to your party.
You create your own custom character for this game and then must face stories focused on the corrupting influences of Wealth, Power, and Fame – where you'll find the meat of the plot.
This focus on a linear story with a more limited opportunity to explore branched tracks is very different from Octopaths that have come before, but it’s not a wholly negative change. My gripe is simply that the less free-form plot feels better suited to a classic Final Fantasy 2D entry rather than an Octopath adventure.
It's not a bad adventure, though, in fact, it's a very compelling one with proper villains you can’t help but hate – a real classic RPG story. I simply found the change of pace a little jarring for this series specifically.
Time to rebuild (Image credit: Square Enix)There's also the Rekindling the Flame plot, which has the protagonist reconstruct their old home town by finding its surviving residents and rebuilding the long destroyed features that made it a home.
It's not as in-depth as a true cosy town simulator, but it is a delightful change of pace from the action-focused adventure. Plus, channelling your retribution into something more constructive can yield useful benefits – including the ability to power up your allies. So it's worth pursuing even if vengeance is your only goal.
To battle!While the plot might not feel very Octopath, the turn-based combat feels more Octo than ever. That’s because your group now consists of eight fighters – a four-person front row and a four-person back row – which allows for a much more diverse team composition than the series’ usual four-person limit.
Only the characters in the front row can take actions, but each hero can swap with their partner behind them so that they can take a turn, and there are unlockable skills that allow your back row to support the folks in front of them without needing to take an action, or allow your front row to use a skill and tag out in a single move.
(Image credit: Square Enix)For example, in my currently build I’ve paired up a cleric who can automatically heal the person in front of them with my squishy spell caster as their health can run low very quickly without support, and my tank who can provoke attacks is paired with an ally who has a skill that lets her fire her bow and instantly tag out – so she can swap in for a quick damage burst and then let my tank keep taking the hits.
Best Bit(Image credit: Square Enix)Combat feels like such a step up from the previous game, thanks to the bigger party allowing for more personalization of your team than ever, and setting off an Ultimate Technique never gets old.
The other big change is that your created character has unlocked a special skill called an Ultimate Technique. As the name implies, this charged ability (you can’t just spam it all the time) allows the protagonist to perform a big burst – you can unlock options like performing a mass heal or dealing a powerful strike, among others – that can turn the tide of battle in your favor.
As you improve your town, you'll rebuild the training grounds so other party members can unlock their techniques too – I told you there’s a reason to play house even if your only goal is violence.
None of this is to say fights are trivial thanks to your ultimate moves and larger team. Boss battles and higher-level bouts can still present a challenge if you don’t prepare yourself. You can push your luck into higher-level locations to some extent, but for main quests, you'll find even adventures three or four levels above where you currently are can prove trickier than expected if you aren’t careful.
(Image credit: Square Enix)Octopath or not, it's still delightfulOctopath Traveler 0 is a really enjoyable RPG experience, whether it feels truly Octopath to me or not.
Because all of the changes still work. The cohesive, more solo story is an awesome adventure that feels like the fantasy epic that RPGs have taken players on for decades, and the combat is compelling and with some many team members allows for some really creative and personal party composition.
There’s also been a simplification of path actions, which is a lot easier to follow than the confusing web of abilities offered in Octopath Traveler 2 – even if it strips away the identity of each character further than their lack of a unique plot already does.
If you love the Octopath series, a new adventure through Osterra will appeal, while fans of more typical RPGs may find this entry to be more accessible than ever, given that it follows a more standard story structure.
I’ve had a delightful time on my adventure, and at the end of the day, that’s all that really matters.
(Image credit: Square Enix)Should you play Octopath Traveler 0?Play it if…You want a classic RPG
Octopath Traveler 0 feels like a classic RPG. You've got a meaty plot and robust turn-based combat system to sink your teeth into.
You like to choose your own adventure
While not quite as free and open as Octopath usually is, this entry does feature a branching plot and a wide variety of characters to customize your team around.
You crave 2D beauty
I don't care how many times I see HD 2D aesthetics; they'll always be beautiful, and Octopath Traveler 0 is as pretty as a picture.
You want a cozy town builder
While rebuilding your home is a core plot of this story is still mostly focused on combat and adventure than cozy vibes.
You want proper Octopath
If Octopath‘s distinct brand of RPG is what you crave, then you won't hate this title; it just might not quite hit the spot for you.
You hate turn-based tactical combat
Turn-based combat isn’t for everyone, and while Octopath's break and boost system does some things to liven up the combat, it won't make turn-based action everyone's bag.
In terms of accessibility as a turn-based RPG, Octopath Traveler 0 has the advantage that players can take combat at their own pace – you can take 5 seconds or 5 minutes to make a move if you need.
The cutscenes are also played out as text dialogue that you can have play automatically, one message at a time, or at a faster auto speed if you want to rush through. Again, allowing you to enjoy the game at your own pace.
Most major cutscenes are also voiced, making it even easier to follow the plot if you hate excessive reading (as someone who’s dyslexic, voice acting is always a massive help for me).
How I reviewed Octopath Traveler 0I played Octopath Traveler 0 on my Nintendo Switch 2, mostly playing undocked, but I did make sure to load the game up on my TV too to get a sense of the grander scale it has on a 55-inch QLED screen.
During my playthrough, I tried not just to follow the mainline quest but also to explore the sidequests and other adventuring opportunities to get a feel of the whole experience Octopath Traveler 0 offers.
First reviewed November-December 2025
Categories: Reviews
Can’t wait for Virgin River season 7? Watch new Netflix Christmas movie My Secret Santa – you won’t be disappointed
I'll tell you what wasn't on my Christmas list to Santa this year – unironically enjoying (nay, loving) a Netflix festive film. I've watched a lot of bad ones in this job, but My Secret Santa is undoubtedly the best of the sappy genre.
In a nutshell, it's Mrs. Doubtfire if Robin Williams decided to be a Santa drag king instead of a sassy Scottish pensioner. Instead of a man desperately trying to win his estranged wife back, single mom Taylor (Alexandra Breckenridge) needs fast cash to send her daughter to an elite snowboarding resort.
By being employed there, she'd get a staff discount, but the only opening is for a seasonal Father Christmas. Bing bang boom... she gets the job in a full Santa makeover.
Of course, romance is in the air too. Matthew (Ryan Eggold) recognizes former singer Taylor in a record store, and just so happens to be the new general manager at the resort – you can already guess how it's going to end just by reading this synopsis.
