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Jabees 7Seven swimming headphones review: light, high-performing and affordable bone conduction headphones

Fri, 11/21/2025 - 11:09

Jabees 7Seven headphones: One minute review

The Jabees 7Seven swimming headphones pack some features you don’t even find on their contemporaries at Shokz for around half the price. For many, that’s plenty of reason to buy. The 7Sevens are light as a feather at 28g and packs an ample 32GB of MP3 storage, essential for underwater listening where Bluetooth connectivity is weaker. This storage space outdoes quite a few older bone conduction headphones sets that have retained their price over the years, and puts the 7sevens in the same league as the Nank Runner Diver2 Pro and H20 Audio Tri 2 Pro.

Multipoint connectivity and Bluetooth 6.0 are great quality-of-life upgrades we wouldn’t expect on cheap headphones, allowing you to link to multiple devices and switch between them seamlessly. This is nice to swap between the phone for running and commuting and laptop for work, and works well in practice. Phone calls with the built-in microphone are, unfortunately, a bit tinny: the recipient of my test calls could hear me fine outside on a rainy run, but even at max volume the other person’s voice wasn’t great.

Music fared much better. Regardless of whether it was streamed via Bluetooth or loaded onto the headphones via the MP3 storage feature, quality was good, especially considering these are cheap bone conduction headphones. The transistors do vibrate at higher volumes during bassy tracks, which is especially noticeable above-ground on runs and in the office. However, in the water during swims, the vibrations are greatly reduced.

(Image credit: Future)

Controls are simple and intuitive, with volume up and down also allowing you to skip tracks as usual. Everything else is handled by the multifunction power button with a variety of long and short presses, and it’s generally easily remembered, although I kept the manual to refer back to.

Generally speaking, the Jabees 7Seven headphones offer good quality that bely their price, but there are still some niggles here and there that have been ironed out in more expensive offerings. The fit around the ears isn’t adjustable: instead, the 7Sevens are packaged with a “secure fit loop”, a little piece of elastic common in bone conduction headsets that are supposed to tighten the band around the head. The battery only covers five hours of playback time, so they’ll need to be quite frequently charged. And then there are the high vibrations from the transistors at full volume and slight call quality issues.

However, none of these annoyances are enough to reduce the 7Seven’s status as a value-for-money alternative to the likes of Shokz and H20. It’s got some great features, stores a ton of music, and that five-hour playback will be enough for several pool sessions and a run. They won’t last all the way through an ironman event, but if you’re into that, you’re probably opting for the more expensive headphones anyway.

Jabees 7Seven headphones: Price and availability

$59.99 / £47.99 / AU$99
Cheaper than most high-quality swimming headphones
Same 32GB storage as more expensive brands

The Jabees 7Seven bone conduction headphones are available for $59.99 / £47.99 / AU$99, and bundle deals on multiple headphones can be found on the Jabees’ website. Considering some of their competitors are double, sometimes triple the price, you’re getting a lot for your buck with 32GB storage

Jabees 7Seven headphones: Scorecard

(Image credit: Future)

I’ve spent nearly 50 hours barely surviving in Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl, and its PS5 release is the most fun I've had trying not to die in a post-apocalyptic open-world

Thu, 11/20/2025 - 19:00

The first thing that struck me in Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl – recently released on PlayStation 5 – wasn't the claws of a mutated creature or a bandit's hail of bullets, but the first-person shooter's stunning visual presentation.

Incredibly atmospheric, brimming with absorbing details, and endlessly immersive, GSC Game World's passion project immediately places you in a brutal, believable post-apocalyptic world capable of conjuring a lifetime of nightmares.

Review info

Platform reviewed: PS5 Pro
Available on: PS5, Xbox Series X and Series S, PC
Release date: November 20, 2025 (PS5)

Of course, if you laced up the boots of the titular wasteland wanderer and braved the game's unforgiving open-world when the Ukrainian developer released it on Xbox platforms and PC a year ago, you're well aware of Stalker 2's adept ability to transport you to its fictional take on the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone – the tragic site of 1986's Chernobyl nuclear power plant disaster.

That said, while its original release was technically advanced and artistically brilliant, it was also brought down by numerous bugs, graphical and performance glitches, and other annoyances that often made it more frustrating than fun.

Following 12 months of fixes, patches, and additional polish, however, most of those issues have been squashed like an irradiated insect, making the title's PS5 launch leaps and bounds better than what some Xbox and PC players suffered through.

PlayStation 5-powered post-apocalypse

(Image credit: GSC Game World)

Given that the existing versions of the game also benefit from these same updates and improvements, it's worth noting that Stalker 2 is now in a much better place regardless of what platform you're playing on. Still, thanks to several PS5 – and, especially, PS5 Pro-specific upgrades and features – this latest trip to the Zone is easily the best yet.

For starters, the PS5 version offers both performance (targeting 2K resolution at 60 FPS) and quality modes (targeting 4K resolution at 30 FPS), while the PS5 Pro bumps the former even further, with performance aiming for 4K at 60 FPS. During my testing, playing primarily in performance mode on the PS5 Pro, I enjoyed a consistently fast, fluid experience. Both platforms also crank the immersion with a number of DualSense features, from adaptive trigger and haptic feedback support to clever integration of the controller's built-in speaker and touchpad.

PS5 Pro players also enjoy some additional bells and whistles, including more realistic shadows, lighting, reflections, and volumetric effects that push the graphical presentation to the platform's horsepower-pushing limits. More than mere back-of-the-box bullet points, these PS5 and PS5 Pro improvements combine to deliver tangible, experience-enhancing details and touches that truly make the forbidden Zone come to life…and death.

The DualSense delivers

(Image credit: GSC Game World)

Prominent displays of the PS5's extra power, like the rumble of a patrolling helicopter being felt through the DualSense – even as the pilots' communications crackle through the controller's speaker – will immediately have you questioning how you played Stalker 2 without Sony's proprietary tech in your hands.

It's truly the best implementation of the DualSense I've experienced since Astro Bot pleased my palms last fall.

But it's often far subtler moments, like unexpectedly wading into a radioactive puddle, that'll have you scooping your jaw from the floor. First, you'll likely spy the incredibly realistic reflections of the surrounding environment on the water, then notice your own shadow staring back at you.

Dare to delve further into the potentially deadly pool, and you'll see it ripple in time with your every footstep. But your cautious movements aren't the only ones stirring up the murky water, as hovering insects create tiny circles on its surface, while falling leaves cause a gentle lilting effect. Short of the DualSense spraying an actual mist in your face, I can't imagine how such moments could be more tangible.

While the culmination of these lulling effects could almost fool you into thinking you're playing a health spa simulator, the rampaging, mutated boar that's about to skewer you with its splintered tusks will quickly snap you back to reality. Stalker 2 is as brutal as it is beautiful, so you'll want to resist pausing too long to soak in its cinema-rivalling presentation.

Expectation-subverting shooter

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While the game is generally billed as a first-person shooter, it's focused as much on unforgiving, survival horror gameplay as it is clip-emptying action. In fact, its steep difficulty – even on its "normal" setting – makes other post-apocalyptic action games feel like a picnic.

On top of standard survival elements, such as scarce ammo and resources, limited inventory space, and the constant, foreboding sense that your next breath could be your last, Stalker 2 tasks you with managing a number of other hazards. In addition to monitoring your health and stamina, you'll need to keep a close eye on thirst and hunger levels, as well as bleed damage following any encounter that's gone south.

Of course, given that the game takes place in an open world that woke up on the wrong side of a nuclear disaster, there's also the persistent threat of falling victim to radiation poisoning. But not to worry, as the rapid, tension-ratcheting ping of your radiation detector – frantically emitting from the DualSense – will let you know when you're about to become the Zone's next pile of ash. Whether or not you react to the warning fast enough to save your skin is another story.

Best bit

(Image credit: GSC Game World)

Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl consistently stacks the odds against you, frequently putting you face-to-face with mutated creatures, deadly anomalies, and evil-doing humans that are rarely happy to see you. There's nothing more rewarding than surviving a seemingly unbeatable encounter by the skin of your teeth… then looting the poor saps that tried to end you.

Toss in the fact that the massive map's absolutely brimming with all manner of mutated wildlife, human adversaries, and anomalies that can suddenly turn your seemingly normal surroundings into a death trap devoid of any scientific explanation, and, well, Stalker 2 will never be mistaken for another shooter that makes you feel like a world-saving space marine or super-soldier.

When a perfect storm of these aforementioned threats gets the best of you, the game can even feel a bit unfair and, if you haven't saved in a minute, border on frustrating. On the plus side, a number of rewarding gameplay loops – from upgrading your weapons and gear to progressing the story and piecing together the Zone's puzzle-like mysteries – should keep you engaged, even as the harsh world repeatedly throws you to the figurative – and sometimes literal – wolves.

But these elements, too, bring their own set of stressors. A strict durability system means weapons and gear can break down, while saddling yourself with too many items can lead to your Stalker becoming overencumbered. So even when you’re not under immediate threat, the game isn’t about to let you take a breather.

While Stalker 2 isn't for the faint of heart, its refreshing mix of survival-focused first-person action and an incredibly atmospheric, nerve-fraying open-world allows it to stand out from the post-apocalyptic fragger pack. Its unique take on the genre is further elevated by the PS5's ability to deliver the prettiest, most immersive version of the game yet. If its buggy launch last year kept you from breaching the borders of the Chornobyl Exclusion Zone, now's a great time to strap on the gas mask and give it a go.

Should you play Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl PS5?Play it if...

You've been waiting for the best version of the game
In addition to the PS5 and PS5 Pro versions of the game benefiting from a year's worth of bug-squashing patches and game-enhancing updates, they also feature noticeably improved graphics and performance. On top of that, the game makes some of the best use of the DualSense the tech has ever seen.

You like your first-person shooters with a bit more meat on them
Stalker 2 is not a run-and-gun, linear shooter, but a survival-focused fragger that drops you in a punishing open-world you could lose 100 hours in. It has much more in common with a sprawling RPG or a survival horror game than an FPS campaign, like you'd find in Call of Duty.

You wanted to play last year, but were put off by the buggy launch
Regardless of all the PS5 perks that come with this latest release of Stalker 2, the game has been continuously updated and patched for the last year. All versions of the game have benefited from these fixes, making it the perfect time to brave the Zone on any platform.

Don't play it if...

You prefer a more directed, fast-paced first-person shooter
Stalker 2 isn't a guided, story-driven game filled with boss encounters and set pieces. While it has a critical narrative path, it's more of a meandering, exploration-rewarding experience that largely allows you to forge your own path at your own pace.

You're not craving a steep challenge
Filled with brutal foes and even harsher environments, Stalker 2 is far from a power fantasy, but rather a deeply challenging, survival-focused game that's most rewarding when you just barely survive encounters by the skin of your teeth.

Accessibility features

Stalker 2 contains a number of standard accessibility features, allowing users to adjust settings like subtitle size and subtitle background opacity. It also includes color blind modes, Protanopia, Deuteranopia, and Tritanopia, as well as the ability to toggle user interface elements, such as object markers, threat indicators, crosshair color, and mission notifications.

An Immersive Mode also allows you to disable the entire HUD for a more cinematic experience. Rookie, Stalker, Veteran, and Master difficulty settings are available to support a variety of skill levels, while an Expedition Mode lets you pair any of those settings with a more rigid save system.

How I reviewed Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl

I spent nearly 50 hours in Stalker 2, splitting my time between main missions, side quests, optional activities, and free-roaming exploration. Having previously played 40 or so hours of the game's Xbox Series X version, I reviewed the PlayStation release on a PS5 Pro. I tested both quality and performance modes and, while I didn't notice a significant difference between the two, I spent the majority of my time in the latter.

I played on a TCL 4K TV, with HDR enabled. I listened to the game through my television's built-in stereo speakers, rather than headphones or earbuds (as I normally would), so I could appreciate the full suite of DualSense features, which includes a good deal of audio effects delivered through the controller's speakers.

First reviewed November 2025

Categories: Reviews

Garmin Vivoactive 6 review: A feature-stuffed pocket rocket

Thu, 11/20/2025 - 12:04

Garmin Vivoactive 6: One minute review

The Garmin Vivoactive 6 is a great fitness watch, which isn’t something I was necessarily expecting from Garmin’s slimmer, more budget-friendly offering. It’s stuffed with features such as PacePro, Garmin’s virtual pacing system for runners, which generally belong on more expensive, more specialist watches like Garmin’s Forerunner series.

Still, the Vivoactive series is a lifestyle watch for active people. It shares a lot of DNA with Garmin’s other lifestyle watch, the Venu 4, but it’s cheaper and made from less premium materials. If the Venu 4 is like an Apple Watch, the Vivoactive 6 is more like an Apple Watch SE: there have been some compromises made to lower the price, but it’s still a really effective, comfortable activity watch I enjoyed wearing.

Like the Apple Watch SE 3, the Garmin Vivoactive 6 is very light, weighing in at just 36g with a band, and slim at just 10.9mm thick. This means it’s comfortable for all-day wear, and you can go from the gym to the office and even to bed and basically forget about wearing it. It slipped easily under my shirt cuff during daywear when other Garmin watches would bulge. Any sleep tracker has to be comfortable to wear throughout the night, and this was the case with the Vivoactive more so than the Venu, which is a milimeter or so thicker and much heavier due to its metal construction.

Smart wake alarm, a new feature for Garmin, was long missing from its lineup, and I was pleased yet surprised to see it in the Vivoactive line. It wakes you up with haptic vibrations at the lightest point in your sleep cycle, within a 30-minute window. Having tried it for a few days, I found it a much more pleasant way to wake up than my usual alarm, and I feel anecdotally less groggy in the mornings.

I enjoyed the Auto Activity Start feature too, which I set to start recording after one minute of road running. It really contributes to a seamless, super-light smartwatch experience when you don’t have to toggle around to get to the running settings – just run. It’s a nice-to-have, but it adds to the overall ‘virtual assistant’ experience many smartwatches are now striving for, to anticipate your needs without you having to wade through menus. I do wish the Vivoactive 6 had a microphone and voice assistant, but I can accept shortcomings at this price point.

It’s not necessarily the watch I’d recommend to adventurers or serious runners due to missing features from other Garmin watches, and it’s packing the older Elevate V4 heart rate sensor, which is functional but not as accurate as the upgraded Elevate V5, and my tests against the Polar H10 heart rate monitor corroborate that. But it’s a great fitness tool and the best cheap Garmin watch of 2025.

Garmin Vivoactive 6: Price and availability

(Image credit: Future)

$299.99 / £279.99 / AU$549
Affordably priced compared to other Garmins
Comparable to most smartwatches from Apple and Samsung

The Garmin Vivoactive 6 retails at $299.99 / £279.99 / AU$549, although can be found on sale for slightly less.

That's very comparable with the likes of the Samsung Galaxy Watch8 and Google Pixel Watch 4, and slightly more expensive than the Apple Watch SE 3. Although it's perhaps leaning more towards fitness enthusiasts than those all-rounder watches, I'd say this is a great price for the amount of features on offer.

Garmin Vivoactive 6: Scorecard

Sony Xperia 1 VII review: has Sony’s long-standing Xperia family lost what it takes to compete?

Wed, 11/19/2025 - 08:25

Sony Xperia 1 VII: Two-minute review

The Xperia 1 VII is Sony’s top Android phone. It’s simultaneously refreshing among its peers and too conservative to be considered all that interesting or dynamic.

It’s very similar to its predecessor, the Sony Xperia 1 VI, but stands out as one of the few higher-end phones with a headphone jack and microSD expandable storage. These are not expensive features, but do partially come to define the Xperia 1 VII’s appeal against its rivals.

The other side of the phone is a bit more problematic. Aside from using what was at launch the latest, most powerful, Qualcomm chipset, the Xperia 1 series is falling behind in a few areas.

Charging speed, battery capacity, camera slickness, and video modes nowadays feel a little regressive in this class, and some of these areas are more limited than they were in some earlier generations of the Sony Xperia 1 VII’s family.

This would not matter so much were the Sony Xperia 1 VII not extremely expensive, but it costs more than the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, which is the more dynamic phone.

Sony Xperia 1 VII review: price and availability

(Image credit: Future)

Starts at £1,399 (roughly $1,870 / AU$2,885)
Launched in June 2025

The Sony Xperia 1 VII was released in June 2025, following an announcement in May.

It costs £1,399 or 1,499 euros, equivalent to around $1,870 / AU$2,885 in a direct currency conversion at the time of writing, but with no current availability in those regions. This is for the model reviewed, which has 12GB RAM and 256GB of storage. There is also a 512GB model in some parts of the world, but this isn't available in the UK.

In any case, that price puts the Sony Xperia 1 VII among the most expensive Android phones to date, short of unusual models encrusted with jewels or gold bling.

Value score: 2 / 5

Sony Xperia 1 VII review: specs

Here's a full specs list for the Sony Xperia 1 VII, so you can see what it has going for it at a glance:

Sony Xperia 1 VII specs

Dimensions:

162 x 74 x 8.2mm

Weight:

197g

Screen:

6.5-inch 19.5:9 FHD+ (1080 x 2340) 120Hz LTPO OLED

Chipset:

Snapdragon 8 Elite

RAM:

12GB

Storage:

256GB

OS:

Android 15

Primary camera:

48MP, f/1.9, 24mm

Ultra-wide camera:

48MP, f/2.0, 16mm

Telephoto camera:

12MP, f/2.3-f/3.5, 3.5x-7.1x zoom (85-170mm)

Front camera:

12MP, f/2.0, 24mm

Audio:

Stereo speakers

Battery:

5,000mAh

Charging:

30W wired, 15W wireless

Colors:

Moss Green, Orchid Purple, Slate Black

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Gorilla Glass Victus 2 screen protection
Familiar Sony 'monolith' design
3.5mm headphone jack

Phones these days are often accused of being boring, and in many ways the Sony Xperia 1 VII is also guilty of that. It looks virtually identical to its predecessor, and is part of a design family tree so long it could shame some monarchical dynasties.

The Sony Xperia 1 VII is a metal and glass brick that offers very little in the way of visible outer progress in tech or style. But that’s kind of the point with this series.

Sony offers lots of the bits other manufacturers have long since discarded in the noble pursuit of copying Apple. For example, the Sony Xperia 1 VII has a headphone jack, which I love as someone who actually bought a pair of wired in-ear monitors during testing.

It also has space for a microSD card in its SIM tray, and there’s no notch or punch-hole in the screen, just larger-than-most display borders. And it has a two-stage shutter button for the camera too. I’m not much of a fan of the latter these days, but Sony can make treading water seem valuable because it offers so much that other flagship phones just don’t have anymore.

Most of the build bullet points are largely beyond reproach too. The Sony Xperia 1 VII is a full metal and glass phone, with Corning’s tough Gorilla Glass Victus 2 up front, and aluminum sides. Its rear panel is 'just' Victus rather than its successor, which has better drop resistance, but this still provides a respectable amount of protection.

The back is also textured, with a series of embossed dots, apparent when you look real close. It’s very fingerprint-resistant, and simply gives the Sony Xperia 1 VII a different feel than that of flat glossy glass.

(Image credit: Future)

It is basically an identical feel to the Sony Xperia VI, though, especially as the two generations also have a sort-of corrugated effect to the frame.

The rectangular shape makes the Sony Xperia 1 VII feel tough, the sort of phone you could use as a bludgeoning weapon. But in previous generations I’ve found it less than ideal for the finish’s longevity. Eventually the paint will wear off the sharp corners of the frame, showing up as bright, raw aluminum highlights. A couple of weeks in, that wear is already visible on the Sony Xperia 1 VII's camera lens housing.

You can fix that with a case, of course, but the Sony Xperia 1 VII does not include one.

Like other phones in this series, the Xperia 1 VII also has a side-mounted fingerprint sensor rather than an in-screen one. It doesn’t feel as instantaneous as some, and I find it annoyingly picky. As soon as I’ve done a little exercise, just a bit of sweat will cause my finger not to be recognized.

The speaker array deserves a note too. There are front-mounted stereo speakers, with the fairly full-sounding audio I’ve come to expect of top-tier phones. It may not be the loudest stereo pair among flagship phones, but I’ve happily spent many (many) hours listening to podcasts using nothing more than these speakers.

Water resistance is excellent too, as is typical for Sony. The Xperia 1 VII is rated for IP65 and IP68, for protection from immersion in fresh water and being subjected to jets of the stuff. This finish may be easy to scrape, but the phone is difficult to drown.

Design score: 3 / 5

Sony Xperia 1 VII review: display

(Image credit: Future)

Bright screen makes good use of HDR
Lower resolution than older Xperia flagships
Colorful and contrasty

This Sony series used to employ some pretty wild display panels, with ultra-tall shapes and ultra-high resolutions. But the Sony Xperia 1 VII has a far more ordinary 1080p screen that measures 6.5 inches across.

There’s no notch, it’s a totally flat panel, and this is a 120Hz OLED screen with OLED staple deep color and flawless contrast.

The Sony Xperia 1 VII’s default color mode has strong saturation, but there’s also a Creator mode that lowers saturation for a more measured appearance. This also kicks in as standard in apps that try to take over the color presentation of the screen, which is great.

It means your photos end up looking as they will on other well-calibrated screens, rather than severely oversaturated.

There’s nothing too special going on here, but the Sony Xperia 1 VII's screen is at least very bright. Legibility in strong direct sunlight is good, and the high peak brightness makes the most of the latest movements in HDR.

And I’m not just talking about HDR video. You’ll notice in Instagram that sometimes the highlights of the picture are brighter than the app’s white border. That’s HDR for you, and it can look great. It’s used when you look at your own photos in the gallery too, most notably bringing out the bright highlights in clouds in a very eye-catching manner.

Let’s not get carried away, though. Phones are currently on an upwards peak brightness trend thanks to the underlying OLED panel tech developing fairly rapidly in the background. Even fairly affordable phones have ridiculously high peak brightness claims — like the 3,000-nit Nothing Phone 3a.

Display score: 3.5 / 5

Sony Xperia 1 VII review: cameras

(Image credit: Future)

High-quality primary camera
Could feel more responsive and quick
Zoom is fun to use but disappoints on image quality in 2025

You’d think phones like the Sony Xperia 1 VII would have the best phone cameras in the world. A division of Sony, after all, does make almost all of the camera sensors used by the best phones.

Yet despite that the Sony Xperia 1 VII doesn't quite match the best rivals here, not in all respects anyway. While the Sony Xperia 1 VII has mostly top-tier hardware, the experience of actually using the camera doesn’t have the standard-setting gloss and slickness you might expect.

For example, the shutter doesn’t always feel instantaneous, and there’s sometimes a fractional wait between captures as you shoot single stills. The best-feeling phone cameras appear to operate as fast as your finger will go. The Sony Xperia 1 VII isn’t quite there.

Its preview image isn’t the best either. For example, Samsung provides a solid estimation of what a photo will look like before you even take it, including the effects of its HDR processing. The Sony Xperia 1 VII will sometimes show blown highlights in the preview view, even if it pretty much always fixes those highlights by the time the image hits your gallery.

As we’ve seen across the phone, much of the camera is pretty familiar compared to the last generation. The Sony Xperia 1 VII has a large-sensor 48MP primary camera and a still-unusual genuine optical zoom lens – virtually every other phone zoom has what’s known as a prime lens, where the view is fixed.

The ultra-wide gets a notable upgrade, though. Sensor resolution jumps from 12MP to 48MP, which could be good or bad depending on the sensor used. But this time it’s also a much larger sensor, jumping from 1/2.5-inch in the Xperia VI to 1/1.56-inch here. It’s one of the higher-spec ultra-wide cameras you’ll find.

Sure enough, the ultra-wide takes lovely pictures, giving the Xperia 1 VII an admirable sense of consistency between the wide and ultra-wide lenses. Colors aren’t oversaturated, instead appearing largely natural.

Are these two lenses actually equals? It’s not even close, and that becomes clear at night. The Sony Xperia 1 VII can only take (barely) passable low-light shots with the ultra-wide, lacking the dynamic range and detail of the main camera. Far-away brick work turns to mush, and it also seems the ultra-wide shots don’t get as much low-light processing either.

The main camera’s night shots are good, although Sony perhaps leans slightly less egregiously on computational photography to enhance dynamic range. This can mean photos look more natural than the norm, if also less impressive in some scenes.

(Image credit: Future)

The deficiencies of the zoom camera aren’t too hard to find either, even though having what amounts to 16mm-170mm framing versatility is amazing. This camera allows you to shoot at anywhere from 3.5x to 7.1x optical zoom, but when shooting at the further reaches of the zoom in particular, detail integrity and clarity are actually pretty poor considering we are looking at a non digitally-zoomed image.

It’s likely down to a conjunction of two factors that limit the quality of photos we’ll be able to get. There’s the lowly f/3.5 aperture – which is fine in a 'proper' camera but very poor in a mobile phone. And the sensor itself is small. That said, I’ve found that image quality issues can appear in any kind of lighting, from blazing sunshine to night.

That’s not to say the Sony Xperia 1 VII’s extreme zoom images are unusable. They can look good on the surface, but fall apart a bit when approached with a critical eye.

The zoom camera also has a kind of amazing macro mode, which is available at the 120cm focal length. You can focus at up to 4cm away from the camera. It’s enough to reveal the printed dots in a Magic the Gathering card, or the subpixels in a MacBook Air’s display. I’ve used it to identify tiny spiders, and get a closer look at ripening blackberries, but you need a steady hand as the depth of field is extremely shallow. Thankfully the Xperia 1 VII does have a focus peaking option to help out. This is where in-focus elements of the scene are highlighted.

But, stepping back once more, compared to the more conventional pericope designs in phones like the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra and Xiaomi 15 Ultra, Sony needs to up its game to compete.

For video, the Sony Xperia 1 VII has some solid skills, with some odd missing parts. It can capture 4K video at up to 120fps, and there’s a software-generated 'bokeh' blur video mode and an extra stabilized 'AI' mode.

However, where Sony used to be the master of slow-mo video, the Xperia 1 VII has no real notable skills here. Back when ultra-powered slow-mo modes became a show-off contest, there was often interpolation involved. But it was fun to play around with, and that’s largely absent here.

Around the front, the Sony Xperia 1 VII has a 12MP selfie camera. It’s good, capable of rendering natural-looking skin tones, and has the detail to pick out pores, single facial hairs and so on – when you aren’t obliterating such details with filters.

Camera score: 3.5 / 5

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(Image credit: Future)Sony Xperia 1 VII review: performance

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Gradual thermal throttling attempts to manage heat
A high-performing phone
Still gets a little too warm on occasion

The Sony Xperia 1 VII has one of the best chipsets available to Android phones in 2025. This is the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite. It’s enormously powerful (though now beaten by the new Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5), and here it’s paired with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage.

This will be able to handle any game you throw its way and, the largely non-processor-related camera hitches aside, general performance is great. But that's as it should be, as we have every right to expect one of the best possible processors in the Sony Xperia 1 VII, given how much it costs.

When pressure is applied, Sony takes a highly progressive approach to thermal throttling in the Xperia 1 VII. Where some phones hang on for dear life until the internal temperature sensor reaches a certain level, here the performance scales with temperature in a more fine grain way, chipping down almost from the beginning of a gaming session or benchmark test.

