TechRadar Reviews

Beyerdynamic Aventho 300: Two-minute review

The Beyerdynamic Aventho 300 are a fantastic pair of wireless headphones. Using the same drivers as the company’s studio-oriented DT 700 Pro X and DT 900 Pro X, the sound quality will make you feel like you’ve taken a blanket off your music, especially if you’re upgrading from a cheaper, lesser model. And they’re as feature-filled as any other model at this price point.

I believe that, since their release this year, they belong in the conversation for the best wireless headphones. They do fall slightly short of the active noise cancellation (ANC) you find with the likes of Bose and Sony flagships. But, they still fare very well. And again, they sound fantastic. On top of that, the battery life is very, very good.

There are a couple aspects that hold the Beyerdynamic Aventho 300 from being perfect. For instance, the ear pads are tough to remove – an issue if you’re worried about potential wear and tear. And, the main way to control audio on the headphones is a touchpad on the right ear. It’s innovative, but slow to respond and comes with a bit of a learning curve. Since I generally use my phone or computer for adjusting things like volume and forwarding / rewinding, it’s not a dealbreaker. Still, it’s annoying.

At the end of the day, however, the pros vastly outweigh the cons.

(Image credit: Future) Beyerdynamic Aventho 300: Price and release date

• Announced September 9 2024, available from November 2024
• Costs $399.99 / £359.00 (about AU$640)

No doubt about it, the Beyerdynamic Aventho 300 are among the more premium options out there when it comes to wireless headphones. They go for $399.99 / £359.00 (about AU$640), which is more than the Sony WH-1000XM5 and their price of £380 / $399 / AU$649. Both are fantastic sounding headphones. Of course, the Aventho 300 fold up and have faster Bluetooth connectivity, but the WH-1000XM5 have class-leading ANC.

There are even more expensive options out there such as the $899 / £599-priced Dali IO-8 or the $549 / £549 / AU$899-priced Apple AirPods Max where you’re paying for the name or premium materials as much as anything else. The Beyerdynamic Aventho 300, therefore, are well-priced for what they are and offer good value, but are not a steal.

Beyerdynamic Aventho 300 review: Specs Beyerdynamic Aventho 300 review: Features

(Image credit: Future)

• Very useable EQ and presets
• Plenty of accessibility in the app
• Has multipoint connectivity and lossless codecs

As far as features go, the only thing missing from the Beyerdynamic Aventho 300 is some kind of personalised, augmented sound profile. That said, there is more than enough flexibility available in the app to adjust the EQ. Not only are there six different presets to choose from, including “neutral” interestingly (more on why that’s necessary for some later), but there’s also a five-band graphic EQ with the ability to boost or cut up to six dB where you can save your preferred EQ curve.

Speaking of the app, there’s much more on tap, including playing around with different levels of ANC and ambient mode as well as turning Dolby Atmos and head tracking on. The ANC and ambient modes have five levels of sensitivity and work pretty well, either blocking out sound or letting you hear your surroundings. They’re not quite class-leading, but unless your neighbours or colleagues are especially raucous, you’ll probably be happy with them.

In the app, you can also turn on/off a voice assistant as well as adjust what the internal voice prompt announces. For example, I like hearing the battery level when I turn on the headphones, but I don’t want to hear which codec is being used during the first few seconds of the first song I listen to.

The app also allows toggling things like auto shutdown, sidetone, and LED brightness. There’s even a touch guide to show how to use the touchpad on the side of the headphones.

Though you won’t see it in the app, multipoint connectivity is available. It’s also worth noting that there’s AAC and aptX lossless (and adaptive) support.

(Image credit: Future)

• Features score: 4.5/5

Beyerdynamic Aventho 300 review: Design

• Aesthetically pleasing if a bit bulky
• Touchpad has a learning curve and has inconsistent sensitivity
• Has a very long battery life

The chunky design of the Beyerdynamic Aventho 300 is aesthetically pleasing while still looking very similar to the majority of over-ear headphones out there. Available in Black and Nordic Grey (reviewed here), the whole thing from the earcups to the head band and all the plush materials are the same color with the exception of the metal (presumably aluminum) yoke and the model name emblazoned on the left earcup – silver on the Nordic Grey model and Nordic Grey on the Black model.

The ergonomics are solid as the ear cups are angled to sit more naturally on the side of the face, though the amount the headband can extend seems like it might not be enough for big heads. The ear pads and headband are covered in a faux leather that’s not the most breathable, but is comfortable enough. I can definitely wear these for a while without feeling fatigued, but they’re not the cream of the crop when it comes to comfort. On top of that, the clamping force is a bit strong, so if you’re sensitive to that, you might need to stretch them out just a bit.

(Image credit: Future)

The controls consist of a power button that also pairs via Bluetooth, a button to cycle through ANC, ANC off, and transparency mode, and the touch pad I’ve mentioned which covers the entire flat portion of the right ear cup. This capacitive area allows an assortment of controls from volume control, skipping through songs, answering calls, and the like via tapping and gesturing in the appropriate directions. It’s a good idea, but takes a bit to learn. More importantly, the sensitivity seems inconsistent, so sometimes I have to gesture more than once to get the headphones to react to what I want to do. This is probably the area where these headphones could use the most fine tuning for successive models.

At least the battery life is long, as you can get 50 hours with ANC on – and ANC has a tendency to drain the battery. After about 10 hours of listening, I had 80% battery life left without charging back up. Considering they charge via USB-C, 10 minutes of charging gets about five hours of play.

• Design score: 4.5/5

(Image credit: Future) Beyerdynamic Aventho 300 review: Sound quality

• Seemingly neutral but has prominent bass and slightly hyped high-end
• Decently wide soundstage
• Dolby Atmos and head tracking work well

If you don’t feel like reading the next 200ish words, just know that the Beyerdynamic Aventho 300 sound really good. Since these headphones share the same Stellar.45 drivers that the company introduced in its studio-focused DT 700 Pro X and DT 900 Pro X headphones, the frequency range leans towards a very clean, high-headroom experience that on first listen almost sounds neutral the way a pair of headphones meant for the studio sounds.

After spending a little time listening to all sorts of genres from Rock to Hip Hop and Folk, the nuances become a little more obvious. First of all, even though the sound comes across as clean and even, it’s actually quite bass heavy (note that the frequency range goes as low as 5Hz), especially nearing the sub-bass region. Any Rock or Alternative tracks I listen to become very bass prominent even though the genres are generally more mid-focused.

Of course, it’s a testament to the quality of the drivers that you get such prominent bass while still hearing everything else clearly.

(Image credit: Future)

The high-end is also a little hyped, which adds a bit to the clarity. But, it’s not so prominent to be in-your-face or painful. In the EQ modes I mentioned earlier, the neutral setting actually boosts the mid-range just a tad while bringing the low-end down quite a bit and the high-end a dB or two.

The soundstage is just as stellar. It feels wide enough to make me feel like I’m sitting on stage with the musicians. Far off elements are well-placed so that I get a really immersive sense of space. Now, they’re not the widest sounding headphones ever, but they sit at a sweet spot between intimate and concert hall.

Since there’s Dolby Atmos support, I should mention that it’s a nice touch. However, it is a virtual spatial audio so everything just sounds like there’s just a bit more reverb. While more dimensional, it doesn’t really add much to the experience unless watching a movie or show. I feel the same way about the headtracking that can be enabled. It works well if that matters to you.

• Sound quality: 5/5

(Image credit: Beyerdynamic) Beyerdynamic Aventho 300 review: Value

• Pricing is about what one would expect for flagship wireless headphones
• Paying for consistency
• Comes with a hard shell and softshell case

As a value proposition, the Beyerdynamic Aventho 300 are good but not great. As previously mentioned, they're not that much more than the Sony WH-1000XM5 and are comparable in a lot of ways, with some aspects being slightly better and others slightly worse. You can spend much more for models that aren’t really any better. But you can spend much less and still get very good-sounding headphones.

However, Beyerdynamic headphones are consistently great, so you’re paying for that to a degree the way you do with Apple when it comes to phones or laptops. At least, you get a nice hard shell case and drawstring bag out of the deal.

• Value: 4/5

Should I buy the Beyerdynamic Aventho 300? Buy them if…

You want excellent, polished sound quality
Not only do the Beyerdynamic Aventho 300 sound great, but they sound polished like they’re meant for the studio. Somehow, they still have a large bass response.

You want something a little different but just as good
If you want to get something a little different than everyone else without sacrificing quality, these headphones have it all from sound quality to feature set.

Don’t buy them if…

You’re looking for a best-value buy
While they’re priced appropriately, the Beyerdynamic Aventho 300 are not cheap. So, if you’re looking to get the bang for your buck, there are other options to consider.

You want easy controls
Though the capacitive touchpad on the right earcup is a good idea, it could be executed just a little bit better (it’s not bad, just inconsistent).

Beyerdynamic Aventho 300 review: Also consider

Cambridge Audio Melomania P100
The Cambridge Audio Melomania P100 don’t have the best ANC and lose the proprietary spatial audio. However, they’re great value and not just because they’re a bit cheaper. Since they come at a lower price point, they focus on what matters most – and that’s excellent sound quality. Also, the battery life is excellent
Read our full Cambridge Audio Melomania P100 review

Sony WH-1000XM5
The Sony WH-1000XM5 are still considered one of the best, if not the best, over-ear wireless headphones. The sound quality is excellent, the app is easy to use, and, most importantly, the ANC and ambient features are still virtually unparalleled. Only thing is they’re minimally better than their lower-priced and still available predecessor.
Read our full Sony WH-1000XM5 review

(Image credit: Future) How I tested the Beyerdynamic Aventho 300

• Tested over two weeks
• Tested with different music as well as video streaming
• Tested every feature meticulously

I spent a few weeks using the Beyerdynamic Aventho 300 as my daily headphones. While using them, I listened to all sorts of genres from electronic and hip-hop to rock and acoustic music to compare the frequency range and soundstage. I also tested them with streaming video and used the various settings such as ANC, ambient mode, and EQ.

After testing, it seems that the Beyerdynamic Aventho 300 are best suited for those wanting a mostly neutral audiophile-like experience in a set of wireless headphones without sacrificing on features.

I’ve spent the last few years reviewing audio equipment and have spent even longer using my critical ear as a listener and musician to understand what does and doesn’t sound good.

• First reviewed in December 2024

• Read TechRadar's reviews guarantee

Orico O7000: One-minute review

Although we’re technically in the PCIe 5.0 era of storage, it’s really been a golden age for PCIe 4.0 SSDs thanks to a plethora of choices, such as the Orico O7000, which is positioned as a drive with high-end performance for a midrange price.

This PCIe 4.0 SSD ranges from 512GB to 4TB, and for this review we’re taking the 1TB model for a spin. Rated for 7000MB/s in reads and 6500MB/s in writes, the O7000 isn’t quite at the top-end of PCIe 4.0 storage (which would be the Samsung 990 Pro), but it’s close.

What makes this drive particularly interesting is its current $69 price (about £55/AU$100), which is relatively low nowadays for a drive of this caliber.

Compared to top-end PCIe 4.0 SSDs like the FireCuda 530R from Seagate and the MP600 Pro NH from Corsair, the O7000 is just a shade slower for the most part, and often ties the two drives.

However, when writing lots of data to the O7000 (like if you’re moving all your game installations to it), its performance easily bogs down and becomes extremely slow.

The O7000 1TB also has a weakness in that other brands offer the same SSD hardware under different names, and these drives can sometimes be cheaper, but sales pricing is always a fickle thing.

For now, though, the O7000 is the cheapest option for this hardware, and its performance makes it one of the best values in PCIe 4.0 storage.

Orico O7000: Price & availability

(Image credit: Future / Matthew Connatser)

• How much does it cost? From $69 (about £55/AU$100)
• When is it out? Available now
• Where can you get it? Available in the US, with UK and Australia availability pending

The O7000 is currently available on Amazon and Newegg, though at the time of writing, Amazon only offers the 1TB model, while Newegg also has the 2TB and 4TB variants in stock. The 1TB model costs $59, the 2TB $93, and the 4TB $196. The 2TB is currently the best deal on a dollar per GB basis, but since SSD prices can easily go up or down, it’s unclear how long this will be true for.

At $59 for the 1TB model, it’s significantly cheaper than other flagship PCIe 4.0 drives like Seagate’s FireCuda 530R and Corsair’s MP600 Pro NH, which cost $94 and $84 respectively for the 1TB version. It’s also much cheaper than older PCIe 5.0 SSDs, such as the $169 FireCuda 540 1TB.

Orico O7000: Specs Orico O7000: Performance

(Image credit: Future / Matthew Connatser)

Overall, the O7000 shows good, but not perfect, performance. The 530R and MP600 Pro NH were faster for the most part, but in nearly every single test the O7000 nipped on their heels. There were even a few instances where the O7000 tied or beat the Seagate and Corsair drives.

A particularly bright spot for the O7000 is its thermal performance and efficiency. It only maxed out at 50 degrees Celsius, far lower than the three other SSDs we tested. That makes the O7000 a decent candidate for laptops and handheld PCs, which often lack good SSD cooling.

Of course, more heat occurs because of higher power consumption, so the O7000 is a low-power drive too, another reason to choose it for a battery-powered device.

The FireCuda 540 was of course in its own league, but it costs about twice as much and benefits from active cooling, something the O7000 definitely doesn’t need.

However, the O7000’s biggest weakness is in sustained writes. All SSDs suffer from lowered writing performance the less free space they have, but the O7000 can see its performance drop to as low as 150MB/s. However, it’s rare to come across this situation in the real world since it requires tens or hundreds of gigabytes of large files being moved to an SSD.

Orico O7000: Verdict

(Image credit: Future / Matthew Connatser)

While the O7000 1TB isn’t perfect, its overall performance is very close to what you get with the FireCuda 530R 2TB and MP600 Pro NH 2TB. With a substantially lower price tag of $69, that makes the O7000 a better deal for the most part. If you’re looking for a new boot drive on a budget or if you just want some fast, secondary storage, the O7000 is a sensible choice.

However, the SSD that the O7000 1TB is based on is also made by other brands, including TeamGroup with its MP44. There’s really no reason to buy the more expensive drive since they’re essentially identical, but that works in Orico’s favor right now since the O7000 is cheaper.

The O7000 2TB is an especially good deal right now, going for just $93, which isn’t much more than lots of 1TB drives. Spending the extra $34 to get double the storage and the same performance makes the O7000 2TB especially appealing versus the 1TB model, though we don’t know how long this will hold since SSD prices can change quite frequently (and have done so as this review was in progress).

Should you buy the Orico O7000 Buy the Orico O7000 if...

You need fast storage on a budget
The O7000 has nearly top-end performance for a PCIe 4.0 SSD, and should work fine for just about anyone.

You want a cool and efficient SSD
The O7000 consumes very little power, which means longer battery life on mobile devices and low temperatures even without a heatsink.

Don't buy it if...

You need top-end performance period
The O7000 isn’t quite as fast as other PCIe 4.0 SSDs and stumbles in sustained writing.

You can find another SSD with the same hardware for less
There are a few SSDs out there that use the same components, such as TeamGroup’s MP44 and Lexar’s NM790. They’re essentially identical, so if they’re cheaper, just get one of those instead.

How I tested the Orico O7000

Although Intel’s new Core Ultra 200 Series has technically replaced last-gen 14th Gen CPUs, I’m using my LGA 1700 test bench for SSD testing, rather than an LGA 1851 test bench.

This is because SSDs run on Arrow Lake CPUs actually perform significantly worse than on 14th Gen CPUs. We’re not entirely sure why this is the case, but in order to show our SSDs’ best possible performance, we have to use Intel’s last-gen CPUs.

The LGA 1700 test bench is equipped with the Core i9-14900K, ASRock’s Z790 Taichi Lite motherboard, 32GB of DDR5 clocked to 5600MHz, and Corsair’s H170i iCUE LINK liquid cooler with a 420mm radiator. We also tested the Firecuda 530R, Firecuda 540, and MP600 Pro NH for comparison.

AndaSeat X-Air Pro Mesh: Two-minute review

AndaSeat's playing an intriguing game with this one. The X-Air Series Mesh line actually features two base models to choose from straight out of the gate, the X-Air and the X-Air Pro. The X-Air starts at $369 / around £290, and the X-Air Pro comes in at the $419 / around £329 mark. Both are only available from its store right now. The big difference between the two? Well, it's mostly down to colorways, the base, and the armrests.

With the Pro, you get 5D rests (more on that later), an aluminum base, and access to two additional colorways. The Celeste model, which I got to test, is a black mesh solution with a purple ombre back finish, and the Twilight, with a pinkish ombre back but with a white mesh rather than the black we see here.

The stock X-Air gets more traditional 4D armrests, along with a stock adjustable tilt system, plus an iron base, and is only available in black throughout. Yet, to be frank, that's still the one I'd recommend you pick up if you're torn between the two. Not only because of the savings but because those more traditional armrests are far superior to the 5D devils that you get on the X-Air Pro.

Why are they such an issue? Simply put, they're just too confusing. They slip, slide, and shunt in so many directions and rotate in so many different ways that it makes it incredibly hard for them to support you if you push against them. Rest your arms on top; sure, you'll be fine, but otherwise they've really lost some of that critical function that makes a good armrest; it's elements like this that really detract from the overall score, and keep it a step away from becoming one of the more comfortable gaming chairs available today.

(Image credit: Future)

As for its build process, well, you're going to absolutely want a second pair of hands to help out here, that's for sure. AndaSeat's manual is detailed enough, and the included bits and bolts are plenty abound, but the way it wants you to angle and align some of the (seriously heavy) parts just to secure them together is honestly mildly insane.

The ergonomics too are curious; it's got solid lumbar built-in and a decent headrest, and the mesh itself is supportive enough (even despite lacking any padding underneath), yet it's incredibly difficult to adjust or even know what you're doing when you start using it. That can make the initial experience with it quite a bit of a turn-off. There's an argument to be had that it is adjustable and with enough time, effort, energy, and reading the manual you'll get there, but this is something that should just be intuitive straight out of the box, which sadly it's not.

It might sound like I'm just wailing on this thing, but it's still an ok proposition if you're looking for a sleek, comfortable gaming chair that'll fit right into an office environment too. Alright, it might not make it as one of the best gaming chairs around, but credit where credit's due; comfort is impressive, and it does what it meant to: keep you cool over long gaming sessions while being ergonomically supportive. But, and it's a big but, there are still a number of better options out there at this price point.

AndaSeat X-Air Pro Mesh: Price and availability

• List price: $419
• No Amazon or UK availability
• Limited Colorways

Right now, if you're looking to pick up your own Mesh X-Air, you're likely going to find it a challenge if you're anywhere but the US. Stateside is the only place you can easily pick one of these up, and only directly from AndaSeat's website.

You can grab either the X-Air or the X-Air Pro in one of three colorways. The X-Air is limited to an all-black run, whereas the Pro also has access to a white mesh with an ombre back and a black mesh variation of that as well. The Pro also comes with AndaSeat's 5D Armrests, along with an aluminum base, and a self-adjusting tilt system, although I'll cover all that in a little more detail soon enough.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, given how little physical material is involved in the Mesh line, the pricing of this compared to something like AndaSeat's Kaiser 4 is markedly less. The Kaiser 4 line starts at around $569, whereas the X-Air Mesh you can get as low as $369, making it seemingly good value by comparison.

AndaSeat X-Air Pro Mesh: Specs AndaSeat X-Air Pro Mesh: Design and aesthetics

• Office-esque feel
• Challenging to configure
• Light gaming "pop" to it

Ok, let me call it like it is here. From the front, this thing screams corporate office, and little else. It just does. It's got that new mid-level manager making an executive decision to buy in 20 new highly ergonomic office chairs while they're in their task force/project codename phase, feel to it.

There's nothing glamorous here, nothing obviously comforting, just semi-transparent woven mesh fabric strapped ergonomically to a metallic-plastic superstructure, combined with an all-black finish, and some rather funky-looking armrests.

