TechRadar Reviews

Apple iPhone 17 Pro: Two-minute review

The time when you had to make a tradeoff between the full-featured iPhone Pro Max and the iPhone Pro has long since passed. Today, the iPhone 17 Pro Max and the iPhone 17 Pro I'm reviewing here are fundamentally the same phone with only a few differences, and all of them relate to the size.

There's a smaller screen and therefore fewer pixels (but not a lower resolution). The battery on the iPhone 17 Pro is smaller, so you get fewer hours per charge. Finally, the storage options on the Pro top out at 1TB, while the iPhone 17 Pro Max goes up to 2TB.

With that in mind, virtually everything I say in my iPhone 17 Pro Max review is also true of this iPhone 17 Pro, right down to the fantastic camera system.

(Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)

This update is an inside-out refashioning, with a powerful new A19 Processor supported by a heat-wicking system in the form of a vapor chamber. I'm not sure it would have been as effective though, if not for the new aluminum unibody design, which helps distribute the heat throughout the chassis.

A reorganization of the components left more room for a larger battery, and that, in concert with the heat management system and new body, promises better battery life than before.

Inside, the A19 Pro makes every operation a breeze, as it easily handles everything from simple web browsing to 4K video editing and local AI operations.

We now get three 48MP cameras, including a stellar 4x optical zoom that's capable of an 8x optical sensor crop which also produces fantastic results.

The fact that you get all this in a more affordable and pocketable 6.3-inch package could make the iPhone 17 Pro the best choice for most who operate at a pro level.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro review: Price and availability

• Starts at $1,099 / £1,099 / AU$1,999
• Pre-orders opened on September 12, shipping from September 19

Apple announced the iPhone 17 Pro at its 'Awe Dropping' event on September 9, and alongside the iPhone Air, iPhone 17, and iPhone 17 Pro Max. iPhone 17 Pro pre-orders began on September 12, and the new phone ships on September 19.

The iPhone 17 Pro starts at $1,099 / £1,099 / AU$1,999 for the model with 256GB of storage, with that price rising to $1,299 / £1,299 / AU$2,399 for 512GB of storage, and $1,499 / £1,499 / AU$2,799 for 1TB of storage. If you need a 2TB device, look at the iPhone 17 Pro Max.

Storage

US price

UK price

AU price

256GB

$1,099

£1,099

AU$1,999

512GB

$1,299

£1,299

AU$2,399

1TB

$1,499

£1,499

AU$2,799

sdsfsw

• Value score: 5 / 5

Apple iPhone 17 Pro review: Specs

iPhone 17

iPhone 17 Air

iPhone 17 Pro

iPhone 17 Pro Max

Weight:

177g

165g

206g

233g

Display:

6.3-inch OLED

6.5-inch OLED

6.3-inch OLED

6.9-inch OLED

Resolution:

2622 x 1206

2736 x 1260

2622 x 1206

2868 x 1320

Refresh rate:

120Hz

120Hz

120Hz

120Hz

Peak brightness:

3,000 nits

3,000 nits

3,000 nits

3,000 nits

Chipset:

A19

A19 Pro

A19 Pro

A19 Pro

Rear cameras:

48MP wide (26mm, f/1.6), 48MP ultra-wide (13 mm, f/2.2)

48MP wide (26mm, f/1.6)

48MP wide (24mm, ƒ/1.78), 48MP ultra-wide (13 mm, ƒ/2.2), 48MP telephoto (8x optical zoom)

48MP wide (24mm, ƒ/1.78), 48MP ultra-wide (13 mm, ƒ/2.2), 48MP telephoto (8x optical zoom)

Front camera:

18MP (f/1.9)

18MP (f/1.9)

18MP (ƒ/1.9)

18MP (ƒ/1.9)

Storage:

256GB, 512GB

256GB, 512GB, 1TB

256GB, 512GB, 1TB

256GB, 512GB, 1TB, 2TB

Colors:

Black, White, Mist Blue, Sage, Lavender

Space Black, Cloud White, Light Gold, Sky Blue

Silver, Cosmic Orange, Deep Blue

Silver, Cosmic Orange, Deep Blue

Apple iPhone 17 Pro review: Design

• A redesign that works
• New materials bring new color and cooling possibilities
• Control and Action Buttons didn't get a rethink

Apple's iPhone 17 Pro (and the 17 Pro Max) is instantly recognizable as an iPhone, but I still contend that this is the most significant redesign in ages. The bold, nearly full-width plateau (time to stop calling it a "camera bump") is distinctive and more attractive than I expected.

Honestly, who needs a phone that can lie flat on its back anymore? I'd argue that consumers (yes, people like me) are more interested in performance and possibilities than balance.

I was curious about the switch from titanium (a light and sturdy material) to aluminum (an even lighter and perhaps more pliable one), but I'm now convinced that this was a good swap with some obvious benefits.

The first of those is the color choices. You have silver (not that exciting), the wonderful Deep Blue of the phone I tested, and the new Cosmic Orange of my iPhone 17 Pro Max test unit. I love the latter two colors, and don't think they would have been possible without the anodization process.

Because the iPhone body is carved out of aluminum means the iPhone 17 Pro has smoother corners, making the entire phone feel more comfortable in my hands. This smaller phone will be especially appealing to those with smaller hands.

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Below the camera plateau on the Ceramic Shield-protected back (the screen gets Ceramic Shield 2), the large rectangular cutout that houses the Apple logo creates a sort of two-tone look that I rather like. It almost seems a shame to cover it with Apple's new Tech Woven cases.

After a couple of generations of us having to get used to new iPhone buttons, the iPhone 17 Pro holds fast on the two volume buttons and the Action Button on one side, and the Power/Sleep/Siri button and Camera Control button on the other.

There's no new functionality there, but some may still find the customizable Action button and instant access to photography and controls through Camera Control useful; of the two, I use the Camera Control most for instant access to the camera and, sometimes, as a physical shutter button.

(Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)

Like the iPhone 16 Pro before it, the iPhone 17 Pro is IP68 rated for exposure to dust and water. Drop it in the toilet (which I did not) or run it under water (which I did), and it will survive.

There are a few other minor differences, like an antenna cutout on the top edge and a larger speaker grille on one side of the base. Perhaps that's why the audio can get so loud and resonant, and sound just as good in a voice call as it does streaming Better Call Saul on Netflix.

• Design score: 5 / 5

Apple iPhone 17 Pro review: Display

• Super Retina XDR display still excellent
• Brighter than ever
• Possibly more resilient

(Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)

While Apple took pains to remake the look and lines of the iPhone 17 Pro (and 17 Pro Max), it more or less left well enough alone with the Super Retina XDR display. This is not a problem, since the OLED screen resolution, at 2622 x 1206 pixels, is still sharp and spectacular in almost every scenario.

Photos and videos look splendid on the screen thanks in part to its 2,000,000:1 contrast ratio and wide color gamut. It's a great platform for stills and for fast action in AAA games, where the 120Hz screen refresh keeps gameplay butter smooth.

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The iPhone 17 Pro in direct sunlight. I think the antireflective coating makes a noticeable difference (Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)Image 2 of 2

iPhone 16 Pro in direct sunlight (Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)

The ProMotion technology not only provides that rapid refresh rate, it can slow all the way down to 1Hz to support the always-on display, which lets me see the time and my notifications on the sleep/lock screen.

This is a brighter screen, achieving 3,000 nits in direct sunlight. That combination with a new anti-reflective coating helped it beat the iPhone 16 Pro in my outdoor, direct-sunlight Netflix streaming tests.

As for the new Ceramic Shield 2 screen covering, I'm hesitant to rub any keys on it, but I will be curious to see what the display looks like two months from now.

The 6.3-inch display still features the Dynamic Island cutout, which provides space for the Face ID sensors and new Center Stage Camera. It's still larger than I'd like, and appears in some games and videos as a black, pill-shaped cutout. If, though, like me you appreciate the live information (like sports scores) that the space can provide, I doubt you'll be bothered by its existence.

(Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)

• Display score: 4.5 / 5

Apple iPhone 17 Pro review: Cameras

• Three excellent rear 48MP cameras
• Zoom is finally where I need it to be
• Front-facing Center Stage Camera changes the selfie game

(Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)

Apple has rewarded my fixation on photography with the three best 48MP lenses I've ever seen on an iPhone (plus an excellent new selfie camera). The list of lenses is identical across both Pro phones, which makes them no less desirable. FWIW, Camera performance on the iPhone 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max appears identical. Here's the list of physical lenses.

• Main: 48MP f/1.78
• Ultra-wide: 48MP f/2.2
• Telephoto: 48MP (4x optical) f/2.8
• Selfie camera: 18MP (not called 'Fusion')

The main camera defaults to shooting at 24MP, but you can shoot at full resolution or as a 2x optical sensor crop, which takes the best 12MP from the full 48MP for the final image.

The ultrawide also defaults to 24MP, while the same lens will shoot macro images at 12MP.

For me, though, the most exciting addition is the new 48MP 4x optical zoom lens that shoots 24MP, 100mm-equivalent photos and can, with another optical sensor crop, also shoot 12MP, 8x zoom photos. Even though the latter is not a true 8x optical zoom lens, it captures images like one.

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I was consistently impressed with the detail I could capture. In my experience, the best lens of the bunch is the 4x optical. It's great for portraits and still life.

The image quality across the multiple lenses and shooting styles is down, in part, to Apple's fantastic image pipeline. It gathers and processes so much information, but never turns an image into AI mush or an approximation. Images come alive with true colors and exquisite detail.

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Portrait-mode photography looks better than ever. I was especially impressed with how the cameras handled hair and glasses frames. Every shot looked pro-quality.

I took the landscape on the left using Center Stage Camera without turning the phone 90-degrees. (Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)

The other major photographic highlight is the new Center Stage Selfie camera. Where the True Depth Camera was an able 12MP system, the Center Stage Camera is backed by a square 18MP sensor. It uses those extra pixels to automatically fit groups of subjects into the frame by zooming out a bit.

Better yet, this is the first smartphone selfie camera in my experience to let you turn from a portrait to a landscape mode selfie without turning the phone 90 degrees. Instead, you just tap a software button – and, yes, it works with photos and video. It's brilliant, and I expect other smartphone competitors to follow suit.

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I shot in all kinds of lighting conditions, from bright and sunny to cloudy, rainy, and even nighttime darkness. Night photography is even better than ever. This was the phone I used to capture New York City's 9-11 Memorial Lights (the city is 50 miles away). It was a feat I could not reproduce with the iPhone 16 Pro.

I love selfies in the rain, and I was particularly impressed with the Center Stage Camera's ability to capture individual raindrops (Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)

You can shoot video in 4K (up to 120fps). It looks good, especially because the sensor-shift optical image stabilization handles even the roughest road.

During my first day with the phone, there was a huge rain shower, which I took as my cue to retry Audio Mix, Apple's AI-powered audio cleanup tool. The rain shower was so loud that it pretty much overwhelmed my baseline video. All I had to do was select one of the options (In-Frame, Studio, Cinematic), and the iPhone 17 Pro did an excellent job of elevating my voice over the din. It does sound a bit processed, but also usable, which is not something I can say of the original video.

One other new feature you might enjoy (or you might wonder why it's there) is Dual Camera. As the name suggests, this slightly hidden feature lets you shoot video with both the front and rear cameras. Your selfie video view appears as a small, movable window on top of the main video, presumably so you can offer commentary on the action. I used it at a wedding and found it fun, if not super-useful.

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Put yourself in the video with dual cam (Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)

The new camera app is so different that it might, at first, confuse people. A lot of what you would normally see when first opening the app is hidden. But, for instance, a touch and slide on the word 'Photo' quickly reveals how you can slide to find all your main photography options.

In short, you will get used to it.

(Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)

As a package, this is by far the best camera array (including the front camera) Apple has ever produced. It shoots fantastic images that will make you the envy of all your friends. Plus, with its 4K Dolby Vision, it's a pro-level video platform.

If I needed any more proof that this is a pro-videoographer tool, I got it when I tested out Genlock support, which lets you capture and automatically sync multiple video streams.

To test this, I hooked up the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max video via a wireless connection to an iPad Pro 13. The iPad was running a Testflight version of Final Cut Pro for iPad, and the phones were running Testflight versions of Final Cut Cameras.

Final Cut on the iPad presented me with a single record button, and when I hit it, both cameras started to record. I was capturing two angles at once, and Final Cut presented them as two linked streams that I could edit to create a very nice pro-level, multi-cam video.

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• Camera score: 5 / 5

Apple iPhone 17 Pro review: Software and Apple Intelligence

• iOS 26
• Apple Intelligence adds some new features
• The ultimate Siri is still MIA

There may never be a more beautiful iOS than iOS 26. Liquid Glass, which glistens from almost every virtual surface, looks both polished and exciting. It's quite the programming feat to make pixels look like glass, giving unexpected substance to, for instance, buttons and widgets.

Generally, I'm a fan, except for the times where Liquid Glass's fundamental translucency makes for a cluttered viewing experience – if you can see what's behind a text-entry box when you're trying to type in it, it can get a little confusing. I'm certain that Apple can offer some Liquid Glass transparency adjustment in a future update.

(Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)

Last year's star, Apple Intelligence, gets a few updates, like a better Image Playground and upgraded Visual Intelligence, which can instantly take info gleaned from an image and add it to your calendar.

Clean Up remains an impressive image-editing tool. In one instance, I used it to remove a rope from in front of a horse. I drew one glowing line over the thin white fabric, then tapped the screen, and it disappeared, leaving the horse unscathed (and his face filled in) behind.

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But Apple Intelligence's capabilities still pale in comparison to what I can get with Google Gemini or from partner OpenAI (and ChatGPT). I await the day when Siri becomes as conversational and system-aware as these other platforms.

• Software score: 4.5 / 5

Apple iPhone 17 Pro review: Performance

• A19 Pro is Apple's most powerful mobile CPU
• 12GB is the memory you need

Going by by specs alone, the A19 Pro is a bit of a beast:

• 6-core CPU with two performance and four efficiency cores
• 6-core GPU, each with its own Neural Accelerator
• 16-Core Neural Engine

Unsurprisingly, performance scores for the A19 Pro chip are, based on Future Labs benchmarks, considerably better than for the A18 Pro that powered the iPhone 16 Pro. In fact, the SoC maxed out some of our frame rate tests.

These numbers are on display in every operation the phone performs. It's an able console-grade gamer, playing Destiny: Rising with impressive levels of shading, reflections, fog, and fire. The A19 Pro's hardware-accelerated Ray Tracing surely has a hand in this.

There's now 12GB of RAM on board, which means there's likely more than enough headroom for ever-larger AI models. After all, Apple's preference is to do things like AI-assisted Live Translation locally.

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This is an SoC that's completely comfortable both shooting and editing 4K video. It's a little powerhouse.

It's more, though, than just a workhorse. Apple has added a vapor chamber system that, along with the now more heat-efficient aluminum frame, helps capture heat off the chip and spread it throughout the iPhone 17 Pro body so there's no longer a hot spot.

In reality, this is one area where the smaller iPhone 17 Pro differs a bit from iPhone 17 Pro Max. I'm not sure if it's because there's more room in the iPhone 17 Pro Max, but it felt cooler in my tests than the iPhone 17 Pro, which got slightly warm to the touch during an intense Asphalt 9 Legends round.

• Performance score: 5 / 5

Apple iPhone 17 Pro review: Battery

• Battery life upgrade
• Qi 2 support
• No adapter included

Between all that efficiency and Apple reengineering the interior for a larger battery, the iPhone 17 Pro might have the best battery life for an iPhone ever, leaving aside the larger iPhone 17 Pro Max, which is now flirting with two-day battery range.

In my anecdotal tests, the iPhone 17 Pro was good for between 25 and 30 hours of battery life. Apple rates it for about 30 hours if you do nothing but stream video, while mixed use, especially lots of gameplay, will shorten the charge duration. Even so, this is the best batter life I've ever seen on a base Pro model. The combination of a more efficient CPU, a bigger battery, and the energy-saving heat management appears to be paying real dividends.

This is a Qi 2- compatible system, which means it charges faster on a Qi2-ready charge pad. The phone doesn't ship with a charging adapter, just the USB-C woven cable, but if you buy the new, optionL, Dynamic 40W (up to 60W) charger ($39), you can also expect faster wired charging speeds. When I tried it, I was able to charge to 50% in 20 minutes.

• Battery score: 4.5 / 5

Should you buy the Apple iPhone 17 Pro?Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max score card

Attributes

Notes

Rating

Value

A better phone in virtually every way for the same price as last year

5 / 5

Design

A refreshed design that also brings some performance dividends

5 / 5

Display

Display technology slight better thanks to more brightness and a toucher screen.

4.5 / 5

Software

iOS26 is gorgeous but someitmes a bit overdone. Still the overall software package, even without the ultimate Siri Apple Intlligence upgrade, is excellent.

4.5 / 5

Camera

The best camera array Apple has ever produced

5 / 5

Performance

A19 Pro is powerful and backed by more memory than ever. It's ready for any task.

5 / 5

Battery

A bigger battery means 30 hours of operation is possible.

4.5 / 5

Buy it if...

You want Apple Pro-level mobile power but not the size or price best
The iPhone 17 Pro is everything you can get from a Pro Max. All you lose is a bigger screen, crazy-long battery life, and the option to have 2TB of storage.

You want the best cameras Apple has ever produced
Great lenses, excellent image pipeline add up to truly great photo capabilities.

Don't buy it if...

You demand the largest screen
Apple's iPhone 17 Pro has a nice 6.3-inch display but it's pretty small compared to the iPhone 17 Pro Max's 6.9-inch super Retina XDR display.

You need more space
The iPhone 17 Pro maxes out at 1TB of storage. The 17 Pro Max will give you 2TB...for a price, of course.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro review: Also consider

Apple's latest Pro iPhone not exciting you? Here are a few alternatives from the Android frontier.

Google Pixel 10 Pro
The Pixel 10 Pro is a fantastic addition to the Pixel line, with useful new features like magnetic charging and AI tools that are helpful and not overbearing. There is still room for improvement, particularly in terms of performance and battery life, but this is one of the best smartphones you can buy, aside from the Pixel 10 Pro XL.

Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra
Samsung's ultimate Android phone is a welcome mixure of design and power that, yes, still brings the titanium. Ther'es also that 200MP sensor, something the iPhone 17 Pro Max still doesn't boast.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7
For powerful versatility a surprisingly thin and light frame, nothing beats the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7. It has excellent cameras, two screens, and powerful AI features. It's also considerably more expensive that the iPhone 17 Pro Max.

How I tested the Apple iPhone 17 Pro

• Review test period: I received the phone on September 9 and tested it through September 16.
• Testing included: everyday use, photography, video calling, gaming, streaming video, music playback, and testing Apple Intelligence
• Tools used: Geekbench 6, Geekbench AI, 3DMark

I tested the iPhone 17 Pro (and iPhone 17 Pro Max) alongside my iPhone 16 Pro Max. I took it with me everywhere and tried to use it as I would my own phone.

I've been testing smartphones for over 20 years, and I've been writing about the iPhone since it launched. I've also been tracking and writing about AI since the dawn of consumer-grade experiences more than a decade ago, and I've been covering technology for 39 years.

Read more about how we test

First reviewed September 2025

Casabrews 3700 Essential: one-minute review

Casabrews hasn’t quite garnered the same brand recognition as names like De’Longhi or Breville. But given it was only founded in 2020, it’s natural we don’t see Casabrews machines dominating lists of the best espresso machines just yet.

It’s difficult to know what to expect from this relative new-kid-on-the-block, and in my experience testing Casabrews’ espresso machines so far, the brand’s line-up has been a real mixed bag. The 3700 Essential continues that legacy of leaving me conflicted. While it’s attractively designed, impressively compact, and delivers top-notch steamed milk; there’s just too little consistency when it comes to the espresso itself. Add to that a persistent problem of dripping and messes after pulling shots, and my feelings are totally split.

(Image credit: Future)Casabrews 3700 Essential: price and availability

• List price: $129.99 / £139.99
• Available in the US and UK
• Discounts available on Casabrews website

The Casabrews 3700 Essential is an affordable pick that’s undoubtedly on the lower end of budget espresso machines.

Those in the US can buy the Casabrews 3700 Essential at the Casabrews website or on Amazon, and regardless of where you choose to shop, it’ll usually set you back $139.99. That said, Casabrews frequently has discounts available on its range.

In the UK, you can still order from the Casabrews’ site though all prices are listed in dollars. Alternatively, you can pick it up from Amazon UK. However, your only color choices are silver and black, and the black variant costs $149.99.

• Value score: 5/5

(Image credit: Future)Casabrews 3700 Essential: specifications

Type

Semi-automatic espresso machine

Drink options

2 (single and double espresso)

Pump pressure

20 bar

Water tank capacity

43.9 oz / 1.24 liters

Steam wand

Yes, manual

Side (H x W x D)

12.5 x 5.7 x 12.6 inches / 31.75 x 14.48 x 32cm

Weight

10.25lbs / 4.65kg

(Image credit: Future)Casabrews 3700 Essential: design

• Suitable for tiny kitchens
• Available in 5 colors (green, blue, silver, black, beige)
• Some high quality details, some not so high quality

In many respects, the Casabrews 3700 Essential is basically a slightly cheaper twin of the Casabrews CM5418: they share the same portafilter size, almost the same dimensions, and have virtually identical functions. For the most part, all that sets them apart is a $10 price difference … and a pretty substantial disparity in performance (but we’ll get to that later).

The Casabrews 3700 Essential is an espresso machine that feels made to be space-savvy. A small footprint on a budget machine is almost always a great choice. After all, if you’re on the hunt for an espresso machine under $150 dollars you might be a student, someone trying to budget, or just not ready to dive headfirst into the world of espresso. No matter what your reason for opting for a low-cost machine, you likely don’t have tons of counter space, or don’t want to sacrifice it.

So, whether you have a cramped kitchen or want a caffeine fix in your office, the 3700 Essential fits the bill for a compact espresso machine, thanks to it coming in at less than six inches wide. It’s half an inch larger in the back than the CM5418 in the back though to accommodate a larger water tank though, which is a bit of a shame. To me, a larger tank is only ever really a bad thing, as it incentivises you going longer without changing your water – stagnant water isn’t ever a note you want to bring to your coffee.

Aside from the machine itself, you also get a one-shot pressurized basket, a two-shot pressurized basket, and a plastic tamp scoop. These accessories are pretty bare bones, but this is to be expected given the price. With the inclusion of two pressurized (or double-walled) baskets and no non-pressurized (or single-walled) baskets, the 3700 Essential should – in theory – deliver a more consistent output, even when using coffee that is too coarse or not freshly ground.

• Design score: 4/5

(Image credit: Future)Casabrews 3700 Essential: performance

• Inconsistencies with espresso output
• Beware of messes and drips
• Steam wand performs ideally

None of the Casabrews machines I’ve tested so far have had a three-way solenoid valve to relieve pressure on the puck after extraction, but the CM3700 Essential appears to suffer the most from its absence. Post-pull dripping was a notable issue with it, even beyond the amount I had come to tolerate while using budget espresso machines. I also had issues with the puck appearing soupier than expected, and even experienced a nightmarish ‘portafilter sneeze’ which sent wet, gloopy grounds flying across my drip tray and work surface.

This is a minor annoyance in the grand scheme of things but it’s not difficult to find a similarly priced-machine that doesn’t suffer from these problems to the same degree. All of this meant that I had to remind myself to wait a little while after pulling a shot before removing (and cleaning) my portafilter to avoid having to drop sludge into my knock box. This is a deceptively simple request for someone like me, who’s likely to forget about it entirely, and find myself greeted by a gross crusty puck the next morning.

