TechRadar Reviews

Yale Linus Smart Lock L2 Lite: two-minute review

Smart locks in Britain have always been the awkward cousin of the smart home. American buyers get deadbolts and endless choice; we get multipoint mechanisms, lift-to-lock handles and a nagging sense that retrofitting anything to the front door will either void the insurance or fall off.

Yale's answer with the Linus L2 Lite is to keep things small, cheap and reversible — and, crucially, to build in Matter over Thread so the lock works with whatever smart home system you already rock.

The L2 Lite is a compact, round-knob unit that mounts on the inside of your door over the existing thumb-turn. Your key still works from the outside, which matters both for emergencies and for landlords.

The Yale Linus Smart Lock L2 Lite is easy to install. fitting over your existing lock cylinder (Image credit: Future)

Inside the Yale Home app, you get the modern smart-lock toolkit: digital keys and PIN codes you can share and revoke, an activity feed of who came and went, Auto-Unlock that opens the door as you approach with your phone in your pocket, and KeySense — a button on the knob for a quick press-to-lock or a long-press delayed lock as you leave.

Because it supports Matter over Thread alongside Bluetooth 5.4, the L2 Lite joins Apple Home, Google Home, Amazon Alexa or Samsung SmartThings locally and responds fast, no Yale-specific bridge required — provided you already own a device that acts as a Thread border router, such as a recent Apple HomePod or Amazon Echo.

The lock uses three CR123A batteries, which aren't a type you'll typically have to hand (Image credit: Future)

If you don't live in a Matter ecosystem and still want to lock the door from the pub, you'll need Yale's optional ConnectX Wi-Fi Bridge, sold separately. There's no Wi-Fi baked in, unlike the pricier Linus L2.

Living with it, the L2 Lite is reassuringly unremarkable in the best way. Installation took 15 minutes, it disappears against the door, and KeySense quickly becomes muscle memory.

It runs on three CR123A batteries — not the sort of cell you keep in a kitchen drawer. There's no USB-C top-up, and it lacks DoorSense, so it knows whether it's locked but not whether the door is actually shut.

There's no Apple Home Key tap-to-enter either, which makes sense for an interior-only design but will disappoint iPhone devotees.

Get past the spec-sheet gaps, and the bigger question is door compatibility, because this is where UK smart locks live or die, and the L2 Lite is fussier than its friendly styling suggests.

Yale Linus Smart Lock L2 Lite: price & availability

• List price £129.98 (about $170 / AU$250) compared to £220 (about $290 / AU$420) for the regular Linus L2
• Launched December 2025
• Available in black or silver

With a list price of £129.98 (about $170 / AU$250), the Yale Linus Smart Lock L2 Lite undercuts the standard Linus L2 by a meaningful margin while keeping most of the day-to-day features. That makes it one of the cheapest routes to a Matter-over-Thread smart lock in the UK, though at the time of writing it's not available worldwide.

Pleasingly, there are no subscription fees to concern yourself with, but there are some other cost caveats.

CR123A batteries are included, and Yale rates them for up to six months, but replacing them is more expensive and less convenient than AAs. Second, if you're not in a Matter household, the ConnectX Wi-Fi Bridge is effectively mandatory for remote control, setting you back another £70.

Reassuringly, pairing the lock with a Yale Platinum Three Star cylinder brings a £3,000 Total Trust Guarantee if it's ever breached. That compares to £5,000 offered by smart lock rival Ultion Nuki. Its base model, the Ultion Nuki Go, costs £239 with Wi-Fi built in.

• Value score: 4/5

Yale Linus Smart Lock L2 Lite: specs

Type

Retrofit interior smart lock (round knob)

Connectivity

Matter over Thread, Bluetooth 5.4

Remote access

Via Matter ecosystem, or optional Yale ConnectX Wi-Fi Bridge

Power

3x CR123A batteries (included), up to six months

Security

128-bit AES encryption

Features

KeySense, Auto-Unlock, digital keys, PIN sharing, activity feed; pairs with Yale Smart Keypad 2/Yale Dot

Dimensions (H x W x D)

2.4 x 2.4 x 2.8 inches / 6.1 x 6.1 x 7.2cm

Weight (without batteries)

9.2oz / 260g

Finishes

Black / silver

Yale Linus Smart Lock L2 Lite: design and installation

• Compact design
• Reversible install
• Door compatibility tricky

For something doing a serious security job, the L2 Lite is endearingly low-key. It's a small round knob in black or silver that sits on the inside of the door over your existing thumb-turn, and from the outside, there's no sign anything has changed.

The casing is plastic, which sounds cheap but feels solid enough in the hand. Installation lives up to the drill-free promise. In my case, I was carrying over an Ultion cylinder left in the door from a previous smart-lock install, and the supplied two-piece thumb-turn adapter eventually made the swap painless.

The thumb-turn adapter makes installation painless (Image credit: Future)

Fix the mounting plate around the cylinder, clip the adapter over the thumb-turn, attach the lock and calibrate it in the app. Because nothing is drilled and the cylinder isn't replaced, it comes off just as cleanly if you're renting or wary of committing.

The catch is what counts as a compatible door. The L2 Lite works only with lift-to-lock mechanisms; your cylinder needs to protrude at least 3mm on the inside, and it explicitly won't work with split spindles or auto-engage multipoint locks.

Bear in mind that Linus Smart Lock L2 Lite only works with lift-to-lock doors (Image credit: Future)

Plenty of UK front doors are lift-to-lock multipoint and will be fine; a meaningful number aren't. Use Yale's online compatibility checker before you buy, and note that if your current cylinder doesn't fit the bill, Yale's Linus Adjustable Cylinder is designed to solve exactly that.

• Design and installation score: 4/5

Yale Linus Smart Lock L2 Lite: performance

• Fast operation
• KeySense and Auto-Unlock useful
• Battery and DoorSense omissions niggle

Day to day, the L2 Lite locks and unlocks reliably, on command, without fuss. Paired into a Matter home, it responded quickly to app and voice commands, and Auto-Unlock greeted me at the door as advertised, sensing my approach over Bluetooth.

KeySense, the press-to-operate button on the knob, turns out to be the feature I used most: a quick press to lock behind me, a long press for a delayed lock as I gathered bags and left. One practical wrinkle on lift-to-lock doors: you still need to lift the handle as you leave, or KeySense has nothing to throw the bolts into.

FutureFuture

Matter over Thread is always appealing, and it works. Through Apple Home, the lock appeared as a native tile, automations fired, and there was no bridge-dependent lag.

Sharing access is painless — digital keys and PIN codes go out to family or a cleaner and can be revoked from the app, with an activity feed confirming who came and went.

Want a code or fingerprint on the door rather than a phone? It pairs with the additional Yale Smart Keypad 2 or the Yale Dot.

FutureFuture

The motor isn't silent, throwing a businesslike whir as it turns the cylinder, though it's no louder than rivals. The omissions are what stop a higher score. The lack of DoorSense means it reports whether it's locked, but has no idea whether the door is actually closed, which undermines the 'Is the house secure?' peace of mind.

The CR123A batteries are a recurring irritation rather than a dealbreaker, and the absence of Apple Home Key means no tap-to-enter with an iPhone or Apple Watch from outside. None of it spoils the core experience; it merely reaffirms this isn’t the flagship.

• Performance score: 4/5

Should you buy the Yale Linus Smart Lock L2 Lite?

Attribute

Notes

Score

Value

One of the cheapest Matter-over-Thread locks in the UK, with batteries and an optional bridge to factor in.

4/5

Design

Compact, discreet and genuinely drill-free, let down only by fussy door compatibility.

4/5

Performance

Fast, reliable Matter operation with handy KeySense, held back by no DoorSense or Home Key.

4/5

Buy it if

You rent or don't want to alter your door

The drill-free, reversible install keeps your existing key and cylinder and comes off without a trace.

You already run a Matter smart home

With a Thread border router on hand, it works hub-free across Apple Home, Google, Alexa and SmartThings.

You want smart access on a budget

It's among the most affordable ways into a credible Matter-over-Thread lock right now.

Don't buy it if

You want remote access without extra kit

No Matter ecosystem means buying the ConnectX Wi-Fi Bridge to lock up from afar.

You expect DoorSense or Apple Home Key

This lock knows its own state but not the door's, and there's no tap-to-enter.

Your door isn't lift-to-lock

Split spindles and auto-engage multipoint locks aren't supported — check compatibility before committing.

Yale Linus Smart Lock L2 Lite: also consider

If you're not sure whether the Yale Linus Smart Lock L2 is the right smart lock for your home, here are two others to bear in mind.

Yale Linus Smart Lock L2

The dearer flagship (around £220 list price, often discounted) adds built-in Wi-Fi, a rechargeable battery and quieter, faster operation — worth the premium if the L2 Lite's gaps bother you.

Aqara U200 Lite

A keen Matter-over-Thread rival with a rechargeable battery, aimed at similar European doors. The company makes lovely video doorbells, too.

How I tested the Yale Linus Smart Lock L2 Lite

• Installed on a domestic door
• Tested via Matter, Bluetooth and the Yale Home app
• Assessed installation, daily reliability, KeySense, and Auto-Unlock

I fitted the L2 Lite myself to gauge how true the drill-free claim is, swapping it onto an Ultion cylinder already in the door via the supplied two-piece thumb-turn adapter. I lived with it as a daily lock, locking and unlocking by app, voice and the KeySense button.

I paired it with Matter to test hub-free operation and response times, and used Auto-Unlock on repeated approaches. I shared and revoked digital access, checked the activity feed, and paid particular attention to the consequences of the missing DoorSense and the CR123A battery choice. Battery longevity can't be verified in weeks, so I've reported Yale's six-month figure alongside my shorter-term experience rather than guessing. For more details, see how we test, rate, and review products at TechRadar.

First reviewed June 2026

PowerA Protection Case for PS Portal review

The PowerA Protection Case for PlayStation Portal is designed to keep your beloved remote player protected from scratches, drops, bolts of lightning…you name it. OK, I was lying about that last one, but this case is a very durable option indeed, and during my two weeks testing it, it’s proved to be a highly reliable carry case — here’s why.

First of all, let’s talk about the case’s exterior. This is a hard case, so it’s not the most flexible or anything, but it’s very resistant to damage of all kinds. When dropping the case, scratching it, throwing it in a bag, it didn’t show any signs of wear whatsoever.

The case’s interior is also well optimized for damage-prevention in a number of key ways. First of all, the inside is molded to your remote player, enabling it to securely slot into place. There’s also a couple of hook-and-loop straps, which keep it fastened when you’re on the go. On top of that, you’ll find a padded screen-protector flap for preventing scratches. There are so many layers of protection here, enabling this model to compete with some of the very best PS5 accessories.

This screen-shielding flap does even more, though. That’s right, it also has a mesh flap on the top side, which is excellent for storing small accessories. I found it very useful for storing cables and wireless earbuds, for instance, making it easy to take plenty of gaming gear on the go. Sure, there’s no room for a headset or anything large, but this case is meant to fall on the more minimalist side.

(Image credit: Future)

While some may still find PowerA's case to be on the bulky side — I found the Venom Carry Case for PlayStation Portal to have a more modest footprint — this model is still very portable, and it easily fits in my work bag alongside my laptop, Nintendo Switch 2, and Sony WH-1000XM6.

Something else worth mentioning is the inclusion of a cable passthrough feature. There’s a tab on the underside of the case that you can insert a USB-C cable into and charge up your Portal, even when it’s boxed away. This is very convenient, and I used it to safely charge my system in my bag, with it connected up to a power bank.

Before we wrap up, let’s talk looks. This model is available in either Black or White, and I used the latter variant. This looks incredibly on-brand for the Portal — and indeed the PS5 — retaining that fairly futuristic aesthetic. My only complaint in terms of the look would be the fabric handle, which appears a little cheap in comparison to the rest of the case. But this can be forgiven for a case that only costs $34.99 / £19.99 / AU$49.95.

So, is the PowerA Protection Case for PlayStation Portal worth the money? Absolutely. It’s relatively rugged, it’s well-priced, and it even looks the part. The molded interior and screen-protecting flap keep your remote player safe and secure, and the cable passthrough feature is something you won’t get on every case out there. Therefore, it’s an easy recommendation from me.

(Image credit: Future)PowerA Protection Case for PS Portal review: price & specs

Price

$34.99 / £19.99 / AU$49.95

Dimensions

7.7 x 13 x 3in / 195 x 330 x 75mm

Weight

1lb / 440g

Compartments

2

Handle

Yes

Color

Black or White

(Image credit: Future)Should I buy the PowerA Protection Case for PS Portal?

Attributes

Notes

Score

Design

Neat look, molded interior, cable passthrough, protective flap, handle could be better though.

4.5/5

Storage

Plenty of room for small accessories, Portal itself, but nothing too large.

4/5

Value

A very reasonable price for a great case overall.

4.5/5

Buy it if…

You want to protect your Portal for less
Something that I absolutely loved about PowerA’s case was its low price. For just $34.99 / £19.99 / AU$49.95, you get a very reliable, durable case that’s sure to keep your Portal safe.

You’re looking for charging cable passthrough
If you want to charge your Portal on the go, then having cable passthrough is a pretty great feature. You can keep your remote player safe, juice it up, and keep on moving without any worries.

Don’t buy it if…

You want loads of room for accessories
Although this case has room for a cable and some earbuds, say, it’s still on the more compact side. So don’t expect to fit a headset or any larger accessories in here.

You’re searching for something with a premium look
Although the PowerA Protection Case is on-brand for the Portal, and looks pretty solid for its price, it’s not exactly the most luxurious. It has a relatively cheap handle, and there are more swanky, higher-priced options for those who want something ultra-classy.

PowerA Protection Case for PS Portal review: also consider

Spigen Rugged Armor Pro
We’re big fans of the Spigen Rugged Armor Pro here at TechRadar. It features a whole lot of storage space, it’s hard as nails, and it keeps your system incredibly secure. It’s a little pricey, with a $54.99 / £28.99 / AU$134.99 list price, but we think the quality on offer makes it worth the investment.

See our full thoughts on the Spigen Rugged Armor Pro.

How I tested the PowerA Protection Case for PS Portal

(Image credit: Future)

• Used the case for multiple weeks
• Directly compared against other models
• Tested by a seasoned gaming accessories reviewer

I spent weeks testing the PowerA Protection Case for PlayStation Portal, taking it with me just about everywhere I went throughout the process. While testing, I made sure to try stuffing various accessories in the case and also try out the cable passthrough feature.

To test the case’s durability, I tried dropping it from a controlled height, performed some scratch tests, and reviewed wear and tear after the testing period concluded. I also assessed it against rivals, including the Venom Carry Case for PlayStation Portal, on factors such as robustness and storage space.

More generally, I’ve been reviewing all kinds of gadgets at TechRadar for more than two years. I’ve tested a whole lot of gaming accessories, including cases like the Nintendo Switch 2 All-In-One Carrying Case and screen protectors, such as the Genki Aegis Shield.

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

Bluesound Pulse Cinema Mini: Two minute review

I came to this Bluesound Pulse Cinema Mini with admitted baggage. I’m not gonna sugarcoat it; I did not like Bluesound’s original Pulse Soundbar. It had an awkward design, it sounded cold and clinical, and it was very expensive when compared to alternative products.

The Bluesound Pulse Cinema Mini is company’s latest model, and is still on the pricey side, but where its predecessor disappointed, the Cinema Mini impresses. There's powerful, rich, and detailed sound, an elegant design that will complement most rooms, and a wealth of features you won’t find from brands like Sonos and Bose.

Like any Dolby Atmos soundbar that tries to do immersive, 3D sound with only two channels, the Pulse Cinema Mini can’t quite deliver on the promise of overhead height channel effects, but it makes up for it with a surprisingly wide soundstage that brings Atmos and 5.1 movies to life, and does wonders for stereo.

Though physically wider than most “mini” soundbars, that's clearly enabling its biggest strength: it gives the speaker room to house a set of woofers that deliver much bolder low-end bass than the compact category is known for.

This puts the Pulse Cinema Mini in a tricky spot for buyers. It’s priced higher than many full-sized soundbars, yet it can’t quite match the performance of those larger speakers. It’s highly versatile, yet it may be too big for truly small setups.

These contradictions mean the Bluesound Pulse Cinema Mini isn't a no-brainer-just-buy-it product, but there’s also no doubt in my mind that if you put a high value on the things it well, you’ll be thrilled with it in your home.

Bluesound Pulse Cinema Mini review: Price and release date

• Release date: August 27, 2025
• Price: $999 / £799

Bluesound sells the Pulse Cinema Mini in many international markets, including the US, UK, and Canada. However, it hasn’t yet released the soundbar in Australia.

At $999 / £799, the Pulse Cinema Mini is considerably more expensive than its closest direct competitors, like the Bose Smart Soundbar at $499 / £499.95, and Sonos Beam Gen 2 at $499 / £499.

However, it boasts better performance and has several features that set it apart. The Pulse Cinema Mini includes a wall-mount bracket; it’s larger and more powerful than the Bose and Sonos models, and it includes an analog input, wired subwoofer output, USB storage access, and two-way Bluetooth with aptX Adaptive, all of which are absent on the Smart Soundbar and Beam Gen 2.

(Image credit: Future)Bluesound Pulse Cinema Mini review: Specs

Dimensions (W x H x D)

(W x H x D): 33.34 x 2.91 x 5.51 inches

Speaker channels

2.0 (2.1 with planned update)

Connections:

1x HDMI out (with eARC), optical in, RCA stereo in, USB-A, Gigabit Ethernet, RCA subwoofer-out, Wi-Fi (802.11ac), Bluetooth 5.2 (two-way, with aptX Adaptive support)

Dolby Atmos/DTS:X

Yes/No

Sub included

No

Rear speakers included

No

Features

AirPlay 2, Tidal Connect, Spotify Connect, Qobuz Connect, Roon Ready, multiroom audio, expandable channel layout, hi-res audio

File formats

MP3, AAC, WMA, WMA-L, OGG, OPUS, FLAC, MQA, ALAC, WAV, AIFF, MPEG-4 SLS, DSD256

Bluesound Pulse Cinema Mini review: Features

(Image credit: Future)

• Analog, USB, subwoofer, and two-way Bluetooth connections
• Expandable and multiroom compatible
• Hi-res Audio and Dolby Atmos support

As is the case for a lot of small-footprint soundbars, the Bluesound Pulse Cinema Mini doesn’t has only one HDMI port, so you won’t be able to connect devices like streaming video players, Blu-ray players, or game consoles and pass through their video to your TV.

However, it also offers connections that are rarely found in this class of speaker, such as dedicated analog inputs (as well as optical digital), a wired subwoofer output, and a USB port that provides access to music stored on a hard drive.

Even its Bluetooth capability exceeds standard soundbar fare, with its support for Qualcomm’s high-quality aptX Adaptive codec and the ability to stream in two directions: from a phone or computer to the soundbar, or from the soundbar to a set of wireless headphones or a Bluetooth speaker.

Bluesound gets compared to Sonos a lot. Bluesound’s BluOS apps for phones and computers perform many of the same multi-room and music management functions as Sonos’ software.

Like Sonos, Bluesound makes a range of wireless audio devices from speakers to subwoofers to streamers that can all work seamlessly together in one household. The Cinema Mini can be bonded with various combinations of these speakers for a true surround sound experience, or it can simply play the same music at the same time for a synchronized house party.

Thanks to its compatibility with multiple hi-res audio formats and sample rates, many audiophiles feel that Bluesound is superior to Sonos.

Still, there are a few things Bluesound can’t do. You can stream Apple Music via AirPlay or Bluetooth, but neither of these gives you lossless quality, and the BluOS app doesn’t have native support for Apple Music, YouTube Music, or Spotify. Unlike Sonos, there's no easy in-app room correction here.

It also doesn't support support DTS, it doesn't support Google Cast, it’s not compatible with Google Home — but Sonos also lacks these.

Currently, despite its Dolby Atmos certification, native support of Amazon Music, and Tidal Connect compatibility, there’s no way to stream Dolby Atmos Music to the Pulse Cinema Mini without the help of an HDMI-connected third-party device, such as an Apple TV 4K. Since the Mini only has one HDMI eARC port, that device will need to use your TV as a go-between.

• Features score: 3.5 / 5

Bluesound Pulse Cinema Mini review: Sound quality

(Image credit: Future)

• Impressive low end and virtual surround
• No dialogue mode or Low Frequency Effects (LFE) channel
• Great for music, but no EQ, tone control, or Dolby Atmos Music

Before we get into sound quality, a quick note on the Bluesound Pulse Cinema Mini’s stated specifications. Bluesound says it’s a 2.1-channel system, but this isn’t entirely accurate.

According to the company, the soundbar will be capable of processing low-frequency effects (or LFE — the subwoofer part of a soundtrack) without any help from a standalone subwoofer; it’s just that, as of the time of reviewing, it doesn’t actually do so.

For now, if you want true, 2.1 sound from the Cinema Mini, you’ll need to connect a powered sub via the soundbar’s sub output, or buy the Bluesound Plus Sub+ wireless subwoofer.

Having said that, even with only two discrete channels, this is a very capable soundbar for both multichannel and stereo sound. Thanks to a pair of dedicated woofers and passive bass radiators, it pumps out surprisingly deep and resonant bass, which leads me to believe that it will have no problem with LFE channel content when and if Bluesound adds it.

For music, the Cinema Mini’s bass is powerful enough to get by without a subwoofer in smaller rooms.

My experience with two-channel soundbars, even those that can process Dolby Atmos, has been less than stellar. So I have to give Bluesound a lot of credit for the Cinema Mini’s acoustic design and digital signal processing (DSP). With an angled tweeter and midrange driver located at each end of the bar, it projects sound both outward and to the sides, creating a soundstage with remarkable width and detail.

It reminds me a lot of Sennheiser’s Ambeo Soundbar Mini, which also uses just six powered drivers to achieve its virtualized surround sound. Unlike the Ambeo Soundbar Mini, which suffers from a lack of low-end, the Pulse Cinema Mini has a full-range sound that won’t disappoint.

Still, when it comes to Dolby Atmos, you’ll need to temper your expectations. The Cinema Mini’s DSP has to do a lot of heavy lifting to get its two discrete channels to virtualize surround and height content. It does a decent job with the surrounds, but height effects aren’t especially distinct.

During the Aston Martin chase scene from No Time To Die, there’s a moment when the camera passes beneath a set of church bells. Well-executed height systems let you hear the bells move overhead, but the Cinema Mini’s processing just makes the sound bigger, not taller or dynamic.

I find this to be true of nearly all Atmos systems that lack up-firing drivers. The Sonos Beam Gen 2, for instance, doesn’t perform any better in the height department. But the Beam Gen 2 is half the price of the Pulse Cinema Mini. Sonos’ Arc Ultra, by contrast, is basically the same price as the Cinema Mini, and will win any Dolby Atmos competition, hands down.

The same is true when it comes to the Cinema Mini’s lack of an LFE channel. In that same No Time To Die scene, James Bond’s ride is riddled with machine gun fire. When you’re inside the car with Bond, the Sonos Arc Ultra renders each bullet impact viscerally — its built-in subwoofer lets you feel the concussion. It’s still an enjoyable scene via the Cinema Mini (it captures the bullet ricochets nicely), but you’ll definitely need to add a sub if you want deeper cinematic immersion.

For its wide soundstage, the Cinema Mini pays a small price in terms of dialogue clarity. I don’t want to overstate this — I had no problem making out speech — but with no central tweeter or midrange, voices don’t have the same laser-like focus that you’ll get from the Ambeo Soundbar Mini, or even the Bose Smart Soundbar.

As good as TV sound is on the Pulse Cinema Mini, the real reason for dropping a thousand dollars on this speaker is its music performance. I seldom heap praise on soundbars for music listening, but the Cinema Mini is truly superb for its class.

(Image credit: Future)

Stereo rendering is where Bluesound’s decision to use a two-channel architecture pays big dividends. Whether you listen with or without the optional Surround Upmixer and Virtualizer modes turned on (inside the BluOS app), the Cinema Mini produces a beautifully balanced, smooth, and detailed sound.

Sitting front and center lets you hear strong stereo imaging and a perfectly placed phantom center channel. But do yourself a favor and turn on the Surround Upmixer and Virtualizer. The purists among you may scoff, but I love the extended width these DSP filters create. The Cinema Mini grows to twice its length — maybe more — and panned stereo sounds seem to float ethereally in the upper front corners of my room.

The bass response, which I’ve come to think of as the Mini’s secret weapon, is well-managed from low to high volumes, musically anchoring tracks with its resonance and weight. Distortion is almost non-existent, and the Cinema Mini effortlessly plays at very loud levels.

If there’s one hitch in an otherwise excellent sound system, it’s that Bluesound is a bit too confident you’ll like its tuning. There are no bass/treble tone controls and no traditional equalizer, or EQ presets — with the exception of three optional listening “modes”: Movie, Music, and Late Night.

I’m familiar with this approach — the Cinema Mini isn’t the first Bluesound speaker I’ve reviewed — but it continues to surprise me, especially given that the company is highly regarded by audiophiles, who tend to have strong feelings about how things should sound.

Would I change much if I actually had access to these settings? Apart from de-emphasizing the highs just a tad, no, I wouldn’t make any other modifications. I really love the way the Cinema Mini sounds.

• Sound quality score: 4.5 / 5

Bluesound Pulse Cinema Mini review: Design

(Image credit: Future)

• Elegant, fabric-wrapped, rounded shape
• Larger than many small-room soundbars
• Wall-mountable with auto-orientation detection

All-plastic construction is the norm for compact soundbars. This doesn’t necessarily mean they look bad — I’d argue the Sonos Beam Gen 2 is quite handsome — but the Bluesound Pulse Cinema Mini’s fabric-wrapped and gently curved shape looks a little more upscale, and a little less speaker-ish.

At 33.3 inches wide, the Cinema Mini is bigger than most compact soundbars. By contrast, the Beam Gen 2 is 25.6 inches, and the Bose Smart Soundbar is 27.3. The Cinema Mini is also slightly taller and deeper. Still, despite this larger footprint, it won’t look out of place under any TV from 32- to 55-inches, and as I noted in the Sound Quality section, this extra size pays dividends.

Under that soft grille lies the Pulse Cinema Mini’s unusual driver arrangement: the midrange drivers and tweeters are placed at the ends, each slightly angled up and out — no front-firing units and no centrally mounted high-frequency driver for dialogue. Meanwhile, the central body is occupied by the two woofers and their matching passive radiators.

(Image credit: Future)

This design (plus built-in, automatically triggered EQ changes) lets the Pulse Cinema Mini sound more or less the same whether you place it on a tabletop or mount it to a wall. Unlike the Beam Gen 2 and Smart Soundbar, whose optional wall mount brackets amount to small shelves, the Pulse Cinema Mini’s included hardware lets it cling to the wall without sticking out into the room.

Like Sonos’ speakers, Bluesound doesn’t ship its products with remote controls, but the Pulse Cinema Mini has a built-in IR receiver and can be operated with any IR remote you already own by teaching the soundbar (via the BluOS app) what to do when you press certain remote buttons. Sonos can do this, too, but only when using its soundbars for TV audio.