After 20 minutes the Xperia 1 VII ends up at 55% of its peak performance. And as that test was performed on a hot day during the summer, I also slung the phone in a fridge to see what happened with the same test. Once again, there was that very gradual loss of power, ending up with 78.8% of its max after 20 minutes.

I have also noticed that the Xperia 1 VII gets hot on occasion, which is predictably accompanied by faster power drain.

In any case, losing up to 45% of peak power may sound pretty bad, but it’s not uncommon to see up to a 55% loss in phones with these high power chipsets.

Some folks had major reliability issues with the Xperia 1 VII at launch, spurring a response from Sony itself. Thankfully, it’s been mostly smooth sailing day-to-day during testing, though.

Performance score: 4 / 5

Sony Xperia 1 VII review: software

(Image credit: Future)

Sticks to the AI basics
Fewer Sony apps than some older phones
Familiar Sony interface style

The Sony Xperia 1 VII runs Android 15 and has Sony’s long-standing custom interface on top. It comes with the promise of four years of operating system version updates and six years of security patches.

There’s nothing too surprising here. It has an app drawer, one that can be arranged either alphabetically or using your own layout. Choose the latter and you can also sort apps into folders.

The only interface niggles we’ve found are that the Wi-Fi switch wasn’t put in the feature toggle drop-down as standard, and that the standby behavior and lock screen layout means it’s easy to accidentally have podcasts or songs skip while the phone is in your pocket.

These are not problems without fixes, but they are annoying.

(Image credit: Future)

A while back, Sony went big on its own apps, including multiple camera apps for enthusiasts and the point ’n’ shoot crowd. It made a minor splash at the time, but all that has mostly been scaled back in favor of simplicity.

And, let’s be honest, having to maintain multiple apps for the same job has got to be a pain.

The Sony Xperia 1 VII gets a single camera app, a basic video editor, the Music Pro multi-track recorder app, and what Sony calls the Creators’ App. This is part social network, part a way to bring over the photos taken with your 'proper' Sony camera(s).

Sony’s concept here does kind of make sense, to bring together the other sides of Sony’s wider business to lend the Xperia 1 VII additional credibility. It desperately wants to make phones for creatives, but doesn’t really have a hope in hell of bringing many of them over to its stable, especially as there are alternatives to all of these apps floating around, ones with more workflow-boosting features.

Image 1 of 3

(Image credit: Future)Image 2 of 3

(Image credit: Future)Image 3 of 3

(Image credit: Future)

This phone also does not have an app pre-installed that lets you use the phone as an external monitor for Sony Alpha mirrorless cameras, despite that feature once being hailed as a photographer’s USP for buying a top-tier Xperia. I did install a Sony app that appeared to do that job, but it also appears to be largely brand-agnostic on the phone side, and I’m primarily a Fuji camera user anyway.

Sony has not gone heavy on AI software in the way other manufacturers have – which may be appealing or a turn-off depending on your tastes. It is here, though. Long-press the side power button and Google Gemini AI appears. There’s just not much in the way of Sony-made AI features, which is probably for the best given how at-risk they’d be of coming across as superfluous and try-hard.

Software score: 3 / 5

Sony Xperia 1 VII review: battery

(Image credit: Future)

Bottom rung 'fast' charging
One-day real-world battery life
5,000mAh capacity

The Sony Xperia 1 VII has a 5,000mAh battery, just like its predecessor. I have found that with my use it lasts a solid day and no more.

Is it worse than last year’s model? Perhaps not, or at least not hugely, but Sony has not caught up with one of the new meaningful developments in phone tech of late. This is the silicon-carbon battery, which allows for higher-capacity batteries in the same size of cell.

The Sony Xperia 1 VII lasts a full day with my kind of use, but rarely has much spare to keep it going overnight or into the next day. On a couple of occasions – usually when I’ve watched too much YouTube – it has needed an evening top-up too. And, as noted earlier, there have been moments when it has inexplicably got warmer than it should, indicative of excess power drain.

I think if you are able to get Sony’s claimed two-day use, you’re not using your phone intensively enough to justify one this pricey.

Charging speeds are not particularly impressive either, as 30W is the power ceiling. Sony does not include a power adapter with the phone, but plenty of non-Sony plugs will be able to charge it at max speed, over USB-PD.

A full charge from flat took 88 minutes, while it reached 50% in a much better-sounding 29 minutes. It’s not a real fast charger, and is now also beaten by Samsung – not a fast-charging pioneer either, but at least top phones like the Galaxy S25 Ultra support 45W charging.

The Sony Xperia 1 VII can be charged wirelessly too, but at up to a dismal 15W. Reverse wireless charging is in as well, though, which should come in handy if you have wireless earphones that support Qi charging.

Battery score: 3 / 5

Should you buy the Sony Xperia 1 VII?Sony Xperia 1 VII score card

Attributes

Notes

Rating

Value

The phone costs a fortune. And while it has the raw power expected at this level, and uses great materials, it’s not clear Sony has really done enough to justify asking for this.

2 / 5

Design

It’s that same old Sony design. Largely impeccable materials and great water resistance, but the brick-like shape creates areas that wear down quickly, and Sony doesn’t include a case.

3 / 5

Display

It’s bright and it has OLED color and contrast. But it’s also pretty ordinary considering the panels Sony used to employ. You don’t miss much, other than the sense you’re paying a lot for a screen like this.

3.5 / 5

Software

Sony offers us some creative apps we imagine most buyers will ignore, but the rest of the software is business as usual. Android 15 with a layer of Sony interface pasted on top, and no obvious AI obsession for better or worse.

3 / 5

Camera

A zero-fat camera array like this is what we want to see. And the phone can take beautiful pictures. It could be better on the slickness of the experience, though, and the zoom is falling behind rivals despite sounding great on paper.

3.5 / 5

Performance

Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset is swiftly and progressively throttled in the phone to manage heat. A sensible move, if not one the techy gamers may love.

4 / 5

Battery

We’re in the process of seeing a big leap in phone battery capacities. But Sony isn’t there yet, and this phone doesn’t last more than a day in our experience. Fast charging needs to improve too.

3 / 5

Buy it if...

You want a phone with a headphone jack
Old-school in a great way, the Sony Xperia 1 VII has a high-quality 3.5mm headphone jack, which has been a rarity in all but budget phones for years now.

You are a big Sony Alpha mirrorless camera fan
The phone has software to link up to your 'proper' camera’s photo library, and the screen is a great way to review photos.

You just love Sony’s style
Recognizable from way further than arm’s length to any phone geek, Sony’s phone design hasn’t changed much over the years, and fans may be glad of it.

Don't buy it if...

You want cutting-edge tech
While it has a high-end Snapdragon chipset, other areas of the device do not feel as though they are pushing at the edge of what’s possible in phone tech.

You want a deal
This is one of the most expensive Android phones in existence, and there’s a good argument that Sony doesn’t really justify the outlay fully.

You love fast charging
30W power supply support means the Xperia 1 VII takes almost 90 minutes to charge from flat, which seems a lot in 2025.

Sony Xperia 1 VII review: Also consider

Not sure about the Sony? Here are a few alternative options.

Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra
There are plenty of more aggressive and competitively priced phones at this level. The perhaps most obvious one is the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, which has better zoom skills, costs less and has a larger screen. There’s no headphone jack, of course.

Read our full Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra review

Google Pixel 9 Pro
The Google Pixel 9 Pro sticks with a smaller screen, costs loads less and still has a solid 5x camera zoom. It makes much more use of software AI, though whether that’s your bag or not depends on your proclivities.

Read out full Google Pixel 9 Pro review

Xiaomi 15 Ultra
The Xiaomi 15 Ultra is an alternative you might not instantly think of. It uses more aggressive camera hardware, and has a larger, faster-charging battery. A more cutting-edge design also fits in a significantly larger screen even though the phone itself is only fractionally wider.

Read our full Xiaomi 15 Ultra review

Sony Xperia 1 VII

Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra

Google Pixel 9 Pro

Xiaomi 15 Ultra

Price (at launch):

£1,399 (roughly $1,870 / AU$2,885)

$1,299 / £1,249 / AU$2,149

$999 / £999 / AU$1,699

£1,299 (roughly $1,740 / AU$2,675)

Dimensions:

162 x 74 x 8.2mm

162.8 x 77.6 x 8.2mm

152.8 x 72 x 8.5mm

161.3 x 75.3 x 9.4mm

Weight:

197g

218g

199g

226g

Displays

6.5-inch OLED, 120Hz

6.9-inch AMOLED, 120Hz

6.3-inch OLED, 120Hz

6.73-inch AMOLED, 120Hz

Cameras

48MP main, 48MP ultra-wide, 12MP telephoto

200MP main, 50MP ultra-wide, 10MP telephoto, 50MP telephoto

50MP main, 48MP ultra-wide, 48MP telephoto

50MP main, 50MP ultra-wide, 200MP telephoto, 50MP telephoto

Chipset:

Qualcomm Snapdragon Gen 8 Elite

Qualcomm Snapdragon Gen 8 Elite for Galaxy

Google Tensor G4

Qualcomm Snapdragon Gen 8 Elite

How I tested the Sony Xperia 1 VII

Review test period: several weeks
Testing included: everyday use, photography, long days away from a charger, a weekend away
Tools used: Geekbench 6, 3DMark

The Sony Xperia 1 VII was used as my primary phone for several weeks, to get the best idea of how it works. I took hundreds of photos with its cameras, and used it during a weekend away, with long days away from the charger.

Some benchmark performance testing was done too, in order to back up, or potentially challenge, observations I found from my everyday phone use. However, there were not any grand surprises to be found in those benchmarks anyway.

I tested Caira, the first Nano Banana AI camera – now I’m cancelling my Lightroom subscription

Wed, 11/19/2025 - 07:00

Caira camera: one-minute reviewTechRadar AI Week 2025

(Image credit: Future)

This article is part of TechRadar's AI Week 2025. Covering the basics of artificial intelligence, we'll show you how to get the most from the likes of ChatGPT, Gemini, or Claude, alongside in-depth features, news, and the main talking points in the world of AI.

The Caira snaps onto your iPhone using MagSafe, turns your phone into the control hub, and sets out to merge mirrorless camera-quality with smartphone ease.

The hardware is the real deal: a Micro Four Thirds mount and (Sony) sensor, a CNC’d aluminium chassis. It accepts proper lenses from Panasonic, Olympus, Sigma, and Leica - so this isn’t a toy pretending to be a camera. Its in a similar mold to the open source Alice Camera – a previous project from the makers of Caira.

Inside, Qualcomm’s Snapdragon chip and Google’s Edge TPU AI processor run three flagship tricks: voice control, smart styles and generative editing.

With voice control you can say “take a photo” and Caira actually does. Smart Styles are six tasteful AI-trained color profiles that make your footage look deliberate. Generative Editing – the headline feature – uses natural language prompts to restyle photos instantly, no laptop required.

(Image credit: Rashid Ahmad)

Yes, the real party trick is Google’s ‘Nano Banana’ generative AI – which sounds like a smoothie but is actually a powerful on-device editor. You can tell the camera to “turn this daylight shot into night” or “make my blazer burgundy,” and it’ll do it in seconds. It’s astonishing. It’s the first time I’ve seen Lightroom sulk because it’s now redundant.

The result is a camera designed to skip the “import - edit - export - scream” routine. Some will say that skipping that part also skips the soul of photography. I’m not one of them. I’m in favor of anything that lets you spend more time shooting and less time staring at a progress bar – I’ll leave the hand-wringing to other creators.

But before you start packing your MacBook away forever, that magical AI is only available if you pay $7 a month for the ‘Caira Pro’ plan (about £6 / AU$11). Because nothing screams modern camera like a monthly sub.

However, for every tinfoil hat wearing critic out there screaming for the days of old and terrified of AI, go back to shooting on film and paying $35 a month for every roll you develop. My Lightroom subscription costs a lot more than Caira Pro, and I will use it a lot less.

Caira camera: price and availability

Priced at $995 (£760 / AU$1,500 approx)
Available to early crowdfunding backers for $695 (£529 / AU$1,070 approx)
First deliveries expected from January 2026

(Image credit: Rashid Ahmad)

Caira is available through Camera Intelligence's Kickstarter campaign, which runs from November 4 to November 30. As always, back crowdfunding campaigns at your own risk!

The campaign lists the camera (body only) price for $995 (around £760 / AU$1,500), while optimistic Super Early Bird backers can bag one for $695 (about £529 / AU$1,070).

According to its makers, the Caira delivery window is January to February 2026, (assuming no global crises intervene).

To get the most out of Caira's AI skills, you'll want the Caira pro subscription, which costs $7 per month. Backers get six months free, nine if funding hits its goals.

Caira camera specsCaira camera specs

Sensor:

11MP Micro Four Thirds, quad-bayer HDR and dual ISO

Mount:

Micro Four Thirds

Processor:

Qualcomm Snapdragon with 8 - core CPU, GPU, DSP

AI Chip:

Google Edge TPU

Video:

4K 30fps & 1080p 60fps

Battery:

5,000 mAh

Storage:

Internal 64GB + SSD External storage via USB-C, straight onto Apple photos

Connectivity:

iPhone MagSafe connector, WiFi

Dimensions:

112.5mm (W) x 85mm (H) x 21.5mm (D). Handle depth is 42.5mm

Weight:

10.2oz / 290g (w/out lens)

Caira camera: Design

No screen – you MagSafe your iPhone instead
Premium CNC-milled aluminum body
64GB internal memory

Caira alongside the Alice Camera, designed by the same makers (Image credit: Rashid Ahmad)

Imagine if Leica built a GoPro after a long lunch - that’s the Caira. There's Sigma BF vibes, too. A sleek, screen-less slab of CNC-milled metal that looks premium and feels it too.

The design strips away almost all buttons, because the company says creators are “overwhelmed by controls.” Fair. Now you’ll be overwhelmed by menus instead.

The MFT mount opens a vast lens ecosystem, from affordable pancakes to glass that costs more than your phone. And the 5,000 mAh battery means you can actually use it all day.

Best of all, there are no memory cards. You shoot, and the files appear in your iPhone’s Photos app almost instantly. It’s dangerously convenient.

Cair camera: Performance

11MP Four Thirds sensor with dual base ISO
Basic video specs – 4K video up to 30fps
Really effective Nano Banana voice control and generative edits

The Caira behaves like two products; a legitimate camera, and an unashamed AI experiment.

The camera hardware delivers – the 11MP Sony sensor combined with proper MFT glass (I used several of my Lumix lenses, including the 12-60mm f/2.8-4 lens) is an obvious leap from a smartphone, particularly in low light. Depth, sharpness, and texture all feel natural. The AI-tuned colour profile leans a little toward “Instagram - ready,” but never offensively so.

Caira's Smart Styles are surprisingly tasteful presets, that make you look more competent than you are. You can get a feel in the examples in the gallery below.

Image 1 of 3

An original photo taken with Caira (Image credit: Future / Rashid Ahmad)Image 2 of 3

Turn the dress black (Image credit: Future / Rashid Ahmad)Image 3 of 3

About 20 seconds later, the new image appears. (Image credit: Future / Rashid Ahmad)

The Caira's show piece is its AI features. Voice Control is genuinely handy when both hands are busy, or sticky with espresso, but Generative Editing is the main event.

Prompts like “make it nighttime” or “change his navy blazer to burgundy” return results in seconds – clean, convincing, a bit spooky.

Generative Editing is the feature that flattens the learning curve and streamlines the creative workflow. It’s powerful, fast, and feels like magic.

To its credit, the company has guardrails in place: no altering skin tone or facial features. I tried. It refused, nicely.

The Caira is a bold step. It’s a bet that the next generation of creators values AI-powered speed and flexibility as much as – or perhaps more than – traditional photographic purity. And based on what I’ve seen, it’s a bet they just might win.

Image 1 of 2

The original photo, using one of the more vibrant color profiles Caira has (Image credit: Future / Rashid Ahmad)Image 2 of 2

Now with the generative prompt 'turn the dress black', which returned results way quicker than an outfit change. (Image credit: Future / Rashid Ahmad)

The Caira feels like a product born out of collective exhaustion. Someone, somewhere, finally admitted that no one actually enjoys editing - they just enjoy pretending they do. It’s bold, a little absurd, and far more capable than it has any right to be.

It won’t replace your main camera, and it won’t replace your phone either - but it might just replace your willpower to open Lightroom ever again.

It’s the perfect tool for those of us who still like the idea of photography - the ritual, the gear, the illusion of artistry - but who secretly just want the photo to look brilliant the moment we take it.

And truthfully? That’s probably the entire modern photographer.

Should you buy the Caira camera?Buy it if...

You want a seamless shoot and edit experience, through your smartphone

Other cameras add way too many steps to the shoot - upload - edit - share process. Caira simplifies the whole process.

You want powerful edits in seconds, without the need for expensive editing software

Caira churns out the sorts of edits that used to take way more time with pricey software, and it does so directly on your phone.

Don't buy it if...

You want high-resolution photos

Just 11MP is pretty low by today's standards.

You're unsure about crowdfunding campaigns

To be fair, Caira's makers delivered with a previous project, the Alice Camera, but back at your own risk (or wait).

Caira accepts Micro Four Thirds lenses, like these two Lumix ones (Image credit: Rashid Ahmad)How I tested the Caira camera

I tested Caira for two weeks
I paired it with Lumix lenses, including the 12–60mm f/2.8-4 lens
I connected my iPhone and made use of the various Nano Banana features

Camera Intelligence sent me one of just 50 pre-production units for a two week trial. I used it mostly to photograph things that didn’t deserve this much computing power.

It locks to the iPhone via MagSafe and connects over Wi-Fi through the Caira iOS app. Setup takes seconds, and then you’re in. I paired it with a Lumix 12–60mm f/2.8-4 – a brilliant lens that I immediately wasted on photographing coffee cups, pool balls, and other cameras.

First reviewed November 2025

Categories: Reviews

Kirby Air Riders is one of the most chaotic Nintendo Switch 2 games I’ve played, but that’s really not a bad thing – here’s my final verdict

Wed, 11/19/2025 - 05:00

If you’d told me a year ago that a bizarre GameCube spinoff would receive a sequel on Nintendo’s follow-up to the Switch, I’m not sure I’d believe you. That’s right, Kirby Air Riders – a racing game developed by Bandai Namco Studios and Kirby creator Masahiro Sakurai's Sora Ltd. – is finally here on Nintendo Switch 2, a whole 22 years after its predecessor entered the fray.

Review info

Platform reviewed: Nintendo Switch 2
Available on: Nintendo Switch 2
Release date: November 20, 2025

Although Kirby Air Riders feels like a surprise release so early in the Nintendo Switch 2’s life, I’m actually delighted to see it glide onto the console. It's essentially a fusion of Mario Kart and Super Smash Bros, combining intense races with chaotic combat. But can it live up to the quality we’ve come to expect from those two legendary series?

Well, I’ve played solo, raced online, and even battled it out in local multiplayer. I’ve also spent hours on the game’s single-player campaign, customizing my machines and unlocking new characters. So, can this oddball racer outpace some of the best Nintendo Switch 2 games? I’ve got a lot of thoughts – largely positive ones, thankfully. But I won’t make you wait any longer…here are my final thoughts on the whirlwind gaming experience that is Kirby Air Riders.

Smash on wheels

(Image credit: Nintendo)

From the very second I fired up Kirby Air Riders on my Nintendo Switch 2, I could only think of one thing: Super Smash Bros.

Sure, Masahiro Sakurai is the creator of Kirby, but he also birthed this legendary fighting game series, which has its influence deeply infused into Kirby Air Riders’ DNA. Every single aspect – from the music, through to the menus and the unhinged gameplay – has Sakurai’s fingerprints all over it. But that’s not a bad thing.

Best bit

(Image credit: Nintendo)

I adored defeating enemies until I had enough juice to unleash Bandana Waddle Dee’s mighty spike attack special. Slashing my rival riders left, right, and center felt supremely satisfying. Sorry King Dedede, the crown is mine.

For anyone who played Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, the UI will feel like an old friend. The look of different options, sound design when making selections, and simple layout of menus is almost identical to what you’d find in that game. It's easy to use, fun to interact with, and a visual treat.

It's a similar story on the music front, too. The jazzy, catchy menu theme feels very Smash-like, and the broad, varied selection of tracks, which includes everything from grandiose orchestral arrangements through to funk-infused head boppers, is seriously intoxicating.

Even if you jump into a race in the Air Ride mode, you may feel as if the game’s aesthetic feels noticeably close to Sakurai’s previous work. The character models and quirky animations, zany design of the machines – which are the vehicles you use to race on – and vibrant, color-filled environments hammer home that this game is essentially Smash on wheels. And I love that.

Keeping it simple?

(Image credit: Nintendo)

Now let’s get into the meat of things and talk about gameplay. On the face of it, Kirby Air Riders is outrageously simple – especially compared to some of the best racing games. Your machine will automatically accelerate, and all you have to do is steer and hold down the B button to drift and obtain power-ups, like Fighter or Cutter abilities. Sure, the Y button allows each rider to occasionally use a special move, and you can waggle the left stick to do a spin attack, but that covers the vast majority of things.

Although the controls are incredibly easy to learn – especially thanks to a concise Lessons mode – it genuinely takes time to master them and understand how to get the upper hand over tricky opponents.

Drifting will considerably slow you, and requires more precision than you’d need in Mario Kart World. And in the main racing mode – Air Ride – you’ll need to tail opponents to get a boost before attacking. Speaking of, you’ll need to hold B to use a lot of power-ups, which will, in turn, slow you down. Sometimes, trading off speed can feel very rewarding, whereas other times, you’ll wish you left King Dedede alone (for once) and just kept powering ahead. Poor penguin. The need to consider trade-offs during high-speed races adds a nice dollop of challenge, and feels intelligently thought out – I applaud how the developers fostered a balanced approach in this regard.

On top of this, you’ll need to ensure that your character and machine loadout are suited to your playstyle. Personally, I liked having a solid amount of control on tight corners, and also enjoyed using a vehicle with enough lift to soar across corners. I didn’t want to be too light, though, so I found myself combining Bandana Waddle Dee (who should have been in Smash Ultimate) with the Vampire Star.

On the subject of characters, it did surprise me how varied and large the roster was, considering the limitations of a Kirby-only cast. There’s a fun set of riders from right across the series’ rich history as well as color variants, which I had a wonderful time sifting through. The number of machines is admirable, too, so there’s plenty of experimentation available to the player.

One area that I felt could be improved, though, was the course selection. The tracks themselves are solid. Some, like Waveflow Waters and Crystalline Fissure, felt like real visual spectacles and had me entranced in the on-screen action. However, I did wish that there were a few more alternate routes to explore, and the fact that there are just 18 courses – nine of which are retro inclusions – may end up feeling repetitive in the long run.

(Image credit: Nintendo)Let the chaos commence

I’ve mainly spoken about Air Ride so far, which I’ve had great fun with overall. Timing the perfect drift, battering my opponents, and gliding past them on the finish line is very rewarding, and I can see myself coming back for a number of races against friends in the coming weeks and months.

But what made a lot of people fall in love with 2003’s Kirby Air Ride was the City Trial mode. Here, you have to collect a range of items to boost your machine – think speed, defense, and HP increases – before clashing against rivals in a brief minigame.

City Trial is back, and this time it's even crazier. I found myself constantly switching machines, mashing up CPUs, and even fighting event bosses to get some juicy power-ups. I have to admit, this mode is good fun, especially when playing multiplayer. I trialled this mode against other gaming journalists at Nintendo’s UK HQ, and it really did bring out my competitive streak – the scrappy, intense nature of the mode is certainly enticing.

Still, I just couldn’t shake the feeling that City Trial is kinda lop-sided. I would spend five minutes powering up my machine, raring to crush my adversaries. But then, in a matter of seconds, the showdown minigame would be over. One example is a target game, where you glide into a numbered panel to score points. You get two attempts at scoring points, and then it's game over. This felt highly anticlimactic, and a significant portion of the minigames finished up too swiftly for my liking.

It should also be noted that I often found my character to be totally out of control after the first few minutes of powering up. This was pretty funny for the most part, and I did have a giggle while careening into my foes with next to no control. Having said that, this could leave me feeling a little City Trial’d out after a couple of rounds – the chaos is exciting, but perhaps meant to be enjoyed in bursts.

Luckily, there were a few other modes to try out when I was done with City Trials and Air Ride. There’s Top Ride, which is a birds-eye view racing mode that uses smaller, more basic courses. The more limited nature of Top Ride meant that I wasn’t returning to it much, but the concept is executed well.

Perhaps more interestingly, there’s a solo campaign with an actual story, called Road Trip – it's almost reminiscent of the Subspace Emissary from Super Smash Bros. Brawl. In Road Trip, you’ll continuously float down a road and get to pick from a variety of mini games to boost your level and progress the narrative. Typically, you can select one of three minigames, which keeps things decently varied.

Every now and then, you’ll engage in boss fights and get to view cutscenes about a lifeform named Zorah, which crash-lands onto the planet Popstar. The story didn’t really grip me or make me want to ride solo for hours on end, but it's a decent lil’ extra to break things up a bit. I’ll mainly stick to playing the Air Ride of City Trial modes online – either ranked or in quick play – if I don’t have friends around to play with, though.

(Image credit: Nintendo)Coming to the finish line

Even though I wasn’t completely bowled over by Road Trip, I still found plenty of value in playing on my own. That’s largely thanks to a checklist system, which runs across the Air Ride, Top Ride, City Trial, and Road Trip modes. As you achieve different objectives, you’ll unlock new characters, machines, and customizable pieces.

And this leads me to something that I really loved about my time with Kirby Air Riders – the sheer amount of personalization on offer. You can customize machines with stickers, attachments, and patterns, personalize your license, which other players can view online, and even tailor controls to your own liking.

The possibilities feel endless, and the volume of unlockables made me really want to complete challenges on the checklist. That feeling I got when completing a technically difficult objective was exhilarating and was a particular highlight of my Air Riders experience.

So, in the end, I really did find a lot of things to love about Kirby Air Riders. Sure, it may not have the variety of Mario Kart or be quite as addictive as Super Smash Bros., but it merges its sources of inspiration pretty effectively. Visually, this game is great – colors really pop and frame rate is pretty consistent despite some insane on-screen action. It matches that with a bombastic soundtrack and playful cast of characters, which adds a whole lot of personality to the Air Riders experience.

Yes, the short minigames in City Trial could feel a touch anticlimactic, but the mode did still offer some truly chaotic laugh-out-loud moments. Meanwhile, the standard Air Ride mode was a blast to play online, and gradually mastering the game’s simple yet surprisingly deep mechanics was a real joy. All in all, Smash on wheels may not be perfect, but it certainly supplies the frenetic fun it promises.

Should you play Kirby Air Riders?

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

You’re a fan of Mario Kart and Super Smash Bros.
If you enjoy these two chaotic Nintendo series, then I’m almost certain you’ll have some fun with Kirby Air Riders. Sure, it's a racer, but you’ll have to beat up your opponents in both the Air Ride and City Trial modes to get the edge. This title also has a fantastic, head-bopping soundtrack and exciting visual presentation, so you’re sure to find something to love here.