(Image credit: Future)

Thankfully, the side effects of excess portafilter pressure can be mitigated by getting properly accumulated to the rhythm of your machine. For the most part, you can avoid a big clean-up job once you figure out exactly when to stop your shot, when to remove your cup, how fine you can grind before your machine starts to ‘choke’, and when to safely and cleanly remove your portafilter. That knowledge comes with time and practice but I can’t help feeling like other machines I’ve tested took far less getting accustomed to.

The slightly messy fuss of the CM3700 Essential might feel worth it if I was consistently pleased with the espresso that came out of it. While I had high hopes based on my first shot, performance proved to be variable in the long run.

I had some difficulty getting a confident, clean tamp on my puck as the tamp scoop was light, awkward to wield, and ever so slightly smaller than for my basket. This meant I had to perform multiple tamping motions while shifting the tamp around the puck in order to flatten the full surface area. Obviously, this wasn’t ideal and I could see the puck getting slightly cracked with each new push, but I worked to get the best preparation I could despite my struggles.

Besides, pressurized baskets are designed to compensate for imperfect grind size or technique, essentially forcing a thicker crema and “pretty good” extraction even with suboptimal coffee and puck prep. That’s why so many entry-level machines include them. Thankfully, the pressurized basket had created a pleasant-looking layer of crema which—while not technically a sign of well-extracted espresso in this case– certainly looked the part. The taste was solid too: it had managed to produce something quite flavorful and pleasant to drink black, as is.

(Image credit: Future)

However, from that point on, espresso shots from the 3700 Essential proved to be more of a gamble. To be clear, I wasn’t expecting a $129 espresso machine to rival a top of the line model, but even by budget standards the fluctuations felt a tad extreme. I compared it directly with the Casabrews CM5418 (again, the 3700 Essential can’t escape the shadow of its more capable brother), and it produced more balanced results with the same beans and recipe. The 3700 Essential just doesn’t inspire confidence that I could get the same cup twice in a row, which is all you can really ask of your machine.

It’s not all doom and gloom though. My tinge of disappointment was softened by how well the machine handles steaming milk. Despite being a compact and inexpensive machine, the 3700 Essential delivers the kind of steam pressure and precision you need to produce silky microfoam, as well as airy cappuccino froth.

The steam wand is controlled by a knob on the side of the machine, and while it’s a small detail, I did appreciate the silicone grip around its perimeter. Not only does it feel more comfortable in my hand than steel or plastic but it offers better traction when turning, which is helpful for maintaining control while steaming. The last thing you’d want is to fumble when trying to turn the knob and end up burning your milk.

• Performance score: 2.5/5

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(Image credit: Future)Should you buy the Casabrews 3700 Essential?Casabrews 3700 Essential score card

Attribute

Notes

Score

Value

Affordable coffee machine that's definitely at the budget end of the market.

5/5

Design

Very compact machine, but accessories are very bare-bones.

4/5

Performance

Inconsistencies with espresso output, and messy drips, though steam wand works well.

2.5/5

Buy it if

You’re on a budget

There are few espresso machines that are quite so kind to your wallet as the Casabrews 3700 Essential. Even when compared to Casabrews’ already economical range, the 3700 Essential has the second lowest price tag out of any of the brand’s other machines.

You enjoy your coffee with flavored syrups

While testing it, I found that not every shot from the Casabrews 3700 Essential was a winner. However, even slightly ‘meh’ espresso can serve as a good base for flavored lattes. If espresso isn’t the star of the show in your favorite beverages, this machine should serve you just fine.

You’re big into milk-based drinks

If you’re looking for a machine with a steam wand that’ll let you make cappuccino foam or microfoam, the 3700 Essential has you covered. Its steam wand is comfortable to use and easy to get the hang of.

Don't buy it if

You’re a lover of espresso or black coffee

In my testing, the Casabrews 3700 Essential produced decent shots, but that quality wavered quite a bit. The output was never so bad as to be a total dealbreaker, but you’re not guaranteed the same drink every morning, no matter how closely you adhere to your usual technique.

You’re planning on getting into coffee as a hobby

A lot of the frustrations presented by the Casabrews 3700 Essential is likely to put you off the ritual of making your own espresso. What’s more, you’ll probably want to upgrade to another machine after a short while.

Casabrews 3700 Essential: also consider

If you're not sure that the Casabrews 3700 Essential is the right coffee maker for you, here are two alternatives to consider.

Breville / Sage Bambino

One of the most commonly-recommended espresso machines for beginners is the Breville Bambino (or Sage Bambino, as it’s called in the UK), and that’s for good reason. While the Bambino is certainly a rung above the Casabrews 3700 Essential in terms of price, it's likely to deliver a more satisfying intro into the world of espresso.

Read our full Breville / Sage Bambino review

Casabrews CM5418

As mentioned previously, the Casabrews CM5418 and the Casabrews 3700 Essential have a whole lot in common. The former is ever so slightly more expensive, but that extra cost is more than worth it given the upgrade in performance.

How I tested the Casabrews 3700 Essential

(Image credit: Future)

I tested the Casabrews 3700 Essential over a period of three weeks. During this time, I used it to brew espresso and steam milk.

Across my testing, I used light, dark, and omni-roasted fresh espresso beans bought from specialty coffee roasters. I adjusted my dose and grind size in pursuit of the best recipe for each variety. All beans were ground with the Baratza Encore ESP.

Steam wand functionality was tested by using fresh, full-fat dairy milk, semi-skimmed milk, and oat milk. After each steam, I made sure to purge and clean the wand to keep it clean and functional. For more details, see how we test, review, and rate products at TechRadar.

First reviewed September 2025

Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14-inch review: Two-minute review

The Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14-inch is a high-end device, featuring a premium build and spec - with a price tag to match.

It looks very elegant, more so than other Chromebooks. It apes Apple’s MacBook line in all the right ways, with its sleek, rounded chassis and delectable materials. It’s also very thin and reasonably light, making it a cinch to carry around.

This really is one of the best Chromebook constructions I’ve seen. Every aspect screams quality, and there are a few atypical touches, such as the central protrusion on the top of lid to help with opening, and the wavy contours of the underside panel.

The lid is as smooth and as stable as I could’ve wished for, too, although it doesn’t open to a full 180 degrees. The bezel around the display is incredibly thin, which is always a positive.

You don’t get many interfaces on the Chromebook Plus 14-inch, although I was glad to see two USB-C ports, both of which can be used to charge the device and connect to external monitors, and placed either side for improved convenience. A USB-A port and a headset jack are the only others.

The Chromebook Plus 14-inch performs as well as its state-of-the-art design suggests. It can handle all manner of tasks, from light productivity to gaming, and the 16GB of RAM in my review unit made light work of multitasking.

Complementing this performance is the brilliant OLED display, which provides plenty of clarity, vibrancy, contrast, and brightness, with the latter helping to keep reflections at bay. It also has touch functionality, which works very well, if not quite on par with those on tablets and phones.

The touchpad, however, is the best I’ve used on a Chromebook: it’s unbelievably smooth, while its large dimensions and responsive inputs make navigation as easy as can be. The keyboard is also great to use, although I did have to acclimatize somewhat to the solidity of the keys themselves, but once I did, typing was an equally enjoyable experience.

Battery life is also superb, lasting about 14 hours in our movie playback test. Not many other Chromebooks can beat this, barring the odd few. It’s also very quick to charge.

All of these class-leading elements come at a price, however. The Chromebook Plus 14-inch is one of the most expensive Chromebooks around, straying into Windows-laptop territory – and ChromeOS simply can’t compete with these machines in terms of sheer versatility.

For this reason, it’s hard to recommend the Chromebook Plus 14-inch outright, unless you manage to catch it in a generous sale. But if you have your heart set on a Chromebook Plus and the money to spend, the Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14-inch won’t disappoint.

Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14-inch review: Price and availability

(Image credit: Future)

• $749.99 / £699 / AU$1,197
• Available now
• High end of the market

The Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14-inch costs $749.99 / £699 / AU$1,197 and is available now. Models with differing RAM and storage capacities are also available.

This is one of the most expensive Chromebooks on the market. At this price, the Chromebook Plus 14-inch rubs shoulders with some of the best laptops running Windows, which have far greater compatibility and customizability. The best value laptop as far as we’re concerned is the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus 7441, which we also compared favorably to a MacBook (specifically the Air model), owing to its thin and light design and commendable speed.

There’s also the HP Chromebook Plus 15, which we rate as the one of the best Chromebooks for students, thanks to its blistering performance by the standards of the sector. While it’s also expensive for a Chromebook, it’s still considerably cheaper than Chromebook Plus 14-inch, despite having a larger display.

• Value: 2.5 / 5

Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14-inch review: Specs

My Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14-inch review unit had 16GB of RAM and 256GB of storage.

Price:

$749.99 / £699 / AU$1,197

CPU:

MediaTek Kompanio Ultra 910 (8 cores, 2.1GHz)

Graphics:

Integrated Arm Immortalis-G925 MC

RAM:

16GB LPDDR5x

Screen:

14" WUXGA (1920x1200) OLED 400nits Glossy, 100% DCI-P3, 60Hz, Glass, touchscreen

Storage:

256GB UFS 4.0

Ports:

2x USB-C (3.2 Gen 1, PD 3.0, DisplayPort 1.4), 1x USB-A (3.2 Gen 1), 1x headset jack

Wireless:

MediaTek Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4

Camera:

5.0MP with privacy shutter

Weight:

2.78lbs (1.26kg)

Dimensions:

12.37 x 8.63 x 0.62in (314 x 219 x 16mm)

Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14-inch review: Design

(Image credit: Future)

• Fabulous construction
• Takes cues from MacBooks
• Not many ports

The Chromebook Plus 14-inch is expertly crafted. Its Apple-inspired appearance is more than surface-deep; its build quality rivals that of the best MacBooks, even featuring its own fingerprint scanner. Further similarities lay in the Chromebook Plus 14-inch’s thin and light body, which makes it easy to travel with.

But the Chromebook Plus 14-inch has some unique aspects that set it apart slightly. There’s a bulge in the center of the lid that makes it easier to open, while the underside is crinkled – quite why, I’m not sure; but I appreciated it nonetheless, as it feels oddly satisfying to hold.

The lid hinge is engineered to a high standard as well, offering smooth yet sturdy adjustments. The bezel around the screen is minimal, which I’m always pleased to see as it allows the display to make full use of its allotted space.

Even the power adapter is well designed, forgoing the mid-cable brick that many others are saddled with. It’s still something of a wall wart, though, and the length of brick directly behind the plug might make it unsuitable for certain setups.

Thankfully, it should prove thin enough to avoid infringing upon adjacent sockets. It’s a shame the cable itself isn’t that long, but it should suffice for most setups.

There are only four ports on the Chromebook Plus 14-inch, but two of them are USB-C, and both support charging and external display connections, which helps to make up for the lack of dedicated ports for these. They’re also located on either side, which makes the Chromebook Plus 14-inch conducive to a wider variety of setups. The other two interfaces are a USB-A (on the left) and a headset jack (on the right), which are always useful additions.

• Design score: 5 / 5

Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14-inch review: Performance

(Image credit: Future)

• Fast all-round performance
• Sharp and vibrant display
• Super smooth touchpad

Benchmarks

Here are the benchmark results for the Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14-inch:

TechRadar Battery Life Test: 14 hours and 4 minutes
Jetstream2 Benchmark: 288.364
Kraken Benchmark: 398.8ms
Speedometer 3.1: 26.6 (±0.45)

The Chromebook Plus 14-inch is an excellent performer. It can handle light productivity with ease, while the 16GB of RAM in my review unit (quite a lot for a Chromebook) meant it could multitask without issue.

It can also stream 4K content seamlessly without endless pauses for buffering, as well as run some reasonably demanding mobile games. I played Asphalt Legends on high settings and Call of Duty: Mobile on max settings, and both ran as smoothly as I could’ve wished for. Alien: Isolation was a slightly less impressive experience, but it was still just as playable.

The OLED display is glorious, and easily among the best in this sector, rendering colors with fantastic vibrancy. It also has great contrast, and although reflections can reveal themselves at points, I found there’s enough brightness to eliminate the worst of them. The 1920 x 1200 resolution is pleasingly sharp, too, especially within its 14-inch frame.

(Image credit: Future)

What’s more, the Chromebook Plus 14-inch also has touchscreen functionality. This works very well, thanks to how responsive and precise it is. It’s slightly more grabby than some of the best tablet screens, but only marginally, so keen illustrators and other stylus users will still find it smooth enough. It’s only a shame that a stylus isn’t included.

The keys on the Chromebook Plus 14-inch feel very tight and solid when pressed, which did take me some time to get used to. However, they’re incomparably stable, and their relatively deep indentations provide plenty of security and tactility.

With all this said, they still have a short and snappy actuation, and offer plenty of feedback thanks to their dampening. They’re also backlit, which is somewhat of a rarity on Chromebooks.

If anything, the touchpad on the Chromebook Plus 14-inch is even better. It has the silkiest surface of any Chromebook touchpad I’ve used, which makes gestures and navigation effortless. The latter is further aided by its relatively large size, too.

• Performance score: 5 / 5

Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14-inch review: Battery life

(Image credit: Future)

The Chromebook Plus 14-inch has an exceptional battery life. It managed to last 14 hours when I played a movie on repeat from a full charge. This eclipses many of its rivals, including the HP Chromebook Plus 15, which only managed close to 11 hours.

However, it can’t beat the Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 5 Chromebook with its score of 16-plus hours, nor can it outlast the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus 7441, which achieved over 18 hours. It’s quick to charge, though, taking just 100 minutes to top up completely.

• Battery life: 4.5 / 5

Should I buy the Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14-inch?

Attributes

Notes

Rating

Price

It’s one of the most expensive Chromebooks around, and comes dangerously close to mid-range Windows laptops.

2.5 / 5

Design

It’s hard to fault any aspect of its construction, and there are a few unique touches that only make it better.

5 / 5

Performance

There’s little the Chromebook Plus 14-inch can’t handle, from productivity and browsing to streaming and gaming.

5 / 5

Battery life

The Chromebook Plus 14-inch can outlast many of its rivals, with only a few exceptions.

4.5 / 5

Total Score

Chromebooks don’t come much better than this, but you’ll have to pay dear for the privilege – at which point non-ChromeOS devices might make more sense.

4 / 5

Buy it if...

You want the best Chromebook design
I haven’t come across a Chromebook built as well as this before; it’s just so thin and so premium.

You want the best Chromebook performance
Its powerful ARM CPU and 16GB of RAM make light work of all kinds of tasks, including 4K streaming and light gaming. The keyboard, touchpad, and touchscreen are all excellent to use as well.

Don't buy it if...

You’re on a budget
The Chromebook Plus 14-inch tops the Chromebook Plus market, and even encroaches on the Windows laptop space, which is a daring move.

You want plenty of connections
With only four ports – three of which are USB – those after more dedicated interfaces will be disappointed.

Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14-inch: Also consider

Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14-inch

HP Chromebook Plus 15.6-inch

Dell Inspiron 14 Plus 7441

Price:

$749.99 / £699 / AU$1,197

$549.99 / £449.99 / AU$749

$949.99 (about £760 / AU$1,470)

CPU:

MediaTek Kompanio Ultra 910 (8 cores, 2.1GHz)

Intel Core i3-N305 (8 threads, 3.80GHz)

Snapdragon X Plus X1P-64-100

Graphics:

Integrated Arm Immortalis-G925 MC

Integrated, Intel UHD Graphics

Qualcomm Adreno GPU

RAM:

16GB LPDDR5x

8GB LPDDR5

16GB LPDDR5X

Screen:

14" WUXGA (1920x1200) OLED 400nits Glossy, 100% DCI-P3, 60Hz, Glass, touchscreen

15.6-inch FHD (1920 x 1080), 144Hz, 16:9 aspect ratio, non-touch screen

14″ QHD (2560 x 1600) @60Hz touchscreen

Storage:

256GB

128GB

256GB

Ports:

2x USB-C (3.2 Gen 1, PD 3.0, DisplayPort 1.4), 1x USB-A (3.2 Gen 1), 1x headset jack

1x USB-A, 2x USB-C, 1x microSD, 1x 3.5mm audio

2x USB-C 4, 1x USB 3.2, 1x microSD, 1x 3.5mm audio jack

Wireless:

MediaTek Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4

MediaTek Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.3

Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4

Camera:

5.0MP with privacy shutter

1080p FHD camera with privacy shutter

1080p at 30 fps FHD RGB,720p at 30 fps IR

Weight:

2.78lbs (1.26kg)

3.81lbs (1.73kg)

3.17lbs (1.40kg)

Dimensions:

12.37 x 8.63 x 0.62in (314 x 219 x 16mm)

14.28 x 9.5 x 0.78in (363 x 242 x 20mm)

0.58 ~ 0.0.62 x 12.36 x 8.81in (14.69 ~ 15.64 x 314 x 223.75mm)

Here are some equally-capable alternatives to the Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14-inch:

HP Chromebook Plus 15
If you’re in the market for a similarly capable Chromebook Plus, but don’t want to spend quite as much, the HP Chromebook Plus fits the bill. It matches the Chromebook Plus 14-inch for performance, and while its design and display aren’t quite as spectacular, the HP Chromebook Plus is still at the top of its class.

Read our full HP Chromebook Plus 15.6-inch review

Dell Inspiron 14 Plus 7441
The premium price tag of the Chromebook Plus 14-inch means it competes with some Windows machines, including the Inspiron 14 Plus 7441, which is one of the best value laptops around. It has a similar spec to the Chromebook Plus 14-inch – it likewise utilizes an ARM chip and 16GB of RAM – which means it can handle the same tasks. However, its display is even sharper, and crucially it runs Windows, which is far more versatile than ChromeOS will likely ever be.

Read our full Dell Inspiron 14 Plus 7441 review

How I tested the Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14-inch

• Tested for two days
• Used for various tasks
• Experience with Chromebooks and other laptops

I tested the Chromebook Plus 14-inch for a couple of days, during which time I used it for all manner of tasks, from productivity and browsing to streaming and gaming.

I also ran our series of benchmark tests for Chromebooks, and put its battery life through its paces by running a movie on a continuous loop.

I have plenty of Chromebook experience, having owned and reviewed a number of them. I’ve also owned and reviewed other laptops and even tablets, so I know how they compare to Android, Windows, and macOS devices.

• First reviewed September 2025
• Read more about how we test

Panasonic RB-F10: Two-minute review

Being a little down on a product you fundamentally really like feels uncharitable. It’s the audio equivalent of Ebenezer Scrooge giving Tiny Tim a pair of the incredible Shokz OpenFit 2+, then swapping that sweet sonic stocking stuffer for Bob Cratchit’s humble morsel of goose. Bah, humbug, indeed.

Truthfully, though, if you did buy me a pair of Panasonic RB-F10s for Christmas or my birthday, I’d be pretty smitten. Yes, they have their faults, but if you can overcome slightly fiddly on-ears controls, Panny’s recent buds are stylish, affordable, and feel so comfortable once they’re on, you might as well have a couple of pixies giving your ear canals a luxurious bubble bath.

I adore how these open earbuds feel on my lugholes. There’s no question the main selling point here is the soothing snugness the RB-F10s bring to your listening experiences. I genuinely forgot I was wearing Panasonic’s open earbuds, which weigh 8.79g each, during the vast majority of my testing.

I can’t think of a single occasion where the fit irritated me, be it in on a recent skin-sizzling 93F trip to Fuerteventura or enduring a mild Scottish downpour closer to home. These wrap-around buds neither slip or irritate your skin, nor do they begin to chafe after hours of prolonged use. Granted, I might be guilty of the (ahem) occasional wildly definitive-sounding declaration over the years, but I stand by the following statement: the Panasonic RB-F10s are the most comfortable earbuds of any kind I’ve ever worn. Stick that on the box, Panny.

Elsewhere, problems sadly surface that lower these otherwise supremely sturdy buds' score. With grown-up looks, a classy charging cradle, and satisfyingly loud, well-weighted audio, there’s a whole lot to like about a pair of open ears that cost comfortably less than $100.

Yet it’s hard to stuff my fingers in my ears and pretend the RB-F10s don’t have issues – chief among them are some of the fiddliest, least dependable on-ears controls I’ve encountered on a pair of buds. At best, they’re semi-reliable. At worst? The simple task of pausing or skipping a track has made me chuck Panasonic’s ear accessories onto my sofa multiple times – a feeble bout of frustration the best open ear buds wouldn’t bring out in me.

(Image credit: Future / Dave Meikleham)

I’ll get to the RB-F10’s fuller audio performance shortly, but if you want the abbreviated version, they’re damn good. With weighty 17mm x 12mm drivers, they bring boom in spades for such svelte buds, while also delivering acoustics you’d never describe as either tinny nor scratchy.

Feature-wise, we’re looking at somewhat of a mixed bag. That's a bag you’d drop every time you did your shopping thanks to those misfiring on-ear controls that are as dependable as a lion going for the vegan option at an all-you-eat zebra buffet. Though IPX4 waterproofing is welcome (and effective in my experience), battery life doesn’t exactly have my knees aquiver.

If you don’t have Panasonic’s nicely minimalist charging cradle to hand, you’re looking at a meagre seven hours of juice. If you’re a fiendish podcast binger like myself who often leaves home without a dock, these may not be the buds for you.

ANC (Active Noise Cancellation) has also been left off the party list and software support is non-existent. Though not the most feature-rich buds, the RB-F10s do at least support convincingly solid dual mic audio calls, and the presence of reliable Bluetooth multipoint connectivity is also welcome.

If it weren’t for those overly finicky on-ear controls, I’d unquestionably be giving the Panasonic RB-10s a higher score that would have it ruffling the feathers of some of the best earbuds. Yet due to those unpredictable controls and only so-so battery life, you may be better off looking at the sublime Nothing Ear (a), or the slightly more premium Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds.

Panasonic RB-F10 review: Specifications

Drivers

17mm x 12mm

Water resistant

IPX4

Battery life

7 hours (earbuds); 25 hours (including charged case)

Connectivity

Bluetooth 5.4

Weight

8.79 per bud / charging case 36g

Active noise cancellation

No

Panasonic RB-F10 review: Price and availability

(Image credit: Future / Dave Meikleham)

• Released in June 2025
• $110 / £79.99 / AU$165 (approx.)

The Panasonic RB-F10s have been out for a few months at this point, but you’d be hard pressed to tell. You’d have an easier time spotting a neon-dipped snow leopard during a blackout than finding these buds readily on sale.

Currently, the only place I’ve been able to locate these attractive, relatively affordable earbuds is the official UK Panasonic site. Available in black or a two-tone white scheme, these $110 / £79.99 / around AU$165 buds are very reasonable considering their overall build and sound quality.

Knowing Panasonic, the F10s are unlikely to become significantly easier to pick up going forward, so if you do see them in stock on the UK’s official site or somewhere like eBay (and fancy the cut of their jib), put your money where your sonic-slaying mouth is.

Panasonic RB-F10 review: Features

(Image credit: Future / Dave Meikleham)

• IPX4 waterproofing works well
• Seamless Bluetooth multipoint connections
• Average battery if they don’t get a full charge

If there were a Deep Impact style meteor-centric oblivion on the horizon and you were forced to draw the short straw on who gets to board the shuttle to survival…. well, suffice to say that comet is cooking F10 owners. That’s a fruity way of saying the RB-F10s aren’t exactly feature-rich.

A lack of ANC or software support is perhaps expected at such an agreeable price point, but what’s considerably harder to stomach is the F10s’ battery life. I’ve seen mayflies with heaving drinking problems boast longer lifespans.