Turn it around on the spot, however, and if you've grabbed yourself one of the more outlandish X-Air Pro variants, your eyes will immediately be drawn to the dramatic and ostentatious ombre gradient running from top to bottom on the rear support structure. It's bold, it's potent, and honestly, a little bit confusing.

Almost like the X-Air doesn't quite know what it wants to be. Is it the best gaming chair? The best office chair? It doesn't know, but to be honest, that's fine.

(Image credit: Future) AndaSeat X-Air Pro Mesh: Comfort and adjustability

• 5D Armrests are a nightmare
• No lumbar adjustment
• Not intuitive to use

From a comfort perspective, the mesh material on the AndaSeat X-Air Pro Mesh is far more impressive than you'd first think.

If you've not tried a mesh chair, and have sat your posterior down mostly on their slightly more expensive PU leather counterparts throughout your gaming career, complete with thick padded cushions and enough adjustable dials to make even the most avid of guitarists happy, then you might be surprised by just how spongy and supportive these things can be.

AndaSeat has nailed the mesh fabric on this. It's not anywhere near as abrasive, or unsupportive as you first might think; there's almost a bounce to it. That's not to say it's as soft as a labrador's ears, but nevertheless, if you're sitting on this for prolonged periods of time, you'll find it more than comfortable enough. Whether you're doing a nine-hour Elden Ring challenge run or writing out a 20-page feature, the X-Air Pro does have your back (quite literally).

Now onto the bad bits. Adjustability is there, but it's not intuitive. The lumbar support is fixed straight out of the gate and quite aggressive. If you're not a fan of that, there's little you can do to alleviate the pressure it puts on your lower spine. The headrest is adjustable, but again it does protrude quite aggressively, even with the best of adjustments, and the seat base does move back and forward too, giving you some level of control, but again, even with all the toggles you have at your disposal, knowing when you've actually moved it takes a great degree of awareness for your fine motor skills.

Then there's the 5D armrests. These things are a mess, sadly. They're effectively built on three moving parts. The main arm moves up and down on a ratchet system, a middle extended plinth attached to that that can rotate up to around 220 degrees, and then the final armrest on top of that, which can also rotate a full 360 degrees and also slide backwards and forwards as well.

There's a lot going on here, and although it's comfortable enough up top with plenty of sponge because it has all that movement, it means if you try and lean on it at any point or attempt to use it to reposition your sitting position on the chair, it's likely to slide out from under you in all manner of weird and wonderful ways. This is a marked design devolution, even compared to something like the Kaiser 4's 5D armrests, to the point that I'd actually recommend sticking with the X-Air if you're considering this chair, purely to avoid the 5D rests.

Final positive: the tilt mechanism is fantastic. The back of the chair itself tilts, rather than the base it's attached to as well. That gives you a much more sturdy seating position that lets you relax if you're a little on the anxious side. This was the first chair where I personally enjoyed having it set to that, and its self-adaptive tilt is top tier.

(Image credit: Future) AndaSeat X-Air Pro Mesh: Assembly

Oh, why AndaSeat, why is the assembly on this thing so nightmarish? What is it that stops you from assembling some of this on-site and shipping it complete?

This is not an easy chair to put together. The instruction manual is good enough, and it tells you what to do, but you need to route and attach the wire cables for all of the adjustment elements, secure the toggles into position on the side of the seat base, and then cover the exposed cables with what has to be the most awkward plastic cover I've ever seen.

From there, it's a case of (if you're building it solo) precariously attaching the seat back to the chair base (which weighs a ton) with the arms already attached. That would be fine if it weren't balancing on those plastic 5D armrests. Finally, you can install the headrest, which again you're securing into position with two screws that you can't see. It's just a nightmare. I've built well over 50 gaming chairs over a decade during my time in this industry, and this was the most challenging one by far.

(Image credit: Future) Should I buy the AndaSeat X-Air Pro Mesh? Buy it if...

You want to be cool
The mesh fabric does an outstanding job of keeping you cool under pressure. It's easy to clean, doesn't feel that abrasive, and supports you well.

You love lumbar support
You just need solid lumbar support straight out of the gate. It might not be adjustable, but this thing is pronounced for the lumbar lovers.

Don't buy it if...

You haven't got a buddy
Building this thing is a real challenge. If you've got a spare pair of hands available, pull them into the fray to get you to the end, otherwise other chairs are way easier to assemble and will be more attractive as a result.

You shuffle about a lot
Those 5D armrests might sound cool on paper, but they do little to support you if you move around on the chair or sit cross-legged.

Also consider...

It's relatively cheap, relatively comfortable, but a bit of a nightmare. If, like me, you're not sold on the AndaSeat X-Air Pro, then try out one of these for size.

Steelcase Series 2 Task
One of the best office chairs around, it may be pricey, but it's simple, elegant, unsophisticated, surprisingly minimal, and endlessly customizable for your needs. That might feel a little niche compared to our pseudo-mesh gaming solution here, but it's well worth your time if you're already looking down this alley.

For more information, check out our full Steelcase Series 2 Task Chair review.

AndaSeat Kaiser 3 XL
AndaSeat's bread and butter gaming chair, the Kaiser 3 XL, comes with a lot of the same features that you'll find in seats nearly twice the cost. It's widely available, and you can pick one up in an absolute armada of colorways to suit your style too. Only downside? The stitching's a little out.

For more information, check out our full AndaSeat Kaiser 3 XL review.

(Image credit: Future) How I tested the AndaSeat X-Air Pro Mesh

• Sat in all manner of positions
• Tested over three weeks
• Multiple butts in seat

I tested the AndaSeat X-Air Pro Mesh gaming chair rigorously over the course of several weeks, using it as my daily chair throughout all of my writing work, alongside gaming and other PC-oriented activities.

Additionally, I also took it to live in a hospitality environment for 1 week with multiple staff members of a variety of different shapes and sizes sitting in it, providing me with their own direct feedback as well, ensuring all manner of folk are catered for. I documented the entire build process and my time with the X-Air Pro, and also sat in for the duration of the review writing process.

Read more about how we test

First reviewed December 2024.

These days, my life is full of technology. Depending on the trip, I have my iPhone, Apple Watch, iPad Mini, MacBook Pro, my wife's iPhone, Kindle, kids' tablets, and a smart power station or two. That's a lot of internet-connected gear when on the go. Not only is it annoying to have to put in a new password for whatever location you are at, but it's also incredibly insecure.

Over the last few years, I have stopped connecting to public Wi-Fi, or Wi-Fi, which is not secure altogether. I'll frequently tether to my iPhone if I am just on one device. But, when I start pulling out multiple devices or if my iPhone cell service isn't excellent (I'm looking at you, Verizon), I look for a strong and probably ok public Wi-Fi and connect to it, but not with my devices, with my portable router. I do this, plus a VPN to help ensure that my information stays my information, and this little travel router is how I do it.

Can this tiny travel router compare with the best Wi-Fi routers out there? I put the pocket-sized TP-Link TL-WR1502X Wi-Fi 6 Travel Router to the test.

TP-Link Wi-Fi 6 Travel Router: Price and Availability

The TP-Link Wi-Fi 6 Travel router is available all over the place. You can find it on the TP-Links website, Amazon, or other retailers. When writing this sentence, the price is $60 for a single unit.

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future) TP-Link Wi-Fi 6 Travel Router: Unboxing and First Impressions

When I opened the box for this router, I immediately noticed how simple everything was. This router seemed too small and too basic-looking to be able to do everything that it was doing. It's lightweight, with a sleek and durable build. The router, a power adapter, a USB-C cable, a quick start guide, and a simple ethernet cable came in the box.

The compact design is easy enough to tuck in any bag, pocket, or jacket. The unit as a whole can fit in the palm of my hand. Right now, I carry it with me daily in my backpack. And I'm particular about what I am willing to put in my backpack, so that's a big deal for me to tuck it away. I love the matte black finish and the built-in ventilation, as it helps keep the device from overheating.

Lastly, the port offering is impressive for a small unit, and the ports are placed great on the device, making it easy to use and work with.

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future) TP-Link Wi-Fi 6 Travel Router: Design and Build Quality Specs

Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi 6
Speeds: Up to 1.5Gbps
Ports: 2x Ethernet, 1ssx USB-C for tethering/power, 1x fUSB-A
Features: VPN support, WPA3 security, USB tethering

As I have mentioned, this device is incredibly portable. Still, it's also quite sturdy, making it a great travel companion because I don't have to worry about it breaking on me. I've had this in my everyday carry backpack that goes everywhere with me for the last few months, and I have not had any issues with this getting damaged or slowing down. It keeps working and working great every time.

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future) TP-Link Wi-Fi 6 Travel Router: In use

So far, I have gotten a lot of use out of this little travel router. I've had it with me for a few months now and am thrilled to have it. The older I get, and as time goes on, the more and more paranoid I get about my physical and digital security. In the digital world, one of the things I have sworn not to do anymore is to connect to networks that I do not know or do not manage myself. However, sometimes that is the only option. That's where my travel router comes into play for one of the many use cases I have it for. I can quickly flip a switch and connect to that coffee shop, VRBO, airport, or even airplane Wi-Fi with my router, throw a VPN on, and then connect with my devices. My work and sensitive information, like bank cards and sensitive documents, are accessible through my Macbook. It would be wild for me not to protect it.

Another way that I have been using my travel router is to connect non-apple devices to my iPhone hotspot or direct USB tether. Most of what I have with me on any given day is Apple; however, for the times that I am testing a different laptop, if I have the Nintendo Switch with me, a portable projector if the kids have a gadget or something like that, this makes it super easy to have specific travel Wi-Fi saved on their devices that they can connect to that isn't just always my phone.

I have noticed smooth and fast connections when using the Wi-Fi, even from a decent distance away. For example, we stayed at a VRBO rental a few weeks back. I did not want to connect to the provided Wi-Fi, so I connected the ethernet cables to my TP-Link Travel router and ran that as a main router for a week. It worked great across the entire home, with all my devices connected. It handled (up to) five iPhones, two MacBooks, eight iPads, two Apple Watches, and a sound machine/night light, all without skipping a beat.

The only gripe I have with this router is that it takes a minute to boot up, so if I am in a hurry, it can be frustrating to wait for it to boot up and get working. However, if that's my only frustration, that makes for a pretty incredible device.

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future) TP-Link Wi-Fi 6 Travel Router: Final verdict

The TP-Link AX1500 Wi-Fi 6 Travel RoutWi-Filivers top-tier performance in a travel-friendly package. With its fast speeds, modern security, and versatile features like VPN and USB tethering, it's a must-have for anyone needing reliable internet access wherever they go. While it's priced slightly higher than some competitors, its advanced functionality justifies the investment for frequent travelers or remote workers.

For more connectivity tools, we reviewed the best mesh Wi-Fi systems

Hori Wireless Racing Wheel Apex: One-minute review

Look, it’s hard to make one of the best racing wheels at an affordable cost. Compromises have to be made in order to hit a lower price point, and there are no good options when it comes to what to jettison.

In the Hori Wireless Racing Wheel Apex, Hori has managed to retain decent build quality and even an impressive wireless function that far pricier wheels don’t feature, but after a few hours of use it’s clear that this is a Pyrrhic victory - the driving experience makes you miss the features it’s gone without.

Specifically: a longer brake pedal actuation, a sturdier pedal base that stays in place, and - although it’s a stretch at the price - force feedback. With these elements missing, the fundamental fun and increased precision you gain from inputting via a wheel is unfortunately offset by too much fiddling and repositioning with the pedals, and an unsatisfying on/off feel to braking.

Of course, that’s the sim racer in me talking, with an awareness of how far more expensive direct drive setups feel in the best racing games. If you put this wheel in the hands of a younger gamer whose curiosity for racing might not warrant sinking two grand on a Fanatec direct-drive rig quite yet, they’ll likely just appreciate the pros and won’t miss the cons too much.

The same goes for casual players whose appetite for racing is infrequent and who just want to try a different style of controlling their vehicles in game. Ultimately, then? The Hori Wireless Racing Wheel Apex's quality hinges entirely on the use case, and the audience. Just know that there are dramatically better options out there for only a small amount of extra cash.

(Image credit: Future) HORI Wireless Racing Wheel Apex: Price and availability

• List price: $119.99 / £159.99 / around AU$319
• As budget-friendly as you’ll find for a racing wheel
• Logitech’s G29 is only £40 more now in UK, and offers force feedback

You can’t fault Hori’s ability to achieve a really attractive entry-level price point – in fact, you’ll struggle to find a cheaper model from a reputable brand. This pricing alone makes the Hori Wireless Racing Wheel Apex worth considering.

It’s up against dominating competition from an old stalwart, the Logitech G29, in the UK which is now going for £199 and offers force feedback, superior build qualit,y and functionality. In the US, where the G29 still costs $299, the Hori Wireless Racing Wheel Apex seems a lot more reasonable.

Hori Wireless Racing Wheel Apex: Specs Hori Wireless Racing Wheel Apex: Design and features

• Smart appearance
• Ergonomic layout
• Flawed pedal design

You’ll find even less metal here than at the Teen Choice Awards, but this wheel’s finish and aesthetic do a lot to flatter the plastic construction materials. This being a PlayStation wheel officially licensed by Sony, you’ll find all the buttons from a DualSense Wireless Controller mapped around the centre of the wheel in a sensible ergonomic layout. Behind them are two plastic paddle shifters, and above the central PlayStation logo are a couple of toggle switches for PS4 / PS5 / PC compatibility.

It’s an attractive peripheral for the price, and the chromed plastic on the lower half does a lot to elevate the look. The gold centre band is a useful touch that adds some motorsport cred to the design, and all the face buttons feel really nice to press – perhaps owing to Hori’s chops in the fight stick market.

I also appreciated the rubberized grips, which added a lot to the feel during a race and kept my hands exactly where I needed them, even in sweatier sessions.

(Image credit: Future)

Down at your feet though, the design fares less well. There’s no hiding how plasticky that throttle and brake are, nor how insubstantial they feel to operate.

A lot of this comes down to the design. The base just isn’t big enough to distribute your stamping force across a wide enough surface area to prevent the pedals from shifting or twisting under your feet. Even if you push the unit right up against a wall so it can’t move backwards, you still feel a twist if you brake hard. There’s not much that can be done about this - there are no mounting holes for a racing seat, and the rubber stays aren’t sticky enough to keep it in place on carpets or hard floors.

Time for the ace up the Hori Wireless Racing Wheel Apex’s sleeve, though: wireless operation. Alright, not totally wireless - you still need to connect the wheel to the pedals, via an old-school modem-like input (like the ones Thrustmaster and Fanatec use in bases). But from wheel to console or PC, it’s cable-free.

Up to 10 hours of battery life is promised on the spec sheet, and pairing it to the USB-A dongle is a simple procedure. It’s a genuinely impressive addition, although you can’t help but wonder if the overall experience might have benefitted from that expense being spent on the driving feel instead.

Hori Wireless Racing Wheel Apex: Performance

• Functional but basic
• Limited steering angle and brake actuation
• Centering spring hampers car feel

There are two ways to appraise this wheel. Given that it’s aimed squarely at the beginner end of the market, the first is to simply weigh up the merits of using a wheel input versus a controller – the increased precision offered, the way you can catch those spins quicker and correct them more easily. The advantage of holding a consistent steering angle through a corner is something that’s much trickier when you’re trying to be precise with a tiny analog stick. It won’t make you faster straight away, but in the long run, you’re always going to feel the benefits of a wheel peripheral over a pad.

The second approach – and this is where Hori is sweating – is to evaluate this wheel against similarly priced competitors. And that’s where it struggles to make a compelling argument.

Here are the elements that hamper your performance: firstly, the brake pedal. In addition to the issues with keeping the pedal base in place, the brake pedal itself has a tiny amount of actuation, and that creates the sensation that you’re pressing the brake button, rather than applying progressive pressure to the brakes. In other words, it negates the benefits of braking using a pedal instead of a trigger on a pad.

It’s not all bad, though. To the Hori Wireless Racing Wheel Apex’s credit, there’s a decent amount of resistance to the spring on the brake, slightly more than on the throttle, which feels just about resistant enough. And which, crucially, has just about enough travel.

(Image credit: Future)

Next performance-limiting issue: the centering spring strength of the wheel. This is not a force feedback peripheral, so there’s no tarmac rumble, no dynamic resistance to turn-in, and no steering wheel snaps when your back end hits traction loss and steps out. That’s fair enough. This is a budget wheel, and implementing both the hardware and the software compatibility for force feedback aren’t cheap.

So in its place is a simple spring which brings the wheel back to its centre point when you’re not exerting steering inputs to the left or right. The amount of tension when you’re moving the wheel from centre to a degree of rotation feels fine, and likewise when you’re moving it back from that rotated position. But as it hits the centre point, the wheel snaps into position so aggressively that it affects a car’s stability in-game.

There’s also the 270-degree rotation range to consider. It’s enough angle to enjoy the feeling of sending a car through a corner in most scenarios, but it’s quite limited by the standards set by its peers and situations will crop up where you’ll wish for more angle. Taking the hairpin at Monaco in F1 24, for example, or trying to park in Euro Truck Simulator 2. Many wheels offer up to 900 degrees, and truthfully I’ve sometimes felt like I could get away with much less until I used this Hori Wireless Racing Wheel Apex.

And that leads to the final point about this wheel. It’s not to be knocked or ruled out of contention, because the build quality and features are decent for the price. But that caveat is crucially important. It’s the only context in which such a wheel makes sense.

And that means you should consider if this wheel is going to satisfy your needs in the long run, or whether you’ll probably end up buying a more expensive upgrade later down the line that adds in the features you’ll miss here.

Should I buy the Hori Wireless Racing Wheel Apex?

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

You’re new to racing peripherals
The pricing and feature set are aimed squarely at the entry level of the market, making the Hori Wireless Racing Wheel Apex a low-cost way to see if wheel peripherals are for you.

You’re buying for a younger gamer
The smaller size of the pedals and wheel would suit a junior racer who’s newer to the genre.

You’re not going to upgrade later
Spending slightly more could unlock access to wheels with force feedback, more rotation, better pedals and sturdier construction, so be sure that this is all you’re going to need.

Don't buy it if...

You're an Xbox racer
The Hori Wireless Racing Wheel Apex is PS5, PS4, and PC-compatible, so if you want a Forza rig you’ll need to look elsewhere.

You want force feedback
You get a lot more information from a force feedback wheel which helps you to improve as a racer in the long run.

You’ve got a heavy foot
The small pedal base, plastic construction and limited brake actuation aren’t ideal for heavy brake or throttle inputs.

Also consider...

If the Hori Wireless Racing Wheel Apex doesn’t meet your need (for speed), these similarly priced rivals are worth a look.

Thrustmaster T248
A decent all-rounder with sturdy build quality, gratifying magnetic shifter paddles and a lot of torque generated by a dual-motor force feedback servo.

For more information, check out our full Thrustmaster T248 review

Logitech G920
The elder statesman of racing wheels remains as dependable and feature-complete as ever, even if its position in the Logi G hierarchy is confusing following the G923’s arrival.

For more information, check out our full Logitech G920 review

How I tested the Hori Wireless Racing Wheel Apex

• One week of regular use during testing
• Tested with PC and PS5
• Racing sims and arcade titles tried

Since the Hori Wireless Racing Wheel Apex's pedal base can’t be mounted to a sim racing rig, my Playseat gathered dust for a week while I clamped this wireless rig to my desk and put in the hours with Gran Turismo 7, F1 24, and The Crew Motorfest.

I’ve been testing wheels since the early 2010s when the Logitech G27 sat resplendent on the sim racing throne, and in the intervening year,s I’ve taken hairpins and sent many a purple sector with high-end direct drive models and budget offerings alike.

As a point of comparison, I dug out Thrustmaster’s similarly priced T128 wheel for a feature, build quality and driving feel reference, setting aside my usual Thrustmaster T-GT II belt-driven wheel (and the sim rig it’s attached to) for a while

Read more about how we test

First reviewed December 2024

I’m new to the Saucony Ride range but had heard great things about the versatility of the Saucony Ride 17. My everyday road trainer tends to be a Mizuno Wave Rider, Brooks Ghost, or Hoka Skyward X (when I’m in recovery mode), so I was intrigued to see what the Ride 17 could offer. I knew they were one of the best running shoes for easy miles, but since I have switched focus from ultra marathons to half marathons recently, I was curious to see how they stood up during harder sessions.