You’re the competitive type
There are so many ways to compete against friends, family, and strangers in Kirby Air Riders. There’s split-screen multiplayer for local matches, or online play – both ranked and casual – that you can get stuck in. Whether you want to get one over on your buddy or boost your ‘Global Win Power’ via ranked mode, there’s something for you.

Don't play it if...

You want an engaging single player mode
Although I had fun riding solo by completing checklist items and unlocking new content, I didn’t find the Road Trip mode to be massively engaging. The narrative is pretty simple, which is fine for a game like this, just make sure you temper your expectations if you’re seeking an engrossing solo adventure.

You’re expecting a Mario Kart-sized tracklist or character roster
There are 18 courses and around 20 characters to choose from in Kirby Air Riders. While I appreciate the limitations of an all-Kirby cast, I would’ve liked to have seen more maps to race on – especially as Mario Kart World has 32 different tracks. Maybe we’ll get more in the future, though.

Accessibility features

Kudos to everyone involved with accessibility on the Kirby Air Riders development team, because there really are a lot of options to discover here. There are visual options like the ability to adjust brightness or text size, apply different color filters, and adjust HUD.

But there’s also an extensive camera customization menu, which enables you to adapt the field of vision, camera distance, sensitivity, and more. You can even adjust the severity of visual effects or remap controls to your liking, making for a brilliantly customizable user experience.

How I reviewed Kirby Air Riders

(Image credit: Nintendo)

I spent more than 15 hours playing Kirby Air Riders solo and online via Nintendo Switch 2, during which time I exhausted every mode available. In order to play local multiplayer, I took a trip to Nintendo’s UK HQ, where I got a preview of the game and was able to duke it out against fellow gaming journalists and content creators.

Predominantly, I played Kirby Air Riders with my Nintendo Switch 2 docked, connected up to my Sky Glass Gen 2 television and Marshall Heston 120 soundbar. I also played in handheld mode, though, and while doing so, I listened to in-game audio with my Sony WH-1000XM6 wireless headphones.

More generally, I’ve been a Nintendo Switch 2 owner from launch and have been playing Nintendo games for the best part of two decades. Here at TechRadar, I’ve also reviewed a range of Nintendo Switch 2 titles, like the bizarre mouse control bonanza Drag x Drive, and the unforgettable adventure that is Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake.

First reviewed November 2025

Categories: Reviews

ByteSIM review

Wed, 11/19/2025 - 04:00

ByteSIM is an eSIM provider that provides internet connectivity for travelers. Its services work across all continents, from the U.S.A. to Switzerland, New Zealand, Thailand, Egypt, China, and more.

Founded in 2021 and based in Hong Kong, ByteSIM has quickly grown into one of the most popular eSIM providers worldwide.

But what makes it a popular option? What are its pros and cons, and is it the best choice for you? This review will answer these questions. Read on to learn what ByteSIM offers and whether it’s ideal for you.

ByteSIM: Plans and pricing

ByteSIM offers flexible pricing based on your selected data volume and plan duration. Pricing also varies across countries, with some countries being noticeably costlier than others.

Prices start from $2.90 for 500 MB for 1 day. For $21, you can get 500 MB per day for 30 days, totaling 15 GB. 1 GB daily for 30 days costs $28, 2 GB daily costs $50, 3 GB daily costs $67, and 10 GB daily costs $100 for the same 30 days.

Instead of paying for a specific amount of data per day, you can choose a total data package upfront from 3 GB to 50 GB. For reference, a 3 GB 15-day plan costs $6 and a 50 GB 30-day plan costs $50.

ByteSIM also offers unlimited data (with a fair usage policy) for prices ranging from $12 for 3 days to $63 for 30 days.

Its pricing structure seems convoluted, but it is actually easy to understand. ByteSIM lets you choose the amount of data (500 MB to 50 GB, or unlimited) and the number of days it is valid for. Prices vary widely according to your choice.

Overall, ByteSIM’s prices are friendly on high-data packages (10 GB upwards) but aren’t the best on the smaller sub-10 GB plans.

Region

Data Amount

Validity

Price

United States

Unlimited

30 days

$69.90

Unlimited

30 days

$43.90

Europe

Unlimited

30 days

$74.90

Japan

Unlimited

30 days

$74.90

Turkey

Unlimited

30 days

$65

ByteSIM: Features

ByteSIM’s standout features include:

Unlimited data

An unlimited data plan is included among ByteSIM’s offerings. However, as with telecom networks, unlimited data doesn’t literally mean what it says.

Instead, there’s a fair usage policy limiting how much data you can consume before the browsing speed gets throttled. This data cap varies depending on the underlying network.

ByteSIM works with different telecom networks in each country, but you can always verify the data cap before buying your plan.

Regional plans

(Image credit: ByteSIM)

Like many eSIM providers, ByteSIM offers regional plans that unlock network connectivity across multiple countries with a single eSIM.

For example, the Asia plan provides coverage in 21 countries, including Malaysia, South Korea, Vietnam, Thailand, and Taiwan.

If you plan to visit multiple Asian countries, you should choose the Asia plan, as it’s more affordable compared to paying for a new plan in each country you visit.

Unlimited hotspot

With your ByteSIM data allowance, you can use your smartphone as a hotspot without limits. For example, you can share data with friends during your trip or connect your PC to the internet from your smartphone.

Many eSIM providers restrict how much data you can use in hotspot mode, but ByteSIM has no restrictions.

ByteSIM: Installation

Installing your ByteSIM eSIM starts with heading to www.ByteSIM.com or downloading the ByteSIM app from the Play Store (Android) or App Store (iOS).

On the app or website, you can view all plans offered by ByteSIM, choose your desired plan and duration, and see the corresponding price. Enter your personal details, including your email address, and pay for your plan.

ByteSIM will confirm the payment and send a unique QR code to your email address. Scan the QR code to initiate eSIM activation —the on-screen instructions will guide you.

With ByteSIM's step-by-step instructions, the installation process doesn’t take long to complete. If you need help, you can consult ByteSIM’s FAQs page and blog or contact the support team.

ByteSIM’s mobile app isn’t compulsory for installing your eSIM, but it makes the process smoother. After activating your eSIM, you can monitor data usage from this app or top up data if needed.

ByteSIM: Coverage and speed

ByteSIM offers eSIM coverage in 200+ regions, or virtually all countries where it’s possible. Whether traveling across Europe, North America, Africa, Asia, South America, or Oceania, you’ll find a suitable eSIM package on ByteSIM.

This widespread coverage is one of the main reasons for ByteSIM’s popularity, particularly its regional plans that offer data coverage across multiple countries via a single eSIM.

You can access 5G connectivity with ByteSIM if it's available in your location. As a ByteSIM user, you’re dependent on local telecoms infrastructure in the country you visit, meaning speeds can vary.

In urban areas, 5G connectivity is more accessible but can be unavailable in rural areas. If 5G is unavailable, you’ll be switched, 4G or LTE.

Some countries have more robust 5G infrastructure than others, with examples including South Korea, the U.S., China, Switzerland, and Denmark. If visiting these countries, you’re more likely to enjoy 5G connectivity with ByteSIM.

ByteSIM: Support

(Image credit: ByteSIM)

For direct help, you can contact ByteSIM’s support team via email and WhatsApp. You can also dial the telephone support line during working hours, Monday to Friday.

Before seeking direct support, you can first check ByteSIM’s official FAQs page. This page has answers to routine issues users face, from device compatibility to installing eSIMs and troubleshooting slow connections.

Along with the FAQs page, ByteSIM’s official blog contains guides on selecting and installing its eSIMs.

Both the FAQs page and blog sections provide ample self-help resources. ByteSIM provides decent support resources on par with most eSIM providers I’ve tested.

ByteSIM: Final verdict

ByteSIM is a major contender in the eSIM market. It offers flexible eSIM plans for short or long foreign trips and provides reliable internet connectivity.

It’s not the most affordable option, nor does it have the best customer support, but it provides sufficient network coverage in virtually every region. We recommend ByteSIM for your foreign trips, although there are other eSIM options that you can take a look at.

ByteSIM: FAQsDoes ByteSIM offer 5G connectivity?

Yes, ByteSIM provides 5G connectivity for eSIM users, but availability depends on the local telecoms network in the country you visit.

Can I top up my ByteSIM eSIM?

Yes, you can recharge your data plans from the ByteSIM app.

Can I use my phone as a hotspot with ByteSIM?

ByteSIM lets you run your phone as a hotspot with no restrictions.

Categories: Reviews

Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 has some of the best multiplayer and zombies in the series, but also one of the worst campaigns

Tue, 11/18/2025 - 19:00

Playing the co-op campaign of first-person shooter Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 feels like diving into season 13, episode 21 of a low-budget network TV show with no prior context.

Review info

Platform reviewed: PC
Available on: PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, PC
Release date: November 14, 2025

Set ten years after the events of 2012’s Black Ops 2, it opens with returning hero David Mason heading to the coastal city-state of Avalon with his squad to track down the source of a sinister broadcast purportedly from deceased terrorist Raul Menendez.

Your first mission involves infiltrating the high-tech headquarters of The Guild, a futuristic tech company that’s the apparent source of the video, and right from the get-go, it’s obvious that corners have been cut.

Cutscenes seem a little cheaper than usual, with awkward animations and juvenile, stilted dialogue that’s nowhere near the cinematic espionage excellence of last year’s Black Ops 6.

Back to the future

(Image credit: Activision)

The pacing is also far too abrupt, front-loaded with big exposition dumps that propel the plot forward at a frankly overwhelming clip.

Early on, the team is exposed to a hallucinogenic red gas, with most sequences taking place inside a dream-like haze. There are some striking visuals, like a fractured memory of Menendez’s Nicaraguan compound or an impossibly twisted L.A. Highway, though they mostly boil down to mowing down waves of reskinned enemies from the Zombies mode and then taking on overly tanky boss fights.

Each mission is structured like a raid from an MMO (massively multiplayer online game), a la Destiny 2; the antithesis of the highly scripted, set-piece driven action that has made previous campaigns so great. In the real world, a handful of missions take place in Avalon with a semi-open-world structure reminiscent of the widely disliked open combat missions of 2023’s Modern Warfare 3.

(Image credit: Activision)

The map, originally designed for Warzone, is far too large, so you end up having to trudge your way between different objectives.

A few special abilities, like a super jump or a grapple hook that allow you to quickly gain momentum and deploy a wingsuit, provide a welcome, faster method of traversal, but are ultimately a solution to a problem that a Call of Duty campaign should have never suffered from in the first place.

It’s also hard to shake the fact that most of Avalon doesn't really fit in with the rest of the 2035 setting. This is most apparent when you reach an area that first appeared in Black Ops 6 as the Skyline multiplayer map. The rooftop apartment is entirely unchanged from its depiction in that game, which was set more than four decades prior in 1991.

The only real setting that seems suitably futuristic is a segment in the neon-lit streets of Tokyo, in which you play as an entirely different team of characters for no apparent reason, jumping between rooftops using your wall-jump - a new move for Black Ops 7. It’s a clear highlight despite the jarring new faces, and it’s sad that there aren't more moments with tightly designed parkour like this throughout.

Warzone woes

(Image credit: Activision)

As with the setting of Avalon, a significant number of mechanics in the co-op campaign feel ripped right out of Warzone.

There are weapon boxes littered around the world so that you can gear up, replenishable armour plates protect you from hits, and weapons have different rarity levels that you can upgrade as you go at designated stations. The user interface is indistinguishable too; there are no checkpoints to save your progress within missions, and you can’t even pause the game if you want to take a break.

Despite all of this, I certainly didn’t hate playing through the campaign. It’s nowhere near as boring as the sloppy story in the aforementioned Modern Warfare 3, namely as a result of its co-op. With a friend or three in tow, it all becomes absolutely hilarious.

(Image credit: Activision)

The writing is rough across the board, so ripe for moments of inadvertent comedy like a ludicrous dream sequence in which you fight a giant version of Harper - one of the playable characters and returning face from Black Ops 2 - or when the main baddie is defeated by an anti-tank missile to the face, only to reappear completely fine mere seconds later.

After you finish the campaign, you’re unleashed into the extraction-shooter-like Endgame, and it’s surprisingly quite a lot of fun.

Dropping into a gas-filled Avalon with countless other players, it has you completing mini-challenges to level up your ‘Combat Rating’ and unlock special perks that do everything from massively boost your firing speed to causing a burst of electricity that stuns enemies every time you reload. You’re working on a strict time limit, and if you’re killed before you can reach an extraction point, you lose all of your progress, so it’s inherently very high stakes and reminiscent of a roguelike in the best of ways.

The map is split into multiple difficulty areas, and progressing through each one is very satisfying. It all culminates in a very challenging boss fight that requires you to team up with other players on the server, an enjoyable moment of collaboration that’s a great little send-off.

In addition to quickly levelling up your weapons and gear for use in other modes, beating the boss with multiple characters rewards you with some great-looking skins, giving you a genuine reason to come back and replay it.

The format is also clearly ripe for expansion, and I’m intrigued to see what kind of additions will come to the Endgame throughout the year.

Place, Japan

(Image credit: Activision)

On the multiplayer front, Black Ops 7 fares much better. Building on the incredibly strong foundations laid with Black Ops 6, this is comfortably one of the most engaging multiplayer offerings yet. The maps, a bit of a weak point last year, are all absolutely fantastic, and there are loads of them to master. The ones set in Japan in particular look simply stunning, with gorgeous details and impressive lighting that conveys a brilliant atmosphere.

Best bit

(Image credit: Activision)

Black Ops 7 offers a new multiplayer Skirmish mode that features 40 players on massive maps. It’s a pleasant change of pace compared to the usual small-scale environments in the Black Ops series and channels some of what makes Battlefield 6 great.

Small maps like Blackheart, Homestead, and Cortex flow wonderfully and don’t suffer from awkward spawn locations. The work especially well with the hectic new Overload game mode, which has two teams clashing for possession of a bomb-like device that needs to be placed in specific locations to score.

The map themes themselves are brilliantly varied, too, with some evocative concepts that I wish had been explored in the campaign. Scar, for example, is set in a distant Alaskan village that’s being torn apart by attacking robots, while Colossus has you exploring the rusted wreckage of the once beautiful resort that was memorably destroyed in Black Ops 2.

The wall jump adds another dimension to traversal, augmenting the existing Omnimovement system (which allows you to sprint in any direction) by giving more skilled players the opportunity to hop above the heads of enemies on vertical routes that require multiple tricky jumps to cross.

(Image credit: Activision)

Gear Overclocking from Advanced Warfare is back, too, meaning that your most used equipment can be upgraded with new abilities to increase its effectiveness. This pairs nicely with Weapon Prestige, where you can reset your weapon level in exchange for special attachments and exclusive camos, and ensures that, unlike past releases, you’re not going to run out of levels to grind any time soon.

The guns themselves are all very satisfying to use and well-balanced. Assault rifles and SMGs are definitely the most versatile and popular options, though sniper rifles and marksman rifles are still very viable given their incredible damage output, and shotguns such as the fully automatic Akita absolutely dominate at close range.

With a deluge of new maps set to arrive in Season One and the imminent addition of the classic Nuketown, this is shaping up to be one of the greatest years of multiplayer Call of Duty yet.

Arcade action

(Image credit: Activision)

Like multiplayer, Zombies builds on everything that worked in its Black Ops 6 iteration.

There’s one Round-Based map at launch, and it’s absolutely massive, featuring an upgradeable truck to help you get around. There are heavy references to the legendary TranZit map from Black Ops 2, including some returning areas that have been lovingly recreated and incorporated seamlessly.

It continues the long-running and nigh-impenetrable storyline that’s been going all the way since World at War, with a brand new main quest that requires multiple hidden steps to complete. Long-time Zombies fans will absolutely love it, but if chasing esoteric easter eggs isn’t your speed, there’s a more basic Survival mode that’s perfect for unwinding with friends as you mow down waves of the undead.

This is in addition to Dead Ops Arcade 4, a light-hearted top-down challenge mode that has you running through small combat arenas with retro twin-stick controls, trying to last for as long as possible. This isn’t the deepest mode by any means, but it’s an enjoyable diversion and well worth trying for a handful of runs.

With all of this said, it should be obvious whether Black Ops 7 is for you.

If you’re primarily invested in the multiplayer or Zombies, then you’re going to have a fantastic time - the maps are great and it’s hard to overstate just how refined and polished the minute-to-minute action here feels. The co-op campaign is a very different story, though, and a big miss despite the strong Endgame.

Should I play Call of Duty: Black Ops 7?

(Image credit: Activision)Play it if…

You’re after some fantastic multiplayer
The multiplayer is fantastic in Black Ops 7. It’s fast-paced, and new mechanics like wall jumping work well. The lineup of maps is also great this year.

You’re a big Zombies fan
The first Zombies map is a hit too. Its huge scale is impressive, and die-hard fans will love working their way through the challenging main quest. For everyone else, the Survival mode and Dead Ops Arcade 4 are a blast.

You live for a good grind
In addition to the usual overall Prestige grind, Black Ops 7 has Gear Overclocking with new upgrades to unlock and Weapon Prestige, ensuring that you won’t run out of things to level any time soon.

Don’t play it if…

You’re expecting a proper Black Ops 2 follow up
The campaign here can be funny, but it's ultimately a mess and not the sequel that Black Ops 2 deserved. If you really care about that game’s story, then you should give this sequel a miss.

Accessibility features

Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 has a good number of accessibility features.

The UI features a number of reliability options, including the ability to increase subtitle size, adjust background color, adjust the size of text in menus, and fully customize the colors of important information. The multiplayer HUD can also be edited to your liking and made significantly larger if required.

There are multiple control layouts to choose from, with presets for simplified controls on controller and settings to reduce the need for lots of motion. On both console and PC, you can choose to play the game with either a controller or keyboard and mouse.

How I reviewed Call of Duty: Black Ops 7

I played more than 30 hours of Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 for this review, including roughly 12 hours in both the campaign and Endgame in solo and co-op and the rest of that time in the other modes.

I played on PC using a 5070 Ti-powered model from retailer Scan. It features a compact Corsair 2000d RGB Airflow case, Asus ROG Strix B860-I Gaming Wifi motherboard, Intel Core Ultra 7 265K CPU, a 2TB WD Black SN770 SSD, 32GB of DDR5 Corsair Vengeance RAM, and an Nvidia 5070 Ti manufactured by Asus.

This setup allowed me to play the game smoothly on custom graphics settings at 1080p with everything set to either Ultra or High. For peripherals, I relied on a Razer DeathAdder V3 Pro mouse and Cherry XTRFY K5V2 keyboard in addition to an Astro A20 X PC gaming headset for audio.

In addition to playing a lot after its public launch, my time with the game included roughly a day of early access. I evaluated the game against previous Call of Duty releases, namely Black Ops 6 and other recent entries like Modern Warfare 3, Modern Warfare 2, and Black Ops Cold War.

First reviewed October-November 2024

Categories: Reviews

Wicked: For Good turns the musical’s sobering second half into the most unmissable movie of 2025

Tue, 11/18/2025 - 11:00

At the end of my Wicked: For Good screening, when the lights came up, there was hardly any mascara left on everyones' eyelashes. The second half of director Jon M. Chu's Oztastic vision is an emotional rollercoaster in entirely new ways, and for me, it's completely defied expectations (see what I did there?).

The second half of the movie-musical was always going to be the more difficult half to adapt. All of the joyous narrative and dance numbers have been and gone in Wicked, with the storyline turning much darker as Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) is officially dubbed The Wicked Witch of the West.

If you've seen the stage show, you'll know what I mean... but if you've read the book, the original Wicked story was even more macabre. With each adaptation, the Wicked ending has become more palatable and optimistic, and Chu's take on Elphaba and Glinda's (Ariana Grande) farewell is the most light-hearted yet (thanks to a few new changes).

For Wicked: For Good, this means packing an emotional punch so strong that you forget green witches and flying monkeys aren't actually real life. Erivo and Grande are completely invested in delivering the best ending to the tale they love so much, and that only adds to the overall polish of the movie's epic scale.

There is no way I thought the second half would be as good as the first, and now I completely stand corrected. It's Erivo's musical performances that take things to the next level the most, and it's clear we're watching a once-in-a-generation star do what she does best

Wicked: For Good packs the emotional punch the first movie skimmed over

As we pick up the story in the second half, Madame Morrible's (Michelle Yeoh) PR campaign on creating The Wicked Witch of the West has worked wonders, and the whole of Oz is in fear. Elphaba continues to battle for animals and Ozians to live in peace while being persecuted at every turn.

Meanwhile, Glinda and Fiyero (Jonathan Bailey) are each secretly trying to help, despite putting on a front of being happy and in love. And the Wizard (Jeff Goldblum)? Well, he's just kicking about, harboring a bunch of talking animal prisoners in the tower.

It should go without saying, but you'll really need to watch Wicked first here – there's no recapping events, and the movie is really relying on your existing knowledge as the pace picks up. What is particularly worth pointing out is that the joy has gone from this part of the story, as Oz and Elphaba's life turns to chaos.

Emotionally, things don't let up much. Elphaba can't catch a break, the animals are terrified, Fiyero can't be with the woman he loves, Glinda realizes Fiyero never loved her and Boq (Ethan Slater) is trapped in Munchkinland by Nessarose (Marissa Bode) as she morphs into the Wicked Witch of the East.

While this might feel hard-going, it's actually the perfect accompanying film for Wicked's first half. Even a fictional land like Oz can't live in ignorant bliss forever, and if we want our big happy ever after, there has to be a huge emotional payoff.

Luckily for us, Erivo and Grande are the perfect pair to steer this ship.

Cynthia Erivo's performance of 'No Good Deed' is one for the ages

Ariana Grande (Glinda) and Cynthia Erivo (Elphaba) in Wicked: For Good. (Image credit: Universal Pictures)

It was clear in the first movie that Grande and Erivo were made for each other as far as performance partnerships go, but I'm going to argue a potential hot take: Wicked: For Good is Erivo's film, not Grande's.

Obviously, this part of the story is much more focused on Elphaba anyway, but Erivo is running away with a performance that literally defies gravity. The pièce de résistance is her earth-shattering rendition of 'No Good Deed', which not only had the audience in fits of applause, but made me feel as though I was levitating while watching. I couldn't move or focus on anything aside from her astounding voice and emotional range.

That's not to say Grande has blended into the background, though. The pair's harmonies feel bound together by fate, and this makes their duet of 'For Good' the film's big tear-jerking moment as Glinda and Elphaba must say goodbye. We all saw this coming (even though it hurts every time), but don't worry too much – some small changes have been made for the better (e.g. Peter Dinklage's Doctor Dillamond has a much better fate).

While Yeoh and Goldblum are hitting the same show-stopping strides that we'd expect them to, Chu's direction won't be for everyone. Subjectively, I think he's remained incredibly consistent and portrayed Oz in exactly the way that we need to see it. On a broad visual scale, Wicked: For Good continues to be epic cinema with the most detailed scenes and sets, and even if you turned the sound off, you'd walk away from it totally satisfied.

The we've got the events of The Wizard of Oz running in tandem with Elphaba's own journey. Not only do I love how this reframes the original 1939 movie, but Chu has played it shrewd with how much he's chosen to hold back.

Dorothy is kept vague, while the Scarecrow and Tin Man are the most fleshed out for reasons that become clear throughout the movie (no spoilers here, don't worry). Colman Domingo voices our cowardly lion, but you'd never know it – not least because he has about two lines in the entire film. Clearly, these are not our stars of the show.

A week after watching it, I'm as enchanted as entranced by Wicked: For Good as I was while sitting wide-eyed in front of the screen. It's undoubtedly the most unmissable movie of 2025, and behind Avatar: Fire and Ash, it's easily the biggest spectacle of the year too.

The two-part franchise is ending on the biggest high possible, and I'm going to miss indulging in the sweetness and whimsy of the world Chu and his cast have made. Sure, there are minor pacing issues if you're really looking for them, and you're definitely not getting away without shedding a tear.

But, as the title suggests, you will truly be changed for good.

Stream Wicked now on Amazon Prime Video in the US and UK while you wait (and on Netflix in Australia). Not signed up? Use the deal below:

Prime Video: 30-day free trial

If you’re new to Amazon Prime, or you click the above link and see the option to 'Start your free 30-day trial', then you'll be able to become a temporary Amazon Prime member, which gives you access to Prime Video. Just be aware that the Prime Video free trial will mean you have to put up with ads. View Deal

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Categories: Reviews

Roamless review

Tue, 11/18/2025 - 09:33

Roamless provides internet connectivity for travelers with various eSIM packages. It works in over 200 regions, from the U.S. to Turkey, Greece, Brazil, Australia, China, and Indonesia.

Notably, you can use a single Roamless eSIM to obtain internet connectivity in multiple countries.

Formally launched in 2024, Roamless is one of the newest eSIM providers on the block.

But is it a suitable alternative to long-established eSIM providers? What sets it apart from the competition? This guide will answer these questions and help you decide whether Roamless is an ideal choice.

Roamless: Plans and pricing

Roamless has two pricing models: RoamlessFlex and RoamlessFix.

The former is a pay-as-you-go option, where you buy credits and use them on the go. If your credits run out, you can buy more to retain internet access.

Prices vary by country, but $2.45 per GB is the average for RoamlessFlex plans.

(Image credit: Roamless)

On the other hand, RoamlessFix offers fixed data plans, where you buy a specific amount of data that expires in 90 days.

Standard prices are $4 for 1 GB, $7 for 2 GB, $8.45 for 3 GB, $11 for 5 GB, $19 for 10 GB, and $30 for 20 GB, but they may vary by country.

(Image credit: Roamless)

For plans of 5 GB or more, the pay-as-you-go option is more expensive than a fixed plan. The tradeoff is the flexibility of not having to pay for a specific data volume, only to end up not using everything.

Pay-as-you-go is preferable if you’re a casual internet user who doesn’t consume much data.

For plans of 5 GB or less, the pay-as-you-go option is cost-effective. Notably, Roamless offers free 500 MB data to users who activate a new eSIM plan.

Region

Data Amount

Validity

Price

North America

20GB

30 days

$69.95

Europe

20GB

30 days

$47.95

Middle East

20GB

30 days

$69.95

Latin America

20GB

30 days

$69.95

Asia/Oceania

20GB

30 days

$47.95

Roamless: Features

Global eSIM

A key feature setting Roamless apart from competitors is its Global eSIM. Rather than having different eSIMs for each country, Roamless offers a global eSIM that you only need to activate once.

After activating your eSIM, you can travel to different countries and get internet access with it– you’ll still have to pay for data packages in each country.

The Global eSIM means you don’t have to go through the hassle of installing a new eSIM each time you travel. You’ll do it once, then roam the globe freely with your eSIM.

Flexible data plans

You can choose flexible Roamless data plans based on usage patterns. For example, if you’re planning a long trip, a RoamlessFlex pay-as-you-go option might suit you best, as you’ll pay per GB consumed with no expiry date.

For short trips, you can choose a fixed plan with a 30-day expiry and enough data to last your trip.

The downside is that Roamless doesn’t offer unlimited data plans like some competitors do. Its plans are flexible, but you’re restricted to a specific data volume.

On the bright side, you’ll get reliable 4G/5G internet connectivity and can use your phone as a hotspot without limits, as long as you have sufficient data credits.