Unless you carry the handsome dock around you like it was a court-mandated bracelet, these open earbuds will die on you a little after seven hours. If you obsessively charge the buds in their dock, and I mean every single day, you’ll get a much healthier 25 hours of juice. Nevertheless, during my seven weeks of testing, I found Panny’s buds died out of nowhere an alarming amount. If you’re a committed jogger, these probably aren’t the earbuds for you.

Don’t walk away at a brisk pace just yet, though. The RB-F10s aren’t entirely no-frills and an IPX4 waterproof rating should never be taken for granted from a native Scot like myself. If you live in an area with regular showers you’ll definitely appreciate this feature. Thanks to their open ear design that shows off a whole lotta lobe, nailing down an IPX4 waterproof rating was key.

I was once caught in a downright biblical lashing of hailstones while nipping out for a lunchtime burger during my F10s testing, and it was mercifully only my soggy quarter pounder that met a watery fate that day. On the few times I have encountered showers while out and about, I’ve yet to hear all those sky tears cause any audible distortion while listening to music on the RB-F10s.

The F10s’ Bluetooth 5.4 multipoint connectivity is probably the most forward-looking feature these buds boast. Capable of pairing to a duo of iOS/Android devices at the same time, the F10s can register to 10 separate devices, though you can obviously only swap between a single pair at once.

The pairing/disconnecting process is relatively simple, involving holding the sensor button down on each bud for several seconds. Once you hone in on your two favorite devices, these buds will intuitively pick up on whatever content you were listening to on them last. It’s smart, hassle-free stuff.

Dual mic support also makes the F10s solid for voice calls. As glamorous – and depressingly unstaged – as this sounds, I had to take a relatively important fraud call from my bank while wearing Panasonic’s buds. The company’s claim that voice signals hold up to around 33ft proved largely true, and even taking an irritating security call while wandering about my Spanish friend’s (in no way death) cellar, the clarity of the audio never wavered.

So the F10s just about get a passing grade in the features department. Still, any prospective future teacher would be sticking a big, fat “could do better” before a pair of F11s rock up to school next year.

• Features score: 3/5

Panasonic RB-F10 review: Sound quality

(Image credit: Future / Dave Meikleham)

• Bass satisfies for such lightweight buds
• Vocal clarity is usually excellent
• No software but EQ tweaks seldom needed

As someone who normally wears the best over-ears headphones in everyday life I’ve been mightily impressed by the range of sounds these sleek buds pump up. Keen to hear how the buds would fare, I decided to forgo my increasingly decrepit musical tastes and listen to some fresher bangers from Glastonbury 2025. Not in a mud-caked field in Somerset, you understand. Rather from the comfort of my reclining chair with an RF-10 popped into each ear.

Now let’s jump down the YouTube rabbit hole!

The five-piece indie pop group Wet Leg slithered around Glasto’s Other Stage and immediately wormed into my brain with Catch These Fists. Sensationally steely, winkingly erotic before exploding into a scrappily raunchy crescendo, it’s a bloody fun tune, and one where the RB-F10s powerful 17mm x 12mm drivers effortlessly pick up lead singer Rhian Teasdale’s growling lower registers.

I was also taken aback that the RB-F10s made the upbeat Yougotmefeeling by Parcels come alive in a full-bodied way that briefly made me do a double take on whether I was listening to their summery banger on budget earbuds or one of the best surround sound systems. There was one moment the video cut to the super sweaty crowd, and the subsequent swirling chorals almost made me believe I was standing among the throng covered in knocked-over plastic lager glasses.

Sticking with YouTube, I was delighted to bump into an energetic performance of Don’t Back into the Sun by The Libertines. The fact Carl Barat turned up with chaotic longtime collaborator Pete Doherty, who not only looked reasonably healthy, but didn’t flub his lines, was a nice surprise. That definitely wasn’t on my Glasto bingo card. Back to the Panasonic RB-F10s, Gary Powell's pounding drumwork and John Hassall's satisfyingly punchy bass came through without overwhelming Pete and Carl’s duets.

Even though I do a lot of my headphones testing on my iPhone, I must admit to consuming a lot of content on my iPad Pro, be it the best Netflix movies or the best Amazon Prime shows. On that note, I’ve been rewatching The Boys season 3 for roughly the 43rd time. Herogasm! Anyway, there’s a song that plays during a later episode where Homelander “might” be getting his morning milk from an unconventional source. Yick.

Still, if it wasn’t for that udderly unacceptable act, I’d never have found 1968’s Crimson and Clover by Tommy James and the Shondells. Talk about a psychedelic headtrip banger for the ages. This trance-like ‘60s tune is mellow yet somehow quietly sinister. For all three minutes and 25 seconds the RB-F10s deliver the big beats with aplomb while also delivering on the shakier strands that make you wonder if your entire head is about to fall into your buds.

So it shouldn’t come as a Tyler Durden-style shocker that I’m into the audio quality the Panasonic RB-F10s deliver at such a comparatively reasonable price. Bass also feels nuanced, with drivers capable of handling both big orchestral numbers without letting lyrics get lost in the shuffle. Sound-wise, these are some of the most well-rounded, best-judged buds I’ve tested.

• Sound quality score: 4.5/5

Panasonic RB-F10 review: Design

(Image credit: Future / Dave Meikleham)

• So light you can barely feel them
• Classy little charging cradle
• On-ear controls can be a nightmare

SHUT UP AND TAKE MY MONEY! Not enough? Alright. Zip those lips and take even more of my cents. I’m smitten with the design of the Panasonic RB-F10s, especially with the ultra alluring two-tone white shade (also available in black). Unfussy yet dignified, they have an aura of quiet confidence about them I really dig. And then there’s the comfort.

If it was legal to wed a pair of open earbuds based purely on how ludicrously comfortable they feel to wear, I’m slamming a ring on the RB-10s pronto…. before finding a cave where I can live out the rest of my days in shunned solitude. Hot dang, do these buds feel lovely.

I’ve worn some supremely comfy cans of late (like the likeable yet uneven Happy Plugs Play Pro over-ears), but Panasonic's lightweight offerings are on another level. Once you get them out of their cute charging cradle, popping them on is a breeze. With a few tweaks I found the RB-10 almost immediately adjusted to a position that wrapped around my lobes in an entirely satisfying, seamless way.

I suspect this is down to two major factors. Firstly, the flexible (but not cheap-feeling) plastics they’ve been constructed from, which lets them contort around the shape of your ears with minimal fuss. Secondly, their oh-so-lightweight footprint. At well under 9 grams per bud, and thanks to their open design that leads to what Panasonic describes as an “unintrusive fit”, it’s almost alarmingly easy to forget you’re wearing the RB-F10s.

Fun fact: I went on a four-hour round trip to see the deeply underwhelming Jurassic World Rebirth semi-recently, and not once on that lengthy inner city tour could I feel Panasonic’s open buds rub my ears up the wrong way while listening to Jurassic-themed podcasts. Hey, you gotta keep it on brand, right? Honestly, I'm wearing them while currently writing this review and I legit can’t feel them. Witchcraft!

Sadly, the on-ear touch sensors are about as reliable as a chocolate watch… and a timekeeper that’s been placed into a giant oven at that. They simply don’t function as they should often enough.

(Image credit: Future / Dave Meikleham)

Located on the main body of each bud, a single tap should play/pause whatever you’re listening to, and touching the left bud’s sensor rapidly three times will turn the volume up (a double tap turns it down). Meanwhile, a trio of touches on the right earbud will skip forward a track (again, a double tap to go back a song).

The trouble is, these sensors are both weirdly sensitive and not sensitive enough. During my weeks of testing I’d find they’d follow the commands I wanted maybe 40% of the time. Hardly an ideal batting average, right?

If you’re sitting at a desk judging the exact position and pressure you need to hit the RB-F10s is easier. In motion, though? That’s a far more flustering story. I lost count of the times I accidentally skipped to a new podcast episode on walks due to my right bud’s sensor having a mind of its own.

Pausing tunes via the left earbud also proved to be a teeth-gnashing chore. It’s such a pity, because if the Panasonic RB-F10s controls were more reliable, I’d be awarding these attractive buds another half star.

To round off this finger-flummoxing package on a cheerier note, I’ve got to pour some love all over the RB-F10s’ charging “cradle”. Sorry, “dock”! Not only is it incredibly easy to jam into even the tightest of pockets, but the way both buds magnetically snap into their holders – Nintendo Switch 2 style – is stupidly satisfying.

• Design score: 3/5

Panasonic RB-F10 review: Value

(Image credit: Future / Dave Meikleham)

• Build feels premium
• Sound exceeds expectations for the price

The RB-F10s are a bit of a steal. Full disclosure: DO NOT STEAL. Packing that Panny quality without skimping on audio quality, they hit a lovely sweet spot between price and performance. In an age where it’s all too easy to pick up any random pair of buds for $20 at an airport, the F10s’ design and sonic quality shine through.

The very fact I’ve barely given my beloved Apple AirPods Max much of a look-in of late speaks volumes – and I’m in no way sorry about the tangential pun. Rocking premium build quality and striking sound at a rough $100 price bracket, the F10s are easy to recommend for homebody audiophiles who aren’t fussed about ANC, so are less likely to contend with noisy commutes.

• Value score: 4/5

Panasonic RB-F10: Scorecard

Category

Comment

Score

Features

Standard seven-hour battery life not suited for runners; no ANC or software.

3/5

Sound quality

Resonant bass combines with a satisfyingly wide-sounding mid-range; acoustics easy to pick out.

4.5/5

Design

Stylish, practical and supremely comfortable, but fiddly controls drag them down.

3/5

Value

Made with quality components that exude class usually reserved for pricier buds.

4/5

Panasonic RB-F10: Should I buy?

(Image credit: Future / Dave Meikleham)Buy it if...

You crave comfort
I can’t recall ever wearing a more comfortable pair of earbuds. I forgot I was wearing the lightweight and breathable RB-F10s the vast majority of the time I was using them. You could use them for hours and not feel these tremendous buds.

Big sound at a good price
Despite lacking ANC, the RB-F10s deliver a well-balanced soundscape that tackles most music genres well thanks to reasonably deep bass levels and midranges that rarely lose vocal clarity even in busy tracks.

Don't buy it if...

You don’t want to constantly carry its charger
Seven hours of sonic juice isn’t exactly terrible compared with other buds, but it’s not that impressive either. If you find yourself on a long-haul flight, you'd better bring the RB-F10s' charger or the buds won’t make the distance.

You have big hands
I constantly struggled with the Panasonic RB-F10s’ on-ear touch sensors. Simple acts like track skipping and pausing became headaches in reality, and even after weeks of testing they never performed as reliably as I wanted them to.

Also consider

Panasonic RB-F10

Huawei FreeAarc

Final Audio ZE3000 SV

Drivers

17mm x 12 mm

40mm dynamic

10mm F-Core SV dynamic

Active noise cancellation

No

Yes

Yes

Battery life

7 hours (earbuds); 25 hours (charging case)

7 hours (earbuds); 23 hours (charging case)

7 hours (earbuds); 28 hours (charging case)

Weight

8.7g per bud

8.9g per bud

4g

Connectivity

Bluetooth 5.4

Bluetooth 5.2

Bluetooth 5.3

Waterproofing

IPX4

IP57

IPX4

Huawei FreeArc
One of the earlier fantastic examples of a truly great set of open earbuds. Not only do the FreeArc’s little buds sound brilliant, they’re affordable, while also providing a comfortable fit. Open-ear efforts don’t get much better.

See our full Huawei FreeArc review

How I tested the Panasonic RB-F10

• Tested for seven weeks
• Used at home, outdoors and on flights

I tested the Panasonic RB-F10 over a seven-week period. Forgive me if that seems like an overly long testing window. I turned 40 during the review process and suffered a tiny existential breakdown. Thank heavens I had the F10s’ quality sound output to pick me up during my darker moments.

During that time I used these open earbuds to listen to my favorite tunes and podcasts across different environments, spanning my ground floor apartment, on walks through city centers and on public buses. I primarily connected the headphones to my iPhone 14 Pro – and to a lesser extent – my Apple iPad Pro 13-inch (2024).

First reviewed: September 2025

Read more about how we test.

For UK-based employers managing payroll, using Pay As You Earn (PAYE) software that’s recognised by HMRC is more than a convenience – it’s a regulatory requirement. To that tune, using a tool that comes directly from the government, then, makes a lot of sense.

Businesses with fewer than 10 employees can use HMRC’s Basic PAYE Tools to simplify things like tax calculations and real-time information (RTI) submissions.

It’s a free application provided directly by HMRC that’s fully compliant and functional, but it’s a seriously stripped-back system with an ultra-basic interface and a highly limited feature set that does nothing more than it needs to.

Covering all the essentials like calculating income tax, National Insurance, producing payslips and sending requiring reports to HMRC, it does unfortunately lack the modern capabilities of other solutions in this space, including free platforms for micro-businesses.

In contrast, several free commercial offerings like 1st Money exist, but in a world where free products are dwindling in number (IRIS’s Payroll Basics is phasing out after 2025/26), the fact that the people who set the standards also offer a free solution to meet those standards is a very welcome move.

• Our guide to the best payroll software

HMRC Basic PAYE Tools: Plans and pricing

HMRC’s Basic PAYE Tools is a completely free package intended for small businesses with fewer than 10 employees. Even though there’s no cost involved at all, Windows, Mac and Linux versions of the software have all been developed to ensure widespread adoption.

It sets the foundation for what ticks the right boxes, but other free options from IRIS, Primo and 1st Money do offer more functionality.

(Image credit: Pixabay)HMRC Basic PAYE Tools: Features

HMRC’s Basic PAYE Tools records employee details to calculate PAYE, National Insurance and student loan deductions, while also generating real-time submissions to HMRC, Employer Payment Records and statutory payment calculations.

On the company’s side, admins can produce printable payslips using HMRC’s system, too.

However, HMRC themselves say that the tool only allows you to perform “most” payroll tasks – an admission that even moderate features let alone advanced ones may be missing.

Beyond that, there’s really not a lot to talk about. No flashy artificial intelligence, no automations, not even an employee self-serve portal. Just a totally stripped-back bit of kit for companies to do what they need to do to stay above the board in HMRC’s books.

(Image credit: Claudio Scott / Pixabay)HMRC Basic PAYE Tools: Ease of use

Apart from the Windows, Mac and Linux software packages, you can also access HMRC’s Basic PAYE Tools on Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome, Firefox and Safari, so you don’t necessarily have to download any software at all.

We downloaded the software, which took a long time to open on macOS 15. Once it did, it mirrored an online portal, so it’s probably just as effective to access the government’s Basic PAYE Tools from a browser.

On the whole, the system isn’t especially intuitive and can feel awkward to use.

(Image credit: Shutterstock.com / Pikhandina)HMRC Basic PAYE Tools: Support

Being a back-to-basics government-issued tool, there’s no real support for Basic PAYE Tools.

What you can do, though, it get in contact with HMRC more generally. This includes chatting about payroll-related queries, but support for the software and online service might not be so strong.

We couldn’t find any help articles for the system, but getting in contact with HMRC is a relatively simple affair and speaking to a human agent is easy by phone.

(Image credit: HMRC)HMRC Basic PAYE Tools: Final verdict

Basic PAYE Tools from HMRC offers a compliant and cost-free entry point for micro-businesses with fewer than 10 employees, handling core payroll tasks like tax and NI calculations, RTI submissions and statutory payments.

However, its no-frills approach presents major limitations, such as the absence of auto-enrolment, cloud access or a modern user interface.

Instead, HMRC’s Basic PAYE Tools is an online portal or a stripped-back desktop app based on that same portal, so it’s only suitable for the most basic use cases.

For businesses that need more than the basics but still want to avoid high costs, free commercial software such as 1st Money offer a more appealing middle ground. You still get the benefits of free software for micro-businesses, but you get a much more inviting interface with a few more handy features.

HMRC’s lack of direct support for Basic PAYE Tools is also a downfall, but the fact that it comes direct from HMRC does mean that it covers all the bases exactly as HMRC intends.

For tiny startups who need to do no more than the sheer essentials, HMRC’s Basic PAYE Tools are fine, but we think it’s worth exploring other free options for a more comprehensive approach.

Payroll Basics is an option for smaller companies with fewer than 10 employees – over 40,000 businesses use the platform, and over 600,000 UK businesses use IRIS’s payroll products on the whole.

It delivers essential functionality for micro-businesses without the cost or complexity found in larger platforms, and yet still maintains HMRC recognition and full compliance with PAYE, National Insurance, statutory payments and Real Time Information (RTI) submissions.

This free product is designed for business owners and managers who may not have a dedicated payroll team but still need to run accurate payroll each month – if you’re a small business owner with a handful of workers and no dedicated teams or HR leaders, then this is quite possibly the most cost-effective way of getting the job done.

Because it’s backed by the broader company that is IRIS, you get access to the same underlying infrastructure but for free. IRIS claims to be the largest third-party online filer with the UK Government, with one in eight UK employees paid through its various payroll solutions.

As soon as your company grows beyond these basic needs, though, IRIS Payroll Basics will no longer be suitable, so think of it as a stopgap solution for the short term.

Still, its low barrier to entry and solid compliance tools make it a logical choice as a stepping stone for smaller employers navigating payroll for the first time.

• Our guide to the best payroll software

IRIS Payroll Basics: Plans and pricing

Being a so-called ‘Basics’ product, there’s one huge benefit to IRIS Payroll Basics, and that’s that it’s free.

IRIS describes the platform as a free payroll option recognised by HMRC, but it’s on its last legs as IRIS sets out plans to bolster profitability looking ahead. IRIS Payroll Basics will only be compliant for the 2025/26 tax year, because it’s set to be discontinued from there on.

Longer-term customers and those needing more than the free platform can provide should consider IRIS’s Staffology Payroll, which costs from £39 per month for one to 19 payslips.

(Image credit: IRIS)IRIS Payroll Basics: Features

First thing’s first, IRIS Payroll Basics is exactly that – basic. It covers the essentials that you need, but there are no additional features that make it an all-encompassing payroll and HR solution like others in this space.

Payroll Basics automatically calculates PAYE, National Insurance, pension auto-enrolment and statutory payments, and because it’s fully HMRC-recognised, it enables direct submissions to HMRC to cut out some admin work.

The reporting system also generates mandatory forms, month-end summaries, pension reports and employee payslips.

IRIS notes that all business-critical software and legislative updates are provided free of charge, however with the platform losing support at the end of the 2025/26 tax year, that’s about to change.

(Image credit: IRIS)IRIS Payroll Basics: Ease of use

Because it’s such a basic system, IRIS Payroll Basics is already a pretty simple system to get your head around. If there are fewer features to begin with, then it’s a reasonable expectation that there shouldn’t be a huge learning curve.

That being said, with the platform on its last legs, it does feel a bit more dated or basic than other solutions in this space. With a deprecation date in mind, IRIS hasn’t committed to updating the user interface as it has with other Payroll solutions under the IRIS brand.

Still, key calculations and submissions are automated to take away human error, so it’s a worthwhile consideration for micro-businesses without specialist payroll staff.

IRIS Payroll Basics: Support

IRIS Payroll Basics doesn’t have its own dedicated support, but being a free product, we wouldn’t usually expect support to be great anyway. Thankfully, because IRIS offers paid options too, Payroll Basics users can speak to the company this way.

A support page shows the phone number without being hidden behind too many clicks, so IRIS is clearly prepared to pick up the phone, but you can also shoot off a message on the live chat if you have a more complex query that may need a written response.

There’s no email support.

IRIS also has various articles in its knowledge base, but nothing seems specifically geared towards Payroll Basics.

(Image credit: Staffology Payroll by IRIS)IRIS Payroll Basics: Final verdict

IRIS Payroll Basics is a practical, no-frills payroll solution for UK-based micro-businesses with up to 10 employees who are seeking a compliant, cost-effective way to manage payroll.

Organisations that fall within this scope can get superb value from this free product, with core functionalities like PAYE, National Insurance calculations, RTI submissions and pension enrolment built-in.

With previous updates to keep the platform up-to-date with changing legislations and HMRC recognition, you get peace of mind for full compliance, however there’s a huge caveat and that’s that IRIS Payroll Basics is set to lose compliance after tax year 2025/26.

Its biggest limitation is its April 2026 discontinuation, and from this point users will need to shift to other solutions, be it something like Staffology Payroll from IRIS or another provider altogether.

Support generally seems responsive and you get the backing of IRIS as a whole, which offers other payroll solutions, however it seems lacking in specific knowledge base articles or guidance on Payroll Basics.

Square might be best known for its point-of-sale (POS) solutions that help small businesses manage payments, inventory and customer interactions, but the California software maker (co-founded by Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey in 2009) has now gone on to make more business software solutions.

These days, Square offers everything from scheduling and team communications to banking and invoicing. Square Payroll is another extension of the company’s strategy, for simplifying wage payments, tax compliance and contractor management, and again, it’s designed for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs).

Businesses already using Square POS or the Square Team app can quickly sync things like employee time cards, tips and hours, and it covers both W-2 employees and 1099 contractors in the US, making it a versatile option for an array of businesses.

The platform isn’t without its drawbacks, though. Advanced HR tools are limited, so if you’re a bigger company with more demanding needs, it could be time to look elsewhere.

• Our guide to the best payroll software

Square Payroll: Plans and pricing

Depending on how you run your business and how your staffing looks, you have two routes to go down with Square Payroll.

If you’re running a contractor-only payroll, you pay $6 per month per person paid, but if you’re a full-service payroll with people on the books too, you’ll need to pay $35 per month for the account plus an extra $6 per month per person paid.

It’s not quite as simple as that, though, because the full-service payroll package does add some things that the contractor-only plan doesn’t get, including automatic payroll, off-cycle payments, multiple pay rates, next-day direct deposit and more.

The contractor-only plan also lacks scheduling (for up to 10 days ahead) and tip tracking and importing.

Given that the two plans cost the same per person paid, the fact that the fuller package only costs an additional $35 per month shouldn’t end up being too costly for medium-sized companies and above, but smaller companies with just a handful of workers will notice the difference that $35 makes.

(Image credit: Square)Square Payroll: Features

Square Payroll’s core payroll functions include unlimited payroll runs, direct deposits, automated calculations and W-2/1099-NEC filings.

Besides that, you can automatically import timecards and direct tips from Square POS or the Square Team app, which is really handy if you’re already in the Square ecosystem and are looking to support your staff with even more management software.

Users can create schedules on the app and monitor labor costs across teams, which gives you some sort of visibility into staffing.

Workers’ benefits will also sync with Square Payroll, including health insurance and retirement plans, and integration with QuickBooks Online keeps bookkeeping in order across the two platforms with a nifty link that means you won’t need to be inputting the data twice across two different apps.

(Image credit: Square)Square Payroll: Ease of use

If you’re already familiar with Square’s other solutions, then you’ll know just how easy they are to use. The interface is very simple, with an easy-to-read black font on a white background. It’s very no-frills, but that’s great in what can be a fairly complex system.

The seamless integration with other Square tools makes it simple to manage things across the board, but on that note, Square is lacking in some more powerful solutions.

Think of it as a great support for smaller businesses, like restaurants and cafés, but maybe not as a catch-all solution for multi-location sites with complex needs.

Because of its simplicity, there’s no real learning curve apart from getting familiar with payroll processes in general. Onboarding options exist, but some have noted that the initial setup can sometimes feel a bit mot complex.

Staff can access what they need to from a mobile app, too, which adds to the convenience.

