TechRadar Reviews

Business owners are always on the lookout for better, more efficient ways to do things. When it comes to accounting, payroll and all of those other daily admin tasks, a solution like the high-profile QuickBooks makes a lot of sense.

However, it’s now possible to supplement this with Intuit Online Payroll. The two can work in unison to make one of the best payroll software options currently on the market.

The combination allows you to do a little bit of everything, which is exactly what business owners are looking for in these challenging times.

Intuit is a big corporation and its software is all-encompassing, meaning that business owners can carry out a lot of their workflow within one integrated package.

Using QuickBooks and Intuit Online Payroll as one entity can therefore allow your company and its employees to enjoy much more simplified processes.

This review aims to drill down into just how well the software integrates and discover if it provides all of the value that Intuit’s high-profile marketing suggests.

• Our guide to the best payroll software

Intuit Quickbooks Payroll: Plans and pricing

Intuit is always running money-off deals across its entire portfolio of business-focused software, with a current 50% off for 3 months being fairly typical.

There’s a free trial too, which might help seal the deal. Meanwhile, plans are plentiful and varied, depending on your needs.

While Payroll Core and QuickBooks Simple Start used to kick off the range, Payroll Core + Simple Start is the latest iteration – a combination of the two, at $88 per month plus $6.50 per employee per month.

Payroll Core + Essentials only adds a few more features for $125 per month, while Payroll Premium + Plus is a much fuller package, but for a $203/month premium.

Thankfully, that $6.50 per person monthly fee is the same across all packages. Some companies think it’s okay to charge more when paired with higher tiers, so we appreciate Intuit’s standardized pricing here.

Three separate Payroll-only plans – Core, Premium and Elite – are available for $50, $88 and $134 per month, but they lack bookkeeping. QuickBooks Online users can also add payroll at any time from their accounts.

(Image credit: Intuit)Intuit Quickbooks Payroll: Features

What you get in terms of the pairing of QuickBooks and Payroll will obviously depend on which of the packages you head for.

Before, there were Core and Simple Start plans – now, the two have merged into Payroll Core + Simple Start. This plan comes with full-service payroll, 1099 E-File and Pay, next-day direct deposit and plenty more.

All plans can also track income and expenses, organize receipts, invoice and accept payments, track business miles, send estimates and manage 1099 contractors.

Despite being primarily a payroll suite, there are also some HR functionalities, like team management, health benefits and an employee portal.

Higher-tier plans add support for more users, sales channels and even inventory tracking.

(Image credit: Intuit)

In essence then, all plans come with unlimited payroll run capability, the power to calculate paychecks and all applicable taxes, as well as offering ease and convenience thanks to automated processing for taxes and their associated forms.

Companies with employees to consider will find the workforce portal very practical, while the coverage of the software extends to all 50 US states.

Similarly, there is extensive reporting on offer while the ability to manage garnishments and any or all deductions offers the final icing on the cake.

So important is security to Intuit that it actually has an entire security center, dedicated to keeping the entire product suite and its customers safe and secure. Intuit invests lots of money in ensuring its systems have multiple layers of security.

Using the software on a daily basis, you also soon realise just how well it has been engineered, with lots of potential obstacles in place that could foil the likes of scams and phishing attacks.

Intuit Quickbooks Payroll: Ease of use

One of the most appealing things about QuickBooks and the Payroll packages Intuit offers is the ease of use that comes with it all.

There’s no doubt that Intuit’s UX teams and engineers have worked long and hard to create products that just work.

The interface experience is invariably a good one no matter where you happen to be inside the suite of software, with a clever use of fonts, colour (mostly green) and graphics.

If you already use Intuit software, you’ll know how easy it is to use, and you should have no learning curve adopting its Payroll software.

Using Intuit Quickbooks Payroll is made easier thanks to a great interface (Image credit: Intuit)

If you’re moving from a different provider or new to payroll altogether, Intuit’s software strikes a good balance of surfacing just the right amount of control while maintaining a pretty simple interface. Others in this space might look cleaner and slicker, but that comes at the cost of reduced one-step functionality (fewer of Intuit’s features are buried beneath multi-step processes).

Dealing with normally stressful matters such as payroll is nowhere near as complicated as it used to be, but Intuit makes the job even simpler. Expect lots of automated tasks, plenty of one-click solutions and a healthy supply of practical benefits such as the ability to carry out powerful reporting without become broken in the process.

What you also get with this software is the ability to use it anywhere, with cloud convenience and plenty of mobile or tablet-focused tools that mean you don't have to lug the office laptop everywhere.

Intuit Quickbooks Payroll: Support

As you’d expect from a company the size of Intuit, if you’re looking for support then there is plenty on offer.

Certain plans, like Payroll Premium and Elite, offer 24/7 expert support for an upgrade, which is better than having to wait for office hours if you run around the clock.

Customers can use the support hub as their first port of call for everyday questions. There’s a chunky selection of toolbar options to choose from, such as getting started and dedicated topic sections covering core tasks including banking, invoices, taxes and more, plus a healthy training area too.

Intuit also has a healthy community, which is great for networking with likeminded business people who can often supply answers to any kind of question.

Naturally, you can also get directly in touch with support staff, but what is also of added value is the way the Intuit site can hook you up with a QuickBooks Certified Pro Advisor, which is a real boon if you’re ever feeling bogged down by the weight of office administration. There’s even a live chat function to do that immediately if matters are pressing.

You'll get the usual level of support options from Intuit Quickbooks Payroll (Image credit: Intuit)Intuit Quickbooks Payroll: Final verdict

It’s really easy to see why Intuit still manages to rule the roost with so many businesses opting to use its suite of products.

If you’re looking for value then pairing QuickBooks with the Payroll package can solve a lot of headaches. This is a streamlined solution with plenty of potent features and functions that enable quick and easy management of office tasks.

We see it best suited to SMEs and businesses with relatively standard payroll needs, where its relatively affordable pricing and advanced options offer a good breadth of functionality.

Support is generally good and performance is great, plus it forms part of a much wider QuickBooks ecosystem. That means if you’re already using some of the company’s software, you’ll be able to share data between apps.

If you’re not entirely smitten with QuickBooks Payroll, although there’s a trial that lets you see its potential before committing, there are also plenty of alternatives like Gusto.

Anyone needing a muscular HR and payroll solution will find it hard to miss the appeal of Sage Business Cloud Payroll, which comes with the same sort of features as those found in Intuit’s suite of products.

• Read our guide to the best payroll software

Business and larger corporations have flocked to Remote Payroll, simply because it has a very powerful feature set, albeit at a higher cost than many rivals. And, while there’s no shortage of best payroll software providers on the market, sometimes you need a little more potency to get the job done. If you’re running a larger organisation then Remote Payroll makes an awful lot of sense.

Remote Payroll comes with an extensive list of features, which can help business owners tackle every facet of their onboarding needs. The functionality within Remote Payroll means workflow is pretty much seamless too. It can also be tweaked to suit different country requirements, with functionality that can be similarly adapted to meet local laws.

• Our guide to the best payroll software

Remote Payroll: Plans and pricing

One thing to remember with Remote Payroll is that it’s a product aimed at companies with more comprehensive requirements. While this means you get tools that allow your business to handle payroll, tax and human resources, as well as compliance, the price tag is higher as a result.

It can also be a little confusing to work out costs with the likes of Employer of Record and Contractor Management options adding in additional prices.

Remember that Remote Payroll isn’t a simple, off-the-shelf software solution compared to some payroll package rivals. Indeed, you’ll really want to converse with Remote sales staff in order to get a tailored quote, especially if you need to tap into the powerful features provided by its Global Payroll and Remote Enterprise features.

There’s the basic plan for simpler needs, but the whole point of Remote Payroll is being able to exploit its more potent features.

As a guide, the Payroll package can come in at just $29 per employee per month, with additional features relating to HR like Contractor Management ($29/contractor/month) and Contractor Management Plus ($99/contractor/month) also available.

Employer of Record costs $699 per employee per month, and includes the whole package – hiring, onboarding, local payroll, benefit management, HR and more.

