TechRadar Reviews

Samsung Galaxy Book6 Pro: Two-minute review

The Samsung Galaxy Book6 Pro is a laptop in the ultrabook class, featuring a sublime design that keeps bulk to a minimum.

I was immediately struck by the svelteness of the unit. The clean lines and rounded corners only add to its minimalist chic, as does the steely grey colorway.

It looks and feels every bit as premium as any of our current best laptops. All materials are smooth to the touch, while the metal base is solid. The metal lid isn’t quite as stable as those on some other laptops I've tested, but it’s perfectly sufficient for normal use, and the hinge operates very well.

The price you pay for such solidity, though, is that the Galaxy Book6 Pro isn’t exactly light. I tested the 16-inch model, so I wasn’t expecting a featherweight unit, but it’s worth mentioning all the same. At least its thin profile makes it more portable than it otherwise would be.

The Book6 Pro's all-round performance is excellent. It can handle all kinds of tasks without missing a beat, and I was also amazed by its gaming performance, despite the lack of dedicated GPU. It was able to run AAA titles at respectable graphical settings in perfectly playable states.

(Image credit: Future)

Note that you can feel some heat on the keyboard, with fan noise apparent, even when the laptop is under moderate stress. Thankfully, the noise is relatively hushed, and not likely to cause much disruption.

However, it was the 16-inch 3K AMOLED display of my review unit that really caught the eye. It’s as bright, sharp, and rich as you could wish for, while touchscreen functionality is also great. Unlike the majority of laptops screens, the rounded corners of the frame here add to the display's appeal, while the super-thin bezel ensures that none of the copious real estate goes to waste.

The keys on the Galaxy Book6 Pro are a little heavier than you might expect, which can lead to presses failing to register, at least in my experience. The layout is also a little cramped — and it’s a shame that on a laptop of this size, Samsung has chosen to omit a number pad and most navigation keys.

I have fewer complaints about the touchpad, though. Its large size and incredibly smooth surface make navigation a cinch. Also, it mostly avoids encroaching on wrist space when typing; only on a few brief occasions did I accidentally trigger cursor movement.

Battery life is adequate, if not spectacular. It lasted 14 hours in our movie playback test, which is under an hour of that achieved by the Asus Zenbook S 16 and the Apple MacBook Air 15-inch (M4), but an hour more than the Dell 16 Plus.

The Galaxy Book6 Pro is certainly a costly proposition, but when you consider all that it offers, its value becomes more apparent. It’s similarly priced to the aforementioned Zenbook, a close rival in many ways, and more expensive than the Dell 16 Plus. Nevertheless, it's difficult for either of these alternatives to surpass the sheer quality and glorious display of Samsung's super-slender machine.

Samsung Galaxy Book6 Pro review: Specs

Base spec

Review spec

Price

$1,899.99 / £1,699 (about AU$2,740)

$2,199.99 / £2,199 (about AU$3,170)

CPU

Intel Core Ultra 7 356H (up to 4.7GHz, 16 cores)

Intel Core Ultra X7 358H (up to 4.8GHz, 16 cores

GPU

Intel Arc Graphics (integrated)

Intel Arc Graphics (integrated)

RAM

16GB LPDDR5x

32GB LPDDR5x

Storage

US: 1TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe M.2 SSD
UK: 512GB PCIe 4.0 NVMe M.2 SSD

1TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe M.2 SSD

Display

16-inch 2,880 x 1,800 (WQXGA+), Dynamic AMOLED 2X, Anti-Reflective, touchscreen

16-inch 2,880 x 1,800 (WQXGA+), Dynamic AMOLED 2X, Anti-Reflective, touchscreen

Ports and Connectivity

2 x USB-C (Thunderbolt 4), 1 x USB-A 3.2, 1 x HDMI 2.1, 1 x 3.5mm combo audio; Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4

2 x USB-C (Thunderbolt 4), 1x USB-A 3.2, 1 x HDMI 2.1, 1 x 3.5mm combo audio; Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4

Battery

78Wh

78Wh

Dimensions

14.1 x 9.8 x 0.5 inches (357 x 248 x 12mm)

14.1 x 9.8 x 0.5 inches (357 x 248 x 12mm)

Weight

3.51lbs / 1.59kg

3.51lbs / 1.59kg

Samsung Galaxy Book6 Pro review: Price & availability

(Image credit: Future)

• Starts from $1,899.99 / £1,699
• Available now
• Expensive, but in line with some others

Pricing for the Galaxy Book6 Pro starts from $1,899.99 / £1,699 (about AU$2,740; pricing and availability for Australia is TBC at the time of writing), with the models available now. It can be configured with 16GB or 32GB of RAM, and 256GB, 512GB, or 1TB of storage. There are two Intel Core Ultra CPUs to choose from, the 7 356H and the X7 358H — the latter of which is reserved for the top-tier model. A variant with the Ultra 5 325 is coming soon.

The Galaxy Book6 Pro is an expensive laptop, then — although this isn’t too surprising, given its design and spec. The base model is similarly in price to the Asus Zenbook S 16, which also features a 3K OLED display, but 24GB instead of 16GB of RAM.

However, if you're in the market for a large laptop that still offers plenty of quality for less, there’s the Dell 16 Plus. The base model is significantly cheaper than the Galaxy Book6 Pro’s, but it still arrives with an Intel Core Ultra 7 chip, 16GB of RAM, and 1TB of storage. Its resolution is lower, but only slightly.

• Value: 3.5 / 5

Samsung Galaxy Book6 Pro review: Design

(Image credit: Future)

• Incredibly thin
• Solid metal enclosure
• Quite heavy

In line with many of Samsung’s mobile devices, the Galaxy Book6 Pro is a sleek, premium-looking machine. The dark grey colorway is also very fetching and somehow adds more interest than your typical monochromatic designs.

Every contour is completely flat, while the corners, which are more rounded than most, give the design a softer appearance. Even the underside of the laptop is free of the fuss , with just four discreet rubber feet in each corner.

What's more, the Galaxy Book6 Pro's build quality is exceptional. The all-metal chassis is supremely strong, and while the lid isn’t as stable as some other models when open, it stays put under normal usage. The hinge for it is satisfyingly smooth, too. The bezel around the display is incredibly thin, which is always great to see, but the lack of a physical privacy shutter for the webcam, not so much.

The keys are more solidly planted than those of other laptop keyboards, and they also feature backlighting — which, in my opinion, is pretty much an essential feature.

Best of all, though, is just how thin the Galaxy Book6 Pro is. It’s reminiscent of the MacBook Air M1, since it thins out towards the front end. Given my review unit was the 16-inch model, I wasn’t too surprised by its weighty feel, but this does somewhat negate the utility of that slender form when it comes to portability. Still, it certainly makes it easier to slide in and out of a bag.

• Design: 4.5 / 5

Samsung Galaxy Book6 Pro review: Performance

(Image credit: Future)

• Surprisingly capable graphical performance
• Superb display
• Keys are a little heavy

Samsung Galaxy Book6 Pro benchmarks

3DMark: Night Raid: 46,524; Fire Strike: 13,987; Steel Nomad: 1,413; Solar Bay: 28,816; Solar Bay Unlimited: 29,056; Solar Bay Extreme: 4,270; Solar Bay Extreme Unlimited: 4,300
Geekbench 6.5: Multicore: 16,837; Single-core: 2,880
Cinebench R23: Multi Core: 16,250; Cinebench R24: Single Core: 121; Multi Core: 995
Crossmark: Overall: 2,125; Productivity: 1,906; Creativity: 2,567; Responsiveness: 1,670
Passmark Overall: 9,831.3; CPU: 36,603.9; 2D Graphics: 889.8; 3D Graphics: 9,241.2; Memory: 4,155.5; Disk: 43,906.2
BlackMagicDisk: Read: 4,369MB/s; Write: 3,371MB/s
HandBrake 4K to 1080p: 85fps
Total War: Warhammer III: 1080p, Medium: 76fps
Total War: Warhammer III: 1800p, Ultra: 22fps
Battery Life (TechRadar movie test): 14 hours and 52 seconds

The general performance of the Galaxy Book6 Pro is very good. It handles basic browsing and productivity tasks, as well as 4K streaming, with ease.

What surprised was just how well it handled games. Despite lacking a dedicated GPU, it managed to run Cyberpunk 2077 with the Ray Tracing: Ultra preset selected, without succumbing to disruptive slowdowns or stuttering. Intel’s XeSS Super Resolution 2.0 (in Auto mode) and Frame Generation were both enabled during my sessions.

Of course, the Galaxy Book6 Pro isn’t going to dethrone the best gaming laptops, and the keyboard layout can feel a little cramped when in the typical WSAD position; but it’s impressive, nonetheless.

Some heat was noticeable all over the keyboard during such intensive tasks, no doubt a corollary of that ultra-thin design — but, thankfully, the temperatures remained well within comfortable bounds. Some fan noise did become apparent, even under moderate workloads, but I didn’t find this too disturbing.

(Image credit: Future)

The AMOLED display is every bit as sumptuous as you'd expect it to be. The 3K resolution is satisfyingly crisp, while colors are vibrant and the contrast expectedly deep. The touchscreen functions well, too, responding quickly and accurately to my finger inputs.

I was also fond of the bezel's rounded corners, which soften the frame and make on-screen content appear neater somehow. It’s a small touch that I wish more laptop displays featured; the best MacBooks have it, but only in the top corners, not the bottom as well.

The keys are nicely damped, but still display relatively shallow travel. However, they’re heavier than others, which resulted in some of my presses failing to register, requiring more force than I’m accustomed to producing. This may be an adjustment you’ll need to make as well, if you’re someone with a light touch.

While the layout is comfortably spaced for typing, it’s a shame there’s no number pad and only a few navigation keys (Insert/ Prt Sc and Delete) on the Galaxy Book6 Pro, given the 16-inch real estate of my unit.

The touchpad on the 16-inch model of the Book6 Pro is large, which is great for navigation. Despite this, there's also enough room on the sides for resting your wrists while you type. There were times when the cursor moved as a result of my palms coming into contact with the pad, but this wasn’t frequent or long-lasting enough to cause a problem.

• Performance: 4.5 / 5

Samsung Galaxy Book6 Pro review: Battery life

(Image credit: Future)

• Middling longevity
• Quick to charge

The Galaxy Book6 Pro offers an average battery life. When I ran a movie on a continuous loop, it lasted 14 hours. This is well below Samsung's claimed figure of up to 30 hours. However, it's only an hour less than what the Asus Zenbook S 16 and the Apple MacBook Air 15-inch (M4) managed.

However, it lasted over an hour more than the Dell 16 Plus. It's also quick to charge, taking about two hours to go from empty to full.

• Battery life: 3.5 / 5

Should I buy the Samsung Galaxy Book6 Pro?

Notes

Rating

Value

Super expensive, although the base model isn’t too bad for an ultrabook.

3.5 / 5

Design

It’s hard to find fault with the build quality and materials here. It’s exceptionally thin, but quite heavy.

4.5 / 5

Performance

The Galaxy Book6 Pro performs well, even on graphical tasks, while that huge OLED touchscreen display is truly stunning. The keys are a little heavy, though, and the layout of them is compromised.

4.5 / 5

Battery life

Decent, but nothing to write home about. Longevity is somewhere in the middle compared to its rivals.

3.5 / 5

Total

If your pockets are deep enough, you’re unlikely to be disappointed with how this laptop looks and performs.

4.5 / 5

Buy the Samsung Galaxy Book6 Pro if…

You want a glorious display
The AMOLED technology really shines here, while the 3K resolution is super sharp – both of which are all the more apparent on the 16-inch model.

You want great all-round performance
The Galaxy Book6 Pro excels in action — even its graphical performance is respectable, considering it doesn’t have a dedicated GPU.

Don't buy it if…

You want to save money
The Galaxy Book6 Pro is certainly expensive, and although there are alternatives that are similarly priced, there are also those that are considerably cheaper.

You want to travel light
The 16-inch model of the Galaxy Book6 Pro is fairly heavy, which makes carrying it around a little laborious, despite that thin form.

Samsung Galaxy Book6 Pro review: Also consider

Asus Zenbook S 16
The Zenbook S 16 is a superbly designed ultrabook, and shares many traits with the Galaxy Book6 Pro. It, too, is a superb piece of design, made using state-of-the-art Ceraluminum, while its 3K OLED display is about as stunning as the Samsung’s. The base model is similarly priced to the Galaxy Book6 Pro, but the Zenbook comes with 24GB of RAM as opposed to 16GB. What’s more, it features more ports, despite being about as thin as the Galaxy Book6 Pro.

Read our full Asus Zenbook S 16 review.

Dell 16 Plus
The Dell 16 Plus is another ultrabook, but it has a starting price well below that of the Galaxy Book6 Pro. It doesn’t skimp on features, though, with plenty of power for everyday performance, plus a sharp 120Hz display — although its resolution isn’t as sharp as the Galaxy Book6 Pro’s, nor does it have touchscreen functionality. Still, considering what you get for the relatively low price, it’s a good-value proposition.

Read our full Dell 16 Plus review.

How I tested the Samsung Galaxy Book6 Pro

(Image credit: Future)

• Tested for several days
• Ran our series of benchmarks
• Plentiful laptop reviewing experience

I tested the Galaxy Book6 Pro for several days. I used it for all kinds of tasks, from general browsing and light productivity to 4K streaming and AAA gaming. I also ran our series of benchmark tests, designed to assess every aspect of a laptop’s performance.

I have plenty of experience reviewing computing devices of all kinds. I’ve tested numerous laptops, from budget offerings to top-tier gaming machines. I’ve also reviewed desktops, Chromebooks, and tablets.

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

Oakcastle MP300: Two-minute review

Okay, I’ll fess up: this Oakcastle MP300 review wasn’t meant to take a month. I thought this super-cheap MP3 player would be a quick in-and-out style of review where I’d listen to a few tunes and take it on a trip, but it ended up being a really useful addition to my audio set-up. Good for it, not so good for my deadlines.

This is the kind of budget music player that a serious music fan would probably ignore — does anyone other than wallet-friendly Chinese brands make this kind of tech? Apparently yes, they do actually, but if I can humbly request that we stop that train of thought right now: this isn’t any bargain bin buy.

Oakcastle is a sub-brand of Majority, a brand audio fans emphatically know about. So before we get into any of its pros and cons, you’ve got an immediate benefit over most budget MP3 players online: you know this one is from a known and trusted audio specialist, with a reputation to uphold — and uphold that standing, the MP300 does.

I’m not going to pretend that this is the best MP3 player for everyone: it has limited file support, feels quite cheap in the hand, and only offers a fraction of the features that a pricier option would have.

But its simplicity is the point: this is a lovely little digital detox machine that doesn’t make you pay for fancy extras you might not need. It’s no distraction machine that’ll suck you into a WhatsApp wormhole when you’re just trying to put on a song, and its playlists aren’t so algorithmic that you’re only hearing the same eight songs on repeat.

The MP300 became my month-long go-to because I plugged it into my bookshelf speakers via aux, and just left it there. Any time I wanted music, I could easily open up my library and start playing my songs. And I do mean my songs — no music streaming here, this is a device for people who own their own music, but don’t need to hear it played in lossless.

There are other benefits that bespoke MP3 players bring over using smartphones for music, and the Oakcastle being so cheap means you can enjoy it without breaking the bank. Seniors will love it for its simplicity, and it’s something children can use to enjoy tunes without priming them for future technology addiction.

You can use a device like this at night, to put on some soothing Elgar, without a notification or two waylaying your relaxing doze. MP3 players are also nice little running devices, freeing you from your smartphone when you strap on your trainers, though something like the super-small Majority MP3 with its nifty clip might be better for that.

As I say, it’s not for everyone: if you don’t need a standalone music playing device, or conversely you want one that’s advanced and full of features, this isn’t for you — you'll need to look to pricier options from Astell & Kern or FiiO. But there’s got to be a sweet spot between those camps who appreciate it. I certainly like the MP300 a lot.

Oakcastle MP300 review: Price and release date

(Image credit: Future)

• Released in February 2026
• Listed for £31.95 (about $40, AU$60)
• On sale in UK, maybe Aus, probably not US

The Oakcastle MP300 was released on February 18, 2026, alongside the same-priced MP250 model which has a sports clip and simplified controls.

Online, the MP300 is officially listed at £31.95 (about $40, AU$60), though during testing I generally saw it for a few pounds less. Not by a huge amount — you wouldn’t buy a pint with the difference, even outside London — but enough to suggest that this thing is rarely at RRP.

Oakcastle, like Majority, generally doesn’t sell its products in the US, so don’t expect availability there. Some of the brand’s gadgets sell in Australia, but at the time of writing, the MP300 wasn’t available.

Oakcastle MP300 review: Specs

Battery life

50 hours

Weight

53g

Connectivity

Bluetooth 5.0, 3.5mm, USB-C

Waterproofing

NA

Storage

64GB

Expandable?

Up to 128GB

Oakcastle MP300 review: Features

(Image credit: Future)

• 50-hour battery life
• Custom, simple user interface
• 64GB storage, up to 128GB more via microSD

The Oakcastle MP300 runs on a simple operating system, which feels like a glorified media library. You can see what’s currently playing, browse your general music library, make playlists and set up Bluetooth connections.

It does offer a stopwatch and calendar (with no way of inputting dates), but the point of this thing is clearly music. Navigating with the buttons isn’t especially fast, and unfortunately there’s no music search option (that I could find).

You get a battery life that, according to Majority, hits 50 hours on a single charge. That seems to match up with what I found — it’s definitely long enough that you don’t need to worry about charging frequently.

The MP300 has 64GB of built-in storage, which is plenty if you use MP3. My library was in WAV and didn’t fit onto the thing to begin with, so I had to convert them to fit. The expandable storage gets you up to 128GB extra, and you can be sure I made the most of it.

Moving my library over to the Oakcastle was easy: I plugged it into a computer and dragged and dropped the files into its folder. It wasn't the perfect conversion: lots of album artwork didn't get pulled through, and on the device, songs are all labelled as .mp3. But overall, it was pretty simple and worked fine.

• Features score: 3.5/5

Oakcastle MP300 review: DesignFutureFutureFuture

• Nine buttons plus screen
• Lightweight, but somewhat cheap feeling
• No IP rating

I almost thought the Oakcastle MP300 was a feature phone when I first saw it: it has a similar design, with buttons below a screen and ports on the bottom. But it’s much lighter than a phone, at 53g — there’s a good chance your earbuds case tips the scales more than that.

The MP300 is also smaller, at 50 x 101 x 9.5mm, so I could put it in my pocket without it feeling like a second smartphone. On the bottom there’s a USB-C port for charging and data connection, as well as a 3.5mm jack. The right side has a microSD card slot, which is a nice addition.

Despite being compact, the Oakcastle still feels a little hollow — it gives a little when you squeeze it, making it feel a little fragile and cheap. Saying that, the textured plastic back makes it feel a little more premium than some of the bargain-basement MP3 players you might find on line.

Accusations of ‘cheap’ become more well-founded when you move over to the buttons though. They’re not as sensitive or responsive as you’d hope, which slowed down my navigation of the player and constantly reminded me of the lack of money spent.

If you’re a pool-music-listener, I should warn you that there’s no official IP rating — try to avoid getting it wet or dusty.

• Design score: 3.5/5

Oakcastle MP300 review: Sound quality

(Image credit: Future)

• Supports MP3, FLAC, WAV
• No on-board equalizer
• No higher-res Bluetooth codec support

The MP300 supports three file types: MP3, FLAC and WAV. Naturally your sound quality will vary depending on which you pick; I tested all three for scientific purposes, but for general use, I had to use MP3 simply to fit all my music on the speaker.

There’s no equalizer on-board, so you’d better like your music how it comes — or, more accurately, your headphones how they come. At least you can use a wired connection to hear, not just via Bluetooth 5.0 (only your basic 'vanilla' SBC streaming is supported, as far as I can tell), although I appreciated having the option to go wireless.

Let’s be honest: this isn’t an MP3 player you’re buying if sound quality is your biggest concern. There are options that cost a lot more which offer extra onboard DACs to level up the audio, streaming over wi-fi and hi-res Bluetooth codec support. So the fact that sound from this thing is pretty basic is part and parcel of the MP300.

There is a built-in speaker here, but it’s quiet and doesn’t exactly sound amazing. For me, it was sometimes a simple reminder that I’d forgotten to connect to a speaker, rather than a serious way of enjoying tunes.

• Sound quality: 3/5

Oakcastle MP300 review: Value

(Image credit: Future)

• It's really cheap
• Worth buying over dubious alternatives

Of course the Oakcastle MP300 is good value; you’re paying pennies to get an on-the-go music device.

Sure, it doesn’t have many feature of flashy alternatives, but it has storage capabilities and a headphone jack: what more do you need? Thanks to this latter, it’s probably better than your smartphone for music playing, let’s be honest.

Given that Oakcastle is a trusted brand, I’d feel safer giving this company my money, rather than any of the even-cheaper alternatives you’ll find online.

• Value: 5/5

Should I buy the Oakcastle MP300?

(Image credit: Future)Oakcastle MP300 score card

Attributes

Notes

Rating

Features

It's light in terms of features, but the battery life is solid.

3.5/5

Design

While it feels a little cheap, it's light and slender enough to make up for it.

3.5/5

Sound quality

You're getting the basic sound with little ability to change it. Even hi-res streaming is out of bounds.

3/5

Value

It's arguably the cheapest MP3 player you should consider buying.

5/5

Buy it if…

You need something cheap and cheerful
If you need something, anything, to play your collection of MP3s (perhaps left over from an iPod Touch?) then this is a solid, budget option.

You need expandable storage
The microSD card slot is a neat addition at this level, so you can get extra space but chop and change it around if needs be.View Deal

Don’t buy it if…

You want control over your sound
The lack of an equalizer is one way in which the MP300 compares poorly to your smartphone.

You want high-res output
There's no 4.4mm, no Bluetooth Codec support and barely enough space for high-res audio files.

Oakcastle MP300 review: Also consider

Oakcastle MP300

Majority MP3

FiiO JM21

Battery life

50 hours

34 hours

12 hours

Weight

53g

33g

156g

Connectivity

Bluetooth 5.0, 3.5mm, USB-C

Bluetooth 5.0, 3.5mm, USB-C

Bluetooth 5.0, 3.5mm, 4.4mm, USB-C

Waterproofing

NA

NA

IPX5

Storage

64GB

16GB

32GB

Expandable

128GB

128GB

2TB

Majority MP3
This equally-budget option does things a little different: it offers less storage space but comes in a smaller body and has a sports clip, making it a handy on-the-go companion.
Read our full Majority MP3 review

Fiio JM21
If you want a 'proper' digital audio player, this entry-level Fiio option may cost more than the Oakcastle, but it's still cheap in the grand scheme of things. It lets you listen in a variety of high-res formats and lets you control your audio to a much greater extent.
Read our full Fiio JM21 review

How I tested the Oakcastle MP300

• Tested for a month
• Tested on various speakers and headphones via aux and BlueTooth

I used the Oakcastle MP300 for a full month before writing this review. I started the testing by loading it up with my music library, first in WAV and then in MP3. This collection includes a large range of genres, with roughly 3,000 tracks in all.

Through the month, I used the MP300 alongside a range of devices. I connected them to the Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 Pro and Edifier M90 via Bluetooth, and via aux I used the Edifiers, my Sony headphones and my Line 6 guitar amplifier.

I've been reviewing audio tech for TechRadar for years, including several other budget MP3 players and plenty of other Majority gadgets.

• First reviewed in March 2026

• Read TechRadar's reviews guarantee

H2O Audio Tri Run: Two-minute review

The H2O Audio Tri Run are bone conduction headphones designed for runners and cyclists who want to listen to music while staying aware of their surroundings. They undercut rivals on price and strip everything back to the essentials. No app, no frills, just good enough audio and a straightforward experience.

They’re not for swimming, despite their IPX8 waterproof rating. H2O Audio already makes a range of multi-sport devices, including the H2O Audio Tri 2 Pro Multi-Sport. But the Tri Run rely solely on Bluetooth with no onboard storage, so there’s no point taking them to the pool because the water will block the signal. What that waterproofing means is you don’t need to worry about sweat, rain or cleaning them with water.

Bone conduction transmits sound through your cheekbones, bypassing your ear canal. (To find out more, we have a handy how bone conduction works guide.)

They’re cheap, reliable and mostly comfortable. Sound is acceptable for the form factor, the fit is secure, and they’re genuinely easy to use. But battery life is just fine, the neckband design won’t suit everyone, and competition is fierce in this space. Let’s get into it.

(Image credit: Future)

The Tri Run have a neckband design with the bone-conduction transducers sitting against your cheeks, between your ear's tragus and your high cheekbone. It’s a style you’ll either get on with or you won’t.

I’m not entirely sure I get on with them. I can never quite put my finger on what it is with a design like this. It’s not uncomfortable exactly, but I’m always aware of the transducers sitting against my face in a way that I’m not with other styles of bud. I have a lot of hair, which may not help with the fit of the ear hooks, and during colder testing sessions, a high-collared jacket displaced them more than once.

There’s a small rubber accessory in the box that can be used to tighten the fit for smaller heads, but that didn’t resolve things for me. It may just be that I’ve tested too many comfortable wireless buds recently and I've been spoiled by them. Either way, it’s worth flagging because comfort here is highly subjective, and if you haven’t tried neckband-style buds before, don’t assume they’ll feel comfortable.

The band itself is light at 14g, flexible and sturdy, with a matte rubberized finish. Controls sit on the right side, with three physical buttons for power/playback, and volume up and down.

The buttons are easy to use on the move. I always tend to prefer a physical press to touch controls when I’m running, so there’s no ambiguity about whether it’s registered. The middle button, which handles power and play/pause, is responsive.

The volume buttons occasionally took a moment or two to register, but there’s a helpful audio tone when you hit max volume, which I liked — although you may reach that much sooner than you’d expect.

There’s no app here or companion software, so there’s nothing to tweak or change. Just turn them on and they pair seamlessly. Then every time you switch them on, they tell you whether your battery is high or low.

(Image credit: Future)

The audio is far from the level of quality you’d get from the best headphones, the best earbuds or even the best open earbuds. These are affordable bone-conduction headphones and they sound it. But I think how much that matters depends almost entirely on what you like to listen to.

Tracks with presence in the highs and mids come through well here. I found poppy, energetic tracks, such as New Constellations’ Hot Blooded sounded bouncy and enjoyable. There’s clarity in the upper ranges, vocals sit forward in the mix and there’s enough going on to make a run feel good. Podcast lovers are also well-served with clear, undistorted voices at most volume levels.

Bass-heavy music is a different story. Something like Hanumankind’s Big Dawgs, which is a staple on my workout playlist, simply doesn’t hit. There’s no low-end weight, so if you like listening to bassy tracks, you’ll notice the absence.

The volume is adequate in most quieter conditions. Running on my own down an off-road path, I could hear everything I needed to, but I could hear just as well running through the city first thing in the morning too.

Things were different in windy and noisy environments — I struggled to push the volume high enough, but that’s par for the course with most open designs.

Also, at high volumes you might notice a mild vibrating sensation in your cheeks or jaw. That’s a known side effect of bone conduction. It never reached the point of discomfort for me with the Tri Run, but it’s worth knowing about.

H2O Audio quotes six hours of battery life, and in testing I got almost exactly that. That said, six hours is on the lower end for bone-conduction headphones. The Shokz OpenRun Pro 2, for example, offer a huge 12 hours of battery, double what you get here. Granted, we’d consider them a high-end option, but with weaker audio and fewer features, I might have expected battery life to stay stronger.

It’s a similar story with open earbud rivals, like the Shokz OpenFit 2+, which offer 11 hours. That said, the Tri Run do offer an hour more than some other budget bone conduction headphones, such as the Jabees 7Seven, which only offer five hours.

(Image credit: Future)

Overall, there’s nothing wrong with the H2O Audio Tri Run. They fit securely, they’re easy to use, they’re waterproof, and they deliver acceptable sound for the form factor.

For a certain kind of runner or cyclist, someone who wants cheap, reliable, no-fuss awareness of their surroundings and mainly listens to poop and podcasts, they’ll get the job done without complaint.

But for everyone else, the value proposition is shakier than the price tag suggests. You won’t have to spend much more to get noticeably better performance, which we’ll get to below. The open earbud market in particular has expanded rapidly enough that there are now strong alternatives at similar prices.

If the neckband style suits you and simplicity is genuinely what you’re after, the H2O Audio Tri Run make sense. Otherwise, it’s worth shopping around — if you can get the Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 on sale for this kind of price, we'd recommend those. And if you'll switch from neckband bone-conduction buds to wireless open earbuds, the Huawei FreeArc are an excellent option at around the same price.