(Image credit: Square)Square Payroll: Support

Square is a relatively easy company to get hold of, with payroll specialists available during working hours on weekdays to answer queries.

That’s on top of the customized onboard and initial setup, as well as support for those who want to migrate from other payroll solutions.

On the whole, responses appear to be prompt and helpful. Email support promises responses in 24-48 hours, but there’s the option to call customer support or sales, or speak online with the live chat.

As you’d expect, there’s also a pretty extensive knowledge base available for those who might be able to triage issues themselves.

(Image credit: Square)Square Payroll: Final verdict

Smaller and some mid-sized businesses will benefit from Square Payroll, but those who have already invested in the Square ecosystem will get the biggest benefits.

Square Payroll supports both on-the-books workers and contractors, and its transparent pricing strategy removes any nasty surprises.

Real-time cost and staffing visibility is a welcome addition, and you can also link in with third-party services via integrations to further boost functionality.

However, compared with other payroll software services, Square Payroll can feel a little behind. It lacks more detailed customer needs that mean it might not be the best solution for larger businesses.

Still, the affordable pricing and features that are included mean it’s a worthwhile solution for startups and those with just a few workers, as it can cost a lot less than many others.

Remember, though, that Square Payroll isn’t necessarily aiming to compete with full-scale HR services, hence it’s a user-friendly system for its target market.

In short, Square Payroll is a powerful, efficient option for small businesses that prioritize value, ease of use, and interoperability with the rest of Square’s suite.

Backbone Pro: One-minute review

The Backbone Pro is the first big new arrival in the brand’s popular mobile accessory line-up for almost five years.

On paper, its underpinned by a winning formula: take one of the best mobile controllers around, beef it up to make it more comfortable, tweak the feel of the buttons, and throw in a couple ‘pro’ features like remappable back buttons to round out the package and justify the name.

All of this is accomplished well, but Backbone has gone even further and crammed the Pro with a wealth of features geared towards cloud gaming.

It has Bluetooth connectivity that allows it to connect to your PC, laptop, tablet, or smart TV for use with cloud gaming services like Xbox Cloud Gaming, Nvidia GeForce Now, or Amazon Luna. It works well, aside from the often hit or miss ‘instant Bluetooth pairing’ feature, and boasts an impressive forty hours of wireless battery life - up there with some of the best PC controllers.

As with the original Backbone One, the Pro also benefits from fantastic materials across the board. It’s a gorgeous controller that feels incredibly premium and supports the majority of modern devices with its Type-C connector. It offers pass-through charging too, not to mention the robust Backbone app and its numerous handy features like a dedicated game launcher, the option to quickly launch most cloud gaming services, and the ability to remap buttons in custom profiles.

This all comes at a high price, however, putting the Backbone Pro up against some serious competition. It’s worth the investment if you’re ready to go all in on cloud gaming, but mobile gaming purists would likely be better off ditching this functionality with slightly cheaper yet even more comfortable alternatives like the Razer Kishi Ultra.

Things become even more expensive when you factor in the cost of a Backbone Plus subscription, which is $3.99 / £3.99 a month and grants access to a few extra features like game emulators built into the Backbone app and rewards in certain mobile titles.

(Image credit: Future)Backbone Pro: Price and availability

• Costs $169.99 / £169.99 / AU$299.95
• One model available in one colorway, black
• Backbone Plus is $3.99 / £3.99 a month

The Backbone Pro costs $169.99 / £169.99 / AU$299.95, putting it a fair chunk above the $99.99 / £99.99 / AU$179.99 asking price of the Backbone One 2nd Gen. For that added cost, you’re getting a larger controller with some added features, namely the remappable rear buttons, plus wireless functionality.

At the time of writing, the Backbone Pro is only available in one colorway: a rather basic black. There’s also no Lightning connector variant for those with older iPhones, either.

At this price, the Backbone Pro faces some pretty stiff competition, namely in the form of the Razer Kishi Ultra. Razer’s product is larger than the Backbone Pro, but more comfortable. It also offers RGB lighting and a fully featured app that, unlike the Backbone App, doesn’t need any kind of subscription to play around with.

Backbone Pro: Specs

Price

$169.99 / £169.99 / AU$299.95

Dimensions

7.1 x 11.1 x 2in / 181 x 281 x 50mm

Weight

0.44lbs / 203g

Connection type

Wired (Type-C), Bluetooth

Compatibility

iPhone 15 Series, Android, PC, smart TV, Nintendo Switch

Software

Backbone App

Backbone Pro: Design and features

• Looks like a chunkier version of the Backbone One
• Rear buttons and wireless connectivity have been added
• Some unique software features

The Backbone Pro looks like a beefed up version of the Backbone One. It’s significantly thicker with much larger grips that fit more naturally into the palms of your hands. Although the One still wins when it comes to portability, the Pro is undeniably much more comfortable to use and, importantly, is still small enough to fit in your bag or even a large pocket.

On the front of the controller you’ll see the expected face buttons and d-pad. Although it's not immediately obvious, both of these have been redesigned. The buttons use softer, more spongy feeling switches that are quieter than those of the One but just as quick and responsive, while the d-pad is a little less stiff.

Both the buttons and the d-pad are also made from the transparent, glossy and smooth material that was previously used for the buttons of the Backbone One PlayStation Edition. I always preferred this to the more matte look of the buttons of the standard One, so it’s great to see it again here. The two thumbsticks have much more motion than those of the One, making it easier to control precisely, with a concave design rather than a convex one.

Taking the Backbone Pro into your hands, you’ll immediately be able to feel the pleasant dotted texture on the back of the grips in addition to the two new remappable rear inputs. Although predominantly constructed from plastic, the materials across the board are sublime and ooze quality. It’s a little weighty, but well-balanced, so not at all fatiguing to use.

(Image credit: Future)

On the bottom of the controller’s grips, you’ll find a 3.5mm headphone jack, a Type-C connector for charging the controller or your phone via pass-through, plus a new Bluetooth pairing button.

Most of the Backbone Pro’s software features are tied to the compatible Backbone app. It offers the ability to create distinct controller profiles with fully customizable button mapping, thumbstick and trigger dead zones, and more. You can also enable wired compatibility for PC, mobile, and even Nintendo Switch via the bottom Type-C port.

The app also functions as a dedicated game launcher, allowing you to browse compatible titles and even launch a compatible cloud gaming service within the app - though sadly, this latter feature requires the Backbone Plus subscription.

The same is true for the emulation, which lets you play your favorite ROMs directly in the Backbone app, screen recording, live streaming, and even the ability to remap on-screen inputs to physical controls.

This is a fantastic feature set overall, but the fact that it’s gated behind a monthly fee is disappointing - especially when you’re spending this much on a peripheral. You do at least get a seven-day free trial with your purchase, which should be enough time to work out whether the cost is worth it for you.

(Image credit: Future)Backbone Pro: Performance

• Great for mobile gaming
• Fits the vast majority of phones
• A bit awkward in Bluetooth

It’s impossible to fault the Backbone Pro when it comes to mobile gaming. Paired with a compatible game like Zenless Zone Zero or Call of Duty Mobile, it delivers reliable performance. The buttons are less clicky than those of the Backbone One, but still very satisfying to press.

The larger thumbsticks also make it much more suitable for fast-paced shooters, offering a much greater level of control. The triggers are more ergonomic, too, with an increased area and a subtle grippy pattern. The new rear buttons are easy to access and, importantly, offer more than enough resistance to make it difficult to hit them by accident.

Thanks to its extending design, the controller fits an impressive range of devices, especially with the included adapters. I had no difficulty fitting an iPhone 15 Plus with a thin case and it even accommodated my frankly ridiculously oversized Porsche Design Honor Magic 7 RSR. A foldable should fit too, as there was plenty of space for the Oppo Find N5 in its included case.

The Pro has been stuffed with a battery that offers more than forty hours of juice, so you can use it as a Bluetooth controller. The brand is heavily pushing this product as a cloud gaming peripheral, though in my testing, it still worked perfectly with common PC gaming launchers like Steam.

(Image credit: Future)

Performance is also good when it comes to the likes of Xbox Cloud Gaming, and I did really appreciate the ability to quickly launch the service straight from the Backbone app if you want to take the action with you.

I will say that the Backbone Pro definitely feels worse to use without a phone inside. It’s noticeably wider than the DualSense or Xbox Wireless Controller, but with much smaller buttons that are harder to hit reliably in comparison. Minus the stability of a phone, there’s also a tiny but noticeable degree of flex on both slides caused by the extending mechanism which I found distracting.

The ‘Instant Bluetooth Pairing’ feature, which is designed to instantly swap between your saved devices at the click of a button, also disappoints. It works well with tablets and smart TVs, but I had particular difficulty getting it to reliably connect to my PC, where the controller repeatedly appeared as a wholly new device in my Bluetooth settings - very annoying when I just wanted to dive into a quick cloud-streamed Halo Infinite match.

(Image credit: Future)Should I buy the Backbone Pro?Buy it if...

You want a premium feel from your mobile controller
The Backbone Pro is flawless from a materials standpoint. It uses high-quality plastic that is fantastic in the hands. If Apple made a controller, it would undoubtedly feel something like this.

You want the ‘Pro’ features
If you love the Backbone One, but have always wanted some more high-end additions like remappable rear buttons then the Backbone Pro is for you.

You want an all-in-one peripheral
If you only want to buy one controller to meet both your mobile gaming and cloud gaming needs, then the Backbone Pro is a solid pick.

Don't buy it if...

You already have a different Bluetooth pad
If you already own a DualSense or Xbox Wireless Controller, then the Backbone Pro is a lot less tempting. You lose the option to play on mobile, of course, but both those options are going to feel better in your hands when you’re cloud gaming.

Also consider...

Not keen on the Backbone Pro? Check out these worthy alternatives.

Backbone Pro

Razer Kishi Ultra

Backbone One 2nd Gen

Price

$169.99 / £169.99 / AU$299.95

$149.99 / £149.99 / AU$269.95

$99.99 / £99.99 / AU$179.99

Dimensions

7.1 x 11.1 x 2in / 181 x 281 x 50mm

9.63 x 4.36 x 2.53in / 243 x 111 x 64mm

6.93 x 3.70 x 1.34in / 176 x 94 x 34mm

Weight

0.44lbs / 203g

0.59 lbs / 266g

0.30lbs / 138g

Connection type

Wired (Type-C), Bluetooth

Wired (Type-C)

Wired (Type-C / Lightning)

Compatibility

iPhone 15 Series, Android, PC, smart TV, Nintendo Switch

iPhone 15 Series, iPad Mini, Android

iPhone 15 Series, Android / iPhone 14 series, and earlier

Software

Backbone App

Razer Nexus App

Backbone App

Razer Kishi Ultra
The Razer Kishi Ultra is the premium mobile controller to beat. It comes in cheaper than the Backbone Pro and is larger, but it is much more comfortable to use and offers a similar set of features. It’s the one to pick if you don’t want the wireless functionality.

Read our full Razer Kishi Ultra review

Backbone One 2nd Gen
The latest model of the Backbone One is also a good choice. It’s cheaper than the Pro, but is easier to transport and still performs well. It does lack the back buttons and wireless functionality, though.

Read our full Backbone One 2nd Gen review

(Image credit: Future)How I tested the Backbone Pro

• Tested for more than three months
• Tried with a wide range of games
• Test with multiple phones and devices

I tested the Backbone Pro for over three months, using it as my go-to mobile controller for most of that time. I played plenty of mobile games using it, including lots of Call of Duty Mobile and Zenless Zone Zero. I also managed a complete playthrough of Hitman: Blood Money - Reprisal and tried some Asphalt Legends.

This was in addition to lots of cloud gaming on both mobile and my PC, mainly via Xbox Cloud Gaming as part of my Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription. Tested games included Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, Halo Infinite, and Gears of War Reloaded.

I used the controller with my current daily driver, the Porsche Design Honor Magic 7 RSR, but also tested its fit with a range of other devices.

Throughout the testing process, I compared my hands-on experience with that of other mobile controllers such as the Razer Kishi Ultra, Backbone One 2nd Gen, Turtle Beach Atom, Acer Nitro Mobile Controller, GameSir X2S Type-C, Asus ROG Tessen, and more.

Read more about how we test

First reviewed September 2025

PacketStream started its journey in California in 2018, when it was established by the entrepreneur duo Arthur Aivazian and Ronald Bell. They imagined it as a company solving a particular need in the market - offering a network of peer-to-peer (P2P) residential proxies, which are IP addresses sourced from real devices around the world, allowing users to bypass geographic restrictions when accessing various kinds of data.

As opposed to many other residential proxy providers, which are centralized, PacketStream’s peer-to-peer nature allows acquiring and selling residential proxies to customers directly. In other words, users buy or sell residential IPs from and to one another. This system makes proxies cheaper, albeit at the cost of reliability and speed.

Another problem that this platform could face is the risk of unreliable IP addresses potentially being added to the network. This is because PacketStream, despite offering secure proxies in general, doesn’t entirely control the IPs sold through its network.

PacketStream: Plans and Pricing

Unlike many proxy providers out there with complex pricing plans, PacketStream keeps things simple, charging per bandwidth, with a flat fee of $1 per GB. This way, you get access to the entire network of residential proxies, which is a lot more straightforward and may even be a cheaper alternative to providers charging for individual IP addresses.

Indeed, $1 per GB is one of the most affordable pricing options in the industry, as most competitors charge a lot more. These include IPRoyal with $6.5 per GB, Bright Data with $8.40 per GB, and Webshare with $2.8 per GB (depending on the specific package you selected).

That said, you’ll need to purchase at least 50 GB, which will set you back by $50. This means you can’t buy just $1 of bandwidth to take the platform for a spin before deciding - the 50 GB minimum is a must. Still, PacketStream offers rotating proxies (alongside their static counterparts), so if one IP address doesn’t work, you can switch to a different one in a jiffy.

PacketStream offers a free trial, but without a standardized process. You need to contact the sales team to request this trial, which is futile for most individual users. The free trial is only suitable for people who plan to spend significant sums on proxies. After all, why contact a sales team if you just need to test a few gigabytes worth of proxies?

PacketStream accepts payments through PayPal and major credit cards.

PacketStream: Features

PacketStream allows users not just to buy proxies, but also to acquire them and sell them on to offset costs, and sell your unused device bandwidth for profit, offering it at prices starting at $0.10 per GB. The minimum payout is $5 and is sent to your PayPal account once per week with a 3% fee applied to cashouts.

Interestingly, Microsoft Defender blocked the download and installation of PacketStream, identifying it as a program that “displays deceptive product messages.” This is typically how ‘scareware’ is described, or software that makes deceptive or fraudulent claims about your computer’s health to trick you into buying unnecessary or potentially unwanted products, which may not be inherently malicious in the same way as other malware.

However, since PacketStream doesn’t make any scary claims about your device, the flagging as potentially malicious could be due to the application’s process of using your computer to route third-party traffic when you share your bandwidth with other users. Hence, the antivirus interprets the app’s behavior as unusual or questionable. So, if you fail to install PacketStream, this could be the reason.

Residential Proxies

PacketStream offers a P2P residential proxy network spanning 190 countries. These proxies are sourced from real devices whose owners sell their bandwidth on the PacketStream network. You don’t have to worry about illegally sourced IP addresses, a major problem plaguing proxy providers. Every IP address on PacketStream was consensually added by its owner to earn money.

The company has both randomized and static IP options on offer, with randomized IPs changing with every new request to provide a high level of anonymity. Static IPs, on the other hand, remain consistent for scenarios where a single and steady IP address is required. Selection of the type of residential proxy you need is done as part of the request when buying access.

PacketStream’s proxy IP addresses were reliable during our test and offered reasonable speeds. We chose IP addresses from different countries, and they provided fast connections, although the speed varies depending on the country. PacketStream lets you choose proxies from roughly 190 countries, but you can’t select by city, which we consider a disadvantage. Many rival proxy providers let you choose proxies from specific cities to increase your chances of evading geographical restrictions.

(Image credit: PacketStream )

The platform supports HTTP, HTTPS, and SOCKS proxy protocols, which differ in how they handle traffic and their compatibility, each having its own strengths and downsides. Having the latter option in particular is important as it reduces network delays and provides better speeds than HTTP/HTTPS, making it ideal for high-speed, general-purpose tasks like P2P sharing or streaming. The other two, on their part, offer benefits like content caching and content filtering.

Residential proxies can be used for many things. A good example is data scraping, wherein people use proxies to bypass website geo-restrictions and scrape relevant information.

Suppose you run a website that tracks the prices of commodities and delivers this data to users. Running a price monitoring site requires extracting data frequently and quickly from many websites. The websites (primary data sources) are privy to external data scraping and block it by implementing geographical and IP restrictions. They can identify specific IPs from data scraping bots and block them from further access. They can also ban IP addresses of an entire country from accessing their information.

PacketStream gives you access to a large network of residential IP addresses to bypass restrictions and scrape commodity price data. If one IP address gets discovered and blocked, just switch to another and try your luck.) Although specific numbers may differ, this proxy provider has millions of IP addresses across 190 countries, so you’ll have no fear of running out of new proxies to bypass geographical restrictions on websites and services.

Online retail is another common use case for residential proxies. Many people use automated bots to snap up fast-selling products, placing orders before they run out of stock. However, e-commerce sites don’t like this and often blocklist bot IP addresses. PacketStream’s residential proxies let users circumvent this block and get their desired product.

As far as an e-commerce site is concerned, residential proxies belong to legitimate devices. It’s challenging for them to detect and block these proxies. Even when they do, you can switch to another proxy and visit the e-commerce site. PacketStream’s large network of residential proxies allows people to utilize automated scripts to bid for products.

One major drawback is that PacketStream offers only residential IPs. It doesn’t provide datacenter IPs, which are faster and more reliable. Datacenter IPs are sourced from dedicated servers with more speed, making them ideal for massive data scraping tasks. Large enterprises are the main users of datacenter proxies, but PacketStream doesn’t serve this cohort well. This proxy provider best suits individuals and small businesses seeking affordable residential proxies.

PacketStream doesn’t offer mobile-specific IPs. Mobile device IP addresses are present on this P2P network, but you can’t specifically choose that option. Many businesses use mobile IPs for app testing and ad verification, but performing these tasks with PacketStream is difficult.

Likewise, PacketStream doesn’t offer proxies sourced directly from Internet Service Providers (ISPs). ISP proxies provide higher data throughput and reduced delay than residential proxies, but you can’t get them on PacketStream.)

Selling Bandwidth

(PacketStream lets users sell their unused bandwidth and make money. You can add your IP address to the network and earn money when people use your device as a proxy. Pricing is $0.10 per GB, which can help you offset the cost of buying bandwidth on PacketStream.

Sharing your bandwidth requires downloading the PacketStream client on your PC. This client is available on Windows and macOS, as well as on Linux, where it can be installed by running a specific command via Docker. It can run even on low-end PCs. The primary requirement is a stable internet connection.

After installing the PacketStream PC app, you can open it anytime and activate a shared connection. Your payout is automatically calculated based on the amount of data your shared connection transmits. Closing the PacketStream app immediately terminates the shared connection, giving you complete control over the process. PacketStream can’t use your connection without your consent, which you give by opening the app.

There’s no limit to the amount of bandwidth you can share. The minimum payout is $5 for 50 GB of bandwidth, which makes sense because 50 GB is the minimum amount of bandwidth that PacketStream users can buy. A 3% fee applies to every payout.

Reseller API

PacketStream offers reselling/white-label services. This feature is for people interested in starting their own proxy providers. In that case, you can sell PacketStream’s proxies under your own branding and earn money. PacketStream provides a bare-bones version of its platform, which you can customize to build a brand atop the company’s infrastructure.

(Image credit: PacketStream )

Resellers provide access to the same network of proxies available on PacketStream. Any device added to PacketStream’s network will become available on your proxy provider. This feature isn’t for individual users, but we consider it worth discussing to give a complete PacketStream review.

PacketStream: Ease of Use

PacketStream outshines many competitors in the user-friendliness criterion. It arguably has the simplest interface we’ve encountered in a proxy provider, thanks partly to its limited features (there’s not much to navigate).

(Image credit: PacketStream )

All features are neatly arranged on the left menu, and the main dashboard lies on the right side. With a white background and a few contrasting colors, PacketStream’s interface feels visually appealing and easy to navigate. The average person won’t have any issues understanding this interface: this can’t be said for some proxy providers.

There’s a drawback, though. PacketStream doesn’t offer a browser extension to manage proxies. You need the desktop interface to manage and deploy new proxies, unlike other proxies with browser extensions for seamless proxy management. An extension lets you switch proxies at the click of a single button, but PacketStream doesn’t provide this benefit.

PacketStream: Customer Support

An area where PacketStream lags behind its competitors is customer support. It offers direct support only via email, with no live chat or telephone option. You can send a support email and expect a response within 48 hours, but there’s no option to hold a real-time conversation with support staff.

Also, PacketStream doesn’t provide as many self-help support resources as most competitors. There’s a FAQ section and user guides on the website, but they aren’t as detailed as what we’ve seen in other proxy providers.

PacketStream: The Competition

PacketStream has many competitors, the most notable being Bright Data, Oxylabs, and Decodo (formerly Smartproxy).

Bright Data offers residential, ISP, and datacenter proxies. It also offers advanced web scraping APIs as pre-built datasets. In contrast, PacketStream offers none of these except residential IPs. If you need PacketStream’s proxies for automated data scraping, you’ll need an external platform for the APIs. However, at $1 per GB, PacketStream’s residential proxy service is much more affordable than Bright Data’s, which costs around $8.4 per GB.

Oxylabs provides residential, ISP, and datacenter proxies, with a massive pool of over 100 million IP addresses. It also provides a Web Unblocker and web scraping APIs for enterprises. Oxylabs is undoubtedly the more sophisticated platform. It offers more reliable and speedy proxy IPs, with complete control over its proxy network, unlike peer-to-peer PacketStream. However, Oxylabs’ residential IPs cost $8 per GB, compared to PacketStream’s $1.

Webshare offers residential, ISP, and datacenter proxies, but not web scraping APIs. Its pool of 80 million+ IP addresses across 195 countries is on par with Oxylabs and Bright Data but larger than PacketStream. With pricing as low as $2.8 per GB, Webshare is one of the most affordable proxy providers for enterprises. Yet, PacketStream’s $1 per GB beats it in pricing.

In summary, PacketStream lags slightly behind most competitors in certain advanced features and customer support. However, it outperforms them in ease of use and affordability, helped by the lower costs of running a P2P network and the opportunity to earn money through offering your bandwidth for other users.

PacketStream: Final words

PacketStream is among the most affordable residential IP providers in terms of price per GB, although the minimum purchase is worth $50. This makes it ideal for individual users or small businesses that require rotating and static proxies for mundane online activities. Having said that, enterprises will probably find it lacking for any large-scale data scraping needs. Besides, it lacks the more reliable datacenter and ISP proxies and has limited customer support.

We've rated the best VPN services.

Apple Watch SE 3: One-Minute Review

What if I told you Apple has managed to trickle down nearly all the major features you’d expect from an Apple Watch into an entry-level model that doesn’t break the bank and still feels right at home in the lineup?

That’s exactly what I found after testing the brand-new Apple Watch SE 3 for nearly a week.

The SE 3 doesn’t reinvent the wheel – it’s very much a classic Apple Watch. It comes in two sizes, 40mm and 44mm, and two colors. It still has the Digital Crown, uses the same charger, and sits on the wrist just like before. But it finally fixes one of the biggest complaints with the SE line by adding an Always-On display.

