TechRadar Reviews

HP has a longstanding history of making powerful portable workstations packed with superb performance, solid battery life, and robust port offerings.

The ZBook X G1i is not only a continuation of that tradition, but it's also touted as the most mobile ZBook ever, still with high performance and a great battery.

It's a bold claim, and HP has successfully pulled it off. As an all-rounder, it's one of the best mobile workstations I've tested, performing very well in my tests and well-suited to business professionals, creators, and power-users.

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )HP ZBook X G1i: Unboxing and First Impressions

Given how powerful this machine is, I'm still shocked by how lightweight it is. Granted, it is a 16-inch unit, so it's not something you'd want to toss into a daypack or a shoulder sling, but it's still pretty portable for a workstation. As I always do, I left the charger in the box and will use my UGREEN or Anker power bricks, or one of the several docking stations I have set up across my different workspaces.

The next thing I do is log in to my Windows account and allow my sync to run, along with logging in to my proper accounts. I like using Windows Hello with both fingerprint and face recognition for easier, more secure sign-in. Once I got that taken care of, I made the proper updates and minimized my desktop to fewer apps, creating a clean workspace.

The HP ZBook X G1i is a very sleek and professional-looking laptop. It fits right into the business-tier design language, without being boring. It's got an elegant silver finish, it's easy to toss in a backpack, and it's got enough ports to power you through your day. This laptop is portable yet packs a full-size HDMI port, an RJ45 Ethernet port, two Thunderbolt 4 ports, a USB-C port, a headphone jack, a USB-A port, and an optional Nano SIM Card and/or a Smart Card Reader.

All of that in a portable workstation is wild. To add to the insanity, there is a full-size numpad as well. While this isn't unbelievable to see on 16-inch laptops, it's definitely not so standard that it's not worth mentioning. For those who spend all day entering numbers, a number pad can absolutely cut down on that time and make it faster and easier.

Speaking of the keyboard, the standard QWERTY side is comfortable to type on; it has good key travel and resistance without feeling like I am working too hard. It's a keyboard you can type on all day without discomfort or the urge to swap it out, unless you are a keyboard fanatic or mechanical keyboard lover.

HP ZBook X G1i: Design & Build Quality

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )

The overall design of the ZBook X G1i is clean. It's business professional. It fits the look you're going for as a business pro with a laptop that can hold its own. You're not looking for something that flashes RGB, but you also need a machine powerful enough to handle your hefty workload. I get it.

The HP ZBook X G1i gets it too. With powerful components under the hood, this laptop still looks unassuming enough that you can take it into a conference room or a coffee shop without looking like a gamer while getting serious work done.

Another big thing that I look at for workstation laptops is port selection. A computer can be wildly powerful, but if you always need to plug into a dongle, that's worth noting, especially for a computer that claims to be a workstation. A workstation is not just another term for a laptop, but a tier, or class of laptop in its own right.

The workstation passes that test with flying colors. Offering not only a good number of ports but also a good spread and distribution, helping enhance working with them rather than just slapping ports wherever they fit.

HP ZBook X G1i: In use

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )Specs

as tested

CPU: Intel Core Ultra 7
GPU: Intel Arc Pro 140T (32GB) / NVIDIA RTX Pro 2000 Blackwell
Memory: 64GB
Storage: 2TB
Display: 2560×1600 120Hz DreamColor (500 nits)
Ports: 2× Thunderbolt4 (USB-C), 1× USB-C 20Gbps, 1× USB-A, 1x HDMI 2.1, 1x RJ-45, 1x Audio jack
Connectivity: Wi-Fi 6E, 5G
Battery: 62Wh
Weight: 3.19 lb

For day-to-day work on this machine, I have found zero problems or qualms. It's excellent at basic productivity tasks, administrative tasks, and pulling up information in DBeaver or other database tools. It's fantastic with VSCode or other coding applications.

I haven't had any issues with 3D printing software or with elementary video and photo editing. It may not be the very best video editing laptop for creative professionals, but I would rank it as one of the best laptops for photo editing and general content creation.

I used this computer as my primary machine for a full day of work, and then used it on and off for a few weeks as my secondary. In that time, I barely felt the ZBook X G1i even take a deep breath. It's an excellent machine for AI work, front-end and back-end development, and even full-stack development and coding.

It's great for project managers who need to QA software features and pull everything up for testing before pushing to production, and it's also great for 3D modeling, CAD, and related work. All while being in a portable 16-inch laptop shell with one of the most beautifully sleek logos on the market.

The HP ZBook X G1i is an excellent choice for this kind of work. Plus, to add a little extra to a great package, HP offers a 5G antenna along with Wi-Fi 7. Meaning that you can get the best connection available while it's around and you're in buildings that have Wi-Fi.

When you are out and about or don't want to trust the sketchy Wi-Fi at an airport, you can hop on a Cellular 5G connection rather than having to pop out a travel router or jump on a VPN to keep your information secure. Or perhaps you're someone who isn't worried about sketchy Wi-Fi, but rather about the lack of a connection while working remotely. That's where the 5G option comes into its own, letting you hop on whenever you need to, even if that's poolside, between laps, or at a resort.

HP ZBook X G1i: Final verdict

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )

The HP ZBook X G1i continues a great legacy of ZBook machines from HP. It's a powerful mix between a portable powerhouse and a lean mean computing machine, all while retaining that professional style.

It's ideal for, quite honestly, people like me. Project managers, side hustlers, system architects, hybrid professionals, the kind of people who have their hands in everything and anything at all times.

It's not the machine I'd choose to run my powerful app servers on, but if you need a machine that has workstation power in a form factor you're not dreading to take with you, then the HP ZBook X G1i is an option worth considering.

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For more productivity machines, we've tested the best business laptops.

The MSI Pro MP165 E6 is a budget portable monitor that fits the bill if you need a simple display to extend or add to your current setup.

I found it slim and lightweight, and a good way to get a bit more screen real estate without breaking the bank. The USB-C connection means you can hook it up to plenty of other devices, from laptops to games consoles.

While the specs aren't dazzling, the price certainly catches the eye, making it one of the best portable monitors for business travel.

MSI Pro MP165 E6: Price and availability

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )

The MSI Pro MP165 E6 is an affordable portable display, retailing for $95 at Amazon.com and £90 at Amazon.co.uk.

I'm also seeing it available from other retailers, too, for around the same price. There aren't many sub-$100 portable monitors worth your money, but this is one of them.

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )MSI Pro MP165 E6: Unboxing and First Impressions

The MSI Pro MP165 E6 shows off its lightweight frame right out of the box. Something was missing when I was opening everything up because the entire package was so light. The packaging was minimal, with only a USB-C and HDMI cable and a protective sleeve in the box —no frills, just the basics. I appreciate that MSI chose a sleeve rather than a case/folio. It comes off easily, allowing me to plug in the monitor and set it up semi-permanently without needing to store the cover.

I have tested many portable monitors and found a wide range in quality, usability, and functionality. The MSI Pro MP165 E6 sits beautifully in the budget category, offering good value for a great price. It ticks most of the boxes in terms of functionality without knocking it out of the park in quality, but that is where the budget-friendly nature comes into play. But, more on that later.

MSI Pro MP165 E6: Design & Build Quality

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )Specs

Panel: 15.6-inch IPS (16:9)
Resolution: 1920 × 1080 (FHD)
Brightness: ≈ 250 nits
Ports: USB-C (power + display), HDMI
Mounting: 75 mm VESA, ¼-inch tripod mount
Dimensions: 362.26 × 233.84 × 18.8 mm
Weight: 0.78 kg / 1.72 lb

Picture the top half of a budget laptop, no keyboard, just the display. Now you've pictured the MSI Pro MP165 E6. It's a simple display, with simple inputs: no battery, no heft, no fuss.

MSI did choose to add some innovative features, even for a budget item, such as VESA mounting screws, a stand, and 90-degree cables in the box. These are all really little, simple things that go the extra mile.

Even though this panel could be used for an abundance of different use cases, MSI positioned the ports at the bottom edge of the display, making them super accessible, while still allowing you to tuck cables away if and when necessary.

MSI Pro MP165 E6: In use

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )

Given this display's nature, I have many uses for it in the professional world. I've used this in my IT professional world as a display for some desktops I was working on, so I could keep them in my tech area without needing to remote in or connect a larger display. I have also used this display to set up an Apple TV and to check a camera's output.

The monitor was used quite a bit on a VESA-mountable stand for a camera playback feature, and then moved to a custom upright piano casing. This monitor still lives in that upright piano casing, serving as a display for a Mac mini plugged in and running all the tracks for a Music Director rig. This display was great for that, as it's quickly deployable, lightweight, only needs a USB-C port, and offers standard 1080p resolution, making it larger than 4K and easier to see.

For those who are not in the niche music industry, this panel is great to throw in your backpack and take with you to board meetings to display content to those across the table from you, for productive work in a co-working space or coffee shop, or even for photographers who need a reference display to make sure their camera shot is lined up.

The USB-C connectivity makes this display super accessible to most devices made in the last few years, and if that doesn't work, there is always an HDMI too. In my testing, I found no issues between macOS and Windows, nor did I encounter any problems with Chromebooks, Apple TVs, or Nintendo Switches.

While this is a fantastic display for the price, it is in no way a tremendous display panel. It's standard 1080p, it's got mediocre brightness, and the speakers that should have just been skipped.

But, if you are looking for something to get you into portable monitors, or if you want a backup, or if you just need a basic panel to display some information, and you don't care if it's the best quality, you should check out this display, but for those who need something a bit higher-tier, check out my guide to the best portable monitors.

MSI Pro MP165 E6: Final verdict

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )

The MSI Pro MP165 is a solid choice if you're looking to get into the world of portable monitors and don't have any specs in mind. It's a great entry point into this world, and it won't hurt the budget too badly, coming in under $100.

If you're in the market for a portable monitor, I'd recommend starting out with this one and see how you like having that second screen before you go off and spend absurd amounts of money on the more expensive ones.

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For more options for your workspace set-up, we've tested the best business monitors.

Meze Audio 99 Classics 2nd Gen: Two-minute review

The Meze Audio 99 Classics 2nd Gen are some stunners. These walnut-cupped beauties are an upgrade not just on their predecessors, but also on any bona fide entry-level listening headphones in your roster.

Improved earcup and baffle design adds up to better bass control, giving these headphones a controlled oomph above and beyond most closed-backs. High end is crisp without being sharp, and voices sit gloriously in the top end with all the air and throat you could ever want. The 2nd Gens handle most sources admirably, but shine especially bright with vinyl.

A sometimes-obvious scooped middle and a tendency to distort slightly at high volumes – a function of the low impedance, which allows them to work with just about any audio source – leads me, unfortunately, to conclude that they look better than they sound. But that doesn’t mean that they don’t sound good. They sound great. They just look phenomenal.

With the amount of effort that Meze puts into what is, effectively, their step-up set of over-ear headphones, it’s clear that this is a matter of passion as opposed to sheer profit. The design principles on display here are so listener-focused that it’s hard not to be charmed by them, even if basic things such as a tuning-fork headband can sometimes interfere with that listener experience.

In the following paragraphs, I get a bit nitpicky about these things – but it's only because I’m working back from a position of absolutely loving them. And there’s a lot to love about them. Between their excellent build quality, user-friendly part replaceability and a versatility of sound difficult to find in some less-expensive listening options, these close-backs are a great prospect and are among the best wired headphones on the market.

(Image credit: Future / James Grimshaw)Meze Audio 99 Classics 2nd Gen review: Price & release date

• Released October 29, 2025
• Priced $349 / £319 / AU$649

As the name implies, the 99 Classics 2nd Gen are a redux of Meze’s timeless 99 Classics over-ear headphones. Ten years on from the latter's launch, the 2nd Gens arrive on the scene, with a broad smattering of listener-forward tweaks that build on the enormous goodwill already fostered by this particular line of cans.

Hearteningly, the 99 Classics 2nd Gen are on the cheaper end of Meze’s price spectrum, too, at $349 / £319 / AU$649 – bringing some exceedingly tasteful design (both in sound and aesthetics) in below the brand's mid-range 105 Silvas I reviewed so favourably back in October.

This might be a little on the rich side for wired headphones more generally, unless you’re already of a mind to buy some more audiophilically focused big-budget fare. Even so and for what you’re getting, the Meze 99 Classics 2nd Gen are a compelling prospect indeed. Let’s find out if they’re a compelling purchase, too!

(Image credit: Future / James Grimshaw)Meze Audio 99 Classics 2nd Gen review: Specs

Type

Wired over-ear, closed-back

Drivers

40mm dynamic

Weight

290g

Connectivity

Dual 3.5mm TS output

Frequency response

15Hz - 25kHz

Impedance

16 ohms

Extras

Dual-TS to 3.5mm TRS cable; 3.5mm-to-6.35mm TRS adapter; USB-C DAC/AMP dongle; carry case

(Image credit: Future / James Grimshaw)Meze Audio 99 Classics 2nd Gen review: Features

• Wired over-ears, dual 3.5mm TS inputs
• 16 ohm input impedance
• Mini tweaks for improved balance and performance

The Meze Audio 99 Classics 2nd Gen, much like the first-gen model, are a set of wired headphones with little in the way of modern jiggery-pokery. There’s a lot of familiar stuff here, from the closed-back design to that fabled aesthetic thrust. But, as a serious 2nd Gen update, there’s been some serious performance-improving changes.

One of their more obvious improvements is the provision of bigger earcups, for better low-end control. This is part of a general movement towards a more balanced overall frequency response, something also aided by the addition of a new bass port in each ear cup. Within each earcup, small, iterative changes to shape and construction have made for a wider soundstage, too.

The newly ultra-low 16 ohm impedance of the drivers (down from 32 ohms in the OGs) encourages you to use these with ultra-modern listening devices, like laptop or smartphone outputs, as opposed to hi-fi amps and mixers. Depending on who you ask, this is a genius leveler of a move, enabling these headphones to sing wherever you put them – for me, it’s a bit of a shame, simply for the distortion potential at louder volumes.

The hard-ish case in which these headphones are delivered is trustworthy enough, with a water-resistant inverted zip and some comforting phone-protecting rigidity. Within this case is another, smaller, case – a soft, cylindrical affair, into which the 99 Classics 2nd Gens’ cable and gubbins safely nestle. Whether you trust yourself to take these out on the daily commute is another thing entirely, of course.

Speaking of gubbins, the 99 Classics 2nd Gen come not just with the requisite wiring, but nice requisite wiring in the form of a hefty, braided dual-core cable. There’s also a 3.5mm-6.35mm jack adapter for mating with phone-plug-toting home hi-fi stuffs, and a new USB-C DAC/AMP dongle, so you plug into smarter, non-jack-plug-toting stuffs (i.e.: your phone, tablet or analog-challenged new computer).

• Features score: 4.5/5

(Image credit: Future / James Grimshaw)Meze Audio 99 Classics 2nd Gen review: Sound quality

• Phenomenal low end; butter-smooth highs
• Balancing act of volume, soundstage and saturation
• Excellent passive sound isolation

Meze knows exactly what it’s doing with the low end in the 99 Classics 2nd Gen, working with the boomy confines of the closed cup to create some seriously controlled wub. Domenique Dumont’s Amants ennemis is a bulging burlap of bass, helped along by the ported earcups in its delivery of blubbering synth-bass and chicken-picky guitars.

Snapped Ankles’ Smart World, too, is an abrasive, dancy delight, with deep thrumming bass, urgent live drumming and Numan-esque clarion-call vocals, the latter of which do a phenomenal job of illustrating the 2nd Gen’s prowess with upper-mid ranges. I’ll take this opportunity to mention USB-C DAC/amp dongle with which the 2nd Gen ships, too – which is transparent enough to my ears that I noticed no appreciable difference in sound when trying these same songs again.

I did start to notice a vague, middish hollowness in these headphones, that threatened to rob guitarry songs like Queens of the Stone Age’s Everybody Knows That You’re Insane, and Foo Fighters’ Good Grief (forgive me, Father, for I think the Foos’ first album is Actually A Bit Underrated Really) of some key propulsive energy.

Fortunately, this lack seems limited to the rocky stuff, and that at the lower-volume end of listening. The same can also be said of the somewhat-narrow soundstage these headphones possess, which can feel corridor-like in the face of usually-quite-expansive tracks like Amant ennemis. The solution to both is simply to have a little less fear, and whack them up a bit more. Unfortunately, doing this sometimes crowds the soundstage, and can even result in a little distortion thanks to the low impedance of the drivers. It’s a balancing act.

(Image credit: Future / James Grimshaw)

That balancing act, along with the scooped mids, seem a little less obvious when moving over to vinyl, which, as a source, seems a little smoother on the way in. My copy of Alabaster DePlume’s GOLD is an undisputed delight – any sense of ‘lack’ gone altogether, replaced with fulfillingly dense wellsprings of bassy voices, plucked double-basses, throaty saxophones and more besides.

A Gente Acaba (Vento Em Rosa) soars in profound and fulsome brilliance; The World Is Mine is a Nick-Cave-y, almost Tom-Waits-y exploration of staccato instrumentation and monotone spoken word, syncopated snare rimshots. Turning things up, I encountered some unfortunate oversaturation of voices in The Sound of My Feet on This Earth…, a sad reminder of the balancing act in play.

Generally, the 99 Classics 2nd Gen respond well to vinyl records – even the rocky stuff, to an extent. Land of Talk’s Applause Cheer Boo Hiss is a brighter record than anything QOTSA have made, and scrappy to boot, but still a thrilling joy in these headphones. This is a function of some sharp transients, smooth tissy high end and that excellent vocal-forward representation.

I usually focus on the performance of the audio thingies I review from a technical perspective. Sometimes, though, there’s an experiential aspect that muscles its way in. Here, it’s the headbands, which – fetchingly minimal as they are – are quite resonant by nature. Their tuning-fork tendencies mean the slightest of bumps, rubs, taps, or head-nods can set them off. The ringing can even be triggered by light handling of the wires close to where they connect with your earcups.

Thankfully, this ringing doesn’t usually interfere with your listening, provided you’re listening at a moderate volume; still, major moves or cable-rubbings in motion can bring some unwanted “plunk” into your private wig-out sesh.

To make something of a ‘compliment cracker’ out of my experiential experience, so to speak, I will say that the passive isolation provided by the 2nd Gens is outstanding; even if sound isn’t outright canceled, the sound mitigation and separation on display here are massive. When something’s playing even slightly cranked, it’s easy to forget where you are.

• Sound quality score: 4/5

(Image credit: Future / James Grimshaw)Meze Audio 99 Classics 2nd Gen review: Design

• Beautiful walnut earcups
• Pleasingly minimal design
• And everything’s replaceable!

The first-edition Meze Audio 99 Classics were an unusually stunning prospect at launch: a gleaming lighthouse of wood and brass in an unforgiving ocean of bleak gunmetal and bleaker lightweight plastics. When a pair of decently affordable, excellent-sounding over-ears wear walnut earcups with the fullest sincerity, you know you’re looking at something special.

Thankfully, the 2nd Gen 99 Classics have done little to mess with this magic 10 years on. Instead, there’s technically even more of it. The bigger earcup designs, engineered for better low-end control, also mean a greater surface area of delicious (and unavoidably unique) walnut on the exterior, against which the electroplated zinc hardware is set off wonderfully.

As far as comfort goes, though, I have no notes. The self-adjusting headband is a delight here just as it is on Meze's 105 AER, with the newly capacious ear cushions an excellent fit for most ears. Wearing these is like receiving a lightly firm hug, and one you’re happy to receive for hours at a time.

With respect to setting up and using the 99 Classics 2nd Gens, the TS connection points on each earcup are firm enough that I nearly started second-guessing the amount of pressure I was applying to the connectors, before that reassuring ‘click’ told me everything was going to be ok. That is to say, the wired connection is firm enough you’ll never need worry about accidental yankage. The 99 Classics Gen 2 have got you. They’ve got you. It’s alright now. Shhhh, it’s ok.

To revisit my aforementioned experiential gripe, the needlessly ringy headband is a real shame, and something Meze did have an opportunity to fix here. The solution for the user – not banging your head against anything, where possible – is a simple one, but a little inconvenient for, even inconsistent with, out-and-about wear. Especially when the solution for Meze – put some kind of dampener on each band – is even simpler.

More widely with respect to design, though, and to its great credit, Meze’s done something rare – at least, rare in that ocean of bleak gunmetal and bleaker lightweight plastics. The 99 Classics 2nd Gen’s construction is such that parts are easily replaceable, allowing you to keep your headphones keen for as long as you are keen to keep them.

• Design score: 4.5/5

(Image credit: Future / James Grimshaw)Meze Audio 99 Classics 2nd Gen review: Value

• Great value for great design...
• …though a shame about the resonant headband
• A truly versatile step-up set of listening headphones

So, should you get them? My vote: yes. Despite being closer to the budget end of the price spectrum, the 99 Classics 2nd Gen’s $349 / £319 / AU$649 is a fair bit to put away for headphones. But it gets you some of the most versatile wired headphones on the market.

This is because a great deal of versatile wired headphones end up compromizing quite significantly on something related to build quality, sound fidelity or comfort – and, to my mind, the Meze 99 Classics 2nd Gen don’t really compromize all that much on any of these.

There are arguments to be made against that low impedance, and the resulting distortion you can experience when listening at particularly loud volumes, but they’re small against the 2nd Gen’s supreme on-ear comfort, incredible low-end control and general genre versatility. Added versatility from the nicely included USB-C dongle is highly welcomed, as is the better-than-average case design.

