TechRadar Reviews

This review first appeared in issue 354 of PC Pro.

Businesses concerned about the cost of add-on components and upgrades can rest easy with Paessler’s PRTG Network Monitor as everything is included in the price. Its sensor-based licensing means you just select the number you want and apply them to any device, individual hardware component, service or business application you choose.

Paessler offers a range of sensor packs. We’ve shown the price for a PRTG 1000 perpetual license, which includes one year of maintenance and should be sufficient to monitor up to 100 devices. You can easily upgrade to larger packs when required, and Paessler also offers a free version with 100 sensors.

Businesses with distributed offices may prefer the cloud-hosted version where they remotely monitor each network by installing PRTG probes in them. This is a subscription service, with a Hosted 1000 pack costing €229 per month.

We’ve been running PRTG problem-free in the lab for over eight years, with all updates automatically applied on their release. New users will find on-site installation undemanding: after loading the software it runs a wizard to assist with your first network discovery, taking around 45 minutes to scan a complete IP subnet.

PRTG’s sensors deliver a vast amount of useful information (Image credit: Future)

PRTG does all the legwork by assigning the most appropriate sensors to each device and applying a predefined set of alert triggers. The service has a sensor for every occasion, with Paessler currently offering nearly 300, and value looks even better since it includes options for monitoring all popular virtualization hosts.

Paessler estimates that most devices will use around ten sensors each, but it really depends on what type of hardware or system it is. Switches can be greedy, with our 24-port TP-Link Gigabit model awarded a total of 47 for its SNMP and RMON services, while our VMware ESXi 7 and Windows Server 2022 Hyper-V hosts plus all their VMs used up 79 sensors between them.

The good news is you can choose which components you want to monitor, delete those you don’t need and requisition them for use elsewhere, making PRTG more flexible than products that employ device-based licensing. Custom sensors can be added as required, and although those for Cloud HTTP, Google Analytics, Dropbox and Microsoft OneDrive monitoring have been discontinued, there’s still an incredible range to choose from.

PRTG’s web console provides a network overview showing the status of all sensors, and clicking on any of their icons next to the donut charts takes you to a filtered view. The devices view uses a tree structure, with all systems neatly organized into hierarchical groups that inherit settings such as login credentials and discovery schedules from their parent group.

The PRTG web console keeps you in the loop on sensor usage (Image credit: Future)

The view can be customized to suit your environment by adding new groups and moving monitored systems to them. It’s easy to identify problems as all sensors are assigned colors showing if they are up, down, paused or in a warning state, and selecting one takes you to a detailed overview with live graphs and charts showing activity for the past two days, month or year.

Plenty of alerting services are provided, as notification templates are available for services such as email, SMS, Syslog, SNMP traps, MQTT, Slack and Microsoft Teams. You can monitor PRTG on the move with Paessler’s excellent iOS and Android mobile apps and use the Windows and macOS desktop apps to view the same levels of information as the main web console.

You’ll need to keep an eye on consumption, but sensors make Paessler’s PRTG a highly versatile network-monitoring package. It delivers a wealth of information about pretty much anything on your network, and its all-inclusive price makes it a great choice for SMBs.

We've also ranked the best business computers.

Poco F6 Pro review: Two-minute review

Chinese tech giant Xiaomi has sub-brands, with Redmi already having built a strong reputation, but you should also start to take notice of Poco. The latter originally launched as Poco by Xiaomi, though it soon spun off as its own independent brand while remaining under the Xiaomi umbrella.

Poco aims to provide customers with "everything you need, nothing you don’t" – delivering devices for those on strict budgets, promising to offer near-premium smartphones for less. The Poco F6 Pro is its most high-end offering, calling it an "all-around flagship that closes the gap on high-end performance phones," and in many ways, it succeeds.

The pricing and model availability of the Poco F6 Pro can be a little tricky to pin down. It comes in three models: 12GB RAM and 256GB/512GB storage and the 16GB RAM/1TB model that I've reviewed here. While the UK get all three models, only the 512GB F6 Pro is available in Australia, priced at £549 / AU$999.

The Poco F6 Pro isn't officially available in the USA but, similarly to the 256GB and 1TB versions in Australia, international models can be purchased through AliExpress (as well as Amazon and Kogan in Australia).

I'm not a hardcore mobile gamer, but across casual titles like Marvel Snap, Hearthstone and Clash Royale, as well as more demanding games like Fortnite, Rocket League, and PUBG Mobile, the Poco F6 Pro ran flawlessly with a steady 60FPS at high graphics settings.

Playing Fortnite on the Poco F6 Pro (Image credit: Future)

It boasts a large, bright 6.67-inch WQHD+ display with sharp, vibrant colors. The 120Hz refresh rate makes gaming smooth and, combined with the 3200 x 1440 resolution, I found myself – a movie snob who desires the best possible viewing experience – genuinely enjoying watching movies and TV shows on the Poco F6 Pro. Perhaps most impressive is its 4000-nit peak brightness, just short of the OnePlus 12’s 4500-nit display.

With a 50MP main camera, an 8MP ultra-wide lens and a 2MP macro camera, the Poco F6 Pro offers a solid setup for casual photographers. While it doesn’t quite match the vibrancy or feature set of the best camera phones – or the best budget camera phone – it produces sharp, well-defined images, even in incredibly dark environments, where it's assisted by AI to restore details and deliver clear images.

One feature I personally enjoyed – but might not be for everyone – is the iOS-like interface, specifically regarding the iPhone's swipe-down control center that HyperOS almost completely copies. As an iPhone user in my daily life, it made for an easier transition compared to something like Samsung’s One UI.

The Control Center of the iPhone 15 compared to the Poco F6 Pro (Image credit: Future)

Now, for the bad – bloatware, and lots of it. Right out of the box, the Poco F6 Pro comes loaded with an abundance of applications, from duplicates with the Google suite to random games (Bubble Shooter, really?) and third-party apps that clutter the app drawer. Worse yet, you can't mass-delete them, forcing you to hold down each one individually and drag them to the bin.

Worse yet, ads appear within system apps like Themes. While they can be disabled, the fact that customers would have to traverse ads on a phone they've paid for is baffling, if not insulting. Despite enjoying my experience once I'd removed (most) ads, the sour taste they left was hard to forget.

In the budget phone market where high-quality UX is offered by Samsung, Google, Motorola, and now Apple with the iPhone 16e, it's a relatively small drawback that stops the Poco F6 Pro from sitting in the upper echelon of cheap phones.

Still, once beyond the initial setup pains, you're left with a stunning display, powerful performance and all-day battery life within a premium build. Poco even includes a 120W Type C pin charger (in certain countries), USB-C cable and a surprisingly high-quality phone case in the box.

Whether you’re a gamer, casual photographer, or someone who just wants a fast, reliable phone for streaming, scrolling and playing, the Poco F6 Pro delivers exceptional value.

Poco F6 Pro review: price and availability

• Released in May 2024 for £549 / AU$999 (12GB/512GB model)
• Not always available from reputable retailers
• 16GB/1TB model is only available in certain countries

Poco F6 Pro's glass back and cameras (Image credit: Future)

The easiest way to purchase the Poco F6 Pro in the UK and Australia is through the Xiaomi online store. In Australia it is also available via independent retailers: Amazon, Kogan and AliExpress. Amazon and AliExpress reliably stock it for the UK too, while the latter is your only easy option in the US, where you could get it for a discounted price at around the $400 mark.

While the F6 Pro launched in May 2024, it didn't hit the Australian market until August 2024. It comes in three configurations: the 12GB/512GB model is priced at £549 / AU$999, a 256GB storage variant is also available, currently available for approximately £499, though it’s only available in select markets. The 16GB/1TB model is priced at £599, but is available in even fewer markets.

When I first got my hands on the Poco F6 Pro, I wasn’t sure what to expect. It’s a lesser-known brand – at least in Australia where this phone was tested – claiming to offer impressive value even among the best budget phones. Yet, after testing it, I found it mostly delivered on its promise of flagship visuals and performance at a more accessible price.

Adding even more value, the Poco F6 Pro includes a 120W charger and a Europlug CEE 7/16 wall plug (in compatible countries), a USB-C cable, and a protective case – a rarity in an era where many brands are cutting back on in-box accessories.

Despite some minor drawbacks, the Poco F6 Pro consistently impressed me with its price-to-performance ratio. While the newer and cheaper Poco X7 Pro might be a better pick for those purely seeking ultra-budget gaming power, the Poco F6 Pro stands out as an excellent all-rounder with a gaming focus in the mid-range market.

• Value score: 4.5/5

Poco F6 Pro review: specs

Given the nomenclature, it's seems obvious that the Poco F6 Pro would be the more expensive handset compared to the standard Poco F6, but the story isn't so simple. The Poco F6 Pro is a gaming-focused all-rounder in the mid-range market, but its regular sibling actually outperforms the Pro in some areas, which a much more dedicated focus on speed.

The F6 Pro sports the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip, while the Poco F6 sports the newer Snapdragon 8 Gen 3. The Poco F6 Pro is also beaten in durability, with the IP64 durability rating and Gorilla Glass Invictus protection of the Poco F6 beating the Gorilla Glass 5 and IP54 of its Pro sibling.

Worth highlighting in the specs list is the F6 Pro's 6.67-inch display (3200 x 1440 resolution), 50/8/2MP rear camera trio, and 5,000mAh battery with 120W wired charging.

Poco F6 Pro review: design

• Smooth quad-curved glass back
• IP54 durability rating
• Two color options

Poco F6 Pro camera bump and side buttons (Image credit: Future)

Much like the all-new iPhone 16e, the Poco F6 Pro sticks to just black and white options, ditching the more vibrant yellow seen on many other Poco phones. The result is a premium, albeit slightly boring-looking smartphone.

Unlike the plastic design of the F6, the Poco F6 Pro features an aluminum frame and marbled, smooth quad-curved glass back, giving it a high-end feel that exceeds expectations for its price.

My review unit was the white model, and while I usually prefer the more understated black, I quickly warmed to the color – especially since I had the option to cover the device with the included black case anyway.

Speaking of the included rubber phone case, it actually feels substantial, more like something you’d buy off Amazon than a flimsy throwaway addition.

However, the case won't protect your F6 Pro from its biggest design flaw – an IP54 dust- and water-resistance rating. This means the Poco F6 Pro offers limited protection against dust ingress and water sprays, and compared to other phones in its class that offer a minimum IP67 rating, it simply falls short.

This could be a deal breaker for those who work in dusty environments or need their phone in inclement weather.

The only part of the Poco F6 Pro that (literally) sticks out when using the case – besides the (thankfully) minimal Poco branding – is its camera array. Three large lenses and a flash dominate the top of the rear of the device, which avoid the all-too-common table wobble.

Attractive from any angle you look at it, comfortable to hold with either one or two hands and going without the Poco yellow, the design of the F6 Pro would be one of my favourite features… if it wasn't more impressive in other areas.

• Design score: 3.5/5

Poco F6 Pro review: display

• 6.67-inch display (3200 x 1440) with 120Hz refresh rate
• 4000-nit peak brightness
• Visible Gorilla Glass 5 protector

Checking out TechRadar on an overcast day (Image credit: Future)

Alongside its gaming prowess, the Poco F6 Pro’s display is one of its standout features – and one of the best you’ll find at this price visually.

As someone who previously loved the compact iPhone 12 mini, I’ve had to adjust to using larger smartphones and, while bigger isn’t always better, the 6.67-inch screen on the Poco F6 Pro hits the sweet spot between usability and immersive viewing.

Not all screens are built the same. In the past I've struggled with the long and narrow 6.7-inch Motorola Edge 50 Pro, whereas the 6.6-inch Samsung Galaxy A55 feels much more comfortable to hold. It's worth noting that I have larger hands, but the Poco F6 Pro sits closer to the Samsung in terms of usability, with an excellent in-hand feel.

Watching a nature documentary (Image credit: Future)

Beyond size, the Poco F6 Pro impresses with its 3200 x 1440 resolution, 120Hz refresh rate (which you’ll need to activate in settings, with a 60Hz base), and 4000-nit peak brightness. Whether I was reading, gaming, or watching videos, the display looked fantastic – even outside under the bright Australian summer sun.

Unfortunately, one of the Poco F6 Pro’s biggest weaknesses is its durability. Strangely, the cheaper Poco F6 is actually tougher as it features Gorilla Glass Victus, while the F6 Pro is stuck with older Gorilla Glass 5.

Damage from dropping it face-down (bottom) and one of several minor scratches from regular use (top) (Image credit: Future)

Usually, I'd hope not to have to test the toughness of the screen, but my Poco F6 Pro took a tumble off my bathroom sink onto the tiled floor, coming away with some minor damage. I also found that it's quite easy to scratch up, coming away with a few marks just from sitting in my pocket and bag. My biggest problem, though, is that the glass is visibly sitting on top of the main screen, taking away from the F6 Pro's display.

The Poco F6 has an excellently bright, responsive display that is a joy to both watch and play on, but phones at this price, and considerably cheaper – it's non-pro sibling a prime example – offer stronger displays without a visually obtrusive protector.

• Display score: 4/5

Poco F6 Pro review: software

• Ads in system apps and suffocating bloatware
• HyperOS on top of Android 15
• 3 years of OS updates and 4 of security patches

Poco F6 Pro homepage (Image credit: Future)

One of the best things about a new phone is the naked, fresh interface and the Poco F6 Pro felt like it came wearing seven hats, three watches, and nine pairs of socks.

The software of the Poco F6 Pro is perhaps its weakest attribute. Pre-installed apps on Android phones never quite match up with the clean feeling of setting up a new iPhone. Typically, this includes useful essentials like the Google Suite, along with perhaps a few duplicate system apps such as a gallery and Google Photos.

This was my first time using a Xiaomi phone, and the Poco F6 Pro took my experience with bloatware to another level. I've never had to delete so many apps just to clear my home screen and keep only the ones I actually use.

Two app stores, the App Vault, Facebook, TikTok, Farm Frenzy, Booking.com, Bubble Shooter, LinkedIn, Mi Mover, Mi Remote, Mi Video, Gallery, Google Photos, Poco Community – you get the point. And that's far from the full list.

Note that I made things worse for myself by quickly rushing through the setup process and choosing to download several games right at the start. However, even when denying that, you'll still get far too many pre-downloaded, unwanted applications.

Once I cleared out the clutter, Poco’s HyperOS became a straightforward Android experience that I enjoyed.

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On the customization front, the Poco F6 Pro offers a wealth of options. You can personalize your lock screen style, icons, fonts, notification effects, and even fingerprint unlock animation. The phone also supports themes that allow you to change multiple elements at once for a cohesive look.

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For those who enjoy AI-powered features, the Poco F6 Pro offers plenty. Google Gemini is integrated and activates when holding the power button, allowing you to ask about what’s on the screen, issue voice commands or type requests. You also get Google’s Circle to Search functionality.

Beyond that, AI features extend into Notes, Gallery and Recorder, enabling AI summaries, proofreading, translation, image expansion, editing, transcribing, speaker recognition, summary generation, and more. There’s even an AI Interpreter for real-time translation during conversations or phone calls, as well as AI subtitles for translated video playback.

Using AI to translate a news story in real-time (Image credit: Future)

Overall, I enjoyed Poco’s HyperOS experience, and while the three years of software updates isn’t the most generous I’ve seen, it’s acceptable. However, that positive experience is heavily tarnished by built-in ads and an overwhelming amount of bloatware upon setup.

• Software score: 3/5

Poco F6 Pro review: cameras

• 50MP main camera, 8MP ultra-wide
• 2MP macro, 16MP front camera
• Dull coloring

Poco F6 Pro camera bump and Poco branding (Image credit: Future)

The ability to snap great photos on a cheap smartphone is one of the key needs for budget buyers. Sure, you want to save money by avoiding bank-breaking flagship devices, but you don't want to struggle to take family photos, or be left with blurry results when you snap a selfie at the end of your hike.

That's why, right next to battery life, camera performance is one of the top qualities of many of the best cheap phones, from the Motorola Edge 50 Pro, to the Edge 50 Fusion, Galaxy A55, Pixel 8a and more. That's not the case for the Poco F6 Pro – it makes no apologies for focusing on gaming power and all-day battery. However, it still does well enough for most users to be happy with their results, especially if it's a secondary need to gaming.