Whichever Netflix casting agent had the foresight to merge Virgin River and New Amsterdam's leading actors together deserves a massive festive bonus, in my eyes. Together Breckenridge and Eggold deliver a genuinely well-crafted tale that perfectly slots into the cozy sub-genre they've both whittled into shape over the years.
If anything, it almost makes up for the fact we're not getting Virgin River season 7 this month (if you squint hard enough, I'm sure Eggold would look enough like Martin Henderson).
My Secret Santa cements Alexandra Breckenridge as the Queen of NetflixIf you suggest I'm solely writing this review as an excuse to write a love letter to Breckenridge's work and further my cause to try and interview her in 2026, I don't know what you're talking about.
She carries My Secret Santa squarely on her shoulders, and she completely pulls off what is, rationally speaking, a completely implausible story. This is the kind of tale she was born to tell, and the movie's happy-go-lucky vibes underpinned by more authentic real-world problems suits her warm and engaging personality incredibly well.
In essence, I don't actually care about Taylor's character arc or her capers while wearing the baggy pants of Father Christmas – I'm just always buying what Breckenridge is selling. It's impossible to not be entranced by her screentime, exuding natural charm in everything she does. You want to be her, you want to be best friends with her... even when she's pretending to be an old man.
As far as Christmas movies go, this one is pretty originalI don't think Alexandra Breckenridge has ever looked better. (Image credit: Netflix)The biggest compliment I can give My Secret Santa is that it feels current without trying too hard. There are no shudder-worthy TikTok jokes, no trends being jumped on, and nobody trying too hard to fit into a mould that isn't inherently them. Yes, the ending is undoubtedly cringe, but it's in keeping with the spirit of Christmas movies.
Tia Mowry isn't a natural fit as a villain, and there's no huge stakes aside from Taylor's daughter not being able to snowboard. However, we're here to get invested into a romantic connection, not be plunged into terror. Obviously, it's all a bit naff (lacking in taste and style, for my non-Brits), but that comes with the territory.
I can't believe I'm writing this, but I'm already contemplating watching My Secret Santa again (which is essentially the equivalent of pigs flying). I got so much joy, warmth and feel-good vibes from Netflix's latest festive offering, and that's how you know it's a job done well.
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Categories: Reviews
FiiO's wired FT13 over-ear headphones offer unique design and an organized sound, they just lack a bit of bite
FiiO FT13: Two-minute review
If you’re after a touch of individuality in your wired, over-ear, closed-back headphones, the FiiO FT13 have you covered. These are big, relatively bulky headphones but that does mean that on the outside there’s plenty of room for a quantity of highly polished purpleheart wood, while on the inside you've got a pair of 60mm ‘W’-shaped dynamic drivers that offer a frequency response of 7Hz - 40kHz.
The standard of build and finish is excellent, and the combination of plenty of adjustability in the headband and some judicious clamping force means the FT13 are comfortable in situ. Mind you, the use of lambskin on the inside of the headband, and the choice of suede even more lambskin for the earpads, means vegetarians aren’t going to be comfortable in the slightest.
Inside the big, nicely tactile travel case there’s a choice of four cable terminations, along with a generous length of very credible Furukawa cable that connects to both earcups. These options mean you should be able to connect your FiiO to pretty much any source of sound available.
Once they’re connected, there’s plenty to enjoy. The sound is large and spacious, and thanks to good low-frequency control there’s lots of momentum and rhythmic confidence. The FT13 communicate readily through the midrange, too. If it weren’t for a slight tonal discrepancy at the top of the frequency range and a more obvious rolling off of the same area, they’d be even more obvious front-runners and part of the best wired headphones.
(Image credit: Future / Simon Lucas)FiiO FT13 review: Price and release date- Released November 5, 2025
- $329 / £269 / AU$499 (approx.)
The FiiO FT13 wired over-ear closed-back headphones are on sale now, and in the United States they sell for no more than $329. The going rate in the United Kingdom is £269, while in Australia you’re looking at something like AU$499, where sold.
The FT13 look, on paper, like a lot of headphones for the money, but with everyone from Austrian Audio to Sennheiser having broadly similar alternatives available, it’s not going to be plain sailing…
(Image credit: Future / Simon Lucas)FiiO FT13 review: Features- 60mm ‘W’-shaped dynamic drivers
- 7Hz - 40kHz frequency response
- 1.5m Furukawa silver-plated OFC cable
As we all know, FiiO never knowingly underspecifies any of its products. And that’s the case again here – wired headphones may not offer much scope for piling on the features, but the company has given it a proper go.
So, there’s a 1.5m length of Furukawa monocrystalline silver-plated oxygen-free copper cable in the package. This is terminated with two 3.5mm plugs at one end – each earcup must be wired – while at the other FiiO offers a choice. Thanks to a neat plug arrangement, the cable can be terminated with either 3.5mm unbalanced or 4.4mm balanced sockets; the 3.5mm version can accept a supplied 6.3mm adapter, and the 4.4mm version can accept a supplied four-pin XLR adapter. Good luck finding a piece of audio equipment with a headphone socket the FT13 can't connect to.
The cable feeds a pair of 60mm dynamic drivers. These are a ‘W’-shaped design, which makes the active area of an already oversized driver even larger than is the norm. The diaphragm is just 0.1mm thick and is made of a carbon-fiber and wood pulp that’s stiffened by wool fibers until it’s as light and rigid as possible.
The drivers are activated by a light, responsive CCAW (copper-clad aluminum wire) voice coil – it’s a high-efficiency design, says FiiO, and combines with the rest of the hardware to deliver a frequency response of 7Hz - 40kHz. Low impedance (32ohms) and high sensitivity (98dB) mean the FT13 are one of the more easy-to-drive options of their type around.
The headphones feature a long, slender, ‘U’-shaped damping tube above the back of the driver assembly inside the earcup. It’s intended to lower the resonant frequency inside the cavity in an effort to liberate greater low-frequency extension and control, and in combination with a standing wave chamber plus a quantity of resonance-absorbing cotton, FiiO suggests the FT13 offer more passive noise-isolation than any comparable design.
- Features score: 5 / 5
- Spacious, well-defined presentation
- Driving, rhythmically positive sound
- Lack a touch of high-frequency presence
Flawless sound is hard to come by no matter how much you’re spending on a pair of headphones, of course, and sure enough the FiiO FT13 are not flawless in the way they sound. In the context of the asking price, though, and balanced against all the ways in which their sound is deft and enjoyable, it doesn’t seem all that reasonable to get too bogged down in their deficiencies.