H2O Audio Tri Run review: Specifications

Drivers

Bone conduction

Active noise cancellation

No

Battery life

Up to 6 hours

Weight

14g

Connectivity

Bluetooth

Frequency range

Not specified

Waterproofing

IPX8

H2O Audio Tri Run review: Price and release date

(Image credit: Future)

• How much does it cost? $99.99 / £76 / AU$145
• When did it first come out? Released in February 2026
• Where can you get it? Available globally

At $99.99 / £76 / AU$145, the Tri Run headphones sit at the more affordable end of the bone conduction market. That price makes sense when you think about the trade-off here. You’re paying for situational awareness rather than audio quality, and that’s a reasonable exchange if open-ear listening is a priority for you.

That said, affordable here is relative. The Shokz OpenRun Pro 2, our top pick for running in our best workout headphones guide, costs $179.95 / £169.00 / AU$319.00, which is a lot more. But it also offers significantly better performance.

And if you want some excellent bone conduction headphones that can handle swimming too from this same brand, the H2O Audio Tri 2 Pro Multi-Sport, our top pick in our best bone conduction headphones guide, comes in at £152 / $199.99 / AU$289.

There are also other budget bone conduction headphones on the market now too. Like the Jabees 7Seven bone conduction headphones for swimming and running, which are significantly cheaper at $59.99 / £47.99 / AU$99. They’re not perfect or topping any of our guides, but for the price, they’re terrific.

It’s also worth mentioning here that if open listening is your priority, there are now so many excellent buds to choose from as well. Yes, they’re a bit different to what the Tri Run headphones offer. But, for example, the Huawei FreeArc open buds are only £99.99 (roughly $130, AU$200). Yes that’s a little more, but you’re getting a great fit and much better sound quality.

So yes, the Tri Run might be cheaper than some rivals, but with no standout features they’re not automatically good value. It makes sense if you’re on a tight budget or simplicity is genuinely your priority. Otherwise, spending a little more gets you more.

H2O Audio Tri Run: Scorecard

Attributes

Notes

Rating

Features

Bone conduction, IPX8 and physical buttons are welcome. But there's almost nothing else, and battery life isn't great.

2.5 / 5

Performance

Clear and enjoyable for pop and podcasts, lacking in low-end and struggles to compete in noisy environments.

3.5 / 5

Design

Light, secure and waterproof with simple controls that work well on the move. Comfort will be subjective.

4.5 / 5

Value

They’re affordable but not exactly a bargain. Some rivals offer a far better experience for a small increase in price.

3.5 / 5

Should I buy the H2O Audio Tri Run?

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

You like to keep things simple
No app, no touch gestures, no features. You turn them on and they work. If that’s all you want, they deliver.

You know you like the neckband design
If you’ve tried this style before and you’re a convert, they’re a reliable and affordable choice.

You’re on a budget
At $99.99 / £76 / AU$145, they’re an affordable bone-conduction option, and you’re getting a solid and dependable package here.

Don't buy them if...

You could spare more
You don’t have to spend much more to get a boost in performance. If your budget has flexibility, shop around.

You want the best sound from an open design
There are other open-ear headphones at a similar or high price that offer more low-end presence and overall audio quality.

You like an app and extra features
There’s nothing beyond the basics here. No EQ, no customization and no companion app. If that matters to you, look elsewhere.

H2O Audio Tri Run: Also consider

Huawei FreeArc

If you're not wedded to the neckband-style but still want to hear your surroundings, check out these open buds from Huawei. Sound is excellent for the form factor, they're comfortable and they're only $20/£20 more than the Tri Run.

Read our full Huawei FreeArc review

H2O Audio Tri 2 Pro Multi-Sport

The H2O Audio Tri 2 Pro Multi-Sport are much more expensive, but they have a strong battery life, complete waterproofing, and onboard storage as well as a special Playlist+ feature that untethers you from your phone during a run or swim.

Read our full H2O Audio Tri 2 Pro Multi-Sport review

How I tested the H2O Audio Tri Run

(Image credit: Future)

• Tested for two weeks
• Used with an iPhone 16 Pro
• Ran with them in all sorts of environments

I tested the H2O Audio Tri Run over two weeks, taking them out running across a range of environments. Busy streets, a canal path and open countryside. I also kept wearing them after runs, grabbing a coffee and working in a cafe, to get a sense of how versatile they are beyond their stated purpose.

I paired them with an iPhone 16 Pro, using Spotify for music during runs and YouTube for video content. Testing took place in typical UK weather conditions (think wind, sun, rain all within the space of a day) and I made a point of trying them with different layers and necklines. From a light spring fitted running jacket to a high collared running coat, as I know this can make a real different to the way neckband-style headphones fit.

I’ve been reviewing consumer tech for more than 15 years now with a particular interest in how we use technology beyond the marketing claims. What fits into your life, what you’ll still reach for long after the novelty has worn off, and what’s reliable and comfortable enough to become a genuine daily staple.

• First reviewed March 2026
• Read TechRadar's reviews guarantee

Before I detail what makes narrative adventure game Life is Strange: Reunion quite so egregious, I think it’s important to clarify that I love this series and my issues with the latest instalment are not the result of pure malice, but rather come from a desire to return to the dizzying heights of Life is Strange and its excellent sequel Life is Strange 2.

Review info

Platform reviewed: PC
Available on: PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC
Release date: March 26, 2026

The franchise may now be helmed by a new studio, Deck Nine, (the studio behind the somewhat underwhelming spinoff Life Is Strange: Before the Storm) rather than original creators Don’t Nod (who have since put out the sublime spiritual successor Lost Records: Bloom & Rage) but the team showed incredible promise with its 2021 entry Life Is Strange: True Colors.

It wasn’t perfect, but it still delivered a well-written, emotional tale with a cast of decently memorable characters and a perfectly realized, beautiful setting.

Given how this standalone story was received, I simply don’t understand why Deck Nine wanted to bring back Max Caulfield (the protagonist of the first game) for 2024’s disastrous Double Exposure, let alone double down by adding her childhood friend (and let’s be honest, practically canon love interest), Chloe Price, to this new entry as well.

Have your cake

(Image credit: Square Enix)

If there’s one word to describe Reunion, it’s "cowardly". This is nothing short of an embarrassing attempt to make amends with fans after Double Exposure, executed so sloppily that it even managed to annoy me as someone that didn’t appreciate the direction that game went in the slightest. The problem is a heavy reliance on retconning, with basically every event in that game’s latter half being completely undone in minutes.

Reunion starts by asking you to recap some of your choices from Double Exposure, who you chose to date, for example, in addition to some key decisions from Life is Strange 1, like whether you saved Arcadia Bay or Chloe. What does any of this change, exactly? Practically nothing, as it’s quickly revealed that you broke up with your chosen love interest off-screen in the handful of months between entries, and the destructive world-altering events of the last game’s finale have all been forgotten thanks to a convenient widespread case of what the characters dub “storm amnesia”.

You may recall that friend-turned-antagonist Safi Llewellyn-Fayyad closed out Double Exposure by vowing to travel the country, creating a team of super-powered individuals like some kind of hipster avengers, but all of this is quickly hand-waved away by the simple explanation that she gave up and came home after a few weeks.

None of your decisions from the first game matter either, as it turns out that both possible timelines have merged into one thanks to the supernatural events of the previous entry. Not only is Chloe alive and well, but the whole town of Arcadia Bay and all of its residents are completely intact.

It completely undermines the gravity of one of the most memorable decisions in not just the series but all of gaming, and the entire reason why many (including me) fell in love with these titles in the first place. I do understand that many fans will likely be pleased by the idea of everyone getting a happy ending — but it’s cheap and, being frank, not the kind of choice a studio should make for a story that it didn’t even originally create.

Tinderbox

(Image credit: Square Enix)

I could forgive much of this if Reunion still had a decent mystery at its core, which sadly isn’t the case. The main thrust is that Max’s beloved Caledon University is about to go up in smoke thanks to some kind of arson attack, and it's up to her to use her timey-wimey powers to travel back in time to fix it.

Of course, her double exposure power from the last game has been completely forgotten, replaced with rewind a la Life is Strange 1. The ability, which lets her rewind time for a short duration, seems like it would be quite useful for sleuthing, but it’s hardly used and ultimately feels like an afterthought.

There are multiple moments where it could come in handy, too, like one agonizing sequence that has you distracting a series of characters in order to sneakily inspect the contents of the folders they’re carrying. There is literally nothing stopping Max from simply grabbing the folders (which are all just lying on tables) and taking a look before rewinding a few minutes. In fact, she literally does what I’m describing later on to get her hands on someone’s bag, so I can only assume that the studio either didn’t consider the possibility in that instance or just wanted to pad the runtime.

I’m leaning towards the latter as padding is a theme elsewhere too; the mystery progresses at a painfully slow pace right up until Max walks into a room and has the story’s most important events literally explained to her (and by extension the player) in a magical sequence of moving images.

(Image credit: Square Enix)

There’s no joy in exploration either, as environments are lifeless and sterile with ugly lighting that conveys no sense of atmosphere at all — a far cry from the lovely, painterly look of the first two games or even the warm, cozy appearance of True Colors.

Most are ported directly from Double Exposure, so they already feel quite stale, and that’s before you even consider that they’ve been massively cut down this time around. The university's quad, for instance, now has no accessible buildings adjacent to it (explained as the result of storm damage, though little is visible as that would require changing the models a lot), which really hampers your ability to explore.

World-building is a major problem in general. Nothing about the story feels genuine, with awkward interactions that verge on almost Lynchian at times. Nobody ever really discusses anything beyond that which is immediately relevant to Max’s understanding of the main mystery which, combined with the dire facial animation and some worryingly unfinished looking moments where the camera fades to black or pans away in order to avoid having to show what would be some rather complex scenes, gives the impression of a world populated by malfunctioning animatronics rather than real people.

Missing persons

(Image credit: Square Enix)

Deck Nine clearly wants to distance itself from Double Exposure, though given how many of that game’s major characters still appear here, the handful of absences are painfully obvious. Noteworthy undergraduate student Diamond Washington is completely missing in action, as is Max’s friend and fellow educator, Gwen Hunter.

Having been hounded out of her university job thanks to a misunderstanding in the previous game, not bringing Hunter back in an entry so slavishly devoted to creating the perfect “happy ending” is a massive missed opportunity, and especially stings given the real-world parallels with transgender women being bullied out of academia.

Then there’s Chloe. I can’t pretend that part of me wasn’t glad when she burst through Max’s door on the hunt for answers about the strange visions she’s been having, quickly sinking into her former (girl)friend’s embrace. It’s like she never left, and therein lies the rub. Still a punk rock rebel with a “stick it to the man” attitude at the age of nearly 30, this doesn’t come across like an authentic adult Chloe but rather an insincere facsimile of her child self.

Are we really expected to believe that her traumatic past and years out on the open road have barely changed her after more than a decade?

Contrast this with the way that Lost Records: Bloom & Rage engages with the idea of aging to great effect, particularly with its presentation of Nora, a similarly cool character as a teenager and many players’ primary love interest in that game. It’s uncomfortable when the adult Nora arrives and turns out to be something of a facile conformist, but this entirely believable evolution forces you to re-evaluate your relationship with her and shines a new light on both your past and future interactions.

(Image credit: Square Enix)

I’m not arguing that Chloe should have come back unrecognizable by any means, but a scrap of development to gesture to an existence outside of this series’ plot would have gone a very long way to make her more believable.

The segments where you actually get to play as Chloe are underwhelming in the grand scheme of things, too. Her ability to backtalk, first introduced in Before the Storm, has been stripped down massively. Originally a way of outsmarting opponents with witty comebacks by carefully considering whatever they had just said, it now involves selecting the right option using information that was invariably shown to you immediately beforehand.

The mechanic’s treatment is honestly emblematic of this entire affair: a shallow imitation of things taken wholesale from much better games. If your entire enjoyment of a new Life is Strange game boils down to seeing your favorite characters unconvincingly thrown around like action figures, then you’re going to be right at home here. For those of us who fell in love with the games for their narratives, I’m hoping that whatever the studio has planned next represents the new beginning this series now so desperately needs.

Should I play Life is Strange: Reunion?Play it if...

You're simply desperate to see Chloe again
If your one wish is to see Chloe Price show up in a game again, with no regard to how it affects the story of other entries, then Life is Strange: Reunion is probably good enough for you.

Don't play it if...

You're expecting a decent mystery
The mystery at the heart of Life is Strange: Reunion is poorly paced and sloppy. There are many better mysteries to discover in the rest of the series or other narrative adventure games.

You're after a true sequel
This doesn't feel like a true sequel to any of the other Life is Strange games, thanks to a huge amount of awkward retconning. Describing it as more like fan fiction would be an insult to AO3 authors.

You need high production values
This is by far the worst-looking game in the franchise, with many scenes spoiled by cheap animations and awkward dialogue.

Accessibility features

Life is Strange: Reunion has an admirably expansive suite of accessibility options.

This includes a range of pre-sets for low vision, low motor, low audio, or low sensory profiles, plus a huge number of individual settings. Key options include the ability to enable longer decision times for important choices (though there are quite a few of those in the game), highlight key objects and items that can be interacted with in the world, and even skip gameplay sequences if desired.

Subtitles are featured throughout the game and can be altered to your liking in the UI menu. There are multiple font styles, text size options, and the ability to enable a subtitle background to make them easier to read.

The game also offers a range of toggleable trigger warning screens, which can alert you to death, blood, suicide, violence, intense effects, drug use, sex, and high brightness scenes. A separate warning for loud sounds can also be enabled.

How I reviewed Life is Strange: Reunion

I completed Life is Strange: Reunion in roughly 12 hours on my PC, which is a 5070 Ti-powered model from retailer Scan. It has a compact Corsair 2000d RGB Airflow case, Asus ROG Strix B860-I motherboard, Intel Core Ultra 7 265K processor, a 2TB WD Black SN770 SSD, 32GB of DDR5 Corsair Vengeance RAM, and an Asus Nvidia 5070 Ti graphics card.

This allowed me to play the game smoothly on its highest graphics preset at 1080p, though it still didn't look too great. I played using my usual Razer DeathAdder V4 Pro mouse and Cherry XTRFY K5V2 keyboard, plus Logitech desktop speakers for audio.

First reviewed March 2026

Zwift Ride with KICKR CORE: One minute review

The Zwift Ride with KICKR CORE is a complete cycling setup comprising a Zwift Ride smart frame and a Wahoo KICKR CORE trainer. The combined unit is an easy-to-set-up solution for indoor training that doesn't require mounting a traditional outdoor bike. It's a single tine at the front instead of a bike's usual fork and a rear wheel, designed to lock straight into the KICKR turbo trainer. Assembly is as simple as opening a few boxes, securing a few bolts in place, finding a place to locate it, and you're away.

Offering integrated handlebar controllers, a console-like gaming experience, and a system that is compact and quiet, the Zwift ride is a great piece of kit, especially given the price. As for build quality, the chassis is made of heavy-duty powder-coated steel, which is solid and dependable, albeit a little utilitarian.

What sets the KICKR CORE apart from much of the competition is the single-sprocket Zwift Cog that enables virtual shifting. Instead of physically moving a chain across gears, the trainer uses a sophisticated algorithm to deliver resistance via the built-in electromagnetic system. This is capable of simulating the feel of 24 distinct gears and is a big win for users wanting a maintenance-free experience.

Versatility is a standout feature of the Zwift setup, as the frame is engineered to fit riders ranging from 5 ft to 6 ft 6 in with just a single tool. This makes it a perfect indoor bike for sharing between family members, something that I’ve enjoyed these past few weeks.

My first Zwift Ride experience has been a very positive one, and I’ve loved how easy it has been to use. Its design is solid but lacking finesse, its feature set is reasonable but nothing flashy, and its performance is fantastic for the price, compared to ultra-premium rivals like Peloton.

(Image credit: Future / Paul Hatton)Zwift Ride with KICKR CORE: Specifications

Component

Zwift Ride and KICKR CORE

Price

$1,299.99 USD / £1,099 UK

Dimensions

135.89 x 58.42 cm / 53.5 x 23 in

Weight

35 kg / 78 lbs

Saddle Height Min-Max

59.9–86.5 cm / 23.58–34.06 in

Rider Fit Range

152.4–198.12 cm / 5 ft – 6 ft 6 in

Zwift Ride and KICKR CORE: Price and availability

• $1,299.99 USD / £1,099 GBP / $2,299.95 AUD
• A mid-range product with excellent build quality
• Cheaper than high-end alternatives

The Zwift Ride with KICKR CORE 2 bundle is one of the best-value smart bikes on the market. The bundle package is typically priced at $1,299 USD / £1,099 GBP / $2,299.95 AUD, although it's often found on sale for around $999 / £899 (rarely discounted in Australia) during seasonal events. It's not cheap, but it's in the bracket of affordable for anyone wanting to take their indoor cycling seriously.

The product bridges the huge gap between a budget wheel-on trainer and premium dedicated smart bikes like the Tacx NEO Bike Plus. As a result, Zwift is looking to tap into that mid-range market with a semi-affordable trainer that's always ready to go.

Value score 4.5/5

(Image credit: Future / Paul Hatton)Zwift Ride and KICKR CORE: Design

• Utilitarian design with solid materials
• Adjustable seatpost and handlebars
• Silent flywheel for a great user experience

The bundle consists of two elements: the Zwift Ride smart frame and the Wahoo KICKR CORE 2 with Zwift Cog. I appreciate that's quite the mouthful, and it could be confusing, but in essence, the Zwift Ride is the frame, while the KICKR CORE is the resistance trainer. Let's take a look at each in turn.

The Zwift Ride is the physical bike structure that you sit on. It stays in one location and is optionally attached to the trainer. The main chassis is constructed from heavy-duty powder-coated steel, which guarantees durability and longevity, but one of the best details of the bike's design is in its adjustability. With the ability to adjust the seatpost and handlebar system using a "sizing-by-letter" system, quick changes can be made and multiple riders accommodated.

At the front is a unique single-leg design with a wide rubber-padded base. Don't be fooled, though. It might look deceptively slim, but in reality, it provides a solid base to prevent rocking during sprints. The aluminum drop handlebars house built-in Bluetooth buttons for virtual shifting, steering, and navigating Zwift menus. Finally, central to the handlebars is a phone tray with a silicone mat and an optional tablet holder. These are essential for engagement with the Zwift app while riding.

(Image credit: Future / Paul Hatton)

The Wahoo KICKR CORE trainer, on the other hand, is the engine that provides the resistance and communicates with the Zwift app. Sitting at the back of the frame, the unit contains a direct-drive unit containing a 5.4 kg (12 lb) electromagnetic flywheel and a single-sprocket cog that allows the bike to work without mechanical shifting. The whole setup is incredibly silent and removes the need for mechanically complex derailleurs. The Core is also sold separately in case you want to connect an actual bike.

All in, it took around an hour to put it together with every part working seamlessly out of the box. The design is notably utilitarian compared to aluminum or carbon-composite alternatives, and the lack of tilting mechanisms to simulate further climbing is a reminder of its price point.

When both the frame and trainer are combined, the total weight is about 35 kg (78 lbs). While this weight makes it cumbersome to move, it does help keep the unit "planted", which is an essential quality during high-intensity rides.

Design Score: 4/5

Zwift Ride and KICKR CORE: Features

• Console-like gaming experience
• Fast and quiet virtual shifting
• Automatic spindown calibration

From a features point of view, the Zwift is designed with simplicity in mind. This begins with the handlebar integration that serves up a console-like experience where you can control the Zwift interface without having to reach for a keyboard, mouse, or phone. This includes menu navigation and selecting routes as well as in-game actions such as deploying power-ups and moving your avatar to find a draft.

Rather than a physical derailleur, the Zwift hardware uses software-based virtual shifting that is faster and quieter than a mechanical drivetrain. The virtual nature of it makes it possible to choose between Shimano or SRAM logic, or even a sequential 24-gear progression. It also allows for shifting gears when you're not pedaling, which, although not realistic, is ideal if you happen to find yourself stationary while in the middle of a steep climb.

(Image credit: Future / Paul Hatton)

One of the most user-friendly technical features is the automatic spindown calibration, which measures the internal drag of the device so that the power numbers you see in Zwift are accurate and not skewed by things like belt tension or room temperature.

Unlike older trainers that required a manual spindown test every few weeks to ensure power accuracy, the KICKR CORE calibrates itself automatically while you coast. In line with Zwift's focus on convenience, firmware updates happen automatically over WiFi, so the trainer is always up to date.

Features Score: 4/5

Zwift Ride and KICKR CORE: Performance

• Smooth, quiet, and dependable
• Accessible and easy-to-use controls
• Lacking high-end features such as frame tilting

After moving successfully through the incredibly straightforward process of building the bike, I was ready to jump on. It was actually my son who jumped on first, but as he had helped me build the thing, I thought it only fair to let him have a ride. He and I were impressed by how smoothly the unit operates with a super-quiet flywheel and drivetrain. This performance continued throughout my subsequent rides with no deviation in quality.

At the heart of the KICKR CORE is the Zwift Cog with virtual shifting. This again performs excellently with almost instant gear shifts, and there's no crunch or lag often felt on bikes when shifting under heavy load on a climb. This software-led approach means you can focus on your ride without concern that you’re going to bend the derailleur.

The gear shifting can be easily customized to mimic different gear ratios. I cycled through the sequential, SRAM, and Shimano options and tested each one to make sure they accurately performed to their advertised capabilities. The sequential option is pretty straightforward with a simple shifting through gears one at a time. The other two are a little more complex, but Zwift's ability to replicate their feel is expertly implemented.

(Image credit: Future / Paul Hatton)

The physical ride is only half the story, though. The Zwift app is as integral a part of the overall riding experience as the physical build. This app is operated through the handlebar controls, which enable users to move through menus and engage fully with the virtual riding experience. As with any new device, the Zwift’s button placement and associated actions took a little getting used to, but it wasn’t long before it became second nature.

My overall experience of the app was a little less positive, unfortunately. I loaded it onto my phone and was immediately forced to view it in landscape mode. This wasn’t too much of a problem until I realised that the mounting pad at the front of the bike is portrait only. My phone was therefore balanced a little precariously to account for that. Making use of the dedicated holder with a tablet would overcome this, but not everyone has access to these.

I also found that the app drained my phone’s battery to a degree that I wouldn’t have expected. Maybe it’s a result of the 3D graphics or the expectation that you keep your device permanently plugged in. Either way, I think Zwift could make significant improvements to the app to enhance the overall user experience.

Performance score: 4/5

(Image credit: Future / Paul Hatton)Zwift Ride and KICKR CORE: Scorecard

Category

Comment

Score

Value

A mid-range smart bike that delivers great performance at a semi-affordable price.

4.5/5

Design

A utilitarian bike that lacks the finesse of higher-end alternatives.

4/5

Features

A limited set of features, but what it does have is well implemented.

4/5

Performance

A smooth riding experience that lacks a number of high-end features. The app is also a little buggy at times.

4/5

(Image credit: Future / Paul Hatton)Zwift Ride and KICKR CORE: Should I buy?Buy it if...

You want a clean, well-built indoor exercise bike

The Zwift Ride with KICKR CORE is a grease-free, always-ready setup for cycling enthusiasts.

You need a solution that works with multiple users

Thanks for a sizing-by-letter system and single-tool adjustment; it's incredibly easy to swap for different heights.

Don't buy it if...

You don't want to be locked into Zwift

Virtual shifting through the Zwift Cog only works within the Zwift app.

You want a highly customizable ride feel

The trainer provides resistance, but nothing about the bike adjusts to mimic the feeling of going up or down a hill.

Also consider

Peloton

An all-in-one fitness solution that gives you the experience of boutique spinning classes without leaving home. If you’re looking for a great way to get into spinning, the Peloton Bike could be it.

Read our full Peloton reviewView Deal

Garmin Tacx Neo Bike Plus

An ultra-premium indoor trainer designed for elite cyclists, prioritizing realistic ride simulation including gear shifts and surface textures.

Read more about the Garmin Tacx Neo Bike PlusView Deal

How I tested

I performed a full unboxing and kit construction, enabling me to make informed comments on how users might experience the setup process. I downloaded and utilized the Zwift app, partaking in dozens of rides which made use of the full spectrum of features on the bike. I also asked other members of my family to test it. This enabled me to check the fit across multiple users and take on board other people’s perspectives and experiences.

First reviewed: February 2026

Mammotion LUBA 3 AWD 3000: two-minute review

If you’re in the market for a sterling autonomous plug-and-play robot lawn mower with a wider cutting tract than most, the new Mammotion LUBA 3 AWD 3000 comes wholeheartedly recommended. Available in three different battery capacities, this particular model is designed for large, complex lawns with shaded areas, lumpy terrain and very steep gradients, though it is equally at home on even the most standardised of suburban and rural lawns. However, it would most definitely be considered overkill if used on a small-to-medium urban lawn.

Like its highly-regarded stablemate, the LUBA 2, the new LUBA 3 AWD 3000 requires no boundary wires and no degree in IT to set it up – simply install its charging base, log on to the Mammotion app and it will map the boundaries of your lawn automatically or, if you prefer, manually by steering the robot around your lawn’s permitter like an RC car.

A big upgrade from its stablemate, this new model is now equipped with an impressive Tri-Fusion navigation system combining LiDAR, netRTK positioning over WiFi or 4G, plus AI camera vision to map, mow and avoid obstacles with impressive accuracy — day or night.

Performance is where the LUBA 3 AWD 3000 really impresses. Using its all-wheel drive system and full suspension, this beast can handle slopes with inclines of up to 80% and traverse uneven terrain, roots and edges with impressive confidence. Dual 165W cutting motors and AI-adjusted power, meanwhile, allow it to deal effectively with thick or damp grass, while intelligent route planning minimizes missed patches.

The result is an impressively neat and perfectly striped finish to the lawn that may leave your jaw on the floor. What’s more, because it is equipped with a much wider cutting deck (40cm) than the vast majority of the competition, the beautiful lawn stripes it creates are much more akin to that of a conventional mower.

(Image credit: Future)

Granted, the LUBA 3 is very much in the premium-price band, but then you are getting marine-grade build quality, reliable navigation, excellent obstacle avoidance and consistent cutting performance for your hard earned.

I gave this model’s forebear, the LUBA 2, a full five stars on TechRadar in 2024, mostly because it was head and shoulders above anything else around at the time while being extremely efficient and super reliable. But that was then. Today we have a lot more competition with a veritable slew of extremely efficient wire-free robot mowers from the likes of Segway, Anthbot, Roborock, Ego, Eufy, Terramow and Worx, and that makes it even more difficult to justify a full five-star rating.

Nevertheless, if the earlier LUBA 2 — which I have been using for the past 18 months – is anything to go by, you can safely expect this new model to continue providing a fuss-free autonomous grass cutting service with almost zero babysitting for many years hence.

Mammotion LUBA 3 AWD 3000: price & availability

• How much does it cost? £2,399 / $2,399
• When is it available? Available in most regions now
• Where can you get it? Pre-order in UK; available USA and rest of the world, bar Australia

The Mammotion LUBA 3 AWD series sits firmly in the premium segment of the robot mower market, with UK pricing typically between £2,099 to £2,899 ($2,399 to $3,299) depending on lawn capacity. While this positions it well above entry-level robotic mowers, the price reflects its incredible build quality, advanced navigation system, all-wheel-drive traction and ability to scale steep hills, making it particularly appealing for large, complex garden layouts and even large fields.

Compared with more affordable models, the LUBA 3’s value depends largely on lawn size and complexity. Budget alternatives for smaller lawns like the perimeter wire-free Segway Navimow i2 and Worx Landroid Vision Cloud cost under £700 while Mammotion’s equally-competent LUBA Mini 2 AWD 1000 (which boasts many of its larger sibling’s features, including the ability to climb slopes of up to 80%) also retails at a much more affordable £1,399.

Ultimately, I think that the LUBA 3 AWD 3000 I’m reviewing here is decent value for owners of large, uneven or multi-zone lawns who can fully exploit its advanced autonomy. For smaller gardens, however, many cheaper robot mowers deliver perfectly adequate performance, meaning buyers should carefully consider whether the LUBA 3’s premium technology is truly necessary.

