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After a couple weeks of using the Dell Tower Plus (EBT2250), I’m as impressed as I am perplexed by it

Wed, 10/29/2025 - 03:00

Dell Tower Plus (EBT2250): Two-minute review

(Image credit: Future / James Holland)

The Dell Tower Plus (EBT2250) is a hard computer to pin down just because its configurations vary so wildly. It’s almost like the Tower Plus is more of a concept than an actual model with the only thing really remaining the same are its most barebones aspects, such as its chassis and ports. There’s such variation in availability of CPUs, RAM, GPUs, and storage that you can configure this tower to be an efficient budget option or a robust gaming or creative content machine.

Despite the fact that you can end up on opposite sides of the desktop spectrum depending on the configuration you choose or customize, it has an argument for consideration among the best desktops. The flexibility in customization it offers is a point in its favor if you’re okay spending a little time picking out what exactly you need. But even if you get a lower-end build, it’s made to be expanded upon at a later date; so if you want to save up and get a discrete graphics card at a later date, you can.

(Image credit: Future / James Holland)

I also appreciate the amount of ports on offer, particularly accessible on the front. Really, there’s not much to dislike with the Dell Tower Plus (EBT2250). Sure, the wired keyboard and mouse Dell included are not much more than functional. But they work well enough and I expect most people to probably want to upgrade to one of the best keyboards or mice anyway.

Dell Tower Plus (EBT2250): Price and availability

(Image credit: Future / James Holland)

How much does it cost? Starting at $949.99 / £849.01 (about AU$1,460)
When is it available? Available now
Where can you get it? Available in the US, UK, and Australia

Since Dell is one of the biggest brands in the world, the Dell Tower Plus (EBT2250) is available just about everywhere. The only real issue to keep in mind is that, while those in the US and UK have access to the full gamut of customizations, potential users in Australia only have a list of about eight more premium (in price and components) configurations. That means no budget machines for Oceania, at least for this model.

As far as the Dell Tower Plus (EBT2250)’s price, it’s all over the place since the customizations vary so wildly. The only consistent factor is that whatever configuration you get will be well-priced, if not quite a steal, for what you end up with. The cheapest configuration with an Intel Core Ultra 5 and integrated graphics has an MSRP of $949.99 / £849.01 (about AU$1,460), though it is discounted by $200 on Dell’s direct site at the time of writing (all the configurations are on the US site).

The maxed out configuration goes for $3,679.99 / £3,399.00 (about AU$5,630), but that gives you an Intel Core Ultra 9, an Nvidia GeForce RTX 5080, 64GB of RAM, and 4TB of SSD storage. Backing off on the RAM from 64 to 32GB and the SSD from 4TB to 1TB, both still more than enough for the vast majority of people, gets you a lot closer to $2,500.

The review configuration with its slightly weaker CPU and GPU (both the Intel Core Ultra 7 and RTX 5070 are still quite robust) gets you a surprisingly decent price tag of $1,899.99 / £1,899.00 / AU$3,399.00 for what’s still a fairly powerful gaming machine.

For comparison’s sake, let’s take a look at the NZXT Player PC (5070 Intel Edition) I reviewed not too long ago. It comes with an Intel Core Ultra 7 265KF, RTX 5070, 32GB of RAM, and 2TB SSD. This lineup targets more dedicated gamers and is on offer for $1,999.99.

So, the Dell Tower Plus (EBT2250) is priced right, though it’s not quite a knockout in terms of value. That is, unless you get it at one of Dell’s regular discounts - in which case it becomes a very tempting deal.

Value: 4 / 5

Dell Tower Plus (EBT2250): Specs

There are a lot of options to choose from with the Dell Tower Plus (EBT2250). The CPU ranges from the Intel Core Ultra 5 255 10-core CPU to an Intel Core Ultra 285K 24-core option. The GPU offering is even wider as you can either stick with Intel integrated graphics or get a wide variety of Nvidia GeForce Now GPUs, starting with the RTX 3050 and 4060 Ti to just about every offering of the 5000 series except for the 5090 (the 5080 is the most premium option).

RAM ranges from 16 to 64GB, while the SSD goes from 512GB to 4TB in various configurations, such as getting two 1TB drives instead of one 2TB drive.

Dell Tower Plus (EBT2250) base configuration

Dell Tower Plus (EBT2250) review configuration

Dell Tower Plus (EBT2250) max configuration

Price:

$949.99 / £849.01 (about AU$1,460)

$1,899.99 / £1,899.00 / AU$3,399.00

$3,679.99 / £3,399.00 (about AU$5,630)

CPU:

Intel Core Ultra 5 255

Intel Core Ultra 7 265K

Intel Core Ultra 9 285K

Graphics:

Intel UHD Graphics

Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 (12GB)

Nvidia GeForce RTX 5080 (16GB)

RAM:

16GB DDR5

32GB DDR5

64GB DDR5

Storage:

512GB SSD

1TB SSD

4TB SSD

Ports:

Front Ports:

3x USB 3.2 Type-A Gen 1, USB 3.2 Type-C Gen 2, Headset jack, SD card slot

Rear Ports:

4x USB 2.0 Type-A, 2x USB 3.2 Type-A Gen 1, Thunderbolt 4 (includes 4K video output), HDMI (includes 4K video output), RJ45 Ethernet Port, 2.5GbE, 2x Stereo Audio (Line In / Line Out), S/PDIF Optical, Kensington lock slot

Front Ports:

3x USB 3.2 Type-A Gen 1, USB 3.2 Type-C Gen 2, Headset jack, SD card slot

Rear Ports:

Front Ports:

3x USB 3.2 Type-A Gen 1, USB 3.2 Type-C Gen 2, Headset jack, SD card slot

Rear Ports:

Wireless:

Wi-Fi 7 2x2 BE, Bluetooth

Weight:

Starting at 19.00 lb (8.62 kg)

Dimensions:

14.68 x 6.81 x 16.80 inches (372.90 x 173.00 x 426.90 mm)

You can also upgrade the power supply (and you might be limited in choice depending on the other components selected), which is strangely paired with colorway, though the Dell Tower Plus (EBT2250) only comes in platinum or graphite. You can also upgrade, for a fairly nominal fee ($29), to the wireless Dell Pro Keyboard and Mouse combo.

Dell Tower Plus (EBT2250): Design

(Image credit: Future / James Holland)

Discreet office-style look
Plenty of ports
Future upgradeability is a big boon

Despite the fact that you can soup the Dell Tower Plus (EBT2250) into a gaming machine, it fits the aesthetic of an upscale office the same way that a Dell 14 Premium laptop does. It’s clean and minimalist looking with fairly neutral colors, either platinum or graphite (aka gray or black), and some well-placed venting to not only help with cooling efficiency but also keep it from looking too boring. It’s also just a bit on the smaller size for a regular ATX-style desktop tower.

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(Image credit: Future / James Holland)Image 2 of 3

(Image credit: Future / James Holland)Image 3 of 3

(Image credit: Future / James Holland)

As far as ports go, the Dell Tower Plus (EBT2250) is fully stocked. There’s a plethora of USB ports as well as Thunderbolt 4 and HDMI (on top of the inputs on the graphics card), but more importantly, there are some easily accessible ones on the front including three USB, a USB-C, headphone hack, and a microSD card reader.

But none of that is unexpected. The one thing that the Dell Tower Plus (EBT2250) does that I only really see in gaming machines for enthusiasts is an eye toward expansion in its setup. Not only can you upgrade the RAM to hold up to two 32GB sticks of RAM, but there are two M.2 SSD slots along with two regular hard drive slots, as well as three PCIe slots for later additions or upgrades in the graphics card department.

Design: 4.5 / 5

Dell Tower Plus (EBT2250): Performance

(Image credit: Future / James Holland)

It can be as powerful as you want it to be
Review configuration is a powerhouse
Can handle demanding gaming and editing tasks

It’s hard to really pin down the performance of the Dell Tower Plus (EBT2250) just because computers are rarely more than the sum of their parts. A computer with an Intel Core Ultra 7 265K CPU, 32GB or RAM, and a Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 GPU is going to perform similarly to any other computer with similar hardware.

Now, sometimes manufacturers do cut corners or have issues with cooling efficiency that can make a difference. The difference between the configuration I reviewed with those components I just mentioned and the most basic configuration is going to be night and day to the point of feeling like different computers (because they are).

Dell Tower Plus (EBT2250): Benchmarks

Here's how the Dell Tower Plus (EBT2250) performed in our suite of benchmark tests:

3DMark: Fire Strike: 38910; Time Spy: 21176; Port Royal: 13981

GeekBench 6.4 2985 (single-core); 19181 (multi-core)

Handbrake 1.9.2: 2:06

CrossMark: Overall: 2230 Productivity: 2130 Creativity: 2426 Responsiveness: 1986

Cyberpunk 2077: 68.42 FPS (1080p), 19.43 FPS (4K), 73.20 FPS (Ultra, upscaling)

Monster Hunter Wilds: 81.57 FPS (1080p), 39.22 FPS (4K)

That basic build is great for anyone who wants a working desktop that they want to upgrade at a later time or just want something cost effective to get them online and doing regular productivity work. Keep in mind that the most affordable model runs on Ubuntu Linux, not Windows (but all other Dell Tower Plus configurations run Windows).

The model I reviewed ran like a gaming computer, however. In fact, it did very well even running beautifully with a 120Hz 4K monitor. I never had any performance issues; there was no stuttering or screen tearing when gaming, and no noticeable slowdown during any other kind of use.

The difference between my review model and a regular gaming computer is simply aesthetics. It was able to get over 80 FPS in 1080p and almost 40 FPS in 4K when running Monster Hunter Wilds, for instance.

And its results in Cyberpunk 2077, specifically its almost 70 FPS in 1080p and 20 FPS in 4K (not including DLSS upscaling) give a good idea of the RTX 5070’s limitations more than anything else. For powerful gaming performance, you’ll probably want the 5080.

If you’re looking for a desktop that can handle other demanding tasks, the Dell Tower Plus is capable of doing that as well. Its benchmark of 2:06 in Handbrake represents how quickly it can convert video, for instance. And any horsepower that can be used for gaming does well for 3D design and video editing as well.

Lastly, I want to mention that when I tried to push this computer, mostly by running demanding games, it still operated fairly quietly. That’s not always the case with powerful computers.

Performance: 4.5 / 5

Should you buy the Dell Tower Plus (EBT2250)? Dell Tower Plus (EBT2250) Scorecard

Withings U-Scan brought my urine analysis home and I need a drink – of water

Tue, 10/28/2025 - 23:05

I'm dehydrated. How do I know? Withings U-Scan told me so, and it's based on what may be the best source for this information: my own urine.

I know. Blech. But also, wow; home urine analysis in about the time it takes you to, well, use the bathroom.

I first learned about the Withings U-Scan home urine analysis system back in January at CES 2025. It sounded kind of incredible. The device could take the lab-style analysis that usually requires you to go to a doctor's office, pee into a cup, and hand it over to a lab technician who would then send it to a lab for analysis, and transform it into a compact system that fits in any toilet.

(Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)

That's more or less what we got here, a $379.95 / £319 rechargeable device that does all of that in one... er... sitting.

It's not perfect. It might require that you change your bathroom habit, it uses replaceable cartridges that'll cost you $99.95 / £89.95 every three months, and it cannot yet, as was promised earlier this year, recognize different people's pee. Essentially, it's a urine analysis system for one and can only be activated through the Withings app on your phone.

Even so. I'm impressed.

Withings U-Scan Review: Design and setup

Withing's U-Scan is a large white puck that you press between your palms to twist and open so you can install the carousel of measurement tabs. There are a total of 44 of these tiny, chemically sensitive strips in each carousel. Every test takes two strips for a total of 22 urine tests. Most people will only test once a week. The circuit board and algorithm live inside U-Scan, so that all analysis is done there.

Twisting the device open and closed is not easy, but in some ways, this gives you confidence that it is fully water-tight.

When it's open, you set up your app and connect it via Bluetooth to the U-Scan by pressing a button on the inside. It also connects to your home network's Wi-Fi. This process is pretty painless, as is installing the carousel of test tabs. The app, by the way, can connect to Apple Health to gather all your relevant health data and to share Withings' insights with Apple Health.

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(Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)Image 2 of 3

(Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)Image 3 of 3

(Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)

U-Scan also ships with three sizes of toilet clips and guides you on which one to use based on your toilet's style. There's also a charge tank, which doubles as a bath to wash the device after the first three months of use (the charge is rated to last three months, too). It even ships with gloves so you don't have to touch a device you've spent the last three months peeing on.

U-Scan can, depending on which carousels you use, test for either nutrition or kidney health. In the latter, the system keeps track of calcium levels, an excess of which can lead to the development of painful kidney stones.

My test unit, though, arrived with the nutrition carousel, which looks at acidity, vitamin C, ketones, and hydrostatus.

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(Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)Image 2 of 3

(Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)Image 3 of 3

(Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)Withings U-Scan: Getting started

Proper placement of the Withings U-Scan in your toilet is critical, and this is where I learned that, if I wanted to measure my urine, I'd have to sit down to pee.

You see, the puck and its attachment hanger are placed dead-center at the front of the toilet; the clip hangs over that front lip.

The smooth back of the U-Scan faces you and, if you pee on it, the other side is designed to capture and direct that pee into a reservoir that pulls the liquid inside.

(Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)

Since the system does not know when it's being peed on, you have to first open the Withings App and then select measurement. After that, you have two minutes to pee.

I went through this process three times before I successfully got a reading. The first time, there was an unidentified error, and the second time, the system accused me of not peeing sufficiently. Fortunately, it didn't waste any test strips in either case.

Finally, I peed long enough to get a reading. I knew the system was doing its work because there are somewhat noisy motors that make the urine collection and the tiny internal lab work possible.

Within minutes, I had my first reading. If you don't see it, you can quickly sync your phone app to the device.

(Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)

I was pleased to see that my pH or bio-acidity was "In Target", as were my vitamin C and ketone levels. The only thing that didn't look right was my hydrostatus, which came in low. When I opened that reading for details, the app told me, "Your hydration level is lower than optimal. Increase your water intake to reach a better balance."

(Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)Withings U-Scan: Verdict

As my wife said to me, somewhat sarcastically, when I told her about my reading, "Oh, good, I guess you don't have to go to the doctor."

I'd like to think that, but this is not an FDA-cleared device and is not intended as a medical substitute. Instead, it's a wellness product that gives you indicators but not the final word.

Still, it's nice to get some early warning signals on nutritional issues and, yes, I would love to avoid painful kidney stones in my lifetime.

I do not look forward to the cleaning process and think it's a shame that it's not yet useful for all the people peeing into that toilet in my home. Withings told me that the feature is coming, but did not provide a timeline.

The price is not terrible for what it does, but I'm not thrilled about paying another $99 every three months to check my urine. That's the one area that will likely give many people pause and may relegate this for use with people who really need frequent urine analysis. I'm probably not one of them.

Now, if you don't mind, I'm going to drink a big glass of water.

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Categories: Reviews

I tested a 3-in-1 MagGo iPhone and Apple Watch charger that juiced my watch so fast, I'm never going back to anything slower

Tue, 10/28/2025 - 16:00

Anker MagGo Wireless Charging Station 3-in-1 Pad review

The Anker MagGo Wireless Charging Station 3-in-1 Pad is a conveniently designed tabletop charger capable of charging an iPhone, Apple Watch, and compatible earbud cases. It has a list price of $99.99 / £89.99 / AU$199.95 on the Anker website and is available for purchase at Amazon too. I was provided the Stone Black model of the Anker MagGo Wireless Charging Station 3-in-1 Pad, available here in the UK, the US, and Australia. Those over the pond in the US get an additional color choice of Shell White, too.

The design of the MagGo Wireless Charging Station 3-in-1 Pad is simple but attractive. All visible materials look good-quality, and there are some attractive little details like the metalized finish on the foldable stand of the iPhone charger. The top surface and sides of the charging station have a soft matt finish that didn’t appear to scratch easily, which proved advantageous as my very long (and very pink) nails can prove problematic for some matt finishes.

(Image credit: Future)

The Apple Watch and iPhone charging modules fold down to the 0.53 inch / 14mm deep base pad, but while the former sits below surface level, the iPhone charging pad sits at least 0.2 inches / 5mm above, which raised questions regarding how it would fair if packed into a drawer or bag.

The Apple Watch charger was easy to push up from underneath; however, the iPhone charging module proved more tricky to raise to a standing position. Again, I needed to push from underneath the base, but it proved awkward as the hinges of the iPhone charger’s arm were quite stiff, making it hard to extend and position it to the angle I wanted. The rigidity of the hinges meant they were sturdy enough to maintain the position while the phone was in situ though, so that’s a silver lining at least.

(Image credit: Future)

As expected due to the large surface area, the Anker MagGo Wireless Charging Station 3-in-1 Pad gets dusty easily. For the most part, this is easily remedied by a quick wipe thanks to the smooth surface, but the, presumably silicone, ring of the AirPods charging area tends to get a little attached to its fibery friends. Anker states this charger is “easily portable”, and whilst this may be true in terms of the slab-like design, its 12oz / 340g weight makes it too heavy to be as travel-friendly as some of the best wireless chargers.

I appreciated that the format of the charging station meant every charger was easily accessible and I could see each of my devices. The only downside to this is that it takes up a lot of surface space and, while I prefer this format to that of other well-performing chargers, such as the ESR Qi2 3-in-1 Watch Wireless Charging Set, at 9 x 3.37 inches / 229 x 86mm, the Anker MagGo Wireless Charging Station 3-in-1 Pad wouldn’t prove convenient if there’s limited free space on your desk or nightstand.

(Image credit: Future)

The Anker MagGo Wireless Charging Station 3-in-1 Pad took just thirty-five minutes to charge a 3,095mAh iPhone 13 Pro to fifty percent, and a full charge took an hour and fifty-eight minutes, which is a fairly average speed compared to the other 3-in-1 MagSafe chargers I’ve tested.

That makes the iPhone charging speed almost twenty minutes faster than the Anker 3-in-1 Cube with MagSafe, and twenty minutes slower than the fastest wireless charger I’ve tested to date, the Anker MagGo Wireless Charging Station 3-in-1 Stand – but that wasn’t surprising, seeing as I’ve yet to find another wireless charger that comes close to matching this speed.

Where the Anker MagGo Wireless Charging Station 3-in-1 Pad proved above-average was with the speed of its Apple Certified Quick Apple Watch Charger. I did a double-take when it’d finished charging my series 9 Apple Watch, as it took just 55 minutes to revive it fully. This impressive speed makes it the fastest Apple Watch charger I’ve tested to date, with an eight-minute difference knocking the Anker MagGo Wireless Charging Station 3-in-1 Foldable Pad off the top spot.

(Image credit: Future)

Overall, I found the Anker MagGo Wireless Charging Station 3-in-1 Pad to be a convenient and attractive charging station. I was happy with the charging speeds, and the outer materials appeared good quality.

Anker and I will have to agree to disagree on it being “easily portable”, and the hinges and folding of the iPhone module could be improved, but aside from this, it made a nice addition to my desktop. If you’re still considering your options, why not take a look at our selection of the best wireless chargers to see if there are any formats you’ve yet to consider?

Anker MagGo Wireless Charging Station 3-in-1 Pad review: Price & specs

Price

$99.99 / £89.99 / AU$199.95

Model number

A25M1

Total power output

15W

Devices charged

USB-C

Yes - power in

Wireless charging

MagSafe / Qi2

Weight

12 oz / 340g

Dimensions

9 × 3.37 × 0.53 inches / 229 x 86 x 14mm

Should I buy the Anker MagGo Wireless Charging Station 3-in-1 Pad?Buy it if…

You want to have visibility of your devices
While this charger could prove a bit of a space invader, I loved that I could place it behind my keyboard as I worked at my desk, allowing me to observe the charging progress and view notifications as they came in.

You want a fast Apple Watch charger
The Apple-certified Apple Watch charger of this 3-in-1 charging station revived my series 9 Apple Watch to full charge in just 55 minutes, making it the fastest I’ve tested to date, and shortening the time I spent without my Watch on my wrist.

Don't buy it if…

You want a super-fast iPhone charger
While the charging speed was good, there are some faster chargers out there. The fastest I’ve tested happens to be from Anker too, which I talk about in more detail in the Also Consider section below.

You want something compact
If you’re looking for a 3-in-1 charging solution that won’t take up a load of surface space, or that can easily fit in any bag and be carried around all day, this charging station is not the one, due to its weight and the iPhone charging pad not folding completely flat.

Anker MagGo Wireless Charging Station 3-in-1 Pad review: Also consider

Anker MagGo Wireless Charging Station 3-in-1 Stand
Another fantastic 3-in-1 Anker charging station, this stable and somewhat quirky charger offers even faster charging speeds taking just an hour and thirty-eight minutes to fully charge an iPhone 13 Pro, and an hour and four minutes to charge a Series 9 Apple Watch when I tested it. Despite the difference in charging speeds, at the time of writing, the 3-in-1 stand and the 3-in-1 Pad are the same price, making it a choice between faster charging, or a design that’s easier to store. If you’d like to hear more about this alternative, why not take a look at my full Anker MagGo Wireless Charging Station 3-in-1 Stand review?

Categories: Reviews

I tested the new Insta360 X4 Air action camera, and now I’m addicted to 360 video

Tue, 10/28/2025 - 07:00

Insta360 X4 Air: two-minute review

It’s been just over six months since the release of the Insta360 X5, which showed up bang on cue to replace the highly praised X4 from 2024. The TechRadar team loved both of these models, placing them amongst the best 360-degree cameras, and you’ll see quite a few of them around the office. Now, in what may feel like Christmas come early for 360 video devotees, Insta360 has released the X4 Air, a smaller and even more portable package designed to fill a gap in the market.

Viewing the X4 Air side-by-side with the X5 – or the X4 for that matter – there are some fairly noticeable differences. Firstly, given the name, it’s no surprise to find that the X4 Air is smaller and more lightweight. If the X4 could fit easily into your coat pocket, the X4 Air can find a home in the pocket of your jeans, making it possible to travel through busy locations and be ready to capture video on the go without being noticed.

Despite the shrunken proportions, the body of the X4 Air retains the solid feel of the X4, and I was confident that the camera would fare better than I would in the city center rainstorm I was caught in during my testing.

The camera is quick and easy to set up and use, even if you have limited experience with videography or 360 capture. The screen is a little fiddly to use, given its small size, but this can be remedied by pairing the X4 Air with your smartphone and using the feature-packed Insta360 app to control the camera remotely. All of the menus are easy to navigate, and I had the camera customized to my requirements in no time.

The X4 Air has the flatter back-plate design of the X4 rather than the geometric pattern found on the more recent X5 (Image credit: Future)

The dual sensors in the X4 Air are smaller than those in the X5, but larger than the 1/2-inch units on the X4. I was greatly impressed by the dynamic range and noise performance of these chips in high-contrast and low-light settings. Colors were still punchy and shadows clean, despite the X4 Air not having the PureVideo Mode seen on the X5. The 8K footage looked fantastic straight out of the camera, and reframing using the app or Insta360 Studio desktop software was quick and easy.

There might not be enough reasons for X4 users to switch to the X4 Air, but assessed by itself, the camera is a great 360 shooting machine that made me fall back in love with the format. If you’re an avid explorer, or even a pro videographer looking to capture some more exciting angles, the X4 Air is a solid choice.

Insta360 X4 Air specsInsta360 X5 specs

Type:

360 camera

Sensor:

1/1.8-inch x 2

LCD:

2.5-inch touchscreen

Memory:

MicroSD

Dimensions:

45 x 112 x 25mm approx

Weight:

5.8oz / 165g

Image 1 of 3

Everything about the X4 Air is familiar, just condensed into a smaller body. This makes it super-portable, although it can be tricky to work with on the move (Image credit: Future)Image 2 of 3

(Image credit: Future)Image 3 of 3

(Image credit: Future)Insta360 X4 Air: Price and availability

Launched worldwide on October 28 2025
Standard edition costs $399.99 / £359 / AU$639.99
Starter Bundle available for $439 / £389 / AU$699.99

The Insta360 X4 Air was released on October 28 and is priced $399.99 / £359 / AU$639.99, which is quite a bit below the price of the X4 / X5 at launch ($499.99 / £499 and $549 / £519 respectively). Considering that the X4 Air is technically an update to the X4, this seems a fair price to pay for the larger sensor and access to the replacement lens system.

Beyond the standard bundle above, Insta360 is also offering the X4 Air in a Starter Bundle, which includes the camera, a 114cm Invisible Selfie Stick, Lens Cap, and an extra battery which, given the limited battery life, is definitely a useful backup. This option can be picked up for $439 / £389 / AU$699.99, which is good value to get you up and running.

Price score: 4.5/5

Insta360 X4 Air: Design

45 x 112 x 35mm in size, 5.8oz / 165g in weight
Waterproof to 49ft / 15m
2.5-inch screen, USB-C 3.0 input and microSD card slot

If you’ve used an Insta360 camera before, you’ll fall right into step with the X4 Air. It shares much of the design philosophy with its stablemates, just in a smaller package. Let’s not forget that the Insta360 X4 is by no means a large piece of equipment, so I was initially concerned that by minimizing the body further it would result in some impractical control layout compromises. However, the changes that have been made are sensible ones, and feel more like refinements of the X4’s layout than unappealing but necessary drawbacks.

The front of the X4 Air looks simple, and not unlike a compact smartphone, albeit with an oversized camera lens. The area is dominated by the 2.5-inch touchscreen, and below that a single round button that's assigned to shutter triggering by default. This replaces the dual-control design of the X4 and X5, giving the X4 Air a more streamlined feel.

I actually think I prefer having one large shutter button in the bottom-center of the camera body to the X4’s smaller shutter control at the bottom-left. During testing, I found it easier to find and press the large button without looking, a minor advantage to many prospective users, perhaps, but as a regular street and travel photographer, being able to get a camera up and running immediately as I pull it out of its case is something I’ve come to appreciate greatly.

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(Image credit: Future)

The X4 Air is waterproof to 49ft (15m) which is more than the X4's certified 33ft (10m) maximum depth. Each compartment is verified as sealed when no orange markers are visible

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(Image credit: Future)Image 3 of 3

(Image credit: Future)

As you’d hope for in an action camera, the build quality is robust, and capable of withstanding a few knocks and scrapes. Despite the reduced weight, the X4 Air doesn’t feel noticeably flimsier than the X4, another area I was concerned about, although I suppose Insta360 could only change the construction integrity so far before the camera stopped being fit for purpose.

I really like the textured grip pattern adorning the sides of recent Insta360 cameras. It gives the impression of solidity, and makes them feel like true tools made for outdoor use. On paper, I know action cams are often waterproof, but I often still have trust issues with submerging a valuable piece of technology; the X4 Air will go a long way to easing your nerves if you're like me.

Another major upgrade over the standard X4 is the replaceable lens system. New to the latest generation of Insta360 cameras, the ability to easily swap out a cracked or scratched lens for a new one yourself, without having to send the whole camera away for an off-site repair, saves both money and time. It’s a very neat concept that frees you to take a few more risks with your camera, placing it in some more extreme positions for exciting angles, for example, with less concern that you are about to write off your Insta360 completely. It’s a multi-step process that requires some practice to do confidently, but the additional $29.99 (£29.99) cost for a replacement kit is good value for the peace of mind it provides.

The X4 Air weighs exactly the same as an iPhone Air – surely no mistake on Insta360's part from a marketing point of view. At 165g, it’s not going to add a perceptible amount of extra load to your camera bag, and can even be transported in a coat pocket with ease when heading out for a day of exploring. Due to its size, I found myself taking the X4 Air with me everywhere, on the off chance a shooting opportunity presented itself.

Design score:4.5/5

Insta360 X4 Air: Performance

Quick focusing
Intuitive reframing
Disappointing 88-minute battery life

I was a little slow to embrace 360 video shooting, probably because I was put off by how fiddly I thought processing and editing footage would be (I’ve had some bad experiences creating virtual tours for assignments, which left me traumatized, obviously). Right from the off, working with the Insta360 X4 Air via the mobile app was a breeze, however. Once you go through the usual activation and connection processes, which require Bluetooth for two-way communication between your smartphone and the camera, you can use the phone screen to preview the scene in far more clarity than on the camera monitor.