In any case, those deficiencies are fairly slight. The way they go about reproducing the top of the frequency range means treble sounds don’t have a whole lot in common, tonally speaking, with all the frequency information below here – and they roll off the top end quite pointedly. If it’s real high-frequency attack and drive you value in your headphones, the FT13 are going to be altogether too polite and mild-mannered for your tastes.
Otherwise, though, the news is all quite positive. With a nice fat 24bit/192kHz FLAC file of David Bowie’s Sound and Vision playing, the FT13 create a large, well-laid-out soundstage and keep every element of the recording secure in a little individual pocket of space. They do this, though, without sacrificing any sense of togetherness or performance – they just ensure everyone gets sufficient elbow room.
Low frequency presence is considerable, but bass reproduction here is no blunt instrument. There’s plenty of detail regarding tone and texture available, and this level of variation combines nicely with decent observance of the attack and decay of low-end information. The FiiO describe rhythms confidently as a result. The modulation into the midrange is smooth, and here there’s similarly impressive detail retrieval and tonal fidelity – the double tracking of the vocal in this recording is made obvious, and the small harmonic variations in the voice are identified without being overstated. The FT13 communicate vocal intentions and attitudes really well.
Dynamic headroom is considerable, as a listen to a 24bit/44.1kHz FLAC file of Holy Ghost by Young Fathers makes apparent. The open and spacious sound of the FiiO allows the shifts in volume and attack in this recording to be made plain, and the distance between the quiet/malevolent and loud/even more malevolent passages couldn’t really be any greater. It’s worth noting the FiiO are pretty agnostic in this regard – they are more than happy to dig in and kick off if a recording demands it, but are just as comfortable dealing with the small-scale and understated.
- Sound quality score: 4 / 5
- 356g (without cable)
- Magnesium alloy headband and frame
- South American purpleheart wood
Just as in the ‘features’ section, with the FT13 FiiO has taken what might, on the face of it, seem like an unpromising product type where ‘design’ is concerned and done its utmost. Unlike almost every price-comparable alternative, here it’s possible to discern that ‘design’, rather than simply ‘construction’, has happened.
The relatively large earcups are supplied with a choice of earpads. There’s suede (for a warmer sound, so the company says) or lambskin (for a cleaner presentation) and they’re easily swapped, but it should be noted that there’s no vegetarian option. On the outside of the earcups, meanwhile, the polished and lacquered purpleheart wood offers a genuine point of difference. The deep purple colour is entirely natural, the specifics of the grain are obviously unique to each pair of headphones, and its acoustic properties are long-established.
At 356g without the hefty cable attached, the FT13 are far from the lightest closed-back over-ear headphones around. But thanks to a light-yet-robust ‘U’-shaped magnesium alloy frame, some very carefully judged clamping force, and a ball-bearing adjustment mechanism with plenty of adjustability, it’s possible to get comfortable inside the FiiO and to stay that way for extended periods.
There’s a degree of articulation in the earcups, but the FT13 don’t come anywhere close to folding – the case in which they travel is necessarily bulky. It’s a reasonably good-looking case, at least, and the Yaoli linen from which it’s made is tactile, plus there are compartments inside for storing all your very many adapters and cable terminations.
- Design score: 5 / 5
- Select your source of music...
- Ensure you have the appropriate cable termination fitted...
- And away you go
Something would be terribly wrong, wouldn’t it, if the setup and usability of a pair of hard-wired passive headphones was in any way complicated?
The FT13 are about as involved as it ever gets, really. The quartet of options for cable termination means it might take you a beat or two longer to plug into your source of sound than it otherwise would.
After that, ensure you have your favored earcup in place, get comfortable using the headband adjustment mechanism, and you’re in business.
- Usability and setup score: 5 / 5
- Standard of build and finish superb
- Lots of available connectivity options
- Excellent sound quality for price
In terms of specification, materials, the standard of build and finish, and the available connectivity options, there’s really no arguing with the value the FT13 offer. In fact, if you consider the generous use of staunchly non-vegetarian materials in their construction, perhaps there’s too much going on here.
But when it comes to performance, the sound quality that’s available here is likeable in lots of ways – and if the balance FiiO has struck is your kind of thing, you’ll find the FT13 offer very acceptable value for money indeed.
- Value score: 4.5 / 5
Attributes
Notes
Rating
Features
Dizzying array of connections; 60mm dynamic 'W-shaped' drivers; good passive noise-isolation.
5 / 5
Sound quality
Spacious and well-defined, with a driving, rhythmically positive sound; but slight lack of high-frequency presence.
4 / 5
Design
Purpleheart wood offers unique finish; highly adjustable headband finds the midpoint between 'design' and 'construction'.
5 / 5
Usability and setup
Select the termination you want for your music source, and you're away.
5 / 5
Value
No arguing with the standard of build, finish or connectivity terminations, but lack of vegetarian options.
4.5 / 5
(Image credit: Future / Simon Lucas)Buy them if...You like a bit of individuality
How many pairs of headphones that feature lots of purple-ish wood can you think of? Exactly.
You have several sources of music
The FT13 come with several different cable terminations.
You enjoy big and organized sound
The FiiO sound every bit as large as they look, and they control their soundstage with real determination.
You’re vegetarian
Suede or lambskin are your options for earcups, and there’s more lambskin on the inside of the headband.
You’re on the small-headed side
These are relatively large headphones with relatively large earcups, and they could swamp those with a smaller-than-average head.
You like a bit of bite and shine to your sounds
The FT13 play it overtly safe where treble response is concerned, and they sound just slightly blunt at the top end as a result.
Sennheiser HD 620S
The Sennheiser HD 620S have none of the FT13’s visual drama, but they most certainly have plenty where it counts - their sound is poised and spacious. They’re not as comfortable as the FiiO, it’s true, but then they’re not as off-putting to vegetarians, either.
Read our Sennheiser HD 620S review for more
- Tested for well over a week
- Used as listening headphones, at home
- Connected to numerous music sources using various different formats, file types and sizes
I connected the FiiO FT13 to the same brand’s M15S digital audio player using the balanced 4.4mm connection, to an Apple MacBook Pro using the 3.5mm jack and a Linn Majik DSM (5th Gen) using the 6.3mm connection. This way I got access to lots of different music, of numerous different formats, file types and file sizes, and I listened to the headphones for well over a week in several different rooms of my house.