It is not the best camera I have used while testing the other budget phones, but it was satisfactory across the board. From the 50MP main camera, to the 8MP ultra-wide, 2MP macro and 16MP selfie camera, the Poco F6 Pro lets you take any photo you want.

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It's not as feature-rich as other phone cameras in this market – there's not a ton of photo types or filters – and I did struggle to get the phone to focus in macro mode, but it performed well once in position and the subject wasn't moving.

The Poco F6 Pro has a few modes like document scanner and long exposure that allow you to do more than just take regular photos and videos. While the Poco F6 Pro claims to excel in night photography – and it certainly is impressive at pulling some detail from near pitch-black environments, I found it performed inconsistently in low-light environments like dimly lit restaurants.

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Results with the lights on (Image credit: Future)

The Poco F6 Pro isn't one of the best camera phones on the market, and the Motorola Edge 50 Pro, Samsung Galaxy A55 and the Samsung Galaxy A56 surpass it in the budget category. Still though, if you just want a decent enough camera setup for snapping the family, your pets or weekly hike, the Poco F6 Pro is more than up to the task.

• Camera score: 3.5/5

Poco F6 Pro review: performance

• Handles strenuous loads
• Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 Mobile Platform
• Stereo audio, no headphone jack

Fortnite on the Poco F6 Pro with DualSense controller (Image credit: Future)

Ranking smartphone processors isn’t always straightforward – some excel in speed, others in gaming, battery efficiency, or specific tasks. Still, the Poco F6 Pro runs on one of the better mobile chipsets available today in the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2.

It delivers excellent, well-rounded performance and particularly stands out in gaming power and battery life. It even outperforms the Dimensity 8400 chip found in the newer Poco X7 Pro.

I reviewed the 1TB/16GB RAM model, and I was impressed by how cool it stayed under pressure. Many budget phones I’ve tested tend to heat up even during basic tasks, and even my personal iPhone 15 seems to get warm when I take a few seconds too long to select a podcast.

The Poco F6 Pro remained cool throughout my testing – even while gaming and charging simultaneously.

Using the DualSense controller to play Fortnite on mobile (Image credit: Future)

Its real-world performance translated well to benchmarks, too. In Geekbench tests, which measure CPU performance, the Poco F6 Pro’s multi-core score (4,733) outperformed the Google Pixel 9 Pro XL, Nothing Phone 2, and Motorola Razr 50 Ultra. Its single-core score, however, placed it alongside mid-range devices like the Pixel 7a, Poco F5 Pro, and Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Turbo.

When it comes to 3D Mark gaming benchmarks, the Poco F6 Pro dominates budget and mid-range rivals and even approaches flagship-level performance:

As you can see, in nearly every benchmark test, the Poco F6 Pro significantly outperforms two of the best cheap phones on the market. And from my own experience, I can confidently say it felt just as powerful in everyday use.

As for its audio quality, the Poco F6 Pro connected to my Samsung Galaxy Buds 3, Apple AirPods 4 and Sony WH-1000XM5 very easily. Its dual stereo speakers offer Dolby Atmos where it can, and provided a completely enjoyable sound experience the rare times I wasn't using headphones.

• Performance score: 4.5/5

Poco F6 Pro review: battery

• 20% in 5 minutes, full-charge in around 30 minutes (67W charger)
• Easily handles hours of gaming
• 120W charger included (in certain countries)

Poco F6 Pro charging port, speakers and SIM card tray (Image credit: Future)

You might think that a smartphone that promises power, should have the battery to go with it. But, while that is not always the case, the Poco F6 Pro is certainly in line with that rule.

With a 5,000mAh battery, the Poco F6 Pro's battery capacity matches up to that of some of the best phones, not just the best cheap phones it's competing against. Battery capacity isn't everything, but even phones like the Google Pixel 9 Pro (4,700mAh) falls short in comparison to the Poco F6 Pro, which matches the battery capacities of the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra.

Like I said, battery capacity isn't everything, and it's actually the enhanced power efficiency of the F6 Pro, thanks to its LiquidCool Technology 4.0 with lce Loop system that makes it feel as good in use as its battery looks on the specs sheet.

The Poco F6 Pro only ever gets slightly warm when running games on low battery. And, as such, it has no issue lasting all day. So, while it varied depending on my use that day, I found myself with about 20% battery by the time I got home at 6pm after being up and using my phone from 5am.

Charging the Poco F6 Pro (Image credit: Future)

With the included 120W charger – that's not compatible with Australian sockets – Poco promises a HyperCharge speed that will get you to 100% in just 19 minutes. Though of course you can purchase your own 120W charger to get those speeds.

With the Xiaomi 67W GaN wall charger – which can be purchased from the Xiaomi store – the Poco F6 Pro increased by 22% in just 5 minutes, while 15 minutes would get you around 70%, and it would sit at about 85% after 30.

Playing Fortnite Mobile on the Poco F6 Pro was a blast, and it lasted a touch more than 3.5 hours of continuous, nonstop 60FPS gameplay at high graphics settings and around 80% brightness.

Speaking of, after a day of strenuous testing, the Poco F6 pro was sitting at only 10% battery as I got onto the bus after work, but I still needed some entertainment for my commute. Luckily, six games of Marvel Snap (around 15 minutes), starting with the phone on just 8%, took the F6 Pro to just 2% battery, which the phone stated would last about half an hour if you stopped using it and saved it for emergencies.

For both regular use and heavy gamers, the Poco F6 Pro is an excellent choice in the budget space.

• Battery score: 4/5

Should you buy the Poco F6 Pro ? Buy it if...

You're a mobile gamer with other needs
The Poco F6 Pro offers excellent gaming performance, but there may be better options if you've got other priorities.

You regularly watch content on your phone
This phone doesn't have the biggest or best screen on the market, but if you're a regular mobile watcher on a budget, its 6.67-inch high-res display is a great option.

You don't want to worry about battery
Its 5,000mAh battery doesn't stand out on a specs sheet, but it has excellent power efficiency, fast charging and several battery settings that see it last all day.

Don't buy it if...

Cameras are your number one priority
The cameras of the Poco F6 Pro perform adequately, but there are better options at its price range, and for less. You might even consider waiting for the Google Pixel 9a.

You like a clean start
The Poco F6 Pro comes with a ton of pre-installed applications, most of which will require deletion as they're double-ups of the app store, gallery or mail app – making it one to avoid if you want a fresh start.

You plan on keeping your phone for years
Whether you work in construction and need a phone that can handle the rigors of your daily life, or you just don't want to panic about the possibility of your phone slipping into your bath, there are more durable and resistant phones in this market.

Poco F6 Pro review: also consider

Poco X7 Pro
If your main focus is gaming, and everything else is an afterthought, the X7 Pro is cheaper with a better battery and perhaps better gaming performance – though it's lacking in other areas.
Read our full review of the Xiaomi Poco F6 Pro

Samsung Galaxy A56
The brand-new Galaxy A56 gives you tons of Samsung AI features and great specs for a very attractive price. If you're not a gamer, this is the cheap Android phone.
Read our hands-on thoughts on the Samsung Galaxy A56

Apple iPhone 16e
Android faithful won't want to hear it, but if you're an Apple user who's considering swapping sides for more value, the iPhone 16e is exactly what you're after.
Read our full Apple iPhone 16e review

How I tested the Poco F6 Pro

• Review test period = 3 weeks (had the device for much longer)
• Testing included = Everyday usage, including web browsing, social media, photography, video calling, gaming, streaming video, music playback
• Tools used = Geekbench 6, 3D Mark, native Android stats

I received the Poco F6 Pro in October 2024, but due to a combination of reviewing other devices, the Black Friday rush, and the busy Christmas period, I didn't get around to properly testing it until the new year. However, when I first received the device, I did use it as my main device for about a week and carried it with me to work, testing it intermittently during that time.

When I finally dedicated myself to the Poco F6 Pro review, I used it as my primary device for a three full weeks. During this time, I tested its capabilities with regular tasks like texting, video calling, and scrolling through social media for hours, along with gaming and streaming content from the best services.

Why you can trust TechRadar

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The only out-of-the-ordinary activity I indulged in was playing mobile games like Fortnite and PUBG – as the device is gaming focused and I'm not much of a mobile gamer. I quickly found myself enjoying it quite a bit, especially when I paired my mobile gaming sessions with my PlayStation 5's DualSense controller.

To ensure accurate performance results, I ran 3D Mark and Geekbench tests several times throughout my review period, factoring in battery performance and daily usage conditions at the time of testing to get the most applicable numbers.

Read more about how we test

[First reviewed March 2025]

Anker Charger 140W, 4-Port, PD 3.1 review

The Anker Charger 140W, 4-Port, PD 3.1 – that’s a bit of a mouthful isn’t it. But don’t be fooled, this charger isn’t compensating for anything with its epic name. With four ports, an admirable maximum power output of 140W and even its own display, this charger is undoubtedly a top performer. But is it worth its high asking price of $89.99 / £89.99?

Well, if we’re talking about performance, the answer is yes. You can get up to 65W and 45W from USB-C port 1 and 2 respectively when quad-charging, with a maximum of 140W overall. You can even get that full 140W routed to either of these ports when charging one device at a time – not bad at all!

And when I tested out the charger to verify its prowess myself, I was delighted with the results. Even while utilizing all four ports, I was able to get the Samsung Galaxy S24 FE from 0% - 100% in less than 80 minutes. That’s the kind of speed I’d expect from some of the best Android phone chargers and best iPhone chargers.

If you want to see just how fast your devices are charging, this model has a neat display located on top of the charger. When you first plug it in, you’ll be greeted with a robot-looking face – one that’s not quite emotive as that of the UGreen Uno Charger 100W, mind you. Anyway, after the initial startup, you can sift between three different displays: power consumption per port; temperature monitoring; and total power use (in watts).

I tended to stick to the first menu in order to check the changing power use in each individual port, although the temperature monitoring screen was handy too. This display provides a rating depending on how hot the charger gets or can let you know if it's in High Performance / Cooling Mode – always good to know!

Something else that I liked was the positioning of the ports. They’re located on the underside of the charger, meaning your cables will dangle down if you’re using a wall socket. This is ideal in my view, because if you’re using a socket close to a desk or couch, for instance, the cables won’t be pressed against a surface. That makes the charger ideal for use in tight spaces. Combine that with its foldable prongs and compact size and you’re onto a real winner for portability and seamless usability.

But that’s not all – this is also a very nice-looking charger. The display is nice and bright and the outer casing has a premium-looking finish. Not only that, but there are two classy color options – Dark Gray or Silver. Well, that is if you’re in the US – I do wish the Silver option was there for us UK folk.

But that’s a pretty minor qualm I have – what’s the real catch to this charger? Well, if I had to pick something out, it would probably be the price. At $89.99 / £89.99 (about AU$140), this model is by no means cheap. But this charger does come with its own USB-C to USB-C cable and given its inclusion of a display, I’d still argue it’s great value. That’s especially true when you consider that the UGreen Nexode Pro 160W 4-Port charger – a clear rival to this Anker alternative – costs $119.99 / £99.99 and is display-less. So, it’s fair to say this entry from Anker gets almost everything right and it’s well worth grabbing – if you have the cash.

(Image credit: Future) Anker Charger 140W, 4-Port, PD 3.1 review: Price & specs

(Image credit: Future) Should I buy the Anker Charger 140W, 4-Port, PD 3.1? Buy it if…

You want high-level performance
This model can offer fast charging speeds, no matter how many devices you have plugged in at once. With a maximum power output of 140W, there’ll be plenty of power for your phone, the best wireless earbuds, tablets and more. Even if you want to juice up 2024’s Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch M4, you should be able to get it back to life in no time.

You’d like to get the visual on charging progress
One of the unique benefits of using this charger is its inclusion of a display. If you want to monitor temperature or power output and management, this is definitely the charger for you.

Don't buy it if…

You’re on a tight budget
OK, so this charger packs a lot of punch and has plenty of ports, which makes it a good value option. But that still doesn’t mean it comes cheap. It’s knocking on the door of the $100 / £100 mark, so if you’re on a tight budget, maybe consider another option, like the UGreen Nexode Pro 100W 3-Port charger, for instance.

You want some neat color options
This model is available in Dark Gray in the UK and US, but the smart Silver option is exclusive to the latter. And although I personally like the look of this charger, those with a preference for more vibrant colours may find it a little plain.

Anker Charger 140W, 4-Port, PD 3.1: Also consider

UGreen Nexode Pro 160W 4-Port charger
Although I’d consider this Anker charger to be a stronger value option, there’s no denying the impressive power and quality of the UGreen Nexode Pro 160W 4-Port charger. You get a bit more juice out of this model thanks to its maximum power output of 160W and ports are positioned on the end of the charger – rather than underneath, if you’d prefer that. There’s no display here, but I can assure you, this thing will bring your devices back to life – and fast. On top of that, there’s intelligent temperature monitoring and four USB ports. The lack of foldable prongs on the UK model are a little bit of a miss though. Read our full UGreen Nexode Pro 160W 4-Port charger review.

AOHI Future Starship review

The AOHI Future Starship is a large power bank with plenty of power to charge large devices on the go.

It adopts what you might call a cyberpunk aesthetic, with yellow markings and accents imparting a futuristic industrial look. The overall form is also reminiscent of some kind of a sci-fi gadget, injecting some interest in the typically straight-laced world of power bank design.

No doubt some will like it and others will hate it, but it’s not brash enough to totally preclude it from more professional settings.

At 23oz / 650g, the Future Starship isn’t exactly light, but its dimensions are relatively compact – it's not as thick or as long as some power banks with a similar wattage. The overall build quality is good, although there’s a small amount of flex to the side panels, so it’s not constructed quite as sturdily as some of the best power banks.

The large panel for the screen is somewhat misleading, as the actual display only occupies a very small area. What’s more, since it packs in quite a lot of information when charging, it’s hard to read at a glance if you want to quickly see how much battery power remains. It’s also relatively dim, which only adds to the visibility problem, especially at certain angles.

Still, the information the Future Starship displays is useful, as it includes readouts for each individual port, displaying their real-time wattage. There’s also an indicator to show whether the power is being outputted or inputted, which is useful to make sure the bank itself is actually being charged when plugged into an outlet.

Battery life is given as a percentage and in bars, which presumably is designed to make it easier to scan. However, in addition to the aforementioned issues with the display itself, the bars are too small to see from a distance because there are too many; four or five would have been enough, but there are 10, which is too many to parse quickly.

There are three ports in total on the Future Starship: two USB-C ports and one USB-A. It seems like another USB-C could have been squeezed in, and there are similarly large power banks out there with four, so it’s a small shame not to see this.

The two Type-C ports can deliver a max 140W each, both for output and for input. When used at the same time, one will drop to 100W, meaning the total output for both ports is 240W. It also comes with a USB-C cable rated for charging at 140W, which is nice to see, as not all large power banks include high-power cables.

The Future Starship managed to charge a Dell Latitude 5410, with its 68Wh battery, in just over two hours, which is an impressive performance, especially considering that I was using the laptop at the same time. The bank depleted from 100% down to about 20%, so it’s nice to know you’ll get one full laptop charge out of it, with a bit left in the tank for smaller devices.

It also stayed cool throughout, only warming slightly. Charging the bank itself also took just over two hours, which again is an impressive performance considering its large capacity.

However, the Future Starship is a very expensive power bank, and not many users will need such a massive output – and those who do would probably wish for a higher capacity to charge large devices multiple times. There are many cheaper alternatives out there that can handle laptop charging just as well.

(Image credit: Future) AOHI Future Starship review: price & specs

(Image credit: Future) Should I buy the AOHI Future Starship? Buy it if…

You want plenty of power
With a total of 240W, there aren’t many USB devices the Future Starship can’t charge.

You want plenty of info
The screen might be a bit small, but all the useful metrics are there, including real-time wattage figures.

Don't buy it if…

You want something cheap
The Future Starship is expensive full stop, and many probably won’t utilize all the power it has to offer.

You want multiple laptop charges
Yes, it can charge a laptop completely – but it can only do so once before you have to recharge the bank itself.

AOHI Future Starship: also consider

Anker Laptop Power Bank
It might be less powerful, but the Anker Laptop Power Bank is more than capable of charging most large devices thanks to its 165W output, and it has close to the same capacity at 25,000mAh. It also has two inbuilt USB-C cables for added convenience, and to top it all off it’s much cheaper than the Future Starship.

