TechRadar Reviews

Epson QB1000: two-minute review

The Epson EH-QB1000 is a fantastic projector, and in terms of performance, specifications and features, no other beamer comes close at this price.

The QB1000 uses a three-chip LCD design and laser light source that’s capable of producing an incredibly bright 3,300 lumens, which is higher brightness than many of the best 4K projectors can manage. In addition, thanks to excellent out-of-the-box accuracy the resulting images are not only bright but also naturally saturated. There’s a very low input lag, 4K 120Hz high frame rate support, and even HDR10+ high dynamic range support, making this beamer a cracking all-rounder.

The SDR performance is clean and detailed, with good motion handling and great accuracy. The HDR images are even better thanks to the dynamic tone mapping that gets the most out of the specular highlights and expanded shadow detail. The result is a rich and nuanced image with plenty of visual pop. The same goes for HDR10+ content, with its additional dynamic metadata.

Epson includes a host of higher-end features that are often absent from competing projectors. These include fully motorised lens controls and up to 10 lens memories for those using a ‘Scope ratio (2.35:1) screen. The menus themselves are comprehensive but simple to navigate, plus there are also extensive picture controls if you fancy getting your new beamer professionally calibrated.

The build quality is excellent, with a solid chassis and a choice of matte black or white finishes. There’s an extensive selection of connections, including two HDMI 2.1 inputs, along with a well-designed remote control that has a very useful backlight. There’s even a motorised lens cover to keep out dust, which is important because the light path on an LCD projector isn’t sealed.

Aside from the possibility of dust blobs, the only other limitation is the black level, which could be deeper. It’s also worth pointing out that the Epson isn’t native 4K, but can still produce higher-resolution images thanks to pixel-shifting technology. So when you add it all up, you really won’t find a more highly specified or better performing 4K HDR home cinema projector for the money.

Epson QB1000 review: price and release date

• First available: December 2024
• Price: £4,799 / $7,999
  

The EpsonQB1000 is the new entry-level model in the brand’s range of Premium Residential projectors and is available now in a choice of matte black or matte white finishes. The QB1000 currently retails for £4,799 in the UK but costs more in the US, where it will set you back $7,999.

The QB1000 has a specified 3,000 lumens light output, and its laser light engine has a 20,000-hour lifespan (Image credit: Future) Epson QB1000 review: Specs

The QB1000's motorised lens controls include 10 lens memories for those using a 2.35:1 screen (Image credit: Future) Epson QB1000 review: design

• Fully motorised lens controls
• 10 lens memory positions
• Backlit remote control

The Epson QB1000 looks identical to the earlier Epson LS12000, with the same matte black or white chassis and central lens flanked by large forward-firing cooling grilles. The bodywork is solid and well-built, the motorised lens cover is retained, and there are basic controls at the rear, along with a removable cover to keep things tidy. There’s also an optional ceiling mount if required.

Setup is simple thanks to a generous throw ratio and motorised lens controls that include 10 lens memories for those using a 2.35:1 screen. The QB1000’s increased brightness makes it ideal for rooms with lighter-coloured walls, and as a bonus, the weak contrast ratios won’t be as obvious. There are also various picture modes, along with extensive calibration controls.

The connections are located in a long recess at the rear of the unit, where you’ll find two HDMI 2.1 inputs with support for 4K 120Hz, eARC, HDCP 2.3 and HDR10+, alongside regular HDR10 and HLG. There are also three USB ports, a 12V trigger output, an Ethernet port and RS-232C serial connector, along with support for various integrated control systems when used in a custom installation.

• Design score: 5/5

Ports include 3 HDMI 2.1 connections (1 with eARC) with 4K 120Hz support for gaming (Image credit: Future) Epson QB1000 review: features

• Dynamic HDR Tone Mapping
• Support for 4K 120Hz high frame rate
• Support for HDR10+ with dynamic metadata

The Epson QB1000 incorporates the same 3LCD design the brand uses on all its projectors, and this particular technology is limited to Full HD (1920 x 1080 pixels). However, the QB1000 can accept and display 4K content (3840 x 2160 pixels) by using pixel-shifting technology that literally shifts each pixel diagonally to increase the perceived resolution and create more detailed images.

Despite using the same laser light source as earlier models it has a claimed peak brightness of 3,300 lumens, which is massive, and an average lifespan of 20,000 hours. As with all beamers that use LCD display technology the black levels are poor, with the QB1000 producing a claimed native contrast ratio of 5,000:1, although the dynamic laser feature can boost this to 5,000,000:1.

New this year is dynamic tone mapping that analyses HDR10 content and optimises the image, allowing the QB1000 to deliver improved performance with HDR compared to the earlier LS12000. As with the earlier model there is also support for HDR10+, which means the QB1000 can use the format’s dynamic metadata to deliver an image optimised to its inherent capabilities.

The QB1000 has improved motion handling and upgraded frame interpolation. As a result, it can deliver smooth and detailed motion with sport, although I’d recommend leaving the frame interpolation off when watching film-based content. The Epson also supports higher frame rates up to 4K 120Hz, which makes this beamer a great choice for any next-generation gamers.

• Features score: 5

Picture accuracy is excellent in the Cinema mode (Image credit: Future) Epson QB1000 review: picture quality

• Incredibly bright HDR images
• Impressive HDR tone mapping
• Very low input lag for gaming

The Epson QB1000 impresses right out of the gate, with the kind of bright, detailed and saturated picture that makes big-screen projection so enjoyable. With quality content, primary colours are punchy, while the uniformity of the LCD chipset is good with no signs of patchiness, banding or dust blobs. The latter can be an issue with LCD due to the light path not being sealed.

The out-of-the-box accuracy is excellent in the Cinema mode, with whites that aren’t awash in blue. The same goes for the skin tones, which look suitably natural, while the image itself is pleasingly sharp thanks to effective 4K upscaling and the three LCD panels being well-aligned.

Despite its inherent brightness, the QB1000 is surprisingly quiet, although the noise levels will increase if you use the higher laser settings. However, there’s so much brightness available that you don’t need to move the power up too high to illuminate even a large projection screen.

In fact, the QB1000 has sufficient brightness to handle rooms with light-coloured walls, and the option of a white finish also lends it to more lifestyle-friendly installations. The reflected light in this kind of setup has the added advantage of disguising the Epson’s poor contrast performance.

Black levels are the QB1000’s big weakness, with the contrast ratio only measuring 4,300:1 in my tests. To be fair at least this is close to the 5,000:1 Epson claims in its marketing, but it does mean blacks look more like a dark grey. You can use the dynamic laser feature to improve the contrast performance but in reality this only helps with fades to black and the rest of the time the blacks remain the same.

One area where Epson has improved the performance is in terms of motion handling, even with the frame interpolation turned off. When it’s engaged this feature results in smoother motion, which makes it very effective when watching fast-paced sports. However, make sure it's switched off for movies and TV dramas, so they don't end up looking like cheap video.

The inclusion of HDMI 2.1 inputs means the QB1000 can support frame rates up to 4K 120Hz. This makes it a great choice for gamers, and this appeal is only enhanced by the inclusion of ALLM (auto low latency mode), which automatically selects the Game mode when a console is detected. In Game mode the input lag measures a very impressive 19ms, with only Sony’s VPL-XW5000ES projector measuring lower.

The QB1000 supports high dynamic range, and really impresses with a bright and detailed image where the highlights pop and the shadows reveal more subtleties. The QB1000 doesn’t use a colour filter, which means it only covers 88% of the DCI-P3 wide colour gamut. However, thanks to the increased brightness and new dynamic tone mapping the results are often excellent.

For example, the Alfred Hitchcock classic North by Northwest was shot on the larger VistaVision film format and the resulting 4K disc is stunning. The QB1000 expertly delivers the sumptuous images, fleshing out the fine detail and rich colours with skill. The crop-duster attack is a particular treat, with the Epson’s increased brightness helping to bring the Indiana cornfields vividly to life.

Furiosa is the prequel to Mad Max: Fury Road and enjoys the same epic desert vistas and insanely detailed production design as the earlier film, along with a deliberately stylised colour scheme. The QB1000 handles all these visuals perfectly, while the excellent motion handling ensures all the frenetic vehicular action is delivered smoothly and without any annoying artefacts.

The WW1 thriller 1917 is about a mission across no-man’s land and boasts superb photography and HDR10+ encoding. As a result, the QB1000 can render all the detail in the native 4K image, as well as deliver bright and clean daytime vistas. The nighttime scenes are more of a challenge, and while the blacks could be better, the bright flares really cut through the darkness.

• Picture quality score: 4/5

The QB1000's fullly backlit remote control makes it easy to adjust settings in a dark room (Image credit: Future) Epson QB1000 review: value

• Fantastic value for money
• Cheaper than any direct competitor

The Epson EH-QB1000 is fantastic value for money value, especially when compared to its direct competitors. The Sony VPL-XW5000ES is currently £4,499/$5,999, and while it might be native 4K it doesn’t have motorised lens controls, dynamic HDR tone mapping, or HDR10+ and 4K 120Hz support. The JVC DLA-NZ500 is more expensive at £6,499/$5,999 and while it is native 4K, has better blacks levels and does include motorised lens controls, lens memories and HDR10+, it still lacks support for 4K 120Hz and doesn’t have a Game mode, so it’s not the best choice for gamers.

• Value score: 5/5

(Image credit: Future) Should I buy the Epson QB1000?

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

You want a super-bright picture
The laser light source not only delivers a longer lifespan of 20,000 hours but also 3,300 lumens of peak brightness. This is brighter than any projector aside from Sony’s super-high-end XW8100.

You want 4K 120Hz support
The HDMI 2.1 inputs allow the QB1000 to support frame rates of up to 4K 120Hz, which makes this beamer a perfect choice for next-gen console owners or anyone using a high-end PC gaming rig.

You want HDR10+ support
The inclusion of HDR10+ allows the QB1000 to take advantage of the format’s dynamic metadata, ensuring tone mapping that’s optimised for the lower brightness of a projector compared to a TV.

Don’t buy it if… 

You want native 4K
The QB1000 has Full HD resolution, and while it can accept and project 4K sources by using pixel-shifting technology, the detail isn’t as impressive as native 4K beamers from Sony and JVC.

You want deep blacks
The QB1000’s LCD display technology doesn’t deliver deep blacks or impressive contrast, so if that’s important you should be looking at the more expensive JVC NZ500 D-ILA projector instead.

You want support for 3D
Epson dropped 3D support with the previous generation, so if you’re a fan of the format you’ll either have to look at an alternative DLP projector or the high-end and very expensive JVC NZ800.

Also consider...

Epson LS12000
Epson LS12000 is less bright than the QB1000 but also costs less. It's also a great choice for gaming with 4K 120Hz support and it has great overall picture quality.

Read our full Epson LS12000 review

Sony VPL-XW5000ES
The Sony VPL-XW5000ES costs less than the Epson but is less bright and lacks the Epson's motorised lens controls, dynamic HDR tone mapping, and HDR10+ and 4K 120Hz support.

JVC DLA-NZ500
The JVC is more expensive than the Epson, has better blacks levels and includes motorised lens controls, lens memories and HDR10+ support. it lacks 4K 120Hz support, however, and doesn’t have a Game mode

(Image credit: Future) How I tested the Epson QB1000

• Measured with Calman calibration software
• Evaluated using SDR and HDR content
• Reviewed in a dedicated home cinema

As with all my TV and projector reviews I use a combination of subjective viewing and objective measurements against the industry standards. For projectors, I also do all my testing in a dedicated home cinema with a completely blacked-out environment and high-quality screen.

The subjective testing is based around watching a variety of familiar scenes, primarily sourced from 4K and 1080p Blu-rays, plus the Spears & Munsil UHD Benchmark 4K disc. Any test scenes have been specifically chosen to evaluate a display’s black levels, contrast performance, colour accuracy, upscaling, image processing, motion handling, and HDR tone mapping.

For the objective testing, I measured the QB1000’s brightness, greyscale and colour gamut in SDR, before doing the same in HDR. I also evaluated the accuracy of the HDR tone mapping, along with the colour gamut coverage for DCI-P3. To do this I used a pattern generator and colour meter combined with Portrait Displays’ Calman calibration software. I measured the QB1000’s input lag in milliseconds using a specialised Leo Bodnar tester.

First reviewed: January, 2025

• Read TechRadar's review guarantee

Review info

Platform reviewed: PC
Available on: PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, PC
Release date: January 31, 2025

Rather than just the bombast of dizzying intergalactic battles, modern science fiction tales are imagining futures shaped by pervasive inequality and technological conquest. Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector, a roleplaying game by Gareth Damian Martin and one-person studio Jump Over the Age, is a science fiction tale of that pedigree.

It also brings to mind a New Yorker profile of science fiction writer Liu Cixin from a few years ago, who achieved international acclaim for his book, The Three Body Problem. Liu insisted science fiction merely allows readers to indulge in escapism rather than serve as metaphors for real-world affairs. Perhaps this reflects his perspective that Chinese people are more concerned about immediate needs like healthcare and the economy, as opposed to more altruistic concepts like individual liberty - a nice to have, but not a necessity.

It’s an outlook that’s difficult to reconcile with, especially when confronted with a tale as introspective as Starward Vector that carries shades of moral complexity. For instance, an early contract - the game’s more treacherous gigs - involves preserving a data core with immense historical value, or selling it to a mercenary who’ll inevitably scrap the relic, so as to get the fuel you need to escape your captor.

It’s a choice between addressing immediate needs versus pursuing a more humanistic goal for the far future. But while most games would clumsily nudge you towards the latter, presenting this quandary as a form of delayed gratification by promising better, future rewards, Starward Vector tackles this choice more elegantly, gently suggesting that you lean on community in times of need.

On the run again

(Image credit: Jump Over The Age)

Like the first Citizen Sleeper, Starward Vector puts you in the shoes of a Sleeper, an indentured android and an emulation of a flesh-and-blood human being who owes a tremendous debt to a corporation. This time, however, you’re on the run from a sinister figure named Laine who wants you - his property - back. What this means is that you’ll need to stay one step ahead of his relentless pursuit, as you trawl the Helion solar system on your ship (which is also stolen from Laine) to eek out a living.

Of course, this is a perilous journey. For those who have played Citizen Sleeper before, Starward Vector will largely be a familiar experience, but for the uninitiated, this cadence will take a bit of getting used to. The game progresses through cycles, with dice rolls determining how well you perform your tasks; the higher the number, the better the outcome. That said, there are a few key differences from the original, such as a distinct lack of a condition bar, as this particular Sleeper is no longer reliant on drugs to prevent their body from decaying.

But instead of a failing artificial body, you’ll accrue stress from, well, almost anything. A poor outcome from a dice roll can induce stress, as well as having to plow through work while starving. Accumulate too much stress, and your dice can disintegrate. Once broken, they cannot be used, limiting the amount of actions you can take per cycle until you garner the right components to repair them.

Occasionally, you’ll also need to embark on contracts, which are high-risk jobs that offer a significant amount of cryos (the game’s form of currency). Make too many mistakes during these contracts, and you can set off crises, events that put you in pressure cooker conditions; the longer you take to complete contracts, the more stressful the gig will be.

This is how Starward Vector reminds you of the precarity of your situation. Even a streak of utterly perverse luck can derail your cycles, like a horrid day when Murphy’s Law is in full swing. For a Sleeper, the stakes are infinitely high, the specter of certain failure ratcheting up the tension at every turn.

A motley crew

(Image credit: Jump Over The Age)

Fortunately, you’re not alone. A ragtag crew of spacefarers will join you over the course of your expedition, with the first being Serafin, a close friend who’s instrumental in breaking your oppressive servitude under Laine. Then there’s Juni, a quiet character you’ll meet during the game’s earliest contract with the data core. These crew members have skills they are particularly adept in, and that you can leverage during contracts.

Your crew will have their own dice rolls, which you can select to perform tasks they’re inclined towards. Juni, for instance, gets a bonus to her Interface trait, so you’ll do well by assigning her to a task that requires that particular skill. Doing so effectively is vital in helping you complete contracts without burning yourself out. That’s because, unlike most RPGs, being self-sufficient isn’t the point; depending on your class, some skills cannot be maxed out or even unlocked.

But rather than frame your companions as additional resources to exploit, the game’s impeccably polished prose helps to embellish the crew’s growing kinship with the Sleeper. Serafin, for all his dour cynicism, is a welcomed presence, his steely visage betraying a deep affection for the Sleeper - and all these are inferred just from the game’s pithy, yet ornately penned paragraphs.

Best bit

(Image credit: Jump Over The Age)

Overcoming the multiple perils of contract work, such as keeping your stress level low amidst numerous crises or simply getting a good set of dice rolls after a bout of misfortunes, is exhilarating in its own way - especially when you do so with some of your favorite companions.

Thus beyond just matters of survival, your relationships offer something more: community. Take the data core contract; Juni, a relative stranger then, asked that you give her the data for archival purposes, in exchange for nothing more than a promise of assistance with your fuel problem.

Despite initial misgivings, you can hand the data to her, with her later returning the favor in unexpected ways. Another branching story, which involves potentially assisting a union leader, also feeds into this sense of camaraderie. Such instances of solidarity suffuse your ill-fated journey with something perhaps resembling hope, an aspiration of not having to struggle against the hegemony of corporate power over the working class alone.

That said, it’s possible to make a comfortable living and save a handsome sum of cryos, the cycles of stressful resource management a thing of the past. Eventually, you may become adept at gaming the very system itself.

Even a single cycle marred with sheer, unbelievably bad luck - a series of shoddy dice rolls, perhaps leading to an exhausting, energy-draining day of labor - becomes easier to recover from. What you do with this excess, however, is up to you, such as choosing to pay another crew their fees, turning down the payment owed to you by another worker, or just burning all your cryos at a gambling den.

Tinged with hope

(Image credit: Jump Over The Age)

The game’s onerous system points to a reality that’s attuned to our wretched times: a pandemic that has exposed structural inequality, governments that are slipping into authoritarianism, and countries that refuse to acknowledge genocides. But Starward Vector is more than just a bleak universe writhing with doom and peril; its bright spots are undoubtedly its well-written, likable characters, whose aid and support you’ll learn to lean into even as structural oppression looms.

It has achieved the rare feat of balancing its narrative with a multi-faceted system without drowning its humanity in these details - all the while imparting the value of collective action and mutual aid. For a tale set in a cyber dystopia, it’s an uncharacteristically hopeful tale.

Should you play Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector? Play it if...

You enjoy reading prose laden with immersive descriptions
Starward Vector has plenty of words and minutiae, accompanied by some portraits and an astounding map design. The bulk of the action is detailed via prose, without cut scenes.

You enjoy a well-written science fiction tale
The tropes of science fiction are thoroughly explored in Starward Vector, from rampant inequality to corporate malaise. Indulge freely if this is your cup of tea.

Don't play it if...

You want adrenaline-fuelled action
While dangerous encounters abound, traditional combat is non-existent in this game; that means no outer space or cyberpunk-style shootouts.

You can’t stand reading paragraphs of text
Text and dialogue in Starward Vector are mostly concise and to the point, but they make up the bulk of the experience.

Accessibility features

Starward Vector offers three difficulty settings: safe, risky, and dangerous, which can be changed at any time during the game. This changes the penalties from poor dice rolls, such as increased energy depletion and permanent death in the dangerous setting. Scene text can be enlarged, while the text scroll speed can be increased and reduced.

(Image credit: Jump Over The Age) How I reviewed Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector

I spent around 16 hours on the game, completing the main quest, exploring its extensive solar system and planets, and experiencing its side content in the form of its contracts. I also reviewed the game on an original LCD Steam Deck, playing the game in handheld mode, with the device providing hours of seamless gameplay.

First reviewed January 2025

Bose QuietComfort headphones: One-minute review

The Bose QuietComfort over-ear headphones landed in September 2023. Although there’s now a (slightly) newer and more premium model from the brand on the market, the standard QuietComfort cans are still well worth considering. That’s because they present buyers with all of the basics, like great comfort levels, sound and ANC, done incredibly well with the Bose seal of approval.

Let’s get any confusion out of the way first. Where do these headphones sit in the Bose line-up? Rewind back to 2021 and the Bose Quietcomfort 45 over-ear headphones were released. The newer over-ear headphones we’re reviewing here, officially named just Bose QuietComfort, came out in September 2023 to replace them. Bose released the QuietComfort Ultra just a month later, in October 2023, but it's best to think of them as a solid step up from the QuietComfort headphones we’re reviewing here, making our best noise-cancelling headphones and best over-ear headphones guides.

But just because those top-tier cans have a bunch of upgrades, doesn’t mean the Ultras are for everyone, as we’ll get to soon. What we’ve got here is a high-end pair of headphones that perform well in every department, without overcomplicating things. These headphones feature Bose’s signature tech, and while it’s not especially groundbreaking in 2025, that’s part of the appeal. There’s nothing new to figure out or fuss over. Setup is a breeze, and the controls are refreshingly straightforward. Instead of fiddly touch panels, you get trusty manual buttons on the earcups. There’s also an app if you fancy more customization, but it’s optional, and the interface is clean with just a handful of modes to pick from – it just works (sorry Apple).