International calls

Most eSIM providers don’t offer local phone numbers for calls or SMS, and Roamless doesn’t either. However, Roamless offers something close to this feature.

In the mobile app, you can make calls to international phone numbers at rates starting at $0.01 per minute.

Technically, you’re not assigned an international phone number. Rather, you’ll use Roamless’ phone numbers to make outbound calls, but can’t receive incoming calls. It’s a workaround that suited me fine.

(Image credit: Roamless)Roamless: Installation

Activating your Roamless eSIM is a straightforward process that I had no issues following.

It starts with downloading the Roamless app from the Play Store (Android) or App Store (iOS). After downloading the app, I created an account and logged in immediately. Then, I chose a data plan, paid for it, and clicked the Install eSIM button.

Users have two options: 1-click activation or manual QR code activation. I chose 1-click activation, then followed a few on-screen instructions to activate the eSIM.

You can choose manual activation if you plan to install the eSIM on a different device than the one used to buy the data plan– Roamless will send a QR code to scan on that device for activation.

Roamless: Coverage and speed

Roamless offers eSIM plans in 200+ regions across Europe, North America, Latin America, Asia, Oceania, Africa, and the Middle East.

Stretching from the U.S. to Algeria, the Bahamas, Belgium, Ghana, Brazil, and Oman, Roamless offers internet coverage wherever you travel.

With your Roamless eSIM, you can get both 4G/LTE and 5G connectivity (where available). Roamless depends on local telecom carriers in each country, so 5G accessibility varies.

The general trend is that populated cities have reliable 5G connectivity while less populated areas have spotty 5G connectivity, or if at all. Some countries also stand out for more robust 5G infrastructure than others– examples are Sweden, South Korea, Denmark, and Singapore.

5G connections may get spotty, but you can expect reliable 4G/LTE connectivity at all times with Roamless.

In my experience, Roamless works with two or more domestic mobile networks in many countries, so there’s always a backup if one network experiences hiccups.

Roamless: Support

(Image credit: Roamless)

To access support resources, you can check Roamless’ official Help Center for dozens of user guides and explainers to frequently asked questions (FAQs).

If you’re a new user seeking how to navigate Roamless, this Help Center is the first place to consult. It’s also valuable if you’re looking to resolve problems like lagging connectivity and activation failures.

If the self-help support resources aren’t adequate to resolve your problems, you can seek direct help via email. Just send an email stating your problem and expect a response within a few hours.

There’s no live chat or telephone support, which is a drawback because many rivals offer these support channels.

Roamless: Final verdict

Roamless stands out from competitors with its Global eSIM, pay-as-you-go plan, and user-friendly app that makes eSIM activation smooth.

It provides reliable connectivity for frequent travelers, regardless of region. Though it has a few downsides, Roamless is one of the best eSIM providers you can choose.

Roamless: FAQsDoes Roamless offer unlimited data plans?

No, Roamless offers pay-as-you-go or fixed data plans, but has no unlimited plan.

Can I get 5G connectivity with Roamless?

Yes, Roamless provides 5G connectivity through its eSIMs, but availability depends on the domestic telecoms networks in the country you visit.

Does Roamless offer a phone number?

No, Roamless doesn’t offer a phone number with its eSIMs. However, it provides a workaround: you can make international calls with Roamless’s phone number, but you can’t receive incoming calls.

Categories: Reviews

I tested the DJI Osmo Action 6, and it's faster, brighter, and hot on GoPro's heels

Tue, 11/18/2025 - 06:00

DJI Osmo Action 6: two-minute review

When you think of action cameras, GoPro will likely spring to mind before DJI. While it wasn’t a complete surprise that the latter company, best known for its drones, made the move into the action cam market, it's had to do a lot of work over the past few years to catch up, and offer something that stands out from the competition.

The GoPro Hero 13 Black is arguably the action camera all others will currently be judged against, so DJI’s latest model in the Osmo series, the Osmo Action 6, has a lot to prove. That said, the quality of its predecessors, most notably the Osmo Action 5 Pro, has been hard to ignore, and based on my experience with that camera I had great expectations going into this review.

Fresh from reviewing the entry-level GoPro Lit Hero and Insta360 X4 Air, I was immediately impressed by the Osmo Action 6’s user-friendliness; the menus are easy to navigate, and the screens are a breeze to work with. Images and video also look amazing on these high-quality monitors, so reviewing the fruits of my shooting sessions was a pleasure.

Image quality is superb, benefiting from a larger 1/1.1-inch sensor, which produces excellent detail and color rendition in good lighting and stand-out noise performance as ambient light levels fall. I’d happily use the Osmo Action 6 as my main carry-everywhere camera, or as a backup to a mirrorless system for capturing unique perspectives from places those larger cameras simply can’t go.

The DJI Osmo Action 6 is a similar size to earlier models, despite featuring a larger sensor inside (Image credit: Future/Peter Fenech)

I thoroughly enjoyed using the additional accessories, such as the Macro Lens, ND Filter Set, and FOV Boost Lens, which make the whole system feel pro-grade and versatile. If you're a fan of the GoPro mods, you’ll be happy to see DJI making efforts to expand the modular compatibility of its action cameras. Once you add in the streamlined compatibility with the wireless DJI microphones, I see the Osmo Action 6 as an indicator of great things to come.

DJI Osmo Action 6 specsDJI Osmo Action 6 Specs:

Type:

Action camera

Sensor:

1/1.1-inch CMOS

LCDs:

OLED, Front: 1.46-inch/ Rear: 2.5-inch

Memory:

50GB internal/ MicroSD

Lens:

155-degree FOV, f/2 - f/4

Video:

Up to 4K/120p, FHD/240p

Photo:

38MP

Dimensions:

72.8 x 47.2 x 33.1mm

Weight:

5.3oz / 149g

(Image credit: Future/Peter Fenech)DJI Osmo Action 6: Price and availability

Released November 18; not available in US at launch
Osmo Action 6 Standard Combo costs £329 / AU$669
Osmo Action 6 Adventure Combo costs for £415 / AU$839

DJI's Osmo Action 6 is available now, priced at £329 / AU$669 for the Standard Combo, while the prices rises to £415 / AU$839 for the Adventure Combo which adds two batteries, an extra quick-release mount and locking screw, battery case and 1.5m extension rod to the standard bundle.

Like recent DJI products, it's not available in the US at launch. A DJI spokesperson gave us the following statement:

"The DJI Osmo Action 6 will not be officially available in the US market through official websites following the global launch on 18th November. DJI remains committed to the U.S. market and is optimizing our strategy to best serve our customers amidst evolving local conditions."

Price score: 4.5/5

DJI Osmo Action 6: Design

Larger 2.5-inch rear LCD
IP68-rated weather and waterproofing
Waterproof to 20m

If you’ve used the Osmo Action 6’s predecessors, such as the DJI Osmo Action 3 DJI Osmo Action 4, or DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro, there aren’t any drastic surprises in store for you design-wise. The body is a little bit larger, most notably in its width, measuring 72.8 x 47.2 x 33.1mm to the Osmo Action 5 Pro’s 70.5 x 44.2 x 32.8mm. It might be noticeable if you hold both cameras side-by-side, but in real-world terms it won’t make a huge difference to the handling experience.

The Osmo Action 6 remains super portable and lightweight, despite the inclusion of a larger sensor, which is impressive. As you’d expect from an action camera, it can be fitted into a coat pocket for easy transport or use on the move. However, fresh from testing the tiny GoPro Lit Hero, the Osmo Action 6 did feel quite chunky by comparison. This is a much higher-end product, however, featuring a larger CMOS unit, a lens aperture that's both adjustable and brighter, and a front LCD, all of which are missing from the entry-level GoPro.

I was immediately drawn to the 2.5-inch main LCD screen, which feels much bigger in use than the rival GoPro Hero 13 Black’s 2.27-inch monitor. Although this is still too small to get a truely precise idea of sharpness, it’s much nicer to look at than the screens on earlier models, and matches those on cameras like the Insta360 Ace Pro 2, which we ranked as the best premium action camera.

The Osmo Action 6 features a new variable-aperture lens for low light shooting, an industry first (Image credit: Future/Peter Fenech)

The screen itself was highly responsive in my tests, and I found it easy to access settings and navigate menus, even when the camera was wet or covered in a dusting of ground coffee (see the sample video below for context). I reckon I’d find it more practical to work with the Osmo Action 6 in cold weather than the native-portrait-orientation Insta360 X5 or Insta360 X4 Air.

Both the front and rear LCDs are crisp and easy to read in brighter light too. While smaller and lower-resolution, the front screen (1.46-inch, 342 x 342 pixels) is still useful, and doesn’t feel like an extra gimmicky feature that DJI threw in but which is ultimately pointless. I remember feeling that the front LCD on the GoPro Hero 9 Black was so laggy that there were times it was barely worth being there, for example.

The large shutter release is easy to locate without looking, speeding up operation. Also, I like DJI’s choice to place the microSD card slot in the battery bay, rather than alongside the USB-C port, something which proved fiddly and frustrating on the GoPro Lit Hero. I always appreciate integrated storage in a camera too, of which the Osmo Action 6 provides plenty at 50GB.

Design score:4.5/5

DJI Osmo Action 6: Performance

Impressive four-hour battery life
Effective RockSteady 3 and 3+ stabilization with reduced cropping
Excellent connectivity with external DJI mics

DJI claims a battery life of 240 minutes for the Osmo Action 6, similar to the Action 5 Pro. Shooting inside and out, I found that a single charge lasted about four hours using a mix of 1080p and 4K resolutions, across the various modes. This is impressive, although as the temperature dropped, so too did the battery life, so if you plan to work away from a power source for any length of time I’d still advise taking a few extra batteries.

The RockSteady image stabilization system also has an impact on battery longevity, although in my tests, this wasn’t anything major. The system itself is effective. While not a replacement for a gimbal, I found I could create commendable tracking shots free from micro vibrations. The same was true with POV walking shots.

The Osmo Action 6 continued to perform well after being submerged in water, with the screen remaining responsive. Once it was removed from the water the lens quickly repelled remaining droplets, as did the body, making the camera easy to dry off.

Image 1 of 2

(Image credit: Future/Peter Fenech)Image 2 of 2

(Image credit: Future/Peter Fenech)

The camera features voice control, which is either ideal or an irritation depending on the environment. When it worked, being able to give the Osmo Action 6 a voice command such as “start recording” helped free up my hands, while reducing the amount of footage I had to trim as I positioned the camera for my shots. On several occasions, it didn’t respond, or I didn’t realise it hadn’t stopped recording after a command at the end of the shot. If the microphone is obscured in any way, it produces mixed results.

Speaking of sound, I was surprised by the quality of the internal microphone. While an external mic like the DJI Mic Mini gives you more versatility, as well as depth of audio, the built-in mic didn’t have the thin sound common to similar mics on other small cameras.

If you own the Mic Mini or DJI Mic 2, connecting them to the Osmo Action 6 couldn’t be easier. Simply pressing and holding the link button on the mics themselves until the indicator light flashes blue is all it takes to get audio recording off-camera, giving video that extra professional edge.

Performance score: 4.5/5

DJI Osmo Action 6: Image quality

Larger sensor enables better low-light performance than Osmo Action 5 Pro
10-bit and D-Log M modes enable pro-level grading
Slightly aggressive default in-camera noise reduction/sharpening

Along with smartphones, I think that action cameras best demonstrate how far sensor and processor technology have come over the past decade or so. By mirrorless camera standards, the 1/1.1-type sensor housed in the Osmo Action 6 is small, at around 14mm on the diagonal, yet in my testing it produced better results than a high-end compact camera from circa 2014.

The Osmo Action 6 sees a big jump in sensor size from the 1/1.3-type CMOS of the Action 5 Pro, but uses a similar resolution of 38MP for still images.. This allows for greater pixel pitch (the distance from the center of one pixel to its neighbors), which benefits light-gathering capacity; the pixel size is 2.4 micrometers. An image measuring 7168 x 5376 is still quite a lot of pixels for this sensor format, but while I wasn’t amazed by the camera’s low-light performance, nor did I find it especially problematic.

Detail in stills becomes a little smudged from around ISO 800 and above, shooting in gloomy indoor lighting, but outdoors, or in direct artificial light, noise levels are kept at respectable levels for an action camera. Colors are also still quite punchy.

Video footage, meanwhile, is excellent in moderate low light. There is noise visible, but the grain size looks very fine, meaning it’s easier to ignore in areas of the image containing flat tones. I thought in-camera processing coped well, minimizing noise without obliterating texture.

The auto White Balance system is fairly accurate, even when faced with strong fall colors (Image credit: Future)

I did notice that some quite excessive sharpening is applied in some circumstances, no doubt to counteract any noise-reduction related degradation. It isn’t a deal-breaker, but you might want to turn down the default sharpening (known as Texture in the Image Adjustment menu) for a more organic look.

The SuperNight mode is designed to produce a brighter image in low-light conditions by increasing the exposure digitally, then applying AI noise-reduction processes to minimize grain. This produces footage with significantly less texture, so I wouldn’t recommend it if your video is likely to be viewed on a larger screen, where this effect will be far more noticeable. In everyday shooting scenarios, or for social media, however, it captures brighter shadows, so it's useful for shooting around cities. There's a lot less distracting noise, too.

I enjoyed using the Slow Motion mode as a means of capturing share-ready footage in-camera; however, for professional uses, I’d recommend switching to a higher frame rate, shooting your footage, and manually applying the Slow Mo effect in editing.

I really appreciated the Color Recovery feature when shooting in D-Log M, which allows you to preview how the footage would look with a profile applied. This doesn’t bake in any edit settings, but merely gives you an idea of the final image after grading.

All of the shooting conditions mentioned above would be challenging for any camera, and once you take the DJI Osmo Action 6 out into bright daylight, the quality is superb. Combined with the flexibility of the Log mode, it’s possible to capture excellent levels of detail and natural colors.

GoPro Hero 13 Black users might bemoan the ‘limited’ 4K resolution here, in favor of the 5.3K available on that model, but 4K is fine in all but the most specific of situations. I still shoot in Full HD as standard when creating content for social platforms, unless I know that for some reason I’ll need to crop or recompose my frame in DaVinci Resolve. The workflow is faster, and viewers are unlikely to perceive a difference in Instagram Reels or YouTube Shorts, for instance.

Image quality score: 4.5/5

DJI Osmo Action 6: testing scorecard Insta360 X4 Air

Attributes

Notes

Rating

Price

Considering it's technically an upgrade to the X4, the X4 Air is significantly cheaper, which is welcome. There is the matter of the DJI Osmo 360, though.

4.5/5

Design

Everything is logically placed and the controls are easy to access. It's a proven design that continues to work well for DJI.

4.5/5

Performance

The LCDs are responsive and attractive, while the RockSteady stabilization system is highly effective.

4.5/5

Image quality

Yes, there may be no 8K, but 4K and FHD footage is sharp, clean, and punchy. The larger sensor is doing its job, and the Osmo Action 6 is a great competitor to the GoPro Hero 13 Black.

4.5/5

Should I buy the DJI Osmo Action 6?Buy it if...

You aren't married to GoPro

While it makes sense to stick to GoPro if you already own plenty of mods, the Osmo Action 6 represents the direction DJI is heading with its action cameras, and there's plenty to like. View Deal

You want high-end imagery

There are a lot of features and functions to play with, so a pro user will find something for every shooting occasion. Make the most of the low-light performance and slo-mo functions for advanced projects.View Deal

Don't buy it if...

You want a simple camera

The camera is designed for experienced videographers, so all of those features and functions might prove to be intimidating if you haven't used them before. There might be too much here if you want a point-and-shoot model.View Deal

You have lots of GoPro accessories

DJI is hoping to build its own follower base, so it you already own and frequently use GoPro mods, across an advanced system, you might not want to start from scratch with an incompatible camera. There are currently fewer accessories in the DJI ecosystem too, which is worth bearing in mind if you need something specific.View Deal

Also consider Insta360 X5

The top-of-the-range model in the Insta360 family, the X5 is larger but more powerful. It enables recording up to 5.7K at 60fps, and features dual 1/1.28-inch sensors with larger pixels and greater light-gathering capacity. It also features the newer PureVideo mode that's missing on the X4 and X4 Air, providing superior performance under poor lighting. The build quality and control layout are familiar, but with the added benefit of a larger LCD. If you want to shoot 360-degree video as well as shooting in extreme conditions, this is the best option.

Read our in-depth Insta360 X5 review

GoPro Hero 13 Black

While it may have only been an iterative upgrade to its predecessor, the Hero 13 Black is built on an expansive system of accessories. You'll find a mod for every occasion, plus there's a higher-resolution 5.3K video option, while the Osmo Action 6 is limited to 4K. This is the enthusiast's go-to action camera.

Read our in-depth GoPro Hero 13 Blackreview

How I tested the DJI Osmo Action 6

I tested a full production model running release firmware over several days
I mounted the camera on the bundled 1.5-meter extension Rod or Dual-Direction Battery Handle
I recorded videos in varying lighting conditions, both indoors and outside

To ensure I was able to get a true sense of the Osmo Action 6's capabilities, I shot in a range of lighting conditions. My indoor tests involved a vlog-style shoot, testing the sensor's high-ISO performance and the camera's temperature and water resistance (I placed the camera in a freezer and poured cold water over it for a unique POV). I then took the camera out into the countryside, where I filmed close to and underwater. These shoots also gave me the opportunity to use the optional macro lens and FOV Boost lens. All audio was captured using the in-camera mic. Footage was edited in DaVinci Resolve 20.

First reviewed November 2025

Categories: Reviews

Marvel's Deadpool VR is the best Meta Quest 3 game I've played all year, but it's not for everyone

Mon, 11/17/2025 - 19:00

The second coming of Marvel Jesus is upon us, thanks to the arrival of Marvel’s Deadpool VR on the Meta Quest 3 and Meta Quest 3S exclusively.

REVIEW INFO

Platform reviewed: Meta Quest 3
Available on: Meta Quest 3, Meta Quest 3S
Release date: November 18, 2025

While it doesn't live up to the lofty highs of Batman: Arkham Shadow, there’s a delightful action-packed story – complete with Deadpool’s zany humor – to experience here. One that’s sure to delight major fans of the Merc with a Mouth.

From the get-go, Deadpool VR showcases that it’s at its best when you’re moving at a million miles per hour – kicking things off with one of the most exhilarating action spectacles I've experienced in VR games and of my entire VR career.

At the same time, interspacing incredible set pieces and enjoyable sandbox slaughterfests – which reward you for vanquishing foes in creative ways that abuse Deadpool's varied weapons arsenal – are moments that drag the experience to a halt.

A different lead would use these moments to provide depth to his motivations, and introduce story beats that emotionally connect the player to the character – Deadpool, however, takes the chance to vomit quips.

In fact, much like the comic book and movie adaptations of Deadpool, Neil Patrick Harris’ rendition never stops joking.

To that end, if you thought the Deadpool movies were the comedy equivalent of word salad, you will hate Deadpool VR. Meanwhile, those of you who love Deadpool’s referential, weird, and/or self-deprecating humor will find a laugh a minute – though I can’t promise every gag will be a comedy gem. With a script jam-packed with jokes, plenty are stinkers.

Now in Mojo-vision

While on a mission for S.H.I.E.L.D. Deadpool is hired (read: kidnapped) by Mojo – the ruler of the content-obsessed Mojoworld. He’s after his next streaming hit and wants the merc to help him recruit (again, read: kidnap) stars for his show.

This sends everyone’s favorite anti-hero on a world-hopping quest across the Marvel universe in order to track down and capture iconic foes.

Aiding him are Major Domo and Spiral, who offer Deadpool new weapons and ‘guy in the chair’ assistance as he carries out his missions.

As Deadpool completes missions, he’ll earn mojobucks, a currency he can trade for new looks and weapons, and as I’ve mentioned previously, you earn more bucks based on how well you perform in Deadpool VR’s combat segments.

In this sandbox-lite experience, you’re armed with swords, firearms, a grapple gun, grenades, and, at times, your own arms, as well as a slew of other weapons that drop from enemies in order to deliver a beatdown to your enemies.

Glad I wore my red suit (Image credit: Meta / Marvel)

Not only can creatively combining weapons lead to a better score, but I’ve also found it really makes you feel like you’re in the shoes of the hyperactive superhero – especially when you simply huck a katana across the battlefield to skewer an enemy to the wall.

Just don’t expect this to feel like a hyper-realistic sandbox like some other titles out there. Deadpool VR leans into chaotic violence that appeals to my sense of fun, but not everyone’s – a sentiment that I feel captures the spirit of Deadpool VR perfectly.

Best bit

(Image credit: Meta)

The opening to Deadpool VR might be the best opening to an action VR game ever. While some excellent moments follow, the intro really sets the tone for what's to come.

Weirdly, the main time the action feels at its most anticlimactic is during boss battles. Simply because being a level’s toughest foe translates to being a bullet sponge, with the drawn-out fights being interspaced with quick-time events, which, while a flashy flurry of blows, can make levels feel like they end with a whimper rather than a bang.

Though if you are convinced to replay a level, you’ll be rewarded with not only the chance to test out new devastating weapons on your enemies, Deadpool VR also lets you explore secret bonus rooms – provided you wear the correct costume for the occasion. That said, even the mainline Deadpool can uncover a few surprises if he chooses.

Need a hand? Have mine (Image credit: Marvel)Quintessentially Deadpool

Much like how Batman: Arkham Shadow is the quintessential way for fans of the caped crusader to experience a Batman story, Marvel’s Deadpool VR is the new best way to become the Merc with a Mouth.

If you love Deadpool, this is the game you’ve been waiting to play, and it’s well worth grabbing a Meta Quest 3 or Quest 3S so you can experience this title for yourself.

However, this game won’t turn haters into True Believers. The non-stop gags, which are the only source of amusement when the game’s exposition drags on, is quintessentially Deadpool, but if you found it grating when it was Ryan Reynolds was delivering the lines on the big screen you won’t find it any funnier when it’s Neil Patrick Harris talking in your head – take it from my fiancée who can’t stand the Merc with a Mouth.

If, like me, you adore Marvel’s stories, especially Deadpool's brand of quirky, then Marvel’s Deadpool VR is the game you’ve been waiting for.

Should you play Marvel's Deadpool VRPlay it if...

The Deadpool movies aren’t long enough
If you’ve left the movie theatre wishing the Deadpool movies had a 10-hour-or-so-long director’s cut, this is the game for you.

You enjoy chaotic action
Deadpool VR offers some of the best action set pieces I’ve experienced in VR, and some delightful combat that, while messy at times, is a lot of fun.

You have a Quest 3 or Quest 3S
This exclusive is a fantastic game for the right kind of player, and a great experience on the VR headsets it’s exclusive to.

Don't play it if...

You hate Deadpool
If you hated the Deadpool movies, this game is basically the same humor and violence in a VR package. Read: It’s not for you.

You demand superb performance
During some segments, I did notice a few performance drops – like when I was spamming an attack that has you throwing explosive playing cards like Gambit.

Acessibility features

Marvel's Deadpool VR can be played seated or standing up, but requires you to have a full range of upper body movement so you can swing your katana, throw grenades, and fire guns at your foes.

It also boasts a solid suite of comfort controls. I'm playing on medium levels (smooth motion, snap turning) and have yet to experience motion sickness, but there are options to turn on tools like teleportation movement if you're prone to feeling ill in VR.

How I tested Marvel's Deadpool VR

I played Marvel's Deadpool VR on my Meta Quest 3, which I've upgraded using a battery strap. I made sure to try the game from both a seated and standing position, and also to try its different accessibility comfort features to experience how effective they are.

First reviewed November 2025

Categories: Reviews

I tested Motorola's cheaper iPhone Air alternative, but it still didn't win me over to team thin-phone

Sun, 11/16/2025 - 09:00

Motorola Edge 70 two-minute review

The Edge series from Motorola has been one of the most consistently interesting lines of Android phones for cost-conscious buyers; they’re not always the best smartphones around, but they look classy and get you unrivaled value for money in the Android world. But I’m not so sure about the Motorola Edge 70, which has fallen in with the wrong crowd by trying to follow the new thin-phone ‘trend’.

Super-thin smartphones are starting to feel like a new bandwagon that tech companies are leaping on, apparently after having noticed the huge lack of interest buyers had in the last bandwagon: AI. This bandwagon’s turning out no better: we didn’t love the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge, and the iPhone Air was lambasted online, and so the Motorola Edge 70 has a lot to prove.

Before testing the Edge 70, I thought Moto would be preaching to the choir; I gave the Edge 60 a glowing review (I think it's my favorite phone of the year), and was fond of the Edge 60 Pro too. Perhaps it should have been telling that the previous generation of Edge mobiles came out only six months prior, because this new Edge is nothing to write home about.

Yes, it’s thin, and yes, it’s light, but it’s still just as wide and tall as your average Android smartphone, so these two tweaked specs don’t exactly amount to a revolutionary redesign.

Beyond its chassis, this is another solid mid-range Android phone. There’s a decent processor and enough RAM to blast through games, a good-looking screen, a classy color scheme, and a competent camera array (albeit with a few downgrades from the Edge 60 Pro in certain areas).

However, the huge price jump up from the Edge 60 – and the solid increase on the Edge 60 Pro too – throws my ‘mid-range’ argument into disarray; this is an expensive mobile which doesn’t go nearly far enough in justifying that price.

Bear in mind the number of downgrades from the still-very-fresh Edge 60 line: the new Edge 70 loses a camera from the 60 and 60 Pro, and also misses out on the fast charging and strong performance of the latter. And remember: the 60 Pro is a cheaper phone.

That’s doubly painful when you consider how much bloatware there is on this newer device; it's a symptom of a cheap phone that feels out of place when you’re buying a phone that’s only a little less pricey than the Samsung Galaxy S25 or iPhone 17.

Generally speaking, the Edge 70 runs smoothly, and there are a few things to like. I like how the Water Touch feature makes the phone easy to use when your hands are wet, the screen looks good, and the amount of on-board storage and RAM is great. And there's no denying that the Edge 70 is cheaper than its thin-phone rivals, even if that's simply because they're even more ludicrously priced.

A slightly-thinner-than-average body doesn’t make the price make sense, though, especially when the Motorola Edge 60 is basically half the price. Even though it’s a solid phone all around, the cost makes it hard to recommend the Edge 70 over its six-month senior.

Motorola Edge 70 review: price and availability

(Image credit: Future)

Released in November 2025
£699.98 (roughly $920, AU$1,400)
No US release expected; AU possibly

Motorola announced the Edge 70 on November 5, 2025, and put it on sale shortly afterwards.

You can buy the Motorola Edge 70 for £699.98 (roughly $920, AU$1,400). The phone won’t be released in the US, as Moto has a different Edge strategy there, but I’m expecting it to come out in Australia at some point in the near future based on precedent.

That’s a massive price increase from the £379 (roughly $520, AU$700) asking price of the Edge 60, but also more than the £599 (around $800, AU$1,250) of the Edge 60 Pro.

The Edge is, at least, cheaper than its rivals: the Galaxy Edge (Samsung’s phone, not the Star Wars theme park) begins at $1,099 / £1,099 / AU$1,849, while the iPhone Air goes for $999 / £999 / AU$1,799. Yikes.