On the top surface, you’ll find a glass panel that houses the soundbar’s touch controls. Only the central play/pause icon remains lit — the presets and volume icons light up when you approach. There’s no independent volume level indicator, something I wish more companies would offer; however, your TV will likely display an on-screen indicator when the Pulse Cinema Mini is playing TV audio via HDMI.

• Design score: 4 / 5

Bluesound Pulse Cinema Mini review: Setup and usability

(Image credit: Future)

• Easy set up with excellent app support
• App has a learning curve

Like most soundbars, getting the Bluesound Pulse Cinema Mini set up at a basic level is super easy: Plug it into your TV using the included HDMI cable, and then plug it into the wall with one of the included power cables (Bluesound puts both North American and E.U. versions in the box). You’ll immediately get great TV sound.

However, TV sound is only half of the experience with the Pulse Cinema Mini. To enjoy its awesome music capabilities, you need the BluOS app for iOS or Android. The app gets the soundbar connected to your Wi-Fi network and enables Apple AirPlay, plus it downloads and installs any available software updates, and gives you all of the deeper controls needed to customize the Pulse Cinema Mini to your liking.

The BluOS app also enables you to access multiple streaming services from a single interface and control playback across all BluOS compatible devices (which includes models from NAD, Dali, PSB Speakers, and Monitor Audio).

The BluOS app is fast and responsive, though, as with any platform that has as many features and options as BluOS, there’s a learning curve. Some things are straightforward, such as browsing music from available services, while others take some getting used to.

For instance, some of the Pulse Cinema Mini’s settings are available from the Now Playing screen or the Players tab, but others are only accessible via the Settings icon on the Home tab, and only if the soundbar is first selected in the Players tab.

There are loads of handy features like alarms, sleep timers, and smart playlists; however, BluOS hasn’t mastered one trick that makes Sonos, Wiim, and Denon/HEOS so appealing for those with multiple sources of music: universal search and favorites management.

If you decide to expand the Pulse Cinema Mini with Bluesound’s Pulse Sub+ and/or Pulse M/Pulse Flex speakers, these can easily be added and configured in the BluOS app.

Bluesound doesn’t integrate either Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant into its products, but if you’ve already got an Alexa smart speaker, there’s a Bluesound skill that will let Alexa control your Pulse Cinema Mini (and any other Bluesound products you add later).

• Setup & usability score: 3.5 / 5

Bluesound Pulse Cinema Mini review: Value

(Image credit: Future)

• Expensive, but better sound than the competition
• The best small soundbar for music
• Value grows if you’re planning to expand

Look, there’s no way to justify the Bluesound Pulse Cinema Mini’s price based purely on its performance as a Dolby Atmos soundbar. It’s got great sound, but it can’t hold a candle to bigger, more powerful models such as the Sonos Arc Ultra, Bose Smart Ultra Soundbar, or Sony Bravia Theater Bar 8, which are the same price (give or take $100).

However, there are several other attributes that set the Cinema Mini apart, and these may tip the value balance if you want them. Want to hook up a turntable? Do you have an existing wired subwoofer you’d like to use? Is your room just too small for a full-size soundbar, but you don’t want to compromise on audio quality — especially when it comes to music listening? Do you like the idea of connecting a set of Bluetooth headphones? And are you looking for ultimate flexibility when it comes to expanding both your home theater as well as your whole-home audio?

If you answered yes to any or all of these questions, the Bluesound Pulse Cinema Mini starts to look like it’s worth its nearly $1,000 asking price.

Just keep in mind that Bluesound’s other components often carry similarly high prices. Unless you get a bundle discount, adding the Pulse Sub+ will cost $899, and a pair of Pulse M surrounds adds another $998. You’re now up to $2,896, and your resulting 4.1-channel Dolby Atmos home theater system still lacks a center and height channels. Meanwhile, the same investment can get you a Sonos Arc Ultra + Sub 4 + 2x Era 300, with 9.1.4-channel sound.

• Value score: 3 / 5

Should I buy the Bluesound Pulse Cinema Mini?

(Image credit: Future)

Section

Notes

Score

Features

Some great rare features, including analog, subwoofer, and 2-way Bluetooth connections. But it's also lacking some core soundbar features you get in the competition.

3.5 / 5

Sound quality

Impressive low end and virtual surround given its size. Best in class when it comes to music, as well.

4.5 / 5

Design

It has an elegant, fabric-wrapped, rounded shape. Larger than some smaller room soundbars. You can mount it with auto-orientation detection.

4 / 5

Setup & usability

Easy setup here and the app support is great, although using the app does come with a learning curve.

3.5 / 5

Value

There's no getting around the fact it's expensive but it is excellent for music and the value grows if you're planning to expand.

3 / 5

Buy it if...

Music is as important as movies
The Pulse Cinema Mini does a good job with TV audio, but its music performance is truly superb for a soundbar.

You like versatility
With an analog, optical, and USB input, plus a subwoofer output, there are lots you can connect to the Pulse Cinema Mini.

You’re planning to expand
As part of the BluOS ecosystem, you can grow the Cinema Mini as a home theater system and as part of a larger multi-room audio setup.

Don't buy it if...

You’re just looking for better TV audio
There are plenty of other soundbars that can up your TV audio game (with Dolby Atmos too) for a lot less money.

You’re shopping for a very small bedroom
While it’s small enough for small rooms, the Cinema Mini has impressively big sound, which might be overkill for small spaces.

You want the biggest cinematic bang for the buck
The Cinema Mini is impressive for its size, but if you’re after top-notch home theater, you can spend the same amount and get way more performance from bigger, more powerful models.View Deal

Samsung HW-Q990H review: Also consider

Bluesound Pulse Cinema Mini

Sonos Beam Gen 2

Bose Smart Soundbar

Sonos Arc Ultra

Price (May 2026)

$999 / £799

$499 / £499 / $699

$499 / £499 / AU$799

$999 / £799 / AU$1,799

Dimensions

33.34 x 2.91 x 5.51 inches (W x H x D)

25.6 x 2.3 x 3.9 inches (W x H x D)

27.34 x 2.21 x 4.01 inches (W x H x D)

2.95 x 46.38 x 4.35 inches (75 x 1178 x 110.6mm)

Speaker channels

2.0 (2.1 with planned update) with virtual Atmos

3.0 with virtual Atmos

3.0.2 with virtual Atmos

9.1.4 (including virtual Atmos)

Connections

1x HDMI out (with eARC), optical in, RCA stereo in, USB-A, Gigabit Ethernet, RCA subwoofer-out, Wi-Fi (802.11ac), Bluetooth 5.2 (two-way, with aptX Adaptive support)

HDMI (with eARC), Ethernet. 802.11b/g/n/ac, 2.4 and 5 GHz Wi-Fi, AirPlay 2

HDMI, Optical, Bluetooth, USB, sub out, IR

1x HDMI with eARC, Ethernet, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth

Dolby Atmos/DTS:X

Yes/No

Yes/No

Yes/No

Yes/No

Sub included

No

No

No

No

Rear speakers included

No

No

No

No

Sonos Beam Gen 2
If you’re shopping for a soundbar specifically for smaller rooms, you can save a lot of money by going with the Sonos Beam Gen 2. You can expand it with subwoofers and surrounds, and it makes a great wireless music speaker.
Read our full Sonos Beam Gen 2 review

Bose Smart Soundbar
Like the Sonos Beam Gen 2, the Bose Smart Soundbar is a good cheaper choice. Like the Beam Gen 2, it's expandable. It's not as powerful as the Pulse Cinema Mini, especially for low-end bass, but it's got more than enough oomph for bedrooms and other smaller spaces.
Read our full Bose Smart Soundbar reviewView Deal

Sonos Arc Ultra
The Sonos Arc Ultra is the same price as the Cinema Mini, basically. For that small extra investment, you’re getting one of the most impressive standlone Dolby Atmos soundbars on the market, and it will easily outperform the Cinema Mini for pure cinematic immersion.
Read our full Sonos Arc Ultra review

How I tested the Bluesound Pulse Cinema Mini

• Used Bluesound Pulse Cinema Mini as main audio system for one week
• Tested in basement media room
• Sources include Apple TV 4K, Nvidia Shield, and streamed music from various apps

I spent a full week with the Bluesound Pulse Cinema Mini as my main audio system for watching movies, shows, and music in my basement media room.

During that time, I played a variety of Dolby Atmos test clips from movies like No Time To Die, Ford v Ferrari, Mad Max: Fury Road, Dune, and Unbroken, paying special attention to details like dialogue clarity, surround sound, and height channel impact.

I streamed most content from an Apple TV 4K connected via an LG OLED TV, which fed the MK2 from its HDMI eARC output, but I also connected an Nvidia Shield TV to an eARC extractor so I could hear the Cinema Mini’s treatment of Dolby Atmos in Dolby TrueHD.

For music, I used a variety of apps, including Tidal, Qobuz, and Amazon Music, listening to a wide range of genres. Some were played from apps on the Apple TV 4K and Nvidia Shield, while others were streamed wirelessly using AirPlay, Bluetooth, Tidal Connect, and Qobuz Connect. I tested several of these within the BluOS app as well.

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

Corsair Makr Pro 75 one-minute review

It's difficult to ignore just how big of an impact the custom keyboard community has had on mainstreaming gaming options in the last decade or so.

Jump back in time three, four, or even five years, and the very idea of the Makr Pro 75 would've been inconceivable, certainly in Corsair's product arsenal. Eight layers of sound-dampening, gasket plates, magnetic hot-swappable hall effect switches, the spec sheet is rich and detailed, and would make 21-year-old me, with his first-ever mechanical Cherry MX Red, weep if he saw it 14 years ago.

Just take a look at the switches, they're linear magnetic hall effect, MGX Hyperdrive models (a mouthful, I know). Aside from being hot-swappable, they're pre-lubed, dual-rail designs with a shine-through PBT keycap that actuate at a fully custom-calibrated actuation point of your choosing. If you want to bottom the thing all the way out, you can; if you want it to actuate the instant your finger barely touches the top, it'll do that too.

The build is just on another level, and it shows. What's less enticing, however, is the price. At £220 UK or $250 US at time of writing, it's a serious chunk of cash to lay out, and although the quality is there, there's a good argument to be had as to just whether that's worth it compared to competitor solutions at nearly half the cost.

If you're after a small form factor, 75% keyboard that's more than capable of handling gaming and typing, one of the best gaming keyboards money can buy, while delivering a class that straddles the line between a custom build and an off-the-shelf model, without the faff of getting out the soldering iron, the Makr Pro 75 is well worth considering.

Corsair Makr Pro 75 review: Price & release date

• Almost DIY price, but, y'know, it's built
• Available in the UK, US, and Australia
• Hard to find a prebuilt solution quite like this

Now here's the kicker: Corsair's Makr series is a bit of a three-headed hydra in terms of product stack. It's all built around that custom aftermarket DIY keyboard ethos. You've got the standard Makr 75, where you can customise exactly what parts you want, and Corsair will ship you the bundle to construct yourself. You can have that same bespoke model, but pre-assembled, or grab this more "off-the-shelf"-esque Makr Pro instead.

The latter has colourways, switch-types, backplates, and LCD/Wireless modules, and keycaps, to add at your leisure along the way. The Makr Pro, however, is a single model and a single model only. There's no alternative colours, no keycap variations (bar regional layouts), and well, that's it. That does come with some wins, though, firstly it's the only board that supports hot-swappable magnetic switches (and comes with those MGX options by default), and secondly, it's quite a bit cheaper.

The equivalent Makr line built to spec using minimal components will set you back $265 on Corsair's website, versus the Pro's $250.

Corsair Makr Pro 75 review: Specs

Price

$249.99 / £219.99 / AU$523

Layout

75% (UK ISO as tested)

Switch

Corsair MGX Hyperdrive hall-effect (magnetic)

Switch specs

Adjustable 0.1–4.0actuation; Rapid Trigger; hot-swappable

Keycaps

double-shot PBT, shine-through

Dimensions

330 × 142 × 47mm (13 × 5.59 × 1.85")

Connectivity

Wired USB-C; optional 2.4GHz / Bluetooth module (sold separately)

Polling rate

Up to 8,000Hz wired

Rollover / anti-ghosting

Full-key rollover (NKRO)

Weight

1.282kg (2.83lb)

Corsair Makr Pro 75 review: Design

• Outstanding build quality and exceptional sound deadening
• No full-size variant
• Rotary dial looks awesome, and a welcome addition

This is, without a doubt, the heaviest board I've ever had in for review. It weighs a staggering 1.282 KG (or 2.83 lbs), and honestly, it feels like you could club someone to death with it, it's that ridiculous. It's got a fully built custom aluminum housing, and inside of that live eight layers of sound dampening.

Let me take a breath because the list is long. You've got… silicon rubber padding, pad foam PET backing, PU pad foam, socket foam, PET film, IXPE switch foam, transparent PET backing, and PU plate foam, all situated around that hall effect compatible PCB, which is further secured in place, with both a gasket mount solution for the switches, and stabilisation with an FR4 switch plate for even more rigidity. Like, seriously, guys… It's just not good enough. I expect 14 layers on the next one (that's a joke).

(Image credit: Future)

I mention that hall effect PCB because it's an important detail here. Although you can swap out the keys, it's only compatible with magnetic switches that can take advantage of the hall effect sensors.

If you've got a slew of old Gateron switches that you just love, you're going to have to grab the Makr 75 instead of this slightly cheaper model (frustrating I know). Albeit that is a niche in a niche.

(Image credit: Future)

There's some other customisation options you can add in here, too, if you're looking to bump the price higher. You can get a wireless module to ditch the cables (effectively strapping a 50-hour battery life to the thing with no RGB enabled, although it is worth noting that's a fraction of the time you get compared to the standard mechanical switch variant at 172 hours). And, you can chuck out the lovely rotary dial for a teeny tiny LCD display, for some reason.

One thing I will say. After spending some time with the latest Corsair Galleon 100 SD, the build here is just outstanding by comparison (which is bizarre given it comes from the same company, and the Galleon costs significantly more).

(Image credit: Future)

The only downside? No, full-size variant. And I know I know, the ergonomics are better, and proper gamers only use 75% boards. But I'm an old man now, I game just as much as I mash in my credit card details to buy yet another air fryer.

Corsair Makr Pro 75 review: Performance

• Key switches are gorgeous, Hall effect are stunning for typists and gamers alike
• The argument about dampening feels subjective
• iCUE vs Web Hub is a confusing mess

Can we talk about iCUE quickly, because it seriously frustrates me? Now, this is less of an issue with the Makr Pro directly as it's compatible with both iCUE and Corsair's new Web Hub, thing, but, right now, we're in this weird world where we have not one, but three different programs to manage your Corsair umbrella hardware, with a transition over to Web Hub for the newer products.

What's Web Hub? Glad you asked. Effectively, a lightweight replacement for iCUE, built out of a webpage connecting directly to your Corsair hardware, and fully installable as a PWA app on your desktop.

What's the problem then? Not everything supports it, that Galleon 100 SD I mentioned earlier fails to show on iCUE entirely and is only picked up on Web Hub (and the Elgato Stream Deck app…). That's particularly annoying because if you're running Firefox, Web Hub simply won't work.

As I say, thankfully, the Makr Pro 75 is compatible with both, but if this is a sign of things to come, well, I'm a lot less enthusiastic about it. Particularly as we've only had a promise that legacy component support is coming later down the line, but as and when that happens? Who knows.

(Image credit: Future)

Software drama aside, overall typing is just a joy. My heavy-handed (read: hench) fingers absolutely love these keycaps and the surprisingly tactile feedback that each gives on full depression is just stunning. It's smooth, clean, and rapid. Actuation is beautifully clean, and the fact that you can adjust them to your absolute preference (again, so my heavy sausage fingers don't accidentally actuate while resting) is a real treat.

An added bonus on that front is FlashTap SOCD Handling, which effectively allows you to decide how your strafe keys behave on accidental keypress. Pressing D, but your finger slips on A, you can have it still move left with A, continue pressing D, or cancel both key presses simultaneously to stop you moving. It's a neat addition, particularly given how sensitive you can make the actuation point.

There has been some criticism around the industry that the sound dampening might be too aggressive, but honestly, I just don't see it. It may well be that your mileage varies depending on how you type. If you're a heavy keypress lubber like I am, you'll be more than at home on this thing.

(Image credit: Future)

There's one minor caveat I have on this thing, though, and that's the cost. It ain't cheap, chief. Asus's ROG Strix Scope II RX, for example, currently slides in at nearly half the price of this thing on Amazon, and you get similar performance from it. Pre-lubed optical red linear switches, sound dampening, a (singular) comprehensive software suite, and dare I say a numpad? Is it at the same level as the Makr Pro? No… But it's damn close.

Should I buy the Corsair Makr Pro 75?

Corsair Makr Pro 75 Scorecard

Attribute

Notes

Score

Value

It's not the cheapest keyboard in the shed that's for sure, but Corsair's Makr Pro 75 is markedly more affordable than its fully custom Makr counterpart, and packs in a ton of spec for the price.

3.5/5

Design

An otherworldly construction, and eight layers of sound-dampening make this the heaviest and possibly nicest keyboard money can buy.

4.5/5

Performance

MGX switches are fast, responsive, and backed up with some seriously slick Flashtap SOCD tech, as well as eliminating unwanted input. iCUE/Web Hub is frustrating, though.

4.5/5

Buy it if…

You want the custom board without the custom
Prebuilt sound-deadened, hot swappable switches baked inside a CNC aluminum chassis. She's a beauty and well worth it if you like the frills but don't have the time to commit to your own custom keeb.View Deal

You're a gamer and a professional
The MGX switch is outstanding for typists and gamers alike. Fast, agile, and oh so satisfying to click down on. Plus, you get that rapid trigger and 8,000 Hz polling.View Deal

You want god-tier build quality
It's dense, seriously dense. And that's all thanks to a wild amount of sound dampening and some serious internals giving it plenty of heft, and a surprisingly nice feel under click.View Deal

Don’t buy it if…

You're after "affordable" or "good value"
This ain't it. The Makr Pro 75 is a beauty sure, but the price tag is steep. There are boards that deliver similar quality at a far lower price point.View Deal

You're after a numpad at this quality
Live and die by your calculations? Spamming your card details and phone number every five minutes? That lack of numpad is going to ruin your day.View Deal

Also consider

Corsair Vanguard Air 99 Wireless

Fancy staying in the Corsair camp but want wireless and a near full layout? The Air 99 is a fine answer to that, with built in 8,000 Hz wireless, streaming keys, plus a rotary dial and LCD screen, it's a good choice. The only caveat? Low profile opto-mechanical switches rather than the beauty of Hall MGX.

Read our full Corsair Vanguard Air 99 Wireless reviewView Deal

Asus ROG Strix Scope II RX

If the missing numpad and the price just aren't your cup of tea, Asus' Strix Scope II RX might be your missing biscuit. It's a full-size board with outstanding pre-lubed RX Red linear optical switches, proper sound dampening, and PBT keycaps for around half the cost of the Makr and Makr Pro.

Read our full Asus ROG Strix Scope II RX reviewView Deal

How I tested the Corsair Makr Pro 75

• Two weeks as my daily driver
• Tested across all types of content (gaming, novel-writing, day-to-day work)
• Used across multiple PCs
• Over a decade of testing PC hardware and 14 years of being keyboard-obsessed

Me and the Makr Pro 75 spent a lovely two weeks together straight. I swapped it out as my daily driver, and used it across both my own digital agency and freelance journalism as well, and leaned on it heavily for everything from hammering out chapters in a novel I'm writing, to long sessions in Total War: Warhammer 3, World of Warcraft as a healer, and dabbling in Cyberpunk 2077 too.

I wanted to ensure it was used across a mix of different applications and games, and thoroughly tested across all genres as well. The keyboard market is no longer targeted solely at young adults and kids, but also to those of us with full-time jobs as well, so ensuring it was capable of a bit of everything was tantamount to this review. I wanted to make certain that it was capable of handling a 2,000-word after-market PC build feature, as it was in a quick three-hour raid sesh.

Alongside the hands-on time, I also dug into the wider keyboard market as well, researching competing boards at and around the Makr Pro 75's price to place its build, switches, and value in proper context. I've spent over a decade testing PC hardware and peripherals, so I've got plenty of experience to draw on, both for how a board this expensive should feel and whether the asking price genuinely adds up.

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

KitchenAid KF4: two-minute review

The KitchenAid Fully Automatic Espresso Machine KF4 is a new addition to the company’s lineup, and though it looks very similar to earlier models like the KF3 and KF6, it’s considerably smaller and a great choice for compact kitchens. It also offers particularly good noise shielding, and during my tests it proved quieter than its siblings when grinding and brewing.

It has the same Intelligrind system as KitchenAid’s larger machines, making it easy to achieve the correct dosage for your chosen coffee. With just a few manual tweaks of the grinder (which can be adjusted via a dial), you’ll soon be enjoying consistently delicious, well-extracted espresso.

The KF4’s automatic milk system lets you use that espresso in delicious lattes and cappuccinos, and while it’s optimized for dairy, it worked perfectly well with barista-style oat milk as well, producing foam that was almost as thick and creamy, and just the right temperature.

The KF4 brews a mean macchiato and works well with plant milk despite not having a dedicated mode for it (Image credit: Future)

It’s a shame, then, that the KF4’s ‘iced’ espresso and coffee options didn’t deliver the results I’d hoped. Many espresso machines offer cold extraction, which takes longer to brew but delivers a drink with a mellow flavor that’s easily turned into an iced latte or enjoyed on its own. The KF4 brews its ‘iced’ drinks at a lower temperature than usual, but the resulting coffee is still hot enough to melt ice within a minute or two, leaving you with a drink that’s diluted and lukewarm.

Otherwise, this is an excellent mid-range automatic espresso machine that’s solidly made, easy to use, and simple to keep clean. Its components aren’t dishwasher-safe, but its excellent set of maintenance programs means keeping everything hygienic (including the milk system) is a piece of cake.

KitchenAid KF4: specifications

Name

KitchenAid Fully Automatic Espresso Machine KF4

Type

Bean-to-cup

Dimensions (W x H x D)

7.68 x 6.3 x 18.7 inches / 195 x 160 x 475mm

Weight

19.8lbs / 9kg

Water reservoir capacity

1.9 quarts / 1.8 liters

Milk frother

Yes (automatic, dairy only)

Bars of pressure

15

Noise level

72dB grinding, 60dB brewing

User profiles

4

KitchenAid KF4: price and availability

• Launched April 2026
• Available in US and UK
• List price $1,299.99 / £899 (about AU$1,850)

The KitchenAid Fully Automatic Espresso Machine KF4 launched in April 2026 with a list price of $1,299.99 / £899, putting it in the middle of KitchenAid’s range of automatic coffee makers. That’s about AU$1,850, but the KF4 isn’t yet available in Australia.

If you like the look of the KF4 but your budget won’t quite stretch that far, take a look at the KitchenAid KF3. It's very similar to the KF4 but has a slightly smaller range of drinks and no milk carafe. Instead, you place the end of the milk tube in a glass or cup, which is a less elegant solution, but one that cuts the price to $999.99 / £749 (about AU$1,420).

For comparison, KitchenAid’s top-end fully automatic espresso machine, the KF8, is priced at $1,999.99 / £1,899 / AU$2,599, while the lower-specced KF2 is $799.99 / £699 (about AU$1,140).

• Value score: 4/5

KitchenAid KF4: design

• Smaller than previous KitchenAid automatic espresso machines
• Milk system is easy to use and clean
• No components are dishwasher-safe

The KF4 looks very much like KitchenAid’s previous automatic coffee makers, but with one significant difference: it’s much more compact. The KF6 measures 10.2 x 14.3 x 18.6 inches / 260 x 363 x 473mm, while the new KF4 is 7.68 x 6.3 x 18.7 inches / 195 x 160 x 475mm (H x W x D). This allows it to slide into a much narrower space, making it a great option for bijou kitchens.

Otherwise, the KF4 follows the same design language as other KitchenAid machines with its boxy shape and rounded corners, and a choice of porcelain white or matt black finishes. However, the company has made a few thoughtful tweaks here. The brushed stainless steel at the top of earlier models has been replaced with plastic, for example, and the metal around the edge of the drip tray has a satin finish. The overall look is sleeker and more modern, and the area surrounding the display is no longer susceptible to gathering unsightly fingerprints.

The water tank is robust, and the KF4 is supplied with a filter (Image credit: Future)

The 3.5 inch / 8.8cm color touchscreen is supplemented by six buttons: four that provide quick access to the menu, profiles, rinsing cycles, and machine settings; one that initiates brewing; and one that cancels the current drink. The screen has a noticeably lower resolution than other espresso machines I’ve tested recently, such as the Philips Café Aromis, but it’s clear and responsive.

The bean hopper is generously sized, and unlike many other brands, KitchenAid’s designers have opted for an opaque lid with a silicone seal. This means you can’t check how many beans are left at a glance, but ensures that your coffee isn’t exposed to unnecessary light and air, thereby keeping it fresh longer. The lid is fully removable rather than hinged, which makes the hopper easier to access if you keep your coffee maker underneath a wall cabinet, and it has a chute for a scoop of pre-ground coffee if you want to mix things up. A suitably-sized scoop is provided with the machine.

The drip tray is large and deep, helping avoid spillsFutureThe bean hopper has a chute for adding a scoop of pre-ground coffeeFuture

The drip tray is deep, helping prevent spills, and has a large spout at the back for easy emptying. Used coffee grounds drop into a removable bin in the center, and during testing I was pleased to see that this was a very tidy process. Some espresso machines manage to spread wet grounds all over the drip tray and the interior of the case, but not the KF4.

The water tank is large too, and feels very sturdy. It has a hinged lid and a recessed handle, making it easy to remove, carry, and slide back into place without spilling. The KF4 is also supplied with a water-testing strip and water filter. The tank is quite narrow, so reaching inside to fit the filter can be tricky, but this doesn’t need to be done too often.

You can keep the milk carafe in the fridge between uses (Image credit: Future)

The KF4’s milk system is the same as that of the KF8, with a lidded carafe that connects to the machine via a silicone tube. Lift a small cover on the side of the KF4’s coffee dispenser to reveal a socket, push one end of the hose into place, then attach the other to the carafe. It’s not as neat as the Philips LatteGo system, where the milk carafes are made from three simple pieces of hard plastic, but the KF4’s rinsing and cleaning programs help keep everything hygienic. The milk carafe can be stored in the fridge between uses, but none of the removable parts — including the milk system, drip tray, and grounds container — are dishwasher-safe.

The height of the dispenser can be adjusted to accommodate different-sized cups, with a good range of movement that suits everything from an espresso cup to a 350ml coffee mug. The movement isn’t as smooth as with the latest machines from Philips and De’Longhi, which is a shame, but that's a minor quibble.

• Design score: 4.5/5

KitchenAid KF4: performance

• Consistently well-extracted espresso
• Good milk foaming, despite lack of dedicated plant milk mode
• Four user profiles, which can store four custom drinks each
• ‘Iced’ drinks are brewed at a lower temperature, but are still hot

Most importantly, the KitchenAid KF4 brews an excellent espresso. Its Intelligrind system selects the best dose for your coffee beans, and it’s easy to tweak the grind size for the optimum extraction. It produced very consistent results during my tests, and once I’d dialled in the best grind size for each type of coffee, I could be confident that it would always taste great.