Read our Anker Laptop Power Bank review

VQ Cath Kidston 5,000mAh Power Bank review

The VQ Cath Kidston 5,000mAh Power Bank is a small power bank with a design that makes it a fashion accessory as well as a portable battery. The Cath Kidston crossover means you get the brand’s illustrative designs. The bee print finish of the model I had was rather subtle, with its cream background and the small drawings lacking any vivid colors.

If you want a little more vibrancy, two more finishes are available, both floral in nature, and incorporate bright shades of red and green. All schemes have a high-gloss finish, which VQ claims is scratch-resistant. After spending a couple of days with it, I didn’t notice any blemishes.

Other nice touches include the small power button integrated on the bezel, and the equally discreet LED dots indicating the battery life of the VQ Cath Kidston 5,000mAh Power Bank. These are integrated on the front panel in the bottom right corner, and are barely noticeably, designed to intrude as little as possible on the Cath Kidston design. The problem is, however, that they’re hard to see even when they’re lit up, and are virtually invisible when looking at them from an angle, which is less than ideal.

What is more practical, though, is the pleasingly light and slim form factor, making it easy to carry in a bag or pocket. However, while the VQ Cath Kidston 5,000mAh Power Bank is built quite well, it isn’t up there with the very best power banks. The plastic panels do flex somewhat, and while the joins to the bezel are strong enough, I did notice a few wide gaps in places. Also, the power button doesn’t quite sit flush with the bezel as perhaps it should, although it’s at least easy to use.

The VQ Cath Kidston 5,000mAh Power Bank features one USB-C, one USB-A, and one Lightning port – disappointingly, though, only the USB-A can be used for charging devices, as the other two are for input only. This is especially baffling in the case of the Lightning port, as this is a now-defunct standard for older Apple devices, so quite what it’s doing here as an input is a mystery.

What’s also unusual is that VQ doesn’t provide a power output figure, although it does list the voltage and amperage for both the input and the output, so with some basic math, its total wattage should be 20.5W.

Charging my Google Pixel 7a from 50% to full took about two and a half hours, which is an adequate performance. The bank depleted by one dot, meaning it should be able to handle two roughly full charges. Charging the VQ Cath Kidston 5,000mAh Power Bank itself from about half full took just over two hours, which again isn’t an overly impressive effort.

The VQ Cath Kidston 5,000mAh Power Bank is more expensive than other popular power banks with similar specs, so it seems you’re paying for its looks more than anything else. Unless you really must have the Cath Kidston design, there are better value picks out there.

(Image credit: Future) VQ Cath Kidston 5,000mAh Power Bank review: price & specs

(Image credit: Future) Should I buy the VQ Cath Kidston 5,000mAh Power Bank? Buy it if…

You want some flair
The Cath Kidston designs certainly add more interest and personality than many other power bank finishes.

You want something easy to carry around
The VQ Cath Kidston 5,000mAh Power Bank is small, thin, and light, so this is an easy power bank to take on your travels.

Don't buy it if…

You want the best build
The overall construction is good enough, but the chassis isn’t rock solid, and there are some questionable gaps where the panel meets the bezel.

You’re want the best performance
The VQ Cath Kidston 5,000mAh Power Bank doesn’t have enough power to charge smartphones fast, and only the USB-A port can actually charge devices, which is a shame.

VQ Cath Kidston 5,000mAh Power Bank review: also consider

Ugreen 5000mAh Magnetic Wireless Power Bank
For about the same price as the VQ Cath Kidston 5,000mAh Power Bank, the Ugreen provides a similarly small and sleek form, but with the added bonuses of a USB-C port for both input and output, and a MagSafe wireless charging pad for use with the best iPhones and other Apple products. It might lack the style of the VQ Cath Kidston 5,000mAh Power Bank, but it makes up for it in performance. Read our Ugreen 5000mAh Magnetic Wireless Power Bank review.

VRURC T6S power bank review

The T6S is a small power bank with an eye-catching appearance. The light pink colorway of my review unit was certainly striking, and the small rainbow stripe adds a nice accent to the overall finish. It also comes in black, white, and light blue finishes.

Quite why it has the design of a digital camera from 20 years ago I’m not sure, but this does lend it a fun, retro charm. The faux camera lens also cleverly doubles as an LED display, which is very bright and clear, although it only displays the battery level of the T6S and nothing else.

The T6S is pleasingly compact for a 10k power bank, being shorter and thinner than some of the best power banks with the same capacity. However, it’s quite thick in terms of depth, so some may struggle to fit this comfortably in their pocket. The weight is perhaps a little too hefty for this style of carry as well, although it still isn’t what I’d call heavy.

It’s free of any kind of interface, save for a very discreet power button hidden away on the rear side, which sits flush with the chassis and finished in the same color, so as not to spoil the contours of the T6S.

There are two USB-C ports and one Lightning port, all of which function as inputs in addition to outputs. However, the Lightning port and the adjacent USB-C port are heavily recessed with an opening that was too small to fit any of my numerous spare cables. Thankfully, the other USB-C port on the opposite side isn’t recessed, so there’s no issue here.

The T6S comes with a USB-C-to-Lightning cable that fits like a glove in these slots. At first, this connection type threw me, as I couldn’t see the point. Then I realised that it’s actually quite versatile, allowing you to charge your USB-C devices by plugging the Lightning end into the bank, or your older Apple devices by plugging in the USB-C end.

What’s more, since these inputs are right next to each other, you can plug both ends of the cable to create a carrying loop, which works thanks to the durable cable material and the secure fit of the ports. The drawback of this cable, though, is its short length, so you’ll need your device right next to the T6S while charging.

All ports are capable of 20W PD charging, and three-way simultaneous charging is possible too. I managed to charge my 4,385mAh Google Pixel 7a from half to full capacity, using the included Lightning-to-USB-C cable, in just over an hour, which is a good performance.

However, the battery of the T6S depleted by 40% in the process, which is less impressive, and doesn’t quite seem to chime with its 10,000mAh capacity; other power banks I’ve tested with the same capacity dipped by about a third instead, and I would’ve expected to get closer to two full charges out of it than I did. Charging the bank itself takes about four hours from empty to full, which is about average for its size.

At just over £20, the T6S represents good value considering its portability, fun looks, and clever cable. Other power banks at this price offer similar features, but not many have the same quirky stylings as the T6S, so if that’s important to you in a power bank, not many can match the T6S on that front.

(Image credit: Future) VRURC T6S power bank review: price & specs

(Image credit: Future) Should I buy the VRURC T6S power bank? Buy it if…

You want something stylish
The T6S doubles as a fashion accessory thanks to its vibrant colorways and retro camera aesthetic.

You want a clever cable
It may be short but the included cable is versatile for charging purposes, and doubles as a carrying handle to boot.

Don't buy it if…

You want to use your own cables
Not many cables will fit in the two recessed ports. Thankfully, the non-recessed USB-C port has no problem in this regard.

You don’t have older Apple devices
Lightning is a defunct connector type, so unless you still have older Apple devices, the port will be surplus to requirements.

VRURC T6S power bank review: also consider

INIU B61 Power Bank 10000mAh
Another fun-sized 10k power bank, the Iniu B61 is slightly more expensive than the T6S, but has a little more power at 22.5W. It might not come with a clever cable, but the B61 does have two USB-A ports, which are probably more useful to more users than a Lightning port. If you want a cheaper power bank with the same capacity, there’s the B41, although this has less power (15W). Read our INIU B61 review.

Horipad Turbo: One-minute review

It’s hard to find good Nintendo Switch controllers at the $30 / £30 price mark. Typically, budget gamepads around this point simply don’t feel all that great to play with and often have a build quality that leaves a lot to be desired. That’s why I’ve been pleasantly surprised by the Horipad Turbo, a budget Switch controller that certainly has some of the hallmarks of a cheap pad, but manages to make up for it in other key areas.

Obviously, some compromises have been made to keep costs low. The Horipad Turbo does feel lightweight and somewhat hollow in the hands. It’s a strictly wired controller and doesn’t offer arguably basic features like gyro aiming, vibration, or remappable rear buttons. I’m also not the biggest fan of its simple, mushy D-pad.

But the Horipad Turbo gets most other things right where it counts. Its thumbsticks and buttons all feel great, and its satisfying-to-press digital triggers are perfectly suited for the best Nintendo Switch games. The titular Turbo function also works very well and is quite robust with three distinct input settings.

Throw in options for officially licensed liveries inspired by Super Mario and The Legend of Zelda series, and it’s clear that a lot of thought and care has gone into making the Horipad Turbo an attractive budget option. If you’re interested in purchasing a new Nintendo Switch controller, then, but don’t have the funds to splash out on the likes of the Nintendo Switch Pro Controller or 8BitDo Ultimate, I highly recommend checking out the Horipad Turbo instead.

(Image credit: Future) Horipad Turbo: Price and availability

• $29.99 / £29.99
• Available in three colorways
• UK availability appears to be very limited

The Horipad Turbo is available to purchase for $29.99 / £29.99. In the US, it’s available on Hori’s own website as well as Amazon. Unfortunately, it’s much more difficult to track down in the UK. Here, Hori’s website doesn’t currently have any stock, and listings at retailers like Amazon are limited (though often come in well under the retail price).

Three distinct colorways are available for the Horipad Turbo. There is a standard black version, as well as fancier liveries for The Legend of Zelda and Super Mario. These don’t cost any extra, either, so you’re free to pick one that best suits your tastes without making a bigger dent in your wallet.

Before you do decide to pull the trigger, though, I would also recommend you check out the GameSir Nova Lite. This controller comes in at $24.99 / £29.99 and is more widely available in both regions. It also has some key upgrades over the Horipad Turbo, including Hall effect sticks and wireless connectivity. It still lacks gyro aiming, however.

Horipad Turbo: Specs

(Image credit: Future) Horipad Turbo: Design and features

• Lightweight build, but certainly not uncomfortable
• Standard asymmetrical layout like the Switch Pro Controller
• Overly mushy-feeling D-pad

The Horipad Turbo very much comes as advertised (well, apart from one particular thing that I’ll touch on in the performance section below). The box contains the wired controller, an instruction booklet and that’s it. No fancy extras like swappable thumbsticks, carry cases, or all that jazz. But this is to be expected for a gamepad that’s firmly placed in the budget price bracket.

The controller itself certainly has a budget, plastic feel, and it’s extremely lightweight. As a result, it feels almost listless in the hands. However, this isn’t to say holding the controller is unpleasant. While it lacks textured grips a la the Nintendo Switch Pro Controller, it’s comfortable enough and easy to keep a firm grip on while you play.

Sticks and face buttons both feel great to use and the bumpers, while a little chunky for my tastes, are still adequate. The digital ZL and ZR triggers are the real stars of the show, with an immediate press that’s perfect for the vast majority of the first-party Nintendo Switch game library.

(Image credit: Future)

The clue’s in the name when it comes to the Horipad Turbo’s key feature. Its Turbo functionality allows for rapid inputs simply by holding down the button it’s assigned to.

To do this, simply hold the Turbo button in the center of the gamepad, followed by your face button of choice. There are options for 5, 10, and 20 inputs per second. So it’s a great fit for simpler, arcade-like titles you might find within the Nintendo Switch Online retro libraries. Prefer being able to quickfire projectiles in games like Blaster Master and Super R-Type? The Turbo button can help shave some of that difficulty off while keeping your thumb thoroughly blister-free.

The controller’s 10ft (3m) cable is industry standard, but as it’s non-braided it did tend to coil up more than I’d like. The D-pad is also a real letdown here. For one, it’s really thin, making diagonal inputs a touch harder than they need to be. It also feels very mushy to press, leading to a pretty unsatisfying gameplay experience. Stick to those analog sticks for movement if you can.

Horipad Turbo: Performance

• Perfectly responsive across all fronts
• Works on PC as well as Nintendo Switch
• Missing features include rumble and gyro aiming

The Horipad Turbo is compatible primarily with the Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch OLED models. You won’t get PlayStation or Xbox functionality here, but the controller is compatible with PC. This is not mentioned on Hori’s website or on the box itself, but I was able to hook the controller up to my PC via USB and it worked there without issue.

(Image credit: Future)

That said, I think the Horipad Turbo is a better fit for the Switch, and not just because of those officially licensed liveries. It’s got the Switch’s ‘reversed’ face button layout (with X/Y and A/B swapped from the typical XInput layout) and its digital triggers are perfect for a game library where pressure-sensitive triggers are never really required.

As a result, it’s a great fit for several games that I tested, including Super Mario Odyssey, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, and The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom - all games where quick trigger presses are utilized regularly. Though when it came to both Zelda and Splatoon 3, I certainly did lament the lack of gyro aiming here. The fact there’s no rumble, while less of a dealbreaker overall, is also a shame.

Should I buy the Horipad Turbo? Buy it if...

You’re on a tight budget
The Horipad Turbo is one of the most affordable Nintendo Switch controller options that, similar to the GameSir Nova Lite, I can actually recommend thanks to its overall strong performance despite some middling build quality.

You prefer more precise trigger presses
The Horipad Turbo’s digital triggers are a blessing on Switch, and I much prefer them over the more traditional analog triggers you find on most controllers.

Don't buy it if...

You’re a Splatoon 3 player
One of the most unfortunate omissions here is the lack of gyro aiming. You can of course use the analog sticks for aiming in Splatoon 3, but do you really want to do that?

You were hoping for more features
Even more recent controllers at a similar price like the GameSir Nova Lite have the Horipad Turbo beat on features, like offering Hall effect sticks and wireless connectivity.View Deal

Also consider...

The Horipad Turbo is a solid controller, but if you’re after a new Nintendo Switch gamepad you may also wish to consider these budget-friendly alternatives.

GameSir Nova Lite
My favorite budget Nintendo Switch pad offers drift-resistant Hall effect thumbsticks and wireless connectivity with up to 15 hours of battery life. It’s technically an upgrade when compared to the Horipad Turbo, offering several customization options via its multifunction button. It doesn’t have Turbo functionality, though, on top of missing out on gyro aiming.

Read our full GameSir Nova Lite review

8BitDo Ultimate C
Another incredibly budget-friendly controller, it carries on the brand’s tradition of having excellent build quality despite the low price.

Read our full 8BitDo Ultimate C review

How I tested the Horipad Turbo

• Tested over the course of a week
• Played primarily on Nintendo Switch with some PC
• Compared and contrasted mainly with the GameSir Nova Lite

I tested the Horipad Turbo for this review for roughly a week. During that time I tried the gamepad with a range of top Nintendo Switch games, including Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Super Mario Odyssey, Astral Chain, and The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. I also put the Turbo button through its paces by playing a variety of fitting retro titles on Nintendo Switch Online. These included Blaster Master, Ninja Gaiden, Mario Party 3, and Super R-Type.

I also spent some time comparing the Horipad Turbo to what I feel is its closest budget equivalent - the GameSir Nova Lite. I do prefer GameSir’s controller, owing to its Hall effect sticks and wireless connectivity options. But the Horipad Turbo isn’t far off, with similar build quality and a nice Turbo button addition. Both controllers lack gyro aiming, though, which is a bit of a shame.

Read more about how we test

First reviewed February 2025

XPPen Artist Pro 24 Gen 2 4K: one-minute review

The XPPen Artist Pro 24 Gen 2 4K is a well-performing 24-inch drawing display that offers a natural drawing experience and comes with some great accessories for a surprisingly reasonable price. The most notable of the accessories include the X3 Pro Smart Chip and X3 Pro Slim styli, pre-mounted ACS02 Stand, ACK05 Wireless Shortcut Remote, and much more.

With 4K resolution and the capability of displaying 16.7 million colors, I could see my photos in more detail than ever before. It was easy to transition between color spaces depending on my task by using the XPPen Pen Tablet driver. The typical color gamut ratio of the XPPen Artist Pro 24 Gen 2 4K is impressive, covering 99% sRGB, 99% Adobe RGB, and 98% Display P3. Further color calibration is achievable using the free XPPen Color Master program and a colorimeter, should you want complete control over the output.