No, the display doesn’t slope at the edges like the newer Series models, but that’s not really a drawback here. The SE 3 still looks and feels like a classic Apple Watch, with an aluminum build, tougher Ion-X glass, and solid sizing that make it both durable and practical – especially for parents buying one for kids. The bezels are a bit thicker, and brightness tops out at 1,000 nits, which can make it harder to see in direct sunlight, but for everyday use, the screen gets the job done.

Performance is where the SE 3 really shines. With the same S10 chip that powers the Series 11 and Ultra 3, watchOS 26 feels just as smooth here as it does on those higher-end models. Apps open instantly, navigation is quick, and gestures like Double Tap and the new Wrist Flick add a nice layer of convenience. Sure, you don’t get every health feature – there’s no ECG, Blood Oxygen, or Sleep Apnea tracking – but the essentials are here: heart rate tracking with alerts, the new Sleep Score with retroactive trends, activity tracking, and temperature sensing for cycle tracking.

Compared to the SE 2, this is a big step forward. It’s faster across the board, handles daily tasks with ease, and finally supports fast charging. Battery life is still rated at 18 hours, but with Low Power Mode you can stretch it closer to 32 if needed. In my testing, it comfortably lasted a full day, even with sleep tracking. The new 5G antenna adds efficiency if you opt for the LTE model, though speeds feel about the same as before.

At $249 / £219 / AU$399 for the 40mm version, there’s never been a better Apple Watch from a pure value perspective. And if you don’t need the ultra-modern slimmed-down looks of the Series 11, the rugged features of the Ultra 3, and can live without ECG, Blood Oxygen, or Sleep Apnea tracking, then the Apple Watch SE 3 is likely the model for you.

Apple Watch SE 3: SpecsApple Watch SE 3: Specifications

Component

Apple Watch SE 3

Price

From $249 / £219 / AU$399

Dimensions

40 x 34 x 10.7mm (40mm), 44 x 38 x 10.7mm (44mm)

Weight

26g (40mm) or 32.9g (44mm)

Case/Bezel

Aluminum

Display

Always-On Retina LTPO display with OLED, Ion-X scratch-resistant.

GPS

L1 GPS, GNSS, Galileo, and BeiDou

Battery Life

18 hours of battery life or 36 hours in Low Power mode

Connection

Bluetooth 5.3, Wi-Fi, LTE 5G (Optional)

Water Resistance

WR50 and IP7X

Apple Watch SE 3: Price and Availability

• $249 / £219 / AU$399 for the 40mm
• $279 / £249 / AU$449 for the 44mm
• Cellular 5G connectivity costs extra

As the entry-level model, the Apple Watch SE 3 is the most affordable Apple Watch in the lineup. It starts at $249 / £219 / AU$399 for the 40mm version with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, but jumps to $279 / £249 / AU$449 for the 44mm.

If you want cellular connectivity, the 40mm Apple Watch SE costs $299 / £289 / AU$489, or $329 / £319 / AU$539 for the 44mm. Note that activating service will be an additional monthly cost with your carrier.

Regardless of size or connectivity, you’ll be able to pick between Starlight or Midnight. The Apple Watch SE 3 is available for pre-order now and launches on September 19, 2025.

• Value score: 5/5

Apple Watch SE 3: Design

(Image credit: Jacob Krol/Future)

• The Apple Watch SE now has an always-on display
• It can run more complex watch faces
• It doesn't use the Series 10 / 11 body, but an older model

The Apple Watch SE 3 doesn’t stray from Apple’s proven formula and looks much like an Apple Watch Series 9 or older. It features an aluminum shell with a nylon composite back – so yes, you can put the rumor of an all-plastic build to rest once again – and comes in two sizes: 40mm or 44mm.

The bezels around the LTPO OLED display are thicker than those on the Series 10 or 11, which curve down at the edges. But considering the price, that feels like a fair compromise – especially since it’s an Always-On display. Even when it’s not in use, it dims the brightness and slows the refresh rate so you can still see the time and any complications you’ve set.

The display also protected with the latest Ion-X glass, bringing the screen's durability on par with the Series 11 and making it four times more durable than the SE 2. Considering many parents choose the SE for kids, that extra toughness is a major win.

This removes one of the biggest reasons for skipping the SE in favor of a pricier model: you no longer have to give up the Always-On display. Once you’ve used it, you really can’t go back. In a meeting or a class, you can simply glance down – or check a notification – without raising your wrist.

While it feels smaller compared to the 46mm Series 10 or 49mm Ultra 3, it still provides plenty of room for navigation. You can scroll through Photos, swipe through Maps, check an extended forecast, and even view Notes (a new perk of watchOS 26). The Flow watch face, with its bubble Liquid Glass typeface set against a lava lamp-like background, runs smoothly. The display is harder to view in direct sunlight and fairly reflective, and it tops out at 1,000 nits of brightness.

Like any other Apple Watch, the SE 3 has the Digital Crown – a key interface control – and the main button on the right-hand side. It also features a two-speaker grille, like the Series 11, and you can play music, listen to podcasts, or take calls on speakerphone. It’s not on par with AirPods Pro 3, but it’s surprisingly loud.

The band system hasn’t changed, but is a little complex. The SE 3 40mm will work with bands designed for older Apple Watches up to 41mm in size. The 44mm SE 3 will work with bands for itself, older 45mm Apple Watches, and any Apple Watch Series 10 or 11.

Those larger bands can also be used with other large watches like the Apple Watch Ultra 3 – but it doesn't work the other way around, as Ultra 3 bands can't be used for the SE 3. Phew!

Charging is unchanged, too: the SE 3 uses the rear sensor stack with the included USB-C magnetic disc charger.

If you’re upgrading from the SE 2, the case sizes are identical: 44mm by 38mm by 10.7mm, or 40mm by 34mm by 10.7mm. Color options are now just two – Starlight or Midnight – and I do wish Apple offered more variety. Of course, you can add personality through first- or third-party bands.

It might not be the most modern-looking Apple Watch, but the SE 3 still holds its own against other smartwatches. And at the same MSRP as the previous generation, with more features included, it’s likely the best value in the entire lineup.

• Design score: 4 /5

Apple Watch SE 3: Features

(Image credit: Jacob Krol/Future)

• Gestures come in really handy on the SE 3
• It offers most, but not all, of the health features that the Apple Watch is known for
• The new Sleep Score is a major standout

I’ve been testing the Apple Watch SE 3 alongside the Series 11 and the Ultra 3, and while that might seem like an easy way to spot differences, all three are powered by the same Apple-made S10 chip. Specifically, it’s a 64-bit dual-core processor with a GPU and a 4-core Neural Engine, and it ensures watchOS 26 runs smoothly.

This means the most affordable SE 3 is nearly as capable as the most expensive Ultra 3 or the mid-range Series 11. After a quick setup, I was greeted with Apple’s iconic “hello” in Liquid Glass and could take a tour of watchOS 26. That’s especially helpful since the SE 3 may be someone’s first Apple Watch.

Navigation is simple: your home screen is your chosen watch face, which you can long-press to edit or swap. Click the main button on the right to pull up Control Center for quick settings, or press the Digital Crown to view all your apps. Everything runs quickly here.

Two gesture controls stand out. Double Tap lets you pinch your forefinger and thumb to perform actions like answering a call, opening an app, or controlling music. Wrist Flick, new with watchOS 26, lets you flick your wrist back to return to the interface. After using it daily, I’ve wondered why it wasn’t available before.

The S10 chip also enables several health features, although compared to the Series 11 or Ultra 3, you’re missing Hypertension Notifications, Blood Oxygen tracking, ECG, and Sleep Apnea Notifications on the SE 3.

The SE 3 does offer Sleep Tracking with the new Sleep Score, which gives you a rating – Very Low, Low, OK, High, or Excellent – and a score from 0 to 100. If you’ve tracked sleep before, it retroactively assigns scores to show trends. It uses the same second-generation heart rate sensor stack as the SE 2, providing monitoring with alerts for low, high, and irregular rhythms. You also get full activity tracking and temperature sensing from a wrist sensor, which upgrades cycle tracking with retrospective ovulation estimates.

Overall, the SE 3 delivers the core health and activity tracking you’d expect from a smartwatch. In side-by-side use with the Series 11 and Ultra 3, it produced similar results for workouts, sleep, and heart rate.

Beyond the new media playback function, it also gets the voice isolation feature for calls that debuted with the Series 10. This means you can comfortably take calls in noisy environments, like at a ballpark or a botanical garden, without worrying the person on the other end won’t hear you. It does an excellent job of focusing on your voice and blocking background noise.

• Features score: 4.5/5

Apple Watch SE 3: Performance

(Image credit: Jacob Krol/Future)

• It offers the same performance as the Series 11 or Ultra 3
• watchOS 26 runs very well here with fluid and responsive interactions
• You get basic fast charging

The Apple Watch SE 3 performs in line with the Series 11 and Ultra 3. Swapping and customizing watch faces happens smoothly, applications open quickly, and navigation around watchOS 26 feels fluid with the Liquid Glass updates.

It’s also noticeably faster than the SE 2. Apple says it’s up to 30% faster with the GPU and has 60% more transistors in the CPU. It’s a lot of jargon, but in practice, it runs laps around the SE 2 in day-to-day use—opening apps, scrolling through photos, starting workouts, and running third-party apps.

This responsiveness makes sense considering the SE 2 was released three years ago and powered by the S8 chip. The S10 ensures watchOS 26 runs well across the board, from activity and workout tracking to health monitoring.

It also helps extend battery life, which on my SE 2 has been showing its age. Apple rates the SE 3 for up to 18 hours, the same as the SE 2, but with a newer lithium-ion battery and Low Power Mode support. If enabled, you’ll lose some functionality, including the Always-On display, but it can stretch runtime to 32 hours.

In TechRadar’s testing with the SE 2, it often exceeded the 18-hour window. With the SE 3, depending on use, it can similarly last a full day with moderate use, including sleep tracking. As with the Series 10, you’ll likely need to recharge once in the morning or evening.

The new 5G antenna on the LTE-enabled model may improve efficiency. It adds 5G alongside 4G LTE, and in my tests, it performed well for messages, calls, and emails when not connected to my iPhone, though speeds were about the same as previous Apple Watches.

Finally, fast charging has arrived on the Apple Watch SE, and it’s a welcome addition. According to Apple, with the included charger and a 20-watt power brick, you can go from 0% to 80% in about 45 minutes. In practice, it was closer to an hour when charging from completely dead, but it hit 30% in about 15 minutes, which is enough for a quick top-up before bed or in the morning.

All in all, the Apple Watch SE 3’s performance doesn’t leave you wanting more. Its speed and responsiveness are in line with the Series 11 and Ultra 3, just in a smaller build with thicker bezels.

• Performance score: 5 /5

Apple Watch SE 3: Should I Buy?

Value

Simply outstanding.

5 / 5

Design

An older model Apple Watch with a screen durability upgrade.

4 / 5

Features

watchOS 26 shines here.

4.5 / 5

Performance

On par with a more expensive watch.

5 / 5

Buy it if…

You're getting your first Apple Watch

There's never been a better entry point into Apple's wearable ecosystem, as you'll get everything you expect and then some more here.View Deal

You don't need every possible feature

The Apple Watch SE 3 effectively trickles down all the major features you'd expect from an Apple Watch, but does miss a few of the more advanced ones. As long as you're cool with missing those, this is the Apple Watch for you.View Deal

Don’t buy it if…

You need advanced health features

The Series 11 or Ultra 3 offer more robust features, including Hypertension Notifications, ECG, and Sleep Apnea DetectionView Deal

You want a more impressive screen

The Series 11 screen not only gets brighter, but it slopes down the edges for better off-axis viewingView Deal

Apple Watch SE 3: How I Tested

I've been testing and reviewing smartwatches for many years and was an early adopter of the original Apple Watch, buying one on launch day in 2015. Since then, I've reviewed many smartwatches, including multiple Apple Watches and the previous SE models. My testing of the Apple Watch SE 3 began after unboxing it and setting it up with my iPhone.

I used it for nearly a week, testing all aspects of the device, including the new software features introduced in the watchOS 26 update and the upgraded hardware—most notably the S10 chip. I aimed to run down the battery under both moderate and heavy usage.

I compared it against the Apple Watch SE 2, Apple Watch Series 10, and Apple Watch Ultra 2, as well as the new Apple Watch Series 11 and Apple Watch Ultra 3. For workout and activity tracking, I tested it not only against other Apple Watches but also against an Oura Ring, a Galaxy Watch 7, and a Pixel Watch 3.

First reviewed September 2025.

Apple Watch Series 11: One-minute review

The Apple Watch Series 11 looks a lot like the Apple Watch Series 10 – both have the same rounded-square design and come in 42mm and 46mm sizes, and both are just 9.7mm thick, making them the thinnest Apple Watches you can buy. You still get two speakers on the left, the Digital Crown and side button on the right, and ample water and sweat resistance.

The big highlight here is the display: an Always-On Retina LTPO3 OLED that drops down to 1Hz, peaks at 2,000 nits for visibility in direct sunlight, and is protected by Ion-X glass that’s twice as scratch-resistant as the Series 10.

On the software side, watchOS 26 refreshes the interface with Liquid Glass elements and the new Flow watch face, while an updated Photos watch face maybe steals the show. With the latest watchOS, you get Notes on your wrist, and call screening makes it easy to dodge spam. Additionally, gestures build on the familiar Double Tap with a new Wrist Flick that lets you go back a step with – you've guessed it – a flick of your wrist.

Health tracking is as comprehensive as ever, with heart-rate alerts, ECG; wrist temperature, respiratory rate and cycle tracking, and hearing health, plus two additions. Hypertension Notifications, FDA-approved in the US and rolling out to more than 150 countries, use the optical sensor and Apple’s algorithm to flag possible high blood pressure. You will, of course, want to see a doctor for a proper diagnosis if you get an alert.

Sleep Score finally turns your sleep tracking data into something easily digestible, giving you a 0–100 rating with color-coded factors, and even retroactively scoring past nights. And blood oxygen tracking is back in the US after an August 2025 update.

Performance is powered by the same chip as the Series 10. Inside the Series 11 is the S10 chip with a dual-core CPU, GPU, and 4-core Neural Engine. In testing, both Apple apps and third-party ones like Flighty, Tesla, and Carrot Weather opened quickly and ran smoothly.

The bigger story is battery life: battery capacity is up 9% on the 42mm model and 11% on the 46mm. Apple rates both models for 24 hours of typical use and up to 38 hours in Low Power Mode. In practice, I pulled my 46mm review device off the charger at 54% one night, slept with tracking enabled, and didn’t hit 1% until after 5pm the next day – so I got about 17 hours from half a charge. With light use, a full day and a half is very realistic.

A new 5G antenna for the LTE models makes using internet services faster when you're away from your iPhone. And the onboard mics continue to impress – even during a noisy, sold-out exhibition baseball game at Yankee Stadium, calls came through clearly, with the person on the other end hearing me well.

The Series 11 isn’t a radical redesign, but between the refined durability, new health features, and the much-needed battery gains, it feels like the most capable and balanced Apple Watch yet.

That said, if you’re rocking a Series 10, you likely don’t need an upgrade unless you’re eager for better battery life. Those coming from an older Apple Watch, like an SE or a Series 8 or earlier, will see a bigger difference in performance – although the new Apple Watch SE 3 is equally compelling in this respect.

Apple Watch Series 11: SpecsApple Watch Series 11: Specifications

Component

Apple Watch Series 11

Price

From $399 / £369 / AU$679

Dimensions

42mm x 36mm x 9.7mm (42mm), 46mm x 39mm x 9.7mm (46mm)

Weight

30.3g (42mm); 37.8g (46mm)

Case/Bezel

Aluminum with a metal back or Titanium (100% recycled)

Display

Always-on Retina LTPO3 display Wide-angle OLED at 374 by 446 (42mm) 416 by 496 (46mm). Ion-X scratch-resistant

GPS

L1 GPS, GNSS, Galileo, and BeiDou

Battery Life

24 hours, 38 hours in Low Power Mode

Connection

Bluetooth 5.3, Wi-Fi, second-generation ultra-wideband chip, and 5G (Optional)

Water Resistance

WR50 and IP7X

Apple Watch Series 11: Price and availability

• $399 / £369 / AU$679 for the 40mm
• $429 / £399 / AU$699 for the 44mm
• Cellular costs extra

The Apple Watch Series 11 42mm with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity starts at $399 / £369 / AU$679 for the entry-level aluminum finish. That's the same price as the Series 10 in the US, and a price cut if you're in the UK; however, there's a slight increase for Australia. The larger 46mm model with the same connectivity, also in aluminum, starts at $429 / £399 / AU$699 – that's the same price as last year in the US and Australia, while again UK gets a price cut.

Cellular connectivity, which now includes 5G access, will cost you a bit more. For instance, in the United States, the Series 11 is $100 more in either size, plus the cost of a monthly plan. The Apple Watch Series 11 in aluminum comes in a new Space Gray finish as well as Jet Black, Rose Gold, and Silver, and in Slate, Gold, or Natural Polished Titanium finishes.

The Apple Watch Series 11 is up for order now in the US, UK, Australia, and beyond, with an official launch date of September 19, 2025.

• Value score: 4/5

Apple Watch Series 11: Design

(Image credit: Jacob Krol/Future)

• Ultra-thin build with improved durability
• All your existing bands and chargers will work here
• watchOS 26 refreshes the design

Other than the new colors for the aluminum and titanium finishes, the Apple Watch Series 11 is pretty much indistinguishable from the Apple Watch Series 10. Placing my 46mm Series 11 review device next to a Series 10 I see an identical rounded-square Apple Watch, aside from the updated paint job; this year, my testing unit is in Space Gray, whereas last year’s was in Jet Black.

The overall similarities here aren’t necessarily a negative. Apple, now 11 years into the Apple Watch, seems set on this look for the core of its smartwatch lineup, and it’s refining the formula rather than reinventing it. I also really liked the changes the Series 10 ushered in over the Series 9 last year – mainly thinning out the overall build and sloping the screen down the edges – so I'm very happy that Series 11 retains those.

Both the 46mm and 42mm models are just 9.7mm thick, meaning they barely protrude from your wrist and remain the thinnest Apple Watches yet; there were times when I forgot it was even there during my seven days of testing.

Just like the Series 10, the Series 11 measures 42 x 36 x 9.7mm for the smaller 42mm size, and 46 x 39 x 9.7mm for the 46mm size. Both models weigh ever so slightly more than the previous generation, but you’d be hard pressed to feel it on your wrist in daily use.

You still have two speakers on the left-hand side, with the Digital Crown and main button on the right. It’s all very familiar to anyone who’s used an Apple Watch before, and easy enough to get the hang of if you haven't.

Furthermore, while other smartwatch makers have experimented with different types of band attachments, Apple is sticking with what it's used since the original Apple Watch. That’s great news if you already have a collection of bands, or if you’re adding new ones. I’m especially fond of the new Nike Run Sport Loops; they’re comfy and fit well.

(Image credit: Jacob Krol/Future)

As well as sticking with the ultra-low profile, this year’s Apple Watch also keeps the excellent display that its predecessor introduced. It's an always-on Retina LTPO3 wide-angle OLED display – that’s a lot of tech jargon, but the gist is vibrant colors, deep contrast, and the ability for the refresh rate to drop to as low as a 1Hz. This means that watch faces like Flux and Reflections still update subtly in always-on mode.

The screen also gets plenty bright – up to 2,000 nits – for use in direct sunlight or under harsh artificial lighting, and the Ion-X glass layer is now twice as scratch-resistant as before. Considering the entire front of the watch is all screen, it’s a welcome improvement in durability, and it complements the WR50 and IP7X sweat and water resistance ratings, unchanged from the Series 10.

While the internals have been re-engineered, the outer build is mostly the same, extending to the rear. Here, you’ll find the main sensor stack, which protrudes slightly. A slightly different colored line around the rim denotes the antenna stack if you opt for a cellular Apple Watch Series 11.

As a whole, the Apple Watch Series 11 design is familiar, but still feels modern alongside other flagship smartwatches. It complements a variety of styles while still offering the smooth, fluid response you’d expect, and a large enough touchscreen to make watchOS 26 easy to navigate. Those wanting something entirely different may want to look to the Apple Watch Ultra 3, or wait for a future redesign.

• Design score: 4 / 5

Apple Watch Series 11: Features

(Image credit: Jacob Krol/Future)

• The new Glow watch face is engaging and shows off Liquid Glass well
• watchOS 26 is filled with new features, including an useful new gesture
• Sleep Score is a long-awaited arrival that's executed perfectly

Out of the box, the Apple Watch Series 11 runs watchOS 26 – a packed update that brings a fresh look to the core interface. And yes, Liquid Glass is finally on your wrist. You’ll see this in subtle navigation elements that are now translucent, as well as in watch faces.

The Photos face now lets you place numerals for time or complications above the image, giving a better sense of depth. However, the new Flow watch face might be the purest form of Liquid Glass on the Series 11 – or any Apple Watch. Think bubble-glass numerals with a lava-lamp-like liquid flowing behind them. True to Apple Watch form, you can customize these by color and typeface.

It’s a really fun addition, and joins more than a dozen built-in faces. watchOS 26 also brings the Notes app to your wrist, which I’ve found handy for jotting down quick thoughts or referencing notes created on iPhone, iPad, or Mac. Call screening also comes to your wrist, especially helpful with a cellular plan, letting you see if it’s spam before answering.

The Series 11 also supports gestures like Double Tap, which lets you control navigation with a pinch between your forefinger and thumb – invaluable, in my opinion. The new Wrist Flick gesture, which lets you flick the watch backward to go back a step, is even handier for one-handed use.

(Image credit: Jacob Krol/Future)

Thanks to the sensor array and new software, the Series 11 covers all the expected health features: heart-rate tracking and alerts, ECG, wrist temperature, respiratory rate, cycle tracking, and hearing health.

A major new addition this year is Hypertension Notifications. Also available on the Series 9, Series 10, Ultra 2 and Ultra 3), this feature can alert you to possible hypertension – high blood pressure – over a rolling day. In the US, it’s FDA-approved as of September 15, 2025, and will be available in over 150 countries.

Hypertension Notifications use the optical heart-rate sensor to analyze pulse signals and morphology through Apple’s algorithm, validated by internal and external studies. If it detects signs of possible hypertension, you’ll get a notification – but of course you should still see a doctor to get checked out.

Sleep Score is another welcome new feature. The Apple Watch has long tracked sleep, but has never presented the data in a digestible way. Now, you’ll wake to a score from 0 to 100, rated from Very Low to Excellent. A color-coded ring breaks down bedtime, duration, and interruptions. It’s much more actionable, in line with devices like the Galaxy Watch, Whoop, and Oura Ring.

Best of all, Apple retroactively assigns a Sleep Score to your past tracked nights, making it easier to spot trends. Like Hypertension Notifications, it’s also available on other models that support watchOS 26.

Blood oxygen tracking also returns in the US, after its August 2025 reinstatement. The Series 11 (and other supported models) can once again take blood oxygen readings, with results viewable in the Health app.

Just like the Series 10, the Series 11 features redesigned speakers, with dozens of precision holes forming two grilles on the left side. They sound similar to the Series 10 – passable for a song or voice memo.

The real standout is the onboard microphones, which still pick up your voice clearly even in noisy environments – at a noisy Yankee Stadium, my brother on the other end of a call could hear me without issue.