Motorola Edge 70 review: specsMotorola Edge 70 specs

Dimensions:

159.9 x 74 x 5.9 mm

Weight:

159g

Screen:

6.7-inch FHD (1220 x 2712) 120Hz P-OLED

Chipset:

Snapdragon 7 Gen 4

RAM:

12GB

Storage:

512GB

OS:

Android 16

Primary camera:

50MP, f/1.8

Ultra-wide camera:

50MP f/2.0 120-degree

Front camera:

50MP, f/2.0

Audio:

Dolby Atmos stereo speakers

Battery:

4,800mAh

Charging:

68W wired, 15W wireless

Colors:

Gadget Grey, Lily Pad, Bronze Green

Motorola Edge 70 review: design

(Image credit: Future)

Thin (5.9mm) and light (159g)
Comes in three Pantone colors
Military-grade protections

I spent the introduction to this review comparing the Moto Edge 70 to its thin-phone contemporaries; it’s 5.9mm thick, and you can feel how svelte it is just by picking it up. It's so thin, in fact, that I felt duty-bound to protect it with the rigid plastic in-box case, thereby mitigating the benefits of a slender mobile in the first place.

The rest of the dimensions are more in line with your standard smartphone: it's 74mm wide and 159.4mm long. Mind you, in weighing 159g, it feels lighter in the hand than the average mobile.

Color company Pantone continues its quest to paint all the Edge phones in various distinct hues; this time around, we’ve got Gadget Grey (a mostly-boring grey but with some blue highlights), Lily Pad (olive green with some orange highlights), and the one I used, Bronze Green (dark green with lighter-green highlights – there’s no bronze to speak of).

As always, the use of some interesting colors immediately makes this Moto one of my favorite-looking phones of the year, and the textured back just adds something to the panache. I do wish that Motorola had given the Edge 70 a curved-edge screen like in some of the past generations, but presumably, this wouldn’t work with the thin body. The lack of it means that, visually speaking, the Edge 70 is ‘one of’ my favorites, but the Edge 60 family pips it to the post.

Let’s talk about ports and buttons. There’s a USB-C port on the bottom edge (no 3.5mm jack for audio), a power button and volume rocker on the right edge, and, right out of reach on the left, the AI button.

The Edge 70 is IP68/69 protected against dust and water submersion, and is also compliant with the military MIL-STD-810H standard, which means it’s tough against the knocks and bumps that a military-grade piece of kit would need to be.

If you decide to use the in-box case to protect the phone, you're not making a bad decision because it's nice and solid (not a cheapie silicon thing that many phone makers put in the box). But it's also incredibly hard to get onto the phone, and nearly as hard to remove, so you're going to need some good luck and brute strength. If you're buying this phone for your grandma, you should stick around to help her get the thing on!

Design score: 4 / 5

Motorola Edge 70 review: display

(Image credit: Future)

6.7 inches, 2712 x 1220 resolution
120Hz refresh rate, 20:9 aspect ratio
Water Touch adds some extra usability

The Motorola Edge 70 has a 6.7-inch screen, which is roughly the average size for an Android smartphone. The resolution (2712 x 1200) is also what you’d expect from such a mobile.

A few other specs and features help the phone’s display stand out, though. It has a nice high max brightness of 4,500 nits, a 120Hz refresh rate, support for HDR 10+, and some optimizations from Pantone.

A feature I really appreciate is Water Touch, which basically just means the screen will pick up your touches better if you’ve got wet hands or if the display has droplets on it. No longer does bathtime prohibit the use of screens.

Breaking up the display at the top is a punch-hole cut-out for the front camera, but it’s so small and unobtrusive that you’ll easily forget it was there.

Display score: 4 / 5

Motorola Edge 70 review: software

Here are the apps pre-installed on the Edge 70 (although I can excuse Ecosia, since that's the one I picked as my browser on load-up). (Image credit: Future)

Android 16 with four guaranteed updates
Bloatware (pre-installed apps) abounds
Moto's AI app has yet to prove itself

While Motorola phones have long used stock Android as their operating system, the company has slowly been tweaking the formula in myriad ways over successive generations of Edge. So, while the Edge 70 technically has stock Android 16, it’s not exactly the same as the stock Android software you’d see on Pixel phones – mostly for the worse.

The worst is that, at least on first start-up, Motorola has opted to copy some cheap Chinese phone makers in plastering its devices with bloatware. When you first boot up the Edge 70, it’s already full of apps like Amazon Music, TikTok, and Booking.com, and while you can delete them all, it doesn’t help but make it feel like your own mobile is one walking billboard.

Most of these apps are innocuous, at least, but some raise eyebrows. Perplexity is one – an AI search engine with myriad active lawsuits and accusations against it – and controversy-laden e-retailer Temu is another. It bears repeating that this phone isn’t that different in price from the iPhone 17 – seeing pre-installed apps at all, especially ones of this caliber, leaves a bad taste in the mouth.

Motorola’s also pushing harder into its own AI tools than most other companies, mostly with its Moto AI, an assistant that’s slowly gaining skills and tools with each new Moto phone I test.

However, its feature list is still quite eclectic (note-taking, playlist generation, and file organization seem to be its main tools, according to Moto’s website), and none of them really solve problems I’d otherwise have on my smartphone. I used Moto AI when I was testing the Edge 70, but I no doubt would have ignored it if I were using the phone normally.

Not all the changes to stock Android are terrible, and I’ve long liked Motorola’s customization and navigation features. And if you ignore the AI and delete the bloatware, the phone runs decently well. It’s set to get four years of security updates (presumably up to Android 20), and five years of security updates.

Software score: 3 / 5

Motorola Edge 70 review: cameras

(Image credit: Future)

50MP main and 50MP ultra-wide cameras
50MP front-facing
Some odd over-brightening issues

Motorola’s marketing materials make a point of how the Edge 70 has three 50MP cameras; this is technically true, but don’t imagine for a moment that the Edge 70 has three rear cameras like the Edge 60 members did. Instead, it only has two, with that third high-res snapper being the one on the front, and I’m disappointed that Moto opted to drop the telephoto lens that made the last generation surprisingly solid camera phones.

On the back, then, we’ve got a 50MP main snapper with OIS and a 50MP ultra-wide with a 120-degree field of view. Nope, no telephoto lens.

I've previously been quite negative about the cameras on Motorola phones, as the optimization software doesn't match that on rival mobiles, making pictures look a little dull. Usually, the low price of the phone justifies these shortcomings, but that's obviously not the case here. Thankfully, I wasn't too put out by the snaps either.

With sufficient lighting, pictures have a fair amount of color and detail, and autofocus was fairly quick to find objects. Manual focus was a bit of an issue, though; usually, I find tapping on an object in the viewfinder does the job, but when I tried it in the Edge 70's camera app, it also changed the brightness of the shot... quite dramatically.

Look at the two snaps of cookies in the camera sample section; the first one is default, the second is when I pressed on the snack. I like a bright picture as much as the next guy, but it's a little too much in that particular case.

(Image credit: Future)

I took quite a few low-light photos with the camera; it's that period of the year where we have about three minutes of sunlight, after all. The camera held up well, presumably thanks to a solid sensor that takes in lots of light.

Around the front, the selfie camera uses pixel binning to ensure snaps have enough light; you can see the results on a pretty gray day below.

Taking a stroll through the rest of the phone app, you'll find most of the standard options you've come to expect on a smartphone: night vision, panorama, portrait photography, slow-mo and time-lapse videography, and so on.

You can record video at 4K at 30fps or FHD at 60fps, and slow-mo switches between 120fps at FHD or 240fps at HD.

Camera score: 3.5 / 5

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(Image credit: Future)Motorola Edge 70 review: performance and audio

(Image credit: Future)

Mid-range Snapdragon 7 Gen 4 chipset
12GB RAM and 512GB Storage
Dolby Atmos-tuned stereo speakers

Looking under the hood, the Motorola Edge 70 has a Snapdragon 7 Gen 4 chipset, which is a mid-range piece of kit we’ve seen in a handful of Androids, including the Realme 15 Pro and Vivo V60. While seeing ‘mid-range’ may cause you to be wary, let me win you back over: there’s 12GB RAM and a hearty 512GB storage. Now those are specs I like to see!

I took the Edge for a whirl (well, many whirls over two weeks) playing Call of Duty: Mobile and Northgard, and was impressed by how close the performance was to that of phones with top-end chipsets or more RAM. Playing hectic online games, I never felt like I was lagging or dropping behind in a way that affected my performance, and the phone seemed fine to render loads of assets or enemies at once.

When I put the Edge 70 through the Geekbench 6 multi-core benchmark test, it returned an average score of 4,115 (though, notably, with a bigger variation in results than I normally see with this test). That reflects the mid-range status of the mobile, with Snapdragon 8 Gen chipsets scoring in the 5,000-6,000 range (or even higher), though it is a little way behind the Edge 60 Pro, which used a top-end chipset from a different company.

Honestly, though, when you get to a certain point, these numbers are just numbers. I never felt that the Edge 70 lacked performance when I was gaming, and that’s what matters.

Audio-wise, the Edge 70 has dual stereo speakers, which were tuned with some Dolby Atmos magic. Otherwise, for listening to music, you can use the Bluetooth 5.4 to connect wirelessly, or via a wired connection if you can find an adaptor to plug your cans into the USB-C port (there’s no headphone jack).

Performance score: 4 / 5

Motorola Edge 70 review: battery life

(Image credit: Future)

4,800mAh battery
68W wired charging
15W wireless powering

Despite being a thin smartphone, the Edge 70 has a battery that’s roughly average in capacity: 4,800mAh, which a few years ago we’d have called positively huge.

I’m not going to pretend it grants the Edge a miraculously long battery life, as it’s powering a pretty big display, but it ensures the handset will easily last a full day of use. During my testing, the Edge 70 reliably waltzed through half of day two before needing to be powered up.

Charging is done at 68W, which is the same as most past Moto Edge phones, and 15W wireless charging has been thrown in for good measure. You’re getting from empty to full in about 40 minutes if you charge with a compatible cable.

Battery score: 3.5 / 5

Motorola Edge 70 review: value

(Image credit: Future)

Thin phones are, unfortunately, exceedingly expensive devices. When you consider that, in the Edge 70, you’re getting one for substantially less than the iPhone Air, perhaps you can convince yourself that you’re getting a good deal.

But if you look at the Motorola Edge 70 as the sum of its parts, it’s hard to deny that it doesn’t offer great value for money. Its specs are mostly all mid-ranged, with much cheaper alternatives from various rivals beating it six ways from Sunday.

So, if you absolutely need a smartphone that’s a few millimeters thinner than your current one, no matter the price, at least this is getting you better value than the iPhone or Samsung. But if you’re happy to consider all your options, no matter their thickness, skipping the Edge 70 is a no-brainer.

Value score: 3 / 5

Should you buy the Motorola Edge 70?Motorola Edge 70 score card

Attributes

Notes

Rating

Value

From another brand, a phone with the same specs would have a price tag that's half of the Edge 70's.

3 / 5

Design

Pantone wins again, but the slender body helps too.

4 / 5

Display

It's just as good-looking as the last time we saw this screen on a Moto phone.

4 / 5

Software

The bloatware's getting worse, and Moto's more preoccupied with its AI tool than fixing it.

3 / 5

Camera

The cameras are fine for the price, though I miss the better hardware of the Edge 60.

3.5 / 5

Performance

You get a solid set of power specs for the price.

4 / 5

Battery

Any kind of reliable battery is a miracle in a thin phone like this.

3.5 / 5

Buy it if...

You must have a thin phone
If you're looking at the iPhone Air or Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge with envy, then the Moto Edge 70 is your way to get a thin phone without breaking the bank.

You need lots of storage
With 512GB of on-board storage, you're never going to need to choose which photos you need to delete to get more space, or pick and choose the apps that take up that space.

You like the look
Honestly, all of Moto's Edge phones have a little extra pizzazz thanks to Pantone's decorations; they're a splash of color in a monochromatic market.

Don't buy it if...

You don't care about your phone's thickness
All thin phones are expensive... but if thinness isn't an important thing for you, your money will go a lot further with a different device.

You're on a budget
Many people associate Motorola with cheap phones, because it makes some of the best. But the Edge 70 is certainly a premium model.

You're not an AI fan
Moto's been very gung-ho about its own AI tools, but the Edge 70's bloatware includes lots more, like Copilot and Perplexity. If you're on the righteous anti-AI train, this isn't the right phone for you.View Deal

Motorola Edge 70 review: Also consider

Let's take a proper look at those phones I've been comparing the Motorola Edge 70 to:

Apple iPhone Air
Apple's thin phone is 0.3mm more slender than the Edge 70, but a little heavier. It's the one to buy if you want an Apple phone, although it's not the strongest specs-wise.

Read our full Apple iPhone Air review

Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge
This is a powerful phone with top specs across the board, and it's also thinner than the Moto, though not as light. It's super slow to charge, though.

Read our full Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge review

Motorola Edge 60
It's cheaper and it's weaker, but otherwise this slightly older phone matches or exceeds the specs of its newer relative. So, it's certainly well worth keeping on the wishlist.

Read our full Motorola Edge 60 review

Motorola Edge 70

Apple iPhone Air

Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge

Motorola Edge 60

Starting price (at launch):

£699.98 (roughly $920, AU$1,400)

From $999 / £999 / AU$1,799

From $1,099 / £1,099 / AU$1,849

£379 (roughly $520, AU$700)

Dimensions:

159.9 x 74 x 5.9mm

156.2 x 74.7 x 5.6mm

158.2 x 75.6 x 5.8mm

161.2 x 73.1 x 7.9mm

Weight:

159g

165g

163g

179g

OS (at launch):

Android 16

iOS 26

OneUI 7, Android 15

Android 15

Screen Size:

6.7-inch

6.5-inch

6.7-inch

6.67-inch

Resolution:

2712 x 1220

2736 x 1260

1260 x 2736

2712 x 1220

CPU:

Snapdragon 7 Gen 4

A19 Pro Bionic

Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy

Mediatek Dimensity 7300

RAM:

12GB

Unconfirmed

12GB

Storage (from):

512GB

256GB / 512GB / 1TB

256GB / 512GB

512GB

Battery:

4,800mAh

Unconfirmed

3,900mAh

5,200mAh

Rear Cameras:

50MP main, 50MP ultra-wide

48MP main

200MP main, 12MP ultra-wide

50MP main, 10MP telephoto. 50MP ultra-wide

Front camera:

50MP

18MP

12MP

50MP

How I tested the Motorola Edge 70

Review test period = 2 weeks
Testing included = Everyday usage, including web browsing, social media, photography, video calling, gaming, streaming video, music playback
Tools used = Geekbench 6, Geekbench ML, GFXBench, native Android stats

I used the Motorola Edge 70 for two weeks in order to write this review. That's the usual TechRadar test period, and a figure I use as an absolute minimum in order to ensure I've given every gadget a fair shake.

In that time, I used the Edge 70 as my normal smartphone for tasks like social media, photography, and gaming. Outside of full testing, I also took it for a few camera tests to collect more samples for the gallery. Alongside experiential use, I used a few lab tests to gauge certain metrics of the phone.

I've been reviewing mobiles at TechRadar for over six years now. I tested both members of the Edge 60 family, and have used most previous Moto Edge devices, as well as countless other handsets made by the company (and, of course, non-Moto phones too!).

The Lavazza Assoluta is a quirky coffee machine that adjusts its own settings to suit your beans – provided you buy the right ones

Sun, 11/16/2025 - 07:00

Lavazza Assoluta: two-minute review

The Lavazza Assoluta is a fully automatic espresso machine with an interesting selling point: when you scan the barcode on a pack of Lavazza beans using the smartphone app, the machine automatically optimizes its own brew settings to deliver optimally extracted, well-balanced coffee.

I was somewhat skeptical about how well this would work, particularly since the Assoluta only has two grind sizes (most machines have 15 or more. In practice, however, it does seem to work well. I tested two very different types of Lavazza coffee, and both times the machine extracted a shot of espresso in 30 seconds, which is pretty much ideal.

The downside is that brewing coffee using your own beans will be hit-and-miss (as Lavazza itself warns), so this isn't a machine for anyone who wants to delve into the world of speciality coffee from independent roasters.

(Image credit: Future)

The Assoluta also has an unusual milk-frothing system, consisting of a large glass cup with a lid containing a steam wand and motorized whisk. Fill the mug with milk to the appropriate measuring line, push it under the coffee dispenser, choose a drink, and two minutes later you'll have a latte or cappuccino topped with rich, creamy foam. It works very well, but the lid can't be used with your regular cups. If there's more than one coffee-drinker at home, you might want to pick up another Lavazza cup so you can both enjoy a drink at the same time.

The Assoluta is advertised for £699.95 (about $920 / AU$1,400), but that price drops to £349.95 (about $460 / AU$700) when you also subscribe to Lavazza's coffee delivery service. Since the machine is specifically designed to work with Lavazza's branded coffee, this is a good option for regular coffee-drinkers.

Lavazza Assoluta: specifications

Name

Lavazza Assoluta

Type

Fully automatic bean-to-cup espresso machine

Dimensions (W x H x D)

8.7 x 14 x 17.1 inches / 22 x 35.8 x 43.5cm

Weight

22lbs / 10kg

Water reservoir capacity

1.6 quarts / 1.5 liters

Milk frother

Yes (in cup lid)

Bars of pressure

Not stated

User profiles

n/a

Lavazza Assoluta: price and availability

Available now in Europe
Australian release expected in early 2026
Not expected to launch in the US
Half price with a Lavazza coffee subscription plan

The Lavazza Assoluta is only available in Europe at the time of writing (November 2025), but is expected to arrive in Australia in early 2026. Lavazza currently has no plan to release the machine in the US.

The Assoluta has a list price of £699.95 (about $920 / AU$1,400) when bought alone, or £349.95 (about $460 / AU$700) when you also sign up to Lavazza’s coffee subscription service.

The subscription price is very reasonable, and cheaper than anything in my roundup of the best bean-to-cup coffee machines, but Lavazza’s website doesn’t actually seem to let you buy the machine alone at full price. I’ve enquired about this with Lavazza, and will update this review when I have more information.

Value score: 4.5/5

Lavazza Assoluta: design

Attractive and solidly made
Easy to clean and maintain
Fold-out tray for espresso cups
Glass cup has milk frother in lid

The Lavazza Assoluta is a large, but good-looking automatic espresso machine with a bronze-colored plastic case and bright LED control panel.

When the Lavazza Assoluta is switched on, a light on top illuminates to show its current status (ready to brew, brewing, connecting to Wi-Fi, or requiring attention). Turning the top of the bean hopper left or right will adjust the "aroma", changing the dosage of coffee for a stronger or milder drink.

Turn the dial on top of the machine a few degrees to adjust the "aroma" (or dosage) (Image credit: Future)

The bean hopper has a control for adjusting the grind size, but there are only two settings: fine and coarse. The finer you grind your beans, the longer it takes for water to pass through. Most espresso machines offer at least 15 settings so you can get exactly the right extraction time for your particular beans, so the fact that this machine offers only two is surprising.

The water tank is solidly made with a sturdy handle, but it’s worth bearing in mind that it lifts out of the back vertically, so you’ll need plenty of space above the machine. If you place the Assoluta under a cabinet, be prepared to slide it out whenever it’s time for a refill.

The left-hand side of the machine has a large panel that provides easy access to the Assoluta’s brewing group for cleaning, and the drip tray pulls out to reveal the dump box for used coffee grounds. The machine won’t warn you when this needs emptying; personally, I recommend doing this at the end of each day, cleaning the box and drip tray, and leaving them out overnight so everything has a chance to dry out.

The Assoluta has a small flip-down drip tray for espresso cups (Image credit: Future)

The Assoluta has a small fold-out tray to hold an espresso cup, but if you want to make a milky drink then you’ll need to use the large Lavazza Trasparenza Collection mug supplied in the box.

Unlike most automatic espresso machines, which dispense foamed milk from a carafe, the Assoluta requires you to fill your mug with milk, then place a special lid on top. This lid contains a steam wand and electric whisk, which foam the milk for your lattes and cappuccinos before the Assoluta pours a shot of espresso on top.

The milk-frothing system works well, but can only be used with Lavazza's own large glass coffee cup (Image credit: Future)

I’ve never seen a system quite like it before, and although it works (read on for more details), it means you can’t use your favorite mugs with the machine, and all your milky drinks will end up being quite large. The cup has minimum and maximum fill lines to indicate how much milk to add.

The fact that the machine only comes with a single mug also means that you’ll be drinking your lattes alone unless you purchase a second Trasparenza cup for $22.70 / £15 (about AU$30).

Design score: 3.5/5

Lavazza Assoluta: performance

Before using the Assoluta for the first time, you’ll need to install the Piacere Lavazza app on your phone, and connect it via Bluetooth. Many of the best espresso machines I’ve tested have their own apps, but these are usually pretty limited. They might allow you to update your machine’s firmware and view its instruction manual, but that’s usually it.

The Piacere Lavazza app is different. Once set up, give it permission to access your phone’s camera, scan the barcode on your bag of Lavazza espresso beans, and it will transmit the optimal brew settings to the Assoluta. The machine will then configure itself accordingly, selecting the ideal dosage and brew temperature. The only thing it can’t adjust itself is grind size, so you’ll need to do that by turning the dial inside the bean hopper as instructed.

Scan the barcode on your coffee with the Piacere Lavazza app to configure the machine (Image credit: Future)

As mentioned above, the Assoluta has just two grind sizes, so I was a bit skeptical about how well it would be able to cope with different bean types. After all, dialling in a coffee grinder is often one of the trickiest parts of making a well-extracted espresso, with even small adjustments making a big difference. However, when I tried it out with different Lavazza beans, I was pleasantly surprised.

The machine I tested came with a pack of Lavazza Espresso Barista Gran Crema coffee beans, and I bought an extra pack of Lavazza Espresso Italiano Classico to see how well it coped with both types. The Barista Gran Crema is made using a blend of light roasted arabica and robusta beans, while the Italiano Classico is 100% arabica and more similar to the coffee I usually choose at home.

Brewing a double-shot of espresso took 30 seconds with both Lavazza blends I tested (Image credit: Future)

I timed how long it took the Assoluta to extract a shot of espresso, and in both cases it took exactly 30 seconds from the moment the pump started, which is pretty much ideal. Although it was lightly roasted, I found that the robusta beans in the Barista Gran Crema gave the coffee a slightly more bitter, traditionally Italian flavor, while the Italiano Classico (which required the finer grind size) was fruitier and sweeter.

I’d have liked to try Lavazza’s whole range with the Assoluta if my budget allowed, but I was impressed at how well the machine dealt with these two very different coffees. The downside is that results with your own coffee are likely to be hit-and-miss. You might find that one of the two grind sizes works reasonably well, but if not, you’re going to be left with a disappointing shot of espresso - and Lavazza does warn you that this might happen. You can’t use your own grinder either, because unlike some bean-to-cup coffee makers, the Assoluta doesn’t have a chute for pre-ground coffee.

The milk-foaming system works particularly well with full-fat dairy milk (Image credit: Future)

During my tests, the Assoluta’s unusual milk-frothing system worked best with full-fat dairy milk, and I attained the best results using the thick foam setting. You're instructed to place the lid on the cup so that its steam spout is opposite the handle. The lid never looks like it’s sitting completely flush with the rim of the cup, but in practice this doesn’t seem to matter; I never had any trouble with milk splashing out, even when using the maximum recommended quantity.

It will take about two minutes to foam your milk, after which the machine will pour your coffee through the top and bleep to let you know your drink is ready. Removing the whisk and steam pipe from the cup disturbs the foam and makes the top of your drink look a little untidy, but that’s a very minor quibble. Despite the long steaming time, the milk isn’t overheated, and the Assoluta creates consistently creamy, sweet-tasting foam.

Image 1 of 2

Creating custom drinks in the Lavazza app is much easier than using a tiny touchscreen (Image credit: Future)Image 2 of 2

You'll find various hot drink recipes in the Lavazza app, which will help you make them using the Assoluta (Image credit: Future)

Steaming and whisking the milk directly in the cup is unusual, but it means that you’re not limited to making coffee with the Assoluta – you can also use it to prepare hot chocolate following the instructions provided in the app, which is packed with recipes. They’re well worth perusing, and work in a similar way to the Cookidoo app for the Thermomix all-in-one cooker, taking you through preparation of your preferred drink step-by-step.

You can also use the app to create custom drink recipes from scratch, adjusting the coffee volume, temperature, aroma (coffee dosage), and milk thickness. The machine itself offers quite a small menu of presets, but the app makes it easy to tinker with brewing options, walking you through the process one step at a time.

Worried you might be overdoing the caffeine? The Lavazza app keeps track of how much you're drinking (Image credit: Future)

If you're concerned that you might be drinking too much caffeine, the app even keeps track of your consumption over the past day, week, month, and year, with a breakdown of the type of coffee you tend to drink most often. It's a nice extra feature (and potentially eye-opening).

Performance: 4/5

Should you buy the Lavazza Assoluta?Lavazza Assoluta score card

Attribute

Notes

Score

Value

Very affordable if you also subscribe to Lavazza's coffee subscription service, but not available in the US.

4.5/5

Design

Good-looking and easy to clean, but milk can only be frothed using Lavazza's large lidded mug, plus the grinder has just two settings.

3.5/4

Performance

Brews consistently good coffee with Lavazza's own beans, and customizing drinks using the app is a breeze. You may not be able to achieve good results with other beans. Foamed milk is thick and creamy.

4/5

Buy it if

You like long, milky drinks

You can only prepare lattes and cappuccinos using the Trasparenza Collection Lavazza Mug, which is pretty huge. Great if you want to be able to wrap your hands around a big, warm drink for cozy nights in.

You want simplicity, but don't like pods

If you like the idea of using fresh coffee beans, but don't want the hassle of setting up a coffee machine perfectly to use them, the Assoluta does the calculations for you.

You want to make more than coffee

The Lavazza Assoluta's unusual milk-frothing system is ideal for making hot chocolate drinks, or making milky drinks infused with syrup.

Don't buy it if

You love experimenting with speciality coffees

The Assoluta is designed to be used with Lavazza's own espresso beans, and although you can use your own, the machine only has two grind sizes, so you have very little control when dialling it in.

You're attached to your own coffee cups

The Lavazza Assoluta's milk-frothing system only works with the large glass mug supplied with the machine.

Lavazza Assoluta: also consider

If you're not completely sold on the Lavazza Assoluta, here are two other espresso machines to think about:

Ninja Prestige DualBrew System

This machine gives you both, with a full-size filter coffee maker, a Nespresso machine, and a pull-out milk frother. It's extremely convenient, and particularly handy if you're bleary-eyed and sluggish in the morning.

Read our full Ninja Prestige DualBrew System reviewView Deal

Philips LatteGo 5500 Series

An excellent little bean-to-cup espresso machine for small households, and particularly easy to keep clean and fresh. It brews hot and cold, and offers an impressive menu of 20 different coffee drinks.

Read our full Philips LatteGo 5500 Series reviewView Deal

How I tested the Lavazza Assoluta

I tested the Assoluta with the Lavazza Espresso Barista Gran Crema beans that came packaged with it, as well as Lavazza Espresso Italiano Classico beans, which I bought myself. I made sure that all the beans in the hopper were finished before changing beans, to prevent mixing.