(Image credit: Future)

My drawing experience felt satisfyingly natural and free of complications over the hours I tested the XPPen Artist Pro 24 Gen 2 4K, to the point where it could prove a worthy rival to many of the best drawing tablets. Some key features that made this drawing display such a pleasure to work with include the practically-bordered 526 x 296mm working area, the optimally textured anti-glare etched and anti-fingerprint coated glass surface, and the 60-degree tilt range of the styli. I didn’t encounter any lag or jitter, and although there was a tiny bit of parallax, despite the fully laminated screen, a quick calibration in the settings put this right in moments.

I only encountered minor niggles when testing the XPPen Artist Pro 24 Gen 2 4K, the worst of which being some brushes requiring much more pressure for the stroke to be visible, though this could be rectified in the relevant design software’s settings. This small misgiving is more than forgivable though, considering the quality, accessories, and performance you get for the low $1,299.99 / £1,199 / AU$1899.99 price tag. If you’ve been eyeing up a Wacom but can’t bring yourself to make such a large investment, the XPPen Artist Pro 24 Gen 2 4K is the perfect solution, delivering stunning results for a reasonable price.

XPPen Artist Pro 24 Gen 2 4K review: price and availability

• Announced: October 22, 2024
• List price $1,299.99 / £1,199 / AU$1899.99

The XPPen Artist Pro 24 Gen 2 series, which includes the 4K model I’ve been testing, and a slightly cheaper 165Hz model, was announced on October 22nd, 2024, and is available now on the XPPen website in the US and Australia. I’m sorry to say that we Brits may need to wait a little longer for the 4K model, as at the time of writing delivery isn't expected until mid-June 2025, although there's a handful left in stock at Amazon UK. The XPPen Artist Pro 24 Gen 2 4K retails at $1,299.99 / £1,199 / AU$1899.99 but at present, the price has been discounted to $1,065.99 / £1,139.05 / AU$1,557.99 in a Valentine's Day sale.

You get a lot of bang for your buck with the XPPen Artist Pro 24 Gen 2 4K, as a purchase doesn’t just get you a large-format drawing display, but also the X3 Pro Smart Chip and X3 Pro Slim styli, plus a sturdy dual styli case, an ACK05 Wireless Shortcut Remote, all the cables you could ask for, and more.

(Image credit: Future) XPPen Artist Pro 24 Gen 2 4K review: specs XPPen Artist Pro 24 Gen 2 4K review: design

• Sturdy metal stand included
• Convenient stylus storage
• Three multifunctional buttons on top of display

The overall aesthetic of the XPPen Artist Pro 24 Gen 2 4K is clean and understated. The working area has been kept practical, with a generously sized border giving me plenty of space for my hand and wrist. The only buttons on the unit itself are three multifunctional ones on the top right that serve as both brightness adjusters and signal changers.

XPPen helpfully includes all the required cables, including HDMI, DisplayPort, and USB-C to USB-C cables, plus different regional power cables. While this is undeniably convenient, it feels a little excessive, and some of those cables will likely prove redundant for many purchasers. In the name of sustainability, there’s a little more control over the accessories received when purchasing the Wacom One, although one gets a bit of a shock from the new total price once the pen and cable costs have been factored in.

(Image credit: Future)

Once the power and USB-C cables were in place there was a plastic cable cover that helped neaten up the cables and keep the dust at bay, though it took a fair bit of persuasion to clip onto the back of the display. The pen clips on the top of the display worked well, although the holder for the slim was made of a rubber-like material that attracted lint the moment I took it out of the plastic. I was pleased with the premium-feeling stylus case and appreciated that I could stand a stylus in there, as the top of the display was a bit of a reach for me. If there was the option to mount a pen clip on the side too, that would have been ideal.

A very much appreciated accessory that’s included as standard is the ACS02 Stand. It felt and proved very sturdy, which I should hope considering how heavy it is. It was easy to adjust using the central trigger, with an achievable angle range of 16 to 72 degrees. The included glove, on the other hand, isn’t exactly premium, but it did its job well; helping my hand to glide across the surface of the display, removing the chance of any mischief being caused by my palm or rogue fingers.

• Design score: 4.5 / 5

XPPen Artist Pro 24 Gen 2 4K review: performance

• Vivid colors and impressive detail
• Precise performance with no lag or jitter
• Easy and assignable pressure and shortcut customization

The XPPen Artist Pro 24 Gen 2 4K came to life and happily presented an extension of my desktop, no setting tweaks required. I very much appreciated this straightforward start, due to other displays I've tested that proved a nightmare by refusing to connect and/or sustain a connection. The UX of the XPPen Tablet driver was easy to navigate, and different settings were easy to find and change. I was also grateful how straightforward it was to change the stylus shortcut keys and adjust the pen pressure, and that I could assign different settings to specific applications.

The fully laminated display did a good job of reducing the parallax, but as there was still some present to a degree, I completed the calibration sequence in the settings, which knocked it on the head.

I found the display’s anti-glare etched glass surface delightful to sketch on – it had the right kind of texture to feel like I was drawing on paper. I didn’t find either stylus catching at any point, which was nice to experience from a drawing display. The display is stated to be anti-glare and I’m inclined to agree – even with a bright daylight bulb in my desk lamp, I didn’t encounter any problems with reflections on the screen.

I also (very reluctantly) put my fingers on the screen in a few areas to test the anti-fingerprint coating and no pesky prints were left behind. However, after picking up the XPPen Artist Pro 24 Gen 2 4K, I could definitely see where my hands had been on the black border. But I’m still satisfied that it didn't pick up any marks while I was working on it, plus the XPPen cleaning cloth removed both fingerprints and dust.

The XPPen Artist Pro 24 Gen 2 4K can reportedly display 1.07 billion colors and has a typical color gamut ratio of 99% sRGB, 99% Adobe RGB, and 98% Display P3. For those who want an advanced level of control over the screen’s output, the free XPPen ColorMaster software compatible with this model gives freedom to calibrate in real-time, to ensure the display is producing the most accurate results. The software has been developed with color calibration aficionados Calman and uses their color accuracy engine, but it’s worth noting that a colorimeter is required for complete color calibration.

Colors looked oversaturated in the first instance when looking at some of my photographs (many of which, yes, featured alpacas, if you're asking). This was due to the default color space being set to Adobe RGB, which, predictably, was the best choice for when I was doing graphic design or drawing, but a quick switch to sRGB in the driver settings made my photographs a little less psychedelic.

(Image credit: Future)

The brightness of the display was adequate. I did find myself increasing it to the max level soon after I began testing it, as the desktop was noticeably dimmer than my MacBook screen. However, when I opened a new (startlingly white) document to draw on, I quickly regretted that decision. The quality of the XPPen Artist Pro 24 Gen 2 4K’s display was impressive; it delivered great clarity and vibrancy, bringing fond memories back to life while also enhancing the detail in my photos, like the one above of Ernesto the alpaca.

Although drawing slates like the XPPen Magic Drawing Pad are great for the price, I far preferred working with the XPPen Artist Pro 24 Gen 2 4K – as one would hope, considering the vast difference in cost. I spent several hours drawing on the XPPen Artist Pro 24 Gen 2 4K to get an accurate idea of how well it handled different speeds, motions, and levels of detail. I began by drawing test lines with different brushes, including some very fast strokes, and there was no lag or jitter in sight. At times I used some very texture-heavy brushes in large sizes, the kind that used to fatally offend my previous MacBook, and still, I didn’t encounter any issues with lag. The result of every movement I made was precise, and my stylus strokes felt superbly smooth and natural during the hours I spent sketching, drawing, and writing.

• Performance score: 5 / 5

XPPen Artist Pro 24 Gen 2 4K review: stylus

• Two pens, each with customizable buttons
• Ergonomic, comfortable design
• 8K pressure sensitivity with programmable curves

The XPPen Artist Pro 24 Gen 2 4K comes with the X3 Pro Smart Chip and the X3 Pro Slim styli, both of which boast 16,388 pressure levels. While this is twice as much pressure as the styli included with the well-rated Xencelabs Pen Display 16, we're unlikely to be capable of utilizing anything above the 8K industry standard, so a pressure sensitivity of 16,388 isn’t quite as impressive as it may sound.

One issue I encountered was that strokes from certain brushes, such as pencils, didn’t always show up on the canvas, so I found myself needing to put more pressure down than felt necessary. This can be worked around by changing the pressure in the design software’s settings, but it was a little frustrating switching between brushes to find the stylus had seemingly run out of lead.

Both styli felt lightweight, with the Slim stylus weighing 10g, and the Smart Chip weighing 16g, but they were still heavy enough that it felt like working with hollow plastic. The styli can support a satisfying 60-degree tilt. This gave me more control over my line variation and allowed me to write and draw the way I would with a pen.

(Image credit: Future)

There are customizable buttons on both the styli, and they support pen ID recognition, which proved helpful while I was switching between them both during testing,. However, the X3 Pro Slim stylus quickly proved to be my favorite of the two provided, as I loved how it felt like a traditional pen in my hand. To be clear, the X3 Pro Smart Chip stylus is also great, especially as the standard nibs can be swapped out for felt nibs, four of which are included, along with a further ten standard nibs. The X3 Pro Slim stylus has fourteen replacements too, so I can’t see myself needing to purchase replacements any time soon.

The ACK05 Wireless Shortcut Remote was a great addition to my drawing sessions, for the most part. It sits flat on the desk, and because it’s compact, I could fit it between myself and the XPPen Artist Pro 24 Gen 2 4K, providing easy access to the customizable keys. There’s also a dial for actions such as zooming in and out and adjusting brush sizes, but I found it inefficient as I couldn’t make adjustments in small increments. The jump between each click of the dial seemed unreasonably large, so it offered imprecise control. Aside from that element, though, I was very fond of the ACK05 Wireless Shortcut Remote, due to the simple connection process, satisfying scissor switches, and impressive 300-hour battery life.

• Stylus Score: 4 / 5

(Image credit: Future) Should I buy the XPPen Artist Pro 24 Gen 2 4K? Buy it if…

You want a well-performing drawing display without the premium price tag
I’ll be honest, I didn’t expect such a fabulous performance from a large format 4K drawing display at such a low price, so I was left a little gobsmacked with how satisfying and natural the drawing experience felt. With similar models from competitors listed for an extra thousand, this drawing display is undoubtedly value for money.

You want a lot of drawing room
There’s a vast amount of drawing room on offer with this drawing display, more than I’ve ever gotten to play with before, and now I’m not sure I can ever go back. Plus, the adjustable stand means that you can make the most of the space in a way that’s most comfortable for you.

Don’t buy it if…

Space is limited
This drawing display and its metal stand are a goliath in size and weight. I’m fortunate to have a wider-than-average desk, but even so, it proved to be a tad obstructive. It could also prove a bit too much of a chonk to relocate regularly, so a designated space would be ideal.

You want something that can be relocated with ease
It’s quite unlikely one would purchase a 24-inch drawing display with a mind to commute with it, but even if it’s a case of moving it on and off a desk, it could prove a little exhausting. A better option would be the aforementioned Xencelabs Pen Display 16, which is not only lighter but comes with a handy carry case, too.

XPPen Artist Pro 24 Gen 2 4K review: also consider

Xencelabs Pen Display 24
The (current) top spot holder in our pick of the best drawing tablets, Xencelabs 24-inch pen display received a glowing five-star rating when we tested it thanks to its fantastic performance, build quality, and accessories. It’s a well-balanced pen display that is perfect for professionals and aspiring digital artists, proving an accessible asset thanks to its affordable price.

Xencelabs Pen Display 16
If you need a tablet that won’t be a space invader and can plausibly carry about, the 4.5-star rated Xencelabs Pen Display 16 would make a great choice. Like XPPen, Xencelabs provides everything needed to get started, along with a convenient carry case. Easy to use with a stunning display and highly customizable controls, this is the perfect alternative if you don’t have the space to spare.

(Image credit: Future) XPPen Artist Pro 24 Gen 2 4K review: how I tested

• I spent many hours drawing on the XPPen Artist Pro 24 Gen 2 4K over one week
• I used it for photo editing and drawing using Affinity software
• I tested for parallax, lag, and jittering, and created some graphic script using various brushes for linework and texture.

During my week testing the XPPen Artist Pro 24 Gen 2 4K, I tested the ease of setup and usability. I did some photo editing on Affinity Photo, and did lots of experimenting with different settings and tools on Affinity Designer, using my favorites to draw some lettering and add texture. I also tested how the Artist Pro 24 Gen 2 4K handled other tasks such as locating and previewing files in Finder and opening different file types.

I performed line tests to check for jitter and lag and tested the tilt angle and pressure sensitivity to get a feel for how responsive and realistic the drawing experience was. I also compared the XPPen Artist Pro 24 Gen 2 4K and its accessories against previous pen displays I’ve tested, as well as its specs against equivalent products on the market.

In terms of experience, I've used many a drawing tablet over the years, right back to when they were teeny-tiny pads with flimsy plastic pens. I've also had a couple of decades of experience with Affinity (formerly known as Serif), Creative Cloud software, and plenty of programs in between.

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

Xiaomi 33W 10,000mAh Power Bank: review

The Xiaomi 33W 10,000mAh Power Bank is a small power bank with an integrated USB-C cable for added convenience, making it ideal for light travelers. The smart, minimalist looks are welcome too. The Ice Blue colorway I had looked classy, but there’s a Tan variant if you want something a little lighter. Both models are elegant and complement the sleek form of the Xiaomi 33W 10,000mAh Power Bank.

In keeping with its uncluttered approach, there’s no screen or interface to speak off, aside from a power check button and four discreet LED dots to indicate battery and charging status. Despite their small size, they’re pleasingly bright, which makes them easy to see at a glance or at a distance.

I also appreciated the small form factor, with its square shape taking up little room. This is all the more impressive considering its 10,000mAh capacity, as not even some of the best power banks this size have such a small footprint. However, it’s thicker than some of them, and while the Xiaomi 33W 10,000mAh Power Bank isn’t exactly heavy, it’s not the lightest either.

The plastic material body feels reasonably premium, as it’s smooth to the touch and feels solidly constructed. However, the stress relief for the integrated USB-C cable seems quite flimsy, and I wouldn’t trust it to withstand too many bends or prolonged squashing, so I’d be careful when packing it deep inside a bag. I also wouldn’t use it as a carrying handle, although in fairness, Xiaomi doesn’t mention this as a feature.

Unfortunately, the housing that keeps the jack end stowed away isn’t as secure as I would’ve liked either. It does preserve the perfectly flat contours of the bank, though, as the jack sits flush with the side panel when stowed.

In addition to the integrated cable, the Xiaomi 33W 10,000mAh Power Bank also has a USB-A port and a USB-C port. Three-way simultaneous charging is supported too, as well as two-way 30W fast charging.

Charging performance is good, as it managed to charge my Google Pixel 7a, which has a 4,385mAh battery, from empty to full in just over 90 minutes, which is a solid performance.

More impressively, the Xiaomi 33W 10,000mAh Power Bank only lost one of its four LED dots, which means you should get between 2-3 full charges of a smartphone out of it. Charging the bank itself takes somewhere between three and a half to four hours, which is reasonable for this battery size.

For the price of £19.99 (about $26 / AU$41), the Xiaomi 33W 10,000mAh Power Bank represents good value. Not many power banks with this capacity take up so little real estate, nor have an integrated cable in addition to two extra ports. The cable might not endure as much punishment as others, but for light traveling the Xiaomi 33W 10,000mAh Power Bank should make for a convenient companion.

(Image credit: Future) Xiaomi 33W 10,000mAh Power Bank review: price & specs

(Image credit: Future) Should I buy the Xiaomi 33W 10,000mAh Power Bank? Buy it if…

You want something small
Not many power banks with this capacity are so small, and it’s quite easy to tuck away in a pocket.

You want multiple charges
The Xiaomi 33W 10,000mAh Power Bank only lost one bar after fully replenishing my smartphone, so you should get at least a couple of charges from it.

Don't buy it if…

You’re going to take it on adventure holidays
The Xiaomi 33W 10,000mAh Power Bank is built well enough, but the stress relief for the integrated isn’t the sturdiest, and the jack housing isn’t the most secure.

You want something thin
It may be short across its length and width, but it’s quite thick in terms of depth, which arguably might be the most important dimension for some.

Xiaomi 33W 10,000mAh Power Bank review: Also consider

Iniu B41
The Iniu B41 has the same capacity as the Xiaomi 33W 10,000mAh Power Bank but is slightly cheaper, although it has less power and doesn’t have an integrated cable. It does, however, include a handy flashlight. And while it’s longer than the Xiaomi 33W 10,000mAh Power Bank, it’s thinner, which might be preferable for some users. The port selection is slightly different too, with two USB-A ports and one USB-C port. Read our Iniu B41 review.