Milk-foaming is great as well. Although there’s no option specifically for foaming plant milk, as there is with the KF8, I found it performed perfectly well using barista-style oat milk. I got the thickest, silkiest foam when using full-fat dairy milk, but plant and semi-skimmed milk were both fine as alternatives. However, it’s worth knowing that, unlike some other coffee makers I’ve tested recently (including the De’Longhi Primadonna Aromatic and Philips Café Aromis), the KitchenAid KF4 can only produce hot milk foam, so iced lattes and cappuccinos are off the menu.

Once you've dialled in the grind size, you can be confident you'll get consistent resultsFutureThe large touchscreen makes it easy to browse the menuFutureYou can adjust the brew settings and save a preset to your profileFuture

There are four user profiles, which will be plenty for most households. The downside is that each profile can only store four custom drinks. I found that the default volumes of espresso and milk were quite small, so I would have preferred to be able to create a lot more bespoke presets for quick access.

I was disappointed with the KF4’s two iced drink options (iced coffee and iced espresso). Many modern coffee makers — from the budget-friendly De’Longhi Dedica Duo through to the prosumer Jura J10 — offer cold-extracted espresso. This uses ambient temperature water direct from the tank and produces a drink with a more mellow flavor than hot espresso, which is ideal for iced drinks with or without milk.

Making an 'iced' coffee involves pouring warm espresso onto ice, which melts rapidly (Image credit: Future)

The KF4, on the other hand, takes the same approach as the Philips LatteGo 5500 Series by asking you to add a handful of ice to your cup and then pouring a shot of hot espresso over the top. KitchenAid says that the ‘iced’ espresso and coffee are brewed at a lower temperature than usual, but during my tests they were still hot enough to quickly melt the ice in my cup, leaving me with a diluted, lukewarm drink. I’ve come to expect better results from KitchenAid’s machines, and it was disappointing.

These two ‘iced’ options occupy two spots in the KF4’s menu that could be used for other drinks. The KF4 doesn’t have a preset for brewing a cortado, for example, which is a shame since it’s a favorite of mine.

The ''evaporate' option purges all water from the machine (Image credit: Future)

There’s better news when it comes to noise shielding. KitchenAid’s fully automatic coffee makers are some of the quietest on the market, and the KF4 is no exception. In fact, it’s one of the quietest machines I’ve ever used, averaging 72dB while grinding and 60dB while brewing.

Maintenance is refreshingly simple and thorough as well, with a choice of quick and deep cleaning options. The machine rinses itself upon startup and shutdown, prompts you to empty the drip tray and grounds container regularly, and asks you to rinse the milk system after each use. When it’s time for a more intensive clean, open the settings menu, and you’ll find options for washing the milk system and brewing unit with special cleaners. The KF4 is supplied with cleaning tablets for the brew unit, though you’ll need to buy descaler and milk system cleaner separately. There’s also an option for evaporating all the water in the machine, which is a brilliant feature I wish all automatic coffee machines had. It makes it easy to keep everything hygienically dry, and is particularly helpful if you’re going to be storing or shipping it.

• Performance score: 4/5

Should you buy the KitchenAid KF4?KitchenAid KF4 score card

Attribute

Notes

Score

Value

One of KitchenAid's more affordable options.

4/5

Design

More compact than the brand's earlier auto machines, but just as smart-looking.

4.5/5

Performance

Excellent espresso and milk, but 'iced' options are disappointing and it can only store four custom drinks per user.

4/5

Buy it if

You want delicious espresso, quickly

The KitchenAid KF4 does its core job very well, brewing consistently delicious espresso quickly and quietly. It has relatively few frills compared to some other coffee makers I’ve tested recently, and that’s no bad thing.

You don’t want to pay over the odds

Automatic coffee makers are never cheap, but the KF4 is very reasonably priced for such a capable machine from a premium brand. The top-end KF8 costs twice as much.

You’re short of space

This is one of the most compact fully-automatic espresso machines on the market, and its slim case slides neatly into small spaces.

Don't buy it if

You want authentic-tasting cold-brewed coffee

The KF4’s ‘iced’ coffee options are brewed at a lower temperature than usual, but are still hot enough to melt ice and leave you with a diluted, lukewarm drink.

You want to tinker with lots of custom drinks

There are four user profiles, but the machine can only store four bespoke drinks for each one.

KitchenAid KF4: also consider

If you're not sure whether the KitchenAid KF8 is the right espresso machine for you, here are two other options to keep in mind.

KitchenAid KF8

KitchenAid's premium automatic espresso machine has dedicated modes for different plant milks, a more extensive drinks menu, more grind sizes, a much larger screen, and a higher price tag than the KF4.

Read our full KitchenAid KF8 review

Philips Cafe Aromis

This machine is about the same price as the KF4, but managed to outperform it. The Cafe Aromis has a better screen, brews proper cold-extracted coffee, can foam cold milk, and has a genuinely useful app.

Read my full Philips Cafe Aromis reviewView Deal

KitchenAid KF4: how I tested

I used the KitchenAid KF4 for two weeks, in place of my usual espresso machine. I used it to prepare a wide range of drinks with and without milk, using two different types of coffee to see how the machine would adapt, and how easy it was to dial in the grinder. I tested the milk system with barista-style oat milk, and both semi-skimmed and whole dairy milk. I ran the machine's cleaning programs as directed after each use, and used the brew unit cleaning and evaporation cycles at the end of testing.

First reviewed June 2026

Majority Move M4 review

The Majority Move M4 is a huge Bluetooth speaker boasting a mighty 70W power output, a rugged design, and plentiful battery life, making it very much reminiscent of JBL’s Xtreme range.

Yes, it's clear that the Cambridge-based audio brand is coming for JBL with its Move speakers — and this model I tested is the most powerful in its line. But can Majority compete with the likes of JBL with this release? Here’s what I think after many hours of listening with the Majority Move M4.

On the face of it, the Majority Move M4 has a lot of the features you’d expect from the best Bluetooth speakers. It has Bluetooth 6.0 for long-range connectivity, IP67 dust and waterproofing enabling it to survive a good dunking underwater, and a high power output for blasting tunes at parties or gatherings.

But this model struggles to keep up with the competition in a number of regards. And crucially, that’s mostly evident in its sound quality.

I started assessing the M4’s audio quality by playing KOLTER’s What a Day. This house tune just didn’t sound as I’d hoped — I was instantly struck by compressed audio, with tinny percussion that sounded grating, even at middling volume levels. Bass also lacked the authority and punch I was looking for, and the low-end sounded distorted at higher listening levels.

It was a similar story with I’ll Be Your by RUZE. Bass lacked dynamism, meaning that drops were anti-climactic. Mids also didn’t sound very well separated or rich, and the track just lacked that full-bodied, energetic quality necessary to replicate its excitement and vibrancy.

Even with a more stripped back track like 78 Rotações by Jards Macalé, I wasn’t a big lover of the M4. It definitely handled the less demanding nature of the track more effectively, with relatively clear vocals and decent enough balance across the frequency range. However, the tonality of acoustic guitars wasn’t the most accurate or expressive, and the finer details didn’t jump out at me.

Even though the M4 can get relatively loud, in part thanks to its 70W output power, it often sounds more shouty than regimented and impactful. Bass lacks the dynamism and drive you may expect. And with compressed-sounding treble that can err on the harsh side of things, this speaker struggles to compete, sonically speaking.

(Image credit: Future)

I experienced underwhelming sound while streaming over Bluetooth, but also when I was using a wired connection via a 3.5mm cable. However, you can also use the speaker with a USB flash drive or microSD card if you’d prefer. Both of these listening methods are admittedly on the niche side of things, but hey, they’re here.

There are a few more interesting features onboard, including customizable RGB lights. You can press the light button on the speaker and personalize the color and pattern to your liking, and although I prefer the classier lights of the JBL Xtreme 5, it looks fine. You can also turn the lights off if you’d prefer, which can conserve battery life.

Speaking of battery life, you get a pretty commendable 30 hours here, which is better than budget rivals like the Tribit Stormbox Lava. Other features include a built-in mic for hands-free calling and multi-speaker pairing… though I’m not sure why anyone would want two of these.

The fatal flaw in the features department is the M4’s lack of a companion app. That means there are no EQ options — a big miss — and no way to remotely alter lighting or other useful settings. This is a basic inclusion for a lot of Bluetooth speakers at this point, and was disappointing to see.

(Image credit: Future)

Before we wrap up, I want to speak about design. This thing is definitely reminiscent of the JBL Xtreme 4, with a pseudo-cylindrical build, fabric exterior, and rubber buttons. However, it looks like a far less appealing alternative. I wasn’t a fan of the flimsy-feeling handle, the blue and gray color scheme, or the cheap-looking radiators on each side. This sort of thing is subjective, of course, but the look of the M4 definitely didn’t do it for me.

With that said, the speaker feels fairly durable, and its IP67 rating means it's well protected against dust ingress, and can be submerged under a meter of water for as long as 30 minutes — a very solid level of protection.

OK, the Majority Move M4 is hardly the most expensive model on the market. It comes in at £119.95 (about $160 / AU$225). However, rivals such as the Tribit Stormbox Lava are available for less — and while that model is a little heavy-handed in the low-end, it certainly sounds better than this Majority speaker. The JBL Xtreme 4 is also available discounted regularly for as little as $250 / £199 (about AU$350), and although that’s a decent amount more, the jump in quality is outrageous.

Would I recommend the Majority Move M4? The answer is no, sadly. Despite its relatively rugged build and commendable battery life, it offers poor, unrefined audio that lacks energy in the low-end and control in the highs. There’s a generally compressed quality here, which means that your favorite songs just don’t sound as they could. Instead, I’d recommend scooping up an on-sale Xtreme 4 if this is the kind of speaker size you're after (and the budget you've set aside for it).

(Image credit: Future)Majority Move M4 review: price & release date

• Priced at £119.95 (about $160 / AU$225)
• Released in January 2026

The Majority Move M4 released in January 2026 in the UK, although at the time of writing, the speaker — alongside its sibling models, including the Move M1, M2, and M3 — are yet to land in the US or Australia. The Move M4 is priced at £119.95 (about $160 / AU$225), making it a lot cheaper than rivals like the JBL Xtreme line, and although it's the largest in its line, it remains pretty budget-friendly.

Majority Move M4 review: specs

Weight

5.3lbs / 2.4kg

Dimensions

12.2 x 4.9 x 4.7 inches / 310 x 125 x 120mm

Connectivity

Bluetooth 6.0, 3.5mm, USB, microSD

Battery life

30 hours

Speaker drivers

Not stated

Waterproofing

IP67

(Image credit: Future)Should I buy the Majority Move M4?

Attribute

Notes

Score

Features

Customizable lights, number of connectivity methods, but lack of an app is restrictive.

3/5

Performance

Compressed audio lacking in dynamism and clarity.

2.5/5

Design

Decent durability and waterproofing, but design lacks flair and appeal.

3/5

Value

It may not be the most expensive, but it’s significantly outperformed by similarly priced rivals.

2.5/5

Buy it if…

You want a wide array of playback options
One of the benefits of this speaker is its broad connectivity options. There’s Bluetooth, USB flash drive support, microSD playback, and even 3.5mm. That’s a pretty good line-up if you ask me.

You want a cheap large-sized speaker
If you don’t need the best sound out there, and just want a relatively powerful speaker to bring anywhere, then the Move M4 could still fit the bill. It’s fairly cheap for its size, and is highly waterproof, making it ideal for taking anywhere you go.

Don’t buy it if…

You want great audio quality
The Majority Move M4’s biggest downfall is its sound quality, which is below average, in my view. Ideally, you’d be able to grab an on-sale JBL Xtreme 4 (or even better the new JBL Xtreme 5), but there are other budget options I’d pick over this, including the below Tribit model and the Anker Soundcore Boom 2.

You want something stylish
I’m not a fan of how the Move M4 looks. Its bright blue detailing and greyish color don’t have the most cohesive look. If you want something stylish, I’d recommend checking out the Bose SoundLink Plus, or the smaller Bose SoundLink Flex Gen 2 if you don’t need massive power.

Majority Move M4 review: also consider

Majority Move M4

JBL Xtreme 4

Tribit Stormbox Lava

Price

£119.95 (about $160 / AU$225)

$379.95 / £329.99 / AU$499.95

$129.99 / £111 (about AU$200)

Weight

5.3lbs / 2.4kg

4.6lbs / 2.1kg

5.1lbs / 2.3kg

Dimensions

12.2 x 4.9 x 4.7 inches / 310 x 125 x 120mm

11.7 x 5.9 x 5.6 inches / 297 x 149 x 141mm

12.2 x 5.8 x 6 inches / 310 x 147 x 152mm

Connectivity

Bluetooth 6.0, 3.5mm, USB, microSD

Bluetooth 5.3

Bluetooth 5.4, 3.5mm

Battery life

30 hours

24 hours

24 hours

Speaker drivers

Not stated

2 x 30W woofers, 2 x 20W tweeters

2x 30W woofers, 2x 10W tweeters

Waterproofing

IP67

IP67

IP67

JBL Xtreme 4
This one’s successor came out recently, so you can expect to see some price dips on the regular. I even spotted this model selling for less than £200 in the UK while writing this review, and that’s a truly exceptional price for this speaker. With phenomenal bass, great build quality, and a wide range of features, this model has everything you need. Read my full JBL Xtreme 4 review.

Tribit Stormbox Lava
Look, the Stormbox Lava isn’t perfect — it isn’t the most exciting-looking speaker, for instance. But for its incredibly low cost, it delivers very decent quality, with big bass output, relatively clean mids, and — with some tuning — controlled treble. It’s pretty powerful and has an IP67 waterproof rating, so it’s a nice pick for parties — both indoor and outdoor. Read my full Tribit Stormbox Lava review.

How I tested the Majority Move M4

(Image credit: Future)

• Tested across a week-long period
• Mainly streamed tracks via Tidal
• Compared against similarly sized rivals

I spent hours testing the Majority Move M4 across a week-long period, and tested it in our dedicate music testing space at Future Labs.

For the most part, I streamed tunes using Tidal, but I dipped into Spotify from time to time as well. To begin with, I sifted through tracks in our TechRadar reference playlist, which features songs from a wide range of genres, but I also made sure to listen to a ton of tunes from my personal library as well.

More generally, I’ve spent years testing audio gear here at TechRadar, including a huge number of portable speakers — I even curated our guide to the very best Bluetooth speakers. I compared the M4 to rivals like the JBL Xtreme 4 and Tribit Stormbox Lava, which I personally tested, so I knew exactly how Majority’s speaker stacked up against the competition.

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

If you're a gamer with a pulse, you may have noticed that a few new titles were announced at this year's Summer Game Fest. Of course, if you're a Bethesda Softworks stalwart who'd hoped the event would yield fresh intel on the game maker's next Fallout and Elder Scrolls entries, then, well, you may have been more disappointed than delighted by its many reveals.

Review info

Platform reviewed: PlayStation 5 Pro
Available on: Xbox Series X|S, PC, PS5
Release date: April 7, 2026

While both Fallout 76 and The Elder Scrolls Online shared peeks of future updates – and a Doom: The Dark Ages expansion was announced – details on the studio's most anticipated, long-awaited games were sadly a no-show. All that said, one of Bethesda's biggest, most ambitious efforts has recently been released on PlayStation platforms.

Arriving two-plus years after its exclusive launch on PC and Xbox Series X and Series S, sprawling sci-fi role-playing game Starfield has finally landed on Sony's systems…but with little fanfare. That's a bit surprising, as the 2023 role-playing game (RPG) is not only one of Bethesda's best original efforts in recent years, but one that has reserved its most polished, content-packed version for PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 5 Pro owners.

A Bethesda RPG, evolved

(Image credit: Bethesda Softworks)

If you're a new Constellation recruit, let's catch you up real quick. Starfield is a big, ambitious Bethesda RPG not unlike the studio's other staple series within the genre. While it's not exactly The Elder Scrolls in space, its systems-fueled gameplay, expansive open-world, and author-your-own-adventure formula will feel comfortably familiar to anyone who's sunk hours into the fantasy RPG series or the Fallout franchise.

Starfield essentially refines, polishes, and expands on those games' enduring formulas…then recruits you as a starship captain and hurtles you into the scary expanse of the cosmic frontier. As you might expect, there's plenty of enemies to eviscerate, massive progression paths to evolve, resources to gather, items to craft, factions to tangle with, mysteries to uncover, and so much more.

But as a galaxy-exploring, planet-hopping sci-fi RPG, you can also count on deep starship customization, crew member recruitment, dogfights among the stars, and ugly extraterrestrials looking to turn you to pulp. Starfield allows you to dig deep into all of these elements while also steering and shaping your journey, molding it to your playstyle and preference at every turn.

While you're certainly welcome to stick to the critical path and closely adhere to the game's narrative, it's at its best when you're fulfilling your own sci-fi fantasies – whether that's becoming a pistol-packing bounty hunter, peace-keeping diplomat, or just some dude who really digs collecting and customizing a fleet of cool starships.

A galaxy of updates and improvements

(Image credit: Bethesda Softworks)

Despite giving players the keys to a lightspeed-capable craft and encouraging them to author their own sci-fi epic, Starfield wasn't without its share of flaws when it was originally released. From empty-feeling planets and a confusing economy to clunky combat, sometimes sluggish travel, and an overall lack of charm and personality, it left some players as cold as deep space.

But like any ambitious AAA game with two-plus years' worth of updates, patches, and expansions in its rearview, Starfield has benefited from a spaceport full of improvements and polish since releasing in the summer of 2023. On top of countless quality-of-life tweaks, it's also seen several significant updates, like the awesome planet-roving REV-8 vehicle that makes exploring even the most boring expanses a rubber-burning blast.

(Image credit: Bethesda Softworks)

But Starfield's biggest update by far has nicely coincided with the game's PS5 release, leading to what Bethesda producer Tim Lamb called its "best version" in a recent interview with TechRadar. The substantial offering introduces a ton more tweaks, improvements, and even fresh content, from a powerful new resource that deepens customization to an adorable alien pet companion you can adopt.

The update's biggest game-changers, however, are its "Free Lanes" and "Cruise Mode" additions, which blow some of Starfield's more tedious elements out an airlock. Combined, these enhancements introduce seamless, smoother, and more satisfying space travel, allowing for easier planet-to-planet navigation, as well as the ability to manage many of the game's complex systems while casually cruising through the stars.

While this latest update will likely feel long overdue for existing fans, it's just an organic, out-of-the-box part of the experience for those earning their captain stripes in the PS5 version. Those same new recruits are also treated to the game's story-based expansions, Shattered Space and the more recent Terran Armada, which add hours of content and are included in the premium edition's $70 price.

Boldly going where previous versions have not

(Image credit: Bethesda Softworks)

In addition to all previous patches and enhancements – as well as the new update – PS5 players are treated to some Sony platform-specific features when they strap into the cockpit. Starfield doesn't skimp on the extras that smartly leverage the consoles' unique elements and – in the PlayStation 5 Pro's case – considerable horsepower.

PS5 players can choose between a graphics-favoring Visual mode and a frame-rate-focused Performance option. The former delivers 4K resolution – with PSSR upscaling doing some of the heavy lifting – at 30fps, while the latter ups the frames to 60-per-second at the cost of dropping the resolution to 1080p. The Pro also gets its own Enhanced mode, which further optimizes specific visual features, like foliage and draw distances, at 30fps.

I primarily played on the Pro, and found the Visual mode to offer the best overall experience, delivering fantastic fidelity and a peppy framerate that never felt compromised. I also found that the Pro's performance mode actually offered a slight visual bump over the base PS5's graphics mode. All that said, the game ran smoothly and looked great on the standard system.

Best bit

(Image credit: Bethesda Softworks)

No, Starfield is not a Star Wars game, but that tiny detail didn't keep me from becoming the best bounty hunter its Settled Systems had ever seen. The game encourages you to carve your own galaxy-spanning path, and that's just what I did – complete with a cool jetpack and lethal hand cannon. Toss in brimming bounty boards with targets just begging to be brought in, dead or alive, and Boba Fett has nothing on me.

More impressive is what the game accomplishes with the DualSense across all PS5 platforms. While plenty of ports take advantage of the controller's adaptive trigger and haptic feedback tech, Starfield goes above and beyond, fully integrating these features, but also leveraging the peripheral's light bar and built-in speaker to significantly up the immersion. The game ultimately serves as a great showcase of what the controller's unique features can bring to an interactive entertainment experience when fully utilized.

Much like Bethesda Softworks' PS5 port of Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, the studio's latest looks and plays better than ever on Sony's systems. But Starfield's PlayStation debut actually shares more with Obsidian Entertainment's Avowed, which arrived on PS5 consoles not only with the usual graphical and performance bumps, but also with a host of welcome updates and new content that made it the definitive version of the game.

Thanks to two-plus years of tweaks and enhancements – as well as a recent, significant update adding even more polish, improvements, and content – that's exactly what fans are getting with Starfield's latest release, a definitive experience that makes an already fantastic game out of this world.

Should I play Starfield on PS5?Play it if…

It felt a bit rough around the edges the first time around
While Starfield wasn't riddled with bugs upon release, it did suffer from a number of minor issues that have since been addressed via patches and updates. It now plays smoother, more seamlessly, and feels like a complete, polished experience on PS5.

You were waiting for the definitive edition
Starfield's PS5 release is the complete package, not only benefiting from two-plus years of fixes, patches, and polish, but also including all previously released content. In addition to a major new update addressing some of the game's most glaring issues, Starfield's $70 premium edition packs two full story expansions, including the new Terran Armada.

You want a game that leverages the PS5 Pro's power
More than a mere port, Starfield arrives on the PS5 Pro with three modes – Visual, Performance, and Enhanced – as well as full integration of the DualSense's unique features. If you're seeking the best looking – and performing – version of the game, while also wanting to experience the increased immersion the controller can deliver, you should dock your craft with the Pro.

Don’t play it if…

Starfield's setting, story, and characters didn't click with you before
Starfield's PlayStation 5 release benefits from a host of updates and improvements, but most apply primarily to the game's various systems and mechanics. While there's some fun new narrative elements to be found in the Terran Armada expansion, the game has not changed stylistically, with its story, setting, and characters remaining the same.

Accessibility

Starfield's accessibility features feel pretty bare bones, offering some standard options for adjusting audio settings, as well as different selections for subtitles, captions, and fonts.

There's plenty in the way of controller mapping options, but little depth in other areas. And some features that have become fairly standard, like color filter modes and other assists for visually-impaired players, are notably absent here.

How I reviewed Starfield on PS5

I spent 30-plus hours exploring, battling, and adventuring through Starfield's Settled Systems. During my time on planet surfaces and among the stars, I focused on the many updates the game has received since its launch, from its dozens of quality-of-life tweaks to its more significant inclusions and enhancements.

I also tested the various quality and performance modes on both my PS5 and PS5 Pro. Finally, I paid particular attention to how the game looked and played today – on Sony's consoles – versus how it felt when I first experienced it on my Xbox Series X. I played on my TCL 4K TV, with HDR enabled, using Sony's PlayStation Pulse Elite headset for audio.

First reviewed June 2026

De’Longhi Eletta Ultra: two-minute review

The De’Longhi Eletta Ultra is a fully automatic bean-to-cup coffee machine. Not only does it offer a range of more than 50 drink presets, it's capable of cold extraction, enabling it to produce cold brew in just a few minutes. And with up to four user profiles, you can save your drink preferences for the morning, lunch or afternoon, ensuring your coffee is tailored to your taste at different times of day.

Not only is its 3.82 x 2.20 inch / 97 x 56mm touchscreen bright and crisp, it’s incredibly easy to navigate, making selecting your coffee a cinch. Thanks to its 1.9 quart / 1.8 liter water tank and 8.82oz / 250g bean hopper you can brew a fair few drinks before needing to top it up. Its design is a little boxy for my tastes but its clean lines and brushed metal finish means it will look relatively unobtrusive in most kitchens.

One of the first things that struck me about the Eletta Ultra is that it has an impressive array of features. First off, it has 52 different drinks presets, which is truly wild: that includes everything from a ristretto through a babyccino to cold extracted coffees like cold brew. It even offers regional specialities I’ve not seen from some of the best bean-to-cup coffee makers like the Portuguese galão or the heart-hammering black eye.

The vast majority of these presets are also customizable, allowing you to tweak things like their length, intensity or even add an extra shot, then save it to one of four personal profiles. Not only that but should you prefer a stronger coffee in the morning or a little bit less intensity in the afternoon the Eletta Ultra lets you save custom preferences to each profile for Morning, Lunchtime and Later in the Day. That’s an impressive level of personalization available.

But how does the De’Longhi Eletta Ultra perform? Well, it’s certainly got a decent engine under that hood. I found its boiler usually warms up in the morning within around 30 seconds, which is faster than a lot of bean-to-cup machines and a fraction of the time many prosumer devices take. And unlike some coffee makers, it doesn’t make an absolute din when in use; using a sound level meter, I clocked it at about 58dB, which is honestly very quiet compared to most of the competition.

(Image credit: Future)

Despite how easy the Eletta is to use on paper, it honestly took me quite a while to dial in the right settings — the machine felt a little mercurial at first, flipping straight from underextracting to overextracting as I refined the grind. Eventually though, I hit on the right grind size, intensity and length to start pulling consistent shots and the resulting espresso was certainly satisfying enough, albeit lacking a bit in some of the richness and full body I’d expect from a machine at this price.

I’m not an expert milk frother, I’ll readily admit, so I definitely appreciate how simple the Eletta Ultra makes steaming the white stuff. To whip up milky coffees, all I had to do was hook up the hot or cold carafe to match the drink I was making, set it to Light, Creamy or Thick and the machine did the rest. But while this made whipping up cappuccinos and lattes for my colleagues a snap, the resultant foam wasn’t quite as velvety smooth as from some machines, leaving some larger air bubbles intact.

One of the big draws of the Eletta Ultra for me is that cold extraction functionality. As someone who regularly has to spend an interminable 18 hours waiting for my home-made cold brew to steep, discovering I can make cold brew on demand is like a cat learning how a can opener works. But while the cold brew this machine extracts looks delightful, it’s far too watery for my tastes, lacking the complex fruitiness and natural sweetness I’ve come to expect from a great cold brew.

Fundamentally, if you’re looking for convenience or a cornucopia of different kinds of coffees, the De’Longhi Eletta Ultra is an appealing package. You can dial up your preferred take on a whole host of drinks in seconds and trust that you’ll get a pleasurable beverage out of it. But if you have exacting standards for your coffee, you might find it falls just a few inches short of the wonderfully extracted espresso a machine like the Breville Barista Touch Impress with Cold Extraction (known under the brand name Sage in the UK) can offer.

De’Longhi Eletta Ultra review: price & availability

• Launched on February 26, 2026
• Available in the UK but not yet in US or Australia
• List price of £1,149.99 (around $1,550 / AU$2,260)

The De’Longhi Eletta Ultra in the UK on February 26, 2026 — it’s not yet available in either the US or Australia but given other Eletta models are available in those regions, it’s probably safe to assume it will make it there eventually.