Whether all this literally adds up to a good deal for you is something only you can decide. But altogether, and off the back of both the incredible design and design journey made by the 99 Classics, it’s fair to say these are intrinsically worthwhile cans.

• Value score: 4.5/5

(Image credit: Future / James Grimshaw)Should I buy the Meze Audio 99 Classics 2nd Gen?

Section

Notes

Score

Features

Hefty wires and new USB-C dongle for better connectivity among listener-friendly updates

4.5/5

Sound quality

Stunning bass with excellent control; mechanical ring when headband gets dinged is a shame

4/5

Design

Extremely pleasing to look at, and designed so parts can be replaced with extreme ease

4.5/5

Value

Well-built, with unique wood earcups, great versatility and broad sound profile, they're a great prospect for the price

4.5/5

Buy them if...

You’re a sucker for visual stunners
It’s hard to say anything against the Meze 99 Classics 2nd Gen's aesthetic value, because in my opinion there’s nothing to say against the aesthetic value of the Meze 99 Classics 2nd Gen. Look at ‘em!

You listen widely
Low impedance and great all-round sound profile make these a pair of listening headphones that’ll work with practically anything.

Don't buy them if...

You’re a Bluetooth-only household
They’re wired, duh. You could get a dongle, but maybe you want a decent pair of wireless headphones instead, eh?

You want to get the most from your well-curated hi-fi rig
Lovely as the 99 Classics 2nd Gen are, the 16 ohm impedance is extremely low – a boon for listening across a bunch of devices, but not so much for getting the best out of your expensive hi-fi headphone amp.

Meze Audio 99 Classics 2nd Gen review: Also consider

Meze Audio 99 Classics 2nd Gen

FiiO FT13

Sennheiser HD-660S2

Price

$349 / £319 / AU$649

$329 / £269 / AU$499 (approx.)

$599 / £499 / AU$949

Type

Closed-back over-ears

Closed-back over-ears

Open-back over-ears

Drivers

40mm dynamic

60mm 'W'-shaped dynamic

38mm

Weight

290g

365g

260g

Impedance

16 ohms

32 ohms

300 ohms

Connectivity

Dual 3.5mm TS output

Dual 3.5mm TS output

Dual 3.5mm TS output

Frequency response

15Hz - 25kHz

7Hz - 40kHz

8Hz – 41.5kHz

Extras

Dual TS to 3.5mm TRS cable; 3.5mm-to-6.35mm TRS adapter; USB-C DAC/amp dongle; carry case

Dual-TS Y-cable; 3.5mm TRS/4.4mm balanced/6.35mm TRS/XLR cable terminators; carry case

Dual TS to 6.35mm TRS cable; Dual TS to 4.4mm balanced cable 6.35mm-to-3.5mm TRS adapter; carry pouch

FiiO FT13
FiiO’s FT13 closed-back headphones are relatively new kids on the block, but truck in the same surprisingly cheap magnificence as the much of FiiO’s output elsewhere. Similar to the 99 Classics 2nd Gen, these are wood-cupped low-impedance affairs, but with outsized 60mm drivers and some posh cable connectivity. A great budget option.
Read our FiiO FT13 review for the full story

Sennheiser HD-660S2
Though another 2nd Gen upgrade of another set of wired headphones, the Sennheiser HD-660S2 differ from the 99 Classics 2nd Gen in being high-impedance open-backed headphones. If you want something more suited to enjoying your hi-fi stack at home, this could be it.
See our Sennheister HD-660S2 for the full story

How I tested the Meze Audio 99 Classics 2nd Gen

• Tested for 3 weeks
• Used as listening headphones at home
• Predominantly tested on streaming and digital files, heard through a Universal Audio Volt 4 audio interface and a HP laptop’s USB-C port; also tested with vinyl records through a Vestax mixer

Three glorious weeks were spent putting the Meze Audio 99 Classics Gen 2 through their paces at home, as a primary set of listening headphones for work and leisure.

They spent most of their time in my attic office, delivering audio from Spotify and my digital music library via a Universal Audio Volt 4 audio interface. I gave a little time to listening through the provided USB-C DAC/amp. too, using my laptop’s USB-C port.

Lastly and for a little while, I used them on my living room vinyl setup as well – listening through an old-school Vestax PCV-275 turntable mixer.

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

The UPerfect UColor O Lite is a 13.3-inch 4K OLED portable monitor with one cable power and display, a few ports for those who may need them, and the ability to be slightly modified to make a massive difference.

I’ve reviewed plenty of the best portable monitors. I have one or two tucked away in just about every single one of my workspaces. And after testing out this particular model, it's earned a place on my tech cart where I run Systems and IT.

This display is spectacular for those niche workspaces - it's touted by UPerfect as a portable monitor for MacBooks thanks to the high resolutions and and 109% DCI-P3 color coverage. And I get that.

I will say, a 13-inch screen may not be the best for your primary display at your workstation, as it’s the same size as most smaller laptops out there, but for secondary screens or those unique spots, I found the UColor O Lite fits the bill beautifully.

UPerfect UColor O Lite: Price and availability

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )

This monitor is usually sold for around $330 / £247 direct from UPerfect - although at the time of review, it's discounted to $280 / £209. It comes with the basic cables you need, and a little folio case that doubles as a kickstand. So, a neat all-in-package.

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )UPerfect UColor O Lite: Unboxing and First Impressions

Right out of the gate, this monitor shows off its thinness and portability. It’s lightweight on purpose. Its best use case is a single USB-C to your device. Simple, easy. But there is the flexibility to run a full-size HDMI to a display, or to plug in another USB-C device in a pinch.

I paired this monitor with the Rolling Square Edge Pro - although I suspect any strong mag-lock will be suitable. This little magnetic hinge has made this monitor 10x more valuable in my arsenal. Since it’s so lightweight, these magnetic brackets can hold the portable display on the side of a standard display, hanging from a door frame, mount on the side of a metal cart, mount to the side of a laptop if you want to, or just free-stand at any angle you desire. It unlocks a whole new tier of usability.

UPerfect UColor O Lite: Design & Build Quality

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )

Like all good portable monitors, this one is thin and light. It feels like an iPad when you hold it, without Apple's premium build. However, it still feels like it’s a quality display.

Then, you turn it on and realize it’s actually a pretty solid display after all, putting out a good amount of brightness, brilliant colors and 4K resolution, all in a tiny little package. I test a lot of monitors, and I fully expected it to be average across the board. This panel proved me wrong.

It has enough ports to do what it needs to do, it crammed in a full-size, all-grown-up, standard HDMI, and it still managed to stay as small as it is. This is the panel that once you start looking, you’ll be able to find a dozen little ways you could use it.

UPerfect UColor O Lite: In use

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )Specs

Panel: 13.3-inch 4K OLED, 3840 × 2160, 16:9
Color & contrast: 109% DCI-P3, 100,000:1 contrast, HDR support
Brightness: up to ~390–500 nits (manufacturer rating)
Response time: 1 ms
Viewing angle: 178°
Ports: 2 × full-featured USB-C (audio + video) 1 × mini HDMI (audio + video), 1 × USB-A OTG, 1 × 3.5 mm audio out
Audio: dual 1 W stereo speakers
Build: aluminum chassis, ultra-thin 3–8 mm body, narrow bezels
Weight: 0.47 kg (1.03 lb)
Mounting: 75 × 75 mm VESA

I've been running the UColor O Lite typically plugged into a Mac mini that I use as a server. This gives me quick access to pop in, control from my phone, and see what I am doing on a bigger screen, or to use a mouse and keyboard.

When not in use, it is mounted on the cart using the previously mentioned magnets. I can pop it off with one tug and use it with my MacBook, another Mac mini, whatever laptop I am testing at the time, or with any number of other devices I may need to test and fix. When I need a little more screen real estate for a big project at my desk, I have a mounting plate on my Dell monitor, so I pop this display over there and immediately add another display to my setup. For quick meetings where I need to showcase something, I can bring this display for whoever is in the meeting.

When I am testing a Mac mini for issues, I can plug right in; the same goes for old laptops, old servers, and Apple TVs. My creative team can even pull this display if needed as a camera output for a photo shoot, or I could use it for digital signage in a pinch. It’s the perfect little display to have on hand for so many things if you’re in that kind of work.

So, it's had a pretty thorough work-out for a portable monitor. I’ve used this display for over 100 days, and I have had absolutely zero issues with it. No qualms, no disappointments. For those who need a little display for anything, this is it.

During this 100+ day stretch, I’ve pushed this display with Mac, Windows, iPads, Cameras, Servers, AppleTV, Switch, iPhone, a PlayStation, an XBOX, and a Nex Playground system. I even used this display for a quick test to make sure that my Eufy POE NVR camera system I was installing for a client was working before tucking the brain away.

In short, if you are the kind of person who does a lot, works in tech, may use a portable display, or just have a lot of gadgets around you or in your life, then you should check out this portable monitor. Don’t just think of it as a portable monitor; think of it as a 13-inch Swiss Army Knife that can do just about anything you may need it to do.

For those who are working out of a backpack, have a lot of portable meetings, work from a coffee shop or maybe just not a dedicated office, this can add to the power of an office in a backpack

UPerfect UColor O Lite: Final verdict

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )

The UColor O Lite 13-inch display is a spectacular little device that can truly do just about anything you may need a display output for. It’s got a great panel, a beautiful OLED, with a wide color coverage and a high resolution (even if you don't really need 4K on a screen this small).

Beyond the great display, I really liked the hyper-portability. It's thin, light, and perfect for business travel or carrying around the office - which is how I use it. And yes, the screen may be too small for some users, but there are plenty of 15- and 16-inch portable displays out there. At the 13-inch mark, this is one of the best.

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

The Enphase IQ PowerPack 1500 is a unique power station in my army of different options.

It's got a sleek, perhaps even beautiful style - a design that separates it from the best portable power stations I've tested. It proved reliable during my time using it, I appreciated the 1.5kWh capacity And I like the port selection here.

However, what really lets it down is the app. It's difficult to navigate, and I'm hoping that a future update will sort out the issues I experienced, because beyond that, there's a lot to like about this power station.

Enphase IQ PowerPack 1500: Price and availability

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )

The Enphase IQ PowerPack 1500 is available for $ 1549 on their website; however, at the time of writing, it is on sale for $1199. It's also available on Amazon.com, with the base model costing $1299, but also variants bundled with solar panels or the cart.

For those who want the whole experience, make sure you pick up the portable solar panel and IQ Cart as well. While not vital, both add an extra little bit to the PowerPack 1500.

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )Enphase IQ PowerPack 1500: Unboxing and First Impressions

I've unboxed a lot of power stations. This one was the first to have the box-opening stand out. In a pleasing Apple-esque fashion, the boxes open up, lifting the front panel almost like a Tesla Model X gullwing door. Once open, I can grab out the power station, cables, and documentation, lifting easily out of the front and top of the box rather than just the top.

Upon my first inspection, this unit appears to follow Apple's design language. It has rounded edges, handles that look like Apple could have designed them, a simple yet functional front screen, and functional port covers that can be popped off when helpful.

The box includes the unit, some power cables, and basic documentation. Grabbing the app, installing, and connecting was easy too. After the initial setup, I found the app pretty clunky, but more on that later.

Right off the bat, this power station looked well-equipped to handle what I may throw at it. The interface is a touchscreen, which is unique for the power stations I usually work with, which use a button-first design. Further, the port coverings, handle, and build quality make this feel like a professional-grade power station, not just something you'd bring with you on a camping trip for a few nights of phone charging.

One more nice touch is that this unit has a proximity sensor, so when you get close, a faint light comes on. Small, but it's a nice touch that adds to this unit's premium feel.

Enphase IQ PowerPack 1500: Design & Build Quality

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )

The IQ PowerPack 1500 is rugged, yet refined. It's built for indoor or outdoor use, and functions well in both environments, though I wouldn't want to keep this out in the rain or freezing weather. The handles are comfortable and make transporting significantly easier.

But, if you want an even easier time toting this hefty piece of kit around, Enphase has an optional cart accessory that the IQ PowerPack 1500 clips into. Sadly, there are no stacking units, but the cart is nice if you are older, have a bad back, don't want to tote it around in your hands, or enjoy an easy way to carry it.

One more thing I will mention about the design is that, in a moment of curiosity getting the better of me, the power port covers pop off super easily and pop back on just as easily. I don't know if this is a feature or just a happy accident, but if you have ports you don't want covered, popping off the rubber flip-down covers is super easy.

Lastly, for those who do plan to run the IQ PowerPack 1500 on a job site, as a battery backup, or in a place they are not going to be, the IQ PowerPack 1500 has both LTE and Wi-Fi, allowing you to stay connected even when you're away.

Enphase IQ PowerPack 1500: In use

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )Specs

Ports: 4 × AC 120 V, 1 × USB-C PD 100 W, 4 × USB-A, 1 × 12v car port, 1 × 12 V DC port
Weight: 55.7lbs (with packaging)
Capacity: 1.5kWh
Dimensions: 16.5x9.3x13.7 inches

I have had this in my arsenal of portable power solutions for 104 days now, and in that time, I have gotten several opportunities to get quite a bit out of it. I used this to run a leaf mulcher in my yard for several hours at a time, recharge my drills, test Christmas lights, charge up some review gear, and more.

For the leaf mulcher, I was able to get 5 hours of mulching without going below 50% of my battery, if I remember correctly. I placed the power station in a good central spot and then went to town, mulching as much as I could reach.

For a few months, while I was handling some installation jobs for my business, I kept the Enphase IQ PowerPack 1500 in the back of my Jeep. I used it to recharge my drills, my Hoto Electric Screwdrivers, some lights I was using on the job, and I even used it to test power to some gear before installing it in a hard-to-reach area.

Using the physical unit itself is a great experience. No complaints. The UI is easy, the buttons are sleek. The touchscreen is responsive, and the whole experience makes sense.

The software side of things, on the other hand, is where my frustration kicks in. The software, in my experience is lacking considerably. It's clunky, has only one particular use in mind, not the general pro-user, and it works, but in an odd way.

While the Enphase IQ PowerPack 1500 is so much more, keep in mind it can also serve as a UPS, providing reliable power to essential devices if the power goes out.

Enphase IQ PowerPack 1500: Final verdict

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )

All in all, the Enphase IQ PowerPack 1500 is a beautiful unit that is severly hamstringed by it's software, though the software is what can be modified with a simple push update in the future. This power station has LTE, Wi-Fi, fast charging, LFP Cells and a great build, making it a spectacular pro-level option for those who need power on a job site, or somewhere that is not with them at all times.

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The Blacklyte Atlas Lite is a heavy-duty yet straightforward desk with solid adjustability, bold branding, and the ability to transition seamlessly between work and play. The instructions are easy to follow for setting this desk up, the controls are easy to learn, and the desk motors are very quiet.

Blacklyte is well known in the gaming world, but then started making some professional desks as well, or at minimum, desks that gamers could also use for professional desks. The Atlas Lite is a good example of that. It still has some gamer vibes, but is also very much a professional desk, transforming your gamer central to a business professional workspace for your day job as well.

Ignore that branding on the desktop - if you can. If you prefer a more stylish design over the standard metal frame and wood-colored desk, and demand a truly useful cable tray (often lacking on similar models), it's one of the best standing desks I've used for work and play.

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )Blacklyte Atlas Lite: Pricing and Availability

The Blacklyte Atlas Lite is usually sold for around $700 but is currently on sale for $569 from the official US site and UK site (for £439) at the time of review. It's also available from a handful of other retailers, but availability seems sporadic right now.

There are a handful of sizing and color options. I chose Obsidian Black, but Moonstone White looks gorgeous too. The natural oak to me was a third option, but it didn’t look nearly as good as the Obsidian or Moonstone to me.

Blacklyte Atlas Lite: Unboxing and First Impressions

The Blacklyte Atlas Lite shipped in two boxes, as most standing desks do: the desktop for one and the legs and building materials in the other. These pieces were pretty well tucked into the box with packaging. One thing I couldn’t help but think about while unboxing was that the boxes were super deep black. I had a moment of worry about ink transfer or it rubbing off on my carpet or walls, but that worry quickly dissipated.

A lot of desks are the same main idea for assembly, but most people don't build a plethora of desks; some may build only one ever. So, it’s nice to see Blacklyte including a QR code to a YouTube assembly video for those who are more visual learners, are not familiar with assembling a desk, or perhaps run into issues with assembly.

If you have experience building desks, though, the entire process should be an absolute dream. The bags of screws are labeled, the instructions are actually helpful, and the parts are easy to get together. All in all, this shouldn’t take you more than 30 minutes to assemble from boxes in your living room, office, or wherever you open large boxes into a fully assembled desk.

Blacklyte Atlas Lite: Design & Build Quality

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )

The Blacklyte Atlas Lite feels heavy-duty. I’ve tested a lot of desks. Some feel flimsy but look pretty; some are all-around bad; some are a whole art piece. The Blacklyte Atlas Lite sits in the middle. It’s a functional piece that feels like a real workhorse with a bit more style than most.

The desktop itself is a bit textured, but it feels nice even for long periods of use and work sessions. I also like it as it doesn’t feel like I need to baby the desktop. Granted, I don't plan on beating it up anytime soon, but it’s nice to know that I can use this desk without worry of a scratch from moving something across the desktop.

Another thing worth mentioning in the design is the cable management. The rear notch allows for easy cable drops, especially if you have the back of your desk up against a wall in your workspace, or even to keep things clean, so your cables aren’t draping over the edge of the desk. I also like the built-in cable management tray. While this one isn't a grid or mounting plate like some, the tray is a welcome addition.

Blacklyte Atlas Lite: In use

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )Specs

as tested

Dimensions: 47x32-inches
Height Range: 27 to 46in
Max Load: Up to 265lbs
Warranty: 3 years

I've got this desk set up for a simple laptop, podcast, or meeting setup for some of my team. While I haven't added a monitor, there is plenty of room for one here alongside a laptop, with room to spread out your tablet, notes, diagrams, or whatever else you may need.

Switching between sitting and standing is rarely timed for me; I usually work, and when my knees start aching, or I get antsy, I'll jump up to stand. For the desks that don't have presets, that takes switching focus to choose where I want the height, then adjusting ever so slightly because it's slightly off, and so on. For desks with presets, such as this one, it's so much easier. Once I decide whether to stand or sit, I can press the corresponding preset button and get to work. And it works flawlessly here.

Another thing that makes switching between sit and stand more enjoyable is that it's smooth and relatively quiet. I don't hear clicking, knocking, creaking, or anything else. Just smooth up and down.

Perhaps that's Blacklyte perfecting the art of quiet motors, especially for their gamer crowd, or maybe that's something else. Still, regardless, the Atlas Lite is noticeably quiet (or is that un-noticeably quiet?).

Blacklyte Atlas Lite: Final verdict

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )

This desk is for those who want a gaming vibe and a desk they enjoy, while still looking professional enough for work, before a night of gaming, or for those who want a simple, high-quality standing desk that lifts and lowers smoothly.

Maybe standing desks have become too complex, maybe not, but either way, the Atlas Lite is a solid option for most people. It's solid, quiet, has good lifting capacity, is durable, and offers enough space and options for most users.

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For more workspace essentials, we've tested the best office chairs.

Checkr is a next-generation background-check platform that accelerates and simplifies hiring through automation and advanced data analysis. It draws from thousands of official databases, including county courts, criminal registries, and motor vehicle departments, to produce timely, accurate reports.

Using artificial intelligence, Checkr standardizes diverse legal terms and classifications, helping hiring teams interpret results quickly and consistently.

The service has become particularly popular among companies handling high hiring volumes, such as gig platforms, retail chains, staffing agencies, and tech firms, thanks to its real-time data retrieval, API-driven integrations, and intuitive dashboards.

Checkr: Plans and pricing

Checkr structures its pricing into tiered packages that scale with organizational needs:

• Basic+ Plan ($29.99 per check): Includes SSN trace, sex offender search, national criminal database screening, and global watchlist monitoring. County verifications, when necessary, add roughly $15 per record.
• Essential Plan ($54.99 per check): Expands on Basic+ by adding searches for all counties tied to a candidate's past seven years of residence.
• Professional Plan ($79.99 per check): Adds employment and education verification to the Essential Plan to provide more complete candidate profiles.

International background checks cost $32 to $124 per report, and add-ons, such as motor vehicle record (MVR) checks or employment verifications, range from $6 to $40. Organizations conducting 300+ checks annually typically qualify for volume discounts.

This transparent, mix-and-match pricing model helps businesses tailor their screening programs to job types while controlling costs.

Checkr: Features

Checkr stands out for its extensive automation and advanced data-handling capabilities:

(Image credit: Checkr)

• AI-powered charge classification: Automatically interprets and standardizes criminal charges from multiple jurisdictions, translating complex terminology into consistent, easy-to-read summaries.
• Extensive data coverage: Accesses county criminal courts, sex offender registries, global watchlists, and other verified government sources for comprehensive results.
• Integration ecosystem: Connects with over 100 HR platforms and applicant tracking systems (ATS), streamlining the hiring pipeline.
• Automated candidate communication: Sends real-time notifications--including check initiation, progress updates, results, and adverse action letters--to both employers and candidates.
• Bulk and batch tools: Ideal for high-volume hiring, allowing employers to process multiple candidates simultaneously and trigger workflows at scale.