I installed the Piacere Lavazza app on my phone, and used it to choose the correct brewing profile for each type of coffee, then timed how long it took the Assoluta to brew a shot of espresso with each one.

(Image credit: Future)

I tested the milk frother with both plant-based and dairy milk, and used both regular and thick milk texture settings. I also tried different drink recipes from the Piacere Lavazza app, and used it to make custom beverages.

First reviewed November 2025.

Categories: Reviews

This robot vacuum delivers impressive mopping, but there are some quirks to know about before you buy

Sun, 11/16/2025 - 00:30

SwitchBot S20: two-minute review

The SwitchBot S20 is a hybrid robot vacuum with a particularly impressive mopping setup. While most robot vacuums feature flat mop pads that tend to spread spillages around, the S20 is equipped with a roller that's fed a continuous stream of fresh water, while any dirt is scraped off as it goes. The model also arrives with a comprehensive dock that not only empties the bot's onboard bin, but drains its dirty water tanks, refills the clean water tank and dries the mop pads, too.

I tested it out and was generally impressed, although a few quirks prevent me from recommending it as one of the best robot vacuums on the market right now. The mopping works as advertised, providing a more thorough clean than I've seen with most bots. Vacuuming is solid, too, while object detection and avoidance are perhaps the best I've encountered.

However, the S20 gets into a pickle if set to vacuum after it has completed a mopping run, when its roller is still a bit damp. In this situation, any debris on the floor is spread around, and no discernible vacuuming takes place. That's okay if your home's layout makes it easy to keep vacuuming and mopping completely separate (with the mopping last on the list), but I wouldn't recommend the S20 as a bot that can transition smoothly between the two tasks.

It's also rather noisy. I'd say it's louder than average in every cleaning mode, but the sound of it auto-emptying is especially alarming. For navigation the bot performed well, but did prove occasionally erratic – perhaps down to that ultra-sensitive object avoidance – and the app could be improved with a few tweaks.

At full price, this bot sits in the premium bracket, but hefty discounts are common and deliver much better value for money. If mopping is your priority and you spot a decent deal, the S20 could be a great buy.

A final note before I begin with my full SwitchBot S20 review. If you're here because you heard that SwitchBot makes mini robot vacuums, be advised that the S20 isn't one of those bots. The robot itself and the dock are full-sized, and also a little chunkier than average. Check out the SwitchBot K11+ if you're after a tiny home-helper that can tuck into tight spaces.

(Image credit: Future)SwitchBot S20 review: price & availability

List price: $799.99 / £799.99
Launched: September 2025
Available: US / UK

The SwitchBot K20 launched in September 2025, with a list price of $799.99 in the US and £799.99 in the UK. At time of writing, there was a voucher on the SwitchBot US site to activate a 44% discount (taking it to $448) and one for 39% off on the UK sites (taking it down to £488). Given the availability of big discounts so close to launch, it seems likely that this bot will not be sold at full price very often.

There's also an "Auto-Fill & Drain System" version of this model, which you plumb into your home's water supply. It costs the same at ticket price.

At full price this is a premium robot vacuum, but those chunky discounts see it sit more middle of the pack. On paper, at the discounted price it's a decent value proposition, but just make sure you're happy to live with the various quirks before you take the plunge.

Value for money score: 3.5 out of 5

SwitchBot S20 specs

Max suction:

10,000Pa

Robot diameter:

14.4in / 36.5cm

Robot height:

4.5in / 11.5cm

Dock dimensions (W x D x H):

14.9 x 8.5 x 18.1in / 38 x 21.5 x 46cm

Dust bin volume (dock):

Water tank volume:

2.5L clean; 2.5L dirty

Base type:

Charge, auto-empty dust, empty dirty water, refill clean water, dry mop

Max threshold clearance:

0.8in / 2cm

Smart home compatibility:

Matter (Apple Home, Alexa, Google Home)

Mop:

Roller

SwitchBot S20 review: design

Rather large, hybrid robot vacuum and mop
Roller mop that's continually cleaned as it mops
Dock empties dust, dries roller and drains/refills the onboard tanks

SwitchBot is known for making tiny little robot vacuums, such as the dinky SwitchBot K11+, so I was quite surprised when I unpacked the K20 to find that it wasn't small at all. In fact, far from being scaled-down, this bot is on the chunkier side for a modern robot vacuum.

By way of example, the Roborock Qrevo Master (a not especially swish or streamlined robovac) measures 13.9in / 35.3 cm in diameter and 4.1in / 10.3 cm tall, whereas the K20 is 14.4in / 36.5cm wide and 4.5in / 11.5cm tall.

The SwitchBot S20 (right) next to the brand's dinky K11+ (Image credit: Future)

The headline feature is the mop setup. The K20 has a roller mop that applies 1kg of pressure to scrub dirt from your hard floors. The roller is continually fed with clean water as it rolls across your floor, while a scraper siphons off the grime and dirty water and holds it in a small secondary water tank. While the roller can't kick out to the side of the machine for edge cleaning, as some premium models offer, it's still a very modern mop setup.

(Image credit: Future)

The suction stats are good, too, topping out at 10,000Pa. Until recently, that was about the maximum you'd find anywhere. Nowadays, there are premium bots that can manage twice that; but 10,000Pa should still be ample for most people's needs. There's a fixed side-sweeper brush and a single rubber roller.

Many modern robovac brands are exploring ways to help their bots scale tall room thresholds, but not so much SwitchBot. The chunky wheels should enable the S20 to make its way over steps up to 0.8in / 2cm – and perhaps a bit over that, based on my tests – but beware if your home has thresholds beyond that figure.

(Image credit: Future)

On the top side of the S20 you'll find three physical buttons. One is your on/off, another sends the bot back to its dock, and the third I'm not quite sure about. In any case, you'll generally be controlling your bot using the companion app. It's also Matter-compatible, so you can control it using Alexa, Google Assistant and so on.

(Image credit: Future)

There's also the LiDAR turret – or rather the LiDAR SLAM, as a label informs me. SLAM is an older, less-efficient method of robovac navigation (here's more on LiDAR vs SLAM in robot navigation), but there's no mention of it anywhere else in the literature. This is bolstered by an AI camera mounted at the front, for object identification and avoidance.

Image 1 of 4

(Image credit: Future)Image 2 of 4

(Image credit: Future)Image 3 of 4

(Image credit: Future)Image 4 of 4

(Image credit: Future)

The dock is designed to be able to take care of a number of maintenance tasks for you. It sucks the dust from the small onboard bin into a larger dust bag, drains the bot's dirty water tank and refills its clean one, and washes the roller and dries it with warm air (122ºF / 50ºC).

Unlike other similar models I've tested, the bot here docks only a short way into the base station, rather than driving right inside. I'm not sure exactly how it dries because the roller is hidden under the bot, away from the dock.

Design score: 4 out of 5

SwitchBot S20 review: performance

Excellent mopping and solid vacuuming, but a little noisy
Sensitive object avoidance; occasionally erratic navigation
Vacuuming with damp mop disastrous

Setup for the S20 was fairly standard. I performed a "quick mapping" run, where the bot ventured into all the rooms it could find, looked around a bit (without trying to clean them) and started to put together a map. No major issues here, although the bot did miss a room (I was confident it would find it later, and it did). I then edited the map and we were ready to start cleaning.

In terms of cleaning options, you can vacuum and mop together, just vacuum, or vacuum then mop. There are four suction modes (Quiet, Standard, Strong and Max) and Moist or Wet mopping modes.

Vacuum performance

To kick things off, I sent the bot off on a whole-floor vacuum, using the Strong suction mode, to get a general feel of its performance. My initial reaction was that it seemed noisier than other bots I'd used, with a vacuuming pitch that was a little irritating.

On the plus side, though, I could hear it ramping suction up and down as it moved from hard floor to carpet. When I paused and checked the onboard bin, I found plenty of dust and dog hair in there. The following auto-empty process was the loudest I've experienced in all my time reviewing robot vacuums.

(Image credit: Future)

Now on to TechRadar's standard suction tests. I sprinkled a mix of dry oats, lentils (to represent chunky debris) and dry tea leaves (to represent fine debris) on a carpeted floor, and asked the bot to clean the area twice, in Strong suction mode.

It performed fairly well, sucking up the lentil/oat mix efficiently, and clearing a good amount of the tea as well. I followed up with an area clean in Max mode, which removed even more tea, leaving only a light sprinkling. This is a solid result – it's a purposefully tricky test.

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Dry tea and oat / lentil mix on carpet before the suction test (Image credit: Future)Image 2 of 3

After two passes in Strong mode (Image credit: Future)Image 3 of 3

And the final result after a further pass in Max mode (Image credit: Future)

On hard floor, the test didn't go quite as smoothly. I ran my first hard floor test after I'd used the S20 for some mopping, and it was a disaster – by the time the S20 made its proud "Cleaning complete" announcement, there was tea, oats and lentils all over my kitchen floor.

Repeating the test on a different day, with the mop roller completely dry, yielded much better results. Although the bot flicked some particles about and left some in the grouting between tiles, it cleared most of the mess on the first pass.

With most robovacs, the mop pad(s) can either be removed entirely or will lift to traverse hard floors, but there's no such option here. It isn't the end of the world – you just need to make sure you save the mopping for the last task of the day.

Mop performance

I was dismayed and confused to see there isn't a "mop only" mode here, especially since it looks like this bot can do both things separately ("Vacuum then mop" is an option). The mopping here is more involved than usual – the bot isn't just feeding water onto the mop pads, it's also scraping them clean as it goes. Perhaps for that reason, the S20 emits a rather grating, droning noise when it's mopping.

It also takes quite a while for the roller to completely soak through – in my test, I found it had almost completed mopping my whole (quite large) kitchen before the striped track marks became solid. It isn't unusual for hybrid robot vacuums to take a while to get their mops properly wet – I usually like to remove the pad and wet it down myself before setting any bot out on a mopping run. That's more of a hassle here, though, due to the way it's attached to the bot.

(Image credit: Future)

While mopping tests didn't go completely smoothly, I got good results in the end. First, I drizzled soy sauce and soy milk on a tiled floor, and asked the bot to do an area clean in Wet mode.

The first area clean was scuppered by the fact the bot seemed to identify the milk as an object to avoid. It skirted carefully around the puddle, smearing the soy sauce in the process, but not really achieving any actual cleaning.

After spreading the puddle of milk around a bit to blur the edges, it was more successful on the my second run (shown in the video below). It delivered on its promise of clearing the spillage rather than spreading it about, as can happen with flat mop pads.

Buoyed by my success, I also ran a test to see if it could clear smeared ketchup from the floor. Unfortunately, it didn't manage to make much of a difference to the mess after one pass in Wet mode. That's not unusual – it's a difficult test – but I had gone in with quite high hopes for the roller mop.

xxxx does the dock dry the roller successfully?

Navigation and object avoidance

Moving on to navigation. Again, my experience was a little hit-and-miss. The SwitchBot S20 generally followed a logical up-and-down pattern, but there were plenty of occasions where it decided to – in the words of Fleetwood Mac – go its own way. It also had a little trouble clearing taller room thresholds, but managed them all in the end.

To test object avoidance, I placed a tissue box, shoe and charging cable on the carpeted floor in my lounge, and asked the bot to conduct an area clean. As you might have suspected from the its behavior in the mopping test, the S20 certainly has some object avoidance skills.

(Image credit: Future)

It successfully avoided both the cable (unheard of) and the shoe, and after deciding it wouldn't fit between them, took a long route around the coffee table to complete cleaning on the other size of the requested zone. I've never seen that before. It wasn't quite perfect – it did push the tissue box right across the room – but it is still very solid performance.

Performance score: 3.5 out of 5

SwitchBot S20 review: app

Fairly easy to navigate
Some frustrating quirks
Part of a general SwitchBot app, for all the brand's products

The app is generally fine, with all the key adjustment options presented in a logical way. However, there are a few annoying quirks that stop it from being perfect.

I had a seriously frustrating time trying to divide the hall from the toilet, with the app refusing to give me the solid line required for an acceptable room division; it repeatedly bumped my adjuster off to elsewhere on the map. I managed to create a divider eventually, but it's on the slant, and not at right angles to any wall (to be clear, this is not the situation in real life).

(Image credit: Future)

Maps and rooms have an eight-character limit so you can't, for example, create a "Top floor". Oh, and there's no "Hall" or "Corridor" option within the room defaults – you can make one (just about, in the case of "corridor", and that pesky character limit) but I'm baffled as to why it isn't there in the first place.

Finally, because it's part of a general SwitchBot app for all the brand's products, you'll have to click through a couple of screens before you reach the robovac options. It's fine if you've bought into the SwitchBot ecosystem and have multiple products to control, but a bit annoying if you're using the robot vac on its own.

App score: 3.5 out of 5

Should you buy the SwitchBot S20?

Attribute

Notes

Rating

Value

Premium at list price but regular large discounts deliver decent value.

3.5 / 5

Design

Larger than average, with an advanced roller mop setup and comprehensive clean station.

4 / 5

Performance

Above-average mopping and decent vacuuming, but don't try to vacuum with a damp roller. Excellent object detection. Rather noisy overall.

3.5 / 5

App

Includes all the key information, presented logically, but there are a few annoying quirks.

3.5 / 5

Buy it if...

Mopping is your priority

The mopping here is a cut above average, and this bot will come into its own in homes with lots of tiled or lino floors that need regular upkeep.

You have other SwitchBot products

SwitchBot has a whole bunch of smart home products – if you're already in the ecosystem, it makes sense to stick with the brand for your robovac. The app is designed for all SwitchBot gadgets.

You spot a good deal

I wouldn't pay full price for the S20, but I've seen some strong discounts that make it much better value – especially if you want the roller mop, because these are generally only found on pricier models.

Don't buy it if...

You have a mix of hard floor and carpet

This bot operates best when the mopping and vacuuming are kept completely separate. If you want something that will switch seamlessly between the two tasks, there are other bots that will suit your needs much better.

You want a tiny robovac

If you're here expecting for one of SwitchBot's tiny robovacs, you're in for a shock – this one is not only full-sized, but it's actually chunkier than average.

You're sensitive to noise

This is one of the noisier bots I've tested, with the self-empty mechanism especially loud. One to avoid if you're noise-sensitive, or live with someone who is.

How I tested the SwitchBot S20

I used the SwitchBot S20 as my regular robot vacuum for a fortnight, to get a feel for how it performs day-to-day. I also ran a series of standardized vacuuming and mopping tests, to see how it would cope with spillages of all kinds. I dug into the app and assessed the different options there, as well as gauging how easy it would be to use and if things are presented in an intuitive way. I compared my findings to other robot vacuums I've tested, and weighed everything up against the cost to ascertain if the bot delivered good value for money.

Read more about how we test robot vacuum cleaners

First reviewed October 2025

Categories: Reviews

This Shark upright might not be the fanciest vacuum in town, but in terms of cleaning power I can't fault it

Sat, 11/15/2025 - 17:30

Shark Stratos Upright AZ3002: two-minute reviewProduct info

This is the vacuum on review:

Shark Stratos DuoClean PowerFins Hair Pro Upright Vacuum AZ3002

Shark can be erratic with its naming, so check the product code to make sure you're buying the model you think you're buying. There are similar but slightly different models available in the UK and Australia (I tested a US vacuum).

The Shark Stratos Upright AZ3002 is a corded upright vacuum that packs plenty of cleaning power. Although bulky and heavy compared to a stick vacuum, it has a modular design that means you can remove the bin and hold it in your hand, while you use the wand on a flexible hose to tackle cleaning tasks off the floor. In floor mode, it will propel itself forwards when switched on, making it easier to drive (although at times it did feel like it was running away from me).

I've been using this vacuum on-and-off for a little over a year, so I've had plenty of opportunity to try it out on different floor types and see how it copes with different cleaning challenges. I'd rate it amongst the best upright vacuums around. It sucks up large and fine debris with ease, and handles hair well, too. It comes with a range of tools that are useful for tackling detail work, and with the pod removed it's easy to slide the wand under furniture and clean thoroughly in tight corners and right up against baseboards.

The main floorhead is kitted out with headlamps to help you spot dirt and fluff in dark corners, as well as an odor-neutralizing puck to keep things smelling fresh. Underneath are two rollers that work in tandem to tackle different floor types – a softer roller helps polish hard floors, and a firm roller with rubber fins helps agitate carpet fibers.

It's not the most advanced Shark Upright, and lacks some of the special features of newer models like the Shark PowerDetect Upright – including an Auto mode, which I missed here. However, it's still an excellent all-rounder, and worthy of consideration if you're hunting for the best vacuum for your needs.

(Image credit: Future)Shark Stratos Upright AZ3002 review: price & availability

List price: $529.99
Launch date: Unknown
Availability: US

The Shark Stratos Upright AZ3002 launched several years ago, and is available to buy in the US. There are similar models in the UK and Australia, but with slightly different product codes.

At list price, this vacuum costs $529.99 on the SharkNinja website. It's also available to buy via third party retailers like Target, Walmart, and Best Buy.

That price puts it in TechRadar's mid-range bracket for vacuums in general, but is rather expensive in the context of corded uprights. It's a high-quality vacuum cleaner that works really well and comes with plenty of accessories, so I think the price is justified. There are cheaper, still capable, uprights on the market if it's out of your budget, though.

Value for money score: 4 out of 5

Shark Stratos Upright AZ3002 specs

Type:

Corded upright

Weight:

22.7 lbs / 10.3kg

Bin size:

1.5 qts / 1.4 L

Size (H x W x L):

46.5 x 11 x 12.2 in / 118.1 x 27.9x 31cm

Filter:

HEPA, felt and washable foam

Max suction:

Not provided

Modes:

Hard floor, Carpet/low pile, Thick carpet/area rug

Cord length:

25 ft / 7.62m

Flexible hose length:

3 ft / 0.9m

Product code:

AZ3002

Shark Stratos Upright AZ3002 review: design

Modular design – can remove the motor section and hold in your hand
Floorhead for any floor type, and fitted with odor-neutralizing cartridge
Three suction levels to choose from but no auto mode

The first thing I noticed when unboxing the Shark Stratos Upright AZ3002 is the plethora of accessories. My review model came with a Crevice tool, Upholstery tool, and HairPro self-cleaning pet power brush for detail cleaning, plus an odor-neutralizer cartridge to slot into the floorhead. I found everything relatively easy to put together without needing to consult the manual.

As is almost always the case with upright vacuums, the Stratos AZ3002 is relatively bulky and heavy – especially compared to the best cordless stick vacuums on the market. However, here you can detach the pod that contains the dust cup and hold it in your hand while you use the wand on a flexible hose, which makes things like cleaning the stairs far easier.

This model is corded, so you'll need to deal with the relative inconvenience of having to unplug and re-plug as you clean. The cord is also shorter than I'd like, at just 25 ft / 7.62m.

(Image credit: Future)

One design feature I like is the ability to choose from three suction levels: one for hard flooring, one for low-pile carpet and one for thick carpet. A lot of corded uprights just have one setting, but I appreciate that I can customize the cleaning based on floor type here.

However, it's not the most advanced of the Shark uprights – the Shark PowerDetect Upright has an Auto mode whereby it'll increase or decrease suction based on how much dirt is on the floor. This vacuum will also amp up power when the vacuum nears the edge of a room, and has a floorhead that's designed to be able to pick up chunky debris when it's pulled backwards over it. None of those features are included on the Stratos Upright.

(Image credit: Future)

The main floorhead contains two motorized brushrolls that work in harmony to clean different flooring types. In the front is the soft roller, which picks up dust and helps polish hard floors. In the back is the PowerFins roller, which has rubbery fins to agitate carpet fibers, as well as helping to scoop up chunkier debris on hard floors.

One special feature which crops up on a number of the best Shark vacuums is an odor neutralizer cartridge. Here, it sits directly in the main floorhead, and can be rotated to raise or lower the intensity. I'm sensitive to some fragrances, but fortunately, on a low setting, the scent is not overpowering. It's a mild and clean fragrance. If you don't like this feature, the cartridge can be removed and won't affect the vacuum's actual performance.

The dustbin can hold 1.5 quarts / 1.4 liters of dust and debris at a time, which is far more than you'd fit into a cordless stick vacuum, but not as generous as you'll find on some upright models. However, it's nice and easy to empty: simply press the release button on the top of the pod and then push the level on the back to open the lid.

There are two types of filters in the vacuum: the HEPA filter, and the pre-motor filters (foam and felt filters), both of which will need cleaning semi-regularly and eventually replacing.

Design score: 4 out of 5

Shark Stratos Upright AZ3002 review: performance

Great suction on both hard floors and carpet
Cleans under low furniture (sofas and beds)
Reaches into tight spaces and above floor places

I was impressed with the powerful suction of the Shark Stratos Upright Vacuum. The company does not specifically list the suction power, but it's strong enough to easily remove debris on both hard floors and carpeted surfaces. While relatively weighty, it also propels itself forwards when turned on, which makes it easier to drive – although sometimes, when steering, it seems like the vacuum is almost going to topple over.

On hard floors, the brushroll is so strong that sometimes, during my tests with instant grits, a few specs would scatter or fly away. This did not happen on carpet, or with heavier types of debris – and I'm not deducting any points for the few scatters.

Throughout my time using the Stratos AZ3002, I never had any issues with hair getting tangled in the brushroll system. I don't have pets, but this vacuum pulled up my own short hairs with ease, and in general I think it'd make a good vacuum for pet hair – corded uprights like this one almost always have more suction than cordless stick vacuums, and I was certainly impressed with this model's cleaning power.

(Image credit: Future)

To get a more objective view of the AZ3002's performance, I ran a series of suction tests. In my first test, I opened a packet of dry apple cider tea and scattered it on the floor. I chose the hard floor mode, and the Shark Stratos easily removed it in a single pass.

In the next test, I sprinkled some instant grits on the floor. Still in hard floor mode, the vacuum also removed most of the debris in a single pass. However, in the left side of the photo above, you can see that the vacuum also scattered some of the grits on the floor.

In the third test, I poured some of the instant grits along the edge of the floor to test how closely the Shark Stratos cleans there. The vacuum cleaner removed the vast majority of the grits when vacuuming sideways and those left were picked up when I vacuumed head-on.

On carpet, I performed the same tests with dry apple cider vinegar tea and instant grits. This time, I poured the tea and grits side by side. I switched the setting to carpet/low pile cleaning. The Shark Stratos made easy work of picking up both the tea and grits – one pass is all that was needed for both types of spillage.

I must admit that I don't always remember to switch modes when vacuuming, and I missed having an Auto mode where the vacuum cleaner would adjust itself automatically when going from one type of flooring to the other.

(Image credit: Future)

One of my favorite features is the ability to remove the pod and use the vacuum cleaner almost like a stick vacuum. In this configuration, I found it easy to clean under my sideboard as well as under my sofa, and the floorhead was able to clean right up to the baseboards. Such thorough cleaning isn't always a given with an upright vacuum, and I appreciated it here. I also found the vacuum's headlights helped me spot dirt in dark spaces.

I also tried adding the Crevice tool to the end of the main wand. This setup was great for cleaning dust from the HVAC vent covers on the ceiling, as well as in tight spaces like under and on the side of the refrigerator. I found the Upholstery tool very effective for cleaning throw pillows and curtains, as well as any upholstered furniture. Finally, I used the Pet power brush to clean my carpeted stairs.

In all of these scenarios, the Shark Upright Stratos did an excellent job of removing dust and debris in just one forward motion (although I tended to go forward and backward when cleaning anyway).

Performance score: 4.5 out of 5

Should you buy the Shark Stratos Upright AZ3002?

Attribute

Notes

Rating

Value

Top of the mid-range bracket, but sometimes discounted. Great features help justify the price.

4 / 5

Design

Bulky, but modular design makes it versatile and it comes with lots of detail tools. Lacks advanced features of other Shark uprights and cord is a bit short.

4 / 5

Performance

Strong suction on hard floors and carpet. Cleans under low furniture, and with attachments, it reaches into tight places and can be used on steps and upholstery.

4.5 / 5

Buy it if...

You only plan to have one vacuum

The Shark Stratos Upright is equally effective on both carpet and hard floors, unlike some vacuum cleaners that do better on one or the other type of surface. With the attachments, you can also clean stairs, as well as upholstered items, and in tight places.

You worry about your hardwood floors

The soft roller head is gentle on hard floors so you don't have to worry about the vacuum cleaner being too rough and scratching the surface. As a bonus, the soft roller head also helps to buff the floors.

You don't like emptying the dust bin

The Shark Stratos Upright AZ3002 has a large dustbin so you'll likely never have to stop in the middle of a cleaning session to empty it. The push button mechanism means you don't have to touch the bin's contents, either.

Don't buy it if...

You struggle with bulky or heavy appliances

All in, this vacuum cleaner weighs 22.7 lbs / 10.3kg. Even with the self-propulsion and fact you can remove and hold the bin pod, it's rather heavy. If you struggle with heavy appliances, a stick vacuum might be a better fit.

You want low-effort cleaning

There are three suction modes here, but you'll need to toggle them manually. More advanced Shark Uprights have an Auto mode that'll do it for you.

You need to vacuum a lot of stairs

While the pod is removable, making it easier to clean stairs, the cord and hose can only stretch so far. A cordless stick vacuum is a better option for stairs.

How I tested the Shark Stratos Upright AZ3002

I've had the Shark Stratos Upright AZ3002 for over a year, and used it on-and-off for months at a time in my two-bedroom home, which has a mix of carpet and hard floors.

For this review I used the Shark Stratos Upright as my primary vacuum cleaner for a couple of weeks, so I could determine cleaning effectiveness in the three modes. I also gauged how easy it was to maneuver the vacuum, and how easy it was to empty and maintain.

To measure performance more specifically, I conducted several tests on both hard floors and carpet, using dry tea and instant grits. I also tested how well the vacuum cleaner was able to clean up against baseboards, and how well it worked with the various attachments to clean stairs, upholstery, and in tight spaces.

Read more about how we test vacuum cleaners

First reviewed November 2025

Categories: Reviews

I’ve been testing digital photo frames for years, and I've just found my favorite design – Pexar’s innovative rear-lit stunner

Sat, 11/15/2025 - 14:30

Pexar Starlight 15.6-inch digital photo frame: review

The Pexar Starlight 15.6-inch digital photo frame is an innovative photo frame built on the third-party Frameo platform. While its premium styling and large, glare-free display are undoubtedly a visual treat, the feature most likely to draw admiring comments from visitors to your home will be the rear-facing wall light, described by the manufacturer Lexar as the ‘world’s first’.

If you’ve read any of my past reviews of digital photo frames built on the Frameo platform, you’ll be familiar with how easy the app is to use. Adding users is a cinch. You simply tap ‘Add Friend’ on the frame, and it generates a code. Once you or your loved ones have downloaded the app, you can enter the code, and you’re good to go.

Sending photos to the frame has been improved since I last used the Frameo app. You can still select up to 10 photos to send at a time or upgrade to the Frameo+ app for $1.99 / £0.99 a month or $16.99 / £7.99 a year to unlock unlimited sends. Once you’ve selected which frame you want to send the photos to, you can add captions and adjust their alignment. In a marked improvement over earlier versions of the app, you can now manually select the positioning of images in both landscape and portrait orientation, ensuring your snaps are cropped exactly how you want them.