The size and the purpleness of the headphones, along with the unwieldy nature of the cable, put me off using them outdoors, though.
- First reviewed: December 2025
- Read more about how we test
Categories: Reviews
Metroid Prime 4: Beyond was worth the wait – even if it occasionally gets lost in the desert
Metroid Prime 4: Beyond's title screen is somewhat indicative of the game as a whole. The hypnotic, curvy eye motif and mysterious purple hue are backed by yet another belter of a title screen track; a series staple I'm glad is intact here. The presentation is immediately absorbing, and it's hard to suppress the goosebumps at the feeling that Metroid's 3D subseries is truly back. And then the whole aesthetic is ruined by a massive 'Nintendo Switch 2 Edition' logo slapped dead center of the display.
Review infoPlatform reviewed: Nintendo Switch 2
Available on: Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2
Release date: December 4, 2025
Nevertheless, Metroid Prime 4: Beyond absolutely holds up against the games that came before it. It's leagues ahead of Metroid Prime 3: Corruption and its Wii Remote waggling gimmicks and unsatisfying exploration. Beyond also returns to an atmospheric feel very much in line with the original Prime.
The usual biomes are all present here - dense jungle, arid desert, abandoned mines, motorcycle dealership, et al - but all feel richly developed with distinctly alien traces. Ancient ruins, industrial installations, and evidence of twisted experiments lend each major area a rich history long before the arrival of protagonist Samus Aran.
(Image credit: Nintendo)Of course, this is helped by just how gorgeous of a game Metroid Prime 4: Beyond really is. Naturally you'll get the most out of it with the Nintendo Switch 2 Edition and its support for 4K resolution. Returning developer Retro Studios clearly put a ton of work into environmental design, and an impressive amount of detail helps most areas stand out as a real visual treat.
But I can't quite say Beyond stands shoulder-to-shoulder with the GameCube masterpieces that came two decades before it. The large open desert is the feature that Nintendo arguably made the most noise about in Beyond's marketing, but its enormous size and barren nature ultimately make it serve little outside of boring, needless padding.
Enemy variety is alarmingly lacking, too, with just a couple of actually threatening types across all areas. Bosses follow suit; they often share simlar types of attacks and don't make much use of the various power-ups you'll accrue throughout the game.
There's clearly some rustiness on display here, 18 years on from the last mainline Prime entry. But when Metroid Prime 4: Beyond is firing on all cylinders, it still delivers a deeply rewarding and satisfying first-person adventure.
Can't complain about the View(ros)(Image credit: Nintendo)If you're not caught up on the Metroid Prime games or the Metroid series in general, don't worry; like most games in the long-running franchise, Metroid Prime 4: Beyond is designed to be enjoyed as a largely standalone entry. There are callbacks, such as the presence of the Galactic Federation and returning antagonistic bounty hunter Sylux, but don't feel like you have to get up to speed in any sense.
Beyond begins, unsurprisingly, in the same way a lot of these games do. Samus Aran responds to a distress call to aid in pushing back against a Space Pirate invasion at a Galactic Federation base. Things go awry when a mysterious artifact being kept in the base is activated, teleporting Samus and swathes of the base's personnel to the planet Viewros.
Not much is known about Viewros. Like Metroid Prime 2: Echoes' Aether, its existence appears to be something of an anomaly, undiscoverable on any galactic chart. It's on Viewros that we uncover the plight of the Lamorn, a now-extinct alien race that may or may not have invited tragedy upon themselves. The goal, then, is to reactivate Viewros's master teleporter and return Samus and the displaced Gal Fed troopers' home.
(Image credit: Nintendo)I really like Beyond's story. It's pretty unintrusive, and can largely be discovered through data logs and environmental details via Samus's scan visor. Uncovering the dark fate of extraterrestrial factions isn't anything new for Metroid, but the Lamorn are a particularly fascinating species in their aptitude for psychic abilities and technological prowess.
Much, too, has already been made of the Galactic Federation troopers, with fans worrying that their chatty nature might be at odds with the series' trademark feeling of isolation. I'm happy to say they're really not that bad, and a couple are even quite endearing.
Mackenzie is perhaps the worst offender, but not because of his socially awkward quipping. Rather, like a PlayStation Studios character, he has a habit of spelling out puzzle and progression answers to you before you've even properly had a chance to look around.
There's an element of hand-holding that just isn't welcome, especially when you're prompted to open the map to view an annoyingly unskippable animation showing you exactly where you need to go. That really becomes an issue towards the end of the game when you're just trying to do your 100% item and scan cleanup before the point of no return.
Third eye(Image credit: Nintendo)In typical series fashion, Samus loses the lion's share of her abilities after being transported to Viewros. The game doesn't really make a song and dance of it this time, which is just as well; it beats the rather contrived ways Samus has undergone her nerfs in the past.
Best bit(Image credit: Nintendo)Metroid Prime 4: Beyond's atmosphere is incredible. Paired with some headphones, the world of Viewros comes alive with wonderful audio design. Gorgeous visuals, lighting, and environmental design all really help ground Samus in this otherworldly setting.
Progression in Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, then, is as you'd expect if you're familiar with the series. You'll explore through a number of different areas, encountering roadblocks as you go that require you to discover power-ups elsewhere to progress.
On Viewros, Samus is able to inherit the psychic abilities of the Lamorn race. This lets her do things like open special doors, uncover hidden platforms, and make use of a psychic beam power-up that can be momentarily controlled to activate switches or hit multiple enemies.
Otherwise, power-ups are played safe in Metroid Prime 4: Beyond. Having the 'psychic' label doesn't stop morph ball bombs, the grapple beam, and various beam cannon types from acting the same than they used to. Even modifiers like fire and ice behave like you'd expect; dealing damage over time or freezing enemies solid respectively.
(Image credit: Nintendo)My guess is that Retro Studios didn't feel the need to push the boat out too much in regards to Samus's abilities. It's a robust kit that plays to the series' strengths of combat and exploration.
This time, though, the ball has been dropped when it comes to the boss fights. In fact, there's not many bosses to speak of, at least when compared to other games in the Prime sub-series. Unfortunately, this lack of quantity has not translated to a higher level of quality.