Currently you can pick it up for a list price of £1,149.99 (around $1,550 / AU$2,260). As far as bean-to-cup machines go, that’s definitely up the pricier end of the market but it’s not excessive given its feature set. The similarly full-featured Breville Barista Touch Impress with Cold Extraction retails from $1,499.95 / £1,199.95 / AU$1,999, while the fully automatic Siemens EQ900 Plus has a list price of £2,199 (about $2,800 / AU$4,300). So the Eletta Ultra is roughly what I’d expect to pay for a machine of this spec.

(Image credit: Future)De’Longhi Eletta Ultra review: specs

Category

Specification

Type

Fully automatic bean-to-cup espresso machine

Dimensions

14.96 x 9.25 x 17.91 inches / 380 x 235 x 455mm

Weight

24.14 lbs / 10.95 kg

Water tank capacity

1.9 quarts / 1.8 liters

Steam wand

No (Includes automatic LatteCrema Hot & Cool milk carafes / Hot water spout)

Max pressure

19 bar

(Image credit: Future)De’Longhi Eletta Ultra review: design

• 52 drink presets that can be customised across four profiles
• Bright, easy-to-navigate touchscreen display
• Fairly unremarkable looks

The De’Longhi Eletta Ultra is a big machine without necessarily being hulking — at a size of 9.25 x 17.91 x 14.96 inches / 235 x 455 x 380mm, I’d say it appears slap bang in the middle of the best bean-to-cup coffee makers. And it’s similarly average in terms of its capacity: you can fit up to 1.9 quarts / 1.8 liters into the Eletta Ultra’s water tank, meaning you should get a fair few brews out of it before you have to refill it.

Meanwhile, loading its hopper could not be easier — you can squeeze up to 8.82oz / 250g of beans into it just by pouring them into the top of the machine. My only slight reservation here is I generally like to mix and match my beans from day to day and these kinds of integrated hoppers are almost impossible to empty, which stands in sharp contrast to machines with a screw-in hopper like the Breville Oracle Touch. You can at least add a dose of grounds in the chute at the front of the hopper should you fancy a one-off taste of something different.

When it comes to aesthetics, I find the Eletta Ultra clean and sharp, if a bit bland. On the one hand, its 3.82 x 2.20 inch / 97 x 56mm touchscreen display is impressively bright and detailed, making swiping through settings and drinks profiles a breeze, while its metallic finish certainly would fit in well with most kitchens. However, its looks are a little boxy for my taste and I prefer the more traditional barista-style look offered by something like the Breville Oracle Touch or Ninja Luxe Café.

(Image credit: Future)

As this is a fully automatic bean-to-cup machine, there’s not really a huge number of additional accessories you need — the huge toolkit of portafilters, tamps and brushes that manual machines ship with doesn’t really apply. However, the Eletta Ultra does come with warm and cold milk-steaming carafes, ensuring your hot drinks stay piping hot and your cold drinks don’t come out lukewarm.

One thing the De’Longhi Eletta Ultra does have in spades, however, is features. It offers an almost overwhelming selection of drinks, with 52 available in total — whether you fancy classics like an espresso or a flat white, regional specialties like milchkaffee or cafe con leche or even cold drinks like cold brew or iced cappuccino, you should find your ideal tipple here. And, as is increasingly common with automatic machines, each of these is fully customizable, allowing you to set your ideal length and intensity and save them to one of four personalized profiles.

(Image credit: Future)

But the smart features don’t stop there. De’Longhi’s Bean Sense feature is designed to help you get the best out of your beans; dial in whether you’re using Arabica or a blend, your bean roast level, current grinder level and the Eletta Ultra will pour a test espresso, before tweaking its boiler temperature and suggesting the ideal grind to tailor extraction to your coffee. Additionally, each personalized profile allows you to tweak your settings for three different times of day — you can save different preferences for individual drinks for Morning, Lunchtime and Later in the Day.

I definitely appreciated being able to tailor my coffee this way. My tastes tend bolder for most drinks, so I liked being able to set the intensity and boiler temperature a little higher for my personalised versions, while there’s no version of me throughout the multiverse that would drink a cold brew in any size that isn’t large. While my biggest shift from AM to PM — the fact I switch from caffeine to decaf — isn’t something a machine without dual or interchangeable hoppers can cater to, I can see for a lot of people it would be useful to add extra shots earlier or dial down the intensity later. So all-in-all, I’ve got a lot of praise for the De’Longhi’s feature set.

• Design score: 4.5 / 5

(Image credit: Future)De’Longhi Eletta Ultra review: performance

• Heats up fast and runs quiet
• Produces competent but not exceptional coffee
• Super easy to use and clean

Producing your favorite coffees using the De’Longhi Eletta Ultra is an absolute breeze. Punching in your preferences and selecting your brew really only requires a few taps and swipes, which is fantastically convenient when you’re in a hurry. And the range of drinks available is impressive. But I do think some of this breadth comes at the expense of producing core coffees with substantial depth of flavor.

Heating up the Eletta Ultra’s boiler for the first time took around 30 seconds. That’s pretty fast, all told, with many machines of its ilk taking closer to a minute, although some would argue it’s worth allowing these machines a little longer to fully warm their components. De’Longhi has also made a lot of noise (ironically) about how much quieter the Eletta Ultra is than other machines — and it is not wrong. Using a sound level meter, I clocked it at roughly 58dB, which is a fair margin quieter than a lot of machines I’ve tested.

Quick though the machine is to run, it can take a little longer to optimize its output. I’m used to a bit of dialling in when first getting used to the quirks of a coffee machine but I did find the Eletta Ultra more idiosyncratic than even the most eccentric barista.

The first shot I poured was massively underextracted: it had a beige crema and I could see the bottom of the mug, which does not scream ‘rich espresso’ to me. After refining the grind in stages, I managed to get it from Miller Lite flavorlessness to the level of gas station coffee, where it was running a little too fast and still not quite hitting enough pressure to eke out more robust flavors. But when I upped the intensity and dropped the length of the shot to 30ml, it started dribbling out… then stalled entirely. The only way I could get it to extract properly again was slowly increasing the coarseness of the grind until I ended up back where I started.

(Image credit: Future)

Weirdly, at this point, the Eletta Ultra began extracting pretty decent coffee. Even with a relatively cheap supermarket brand of beans, it started pouring rich, consistent espresso with that nice buff-color crema I’m used to. Trying it out with some mid-range beans, Pact’s Decaf Casa Loma, the resultant espresso was a pleasant caramel flavor with a velvety mouthfeel. Don’t get me wrong — it’s not quite the powerful punch I’ve come to expect from some manual machines but it’s not bad either.

Milk-based drinks were a similar story. I whipped up a range of drinks for some of my colleagues down at TechRadar’s testing labs, including a cappuccino, a macchiato and a flat white. The process could not be more straightforward: once you’ve selected your drink profile, all you need to do is set the hot or cold milk carafe to either Light, Creamy or Thick and it will pump out frothy milk to order. But the general reception to these drinks was good rather than great — for example, the cappuccino foam landed slightly on the frothy side, with slightly too large bubbles to create a beautifully smooth foam.

As a big cold brew drinker, I was most excited about trying out the Eletta Ultra’s cold extraction presets. And it does produce some absolutely gorgeous-looking cold brew — pumping out a little at a time, it produces a subtle gradient from light to dense toward the bottom of the glass. But when I made my first batch, the ice was fully melted by the time the machine had finished pouring, suggesting it’s more lukewarm brew than truly cold. And I honestly wasn’t wowed by the finished product — I’ll admit that my standards for cold brew are Gordon-Ramsey-esque so it is a high bar to clear but, even on intense mode, it lacked the smooth, fruity potency I’ve come to expect from my cold coffee.

(Image credit: Future)

As someone who spends half his time tweaking variables to get the best out of his beans, I could definitely see the allure of the Eletta Ultra’s Bean Sense tech. However, I sometimes found in practice that, far from improving the coffee, the settings it selected marred its flavor. For example, because I was using a relatively dark roast, the Bean Sense process automatically set the boiler temperature to medium and recommended I used a coarser grind — but this just led the coffee to taste weak and underextracted. I’m sure it sometimes offers useful insights but if you have a specific flavor profile in mind, you may find yourself overruling it as much as you do following its guidance.

Keeping the Eletta Ultra clean is a breeze, although a full, internal clean is a slightly more involved process. In regular use, you really only need to remember to empty its purged coffee grounds box each day and it automatically purges its steam wand after every use. For a more thorough clean, its drip tray and milk carafes can be disassembled and washed by hand or in a dishwasher, while the water tank requires cleaning by hand. Deep cleaning requires cleaning tabs but the machine will provide a QR code for ordering them and guide you through the steps on screen.

All told, I think the Eletta Ultra’s approach to coffee is workmanlike, rather than artisanal. It’s able to produce a fantastic array of drinks with very little fuss and it’ll knock you up a well-constructed coffee without an enormous investment on your part. But you’re getting a townhouse, not the Guggenheim, and so you need to set your expectations accordingly.

• Performance score: 3.5 / 5

(Image credit: Future)Should I buy the De’Longhi Eletta Ultra?

Attribute

Notes

Score

Value

The De’Longhi Eletta Ultra isn’t exactly cheap but, for a fully automatic bean-to-cup machine with cold extraction, its price is pretty reasonable.

4/5

Design

Huge variety of drink presets, personalised profiles, hot and cold extraction, smart features, medium capacity. Not the most stylish design but it’s also pretty inoffensive.

4.5/5

Performance

Super easy to use. Extracted coffee good rather than great; not the smoothest milk foam; cold brew a little on the weak side. Warms up fast, runs quiet. Easy to keep clean.

3.5/5

Buy it if…

You want a huge array of personalised drinks
With 52 different drink presets that you can tailor your way for different times of the day, there’s a staggering range of drinks available to you at the tap of a screen.

You value convenience above all else
Using the Eletta Ultra is simplicity itself. Even your most technologically averse relative can easily chuck some milk in the carafe, tap their preferred beverage and be enjoying their fave coffee in around a minute.

Don’t buy it if…

You want the best coffee for your buck
Convenient though the Eletta Ultra is, you’ll likely get a more flavor-packed coffee if you either switch to a similarly priced semi-automatic machine or invest more cash in a higher-grade fully automatic machine.

You’re a cold-brew fan
Okay, the cold brew the Eletta Ultra produces takes two minutes, rather than 24 hours. But honestly the low and slow method can achieve better results, meaning it still might be the best route to the natural sweetness you’re looking for.

De’Longhi Eletta Ultra review: also consider

De’Longhi Eletta Ultra

Breville Barista Touch Impress with Cold Extraction

Smeg BCC13

Type

Fully automatic bean-to-cup espresso machine

Semi-automatic espresso machine

Fully automatic bean-to-cup espresso machine

Dimensions

14.96 x 9.25 x 17.91 inches / 380 x 235 x 455mm

13.4 x 14.2 x 16.3 inches / 340 x 360 x 415mm

13.2 x 7 x 17 inches / 336 x 180 x 433mm

Weight

24.14 lbs / 10.95kg

24.18 lbs / 10.97kg

20 lbs / 9kg

Water tank capacity

1.9 quarts / 1.8 liters

2.1 quarts / 2 liters

1.48 quarts / 1.4 liters

Steam wand

No (Includes automatic LatteCrema Hot & Cool milk carafes / Hot water spout)

Yes (Automatic and manual AutoMilq steam wand)

No (Includes automatic milk carafe system via removable milk tube)

Max pressure

19 bar

9 bar

19 bar

Breville Barista Touch Impress with Cold Extraction
While the Breville Barista Touch Impress with Cold Extraction isn’t fully automatic, it makes every step of the process significantly easier with its lever-operated tamping system and AutoMilq system. It also guides you through the dosing of your coffee and picking the perfect grind size, helping you gradually improve your coffee-making skills — no wonder it’s currently sat at the top of our guide to the best coffee makers. Read our full Breville Barista Touch Impress with Cold Extraction review.

Smeg BCC13
If you have zero interest in how the sausage coffee is made and just want well-extracted coffee on demand, the Smeg BCC13 is a much more affordable option. There’s absolutely zero variables to tweak — you don’t even need to worry about dialling in the right grind size. You literally just tap your desired drink and off you go. Its automated milk steaming isn’t great at handling plant milks though, so if anyone in your household prefers a cow-free coffee, this machine might not be for you. Read our full Smeg BCC13 review.

(Image credit: Future)How I tested the De’Longhi Eletta Ultra review

• Tested it over several weeks
• Created and customized a range of drinks
• Tried it out with a range of different beans

I tested the De’Longhi Eletta Ultra over a period of several weeks. After calibrating the machine’s boiler temperature and grind size by extracting multiple shots of espresso, I tested out its capabilities by brewing a wide range of drinks, including espressos, Americanos, lattes, cappuccinos and cold brew. I also tried it with a range of beans, from mass-market supermarket beans to higher-quality microlot coffee.

On top of this, I tested many of its smart features. Not only did I experiment with creating personalized settings for each drink, changing its length, intensity and number of shots, but I also tried out the De’Longhi’s Bean Sense feature to see how it impacted multiple different drinks. Finally, I measured the Eletta Ultra’s noise output when extracting coffee with a sound level meter.

In terms of my own experience, I’ve been a daily coffee drinker for more than 20 years. I’ve experimented with countless different brewing methods during that time, whether that’s manual espresso, a stove-top moka pot, an Aeropress or cold brewed in mason jars. When it comes to testing experience, I’ve been reviewing and writing about tech for over a decade.

• First reviewed: June 2026
• For more details, see how we test, review, and rate products at TechRadar.

Arzopa Z3FC: 30-second review

Ultra-thin, ultra-lightweight, high-resolution. There are plenty of reasons why the Arzopa Z3FC is an attractive display for those looking for an easily portable monitor for work and play.

I was thrilled with the overall performance. On-screen images look sharp and clear in 2.5K, and in my gaming tests, it handled 120Hz refresh rates with ease. I even found myself missing the sleek second screen when it wasn’t sitting on my desk.

You get everything you need in the box, including USB-C data and power cables, and a mini HDMI to HDMI lead. There’s also a protective case which is a little too light-gray for my tastes, but does a good job of protecting the screen if you’re stashing the display in a backpack.

Now, it’s not entirely perfect. The main point of issue is color coverage - at 107% sRGB, it’s fine for most people but not creative professionals.

There’s no battery built in here, so playing games means you’ll need your own power source - easily remedied, but worth pointing out. I also found with HDR on, the Switch 2 had a very washed-out, overly bright appearance. Turn it off for best results.

And honestly, some may not need a portable monitor that’s running at around $150 or so when there are perfectly serviceable $50 displays out there. But for the price, I appreciated the thin, lightweight design, the sharp display, and how neatly it sat on my desk every day throughout the review process.

Whenever I’m reviewing a product, I always think: Would I buy this again if I needed to? The answer here is, an unreserved yes. And just to put my money where my mouth is, I’m ordering a second one for my wife, who fell in love with the portability. She says it’s to stay productive while working from home, but I suspect it’s so she can play even more Stardew Valley.

(Image credit: Future)Arzopa Z3FC: Pricing & availability

The Arzopa Z3FC is widely available, and you’re looking at a display for around $150-ish, if you can catch it on a deal.

For example, you can grab it direct from Arzopa in the US, where it’s currently $145 (was $360 - although I can’t tell when it was ever this price). On the global Arzopa site, it’s £126 (was £320, but again, I’m not sure when because that seems like a very high price to me).

At time of review, it’s also discounted to $145 at Amazon.com and £130 at Amazon.com.

Those sale prices feel about right for a 16-inch portable monitor with these specs - it’s not ultra-cheap, but it’s not as maddeningly expensive as some similar displays I’ve seen. I probably wouldn’t recommend the Z3FC if it actually was over $300. But at this price, it’s an easy recommendation.

Arzopa Z3FC: Design & buildFutureFutureFutureArzopa Z3FC: Specs

Panel size: 16.1-inch

Panel type: IPS

Resolution: 2560 x 1440

Brightness: 400 nits

Contrast: 1000:1

Pixel response:

Refresh rate: 180Hz (DP), 144HZ (HDMI)

HDR: HDR 10

Color coverage: 107% sRGB

Connectivity: 2x USB-C , 1x mini HDMI

VESA: No

Weight: 1.72 lb (780g)

Dimensions: 14.41 × 8.98 × 0.37 in (366 x 228 x 9.3mm)

MacBook-esque gray in color, the Z3FC is built from aluminum alloy that feels nice in the hand. It’s cool to the touch, but not exactly durable - it’s still got that hollow plastic-type sensation when you drum your fingers against it, and I’d recommend pairing it with the modestly padded sleeve that comes with the device. Still, it looks good and doesn’t feel cheap like a lot of portable monitors do.

One of the first things I noticed during the unboxing was just how light this display was. You can carry this one-handed without any problems at all. It’s tablet-thin, too, which makes transporting this around so much easier. If you’re the type of professional (or gamer) intending to use this across multiple locations, it’s absolutely perfect for that.

To the rear, there’s a built-in kick-stand - a strip of tabbed metal that allows for a range of viewing angles. When I pushed it into place, it fell with a satisfying clunk (or, more accurately, thunk). There are also two rubber feet on the base for when it’s in position.

Running along the right side are the power and OSD buttons, and a volume rocker. Beneath these are the mini HDMI and two USB-C ports thoughtfully placed near the bottom of the screen, so the cables can trail directly onto the desk. The portable monitor also sports a small speaker on either side.

There’s no built-in battery here - not a huge surprise, as not many portable monitors have these, which helps keep costs and weight low. That means it’ll draw power from whichever device it’s connected to. Not a deal-breaker for most, I imagine, but some may be disappointed, so it’s worth highlighting.

Alongside the monitor and sleeve, inside the box I was pleased to find two USB-C to USB-C cables - one is for power-only, while the cable with an angled connector is for display - and a mini HDMI to HDMI cable. Pleasingly, each of these are braided in an on-brand gray with a velcro cable tidy, so should be more durable if you’re jamming them into your backpack for work.

Arzopa Z3FC: PerformanceFutureFuture

However nice the Z3FC is to look at - and it is undeniably a good-looking portable display - the real test is how well it performs.

I started by hooking up this monitor to my beloved ThinkPad T14s. It all worked flawlessly, although depending on the laptop or computer you use, you may need to tweak some of the display settings, given the Z3FC’s 2.5K resolution and 180Hz/144Hz refresh rates.

In any case, I had no issues here. Everything connected precisely as it should. Documents and images looked clear, text appeared crisp. Pairing the Z3FC with the usual suite of office apps for business use is simply ideal (and to prove it, I wrote this entire review using this second screen).

You can easily switch between landscape and portrait mode if you’re working in longer windows. This was how I generally tested the monitor, flipping it to portrait mode to save me tabbing between different windows while working, taking calls, and generally staying productive. If this is your main use-case, I found that workflow a treat.

The only problem I had here - and this is most definitely a ‘me issue’ - was switching between the 16:10 aspect ratio of the laptop screen and the 16:9 ratio of the portable monitor display. But I adjusted to this relatively quickly.

At 107% sRGB, color coverage limits its use for creative professionals. Sure, it’s fine as a second monitor for creating digital images, or for working on assets on the go - it’s so lightweight that it positively demands that sort of use. However, you’ll want to use a proper color-accurate display for higher-resolution workloads and finalizing any finished products.

Next, I wanted to test out its gaming prowess. The Z3FC boasts a 180Hz refresh rate using DP (and 144Hz via HDMI). And while I don’t have frame-rate tracking software here, I do have a 120Hz TV to compare results.

I connected it to a Nintendo Switch, an Xbox Series X, and the Nintendo Switch 2. If it can handle gaming alongside office tasks, I’m thinking, then we could be looking at a new entry in my guide to the best portable monitors.

But first, a note: Since the Z3FC has no built-in battery, you’ll need to plug the USB-C power cable into an outlet or use a power bank. I just hooked up an Anker Zolo into the second USB-C port and that worked fine.

I began this part of the test with the original Switch. This worked instantly, as expected - the Switch is a joy for this. It’s very playable, if a little blurry due to the Switch’s hardware limitations.

This was the first time I got to hear the monitor’s built-in speakers. And, do you know what? They’re surprisingly good. They’ll never beat proper external speakers or a pair of headphones, and they can be harsh at louder volumes, but they have more depth than some I’ve used.

(Image credit: Future)

Next, I moved on to the Nintendo Switch 2. Here, things are a bit trickier - and that’s down to Nintendo, not Arzopa. To play, you’ll need to dock the console, connect via HDMI, and add your own external power supply. With that set-up, gaming proved straightforward. And yes, to my eye, Metroid Prime 4: Beyond ran at 120Hz in performance mode. So, that’s a win.

What wasn’t a win, though, was just how washed-out the HDR is here. No amount of adjustment would change that, and I recommend switching it off entirely here.

Lastly, as a completionist, I tried the Xbox Series X. With HDR-compatible games, I experienced none of the problems I did on the Switch 2. Everything worked just as it should.

So, yes, as a portable monitor ready to split its time for professional and personal use, it largely delivers on its promise. Not the best for gaming by any stretch, but more than capable.

Finally a quick word about the OSD. There’s a dedicated button to bring this up, and while it’s pretty intuitive to use, it still feels a little clunky navigating the menus. The OSD button acts as enter/confirm, the volume rockers for selecting options, while a quick press of the power button takes you back a step. It’s not what I’d call a hardship, but it’s not the quickest set-up when diving through all the menus.

Should I buy the Should I buy the Arzopa Z3FC?Buy it if...

✅ You travel a lot: One of the reasons I love this screen is just how lightweight it is, considering it's a 16-inch display. If you're using it for business travel or playing games on the go, I can't fault it.

✅ You want to use your screen for work and play: I used the Z3FC throughout the working day and it made a real difference to my workflow. Then, after clocking off, I could set up my Switch downstairs and play there. The 180Hz/144Hz refresh rate is a great bonus.

Don't buy it if...

❌ You're a professional content creator: While I found it suitable for editing images for use online, if your work demands pure color accuracy, this display doesn't fit the bill, covering just 107% sRGB.

❌ You don't have a nearby power source: There's no built in battery here, which keeps things lightweight and costs lower, but does mean you'll need to hook it up to the mains or use a power bank to use it with consoles and mobile devices.

For more options, we've also reviewed the best business monitors you can get right now.

Razer Huntsman V3 Tenkeyless 8KHz: One-minute review

The Razer Huntsman V3 Tenkeyless 8KHz is one of the brand’s new flagship gaming keyboards. It features analog switches with huge customization potential, designed to meet the exacting requirements of esport professionals.

It has a simple and basic form, although there are few touches that add a little flair. The shiny, brushed top plate and high floating keycaps are sleek, while the bright but subtle RGB lighting adds some much needed color.

It’s also light and compact, but very solid at the same time. The materials feel premium, with the Doubleshot PBT keycaps being the highlight. Some might not like their prominent graining, but to me they’re among the best gaming keyboard caps around in terms of texture.

(Image credit: Future)

Razer’s Synapse software has a smorgasbord of options to play around with. There are plenty of rebinding options and performance-related settings, including in-depth Rapid Trigger, Snap Tap, and controller emulation features, to name a few. The app is clear and easy to use, although I did experience a few minor issues with settings failing to take hold at certain points, although these are ultimately fixable.

The optical switches in the Huntsman V3 lack the dampening or clickiness of other boards, and can feel a little harsh at times. This is especially evident when typing, which is also made difficult by the sheer height of the keycaps themselves. Overall, though, they’re still pleasant to use, and the smooth and easy travel of the keys makes them effective when gaming.

The analog performance is also smooth and precise. However, there’s a lack of feel and feedback at the top of each key’s travel. Press further down, though, and you’re met with more resistance, which provides more control when attempting to hit certain actuation points, or when emulating controller sticks and triggers.

With its sub-$200 price point, the Huntsman V3 represents good value considering all that it offers. There are very strong contenders in the analog gaming keyboard space, but the Huntsman V3 acquits itself just well enough to justify its place among them.

(Image credit: Future)Razer Huntsman V3 Tenkeyless 8KHz review: Price and availability

• $169.99 / £169.99 / AU$299.95
• Available now in one color
• Decent price for an analog board

The Razer Huntsman V3 Tenkeyless 8KHz costs $169.99 / £169.99 / AU$299.95 and is available now in black only. The keycaps are removable, but the switches aren’t.

This is a decent price for an analog keyboard, especially one with as many software tweaks as the Huntsman V3 features. The SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL Gen 3, for instance, has a considerably higher list price, although we have seen it with significant discounts lately, bringing it closer in line with the Huntsman V3. The Apex Pro is a truly phenomenal board, with a superior build and performance to that of the Huntsman V3. It doesn’t have as many analog tweaks, though.

For a more budget option, there’s the Turtle Beach Vulcan 2 TKL Pro. Like the Huntsman V3, this also has plenty of analog adjustments and features, including controller emulation. However, I found its analog performance inferior, lacking the same levels of precision and control as the Huntsman V3.

• Value score: 4 / 5

Razer Huntsman V3 Tenkeyless 8KHz review: Specs

Layout

TKL

Switch

Razer Analog Optical Switch Gen-2

Programmable keys

Yes

Dimensions

14.2 x 5.5 x 1.5 inches / 362 x 140 x 38mm

RGB or backlighting

Yes (customizable)

(Image credit: Future)Razer Huntsman V3 Tenkeyless 8KHz review: Design and features

• Light and compact board
• Tall floating keycaps
• Wealth of settings in Synapse

The Huntsman V3 has a basic appearance, although a few touches set it apart. The aluminum faceplate has a shiny finish with a brushed effect, which is subtle but may still prove divisive. The prominent floating keycaps lend it a healthy dose of sleek minimalism.

The RGB lighting is reasonably subtle, only shining through the keycap characters, although a small amount does leak between the gaps. It’s quite bright, and there are numerous options for customizing patterns.

It’s quite a light and compact board, but it feels surprisingly solid at the same time. There’s very little flex and all materials feel premium. This includes the Doubleshot PBT keycaps; their prominent graining is satisfying to touch and also helps with traction. Again, though, this mightn’t be to every gamer’s taste, given that many keycaps are super smooth.

While the board itself is quite thin, it actually feels a lot thicker, thanks to the height at which the keycaps float above it, as well as the tallness of the keycaps themselves.

However, the tilt angle provided by the feet does help to make it more comfortable to reach the keys. There are two sets of feet which offer meaningful differences in angle.

You’ll find the USB-C port on the back left of the unit. It’s deeply recessed, which makes it a little more difficult to connect and disconnect, but this small inconvenience is a fair trade-off for the security it provides.

To customize the Huntsman V3, you’ll need to download Razer’s Synapse software. This has an impressive gamut of adjustments. There are plenty of remapping options, including a wealth of Windows and media controls you can assign to keys. You can also assign up to four inputs to a single key, each triggering depending on how far down you press.

(Image credit: Future)

Like many modern gaming keyboards, there’s a Snap Tap function, letting you assign priority to a single key when two are pressed simultaneously. There are various options here, with different types of priority to choose from. There’s also a Snap Flex feature, which allows you to bind a second input to a key that triggers when you release it. This can be assigned on up to four different keys.