With major upgrades to the previous version, the Saucony Ride 17 now offers an upgraded Pwrrun+ midsole foam, a new mesh upper, and increased padding around the heel. This culminates in a poppier run during those speed sessions and a closer fit around the midfoot – both welcome improvements.

But it doesn’t reinvent the wheel and maintains its comfortable 8mm drop fit, lightly padded tongue, and reliable road traction. It even copes well on light trails even if the best performance comes from running on harder, drier terrain.

The shape of the inner sole does take a little getting used to but Ride fans may not notice the raised inside arch which I found a little distracting.

The Saucony Ride 17 is available now but if you are looking for a cheaper option the Ride 16 remains a great alternative.

SAUCONY RIDE 17: SPECIFICATIONS Saucony Ride 17: Price and availability

The Saucony Ride 17 is available at a moderate price on par with most non-carbon-plated shoes. Priced at $140 / £135 / AU$269.98, it can be found at discounted prices, but limited sizes are available. We’ve spotted it at £80.99 in the UK at Pro Direct Sports, at $104.95 in the US on Saucony’s own website, and as low as AU$139.99 on The Athlete’s Foot in Australia.

(Image credit: Lily Canter) Saucony Ride 17: Design

• Engineered mesh upper
• PWRRUN+ sole
• 8mm heel-to-toe drop
• Design score: 3.5/5

The shoe is thoughtfully designed to provide a blend of comfort and support for everyday road running. Its updated engineered mesh upper enhances breathability and offers a tailored fit by contouring closely to the foot. The wider perforations in the mesh allow for increased airflow, helping to keep the foot cool and dry during long runs. High sidewalls ensure stability by cradling the foot, creating a secure and supportive ride.

As someone who prefers a slightly lower heel to drop, I was surprised how quickly I adjusted to the deeper fit. However, this may have been because I was distracted by the internal molding. When slipping the shoes on for the first time I was convinced they were a support shoe, because they felt so similar to the Saucony Guide 15. On closer inspection when I removed the FormFit insole I realised my issue was with the raised inside arch. This felt like it was trying to push my foot outwards as if I were an overpronator. I must admit I was not a fan of this geometry, which aimed to create a rocker effect but actually felt like an unnecessary obstruction.

Faring better was the shoe’s midsole constructed with Saucony’s PWRRUN+ foam, delivering plush cushioning and energy return while maintaining a lightweight feel. This innovative foam enhances both comfort and responsiveness, making it ideal for runners seeking a shoe that can handle both long easy runs and tempo sessions.

The outsole features durable rubber with strategic flex grooves to improve adaptability and efficiency during take-offs and landings. This iteration also boasts increased outsole coverage, providing additional protection and prolonging the shoe’s lifespan.

Finishing touches include a secure lacing system that locks the midfoot in place for a personalized fit. I found this, along with the gentle cushioning in the tongue, and slight padding in the heel, created a comfortable, locked-in feel.

(Image credit: Lily Canter) Saucony Ride 17: Performance

• Durable and supportive
• Moderate level of cushion keeps feet comfortable
• Can handle light trails together with road
• Performance: 3.5/5

Given that most of my runs are along the towpath which can become a little leafy and muddy in the winter, these road shoes performed surprisingly well. The white colorway was not the best option for hybrid road and trail runs, however.

Although I was slightly distracted by the shape of the insole, once I got running, I barely noticed the shoes. They seemed to mold to my feet, and I had no niggling feelings that they were too hard or too soft, too sluggish or too bouncy.

I was also impressed with the robustness of the outsole which seemed to handle 40- mile weeks without any wear and tear.

When pushing the pace, they were similar to my Mizuno Wave Rider, albeit with less cushioning, and offered a middle-of-the-road level of propulsion and energy return. While they were not as poppy as a shoe like the Brooks Hyperion Max, they felt like an effective all-rounder, designed for easy to moderate-paced efforts. Ideal for everyday runs but not necessarily the pair you would turn to come race day.

Saucony Ride 17: Should I buy? Buy it if

You run on roads

The Saucony Ride 17 is an everyday workhorse, ideal for banking the miles thanks to its durability. View Deal

You prefer internal support
If you like a shoe with a big drop, a locked-in feel, and modest arch support these are the perfect companionView Deal

You run mid-distance
The Ride 17 will comfortably handle anything you can throw at it on a regular basis, but if you run up to around 10-15 miles it’ll be in its element, and it’ll last ages.View Deal

Don't buy it if...

You prefer a tactile shoe
If you like to feel the ground beneath your feet, and usually wear a lower heel-to-toe drop then these might feel too smotheringView Deal

You are looking for ultra cushioning
These are great everyday shoes for middle-distance runners but are not ideal for ultra runners seeking luxurious cushioning for extended periods of timeView Deal

You mostly run on trails

Although the Ride 17 is a decent hybrid shoe for light trails for anything more technical a specialist shoe would be requiredView Deal

Saucony Ride 17: Also consider

For an everyday run around my go- to is always the Mizuno Wave Rider now in its 28th iteration. It has great grip and is super comfortable. Available for £140 in the UK, $140 in the USA and AU$250 in Australia.

For a durable, versatile hybrid road-to-trail shoe I cannot recommend the Merrell Morphlite highly enough. A bargain at £100 in the UK, but even more of a steal at $59.99 in the US.

Shanling HW600: Two-minute review

Shanling hasn’t so much dipped a toe into the ‘premium wired over-ear headphones’ market with the HW600 as dived in headfirst. Big, well-appointed, hard-wired planar magnetic headphones are not exactly a rarity, but they’re not all that mainstream either – and the best around tend to come from brands who’ve established their credentials over quite a few years. Meze Audio springs most readily to mind.

The Shanling HW600 have what it takes, though, at least where specification and finish are concerned. An elaborate driver arrangement is concealed inside aluminum-backed, lambskin-fronted earcups, each one hard-wired to a source using braided single crystal copper cable finishing in a 4.4mm balanced termination.

The quality of construction and finish just can’t be argued with, and is well up to the sort of standard the asking price demands to sit among the best wired headphones money can buy.

(Image credit: Future / Simon Lucas) Shanling HW600 review: Price & release date

• Released October 15, 2024
• Priced: $1099 / £1099 / AU$1699

You almost certainly don’t need me to tell you that Shanling hasn’t made its life easy by pricing its HW600 this way. TechRadar favorites from the likes of Focal, Meze Audio and Sennheiser (to name but three) can be yours for not dissimilar money – so the Shanling HW600 have their work cut out if they’re going to make a positive impression…

(Image credit: Future / Simon Lucas) Shanling HW600 review: Specs

(Image credit: Future / Simon Lucas) Shanling HW600 review: Features

• 110mm x 86mm planar magnetic drivers
• 12Hz - 40kHz frequency response (claimed)
• 1.5m quad-core cable with 4.4mm termination

Passive, wired headphones don’t tend to be overburdened with features, and that’s certainly the case where the Shanling HW600 are concerned. But it is fair to say the features these headphones do have are without compromise in their specification and entirely fit for purpose.

These are planar magnetic headphones, of course, which explains their head-swamping size. Inside each earcup there’s a 110 x 86mm planar magnetic driver – it’s a mere 8µm thick, printed with a silver-plated aluminum ‘switchback’ coil and sits between 14 neodymium/iron/boron magnets arranged in a seven-a-side assembly.

Shanling is claiming a frequency response of 12Hz - 40Khz and suggests it’s a responsive, easy-to-drive arrangement – a sensitivity rating of 104dB @ 1kHz would seem to bear that out. The single-unit driver structure features a pair of acoustic chambers, which Shanling says makes for minimal distortion as well as delivering its desired sonic performance.

Each earcup is wired, using a standard 3.5mm connector - which means it should be easy enough to swap the cable if you so desire. It’s worth giving Shanling’s cable a good long listen before you rush into anything, though – it’s a 1.5m length of loosely braided single crustal copper wire, and features a balanced 4.4mm termination. There’s a 6.3mm adapter in the packaging too.

• Features score: 5/5

(Image credit: Future / Simon Lucas) Shanling HW600 review: Sound quality

• Spacious, well-defined sonic layout
• Punch and drive, dynamism and detail in equal measure
• Can sound slightly monotonal at the very bottom of the frequency range

Some headphones prioritize excitement and entertainment, and sacrifice analysis and insight in the process. Some headphones prefer to conduct a sort of aural audit of a recording, examining every nook and cranny, and can be a rather dull and undemonstrative listen as a result. And some, like the Shanling HW600, try to do a bit of everything.

The good news here is that the HW600 manage to do a bit of everything with a fair amount of success. The balance they strike between ‘entertainment’, ‘musicality’ and ‘analysis’ is expertly judged, and as a result they’re good company no matter the sort of listening you’re interested in doing or the sort of stuff you want to listen to while you do it.

A 24bit/88.2kHz FLAC file of Get Lucky by Daft Punk feat. Pharrell Williams is a hi-fi cliché these days, but for good reason. And when served by the HW600 via an iFi iDSD Diablo 2 headphone amplifier, its ubiquity is perfectly understandable. It allows the headphones to demonstrate their ability to describe an open, well-defined and carefully controlled soundstage, and to give appropriate weighting to the spaces, as well as the instruments, on it. It’s got the sort of rapid-fire low-frequency presence that lets the HW600 show off their control of attack and decay, and as a consequence their rhythmic certainty. And its mixture of textures and tones, as well as the close-mic’d nature of its vocal line, lets the Shanling demonstrate impressively neutral tonality and winningly even frequency response.

Detail levels are high throughout, and there’s more than enough substance at the top of the frequency range to balance out the brilliance the HW600 lend to treble sounds. Mid-range insight is straightforwardly accomplished – there’s no secret of Williams’ technique that the Shanling aren’t party to, and they’re more than happy to put everything into convincing context.

There’s more than enough dynamic headroom available to make the shifts in intensity during Eartheater’s How To Fight absolutely obvious, and the sort of attention they pay to the harmonic variations during Arvo Pärt’s Cantus in Memoriam Benjamin Britten is approaching the fanatical. The textures and overlaps of that last recording are given full expression by the HW600, and as a result the sound is multi-faceted where, in less capable hands, it can come across as repetitive and monochrome.

Really, about the only area where the Shanling don’t perform with complete confidence is at the very bottom of the frequency range. The HW600 dig deep, most certainly, and they hit with solid assurance – there’s nothing powder puff about the low-frequency impact these headphones can summon. And up to a point, there’s plenty of variation and fine detail available at the same time. Beyond that point, though, down at the very depths of their extension, the Shanling lose some of their insight and simply rumble.

There’s no light or shade to the deepest bass notes here, no suggestion of texture or detail. If it’s ever going to be an issue, it will affect those who listen to a lot of EDM or other content that relies on low-end eloquence. The rest of us might just note it in passing and get on with enjoying the other 99 per cent of the reproduction of the frequency range.

• Sound quality score: 4.5/5

(Image credit: Future / Simon Lucas) Shanling HW600 review: Design

• Friction-pole headband adjustment
• Make liberal use of lambskin
• 480g

Planar magnetic headphones, simply as a consequence of the technology they use, tend to be on the large side. But there’s ‘large’ and then there’s the Shanling HW600. I’m 6ft tall, and I flatter myself that my head is of proportionate size, but the HW600 just about fit me when adjusted to be as small as possible. So if you’re fortunate enough to be on the petite side, you can forget it.

Let’s assume, though, that your head is large enough to be accommodated comfortably inside the Shanling. You’ll find yourself wearing a pair of comfortable, nicely finished headphones that disguise their 480g weight well thanks to a carefully considered hanger arrangement. The earpads are of angled memory foam covered in lambskin, and there’s more of this rather divisive material forming the thin contact area of the headband. Between the two-tier headband arrangement and the rather rudimentary friction-pole headband adjustment mechanism, the HW600 are more than a little reminiscent of some of Meze Audio’s pricier over-ear designs. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery and all that.

The outside of the earcups, as well as the yokes and outer portion of the headband, are made of aircraft-grade ‘7xxx’ aluminum – it feels almost as good as it looks. The design of the outer part of the earcups is, says Shanling, inspired by the traditional method of creating bamboo joints. It’s quite elegant and understated, and it prevents the HW600 looking as assertively open-backed as they otherwise might.

• Design score: 4/5

(Image credit: Future / Simon Lucas) Shanling HW600 review: Value

• Premium materials, flawlessly deployed…
• … and plenty of them
• Successful in virtually every area of audio performance

Expensive(ish) headphones are always tricky in this respect. They need to be reasonably light in order to be comfortable, and until you get up close a pricey pair can look very much like an affordable pair.

But Shanling has given it a go where perceived value is concerned, there’s no arguing with the fit and finish, and sound quality is well up to the sort of standard the asking price demands. If you can live with the liberal use of lambskin, there’s definite value here.

• Value score: 4.5/5

(Image credit: Future / Simon Lucas) Should I buy the Shanling HW600?

(Image credit: Future / Simon Lucas) Buy them if...

You like nice things
As long as you’re fine with all of these materials, it’s hard not to admire the job Shanling has done where building and finishing the HW600 is concerned

You’re a bit of an iconoclast
Just because you’re spending big money on headphones, it doesn’t automatically follow that the big, storied brands are the only ones worth considering

You enjoy a vivid, widescreen sound
The HW600 are a spacious, properly defined listen that will never leave you in any doubt as to the position of elements on a stage relative to each other

Don't buy them if...

Your head is even remotely petite
Big money in this instance buys big sound and big headphones – anyone with a smaller-than-average bonce might find the HW600 a bit much

You’re vegetarian
Another day, another audio brand that can’t see beyond animal hide as shorthand for ‘luxury’

You value low-frequency insight above everything else
Down at the very bottom of the bottom end, the Shanling lose a little of their otherwise-forensic insight and become rather more monotonal

Shanling HW600 review: Also consider

Meze Audio Liric
Visually the Shanling HW600 have a fair bit in common with Meze Audio’s Liric wired over-ear headphones – and now Liric 2 are available, the original is down to HW600 money. ‘Different to’ rather than overtly ‘better’ or ‘worse’ than the Shanling, the Liric are a confident and rigorously controlled listen.
Read our Meze Audio Liric review for the full story.

Fiio FT5
If you’re after some planar magnetic goodness without pushing the boat quite so far out, you should pay attention to the FT5 by FiiO. They’re just as big as the Shanling, just as sonically accomplished on a pound-for-pound basis… and they’re frankly a bit of a bargain.
See our Fiio FT5 review for the full story

How I tested the Shanling HW600

• Connected to an iFi Diablo 2 and a FiiO M15S
• Music of many different styles and resolutions
• Tested for well over a week

Being temporarily light on full-size equipment with anything other than a 3.5mm headphone socket, I used the HW600 connected directly to a FiiO M15S hi-res digital audio player via its 4.4mm output. I also plugged them into an iFi iDSD Diablo headphone amplifier, again via the 4.4mm connection, which was in turn connected to an Apple MacBook Pro running Colibri software.

And then I listened to a lot of different styles of music, of various file types and sizes, on a fairly strict ‘10am - 5pm’ basis for the entirety of a working week while taking time to compare the sound of the Shanling to a few appropriate alternatives I have about the place…

• First reviewed: December 2024
• Read more about how we test

Lenovo Legion Tower 5i : One-minute review

(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)

Compared to it’s bigger 7i sibling, the Lenovo Legion Tower 5i is a smaller budget pre-build that starts at $1,149. This gaming desktop is well suited for anyone looking for a rig that handles 1080p gaming without much noise and is big enough to upgrade later on.

The base configuration features an Intel Core i5, Nvidia RTX 4060, 16GB DDR5 RAM and 1TB SSD. Gamers who want to play newer AAA titles at mid-to-high settings in 1080p like Black Myth: Wukong or aspiring competitive gamers in need of high frame rates for games like Valorant should definitely keep this in mind. Everything from CPU to GPU alongside storage or RAM can be configured to more powerful components - for an extra cost of course - to suit your needs.

Outside of performance specs, the Legion Tower 5i has some extras that help it stand out amongst the fierce competition. Cooling is handled by several 150w fans alongside a VRM heatsink which keeps the desktop from overheating. Like the 7i, the rig stays quiet even during the most demanding tasks.

The front panel Lenovo logo and fans feature ARGB lighting which grants users control of each LED individually. This adds a bit of flair to the desktop but not as much as the i7 which featured lighting on the GPU and CPU. Finally, the Legion Tower 5i features Nahimic 3D audio for virtual surround sound.

Everything including performance, lighting and Nahimic are controlled through Lenovo’s Vantage application that comes packed in. For added measure, there’s also a keyboard and mouse included in the box.

The Legion 5i’s design does carry over certain problems of the bigger 7i. Though the mesh bezel at the front of the desktop allows proper airflow, maintenance is going to be a bit of a pain as there’s no dust filtration capabilities available.

Meanwhile, there are plenty of ports available sans a single USB-C which users may find issue with. In an age where USB-C is the current standard for many mobile devices, mouses, keyboards and headsets, this means users may need to stock up on adaptors or get a hub.

If those issues don’t matter more than the gaming experience, the Legion Tower 5i should be kept in consideration. It’s 1080p performance is respectable, well ventilated design that’s peaceful sounding and upgradability that potential buyers will appreciate.

Lenovo Legion Tower 5i: Price and availability

(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)

• How much does it cost? Starts at $1,149/ £1,080 / AU $1,799
• When is it available? Now
• Where can you get it? Available in the US, UK, and Australia

The Lenovo Legion Tower 5i is available now in U.S., UK, and Australia territories starting at $1,149 / £1,080 / AU $1,799. Potential buyers can purchase the pre-build gaming desktop through Lenovo’s online store or various other retailers depending on the territory.

In the U.S., there are five configurations available that range between the previously mentioned starting price and $2,399. That higher-priced tier will get you an Intel Core i7 14700F, Nvidia RTX 4070 Ti Super, 32GB RAM and 1TB SSD in storage.

For those living in the UK, there’s only one buildable option that ranges between £1,080 and £2,187. At the lower end, users will get an Core i7 14700F, Nvidia RTX 4060, 16GB RAM and 1TB SSD in storage. The higher £2,187 configuration grants an Intel i9, Nvidia RTX 4070 Ti Super, 64GB RAM and 2TB SSD.

Four customizable configurations for Australia range between AU $1,799 and AU $5,359. At the lower end, potential buyers can get an Intel i5, Nvidia RTX 4060, 16GB RAM and 512GB SSD. An Intel i7, Nvidia RTX 4070 Super, 32GB RAM, 1TB SSD alongside an extra 2TB HDD in storage is available at the highest configuration tier.

Value: 4 / 5

Lenovo Legion Tower 5i : Specs Lenovo Legion Tower 5i : Design

(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)

• Roomy enough for future upgrades
• Has ARGB lighting
• Dust maintenance will be a problem

The mesh front grill featuring the Legion logo with ARGB lighting sets a nice impression of something that could fit in an office space as well as a gaming set-up. The all-black colorway blends really well with the lighting as the mesh design also manages to lend a level of aggression.

As mentioned previously, only the fans and Legion logo are lit unlike the 7i which has CPU and GPU lighting too. Though the mesh on the front looks terrific, it does come at the cost of function in terms of maintenance. It might be a bit difficult to clean every nook and cranny as dust accumulates over time. Thankfully, the case is big enough for upgrades over time in the CPU, GPU and storage area as well.

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(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)

There are loads of ports available on the Legion Tower 5i, including 8 USB-A ports of various power delivery capabilities alongside standard audio and ethernet ports. Those are split between the top panel and the rear with two USB-A ports alongside singular jacks for headset and microphone. It’s a shame that there’s only one singular USB-C, which at this point and time is a bit strange. There are plenty of accessories like controllers, VR headsets, mouses, keyboards and headsets that use USB-C alongside most modern mobile devices.