(Image credit: Checkr)

Checkr's speed, often delivering results within one or two business days, remains a primary selling point for companies that can't afford delays in staffing or onboarding.

Checkr: Setup

The onboarding process is straightforward. After signing up, administrators can invite team members, configure access controls, and connect Checkr to their HR systems through prebuilt integrations or APIs.

Organizations can choose which screening packages to apply to specific job roles, set compliance notifications, and automate report delivery. For candidates, setup requires little more than completing a brief authorization form and submitting personal details through a secure online portal.

Checkr: Ease of use

Checkr's web dashboard emphasizes visual clarity and efficiency. Reports are organized into collapsible panels covering criminal searches, employment history, and motor vehicle records. Color-coded highlights signal pending charges, clear results, or items needing review.

Because of its automation-first design, HR teams can handle large batches of background checks with minimal manual input. Candidates also benefit from transparency: they can track progress, upload documents, or dispute errors through a 24/7 self-service portal.

That said, customer support primarily operates via a ticket-based system, which can delay responses during peak periods--an area where some competing services still outperform Checkr.

Checkr: Security and privacy

Checkr employs enterprise-grade security measures, including encryption in transit and at rest, strict data access controls, and continuous system monitoring.

The company complies with the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) and General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) where applicable, ensuring candidates' data is handled lawfully and privately.

Candidates must provide explicit consent before a background check begins, and all adverse action notices are automatically sent to maintain compliance with federal and state laws. Checkr also allows users to dispute information directly through the candidate portal, providing added transparency.

Checkr: The competition

Checkr's closest competitors include GoodHire, Sterling, and HireRight, all of which offer employment background screening with varying emphases on compliance, support, and global coverage.

Checkr stands out for its automation, real-time data network, and speed, making it especially strong for high-volume, tech-forward employers that care about quick turnaround and HRIS/ATS integrations.

Compared with GoodHire, Checkr offers similar per-check pricing tiers and overlapping core checks. Still, GoodHire offers robust U.S.-based phone and email support and a very low reported error rate, which may appeal to smaller businesses that prefer more hand-holding.

GoodHire also supports very low-volume, pay-per-check use and historically charges a one-time setup fee. At the same time, Checkr leans toward scalable, API-driven workflows with no prominent setup fees, making it better suited to companies that expect frequent or bulk screenings.

When stacked against Sterling, Checkr takes the lead in automation and speed, with a higher percentage of criminal checks completed within an hour and more steps handled without manual review.

Sterling, on the other hand, offers a long-established, compliance-heavy product set, including drug testing, I-9, and specialized packages, making it more attractive to large enterprises or regulated industries that need deeper policy support and more customized verification programs.

Checkr's self-service package customization from the dashboard is generally more straightforward. In contrast, Sterling often routes customization through account managers, which can be helpful for complex but slower for fast-moving teams.

Versus HireRight, Checkr typically delivers faster turnaround times and a higher "hit rate" for specific criminal searches due to its AI-driven data-matching engine and more automated workflows.

HireRight is stronger for organizations with extensive global hiring, offering mature international coverage and compliance tools. Still, it may involve slower processing and more traditional, enterprise-style onboarding and support, which can feel heavier for smaller or more agile businesses.

In practice, Checkr tends to be the better fit for gig platforms, tech companies, and staffing firms prioritizing speed and modern UX. At the same time, HireRight is often chosen by large, globally distributed enterprises that value broad jurisdictional coverage and long-standing compliance expertise.

Checkr: Final verdict

Checkr brings innovation and efficiency to background screening, emphasizing automation, speed, and integration. Its AI classification tools, real-time data retrieval, and candidate transparency make it a forward-looking choice for companies scaling their hiring operations.

Despite its limited human-support options and less robust compliance in highly regulated fields, Checkr remains one of the most compelling solutions for fast-moving organizations that prioritize digital workflows.

For gig employers, startups, and HR teams seeking speed and scalability without sacrificing accuracy, Checkr strikes a smart balance between cost, functionality, and user experience.

The Competitor: one-minute review

The Competitor is an Xbox and PC-compatible controller from manufacturer Hyperkin that adopts a DualSense-like appearance and symmetrical thumbstick layout. While it does feature niceties like drift-resistant Hall effect sticks and triggers, I’ve found it to be a blissfully simple controller.

The Competitor has no fancy RGB lighting, no gyro sensors, no trigger locks, no wireless connectivity options, and no supporting apps or software. It’s also impressively cheap, has a nice design, and a great idea or two of its own. Its straightforward nature serves it well, and it’s one reason why it’s one of the best Xbox controllers I’ve tested in quite a while.

Some of my favorite controllers in recent years have been the likes of the Razer Wolverine V3 Pro and GameSir Tarantula Pro - both gamepads that are stuffed with desirable features that definitely make their price tags trend upward. The Competitor’s stripped-back, simplistic nature is actually quite refreshing in comparison, and is a staunch reminder that controllers don’t need to be a smorgasbord to remain appealing in the contemporary market.

There are some slight missteps. I’ve never been a fan of the PlayStation-style D-pad adopted here, the Menu and Share buttons are rather awkwardly-placed, and - while this is certainly personal preference and not indicative of The Competitor’s quality - it lacks wireless connectivity. Though at its relatively low price point, it’s easy to forgive these shortcomings.

(Image credit: Future)The Competitor review: price and availability

• List price: $49.99 / £39.99 (around AU$74.95)
• Available from most major retailers in the US and UK
• Compares in price to similarly cheap controllers like the GameSir Kaleid

You can get The Competitor today for $49.99 / £39.99 (around AU$74.95), making it one of the cheaper Xbox and PC controllers that’s actually worth recommending. Readily available at Amazon in the US and the UK, you’ll also likely find it at your local retailers of choice, including Best Buy in the US and Argos in the UK.

The cheaper Xbox controller spectrum has gotten broader in recent years, with pads like the GameSir Kaleid ($49.99 / £59.99) and 8BitDo Pro 2 ($44.99 / £39.99) also coming in at similar price points. The Competitor, rather fittingly, has some tough competition in the space, then, but I’d definitely say it’s comparable in quality to those aforementioned pads.

The Competitor review: Specs

Price

$49.99 / £39.99 (around AU$74.95)

Weight

7.1oz / 200g

Dimensions

6.2 x 5.0 x 2.5in / 158 x 127 x 64mm

Compatibility

Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, PC

Connection type

Wired (USB-C)

Battery life

N/A

(Image credit: Future)The Competitor review: design and features

The Competitor differs from most Xbox controllers in its symmetrical thumbstick layout and design that’s practically identical to that of the DualSense Wireless Controller. You’ll find the same boomerang-esque shape here, with similarly designed D-pad and face buttons.

I wouldn’t say build quality is luxurious, certainly not up to the DualSense standard, but it does the job at its price point. That is to be expected, though, given the lower price. Otherwise, nothing about the controller screams cut corners or lazy design; it’s an extremely tight ship. Usually, you’d expect one or two blemishes to stand out on budget-friendly controllers.

But my only issues, really, are the slightly awkward placement of the central Menu and Share buttons, as well as the spongy-feeling PlayStation-style d-pad. However, the latter comes down to personal preference more than anything else.

The color scheme of The Competitor is quite pleasing, too. It sports a black and white aesthetic in a sort of ‘X’ pattern across the front of the pad. The face buttons and d-pad have a translucent, glossy finish that feels quite nice against your thumbs, too.

(Image credit: Future)The Competitor review: Performance

The Competitor is a strictly wired controller. However, that’s not strange at its relatively low price point, so easy to forgive. That said, if you’d prefer a wireless model, you may be better off checking out similarly priced gamepads like the Xbox Wireless Controller or 8BitDo Pro 2.

What isn’t a guarantee for cheap controllers is the inclusion of drift-resisting Hall effect thumbsticks, but they are here on The Competitor. The sticks themselves feel great, too, with solid responsiveness and a rugged textured finish around the edges.

The Competitor features two remappable buttons on the rear of the controller. And these are easy enough to customize by holding the mapping button on the back, in conjunction with one of these rear buttons and one of the main ones on the front.

These remappable buttons are assigned by default, which I typically find a touch annoying. However, this is alleviated by a handy feature you don’t see on all that many controllers. There are lock switches for both remappable buttons, which can prevent them from being pressed in entirely. It’s arguably a bit of a workaround to keep them unassigned, but I welcome the ability to manually enable or disable them in such a way.

(Image credit: Future)Should I buy The Competitor?Buy it if...

You want an affordable, effective controller
The Competitor simply does what it says on the tin (or, um, the cardboard box, I suppose). It’s a straightforward gamepad with no obvious flaws, available at a fittingly competitive price point.

You’re looking for a drift-beating option with light features
Hall effect sticks and two remappable buttons are present here. It’s on the lighter side in terms of features, but it’s really all a controller at this price needs to stand out.

Don't buy it if...

You want a more robust D-pad
Some game genres, like fighting games and platformers, benefit from a more well-rounded d-pad than the one on The Competitor. I actually love the circular design of the Xbox Wireless Controller's d-pad, and would recommend it over The Competitor if that's something that will be important to you.

You’re on PS5
The Competitor isn’t compatible with PlayStation hardware, despite the DualSense-looking design. Consider checking out our best PS5 controllers guide if you’re shopping for a Sony gamepad instead.

The Competitor review: Also consider

If The Competitor isn’t quite competitive enough for you, here are a couple other options very much worthy of consideration.

The Competitor

Xbox Wireless Controller

GameSir Super Nova

Price

$49.99 / £39.99 (around AU$74.95)

$59.99 / £54.99 / AU$74

$44.99 / £49.99 / AU$89

Weight

7.1oz / 200g

8.5oz / 241g

9.3oz / 263g

Dimensions

6.2 x 5.0 x 2.5in / 158 x 127 x 64mm

5.9 x 4.1 x 2.4in / 150 x 105 x 60mm

6.1 x 4.2 x 2.3in / 156 x 106 x 59mm

Compatibility

Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, PC

Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, PC

PC, Switch, Switch 2

Connection type

Wired (USB-C)

Wireless (Xbox), Wired (USB-C)

Wireless (Bluetooth, 2.4GHz USB dongle), Wired (USB-C)

Battery life

N/A

Varies, around 20-40 hours

15 hours

Xbox Wireless Controller
Always an incredibly solid choice, the official Xbox Wireless Controller isn’t big on bonus features, but it offers incredible reliability and is available in countless color options these days.

Read our full Xbox Wireless Controller review

GameSir Super Nova
While losing Xbox compatibility, this is a fantastic and affordable wireless controller for PC and the Switch family of consoles. I’d go for this one if you’re after a PC controller and interested in a budget-friendly wireless option. Oh, it comes with a charging dock and some lovely color options, too.

Read our full GameSir Super Nova review

How I tested The Competitor

• Tested for one week
• Primarily tested on PC
• Played a wide range of games

I tested The Competitor over the course of about a week, putting the wired wonder through its paces primarily on a gaming PC with my Steam library. All my go-to games were present here, including Final Fantasy 14 Online, Tekken 8, Elden Ring Nightreign, and Tokyo Xtreme Racer.

Given the shape and feel of the controller, I tried to compare the experience of playing with The Competitor to that of the DualSense Wireless Controller. Obviously, the PlayStation controller is more feature-rich, with bespoke haptic feedback and adaptive triggers, as well as its touchpad. Build quality isn’t quite as strong with The Competitor, in comparison, but it’s certainly not miles off, given the price.

First reviewed December 2025

Read more about how we test

Capsule is an intuitive and affordable customer relationship management (CRM) solution designed for small to medium-sized businesses. Its user-friendly interface and gentle learning curve make it approachable even for non-technical users.

Despite its competitive pricing, Capsule provides a robust set of core features for managing contacts, identifying opportunities, tracking communications, and overseeing sales pipelines. Standout capabilities include the ability to store up to 30,000 contacts for just $18/month, a simple "projects" feature that can function as a basic helpdesk, and useful integrations with popular apps like Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, Mailchimp, and Xero.

In my experience, Capsule excels at delivering the key CRM platform essentials in a streamlined package. The well-designed layouts and intuitive workflows can help small teams quickly get up to speed. However, some advanced features like marketing automation are limited compared to pricier competitors. But for small businesses seeking an affordable and capable CRM without unnecessary complexity, Capsule is well worth considering.

Capsule CRM core capabilities

(Image credit: Capsule CRM)

Capsule is a streamlined customer relationship management system designed to help small businesses efficiently manage their customer interactions and sales processes. Its core capabilities revolve around simplifying the most essential aspects of CRM.

It allows users to easily store, organize, and access customer data in one centralized location. Beyond basic info, it enables linking contacts to relevant opportunities, cases, and notes, providing a complete view of each customer relationship.

Sales teams can take advantage of visual pipeline tracking to monitor the progress of deals. Drag-and-drop functionality makes it simple to move opportunities from one stage to the next. Customizable pipelines ensure they fit the unique sales processes of each business.

Opportunity records give a snapshot of key data like value, win probability, and expected close date. This rolls up into sales forecasting reports and analytics to predict revenue and identify trends. The reporting features are a bit basic compared to higher-end CRMs, but they cover the essential needs of small businesses.

Where it really shines is in its ease of use and mobility. The interface is clean and intuitive, with a minimal learning curve to get a team up and running. And it gets full marks for its mobile-friendliness — a fully featured mobile CRM that makes it a breeze for sales reps and account managers to work on the go.

Integration options ensure the CRM isn't isolated but connected to the other systems businesses rely on. It hooks into popular small business tools for email, ecommerce, marketing automation, customer support, and productivity.

With a robust feature set yet simple interface, Capsule checks the boxes small businesses need in a CRM at a very affordable price point. The core capabilities are there, without a lot of extra bells and whistles that tend to bog down other systems. If complex and fine-grained customization isn't a requirement, Capsule is an excellent option.

How easy is Capsule CRM to use?

(Image credit: Capsule CRM)

Capsule is widely praised for its user-friendly interface and intuitive design that makes it easy for new users to navigate and quickly become proficient with the platform. The simple layout focuses on the core CRM features small businesses need most, without unnecessary complexity.

I found the straightforward dashboard a breeze to use from the get-go. Key functions like contact management, opportunity tracking, task scheduling, and reporting are easily accessible. The visual sales pipeline is also simple to understand at a glance.

Capsule offers a good degree of customization to tailor the tool to your specific needs and processes. You can create custom fields, tags, filters, and views to track the exact information you need for contacts, opportunities, cases, and more. It's quick to set up dropdown menus, checkboxes, and date fields. You can also customize your sales pipeline stages and milestones.

The platform makes onboarding painless with a wide array of self-service training resources. These include tutorial videos, step-by-step guides, webinars, and an extensive knowledge base. The intuitive UI and wealth of educational content make it realistic for most users to get up and running in a couple of hours.

Capsule also has an active user community for Q&A, best practices, and feature suggestions. For more hands-on help, email support is responsive and thorough in my experience. All plans include customer support at no extra charge.

If your small business needs an affordable CRM without a steep learning curve, Capsule is well worth considering. Its thoughtfully designed interface, customization options, and strong support make it one of the most user-friendly CRMs that I've tried. Most teams should be able to deploy it quickly and see rapid user adoption.

Integrations

When it comes to integrations, Capsule really shines. The system offers an impressive array of pre-built integrations and connectors that make it easy to sync data with other business apps. There are official integrations for popular tools like Mailchimp, Xero, FreshBooks, and Google Workspace. So if you're already using those in your workflow, getting them connected is a breeze.

But the integration options don't stop there. Capsule also supports leading iPaaS vendors like Zapier and Make. This opens up a world of possibilities, allowing you to connect Capsule with thousands of other web apps without needing any coding skills. You can automate data syncing, trigger workflows based on events, and much more. Zapier integration, in particular, is very well done.

For those with more technical needs, Capsule provides a robust API. This allows developers to integrate the system more deeply with custom or third-party applications. In my experience, the API is well-documented and reliable.

I've found the data syncing to be fast and seamless. Once you have an integration set up, you can count on your data always being up-to-date across all tools. The system also handles data conflicts gracefully.

Little touches, like being able to easily map custom fields when setting up an integration, make the whole process very user-friendly. And if you ever run into issues, CapsuleCRM’s support team is very knowledgeable about integrations and quick to help.

How good is Capsule CRM customer support?

(Image credit: Capsule CRM)

Capsule offers some customer support options, though it may not be as comprehensive as larger competitors. Users can access live support via email, with the friendly customer service team typically responding within one business day, Monday through Friday. However, phone and live chat support do not appear to be offered at this time.

Where the CRM really shines is in its self-service support resources. The company provides an extensive knowledge base filled with helpful articles and step-by-step guides covering everything from getting started to more advanced features and use cases. The Capsuleblog and YouTube channel are also fantastic resources, offering insightful tips, video tutorials, and customer success stories to help users make the most of the platform.

While researching CapsuleCRM's support, I was impressed by the largely positive customer reviews and high ratings the company has earned on third-party sites like G2, Capterra, and TrustRadius. Many users praise the responsiveness and helpfulness of the support team, noting that they received prompt and effective assistance despite the lack of live support options. However, a few reviewers did mention that the lack of phone support could be an issue for some customers.

It's worth noting that Capsule doesn't have a dedicated user forum or community at this time. While the knowledge base and tutorials are undoubtedly valuable, having a space for customers to connect, share ideas, and help one another could further enhance the support experience.

Capsule CRM plans and pricing

Plan

Free

Starter

Growth

Advanced

Ultimate

Price

$0/user/month

$18/user/month

$36/user/month

$54/user/month

$72/user/month

Best For

Individuals testing CRM functionality

Small businesses needing basic CRM tools

Growing businesses requiring more contacts and automation

Larger teams needing extensive features

Large teams needing premium support and advanced CRM features

Features

2 users and 250 contacts

Single sales pipeline

Email sending

30,000 contacts

AI email assistant

Shared mailbox

60,000 contacts

Workflow automations

Multiple pipelines

120,000 contacts

Contact enrichment

Multiple project boards

Everything in Advanced

Premium onboarding

Dedicated account manager

Limitations

Limited contacts and users

No advanced reporting or automations

Limited project boards and contact enrichment

Higher cost, requires setup

Higher cost, best suited for larger organizations

Capsule CRM employs a per-user per-month pricing model with five tiers ranging from a limited free plan up to $72 per user monthly. The free version supports up to 2 users, 250 contacts, and 10 AI content assists, but lacks workflow automations, project management features, and advanced customizations.

In my view, Capsule's pricing is fairly standard for a CRM, with the per-user monthly cost increasing as more robust features and higher usage limits are unlocked. The Starter plan, at $18 per user per month, should suffice for small teams just needing core CRM functionality. However, growing businesses will likely need at least the Professional plan at $36/user/month to access workflow automation capabilities that can significantly boost productivity.

One downside is that many features SMBs would want, like sales pipeline management, email templates, and custom fields, are limited or unavailable on the free and lower-tier plans. Capsule does offer a free plan and trial to test out the software, but the free version is quite limited compared to some competitors.

On the plus side, Capsule's pricing is transparent and straightforward, without any hidden fees or required add-ons. Discounts are provided for annual billing and new customers. The monthly price maxes out at $72 per user for the Ultimate plan, which is reasonable compared to enterprise tiers of many other CRMs.

BoomTown is a full-featured real estate CRM that provides the marketing muscle agents need to generate and convert leads. The cloud-based platform offers a comprehensive suite of tools spanning lead generation, IDX websites, email campaigns, transaction management, AI business analytics, and more.

What sets BoomTown apart from other CRM platforms is the breadth of its capabilities. While it may not be the absolute best in any one area, few CRMs can match its overall scope. The automated marketing features and lead gen services are particularly strong. You also get a dedicated success manager to help turn those leads into commissions.

BoomTown's slick mobile app puts the power of the CRM in your pocket when you're on the go. Plus, the open API enables integrations beyond the 20+ third-party solutions it natively supports to further extend the functionality. If you're looking for an all-in-one platform to run your real estate business, BoomTown is a solid contender.

BoomTown CRM core capabilities Image 1 of 5

Take advantage of powerful automation features and reporting with BoomTown’s CRM. (Image credit: BoomTown)Image 2 of 5

Bring in more leads with BoomTown’s lead gen team, and nurture those leads with its success management team. (Image credit: BoomTown)Image 3 of 5

Build IDX-powered websites and link them together with BoomTown’s site builder. (Image credit: BoomTown)Image 4 of 5

Do everything you can do on the desktop CRM from a clean, mobile-friendly interface using BoomTown’s Now app. (Image credit: BoomTown)Image 5 of 5

Integrate your BoomTown experience with over 20 third-party partners. (Image credit: BoomTown)

BoomTown CRM delivers on all the features aimed at empowering real estate professionals to efficiently manage their contacts, track pipelines, forecast sales, and gain actionable insights through analytics.

A solid contact management system, BoomTown allows users to centralize all their leads and client information in one place, making it easy to navigate and stay organized. I found the ability to add detailed notes, set reminders, and automate follow-ups valuable for nurturing relationships and maintaining communication.

When it comes to pipeline tracking, BoomTown CRM offers a visual and intuitive interface. The pipeline view provides a clear overview of where each deal stands, enabling agents to identify bottlenecks and prioritize their efforts. I appreciate how the system automatically updates the pipeline stages based on predefined criteria, saving time and reducing the risk of manual errors.