• Features score: 4 / 5

Apple Watch Series 11: Performance

(Image credit: Jacob Krol/Future)

• Finally, a larger battery inside an Apple Watch
• The Series 11 can last for up to 24 hours and supports fast-charging
• It's the same S10 chip as the previous generation, but feels responsive

No, the processor here isn’t new, but the bigger battery is. Both the 42mm and 46mm models now pack larger batteries – about 9% bigger on the 42mm, 11% on the 46mm. Apple claims this extends the runtime from 18 hours to 24 hours with regular use, and up to 38 hours in Low Power Mode.

So how does it perform? On Sunday night, I picked it up from the charger at 54%, wore it through sleep tracking, woke up with 42% left, and it didn’t hit 1% until after 5pm following a full day of use. That’s about 17 hours from half a charge.

It’s much closer to 24 hours overall, depending on usage, and stretches further than any previous Apple Watch Series (or SE). With the Series 11, I can often push to a day and a half, or use fast charging to top up quickly.

(Image credit: Jacob Krol/Future)

Beyond the bigger battery, the LTPO display helps conserve energy by dynamically adjusting brightness and refresh rate. During workouts, metrics update quickly, while in always-on mode, updates slow down to save power.

The S10 chip is still plenty powerful, with its dual-core CPU, GPU, and 4-core Neural Engine. Apps – both first-party (Notes, Photos, Maps, Mail) and third-party (Flighty, Tesla, Parcel, Carrot Weather) – all opened quickly and ran smoothly.

Battery efficiency on the LTE model also benefits from the new 5G antenna, which ensures fast performance as carriers phase out 4G. Messaging, app data, and calls all felt as quick as when paired to an iPhone. You can spot the antenna band on the underside.

The biggest difference generation over generation is endurance. With the Series 10, you needed to recharge before bed or in the morning if using sleep tracking. The Series 11 stretches that to a day and a half, which makes a real difference in daily use.

It still runs watchOS 26 swiftly and keeps up with competitors, while continuing to expand health and activity tracking. And with the return of blood oxygen monitoring in the US, it feels even more complete.

Performance is excellent – not night and day better than the Series 10, but the addition of a larger battery is a game changer.

• Performance score: 4.5 / 5

Apple Watch Series 11: Should I Buy?

Value

Comparable to previous models.

4/5

Design

A sumptuous new screen and a new 5G antenna.

4/5

Features

watchOS 26 is stuffed with goodies.

4/5

Performance

Very good, with a battery that lasts longer than ever.

4.5/5

Buy it if…

You have an older Apple Watch

If you've been waiting to upgrade until Apple rolled out longer battery life, for blood oxygen tracking to return in the US, or until your watch slowed down, now's a great time get a new oneView Deal

Don’t buy it if…

You have an Apple Watch Series 10

Considering most of the new features are also coming to the Series 10 – Sleep Score, watchOS 26, and Hypertension Notifications – you're likely good to skip this yearView Deal

You don't need all the health features

The Apple Watch SE 3 is a lot cheaper and offers almost all of the same features aside from ECG, Hypertension, and Sleep Apnea, in a slightly bulkier build with an always-on display.View Deal

Apple Watch Series 11: How I Tested

I've been reviewing Apple Watches, as well as smartwatches and fitness trackers as a whole, for many years, and I bought the very first Apple Watch back in 2014. Eleven years down the road, after unboxing the Apple Watch Series 11, I began setting it up and then wore it for a week to test it, and put it through its paces for this review.

I aimed to test every facet of the Series 11, including the new features such as the promised up to 24 hours of battery life, new functionality as part of watchOS 26, and the new Sleep Score feature. I also compared it against the Apple Watch Series 10 and Apple Watch Ultra 2, as well as the new Apple Watch SE 3 and Apple Watch Ultra 3.

To test workouts, I completed several outdoor walks and runs as well as yoga and stretching, comparing metrics against those from other Apple Watches and the Oura Ring. Considering the wide-angle virtues of the display, I also tested the Series 11 in various viewing conditions.

Through my review period I aimed to use the Apple Watch Series 11 in the same way an average user would.

First reviewed September 2025.

You could say I’ve had a busy past few days – between rocking the AirPods Pro 3 and fully reviewing the Apple Watch Series 11 and Apple Watch SE 3, I’ve also been daily-driving the Apple Watch Ultra 3.

It’s finally a proper upgrade for the most rugged, go-anywhere, climb-every-mountain Apple Watch. In 2024, it got a slight spec bump and a fresh paint job, but for 2025 Apple’s really rounding out the Ultra 3 in a way that makes it a compelling upgrade for folks with the first or second generation Ultra, especially the former.

I’m still in the midst of testing, so consider this my review-in-progress, and my early impressions of the Apple Watch Ultra 3, beyond the environs of Apple Park and the launch event. TechRadar’s Senior Fitness & Wearables Editor Matt Evans – himself a smartwatch aficionado – will also be weighing in soon, putting the Ultra 3 (and himself) through a battery of fitness, health, and exercise tests.

Apple Watch Ultra 3: Price and availability

• $799 in US
• £749 in UK
• AU$1,399

The Apple Watch Ultra 3 is available for $799 / £749 / AU$1,399. This is the same price as its predecessor in most regions, although the Ultra 3 is slightly cheaper in the UK – the Apple Watch Ultra 2 cost £799 in the UK, so the Ultra 3 is better value there.

Apple Watch Ultra 3: Design

(Image credit: Jacob Krol/Future)

• Same 49mm case as Ultra 2
• Slightly larger screen
• Recycled Natural or Black Titanium finishes

In the same way that Apple is sticking with the rounded 'squircle' look of previous iterations for its Series 11 smartwatch, it’s clear that the Apple Watch Ultra 3 is sticking with its tried-and-tested design here. It still offers a supersized 49-millimeter display in a thicker, more durable titanium body.

The Ultra 3 comes in Natural Titanium or Black Titanium, and I’ve been testing the latter, which looks especially sleek. You can pair it with a custom-match Ultra Milanese Loop – a personal favorite band of mine – with one of the new 2025 options, like the Trail Loop, which now features reflective material on the edges, or with older bands that fit the 49mm / 46mm / 44mm sizes.

One change Apple made here is using a 3D printing process to build the case from recycled titanium, though you won’t notice any difference in appearance. The display, however, is seriously improved. Like the Series 11 – and the Series 10 before it – the Ultra 3 now boasts an always-on Retina OLED display with an LTPO3 panel, giving it finer control over the refresh rate for additional smoothness in motion. This shines with watch faces like the new Flow, Waypoint, or Exactograph.

It also enables wide-angle viewing, so even when glancing to the side you have a better chance of reading what’s on the display – I’ve found this especially helpful when checking notifications with my arm extended or in low brightness. Apple has also slimmed down the bezels by 24% all around. While noticeable when comparing the Ultra 3 to the Ultra 2 side by side, it’s most apparent when viewing maps – like hiking trails – or photos on the 49mm display.

The Ultra 3’s display can flex its brightness from as high as 3,000 nits in peak sunlight to as low as 1 nit in darkness. Much of the interface uses the Liquid Glass design language introduced in watchOS 26; and even though it looks snappy, it’s also plenty fast for handling actions thanks to the S10 chip inside.

It still charges with the same magnetic puck included in the box, but now supports faster charging.

@techradar

♬ original sound - TechRadar Apple Watch Ultra 3: Features and performance

(Image credit: Jacob Krol/Future)

• Emergency SOS instructions intuitive
• Satellite connectivity genuinely useful
• I'm loving the new Sleep Score software update

Satellite connectivity for communication makes a lot of sense on a device that you’re likely to be wearing into areas without cell service, and the Apple Watch Ultra 3 is the first Apple Watch to support satellite connectivity.

The headline feature Apple announced at its September launch event was Emergency SOS via Satellite, and while I hope you never need it, I did get a demo at Apple Park. Much like the iPhone’s satellite connectivity, it walks you through the process of sending an alert: identifying the issue, guiding you on how to point your wrist for a satellite connection, packaging the info, sending it into orbit, and beaming a response back down.

In the demo, we triggered SOS on the Ultra 3 by dialing 911. Once it realized there was no grid connection, it began sending an emergency text via satellite. The watch guided us through a questionnaire – we selected “lost or trapped,” confirmed it was just us, and noted no active injuries. This is especially handy if you’re lost on a trail. As a final step, you can also notify emergency contacts.

The watch then instructed us to move our wrist left until it locked onto a satellite. At that point, it packaged the watch’s location, questionnaire details, and the linked medical ID. A relay center receives this data and can send messages back down.

This was, of course, a demo, but it shows how impressively the system works. Notably, it can sometimes transmit data without you moving your wrist, which could be helpful if it’s triggered as a backup during crash or fall detection.

Emergency SOS via Satellite is available for free for two years in the United States – though Apple has a history of extending that – and in the UK and Australia, it’s also free, along with the additional Find My features, which also operate via satellite. I was able to test Find My myself, but in the US, Find My and Messages require an active cellular plan.

(Image credit: Jacob Krol/Future)

With Find My, you can send a basic message (with a character limit) via satellite and even update your Find My location. You’ll go through the same process of moving your Ultra 3 into the right path of a satellite as it passes overhead. With Find My, you’ll know the location was updated this way via a satellite icon on the map next to the person.

Satellite connectivity is a genuinely useful addition to the Ultra 3, and I’m keen to test the Messages and Find My functions more. Beyond this, the Ultra 3 also gets a number of new features as part of watchOS 26, including the Liquid Glass interface, new apps like Notes, and a new Wrist Flick gesture.

Just like the Series 11 and SE 3 – as well as some older models that can run watchOS 26 – the Ultra 3 also gets the new Sleep Score. This builds upon the watch’s ability to track sleep and detail time spent in each stage but now quantifies it with a score from 0 to 100. I’m really enjoying this feature so far, and it feels like it’s about time it arrived here.

The Ultra 3 also adds Hypertension Notifications, meaning that on a rolling 30-day basis, the watch can alert you to potential hypertension (high blood pressure) and recommends you see a doctor for a full diagnosis. This feature is FDA-approved for use in the US.

While the Apple Watch Ultra 3 is technically getting an upgrade to the S10 chip, it’s mostly a repackaged version of the S9 chip found in the Ultra 2. The good news is that the Ultra 3 still feels just as responsive as the other new Apple Watches and competing smartwatches on the market. I think you’d be hard-pressed to slow it down.

This is paired with a new 5G antenna and redesigned antenna band visible around the outer lip of the watch. Apple says it’s more efficient than the previous onboard antenna, and can use two bands at once when needed to improve reception.

Apple also redesigned the internals of the Ultra 3, and thanks to that, there’s a bigger battery inside. Apple rates the Ultra 3 for up to 42 hours with normal use, and I’ve easily been hitting a long day and a half with sleep tracking before noticing a meaningful drop in battery life. It’s simply a powerhouse, and I’ll be testing it more, including the Low Power Mode that can stretch runtime to a remarkable 72 hours.

PowerA Advantage Switch 2 Wired Controller: One-minute review

If you’re after a wired Nintendo Switch 2 pad that comes in at a relatively low price and offers a decent range of features, then the PowerA Advantage Switch 2 Wired Controller is a solid choice, though far from any of the best Nintendo Switch 2 controllers.

It features all the required Nintendo Switch 2 buttons, including the new C button for GameChat, plus two extra rear inputs that you can quickly remap without any software. It also has a 3.5mm headphone jack, compatible with many of the best gaming headsets or gaming earbuds, and offers three equalizer modes. They’re nothing groundbreaking, but a good inclusion at this price point.

I tested the ‘with Lumectra’ variant, which also boasts some pretty incredible RGB lighting that beautifully illuminates its entire faceplate. That’s aside from the giant red Nintendo Switch 2 logo that’s positioned right in the middle of the gamepad, which spoils the clean look. The lighting can be customized with a few pre-sets, or entirely personalized using four distinct lighting zones if you’re happy to spend time fiddling with the cumbersome button shortcuts.

The PowerA Advantage Switch 2 Wired Controller also boasts Hall effect thumbsticks, which is great on paper and should mean this controller lasts quite some time. Sadly, the thumbsticks themselves aren’t the best and feel very loose in comparison to alternatives. Fine control is difficult, which isn't a huge issue when you’re playing a casual game such as Mario Kart World, but it is extremely annoying in a title like Splatoon 3, where accuracy really matters.

The top of the thumbsticks features a knobbly texture that’s rather harsh on the fingers too, leading to some soreness over prolonged periods of use. This won’t be a dealbreaker if you’re after something for player two, but for your main gamepad, consider more expensive alternatives like the Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller or 8BitDo Ultimate 2.

You get what you pay for with this one.

(Image credit: Future)PowerA Advantage Switch 2 Wired Controller: Price and availability

• Starts at $39.99 / £29.99
• Lumectra variant is $49.99 / £34.99
• It’s frequently on sale for much less

Buyers in the UK are getting a better deal on the PowerA Advantage Switch 2 Wired Controller, which starts at $39.99 / £29.99. That’s for the plain version. The Lumectra variant I tested goes for slightly more at $49.99 / £34.99.

This makes it a little cheaper than previous wireless options from the brand, such as the PowerA Enhanced Wireless Controller with Lumectra for the original Nintendo Switch.

These prices are frequently subject to discounts, though, especially if you’re not after a particular pattern. At the time of writing, the ‘Mario Time’ edition costs just $28.68 at Amazon in the US, while the black version is down to £24.99 at Smyths Toys in the UK.

Its wide availability means that it’s one of the cheapest Nintendo Switch 2 controllers that you can get at most retail stores, putting it firmly into impulse buy territory. If you’re shopping for a spare gamepad ahead of a multiplayer session, it’s going to be a really tempting option.

PowerA Advantage Switch 2 Wired Controller: Specs

Price

Starts at $39.99 / £29.99

Weight

10.88oz / 300g

Dimensions

5.9 x 4.1 x 2.4in / 149 x 104 x 62mm

Compatibility

Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch

Connection type

Wired

Battery life

N/A

PowerA Advantage Switch 2 Wired Controller: Design and features

• Lightweight
• Lengthy 10ft USB cable
• Doesn’t feel premium

The PowerA Advantage Switch 2 Wired Controller is extremely lightweight and doesn’t feel the most premium. It’s constructed from a basic, almost brittle plastic and seems hollow in the hands.

It doesn't help that there are a few spots where you can actually peer at the circuitry inside the controller, around the thumbsticks and triggers, for example, which is a little strange and will surely lead to dirt and dust accumulating inside in the long run.

That lightweight feel does at least mean that it’s comfortable in the hands, though, and even young children shouldn’t struggle to hold it for extended gaming sessions.

On the front of the controller, you’ll find the two thumbsticks and all the expected inputs. This includes the face buttons, d-pad, plus and minus (which are located towards the bottom), a home button, C button, and capture button. The thumbsticks use Hall effect components, which is a good sign, though unfortunately don’t feel very high quality. They offer practically no resistance, gliding around quickly and making them difficult to control precisely.

They’re also made from a hard, plastic-like material with little abrasive bumps that left my fingers feeling sore after a few hours of play.

(Image credit: Future)

I tested the ‘With Lumectra’ version of the pad, which comes in a clean white. When plugged in, the face plate illuminates brightly thanks to loads of hidden LEDs in an impressive rainbow effect.

PowerA really knows how to make good RGB lighting without breaking the bank, and it leads to a very attractive-looking controller. Unfortunately, it’s somewhat spoiled by the giant Nintendo Switch 2 logo that’s been awkwardly slapped in a giant red square in the middle of the pad.

It clashes with the lighting effects and looks incredibly weird and out of place. Luckily, if you’re buying the cheaper regular version of the controller, you won’t need to worry about this, as the logo comes in more reasonable colors, like a dark grey on the black colorway.

On the back of the controller are the two remappable buttons, customized by holding a small program button next to them. There’s also a button to control the LED lighting, plus a dedicated audio button that cycles through EQ presets when you have headphones plugged in via the 3.5mm jack. There’s a standard preset, plus a bass boost and an ‘immersive’ option.

The only other thing of note is a small LED bar towards the bottom of the controller. It can be easy to miss with all the lighting turned on, but it’s a clean white when the controller is on and blinks blue when you’re remapping buttons.

As a wired gamepad, the controller is only usable when connected to the Nintendo Switch or Nintendo Switch 2 via a USB Type-C cable. A 10-foot-long PowerA-branded cable is included in the box, which should be long enough for most setups.

(Image credit: Future)PowerA Advantage Switch 2 Wired Controller: Performance

• Gets the job done
• Ideal as a spare gamepad
• Thumbsticks could be better

At the end of the day, the PowerA Advantage Switch 2 Wired Controller gets the job done. If you’re after a cheap controller to use when you’re playing with a friend or to give to a child, then it performs as you would expect for the price. The buttons aren’t the most tactile, but they are perfectly responsive to press, and the d-pad is a decent size and easy to use.

The plug-and-play compatibility makes the controller incredibly easy to set up, and the ability to tweak the rear button mapping or lighting effects without the need for any software is handy - though the process of doing this is cumbersome even with the instruction manual on hand.

(Image credit: Future)

The biggest area for improvement is easily the thumbsticks. As I already mentioned, they’re harsh on the finger and could really do with being made from a much softer material. They’re also quite loose, which makes them a poor fit for games that require precision.

Don’t get me wrong, they’re perfectly usable still, but they hardly compare to those offered by more expensive controllers such as the Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller It’s the one thing that really stops the PowerA Advantage Switch 2 Wired Controller from netting a more enthusiastic recommendation, given its modest price tag.

The addition of a 3.5mm jack is useful for voice chat, as it allows you to connect a pair of earbuds or headphones with a microphone. The three EQ settings are also nifty.

The standard and bass boost options are self-explanatory, while the ‘Immersive’ preset subtly increases both low and high-end sounds. Is it particularly immersive? Not really, but it’s still fun to play around with and might even help a cheap headset sound a little bit better.

(Image credit: Future)Should I buy the PowerA Advantage Switch 2 Wired Controller?Buy it if…

You love the lighting
The Lumectra version of the PowerA Advantage Switch 2 Wired Controller has some stand-out lighting. It’s worth getting if you want a cheap pad with some impressive RGB.

You want something cheap that gets the job done
The PowerA Advantage Switch 2 Wired Controller makes the most sense as a spare gamepad. It’s worth picking up if you want a controller to keep on hand for impromptu co-op play.

Don’t buy it if…

You want to use it for a long time
If you want to use a controller for extended periods of time, you’re much better off with the Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller or even just the Joy-Con 2 controllers that come with your console.

You need something wireless
The 10ft cable included here is going to be long enough for most setups, but if you sit further away from your TV then you should look at wireless options.

Also consider...

PowerA Advantage Switch 2 Wired Controller

Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller

8BitDo Ultimate 2

Price

Starts at $39.99 / £29.99

$84.99 / £74.99 / AU$119.95

$69.99 / £59.99 / AU$90 (or $59.99 / £49.99 for PC-only model)

Weight

10.88oz / 200g

8.3oz / 235g

8.7oz / 246g

Dimensions

5.9 x 4.1 x 2.4in / 149 x 104 x 62mm

5.8 x 4.1 x 2.4in / 148 x 105 x 60mm

5.7 x 4.1 x 2.4in / 147 x 103 x 61mm

Compatibility

Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch

Nintendo Switch 2

PC, Android (Switch/Switch 2 version sold separately)

Connection type

Wired

Bluetooth, USB Type-C

2.4GHz, Bluetooth, USB Type-C

Battery life

N/A

Around 40 hours

10-15 hours

Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller
The Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller is easily the best gamepad for Nintendo’s latest console right now. It feels incredibly premium and boasts loads of features, but that is reflected by its high price tag.

Read our full Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller review

8BitDo Ultimate 2
The 8BitDo Ultimate 2 is cheaper than the official offering, but more expensive than the PowerA Advantage Switch 2 Wired Controller. For your money, you get a wireless pad that feels much more premium and even comes with a charging dock.

Read our full 8BitDo Ultimate 2 review

(Image credit: Future)How I tested the PowerA Advantage Switch 2 Wired Controller

• Tested for over two weeks
• Tried with a wide range of games
• Compared to other Switch and Switch 2 controllers

I tested the PowerA Advantage Switch 2 Wired Controller for over two weeks, trying it with a range of Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2 games, including the likes of Mario Kart World, Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition, Hitman World of Assassination – Signature Edition, and more.

Throughout my time with the controller, I compared it to my hands-on testing of other Nintendo gamepads, including the official Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller and Joy-Con 2.

Read more about how we test

First reviewed September 2025

Had Donkey Kong Bananza: DK Island & Emerald Rush been released as a free update, I would be singing its praises.

Review info

Platform reviewed: Nintendo Switch 2
Available on: Nintendo Switch 2
Release date: September 12, 2025

After all, if I had one complaint with Donkey Kong Bananza in the weeks since it launched, it’s that there’s no real reason to keep coming back for more after the credits roll, and this new downloadable content (DLC) expansion remedies that somewhat by bringing back the fan-favorite Donkey Kong Island and introducing a replayable side mode to dive into.

It’s an enjoyable diversion for a couple of hours and gives you a delightful excuse to rediscover some of the best locations from the main game, but for $19.99 / £16.99, the content on offer is just too slim to fully recommend.

That’s the exact same price as the recently launched Drag X Drive and most Nintendo Switch 2 Edition upgrades, not to mention indie titans like Hollow Knight: Silksong if you venture outside the first-party catalog - all of which would be better value purchases.

Switching sides

(Image credit: Nintendo)

The entirety of DK Island & Emerald Rush takes place after the main game, with the new DK Island layer appearing the next time you visit the Eelevator. Situated on the surface, a short distance from Ingot Isle, the map is a novel interpretation of how the setting appeared in the original Donkey Kong Country. It’s a joy to explore for a little bit, with memorable landmarks like Donkey Kong’s little hit and the massive Kong head-shaped volcano sure to delight long-time fans.

There’s loads of gold to hoover up, particularly in the smattering of small challenge levels hidden in its various nooks and crannies, which makes it all feel like a fitting celebration now that you’ve finished the game.

Unfortunately, there’s very little to do beyond exploration. There are a few locations clearly designed for taking screenshots in the photo mode with the likes of Diddy Kong and Cranky Kong, but it’s hard to ignore the fact that there’s no real progression like a standard Bananza stage. There aren’t even any enemies to defeat, which leaves it all feeling rather empty.

Most of your time on DK Island is clearly meant to be spent in the Emerald Rush mode, accessed by visiting Void Kong on a wrecked piledriver adjacent to the island. There’s a sliver of story content, with Donkey Kong and Pauline unwillingly drafted into joining Void Company in order to collect a new emerald substance, and then you’re thrust straight into it.

(Image credit: Nintendo)

In the mode, you run around a past level in which all of the existing gold has been turned into bright green emerald. Your task is to smash through it quickly and hoover up as much as possible within ten timed rounds, meeting a certain threshold in each in order to continue into the next.

Void Kong feeds you objectives as you go, which usually boil down to defeating some special green enemies that have spawned on the map or completing a quick task like dipping yourself in water or using a nearby barrel launcher.

Completing objectives or collecting one of the now green Fossils or Banandium gems lets you choose a perk, mainly centered around increasing your rate of Emerald collection.

There are a decent number of them, and they stack in interesting ways, leading to some satisfying rogue-like progression. On one run, for example, each enemy I defeated at full health would result in a deluge of Emerald thanks to multiple similar bonuses, and on another, I earned hundreds of times the usual reward for each completed objective.

Climbing the corporate ladder

(Image credit: Nintendo)

Finishing Emerald Rush runs awards Banandium Chips that can be spent placing statues of characters on DK Island.

There's no real way to interact with these statues beyond bashing or throwing them, so this whole addition feels completely superfluous unless your idea of enjoyment is tossing around an inanimate idol of Squarks the Parrot.