Cuktech 15 Ultra review

The Cuktech 15 Ultra is a power bank with a large output designed for charging laptops and similar devices on the go. There’s no getting around the fact that it’s a sizable unit. It’s admirably thin across its width, but it’s quite long and has a thick depth. This shape may suit some but disappoint others depending on the dimensions and packing arrangements of their luggage.

Its looks aren’t anything special, adopting a two-tone grey and black color scheme that’s not the most vibrant. The front panel for the screen looks smart with its gloss finish, though, while the back panel has a subtle texture that helps with grip slightly.

The build quality of the Cuktech 15 Ultra is quite good, with materials that feel reasonably premium and there’s no flex at all when pressing any side. However, the join as the chassis meets the display is quite prominent, owing to the inset nature of the display panel, so this isn’t as seamless a design as some of the best power banks out there.

The power button is integrated within the display panel, although again there’s a fairly prominent gap around the edges. Oddly, it’s emblazoned with two vertical lines, rather than the standard power symbol, but it’s at least clear to see. It operates very smoothly, providing plenty of feedback when clicked.

The standout feature of the Cuktech 15 Ultra, though, is the screen. It can display information such as total input and output readings, as well as real-time wattage, amperage and voltage. Battery level, estimated charging times, and temperature warnings are also given.

There are also a few settings that can be adjusted using this screen: you can choose whether the first USB-C port is input only, output only, or both; and you can set the screen to always stay on – two useful features I haven’t seen on other power banks.

However, despite the full-length front panel, the actual display only comprises a small area by comparison, meaning all readouts are crammed into a relatively small space, which does compromise readability somewhat.

The Cuktech 15 Ultra features two USB-C ports and one USB-A port, delivering a total output of 165W, or a maximum of 140W from a single port. Three-way simultaneous charging is also possible, although the maximum outputs drop to 100W for one USB-C port, 45W for the other, and 15W for the USB-A port. Three ports might be plenty for some, but there are similarly sized – and even some smaller – power banks out there that manage to pack in four ports.

When it comes to performance, the Cuktech 15 Ultra managed to charge an HP Chromebook Plus 15.6-inch, which can charge at 45W, from empty to 98% in about two hours, which is an impressive performance – and it stayed cool throughout. However, it ran out of battery before it could charge the Chromebook to 100%, so it just falls short of providing even a single full charge for large devices.

Thankfully, charging the Cuktech 15 Ultra itself is quick, as it took me about an hour to top it up from 25% to full. This was via a single USB-C input, but you can use both ports at the same time for increased charging power.

Given its price, the Cuktech 15 Ultra competes with other large power banks, such as the Anker Laptop Power Bank, which is similarly priced. This bank, though, has a slightly larger capacity, and features two inbuilt USB-C for added convenience. However, its display doesn’t quite offer the same wealth of information as the Cuktech 15 Ultra. The two are closely matched, so if you went for the Cuktech 15 Ultra, you likely won’t be disappointed.

(Image credit: Future) Cuktech 15 Ultra review: price & specs

(Image credit: Future) Should I buy the Cuktech 15 Ultra? Buy it if…

You want to charge large devices
The large 165W total output means you should be able to charge many modern laptops.

You want plenty of information
The Cuktech 15 Ultra has some of the most comprehensive information I’ve seen from a power bank display, including readouts for wattage, amperage, and voltage, and various adjustable settings.

Don't buy it if…

You want the largest capacity
The power output might be large, but the 20,000mAh capacity doesn’t quite match up, meaning you might not even get a single full charge of a laptop from it.

You want the smallest power bank
The Cuktech 15 Ultra does an admirable job of condensing all that power into a thin form factor, but it’s still quite thick and long, and not all that light.

Cuktech 15 Ultra: also consider

Anker Laptop Power Bank
If you need plenty of power and output, then the Anker Laptop Power Bank is a great choice. It has similar dimensions to the Cuktech 15 Ultra, but additionally features two inbuilt UCB-C cables: one retractable and one that doubles as a carry handle. It also comes with two extra ports, meaning it beats the Cuktech 15 Ultra by one when it comes to outputs and inputs. While it does have a display, it’s not as detailed as that on the Cuktech 15 Ultra. However, it’s close to the same price (or cheaper in certain regions), yet has the same power output and a slightly greater capacity (25,000mAh).

Boulies Elite gaming chair: One-minute review

The Boulies Elite gaming chair sits in the mid-range bracket, with a welcome focus on adjustability and build quality. It adopts the familiar racing seat design, minus the seat side bolsters – an omission I welcome, since I always find these too restrictive, and means the wide seat can be made full use of.

The Boulies Elite looks smart in the black variant I had, and the PU leatherette feels durable and premium to the touch. There’s a small amount of suede on the sides of the seat, but less so than on many rivals.

The overall build quality is up there with some of the best gaming chairs, with the 4D arms being a particular highlight: they’re solid with virtually no wobble and the adjustments are smooth, although I found them a little too stiff to move up and down. The casters offer a surprising amount of grip on carpet too.

Overall, the comfort of the Boulies Elite is great. The head and lumbar pillows provide plenty of cushioning, but without them, I was surprised to find myself even more comfortable, as I sunk into the chair even more. The seat is a little firm, but still not as firm as those on others. I was also able to install the arms close to the sides, preventing my arms from stretching out too much, as I’ve experienced with other gaming chairs.

You’ll find many of the same adjustments typical of mid- and high-end gaming chairs, although there’s no inbuilt lumbar support here. The tilt mechanism is very smooth and silent, and the tension can be easily altered. The tilt lock is very useful too, while the 4D arms go almost anywhere you like.

The seat has a low minimum height, so those shorter in stature shouldn’t have much of a problem getting their feet firmly on the ground. However, its maximum isn’t that high compared to some of its rivals, although the Elite Max is designed for those who want more in this department.

On top of this, the backrest doesn’t recline to 180 degrees, as other chairs in this segment do. In fact, the recline is one of the weakest areas of the Boulies Elite. The notches in the mechanism are very prominent when moving back, and I often found the handle would get stuck before locking into position, requiring a firmer push of the handle than usual to lock into place.

Assembling the Boulies Elite was easy for the most part, although a couple of casters proved a little troublesome to snap into place. Keeping the gasket mounts in place while installing the tilt mechanism was the hardest part, whereas installing the backrest – which is usually the trickiest part of building a gaming chair – was easier than expected. I managed to construct it by myself with relative ease.

If you’re on the lookout for a mid-range gaming chair, the Boulies Elite is a solid pick. There are a few snags with some of the adjustments, but you’d typically have to pay a lot more for this level of adjustability, comfort, and quality (see the Secretlab Titan Evo 2022).

Should you want something even more budget-friendly, the Corsair TC100 Relaxed is just about the best in this regard, although it lacks the same premium construction as the Boulies Elite.

(Image credit: Future) Boulies Elite gaming chair review: Price and availability

• $399 / £339 / AU$594
• Available now
• Cheaper than some rivals

The Boulies Elite costs $399 / £339 / AU$594 and is available now in three colorways for the PU variant (black, blue, and white), and two for the fabric model (ash grey and charcoal grey). There’s also an Elite Max for those with larger frames, which isn’t much more expensive.

It comes with a two-year warranty as standard, which can be extended to three with Boulies’ Warranty Plus, and also includes two years of peeling protection.

Gaming chairs of the Boulies Elite’s ilk usually command higher price tags. The Secretlab Titan Evo 2022, for instance, starts from $549 / £469 / AU$799, despite having similar adjustments and functionality. Its prices can escalate quickly too, depending on the specific model you opt for.

If you’re after something that’s more accommodating for larger frames, then the AndaSeat Kaiser 3 XL is the most comfortable gaming chair for such users. And if you want to spend even less than the Boulies Elite but still get a great chair, then the Corsair TC100 Relaxed is a great alternative.

Boulies Elite gaming chair review: Specs Boulies Elite gaming chair: Design and aesthetics

• Typical gaming chair design
• No side bolsters
• Premium feel

The Boulies Elite sticks to the tried and true gaming chair formula for the most part, with a racing-style backrest, complete with holes on either side just below head height, used to fasten the lumbar cushion strap. Its wide seat forgoes the side bolsters, though, following the segment’s more recent move towards completely flat bases, which I find more accommodating.

Hard wearing without looking utilitarian, the PU leatherette feels premium, even helping to inject an element of class. There’s a minimal amount of suede on the sides of the seat – less than you might see on other gaming chairs.

The arms are also well-built, and their plastic and metal construction again seems to be of the highest order. Their padding is firm, but I had no issues resting my forearms on them.

The metal wheel base is metal too and feels very sturdy, yet still comfortable enough to rest your feet on should you wish to. The casters offer plenty of grip on carpet, more so than those on other chairs I’ve used.

(Image credit: Future) Boulies Elite gaming chair review: Comfort and Adjustability

• Comfortable without cushions
• Great arms
• Poor recline

Overall, the comfort of the Boulies Elite is excellent. The seat is well-padded and seems a little softer than many others. Its lack of side bolsters is also welcome, as I personally find them too restrictive and inimical to different seating styles. The lumbar pillow is one of the thickest and most plush I’ve tried, while the head pillow is about on par with many of its rivals. Boulies does claim that you can get comfortable in the Elite without either, and I found this to hold true.

In fact, I was probably more comfortable, as sinking further into the chair allowed me to relax more. Of course, individual preferences will determine whether or not the pillows improve comfort, but it’s reassuring all the same to know they aren’t totally necessary.

The only real ergonomic drawback is the sharpness of the bottom edge of the seat, which feels a little uncomfortable if you tend to place your feet behind your knees, but this is merely a minor inconvenience.

The Boulies Elite has a similar level of adjustability as many premium gaming chairs. Its seat height can go down to 18.1 inches/46cm – which was low enough for me at 5ft 7 inches/170cm to get my feet flat on the floor without a footrest – and up to 20.5 inches/52cm, making it nearly identical to the range of the Secretlab Titan Evo in its regular size. If you’re over six feet, though, you’ll want the Elite Max, which can go up to 22 inches/56cm.

(Image credit: Future)

Its tilt function is smooth with no creaking or notchiness. There’s a clank once you tilt back into the neutral position, but it was mild enough to easily overlook. The ability to lock the tilt in any position is welcome and works well for the most part – I did find it occasionally got stuck in certain positions, but it was nothing that a firmer push of the lever wouldn’t remedy. However, the shortness of the handle for this lever can make it awkward to reach, especially when you’re already tilted back.

The arms can be installed quite close to the sides of the seat, more so than on some other gaming chairs, which I personally prefer as I like having my arms closer to my body for ergonomic reasons.

Their eight-way adjustability offers plenty of scope for getting a personalized setup, the various mechanisms feel tight yet smooth to operate, and there’s very little wobble to any part of them. One minor gripe I had, at least with my unit, was the stiffness of the height adjustments, although it’s possible they may loosen over time.

Boulies states that the Elite has a full-length backrest recline, but it doesn’t open to 180 degrees as some other gaming chairs do. The biggest problem with the recline function, though, is how notchy it is, proving difficult to push back to its maximum opening. I found it also had a tendency to get stuck at about 45 degrees, requiring some force to return upright. There’s a general lack of feel to the recline lever too, which means it can be hard to tell when it’s fully locked in place, again requiring a firm push.

Boulies Elite gaming chair review: Assembly

Building the Boulies Elite was a relatively easy process. A couple of casters proved difficult to insert initially, but I found that giving them a slight twist while pushing did the trick, although this isn’t mentioned in the instructions.

The hardest part was lining up the small gasket mounts for the tilt mechanism on top of the screw holes. These don’t fix in place, so they move out of position far too easily when placing the tilt mechanism. I was able to reach my fingers in and shuffle them back into alignment, but those with larger hands might need some kind of implement at hand to help.

The backrest, on the other hand, was surprisingly easy to install, given it’s usually the trickiest part of any gaming chair. I was able to assemble the entire chair by myself, so many others should be fine doing so too.

(Image credit: Future) Should I buy the Boulies Elite gaming chair? Buy it if...

You want good adjustments
The Boulies Elite has tilt locking, 4D armrests, and a large recline angle, although it’s not quite the full 180 degrees of some other gaming chairs.

You want to sit low
Personally, I don’t like using a footrest, so it’s important for me to have my feet flat on the ground, which is possible with seat height adjustments.

Don't buy it...

You want the smoothest recline
The recline mechanism on the Boulies Elite is very 'notchy', and the lever is prone to sticking in place.

You’re large in stature
While the seat is nice and wide, it might not rise high enough for taller people. For them, there’s the Elite Max.

Boulies Elite gaming chair: Also consider

If the Boulies Elite doesn't sound like a good fit for you (in every sense), these are some great alternatives.

Secretlab Titan Evo 2022
The Secretlab Titan Evo 2022 does everything well: it’s comfortable, well-made, and provides plenty of adjustments. Its starting price is higher than the Boulies Elite, though, with certain variants reaching astronomical heights. But it’s the best gaming chair around right now for a reason. Read our Secretlab Titan Evo 2022 review.

Corsair TC100 Relaxed
If you want to keep the costs down, then the Corsair TC100 Relaxed is one of the best cheap gaming chairs there is. Despite its relatively low cost, it still offers a decent amount of adjustability, although it lacks 4D armrests. We found it comfortable, with enough seat width to prevent feeling confined. Read our Corsair TC100 Relaxed review.

(Image credit: Future) How I tested the Boulies Elite gaming chair

• Extensive testing session
• Made adjustments
• Plentiful gaming and productivity experience

I tested the Boulies Elite for a day, during which time I made the full range of adjustments for the seat height, armrests, tilt, and recline.

I tried sitting in the Boulies Elite in all manner of ways to replicate how I would normally spend my time in a gaming chair. I sat at my desk while using a keyboard and mouse.

I have experience reviewing gaming chairs and have used a variety of both gaming and office chairs for many years, including popular models such as the Secretlab Titan and the Steelcase Leap. I spend many hours a day in chairs for both working and gaming.

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

Xiaomi Buds 5 Pro: Two-minute review

You may have heard of Chinese tech company Xiaomi from its impressive camera phones like the Xiaomi 15 Ultra, its impressive budget mobiles like the Poco X7 Pro or its powerful tablets like the Xiaomi Pad 5. You may not have heard as much about its earbuds.

It's true that the tech giant's in-ear headphones have yet to feature in our best earbuds guide, but perhaps this is that time? The Xiaomi Buds 5 Pro are the latest offering from the company, a rare ‘premium’ pair of earbuds alongside the unending line of budget buds it releases under its Redmi line. They’re the specced-up version of the Xiaomi Buds 5 from six months prior, as well as the new iteration of the Xiaomi Buds 4 Pro.

Like most earbuds made by smartphone companies, you’re probably checking out this Xiaomi Buds 5 Pro review because you’ve found a deal that combines one of the company’s latest smartphones (perhaps the Xiaomi 15 or Xiaomi 14T) with them for a low price. And frankly, that’s probably the only time you should consider them: the buds are acceptable but nothing special, with a price that’s particularly uncompetitive (unless you’ve found them in a bundle).

There’s certainly some impressive acoustic engineering on display here, with each earbud boasting two drivers and a tweeter, but unfortunately the driver array doesn’t deliver equally-impressive audio chops, with music lacking the necessary bass impact and energy to invigorate your tunes.

A trip down the specs list will show some head-turning features, like a high audio bandwidth or the ability to play music over Wi-Fi instead of Bluetooth. The latter is exclusive to a more expensive model of the buds called the Buds 5 Pro Wi-Fi, not this model, but both options require very specific Xiaomi phones that’ll rule out many buyers.

That may seem harsh, but the Xiaomi Buds 5 Pro do solve many issues of their non-Pro siblings: they’re comfortable to wear, easy to tote around and don’t fall out of the ear at the slightest provocation. The Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) has seen a particularly improvement, both in the ability to remove noise, and the customization over its various modes.

Ultimately, because this proposition costs more than some really impressive rivals, it’s hard to recommend picking the Xiaomi Buds 5 Pro off the shelves (virtual or physical). But as a bundle bonus alongside another gadget, it could be the music companion you need – and that’s equally true if you can find them reduced in sales.