For potential buyers who have devices that require USB-C, some adapters or hubs are going to be required. One thing for sure is that the included keyboard and mouse within the package isn’t going to make serious gamers happy as they lack the function of even the most budget gaming centered input devices. However, those who are new into PC gaming might find some usage at the start before moving on.

Design: 3.5 / 5

Lenovo Legion Tower 5i : Performance

(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)

• 1080p performance is fantastic
• Isn’t loud even when pushed

One of the first games I played on the Lenovo Legion Tower 5i was Warhammer 40,000 Space Marine 2. Though the lower 8GB of VRAM on the RTX 4060 prevented the ability to play the game at max settings, it looked great at mid-to-low settings and provided consistent 60 frames per second at 1080p resolution. This was consistent with other games played with high visual fidelity on the gaming desktop.

Cyberpunk 2077 at Ultra settings gave us 82 fps and dropped to the mid-60s when using mid ray tracing settings. Playing the ultra resource intensive Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2 provided around 30 fps on mid to low settings too.

Lenovo Legion Tower 5i: Benchmarks

Here's how the Lenovo Legion 5i performed in our suite of benchmark tests:

3DMark: Speed Way: 2578; Fire Strike: 21744; Time Spy: 10060

GeekBench 6: 2362 (single-core); 11791 (multi-core)

Total War: Warhammer III (1080p, Ultra): 85 fps; (1080p, Low): 226 fps

Cyberpunk 2077 (1080p, Ultra): 82 fps; (1080p, Low): 127 fps

Dirt 5 (1080p, Ultra): 97.43333333 fps; (1080p, Low):198.2666667 fps

Handbrake (1080p, Fast): 5:33

There are a few ways to get more performance out of the Legion 5i as well. The first is through Nvidia’s DLSS upscaling technology which uses artificial intelligence to bump up resolutions. This is a great way to get 1440p resolution without the worry of frame rate drops. The other way is through the Lenovo Vantage application which allows for some overclocking for CPU and GPU performance.

On the esports side of things, playing games at recommended settings at 1080p provided great results as well. For example, playing Valorant on those settings pushed us into the 200+ frame rate range. I saw similar results for other titles including Fortnite and Call of Duty: Warzone. Games that are somewhat in the middle between visual fidelity and competitive performance like Forza Motorsport were able to run on recommended settings at 60 fps.

When it comes to general computing tasks, the Legion Tower 5i is speedy where it counts from using Google Chrome to music streaming services like Tidal. Creatives will be happy to know that Adobe Suite software like Photoshop and Premiere Pro works great for media that stays within the 1080p range. When it comes to Premiere Pro, trying to edit complex 4K video may lead to some issues in regards to sluggish prformance.

Performance: 4.5 / 5

(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler) Should I buy the Lenovo Legion Tower 5i? Buy it if…

You need some solid 1080p performance

Native 1080p performance is pretty good on the Lenovo Legion Tower 5i from esports titles like Valorant to big-budget AAA titles like Black Myth: Wukong.

You want a quiet gaming rig

Lenovo put a nice focus on cooling technology for a gaming desktop that doesn’t get loud when under pressure.

You require an affordable price point

$1,149 is great for budget gamers looking for 1080p performance and the ability to upgrade in the future.

Don’t buy it if…

You want better maintenance opportunities

The Lenovo Legion Tower 5i case doesn’t have removable panes to prevent the build-up of dust, which will make maintenance in the future a pain.

You need more than one USB-C

USB-C is a standard at this point for many mobile devices and accessories. This means that users are probably going to have to invest in a hub or adaptor.

Also Consider

If our Lenovo Legion Tower 5i review has you considering other options, here are two gaming desktops to consider...

HP Victus 15L

The HP Victus 15L is a bit cheaper than the 8th-gen Lenovo Legion Tower 5i and provides comparable performance power.

Read our full HP Victus 15L review

Acer Predator Orion 3000

Beyond the compact form, this gaming desktop packs a punch at an affordable price.

Read our full Acer Predator Orion 3000 review

How I tested the Lenovo Legion 5i

• Tested over a week and some change
• Games played include Warhammer 40,000 Space Marine 2, Black Myth: Wukong and Forza Motorsport (2023)
• General computing tasks including Google Chrome and Adobe Creative Suite

I spent over a week using the Lenovo Legion Tower 5i, putting it to the test across various tasks. During work hours, I managed everyday computing using Google Chrome, running multiple tabs for apps like Asana, Google Docs, and Hootsuite. For content creation, I leaned on Adobe Premiere and Photoshop to design graphics and produce short-form social media videos.

To evaluate its high frame rate capabilities, I played fast-paced games like Valorant and Fortnite. Pushing the system further, I tested graphically demanding titles like Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 and Black Myth: Wukong. Additionally, I also ran Forza Motorsport (2023) and Starfield to assess how the Legion Tower 5i handles diverse gaming experiences and visual performance.

I’ve spent the past several years covering monitors alongside other PC components for TechRadar. Outside of gaming, I’ve been proficient in Adobe Suite for over a decade as well.

First reviewed October 2024

WD Black SN850P: One-minute review

As a big proponent of the WD Black SN850, I can’t deny that I’m a little disappointed with the WD Black SN850P. Although faster on paper, I found that the real-world performance of the SN850P actually lags behind that of the older SN850 - even scoring slightly lower in the PS5's internal storage benchmark. The design has taken a bit of a step back this time around too, as the SN850P ditches the cool, though admittedly slightly impractical, LED of its predecessor in favor of a much plainer, and presumably cheaper to manufacture, look.

This wouldn’t be a huge issue, but the SN850P comes in a little more expensive than not only the SN850 but also some of the best SSDs for PS5. When officially licensed alternatives like the Seagate Game Drive M.2 SSD for PS5 can be found cheaper and will run a bit better, there’s no real reason to pick up the SN850P above the rest. That is unless you manage to find the 1TB or 2TB models on one of their fairly regular discounts, where price cuts of up to $50 / £30 make these products much more competitive.

There are also the larger capacity variants to consider. Seagate’s licensed drive doesn’t come in capacities above 2TB, so the SN850P is one of the only options if you want to keep things official at that size. The 8TB variant is also one of the few 8TB PS5 SSDs on the market right now from a major brand and is quite reasonably priced for what it is. If it’s either of these versions that you were considering, add half a star to the score above.

Otherwise, the WD Black SN850P is underwhelming on the whole. It’s a fine PS5 SSD that, thanks to its slightly overambitious price tag, fails to stand out.

(Image credit: Future) WD Black SN850P: Price and availability

• 1TB is $119.99 / £107.99
• 2TB is $189.99 / £184.99
• 4TB is $319.99 / £329.99
• 8TB is $749.99 / £705.99

The 1TB WD Black SN850P retails for $119.99 / £107.99, though can be found hovering slightly below that price at online storefronts such as Amazon. The 2TB costs $189.99 / £184.99, though again you can expect to pay a little less if you buy online.

Outside of sales, both these models cost a bit more than the Seagate Game Drive M.2 SSD for PS5 equivalents (the 1TB model goes for $99.99 / £99.90 while 2TB is $159.99 / £159.90) - again, a drive that performed slightly better in my testing.

The cost then increases substantially as you move towards the 4TB model, which is $319.99 / £329.99, or 8TB, which goes for a massive $749.99 / £705.99. Although the most recent arrival, the 8TB has already started receiving discounts of about $50 / £50 that put the price in line with most other 8TB PS5 compatible SSDs making it a solid option if you can afford it.

WD Black SN850P: Specs WD Black SN850P: Design and features

• Design is a step down from the SN850
• Heatsink included out of the box
• 5-year limited warranty

The design of the WD Black SN850P is, in my opinion, a step down from the SN850. It’s got a similar overall look, with a sleek black heatsink constructed from a very robust feeling metal but lacks the little LED that was on top of the SN850. This was never a huge selling point, after all, you can’t exactly see it when it’s been inserted inside a PS5. But it still makes for an SSD that looks a bit cheaper on the whole.

Otherwise, you have the same white WD Black branding, plus a little label stating the name of the product. One noticeable departure is the introduction of a white PlayStation logo on the right-hand side, which matches everything nicely.

Although it looks very similar from a distance, the heatsink has actually been redesigned with a slightly different shape and a few more gaps for dispersing heat. Given that I never experienced any noticeable thermal throttling on the SN850, I can’t say that this seems necessary but it definitely doesn’t hurt. It also fits perfectly in the PS5 or PS5 Pro.

In the box, you get the SSD in a little clamshell package, in addition to some warranty and service information. You’re covered by a five-year limited warranty here, which does offer some peace of mind and means that this drive will likely see you through the rest of the PS5’s life if you opt to get one.

(Image credit: Future) WD Black SN850P: Performance

• Performance could be better for the price
• Initial benchmark score was very poor
• Reasonable results in real-world tests

When I first inserted the WD Black SN850P, the PS5’s internal benchmark measured it as a shockingly low 5,966 MB/s. This is still above the recommended SSD specs for the console, but nowhere near the advertised 7,300 MB/s or really what you would reasonably expect from a drive at this price. Luckily, when I reformatted the drive and ran the test again a little later it scored a more reasonable 6,338 MB/s so I’ll chalk that first number up to chance.

This second figure was still lower than I wanted, though, as the SN850, which is actually advertised with a 7,000 MB/s read speed, achieves figures in the 6,400 MB/s range on my machine. It also puts this behind the Seagate Game Drive M.2 SSD for PS5, which recorded 6,459 MB/s.

Thankfully, the WD Black SN850P did fairly well in a series of real-world tests. Moving to the drive from the PS5’s internal storage, a 23.24GB copy of Vampire the Masquerade: Swansong was copied in just 12.61 seconds. A 33.35GB installation of Lords of the Fallen then took 15.89 seconds, while a 45.98GB installation of The Crew Motorfest took 21.02 seconds.

Testing some larger files, 101.9GB of Far Cry 6 took 43.74 seconds to copy while a selection of multiple games totalling 226.9GB copied in 3 minutes and 14 seconds. These figures are all adequate and not more than a few seconds behind equivalent transfers on the Seagate Game Drive M.2 SSD for PS5.

Copying back to the PS5, the 21.30GB Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising was ready to play in 1 minute 27 seconds, while Stellar Blade, which is 32.41GB, took 2 minutes and 15 seconds. Finally, the 38.34GB Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands copied back in 2 minutes and 34 seconds. These figures are all perfectly adequate, and realistically more dependent on the PS5’s internal write speed than anything else.

Ultimately, you’re not going to run into any performance problems using the WD Black SN850P. Every game I tested was smooth, with decent loading times and no noticeable slowdown. Just bear in mind that, unless you buy on sale, you can get drives with more oomph for the price.

(Image credit: Future) Should I buy the WD Black SN850P? Buy it if...

You find it on sale
The WD Black SN850P frequently goes on sale and if you manage to find it with a decent discount, it could be a much better value PS5 SSD.

You want an 8TB drive
The WD Black SN850P is one of the few PS5 compatible SSD drives available from a big brand in an 8TB capacity. It’s worth picking up if you’re in the market for the biggest possible storage upgrade.

Don't buy it if...

You want the greatest value
The 1TB and 2TB models could be cheaper. When there’s such strong competition, there are plenty of alternatives you can pick up that save a few bucks and run a bit better.

Also consider...

Wondering what to choose instead of the WD Black SN850P? Check out these alternatives. You can also see our guide to the best PS5 external hard drives for some external options.

Seagate Game Drive M.2 SSD for PS5
This officially licensed drive from Seagate comes in a bit cheaper than the WD Black SN850P, but performs slightly better in the real world. It’s the one to pick if you want an officially licensed drive.

For more information, check out our full Seagate Game Drive M.2 SSD for PS5 review

Kingston Fury Renegade SSD
This model is cheaper than the WD Black SN850P and much faster, clocking an impressive 6,500 MB/s score on the internal PS5 benchmark. Choose this for more bang for your buck.

For more information, check out our full Kingston Fury Renegade SSD review

(Image credit: Future) How I tested the Seagate Game Drive M.2 SSD for PS5

• Used as primary PS5 SSD
• Tested over the course of a week
• Tested with a range of titles

I tested the WD Black SN850P over the course of a week, using it as my primary PS5 SSD drive and playing a wide variety of games from it. During my time with the drive, I was careful to look for any noticeable impacts on performance compared to the console’s internal storage.

I also assessed the drive’s performance using the built-in PS5 storage benchmark and by copying a large library of games in order to measure the time taken. I compared my experience to my hands-on testing of other PS5 SSD models including the Samsung 990 Pro, WD Black SN850, Seagate Game Drive M.2 SSD for PS5, and more.

Read more about how we test

First reviewed December 2024.

LG XBoom Go XG2T review: two-minute review

The LG XBoom Go XG2T is an ultra-durable mini Bluetooth speaker that’s ideal for taking out on the go. This mini waterproof speaker offers military-grade protection against the elements – pretty hardcore. But how does it sound? Let’s find out…

With a lot of small speakers, audio quality can be middling at best. But the LG XBoom Go XG2T puts out a pretty solid sonic performance. Is it the most talented-sounding speaker on the market? No. But it offers commendable all-round clarity and impressive volume levels, especially with the Sound Boost EQ option enabled.

You may expect a big, bass-heavy sound from the LG XBoom Go XG2T – I mean, it's literally in the name – but you won't actually find booming bass here. Bass is adequately punchy, but it’s not the most controlled or deep sounding. Again, that’s pretty common with these mini speakers, but still, it may be a little underwhelming for those expecting a hard-hitting low-end output. If big bass is what you’re after, check out our guide to the best Bluetooth speakers for a punchier alternative.

Of course, sound is always number one, but it's not everything. Thankfully, this speaker is extremely strong on the design front. It has a unique build, which includes a lace for attaching the speaker to a bag and four feet on its reverse side so the speaker can play upfiring audio. It’s also passed a series of tests that render it military-grade protected, not to mention an IP67 dustproof and waterproof rating, which makes it fit for any outdoor space, even the beach or pool.

Another nice inclusion is companion app compatibility, which enables EQ adjustment and Healing Therapy, which lets you listen to calming sounds – don’t worry, there’s a sleep timer included if you start to feel a bit drowsy while listening. One slight hiccup features-wise is battery life. The 10 hours maximum may sound good, but with Sound Boost on – which gives a serious leg-up to the speaker’s power – and volume above 50%, the battery will deplete considerably quicker.

Overall, this is a good small-sized speaker. Sure, you may have to charge it up semi-regularly, and sound quality isn’t top-tier, but you get generally clear audio, incredible durability, and an attractive design. Price-wise, this is great value if you can grab it on sale – but its list price of $79.99 / £69.99 / AU$89 may be slightly high against some competitors.

So, is the LG XBoom Go XG2T a speaker worth considering? Absolutely – that is if you want a travel-friendly small speaker that can slip into a bag for excursions. The biggest problem with the XG2T has more to do with the quality of its competitors. Options like the JBL Clip 5 and Tribit Stormbox Micro 2 are absolutely fantastic small speakers, with awesome audio and equally mighty waterproofing. If you’re all in on the XG2T’s design I’d say it’s worth buying on sale, otherwise, the aforementioned alternatives may just edge it out. More on those in the ‘Also Consider’ section.

(Image credit: Future) LG XBoom Go XG2T review: price and release date

• $79.99 / £69.99 / AU$89
• Launched in March 2024

The LG XBoom Go XG2T was released back in March 2024 with a fairly moderate list price of $79.99 / £69.99 / AU$89. However, if you’re in the US or UK you shouldn’t expect to pay anywhere near as much as that for it now. I’ve already spotted this lil’ fella available for less than $35 / £40.

That price is very much in line with some top-tier small portable speakers, such as the JBL Clip 5, which I’ve seen go on sale for less than $50 / £40 in recent months. Sometimes, this speaker can be found in a 2-pack at retailers such as Costco, which may be an even more cost-efficient option for those seeking louder, more room-filling sound.

(Image credit: Future) LG XBoom Go XG2T review: specs LG XBoom Go XG2T review: features

• Nifty companion app
• Pairing, multi-point and all essential options are here
• Average at best battery life

As is often the case with LG, you get a very solid companion app to assist you in your experience with the XG2T. It’s equipped with all the crucial tools you’d want from a modern Bluetooth speaker, including multi-point for connecting two devices at once and Party Link for connecting multiple speakers at once.

Another inclusion you’d expect to see is EQ settings, which are also here. Unfortunately, I found them to be a bit mixed, quality-wise. I did like the inclusion of a six-band equalizer, which offers a bit more customization than the slightly larger Bose SoundLink Flex Gen 2, for instance. But other than that things are a bit thin. The only other presets are Standard or Sound Boost. I wish there were a few more presets for particular moods or music genres, as you see with a lot of Sony’s speakers, for example.

But allow me to loop back to Sound Boost. This is a feature you can activate on the speaker itself or via the LG XBoom app. Essentially, it amplifies volume output and provides a bit more of a kick, especially in the low-frequency range. I’ll go into more detail about sound later, but for such a small speaker, the added power is very much a welcome addition.

On top of all the classic inclusions, the XG2T has some fun stuff to play around with. Healing Therapy plays from a set list of calming sounds, such as ‘A Still Summer Night with Insect Sounds’ or ‘The Sleepy Sounds of the Deep Sea,’ which did entice me, I can’t lie. You can set a sleep timer alongside these, just in case you drift off before an important meeting. Is this gimmicky? Sure, a little bit. Did I like it anyway? Yes, I did.

But let’s finish by tackling one of the key areas for any speaker – battery life. This speaker won’t be able to survive too long, although that’s pretty common for models of this size. LG says you get a maximum of 10 hours of playtime, which is pretty average. But here’s the thing – that’s only if you’re playing at 50% or lower with Sound Boost or EQ settings off. Fine-tune your audio and crank the volume up and you can expect the battery to drain much faster, meaning you’ll definitely want a full charge before taking it out and about.

• Features score: 3.5/5

(Image credit: Future) LG XBoom Go XG2T review: sound quality

• Clear overall audio
• Bass isn’t booming
• Can get impressively loud, but you’ll compromise on quality

With a lot of these small-sized portable speakers, you get pretty disappointing quality in exchange for a highly compact build. Is that the case with the LG XBoom Go XG2T? Not exactly, but you’ll certainly have to make some sacrifices.

First, I thought the overall audio quality was solid, with decent mids audible from the offset. For instance, I tried Nothing Can Come Between Us by Sade and found that vocals were clear in the overall mix at around 50-60% volume and didn’t get distorted or drowned out by other mid-range or low-frequency sounds. If anything, I thought that bass was lacking. There was, thankfully, a part-solution here – Sound Boost mode. This amps up the volume and adds a bit more meat in the low end, which was very much needed. With this mode on, the bass was okay for a small-sized speaker, but still not exactly “booming” as LG has advertised.

I compared the XG2T to the JBL Clip 5 and found the latter offers meatier and clearer bass output. For instance, the drum machine in Black Eye by Allie X was replicated with more depth and impact with the Clip 5, even when utilizing Sound Boost mode on the XG2T. What the XG2T did offer, however, was a bit more clarity in the mids – vocals sounded clean and overall output was nicely balanced, especially with the speaker placed on its feet.

However, the vocals sounded a touch harsh when the speaker was hung up and angled toward me, and that wasn’t the only time I felt the audio quality suffered. When I cranked up the volume to the 80%-100% mark, songs got swamped by an almost underwater effect, marked by muddied, tinny audio output. Don’t get me wrong, this mini speaker can certainly get loud for its size, but it won’t sound great at the top of its range.

Having said that, I do want to give the XG2T its flowers. It may not sound the best at top volumes or certain angles, but this is pretty standard for a small-sized speaker. And when I compared it to the Sony SRS-XB100, the XG2T outperformed it by a significant margin. For example, I tuned into Everyday by Jamiroquai on the XG2T and found that strings were well-balanced in the mix and hi-hats sounded sharp and responsive. When I listened to it on the XB-100, bass levels were stronger, but the low end wasn’t too clear, making for a bloated, messy overall sound.

So, you do get fairly nuanced, clear sound from the XG2T compared to some small-sized competitors, but you still can’t expect amazing audio. Bass is pretty underwhelming, even when using Sound Boost and detail is lacking – especially at top volumes.