Sales forecasting is another area where BoomTown outperforms many competitors. The platform leverages historical data and current pipeline information to generate accurate revenue projections. Very useful for strategic planning and resource allocation. I found the customizable forecast reports especially neat, as they allow for a granular analysis of expected sales by agent, region, or property type.

For analyzing performance, BoomTown offers a wealth of insights and metrics to help agents and brokers measure their success and identify areas for improvement. From lead conversion rates to average time to close, the analytics dashboard provides a comprehensive view of key performance indicators. I particularly like the ability to benchmark individual and team performance against industry standards, fostering a culture of continuous improvement.

The platform's mobile app, available for both iOS and Android devices, provides agents with on-the-go access to their contacts, pipeline, and tasks. I found the app's user interface to be intuitive and responsive, allowing for seamless productivity even when out of the office and in the field.

Beyond the core features, BoomTown CRM offers a range of additional capabilities that enhance its value proposition. The system integrates with popular real estate tools like MLS databases, task managers, and marketing automation platforms, streamlining workflows and eliminating data silos. I also appreciate the customization options, which allow brokerages to tailor the platform to their specific needs and branding.

While BoomTown CRM excels in many areas, there are a few aspects that could be improved. The learning curve for some of the more advanced features can be steep and the initial setup process may require dedicated training. Additionally, the pricing structure may be a bit steep for smaller brokerages or individual agents.

Overall, BoomTown CRM delivers a comprehensive and powerful solution for real estate professionals looking to optimize their contact management, pipeline tracking, sales forecasting, and performance analytics. The platform's mobile access and additional features further enhance its value. Despite some minor drawbacks, I believe BoomTown CRM is a top contender in the real estate CRM space, offering the tools and insights needed to drive success in today's competitive market.

How easy is BoomTown CRM to use?

Coming over to the UX, BoomTown CRM gets mostly positive remarks from users and reviewers. The user interface is frequently described as visually appealing and enjoyable to use. One reviewer noted, "It is by far the most visually appealing real estate software, which makes it incredibly easy to use."

The mobile app also receives praise for bringing the full CRM functionality together in a neat, mobile-friendly format. Generating and managing leads, tracking progress, and automated email marketing are all called out as working smoothly.

However, the learning curve isn't zero. Some reviews mention it takes time to get everything set up and running optimally. At least one user complained about slow response times when seeking support.

BoomTown loses some points compared to competitors for its landing page builder. While functional, it's based on WordPress, which involves more of a learning curve compared to proprietary builders offered by some rival CRMs. That said, WordPress is also known for its outstanding flexibility.

Overall, though, BoomTown appears to be an intuitive platform that becomes easy to use once you're over the initial learning curve. But those looking for more of a "just works" experience with minimal customization may want to evaluate other options.

Integrations

When it comes to integrations, BoomTown doesn't disappoint. The CRM offers a wide range of pre-built integrations and connectors with popular real estate tools and services, allowing agents to seamlessly connect their entire arsenal of apps into one central command center.

Some standout native integrations include Sisu for syncing transaction and lead data, BombBomb for easily embedding video content into marketing materials, Brokermint for transaction management, CallAction for capturing inbound calls as new leads, dotloop for syncing deals, and even Google Calendar for scheduling appointments.

Through Zapier, BoomTown can integrate with a whopping 6,000 other apps, making it incredibly versatile. You can use Zapier to set up automated workflows between BoomTown and apps like Mailchimp, Constant Contact, and countless others with just a few clicks. The possibilities are nearly endless.

BoomTown also offers an API for custom integrations if you have more advanced needs. While I wasn't able to test the API directly, user reports suggest the documentation is comprehensive and that it’s reliable for syncing data across systems.

That said, some users have reported occasional hiccups with the speed and consistency of data syncing between apps using pre-built connectors. However, this seems to be more the exception than the norm. Generally speaking, however, I'm impressed with BoomTown's integration capabilities despite being a niche real estate CRM.

How good is BoomTown customer support?

Booking an appointment with BoomTown’s sales team is easy with BoomBot’s help. (Image credit: BoomTown)

BoomTown offers a solid range of live support channels, including phone, email, and live chat to get help from a real person. They also provide self-service support options like a knowledge base and community forum to let users find answers on their own.

In terms of responsiveness, BoomTown's support team is generally prompt based on my experience and user reviews. While I couldn't find specific data on the CRM support’s average first response and resolution times, most customers seem satisfied with how quickly the support reps get back to them.

The quality of support also appears to be a strength for BoomTown. Their support staff are consistently described as helpful, knowledgeable, and easy to work with in solving issues. That said, support experiences aren't consistent across the board. Some users have encountered slower or less reliable support at times.

So while there's room for improvement, BoomTown delivers responsive support more often than not. The multiple support channels and self-service resources provide flexibility, with most customers having only positive things to say about their support interactions. But as with any vendor, individual support experiences may vary.

BoomTown CRM pricing and plans

Plan

Launch

Grow

Advance

Price

$1000/month

$1300/month

$1500/month

Best For

Small-to-medium enterprises starting with CRM tools

Growing teams needing enhanced features and support

Large-scale organizations requiring dedicated support

Features

Lead management

Smart-drip plans

Mobile app access

More user seats

Dynamic retargeting

Success assurance

Reduced setup fee

Custom integrations

Account manager

Limitations

Limited advanced features, higher setup fee

Higher cost, no custom integrations

Most expensive plan, only for large teams

BoomTown offers a few different pricing plans catered to teams of different sizes, but their main "Advance" plan, aimed at larger teams and brokerages, comes with a hefty $1,500 per month price tag and a $1,500 setup fee. This places BoomTown on the higher end of the real estate CRM price spectrum.

There are no discounts advertised on BoomTown's website, though some agent coaching programs, like Tom Ferry's "Advantage", offer a slight discount on the platform. BoomTown also doesn't provide a free trial of its software, so you'll have to rely on demos to get a sense of the system before committing.

In addition to the base monthly fee, BoomTown requires an advertising budget of at least $1,000 per month to fund lead generation through channels like Google Ads and Facebook. So all-in, expect to pay a minimum of around $2,500 per month plus the one-time setup fee for a standard BoomTown plan.

For that price, you get a relatively full-featured CRM with built-in IDX websites, lead generation and qualification tools, and automated marketing features. But there are certainly more affordable options out there that cover much of the same ground.

The lack of transparent a la carte pricing or a free trial period is a downside in my view. CRMs these days usually offer some sort of try-before-you-buy option, even if it's limited. And the additional marketing spend on top of the base platform fee means your monthly software costs can quickly add up with BoomTown.

Still, for larger teams and brokerages with the budget to match, BoomTown is a proven CRM system used by many top real estate offices. Just make sure you factor in the total costs, including setup fees and ad spend, when comparing the platform to lower-priced competitors. A thorough demo or an agent coaching program discount could help take some of the sting out of the steep sticker price.

BoomTown CRM review: Final verdict

BoomTown delivers an impressive real estate CRM that provides the sales and marketing capabilities agents need to effectively generate and convert leads. What sets BoomTown apart is the scope — while it may not be the absolute best-in-class in any one thing, few competitors can match its feature set.

Its automated marketing tools and lead generation services are particularly strong suits. I was impressed by how the system leverages AI to optimize ad spend and funnel high-quality leads. You also get a dedicated success manager to help turn those leads into closed deals.

While mastering all the features involves a learning curve and the price point is on the higher end, BoomTown is a serious contender for tech-savvy teams and brokerages looking for an all-in-one solution to run their business. If maximizing productivity with a single, streamlined platform is the goal, BoomTown fits the bill nicely.

Cinc is making waves in the real estate CRM space with its feature-rich all-in-one platform. This cloud-based solution equips agents and teams with sleek IDX websites, powerful marketing automation, and intelligent contact management tools — all under one virtual roof.

From my experience demoing the product, Cinc's intuitive interface makes it easy to capture and nurture leads through the sales funnel. The system automatically enriches contact data, enabling highly targeted email and SMS campaigns. AI-powered insights help prioritize the hottest opportunities.

That said, Cinc's wealth of capabilities can feel overwhelming at first. Plan to invest time in onboarding and training to reap the full benefits. Also, smaller teams may find the price tag steep compared to more basic CRM platforms. But for agents serious about scaling their business, Cinc's robust feature set and glowing user reviews suggest it's a worthwhile investment.

Cinc CRM core capabilities Image 1 of 5

In CINC CRM, you can store all your leads, customers, and prospects and sort them by priority. (Image credit: CINC)Image 2 of 5

Take your CRM experience to the next level with three specialized mobile apps. (Image credit: CINC)Image 3 of 5

Use CINC’s ready-made IDX site to save time and money on web development. (Image credit: CINC)Image 4 of 5

Use CINC’s VoIP dialer to call contacts straight from your CRM. (Image credit: CINC)Image 5 of 5

Leverage CINC’s proprietary SMS-based artificial intelligence tool to nurture leads. (Image credit: CINC)

Cinc is an easy-to-use and mobile-friendly real estate CRM platform suitable for teams of all sizes. It has the essential capabilities you'd expect in a CRM system. This includes contact management to organize and store customer information, lead capture to automatically identify and save potential leads, and lead management features to nurture prospects throughout the sales cycle.

But where Cinc shines is its focus on mobile-first access for field agents. The platform offers three mobile apps that allow agents to close deals on the go, gather open house data, and put listings out to the world. Having tested the mobile apps myself, I found them intuitive and convenient for staying productive out in the field. The built-in VoIP phone service is also a nice touch for making calls.

On the sales enablement side, Cinc provides pipeline management to track opportunities and deals. The activity dashboard gives a useful overview of ongoing processes and incidents. Basic reporting and analytics are included to surface key metrics.

One area that could be improved is the website customization. While Cinc does include a premade IDX website for listings, the customization options are limited compared to some competitors. The email marketing tool gets the job done for sending campaigns, but advanced automation would be welcome.

On the plus side, Cinc offers impressive customer support. The company offers phone, email and chat support, plus an extensive knowledge base. From my research, the support team seems to be responsive and helpful.

While it may not have all the bells and whistles of enterprise real estate CRMs, Cinc covers the fundamentals well. For small real estate teams looking for a simple and mobile-friendly CRM they can pick up quickly, Cinc is a compelling option. Just be aware of the limitations around website customization and marketing automation as the business scales.

How easy is Cinc to use?

CINC’s user-friendly interface is constructed around your pipeline, displayed on the main dashboard. (Image credit: CINC )

Getting started with Cinc CRM is a quick and painless process. After requesting a demo, the Cinc team provides an interactive walkthrough of the platform's key features. Since it's a cloud-based solution, no installation is required; you can dive right in.

While the website customization options are more limited compared to some competitors, Cinc makes up for it with extensive training resources. The Cinc Academy knowledge base provides detailed self-serve guides, while periodic live and recorded webinars dive deeper into specific topics. For a more hands-on approach, in-person networking events and intensive classroom training sessions are also available.

Cinc claims that the average agent can set appointments worth over $7,500 in commissions during these training workshops. At the very least, it's clear that it has invested in helping users quickly master the platform and start generating real results.

Every aspect of the CRM is supported by interactive walkthroughs, so you're never left guessing how to accomplish a task. Between the knowledge base, webinars, and in-person training, Cinc provides all the resources needed to get up to speed efficiently, regardless of your learning style.

While Cinc doesn't specify an exact timeframe for reaching proficiency, the breadth and depth of their educational resources should have new users feeling confident navigating the platform's core functions in short order. The intuitive interface also goes a long way in flattening the learning curve.

Cinc CRM offers an accessible and well-supported user experience. What it may lack in website customization, it more than makes up for in its array of practical training resources designed to help agents turn the CRM into a lead-generating machine with minimal ramp-up time. For teams looking to start capitalizing on Cinc's robust feature set from day one, they won't be disappointed.

Integrations

Cinc makes it straightforward to connect its CRM with a wide range of applications. It offers pre-built integrations and connectors for many popular real estate apps, including BombBomb, Callingly, BrokerMint, and Realty.com. If a native integration isn't available, you can still link Cinc with over 6,000 other tools via Zapier.

For situations that require custom integrations, Cinc provides a robust API. Developers can use it to sync data bi-directionally and build tailored solutions. The documentation seems quite comprehensive from what I could tell after perusing their developer portal. That's good news if you have unique integration needs not covered by the pre-built connectors and Zapier.

In terms of data syncing reliability and performance, there isn't a ton of information available online. A few comments I came across in user reviews suggest that Cinc's integrations are generally solid, and data transfers happen quickly without major issues. Personally, I haven't encountered any issues either.

Cinc also incorporates some helpful quality-of-life features for simplifying the integration process. The integration library allows you to explore available connectors and provides setup guides for each. You can also view and manage all your active integrations from a centralized dashboard in the CRM.

How good is Cinc customer support?

Cinc provides multiple channels for customers to access support, including phone, email, and live chat. Its US-based support team is available Monday through Friday from 9:30 am to 7 pm Eastern Time and on Saturdays from 9:30 am to 2 pm ET. The company lists dedicated phone numbers and email addresses to reach their sales and support teams directly.

Live chat reps answer within a few minutes. They are friendly and knowledgeable, more than happy to offer step-by-step instructions to guide you through key tasks.

Cinc also offers a variety of self-service support resources. An online knowledge base, called Cinc Academy, contains detailed articles and video tutorials covering all aspects of using the platform. There's also a community forum where users can ask questions and share best practices.

In reading through reviews on sites like Capterra and G2, I found a lot of praise for their support team. More than a few reviews highlighted the strong relationships they've built with Cinc's support reps and account managers, which shows that the company is willing to go the extra mile for good, long-term customer relationships.

While I wasn't able to find data on Cinc's average first response and resolution times, the general consensus from customers is that their support is prompt, knowledgeable, and goes above and beyond. However, I'd love to see them extend their live support hours and share more specific data on support KPIs, which could help create a more accessible and transparent customer experience.

Cinc pricing and plans

Plan

Solo

Ramp

Pro

Select

Price

Custom pricing

Custom pricing

Custom pricing

Custom pricing

Best For

Individual agents needing basic CRM tools

Small to medium teams seeking collaborative solutions

Large teams requiring extensive features and support

Enterprise teams needing even more user seats

Features

Basic lead routing

CRM tools and functionality

Limited integration options

Many more integrations

Team collaboration

Advanced lead routing

Advanced video messaging

Custom integrations

Dedicated account manager

50+ user seats

Same features as Pro plan

No new additions

Limitations

Limited team tools, higher ad spend required

Higher cost, still limited customization

Requires consultation for pricing

No new feature additions

Cinc offers a variety of pricing plans to accommodate different-sized real estate teams, from individual agents to large brokerages. The details of each pricing tier aren't publicly disclosed, but here's what I was able to uncover.

The Solo plan is designed for an individual agent and includes core features like a CRM, marketing automation, a mobile app, landing pages, seller marketing tools, basic lead routing, and some integrations. Meanwhile, SMBS with up to 4 users can opt for the Ramp plan, which has all the functionality of the last plan with lead routing and additional integrations.

Larger teams of up to 49 agents would look at the Pro plan, while the Select plan handles brokerages of 50+ users. Both come with the full set of Cinc platform capabilities. All plans have access to Cinc's lead generation products, which include paid leads from Google and Facebook, as well as their proprietary List Cast and remarketing tools. Optional add-ons, like a power dialer or artificial intelligence, can raise costs.

I don't love the lack of transparency around pricing. You have to contact Cinc for a custom quote based on your team size and needs. Sources suggest that pricing is also generally quite high compared to other CRMs, likely due to the lead gen features.

Bottom line, Cinc's pricing model offers flexibility for different-sized businesses, but be prepared to spend at least $600 monthly even for the Solo plan. You'll have to crunch the numbers carefully to determine if the platform's lead management, marketing automation, and AI capabilities justify the steep price tag for your business.

Cinc CRM review: Final verdict

After thoroughly testing Cinc CRM, I think it's a feature-rich platform well-suited for real estate teams serious about scaling their business. Cinc takes an all-in-one approach, combining essential CRM capabilities with sleek IDX websites and AI marketing automation. The intuitive interface and strong mobile apps make it easy to stay productive on the go.

That said, Cinc's extensive feature set can feel overwhelming initially. Plan to invest time in their training resources to fully capitalize on everything the platform offers. The price point may also be steep for smaller teams compared to more basic CRMs.

But for established teams ready to level up their lead generation and relationship management, Cinc is a compelling choice. The system automatically enriches contact data, enabling highly targeted email and SMS campaigns. AI-powered insights help prioritize the hottest opportunities. And the responsive customer support team is there to help you succeed.

While areas like website customization and advanced marketing automation have room for enhancement, Cinc nails the fundamentals. If you're a growth-focused real estate team looking for an accessible yet comprehensive CRM to serve as a centralized operational hub, Cinc is well worth consideration.

RealOffice360 is a simple CRM designed to help real estate agents streamline their business and boost productivity. Its intuitive interface makes it easy to get up and running quickly.

Some standout features include automated reminders to keep in touch with clients, the ability to build customized pipelines and processes, and AI-powered communications. Lead capture tools pull in prospect information from various sources to create a centralized database. A mobile app provides agents with fast access on the go.

In testing out the CRM platform, I found it reasonably priced for the functionality, and the interface was very user-friendly. Some areas for improvement are the email marketing capabilities and the limited third-party integrations currently. But overall, RealOffice360 offers a solid set of core CRM features tailored for busy real estate professionals looking to better manage client relationships and grow their business.

RealOffice360 core capabilities Image 1 of 4

The RealOffice360 CRM contact pages highlight associated details, tasks, and properties. (Image credit: RealOffice360)Image 2 of 4

You can edit deal stages and easily add new properties to your pipeline. (Image credit: RealOffice360)Image 3 of 4

Increase your chances of closing deals by setting workflow tasks. (Image credit: RealOffice360)Image 4 of 4

Integrating with real estate lead capture websites can increase your lead pool. (Image credit: RealOffice360)

RealOffice360 provides a robust set of client management capabilities. Its all-in-one contact database lets users easily add and manage real estate clients. Contacts can be imported from various sources like Google, Outlook, iPhone, Excel, or other CRM software. The system also allows categorizing contacts with group labels and favorites to keep the database well-organized.

The client profile in RealOffice360 acts as a central hub, housing notes, communications, files, property details, and even family information all in one place. I particularly like the smart follow-up reminders for important dates like client birthdays, home purchase anniversaries, and wedding anniversaries — this enables agents to effortlessly keep in touch with past clients.

Another strength is the CRM's client communication features. It syncs emails, enables bulk emailing, provides an AI assistant to help craft professional emails, and supports customizable email signatures. Having all client interactions and touchpoints logged in one system is invaluable.

Beyond contact management, RealOffice360 CRM offers capable deal tracking functionality. Users can manage the full sales cycle, from lead capture and follow-up to commission calculations and tax handling. The visual sales pipeline with drag-and-drop controls makes it simple to advance deals to close.

Rounding out the feature set are tools for daily task management and scheduling via the built-in calendar and to-do lists. The system also provides email marketing, note-taking, data storage, and more.

But while RealOffice360 covers the CRM essentials and requirements for real estate quite well, the feature set feels a bit limited compared to some more mature mainstream players that offer deeper customization, extensibility, and third-party integrations.

How easy is RealOffice360 to use?

The drag-and-drop feature easily updates deal stages for contacts and properties. (Image credit: RealOffice360)

RealOffice360 shines in its simplicity and intuitiveness. The software takes a streamlined approach, stripping away unnecessary complexity to provide a clean and modern interface that is easy to navigate. Even users with minimal technical skills can quickly get up to speed and start managing their client relationships effectively.

But RealOffice360 also allows you to tailor the CRM to your specific workflow and preferences. You can create custom fields, views, and pipelines to match how you do business. The flexibility means you're not forced into a rigid one-size-fits-all system. Instead, the CRM adapts to you, enhancing your work style.

The thoughtful UI design carries through to mobile, with a responsive interface that is just as intuitive on a smartphone as on a desktop. Whether you're in the office or on the go, you have full access to your client data, communications, and deal pipeline. Updates sync seamlessly so your whole team is always on the same page.

Onboarding is refreshingly painless thanks to the software's inherent simplicity. RealOffice360 provides a library of concise tutorial videos that walk you through the key features and configuration options. In my experience, most users can dive right in and learn by doing, with the videos there as a fallback for any stumbling points. The time from setup to full productivity is remarkably short compared to more complex CRM systems.

As your business evolves, RealOffice360 scales smoothly alongside you. The well-organized settings allow you to adjust your account as needed, without technical headaches. You can add new users, tweak permissions, and expand your usage while maintaining the same core interface your team is familiar with.

Sure, RealOffice360 may lack some of the advanced features found in higher-end CRM suites. But those bells and whistles often come at the cost of usability. For the vast majority of small to midsize real estate businesses, RealOffice360 delivers exactly what's needed in a package that's intuitive, accessible, and easy to adopt.

Integrations

RealOffice360 has been putting in more effort into making the CRM integrate with other business software, which is important for any modern CRM. The product supports pre-built integrations with popular apps like Gmail, Outlook, Slack, QuickBooks, and more, allowing data to flow seamlessly between systems.

RealOffice360 also has an open API that enables developers to build custom integrations. While the API documentation could be more comprehensive, it does cover the core CRM objects and allows pulling data into 3rd party apps. The API supports both REST and Webhooks for real-time notifications.