Bosses all share a handful of similar attacks, such as generating a wave of energy that Samus must jump over, or rolling around the arena at high speeds. They rarely, if ever, require Samus to make use of her various beam types, and it's not until the truly exceptional final boss that Retro presents a challenging and memorable fight - one of the best in the series, actually.
(Image credit: Nintendo)Level design and progression also isn't quite as ambitious or winding as we've seen in past games. Metroid Prime 4: Beyond definitely leans on the more linear side. That's not necessarily a bad thing; some of the series' best games, including Metroid Dread and Fusion, are fairly straightforward entries.
Like those games, Beyond more than makes up for it in the atmopshere department. The dense wilderness of Fury Green, the derelict, harshly-lit laboratories of Ice Belt, and the impressive industral scale of Volt Forge all lend their own unique atmospheric flavor, and it's a joy to scour these environments for items and snippets of lore.
Some areas are more painfully linear than others. There are rather annoying combat gauntlets in Volt Forge and the Great Mines, for example, that require at least a couple trips through for both story progression and late-game item hunting. Mercifully, you're never required to hop between gimmicky visor types in this game like Prime 1 and 2, but they show an occasional lack of care and ambition in overall level design.
At least backtracking for items is a pretty painless and actually quite enjoyable affair here. Once you have a certain beam power-up, you can activate a droid in each biome that will reveal item locations on the map. This, paired with some really handy shortcuts in each level, make going for 100% completion doable and worthwhile on your first playthrough.
Deserted(Image credit: Nintendo)But this leads me onto easily the weakest element of Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, and it's the barren Sol Valley. This is a massive, arid expanse, in the corners of which sit the game's major locations. And good lord is it dull.
Designed for exploration with Samus's new VI-O-LA motorcycle - which she gets partway through an earlier area - Sol Valley just isn't very interesting. It's simply an enormous stretch of desert with very little in it. Presumably, this is stripped back so the original Nintendo Switch can handle while maintaining 60fps performance.
The motorcycle is fun to drive, at least. It's fast and performs turns and drifts in a satisfying manner. It's even equipped with weaponry to help shoot down a few rather pesky enemy types that periodically bother you while you're out and about.
Unfortunately, the mostly flat terrain of the desert doesn't really play to the bike's strengths. There are a few jumps, and chunks of Green Energy crystals that can be smashed and collected for a handful of optional power-ups, but the desert largely just serves as unenjoyable padding in an otherwise pretty short game.
The good stuff(Image credit: Nintendo)I've been pretty critical of many elements in Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, but I do want to leave this review on a few high notes; things the game does exceedingly well. Samus feels better than ever to control in 3D, with tightened-up movement and improvements to physics in her morph ball form.
When Samus has all her abilities late in the game, and you're uncovering the last few rooms in each major biome, the game really comes alive. Backtracking and 100% item collection is superbly paced, and it feels as satisfying as ever to tear through areas with a fully-kitted bounty hunter.
I also really didn't hate the Galactic Federation troopers Samus partners with at various points in her journey. Yes, it's really annoying when Mackenzie points out the obvious or forces you into an unskippable map animation, but there's good chemistry between each of the team members.
Samus isn't with them for overly long, just a handful of sections. One that really stands out is when she partners with a couple of them to take down a massive gunship. And seeing your base camp in Fury Green evolve over time as troopers file in is endearing; you can even catch dialogue between them if you visit at certain times.
But once again I really just have to gush about how gorgeous of a game Beyond is, in both the visuals and soundtrack department. It's easily the best-looking game on Switch 2 so far, and a 4K 60fps lock (or 1080p at 120fps in performance mode) shows a real technical wizardry on both Retro and Nintendo's part.
Multiple control options are also welcome, and all are a success. You have your standard twin-stick movement more in line with contemporary first-person shooters. Or you can make use of the Joy-Con 2 for gyro aiming. Mouse controls are also excellent, providing a level of accuracy that you can't get on other control types without locking onto enemies first.
Flaws and all, I still think Metroid Prime 4: Beyond is a brilliant entry in the series. If the desert was a touch smaller, and there were a few extra rooms to explore in each biome, it'd be on its way to sitting alongside the first two Prime games in quality. But, this is nonetheless a really welcome three-dimensional return for Samus, and I really hope it won't be her last.
Should you play Metroid Prime 4: Beyond?(Image credit: Nintendo)Play it if...You want to see what the Switch 2 hardware can do
Beyond is an utterly gorgeous game, to the point where I can't quite believe it's running on Nintendo hardware even with the Switch 2's improvements. Dense, atmosphere-rich environments are backed up by a wonderful soundtrack and audio design, too.
You love the Metroid Prime series
Each game in the Prime series has its own unique set of issues, and Beyond is no different. However, this is still very much a satisfying adventure that holds up well compared to those that came before it.
You really don't like massive deserts
Desert-like environments aren't the most inspiring biomes at the best of times, and Beyond's is a real slog to visit time and time again.
You're hoping for a long adventure
At around 15 hours (or less if you're not going for 100%), Beyond is a pretty lean game that may be a bit too short for those looking at the full-fat price tag.
Metroid Prime 4: Beyond has some accessibility features worth highlighting, though unfortunately not much. You can enable a background for subtitles for increased legibility, and fully remap button profiles in all control settings. You can also adjust cursor, camera, and stick sensitivity to fine-tune a setup that's right for you.
How I reviewed Metroid Prime 4: BeyondMy playthrough of Metroid Prime 4: Beyond lasted just over 15 hours on Normal difficulty. This was a 100% completion run, with all items and scans collected. That may sound short, but is still very much in line with the length of most Metroid titles, including those within the Prime subseries.
I primarily played in the default control scheme on a Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller, mixing it up with the support for mouse controls later in the game during some boss fights and item hunts. I also switched occasionally between docked play on an LG CX OLED TV, and handheld play with the RIG R5 Spear Pro HS gaming headset for enhanced audio.
First reviewed November/December 2025
Categories: Reviews
I tested the new Sony A7 V, and now it's my favorite Sony camera ever
Sony A7 V: two-minute review
Some photographers, possibly even those working at Sony, see the A7 range of mirrorless cameras as the firm’s entry-level full-frame models. On paper alone, this may seem a reasonable suggestion when comparing the specifications to the most premium models. However, the Sony A7 IV, launched in October 2021, carries a 33-megapixel 36x24mm sensor, ISO50-204,800 sensitivity range, 5.5EV in-body image stabilization system, and a top continuous shooting rate of 10 frames per second. It’s by no means a slouch and this is all available for under $2500, so while it might be one of Sony’s more affordable E-mount bodies, it has been able to give pro-spec cameras a run for their money for several years.