• Sound quality score: 3.5/5

(Image credit: Future) LG XBoom Go XG2T review: design

• Unique, rugged-looking speaker
• ‘Military-grade’ protection against the elements
• Lace can be used to hang or attach it

Something that's sure to instantly grab people’s attention is the XG2T’s unique-looking design. It comes in a diminutive, curved, square-shaped shell, with a lace attached to the side. This lace can be adjusted and attached to anything from a bag to a hook – you could even sling it on a tree branch when out in the woods. A lace isn’t something I’ve seen from a whole lot of speakers before, so LG scores well for originality.

The speaker's outer casing is pretty hardy, after all, LG claims that the XG2T meets US military standards. To back up this claim, the speaker passed seven durability tests against: dust, high temperatures, rain, salt fog, shock, vibration, and water immersion. It'll be unsurprising, then, that this speaker holds the IP67 dust and waterproof rating, meaning it's well equipped for any outdoor space, even the sea or a swimming pool. That's a staple design feature of any speaker that wants to make it into our list of the best waterproof speakers.

Another unorthodox design choice is a volume wheel on the side of the speaker, as opposed to buttons or similar. I found this to be pretty cool-looking and responsive too. Notably, there’s a power button and a play/pause button on the front of the speaker. Practicalities aside, I also found the black and red color combination to be very appealing – the relatively low-key color coding suiting the speaker’s ruggedness to a tee.

One small criticism, though. I would have loved it if the speaker could stand upright without my hand supporting it. It can sit on four feet for upfiring sound, but this isn’t always ideal. The option to have forward-firing audio would be the icing on the cake here, but I’m fully satisfied with the design otherwise.

• Design score: 4.5/5

(Image credit: Future) LG XBoom Go XG2T review: value

• Great price when on sale
• Solid sound for the money you pay
• Not worth it at full price, in my view

Is the LG XBoom Go XG2T worth your cash when it’s at full price? Perhaps not. That’s not to say it’s way overpriced, but there are far too many small-sized options with lower price tags out there.

Consider the discounted cost it’s regularly available for and the picture totally changes, though. If you can nab this for less than $40 / £40 / AU$70, I think it's a decent option. Audio is by no means perfect, but for a tiny Bluetooth speaker like this, it’s more than passable. You also get an ultra-durable, attractive design and a nice assortment of features to play around with.

So, again, if you can grab the XG2T on sale – which shouldn’t be a rare occurrence at this stage – then it is a very strong value option.

• Value score: 4/5

(Image credit: Future) Should I buy the LG XBoom Go XG2T? Buy it if...

You want an audio travel companion
This is an ultra-portable speaker that you can easily attach to, or carry inside, a small bag for your travels. It's also IP67-rated, meaning it's perfectly suited to any outdoor environment.

You’re searching for an attractive, unique-looking speaker
There aren’t many speakers that look like the LG XBoom Go XG2T. With its practical lace, rounded square shape, and red/black colorway, it has an aesthetic that neatly fits its rugged build.

Don't buy it if...

You’re looking for premium audio
A lot of mini speakers struggle to offer impressive audio, and although the XG2T puts up a valiant effort, it's not exactly premium-sounding. If you’re an audiophile, it could be worth considering a slightly larger, yet still portable option, like the Sonos Roam 2, for instance.

You need long battery life
A 10-hour battery may seem like a decent amount, but if you’re listening at higher volumes or have Sound Boost active, you’ll get less playtime than that out of the XG2T. If battery life is a top priority, it's worth considering other options, such as the two alternatives below.

LG XBoom Go XG2T review: also consider

JBL Clip 5
The JBL Clip 5 is a super-impressive small speaker with punchy bass, solid volume levels, and a convenient carabiner-like design. It even has Auracast Bluetooth tech and an IP67 rating – not bad at all. In my view, it’s still the best-in-class for speakers of this size and it's regularly available at a cut price, so it’s a top-tier option. Read our full JBL Clip 5 review.

Tribit Stormbox Micro 2
Another excellent small speaker is the Tribit Stormbox Micro 2. It offers strong sound quality, a fantastically compact build, and even the ability to charge external devices. It's also very well-priced and regularly available at a discount, so it’s a top-tier value pick in my book. Read our full Tribit Stormbox Micro 2 review.

LG XBoom Go XG2T review: how I tested

• Tested for one week
• Predominantly used in music testing space at Future Labs
• Mainly listened with Tidal on Samsung Galaxy S24 FE

I spent hours listening to music on the LG XBoom Go XG2T. I tried the speaker in a few environments but mainly used it in our music testing room at Future Labs to best judge the audio quality and assess the accuracy of battery life claims.

When listening to tunes, I predominantly tapped into Tidal on the Samsung Galaxy S24 FE, where I streamed tracks from our carefully curated TechRadar reference playlist, as well as my personal library. I also used a range of small-sized speakers for comparison, including the Sony SRS-XB100 and JBL Clip 4.

• First reviewed: December 2024
• Read more about how we test

Razer Basilisk V3 Pro 35K: Two-minute review

(Image credit: Alex Blake / Future)

Razer’s latest addition to its Basilisk range of gaming mice is the Basilisk V3 Pro 35K, but compared to the (now discontinued) Basilisk V3 Pro, you might think that Razer has simply added a new higher-DPI sensor, stuck “35K” on the name, and called it a day. Yet in actuality, there’s much more to its new mouse than that.

Sure, the sensor is part of it – Razer has increased the DPI from 30,000 to 35,000 – and if you’re an esports pro, you might be enticed by that. But there are changes for everyday gamers too, from longer battery life to a “Smart-Reel mode” that changes how the scroll wheel works on the fly.

Aside from the new additions, this is just an excellent mouse, plain and simple. Its clicks are quiet and satisfying, it skims smoothly across your mouse mat, and its HyperSpeed wireless 2.4GHz receiver provides reliable connectivity. These features might not grab the headlines, but they’re just as important as those that do. Combined, these features all make this a really solid gaming mouse.

Razer Basilisk V3 Pro 35K: Price & availability

• How much does it cost? $159.99 / £159.99 / $279.95 AUD
• When is it available? Available now
• Where can you get it? Available globally

Razer doesn’t price the Basilisk V3 Pro 35K cheap – at $159.99 / £159.99 / $279.95 AUD, it’s a serious investment. There’s an awful lot of excellent tech included, so you do get what you pay for, but you’ll need to think about whether it’s right for you before pulling the trigger.

Razer Basilisk V3 Pro 35K: Design Image 1 of 2

(Image credit: Future / Alex Blake)Image 2 of 2

(Image credit: Alex Blake / Future)

The Razer Basilisk V3 Pro 35K is one of Razer’s chunkier gaming mice, and much of this is due to its sculpted, ergonomic form factor. There’s a concave cutout for your thumb that’s covered in textured dimples for extra grip, while the mouse has an asymmetrical profile when viewed from the front, with the left-click button rising higher than its right-click sibling. Put together, it’s a very comfortable design.

At the same time, that extra bulk means it’s quite a heavy mouse. Weighing in at 115g, there are many lighter gaming mice out there. If you play fast-paced games where rapidly moving your pointer around the screen is a key element, the Basilisk V3 Pro 35K might not be quite right for you. Part of that is compensated for by the 35,000 DPI sensor (more on that later), but it doesn’t make the weight irrelevant.

Razer’s mouse comes with 11 programmable buttons, including right click (you can’t change left click), a scroll wheel that can be pushed in, moved up and down, and tilted left and right, two customizable buttons behind the scroll wheel, and three thumb buttons on the left-hand side (including one that’s set to lower the mouse sensitivity when held, which is useful for precise aiming during gameplay). Getting your thumb to that last one is a bit of a stretch, but otherwise all the buttons are easily reachable.

(Image credit: Alex Blake / Future)

The scroll wheel is worth diving into a little more. It can be set to either ratchet or spin freely when you move it – or it can do both thanks to Razer’s Smart-Reel feature, ratcheting when moved normally and spinning when you flick it quickly. While this is potentially very useful, the wheel makes a loud, disconcerting slicing sound every time it switches modes. Nothing is actually breaking, but it’s a bit distracting. Still, when set to ratchet, the wheel is firm without being too rigid, making it ideal for use in fast-paced gameplay.

This wouldn’t be a Razer product if you couldn’t set all kinds of intricate RGB effects, and the Basilisk V3 Pro 35K impresses here. While the scroll wheel and Razer logo on the back of the mouse can light up, the real head-turner is the underside lighting, which gives a pleasant, subtle effect in use. Unfortunately, you won’t see much of it, as most of the RGB is covered by your hand (plus you’ll mainly be staring at your screen anyway). It can also speed up the mouse’s battery drain – I turned it off in the end.

Razer Basilisk V3 Pro 35K: Performance Image 1 of 2

(Image credit: Alex Blake / Future)Image 2 of 2

(Image credit: Alex Blake / Future)

The mouse’s new optical sensor ramps all the way up to 35,000 DPI, which is frankly far more than I need (and it probably is for you too). Still, Razer boasts that it offers “best-in-class tracking performance on a wider variety of surfaces,” and I found it to be very accurate in use for both everyday work and gaming.

I connected the mouse to my PC using Razer’s HyperSpeed wireless 2.4GHz receiver, which was solid and reliable. If you have a compatible Razer keyboard, you can use a single HyperSpeed dongle for both your peripherals. The Basilisk V3 Pro 35K also offers wired and Bluetooth connectivity.

Paired with Synapse, there are a lot more controls for adjusting the mouse to your liking; you can customize the DPI down to the single-digit level, should you so desire. Not only can you set the scroll wheel’s spin mode (ratchet, free spin or Smart-Reel), but you can also tell Synapse how fast you need to spin the wheel before free spin mode kicks in.

(Image credit: Alex Blake / Future)

There’s also Razer’s smart tracking feature, which enables the mouse to set a consistent lift-off distance across different surfaces, and set separate lift-off and landing distances, too. As well as that, you’ll find a DPI sensitivity matcher that ports your DPI settings from other mice, scroll acceleration configuration, and more. In other words, you get a lot of control over the way your mouse works.

One of the other changes that came with the 35K model of the Basilisk V3 Pro is improved battery life. Razer says you’ll get up to 140 hours of juice out of it, and this seems about right. My review unit arrived with about 80% battery life, and I probably tested it for close to 100 hours in total. By the end, it was down to 15%. That was with RGB turned off and while using the HyperSpeed wireless 2.4GHz receiver, so your mileage may vary if you do things differently.

Should you buy the Razer Basilisk V3 Pro 35K?

(Image credit: Alex Blake / Future) Buy the Razer Basilisk V3 Pro 35K if…

You want an ergonomic mouse

Razer has done a great job of sculpting the Basilisk V3 Pro 35K to neatly fit your hand, while (almost) all the buttons are easily reachable.View Deal

You value customization

With the Basilisk V3 Pro 35K, you can tweak everything from the DPI and RGB lightshow to the way the scroll wheel works. You can even import sensitivity settings from other mice using the Synapse app.View Deal

You need lots of programmable buttons

The Basilisk V3 Pro 35K may not have a grid of side buttons like Razer’s Naga mouse, but it has a surprising number of programmable buttons that you can set up how you like.View Deal

Don’t buy it if…

You’re left-handed

While the Basilisk V3 Pro 35K is well-designed for right-handers, there’s no left-handed option.View Deal

You don’t want something heavy

This is not a lightweight mouse, and while it’s not so heavy that it’s going to strain your arm, no one would describe it as featherweight.View Deal

Razer Basilisk V3 Pro 35K: Also consider

Logitech G502 X Plus

Another highly sculpted ergonomic mouse, the Logitech G502 Plus redesigns a gaming classic in a brilliantly considered way. Read our full Logitech G502 Plus review View Deal

Razer DeathAdder V3 Pro

The Razer DeathAdder V3 Pro is one of the best gaming mice you can buy. It offers impeccable performance and excellent ergonomics in a lightweight form factor. Read our full Razer DeathAdder V3 Pro reviewView Deal

How I tested the Razer Basilisk V3 Pro 35K

I spent a week using the Razer Basilisk V3 Pro 35K, including both gaming and work tasks. I also tried its Synapse companion app to see how easy it is to customize the mouse, set macros, change settings, and more.

First reviewed December 2024

Shure SE215 review: Review

The Shure SE215 have made quite a name for themselves in the live music scene, offering solid monitoring capabilities at a competitive price point. Specifically, the SE215 are often available for less than $100 / £100 / AU$200, meaning they’re a fairly low-priced set of entry-level in-ear monitors for live performers, producers, or fans of wired listening.

Let’s start where it matters most: sound quality. The Shure SE215 have a self-proclaimed “warm” sound signature and look to showcase “enhanced bass” while still delivering clear, detailed overall audio. So, how do they fare? Generally, quite well.

First, the Shure SE215 live up to their promise of offering enhanced bass. When I tuned into Black Eye by Allie X, the thumping drum machine had impressive levels of depth and responsiveness, making for a punchy, rhythmic listening experience. Generally, the track’s bouncing bassline was managed well, sounding controlled and impactful throughout the song’s runtime – something I’d always look for when testing the best wired earbuds.

And this was a recurring theme, pretty much every tune I threw on offered very good low-end depth, especially considering the price you pay for these IEMs. The only slight issue you may have is that the higher focus on bass can result in a slightly cluttered sound, especially at top volumes.

When listening to I Want You by Moloko, the song’s pounding bass was both impactful and immersive, but cranking the volume up could sometimes create a slightly overbearing, cluttered sound. This could be slightly frustrating for musicians who want ultra-clear, expertly balanced information during sets, but again, at medium volumes, I found the focus on bass to be pleasing, rather than a source of severe bloating.

The only other complaint I’d have sonically is that highs can sometimes sound a touch inaccurate with these IEMs. For instance, cymbals in I Want You sounded prominent but slightly harsh, particularly the crash that connects the intro to the main portion of the track. But otherwise, audio quality is up to standard here. Vocals, although not perfectly breathy or realistic, are clear and well-balanced, while music rarely sounds distorted or tinny.

Despite offering commendable audio quality, I’d argue that the real highlight of the SE215 is in another domain entirely – passive noise isolation. I’ve been impressed by Shure’s wired noise cancellation before (see my Shure AONIC 3 review), and these deliver more than enough protection against external sounds.

When using the default foam tips and listening at around 50% volume I could barely hear anything in my office, from typing through to colleagues conversing. At one stage, there was some drilling taking place, which was audible, but strongly dulled, thanks to the excellent seal these ear tips provide. So, if you’re a musician who needs a consistent, clear audio feed, free from too much distraction, the SE215 will serve you well.

Speaking of the included ear tips, you get the usual selection of small, medium and large included. But that’s not all, you also get the same, but in gel form, if you find that more comfortable for longer in-ear listening. On top of that, you get a fabric carrying case included with the earbuds, which has a clip that can attach to a belt or bag – pretty handy. For the price, you do get a decent amount included, but something worth considering is that there’s no in-line mic or controller. You can detach the cable and switch it out for an alternative with such features, but you’ll have to cough up extra for this.

I mentioned earlier that you get a great seal with these earbuds and the overall fit is very secure. The buds are attached to a bendy wire that can be molded around your ear – ideal for keeping them in-ear when you’re on the move. I would argue, however, that these aren’t the comfiest buds on the market. You definitely get a reliable, tight fit but they can feel a bit uncomfortable after a couple of hours. So, if you’re looking for a wired option for casual listening, they may not be the best option.

Regardless, these are well-made IEMs with good build quality. The earbuds I tested came in a see-through, black-tinted shell so you can see the components powering the IEMs. That might not be for everyone, but I found it made for a cool-looking aesthetic. The buds don’t appear cheap or fragile, either, so these should last you some considerable time. They don’t have a specific waterproof rating, but Shure’s website claims that they’re sweat-resistant at the least, making them fit for purpose if you’re an on-stage performer.

Finally, the included wire is decently slim, except for the slightly chunky Y-connector. You’ll hear a bit of cable noise if moving around with these earbuds, but it’s decently muted, meaning the SE215 do well at mixing style and substance overall.

All in all, the Shure SE215 are a very solid pair of entry-level IEMs, that offer impressive bass, pleasing clarity, excellent noise isolation, and a neat design. Audio can get a little bloated at top volumes and you might not find them the most comfortable buds on the market, but they’re still more than fit for purpose, whether you’re on the stage, cooking up beats in the studio or indulging in some leisurely listening at home.

(Image credit: Future) Shure SE215 review: Price and release date

• $99 / £90 / AU$179
• Launched in 2011

The Shure SE215 were released all the way back in 2011, but they’re still a super-popular option among musicians and fans of wired listening in general. They’re available for around $99 / £90 / AU$179, but you can pick them up for even less on sale, so keep an eye out for sweet deals. This model is available in a range of color options, including Black, Blue, Clear and Purple.

Shure SE215 review: Specs

(Image credit: Future) Should you buy the Shure SE215 review? Buy them if...

You want some entry-level IEMs
If you want some solid buds for monitoring audio during a live set or similar, the Shure SE215 are a good option. They don’t offer the most incredible levels of detail available, but you’ll get clear audio and a strong bass response that will likely get the job done.

You’re not looking to break the bank
If you’re searching for a step up in the world of wired listening, but don’t want to cough up too much money, the SE215 are worth considering. At less than $100 / £100 /AU$200, these certainly fit the bill – you won’t have to put up with the tinny or distorted audio that a lot of super-cheap options plate up, but you’ll not get top-tier audio either.

Don't buy them if...

You want an option for casual listening
For those of you that love wired listening, but aren’t into stage or studio monitoring, there are better options out there for you. Even the far cheaper SoundMagic E11C are an awesome option for more casual listeners who want a decently detailed listen on a budget.

You’re on the search for top-tier audio
The SE215 do sound good, with impressive bass levels and generally clear audio, but they’re not the most premium-sounding. If you want really great wired audio that’s even suitable for studio use, the Sennheiser IE 600 are an excellent choice, though you’ll have to splash a fair amount of cash.

Shure SE215 review: Also consider

Sennheiser IE 200
Clear, well-rounded sound, a gorgeous design and a lightweight feel. They’re just some of the Sennheiser IE 200’s star qualities, which have earned it the title of ‘best step-up earbuds’ in our wired earbuds guide. Price-wise, they’re a little more than the Shure SE215, but on sale, you can easily grab them for around $100 / £100. You may not find as good noise isolation here, but audio-wise, these are very strong. Read our full Sennheiser IE 200 review.

SoundMagic E80D
Whether you’re looking for an option that’s better sorted to casual listening or just want a pair of buds for USB-C listening, the SoundMagic E80D are well-worth considering. With a built-in DAC, impressively detailed audio and an excellent low-price, you’re looking at an awesome all-rounder. Read our full SoundMagic E80D review.

Shure SE215 review: How I tested

(Image credit: Future)

• Tested for two weeks
• Used in the office and while outdoors
• Predominantly tested using Tidal on FiiO M11S

I tested the Shure SE215 over the course of two weeks. I predominantly listened with them using Tidal on the FiiO M11S, but also tried them out using Spotify on my Windows laptop. I tested the SE215 in the office, at home and while out on walks near busy roads to assess noise-isolation capabilities.

When listening to music I played tracks from the TechRadar testing playlist, which contains songs from a variety of genres – though I also spent hours tuning into songs from my personal library.

• First reviewed: December 2024
• Read more about how we test

Back in July 2023, I reviewed the Oakywood Custom Standing Desk. Almost a year and a half later, Oakywood released the upgraded version. They call this the Oakywood Standing Desk Pro. Its groundbreaking custom designing tool is now a staple in its product line, and the company has gone about upgrading a few areas of the aforementioned Oakywood Custom Standing Desk to make it an even better desk - believe it or not.

But before I delve into that, it's worth noting that as the desire and demand for ergonomic solutions in professional workspaces and unique home offices continue to increase, an issue in sizing continues to arise. Run-of-the-mill sizing doesn't always work for those unique basements, side rooms, corners of bedrooms, and dedicated home offices. They don't even always fit in professional offices.