It’s easy to pair your devices, and preview clips and images stored in the camera roll, while there's also the option to download files to your phone for editing. It is possible to work on files stored on your memory card mounted in the X4 Air, but this can slow down processing considerably. The app interface is fairly user-friendly, although some of the more advanced functions could feel a bit overwhelming to beginners.

In use, the X4 Air is highly responsive, being quick to start up and begin shooting. The audible ‘beep’ as the camera boots up is quite loud out of the box, potentially drawing some unwanted attention in quieter environments such as a museum or church; you can adjust the volume once the camera is on, although even after I'd muted it the tone still sounded on startup, which maybe have been an issue with my sample unit.

The touchscreen is nicely sensitive, and I experienced little to no lag when swiping to reframe 360-degree footage while recording. Admittedly, the preview image isn’t the highest quality you can find on a camera; it looks comparatively low-resolution if you’re accustomed to using a recent phone screen or interchangeable lens camera. Equally, the small size means tapping icons on-screen is a challenge if, like me, you have hands that are on the large side. This is why I’d recommend using your X4 Air paired to a phone instead, where practical.

Image 1 of 2

(Image credit: Future)

As on all of the Insta360 range, the front and rear lenses are quite bulbous, making them prone to damage. This is where the handy lens replacement and lens guards are a real bonus

Image 2 of 2

(Image credit: Future)

The stated battery life of 88 minutes isn’t especially impressive, so carrying multiple replacements is a good idea if you’re away from home for any length of time. The charging time is fast though, meaning it’s easy to top up on power during a short coffee break at a cafe using the supplied USB-C cable. In my review sample, I found the USB connection quite loose, and some jiggling was required to ensure stable charging.

I did notice the X4 Air’s body heated up quite rapidly, even when not recording. I liked that the screen switches off automatically when not in use, to save battery, but keeping the camera on and at the ready for shooting means it still gets warm in the hand. It’s nothing extreme, but I do wonder how the camera would perform over extended shooting times in hot environments.

The camera is quick to focus, although again I’d recommend using a connected phone screen for assessing critical sharpness. The on-camera screen is too small for you to be completely confident that you have the subject in focus, although with such a deep depth of field at this focal length and given the smaller sensor, you don’t have to worry too much about obvious back-focusing.

Performance score: 4.5/5

Insta360 X4 Air: Image quality

New dual 1/1.8-inch sensors
Can record 8K 30fps or 6K 50fps video or 72MP photos (360-degree)
No PureVideo mode for low-light

With a sensor more than 1.6x smaller than the Insta360 X5's, you would expect a tradeoff in absolute image quality. Smaller pixels are the necessary compromise that allows the X4 Air’s diminutive size, and if you buy one, you’re likely doing so because a manageable size and weight are your top priorities. Considering the compact proportions of the camera body, Insta360 has done well to optimize the internal engineering, and the sensor is actually larger than the chip used in the X4 by almost a millimeter.

I jumped in at the deep end when testing the X4 Air, taking it to the low-light conditions of a Christmas-themed market at a local garden center. Despite the limited ambient light, footage was clean and detailed. Straight out of the camera there was very little discernible noise in shadow areas, and the image seemed sharp, free from the excessive mushiness that is the tell-tale sign of harsh in-camera noise reduction. Colors were also vibrant without being unnatural.

I genuinely think the video was superior in this area to that from my older semi-professional APS-C format DSLR cameras, which either made colors flat and dull in high-ISO footage, or wildly overcompensated by making them glow like a Tim Burton movie. This clip was quickly edited in the Insta360 Studio desktop app, which comes supplied with royalty-free music for social media use.

The dynamic range was perfectly acceptable, and while highlights tended to clip quickly in high-contrast lighting, the X4 Air did a good job of capturing shadow detail. I loved that a Log mode is available on the X5: I-Log produces a much flatter profile, allowing for more advanced color grading during post-processing while retaining more shadow and highlight data. This worked well, and although Netflix is unlikely to certify the camera any time soon, it does open up a wealth of cinematic styling opportunities. While this is not available on the X4 Air, there is a flat profile in its place, which isn't quite the same, but serves a similar function. Edited footage still offered more scope for color control than clips with pre-applied contrast and color profiles.

Meanwhile, the Active HDR mode and Adaptive Tone setting are highly effective at preserving highlights. It’s worth mentioning that HDR shooting isn’t possible above 30fps. The frame rate is also limited to 50fps rather than the higher 60p available on the X4.

Shooting outside in good light produced the best results. The automatic white balance system also copes well in direct sunlight, although taking full control over the color temperature is possible through the menu, giving you more consistency between clips. This gives 360 footage a truly immersive and life-like feel, perfect for capturing the essence of a location while traveling.

Image quality score: 4.5/5

Insta360 X4 Air: testing scorecard Insta360 X4 Air

Attributes

Notes

Rating

Price

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

4.5/5

Design

There have been few compromises to enable the more compact size, though handling can be a little fiddly.

4.5/5

Performance

For such a small 8K camera, the X4 Air manages to cope with processing time, heat dissipation and startup.

4.5/5

Image quality

The reduced sensor size from the X5 does limit low-light performance, but noise levels are still excellent, as are colors and dynamic range

4.5/5

Should I buy the Insta360 X4 Air?Buy it if...

You value portability above all else
There may not be much of a reason to switch from another recent Insta360 camera model, but if you regularly travel and want to be discreet in how you shoot, the X4 Air is a truly pocket-friendly video camera.

You need 8K video
Arguably, 8K is overkill for many users, but it does open up cropping and reframing possibilities. Getting 8K capability in such a portable package is great for high-end videography purposes on the go.

You're new to 360 video
The reduced price point compared to the X4 and X5 means the X4 Air represents an affordable entry point into the Insta360 system. You get many of the same great features, but with less investment, making it a good choice to test the water and see if this type of videography is your thing.

Don't buy it if...

You just bought an Insta360 X5
....unless you want both! While I wouldn't necessarily say the X4 Air is worth changing to if you already own an X5, which is the higher-end model, you might still consider owning both if you're a 360 fanatic and want a smaller backup body.

You want maximum image quality
While the image quality is impressive, the X5 has the larger sensor and benefits from PureVideo mode for low-light and night shooting. For professional use, you might value absolute image integrity over diminutive size.

Also consider Insta360 X5

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

Read our in-depth Insta360 X5 review

DJI Osmo 360

It was only a matter of time before DJI entered the 360 video market, and it debuts with an impressive offering. We immediately rated it highly during our review, most notably for its price, which undercuts Insta360 by quite a margin. Its square design won't be to everyone's taste, but the build quality is good, and you also get a generous 128GB of built-in storage.

Read our in-depth DJI Osmo 360 review

How I tested the Insta360 X5

I tested a full production model running release firmware over several days
I use the camera both mounted on an invisible selfie stick and handheld
I recorded videos in varying lighting conditions, both indoors and outside

Having reviewed action cameras on and off for several years, I went into this test with high expectations. I spent roughly a week using the Insta360 X4 Air alongside an X5 for the purposes of a comparison. I shot footage on both cameras under the same conditions to evaluate how each camera handled noise and tonal range, then examined both out-of-camera footage and color-graded I-Log clips to evaluate image quality.

First reviewed October 2025

Categories: Reviews

IT: Welcome To Derry is a welcome expansion of Stephen King’s huge novel – here’s why it’s a must-watch this Halloween

Tue, 10/28/2025 - 04:46

With Halloween coming up soon, now is the perfect time for fans to watch It: Welcome to Derry. Anyone who has read Stephen King's huge novel, titled 'It', will know just how much ground it covers, so there's plenty of scope to dive even deeper – and this new HBO Max show does exactly that.

While King's novel spans 27 years, focusing on the late 1950s and mid-1980s, documenting the periods of time where the evil entity 'It' awakens to terrorize Derry, the series focuses on the 60s, so it covers an era we haven't yet seen explored.

In a similar vein to the iconic Georgie scene from the 2017 movie It Chapter One, It: Welcome to Derry starts with the disappearance of a young boy. This prompts some other children in the town to try and figure out what happened, as well as getting to the bottom of why they're experiencing disturbing visions.

Meanwhile, a young Black soldier, called Major Leroy Hanlon (Jovan Adepo), arrives in Derry as part of a mysterious military mission, alongside his wife Charlotte (Taylour Paige). The town of Derry is largely white, too, which provides some important narrative around civil rights issues at the time.

At the time of writing, only the pilot has aired on HBO Max with the second episode arriving on Halloween (fittingly) in the US. I've seen the first five episodes and I can confidently say this is a solid pilot, which sets up the rest of the series, but fans may have some frustrations with one major decision.

While Derry and its residents are all integral to the It storyline, fans will no doubt be keen to see Bill Skarsgård back as Pennywise. He delivered a great performance in It Chapter One and its sequel IT Chapter Two, but he has been used sparingly so far in the TV series. But who knows what the future will hold?

Having said that, the suspense is fun and I haven't seen the final three episodes, so it's very likely we'll get to see more of him as the show progresses. Considering Andy and Barbara Muschietti are once again at It's helm, following on from their movies, I'm confident they'll take the show in the direction it needs to go.

(Image credit: HBO)

It feels like we've needed a show like IT: Welcome to Derry for a while now. According to a post on Threads as seen by MovieWeb, even Stephen King himself was impressed with it. That's high praise from an author who has famously hated some adaptations of his work, so if you don't take my word for it, listen to King.

From my perspective, it was great to be transported to Derry at a slower pace than what a movie can deliver. Pacing the story across eight episodes means we get to see more characters, more scenarios, and take our time exploring a town we really wish we could leave, because it's so fascinating.

The show also sets up some great relationships, too. I can't spoil exactly what, but I did find myself invested in certain dynamics and fearful for what might happen to characters I've already grown to love.

There's plenty of easter eggs for Stephen King fans to enjoy including connections to The Shining, and I think it's well worth people sticking around to watch the second episode and beyond as there's plenty to horrify and delight in equal measure coming up.

Expect some jumpy moments, body horror and plenty of surprises. You're in for a good time if you're already a fan of It and if you're new, then maybe this series will encourage you to seek out the book and the original movies too.

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Categories: Reviews

I've been a PC gamer for decades, and the Alienware Aurora gaming desktop is the only gaming PC you need

Mon, 10/27/2025 - 16:48

Alienware Aurora (ACT1250): Two-minute review

When the rebooted Alienware Aurora R16 launched some years ago, we praised it as a capable pre-built gaming desktop that balanced a unique design with capable performance.

This time around, the Alienware Aurora gaming desktop (ACT1250) brings the same distinctive and compact design that feels more office-friendly, yet still has that Alienware flair, thanks to its sleek aesthetic.

Starting at $1,399.99 / £1,699 / AU$2,798.40, the Aurora delivers solid performance across the configuration stack, though higher-spec configurations will obviously see the best performance. It also features some really clever ventilation alongside easy access to its internals, though the interior is rather uninspiring.

For many, the proprietary motherboard and limited upgradability, once configured, are also slightly problematic.

All that said, one thing that just might make this the best gaming PC around is the wide variety of configurations on offer, split between RTX 5060, RTX 5060 Ti, RTX 5070, RTX 5070 Ti, and RTX 5080 GPUs, and Intel Core Ultra 7 and Core Ultra 9 CPUs, with lots of options for storage and memory.

My $2,049.99 / £2,148.98 / AU$3,699.30 review build came packed with an Intel Core Ultra 7 265KF, Nvidia RTX 5070, 32GB DDR5 RAM, and 1TB SSD. That’s just enough for 1440p gaming at respectable frame rates, though our benchmarks showed that there hasn’t been much of a framerate gain in many games over the Aurora R16 from 2023.

(Image credit: Future / Ural Garrett)

However, the latest models can play more recently released games like Doom: The Dark Ages and Black Myth: Wukong at good frame rates if settings expectations are managed.

On the other hand, a game like Cyberpunk 2077, which was already fairly old back in 2023, doesn’t gain significant FPS with the 50-series GPU either, unless you use multi-frame generation, which can sometimes introduce a distracting input latency under heavy load.

That said, the new RTX GPUs do feature better AI upscaling through DLSS 4, and the Alienware Command Center app does help a bit when attempting to fine-tune performance.

Other customization options, such as the various RGB lighting settings for the power button, light ring, and other lights, can be managed through the app, too.

Right now, the Aurora R16 remains a striking desktop that blends futuristic design with solid performance, but its limited, post-purchase upgradability and plain interior may disappoint enthusiasts. And while the new 50-series GPUs bring improved AI upscaling and reliable 1440p gameplay, raw framerate gains over the previous generation are modest.

However, for gamers who prioritize style, customization, and dependable out-of-the-box performance, the Alienware Aurora gaming desktop (ACT1250) still stands as one of the best pre-built options on the market.

Alienware Aurora (ACT1250): Price & availability

(Image credit: Future / Ural Garrett)

How much does it cost? Starting at $1,399.99 / £1,699 / AU$2,798.40
When is it available? It is on sale now
Where can you get it? Available in the US, UK, and Australia

The Alienware Aurora (ACT1250) gaming PC is available now in the US, UK, and Australia, starting at $1,399.99 / £1,699 / AU$2,798.40.

My review configuration costs $2,099.99 / £2,198.98 / AU$3,749.30, and is built for solid 1440p performance, though there are cheaper and more expensive builds available that target 1080p and 4K gaming.

The cheapest option for US buyers is a rig featuring an Intel Core Ultra 7 265F, Nvidia GeForce RTX 5060, 16GB RAM, and 1TB SSD for some quality 1080p gaming, while those looking for a more maxed-out gaming desktop can get an Intel Core Ultra 9 285K, Nvidia RTX 5080, 64GB, and up to 8TB (2x4TB) SSD storage.

My review configuration is actually cheaper than the 2023 Aurora gaming desktop that featured the mid-tiered 40-series of Nvidia’s GPU by around $100, so the price of the Aurora desktop hasn't really gone up.

Despite the new CPU and GPU, though, benchmarks aren’t necessarily better, which means users could find a mid-tier 40-series version of the gaming desktop somewhere for cheaper and get roughly the same native performance, so the biggest draw here is the multi-frame generation.

Value: 4.5 / 5

Alienware Aurora (ACT1250): Specs Alienware Aurora (ACT1250) specs

Base configuration

Review configuration

Max configuration

Price

$1,399.99 / £1,699 / AU$2,798.40

$2,099.99 / £2048.99 / AU$3,498

$4,009.99 / £4,410.19 / AU$5,663.90

Windows 11 Home

Windows 11 Pro

CPU

Intel Core Ultra 7 265F

Intel Core Ultra 9 285F

GPU

Nvidia RTX 5060

Nvidia RTX 5070

Nvidia RTX 5080

Memory

16GB DDR5-5200

32GB DDR5-5200 (16GB in Australia)

64GB DDR5-6400 (32GB DDR5-5200 in Australia)

SSD

1TB SSD

2 x 4TB SSD (8TB total, 1TB in Australia)

PSU

500W

1000W

CPU Cooling

Air Cooler

240mm AIO Liquid Cooler

Chassis

Solid side panel

Clear side panel

With a wide array of configuration options on offer with the latest Nvidia RTX 50-series and Intel Core Ultra 200-series chips, you won't have any trouble configuring a system to your specific performance needs.

The lack of easy upgradability once you have the system in hand, though, does take away from the overall package, but for a prebuilt system, it's hard to beat.

Specs: 4 / 5

Alienware Aurora (ACT1250): Design

(Image credit: Future / Ural Garrett)

No major design changes from last year's model
Plenty of ventilation and easy access to internals
Rather boring internals make the glass panel less appealing

The 2025 refresh of the Alienware Aurora gaming desktop carries forward the Alienware Aurora R16’s familiar strengths and weaknesses, setting the stage for its enhanced cooling and port design.

This includes the extensive cooling and ventilation system, which combines a side hexagonal array, top exhaust, and front stadium intake. According to Alienware, this makes the desktop around 20 percent quieter and about seven percent cooler than the Alienware Aurora R15.

Beyond the looks is a rig that also offers plenty of ports in both the front and rear, which should serve users of all kinds, from content curators to the most serious gaming enthusiasts.

The front ports include a global 3.5mm headset jack, three USB-A ports, and one USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 (10Gbps) with PowerShare technology. In the rear, there’s a line-in and line-out port, optical audio port, two USB-C ports, four USB-A ports, and a 2.5 gigabit Ethernet port. Unfortunately, there’s no six-channel 3.5mm audio connection for those who want surround sound set-ups.

It doesn’t help that the cramped space inside will make it difficult for anyone who wants to add something like a sound card into the mix. That extends to how hard it’ll be to upgrade to bigger GPUs in the future as well. At least access to the inside is made easy through one simple screw and latch.

All together, the latest Aurora gaming desktop keeps the sleek, futuristic look of its predecessor while delivering improved cooling, quieter operation, and a wide range of ports. However, limited internal space and upgrade challenges remain its biggest drawbacks, making it best suited for gamers who prioritize style and ready-made performance over long-term expandability.

Design: 4.5 / 5

Alienware Aurora (ACT1250): Performance

(Image credit: Future / Ural Garrett)

1440p performance doesn’t significantly improve over the 40-series edition
Alienware Command Center can help fine-tune performance
Higher-spec or base-spec configurations provide a better value

When looking at the performance of the latest iteration of the Alienware Aurora gaming desktop, the 1440p performance of my review unit looks and feels very impressive, but if you look back to the 2023 benchmarks on this system's predecessor, the refreshed CPU and GPU pairing doesn’t translate into a dramatic leap in raw power.

CPU benchmarks

Alienware Aurora ACT1250

NZXT Player PC

Lenovo Legion Tower 5

Geekbench 6 (Single)

3,071

3,081

2,594

Geekbench 6 (Multi)

20,010

18,984

13,554

Cinebench R23 (Single)

2,257

2,263

1,693

Cinebench R23 (Multi)

35,446

35,226

17,376

Cinebench R24 (Single)

136

137

104

Cinebench R24 (Multi)

1,979

1,923

934

Crossmark Overall

2,301

2,298

1,846

Crossmark Productivity

2,152

2,159

1,734

Crossmark Creativity

2,548

2,495

2,127

Crossmark Responsiveness

2,069

2,166

1,454

For instance, Cyberpunk 2077, which remains one of the most demanding titles despite its 2020 release, manages only about 16fps at native 4K on the older build, and with the new Core Ultra 7 and RTX 5070 combo, performance nudges only slightly higher to 17fps. That makes DLSS upscaling essential, though even then, don’t expect substantial gains in titles from the past couple of years.

In more recent tests, Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II averaged below 30fps at 1440p max settings (rising to roughly 40-50fps with DLSS), while Doom: The Dark Ages delivered 40-50fps with path tracing enabled.

Meanwhile, Forza Motorsport (2023) held a steady 60fps at 1440p with ray tracing on, maintaining the same level with DLSS active. One great thing about the 50-series is that DLSS 4 does a much better job at preventing (or at least greatly reducing) the ghosting effect that has plagued upscaling tech since the beginning.

GPU benchmarks

Alienware Aurora ACT1250

NZXT Player PC

Lenovo Legion Tower 5

3DMark Fire Strike

44,913

45,049

43,845

3DMark Steel Nomad

5,224

4,967

5,495

3DMark Speed Way

5,741

5,855

5,960

3DMark Port Royal

14,062

14,139

14,302

One factor that can boost CPU performance is the option to choose between air or liquid cooling, which not only supports higher frame rates but also helps extend the overall lifespan of the components.

Another way to boost frame rates is through the Alienware Command Center app that comes pre-installed. Here, users can customize settings for games, change performance settings, and customize the RGB lighting too.

Gaming benchmarks (Average FPS)

Alienware Aurora ACT1250

NZXT Player PC

Lenovo Legion Tower 5

Cyberpunk 2077 (1080p, Ultra preset)

Shadow of the Tomb Raider (1080p, Highest)

202

201

207

F1 2024 (1080p, Very High, DLSS Quality)

104

119

Total War: Warhammer III: Mirrors of Madness (1080p, Ultra)

181

182

172

Outside of gaming, the Aurora R16 handles creative tasks with ease. It smoothly manages Adobe Photoshop projects with multiple high-resolution layers with no slowdown, while 10-minute 1080p videos in Premiere Pro render and export in seconds, and 4K projects finish within just a few minutes.

This makes it a reliable option not only for gamers but also for content creators who need a system that balances performance across both worlds.

Though the Alienware Aurora ACT1250 may not deliver a massive performance leap over past generations, it refines the experience with smarter cooling, better DLSS support, and versatile software controls.

For gamers and creators alike, it remains a sleek, capable desktop that balances style with reliable all-around performance.

Performance: 4.5 / 5

(Image credit: Future / Ural Garrett)Should I buy the Alienware Aurora (ACT1250)?Alienware Aurora (ACT1250) gaming desktop scorecard

Notes

Score

Value

The Alienware Aurora ACT1250 balances style and power across a wide range of price points. For gamers who value design and performance over long-term upgrades, it’s an easy recommendation.

4.5 / 5

Specs

With a lot of configuration options available and the most up-to-date hardware, you have a wide range of specs available with this PC. The proprietary motherboard and limited expandability isn't great though.

4 / 5

Design

Though there haven’t been any tweaks to the Aurora Desktop over the past couple of years, it still stands out as something futuristic despite issues with the proprietary motherboard, which limits upgradability in areas.

4.5 / 5

Performance

Don’t expect max settings at 1440p resolution without using DLSS upscaling, as native performance is good but not great compared to other mid-tier offerings. Those who want 1080p and 4K performance will be satisfied on that end of the spectrum for sure.

4.5 / 5

Final Score

The refreshed Alienware Aurora ACT1250 gaming desktopremains a futuristic-looking gaming desktop that delivers solid 1080p and 4K performance across price points, even if its mid-tier value and limited upgradability hold it back.

4.38 / 5

Buy the Alienware Aurora (ACT1250) if…

You want a gaming desktop with a stunning design
The sleek compact design blending an all-black colorway with smart RGB lighting feels so above what’s out there with other gaming desktops, and it’s backed by smart ventilation.

You need specific spec options for 1080p, 1440p and 4K gaming
Regardless of what potential buyers are looking for, there are a wide variety of performance options split between CPU, GPU, RAM and storage. Despite utilizing the Nvidia’s new 50-series of graphic cards, the prices remain respectable.

Don’t buy it if…

You want a desktop with a bit more space
The more compact gaming desktop may look fantastic, but while finding space for upgrades is possible, it’s limited.

You want the best 1440p performance
My benchmarks show that 1440p performance was only marginally better than the previous Aurora R16 with 40-series GPU, despite the upgrade to the newer RTX 5070.

Also Consider

If my Alienware Aurora (ACT1250) review has you considering other options, here are two gaming desktops to consider...

NZXT Player PC (5070 Intel Edition)
With very similar specs to the Aurora ACT1250, the NZXT Player PC is a little cheaper than the Aurora PC I tested, but it has nowhere near the configurability of the Aurora either.

Read the full NZXT Player PC (5070 Intel Edition) review

Lenovo Legion Tower 5 (2025)
The Lenovo Legion Tower 5 also features comparable specs to the Aurora ACT1250, as well as a similar starting price and a good degree of configurability, but its smaller chassis likewise makes expandability a challenge.

Read the full Lenovo Legion Tower 5 (2025) review

How I tested the Alienware Aurora gaming desktop (ACT1250)

I tested it using games like Doom: The Dark Ages, Ninja Gaiden Black II, Forza Motorsport (2023), and Senua's Saga: Hellblade II
I ran TechRadar's standard suite of PC benchmarks
I used creative software like Adobe Photoshop and Premiere Pro for long stretches

built-inOutside of the standard PC benchmarks I run for my reviews, including builkt-in gaming benchmarks in titles like Cyberpunk 2077 and Black Myth: Wukong, I also tested modern games including Doom: The Dark Ages, Ninja Gaiden Black II, Forza Motorsport (2023), and Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II for its real-world gaming performance.

For day-to-day tasks, I used it as my day-to-day work PC for about two weeks, including extensive creative work through Adobe Photoshop and Premiere Pro.

Read more about how we test

First reviewed October 2025

Categories: Reviews

I tried Lenovo’s new gaming PC and its build and performance are top-tier – but another aspect impressed me even more

Mon, 10/27/2025 - 16:36

Lenovo Legion Tower 5: Two-minute review

The Lenovo Legion Tower 5 is a high-end gaming PC with a formidable spec designed to handle modern games without sacrificing much in the way of graphical fidelity.

It looks understated yet elegant as far as tower PCs go, thanks in no small part to the matte finish and rounded corners. The vibrant yet tasteful RGB lighting on the fans and through the front panel logo also adds to its allure.

What’s more, its premium appeal is more than skin deep: the Legion Tower 5 can lay claim to having one of the best gaming PC cases in terms of build quality. Every material feels solid and durable, including the glass side cover.

The only aspect I disliked was the top ventilation panel, since its sharp undulating design is uncomfortable to hold. Thankfully, there’s a grab handle at the front for when you need to move the Legion Tower 5; and you’ll certainly need the purchase it provides, since it’s a monstrously heavy unit.

There’s some scope to expand the potential of the Legion Tower 5, but not by much. Three M.2 drives and one HDD can be installed simultaneously, but 32GB is the maximum RAM allowance. I could see two spare SATA ports and one PCIe slot free, but that’s all.

(Image credit: Future)

The usual ports can be found on the Legion Tower 5, with plenty of USB-A ports and audio ports on the rear. The front panel is quite sparse though, and the inclusion of a USB-C port at this end might be disappointing to some, depending on the peripherals they have.

As you would expect given its components, the general performance of the Legion Tower 5 is excellent. It’s also free from bloatware, with Lenovo’s bundled software proving unintrusive and even useful. Lenovo Vantage offers some useful system functions and details, while LegionSpace is a simple and effective way to adjust performance settings and fan speeds.

Gaming with the Legion Tower 5 is a joy. It effortlessly runs AAA titles with fps figures in the hundreds. What’s more, it does so in near-silence and without approaching temperatures beyond the mildly tepid.

All this quality and performance does come at a price, but it’s not as eye-watering as some rivals. There are cheaper 5070 builds, but considering the quality of the case and components, not to mention its exceptional cooling abilities, the Legion Tower 5 might just be worth it for those after top-draw performance without sacrificing peace and quiet.

Lenovo Legion Tower 5: Price & availability

(Image credit: Future)

Starts from $1,449.99 / £1,395 / AU$2,069
Available now
Decent value

The Legion Tower 5 is available now in the US, UK, and Australia, starting at $1,449.99 / £1,395 / AU$2,069 for the AMD Ryzen 10th Gen builds, while the Intel-based Tower 5i Gen 10 starts at $1,319.99 / £1,116 / AU$2,519.

For the AMD builds, numerous configurations are available, peaking at builds with a Ryzen 9 7950X3D and an RTX 5070 Ti, while the Intel builds feature up to an Intel Core Ultra 7 265F and an Nvidia RTX 5070 Ti. Maximum capacities for RAM and storage are 32GB and 2TB, respectively – although the latter is expandable with separately purchased drives, thanks to its three M.2 slots and an extra space for a HDD (although storage bays are only available on some models).

This isn’t a bad price considering what’s on offer, but there are still cheaper alternatives. The HP Victus 15L and HP Omen 16L cost significantly less, but you will have to settle for much lower specs. However, we found their performance capable enough for 1080p gaming and their relatively small size and generous front port selection add to their appeal.

A more closely-matched rival to the Legion Tower 5 is the NZXT Player PC, which is similarly priced to the Legion Tower 5 and likewise features an RTX 5070. Like the Legion Tower 5, it’s built to a very high standard, yet it just about undercuts it on price in some regions.