Value score: 4 / 5

Mammotion LUBA 3 AWD 3000: specs

Max lawn size

3000㎡

Navigation

360 LiDAR + NetRTK + Dual-Camera AI Vision

Cutting deck width

40cm (two 6-blade cutting discs)

Cutting height adjustment

25-70mm, motorised

Drivetrain

All-wheel drive

Maximum climbing ability

80% (38.6˚)

Maximum zones

30 zones

Drop-and-mow function

Yes

Obstacle avoidance

360° LiDAR, NetRTK, and dual-camera 1080P AI vision

Connectivity

Wi-fi, Bluetooth & 4G (3 years free data)

Security

GPS tracking + 4G

Noise

70dB

Waterproof

IPX6

Rain sensor

Yes

Mow time per charge

175 mins

Charging time

120 mins

Weight

19kgs

Dimensions

690 x 533 x 279mm

Product code

LUBA 3 AWD 3000

Mammotion LUBA 3 AWD 3000: design

• Three-way navigation
• Wider-than-average cutting deck
• Impeccable fit and finish

Most of the mowbots I review are clad in flimsy shells that bend dramatically as you pick them up. By stark contrast, the F1-inspired LUBA 3 AWD 3000’s beautifully polished white plastic cowling feels inches thick and akin to the hull of a premium speed boat. But it doesn’t stop there because the exposed metal work, too, screams Formula One levels of build quality with high-spec machining and expert fit and finish with zero tolerance between the various components.

In short, every inch of this lawn beast is built to the very highest standards. Hence, this level of build quality doesn’t come cheap and nor does it lack in weight – at a hefty 19kgs, it’s a good job you will only likely need to lift it once to remove it from the box and pop it on its charging plinth.

(Image credit: Future)

The LUBA 3 (as I shall call it from now on) is available in three battery-capacity variants for lawn sizes of 1,500㎡, 3,000㎡ for the variant we’re reviewing here, and 5,000㎡. It arrives almost fully assembled in a huge, expertly packed box. In fact, the only thing the user needs to do is remove some protective pieces on the robot — including the cutting deck protector underneath – and screw on the sensor-equipped bumper. Then it’s a case of mounting the charging base on a flat edge of the lawn that’s within range of an outdoor electricity supply. This model comes with a 5m charging cable, which is sadly about half the length of the one that came with the LUBA 2. Nevertheless, you should be able to purchase an extension cable from Mammotion sometime in the near future.

Now that the LUBA 3 is on its base, it’s time to open the Mammotion app, create an account and add the LUBA 3 by following the set of on-screen instructions. Since this model uses Wi-Fi and 4G-based NetRTK for part of its three-way navigation, there is no need to install an RTK antenna. In fact, it doesn’t even come with one though I’m led to believe that an RTK aerial will soon become available for those with poor Wi-Fi and/or 4G reception.

(Image credit: Future)

Once you’ve connected the bot to the app, it’s time to map your lawn and this can be performed in two ways — automatically or manually. With auto mapping the LUBA 3 follows the perimeter of any grassy areas until it arrives at its starting point. Voila, map created. In manual mode — my preferred option — you carefully drive the LUBA 3 around the perimeter of the lawn using the app’s virtual joysticks until you arrive where you started.

Once mapped, the only thing you may need to do is add a few no-go zones around any trees, garden furniture or ornaments by steering the robot around them. This task isn’t essential because the LUBA 3’s stupendous navigation system will ensure any obstacles are avoided. However, it’s still good practice to add no-go zones around obstacles so the robot can cut as closely as possible when approaching rather than giving it too wide a berth.

(Image credit: Future)

If you have multiple lawns connected by pathways with no obstructions like stairs and gates in the way, you can also program a series of pathways for the robot to follow. Simply select ‘Channel’ in the app’s mapping menu and steer the LUBA 3 from one lawn to the other. You can create up to 30 mowing zones with the LUBA 3 3000 model on review here, 15 with the 1500 version and 50 with the 5000. In essence, when the LUBA 3 has completed its cut on lawn one, it will trundle off down your pre-set path to lawn two, and so on and so forth. If its battery needs a recharge midway through a multi task, the robot will simply head back to its charging station for a top up.

Let’s take a closer look at this amazing mowbot’s main credentials, starting with the cutting deck. Unlike the vast majority of robot mowers that come with a small single 20cm cutting disc, this one ships with two 20cm discs, amounting to a wide 40cm of cutting girth, which is roughly the same as most conventional medium-sized push mowers.

(Image credit: Future)

The LUBA 3’s cutting system is comprised of two spinning discs equipped with six razor-like blades on each that cut and mulch grass more cleanly than any conventional rotary mower. Also, unlike standard mowers that only provide their cutting heights in 1cm increments, this model’s motorized cutting deck can be set to cut in 5mm increments (it has a cutting height range of 25-70mm). Oh, and another thing… Since the LUBA 3’s blades are so small and razor sharp, it doesn’t take much power to move them and that in turn means less battery consumption and almost zero noise while they’re working. In fact you could be lying on the sun lounger while the robot’s working a few metres away and you won’t hear a thing — and nor will your neighbors.

Since the LUBA 3 always cuts in a zigzag, up-and-down pattern (at whichever angle you prefer, including a chequerboard effect), the combination of its extra cutting width and extra-wide tyres ensures a swathe of professional-looking lawn stripes. Granted, they’re not the authentic stripes you see at a cricket ground or football pitch – these are made using a large cylinder mower with a roller on the rear – but who’s complaining when they look this ravishingly good? Incidentally, like all good robot mowers, this one is also fitted with a rain sensor, so if it heads out in the rain it will immediately return to its garage (with optional rain hood) and wait a few hours before trying again.

No robot of any kind is of much use if it doesn’t know where it is at any given time. Well the new LUBA 3 has three types of onboard navigation (one more than the LUBA 2) for insane levels of navigation accuracy in even the most shaded areas of a garden.

Firstly, its equipped with GPS RTK navigation that uses satellites to determine the robot’s position to a few centimetres of accuracy (the standard GPS navigation we use for driving is three to 10 metres). However, unlike the first incarnation of the LUBA 2 which shipped with a separate RTK antennae that required a good line of sight to a large number of satellites, this model uses Mammotion’s own NetRTK system which is Wi-Fi or 4G based and therefore immune to satellite access being affected by overhanging trees and buildings. All you need is decent Wi-Fi reception on your lawn for pin-point navigation accuracy.

If you don’t have Wi-Fi on the lawn, you can also use the robot’s built-in 4G capabilities to perform the same function — Mammotion provides a full three years of free 4G service! Oh, and fear not if your lawn area has neither Wi-Fi nor 4G because you can still use this model with a spiked RTK antenna.

(Image credit: Future)

The LUBA 3 is also equipped with dual-camera AI vision and an LED headlight, and it uses these as an extra layer of cover when navigating darker areas of a lawn or when the robot encounters obstacles like children, pets, garden toys, furniture and ornaments. You have two levels of obstacle avoidance to choose from: Standard for better cutting efficiency and Sensitive, which may cause the robot to avoid non-grassy areas and even refuse to cross them on the way back to base. If you’re a dog owner, I wouldn’t rely on this model – or most others for that matter – to avoid dog poop because setting that level of sensitivity would likely cause the robot to also avoid every loose leaf on the lawn.

Last but certainly not least, this model also encompasses LiDAR and I can’t tell you what a difference this makes when it comes to mapping, navigation and obstacle avoidance. LiDAR fires lasers off in all directions to map and navigate a 3D work space with uncanny accuracy, even in pitch darkness. Having this level of navigation redundancy on board is a major coup for Mammotion since most other manufacturers tend to focus on just two navigation systems.

This Tri-Fusion Positioning System, as Mammotion calls it, has also allowed the Chinese company to introduce a unique ‘beta’ feature called Drop Mow so you can take it over to someone else’s lawn and have it cut their lawn as efficiently as yours. In terms of security, the LUBA 3 is firmly linked to the user’s account and that alone renders it useless to any thieves. Moreover, it is also equipped with GPS and 4G tracking for extra peace of mind.

(Image credit: Future)

Let’s take a good look at the Mammotion LUBA 3 AWD’s traction system. Where most smaller mowbots have two sturdy drive wheels to the rear or front and a smaller castor wheel for steering, the LUBA 3 is all-wheel drive and fitted with suspension. Ostensibly, its wheel system is comprised of a pair of large, robust paddled tyres on the rear and a pair of narrower front wheels equipped with smaller omnidirectional spinners that allow the robot to turn on a sixpence. This setup means the LUBA 3 can ride over very rough terrain, scale roots and small sills without getting into pickle. But more importantly its powerful 4x4 drive system also allows it to scale inclines of up to 80% (38.6°) which is steeper than any conventional lawn mower can safely handle.

Granted, the LUBA 3’s specialised front wheels have been known to occasionally tear up grass in soft-soiled shady areas when using the Zero Turn option but this can be cured to some degree by opting for its slower three-point-turn function instead. I’ve personally had no bald-patch issues but I do know that others have.

However, I should add that the omnidirectional front wheels tend to collect a lot of mud which is unsightly, but thankfully the whole unit is IPX6 rated for protection against high-pressure water spray so you can easily blast off the mud with a hose. Perhaps Mammotion will change the LUBA 3’s front drive mechanism at some point and adopt a system like the forthcoming Segway Navimow X Series, which uses a zero-turn method comprised of two front wheels that swivel 90 degrees when turning.

I’ve been consistently blown away by the high level of build quality and huge amount of design flourishes Mammotion injects into its LUBA series and this model is the best yet. However, I will stress that this robot lawn mower has been intentionally designed for large lawns — and even paddocks and fields — and can therefore be considered overkill if used on an average urban lawn. Thankfully Mammotion also produces a smaller LUBA Mini 2 for diminutive lawns, and you should check it out.

Design score: 4.5 / 5

Mammotion LUBA 3 AWD 3000: performance

• Top cutting performance
• Creates beautiful lawn stripes
• Reassuring reliability

As with its forebear, the LUBA 2, I have no issues to report regarding installation, initial lawn mapping, navigation or cutting performance. I simply set up a series of schedules in the Mammotion app and the LUBA 3 has headed off to mow the lawn while I’ve sat indoors doing other things. And when it has finished leaving its swathe of majestic lawn stripes, it’s followed the perimeter all the way back to its charging base.

Yes, I did use my conventional lawn mower with grass cutting container for the first cut of the season because the LUBA 3, like the vast majority of lawn robots, uses the mulching technique and I didn’t want clumps of cuttings littering the lawn. This is why it’s always best to hang on to your conventional mower.

However, if you program the LUBA 3 to head out every two or three days during spring and summer, it will simply slice off about 2mm of growth at a time and feed the nitrogen-rich cuttings back into the turf, thereby fertilising it as the same time. And without a grass cutting in sight. What’s not to like?

(Image credit: Future)

I have always opted for the parallel ‘zigzag’ cutting option in the app, followed by two perimeter laps (you can select up to four perimeter laps and each pass is a little closer to the edge). No, the LUBA 3 — and almost all other bots — won’t cut to the very edge of a wall, fence or solid flower border, but then neither will a conventional lawnmower. Hence you will still need a grass trimmer to hand.

I also tested the LUBA 3’s multi-zone function though this did entail me carrying the unit up some stairs because I’m unable to create a direct pathway to zones two and three. Nevertheless, I was mightily impressed by how well it navigated between the two new zones while sticking rigidly to the borders, and without venturing into the adjacent road. In fact, so successful is this multi-zone system that, were I able to create a series of unobstructed pathways, I could feasibly program the LUBA 3 to leave my garden and head off to maintain our village cemetery and the lawn areas around the church. Proof positive that, were it not for the prospect of theft, most of the new generation of mowbots could feasibly replace a professional gardener with a conventional lawn mower. Sad but true.

(Image credit: Future)

In terms of obstacle avoidance, the LUBA 3 is perfectly adept at bypassing any obstacle larger than, say, a ping pong ball. I tested it using the unit’s Standard obstacle avoidance setting and it stopped about three feet away from a stuffed seagull toy before rerouting itself for another pass. I then set it to Sensitive and it deftly avoided a toy dog bone just one inch in height. That’s a resounding pass in my book since, were it any more sensitive, the robot would likely avoid garden leaves and you don’t want that. Swings and roundabouts spring to mind.

My final test was the LUBA 3’s toughest. There’s a children’s playground behind my house and it has a bank so steep and slippery that I can’t get up it without scrabbling on all fours. For this test I opted to manually steer the LUBA 3 up the slope using the app’s virtual controls, half expecting it to fail miserably. But, joy of joys, it scuttled up the slope like one of those V8-powered Formula Off-Road cars you see negotiating near-vertical terrain in a disused quarry. Very impressive indeed.

(Image credit: Future)

Granted, some may baulk at the thought of a robot performing a task that they consider enjoyable, and I thought that too the first time I was offered a wireless robot to test. But when I look back at the time and effort I’ve saved to perform other important tasks like lounging in the garden with a G&T, pruning the flowers or simply watching it work — not to say the convenience of having the lawn cut while away from home — I’ve become a complete convert and would now find it hard to live without one.

Performance score: 5 / 5

Mammotion LUBA 3 AWD 3000: Mammotion app

• Exceedingly comprehensive
• Simple to navigate
• Some glitches need ironing out

The accompanying feature-rich Mammotion app is central to getting the best performance from all models in the company’s current line up, and one of its key strengths is the amazing level of customization if offers, whether you’re fettling with it at home or away.

Users can create multiple mowing areas, adjust cutting patterns, height and blade speed, direction and style of travel (zigzag, chessboard effect and angle of cut), even create shapes and words on the lawn. It also offers the wherewithal to set the amount of perimeter laps and whether you want the bot to return to its charging base in a direct route or along the perimeter to avoid spoiling the lawn stripes it has already produced.

FutureFutureFuture

Nevertheless, the experience is not flawless. I’ve experienced occasional connectivity issues when away from home or when using Bluetooth on my iPhone 15 Pro, plus a few interface quirks that can make fine-tuning lawn zones more time-consuming than expected. There’s scope for improvement, in other words.

Should you buy the Mammotion LUBA 3 AWD 3000?

Section

Notes

Score

Value for money

The LUBA 3 commands a high price due to its advanced navigation and AWD capability on complex terrain

4/5

Design

Built like a tank and equipped with an accomplished navigation system for a rugged life on larger landscapes

4.5/5

Performance

Powerful, precise and confident performance across a range of large, challenging lawns

5/5

App functionality

Extremely comprehensive but could do with a tweak or two

4/5

Buy it if

You want advanced wire-free navigation

Tri-Fusion positioning combines LiDAR, RTK and AI vision for highly accurate mapping without boundary wires

You want beautiful lawn stripes

This bot cuts in lovely parallel lines

Your lawn is hilly and lumpy

All-wheel drive enables the LUBA 3 to tackle slopes up to 80%, making it ideal for complex or uneven lawns

Don't buy it if

Your lawn is too small

The LUBA 3’s four-wheel traction and wide body are overkill on small lawns.

You don’t want to spend much

Premium pricing makes it hard to justify for small or simple lawns where cheaper robot mowers perform well.

You need a robot with a more gentle turning system

The LUBA 3 has a tendency to scuff up some thinner grasses when turning.

How I tested the Mammotion LUBA 3 AWD 3000

As per usual, I lived with the Mammotion LUBA 3 AWD 3000 for a couple of weeks, watching it work on a scheduled basis and examining the results of its cutting performance. I then put it to a series of manual tests, including obstacle avoidance, multi-zone mowing and a steep hill climb. It has impressed me in all disciplines and continues to do so. Like the LUBA 2 I reviewed in 2024, I see no major issues with this newer model which has been a breeze to use from initial set up to the reliable way it goes about its bi-weekly chores.

Tower Elite 11-Liter Flexi Drawer Air Fryer: 30-second review

The Tower Elite 11-Liter Flexi Drawer Air Fryer offers up a huge cooking capacity at a price which undercuts pretty much any other serious contender on the market. If you’re looking for capacity and flexibility bang-for-your-buck, look no further.

Is this the best air fryer out there? Not exactly, but for families on a budget it’s hard not to recommend Tower’s large basket machine.

Not only can you cook a whole chicken or pizza in this air fryer, it also comes with a handy divider transforming the single drawer into a dual-basket offering, allowing you to cook separate foods, at different temperatures, for different durations, simultaneously — and it works much better than I expected.

It does have a few key competitors including the premium Ninja Foodi FlexDrawer (with a 10.4L basket), and the almost equally affordable Philips 1000 Series Dual Basket Air Fryer (that only has a 7.1L basket), but with the Tower being the cheapest of the trio you’re looking at a unique proposition.

It’s not perfect. The large basket is heavy when fully loaded and is handwash only, while the controls aren’t overly intuitive, and the cooking presets don’t always deliver the results you want.

There is some trial and error required in the cooking process, but once you’ve got a feel for how it cooks, the Tower Elite 11-Liter Flexi Drawer Air Fryer can deliver delicious food, from cakes, to chicken, to fries.

Tower Elite 11-Liter Flexi Drawer Air Fryer: price and availability

• Affordable £119.99 list price, but…
• It’s often reduced to sub-£100, great value for such a large capacity
• Available in the UK, but not in the US or Australia

The Elite 11-Liter Flexi Drawer Air Fryer price is £119.99, although it is regularly discounted making this large capacity cooker even better value.

At time of writing (March 2026), I’m seeing it available for £99.99 on the Tower website, and £89.10 on Amazon, with similar prices at plenty of other third-party retailers.

That’s considerably cheaper than its main, single-drawer, larger capacity competitor, the Ninja Foodi FlexDrawer, which is twice the price of this Tower.

The Philips 1000 Series Dual Basket Air Fryer is closer in price to the Tower, but still costs more and has a smaller cooking capacity.

The Tower Elite 11 air fryer's list price is equivalent to about $160 / AU$230, but it's not available in the US or Australia.

• Value score: 4.5/5

Tower Elite 11-Liter Flexi Drawer Air Fryer: specifications

Review Model

T17200

Number of baskets

1 (plus a divider)

Number of cooking programs

8

Cooking programs

Steak, drumstick, fish, prawn, fries, pizza, bake, dehydrate

Extra functions

Smart Finish, Match Cook

Smart control

No

Wattage

1700W

Capacity

11L

Temperature range

35-200 degrees C

Time range

1-60 minutes (24 hours for dehydrate)

Dimensions (H x W x D)

30.5 x 39.2 x 39.8 cm

Dishwasher-safe

No

Weight

8kg

Tower Elite 11-Liter Flexi Drawer Air Fryer: design

• Huge 11-liter basket is great for family meals, and divider provides dual basket flexibility
• Controls and overall look don’t compete with premium air fryers, but that’s expected at this price point
• Basket can be heavy when fully loaded, and it’s handwash only

With its sizable 11-liter basket the Tower Elite 11 Litre Flexi Drawer Air Fryer is, unsurprisingly, wide (39.2cm) and deep (39.8cm).

It can dominate the worktop in smaller kitchens, but its horizontal design (unlike the vertically tall Philips 4000 Series Stacked Dual Basket or Ninja Double Stack) means height is kept to just 30.5cm, allowing it to sit neatly under wall-mounted units, and slide into cupboards when not in use (assuming they’re wide enough).

FutureFuture

The matte grey finish provides a sleek, modern aesthetic, while the large, glossy black front panel adds a splash of space-age to the look.

It’s smart, without pushing the boundaries of air fryer design, and on closer inspection I found areas where Tower has cut corners to keep the price point at a tempting level.

The buttons and dial felt a little cheap under my finger, with some travel and wiggle to them. Clicks don’t feel smooth, and having used premium Philips and Ninja air fryers recently, the lower quality finish here was even more noticeable.

This isn’t a massive negative though, and it’s to be expected at this price point. Plus, overall the air fryer feels sturdy so I don’t worry about long-term use, as long as you’re relatively gentle with the controls.

(Image credit: Future)

The main attraction is the massive 11-liter cooking basket though, which slides into the front of the machine, and there's a reassuring clunk when you correctly interest the basket, letting you know it’s snugly in.

What’s particularly nice is the addition of a removable divider panel which you can slide down the middle of the basket, allowing you to have two separate cooking zones. This gives you the flexibility of a dual drawer air fryer, while also giving you a single larger basket when you want to cook bigger items such as a pizza or a small chicken.

But with great size comes great weight. Fully load the basket, and you’ll find it gets rather heavy. This is especially problematic when cooking has completed and you’re attempting to remove the basket while it’s very hot.

FutureFuture

I found that putting a couple of heat mats directly in front of the air fryer and pulling the basket straight out onto them helped alleviate the tricky maneuvring of the larger basket. It takes a bit of getting used to, but once you’ve cooked a few times with the Tower Elite 11-Liter Flexi Drawer Air Fryer, you should be able to find a process that works for you.

Another small frustration is the basket, grill tray and basket divider are handwash only, meaning you can’t just pop them in the dishwasher. The non-stick coating on these parts means grime comes off easily with a bit of elbow grease, but the size of the basket can be awkward to wash in smaller kitchen sinks.

• Design score: 4/5

Tower Elite 11-Liter Flexi Drawer Air Fryer: performance

• Solid all-round cooking performance, but not always perfect
• Basket divider works surprisingly well for dual cooking
• Controls not overly intuitive and take time to get used to

The Tower Elite 11-Liter Flexi Drawer, as its name suggests, offers excellent flexibility in its cooking chamber. It comes with a single base plate which sits across the whole drawer, but also a dividing panel you can slide down the middle to create two separate zones.

I was unsure how this one piece of metal in the middle of the drawer would perform at allowing foods to cook at two different temperatures, but to my surprise it works well.

There are two heating elements in this air fryer — left and right — allowing you to set different temperatures and cooking durations for left and right, and that’s exactly what I did with my veg (carrots and broccoli, thanks for asking) and homemade fries.

FutureFuture

The fries had a much longer cooking time than the veg, and at a higher temperature, but I was able to cook both simultaneously without cremating the vegetables.

I used the vegetable and fries presets for this cook, and while the broccoli cooked well, the carrots and the fries could have done with longer. The carrots were still a little hard, while the fries weren’t as crispy as I would have liked — although they were cooked through.

It’s all part of the trial and error nature of air fryer ownership. It takes time, and several cycles, to understand how types of food cook in a new air fryer, with the details in the instruction manual more of a guide than a hard rule.

I was also able to use the Smart Cook function, where the air fryer will sync the two sides of the drawer to finish at the same time. It’s triggered by selecting the time and temperature for each basket and then pressing the Smart Cook button.

FutureFutureFuture

The only issue is, there’s no visual cue to tell you the mode has been selected until you press start to set the air fryer going. This led to me realizing once cooking had started that I hadn’t set it up properly.

When properly engaged, the digital display on the side with the shorter cooking time displays ‘HOLD’ (but only once you’ve pressed start) until the other side's cook time decreases and matches, at which point cooking will start for the shorter duration side as well. It’s a useful feature, but one I wish was easier to set up.

The controls aren't the most intuitive either, and I found myself checking the manual a few times during the first few days to remind myself of the order things need to be set. I’ve found the controls on Ninja and Philips air fryers to be more straight forward.

During cooking I found the sides of the air fryer get the hottest, with my temperature probe reading 38 degrees. That’s not as warm as some air fryers I’ve used, which is good news if you have other appliances or items close by.

(Image credit: Future)

Being able to remove the middle partition means you can fit large items into the 11L basket of the Tower Elite 11-Liter Flexi Drawer. There is space for a whole chicken, or in my case a pizza.

Using the dedicated pizza setting (150 degrees C for 12 minutes), it cooked well on top, and the edges were crispy. However that crisp didn’t extend across the whole base, with the middle still a little doughy. I could have left it in for a few more minutes, but I fear the topping would have burnt.

Sliding the partition back in, the Tower Elite impressed when it came to baking. I made a blueberry loaf which rose wonderfully on one side of the basket, while on the other side my chocolate muffins also baked nicely. The muffins didn’t darken on top as much as I expected, but I can confirm they still tasted great.

FutureFuture

With no window on the basket, you’re not able to keep an eye on things while they’re cooking, you have to remove the basket from the air fryer, which pauses the program. This isn’t a surprise considering the affordable nature of the Tower Elite 11 Litre Flexi Drawer, but if you want to see your food while it cooks you’ll need to look at more expensive machines.

I also cooked tempura chicken pieces using the chicken program (200 degrees C for 25 minutes), and these came out with a beautifully crisp batter, while the meat remained succulent on the inside.

The preset programs include a shake reminder, which the air fryer chiming part way through cooking to remind you to shuffle the food in the basket.

• Performance score: 4/5

Should you buy the Tower Elite 11-Liter Flexi Drawer Air Fryer?Tower Elite 11-Liter Flexi Drawer Air Fryer report card

Attribute

Notes

Rating

Value

You’ll be hard pressed to find a better value air fryer with the cooking capacity of the Tower Elite 11 Litre Flexi Drawer.

4.5/5

Design

Functional design where the huge basket is the star attraction, along with its clever divider. The basket can get heavy though, and it’s handwash only.

4/5

Performance

Solid cooking performance across all food types, but you need to perfect cooking time and temps as presets don’t always deliver the results you want.

4/5

Buy it if

You want huge, flexible air fryer capacity

With its 11-liter basket, this is one of the largest capacity air fryers on the market. You can fit a whole pizza or small chicken in here, while the included divider instantly transforms this into a dual-basket air fryer allowing you to cook two separate items simultaneously.

You’re a family on a budget

The Tower Elite 11-Liter Flexi Drawer proves you don’t have to drop hundreds on an air fryer, with this machine offering incredible bang-for-buck in terms of size and cooking flexibility.

You want to get baking

I was particularly impressed by the blueberry loaf and chocolate muffins I cooked simultaneously in this air fryer, so for any budding bakers this is worth considering.

Don’t buy it if

Washing up isn’t your thing

The basket, grill tray and divider are all handwash only, and with the former’s size it can be tricky to handle in smaller sinks.

Heavy lifting is difficult for you

When the basket is fully loaded and comes out hot after cooking, it’s heavy and unwieldy to move about. If you’re concerned about comfortably lifting it, consider a dual-basket air fryer instead.

You rely on the preset programs

While presets are a nice starting point, you’ll need to experiment with times and temperatures to get the perfect cook for various foods. If you don’t have time (or the inclination) for trial and error, look at alternatives.

Tower Elite 11-Liter Flexi Drawer Air Fryer: also consider

Ninja Foodi FlexDrawer

Another one of the larger capacity options on the market (with a 10.4L basket), the Ninja Foodi FlexDrawer is easier to use and cooks slightly better, but it’s also more expensive.

For more information, check out our full Ninja Foodi FlexDrawer review

Philips 1000 Series Dual Basket Air Fryer

A bigger single basket than your traditional air fryer, the Philips 1000 series is smaller at 7.1L and a touch more expensive than the Tower, but has clearer controls and takes up slightly less space.

For more information, check out our full Philips 1000 Series Dual Basket Air Fryer review

How I tested the Tower Elite 11-Liter Flexi Drawer Air Fryer

• I used the Tower Elite 11 Litre Flexi Drawer for two weeks at home in my kitchen
• I cooked a wide variety of food with it, including chicken, pizza, fries, cakes and vegetables
• I tested the different cooking functions, and the cleaning process

I used the Tower Elite 11 Litre Flexi Drawer for two weeks at home, where I cooked a wide variety of food and meals.

From crispy tempura chicken, homemade and frozen fries, and various vegetables, to baking loafs and muffins, as well as an entire pizza, I ensured this air fryer was put through its paces.

I cooked using the whole basket, just one side with the divider in place, and on both sides, at different temperatures and durations, to experience the full versatility on offer. I tried out a number of the preset cooking options, as well as experimenting with my own settings to improve results.

I even slipped on a pair of marigolds to handwash the basket, tray and divider, as these are not dishwasher safe.

Something Very Bad is Going to Happen had me at hello. With an ominous title like that, how could I resist diving straight in and binge-watching the new Netflix show?

While it's a great title, it also basically gives away the plot, which means that when the titular bad thing does happen, it better be worth it.

Trust me, it is. I love a slow burn and have long been drawn to some of the best horror movies like Hereditary and Midsommar, which build to an awful yet satisfying conclusion. People looking for a fast pace and loads of scares will be disappointed with Something Very Bad is Going to Happen, but for those who like to be pumped full of lingering dread, this should be a blast.

The Netflix series follows Rachel Harkin (Camila Morrone) and Nicky Cunningham (Adam DiMarco), who are getting married in five days. In the build-up to the big day, the couple is traveling to Summer House, the ancestral home of Nicky's family, for gatherings and celebrations ahead of time.

The Cunningham family gather together before Adam and Rachel get married. (Image credit: Netflix)

My favorite horror movie of all time is The Silence of the Lambs, so seeing Ted Levine in the cast as Adam's father was great. Additionally, The Haunting of Hill House's Victoria Pedretti stars in an important role (you will find out who she is, don't worry!), so there's plenty for horror fans to enjoy star-wise.

The rest of the cast is great, too, and the ensemble creates this difficult family dynamic where Rachel questions whether she is really supposed to marry into this family. The Cunninghams are well off, Rachel comes from a different background, and plenty of the usual pre-marital anxieties arise.