Then there are the analog settings, which again are very extensive. Aside from being able to adjust the actuation point for each key between 0.1mm and 4mm, there’s also a Rapid Trigger function with independent upstroke and downstroke sliders, each with ranges between 0.1mm and 1mm. You can even enable Continuous Rapid Trigger.

There’s a controller emulation mode, too, allowing you to assign gamepad inputs to your keys. This includes trigger and stick inputs, where you can also adjust their curve profile to set their response and sensitivity to your liking.

Controller inputs are easy to assign, in part thanks to the ability to assign multiple common mappings with a single click. For instance, there’s an option to assign the left stick to the WASD keys. A simple but useful visualizer attends the controller section, showing trigger and stick behaviours in real time with your presses.

Aside from being able to create your own profiles, Synapse features some useful preset profiles, including those designed for certain games. For example, the Racing profile binds gamepad triggers and joysticks to the WASD keys. These profiles can be selected via Fn shortcuts, and there are hotkeys for other performance-related functions, too.

Synapse is clearly laid out and features helpful explanations and tutorials. It’s fast and smooth, although I did experience a few minor bugs. For instance, the keyboard passthrough feature for controller emulation, which allows keys not bound to controller inputs to work as normal, failed to work on occasion. However, a simple replug of the USB cable seemed to remedy the issue.

• Design and features score: 4 / 5

(Image credit: Future)Razer Huntsman V3 Tenkeyless 8KHz review: Performance

• Precise analog response
• Slight harsh and numb keys
• Not great for typing

The keys in the Huntsman V3 are more clicky than thocky, although they feel less sharp than the clickiest switches out there. Their sound is both lower in pitch and quieter than many mechanical models, too.

They don’t have much dampening, which can make the board feel a little harsh at times. This is especially evident when typing — and the act isn’t made any easier by the thick keycaps, their elevated height, and the absence of a dip in the middle row. This combination makes gliding around the keys tricky, and it also causes some discomfort, owing to the angle at which you have to bend your wrists to reach them.

Thankfully, I was more comfortable when gaming in the WASD position. The keys are comfortably spaced, while the space bar and other peripheral keys are easy to reach.

The standout aspect of the Huntsman V3’s performance, though, is its analog response. It’s very precise and sensitive, reacting very well to different levels of pressure, which in turn gives you a broad range of control.

However, this precision is somewhat undermined by the lack of feel in the keys themselves. They don’t provide as much feedback as I would've liked, which can make it a little tricky to dial in the exact amount of pressure to hit certain actuation points or make smooth adjustments when emulating triggers and sticks.

What's more, there’s a small but noticeable amount of wobble to the keys, which means presses don’t feel particularly secure. Thankfully, though, most of the analog issues I’ve outlined only pertain to the top of presses; once you press further down, more resistance is generated from the springs, which allows for much smoother and more granular control.

• Performance score: 3.5 / 5

Should I buy the Razer Huntsman V3 Tenkeyless 8KHz?Scorecard

Attributes

Notes

Rating

Value

Not many analog keyboards are cheaper than this, especially those that offer this many features.

4 / 5

Design and features

Compact, light, and well made. The Synapse software provides copious options and it’s mostly stable, bar a few minor issues.

4 / 5

Performance

The analog response from the switches is great, although the actual control you get from presses is less so. Not a great board for typing, either.

3.5 / 5

Overall rating

The Huntsman V3 packs in many features and it mostly delivers on the performance front, aside from a slight lack of feedback. For the price, the Huntsman V3 is a competent gaming keyboard.

3.5 / 5

Buy it if…

You want plenty of adjustments
I haven't seen an analog keyboard with this many adjustments, and the software for tweaking them is easy to use.

You want a good analog performance
The analog response is smooth and precise, which makes it ideal for all kinds of games.

Don't buy it if…

You want great key feedback
The keys are a little numb at the top of their travel, which might deter those looking for the finest of movements.

You’ll be typing a lot
The height and the thickness of the keycaps make the Huntsman V3 a chore to type on.

Razer Huntsman V3 Tenkeyless 8KHz review: Also consider

SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL Gen 3
Still one of my favorite analog keyboards, the performance and build quality of the Apex Pro are hard to beat. It doesn’t have as many adjustments as the Huntsman V3, and misses out on controller emulation entirely, but in terms of pure analog feel, it’s a hard board to beat. Read our full SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL Gen 3 review.

Turtle Beach Vulcan 2 TKL Pro
A more budget-friendly analog board, the Vulcan 2 TKL Pro still has plenty of features, including controller emulation. However, its analog response isn’t as precise as the Huntsman V3’s, nor is its build quite as strong, but it’s not a bad pick for those looking to save. Read our full Turtle Beach Vulcan 2 TKL Pro review.

How I tested the Razer Huntsman V3 Tenkeyless 8KHz

(Image credit: Future)

• Tested for several days
• Used many features
• Extensive gaming keyboard experience

I tested the Razer Huntsman V3 Tenkeyless 8KHz for several days, during which time I used it for gaming, working, and general use.

I played games such as Subnautica 2, which makes use of the typical first-person keys, from WASD and the number keys to the space bar and control and shift keys. I also played games that allowed me to make use of the Huntsman V3’s controller emulation, such as Assetto Corsa, by using W and S to emulate triggers and A and D in place of the left stick.

I’ve been PC gaming for over a decade, and have used a number of keyboards in that time. I’ve also reviewed a large number of them, including other Razer models.

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

Corsair Galleon 100 SD one minute review

I still don't quite know what to make of Corsair's Galleon 100 SD gaming keyboard. On the one hand, the ethos of this thing, the switches, the design, the implementation are generally very well thought out, and it's solidly built too.

Sound-dampening is decent, the linear MLX switches are delightful to type on, and the Stream Deck integration on the right-hand panel gives the whole thing a lot more versatility than you first might think.

Whereas before your Stream Deck buttons sat beside your monitor, the Galleon 100 SD brings them within reach, taking up that numpad position instead. That makes it a more natural flow while you're gaming and streaming at the same time.

That's a long-winded way of saying you can actually use all of the Stream Deck's vast utility in-game, finally, without stretching halfway across your desk to do it. Not only can you have all of those macros and keybinds added into the numpad directly, with visual indicators as to what they actually do, but the display element gives you key system stats while you do it.

The bigger issue lies in the absolute bonanza of software you need to get this thing running. The Galleon, by default, requires two separate programs to fully function. Corsair's Web Hub, a PWA interface (or website effectively) that replaces the desktop iCUE app, allowing you to change your lighting, keybinds, polling rate, all with a lightweight web page rather than a full-blown software suite. And then the standalone desktop Stream Deck app, which you need to configure, well, the Stream Deck.

(Image credit: Future)

The worst part about that is that the Galleon's not backwards compatible with iCUE directly, and similarly, a lot of the "legacy" Corsair hardware hasn't made its way to the Web Hub either yet (there's a promise it's coming, but nothing confirmed). So, if you're running RGB lighting with some older fans, or a different mouse that isn't supported by Web Hub, you're effectively running iCUE, Web Hub, and the Stream Deck app to keep all of your Corsair products in line, and that just feels messy.

Then there's the price. It isn't cheap, by any measure. Yes, you are technically getting a full Stream Deck in here as well, so there's that to bear in mind, but it's near enough $100 more than the likes of Corsair's Makr Pro line (a markedly better keyboard if your sole aim is gaming).

It's a good board, and if you're not phased by the ludicrous software setup and the price tag, you'll get along with it just fine. Arguably for many, that expanded Stream Deck utility might make it one of the best gaming keyboards you could buy. But you really need to be able to justify what you gain from the Stream Deck itself. If you hesitate even for a moment on that thought, you might be better off looking elsewhere.

Corsair Galleon 100 SD review: Price & availability

• Priced astonishingly high for a standard mechanical keyboard
• Available globally today
• Only worth it if the Stream Deck is for you

Perhaps the biggest talking point of the Galleon 100 SD is that price tag. $350 and £310 (around AU$500) for a keyboard of this magnitude is a tough pill to swallow, particularly because at its bare bones, the keyboard itself doesn't really outclass boards a third of the cost.

Like yes, the MLX switches are lush to type on, pre-lubed, and there's plenty of sound dampening going on here, but those aren't exactly Corsair exclusives, and you can find a number of full-size boards from other manufacturers that feature exactly that, for a lot less.

Now, yes, of course, you do get that Stream Deck baked into the side here, sacrificing a full numpad for it (although technically that is a function that's available with a quick profile swap), but if you've already got a Stream Deck in any form, it's quite hard to justify the extra cost.

• Value: 3/5

(Image credit: Future)Corsair Galleon 100 SD review: Specs

Price

$349.99 / £309.99 / AU$599

Layout

Full-size "Extended"

Switch

Corsair MLX Pulse

Switch specs

45g actuation; 2.0mm actuation point; 3.6mm travel; 80M keystrokes

Keycaps

Shine-through PBT

Dimensions

448 × 159 × 42mm (17.6 × 6.3 × 1.65")

Connectivity

Wired USB-A; 2× USB 2.0 Type-C passthrough

Polling rate

Up to 8,000Hz (wired)

Rollover / anti-ghosting

Full-key rollover (NKRO), 100% anti-ghosting

Weight

1.392kg (3.07lb), excl. palm rest

Corsair Galleon 100 SD review: Design

• Lush aluminum frame, dense and filled with sound-dampening
• Stream Deck replacing the numpad is wildly cool
• Twin dials is highly divisive, and the lighting is average

From a pure design perspective, there's a lot here that generally leans positive. The aluminum body is clean, solid, and it feels durable. There's little, if any, flex in the shell, and the sound dampening is doing its work nicely.

There's no errant pings or metallic rattlings going on here at all. Certainly not compared to the 2022 generation of K70 keyboards, that's a fact. And without a doubt, Corsair's keyboard design and build quality has come a long way in the last few years; that's very easy to see. Still, it's not quite as solid as the Makr line, nor does it feel as heavy.

Styling on the whole is a bit of a mixed bag. The aluminum outer shell mimics most of Corsair's product line right now with soft bevelled edges and this relatively satin-esque finish.

(Image credit: Future)

The top LED bar is a bit gauche. You've got this quite bizarre, triangular three-point pattern running along the length of it as a plastic strip with the Corsair logo embedded in the middle, which, if I'm honest, looks quite cheap. It would've been far better suited just to have a singular Corsair logo, and that's it. In fact, that's something that the Makr line does well.

I'm not entirely sold on the twin dial setup either. There's just something about it that looks a bit diabolical, and I can't quite place it. This is a bit of a hangover from the Stream Deck Plus, and I get the utility here being able to configure two dials to two different operations (particularly useful for video scrubbing, or creative work), but visually it's a bit eugh.

(Image credit: Future)

There's also a few other bells and whistles here, too. Namely, for some reason (despite there being a fully dedicated Stream Deck with 12 buttons, media controls, and twin dials over to the right) a fully embedded set of function keys here too. I mean, sure, why not? It's not like you're losing anything by having them.

Keycaps are clean, too. The font face is professional and sensible, more subdued than some of the more custom units out there, and the PBT touch is comfortable enough to type on, that's for sure. Corsair's also included two USB Type-C passthroughs on this thing as well.

Corsair Galleon 100 SD review: Performance

• MLX Pulse switches are smooth and satisfying, if over-damped.
• Stream Deck's finally usable in-game properly
• The three-app software stack drags the whole experience down

So the good news is, typing and gaming on the Galleon 100 is a real treat. It's smooth to use on those linear MLX switches feel buttery under touch. It's not quite as pleasant an experience for me as on the Makr Pro, or Asus ROG Strix Scope II RX, but it's still top quality. If you like a linear switch, and you're not quite as heavy-handed as I am, bottoming out every key strike, you'll love this thing.

The Stream Deck, too, is immensely satisfying to use. Once you've got it set up and it's swapping into profiles on game load, with your keybinds and macros set, it's a real treat. I've already mentioned, but having the keys within reach like that makes it far more useful than leaning across your desk to whack a macro real fast. Star Citizen in particular, and well, any simulator, rife with keybinds, benefits a ton.

I will say, the feel of those switches, though, sucks. Certainly, when you have the direct comparison of a mechanical switch right next to them. That's particularly jarring if you just need to use a numpad quickly to enter a pin, or your phone number. It's mentally very jarring. Almost like you're going back in time for a second, using a membrane board.

(Image credit: Future)

Then there's the software stack. Oh boy. You effectively need two programs to run this board efficiently. The Stream Deck app, to configure your deck profiles and each key, along with the display. That's local, sits on your desktop. Then, the Web Hub to configure the Corsair side of the keyboard. That's web-based (although you can install it on desktop via the "Save and Share -> Install page as an app" feature).

Web Hub is effectively a lighter-weight replacement for iCUE. You access it via URL. Configure your settings once, and it disappears into the ether. The problem with it is that it's not entirely backwards compatible with the rest of Corsair's legacy hardware. So, older products still need to be configured and set up via iCUE on your desktop. What's worse is that the Galleon isn't compatible with iCUE, so if you are embedded in the Corsair ecosystem, you're then left in a position where you have effectively three apps to control your products.

There's a more pressing issue, too, in that Web Hub isn't supported by all browsers currently. In short, it uses two browser APIs to access the keyboard directly via USB: WebHID, and WebUSB. Firefox doesn't natively support those APIs as it (rightly) views it as a harmful fingerprint/security attack vector that exposes your USB hardware unnecessarily to web pages. So it's not even a case of "Mozilla will catch up eventually", the company has taken a philosophical stance against the implementation of it, and it doesn't have anyone working on it.

Similarly, Brave, although Chromium-based, will only allow device configuration through Web Hub with permission enabled, and doesn't allow you to update the firmware at all. If you want to do any of that, you're effectively forced to install Chrome, Edge, or Opera.

It's a tricky one to justify. Particularly as iCUE itself was already stripped down in the last few years anyway. Currently, it only installs modules based on what you actually need and what products you have plugged in, rather than the entire back catalog.

Theoretically, yes, you could install a second browser specifically just for Web Hub. Then install that as a PWA app, but this just feels so hard to justify from a user experience perspective. It'd be far better just to add compatibility into iCUE directly, and it's hard to see why Corsair didn't.

Should I buy the Corsair Galleon 100 SD?Corsair Galleon 100 SD Scorecard

Attribute

Notes

Score

Performance

Switches are a dream to type on, ideal if you don't bottom them out, and having access to that Stream deck gives it greater in-game utility, but the software stack leaves a lot to be desired, particularly if you use Firefox or are security-conscious.

3/5

Design

Clean, crisp, professional with plenty of sound dampening, and quality switches. The implementation of the Stream Deck is top-tier, but the lighting strip could use some work.

4/5

Value

Thoroughly expensive compared to other mechanical boards with similar build quality but you do get a full display and Stream Deck thrown in for good measure.

3/5

Buy it if…

You want a keyboard and a stream deck, but not both
The Galleon 100 SD's claim to fame is that Stream Deck is baked in on the side, replacing the numpad. With twin dials and a cornucopia of profiles you can set up, it becomes one of the best gaming utilities out there.View Deal

You create as much as you game
It's those twin dials that are game-changing, and if you're a streamer, then you're doubly equipped with quick camera options, lighting controls, scene setups, the works, all at your fingertips.View Deal

You miss the older K70 keyboards
There's a certain K70"ness" about the Galleon 100. Naming conventions aside, the size, the layout, the build quality, it's got all the hallmarks of that legendary line.View Deal

Don’t buy it if…

You're fed up with software bloat
Embedded in Corsair's ecosystem already? Be prepared to install Elgato's Stream Deck app, Corsair's Web Hub, and iCUE as well, just to get everything playing nicely, and that's without mentioning the security risk and lack of Firefox support.View Deal

You're after a budget keyboard
She's seriously pricey, and you can get similarly performing keyboards at a fraction of the cost, with sound-dampening and pre-lubed linear switches if you'd like. Although you lose out on that Stream Deck.View Deal

You want a slimmer form factor
Its extended form factor makes it wide, seriously wide, which can be an issue if you're thinking about your ergonomics or have a narrow desk.View Deal

Also consider

Corsair Makr Pro 75

Want the premium Corsair build without the Stream Deck sprawl, and $100 off? The Makr Pro 75 is the better-built, hall-effect sibling, with adjustable magnetic switches and eight layers of dampening to the Galleon's 6. Sure, you lose out on the big ol display and squishy media keys, but it dominates this thing in almost every other area, with 33% off.View Deal

Asus ROG Strix Scope II RX

You don't have to break the bank to get a good ol' lubed-up keyboard these days. Asus' Strix Scope II RX is a seriously slick alternative: superb RX Red optical switches, proper sound dampening, PBT keycaps, and an actual numpad, all for about $110, roughly a third of the price. The catch? No Stream Deck to spam your buddies with gifs. Still, you could buy this and a standard one, and still save $100.

Read our full Asus ROG Strix Scope II RX reviewView Deal

How I tested the Corsair Galleon 100 SD

• Tested over three weeks as my daily driver
• Used for gaming, professional writing, and creative work
• Full Stream Deck integration tested
• Compared to competitors and my back catalogue, with 11 years of experience in the tech field

I lived with the Galleon 100 SD for about three weeks, running it as my main board. I tested it across all manner of different tasks, from creative agency work to freelance journalism and, of course, gaming sessions in Total War: Warhammer 3 and World of Warcraft as well.

During my time with it, it was the Stream Deck that I focused on most; after all, keyboards are very similar, and Corsair's got a name for making good ones, but implementing a Stream Deck into the side of it and swapping out the numpad? Had to be put through its paces.

I benchmarked it against a selection of modern-day keyboards I have in-house, and compared it to the wider market at the time of testing, including the Makr Pro 75, which I'd just finished up reviewing as well. I've spent over a decade testing PC hardware and peripherals, so I've got plenty of knowledge to draw on when it comes to mechanical keebs and the plucky old Stream Deck, too.

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

RugOne Xever 8: 30-second review

While this phone won’t make our best rugged phone collection, what it offers might be perfect for some customers, and it is reasonably affordable for a phone with a swappable battery.

RugOne is Ulefone's premium rugged sub-brand, launched in late 2025. It targets buyers who want a genuinely capable device rather than a cheap, rough-and-ready handset. The Xever 8 is the entry point to the second generation of that vision. It arrived in May 2026 and carries forward the headline idea from the Xever 7 series: a battery you can swap without powering down the phone.

That concept matures here into what RugOne calls Swappable Battery 2.0. The claim is that critical apps stay running throughout the swap, and within quite narrow criteria, it achieves that.

I can confirm that the Xever 8 ships with two 4,800mAh batteries and a charging dock in the box. For field workers and outdoor users who simply cannot afford downtime, the proposition is clear.

There is a catch, though, and it is worth addressing upfront. The Xever 7 was a 5G device with a Dimensity 8020 chipset. The Xever 8 steps down to a Helio G200 on a 4G-only platform. For a phone launching in 2026, that is a significant concession, and it, to some degree, negates some of the advantages this phone has over its previous generation. RugOne made a deliberate trade-off, prioritising the battery system and audio hardware over performance. Whether buyers agree that trade is fair depends heavily on what they need most.

With a better SoC, this might have been one of the best rugged phones, but it appears that we might need to wait until the Xever 9 to get all these ducks in a row.

(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)RugOne Xever 8: price and availability

• How much does it cost? $368/£380
• When is it out? Available now
• Where can you get it? You can get it directly from RugOne or via many online retailers such as AliExpress.

The RugOne Xever 8 comes in two colors, Back and Sand Dune, and each of these offers two SKUs, one with 128GB of storage and another with 256GB.

While the machine is shown on the RugOne website, there isn’t any option to buy it from the maker, and I was forced to search for it elsewhere. The only place I could find it was AliExpress, and for US customers, the only option is the 128GB model for $367.99.

UK customers get both capacity phones, with the 128GB being £379.39 and the 256GB option (reviewed here) being £414.59. Spending £35.20 and getting an extra 128GB of storage doesn’t seem like a poor deal. It doesn’t appear to be available to those in the EU at this time, but I suspect it will be at some point.

I complained that the previous RugOne Xever 7 Pro was too expensive, and admittedly, its predecessor, the Xever 8, is cheaper. However, given its specifications, it should be less.

The obvious competitor for this phone is the Samsung Galaxy XCover7 Pro, a phone that sells for roughly $560 in the USA, and £425 in the UK. That’s for a phone with only 128GB of storage and a single battery. Batteries are freely available for around £22 each. The Samsung Galaxy XCover7 Pro uses a Snapdragon 7 Gen3 SoC, making it a substantially more powerful device, justifying some of that extra cost.

The Xever 8 is a better value than its Xever 7 Pro predecessor, but it's hardly a bargain in the remarkably competitive rugged phone sector. What helps RugOne justify the price somewhat is the relatively small number of designs with replaceable batteries.

(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)

• Value score: 4/5

RugOne Xever 8: Specs

Item

Spec

CPU:

MediaTek Helio G200 (6nm)

GPU:

Mali-G57 MC2

NPU:

N/A

RAM:

8GB

Storage:

256GB UFS 2.2

Screen:

6.5-inch IPS Screen

Resolution:

1080 x 2400 FHD+, 120Hz, 680 nits

SIM:

2x Nano SIM + TF + eSIM (all can be used)

Weight:

320 grams

Dimensions:

168 x 80 x 14mm

Rugged Spec:

IP68 IP69K dust/water resistant (up to 2m for 30 minutes), MIL-STD-810H Certification

Rear cameras:

64MP Main Camera + 20 MP Night Vision Camera

Front camera:

32MP

Networking:

4G LTE. WiFi 5, Bluetooth 5.2

Audio:

3.5mm audio jack for headphones

OS:

Android 15 (updates promised)

Battery:

4600 mAh (Max 33W wired, dock included) hot-swapable

Colours:

Sand Dune, Black

RugOne Xever 8: Design

• Industrial aesthetic
• Extra custom buttons
• Easily swappable batteries

(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)

In many ways, this phone is a derivative of the Xever 7 Pro, but with some extra elegance and refinement in places. That it comes with the charging stand, a second battery, a charger, and a bunch of other accessories does make it feel more worthy of the asking price.

The Xever 8 measures 168 x 80 x 14mm and weighs 320g. It is not especially light or slim, but it fits better into a pocket than some rugged phones I’ve reviewed. That is the reality of a phone engineered to survive two-metre drops, high-pressure water jets, and the demands of MIL-STD-810H testing. The IP69K rating alongside IP68 is notable. IP69K specifically covers resistance to high-temperature, high-pressure water streams, which is relevant in agricultural and industrial settings where a regular waterproof phone would fail.

RugOne has tried to soften the bulk with bevelled edges designed for grip. The company calls the speaker and camera module arrangement symmetrical, which is unusual in this category. Two colourways are available: Black and Sand Dune. The latter is a muted, low-saturation tone clearly inspired by the rugged outdoor aesthetic that is now common across the category.

The rear cover is removable, obviously, since the battery sits beneath it. The dual-latch system on that cover is a practical addition. An internal latch secures the battery cell itself, and the outer cover adds a second retention point. The claim is that this significantly improves drop resistance at the point where a single-latch design would typically allow the battery to shift on impact.

(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)

A dedicated button on the side can be used to activate the TorchX flashlight, rated at 230 lumens. That is a useful addition for anyone working in unlit environments. The 3.5mm headphone jack is also present on the top edge. These are small decisions that matter to the people this phone is built for.

The Xever 8 uses a 6.5-inch IPS LCD panel running at 1080 x 2400 pixels. At 405 pixels per inch, sharpness is not an issue. The 120Hz refresh rate makes scrolling and navigation feel fluid. Peak brightness reaches 680 nits in high brightness mode, which should be adequate for outdoor use in most conditions, though it does not match the 1,000-plus nit figures now appearing on flagship OLED panels.

Corning Gorilla Glass 3 protects the display. That is two generations behind Gorilla Glass 5 and four behind Gorilla Glass Victus, both of which appear on competing devices in this price range. It is functional protection, and the overall rugged construction means the chassis absorbs much of the shock that would otherwise reach the screen, but it is worth noting for buyers who have had cracked screens before.

The aspect ratio is 20:9, which suits one-handed use in portrait mode. RugOne says the display is grip-friendly, and the physical dimensions suggest the narrower 80mm width helps with that. All the buttons are metal, which does give the Xever 8 a premium feel.

Design score: 4/5

RugOne Xever 8: Hardware

• MediaTek Helio G200
• UFS 2.2 storage
• Swappable batteries

The MediaTek Helio G200 is a 6nm octa-core chip running two Cortex-A76 performance cores at 2.2GHz alongside six Cortex-A55 efficiency cores at 2.0GHz. The GPU is a Mali-G57 MC2.

If you didn’t read the clues in those statements, this is a mid-range platform, not a flagship one. For everyday use, including calls, navigation, messaging, and camera work, it will perform without complaint. Gaming above casual titles and GPU-intensive tasks is where this chip reaches its ceiling.

The RAM configuration is 8GB physical with an additional 8GB of virtual dynamic RAM. Storage ships in 128GB and 256GB variants, both using UFS 2.2. That is an area where the Xever 7 series outshone this device. UFS 2.2 is not slow, but the step from higher-grade storage feels like a backwards move in a product that otherwise claims to be purpose-built for professional use.

USB connectivity is USB 2.0. There is no video output. For a field worker wanting to mirror the screen to a display or transfer large files quickly, that is a real limitation. The Xever 7 Pro carried the same USB 2.0 restriction and received criticism for it. The Xever 8 repeats that choice, though that’s another feature that hinges on the choice of the SoC.

Where the Xever 8 makes its strongest argument is in the battery department, because in theory, it could have a massive capacity. Each battery holds 4,800mAh. Two are included.

The Swappable Battery 2.0 system allows one to be replaced while the phone keeps running. A small internal power buffer maintains the system during the swap. RugOne states that critical apps, calls, and GPS remain active throughout, provided the swap is completed within two minutes. Beyond two minutes, the phone enters a 60-second safety lockout to protect data.

(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)

In practice, that means a user carrying one spare battery has access to something approaching 9,600mAh of usable capacity across a working day without needing a cable at all. The four-in-one charging station that comes in the box charges batteries independently, so the spare can top up while the device is in use.

However, where this scheme trips up somewhat is with respect to charging, which peaks at 18W wired. That is not fast by 2026 standards, but the swappable system largely renders charging speed less critical than it is on sealed-battery devices. The phone also supports 10W reverse wired charging, allowing it to top up other devices.

One concern raised in early community commentary is that RugOne's customer support has indicated that additional batteries are not sold separately. Buyers receive what comes in the box and cannot stock spare cells beyond that. This is a significant limitation if a battery degrades over time, or you wish to carry more than one replacement.

For this reviewer, the biggest issue here is the G200 CPU, as it's far from modern phone technology, and it doesn’t support 5G comms, only 4G LTE. This choice seems to fly in the face of the notion that newer designs should have better technology.

As a platform, the Xever 8 is underwhelming.