(Image credit: Remote Software)Remote Payroll: Features

One of the most impressive and convenient aspects of Remote Payroll is its truly global appeal. If you’re running a large operation Remote Payroll can handle payroll calculations, handle local tax deductions and reporting, social security needs, benefit deductions, expenses and time-off requests.

It means if you’re running a larger organization across borders, Remote Payroll instantly becomes an option when many others struggle to go international.

Remote Payroll is able to generate payslips, calculate bonuses, produce reports and meet any localised compliance needs.

In order to do all of this safely and securely there’s also secure document storage, which effectively turns Remote Payroll into a complete software solution.

You’ll pay a premium for the more advanced features, but Remote Payroll is ideally suited to business and corporations that have more of a global focus and which are represented in different countries around the world.

It comes as no surprise to see that Remote Payroll has been purchased by many well-known business names across the globe. That alone is always a good indication that Remote Payroll meets every requirement when it comes to security. The other big appeal with Remote Payroll is that it can work in any location around the globe.

(Image credit: Remote Software)

As a result, the software is tailored to suit its region, meeting all compliance and local law requirements. In addition, considering one of its main features is handling payroll, employees can also expect dependable handling of their wages, tax and benefit considerations.

On top of its payroll functionalities, Remote has also gone into offering HR management features including worker benefit management, as well as launching its own recruitment platform with candidate sourcing and a jobs board.

These are all recent additions, so it should come as no surprise that Remote has integrated AI into workflows too.

Recruit, for example, uses AI to help with sourcing, candidate matching and screening, and integrating other data points.

In mid-2025, Remote built AI-driven payroll engines from scratch to offer instant processing and adapt to local requirements. The company said this would help eliminate common delays and errors caused by legacy systems.

Changes were also made to how the Payroll platform integrates with other Remote software for an easier overall experience.

On a more technical side, Remote localized its infrastructure in order to ensure it had compliance expertise in different markets to avoid tax blunders and so on – ensuring it can look after you while you just input the right data.

Remote Payroll: Ease of use

Despite its powerful array of features and functions you’ll find that the Remote Payroll interface is a visual treat. There’s a cool use of colour, which is minimalist but effective, especially when it comes to highlighting the menu bar on the right-hand side of the interface.

You co-ordinate tasks using a core dashboard, which then allows quick and easy access to functions, with easy to decipher icons supported by text and linking to the likes of Team, Onboarding and Time Off under the ‘People’ option or Run Payroll, Payroll History and Pay Contractors under ‘Payments’.

There is also access to wider company details, vital documents and an app marketplace too, for anyone wanting to add in extra functionality. That means it’s possible to integrate Remote Payroll with the likes of BambooHR and Greenhouse as a couple of examples.

(Image credit: Remote Software)

A Settings tab also lets you carry out tweaks and personalisation requests depending on things like location, number of employees and so on.

Employees should find the self-service platform smooth to use with plenty of guided tools – payslips, document access and time off requests can all be found here, simplifying many processes by reducing the number of channels needed – no more shooting off an email to request time off.

In some complex jurisdictions, some users noted some delays or more manual steps, but that’s not a criticism of the platform itself. It’s more that Remote Payroll has to handle so many different procedures globally, and we think it’s done a good job of simplifying most of these.

Remote Payroll: Support

With anyone using Remote Payroll likely to be running a more complex operation there’s every possibility support will be needed from time to time. In that respect, Remote Payroll does the decent thing and has a help center and support hub.

However, some users report that it would be more beneficial to have a wider range of contact options. You can email the company, but it doesn’t seem particularly easy to speak to a human agent in real-time.

Getting through to support staff via email is all well and good, but sometimes an easier direct approach can be more effective, especially if it’s in relation to a pressing payroll or HR matter.

Some users also noted how support can sometimes feel a bit scripted – or not personalized – which might seem frustrating at times.

Nevertheless, Remote Payroll is on a par with many rivals in this sector.

(Image credit: Remote Software)Remote Payroll: Final verdict

Business owners with more complex needs should bypass some of the players at the lower end of the payroll software spectrum and head further up the chart.

This means considering the likes of Remote Payroll, SurePayroll and ADP Run.

With its premium price tag, Remote Payroll isn't at all suited to small business users, with many more affordable options out there. Where it does excel though is catering for global operations, which need to have customised payroll and HR tools at their disposal while meeting the needs of local legislation.

There are countless tools within the interface, all of which look and feel like they’ve been designed with usability at their core. Considering it’s potency, Remote Payroll is easy to manage and works no matter what the level of employee requirement is.

The only thing that might put some off is the price point allowing you to do so.

Still, for businesses that have expanded internationally, and on quite a decent scale, Remote offers a compelling and rather mature solution. If initial budget remains tight, look elsewhere.

• Read our guide to the best payroll software

Gusto is payroll software that covers everything a business needs to maintain a happy workforce. This includes organizing payments, insurance, support and initial onboarding.

It’s a comprehensive approach that sees Gusto rank among the best payroll software providers on the market. And, in this Gusto review, we help you decide whether it would be right for your business as we examine its pricing, features, support and overall ease of use.

Gusto is best suited to medium-sized businesses in the US, with smaller companies priced out with recent price rises and larger organizations uncatered-for in terms of some features and more advanced support.

• Our guide to the best payroll software

Gusto: Plans and pricing

Prices for Gusto have risen quite significantly in recent years. Back in 2023, we noted it had a $19/month base price, which has now climbed to $49.

That’s for the Simple package, which each person commanding a $6 monthly fee (something that hasn’t changed in those two years).

Plus ($80/month) and Premium ($180/month) unsurprisingly pack bigger punches, but unfortunately, you’ll be paying more per person as well as for the core functionalities.

Instead of $6/head, it’s $12 or $22 per person per month.

The Contractor Only packge, for companies who don’t have W-2 hires, is $35/month with a $6 monthly fee per person. At the time of writing in September 2025, this is free, so keep an eye out for discounts because Gusto clearly isn’t averse to them.

Solopreneurs can also use the platform for $49/month plus the $6 person fee, but that becomes a rather expensive way for filings returns.

(Image credit: Gusto)Gusto: Features

More than just payroll software, Gusto gives you a full set of tools for effectively managing your workforce. These include full-service payroll, employee benefits, time tracking as well as HR tools for hiring and onboarding.

Think of it as an all-in-one solution for anything to do with people – be that time or money.

Gusto’s features include full-service payroll, like calculating taxes, filing federal/state/local returns and handling W-2s/1099s.

Really crucial to Gusto’s success is the fact that you can perform unlimited payroll runs (including off-cycle runs) without extra fees. Payment methods include direct debit, paper checks, payroll cards, the ability to split pay checks or deposit into multiple accounts, so most scenarios an HR team will ever encounter are covered.

Where its real strengths are, though, is in its combination of finance and human capital management solutions.

With Gusto, you can set up your payroll to run with just a few clicks; it can even be set to run automatically on the schedule you choose. The software can handle employees and contractors, multiple rates of pay along with payments in multiple states.

(Image credit: Gusto)

Gusto has a number of benefits features, including the Gusto Wallet app, which employees can use to manage their pay checks and access emergency cash.

Then there is workers’ compensation, health reimbursement (QSEHRA) - an alternative to traditional health insurance - and commuter benefits. Health insurance administration is also built into the platform at no extra cost (apart from the actual insurance premiums).

With Gusto, employees track their time for you to review and approve. You can also customize paid time off (PTO) policies with all liabilities automatically calculated. And accounting integrations exist for mainstream platforms like Quickbooks Online and Xero.

These tools from Gusto are designed to help you save time when introducing new team members. You’ll be able to send offer letters, work through an onboarding checklist, have all your documents signed and stored online, and set up your new hires with online tools like G Suite and Microsoft 365 with a single click.

Gusto has several measures in place to protect its customers’ data. It has its own on-site security team, actively tests its software, and all data is AES-256 encrypted between your browser and AWS servers.

Multi-factor authentication (MFA) and single sign-on (SSO) options are also available.

The Gusto application is kept secure with internal and third-party penetration testing, vulnerability scanning and a bug bounty program. Better still, all Gusto employees have specific security training.

Gusto: Ease of use

When you first log in to Gusto, you’ll begin the process of setting up all your company information, including your accountant, benefits, state and federal taxes, employees, pay schedule and workers’ compensation.