Value: 4 / 5

Lenovo Legion Tower 5: Specs

(Image credit: Future)Lenovo Legion Tower 5 (30L, Gen10) review specs

CPU

AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D (8 cores), 4.2GHz

Graphics

NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070, 12GB

RAM

32 GB DDR5-5600MT/s (UDIMM) - (2 x 16 GB)

Storage

1TB NVMe M.2 SSD

Ports

Front I/O: 1x USB-A (5Gbps), 1x USB-C (5Gbps), 1x combo audio

Back I/O: 1x RJ45, 1x USB-C (10Gbps), 2x USB-A (5Gbps), 4x USB-A (hi-speed USB), 3x audio

Wireless

Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3

Lenovo Legion Tower 5: Design

(Image credit: Future)

Superb case
Very heavy
Limited expandability

The Legion Tower 5 makes a good first impression, with its steely but elegantly designed case. The bright RGB lighting of the fans and front “Legion” logo livens up the unit without being brash.

It’s built to a high standard, too. The materials feel as premium as they look, and every panel feels sturdy and durable, even the glass side cover. The downside, however, is that the Legion Tower 5 is quite large and very heavy, so moving around can be difficult.

And you won’t want to grab it from the top, as the ventilation mesh has a spiked design that can dig uncomfortably into the hand. Fortunately, there’s a useful grab handle just behind the front ports you can hold instead.

There’s some scope for expanding components, but not much. There are four DDR5 memory slots, but only a maximum of 32GB is supported. Up to three M.2 SSDs and one HDD can be installed simultaneously, and there are two spare SATA ports and a spare PCIe 4x slot.

On the rear you’ll find the usual selection of ports. There are six USB ports, although only two of them utilize the SuperSpeed standard. There are also the obligatory headphone, microphone, and line-in connections.

(Image credit: Future)

Oddly, the PSU is located at the top, resulting in a dangling power cable: this is never ideal, but here it can potentially obscure other rearside connections, too. What’s more, this placement effectively shortens the length of the cable if your outlet is close to the floor.

At the front, port selection is more scarce. There are two USB ports, although one is type-C, which could prove contentious depending on what you’re connecting. Personally, I would’ve preferred both to have been type-A, given most of my peripherals use this standard – and I suspect many others’ do as well.

My Legion Tower 5 review unit came with a mouse and keyboard: basic affairs that were perfectly functional, but clearly designed for productivity rather than gaming. The keys’ short travel and lack of feedback make them better for typing than WASD use, while the mouse has no DPI selector or even side buttons. Needless to say, Lenovo certainly hasn’t provided the best gaming keyboard or the best gaming mouse here.

Design: 4.5 / 5

Lenovo Legion Tower 5: Performance

(Image credit: Future)

Excellent AAA performance
Impressively cool and quiet

Lenovo Legion Tower 5 Gen 10 (30L AMD) CPU benchmarks:

Benchmark

Score

Geekbench 6.4 Single-core

2,594

Geekbench 6.4 Multi-core

13,554

Crossmark Overall

1,846

Crossmark Productivity

1,734

Crossmark Creativity

2,127

Crossmark Responsiveness

1,454

Cinebench R23 Single Core

1,693

Cinebench R23 Multi Core

17,376

Cinebench R24 Single Core

104

Cinebench R24 Multi Core

934

The performance of the Legion Tower 5 is excellent, with the RTX 5070 in my review unit delivering on its promises.

As you would imagine, everyday tasks are handled equally well. Document and spreadsheet workloads are processed instantly, while 4K streaming is seamless, lacking the significant buffering times that can plague less capable machines.

Lenovo Legion Tower 5 Gen 10 (30L AMD) GPU benchmarks

Benchmarks

Score

3DMark Fire Strike

43,845

3DMark Steel Nomad

5,495

3DMark Solar Bay

107,638

3DMark Solar Bay Unlimited

105,290

3DMark Speed Way

5,960

3DMark Port Royal

14,302

3DMark Wild Life Extreme

43,652

3DMark Wild Life Extreme Unlimited

42,947

More impressive, however, is just how quiet the Legion Tower 5 is. During my entire time with it, the fans never rose above a gentle whir, even when the system was set to Performance mode.

What’s more, the unit remained remarkably cool throughout, never exceeding lukewarm temperatures. The Legion Tower 5 is exclusively air-cooled, utilizing six fans that offer up to 180W of power – and they certainly seem effective.

Lenovo Legion Tower 5 Gen 10 (30L AMD) gaming benchmarks

Game

Average FPS

Cyberpunk 2077 (1080p, Ultra)

Shadow of the Tomb Raider (Highest, 1080p)

208

F1 2024 (Max, 1080p)

119

Total War: Warhammer III (Ultra, 1080p)

172

Thankfully, the Legion Tower 5 isn’t saddled with bloatware. In fact, the two included utility apps, LegionSpace and Lenovo Vantage, are unobtrusive and quite useful; the former for viewing detailed system specs and performing functions such as BIOS updates, and the latter for adjusting performance and fan settings.

The Wi-Fi card was also exemplary. My connection speeds were fast, and I experienced no dropouts or instability.

Performance: 5 / 5

Should I buy the Lenovo Legion Tower 5?

(Image credit: Future)

Attributes

Notes

Rating

Value

The Legion Tower 5 is expensive, but the value is good considering the performance and build quality.

3.5 / 5

Design

The case feels very premium and durable, although it’s very heavy. It’s not the most expandable, either.

4.5 / 5

Performance

The Legion Tower 5 tears through AAA titles without breaking a sweat. It’s also eerily quiet.

5 / 5

Average rating

The Legion Tower 5 is a top-tier gaming desktop that delivers superb gaming performance. It’s large and heavy, and not the most expandable, but the premium design and its hushed operation might be enough to justify its cost.

4.34 / 5

Buy it if...

You want great build quality
The case is as premium as they come, looking smart and seeming very durable.

You want excellent gaming performance
The 5070 in my review unit blasted through AAA games without issue, all the while staying perfectly cool and incredibly silent.

Don't buy it if...

You want plenty of expandability
You can only have up to 32GB of RAM, and there aren’t many other slots left spare for upgrading.

You want minimal real estate
The Legion Tower 5 is no mini PC; it’s large and heavy, and the sharp vent panel on the top doesn’t exactly help with ergonomics.

Lenovo Legion Tower 5: Also Consider

Here are some equally desirable alternatives to the Lenovo Legion Tower 5:

NZXT Player PC (5070 Intel Edition)
Despite having the same RTX card and the same RAM capacity, but twice the installed storage, the NZXT Player PC is a little cheaper than the Legion Tower 5. It doesn’t skimp on quality, either: we were impressed with its ample ventilation and smart, solid construction. The lack of visible expansion slots was about the only drawback we could find.

Read the full NZXT Player PC (5070 Intel Edition) review

Alienware Aurora (ACT1250)
The Alienware Aurora ACT1250 offers an excellent experience at 1440p and beyond, as well as a host of configuration options that allow you to build up the perfect gaming PC for performance needs. It's not great on expandability, though.

Read the full Alienware Aurora (ACT1250) review

How I tested the Lenovo Legion Tower 5

Tested for two days
Used for gaming and benchmarked
Plentiful PC gaming experience

I tested the Legion Tower 5 for a couple of days, during which time I used it for a variety of tasks.

I used it for working, browsing, streaming video, and, of course, gaming. I played AAA titles such as Cyberpunk 2077 at various settings, including the highest preset. I also ran TechRadar’s series of benchmarks, to assess various aspects of its performance.

I’ve been PC gaming for over a decade, and have used a variety of systems and components during that time, and have built my own machines. I’ve also reviewed plenty of gaming hardware and laptops.

First reviewed October 2025

Categories: Reviews

Internxt cloud storage review

Mon, 10/27/2025 - 08:15

if you’ve been considering storing your data in the cloud, Internxt - a cloud storage service focusing on privacy and security - is a great option. We've evaluated the service's pricing, features, interface, security, and support so that you can determine if it's the right choice for your cloud storage needs.

(Image credit: Internxt)Internxt: Plans & pricing

Internxt’s basic free plan offers 1GB of storage, while more storage can be added for free by completing certain tasks. These include installing the Internxt mobile or desktop app (1GB each), sharing a file via a link (1GB), and inviting up to 5 friends (1GB each).

Beyond that, seven other pricing plans are available for individuals and businesses. Personal customers can subscribe to 200GB, 2TB, 5TB, or 10TB when billed monthly for $5.49, $10.99, $22.99, or $34.99. There are also discounted annual and lifetime cloud storage plans, although the former don't extend to business licences.

For those, Internxt offers an Enterprise plan, with access for unlimited team members. Contact the support team for a quote based on your needs.

As of October 2025, there's an 80% discount on 5TB of Internxt's lifetime cloud storage available, with the final cost being just €380 (the offer wasn't presented to us in any other currency, regardless of territory) , an excellent long-term value proposition.

All plans offer complete use of Internxt’s secure services, including Internxt Drive, a zero-knowledge file storage service; Internxt Photos, which enables you to store photos privately and securely; and Internxt Send, a platform for sending files safely and seamlessly.

Internxt's pricing, even when converted to other currencies, is incredibly competitive compared to some of the game’s key players, including Apple iCloud and Google Drive.

To ensure accessible and hassle-free transactions, Internxt provides multiple payment methods to cater to various preferences. They accept payments via credit and debit cards (including Mastercard, VISA, American Express, and more), PayPal, bank contact, iDEAL, and SOFORT.

All plans come with a 30-day money-back guarantee, and since you need to already have an account to sign up, we recommend trying out the free features first before handing over your credit card details.

Internxt: Features

As a relatively new offering, Internxt’s features are pretty basic. We’ve broken down some of the key ones here.

Internxt is available on desktop, mobile, or tablet, so you can conveniently access your files on any device. With its automatic syncing capability, Internxt ensures your information will be updated and saved regardless of the device you’re using.

It offers its users handy offline access to their files. This means that you don’t have to frantically search for a network connection in order to access your documents out of range. You can enable selective offline access to all the files in your inventory.

One of the company’s strong points is its commitment to security, however a lot goes on behind the scenes. Internxt wants to make the process as normal as possible while maintaining the best protocol.

For business users, the service enables you and your team to store files with total security. You can collaborate privately with other members and toggle your admin features. You can even decide how many times you want a given link to be valid/shared so that your file won’t be accessible outside of its intended audience. This is particularly useful for sensitive documents.

All plans have derestricted file sizes, which is great for people working on videos and other large media types.

(Image credit: Internxt)Internxt: Interface & experience

Choosing a plan and creating an account on Internxt is quick and fuss-free. In fact, of all the cloud storage providers we reviewed, this is by far the fastest sign up. Simply enter your e-mail address and chosen password to log in immediately to the web interface.

Upon doing this, you’ll find a handy introductory guide that you can access to get a quick tutorial on how the service works, which we thought was a nice touch. You can also click your account profile at the top right to download the desktop app for the device. You’ll receive 1GB extra storage for your trouble.

Internxt’s interface on mobile, web, and desktop is clean, intuitive, and user-friendly. On its main page, you can view all your files at a glance. You can also easily customize your folders with different colors and icons similar to the native tagging features in macOS and Windows. A useful search function helps you quickly locate files without having to spend time scrolling through your entire drive.

Uploading new files onto the cloud is also a breeze with a drag-and-drop interface. Similarly, you can easily share your files through a link. Overall, Internxt’s intuitive dashboard is easy to use and streamlines your workflow.

There are two aspects to the desktop client. First is the tool that sits in the status bar, allowing a certain degree of control and an insight into your syncing activity. Unlike many competitors, there is no option here to throttle bandwidth usage, which would be useful for companies and individuals processing large amounts of documents alongside other streaming activity.

The second aspect is the built-in support for your computer’s native file management system - in our case, Finder for macOS. You can use the newly created 'Internxt' folder in your home directory to continue life as normal with plenty of dragging and dropping, while keeping things synced.

You can also use the desktop client to launch the web interface, which is necessary for certain operations. On first launch the screen is grayed out except for the "upload files" button. During our tests we noticed that this also happened even when we'd already uploaded some files, forcing us to click the button, then 'cancel' on the explorer window that opened. This was a small bug but could prove irritating if you have to upload many files.

While Internxt’s primary focus is on cloud storage, there is a cloud backup service available to all free and paid accounts too - though remember the limitations of free accounts. You can also pick which folders to sync and any changes made in these will be updated online. We have previously complained about cloud drives that occupy a single folder, so being able to sync multiple folders across various locations is kindly welcomed.

Internxt: Support

In terms of support, a pop-up live chat box will instantly appear when you navigate to Internxt’s site. Chat support is pretty responsive—we got a reply in eight minutes. If you’d prefer to troubleshoot on your own, you can access Internxt’s Help Centre from the same pop-up box as the live chat function. On the search bar, type any keyword that you’re looking for and you’ll be greeted with dozens of helpful articles from the team.

If you still can’t find what you’re looking for, Internxt’s support team is contactable via email 24/7 and provides support in English, Spanish, and Russian.

(Image credit: Internxt)Internxt: Security

Security is where Internxt shines. The zero-knowledge file storage service is based on absolute privacy and uncompromising security. When you upload a file on Internxt, it’s instantly encrypted on your device. Unlike other mainstream services that encrypt customer data in transit or at rest, the service encrypts all your data before it leaves your device. When data is downloaded from the file to your device, it's also automatically decrypted.

Additionally, Internxt doesn’t store user data in any central location. Instead, data gets fragmented prior to being uploaded, and the encrypted file shards are then uploaded onto servers based in different locations around the world. A single server never holds a whole file, making the cloud storage very secure, robust, and private.

With its AES-256 CTR encryption model, no one else other than you holds the key to your data. If Internxt were to be hacked, intruders wouldn’t be able to access your data either.

On the consumer’s end, two-factor authentication (2FA) is easy to enable. There is no support for SMS authentication. This can be handy for people with phone and computer integration and autofill but is actually a point in Internxt's favor as SMS messages are much easier to intercept than codes generated by legitimate authenticator apps.

Even users without an account have access to the company’s free virus scanner which works by uploading a document - up to 1GB in size - to the website in order for it to be checked.

Internxt also provides a free password checker, which shows any relevant information such as that it is a frequently used or easily guessed, as well as the amount of leaks that this password has been found in and how long it would take for somebody to crack your password. It also lets you know if your password has been leaked in any public hacks recently.

There’s some handy guidance, too, for creating the ultimate password, though we still recommend using six or more words generated by Diceware.

One of the best security aspects of Internxt though is its commitment to open source. This means that the company has released the source code used to make its app so knowledgeable programmers can verify that end-to-end encryption has been set up correctly, as well as the fact that data is split into multiple clusters.

Internxt: Alternatives

We found Dropbox gives Internxt a run for its money thanks to its advanced file-sharing capabilities and software integration. Similarly, Microsoft OneDrive is a great alternative with its files-on-demand feature.

The two competitors offer a range of useful tools and great functionality at about the same price point. To enjoy these features, however, you may have to compromise on privacy and security: Dropbox and OneDrive do not offer zero-knowledge encryption. Unlike other products which do claim to offer 'zero knowledge' Internxt is also open source, which means you don't have to take your word for it that your data's safe.

Internxt: Our tests

We ran three critical tests for Internxt, measuring sync speed, file recovery, and versioning.

Our testing was conducted on a Windows 11 virtual machine using the Internxt desktop client. The virtual machine was connected to the internet through fiber broadband via a VPN server, which consistently demonstrated an average upload speed of 900 Mbps in our speed tests.

Measuring metrics like upload speed, results can vary depending on how many share the broadband connection, how busy the cloud providers' servers are, and your connection speeds.

(Image credit: Future)

Test 1 - Sync speed

After closing all third-party and internet apps, we transferred a 589 MB folder containing various files, such as images, PDFs, and Microsoft documents. The folder had 232 files spread across six folders.

Instead of using the Internxt desktop client, we used the web interface to upload the files. During the upload, we monitored the progress, and we were pleasantly surprised to see that the encryption process did not slow down the upload speed. The entire 589MB upload on our 900 Mbps connection only took 3 minutes and 39 seconds, comparable to other cloud storage services we've tested that do not use encryption.

Test 2 - File recovery

We deleted the ‘Sync’ folder from the application directory, which removed it from the device. Then, I checked if the files had been removed from the cloud drive and if they could be recovered.

If the cloud provider offers a way to store files in the cloud without keeping them on your device, we also test this feature.

After deleting the test files from the ‘Sync’ folder, they moved into the ‘Trash’ folder. Despite this, the files were still counted towards our data quota. However, with two clicks of the mouse, the data was decrypted and downloaded back to the device within 90 seconds.

(Image credit: Future)

Test 3 - Versioning

If you're working on lengthy or crucial documents, the last thing you would want is to make changes that cannot be undone. Many cloud providers address this issue by regularly saving different file versions. If you make an undesired change, you can revert the file to a previous version.

We transferred a Microsoft Excel file to the cloud application folder to test this. After synchronizing, we deleted a tab in the spreadsheet, saved the changes, and closed the file. We then attempted to restore it to its original form, with all tabs intact.

We placed our test document into the Internxt folder and removed some text. However, when we logged into the web interface, we were unable to find a 'file version' feature. It seems that Internxt does not save multiple copies of edited files.

We also explored the 'Preview' feature but found it did not work for the Microsoft Word document or an MP3 file we attempted to open.

Internxt: Verdict

Internxt is an excellent cloud storage service due to its affordable pricing plans, intuitive interface, and reliable support. While it may not offer advanced features like file versioning found in Dropbox and OneDrive, it excels in security measures and commitment to privacy, making it a top choice for personal and business users prioritizing security. Internxt's useful features are highly rated, including a familiar interface, the option to backup folders elsewhere on your computer, and free virus and password tools.

Categories: Reviews

I tested Edifier's great-value new desktop monitor speakers and they exceeded all of my expectations

Mon, 10/27/2025 - 06:00

Edifier MR5: Two-minute review

Active monitor speakers were at one point the near-exclusive haunt of the audio professional, casual listeners leaning more to desktop computer speakers or to hi-fis of their own design. A recent deluge of more accessible, feature-rich monitor designs has attempted to bridge the gap, often at the expense of practical utility to the people they were first designed for – but the Edifier MR5, in my opinion, does a great job at bucking that trend, making them some of the best stereo speakers I've tested recently.

For the low low price of $349.99 / £279.99 (approx AUS$570), you get a delightfully demure set of desktop-friendly speakers that achieve remarkable neutrality, incredible high-end clarity and a satisfying low end that trumps the capabilities of many larger competitors.

This is possible by virtue of Edifier’s smart new three-driver design, incorporating a downward-facing woofer, a bi-ported chassis and a tri-amped, active-crossover architecture. The results speak for their balanced, broad and crystal-clear selves.

There’s a shedload of tech backing up these fundamental smarts too. Digital EQ controls and customization are available via the Edifier ConneX app, including some one-click acoustic tuning options that compensate for corners of your desktop. I feel like these features sometimes get in the way of the MR5’s essential excellence, but that’s just me.

With Bluetooth 6.0, LDAC support for hi-res streaming and four options for analog inputs, it’s understandable that their design budget couldn’t stretch to including the kitchen sink.

(Image credit: Future)Edifier MR5 review: Price and release date

Released on July 1, 2025
$349.99 / £279.99 (approx AU$570)

Edifier is a Chinese brand that’s had its mitts in the monitor market for a long time, and has consequently made a reputation for itself as one of the best budget brands going. Its products are often inexpensive and in possession of unusual cheer, particularly for the quality of sound they offer against the MSRP they’re able to pitch their products at.

This pair of active monitors, the MR5, is the latest in the still-quite-new MR series, and every bit an improvement on the prior models with which it shares an umbrella. Against the Edifier MR4, they add dual-device Bluetooth 6.0 connectivity – and, more importantly, a daring new three-way driver design.

The Edifier MR5's price is $349.99 / £279.99, which coverts to roughly AU$570 in Australia although the speakers don't seem to be releasing there.

Between these and the expanded digital control of EQ settings and other features, suffice to say there’s a great deal crammed into these unexpectedly-dinky active monitor speakers. Can they stick the landing, though?

(Image credit: Future)Edifier MR5 review: Specs

Drivers

5” woofer, 3.75" mid driver, 1" silk dome tweeter

Analogue connectivity

Dual XLR, dual TRS, RCA, 3.5mm aux; 3.5mm headphone out

Digital connectivity

Bluetooth 6.0 (two devices) with LDAC support

Power

110W RMS

Frequency range

46Hz - 40kHz

Extras

x1 3.5mm to 3.5mm aux cable, 1x RCA to 3.5mm aux cable

Edifier MR5 review: Features

Three-way active crossover
Four analog inputs, dual-device Bluetooth 6.0
App control for voicings and room EQ

The Edifier MR5 monitor speakers are a veritable bag of nifty cross-disciplinary tricks, with features and fripperies that speak to casual listeners, young-buck music producers and burgeoning professionals building a versatile control-room setup.

On the connectivity front, there’s balanced XLR inputs and TRS inputs, plus RCA inputs and a front-facing 3.5mm aux port, for a total of four analogue connectivity options and the absolute elimination of any roadblocks to integrating the MR5 with your studio. Couple this with dual-device Bluetooth 6.0 (and LDAC-supportive) connectivity for ease of passing the digital aux, and you’ve five powerful ways to get what you want out of these – plus a 3.5mm headphone output for quiet-time.

For the pros, there’s the extensive 46Hz - 40kHz frequency range and flat frequency response out of the box, alongside manually-adjustable high- and low-shelf filters for adjusting to the acoustics of your space. Speaking of which, there’s the option for further DSP customization via Bluetooth using the proprietary Edifier ConneX app, including more granular low-cut control, and room compensation algorithms for better performance in reflective spaces.

For everyone else, there’s expressive hi-fi-leaning options for speaker voicings, and digital control of both those voicings and audio playback via the same proprietary app. In short, there’s a boatload to discover – and the discovery doesn’t stop here either. These speakers are also trend-buckingly maximalist with how they approach their core modus operandi.

Smaller bookshelf style monitors like these traditionally have two drivers – a mid-woofer and a tweeter – and use smart chassis design or an optional subwoofer output for low-end coverage. Here, though, Edifier’s somehow managed to squeeze in three drivers in a tri-amped, active-crossover system, comprising a 3.75" mid driver, 1" silk dome tweeter and a side-ported, downward-facing 5” woofer for low-end coverage.

The result is a small set of desktop-friendly active monitor speakers, with an outsized feature-set and a smooth sound output that seriously challenges the demureness of its form – more on which right now, actually.

(Image credit: Future)

Features score: 5/5

Edifier MR5 review: Sound quality

Controlled bass with body
Detailed and dimensional high-mid range
Limited by size, despite smart crossover design

The Edifier MR5 have three distinct voicings you can switch between, at a press of the single knob on the front: ‘Monitor’, ‘Music’, and ‘Customized’. For the uninitiated, ‘Monitor’ mode would attempt as neutral a frequency response as possible, for a clinical representation of sound as recorded. ‘Music’ adds a hi-fi sheen, sculpting the EQ for a more exciting representation, and ‘Customized’, as I’m sure you’ve surmised, is a do-it-yourself mode for saving your personal EQ settings (dialed in via app).

For this review, I spent the vast majority of my time using the ‘Monitor’ voicing. As someone who frequently uses monitor speakers in a professional capacity more so than a personal one, the neutral frequency response is far more useful to me day-to-day. I have some thoughts about the other settings later on, but until then you’re getting my impressions of these monitors at their essential best.

Small caveat for the bargain-seeking audio pros amongst you, too: my listening environment was not that of an acoustically-treated studio control room, and as such my observations should be taken with a pinch of semi-casual salt. It’s a hard line to tread between the exacting expectations of the career-minded and the vibey sensibilities of the rest, and yet it’s a line both this reviewer and these speakers are determined to tread.

Given that unique downward-facing driver design, you might be expecting an avalanche of desk-shaking bass. It is my utmost pleasure to report that no such misrepresentation occurs – at least, unless you push the MR5 to the upper limits of their volume range, at which point you can immediately quell it using the helpfully-named Desktop mode.

Instead, that bold woofer is put to use in delivering body over boom. There’s a little bloom with more outrageously-arranged pieces – Falle Nioke’s Falle Le Le Le features a low end that sounds like it’s already blown the speakers it was blasted through, and even that edgy, crunched-out kick and bass synth is presented with a level of welcome restraint. Distorted, low-tuned guitars a la Greet Death’s Die In Love are full and forceful, to gratifyingly torrential ends.

(Image credit: Future)

The ported sides of each speaker give airy movement in the ultra-low end, allowing kicks and thumpy bass guitars to breathe. Unfortunately, despite the clever design principles on display here, you’ll still experience the same limitations imposed by small-form nearfield monitors – namely, a compressed low-middy boxiness at higher volumes, that’s hard to design your way out of even with nifty acoustic tuning options and customizable EQ.

As a probably-intentional byproduct of this restrained approach to bass, the Edifier MR5 are phenomenal midrange communicators. Pile’s Bouncing In Blue, from latest heavy-folk stunner Sunshine And Balance Beams, is a phenomenal showcase of this, primarily through the Biscoff-spread smoothness of Rick Maguire’s drawled voice.

Uneasy, which follows immediately after, is a tactile delight, setting panned staccato guitars and kick-snare-kick-kick-snare percussion against one another with gratifying gusto beneath Maguire’s actually-quite-affected sneer. Indeed, there’s magic in that high-mid and high end, with stunning voice translation and a beautiful reediness in sustained strings and the like.

The MR5’s handling of transients isn’t as cutting or sharp as other speakers, but still reassuringly immediate. At the tippity-top, there’s no bite, spike or scratch, but rather a forthright resolution that puts anything flicky, ticky or indeed scratchy in glorious magic-eye-picture 3D before your ears. Hi-hats, auxiliary snaps, maracas – all presented with a delicate touch and a brilliant sense of in-the-room presence. This impressive soundstaging is a triumph both of the tweeters themselves and the clever acoustic design surrounding them.

Water From Your Eyes’ Playing Classics is one of the driest, most up-front songs going at the moment, and an excellent bellwether for the matter-of-factness these MR5 monitors are capable of. Bluntly-presented digital cymbals, dry DI-ed guitars and sampled-piano melodies make a compelling case for the high-end clarity these are capable of – even if that airy low-end starts to encroach a little.

In ‘Music’ mode, the MR5s add a heaped cup of extra bloom to the low end, along with some characterful contouring that gives a little more hi-fi excitement to proceedings. I get it, particularly for the additional presence it (of course) gives to kicks and hi-hats, but I don’t necessarily love it. With the Customized mode, the graphic EQ makes it easy to select for problem frequencies, but makes vibes-based EQing a tad fiddlier. Nonetheless, EQ moves were expressive enough to give you some control over your ideal outcomes.

Sound quality score: 4.5/5

(Image credit: Future)Edifier MR5 review: Design

Extensive connectibility
Handy, feature-filled companion app
Digital settings are slow on the uptake

Thanks to the MR5’s prodigious I/O, setting up for analogue playback is about as simple as it could be: plug thingies you have into thingies they’ll fit. Unlike many professional monitor speakers, the MR5 hosts most of its hardware in one speaker, and sends audio to the other using a unique 9-pin connector cable; as such, you only need one plug socket to run the two of them.

Bluetooth connectivity is similarly fuss-free, and much the same as you’ll find anywhere else. A dedicated button on the rear puts the speakers in discovery mode, and connecting is as simple as looking for the good Edifier name on your transmitting device.

Bluetooth control is also how the Edifier ConneX app is able to work its remote-control magic. From the app you can mess with various features, including switching between voicings, acoustic tuning settings, and even selecting which speaker receives left or right channels of audio.

The MR5’s techy maximalism can sometimes get in its own way, though. An over-eager auto-standby can catch you off guard if you pause music for a phone call or a brew – a half-pointless mini-feature that does more to vex than it does to save energy. Thankfully, you can de-activate it using either the encoder knob or the app, rendering this particular gripe half-pointless itself.

Perhaps more vexingly, the customisable EQ settings are communicated through the ConneX app via Bluetooth, and there’s some significant latency between the sliding of a digital fader and a real-terms change in the volume of a given frequency. This latency makes hunting tuning problems a little more difficult and time-consuming than it really ought to be – but, again, if you’re just here for the room compensation, there’s a low-cut knob right there on the back of the speaker.

As for visuals, there’s some understated class to the MR5. The dimpled waveguides around the tweeters add some fun as well as some practical high-end widening; the bronze flourishes on the mid-woofer dustcaps, around the tweeters and via that knurled encoder knob are tasteful, but only just. For my taste, they toe the line between cool and cringe – and toe it all the better in your periphery.