On the face of it, the A7 V seems more of an iterative upgrade to its predecessor, rather than a revolution. However, once you dig deeper, there is a lot of exciting new technology to explore. Debuting the new partially-stacked sensor and new Bionz XR 2 processing engine, this camera represents a significant step forward for photography enthusiasts and semi-professionals. It’s more responsive than the A7 IV, both in focusing reaction time and accuracy, and delivers superior performance from the ground up.
Images are sharply detailed, and noise is well-controlled, especially for a model equipped with a 33MP resolution. It certainly matches or outperforms the current generation of competing cameras, such as the Canon EOS R6 Mark II or Panasonic Lumix S5 II, although I’ll be interested to see how low-light capabilities compare to the likes of the Canon EOS R6 Mark III when it inevitably comes to market, which is likely not too far in the future.
(Image credit: Future/ Peter Fenech)If you’ve used other Sony Alpha cameras, you’ll fall right into step with the A7 V. Some might call Sony’s conservative approach to design unimaginative, but it means that you can allow muscle memory to play its part on shoots where speed matters most. A few useful practical refinements notwithstanding, the A7 V is very similar to models that came before it, and on picking it up, you get a feeling of coming home, a comforting sensation when other stressful elements of a photoshoot come into play.
These days, I’m more likely to be blown away by enthusiast-level products than flagships, which rarely offer many surprises, as pro technology trickles down the rankings to more affordable offerings. The niche this camera inhabits has the potential to provide unbeatable value to the greatest range of photographers, and happily, the A7 V fulfills this promise. It’s an impressive upgrade to an already outstanding camera, serving up great responsiveness, useful features and exceptional image quality. I still wouldn’t call it revolutionary, and there are some quirks that I’d like to see refined, but if you’re an aspiring wildlife, event, or travel photographer, I’m confident you’ll fall in love with it, and that it will trouble TechRadar's best cameras and best mirrorless camera guides.
Sony A7 V specsSony A7 V Specs:Type:
Mirrorless camera
Sensor:
Full-frame (36x24mm) semi-stacked CMOS
LCD:
3.2-inch, multi-articulated, 2.095m dots
Memory:
2x SDXC, 1x CFexpress Type A
Resolution:
33-megapixels
Video:
Up to 4K60p (4K120p in 1.5x crop mode)
ISO range:
ISO 50-204,800
Mechanical Shutter speeds:
30-1/8000sec
Electronic Shutter speeds:
30-1/16000sec
Viewfinder:
3.686m dot, OLED EVF, 0.78x
Processor:
Bionz XR 2
Connectivity:
AX WiFi (WiFi 6), Bluetooth, 2x USB-C, audio
Weight:
659g
(Image credit: Future/ Peter Fenech)Sony A7 V: Price and availability- Released December 2, 2025
- Body only price of $2,899 / £2,799 (Australia TBC)
- Kit options will be available, including with a new FE 28-70mm F3.5-5.6 OSS II
The Sony A7 V launched worldwide on December 2, 2025 priced $2,899 / £2,799 (body only, Australia TBC), alongside a new FE 28-70mm F3.5-5.6 OSS II kit lens. The lens costs $449.99 / £429 separately (Australia TBC) and will be available separately from February 2026.
Ahead of then, the FE 28-70mm F3.5-5.6 OSS II kit lens can be purchased as a kit with the A7 V for $3,099 (UK / Australia TBC). There will be other kits available, TBC.
This pricing is right on par with the Canon EOS R6 Mark III (and just $100 / £100 more than the Nikon Z6 III was at launch, but which is now available for much less).
- Price score: 4.5/5
- Larger 3.2-inch rear LCD
- Versatile multi-pivot articulated monitor
- Hybrid memory card slot
Externally, I’d be very impressed if anyone could distinguish the A7 V from the A7 IV on looks alone. Apart from the name, discreetly emblazoned on the top plate, just to the left of the viewfinder, there isn’t much else to identify the latest iteration. However, a closer inspection reveals a redesigned handgrip. It’s very slight, with a tiny shift to the angle of the shutter button to account for the modest increase in weight from the Mark IV, but it makes a natural refinement to the ergonomics of the camera.
In terms of handling, the A7 V is supremely comfortable to hold, perhaps more so than most other Alpha bodies in the range. Logically, I know there is significant continuity between models, but something about the A7 V felt more balanced to me. I’ve always found Sony cameras to be too boxy for my tastes, especially when shooting for longer periods and when using larger lenses. The A7 V is unmistakably a Sony product, but it just fit my hands a lot better than I remember the A7 IV doing.
Shooting all day around London with the FE 24-50mm f/2.8 G lens, the setup was perfectly balanced, the center of gravity seemingly right where the optics meet the lens mount. This made shooting one-handed a breeze, even when holding the camera at arm's length over my head to shoot a street performer over the heads of a large crowd.
I appreciated that the playback and delete buttons are located on the same side of the camera body and immediately adjacent to each other on the back plate. This is a personal preference, of course, but I find this makes quickly making in-the-field quality control decisions quicker, rather than having to work two-handed and hunting for a control on the opposite side of the body to preview and delete obviously blurry shots.
(Image credit: Future/ Peter Fenech)Another excellent feature that seems unique to Sony cameras is dual-function card slots that fit both SD and CFexpress. As someone with more high-performance SD cards than I’d like to think about, I love this. Although I am gradually filling out my stock of CFexpress, I still like to have the choice, and a camera that supports both, while still allowing dual card functionality with either format is hugely thoughtful.
With a Canon EOS R5 Mark II, for example, you need to take a supply of both card types if you want the benefits of in-the-field backups, while the Canon EOS R6 Mark II requires two SD cards only, delaying investment in CFexpress until a future upgrade (which will no doubt be an expensive ordeal). On Sony cameras, there are no such compromises.
Image 1 of 2(Image credit: Future/ Peter Fenech)Image 2 of 2(Image credit: Future/ Peter Fenech)It’s a shame the A7 V only has one of the two slots capable of accepting CFexpress Type A, but perhaps this is what you pay the extra money for when buying a camera like the Sony A7R V.