Best bit

(Image credit: Nintendo)

The new clothing items here are really strong. My favorite new addition equips Donkey Kong with a swinging Void Co employee badge - complete with an adorable picture of him and Pauline.

Thankfully, there is a much meatier progression system tied to your current employee rating, which increases with each successful run. Working your way up the ranks gives you the chance to return to other past maps (there are a total of six), puts new perks into rotation, and unlocks some cool Void Co outfits to wear.

Beyond messing around with the option to increase the difficulty of each Emerald Rush run, which raises the required quota to progress and removes some starting abilities, there’s really not much else to this DLC, and you’re going to have had your fill after just a few hours. The perks add plenty of variety, but many of the objectives in Emerald Rush are quite samey and mean that it gets stale before you’ve even managed to max out your employee level.

What’s here certainly isn’t terrible by any means and does successfully extend the game’s overall runtime, particularly if you want to unlock everything, but it’s not unreasonable to expect something more substantial at this price.

(Image credit: Nintendo)Should I play Donkey Kong Bananza: DK Island & Emerald Rush?Play it if…

You’re really craving more Bananza
It might not be the most substantial addition, but DK Island & Emerald Rush does successfully extend the run time of Donkey Kong Bananza - especially if you’re eager to unlock everything.

You love the Donkey Kong series
There’s not much going on in the recreation of DK Island, but revisiting the setting will still be a lot of fun if you’re a long-time Donkey Kong fan.

Don’t play it if…

You want a meaty experience
The DK Island layer has a lot less to do than any of the layers in the base game, and the Emerald Rush mode becomes samey after a while. You’re better off spending your money on something else if you’re looking for a long-lasting experience.

Accessibility

As an expansion, Donkey Kong Bananza: DK Island & Emerald Rush has the same suite of accessibility features as the base game. This means you can access an assist mode, which makes the game easier overall, in addition to the various difficulty options for each Emerald Rush run.

Camera controls can also be inverted, and your main actions can be customized using some presets. Subtitles are enabled by default.

How I reviewed Donkey Kong Bananza

I spent over three hours in the DK Island & Emerald Rush expansion using a Nintendo Switch 2 in handheld mode using the standard Joy-Con 2 controllers and the system’s built-in speakers.

Having written our Donkey Kong Bananza review, I compared my experience to that of the base game and carefully considered the value for money offered by this DLC compared to other Nintendo releases and various Nintendo Switch 2 games.

First reviewed September 2025

Long-awaited metroidvania game Hollow Knight: Silksong is already proving to be a victim of its own success.

The unbearable hype surrounding its storefront-destroying launch, combined with the simultaneous release into the eager hands of both critics and players, has created a uniquely voracious narrative.

There’s a sense that one must devour Silksong all at once, or else risk being left behind and out of the loop on what is surely one of the biggest gaming events of the decade so far.

The problem is, Silksong is not a game to be binged. It’s a sprawling, complicated, and brilliant sequel that demands patience above all else. Only then does it fully reveal itself as a game that’s much more than the conversations around difficulty would have you believe.

Review information

Platform reviewed: Nintendo Switch 2
Available on: PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X and Series S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, PC
Release date: September 4, 2025

Not even two weeks into its life, developer Team Cherry’s Silksong has largely been misrepresented and mislabelled as an impossibly difficult and sadistic continuation of 2017’s brilliant Hollow Knight. Of course, Silksong is a very challenging game; I agree with that wholeheartedly. It’s so much more than that, though.

As the dust settles, and now looking back on my first completed playthrough, I believe it’s going to take years for the collective player hivemind to truly unpack exactly what Silksong does well, and where it falters.

Rough starts and Bellharts

(Image credit: Team Cherry)

I made the decision to play the first five hours of Hollow Knight alongside those of Silksong’s. This is where the two games differ most drastically. Hollow Knight is much more generous with checkpoints, resources, and clear tutorial sections than Silksong.

Enemies hit hard from the get-go in the sequel, while Hollow Knight gives you some softball encounters to practice on before its first proper boss fight. These are very different games, diverging from one another almost immediately and taking very different paths towards completely different conclusions.

The opening hours of Silksong are likely to be where players find the most friction. Enemies frequently deal two full health segments of damage, though you’ll have more freedom in how you heal thanks to main protagonist Hornet’s increased speed and aerial options. Instead of a simple down attack, Hornet dives in diagonal needle drops. This in itself requires hours to master, and it’s made very clear that bouncing between enemies without touching the ground is the strongest strategy available to you at first.

Your main special resource in Silksong is the silk meter, which is primarily filled by hitting enemies. Upon collecting enough silk, you’ll need to make a quick decision: heal, or unleash a special attack to hopefully end a fight earlier. Risk vs reward is hammered home again and again in Silksong, and it's the first few hours where you’ll need to experiment with how you want to play. Eventually, you’ll get to the first town area, learn how to purchase items from merchants, and the currencies that you’ll have to focus on seeking out.

Rosaries are the main ones, but they’re also lost upon death, wrapped in a cocoon that must be retrieved in order to get them back. Shell Shards are somewhat supplementary, used to craft tools and open up your combat options.

My wallet is filled with moths

(Image credit: Team Cherry)

The economy between Rosaries and Shards is a tricky one to make the best use of. Silksong doesn’t give you many opportunities to get Rosaries consistently until a few hours in, while Shards aren’t particularly useful until you’ve bought tools and crafting kits from later merchants.

Tools become vital against flying enemies, bosses, and mobs of enemies, leading to one of the game’s key frustrations. To craft tools, you need Shards. To reliably purchase Shards, you must earn Rosaries, which come from exploring or, more reliably, killing enemies.

Many of the difficulty spikes I hit in Silksong completely cleared out my tools. I’d then have to travel elsewhere to farm Rosaries just to have enough tools to have another go at what was besting me. It’s reminiscent of the awful Blood Vial farming required for some bosses in Bloodborne, taking the player away from the action for repetitive bouts of repeated enemy hunting.

Unfortunately, this never really goes away in Silksong, and if anything, it becomes more common as you progress. The Shard vs Rosary reward balancing is ever so slightly off, making certain areas more and more difficult to progress through.

Shall we take a detour?

(Image credit: Team Cherry)

Silksong offers the same approach to problem-solving as seen in Elden Ring and its expansion, Shadow of the Erdtree, in that you’re supposed to go and find something else to do when a perceived skill wall presents itself. Silksong’s map is vast, and much of it is completely optional.

Best bit

(Image credit: Team Cherry)

The Needolin is an upgrade that turns Hornet’s needle into a musical instrument. You simply hold down a button, and Hornet plays along to nearby or ambient music. It’s used to unlock secret doors, interact with NPC events, and even open up new paths that are linked to the final ending of the game. It’s very ambiguous as to what the Needolin can interact with, so experimenting while exploring becomes its own intriguing side quest. I bet there’s even more the Needolin can do, and it’s going to take players years to find out all of its hidden functions.

Many times, I’d find myself throwing Hornet into the same repeated encounter, as I grew increasingly tired of losing the same fight over and over. At a certain point, however, it clicked that I simply needed to open up the map, look for new paths, and follow them forward. Every single time I did this, I happened upon something that made my build stronger – be that secret bundles of Rosaries, new move sets and upgrades, or non-player characters (NPCs) that could be brought into particular fights alongside Hornet. I developed a mantra to live by: if a section took me more than five tries, I needed to go somewhere else.

Once I opened myself up to Silksong’s non-linear progression paths, I started to meet less friction. Side quests are smart new additions that gently nudge players towards points of interest: An old town built into caves of gold, silver, and bronze bells; a decrepit medical wing filled with Lovecraftian horrors and a few allies to meet; a new encounter at the starting village that changes its topography and makes use of music to deliver sorrowful worldbuilding.

Kicking over a log in the woods

(Image credit: Team Cherry)

Playing Silksong makes me feel itchy; I’m not sure how else to describe it. Anyone else who spent their childhood wandering around rain-soaked woodland and muddy river banks will know the feeling. You find a rotten piece of wood, roll it over, and jump back at the writhing cities of grubs, bugs, and spiders you’ve unearthed.

Stepping into every new area always feels like a log turned over. You’ll hear the scritch-scratch of tiny legs from somewhere in the shadows. Tiny gnats will whine nasally as you approach. There’s a griminess to Silksong’s initial zones that’s made all the more potent by the golden gleam and religious opulence of late-game areas.

All of this is achieved in a 2D game, mind you. Somehow, Team Cherry has managed to make even the simplest passages feel thick with dirt, fog, and dust. Light is expertly used to add extra volume and scale to the standard side-scrolling formula used in other modern Metroidvanias.

In comparison, the map is one area where there’s been the least innovation. You still need to purchase them before you’ll see certain areas; there’s still a Compass that takes up a Crest slot, and pins can be used to mark key information.

Given the added variety and scale of Silksong, it’s unfortunate that the map isn’t really up to the task of leading you through the game. There frankly needs to be more information on NPCs, added options for pin types, and a reworking of the way the compass works to measure up to the changes made in this sequel.

Sting like a Hornet

(Image credit: Team Cherry)

Playing as Hornet is a wildly different experience when compared to the silent Knight of the first game. Hornet has dialogue. She’s confident, empathetic, and sternly protective of her personal space. There’s also a concerted effort to contextualize Hornet within the world of Pharloom. You get the impression that she has a personal connection to the bugs you meet, and a genuine desire to help them.

I’m impressed by how well-rounded Hornet is as a protagonist, which makes the combat and boss fights all the more impactful. Silksong is once again filled with an expansive lore and world history. Having Hornet be a part of that lore is a master stroke that elevates the sequel above the first game.

Let’s dance

(Image credit: Team Cherry)

Silksong is at its best when you’re fighting a boss. Every single one is memorable: equal parts deadly and stunning, with clear design motifs bolstered by bespoke musical accompaniment. Many of the boss battles are intricately choreographed affairs. One early game fight with a needle-wielding foe plays out like a synchronized dance routine, all death-defying dives and sparking slashes of sharpened steel.

I’m struggling to remember another game that’s so filled with best-in-class bosses as Silksong. With enough patience and a bit of time spent exploring for upgrades, none of them feel unfair. The loop of slowly learning patterns and then executing daring counters is what all great boss fights are about. Silskong delivers again and again and again in this respect. I can’t wait to jump back in and face the gauntlet of bosses with new tactics, builds, and strategies, and there isn’t a single boss I’ll be skipping in a second playthrough.

Silksong is every bit the sequel that Hollow Knight deserves. It’s the spoils of a team going the extra mile. It’s challenging, yes, but take your time and explore the vast world of Pharloom, and you’ll be rewarded with yet another masterpiece. I can’t wait to see what comes next from Team Cherry, as it’ll never be a team that settles on delivering ‘just more Hollow Knight’.

Should you play Silksong?Play it if...

You’re looking for a challenging, but rewarding 2D side-scrolling action game
Take your time with it, look up the locations of extra health and other upgrades if you need. This one can be beaten, and even if there is a part you can’t beat, just go and explore somewhere else, preferably via side quests.

You’re a fan of Hollow Knight
While Silksong is a very different game from its predecessor, there’s the same emphasis on dazzling boss battles, subtle world-building, and rewarding exploration. You don’t need to have cleared Hollow Knight’s hardest tasks to jump into the sequel, though you may find some added fun exploring Silksong with at least a passing knowledge of the first game’s story and lore.

Boss fights are your one true love
Silksong has perhaps the best suite of boss fights in any game I’ve ever played. There’s a firework-shooting showman, a dance-themed fight with mechanical cog-robots, and even tense 1v1 showdowns with needle-wielding warriors.

Don't play it if...

You don’t have time to fully submit to Silksong’s non-linear structure
Silksong is a game that’s very easy to get lost in. You can find yourself repeatedly banging your head against a wall, unless you have the time and desire to venture off the beaten path. You can beat Silksong in 30 hours, though it’ll be infinitely more difficult, and a lot less rewarding, if you just rush through the main path.

Accessibility

Silksong offers the option to turn off camera shake and customize HUD size. There are audio sliders for individual tracks, and you can remap controls. This is a very limited offering, with no color blind, difficulty, or repeated button input options available.

How I reviewed Silksong

My first playthrough of Silksong lasted 36 hours, and I spent a while doing every side quest available before the final boss fight, not counting courier missions. I still haven’t explored the two final sections of the map, and there are plenty of secrets and locked doors I didn’t get to before the end of the credits. I played Hollow Knight back in 2018, completing the main story and some of the first DLC. I intend to go back and play Silksong a second time, focusing on a different Crest, and making use of a completely different set of tools.

I played Silksong on Nintendo Switch 2, making use of the 120Hz mode when docked. The Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller was perfect for this game, though d-pad users may want to go for an alternative controller (the d-pad on the Pro 2 is very subpar when compared to other options like the 8BitDo Ultimate).

I ran Silksong on my LG UltraGear 4K gaming monitor (27GR93U), making use of the extra refresh rate options. Generally, I played Silksong docked, though I did play about five hours handheld.

First reviewed September 2025

Light spoilers follow for Gen V season 2 episodes 1 to 3.

It's crunch time for Gen V season 2. Like the superpowered freshman students who populate the The Boys' college-based spin-off, there wasn't much pressure for Gen V's debut season to contend with.

Sophomore year is a whole different game, though. With the Amazon TV Original's second installment acting as a primer for The Boys' fifth and final season, plus Gen V season 1 being a hit with myself and countless other viewers, the weight of expectation on its eight-part sequel is unmistakable.

Thankfully, Gen V season 2 doesn't collapse under the pressure in its three-episode premiere – at least, not fully. As gleefully gory and riotously raunchy as its predecessor, season 2 is also a thematically darker follow-up whose opening salvo falls shy of earning top marks.

Back to school

Emma is one of two returning characters we're initially reunited with in season 2's first episode (Image credit: Jasper Savage/Prime Video)

Set several months after Gen V's debut season and The Boys season 4, season 2 initially reunites us with the Ant-Man-like Emma (Lizze Broadway) and gender-shifter Jordan (London Thor and Derek Lu), two of four Godolkin University (God U) first-year students incarcerated at Elmira Adult Rehabilitation Center at the end of Gen V season 1's finale.

Unexpectedly, the pair are whisked back to God U, which now operates as something of a surveillance state, where they're forced to help cover up events in last season's finale. Namely, the fact that the college's deceased dean Indira Shetty was responsible for the Supe civil war that erupted on campus in season 1's last chapter, and the creation of a Supe-killing virus that was secretly tested on students in an underground facility called The Woods.

Season 2 raises the stakes even more, with Marie and company facing arguably bigger problems.

But, things aren't rosy for Emma and Jordan, nor their fellow Supe students Cate (Maddie Phillips) and Sam (Asa Germann). The latter pair are heroes among their college kin and the general public for their roles in the campus battle, which led to a summer internship at Vought International under America's new shadow president Homelander, so you might expect this duo to have an easier time of things.

Nonetheless, with a new autocratic and secretive Head named Cipher (Hamish Linklater) assuming control of God U, the emergence of new secrets concerning jailbird and former student Marie (Jaz Sinclair), and the ongoing trauma of what happened to them between seasons, Gen V's superpowered teens must make peace with their recent suffering and learn to trust each other again to solve more God U-based mysteries.

Jordan spends much of season 2's early entries feeling betrayed by Marie, and rightly so (Image credit: Jasper Savage/Prime Video)

Gen V 2 wastes no time tackling the first of said puzzles in the shape of The Odessa Project.

A flashback sequence involving Doctor Thomas Godolkin (Ethan Slater), the university's founder and right-hand man to Vought International founder and Compound V creator Doctor Frederick Vought, immediately sets the stage for this enigma-filled storyline that seems like it'll play a central role in this season's overarching narrative.

Marie is convinced to return to God U for reasons I won't spoil here (Image credit: Jasper Savage/Prime Video)

Season 2 doesn't dangle this plot-based carrot in front of us before snatching it away, either. Indeed, its first three episodes give us plenty to chew over regarding The Odessa Project and how it involves Marie; a far cry from other shows that delay important character and/or plot beats for no reason.

Speaking of Marie, Gen V doesn't drag out her first appearance this season. Again, another TV series may have withheld the return of its primary protagonist to generate anticipation among viewers. Pleasingly, Gen V's writing team knows better than to make us wait, with Marie, who's initially only interested in finding her younger sibling following her escape from Elmira, reintroduced just 16 minutes into episode 1.

A Chance to reflect

Chance Perdomo's ghost looms large over Gen V season 2's three-episode premiere (Image credit: Brooke Palmer/Prime Video)

The same is true about the off-screen demise of Andre Anderson.

Chance Perdomo, the actor who portrayed the metal-manipulating God U student in season 1, died in a motorbike accident in March 2024. Following this tragedy, Gen V's creative team announced that they wouldn't recast the role of Andre and that they'd "recraft our season 2 storylines" to honor Perdomo's work on the show.

This season's three-episode premiere sensitively handles the loss of Perdomo in a manner befitting the talented young actor and the heroic character he played in one of the best Prime Video shows. From episode 1's 'in memoriam' title card, to the heart-wrenching and tender scenes between Gen V's tight-knit cast, the weight of Perdomo's loss is palpable.

In that sense, it's an opportunity for the show's cast, crew, and audience to grieve, reflect on Perdomo's life and career, and truly start to individually and collectively heal after an emotionally devastating 18-month period.

Gen V season 2 sensitively handles the loss of Chance Perdomo in a manner befitting the talented young actor

Understandably, Andre's in-universe passing has as much of an impact on the show's other characters as Perdomo's death did on its cast. Indeed, Andre's demise looms large over season 2's opening chapters and, coupled with the explosive events from last season's finale, injects a tangible tension into Gen V's primary friendship group that's subsequently shattered amid said tumultuous events.

Season 1 wasn't devoid of teen- and college-based melodrama; but the loss of a popular actor and character, and the keen sense of betrayal felt by various characters towards their classmates, raises the stakes even more, with Marie and company facing arguably bigger problems.

Curriculum clichés

Hamish Linklater shines as the new Head of Godolkin University (Image credit: Jasper Savage/Prime Video)

The breakdown of some dynamics allows new amusement-filled and heartfelt relationships to blossom, too. The establishment of a surrogate/odd-couple bond between Andre's father Polarity (Sean Patrick Thomas) and Emma – Broadway would be my MVP of season 2 so far if not for another actor's performance – is particularly striking. An endearing reconciliation between Jordan and Sam suggests that there might be a way for Gen V's core crew to not only forgive one another, but also band together to tackle a shared antagonistic figure in Linklater's Cipher.

Gen V season 2's early entries spin their character development wheels a little too much for my liking

And, based on episodes 1 through 3, what an adversary he is. As dangerous as he is mysterious, Linklater is wonderfully sinister, mesmerically manipulative, and captivatingly forthright as God U's new Dean and self-appointed Hero Optimization course tutor.

Linklater has revelled in other TV roles, including FX's Legion, Netflix's Midnight Mass, and Amazon's Batman: Caped Crusader, but, if his performance in Gen V 2's first three episodes are anything to go by, I think Cipher might be the role he's had the most fun playing. Keep up this acting display and, in my view, it'll be his best work yet.

Cipher isn't the only entertaining element of this season. Sure, season 2's thematically darker narrative is indicative of the nightmarish turn its parent show took in its fourth season, but Gen V doesn't disregard the edgy humor that The Boys universe is renowned for.

I'll admit that some of this humor is starting to lose its appeal or effectiveness, but the franchise's whip-smart and unsubtle takedowns of real-world establishments and sociopolitical issues, coupled with a sprinkling of awkward teen comedy, ensures that Gen V's jokes still land more often than not.

Sean Patrick Thomas' Polarity has a larger role to play this season (Image credit: Jasper Savage/Prime Video)

Considering that it bridges the gap between The Boys season 4 and its forthcoming final installment, Gen V 2 is packed with references to the last season's story and obligatory cameos from the main show's cast roster. Some of those moments are more brazen than others – Annie January/Starlight's (Erin Moriarty) appearance, which was teased in Gen V season 2's first trailer, is used to drive a specific plot point forward, but I feel it would have worked just as well without her – but, by and large, they serviceably aid the world-building of this franchise.

The same can't be said of this season's jarring tonal shifts and chaotic pacing. Okay, the former is born out of Perdomo's death and other weighty subject matter this season deals with. However, the conflicting nature of the latter makes for a breathless and sluggish watch – sometimes in the same scene – that upset its stride. Add in the occasional toe-dip into old storytelling territory, and Gen V 2's early entries spin their character development wheels a little too much for my liking.

My verdict

Sticking with the show's education backdrop, I'm inclined to give Gen V season 2 a B grade. Despite its obvious flaws, it's still a compelling watch, and a worthy companion piece to its parent show that seems like it'll lay some important foundations ahead of The Boys season 5's debut.

However, it's this setup, coupled with the issues I outlined earlier, that prevent Gen V 2 from passing with flying colors. Like the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), Gen V seems like it's getting bogged down in establishing the groundwork for bigger and more explosive storylines to come, especially in the main series.

There's bound to be crossover between the shows, and I'm not averse to that. But, based on its three-episode premiere, there's a sense that, as with numerous MCU TV shows on Disney+ that fans have to stay on top of so they know every conceivable character and storyline, a similar creative pattern has crept into Gen V's latest season. In that sense, it'll be homework for fans of The Boys to complete before the latter returns sometime in 2026.

With five more episodes to go, I hope Gen V irons out its creases and proves me wrong, because when it's fully focused on telling its own story, it easily shoots to the top of its teen-drama genre class.

Gen V season 2 episodes 1 to 3 launch on Prime Video on Wednesday, September 17. New episodes air weekly until the finale on October 22.

Rippling Spend is an all-in-one spend management platform designed to streamline how businesses control their spending, which means it’s far more than just an expense or bill tracking tool.

The spend tracking tools are just one part of Rippling’s offering, which already spans other areas like HR, IT and other finance solutions.

Because of this unified approach, it means everything is kept under the Rippling roof which allows companies to simplify their software stacks. While it reduces the interoperability challenges posed by having to use multiple providers, it could result higher costs from weakened competition.

It’s designed primarily for mid-sized and growing businesses, so if you’re a startup with just a few people on the books and minimal spend tracking requirements, it might be too much for you.

Spend is one of Rippling’s newer products, launched in September 2024. Because it ties in with the rest of the platform, it with employee data like roles, departments and locations, for granular controls and approval automation.

Rippling says this helps streamline month-end processes and cut administrative time by up to 75%.

• Our guide to the best payroll software

Rippling Spend: Plans and pricing

Rippling has a series of different packages to pick from, but one thing’s consistent across the entire ecosystem – you’ll struggle to find any explicit pricing, because Rippling wants to share this via a consultation.

The principle offering Rippling Platform, comes in two flavors – Core and Pro. Both have add-ons like unlimited workflows, custom no-code apps and an API platform with over 600 third-party apps and integrations.

If you’re just going down the Rippling Spend route, the Expense Management package is the one for you.

It includes tracking and reimbursement across any currency in over 100 countries, expense viewing and reimbursement via payroll, policies, receipt matching and the mobile app.

Again, Rippling does not disclose pricing.

We understand tailoring packages to different sized companies is essential to maximizing value, but by simply not declaring prices to start with could leave many customers looking elsewhere.

(Image credit: Rippling)Rippling Spend: Features

Rippling’s unified spend management platform includes expense management, corporate cards, bill pay, payroll and travel into a single interface, so it can just about handle any mainstream expense you or your employees can throw at it.

It’s a great fit for bigger companies, because it allows admins to set up custom rules based on employees, such as department, role or location, meaning some processes and even approvals can be complete with automation.