• Hardware score: 3/5

RugOne Xever 8: Cameras

• 64MP, 20MP on the rear
• 32MP on the front
• Three cameras in total

(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)

The RugOne Xever 8 has three cameras:

Rear camera: 64MP Sony IMX682, 20MP Sony IMX350 Night vision,
Front camera: 32MP GalaxyCore GC32E1

The main sensor is a 64MP Sony IMX682 with an f/1.9 aperture and PDAF. This is a well-regarded 1/1.7-inch sensor that appears across a range of mid-to-high-end devices. Paired with sufficient processing and a capable aperture, it can produce usable results in daylight. Video tops out at 2K at 30fps, which is adequate but hardly wonderful.

The second rear camera is the more interesting choice for this category. It is a 20MP night vision camera with an f/1.8 aperture and two integrated infrared emitters. In total darkness, without any visible light, this sensor can produce usable images and video.

The applications this is suitable for are straightforward: wildlife observation, search and rescue, perimeter checks, and pinhole camera detection. It is a genuinely specialist capability that most smartphones simply do not offer.

Oddly, in the supported camera section of Android, it mentions that this version of the OS was compiled with support for the GalaxyCore GC8034, an 8MP sensor often used for special focus scenarios like Bokeh mode. But I couldn’t find any evidence for this hardware in the camera app, so it might have been omitted from the final phone.

On the front, a 32MP f/2.5 selfie camera covers video calls and self-documentation. The 0.7-micron pixel size is small, which may limit low-light performance, but the resolution is generous for the category.

An underwater camera mode is included, accessible via side buttons to avoid touchscreen failures when submerged. Given the realistic limits on how deep you can submerge a phone like this, I’m not sure providing an underwater mode is a good idea. Take it much beyond the two-metre depth limit, and pressure will force water inside, ending the fun abruptly.

For still image capture, the primary camera on the Xever 8 is effective, and the night vision sensor is a tried-and-tested solution. There are also plenty of special modes such as slow motion, time lapse, panorama, document capture, group photo, dual video, sports and Pro controls.

What’s less wonderful is that there are only two levels of digital zoom, and the maximum video resolution is only 2K. Note that the Sony IMX682 supports 4K capture, whereas the G200 SoC can only handle 2K video. Yet another way that the SoC choice stymied this design.

RugOne Xever 8 Camera samplesMark PickavanceMark PickavanceMark PickavanceMark PickavanceMark PickavanceMark PickavanceMark PickavanceMark PickavanceMark PickavanceMark Pickavance

• Camera score: 3.5/5

RugOne Xever 8: Performance

• 6nm SoC
• Mid-tier performance

Phone

 

RugOne Xever 8

RugOne Xever 7 Pro

SoC

 

MediaTek Helio G200

MediaTek Dimensity 7025

GPU

 

Mali-G57 MC2

IMG BXM-8-256

NPU

 

N/A

N/A

Memory

 

8GB/256GB

12GB/512GB

Weight

 

320g

325g

Battery

 

4800

5550

Geekbench

Single

728

940

 

Multi

1952

2283

 

OpenCL

1657

136*

 

Vulkan

1747

133*

PCMark

3.0 Score

9357

11353

 

Battery

15h 18m (15%)

17h 53m

Charge 30

%

35

33

Passmark

Score

5914

10999

 

CPU

4616

5367

3DMark

Slingshot OGL

3346

3777

 

Slingshot Ex. OGL

2531

2600

 

Slingshot Ex. Vulkan

2746

2665

 

Wildlife

1427

N/A

Nomad Lite

162

N/A

If the Xever 7 Pro were made by a different brand, then perhaps comparing it to the Xever 8 might be considered unfair, but it's mostly the numbering convention here that sends a confused signal.

From a hardware perspective, the Xever 8 is a retrograde step, with the exception of graphics. The IMG BXM-8-256 used on the Xever 7 Pro is a horrific GPU that doesn’t support OpenGL or Vulkan properly, and it gets outperformed by the modest Mali-G57 MC2. To anchor that assessment, the Xever 8 still isn’t a gaming phone, or anything approaching that.

Where these scores get interesting is when we look at the battery, because the Xever 8 has a smaller battery than the Xever 7 Pro, but manages similar efficiency. As I recall, on the Xever 7 Pro, the phone was entirely exhausted after the battery benchmark, but the Xever 8 still had 15% battery left. If you at 15% to the running time of the Xever 8, it’s almost exactly the same time as the Xever 7 Pro.

Except, it has 14% less battery capacity. That demonstrates that the Helio G200 is more efficient than the Dimensity 7025. But compared to a modern 4nm SoC, it's not that efficient.

Overall, neither of these devices is anything more than a mid-tier device, and by the end of this year, they’ll be entry-level. But if you do invest in the Xever 8, it’s nice to know you have more than 30 hours of runtime with both batteries.

• Performance score: 3/5

(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)RugOne Xever 8: Final verdict

Before I wrote this review, I immediately looked at my RugOne Xever 7 Pro piece, and was amused by the first paragraph in that verdict. I’d said the Xever 7 Pro design had gone somewhat off the rails when they discovered that the 5550mAh battery in that phone wasn’t enough for the SoC that RugOne had probably planned for it. It was a guess on my part that the Dimensity 7025 used in that design was an alternative that better fitted the battery capacity.

And, now in the Xever 8, I’m getting the same vibe. Instead of starting with the SoC and then designing the battery system to work with that, it looks like RugOne started with the battery and worked backwards. Which is how this machine ended up with the G200 SoC.

For those familiar with MediaTek’s range, the G200 only appeared in mid-2025, although its technology dates back to the G100 (2024) and the G99 (2022). And, the giveaway about the underlying age of this design is that it's fabricated at 6nm, not the 4nm that MediaTek sells for mid-tier designs, or the 3nm (soon to be 2nm) on its flagship chips. The G99 wasn’t entirely new when it was launched, and the G200 is three iterations from that.

The irony is that a newer SoC might have allowed the battery in the Xever 8 to last even longer if used correctly, and enabled more concurrent features like 5G comms and 4K video.

Overall, for someone who can work with these specifications, the Xever 8 is a workable solution, but, like the Xever 7 Pro, it's compromised in several important areas.

Should I buy a RugOne Xever 8?RugOne Xever 8 Score Card

Attributes

Notes

Rating

Value

Better value than the Xever 7 Pro, but it needed a better SoC for this price

4/5

Design

Easy to handle and includes an elegant battery tech

4/5

Hardware

The G200 SoC isn’t modern tech and lacks 5G

3/5

Camera

Good primary camera sensor and night vision, but only 2K video

3.5/5

Performance

Not a great performer for its price

3/5

Overall

Swappable batteries don’t overshadow some of this phone limitations

3.5/5

Buy it if...

You need a phone for outdoors
The water and dust resistance on the Xever 8 is enough to handle submersion and drops. And the battery-swap technology also helps avoid it being overly heavy.

You need battery capacity
One critical feature of this design is the swappable battery, and how that feature translates into running time. However, RugOne doesn’t appear to sell extra batteries yet, which is crazy.

Don't buy it if...

You need the best photography
The sensors on this phone aren't exceptional, but they're also not rubbish. However, the camera app doesn't allow you to exploit what the sensors can do, and video capture is capped at only 2K resolution.

You need 5G
The SoC in the Xever 8 only supports 4G comms, so this isn’t the phone for those who live and work in an area supported by 5G.

Also Consider

Blackview Oscal Tank 1
An inexpensive phone with a 20000 mAh. But in this case, it comes with a superior SoC platform and a better camera cluster. Therefore, you get 4K video recording on both rear and front sensors, and you also get an SoC that supports 5G comms.

Read my full Blackview Oscal Tank 1 reviewView Deal

RugOne Xever 7 Pro
A previous RugOne design has similar swappable battery technology, but slightly larger batteries. The one critical advantage of this design is its thermal imaging camera. However, it costs more than the Xever 8, because of that feature.

Read my RugOne Xever 7 Pro review

For more ruggedized devices, we've reviewed the best rugged tablets, the best rugged laptops, and the best rugged hard drives

HyperX Origins 2 1800: One-minute review

The HyperX Origins 2 1800 is a full-size gaming keyboard with mechanical switches and plenty of hardware customizations available.

It adopts a fairly typical gaming keyboard aesthetic, although the translucent body does at least offer something a little different. This also allows the RGB lighting to shine through a little more than usual. And shine it does — this is probably the brightest RGB I’ve ever seen in a keyboard, and it helps the board to stand out among its peers.

Build quality is above average, with materials feeling smooth. However, unlike the best gaming keyboard constructions around, the body is made of plastic rather than aluminum. There’s also a fair amount of flex to it.

On the other hand, it’s very light as a result, despite its thickness. It’s also easy to replace the body if you want to personalize your Origins 2, thanks to the easy-access screws underneath.

(Image credit: Future)

A board this thick often poses an ergonomic problem, but given the generous tilt angle of the Origins 2, I found it comfortable to use, even with the feet stowed and the lack of wrist support. The dip in the middle row allowed for natural finger positioning, too.

There is software available for the Origins 2, although it’s disappointingly basic. It does have a generous selection of remapping options, but there are no advanced or pro-level tweaks available here.

Elite gamers will be more impressed with the performance of the Origins 2, though. The stock Linear switches are very snappy and responsive, with just enough dampening and travel to impart satisfying feedback.

The stock keycaps are also comfortable, with their prominent indents providing a secure WASD position. The space bar is also pleasing to hit, thanks to its slightly rounded top, and the aforementioned tilt of the entire board prevents you from hitting its edge. However, the sheer height of the keycaps can make typing difficult.

There’s no denying that the Origins 2 commands a premium price tag, but it is a premium gaming keyboard. The mechanical switches and hardware customizations are top-tier, and it still costs less than some of its rivals. The software is disappointing and typing is difficult with those stock keycaps, but for those who want a pure mechanical experience, the Origins 2 is hard to beat at this price.

HyperX Origins 2 1800 review: Price and availability

(Image credit: Future)

• $139.99 / £119.99 (about AU$200)
• Available now in one colorway
• Reasonable price for a mechanical keyboard

The HyperX Origins 2 1800 costs $139.99 / £119.99 (about AU$200) and is available now in black only. The keycaps, switches, and body can all be swapped out.

This is certainly an expensive board, especially one that’s wired. However, given the high-performing mechanical switches, build quality, and hot swapping capabilities, it’s not exactly surprising.

What’s more, other high-end boards are similarly expensive, if not more so. The Razer BlackWidow V4 Pro, for instance, has a slightly higher list price, although we have seen it on offer for considerably less than this. When I tested the wireless variant of this board, the Razer BlackWidow V4 Pro 75%, I found it to be among the best mechanical keyboards in terms of feel, performance, and build quality.

For a more budget mechanical option, you could try the Gamakay TK75 V2. This is considerably cheaper than the Origins 2, yet it still offers great key feel and respectable build quality.

• Value score: 4 / 5

HyperX Origins 2 1800 review: Specs

Layout

Full-size

Switch

Mechanical

Programmable keys

Yes

Dimensions

15.3 x 5.5 x 1.8 inch / 388 x 140 x 46mm

RGB or backlighting

Yes (customizable)

HyperX Origins 2 1800 review: Design and features

(Image credit: Future)

• Hardware personalization options
• Thick but lightweight
• Premium feel as plastic constructions go

Aesthetically, the Origins 2 is hard to distinguish from many gaming keyboards. HyperX may call the color black but in reality it’s more of a dark grey, which departs somewhat from the sector’s obsidian dominance, albeit not by much.

Its translucent nature, though, is more original. What’s more, it allows the RGB backlighting to shine through. This lighting is brighter than many other instances I’ve seen, and really helps to liven up appearances. The keycap characters are fully transparent too, meaning these illuminate as well, which isn’t always a given on RGB keyboards.

The Origins 2 feels like a premium board. The base material, despite being plastic rather than metal, is of a high standard and the two panels are solidly put together. The unit is quite easy to flex by hand, but not to a concerning degree. This plastic also means the Origins 2 isn’t as heavy as it looks, given how thick it is. It’s also relatively easy to change the housing, requiring just a small crosshead screwdriver (not included) to disassemble and swap with another.

(Image credit: Future)

Its thickness isn’t much of a problem from an ergonomic perspective. There’s no wrist support included, but the forward tilt of the board makes for a comfortable hand position. The dip in the middle row, typical of many keyboards, also helps in this regard. There are folding feet that angle the board towards the user even more, but the difference isn’t as great as other examples.

The USB-C cable that comes with the Origins 2 is braided and quite light. This makes it easy to maneuver, although it’s not quite as light as those that come with the best gaming mice. Thankfully, drag isn’t exactly an issue when it comes to keyboards. Also, the cable seems a little stiffer and hardwearing than mice ones.

The latest version of HyperX’s Ngenuity software is required to customize the Origins 2. However, I couldn’t get this to work on my main gaming PC for some reason, with the app refusing to open once installed. Fortunately, I was able to install it on another Windows 11 machine.

However, the dearth of features available for the Origins 2 is disappointing. You can only adjust the RGB lighting, record macros, and rebind keys. There are plenty of options for the latter, with numerous system and media functions mappable, but there are no performance-related tweaks. Granted, a mechanical keyboard is never going to match the versatility of analog models on this front, but even more basic features, such as an SOCD function, are missing here, which might disappoint elite gamers.

• Design and features score: 3.5 / 5

HyperX Origins 2 1800 review: Performance

(Image credit: Future)

• Brilliant clicky mechanical switches
• Comfortable for WASD position
• Stock keycaps not great for typing

With its stock red Linear switches installed, the Origins 2 is a very clicky board. It produces a gratifying sound, although it’s a little louder than others. The keys are light but at the same time offer plenty of feedback, thanks to their minimal but effective dampening and generous travel distance. They rebound quickly, making them wonderfully snappy, and their actuation point is quite forgiving, which meant I didn’t suffer any mispresses.

Despite the thickness of the board, I found it comfortable to use in the WASD position, thanks to that slanted angle and central dip. Whether I had the feet up or down, I didn’t find myself wanting for wrist support, although I usually prefer a rest for long sessions.

I also found the space bar comfortable to hit, which is often a problem key for me. Its soft curve meant I rarely hit its edge. As for the other keycaps, their prominent indentations offered secure presses.

These aspects also make the Origins 2 comfortable when typing, but a bigger impediment here is the sheer height of the stock keycaps. I usually prefer low profiles as I find I can glide over them more easily. But here, I often caught their edges as I moved from key to key, which slowed me down and resulted in more errors.

• Performance score: 4 / 5

Should I buy the HyperX Origins 2 1800?Scorecard

Attributes

Notes

Rating

Value

It’s expensive, but reasonably priced compared to the competition.

4 / 5

Design and features

Thick but light and comfortable. There are plenty of hardware customizations, but not so many software ones.

3.5 / 5

Performance

Fantastically clicky and snappy switches. Great for gaming, less so for typing.

4 / 5

Overall rating

The Origins 2 is a great mechanical keyboard, slightly let down by the lack of performance tweaks.

4 / 5

Buy it if…

You love a clicky board
The clickiness of the stock Linear switches feels and sounds great, although they are a little loud.

You want plenty of hardware customizations
You can swap out the switches, keycaps, and even the body, letting you personalize your Origins 2 to a large extent.

Don't buy it if…

You want plenty of software customizations
There are plenty of remapping options, but those looking for performance-related adjustments will be disappointed.

You’ll be typing a lot
While the indentations of the stock keycaps provide comfort and security, their height doesn’t exactly facilitate fast and smooth typing.

HyperX Origins 2 1800 review: Also consider

Razer BlackWidow V4 Pro
Another premium mechanical board, the BlackWidow is a fantastic performer, and unlike the Origins 2, it comes with a wrist rest — and it’s one of the plushest I’ve ever used. Upon its release, it was substantially more expensive than the Origins 2, but recently it’s had considerable discounts. Read our full Razer BlackWidow V4 Pro review.

Gamakay TK75 V2
If you want something cheaper than the Origins 2, but still want all that mechanical goodness, the TK75 V2 is a good choice. Not only does it perform very well, but it’s also built to a surprisingly high standard. Read our full Gamakay TK75 V2 review.

How I tested the HyperX Origins 2 1800

(Image credit: Future)

I tested the Origins 2 for several days, during which time I used it for gaming, working, and general browsing. I tested it on two PCs. As mentioned above, I was unable to get the Ngenuity software working on my main PC, but did on another, despite both running Windows 11 with x64 CPUs.

I’ve been PC gaming for over a decade, and have used numerous keyboards in that time. I’ve also reviewed a large number of them, across a range of price points, feature sets, and switch types.

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

SteelSeries Aerox 3 Wireless Gen 2: Two-minute review

The SteelSeries Aerox 3 Wireless Gen 2 doesn’t try to do everything. Instead, it focuses primarily on one: speed.

At 68g, it’s built to be as light and responsive as possible, targeting players who want quick reactions and minimal resistance. That approach works: it’s fast, accurate, and easy to control, particularly in competitive games where small movements make a difference.

But that focus comes with trade-offs. The honeycomb shell won’t suit everyone, and the feature set is deliberately minimal. If you’re looking for extras, you’ll likely find more elsewhere. Likewise, the smaller ambidextrous shape won’t be the best fit for all hand sizes, and the Aerox 3’s mechanical switches won’t satisfy everyone, particularly when some mid-range rivals offer optical or hybrid switches.

(Image credit: Future)

Nevertheless, the Gen 2 does bring some meaningful quality-of-life improvements over its predecessor. It features an up-rated 26K TrueMove sensor and boasts a 4000Hz wireless polling rate without the need for a dongle upgrade. Both represent clear upgrades in terms of gaming performance, shifting the emphasis towards fast-paced and competitive gameplay.

Battery life is similarly impressive, offering up to 120 hours on 2.4GHz, or up to 200 hours on Bluetooth. That said, this assumes 1000Hz with RGB off for both, so if you’re planning on gaming at the top end with all the bells and whistles at your disposal, expect there to be some drop-off in longevity here.

Another notable differentiator is the GG software’s 3D Aim Trainer and sensitivity converter, which can be tweaked and personalised to train your flicks, tracking, and target switching across multiple gaming environments, helping you to find the right settings before stepping into a live match.

SteelSeries Aerox 3 Wireless Gen 2 review: Design

The Aerox 3 Wireless Gen 2 light weight is immediately noticeable. In boxing terms, this guy is a minimumweight, clocking in at just 68g (the same as the Gen 1 model). It’s easy to move quickly and with minimal effort, it’s perfect for fast-paced gameplay.

Its low weight comes from the honeycomb chassis, which removes material to keep things light. It works well, but the perforated design may divide opinion: some will appreciate the lighter feel and added airflow, while others may find it less comfortable during longer sessions. The design feels almost skeletal, and while I didn’t find it uncomfortable per se, I remained aware of those perforations throughout testing.

Aside from its scrawny appearance then, the Aerox 3’s build quality is solid, with minimal flex during normal use. It’s zippy and responsive, with the welcome retention of the Gen 1’s IP54-rated AquaBarrier protection to help guard against dust and (coffee) splashes – which isn’t always a given in this mid-range category.

(Image credit: Future)

The shape is ambidextrous and broadly accessible, although it’s best suited to claw or fingertip grips. For me, an average-sized, middle-aged ape, it felt a little small. I tend to prefer a steeper curve at the back end of a mouse; the Aerox 3’s relatively flat profile doesn’t quite accommodate a comfortable grip, with too much palm left over with nowhere to sit.

Buttons are well placed, with five programmable inputs covering the basics, and the scroll wheel offers a consistent, controlled action.

The Aerox 3 Gen 2 features three-zone RGB lighting that provides a cool, neon underglow, and it can be customized via the GG app to suit your personal preferences and to complement your gaming setup. RGB lighting is subtle rather than showy, adding a bit of visual flair without becoming a distraction, switching itself off during mouse movement to conserve battery life.

SteelSeries Aerox 3 Wireless Gen 2 review: Performance

Pull the Aerox 3 Wireless Gen 2 out of the box, and the first thing you’ll notice is how little there is of it. At 68g, it almost doesn’t register in your hand, and that weightlessness translates directly into how it performs. This is a mouse that gets out of its own way.

The TrueMove 26K sensor is the engine under the hood, and it’s a willing one. Tracking was consistent across every surface I tested it on, including my SteelSeries Limited Edition QCK cloth gaming mousepad, my partner’s Corsair MM700 RGB Extended gaming mousepad, and bare-desk testing, with no drift or jitter across a range of DPI settings. The addition of adjustable lift-off distance over the Gen 1 is a small but welcome refinement, and was certainly noticeable with the amount of junk I have on my desk.

DPI flexibility is one of the Aerox 3 Gen 2’s quiet strengths. Spending time with Cyberpunk 2077, I found myself toggling between settings depending on the situation. I opted for high DPI (around 15,000+) when surrounded by enemies (which happens far too often), then dropped to between 500 and 800 DPI for precision aiming. The onboard DPI button makes switching on-the-fly straightforward, and I found myself efficiently eliminating such foes as John Wick on a rampage.

(Image credit: Future)

However, where the Aerox 3 Gen 2 really earns its stripes is in competitive gaming. Testing it in Apex Legends, the 4000Hz polling rate — which needs to be enabled in the GG app — delivered noticeably smoother cursor movement, low input lag, and killshots I’d have otherwise missed. At this price point, 4000Hz wireless polling without the need for a dongle upgrade is a big achievement and genuinely made a difference to my gameplay.

Running the mouse through mousetester.io at 3250 DPI with polling set to 4000Hz, I recorded a real-world polling rate of 3106Hz, which is a strong result and well within the expected range for a mouse of this specification. Pushing the DPI higher caused that figure to dip slightly — which is consistent with how high-polling-rate sensors behave under increased processing load, rather than any inherent limitation of the hardware. In practice, most competitive players will be running DPI settings where the Aerox 3 Gen 2 performs at its best anyway.

The mechanical switches deserve a mention, too. Rated for 80 million actuations, they’re crisp, light, and tactile. They might look plasticky, but they don’t feel cheap, which further affirms the price range. The PTFE feet glide smoothly across my mousepad, and the overall movement experience is effortless.

At $99.99 / £99.99, you’re not getting the last word in gaming mouse performance; the Razer DeathAdder V4 Pro’s 45K DPI sensor and 8000Hz polling rate still sit in a different league. But that’s not what the Aerox 3 Gen 2 is trying to be. What it delivers at this price is a fast, consistent, genuinely competitive wireless experience, and it does so very well.

The Aerox 3 Wireless Gen 2 supports both 2.4GHz wireless and Bluetooth. The inclusion of both at this price is worth noting, particularly as some of the Aerox 3’s rivals have opted to drop Bluetooth entirely in pursuit of raw performance (e.g., the Razer DeathAdder V4 Pro and Logitech’s G Pro X2 Superstrike).

For gaming, 2.4GHz is the clear choice, offering lower latency and a more stable connection. Bluetooth is better suited to everyday tasks, multi-device setups, or commuting. What’s more, commuters can leave the dongle at home and still pair this mouse without it, boosting its portability factor.

Battery life is a genuine strength. SteelSeries rates the Aerox 3 Gen 2 at up to 200 hours on Bluetooth and up to 120 hours on 2.4GHz, both assuming 1000Hz polling with RGB off. Push that polling rate up to 4000Hz, however, and that figure is likely to drop sharply, to around 30 hours or so. That will still give you enough juice for the bulk of a working week, but it’s a notable trade-off if you’re planning on leaving that cable behind permanently.

(Image credit: Future)

One practical point: there’s no onboard storage for the USB dongle inside the mouse itself (no surprise there, given its aerated design). However, SteelSeries has included a desk-based extension cable for situations where signal strength may be an issue, which is a handy addition if your tower sits on the floor.

Charging is handled via USB-C with fast-charging support, which helps keep downtime to a minimum when you do eventually need to plug in.

Customization is handled through the SteelSeries GG app, which strikes a good balance between accessibility and depth.

You’ll find all the basics catered for here: you can adjust DPI across multiple levels; remap your buttons; fine-tune RGB lighting; and save profiles for different setups. Plus, its onboard memory means your key settings travel with the mouse rather than being tethered to a single machine, which is a godsend for anybody switching between computers.

(Image credit: SteelSeries)

One important practical note: the headline-grabbing 4000Hz polling rate isn’t enabled by default, and you’ll need to head to the GG app to unlock it. This is simple enough to enable, but worth knowing before you assume you’re getting that peak performance right off the bat.

Where the GG software genuinely stands out, however, is the 3D Aim Trainer and Sensitivity Finder. This is best described as a 10-minute mini-game that analyses your playstyle and recommends an optimal DPI setting for your chosen FPS. It even lets you apply that sensitivity across different games, so if you split your time between titles, you can maintain a consistent feel from one to the next. Considering the Aerox 3’s price point, this is a thoughtful and genuinely useful addition that goes beyond what most rival software suites offer.

The interface itself is clean and easy to navigate, and I didn’t encounter any bugs or technical issues during my time with it.

SteelSeries Aerox 3 Wireless Gen 2 review: Price & availability

• $99.99 / £99.99
• Available now in Shadow, Magenta Haze, and Ghost colorways

The SteelSeries Aerox 3 Wireless Gen 2 typically retails for around £99.99 / $99.99, although it’s frequently available at a discount, making it an even more attractive proposition at this mid-range price point.

It comes in three colorways: Shadow (black), Magenta Haze (pink), and a semi-translucent Ghost finish, the latter of which leans into the current trend for see-through tech aesthetics and looks particularly striking with RGB lighting active. I was provided with the Ghost variant for this review, and I can absolutely vouch for the cool factor that it lends to my gaming setup.

At this price, the Aerox 3 sits comfortably alongside rivals such as the Endgame Gear OP1w 4K and Be Quiet! Dark Perk Ergo, while undercutting more premium competition such as the Razer DeathAdder V4 Pro and the Logitech G Pro X2 Superstrike by a considerable margin. For the performance on offer, it represents solid value for money.

SteelSeries Aerox 3 Wireless Gen 2 review: Specs

Buttons

5

Sensor

SteelSeries TrueMove 26K

Max DPI

26,000

Should I buy the SteelSeries Aerox 3 Wireless Gen 2?

SteelSeries Aerox 3 Wireless Gen 2 scorecard

Attribute

Notes

Score

Features

A solid but minimal physical package, five buttons, and mechanical switches are functional rather than exciting, and some rivals offer more at this price point. The GG software’s 3D Aim Trainer partially redresses the balance.

3.5 / 5

Performance

The TrueMove 26K sensor is accurate and consistent across surfaces, and the 4000Hz polling rate made a genuine difference in competitive gameplay. The mechanical switches are crisp and functional, if not quite at the level of optical alternatives.

4.5 / 5

Design

The honeycomb chassis keeps the weight impressively low at 68g, and the build quality is solid throughout. The smaller ambidextrous shape and flat profile won’t suit all hand sizes or grip styles, though.

4 / 5

Value

At £99.99, the Aerox 3 Gen 2 offers strong performance for the price, 4000Hz wireless polling, and dual connectivity, including Bluetooth, which are features you’d typically pay considerably more for.