Another excellent design flourish is the extra control wheel above the Auto Exposure Lock button, which by default is set up to adjust exposure compensation in P, A or S modes. I enjoy not having to hold down another button to change this, and the additional dial allows you to amend the aperture and image brightness with single controls each. Naturally, each dial can be reassigned a custom function from within the A7 V’s Operation Customize menu, found under Setup.
(Image credit: Future/ Peter Fenech)The build quality is of an exceptionally high standard. I didn’t have the opportunity to test the camera’s weather resistance – unusual for a British reviewer in November – but nevertheless, there are no obvious compromises in the integrity of the construction. Apart from the hollow battery and memory card bays, no other part of the body reverberates excessively when tapped, giving the sensation of it being milled from a single piece of metal.
All of the dials are beautifully knurled and easy to twist, but with enough resistance that it isn’t too easy to nudge them by accident.
We also can’t talk about the design of the camera without mentioning the versatile dual-hinged main LCD. Sony has gone back and forth with its approach to screen articulation over the years, and as far back as the A99 II DSLR camera, the multi-point design has allowed the user to both tilt and swivel the LCD. Some photographers prefer the vertical tilt format, while others like myself appreciate a full swivel function.
Users of the A7 V don’t have to choose – unlike with the A7 IV which is single-axis vari-angle only – which I found useful when shooting ground-level street photos of graffiti artists under Waterloo Station. It’s a clever strategy also found in recent Lumix cameras, and which I’d like to see more brands adopting.
- Design score:4.5/5
- New Bionz XR 2 processor
- No dedicated AI autofocus processing engine
- Long 750-shot battery life
Speaking of LCD screens, the model featured on the A7 V is both larger and more detailed than its predecessor. It measures 3.2 inches, up from 3 inches on the A7 IV, while resolution has doubled the 1,036,800 dots previously available. I found it to be very crisp, and colors look natural. This is a attribute of camera screens that isn’t talked about enough. Monitors might be super contrasty and saturated as standard, but this won’t always give the most useful preview of the images about to be captured.
The touch sensitivity is just right, and I found it to be more responsive than both the Mark IV and the A7R V, demonstrating the difference that three years can make. It’s not that those cameras were particularly unresponsive, but this latest monitor gave me no sense that it was standing between me and the settings I wanted to access.
I especially liked the reaction time for touch focus; with a single tap the camera activates the AF and immediately snaps to the object selected. I don’t always use touch focus features, but combined with the versatile LCD pivot points, I found myself using them frequently during my testing of the A7 V.
Autofocus itself is smooth and super-fast. Built around a new system of 759 Phase Detection AF points that cover 90% of the frame, the A7 V can focus in lighting as low as -4EV. Although the camera did slow down as ambient lighting dropped, with the rate of focus hunting increasing, it still did a sterling job of finding and tracking the subject. It’s also incredibly precise.
Image 1 of 3Changing the AF subject recognition mode to Animals, the A7 V could easily keep track of this squirrel's eye (Image credit: Future/ Peter Fenech)Image 2 of 3(Image credit: Future/ Peter Fenech)Image 3 of 3(Image credit: Future/ Peter Fenech)Interestingly, the A7 V doesn’t feature a dedicated AI processor, as found on the Sony A1 II. This might surprise many industry observers, in an age where AI is king and excluding such features might seem a retrograde step. However, the new Bionz XR 2 moves all AF computations on-chip, instead of dividing the workload between two units.
Sony says the up-specced processor brings the same benefits of a separate AI engine, namely better AF target recognition, but with the added advantage of reduced heat emissions, superior speed, and improved battery life. After all, powering one chip is better than supplying two.
I didn’t have an A1 II body available to test the cameras side-by-side, but rarely did the A7 V struggle to locate my subject. There are plenty of options to customize subject recognition, and the camera coped well with human figures, cars, and airplanes, in the chaos of Central London and at Heathrow Airport.
Also new to the A7 V are the options to change AF responsiveness and to select an extra small or large AF point. While I didn’t find much need to alter these settings during my test, I could see where this might be of huge benefit. Turning down AF responsiveness if it’s likely that other objects will pass between the camera and the subject, like when shooting across a busy road or players on a football field, will help keep the focus sticky on your subject.
I can also vouch for the stated 750-shot battery capacity. After 300 frames, in the relative chill of a winter afternoon, I still had 75% charge, and by 650 shots, this sat around the 40% mark. This excellent, rival-beating performance included shooting both long still exposures and video.
In terms of shooting speed, the A7 V is one quick camera in operation. Startup is near instantaneous, and exposure assessment is now done at twice the number of calculations per second compared to the A7 IV.
Using the electronic shutter, it’s now possible to capture images at up to 30fps, up from 10fps on the previous camera. Pre-capture is also possible up to a user-selectable 30fps, meaning the camera is always ready and able to cover the action in the briefest of moments. Without wanting to sound like an advert for Sony (remember, this review is completely independent), there were times when I felt I was having to keep up with the camera. This isn’t something I encounter often, and it kept me on my toes.
It’s a very minor point, but I found the shutter release to be just a little too sensitive for my liking. There were a few occasions when I was simply trying out a composition and accidentally fired off a burst of shots – a bit of a laborious situation when the camera makes 30 frames every second! I’d definitely recommend re-assigning focussing to the AF-ON button to work around this.
- Performance score: 5/5
- Excellent Dynamic Range
- Superior high-ISO performance
- Ultra-effective IBIS system
One of the headline features of the A7 V that is certain to get people talking is the new semi-stacked sensor. This CMOS design has developed somewhat of a bad rep because of its deployment in other cameras with limited success, such as the Nikon Z6 III. There is a risk of significant trade-offs in dynamic range for the additional readout speed a semi-stacked (or partially-stacked) sensor provides. Sony is confident enough, however, to claim a DR of up to 16-stops with the A7 V – that's an additional stop versus the A7 IV – so I couldn’t wait to see how the camera performed in the real world.
I’m not entirely convinced by the 16EV claim, as there were times when there was less highlight texture than I had anticipated, and clipped shadows where I hadn’t expected. However, the results were still impressive. In the majority of shots, there was recoverable detail across the range. From memory alone (and not having yet taken the A7 V into the lab for testing, that’s all I have to work on), I would place the dynamic range on an even footing with models like the 24MP Canon EOS R6 Mark II and Nikon Z6 III. Clearly, Sony deserves some applause for this, as it’s a clear indicator that the A7 V is a next-gen competitor.