That’s why the Bose QuietComfort headphones might not be the absolute best on the market, but they strike a balance between quality audio, supreme comfort, and no-nonsense usability. For anyone looking for high-end Bose headphones in a sleek, slightly more affordable package, these could be the perfect fit.

Bose QuietComfort headphones: Price and release date

(Image credit: Future)

• Released in late 2023
• Priced at $349/£349.95/AU$549.95
• Available in black, off-white, green, blue, lilac, sandstone

The Bose QuietComfort headphones were priced at $349/£349.95/AU$549.95 at launch. However, because they’re a little older you will find some discounts available now from both third-party retailers and even through Bose directly. For example, on the Bose Australia website, the headphones are currently discounted from AU$549.95 to AU$448.95.

How does that compare to the rest in the Bose lineup? It makes them almost the same price as the Bose QuietComfort 45 that came before them, which cost $329/£329/AU$499.95 at launch.

The Bose QuietComfort Ultra are currently $429/£449.95/AU$649, which is a big step up of nearly $100. Then again, if you’re splurging on headphones and want the most bang up to date features, you might want to consider the flagship version. But we’ll get into some of the key differences later.

How does this compare to similar noise-cancelling over-ears? Well, the Sony WH-1000XM4 headphones are still at the top of our best noise-cancelling headphones guide. At launch, they were $349/£349/AU$549, the exact same price. But now, you can find them for much cheaper, around $249/£199/AU$399. This makes sense, as they were released in 2020. But it does mean that if you’re hunting for older, still very capable headphones, the Sony might just be a better shout – especially if you’re a fan of Sony and its LDAC support.

When it comes to the broader market, there’s a lot of variation these days. If you wanted, for example, to prioritize good ANC, great specs, an energetic sound and excellent battery life, the Cambridge Melomania P100 over-ears would cost you considerably less, at $279/£229/AU$479. If you’re looking for similar features but don’t care so much about the Bose brand name or getting a high-end pair, you can easily get a decent pair of noise-cancelling over-ears for a mid-range price, like the excellent Sony WH-CH720N headphones, which cost $149/£99/AU$259.

Bose QuietComfort headphones: Specs Bose QuietComfort headphones: Features

(Image credit: Future)

• Up to 26 hours of battery
• Excellent ANC
• Simple buttons

The Bose QuietComfort headphones aren’t packed with the cutting-edge features that you’ll find from the latest over-ears, but that’s not the point here. They focus on doing the essentials really well. If you’re looking for reliability and ease of use, they’ll deliver without overcomplicating things.

Let’s start with the app. It’s slick, intuitive, and has that Apple-esque feel, by which I mean minimal, clean, and user-friendly. The best part? You don’t need the app to enjoy the headphones, but I’d recommend using it to explore customization options. For example, there’s an adjustable 3-band EQ. You can manually tweak bass, mids, and treble or select presets like Bass Boost or Treble Reduce. While the EQ options are more limited than some competitors, it gets the job done for those who want great audio without endless tinkering. Personally, I didn’t feel the need to touch the EQ at all.

You’ll also find different audio modes, like "Quiet" for noise cancellation and "Aware" for transparency. These can be toggled using the action button on the left earcup, and you can add two additional custom modes in the app for specific scenarios.

A standout feature is multipoint connectivity, which allows you to pair the headphones with two devices simultaneously. This is a standard on most high-end headphones these days, but it’s good to see it included in this pair – seamlessly switching between a laptop for work and a phone for music or calls is a must for me now.

The manual buttons on the earcups deserve praise, too. They’re tactile, easy to use, and customizable via the app. For those who prefer a wired option, Bose includes a 3.5mm to 2.5mm audio cable with an in-line mic – a nice touch for versatility.

Bluetooth 5.1 powers the connectivity (so no scope for Auracast, which requires the newer 5.2 and beyond), with support for AAC and SBC codecs. While it doesn’t include advanced features like Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Sound – the Ultras do have this, mind you – it’s solid enough for most users. Bose SimpleSync is also on board, letting you pair the headphones with compatible Bose soundbars and speakers to sync audio across devices, which is a great addition if you’re already in the Bose ecosystem.

Battery life is another area where these headphones hold their own but don’t lead the pack. Bose claims up to 24 hours of playback, and I managed to squeeze out closer to 26 hours during testing. They charge via USB-C, and a quick 15-minute boost gives you an additional 4 hours. While 24 hours isn’t bad, many competitors now exceed that. For instance, the Cambridge Melomania P100 headphones offer a huge 60 hours of playback with ANC on (and up to 100 hours without it). Even the QuietComfort Ultra headphones offer the same 24-hour battery life, so if longevity is a key priority, there’s little to separate them.

• Features score: 3.5/5

Bose QuietComfort headphones: Sound quality

(Image credit: Future)

• Great ANC
• Sound is bassy, but brilliant
• Could do with more EQ options

Let’s start with ANC. The Bose QuietComfort headphones offer excellent active noise cancellation, though they’re not class-leading. The QuietComfort Ultra definitely perform better in this department, providing more silence more consistently. But compared to most other over-ear headphones in their class, the ANC here is still fantastic.

One standout factor is the fit. As I’ll explain in more detail in the next section, the snug design creates a great seal, which enhances the ANC performance. This means minimal noise seeps in, and there’s virtually no sound leakage out at all. While it doesn’t deliver total silence, it’s impressively close. I couldn’t hear a kettle boiling a few feet away, the low rumble of transport, or even chatter at the table next to me while working in a café.

That said, certain louder or higher-pitched sounds can break through. A barking dog and a fire alarm, for example, were audible – but muffled. Overall, while the ANC isn’t eerily silent or perfect, it’s more than good enough for most users and handles everyday environments brilliantly.

(Image credit: Future)

The audio quality on the Bose QuietComfort headphones is crisp, rich, and strikes a pleasing balance across frequencies. Straight out of the box, without needing to adjust anything, the sound is warm and powerful, with bass that packs a punch and natural, clear mids and highs.

The overall sound profile leans towards a neutral presentation. Vocals and instruments feel natural and lifelike, while the bass has a satisfying depth without overpowering the other ranges. Highs are bright and detailed, and the lows are rich, but there’s a slight bias towards the low end. This means mids can occasionally feel a bit… squashed? somehow. Though it’s rarely noticeable, and the EQ options can easily smooth things out if needed.

Tracks like Childish Gambino’s Heartbeat really shine on these headphones. The powerful bass thumps beautifully while melodic vocals remain sharp and clear, demonstrating how well they handle dynamic tracks.

• Sound quality: 4/5

Bose QuietComfort headphones: Design

(Image credit: Future)

• Extremely comfortable
• Light at 240g
• Folding design

The Bose QuietComfort headphones are incredibly comfortable, with an understated design. The plush memory foam earcups, wrapped in soft vegan leather, feel like pillows on either side of my head. The headband is equally well-padded, striking the perfect balance between support and comfort. The clamping force is just right, too – secure but never too tight – making these some of the most comfortable over-ears I’ve ever worn.

I don’t always get along with over-ear headphones (thanks to a cartilage piercing that often causes issues), but I had no trouble here. Whether I wore them for hours at my desk, on a long walk, or even during an easy jog, they stayed comfortable and didn’t irritate me. That said, while they’re excellent for everyday use, they’re not recommended for sports or workouts. There’s no official IP rating for water or sweat resistance, so they’re best kept away from heavy gym sessions or outdoor walks if it looks like it might rain.

The QuietComfort headphones come in a range of colors, including black, off-white, green, blue, lilac, and sandstone. They maintain the classic Bose design aesthetic and look very similar to their predecessors, the QuietComfort 45. The QuietComfort Ultra headphones are similar too, but this newer version does have a sleeker and more refined vibe.

Despite their premium feel, these headphones are impressively lightweight at just 240g. Combined with the comfort-focused design, they’re perfect for long listening sessions. The carrying case is equally well thought out. It’s a sturdy, hard-shell case with a zip, designed to fold up the headphones neatly inside. Unlike some over-complicated cases (looking at you, Apple AirPods Max), this one gets it just right. It’s compact, practical, and includes internal pockets for the charging and audio cables.

• Design score: 5/5

Bose QuietComfort headphones: value

(Image credit: Future)

• Everything you need, but…
• Competition at the level is fierce
• Ultras might make more sense

At first glance, the Bose QuietComfort headphones might seem pricey, but when you consider the overall experience they offer, we’d argue they do deliver good value – especially if noise cancellation and a travel-friendly design are two priorities for you. They’re an amazing choice for anyone seeking comfort, reliable ANC, and simplicity.

That said, it’s important to view them in today’s context. For those willing to pay more, the QuietComfort Ultra headphones might be a better long-term investment, offering improved sound quality and support for higher-resolution audio codecs.

It's also worth mentioning they don't represent the best choice if you already own the QuietComfort 45. Yes, they're better. But not by enough to justify the upgrade.

You can also find great ANC headphones at a lower price point these days. Plenty of mid-range options provide good noise cancellation for much less. While they may not tick every box – comfort, battery life, or sound quality – in the same way, alternatives are worth considering if budget is your main concern. For example, the Cambridge Audio Melomania P100 headphones are cheaper, offering significantly better battery life but lacking the plush comfort (or let's face it, the iconic look) of the Bose.

If you’re someone who loves the latest tech, these probably won’t win you over. However, for those who appreciate simple, understated excellence and aren’t fussed about cutting-edge features, these headphones will make you very happy.

• Value: 3.5/5

Should I buy the Bose QuietComfort headphones? Buy them if…

You like simple things that work well
You'll find flashy, more feature-filled headphones. But if the idea of keeping up with the latest tech gives you a headache, these are reliable and fuss-free.

Comfort is a top priority
Incredibly light with some of the comfiest, memory foam earpads I've ever tested. If you have any sensory sensitivities or just really value comfort, you won't be disappointed here.

You travel a lot
With top ANC and a very light, folding and portable design with a solid carrying case, they're going to be among the headphones I'll instantly recommend for regular travellers.

Don’t buy them if…

You can afford the Ultras
I've mentioned them non-stop, but the Ultras are just a bit better. If you can afford them, they do make more sense for most people.

You prioritize longevity
The battery life here isn't bad, but compared to rivals, it can certainly be bettered. Some other headphones boast nearly twice as much playback time these days.

You have a Sony phone
In that case, we'd recommend the XM4s or XM5s from Sony instead, or even the mid-range Sony WH-CH720N headphones.

Bose QuietComfort headphones: Also consider

Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones
The alternative pick that makes the most sense, yes they're pricier, but they're a step up from the QC headphones we've reviewing here in almost every way (except for battery). Take a look at our full Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones review.

Cambridge Audio Melomania P100
Because the battery life of the whole QC range is a bit disappointing, these over-ears from Cambridge Audio are a rival pick focused on all-day (and then some) wear. Read our full Cambridge Audio Melomania P100 review.

How I tested the Bose QuietComfort headphones

(Image credit: Future)

• Tested for three weeks
• Tested at home, walks along the beach, working in a café and a library and more

I used the Bose QuietComfort headphones for two weeks before writing this review, and that involved listening to music and watching streamed movies.

Throughout the testing period, I used the Bose QuietComfort headphones alongside my iPhone 14 Pro via Bluetooth and MacBook Pro. Streaming was done via Spotify and Mubi.

I listened at home whilst working, as well as in a café and a library. I took them on a bus and on several walks, along the beach and through the countryside.

I've been testing tech for more than 12 years now, including many pairs of headphones, as well as lifestyle and fitness products, like workout earbuds and fitness trackers.

• First reviewed in February 2025.

• Read TechRadar's reviews guarantee

Gadhouse Duke & Roy: Two-minute review

(Image credit: Future / Simon Lucas)

Bangkok-based audio company Gadhouse (which is just slightly short for ‘Gadget House’) enjoys a bit of anthropomorphism – just look at the model names in its product line-up. Two of these products – the Duke wireless turntable and the Roy powered speakers – are available, at a modest saving, as a system. Introducing, then, the Gadhouse Duke & Roy.

There’s no arguing with the breadth of functionality your money buys. The Duke turntable has an integrated, defeatable phono stage, a USB-B output in front of an A-to-D converter for use with a computer, and can stream wirelessly. The Roy speakers are driven by 30 watts of power each, have Bluetooth connectivity and a fistful of physical connection options, too. A little remote control handset puts you in charge.

Where audio performance is concerned, though, Duke & Roy fail to make good on the promises of specification and finish. At its best, the sound the system makes is lifeless and consequently tedious – this is, I think we can all agree, less than ideal. There’s no energy to its reproduction, no sense of excitement, so the fact that the sound is actually quite detailed and confidently staged becomes neither here nor there.

Consequently, they can't be placed on a par with the best turntables or stereo speakers on the market.

Gadhouse Duke & Roy review: Price and release date

• $999 / £779 / (approx.) AU$1499
• Launched in November, 2024

The Gadhouse Duke & Roy powered-speakers-plus-wireless-turntable system has been on sale since mid-November 2024, and in the United States it sells for $999. In the United Kingdom it's around £779. The Australian pricing is yet to be confirmed, but at today’s exchange rates you’re looking at AU$1499 or something quite like it.

Like-for-like comparisons are, of course, fairly thin on the ground, but everyone from ELAC via Kanto to Q Acoustics will sell you a pair of aggressively priced powered bookshelf speakers, while turntables equipped with Bluetooth streaming smarts aren’t hard to come by either. Off the top of my head, though, I can’t think of any with such snappy model names…

Gadhouse Duke & Roy turntable review: Features

(Image credit: Future / Simon Lucas)

• Belt-driven turntable with 33.3 and 45rpm settings
• Wired and wireless connectivity options
• Ortofon 2M Red cartridge prefitted to Duke’s tonearm

If you judge a system on a ‘number of features per pound’ sort of basis, you’re going to find a lot to like – admire, even – with the Gadhouse Duke & Roy.

Duke is a belt-driven turntable that operates at 33.3 and 45rpm, with speed selection automatic, via a chunky toggle-switch on the plinth. It comes complete with a straight static-balanced 219mm tonearm that’s pre-fitted with a very acceptable Ortofon 2M Red moving magnet cartridge and has a detachable headshell. There’s a metal platter and a textured faux-leather slipmat, which bears the truism ‘where words fail, music speaks’, just one of the little ‘live laugh love’-isms that Gadhouse seems so fond of. An adjustable counterweight, a classic anti-skate weight attached via fishing line, and a clear dust-cover complete the visible feature-set.

(Image credit: Future / Simon Lucas)

Look at the rear of the turntable, though, and it soon becomes apparent there’s a fair bit more to it. As well as a connection for mains power, stereo RCA sockets and a post for a grounding cable, there’s a switch to turn the integrated phono stage on or off, a USB-B output for connection to a computer (for instance) and a light to indicate a Bluetooth connection has been made. The Duke can wirelessly connect to appropriate speakers or headphones via Bluetooth 5.2 using the SBC codec.

The Roy loudspeakers, meanwhile, have a similarly extensive selection of features. As with most reasonably affordable powered speakers, one Roy does the heavy lifting and the other Roy does as it's told. The secondary speaker just has a pair of speaker cable binding posts (for connection to its boss) at the rear, below a bass reflex slot at the top of the cabinet. The primary speaker has both of those features, but adds a total of 60 watts of Class D amplification (30 per speaker, of course), a socket for mains power and an ‘on/off’ switch, a pre-out for a subwoofer and some physical and wireless inputs. The physical stuff consists of line-level stereo RCAs, an analogue 3.5mm input, a digital optical connection and a USB-B socket, while wirelessness is handled by Bluetooth 5.1 with aptX HD codec compatibility.

Up front, each speaker has a 25mm soft-dome tweeter above an 89mm mid/bass driver. Gadhouse reckons this arrangement is good for a frequency response of 80Hz - 20kHz.

• Features score: 5/5

Gadhouse Duke & Roy review: Sound quality

(Image credit: Future / Simon Lucas)

• Quite detailed and complete reproduction
• Undemonstrative and entirely undynamic
• Wireless connection between Duke & Roy is not advised

To hear the Duke & Roy at its best, you’ll need to a) hard-wire the turntable to the speakers using the supplied RCA cable, and b) bin off the supplied speaker cable in order to put the speakers a realistic distance apart. Mind you, there’s every chance you may wonder why you bothered.

The Duke & Roy, I think it’s fair to say, sounds like less than the sum of its parts, especially as one of those parts is the Ortofon 2M Red cartridge. With a decent pressing of Cypress Hill’s eponymous debut album playing, the sound is quite detailed and Gadhouse’s claims for an 80Hz - 20kHz frequency response seem fair enough. After ‘quite detailed’, though, I’m struggling to find too many positives.

Because while low frequencies are reasonably solid and well controlled, the mid-range is quite poised and open, and the system has a decent stab at creating a coherent soundstage, it’s so devoid of energy or engagement that everything is rendered ‘background music’ no matter how intently you might decide to listen. The lack of drive and dynamism to the reproduction is fatal – the bland and matter-of-fact nature of the sound quality available here make the idea of ‘entertainment’, let alone ‘excitement’ seem completely fanciful. It takes a particular sort of system to leech all of the attitude and aggression from a Cypress Hill recording – and the Duke & Roy is one such system. Even the hard and edgy treble reproduction here fails to inject any energy into the sound.

(Image credit: Future / Simon Lucas)

This is about as good as it gets. Switch to a wireless connection between turntable and speakers, and not only does the system sound slightly smaller scale and more inhibited than before, but it gives away some of the finer details that were previously apparent. Streaming from a smartphone via Bluetooth does nothing to help matters, either – the ever-present lack of positivity or apparent engagement is the defining characteristic of the Gadhouse set-up.

Switching off its integrated phono stage and playing the Duke into a moderately priced preamp before sending the signal on to the Roy speakers reveals the phono stage in question to be ordinary at best. Making digital copies of vinyl via the Duke’s USB-B output using Audacity software reveals there’s nothing special about the deck’s A-to-D converter.

At every turn, in fact, the Duke & Roy is an underwhelming performer and, for some reason, after a period of listening I begin to find ‘underwhelming’ even less appealing than ‘bad’.

• Sound quality score: 2.5/5

Gadhouse Duke & Roy review: Design

(Image credit: Future / Simon Lucas)

• Oak-finished turntable
• 125 x 415 x 372mm (HxWxD) (Duke)
• 180 x 125 x 170mm (HxWxD) (each Roy)

The design of loudspeakers is almost as established and unbending as the design of turntables, especially when you’re talking about products competing in the mainstream. So it follows that neither the Duke turntable nor the Roy loudspeakers look anything other than exactly as you’d expect.

There are worthwhile aspects to the design of each, though. The Roy speakers are a very manageable 180 x 125 x 170mm (HxWxD) each, which means they are authentic candidates for positioning on a shelf or a desktop – as long as they can be connected to each other and to mains power, at least. The standard of build and finish is very acceptable, and the crisp edges of the matte-black cabinets of my review sample make for a clean look.

The Duke turntable seems equally well made and just as carefully finished. You’ll make your own mind up about the oak veneer – it reminds me of floorboards and seems gratuitous – but there’s no denying it’s a point of difference. The turntable’s 6.3kg weight (of which very nearly 2kg is contributed by its metal platter) is supported, at least at the front, by a couple of pliant, vibration-absorbing feet. The fact that the rear of the plinth is supported by a box with no vibration-absorbing properties and in which the Duke keeps all its electronics does undermine the point of the feet somewhat, mind you.

• Design score: 4/5

Gadhouse Duke & Roy review: Usability and setup

(Image credit: Future / Simon Lucas)

• Duke and one half of Roy require mains power
• Speakers must be wired together
• The smallest, skinniest remote control handset I’ve seen in a while

There’s really not much to do in order to get up and running here. The Duke’s tonearm needs its anti-skate weight fitting and its counterweight needs adjusting to the 1.6 - 2.0g recommended by Ortofon for its 2M Red cartridge, and then it’s good to go. Or, at least, it is once you’ve made a connection to mains power.

The Roy speakers need to be connected together and Gadhouse supplies a short length of indifferent speaker cable to do the job. The primary speaker needs to be connected to the mains. Then make any physical connections you want – you may decide to connect the Duke using the supplied RCA cables rather than wirelessly, for instance, in which case you’ll need to turn its integrated phono stage on.

Control of the system is available by a small, slim remote control handset that’s not overburdened with buttons. Power, input selection, play/pause and volume up/down are available, and there’s a little LED embedded in the primary speaker’s IR receptor to let you know what’s occurring.

• Value score: 4/5

Gadhouse Duke & Roy review: Value

(Image credit: Future / Simon Lucas)

• Lots of kit for under $1000 is good
• The stodgy sound really isn't...
• ... and renders the price moot

A whole wireless audio system, with vinyl as one of the sources, for under $1000? A well-made, nicely finished system at that? In terms of the functionality and the simple amount of stuff your money buys here, it’s difficult to be too critical of the Gadhouse Duke & Roy.

When it comes to audio fidelity this outlay gets you, though, the value-for-money proposition takes quite a hit. It’s not so much that the sound is bad per se, it’s more that it’s as bland as warm milk.