Xiaomi Buds 5 Pro review: Price and release date

(Image credit: Future)

• Announced in February 2025
• Costs £159.99 / AU$340 (roughly $210)
• Over twice as expensive as non-Pro

The Xiaomi Buds 5 Pro were announced in February 2025, alongside the Xiaomi 15 series of smartphones as well as the Pad 7 and a few other gadgets.

If you recall, the Buds 5 sold for £69.99 (roughly $90, AU$140); the Buds 5 Pro have undergone a serious price hike. They go for £159.99 / AU$340 (roughly $210), so they’re over twice the price of their predecessors.

As Xiaomi only sells its Redmi earbuds in the US, the Buds 5 Pro aren’t on sale there. In Australia, I noticed their prices from Xiaomi’s own outlets ranging from $340 to $380, so the price is a little nebulous.

Later on in this review, I’ll touch more on the Xiaomi Buds 5 Pro Wi-Fi, a more advanced model that I didn’t test. These cost roughly £20 / AU$40 (roughly $30) more than the standard model, depending on where you find them.

Xiaomi Buds 5 Pro review: Specs Xiaomi Buds 5 Pro review: Features

(Image credit: Future)

• Several ANC modes
• 8-hour battery life (with ANC off)
• Xiaomi app has EQ and more

Xiaomi has bumped up its feature set with the Buds 5 Pro, offering a few improvements over the non-Pro model, and it does make the earbuds much more competitive.

First up is the battery life – the buds themselves will last for 8 hours of listening if ANC is turned off, and while Xiaomi doesn’t provide an ANC-on figure, I’d guess at about 6.5-7 hours based on my testing. The battery life of the case itself has only seen a modest improvement of one hour over the past model, but the resulting figure of 40 hours in total is nothing to sniff at.

Charging is done with USB-C or wirelessly via Qi, and for the former at least, it’s pretty snappy. Xiaomi estimates that you’ll get 4.5 hours of listening time on 10 minutes charge with a fast enough charger, and while mine isn’t up to Xiaomi’s specs, I was still pleasantly surprised with how little you needed to charge these things for them to be on 100%.

Another improvement is ANC, or Active Noise Cancellation – it’s still not industry-leading but these buds offer a marked improvement over the Buds 5 (I’m sure the silicon tips help, more on that later). You get the usual three modes: on, off and transparency, with the latter letting you choose between enhancing ambient sounds, voice or both. It’s a neat way to let you avoid the downsides of passthrough modes while still enjoying the benefits.

There’s an adaptive noise cancellation mode, which can be toggled between ‘light’ and ‘deep’ (I'll be honest, I cannot discern the difference here). This helps retain some juice when you’re listening, as it dials ANC up or down, depending on how noisy your surroundings are.

(Image credit: Future)

This can all be changed in the Xiaomi Earbuds app, which brings a few extra features. This includes turning on adaptive sound and volume, the ability to change what touch controls do, a spatial audio feature called Dimensional Audio, and a voice memo recording feature which you can enable via the app or via gestures.

An eight-band equalizer is hidden deep in the app’s menus, but I found myself using the six presets most of all. These include ‘decrease bass’, ‘enhance voice’ and the enigmatically-named ‘audiophile’, as well as two Harman Kardon-tuned versions called ‘Harman AudioEFX’ and ‘Harman Master’. The app doesn’t reveal what these mean, but Harman’s website reveals that the former is a tool which intelligently balances the dynamics of a song.

The Buds connect to your phone, tablet or laptop via Bluetooth 5.4. There’s also a model which supports Wi-Fi connectivity to your phone, which I didn’t test. This pair, called the Xiaomi Buds 5 Pro Wi-Fi and one of the big audio breakthroughs we saw at MWC recently, cost a little more and only let you use that titular feature alongside the expensive Xiaomi 15 Ultra, however more phones are apparently going to gain support in the future. The benefit to this pair is that you can listen to 96kHz / 24bit audio using the 4.2Mbps bandwidth, so it’s one for hardcore audiophiles to keep an eye on.

• Features score: 3.5/5

Xiaomi Buds 5 Pro review: Design

(Image credit: Future)

• Silver case is lightweight and small
• Silicon eartips make buds stay in ears easily
• Buttons on each bud stem

The Xiaomi Buds 5 Pro’s case is near-identical to the non-Pro model’s. It’s a slender silver clamshell with a USB-C port on its underside, that opens up to reveal the buds. It’s made of plastic and weighs 41.8g, so it’s pretty lightweight (though 5g heavier than the Buds 5’s).

A compliment I levelled on the previous buds stands true here: the design of the case makes it really easy to remove the buds quickly, as the stems aren’t buried in the case. I appreciate buds that reduce the time taken faffing with the case.

Now onto the earbuds: these show a big improvement over the Buds 5 (and remember, I have thoroughly tested both) in that they have silicon tips that keep the buds securely in your ears. The non-Pro model lacked this, and my biggest issue with them was that they just wouldn’t stick in my ear. The addition of tips removes this issue.

In fact I never had a problem with the Buds 5 Pro’s fit: they never felt wobbly or ill-fitting, and they’re nice and lightweight so it wasn’t a burden wearing them. They weigh 5.6g which is pretty svelte for earbuds.

The stems of each earbud house a button that you can trigger by squeezing the stem. You need to squeeze them quite hard though, and there’s not much in the way of response to show that your squeeze has registered as in the past buds (which gave a light ‘click’ to show the button had been pressed). It’s not the end of the world, but it’s a slight regression.

An improvement here is that the buds have an IP54 rating, offering limited protections against fine particles (like dust) as well as moisture (like sprays of water). IP certification is a nice reassurance that your chosen gadgets can withstand a dose of mother nature.

• Design score: 4/5

Xiaomi Buds 5 Pro review: Sound quality

(Image credit: Future)

• 11mm driver + planar + tweeter
• High max volume
• Impressive mids and decent trebles, but lacking in bass

Xiaomi has really stuffed the Xiaomi Buds 5 Pro with tech: each bud has an 11mm dynamic driver alongside a planar driver and a ceramic tweeter.

While the midrange is much meatier than I’m used to in earbuds and the treble is clear and agile, the Achilles’ heel of the Buds 5 Pro is bass, which can range from ‘a little lacking’ to ‘conspicuously absent’ depending on the song.

Not everyone is a bass-head, and I count myself among that crowd, but even I felt that songs were lacking a little je ne sais quoi as a result. Using the equaliser can help a little bit, but the odd lack of a bass boost mode hurts (there’s treble enhancer, and bass reducer, not no bass enhancer or treble reducer?).

(Image credit: Future)

If you don’t care much for heavy grime or drum-and-bass music (or perhaps you listen to genres with so much intrinsic bass that no earbud can remove it and a tempered performance might actually help things), you’ll likely be fine with the Buds 5 Pro. But I can see this being a deal-breaker for some buyers.

Perhaps compensating for this issue is the Buds 5 Pro's eye-watering max volume. At some point in testing, I crank earbuds up to their max volume to see how high they can go. The Buds 5 Pro made me regret that I didn’t take the buds out of my ears before doing so!

A little feature I need to flag for a very slim market (hello, audiophiles who may still wear wireless earbuds) is that the Buds 5 Pro support a 2.1Mbps transmission rate of lossless audio, which would be great for high-res streaming… if it wasn’t for the fact that it only works if your mobile is one of a select number of recent top-end Xiaomi phones. So it’s not for everyone.

• Sound quality: 3.5/5

Xiaomi Buds 5 Pro review: Value

(Image credit: Future)

• Struggle compared to some rivals
• Pick them up bundled or discounted

The Xiaomi Buds 5 Pro would be decent buds, sitting at the high end of the budget market, if that’s what they cost. But they don’t – they’re a little pricier than I would have expected, and they also cost more than some really impressive competitors that I’ll list below.

It’s not a huge margin, but you can save £40 / AU$80 and pick up some great competitors pretty easily.

That’s why, as I said in the introduction, these are great in a deal or bundle. But it’s harder to recommend picking them up on their own.

• Value: 3/5

Should I buy the Xiaomi Buds 5 Pro?

(Image credit: Future) Buy them if…

You find them bundled
If you can pick these up alongside a flagship Xiaomi phone, you'll be able to use their top-end features and will likely get them at a discount.

You need a reliable ear fit
Unlike the Buds 5, these guys stick in your ear well, and won't fall out unless you take them out.

Don’t buy them if…

You're on a budget
These aren't cheap earbuds, and you should only consider these if you have money to burn.

You're a bass head
The Xiaomi Buds 5 Pro won't offer you the booming bass of some other earbuds, so they won't impress bass-heads.

Xiaomi Buds 5 Pro review: Also consider

Xiaomi Buds 5
The natural comparison, these buds are a lot cheaper. However they don't sound as good, have worse ANC and don't fit in the ears well.

See our full Xiaomi Buds 5 review

Nothing Ear
These buds from rival phone maker Nothing sound great, have loads of unique features and look distinctive. Best of all, they undercut the Xiaomis.

See our full Nothing Ear review

How I tested the Xiaomi Buds 5 Pro

• Tested for two weeks
• Tested at home, in the office and at the gym

I used the Xiaomi Buds 5 Pro for two weeks in order to write this review. They were mostly paired with my Android smartphone although I did use them on a Windows laptop too.

This testing involved trips to the gym, walks around my neighborhood, working at home, streaming TV shows and idling at home. It was mostly done on music but I did listen to some podcast too.

I've been reviewing gadgets for TechRadar for over six years now, and in that time have tested plenty of wireless earbuds as well as a huge number of Xiaomi devices.

• First reviewed in March 2025

• Read TechRadar's reviews guarantee

Dreame D9 Max Gen 2: two-minute review

The Dreame D9 Max Gen 2 is an entry-level robot vacuum designed for those seeking cleaning convenience on a budget. While it doesn't offer the same advanced features as the best robot vacuums on the market, it's a very capable cleaner that delivers good value for money. I'd definitely count it among the best budget robovacs I've tested.

This hybrid robot vacuum and mop is well built, if a little on the large side, with a compact charge-only dock. Set-up is straightforward, and I was impressed by its mapping and navigation, which was quick and painless (which isn't always the case with budget bots).

In terms of cleaning power, the D9 Max Gen 2 performed well in suction tests, tackling fine debris or chunkier spillages without issue. I was less enamored with its mopping skills, however. The design of the mop pad isn't the best and I'm not sure it's worth the effort, delivering only the lightest wipe-down of my lino floors. Another potential downside is the unreliable object avoidance; if you often have clutter on your floors and don't want to have to tidy before every vacuuming run, this isn't the robovac for you.

The app is well designed and intuitive. While you won't get the kind of granular control or automation offered by pricier bots, it covers the main bases. The only exception is that I couldn't see a way to set up a cleaning schedule or time a cleaning run.

For the price, then – which is solidly in the budget bracket – I think the D9 Max Gen 2 is a good buy. Dreame makes some of our favorite premium robot vacuums (including the excellent Dreame L40 Ultra), so I'm not surprised to find that its budget offering is of a high quality. I'd recommend it to anyone looking for a wallet-friendly, fuss-free robovac that navigates reliably well and helps you stay on top of your vacuuming. That's the short version; read on for my full Dreame D9 Max Gen 2 robot vacuum review.

Dreame D9 Max Gen 2 review: price & availability

• List price: $299.99 / £219 / AU$699
• Launched: Confirming
• Available: US, UK, Australia

In the US, at time of writing, the Dreame D9 Max Gen 2 is available direct from Dreame US or via Amazon, and has a list price of $299.99. In the UK, it has a list price of £219, and is available to buy direct from Dreame UK, as well as a range of third-party retailers such as Amazon, B&Q and Currys. In Australia, the robovac costs AU$699 at full price, but can be found discounted to AU$399 on the Dreame AU site at the time of writing. Note that I spotted the vacuum being offered at big discounts in all territories while writing this review.

Even at list price, this bot is firmly in the budget price bracket – we count any robot vacuum under $500 / £400 as budget at TechRadar. For that price, it feels very well-built, and the features are in line with what I'd expect.

• Value for money score: 4 out of 5

Dreame D9 Max Gen 2 specs Dreame D9 Max Gen 2 review: design

• Hybrid robovac and mop with compact, charge-only dock
• Single rubber roller and one side brush
• Fixed, D-shaped mop pad with small integrated water tank

The Dreame D9 Max Gen 2 is a hybrid robotic vacuum and mop. It's sports the standard, round design with a raised navigation puck, and is available in black or white. Size-wise, it's at the larger end of the spectrum, measuring 13.8in / 35cm in diameter, and it features two physical buttons: Power and Home. However, for most controls you'll want to use the companion app.

(Image credit: Future)

This model uses LiDAR for navigation, hence the raised puck. This is the fastest and most accurate robot vacuum navigation technology, and widely used – but not always a given in budget-friendly models (some use the more basic vSLAM; see how the two compare in our LiDAR vs vSLAM explainer). There's also a camera at the front of the bot.

This bot has a single rubber roller and one side brush (Image credit: Future)

Flip it over and you'll find a single rotating side brush, a rubbery roller, two chunky wheels, and a smaller, third mini-wheel for balance. In general, I prefer rubbery rollers such as the one here over bristled brushrolls, since the latter tend to become tangled with hair. Some bots will have dual rollers (the main examples being Roborock and iRobot Roomba models); but in general, this looks like a pretty standard setup.

Image 1 of 2

A wide, flat water tank is attached on the underside of the mop pad (Image credit: Future)Image 2 of 2

... and the whole thing snaps onto the underside of the bot (Image credit: Future)

Slightly more unusual is the approach to the mop pad. Dreame has integrated a wide, very shallow water tank onto the underside of the D-shaped mop pad. Other robovacs will have a separate tank inside the bot itself, but that uses up valuable dust-storing space. Here, you're getting a slightly higher onboard dust cup capacity, but the bot won't hold much water.

The mop pad/water tank comes on and off using a combination of clips and magnets (not as complicated as it sounds!), so it doesn't need to be attached when you're just vacuuming.

This kind of fixed, D-shaped mop pad tends not to be as effective at scrubbing compared to the spinning, dual discs found on more advanced models. However, it's as I'd expect for a robot vacuum in this price bracket.

The mop pad also can't lift and lower to allow the bot to traverse over carpet without leaving damp patches, which is a feature also seen on pricier robot vacuums. In fact, more advanced Dreame bots can dock themselves and drop off their mop pads when they're not required – but again, you'd need to pay a fair bit more for that kind of functionality.

Image 1 of 2

A hinged lid opens to reveal the onboard dust bin and filter (Image credit: Future)Image 2 of 2

Dreame D9 Max Gen 2 robot vacuum with top lid open to show where the dustbin fits inside (Image credit: Future)

A hinged lid on top of the bot can be opened to reveal the onboard dust cup with integrated filter. This is very slightly fiddly to remove from the inside of the bot. There's also a brush and hair-cutter tool, for easier maintenance.

(Image credit: Future)

The dock is of the basic, charge-only type, rather than the kind that houses a larger dustbin into which the bot's smaller bin will automatically empty. That has the benefit of being far more compact – good news, if you have a small home. However, it also means you'll need to take care of emptying the bin manually, which will be annoying if you're regularly dealing with large volumes of dust or pet hair, for instance.

You'll also need to manually refill the bot's water tank, as well as clean and dry the mop pads. For a dock that can do this for you, you'd be looking in a significantly higher price bracket.

• Design score: 3.5 out of 5

Dreame D9 Max Gen 2 review: performance

• Good navigation, but unreliable object avoidance
• Vacuuming generally good, can struggle with larger debris
• Mopping okay, but just for very light cleans

The app walked me through the initial setup, which included linking the bot to my home Wi-Fi and connecting it to the app – all nice and straightforward.

On setup, it prompted me to do a fast mapping run, where the bot just creates a map of your space but doesn't clean. This took under five mins, and involved the bot meandering into each room and vaguely looking around. After that was complete, it created a very rough map of the space, without trying to separate rooms.

The bot got a little stuck making its way around my fireplace (Image credit: Future)

I then set it off on its first cleaning run. I was pretty impressed. The bot covered everything with minimal fuss, only getting slightly muddled when trying to traverse the slanting edges of some rooms. It also became stuck when it was making its way around the border of my low hearth – although did manage to escape on its own eventually.