So, Oakywood set out to solve that issue by using their custom sizing. They have this Standing Desk Pro if you need a "normal" to "large" desk. If you have a smaller space to fill, they have the Standing Desk Pro Mini. Both can be customized to fit your space and have the exact grommets, accessories, and colorways. There's something about getting to customize every aspect of your desk that is incredibly satisfying. All this customization comes at a price, but so does having a desk that doesn't fit - I'll let you decide which price you want to pay. Want to see how the new upgrade compares to the best standing desks I've reviewed? I put this one to the test.

Oakywood Standing Desk Pro: Price and Availability

The base configuration of the Oakywood Standing Desk Pro starts at $1,190 and can climb quickly when you kit it out with accessories and sizing. If I max out the pricing, I can get the Oakywood Standing Desk Pro up to $3,390 without accessories. Speaking of accessories, Oakywood sells great desk shelves, MagSafe stands, cable management, laptop stands, and desk mats.

Oakywood can ship globally, but remember that if you are customizing a desk, they need time to rally to build and custom-cut your desk and then ship it out. Those lead times can be up to 9 weeks, but customizing a hunk of beautiful walnut into a desk takes time to get it right. You can run to Target or shop on Amazon for a cheap desk or a desk now.

Another thing that is super impressive and shows the kind of company that Oakywood is is that they promote pricing transparency. They have a diagram that showcases just where your dollar spent with them goes, making you feel a bit better knowing that your money is going to a good place.

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future) Oakywood Standing Desk Pro: Unboxing and First Impressions

Most of the time, my first impressions of a desk start when I get it and frequently as soon as I unbox it. However, based on the online editor tools, I can state my first impressions of this desk. I could not wait to get my hands on my custom desk, especially after trying the newer grommet options and choosing a solid walnut desk with complementing accessories.

The packaging was compact and well-organized, making it incredibly easy to unpack. This desk came in a box that was screwed shut and not just taped shut, which I appreciated knowing that it helped protect my custom desk. The boxes contained the desktop, adjustable steel frame legs, a control panel, assembly tools, and the cables needed.

Right away, I loved the premium finish on the wood, the robust build quality, and how easy this was to build. It took only minutes, unlike most desks, which take significantly longer.

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future) Oakywood Standing Desk Pro: Design and Build Quality Specs

Height Range: 63-128 cm (24.8-50.4 inches)
Lifting Speed: 60 mm/s with noise levels under 40 dB
Maximum load: 70 kg (154 lbs)

I chose a Solid Walnut desk, though they also have solid oak, oak and walnut veneer, and black-stained oak. If you're interested in the veneer tabletops, they are finished with eco-friendly oil wax and are much lighter and cheaper than the solid wood variants.

All around, the desk is minimal, and I love that. It's a beautiful art piece in and of itself. It's a finely crafted piece of wood that looks good on its own, not to mention once it's staged with other beautiful gear.

The desk can raise and lower quickly and quietly, making it perfect for pretty much any space; no worries about whether it will be too loud.

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future) Oakywood Standing Desk Pro: In use

This desk was exactly what I was hoping it would be. It's clean, professional, sleek, works great, is high quality, and looks gorgeous. This quickly became my dedicated iPad desk, which I shared with another team member. However, without getting too specific on my use case, what matters is that this desk works wonderfully. The grommet built into the desk is great for hiding cables, whether you have a desk shelf or not. Without it, it's a great cable catch, too. With a desk shelf, it works excellent to route cables where they need to go (like in the back of a monitor.

The controller for raising and lowering the desk is pretty sleek. It's a handle and display in the same piece. Lift the little knob, and the desk goes up; push it down, and you guessed it, it goes down. Within the knob is a display that reads out the height as well. What's brilliant is that you can move to a saved preset with a double click.

I'm 6'2" and the other reviewer that tried this desk is about 6'3". The Oakywood Standing Desk Pro not only can reach our preferred standing height, but it's also still stable at that height, which is terrific.

Lastly, I threw this desk on casters, which I do for most of my desks. Caster wheels make for a super easy transition if (let's be honest... when) I decide to change something up. I can roll the desk away from the wall, make my adjustments, and then roll it back. Or, in the case of a multi-purpose room, if that room needs to be used for something other than an office, the desk can roll right out without any worries or damage.

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future) Oakywood Standing Desk Pro: Final verdict

The Oakywood Standing Desk Pro combines aesthetics, sustainability, and ergonomic functionality, making it an excellent choice for modern workspaces. Although its premium pricing and custom order lead times may not appeal to everyone, it's a worthwhile option for those looking to make a long-term investment in their workspace.

For more workplace essentials, we reviewed the best office chairs and best office desks.

• View or buy at Narwal

Narwal Freo Z Ultra Robot Vacuum and Mop two-minute review

Launched to great acclaim at Europe’s biggest tech show, IFA (where it snagged two awards), the Narwal Freo Z Ultra is a successor to the brand's Freo X Ultra. Significant upgrades include dual RGB cameras, LiDAR navigation, and an increase in suction power from 8,200 to 12,000Pa. In layman’s terms, it’s better at obstacle avoidance and adaptive cleaning, plus it sucks up more dirt!

In my tests, I found the Z Ultra excelled at both mopping and vacuuming on hard floors (of which I have many) but it was less cool on carpet. To be fair, I’ve tested some of the very best robot vacuums and am yet to find one that can handle dusty carpets as well as the best manual vacuums for carpet, which always have more power and better filters.

I loved all the smart automation, which meant I didn’t have to zone off carpets to stop them getting soggy or worry about what power level or speed to set. As a germophobe I also really appreciated how hygienic this robot is; cleaning and drying itself after every session.

Its mapping powers were also great, but I would have liked a quick option for spot cleans. Many robots allow you to mark a zone on the map where there’s a spill and send the robot straight there to clean. The only way I could work out to do this was in video mode, where you can manually navigate the vacuum. The issue here was the video was glitchy about connecting and often flatly refused – not ideal if you have spilt something that could stain and needs speedy attention.

I also had a few bin-related issues, and mopping was deadly s-l-o-w, but absolutely worth the wait. Ideal for large homes with mostly hard surfaces, the Narwal Freo Z Ultra suits tech-savvy homeowners who appreciate an integrated app and can get their head around fine-tuning settings. Technophobes and the impatient (and anyone on a budget) might prefer to steer clear.

Read on for my full Narwal Freo Z Ultra Robot Vacuum and Mop review.

Narwal Freo Z Ultra review: price & availability

• List price: $1499.99 / AU$2,499
• Launch date: October 2024
• Availability: US / AU

The Narwal Freo Z Ultra launched in October 2024 and at time of writing is available to buy in the US and Australia, with a list price of $1,499.99 or AU$2,499. That places it firmly in the premium price bracket. There’s no getting away from it, the Narwal Freo Z Ultra is a pricey robot vacuum sitting at the very top of the market in both Australia and North America. You can save a few dollars by waiting for seasonal sales (the Black Friday deals often include some big robovac price-drops).

There are two accessories pack options. Option 1 will set you back an extra $259.99, and costs of a whole raft of brushes, detergents, dust bags and mop pads. Option 2 gets you a few of the most-used accessories, for $100. You can also add a one-year extended warranty plan for $79. Buying the accessories individually will soon add up – a replacement detergent is $29.99 – so it’s worth doing the math before you decide which option to start with.

While the Narwal Freo Z Ultra is an investment appliance, it will save you a LOT of time and it’s by far the best mopping robot I’ve tested. I wouldn’t buy it purely for vacuuming, but as a combo, it might be worth the spends.

• Value for money score: 3.5 out of 5

Narwal Freo Z Ultra Robot Vacuum and Mop specs Narwal Freo Z Ultra Robot Vacuum and Mop review: design

• Stylish robot with mopping and vacuuming skills
• Large mop heads and spinning brushes for getting close to edges
• Decent capacity water reservoirs

Arriving in a huge box, I needed an extra pair of hands to unload the Z Ultra and was grateful for the hand grips in the base station when positioning the heavy unit next to a power point. It comes with a simple instruction card for first-time setup, as well as a more comprehensive user manual. I used the former to install the side brushes, insert the detergent and add clean water. My daughter got a lot of satisfaction from removing a gazillion instructional stickers from both the base station and vacuum unit.

Box size comparison with 11-year-old Bonnie! (Image credit: Future/Linda Clayton)

The design of the Freo Z Ultra, and base station, is very stylish indeed, which is just as well given that it’s hard to hide! Choose from Galaxy White or Space Gray. All the edges are softly curved and, with its two camera ‘eyes’ in the front, has the cute vibes of Pixar’s Wall-E, which is exactly how I like my robot vacuums. The various lids and covers pop off without breaking any fingernails, and everything is easy to access.

(Image credit: Future/Linda Clayton)

Underneath, this robot has two large microfibre style mops that Velcro on, as well as two rotating side brushes that are a good length for getting into corners. The main roller brush has a rubber flipper part as well as brushes to suit both hard floors and carpets, plus its anti-hair tangle design does actually work. As I have two daughters and two spaniels who seem to molt year-round, I was delighted to swerve the odious task of cutting swathes of hair from around a roller. (Effective anti-hair wrap brushrolls are a key feature amongst the best robot vacuums for pet hair.)

One unusual feature I’ve not seen anywhere else is a fluffy baseboard duster that attaches with Velcro on one side and is designed to gather dust from the tops of your skirting boards as it goes along the edges of the room

The large mops lift up when vacuuming. (Image credit: Future/Linda Clayton)

The Narwal Freo Z Ultra’s base station has two large containers for clean and dirty water. These are are easy to lift in and out, but you'll want to make sure the dirty water reservoir’s lid is properly clipped on, or you may have to clean up a mini flood.

The dirty water bin is very satisfying to empty! (Image credit: Future/Linda Clayton)

There’s also a dust collection bag and compartment into which to slot the bottle of floor cleaning solution that’s supplied. The bot does work without the detergent module in place, which is handy given they cost nearly $30 a pop. There’s a cool little window strip in the base that shows the water being ionized. It’s not clear why the water needs to be ionized but if you like watching bubbling water, take a peek.

• Design score: 4 out of 5

Narwal Freo Z Ultra Robot Vacuum and Mop review: performance

• Amazing at obstacle avoiding and navigation
• Great at mopping, poor on carpet
• Self-cleaning is great, but self-emptying hit and miss

The first job any robot vacuum has to complete is a map of the house, which this little beauty did in 17 minutes – impressive given we have quite a few little rooms, and many obstacles. (Here's more on how to prepare your house for a robot vacuum, if you're unsure.)

The mapping was precise and accurate. I liked how the map shows where the rugs and carpets are; often you have to add your own, which requires some guesswork on precise positioning. I’ll discuss the App in more depth later, but it was easy to name each room and set up no-go zones and divide rooms. Another bonus of the Freo Z Ultra is the ability to choose from a wide menu that covers mop, vacuum, mop & vacuum, and mop then vacuum. Some models I’ve tested don’t allow you to just mop.

The robovac didn't get quite as close to the edges of rooms as I'd like (Image credit: Future/Linda Clayton)

Once I’d got to grip with the controls, I loaded up the water tank and tasked the Freo Z Ultra to vacuum and mop my entire ground floor, which is mostly engineered wood, with some terracotta, porcelain, luxury vinyl and of course rugs and carpet. Pretty diverse then.

While it was possible to set my own cleaning parameters, the Freo Z Ultra has an AI mode that uses various sensors and cameras to automatically adapt to different floor types and dirt levels. This takes the brainwork out of setting up and ended up being my go-to mode throughout my three-week trial period.

The first thing I noticed was how good the Freo Z Ultra was at obstacle avoidance – no banging into furniture or corners and no dragging cables or dog toys around the floor with it. (TechRadar's article on how robot vacuums navigate walks through the typical approaches brands use.) I never once got a message to say the roller brush was stuck, which is the usual warning that a robot has eaten something it shouldn’t! It was also excellent at powering over thresholds and the annoying chair legs I have that robot vacuums usually get grounded on, and spin like mad until sending a stuck error message.

(Image credit: Future/Linda Clayton)

The second thing I noticed was how it doesn’t get terribly close to the edges in mopping mode. When vacuuming, I could see the little spidery side brushes pulling dog hair and dander in from the edge but in mop mode there was a clear inch or more of bone-dry flooring around the perimeter of the room and any floor-level furniture like our kitchen units and sideboard.

And on the subject of edges, I’m sorry but the little fluffy baseboard duster on the side of the robot is only going to work if you have super low baseboards. Like many heritage properties, the baseboards in our Victorian home are quite high so it doesn’t reach the tops, aka the only bits that need dusting.

The mop edging wasn't brilliant, especially alongside the kitchen kickboards. (Image credit: Future/Linda Clayton)

The Freo Z Ultra doesn’t carry any water onboard, which is unusual. Instead, it loads its mops up with warm, soapy water at the base station before heading out to clean. I was concerned this would result in dry patches of flooring, but the dampness levels were perfect – not too wet (important on real timber flooring), nor too dry.

The only downside is it has to make repeat returns to load up with more water, which can elongate the cleaning time, especially in rooms that are furthest from the base. For example, it took 1hr 19mins to mop our utility and hallway, which is an area of just 40 sq m. To vacuum and mop the whole ground floor, 68.3sq m, the Freo Z Ultra took a tedious 2h 41mins. Imagine how long it would take if I asked it to vacuum and then mop, rather than do it consecutively. I didn’t want to find out! I’ve never tested a robot that spends longer than two hours on the job.

When the robot returns to base after mopping and vacuuming, it automatically empties the bin and cleans its mop heads and then dries them. The latter takes a couple of hours but it’s incredibly quiet, so you won’t notice it. I did have to set the bin emptying to every run on the app, otherwise it clogged up and couldn’t self-empty itself. Hardly surprising given how microscopic the onboard bin is. Even then, there were a few times the bin just wasn’t self-emptying, even though it said it was, which was frustrating.

(Image credit: Future/Linda Clayton)

There are a handful of extra features – perhaps the most interesting one being that in Video mode you can see through your robot’s 'eyes' and remote control it around your home. That means you can use it as a security bot, or to check up on pets and send it off to specific locations. This mode isn't authorized by default, you'll need to manually switch it on if you want to use it.

Cleaning tests

When it came to running our standard vacuuming tests – one using a fine mix of biscuit and flour, and another using oats to represent larger particles – the results were a mixed bag. The Freo Z Ultra did well on the hard floors, eventually anyway. It took at least three passes and full power mode to get everything up.

I used multiple ‘no-go’ zones on the map to create my 1m x 1m test area, but the robot still seemed to spend far longer cleaning around the area I had made my test spills than it did actually dealing with the mess. This led me to seriously question Narwal’s claims that it homes in on and targets dirt using its beady little cameras and sensors.

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Flour on hard floors (Image credit: Future/Linda Clayton)Image 2 of 6

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Oats on hard floors (Image credit: Future/Linda Clayton)Image 5 of 6

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Oats on hard floors (Image credit: Future/Linda Clayton)

With oats on carpet, the results were middling. The robot pushed things around a fair bit and it took three runs before they were gone. The dog may have helped!

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Oats on carpet (Image credit: Future/Linda Clayton)Image 2 of 3

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Oats on carpet (Image credit: Future/Linda Clayton)

On carpet, the fine mix removal was very disappointing. I gave up after three attempts and got my cordless vacuum out. Although this isn't great news, I'd argue that it's not often you'll experience this level of concentrated 'dust' and I was always happy with its carpet cleaning results in general.

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Flour on carpet (Image credit: Future/Linda Clayton)Image 2 of 3

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Flour on carpet (Image credit: Future/Linda Clayton)

Next, I tried out the mop function by 'spilling' first Ribena juice and then ketchup, which I left to dry, on the porcelain tiles in our cloakroom (I didn’t want to risk stains on our timber floors). These results were much better, although the dried-on ketchup required two passes to complete the job. According to Narwal, this impressive mopping is achieved via dual rotating mop heads that press down with 1.2kg of force and spin at 180 RPM. Other robot mops I’ve used either just drag a static mop pad along, or have a vibrating mop, this spinning tech is the closest I’ve come to mimicking real mop work. And the results show it.

Apparently, this robot also analyses the waste water to decide if another cleaning run is required but I had to make that decision myself with the ketchup; the Freo Z Ultra thought it was done after one attempt.

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Wet spill (Image credit: Future/Linda Clayton)Image 2 of 6

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Dried-on ketchup (Image credit: Future/Linda Clayton)

To check navigational skills, our final test involves placing a sock (in a similar shade to the flooring) a shoe and a charger cable on the floor. The Freo Z Ultra absolutely nailed this test, not touching any of the objects but getting close enough to clean sufficiently around them.

All these common objects were successfully swerved. (Image credit: Future/Linda Clayton)

The Freo Z Ultra takes around 2.5 hours to charge, which is a bit speedier than normal, and has a run time of just over 2 hours 15mins (in vacuum and mop mode), which is about the standard for a high-end robot. It automatically returns to the base to charge if it runs low on juice during a cleaning cycle, which is also the norm. If I was asking it to do the whole house, it never managed on a single charge but I usually tackle the dirtiest rooms (kitchen and hallway) more frequently and that was easily done without the need to stop to recharge.

Noise-wise, I am quite noise intolerant and as I work from home, I don’t like having noisy robots rattling around the house while I am trying to focus. Happily, I found the Freo Z Ultra one of the quietest robots I’ve tested, especially in mopping mode, with my decibel meter App recording between 60-70dB max. This is way below the noise levels you would get from a regular vacuum, but if they still bother you, just schedule the robot to work while you’re out of the house.

Maintenance

I found the Freo Z Ultra easy to clean and maintain, the internal bin pops out for emptying, if it hasn’t emptied automatically into the base station, and the mop heads are automatically washed with hot water and dried after every use. This is important to prevent bacteria breeding in the mop heads and before being dragged all over your home. All this self-cleaning did mean it rattled through the clean water in the tank and I had to refill it before most cleaning runs, but that’s a small price to pay I’d argue.

Like all robot vacuums, it’s important to keep the sensors and charging contacts clean, which is an easy wipe-over task. The roller brush didn’t clog in the three-week test period, but if they had, they do clip out very easily. I also didn’t fill the dust bag in the base station but it just clips out and pops straight in the bin when full.

Narwal recommends cleaning the filter once a week, which involves clipping it out from under the top cover on the robot and tapping out the dust – simple. It should be replaced every three-six months.

(Image credit: Future/Linda Clayton)

• Performance score: 3.5 out of 5

Narwal Freo Z Ultra Robot Vacuum and Mop review: app

• Very easy to work out without assistance
• Lots of options to customize cleaning (or not)
• Mildly glitchy connection

The Narwal Freo Z Ultra app is user-friendly and intuitive (I never needed to use the Help Center), making it easy to create custom cleaning schedules, adjust settings, and monitor cleaning progress in Real Life. Make sure you connect using a 2.5GHz wi-fi link, not 5GHz.

If you love an easy life (as I do), you can clean in Freo Mind mode, which leaves all the decisions about power levels, patterns and passes to the robot. If you’re a control freak, each cleaning program comes with various adjustment options, such as mopping humidity, coverage precision, detergent use etc.

You can choose which rooms to clean, but I also liked that I could set the cleaning sequence for a full home clean. For example, I set it to start in the kitchen, then hallway, then dining room (where my desk is), so that it gets those rooms I spend most time in done first (while I’m taking the kids to school). You can also split rooms, merge rooms and add no-go zones.

The app also provides cleaning history and notifications to ensure you stay informed of cleaning progress. I did experience quite a lot of delays between opening the app and the robot syncing, but we’re only talking seconds. And it often annoyed me that there was no Spot Clean option but that may well come with a software upgrade.

• App score: 4 out of 5

Should you buy the Narwal Freo Z Ultra Robot Vacuum and Mop? Buy it if…

You’ve got lots of hard floors

You’ll probably need to give carpets a thorough clean with a more powerful vacuum once a week or so, but you can save your mop for emergency spills – this robot has got regular mopping covered.