• Value score: 3.5/5

Should you buy the Gadhouse Duke & Roy? Buy it if...

You enjoy simplicity
From ‘opening the boxes’ to ‘getting up and running’ isn’t all that time-consuming and not that much of a chore.

You admire modernity as much as heritage
Combining wireless smarts with the venerable vinyl format covers off the last eight decades of audio technology.

You don’t like sound to be too interruptive
The undynamic and matter-of-fact sound of the Gadhouse system isn’t going to set any pulses racing, but it isn’t going to cause too much offence either.

Don't buy it if...

You value dynamism in your music
The Duke & Roy hands over the bulk of the information in your recordings, but does so in the most undemonstrative and disengaged kind of way.

You like the idea of a wireless turntable
Duke doesn’t sound especially energetic when hard-wired to Roy, but the wireless alternative is basically soporific.

You don’t want to have to spend money on speaker cable
Not only is the supplied speaker cable fairly average, but there’s really not very much of it.

Gadhouse Duke & Roy: Also consider

For wireless powered speakers with a few connectivity options, consider ELAC’s Debut Connex, Kanto’s Ren and the M20 by Q Acoustics in particular. Bear in mind even the smallest of these is larger than the Roy, though, and none are anything like as appropriate for desktop use.

For a turntable with Bluetooth smarts, it’s hard to see beyond the LP60XBT by Audio Technica and the Sony PS-LX310BT (reviewed here by our sister site, then come back). Neither look as smart as the Duke but both have an advantage where performance is concerned – and not in a mild way, either.

Any combination of these products will come in at Duke & Roy-adjacent money, and any combination will prove more sonically satisfying, too.

How I tested the Gadhouse Duke & Roy

• Tested for over a week on my regular home setup
• Tested with a Rega CD player and streaming services via Apple iPhone 14 Pro

I made space on my Blok equipment and my Soundstyle speaker stands, got each component nicely positioned and then listened for several hours a day for quite a few days. I connected the Duke turntable to the Roy loudspeakers using both wired and wireless connections, and used it with and without its integrated phono stage.

I used my Rega CD player via the optical input. Naturally, I listened to my favourite streaming services too, using an Apple iPhone 14 Pro.

• First reviewed: January 2025

• Read TechRadar's reviews guarantee

Hori Mario Kart Racing Wheel Pro Deluxe: One-minute review

The best thing I can say about the Hori Mario Kart Racing Wheel Pro Deluxe is that it’ll make a good gift for younger gamers, especially if they’re into racing games on the Nintendo Switch. As a budget-friendly wheel, it performs admirably, even if it does lack features compared to many of the best racing wheels out there. Still, as a kid-friendly racing wheel, it more than gets the job done.

But is it worth considering for those looking for a new racing wheel in general? Well, its relatively low price tag makes it a decent option for first-time buyers. And with it being compatible with PC as well as Nintendo Switch, you certainly won’t be lacking in options for games.

If you’re okay with the bold Mario aesthetic (which I actually think is quite nice), you will have to contend with a relative lack of features. Build quality really takes a hit here for both the wheelbase and pedals - both certainly lacking compared to pricier wheels. There’s no force feedback to speak of, either, which may disappoint those looking for a more immersive racing experience. It does perform decently with the best racing games, but a limited 270-degree turning angle makes it somewhat ill-suited for serious racing sims.

To top it all off, even younger players may get frustrated with the Hori Mario Kart Racing Wheel Pro Deluxe, as it’s simply unsuitable for play with Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. The wheel just doesn’t offer the pin-sharp responsiveness needed for such a fast-paced kart racer, and I found myself pining for one of the best Nintendo Switch controllers in its place.

(Image credit: Future) Hori Mario Kart Racing Wheel Pro Deluxe: Price and availability

• $109.99 / £89.99
• Definitely one of the more affordable racing wheel options on the market
• A budget-friendly rate comparable to the Hori Apex racing wheel

The Hori Mario Kart Racing Wheel Pro Deluxe’s $109.99 / £89.99 retail price is actually pretty fair for what you’re getting. It’s comparable to Hori’s own Apex wheel ($119.99 / £99.99). But as Nintendo Switch-compatible wheels go, you’re unlikely to find one as cheap as this without seriously losing worthwhile features.

Compared to pricier options like the Logitech G923 and Thrustmaster T300RS GT Edition, you are going to be getting a stripped-back experience here. Hori’s Mario Kart wheel is not compatible with PlayStation or Xbox systems, nor does it have desirable features like force feedback or high rotation.

Hori Mario Kart Racing Wheel Pro Deluxe: Specs Hori Mario Kart Racing Wheel Pro Deluxe: Design and features

• Nice Mario-themed look
• Overall cheap-feeling build
• Optional suction cups aren’t very effective

The Hori Mario Kart Racing Wheel Pro Deluxe’s highlight design aspect is its overall look. Having been officially licensed by Nintendo, it bears the iconic Mario ‘M’ in the center of the wheel. The steering wheel and base both have a really tasteful red-on-black paint job that looks surprisingly smart and professional for a product primarily aimed at younger audiences.

The wheel is quite robust in terms of buttons, too. You’re getting almost a full suite here, with a d-pad, face buttons, ZL and ZR buttons as well as a pair of paddles primarily used for gear shifting.

The center of the wheel also houses the Start, Select, and Home buttons as well as a Capture button for screenshots, which is a very welcome and quite uncommon feature for racing wheels in general. A handy ‘Assign’ button also lets you map custom inputs on the fly.

(Image credit: Future)

It’s a shame that overall build quality is quite lacking, then, but this is to be expected given the relatively low price tag. While the wheel itself is adequate, the wheelbase is quite light and hollow-feeling, which ultimately makes weighing it down on a flat surface oddly difficult.

The included pedals are broadly similar to the ones included with the Hori Apex; they’re very simple and similarly cheap-feeling. If not for the flip-out footrest, the pedal base would be prone to shifting under your weight.

You’ve got two options for clamping the wheel to a flat surface. A more traditional clamp and screw are included, and these work fine if you’re going to make the wheel part of a more long-term setup.

The five included suction cups, on the other hand, simply don’t get the job done. These lock into place via slots at the bottom of the base and a twist of each is meant to secure them on a flat surface without the use of a clamp. However, they were still extremely slippery and offered little purchase for the surfaces I tested on.

You’re better off opting for the clamp option, then, as I found the suction cups to be practically useless and often dislodged themselves from their slots, despite my best efforts to lock them into place.

Hori Mario Kart Racing Wheel Pro Deluxe: Performance

• Ironically not well-suited for Mario Kart
• Performs adequately on PC via XInput
• On-board buttons are perfectly responsive

If you’re just looking for a good, cheap wheel that gets the job done on PC, then the Hori Mario Kart Racing Wheel Pro Deluxe definitely delivers on that front. The racing experience is by no means incredible - with a complete lack of force feedback and a relatively limited 270-degree turning radius - but it’s still perfectly serviceable.

I tested the wheel out on racing games that are lighter on sim elements like Tokyo Xtreme Racer and Forza Horizon 5, and I found it to be a great fit for them. It does start to show its limitations with more simulation-heavy fare like Assetto Corsa EVO, however, where I found I had to play with a variety of assists turned on to aid with the wheels stripped back performance.

(Image credit: Future)

While competent on PC, then, I can’t really say the same for the wheel’s namesake. It’s just not very well suited to Mario Kart 8 Deluxe on Nintendo Switch. Fortunately, the wheel is compatible with the game out of the box, with no control fiddling necessary. However, the simple act of turning and drifting just didn’t feel right in the fast-paced kart racer. Stacked up against a Nintendo Switch Pro Controller, Hori’s wheel just doesn’t have the quick responsiveness necessary to drive well in 150cc mode.

It is compatible with a wide variety of Switch racing games, though. So, if you own titles like Gear Club Unlimited or Grid Autosport, you might get more mileage out of it as a console wheel with these racers instead.

Should I buy the Hori Mario Kart Racing Wheel Pro Deluxe?

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

You want a cheap wheel that performs decently on PC
If you simply don’t have the budget for a pricier, more feature-rich wheel, you may still want to consider Hori’s wheel as a cheaper alternative given it’s well-suited to sim-lite or arcade style racers.

You’re buying for a younger player
Thanks to the Mario aesthetic and a small feature set that’s easy to get to grips with, this racing wheel is actually a great fit for younger racing game enthusiasts as a first-time purchase.

You’re after a dedicated Switch wheel
Hori’s is one of the very few bespoke Nintendo Switch wheels, with the other notable one being a cheaper version from Hori itself. Out of those two, I’d say this is the one to go for if you can afford it.

Don't buy it if...

You were hoping for a better experience with Mario Kart
Unfortunately, playing Mario Kart 8 Deluxe with Hori’s racing wheel just isn’t very fun, and I found myself swapping back to a more traditional Switch controller after just a handful of cups completed.

Also consider...

If the Hori Mario Kart Racing Wheel Pro Deluxe isn’t quite meeting your expectations or preferences, you may want to consider these alternatives instead.

Thrustmaster T248
An oldie, but a goodie. The T248 is an impressive budget model with solid build quality, good force feedback, a handy on-wheel display, and 900 degrees of rotation making it well-suited to sim racers.

Read our Thrustmaster T248 review

Logitech G920
The best Xbox racing wheel for most people (consider the identical Logitech G923 if you’re on PlayStation), boasts superb build quality, great force feedback, and a range of handy sim features. The pedals can be a little stiff, but it’s nonetheless a great mid-range option for consoles and PC.

Read our Logitech G920 review

How I tested the Hori Mario Kart Racing Wheel Pro Deluxe

• Tested for one week
• Tested across Nintendo Switch and PC
• Played a variety of racing games

I tested the Hori Mario Kart Racing Wheel Pro Deluxe over the course of about a week, getting to grips with the wheel and its included pedals across a wide variety of racing games. I covered racers of all kinds, from arcade-like titles including Tokyo Xtreme Racer and Forza Horizon 5 to more simulation-heavy games like Assetto Corsa EVO and Forza Motorsport. I found it to be a better fit for less realistic racers overall.

I can’t say the same, specifically, for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, and it’s a shame the wheel wasn’t a good fit for its targeted game. It’s no fault of the wheel, really, as the popular kart racer is just not designed with racing wheels in mind. But it’s definitely something to keep in mind if you’re buying for a younger gamer.

Read more about how we test

First reviewed January 2025

Nvidia GeForce RTX 5080: Two-minute review

At first glance, the Nvidia GeForce RTX 5080 doesn't seem like that much of an upgrade from the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 it is replacing, but that's only part of the story with this graphics card.

Its performance, to be clear, is unquestioningly solid, positioning it as the third-best graphics card on the market right now, by my testing, and its new PCIe 5.0 interface and GDDR7 VRAM further distances it from the RTX 4080 and RTX 4080 Super from the last generation. It also outpaces the best AMD graphics card, the AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX, by a healthy margin, pretty much locking up the premium, enthusiast-grade GPUs in Nvidia's corner for at least another generation.

Most impressively, it does this all for the same price as the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 Super and RX 7900 XTX: $999 / £939 / AU$2,019. This is also a rare instance where a graphics card launch price actually recedes from the high watermark set by its predecessor, as the RTX 5080 climbs down from the inflated price of the RTX 4080 when it launched back in 2022 for $1,199 / £1,189 / AU$2,219.

Then, of course, there's the new design of the card, which features a slimmer dual-slot profile, making it easier to fit into your case (even if the card's length remains unchanged). The dual flow-through fan cooling solution does wonders for managing the extra heat generated by the extra 40W TDP, and while the 12VHPWR cable connector is still present, the 3-to-1 8-pin adapter is at least somewhat less ridiculous the RTX 5090's 4-to-1 dongle.

The new card design also repositions the power connector itself to make it less cumbersome to plug a cable into the card, though it does pretty much negate any of the 90-degree angle cables that gained popularity with the high-end RTX 40 series cards.

Finally, everything is built off of TSMC's 4nm N4 process node, making it one of the most cutting-edge GPUs on the market in terms of its architecture. While AMD and Intel will follow suit with their own 4nm GPUs soon (AMD RDNA 4 also uses TSMC's 4nm process node and is due to launch in March), right now, Nvidia is the only game in town for this latest hardware.

None of that would matter though if the card didn't perform, however, but gamers and enthusiasts can rest assured that even without DLSS 4, you're getting a respectable upgrade. It might not have the wow factor of the beefier RTX 5090, but for gaming, creating, and even AI workloads, the Nvidia GeForce RTX 5080 is a spectacular balance of performance, price, and innovation that you won't find anywhere else at this level.

Nvidia GeForce RTX 5080: Price & availability

(Image credit: Future)

• How much is it? MSRP is $999 / £939 / AU$2,019
• When can you get it? The RTX 5080 goes on sale January 30, 2025
• Where is it available? The RTX 5080 will be available in the US, UK, and Australia at launch

Where to buy the RTX 5080

Looking to pick up the RTX 5080? Check out our Where to buy RTX 5080 live blog for updates to find stock in the US and UK

The Nvidia GeForce RTX 5080 goes on sale on January 30, 2025, starting at $999 / £939 / AU$2,019 for the Founders Edition and select AIB partner cards, while overclocked (OC) and more feature-rich third-party cards will be priced higher.

This puts the Nvidia RTX 5080 about $200 / £200 / AU$200 cheaper than the launch price of the last-gen RTX 4080, while also matching the price of the RTX 4080 Super.

Both of those RTX 40 series GPUs should see some downward price pressure as a result of the RTX 5080 release, which might complicate the value proposition of the RTX 5080 over the other,

The RTX 5080 is also launching at the same MSRP as the AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX, which is AMD's top GPU right now. And with AMD confirming that it does not intend to launch an enthusiast-grade RDNA 4 GPU this generation, the RTX 5080's only real competition is from other Nvidia graphics cards like the RTX 4080 Super or RTX 5090.

This makes the RTX 5080 a great value proposition for those looking to buy a premium 4K graphics card, as its price-to-performance ratio is very strong.

• Value: 4 / 5

Nvidia GeForce RTX 5080: Specs & features

(Image credit: Future)

• GDDR7 VRAM and PCIe 5.0
• Still just 16GB VRAM
• Slightly higher 360W TDP

While the Nvidia RTX 5080 doesn't push the spec envelope quite as far as the RTX 5090 does, its spec sheet is still impressive.

For starters, like the RTX 5090, the RTX 5080 uses the faster, next-gen PCIe 5.0 interface that allows for faster data processing and coordination with the CPU, which translates directly into higher performance.

You also have new GDDR7 VRAM in the RTX 5080, only the second card to have it after the RTX 5090, and it dramatically increases the memory bandwidth and speed of the RTX 5080 compared to the RTX 4080 and RTX 4080 Super. Those latter two cards both use slower GDDR6X memory, so even though all three cards have the same amount of memory (16GB) and memory bus-width (256-bit), the RTX 5080 has a >25% faster effective memory speed of 30Gbps, compared to the 23Gbps of the RTX 4080 Super and the 22.4Gbps on the base RTX 4080.

This is all on top of the Blackwell GPU inside the card, which is built on TSMC's 4nm process, compared to the Lovelace GPUs in the RTX 4080 and 4080 Super, which use TSMC's 5nm process. So even though the transistor count on the RTX 5080 is slightly lower than its predecessor's, the smaller transistors are faster and more efficient.

The RTX 5080 also has a higher SM count, 84, compared to the RTX 4080's 76 and the RTX 4080 Super's 80, meaning the RTX 5080 has the commensurate increase in shader cores, ray tracing cores, and Tensor cores. It also has a slightly faster boost clock (2,617MHz) than its predecessor and the 4080 Super variant.

Finally, there is a slight increase in the card's TDP, 360W compared to the RTX 4080 and RTX 4080 Super's 320W.

• Specs & features: 4.5 / 5

Nvidia GeForce RTX 5080: Design

(Image credit: Future)

• Slimmer dual-slot form factor
• Dual flow-through cooling system

The redesign of the Nvidia RTX 5080 is identical to that of the RTX 5090, featuring the same slimmed-down dual slot profile as Nvidia's flagship card.

If I were to guess, the redesign of the RTX 5080 isn't as essential as it is for the RTX 5090, which needed a way to bring better cooling for the much hotter 575W TDP, and the RTX 5080 (and eventually the RTX 5070) just slotted into this new design by default.

That said, it's still a fantastic change, especially as it makes the RTX 5080 thinner and lighter than its predecessor.

(Image credit: Future)

The core of the redesign is the new dual flow-through cooling solution, which uses an innovative three-part PCB inside to open up a gap at the front of the card, allowing a second fan to blow cooler air over the heat sink fins drawing heat away from the GPU.

(Image credit: Future)

This means that you don't need as thick of a heat sink to pull away heat, which allows the card itself to get the same thermal performance from a thinner form factor, moving from the triple-slot RTX 4080 design down to a dual-slot RTX 5080. In practice, this also allows for a slight increase in the card's TDP, giving the card a bit of a performance boost as well, just from implementing a dual flow-through design.

Given that fact, I would not be surprised if other card makers follow suit, and we start getting much slimmer graphics cards as a result.

(Image credit: Future)

The only other design choice of note is the 90-degree turn of the 16-pin power port, which should make it easier to plug the 12VHPWR connector into the card. The RTX 4080 didn't suffer nearly the same kinds of issues with its power connectors as the RTX 4090 did, so this design choice really flows down from engineers trying to fix potential problems with the much more power hungry 5090. But, if you're going to implement it for your flagship card, you might as well put it on all of the Founders Edition cards.

Unfortunately, this redesign means that if you invested in a 90-degree-angled 12VHPWR cable, it won't work on the RTX 5080 Founders Edition, though third-party partner cards will have a lot of different designs, so you should be able to find one that fits your cable situation..

• Design: 4.5 / 5

Nvidia GeForce RTX 5080: Performance

(Image credit: Future)

• Excellent all-around performance
• Moderately more powerful than the RTX 4080 and RTX 4080 Super, but nearly as fast as the RTX 4090 in gaming
• You'll need DLSS 4 to get the best results

A note on my data

The charts shown below are the most recent test data I have for the cards tested for this review and may change over time as more card results are added and cards are retested. The 'average of all cards tested' includes cards not shown in these charts for readability purposes.

A note on the RTX 4080 Super

In my testing for this review, the RTX 4080 Super scored consistently lower than it has in the past, which I believe is an issue with my card specifically that isn't reflective of its actual performance. I'm including the data from the RTX 4080 Super for transparency's sake, but I wouldn't take these numbers as-is. I'll be retesting the RTX 4080 Super soon, and will update my data with new scores once I've troubleshot the issue.

Performance is king, though, and so naturally all the redesign and spec bumps won't amount to much if the RTX 5080 doesn't deliver better performance as a result, and fortunately it does—though maybe not as much as some enthusiasts would like.

Overall, the RTX 5080 manages to score about 13% better than the RTX 4080 and about 19% better than the AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX, a result that will disappoint some (especially after seeing the 20-25% uplift on the RTX 5090) who were hoping for something closer to 20% or better.

If we were just to go off those numbers, some might call them disappointing, regardless of all the other improvements to the RTX 5080 in terms of design and specs. All this needs to be put in a broader context though, because my perspective changed once I compared the RTX 5080 to the RTX 4090.

Overall, the RTX 5080 is within 12% of the overall performance of the RTX 4090, and within 9% of the RTX 4090's gaming performance, which is a hell of a thing and simply can't be ignored, even by enthusiasts.

Starting with the card's synthetic benchmarks, the card scores about 13% better than the RTX 4080 and RX 7900 XTX, with the RTX 5080 consistently beating out the RTX 4080 and substantially beating the RX 7900 XTX in ray-traced workloads (though the RX 7900 XTX does pull down a slightly better average 1080p rasterization score, to its credit.

Compared to the RTX 4090, the RTX 5080 comes in at about 15% slower on average, with its worst performance coming at lower resolutions. At 4K, though, the RTX 5080 comes in just 7% slower than the last-gen flagship.

In terms of compute performance, the RTX 5080 trounces the RX 7900 XTX, as expected, by about 38%, with a more modest 9% improvement over the RTX 4080. Against the RTX 4090, however, the RTX 5080 comes within just 5% of the RTX 4090's Geekbench compute scores. If you're looking for a cheap AI card, the RTX 5080 is definitely going to be your jam.

On the creative side, PugetBench for Creators Adobe Photoshop benchmark still isn't working for the RTX 5080 Super, so I can't tell you much about its creative raster performance yet (though I will update these charts once that issue is fixed), but going off the 3D modeling and video editing scores, the RTX 5080 is an impressive GPU, as expected.

The entire 3D modeling industry is effectively built on Nvidia's CUDA, so against the RTX 5080, the RX 7900 XTX doesn't stand a chance as the 5080 more than doubles the RX 7900 XTX's Blender Benchmark performance. Gen-on-gen though, the RTX 5080 comes in with about 8% better performance.