When you add an employee, they’ll be sent a welcome email, which will enable them to create their own account.

The onboarding process is simple and workers can self-onboard to free up some valuable time for HR teams.

Once setup is complete, you’ll be able to view all of your company’s employees, including ones who have been dismissed, and invite new hires to join the system.

Gusto’s platform has been praised for its intuitive and user-friendly interface, so it should be relatively easy to get your head around even if all of this comes new to you.

The dashboard design is clean, and things like tasks and to-do lists are highlighted easy to see, but there’s no real deep customization if you want to configure it to show precise metrics.

(Image credit: Gusto)Gusto: Support

If you want to speak to Gusto sales, their website lists a number. But to get access to Gusto support, you need to be signed in to your account.

Once logged in, you’ll see a different phone number to call for support; or you can visit your account dashboard’s support page, where there is a multi-stage form that eventually provides a recommended resource.

If that doesn’t help, you can fill in another form to send Gusto an email.

Premium plans get more premium support, which includes a dedicated advisor, faster response time and more HR expert access – lower plans can add some of this at a cost.

While this might not be a huge problem for most companies, support is not around-the-clock – phone and email are only there during working hours.

(Image credit: Gusto)Gusto: Final verdict

If you’re a small business owner who’s new to payroll, you’ll love Gusto because it’s so easy to use; you can finish important tasks with just a few clicks.

Once praised for its attractive pricing, costs have risen in recent years so it may be out of reach for more businesses. Its lack of some advanced features also means it may not be the perfect solution for the biggest businesses, so its appeal has tightened somewhat.

An alternative for larger businesses is OnPay, which has a very similar feature set, combining payroll and HR, but a simpler pricing structure.

Gusto is primarily a payroll platform with HR add-ons. Another alternative is Zenefits, which is the opposite: a complete HR solution with features like org charts and performance reviews and a payroll add-on.

If your workforce is small enough and the pricing is not an issue, Gusto provides first-class solutions for most of the important administrative areas of running a business.

• Read our guide to the best payroll software

Meze Audio Alba review

In Romanian, the word ‘Alba’ translates to ‘first light’. Instantly, this makes me think of new beginnings; of fresh experiences. And so, in come the Meze Audio Alba – an affordable pair of in-ear monitors aiming to be the first light for entry-level audiophiles, everywhere.

And I’m not going to beat around the bush here, Meze Audio absolutely nailed it with this model. These IEMs have a list price of $159 / £139 / AU$239, meaning they’re easily on the budget side of things. But very little about these in-ears feels or sounds budget to me.

First of all, these deliver fantastic sound quality – the most important quality needed to compete with the best wired earbuds around. If you’re new to the world of audiophile sound, you’ll be wowed with awesome attention to detail right across the frequency range, as well as clear, surprisingly expansive audio output.

Meze itself describes the Alba as having “a neutral sound profile with an added touch of warmth” – and that’s a largely accurate description in my view. Mids never sound recessed, treble is expressive, and bass is impressively weighty given these IEMs' small size. I certainly sensed that slight preference towards low-frequency sounds when listening to Overflow by Kolter, where the meaty, spacey bass hit with serious impact.

When tuning into Where Do We Go From Here by Jamiroquai, lead vocals were pleasingly clear in the overall mix, while rhythm guitar was effortlessly separated and afforded plenty of room to breathe. Groovy bass and percussion was also excellently defined, helping the track’s funk-infused character to flow, without compromise.

You’ll get a dynamic, detailed listen from the Alba too. I tried playing Rains again by Solji, and every breath came through clearly, while delicate vocals remained controlled and emotive throughout.

In fact, my only slight issue with these IEMs sonically speaking, is that higher-pitched treble sounds can get a little harsh at higher volumes. For instance, I listened to Straight From The Underground by Riordan, and snappy percussion sounded a little edgy as I ventured into the upper echelons of loudness. Again, though, these offer a great listen overall.

(Image credit: Future)

Beyond sound, these IEMs continue to plate up serious quality. They’re made up of zinc alloy and anodized aluminium parts, and the outer casing is intended to represent the appearance of a pearl. In hand, the Alba feel far more luxurious than their price would suggest. As much as I love the Sennheiser IE 200, their plastic casing doesn’t come close to the Alba’s more durable, flashy design.

In addition, the braided cable is elegant and even felt nice to run through my fingers. It is a little prone to tangling, especially after taking out of the satisfyingly compact carry case (included in the box). And if you want a volume controller for on-the-go use, you’re out of luck here – you’ll need to consider a third-party option.

Back to the good stuff: there are a couple of connectivity options here. You can either use the standard 3.5mm connector, or make use of the included custom-made USB-C adapter. This has a built-in DAC and AMP, ensuring you can access hi-res audio on the go, even with your smartphone. It also has an LED light that shines if you’re connected up properly – nice touch! It's worth noting, though, that there’s no 4.4mm adapter in the box.

I was also very pleased with the comfort and fit of the Meze Audio Alba. I typically use the Sony WH-1000XM6 to listen to my music, as I can often find in-ear options to feel a little tiresome after an hour or two. But not these. They fit snugly for me, and are lightweight enough to feel non-invasive. There are a range of different-sized eartips in the box, too, so you can find the perfect seal.

Of course, you don’t get the benefits of active noise cancellation with wired IEMs – something you’d expect from the best wireless earbuds. But that firm seal was all I needed to unearth the full benefits of the Alba’s passive noise isolation abilities. Even when listening at middling volumes, chatter around the office and passing by vehicles were dulled significantly, helping me to remain immersed in my music.

So, all in all, I think it’s clear. The Meze Audio Alba are a brilliant option for anyone looking to enter the audiophile world, with a low price, stunning looks, and detailed sound. They’ll help you see your favorite songs in a new light. And for that alone, they’re well deserving of my recommendation.

(Image credit: Future)Meze Audio Alba review: price and release date

• $159 / £139 / AU$239
• Launched in June 2024

The Meze Audio Alba are a highly affordable pair of IEMs, coming in with a list price of $159 / £139 / AU$239. Interestingly, they appear to be regularly priced a little higher than this in both the UK and Australia, but only by a small margin. They were released in June 2024, and are available in a single colorway.

Meze Audio Alba review: specs

Drivers

10.8mm dynamic

Weight

14g

Frequency range

15Hz-25kHz

Connectivity

3.5mm; USB-C

(Image credit: Future)Should I buy the Meze Audio Alba?

Attributes

Notes

Rating

Features

Brilliant USB-C adapter, great passive noise isolation, detachable cable, no in-line controller or mic.

4.5/5

Sound quality

Well separated, defined sound with impressive bass and attention to detail.

4.5/5

Design

Gorgeous outer casing, beautiful braided cable, a little prone to tangling.

4.5/5

Value

Phenomenally priced for the luxurious sound and looks on offer.

5/5

Buy them if...

You want audiophile-grade audio on a budget
The Meze Audio Alba plate up high-standard audio at a pretty low price, making them an incredible option for anyone looking for an entry point into the audiophile world.

You want to stand out from the crowd
One of the things I like most about these IEMs is their gorgeous looks. Their zinc alloy and anodized aluminium parts make for a premium look, while the neatly braided cable and silver details top off a gorgeous set of in-ears.

Don't buy them if...

You want in-line controls or a mic for casual listening
If you’re buying these purely for casual listening, the lack of an in-line controller could be frustrating, particularly when you’re on the go. Having said that, these do feature a detachable cable, so you may be able to identify a suitable third-party replacement if you want a controller and a mic.

You want the best tangle-resistant cable
I had a great time with the Alba, but I did find that its cable was a touch prone to tangling. The tangle resistant nature of the Sennheiser IE 200 cable may be preferable if you don’t want to spend time unfurling your buds on almost every use.