But there's something deeply wrong here. Over the course of the five days before the wedding, Rachel witnesses some very disturbing things. Bad omens seem to be everywhere, and what should be an exciting time turns into one that's filled with dread.

Not just for Rachel, but for us as the viewers, too, as I found myself feeling very uncomfortable when watching this. And when you're discussing horror, that's like the highest praise you can give.

Tension and unease are at the heart of Something Very Bad is Going to Happen, and you can expect unsettling visuals, plenty of blood and disturbing scenes, found-footage style framing that puts you right in the center of it, and yes, a couple of decently executed scares too. It has all the right ingredients for a tense horror that creeps along towards a horrific finale.

This is where things will no doubt divide viewers. After such a slow burn, the finale may not satisfy everyone. But it is the biggest, bloodiest episode of them all, so it certainly makes a statement, helped by some excellent special effects and a creepy score.

Something Very Bad is Going to Happen ultimately plays on our real-life anxieties of fitting in, big decisions like marriage and a family, and worries around our own identities. Despite the supernatural elements, at its core, it can feel very relatable at times.

But that's what well-written horror does, and I was happy to experience it, even if I do need to go and watch something more lighthearted now.

Amnezia VPN review - quick menu

1. Amnezia VPN Free
2. Amnezia VPN Premium
3. Privacy
4. Conclusion

Amnezia VPN is an open-source VPN launched in 2020 that originated at Demhack, a hackathon run by Russian digital rights organization Roskomsvoboda.

It was initially created as a tool to help users deploy their own VPN servers to bypass internet censorship. Over time, the project has expanded beyond its self-hosted roots into a broader VPN service with both managed and user-controlled options.

Today, Amnezia offers products for different types of users. Amnezia Premium provides a subscription VPN with servers operated by the company, while Amnezia Free offers limited free connectivity for users in restricted internet environments. The platform also supports self-hosted deployments on personal cloud servers, plus Amnezia VPN Business for teams and Amnezia VPN Hosting, which simplifies server setup.

For the scope of this review, I’ll be focusing solely on Amnezia Free and Amnezia Premium.

Amnezia VPN Free: features and performance

Amnezia Free works differently from most free VPN services — and indeed from its own Premium version — by only routing specific apps and websites through the VPN rather than all your internet traffic.

This lets you reliably access commonly restricted platforms like WhatsApp, Telegram, Signal, Instagram, TikTok, and selected news sites, while everything else connects normally without VPN overhead.

Unlike many free VPNs out there, you don’t need to sign up for an account to use Amnezia Free, and you won’t have to put up with annoying or irrelevant in-app ads either.

A couple of caveats of the free version of Amnezia VPN, however, are that speeds are capped at 500 Kbps and that it doesn’t let you choose your location. Instead, you’ll be assigned to the region you’re in. If this is all too limiting, then you may want to consider its Premium version, which doesn’t have the same restrictions.

(Image credit: Amnezia)

An Amnezia spokesperson told TechRadar that Amnezia Free is primarily created and operates in countries with a high level of internet censorship and restrictions. These include Russia, Myanmar, and Iran, as well as Turkey, Vietnam, India, Pakistan, Nepal, Brazil, and Cuba.

The UK has also been added as an experimental market due to a high demand. The goal, however, is to make Amnezia Free available to all users worldwide.

Under the hood, Amnezia runs on its own modified WireGuard-based protocol, AmneziaWG, designed to make VPN traffic harder to detect or block.

On the security side, it includes essentials like ChaCha20 encryption and a kill switch. The latter of which serves to cut your internet traffic in the event that the VPN connection drops, preventing the accidental exposure of your data.

Just keep in mind that these protections apply primarily to the traffic routed through the VPN and not your entire device.

Amnezia VPN Premium: features and performance

Amnezia describes its Premium offering as "a classic VPN" for when you want to secure all of your internet traffic all the time. It offers apps compatible with all major operating systems (Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, and Linux) and comes with an allowance of seven devices.

Apps and servers

With Amnezia Premium, you’ll have access to servers in 20 countries, which include the US, UK, Canada, Switzerland, Australia, and Japan. This is nowhere near the size of market-leading VPNs like NordVPN, Surfshark, and Proton VPN, which can prove limiting as far as unblocking or simply finding a local server for when you need the fastest possible speeds.

One curious quirk of Amnezia’s desktop and mobile apps is that it isn’t possible to switch servers while connected. Instead, you need to disconnect before reconnecting to your new desired location, making for a slightly clunky experience.

(Image credit: Future)

Having said that, Amnezia is aware of this limitation, which it ensures TechRadar the team plans to fix in a future update. Still, it doesn’t take long to connect to or disconnect from servers, and the app has a lightweight, responsive feel as well as a simple, uncluttered layout that should appeal to first-time VPN users.

Amnezia VPN’s desktop and mobile apps have the same straightforward design, which features a large quick-connect button and a footer menu that takes you to the home page, settings, and connection setup.

Selecting the server location at the foot of the home screen brings up the full list of server locations. These seem to be listed at random with no option to filter them by alphabetical order, latency, or to favorite specific locations for faster future access.

Streaming unblocking and speeds

Many people use VPNs to access their usual streaming services while traveling abroad, and the good news is that Amnezia VPN successfully accessed everything I tested it against, including US Netflix, BBC iPlayer, and 9Now. Better still, it worked at the first time of asking in each case.

As for speed, Amnezia claims to offer speeds of up to 200 Mbps, and I found this to be accurate. I recorded speeds of 220 Mbps while connected to the server most local to me (France) and even had speeds of 120 Mbps when connecting to a server further afield in the US.

(Image credit: Future)

These speeds are more than fast enough for streaming, and I had no issues with playback while connected.

Security features

Amnezia connects you by default to its proprietary WireGuard-based protocol, AmneziaWG, designed to make VPN traffic harder to detect or block. With the release of AmneziaWG 2.0, the team strengthened its obfuscation power, promising to outsmart even more sophisticated censorship tactics.

Amnezia Premium also offers the XRay VLESS protocol, which the team says users should choose as an alternative in the event that AmneziaWG struggles in more challenging network environments. You can switch to VLESS by heading to the server's settings.

(Image credit: Amnezia)

Over time, Amnezia VPN has phased out protocols including OpenVPN Over Cloak and ShadowSocks, because they were increasingly detectable by Deep Packet Inspection (DPI) blocking systems.

This isn’t exactly a feature-packed VPN and lacks much of what the best VPNs offer, such as ad blocking or Double VPN servers. Still, it ticks every security box with ChaCha20 encryption, DNS leak protection, and a kill switch.

Amnezia VPN also offers split tunneling, which lets you route only selected apps or IP addresses through the VPN while the rest use your normal connection, which is useful when you want to access local services or improve speed for everyday apps while still protecting specific traffic.

Does Amnezia VPN offer privacy?

Amnezia is headquartered in Romania and has a privacy approach that centers on minimal data collection and user control, as evidenced by its strict no-logs policy and use of RAM-only servers. The VPN’s privacy policy explicitly states they don’t collect or store users’ IP addresses or any other personally identifying information during normal operation.

The only exception is brief temporary logging when users violate terms or threaten infrastructure, with data deleted afterward. This minimal data stance is reinforced by independent security audits carried out by 7ASecurity in 2022 and 2024, as well as penetration testing by the Open Technology Fund.

For Premium subscribers, connections are routed through company-operated servers using the custom AmneziaWG protocol by default, which is designed to resist censorship without compromising the no-logs promise. It's also worth mentioning that Amnezia VPN's apps are open source, so anyone can freely inspect their code.

Regarding payment privacy, Amnezia accepts major credit cards as well as cryptocurrency options, including Bitcoin and Ethereum. Unlike Mullvad, it doesn’t offer a truly anonymous cash payment method.

Although payment processing for subscriptions involves third-party vendors that may collect transaction data, the core VPN service avoids tracking browsing activity, connection timestamps, or bandwidth usage.

Amnezia VPN review - final verdict

Amnezia VPN may not have the flashiest apps or the myriad of features of more established VPN services, but that’s not too surprising considering its major focus is developing tech to bypass ever-sophisticated censorship tactics.

If you’re looking for a simple VPN that gets the basics right, though, it certainly ticks that box. Between strong encryption and a kill switch, Amnezia VPN provides a high level of security for your data, all while protecting your privacy with a strict no-logs policy that should satisfy even the most privacy-conscious users.

Particularly impressive in testing was its ability to access streaming services like Netflix. That said, Amenzia VPN's small server network considerably limit its global reach.

The lack of some popular add-on like ad and malware blcoking are also downsizes that need to be considered — especially when many other VPNs are offering them as standard protection.

You should also keep in mind that, if you switch to Amnezia Premium, the company operates under a limited 7-day money-back guarantee, in an industry where the standard is typically 30 days.

Nonthless, Amnezia's fairly competitive subscription prices, which starts from the equivalent of $4 a month, will give you the opportunity to support the work that the team is carrying on in promoting a secure and uncensored internet, even in the most challenging environments.

The desktop resin printing market has seen machines across the board slowly developing with more product design and features that make dealing with the mess a little less troublesome. There’s also the natural progression of features such as higher resolution screens, slightly larger build volumes, and software improvements, most notably in support structures.

Recently, most of the leading manufacturers have started to really focus on their resin offerings, which are commonly side-lined for the more popular and less messy filament options. Having tested the best 3D printers, I’ve seen huge leaps forward from Creality and Elegoo, and now Anycubic has released the Anycubic Photon P1, which visually appears to be a completely new machine.

The Photon P1 is aimed at the higher-end enthusiast and as a budget machine in the pro market, and retails at present for a respectable $549 / £549. That pricing means that it is positioned slightly above the Photon Mono M7 Pro, which impressed me a couple of years ago, and in both specification and design, it’s actually a far greater leap forward than an initial look at the specs sheet would lead you to believe, borrowing components that are more commonly found in industrial equipment.

A few examples of this are the ball screw Z-axis, dual precision linear rails, a milled steel build plate, and a smart heated resin vat, although this last one has become a common feature, and thankfully, in spite of these industrial upgrades the actual footprint has been kept relatively small, meaning that once unboxed it sat quite comfortably on a surface in the workshop.

There’s also the interesting headline feature of the optional dual-material printing via a separate kit, although I didn’t get a chance to look at this during the review, it looks like a great option.

Before I go into the review, a safety note. Through this test, I was careful to adhere to the safety around these machines and at all times when working with the resin and prints, I ensured that I was wearing nitrile gloves, a mask, and always in a well-ventilated workspace with the windows open, which is why at this time of year I’m working in a relatively cold environment.

The reason for this is that the liquid resin is a skin and respiratory irritant, and the precautions that I have taken and you should consider if you’re looking at one of these machines are essential, whatever your experience.

Anycubic Photon P1: Price and Availability

The Anycubic Photon P1 is currently only available directly from Anycubic US and Anycubic UK stores, priced at a discount $549 / £549 right now. I'm also seeing it on both Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk.

Anycubic Photon P1: Design

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)

This is the first time that Anycubic has truly broken from the standard Photon design, discarding the lift-off lid and instead going for something much more refined, at least when it comes to the aesthetics. It looks altogether more professional and solid, and whilst their previous machines were able to turn out a decent print, the lid and bolt-down tank were looking dated compared with the competition.

That design is now all changed, and everything about the Photon P1 is of a high build quality and design standard. The machine itself, despite packing in plenty of advanced features, still only weighs in at 13.6kg and measures 366 x 338 x 539mm,making it easy to move around the workshop and position with the relatively small footprint. As ever, you’ll also need to factor in the space for a wash and cure machine.

From the moment the printer is placed on the work surface, there are two major design changes that really stand out: the hinged cover that replaces the previous lift-off lid and the large LCD screen with an updated interface.

The lid is well designed with a stepless hinge that essentially holds the lid at any angle over 45 degrees, and what I liked about this was that there’s a small handle that enables easy opening. The lid itself also seals well over the machine, stopping any UV exposure escaping while operating, and also helping to keep fumes inside and heat.

One of the major differences between this cover and previous Anycubic lids is that this is far less opaque. While this dark visor does block the view of the build area, if it increases UV protection, then that can only be a good thing.

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)

The other big addition is the 4.5-inch resistive touchscreen, and while a touchscreen featured on previous models, this again feels of a far higher quality and follows the refined UI direction that we’ve seen with the Kobra X FDM range. In use, the navigation through the settings is fast and responsive, as well as being well organised, so it doesn’t take too long to navigate and find the settings that you want.

Considering the size of the print area and the fact that there’s a dual bed option, the footprint of 366 x 338mm enables it to easily sit on almost any workspace with plenty of room around it. The design of the mechanics has also seen an overhaul, and the new ball screw Z-axis is quiet, although checking the print times, and this more refined machine is slightly slower than the M7.

• Design: 4.5/5

Anycubic Photon P1: Features

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)Specs

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)

Print Technology: MSLA (Masked Stereolithography)
Build Area: 223 x 126 x 230 mm (6.5 L)
Minimum Layer Resolution: 0.02 mm
Maximum Layer Resolution: 0.15 mm
X/Y Axis Resolution: 16.8 x 24.8 micron
LCD Screen: 10.1-inch Monochrome 14K
Light Source: COB + Fresnel + MASK
Light Intensity: 5,000 μW/cm²
Print Speed: 25–35 mm/h (0.05mm layer, standard resin)
Release Film: NFEP with Wave Release Technology
Resin Vat: Dynamic temperature-controlled, up to 1L, 20–40°C
Build Plate: Precision-milled steel (flatness tolerance < 80 μm)
Levelling: Auto-Levelling 3.0 with four-corner pressure feedback
Software: Photon Workshop 4.0 (also compatible: ChituBox, Lychee, Tango)
Operating Screen: 4.5-inch resistive touchscreen
Dimensions: 366 x 338 x 539 mm
Weight: 13.6 kg

The Photon P1's features build on previous Anycubic resin printers, and the company is keen to highlight that many of the new technologies that have been included in the P1 were previously only available in industrial models. This means that while this is a new Photon printer in many ways, it marks an entirely new line for the company.

Highlights include auto-Levelling 3.0, which is the first of the new features that impressed through the test, and actually saw a complete test period with no misprints or issues. The automatic self-check runs before each print, and while this does slow down the overall print times for individual prints in the long term, it saves time. How this works is to provide real-time pressure feedback across all four corners of the build plate, and if there are any issues, the machine will stop so that you can sort it out.

Through the test period, I poured in around 2kg of resin across more than 20 prints, and from the outset, the levelling proved effective with no hands-on adjustment. Really, getting started with the printer couldn’t have been easier.

Another of the new range of features is the Wave Release Technology, which is Anycubic's proprietary approach to the peel cycle. This uses a specialist NFEP film rather than standard FEP, and again it seems to work. This system is designed to reduce peel force by up to 60% versus traditional FEP, and as the machine ran through the prints, this was noticeable. Often, with some of the printers, the release from the FEP can make quite a noise, but here, the noise as the print was lifted was minimal, and this is one of the quietest printers of this type that I’ve used.

Through the entire test, including complex models with fine details and thin connectors, there were no failed prints. To be honest, this is an unusual result and previously was something that only the FormLab Form4 was able to claim. This dependability is no doubt due to the boost in technology and the combined effect of Wave Release, Dynamic Release 3.0, and the ball screw Z-axis working together.

Another of the technologies inside that helps with this dependability remains the Dynamic Release 3.0 monitors, which watch the real-time layer-separation forces and modulate lift height and speed accordingly, while Light-Off Compensation 3.0 calculates the resin flow-back rate and automatically adjusts light-off duration.

These are all technologies I can read about, and from the reliability angle, through the test, seem to do their job. Essentially, these and many other features are background operations which are invisible to you as the user, but they seem to work when compared to older models.

One feature I have seen on an increasing number of these resin printers is a dynamic, temperature-controlled resin vat. The change that this makes to print quality is the single most important feature and should be an essential part of any feature set for any resin printer.

As this test was carried out at the beginning of the year in the UK, ambient temperatures in the workshop are generally low, especially when testing resin printers, where I like to have all windows open. Therefore, the tests were performed in workshops at 5 to 10 degrees Celsius, these temperatures are at which most unheated resin printers fail or produce unreliable results, especially with supports.

The P1's vat reached operating temperature quickly, and print quality was exceptional throughout, with only a few weak support connectors for a couple of fine models. If you are working in a garage, workshop, or unheated studio, a heated tank is an essential and justifies the price premium of this model over lower-spec machines.

Another major feature of this printer is its wide resin compatibility. Through the test, I used both ABS-Like Resin 2.0 and standard resin, both of which produced excellent results with comparable print times. The machine is rated for resins up to 8,000 cps, enabling you to also print with engineering, flexible, and high-viscosity materials that would be beyond the range of many cheaper printers. I stuck to using Anycubic resins, but third-party resins can be used if you have the correct profile.

When it comes to getting models into the printer, there’s the Photon Workshop 4.0 slicer, but once again, if you want to use another choice of software, such as ChituBox, Lychee, and Tango, then that’s possible. The interface looks minimal on first use, but once you dig into the settings, there is quite a bit here to adjust. The ability to carefully adjust support connection options is particularly useful for complex models.

One feature not tested during this review is the Anycubic app's remote monitoring capability. This will be covered in a follow-up once the evaluation is complete.

• Features: 4.5/5

Anycubic Photon P1: Performance

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)

Print quality is where resin printers really come into their own, and this is especially true with the Photon P1. The 14K monochrome LCD with 16.8 x 24.8 micron XY resolution delivers an exceptionally fine level of detail, instantly visible on complex models.

Fingers, fabric patterns, surface textures, and fine structural elements are rendered with a level of definition that rivals that of other 14K machines I have used this year. The surface finish is outstanding, cured prints from the P1 are smooth, proof of both the screen quality and stable ball screw Z-axis movement.

I printed approximately 20 models over the test period, beginning with the test files supplied on the USB drive and then moving to my own library of models, the same files I use consistently when evaluating resin printers.

This includes a series of sci-fi figures with varying levels of fine detail, taller models to test Z-axis stability, basic ornaments for general surface-quality assessment, a tank model with drain holes to test support behaviour, and small engineering parts for dimensional accuracy. The human figures printed exceptionally well throughout.

One dog figure presented a challenge; the first file had particularly fine connectors to the base, which were below the threshold of practical durability, although they did hold, and those connectors eroded during washing. Once I adjusted the connector thickness in the slicer, the supports were a little more robust through the wash while remaining easy to remove.

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)

The tank model with drain holes added within the Photon Workshop, and full support structures printed well. The engineering parts were all produced with good dimensional accuracy, cleaning up neatly with minimal post-processing.

Across all 20+ prints, I recorded a 100% success rate, no failed prints, no delamination, no adhesion failures. In my experience with resin printers, this is unusual, even in the first ten prints, before particle build-up becomes a factor. The P1 maintained that reliability through the full test.

In terms of raw print speed, the Photon P1 is not the fastest machine on the market. At 25–35 mm/h with standard resin at 0.05mm layer height, it is noticeably slower than the Photon Mono M7 Pro, which can reach 130–170 mm/h with high-speed resin.

In practice, most models I produced with standard resin were completed within four to seven hours for relatively large prints standing 12cm in height, and with speed resin, a small figure that took one hour 38 minutes in standard resin came down to one hour 27 minutes. The P1 feels optimised for consistency rather than speed and the quality of the models reflects this.

Through the post-processing models were washed in IPA for between five and ten minutes, after which support structures were broken away. Surface imperfections were minimal and cleared easily by brushing with my finger, before a second, short wash and UV cure to fully harden the resin. The ABS-Like Resin 2.0 produced detailed results and, unlike standard resin, which becomes brittle relatively quickly with handling, showed noticeably better durability.

• Performance: 4.5 / 5

Anycubic Photon P1: Final verdict

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)

The Anycubic Photon P1 is a really decent machine and a good first step into prosumer resin printing. It’s not the fastest machine you can buy at this price, and the build plate lacks the quick-release mechanism that some competitors have introduced, but otherwise the features and performance are excellent.

For me, the impressive 100% print success across more than 20 prints, with the detail produced by the 14K screen and support of the heated vat in my presently sub-10°C workshop, all make this a great choice, as it overrides many of the usual resin challenges of lesser machines.

At $549 / £549, the Photon P1 is more than many of the other Anycubic machines, but it delivers far more. If you have been using an entry-level resin printer and are ready to step up from a hobby machine to something with near-industrial output without the cost, this is a great option. The optional dual-material kit is a genuinely interesting upgrade, and even without it, the base machine is still excellent.

Should you buy the Anycubic Photon P1?

Value:

You pay a premium over hobby machines, but it’s justified by the performance

4

Design:

Prosumer step-up with hinged lid, remote monitoring, quiet operation and refined touchscreen. 

4

Features:

Well-specced with all the features you'd expect from a 3D printer of this price. The touchscreen is especially good.

4.5

Performance:

Exceptional detail and 100% success rate; print speed is the only small issue.

4

Total:

By far the best desktop resin printer Anycubic has produced to date. 

4.5

Buy it if...

You want reliable, detailed resin output.

Stepping up from a hobby printer? The Photon P1 delivers consistent results with minimal troubleshooting, making this an ideal machine for miniature painters, jewellery designers, and prototyping work.

You work in a cold or unheated space.

The heated vat is a genuinely useful feature for garage or workshop users. In testing at 5–10°C, the P1 performed without issue, something most unheated resin printers cannot match.

Don't buy it if...

Print speed is your priority.

At 25–35 mm/h, the P1 is slower than speed-focused competitors. If high output is your priority, look elsewhere; this machine is for precision rather than speed.

You are new to resin printing.

The P1 presumes familiarity with resin handling, support setup, and post-processing. New users would be better off starting with a lower-cost Photon Mono before stepping up.

For more crafting essentials, I've also tested out the best laser engravers

I tested out the Bluetti Elite 300. It's a portable power station that can only be described as a serious step-up from the usual compact power units I've reviewed. Capable of 2,400W output, this is a 3,014Wh power station — the world's smallest 3KWh, according to Bluetti — although don't mistake that for being a lightweight device.

Bluetti Elite 300: Pricing

(Image credit: Bluetti // Future)

In the US, the base unit is priced at $1099, and it's available direct from Bluetti, as well as online retailers like Amazon.com, while it's $1199 at Walmart.

In the UK, it's priced at £1399 from Bluetti, as well as at Amazon.co.uk and B&Q.

Upgrade bundles, such as getting the unit with additional batteries and solar chargers, are also available.

Bluetti Elite 100: Design & size

(Image credit: Bluetti // Future)

• From glovebox to garage

If you’ve used something like the Bluetti Elite 30 V2 Portable Power Station, the Elite 300 feels like it belongs to a completely different category.

The Elite 30 is small enough to throw in a backpack or keep in the boot for casual trips. By contrast, the Elite 300 is a chunky, two-hand carry unit, closer to a piece of site equipment than a travel gadget.

That jump in size brings a massive increase in battery capacity and output, but it fundamentally changes how you use it. Elite 300 can be described as transportable rather than portable, designed for basecamp or van setups

Weight-wise, the Elite 300 is substantial. You’re not hiking with it, but for van life, outdoor setups or keeping in a workshop or garage, it’s perfectly manageable thanks to sturdy handles and a balanced form factor.

Bluetti Elite 300: Build quality & ruggedness

(Image credit: Bluetti // Future)

• Solid, reinforced and built for real-world us

Bluetti has leaned into durability here. The Elite 300 feels solid, reinforced and built for real-world use, whether that’s a muddy campsite, a job site, or being loaded in and out of a van repeatedly.

The casing has that slightly industrial finish Bluetti is known for, with good resistance to knocks and scrapes. It’s not fully “ruggedised” in the military sense, but it inspires confidence in rough environments far more than smaller consumer-grade power banks.

Bluetti Elite 300: Ports & connectivity

(Image credit: Bluetti // Future)

• Practical and well thought-out

Bluetti gets the basics right—and that matters. You get:

• 2 x Standard AC sockets - for appliances and tools or anything needing an AC plug with a combined max output of 2400W
• 2 x DC outputs - for camping gear, fridges, etc. 1 x Car cigarette port and 1 x XT90 port for more oomph.
• 2 x USB-A @ 15W each and 2 x USB-C @ 100W and 140W ports for devices

Crucially, everything is laid out clearly and is easy to access, even in low light or outdoor conditions.

When it comes to getting power into the system, the Bluetti Elite 300 is impressively versatile and very much in line with its “serious kit” positioning.

You get multiple charging methods depending on your setup:

• AC mains input (up to ~2,300–2,400W) – the fastest option, taking the unit to full in around 1.6 hours, which is exceptionally quick for a battery of this size.
• Solar input (up to ~1,200W) – ideal for off-grid use, letting you recharge fully in a few hours with a decent panel setup.
• Hybrid AC + solar charging – combines both for even faster top-ups when you’re at basecamp.
• 12V / 24V car charging – slower, but useful for topping up on the move during long drives.

Bluetti hasn’t just focused on output power—the Elite 300 is designed to refill quickly and flexibly, whether you’re at home, on-site, or completely off-grid.

Bluetti Elite 300: App controlBluetti // FutureBluetti // FutureBluetti // Future

• A standout feature

Bluetti’s app is one of the better ones in this category. It allows:

• Remote monitoring
• Power usage tracking
• Turning outputs on/off
• System diagnostics

It adds a layer of smart control that makes the Elite 300 feel more like a modern energy system than just a big battery.

Bluetti Elite 300: Final thoughts

(Image credit: Bluetti // Future)

The Bluetti Elite 300 isn’t just a bigger power bank—it’s a mobile power solution. Compared to smaller power stations, it opens up entirely new possibilities: cooking proper meals, running tools, and living comfortably off-grid.

The portable power station is a serious step up from compact portable units, blending near home-backup capability with enough portability to remain genuinely useful in the field.

If you just need to charge phones and laptops, something like the Elite 30 remains the smarter pick. But if you want something that can genuinely replace mains power in the field, the Elite 300 is in a completely different league.

(Image credit: Bluetti // Future)

For more models, see our guide to the best portable power stations we've tested.

Sonos Play: two-minute review

The Sonos Play is one of the few products I've tested recently that really converted me to its cause over time. It's a product that Sonos pitches as a home speaker that's also portable — the one speaker you can use everywhere.

I started off thinking that the Sonos Play was struggling for value, because it's more expensive than Sonos' small purely home speaker, the Sonos Era 100, but doesn't sound quite as good. And it costs a lot more than most of the best Bluetooth speaker options, such as the excellent JBL Charge 6.

But over time, I realized that the Sonos Play excels in subtlety. Despite Sonos' claim, I don't think of it as a home speaker first and a portable speaker second. I see it as a portable speaker that's good enough to justify a place out on your furniture all the time, rather than being relegated to a drawer when you're not using it. And as a result, I started using it as both a home speaker for the room its in, and I started grabbing it to take with me to other rooms simply because I could, and it sounds good.

The charging cradle is vital to this. With no cable to fiddle with, you can just grab the Sonos Play and go without pausing your stride. It lasts for ages once it's away from the cradle (24 hours, and it turns itself off when not in use to keep going over days), so you don't need to be precious about returning it for a charge. It's solidly waterproof so you can use it anywhere without fear — It's a great shower karaoke companion.

And the Sonos Play does sound good — better than most portable speakers of its size. It's really well-rounded, with solid mids, clear treble and plenty of bass. It lacks some dynamic edge (though improves as the volume goes louder), but is still a really enjoyable listen.

It's become my speaker buddy — the one I'm using most, because it's so versatile. It's ready to go anywhere, to play in the house on Wi-Fi or out of the house on Bluetooth. You can achieve everything it does from other speakers, and arguably in a way that's better value — but not with this efficiency.

Sonos said it wanted to make a speaker that could be the one you need — powerful enough to fill nearly any room, and easily portable to take to nearly any room — and I think it nailed it.

(Image credit: Future)Sonos Play review: price and availability

• Released on March 31st, 2026
• $299 / £299 / AU$499

The Sonos Play's $299 / £299 / AU$499 price is a fine balance. When it comes to Sonos' portable speakers, it sits neatly between the Sonos Roam 2's $179 / £179 / AU$239 and the Sonos Move 2's $449 / £449 / AU$799.

When it comes to Sonos' home speakers, it sits neatly between the $219 / £199 / AU$289 price of the Sonos Era 100, and the $449 / £449 / AU$749 price of the Era 300.

The difference, of course, is that the Play's performance sits correctly between the two portable speakers, while it doesn't perform any better than the Era 100 — what you get instead is a smaller design and a battery.

There are tons of competing speakers at this size, but few that offer the combination of Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and battery portability. Portable competition includes the Bluetooth-only Marshall Middleton II, which is similar in price at $329.99 / £259 / AU$499, or the JBL Charge 5, which costs $199 / £169 / AU$229.