Against the RTX 4090, the RTX 5080 comes within 15% on its performance, and for good measure, if you're rocking an RTX 3090 and you're curious about the RTX 5080, the RTX 5080 outperforms the RTX 3090 by about 75% in Blender Benchmark. If you're on an RTX 3090 and want to upgrade, you'll probably still be better off with an RTX 4090, but if you can't find one, the RTX 5080 is a great alternative.

In terms of video editing performance, the RTX 5080 doesn't do as well as its predecessor in PugetBench for Creators Adobe Premiere and effectively ties in my Handbrake 4K to 1080p encoding test. I expect that once the RTX 5080 launches, Puget Systems will be able to update its tools for the new RTX 50 series, so these scores will likely change, but for now, it is what it is, and you're not going to see much difference in your video editing workflows with this card over its predecessor.

(Image credit: Future)

The RTX 5080 is Nvidia's premium "gaming" card, though, so its gaming performance is what's going to matter to the vast majority of buyers out there. For that, you won't be disappointed. Working just off DLSS 3 with no frame generation, the RTX 5080 will get you noticeably improved framerates gen-on-gen at 1440p and 4K, with substantially better minimum/1% framerates as well for smoother gameplay. Turn on DLSS 4 with Multi-Frame Generation and the RTX 5080 does even better, blowing well past the RTX 4090 in some titles.

DLSS 4 with Multi-Frame Generation is game developer-dependent, however, so even though this is the flagship gaming feature for this generation of Nvidia GPUs, not every game will feature it. For testing purposes, then, I stick to DLSS 3 without Frame Generation (and the AMD and Intel equivalents, where appropriate), since this allows for a more apples-to-apples comparison between cards.

At 1440p, the RTX 5080 gets about 13% better average fps and minimum/1% fps overall, with up to 18% better ray tracing performance. Turn on DLSS 3 to balanced and ray tracing to its highest settings and the RTX 5080 gets you about 9% better average fps than its predecessor, but a massive 58% higher minimum/1% fps, on average.

Compared to the RTX 4090, the RTX 5080's average 1440p fps comes within 7% of the RTX 4090's, and within 2% of its minimum/1% fps, on average. In native ray-tracing performance, the RTX 5080 slips to within 14% of the RTX 4090's average fps and within 11% of its minimum/1% performance. Turn on balanced upscaling, however, and everything changes, with the RTX 5080 comes within just 6% of the RTX 4090's ray-traced upscaled average fps, and beats the RTX 4090's minimum/1% fps average by almost 40%.

Cranking things up to 4K, and the RTX 5080's lead over the RTX 4080 grows a good bit. With no ray tracing or upscaling, the RTX 5080 gets about 20% faster average fps and minimum/1% fps than the RTX 4080, overall. Its native ray tracing performance is about the same, however, and it's minimum/1% fps average actually falls behind the RTX 4080's, both with and without DLSS 3.

Against the RTX 4090, the RTX 5080 comes within 12% of its average fps and within 8% of its minimum/1% performance without ray tracing or upscaling. It falls behind considerably in native 4K ray tracing performance (which is to be expected, given the substantially higher RT core count for the RTX 4090), but when using DLSS 3, that ray tracing advantage is cut substantially and the RTX 5080 manages to come within 14% of the RTX 4090's average fps, and within 12% of its minimum/1% fps overall.

Taken together, the RTX 5080 makes some major strides in reaching RTX 4090 performance across the board, getting a little more than halfway across their respective performance gap between the RTX 4080 and RTX 4090.

The RTX 5080 beats its predecessor by just over 13% overall, and comes within 12% of the RTX 4090's overal performance, all while costing less than both RTX 40 series card's launch MSRP, making it an incredible value for a premium card to boot.

• Performance: 4 / 5

Should you buy the Nvidia GeForce RTX 5080?

(Image credit: Future) Buy the Nvidia GeForce RTX 5080 if...

You want fantastic performance for the price
You're getting close to RTX 4090 performance for under a grand (or just over two, if you're in Australia) at MSRP.

You want to game at 4K
This card's 4K gaming performance is fantastic, coming within 12-14% of the RTX 4090's in a lot of games.

You're not willing to make the jump to an RTX 5090
The RTX 5090 is an absolute beast of a GPU, but even at its MSRP, it's double the price of the RTX 5080, so you're right to wonder if it's worth making the jump to the next tier up.

Don't buy it if...

You want the absolute best performance possible
The RTX 5080 comes within striking distance of the RTX 4090 in terms of performance, but it doesn't actually get there, much less reaching the vaunted heights of the RTX 5090.

You're looking for something more affordable
At this price, it's an approachable premium graphics card, but it's still a premium GPU, and the RTX 5070 Ti and RTX 5070 are just around the corner.

You only plan on playing at 1440p
While this card is great for 1440p gaming, it's frankly overkill for that resolution. You'll be better off with the RTX 5070 Ti if all you want is 1440p.

Also consider

Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090
With the release of the RTX 5090, the RTX 4090 should see it's price come down quite a bit, and if scalpers drive up the price of the RTX 5080, the RTX 4090 might be a better bet.

Read the full Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 review

Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090
Yes, it's double the price of the RTX 5080, and that's going to be a hard leap for a lot of folks, but if you want the best performance out there, this is it.

Read the full Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 review

How I tested the Nvidia GeForce RTX 5080

• I spent about a week and a half with the RTX 5080
• I used my complete GPU testing suite to analyze the card's performance
• I tested the card in everyday, gaming, creative, and AI workload usage

Test System Specs

Here are the specs on the system I used for testing:

Motherboard: ASRock Z790i Lightning WiFi
CPU: Intel Core i9-14900K
CPU Cooler: Gigabyte Auros Waterforce II 360 ICE
RAM: Corsair Dominator DDR5-6600 (2 x 16GB)
SSD: Crucial T705
PSU: Thermaltake Toughpower PF3 1050W Platinum
Case: Praxis Wetbench

I spent about a week testing the RTX 5080, using my updated suite of benchmarks like Black Myth Wukong, 3DMark Steel Nomad, and more.

I also used this card as my primary work GPU where I relied on it for photo editing and design work, while also testing out a number of games on it like Cyberpunk 2077, Black Myth Wukong, and others.

I've been testing graphics cards for TechRadar for a couple of years now, with more than two dozen GPU reviews under my belt. I've extensively tested and retested all of the graphics cards discussed in this review, so I'm intimately familiar with their performance. This gives me the best possible position to judge the merits of the RTX 5080, and whether it's the best graphics card for your needs and budget.

• Originally reviewed January 2024

Every generation has what they'd consider to be the definitive Spider-Man animated series. From the 60s original and 90s-era Spider-Man to more recent fare like 2008-09's The Spectacular Spider-Man and the ongoing series Spidey and his Amazing Friends, few superheroes have starred in as many animated projects as Marvel's iconic web-slinger.

Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man (YFNSM) is the latest contender for the wallcrawler's best TV show crown. As a big Spidey fan, the first of six Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) TV shows that'll arrive on Disney Plus in 2025 was always going to interest me, regardless of how good or bad it was. Marvel Studios' first animated Spider-Man offering, though, is far better than I expected it to be. It's not as spectacular as last year's universally adored X-Men 97 – and there's one major reason why, which I've dedicated an entire portion of this review to. Nevertheless, it's a largely pleasing reimagining of the legendary superhero's origin story, vast cast of supporting characters, and unmistakable corner of the Marvel universe that most Spider-Man fans will enjoy.

With great power...

Spider-Man's latest animated adventure puts a different spin on the superhero's origin story (Image credit: Marvel Animation/Disney Plus)

Story-wise, you know the drill by now: nerdy high-schooler Peter Parker gets bitten by a radioactive spider, develops superpowers, and vows to protect New York City from criminals (superhuman or otherwise) while dealing with the trials and tribulations of being a teen.

YFNSM, though, puts a somewhat unique spin on Spider-Man's creation. This iteration of Peter Parker (Hudson Thames) gets bitten by an irradiated arachnid that appears to hail from another dimension. Indeed, it arrives in this universe – i.e. one of the MCU's many parallel timelines – via a sling ring portal made by Doctor Strange as he battles a Shathra-inspired symbiote (just two of an immeasurable amount of Marvel cameos and references in this show, FYI). The 'spider from another reality' plot device isn't dissimilar to Miles Morales' superhero origins in Sony's Spider-Verse movies. YFNSM doesn't copy that film series' take on Spider-Man's inception but, spoilers notwithstanding, we don't learn about the spider's origins until the season finale. Even then, it's a semi-original plot twist that some viewers might work out ahead of time.

Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man puts a somewhat unique spin on Spider-Man's creation

YFNSM's setting is vital for the other changes woven into its fabric. It was originally designed as a story that was canon in the MCU, and there are many signs that confirm this. Whether it's the subtle shades of Tom Holland's MCU-based web-slinger in Thames' take on Peter and his superhero alias, or sections of episode 9's climatic fight that mirror the final, fraught set-piece in 2021's Spider-Man: No Way Home, YFNSM was clearly intended to be a Spider-Man: Homecoming prequel show.

For reasons outlined by Marvel's Head of TV and Streaming Brad Winderbaum, though, the decision to reshape it into an MCU-adjacent project means it's not beholden to the journey that Holland's Spidey has gone on so far. And, honestly, it's all the better for it. Unshackled by the MCU's often weighty history, YFNSM has the creative and narrative freedom to simultaneously pay homage to the silver age of Spider-Man comics, and reinvent the stories and characters that defined his early crimefighting years.

Long-time Spider-Man villain Norman Osborn (right) is actually Peter Parker's mentor in YFNSM (Image credit: Marvel Animation/Disney Plus)

Take the remodeled dynamic between Peter and one of his most iconic villains Norman Osborn (the excellent Colman Domingo), for example.

Just as Robert Downey Jr's Tony Stark/Iron Man was to Holland's wallcrawler in the MCU, YFNSM positions Osborn as a role model for Peter to look up to and develop a compelling surrogate father relationship with. Heck, Peter and Norman's initial meeting is a near-perfect recreation of Holland's Peter's MCU introduction in Captain America: Civil War, which is another indicator that YFNSM was originally designed as an MCU TV show.

But back to Peter and Norman. Their dynamic not only becomes a central component of season 1's primary plot but also keeps you guessing about the seemingly duplicitous Osborn's true intentions. Is he using Peter to achieve his own goals, or does he actually want to mentor him? It's a question I constantly asked throughout this season and one I still struggled to fully answer as episode 10's end credits rolled. Nonetheless, it's a mentor-mentee relationship that I'm excited to see more of in YFNSM's already confirmed second and third seasons.

It's a dynamic that not only becomes a central component of the show's first season but also leaves you guessing over Osborn's true intentions

Creative deviations like this help to differentiate YFNSM from other Spider-Man animated shows. Before my fellow webheads start frothing at the mouth, though, I'm happy to report that it doesn't neglect the core essence of what makes Peter Parker such a relatable character.

Indeed, the hallmarks of what makes a great Spider-Man story are not only here, but gratifyingly placed front and center of YFNSM's core narrative and various subplots. This universe's Peter is as wracked by self-doubt, guilt, and internal pressure as other iterations of the character have been, so Spider-Man devotees can rest easy that YFNSM retains the heart and soul of what makes its eponymous hero one of Marvel's most popular and enduring individuals.

YFNSM does a great job of exploring what it's like to be a teen – and all the problems that come along with it (Image credit: Marvel Animation/Disney Plus)

There's an abundance of teen-based melodrama where the series' supporting cast is concerned, too. Like X-Men 97, there's a real soap opera vibe to YFNSM, whose storylines play out across multiple episodes. It also tackles as many hard-hitting topics as its animated sibling and, surprisingly, even takes a page out of X-Men 97's playbook with the thematically dark places it occasionally goes to. Episode 7 is a particularly sinister chapter that suggests YFNSM isn't as family-friendly as it initially looks.

That said, YFNSM doesn't lose sight of being fun. Sure, some of its humor comes across as corny, but that's in keeping with Spidey's eye-rolling and/or smile-raising quips, and Peter's socially awkward demeanor, from the comics. Thames has a great time bringing both aspects to life, too; YFNSM's star imbues his take on Peter and his superpowered alter-ego with a charm and likeability that's not unlike Holland's.

If there's one area of plot-based improvement the Disney Plus show needs to make moving forward, it's exploring the various character dynamics in more detail. Season 1 spends too much time bouncing Peter off of a few too many characters, which doesn't leave room to examine his closest relationships. Indeed, it sacrifices its exploration of these dynamics to give equal billing to a Lonnie Lincoln (Eugene Byrd) led narrative. While it was important to season 1's overarching plot, it could've been trimmed down to accommodate, say, the gratifying odd-couple friendship between Peter and Nico Minoru (Grace Song).

Animation angst

Sections of Marvel's fanbase have reacted negatively to YFNSM's animation style (Image credit: Marvel Studios)

But now to address the elephant in the room: YFNSM's animation style. Responding to fierce fan criticism about its 3D cel-shaded approach, showrunner Jeff Trammell exclusively told me "I love our look – I think it grows on you" but, having watched the entire first season, that's something I can't fully agree with.

Before I get into that, I do want to say its delightfully retro art style, which is heavily inspired by legendary Marvel illustrators Steve Ditko and John Romita Jr, looks fantastic. It really makes certain scenes pop with its bright color palette, ink pen-based shadow gradient, clever use of comic paneling, and the iconic 'Kirby krackle' to evoke the feeling of a "moving comic book", as Trammell has previously claimed. The addition of comic book-style covers that make each episode feel like the next edition of a comic series, plus an ever-evolving intro sequence, are equally wonderful.

Try as I might, though I couldn't move past how visually jarring YFNSM's animation is

Try as I might, though I couldn't get over YFNSM's jarring animation. There's a sluggishness and clunkiness to character movements, such as lip-syncing the dialog to their mouths, that makes it feel like keyframes are missing or weren't factored into the animation process. A perfect example of how ungainly it can be is during a gang-based fight sequence in episode 5. Characters throw punches or duck and dive in such janky fashion that it distracts from what should be an entertaining and high-stakes set piece.

Occasionally, YFNSM's animation is as fluid as its eponymous hero swinging through New York (Image credit: Marvel Animation/Disney plus)

There are times when the animation feels fluid, especially in later episodes when more polish has been applied, but such instances are few and far between. The sad reality is that YFNSM just isn't visually appealing from an animation standpoint. Sony's Spider-Verse movies, including the series' most recent entry Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (one of the best Spider-Man movies, in my view), did an immeasurably better job of creating a "moving comic book" animation style with real panache and verve.

It's not the only issue I had with YFNSM's aesthetic. By design or not, a higher-than-expected number of scenes and sequences feel devoid of life. Whether that's down to static background characters or, in the worst cases, empty backdrops, YFNSM regularly feels uninhabited. Considering it's set in the bustling metropolis that is New York, there's no excuse for its depiction as a periodically abandoned cityscape.

As much as I praised the use of comic book page paneling to help tell the story, it's used less and less as season 1 progresses. Early episodes indicate it'll be a key creative component of the series but, bizarrely, YFNSM adopts an increasingly frugal approach to what could've been one of the show's artistic lynchpins.

My verdict

Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man is a fun-filled, bold, and occasionally menacing reimagining that honors the superhero's 60-years-and-counting legacy. It riffs on classic and more recent moments from all corners of the superhero's multimedia library in a largely satisfying manner. However, I suspect some Spider-Man purists will be irked by what they consider unnecessary creative deviations from his source material.

If YFNSM's animation style wasn't such an eyesore, I would've rated it more highly than I did and, despite my other minor quibbles, strongly argued its case for a spot on our best Disney Plus shows list. I'd still recommend it as a pretty amazing series but, given the problems I've outlined, it's not as spectacular as it could've been.

Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man's first two episodes are out today (January 29). Episodes 3 to 5 arrive on February 5, episodes 6 to 8 air on February 12, and episodes 9 and 10 launch on February 19.

Dreame R20 cordless vacuum: two-minute review

The Dreame R20 is a sterling lightweight compact cordless stick vac that delivers exceptional cleaning performance at a very competitive price. Its exceedingly powerful suction, useful blue light dust detection, superb manoeuvrability and user-friendly design make it a very strong contender against expensive premium brands like Dyson and Miele.

A sub brand of the massive Xiaomi empire, Dreame (pronounced Dreamy) is fast becoming a lead player in the arena of innovative floor cleaning products. Whether it's stick vacs, robot vacs or wet and dry hard floor cleaners, it seems the Chinese company has a product to suit all pockets and applications.

At 2.7 kilos, the R20 also one of the lightest stick vacs currently on the market, and that's not something to be sniffed at. Some of the best cordless vacuums on the market are notoriously heavy in the hand and therefore tiring to use for long periods of time.

Despite one minor anomaly – namely the over-sensitive on/off trigger – the R20 is a joy to use (if vacuuming could every be considered a joy). If you're in the market for a highly accomplished cordless stick vac that costs a fraction of the price of a Dyson and even some Shark models, step right this way. This is one of the very best budget vacuums I've tested. Read on for my full Dreame R20 cordless stick vacuum review.

Dreame R20 review: price & availability

• List price: $449.99 / £279
• Available: UK, US, various other territories (not Australia)

Those living in the US can head straight to the US Dreame store where it has a list price of $449.99, but is currently selling for just $269.99. Amazon also lists the R20 though it's currently unavailable on its website.

If you live in the UK, the list price is £279, discounted (very slightly!) to £259 when shopping direct at the UK Dreame store. Alternatively, it's stocked at a range of third party retailers, including Amazon, Currys and B&Q.

Incidentally, the Dreame website lists 27 countries in all – including most European territories – so head there if you have trouble sourcing this product in your country. Although Dreame does have a presence in Australia, the R20 isn't currently available there.

In the US and UK, the Dreame R20 sits near the bottom of the mid-range price bracket, and offers excellent value for that price, competing exceedingly well with premium brands like Dyson and Miele in terms of features and performance. In fact, it's become my new favourite vac, beating the excellent Halo Capsule X for size and storability and the Dyson Gen5detect for price and weight. It also ships with a wide range of accessories, including a short bendy suction tube for reaching deep under beds and sofas.

• Value for money score: 5 out of 5

Dreame R20 cordless vacuum specs Dreame R20 review: design

• Compact cordless, bagless stick vacuum
• Light in the hand and very easy to maneuver
• Overly sensitive power trigger, easily accidentally activated

Although I've only reviewed two Dreame products to date – this mid-size cordless stick and the excellent Dreame L40 Ultra robot vac and mop – I have to say that I'm suitably impressed by what I've seen so far, at least when compared to some of the competition.

This model arrived in a larger box than the norm but that's only because it ships with a multitude of attachments, including two main floorheads for hard floor and carpet, a mini motorized head for upholstery and carpeted staircases, a ridiculously lightweight carbon fibre suction tube, a short Shark-like articulating suction tube that bends forwards 90 degrees for reaching under beds and sofas, plus the obligatory crevice tool with pull-down brush for cleaning hard-to-reach areas and along skirting boards and, to top it all off, a rectangular dusting brush for shelves and around the fireplace.

(Image credit: Future)

It also came with a Dyson-style wall-mounted charger that is thankfully far less fiddly to fit, and a power plug that looks identical to those provided by Dyson. A lot of Dyson-esque stuff, in other words. (See how it compares to those brands' top offerings in TechRadar's guides to the best Shark vacuums and the best Dyson vacuums.)

The Dreame R20 weighs in at 6 lbs / 2.7kg – almost a kilo lighter than my (admittedly very weighty) Dyson Gen5detect, and 26g lighter than the comparable Dyson V15 Detect. I put much of this lower weight down to the R20's featherweight carbon fibre suction tube (a paltry 205g against the Dyson Gen5's 387g) and the smaller size of its handheld motor and bin housing. Believe me, you'll come to appreciate this model's lower weight when it comes to a full clean of the home; it not only makes the R20 easy to push but also just as easy to carry from room to room, and especially up a flight of stairs.

(Image credit: Future)

The Dreame R20 wins no awards for unique design innovation since it adopts the same motor housing and bin configuration as the vast majority of other manufacturers, Dyson notwithstanding. Nevertheless, the hand unit feels comfortable enough to hold when being used, though the jury's out on the position and sensitively of the on/off trigger. It's not a major bind but I found that my index finger inadvertently set it off when carrying it from one part of a room to another.

I'm also not too enamored with the flat finger guard below the trigger, which feels a bit uncomfortable at times. There is, thankfully, a little button on the rear of the housing that engages the motor for continual running but even this handy feature is spoiled by the fact that you need to hover the index finger above the trigger or you might mistakenly turn it off again. In truth I'd prefer to have seen a system like that used on some of Dyson's most recent products where there's a single on/off button on the rear and no trigger whatsoever.

(Image credit: Future)

While we're discussing the hand unit, I should also mention the cute little elliptically-shaped LCD interface on the back. This provides battery information in percentage terms and a pretty butterfly icon that indicates which suction mode is in use.

There are two main modes – Standard (which lights up green) and Boost (which shows up blue/white). You can switch between the two manually by simply tapping a small button just below the rear interface. However, the vacuum also contains sensors that mean it'll automatically ramp up from Standard to Boost mode if there's a lot of dust about. This works really well – I used the vacuum to sweep my fire log shelf and it switched in and out of Boost on a regular basis. There's also a supercharged mode for when the sensor detects a really filthy section (the butterfly icon turns red for this).