Meze Audio Alba: also consider

Meze Audio Alba

Sennheiser IE 200

Activo Volcano

Price

$159 / £139 / AU$239

$149.95 / £129.99 / AU$239.95

$80 / £99 (about AU$120)

Drivers

10.8mm dynamic

7mm dynamic

1x 8mm, 2x 6mm dynamic triple-driver

Weight

14g

4g (per bud)

5g (per bud)

Frequency range

15Hz-25kHz

6Hz-20kHz

20Hz-20kHz

Connectivity

3.5mm; USB-C

3.5mm

3.5mm; 4.4mm; USB-C

Sennheiser IE 200
I love the Sennheiser IE 200 and they really do feel like the natural competitor to the Meze Alba. With an entry-level price-point, attractive braided cable, and small-sized outer casing, the likeness is there for all to see. The IE 200 offer pleasing low-end weight, fantastic instrument separation, and a beautifully lightweight feel. They aren’t as premium-looking as the Alba, but they’re still a top-tier pair of affordable IEMs. Read our full Sennheiser IE 200 review.

Activo Volcano
The Activo Volcano are an exceptionally low-priced set of IEMs for anyone interested in entering the audiophile world. They supply prominent bass, multiple connectivity options, a secure fit, and a detachable cable. They are a little large for my liking, and they won’t offer the most neutral sound on the market, but they’re still a solid budget option. Read our full Activo Volcano review.

How I tested the Meze Audio Alba

(Image credit: Future)

• Tested for two weeks
• Used in the office and while out and about
• Predominantly tested using Tidal

I tested the Meze Audio Alba in-ear monitors across the course of two weeks, after a thorough run-in. I predominantly used their 3.5mm connectivity option, while hooked up to my laptop – but I also tried the USB-C dongle with my phone when listening on the go.

Most of the time, I used the Alba while playing tracks via Tidal, in order to access higher-res music files. On Tidal, I ran through the TechRadar testing playlist, which features tracks from a wide range of genres. However, I also played a number of tracks from my own personal library, including some go-to tunes I use for testing audio gear.

Where appropriate, I compared the Meze Audio Alba side-by-side with the Sennheiser IE 200 on aspects such as sound quality, design, and features.

More generally, I’ve tested tons of products here at TechRadar, where I largely focus on the audio-visual segment. I’ve reviewed everything from all-action party speakers, such as the LG xboom Stage 301, through to premium IEMs, like the Sennheiser IE 600. As a result, I have a strong understanding of what is required for audio gear to stand out in a highly competitive market, and what makes a product great, rather than good.

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

Whoop MG: One minute review

I really didn’t know what to make of the Whoop MG; I loved it and disliked it in equal measure. On the one hand, it’s a brilliant fitness tool, with a simple-yet-deep interface boasting comprehensive metrics. It’s got an in-app workout builder worthy of any of the best fitness apps, and an intuitive journaling mechanism. The journal entries you record feed into your recovery and strain information in a simple, clever way.

It’s really easy to use; being screenless, you hardly interact with it at all beyond taking the occasional ECG scan or switching off its haptic alarm with a few taps. Instead, all the interaction is done via the app, with the app sending through push notifications when it’s time for bed, or when the app needs a piece of information clarified with a quick journal entry.

Despite its limited interface, it’s a sophisticated tool, packing a host of heart health features including ECG to test for atrial fibrillation (the MG in its name stands for Medical Grade) and estimated blood pressure, which requires calibration with a cuff. Its new Healthspan tool gives you the Whoop Age metric, which is similar to Fitness Age on one of the best Garmin watches, or Metabolic Age on continuous glucose monitors like Abbott’s Lingo.

On the other hand, certain aspects of the tracker stop me short from recommending it for everyone. For one thing, the price for the Whoop MG – it’s only available on its premium Life subscription, with the medical-grade heart-screening features – is extortionate.

The lower-tier wearable, the Whoop 5.0, starts at a much more reasonable £169 / $199 / AU$299 per year. For this price, you can get a Whoop One subscription, which gives you the Whoop 5.0 device but locks metrics like Stress and Whoop Age behind a paywall. Instead, you get those (along with a nicer band and the wireless charger) with a Whoop Peak membership, which costs £229 / $239 / AU$419 per year. Then at the top end you get the Whoop Life subscription plan at £349 / $359 / AU$629 per year for life, which comes with the premium Whoop MG device with heart screening and ECG features. Stop paying at any tier level, and your Whoop reverts to an inert hunk of plastic at the end of your membership.

I tested the top-tier, super-premium Whoop MG, but the hardware is fiddly at times. Unbuckling the strap causes the metal clasp to come completely detached more often than not, the alarm is hard to turn off at times, while taking ECGs failed as often as it succeeded. Looking around the web, these aren’t isolated incidents.

It’s an impressive, sophisticated fitness tracker that some people will love, but I came away disliking it. While I appreciate that some people will see the subscription-based model as a monthly health investment, at this premium tier I don’t think the value is there, unless you’re very wealthy and extremely athletic or concerned about monitoring your health. Essentially, that makes it Batman’s ideal fitness tracker.

Whoop MG: Price and availability

(Image credit: Future)

• Whoop Life (MG): £349 / $359 / AU$629 per year
• Whoop Peak (5.0): £229 / $239 / AU$419 per year
• Whoop One (5.0): £169 / $199 / AU$299 per year

The Whoop MG’s value score, from the outset, is hampered by the membership scheme, especially as Whoop promised existing members free upgrades to the 5.0, turned back on that promise, then doubled back again after user outcry.

The Whoop MG device I’m testing is only available with the Whoop Life subscription, the most expensive tier.

The Whoop 5.0, without an ECG, blood pressure or Heart Screener features and more accurate, starts at the basic Whoop One tier (£169 / $199 / AU$299 per year), which offers Strain, Recovery, Sleep, VO2 Max, heart rate zones, steps, Strength Trainer, menstrual cycle insights and journal features. However, you don’t get the Whoop MG’s premium band and wireless charger, and software features Whoop Age, Stress and Health Monitor, which are locked behind a paywall.

For an extra $40 / £60 / AU$120 per year you can get Whoop Peak, which adds those hardware and software features back in. Now, all that you’re missing are the heart health features and improved accuracy for stats like menstrual cycle insights with the improved sensor array, which you get by spending another $120 / £120 / AU$210 per year on top of the Whoop Peak price for Whoop Life (£349 / $359 / AU$629 per year).

As we’re reviewing the Whoop MG, I’ll be focusing on this most expensive price tier, and to spend this sort of money on a wearable is far from unheard of – as a one-off payment, that is. To spend it annually is mad to me. Even though the app is terrific, it would have to do everything, pack GPS for better running insights, and make my coffee in the morning for me to consider this a good deal.

Things get a little better as you go down the tiers, as once you break down the cost by month, a subscription that aids your health and fitness in the way Whoop does starts to sound more reasonable. But even the best smartwatches, many of which offer excellent fitness credentials of their own, are a one-time payment – meaning Whoop will eventually out-cost them.

• Value score: 2/5

Whoop MG: Design

(Image credit: Max Delaney / TechRadar)

• Excellent app user experience
• Totally screenless
• Poor clasp

First things first: anyone who’s seen a Whoop device before will know it’s not a smartwatch. It’s a completely screenless plastic fitness tracker with its sensor array on the underside, wrapped using a Superknit or Coreknit polyester-fabric wristband over the top of the device. A bicep Coreknit band is also available. I like the screenless design – it’s distraction-free, and very easy to wear day-to-day.

Holding it all together is a stainless-steel buckle with a crossbar on one end to hook the fabric band, and two short pins to attach to the tracking device on the other end. This was one of my main hardware frustrations: I get that you’re not supposed to take the band off that often, but when I unclipped the band the buckle came off completely maybe one out of every three times. I had to forcibly bent the metal a couple of times to get it to stay put.

The design of the app, however, is very good – it’s one of the most user-friendly fitness apps I’ve tried in a long time. It’s easy to navigate, using color and circular graphs to provide clear context for your reams of data. The workout builder and journal functionality are intuitive and feed into other metrics. The only issue I had is that when viewing detailed heart rate graphs, the app inexplicably shifts to landscape mode.

• Design score: 3.5/5

Whoop MG: Features

(Image credit: Max Delaney / TechRadar)

• Automatic workout detection
• Very detailed, comprehensive metrics
• Workout builder

Whoop’s screenless ‘set-and-forget’ tracker is possible thanks to its advanced activity detection functionalities. Once the software learns what kind of workouts you take part in most often, it’s very good at anticipating your movements, tracking and logging them as the correct workouts. Towards the end of my testing, it successfully logged running and weightlifting workouts separately, without prompting.