Once my snaps were loaded on it, I was generally impressed. It certainly gives some of the best digital photo frames a run for their money. From a decent viewing distance, my black-and-white shots of the Puente Romano in Córdoba look crisply detailed. Up close, though, it doesn’t always look quite as precise – that’s an inevitable side effect of that larger screen size, which gives it a pixel density of 141 PPI, rather than the staggering 212 PPI of the Pexar 11-inch Digital Picture Frame.

(Image credit: Future / Josh Russell)

Another area where it falls a little short of the excellent example set by its predecessor is color balance. One of the things that blew me away about the older Pexar frame was its impressively vibrant hues, but the Starlight looks more muted to me. Even compared to the screen of my iPhone 16 Pro – not a device notorious for its hyper-saturated colors – the Barbie pink of camellias or blazing gold of rhododendron blooms look more conservative and less exuberant. It’s not miles off the mark, but it’s just enough that photos look a little more subdued than I’d like.

Despite these slight missteps, the Pexar Starlight’s performance is still impressive, giving your photos plenty of pop. In a large part, this is thanks to the frame’s bright display and super-dynamic, contrasty pictures – even if the colors look a little duller from time to time, photographs I’ve uploaded still look bold and assertive, making for an impressive focal point in my living room.

Naturally, this is helped by the design of the Pexar Starlight 15.6-inch digital photo frame, which is flat out gorgeous. That 15.6-inch screen is bright and almost entirely glare-free – honestly, it’s so unperturbed by all the artificial light in my office that it’s like it’s subject to some kind of quantum tunnelling effect where the light just passes straight through it.

(Image credit: Future)

The frame is a bit of a stunner as well. Its wood grain finish is beautiful and feels delightfully tactile, while the bezels around the screen are nicely textured to mimic a proper mount. Admittedly, the plastic this is made from doesn’t feel quite as authentic as the paper-like effect on the Aura Aspen but the overall effect still gives it a more premium feel than the Pexar 11-inch Digital Picture Frame before it.

Given its name, you probably won’t be surprised to hear that the biggest new feature of the Starlight is backlighting. I didn’t notice it a whole lot when viewing the frame stand-mounted or under bright light, but mounted on the wall or in the evening, it looks picture perfect. Honestly, it makes the frame a statement piece in its own right. I do wish there was an option to change the warmth of the backlight, though, as it can look a little cool for the kind of soft amber light I prefer after dark.

Ultimately, I feel like the Pexar Starlight 15.6-inch is the difficult sequel to Pexar’s breakthrough album, the Pexar 11-inch Digital Picture Frame. It’s more ambitious, more innovative and yet it compromises on a few of the things that made its predecessor such a hit. It still features pretty highly on my list of favorite digital photo frames but for $159.99 / £149.99 you can snap up its stablemate instead.

(Image credit: Future / Josh Russell)Pexar Starlight 15.6-inch digital photo frame review: price & release date

Launched November 6, 2025
Retails for $349.99 / £349.99

Released on November 6, 2025, the Pexar Starlight 15.6-inch digital photo frame is available in both the US and UK for a list price of $349.99 / £349.99.

While that’s not exactly cheap, it’s still reasonably priced. For example, the Aura Aspen costs $229 (around £175) for a smaller 11.8-inch display, though it does offer better pixel density and color reproduction. By contrast, the huge 27-inch Netgear Meural Canvas II will set you back a whopping $599.99 / £649.99 – for that spend, you get great features and better color, yet it has a much lower pixel density as a result of its bulk.

(Image credit: Future)Pexar Starlight 15.6-inch digital photo frame review: specs

Dimensions

7.1 x 10.2 x 1 inches (180 x 259 x 25mm)

Display size

15.6-inch

Resolution

1920 x 1080, 144 pixels per inch

Aspect Ratio

16:9

Touch Screen

Yes

Sound

Built-in speaker

Orientation

Portrait or landscape

Storage

64GB

Connectivity

Wi-Fi, SD card, USB-A, USB-C

(Image credit: Future / Josh Russell)Should I buy the Pexar Starlight 15.6-inch digital photo frame?

Attributes

Notes

Rating

Features

The Frameo app is easier to use than ever, thanks to new settings for cropping your photos.

4/5

Design

The Pexar Starlight is stunningly designed, with a gorgeous wood-grain frame, textured white bezels and that classy backlight.

5/5

Performance

Impressively bright and glare-free, the Starlight offers crisp, contrasty images – it’s just a shame its colors can occasionally look a little more subdued than other frames.

4/5

Value

With an increased price and build quality, the Pexar has also lost some detail and color accuracy, which is a real shame. But it’s still not a bad frame for this kind of spend.

4/5

Buy it if…

You want a bright, expansive screen
Not only does the Pexar Starlight offer a generous 15.6-inch screen, it’s also pleasingly bright, looking bold and eye-catching even in bright daylight.

You want a truly gorgeous looking frame
With its wonderfully tactile wood-grain finish and textured mount, this frame looks very close to its analog counterparts. But add that innovative backlight and you’ve got something that almost no frame currently offers.

Don’t buy it if…

You want the absolute crispest photo frame you can get
While the Pexar Starlight looks reasonably sharp, its 141 PPI pixel density is dwarfed by that of some frames on the market, such as the 212 PPI Pexar 11-inch Digital Picture Frame.

You’re looking for striking, true-to-life color
The Pexar Starlight handles earth tones well enough but it’s a bit of shrinking violet when it comes to primary and secondary colors, lacking the vibrancy of some rival digital photo frames.

Pexar Starlight 15.6-inch digital photo frame review: also consider

Pexar Starlight 15.6-inch digital photo frame

Aura Aspen

Pexar 11-inch Digital Picture Frame

Dimensions

7.1 x 10.2 x 1 inches (180 x 259 x 25mm)

12.7 x 10.1 x 1.1 inches (323 x 257 x 28mm)

7.4 x 11.2 inches (18.9 x 28.4cm)

Display size

15.6-inch

11.8-inch

11-inch

Resolution

1920 x 1080, 144 pixels per inch

1600 x 1200, 170 pixels per inch

2000 x 1200, 212 pixels per inch

Aspect Ratio

16:9

4:3

5:3

Touch Screen

Yes

Sound

Built-in speaker

Orientation

Portrait or landscape

Storage

64GB

Unlimited cloud storage

32GB

Connectivity

Wi-Fi, SD card, USB-A, USB-C

Wi-Fi

Wi-Fi, SD card, USB-A, USB-C

Pexar 11-inch Digital Picture Frame
If you care most about performance over style, Pexar’s previous digital photo frame is the one to go for. Thanks to its huge 2000 x 1200 resolution display crammed into a 11-inch screen, this Pexar rocks a whopping 212 PPI pixel density and is also capable of truly glorious color, with pinks, reds and yellows positively glowing in my photos. Read my full Pexar 11-inch Digital Picture Frame review for more.

Aura Aspen
Alternatively, the Aura Aspen offers a fantastic sweet spot between both form and function. Its build is exquisite – its bezels have a matte, textured-paper effect that feels like real mount, while its body and stand are satisfyingly sturdy. Meanwhile, it still has an impressive display, rocking a 170 PPI pixel density and some of the best color accuracy I’ve ever seen. Read my full Aura Aspen review.

(Image credit: Future)How I tested the Pexar Starlight 15.6-inch digital photo frame

Tested over several weeks
Uploaded a range of color and monochrome photos
Have many years of experience working with photography

I spent several weeks testing the Pexar Starlight 15.6-inch digital photo frame. To test out how easy it is to use, I first set up the frame and added several users to it. I then sent over a range of photos using the Frameo app, both individually and in large batches to see how easy the transfer process is, before tweaking the fit and alignment of each image.

I made sure I uploaded a significant variety of photos to test out how the frame’s display performed against different criteria. To test its resolution and contrast, I used a variety of black-and-white photographs, from mountains in the Scottish Highlands to Spanish architecture. When assessing its color performance, I used vibrant shots of blossoms, flowers and fireworks, comparing its color reproduction against the screen of my iPhone 16 Pro.

Not only have I tested over half a dozen of the best digital photo frames released over the last 18 months, I’m also a keen photographer, having snapped over 40,000 images on my Canon SLR and iPhone 16 Pro. On top of this, I spent over a decade working in print publishing, meaning that I have a keen eye for managing photography and assessing how it’s translated to another medium.

First reviewed: November 2025
Read more about how we test

Categories: Reviews

I spent a month testing the new Roku Pro Series (2025), and it’s a solid upgrade on an already high-value TV

Sat, 11/15/2025 - 06:00

Roku Pro Series TV (2025): One-minute review

The original Roku Pro Series TV impressed me when I reviewed it in 2024, and I remain impressed with this updated version Roku released in 2025. The differences between the two, ultimately, are somewhat minor – you can’t really tell a difference at a glance, other than it having larger support feet – but the improvements in audio and picture quality make it worth it.

I actually appreciate that the Roku Pro Series (2025) is mostly the same in a lot of ways. Its shadowbox design might seem strangely thick for TVs these days, but it has benefits when it comes to wall-mounting and sound quality. The port selection is the same, though at least the HDMI ports that support a faster refresh rate are visibly marked this time around. The Pro Series (2025) comes with Roku’s best remote control as well.

Just like last year, I consider the Roku Pro Series to be among the best TVs in this price range. It’s certainly a step up from the still good Roku Plus Series. Now, it doesn’t have quite the brightness and deep contrast of really premium TVs, but it does support Dolby Vision and HDR10+ high dynamic range, not to mention uses a mini-LED backlight with local dimming.

Roku Pro Series (2025) review: Price and release date

The Roku Voice Remote Pro allows for hands-free voice support (Image credit: Future)

Release date: June 2025
55-inch: $899.99
65-inch: $1,199.99
75-inch: $1,699.99

The Roku Pro Series TV (2025) is a refresh of the Roku Pro Series TV (2024) I reviewed last year, with just a few (but welcome) upgrades. Even so, the Pro Series TVs are priced the same as last year's models at all screen sizes.

Launch prices for the Roku Pro Series TVs sit between the TCL QM6K and TCL QM7K, two other value-priced series of mini-LED TVs. They are also comparable to the launch prices for the Amazon Fire TV Omni Mini-LED series TVs. All three of those TV lineups have seen discounts in 2025, and we expect to see the same for the Roku Pro Series (2025) as we head into the holiday shopping season.

Roku Pro Series (2025) review: Specs

Screen type:

QLED with mini-LED

Refresh rate:

120Hz

HDR support:

Dolby Vision IQ, HDR10+ Adaptive, HDR10, HLG

Audio support:

Dolby Atmos

Smart TV:

Roku TV

HDMI ports:

4 (2x HDMI 2.1)

Built-in tuner:

ATSC 1.0

Roku Pro Series (2025) review: Benchmark resultsRoku Pro Series (2025) review: Features

Connections include two HDMI 2.1 ports with 4K 120Hz support (Image credit: Future)

Smart home support
Hands-free voice control
Roku Smart Picture Max

The feature-filled Roku Pro Series (2025) offers much of what you would expect from a TV these days, such as Apple AirPlay support and the ability to connect Bluetooth headphones and speakers. It also works with multiple smart home ecosystems such as Roku Smart Home, Apple HomeKit, Alexa, and Google Home.

HDR support includes Dolby Vision IQ and HDR10+ Adaptive. The TV’s Hands-free voice control, accessible through the remote, is also pretty nifty, especially since you just have to be in the remote’s vicinity and don’t have to press the microphone button for it to hear you.

One key upgrade from last year’s Roku Pro Series is the addition of Roku Smart Picture Max. This feature, like Dolby Vision, adjusts the picture quality on a scene-by-scene basis. It will also change picture modes as well as color, sharpness, and contrast on a scene-by-scene basis. That’s pretty cool, and, interestingly, one of those things you don’t really notice the benefits of until it’s turned off.

Also worth mentioning is the fact that you can set it to automatically turn on when powering up an external source, such as a gaming console or Blu-ray player.

Features Score: 4/5

Roku Pro Series (2025) review: Picture quality

Adjusting the TV's settings to the Brightest option in the Picture setup menu will more than double its brightness to an impressive 1,700-1,800 nits (Image credit: Future)

Improved color accuracy with good brightness
Good contrast and motion handling
Very minor vignetting

Having tested several TVs in this budget price range, it’s hard to get too impressed with the results. And when I got the Roku Pro Series TV (2025), it felt like more of the same. But my main TV is last year’s version, and the performance is very similar.

The Pro Series (2025) TV’s Peak HDR brightness, measured on a white window pattern covering 10% of the screen, was 821 nits in Filmmaker Mode and 841 nits in Standard mode. And it hit 375 and 390 nits, respectively, in those same modes when we measured fullscreen brightness.

Those results were at the default settings for those picture modes, and would be considered average for a budget mini-LED TV. We ran a second round of measurements with the Brightest setting selected for each mode, however, and the peak HDR brightness results more than doubled to 1,752 nits in Filmmaker Mode and 1,818 nits in Standard mode. That’s a significant difference, and a big benefit when viewing in a room with bright lighting.

The TV’s color gamut coverage of 96.9% UHDA-P3 and 80.6 BT.2020 is also quite good, although we’ve seen similar results from mid-range mini-LED TVs such as the TCL QM8K. One improvement, revealed by our benchmarks, is the new Pro Series’ color accuracy: Last year’s model sat at 3.9, while this year’s is 2.6 (the closer to 0 the better).

In terms of actual viewing, the images that this screen produces are crisp and vibrant. Roku has worked to minimize blooming and it seems to have paid off as images looked clean and defined even with very strong contrast and color. And the TV does a good job with motion handling: While watching NFL games, I could clearly make out all the players and how they moved across the field.

The colors pop the way they should when watching something like Coco (a favorite animated movie for testing color). And the TV’s handling of high dynamic range allows for wide contrast levels, including being able to make out details in the shadows.

Now, I can’t say that the picture quality is any better than the TCL QM6K I recently reviewed, though it does have less vignetting at the corners than that TV. Of course, that’s to also say that the Roku Pro Series does suffer from very minor vignetting, although it’s so minor that I would have to point it out for most other people to notice it.

Picture quality score: 4/5

Roku Pro Series (2025) review: Sound quality

Larger speaker chambers on the Pro Series (2025) allow for higher volume levels and a greater sense of spaciousness (Image credit: Future)

Good, soundbar-level audio
Lacks bass
Decent audio fine-tuning features

I’ve spent a bit of time not only listening to the audio from shows and movies but also plenty of music on this TV. Like the previous version, the Roku Pro Series TV (2025) has very good audio for a TV. It’s good enough that you probably won’t feel the need to get a soundbar unless you want surround sound, spatial audio, or a subwoofer. It’s as good as a basic soundbar, and that’s high praise for a TV.

The internal chambers for the speakers on the new Roku Pro Series are actually bigger than the previous version, allowing for a little higher volume and a greater sense of space to the sound. They’re also pushed out a little wider for a better soundstage. It’s not night and day, as last year’s version was very good, too, but I appreciate that Roku is constantly trying to improve the TV’s audio.

As far as the frequency range goes, there’s a lot of good and some bad. The high end is decent enough that I feel like I can hear plenty of detail whenever I’m listening to music, while the mid-range has a richness to it that not only gives music and background scores a fullness, but also helps highlight dialogue.

The low end, unfortunately, is very lacking, though this is far from a surprise. When I watched an action scene in a movie with lots of explosions (or anything where there’s a lot of bass), it felt a bit lacking since that low-end information is basically missing. Batman punching through an explosion in his Batmobile in The Batman just doesn’t hit the same when you don’t feel the 18-wheeler turn off or explode.

The soundstage does have good imaging, meaning I could clearly hear where the audio is intended to be (left or right, close or far away). It doesn’t quite have the width of an external home theater sound system, but, for something built into the back of a TV, it’s fairly impressive.

Lastly, I do want to mention that there are some solid audio-related settings available. For one, you can adjust its audio output based on whether it’s mounted against the wall or not. There are also treble and bass EQ sliders.

On top of that, there are various sound presets, including a dialog and night mode, both of which I feel are important. The former boosts where the human voice sits to make dialogue more intelligible (looking at you, Christopher Nolan) and the latter flattens the dynamic range so that there aren’t any unexpected loud or quiet parts when watching at night.

Sound quality score: 4.5/5

Roku Pro Series (2025) review: Design

No tools are required to install the TV's support feet (Image credit: Future)

Shadowbox design allows for flush mounting
Cable management in the back with marked HDMI 2.1 ports
Remote has hands-free voice support

When I reviewed last year’s version of the Roku Pro Series TV, one of my favorite aspects was its shadowbox design. Since the 2025 version is virtually identical, the shadowbox design remains. Looking at its side profile, it’s thicker than most TVs these days. That might sound like it looks unwieldy, but it’s still an attractive TV.

More importantly, when hung, this shape sits flush against the wall the way a picture frame would, making for a more attractive installation. Compare that to most TVs that are tapered in the back and look like they’re hanging off the wall. It’s a design choice that I really appreciate.

From the front, you have very thin bezels around the TV except along the bottom, where it’s around half an inch in height, enough to showcase the Roku logo. The screen itself does have some reflectivity, but it’s not any worse than any other mid-range or budget TV I’ve seen.

Design-wise, the back of the TV is a little more interesting. First, the lower back is indented in such a way to allow you to run all the cables from the ports and power down the middle while still keeping the TV flush against the wall if mounted. Plus, there are strategically placed straps to keep the cables from sticking out.

As far as ports go, there are four HDMI connections, two of which are version 2.1 that allow 120Hz refresh rates from external sources such as a gaming console. And, unlike last year’s version, they’re marked. There are also USB-A and USB-C ports, LAN (for a wired Ethernet connection), optical digital audio out, and an antenna input. Besides the marked HDMI ports, I appreciated the extra USB so I could keep the charging cable for the remote plugged in.

Speaking of the remote, it’s the same second-gen Roku Voice Remote Pro that not only allows for hands-free voice support – you can talk to it with a wake word (“Hey Roku”) like you would an Amazon Echo – but has two reprogrammable buttons so you can have a shortcut for an app that you might open all the time that isn’t already on the remote.

Design score: 5/5

Roku Pro Series (2025) review: Smart TV and menus

Roku has one of the cleanest and easiest to navigate smart TV interfaces on the market (Image credit: Future)

Tile interface layout
Plenty of free or Roku-specific content
Lots of picture settings available for fine-tuning

Smart TV interfaces generally come in two flavors: a grid of tiles and a banner plus mixed content. The former basically organizes the home screen around an arrangement of app tiles, and you navigate to the app you want. The latter generally has a rotating banner that highlights a specific movie or show, along with rows of different content including app tiles but also specific media from within your subscribed apps.

Roku uses the tile layout, and I like it. It’s a little less busy and has a cleaner look, though you do have to open the apps to browse. However, Roku does have some suggested content at the top now, as well as a “What to Watch” tab that showcases rows of specific media, including a “Continue Watching” row.

Like most smart TV makers, Roku offers free, ad-supported content. Of course, there’s the Roku Channel, but there’s now also the Howdy by Roku app that is paid for ad-free viewing, but is very low-priced. There’s also a Sports tab with some free content available.

As far as the actual TV settings go, I appreciate that all settings are integrated into the Roku OS, though that’s not unusual these days.

Even better is the fact that I can adjust settings for different inputs, even renaming them, as well as connect different Bluetooth devices like headphones. There are plenty of settings that one can play with for picture quality to adjust HDR (or turn it off entirely), different motion-related settings for sports, local dimming and micro contrast, and all sorts of color and color-temperature settings. You can do quite a bit of fine-tuning.

Smart TV & menus score: 5/5

Roku Pro Series (2025) review: Gaming

An ultra-low 9.3ms input lag in Game mode results in smooth and responsive gaming (Image credit: Future)

4K 120Hz support
Automatic switching to console input and gaming picture mode
No FPS counter

Roku has not forgotten about gamers with the Pro Series. There isn’t a special TV menu when in game mode like I see on some other TVs, but there is support for 4K 120Hz input on two of the TV’s HDMI ports.

When turning on a next-gen console, the TV can automatically switch to that input (a setting you have to enable). The TV will also automatically switch to Game mode, which adjusts the picture settings.

The things that make the Roku Pro Series TV (2025) good for gaming are mostly what make it good for other types of media. The TV does well with sports, so it’s no surprise that it can handle fast-moving objects on the screen, whether it’s playing a sports game like NBA 2K25 or a shooter. Even something like Dead Island 2, where you’re running around and trying to dodge zombies, requires good motion handling.

The TV’s good brightness, along with solid HDR and color, really helps games to pop. Measured input latency is also an ultra-low 9.3ms in Game mode, which results in highly responsive performance.

Gaming score: 4.5/5

Roku Pro Series (2025) review: Value

The Roku Pro Series (2025) accessories kit (Image credit: Future)

Good price for what’s offered
Plenty of solid competition
Cheaper Plus series mini-LED model available

At around $1,200 for the 65-inch model I tested, the Roku Pro Series is affordably priced, although it faces stiff competition from other budget and mid-range mini-LED TVs.

For instance, the TCL QM6K is a stellar option for a mid-range TV and you can find it on sale for under $700 in the same size. The QM6K has great color and contrast, but just okay brightness and the audio is lacking.

Of course, if you like the idea of the Roku Pro but not the price, the newer version of the Roku Plus Series will get you most of the way there for a little less cash. Spending around $650 for the 65-inch version will get you a 4K mini-LED TV with Dolby Vision and HDR10+ support, though you’re not going to have the same audio quality, shadowbox design, or 4K 120Hz support.

The Roku Pro Series is a good value compared to the competition, though part of that is the improved audio as well as some of Roku’s unique design choices. It’s also what makes it a better value than the Roku Plus models.

Value score: 4.5/5

Should I buy the Roku Pro Series (2025)?

(Image credit: Future)Roku Pro Series (2025)

Attributes

Notes

Rating

Features

Roku Smart Picture Max, smart home, and hands-free voice support are just some of what this TV has on offer

4.5/5

Picture quality

The color accuracy is improved over last year’s model. The overall picture quality is very good, though there is some minor vignetting

4/5

Sound quality

The audio quality is good enough to skip getting a soundbar, though there’s not much bass

4.5/5

Design

The shadowbox design might be bulky, but it is ideal for mounting the TV flush on the wall

5/5

Smart TV and menus

Navigating the interface and menus is straightforward

5/5

Gaming

Supports a high refresh rate, though there are limited gaming-related menu options

4/5

Value

Improves on last year’s model, while selling for the same price

4.5/5

Buy it if...

You want a TV that looks good on the wall
The shadowbox design allows this TV to look good when mounted, almost like a picture frame with a TV in it. If you plan on mounting your TV, this one sits flush against the wall and does a good job of hiding the cables in the back.

You don’t want to buy a soundbar
The audio quality is good enough that you won’t feel the need to get a soundbar. It does lack some low-end, but Roku sells wireless subwoofers that can pair with the TV.

Don't buy it if…

You want a next-level picture
The Roku Pro Series TV looks very good, but it’s not quite a premium TV. You’ll have to spend a bit more, but there’s still a level of image quality above this model.

You’re on a serious budget
This model punches above its weight, but if you’re on a budget, you’re better off sticking with the Roku Select or Plus Series, which are still pretty good TVs.

Also consider...

Roku Pro Series (2025)

TCL QM6K

Roku Plus Series

Hisense U75QG

Price (65-inch)

$1,199

$999

$649

$1,499

Screen type

mini-LED w/ QLED

Refresh rate

120Hz

Up to 144Hz

60Hz

Up to 165Hz

HDR support

Dolby Vision IQ/HDR10+/HDR10

Smart TV

Roku TV

Google TV

Roku TV

Google TV

HDMI ports

4 (2x HDMI 2.1)

4 HDMI 2.1

TCL QM6K
The TCL QM6K is just as good a value and even a little cheaper than the Roku Pro Series TV, though it doesn’t have quite the audio quality or its unique shadowbox design. What it does have is a great picture quality with vibrant colors, good contrast, and minimal backlight blooming.

Read our full TCL QM6K review

Roku Plus Series
You’ll be locked to a 60Hz refresh rate and you won’t have the precision of the Pro Series, but the Roku Plus Series TVs are still an excellent value as they’re mini-LED TVs with full-array local dimming. It’s still as convenient as any other Roku device, though you won’t have the automatic picture switching, shadow box design, or updated remote of the Pro Series.

Read our full Roku Plus Series review

Hisense U75QG
Hisense's mid-range mini-LED TV is near the same price range as the Roku Pro Series, and it offers much higher picture brightness and better gaming features. Its design isn't as eye-catching as the Roku TV, however, and audio quality isn't as good.

Read our full Hisense U75QG review

How I tested the Roku Pro Series TV (2025)

(Image credit: Future)

I used the Roku Pro Series TV (2025) for a month
Tested with both TV, movies, music, and games
Benchmark measurements conducted by Future US testing lab

I used the Roku Pro Series TV (2025) regularly for a month. I used it with TV, movies, music, and games. I tested the various features to see if they work as advertised. I also spent time listening to the audio as well as paying attention to the picture quality.

After spending some time with this TV, it’s my opinion that this TV is ideal for those who want a premium TV without the premium price tag as well as those who want to wall-mount a TV but hate how they look when mounted.

I’ve tested a lot of tech gear over the years, from laptops to keyboards and speakers, and so have been able to use my expertise towards giving an honest and fair opinion, not to mention a critical eye, to any product I test.

You can read an in-depth overview of how we test TVs at TechRadar at that link.

First reviewed: November 2025
Read TechRadar's reviews guarantee

Categories: Reviews

Fluance's chic powered bookshelf speakers offer impressively detailed, almost neutral sound – with very few drawbacks

Sat, 11/15/2025 - 04:30

Fluance Ri71: Two-minute review

If you’ve looked into mid-range speakers from Fluance like the Fluance Ri71 powered speakers reviewed here, you’ll see people talk about how they’re good for the price. There have been plenty of caveats and plenty of hedging since, after all, the speakers are manufactured in Taiwan. Never mind that they’re designed in Canada or the fact that, regardless of where they’re from, they’re just good speakers.

Having reviewed these speakers, I can honestly say that the Fluance Ri71 sound great and not just for the price. Yes, they may not quite reach the heights of something from Dali or KEF, but they still have a fairly neutral, detailed sound that works for all genres. The price tag is an added bonus as they’re among the best stereo speakers out there for anyone not wanting to spend over $500.

I do wish there were also USB or USB-C port to connect to a computer and the placement of the volume wheel is not ideal. Though I like the look of a naked speaker (and therefore don’t count it as a negative), they don’t come with a grille for those who care. There’s really not much to complain about here.

Really, the Fluance Ri71 speakers are an easy recommendation for anyone looking for powered bookshelf speakers. And though there’s no spatial audio or surround sound, they work pretty well for TV, too.

(Image credit: Future / James Holland)Fluance Ri71 review: Price & release date

Released March, 2025
Priced $399.99 / £333.32 / AU$620 (approx.)

With a price tag of $399.99 / £333.32 / AU$620 (approx.), the Fluance Ri71 sits right in mid-range territory.