Most modern stick vacuums will have a low-powered mode to extend the battery life when dealing with light cleaning tasks, but that's missing here. However, runtimes are still exceptional (more on this in the Battery section).

(Image credit: Future)

Before we look at the floorhead setup, let's take a tour of the R20's bagless dust bin. The bin itself has a 0.6-litre capacity which is about 0.2-liters less than much of the competition. This means the bin will fill faster and perhaps require an extra trip to the dustbin to empty it, especially if you have a household of shedding pets. It also means that this model may not be suitable for a larger house, unless you have one on every floor.

Like a lot of stick vacs, the R20's bin-emptying system is a basic affair comprising a simple latch that opens the bottom flap to eject the debris. When it's full of general detritus like dust, crumbs and the like, this system works perfectly well. But when it's full of mostly pet hair you will almost certainly need to reach into the canister with your fingers or tweezers to extricate the clumps. This isn't a slight on the product, mind, because it's the method used by the vast majority of vacuum manufacturers – an exception being Dyson. Besides, pet hair is one of the most obstreperous forms of debris found in the home and the nemesis of most vacuum cleaners.

One of the R20's standout features is its exceptional suction power. Equipped with a 190 Air Watt motor, it effortlessly tackles dust, debris, pet hair and even larger particles like puffer rice cereal and biscuit crumbs on both hard floors and carpets. However, the motor does produce an annoying high-pitched whine in both power settings.

It's not the worst I've ever heard and you'll soon get used to it, but it's also a bit of an irritant when vacuuming with someone else in the room. Dreame lists it at 85dB but I measured a more reasonable 75.4dB in Boost mode at head height.

In terms of filtration, the blurb says the R20 has a five-stage filtration system that supposedly deals with 99.9% of particles. All I can say is that it does indeed seem to effectively trap dust and allergens, ensuring cleaner air in the home. Cleaning the filter is a doddle and simply involves pressing a latch and removing the main cyclone housing, which you then rinse under a tap along with its small circular cloth filter. Just be sure that both parts are thoroughly dry before refitting, or you'll end up with a vacuum cleaner that smells.

(Image credit: Future)

Okay, let's get down to floor level and the business end of this model. The Dreame R20 ships with two main floorheads: a motorised 22.5cm roller fitted with hard plastic ribs and two curvy bristle brushes that's been designed for carpet use; and a 21.5cm bristle-coated head for hard floors. The ribbed head can also be used on hard floors if you can't be bothered to keep swapping heads though I have to say that the hard floor-specific roller is more efficient on wooden and tile flooring. And besides, it buffs up the flooring in the process. Both heads swivel at a near 90-degree angle for Dyson-like manoeuvrability.

Like many modern stick vacs, this model's carpet floorhead is also fitted with two bright blue LEDs that project onto the floor, illuminating hidden dust and debris that might otherwise go unnoticed. No, it's not as effective as Dyson's innovative laser light system but it's arguably better than much of the remaining competition.

(Image credit: Future)

Overall construction of the R20 seems very good, and the smooth shiny plastics used appear to be very robust, too. I especially like the look and feel of the carbon fibre suction tube, which adds a touch of class while dramatically reducing the weight of the whole package. However, I'm not sure the carbon tube would survive the weight of a misjudged foot were the unit lying on the floor – let's just say that it has a little more flex in it than I would expect from carbon fibre. At least I'm presuming it's authentic carbon fibre, given that it's mentioned on the Dreame website.

• Design score: 4.5 out of 5

Dreame R20 review: performance

• Excellent suction performance on hard floor and carpet
• Superb manoeuvrability
• Light in weight

On test, the Dreame R20 delivered exceptional suction power for its compact size and I've been extremely impressed by its floorheads' ability to steer around chair legs and swivel at almost 90 so they can reach into the tightest of spaces. Top marks in this respect.

However, the high suction combined with the design of the main carpet-specific floorhead means that it's difficult to push the R20 on medium- and deep-pile carpet. I really needed to put my shoulder into it – a bit of a workout, in other words. But wait, I lie, because I subsequently found a small, almost invisible sliding air intake that improved carpet resistance immeasurably without affecting the R20's cleaning power. Just wish Dreame hadn't disguised it so well.

This model generally feels remarkably light in use and it's amazingly manoeuvrable – as easy to steer as any Dyson I've tested, I'd say. The flexible hose attachment further enhances its versatility, allowing for convenient cleaning under furniture and beds.

For my tests I stuck to the usual TechRadar remit and scattered a mixture of oats, flour and crushed digestives on both my wooden kitchen floor and medium-pile rug. I also scattered some Coco Pops for good measure (no, I haven't grown up yet).

I was frankly blown away by the R20's performance in the hard floor test because, as soon as its 'intelligent dirt detection' system kicked in, the motor ramped up to Boost and everything disappeared up the tube and into the bin, leaving a clear path with zero evidence of any flour remaining in the wooden floor's grooves. Yes, it scattered a couple of pieces of rice cereal up against the skirting board, but I simply aimed the front end at them and they were easily snatched by the fast revolving bristle head. Top marks again.

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I then performed the same task on my pet hair-strewn medium pile carpet rug and it sailed through the test collecting almost every last scrap in a single pass. Again, it flung some large biscuit crumbs and a few Coco Pops to the fore but these were easily collected with a second pass.

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I was also amazed at the huge volume of dog and cat hair it collected at the same time with no evidence of tangles on the floorhead. And that just goes to prove that this model handles pet hair with aplomb – I'd rate it amongst the best vacuum cleaners for pet hair. However, you may need to visit the kitchen dust bin more often because, as mentioned above, the R20's 0.6-litre dust container is a bit smaller than many of its competitors.

I had zero issues using the controls other than accidentally pressing the trigger when carrying it. In fact, I found this one to be one of the easiest interfaces I've used. I also liked the way the digital display provided real-time feedback on both battery life and colourful info relating to its intelligent dirt detection.

I also gave it a whizz in handheld mode, using the long suction tube and rectangular detail brush to sweep the shelves, and it didn't feel too heavy in the hand. I also gave the mini motorized upholstery attachment a whirl on the dogs' bed; it worked a treat though I did need to apply some vigorous back and forth movements.

My final thoughts? As close to full marks as you can get, especially given the generally low asking price. Yes, I might suggest a model with a larger bin if being used in a three story house but for everyone else, the Dreame R20 will suffice just fine.

• Performance score: 4.5 out of 5

Dreame R20 review: battery life

• Maximum runtime is 90 minutes (well above average)
• Expect shorter runtimes if the floor is dirty
• Recharge is also fast, at around 2 hours

According to the manufacturer, the R20’s maximum running time is a well-above-average 90 minutes. I suspect this figure applies more to laboratory conditions than the real world, but it's still incredibly impressive. To put that in context, most cordless stick vacuums offer 40 minutes to an hour, and prior to testing this model, the longest maximum battery life I'd seen was offered by the far more expensive Dyson Gen5detect, with up to 70 minutes.

In my hard floor test I managed to eke 84 minutes out of the battery in standard mode with no automatic boost kicking in (I started by vacuuming, then propped the vacuum up with suction lock on, and timed how long the R20 lasted before running out of juice).

If used to clean for the whole time, I suspect the runtime would be closer 75 minutes if used on a dusty hard floor and quite a lot less (between 45 and 60 minutes) when used on medium-pile carpet, which adds much more friction to the roller brushes. To be honest, I don’t know anyone capable of vacuuming for more than 40 minutes in any one session without an arm falling off, so these figures are more than sufficient in my opinion. Since the battery is removable, you could also purchase a spare to swap in, if you need even longer than that.

At this juncture I should also point out that the juice-hungry Boost mode is almost too powerful for use in any scenario other than cleaning hard-to-reach areas of the car because the battery percentage drops by almost one percentage point every five seconds or so. And that means Boost mode won’t get you much more than about seven minutes of use out of it. (It's not unusual for a vacuum's maximum suction mode to bleed the battery very quickly.)

• Battery life score: 5 out of 5

Should you buy the Dreame R20? Buy it if...

You want to be able to clean for a long time

The R20 offers up to 90 minutes of cleaning on a single charge, which is the longest battery life we've found anywhere and long cleaning sessions. Recharge times are fast, too.

You have a lot of pet hair

In my tests, the R20 effortlessly tackled the large volumes of pet hair from my dogs.

You want something light

Clocking in at 6 lbs / 2.7kg, this vac is lighter than much of the competition, and won't tire you out when using it for long periods.

Don't buy it if...

You're dealing with large volumes of dirt

This model has a relatively small dust cup, which means those with larger homes might find themselves having to empty it more often than they'd like.

You want an easy-empty option

This vac has the same empty mechanism you'll find on the vast majority of vacuums – i.e. one that requires a little bit of manual help, especially when filled with pet hair. The system on most Dyson vacuums (V10 and newer) is more efficient, or if you don't want to be bothered with it at all, Shark's newest flagship models – the PowerDetect Cordless and Detect Pro Cordless – have a compatible dock with a large dustbin, that not only charges the vacuum but also empties the small onboard bin.

How I tested the Dreame R20 cordless vacuum

TechRadar adopts a strict testing regime for all its products so potential buyers know exactly what they're getting. As usual I stuck to the remit and lived with the machine for a couple of weeks before putting it through some rigorous carpet and hard floor tests using a variety of obstreperous ingredients, including flour and raw oats. I also considered the unit's ergonomics, overall design and experience of using it before alighting on my final verdict.

Read more about how we test vacuum cleaners

• First reviewed January 2025

Less Annoying CRM is a straightforward platform designed with simplicity in mind, making it one of the best CRM platforms for small businesses and solo entrepreneurs. It was founded in 2009 by two brothers, who focused on making it as easy to use as possible - or in other words ‘less annoying’ than other platforms on the market.

The platform keeps things simple with a single-tier pricing plan: $15 per user, per month. You get all the features, no surprises or extras to buy. You'll find essentials like contact management, task tracking, and pipeline visualization — just the basics without overloading you.

It's not the most advanced CRM out there, but a user-friendly interface and great customer support make up for it. The company clearly prioritizes small businesses, from its product design to its business practices, making it a great fit for those seeking a hassle-free CRM.

Less Annoying CRM: Core capabilities

Less Annoying CRM provides a straightforward approach to customer relationship management, emphasizing essential features without adding unnecessary complexity. The contact management interface is user-friendly, making it easy to add custom fields to meet specific business needs.

The platform integrates leads within its pipeline management feature, helping users track them from initial contact to final sale, offering a visual representation of the sales process. During my testing, I found the pipeline view clear and easy to understand. However, the customization options for the pipeline are limited compared to more advanced CRM solutions, which may be a drawback for businesses with complex sales processes. If advanced features are what you need, I recommend checking out out Salesforce CRM review for a complete CRM platform, or our HubSpot CRM review for a free option.

Less Annoying CRM also includes basic sales forecasting and reporting tools. Users can create simple reports on pipeline status and sales performance, but it lacks the advanced analytics and predictive features present in some enterprise CRMs. For small businesses and solopreneurs, this level of reporting might suffice, but those needing deeper data analysis may find it lacking.

Less Annoying CRM's cloud-based platform is accessible from any device with internet access, removing the need for separate mobile apps. I found the mobile interface responsive and easy to navigate, allowing quick updates and access to customer information while on the go. However, there are no downloadable apps for iOS or Android.

I liked how Less Annoying CRM handles task management and calendar integration. It sends daily email digests with upcoming tasks and events, but syncing with Google Calendar and Outlook turns the CRM into a central hub for managing customer interactions and personal schedules.

Email integration is another core capability that Less Annoying CRM manages well. Users can BCC a unique email address to automatically log correspondence with contacts in the CRM. This simplifies keeping communication records current without needing manual data entry after each interaction.

While it covers the basics of contact management, lead tracking, and simple reporting, Less Annoying CRM lacks some advanced features of larger CRM systems. For example, it does not have built-in marketing automation tools or extensive third-party integrations.

The platform balances flexibility and simplicity in customization. Users can add custom fields and adjust pipelines to some degree, but the options are not as extensive as those of more complex systems. This level of customization is likely adequate for many small businesses, but those with specific or evolving needs might feel restricted.

For security-conscious users, Less Annoying CRM offers 256-bit encryption following industry best practices. While this provides a solid data protection foundation, businesses in regulated industries should further evaluate whether these security measures meet their compliance requirements.

How easy it Less Annoying CRM to use?

Less Annoying CRM lives up to its name with a user interface focused on simplicity and easy navigation, making a one of the best CRM for small businesses. Upon logging in, I noticed the clean design that presents key information without overwhelming users. The main dashboard gives a quick view of upcoming tasks, recent activities, and pipeline status, allowing easy access to essential data without sifting through multiple menus.

The interface has a logical layout, with clearly labeled tabs for contacts, calendar, tasks, and settings. During my testing, I found most features within a few clicks, showcasing the thoughtful design. The muted yet professional color scheme creates a distraction-free environment for users to concentrate on their work.

Less Annoying CRM 's web-based platform adapts well to different screen sizes and devices, allowing users to access data from desktops, laptops, tablets, or smartphones. However, I noticed that advanced accessibility features like screen reader optimization or high-contrast modes are not present, suggesting room for improvement.

Customization options in Less Annoying CRM balance flexibility with simplicity. Users can add custom fields to contacts and companies for tailored data collection. Creating custom pipelines is also straightforward, easier than in some complex CRM systems. While this level of customization suits many small businesses, those needing specialized workflows might find options somewhat limited.

Onboarding resources are a strong point for Less Annoying CRM. The platform offers a comprehensive help center with detailed articles and video tutorials on various system aspects. These resources are well-organized and easy to follow. The company provides free phone and email support to all users, including trial users, which is helpful for small businesses without dedicated tech support.

An intuitive design and focused features contribute to a fast learning process. In fact, I was able to navigate core functions of the CRM comfortably within a couple of hours. For most small business users, I estimate full proficiency can be achieved within a few days to a week of regular use, depending on specific needs.

But while the simplicity of Less Annoying CRM is a strength for many, some users may see it as a limitation. Those used to more feature-rich CRM systems might find the streamlined interface lacking advanced functionalities. However, this simplicity is intentional and aligns with the platform’s goal of providing an easy-to-use solution for small businesses.

Less Annoying CRM integrations

Less Annoying CRM offers a small number of integrations, however through Zapier you can unlock many more. (Image credit: Less Annoying CRM )

Less Annoying CRM provides a limited selection of integrations to meet essential business needs, falling short of larger CRM platforms. It offers a few pre-built integrations focusing on key functionalities like email syncing, calendar management, and data import/export. But my evaluation showed that these native integrations cover basic requirements for most SMBs.

But, Less Annoying CRM's integration with Zapier significantly enhances possibilities, allowing users to link it with thousands of other applications. I found creating Zaps to be easy, enabling automated workflows with tools I frequently use.

For advanced users and developers, Less Annoying CRM offers an API for custom integration and data synchronization with third-party applications. API documentation is thorough and well-structured, providing detailed explanations and examples for different endpoints. I appreciated the inclusion of OAuth 2.0 support, which improves security for API integrations.

In terms of reliability and performance, Less Annoying CRM shows a commitment to high data management standards. During my testing, I found data synchronization to be consistent and timely, with no noticeable delays or discrepancies. The company also utilizes "Uptime Robot" to monitor their site and quickly resolve downtime issues.

Less Annoying CRM’s integration options are adequate for many small businesses, but those seeking a broader range of pre-built connectors might find the selection limited. Ironically, the focus may lead some users to rely more on Zapier or custom API integrations to connect with their complete suite of business tools, increasing complexity.

While the help center provides basic information, I also found myself wanting more detailed guides and best practices for setting up and maintaining connections with other software. Some additional information could be particularly useful for users new to integrating various business applications.

How good is Less Annoying CRM customer support?

Less Annoying CRM is known for its strong customer support. The company provides two main support channels: email and phone, available from 9 am to 4:30 pm US Central Time, Monday to Friday. While this schedule may not suit all time zones or after-hours needs, it covers standard business hours for many small business clients.

I personally found email support to be prompt and helpful. Phone support offers immediate help for urgent matters. However, Less Annoying CRM currently does not provide live chat support, which could be a drawback for those who prefer instant messaging for quick questions.

Self-service resources include a help center, which is thorough and well-organized, with numerous articles and guides on various platform features. During my search, I found the search function effective, quickly guiding me to information. There's also video tutorials, which are especially beneficial for visual learners or those who like step-by-step instructions.

I liked that customer support is entirely free, even for trial users. Less Annoying CRM's commitment to accessible assistance aligns well with the companies goal of being user-friendly. It's a refreshing change in an industry where premium support usually incurs extra costs.

While it does not publicly share specific response and resolution times, user testimonials suggest that email responses are generally quick, often within a few hours. Resolution times may vary based on issue complexity, but the support team appears focused on providing timely solutions.

A key limitation is that customer support is currently available only in English during CST working hours. This could be a significant issue for users from different locations and cultures. As the company grows, addressing this gap would be a big help when expanding to international markets.

Less Annoying CRM plans and pricing

Less Annoying CRM offers one price, making a picking a plan incredibly simple. (Image credit: Less Annoying CRM )

Less Annoying CRM truly reflects its name with a clear pricing model that stands out in the complicated CRM landscape. The company offers one all-inclusive plan priced at $15 per user per month, billed monthly. This straightforward approach removes the hassle of navigating multiple tiers or understanding feature limitations, a refreshing change compared to many competitors.

The $15 plan grants full access to all features of Less Annoying CRM. This includes unlimited contacts, custom fields, pipelines, and a full suite of tools like contact management, lead tracking, task management, and reporting. I appreciated the absence of hidden fees; the advertised price is exactly what you pay.

A big advantage of using Less Annoying CRM is that there are no long-term contracts. Users can cancel anytime without penalties, providing flexibility for businesses with changing needs or those wanting to test the service without commitment. The month-to-month billing suits small businesses and startups wary of lengthy agreements.

Less Annoying CRM offers a 30-day free trial. Longer than the typical 14-day trials from many competitors, the extended period allows potential users to thoroughly evaluate the platform before committing to a paid subscription. The trial is fully functional, with no feature restrictions, offering a genuine experience of the paid version.

The company does not publicly advertise discounts or bundles. But for businesses planning to have more than 10 users, they offer personalized assistance to discuss needs and possibly arrange custom plans.

Priced at $15 per user per month, Less Annoying CRM is more affordable than many feature-rich enterprise solutions while offering more functionality than most free CRMs. The inclusion of unlimited contacts and storage at this price point is especially noteworthy, as many competitors charge extra for higher limits.

Less Annoying CRM: Verdict

Less Annoying CRM truly lives up to its name by providing a simple and user-friendly solution designed for small businesses. I found its simplicity to be its strongest asset, offering essential features without the complications of larger systems.

The platform features an easy-to-navigate interface, clear pricing, and responsive customer support, making it appealing for businesses wanting a straightforward approach to customer relationship management. While it may not include some advanced functions typical of enterprise CRMs, Less Annoying CRM delivers core features in an easy-to-understand way.

I think Less Annoying CRM is ideal for small businesses, startups, and individual entrepreneurs who value ease of use and cost over extensive customization and detailed analytics. Its clear approach to contact management, pipeline tracking, and task organization allows users to quickly adopt a CRM system without a difficult learning curve or hefty financial commitment.

Tribit Stormbox Blast 2 review: two-minute review

The Tribit Stormbox Blast 2 is a true bass-heavy behemoth. This is the sequel to Tribit’s massively successful boombox speaker that won plenty of plaudits here at TechRadar (and beyond). But this speaker is much more than just a refined version of its predecessor, packing in a new, curved design and even karaoke functionality.

Let’s run through a few new sparkly additions and upgrades here. Yes, you’re getting karaoke, with dual-wireless or wired mic support, as well as built-in volume and reverb controls. On top of that, the Tribit Stormbox Blast 2 has an improved IP67 dustproof and waterproof rating, meaning it's suitable for almost any environment, from beachside to pool party. That’s not to mention you also get Bluetooth 5.4 connectivity and incredible 200W power output this time around.

But let’s drill down into the most important area – sound. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the Tribit Stormbox Blast 2 is another hit in the audio department, supplying controlled, earth-shaking bass that even beats out many of the best Bluetooth speakers. And thunderous bass is certainly the main attraction here, with an XBass option available if you want to go crazy with low-end output, maybe excessively so.

All-round audio quality is strong too; you’ll be able to hear individual instrumental elements clearly, with commendable levels of separation. You may find that the soundstage can get a touch cluttered at the highest of volumes, but otherwise, you’ll be in for an enthralling, bass-heavy listen, ideal for parties or outdoor events.

Even running on battery power, this speaker has double the output power of its predecessor, the Tribit Stormbox Blast, meaning you’ll get some serious volume. For those who crave more power, or perhaps want left/right channel stereo separation, you can pair a second model up to this speaker, too. And there are a bunch of other excellent features accessible via the Tribit app, including broad EQ options and LED light customization.