Speaking of weightlifting, the workout builder is intuitive and fantastic to use, both as a diary of your strength-training progress and a way for the app to better pinpoint the amount of strain the workout placed on your body. I was able to create routines in advance and assign them to workout instances, and I was able to create and edit them on the fly if I had to go up or down a weight during a lift, for example.

Only a few very specific movements were missing, such as resistance band-assisted pull-ups, but for the most part its workout library was vast and comprehensive.

The Whoop Coach AI chatbot was also surprisingly useful, putting my personal statistics into context with its library of science-based advice.

The Whoop MG has an ECG feature, automatically exporting an ECG report that you can share with a doctor. Its blood pressure detection requires prior calibration with a blood pressure cuff for it to work, then estimates your blood pressure fluctuations based on other metrics. Otherwise, your step count, calorie burn, heart rate, sleep duration and more are folded into a trio of metrics, each scored out of 100: sleep, a measure of your overall sleep quality; recovery, the percentage of which your body has recovered from exertion or stress; and strain, which is how much stress you’re putting on your body during the day.

A ‘strain threshold’ is calculated based on your recovery and activity levels, indicating how strenuous your day should and can be before it veers into detrimental territory. Detailed graphs plot your stress, relation between strain and recovery, daily heart rate and more. With such a mass of information, it would be so easy for this to become confusing, but Whoop does a great job of packing a lot of information into the app without it feeling impenetrable.

• Features score: 4/5

Whoop MG: Performance

(Image credit: Future)

• Battery life is excellent
• Accurate heart rate and sleep tracking
• Geared for optimization

I found the Whoop matched up closely during testing with other wrist-based devices such as the Apple Watch Ultra 2 when it comes to heart rate tracking: in other words, it’s as good as it gets on your wrist. The sleep tracking was also accurate, recording without fail each time I woke up in the middle of the night.

Battery life was excellent. I averaged about nine days with the Whoop MG before I needed to use the attached charger, and even then I just clipped it on while I worked at my desk, and charged the device up without taking it off.

Generally, it was a terrific device, and I enjoyed my time with the Whoop. Its metrics aren’t just detailed, they’re actionable, offering plenty of context rather than spewing forth useless numbers in a vacuum. It doesn’t just tell you your sleep score, but also how to improve it.

However, I don’t think I’m necessarily the target audience for this device – I know it’s optimal, but I do not want to go to bed at 9pm, no matter what Whoop thinks my sleep need is. As it was telling me to wind down for the night, I was ramping up: I’d worked late, cooked late, and then had to do the dishes and sort some paperwork I’d been putting off. Only changing my goals in the app from “reach my sleep need” to “improve my sleep” stopped the Whoop MG from nagging me with push notifications at 8:30pm.

Well, almost. When I did take the device off, inside of 15 minutes, and without fail, I got a push notification telling me to reattach it, which irked me to no end. This is one of the most comprehensive fitness trackers I’ve ever tried, and certainly the best option for workout and recovery tracking if you don’t care about detailed running metrics; but it’s for the optimization-obsessed, and those who can afford its exorbitant annual fees.

• Performance: 4/5

Scorecard

Category

Comment

Score

Value

The super-premium Whoop Life subscription is not great value.

2/5

Design

Wonderful app UX, so-so construction.

3.5/5

Features

Varied and comprehensive.

4/5

Performance

Detailed and usable metrics produce actionable advice

4/5

Whoop MG: Should I buy?Buy it if...

You’re obsessed with performing better

Whoop is for the truly dedicated, who want every part of their lives dialled in for elite performance.

You want distraction-free fitness

No screen? No problem. Whoop’s sleek tracker is unobtrusive and light.

Money is no object

The Whoop MG’s top-end subscription tier is very expensive.

Don't buy it if...

You’re an endurance athlete

Without GPS, Whoop can’t give you the speed and distance information you need, only the stress a run or other activity places on your body.

You’re on a budget

Obviously.

Also consider

We're currently testing the Polar Loop and Amazfit Helio Strap, both screenless fitness trackers new for 2025 pitched as Whoop competitors. Check back soon for our full reviews on both devices.

How I tested

I wore the Whoop MG for 21 days, testing its medical ECG feature, building workouts, wearing it almost constantly, asking questions of its chatbot, and exploring the app in detail. I compared it against the Apple Watch Ultra 2 on a hike, wearing one device on each wrist.

First reviewed: September 2025

Sony Bravia Projector 7 : One minute review

The Sony Bravia Projector 7 (VPL-XW5100ES) joins Sony’s projector lineup following the Bravia Projector 9 and Bravia Projector 8. It’s the cheapest of the three but still comes in at a staggering $9,999 / £6,999 / AU$13,999. Compared to popular consumer projectors like the $2,999 Hisense C2 Ultra, that is a huge leap. But the Bravia Projector 7 is specialty hardware designed for die-hard cinema fans with plans for a robust home theater, and in that context, it’s fairly priced.

Like other higher-end examples of the best projectors, the Bravia Projector 7 is somewhat simple – it’s just a projector. There’s no Google TV or other streaming platform built in, and there’s no sound system or even audio output ports. The few ports the Bravia Projector 7 does have are a pair of 4K 120Hz-capable HDMI 2.1 inputs plus a smattering of ports used for custom installation.

Though it’s just a projector, it’s a truly excellent one. It has flexible optics with a wide zoom range as well as vertical and horizontal lens shift, making it easy to align the projection. The picture you’ll get on your screen is also stunning: bright, colorful, and with the deepest black levels I can recall seeing from a projector.

While I’d love to see a wider color gamut and support for more HDR formats, these never felt like more than minor shortcomings during my time with the Bravia Projector 7, which never failed to impress. If you’re considering a projector for a dedicated, high-end home theater, it should be on your list.

Sony Bravia Projector 7 review: Price & release date

The Bravia Projector 7 features manual focus and zoom adjustments on its lens (Image credit: Future)

• Release date: June 2025
• Price: $9,999 / £6,999 / AU$13,999

The Bravia Projector 7 launch trailed behind the Projector 8 and 9, and though its price also trails behind those models, it is decidedly a luxury home theater product. The Bravia Projector 7 comes in at $9,999 / £6,999 / AU$13,999.

Sony Bravia Projector 7 review: Specs

Screen sizes supported:

90-130 inches

Brightness (specified):

2,200 Lumens

HDR support:

HDR10, HLG

Optical technology:

Laser SXRD (Silicon Crystal Reflective Display)

Smart TV:

N/A

Connections:

2x HDMI 2.1, Ethernet, USB-A, RS-232C, D-Sub 9-pin, 3.5mm (12V trigger)

Dimensions (H x W x D):

18.3 x 18.59 x 7.88 inches

Weight:

15.4 pounds (7kg)

Dials on the projector's top provide 71% vertical and 25% horizontal lens shift adjustments (Image credit: Future)Sony Bravia Projector 7 review: Design & features

The projector's connections include two HDMI 2.1 ports with 4K 120Hz and ALLM support (Image credit: Future)

• Large footprint
• No audio capabilities or smart TV
• Flexible optics

The Bravia Projector 7 is a sizable home theater projector on the scale of the Epson LS12000 and BenQ W5800. This isn’t one of those compact lifestyle projectors, and it’s even larger than some of the ultra short throw projectors I’ve tested. The upside to this size is that the Bravia Projector 7 runs quietly, and it can still fit onto a (sizable) mantle or shelf at the back of a room, but it is better suited to ceiling mounting.

Thankfully, the Bravia Projector 7 is flexible about placement. The lens has a 1.6x zoom range, letting it shift from a modest throw ratio of 1.38 to a longer 2.21. It also has vertical and horizontal lens shift, offering 71% shifting vertically and 25% horizontally in either direction. You manually adjust focus and zoom using rings around the lens, and lens shift with a set of dials hidden under a small panel on the projector’s top.

In addition to these optical adjustments, the Bravia Projector 7 supports digital keystone, though for a projector of this caliber, it’s worth just ensuring proper alignment.