You want to spy on your pets

In Video mode you can see through your robot’s 'eyes' and remote control it around your home to hunt out and check up on pets while you're out.

You’ve got a messy home

While it’s always worth picking up stray toys and shoes etc. before your robot cleans, sometimes you just don’t have time. Luckily this robot has amazing obstacle avoidance – I never had issues with it its roller brush getting blocked by shoelaces or charging cables.

Don't buy it if…

You’re on a water meter

Okay, so it’s not so thirsty your water bill will rocket but you will need to refill the large water tank (and empty the dirty one) a lot, depending on area. For me, it was every full ground floor clean. You can adjust the reduce water use in the app, but I didn’t find the results as good.

You’re impatient

Frequent returns to base to wash the mopheads and replenish with clean water takes its toll on timescales. This was by far the slowest robot I’ve tested. I tended to set it going when I knew I’d be out of the house for a couple of hours.

You’ve got loads of carpet and rugs

This is robot is too expensive to not take full advantage of the mop mode, and there are more powerful suckers out there for a lot less if you have mostly carpet.

How I tested the Narwal Freo Z Ultra Robot Vacuum and Mop

I tested the Narwal Freo Z Ultra Robot Vacuum and Mop for three weeks on the ground floor of my four-bed historic home. With the exception of thick-pile carpet, we have all manner of flooring types from porcelain and terracotta tiles to vinyl and engineered oak. I ran the robot in various rooms, in every cleaning mode, every day and tried cleaning in both automatic smart mode and fully customized. I also set schedules and conducted controlled tests where I had the robot vacuum flour, crushed biscuits and oats from hard floors and rugs, as well as mop wet and dried on spills from the porcelain tiled floor.

Read more about how we test

First reviewed November 2024

UGreen Nexode Pro 65W Ultra-Slim 3-Port charger review

The UGreen Nexode Pro 65W Ultra-Slim 3-Port charger is a pretty unique-looking wall plug. This super thin charger skips out on the cube-like structure favored by most of its competitors, making it ideal for use in tight spaces. Imagine you have a desk pressed close to your wall or bed for instance – this is the perfect, stealthy charger you need to juice up your devices, even if you’re short on space.

Of course, the UGreen Nexode Pro 65W Ultra-Slim 3-Port charger (quite the mouthful) has a maximum power output of… well 65W. And that will be enough for a lot of users, with USB-C Port 1 able to charge up to 65W when charging a single device or 45W with two or three plugged in at once.

When I tested charging performance, I wasn’t surprised to find that this thing got the job done, no questions asked. I charged the Samsung Galaxy S24 FE alongside the LG Tone Free T90S earbuds and FiiO M11S hi-res music player and the Samsung phone was brought back to full health from 0% in around 80 minutes – as fast as I’d expect from some of the best iPhone chargers and the best Android phone chargers.

Of course, if you want to charge three more power hungry devices, such as modern Chromebooks or Macbooks, simultaneously, this may be a little underpowered – especially as USB-C Port 2 only offers up to 20W of power in Two-Port Charging mode – but if you don’t need perfectly optimized power output, that won’t be too much of an issue.

I did find a couple of slight issues when charging, however. Firstly, this thing wasn’t the most secure when plugged in. After slotting in the UK plug adapter, I moved my USB-C cable around a bit and found the charger’s body shook a bit. This wasn’t really a big issue, but I’d prefer a more secure fit. On top of that, the model got fairly warm after 30 minutes of charging in Single Port charging mode. Again – that’s not the end of the world – and this is still a safe-to-use charger, but if you want top-tier performance with zero hiccups, you may not quite get what you want from this UGreen charger.

Having said that, this model still performs well in bringing your devices back to life. But that’s not where the good stuff ends. This plug is very nicely designed and you can really reap the benefits of its almost flat design. At just 0.6 inches (16mm) thick, it’s ideal for when you’re on-the-go and in a tight space. On top of that, this charger comes with interchangeable plugs for US, UK and EU ports – it doesn’t get much more travel-friendly than that. The only potential issue of this charger’s build is that it’s still fairly long – so if your sockets are close to a surface or the ground, it may not be the best fit – especially as the USB ports are on the bottom of the charger. But for most environments, it will slot in perfectly.

It also comes in an attractive silver color, as do the rest of the plugs in UGreen’s Pro line. One positive difference, though, is that the attached adapter looks a bit more discreet than it does on other models. Like its siblings, this model also uses GaN technology to ensure a compact, energy efficient build. The use of GaN, inclusion of three ports and fairly high power output mean you’ll have to pay a fair amount for this charger, of course. It has a list price of $55.99 / £45.99 (about AU$90), though I’ve already seen it available for less than $40 / £40 – that’s great value. Overall, there’s a lot to love about this ultra-slim charger and it’s my pick of the entire UGreen Nexode Pro line.

(Image credit: Future) UGreen Nexode Pro 65W Ultra-Slim 3-Port charger review: Price & specs

(Image credit: Future) Should I buy the UGreen Nexode Pro 65W Ultra-Slim 3-Port charger? Buy it if…

You want a travel charger
If you’re looking for a wall charger to take on your travels, this is a fantastic option. You get interchangeable plugs for US, UK and EU use all in the box, which is a huge plus. On top of that, it’s super compact, making it ideal for taking around in a small bag, or even your pocket.

You want to charge multiple devices simultaneously
If you need to get multiple devices back to life, you can with this tri-port charger, which has two USB-C and one USB-A ports. You can get up to 45W from USB-C Port 1, even with Port 2 and the USB-A slot in use too, so you’ll have enough power for most modern handsets, for instance.

Don't buy it if…

You’re looking for a powerhouse of a charger
With a maximum power output of 65W, this charger will likely have enough to charge one power-hungry device. But if you want to charge two or three more demanding devices at once, this might not be the best option for you. The Anker Prime 100W GaN Wall Charger is an excellent alternative if you need a bit more power.

Your socket is close to the floor or a surface
If your power socket is a little close to the ground or a separated surface, you may find that this charger is a tad long. It’s ideal if you’re in a space where the charger is close to a bed or sofa, however.

UGreen Nexode Pro 65W Ultra-Slim 3-Port charger: Also consider

UGreen Nexode Pro 65W 3-Port charger
This charger is massively similar to the Ultra-Slim alternative from UGreen. It has the same maximum power output, list price and port configuration. The key difference here is form – this is a thicker, yet more cube-shaped charger, so it will be suited to different kinds of spaces to the Ultra-Slim variant. The ports face towards you, rather than being located under the charger too, which some may find preferable. Read our full UGreen Nexode Pro 65W 3-Port charger review.

Garmin Enduro 3: One-minute review

The launch of the Garmin Enduro 3 was undeniably overshadowed by the company's decision to unveil the Garmin Fenix 8 alongside it. The new Fenix brought the AMOLED Epix and Fenix under one name but at a premium price.

The Enduro line puts battery first, all while offering most of the features from the Fenix series. The Enduro 2 did that more than the original Enduro and for the Enduro 3, the remit remains the same.

It promises over a month of battery life on a single charge, with new solar charging display technology to push things even further than a month. Garmin has included its new software, which brings changes to features like mapping and navigation with a new dynamic round-trip routing feature that will let you adjust your route on the fly. Those software changes make using the Enduro 3 feel more like using a smartwatch. It also adds in a new optical heart rate sensor, which brings temperature and ECG-style tracking into the mix as well as offering a boost in heart rate monitoring accuracy.

That’s all while giving you everything great we got on the Enduro 2, for less money than its predecessor and the new Fenix 8. It’s still a very expensive watch and is going to be too pricey for many. You get what you pay for here and if rich sports tracking, training analysis, the best mapping features, and huge battery life are things you want more than anything, that’s what the Enduro 3 will give you.

The Garmin Fenix 8 is deservedly one of the best Garmin watches. But, if you can live without an AMOLED screen and some additional voice-based smartwatch features, the Enduro 3 is great too and will go longer than the Fenix too.

Garmin Enduro 3: Specifications Garmin Enduro 3: Price and availability

(Image credit: Mike Sawh)

• Price for Enduro 3 is $899/£769/AU£1,549
• Prices for 43mm Fenix 8 start at $999 / £949 / AU$1,699

The Garmin Enduro 3, unlike the Fenix 8, comes in just one size option and costs $899/£769/AU£1,549. In contrast, Garmin’s Fenix 8 series starts at $999 / £949 / AU$1,699, so is something of a step in price even if you opt for the cheapest model.

When the Garmin Enduro 2 launched it sat at $1,099/£929/AU 1,749, so that’s somewhat surprisingly a drop in price for the latest Enduro, which isn’t typically the case when a new model in a Garmin watch series arrives.

Put that up against other outdoor watches outside of Garmin’s own, it’s pricier than the Polar Grit X 2 Pro and the Suunto Vertical. You can also include smartwatches like the Apple Watch Ultra 2 and the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra as cheaper alternatives to the Enduro 3 that, unlike the Enduro, pack in AMOLED displays.

• Value score: 4/5

Garmin Enduro 3: Design

(Image credit: Mike Sawh)

• Comes with a nylon strap
• Less prominent Power Sapphire lens
• Lacks Fenix 8 leak-proof buttons

The Enduro 3 sticks very closely to the design of the Enduro 2, including a slightly thicker 51mm, all-black polymer case, titanium bezel, and a very comfy black nylon strap. The differences lie with the same-sized, 1.4-inch, 280x280 resolution touchscreen. While you don’t get a colorful AMOLED one like the Fenix 8, you do get a display that’s a good size and does a much nicer job of masking its solar charging display abilities.

Garmin is using an improved version of its Power Sapphire lens, which once again has the ability to harvest sunlight to give you more in-between charges. Along with being able to perform that task in a more efficient manner, the red ring on the Enduro 2 to indicate those onboard solar powers is now gone, leaving a much clearer and overall nicer transflective display to look at. It is still a breeze to look at in much brighter outdoor light and marks an upgrade both aesthetically as well as in how effectively the Enduro can now harvest that solar power.

Outside of the changes in the display department, this is a watch that feels very Garmin. You’ve got a pretty standard array of physical buttons that aren’t the leak-proof kind included on the Fenix 8. It’s suitable for swimming up to 100 meters depth and uses Garmin’s go-to proprietary charging cable. If you liked the LED flashlight on the Enduro 2, there’s now a brighter one on the Enduro 3. The strap included is a quick-fit kind, which makes it easier to swap in an official or unofficial band. The nylon one included though makes this watch, which will still no doubt be a hulking one for some, a little more manageable and comfortable to wear 24/7.

• Design score: 4/5

Garmin Enduro 3: Features

(Image credit: Mike Sawh)

• New user interface
• Richer mapping and navigation features
• Gen 5 Elevate heart rate sensor

The headline news on the Enduro 3 is that the software it’s running on is all new. You won’t get it on the Enduro 2, but you will find it on the Fenix 8 and future Garmin watches. That new software is really centered around bringing sports watch and smartwatch features closer together and making the Enduro 3’s mapping and navigation modes easier to do on the move. Those new mapping and navigation features are led by a new dynamic round-trip routing mode that will automatically adjust your route in real time for whatever reason you need to adapt your route.

The core sports you can pick from stick largely to the same ones as the Enduro 2 with a bigger emphasis on strength training and letting you follow plans to factor that work into your training schedule. These plans range from 4-6 weeks and aren’t just for people who choose weights over cardio. This is about helping runners, cyclists, and swimmers to incorporate more strength training to reap the benefits of it in those sports.

On the hardware front, Garmin has upgraded the Enduro’s optical heart rate sensor to its latest Gen 5 one, which features inside of the Fenix 7 Pro, Epix Pro, and the Fenix 8. Along with promising the best heart rate accuracy that Garmin has to offer, it also unlocks the ability to take ECG-style measurements and temperature readings from the wrist. Those might not necessarily be the biggest reasons you’d be looking at picking an Enduro 3, but for those wanting a better mix of general wellness and sports tracking, the Enduro 3 offers a little more on that front.

In terms of other software features, this is a watch that arms you with an LED flashlight, offers training insights like altitude and heat acclimation, and gives you daily morning reports to tell you if you’ve slept well and whether you’re in good shape to train. While it lacks the new voice features included on the Fenix 8, does still let you pay your way, download apps and customize watch faces, and download and store music from services like Spotify.

• Features score: 4.5/5

Garmin Enduro 3: Performance

(Image credit: Mike Sawh)

• Impressive battery life once again
• Slightly improved HR performance
• Richer mapping support

The Enduro 3 mirrors a lot of what we got in the Enduro 2 and that’s not necessarily a bad thing. That’s never more true of the Enduro 3’s standout quality, and that’s the battery life. Whether you’re using it like a smartwatch or using it with its best GPS accuracy mode, you won’t be reaching for a charger for weeks. I managed to get just shy of a month from it and that was while mainly using it with its most accurate GPS mode. I used it for outdoor runs, indoor workouts, pool, and open water swims, and the battery performance really impressed

You do get that added reserve of solar charging, which boosts battery performance considerably. 36 days of battery in smartwatch mode becomes 90 days. Getting to that number requires regular exposure to sunlight to top up those reserves. I could see from spending just a couple of hours in strong sunlight how that battery is noticeably topped up too.

The multi-band GPS support is as good as it is on other Garmin watches like the Fenix 8 and the Forerunner 965. If you’re looking for accurate GPS support in more challenging conditions, the Enduro 3 is fit for the job. Moving to Garmin’s latest Gen 5 Elevate optical heart rate monitor does see a small improvement in the reliability of heart rate tracking but as I do find with bigger Garmin watches, it struggles at high intensity such as when I used the Enduro 3 for harder running sessions.

While the first Enduro missed out on Garmin’s great mapping support, that changed for the Enduro 2 and the Enduro 3 gets the best Garmin has to offer on that front now. That includes adding new ways to toggle and change map views and also features Garmin’s new dynamic round-trip routing, which does take a few minutes to adjust routes before you can be on your way again.

Garmin’s efforts to make strength training feel more a part of the tracking experience is a valiant attempt. Especially when elements like rep counting aren’t impeccable on sports watches in general. Adding plans that are presented like Garmin’s running ones makes it easy to follow plans, which is going to be welcomed by those that typically neglect it.

• Performance score: 5/5

Garmin Enduro 3: Scorecard

(Image credit: Mike Sawh) Garmin Enduro 3: Should I buy?

(Image credit: Mike Sawh) Buy it if...

You want a Fenix 8 but it’s too expensive

While the Enduro 3 costs a lot, it is cheaper than the latest Fenix and gives you its best features for less.

You spend a lot of time outside in the sunshine

Garmin’s improved solar charging display technology will make the difference as long as you’re exposing it to sufficient sunlight to top battery levels up.View Deal

Don't buy it if...

You want the best Garmin smartwatch sports watch mash-up

While you’re getting the best of Garmin’s sports tracking, you’re not getting everything Garmin has to offer in smartwatch features. You’ll need to grab a Fenix 8 for that.View Deal

You want the slimmest, best-looking Garmin watch

While the new solar charging tech improves the Enduro 3’s look, it’s still going to be a bit big and rugged for some wrists.View Deal

Also consider...

Garmin Fenix 8

It’s got the option of an AMOLED screen and more smartwatch features to make it more useful when you’re not tracking.

Read our full Garmin Fenix 8 reviewView Deal

Garmin Instinct 2

While not as fully-fledged an outdoor watch, the Instinct 2 gives you a lot of the good Enduro 3 stuff for a lot less money.

Read our full Garmin Instinct 2 reviewView Deal

How I tested

I wore the Garmin Enduro 3 for over a month to completely drain the battery, tracking activities like running, swimming, and using mapping and navigation features. I made use of smartwatch features like notifications and music support and wore it alongside the Garmin Fenix 8 to compare GPS accuracy. I also used a heart rate monitor chest strap to gauge the performance of heart rate tracking for both steady-paced and high-intensity workouts.

First reviewed: December 2024

UGreen Nexode Pro 100W 3-Port Charger review

If you need high-speed, multi-device charging, the UGreen Nexode Pro 100W 3-Port Charger is sure to get the job done. This is a tri-port charger – with two using USB-C and the other USB-A. It boasts a very solid maximum total power output of 100W, so is up-to-the task if you have a modern laptop or handset with significant power demand.

In fact, 100W will likely give you enough juice to fast-charge your phone, even with all three slots in use. That’s because USB-C Port 1 has a solid maximum output of 65W when triple charging, while the other two are able to provide up to 15W each. You can also use Port 1 on its own to get up to 100W of power, ideal if you have a highly demanding device, like the Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch.

And luckily, the UGreen Nexode Pro 100W offered strong charging performance when I put it to the test. I plugged the Samsung Galaxy S24 FE into USB-C Port 1, the Soundcore Space One Pro into USB-C Port 2 and the Motorola Moto G55 5G into the USB-A slot. While all three of these were charging, the Samsung phone was still able to go from 0%-100% in the expected timeframe of approximately 80 minutes – exactly what you’d hope to get from some of the best iPhone chargers and best Android phone chargers.

In addition, this is a fairly compact plug – it doesn’t stick out too far out of the socket, like the default Macbook chargers, for instance, making it a strong option if you’re in a tight space. That’s partially because this model harnesses GaN technology, which delivers superior energy efficiency within a more compact body compared to typical silicon chargers. Like the 65W variant, though, this plug’s prongs aren’t foldable. That’s an issue if you want to carry it in your pocket, as you may well find the prongs poke into your body – surely no one wants that. And I’d also argue that this isn’t the most beautiful charger on the market. The charger’s body is made up of a neat looking silver cuboid, but the adapter at the front is attached in a slightly clunky looking way. That’s because there are visible lines where it’s connected to the charger’s body, making for a slightly rigid design.

Despite that, this is still a good-quality, speedy charger that makes for a decent multi–charging option. Its list price of $74.99 / £59.99 (about AU$120) is by no means cheap – especially if you consider that the UGreen Uno Charger 100W is typically $59.99 / £55.99 (about AU$80) and has an additional port as well as a display. But overall, this is a competent charger with strong build quality and you’ll almost certainly be satisfied performance-wise.

(Image credit: Future) UGreen Nexode Pro 100W 3-Port Charger review: Price & specs

(Image credit: Future) Should I buy the UGreen Nexode Pro 100W 3-Port Charger? Buy it if…

You need a multi-device charger
This charger has three ports, two of which are USB-C and one is USB-A. That means you can use various cable types and get three devices back up to speed in no time. Even if you only want to focus on one device, you can get 100W charging via USB-C Port 1, so if speed is what you need, this is a strong option.

You want a step-up power-wise
A lot of phone chargers won’t be able to rival this plug’s maximum power output of 100W. If you want to charge a more power-hungry device, that means the UGreen Nexode Pro 100W is more than up to the task.

Don't buy it if…

You’re looking for a cheap option
If top-tier value is what you’re after, this probably shouldn’t be your first port of call. There are cheaper triple port chargers out there and even UGreen’s own Uno Charger 100W boasts the same amount of power but with an extra port and a smaller price tag.

You want ultimate portability
This thing is decently compact for a 100W charger, sure. But something that’s slightly frustrating is the exclusion of foldable prongs. A lot of competitors offer foldability, which is better if you want to pocket a charger without the fear of being poked into by pesky prongs.

UGreen Nexode Pro 100W 3-Port Charger: Also consider

Anker Prime 100W GaN Wall Charger (3 Ports)
Well well well…if it isn’t UGreen’s arch-nemesis, Anker. Just kidding, I’m sure they’re friends really. Probably. Anyway, the Anker Prime 100W GaN Wall Charger is a high-calibre charger that also dons three ports. It has the same double USB-C and single USB-A configuration and maximum power output, but here’s the difference – this thing has foldable prongs. This one also uses GaN, intelligent temperature monitoring and has an excellent build quality so there’s a lot to love. Unfortunately, it’s a tad more expensive than this UGreen charger, so it may be worth picking it up in a sale. Read our full Anker Prime 100W GaN Wall Charger (3 Ports) review.