On the non-portable side, there's the JBL Authentics 200, which is $349 / £299 / AU$449 officially (but can be found for a lot less these days) or the BlueSound Pulse Flex for around $349 / £279.

(Image credit: Future)Sonos Play review: specs

Speaker drivers

2x tweeters, 1x midwoofer, 2x passive bass radiators

Amplification

3x Class H

Dimensions

4.4 x 7.6 x 3 inches / 113 x 192 x 77mm

Connectivity

Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.3, USB-C (3.5mm line-in and Ethernet via adapter)

Streaming support

Sonos app, Apple AirPlay 2

Other features

Sonos multi-room control, Sonos home theater option, stereo pair option, 24-hour battery life, Automatic Trueplay, Amazon Alexa support, audio sharing over Bluetooth, IP67 waterproofing

(Image credit: Future)Sonos Play review: features

• Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, USB-C line-in connectivity, 24-hour battery life
• Charging cradle included, but no power adapter
• Stereo pairing option, or share over Bluetooth with other Sonos speakers even when not on Wi-Fi

The Sonos Play is the company's most versatile speaker to date. It works as a normal Sonos home speaker, complete with Wi-Fi connectivity and support for Sonos' network and app, which support Hi-Res Audio playback from compatible services. You can play to it directly over Apple AirPlay 2 or Sonos Connect as well.

There's also Bluetooth support to play from any other device, and the USB-C port on the back can be connected to an adapter to offer a line-in port for a turntable or other audio source, which then becomes available to all your other Sonos speakers on the network.

Sonos also has a new feature that enables you to group portable Sonos speakers when you're out of the house, so you connect to one of them over Bluetooth, and the sound is shared with the other speakers. There's no Auracast support, though.

The speaker setup consists of two angled tweeters facing slightly left and right, a single midwoofer facing forward, and then two force-opposed bass radiators on the left and right.

You can use a Sonos Play on its own, or you can put two into a stereo pair. You can also use a pair as rear speakers in a Sonos home theater setup.

But it also has a built-in battery, which can last up for up to 24 hours, and the speaker can still play over Wi-Fi or Bluetooth when it's running from battery power alone. The Sonos Play comes with a little battery charging cradle, which you just slot it onto to charge, and you can grab it straight off at a moment's notice without fiddling to unplug.

It's a small thing, but I think it makes a difference to its perceived versatility compared to it being plugged in to charge — I'll dig into that more in the Design section.

Be warned, though, that the cable just has a USB-C connector on the end, and no plug to connect to an outlet. Any USB-C port with 20W of charging power should work, so it could be connected to a device like a computer, or to a power adapter.

The Sonos Play can also be charged using its USB-C port, so you don't need the cable if you take it away for a weekend. You can also charge another device from the USB-C port, if you like, so it can work as a power bank for your phone.

The exact battery figure you get will depend on how you use it (Wi-Fi is more battery-consuming than Bluetooth), but I think Sonos' estimate is about right. I took it off its cradle for three days, using the speaker on Wi-Fi by my desk while I worked during the day for intermittent periods, without charging it at all. At the end of that time, it had 21% battery left.

You can get better battery life from the Marshall Middleton II (30 hours), but only over Bluetooth, not Wi-Fi. I think Sonos has found a good balance of longevity compared to size here.

The one thing about portable use that annoyed me a little was that it turns itself off a little faster than I would like, despite me making sure that the option in the settings to turn off faster to preserve battery life was off. To turn it back on, you need to use the on-off button on the back, and it takes a moment — I'd much prefer a button on top to make this feel less like a hassle.

(Image credit: Future)

There can also be times when the flexibility of the speaker conflicts with itself. For example, I put my two units into a stereo pair to test the sound, planning to live with the setup for a few days. But once they're in a pair, the Sonos app (and AirPlay) only want to treat them as a pair, meaning that the idea of grabbing one to take into another room on a whim no longer works. Take them both, or don't bother.

I ended up doing a more intensive stereo audio test, and then switching them back to individual speakers because I was enjoying them more in their most flexible form.

I'll finish this section by touching briefly on the Sonos app. It remains one of the best when it comes to streaming service support, and I've had no problems when it comes to reliability testing either these speakers, or with my current Sonos soundbar/home theater setups.

Setting the speakers up was absolutely seamless, and it was then easy to activate Automatic TruePlay tuning, in which the Sonos Play speaker listens to its own sound output and adjust the sound to better fit the space it's placed in.

The Sonos app can be a bit slow to load new music or screens, though, and there are some design issues that seem needlessly confusing. Sonos CEO Tom Conrad identified some that he plans to fix in an interview with me ahead of the launch of the speakers, though my own gripes are that it's silly that if you tap the cog icon in the top corner to be taken to the Settings screen, the cog icon stays in the corner, meaning it's possible to open the app, tap that because you want to go to the Settings screen, and nothing happens because you don't realize you're already in part of the Settings screen.

I also hate Sonos' design for its on/off switches. They go from black with a white dot, to white with a black dot, depending on whether they're on or off. But which is on and which is off? It's a terrible piece of user communication, you have to play to figure it out. (Black with a white dot is on.)

Now, a lot of other streaming device apps are equally flawed — some have better interfaces, but worse streaming support, for example — so at this point I find the app far from a dealbreaker, but I'm looking forward to seeing it get better. I actually nearly always use AirPlay for playing music anyway, so after setup, I don't interact with it much.

For those who don't want to use an app at all, the Sonos Play support Amazon Alexa and Sonos Voice Control options — but its mic can also be disabled using a switch on the back (which also disables Automatic TruePlay, since it fully disconnects the mic from the system).

• Features score: 4.5 / 5

(Image credit: Future)Sonos Play review: sound quality

• Bass is powerful, but a little heavy handed
• Very well-rounded sound, but best with the volume over 40%
• About as good as speakers of this size sound

The Sonos Play sits in a slightly odd position when it comes to judging its sound quality, because it's a hybrid home and portable speaker. I'm going to mostly judge it based on comparisons with other portable speakers, rather than home speakers, because the design constraints of being portable affect what sound quality you can reasonably expect from it — but I will also compare it to the Sonos Era 100.

As is standard from Sonos, there's a really well-rounded sound with a fair amount of heft across the whole frequency range. The thing that immediately jumps out is the amount of bass depth there is for something pretty small, thanks to its dual passive radiators.

Much like the Era 100, the bass is controlled a little more loosely — a little more heavy-handedly — than I'd like. As with a lot of passive radiator-based speakers, it can feel boomy depending on what surface you place it on, too, but that's situational. It's a trade off in exchange for the punch it provides, and I'm quite happy with it on balance.

The second thing that jumps out is the overall power, which the bass only helps emphasize. This speaker can fill any room in my house without coming close to breaking a sweat or over-stretching itself — in fact, as I'll come back to, it's at its best once you dial up to a certain volume.

The two angled tweeters serve up high frequencies that sound clear and well elevated out of the rest of the mix, with this likely aided by the use of two angled tweeters pointing left and right.

Sonos has also claimed that this set enables stereo sound from a single speaker, but this is, alas, a fantasy. Firing up Crooked by Smilk, the opening of which is basically ‘Now That’s What I Call Stereo Imaging’, reveals only the most minimal stereo effect even from a song that really push separation to the max.

The mid-range is able to find a good amount of detail and solidity in different elements, so that even complex mixes still feel like that have all their constituent parts, rather than getting mushed together in the way that some portable speakers are prone to.

The mid-range and treble are both relatively tame and a little softer on dynamic attack than larger and more expensive portable speakers, or non-portable home speakers. That's a compromise here compared to the Sonos Era 100, for sure — that speaker just has the extra edge in enough areas of sound reproduction to feel like a slightly more robust, more gripping, more revealing listen.

(Image credit: Future)

However, compared to the JBL Charge 6, the Sonos Play is a significant step up in the overall reproduction of a song, with the mid-range the clear area of difference. On the JBL Charge 6, it's simple way too thin, lacking in expression, presence within the sound balance, and really limited in range — in particular, the Charge 6 really struggles to ramp from mid-range down through to bass, compared to the Sonos Play.

Young Blood by The Naked & Famous relies on a foundation of lower-mid synth in its verses, and without this, the song is unbalanced. The JBL Charge 6 just doesn't have this balance in its register, but the Sonos Play is able to add the weight.

The Charge 6 also has less deep bass reach than the Sonos Play — it handles its bass well, but there's just less lower-frequency grunt going on.

I should note here that we have highly rated the JBL Charge 6 for its sound reproduction compared to other portable speakers — this is just what spending the extra on the Sonos Play gets you.

That said, the JBL Charge 6 has a slightly more dynamic treble than the Play, though, with a little better handling of transients (ie, handling the sudden start of a sound) that make it feel more detail-rich. I still prefer the Sonos Play overall, for sure.

However, I mentioned above that going above a certain volume opens things up for the Sonos Play. Pushing past the 40% mark leaves the bass working in the same way that it was before, but suddenly the upper-mids and treble get a boost — a subtle but clear change in profile when ticking up.

This adds to the expansiveness of the sound, and where certain songs that should be thrilling could feel tame at times at lower volumes, they all really wake up past 40%. The Sonos Era 300 had this trait as well, when I tested it.

The only question is whether you want the Sonos Play that loud all the time — in my bedroom, 25% was the volume where I mostly wanted to use it, for example. But again, I still think the sound is very good for a portable speaker even at the lower volumes. It's just that when you can let it off its leash, it improves further.

(Image credit: Future)

Speaking of letting it off its leash, I also tried the sound in a stereo pair. As is often the case, it gives the speakers room to do a little more by sharing the burden, and in particular I noticed that the bass felt like it was able to be a little more controlled at the same level of power, but the mids came across weightier, again improving on the lower-mids particularly.

I don't think it opened up more detail in the treble or anything like that, but two of these are really good at filling even a large room with well-rounded, well-dispersed sound, without pushing themselves hard in a way that can affect the sound quality. You'd rarely need to push them even as far as the 40% volume mark — a pair of Plays is such a powerful system consider how small they are.

For my last sound comparison, I broke out the Sonos Roam 2. This comparison actually made the Sonos Roam 2 look impressive, because it's remarkable how close its sound signature comes to the Play. But the Play's audio is much bigger, much deeper, and more refined in all areas.

• Sound quality score: 4.5 / 5

(Image credit: Future)Sonos Play review: design

• Home-friendly design, but still IP67-rated and drop-proof
• Great size, weight and charging design to grab quickly
• Buttons aren’t as clear as they could be

The design of the Sonos Play sits very much in line with other Sonos speakers. It has a hard dotted grille like most of its designs, with a rubbery top and bottom, like the Sonos Roam 2. The rubberized portion has a hefty lip at the top where it overlaps with the hard grille, and this makes me thing more of older Sonos speakers (like the Sonos One) than the Era 100, in a fond way.

I like the size of the Sonos Play a lot. I can grab it easily in one hand from the side, thanks in part to a smart concave groove on the back that's also rubberized, giving you a little grip aid.

It's weighty, but not too heavy to happily grab and carry around. It's about a third heavier than the JBL Charge 6, but is nearly a third lighter than the Marshall Middleton II, so finds itself in a good balance.

It has a flexible hook on the top of the back, which can use to carry it around or to hang on a bathroom door or something. This feels nice and sturdy.

It's IP67-rated, so should be able to handle all but the worst of water-related accidents. It should be able to handle complete immersion for a short time, so it's no risk for baths or for pool parties.

The charging cable is a little oval of plastic with a lip, and there's not much to it, but it holds on surfaces well enough when you're removing or replacing the speaker, and the charging points always line up perfectly.

I really think Sonos has nailed it with the core physical design here, and not just in a physical sense. Yes, it's durable, it's got a hook, and perhaps most importantly it looks nice — you'll happily have this thing out on a shelf, whereas a lot of people would choose to hide the JBL Charge 6 in a drawer.

But the design also make a different to my mentality, I've found. It's about how its size, weight and charging cradle lodge into my mind that this is a speaker that I not only can grab to take with me for a music blast, but that I should grab because it's so easy. There's no downside.

(Image credit: Future)

The Sonos Move 2 has an identical setup — durable, powerful, portable, easy charging cradle — but it's too large and heavy. You have to reach around to carry it from the back using its carry handle. If I'm taking that anywhere else, it's because I'm committing to being there for a while. I plan ahead.

And I have small portable speakers already in my house (shout out to by beloved B&O A1) that I could grab and take anywhere with me easily — but they're stored in a drawer upstairs, because I don't have them out most of the time.

But the Sonos Play has become my new kitchen speaker, so it's always out on the side, ready to grab. And it's so grabbable because it's about the thickness of a drink can, and I don't need to fiddle to unplug it because it uses a charging cradle, so I can just swipe it one-handed as I walk past. And it's already turned on and ready to play, assuming it's not already playing, because it's the main speaker in that room.

These are small, subtle design elements that add up to me feeling quite differently about the Sonos Play than almost any other speaker I've had, from the many Wi-Fi options to many portable Bluetooth speakers. As the weather where I am improves, the Sonos Play has quickly become my buddy that I take with me more; I grab the one from my kitchen to take outdoors when I sit out there, and I grab the one from my bedroom to take to the bathroom to blast tunes while I shave.

(Image credit: Future)

There must be a 'however', though, and it's the controls. I already mentioned that the on/off button is on the back, and while it's large and easy to find, I would prefer that you could get it to turn back on just by pressing something on top.

But the top buttons are also annoyingly disguised. They're distinguished only by symbols, not any kind of actual raised button element. And 'distinguished' is far too strong a word, because they're the same color and matte material as the rest of the top, so they're genuinely hard to see in some lighting conditions.

They also don't feel super distinct under the fingers. You get used to it, because you've only got four controls — volume down, play/pause (which also skips tracks with a multi-press), volume up, and voice assistant activation — but they just seem unnecessarily disguised.

• Design score: 4.5 / 5

(Image credit: Future)Sonos Play review: value

• It's pricey for a portable speaker…
• But few things are as versatile for the same cost
• It's priced in line with competitors at the same audio level

The Sonos Play is not cheap. For only a little more than the Sonos Play, you can get both a Sonos Era 100 SL and the JBL Charge 6, providing you with the core versatility of the Sonos Play — a powerful home speaker and robust portable speaker. But that's two devices, and part of the draw here is one device that can do both — simpler and more efficient.

But the price is also right in line with other powerful speakers at a similar level of audio quality, like the Marshall Middleton II — and it does things the Marshall doesn't. The JBL Charge 6 is a five-star portable speaker that's nearly half the price, so if the portable side is your priority, it makes sense to get that and save so much money… but the Sonos does sound better, offers more versatility, and looks way nicer to have as a home speaker.

When I look at other options at the same price, is anything ticking as many boxes as the Play? Pricey, yes, but more than justified. I'm not sure I'd buy a stereo pair over other wireless options you can get for $600 / £600 though, such as the Kanto Ren, since you lose some of the versatility in a pair.

• Value score: 4 / 5

Should I buy the Sonos Play?

Attribute

Notes

Score

Features

Tons of connection options, great streaming support, nice charging cradle — some won't like that it lacks a plug in the box, though.

4.5 / 5

Sound quality

A bigger, more well-rounded sound than most portable speakers of this size can deliver. Not the most detailed, and the bass is a tad heavy-handed.

4.5 / 5

Design

Supremely well thought-out, from its grab-able size and weight to its durability and charging cradle. Only the subtle buttons are a bit annoying.

4.5 / 5

Value

It's not cheap, but nothing else offers so much versatility for the price.

4 / 5

Buy it if…

You want one speaker to do it all
It's a room-filling living room speaker, then you grab it to be a bathroom speaker without breaking your stride. It's part of a multi-room system, then it's a Bluetooth speaker out in the country.

You want durability that also looks good
The IP67 rating means it can survive most things that normal use will throw at it — but it still looks good enough to satisfy aesthetes.

You want a big, well-balanced sound from a small speaker
It's a speaker that's capable of filling just about any room without pushing its audio hard, and yet also has a very small footprint.View Deal

Don’t buy it if…

You want real high fidelity
As good as the sound is for a portable speaker, there are compromises, and dynamics and detail are weaker than pure home speakers at the same price can deliver.

You want a really light portable speaker
I think Sonos has hit a good balance with the 1.3kg weight here, but if you're thinking you'll want to take it away in a bag a lot, you may want something lighter.

Sonos Play review: also consider

Sonos Play

Sonos Era 100

Marshall Middleton II

Price

$199 / £199 / AU$499

$219 / £199 / AU$289

$329 / £259 / AU$499

Speaker drivers

2x tweeters, 1x midwoofer, 2x passive bass radiators

2x tweeters, 1x midwoofer

2x woofers; 2x tweeters

Amplification

2x Class H amp3

3x Class D amps

60W Class D amplification

Dimensions

4.4 x 7.6 x 3 inches / 113 x 192 x 77mm

4.72 x 7.18 x 5.14 inches / 120 x 183 x 131mm

9.1 x 4.3 x 3.9 inches / 230 x 110 x 98mm

Connectivity

Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.3, USB-C (3.5mm line-in and Ethernet via adapter)

Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.0, USB-C (3.5mm line-in and Ethernet via adapter)

Bluetooth 5.3, aux-in

Streaming support

Sonos app, Apple AirPlay 2

Sonos app, Apple AirPlay 2

N/A

Other features

Sonos multi-room control, Sonos home theater option, stereo pair option, 24-hour battery life, Automatic Trueplay, Amazon Alexa support, audio sharing over Bluetooth, IP67 waterproofing

Sonos multi-room control, Sonos home theater option, stereo pair option

IP67 waterproofing, 30-hour battery life

Sonos Era 100
If you want something with the same audio connectivity as the Sonos Play, and that sounds a little better, and is cheaper, then the Era 100 is ideal — and the Era 100 SL that's even cheaper is also an option. But you won't get the portability and waterproofing, it's not quite as versatile. Here's our full Sonos Era 100 review.

Marshall Middleton II
An alternative to the Sonos Play that's in the same kind of 'Still portable, but hefty and big-sounding' bracket. There's no Wi-Fi here, but you might find some very tempting discounts on it. Here's our full Marshall Middleton II review.

(Image credit: Future)How I tested the Sonos Play

• Tested over three weeks at home
• Compared with other Sonos speakers, and options from other brands

I had two Sonos Play units at home to test, over the course of three weeks. They were updated with the same software that the products will launch with, including all the various features.

I tested over Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, and using the Sonos app and Apple AirPlay 2. I mainly listened to music on Apple Music.

I've been reviewing speakers for 15 years, and I test audio products of all kinds, from Bluetooth speakers to floorstanding passive speakers.

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

DJI Avata 360: one-minute review

Antigravity launched the world's first 360 camera drone in 2025, but now drone market-leader DJI has arrived with its own spin on the concept – and it's a quite different beast from the somewhat pedestrian Antigravity A1.

The clue's in the name: the DJI Avata 360 is not only a 360 drone but also an Avata drone — the latest model in DJI's line of sporty FPV flyers. If the A1 is a Fiat 500 (tiny, eye-catching, innovative, but not especially nippy), the Avata 360 is a VW Golf GTI – unassuming at first glance and much heavier, but faster, more responsive and more practical, yet (and here's where my automobile analogy breaks down) somehow cheaper too.

The Avata 360 looks a lot like the DJI Avata 2, or perhaps a larger DJI Neo 2, albeit with one obvious difference: its front-mounted camera has two lenses rather than one. Arranged on opposite faces of the gimbal, these record everything surrounding the drone (while using software to seamlessly unify the footage and remove any trace of the drone itself), allowing the user to re-frame footage in post-production using DJI's mobile or desktop apps.

The Fly More Combo bundles each include a sturdy fold-out landing pad — vital for touching down and taking off on long grass or uneven terrain (Image credit: Future | Sam Kieldsen)

I'll get more into how the 360 editing works in the full review below, but for now I'll just say that anyone who's used 360 cameras in the past will have little trouble creating some very impressive clips with this aerial version.

Where the Avata 360 differs from (and beats, in my view) the A1 is that, firstly, it offers a choice to fly it using a traditional twin-stick controller or the goggles-and-motion-controller FPV method. The A1 only supports the latter, and that means I need to bring a buddy along to act as spotter every time I fly it. If I'm on my own, I can't use the A1 at all (not legally, anyway), whereas I have the option to fly the Avata 360 using a RC 2 controller — no spotter required.

And in FPV mode I simply found the Avata 360 more enjoyable to fly than the A1: the design means it's faster, more agile and more responsive, even in high coastal winds, and switching it to single-camera mode (which uses one front-facing camera instead of the 360 setup, and records 4K 60fps footage) almost transforms it into an Avata 2.

Overall, the DJI Avata 360 feels like a more well-rounded (no pun intended) and flexible 360 drone than the A1, and at a more affordable price to boot.

DJI Avata 360: price and release date

• Launched on March 26 2026
• Significantly cheaper than the Antigravity A1 360 drone
• Available in four kits, including two Fly More Combos

Future | Sam KieldsenFuture | Sam Kieldsen

DJI launched the Avata 360 on March 26 2026, with four different packages available. If you already own some form of compatible controller, you can buy the drone and a single battery for just £409 / AU$799. Packaged with DJI's excellent RC 2 touchscreen and twin-stick controller, it's £639 / AU$1,159.

Note: I haven't included US dollar pricing here, and you may have guessed the reason; DJI's troubles in the US are well documented elsewhere on TechRadar. Suffice to say this drone will not be officially launching in the States, which is a great shame.

There are also two Fly More Combo bundles, both priced at £829 / AU$1,619, each of which includes a nice bunch of extras. Both include the drone, three batteries, a charging cradle (able to recharge all three batteries simultaneously, with support for 100W and 65W fast charging), a set of spare propellers, a folding take-off and landing pad (very useful when launching from tricky terrain or long grass, and something I've not seen included in a Fly More Combo before), and a sturdy, sectioned sling bag to keep everything in. But one of the Fly More Combos includes the RC 2 controller, and the other the DJI Goggles N3 and RC Motion 3. So you're immediately set up for either standard or FPV flight.

This is a really affordable drone, especially when compared to the competition. Even with recent discounts, the Antigravity A1 Standard Combo (which includes the drone plus Vision goggles, a Grip controller, drone carry case and an extra set of propellers) costs over £1,000.

• Price score: 5/5

DJI Avata 360: specsAntigravity A1 specs

Camera:

2 x 64MP 1/1.1-inch square CMOS sensors

Video resolution:

8K, 6K, 4K

Frame rates:

60, 50, 48, 30, 25, 24fps

Flight modes:

Cine, Normal, Sport

Storage:

42GB internal, microSD card slot

Battery:

2700mAh, up to 22 minutes flight time

Charger type:

USB-C / Battery Charging Hub

Weight:

455g / 16oz (approx.)

Dimensions:

246 x 199 x 55.5mm / 9.7 x 7.8 x 2.2 inches

DJI Avata 360: Design and build quality

• Flat, non-folding design
• Labelled UK1 / C1 class, weighing around 455g
• Choice between RC 2 or Goggles/RC Motion 3 control

(Image credit: Future | Sam Kieldsen)

Rather than a folding design, DJI has opted for the same flat quadcopter shape it's recently used for the Avata 2, Neo and Neo 2. This means it's ready to go in moments (just pull off the included camera cover, if you're using it, and double tap the power button) and also that there are built-in prop guards to help protect the propellers from damage during collisions.

The Avata 360 isn't a super-lightweight drone; DJI claims it's around 455g, but my digital scales showed it to weigh 469g – well over the old sub-250g legal sweet spot. However, thanks to recent changes to UK law, this is no longer the issue it once was. This is the first drone I've seen that's labelled 'UK1' class, meaning that under new CAA guidelines it can be flown over uninvolved people (but not crowds) and closer than 50m to people horizontally. It can also be flown in residential, recreational, commercial and industrial areas. So, that's a good thing – it means I didn't have to venture to the middle of nowhere to test it properly.

It also means DJI hasn't had to make build-quality compromises to hit that magical sub-250g weight. The Avata 360 feels solid, sturdy, and likely to survive minor collisions without catastrophic damage, which isn't something I would say about the dainty, sub-250g Antigravity A1.

The DJI Goggles N3 are included in one of the Avata 360 Fly More Combos, alongside an RC Motion 3 controller.Future | Sam KieldsenThe RC Motion 3 controller, designed for FPV flight.Future | Sam KieldsenThe RC 2 standard controller.Future | Sam KieldsenThe Avata 360 is a class UK1 drone (or C1 in the EU), so it can be flown almost anywhere.Future | Sam Kieldsen

With no extended landing gear or feet, the drone doesn't have much clearance from the ground when landing or taking off, so it's important to launch and land on a flat, even surface in order to avoid potential damage. I found the folding orange landing pad including with the Fly More Combos very useful during testing, as landing even on short grass could cause issues.

The Avata 360 has a USB-C port on its side for file transfer and direct recharging, alongside a microSD slot for adding extra storage. That's optional, though, because there's a reasonable 42GB of internal storage built-in. Batteries slot straight into the back and come with the customary four-LED indicator to provide at-a-glance info on remaining power.

Control-wise, you have the choice between using a standard stick controller or a set of FPV goggles and a motion controller. In testing, I used the DJI RC 2 (it's also compatible with the RC-N2 and RC-N3, according to DJI) as my standard controller, and the DJI Goggles N3 paired with a DJI RC Motion 3 (you could also use the Goggles 3 or FPV Remote Controller 3) as my FPV setup, and found both to be excellent – they're sturdily built and comfortable to use. The Goggles N3 don't have a fancy exterior display like Antigravity's do, but on the plus side I can wear them with my glasses on, which I couldn't do on the Antigravity Goggles.

Finally, DJI has designed the Avata 360's camera lenses to be user-replaceable, should they get scratched, during flight or otherwise. The lenses do protrude a little, which does make them more susceptible to contact than most drone cameras, so this feels like a good move from the company.

• Design score: 5/5

DJI Avata 360: Features and flight performance

• Omnidirectional vision system with front-facing LiDAR and down-facing infrared sensors
• 18m/s maximum speed and Level 5 wind resistance
• Up to 22 minutes of flight time per battery

Like most DJI drones, the Avata 360 is an assured and safety-conscious flyer. It comes with full omnidirectional obstacle avoidance, using a combination of vision, LiDAR and infrared sensors to spot hazards in all directions, plus a reliable return-to-home mode and respectable battery life of up to 22 minutes' flight time (I would put the real-world use closer to 15 minutes, based on my testing, but much will depend on environmental factors – your mileage may vary, as they say).

In the air, it's a nimbler and nippier drone than the Antigravity A1. I found it performed very responsively even in windy conditions, and in Sport Mode (which disables the safety sensors), it's capable of hitting speeds of up to 18m/s (around 40mph). The low-latency O4+ video transmission system is remarkably stable, which helps keep the drone under control at all times. While testing, I never experienced a single loss of signal or even a noticeable reduction in the live-view quality.

(Image credit: Future | Sam Kieldsen)

As mentioned, at launch there are two ways to fly the Avata 360: using a standard twin-stick controller or with an FPV headset and motion controller. I love the fact that DJI has given buyers a choice — which for me is one of the main advantages this drone has over its competitor the Antigravity A1, which only offers goggles- and motion controller-based flight. With the Avata 360, a twin-stick controller is perfect for solo trips, as it doesn't require a spotter and the controls are identical to those of standard camera drones like the DJI Mini 5 Pro or Air 3S. It's easy to pick up and fly immediately, with no need to master the intricacies of motion controllers or strap on a set of goggles.

• Flight performance score: 5/5

DJI Avata 360: Image and video quality

• Paired 1/1.1-inch sensors offer up to 8K 60fps videos and 120MP photos
• Single-camera mode also available for traditional FPV video capture
• 10-bit video and flat D-log M color profile supported

The Avata 360 is equipped with two 1/1.1-inch sensors paired with ultra-wide lenses, which work in tandem to capture everything around it in up to 8K resolution at 60fps. That beats the Antigravity on specs alone (it captures 8K, but only up to 30fps), but the larger sensor size and higher bitrate also make the general image quality higher.

With support for 10-bit video and the flat D-log M color profile, this means the Avata 360 offers excellent video for a 360 drone. It won't trouble the DJI Air 3S or DJI Mavic 4 Pro when it comes to real pro-quality aerial footage, but the Avata 360 can really hold its own in terms of detail and dynamic range.

Once you've captured your 360 footage, it can be reframed using one of DJI's apps. I edited videos on both the DJI Fly mobile app and the DJI Studio desktop app, and both work well and in much the same way. You can choose your desired viewpoint, then save it as a keyframe, and the app will automatically, and smoothly, transition from one keyframe to the next. You can then export the video, with 8K 360 recording resulting in final videos of up to 4K resolution.