On one side, the Bravia Projector 7 includes several controls in case you misplace the remote control. There is also a series of ports, though most of these are for professional features, like networking and special triggers. Two HDMI 2.1 ports will accept a 4K 120Hz input, but these are for video input only. Neither offers eARC to pass on an audio signal. And with no other form of audio output, the projector doesn’t play well with streaming sticks or even some home theater PCs if they lack a quality audio output of their own.

The Bravia Projector 7 includes a large remote control with a fully backlit keypad. It includes buttons to access preset picture profiles, along with sharpness, brightness, and contrast. A large directional control is also built into the remote and includes a toggle to let the projector display a test pattern to help line up and focus the picture.

• Design & features score: 4/5

Sony Bravia Projector 7 review: Picture quality Image 1 of 3

The Bravia Projector 7's picture is characterized by crisp 4K detail and deep blacks (Image credit: Future)Image 2 of 3

(Image credit: Future)Image 3 of 3

(Image credit: Future)

• Bright and sharp picture
• Deep blacks
• Support for 4K 120Hz

Inside, the Bravia Projector 7 is built around a laser diode light source and features a native 4K SXRD optical system. While it’s still not quite on the level of triple-laser projectors for color gamut coverage, the picture is still simply stunning. As much as I’d love to see that extra bit of color, the quality is otherwise the best I've ever seen.

Blacks on the Bravia Projector 7 are simply exceptional. I can’t recall another projector I’ve seen that so thoroughly sank into darkness when displaying shadows. Letterbox bars presented by the Bravia Projector 7 looked so dim as to be indistinguishable from the surrounding walls, which were only illuminated by the light bouncing around the room from the projector itself during my evaluation. The Bravia Projector 7 has such good black levels that you will really want to invest in some light-absorbing materials or dark paint to reduce reflected room light’s impact on the picture.

The projector also gets bright enough for various uses in the daytime, even with daylight coming in through multiple windows. Cartoons, bright video games, and even web-browsing were all possible. You won’t want to watch darker content in this environment, though. But given this is a projector intended for a specialized viewing setup, I don’t think a few blackout curtains would be a tall order.

Basic adjustments and menu nav controls are located on the side (Image credit: Future)

The Projector 7 uses Sony’s XR Processor for projector, and the resulting image is fantastically crisp, with the optics making even fine text appear clear from edge to edge. And that includes objects in motion. Panning shots looked fluid, avoiding stuttering and judder but also artifacts such as the soap opera effect that plagues many systems trying to smooth motion. The Bravia Projector 7 was also happy to game at 4K 120Hz, with smooth visuals and only faint ghosting, and its ALLM feature ensured any input lag was negligible.

Even though the HDR support doesn’t go beyond HDR10, the Projector 7’s XR Dynamic Tone Mapping provides features to enhance the look of HDR content, including three selectable tone mapping modes. An XR Deep Black feature also contributes by ensuring blacks look deep and highlights get maximum brightness punch. For example, when the earth ships decelerate as they approach Pandora in Avatar: The Way of Water, the picture looked simply stunning with the deep black of space contrasted with brilliant flames.

• Picture quality score: 4.5/5

Sony Bravia Projector 7 review: Value

(Image credit: Future)

• High price tag
• Price is still competitive for category
• Performance equivalent to competition

The Bravia Projector 7 is expensive, and you are only getting a display for the money with no speakers (or a way to output audio to speakers), and no smart platform for streaming. That may be a tough pill to swallow for some, but the Bravia Projector 7 isn’t meant for someone who wants anything less than a masterful home theater setup. And the display that you’re getting is a truly exceptional one.

There’s no getting past this being a big investment, both for the projector and for all the other elements you’ll need to make the most of the Sony Bravia Projector 7. And there are plenty of projectors that won’t look half bad next to the Bravia Projector 7 while being way less expensive.

So while it’s tough to say the Bravia Projector 7 is a great value, that still can’t undercut its greatness. And the truth is, the Bravia Projector 7 is still a bargain next to some, like the Epson QL7000, and it’s a comparably priced and worthy rival to the JVC DLA-NZ700.

• Value score: 3.5/5

Should I buy the Sony Bravia Projector 7?

(Image credit: Future)Sony Bravia Projector 7

Attributes

Notes

Rating

Design and features

Fairly huge, but it's smartly designed, and the adjustable optics allow for positioning flexibility

4/5

Picture quality

The picture quality is absolutely brilliant, and I haven’t seen such a deep black from a projector before. Its ability to run at 4K 120Hz for gaming also adds to the experience

4.5/5

Value

It’s not cheap, but the picture is great and the price is comparable to some of the other dedicated home theater projector options out there

3.5/5

Buy it if...

You want a truly gorgeous picture
The Bravia Projector 7 can provide a sharp, clean image with powerful contrast, great color, and impressive motion handling. View Deal

You have the rest of your home theater sorted
This projector requires more elements to make a complete home theater. If you’ve already got the sound, the seating, the light mitigation, and video sources in place, this is a great drop-in solution, especially with its flexible optics.View Deal

You know you’re going big with the picture
The value of a projector really soars as you move to bigger and bigger pictures. And the Bravia Projector 7 is happy to go even bigger than 100 inches while still maintaining a brilliant image.View Deal

Don't buy it if...

You just want to plunk it down in your living room
Tapping this projector’s full capabilities takes some effort. Just about any stray light or reflective surface in the room is going to degrade picture quality, and then you won’t be getting all of what you’ve paid for.View Deal

You like a simple setup
The Bravia Projector 7 is meant for complete home theater setups with an A/V receiver routing video and audio signals, and cables and wires running all over the room. If that doesn’t sound appealing, you would probably be better suited by a different projector.View Deal

You don’t like watching in a dark room
This projector’s extremely deep black levels are probably its greatest aspect, but you won’t appreciate them unless you black out your room almost completely. If you prefer watching with some lights on, look instead for a brighter model designed to work in a range of lighting conditions. View Deal

Also considerComparison: projectors

Sony Bravia Projector 7

Epson Pro Cinema LS12000

Hisense C2 Ultra

JVC DLA-NZ700

Price:

$9,999

$5,000

$2,999

$8.999

Screen sizes supported:

90 to 130 inches

50 to 130 inches

65-300 inches

30 to 150 inches

Brightness (specified):

2,400 lumens

2,500 lumens

3,000 lumens

2,300 lumens

HDR support

HDR10, HLG

HDR10, HDR10+, HLG

Dolby Vision, HDR10+, HLG

HDR10, HDR10+, HLG

Optical technology:

Laser SXRD

Laser 3LCD

RGB Laser DLP

Laser D-ILA

Smart TV:

n/a

n/a

Vidaa OS

n/a

Connections:

2x HDMI 2.1

2x HDMI 2.1 (1 with eARC)

2x HDMI 2.1 (1 with eARC)

2x HDMI 2.0

Epson LS12000

The Epson LS12000 falls into a similar category as the Bravia Projector 7. It’s similarly large, but it’s significantly less expensive. It also supports eARC, potentially simplifying setup for users who won’t opt for an A/V receiver. Its picture is also stunning, though less colorful. It also features similar optical adjustments, helping with setup simplicity.

Read our Epson LS12000 review View Deal

Hisense C2 Ultra

If you’re wondering what you can get for a fraction of the price, the Hisense C2 Ultra is the perfect example. It’s incredibly bright, almost obscenely colorful (even more so than the Bravia), thanks to its triple-laser light source, and quite versatile. It supports a beautiful 4K image, but can also switch over to 1080p/240Hz visuals for gaming. And it has built-in speakers and Google TV for all-in-one capabilities. It may not be as pixel-perfect a projector as the Bravia Projector 7, but it’s a stunning projector nonetheless.

Read our Hisense C2 Ultra reviewView Deal

JVC DLA-NZ700

For $1,000 less, this projector gives you a very similar machine with excellent imagery, deep blacks, potent HDR capabilities, and a competitive color gamut. You’ll miss out on 4K 120Hz capabilities, though, and getting this projector’s 97% DCI-P3 color gamut requires enabling a filter that reduces brightness.