Standing desks have bloomed and become ever-so-popular over the last few years. There are so many companies making them, so many differ

The Eureka Ergonomic Arc Standing Desk is an impressive blend of standout design and practicality. It's very action-movie-secondary-character-desk-esque looking. However, it also has features that make this big, bold desk even better. It has soft, closed drawers, power in the desktop, adjustable height, drawers, and unique legs that make it look like any of the best office desks we've seen for executives.

Further, as remote work becomes increasingly popular, it will redefine modern professional life, raising the demand for versatile, ergonomic, and stylish office furniture. A standout in this evolving landscape, the Eureka Ergonomic 63" Executive Standing Desk delivers an ideal combination of functionality and sophistication. With its striking walnut veneer finish, smooth motorized height adjustment, and thoughtful features like soft-close drawers and a freestanding desktop riser, this desk elevates your work-from-home experience. In short, this desk blends practicality with style for professionals who want a standout desk that helps them stay productive.

How does it compare to the best standing desks I've reviewed? I put this intriguing workspace furniture to the test.

Eureka Arc: Price and Availability

The Eureka Arc is priced at $2,499.99, though it's currently discounted to $1,699.99 and is available through Eureka Ergonomic's website. Delivery takes about 6-8 days on average, though this timeline and shipping cost can change based on where the desk is delivered. It's also worth noting that my Arc got delivered to me on a pallet. It's not a huge deal, but it's worth preparing for, especially if you need a place to unpack the pallet to carry the desk and boxes to where they need to go.

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future) Eureka Arc: Unboxing and First Impressions

As mentioned above, the Arc comes in two packages within a wooden crate that helps protect the packaging overall. I was shocked to see this as I have reviewed a lot of desks and fancy desks, and I had yet to see this level of care in packaging until this desk. All the parts were well protected within the box and the crate. Each piece has foam layers to help the fragments within each box not rub against one another and get damaged or damaged from any damage on the boxes.

Once unboxed, building the desk was pretty simple. Most pieces were pre-assembled, at least partially, so building took little time, and it could have been easier.

The desk itself has a very mid-century modern design. Think the far-flung futurism of Dune meets professional ergonomics. The legs are near trapezoid-shaped, and the desk is thick with built-in drawers, power, and a walnut veneer. All in all, this desk is hefty. It's solid and feels like it will last a lifetime. One fascinating look and the right call is that the trapezoidal legs stay on the ground when the desktop rises. I'm still determining what I expected, but seeing it the first couple of times is super interesting.

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future) Eureka Arc: Design and Build Quality Specs

Dimensions: 63” x 29”
Material: Walnut veneer and metal legs
Features: Soft-close drawers, USB charging ports, and cable management
Height Adjustment Range: Smooth motorized mechanism

The Eureka Ergonomic Arc Standing Deks has a walnut veneer finish and a design that makes it stand out among the plethora of desks I have reviewed. With their extra design, the desk legs provide further stability and an eye-catching design. The built-in drawers also feature soft close gliders, adding to the premium feel. One thing that I wish this desk had, that I recently experienced for the first time with the SecretLab Magnus Pro Standing desk, is power in the leg column so that then you can have even cleaner cable management, with no dangling cables to plug in power (and maybe even ethernet).

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future) Eureka Arc: In use

My team and I have used this desk in our desk rotation for the last few months. In fact, one of my team members has claimed this as his favorite desk, thanks to the Dune-esque styling. So far, this desk has had very smooth height adjustments, allowing for quick transitions from standing to sitting and back up to standing, and even at my standing height (I'm 6'2" tall), I don't notice any wobble.

For the setup we have on this desk, we only have one monitor, though if you wanted to, you could easily add a couple of monitors, which is great for versatility and changing desk setups.

Another thing that we have grown to appreciate is the built-in power supply on top of the desk. You could use this to power things on your desk, such as the monitor. However, I prefer this for the "oh I need to charge this thing" or other one-offs or "non-permenant" items to help the desk appear generally tidy.

All around, this desk has been excellent. It's not for everyone. However, it is a wonderful desk for most people. It only comes down to style and whether you like bold design choices. If you do, this desk is an expensive and beautiful addition to any workspace that should last for years.

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future) Eureka Arc: Final verdict

The Eureka Ergonomic 63" Executive Standing Desk offers a premium experience for professionals who value aesthetics and functionality. Its sturdy build, smooth motorized adjustments, and luxurious finish make it a standout option in the high-end desk market. While the price and minor design flaws might deter some, this desk delivers exceptional value for those willing to invest in quality.

For more workplace essentials, we reviewed the best office chairs.

Jabra Elite 8 Active Gen 2 review: One-minute review

The Jabra Elite 8 Active Gen 2 arrives as an updated version of the Jabra Elite 8 Active, which were released in September 2023. They were sporty truly wireless earbuds and we were big fans, stating they were “everything you’d want from a pair of fitness earbuds”.

For Gen 2, Jabra is still promising buds and a charging case that can withstand the rigours of a tough workout and stay put in the process. Now it’s increased the Elite 8 Active’s spatial sound powers, and promises improvements with how they’ll block out the world with ANC and HearThrough modes.

Outside of those upgrades, it’s largely the same experience as using the Elite 8 Active Gen 1. They offer a great, reliable fit without ear hooks and bright, customizable sound with good but not class-leading battery life.

These are set to be Jabra’s last set of Elite true wireless earbuds, as it’s decided to shutter its consumer headphone business. It’s a genuine shame because the Elite 8 Active Gen 2, while not a necessary upgrade for Gen 1 owners, is one of the best true wireless sports earbuds you can buy that also work great outside of workouts and are well worth the money in our opinion.

Jabra Elite 8 Active Gen 2: Price and availability

• Priced at £229.99 / $229.99 / AU$329
• Released: June 2024

The Jabra Elite 8 Active Gen 2 launched in June 2024 and went on sale for $229.99 / £229.99 / AU$329. That does mean they come in pricier than the Elite 8 Active Gen 1, which are currently available for $199.99 / £199.99 / AU$329.

These are definitely true wireless sports earbuds that sit at the top end in terms of pricing. They’re slightly more expensive than the Beats Fit Pro, but do remain cheaper than the Beats Powerbeats Pro and the Sennheiser Momentum Sport, which unlike the Elite 8 Active, uses ear hooks to keep them secure during your sweatier sessions with them.

• Value score: 4/5

Jabra Elite 8 Active Gen 2 review: Specifications Jabra Elite 8 Active Gen 2 review: Design

(Image credit: Michael Sawh)

• Same reliable fit as Gen 1
• Charging case now slightly heavier
• Added USB-C to 3.5mm cable

Essentially, the design and the way the Elite 8 Active Gen 2 sits and operates in your ears hasn’t changed from Gen 1. You can pick it up in black, coral, navy blue and olive (pictured) colors, with its liquid silicone rubber coating which has a pleasingly soft touch to it.

Like Gen 1, it’s using Jabra’s ShakeGrip fit to keep them inside of your ears without the need for wingtips or ear hooks. Again much like its predecessor, the fit is great: they really do really stay put without aids. There’s not many earbuds that achieve this kind of secure fit when your exercise time gets more intense without adopting some sort of earhook design, but these really do the job of remaining secure. They’re comfortable too, I’ve used them for over an hour-long workouts and they’ve not caused any sort of irritation.

While there’s nothing here to add extra security to its fit, Jabra does still include large, medium and small silicone eartips to improve sound isolation and help you make sure you enjoy the best ANC performance, with the ideal fit inside of your ears.

Jabra builds physical controls once again into the exterior of the buds, which can be customised in Jabra’s Sound+ companion smartphone app. These controls allow you to handle calls, adjust volume, skip back and forward through tracks and are some of the best controls I’ve used on fitness-focused earbuds, especially when you’re on the move. The controls are more reliable to press than to swipe or tap on touch controls, which seems to be the route a lot of other earbuds opt for. Jabra’s approach works great here, and I found the volume control support particularly well integrated into the buds.

In terms of its defence against moisture, it’s the same as Gen 1 with Jabra sticking to an IP68 water resistant rating. This gives it one of the strongest levels of protection against moisture you’ll find on a set of earbuds: we dropped the first gen into a glass of water, no trouble. The case also carries an IP54 rating, which isn't as strong a defence against water, but does mean as a package the Elite 8 Active Gen 2 offers good protection against sweat, rain and a splash of water or two.

The charging case has slightly jumped in weight, likely to account for its added smarter powers, with a physical button in front to pair with your devices and a single LED light above to indicate pairing and charging status. At the base is a USB-C port to charge the buds or you can use the accompanying USB-C/3.5mm cable to enable the new spatial sound mode when connected with other devices like a monitor or TV..

• Design score: 5/5

Jabra Elite 8 Active Gen 2 review: Features

(Image credit: Michael Sawh)

• New LE Audio smart case
• Improved ANC and Heathrough modes
• Bluetooth 5.3

The headline news here lies with the case, which Jabra is calling the world’s first LE Audio smart case. That case allows you to enjoy spatial sound from devices such as TVs and screens built into gym equipment, by using a physical USB-C to 3.5mm cable jack to plug the case into that device, and stream audio from the case. Then when you stick the buds in your ears and have spatial sound enabled in the app, you can enjoy that surround-sound listening experience. It’s a revolution to no longer need cabled headphones for gym equipment.

On the listening front, Jabra says it’s improved the effectiveness of the ANC and HearThrough modes on Gen 2 to be twice as effective at cancelling out sound. There’s Bluetooth 5.3 to offer reliable connectivity, support for multipoint sharing and a welcome Bluetooth range of up to 10 meters.

Inside of the companion smartphone app, you’ve got scope to tinker with that sound and enable a Spotify Tap mode for quick access to the music streaming service. There’s fast pairing for Android devices and you can summon your smartphone’s assistant, whether that’s Siri or Google Assistant, straight from the buds.

In terms of audio codecs supported, it’s the same AAC and SBC ones offered on Gen 1, which might be a source of bad news for serious audiophiles, though I’d expect that’s not going to be an issue for those grabbing these predominantly for workouts.

• Features score: 4/5

Jabra Elite 8 Active Gen 2 review: Performance

(Image credit: Michael Sawh)

• Same enjoyable, workout-friendly sound
• ANC mode good but not best in class
• Spatial sound case mode could have its uses

The remit of the Gen 2 Elite 8 Active is the same as Gen 1, to offer a sound that’s a great fit for workouts. There’s the option of active noise cancellation, but like its predecessor it’s not Jabra’s best available advanced ANC support. There’s also a HearThrough mode, which can be tweaked in the app to control the balance of your sound and exterior sounds, to give you more or less awareness of your surroundings. You can also choose to have neither of these modes in play as well.

When you head into the companion Sound+ app, you’ll be met with an equaliser, six EQ presets and the scope to build custom ones. There’s also a Dolby Spatial Sound mode, which is designed for when you’re exercising in front of a screen. So, maybe watching the TV on a screen built into a treadmill as opposed to listening to music. This Spatial Sound mode is also now extended to the case. It feels like quite a niche feature to add in here and actually more of a useful feature when you’re not in the gym with them. They’re a nifty solution for when you’re flying and don’t want to use those free wired headphones.

These are buds tha sonically sound solid when you’re working out and when you’re just working at your desk. To me, the sound profile doesn’t sound all that different from the first generation Elite 8 Active. It’s a sound quality I’d describe as bright, powerful with plenty of bass warmth. They don’t give you the best they have to offer in sound straight out of the box, but once you’ve tinkered with things in the app, you can get something that helps that treble sparkle and achieve overall a more balanced sound whether you opt for bass-heavy songs or prefer things far more relaxed.

It’s a similar story for call quality, where there’s six microphones in place to deliver calls to your ears. The call quality overall here is very good for a truly wireless earbud. Calls offer good volume and the clarity overall makes them ideal to break your workout for an important call.

Jabra claims that the ANC support on the Gen 2 can cancel out twice as much noise as Gen 1, but does stick to the same adaptive hybrid ANC support, so that ANC adjusts based on your environment. It’s particularly designed to help battle more blustery, windy conditions such as the sort of intrusion you get running or cycling.

(Image credit: Michael Sawh)

I’d say that the ANC performance has been good overall. I’m not wholly convinced it’s twice as good as Gen 1, but I’d put its performance below the top-performing ANC-packing truly wireless earbuds. Inside and outside, they muffle the sounds around you in an effective way as opposed to entirely drowning them out. I found that running near busy roads did an effective job of drowning the sounds in my environment. While they don’t entirely block out wind, they do a good job of muting it. It was a similar story using them in a gym and dampening the sound of the gym speaker system.

It’s a similar story with Jabra’s HearThrough mode: I can’t say I noticed a discernible difference between Gen 1 and Gen 2, but it remains one of the best examples of a mode that wants to achieve a better balance between interior and exterior sounds.

In terms of connectivity, I’ve had some good and a little bad here, which wasn’t really the case with Gen 1. In general, connecting to a range of devices including an iPhone, Android phone, Android tablet, MacBook Air, a connected rower and an Apple Watch Ultra and Garmin Forerunner 965 has been fine. With the iPhone, I’ve experienced the buds disconnecting and reconnecting during some listening time. It could have something to do with running a beta version of iOS on my iPhone, but this isn’t something I’ve experienced on the previous version. Thankfully, it’s only happened a couple of times, but it’s not ideal.

For battery life, it's more of the same here with Gen 2. Jabra promises the same battery numbers with and without ANC in use. It’s up to 8 hours of music streaming with ANC in use or 14 hours with ANC turned off. When you factor in a fully charged case, you’re getting anywhere from 32-56 hours depending on that ANC use.

My experience suggests certain EQ modes in use also offer quicker drain on battery, as does listening volume. For over an hour of use with the ANC enabled and the bass boost EQ mode, the battery dropped by around 30%. For a similar workout without ANC, it was half that. So I wouldn't say those promised numbers entirely correspond with my experience of using them.

Fortunately, Jabra does still include its useful fast charge mode, which gives you an hour of listening time from a 5-minute charge. You've also got the convenience of wireless charging if you happen to have QI-certified setup.

• Performance score: 4.5/5

Jabra Elite 8 Active Gen 2 review: Scorecard Jabra Elite 8 Active: Should I buy? Buy it if...

You want the most comfortable earbuds for workouts

The fit is great, the sound is too and as a package, these are some of the best fitness-focused buds you can put in your ears.View Deal

You want a sound upgrade

While it won’t be for everyone, the new smart case gives you scope to improve the experience of watching shows and films from devices that don’t easily let you pair over Bluetooth.View Deal

You want earbuds with good controls

Jabra’s approach controls to the Elite 8 Active Gen 2 make them one of the best to tinker with playback, volume or take calls when you’re in the heat of a workout.View Deal

Don't buy it if...

You already have Gen 1

If you love the sound, fit and performance of the Elite 8 Active Gen 1, then there aren’t huge reasons to make that upgrade.View Deal

You only have a small budget

These buds don’t come cheap and while you get what you pay for, you could pick up cheaper buds with less extras and still have workout-worthy sound.View Deal

Also consider

JLab Go Air Sport

The best really cheap workout earbuds.

Read our full reviewView Deal

Sony WF-1000XM4

The best workout headphones for noise canceling.

Read our full reviewView Deal

How I tested

I used the Jabra Elite 8 Active Gen 2 for two weeks, using them for a range of workouts including indoor and outdoor runs, gym workouts like indoor rowing, cycling and strength training. I also used them for travelling on trains and buses and using them for work.

In terms of pairing to devices, I paired with an iPhone, Android phone, Android tablet, MacBook Pro streaming from services and apps including Spotify and YouTube. I also tested with the Garmin Forerunner 965 and Apple Watch Ultra to test the connectivity support for smartwatches and sports watches. I also paired them with a connected rower and treadmill.

I have over a decade of experience testing and writing about consumer technology and that includes a big focus on sports headphones. I’ve tested sports headphones and truly wireless earbuds across a range of prices from budget to premium, so have a good idea of the good and bad in this category and what makes a great pair of headphones for exercise.

The Lenovo ThinkPad P1 Gen 7 is Lenovo's take on an all-around perfect portable workstation machine. The Gen 7, of course, replaces the Gen 6 and now boasts up to an Intel Core Ultra 9 185H and an NVIDIA RTX 4070. However, it can also be built with integrated graphics and an Intel Core Ultra 5 with a light 16GB of RAM.

Much like Dell's Precision line-up, the ThinkPad P series is designed for professionals needing a computer that can handle computationally demanding tasks like 3D rendering, video editing, coding, data analysis, and things of that nature. Like many of the best Lenovo ThinkPad laptops I've reviewed, while casual users can use it, this price point focuses on professional users who rely on their machines to be workhorses and get work done.

Lenovo ThinkPad P1 Gen 7: Price and Availability

The Lenovo ThinkPad P1 Gen 7 starts at the base level for under $2,000 with an Intel Core Ultra 5, 16GB of RAM, and integrated graphics. This can be upgraded to a machine that costs over $5,000 when equipped with an Intel Core Ultra 9, NVIDIA RTX 4070 Graphics, 64GB of RAM, and 4TB SSD. What's great about this is that yes. At the same time, this is not an entry-level computer. Thanks to the customization options available for processor, memory, storage, and graphics, it can be kitted to fit just about any professional need. That said, check out our Lenovo coupon codes to see if you can save on the ThinkPad P1 Gen 7.

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future) Lenovo ThinkPad P1 Gen 7: Unboxing and First Impressions

Out of the box, it's clear this is not designed to be a super-lightweight-ultra-portable-thinnest-device-ever kind of machine. It's beefy. But not in a way that resembles the laptops of a decade ago. As we've seen from many of the best mobile workstations, it's sleek where it can be but houses a lot under the hood -- or keyboard. Depending on the GPU configuration, the P1 Gen 7 has a 135W or 170W charger, the appropriate manuals, and any accessories purchased at Lenovo. The minimalist matte-black design exudes sleek professionalism. However, one thing to note is that it is prone to smudges.

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future) Lenovo ThinkPad P1 Gen 7: Design and Build Quality Specs

CPU: Up to an Intel Core Ultra 9 185H
GPU: Up to an NVIDIA RTX 4070
Display: Up to 4K OLED
RAM: Up to 64GB LPDDR5X
Storage: Up to 8TB SSD with built-in RAID options

Overall, the laptop is 17mm thick and 4.3lb. That's not huge in the world of laptops, though it is larger than some of the laptops I am working with. The P1 Gen 7 is made of a combination of Magnesium and Aluminum and has a durability rating of MIL-STD 810H. It can withstand your daily wear and tear and the burdens of being an everyday workhorse.

Completing the all-too-famous ThinkPad design, the TrackPoint is prominently in the center of the keyboard, and the overall design language matches what is frequently found with ThinkPad.

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future) Lenovo ThinkPad P1 Gen 7: In use

I have used this computer extensively in my workflow for the past few months. Overall, it is an impressive machine. It is remarkably powerful, easily handles multitasking and demanding performance programs, and has a sleek and attractive design. What more could you ask for in a computer? It even has a better port offering than the ever-popular Dell Powerhouses and better port offerings than MacBooks. I have only heard the fans kick on during heavily intensive or many heavy tasks stacked together. Outside of that, I have not heard the fan kick on for my day-to-day professional work even once.

Some more features that make this computer great would be the Wi-Fi 7 antennae, great port offering, a solid trackpad, a comfortable keyboard, and a decent battery.

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future)

I've enjoyed using this computer for everything in my day to day. The keyboard is comfortable enough for long email sessions or writing articles (like this one). The trackpad is responsive enough that I don't need to bring a mouse in my backpack when I am away from my desk for the day. The ports are fantastic. I can leave my dongles at home since this laptop has everything I could need on a given notice built into the computer. Another thing that makes this computer great is that it is super portable. Yes, it's powerful and practical, but it's also surprisingly easy to carry around from place to place in my studio, office, coffee shop, bag, house, and so on. It's simple, and it doesn't get in the way. It's great for my professional workflow.

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future) Lenovo ThinkPad P1 Gen 7: Final verdict

The Lenovo ThinkPad P1 Gen 7 is an impressive example of what mobile workstations can be. Though premium priced, its versatility, build quality, and performance justify its cost for professionals seeking the best tools to do their work reliably.

For more workplace hardware, we've reviewed the best business laptops