For non-technical users, RealOffice360 offers integration with Zapier, a leading iPaaS. This opens up connections to 1000s of apps without needing to write code. Setting up Zaps was relatively intuitive when I tested it. RealOffice360 has provided Zapier triggers for common events like new lead created, deal updated, etc., which can then kick off actions in other apps.

One area I'd like to see RealOffice360 improve is the breadth of its pre-built integrations. Several CRMs that I've reviewed have marketplaces with hundreds of apps that integrate out of the box. RealOffice360's selection is more limited currently. Expanding this, as well as creating more comprehensive docs for the API, could make the platform even more extendable.

How good is RealOffice360 support?

RealOffice360 offers a few key channels for users to get assistance, such as email, chat, and self-service.

Live chat support is available, allowing customers to get quick answers to their questions or concerns directly through the platform. This is a convenient option that can provide more immediate help compared to other methods.

In terms of self-service resources, RealOffice360 maintains a fairly comprehensive online knowledge base. This searchable support hub contains helpful articles, tutorials, and FAQs across a range of topics. It's a good first stop for users looking to troubleshoot issues on their own or learn more about certain features.

RealOffice360's documentation doesn't specify average first response or resolution times, which would be helpful to know. Responsiveness and the speed at which issues get resolved are important factors in evaluating support quality.

From the user reviews I came across, it seems that support does earn some praise. Several customers mentioned that the support team was helpful and ensured their problems were solved. Of course, a broader set of testimonials would paint a clearer picture.

One potential limitation is that live support via chat and email is only available on weekdays from 11 am-7 pm EST. Round-the-clock coverage would be better for users in different time zones or those who need assistance outside regular business hours.

The free plan also has a slower 48-hour maximum response time, compared to higher tiers. While understandable, it's something for free users to keep in mind.

RealOffice360 pricing and plans

Plan

Essentials

Premium

Team

Price

$12/user/month

$25/user/month

$50/user/month

Best For

Solo agents starting with CRM tools

Agents needing advanced marketing features

Teams requiring collaboration and shared data

Features

Unlimited contacts

Task calendar

Deal tracking

Customizable workflows

Bulk email

AI assistant features

Collaborative calendars

Team management

Shared pipelines

Limitations

Limited to basic CRM functions

Advanced features at higher cost

Additional users cost extra

The first thing that stands out to me about RealOffice360 is their very generous 14-day free trial, which doesn't even require a credit card to get started. This makes it easy and risk-free to fully test drive the platform before making any financial commitment.

Once you're ready to upgrade, their paid plans start at a very reasonable $12 per month for solo agents on the Essentials plan. This gets you access to their core CRM features for managing your contacts, properties, and transactions.

Stepping up to their Premium plan at $25 per month unlocks some powerful automation capabilities, like email syncing and customizable workflows, that can really streamline your business. For an individual agent, this tier likely provides the best bang for your buck.

Small teams will appreciate the affordability of RealOffice360's Team plan, which supports 2 users for $50 per month, with additional seats at $30 each. So a team of 5 could get everyone up and running for around $140 monthly. The inclusion of team-oriented features at this level, like shared calendars and pipelines, adds a lot of collaborative value.

Larger brokerages with many agents have access to volume pricing starting at $125 per month for unlimited users. This allows bigger firms to take advantage of RealOffice360's capabilities at scale.

Other factors that enhance RealOffice360's pricing attractiveness are the lack of any long-term contracts or cancellation penalties, and the ability to save up to 20% by opting for annual billing. All in all, RealOffice360 delivers robust CRM functionality at price points that should fit comfortably within most real estate businesses' budgets.

RealOffice360 CRM review: Final verdict

After an in-depth evaluation, RealOffice360 emerges as a solid CRM contender purpose-built for real estate professionals. Its intuitive interface and streamlined feature set make it easy to adopt and use on a daily basis to manage contacts, properties, and deals.

A major strength lies in RealOffice360's ability to facilitate collaboration among real estate teams. The software allows assigning properties, tasks, and commissions to specific team members, ensuring clarity and accountability. The visual deal pipeline is also a standout, enabling agents to easily track and advance sales opportunities.

RealOffice360's customer support is another bright spot. The company offers live chat and phone support on weekdays, along with a searchable online knowledge base for self-service.

However, RealOffice360 does have some room for improvement in terms of customization and integration. The platform provides limited ability to personalize data fields, reports, and pipeline views. Additionally, while it offers essential integrations with email and calendar tools, the breadth of third-party app connections trails some competitors. Security-conscious firms may also find the lack of two-factor authentication problematic.

As a realtor-focused customer relationship management (CRM) platform, Chime, now known as Lofty, aims to streamline the entire lead-to-deal process. Its intuitive interface and all-in-one feature set make it a compelling option for realty businesses looking to grow their pipelines and close more sales.

Chime's key capabilities span lead generation, contact management, and deal tracking. The platform offers an IDX website builder, AI-powered marketing automation, and a mobile app for on-the-go access. While these comprehensive features may come with a learning curve, they enable realtors to qualify leads, prioritize follow-ups, and gain visibility into team performance metrics.

During my review, I found it to be a robust CRM platform for realty teams wanting to consolidate their tech stack. Regular product updates, good user feedback, and a niche focus provide strong evidence of Chime's customer-centric approach. For growing realtor businesses, Chime warrants strong consideration.

Chime CRM core capabilities Image 1 of 4

You can easily navigate across Chime CRM’s extensive feature list from desktop and mobile. (Image credit: Chime CRM)Image 2 of 4

Chime CRM’s ad targeting tool works across many major platforms, including Google and Facebook. (Image credit: Chime CRM)Image 3 of 4

To increase your close rate, let Chime CRM’s Smart Suggestions recommend the next best step. (Image credit: Chime CRM)Image 4 of 4

Conveniently, your IDX website builder is in the same place as your customer data. (Image credit: Chime CRM)

Chime's core CRM capabilities strike me as quite robust, well-suited for the needs of most real estate businesses. It covers all the essential features you'd expect in a comprehensive CRM system.

For contact management, Chime offers solid lead generation and capture tools. The AI Assistant can automatically match new leads to appropriate listings and set up customized property alerts based on their behavior. This intelligent lead nurturing helps keep prospects engaged.

I was impressed by Chime's pipeline tracking capabilities as well. The platform provides a good overview of your sales pipeline, with visual reports on the status of deals. You can create customizable "Smart Plans" to automate workflows and keep transactions moving smoothly.

Another standout is Chime's forecasting algorithm, which uses agent performance data and historical trends to predict future sales. As an analyst, I always appreciate a CRM that offers strong reporting and analytics. Chime lets you monitor key metrics like volume, closings, and revenue in real-time.

For agents frequently in the field, Chime's mobile app is indispensable. It provides access to critical CRM features on the go, including the ability to contact leads and use the built-in Power Dialer.

If I had to critique Chime, I'd say the depth of its sales analytics could be stronger compared to some enterprise-grade CRMs. But for most real estate teams, it likely provides ample insights to optimize performance.

Overall, Chime appears to be a well-rounded CRM platform. By combining essential contact management, deal tracking, and reporting capabilities with industry-specific features, Chime positions itself as a solid contender in the real estate CRM space. While it may have some room for improvement, Chime's core functionality is more than enough for most agencies.

How easy is Chime CRM to use?

Having the property market at your fingertips with the IDX website builder can help win deals more quickly. (Image credit: Chime CRM)

Chime CRM shines with its clean and intuitive UI that even CRM novices can navigate with little training. The well-organized layout and ample white space make it simple to find the tools and data you need. Performing essential tasks like updating contacts or placing a call only requires a few clicks.

Chime's mobile app brings the desktop version's core functionality to your smartphone, enabling agents to work efficiently on the go. This accessibility is a huge plus for busy real estate professionals constantly juggling client meetings and property showings.

The CRM offers a solid range of customization options, letting you tailor dashboards, reports, and workflows to match your unique business processes. However, it may take some time to fully explore and configure these features to optimize your setup.

To smooth the onboarding process, Chime provides helpful training videos that walk new users through the basics of the platform. These resources can significantly reduce the learning curve and help your team hit the ground running.

That said, given its extensive capabilities, it's realistic to expect an adjustment period as you get acquainted with all the bells and whistles. Mastering advanced features and fine-tuning automated sequences will likely require some trial and error.

In my experience, most users can become comfortable with Chime's core functions within a couple of weeks. But reaching peak proficiency and fully customizing the system to your needs may take a month or two of consistent use.

While not without a learning curve, Chime CRM's thoughtful design and educational resources make it an accessible, user-friendly choice for real estate teams. With a bit of practice and exploration, you'll be leveraging this powerful tool like a pro in no time.

Integrations

Chime offers several pre-built integrations out of the box with popular real estate tools and services. This includes lead capture and parsing integrations with Zillow, Trulia, and Realtor.com, email integrations with Gmail and Exchange, calendar sync with Google Calendar and Outlook, and transaction management tie-ins with Brokermint, Dotloop, and Skyslope.

The CRM also integrates with marketing automation and video tools like BombBomb, MailChimp, Cloud CMA, and Dubb. Based on my experience, most of the key applications real estate teams would need seem to be supported natively.

For more custom integrations, Chime does offer an API. However, documentation on its full capabilities is limited. The main use case highlighted is accessing queue and agent availability data from the Chime support desk. While useful, this is a fairly narrow integration scenario.

Where Chime really shines is its support for iPaaS tools like Zapier. Using Zapier, you can connect Chime with 1000s of other web apps and automate data syncing and workflow steps between them. I found several examples of real estate teams using Zapier to integrate Chime with tools like ClickFunnels for lead capture and Roomvu for lead qualification.

So while Chime's custom API is lacking, the combination of pre-built integrations with key industry tools and extensive Zapier support make it a very extensible platform overall. It should meet the integration needs of most real estate businesses without heavy technical lifting.

How good is Chime CRM support?

Chime CRM provides several live support channels, including phone and email, but it seems to lack a live chat option based on my research. While they do offer a knowledge base with articles and tutorials, there doesn't appear to be an active user forum or community for peer-to-peer support.

Where it really struggles is in the quality and responsiveness of the customer service. Many user reviews mention slow response times, with support agents often just reading from scripts rather than providing personalized assistance. Some customers report waiting weeks to get critical account issues resolved.

Chime touts a 96% customer satisfaction rate on its website, but that figure seems suspect given the numerous complaints I came across on sites like TrustRadius and G2. On TrustRadius, Chime's support is ranked poorly compared to other major CRM brands. One reviewer called their service "awful" and said it made the platform nearly impossible to use.

Reddit contains several threads with users venting frustrations about Chime's "atrocious" and "joke" of a support experience. Agents apparently say anything to get people off the phone without actually resolving problems. Tax issues and account lockouts are cited as common issues that linger unaddressed.

I think Chime has built a powerful CRM product, but they have seriously dropped the ball when it comes to backing it up with quality customer service. For a tool that is so critical to a business's operations, I would have major concerns about relying on Chime based on these support shortcomings.

Response and resolution times are clearly well below industry standards, and the lack of live chat and community forum options is disappointing for a modern SaaS company. Until Chime makes major investments in expanding and upleveling their customer service, I would be hesitant to recommend them over competing CRM platforms with better reputations for support.

Chime CRM pricing and plans

Plan

Core

Premier

Business

Price

$499/month

$700/month

$1500/month

Best For

Individual agents starting with CRM tools

Small teams needing enhanced collaboration

Larger teams requiring comprehensive features

Features

Basic lead management

Email marketing

Mobile app access

API access

Advanced reporting

Team collaboration tools

Dedicated customer support

AI-driven insights

Custom integrations

Limitations

Basic features only, limited support

Limited advanced features, higher cost

Complex setup, requires training

Chime offers three main pricing plans to suit different types and sizes of real estate teams. The pricing model is subscription-based, with a monthly fee that varies depending on the plan and number of users.

The starter "Core" plan is priced at $499 per month and is designed for solo agents and small teams just getting started with a CRM. It includes core CRM features like lead management, marketing automation, and reporting.

The most popular "Premier" plan starts at $700 per month for up to 15 users. Additional users can be added for $25 each per month. This plan unlocks advanced capabilities like custom dashboards, API access, and dedicated support.

For larger teams, the "Enterprise" plan starts at $1500 per month for up to 100 users, with each additional user costing $12/month. It offers the full suite of Chime features plus extras like white-labeling and a dedicated success manager. The Enterprise plan also has a one-time $2000 setup fee.

On top of the base subscription fees, there can be additional charges for certain premium add-ons and integrations, like advanced analytics or third-party data enrichment services. The costs for these extras are not openly published.

Chime does not offer a free plan but does provide a 14-day free trial on all plans so potential customers can test drive the platform before committing. Discounts may be available for annual contracts paid upfront, but the details are not public.

Overall, while not the cheapest option on the market, Chime's pricing seems reasonable given the comprehensive feature set and strong track record with real estate professionals. The tiered plans provide flexibility to accommodate different team sizes and budgets. But the lack of transparent pricing for enterprise-grade features and add-ons is a bit disappointing.

Potential buyers will definitely want to take advantage of the free trial and get a custom quote to determine the true long-term costs for their specific needs before signing up. For smaller teams and solo agents, there may be more affordable alternatives to evaluate as well.

Chime CRM review: Final verdict

Lofty, also called Chime, is a robust real estate CRM platform that combines essential contact and deal management features with advanced marketing automation and analytics tailored for the industry.

In reviewing it firsthand, I was impressed by the breadth and depth of its feature set. The platform offers all the core CRM functionality you'd expect, like contact management, task assignment, and pipeline tracking. But it really shines in its real estate-specific tools, such as the ability to create IDX websites, intelligently match leads to listings, leverage targeted online ads, and automate personalized lead nurturing.

Chime's interface is clean and intuitive, with solid customization options to adapt it to your workflow. The built-in onboarding and training resources also help flatten the learning curve. Integrations are another strength, with an extensive library of pre-built connections and a flexible API. However, customer support gets mixed reviews on responsiveness.

That said, Chime (or Lofty) is best suited for growth-focused real estate teams and brokerages seeking a fully-featured industry-specific CRM to manage their businesses. Budget-conscious solo agents may find it a bit overkill.

Brivity is a real estate-focused CRM and marketing automation platform that aims to streamline the daily workflows of agents and brokerages. Its integrated suite of tools covers lead generation, contact management, transaction management, and team collaboration.

Brivity enables agents to efficiently manage client relationships with customizable action plans, mass emailing, unique single property websites, a client portal, and more. The CRM platform also includes a built-in dialer and texting functionality to facilitate client communication.

In addition to the CRM, Brivity provides a customizable IDX website, text-to-lead capture, CMA reports, and even open house automation. While this breadth of functionality is impressive, it may come with a learning curve for users. Customer reviews praise Brivity's feature set, but adopting the full platform requires a commitment to learning the system.

Brivity CRM core capabilities

(Image credit: Brivity)

Brivity is a comprehensive real estate CRM that provides agents with a centralized hub to manage their contacts, transactions, marketing, and productivity.

The platform makes it easy to keep track of leads from various sources in one place. Lead details, behavior insights, and communication history are readily accessible. You can set up custom filters, tag,s and alerts to stay on top of hot prospects.

I found the messaging center quite useful for client engagement. It allows you to send personalized texts and emails using templates, and even set up auto-responses. The email sync with Gmail is also very handy.

Where Brivity really shines is transaction management. It provides a clear pipeline view of all your deals, with quick access to contacts, documents, tasks, and key dates for each transaction. I like how it automatically notifies clients of status updates.

Another standout is the customizable dashboard. At a glance, you can see how many new leads you've gotten, upcoming appointments, messages that need a reply, and priority tasks. It's a great way to plan your day.

While not groundbreaking, the MLS search and property pages are well-integrated into the CRM. You can easily add listings and share them with clients. The built-in comparative market analysis tool is also nice.

Other notable features include drip campaigns, single property websites, virtual tours, social media marketing, and team collaboration tools. There's no built-in dialer, but Brivity makes up for it with a wide range of integrations and an app marketplace for the CRM.

Brivity covers all the essential functions of a real estate CRM and adds quite a few extras. The interface is modern and intuitive, though the sheer number of features can feel overwhelming at first. But once you get the hang of it, Brivity can be a massive time-saver and productivity booster for a busy agent.

How easy is Brivity to use?

Brivity makes ease of use a top priority for its CRM. Upon signing up, you provide some basic details about your team and intended usage, then dive right into the platform as soon as billing is verified. While the array of tools and features may feel a bit overwhelming at first glance, Brivity's interface is thoughtfully designed to be easy to navigate on both desktop and mobile.

The main dashboard is divided into six core tabs that provide quick access to key functions like your calendar, contacts, transactions, and marketing tools. I found it simple to move between these areas and locate the specific features I needed. The Brivity Go mobile app is also well-designed, allowing agents to stay productive on the move - responding to messages, tracking web activity, finding prospects, and more.

What really impressed me was the level of user support Brivity provides to help new users get up to speed quickly. There's a dedicated support phone number and email address for any questions that come up. The Help Center is packed with detailed video tutorials and FAQs covering essential topics like initial setup, key features, and CRM best practices. You can also tap into the knowledge of the Brivity community by joining the Brivity Masterminds Facebook group to connect with other users, share tips and tricks, and stay updated on new feature rollouts.

While it offers an array of customization options to tailor the platform to your specific needs and workflow, Brivity’s essential functions are very approachable and don't require extensive setup to start using them effectively. Common tasks like logging contact interactions, setting up email campaigns, generating market reports, and managing transactions are quite straightforward.

The learning curve comes with exploring more advanced capabilities and optimizing your configuration. But overall, I'd estimate that a new user could get comfortable with the core day-to-day functions within a few hours, thanks to the intuitive design and breadth of learning resources. More advanced users will appreciate the ability to set up custom dashboards, data fields, pipelines, and more to suit their needs.

Integrations

Brivity offers a number of ways to sync data and automate workflows with external applications.

First, Brivity connects natively with Gmail, allowing users to send and receive emails directly within the CRM interface. This eliminates the need to switch back and forth between separate email and CRM apps.

Additionally, an in-app store provides access to multiple pre-built integrations that can be enabled with just a few clicks. Popular options include syncing contacts and events with Google, automating email campaigns via MailChimp, posting video updates with BombBomb, and importing leads from Zillow.

For more advanced use cases, Brivity supports integration with iPaaS tools Zapier and Make (formerly Integromat). This opens up possibilities to connect the CRM with hundreds of other SaaS apps and create custom automated workflows.

Real estate-specific integrations are available too, such as RealSynch for syndicating listings data and Callingly for automating lead follow-up calls. Clicking a lead capture form on a website can instantly trigger a call that connects the lead with an available agent, with the call data saved to Brivity.

Under the hood, Brivity provides a REST API that enables developers to programmatically insert and update data within the CRM. So companies with development resources can build fully customized integrations if needed.

In my testing, setting up basic integrations was simple and worked smoothly. Zapier automations reliably added or updated records without any noticeable sync delays. The breadth of turnkey integrations with common real-estate and productivity tools is impressive.

On the downside, API documentation is quite limited and hasn't been updated recently. So, more complex custom integrations may require some trial and error to implement. The interface for managing active integrations could also be improved; it's not always clear which integrations are enabled and how to troubleshoot issues.

How good is Brivity customer support?

Brivity offers solid customer support options to assist users with any questions or issues they may encounter while using the CRM platform.

In terms of live support channels, Brivity provides a dedicated support phone line that users can call to get help from a real person. The support number is 855-427-4848, staffed during regular business hours. Email support is also available by contacting support@brivity.com. While live chat doesn't appear to be offered, the phone and email support should meet the needs of most customers.

For those who prefer to troubleshoot issues on their own first, Brivity maintains a knowledge base with FAQs, how-to articles, and video tutorials. This self-service resource library enables users to quickly find answers and solutions without needing to contact a support rep. However, discussion forums where customers can interact with each other don't seem to be available.

Details on Brivity's average first response and resolution times are not readily published. But many user reviews praise the CRM provider for its prompt and helpful customer service. While response time data would provide a clearer picture, the glowing customer testimonials suggest most users are very satisfied with the speed and quality of support they receive.

As someone who has tested dozens of CRM systems over the years, I'm impressed by how Brivity's executives make themselves personally accessible to customers who need support. That level of leadership involvement and commitment to customer success is rare.

So while it may not have every support channel or resource one could want, Brivity still delivers high-quality customer service overall. Between the live phone support, email assistance, self-help knowledge base, and responsive team that even includes the company's leaders, most customers should feel well taken care of. The rave reviews from real users further boost confidence in Brivity's support.

Brivity CRM plans and pricing

Plan

Growth

Accelerate

Expand

Mega

Custom

Price

Custom pricing

Custom pricing

Custom pricing

Custom pricing

Custom pricing

Best For

Individual agents needing basic CRM functionality

Small teams up to 5 users seeking collaborative tools

Medium teams up to 10 users requiring enhanced capabilities

Large teams up to 25 users needing comprehensive solutions

Teams over 25 users with specific needs

Features

Core CRM

High converting drip campaigns

Unlimited texting and dialer

All the Growth plan features

Lead ponds

Advanced lead routing

All the Accelerate features

Transaction Auto Plans

Client portal access

All the Expand plan features

Dedicated success manager

Extensive reporting tools

Tailored features and support

Scalable solutions

Custom integrations

Limitations

Limited to 2 users, fewer advanced features

Limited to 5 users, additional costs for some add-ons

Limited to 10 users, requires setup time

Limited to 25 users, higher cost structure

More expensive than some competitors

(Image credit: Brivity)

Brivity takes a tiered subscription approach to pricing its CRM platform, with the cost and features steadily increasing across its plan lineup. The plans — Growth, Accelerate, Expand, Mega, and Custom — scale from 1 user up to 25+ users. Exact pricing is no longer provided since Brivity revamped its pricing, so you'd just have to request a demo to get those details.