Design score: 4/5

(Image credit: Future)Edifier MR5 review: Value

Astonishingly feature-rich for the price
Signifiers of cheapness few but obvious
A stunning choice for desktop nearfields

The Edifier MR5 are a truly maximalist affair, and arguably worth every penny on the features front alone. It’s nice to see monitor speakers, particularly at this higher-end-of-cheap price point, not just meeting practical expectations but exceeding them. You can connect to these speakers five different ways, switch between three different sound profiles and control a lot more of its sound and functionality than you might reasonably expect.

Some elements of the MR5’s price point are more obvious than others. For instance, the only part of the speaker with which you actually, actively interface every time you use it is the plastic knob adorning the sole rotary encoder on the front. The encoder itself has a solid and reassuring mechanical feedback, but it’s transmitted through a cheap-feeling tactile surface. It’s a miniscule part of the greater MR5 whole, but nonetheless a shame that this no-brainer of a cost-cutting angle is so necessarily present in, and even central to, the user experience.

I mention this not to dock marks from the MR5, but to highlight just what it’s managed to achieve. That a plastic knob, some delayed EQ adjustment and an optional auto-standby feature constitute the majority of my criticism should tell you everything you need to know about these highly-accessible, multi-disciplinary, pint-sized works of well-priced magic.

I will say that I’m a personal fan of them as an at-home set of trustworthy nearfield monitors. They’re fine mid-field hi-fi operators, but really shine in a desktop or small-office environment, and as a jack-of-all-trades as opposed to a bona fide pro audio solution. For the fine line they tread, this is about as good as it gets.

(Image credit: Future)

Value score: 5/5

Edifier MR5 review: scorecard

Comment

Rating

Features

Digital app control, customized sound profiles and many connection options, all housed alongside a tri-amped three-way driver system.

5/5

Sound quality

The Edifier MR5 perform astonishingly well in the upper ranges, the transient response is forgiving, and percussion three-dimensional.

4.5/5

Design

Plug-and-play speakers for all but the liveliest office rooms, and a breeze to tune up. Bronze-ish highlights elevate the otherwise-understated form.

4/5

Value

I’d be hard-pressed to find any reason to say these aren’t worth every penny they sell for.

5/5

Should you buy the Edifier MR5?Buy them if...

You want speakers that do everything
The Edifier MR5 pack a whole lot into a delightfully demure bookshelf-speaker package. From the glut of analogue inputs to the hi-res Bluetooth, and from the great neutral starting point to the colourful potential of their voice modes, these tick all the boxes for an all-in-one studio-room speaker set.

You’re looking for great sound on a budget
The Edifier MR5’s three-way driver system is nothing short of genius, making the absolute most of what is usually a limiting form factor. Though a little costlier than what many would consider the budget range, these are well worth the investment for leg-up monitors that’ll hold their own for a while.

Don't buy them if...

You hate apps
You don’t need to use the proprietary Edifier ConneX app to enjoy your MR5 speakers – but it helps! And some of us simply have less time for finicky app-based customisation than others.

You want room-filling sound
These are ideal nearfield monitors, and impressive when used as midfield monitors too. Fundamentally, though, they’re too small to do much with larger spaces.

Also consider

Edifier MR5

Edifier QR65

Kanto Ren

Price

$349.99 / £279.99 (approx AU$570)

$369.99 / £329.99 / AU$449

$599 / £599 (around AU$1,199)

Drivers

5" woofer, 3.75" mid driver, 1" silk dome tweeter

2.75" mid-low driver, 1.25" silk dome tweeter

5.25" woofer, 1" silk dome tweeter

Analogue connectivity

Dual XLR, dual TRS, RCA, 3.5mm aux; 3.5mm headphone out

RCA, sub out

RCA, 3.5mm aux, sub out

Digital connectivity

Bluetooth 6.0 (two devices), with LDAC support

Bluetooth 5.3, USB-A

Bluetooth 5.3 with AAC support, USB-C, optical (TOSLINK), HDMI ARC

Power

110W RMS

70W RMS

100W RMS

Frequency range

46Hz - 40kHz

55Hz - 40kHz

50Hz - 22kHz

Extras

1x 3.5mm to 3.5mm aux cable, 1x RCA to 3.5mm aux cable

1x 3.5mm to 3.5mm aux cable, 1x USB cable

Speaker wire

Edifier QR65
If you’ve a little more to spend and a little less space to spare, Edifier’s QR65 have you covered. These smaller desktop speakers are designed with wireless utility in mind, but play great as desk-bound AV speakers for whatever you’re up to.
See our full Edifier QR65 review

Kanto Ren
Kanto’s Ren speakers only bear so much in common with Edifier’s MR5, in that they’re powered, and they’re bookshelf format. But everything else that they are might be exactly what you’re looking for, if the MR5 doesn’t scratch your hi-fi itch; there’s subwoofer compatibility, digital inputs and some very musical voicings that make them great living-room listeners.
See our full Kanto Ren review

How I tested the Edifier MR5

Tested for five weeks
Used as monitor speakers in an attic office space,
Serviced by a Universal Audio Volt 476 audio interface, and by Bluetooth connection
Predominantly tested using Bandcamp, Spotify, local music files and Reaper sessions

The Edifier MR5 spent their time as the primary listening devices for my office studio setup, as nearfield studio monitors. During my time with them, I streamed music from Spotify and Bandcamp, as well as played music locally from my computer (both high-quality downloads, and works-in-progress on the digital audio workstation Reaper) – all via a Universal Audio Volt 476 interface. I also streamed music from my Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra smartphone, which also harboured the Edifier ConneX app for testing digital control.

First reviewed: October 2025

Read more about how we test at TechRadar

Categories: Reviews

I had elevenses with a Took, cooked my finest taters, and built my own smial, but Tales of the Shire still left me feeling flat

Sun, 10/26/2025 - 11:00

Nothing pains me more than facing continued disappointment at video game adaptations of The Lord of the Rings, but unfortunately, cozy Hobbit life simulator Tales of the Shire: A Lord of the Rings Game has me right back at rock bottom. It attempts to capture the world and lives of Tolkien’s halfling heroes, but instead posits a torturously slow and boring glimpse into the joys of such menial tasks as walking with slight urgency and inventory management.

Review info

Platform reviewed: Xbox Series S
Available on: PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, PC
Release date: July 29, 2025

A wizard arrives precisely when he means to, but Tales of the Shire did not. Numerous delays plagued developer Wētā Workshop, resulting in its release being pushed back from Fall 2024 to Spring 2025, then to its ultimate release date in July 2025. Having played the demo, it was a wise choice; the Shire should be brimming with life, simple joys, and fellowship, and yet our earliest glimpses of the game in demos last year showed there was much room for improvement.

Sadly, reader, I must inform you that such improvements were not made. I finally got around to finishing the game a few months after its release, and it was genuinely quite draining to make my way through its watery plotlines, half-baked features, and flavorless characters. In fact, one of Tales of the Shire’s greatest achievements is that it somehow makes Gandalf seem bland for the little screen time he gets.

The part of me that really, really wanted this game to win has done the rounds of questioning how this happened, but honestly, it just feels like poor direction. Where Tales of the Shire should reward patience, it punishes efficiency and speed; where it should encourage creativity, it incentivizes shortcuts; and where it should be fun and light, it’s downright boring and forces you to trudge through fields to find near-invisible Butterfly Cup mushrooms for days on end just to feed them to your socially awkward neighbors.

I genuinely don’t enjoy poo-pooing creative endeavors, but Tales of the Shire is a disappointing step into the game development limelight for Wētā Workshop, and one has to wonder if they had the IP just lying around and fancied giving game design a go. It’s not without good ideas, but it certainly lacks heart and execution.

“Nary a squib, cracker or backarapper”

(Image credit: Weta Workshop)

The game opens with a familiar face: that of Gandalf towering over your custom character Hobbit on the roadside. He offers you a ride to your new home, Bywater, before ingraciously jet-setting off on his own travels around the Shire, leaving you to your fledgling journey. The tutorial sees you meeting most of the townsfolk, learning the ropes of Hobbit life through farming, foraging, fishing, and feeding neighbors to grow your reputation and the prosperity of Bywater.

The main plotline sees a small collective of local Hobbits band together on a mission to officially gain township for Bywater, a quest decorated by typical Hobbit foolery. The abstract and oft whimsical ways in which these Hobbits go about their problem-solving make for some enjoyable momentum to its credit. For example, when a very dated rulebook suggests that one condition for a township is a wolf's head hung over the town gate, they approach it with great confidence despite none of them ever actually having seen a wolf in the peaceful Shire. Using remnants of forgotten knowledge from elder townsfolk, they piece together a rather rough and ready fake – which, of course, they later discover was entirely unnecessary.

It’s small moments of nonsense and whimsy like these that I was so excited for, but unfortunately, they are few and far between in Tales of the Shire. Dialogue in the game is extensive, but at least half of the characters offer no depth or development beyond their archetypal roles. You’ve got the grumpy, weird fishing man, lovely elderly cooking lady, slightly dumb farmer, generic cute kid, and brassy bar owner. That’s no sin; the joy of Hobbits is their simplicity, but there’s little original content here that makes dialogue feel worthwhile, and the lack of any voice-overs really hammers home the lifelessness.

Cutscenes are also unhelped by frequent perspective bugs (Image credit: Weta Workshop)

It’s quite the achievement that Tales of the Shire even fails to make Gandalf seem interesting; sure, he offers some hijinks and at least a few salient moments, but it’s a shallow attempt at capturing the wise yet whimsical wizard. Oh, and don’t get me started on the pitiful attempt at recreating a Gandalf firework display, because that truly is a crime against the source material. Seriously, 5-10 peony fireworks and nary a squib, cracker, or backarapper? That should be considered criminal.

That being said, some characters feel more Hobbit-specific in their caricatures. I loved Hobson, Bywater’s bumbling tradesman who will try to fob off any junk he finds to locals, and Delphinium, the herbalist who lives in the shadow – and lingering grief – of her deceased mother. While I wouldn’t go as far as to call these better-rounded characters dynamic, they at least pack a bit more of the heart and depth needed to make me want to interact with them.

Befriending your neighbors is a pretty central part of the game, so you’ll need to put aside any feelings of apathy towards them and muck in to build your relationships. The main way of doing this is through shared meals, hosted at a variety of locations around Bywater and with different party sizes, to win their favor. On the day of a shared meal, you’ll receive in your letterbox a hint at their food preferences; any meals or flavors they’re craving, which can help to raise friendships quicker.

These are, for the most part, fine, and cooking is most definitely the most fun activity in Bywater. It’s pretty basic, although it does get more complex as the game progresses when new recipes and tools are unlocked; even so, it’s pretty easy to master.

Time goes by so slowly

(Image credit: Weta Workshop)

Your new home of Bywater, is an interesting backdrop for a cozy adventure. Thematically, it hits all the right notes; rolling hills, pastoral beauty, and relatively organic-feeling, and I must give it at least some credit for winning me over later in the game. Navigation is intentionally slow-paced; there’s no map overlay, so after pinning your destination or quest to follow in the map menu, you have to follow a series of bluebirds that perch along pathways to point you in the right direction. For the first few hours, it’s grating at best, unhelped by the abundance of dead ends, impassible objects, and steep slopes you can’t walk down, but over time, you learn the layout and shortcuts for yourself. It’s one of the best ways the game teaches you patience, and it reminded me of my own experience learning the lay of the land when my mother moved to the countryside.

The same can’t be said for the game’s wider pacing issues, however. Some days crawl by, and having run out of things to do, those days often ended with my Hobbit Peony waiting at her bedside for night to fall to start a new day. Other days see a litany of villager requests stuffing your mailbox in the morning, ready to send you on a chain of fetch quests that will often take you across all four corners of Bywater; it would be better if the game paced these out better, as I was able to blast through a majority of the main plotline by the end of my second season in the game.

Best bit: cooking up a storm

(Image credit: Weta Workshop)

While there’s room for improvement even in my favorite part of the game, I did enjoy cooking. The minigames themselves are relatively fun, but I particularly like how it gives shape to the day, particularly when you find you need to nip out to grab ingredients from across Bywater. These more purposeful, time-bound tasks made hosting a treat.

Another oddity in the game’s pacing is the guild feature, which comes into play relatively late in the main storyline progression. As part of Bywater’s quest for township, you create groups for each of the four main activities, and every day, the group leader will post new requests. You can pin up to 10 requests, which, once fulfilled, will gain you progression points towards group mastery. However, it comes in so late in the game that you feel incentivized to just grind through these to unlock perks like a bigger backpack and additional cooking stations, which feels contrary to the wider pacing.

Never mind the fact that, on top of this, there are a lot of bugs and optimization issues – or at least, there were in my Xbox playthrough, but from what I’ve seen online, these are still present months after release for many players.

Skipping around town for too long leads to frame rate drops, characters in the background of conversations stutter about the screen, and quests can sometimes bug out if you go to sleep mid-way through, making some days a mad panic to complete it all before the clock strikes midnight. My game also fatally crashed upwards of ten times during my time with it, requiring me to play my day from scratch – and you can imagine from my desperate desire to finish this game how frustrating it was to lose a full day’s work.

Home is where the existential crisis is

(Image credit: Weta Workshop)

There are some parts of Tales of the Shire I unabashedly enjoy, and chief among them is home decoration. You begin the game with a humble smial that, over time, unlocks and expands, but from the get-go, there’s a good amount of personality you can add to the rooms. You’ll receive furnishings and decor as gifts from neighbors as you go about your lives together, but you can also head to town to shop for more. Character creation isn’t quite as fun, but there are some really fun items in the mix and, if nothing else, their existence makes saving and spending money a little more worthwhile.

While you adventure and quest about Bywater, you can find fishing spots and plants to forage, as well as villagers to trade with. Some take your hard-earned cash for useful ingredients, seeds, and decor, while others will trade for their favorite ingredients. The early game makes this quite challenging; your only avenue for earning money is selling whatever you find or farm, and I quite enjoyed the grind. Unfortunately, the game scales weirdly, meaning it’s very easy past a certain point to rinse the local economy.

The chief culprit here is farming due to the perplexing choice to let vegetables grow out of season. You have to plant them at the correct time of year, and they’ll certainly bear fruit more quickly during those seasons, but as soon as you unlock more farm space and flowerbeds, you can easily abandon in-depth farming strategy and support your voracious appetite for home-cooked meals with easily farmed and watered vegetables.

(Image credit: Weta Workshop)

Of course, you’ll still need to forage and fish for more specific ingredients, but a fair amount of meals can be prepared with just farmed goods and purchased goods; the game could do with slightly higher stakes here, as it quickly became easy to cheese my way through.

It’s far harder to cheat your way to financial success with foraging or fishing, however. There are several designated fishing spots around the map, and while some do offer slightly rarer fish, most spots seem to generate the same species. Annoyingly, these aren’t stackable, and with a very limited 10-slot inventory space, you’ll probably find yourself heading to town to sell up your haul or back home to restock your pantry pretty often. This limitation makes some of the more rural fishing spots a real pain, but thankfully, you can pretty much ignore them without any real penalty.

The long and short of it is, almost everything I like about Tales of the Shire comes with a caveat, and it makes for an incredibly mixed bag experience. It certainly feels like, post demo, they had the opportunity to rework much of early reviewers’ criticism, but that was by and large ignored to the detriment of the end results.

Should you play Tales of the Shire?Play it if...

You always wanted to decorate your own smial
Home decoration is fulfilling from day one in Tales of the Shire, and the rate you receive furniture is pretty satisfying.

You like cooking sims
While cooking in the game is relatively simple, it’s quite fun to just potter about the kitchen and dash about Bywater to grab the necessary ingredients.

Don't play it if...

You want a game you can’t put down
On the contrary, you’ll want to put it down often. Maybe not forever, but often enough that you’ll need a backup game to play, because Tales of the Shire is both boring and buggy in places.

You’re a die-hard Lord of the Rings fan
Between Gandalf’s withering personality to the disappointing mundanity of Hobbit life, franchise fans will find the game rings hollow.View Deal

You want well-rounded simulation mechanics
From the weird pace of farming to the oft-painstaking fishing process, Tales of the Shire only delivers complexity in that nothing makes much sense.View Deal

Accessibility

There are some accessibility features, but not an all-encompassing selection. For example, you can change text size, adjust camera sensitivity, and toggle auto-assist features for both the camera and the cooking station gameplay, as well as difficulty. There’s controller support, but with limited remappable buttons, and a major oversight is the lack of a sprint toggle here. Add to this the lack of a mini-map, poor performance, and frequent crashes, and you have yet another mixed bag for Tales of the Shire.

(Image credit: Weta Workshop)How I reviewed Tales of the Shire: A Lord of the Rings Game

I played over 25 hours of Tales of the Shire on my Xbox Series S, completing the main storyline and quests and significantly progressing my villager relationships and guild quests. I played on my Sony KD-49XH8096 TV using Logitech Multimedia Z200 speakers and a standard Xbox wireless controller.

I used standard settings, comparing the experience to other popular farming and life sims like Stardew Valley, Disney Dreamlight Valley, and Palia, as well as indie titles like Coral Island.

First reviewed October 2025

Categories: Reviews

I tested this budget 10.1-inch digital photo frame, and it’s impressively precise for its affordable price

Sun, 10/26/2025 - 05:00

Eptusmey 10.1-inch WiFi Digital Photo Frame: review

The Eptusmey 10.1-inch WiFi Digital Photo Frame is an affordable digital photo frame built on the Uhale platform. At 1280 x 800 pixels, it’s not the highest resolution photo frame on the market, but it’s capable of pretty credible sharpness and is far easier to use than other affordable frames I’ve tested.

I’ve used quite a few different digital photo frame apps now, and they vary widely from the full-featured, bespoke marketplace of the Netgear Meural Canvas II to Frameo, the third-party, one-size-fits-all app used by many digital photo frames, including the alternate version of this device. But there’s something novel about the Eptusmey’s user interface that I find particularly smooth and intuitive.

Setting up the frame is straightforward enough. Once you’ve selected its language and logged in to your Wi-Fi, you can start getting friends and family set up to send photos directly to the frame. Just download the Uhale app, scan the QR code, or enter the displayed code, and you’re good to go. You’re then ready to start selecting photos from your phone and firing them over.

If you’ve read many of my reviews of the best digital photo frames, you’ll know a pet peeve of mine is how some devices handle image orientation, often opting for a universal size that rarely fits every photo well. Instead, the Uhale app and Eptusmey photo frame allow you to scale images to fit and adjust the vertical or horizontal alignment to precisely frame the elements you choose. Being able to adjust this on a per-picture basis on the screen made it far easier to tweak specific images that didn’t look right, rather than having to delete and reupload them.

(Image credit: Future / Josh Russell)

Odd issues did crop up now and then, though. First, despite the fact that I could set the scaling and position of images in the app, this didn’t seem to be saved for the uploaded images, meaning I’d have to set it again once they were on the frame. I also found that while scrolling through my phone’s photo library, it was far too easy to accidentally drag and select a bunch of images or, worse, deselect all of the ones I’d already picked out.

While colors are decent, they’re not quite as vibrant as I’ve come to expect from the best digital photo frames. Hues are accurate – there aren’t necessarily any specific missteps in terms of the color profile – but the frame pulls its punches when it comes to saturation. Rhododendrons that are a fireworks display of pinks, oranges and yellows even on the relatively conservative screen of my iPhone 16 Pro look more pastel than I’d expect, making the overall effect much more subdued.

By contrast – if you’ll excuse the pun – black and white photography really pops. Capable of both impressive brightness and relatively deep blacks, the Eptusmey shows off monochrome shots with an expansive dynamic range. Whether it was displaying shots of lichen-covered cliffsides in the Scottish Highlands or neo-gothic buildings in Budapest, grayscale photos always looked both bold and bright.

(Image credit: Future / Josh Russell)

Despite the frame’s relatively meager 1280 x 800 resolution – hitting a pixel density of 149ppi – detail is also very decent. Whether it’s the individual hairs of a bumblebee’s fuzzy butt or the grains of sand clinging to a frog’s back, fine detail is crisply rendered. Unfortunately, though, the Eptusmey fares less well with images shot at shorter focal lengths. The iPhone 16 Pro’s artificial bokeh occasionally appeared over-sharpened, making those images look much weaker by comparison.

Another regrettable blind spot of the Eptusmey is how reflective its glass is. I tested this digital photo frame during a British autumn – I can barely remember the last time I even saw the sun, let alone had it shining on this frame. But, even so, this photo frame’s screen is swamped by reflections of our modestly lit testing space, meaning it’s not going to be a good choice for anywhere particularly bright or with a lot of furnishings to reflect.

Outside of the screen, the Eptusmey’s design is similarly mixed. In the plus column, its rear leg is very sturdy and makes switching orientation simple: pop it out and pop it back in rotated at 90 degrees, and you’re good to go. It also offers decent aesthetics, with the painted wood frame and modest white mount around the screen looking classy enough for a frame at this price range, and the two color options providing a decent choice to match the frame to your decor.

(Image credit: Future)

It’s not perfect, though, by any stretch. The mount is very plasticky to the touch – I’ve definitely been spoiled by the beautiful paper-like texture of the Aura Aspen here, though, so I won’t hold that too much against it.

Perhaps a more significant minus is the fact the paint on the exterior frame has started to wear off in a few places. Picking at the edge of the frame with my thumbnail, I was easily able to replicate this damage, which makes me worry a little about its durability.

OK, the Eptusmey 10.1-inch WiFi Digital Photo Frame definitely isn’t flawless: its colors are a little duller than they should be, while the screen shows up way too many reflections even under artificial light.

But this needs to be viewed in the context of its price: you can get it for as little as $55.99 / £49.99, putting it right down at the cheapest end of the market. Given the price, it’s impressive: not only is it surprisingly crisp, it makes it really easy to frame your photos and get them looking their best. It’s definitely worth a look if you want to save on a frame.

(Image credit: Future / Josh Russell)Eptusmey 10.1-inch WiFi Digital Photo Frame review: price & release date

The Eptusmey 10.1-inch WiFi Digital Photo Frame is available now and has a list price of £79.99. Cheap though this is, you can actually get it for even less if you shop around, with Amazon UK selling it from just £49.99. It’s also available from Amazon in the US for $55.99, although only the version compatible with the third-party Frameo app, which offers a great user experience but is different from that outlined in this review.

While the US market is restricted to the Black Oak Wood colorway tested here, those in the UK have more options available. You can pick up the White Oak Wood colorway for £49.99, the Walnut Wood colorway for £59.99 and the Black Oak Wood colorway for £79.99, giving you more options to ensure your frame complements your decor.

(Image credit: Future)Eptusmey 10.1-inch WiFi Digital Photo Frame review: specs

Dimensions

11.3 x 8.1 x 1 inches (287 x 206 x 25mm)

Display size

10.1-inch

Resolution

1280 x 800, 149.5 pixels per inch

Aspect Ratio

16:10

Touch Screen

Yes

Sound

Built-in speaker

Orientation

Portrait or landscape

Storage

32GB

Connectivity

Wi-Fi, USB, SD card

(Image credit: Future / Josh Russell)Should I buy the Eptusmey 10.1-inch WiFi Digital Photo Frame?

Attributes

Notes

Rating

Features

4/5

Design

Glass too reflective and wood easily scuffed

3.5/5

Performance

4/5

Value

5/5

Buy it if…

You want a super affordable digital photo frame
Available from as little as $55.99 / £49.99, the Eptusmey 10.1-inch WiFi Digital Photo Frame is nearly as affordable as our pick for the best budget digital photo frame, Aeezo Portrait 01, yet with a more premium feeling frame.

You love a simple user experience
Using the Eptusmey’s on-screen controls, bespoke app or even the third-party Frameo app with relevant versions makes it straightforward to transfer your shots and even allow your friends and family to do the same.

Don’t buy it if…

You love vibrant colors
While the Eptusmey’s doesn’t seem to make major missteps in the way it represents hues, it’s not quite vivid enough to be true to life, making your snaps feel a little undersaturated.

You want to use it in a bright room
There’s no anti-reflection coating on the Eptusmey’s display, meaning that it’s not great for bright spaces. Even without much direct light, it mirrors bright objects in the room far too readily.

Eptusmey 10.1-inch WiFi Digital Photo Frame review: also consider

Aura Walden

Aeezo Portrait 01

Pexar 11-inch Digital Picture Frame

Display size

10.1-inch

11-inch

Resolution

1280 x 800, 149.5 pixels per inch

2000 x 1200, 212 pixels per inch

Aspect Ratio

16:10

5:3

Touch Screen

Yes

Sound

Built-in speaker

Orientation

Portrait or landscape

Storage

32GB

Connectivity

Wi-Fi, USB, SD card

Wi-Fi, SD card, USB

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

Aeezo Portrait 01
One of the Eptusmey’s closest rivals in terms of cost, the Aeezo Portrait 01 offers decent image quality and an even better price. It’s built on the Frameo app like some versions of the Eptusmey, meaning you can trust it’ll be just as easy to use. We did criticize its build quality in our Aeezo Portrat 01 review, though, with its cheaper frame and stand drawing particular ire.

Pexar 11-inch Digital Picture Frame
OK, the Pexar 11-inch is a fair bit pricier than the Eptusmey, costing $169.99 / £149. But it also offers a whole load of things the latter doesn’t. That includes an impressive reflection-free screen, vibrant hues and one of the best pixel densities I’ve ever seen from a digital photo frame at 212-ppi for super crisp images. Read my full Pexar 11-inch Digital Picture Frame review.

How I tested the Eptusmey 10.1-inch WiFi Digital Photo Frame

Tested it over two weeks
Uploaded a wide variety of photos
Tried it in multiple locations and orientations

I tested the Eptusmey 10.1-inch WiFi Digital Photo Frame over a period of several weeks. First, I set it up, then I used the Uhale app to transfer photos I’ve taken, making sure to split the balance between brightly colored shots and more subdued detail-focused ones. Next, I used the frame to tweak the cropping and alignment of photos.

I then tried using the frame in both horizontal and vertical orientations, as well as moving it to a variety of locations in my home and the TechRadar office to see how it coped with reflections and ambient light conditions.

I’m an experienced photographer, having taken more than 40,000 shots over the years on my Canon DSLR and iPhone 16 Pro. On top of this, I spent many years working in print publishing, meaning I know how to assess the nuances of how images can differ between the source device and the final product.

First reviewed: October 2025
Read more about how we test

Categories: Reviews

The RIG R5 Spear Pro HS gaming headset surprised me with rich, crisp audio that punches above its price point

Sat, 10/25/2025 - 11:00

RIG R5 Spear Pro HS: one-minute review

(Image credit: Future)

Quality gaming audio doesn’t have to cost the earth; something that Nacon’s RIG brand has proven time and again with some of the best PS5 headsets around. Now, its RIG R5 Spear Pro HS wired gaming headset has landed around the top end of the budget spectrum, and yes, it’s also a winner.

I’m usually wary of cheapish gaming headsets as there’s usually always at least one glaring weakness, even if other aspects impress. However, the R5 Spear Pro is a fantastic all-rounder, providing great build quality, a high level of comfort thanks to its plush ear cups, and superb audio for both gaming and listening to music.

I guess the one big ‘weakness’ here is that the R5 Spear Pro is a wired-only gaming headset, an advantage the aptly named SteelSeries Arctis Nova 3 Wireless would have over it, for example. That means you won’t be going wireless via 2.4GHz or Bluetooth. But the silver lining here is that the headset will work with any platform, device, or controller that has a 3.5mm headphone jack.

The R5 Spear Pro is advertised as a PlayStation-facing headset, compatible with PS5 and PS4, while also supporting the brand’s Tempest 3D audio profile. However, you can expect it to work just fine on Xbox Series X, Series S, Nintendo Switch 2, and others, given its simple wired connection.

I really have very little to complain about here, so expect a review on the shorter side. Some on-board features would’ve been nice, like mic muting or EQ switching, but what’s here is impressive for the price.