Speaking of the Stormbox Blast 2’s lights, they’re a tad classier in this iteration, but similarly illuminate the speaker’s drivers and edges. The overall look of this speaker is certainly an improvement on its predecessor, though, thanks to a curvier look – it’s not quite as blocky or clumsy looking in my view. But something that’s going to be divisive here is this speaker’s hefty nature. It’s a whopping 19.2lbs / 8.7kg, meaning it’s even weightier than the already heavy Stormbox Blast – an achievement in itself.

But there are some more practical elements to its design, including a USB-A port for charging external devices, the choice to charge with an AC adapter or USB-C cable and an incredible 30 hour battery life. There’s no voice assistant once more, meaning you won’t be able to bark orders or take calls hands free and there’s no option to connect over Wi-Fi either – perhaps to be expected at this price point – but overall, this is a well-designed speaker with plenty of nifty features to keep you entertained.

So, then, is the Tribit Stormbox Blast 2 worth its $299 / £257 (about AU$490) price tag? I’d say so. The true highlight is its excellent bass output, which is perfect for elevating the atmosphere at a house party or similar setting. It's a heavy beast and audio quality takes a bit of a dip at top volumes, but these issues aren’t dealbreakers as far as I’m concerned. In terms of value, it’s hard to look past the original Tribit Stormbox Blast, which you can grab for around $150 / £150 on sale, but if you want the additional power and karaoke functionality, I can certainly recommend the Tribit Stormbox Blast 2.

(Image credit: Future) Tribit Stormbox Blast 2 review: price and release date

• $299.99 / £257 (about AU$490)
• Launched in October 2024

The Tribit Stormbox Blast 2 was released in October 2024 and carries a list price of $299.99 / £257 (about AU$490). However, I’ve already spotted it going for a little bit less. For instance, at the time of writing, the Stormbox Blast 2 is on sale for less than $240, so it’s worth keeping an eye out for price cuts.

At the $200-$300 range, the Stormbox Blast 2 is something of a mid-range option. It’s certainly not the cheapest Bluetooth speaker out there – the Anker Soundcore Boom 2, for instance – is often available for less than $100 / £100. But some similarly sized speakers can set you back significantly further. Take the JBL Boombox 3, for example, which commands a high list price of $499.95 / £373.

Tribit Stormbox Blast 2 review: specs Tribit Stormbox Blast 2 review: features

• Microphone ports
• Generous 30 hour battery life
• Customizable lights

There’s a lot to like when it comes to features on the Tribit Stormbox Blast 2. A lot of that comes down to the easy-to-use Tribit app, which opens the door to a bunch of options. For instance, there are a bunch of EQ presets: including XBass (which can be activated on the speaker) and genre specific options like Jazz or Rock. There’s also an X-3D preset for those seeking out more expansive, spatial audio. If you’d rather curate your own sound, you can save multiple personalized EQ calibrations and use a five-band equalizer to get your preferred tuning.

In addition, you can customize the lights on the Stormbox Blast 2 and set up three personalized looks. You can adjust which lights illuminate – including the side lights, light bars or middle light, which colors appear, brightness and whether they’ll flash to the rhythm of bass, treble or bass and treble. Alternatively, you can turn them off altogether if you’re hoping to save battery or want a more low-key listening sesh.

Speaking of battery, you get plenty here. You can expect as much as 30 hours of playtime if you listen at 50% volume with XBass and lights switched off. That will be more than enough to keep the party running into the early hours. In addition, this speaker can function as a power bank thanks to a USB-A output port. There’s a USB-C port for charging too, but it will take 12 hours to get to 100% using this, instead of the far superior 5 hours required when AC charging.

All of this is good and well, but there’s an elephant in the room here. Yes, that’s right, the Tribit Stormbox Blast 2 can double up as a karaoke machine. You can connect two microphones up with the 6.35mm wired ports, or just go wireless if you really want to show off. You can adjust volume and add reverb with built-in controls too. It’s worth noting, however, that there were no microphones to be found in the box here – you’ll need to purchase them yourself, separately.

There’s even more on offer with the Stormbox Blast 2 – an AUX port for wired listening, nice and up-to-date Bluetooth 5.4 connectivity and voice prompt options. Really, there’s not much I can criticize here. Tribit has again opted to exclude voice assistant compatibility with this model, which would be a nice-to-have feature at the least. And maybe I’d prefer the USB out port to be upgraded to USB-C for speedier external charging. But otherwise I was delighted with what the Stormbox Blast 2 had to offer. No moaning session required.

• Features score: 4.5/5

(Image credit: Future) Tribit Stormbox Blast 2 review: sound quality

• Booming bass output
• Decently clear mids and controlled highs
• Not quite distortion-free at high volumes

As soon as I turned this giant of a speaker on, there was one thing that struck me instantaneously: gigantic bass, which hit with ground-shaking impact. Now, in part, that’s because the XBass feature – for enhanced low-end output – was on by default. I opted to switch this off to start with, however, so I could get a slightly more balanced sound out of the Stormbox Blast 2. And sure enough, I kept this speaker in the XBass Off EQ preset for the majority of testing, as it provided a huge helping of bass without overshadowing other sonic elements.

I started my testing by listening to Diamonds On the Soles of Her Shoes by Paul Simon and the bass thump was extremely rhythmic and deep. However, vocals were still nicely defined in the mix and the looping guitar riff running throughout had a pleasing degree of subtlety. Similarly, when tuning into Disco Ulysses by Vulfpeck, I found the decay of snare hits to be agile and the tone of the choppy electric guitar to be accurate at mid-volumes. The commanding, groovy bassline was deliciously deep and high-pitched piano trills were separated nicely, making for a surprisingly nuanced, cohesive and straight up enjoyable listen.

Despite offering solid all-round audio, it really is about bass with this speaker. I could make out every deep, dark note in The Boys Are Back In Town by Yung Gravy – something that a lot of cheaper competitors won’t be able to accomplish. And with XBass on, the imposing boom of the track’s sub-bass was mesmerizing – still, I’d recommend using this feature sparingly as it’s very bass dominant.

More generally, you’ll struggle to find a similarly-sized competitor that can outdo the Stormbox Blast 2 in the bass department, but I tried putting it side-by-side with the Earfun UBoom X for comparison. I sifted through a ton of House tracks, such as Relentless by Grant Nelson, but the UBoom X was no match for the Stormbox Blast 2, which had more controlled, deep low-end output, as well as better overall balance. Specifically, percussion and intermittent vocals were slightly muffled with the UBoom X, with its domineering bass taking all of the limelight, whereas the Stormbox Blast 2 offered more adept separation, despite maintaining well-needed emphasis on the low-end.

You won’t experience perfect audio output with the Tribit Stormbox Blast 2, however. At high volumes, clarity can take a slight dip. For instance, I listened to I Want You by Moloko – which had intoxicatingly deep bass and breathy vocals when listening at low-medium volumes, but when I cranked things all the way up to 90-100%, the soundstage got a little bit bloated, with sounds in the mid-range and low-end getting slightly muddied. I didn’t experience tinny or abrasive audio, however, not to mention the fact that this speaker gets extremely loud, meaning you’ll rarely listen with volume turned up this high.

Given its not-so-budget price, some may also hope to find ‘hi-res’ audio codec here, such as LDAC for Android users. However, there’s no such thing available with the Stormbox Blast 2, which only supports SBC – not even AAC. Don’t let that put you off, though, as plenty of budget audio tech includes fancy codecs, but with little to show in terms of quality.

This Bluetooth speaker combines an 80W subwoofer with dual 45W mid-range drivers and 15W tweeters. That means you’ll be able to get a maximum power output of 200W here, that’s if you’re using it while connected to a power source – otherwise you’ll get 180W. Either way – it gets loud, really loud. So much so, that you almost certainly won’t need to double up for added volume – though pairing to a second model is handy for those seeking out stereo sound.

Ultimately, this is intended to be a party speaker and it serves that purpose incredibly well. You get ground-shaking, yet well-regimented bass and enough loudness to send your neighbors into a frenzy. And although you won’t get the most detailed listen in the world, especially at top volumes, that’s a pretty small sacrifice to make for the boom that will bless your eardrums.

• Sound quality score: 4.5/5

(Image credit: Future) Tribit Stormbox Blast 2 review: design

• Still chunky, but more curved this time around
• Lights look classier too
• IP67 rated

When we reviewed the original Tribit Stormbox Blast, design appeared to be its Achilles heel. Why? Well, our reviewer wasn’t a huge fan of the in-your-face LED lights or chunky build – fair enough. So, does the Stormbox Blast 2 make up for such shortcomings? Well, sort of.

The LED lights haven’t disappeared, but I’d argue that they look a bit classier this time around. The side bars go for a smoother look, rather than LED strips reminiscent of health bars. And generally, the lights illuminate this speaker’s drivers nicely while syncing up to audio output, making for a more immersive, exciting listening experience. If you still aren’t a massive fan, you can turn them off and save yourself some battery life – win-win, right?

As far as build goes, this is still a very hefty and, admittedly, fairly plasticky speaker. It’s not got the most gorgeous looks to its black casing and has a decently chunky handle once more, perhaps to be expected given its weight. However, this time around, you’re getting a smoother design overall. The speaker has a more curved look, making it far sleeker than its predecessor. The bass radiators still don’t go crazy, unlike those on the JBL Xtreme 4 for instance, but they do rumble when things get bassy.

So, you do get an upgrade in the looks department, but you also get a highly practical product. The Stormbox Blast 2 is a step-up on its IPX7 predecessor – this one’s IP67-rated, meaning it now has a high dustproof rating and can compete with some of the best waterproof speakers. That makes it a great candidate for beach-side listening, for instance, while its waterproofing also means it can withstand being submerged under a meter of water for up to 30 minutes – pretty cool, right?

And to top it all off, the Stormbox Blast 2 has some nifty controls and ports built-in. There are buttons for adjusting power/volume, pairing with another speaker and toggling XBass/Lights on and off. Behind a rubber panel, you can access the charging and microphone ports, as well as karaoke controls. This speaker really does have it all.

• Design score: 4/5

(Image credit: Future) Tribit Stormbox Blast 2 review: value

• More of a mid-range price tag
• Significantly more pricey than the original Stormbox Blast
• But for the audio quality and features on offer, it’s still worth it

I’ll get to the point, you can find plenty of rival speakers for considerably less than the Tribit Stormbox Blast 2. This is no budget option, carrying a list price of $299.99 / £257 (about AU$490). There are a ton of large options available for around $100 / £100, such as the aforementioned Earfun UBoom X and Anker Soundcore Boom 2.

But will they offer as much quality and versatility as the Stormbox Blast 2? No, not in my view. There’s the obvious – this speaker can double up as a karaoke machine if you want to belt out some of your favorite tunes. But there’s also the fact that this model delivers more regimented, powerful bass, cleaner all-round audio and a rock-solid build.

Those factors make it worth the extra cash in my view and if you can catch it for closer to $200 / £200 in a sale, you’re getting excellent value for one of the best party speakers around. It is worth noting, however, that its excellent predecessor can be found for around $150 / £150 – that’s an incredible deal well worth considering if you’re not all-in on karaoke and don’t need quite as much power output.

• Value score: 4/5

(Image credit: Future) Should I buy the Tribit Stormbox Blast 2? Buy it if...

You want to take your parties to the next level
If you’re looking for a big and bold party speaker, it’s not going to get much better than the Tribit Stormbox Blast 2. With phenomenal bass output and excellent battery life, you’ll keep everyone moving into the early hours, without needing to charge this speaker up.

You’re looking for a durable speaker that can brave the elements
The Tribit Stormbox Blast 2 has an IP67 rating, meaning it's well protected against water and dust. It’s also got a solid build and heavyweight feel that will make it hard to break down over the years.

Don't buy it if...

You want an incredibly detailed listen
The audio on offer from the Tribit Stormbox Blast 2 is often impressive, but it’s not going to offer you the most elegantly balanced, nuanced sound on the market. If you’re willing to lose a bit of that low-end power, you’ll have plenty of high-grade options to choose from, including the Bose SoundLink Max – see ‘Also Consider’ for more on this.

Portability is the most important thing for you
Let’s not beat around the bush: this is one chunky lad. At 19.2lbs / 8.7kg, you should take the term ‘portable speaker’ with a pinch of salt. Seriously, this thing takes quite a bit of work if you’re taking it for a long walk. A whole host of competitors are considerably lighter – take the Anker Soundcore Boom 2, for instance, which is just 3.66 lbs / 1.67kg.

Tribit Stormbox Blast 2 review: also consider

Earfun UBoom X
If you’re looking for a bass-heavy Bluetooth speaker but the Stormbox Blast 2 is a little bit out of budget, the Earfun UBoom X is a very solid alternative. Bass isn’t as controlled or imposing here, but it’s still very impactful. You also get excellent EQ options, a whopping 30 hour battery life and IP67-rated build. Not bad at all! Read our full Earfun UBoom X review.

Bose SoundLink Max
This robust Bluetooth speaker may cost a tad more than the Stormbox Blast 2, but you’ll still get plenty of bang for your buck. The Bose SoundLink Max plates up big and punchy yet deft audio, a beautiful design and Class D amplification. It’s not quite as big and booming as the Stormbox Blast 2, but if you want a more technical listen and subtle look, this may be more up your street. Read our full Bose SoundLink Max review.

Tribit Stormbox Blast 2 review: how I tested

• Tested for one week
• Mainly used in our music testing space at Future Labs
• Predominantly tested using Tidal

I listened to the Tribit Stormbox Blast 2 for hours on end in our music testing space at Future Labs. During my time with the speaker, I played a ton of tunes from my own music library as well as tracks from the TechRadar testing playlist, which I use to assess performance across a variety of genres. When listening to music, I connected to the Stormbox Blast 2 with the Samsung Galaxy S24 FE and mainly played songs via Tidal.

In addition, I listened to a podcast on Spotify and watched video content on YouTube in order to judge vocal clarity across different platforms. When appropriate, I used the Earfun UBoom X to compare audio quality, design elements and usability.

• First reviewed: January 2025
• Read more about how we test

This review first appeared in issue 357 of PC Pro.

TelephoneSystems.Cloud stands out from the crowd of VoIP providers as its automated quote system lets you set your entire business service up without having to speak to any representatives. We tested this by visiting the main website (given away by the company name) and clicking on the “Get Quote” button, after which we were guided through a set of questions asking about our requirements.

For our VoIP testbed, we requested four users, chose to use our own internet provider, opted for softphones and our existing desk phones, skipped the optional Webex Teams+ and Presenter, asked for new UK phone numbers and selected the automated installation service. TelephoneSystems.Cloud presented us with an itemized bill showing a £60 setup fee and monthly charges of £11 per user, which we agreed to by completing the transaction with our banking details and setting an admin account password.

You’re nearly there now; the next web page asks for a preferred area code, details of the services required such as call groups and queues, plus auto-attendants and the MAC addresses of existing desk phones. Lastly, you add details of your users, provide passwords and choose their extension numbers.

On completion, we received an email and SMS advising us the account was being created. It was ready for action two hours later, and at no time during this process did we speak to anyone.

From our account dashboard, we saw that all our users had already been assigned a direct inbound dial (DID) number from the block we’d requested. Onboarding is simple: you issue an email invitation from the dashboard that provides a link to the Webex client and mobile apps, along with instructions on setting them up.

The order process and the admin dashboard are both very slick (Image credit: Future)

After installation, users sign in with the Webex email address and password the system assigned to them and they’re ready to start making and receiving calls. This is the standard Webex app so it offers plenty of useful features, including personal contact lists and a quick access dial pad. Integral videoconferencing lets users make video calls with consummate ease.

Pre-configured desk phones can be ordered online, with choices including Yealink, Jabra and Polycom. For our own Yealink T42S models, instructions were emailed to us so we just entered the supplied provisioning URL in their web consoles and, after a firmware upgrade, they were automatically assigned to each user.

Voice prompts for services such as the auto-attendant, voicemail, holiday greetings and on-hold messages can be added, and TelephoneSystems.Cloud goes a step further than many providers with its AI text-to-speech service, which costs £10 per message. Alternatively, you can upload your own audio files to an online library, and the company even offers professional voice actors to create them for you, with online quote services provided.

The Webex app supports audio and video calls (Image credit: Future)

The dashboard presents plenty of account information and a call history graph for the past six months, while the billing section keeps you posted on the latest invoices and upcoming payments. All the action takes place in the account portal, which lists your sites, assigned numbers, all users and associated devices such as desk phones and mobile apps.

An incredible range of call-handling services are available and include an auto-attendant, call center, call parking, groups for ringback, hunt and pickup and much more. Rules control the numbers and countries to which outbound calls can be made, while group contacts are synced to Webex so they appear in the apps.

TelephoneSystems. Cloud is a great choice for businesses that know what they want from cloud-hosted VoIP services. The quote process is impressively smooth, and it offers a wealth of easily accessible call features at a competitive price.

We've also rated the best PCs for businesses.

This review first appeared in issue 357 of PC Pro.

On its website, Samsung lists this monitor as the S90PC ViewFinity 5K Smart Monitor, but it feels more like a smart TV on first “boot”. It asks to be connected to your Wi-Fi network, and once you’ve jumped through various hoops you’ll find yourself in Samsung’s TV Plus section with a huge selection of live channels. Just to hammer home the point, your first interactions are via a remote control rather than an OSD.

The remote offers dedicated buttons for Disney Plus, Netflix and Prime Video. We watched the first few minutes of Top Gun: Maverick and the detail was so rich on the 5K panel that we picked up several details we didn’t spot in the cinema. Samsung backs up the visuals with the best speakers here by some distance. Whisper it, but there’s even bass on show.

You can also play games via Samsung’s Gaming Hub, with an option to sync your Amazon account via Luna. It supports Xbox Game Pass and Nvidia’s GeForce Now services, too. Games look great, despite the S9’s modest 60Hz refresh rate.

But we’re getting this the wrong way round, for Samsung is promoting the ViewFinity S9 as a work first, play later monitor, so let’s head to the Workplace area of its Tizen OS interface. Here, you can wirelessly connect to a PC, a Samsung phone (using DeX) and even log in to your Microsoft 365 workspace.

A detachable 4K webcam can be attached to the top of the stylish S9 (Image credit: Future)

The latter is aggravatingly slow, though, and there’s also annoying lag on the wireless connections to your PC and phone, so you’ll reach for the Thunderbolt cable where possible. And at this point, finally, it becomes a normal monitor. Albeit one with a 5K (5,120 x 2,880) resolution, which gives a quite stunning 218ppi density. Overkill, but photographers will love the detail, and it makes the 109ppi of a 1440p 27in screen feel distinctly average.

At this price we expected mini-LED technology, but IPS is in place as usual.

It’s an 8-bit panel with FRC, giving 1.07 billion colors, but what will matter for professional users is that it comes pre-calibrated for sRGB and DCI-P3. Not Adobe RGB, though, which is a surprise as the ViewFinity S9 lists Pantone validation among its many features.

A 5K resolution makes everything look incredibly detailed (Image credit: Future)

There are also two slots available in the OSD for hardware calibration via recent Samsung phones. Using the Smart Things app, you can opt for a simple 30-second calibration for basic colors and brightness, or complete a ten-minute “professional” calibration to either the sRGB or DCI-P3 color spaces. The result was little better than the pre-calibrated versions, but could be useful if the colors drift over the years.

Most of the time, though, you’ll find the default “Eco” mode does the job, which uses the panel’s native color profile and covers 99% of the DCI-P3 space. We’re not sure “Eco” is the correct term, however, as this is the most power-intensive 27in display here, consuming 42W at 200cd/m2 and 61W at its peak 629cd/m2. Films benefit from even higher peaks thanks to support for HDR.

The monitor itself looks stunning. Its thin bezels and stylish finish remind us of Apple’s Studio Display, and while we would have liked more tilt than 15° back and 2° forward, at least it includes 120mm of height adjustment. Only an ambient light sensor interrupts the clean lines of the front display, with the traditional OSD controls tucked next to a sprinkling of connectors at the rear: a miniDisplayPort, one USB-C input (complete with Thunderbolt 4 support), and three USB-C connectors for peripherals. The main USB-C port delivers 98W of power but the others a miserly 4.5W, which is surprising when you consider the gigantic power brick – think cigar case – that you’ll want to hide under your desk.

The stand offers a limited amount of tilt (Image credit: Future)

There’s one final bonus here: a 4K webcam. It comes with a privacy cover, albeit one that’s easy to lose, but for ultimate privacy simply disconnect it. The slimline unit attaches magnetically to the rear of the panel via pogo pins, so you can chuck it in a drawer when not in use. When it’s time for calls, its superb detail capture will surely impress.

Whether it’s great enough to justify the price is a different matter. If it included mini-LED technology we could understand the £999 tag, but the S9 – while a lovely monitor – only makes sense for those with money to spare and the need for a 5K work screen during the day and an entertainment center at night.

We've also ranked the best business smartphones.