On the low end, Brivity’s Growth plan provides core CRM functionality for up to 2 users. This could work for a solo agent or small team just getting started. Stepping up, Brivity Accelerate ups the user limit to 5. For larger teams, the Expand plan supports 10 users. There’s also a Large plan for 25 users and a Custom plan for more than 25 users.

While the features across the plans appear to be similar, higher prices get you more user seats. That said, a few features like lead capture, lead pricing, and dedicated success manager support aren’t available on the entry-level plans. And, if you need more than just a CRM, Brivity offers three additional tools: Virtual Assistant, Lead Generation, and Recruiting. These are available as add-ons on top of the base plan.

Unfortunately, I didn't see any discounts advertised beyond the savings from paying annually instead of monthly. And it doesn't look like Brivity offers a free plan or even a free trial to test the software first. Contacting the sales team for a custom demo without any idea of the pricing can be frustrating, but consider that Brivity’s entry-level plan used to be priced at $99.90/month for 2 users before the revamp.

Overall, Brivity's pricing seems reasonable if you just need a basic CRM for a small team. The entry-level plan should suffice for most independent agents or small agencies. But costs can add up quickly if you require more users or additional features beyond the core CRM. And not having transparent pricing or a trial for its more robust plans makes it hard to evaluate the full value you'd be getting.

Brivity CRM review: Final verdict

Brivity is an all-in-one real estate CRM platform that aims to streamline the daily workflows of agents and brokerages. In my experience testing the software, I found that it covers all the core functions needed to manage client relationships and transactions.

The platform is thoughtfully designed to be approachable for new users, with key tools organized into six main tabs. Helpful video tutorials, detailed guides, and a responsive support team make it easy to get up and running quickly. That said, being a real-estate CRM, Brivity’s interface is not as modern as some mainstream competitors.

Brivity also offers an impressive set of features for its price point. Agents can efficiently manage contacts, automate email and text communication, collaborate on transactions, build custom websites, generate market reports, capture leads, and more. The mobile app and Gmail integration are especially useful for staying productive on the go.

While the sheer breadth of functionality is powerful, it may feel a bit overwhelming for some users at first. The main learning curve comes with leveraging Brivity's more advanced marketing and customization capabilities. But overall, most agents should be able to adopt the core CRM tools with ease.

Brivity's pricing is reasonable for small teams, starting at $99/month for up to 2 users. However, costs can add up for larger teams or those needing add-on features beyond just the CRM. The lack of a free trial makes it difficult to fully assess the value before buying.

All in all, I see Brivity as an excellent choice for agents and small brokerages seeking an affordable yet comprehensive platform to orchestrate their daily operations. It checks all the boxes for core CRM functionality, while offering some compelling extras for marketing and productivity. If you're willing to invest a bit of time learning the ins and outs, Brivity can be a big asset for efficiently managing and growing your real estate business.

Microsoft Dynamics 365 is a comprehensive customer relationship management (CRM) solution packed with advanced features enhanced by AI capabilities. It offers a robust set of tools to help businesses manage customer data, streamline sales and service processes, and gain actionable insights.

Dynamics 365 integrates tightly with the Microsoft ecosystem, including Office apps like Outlook, Word, and Excel. This allows for seamless data sharing and collaboration for cloud-based businesses already using Microsoft 365. It also offers connectors to many popular third-party business apps.

While it delivers a lot of functionality, Dynamics 365’s interface can feel a bit complex and overwhelming at first for smaller business users. The pricing model is also on the higher end compared to some other CRM platforms. But for organizations already using Microsoft tools, Dynamics 365 CRM is a powerful platform to unify customer data and processes.

Microsoft Dynamics 365 core capabilities

(Image credit: Microsoft)

Microsoft Dynamics 365 provides a centralized database to store and manage all customer data, including contact information, interaction history, and purchase records. This allows sales and marketing teams to have a complete 360-degree view of each customer.

Contact management in Dynamics 365 enables users to easily track and manage leads, opportunities, and customer accounts. The system can automatically capture lead and customer data from various sources, like web forms, and import it into the CRM. Users can then qualify and nurture leads through the sales pipeline using built-in workflows and automation.

Dynamics 365 also offers advanced sales forecasting and analytics capabilities. Sales managers can get real-time visibility into their team's performance and pipeline with interactive dashboards and reports. AI-driven insights help predict revenue, uncover at-risk deals, and provide actionable recommendations to improve win rates. Integration with Microsoft's Power BI tool allows for even deeper analysis.

To optimize marketing efforts, Dynamics 365 includes features for segmenting customers, managing campaigns, and tracking ROI across channels. Marketers can use the data in the CRM to personalize their messaging and target high-value prospects. The system also has native integrations with LinkedIn and other social media platforms for social selling.

For on-the-go sales reps, Dynamics 365 provides a fully-featured mobile app. It has an intuitive interface that allows reps to access and update customer data, manage their pipeline, and even scan business cards to create new contacts - all from their smartphone. Offline capabilities ensure reps can be productive even without an internet connection.

Another powerful aspect of Dynamics 365 is the ability to automate repetitive sales and marketing tasks. Workflows can be set up to automatically assign leads to reps, send follow-up emails after key events, and create tasks or reminders. This frees up the team's time to focus on higher-value activities.

Integration is also a strong point of Dynamics 365. The platform has pre-built connectors for popular business apps like Office 365, Outlook, SharePoint, and Power Automate. This allows for seamless data syncing and extends the capabilities of the CRM. Custom integrations can also be built using the system's open API.

To help businesses develop strong, lasting relationships with their customers, Dynamics 365 offers a complete customer service module as well. It includes features like case management, knowledge base, and SLAs. Chatbot and self-service portal functionalities enhance the customer experience while also reducing support costs.

In my experience testing Dynamics 365, I've been impressed with the platform's comprehensiveness and flexibility. It has all the core features needed in a CRM with the bonus of Microsoft's familiar interface and robust integration with the rest of its software ecosystem. Setup and navigation are very user-friendly.

However, for smaller businesses, the vast capabilities may be overkill. The pricing model can also get expensive quickly, especially when adding on premium features like AI analytics. Customization and configuration require a partner or significant technical expertise to fully tailor the system.

How easy is Microsoft Dynamics 365 to use?

(Image credit: Microsoft)

Microsoft Dynamics 365 offers an intuitive and modern user experience. The interface leverages key design principles like consistency, simplicity, user-centricity, and efficiency to streamline operations and boost user satisfaction.

In my experience, the clean layout and logical organization make it easy to navigate and find what you need. The UI presents vital data and functionalities based on your Microsoft 365 role, saving time and reducing errors.

Dynamics 365 also provides robust accessibility features for users with disabilities. These include compatibility with screen readers, high contrast modes, keyboard-only navigation, and voice recognition. So the platform can be tailored to individual needs.

Another strength is the wide range of customization options. From simple configurations to custom code, you can adapt it to closely fit your organization's terminology, processes, and unique requirements. I've found the ability to customize entities, forms, views, dashboards, and workflows especially useful.

To help users get up to speed quickly, Microsoft offers extensive onboarding and training resources. These cover everything from basic setup to advanced customization. Highlights include step-by-step guides, how-to videos, and self-paced online courses through Microsoft Learn.

However, it’s worth remembering that Dynamics 365 is a fully-featured enterprise CRM, unsuited for most small business needs. Its learning curve, feature set, and pricing structure all reflect that. If you don’t have use for the advanced capabilities that this platform offers, the added complexity will just hold you back.

Integrations

Out of the box, Dynamics 365 has pre-built connectors for many popular business apps like Office 365, Outlook, Power BI, SharePoint, and LinkedIn. These connectors allow data to flow between the systems, enabling powerful automation and streamlined workflows.

Dynamics 365 also provides an extensive API that allows developers to build custom integrations with virtually any other application or data source. The API is well-documented and supports industry standards like REST and OData, making it straightforward for integration projects.

For those who prefer a low-code approach, Dynamics 365 works well with iPaaS tools like Zapier. Zapier has a dedicated Dynamics 365 app that enables you to connect it to thousands of other apps without writing any code. You can set up "Zaps" to automatically sync data, trigger workflows, and more. This opens up huge possibilities for extending Dynamics 365 outside the Microsoft ecosystem.

In my experience testing the various integration options, I've found the data syncing to be quite reliable and performant. The pre-built connectors "just work", and data flows smoothly in both directions without any lag. Microsoft has obviously put a lot of engineering effort into optimizing the sync infrastructure.

Integration is an area where Dynamics 365 shines. I'd give it top marks here. The possibilities really are endless in terms of what you can connect and automate. It's one of the product's key selling points compared to the competition.

How good is Microsoft Dynamics 365 support?

Microsoft provides a range of support options for its Dynamics 365 customer service platform. All customers get access to the standard support plan at no extra cost, which includes the ability to submit service requests via web or phone, access self-service resources like community forums and the admin center portal, and receive responses to critical issues within 2 hours during business hours.

For organizations with more extensive support needs, Microsoft offers the Professional Direct and Unified Support plans at an additional cost. These provide 24/7 phone support with under 1-hour response times for the most severe issues, along with additional services like escalation management, proactive advisories, and access to a designated Service Delivery Manager.

In terms of self-service options, Dynamics 365 users can turn to an online knowledge base with how-to articles and tutorials, community forums to discuss issues with other customers and Microsoft experts, and the admin center to manage their instance and submit service requests.

When it comes to the perception of Microsoft's support for Dynamics 365, opinions seem to be somewhat mixed. While I did find some positive comments praising the helpfulness and capability of Microsoft support agents, others expressed frustration with slower-than-expected response times, especially for non-critical issues, and having to escalate issues to get a full resolution. Several reviews mentioned that the quality of support can vary quite a bit depending on the individual agent you get.

Overall, Microsoft appears to offer a fairly comprehensive support program for Dynamics 365, with multiple live support and self-service channels. However, the more responsive service levels are limited to the paid support plans, and the consistency of support quality seems to be hit or miss based on anecdotal user reviews. Specific details on resolution times and customer satisfaction ratings are also hard to come by.

Microsoft Dynamics 365 pricing and plans

Plan

Sales Professional

Sales Enterprise

Customer Service Professional

Customer Service Enterprise

Price

$65/user/month

$95/user/month

$50/user/month

$95/user/month

Best For

Small to medium businesses, basic sales needs

Large enterprises, advanced sales features

Small to medium businesses, basic customer service

Large enterprises, advanced customer service

Features

Sales automation

Opportunity management

Outlook integration

AI-driven insights

Advanced analytics

Customizable workflows

Case management

Knowledge management

SLAs

AI-powered chatbots

Omnichannel support

Extensible platform

Limitations

Limited customization and analytics

Higher price point

Limited automation and AI capabilities

Higher price point

Microsoft Dynamics 365 offers several different pricing plans and licensing options depending on the specific CRM applications and features needed.

The Sales Professional plan starts at $65 per user per month, providing core sales force automation, Microsoft 365 integration, reporting, and dashboards. The Sales Enterprise plan is $95 per user per month for the base license.

There are additional attached licenses available to add to other Dynamics 365 apps at a discounted rate. For example, you can get both the Sales and Customer Service apps together for $68 per user per month under a current promotion. Field Service is a popular add-on, with plans starting around $95 per user per month.

For small to medium-sized businesses, the Business Central Essentials plan provides an affordable entry point at $70 per user per month. This includes key accounting and operational features. Stepping up to the Business Central Premium plan at $100 per user per month unlocks advanced functionality like service management and manufacturing.

On average, customers typically spend between $5,000 and $10,000 annually on their Dynamics 365 subscription, with implementation costs around $15,000 according to one Microsoft partner. Of course, the total cost scales up based on the number of user licenses needed.

Microsoft does make it easy to try out Dynamics 365 before committing to a purchase. Most of the CRM and ERP apps offer a 30-day free trial, while some, like Dynamics 365 Guide,s provide an extended 60-day evaluation period. These trials give full access to explore the features and capabilities.

Discounts may also be available for certain customers. Nonprofits can get donated and discounted licenses for many of the Dynamics 365 apps. Microsoft also runs promotions from time to time, such as a current offer bundling Sales and Customer Service together for a reduced price.

Microsoft Dynamics 365 review: Final verdict

Microsoft Dynamics 365 delivers a powerful and comprehensive CRM solution, particularly well-suited for medium to large enterprises already using other Microsoft technologies. Its tight integration with familiar tools like Office 365 and Power BI is a key strength.

Dynamics 365 earns high marks for its extensive set of features across sales, marketing, customer service, and field service. I found the AI-powered sales insights, automated workflows, and customization options especially impressive during my hands-on testing. The thoughtful, accessible user interface also helps flatten the learning curve.

However, all this functionality does come at a relatively high price point compared to some other CRM options. And despite the user-friendly design, Dynamics 365 is still a highly sophisticated platform that will require significant training to fully master. Some users have reported that the sheer breadth of capabilities can feel overwhelming.

Small businesses with basic CRM needs may find Dynamics 365 overkill — they should probably consider more lightweight alternatives like Monday or Sage. But for organizations with complex sales processes and customer lifecycles, particularly those already using Microsoft 365, Dynamics 365 is a top choice. Just be prepared to invest the time and resources needed to properly implement and learn the system.

Sage CRM is a dependable customer relationship management solution designed for small and medium-sized businesses. Its key features include contact and communications management, sales force automation, marketing automation, and customer service tools.

Looking into Sage CRM, I found it to be a well-rounded CRM platform with a solid set of features to help businesses streamline their sales, marketing, and customer service processes. The interface is user-friendly and customizable, making it easy to tailor the system to your company's specific needs.

However, a potential drawback is that it lacks the number of advanced integrations boasted by competitors like Salesforce or HubSpot. However, Sage CRM's reliability and scalability make it a strong contender for SMBs looking to better manage customer interactions and drive business growth.

Sage CRM core capabilities

(Image credit: Sage )

Sage CRM has a lot going for it when it comes to essential CRM capabilities. I've been impressed by how it covers the full gamut of what you'd expect in a modern customer relationship management system.

To start, Sage CRM provides robust contact management, allowing you to track and manage every interaction with prospects and customers across your entire business. The sales force automation features are designed to accelerate your sales processes, providing tools to generate leads, manage opportunities, and close deals more efficiently.

Then there’s the targeted marketing functionality. Sage CRM gives you the ability to easily plan, execute, and evaluate your marketing programs. You can segment your audience, personalize your messaging, and measure the ROI of your campaigns — all from within the CRM.

Of course, CRMs aren’t complete without strong customer service capabilities. Sage CRM aims to help you exceed customer expectations with tools for case management, service level tracking, and a searchable knowledge base. I particularly like the customer self-service portal, which empowers customers to find answers and log requests on their own.

Sage has also kept up with the times by incorporating social capabilities and mobile access. You can engage with customers on social media channels and access the platform from any device.

Another big plus in my book is the tight integration Sage CRM offers with various Sage accounting packages like Sage 100 and Sage 300. Connecting your front and back office data can provide powerful insights to drive your business forward.

Reporting and analytics are also key strengths. Sage CRM includes interactive dashboards and customizable reports to help you forecast sales, monitor key metrics, and gain visibility into team performance. You can slice and dice data to your heart's content.

Lastly, I'm a big fan of the customizable workflows and process automation in Sage CRM. You can easily optimize and standardize processes across sales, marketing, and service to maximize productivity. And the Outlook integration is top-notch for seamless email communications.

All in all, Sage stacks up very well in terms of its breadth and depth of core CRM functionality. While every business has unique needs, Sage covers all the critical bases you'd want in a CRM platform. It's well worth considering for any small to mid-market company looking to take their customer management to the next level.

How easy is Sage CRM to use?

Intuitive interface design, extensive training resources, and straightforward customization are a few key factors that make this platform so easy to use, especially for new users just getting started with a CRM.

Right off the bat, I found the Sage CRM dashboard quite clean and simple to navigate. The layout feels logical, with clearly labeled tabs for jumping between different functional areas. Moving between records can be a bit clunky at times, but overall, the interface gets the job done without overwhelming the user.

Another area where Sage really shines is the wealth of onboarding and training materials they provide through Sage University. When you're new to the platform, having readily available guides, tutorials, and templates to learn from makes a huge difference. Sage has put effort into creating resources to flatten the learning curve.

Sage CRM also offers a good deal of flexibility to tailor the software to your needs. I was impressed with the ability to completely customize important details like quote templates and pricing sources. Mapping out activities in the calendar and setting up workflows also proved fairly intuitive. You don't need to be an IT whiz to mold Sage CRM to your business.

In terms of becoming proficient, I'd estimate most users with a bit of CRM experience could get up and running within a week or two. Those starting from scratch might need closer to a month to feel fully comfortable. But with solid customer support and those extensive training materials, Sage puts in the legwork to make their CRM as approachable as possible.

Ease of use is definitely one of Sage CRM's strong suits. The thoughtful interface, customization options, and educational resources combine to make this a platform that won't leave new users scratching their heads or tearing their hair out. While not without some minor quirks, Sage CRM does a commendable job catering to users of all skill levels.

Integrations

Generally speaking, Sage CRM has strong integration capabilities. The platform offers a variety of ways to connect with other applications and systems.

For starters, Sage has a number of pre-built integrations and connectors available, which makes it easy to quickly link up with popular business apps like Mailchimp, QuickBooks, and more. While not as expansive as competitors like Salesforce or Zendesk, it’s still pretty good.

If you need a more custom integration, Sage CRM also has good support for iPaaS vendors. It integrates seamlessly with automation tools like Zapier and Make. This allows you to create your own integrations and automated workflows without needing to code.

Under the hood, Sage CRM provides a powerful set of REST and SOAP APIs. These give developers the ability to build deep, custom integrations with external databases and systems. While researching, I found some users reporting that the REST API responses can be a bit slow at times. So the performance may not be best-in-class, but overall, the APIs seem reliable and full-featured.

The platform also has some helpful features to make integrating data easier, like the ability to directly connect to and model external database tables. Users say the data synchronization is generally smooth.

All in all, I'm quite impressed with Sage CRM from an integration standpoint. Between the pre-built connectors, iPaaS support, open APIs, and data syncing capabilities, the platform checks all the key boxes. And it seems to mostly deliver on the ease-of-use front as well. You may run into some performance limitations with more complex integrations, but for most needs, Sage CRM looks to be a strong integration option.

How good is Sage CRM customer support?

When it comes to customer support, Sage CRM offers a solid range of options for users to get help when they need it. The company provides live support via phone and email during standard business hours, which are 8 am-5 pm GMT+2 Monday through Thursday, and 8 am-4 pm on Fridays. So while 24/7 support is not available, the hours are reasonable and cover the prime working hours for most customers.

In terms of responsiveness, I found that customers generally expect an email reply within 24 hours from support teams. While I couldn't locate Sage CRM's specific first response time metrics, user reviews suggest that the support is prompt and helpful overall. Many customers complimented how easy the software is to learn and use, even for employees with no prior experience with CRMs, which likely cuts down on the volume of support requests.

For those who prefer to find answers on their own, Sage also offers a good set of self-service resources. These include an online knowledge base and help center with how-to articles and guides, video tutorials, a user community forum, and product documentation. Having all of this information readily available enables customers to troubleshoot issues and learn the software at their own pace.

The quality of support seems to be a highlight for many Sage CRM users based on the testimonials and reviews I analyzed. Customers frequently praise the support team for being responsive, knowledgeable, and able to resolve issues quickly. Some reviewers noted that the initial setup and configuration were made easier with the help of support. There were a few complaints about long hold times or unresolved problems.

My overall assessment is that Sage CRM delivers an effective and well-rounded customer support experience. While round-the-clock live support is lacking, they make up for it with strong documentation, an active user community, and support reps that are consistently described as helpful and efficient by customers. The self-service options are robust, and the positive sentiment regarding support quality is reassuring for businesses evaluating the platform. Sage CRM's support may not be flawless, but it appears to meet or exceed most customers' expectations.

Sage CRM pricing and plans

Plan

Cloud

On-Premise

Price

$45/user/month

Lifetime license with custom pricing

Best For

Small to medium businesses seeking a cloud-based solution

Businesses preferring an on-premise CRM with one-time licensing

Features

• Customizable modules

• Integration with Sage ERP

• Mobile access

• Perpetual licensing

• Greater control over data

• Extensive customization

Limitations

Requires internet connection for use

Higher upfront costs, IT infrastructure needed

Sage CRM offers two deployment options with different pricing models. For the cloud version, Sage charges $45 per user per month. This is a simple, transparent subscription model that allows you to scale up or down as needed.

For the on-premise version, you'll need to contact Sage directly for a custom quote based on your specific requirements. Factors like the number of users, add-on features, and contract length can all impact the final price.

One thing I like is that Sage CRM includes a free trial for its cloud version, so you can take the software for a test drive before committing to a paid plan. This lets you ensure it has all the features and capabilities your business needs.

However, I couldn't find any information on the length of the trial period, so that's something you may want to clarify with the sales team. Additional costs for onboarding, customization, integrations, or support when choosing Sage’s on-premise option are also not clearly listed, from what I could see.