For those who don't want to reframe, there's single-lens mode. This records 4K 60fps footage using only a single forward-facing lens, which is delivered as a standard 'flat' video that can't be reframed after the fact. It's akin to recording a video on any of DJI's other camera drones, really — what you see is what you get.

It's also possible to snap 120MP panoramic 360 photos, which can then be edited into short videos or cropped and reframed much like a 360 video. I personally rarely felt the need to take a still shot while reviewing, as video is where the Avata 360 really shines in my opinion, but the feature is there should you need it.

Overall, I'm highly impressed by the Avata 360's camera performance. The base quality is higher than that of its only true rival, the Antigravity A1, and its 360 editing is just as good.

• Image and video quality score: 5/5

DJI Avata 360: testing scorecardDJI Mini 5 Pro

Attributes

Notes

Rating

Price

Cheaper than rivals, and excellent value for its specs and features

5/5

Design

A sturdy drone with user-replaceable lenses

5/5

Performance

Packed with safety features and great in the air

5/5

Image and video quality

Superior to the Antigravity A1, and excellent all-round

5/5

Should I buy the DJI Avata 360?Buy it if...

You want the best 360 drone
The Avata 360 beats the Antigravity A1 in every area barring size – and even that's not a major issue given the Avata's UK1 / C1 rating.

You want a flexible, versatile drone
The Avata 360 is both a 360 drone and an FPV drone, and very capable in both roles. It can also be flown using a standard controller, giving you more options.

Don't buy it if...

You want the simplest drone around
360 footage needs to be edited in post-production, and while this isn't a particularly tricky task to master, it does add an extra layer of complexity.

You'd like the best image quality
While the Avata 360's camera is very capable, I'd say DJI's Mini 5 Pro, Air 3S and Mavic 4 Pro all offer superior image quality.

DJI Avata 360: also consider

Antigravity A1

This ground-breaking 360 drone has some issues: it's prohibitively expensive, and can be flown only via a motion controller and goggles which, while undoubtedly immersive, requires you to bring a spotter at all times. It's not as zippy or thrilling as flying an FPV drone, and the Avata 360 has it beat for fun, but its 8K 360 video is impressive and the drone's small folding design makes it slightly more travel-friendly than its DJI rival.

Read our in-depth Antigravity A1 reviewView Deal

DJI Avata 2

If you're not bothered about 360 footage, the DJI Avata 2 offers a welcome balance between the forgiving, beginner-friendly flight of a regular camera drone and the adrenaline-inducing controls of a traditional FPV drone. It'll zip through gaps and skim across terrain to give you exciting shots, but won't plummet into the ground at the slightest mistake. FPV purists might scoff, but the rest of us will be having a blast.

Read our in-depth DJI Avata 2 reviewView Deal

(Image credit: Future | Sam Kieldsen)How I tested the DJI Avata 360

• All flight modes and control methods tested
• Photos and videos captured
• Tracking and safety features tested

DJI sent me an Avata 360 a couple of weeks before its official launch, along with an RC 2 controller, an RC Motion 3 grip controller and a Goggles N3 headset. That meant I had the time to fly it in a range of locations and using both a traditional controller and an FPV setup. I did test the drone in some windy conditions at times, but in general flew it in fine weather and good light — aside from the very foggy day you see in one of the sample videos above.

I flew in every available flight mode for both twin-stick and FPV motion flying, tested the drone's subject-tracking capabilities and how capable it was of detecting and avoiding obstacles.

Once I had recorded footage and captured still photos, I later transferred it from the drone's internal storage to my iPhone and computer for editing and reframing, for which I used the DJI Mimo and DJI Studio apps. I also exported reframed footage from DJI Studio to further tweak in DaVinci Resolve Studio, resulting in the sample videos and photos you see above.

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

Super Mario Bros. Wonder – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Meetup in Bellabel Park has arrived, and aims to bring enhanced graphics, improved multiplayer functionality, and even more surreal levels to the table.

Review info

Platform reviewed: Nintendo Switch 2
Available on: Nintendo Switch 2
Release date: March 26, 2026

I’ve spent more than 25 hours playing through the game, during which time I collected every Wonder Seed, completed the new Bellabel Park content, and took on other journalists in competitive multiplayer minigames.

But after all of this, do I think that this Nintendo Switch 2 edition is worth picking up? And should existing Super Mario Bros. Wonder owners consider upgrading? I’ll reveal my thoughts down below.

We’re coming for you, Koopalings

(Image credit: Nintendo)

I want to kick things off by looking at the new stuff — a lot of which is centered around a new area, named Bellabel Park. In this garden-like playground, you can play minigames, take on brand new bosses, or decorate the park. And there’s quite a bit of fun to be had here overall.

First, let’s tackle the new levels, which focus on the dastardly Koopalings. That’s right, Bowser’s minions are back, and they’ve stolen the coveted Bellabel Flowers. In order to reclaim them, you’ll need to venture all across the Flower Kingdom and enlist the help of Captain Toad and his Brigade along the way.

Now, this approach may keep new content evenly spread out, but in reality, it’s never particularly hard to find the Koopalings. You’ll easily encounter Captain Toad tents as you progress through the story, which you can approach to instantly battle it out against the likes of Wendy, Iggy, and Ludwig. But anyway, are these boss fights actually any good?

Well, in my view, yes, they are. Each Koopaling will assume a Wonder Form, and these all impressed me with their creativity. For instance, Wendy becomes almost like a Cheep Cheep, while Morton turns into a puppet-like creature, controlled by a malevolent pair of Lakitu (Lakitus? Lakitii?). These battles are engaging and bursting with imagination, although I certainly found them to be on the easy side — I don’t think I lost a single life to any Koopaling.

Best bit

(Image credit: Nintendo)

I absolutely adored the musical levels, like Piranha Plants on Parade and Ninji Jump Party. Bounding to the beat was seriously joy-inducing, and watching these characters jive along to the beat was magical.

Still, the charismatic designs of each boss, and figuring out how to take them down was entertaining, and I expect that most fans will enjoy these battles.

Another new addition I had fun with was the Toad Brigade Training Courses. Here, you’ll take on a range of challenges, including time-restricted courses, as well as levels where you can’t touch an enemy, to name a couple. These are usually pretty quick to blast through, and some genuinely offer a challenge, making them ideal to dip into between worlds, or when you’ve got a few spare minutes to play.

By completing Training Courses, you’ll earn Bellabel Water, which can be exchanged for flowers and used to decorate Bellabel Park. You might adorn a Wiggler Topiary with fungi, or you may even cover your courtyard in Butterfly Bloom petals. But to be honest, I didn’t get any kicks out of decorating — there’s not much of an incentive to do so, and you could easily neglect this feature entirely without missing out on anything substantial.

However, you can also use Bellabel Water at the shop or the Fountain area, which will earn you items like flowers, but also reactions and instruments. Reactions can be used to communicate during online play, while the instruments can be collected to flesh out a Poplin band. And both of these felt like better rewards than the decorative flowers to me. But I still think there could be a better incentive for completing Training Courses, like unlockable costumes for Mario and friends, for example.

Mario Party lite

(Image credit: Nintendo)

We’ve spoken about the new single-player content, which is pretty good overall. However, it’s the multiplayer additions that have been placed front and center in much of this game’s marketing.

And I have to say, I found the multiplayer games to be a bit of a mixed bag. Nintendo set up a session for me, and a few fellow gaming journalists to duke it out in online minigames, and although there were some fun highlights, I was left feeling pretty conflicted.

Many of these online minigames felt reminiscent of Mario Party. For instance, there are games where you’ll race in a roller-skate or even with a propeller flower, and I found the racing games to be some of the best. Totally not because they were some of the only ones I’d win…

However, there are more options. One that stuck out was a hide-and-seek game, where two players can morph into a block or coin, while others are tasked with hunting them down and tagging them. If you’re ‘it’ when the time runs out, you lose, and this setup created a couple of last-second twists. It’s fun for a little while, but I didn’t feel compelled to play this game more than a few times.

You can also access competitive and co-op minigames when playing locally, with options including Yoshi enemy-eating contests, games where you use mouse mode to assist players through a course, and a relay where you have to get a Bob-omb to the finish line before it explodes. There’s a decent amount of variety, but it’s nothing compared to the eclectic collection of minigames in Super Mario Party Jamboree, for instance.

Overall, I’d argue that the multiplayer additions are…alright. Some of the attractions did put a smile on my face — but only for a few minutes, and they didn’t have the same chaotic and addictive edge that Mario Party minigames possess. Sure, if you’re looking for some quick multiplayer fun, the attractions are by no means bad. But can I see myself coming back to these for years to come — just as I’ve done with Jamboree’s minigames? I don’t think so.

(Image credit: Nintendo)A wonderful core-experience, re-planted

Even if the multiplayer content didn’t blow me away, it’s worth noting that the core Super Mario Bros. Wonder experience is better than ever on Nintendo Switch 2.

There are a few new additions, including a new Assist Mode which prevents you from taking damage — ideal for younger players. There’s also the option to play as fan-favorite princess Rosalina, while a second player can take on the role of Co-Star Luma, and use mouse mode controls to defeat enemies and collect coins.

But there’s more! You can also skip around with the Super Flower Pot power-up, which enables you to hover in the air and throw petals upwards to attack enemies. And of course, badges — which enhance abilities or provide new ways to progress through a level — are back. But this time, you can make use of new Dual Badges, which combine the powers of two badges into one — like Parachute Cap and Boosting Spin Jump, for example. The badge system was already a phenomenal way to add depth and customizability to the game, so expanding that further was always going to be a positive for me.

All of these additions are most welcome, and I loved making use of the new Dual Badges to experience levels in a brand new way.

(Image credit: Nintendo)

Oh, and it’s also worth mentioning that the main game itself is absolutely exquisite once more. The game is filled with phenomenal level design, and Wonder Flowers provide a psychedelic take on classic 2D Mario that’s absolutely intoxicating.

The game is packed with so many stand-out moments, from transforming into a blob, a wrecking ball, or Goomba, through to riding on a flying horde of bulls. This zaniness is something the somewhat bland New Super Mario Bros. series was missing, and if you’ve never played Super Mario Bros. Wonder before, this version is a must-buy.

And this really is the definitive way to play, thanks to the game’s improved graphics on Nintendo Switch 2. I tried comparing this new version to the original Switch alternative — which just so happens to be bundled in with this game — and the difference was night and day.

Characters and enemies alike appear way sharper on the Nintendo Switch 2 edition, with details like Mario’s moustache or writing on his cap appearing substantially clearer. On top of this, colors pop beautifully on this 4K release, with intense pinks and deep reds cutting through with vigor. The overall presentation is great on Switch 2, and pair that with basically faultless 60fps gameplay, and you’ve got great all-round performance.

Nintendo Switch 2 editionNintendoNintendo Switch editionNintendoNintendo Switch 2 editionNintendoNintendo Switch editionNintendo

So, I suppose we should wrap things up now, shouldn't we? The ludicrously long-titled Super Mario Bros. Wonder – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Meetup in Bellabel Park is certainly the definitive way to play through the greatest 2D Mario game in many a year. The improved visuals, inclusion of new characters, and introduction of Dual Badges are all great to see.

Most of the new single player content is enjoyable too, with some entertaining albeit easy boss fights and fast-paced Training Courses. Multiplayer attractions are a mixed bag, and I’m not sure they’re going to offer the long-standing appeal of Mario Party minigames. As a result, I’m not sure this edition is a must-buy for those upgrading from the original Super Mario Bros. Wonder — unless you really want to scrap the Koopalings, that is. But for first-time players, this Switch 2 revamp is a great overall package, and I’d highly recommend scooping it up.

(Image credit: Nintendo)Should you play Super Mario Bros. Wonder – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Meetup in Bellabel Park?:

(Image credit: Nintendo)Play it if...

You never got to play Super Mario Bros. Wonder on Switch
If you never got to play the game on Switch, this is the time to give it a go. With upgraded visuals, more characters, and a new area to explore, this is certainly the definitive edition of an already excellent 2D platformer.

You want more mind-bending boss battles
If you’re hankering for more of Super Mario Bros. Wonder’s whacky boss showdowns, then this version may well be worth upgrading to. You get to duke it out against the Koopalings across the course of your playthrough, and you can revisit these battles through the Toad Brigade’s Training Courses.

Don't play it if...

You’re expecting Mario Party levels of multiplayer fun
The new multiplayer games are decent fun in this revamped version of Super Mario Bros. Wonder, but only for a while. I found that they didn’t have the hold on me like Super Mario Party Jamboree’s minigames, and felt a little flat and repetitive after a while.

You’re looking for a challenging platformer
Although there are a few challenging Training Courses in this version, the core experience remains very much on the easy side in Super Mario Bros. Wonder for Switch 2. While accommodations have been made for young players, with assist mode and the re-inclusion of the damage-resistant Yoshis and Nabbit, there’s not a ton of challenge for more experienced Mario fans.

Accessibility features

Although there aren’t a ton of accessibility features in this game, the settings menu does enable you to make some changes. For instance, you can select a number of spoken and text languages, adjust the camera, alter some controls, and have rumble turned on or off. Unfortunately, there’s nothing like a colorblind mode or similar.

How I reviewed Super Mario Bros. Wonder – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Meetup in Bellabel Park:

(Image credit: Nintendo)

I spent in excess of 25 hours playing through Super Mario Bros. Wonder – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Meetup in Bellabel Park. During this time, I played through the entire main game, regained all of the Bellabel Flowers, and even played multiplayer minigames online.

For the most part, I played the game in docked mode, with my Switch 2 console hooked up to the Sky Glass Gen 2 TV and my Marshall Heston 120 soundbar. However, I did also enjoy playing in handheld mode, and I occasionally connected up the Sony WH-1000XM6 headphones to my console when doing so.

More generally, I’ve reviewed a whole lot of games for TechRadar, including Switch 2 titles like Kirby Air Riders and Drag x Drive. I’ve also owned the Switch 2 since launch, and have been playing Mario games for decades, with my favorite entry in the series being Super Mario Odyssey (sorry, Super Mario Galaxy fans).

First reviewed March 2026

Light spoilers follow for all eight episodes of Daredevil: Born Again season 2.

Daredevil: Born Again season 2 represents another opportunity for the Marvel TV show to be, well, reborn.

With its predecessor having been subjected to a creative overhaul midway through production, Born Again's debut season was the embodiment of the saying "too many cooks spoil the soup". This time, though, the show's cast and crew are all singing from the same hymn sheet — and Marvel fans won't accept any excuses if its new chapter similarly turns out to be a Frankenstein's Monster of a season.

Having watched all eight episodes, it gives me great pleasure to say that Born Again season 2 is devilishly great — but, haunted by the ghosts of its past, it's not the knock-out masterpiece that some might be hoping for.

Hell on Earth

Half a year has passed since Born Again's season 1 finale (Image credit: Marvel Television/Disney+)

Six months on from Daredevil: Born Again's season 1 finale, Matt Murdock (Charlie Cox) and his allies are engaged in a guerrilla war against Wilson Fisk/Kingpin (Vincent D'Onofrio), the dictatorial Mayor of New York City and Murdock's long-time nemesis.

Born Again season 2 is as bone-crunchingly brilliant as its forebear and Netflix's Daredevil TV series

Fisk's calculated crackdown on vigilantes like Daredevil has not only continued apace, but has also been used a smokescreen to Fisk's other criminal activities. However, when our eponymous hero and right-hand Karen Page (Deborah Ann Woll) learn of — and disrupt — a multi-million dollar arms shipment on the Hudson River, the stakes of this cat-and-mouse game grow in dramatic and violent fashion.

A show renowned for its brutality, season 2 is as bone-crunchingly brilliant as its both forebear and Netflix's Daredevil TV series that Born Again is a continuation of.

From the moment our titular hero storms the arms-ferrying freighter in the season premiere's opening sequence, to this season's incredibly intense, blood-soaked finale, Born Again 2 doesn't hold back in the action-spectacle department.

Wilson Fisk takes part in a so-called charity boxing match in this season's fourth chapter (Image credit: Marvel Studios/Disney+)

Equipped with numerous in-your-face, chaotic, and smile-inducing set-pieces, I'd argue it even gives the original show's innovative action a run for its money.

Indeed, episode 3's final 15 minutes include some of my favorite fight scenes since Daredevil's infamous season 1 hallway, season 2 stairwell, and season 3 prison-escape sequences — no small feat when you remember how utterly absorbing those are. And, don't worry; Born Again 2 includes the requisite seasonal duel between Murdock's alter-ego and Fisk, albeit we're made to wait for the latest in a series of bruising, must-see showdowns between them. Enjoy it while it lasts, too, because scenes shared by the show's main characters are once again kept to a minimum.

Gruesomely entertaining as these action-packed episodes are, this season's fifth chapter is all but devoid of set-pieces — and yet, it's my favorite episode of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) project's latest season.

Episode 5's dual narratives are equal-parts sanguine, deeply intimate, poignant, and soul-crushing

An entry that splits its time between the past and present, its dual narratives are equal parts sanguine, deeply intimate, poignant, and soul-crushing. Through flashbacks, episode 5 cleverly fills in narrative gaps from the Netflix show, and serves as a timely reminder of how excellent Daredevil was.

That's particular true of the much-missed dynamic between Matt and Franklin 'Foggy' Nelson (Elden Henson), the latter of whom died in last season's premiere. With Henson's return confirmed in Born Again season 2's trailer, though, said relationship is resurrected in pleasing albeit bittersweet fashion.

On the present-day story front, it's the mark of great writing when audiences find themselves empathizing with a movie or show's villain(s). Episode 5 nails this with its current-day Fisk-led plot, with the events that transpire turning him into an even more of a terrifyingly loose-cannon of an antagonist in the season's final three chapters.

Bullseye continues to be one of the MCU's most fascinating and multifaceted characters (Image credit: Marvel Television/Disney+)

The same is true of episode 5's primary present-day subplot involving Murdock and the sociopathic Benjamin Pointdexter/Bullseye (Wilson Bethel), the latter of whom continues to be one of the most fascinating characters in this show and the wider MCU.

An individual with a superiority complex and newfound moral ambiguity who, like all great villains, views himself as the hero of his own story, Bullseye reinforces the case that Marvel should permanently adopt a returning nemesis policy. Multi-layered individuals like Bullseye and Fisk have proven it works so, if there's more than enough character-development fuel in the tank, there's no reason for Marvel not to put it into practice in future projects.

Vive la Résistance

Matt Murdock and Karen Page's dynamic is given much more screentime in season 2 (Image credit: Marvel Studios/Disney+)

With Daredevil: Born Again's first season severely underutilizing the Murdock-Page dynamic, it's great to see this pairing share much more screentime this time around, too. It's a bond that initially seems to be watertight, but cracks soon appear. Indeed, their opposing ideals become a breeding ground for lots of mandatory melodrama that, while mostly engaging, isn't explored to its full potential.

Murdock and Page's opposing ideals become a breeding ground for lots of mandatory melodrama

Regardless, it's extremely gratifying to see Woll's Page have a more substantial role in season 2, and put her extensive investigative and combat skills to use. Similarly, it's satisfying to see Murdock fully embrace his rage-filled, acrobatic vigilante persona — in his new Shadowland comic book-inspired black suit, which symbolizes this season's sobering mood, no less — after trying to avoid it for large portions of last season.

The pair aren't the only members of this cadre. Returning allies in Murdock's law-firm partner Kirsten McDuffie (Nikki James), retired NYPD cop Cherry (Clark Johnson), on-the-beat reporter B.B. Urich (Genneya Walton), and Angela del Toro/White Tiger 2.0 (Camila Rodriguez) have roles to play in fighting the good fight.

Krysten Ritter reprises her role as Jessica Jones for the first time in seven years (Image credit: Marvel Studios/Disney+)

It's the return of Krysten Ritter's Jessica Jones in Born Again season 2 that's the real headline-grabber, though. It's a homecoming previously teased by Marvel Head of TV Brad Winderbaum as being "filled with very cool surprises", although the hard-drinking private investigator disappointingly doesn't show up until this season's latter half. Nevertheless, it's terrific to not only see her back in action and at her wisecracking best, but also teaming up with Daredevil again to cause some chaos and re-forge the fun-filled dynamic they had in Netflix's The Defenders crossover miniseries.

It's terrific to see Jessica Jones back in action and at her wisecracking best

Other new characters — ones who operate in Wilson and Vanessa Fisk's (Ayelut Zurer) orbit, much to the former's annoyance — also inject fresh energy into proceedings.

The mysterious Mister Charles (Matthew Lillard), an amusingly abrasive and delightfully detestable individual brimming with chaotic energy, is a highly entertaining foil to the Fisks. Meanwhile, New York Governor Marge McCaffrey (Lili Taylor) is a serious political adversary whose administrative roadblocks regularly threaten to detail the criminal couple's activities. The Fisks, though, routinely find ways to spin the narrative in their favor, which often puts them one step ahead of everyone else in the fantastically fraught chess game that plays out in the Marvel Phase 6 project.

Mister Charles (right) inserts himself directly into the Fisks' affairs in season 2 (Image credit: Marvel Studios/Disney+)

To reiterate what I teased in my introduction, Born Again 2 isn't without fault — and, irritatingly, a lot of the issues that afflicted Daredevil: Born Again season 1 haven't been resolved, especially in episodes 1 through 4.

For starters, the oft-used harsh cuts between scenes and jarring addition of The B.B. Report, aka Urich's filmed vox pops, remain. Okay, it can be argued that the latter's inclusion is necessary from a worldbuilding viewpoint, but each installment eats up valuable time that would've been better used elsewhere.

And, hoo boy, are some side-stories and character arcs in dire need of being expanded on. From the predictable and ponderous nature of Heather Glenn's (Margarita Leveiva) journey, to the lack of discernible pay-off in Daniel Blake's (Michael Gandolfini) individual tale due to the inconsistent manner in which it's approached and told, Born Again 2 doesn't devote the necessary time to these subplots to give them the emotional weight they deserve.

My verdict

Daredevil: Born Again season 2's good aspects easily compensate for the bad, but it's arguable that the latter hold it back from being its best self.

Nonetheless, it's a higher-stakes, drama-fueled continuation of the Mayor Fisk story arc that further aligns the show with its Netflix predecessor. And, thanks to its emotionally impactful and much more cohesive back half, it builds towards an incredibly intense crescendo that's set to take the series in an intriguing new direction ahead of its already in-development third season.

Some of you might question why Born Again 2 scored lower than its forebear, which I gave four and a half stars out of five in my Daredevil: Born Again season 1 review. Simply put, that evaluation didn't cover the full season — if it had, I'd have dropped its rating by a whole star.

In that sense, then, Born Again's latest installment is an improvement on what came before — and if it can raise its game next season it might finally banish its story- and production-based demons for good.

Daredevil: Born Again season 2 episode 1 is out now on Disney+. Before you watch it, find out everything there is to know about Born Again season 2.

Acer Swift Edge 14 AI: 30-second review

Having recently covered the TravelMate P6 14 AI, the Acer Swift Edge 14 AI seems like a remarkably similar design, until you investigate the details.

All brands have a version of the thin-and-light laptop market where every machine looks broadly the same: aluminium lid, backlit chiclet keyboard, 14 inches of 1080p, and the manufacturer's brand at the top of the bezel. However, the Acer Swift Edge 14 AI dares to be different.

Built around Intel's Lunar Lake platform, the Swift Edge 14 AI packs a Core Ultra 7 258V processor into a magnesium-aluminium chassis that comes in under 990g. That alone is enough to make most carry-on bags significantly lighter, but Acer has also fitted a 14-inch 3K OLED panel treated with Corning Gorilla Matte Pro. That’s not typical, and positions this hardware with creatives in mind.

The Lunar Lake architecture also brings several surprises with it. The eight-core hybrid design drops Hyper-Threading entirely, pairing four Performance cores against four Low-Power cores, all built on TSMC 3nm. Since Intel chose to run its own foundries for many processors, the results are much better.

The memory subsystem is on-package LPDDR5X running eight 16-bit channels wide. Regrettably, these types of memory installations mean they cannot be upgraded, but they do deliver bandwidth that most discrete memory configurations cannot match.

The review system had 32GB, and that’s all it will ever have.

Graphics duties fall to the Intel Arc 140V with 64 Xe2 execution units, a significant step up from the iGPU silicon Intel was shipping two generations ago. It will not make a games enthusiast happy, but for photo editing, light video work, and the kind of AI-accelerated tasks the machine is specifically marketed towards, it holds its own convincingly.

The port selection is genuinely commendable for a machine this thin: two Thunderbolt 4 ports, two USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A ports, full-size HDMI, and a headset jack. The one notable omission is a MicroSD slot, which feels like it should be standard on a creative-leaning portable at this price.

With an official cost of around $1499 / £1399, the Swift Edge 14 AI is priced to compete with some very capable alternatives. Whether or not it wins that competition depends almost entirely on how much the display and the weight matter to you. If both matter a lot, this deserves a serious look.

There are a few wrinkles in the off-white finish of the Acer Swift Edge 14 AI, but overall, it offers a stellar hardware combination at a price few of the best business laptops can match.

Acer Swift Edge 14 AI: Price and availability

(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)

• How much does it cost? From $1500/£1400
• When is it out? Available now
• Where can you get it? Direct from Acer or online retailers

The laptop is available direct from Acer's US shop, as well as Amazon.com. In the UK, I'm seeing it available from Amazon.co.uk and Currys.

The UK model reviewed here has the part number NX.JG4EK.008 ships with the Core Ultra 7 258V, 32GB LPDDR5X, and a 1TB SSD for an RRP of £1,399. At the time of writing, Currys has it available for £1,399, which shifts the value proposition considerably. At that price, rivals start looking rather less compelling.

I have seen it for £1100 on Amazon.co.uk, but how long that deal will last is debatable.

In the USA, the American market equivalent (NX.JM6AA.002) with the same CPU, memory and storage sells for $1499.99 on Amazon.com, the same price as it is directly from Acer.

Direct competitors include the Asus Zenbook A14, which is half as much in the USA, using a Snapdragon X Plus processor, a lower-resolution OLED panel and half the RAM capacity. But due to the platform, that machine can’t run Intel X86 natively.

The MSI Prestige 14 AI Evo lands in a similar territory to the Acer in the UK, but maybe £250 cheaper. However, that’s for one with only a Core Ultra series 1 CPU.

If you are prepared to stretch a little further, the Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen 6 on the same Lunar Lake platform costs noticeably more and brings additional enterprise features that most home and small-business users will not need. With the same spec as the Acer, it’s £1595.99 in the UK, and $1,759 in the USA.

It’s interesting that most of the machines that undercut the Acer Swift Edge 14 AI do so either by using an older-generation processor or by using IPS panels instead of the OLED in the Acer.

Therefore, it might not be cheap, but it represents decent value for money.

• Value: 4 / 5

Acer Swift Edge 14 AI: Specs

Model

Acer Swift Edge 14 AI (NX.JG4EK.008 / SFE14-51T)

CPU

Intel Core Ultra 7 258V (Lunar Lake, TSMC 3nm, 4P + 4LP cores, 8 threads, up to 4.8GHz)

GPU

Intel Arc 140V (64 Xe2 execution units, up to 1,950MHz)

NPU

Intel AI Boost (48 TOPS)

RAM

32GB LPDDR5X on-package (8 x 16-bit channels, 8,533MHz, Micron, not upgradeable)

Storage

1TB M.2 PCIe 4.0 SSD

Display

14-inch 2,880 x 1,800 OLED, 120Hz, Corning Gorilla Matte Pro, 16:10

Ports

2x Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C), 2x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A, 1x HDMI 2.1, 1x 3.5mm combo jack

Camera

1080p FHD with IR (Windows Hello)

Networking

Wi-Fi 7 (Intel integrated), Bluetooth 5.4

Audio

Dual speakers with DTS Audio

Battery

65Wh

Charger

100W USB-C (included)

Dimensions

313.8 x 218.8 x 12.9 mm

Weight

Approx. 990g

Operating system

Windows 11 Home (pre-installed)

Color

White (Pure Silver also available)

Acer Swift Edge 14 AI: Design

(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)

• Magnesium-aluminium chassis, sub-1kg weight
• OLED display with Corning Gorilla Matte Pro treatment
• Great port selection
• No MicroSD or SIM card slots

Pick up the Swift Edge 14 AI, and the first thing you register is the weight, or rather the lack of it. At just under a kilogram, it sits in the hand more like a hardback novel than a laptop, and Acer has managed that without resorting to the flex-heavy thin plastic shells that cut corners on cheaper machines. The magnesium-aluminium build feels solid, with only the very slightest give under deliberate pressure on the lid.

Acer describes the finish as Stellar White, and the aesthetic is deliberately clean. The lid carries only a small Acer logo and the Swift Edge badge on the opposite side of the lid, which gives it an understated quality. The hinge action is smooth with some light resistance; it can be opened one-handed, and the lid can sit flat at 180 degrees if needed.