(Image credit: Future)RIG R5 Spear Pro HS: Price and availability

List price: $69.99 / £69.99 (around AU$99)
Available now in the UK and Europe; US release on November 1
Comparable in price to the Epos H3 and Corsair HS50

The RIG R5 Spear Pro HS gaming headset is having a bit of a staggered release right now. It’s available in the UK and Europe now, but US folks will have to wait until November 1. It retails for $69.99 / £69.99 (around AU$99), and can be bought from Nacon’s website or regional stores.

It’s a pretty fair price tag for what you’re getting here, finding itself between the retail prices of the Epos H3 - our pick for the best wired gaming headset - and another budget banger in the Corsair HS50. Though at this price and sound quality, RIG might just knock Epos’s long-conquering headset off its throne.

RIG R5 Spear Pro HS: specs

Price

$69.99 / £69.99 (around AU$99)

Weight

0.74lbs / 0.34kg

Drivers

40mm graphene

Compatibility

PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Switch, Switch 2, PC

Connection type

Wired (3.5mm)

(Image credit: Future)RIG R5 Spear Pro HS: design and features

Out of the box, the R5 Spear Pro presents a seriously no-frills package. You’re getting the headset itself and a pair of PlayStation-branded mod plates for the ear cups’ exterior. More on those soon.

The headset doesn’t draw much attention to itself with a largely matte black finish. The RIG logo is emblazoned on top of the headband and mod plates, but it’s an otherwise low-key aesthetic. Which, hey, we definitely expect at this price point.

The headset, like other RIG products, is made from sturdy plastic that’s strongly resistant to wear and tear. RIG headsets are always impressively durable, and it’s a similar story here. It’s incredibly comfortable, too, with plush material for the headband and earcups resting nicely on your head without irritating over longer gaming sessions.

The headset naturally features a mic attached to the left earcup. It’s unfortunately not detachable, meaning you probably won’t be leaving the house with it, but it’s impressively flexible and easy to shape into a position that feels right for you.

The centerpiece of the R5 Spear Pro’s design, though, is its bespoke magnetic mod plates, which attach to the headset’s ear cups. As mentioned, the box contains a pair with the PlayStation logo slapped onto them, but you can buy other official designs separately. That includes one specifically designed for the EVO fighting game tournament.

RIG R5 Spear Pro HS: performance

The R5 Spear Pro simply provides brilliant, crisp audio for the price. When I got to testing by plugging it into my DualSense Wireless Controller for a Ghost of Yotei play session, I was immediately struck by the impressively layered audio that picked up on everything from the swaying breeze to distant clashes of swords.

Directional audio is brilliantly accurate, too, with audio flitting between left and right channels in an impressively immersive manner. The absorbing soundtrack of Tetris Effect Connected really came alive here, its audio-reactive gameplay really playing to the R5 Spear Pro HS’s strengths. Its 40mm graphene drivers, overall, provide pristine audio with little distortion even at higher volumes. I’d have preferred its bass register to be a little stronger, but it’s by no means underwhelming here.

Microphone quality is also solid. Not quite as impressive as with the RIG 900 Max HS’s crystal clear quality, but this one still more than gets the job done. It certainly works best on consoles, this flip-to-mute mic, as on my Windows PC I did have to wrestle a bit to get it to recognize the mic. However, using it while connected to a controller on PC solved that issue for me in the short term.

As mentioned, there isn’t much in terms of on-board functionality. The cable does have a volume slider, though it’s honestly a little stiff, and I ended up preferring using software settings on console and PC to adjust the headset’s audio.

(Image credit: Future)Should I buy the RIG R5 Spear Pro HS?Buy it if...

You want exceptional audio quality for less
It’s hard to find sound quality this good at this price point. While not the absolute cheapest budget-friendly headset out there, I feel the R5 Spear Pro HS comes in at a very reasonable price given its fantastic audio and strong build quality.

You play on a variety of platforms
Whether you’re on PlayStation, Xbox, or Switch consoles or PC, the R5 Spear Pro HS is an impressively versatile gaming headset, delivering stellar audio quality across all major platforms.

Don't buy it if...

You prefer having on-board buttons and features
Aside from its volume slider, there are no quick shortcuts or buttons on the headset itself. It doesn’t need many, to be fair, but it means you won’t have access to desirable features on other headsets like EQ profiles.

You want better customization
With no compatible companion software, the R5 Spear Pro HS is very much a case of ‘what you hear is what you get.’ Not a terrible thing in and of itself, as you can always rely on Dolby Atmos or Tempest 3D, but those after a more customizable audio experience won’t find it here.

RIG R5 Spear Pro HS: Also consider

Here are a couple more gaming headsets that come highly recommended if you’re not keen on the RIG R5 Spear Pro HS.

RIG R5 Spear Pro HS

Turtle Beach Atlas 200

SteelSeries Arctis Nova 3X Wireless

Price

$69.99 / £69.99 (around AU$99)

$59.99 / £49.99 (around AU$79)

$109.99 / £99.99 / AU$109.99

Weight

0.74lbs / 0.34kg

0.62lbs / 0.28kg

0.57lbs / 0.27kg

Drivers

40mm graphene

50mm Nanoclear

40mm Neodymium

Compatibility

PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Switch, Switch 2, PC

PC, Xbox Series X (Xbox version only), PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, iOS, Android

Connection type

Wired (3.5mm)

Bluetooth, 2.4GHz wireless (USB-C receiver)

Turtle Beach Atlas 200
A real budget powerhouse, once again providing shockingly good audio for the price. Throw in a comfy fit and a crystal clear mic, and this one just may tempt you away from the RIG R5 Spear Pro HS for good reason.

Read our full Turtle Beach Atlas 200 review

SteelSeries Arctis Nova 3X Wireless
One for consideration if you’re looking for wireless options instead, but want to keep costs down. The Arctis Nova 3X Wireless is a brilliant, cost-effective gaming headset that’s multiplatform-capable and has a lightweight build that remains comfortable for hours on end.

Read our full SteelSeries Arctis Nova 3X Wireless review

How I tested the RIG R5 Spear Pro HS

Tested for two weeks
Tested across PS5, Xbox Series X, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC
Compared to other RIG headsets like the RIG 900 Max HS

I tested the RIG R5 Spear Pro HS for two weeks for this review. While I mostly played games with the headset, I also used it for work purposes, as well as casually listening to music in my spare time.

I used the headset across all major platforms, including PS5, Xbox Series X Digital Edition, Nintendo Switch 2, and my gaming PC. For this review, I played titles including Ghost of Yotei, Final Fantasy 14 Online, Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds, Tetris Effect Connected, PUBG Battlegrounds, and Tekken 8.

During testing, I went back and forth between the R5 Spear Pro HS and the pricier wireless offering, RIG 900 Max HS. I found audio quality to be largely identical across both products, though, as you might expect, build quality is better on the more expensive product, which also feels more durable thanks to its metallic, flexible headband and better materials used overall. Still, the R5 Spear Pro HS isn’t far off.

First reviewed October 2025

Read more about how we test

Categories: Reviews

I tested the JBL Bar 1000MK2 soundbar for two weeks, and it’s Dolby Atmos surround sound with a unique wireless twist

Sat, 10/25/2025 - 06:00

JBL Bar 1000MK2: Two minute review

The Bar 1000MK2 kit with wireless surround speakers, remote control, and accessory cables and mounts (subwoofer not shown) (Image credit: Future)

The JBL Bar 1000MK2 is designed to address a problem inherent to the discrete surround speakers that come with soundbar systems: what happens when you don’t have a suitable place to plug them in?

It’s a challenge the JBL Bar 1000MK2 addresses elegantly by using detachable, rechargeable surround speakers that can be placed almost anywhere — with or without power.

Along with its detachable surround speakers, this model goes beyond most of the best soundbars by including not one, but three dedicated HDMI inputs. It’s blistering with wireless connections, too, including AirPlay and Google Cast. The included 10-inch wireless sub completes the picture, turning the Bar 1000MK2 into a highly flexible home theater system.

It creates highly immersive, cinematic experiences that put you in the middle of the action, but it’s not without its flaws. Height channel effects, the hallmark of a great Dolby Atmos or DTS:X soundtrack, can be a little underwhelming, and dialogue isn’t quite as clear as other soundbars such as the Sonos Arc Ultra or Bose Smart Ultra Soundbar. Music quality can vary: modern recordings (especially those mixed as Dolby Atmos tracks) shine, but older material loses something on playback.

Still, all in, the JBL Bar 1000MK2 is a fun, powerful, and versatile addition to any TV setup.

JBL Bar 1000MK2 review: Price & release date

The Bar 1000MK2 uses the JBL One app for setup control, but most functions can be carried out using the included hardware remote (Image credit: Future)

$1,199.95 / £899.99 (about AU$1,845)
Released June 2025

JBL launched the Bar 1000MK2 in June 2025 in both the US and the UK. Additional countries are planned for October and beyond, but pricing for these markets has yet to be announced.

As an update to the Bar 1000, JBL has kept the main ingredients (the included sub, detachable surrounds, and three dedicated HDMI inputs), but has made some small changes to the components. Instead of five racetrack drivers and three tweeters on the main bar, there are now six racetracks and only two tweeters. The deleted tweeter might make a difference: it was centrally located, where it played a role in dialogue clarity.

The detachable surrounds have also been modified. Here again, JBL has swapped tweeters for full-range racetrack drivers. The surrounds can now be used in another room for remote TV listening, or as an alternative to the main bar and subwoofer in Night mode.

Curiously, JBL’s pricing creates different comparisons depending on where you live. In the US, it’s $200 more expensive than the Sonos Arc Ultra ($999) and Bose Smart Ultra Soundbar ($999), and yet, in the UK, all three products are priced alike at £899. The Bar 1000MK2's price has dropped in the US since launch, however, with it now widely available for $999.

Given that the Bar 1000MK2 comes with its own wireless subwoofer and surround speakers, which isn’t the case for Sonos or Bose, it may make more sense for buyers to compare it to similarly equipped products like Samsung’s HW-Q930F ($1,399) or LG’s S90TR ($1,199).

JBL Bar 1000MK2 review: Specs

Dimensions (W x H x D)

Soundbar: 33.6 x 2.0 x 5.0 inches; detachable surround speaker (each): 7.4 x 2.0 x 5.0 inches; subwoofer: 12.8 x 15.7 x 12.8 inches

Speaker channels

7.1.4

Connections:

1x HDMI out (with eARC), 3x HDMI 2.1 in, optical digital audio, Ethernet, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, USB-A

Dolby Atmos/DTS:X

Yes/Yes

Sub included

Yes

Rear speakers included

Yes

Features

AirPlay 2, Google Cast, HDMI 2.1, 4K 60Hz, HDR10+, and Dolby Vision pass-through, Tidal Connect, Spotify Connect, Dolby Atmos Music, Roon Ready, rear speaker broadcast mode, Night Listening mode, native integration of music services including Tidal, Qobuz, Amazon Music, and more

JBL Bar 1000MK2 review: FeaturesImage 1 of 5

The Bar 1000MK2 provides 3 HDMI inputs along with an HDMI output (with eARC); the fully wireless surround speakers dock into the soundbar's sides for charging and also have a USB-C port for power (Image credit: Future)Image 2 of 5

(Image credit: Future)Image 3 of 5

(Image credit: Future)Image 4 of 5

(Image credit: Future)Image 5 of 5

(Image credit: Future)

Three dedicated HDMI inputs with 4K/HDR passthrough
Bluetooth and Wi-Fi with comprehensive streaming support
Fully wireless surround speakers that can be placed anywhere

JBL’s top-tier products have a reputation for being chock-full of features, and the Bar 1000MK2 is no exception. I’m thrilled when a soundbar offers even one HDMI input to compensate for the one it takes up on the TV. With three of these inputs, the Bar 1000MK2 doubles as an AV receiver alternative, letting you hook up multiple devices like Blu-ray players or game consoles.

I’m a little disappointed that the optical connection is strictly an alternative to the HDMI eARC port (you can’t use it as its own discrete input), and gamers should take note that the soundbar’s video passthrough is limited to a 60Hz refresh rate.

With both Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, plus Apple AirPlay 2, Google Cast, Tidal Connect, and Spotify Connect, you can stream just about any music source to the Bar 1000MK2. Better yet, JBL lets you natively stream services like Tidal and Amazon Music from within the JBL One companion app, ensuring compatibility with Dolby Atmos Music tracks (when available). Longtime JBL fans should note that, unlike previous JBL soundbars, the Bar 1000MK2 isn’t compatible with Amazon Alexa for voice control or multiroom audio.

JBL remains the only soundbar maker that uses fully wireless surround speakers, which enable a huge range of placement options. New on the MK2 is the ability to use them as auxiliary TV speakers for listening in a different room, or as personal “night mode” speakers.

Wondering about what it’s like to use rechargeable speakers? Honestly, it’s pretty great. JBL estimates a single charge will get you about 10 hours of use, depending on your volume level. For me, that translated into two weeks between charges, watching about 1.5-2 hours of TV per day. And that included a three-hour continuous listening session where I put the system through a series of test clips and playlists.

I really appreciate that JBL includes wall-mounting hardware for both the main bar and the surrounds. And, cleverly, the mounts for the surrounds are designed for easy on-and-off placement to help with recharging. Finding a way to leave them plugged in via USB-C while wall-mounted, on the other hand, might prove tricky, and JBL doesn’t include chargers in the box.

Features score: 5 / 5

JBL Bar 1000MK2 review: Performance

Both the soundbar and wireless surrounds (shown here docked on the soundbar for charging) feature upfiring Atmos speakers (Image credit: Future)

Impressive surround sound
Lackluster height channels and precision
Slightly harsh music rendering

With a total of 10 drivers in the main soundbar, two drivers in each surround module, and a big, 10-inch cone on the down-firing subwoofer, the Bar 1000MK2 has all the ingredients needed for a full-throated home theater experience.

Whether you’ve got access to Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, or just good ol’ Dolby Digital 5.1, this soundbar does a great job of putting you in the middle of the action.

With the speaker’s PureVoice mode on (the default), I found dialogue clarity adequate, but not as crystal-clear as the Sonos Arc Ultra or Bose Smart Ultra Soundbar. It’s not a deal-breaker, but at this price, I expect top-notch dialogue quality.

JBL’s 7.1.4-channel system successfully decoded Dolby Atmos up to 9.1.6 and DTS:X at up to 7.1.4. There isn’t a lot of DTS:X content out there, but it’s nice to know the Bar 1000MK2 can handle it.

Those detachable, fully wireless surround speakers may look like toys, but they’re the real deal. Placing them on either end of my couch created an excellent sound field. During key moments in Ford v Ferrari, race cars could clearly be heard careening from my left to my right as they battled for dominance on (and sometimes off) the track.

Ideally, they should be placed just behind your listening position, but it’s not vital.

However, leaving the surround speakers attached to the main soundbar (where they recharge if you don’t want to use your own chargers) will give you much less immersive sound. The Bar 1000MK2 simply isn’t as adept at creating virtual surround and rear height effects from the front of your room. If you want a single bar that can do that, the Sonos Arc Ultra, Bose Smart Ultra Soundbar, and Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar Plus are better choices.

Image 1 of 3

The Bar 1000MK2 system's large, ported subwoofer features a downfiring 10-inch cone driver (Image credit: Future)Image 2 of 3

(Image credit: Future)Image 3 of 3

(Image credit: Future)

Despite its impressive overall performance, there are some specific weaknesses. Some soundtrack elements lack sufficient dynamic range. During the classic courtyard shootout scene from No Time To Die, when James Bond sits stoically as his Aston Martin gets riddled with bullets, the automatic gunfire ricochets all around the room, as it should. But the overhead church bells sound flat, and in the moments leading up to this scene, the car chase lacks presence and immediacy.

Similarly, even with the soundbar’s Atmos setting at max (the loudest you can push the height drivers), it was hard to hear the difference between surround and overhead effects.

I’ve reviewed a lot of single-speaker soundbars recently, and the Bar 1000MK2 reminded me that even the best of these units can’t compete with a dedicated subwoofer. Though the power and impact of this sub seem disproportionately low when compared to its size, the unit does what it needs to do. Of the available five subwoofer power levels, I found levels four and five to be plenty of punch for movies. For music, however, I needed to tone it down: levels one to three were more enjoyable.

Speaking of music, I’m sad to report that it’s an uneven aspect of the Bar 1000MK2’s performance. It seems that JBL hasn’t moved the needle much since it released the Bar 9.1 -- its first soundbar with wireless surrounds. Like that speaker, the Bar 1000MK2 has trouble with its midranges, and the highs have a tendency to get shouty and shrill, particularly at higher volumes.

On the bright side, the system is compatible with hi-res audio up to 24-bit/192kHz, and it seems to love tracks that have been produced in recent years. Modern recordings, especially those in Dolby Atmos Music, really shine. But older songs lose a lot. There are no EQ presets (e.g., Music, Movies, Sports, etc.); however, JBL does offer an equalizer in the JBL One app. Still, all my tweaking didn’t resolve the issue. Strangely, equalizer adjustments are universal; there’s no way to save your changes or apply different settings to each input.

Using the wireless speakers for portable TV audio (Broadcasting mode) is a clever idea. If you’ve ever grouped a Sonos kitchen speaker with a Sonos soundbar, it’s the same concept. And the wireless speakers have an impressive range. With the soundbar in my basement, I was still able to get a stable signal on our third floor.

You can even choose mono or stereo sound. Where the idea stumbles, somewhat, is that the speakers don’t have their own built-in volume control. Changing the volume on the main system affects that of the wireless speakers. You can make it slightly quieter or louder using the JBL One app’s three rear channel settings: low, medium, and high.

Quiet, personal listening (Night listening mode) works well, too, cutting sound from the main bar and sub and routing it all to the wireless speakers. In this mode, it’s the regular volume level that controls what you hear. I’m just a bit sad that JBL doesn’t offer the choice of mono/stereo in Night listening mode.

Performance score: 3.5 / 5

JBL Bar 1000MK2 review: Design

The Bar 1000MK2 has a bright alphanumeric LED display for control feedback (Image credit: Future)

Magnetic covers provide a finished look to both the bar and surrounds
Ultra short height keeps it from obstructing your TV’s lower frame
Lack of front-firing tweeters may diminish dialogue crispness

It’s impossible to overlook the Bar 1000MK2’s main design element: those detachable wireless surrounds. It’s unique, it’s clever, and it works. It may not be for everyone, but the flexibility of placement and the elimination of wires are a boon to those with awkward spaces.

With a utilitarian, black plastic body and plastic grille, the Bar 1000 MK2’s design won’t win any beauty contests. But if you’re of the opinion that soundbars should be heard, not seen, the 1000MK2 is a stunner.

As powerful soundbars go, the Bar 1000MK2 is remarkably compact, especially when you remove the wireless surround speakers. At just two inches tall, the MK2 is one of the shortest soundbars I’ve ever tested. Most folks won’t have to worry about it blocking the IR receiver (or screen) on their TVs.

A front-mounted alphanumeric display briefly comes to life to inform you of input changes, volume level, audio format (Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, etc.), and a wealth of other settings and alerts, which I find very helpful. I don’t like being forced to consult an app for these details (as is the case with many soundbars). It would be perfect if only you could adjust its brightness or disable it entirely.

The included magnetic end-caps aren’t a very elegant solution to the problem of how to hide the exposed charging contacts, but once installed, they do provide a very elegant finish to both the soundbar and the surrounds.

It’s harder to be enthusiastic about the included wireless subwoofer. At 15 inches tall and with a nearly 13-inch square footprint, it’s big, and that makes it harder to tuck away. You may be able to get away with placing objects on its flat top surface -- one of our cats decided it was the ideal spot for a nap and was surprisingly unfazed by the low-frequency rumbles, which I suppose is a quirky testament to the cabinet’s ability to dampen vibrations.

The soundbar’s top controls are basic in the extreme: Volume and input selection. If you’re using the speaker purely for TV audio, the sparse offering is fine. If you’re using it for music, it can feel limiting, especially the lack of muting, play/pause, and track skipping.

Good thing the Bar 1000MK2 ships with a remote. It covers all of those missing functions and then some. But I’m baffled by JBL’s decision to use icons instead of words to label buttons that control sub, surround, Atmos levels, and calibration. Curiously, this is only on the North American model. The European version gets English labels, even though that part of the world speaks many more languages than in Canada, the US, and Mexico.

Behind the front and top grilles on the main bar, JBL has installed six 1.7x3.1-inch racetrack drivers, two 1-inch tweeters, and two 2.75-inch up-firing full-range drivers.

It’s an unusual configuration: JBL uses the two tweeters as side beam drivers -- meaning they’re used to help with surround channels. It relies on the six racetrack drivers for the all-important center channel, which may explain why I found the Bar 1000MK2 less crisp on the dialogue front than other soundbars. Bose uses a central tweeter on the Smart Ultra Soundbar, and Sonos puts three front-firing tweeters on the Arc Ultra.

Each wireless surround has a 1.7x3.5-inch racetrack driver and a 2.75-inch, up-firing full-range driver.

Design score: 4 / 5

JBL Bar 1000MK2 review: Setup & usability Image 1 of 3

Set up, adjustment, and music streaming app screens on the JBL One app (Image credit: Future)Image 2 of 3

(Image credit: Future)Image 3 of 3

(Image credit: Future)

Easy setup and calibration
Front display provides vital feedback
JBL One app is simple and easy to use

Getting the Bar 1000MK2 set up is a snap. For basic use as a TV speaker, you can simply plug it into power and your TV’s HDMI (or optical) connection, plug in the subwoofer, and you’re done.

But it’s worth it to download the free and intuitive JBL One app. The app walks you through getting the soundbar connected to Wi-Fi – which takes less than one minute – after which you can access software updates and use streaming platforms like Apple AirPlay, Google Cast, Tidal Connect, and Spotify Connect.

There’s also native support for several streaming music services, including Tidal and Amazon Music, which helps to ensure you’re getting Dolby Atmos Music when available (Bluetooth, AirPlay, and Google Cast aren’t currently compatible with this format).

If you own more than one JBL Wi-Fi-based audio product, e.g., Charge 5 Wi-Fi, or one of the Authentics models, the app also lets you control these speakers individually or as groups.

Most of the time, you won’t need the app after the initial setup. Thanks to the built-in display, most tasks are easily performed with the remote. Exceptions to this are changing the EQ setting and switching to Night or Broadcast listening. You don’t need the app to perform the room calibration of the wireless surrounds, but it’s easier than using the remote and built-in display.

Calibration is very easy, and only involves two automated steps: a reading of the room with the surround speakers positioned where you normally sit, and another with the speakers placed in their regular positions off to the sides of your listening spot.

Setup & usability score: 4.5 / 5

JBL Bar 1000MK2 review: Value

Following discounts, the Bar 1000MK2's US price matches all-in-one soundbars like the Sonos Arc Ultra and Bose Smart Ultra Soundbar (Image credit: Future)

Good bang for the buck
Dialogue, Atmos effects, and music could be stronger
Incredibly versatile

Is the JBL Bar 1000MK2 a perfect soundbar? No, but for the price, it packs a feature set you simply won’t find anywhere else. Multiple HDMI inputs, full Wi-Fi streaming options, excellent cinematic surround sound, and of course, those funky detachable wireless speakers.

Its nearest direct competitors, the Samsung HW-Q930F ($1,399) and LG S90TR ($1,199), are, like the 1000MK2, priced just under each brand’s flagships.

TechRadar hasn’t reviewed these models, but if our experiences with their higher-end siblings (Samsung HW-Q990F and LG S95TR) are any indication, they’ll deliver better overall sound quality.

What they won’t give you is the Bar 1000MK2’s three HDMI inputs (they only have one), its fully wireless surround speakers (they have power cords), or the ability to use those speakers for remote/night listening.

Value score: 4 / 5

Should I buy the JBL Bar 1000MK2?

Section

Notes

Score

Features

Three HDMI inputs, fully wireless surround speakers and extensive wireless streaming support

5 / 5

Performance

Good surround immersion but lackluster Atmos effects, dialogue clarity and music performance

3.5 / 5

Design

Detachable wireless surround speakers dock into soundbar; slim profile with large alphanumeric LED display

4 / 5

Setup & usability

Simple setup and calibration; feature-packed JBL One app, but most functions can be controlled with hardware remote

4.5 / 5

Value

Impressive features and versatility for price but performance could be stronger

4 / 5

Buy it if...

You want full cinematic surround sound at a reasonable price
Companies like Bose, Sonos, and Marshall don’t include subwoofers and surrounds with their soundbars. Adding them increases the price of a full home theater setup by up to 100% or more. The Bar 1000MK2 comes with everything you need.

You have an unusual TV room
Not everyone has conveniently located power outlets or even good spots to mount surround speakers. The Bar 1000MK2, with its compact and fully wireless surrounds, provides far more versatility of placement.

You own multiple video devices like game consoles, disc players, or streamers
With three dedicated HDMI inputs, the Bar 1000MK2 not only compensates for the HDMI port it occupies on your TV, it actually adds two more. For some, this will eliminate the need for a separate HDMI switcher.

Don't buy it if...

You need crystal-clear dialogue
The Bar 1000MK2 is generally very good for dialogue quality, but you’ll find that most of its competitors (Bose, Sony, Sonos, etc.) offer more clarity.

You don’t want to compromise on surround power
As convenient as the Bar 1000MK2’s fully wireless surrounds are, they aren’t as big or as powerful as those in similar all-in-one systems from Samsung or LG.

Music listening is just as important as movies and TV
The Bar 1000MK2 is perfectly competent as a music speaker, but it’s clear that it was designed primarily for movies and shows. There’s a slight harshness to the upper-mids and highs that detracts from some music (especially older recordings), though it can be quite thrilling as a Dolby Atmos Music system.

JBL Bar 1000MK2 review: Also consider

JBL Bar 1000MK2

Sonos Arc Ultra

Bose Smart Ultra Soundbar

LG S90TR

Price

$1,199.95 / £899.99 (about AU$1,845)

$999 / £999 / AU$1,799

$899 / £899 / AU$1499

$1,199.99

Dimensions (w x h x d)

Soundbar: 33.6 x 2.0 x 5.0 inches; subwoofer: 12.8 x 15.7 x 12.8 inches; surround speaker: 5.0 x 7.4 x 2.0 inches

46.38 x 2.95 x 4.35 inches

41 x 2.3 x 4.2 inches

Soundbar: 49.2 x 2.5 x 5.3 inches; subwoofer: 7.9 x 16 x 15.9 inches; surround speaker: 3.9 x 6.9 x 4.7 inches

Speaker channels

9.1.4

5.1.2

7.1.3

Connections

HDMI out (with eARC), 3x HDMI 2.1 in, optical digital audio, Ethernet, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, USB-A

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

HDMI eARC, digital optical, Ethernet, bass module, IR blaster, USB (service only), Bluetooth, Wi-Fi

HDMI out (with eARC), HDMI 2.1 in, optical digital audio, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, USB-A

Dolby Atmos/DTS:X

Yes/Yes

Yes/No

Yes/Yes

Sonos Arc Ultra

If you’re content to build a system starting with a single-speaker soundbar, the Sonos Arc Ultra costs a little less ($999 in the U.S.) and addresses both the dialogue clarity and music performance concerns on the JBL Bar 1000MK2. It offers impressive virtual surround sound, though it can’t match the power and immersion of an all-in-one system like the Bar 1000MK2.

Read our full Sonos Arc Ultra review

Bose Smart Ultra Soundbar

Bose's top all-in-one soundbar, like the Sonos Arc Ultra, costs $999 in the US and can be added on with optional wireless surround speakers and a subwoofer. It also has superior dialogue clarity and music performance compared to the JBL Bar 1000MK2.

Read our full Bose Smart Ultra Soundbar review

LG S90TR

If you don’t want to compromise on the full home theater experience, the LG S90TR is the same price ($1,199) and will likely deliver better dialogue and music, though with only one HDMI input and the need to plug its surrounds into power, it’s not as versatile as the Bar 1000MK2.

How I tested the JBL Bar 1000MK2

(Image credit: Future)

Used JBL Bar 1000MK2 as main audio system for two weeks
Tested in basement media room
Main source was an Apple TV 4K, and streamed music from various apps

I spent two weeks with the JBL Bar 1000MK2 as my main audio system for watching movies, shows, and music in my basement media room. During that time, I ran through my usual battery 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 ARC output, but I also connected an Nvidia Shield TV to one of the MK2's HDMI inputs to test its passthrough capabilities.