Overall, while the cloud pricing is straightforward, Sage could be more transparent about the full costs involved, especially for the self-hosted version. You'll likely need to go through the sales process to get a complete picture of the investment required, both upfront and ongoing.

For smaller businesses, that $45/user/month starting price is on the higher end compared to some entry-level CRM plans. But for larger teams that need the advanced features Sage CRM offers, it may prove to be a worthwhile value. As with any substantial software purchase, I recommend doing a thorough ROI analysis based on your company's unique situation and goals.

Sage CRM review: Final verdict

Exploring Sage CRM for this review, I found it to be a robust and well-rounded CRM platform that covers all the key bases a small to mid-sized business would need. The thoughtfully designed interface, customization options, and extensive training resources make it approachable for users of all skill levels.

Sage particularly shines when it comes to core CRM functionality like contact management, sales automation, targeted marketing campaigns, and customer service. I was impressed by the ability to track every customer interaction, accelerate the sales process, personalize marketing messaging, and deliver top-notch service through tools like a self-service portal and knowledge base.

With a host of pre-built connectors, iPaaS support, open APIs, and data syncing features, the platform is well-equipped to connect with all the other critical apps and systems a business relies on. While pre-built connectors are a bit limited, Sage CRM offers plenty of other options from an integration standpoint.

While the pricing isn't the most transparent, especially for the on-premise deployment, the overall feature set and usability likely justify the cost for many organizations. And the free trial provides a nice opportunity to validate that before diving in.

I believe Sage CRM is best suited for small to medium-sized companies that want a full-featured and customizable CRM platform they can grow with over time. Companies that have outgrown basic contact management tools but aren't ready for the complexity of an enterprise CRM will likely find Sage CRM to be a happy medium that meets their needs quite well.

SharpSpring is a powerful yet user-friendly marketing automation and CRM platform that caters to the needs of small to mid-sized businesses. As an all-in-one solution, it offers a solid set of features, including lead management, email marketing, social media management, and a built-in CRM at no extra cost.

SharpSpring's key strength lies in its intuitive interface, which makes it easy to create complex automation workflows without requiring extensive technical knowledge. The visual campaign builder allows marketers to design multi-step campaigns with ease, while the opportunity management and task tracking features enable sales teams to stay on top of their pipeline.

However, SharpSpring is not without its drawbacks. Some users have reported occasional glitches and slower performance compared to other platforms. Additionally, while the feature set is comprehensive, it may not be as advanced as some enterprise-level solutions. Despite these minor shortcomings, SharpSpring remains a solid choice for businesses seeking an integrated marketing automation tool with CRM features.

Sharpspring core capabilties

SharpSpring packs a powerful punch when it comes to its core CRM capabilities. At the heart of its CRM functionality is robust lead management. The platform allows you to track, score, qualify, and convert leads, giving you a 360-degree view of your prospects' journey.

A standout feature is SharpSpring's ability to de-anonymize website visitors and track their behavior, enabling deep personalization. You can tailor experiences to each lead contextually based on their interests and actions.

The CRM also excels at email management, with tools to build custom emails and automate personalized outreach at scale. You can set up targeted campaigns triggered by specific lead behaviors or statuses.

For lead capture, SharpSpring provides flexible form and landing page builders. These allow you to craft custom assets that feed prospects' information directly into the CRM. Progressive profiling helps gradually build out lead profiles over time.

I'm impressed by how SharpSpring has seamlessly integrated core CRM functionality with its marketing automation capabilities. Having both in a single platform streamlines operations and aligns sales and marketing, which is great for tightly-knit startups.

However, some long-term users indicate that it may lack a few of the more advanced features you'd find in a standalone system. For many small or midsize companies, though, SharpSpring's CRM will be more than sufficient for their use case.

Overall, SharpSpring delivers on the CRM essentials — lead management, email outreach, and custom form capture — while surrounding them with strong marketing automation. This combination makes it a compelling central revenue platform for SMBs.

How easy is Sharpspring CRM to use?

SharpSpring's user interface aims to simplify navigation and reduce the learning curve for new users. Key customization options allow the platform to adapt to various business needs and use cases.

I found SharpSpring's visual campaign builder to be very intuitive once you get oriented. However, for non-marketers or those new to marketing automation, the workflow may be a bit overwhelming at first. SharpSpring does provide an excellent knowledge base to help users get up to speed, though.

SharpSpring's onboarding is one of its standout features. You get paired with an Onboarding Specialist who guides you through training over your first 60 days. The process starts with goal-setting and expectation-setting calls. Then you move into the thick of it with platform setup, data and system integration, as well as instance configuration.

After that, SharpSpring offers a menu of 30-60 minute training sessions on key platform capabilities that can be mixed, matched, and ordered to your needs. Topics include the CRM, marketing campaigns, landing pages, forms, automation, analytics, and more.

So while the workflow UI might not be immediately intuitive for all, SharpSpring compensates with strong training and onboarding. With guidance from the onboarding team, most users seem to gain proficiency within the first couple of months.

A potential downside is the flip side of customization; it may take more time to configure the platform to your needs than a more standardized tool. But if you want that flexibility and are willing to invest some upfront effort, it pays off in the long run.

Overall, I give SharpSpring high marks for its user interface, training resources, and customization options to fit diverse business cases. With a bit of time to orient and personalized onboarding, new users can harness its power.

SharpSpring integrations

(Image credit: SharpSpring)

SharpSpring offers a robust set of integration options to connect it with other business applications and extend its functionality. The CRM integrates with a wide variety of popular apps out of the box through its App Marketplace. Here you can find connectors for marketing tools like Facebook Lead Ads, Unbounce, Eventbrite, SurveyMonkey, and more.

I found the integration with Unbounce particularly useful, as it allows marketing leads captured on Unbounce landing pages to automatically sync into SharpSpring for follow-up. The Facebook Lead Ads integration is also handy for pulling in leads generated from social media campaigns.

For more custom integrations, SharpSpring supports popular automation platforms Zapier and Make (formerly Integromat). With these iPaaS (integration platform as a service) tools, you can connect SharpSpring to over 1000 other apps without needing to write any code. I was able to use Zapier to set up an integration that sends new leads from my website's contact form directly into SharpSpring, then creates tasks for a hypothetical sales team to reach out to.

SharpSpring also provides a full-featured REST API that allows developers to integrate the CRM with any other system. The API documentation is comprehensive, and the platform uses standard OAuth 2.0 authentication. Advanced users suggest that the API is relatively straightforward to work with when building a custom integration.

One thing I would like to see is more granular user permissions around integrations. Currently, any user can set up an integration, which could potentially lead to data being unintentionally exposed. It would be nice to have admin-level controls over what integrations and connected apps each user can access.

But in the end, SharpSpring's integration capabilities are quite strong. The combination of pre-built app connectors, iPaaS support, and a robust API means the platform can fit into most any tech stack. And based on my experience, the integrations are stable, and the data syncing between systems is reliable. SharpSpring has clearly put a lot of thought into making its CRM as extensible as possible.

How good is SharpSpring customer support?

SharpSpring provides a robust customer support experience for its CRM users. They offer a variety of channels to get help, including phone, email, and live chat support. Live chat is especially responsive and helpful for getting quick answers to questions.

The company also has a well-organized knowledge base with tutorials, training resources, and FAQs to help users self-serve and troubleshoot issues on their own. The articles are clear and include helpful screenshots. There's a handy search feature to find relevant content quickly.

However, SharpSpring could improve a few areas of its support. First, the live support channels are not 24/7 - you can generally only get real-time help during extended business hours. Off hours, you have to rely on their ticket system and wait for a response.

But, while many customers rave about the quality and friendliness of the support, some reviews mention that the first response time can occasionally be a bit slow, and complex issues may require some back and forth to fully resolve. SharpSpring doesn't publish official response time averages that I could find.

SharpSpring pricing and plans

Plan

1K Contacts

10K Contacts

20K Contacts

Agency

Enterprise

Price

$449/month

$999/month

$1,449/month

Custom pricing

Custom pricing

Best For

Small businesses needing basic automation

Medium businesses seeking comprehensive CRM features

Large businesses requiring extensive lead management

Marketing agencies managing multiple clients with diverse needs

Large enterprises needing advanced CRM with marketing automation

Features

Unlimited users

Marketing automation

Social media management

10X more contacts

Dynamic landing pages

Advanced reporting

Advanced automation

Custom integrations

Enhanced analytics

Rebrandable interface

Unlimited users

Client management tools

Advanced analytics

Custom workflows

Extensive integrations

Limitations

Limited customization options

May lack advanced integrations

Higher cost for additional onboarding

Requires a setup call for pricing and onboarding

Requires contact with SharpSpring for detailed pricing and onboarding

SharpSpring offers a simple and straightforward pricing model based on the number of contacts in your database. Their plans start at $449 per month for up to 1,000 contacts, scaling up to $999 per month for 10,000 contacts and $1,449 per month for 20,000 contacts.

One appealing aspect of SharpSpring's pricing is that all plans include unlimited users, support, training, and a dedicated onboarding specialist at no extra cost. This provides great value for growing teams that need multiple logins without incurring additional per-user fees.

SharpSpring's pricing is all-inclusive with no hidden charges or add-ons required to access advanced features. Every plan gives you its complete suite of sales and marketing automation tools. However, annual contracts are required to get the advertised monthly rates; otherwise, the month-to-month pricing is a bit higher. SharpSpring also does not publish the month-to-month costs, so you'll need to contact sales for a quote if you don't want an annual commitment.

For larger enterprises with over 20,000 contacts, SharpSpring offers custom plans tailored to your needs and scale. Again, you'll have to get in touch with their team for a personalized price quote.

While not as cheap as some entry-level CRMs, I think SharpSpring provides a good balance of robust features and affordable, predictable pricing that can scale with your business. The lack of extra charges for basics like additional users and customer support is a big plus.

But a huge downside is the lack of a free plan for solo entrepreneurs and small businesses to get started. There's also no pricing information for their month-to-month plans or enterprise tiers. More transparency would be nice.

But overall, SharpSpring's cost is reasonable for the functionality you get, especially with the generous allotments for users and support on all plans.

SharpSpring CRM review: Summary

SharpSpring is a solid, intuitive, and easy-to-use CRM solution that provides good value for small to mid-sized businesses and marketing agencies. The platform offers a robust set of features, including lead management, email marketing, social media management, and a built-in CRM at an affordable price point compared to some competitors.

Its intuitive visual campaign builder is a key selling point, which makes it easy to design multi-step automation workflows for marketing and sales. CRM functionality, while relatively limited, is also well-integrated, enabling a seamless handoff between marketing and sales.

However, SharpSpring is not without some shortcomings. While the core feature set is solid, it may fall short for companies with very advanced sales automation needs. Some users have also reported occasional performance issues and bugs.

You would think the concept of a mature superhero story would be played out by now; who has room for yet another ragtag team of outcasts with questionable morals and a habit for swearing, but come together against all odds and become one messed-up found family? And yet, AdHoc Studio's episodic, choice-based narrative game, Dispatch, has proved me wrong.

Review info

Platform reviewed: PC
Available on: PC, PS5, Nintendo Switch, and Nintendo Switch 2
Release date: October 22, 2025

Set in an alternate Los Angeles where enhanced individuals, demons, and aliens are the norm, in Dispatch, you play as Robert Robertson, a superhero who goes by the name Mecha Man. But after his mission to take down the supervillain Shroud goes wrong, Robert is forced to take a break from his hero duties.

Feeling dejected and forced into early retirement, he's soon approached by the celebrated hero Blonde Blazer, and in exchange for repairing his suit, Robert joins the Superhero Dispatch Network (SDN), an organization aiding the people of LA.

(Image credit: AdHoc Studio)Tell-your-own-adventure games are so back

AdHoc's first game was created by a team of Telltale Games alumni along with other industry veterans, so it makes sense that it manages to capture the spirit of what made Telltale's stories so memorable in the first place. From the very first episode, I was taken with Dispatch, and it made me realize how much I've missed these interactive stories after their long absence.

With its eight-episode runtime, Dispatch is structured like an animated TV series and looks the part, too, with its remarkable animation and fluid art style that pop like the panels of a comic book. Thankfully, though, this isn't just another run-of-the-mill mature superhero drama that has become popularized these past few years. Yes, it does have the dark humor and violence that are typically present in these stories, but this game manages to successfully set itself apart from shows like Invincible, The Boys, or Peacemaker by being original enough.

Dispatch is workplace comedy and also a redemption story at its core. But it's not Robert who is looking for it; rather, the team he is forced to take under his wing.

At the SDN, it's Robert's job as a dispatcher to oversee the Z-Team, a group of former villains and anti-heroes that have been recruited to do some good. There's drama, rivalry, and some hilarious interactions to be found with this bunch, as well as frequent sex jokes, but at its core, Dispatch tells a sincere story about second chances and proving to yourself that you're more than your past mistakes.

(Image credit: AdHoc Studio)

Since he's leading the team, choosing how to approach Robert's personality is up to the player, and choices will have a rippling effect on those around you. My version of Robert was a compassionate, all-around good guy who believed in his team, and through certain dialogue options, the game does a great job of humanizing these ex-villains through witty banter, corny yet genuinely funny gags, heartfelt moments that offer an insight behind the mask, and the natural familial environment that comes with it all.

While all this is going on, there's also the looming threat of the primary antagonist, Shroud, voiced by the excellent Matt Mercer. Shroud's overall presence in the main narrative is lacking until late in the game, and I would have liked to have spent more time exploring his history with Robert. That being said, when he eventually makes his reappearance, his arrival presents an exhilarating conflict that pays off thanks to the game's solid build-up and how invested I became in rehabilitating the Z-Team.

Similarly, I was hoping for more about Robert's backstory, too, more so a deeper look into his relationship with his absentee superhero father and what his life was like as Mecha Man before he became entangled with the Z-Team, and it's something I would love to delve more deeply into in a potential follow-up season.

(Image credit: AdHoc Studio)Clocking in to save the day

As an interactive narrative adventure, Dispatch lets you sit back and watch the story play out while clicking your preferred dialogue options throughout. But outside of this, and executing quicktime event (QTE) scenarios that feel genuinely thrilling when they're combined with flashy fight scenes, the game offers additional ways to make you feel more involved in creating your preferred world state.

During Robert's SDN shifts is where the core gameplay takes place and where you must use your wits to strategically assign heroes to missions across LA by matching the requirements to the character traits and their respective attributes for maximum success.

It's a sort of management sim, with different mission types that present unique challenges, requiring you to use your initiative to figure out the best course of action while also completing a series of hacking mini-games that feel incredibly rewarding when you achieve your tasks.

For players who are looking for a more relaxing time, the game also offers a Cinematic Mode, which disables QTEs during the main story, and an option for unlimited hacking attempts, so there's no need to stress about messing up and ruining your playthrough.

Missions and hero training also go hand in hand. Depending on your performance during shifts, heroes can earn XP that can be used to level up their attributes, as well as unlock additional skills that increase their chances of top marks.

(Image credit: AdHoc Studio)

Synergy abilities between a pair of heroes can also make or break a job, and reaching max synergy will add another major buff to the success rate. Heroes also have specific characteristics that will make them the right fit for a caller's request, like a runaway train that needs someone with high Vigor and Combat stats; that's a job for Punch Man or Golem. Having trouble with a demonic threat? Malevola is your best bet.

Personal choices, low morale, and narrative events like someone leaving work early or heroes sabotaging each other can also impact your daily shifts. At one point, the game asks you to pick a new addition to the Z-Team, newcomer Waterboy or the famous Phenomaman, and either choice will have a positive and negative impact on missions due to their attributes.

If you choose Waterboy, he's a weak character from the start with poor attributes, but he's a clean slate, meaning you can build him up however you like, and I ended up pouring his XP into making him an agile fighter. On the other hand, if you add Phenomaman to your team, he's incredibly strong from the start and can complete a variety of missions easily, but he has a terrible debuff that makes him depressed whenever you fail a mission.

The entire concept is an inspired idea that feels like an evolution in the long-standing, tailored narrative genre, offering more autonomy to the player beyond simply selecting certain dialogue options.

(Image credit: AdHoc Studio)Building bonds

The game consists of eight episodes, with every cliffhanger leaving me at the edge of my seat, but, oh, how I wish there were more, if only so I could spend more time with these characters. Before even reaching the finale, every single member of Robert's circle, whether it be the anxious yet charming Waterboy, the charismatic Prism with her illusion powers, the devil from down under Malevola, or the literal bat man Sonar, had grown on me.

There wasn't a single member of the Z-Team that I disliked enough to wish I could boot from my team, and that's mainly thanks to the endearing way each distinctive hero is written and presented within the group, and the fantastic cast that voices them.

The bonds that Robert builds with the Z-Team, as well as the accompanying characters like Chase and Royd, feel so authentic by the final episode that I didn't want to say goodbye.

But the shining star for me was Invisigal, voiced by the amazing Laura Bailey, an abrasive and complicated ex-thief with a desire to be a hero. Her chemistry with Robert is one of the strongest facets of the game and overall storyline, and she quickly became a standout character among the bunch by matching Aaron Paul's sarcastic energy, who is also excellent in his role.

(Image credit: AdHoc Studios)

Dispatch excels in almost every way, but its endearing superheroes are the highlight of the game for me. Robert Robertson, every member of the Z-Team, and even the accompanying characters like Chase and Royd, stand out thanks to their distinctive personalities and the excellent voice work from an all-star cast.

Yes, Dispatch also features romance, but it's not a deeply rooted aspect of the game, unlike other personally tailored adventure games that let you smooch your companions. This isn't necessarily a negative thing, but your options are very limited to either Invisigal or Blonde Blazer, and both are equally enjoyable as the other.

The thing is, the Z-Team is comprised of a bunch of great personalities that I would have loved to explore in additional playthroughs if given the chance beyond platonic relationships.

Nevertheless, despite being all-in on winning Visi's heart from the get-go, at times, it felt as if the game was pushing me towards her anyway, so much so that it almost feels like her and Robert are the canon pairing.

There are also many points in the game where your decisions will make or break your potential bond with Visi, and even if you don't romance her, her prominent role in the narrative presents major repercussions depending on your decisions, including an ambiguous outcome that leaves questions about the possibility of a season 2.

Should you play Dispatch?Play it if...

You enjoy superhero stories told in episodic format
Dispatch is a workplace comedy set in a universe where superheroes are the norm, but thanks to its remarkable animation and a heartfelt storyline, it sets itself apart from what we're already familiar with.

You're looking for a game with lovable characters
Dispatch's characters are the highlight of the game, so if you're looking for a chaotic group of former villains turned heroes, turned found family to fall in love with, you're in for a treat.

You're a fan of choice-based narrative games
If you've previously enjoyed Telltale Games, you'll love AdHoc Studio's Dispatch, which takes place over the course of eight bite-sized episodes with impactful choices to be made.

Don't play it if...

You're not a fan of choose-your-own adventure games
Dispatch is a choice-based narrative game and structured like an animated superhero TV series, so if you don't want to sit back and watch the story play out or only interact through dialogue options and mini-games, this game might not be for you.

Accessibility

Dispatch offers a ton of accessibility features, including a Cinematic Mode that turns off QTEs during scenarios, an Unlimited Hacking Attempts option, a colorblind mode with intensity options, visual warping and additive FX monitoring, and subtitle size options.

Some filters also replace licensed music and offer options to censor profanity and mature visuals.

How I reviewed Dispatch

It took me roughly 13 hours to complete Dispatch on my gaming PC with my Logitech G G715 wireless gaming keyboard and Logitech G703 wireless gaming mouse, which just included the main storyline using the game's main Interactive mode.

I also tested the Cinematic Mode, which turns off QTEs, on my Gigabyte M28U 28-inch 4K gaming monitor, repeated some scenarios to discover alternative outcomes, and compared the game's gameplay elements to Telltale's The Walking Dead and The Wolf Among Us.

First reviewed December 2025

Alldocube IWork GT Ultra: 30-second review

The Alldocube IWork GT Ultra is a 2-in-1 Windows tablet designed to deliver a blend of portability, performance, and versatility for both professional and personal use. At its core, the device is powered by the Intel Core Ultra 5 125H processor, which features a hybrid architecture with 4 performance cores, 8 efficient cores, and 2 low-power efficient cores, totalling 18 threads. This configuration ensures robust multitasking capabilities and efficient power consumption, making it suitable for demanding productivity tasks as well as everyday computing.

Equipped with 16GB of LPDDR5 memory and a useful 1TB PCIe SSD, this device provides ample storage and swift data access. The GPU in this CPU generation is the integrated Intel Arc Graphics, making it suitable for creative work, media consumption, and light gaming.

In terms of connectivity, the IWork GT Ultra is well-optioned with one USB 3.0 Type-A port, two USB 3.1 Type-C ports (supporting charging) and a 5-pin magnetic PogoPin keyboard interface. Wireless connectivity is provided by Bluetooth 5.2 and Wi-Fi 6, ensuring fast and reliable network access.

The device features a robust magnesium-aluminium alloy chassis, weighing only 850g and less than 1cm in thickness. This makes it highly portable without compromising on durability. The battery is rated at 42.72Wh, supporting Type-C PD100W fast charging for extended use on the go.

Additional features include dual digital microphones, dual speakers, front and rear 5MP cameras (the rear with autofocus), and essential sensors such as a gravity sensor and Hall effect sensor. The IWork GT Ultra ships with Windows 11 Home, though it could run Windows 11 Pro or Linux, easily.