Read our JVC DLA-NZ700 reviewView Deal

How I tested the Sony Bravia Projector 7

• Tested at home in multiple, real-world viewing conditions
• Presented the display with a variety of media and formats
• I have tested numerous projectors and displays over the last half-decade

I tested the Sony Bravia Projector 7 at home, in real-world conditions. This saw it faced with ambient light coming in from numerous windows, and in-room lighting,. The projector was tested both against a bare, white wall and an Akia Screens CineWhite screen. It was presented with streamed content, HDR and non-HDR, and PC gameplay.

My testing evaluates the projector’s performance with respect to its price and competition from other models I and colleagues at TechRadar have tested.

I have been testing projectors since 2021 and displays for even longer.

• First reviewed: September 2025
• Read TechRadar's review guarantee

Cooler Master Tempest GP2711: Two-minute review

Between various budget and more premium gaming monitor offerings within the 27-inch 1440p market, the Cooler Master Tempest GP2711 could serve as a fine middle-ground.

Its $499 / UK £429 / AU $999 price point and capabilities are good enough to please anyone on both sides of the spectrum, while image quality looks fantastic thanks to the display's quantum dot technology.

When viewing content or gaming in SDR or HDR, the high 600 nits brightness makes colors pop, especially thanks to the 99% sRGB and 95% DCI-P3 color gamut coverage. Once you add nice contrast and deep blacks into the mix, the GP2711 has so much going for it.

Gaming performance is more than enough to satisfy enthusiasts and aspiring e-sports gamers as well. Having a max 165Hz refresh rate alongside 1ms response time should be more than enough for intense sessions of Fortnite or Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III.

For its variable refresh rate solution, the GP2711 is compatible with AMD FreeSync to prevent screen tearing. Then there are other features like an on-screen crosshair and other types of overlays.

Though it lacks a few contemporary features of the very best gaming monitors, the GP2711 offers some solid extras. Gamers and streamers will be happy to know that it has KVM capabilities, which allow users to use the same keyboard and mouse to control two different devices without the need for an extra monitor.

While having built-in speakers are always a plus, the ones in the GP2711 offer fairly disappointing audio quality but are good enough for looking at YouTube videos or social content in a quiet room from time to time.

Taken all together, then, the Cooler Master Tempest GP2711 should be on any gamer's shortlist if they want to pick up one of the best 1440p monitors on the market right now.

Cooler Master Tempest GP2711: Price & availability

(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)

• How much is it? $499 / UK £429 / AU $999
• When is it available? It is available now
• Where can you buy it? You can buy it in the US, UK, and Australia

The Cooler Master Tempest GP2711 is currently available across the U.S., UK, and AU for $499 / UK £429 / AU $999, respectively. Outside of the usual online retailers like Amazon and Newegg, the gaming monitor can be purchased through various links on the Cooler Master website in various territories.

At its price, the GP2711 serves as the best bang-for-buck purchase for anyone on a budget looking for a 27-inch 1440p gaming monitor.

• Value: 4.5 / 5

Cooler Master Tempest GP2711: Specs

(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)Cooler Master Tempest GP2711 specifications

Screen size

27-inch

Aspect ratio

16:9

Resolution

2560x1440

Brightness

600 nits (Typical)

Response time

4ms (GtG), 1ms (MPRT)

Viewing angle

178°/178°

Contrast ratio

3000:1 (Typ.), 3,000,000:1 (HDR)

Color support

DCI-P3 95%, Adobe RGB 93.5%, sRGB 99%, 130% Area Ratio

Inputs

2X HDMI 2.0 / 1X DisplayPort 1.4 / 1X USB-B/ 2X USB-A / 1X USB-C / 3.5mm headset jack

Weight

14lbs

Cooler Master Tempest GP2711: Design

(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)

• Easy setup
• Spins into portrait mode
• Fairly plain looking

From putting it together to using it day-to-day, the Cooler Master Tempest GP2711 blends ease of use with functionality. All users have to do is connect the base to the neck and both clip onto the back panel.

At 14lbs, it’s pretty easy to lug around as well. It's fairly adjustable with swivel, height, and pivot poseability. In addition, you can also spin the display 90 degrees to put it into portrait mode.

To power the GP2711, there’s a small brick adapter that doesn’t feel long enough, but it gets the job done in connecting to the power port on the back panel.

(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)

Other ports include two HDMI 2.0 ports, one DisplayPort 1.4 port, one upstream USB-B port, two USB-A ports, one USB-C, and a 3.5mm headset jack. This is a good enough port setup for multiplatform gamers with additional consoles or streamers due to KVM, which is accessible through the power button.

The small thumbstick on the back allows navigation of the in-display menu. Here, users can change various settings like color, HDR, volume control for the built-in speakers, features like adaptive sync, and more. Moving around in the menu feels good between the speedy software and the thumbstick.

The overall black design is fairly boring but works well enough. Don’t expect any fancy RGB lighting or the like. The actual display screen features thin right, left, and top bezels alongside the larger logo chin. The back is slightly bulky, but that’s due to a unique heatsink and thermal back cover that reduces the need for fans.

• Design: 4 / 5

Cooler Master Tempest GP2711: Features

(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)

• KVM capabilities
• No genre-specific color presets
• Built-in speakers aren't great

Don’t expect a ton of features on the Cooler Master Tempest GP2711, but there are some noteworthy extras.

The built-in speakers are nothing special, as they don’t get really loud and aren’t sonically nuanced for finer audio. The speakers have a hollow sound that’s good enough to watch an occasional YouTube video and the like in a quiet room, but even on a casual level, most PC gamers will have some type of gaming headset, so this isn't really a dealbreaker.

If your audio setup isn’t already connected to their desktop, the GP2711 has a 3.5mm headphone jack for audio output.

KVM allows users to use a keyboard and mouse across two devices, and this is a huge deal for streamers. It works pretty well, and users can hit the thumbstick right for various ways to utilize the feature, including USB-B and USB-C.

The thumbstick also reveals various overlay modes you can use, including different crosshairs for better aiming when playing shooters, a frames-per-second monitor, and a timer for speedruns.

Don’t expect anything outside of that, though. There aren’t any genre-specific color settings or modes, so gamers who have particular color settings when playing League of Legends compared to Call of Duty: Warzone are going to manually make in-display adjustments for each game, which could be problematic.

• Features: 4 / 5

Cooler Master Tempest GP2711: Performance

(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)

If the Cooler Master Tempest GP2711 doesn’t knock everything out of the park, its highlight is both image quality and gaming performance.

When Cooler Master called this gaming monitor a “Play-Work-Movie Solution,” they weren’t playing. Off the rip, the 600 nits brightness goes a long way in providing remarkable image quality for both SDR and HDR. Colors are bold, crisp, and the contrast is just right.

Playing visually arresting games with great art design like Alan Wake II, The Legend of Kenzera: ZAU, and Children of the Sun, among others, look stunning, and these visuals do a lot to help immersion.

Most importantly, having a high brightness allows the GP2711 to look phenomenal regardless of lighting conditions in a room. As mentioned previously, the gaming monitor doesn’t have any genre-specific settings, which means color correction will have to be done before playing a particular game, but thankfully, the default settings are more than good enough for a wide range of genres.

Gamers who are also content creators will also like the GP2711's 99% sRGB and 95% DCI-P3 color gamut coverage. This means color accuracy is pretty nice when using Adobe Suite software like Photoshop and Premiere Pro. Meanwhile, watching video content on the GP2711 was a great experience with deep blacks and sharp contrast.

Gaming performance is impressive with its 165Hz refresh rate alongside response time that sits between 4ms (GtG) and 1ms (MPRT). The GP2711 is good enough of a display to play more competitive games like Fortnite or Marvel Rivals. Using a controller or keyboard and mouse for various games felt buttery smooth without any noticeable latency.

When it comes to games pushing image quality and performance, even games like Forza Motorsport handle both well. Having AMD FreeSync compatibility also does a fine job in preventing screen tearing, too. For its very accessible price point, the GP2711 means absolute business.

• Performance: 4.5 / 5

Should I buy the Cooler Master Tempest GP2711?Cooler Master Tempest GP2711 Scorecard

Notes

Rating

Value

$499 is a good sweet spot for the Cooler Master Tempest GP2711 while having just enough extras.