For music, I used a variety of apps, including Apple Music, Tidal, Qobuz, and Amazon Music, listening to a wide range of genres and formats, like Dolby Atmos Music. Some were played from apps on the Apple TV 4K, while others were streamed wirelessly using AirPlay, Bluetooth and Google Cast.

Read more about how we test

First reviewed: October 2025

Categories: Reviews

DeerRun Q1 Classic treadmill review: A compact, no-fuss walking pad – but one for the ground floor

Sat, 10/25/2025 - 04:00

DeerRun classic: One minute review

Using one of the best under-desk treadmills, otherwise known as walking pads, have become the easiest way to sneak movement into a workday, and the DeerRun Q1 Classic leans into that promise with a low price, zero assembly model with a relatively compact footprint. It’s built for steady walking rather than running, with a responsive remote and a deck that feels stable and lightly cushioned.

It’s not whisper-quiet and the companion app is basic, but if your goal is to add a few thousand steps while you edit docs or watch a webinar, this compact slab of motivation makes a convincing case for itself.

DeerRun classic review: Specifications

Component

DeerRun Q1 Classic

Speed range

0.6–3.8 mph

Dimensions

49 x 20 x 4.5 in (pad), belt ~39.4 x 15.4 in

Weight

~43 lb

Capacity

up to 300 lb

Controls

Handheld remote and Bluetooth via PitPat

Claimed noise

“Low noise” brushless motor, <45 dB (in my room it sounded higher)

Compatibility

PitPat Fitness App

DeerRun classic review: Price and availability

$188 USD / £169 GBP / AU$413
Very affordable
Often on sale

DeerRun often discounts the Q1 Classic/Classic Pro family heavily; I’ve seen it listed at $188 in the US, with a stated 300 lb maximum user capacity and a 60-day risk-free trial plus one-year warranty. In the UK its Q1 Classic/Classic Pro walking pad is listed at £169 on DeerRun’s UK store and in Australia the same model is shown from AU$413 on DeerRun’s AU store.

Value is where the DeerRun Q1 Classic shines. For a sub-$200 walking pad with a decent-sized belt, a proper remote, and a one-year warranty, it’s outstanding value. There are slicker pads with folding frames, longer belts or quieter motors, but they typically cost a fair bit more. If your goal is to add 5–10k steps to your day while you work, you won’t find many better bargains right now.

Value score: 5/5

DeerRun Q1 Classic review: Design

I’ve been using the DeerRun Q1 Classic in a spare-bedroom office with a big desk and a fairly wide gap underneath. I’m 5 foot 7 inches and weight around 60 kg, and the deck felt a comfortable size for steady walking while working. It ships in a single box and there’s no assembly – plug it in, pair the app, and you’re moving within minutes.

Getting the unit upstairs was the hardest part; it’s manageable but a bit hefty. First impressions were good: clean design, compact size, and a belt that feels well set up out of the box with no sticking or drift.

Day to day, it’s a smooth operator. The handheld remote is responsive, so nudging your pace up or down feels natural rather than jumpy. The deck has a hint of bounce without wobble, and even after longer sessions I didn’t notice excess heat or that telltale treadmill overclocking smell. Noise is where it falls short: it isn’t obnoxious, but I wouldn’t use it during calls. I could watch webinars, but I had to turn my volume up.

This is a walking pad first and foremost, rather than an at-work under-desk treadmill. With a top speed of 6.1 km/h, it’s designed for a brisk walk rather than a run. There’s no safety rail as standard, but you can buy one separately as an accessory, although if you’re just planning to walk on it, you shouldn’t need one.

Storage is straightforward. It doesn’t fold, and it’s a touch heavy to lug around, but I could tilt it against the wall behind a door, and its slim 4.5-inch profile barely ate into the room. If your sofa sits tall off the ground, you could slide it under; but mine is too low to fit the height of the pad.

The power cable is short, which may impact the layout of your workstation, and DeerRun charges extra for a longer lead – again, some cynics might feel nickel-and-dimed here. On a practical note for upstairs offices: running created enough vibration through my timber floorboards that items started migrating across my desk. The pad itself stayed composed; but as the minutes passed, more and more items started edging towards the edge of my desk before tumbling onto the floor. Shock absorption isn’t the best.

Design score: 4/5

DeerRun Q1 Classic review: Features

(Image credit: Lily Canter)

Very basic. The PitPat app pairs quickly and offers simple programs but it’s not clear whether it can sync with apps like Strava. I couldn’t work out how to do this and found conflicting information online. Personally, I just used the remote to control the speed of the pad and promptly ignored the app after setup.

Features score: 3/5

DeerRun Q1 Classic review: Performance

The build is pleasantly robust for the price. The deck feels stable, the belt runs true, and the top surface is grippy without being abrasive. You don’t get a fold-up rail or incline - this is a flat, under-desk pad - but there are transport wheels and it stands upright neatly.

Walking quality is the headline. The pad accelerates and decelerates smoothly, speed changes via the remote are measured rather than lurchy, and I didn’t experience belt stutter or drift once it bedded in. The deck has just enough give that longer stints don’t feel like you’re marching on plywood. On a solid ground-floor slab, it should be ideal; on suspended floorboards, plan for some transmitted vibration at higher cadences.

Performance score: 4/5

Scorecard

Category

Comment

Score

Value

Outstanding for the price

5/5

Design

Solid and simple

4/5

Performance

Really good at what it does, but limited speed like many walking pads

4/5

Features

Lacking other than simple PitPat app

3/5

DeerRun Q1 Classic: Should I buy?Buy it if...

You're on a budget

Do you need a compact, inexpensive walking pad for a home office? The DeerRun is a solid choice.

You want to keep it simple

You’re happy using a 'stop-go' simple remote and don’t care about a fancy app.

You’re on the ground floor

Without good shock absorption, upstairs use might be noisy.

Don't buy it if...

You want true running speeds

This is not a running treadmill, and those that need a do-it-all device won't get that here.

You need whisper-quiet operation

Want to walk while in meetings, or early in the morning in a busy house? This isn't it.

Also consider

Mobvoi Home Walking Treadmill

Our best budget under desk treadmill, the Mobvoi is a great alternative if you want a simple walking pad to go the distance.

Read our full Mobvoi Home Walking Treadmill review

Lifespan TR1200-DT3

A more expensive walkingpad better suited for home offices, and our best overall.

Read our full Lifespan TR1200-DT3 review

How I tested

Used daily under a desk in a first-floor spare room, including long work sessions and webinar viewing. Assessed ease of setup, noise, stability, belt tracking, top speed, app pairing and day-to-day storage.

Categories: Reviews

Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere delivers an honest, deeply human look at Bruce in his darkest period

Fri, 10/24/2025 - 15:30

For the Bruce Springsteen faithful – and probably those who feel that way about Jeremy Allen White – today, October 24, 2025, has been a long time coming, as Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere is finally showing in movie theaters across the globe.

Now, for lack of a better analogy, the Boss has been the soundtrack of my life – well, for most of it – so I headed to a local AMC Theatre with Dolby Cinema in the great state of New Jersey for an opening-night preview screening.

I had a lot of feelings going in, especially since Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere isn’t like most biopics. But I wouldn’t even call it that, because it focuses on a very specific, short time in Springsteen’s career. Instead of portraying the many months spent on getting Born to Run just right or even Born in the U.S.A.’s release or Springteen’s rise to stratospheric stardom, it turns the spotlight onto one of his darker chapters – one that Springsteen became more open about in his memoir Born to Run and in Warren Zanes’s Deliver Me From Nowhere, which is the book that inspired this film.

So, let’s dive into it – and fair warning, I’ll have some mild spoilers ahead, though it’s kind of comical as this is based in reality, and we all know about Nebraska.

Inside Nebraska

Warning: some spoilers for Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere lie ahead.

(Image credit: 20th Century Studios)

Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere is a lot better than I was expecting it to be. It’s a good film that’s more like a deep character study of a specific time in Bruce Springsteen’s life. It jumps from before, during, and a bit after the recording of Nebraska, giving a deep dive into his mental health – both Bruce’s and his family’s – and his upbringing. The latter is done through black-and-white flashbacks, which at times feel a bit out of place but do an excellent job of at least rooting the pain and depression.

It opens showing a glimpse into that upbringing, but soon ties the anxiety and rush of an encounter into the rush and thrill of performing Born to Run to close out The River Tour. This is our first glimpse, and one of the few, of the E Street Band during Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere.

I never really got comfortable believing Jeremy Allen White was entirely the embodiment of Bruce Springsteen, but he sure gives off the look of a rock star known for energetic performances. Maybe most importantly, Allen White doesn’t just do an imitative voice of the Boss but, in my opinion, does a lot more with body language and how he presents himself.

From there on out, we see the relationship between Jon Landau – played by Jeremy Strong – and Bruce unfold on screen, and it matches the real-life relationship. They were two friends forever, who clearly had each other’s backs, and Landau definitely does a masterclass in being an agent, manager, and friend – fighting for what the artist wants.

We see Bruce then settle into a rental in Colts Neck, dive deep into some reading, and eventually watch Terrence Malick’s 1973 film Badlands, which pushes him to research a bit more and eventually start on a track of songs dubbed Starkweather, which becomes Nebraska. Seeing this process depicted on the big screen, and the historic room with the orange shag carpet, is something of a bit of a holy grail. And Jeremy Allen White does get the singing voice pretty close, as well as the guitar playing, though there is a unique blending. I also need to give a shout to the audio quality in this Dolby Cinema theater, but also to the mixing team on Springsteen: Deliver From Nowhere, it is done excellently. And there are a few tracks where the singing shifts from Jeremy Allen White to Bruce Springsteen, and vice versa.

We also see Bruce go on a few dates with a character, Faye – who in reality is a composite, and we see that struggle as he runs away from fame and goes on some self-discovery, which in turn is himself feeling like an outsider in his own body.

The human story behind the music

(Image credit: 20th Century Studios)

Beyond the recordings, I think what really hit the most with me was the visual telling of Springsteen’s struggles with his own mental health and that of his father’s, and the repairing of their relationship. While it’s rooted in fact, director Scott Cooper certainly took some liberties here and sped up the timeline.

It’s rare, I think, for Bruce himself to be so open with showing, telling, and reliving this, and Jeremy Allen White really shines in these scenes – he depicts the feeling of an outsider in their own body perfectly, acting the build-up to a breakdown and a panic attack with realism. Allen White also shows the struggle of realizing something is up but not knowing how to seek help – remember this is in the 1980s, specifically 1982.

I think those are the most powerful moments, and even if the pacing could be slow at times, it lets these moments of the film really build up and be delivered with ample time. For those who have read Born to Run or maybe watched Springsteen on Broadway, I think this acts as a really nice introspective and deep dive into Nebraska.

Yes, it’s more niche than, say, Born to Run, Born in the U.S.A., or Springsteen’s other work, but it’s also the most raw, natural, and, in the end, more impactful. It’s an important aspect of how the Boss became the Boss, and while I had my doubts going in, the result is an impactful, good film that’s very deep, emotive, emotional, and ultimately a close character study.

(Image credit: 20th Century Studios)

Yes, it can be hard to get past the fact that Jeremy Allen White is not Bruce Springsteen, but thanks to the attention to detail, the physicality, and the close study, it’s believable – minus the looks.

Ultimately, Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere explores the process of coming to terms with childhood trauma and the impacts of that, which can sit with you and become a theme of life as you move on. We’ve known Bruce’s family has had mental illness, and he's had his own demons; the art comes from that to a degree.

It may not hit every note perfectly, but I think fans will like it – it’s an honest, heavy, and deeply human look at Springsteen during arguably one of his darkest periods, one that still showcases the music-making process with just a taste of E Street Band greatness.

Ultimately, an antithesis of most biopics – a good thing.

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Categories: Reviews

The chic Smeg ECF03 looks like it came straight out of the 1950s, and brews consistently great hot and cold espresso

Fri, 10/24/2025 - 10:00

Smeg ECF03: one-minute review

The Smeg ECF03 is a stylish espresso machine that’s a significant upgrade from its predecessor, the Smeg ECF02. The key difference is a new cold-extraction feature, which takes around two minutes to produce smooth, sweet-tasting espresso that makes an ideal base for an iced americano, cappuccino, or cocktail.

Another important upgrade is the addition of a pressure gauge that helps you see if your espresso shot is properly extracted before it’s finished pouring. It’s surprising that this doesn’t show the exact pressure in bars, but it’s nevertheless a useful guide.

When you want to brew traditional hot espresso, the machine heats quickly, and its pump produces consistent pressure, so you get reliably well-extracted coffee once you’ve dialled in the grinder correctly. During my tests, the pump reached a maximum of 72dB, which isn’t as quiet as the noise-shielded BCC13, but it isn’t excessive.

Like all Smeg’s coffee machines, the ECF03 is controlled via a small set of buttons labelled with icons, which illuminate in different colors to show the machine’s status. Solid white means the machine is ready to brew hot, solid blue means it’s ready for cold-brewing. Flashing or orange lights mean the machine is either still heating or requires maintenance. You'll need to keep the manual handy for reference when you first start using it, but you'll soon learn what the different combinations signify.

(Image credit: Future)

The Smeg ECF03 is easy to maintain, and unlike most home espresso machines, it comes with a blank disc for backwashing the grouphead and water circuit. This makes it easy to clear out coffee oils and residue that might affect the taste of your drinks.

Overall, the ECF03 is an absolute pleasure to use, and during my testing, I found it difficult to fault. The only real drawback is the price, but it is justified by the quality and style. There’s a chance you can get a deal if you wait for the Black Friday sales, or if you’re not likely to use the cold-brew function, you could opt for the ECF02 instead.

Smeg ECF03: specifications

Name

Smeg ECF03

Type

Manual espresso machine

Dimensions (H x W x D)

14.3 x 8.1 x 11.6 inches / 36.4 x 20.5 x 29.5cm

Weight

24lb 11oz / 11.2kg

Water tank capacity

1.5qt / 1.4l

Steam wand

Yes, manual

Max pressure

15 bar

User profiles

Smeg ECF03: price and availability

Only available in Europe at the time of writing (October 2025)
Smeg ECF02, which lacks cold brew mode, costs considerably less

At the time of writing, the Smeg ECF03 is only available in Europe. It launched in the UK in September 2025 at a list price of £499.96. That works out at about $670 / AU$1,000, but official release dates and prices for the US and Australia have yet to be announced.

For comparison, the Smeg ECF02, which lacks a cold-brew function, has a list price of $600 / £399.95 / AU$699, but can sometimes be found at a significant discount. In the UK, for example, it's currently reduced to £299.95 in Smeg’s online store.

You’ll find today’s best deals on both machines below, with prices updated daily.

Value score: 4.5/5

Smeg ECF03: design

Chic 1950s-inspired design
Well-made, solid-feeling accessories
Cleverly concealed storage compartment

The ECF03 is part of Smeg’s line of 1950s-inspired appliances, with smooth curved lines, stainless steel accents, and a choice of glossy retro colors: pastel blue, cream (shown here), white, and black. It’s a new sibling for the Smeg ECF02, with the biggest difference being the ECF03's ability to brew cold-extracted espresso as well as hot.

It also has a slightly different shape, with convex sides rather than concave, and a gauge on the front that helps you see if you’ve achieved the optimum pressure for extracting a shot (a feature I always appreciate).

(Image credit: Future)

You’ll find a power switch on the left-hand side of the ECF03’s case, and its functions are controlled with a set of four buttons on the stainless steel top (for single shot, double shot, steam, and switching between hot and cold brewing).

The 58mm portafilter feels reassuringly solid in the hand, weighing about 240z / 676g with a basket fitted, and the tamper is a hefty 16z / 448g. This weight doesn’t just make it satisfying to use, it also helps you apply even pressure to produce an evenly compressed puck without fissures, resulting in more consistently extracted coffee.

(Image credit: Future)

Like all other Smeg espresso machines I’ve tested, the ECF03 comes with four filter baskets, including pressurized and single-walled options for single and double shots. Pressurized (double-walled) baskets are more forgiving if your technique isn’t quite perfect, producing reliably thick crema, while the single-walled baskets give you finer control over extraction.

The steam wand pivots out from the machine, with a good range of movement and an angle that’s ideal for creating a ‘whirlpool’ in your milk pitcher. It has a cool-touch silicone handle and is operated using a stainless steel knob on the machine’s right-hand side. Pull it towards you for steam, and push it away for hot water.

(Image credit: Future)

Pull out the drip tray and you’ll find a handy storage compartment, which holds the filter baskets you use less frequently, a stiff-bristled cleaning brush, a needle tool for clearing the steam wand if it becomes blocked, and a blank disc that you can place in the portafilter handle to backwash the machine using a cleaning tablet. That last item is a particularly nice addition that’s used daily in a commercial setting, but rarely included with home espresso machines.

The only item notable by its absence is a milk pitcher, which is a little surprising for an espresso machine in this price bracket.

Design score: 5/5

Smeg ECF03: performance

Brews consistently good hot and cold espresso
Pressure gauge is useful, though the lack of numbers is surprising
Easy to clean and care for

I found the ECF03 a joy to use, whether brewing hot or cold, and Smeg’s usual attention to detail and build quality are evident right from the start.

The machine’s water tank is robust, with a built-in handle that makes it easy and comfortable to carry. You’re given a water hardness testing strip so you can pick the correct water hardness setting to use (‘hard water’ is the default). Although no water filter is provided, compatible filters are available to buy from Smeg’s website, and they easily twist into place in the bottom of the tank.

(Image credit: Future)

The 58mm portafilter seems identical to the one supplied with the ECF02, which is fine with me; it’s excellent. The tamper, however, is a big upgrade. The base model ECF02 came with a plastic measuring scoop with a tamper on the end. It was fit for purpose, but its light weight meant it could be tricky to apply consistent pressure each time you used it. The ECF03’s tamper is much weightier, which gives it a more premium feeling and makes it easier to create a consistently well-formed puck.

As you’d expect from a premium home espresso machine, the ECF03 is an excellent performer. Once you’ve got your grinder dialled in, you can be confident that your shots will be perfectly extracted time after time. (If you’re in need of a grinder, the Smeg CGF03 matches the ECF03 in style and choice of colors.)

(Image credit: Future)

The ECF03’s pressure gauge is a particularly useful feature, letting you see whether your espresso is likely to be extracted properly before it’s finished pouring. However, it’s not labelled with the exact pressure in bars; instead, you just aim for the needle to be positioned in the black section marked on the dial. It’s a bit of a strange choice; there are markers around the edge of the dial, but no indication of what measurements they represent.

During brewing, the ECF03’s pump reached a maximum of 72dB, which is roughly equivalent to a vacuum cleaner. It’s noticeably noisier than the fully automatic Smeg BCC13, which has sound shielding and is QuietMark certified, but isn’t excessively loud and is about average for a manual espresso machine.

(Image credit: Future)

Most of the buttons on the machine’s top are labelled with icons, except for the one that switches between hot and cold brewing modes. When the machine is primed and ready to brew hot, the double-shot, single-shot, and steam buttons are all illuminated white. In cold-brewing mode, the first two are blue instead.

Cold-brewing is quick, taking around two minutes to extract a shot. Part of this time is taken up with an extended pre-infusion, which gives the ground coffee extra time to bloom. After that, the ECF03 will send pulses of cold water through the puck (in groups of three) until the shot is ready.

(Image credit: Future)

The result is a mellow-tasting and well-rounded drink that you can enjoy by itself or as the base of an iced americano. If you prefer chilled lattes or cappuccinos, take a look at the Smeg Mini Milk Frother, which matches the style of the ECF03 and can produce thick or thin cold foam.

Holding down one of the coffee-brewing buttons will let you customize its properties. If the buttons illuminate in orange or start to flash, it’s a sign that there’s a fault, or (more likely) it’s time for some routine maintenance.

(Image credit: Future)

The ECF03 is a piece of cake to clean and care for. You can keep the case and exterior of the milk wand looking pristine by wiping with a damp cloth. Purge the wand with a blast of steam after each use, and you’ll be unlikely to need the needle-like cleaning tool.

As I mentioned above, the inclusion of a blank disc is excellent when it’s time to give the machine’s grouphead and circuit a thorough clean to remove old coffee residue. To use it, insert the single-walled single-shot basket and place the disc in the bottom. Smeg doesn’t sell its own cleaning tablets, but you can use any detergent tabs recommended for home coffee machines. Press and hold the single and double shot buttons to pulse water through the machine, then empty the drip tray and repeat the process. For descaling, the company recommends its own-brand Anti-Kalk liquid.

(Image credit: Future)

The drip tray’s cup holder seems to resist scratches well (unlike some, which are easily scuffed by ceramic mugs), and the tray is nice and deep, so you’re unlikely to spill anything during emptying.

I’ve tested a lot of hot- and cold-brew espresso machines this year, but the Smeg ECF03 is easily one of the most refined. It’s a pleasure to use, looks great, and is extremely consistent. If your budget will stretch to it, you won’t be disappointed.

Performance score: 5/5

Should you buy the Smeg ECF03Smeg ECF03 score card

Attribute

Notes

Score

Value

A premium espresso machine with a price tag to match, though it's justified by the design and build quality.

4.5/5

Design

Smeg's signature '50s style looks as chic as ever, and there are some significant upgrades from the ECF02.

5/5

Performance

Generates consistent pressure for reliably well-extracted hot and cold drinks, and is a piece of cake to clean and care for.

5/5

Buy it if

You want a showpiece for your kitchen

Smeg’s '50s-style appliances are real lookers, and the ECF03 is no exception. It’s a guaranteed conversation-starter when you have guests.View Deal

You have a generous budget

Smeg’s signature style comes at a price. Hot- and cold-brew espresso machines are available for less if you’re not particular about looks.View Deal

Don't buy it if

You’re not into cold brew

The Smeg ECF02 is an equally good-looking machine that heats fast and delivers consistent pressure, but costs considerably less.View Deal

Smeg ECF03: also consider

Smeg ECF02

If you don't care for cold brew, the ECF02 is an equally chic and more affordable alternative. You don't get the handy pressure gauge, though, and the base model has a less sturdy tamper than the ECF03.

Read our full Smeg ECF02 reviewView Deal

Smeg BCC13

If you like the sound of the ECF03 but want an espresso machine that will handle all the hard work for you, the BCC13 is a beautifully designed super-automatic machine that would look perfect on your kitchen counter.

Read our full Smeg BCC13 reviewView Deal

How I tested the Smeg ECF03

I used the Smeg ECF03 for two weeks in place of my usual Gaggia Classic espresso machine. I used it on the hard water setting, with fresh single-origin Honduran Swiss water decaf beans from a local coffee roaster, ground using my Sage Precision burr grinder.

I used the steam wand with full-fat dairy milk and barista oat milk, both of which were freshly bought and chilled.

I followed the directions in the instruction manual to set up and maintain the machine, and brewed a mix of single and double shots using both filter baskets, and used both the hot- and cold-brew options.

For more details, see how we test, review, and rate products at TechRadar.

First reviewed October 2025

Categories: Reviews

The Outer Worlds 2 is another great Obsidian adventure, and one that near-fully realizes its prequel’s vision

Fri, 10/24/2025 - 09:54

It’s genuinely a shame that role-playing game The Outer Worlds 2 developer Obsidian Entertainment operates under the current Microsoft umbrella. This is a company that, in the past couple of years alone, has laid off an unimaginable number of workers, dramatically raised prices on its hardware and subscription models, and completed one of the most costly acquisitions in the medium’s history. That's all on top of cancelling a slew of games and shuttering studios.

It’s precisely this kind of overbearing capitalist mindset that The Outer Worlds 2 has a bone to pick with, and it’s left me with some pretty complicated feelings. On the one hand, the game’s critique of late-stage capitalism is scathing and steeped in the developer’s trademark wit. On the other, I can’t help but feel it all rings a little hollow when the target of said critiques is also the one funding and publishing The Outer Worlds 2.

Review info

Platform reviewed: Xbox Series X, PC
Available on: PS5, Xbox Series X, Series S, PC
Release date: October 29, 2025

Ultimately, Obsidian itself deserves praise for crafting yet another brilliant choice-driven role-playing game (RPG). Like Fallout: New Vegas, Pentiment, and Avowed before it, The Outer Worlds 2 provides an absorbing world to explore, chock-full of interesting characters and quests, and countless opportunities to make the most of your chosen build.

Skills in The Outer Worlds 2 aren’t just for bypassing doors or clearing speech checks; like in many of the best RPGs, some can genuinely open up the game in meaningful ways. The Observation skill, for example, is one I can’t do without. Especially not after it guided me to a secret room that revealed a quest to win the favor of a lucrative black market vendor. Even weapon-based skills like Guns or Science! (yes, that is how it’s formatted) are good for more than just shooting, and can be used to intimidate characters during dialog.

(Image credit: Xbox Game Studios)

One of my favorite things about The Outer Worlds 2, then, is that you actually won’t be able to solve every problem, bypass every lock in a single playthrough. You will have times where an NPC isn’t swayed by your charms, and then stumble upon a quest or avenue of progression that suits your skill set to a tee. It's an ever-so-satisfying gameplay experience.

This interplay between success and failure isn’t quite a perfect balance, however; across my playthrough, I did find that some skills and traits barred progress more than others (for example, Engineering is used to get past jammed doors much more frequently than the Hack or Lockpicking skills are in their respective fields).

There are also some pacing issues through the mid-game, especially as quests tend to stack up on themselves and enemies start having tedious amounts of health to all but the most gun-slinging of character builds.

Minor issues aside, I won’t soon forget my time in the hyper-capitalist nightmare that is the Arcadia system, and chances are I’ll be diving back in again with a completely different approach and ending in mind.

Shoot the moon

(Image credit: Microsoft)

In terms of background, The Outer Worlds 2 gives you a bit more to work with compared to its prequel, with your character being an established and respected agent of the Earth Directorate - a sort of task force that prides itself on the very idealistic and somewhat fantastical notion of bringing peace to the galaxy. Turns out, the Earth Directorate might not be very good at their jobs, though.

The opening mission, an infiltration of a space station run by a cultish sect known as the Protectorate, goes horribly wrong when a fellow agent double-crosses us, detonating the station and killing everyone on board save for ourselves and a previously injured squad member by the name of Niles Ibara.

Ten years on, you’re woken from an extended hibernation period by Niles, who informs you that the detonation has caused a rift in the fabric of space that threatens to destroy the entire system in an undetermined amount of time. It’s a race against the clock to track down the double-crossing agent and save the system of Arcadia from a grisly fate.

Your quest for justice (whatever form that may take based on your own choices throughout the game) isn’t one you’ll emerge from without someone’s blood on your hands. Like it or not, you will often have to side with one or two dubious factions in order to get your way. That could be the previously established Protectorate, or Auntie’s Choice - a mega corporation that’s the result of a hostile merger of the first game’s Auntie Cleo’s and Spacer’s Choice companies.

You won’t always like who you’re choosing to work for, but there is at least a good variety of dialog flavor to have your character respond in a way that suits your desired personality - whether that be good-natured or unfathomably cruel, or everything in between.

Choices, so many choices

(Image credit: Microsoft)

Like its prequel, The Outer Worlds 2’s explorable planets are smaller, individual biomes, as opposed to having one larger map a la Fallout: New Vegas. For this game, it’s an approach that really works. Each of the main planets has its own central conflict, even if most offer a general theme of Auntie’s Choice and the Protectorate battling it out for control.

Best bit

(Image credit: Microsoft)

The Outer Worlds 2 puts player choice first and foremost, in both build variety and choice-based decision making. The game is designed in a way that means you never quite know when your character’s particular skill set will come in handy, making exploration and experimentation almost always enjoyable.

Each map is smattered with characters to meet, side quests to take on, buildings to explore, and no shortage of secrets to unearth. Exploration really is the focal point of progress in The Outer Worlds 2. Combat is, of course, one way of getting things done. And in terms of feel and feedback, it’s a huge improvement over the first game, with satisfying gun play and plenty of weapon types - from stealthy knives and silenced pistols to ammo-hungry SMGs and energy weapons.

Personally, I preferred a more low-key approach to progressing through the game’s main missions. Problems can be solved with combat, sure, but as the game went on, a frustrating tendency to pad out enemy health bars often made such encounters a tedious affair.