While Alldocube isn’t a familiar brand, the hardware is professionally designed and assembled, and as this is a recent Intel platform, it should be fully compatible with Windows and its apps.

The only technical caveat to this machine, and something I cover later in the review, is how long it lasts on battery, which is a little disappointing. That’s the one thing stopping the Alldocube IWork GT Ultra from being one of our choices for best business laptops.

Alldocube IWork GT Ultra: Price and availability

(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)

• How much does it cost? From £700, €800
• When is it out? Available now
• Where can you get it? Amazon in most European countries

Often, 2-in-1 laptops are initially available only in the USA and maybe China before becoming more widely available. But this one is available via the global website for Europe via Amazon in Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Spain.

You can buy this machine in Europe, and I did notice that ordering it from the German Amazon, it was possible to set my address in the UK, so it's probably purchasable in any part of Europe. The UK cost is £703.50, and the EU cost is €799.99.

While Alldocube does have a store as part of the US Amazon.com, this machine isn’t on that currently. I suspect that tariffs have impacted the potential pathway for this product to come to the USA.

And, Alldocube has regional websites for China, Russia and South Korea. I should mention that Intel customers aren’t supposed to ship systems containing Intel processors to Russia, at this time. Together with AMD, they have been litigated against in Texas for “willful ignorance” that allowed US semiconductors into Russian and Iranian weapons.

For a machine with this specification, the price is extremely aggressive, and you would be lucky to find a branded system with this capability for less than £1000.

• Value: 4/ 5

Alldocube IWork GT Ultra: Specs

Category

Specification

Processor

Intel Core Ultra 5 125H Performance-cores: 4 Efficient-cores: 8 Low Power Efficient-cores: 2 Total Threads: 18 Base/Turbo Frequency: 1.2GHz/4.5GHz (Performance), 700MHz/3.6GHz (Efficient), 700MHz/2.5GHz (Low Power Efficient) Cache: 18MB Intel® Smart Cache Lithography: Intel 4

Graphics

Intel Arc Graphics Max Dynamic Frequency: 2.2GHz

Memory

16GB LPDDR5

Storage

1TB PCIe SSD

Operating System

Windows 11 Home

Display

13-inch IPS Resolution: 2560×1600 Aspect Ratio: 16:10 Refresh Rate: 60Hz Pixel Density: 232PPI Contrast: Typ. 1100:1, Min. 900:1 Color Gamut: Typ. 70%, Min. 65% Brightness: Typ. 500 cd/?, Min. 450 cd/? Touch: 10-point incell full lamination Stylus: Supports 4096-level USI pressure-sensitive pen

Camera

Front: 5MP Rear: 5MP (autofocus)

Audio

Dual Digital Microphones Dual Speakers

Wireless

Bluetooth 5.2 Wi-Fi 6 (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax, 2.4GHz+5GHz)

Sensors

Gravity sensor Hall effector

Ports

1 × USB 3.0 Type-A 2 × USB 3.1 Type-C (full-function, Type-C PogoPin: 5-pin magnetic keyboard interface

Battery

11.67V/3660mAh (42.72Wh) smart battery Type-C PD100W power adapter

Body

Magnesium-aluminium alloy

Dimensions

Height: 300.57mm Width: 195.56mm Thickness: 9.89mm

Weight

850g

Alldocube IWork GT Ultra: Design

(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)

• Elegant engineering
• Noisey fan
• Zero upgrades

I recall when various pieces of classic Apple hardware were launched, and fans of that brand declared that only that company could make and design that level of quality. Except Apple didn’t make those items, and the Alldocube IWork GT Ultra is a decent example of how Chinese factories can turn out things just as well-crafted as anything with a fruit logo on it when the need arises.

While not quite the absolute best quality, the IWork GT Ultra is a beautifully engineered 2-in-1 system which can operate as a 13-inch tablet or with its flexible keyboard cover, a laptop.

The only caveat is that, like the original Microsoft Surface machines, the flexible keyboard makes it practically impossible to type with it balanced on your lap, irrespective of what rabid Microsoft marketing people insist.

This machine apes the Surface considerably, except it doesn’t try to oversell its capabilities, and it's significantly cheaper. For those interested in a comparable Surface, the Surface Pro 10 for Business does have the series 2 Core Ultra processor and Thunderbolt ports, but you will be spending more than double the cost of the iWork GT Ultra, and that’s for a machine with only 256GB of storage.

One of the evident changes of this design for Alldocube’s engineers was heat dissipation, because on the top and side of the tablet are vents, and it does get warm in use and while charging. Under duress, the fan can also be on the noisy side.

The one edge without vents is the bottom, where the flexible keyboard attaches. I’ve had plenty of 2-in-1 systems where the keyboard will detach at the slightest encouragement, but this design with two engaging lugs stays put neatly.

The keyboard is USB, and the pogo pins along that interface connect it effectively when the two are brought together.

(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)

Connectivity on this tablet design is predictably limited, with only three USB ports and no HDMI out or LAN ports. Two of the ports are USB 3.2 Gen 2 USB-C, and the other USB-A port is Gen 1. It would have been nice to have had USB4, but given the price point, I’m not surprised that wasn’t included.

With Gen 2 ports, you can add LAN and HDMI out, but note that one of these ports is required for charging.

The big disappointment, which isn’t uncommon in tablet designs, is that there’s no obvious way to get inside this system, which rules out any memory or storage upgrades. I suspect that the memory is soldered, but a removable panel to get to the M.2 module would have been helpful. Therefore, the maximum memory this system will ever have is 16GB, and should the 1TB storage fail, the system is junk, unless you are a ninja with a spudger.

While I can’t directly confirm the maker of the SDD, or how the drive is connected, so trying to open it to replace that module would be an act of desperation.

• Design: 4 / 5

Alldocube IWork GT Ultra: Hardware

• Intel Core Ultra 5 125H
• Intel Arc Graphics
• 28 PCIe Lanes

This machine uses the Intel Core Ultra 5 125H processor, from the first generation of Core Ultra models that were released in December 2023.

The thinking behind these chips was to make Intel king of power efficiency, while not bothering so much about performance. And they succeeded in dramatically improving laptop battery life, but they were technically slower than the Intel 13th Gen silicon they replaced. Since then, these Meteor Lake designs have been superseded by the second generation, where Intel tried to rebalance the performance and efficiency equation.

In the Core Ultra 5 125H design, there are only four performance cores, and only those cores support hyperthreading. The other Efficient-cores (8) and Low Power Efficient-cores (2) do not have hyperthreading, giving a total of 18 potential threads. Many demanding applications ignore the Efficient-cores, since getting threads to sync and not waiting for slower cores is inherently inefficient.

One good thing about this platform is that it has Arc Graphics, a reworking of the Xe architecture from its Iris Xe era. This implementation of Arc Graphics has seven Xe cores and can deliver 10 TOPS (int8) performance for AI processing. This isn’t very different from what the replacement Core Ultra 5 135H offers, since the Arc in that chip only adds an extra Xe core to make 8, and increases the execution units from 112 to 128, TMUs from 56 to 64 and ROPs from 24 to 32.

For typical office graphics requirements, the Arc Graphics in the Core Ultra 5 125H is more than adequate, unless you are trying to use dedicated CAD or develop AI models.

(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)

The best aspect of the Core Ultra 5 125H is its 28 PCIe lanes, but unfortunately, in this system, more of those lanes go unused. All of the USB probably uses less than a couple of PCIe Gen 4 lanes, and the storage uses a maximum of four lanes. Even with WiFi and Bluetooth, probably twenty of these lanes never see any traffic.

This is why the Core Ultra 5 125H has been popular in Mini PC designs, since those can use the lanes for Thunderbolt and multiple storage devices, but here they’re largely superfluous.

(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)

Another strong aspect of this hardware is the display, which isn’t something I’d usually call out on a low-cost solution.

This 13-inch IPS panel has a natural resolution of 2560×1600 and a brightness of 500 cd/㎡m², which is probably the highest resolution you might practically want in a screen of this size.

Its colour accuracy isn’t amazing, so I wouldn’t recommend this to anyone working with exacting hues, but it's bright, and the 10-point touch sensor is configured for a 4096-level USI pressure-sensitive pen. There wasn’t a pen in my review model, but I have noticed that some of the retailers selling them do include this item.

Overall, the specification of the IWork GT Ultra is better than the price might suggest, although some of the better aspects, like the PCIe lanes, are largely moot.

(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)

• Hardware: 4 / 5

Alldocube IWork GT Ultra: Performance

Laptops

Alldocube IWork GT Ultra

Asus Expertbook

CPU

Intel Core Ultra 5 125H

Intel Core Ultra 5 226V(Engineering Sample)

Cores/Threads

14C 18T

8C/8T

TPD

28W

17W

RAM

16GB LPDDR5X

16GB DDR5 (8x 2GB)

SSD

1TB Brand Unknown

512 GB Samsung MZVL8512HELU

Graphics

Intel Arc GPU

Intel Arc GPU

NPU

Intel NPU (11 TOPS)

Intel NPU (40 TOPS)

3DMark

WildLife

16,267

13,247

FireStrike

5607

6273

TimeSpy

2638

3047

Steel Nomad.L

2156

1908

CineBench24

Single

89

113

Multi

378

520

Ratio

4.25

4.59

GeekBench 6

Single

2163

2543

Multi

9923

9881

OpenCL

28337

25163

Vulkan

26454

27541

CrystalDIsk

Read MB/s

7062

5035

Write MB/s

6397

2804

PCMark 10

Office

5979

6137

Battery

6h 23m

18h 18m

Battery

Whr

42.72

50

PSU

100W

100W

WEI

Score

8.2

8.3

It was difficult to find another laptop in my data collection that used a similar platform, so I chose to offer the Asus Expertbook, a machine that uses a more recent Intel Core Ultra 5 226V processor. However, the Asus hardware is significantly more expensive.

What’s interesting is that the Asus Expertbook was clearly calibrated for the best possible battery life, whereas the Alldocube IWork GT Ultra was oriented more to raw performance.

A significant change that Intel executed between the Core Ultra 5 125H and Intel Core Ultra 5 226V was that the latter chip has no hyperthreading at all, reducing the thread count to eight, four each from the performance and efficiency cores.

The end result is that the Core Ultra 5 226V performs well at single-thread operations and better in multithreading, but it doesn’t push its Arc Graphics GPU as hard.

But the parts of this data that tell the most revealing story are those to do with power consumption, and that’s not good news for the IWork GT Ultra. Admittedly, the iWork GT Ultra has less battery, just 42.72 Whr, but the running time of the expert book is almost three times as long, with only 50 Whr.

Therefore, if you can’t guarantee a place to recharge during a working day, then the Expertbook is a much better proposition. The recharging of the expert book was also slower than it might have been, recovering just 24% of capacity in 30 minutes.

In short, the IWork GT Ultra is fine for the short sprint, but not ideal for the long haul.

(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)

• Performance: 4 / 5

Alldocube IWork GT Ultra: Final verdict

If it weren’t for the lacklustre battery life, this would be a system I’d strongly recommend. The need to carry a power pack or the PSU with you undermines the ultra-lightweight profile of this machine.

That one rather critical point aside, this is an excellent piece of equipment if an Intel Series 1 processor, 16GB of RAM and 1TB of storage work for your use.

The inspiration for the IWork GT Ultra is obviously the Microsoft Surface, and it does a decent job of offering a workable solution if you like that concept.

I do hope that Alldocube now makes an Intel Core Ultra Series 2 or modern AMD Ryzen version, and brings the power efficiency that is the Achilles heel of this device.

Should you buy a Alldocube IWork GT Ultra?

Value

An affordable option for ultra portable

4 / 5

Design

No upgrades and limited ports, but a terrific display

4 / 5

Hardware

A Core Ultra Series 1 CPU and GPU with plenty of power

4 / 5

Performance

A decent processor and GPU, but battery life is limited

4 / 5

Overall

Not ideal for a working day on battery, but an affordable option

4 / 5

Buy it if...

You need a cheap 2-in-1
The true strengths of this design are that it is only 800g, and it's a reasonably powerful laptop. The downsides are the limited ports and battery life. With a limited budget, this could be made to work.

You are on a tight budget
For the money, this is a decent laptop with some nice features and a good hardware platform, and at a price that doesn't get you much these days.

Don't buy it if...

You like upgrades
There are no possible upgrades here, at all. What the machine comes with is what it has.View Deal

You need good battery life
The battery life of this machine isn't good, mostly because it doesn't have a large battery, and the system is set up for performance.

For more productivity machines, we reviewed the best laptops for work and gaming and the best laptops for working from home.

Salesmate is an increasingly popular CRM platform that aims to streamline and automate the sales process for businesses of all sizes. It offers an impressive array of features, with a particular focus on advanced sales automation capabilities.

A few standout features include a 360-degree contact management system to easily capture, enrich, and track leads, customizable sales pipelines and workflows, and robust email marketing tools. The automation journeys are especially powerful, allowing you to personalize customer experiences and almost completely automate the journey from lead to sale.

That said, Salesmate does have some drawbacks. It's not the most affordable CRM out there, with pricing that increases based on the number of contacts. The advanced features, while very capable, can also mean a steeper learning curve for new users. And customer support is limited on most plans. But overall, Salesmate is a compelling modern CRM for sales teams that want to leverage automation.

Salesmate core capabilties

(Image credit: Salesmate)

Salesmate packs a punch when it comes to must-have CRM capabilities. At its core, it offers robust contact management that allows you to track all interactions and activities with leads and customers in one centralized database. You can easily import contacts from various sources, enrich the data, and segment them using smart views and filters for targeted outreach.

The visual sales pipeline builder is intuitive and flexible, letting you create multiple pipelines with customized stages to match your unique sales process. As deals progress through the stages, you gain visibility into the health of your pipeline.

Sales forecasting is especially good. Reps can predict their numbers based on the likelihood of deals closing, giving management more accurate revenue projections. The built-in performance analytics are also impressive, with the ability to slice and dice data using different filters to generate insightful reports and dashboards.

Salesmate doesn't skimp on productivity boosters either. You can automate routine tasks like sending follow-up emails, setting reminders, and updating fields. Plus, the mobile app with offline access keeps road warriors in the loop at all times.

Where Salesmate really shines is its AI assistant called Sandy. You can delegate admin work to Sandy via voice or chat commands - from scheduling meetings to logging notes and follow-ups. This frees up significant time for reps to focus on selling.

The platform also ventures beyond typical CRM functionality with its marketing automation tools. You can build email campaigns, design landing pages, and create multi-step journeys to nurture leads.

Other thoughtful features include website live chat, chatbots for 24/7 lead capture and support, and a drag-and-drop newsletter builder. All these allow businesses to engage customers across channels without relying on separate point solutions.

Salesmate is an extremely well-rounded CRM that can streamline sales operations for small and midsize companies. By bringing sales, marketing, and service into a single platform, it eliminates data silos and fosters seamless collaboration. While not as complex as enterprise systems, Salesmate offers just the right mix of core and innovative features to drive productivity and revenue growth.

How easy is Salesmate CRM to use?

(Image credit: Salesmate)

Salesmate's clean and modern design makes navigating the platform a breeze, even for those new to CRMs. The customizable pipelines allow users to tailor their sales processes to their specific needs, ensuring efficient lead management and minimizing the learning curve.

Salesmate also offers robust accessibility features, such as built-in email tracking, which provides valuable insights into email interactions and enables prompt follow-up actions. The integration options are another highlight, allowing seamless connection with various third-party tools and applications, streamlining workflows, and enhancing productivity.

In my experience, Salesmate's onboarding process is smooth and straightforward, with a variety of helpful resources available, including video tutorials, webinars, and a comprehensive knowledge base. The company also provides excellent customer support, with responsive and knowledgeable representatives ready to assist users at any stage of their journey.

One particularly impressive aspect of Salesmate is the ease with which users can set up web forms to capture lead information. The process is simple and intuitive, requiring no technical expertise. This feature alone can save businesses countless hours and help them focus on what matters most – engaging with prospects and closing deals.

While the platform offers a wide range of customization options, some users might find the level of granularity a bit overwhelming at first. However, the platform's well-organized settings and clear documentation make it easy to navigate these options and tailor the CRM to specific business requirements.

Overall, Salesmate's commitment to user experience shines through in its thoughtfully designed interface, accessible features, and comprehensive support resources. With a relatively short learning curve and powerful tools at their fingertips, users can quickly become proficient in leveraging Salesmate to streamline their sales processes and drive business growth.

Salesmate integrations

Salesmate CRM offers an impressive array of pre-built integrations and connectors that allow it to seamlessly integrate with many popular business applications. The platform has native integrations with Gmail, Google Drive, Google Meet, Microsoft 365, Slack, ActiveCampaign, AWeber, BigCommerce, DocuSign, Dialpad, QuickBooks, and over 700 other apps through Zapier.

I was pleased to see that Salesmate provides a clean and well-documented API that enables developers to build custom integrations. The API allows access to core CRM data and functions like accounts, contacts, deals, activities, and more. This opens up a lot of possibilities for businesses to connect Salesmate with their existing tech stack.

For non-developers, Salesmate's integration with Zapier is a big plus. Zapier acts as a bridge, letting you connect Salesmate with thousands of the most popular apps without writing any code. You can set up automated workflows to sync data, trigger notifications, and more. Having tested a couple of Zaps myself, I can say the process is quite intuitive.

Another standout integration is with Integrately, a no-code integration platform. Integrately provides a visual interface to create complex automated processes spanning multiple apps. So you can use it to deeply embed Salesmate into your workflows without relying on developers.

In my experience, the pre-built integrations work smoothly and reliably. I didn't encounter any issues with data syncing or app connectivity. Salesmate's UI for configuring integrations is also clean and user-friendly.

One minor drawback is that compared to some other CRMs, Salesmate has a smaller number of pre-built integrations. However, the critical ones for sales and marketing are well covered. And you can always build a custom integration using the API when needed.

How good is Salesmate customer support?

In terms of customer support, I found that Salesmate provides a few key channels for users to get help. They offer 24/5 email support for all plans, with live chat also available for those who prefer the written medium.

A ticketing system allows customers to track the real-time status and progress of their support issues via both live chat and email. This gives users more visibility into how their problems are being handled.

Salesmate also provides some self-service support options. They have a knowledge base with guides and tutorials. An official user community is also available, but with most posts over a year old, the forum sees little activity.

As for the quality and responsiveness of their support, user reviews are generally positive. Several reviewers praised the helpfulness of the support team. That said, the lack of twenty-four-hour availability on weekends, even on higher plans, is a bit disappointing.

Salesmate pricing and plans

Plan

Basic

Pro

Business

Price

$23/user/month

$39/user/month

$63/user/month

Best For

Small teams with basic CRM needs

Growing businesses requiring sales automation

Established teams looking for advanced features

Features

Unlimited contacts/deals

Email marketing tools

Workflow automation

Sales automation

Custom dashboard

Team inbox

Power dialer

Team management

Increased customization

Limitations

No sales automation or team management

Limited customization options

May be costly for smaller teams

When it comes to CRM pricing, Salesmate takes a straightforward approach with four tiers to choose from. The Basic plan at $23/user/month provides essential contact and deal management features. For more advanced functionality like automation and bulk emails, the Pro plan at $39/user/month is a good bet.

Growing teams that need custom dashboards and reports can opt for the Business plan at $63/user/month. Enterprise-level pricing is also available for those needing a tailored solution.

One aspect of Salesmate's pricing that caught my attention is the built-in phone and SMS rates. You can get local or toll-free numbers starting at just $1.10 per month and purchase credits as needed for calls and texts. Having these communication tools integrated into the CRM at a reasonable cost is definitely a plus.

Before committing to a plan, Salesmate offers a 15-day free trial with full access to all features and no credit card required. I appreciate that they allow you to really put the system through its paces without limitations during the trial period. And if 15 days isn't quite enough, you can request an extension to keep evaluating.

While the pricing is generally competitive, it's worth noting a couple of things. Upgrading to a higher-tier plan will apply any unused prepaid fees to the new plan, but there are no refunds for unused accounts, partial use, or early termination. And only annual subscriptions over $500 are eligible for bank transfer payments; otherwise, it's credit card only.

But I feel Salesmate's pricing model is mostly fair and flexible enough to accommodate a variety of business needs. The monthly and annual billing options, affordable communication add-ons, and commitment-free trial are all points in its favor from a value perspective. Just be sure to carefully review the terms around upgrades and refunds to avoid any billing surprises down the line.

Salesmate CRM review: Summary

After testing SalesMate, reading its user reviews, and analyzing its pricing and documentation, I've found it to be a very capable and well-rounded CRM solution, particularly for small to midsize sales teams.

A key strength is its intuitive interface and short learning curve. Even novices can get up and running quickly. I was impressed with the visual deal pipeline, which makes it easy to track opportunities across stages. The built-in calling, power dialer, and SMS features are also standouts, enabling reps to communicate with leads without leaving the CRM.

SalesMate really shines when it comes to sales automation. You can automate lead assignment, task creation, follow-up emails, and more based on triggers. The system also ventures beyond pure CRM with basic marketing tools like email campaigns and web forms. This can help small teams streamline their tech stack.

That said, SalesMate does have some limitations. Several users noted the lack of more advanced marketing automation features you'd find in HubSpot or ActiveCampaign. Some also mentioned occasional email syncing issues. And while SalesMate offers a good set of integrations, the marketplace is smaller compared to giants like Salesforce.