Now let’s talk about color. Traditionally, this hasn’t been my favorite aspect of Sony cameras. I’ve always felt that, compared to Canon and Fujifilm models, Sony color science was a bit sterile. Accurate, maybe, but lacking warmth and ‘flavor’. These traits are present in the A7 V, as is to be expected, but I noticed colors seemed more organic than I’ve seen from its stablemates.
The auto White Balance system hardly ever missed a trick, even when shooting wall art comprising overlapping primary colors in mixed natural and artificial lighting: quite possibly a condition that cameras have nightmares about. The A7 V handled the situation beautifully. I could wax lyrical here for three more paragraphs, but I’ll summarize with this: if the camera could cope this well under these conditions, it could cope anywhere.
Dynamic range might not quite manage 16-stops in every image, but matches lower resolution cameras from competing brands (Image credit: Future/ Peter Fenech)I don’t always believe rumors, but in this case the suggestion that Composite RAW capability was to be included on the A7 V has turned out to be true. Previously seen on the Sony A9 III, this mode captures a sequence of RAW files that are then combined to produce a higher-resolution file with reduced noise. It works nicely and does what it says on the tin – if you shoot landscapes or in the studio, this is a great feature for squeezing every oodle of quality out of the sensor.
Of course, it works less well with moving subjects, even when shooting at a high frame rate, so I chose not to use it for street photography. If you can support the camera, it would also be beneficial for capturing poorly-lit interiors at higher sensitivities.
Even without Composite RAW active, the signal-to-noise ratio will put a smile on your face. I spent most of my shoot at ISO 6400 and above, and the camera delivered a commendable balance of sharpness and grain. I wasn’t blown away by the in-camera treatment of JPGs though, and as low as ISO 800, there was smudging of detail through quite aggressive noise reduction. Weirdly, this didn’t seem to get much worse up to ISO 3200.
Image 1 of 2(Image credit: Future/ Peter Fenech)Image 2 of 2(Image credit: Future/ Peter Fenech)Further proof that the dynamic range is noteworthy is highlight retention at the extended low ISO settings. At ISO 50, which is essentially an overexposed image with the exposure digitally reduced, there was still data present at the right side of the histogram.
One of my favorite features of the A7 V is the IBIS system. Compensating for up to 7.5EV of shake in the center of the frame and 6.5EV at the edges, up from 5.5-stops on the A7 IV, the stabilisation enables hand-held shots at ridiculously slow shutter speeds. I was able to capture usable images at exposures of around one second – unthinkable just a few years ago. This enabled me to capture the movement of objects within the frame while rendering static areas sharp. It’s one of my go-to street and urban photography techniques.
It doesn’t quite match the 8-stop hybrid IBIS-lens-based system seen in the Canon EOS R5 Mark II, Canon EOS R3, and Canon EOS R7 on paper, but it performs exceptionally well.
Image 1 of 7(Image credit: Future/ Peter Fenech)Image 2 of 7(Image credit: Future/ Peter Fenech)Image 3 of 7(Image credit: Future/ Peter Fenech)Image 4 of 7(Image credit: Future/ Peter Fenech)Image 5 of 7(Image credit: Future/ Peter Fenech)Image 6 of 7(Image credit: Future/ Peter Fenech)Image 7 of 7(Image credit: Future/ Peter Fenech)- Image quality score: 4.5/5
Attributes
Notes
Rating
Price
The A7 V is another example of how pro features are becoming increasingly more affordable. It's not cheap, but you get a hell of a lot of camera for the money
4.5/5
Design
There are no surprises from Sony. You might call the similarities with other Alpha cameras unimaginative but why fix what isn't broken?
4.5/5
Performance
The IBIS is superb, allowing hand-held long exposures, while AF is responsive, customizable, and accurate.
5/5
Image quality
Low-light quality is superb, as is auto White Balance. Jpeg processing is heavy-handed, but overall, the camera sets a new standard for enthusiast products.
4.5/5
Should I buy the Sony A7 V?Buy it if...You want an affordable full-frame camera
It might not be the cheapest camera with a full-frame sensor on the market, but you get a lot of camera for your buck. The A7 V has everything an enthusiast photographer could hope for or need.View Deal
You shoot both stills and video
Like the A7 IV before it, the new camera delivers exceptional video features too, with 4K resolution, 60fps without a crop, and S-Log available for high-end grading.View Deal
Don't buy it if...You are a beginner
There is a lot of camera here. Novices are unlikely to get the most from all of the features available, and the mammoth toolset might even be off-putting. View Deal
You just bought an A7 IV
Let's be clear, the A7 V is a significant upgrade to its predecessor, but with a similar resolution, equal sensor size, and advanced features, the A7 IV is a great camera on its own merits. I wouldn't suggest there's enough difference between the two for an upgrade just yet.View Deal
Also consider Canon EOS R6 Mark IIThe EOS R6 Mark III builds on the 24MP Canon EOS R6 Mark II with improved resolution that matches the A7 V, now 33MP. Sony and Canon take different priorities; the A7 V has the partially stacked sensor and video recording up to 4K 60p, while the EOS R6 Mark III's sensor isn't stacked at all, but there's open gate 7K video recording. Both feature incredibly powerful IBIS and autofocus performance. This is a close call. Note, at the time of writing we're still working on our EOS R6 Mark III review.
Nikon Z6 IIINikon's all-rounder, the Z6 III also features a partially stacked sensor, but with a resolution of just 24MP. That said, video recording is up to 6K 60p, and the Z6 III is blazing fast, also being supported by powerful in-body image stabilization. Launched in July 2024, it has come down in price and can be had for much less than the A7 V.
Read our in-depth Nikon Z6 III review
How I tested the Sony A7 V- I tested a full production model
- The A7 V body was accompanied by the FE 20-50mm f/2.8 G and FE 70-200mm f/4 Macro G OSS II
- Images were taken in a range of lighting conditions, using each ISO setting so noise levels could be compared throughout the range
I always like to push a camera to the edges of its capabilities and, to that end, I shot using the extremes of the ISO range. In bright light, I set the camera to the extended low ISO of 50, and then explored several low-light locations to test the camera all the way up to the expanded high setting of 204,800. I left the White Balance set to auto throughout the review to see how the camera responded to different lighting conditions. I also shot in RAW+JPG mode, so I had unprocessed files and compressed images for the sake of comparison.
- First reviewed December 2025
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