As a result, I rolled a charismatic character able to pass speech checks to bypass combat wherever possible. Some points in Sneak and Observation also helped in stealthily getting through busy areas and finding secret routes. You absolutely can play a passive character in The Outer Worlds 2, and you’re more often than not rewarded for doing so.

(Image credit: Obsidian)

One piece of advice I have would be to think very carefully about your specializations while initially creating your character. Get comfortable with the idea that many choices and solutions will be locked off to you, as a trade-off for excelling in two or three areas instead. You’ll have one chance to respec after the tutorial section, but beyond that, no such option exists.

I like this change overall. Not being able to respec on a whim meant that I had to approach most scenarios with my chosen skill sets in mind. For me, this largely meant that going guns blazing was simply off the table. On the other hand, I can see indecisive players - or those who like to take a flexible approach based on the situation - may struggle with this. I certainly restarted the game a handful of times until I settled on skills that satisfied my preferences.

One returning feature from the first game that I really enjoy, though, is flaws. These are reactive, passive effects that you can accrue, and they’re essentially the game’s way of adding additional challenge to your playstyle. Flaws pop up if you adopt a certain way of playing enough. One is based on a hoarder mentality, lowering vendor prices but also reducing money you earn from selling.

Another flaw plays on indecisiveness, letting you only increase the level of skills with zero points, or ones you have the lowest total in, the upside being you’ll get one extra skill point to spend at each level up. Flaws are optional, but if you accept them, they’re with you for good, so think carefully about how useful you think they’ll be in the long run.

Horizon point

(Image credit: Microsoft)

I did find that The Outer Worlds 2 started to lose its luster as the campaign went on. It’s not the longest RPG out there, coming in at around 40-50 hours, but it’s definitely one that started to feel a bit formulaic. There’s only so many firefights to endure, air ducts to crawl through, or terminals to hack before the game starts to feel like it’s shown its entire hand. And it does so long before credits roll. It remains an enjoyable game throughout, but I definitely had the most fun solving the problems in the first major biome when it still felt fresh and vast.

That repetition does tend to hurt the game’s overall pacing, too. There are some nice surprises here and there; recruiting new companions for your squad is often something you’ll just stumble upon, rather than being outright told where you can pick them up. And digging into the depths of an installation or base to uncover a cool weapon or decision-making opportunity is always a satisfying reward. But such moments felt few and far between in the midst of trudging from township to outpost, ticking off various elements of busy work in the hopes of expanding my choices for the main quest.

What I can’t fault The Outer Worlds 2 on is its gorgeous visual style. It’s something I found really impressive about Avowed, and it’s much the same case here. Outdoor environments are awash with color and interesting landmarks, while interiors often feel cold and oppressive in the best way possible. While the soundtrack didn’t do much to move me, I did often find myself taking in the impressive amount of environmental detail on offer.

It’s a winner on the performance front, too, and I noticed only a handful of dips at 60fps across both Xbox Series X and PC. Load times can be uncomfortably long on occasion (exacerbated by reloading quick saves to try out alternate routes), but by and large the game’s performance is acceptable.

Should you play The Outer Worlds 2?

(Image credit: Xbox Game Studios)Play it if...

You want a massive Obsidian RPG to get stuck into
Obsidian remains one of the most talented developers in the business when it comes to level design, top-quality writing, and consequential decision-making. This is an unpredictable sci-fi adventure that - despite some pacing shortcomings - delivers a top-notch immersive experience. Definitely one of the best Xbox Series X games in recent years.

You want to think outside the box
If you enjoy solving problems in RPGs that don’t end in bloody shootouts, The Outer Worlds 2 is for you. Whether it’s through hacking, stealth, uncovering secrets, or convincing characters through charm and wit alone, there are plenty of opportunities to do so in this game.

You loved The Outer Worlds
The Outer Worlds 2 is a significantly better game than its prequel in almost every aspect. Gameplay options are much more robust, and there are always several ways of solving even the most basic quests. It builds upon everything the first game did well, and then some.

Don't play it if...

You don’t want to be locked into any given playstyle
The lack of a respec option past the intro means you need to pick a handful of skills to specialize in and stick with them. Spreading your skills too thin means you won’t be able to meet high skill check requirements later in the game. If you’re not keen on potentially being locked out of certain options, segments, or endings based on your choices, it might not be the game for you.

Accessibility

As is the case with many Xbox Game Studios titles, The Outer Worlds 2 offers a solid amount of accessibility options for gamers of all stripes. For starters, you can adjust motion blur and field of view to a granular degree, as well as apply subtitles to general, background, and audio log speech.

There are also two motion sickness modes for reducing on-screen motions to varying degrees. You can also adjust overall text size and HUD scaling, as well as apply colors and outlines to subtitles and their backgrounds.

How I reviewed The Outer Worlds 2

I played The Outer Worlds 2 for 40 hours across both my Xbox Series X Digital Edition and my gaming PC. I was able to transfer my save across both versions thanks to Xbox’s handy Play Anywhere feature. During my playthrough, I opted for a character capable of hacking and uncovering secrets via the Observation skill, with some points in Speech and Guns to get myself out of tight situations in a pinch.

I primarily played on console using the Razer Wolverine V3 Pro Xbox controller, on an LG CX OLED TV display. My audio device of choice here was the RIG R5 Spear Pro, a multiplatform wired gaming headset that delivered exceptional, immersive audio during my playthrough.

First reviewed October 2025

Categories: Reviews

I tested the AirPods Pro 3 and the ANC is even better than before – and that's before I get to the improved fit and heart-rate monitor

Fri, 10/24/2025 - 08:52

Apple AirPods Pro 3: Two-minute review

Apple's AirPods Pro 3 are doubtless the biggest earbuds release of the year – figuratively and in terms of the furore surrounding them, that is, rather than physically (they're nice and small, as it happens). They're still ice-white only, and they'll still prefer an iPhone, iPad or MacBook over an Android device any day of the week – yes, they'll work with Android, but you'll miss even some of the more commonplace perks if using them this way, such as device switching and a quick way of checking the battery.

So know this: I wrote the bulk of this review while using the AirPods Pro 3 with an iPhone 15 Pro Max, otherwise known as the oldest iPhone that is still able to support Apple Intelligence. Why is that important? Because without it you'd miss key perks such as Live Translation (one of the headline features) and personalized fitness insights, for example.

This time around you get five ear tips in the box, although Apple has performed some wizardry with the shape of the driver housing, so they should slip right into your ear and stay there without too much fuss – at least they did for me, and for several others on the TechRadar team. Are these some of the best earbuds on the market for fit and novel features (I will mention heart-rate monitoring; I will also go into Live Translation at length, later) then, as well as claiming the best in-ear active noise cancellation? Oh, without a doubt.

These particular AirPods have very few snafus, but it's my job to mention the small issues I had. My AirPods Pro 3 review sample has refused to acknowledge the existence of the iPhone 12 Pro Max I've tried to pair them with several times, on the grounds that said phone is a non-Apple Intelligence option, and performing a reset is now quite a bit more fiddly than it was previously. This is because the button on the back of the case is now gone. Instead, you have to double-tap the front of the case to do a factory reset, but without touching the front of the case while flipping the lid. If that sounds tricky, it is.

Also, there's still a slight stamina niggle for me. Don't get me wrong: Apple has improved the battery life here, claiming up to eight hours from the earbuds with ANC on, which is up from six hours for the AirPods Pro 2. But this, of course, is without Spatial Audio, heart-rate monitoring and a few other bells and whistles deployed (which you may not have checked before leaving the house, because without a dedicated app to click, some of these toggles feel buried away in your phone's settings). I found the battery life a bit lower than that in real life, at around 5.5 hours in my testing, so it's fine, rather than fantastic.

All of this aside, the AirPods Pro 3's sound is both zealous and head-turning (especially with dynamic head-tracking on), bringing your music to your ears with panache and, hang it all, joy. And let me be clear: these ice-white buds can do this thanks largely to the neatest near-silent ANC performance I've ever experienced using an iPhone source device. And that's worth this kind of money for your next long-haul flight – or heck, even your commute, as far as I'm concerned.

Apple AirPods Pro 3 review: Price and release date

(Image credit: Future)

Released on September 9, 2025
Priced $249 / £219 / AU$429
Available in white or… white again

Both the inaugural AirPods Pro and the follow-up AirPods Pro 2 were priced at $249 / £249 / AU$399 when they first appeared, so the fact that AirPods Pro 3 came with a $249 price tag when they hit shelves on September 19 come as a surprise to nobody.

What is a touch odd is the quoted pricing in other regions, because the AirPods Pro 3 are priced £219 in the UK (I double-checked so you don't have to) and AU$429. So, while they're £30 cheaper in the UK, they're AU$30 more expensive in Australia. I don't make the rules…

On the one hand, plenty of the best wireless earbuds have risen in price in the last few years in line with inflation, but the fact that Apple made a point of hanging on at the same price as the original AirPods Pro from 2019 – in the US at least – and even reduced them in the UK, is quite surprising.

And the huge news is that because of this pricing, Apple's flagship earbuds might actually come in at the lower end of the premium earbuds market, depending on region. I know!

What of direct competition at this level? Their rivals are perhaps most pressingly the older AirPods Pro 2, which can now be yours for around $160 / £170 / AU$350, the Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 (which are a fair bit pricier, at $399 / £349 / AU$599), the Technics EAH-AZ100 which are $299 / £259 / AU$478 or perhaps the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) for $299 / £299 / AU$450.

So you see, Apple has actually gone quite aggressive with the pricing here, when you look at it like that.

Apple AirPods Pro 3 review: Specs

Drivers

'Custom high-excursion' Apple driver with new multiport acoustic architecture and revised driver angle

Active noise cancellation

Yes

Battery life

8 hours (buds, ANC on); 6.5 hours (buds, heart rate sensor on); 24 hours (case)

Weight

5.6g (buds); 44g (case)

Connectivity

Bluetooth 5.3 (H2 chip)

Waterproofing

IP57

AirPods Pro 3 are on the right (AirPods Pro 2 on the left) (Image credit: Future)Apple AirPods Pro 3 review: Features

Live Translation is really fun (once set up)
Heart-rate monitoring
Your fitness app may not support HRM natively

There are plenty of features here to get through, but I want to start on the one no other AirPods are getting any time soon: heart-rate monitoring. Simply by wearing them, that extra black little bar on the inside neck of the bud plus the built-in movement sensors can track 50 workout types with just AirPods Pro 3 – i.e., no Apple Watch needed – to give you a heart rate reading as long as you're wearing at least one earbud.

According to Apple: “AirPods Pro 3 introduce a custom photoplethysmography (PPG) sensor that shines invisible infrared light pulsed at 256 times per second to measure light absorption in blood flow.”

Believe it or not, this is actually a different solution to the one found in the also-ticker-taking (and also made by Apple) Beats Powerbeats Pro 2, launched in February 2025. You need to be wearing both earbuds to get a reading there, because when you do, a green LED light sensor in each earpiece pulses over 100 times per second, then measures the light reflected back to calculate how many times your heart is beating per minute. See?

I had heard that my heavy-rotation free Seven app (of 'seven-minute workout' fame – because lunchtime is rarely the full hour in journalism) would simply work with AirPods Pro 3's heart-rate monitoring in-app, but alas, it does not. In fact, at the time of writing, Apple hasn't published a full list of third-party fitness apps that support AirPods' heart-rate monitoring natively. But I still know that my heart-rate went up from its resting 60 BPM to 117 BPM during that short workout, because your reading can be found in the Health app – or you can simply ask Siri to tell you your heart rate whenever you like (once you've turned it on and sorted out the correct permissions within Siri) provided you've got the breath to speak.

Apple is clearly using the AirPods' newest trick to send you to its free Fitness app (or better still, its paid-for Fitness+ offering) because even in the free variant, 19 types of activity are clearly displayed with simple Apple Music integration, your AirPods icon in the top right, your choice of three 'workout buddy' voices for personalized encouragement using Apple Intelligence, and a little heart icon as if to scream 'heart-rate logging here folks – just get going!' I'm a little disappointed to see no aerial silks/hoop or pole dance activities listed here, Apple (both are hugely popular) but this review is about AirPods Pro 3 rather than the suite of offerings within Fitness, and AirPods' help in facilitating all of this data accumulation does add a lot of value to your purchase.

(Image credit: Apple)

Now, Live Translation: once you get it up and running, it's excellent. I say 'once you get it up and running' because there are various hoops you need to jump through and barriers to pass (and tricks I used) before it'll work properly. And you should do these when you first set up your AirPods if you'd like to get at it quick enough so that when the time comes, the poor bartender you're trying to converse with doesn't get cold feet and run away while you're telling them to hang on.

So, you need: your AirPods Pro 3 (the feature is also available on the AirPods 4 (ANC) and AirPods Pro 2); iPhone 15 Pro or later; iOS 26 or later; Apple Intelligence turned on; the Translate app downloaded (and the language modules you want downloaded) plus the latest AirPods Firmware version. In addition to this, I customized the iPhone Action button on my iPhone 15 Pro Max to start Live Translation – because I found it marginally quicker and more reliable than pressing both stems of my AirPods Pro 3. But do either of those things once you've got everything running and you'll feel like James Bond in Casino Royale, dropping in on the local gossip at the tables in Venice's Hotel Danieli.

Luckily, I have a Spanish-speaking other half to deploy. He spoke to me about his plans to play tennis that night until 10pm (see the left screen-grab, below). The English version of his Spanish prose was piped vocally into my ears with very little delay, as well as appearing on my iPhone as a transcript. It's remarkably good.

Elsewhere, Apple's fit and hearing tests are back (you do the first, before you can take the second) and very thorough they are too. Since I answered the hearing test honestly (stay with it; it's worth it), I cannot in good faith test the hearing aid help in action, because I don't require it. But what is very useful is Conversation Awareness, which you simply toggle on in the AirPods Pro tab of your iPhone's settings. Then, when you talk, your music volume is lowered and background noise is reduced so that you can easily converse.

It's worth noting that both of these features (Live Translation and Conversation Awareness) are not popular with some of the team, because they encourage you to wear your AirPods constantly – and some of us (myself included) find this rude. Perhaps in time the pet peeve of a friend or colleague refusing to remove their earbuds when talking to me will cease to annoy me, but I'm not so sure…

(Image credit: Future)

Features score: 5 / 5

(Image credit: Future)Apple AirPods Pro 3 review: Sound quality

Enjoyable, emotive audio with personalized spatial audio on
Vocals nicely textured and three-dimensional
Not the last word in detail and neutrality, but that's not the point

Please, please take Apple's excellent ANC performance in the AirPods Pro 3 as read – it's almost scarily good at sucking the noise out of your ears, but without the actual sucky, wind tunnel, nauseating effect you can sometimes get with similar levels of noise-nixing. I found toggling on Apple's 'Adaptive' audio less effective (it felt just a touch laggy at picking up low-level noise when I'd have liked the AirPods to cancel it) so I chose to keep noise-cancelling and conversation awareness on, at my desk. And it eased me into my day in a cocoon of silence that very little could breach.

Sonically, you can expect an expansive, exuberant soundstage that allows bass registers ample space to rumble with regimented clout. The detailed Spanish guitar intro of Daddy Yankee's Toy Hermoso is textured through the mids and feels as if the guitarist is by my left ear, but as the reggaeton beat comes in, it's a toe-tapping and head-nodding mix that has me dancing at my desk like I'm in a Cuban salsa club – especially with head-tracked spatial audio on.

Cueing up Rema's FUN, the intentionally warm and static-filled intro is faithfully relayed, and as the dynamics and speed of the track build, I'm once again dancing in my seat.

For neutrality and detail (that 'integrated hi-fi versus fun' debate), it's worth pointing out that you'll get a little more from both the Technics EAH-AZ100 and the Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 – think the breathy delivery of Taylor Swift's vocal in Elizabeth Taylor, which feels just slightly more human and detailed in the rival buds. But if you prioritize immersive, vigorous impact, I find the AirPods Pro 3 even better than the also-excellent Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) – and that's not a statement I make lightly.

Sound quality: 4.5 / 5

AirPods Pro 3 on the right – with no reset button! (Image credit: Future)Apple AirPods Pro 3 review: Design

Vastly improved fit
Loss of the case button is a misstep
Could do with a dedicated app now

As mentioned (and pictured below), the AirPods Pro earpiece shape has been reworked this time around. The angle of the neck has been tweaked quite significantly and I'm a huge fan. Simply put, they fit well – and by that I mean securely, even when I shake my head – for me now, and that has never been the case with any AirPods until this iteration.

An IP57 rating means the buds are also dust resistant and waterproof to a depth of one meter for up to 30 minutes, which is noteworthy.

The case is a touch taller and wider but less deep now. The LED light is now undetectable when it's not on, which makes for a sleek look. Also sleeker but for me less helpful is the loss of the reset button on the back of the case. I say this because when upgrading my iPhone to a model that supports Apple Intelligence to test these earbuds, I found myself needing to reset the AirPods. And that's no longer as easy as it once was, because double-tapping the front of the case with the lid flipped, but not touching the front of the case (so that said case registers my tap attempts) isn't a simple maneuver.

My one minor gripe here concerns the supporting software – because software design is still a 'design' issue, for me.

Yes, you can pull down on the Control Center on your iPhone to see the basic AirPods bubble, at which point you can check your listening mode, conversation awareness status and spatial audio profile. Then, you can go into your AirPods Pro tab, in Settings, to check the current state of more general features such as the Hearing Health tab, call controls, head gestures, enabling charging case sounds, automatic ear detection to pause your music when you remove one, and so on.

But given that so many of AirPods Pro 3's newer features require extra taps and navigation to alternate apps (there's the Translate app for your language modules, the Health app to see your heart-rate data, the Fitness app to see that heart-rate increase as you exercise) I wonder whether at this point it might make sense to have one dedicated AirPods Pro 3 app to rule them all. I'm speculating, but I'd definitely like to try that, because the current solution will doubtless have you consulting Apple's support pages in an effort to find how – or more importantly, where – to toggle on what you need…

(Image credit: Future)

Design score: 4.5 / 5

(Image credit: Future)Apple AirPods Pro 3 review: value

The best ANC earbuds on the market for iPhone owners
Not the most original choice… but the best

Popular taste doesn't always mean good taste, does it? And I say that as a fan of pop music. Value is also an odd thing to quantify, since whether or not these represent value for you will hone in on possibly three things. Firstly, do you want the best ANC for your iPhone? Because here, AirPods Pro 3 are doubtless the best noise-cancelling earbuds on the market – Apple said they're twice as good as AirPods Pro 2, and I can vouch for that claim.

Secondly, do you value the extra battery life offered here over the Pro 2 – even though it's far from the the best on the wider market. For reference, the Technics EAH-AZ100 (which we called "good rather than great for battery") can offer up to 12 hours from the buds on a single charge with no ANC deployed, while AirPods Pro 3 can only manage a maximum of 10 hours before needing to be charged.

And thirdly, how much do you want your earbuds to take your heart-rate and use that reading within workouts (yes, even vocally, thanks to Apple Intelligence's virtual buddies)?

It's worth noting that I think AirPods Pro 3 are also the best earbuds for small ears Apple has made, because of the newer fit – and I found myself loving the Live Translation feature at home (although it's not exclusive to the Pro 3), since my other half speaks Spanish.

So, I'll leave all of that with you. For me personally though (and putting my minor queries with the case and software support to one side) there's great value here.

Value: 4.5 / 5

(Image credit: Future)Should I buy the Apple AirPods Pro 3?

Attributes

Notes

Rating

Features

Heart-rate monitoring and Live Translation add to an extensive suite of perks for newer iPhone owners

5/5

Sound quality

Zealous, powerful and immersive audio backed by excellent ANC

4.5/5

Design

The tweaked shape and repositioned neck on the driver housing is a huge hit

4.5/5

Value

Simply the best iPhone earbuds for ANC on the market – if not the longest-lasting

4.5/5

Buy them if…

You work out (or you care about heart health)
If you don't have a subscription already, Apple will prompt you to try out Fitness+ for free, but even if you stick with free workouts – or you just like asking Siri "what's my heart-rate" – it becomes a very useful tool, very quickly

You want bubble-of-silence ANC from your iPhone
Simply put, no other buds do it quite like this if your source device is an iPhone

You have bilingual friends and family
Ha! We can all understand your French, Spanish, German or Portuguese conversations now…

Don’t buy them if…

You own an Android
It may go without saying, but for this money (and for the number of features that slip away for it) you'll be better served with a Bose, Technics or Bowers & Wilkins product.

You need long-haul flight stamina
The battery life isn't awful (and it is better than the AirPods Pro 2), but compared to rivals it can certainly be beaten – the Technics EAH-AZ100 last two hours longer on a single charge with no ANC, for instance.

You want Lossless audio support, LDAC or aptX
No dice here, friend. If you need Apple Music's Lossless support from an iPhone, AirPods Max do it (using the USB-C wire), but if you want aptX or Sony's higher-resolution Bluetooth audio codec (LDAC), look to the Cambridge Audio Melomania A100.

Apple AirPods Pro 3 review: Also consider

Apple AirPods Pro 3

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen)

Technics EAH-AZ100

Cambridge Audio Melomania A100

Drivers

'Custom high-excursion' Apple driver with new multiport acoustic architecture

10mm

10mm free-edge dynamic

10mm Neodymium dynamic

Active noise cancellation

Yes

Battery life

8 hours (buds, ANC on; 10 hours with ANC off); 6.5 hours (buds, heart rate sensor on); 24 hours (case)

6 hours (earbuds, ANC off; 4 hours with it on) case not specified

12 hours (earbuds, ANC off); 17 hours (charging case)

11 hours per charge; up to 39 hours with the case

Weight

5.6g per bud

7.7g per bud

5.9g per bud

4.7g per earbud

Connectivity

Bluetooth 5.3

Bluetooth 5.3 with aptX Lossless / Adaptive

Bluetooth 5.3 with LDAC and LC3 compatibility

5.4 with LDAC and aptX Lossless

Waterproofing

IP57 case and earbuds

IPX4 earbuds only

IPX5 earbuds only

Technics EAH-AZ100
An option with slightly better stamina that also offers excellent sound quality and decent noise cancellation – plus LDAC higher-resolution Bluetooth support if you've got a Sony device. Here, you even get multi-point to three brand-agnostic devices (rather than the standard two) and the classy finish makes them nothing short of a joy to own – even though they won't take your heart-rate. Get the full picture in our Technics EAH-AZ100 review.

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen)
They've got excellent streaming-service agnostic immersive audio profiles, wonderful ANC for Android phones as well as iPhones and a colorful look. Some may find the buds a touch big and there are no guided hearing tests, but if it's the best ANC and an Android phone companion you seek, you've found the best there is. See our full Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) review for more.View Deal

Cambridge Audio Melomania A100
Cambridge Audio also offers a premium listen in its latest earbuds with good ANC. No heart-rate monitoring or Live Translation, of course, but if it's an integrated hi-fi listen you seek, add them to your list – and they'll last longer than the Bose option. Read more in our Cambridge Audio Melomania A100 review.

How I tested the Apple AirPods Pro 3

Tested for three weeks
Tested walking along Seaham beach, on a packed Eurostar train and at home

I used AirPods Pro 3 for three weeks while compiling this review, and my testing involved listening to podcasts and music, as well as watching streamed movies from various devices and streaming platforms – including Android and Apple sources.

I listened at home, during several sea-glass hunting walks in County Durham and on a busy train to Paris – and let me tell you, with these as both a musical companion and live translation tool, they eased my journey no end.

I've been testing audio products full-time since 2019, firstly over at our sister publication What Hi-Fi? as a staff writer (locked in our hi-fi testing facility for two years, I was), then as senior writer at TechRadar – and, since early 2024, audio editor.

My background as a professional dancer meant I was very interested in what AirPods Pro 3 made of my heart-rate and overall fitness (still got it, friends) and my seemingly insatiable need to move to music is what drives me to search for faithful timing, precision, clarity and good old fashioned fun in recorded audio.

First reviewed October 2025.

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Categories: Reviews

I’ve spent a few weeks with the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Elite, and it is simply the best gaming headset I have ever used

Fri, 10/24/2025 - 05:59

SteelSeries Arctis Nova Elite: one-minute review

If you’re someone who craves the best in gaming audio and the most performant gaming accessories, then the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Elite is the only wireless gaming headset you need to consider buying - it is the best I have ever tested, and probably the best gaming headset, period.

While its price tag means it’s more expensive than most of the best gaming consoles, if you’re someone who strives to build the most performant gaming setup, or someone who craves the highest-quality audio for gaming, then the Elite is for you - and boy does it prove to be worth it for that audience.

Its design and build are something I’ve never experienced before, and I simply have no complaints here. The headset is extremely robust with its all-metal frame, and is as comfortable to boot with its super plush leatherette ear pads. All controls and buttons are intuitively placed and a joy to use, with genuinely satisfying motions to the volume wheel and microphone.

(Image credit: Future/Rob Dwiar)

The feature set is even more impressive. First and foremost, it really is the first certified Hi-Res (96kHz/24bit) wireless gaming headset on the market, and it’s such a joy to use in all its premium quality audio goodness. This is in no small part provided by its 40mm carbon fiber drivers that are stretched over a brass surround ring inside each cup, and supported by a brilliant GameHub DAC unit, which also offers multiconnectivity and even multimedia play - simultaneously. The brilliant SteelSeries’ Infinity Power battery system returns, and the microphone is now dual-fold with a brilliant boom mic supported by a beamforming built-in mic – taking over automatically whenever the boom one is retracted.

The performance of the Elite is otherworldly when it comes to gaming audio. It’s rich and detailed, with zero harshness or muddiness, and only the best, most rounded and fulsome profiles being directed down your ears at all times. It is relentlessly good. Throw in the fact that you can make it your own audio-wise with the Sonar PC app, or the mobile Arctis App to change things on the fly, and it’s elevated further.

Whether you're looking for a PC gaming headset, PS5 headset, Xbox headset, or even a Nintendo Switch headset, this is the ultimate one to strive for, and one that all other premium gaming headsets should now be measured against. In a similar vein to how I described the Garmin MARQ Golfer (Gen 2) premium golf watch I reviewed recently, if you want to go once, go hard, go premium, and go big on a gaming headset, then this is the one.

(Image credit: Future/Rob Dwiar)SteelSeries Arctis Nova Elite: price and availability

List price: $599.99 / £599.99 / AU$1,349
The most expensive gaming headset I’ve tested, and nearly twice the price of the Arctis Nova Pro Wireless
Offers its own premium, audiophile-grade vision of value

There’s no denying that the SteelSeries Arctis Elite is expensive. At the above price, it’s more than a PlayStation 5 and not that far off a PlayStation 5 Pro either. You could also get two 512GB Xbox Series S consoles for the same price or almost three DualSense Edge controllers. Anyway, it’s expensive, but where does it sit in the market?

In terms of direct competitors at the price point, in the gaming headset market, there are basically none. SteelSeries’ own Arctis Nova Pro Wireless is generally my pick for a premium gaming headset with its $350 / £330 sticker price (though it is often discounted now) - but the Elite comes in at nearly twice the price of that now. Similarly, outside of the SteelSeries ecosystem, it’s also comfortably more than the likes of the audiophile-focused Audeze Maxwell and Beyerdynamic MMX 300 Pro, too.

To find direct competitors pricewise, you’re looking to the core audiophile headphone market and products like the Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2, Focal Bathys, and the Elite is still even more expensive than the Sennheiser HD 660S2 as well - and they all, of course, do not feature any gaming headset features or enhancements.

However, and hopefully this review shines light on all the reasons why, I genuinely believe that there is robust value in the Elite if you are the precise audience it is targeting. If you are that ultimate setup gamer, or an audiophile gamer who wants the best gaming audio money can buy above all else, then the Elite is absolutely for you, and you will see and hear the benefits and boosts.