At 12.9mm thin, the Swift Edge 14 AI is noticeably slimmer than a lot of its competition. The side ports are arranged sensibly: both Thunderbolt 4 ports and the HDMI sit on the left alongside a USB-A port, while the other USB-A port and the 3.5mm combo jack are on the right. This keeps the more frequently used connectors on one side for desk use. The full-size HDMI is a genuine convenience. Although it is possible to convert a Thunderbolt port to HDMI or DisplayPort, if you need more screens.

(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)

The keyboard is a backlit scissor-switch design with a reasonable 1.3mm of travel. Key spacing is generous for a 14-inch chassis, and the layout avoids the cramped cursor cluster that plagues thinner machines. There is a Copilot key, as expected for a Copilot+ PC, and a fingerprint reader is built into the power button. A separate IR camera above the display handles Windows Hello facial recognition with reasonable speed.

My only reservation about that camera is that, for the cost of this hardware, I’d have liked to see one that could do 4K, and not the 1440p limited one that Acer installed.

The trackpad is glass-surfaced, well-sized, and supports Windows Precision gestures throughout. It does not click anywhere near the top edge, which is a minor irritation if you are a corner-clicker by habit, but the tracking accuracy and palm rejection are both good.

Where the design really earns its place is with the display. The OLED panel, manufactured by BOE (model NB140B9M-T10 as confirmed by the hardware data), is a 14-inch 2,880 x 1,800 unit at a 16:10 aspect ratio, running up to 120Hz.

Acer has fitted Corning's Gorilla Matte Pro glass, which is notable because most matte treatments on OLED panels visibly degrade colour saturation and blacks. Gorilla Matte Pro is designed to minimize that effect, and to the naked eye, it succeeds. The panel retains deep blacks and vivid colours while cutting reflections to a level where even outdoor use in the shade is genuinely comfortable. At 313.8 x 218.8mm, the footprint is compact for a 14-inch machine, partly because the bezels are thin all around.

There are plenty of things to like about the design of this laptop, and relatively few issues to address. It lacks a MicroSD card slot, and for whatever reason, Acer doesn’t have a SIM card variant yet, but in most other respects, this has almost everything that most laptop users would like in their hardware.

(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)

• Design: 4.5 / 5

Acer Swift Edge 14 AI: Hardware

• Intel Core Ultra 7 258V on TSMC 3nm
• On-package LPDDR5X 8-channel architecture
• Arc 140V GPU with 64 Xe2 execution units

The Lunar Lake platform that underpins the Swift Edge 14 AI is significantly different from the Meteor Lake and Raptor Lake generations that preceded it, and those differences matter more on paper than they might initially suggest.

The Core Ultra 7 258V uses a hybrid core design of four Performance P-cores and four Low-Power LP-cores, and none of these uses hyperthreading. Intel dropped it across the board for this generation to prioritise per-core efficiency over everything else.

The result is a chip that delivers eight threads from eight physical cores, which is a departure from the twelve-thread configurations of older 12th and 13th-generation machines. In practice, this rarely matters because most everyday workloads are not thread-saturated, and the efficiency gains are tangible in both thermals and battery life.

The processor is produced using TSMC's 3nm node, the same process used by Apple for its current M-series silicon. This places Lunar Lake at the leading edge of Intel's efficiency story, and the power figures confirmed during testing bear that out. The platform was drawing just over 4 watts at idle, with individual core temperatures sitting in the low-to-mid thirties Celsius. The thermal design of the Swift Edge 14 AI relies on a single fan with a heat pipe arrangement, and under light use, it is effectively silent.

(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)

Another high point of Lunar Lake is that it places the LPDDR5X in much closer integration to the other parts of the system, using a non-upgradable Memory on Package (MoP) design. While previous Intel chips capped out at 6400 MT/s, the LPDDR5X-8533 used here offers lower latency and higher performance for AI and GPU operations.

The downside of using this memory model is that the RAM cannot be upgraded.

The GPU is Intel's Arc 140V with 64 Xe2 execution units boosting to 1,950MHz. This is a meaningful step up from the 96 EU Xe graphics in Meteor Lake and offers DirectX 12 Ultimate support, hardware raytracing, and Intel's XeSS upscaling.

It draws from the on-package memory pool and can handle Lightroom adjustments, DaVinci Resolve colour grading on 4K footage at reasonable resolutions, and light 3D viewport work without complaint. Gaming is possible at reduced settings in less demanding titles, but anyone expecting discrete GPU performance will be disappointed.

The NPU within the Lunar Lake SoC is rated at 48 TOPS, clearing the 40 TOPS threshold that qualifies the machine as a Copilot+ PC. This unlocks features including Windows Studio Effects on the webcam, Live Captions, and the broader Copilot+ feature set. Connectivity is handled entirely by Intel silicon: the Wi-Fi 7 module (identified in hardware data as device 0xA840) and Bluetooth 5.4 controller (0xA876) are both integrated into the Lunar Lake PCH, eliminating the third-party wireless card that most laptops require.

Storage comes via a 1TB M.2 PCIe 4.0 SSD, which is accessible (with effort -- nine screws secure the base panel) for replacement. Buyers who anticipate needing more storage should consider that at purchase time, since adding a second drive is not included.

While this, like almost all laptops these days, has limited upgrade potential, the system is honed to deliver a good user experience and performance suitable for a wide range of tasks.

• Hardware: 4 / 5

(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)Acer Swift Edge 14 AI: Performance

Laptops

Acer Swift Edge 14 AI

Dell Latitude 9450

CPU

Intel Core Ultra 7 258V

Core 7 Ultra 165U

Cores/Threads

8C 8T

12C 14T

TPD

17W-37W

15W

RAM

32GB LPDDR5X

32GB DDR5 (8x 4GB)

SSD

1TB Kingston OM8PGP4102Q

512GB Kioxia BG6

Graphics

Intel Arc 140V

Intel Graphics

NPU

Intel NPU (47 TOPS)

Intel NPU (40 TOPS)

3DMark

WildLife

20,983

14,643

FireStrike

8003

4676

TimeSpy

4065

1453

Steel Nomad.L

2989

1149

CineBench24

Single

120

97

Multi

389

465

Ratio

3.24

4.82

GeekBench 6

Single

2757

1653

Multi

11148

6026

OpenCL

29692

13892

Vulkan

33890

10077

CrystalDIsk

Read MB/s

4805

4997

Write MB/s

3905

4363

PCMark 10

Office

8206

6293

Battery

18h 28m

19h 18m

Battery

Whr

65

60

PSU

100W

60W

WEI

Score

8.8

8.2

For my comparison, I originally considered the Acer TravelMate P6 14 AI, but that’s an almost identical platform to the Swift Edge, and the numbers didn’t tell much of a story.

Instead, I chose the Dell Latitude 9450 to show what a major upgrade the 200-series machines are over the previous 100-series.

What we are seeing here is a major ram in power efficiency, and what that provides for both thermal ranges and clock speeds.

With CPU-Z confirming a package power draw of around 4 watts at idle and temperatures in the mid-thirties, the Swift Edge 14 AI is evidently conservative with its thermal budget when nothing demanding is happening. Under load, the picture is more nuanced.

Acer configures a sustained PL1 power limit of 30W and a short-burst PL2 of 37W, taking it slightly above Intel's reference values, suggesting a high degree of confidence in the cooling solution. In extended workloads such as video encoding or large RAW batch processing, the fan becomes audible. It is not aggressive, but it is present, which is worth noting for anyone planning to use the machine in quiet environments.

Per-core clock speed data captured during testing shows the P-cores reaching 4,500MHz on a single boosting core, with the LP-cores running independently up to 3,700MHz on their own tasks. Intel Thread Director dynamically distributes work between the two pools, and in practice, scheduling is handled sensibly. Background tasks migrate to LP-cores and stay there unless priority changes, conveniently.

When you consider that the Intel Core Ultra 7 258V has significantly fewer cores than the Core 7 Ultra 165U, it consistently delivers more compute, AI and GPU performance across the board.

The Arc 140V GPU proves its worth in tasks that conventionally required discrete silicon. Export times in Adobe Lightroom Classic with AI Denoise applied are substantially faster than equivalent Iris Xe workloads from the previous generation. DaVinci Resolve colour work on 1080p footage runs smoothly, though complex node stacks at 4K are probably asking the machine to work too hard. If you need to edit a 4K video, then consider something with a discrete GPU onboard.

In the same vein, games are possible but best treated as an occasional bonus rather than a primary use case. Older titles at 1080p with reduced settings run acceptably, while current AAA releases are better left to machines with discrete GPUs.

Battery life is one of the more compelling parts of the Swift Edge 14 AI's pitch. The 65Wh cell is substantial for a machine this light, and the efficiency of the Lunar Lake platform means it goes a long way. I should say that the Acer TravelMate P6 14 AI lasted another 2.5 hours, but its performance numbers overall were lower. Nearly 18.6 hours is still a great result, and should get even the most dedicated worker through a whole day.

The 100W USB-C charger in the box is fast enough to recover a meaningful charge during a short break, recovering 37% in just 30 minutes from zero charge.

These days, I always test laptop displays with a DataColor Spyder X2 calibrator, but the OLED panel on this machine does not work well with the software's analysis. Where it revealed that the panel has a superb 100% of P3 Gamut, it couldn’t work out the contrast or Gamma levels at all.

The OLED panel's brightness peaks at levels that make indoor use comfortable under practically any overhead lighting condition, and the 120Hz refresh rate keeps scrolling and cursor tracking smooth throughout. The Gorilla Matte Pro screen treatment does what it claims, keeping outdoor reflections manageable without noticeably impacting the OLED's characteristic contrast.

One detail that’s missing from my data chart is the weight of these machines, and that’s remarkably telling. The Acer is under 1kg, and the Dell is closer to 1.5kg.

Overall, on an Intel machine, the Acer Swift Edge 14 AI delivers top-drawer performance.

• Performance: 4.5 / 5

(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)Acer Swift Edge 14 AI: Final verdict

The Swift Edge 14 AI is the machine you reach for when the weight of a laptop has started to feel like part of the problem rather than part of the solution. At under a kilogram, it genuinely changes how you think about carrying it, without requiring any of the structural compromises that thinner, lighter machines sometimes hide.

The display is the obvious headline. A 3K OLED panel at 120Hz with Gorilla Matte Pro glass is not something you find at this price point very often, and it delivers on the promise in everyday use. The anti-reflective treatment is genuinely effective rather than token, which matters if any of your work takes place anywhere other than a controlled office environment.

Under the surface, the Lunar Lake architecture brings a memory subsystem that competes well on bandwidth against more expensive configurations, a chip that handles sustained workloads without melting its surroundings, and enough AI headroom to qualify for the full Copilot+ feature set. The Arc 140V GPU is not a gaming chip, but it is an effective creative tool, and the distinction is worth drawing.

The compromises are real and should not be minimised. The memory cannot be upgraded, ever. The webcam and speakers are both average for the asking price. There is no MicroSD slot. If any of those limitations are dealbreakers, they should be assessed honestly before purchase.

For buyers who want a genuinely portable machine with an exceptional display, solid real-world performance, and a port selection that does not require a dock, the Swift Edge 14 AI makes a strong case.

Should you buy a Acer Swift Edge 14 AI?

Value

A great price for this spec

4.5/5

Design

Lightweight magnesium chassis and a decent port selection

4/5

Hardware

Intel Core Ultra 200 Series CPU, gorgeous OLED screen and excellent battery life

4/5

Performance

Similar to other Core Ultra 7 258V systems, but with a little more punch

4.5/5

Overall

Super-practical system with enough battery for a long working day and a workable port selection.

4.5/5

Buy it if...

You need a highly portable machine
If you travel regularly and are sensitive to weight, a 990g bag is genuinely different from a 1.4kg bag. Its associated charger doesn’t add much extra, considering it outputs 100W.

Display quality matters to your work
The OLED panel with Gorilla Matte Pro is a cut above the field at this price. It delivers incredible contrast and a superb colour gamut for those working with visuals.

Don't buy it if...

You like to upgrade
The 32GB LPDDR5x memory is soldered onto the mainboard and cannot be upgraded. Users looking for long-term flexibility or future-proofing may find this limiting, especially if workloads grow more demanding over time.

You want the highest levels of performance
Compared to the latest AMD Ryzen AI machines or the Intel 300 series ones coming, the processor and graphics in this system aren’t the quickest available.
If compute power is paramount, and battery life is less important, then consider a system that uses the AMD Ryzen AI 395 Max+.View Deal

With its incredibly expressive and vibrant art direction, there’s a lot to like about extraction shooter Marathon from an aesthetic standpoint. Its own brand of brightly colored science fiction is a sight to behold, and there’s a real sense of wonder in the first few hours as you explore each of the three early maps, soaking it all in.

Review info

Platform reviewed: PC
Available on: PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC
Release date: March 5, 2026

Developed by Bungie, the original creators of Halo, it should come as no surprise that the gunplay is well-crafted and compelling, with a strong variety of meaningfully distinct weapon types to try out. They're great-looking, like the rest of the world, too, with striking, blocky, 3D printed designs that really help sell the distant future setting.

These strong fundamentals mean that Marathon is plenty of fun when you’re joined by two friends in a full team, where the intense player-versus-player (PvP) encounters really shine. Unfortunately, the unremittingly grindy missions and lack of compelling cosmetic rewards, not to mention the current rather threadbare content offering, seriously limit the game’s long term potential.

With a Steam player count that’s been gradually declining for weeks since the game’s initial launch, some big changes are needed if Marathon is going to be more than a sprint.

Starting line

(Image credit: Bungie)

I am optimistic, as many of my biggest problems with Marathon have been addressed in the time since launch. The thoroughly miserable inventory, for example, has been overhauled completely. Why did tiny stacks of three med kits and 60 ammo (items needed in bulk for practically every run) originally take up most of your highly limited slots?

I’m not entirely sure, as this would have presumably been immediately highlighted as a problem by play testers, but with their stacks increased to nine and 800, respectively, you're no longer spending minutes staring at the screen and selling your recently obtained gear in order to ensure that you have enough space to start another match.

The difficulty of computer-controlled enemies has been rebalanced, too, with the generic hostile robots that litter each map now not needing you to pump multiple magazines into them if you’re unlucky enough to get spotted. The game still doesn’t do a great job of communicating whether a hostile bot is carrying a super-powerful shield (you seem to need to manually ping them every time in order to see that), but being able to reliably take on these threats head-on makes it much easier to move around in each game.

The latest major update also introduced Cryo Archive (which went live on March 20, 2026), a stellar, massive map filled with challenging combat gauntlets and countless hidden secrets to uncover.

Best bit

(Image credit: Bungie)

I’ve loved everything about Marathon’s aesthetic since its very first trailer. The maps are stunning and have a range of possible weather conditions that all look great. The Runner shells are attractive too, with distinct designs that reflect their abilities.

Set in a crumbling spacecraft, it’s a delight to explore and is bursting with high-end loot. It’s only available to jump into on weekends, though, which feels like Bungie artificially gating off content for no real reason other than to prevent players from finding everything that it has to offer too quickly and then simply leaving to play something else.

It’s a massive shame, especially when the three launch maps don’t have much going for them. Perimeter, the starting map, is tiny and segmented with multiple chokepoints that make running into other teams practically a guarantee. As with other extraction shooters, bullets are lethal here, and the threat of stumbling upon others is thrilling at first, but you’ll quickly learn the layout like the back of your hand. The map is so small that more experienced players like to beeline straight for the locations of key items for the earliest quests, too, forcing newcomers to contend with frustrating campers.

It wouldn’t be such a big issue if you could progress more than one quest at a time, but you can’t. They’re mostly boring fetch quests too, and dropping into a map only to discover what you need is long gone, just leaves entire matches feeling like a total waste of time.

Faltering pace

(Image credit: Bungie)

The other two readily available maps, Dire Marsh and Outpost, are both much better thanks to their larger sizes and more complex layouts, not to mention the fact that later missions are slightly less repetitive than the early ones. Don’t be fooled by the increased scale, though, as you’ll still encounter other teams near constantly. Marathon might be one of the most combat-heavy extraction shooters that I’ve ever played, which is fun when you’re able to coordinate with a team of friends, but invariably miserable if you choose to matchmake with randoms.

You can embody one of six Runner shells (synthetic bodies with their own distinct personalities) plus the blank-slate, solo-play-only Rook. None of the shell’s hero-like abilities are particularly imaginative (with your usual suite of movement, stealth, recon, healing, and tank powers), but they do all work well and lead to some interesting combat scenarios.

I particularly love dropping in as Vandal, the movement hero, and using her super-sprint ability to flank entire teams. It‘s incredibly effective with a meaty shotgun in hand, plus a longer-range homing energy weapon for locking on to any foes that might try to flee.

(Image credit: Bungie)

When it all comes together, the moment-to-moment action can be incredibly fun, but after almost forty hours grinding through quests, I can’t help but sit back and wonder what I’m actually doing it all for.

Bungie has already confirmed that your progress is going to be wiped every few months, with only cosmetic unlocks carrying over. Unfortunately, the skins are completely bland and not really worth the time investment. This is doubly true of the ones in the paid battle pass (which is stuffed with basic weapon recolors and just one simplistic Runner skin) and the measly assortment offered in the in-game store.

Even with the addition of Cryo Archive, it’s not like there are anywhere near enough maps or modes (the game launched with just one) to keep me coming back for more, and I can’t help but think other players will inevitably feel the same with time.

There’s very little here compared to even free-to-play alternatives like Arena Breakout: Infinite, which looks much less impressive but boasts significantly more to do and, importantly, doesn't actually cost any money to get into. Hopefully, future updates will build out this beautiful-looking game with some much-needed substance before it’s too late.

Should I play Marathon?Play it if...

You have a full team of friends on hand
Marathon is at its best when you’re playing as a full team of friends and coordinating throughout its intense PvP encounters.

You love the aesthetic
There’s no game out there today that looks quite like Marathon. It’s beautiful to look at, and worth playing if you love how it looks.

Don't play it if...

You want a game you can pour hundreds of hours into
There’s just not enough here to justify playing Marathon for an extended period of time. The limited selection of maps and lack of attractive rewards for grinding through its repetitive quests mean that you’ll struggle to stay engaged after too long.

Accessibility features

Marathon doesn’t have a dedicated accessibility menu, but there are a few useful options in its settings menus. On PC, the game can be played with either keyboard and mouse or a controller, with the ability to rebind inputs fully on either control method.

There are four colorblind modes to choose from, which affect item rarity colors and the appearance of the HUD. Subtitles are enabled by default and can be customized in size, color, and background style.

How I reviewed Marathon

I played almost 40 hours of Marathon on my PC, which is a 5070 Ti-powered model from retailer Scan.

It has a compact Corsair 2000d RGB Airflow case, Asus ROG Strix B860-I motherboard, Intel Core Ultra 7 265K processor, a 2TB WD Black SN770 SSD, 32GB of DDR5 Corsair Vengeance RAM, and an Asus Nvidia 5070 Ti graphics card, which allowed me to play the game at 75 frames per second (fps) on the Highest pre-set graphics mode at native resolution on my 1080p monitor. I trust an Astro A20 X wireless gaming headset for my audio needs, including the use of its microphone when playing with friends.

I played the game exclusively with my usual gaming mouse and keyboard: a Razer DeathAdder V4 Pro and Cherry XTRFY K5V2.

Throughout my time with the game, I compared my experience with my hands-on testing of other extraction shooters, namely Escape from Tarkov and Arena Breakout: Infinite, in addition to the wider first-person shooter genre.

First reviewed March 2026

Birdfy Bird Bath Pro: one-minute review

I've tried out multiple bird feeder cameras, and let me tell you, the charm is yet to wear off. They are a top gadget for nature lovers, getting a close up view of your neighborhood birdlife.

Birdfy is one of the top names in this space — in fact, its 5-star Feeder 2 Duo sits in the top spot of my best bird feeder cameras guide. It went one step further from alternatives, adding a second motion-sensitive camera for two angles, to its bird identification skills and continuous year-round power (pricier models tend to feature a solar panel).

Then at CES 2026, Birdfy and Birdbuddy showcased new products and exciting new features to further enhance the garden birdlife experience. Chief among them was Birdbuddy's sound identification and Birdfy's 360-degree bird feeder camera, plus a new type of bird camera — the Bird Bath Pro.

(Image credit: Tim Coleman)

If it wasn't already obvious from the name and my product-in-situ pictures, the Bird Bath Pro is not a bird feeder camera, but a bird bath camera.

It's an excellent foil to a bird feeder camera, providing an entertaining close-up look at other bird behavior such as preening and splashing, but in reality, I found its most exciting features lacked polish, while the design could do with looking a little more natural. I'd still recommend the product, mind you, and I hope that some issues, such as bird tracking and identification performance, can be improved with updates.

Birdfy Bird Bath Pro: price and availability

• Available with or without the stand, from $269.99 / £319.99 (AU$ TBC)
• It comes in blue or off-white
• There's free lifetime AI detection and unlimited cloud storage

The Birdfy Bird Bath Pro is available in blue or off-white versions, and can be purchased with or without the stand. As you can see, I had the off-white version; neither looks particularly natural and requires dressing up to better attract birdlife.

The 'Non-stand' version costs $269.99 / £319.99, while the 'Stand' version is $349.99 / £349.99. At the time of writing, there are big savings on those prices: the 'Non-stand' for $179.99 / £209.99 and the Stand version for $299.99 / £229.99.

On the Birdfy US and Birdfy UK sites, there's a lifetime AI service for free (bird detection). However, if you opt for an AI subscription in the US, it brings down the price of the Bird Bath Pro by $30, though you'll need to pay up should you want the AI service subscription at any point, which is $4.99p/m.

Birdfy Bird Bath Pro: specsBirdfy Bird Bath Pro specs

Sensor

Unknown

Photo

2MP wide camera, 3MP portrait camera

Video

1080p wide camera, 2K portrait camera

Memory

N/A

Dimensions

30in / 76.5 cm height with stand, 3.5L basin capacity

Weight

6.9lbs / 3.1kg (without stand), 10.8lbs / 4.9 kg (with stand)

Battery

9,000mAh battery and a 1.9W solar panel, fountain has a 1.6W solar panel

Birdfy Bird Bath Pro: design

• Setup takes mere minutes
• I'd prefer a more natural-looking design
• Rugged build quality, decent solar power performance

OK, so it resembles a child's high chair, but the Bird Bath Pro is actually kind of neat. It's a cinch to set up — you'll be up and running in minutes once you've completed an initial charge of the camera unit by USB.

Once in place, the camera's power stays topped up thanks to a beefy 1.9W solar panel. The water fountain is solely solar powered (1.65W), and I found it requires direct sunlight to work fully. It'll power out completely without bright daylight.

Of course, the Bird Bath Pro needs topping up with fresh water, and Birdfy recommends adding natural features to it in order to readily attract birdlife — I put good use to a growing collection of beach stones my children like to collect during holidays on the coast.

I set up the device where I live in the UK in March (which is early Spring), initially with the weather still pretty cold, and found it took several days for birds to get curious, despite seeing them active in the garden at a nearby feeder and collecting for nests and so on. A feeder camera has a more obvious, immediate lure.

Tim ColemanTim ColemanTim ColemanTim ColemanTim ColemanTim ColemanTim Coleman

The app offers additional tools such as an audible alarm on the camera to scare off unwanted visitors, while Birdfy also promotes the device's rugged credentials — the camera protector is supposedly scratch-proof and UV resistant, so it shouldn't yellow over time.

Having used the Birdfy Bird Bath Pro for a month or more, it's clearly a durable product.

The main downside, based on my own experience, is that the Bird Bath Pro hasn't attracted nearly the same number or variety of birds as my bird feeder camera close by, over the same period. (In the summer heat, it might be a different story.) That said, it's a nice foil to a bird feeder camera, should you already own one and love it.

Birdfy Bird Bath Pro: performance

• Dual cameras; a 2MP / 1080p wide, and a tighter 3MP / 2K portrait
• The portrait camera can move side to side, tracking visitors
• Visitors are identified, with recording pop-up notifications, but accuracy could be better

There are twin cameras set within the Bird Bath Pro's removable and USB rechargeable unit: one for a wide-angle view of the entire bath, and another at a slightly higher vantage point, which can track subjects from side to side and with a tighter portrait-format field of view for more detailed shots.

Image quality is typically lo-fi compared to a smartphone; the tight portrait lens shoots 2K video and 3MP stills, while the wide camera is just 1080p video and 2MP stills. However, as far as bird feeder cameras go, the portrait lens especially is decent quality.

Once movement is detected, the Bird Bath Pro kicks into action, recording photo and video clips for both cameras and sending a 'Motion alert' notification through the free companion app. My unit came with the free lifetime AI service, and automatically detected a European Robin as a first sighting.

Tim ColemanTim ColemanTim ColemanTim ColemanTim Coleman

I received infrequent bursts of 'motion alert' notifications in the app on my Android phone throughout my test, as well as 'bird' and 'animal' sightings, only to find recorded clips of motion in the surroundings (even plants moving in the wind), or a fly on one of the rocks, rather than detected birdlife. It pays to be smart about where you position the camera for maximum effect and minimal false alerts.

The first location I tried was a spot typically in the shade for most of the morning, but with good exposure to daylight in the afternoon until partway into the evening. Here I found the camera unit maintained its charge day-by-day over the course of my month-long review period, and I have no doubt it would maintain this performance year-round.

Photos and video clips are displayed chronologically in the app's gallery, and Birdfy provides unlimited cloud storage for those files for up to 30 days. You can manually add favorite clips and new sightings to a Collections folder for easy access, and you're free to download the files at any point. Many rival bird camera brands pin you down to monthly subscriptions for such features.

It's also possible to view the camera's live feed on your mobile device from anywhere with an internet connection, and manually record should you wish.

Tim ColemanTim ColemanTim ColemanTim ColemanTim ColemanTim ColemanTim ColemanTim ColemanTim ColemanTim ColemanTim ColemanTim Coleman

The portrait camera levels up image quality, though I found subject tracking hit and miss; the camera's side-to-side movement seemed totally random at times. On the occasions it worked, the erratic movement of birds proved hard to keep up with (check out my sample videos below).

The portrait camera has plenty of potential and could set this Birdfy product apart, but in my experience, it needs more work to fulfill its promise.

I contacted Birdfy about the performance of the portrait camera and supplied footage. I got this reply:

"The camera's tracking algorithm is based on optical flow. The tracking will be affected by the changing patterns of light and shadow on the surface of rippling water (movements of/contrast between the reflections of trees' branches and the sky).

"The team will put in every effort to optimize and update the algorithm so as to tweak this feature. We'll continuously keep you posted on the progress of this."

While that's no guarantee of future performance improvements, it's reassuring to know that Birdfy is looking into it, and I know that its customer service is very good.

Lens flare in bright light is also an issue — I experienced a pronounced red halo in sunny conditions. Also, being a bird bath, the cameras are prone to being splashed on when birds visit. That's not an issue in terms of durability, but droplets on the camera do spoil photo and video recordings.

Should you buy the Birdfy Bird Bath Pro?

(Image credit: Tim Coleman)Buy it if...

You want a subscription-free wildlife camera

Birdfy's app is free, as is the AI service and unlimited cloud storage (for up to 30 days), meaning you can enjoy photos and videos on your mobile device without being pinned down by a costly monthly subscription.

You already own and love a bird feeder camera

If you already use a bird feeder camera and enjoy the gadget, then the Bird Bath Pro is a sensible complementary product, giving a similar viewing experience but from a different type of stage — a splash pool rather than a seed tray!

Don't buy it if...

You want frequent visitors

In my experience, a bird feeder camera is much more popular with the local birdlife than a bird bath.

You'd like an attractive feature in your garden

Birdfy has a range of bird cameras, including attractive natural-looking feeder cameras made from wood. In my opinion, the Bird Bath Pro's design is unattractive, being unatural for the spaces it's designed for.

(Image credit: Tim Coleman)How I tested the Birdfy Bird Bath Pro

• I set up the product in my garden within close proximity to my home router
• I tested it for over a month during the springtime in the UK
• It saw out mixed weather: sun, cloud, rain, wind, cold

Birdfy sent me the Bird Bath Pro following CES 2026 in January, when it was winter (in the UK), but I began my review period once spring was setting in, two months later. I placed the product in various spots in my garden, generally with mixed sunlight and shade, and close to the natural cover of bushes. I decked the bath with stones to make it appear more natural.

I paired the Bird Bath Pro with Birdfy's companion app on my Android phone and used the app daily, receiving regular motion alerts (of which there were more than of actual visiting birds), and saved my favorite photos and video files to my 'Collections' in the app.