4 / 5

Buy it if…

You want a lightweight wireless mouse built for speed
At just 68g, the Aerox 3 Gen 2 is built to get out of your way and let you focus on what matters. At this price point, few rivals come close to matching its combination of weight, sensor performance, and 4000Hz wireless polling.View Deal

You mainly play fast-paced competitive games
The upgraded TrueMove 26K sensor and 4000Hz polling rate make this a genuinely capable competitive mouse, delivering the low latency and responsive tracking that fast-paced shooters demand.View Deal

You value strong battery life and flexible connectivity
With up to 200 hours on Bluetooth and 120 hours on 2.4GHz, the Aerox 3 Gen 2 keeps going long after rivals need a charge. The inclusion of both wireless modes adds versatility that some pricier mice don’t bother with.View Deal

Don’t buy it if…

You prefer a solid-shell design
The honeycomb chassis is central to keeping the weight down, but if you find perforated designs uncomfortable — or simply don’t like the look — then there are cleaner alternatives available at a similar price.View Deal

You prefer a heavier mouse with a more premium feel in the hand
At 68g, the Aerox 3 Gen 2 is deliberately and defiantly light, but if you find some heft reassuring, this mouse may feel a little insubstantial by comparison.View Deal

You need more than five programmable buttons
The Aerox 3 Gen 2 keeps things simple with five inputs, which covers the basics comfortably but won’t satisfy players who rely on a full suite of side buttons for macros or keybinds.View Deal

SteelSeries Aerox 3 Wireless Gen 2 review: Also consider

Razer DeathAdder V4 Pro
If the Aerox 3 Gen 2 has whetted your appetite for a more premium wireless gaming mouse, the Razer DeathAdder V4 Pro is the logical next step up. It packs a 45K DPI sensor and 8000Hz polling rate — a step up from the Aerox 3 Gen 2 in every performance metric — and backs it up with an exceptional 150-hour battery life. It will cost you considerably more, but if outright performance is the priority and budget isn’t a constraint, it’s hard to argue. Read our full Razer DeathAdder V4 Pro review.View Deal

Logitech G Pro X2 Superstrike
Another premium option worth a look is the Logitech G Pro X2 Superstrike, whose unique haptic click system allows you to adjust the actuation point and click feel to suit your preferences. It’s significantly pricier than the Aerox 3 Gen 2, and the absence of Bluetooth connectivity is a notable omission at that price point. However, for exacting competitive players who want something genuinely different, it’s worth considering. Read our full Logitech G Pro X2 Superstrike review.View Deal

How I tested the SteelSeries Aerox 3 Wireless Gen 2

• Tested across multiple gaming sessions and general desktop use
• Gaming tested in Cyberpunk 2077 and Apex Legends
• Polling rate verified using mousetester.io

I used the SteelSeries Aerox 3 Wireless Gen 2 across a mix of gaming, notably Cyberpunk 2077 and Apex Legends, and everyday tasks, focusing on responsiveness, comfort, and battery life. Testing included fast-paced shooters and general desktop use to assess responsiveness, comfort, and battery life across real-world conditions. I also ran the mouse through mousetester.io to verify real-world polling rate performance.

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

Secretlab Atlas: Two-minute review

With the Secretlab Titan Evo firmly cemented as one of the best gaming chairs, the Singaporean furniture giant is now gunning for the office market with the launch of its first dedicated task chair: the Secretlab Atlas.

Back in April I flew out to the brand's HQ for an early hands-on and a look behind the scenes of its development. And now — having sat on the newly released chair at home for more than 35 hours — I've been pretty impressed with the experience so far.

Aesthetically, the SecretLab Atlas looks great. It's distinctly Secretlab, with echoes of the Titan Evo in its overall silhouette, but not too garish for an office setup. All of the color options, which range from basic black and white to the slightly more adventurous Dune or Cookies & Cream, are appropriately subdued and should blend in well in most home office settings.

With prices starting at $499 / £399, the materials are suitably premium and feel great to the touch. I'm testing one of the fabric variants, which boasts the brand's SoftWave Plus weave, and while it's still very early days I can say that other Secretlab chairs I've tested with the same finish still look practically brand new after years of use.

The Secretlab Atlas is also refreshingly no-nonsense to actually sit in. There's built-in lumbar support, but it's adjusted automatically cutting the need to fiddle with various dials and agonize over getting it just right. It feels quite firm at first (especially compared to the soft rubbery mesh of my usual Herman Miller Sayl) but the support is definitely there, and I've found it perfectly comfortably on my back so far.

(Image credit: Future)

You can, of course, still customize the rotation of the armrests (not by a full 360 degrees, but rather three distinct positions), move the seat base forward or backwards, and tweak the amount of force required to recline the backrest or lock it in a static spot when you just want to lie back for a little rest.

The chair's height is adjustable too, though this is the one area that I'm not completely satisfied with so far. The first thing that you will notice when you sit in the Secretlab Atlas is that it's a low chair, with its height capping out at about 16.7in / 42.5cm from the ground. This is actually intentional, and apparently designed to make it easier to plant your feet on the ground, but I really wish that it could go a little higher.

I'm roughly 6ft 2in / 188cm tall (testing the large variant of the chair) and the Atlas' maximum height is just scraping the borderline of what I find pleasant. I've moved the seat base forward to try and compensate, but if I were any taller, my legs would be at a bit of an awkward angle.

I understand the vision, but it's odd that you don't at least get the option to go higher if you want — especially when almost every chair that I've tested lets you. This likely isn't going to be an issue for the vast majority of buyers, however.

(Image credit: Future)Secretlab Atlas: Price and Availability

• Secretlab Atlas starts at $499 / £399
• Premium range starts at $699 / £599
• Available via the Secretlab website

The standard Secretlab Atlas starts at $499 / £399 and is available in two finishes: Neo Hybrid Leatherette and SoftWeave Plus Fabric. Leatherette buyers can choose from Classic Black and Moon (a kind of light grey and black) while those on the fabric side get Black, Cookies & Cream (a grey and black weave), or a sandy Dune color.

You can upgrade to the premium range for some extra cash, with prices starting at $699 / £599. This adds a layer of NanoFoam Composite designed to make the chair more comfortable, and swaps out the black armrests, hydraulics, and wheel bases of the standard versions for perfectly color-matched alternatives.

Again there are two finishes: NanoGen Edition (with the brand's ultra-soft NanoGen leatherette), which comes in Pure White+ or Pure Back+ and SoftWeave Plus Fabric which is available in Black+ or Dune+.

Two size options are available: regular and large. The regular design is intended for those under 5ft 10in / 178cm tall and weighing less than 200lbs / 100kg with large for everyone else.

You can buy the Secretlab Atlas direct from the Secretlab website.

Secretlab Atlas: Specs

Price

$499 / £399 (Premium range $699 / £599)

Dimensions

TBD

Max user weight

Regular: 220lbs / 100kg

Large: 265lbs / 120kg

Max seat height

~16.7in / 42.5cm

Seat width

TBD

Warranty

TBD

Secretlab Atlas: Design and Aesthetics

• Looks very stylish
• Lots of attractive color options
• Multiple finishes on offer

The Secretlab Atlas is definitely more stylish than your standard office chair.

Its backrest has a shape that looks almost like a cross between the racing-seat style Secretlab Titan Evo gaming throne and more traditional office models such as Boulies Nubi or Desktronic SitOne. It's distinctly Secretlab, but not in a way that makes it appear unsuitable for serious workspaces.

Unlike some of the more elaborate Titan Evo limited edition models, this isn't a chair that is going to look embarrassing if you're in a video call to your boss.

I think all of the available color options and finishes are pretty sleek, but I'm particularly fond of the Dune and Dune+ colorways. The sandy pale hue perfectly complements a white or light oak desk and adds a little color to your setup without going totally overboard.

If you prize aesthetics, the more premium range is definitely the one to go for. The color matched armrests and so on definitely elevate the look and help it look extra premium.

The inclusion of a magnetic head pillow regardless of the model you choose is also very welcome.

(Image credit: Future)Secretlab Atlas: Comfort and adjustability

• Firm but supportive
• Automatic lumbar adjustment
• A fantastic head pillow

As I mentioned earlier, the Secretlab Atlas feels pretty firm at first, which took a little bit of getting used to. It's been extremely comfortable for my back in spite of this though, and has felt very supportive so far.

The integrated lumbar system does seem to work and, while I was initially skeptical of the lack of ways to adjust it, does the job well automatically. If you focus your attention on your back and shift around on the chair, you can actually feel it moving a little bit under your weight to redistribute the pressure.

The backrest's inherent curve is also impressively effective. Secretlab told me that it was designed using over a decade of data and testing, and you can really tell. It's easy to sink into and provides plenty of support right up to your shoulders.

Although it can be removed, I've had the included head pillow practically glued to the chair. It's by far the nicest that I've ever seen included with a chair, with some wonderfully soft memory foam that provides support in all the right places. I could sleep on it, and this is coming from that someone that usually doesn't bother using any additional accessories.

I also appreciate the fact that it can be attached to basically any point near the top of the headrest so that it can cushion either your neck or the back of your head.

(Image credit: Future)

The chair's controls are also worth of some praise. A lever on the left-hand side lets you unlock the seat base to adjust its depth, or lock and unlock the backrest by flipping a big switch. The switch is accompanied by an indicator that either shows words 'unlocked' (in green) or 'locked' (in red), letting you check your setting at a glance.

It's also quite nice that the backrest actually remains momentarily locked when you unlock it, requiring you to lean back in order to bring it forward and avoiding it awkwardly springing forward and hitting you like on some other chairs.

The tilt force adjustment mechanism found on the opposite side is well labelled too, with up to four red squares appearing to denote its current level. It's positioned next to the height adjustment level which brings the seat base up or down.

The design of the controls is a little unusual, but I love the distinct tactile feel of each mechanism, and have learned how to operate it all very quickly.

My only problem thus far has been the maximum height of the seat base. It's a little lower than I would like, and has forced me to reposition my monitor to keep it at an ergonomic level. This is pretty annoying, but hasn't actually caused my any real strain in my legs or knees so far — though you can be sure that I'll be monitoring this carefully in the weeks ahead.

(Image credit: Future)Secretlab Atlas: Assembly

• Very well packaged
• Easy and quick assembly process
• All necessary tools included

When it comes to the assembly process, there are few brands as consistent as Secretlab. I've never had an issue building one of their chairs, and the Atlas is no exception.

My box arrived pretty banged up with a few visible gashes (presumably the result of some rough handling in the courier's warehouse) but the condition of everything inside was flawless thanks to a liberal quantity of perfectly sculpted packing foam.

Assembly instructions are provided on a huge piece of laminated paper and are very meticulous. You're also given all the tools that you would need in the box: a hex key, magnetic screwdriver, and even a foam sheet to protect your floor. This makes the whole process very newcomer friendly and, while I'm experienced building furniture for review, I'm confident that almost anyone would be able to put this together without issue.

In total, the whole process (which involves assembling the wheel base and attaching the armrests and backrest) took about 20 minutes from unpacking the box to being seated at my desk.

(Image credit: Future)Early verdict

The Secretlab Atlas has been very impressive in my hands-on time so far. The experience feels premium from the get-go thanks to a wonderfully smooth assembly process and the undeniable quality of the materials used.

I love the overall design and have found it very comfortable to sit in as well, especially when I'm relaxing with the backrest locked all the way down and my head resting on that incredible included pillow.

That said, the low height of its seat base is an annoyance. I don't think it will be a dealbreaker for many, but it does mean that I'll likely return to my usual Herman Miller Sayl Gaming Chair (a model that I consider pretty much the perfect task chair, bar the lack of a headrest or shoulder support) when testing is over.

Still, the Herman Miller is substantially more expensive (starting at an eye-watering $1,020 / £755) than the cheapest Atlas, so the fact that the Atlas gives it a fair run for its money is commendable indeed.

I'll be back in the next few weeks with my full verdict after I've spent a bit more time with the chair.

Sometimes you don't need a fancy chair. Sometimes you just need a quality chair that fits a good budget. The Uplift Clarksville is a simple chair with breathable mesh, a comfortable enough cushion, and enough lumbar support to feel like it's there and worth the cost, without making you want to reach for another chair immediately, as a lot of cheap chairs do.

Assembly is easy. The price is right. Ok, it's unlikely to make it on to our guide to the best office chairs we've tested, but the design is simple enough to replicate across an entire conference room or co-working space without creating a break in the uniformity.

That's not to say that this is a boring chair at all. It still is a good-looking chair. Plus, it matches perfectly with Uplift's range of walking pads or standing mats if you want to create a more health-conscious office or workspace.

Uplift Clarksville: Price & availability

The Clarksville by Uplift is priced at $359 direct from the Uplift website.

To me, that's a fair cost for a no-nonsense office chair that puts support and comfort ahead of stylish designs that, while pretty, don't offer much practicality in the workplace.

A variant in fog grey is also available for an additional $29, and you can upgrade the casters for a smoother roll for an extra $39.

Uplift Clarksville: Unboxing and First Impressions

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )

The unboxing experience for the Clarksville is unassuming and simple at best. It arrives in a very compact box with everything well packaged in its new packaging. This is clearly designed for efficiency and simplicity, not for mind-blowing marketing on the box itself.

The hover is easy to assemble, and with my hotel electric screwdriver, I was able to assemble everything pretty quickly. You could just use the included tools as well, if you like. Once I got everything put together, which was a very simple task, I was able to get the seat itself dialed in within only a matter of minutes due to the simplicity.

That's not a bad thing at all. This chair is designed to be simple and functional, so having that mirrored in the assembly process is actually a massive pro for it.

Uplift Clarksville: Design & Build Quality

My team has used this chair in our rotation of chairs for the last 120 days, and in that time it has functioned excellently. There's no squeaking, no loose parts, nothing that feels like it's degrading at all.

It's simple, and it's easy. It works great in our conference room or in an office or in a waiting room or anywhere you need a decent office chair but don't want to spend exorbitant amounts of money, like some of these chairs are costing these days.

The chair is durable and reliable enough for a primary office chair, but it's also sleek enough to place on the guest side of your desk if you're that kind of office.

Uplift Clarksville: In use

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )

As I said, this chair has been in our rotation for over 100 days now, and during that time we've all appreciated its soft cushion and how it has remained comfortable despite its lower price.

Don't get me wrong, I love where Uplift is going with this chair. Not everybody needs that absurdly expensive chair they put in the executive office or feel bad about grabbing. Usually, your chair is only going to sit in for a little bit, maybe because you prefer to stand or walk on walking pads, such as Uplift's walking pad, which we have tried with this chair. Maybe you just want to spend your money somewhere else.

Regardless, there aren't many great companies that offer a good-quality chair at a good price. Most of the chairs that are at this cost are absolute trash and are Amazon cheap ones that are made from poor quality materials.

Having a reputable company like Uplift create a budget-friendly chair is massive, and our last 100+ days of experience have proven that the armrest adjustability is great, the recline is solid, and the comfort works for even a long day at work. Granted, it is not as comfortable as some of the higher-end chairs that we have, but for the price this is pretty good.

Uplift Clarksville: Final verdict

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )

All in all, with this chair you get more than you pay for. You get a chair that will actually last for several years in the conference room with daily abuse from people who don't care about chairs that aren't in their own office.

Or, if you want this in your own office, you'll get many years of use unless you absolutely obliterate your chairs or decide to tumble me down on them to burn off some steam after your last frustrating meeting. Regardless of your reason for buying a chair like this, Uplift is a company you can rely on and trust to put out quality gear.

Collin Probst // Future Collin Probst // Future Collin Probst // Future Collin Probst // Future Collin Probst // Future Collin Probst // Future Collin Probst // Future Collin Probst // Future Collin Probst // Future

For more office furniture, we've tested the best standing desks.

Specs

Type: color multifunction laser printer

Functions: Print, scan, copy, fax, ADF

Connectivity: Ethernet, USB, Wi-Fi, NFC

Data storage slots: USB Host 

Print speed: 33ppm

Max paper size: Letter/A4

Print quality: 600x600 dpi

Memory: 1GB

Apple AirPrint: yes

Consumables included: 4 x toner cartridges (7,500 black, 6,500 color pages)

Dimensions/Weight: 454 x 505 x 460 mm (WxDxH)/58.8lbs/26.7kg

The Brother MFC-L8970CDW and MFC-L8930CDW are high-spec laser all-in-ones aimed at enterprise and they’re a subtle but significant step up from the outgoing MFC-L8395CDW, despite being 25% smaller.

The top model in the updated L8000 series comes with a blistering print rate of 33ppm (pages per minute) and an equally impressive duplex scan speed.

With high capacity cartridges in the box, features aplenty, and a compact, but expandable design, it looks to me like the ideal office printer for a growing business. I tested it with the extra paper cassette option to find out.

Brother MFC-L8970CDW: Design and buildFutureFutureFuture

The Brother MFC-L8970CDW pictured here comes in two-tone gray, while the otherwise identical MFC-L8930CDW variant is gray and black. It’s the same machine targeting different territories and shipping with different amounts of inbox toner.

The MFC-L8970CDW is available with Brother’s MPS (managed print service) and it’s a multifunction device with a large ADF (automatic document feeder) and A4 scanner on top of a color laser printer with a large 7-inch touchscreen interface. It looks a bit top heavy, but Brother’s designers have done well to shrink the model it replaces by 25%, while increasing it’s capacity and display size. The 7-inch touchscreen is now twice as big.

This desktop printer’s footprint is relatively compact, especially when you start to add paper cassettes like the LT350CL as I did. It’s as simple as stacking the printer on top and letting the two units couple automatically. This US$226 upgrade doubles the 250-sheet paper capacity and allows you to load different paper stock in the second drawer. A 500-sheet cassette is available for $229, which makes a maximum paper capacity of 1,340 possible. There’s also a wheeled cabinet stand for $294.

Another design improvement is the increased use of user replaceable parts. Components such as drum unit, belt drive, paper feed kit etc can all be swapped out to prolong the printer’s life. Much of the material used in this printer's production is recycled and its packaging is cardboard rather than polystyrene. Office printers are never things of beauty, but I think it’s an aesthetic improvement on the old L8000 series and the whole thing feels like it’s built to last from pretty rugged plastic.

Brother MFC-L8970CDW: Features & specifications FutureFutureFuture

As the flagship of Brother’s L8000 line-up, the Brother MFC-L8970CDW comes with all the features. There’s duplex printing and single pass duplex scanning, an 80-page ADF, USB Host ports front and rear and the biggest touchscreen you’ll find on any printer. Dual-band Wi-Fi is built in, as is a gigabit Ethernet port and NFC for private printing using an NFC-enable staff card.

The print speed is very fast at 33ppm for letter-size pages, or 31ppm for fractionally larger A4 pages, and the copy speed is the fastest I’ve clocked so far at up to 20 sides per minute. It can print on envelopes, labels or any kind of uncoated paper up to Letter or A4 in size and up to 163gsm in weight. In other words, it cannot print on thick paper stock, card or inkjet photo paper. That’s a little disappointing, but it proved competent with all other kinds of media, including labels and envelopes during the test.

The ADF can hold more pages than most rivals at 80 sheets and the scan rate is 100ipm for two-sided mono pages is the fastest I’ve tested. This makes it a great photocopier in a shared office. It also comes with plenty of toner in the box, enough for 5,500 black, or 4,500 color pages, and compatibility with even higher yield cartridges that make this a very economical printer to run. The only thing missing is Bluetooth, which HP uses in its to make setup even easier.

Brother MFC-L8970CDW: Setup and operationFutureFutureFuture

The setup procedure is simplified by the expansive 7-inch touchscreen display. The GUI is logical, if a little long-winded, so you probably won’t need the printed quick start guide, which fits on a single sheet of paper. With the four toner cartridges already installed, you simply need to remove the transport packaging, load some paper and follow the on-screen prompts until you’re ready to print.

The large display is intended to reduce congestion at the machine because you can see the printer’s status and menu at a glance. Brother’s free companion app called Mobile Connect makes it just as convenient to print and scan from your smartphone. Other factors that increase this printer’s ease-of-use are the not one, but two available USB Host ports for walk-up printing from a USB device.

And the choice of paper inputs between the multi-purpose and main trays allows you to load different various stock, so there’s no need to reload when switching from plain to headed paper for example. In short, I found this a very easy printer to set up and operate.

Brother MFC-L8970CDW: PerformanceFutureFuture

The Brother MFC-L8970CDW printed promptly and without any jams or misprints throughout the tests and yielding consistently crisp and colourful documents. It can pump out professional-looking pages of black and white text in duplex mode with characters that are always clearly legible right down to the smallest point sizes. You’ll need a magnifying glass to fully appreciate the neat delineation.

And it can turn out color documents that are just as crisp at the same rate. Brother’s toner looks slightly less vivid than that of the HP Color LaserJet Pro 4201dw for example, but it’s also more natural, which makes the overall effect closer to the original source document.

This strong color balance works well when printing photos too. The test photos I printed on laser photo paper look sharp and colourful enough, although, as with most lasers, you can still see the dots that make up the 600dpi image.

Scanning and copying is a strong point for this multifunction device, thanks to its single-pass duplex scanner and fast scan speed. You can load 80 double-sided sheets into the ADF and have them duplicated in minutes and the duplicates are often hard to tell apart from the originals.

Brother MFC-L8970CDW: Consumables

(Image credit: Future)

Brother is generous with the toner in the bundled setup cartridges. The MFC-L8970CDW ships with enough to print 5,500 black, or 4,500 color pages, while the otherwise identical MFC-L8930CDW ships with enough for 3,000 black and 1,800 color pages.

Ultra high yield cartridges are also available that will give you up to 10,000 black and color pages and these expensive but economical carts bring the cost per page down to a highly competitive level.

Brother MFC-L8970CDW: Maintenance

With more user-serviceable parts readily available for this model, than for the previous one and most rivals, it should have a longer lifespan. And if you purchase the MFC-L8970CDW through Brother’s MPS (managed print service), your machine will be serviced for you as well as being topped up with discounted toner.

Brother MFC-L8970CDW: Final verdictFutureFutureFuture

The Brother MFC-L8970CDW proved a pleasure to print with and performed very well in all of my tests.

It’s a pretty high-spec multifunction device with all of the features I would want to see in a premium office printer aimed at a large or growing business. With such speedy duplex printing and duplex scanning, a huge touchscreen and scope to expand the already generous paper and toner capacity, this hardworking machine could serve a busy workgroup very well.

I found it easy to set up and operate and I appreciated the seven-inch touchscreen and prompt first time out speeds. The print quality proved crisp and consistent with both monochrome and color documents, while my test photographs looked surprisingly realistic for a laser printer.

Brother’s reasonably priced cartridges don’t contain the brightest toner around, and I’ve made slightly sharper prints with the Xerox C325, but overall, this well-equipped and future-proofed all-rounder will be hard to beat.

For more top-performing models, I've tested out the best home printers and the best laser printers.

EcoFlow Stream Ultra X: 30-second review

The EcoFlow Stream Ultra X sits at the premium end of a rapidly growing product category. It is sold as a balcony power plant storage system. That means it combines a large lithium iron phosphate battery with a built-in hybrid inverter, four solar MPPT inputs, and a standard wall plug connection. You attach solar panels to it, plug it into a socket, and let it get to work – or that’s the theory.

It charges from the sun or from cheap grid power during the day, then it powers your home at night. Simple. What makes the Ultra X stand out from the crowd is its capacity. At 3.84 kWh, it doubles the storage of EcoFlow’s own Stream Ultra. That is a meaningful difference. A typical fridge uses about 1-2 kWh per day. An Ultra X, fully charged, can cover that and much more besides.

The system delivers up to 2,300W of continuous on-grid AC power with two AC outlets that handle simultaneous loads, and 800W back into the property's mains system. Solar input tops out at 2,000W across four MPPT trackers, each rated at 500W.

This technology first became popular with apartment dwellers and renters across Europe who want to cut their electricity bills without undertaking any structural work. But it can be a simple first step for any homeowner or small business that wants to use variable-rate electricity or get into solar without committing to a full rooftop system.

The Ultra X scales too. Connect multiple units and additional Stream batteries to reach up to 23 kWh of total storage. That is no longer a starter system, as it exceeds the total power consumption of a typical UK home.

The EcoFlow app ties it all together. It uses AI to track pricing, weather forecasts, and usage patterns, adjusting charge and discharge behaviour accordingly. For anyone who wants energy independence without the complexity, the Stream Ultra X makes a very strong case.

Due to the way this technology works, it's superior to even the best portable power stations we've tested, although I wouldn't want to try to take this device camping.

EcoFlow Stream Ultra X: Price & availability

(Image credit: EcoFlow)

• How much does it cost? £1,499/€1,499
• When is it out? Available now across most of Europe
• Where can you get it? EcoFlow official website and selected European retailers

The current asking price for the Ultra X is £1,499 in the UK direct from EcoFlow. In Europe, it's priced at €1,427 on EcoFlow's site, although EcoFlow regularly has discount deals, so it might be possible to get it a little cheaper.

It's not currently available in the US, as far as I can see, with the closest alternative being the EcoFlow Stream Ultra (not the X variant), for $1279 at the time of review. It's essentially the same type of system, with a lower capacity than the Stream Ultra X.

That price makes it the most expensive option in the Stream series, and for those wanting a lower up-front cost, the Ultra model, with half the battery capacity, but the same microinverter technology, can be got for £999.

The best-known competitor to EcoFlow in the balcony solar space is Anker with its Solix Solarbank 2 E1600 Pro, which sells for only €799 in Europe. However, that’s only for a 1600 Wh battery, though it does have 4 MPPT solar inputs and the same 10-year warranty as the Ultra X. This system can be expanded to 9.6 kWh by adding up to six modules that stack vertically.

On paper, the Ultra X and the Stream series in general might seem on the pricey side, especially when compared to some of the deals available on portable power stations.

However, this equipment isn’t comparable to power stations, since it's meant to feed power directly into the property's electrical system, rather than directly power an appliance. Therefore, it has a significant number of safety protections that power stations lack.

Based on its build quality, attention to detail, and the sophistication of its software, the EcoFlow Ultra X is undoubtedly worth the asking price.

• Value: 4 / 5

EcoFlow Stream Ultra X: Specs

Catagories

Spec

Battery Capacity

3.84 kWh (LFP)

Max AC Output

2,300W (on-grid continuous)

Max Output to mains

800W (900W in France)

Solar Input

2,000W max (4 x MPPT, 500W each, 15-60V DC)

AC Charging Input

1,200W max

Expandable Capacity

Up to 23 kWh (via additional Stream units)

Cycle Life

6,000 cycles to 70% capacity

Warranty

10 years

IP Rating

IP65 (dust and water resistant)

Operating Temperature

Down to -20°C (integrated battery heater)

Dimensions

420 x 294 x 460 mm

Weight

38.8 kg

Noise Level

Under 30 dB

Connectivity

Wi-Fi (2.4GHz), EcoFlow app, Matter, Shelly, Tibber compatible

EcoFlow Stream Ultra X: Design

(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)

• Built for indoors and outdoors
• Battery and microinverter in one
• Application controlled

A short disclaimer before we go any further: I’m not an electrician, and therefore any information I provide about plugging things in should be considered as being my understanding, and not an irrefutable fact.

The EcoFlow Stream Ultra X is part of what is being termed ‘plug-in solar’, meaning you can install it without an electrician's intervention. Can you do that, and what are the implications? I’ll talk about that later on when I cover the user experience, but for now, what did EcoFlow build?