4.5/ 5

Design

Design is fairly boring but set-up is easy, has plenty of ports and navigating the in-display menu is nice.

4/ 5

Features

The GP2711 isn't as feature rich as many other monitors, but it has some great features that streamers will love.

4 / 5

Performance

Image quality in SDR and HDR is pretty respectable for its price. Meanwhile, performance works splendidly thanks to a 165Hz refresh rate.

4.5/ 5

Final score

The Cooler Master Tempest GP2711 plays a good middle ground between price and functionality making it a serious recommendation.

4.25 / 5

  Buy the Cooler Master Tempest GP2711 if… 

You need a great 1440p gaming monitor at a great price
The Cooler Master Tempest GP2711 is definitely something to keep on your shortlist if you're on a tighter budget.

You want KVM capability
Not all gaming monitors have KVM, but for those who need to work between devices quickly, it really is essential.

You want great image quality and performance
The GP2711 makes good use of mini-LED and high brightness for fantastic image quality. Add great response time and a 165Hz refresh rate, and this is great for those just getting into esports.

 Don’t buy it if… 

You want better built-in speakers
The speakers on the GP2711 aren't loud and aren't really good.

You need the extras that come with other monitors
Outside of KVM and some graphic overlays, this doesn't offer much in the way of added features.

Also Consider

Gigabyte GS32QC
If you're on a tighter budget and want solid 1440p gaming, the Gigabyte GS32QC is a great option for a much lower price.

Read the full Gigabyte GS32QC review

Asus ROG Strix XG27ACS
If you're looking for the best overall 1440p gaming monitor for a reasonable price, the Asus ROG Strix XG27ACS offers exactly what you need without many of the more expensive bells and whistles.

Read the full Asus ROG Strix XG27ACS review

How I tested the Cooler Master Tempest GP2711:

During the two weeks I used the Cooler Master Tempest GP2711, it was my day-to-day monitor for daily activities like browsing with Google Chrome and using Slack for communication purposes. I also used it for work purposes, editing documents with Google Docs, managing projects via Asana, and coordinating social media activities using tools like Hootsuite.

To assess the overall image quality, I played visually rich games like Alan Wake II, The Legend of Kenzera: ZAU, and Children of the Sun. To test performance and gaming enhancement features I relied mostly on titles like Fortnite and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III.

I’ve spent the past several years covering monitors alongside other PC components for Techradar, among many other publications, so I am very well equipped to assess the strengths and weaknesses of a gaming monitor like this.

• First reviewed September 2025

Rippling is a one-stop software solution that lets businesses manage their HR needs along with providing a series of add-ons that can help improve efficiency.

This particular piece of software, Rippling HCM, is Rippling’s HR software. It does everything it says on the tin, from keeping tabs on worker stats to handling time off and timesheets.

Alongside HR, there are several benefits administration features within this all-in-one platform augmented by payroll and talent management tools.

Adding wider appeal is the way that Rippling lets you expand the feature set to include IT products, with the option for managing employee apps such as Slack and Gmail.

• Want to try Rippling? Check out the website here

The IT aspect of Rippling gets an extra boost from the ability of the software to handle device management. Employee computers, software and security can all be administered using this innovative software package.

On a practical level, Rippling offers lots of flexibility as you can scale it up to include as many add-ons as you think your business needs, with pricing that adjusts accordingly.

Rippling: Pricing

Rippling is a bit cagey about pricing, which can often be perceived as a red flag.

You can take one of many approaches, beginning with the Rippling Platform. This is an all-in-one solution to workforce, payment and compliance management.

There are Core and Pro tiers, but most functionality is generally covered in the Core option unless you need advanced reporting and custom workflows.

Unlimited workflows, custom apps and Rippling’s API platform to connect with over 600 third-party apps and integrations are three separate add-ons, but like the subscriptions, the company won’t actually disclose how much they are.

Other than that, you can pick different modules within Rippling HCM, IT and Spend, so if your business may be on the smaller side and you need to piece together the important bits that you can afford, this is the way to go.

Of course, once you get to the point that you’ve included most features, you’ll be better off bundling them together into the Rippling Platform subscription.

(Image credit: Rippling)Rippling: Features

Rippling’s software suite is mostly targeted at larger companies with bigger turnovers – it has a whole range of finance and people-related tools, and as such, costs can climb.

In terms of its HR software, it handles all the core elements that you’d expect from good HR software, like employee onboarding and offboarding, document management, leave and time off tracking, scheduling with support for clocking in and out, and time sheets.\

Its automation tools are particularly strong compared with other similar software, promising to speed up repetitive processes like onboarding.

Rather handily, Rippling HR also has an employee self-service portal, which helps ease the burden on HR teams who can make workers responsible for their own tracking.

The Employee Management Platform sits at the heart of Rippling and comes armed with a variety of tools, while also providing a unified employee database structure. Admins can carry out task management from here, keep tabs on workflow and approvals, perform reporting chores and customize other areas such as fields and alerts along with position management.

(Image credit: Rippling)

Move on through the HR management aspect of Rippling and you’ll find the capacity for carrying out full service payroll too.

In the US, this means federal, state and local tax filing, W2, W4, 1099 and new hire filing are all covered.

In addition, benefits administration chores are covered, with management of medical, dental, vision and 401K areas all capable of being handled. Employees can also be given the option of utilizing online self-service features.

Where Rippling’s software stands out against many others in this space is just how much it has to offer across the whole board. For example, HR and IT can work together on device management for better inventory, access permissions and general device management.

It also works with Rippling’s payroll software for expense management, corporate card issuance, bill paying and more.

Rippling: Ease of use

Everyday employee management tasks are easy to handle thanks to the lean, almost minimalistic interface, which offers speedy performance even when you’re navigating more complex data heavy areas such as running payroll and collating detailed reports.

Rippling also benefits from its easy integration with over 400 different apps, allowing you to add in extra functionality and speed up workflow with very little effort.

Full marks should go to the team who developed the Rippling interface as it’s got a great look and feel – customers often praise its intuitive design.

The overall design is slick, easy to use and feels bang up to date. This makes working with the feature set very easy indeed, with a central dashboard area that lets you dip into core features instantly.

(Image credit: Rippling)

The main menu offers quickfire access to key areas of Rippling, such as people, apps, tasks and reporting, while the central work area offers up a reassuringly straightforward overview of the task in hand.

We also love the single sign on option, which lets users pick from their list of apps in one location. Add it all together and the Rippling user experience proves to be wonderfully fuss free.

Once you’re in, setting up automations take a bit of thinking, but they’ll save you plenty of time in the long run.

The mobile experience seems pretty solid for everyday tasks carried out by workers, but admins will definitely want to access the full desktop version.

Rippling: Support

There are all of the usual support options available to customers of Rippling, with subscribed users being able to log into a dedicated help center.

The support pages also include useful guides, webinars and documentation, so if you’re happy with self-service then you should be able to find the answer in Rippling’s comprehensive library.

You’ll find that the support is basically divided down the middle, with an option for administrators who handle all things Rippling for a company able to get help via the center mentioned above.

Meanwhile, employees who make use of Rippling’s features and functions and who need support are encouraged to contact the designated Rippling administrator at their place of employment.

Getting hold of support could be a bit easier, in our opinion. Th4ere’s an online chat pop-up and a form, but no email address or phone number.

(Image credit: Rippling)Rippling: Final verdict

Rippling is a great proposition if you’re a business that’s looking to streamline your HR workflow along with other administration tasks. With its slick interface, flexible package options and keen pricing there’s plenty to like about Rippling.

In recent years, we’ve seen plenty of investment into the platform, with genuinely useful improvements like automation and even new tools altogether.

While the costs might start to add up as you add on features, including the likes of the payroll and app management aspects of the software, the resulting increase in productivity looks like it could produce a decent return on your investment.

We think it’s a strong choice for medium to large organizations, or smaller ones that expect to scale. It offers the most value to those who want to centralize administrative tools and have them work with each other without barriers.

The best bit about this arrangement is that you’ll only end up paying for the features that you need, with the provision for adding more easily if you find your business needs them further down the line.

• We've also highlighted the best HR software