• First reviewed March 2026

Samsung Galaxy Buds 4: Two-minute review

When I sat down and first started listening to the Samsung Galaxy Buds 4, sitting at my desk at home, I was mildly pleased with their audio performance. But when I started using them out and about in the world, not in my cosy chair, these quickly became some of my least favorite headphones to test in recent months. Some of the best earbuds around for the cash-savvy buyer? Sadly, no.

That’s a surprise; I gave the Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 Pro an almost-perfect review score, and expected these affordable alternatives to fare just as well. But I have been loathe to use them during the testing period, for one simple reason.

These earbuds just wouldn’t stay in my ears. When I was sitting still at home, they’d more or less work fine – although they’d often slip from their default position so the drivers were further from my ears than they should be. If this was the entirety of my testing, I’d give them a perfectly fine review, but life’s not just about sitting still.

When I went on walks with the buds, they’d slip constantly, and I’d have to readjust them several times each minute to push them back in. I like to walk, and went on multiple hour-long rambles during the testing time. Imagine how long I had my hands in my ears, fidgeting and fixing slippage.

They also fared incredibly poorly on public transport (too shaky), when I was in bed (too angled) and even sometimes when I’d rotated my swivelling office chair. I didn't dare take them to the gym or on a run.

Even if the things weren’t flung from my ears multiple times per song, they have a truly awful battery life; with ANC and other features turned on, I’d get about three hours per charge. And that's before I even mention the meagre ANC performance – because of the poor fit, the active noise cancellation algorithm here has absolutely zero chance of stopping you hearing the sounds around you.

There are some elements of the Galaxy Buds 4 that you might like: they offer really high-quality music, and do look classy. And if you’re lucky enough to have ears like vices, you might not have the same fit issues I did – but I’ve never had issues quite like this in other similar buds, and know Samsung’s earbuds have a reputation for poor fit, so I really don’t think it’s a me problem.

A quick Google search shows that users had the same issue with the Buds 3. It's easy to find reports of them slipping out of the ears, so it's clear that this is a recurring issue which the company hasn't fixed. I try to avoid reading coverage of products I'm testing, but I've already seen reports of Buds 4 users having the same issue.

If you’ve got the money and a Samsung phone, the easier fix is to splash out a little more on the Galaxy Buds 4 Pro, with their ear-tips offering a more secure fit (though not a perfect one). But honestly, there are countless great wireless earbuds for this much or less, that won’t jump from your ear at every opportunity.

Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 review: Price and release date

(Image credit: Future)

• Announced in February 2026, released March
• Sells for $179 / £159 / AU$299
• No price change from past models

The Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 were announced at Galaxy Unpacked on February 25, and have been available to buy from March 11, just like the Pro model and the Samsung Galaxy S26 series.

The retail price of the buds is $179 / £159 / AU$299, which is a mid-range price for earbuds like these, though they seem affordable when compared to the $249 / £219 / AU$399 Buds 4 Pro. There’s been no price hike over the Galaxy Buds 3, which is always good to see.

I know what you’re wondering: ‘how does that compare to Apple?’. The AirPods 4 with ANC cost $179 / £179 / AU$299, a very similar price point: the same in the US and Australia, but pricier in the UK. But if you don’t need ANC, the standard AirPods 4 cost $129 / £129 / AU$219, so they’re cheaper.

Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 review: Specs

Drivers

11mm woofer

Active noise cancellation

Yes

Battery life (ANC off)

6 hours buds, 30 hours case

Weight

4.6g buds, 45.1g case

Connectivity

Bluetooth 6.1

Frequency response

Not specified

Waterproofing

IP54

Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 review: Features

(Image credit: Future)

• Buds last about 3 hours per charge
• ANC has limited effectiveness
• Range of handy features

The Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 technically do have noise cancellation, but due to their open-fit design (think Apple EarPods), they don’t plug up your ear to stop outside noise leaking in. So practically, they reduce very little noise. I could notice some noise cancellation when turning the feature off and on, but only a marginal amount.

Sometimes when I had the buds in but wasn't listening to music, I could hear them try to compensate for loud noises by pumping out what sounded like white noise. Not only did it fail to stop the background noise, it added a little extra layer of annoyance. Don’t buy these if you need good ANC.

Don’t buy them if you need a long-lasting battery either; their play time is abysmal. With ANC turned off you’re only looking at 6 hours of listening; Samsung’s official figure puts ANC-on listening at five hours but in my own testing, with features like SSC (Samsung Seamless Codec) turned on, I was barely scraping three.

You can get about five recharges from the case, which isn’t amazing, but didn’t affect me too much during my testing weeks. Just remember to plug them in regularly.

(Image credit: Future)

But now we can move onto the other features, and there’s a lot more to like there. The buds support Bluetooth 6.1, with support for codecs like SSC, AAC, SBC and LC3 (no LDAC). I had a few Bluetooth dropouts during my time with the buds, but not so many that it couldn’t have been environmental.

The buds offer a range of tools like call sharpening profiles, spatial audio with head tracking, a nine-band equalizer with presets, volume normalization, adaptive sound to cater for how you wear your earbuds (i.e., at what stage of falling out they’re at) and so on. You can even use the buds to tap into nearby audio broadcasts.

The only major omission is multipoint connection, but that’s not even a feature I’d consider mandatory in earbuds. There’s also no listening test, like in the Pro, but I didn’t find it wholly useful in those buds so again, no (further) marks docked.

• Features score: 3.5/5

Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 review: Design

(Image credit: Future)

• Swanky 'Blade' look
• Charging case is small and light
• Buds aren't designed for sticking in ear

I’ve got to say, I really like the Samsung Galaxy Bud 4’s charging case. It’s a lightweight, see-through square box, that the buds easily slot into. It weighs just 45.1g and measures 51 x 51 x 28.3mm, and really disappeared into my pocket.

The buds themselves look pretty good too, with their refined ‘Blade’ designed from the Buds 3 stripping out the lights and much of the fuss. The polished silver metal band on the white buds I tested looks great, but there’s also a black model you can pick up.

Unfortunately, that’s basically all I can praise about the Buds 4’s design, because for the three weeks I tested the buds, their build was the bane of my existence.

(Image credit: Future)

I’ve already spent much of the introduction to this article moaning about the Galaxy Buds 4’s fit, but in case you skipped that: these things just don’t stay still in your ears. If they’re not outright falling out, they’re moving around so that the drivers are pointing any which way, making music sound worse.

This'll no doubt be worst for people with big ears, but a few design decisions ensure that they won't be a good fit for anyone. The lack of a tip means you can’t just wedge the Buds 4 in your ears and hope for the best, and the material of the body is so smooth and friction-free that it fails to keep them anchored in ears.

It feels like the weighting of the buds is wrong too, so their own heft causes them to list and then fall from the ears. They’re not heavy, at just 4.6g, but the amount of ear-pirouettes they managed suggests the center of gravity is off in some way.

On the Buds 4’s stem, there’s a touch control: swipe up or down for volume, or pinch to play and pause your music. I quickly discovered that swiping was just another way for me to fling the buds out of my ears, but pinching is great: a light click lets you know that your demand was registered.

• Design score: 2.5/5

Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 review: Sound quality

(Image credit: Future)

• Single driver per bud
• High-quality streamed music
• Detailed sound

The Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 have a single driver per ear; it’s one of the big downgrades from the Pro, with the bass-focused woofer absent. It’s a shame, because extra bass oomph is needed: it might go some way in mitigating how quickly you lose it when the earbuds start to slip…

Generally speaking, and when you’re sitting still with the Buds 4 angled perfectly, they sound about as good as you’d expect for the price. They’re bright and detailed; the acoustic guitars in Only the Good Die Young by Billy Joel sparkle and the keys in the piano introduction to Tiny Dancer by Elton John had just as much personality as the rocket man’s own voice did.

The lack of a dedicated woofer hurts, when comparing these to the Buds 4 Pro. Bass isn’t as scooping and defined as I’d like, instead sounding muddy indistinct. If you listen to Phosphorscent’s C’est La Vie No.2 by Phosphorescent or The Rocketeer by Foxy Shazam, the bass just melts into the band and loses its edge.

(Image credit: Future)

Detail and quality really is the name of the game here, as for all their strengths and weaknesses, you’re hearing it all… at least, if you’re using a Samsung phone, which allows for the SSC-UHQ codec. This allows for 24-bit/96kHz transmission, and makes an audible difference over listening on other devices.

So the Galaxy Buds 4 aren’t the best earbuds I’ve tested, even at the price, but they’re decent. But remember everything I said about the fit? Yeah – between the slow slipping and leaking background sound, I very rarely got the best from the buds. When I used them while walking, or on public transport, the bass vanished pretty quickly and often the mids were drowned out by noise, leaving only some hi-hats and vocals to enjoy.

The buds have a fairly high max volume, but I noticed something odd: the bass would audibly drop from the mix as I got near the top. Every time I pressed ‘volume up’ from five steps off max, every instrument would get louder, except for the bass which would step back. It meant two or three presses of my volume keys would result in a drastically different sound mix, and it was much tinnier-sounding at the top than I’d expect.

• Sound quality: 4/5

Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 review: Value

(Image credit: Future)

• Mid-range price for buds
• Other options get you more for your money

The Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 aren’t cheap, and honestly, you’re within your rights to expect a little more from your earbuds.

A single driver? A sub-movie-length battery life? A design that doesn’t seem well thought out? If these were budget buds I’d understand, but $179 / £159 / AU$299 is far from cheap in the varied world of wireless earbuds.

There are other similar-priced options out there which offer you a lot more for your money, or give a similar package to the Buds 4 but at a fraction of the cost.

• Value: 3/5

Should I buy the Samsung Galaxy Buds 4?

(Image credit: Future)Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 score card

Attributes

Notes

Rating

Features

The ANC struggles and the battery life is woeful, but a few other features claw back points.

3.5/5

Design

They're not designed to stick in your ear, even if they look good.

2.5/5

Sound quality

The Buds 4 offer high-quality music with a bright, detailed sound.

4/5

Value

They're not expensive per se, but you can get a lot more for your money.

3/5

Buy them if…

You need office work buds
If you're going to be listening to these while sitting still at a desk, some of their biggest issues won't affect you.

You own a Samsung phone
The SSC-UHQ codec is really something else, but it's only available for owners of modern Samsung smartphones.View Deal

You need a wireless charging case
Wireless charging still isn't commonplace in earbud cases, but the Buds 4 offer this convenient feature.View Deal

Don’t buy them if…

You need long-lasting buds
Few earbuds I've tested have a worse battery life than the Buds 4. Not for travellers, or those who like a long listening stint.

You need exercise buds
I won't beat this dead horse any longer, but these buds just don't survive if your head is moving: bobbing as you walk or reclining at the gym.

Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 review: Also consider

Samsung Galaxy Buds 4

Apple AirPods 4 with ANC

Status Audio Pro X

Drivers

11mm

'Custom high-excursion' Apple driver

12mm

Active noise cancellation

Yes

Yes

No

Battery life (ANC on)

6 hours (buds) 30 hours (case)

5 hours (buds) 20 hours (case)

7 hours (buds) 25 hours (case)

Weight

4.6g (buds) 45.1g (case)

4.3g (buds) 32.3g (case)

4.5g (buds) 50g (case)

Connectivity

Bluetooth 6.1

Bluetooth 5.3

Bluetooth 5.3

Waterproofing

IP54

IP57

IP54

AirPods 4 with ANC
The natural competitor, these earbuds come at a similar price and with a comparable feature set, though you need an iPhone to be able to use them.
Read our full AirPods 4 with ANC review

Denon AH-C500W
Want tip-less earbuds for a lot less, and from a Samsung sub-brand? These Denon models fit me much better, though they don't quite sound as good and offer a thinner list of features.
Read our full Denon Ah-C500W

How I tested the Samsung Galaxy Buds 4

• Tested for a month
• Tested at home, on walks and on public transport

I tested the Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 immediately after the Pro model, so they were a natural comparison. I used them paired to a Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra phone for the duration of the testing process, and listened to audio on Spotify, internal storage, various streaming services and games.

The test process for the buds was around three weeks, though I used them occasionally for a week prior when I received them at the same time as the Pro.

I've been reviewing gadgets at TechRadar for about 8 years now, including plenty of earbuds and Samsung gadgets (including the Buds 3 Pro too).

• First reviewed in March 2026

• Read TechRadar's reviews guarantee

HP OmniBook Ultra Flip 14: Two-minute review

The HP OmniBook Ultra Flip 14 is a 2-in-1 laptop designed with creators in mind, owing to its capable spec and bundled stylus.

It looks smart and sleek, especially in its dark blue guise, which adds more interest than the grey alternative. The angled back corners also distinguish it from the crowd, as well as serving a practical purpose that I’ll come to later.

The standout aspect of its form, though, is its thinness. It certainly cuts a slender figure, but more remarkable is the fact that this doesn’t come at the expense of sturdiness: the aluminum frame has no flex at all, and easily ranks among the best 2-in-1 laptops in terms of build quality.

The downside of this construction, though, is its weight. The Ultra Flip is heavier than you might expect, which makes it a little more onerous to carry around than its rivals. It’s still within acceptable bounds, however.

Oddly, it’s the included stylus, the HP MPP 2.0 Tilt Pen, that presents more of a portability issue. It’s stored on the side of the base, and since it’s quite large, it can easily snag when putting away or taking out the laptop from a bag. What’s more, the magnetic attraction isn’t strong enough to prevent it from detaching completely in such instances.

(Image credit: Future)

You don’t get many ports on the Ultra Flip, which is understandable given that thin base, not to mention the space needed for storing the Tilt Pen. However, the Ultra Flip makes clever use of its limited real estate, as those aforementioned rear corners house two of the laptop’s three USB-C ports. This is a practical location, although it’s a minor shame that only one of them supports the Thunderbolt 4 standard (the other Thunderbolt 4 port is on the right side of the base).

The all-round performance of the Ultra Flip is respectable. It dispatches most workaday tasks without issue, from general browsing and productivity to 4K streaming and light gaming.

Despite being marketed for creators, though, it’s a little disappointing that the Ultra Flip only features integrated graphics. It’s also a concern that it failed to complete Puget Bench’s video editing benchmark — something one its nearest rivals, the MSI Prestige 14 Flip AI+, also failed, by the by.

Having said this, I found its graphical performance reasonably impressive for a machine without a dedicated GPU. It ran Cyberpunk 2077 in a playable state, offering just enough visual fidelity and performance for a casual session.

What’s more, the Ultra Flip stays cool and composed during such workloads. Any heat that is emitted is confined to the very rear of the base, where you won’t feel it. Fan noise can make itself known, but it’s impressively hushed compared to others.

Perhaps the best part of the Ultra Flip, though, is its display. It’s as deep and as rich as you’d expect from an OLED, while the 3K resolution offers a crystal clear image. It’s also very bright, which helps to nullify any pesky reflections. The touchscreen and Tilt Pen are responsive and easy to use as well.

(Image credit: Future)

The keyboard allows for quick typing, thanks to the generous spacing of the keys, in addition to their light and shallow actuation. They can feel a little harsh when you hammer down hard, but otherwise they’re perfectly comfortable.

I found the touchpad occasionally encroached while typing, but this wasn’t egregious enough to disrupt productivity. In fact, its large size is actually a boon for such tasks, since it makes navigation that much easier. The pad also supports numerous gestures and functions, including the ability to adjust system brightness and volume by sliding up and down on either side. These ‘sliders’ feature haptic feedback that I didn’t find particularly engaging, but at least doesn’t make the controls unusable.

The battery life of the Ultra Flip is very impressive, lasting 18 hours when playing back a movie on a continuous loop. There aren’t many laptops that can beat this, although the Prestige 14 Flip AI+ is one of them; this lasted over 30 hours in the same test, which is quite astonishing.

In many ways, MSI’s 2-in-1 is a close rival to the Ultra Flip, but I believe the latter has the edge in key categories. Its display is superior and it lacks the same touchpad frustrations.

HP OmniBook Ultra Flip 14 review: Price & availability

(Image credit: Future)

• Starts from $1,459.99 / £1,299 / AU$3,399
• Available now in two colorways
• Reasonable price for the spec

The HP OmniBook Ultra Flip starts from $1,459.99 / £1,299 / AU$3,399 and is available now in two colors: blue and grey. Various configurations are possible, with Intel Core Ultra 5, 7, and 9 CPUs available, while RAM ranges from 16GB to 32GB and storage options from 512GB to 2TB.

Considering the spec and design, the Ultra Flip is reasonably priced for a 2-in-1 laptop. The nearest equivalent model, the MSI Prestige 14 Flip AI+, costs a similar amount, and likewise features an Intel Core Ultra 7 and a 1TB SSD. There are differences, though: the Prestige has a much lower display resolution, but double the RAM (32GB) and unparalleled battery life, outlasting the Ultra Flip and many of the best touchscreen laptops by a wide margin.

If you’re after a considerably less expensive 2-in-1 and don’t mind forgoing Windows, the Acer Chromebook Spin 312 is worth considering. This is among the best Chromebooks around for those on a tight budget, thanks to its build quality, compact form, and impressive display. You’ll have to provide your own stylus, though.

HP OmniBook Ultra Flip 14 review: Specs

Base

Review

Max

Price

$1,459.99 / £1,299 / AU$3,399

$1,629.99 / £1,499 / AU$3,699

$2,099.99 / £2,099.99 / AU$3,999

CPU

Intel Core Ultra 5 226V (up to 4.5 GHz, 8 cores)

Intel Core Ultra 7 256V (2.2GHz, 8 cores)

Intel Core Ultra 9 288V (up to 5.1GHz, 8 cores)

GPU

Intel Arc Graphics (integrated)

Intel Arc Graphics (integrated)

Intel Arc Graphics (integrated)

RAM

16GB LPDDR5x

16GB LPDDR5x
Aus: 32GB LPDDR5x

32GB LPDDR5x

Storage

512GB PCIe 4.0 NVMe M.2 SSD

1TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe M.2 SSD

1TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe M.2 SSD

Display

14-inch 3K (2880 x 1800),16:10, OLED, 120Hz, Corning Gorilla Glass 5, Touchscreen

14-inch 3K (2880 x 1800),16:10, OLED, 120Hz, Corning Gorilla Glass 5, Touchscreen

14-inch 3K (2880 x 1800),16:10, OLED, 120Hz, Corning Gorilla Glass 5, Touchscreen

Ports and Connectivity

3x USB-C (2x Thunderbolt 4, 40Gbps, Power Delivery, DisplayPort 2.1; 1x 10Gbps, Power Delivery, DisplayPort 1.4a), 1x combo audio; Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4

3x USB-C (2x Thunderbolt 4, 40Gbps, Power Delivery, DisplayPort 2.1; 1x 10Gbps, Power Delivery, DisplayPort 1.4a), 1x combo audio; Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4

3x USB-C (2x Thunderbolt 4, 40Gbps, Power Delivery, DisplayPort 2.1; 1x 10Gbps, Power Delivery, DisplayPort 1.4a), 1x combo audio; Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4

Battery

64Wh

64Wh

64Wh

Dimensions

12.4 x 8.5 x 0.6 inches (314 x 216 x 15mm)

12.4 x 8.5 x 0.6 inches (314 x 216 x 15mm)

12.4 x 8.5 x 0.6 inches (314 x 216 x 15mm)

Weight

3lbs / 1.34kg

3lbs / 1.34kg

3lbs / 1.34kg

HP OmniBook Ultra Flip 14 review: Design

(Image credit: Future)

• Super thin
• Premium build quality
• Incongruous stylus storage

The Ultra Flip exhibits an understated but fetching design. I especially liked the dark blue colorway of my review unit, departing from the monochromatic crowd (although a grey finish is also available). I also liked the angular back corners, which add interest and serve a practical purpose that I’ll explain later.

It feels more premium than many others in the space, too. The aluminum body is as sturdy as you’d expect, a feat that’s all the more remarkable given just how thin the whole unit is. Meanwhile, the lid is both easy to adjust and perfectly stable once in place.

The downside of this construction, though, is the weight. The Ultra Flip is noticeably heavier than some of its plastic rivals, and while it’s still perfectly fit for backpacks or suitcases, those who are fastidious about traveling light might feel let down — literally.

Other portability issues arise courtesy of the included stylus, HP’s MPP 2.0 Tilt Pen. It’s quite large and thick, which makes it cumbersome when stored on the side of the laptop, as it has a tendency to catch and fall off when you're depositing and retrieving the laptop from a bag. It can often fall off completely in such cases, since the magnets aren’t strong enough to keep the pen in place.

(Image credit: Future)

I also experienced times when the pen would rotate towards the underside of the base whenever I lifted the Ultra Flip up, resulting in it being crushed when I set it down again.

Having said all this, there’s plenty to like about the Tilt Pen’s design. That sizable form makes it easy to hold, while its two buttons are generously proportioned and well placed, which makes them easy to operate with your writing hand. And while the pen doesn’t support wireless charging, the USB-C port is at least discreetly locked away behind an elegant sliding mechanism.

For such a thin laptop, you mightn’t be surprised to learn that the Ultra Flip’s port selection is limited. There are no USB-A ports, which might cause peripheral-heavy users some headaches, since even the best mice and keyboards today still employ the standard in their dongles.

There are three USB-C ports, though, and the Ultra Flip deploys a clever space-saving trick with two of them, as they’re integrated within those aforementioned rear corners. What’s more, this placement helps to keep any connected cables out of the way, as well as making it easy to locate each port without having to crane your neck to see exactly where they are.

It’s a shame, though, that these two corner ports differ in their specification. The one in the right corner is Thunderbolt 4 — which supports 40Gbps transfer speeds, Power Delivery and DisplayPort 2.1 — while the one on the left isn’t, only supporting 10Gbps transfer speeds, DisplayPort 1.4a, and lacks fast charging.

It would be more convenient if both corner ports were Thunderbolt 4 to accommodate a wider variety of locations of monitors and power sources that require it. Instead, the other Thunderbolt 4 USB-C port is located on the right side of the base, which is less practical.

HP OmniBook Ultra Flip 14 review: Performance

(Image credit: Future)

• Sharp and rich OLED display
• Unintrusive yet noticeable fan noise
• Responsive touchscreen and stylus

HP OmniBook Ultra Flip 14 benchmarks

3DMark: Night Raid: 34,738; Fire Strike: 8,935; Steel Nomad: 602; Solar Bay: 16,161; Solar Bay Unlimited: 12,751; Solar Bay Extreme: 2,101; Solar Bay Extreme Unlimited: 2,193
Geekbench 6.5: Multicore: 10,906; Single-core: 2,743
Cinebench R23: Multi Core: 8,806; Cinebench R24: Single Core: 118; Multi Core: 530
Crossmark: Overall: 1,705; Productivity: 1,642; Creativity: 1,935; Responsiveness: 1,305
Passmark Overall: 6,194; CPU: 21,831.3; 2D Graphics: 638.9; 3D Graphics: 5,038.6; Memory: 2,844.4; Disk: 47,357.1
BlackMagicDisk: Read: 3,543MB/s; Write: 3,707MB/s
HandBrake 4K to 1080p: 51.82fps
Total War: Warhammer III: 1080p, Medium: 47fps
Total War: Warhammer III: 1800p, Ultra: 12fps
PCMark Battery Test (Modern Office): 15 hours and 33 minutes
Battery Life (TechRadar movie test): 18 hours and 2 minutes

For everyday use, the Ultra Flip is highly capable. It can handle light productivity and entertainment with ease, including multi-tab browsing and 4K video streaming.

I was also surprised by how well it gamed, despite lacking a dedicated GPU. It ran Cyberpunk 2077 at the Ray Tracing: Low preset in a state that was playable, if very rough-and-ready. It’s certainly not going to trouble the best gaming laptops, but for some quick fun, it suffices.

However, it failed to complete Puget Bench’s benchmark for Adobe Premiere, due to a certain GPU effect being unable to render. I had this same problem when I tested the MSI Prestige 14 Flip AI+, which also has no dedicated GPU, so I suspect this shared aspect is the culprit in both cases. Video editors, therefore, might want to look elsewhere.

At times, the fans can emit a noticeable amount of noise, even when moderate workloads are being conducted. However, the sound is low-pitched and more hushed than that of other laptop fans, which makes it less grating. Extreme temperatures are kept at bay, too, with any heat generated confined to the very rear of the base.

(Image credit: Future)

The widescreen OLED display is one of the Ultra Flip’s highlights. The 3K resolution is gloriously sharp, while colors are deep and rich, with that typical OLED contrast living up to its acclaim. Some reflections are revealed under suboptimal lighting conditions, but I found the high brightness levels available were often enough to combat them effectively. What’s more, the touchscreen is responsive and accurate, making it great to use with fingers or the Tilt Pen.

The keyboard of the Ultra Flip is very light and snappy, which makes for quick and easy typing. The ultra low profile of the keys also helps in this regard, although those who hammer away might find them a little harsh, due to their lack of dampening. There are plenty of useful shortcuts on the F row, but the lack of a number pad or even a navigation cluster hampers productivity.

There are no such issues with the touchpad, though. Its silky-smooth surface combined with its large surface area makes it easy to navigate with. What’s more, it supports plenty of gestures, although they’re somewhat hidden away, requiring the use of the preinstalled HP app to enable them.

There are even two ‘sliders’ either side of the touchpad, used to control volume and brightness respectively. They feature prominent haptic feedback that emulates notches as you make your adjustments, similar in feel to those of a scroll wheel. These can feel a little at odds with your actual finger movement, lacking the level of responsiveness I would’ve liked. The clicking sound produced is also quite loud and not particularly pleasant. However, these are minor quibbles, and the controls work well overall.

HP OmniBook Ultra Flip 14 review: Battery life

(Image credit: Future)

The battery life of the Ultra Flip is very impressive. HP claims it can last just over 16 hours unplugged, but this figure is something of an underestimate. When I played back a movie on a continuous loop, it actually managed to sustain itself for 18 hours.

This puts it in league with the most enduring laptops around. Very few can outlast it, but one that can is MSI Prestige 14 Flip AI+, another 2-in-1 machine. This managed over 30 hours, which is pretty much unbeatable in the laptop sphere.

Fully charging the Ultra Flip from empty took a little over two hours, which is also admirable.

Should I buy the HP OmniBook Ultra Flip 14?

Category

Notes

Rating

Value

Considering all the quality and specs on offer, the Ultra Flip is good value for money.

4 / 5

Design

The supreme build quality is certainly welcome, although the unexpected heaviness and stylus storage issues are not.

4 / 5

Performance

The Ultra Flip performs well in many areas, even light gaming, although video editors might be disappointed. The excellent OLED display is exceptional, though.

4 / 5

Battery Life

Among the best in class. Only a few can outlast it.

4.5 / 5

Final Score

The HP OmniBook Ultra Flip 14 is very well made and performs well in most areas, with the OLED display being the true highlight. Only a few minor flaws blemish this otherwise competent, convertible laptop.

4 / 5

Buy it if…

You want a great display
The 3K OLED display is every bit as sumptuous as you would hope. The touchscreen functions very well, too.

You want a premium build
The uber-thin design oozes class, while the formidable aluminum body is reminiscent of the best MacBooks, which is high praise indeed.

Don't buy it if…

You prize lightness
Despite the thin body, the Ultra Flip is actually quite hefty, so those who want to pack as light as possible might be a shade disappointed.

You want plenty of ports
With only three USB ports (all of which are Type-C) and a headset jack, you’ll need a hub if you’ve got plenty of connections to make.

HP OmniBook Ultra Flip 14 review: also consider

MSI Prestige 14 Flip AI+
The MSI Prestige 14 Flip AI+ is comparable in many ways to the Ultra Flip, including on price. There are some key differences, though. It has a much smaller stylus, and a much tidier storage solution for it — which also features wireless charging. However, I had a real issue with its touchpad ‘sliders’ misfiring, something I didn’t experience with those on the Ultra Flip. Read our full MSI Prestige 14 Flip AI+ review.

Acer Chromebook Spin 312
A considerably cheaper 2-in-1, the Acer Chromebook Spin 312 is ideal for those on a budget. Granted, you won’t be getting the power and versatility of a Windows machine, but this compact Chromebook is great for basic tasking. Its display is crisp and its touchscreen perfectly usable, although you’ll have to provide your own stylus if you don’t want to use your fingers. Read our full Acer Chromebook Spin 312 review.

How I tested the HP OmniBook Ultra Flip 14

(Image credit: Future)

• Tested for several days
• Used for a variety of tasks
• Laptop reviewing experience

I tested the Ultra Flip for several days, during which time I used it for a variety of tasks, from browsing and productivity to content streaming and gaming. I also ran our series of benchmarks, designed to reveal the true capabilities of a device. I tested the battery life by running a movie on a continuous loop until it completely depleted.

I have plenty of experience reviewing laptops of all kinds, from small budget offerings to large and premium gaming machines.

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