Review info

Platform reviewed: PS5
Available on: PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC
Release date: January 28, 2025

As part of a traveling band of outcast mages known as weavers in a time when magic is shunned, you could be forgiven for assuming that Eternal Strands is a role-playing game (RPG) with a party of richly drawn characters like the Dragon Age games. Not least when developer Yellow Brick Games' creative director is ex-BioWare Mike Laidlaw.

However, rather than dwelling on moral conundrums or building relationships, this is very much a capital A action RPG that has a mix of modern The Legend of Zelda's free-climbing and physics-based smashing and titanic encounters like those in Shadow of the Colossus. And while it may not reach the same heights of its inspirations, it nonetheless offers something unique with how you engage with its magical elements.

Strand game

(Image credit: Yellow Brick Games)

You play as Brynn, a weaver who knows her way around a sword and bow. It's her use of elemental magic powers, strands, that makes her stand out, however.

We all know that fire burns, ice freezes, that fire is effective against ice, and vice versa. But rather than just a simplistic rock, paper, scissors approach, the laws of thermodynamics are carefully applied. You don't just shoot ice to freeze an enemy completely, but if you can encase a dragon's feet with ice then it will stop them from taking off in the air. But get too close yourself and you'll also take damage if you're not properly protected from the cold.

These strands must be earned by felling the big bad monsters and arks (ancient colossal machines) that roam more than half a dozen of the maps that make up a secluded realm known as the Enclave. While you could just keep thwacking them until their health bar's gone – you're also encouraged to deal damage to all parts of their body – figuring out the steps to expose their weakness that allows you to harvest their strand.

It feels especially badass clinging onto these bosses for dear life then reaching into their glowing weak spot, sending the titan crashing down regardless of how much health they still have.

Best bit

(Image credit: Yellow Brick Games)

While there's a strong emphasis on flame and frost, kinetic powers are probably my favorite. Weaver's Grasp is terrific when you can grab and hurl containers or lanterns that set off a chain of explosions, while a strand that unlocks in the latter half creates a kind of speeding warp tunnel that makes it possible to launch yourself in the air – even cooler if you use it to grab onto a flying monster!

It would feel epic if these were one-offs like in Shadow of the Colossus. However, the structure here is designed so that you'll have to fight them multiple times Monster Hunter-style to upgrade your gear, or powers, or to advance the story.

The loop diminishes somewhat on repeat because, once you know how to take down one of them, it becomes very straightforward and I found myself rinsing and repeating the same tactics. What does keep you on your toes is a more deadly enemy type that appears partway through the story that hits harder and requires flame or frost powers to finish off.

A good time, not an eternal time

(Image credit: Yellow Brick Games)

Much of Eternal Strands is divided between a hub where you spend time with your weaverband companions and teleporting to different parts of the Enclave, made up of impressively large buildings to scale or underground caverns to delve deeper into. It's worth exploring every nook and cranny, as you'll find new information about an area, as well as recipes for crafting new gear.

The weaverband and other characters you eventually meet in the Enclave are well-written with their own arcs and issues, tackling topics like mental health and redemption, and there's even a married couple who just about stay on the right side of endearing.

Personally, I was more interested in their function than their chattiness, such as Casmyn's ability to increase the number of tonics I can carry or Sola's forge that doesn't just let you create new gear, but even reforge something you already have with better materials.

(Image credit: Yellow Brick Games)

That said, my gripe comes from having to return to the hub more often than I'd like. There's a stop-start nature to missions where, after you've found something, you just drop what you're doing and have to teleport back to the hub to debrief with the gang before you can continue the story.

You can, of course double, up the mission by fighting a boss too, though because you can't refill your supplies until you're back at camp you're at a disadvantage, and - if you die you lose most of your loot. At the same time, once you've explored these maps, the second half feels a bit padded, as you're just revisiting the same areas as initially optional boss hunts suddenly become mandatory. A day and night cycle that also changes weather and enemy locations does at least things up here.

Nonetheless, these are minor complaints as the story avoids overstaying its welcome. Its mechanics may not sustain a much longer gameplay loop like Tears of the Kingdom or Monster Hunter World but then this is not trying to be an epic timesink.

With its novel use of magic and colossal set pieces, Eternal Strands is a fun and breezy adventure to kickstart 2025.

Should you play Eternal Strands? Play it if...

You like an interesting mix of combat options
The physics-based magic is definitely a highlight in Eternal Strands when it comes to combat and exploring its world.

You like fighting giant monsters and ancient machines
There's a mix of Monster Hunter and Shadow of Colossus in taking on the game's large enemies, identifying their weaknesses, and enjoying the catharsis or taking one down for the first time.

Don't play it if...

You're expecting a choice-driven RPG
As an action RPG, Eternal Strands is very much focused on the action side with an authored story rather than making your own choices. There is nonetheless a rich cast of companions with their own questlines and plenty of optional dialogue for fleshing out the world.

Accessibility

Eternal Strands' options menu provides a suite of accessibility features. Subtitles can be toggled on, off, or only during cinematics and voiceovers, with three font sizes and the option to display on a background. Colorblind options can be set according to type and severity.

If you don't have headphones, there is a night mode, which raises the volume of ambient sound while making explosion sounds less prominent. Game difficulty can be adjusted at any time, which only affects your maximum health and the amount of health recovered from vitality tonics. In easy mode, vitality tonics are restored after defeat.

How I reviewed Eternal Strands

(Image credit: Yellow Brick Games)

I played Eternal Strands for 20 hours on my PS5 Pro, which allowed me to complete the main story and some side quests, although that didn’t include upgrading every strand to max level or completing all companion questlines, which would extend the game’s length.

There are no specific graphics modes apart from an option to turn on and off depth of field in-game.

Throughout, I used an LG C2 OLED TV with the default TV speakers and a DualSense Edge controller.

First reviewed January 2025

TopMate C12 Laptop Cooling Pad review

The TopMate C12 Laptop Cooling Pad is a mid-range cooling pad for high-performance gaming and creative laptops. Not only does it rock three 110mm fans and three 70mm fans, but it offers six different fan speeds, with the smaller fans capable of hitting 2400rpm. As such, I was expecting to see some seriously frosty cooling here.

Unfortunately, in our standard 3DMark stress test run on our Acer Predator Helios 300 with an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080, I found the TopMate C12 more Chicago than Siberia in terms of chilliness. Our baseline test of the laptop alone saw it rise from 20.2ºC to 52.1ºC, an increase of 31.9ºC, while the TopMate on full fan power curbed its heating from 21.2ºC to 44ºC. While this reduced 22.8ºC temperature rise is a definite improvement, it’s nowhere near as impressive as the Liangstar Laptop Cooling Pad, for example, which reduced this down to 15.3ºC.

On the plus side, the TopMate C12 Laptop Cooling Pad runs about as quiet as you could realistically expect. Ten minutes into our stress test, I used a sound level meter to measure the combined noise of the cooling pad and laptop – it registered 58.5dB from three inches away and 45dB from my head height at 21 inches away. That’s bang in line with any of the best laptop cooling pads I’ve tested, and better than the 60dB produced by the uncooled laptop.

Offering eight adjustable heights, you can adjust the angle of your laptop from 6.5 to 50 degrees, which really enabled me to position things at the most ergonomic angle for my height. Chunky flip-up rests keep the laptop firmly in position; however, while these were fine for a bulky gaming laptop, I did find they dug into my wrists when typing on an Ultrabook that these dug into my wrists, so bear this in mind if your laptop is on the slimmer side. In terms of additional flourishes, the RGB lighting is well designed and offers 10 different settings if psychedelic gaming rainbows aren’t your thing.

All in all, the TopMate C12 Laptop Cooling Pad offers perfectly decent performance and a solid, aesthetically pleasing build. This may convince that it’s as good a choice as any other, but there’s one other factor I’d urge you to consider before making your purchase: its price. At $29.99 / £29.77 / AU$49.77, it costs more than some of the other cooling pads I’ve reviewed while offering marginally weaker performance. If you really want something that delivers great bang for your buck, I’d argue that the $19.99 / £19.99 Tecknet N5 Laptop Cooling Pad or $19.99 / £19.93 / AU$47.95 Liangstar Laptop Cooling Pad offer a better deal.

(Image credit: Future) TopMate C12 Laptop Cooling Pad review: price & availability

• Released January 19, 2022
• MSRP of $29.99 / £29.77 / AU$49.77

First launched on January 19, 2022, the TopMate C12 Laptop Cooling Pad is now available for $29.99 / £29.77 / AU$49.77. It’s worth keeping your eyes peeled for better prices, though: it has occasionally been reduced to £25.30 / AU$42.30 – while this is a modest drop, it does help it compete better with some of the best cooling pads for value.

But, for the most part, it’s easy to find similarly powerful cooling pads that cost a bit less – both the Tecknet N5 Laptop Cooling Pad and the Liangstar Laptop Cooling Pad performed better in our benchmarking tests, while also costing less at $19.99 / £19.99 and $19.99 / £19.93 / AU$47.95 respectively.

(Image credit: Future) Should I buy the TopMate C12 Laptop Cooling Pad? Buy if if…

You want stable, ergonomic design
Not only is this cooling pad adjustable and comfortable to use, but it’s also rock-solid. Thanks to its flip-up rests, your laptop shouldn’t slip or slide about, even during frantic Counter-Strike matches.

You want competitively quiet running
The TopMate runs as quietly as the best laptop cooling pads we’ve tested. Even at max cooling, it should kick out less noise than your laptop’s fans straining on their own.

Don’t buy it if…

You want the best cooling
Despite the fact it comes packing an array of six fans, some of which top out at 2400rpm, I didn’t find the TopMate capable of as effective cooling as some comparable pads we tested. So if you only care about how many degrees you can shave off, you should probably look elsewhere.

You want a bargain
Don’t get me wrong: this is still an affordable cooling pad, especially compared to the $150 / £125 / AU$150 you'll pay for some products. Nevertheless, this pad is still more expensive than some others we’ve tested, and falls short of their cooling power. So you can definitely get better cooling for your cash.

(Image credit: Future) TopMate C12 Laptop Cooling Pad review: also consider

Liangstar Laptop Cooling Pad
If you’re after the cheat codes for affordable yet arctic cooling, this is my personal tip. The Liangstar Laptop Cooling Pad is reasonably priced, costing just $19.99 / £23.59 / AU$65.66, and yet during tests it kept our laptop from rising any more than 15.3 degrees – that’s a full seven degrees cooler than the TopMate. It’s well worth a look.

How I tested the TopMate C12 Laptop Cooling Pad

• Tested it over several days
• Ran a stress test and measure temperature difference with a thermal camera
• Measure fan noise 10 minutes into test using a sound level meter

Testing the TopMate C12 Laptop Cooling Pad, I ran it through several all of the standardised benchmarks we use for all laptop cooling pads. First, I checked the hottest point of our Acer Predator Helios 300 with an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 testing laptop, ran a 3DMark stress test for 15 minutes with the cooling pad set to max speed, and then re-checked the temperature.

I also tested how noisy it was with a sound level meter. Ten minutes into the test, I measured sound levels from three inches away, as well as from head height to get the absolute and subjective volumes of the pads fans combined with the gaming laptop’s cooling system. I then compared this to benchmarks of the noise generated during a stress test by the laptop’s fans alone.

I also used the laptop cooling pad while gaming and conducting everyday office tasks to test its overall design, sturdiness and ergonomics. For this, I drew on my 30 years experience as a gamer and laptop user, not to mention my 10 years’ experience covering tech and gadgets.

• First review January 2025
• Read more about how we test

Razer Blue Screen: one-minute review

The Razer Blue Screen is a premium and convenient solution for those wanting a pro-grade green screen that's easy to set up and provides marvellous results. Think of it as a competitor to Elgato's similarly-specced solution, with the key (pun intended) difference being its colour.

The reason for this being a blue screen is because, according to Razer, it's easier to key out than the classic green - a statement that I found accurate in my testing. In addition, it's also more in line with what the professionals use in the name of giving your content more of a pro-grade appearance with the right care and attention.

The Blue Screen can extend up to 94-inches, or 2.38 metres, in height, making it suitable for head, or even full body, shots. In addition, it features quality fixtures and fittings with a sturdy metal frame and seam-free polyester material. While expensive, it remains one of the best green screens we've tested.

(Image credit: Future) Razer Blue Screen: Price and availability

• $149.99 / £159.99
• Sold only via Razer directly
• Available in the UK & US

The Razer Blue Screen clocks in at £159.99 / $149.99 and has been around since October 2022 as a more premium option for those looking for a simple pull-up blue screen for keying out backgrounds in a professional manner.

Other peripheral brands have leaned into the green screen space in the past, with the likes of Elgato's Green Screen offering a similarly priced package with a pull-up screen designed for streamers.

The key difference between the pair of these screens is color. A blue screen is arguably closer to what's used in some professional environments and is generally better in low light conditions than a green screen.

Otherwise, the premium price tag attached to Razer's option will also buy you some entire kits from the likes of Neewer that include a green sheet held up with its included stands, as well as a pair of soft-box lights, bulbs, umbrellas, and more. You do have to have a fair amount of space for a full kit like that, whereas the Blue Screen pulls up and down and thus can be stowed away easily.

(Image credit: Future) Razer Blue Screen: Specs Razer Blue Screen: Design and features

• Wonderfully easy to set up
• Tall enough for head and full-body shots
• High-quality polyester fabric

The Razer Blue Screen is a sleek and modern entry into what can often be quite a clunky enterprise. Setting up a green screen isn't the easiest if you're using one of those kits that's simply a piece of green fabric that needs to be clipped to a surface or attached to a stand.

With this in mind, Razer's choice makes it all easy, simply pulling up out of its enclosure to a height of 94 inches, or 2.38 meters. To erect it, you push against a tab on the top side, and pull up. The screen is on runners, so it almost pulls up itself with minimal effort required.

It's a stable setup, too, with the entire stand comprised of thick metal, and a pair of fold-out plastic legs that prevent the Blue Screen from falling over. In addition, the pull-up portion is reinforced with cross-braces on the reverse side that keep it straight and true.

In addition, as with the Elgato Green Screen and other similar pull-up options, Razer's Blue Screen is easily stowable in a cupboard or the corner of a room as it slides down to nothing into its base. It's a lot easier than dealing with a full-size kit, that's for sure.

The screen itself is made of polyester and is both seamless and wrinkle-free out of the box. Being totally smooth means it's easier to key out in the editing stage for a more professional look to your content.

(Image credit: Future) Razer Blue Screen: Performance

• Fantastic keying results
• Works well in low-light conditions
• Simple set-up is brilliant

The Razer Blue Screen is, in one word, convenient. Other green screens I've tested in the past have come in the form of sheetings with additional stands, which can take more than a few minutes to set up.

With Razer's choice, it's as easy as pulling it up in a matter of seconds, sitting down in a chair, recording some content, and then booting up the software to key the background out.

The mere fact it's blue made keying out easier in lower light conditions, especially when I only have space for a single key light off to the left of my desk. Once I had balanced the correct color to key out in my software, the Razer Blue Screen produced wonderfully clean and smooth results on Windows or MacOS.

With this in mind, as a literal piece of pull-up fabric, compatibility isn't an issue with the Blue Screen. It'll work with whatever software and operating system you're using for keying the background out, such as Final Cut Pro on macOS or DaVinci Resolve on Windows, as I used in my testing.

(Image credit: Future) Should I buy the Razer Blue Screen? Buy it if...

You want a convenient setup
The Razer Blue Screen excels on the simple fact of convenience. Being a pull-up means there's no faffing around with stands or sheeting.

You want solid construction
The metal base and cross-reinforced plastic braces on the Blue Screen provide a reliable and sturdy finish, and you won't have to worry about it falling over.

Don't buy it if...

You want a more affordable choice
The quality and convenience of the Blue Screen come at quite a price, and if you want a more wallet-friendly choice, then there are plenty of other options available.

Also consider...

Still not sold on the Razer Blue Screen? Here's how it compares to two similar products.

Elgato Green Screen
This is a great alternative because it offers a similarly convenient solution from a trusted brand in the streaming / content creation space with the benefit of a pull-up stand. It is also slightly shorter if you don't need a 94-inch screen.

Stay tuned for our full review of the Elgato Green Screen in the future.

Neewer Green Screen Kit
This is a great alternative because it offers the complete package for a more professional, and permanent, backdrop with stands, different color screens, and soft-box lights. It also offers an even larger area for capturing even more.

Stay tuned for our full review of the Neewer Green Screen Kit in the future.

How I tested the Razer Blue Screen

• Used and tested for more than one week
• Tested it with Windows and macOS editing software
• Evaluated against other green screens

I used the Razer Blue Screen for a week as a screen for recording test film that was captured in OBS as if I was streaming for keying the blue screen out. I also recorded test footage that was edited in both DaVinci Resolve on Windows and Final Cut Pro on macOS to best utilize the blue screen.

Throughout my period testing the blue screen, I compared it against the Elgato Green Screen and Neewer Green Screen Kit, as well as a similar full-size kit I had purchased myself prior to the review.

Read more about how we test

First reviewed January 2025.

When Sniper Elite 5 was released back in 2022, it really felt like Rebellion had finally nailed down its World War 2 stealth sim. Clearly, the team felt the same way as Sniper Elite: Resistance is more of Sniper Elite 5.

This time around the mantle is handed over to Karl’s long-time co-op partner Harry Hawker, who just so happens to also be on a mission in France in 1944. Despite feeling like a bit of an expansion pack, Sniper Elite: Resistance is a full-blown entry, with even more to do than in the previous game.

Review info

Platform reviewed: PC (Via Steam)
Available on: PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC
Release date: January 28, 2025

In typical Sniper Elite fashion, Resistance follows the well-trodden plotline of ‘the Nazis have developed a new superweapon that could turn the tide of World War 2; you’ve got to stop it’ that we’ve seen before in Sniper Elite 3 and 5.

This time around Harry is working with the local resistance fighters to take down the Kliene Blume nerve agent, which could have devastating effects should the Germans follow through with it. It’s a somewhat predictable storyline, but that’s not really why you’re here anyway.

In the Sniper Elite series you play through missions, each one containing its own miniature open world or sandbox packed with specific objectives and hidden secrets for you to take at your own leisure. I absolutely loved this approach in previous entries, and it’s just as good in Sniper Elite: Resistance.

One fear I had going in was whether the levels would feel too similar to Sniper Elite 5 due to both games being set in 1944 France, but for the most part, things feel distinct enough to warrant a return trip. Although some stages are a touch familiar – this game’s Lock, Stock, and Barrel mission feels extremely similar to the previous entry’s Occupied Residence.

Plus, there are familiar areas like Chateau houses and train stations not only returning from 5 but, multiple appearing across the game. It’s not a dealbreaker by any means, and the levels themselves are still jam-packed and varied (outside of level four just being an expanded version of the first stage).

We bring the boom

(Image credit: Rebellion)

And of course, there’s the gunplay. As you would expect from a series named after it, the sniping is the star of the show once again. There are a tonne of helpful features – like the slowdown reticule that shows you where the bullet will land – that allow even a first-time player to nail satisfying long-range shots.

This is complimented by the X-Ray system, which shows a slow-motion animation of the bullet impacting with your chosen Nazi, and you’re treated to an in-depth look at how your shot obliterates their skull, guts, or testicles in graphic detail. It can be a bit off-putting at times (the teeth animation is horrid), but it’s just over the top enough to not feel disturbing.

However, the most impressive – and satisfying – bit of Sniper Elite is when you disregard these and work with wind markers and bullet drop estimates built into your scope to nail that perfect shot yourself. You also have access to the likes of machine guns, pistols, and explosive weaponry to cause a bit of fuss with or to get you out of scrapes when things awry. You could absolutely play the game running around with a machine gun, but the non-sniping weapons aren’t quite as satisfying as the main event.

I’m also a big fan of close-quarters combat; being able to sneak up on enemies for a takedown is a great risk/reward that allows you to stay silent while taking the risk to approach an enemy. Sniper Elite: Resistance is a great sniping game, but it's possibly even better as a stealth game.

Spy vs. Spy

(Image credit: Rebellion)

There are a few multiplayer modes available in Sniper Elite: Resistance, including a wave survival mode and standard multiplayer modes like Free For All and Team Deathmatch. However, I was unable to find a match of these during the review period, with no option for bot matches available.

But I did get some matches of the returning Axis invasion mode, which allows you to invade or be invaded during a single-player game. Once you get the pop-up alerting you that a Sniper Jaeger has arrived, it immediately changes the tone of a mission. While you can try and complete your objectives as normal, that extra layer of tension can either allow the Sniper Jaeger to get the drop on you or inadvertently alert the existing enemies as you search for them.

Both sides of this mode are the absolute highlight of the game; the one-versus-one cat-and-mouse game that is introduced is such a satisfying addition that completely changes the game. And there’s nothing better than being able to outdo your opponent and take them out via a well-placed snipe or sneaking up on them for a close-range takedown.

Have a propa-ganda

(Image credit: Rebellion)

Sprinkled throughout the maps of Sniper Elite: Resistance are propaganda posters for the French resistance fighters. Collecting these in each map will unlock a new mission set in that map in the brand new Propaganda Challenge mode.