You can certainly find some powered bookshelf speakers for triple the price (and not necessarily triple the performance) – you can also spend quite a bit less. Fluance’s own Ai41 powered speakers come in at $249 (£255, AU$471), but those are smaller with less power and a less refined sound.

The Fluance Ri71 are available in the US and in the UK (via Amazon). Though Fluance maintains a presence on Amazon AUS (for Australia), the Ri71 don’t seem to be available Down Under at this time.

Fluance Ri71 review: Specs

Weight

6.4 kg (active speaker); 5 kg (passive speaker)

Dimensions

310 x 185 x 199 mm

Subwoofer

No (has sub out)

Frequency response

46 Hz - 30 kHz

Dolby Atmos / DTS:X enabled?

Maximum output

120 watts

Fluance Ri71 review: Features

Bluetooth 5.3 with aptX HD and AAC codecs capable of almost lossless streaming
Included HDMI is ARC-enabled for use with a TV
No spatial audio or Wi-Fi streaming

Powered bookshelf speakers such as the Fluance Ri7 bridge the gap between a traditional speaker setup and what people want out of a modern sound system. That means there are some great quality-of-life features on hand, while some things a casual listener might expect or hope for are just not here. So, neither spatial audio, surround sound nor Wi-Fi streaming are part of the package, but that’s generally the case with this type of speaker setup and not really a knock against them in my opinion.

What is on hand, however, is a decent amount of connectivity including Bluetooth 5.3 with aptX HD and AAC codecs for close-to lossless streaming. In the past, there’s been a noticeable difference in quality between Bluetooth audio and that sent through a wired signal because the latter doesn’t have to compress the sound. But that’s no longer the case. There’s a small difference but, in my opinion, it’s very hard to notice.

There’s also an HDMI port on hand, meaning these speakers can be used with a TV. The built-in offerings on most TVs generally suck, so having a good pair of speakers is always a welcome upgrade. And while they might not be as feature-filled as some of the best soundbars around the same price tag, they still offer a better stereo soundstage. And (usually) better sound. Since the HDMI connection is ARC-supported, you can control the volume with one remote.

Features score: 4.5/5

(Image credit: Future / James Holland)Fluance Ri71 review: Sound quality

Decent low end without subwoofer
Impressively detailed high end
Immersive, if polite-sounding

While you shouldn’t rely too much on a speaker’s frequency range as a gauge of sound quality, the range of 46 Hz - 30 kHz does tell us a few things. At 46Hz, the low end is not all that low, but is comparable to other powered bookshelf speakers, with many having a higher cutoff.

The Fluance Ri71 also has bass ports at the bottom of the speaker cabinet to accentuate what it can reproduce. That means that, while you don’t quite have that very low rumble you might hear in electronic dance music or an action scene in a movie, you still get a well-balanced if slightly restrained bass response. Listening to anything with heavy 808 usage (that deep bass you hear in hip-hop and EDM) is going to lack a little oomph.

On the high end of that aforementioned range, 30kHz is pretty impressive, with that extended high end potentially coming from the AMT tweeters. Either way, that’s much better than the 20kHz range around which many speakers sit. Now, many of us probably can’t hear up to 30kHz but what this extended range, plus the fast response of those tweeters, mean is that there’s not only an immediacy to higher-end sound but a clarity to themtoo.

It’s almost as if someone pulled a blanket off the band I’m listening to and all of sudden I can hear intricacies of the ride and the sweetness of the strings. Or, if you prefer the more boring way of saying it, the music feels less compressed and less filtered.

The midrange feels a little pulled back, which makes everything sound more polite. It can make rock music sound just a little aggressive, for instance. Unfortunately, you can only boost or cut the high or low end.

As far as soundstage goes, the Fluance Ri71 sound good wherever you place them but really benefit from spending the time to actually adjust them to your ears. You’ll know it’s right when you can hear the “center channel” in the middle as if there were a speaker there.

They also do a good job with sound imaging. I feel that I have a solid grasp of where an aural element is in the mix beyond just left, right, and center, which makes the listening experience all the more immersive.

Sound quality score: 4.5/5

(Image credit: Future / James Holland)Fluance Ri71 review: Design

New AMT tweeter is the most unique design choice here
Unusual placement of controls
No digital connectivity beyond HDMI

The Fluance Ri71 have a look and general design much like any other active bookshelf speakers. There are two of them standing at about 12 inches (310mm) in height. Each speaker cabinet is fairly rectangular in shape, though they do taper near the back.

And they come in the kind of “looks good in an office” colorways one would expect. Specifically, they’re available in white, walnut, and black. One thing I do appreciate is the fact that the white and black (reviewed here) still have noticeable wood grain. Of course, these are made of MDF wood, but that’s most bookshelf speakers these days for you.

As far as the actual drivers go, each speaker cabinet comes with a 5.25-inch (133.3 mm) woven glass fiber driver and an AMT (air motion transformer) tweeter, along with a long, thin bass port beneath to emphasize the low end. Besides any upgraded internal bracing, the AMT tweeter is the new star of the show. These tweeters are different than the regular tweeters insofar as they offer a faster response and more detail, though placement is a bit more precise.

Since these are powered bookshelf speakers with 120 watts coursing through them via a Class D amp, there are some on-unit controls on the right speaker. There’s a volume wheel on the back at the top, a strange place considering these dials are usually more accessible on the front. You can press the volume wheel to change inputs (an LED indicator on the front changes color depending on the input). Then, there’s a treble and bass wheel on the back along with the power and a Bluetooth pairing button.

Port-wise, I was disappointed to not see any digital connectivity such as USB or USB-C, since I do a lot of my listening through streaming services via my laptop, but it does at least have that aforementioned ARC-supported HDMI, allowing me to change the volume using the TV remote. There’s also the typical RCA inputs as well as a sub-out port.

Because of the placement of the various wheels, the remote is quite handy. Besides power and volume, you can change input, adjust the treble and bass, mute, and turn off the LED on the speaker.

Design score: 4/5

(Image credit: Future / James Holland)Q Acoustics 3020c review: Setup and usability

Basically plug and play
Bluetooth will automatically look to pair
Placement is important, like any bookshelf speakers

Since the Fluance Ri71 are powered bookshelf speakers, they’re very easy to set up. The active speaker with all the ports goes on the right and the passive one goes on the left. Then you just have to connect the passive speaker to the active with the included speaker wire that’s helpfully color-coded red and white. The tips on each side are soldered solid so you don’t have to worry about little pieces of speaker wire splintering off.

While it would have been even more convenient for the tips to have banana plugs, you just have to insert the appropriate tip in the exposed hole and screw down the top. Keep the colors the same on both sides and it will take less than a minute to connect the two speakers. Then plug in the power cord and turn it on.

From there, you just need to plug in the desired source or connect via Bluetooth – pairing is simple as the speaker will automatically start the process if it’s not already done so – and you’re good to go.

Of course, remember that bookshelf speakers do require a little bit of finesse in their placement for the best sound, but that goes for all bookshelf speakers and is something I’ve covered in another article in greater detail. You want a précis? Basically, just have them an equal distance from each other, and you, with them pointed at you. You're welcome.

(Image credit: Future / James Holland)

Setup and usability score: 5/5

Fluance Ri71 review: Value

More than a few alternatives have USB
HDMI is a bit rarer on bookshelf speakers
Well-priced, but not a steal

Since the Fluance Ri71 are firmly in mid-range territory, you’ll probably end up comparing them to models from Q Acoustics, Audioengine, and Kanto. Take the Q Acoustics M20 HD for instance, which at $499 is a little pricier yet is considered one of the better affordable powered bookshelf speakers here at TechRadar. It has full, uncompressed sound and has the ability to flip which speaker is left or right. It also comes with a USB port, though lacks an HDMI.

A step up from that, at least financially, is the Kanto Ren, another excellent alternative. It goes for $599 / £599 / €719 and comes with all the connectivity one could want, whether it’s Bluetooth 5.3, HDMI, or USB-C. It also sounds great, with excellent clarity, though its bass can get a little flabby.

The point in comparing the Fluance Ri71 to these other speakers that these are excellent speakers and you’ll be happy with them, if you’re looking to stay under a certain price point. But the ones that are just a little pricier are justifiably so, even if it’s mostly on account of having a special feature or extra port. The Fluance Ri71 are a good price, but they’re not a steal.

(Image credit: Future / James Holland)

Value score: 4/5

Should you buy the Fluance Ri71?Fluance Ri71 Score Card

Attributes

Notes

Rating

Features

With HDMI ARC and Bluetooth aptx HD, there’s not much more one could ask for, outside of Wi-Fi streaming.

4.5/5

Sound quality

Neutral sound, plenty of detail and still a surprising amount of low-end, the Fluance Ri71 sound a treat.

4.5/5

Design

Awkward controls, and no USB connectivity; the AMT tweeter is a nice design upgrade.

4/5

Setup and usability

Despite the control placement, very easy, especially with the remote.

5/5

Value

Despite the connectivity quirks, a wonderful-sounding speaker for a reasonable price. Has competition at the price.

4/5

Buy them if...

You want detailed, almost neutral audio
The Fluance Ri71 have a clarity that feels almost polite, but is always a pleasure to listen to. These are the kind of speakers that make you feel like you can hear every detail.

You need HDMI
If you also want to use your bookshelf speakers for TV, having an HDMI port is critical, especially one that supports ARC, meaning you can use your TV remote to control the volume.

You want to stay under $500
Appropriately but well priced, the Fluance Ri71 don’t quite offer what more expensive speakers do, but they sound good enough that you won’t care. And you can put that extra cash back in your pocket.

Don't buy them if...

You need USB-C connectivity
If your main way of listening to music is connecting your laptop directly to powered speakers, then you’ll be disappointed having to use an old school RCA adapter. A lot of laptops don’t have an HDMI out (and some don’t even have an AUX port).

You want easy on-unit access to the volume
The volume wheel is awkwardly placed. That’s mostly a non-issue with the remote, but if you care or happen to lose all your remotes, you won’t like the fact that the volume wheel is at the back of the speaker.

Fluance Ri71 review: Also consider

Q Acoustics M20 HD
The Q Acoustics M20 HD are excellent bookshelf speakers at a slightly higher price point. They offer USB connectivity, but not HDMI. The left and right speaker configuration can also be reversed. They also have a detailed, uncompressed sound.
Read our full Q Acoustics M20 HD review

Kanto Ren
The Kanto Ren has it all in terms of connectivity – USB-C, HDMI, Bluetooth 5.3 – and it comes in interesting colors, though it will pick up every fingerprint. It’s lovely with a full, robust sound but the bass can get a little flabby.
Read our full Kanto Ren review

How I tested the Fluance Ri71

Used regularly for a few weeks
Listened to all sorts of audio
Used the various controls and ports

I used the Fluance Ri71 for a few weeks, listening to all sorts of genres of music like hip-hop, EDM, Top 40 pop, rock, and folk to get a better feel for these speakers. They were also tested with some TV shows and computer games. I tested the various controls and ports as well.

I’ve tested a lot of tech gear over the years from laptops to keyboards and speakers, and so have been able to use my expertise towards giving an honest and fair opinion, not to mention a critical eye, to any product I test.

First reviewed: November 2025

Read more about how we test at TechRadar

Categories: Reviews

I tested the Epson Pro Cinema LS9000 projector, and it has incredible performance and features for the price

Fri, 11/14/2025 - 16:19

Epson Pro Cinema LS9000: One minute review

The Epson Pro Cinema LS9000 is the latest, and least expensive, member of Epson's LS series of projectors. At $3,999 / £2,999 / AU$7,299, this entry-level dedicated home theater projector is notably cheaper than comparable options from JVC and Sony, yet still comes with a bevy of great features and performance to match.

Epson’s Pro Cinema LS9000 follows in the footsteps of the Epson LS12000 model that currently sits a the top of TechRadar’s Best Projectors list. The Epson Pro Cinema LS9000 aims to continue this excellence, employing the same 15-element glass VRX lens structure, laser light engine, and 3LCD technology as the LS12000.

Similar to the step-up LS12000, the Pro Cinema LS9000 supports 4K 120Hz signals, has relatively low input lag for gaming, and is compatible with the HDR10+ high dynamic range format. Its motorized lens shift, zoom, and focus make setup adjustments easy, and out of the box in Natural picture mode, it delivers accurate colors and a crisp image.

Even with all the great inclusions, some missing features reflect the LS9000’s entry-level status. The most glaring is a lack of dynamic tone mapping, which is also missing from the other LS series projectors that were originally released a few years ago, but is starting to show up in some less expensive home theater models. With a rated 2,200 lumens brightness (white and color), it’s also best suited for a home theater room with decent ambient light control, as opposed to a multi-purpose living space with light streaming in through windows.

Still, the Epson Pro Cinema LS9000 offers incredible performance for the price. It’s a solid projector that’s easy to set up, but still offers the ability to tweak and play with image settings that a new (or frugal) home projection enthusiast is sure to love.

Epson Pro Cinema LS9000 review: Price & release date

The LS9000's 2,200 lumens brightness spec is comparable to many other home theater projectors (Image credit: Future)

Release date: July 2025
Price: $3,999 / £2,999 / AU$7,299

The Epson Pro Cinema LS9000 made its debut in July 2025 at the Audio Advice Live show in Raleigh, North Carolina. It’s the least expensive of Epson’s Pro Cinema laser projectors, coming in at $3,999 / £2,999 / AU$7,299. For comparison, the Home Cinema LS11000 retails for $4,499 (up from $3,999 when released) and the LS12000 now goes for $5,999 (up from $4,999 at release).

Epson Pro Cinema LS9000 review: Specs

Screen sizes supported:

50-300 inches

Brightness (specified):

2,200 Lumens

HDR support:

HDR10, HDR10+, HLG

Optical technology:

3LCD laser diode

Smart TV:

N/A

Connections:

2x HDMI 2.1 (one with eARC), 2x USB-A (one 300mA for optical HDMI power, one 5V/2A for power and firmware), Mini USB (service), RJ45 (control), RS-232c, 3.5mm (12V trigger)

Dimensions (H x W x D):

7.6 x 20.5 x 17.6 inches (193 x 520‎ x 447mm)

Weight:

28 pounds (12.7kg)

Epson Pro Cinema LS9000 review: Design & features

The projector's connections include two HDMI 2.1 ports with 4K 120Hz support (Image credit: Future)

Motorized zoom, focus, and lens shift
4K 120Hz support
Motorized lens cover

The Epson Pro Cinema LS9000 shares the same look as its bigger siblings, the Pro Cinema LS12000 and Home Cinema LS11000, and the high-lumen Epson QB1000 released in late 2024. The chassis is large and a bit heavy (the Sony Bravia Projector 7 weighs less, but the JVC DLA-NZ5 weighs a little more), but I find the design and its black color to look sleeker than its heft lets on. All connections are on the back panel alongside touch controls if the remote is misplaced.

The look is not where the similarities to the LS11000 and LS12000 end. Inside, the LS9000 uses the same VRX lens with a 15-element glass structure and has Epson’s 4K 3LCD design architecture with three 0.74-inch LCD panels.

As is the case with all Epson projectors, the LS9000 uses pixel-shifting technology to achieve a 4K resolution from 1080p chips. Some enthusiasts complain about this not being “True 4K” and as lesser than the use of native 4K chips, but the 4K image from the LS9000 (and every other Epson that uses pixel-shifting technology) is detailed and crisp, especially from a normal viewing distance. The chip also allows for a maximum refresh rate of 120Hz.

The laser light source is specified for 2,200 lumens of both color (IDMS rated) and white (ISO rated) light output and has up to 20,000 hours of life in all modes. This is where the LS9000’s performance separates from the LS11000 and LS12000, which are rated at 2,500 and 2,700 lumens, respectively, and partially accounts for the difference in pricing. The blue laser diode array emits light through a fixed yellow phosphor (first released with the LS12000), as opposed to a phosphor wheel, to create white light, and the laser light source and fixed phosphor allow it to run silently.

The lower lumen output makes the LS9000 more suitable for a dark room – or at the very least, a light-controlled room — than the more expensive, higher light output projectors. But as I’ll discuss below, it still delivers enough brightness for daytime viewing.

There’s a generous +/- 24% horizontal and +/- 96% vertical powered lens shift on the LS9000, along with powered zoom (a ratio of 1-1.2) and focus that can be controlled from the remote to make setup adjustments easy. The projector’s throw ratio is 1.35-2.84:1. There’s also vertical and horizontal keystone correction (+/- 30 degrees), but with the amount of lens shift available, keystone correction likely won’t be necessary (and should always be avoided, if possible, as it can negatively affect the picture).

The LS9000 is compatible with an anamorphic lens kit (sold separately) and third-party options. A memory feature allows you to save image adjustments and lens positioning for different aspect ratio setups, and the lens is also protected by a motorized lens cover that opens and closes with the power cycle.

The LS9000 supports HDR10, HLG, and HDR10+ high dynamic range, and has two HDMI 2.1 inputs that support 4K 120Hz. While that’s great news for gamers, the projector doesn’t support ALLM, so you’ll need to manually switch the image processing from Fine to Fast for the lowest input lag. HDMI2 also supports eARC, so if you decide to connect a streaming stick directly to the projector, you can send out audio including Dolby Atmos, Dolby TrueHD, DTS Master Audio, and DTS:X formats.

One thing missing from the Epson Pro Cinema LS9000 is dynamic HDR tone mapping. Instead, there’s an HDR Dynamic Range slider that allows you to manually adjust the brightness of the HDR image.

The projector’s remote is a bit chunky, but the keypad is backlit and has all the necessary buttons to make easy adjustments while viewing. There are dedicated buttons to call up features like Fine/Fast (for gaming), different lens memory positions, signal information, lens adjustment, and color modes.

Design & features score: 4.5/5

Epson Pro Cinema LS9000 review: Picture quality

The LS900 has a sizeable, fully backlit remote control with numerous buttons to make adjustments directly, bypassing onscreen setup menus (Image credit: Future)

Accurate image in Natural picture mode
HDR10+ support
No dynamic tone mapping

The LS9000 has five different picture modes — Dynamic, Vivid, Bright Cinema, Cinema, and Natural — and they are the same for both standard and high dynamic range sources. Each mode produces a watchable image out of the box, although all of them have some degree of blue tint to the grayscale, with Natural being the most accurate choice for both SDR and HDR.

The default color temperature setting of 6500K is still slightly on the blue side, but switching it to 6000K causes the color temperature to be a little too red. If you choose to do a professional calibration, you can use two different picture modes – one for SDR and one for HDR – and save them with the Image Memory setting.

Out of the box SDR measurements in Natural picture mode had an average Delta E of 2.8, with some grayscale reaching above 4 because of the blue bias. A calibration can get all dE down below 2.1, with many under 1. UHDA-P3 color gamut coverage measured 90.25%, while BT.2020 came in at 66.86%.

Brightness in Dynamic mode with my unit was 2,062 lumens, but that’s still within the measurement tolerance of ISO lumens, and due to the positioning of my projector, the image was zoomed in a bit, which causes the brightness to come down. It’s enough brightness for a watchable image in a room with ambient light (even with Natural picture mode, which is visibly less bright than other modes), but there’s a loss of shadow detail due to the light reflecting on the screen.

Where the projector really excels is when the lights are off. Colors look accurate and inviting, detail in both SDR and HDR is sharp, and the projector exhibits great contrast and shadow detail with the Dynamic Contrast setting at High Speed. The contrast isn’t as impressive as on the LS12000, which I evaluated a few years ago, but for the price, the LS9000 does an excellent job.

The LS9000 excels for dark room viewing (Image credit: Future)

The HDR image does require some tweaking at times. Occasionally, bright highlights can cause some clipping — such as when the shark cage is lowered into the water in The Meg, and we can see the bright sun refracting through the ocean water. In this instance, I adjusted the dynamic range slider from its default of 8 to 10 (which slightly backs off the scene brightness).

Through most of my viewing, I played around with the slider, not just to address high brightness clipping, but also to see its effect on image depth. Generally, I found myself setting it between 8 and 10, with the Battle of Pelennor Fields in Return of the King at 8 and day scenes during Mad Max: Fury Road at a 9 for a bit more depth. None of the adjustments were life-altering, and I wouldn’t suggest changing the dynamic range slider mid-movie, but you’ll learn your preferences. This is where dynamic tone mapping is missed.

Home theater projectors have historically struggled to provide input lag low enough for gaming, but with two HDMI 2.1 ports that are capable of 4K 120Hz, the LS9000 is screaming to be used as a gaming projector. The Image Processing menu allows you to select a setting of Fine or Fast (which provides a lower input lag). With the Fast setting and a 4K 60Hz signal, the lag measured at 20ms (it’s 44ms with the Fine setting). Unfortunately, there’s no ALLM (Auto Low Latency Mode), so you’ll need to manually switch the setting when you game or watch content.

Input lag is low enough on the LS9000 to satisfy a non-competitive gamer (my son still enjoyed his time playing Minecraft). During my second playthough of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, which relies on dodge and parry reactions during combat, I was able to still make it through combat without issue. Someone who regularly plays first-person shooter games will likely feel a difference between the LS9000 and one of the best gaming TVs, but for the vast majority of us, the Epson will deliver a great gaming experience.

Picture quality score: 4.5/5

Epson Pro Cinema LS9000 review: Value

The LS9000's 1.35-2.84:1 throw ratio allows for installations at the rear of the viewing space (Image credit: Future)

Great performance for the price
Solid gaming projector
Missing an important home theater feature

The Epson Pro Cinema LS9000 is not only the least expensive model in the LS series, it’s one of the most affordable premium home theater projectors – the JVC DLA-NP5, which is a lamp-based model, retails for $6,000, as does the Sony VPL-XW5000ES, which came out three years ago.

Not only is the LS9000 brighter than both of those projectors, it also has a collection of features neither of them has, including a high-quality laser light engine, HDMI 2.1 ports with 4K/120Hz and eARC support, an excellent lens with motorized adjustments and lens cover, zoom and image memory, and 2,200 lumens of brightness.

There are still some compromises that must be made. Its biggest flaw is a lack of dynamic tone mapping, which we’re seeing in projectors half the price of the LS9000, like the Valerion VisionMaster Pro2. The LS9000 also doesn’t have 3D support, isn’t as bright as the step-up options from Epson, and is missing ALLM for gaming. But even so, the projector delivers a detailed picture with accurate color, which looks very engaging in a dark room. Also, the 20ms input lag time and 4K 120Hz support make gaming a joy on the big screen.

Value score: 4/5

Should I buy the Epson Pro Cinema LS9000?

(Image credit: Future)Epson Pro Cinema LS9000

Attributes

Notes

Rating

Design and features

Motorized zoom, focus, and lens shift, along with 4K 120Hz and HDR10+ support

4.5/5

Picture quality

Accurate color in Natural mode, along with solid contrast, fine 4K picture detail, and low input lag for gaming

4.5/5

Value

A very good value compared to other 4K home theater projectors, most of which cost several thousands more

4/5

Buy it if...

You’re building your first serious home theater
If you’re making the jump from a basic projector to one truly designed for a 4K home theater, the LS9000 delivers an incredibly pleasing picture that rivals home theater offerings from JVC and Sony.View Deal

You also want a great gaming experience
It might not have ALLM, but the Pro Cinema LS9000 supports 4K 120Hz, and its input lag is low enough for all but the most competitive gamers.View Deal

You want HDR10+ support
Since the LS9000 doesn’t have dynamic tone mapping, watching HDR10+ content (with its dynamic metadata) will deliver the best dynamic content.View Deal

Don't buy it if...

You want dynamic HDR tone mapping
The LS9000, like its bigger siblings, doesn’t support dynamic tone mapping, instead relying on a manual dynamic range slider to adjust the HDR image.View Deal

You plan on watching with lots of ambient light
While 2,200 lumens is a good brightness spec, ambient light causes the image to look a bit washed out, which makes seeing shadow detail difficult.View Deal

Watching 3D movies is a priority
3D isn’t supported by the Epson Pro Cinema LS9000 (or by the LS11000 and LS12000), so you’ll need to look elsewhere for your 3D fix.View Deal

Also considerComparison: projectors

Epson Pro Cinema LS9000

Epson Pro Cinema LS12000

JVC DLA-NZ700

Sony Bravia Projector 7

Price:

$3,999

$4,999

$8.999

$9,999

Screen sizes supported:

50-300 inches

50 to 130 inches

30 to 150 inches

90 to 130 inches

Brightness (specified):

2,200 lumens

2,500 lumens

2,300 lumens

2,200 lumens

HDR support

HDR10, HDR10+, HLG

HDR10, HLG

Optical technology:

Laser 3LCD

Laser D-ILA

Laser SXRD

Smart TV:

n/a

Connections:

2x HDMI 2.1 (1 with eARC)

2x HDMI 2.0

2x HDMI 2.1

Epson LS12000

The LS12000 is the step-up model in Epson's Pro Cinema projector lineup. Rated for 2,700 lumens, it has a brighter picture than the LS9000 and also supports HDR10+ high dynamic range and a 4K 120Hz refresh rate for gaming. Other than brightness, the LS9000 and LS12000 are mostly similar when it comes to features and performance.

Read our Epson LS12000 review View Deal

JVC DLA-NZ700

The JVC DLA-N700 is a big jump up in price over the LS9000, and it lacks Epson's 4K 120Hz support. At a rated 2,300 lumens, brightness is about the same, but the JVC features a native 4K display chipset and sophisticated dynamic HDR tone mapping to augment its HDR10+ high dynamic range support.

Read our JVC DLA-NZ700 reviewView Deal

Sony Bravia Projector 7

Like the JVC DLA-N700, Sony's entry-level projector is a big step up in price over the Epson, costing around $10,000. Its brightness spec is the same 2.200 lumens and it lacks the Epson's HDR10+ support. What you are getting with the Sony is 4K 120Hz and ALLM support for gaming, along with a native 4K display. It also has dynamic HDR tone mapping and Sony’s XR Processor for projector, which improves detail and clarity of images blown up to a cinematic size.

Read our Sony Bravia Projector 7 reviewView Deal

How I tested the Epson Pro Cinema LS9000

Evaluated under various viewing conditions
Measured and calibrated with professional software and hardware
I am ISF-certified and have years of experience reviewing projectors

The Epson LS9000 laser projector was connected to my ceiling mount, approximately 11 feet from an Elite Screens CineTension 3 ISF-certified CineWhite screen. Using the Epson’s zoom and lens adjustment controls, the image was adjusted to fit the 100-inch diagonal screen.

I watched a wide range of content with both ambient light from the sun and ceiling lighting during the day and a dark, light-controlled environment at night. Movies and TV shows were streamed with an Apple TV 4K from the Disney+, HBO Max, and Hulu apps. I also used a Kaleidescape Strato V for high-quality movie playback, along with 4K Blu-ray discs played on an Oppo UDP-203 disc player. Games were played on an Xbox Series X.

For objective measurement testing, I used an X-rite i1 Pro 3 spectrophotometer, Murideo Seven-G 8K pattern generator, Konica Minolta LS-100 luminance meter, and Calman calibration software by Portrait Displays. Input lag tests were made with a Leo Bodnar 4K lag tester.

I’ve been testing projectors and other displays for a couple of decades, and am an ISF Level III certified calibrator.

First reviewed: November 2025
Read TechRadar's review guarantee

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