In fact, it’s the automations that Rippling Spend such an easy system to use. For example, you can allow certain employees to book different cabin types on flights, or issue corporate cards to individuals with allocated budgets and spending categories.

It all means finance teams will have fewer requests with the correct setup.

For admins, a handy dashboard offers a consolidated view of live spending across departments, projects and other categories, which can be especially handy in the third sector where grant-led projects require funding to be allocated from different pots.

Another power of Rippling’s is that it integrates well with third-party applications, including over 600 accounting, HR and productivity tools like QuickBooks and Xero.

Finance teams will also love how Rippling Spend integrates bill payments and invoice processing – one less reason to have to jump between different apps.

(Image credit: Rippling)Rippling Spend: Ease of use

Rippling is a big name in this space, so it should come as no surprise that everything feels very unified and simple across the entire ecosystem.

This consistent UI isn’t just nice to look at and easy to use, but it also helps from a staffing point of view because, if you’re using other tools in the Rippling suite, you’ll have fewer onboarding and training challenges.

It’s as easy to manage Rippling Spend as a finance exec as it is to use it as a worker – and the latter can submit expenses through email, receipt upload or manual entry, which are then automatically routed to the right approvers.

Rippling Spend is at its most powerful on the desktop, but there are mobile apps for on-the-go tracking and claim submissions, which is really handy for keeping tabs on costs during business trips.

It’s one big app – not just spend-tracking – so again, it’s better when a company commits to using the entire Rippling ecosystem.

(Image credit: Rippling)Rippling Spend: Support

Rippling encourages users to schedule a demo to determine the features they need, and this is where the pricing will be revealed.

In terms of learning resources, the company has its own help center, webinars and documentation to guide users through most processes, but the platform is on the simpler side to use anyway.

Although direct support response times aren’t publicly detailed, user ratings suggest a fairly responsive customer service.

Apart from the online chat pop-up, there’s an online form to reach Rippling, but no email address or phone number.

(Image credit: Rippling)Rippling Spend: Final verdict

Rippling Spend is an easy-to-use spend management platform that consolidates corporate cards, expense tracking and bill payments into one integrated platform, as well as all the usual smaller expenses that add up.

Because it forms part of a wider Rippling ecosystem, it means companies can tap into existing knowledge about processes, projects and workers, which can significantly reduce administrative time – Rippling says by 75%.

The interface is about as easy as it gets on the desktop, and a handy complementary mobile app keeps workers connected on the go when they need to out-of-office expenses.

For admins and finance teams, real-time visibility across projects and teams eliminates last-minute surprises, and powerful automations keep things flowing with little human interaction needed – ultimately freeing up workers to product more meaningful work and saving the company time and money.

For mid-sized to larger organizations looking to centralize spend, Rippling Spend is a strong contender, but smaller teams might find just as much value from cheaper, smaller-scale solutions elsewhere.

Staffology Payroll is a cloud-based payroll solution designed for UK businesses that appreciate a helping hand from automation, flexibility and full HMRC compliance.

It’s been built from the ground up to work with APIs, so it caters to in-house finance teams and external payroll bureaus with plenty of integrations.

At its core, Staffology is designed to simplify payroll administration without making users have to give up features or full control, and it automates core tasks like pay run calculations, tax submissions and pension enrolments.

Pricing is clear, and is based on the number of payslips processed after an initial fee, which makes it easy for finance departments to budget long-term and factor in seasonal fluctuation or growth.

That said, smaller businesses may find the starting cost high compared with entry-level providers. Especially given that this is the platform designed to pick up users being kicked off IRIS Payroll Basics (IRIS’s free platform for under 10 workers).

Easy-of-use is essential, and support channels are broad, so you shouldn’t have any major headaches getting on board with IRIS’s Staffology Payroll.

• Our guide to the best payroll software

Staffology Payroll by IRIS: Plans and pricing

Staffology Payroll starts off with a flat fee of £39 per month, and that covers fewer than 20 payslips (one to 19). If you want to generate more, you can go up to 50 for an additional £1.95 per payslip per month.

IRIS will support much larger companies who need 10,000 or more payslips, but that requires a bespoke quote. Presumably, this unlocks more cost-effective pricing.

It’s as simple as that – there are no other hidden costs, which helps IRIS solidify its transparency commitment.

(Image credit: Staffology Payroll by IRIS)Staffology Payroll by IRIS: Features

Staffology Payroll is all about making payroll simple, and it starts with smart automation that speeds up repetitive administrative work that doesn’t necessarily need human intervention.

IRIS also uses an API-first design for integration to other platforms like QuickBooks, Sage One and Xero, including pre-built connectors and flexible APIs for custom integrations.

Apart from third-party integrations, Staffology Payroll also integrates with other IRIS products like Staffology HR for time and attendance monitoring, automatically importing hours worked for context.

You don’t have to have full-time employees, either, because Staffology Payroll can handle ad-hoc workers and even calculate their holiday pay, and if you need P11D and Class 1A National Insurance, it covers that too.

Catering to HR and payroll companies who do all of this for you – not just in-house teams – Staffology Payroll by IRIS also offers a white-label payroll solution so that you can rebrand it to match your own logo, colours and company name. Again, API connections keep all the data in check.

(Image credit: Staffology Payroll by IRIS)Staffology Payroll by IRIS: Ease of use

On the whole, Staffology Payroll’s interface has been praised for being simple to navigate and user-friendly, and intuitive setup guides help get you onboarded quickly.

IRIS themselves say they’ve designed a platform that’s simple to use without sacrificing functionality, making the most of dashboards and charts to present information in a a glanceable format.

A well-designed employee portal with mobile access helps to boost on-the-go accessibility.

Customer reviews frequently note the simplistic design, which has realised significant time savings.

(Image credit: Staffology Payroll by IRIS)Staffology Payroll by IRIS: Support

IRIS has a whole host of payroll and HR solutions for companies, recruiters and specialised industries like healthcare and education, so it’s built up a comprehensive help centre with tutorials, self-guidance and updates.

Live training opportunities are offered as well as knowledge base articles.

It’s easy to find a phone number to get in touch with IRIS, which uses a ‘one number’ approach. Behind the system lay three options for sales, customer support and payments/renewals.

Separate email addresses are also available for all of IRIS’s different products, and you can log tickets for further support too.

(Image credit: Staffology Payroll by IRIS)Staffology Payroll by IRIS: Final verdict

Staffology Payroll by IRIS is a cloud-first solution designed to meet the demands of modern UK payroll teams who are so frequently short on time. By offering automation options and a user interface that’s so simple to use, IRIS promises to help users save significant time on administrative tasks.

The platform offers a comprehensive suite of features designed to boost efficiency while remaining compliant with HMRC guidance, making it a strong option for mid-sized businesses.

IRIS recommends Staffology Payroll as an alternative to the free IRIS Payroll Basics, which is to be deprecated after the 2025/26 tax year. For those smaller teams, the pricing might put it out of reach, but for larger organisations its transparent pricing and near-infinite scalability are real positives.

Built to support APIs from the ground up, Staffology Payroll offers integration with many popular bookkeeping and HR platforms, including Xero, QuickBooks and IRIS’s own HR ecosystem, which is especially useful for businesses who want to consolidate their systems or at least automate cross-platform workflows.

With pretty strong support spanning real human connections and self-guided help channels, it’s hard to get lose using IRIS’s Staffology Payroll.

In summary, this smart and scalable payroll platform is ideal for slightly larger businesses who want automation, simplicity and control all in one, but for those being pushed away from IRIS Payroll Basics, it might be that little bit too much.

1st Money describes itself as “the UK’s most beautiful payroll & HR”, and that’s apparent from the moment you load the web page which is very clearly designed with accessibility and visual attraction in mind.

We’ve talking bold, clean fonts, simple infographics and a logical layout – all signs of things to come with 1st Money’s platform.

It’s a free payroll & HR platform based in the UK, designed specifically for smaller businesses with fewer than 10 employees on the books.

The company itself is actually a market newcomer, founded in 2020 by a group of colleagues who built a call centre together. Since then, it’s also launched some US-based features.

With its free tiers offering strong value for micro-businesses plus some paywalled advanced features, it’s a customisable option that startups can use as they scale before they head off into fully-fledged payroll software.

• Our guide to the best payroll software

1st Money: Plans and pricing

1st Money’s selling point is that it’s a free product, but there are two separate free subscriptions to consider.

The first, free for unlimited people, includes HR and people management, expense claims, timesheets, shift scheduling and more. You can also link in with third-party accounting integrations like QuickBooks.

Free+, for one to nine payrolled people and unlimited unpaid people, does the heavy lifting for you. HMRC tax filing, P60s, P45s, payslips, P11Ds, expense reimbursements, pension auto-enrolment and more.

You can easily get away with using the free versions of 1st Money to run your micro-business, but Pro (£1.49 per payrolled person per month, with a 10-person minimum) adds even more, with hourly pay rates, weekly and fortnightly payments, and pension calculations and filing.

The company says that having “the world’s lowest pricing” helps it become the world s best money services platform. No annual contracts are available with savings, so you’ll have to pay monthly.

(Image credit: 1st Money)1st Money: Features

1st Money might be a free product, but it’s a mighty impressive one that would be worth the money if it were a paid product. Obviously, the core limitation is that it’s only free for nine or fewer employees, but even the monthly charge for more workers is extremely affordable.

The platform consists of comprehensive payroll and HR tools for micro-businesses, including support for employees, zero-hour workers, off-payroll workers, contractors, directors and non-paid workers, all in one unified platform that’s extremely easy to use (more on that below).

At the time of writing, 1st Money boasts 62 different features, including automatic emailing of P45s and P60s, pay slip generation and automatic calculations.

The site also boasts that it uses 15 different taxpayer scenarios to exactly match all 13,000 of HMRC’s model tax calculations, which means it can match tax calculations to the penny and get 100% correct calculations.

Being the modern solution it is, the platform also gets the benefit of artificial intelligence. Some core AI assistant features include accepting resignations, adding disciplinaries, adding sick leave, adding expense claims and terminating people.

(Image credit: 1st Money)1st Money: Ease of use

1st Money is all about being easy to use, and that starts with the website. It sets out exactly what you need to know about the platform, what you can expect from the different tiers, and how you can go about using them.

Right at the top of the home page, the company claims to be the UK’s most beautiful, user-friendliest, most powerful, most reliable, most accurate, most intuitive, fastest, lowest cost, easiest and best supported payroll & HR platform. Big claims, but we think ones it can live up to.

The interface is incredibly easy to navigate, and the conversational language makes it easier to engage with than more traditional systems.

Other features like automated onboarding and document management also simplify the setup process for new hires.

(Image credit: 1st Money)1st Money: Support

Just when you think things couldn’t get better, 1st Money support channels are spot-on too.

All plans, free or paid, come with unlimited support and connections to real humans. There’s chat support during weekday office hours, but you can also send off an email to the team for a response out of hours.

1st Money’s knowledge base goes well beyond the usual articles and guides with full video demos, and you can select individual features on the website to jump to precise timestamps for brief overviews and quick explanations.

Time will tell how these age and whether the company will keep its video library up-to-date as the platform evolves, but with such an extensive support base even in its earlier years, it’s a real positive.

(Image credit: 1st Money)1st Money: Final verdict

1st Money’s free payroll and HR platform stands out as a genuinely no-cost payroll solution for UK micro-businesses, offering HMRC-recognised compliance without over-complicating things.

For companies with fewer than ten employees, including directors, contractors and zero-hour workers, it delivers reliable payroll processing, auto-generated statutory documents like P45s and P60s, and well-integrated HR functions.

It’s a great option for those who might not be so experienced, because the automatic handling of PAYE and National Insurance just makes everything that little bit easier.

The addition of a paid plan for adding more workers and more features is a real selling point for smaller companies that are in the midst of growing, making it a genuinely viable option not just in the intermediary, but also longer-term.

1st Money’s simplistic interface, conversational language and endless support videos help new-starters get to grips with HR and payrolling even if they’re totally unfamiliar with it.

While it may not suit every team, it’s a smart and streamlined entry point for micro-businesses with its own paid upgrade to support expansion.

La Pavoni Europiccola: one-minute review

Few coffee makers have caught my attention quite like La Pavoni and its range of manual espresso makers, which feature a lever-operated piston that generates the pressure required to brew delicious espresso shots. Little did I know when I signed up to review one of its machines that I was lining myself up for a months-long quest to manual mastery.

We write about a lot of very accessible coffee makers here at TechRadar, from some of the best espresso machines to the best bean-to-cup models, but La Pavoni machines sit in an entirely different arena.

I’ve had the La Pavoni Europiccola Lusso for over six months, spending much of my time experimenting with different beans, various pressure levels, treated water, as well as generally learning the machine’s temperament. I’m not simply anthropomorphising the machine for effect when I talk about its temperament, either. While I don’t have children, I’d wager learning to wrangle a La Pavoni machine is as close to parenthood as you can get with a coffee maker, and just as rewarding when you get it right.

(Image credit: Future)

That, or you could compare it to a workout machine; you’ll need a strong arm to pull your daily dose with this coffee maker, since the results are best when highly pressurized. Unlike a workout machine, though, it comes with limited instructions. In particular, when you’re using a basic model such as the Europiccolla Lusso, which comes without any helpful features such as a pressure gauge, things can be pretty trial and error.

I toyed with a slightly higher score of 4.5 stars for La Pavoni’s classic lever machine, but its steep learning curve, middling milk frothing and some small inconveniences owing to the all-metal design set it back a half-star. However, for a real coffee enthusiast, a higher score is more than justified.

Coffee lovers with a real appreciation for the craft and science of coffee extraction will surely appreciate the hard-earned results, but also its sleek, art deco design, which makes it a fantastic centerpiece for any javaphile’s kitchen. It isn’t for the faint of heart, nor are the often rocket-fuel strength results, but for those wanting the supreme manual experience, look no further.

(Image credit: Future)La Pavoni Europiccola: price and availability

• Price: €699,00 (roughly $800 / £600)
• Available directly from La Pavoni, or third-party retailers such as Amazon.

La Pavoni’s Europiccola Lusso is the simplest lever coffee machine made by the Italian brand, starting at €699,00 (roughly $800 / £600). It’s very basic, and lacks useful features (a pressure gauge and temperature indicator, for example, which is actually rather problematic while you’re learning), as well as some of the neat design accents that feature on the pricier models in the range. Fundamentally, though, it’s all the same machine.

Compared to its biggest competition, La Pavoni is in the mid-range of lever coffee makers. New brands, such as Flair, have emerged in recent years to capture some of the entry-level market, while more premium brands, like the Olympia Cremina, round out the top end. Nevertheless, with a long history in the game La Pavoni is a safe bet and offers pretty great value for money, especially if you back yourself to learn the ropes without the assistance of pressure and temperature gauges.

However, I must say I was very disappointed by the accessories included; in particular, the measuring spoon and tamper. Aside from being cheaply made, the included tamp gets stuck in the portafilter, which feels antithetical to the premium build quality in every way. It also includes two basket sizes for the filter holder.

• Value score: 4/5

La Pavoni Europiccola: specifications

Name

La Pavoni Europiccola

Type

Lever coffee machine

Dimensions

12.6 x 7.87 x 11.42 inches / 20cm x 29cm x 32cm

Weight

5.5kg

Water reservoir capacity

0.8L

Steam wand

Manual

Max pressure

1 bar

User profiles

N/A

(Image credit: Future)La Pavoni Europiccola: design

• Beautifully designed manual machine
• Robust and well-made
• Lacks hellpful bells and whistles

La Pavoni’s lever coffee machines are, at least in my opinion, the most beautiful, elegant manual coffee makers you can buy – and it’s not just because the lever gives them an iconic look.

Lustrously chromed and robustly built, there’s little to critique when it comes to the design itself. The Lusso is fairly slim, especially compared to many espresso machines, at 12.6 x 7.87 x 11.42 inches / 20cm x 29cm x 32cm (w x d x h), and is fairly lightweight at 5.5kg, owing to its mostly steel and brass materials. The accents are – as standard – plastic, but you can opt to glow-up your La Pavoni with walnut wood handles and lids, which you can buy separately.

You can’t remove the boiler, which is inconvenient if you have leftover water in the tank that needs emptying after a brew. To the left of the base you’ll find the boiler power controls, and on the rear, the power supply cable.

The main body of the machine is its 0.8L boiler, which can make up to eight espresso shots in one sitting and features a screw-top lid. To the left of the boiler is the water level, and to the right are its safety valve and steam pipe. Mounted on the front of the boiler is the grouphead and the all-important lever controls.

(Image credit: Future)

One slightly puzzling inclusion, especially given frequent feedback from stalwart La Pavoni fans, is the dual-spout portafilter. A bottomless portafilter might have made more sense, especially given that it’s rare for espresso to pour evenly between the two spouts and you’ll generally need to pull the lever again for your second shot, anyway.

As mentioned above, the included tamper is also a rogue choice to accompany this machine, and not least because mine didn’t even appear to be the right size, getting stuck in the portafilter. I replaced it quickly with a basic 51mm alternative I found on Amazon – note that if you’re reading this as a prospective buyer of a second-hand model from before 2001, you’ll need a 49mm tamper.

The machine can also getvery hot to the touch, owing to its metallic build. The boiler is entirely exposed to the open air, and the heat quickly conducts to the grouphead; this means it’s less-than-ideal for households with children. You’ll also need to let it cool before refilling the boiler for your next batch, and given that it takes up to 10 minutes to heat, you could be in for a long morning if you’re serving more than two rounds.

• Design score: 4.5 / 5

(Image credit: Future)La Pavoni Europiccola: performance

• Heats up slowly, and very hot to the touch
• Steep learning curve...
• ... but mastering it leads to great results
• A little tricky to keep clean

Simple as it may sound, operating a lever coffee machine such as La Pavoni is hardly intuitive – and it doesn’t arrive with a wealth of information to help you learn the ropes. Among online communities, there are ample tips and tricks – which will vary slightly depending on the beans you’re using – that broadly help to make the machine more accessible. Really, though, this hyper-manual coffee maker requires you to understand the mechanics of what’s actually happening in every step of the extraction process, rather than relying on the device to guide you.

As with any machine, your bean choice is key, but the tactile experience of lever-pulling makes it all the more apparent that your prep work is crucial. Oily beans must be coarsely ground, but they offer excellent results, while medium and lighter roasts should be ground more finely and dosed higher. I found that around 14g worked well for the former, but up to 19g is necessary for lighter roasts.

(Image credit: Future)

In terms of pulling your shots, what I personally found worked best for my taste is the following process: fill and heat your boiler (you’ll know it’s done when the indicator light turns off), and then release the false pressure. Insert your portafilter and pre-infuse the coffee by lifting the handle just enough to hear the hiss as water enters the grouphead.

Allow it to warm through and build a little pressure above the puck, and then finish lifting the handle; if coffee is already running freely at this point, you likely need a finer grind, or to better tamp your coffee to allow that crucial final pressure chamber to develop above the puck. A few small drops should start to come through, though, and that’s how you know pre-infusion is complete and it’s time for the fun part – pulling the lever!

Slowly pull down the lever, maintaining as constant a pace as possible – even while pushing through the resistance – until the lever returns to its neutral position; the pull should take about 25 seconds all in all. Once you’re done, release the rest of the pressure using the valve and remove the top, which can be a little stiff after use. If you want to refill your portafilter and continue using the machine, it’s important to let the pressure dissipate first, lest you experience the unfortunate portafilter “sneeze”, where hot grounds catapult across your kitchen. I usually use the time to either grind more beans, foam my milk or wistfully admire the beautiful coffee machine in all its glory.

(Image credit: Future)

It sounds simple, but all the way through, you’ll be reacting in real-time to the feeling and responses from your La Pavoni – and that’s the real art of it. Once you’ve mastered it, though, the espresso shots are worth the effort. Rich in flavor and topped in a satisfying copper-hued crema, you can understand why La Pavoni has earned its fame.

The steam wand is adequate for milk frothing; however, as per the rest of the machine, you’ll have to adapt to its specific needs. La Pavoni doesn’t supply a milk jug, so invest in one of those, too. Ensure there’s enough water in the boiler (the machine can rinse through a fair amount while steaming) before fully opening the steam valve, placing the head of the wand just beneath the surface of the milk and steaming for roughly 15-30 seconds. In my experience, milk alternatives such as oat or coconut milk aren’t great, but cold milk works fine.

Regular cleaning of your La Pavoni isn’t too onerous. The drip tray is easily removed, albeit a little sharp if you need to take the metal plate out for a deeper clean. It’s made of stainless steel, so as long as you’re not grubbying it up with dirty fingerprints constantly, it’s easily kept. However, you’ll need to upend the machine to empty out any remaining water you’d rather not leave stagnating inside, and advice on longer-term maintenance is scant online. You should descale the machine (there’s no La Pavoni-specific solution for this) four to five times per year with baking soda or white vinegar.

• Performance score: 4/5

Should you buy the La Pavoni EuropiccolaCasabrews 5418 Pro score card

Attribute

Notes

Score

Value

Quite pricey, given it's manual, but in line with other similar lever machines

4/5

Design

Gorgeous and effective, but impractical in places, and lacking some helpful bells and whistles.

4.5/5

Performance

Long hard road to good results, but worth it once you reach the summit.

4/5

Buy it if

You’re a big-time coffee enthusiast

My partner is a huge coffee nerd, and watching him dote on the La Pavoni Lusso has honestly made me a little jealous at times. However, the science and craft of it all is naturally appealing to those with a passion for it, and will delight coffee lovers endlessly.

You want a design-first machine

I don’t think I’ve ever loved how a coffee maker looks until I laid eyes on the La Pavoni, even more so with the classy accessories such as the wooden handles on my review unit.

You love a strong, rich espresso

Once you’ve cracked the code and learned how the machine works, the results from La Pavoni are fantastic – but prepare for slightly stronger coffee than you might be used to. View Deal

Don't buy it if

You want something quick and easy

I really hope this one is self-explanatory after reading the review; using the La Pavoni is hard graft.

You want to make big batches of coffee

The 8-cup boiler on the model I tested is great in theory, but there’s a fair amount of depressurizing and fiddling that would make running the machine four times consecutively with a double basket portafilter a bit of a pain.

La Pavoni Europiccola: also consider

If you're not sure whether the La Pavoni Europiccola is the right coffee machine for you, here are two alternatives to consider.

Breville / Sage Bambino

Around the same list price as the Casabrews 5418 Pro, the Bambino (branded as Sage in the US and Breville in the rest of the world) is a reliable little espresso machine that's stood the test of time, and is regularly recommended as a good option for beginners.

Read our full Sage Bambino review

De'Longhi Dedica Style

Even more affordable, the Dedica Style is a reliable performer that's compact and simple to use. It tends to drip after brewing, much like the 5418 Pro, but stopping the pump early will prevent you pouring too much espresso.

Read our full De'Longhi Dedica Style review

How I tested the La Pavoni Europiccola

I spent six months with the La Pavoni Europiccola Lusso, which is the longest and most extensive testing I’ve ever done on a coffee machine. During that time, I learned the ins and outs of the machine and its best practices, tried a wide range of bean types and milk types, and pulled everything from a quick espresso shot to an eight-person batch.

I tested the machine in my home, navigating issues such as space and storage as well as cleaning and maintenance, just like a prospective customer would, and compared the results to my previous coffee-maker testing experience and against results using other types of coffee makers in my home.

I’ve been testing small appliances, including coffee machines, for three years, and I’ve been testing tech more broadly for five years. In that time, I’ve developed a good sense of what makes a great product.

First tested September 2025