These are bite-sized arcade-style encounters that challenge your skills in the game's various departments to take down a number of enemies within a time limit.

There’s stealth – which arms you with just a pistol and a dream – where unseen takedowns will add time to your clock. The sniping challenges give you a great look across the map as you pick off enemies one by one, with each headshot adding time.

Best bit

(Image credit: Rebellion)

Axis Invasions continue to be the greatest addition to the series. Invading or being invaded by another player mid-mission is always a treat, and the multiplayer stealth and sniping battles are incredibly satisfying, especially when you sneak in that perfect headshot.

While these only last a few minutes, and are only available in seven of the game’s missions, the Propaganda Challenge mode is a great new addition. It gives me the same feeling that Resident Evil’s mercenaries mode does.

Running through a stage and planning the optimal route adds a nice bit of extra replayability as you aim to boost your score each time. I would love to see this mode be expanded on, either via DLC (downloadable content) or whatever the next game is, because it left me wanting more.

I played Sniper Elite: Resistance at 1440p/120fps with HDR on PC. The settings on Ultra for texture detail and Medium for the other options. The game itself ran pretty much perfectly, with only a few noticeable drops here and there.

However, there were a few glitches in my experience. I had a few moments where Harry would get himself stuck on stairs or ledges. A particularly annoying one was in a mission where I had the option to poison a target; however, the prompt to use the poison in his drink never appeared, leading me to be locked out of the bonus kill option for that mission.

Should you play Sniper Elite: Resistance? Play it if...

You want more Sniper Elite 5
Sniper Elite: Resistance is an expansion of the mechanics and modes introduced in the last entry. The return to France makes some maps feel familiar, but the new levels stand up to the high standards of Sniper Elite 5.

You’re looking for a fun stealth game
While the name may imply a focus on sniping, Sniper Elite: Resistance is a level-based open-zone stealth game with a lot in common with the likes of Metal Gear Solid 5 and Hitman: World of Assassination.

Don't play it if...

You got your fill of Sniper Elite 5
On the other side of the coin, if you have played Sniper Elite 5 or simply got your fill of it three years ago, Sniper Elite: Resistance is more of that. The French setting doesn’t reuse levels from 5, but some feel extremely familiar. Plus, there are no new mechanics to speak of.

You don’t have patience
Sniper Elite Resistance can be extremely punishing if you don't plan things out carefully. While I revel in the challenge of stealth, I can imagine the game getting quite frustrating if you aren’t attuned to it. Plus, with the propaganda missions and weapon upgrades being spread across the maps, the slow pace may make things drag. View Deal

Accessibility

Sniper Elite: Resistance has a number of accessibility features, including subtitle options, auto-run and climb, HUD opacity settings, and aim assist. The game also features adjustable difficulty and settings like Automatic skill upgrades.

You can adjust the subtitle colors, and there are three color-blind settings; however, these are just labeled 1, 2, and 3 rather than listing the name of the specific color blindness. There is a diagram shown to help you decide, however.

How I reviewed Sniper Elite: Resistance

(Image credit: Rebellion)

I played roughly 15 hours of Sniper Elite: Resistance. During this time I completed the main campaign, completed every Propaganda Challenge mode mission with a gold rating, and played a number of rounds of Axis Invasion as an attacker.

I reviewed the game on a gaming PC, which runs with a Nvidia RTX 3060Ti graphics card and an AMD Ryzen 7 5800X processor. I used a Samsung Odyssey G5 27" Curved Gaming Monitor with a Sony 3D Pulse Headset and played the game using a DualSense wireless controller.

First reviewed January 2025

KEF LSX II LT: one-minute review

The KEF LSX II LT is an attempt to democratise (a little) the sound and tech expertise that has put KEF has among the front-runners where the ‘entire hi-fi system in a pair of speakers’ category is concerned for almost a decade now.

The KEF LSX II LT is a streaming sound system contained in two compact, good-looking and beautifully finished loudspeakers. A system that’s capable of handling high-resolution digital audio information from any source you care to mention – including your TV. A system that sounds detailed and organized, dynamic and rhythmically adept. A system that digs deep into the frequency range and summons quite startling low-frequency presence while it offers clarity at the opposite end to rival any of the best wireless speakers.

It’s not perfect, of course – how could it be? Its dimensions dictate that it struggles to fill larger listening spaces with sound, which is understandable. It goes without any analog inputs, which means it may not be suitable for some people – its bigger brother, the LEF LSX II, has them (and see the Kanto Ren for a vinyl-friendly alternative, just without Wi-Fi). But as long as these shortcomings don’t impact on your specific use case, it’s hard to raise meaningful criticism here – this absolutely ranks among the best stereo speakers for wireless hi-res fans.

KEF LSX II LT review: Price and release date

(Image credit: Future)

The KEF LSX II LT wireless active speaker system is on sale now, and in the United Kingdom it sells for £899. It goes for $999 in the United States, while in Australia it’s yours for AU$1,699.

Thanks in no small part to KEF's efforts in the wireless stereo area, the LSX II LT is not without competition. DALI, Klipsch and Q Acoustics (to name just a few) have similarly specified alternatives with which to tempt you.

Probably most notably, for slightly less than the KEF, you can get the Kanto Ren or the larger floorstanding Q Acoustics M40 HD cost around the same as the tiny KEFs. So even though these are KEF's cheapest option, they're not super-cheap still.

KEF LSX II LT review: Features

(Image credit: Future)

• Uni-Q coaxial drivers
• 200 watts of Class D power
• Plenty of input options

Higher up its model ranges, KEF is now onto the 12th generation of its distinctive Uni-Q speaker driver arrangement. The LSX II LT, though, uses the same 11th generation unit as is fitted to the larger KEF LSX II. This means a 19mm aluminium dome tweeter is positioned in the center of a 115mm magnesium/aluminum mid/bass driver – this arrangement precisely positions the acoustic center of each unit in an effort to deliver optimum time-alignment. Each tweeter receives 30 watts of Class D power and each mid/bass driver 70 watts, delivering a claimed frequency response of 54Hz - 28kHz.

There’s a hierarchy of units in each pair of LSX II LT speakers, of course. The primary unit is home to dual-band Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 5.0 with SBC and AAC codec compatibility, as well as an Ethernet input, an HDMI ARC socket, digital optical and USB-C inputs as well as a pre-out for a subwoofer and a power connection. Apple AirPlay 2, Chromecast, Spotify Connect, TIDAL Connect, and UPnP devices are all available, and the KEF Connect control app can host Amazon Music, Deezer, Qobuz and internet radio too. A second USB-C slot, grouped with all the other socketry below the neat bass reflex port on the rear of the speaker, is for connecting this primary speaker to its partner – which gives you flexibility in terms of cable length.

Digital audio file compatibility is extensive, and the LSX II LT can deal with file resolutions of up to 24bit/384kHz via a network connection. The USB-C and digital optical inputs can handle 24bit/96kHz stuff, and the HDMI ARC tops out at 16bit/48kHz. Incoming audio information is pored over by KEF’s ‘music integrity engine’ signal processing algorithms before resampling to 24bit/96kHz resolution.

This is a pretty thorough line-up of features for a product of this type, it’s true - but I can’t help hankering after an analogue input or two. Apparently the best record players are all the rage again, and it might be nice to be able to incorporate one with a wired connection… they'll work with a Bluetooth turntable, though.

• Features score: 4.5/5

KEF LSX II LT review: Sound quality

(Image credit: Future)

• Deft, entertaining sound
• Plenty of detail and frankly unlikely dynamism available
• Lacking a little where sheer scale of sound is concerned

The KEF LSX II LT is hardly the only digital audio system that does its best work when given some nice big hi-res audio files to deal with; so as long as you have some appropriate content on network-attached storage or via one of the best music streaming services that offers meaty quality, the KEF will give you everything it’s got.

Which, in the final analysis, turns out to be plenty. A 24bit/96kHz FLAC file of Arooj Aftab’s Last Night streamed via TIDAL Connect is agile, entertaining and utterly convincing – tonality, from the top of the frequency range to the bottom, is nicely neutral and consistent, and the LSX II LT never understates or overcooks any aspect of it; the sweep from top to bottom is smooth and believable. Detail levels are high at every turn, and the KEF has plenty of relevant observations to make about the timbre and texture of instruments or voices at every turn.

Despite the speakers’ unpromising dimensions and the bog-standard amount of power available, the system manages quite impressive low-frequency punch and substance. Bass sounds hit respectably hard, dig impressively deep, and are never less than properly controlled where the leading edge of sounds is concerned – and so it never has any problems expressing rhythms or handling tempos.

The LSX II LT communicates unequivocally through the midrange, which means vocalists of all types have their character and disposition made obvious. And at the top of the frequency range, the speakers attack with crisp determination (although without ever threatening to get splashy or hard, even if you like to listen at the upper limits of the volume the KEF is capable of).

There’s a fair amount of dynamic headroom available too, so even when a recording (or a movie, if you’re using the HDMI ARC socket) shifts it up from ‘basically silent’ to ‘all-out attack’ the system is able to make the differences obvious. Lower-level dynamic harmonic variations get the same sort of attention, too, so there’s convincing expression of the fluctuations evident from note to note when listening to a solo instrument.

That the LSX II LT is short of outright scale can’t be denied, but it creates a fairly extensive soundstage and organizes it really well. There’s adequate room for even more complex recordings to be laid out coherently, and the system demonstrates positivity and confidence in this regard. There's more than enough space for each element of a recording to stretch out without being impacted on by any other element – but, at the same time, the LSX II LT presents recordings as a unified whole.

• Sound quality score: 5/5

KEF LSX II LT review: Design

(Image credit: Future)

• Choice of unusual finishes
• 240 x 155 x 180mm (HxWxD)
• Mildly interesting cabinet shape

As with its more expensive wireless speaker systems, KEF has commissioned Michael Young to see if a bit of mild ‘designing’ might be in order – and he’s created a speaker cabinet with very few parallel lines. All by itself, this is enough for the LSX II LT to stand out among all its boxy rivals – the fact that the shape is acoustically optimized doesn’t do any harm either.

At a tidy 240 x 155 x 180mm (HxWxD) per speaker, the LSX II LT will sit happily on a shelf or desktop, as long as power is reasonably close by – or there are stands available if you prefer. The available finishes (sage green, stone white and graphite grey) only add to the decorative quotient.

• Design score: 5/5

KEF LSX II LT review: Usability & setup

(Image credit: Future)

• App or remote handset control
• Primary speaker needs power connection
• Speakers must be connected by a cable

Between the KEF Connect control app (free for iOS and Android) and the little remote control handset that comes as part of the system, getting what you want from the LSX II LT is easy. The app covers off all the obvious stuff, and more besides – you can finesse EQ settings, integrate your LSX II LT into a smart-home system, designate the primary speaker as the ‘left’ or ‘right’ channel (great flexibility in the placement), access your local media servers, set volume limits and plenty more.

The remote control, meanwhile, just takes care of the obvious ‘play/pause’, ‘skip forwards/backwards’ ‘volume up/down/mute’, ‘power on/off’ and input selection stuff.

As far as ‘setup’ goes, there’s really nothing to it. The primary speaker requires mains power, and needs connecting to the secondary speaker using a length of USB-C /USB-C cable. After that, it’s simply a question of making physical connections to your source devices and integrating your favourite streaming service(s) into the app if the ‘Connect’ version isn’t already supported.

• Usability score: 5/5

KEF LSX II LT review: Value

• Superb sound for the price
• Easy and flexible to set up
• Small size and lack of analog may be limiting

There’s unarguable value on offer here, no two ways about it. As a combination of facilities and functionality, industrial design, usability and out-and-out sound quality, it’s hard to lay a glove on the KEF LSX II LT.

Unless you have analog sources you’d like to listen to, or you live in an aircraft hangar, it’s difficult to raise a meaningful objection to what your money buys you… these are premium speakers that can satisfy audiophiles, at a very fair price for that quality.

• Value score: 4/5

Should I buy the KEF LSX II LT?

(Image credit: Future) Buy it if…

You want great sound with next-to-no effort
If you can’t get the LSX II LT up and running is next-to-no time, you’re not trying hard enough.

You admire good industrial design
It’s hard to make a product like this look distinctive, but between the coaxial drivers and the unusually shaped cabinet, the KEF gets closer than most.

You’re a ‘digital only’ sort of listener
Pretty much every source of digital audio content is catered for here, whether it’s connected wirelessly or physically.

Don't buy it if…

You have an analog source or two
The lack of analog inputs is the KEF system’s biggest shortcoming.

You want to fill a big space with sound
Look elsewhere. And be prepared to spend more money.

You have big bass concerns
The low frequencies available here are deep, detailed and very nicely controlled – but they’re not about to make your curtains flap. Again, you'd need something larger.

KEF LSX II LT review: Also consider

KEF LSX II
We've mentioned them already, but the bigger (and more expensive) sibling of the LT have the analogue connections that this one lacks, and a little more power for filling larger spaces.

Q Acoustics M40 HD
Now this is how you full a room. Active floorstanding speakers, for slightly less money than the KEF. However, there's no Wi-Fi (just Bluetooth), so they're not quite as smart as the KEF. Read our five-star Q Acoustics M40 HD review for more what makes them so good.

Kanto Ren
If you want something compact like the LSX II LT, but with analog connections, we love these. Again, there's no Wi-Fi – just Bluetooth for wireless – but they do an excellent job, and come in fetching finishes. Here's our five-star Kanto Ren review for the all the details.

This review first appeared in issue 357 of PC Pro.

You can almost consider the Philips 34B1U5600CH as the spoilt older brother to the AOC CU34P3CV. They appear to share similar genes: both are 34in curved VA panels boasting a 3,440 x 1,440 resolution, and they gave near-identical (and strong) performances in our technical tests. Whites look good, DCI-P3 color coverage is strong at 85%, and an average Delta E of 0.58 means you can trust that colors are accurate.

The reason it’s spoilt is that this monitor gets many of the features that are missing on its AOC rival. There’s a respectable, albeit grainy, 1080p webcam that supports Windows Hello, a power sensor that switches the screen off if it detects no-one is there, plus an ambient light sensor. The speakers are also better; hardly hi-fi quality, but you can actually listen to music on the Philips 34B1U5600CH.

It wins the numbers game, too. Its refresh rate is better, at 120Hz to 100Hz. Philips also quotes a higher peak brightness, of 350cd/m2to 300cd/m2, although in our tests the gap narrowed with 368cd/m2versus 355cd/m2. And the one-upmanship stretches to the ports, with its main USB-C connector delivering 100W of power to the AOC’s 65W. It also adds two USB-C ports to the four USB-A ports found on the hub, with half on the left-hand side of the display and half at the rear.

The Philips also has a superior stand. That’s true for the numbers – note its excellent 180mm of height adjustment – but also for fit and finish, with its swivel option being far smoother. Philips’ OSD is also easier to navigate, but just like the AOC it’s difficult to see what buttons you’re pressing, and don’t expect a huge range of useful options. It’s worth using the SmartImage presets, though, as it can be useful to jump to, say, Easy Read or Low Blue Mode.

(Image credit: Future)

But here’s the challenge for Philips. At well over £500, it’s a hefty chunk more expensive than the AOC – its equal for panel quality – while the also excellent-value-for-money Iiyama ProLite XUB3293UHSN-B5 sits in the middle. And the Iiyama has a better warranty than the Philips, as it offers on-site swapout rather than return to base (where you have to cover courier costs to get it repaired).

The 34B1U5600CH is a fine screen, and if you’ll take advantage of its extra features then you can argue it’s worth the premium over the AOC. However, it needs to drop below £500 to compete for awards against this month’s ferocious competition.

We've also rated the best tablets.

This review first appeared in issue 357 of PC Pro.

The ProLite XUB2763HSU-B1 has one obvious rival here: the Acer Vero B277. Give or take a fiver, they cost the same, both include a 1,920 x 1,080 IPS panel and both lean heavily on their green credentials.

In the Iiyama’s case, that means the plastic is 85% PCR, the packaging 100% recyclable and made from cardboard pulp, an EPEAT Silver rating and arguably most importantly an incredibly low power rating. Even at its peak 251cd/m2brightness, it drew 11W dropping to 10W at our standard test brightness of 200cd/m2. That compares to the typical 16W to 18W for 27in panels in this test.

Iiyama jettisons frills such as USB-C and RJ45 connectors in its quest to hit such a low price, but let’s concentrate on what you do get. Two video inputs, one HDMI 2.0 and one DisplayPort 1.2, sit alongside a two-port USB hub. Both ports are only 5Gbits/sec, but without USB-C you’re reliant on a USB-B connection back to the host PC anyway.

Both USB ports sit on the left of the screen rather than the rear, making them slightly easier to access, and the flexible, high-quality monitor stand can swivel through 45˚ and pivot 90˚. You may also want to use the 3.5mm headphone jack at the rear after listening to the weedy speakers.

There is some entertainment potential, thanks to a 100Hz refresh rate, 3ms response times and support for AMD FreeSync to prevent tearing. We were surprised to see these features in such an affordable monitor.

(Image credit: Future)

More good news: this is an 8-bit panel, which always helps when it comes to color coverage and accuracy compared to 6-bit panels that use FRC. In its default mode, the ProLite covered 94% and 72% of the sRGB and DCI-P3 gamuts respectively, with an average Delta E of 0.95. Highly respectable results.

As we’d expect from an IPS panel, whites look good, but we’ll add two caveats for those who are looking for a Word or Excel partner. One is that a Full HD 27in panel has an 81ppi pixel density, so text never looks as sharp as it will on panels that go above 100ppi. The second is that the default profile’s color temperature is 6078K rather than the ideal of 6500K, so you may find it useful to play around with the color temperature options in the easy-to-use OSD. You can also use Iiyama’s i-Style presets for Scenery, Text, Cinema and Games, but don’t expect to see any huge changes.

With an aggressive price, superb performance in our annual reader survey for support and reliability, plus a three-year swap-out warranty, this is a fine choice if your priorities are value and low energy consumption.

We also rated the best VPN services.

This review first appeared in issue 357 of PC Pro.

UK-based Gradwell has been in the communications business for over 25 years, and its Wave cloud VoIP service will appeal to SMBs seeking a smooth transition from their legacy analogue systems. Deployment is a breeze. Gradwell manages the process for you, and pricing is easy to understand as you only need to concern yourself with the number of monthly call minutes to landlines and mobiles that you require.

Wave comes in three packages, and they all offer the same call-handling features along with the Wave desktop and mobile apps. The Wave 100 package costs £7.50 per user per month and provides 100 monthly call minutes; Wave 1000 starts at £10.50 and allows 1,000 minutes; and Wave 3000 costs from £15 and, you’ve guessed it, offers 3,000 minutes.

Reliability is assured since Gradwell hosts Wave on Amazon Web Services (AWS) and will create new instances as needed to cope with increased demand. Redundancy is covered, too, with Wave being deployed across three geographically diverse AWS sites.

Gradwell handles all on-boarding by creating your main admin portal account, assigning phone numbers and adding a base set of users if you’ve requested them. Desk phones can be added to your order and will arrive pre-registered to your account so you only have to plug them in.

The Wave admin portal keeps you posted on ongoing costs (Image credit: Future)

The Wave administration portal presents an account usage overview and provides easy access to all the core features and call-routing services. To add new users, you simply enter an email address to send their invitation to, set a password and decide whether to give them admin privileges or just make them Wave users.

Direct inbound dial (DID) numbers and available desk phones can be assigned to each user, and you have options to enable voicemail, activate inbound and outbound call recording and set up call diverts to an external number or another Wave user. Multi-factor authentication can be enabled, and when users activate their account they receive a personal web portal and download links for the Windows, macOS, iOS and Android softphones.

The Wave user portal is a simple affair, with options to withhold their outbound CLI, access voicemail, assign busy lamp fields (BLFs) to their desk phone screen menus and view a contact list. A softphone is required to make and receive calls, and we had no problems installing it on Windows 10 and 11 desktops along with iPads.

The softphone offers the same features as the web portal and adds a dial-pad, a recent call list and access to settings such as notifications and sounds. Gradwell removed videoconferencing from the softphone a couple of years ago, and this is now handled by its separate Teams+ service, which costs £2.50 per user per month and allows users to make and receive calls and run VC sessions directly from the Teams desktop app.

Wave includes softphones for all of the most popular platforms (Image credit: Future)

As you’d expect with such a mature product, call-handling features are abundant and include hunt groups with multiple routing steps, call conferencing, pick-up groups and automatic routing based on calendars or bank holidays. Call queues advise callers that they’ll be recorded, play music on hold and present them with a range of custom messages, while Wave’s interactive voice response (IVR) service allows you to record custom voice prompts, upload a WAV file or use the Wave default prompts.

Gradwell’s Wave provides an easily deployed cloud-hosted VoIP solution with sophisticated call handling features. Its flexible price plans are very affordable, and micro-businesses will find Gradwell’s new PSTN replacement bundle appealing as this starts at £9.50 per month and provides everything you’ll need, including a broadband connection, for a pain-free move to VoIP.

We also ranked the best VoIP phones.