With the first cleaning run complete, the app split the map into what it thought were rooms (mostly correct), and I tweaked and named each room. It is possible to create multiple maps, but I didn't do this as I live on a single floor.

Navigation & obstacle avoidance

In general, the Dreame Max Gen 2 navigates very well. I could see it adjusting its path when it was about to reach an obstruction, although at times it did also seem to find its way by bumping into things.

However, it isn't as reliable when it comes to obstacle avoidance. I ran TechRadar's standard tests using a shoe, sock and cable on my floor, and the Dreame failed to spot any of them, eating the cable, doing its best to eat the sock, and pushing the shoe around until I picked it up and took it away to safety. This bot probably isn't the best choice if you have a lot of clutter on your floors.

The D9 Max Gen 2 sadly failed to avoid any of these obstacles (Image credit: Future) Suction performance

The Dreame D9 Max Gen 2 has four suction modes: Quiet, Standard, Strong and Turbo; and can be set to vacuum, mop, or both.

To assess cleaning power, I ran TechRadar's standard tests. I started by sprinkling tea and oats on separate patches of carpet. I bumped up the suction setting to Strong (it's Standard by default) and set the bot to vacuum that area.

Image 1 of 3

Tea on carpet before test (Image credit: Future)Image 2 of 3

Remaining tea on carpet after a single pass (Image credit: Future)Image 3 of 3

Remaining tea on carpet after a second pass (Image credit: Future)

It cleared most of the tea in one pass, and almost all of it in two. I then boosted suction up to Max, and remote-controlled the bot over the area to clear the final remnants.

Image 1 of 2

Oats on carpet before test (Image credit: Future)Image 2 of 2

Remaining oats on carpet after a single pass (Image credit: Future)

I was impressed with how it handled the oat spillage, too. It cleared almost all of it first time and the rest on second pass, and it didn't ping them around, either.

However, in my general use of the vacuum on carpet, I had a few minor complaints. Occasionally, the bot would deposit larger debris – a tiny bit of leaf, for example – in another area of the room after initially seeming to have picked it up.

I also found it wasn't amazing at dealing with hair. I have long hair, and the bot would occasionally to roll it into clumps and leave it on the carpet rather than pick it up. However, there was hair in the bin when I came to empty it, and none wrapped around the brushroll, so it isn't a total fail on that front. (If you're looking for the best vacuum for pet hair, we have a separate guide that's worth consulting.)

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Tea on lino floor before suction test (Image credit: Future)Image 2 of 3

During the suction test (Image credit: Future)Image 3 of 3

After one pass (Image credit: Future)

I repeated my tea suction test on hard floor. On the first pass, the D9 Max Gen 2 seemed to just push the tea leaves around everywhere. On the second and third passes, though, it had gathered pretty much everything.

Image 1 of 3

Oats on lino before the suction test... (Image credit: Future)Image 2 of 3

... during the test... (Image credit: Future)Image 3 of 3

... and the ones that got away (Image credit: Future)

The oats were pinged around even more enthusiastically, however; but, again, almost all were sucked up eventually. Only a few escaped and that was because they'd bounced their way out of my set cleaning zone.

It's worth stating that robot vacuums are great for everyday maintenance cleans, but even the priciest models fall short of the results achieved with a decent manual vacuum. When I went to empty the Dreame's bin after use, it was packed full of dust and hair, so it certainly picked up plenty from my apartment; but following up with my Dyson Gen5detect saw even more dust collection.

Mopping performance

To mop, you need to clip on the full water tank with pre-dampened mop pad attached. I found filling the tank a little fiddly since it's so thin and the opening is small, and getting the wet mop pad back on proved a bit tricky, too. To Dreame's credit, the unit didn't leak at all while I was attaching it back onto the bot, as I had feared it might. There's no option to use this bot with a floor cleaner.

There are three water levels to choose from, and I selected the middle one for my mop tests. You can also choose from a couple of intensity settings: Daily mopping and Deep mopping (where the robot moves in "a dense Z-shaped pattern"). I opted for the latter, because the app warned there was a "risk of skidding" in this mode, which sounded exciting.

In fact, there was no skidding and I couldn't really see a difference in how it was moving compared to how it had previously navigated the rest of my apartment. However, it did an okay job of mopping, leaving a light, even sheen of water across the floor and clearing a wet spillage I'd introduced.

Image 1 of 2

Ketchup smear on floor before mopping (Image credit: Future)Image 2 of 2

... and what was left after a couple of passes (Image credit: Future)

To see how it fared with trickier spillages, I smeared a tiny bit of ketchup on the floor. Unfortunately, it barely touched this at all, even after traversing the area three times. It seems that the vacuum isn't exerting enough pressure with its mop pad to clear anything other than surface dirt. That's not too surprising for a bot at this price point, but it's worth bearing in mind if mopping is a priority.

There's also some maintenance to be aware of. You'll need to remove and rinse the pad shortly after a mopping session (the app prompts you, which is helpful), as well as running it through the wash fairly regularly so it doesn't end up smelling. After my mopping session, there were bits of tea and oats on the pad along with the ketchup, even though I'd run the vacuuming tests separately, first. Next I drained the tank, although the placement of the inlet meant I couldn't empty it completely.

Since the D9 Max Gen 2 can't lift its mop pads, you'll ideally want to avoid situations where the wet mop is being dragged over a carpeted area. As such, this bot isn't ideal for apartments such as mine, where there's a big carpeted room meeting three rooms with lino.

In short, I'm not wholly convinced this machine is better off for having mopping capabilities, or that I'd end up using them often. If you really want hands-free mopping, I'd recommend investing more in a machine with spinning circular mop pads that are able to lift over carpet, and a dock that can clean them.

• Performance score: 4 out of 5

Dreame D9 Max Gen 2 review: app

• Nicely designed and easy to use
• Main functions covered, except you can't set a cleaning schedule
• Pricier options offer more granular control

The Dreame app is well-designed and intuitive. It doesn't offer tons of settings compared to more premium options, but most of the key ones are covered.

The map is clear, and you can follow the bot in real-time as it makes its way around the home. You can split and merge rooms, add "zones", and create no-go zones if there's something you know is going to cause problems.

(Image credit: Dreame / Future)

There's also an area where you can adjust your suction and water settings. If you switch on "customized cleaning", you can set personalized suction power and water for each area. It's also possible to adjust the order in which the bot cleans you rooms. While you can launch the bot remotely, you can't set a regular cleaning schedule for it to follow.

• App score: 4 out of 5

Should you buy the Dreame D9 Max Gen 2? Buy it if...

You're on a budget
While not the fanciest robovac around, you're getting a very decent bot for your money here. It's well-built, straightforward to use, and navigates reliably.

Your priority is vacuuming
The vacuuming here is decent – the Dreame D9 Max Gen 2 performed well in my suction tests, and I could see it was cleaning my floors well from the amount of dust that was collected in the bin.

You have a smaller home
This model doesn't self-empty, which won't be an issue if you have a smaller home. It also means you won't have to make room for a massive dock.

Don't buy it if...

Your priority is mopping
The mopping here is perfunctory, and you'll need to take care of all mop maintenance yourself.

You often have cluttered floors
While navigation is reliable, this Dreame bot doesn't do a good job of spotting, or avoiding, clutter on the floor.

You have a larger home or pets
You don't want to be emptying the small onboard bin every 30 minutes, so opt for a bot with a self-empty base – our favorite budget option in this category is the Roborock Q5 Pro+.

How I tested the Dreame D9 Max Gen 2

I used the Dreame D9 Max Gen 2 as my main vacuum for a couple of weeks to get a feel for its general usability and performance. I also ran a series of suction tests to assess its cleaning power, asking it to pick up fine (tea) and chunky (oats) debris on hard floor as well as carpet. To test obstacle avoidance, I scattered common items you'd find around any home over my living room floor to see if it would bump into them or navigate around them. I also noted how effective it was at mopping, and whether it could cope with wet (water) and sticky (smeared ketchup) spillages.

During my review period, I assessed how easy it was to set up the D9 Max Gen 2, the accuracy of its navigation, and if it generally performed as I'd want it to. I compared my experience with other robot vacuums I've tested, both budget and premium models.

Read more about how we test robot vacuum cleaners.

• First reviewed March 2025

Roborock Q5 Pro+: two-minute review Product info

For this review, I tested the Q5 Pro+, which has a self-empty dock. There's also a cheaper Q5 Pro, which is the same bot but with a charge-only dock.

The Roborock Q5 Pro+ is an affordable robot vacuum that delivers strong vacuuming performance with one major trade-off – poor mopping. Despite having a slightly lower 5,500Pa of suction power, on test I found it excelled at picking up dirt and dust, especially on carpets – perhaps thanks to the dual rubber roller brushes borrowed from Roborock's higher-end models. It also handled the copious amounts of pet hair in my home extremely well. If you don't have loads of cash to splash and your priority is vacuuming, this could be the best robot vacuum for you.

This model uses LiDAR-based navigation, which allows for precise mapping and efficient cleaning paths. Its obstacle avoidance is a little basic, though, so it's one to avoid if you typically have lots of clutter on your floors. Other standout features include the extra large 2.5-liter bag in its compact but efficient dock, and an outstanding, intuitive app.

While the Q5 Pro+ performs admirably well at vacuuming floors of all types, its mopping system is simply comprised of a static mop pad with no mop-cleaning facilities of any sort. Hence, its mopping performance is very underwhelming when compared to much of the competition, including many of its own, admittedly more expensive, Roborock stablemates.

If you don't need mopping, however, this could be an excellent buy. It's slightly older now and discounts are easy to come by, taking the Q5 Pro into the budget price bracket and delivering strong value for money. It's not the latest and greatest model, but it delivers strong vacuuming performance, smart navigation and minimal dust-emptying maintenance. I'd include it amongst the best cheap robot vacuums around and the best robot vacuums for pet hair if you're on a budget.

That's the short version; read on for my full Roborock Q5 Pro+ review.

(Image credit: Future) Roborock Q5 Pro+ review: price & availability

• List price: $699.99 / £499.99 / AU$999
• Launch date: October 2023
• Availability: US, UK, AU (out of stock)

The Q5 Pro line was first announced at IFA 2023, and launched in October 2023. As of writing, the Q5 Pro+ with auto dustbin is available on the US Roborock site at a list price of $699.99, but reduced to $359.99. On the UK Roborock website, it's £499.99 down to £349.99. In Australia, if you go direct to Roborock the Q5 Pro+ costs AU$999, reduced to AU$799 but out of stock at time of writing. The Q5 Pro+ can also be purchased via Amazon, although at time of writing it was out of stock in both the US and UK.

If you don't need the self-empty dock, you can opt for the Roborock Q5 Pro, which is the same model but just with a basic, charge-only dock. That costs $429.99 (reduced to $179.99) or £299 (down to £199.99). In Australia it's only available via third party retailers, but has a list price of AU$899.

At TechRadar, a robot vacuum under $500 / £400 is considered a budget model. At full price, the Pro+ model is mid-range, but it's currently widely discounted into the budget bracket. The Pro version is a budget model even at list price, and really very cheap if you can snag a discount. If vacuuming is your priority, then it's well worth considering.

If mopping is a priority, then it won't be such a good pick, though. In which case, perhaps opt for the earlier high-end Roborock S7 Max Ultra model – which features a fully functioning mop system with self cleaning ability, and can be picked up for around $799.99 / £500 (although at list price it's more expensive),

Shoppers in the UK should also check out the excellent Xiaomi X20+, which retails for a ridiculously low price of £299, and is the best cheap robovac I've tested.

A quick note on availability. Given the rate of new releases in the robot vacuum world, the Q5 Pro and Pro+ are now considered slightly older models. That, combined with widespread discounts and some lack of availability makes me think that maybe this line may be discontinued in the not-too-distant future.

• Value for money score: 4 out of 5

Roborock Q5 Pro+ specs Roborock Q5 Pro+ review: design

• Excellent dual-roller vacuum system
• Great dock with extra large dust bag
• Disappointing mop pad

As much as I tend to gravitate towards Roborock as my brand of choice when it comes to robot vacuum cleaners, I'm also startled by the number of different models – 21 and counting – that the innovative Chinese manufacturer has launched in just the past year alone (at time of writing in March 2025). It's hard enough as reviewer of these little home helpers to differentiate between one model and the next, so I can only imagine the confusion it must cause for prospective buyers who don't know anything about all these models' respective suction power levels, navigation and obstacle avoidance systems, and their various mopping functions.

(Image credit: Future)

What I will say is that, though it's not necessarily the best in the Roborock range, if you're on a tight budget and wish to jump onto the Roborock bandwagon, the minimalistic Q5 Pro series is a good place to start. Available in two variants – the Pro+ I'm reviewing here with self-emptying dock and the standard Pro with no dock – the Roborock Q5 Pro+ is one of the lowest priced Roborock series currently on the market.

Robot design

Let's take a look at the robot itself. At 35 x 35.3 x 9.7cm it's about the same width as most robot vacs though, at a shade under 9.7cm, it's also one of the tallest, which means it won't be able to venture beneath some furnishings like its ultra-low stablemates, the Saros 10 and Saros 10R. In the pantheon of robot vacs, this one's not a bad looker, though its ribbed top and black plastic does attract dust instantly. Like within seconds.

Like so many robot vacs these days, the Q5 Pro uses LDS (Laser Distance Sensor) LiDAR and this means that the Q5 Pro will quickly map a home – usually in a matter of minutes – and present its floor plan in great detail on the accompanying Roborock app. LiDAR-equipped robots are excellent at general navigation – even in total darkness – and will almost always find their way back to their docks the very first time you use them, unlike old-fashioned camera-only models that don't know where they are half the time (here's more on how robot vacuums navigate, if you're interested).

(Image credit: Future)

This model isn't fitted with a front-facing camera, so obstacle avoidance of any item under around four inches in height will suffer. Instead, it uses its LiDAR and a bump sensor to help it avoid larger obstacles and furniture. While there is a sensor on the front, it's only used for navigation back to the dock.

Like all robovacs, the Q5 pro also comes with four under-body cliff sensors to prevent it tumbling down a flight of stairs (you can also set a virtual barrier in the app for extra peace of mind). The top part of the unit is completed with three instant-access buttons for some manual control – dock, start/stop and spot clean.

(Image credit: Future)

This model is fitted with Roborock's very effective Duo Roller rubber rollers for efficient pickup of carpet and hard floor debris, along with the obligatory fixed spinning side brush for sweeping matter from corners of the room into the path of the suction funnel. And speaking of suction, this model is rated at 5,500Pa which is a lot lower than some Roborock flagship models which boast up to 22,000Pa.

However, as you'll see in my tests below, its lower suction power doesn't impinge on the bot's ability to vacuum as well as the very best, especially considering the lower price point. This model doesn't feature an ultrasonic carpet sensor, and while the blurb does say it has carpet boost by default, I haven't heard anything from the motor to suggest it does.

One especially useful asset here is the inclusion of a larger-than-average 770ml internal bin for the robot – most others are around 270ml – and that means it will happily tackle pet hair on a grand scale before it trundles back to the dock to have it all emptied automatically into the dock's also larger-than-average 2.5-litre dust bag. But more on that below.

(Image credit: Future)

If you have a big home and are interested in battery specs, you'll be pleased to know that the Q5 Pro comes with a 5200mAh battery – the same as fitted to some of Roborock's earlier flagship models. This battery boasts a running time of up to 180 minutes, which is more than enough juice for a large floor plan.

Finally we come to this model's Achilles Heel – the dreadful moping system. Now I'm generally no fan of any robot with a mopping system and I know I'm not the only one. But, hey, the powers that be have decided that that is what most people want so all manufacturers continue to make high-end robots with mopping systems when all some of us want is a highly efficient vacuum-only system with a whopping 5-litre dust bag instead of the space in the dock being consumed by two large water containers. But what do I know?

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(Image credit: Future)Image 2 of 2

(Image credit: Future)

So, what's so bad about this model's mop? Well it's a simple 35cm static pad for a start and, worse, it isn't really pushed down hard enough against the floor by the weight of the robot, which means poor contact and coverage. Also, since there are no water tanks in the dock, you will have to fill a tiny 180ml water tank above the mopping pad and select two levels of moisture – a lot and a little. Incidentally, this mop does not raise automatically when traversing carpet so tread carefully if you have a lot of rugs en route to the hard floor. You can read all about the performance of this mop in the, er, Performance chapter below, but suffice to say I wasn't impressed.