(Image credit: Future/Rob Dwiar)SteelSeries Arctis Nova Elite: specs

SteelSeries Arctis Nova Elite

Price

$599.99 / £599.99 / AU$1,349

Weight

13.4oz / 380g

Drivers

40mm carbon fiber with brass surround

Compatibility

PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, PC, Mac, Mobile

Connection type

Hi-Res wireless (2.4Ghz via dongle), Wired (audio jack), Bluetooth 5.3 + LE Audio

Battery life

Up to 60 hours (2 x fully-charged batteries), Infinite Power System

Features

Certified Hi-Res audio (96kHz/24-bit) ClearCast Gen 2.X - Retractable Boom Mic and Smart-Switching On-Ear Beamforming Microphone with AI noise rejecting, ANC, Omniplay GameHub (connect four devices simultaneously),

Software

SteelSeries GG/Sonar, SteelSeries Arctis Companion App (iOS & Android)

(Image credit: Future/Rob Dwiar)SteelSeries Arctis Nova Elite: design and features

Every part of the build is premium and of superb quality
A host of first-ever premium features built into its DNA
Two great colorways and a robust but comfortable build, epitomized by the metal frame

Starting off with the obvious, yes, this is another headset cut straight from the same SteelSeries Arctis Nova cloth as many others - at least, in terms of overall aesthetic, shape, and form. Which is fine - if it isn’t broken, why fix it? Instead, enhance it, as the Elite does, by offering a metal frame and hinges made of rolled steel and aluminum for starters.

However, elsewhere, literally every part of the Elite’s design and build looks and feels premium. This includes the volume wheel, which is incredibly satisfying to use, offering a lovely click with each notch you reach. The trademark retractable mic extends and rolls away with a new level of smoothness that I haven’t felt on any headset before, let alone a SteelSeries one, and the comfort of the plush leatherette earpads is something like never before, too.

It also comes in two distinct colorways, with the sage and gold combination being particularly striking and very evocative of the luxurious lifestyle device that SteelSeries is keen to describe the Elite as being. The other obsidian colorway is more familiar on a gaming headset, but the shine of the metalwork of the build gives it a chic edge. The dial on the accompanying GameHub DAC unit matches the gold or obsidian, respectively, of each colorway, too.

Ensuring we cover the necessities, on the left cup, we have the retractable bidirectional, 32KHz ClearCast Gen 2.X boom mic, the mic mute button, the power button (which also acts as the ANC and transparency mode button), the volume wheel (which can also be pressed in to remotely control the GameHub’s function), and audio jack port. On the right cup, we have the Bluetooth button (which controls media on your connected devices too, with a range of different presses) and the secondary beamforming mic, a ClearCast on-ear microphone, to be precise.

Both earcups have the swappable metal plates on the outside that SteelSeries fans will know and love, and they both hide something important, as they do on other headsets from the brand; on the right, it’s the replaceable battery, and on the left, it’s the USB-C port.

(Image credit: Future/Rob Dwiar)

As with Nova Pro headsets, the Elite comes with a DAC unit that connects to your device. The version with the Elite is called the GameHub with OmniPlay and is a beefed-up version of the ones that accompany the Pros, which still offers the way to charge your removable batteries and tinker with settings, but has a trick up its sleeve.

This time, you can connect to all types of consoles or platforms from this one unit, from PC to PlayStation, and from Switch to Xbox - on top of the added Bluetooth connectivity the headset has too. The result is that you can connect up and listen to the audio of four different sources all at the same time - hence the term, OmniPlay. And it really is magic.

Underneath the physical features is where the real magic lies, and one of the most unique things about the Elite, which makes it truly different among its peers. First and foremost are its brand-new drivers: custom-designed 40mm carbon fiber drivers with a brass surround ring. These offer a frequency response of 10-40,000Hz and are at the core of the Elite’s bona fide, certified Hi-Res (24-bit/96kHz) audio offering - a first in gaming headsets.

The ANC onboard is formed of a four-mic hybrid active noise cancellation that features a transparency mode, and complementing that is the mic’s AI noise rejection tech, which is also witchcraft, given how much noise it can block out when in chaotic environments like busy streets and when trains scream past. You’ve also got the brilliant multi-faceted Infinity Power system (two removable batteries, one of which can always be charging in the GameHub, while also offering a USB-C port for quick charging), so you’ll likely never run out of battery, and a convenient method of charging the headset. Plus, Bluetooth codec support is excellent, with the 5.3 version supporting LC3 and LC3+.

I think the only feature missing from such a premium headset package would be a hard case, or at least something more protective than the leatherette one included.

(Image credit: Future/Rob Dwiar)SteelSeries Arctis Nova Elite: performance

Simply the best gaming audio from a headset I have ever experienced
Seamless and abundant connectivity, with a brilliant mic
Brilliantly comfy and easy to use, and perfect for all other media

Where do I start? The SteelSeries Arctis Nova Elite simply excels in every single audio manner, on every platform, and for every media and genre of game you can throw at it. That’s it, I could leave it there.

But I won’t, naturally. In practice, the audio is incredible on the Elite. I can immediately hear a difference from other sets I have to hand, like a SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7 or the also excellent Drop + Epos PC38X, and it’s almost certainly better than my Sennheiser HD 550 headphones, which I put above many gaming headsets.

Across all my testing on PC, console, and mobile, the Elite excelled. The world of Ghost of Yotei was alive through audio alone; the chaos of hectic scenes in the Battlefield 6 campaign on PS5 was incredibly bombastic and rich, without ever being muddy or boomy; and the details of Control and Frostpunk 2, to name but two, on PC were a sheer delight.

Technically, the Elite is fully unleashed as a PC gaming headset due to the PS5 and Xbox Series X, sadly, not being able to output at the highest res - though you’ll also need to manually change a setting or two in Windows to ensure your PC outputs in Hi-Res too. Given that Hi-Res edge that the Elite has on PC, it does leave me wondering whether it’s an equally wise investment for someone who exclusively games on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, or Nintendo Switch. It feels almost like a disservice to the headset - and the money you spent on it - to leave it tied to any single platform, and maybe more so a console that can’t unleash the full power of the Hi-Res headset.

(Image credit: Future/Rob Dwiar)

However, that really isn’t to say you’ll not be having an awesome, spectacular time on console, so don’t let that put you off either, especially if you’re an audiophile who plays on PS5, for example. As previously mentioned, I still had a breathtaking time on console with the Elite, so you’ll still have a super quality headset for console, and the Elite’s other premium qualities will make it shine.

Away from gaming, as a pair of bona fide enthusiast audiophile headphones, the Elite absolutely holds up. They certainly sound just as good as my Sennheiser HD 550s, and perhaps better, after testing them across a range of music and video. Basically, if you’re at all concerned about how the Elite transposes its gaming audio prowess to other media, don’t be. This was echoed by my time using the Elite out and about as a set of contenders for best headphones on walks or travel; the audio never failed to impress, and the ANC is impressive too.

As with other modern SteelSeries audio devices, you can get even more out of the Elite with the companion app on mobile to give you flexibility and customization options on the fly - great when playing on console. And on PC, you can tap into all the SteelSeries GG and Sonar have to offer to tailor the Elite even more acutely to your preferences if need be.

(Image credit: Future/Rob Dwiar)Should I buy the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Elite?Buy it if...

You want the absolute best gaming headset money can buy
Simply put, if you want the best of the best, then this is the headset to get, no matter your preferred platform; as close to perfection as you’ll get from build quality and feel, to audio quality and feature set.

You’re an audiophile gamer
If you are a gamer who prioritizes your audio, no matter what games you play or how you play them, and crave the highest audio quality money can buy, and you want to remain cord-free, then my advice is simple: buy the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Elite headset.

You want a single, premium solution for all your devices
If you’re looking for a total solution across your consoles, PC, and mobile devices, then the Elite can do it all and be your one, single awesome headset to service each and every one of them - in an exquisitely premium manner.

You want your gaming headset to also be a top pair of headphones
The Arctis Nova Elite headset shines as a pair of everyday headphones as well as for gaming. The ANC is a joy, the headset is supremely comfortable and robust, and you can change your audio preferences on the fly via your phone for music and podcasts, too.

Don't buy it if...

You play on console only and don’t need best-in-class features
If you only play on console and aren’t convinced you’ll be able to make the most of all the class-leading features and Hi-Res audio the Elite offers, then it’s likely not for you.

You’ve already got a quality mid or high-end headset and don’t crave Hi-Res audio
If you have already thrown a bit of cash at your gaming headset in the past few years, and are on the fence about needing Hi-Res audio, then you’re probably fine to skip the Elite - unless you crave one or more of its particular features. Otherwise, it’s an upgrade for a specific range of folk.

SteelSeries Arctis Nova Elite: Also consider

If the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Elite is either not what you’re after or a bit rich for you, then here are two competitors that might hit the mark.

SteelSeries Arctis Nova Elite

SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless

Audeze Maxwell

Price

$599.99 / £599.99 / AU$1,349

$379.99 / £329.99 / AU$735

$329 / £319 / about AU$450

Weight

13.4oz / 380g

9.5oz / 266g

17.3oz / 490g

Drivers

40mm carbon fiber with brass surround

40mm neodymium

90mm Planar Magnetic

Compatibility

PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, PC, Mac, Mobile

Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PS5, PS4, Nintendo Switch, PC, Mac, Mobile

Playstation or Xbox, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, PC, Mac, Mobile

Connection type

Hi-Res wireless (2.4Ghz via dongle), Wired (audio jack), Bluetooth 5.3 (LE Audio, LC3, LC3+)

Wireless (2.4Ghz via dongle), Wired (USB-C), Bluetooth 5.3

Wireless (2.4Ghz via dongle), Wired (USB-C & audio jack), Bluetooth 5.3 (LC3plus /

LC3 / LDAC / AAC)

Battery life

Up to 60 hours (2 x fully-charged batteries), Infinite Power System

80+ hours

Features

Certified Hi-Res audio (96kHz/24-bit), 40mm carbon fiber, brass ring surround drivers, ClearCast Gen 2.X - Retractable Boom Mic and Smart-Switching On-Ear Beamforming Microphone with AI noise rejecting, ANC, Omniplay GameHub (connect four devices simultaneously)

Companion App, 40mm Neodymium magnetic drivers, 360-degree spatial audio, retractable ClearCast 2.X mic

Detachable hypercardiod mic, beamforming mic with physical and AI reduction, FILTER™ Noise Reduction Technology, embedded Dolby Atmos license (Xbox),

Software

SteelSeries GG/Sonar (PC), SteelSeries Arctis Companion App (iOS & Android)

SteelSeries GG/Sonar (PC)

Audeze HQ (PC)

SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless
The closest competitor within SteelSeries' own impressive lineup, the Arctis Nova Pro is a fine choice for those looking for impressive audio and connectivity, while not spending as much money as the Elite demands. A super wireless headset, no matter your platform.

For more information, check out our full SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless reviewView Deal

Audeze Maxwell
Offering perhaps the closest wireless audiophile gaming headset experience to the Elite, Audeze’s Maxwell headset is a solid alternative. It still demands a sizable price of admission, but offers excellent audio from its planar magnetic drivers.

For more information, check out our full Audeze Maxwell reviewView Deal

(Image credit: Future/Rob Dwiar)How I tested the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Elite

Tested almost daily for nearly five weeks for work, gaming, and on the go
Used on PC and PS5 Pro on a wide variety of games, and work and home tasks
Compared directly to a set of Sennheiser HD 550 headphones, as well as other gaming headsets

The SteelSeries Arctis Nova Elite has been my daily gaming headset for work and play for around five weeks for review. I have integrated them into both my gaming PC and PS5 Pro setups, as well as used them out and about as a pair of audiophile headphones.

On my RTX 3090 gaming PC (a machine teamed with an Acer Predator X32QFS gaming monitor), where I was able to test the Hi-Res audio after changing a setting in Windows, I played a host of games, including the Titan Quest 2 Early Access build, Frostpunk 2, Control, and Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War 3. I also used them extensively for work and video calls.

On console, I primarily tested the Elite with my PS5 Pro, but also with my office setup’s PS5 Slim for good measure. On PS5, I tested the Elite with almost my entire playthrough of Ghost of Yotei, as well as some of Death Stranding Director’s Cut, Battlefield 6, Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice (the PS5 version) and the Claws of Awaji expansion for Assassin’s Creed Shadows, and for multiplayer testing I used the Elite for finishing a Ghost Recon: Breakpoint playthrough with my buddies as well as an Aliens: Fireteam Elite playthrough.

As well as using the Elite as headphones while on dog walks, I also tested them with music and entertainment. I used them as I normally would with the likes of Spotify and YouTube, but also hi-res audio providers like Tidal. During my testing, I was able to compare the Elite to my set of HD 550 headphones as an audiophile headphone reference point, as well as a Drop + Epos PC38X headset, and a SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7 headset.

First reviewed September-October 2025

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Categories: Reviews

I used the Philips LatteGo 4400 Series for two weeks and found it produced excellent coffee, but its milk foaming could use improvement

Thu, 10/23/2025 - 20:20

Philips LatteGo 4400 Series: Two-minute review

The Philips LatteGo 4400 Series is a fully automatic bean-to-cup espresso machine that’s a great option for smaller households or anyone making their first venture into the world of one-touch coffee machines. It’s very similar to the LatteGo 5500 Series that my UK-based colleague, Cat Ellis, has previously reviewed, and just misses out on a few preset drink recipes.

Otherwise, the two machines adopt the exact same dimensions, meaning their bean hopper and water tanks are the same size at 275g and 1.8L respectively, and, as the name implies, the 4400 Series on review here also uses Philips’ LatteGo milk-foaming system. This sees a milk carafe clip onto a steam nozzle on the front of the machine, with the idea being that you fill it with just enough milk for your chosen drink(s) once it’s attached.

Given the two machines make coffee in the exact same way, you’d expect the review of the 4400 Series to read largely the same, then, wouldn’t you? Well, while I do agree with much of Cat’s review of the 5500 Series, and that the Philips espresso machine does produce good-tasting coffee, I picked up on a few niggles during my time using the 4400. These mainly relate to the LatteGo system and the steps required to brew a coffee. I’ll explain more about both in the performance section of this review.

Ultimately, the Philips 4400 LatteGo coffee machine is incredibly simple to use and offers everything you need to make a great coffee, whether it be a simple espresso or ristretto shot, a larger latte, cappuccino or even a few iced drinks.

As with the 5500 Series, the 4400 Series doesn’t offer cold coffee extraction. If you want to make an iced drink, you’ll need to add ice cubes to a glass or mug for the machine to then pour on a hot shot of espresso. This machine can’t make iced lattes, so if you do want a milk-based iced drink, you’ll need to make do with pouring cold milk directly into your glass or mug.

If you like cold coffee, then you may not like the flavor profile delivered by the 4400 Series, and, as Cat found in her review, once the ice melts it can make the coffee taste weaker. Personally, I enjoyed making iced drinks using the Philips 4400 Series, but it’s ultimately a matter of personal preference.

Furthermore, having previously reviewed the De’Longhi Magnifica Evo Next automatic espresso machine, I found myself preferring the taste of the coffee produced by the Philips machine instead, and I appreciated the smaller footprint it took up on my kitchen counter.

However, as a plant milk drinker, I did prefer the level of milk foam produced by the De’Longhi’s LatteCrema system compared to the LatteGo milk-foaming system used by the Philips machine.

Philips LatteGo 4400 Series: Price and availability

List price $799.99 / £599.99 / AU$1,199
Available globally
Often discounted

The Philips LatteGo 4400 Series is available globally with a list price of $799.99 / £599.99 / AU$1,199. At the time of writing, however, I was able to find it discounted to £499.99 in the UK and below AU$1,000 in Australia.

The 4400 Series sits one step down from the flagship 5500 Series, offering 12 hot and cold drink recipes compared to the 20 options found on its higher-spec sibling.

Its list price places it in a similar category to the De’Longhi Magnifica Evo Next fully automatic coffee machine that I’ve previously reviewed.

The two machines are similarly specced, although the De’Longhi unit is much larger. The Philips 4400 Series would therefore be my recommendation if your kitchen is on the smaller side.

(Image credit: Future)

Value score: 4 / 5

Philips LatteGo 4400 Series: Specs

Name

Philips LatteGo 4400 Series

Type

Fully automatic bean-to-cup espresso machine

Dimensions (W x H x D)

9.7 x 14.6 x 17in / 24.6 x 37.1 x 43.3cm

Weight

17.6lbs / 8kg

Water reservoir capacity

1.9qt / 1.8 liters

Milk frother

Yes (automatic)

Bars of pressure

User profiles

2 (plus guest)

Philips LatteGo 4400 Series: Design

(Image credit: Future)

Compact, ideal for smaller kitchens
Intuitive, button-based navigation
Easy to clean and maintain but cleaning agents sold separately

The Philips LatteGo 4400 Series is a relatively compact bean-to-cup espresso machine, coming in at 9.7 inches / 24.6cm wide and 17 inches / 43.3cm long.

As a result, it makes placing it on a kitchen countertop quite easy, as it can be placed in a corner, for example and up against the wall, since the water tank slides out from the front. The brewing group head is accessed via the side behind the water tank, making maintenance just as simple.

The machine is controlled via a series of touch buttons on the front, which flank a 2.3-inch color display. A selection of popular coffee-based drinks have dedicated buttons on the front – including espresso, long black, cappuccino and flat white – while the remaining hot and cold drinks are accessed via a ‘More Drinks’ button.

You’ll also find a ‘Profile’ button on the front, which is used to cycle through two main profiles – Yellow and Blue – and a third guest profile to ensure your saved presets aren’t overridden.

The non-removable bean hopper is accessed at the top. All you need to do is remove the tinted plastic lid – by being tinted, it helps to prevent light from degrading the flavor of the beans – which is also airtight to maintain freshness. If you want to adjust grind settings, that’s done via a control dial set inside the bean hopper.

It’s not particularly large with a capacity up to 275g of beans, but this makes it a good option for single-person or couple households. Plus, the fact it’s airtight means you can leave beans in between uses and not worry about them spoiling, as opposed to pouring in just the right amount of beans for the drink you want to make.

As is the case with the De’Longhi Magnifica Evo Next I’ve previously reviewed, Philips says to only operate the grind adjustment whilst beans are being ground. It took me a little while to figure out how to actually use the dial, and after consulting the user manual, I realized you have to first press down on it before rotating.

There are 12 grind settings to choose from, with the halfway point setting 6 being the default. Philips says this should be ideal for most users, and recommends not adjusting it until you’ve made 100 to 150 drinks. I found during my review period that I did have to adjust to a finer setting – I settled on 4 – to achieve a thicker crema and a more flavorful coffee.

The Philips 4400’s LatteGo milk-frothing system comprises a small carafe that attaches to a steam nozzle on the front of the machine. It’s designed to be filled with just enough milk for whatever drink you want to make, as opposed to being stored in the fridge with leftover milk between uses. You can still store the milk in the fridge if you wish, but just note the lid isn’t airtight.

I liked the idea of this, but in reality I came across a couple of slight niggles.

(Image credit: Future)

The carafe has markings on the side for a single cappuccino, a single latte macchiato or two cappuccinos. I filled the carafe with oat milk to the line for the single cappuccino and poured one, and found it didn’t use all the milk.

Plus, when you’re selecting a coffee to make, you can adjust the volume of coffee and milk that goes in. If you adjust the volume of milk, for example, then you’ll need to ensure enough is in the carafe, making the markings somewhat redundant.

I’ll speak about it more in the performance section, but I also wasn’t overly happy with the level of (or lack of) milk foam produced by the system. Full-fat dairy milk did fare a lot better than plant milk during my tests though.

The Philips LatteGo 4400 Series does have some other design features that I found useful, including a deep grounds container bin and a decently sized drip tray. The machine will let you know when the ground container needs emptying, but this won’t be that regular since it’s capable of storing a good amount of waste.

Another positive I noticed was how well-packaged the machine was, and that Philips used predominantly recyclable cardboard.

One thing worth noting is that you aren’t supplied with any cleaning tablets or descaling solution. Having reviewed coffee machines from De’Longhi and Australian brand Sunbeam, both of which do supply some cleaning products with their machines, I had expected the same from Philips.

Cleaning tablets can be bought online from stores such as Amazon, but it’s an extra cost you’ll need to consider. While the AquaClean filter should last some time – it will cease working once 95 liters (around 625 coffees) of water has flowed through it – it will also be an additional expense to replace.

As long as you keep replacing the filters on time, then you won’t need to descale the machines for 5000 coffees – 8 filters worth. At $20 / £12 / AU$29 per filter, that’s about $160 / £96 / AU$232 to delay the need to descale, but slightly less if buying in bulk.

In comparison (depending on your water hardness), without the filters, you would typically need to descale up to about 10 times for 5000 cups, with the total cost around half of buying new filters.

Finally, another thing I noticed was when removing a sticker on the front of the machine referencing the fact it can make 12 different coffee-based drinks, it left some adhesive behind (the white part to the right of the coffee spout in the pictures).

(Image credit: Future)

Design score: 4.5 / 5

Philips LatteGo 5500 Series review: Performance

Great-tasting coffee with some grinder adjustment
Good level of personalization
LatteGo milk-foaming system not without fault

The Philips LatteGo 4400 Series is an incredibly easy espresso machine to use. Once you’ve got it set up – this involves testing your water for hardness and installing the supplied AquaClean filter if required – you’ll be brewing a coffee in seconds. The central color display provides information clearly, and buttons are logically laid out to navigate through menus and drinks to adjust settings.

There are 12 drinks to choose from:

Espresso
Coffee
Long black
Cappuccino
Latte macchiato
Caffè crema
Caffè latte
Ristretto
Flat white
Iced espresso
Iced long black
Iced coffee

Once you’ve selected a drink to make, a secondary screen allows you to adjust the strength and volume. In some cases, increasing the volume of coffee will mean the machine will have to grind beans twice, which can increase the speed you go through a bag. I increased the volume of my daily flat white from the default 80ml to 100ml, for example, and I had to wait for the machine to grind a second dose of beans before it was finished.

If you tweak the settings for a drink, whether it be strength or volume, the machine will save them for the next time. Each time you make an adjustment, it overrides the previous settings. If two people in the same household want the same drink but with different settings, I would recommend taking advantage of the two individual profiles to store personal drink preferences. Switching between profiles is simple thanks to a dedicated button on the front panel.

If there are more than two people in your home and each has their own preference, you’ll be better served by stepping up to the 5500 Series model, which has 4 profiles plus a separate guest profile.

The machine doesn’t provide feedback regarding grind size or whether it’s ideal for the beans you’ve used – something you will find on De’Longhi machines that have BeanAdapt technology such as the Rivelia – but you can manually adjust the grind setting to produce a well-extracted espresso. The default setting of 6 should be fine for most use cases, although I did find for the beans I used, the crema wasn’t as thick as I would like, and it dissipated relatively quickly. As mentioned previously, I was much happier with the result once I adjusted the grinder to setting 4 for a finer grind.

(Image credit: Future)

Where I experienced a bit more of an issue was when using the LatteGo milk-foaming system. Having read about it on the Philips website and in my colleague Cat’s review of the more feature-packed 5500 Series model, I was expecting great results from the company’s take on automatic milk frothing. I wasn’t entirely satisfied with the performance, although I think some leniency should be applied.

Firstly, the milk carafe is a little awkward to attach to the steam nozzle. Not frustratingly so, but it requires a more steady hand compared to the approach taken by De’Longhi, whose LatteCrema milk carafe easily inserts into a cutout on the front of its machines.

Secondly, there are markings on the side of the carafe to indicate how much is required for a particular drink. In practice, I found these to be inaccurate, and I always had some leftover milk in the carafe. Because the lid isn’t airtight, I had to pour this away if I knew I wasn’t going to have another coffee soon after the first.

Finally, despite using a barista-level brand of oat milk, which has a higher protein content to assist with producing a thicker foam, the milk pushed out into my coffee mug lacked any real resemblance to proper foam. It was certainly foamier than if I just poured milk from the carton, but when I compared the results to using my Nespresso Aeroccino 3 milk frother, it was a clear win for Nespresso. I also tested the LatteGo system with full-fat dairy milk and it did produce a much thicker foam.

(Image credit: Future)

Where I want to give some leniency is the fact that I wasn’t super satisfied with the results of the De’Longhi LatteCrema system when I reviewed the Magnifica Evo Next automatic coffee machine. I’ve yet to try similar systems from the likes of KitchenAid or Smeg, but I do wonder if the way they – creating steam and mixing with milk to aerate it – is that effective on the whole. In my mind, if you enjoy cafe-quality levels of milk foam, then you’ll be better served by an espresso machine with a steam wand.

I also experimented with iced drinks using the 4400 Series, although as Cat discovered in her review of the 5500 Series, the 4400 Series machine doesn’t actually produce cold coffee. Instead, you’re instructed to put ice cubes into a mug or glass, which then cools the coffee down. Philips does say water and coffee produced for iced drinks is “warm” rather than hot, so it will cool down quicker when poured over ice. I didn’t necessarily mind this approach, but it did make me wonder why there are iced drink recipes in the first place. I could just as easily place ice in a mug and run a regular espresso shot, rather than select iced espresso.

The 4400 Series only has three iced drink presets: iced espresso, iced coffee and iced long black. I like an iced latte and so poured cold milk into a glass with ice cubes and ran an iced espresso shot. For my tastes, the result was superb, and my partner enjoyed his iced long black. The 5500 Series does have a preset for iced latte, which pours cold milk via the LatteGo system.

(Image credit: Future)

Finally, the Philips 4400 LatteGo uses what the company calls SilentBrew technology to keep noise levels to a minimum. It’s also Quiet Mark certified, meaning it’s among the quietest in its product class. Knowing this, I assumed I’d hear near-silence from the machine during use, but in reality it was louder than I had expected. Using the Decibel X app on my iPhone and standing next to the machine, I recorded a measurement of 69dB when the machine was grinding beans and around 60dB when espresso was being poured. That’s louder than the KitchenAid KF8, which is also Quiet Mark certified. We recorded a measurement of 66dB when grinding and an average volume of just 44dB in our KitchenAid KF8 review.

Performance score: 4.5 / 5

Should I buy the Philips LatteGo 4400 Series?Philips LatteGo 4400 Series scorecard

Attribute

Notes

Score

Value

Affordable and often discounted, although other great options can be picked up for less during sales.

4 / 5

Design

Compact size will suit most kitchens, easy to clean and intuitive interface

4.5 / 5

Performance

Great results across all drinks, just don’t set your expectations too high for the LatteGo system

4 / 5

Buy it if...

You have limited kitchen space

The Philips LatteGo 4400 is a compact, narrow machine and only needs side access to remove the water tank and brewing group head. You can push it into a corner no problem.

You’re new to automatic coffee machines

This machine is incredibly easy to master, with clear and intuitive drinks, menus and settings. You’ll be brewing coffee after coffee in no time.

Don't buy it if...

You have a large household

The 4400 Series only has 2 selectable profiles. If you have multiple coffee drinkers with different preferences, you’ll likely end up overriding each other’s settings.

You like cold-brewed coffee

While you can make good iced drinks with the 4400 Series, it doesn’t produce authentic cold-brew coffee. It also can’t make iced lattes.

Philips LatteGo 4400 Series: Also consider

If you're not sure that the Philips LatteGo 5500 Series is the right coffee maker for you, here are two other options for your consideration.

KitchenAid KF6

It’s a little bit more expensive, but the KitchenAid KF6 has the looks to back it up and it produces a superb shot of espresso. Plus, it’s incredibly easy to use.

Read our full KitchenAid KF6 review

Ninja Luxe Cafe

You’ll need more space in your kitchen to accommodate it, but this bean-to-cup machine from Ninja produces fantastic espresso and is packed with features, including grind size suggestion, weight-based dosage system and an automatic milk frother.

Read our full Ninja Luxe Cafe review

How I tested the Philips LatteGo 4400 Series

I tested the Philips LatteGo 4400 Series over a period of two weeks with some coffee beans from a local supermarket that I had used before. I tested the water hardness using the strip supplied in the box and fitted the water tank using the instructions provided.

I tested the LatteGo system of the 4400 Series coffee machine using fridge-cold full-fat dairy and a barista oat milk. I tested the machine's ability to produce a variety of hot and cold drinks.

For more details, see how we test, rate, and review products at TechRadar.

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I used the Philips LatteGo 4400 Series for two weeks and found it produced excellent coffee, but its milk foaming could use improvement

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