The Stream Ultra X is an IP65 weatherproof design made for genuine outdoor use. Clean, minimalist white enclosure designed to blend into residential settings. Wall-mount bracket included for balcony installation. And it’s impressively compact, given the 3.84 kWh capacity it contains.

While this is not a product designed for a garage or a utility room, it can be put in these if the heat it generates isn’t an issue and you’re not creating a potential fire hazard.

The unit measures 420 x 294 x 460mm, and weighs 38.8 kg. The previous Stream Ultra at 1.92 kWh was a much lighter 23.1 kg. The Ultra X, at double the capacity, is almost twice the weight.

Installation requires at least two people and some forward planning about how to get a 39 kg box onto a balcony or, in my case, close to my consumer unit in my garage. EcoFlow ships a dedicated bracket for wall mounting, but I think this is more about theft prevention than additional stability.

The IP65 rating is not a token gesture. It means genuine dust-tight protection and resistance to water jets from any direction. The Stream Ultra X should be able to sit outside through a European winter without complaint. The integrated battery heater ensures performance at temperatures down to -20 degrees Celsius. That matters in northern European markets where the appeal of balcony solar is perhaps greatest.

In terms of the layout, there is a clean user-facing side with an on/off button and an LED strip that shows the charge level and whether the battery is charging. On the other side is a huge heatsink, dual AC outputs (UK 3-pin in mine) and four MPPT inputs for solar panels. Each of these is rated for 500W 15-60V DC, enabling up to 2000W of solar energy to be injected into the battery.

Along with the AC outputs that can deliver 2300W, an additional cable is provided for charging the battery from the grid or for sending up to 800W to the property's mains system.

In Germany, this cable comes terminated with a plug designed to go into a EU power socket directly, whereas in the UK, the wires end with three ferruled wires.

The connector for the power interface has a corresponding connection for chaining to another Stream battery. At this time, EcoFlow makes the Stream Ultra X, Stream Ultra, Stream Pro and Stream Max.

Here’s the breakdown of what each offers.

 

Battery Capacity

Solar Inputs

Solar Input

Max Expansion

Stream Ultra X

3.84kWh

4

2000W

22 kWh

Stream Ultra

1.92kWh

4

2000W

12 kWh

Stream Pro

1.92kWh

3

1500W

11.52 kWh

Stream AC Pro

1.92kWh

0

N/A

11.52 kWh

Stream Max

1.92kWh

2

1000W

N/A

(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)

The two AC outlets sit on the unit’s face. They are clearly labelled and sensibly positioned. The PV input ports are grouped together. Cable management is tidy out of the box. EcoFlow has done well here. The only minor gripe is that 38.8 kg makes periodic repositioning or maintenance awkward. A wheeled trolley would be a great addition to this equipment if EcoFlow added one.

In conclusion, this is mostly a scaled-up version of the Stream Ultra with twice the battery capacity, but exactly the same solar inputs and 2000W input cap. Based on the price of this unit compared with a Stream Ultra and a Stream AC Pro combined, there are some cost savings in using the Stream Ultra X to achieve the same capacity.

Other than the two buttons, one to power and the other to activate the AC ports, all control of the unit is via a terrific phone application. This tool allows you to monitor every aspect of the battery, decide when it discharges and recharges, and it can handle multiple pieces of equipment as a single system.

• Design: 4 / 5

EcoFlow Stream Ultra X: Features

• Ten-year warranty
• Extensible
• Up to 23 kWh

The hardware inside the Stream Ultra X is where EcoFlow has made its boldest statements. Start with the battery itself. The 3.84 kWh lithium iron phosphate cell is rated for 6,000 charge cycles to 70% capacity and backed by a ten-year warranty. LFP chemistry is the right choice here. It is thermally stable, long-lived, and less prone to degradation than the lithium cobalt oxide chemistry found in cheaper alternatives.

For a product that will live outside on a balcony, potentially, for the best part of a decade, that matters enormously. The four MPPT trackers are a standout feature. Each handles up to 500W of solar input at between 15 and 60 volts DC, for a total of 2000W.

With these independent trackers, you can connect panels facing different directions, at different angles, or partially shaded, and each string is optimised independently. A single tracker managing four panels would drag performance down to the weakest link. Four separate trackers do not. EcoFlow says the system performs reliably even in low solar irradiation conditions, and the multi-MPPT architecture is a large part of why.

The integrated hybrid inverter handles both on-grid and off-grid modes. On-grid, it delivers up to 2,300W of continuous AC output across two standard sockets. Off-grid capacity is more modest, but the unit keeps essential loads running during outages. The AC charging input allows up to 1,200W from the grid, meaning you can top up the battery overnight on cheap tariff rates and discharge it during expensive peak periods.

(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)

That is where the AI Time-of-Use feature earns its keep. EcoFlow’s Home Energy Management System integrates with third-party smart energy monitors, including Shelly and Tibber. The app connects to local electricity price data and weather forecasts, running over 100 million data operations per hour according to EcoFlow, to deliver forecasts with up to 94% accuracy over a three-day horizon.

The system automatically adjusts when to charge, when to discharge, and when to feed solar power into the home. In practice, this means the Ultra X is not just a passive battery. It is an active participant in your household energy economy. Some of the more advanced AI features require a premium app subscription, which is a minor but worth noting caveat.

Connectivity runs over 2.4GHz Wi-Fi. The app is polished and informative, giving real-time visibility of generation, consumption, and savings. Matter and Shelly compatibility means the Ultra X fits into a broader smart home setup without friction.

The expandability story is also compelling. A single Ultra X delivers 3.84 kWh. Connect up to five more Stream series units to reach 23 kWh. That is a home energy solution, not a starter product. The Stream series uses a parallel cable connection and automatically shares intelligence across units. The system distributes energy between units in a smart, usage-based way rather than draining one unit at a time. This architecture reduces the impact of charging and discharging, so that even after ten years of use, these modules should still retain a good proportion of their original capacity.

• Features: 4.5 / 5

EcoFlow Stream Ultra X: User Experience

• Simple in theory
• Get an electrician
• Genuine cost savings
• Add Solar later

(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)

According to EcoFlow - and I’m not qualified to disagree with them - in the UK, local regulations require the EcoFlow STREAM DIY Cable to be wired into the distribution board, which must be done by a certified installer or electrician.

The snag here that I ran into is that electricians typically won’t attach this to any ancient distribution board. It requires a modern design that can accommodate the dual-direction RCD and provide the per-circuit RCD protection currently mandated in the UK.

That elevates what would be a relatively inexpensive exercise into one, for me, which cost almost as much as the Stream Ultra X, as I had my entire consumer unit replaced.

However, this was probably long overdue, and it's critical if I ever expand the system further or want to use separate microinverters.

Does it work if you simply find a good-quality UK plug, attach it to the provided cable, and plug it into your ring main? Yes, it does, but electricians wouldn’t recommend it, and therefore, I won’t suggest you do that either.

Ideally, it should be connected on a fused spur from the consumer unit with a bi-directional RCD, I believe.

Another dimension to these requirements, and it has to do with exporting power back to the grid. When the Ultra X is injecting power into the wiring of the house, it's trying to balance what the battery discharges and the power drawn from the grid. If it adds too much power that will end up going out to the grid, and you are effectively powering your neighbours' homes for free.

It’s worth noting that if you have an MCS (Microgeneration Certification Scheme)- rated electrician come and sign off on your installation, you can get a certificate that allows you to sell power back to your supplier at a pre-agreed price.

This could be a good option if you have enough solar panels to generate the 2000W of power that the Ultra Stream X can ingest, the battery is full, and you only need 400W to run the house. But you can go further, charge the battery up when electricity is cheap and then dump it to the grid when it's expensive to make money and offset costs.

A consumer unit that needed replacing (Image credit: Mark Pickavance)

To make this model work more effectively, you need a special RCD that EcoFlow sells that can accurately monitor the flow of power in and out of the house, and I had one of those installed, adding another £99 to my costs. The step I’ve not yet taken is to add solar panels, but that’s my next phase.

When I first got this unit, I’d made various assumptions about how it might work based on also owning an EcoFlow Delta 2 power station. The Ultra X isn’t like a Delta series unit at all, in one critical way.

With the Delta 2, you plug that into a wall socket, and anything you wish to power into one of its power inlets. If the power coming from the mains is interrupted because you switch the wall socket off, or use a smart socket, then the Delta 2 will immediately take over, much like a UPS, and power the device until it's exhausted, at which time the device it's plugged into will be turned off. This is pretty much the same in the majority of power station products, though some won’t automatically trigger battery power with a UPS mode.

The Ultra X is totally different in that it can do the direct-powering trick like the Delta, but it can also power things via its connection to the electrical system. That means when the battery power is all used up, it can sit and wait until the optimal time to recharge. With the Delta 2, once the power connection is restored, it will immediately start charging, and there are limited things you can do to stop it while still having power flow through to connected devices.

Being able to insert power into the system, then step aside and let the mains do the work, is the most useful aspect of this design, as it lets you fully control when you recharge and discharge.

A smart metre (Image credit: Mark Pickavance)

The flip side of this coin is that, should the mains power be cut, the Ultra X won’t just take over and power the house. In fact, if it detects a mains failure, it will immediately stop delivering power to that connection as a safety precaution. This is called anti-islanding.

If the battery still outputs power during a power cut, then that might leak out onto the grid, making things dangerous for those working to restore the service, and it would also mean that if I pulled the plug out of the wall that connects it to the house, those pins would be live.

On this product, the anti-islanding technology is sophisticated, and can sense within a very small amount of time if the mains has been disrupted, and then cut output.

You can still run things on the AC outputs, but those appliances must be physically connected to the Ultra X. Some expensive home battery systems can power the whole house in an emergency, but with only 800W of mains output, this isn’t one of them.

Where EcoFlow excels is with their software, which ties all the products you have into a unified logic that allows you to control what’s happening at any point. And you can build your own automations that can recharge and discharge, and interface with smart devices, like plugs.

A power management strategy

How you would configure the EcoFlow Stream Ultra X would be colored by your particular use model, and the level of efficiency you want. Overnight charging is straightforward but less efficient, and AI control is the most efficient, with manual adjustments being somewhere in the middle.

In my instance, I’m an Octopus Energy customer, and I use their Octopus Agile tariff that breaks down the day into 30-minute slices with a different cost depending on the demand at that time of day. On a typical day, there is a slight bump in prices around breakfast, followed by a cheaper period until 4 pm, when it becomes expensive until 7 pm, when it starts to get cheaper again.

Therefore, I have the battery recharge between 12 am and 4 pm, and discharge from 4 pm until it's exhausted. Each day, I can see the cost profile for the next day, published at 4 pm each day, and act accordingly.

But if you pay EcoFlow £3.40 a month, the company will entirely automate the charge low and discharge high system using AI, so you never need to think about it.

Alternatively, many providers run an Economy 7 tariff where you are given five hours every night to recharge at 7p a kWh. And, using that time window, you can build a simple automation to recharge then and discharge after 4 pm. When you consider that at peak times, power might be from 35p to over 50p a kWh, considerable savings can be made.

According to people who have tested these things, the loss of power recharging and discharging is about 10% in each trip, so if you buy power at 10p, it costs 12p to use it.

By adding solar to this mix, you can recharge for free and then use that power when the sun has gone down, if it's sufficiently sunny.

Having used this for a number of months, I’m seeing real benefits in my power consumption costs, and it's something that all homes and businesses should seriously consider.

(Image credit: EcoFlow)

The first question any business owner is likely to ask is if these tariffs are available for businesses, and often they are. I could be mistaken, but I think all UK power companies offer an equivalent to the old Economy 7 tariff, where you are allocated a block of time at low cost per kWh (like 7p) in the night, allowing that power to be delivered back to the property when the price is much higher.

The EcoFlow app enables you to define when the battery recharges and discharges, and how much wattage, up to the 800W limit, it can push back into the system.

As an Ocopus Agile customer, the prices in each 30-minute block do alter each day, both in price and in terms of when the cheapest point of the day is. If you want a fire-and-forget solution I could switch to a cheap nighttime recharge, or EcoFlow has an AI service that will look at the prices for the coming day and decide when it the best times to recharge and discharge. They charge an additional £3.90 a month for that service, and you don’t get any free time with the hardware. Intelligent Mode, as its called, promises to create the most cost effective power schedule based on solar, load, electricity rate and system status.

I’ve not yet signed up for this, but if it could save me more than another £3.90 a month, it might well be worth it.

Solar economics

But, if you always intend to have plenty of capacity to begin with, then it might be worth looking at the EcoFlow Ocean product line, or other modular home battery installations from the outset.

Solar harvest depends on panel setup and local conditions, but the four MPPT design gives the Ultra X a genuine edge over single-MPPT competitors. Where a cheaper system with one tracker might lose 15 to 20 per cent of potential harvest due to panel mismatch or partial shade, the Ultra X keeps each string performing at its individual peak. The 2,000W total solar input ceiling is generous. On a sunny day with an appropriate panel setup, you can expect to fill the 3.84 kWh battery from empty in roughly two hours.

The AI Time-of-Use system works elegantly since EcoFlow integrates with Tibber and other dynamic tariff providers. The system reads electricity prices, reads weather data, and makes genuinely intelligent decisions about when to top up from the grid and when to discharge into the home. EcoFlow’s own modelling suggests that a six-unit Ultra X setup with ten 500W solar panels could generate over 5,300 kWh annually in a central European location. For a single unit paired with two to four typical balcony panels, expect something closer to 800 to 1,500 kWh per year, depending on location and orientation.

(Image credit: Maysunsolar)

That is sufficient to meaningfully offset a household electricity bill. At European rates of around £0.35 per kWh, a single Ultra X setup could save between £350 and £550 annually. With the units costing roughly £1500 without solar panels, payback sits in the three to four-year range. That is competitive, though the Anker Solix Solarbank 2 E1600 Pro and Jackery Explorer alternatives come in cheaper and are worth comparing if budget is the primary driver. The Ultra X commands a premium for its capacity, four-MPPT design, and the quality of its AI integration. For most buyers, that premium is justified.

While not the cheapest option, EcoFlow will sell you two 450W panels for £399, and four 250W panels for £699. Therefore, with the Stream Ultra X, it is possible to have 3.84 kWh, a 900W solar input, which on a sunny day could recharge that battery for less than £2000.

If you use one of the lower-end options, like the Stream Ultra, Stream Pro, or Stream Max, the outlay could be much lower if you accept a smaller initial battery capacity.

There is nothing stopping you from buying more batteries and connecting them, though some of the range, like the Stream Max, aren’t empowered to chain to other Streams.

What’s nice is that you can add just a battery or a battery and more MPT ports for extra solar, and expand the system however you want.

• User Experience: 4 / 5

EcoFlow Stream Ultra X: Final verdict

(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)

To understand the Stream Ultra X, you need to understand the movement it belongs to. Balcony solar is no longer a niche hobbyist pursuit. It is a genuine mass-market revolution reshaping how ordinary people across Europe think about electricity.

Germany led the way. By mid-2025, over one million balcony solar systems had been registered with the German Federal Network Agency. Industry insiders believe the true installed number is two to three times higher, since many units go unregistered. In the first half of 2025 alone, more than 220,000 new systems were added. The Germans have a word for them: Balkonkraftwerke. Balcony power plants.

In the UK, the phrase plug-in solar has been coined, though to my mind this entirely misses the point of these systems. You don’t need solar panels to make this work for you, and therefore, it could be used by those renting a flat or home to reduce energy costs once the device is plugged in. And, should you move to a new location, the battery can come with you. It is the first rung on a ladder that could take you to solar, but it doesn’t need panels to be useful.

The balcony solar market is projected to grow from $500 million in 2025 to $1.8 billion by 2033, at a 15% annual growth rate. EcoFlow recognised this trajectory early. The Stream series is its answer to the question of what a premium, storage-forward balcony solar product looks like. The Ultra X, with its 3.84 kWh capacity, four-MPPT design, and AI energy management, is the most complete answer yet.

However, £1,499 is a serious investment. Some AI features need a subscription. And in the UK, there is some confusion about the plug-and-play nature of this technology based on the standards. Despite those caveats, this is the product to beat in its category, and if you wish to reduce your energy costs now, this is a highly flexible approach that doesn’t require solar panels to impact your electricity bills.

In many reviews I write for Tech Radar, the products are provided by the makers for the purpose of coverage, but in the case of EcoFlow Stream Ultra X, it's something I bought and paid for. And watching it hack chunks out of my electricity bill within weeks of arrival makes me think this purchase might not have been the worst plan I've ever had.

My advice, for what it's worth, is that anything involving electricity in the home still requires an electrician's input before you start plugging in equipment like this. But if you have a modern consumer unit, getting the battery wired correctly should be straightforward.

If you don’t have the additional expense of a new consumer unit, a piece of kit like the EcoFlow Stream Ultra X could easily pay for itself in under three years, and that’s without attaching a single solar panel to it. And that’s based on today's energy prices, which are unlikely to go down in the foreseeable future.

EcoFlow Stream Ultra X: Report card

Value

Not cheap, but highly extensible

4 / 5

Design

Clean, weatherproof, and compact for its substantial capacity

4 / 5

Features

LFP battery, four MPPTs, and smart AI management lead the field

4.5 / 5

User Experience

Delivers meaningfully on solar harvest, storage, and bill savings

4 / 5

Overall

The best balcony battery available; buy it if you can afford it

5 / 5

Should I buy a EcoFlow Stream Ultra X?Buy it if...

You want serious balcony solar storage and maximum solar harvest
The 3.84 kWh LFP battery and four independent MPPT trackers make this the most capable plug-and-play system available. If you are on a dynamic electricity tariff, the AI Time-of-Use optimisation will pay for itself. This is genuinely the product to beat in its category, and the ten-year warranty backs that confidence up.

You want to start small and then add solar
Systems like the EcoFlow Stream Ultra X enable home and business owners to start small and then add extra battery capacity and solar panels when they’re ready for them. That staggers the cost, and also means that the investment can be easily moved to another property in the future.View Deal

Don't buy it if...

You have a consumer unit wired by Telsa himself
Much of the concern that electricians have voiced about plug-in-solar stems from the poor electrical installations in older houses they encounter every day. If you have an old consumer unit, or physical fuses, then you need to address that before plugging batteries into your ring main.

You want a complete home UPS
This system isn't designed to power the entire home in the event of a power cut. A system that can do that will cost significantly more than this.

I don't know about you, but any time I spend on LinkedIn, I am then immediately drowned by AI talk by those who are replacing entire companies with AI and how quickly people can build AI. All of that building requires a device that has insane power, or, to quote Aladdin, "ultimate cosmic power." That is what it seems like we are reaching for these days with the amount of computing power we are demanding from our devices.

Depending on what you are doing, having a dedicated LLM device could be the thing that makes or breaks your profit margins or also helps you actually get work done without burning through all of your tokens in one week. The Lenovo ThinkStation PGX is designed to run an LLM locally on a machine so that you can test anything that you need to test in an AI workspace without having to run it through the cloud. This will allow for things like script testing, feature testing, model testing, etc.

Further, this is also the kind of machine that you could use as an always-on device that would be fantastic for OpenClaw or Claudbot. As I mentioned briefly above, many people rely on the Mac mini for this.

However, if you're already in the professional work space or if you prefer Windows or if you trust Lenovo already, or alternatively maybe you don't need a full desktop as well, this is a phenomenal option for those workloads, and it likely destined for inclusion in our best mini PC guide for those that need a dedicated compact AI-ready workstation.

Lenovo ThinkStation PGX: Price and availability

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )

The ThinkStation PGX is available across Lenovo's regional websites, including in the US where prices start at $5,079 and in the UK, priced from £5,200.

The base model comes with 1 TB storage. However, if you want to upgrade to other storage components or buy through other retailers, the price may vary. My quick research has shown that the price of this unit can easily vary between $4,800 and $5,400 depending on your configuration.

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )Lenovo ThinkStation PGX: Unboxing and First Impressions

The PGX makes a strong case for those who want an mini AI Workstation. There are so many people in that realm of work these days that having dedicated devices that specialize in extracting every ounce of power from components to support power-hungry software is a good thing. However, it’s not for everyone. While there is a basic desktop, it feels more like a NAS rendering than that of a true computer.

The ThinkStation PGX appears to be similar in size to a standard mini PC; for continued comparison and reference, it’s about the size of a Mac mini. All the ports are on the back; since this isn’t meant to be a desktop replacement in any way, there is no need for any ports for the user to interact with after setup.

If you are the type of person who has to ensure the reliability and dependability of AI-powered machines, such as ensuring drivers are up to date, then having a dedicated machine may be just what you need to stay sane.

Lenovo ThinkStation PGX: Design & Build Quality

The Lenovo ThinkStation PGX is fairly compact, and it’s short enough to fit under desk shelves if you want it to stay on your desk, or tuck it away in a media closet or office space. Good flexibility here for that.

No matter where you choose to put it, the result is pretty much the same. It’s not meant to be looked at, bothered with, flash with colors and lights, nor really even be bothered with once it is set up.

Design-wise, as I say, this feels minimalist and styled to look sleek and professional wherever it is used. There are no forward-facing ports, but that is of course due to the intended use case. On the back there are USB-C ports, no USB-A ports, an HDMI port, a network port, and then two expansion ports that will allow for two of these units to link together to distribute the workload you’ve created across multiple PGX’s.

Beyond the ability to link multiple together, the expandability and customization kind of stops there, so if you are the type of person who is currently using a custom tower setup for their LLMs, then this is going to feel a bit too controlled. If you are okay with the change-up from the Wild West of computer parts to something that is a bit more controlled, you will swap customization for reliability.

Lenovo ThinkStation PGX: In use

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )

The Lenovo ThinkStation PGX is best when used as a dedicated device for running tasks against your local LLM. The 128GB memory and the Grace Blackwell GB10 help make even complex scenarios feel snappy, much more than most people’s laptops can; that’s for sure. For those in this space, the struggle of maxing out your available GPU is a known constraint. But now with your own personal device, you won’t have to wait on anyone else or book time, or anything else of the sort.

In my experience with AI tooling, speed is a major factor. Trying to ship features with AI usually comes with the expectation of speed. Now, with your own tooling and hardware, you can get prototypes, demos, and research done without waiting.

Off the top of my head, the tools that would benefit from this the most would be things such as: running local inference on larger models, prototyping across several different models, perhaps different versions of an app, a tool, or a workflow, even other ways of teaching or tooling that require quick turnaround time to try things out and you don't want to waste time or credits.

One thing worth noting is that while this does have a ton of operational memory, storing this kind of information to run these large models will take up a lot of space. If you need more than the allotted storage, or if you don't want to pay for internal storage, you can add external storage options to host the datasets you will be using for this.

In short, utilizing something like this as a service-kind-of-model, where you tunnel in and do what you need to do and keep your day-to-day machine light, means that you could run around with a more lightweight laptop or a more practical day-to-day laptop and then utilize this machine when you need it instead of carrying this beefy machine all day long every day. That may not be the best for everything else that you do in your day-to-day work.

Lenovo ThinkStation PGX: Final verdict

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )

The Lenovo ThinkStation PGX is an incredibly powerful machine; however, it is probably not the machine for you unless you are in a very niche workspace. For those that this applies to, this is a fantastic tool to add to your arsenal, with more specialized capabilities and easier setup than a Mac mini. It is also more limiting than a Mac mini in some other ways.

You shouldn't buy this if you want a small desktop that can do some powerful things. If you do need a machine dedicated to running LLMs or open claw, then absolutely you should consider the Lenovo ThinkStation PGX, because in that world, this thing is a king.

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For more pro-grade desktops and workstations, we've tested the best business computers.

I've always had a soft spot for the office furniture put out by Ergonofis - the company seems to blend clean, modern styles with good functionality. So, my hopes were high for the Equation.

This is a well-designed and practical office chair, suitable for both office and home office settings. And I really like just how simple this was to put together.

After 170 days testing, I found it a comfortable sit. However, the unique weight activation prevents it from charting in our best office chair guide - I got used to it, but I understand many won't like it.

Having said that, there's no denying this is one of the more attractive offerings in the chair arena, reminding me of a more office-ready version of the Branch Verve.

Ergonofis Equation: Price and availability

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )

The Equation by Ergonofis is priced at $995 direct from the Ergonofis website.

Now, as I say, I've had this chair in my fleet of seats for almost six months. During that time, I have seen this chair sell out more often than not.

And that's true now. At the time of review, it's completely sold out. However, there is a “notify me when available” banner on the website.

To my mind, that this office chair keeps selling out tells you a lot about the quality here.

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )Ergonofis Equation: Unboxing and First Impressions

I assemble a lot of chairs, so when I get one like this that is super simple assembly, I am very thankful. It took a total of four screws and only about 3 steps.

I found the base with casters already installed, which was super nice; then I added the piston, the base, screwed on the back, and called it a day. Again, that kind of assembly is wild and so appreciated.

The materials themselves feel minimal, yet not cheap. They feel quality, not luxury, and all around, something that, at the end of the day, I actually appreciate.

Ergonofis Equation: Design & Build Quality

I care a lot about how chairs look. I see enough to have strong opinions. This chair looks very sharp. The two-tone look, the light marble colorways, and even the unique seat material all make up a very elegant-looking chair. Something that would work perfectly with a light desk and a walnut desktop.

It’s that kind of vibe: clean, minimalist, simple, yet elegant. The seat itself feels like a soft woven textile, not a mesh seat that feels like it’s trapped everything from the last 12 years inside. But rather it feels comfortable and cool while still breathable.

The armrests are pretty mobile and connect to the back lower lumbar of the chair. Originally, I was concerned that this would make them weaker or squeakier than if they were connected by the chair's thighs. But, in all of my testing over the last several months, my team and I have yet to experience any issues, even pushing down on the armrests to stand up.

I did have concerns about something like dark denim transferring color onto this chair, but thankfully I have yet to experience this, and that concern continues to fade with every passing day.

Ergonofis Equation: In use

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )

My team and I have used this chair for up to eight hours on end, and it has stayed comfortable the entire time. Altogether, we agree that we love the material on the seat; it's something we have never seen on other chairs.

We also love how adjustable the armrests are, so we can adjust them for whatever task we are doing. If we're sitting at a desk, it adjusts. If we are sitting in a circle during a meeting, it adjusts. If we want to adjust our desk to be a little higher for a different kind of work, like focused writing or drawing, we can do that. If we want to lower it down, we can do that. These armrests adjust with everything.

Furthermore, we can adjust the backrests to do the same. If we want the option to lean back a little more, we can, or sit up; we can do that and provide good comfort and stability for all-day work.

Ergonofis Equation: Final verdict

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )

Whether this is the right office chair for you will depending on several factors. For anyone who likes the breathability of a pure mesh seat, this won't be ideal. Nor will it sit right with those who prefer models with a leg rest or more adjustable knobs for fine-tuning. And if you need to push up off the armrests to help yourself in and out of the chair every single day, I would consider something else.

But if you're the kind of person who likes this sheer white design, or the clean, modern stylings, it's an absolute no-brainer. For me, the Equation is the chair to choose when you want office furniture that's not afraid to stand out from the crowd a little more.

For more office furniture, we've tested the best standing desks.