Dock design

The Q5 Pro+'s dock is a great bonus since it features an extra large 2.5-liter dust bag where most other bots can only manage around two liters. And since there are no water tanks to accommodate, the dock itself is only around 45cm in height, a svelte 30cm in width and 44cm in depth, which means it won't take up very much floor space.

(Image credit: Future)

The ribbed design of the dock's front fascia is reminiscent of some of iRobot's newer offerings and it's no shabby looker, especially when compared to some of the tasteless designs I've recently seen. However, I'm not too enamoured of the cheap-feeling lid one has to lift to access the dock's dust bag. Also, setting the dock up isn't quite as straightforward as most models since you will need to assemble the dock by using the supplied Allen key (under the platform) to attach it to the bin housing.

• Design score: 3.5 out of 5

Roborock Q5 Pro+ review: performance

• Excellent vacuum performance
• Strong navigation but rudimentary obstacle avoidance
• Very poor mopping

Let's take a look at the Roborock Q5 Pro+'s performance. It's a bit of a mixed bag here, so I've broken this section up into navigation, vacuuming and mopping so it's clear where this bot's strengths and weaknesses are.

Navigation performance

All Roborocks navigate spaces extremely well and this model is no different. No it doesn't have the bells-and-whistles multi-point LiDAR navigation of the new Roborock Saros 10R, but it managed just fine in my open-plan home. Put another way, during my review period it never once got lost or found itself trapped under furniture. I'm not promising that'll never happen in the future – it's a robot after all – but it's a strong start.

Roborock uses something called Adaptive Route Algorithms for the Q5 Pro's navigation system and this means it will clean floors in a logical, linear way rather than randomly like most camera only-based models.

Crucially, this is another one of those modern bots that didn't seem to have any trouble traversing my rugs, even those of the loose, thin variety. And that's always a major bonus in my opinion.

(Image credit: Future)

This model can be described as merely adequate when it comes to obstacle avoidance, so it's best suited to homes that are generally free of small items like loose socks, Lego bricks and phone cables. If this describes your home, you would be better off spending a lot more on a higher-end model – or avoid a robot altogether.

The Q5 pro uses very basic touch-and-run avoidance. This means it may gently push some larger items out of the way while dodging others. There's no rhyme or reason to its thought processes when faced with obstacles but, according to my tests, it didn't seem to see any items less than around 4 inches in height. Consequently, it gamely ploughed over the small nylon dog bone that has similarly caught out many other robot vacs and pushed some smaller dog toys that other models have avoided.

Vacuum performance

Vacuum cleaning of both hard floor and carpet is where this model really shines. But then that doesn't surprise me because very few Roborocks fail to impress in this regard.

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Before the suction test on hard floor... (Image credit: Future)Image 2 of 2

... and during (Image credit: Future)

Test one took place on my kitchen floor with a buffet of different ingredients – a handful of orzo pasta, a crushed Hob Nob, half a teaspoon of brown sugar, a large pinch of flour and a scattering of cornflakes (I would usually also include some oats, but I ate them). Anyway, I set the unit to Max (one below full power) and selected two passes.

The results were excellent; indeed, as good as many of Roborock's high-end bots. Yes, there was some serious snow ploughing of ingredients (my bad for adding so many) but everything was eventually sucked up with no traces of any remnants. Top marks.

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Before the suction test on carpet... (Image credit: Future)Image 2 of 2

... and after (Image credit: Future)

I then replicated the test on a medium-pile carpet rug using the app's Zone option and set the vacuum power to Max+ (its highest setting) plus two passes for good measure. I expected poorer performance for this test but was pleasantly surprised to see it collect the vast majority of the debris in a single pass. It then came back on itself and collected the rest. And just for good measure, it then proceeded to run over the same section horizontally until absolutely nothing remained. I call that a success.

Aside from the above tests, I also had the Q5 Pro running over a five day period and noted how well it collected all the hair shed by my two dogs and three cats. The great thing about this model is that it has a much larger internal bin than the majority of other robot vacs. This is a big bonus when it comes to collecting pet hair – not because it can cram more in during an average cleaning session, but because of the extra space in the bin which prevents bundling and compression when automatically emptying at the dock.

Many robot vacs I've tested have occasionally had issues during self emptying, where large clumps of hair become trapped in the outlet of the robot's bin and around the intake to the dock's dust bag. These issues are easily fixed but are also an inconvenience. Hence, if I'm in the same room as the dock, I always listen for the tell-tale ‘woomph' sound as the hair is sucked into the dock. In fact, I've also become accustomed to the tone of the motor fan during emptying so I can usually tell if there's a blockage issue.

Mopping performance

In short, there is nothing Pro about this robot's mopping system. In fact, I'm not sure why Roborock even considered a mopping system like this in this day and age, because it is pretty woeful at mopping up anything other than the very top layer of dust and some very light soiling. Worse, the mop cannot lift itself off the floor when crossing carpets so you would need to remove all rugs while in transit.

To set up the mopping system you need to fill the small 180ml water tank – preferably with hot water – and slide the switch under the mop pad to your preferred choice of wetness (I chose the lower amount since I have engineered wooden floors). Now wait a few minutes while the water saturates the mop and set it off on its way. Since the app doesn't show an option for mopping, you basically set the robot to do a standard vacuum and the mop pad simply drags along the floor.

Mopping merely left damp stripes on my floor (Image credit: Future)

In my test, the pad left a lot more moisture on the floor than other mopping models I've tried and, because some of my floor's wooden planks are fractionally bowed, the water was deposited as a series of stripes. Yes, it kind of mopped the floor as evidenced by the dirtiness of the mop but, really, this is no substitute for some proper elbow grease. Worse, you have to remove the mop pad when finished and clean it under a hot tap. That's just too much work for me.

Personally, I wouldn't bother using this model as a wet mop. Instead I would advise leaving the dry pad attached when sending the bot out on a vacuum run. It'll simply drag behind, collecting any remnants of dust while giving your hard floor a polish of sorts.

Alternatively, if you don't think you need a mop, perhaps consider the non-mopping Q5 Max+, which is ultimately a better overall choice for the money. And if your robot simply must have a mop attached, consider something like the Roborock S7 Max Ultra which, while more expensive, is way better at wet mopping hard floors.

Dock performance

I've been very impressed with the performance of this dock. For a start, it's got a much larger dust bag than most other models (2.5-litres) and a reassuringly loud suction process that never failed to remove all contents from the robot's larger-than-average bin, even when filled with pet hair. I also love its unobtrusively small size, which makes it perfectly suited to location in a living room if space is an issue.

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The dock has a larger than usual bin (Image credit: Future)Image 2 of 3

The onboard bin before auto-empty... (Image credit: Future)Image 3 of 3

... and after (Image credit: Future)

It's not as fully-featured as you'd find on pricier models – as discussed, there are no water tanks, let alone mop pad cleaning – but as a dust-emptying dock it's excellent. Despite some cheapness in the quality of the lift-off dust bag lid, I give this dock close to top marks.

• Performance score: 3.5 out of 5

Roborock Q5 Pro+ review: app

• Intuitive and easy to set up
• Feature filled
• Not all setting options available

The Roborock app is essential for maximizing the Q5 Pro+'s potential. Setup is straightforward and the interface is clean and very intuitive. It also comes with tons of options, though some may be missing for this particular model of robot vac.

(Image credit: Roborock)

In general, you're provided with a decent range of parameters, including real-time mapping, cleaning schedules, zone customization, routine settings and various custom options regarding how the robot and dock behave during any cleaning session. I particularly appreciated the ‘no-go zones' for keeping the vacuum away from delicate areas and the way you can view your home in 3D. I also love the way you can set its voice notifications to your specific language and, if living in the UK, even choose a British accent.

• App score: 4 out of 5

Should you buy the Roborock Q5 Pro+? Buy it if...

You want reliable, efficient vacuuming

Roborocks rarely fail to impress when it comes to sweeping floors, and this model is no exception. Despite not having the highest outright suction on the market, its cleaning power is right up there with far pricier, higher-specced models.

You're on a budget

This is one of the cheapest Roborock bots available, and discounts are easy to come by. If mopping isn't your priority, this could be a great-value buy.

You want a compact dock

The dock is small for a self-empty option, despite having generously sized dust containers. I have no complaints about its functionality, either.

Don't buy it if...

You need a mopping feature

Although this bot does mop, it's pretty useless at it.

Your home is a little cluttered

While mapping is good, the obstacle avoidance here is basic. If there are often toys or other clutter on your floor, and you don't want to have to tidy before every vacuum session, this is one to avoid.

You have low furniture

The Q5 Pro+ is on the taller side for a robot vacuum. If you have low-sitting furniture, it might not be able to fit underneath. Roborock's newest models (including the Qrevo Slim and Saros 10R) are designed specifically with this in mind. View Deal

How I tested the Roborock Q5 Pro+

I let the Roborock Q5 Pro+ loose on my open-plan flooring and observed its behavior over a five-day period. I then ran a series of intensive tests to see how well it vacuumed both hard floor and carpet, which it passed with flying colours. I also tried out its obstacle avoidance using a variety of items, including small and large dog toys. I then put its mop to the test, knowing full well that it would be a sub-par performer simply by looking at it. And I was right.

Read more about how we test robot vacuum cleaners

• First reviewed March 2025

Tecknet N5 Laptop Cooling Pad Review

The Technet Laptop Cooling Pad is an inexpensive cooling solution for any heavy-duty tasks you throw at your laptop, whether you’re gaming or rendering 3D animation. It rocks two fans capable of up to 1800rpm and is compatible with laptops up to 17 inches.

As those fans would suggest, the Technet Laptop Cooling Pad offers genuinely impressive cooling. The baseline 3D Mark Stress Test I ran on our Acer Predator Helios 300 with an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 saw its temperature rise from 20.2°C to 52.1°C, an increase of 31.9°C. With the Tecknet running at its highest output, our gaming laptop hit a high of 41.8°C, a much more modest warming of 17.9°C. That’s one of the best results I’ve seen in my testing so far.

With this kind of cooling, you’d expect some pretty serious fan noise from the Tecknet N5 Laptop Cooling Pad. However, in my experience it wasn't too disruptive – while the noise was noticeable, it didn’t distract from the tunes I was listening to.

And this was borne out by empirical testing – 10 minutes into the stress test, I measured the noise levels from three inches away and the combined noise of the cooling pad and laptop was quieter at 58dB than the 60dB benchmark of the laptop’s fans working alone. At my head height (21 inches away), this evened out a little, registering a little louder at 45dB combined compared to 42dB alone. Still, this rivals some of the best laptop cooling pads.

The Tecknet felt comfortable to use. The ergonomics were just right for me, with its angle allowing me to comfortably rest my wrists without any flexion or extension.

Speaking purely aesthetically, its looks are perhaps a little on the basic side – it’s essentially just made of textured matt plastic and a grille over the fans. You won’t see them most of the time, but when in use the fans are lit by a subtle blue light, which I think looks a bit more classy than some of the flamboyant RGB lighting its rivals opt for. One slight worry I do have, though, is the textured grips that hold your laptop in place. While my laptop didn’t slip around too much during testing, I have concerns about how well they’ll keep one in place during extra vigorous gaming sessions.

Ultimately, though, I can’t argue with the results. Despite being toward the cheaper end of the spectrum at $19.99 / £19.99, the Tecknet N5 Laptop Cooling Pad offers seriously decent performance, even if it doesn't look quite as fancy as more stereotypically gaming-focused cooling solutions. All in all, it's definitely worth the spend if your biggest priority is shaving off those degrees for as little dough as possible.

(Image credit: Future) Tecknet N5 Laptop Cooling Pad review: specs

(Image credit: Future) Tecknet N5 Laptop Cooling Pad review: price and availability

• Released August 18, 2015
• MSRP of $29.99 / £24.99

The Tecknet N5 Laptop Cooling Pad first went on sale on August 18, 2015, and is still available now. It retails for an MSRP of $29.99 / £24.99, but there are plenty of deals out there. It’s currently on sale for $26.99 on Amazon US, while you can buy it direct from Tecknet in the UK for just £12.49, so it’s worth keeping an eye out for bargains.

There aren’t many different options available, with most retailers only offering it with blue lighting and detailing. However, Amazon US does currently offer it with red lighting and highlights, so if that’s more your bag, it’s worth snapping that option up.

(Image credit: Future) Should I buy the Tecknet N5 Laptop Cooling Pad? Buy it if…

You want impressive cooling
Able to keep our testing laptop a full 14°C cooler even during a 3D stress test, this cooling pad is seriously frosty. It should go a long way to stop your laptop overheating, even during the most demanding gaming sessions.

You want reduced noise
Thanks to those ultra-quiet fans, this cooling doesn’t come at the cost of loads of noise. In fact, the Tecknet N5 Laptop Cooling Pad seems to be no louder than our testing laptop’s built-in fans.

Don’t buy it if…

You want souped-up gaming aesthetics
If you want psychedelic RGB lighting and the sharp, angular geometry typical of most gaming equipment, you might be disappointed here. The Tecknet N5 Laptop Cooling Pad has understated blue lighting and is made of relatively basic materials, so it’s more for cooling than drooling over.

You want to ensure your laptop will stay put
Unlike some cooling pads with physical rests for keeping your laptop in place, the Tecknet only offers some textured grips. These are not a guarantee your laptop won’t slip during vigorous gaming sessions.

Tecknet N5 Laptop Cooling Pad review: also consider

TopMate C12 Laptop Cooling Pad
The TopMate C12 Laptop Cooling Pad looks stunning, with its vibrant RGB lighting and quality build, while the braces at its bottom end keep your laptop firmly in place. It didn’t quite manage to keep up with the Tecknet’s cooling in our test, allowing our laptop to warm up by 22.8°C, but it was just as quiet. If you’re willing to spend $29.99 / £29.77, this will definitely earn you some extra style points.

How I tested the Tecknet N5 Laptop Cooling Pad

• Tested it over several days
• Used a thermal camera to measure temperature difference before and after test
• Used a sound level meter to measure fan noise 10 minutes into test

I spent several days testing and using the Tecknet N5 Laptop Cooling Pad. I ran it through several standardized benchmarks that we use for all laptop cooling pads. I checked the temperature of the hottest point of our Acer Predator Helios 300 with an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 testing laptop using a handheld thermal camera, ran a 15-minute 3DMark Stress Test with the cooling pad on its highest setting, then checked its temperature again.

To test the noise it generated, I used a sound level meter to check the noise generated 10 minutes into the test both with the laptop alone and with the laptop cooler running. I tested this from three inches to get an accurate reading of the noise generated, as well as from my head height to gain a reading of how loud it will sound in practice.

In terms of my experience, I’ve been a committed gamer and laptop user for over 30 years, and I’ve been covering tech and gadgets as a journalist for well over a decade.

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

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

The Anker MagGo Wireless Charging Station 3-in-1 Foldable Pad is a travel-friendly Qi2 MagSafe charger with charging modules for an iPhone and AirPods, and a certified Apple Watch fast-charging module. It has a retail price of $89.99 / £89.99 / AU$199.99 on the Anker website and can be purchased at Amazon too.

The material of the Anker MagGo Wireless Charging Station 3-in-1 Foldable Pad looks and feels high-quality, and the patented design is well-considered. I was particularly happy to see Anker has incorporated materials that could reduce their environmental impact by using 75% PCR (post-consumer recycled) plastic in the outer casing of the MagGo Wireless Charging Station 3-in-1 Foldable Pad.

It took mere moments to fold the MagGo Wireless Charging Station 3-in-1 Foldable Pad down small enough to fit in the palm of my hand, and the magnets were strong enough to withstand the depths of my bag but easy to pull apart when needed. It was not so easy to remove the iPhone from the charging pad, however, unless I had two free hands to pry them apart and stop the charging pad from hitting the table once separated.

(Image credit: Cesci Angell / Future)

Although I liked the novel UFO-meets-macaron aesthetic, I found the charger moved easily when laid flat to charge three devices, especially when placing or removing the iPhone and Apple Watch. The charging module for the latter made me the most uncomfortable, as I could hear the outer surface scraping on the table each time it moved. It got a little marked from the rough surface of the table I photographed it on – fortunately it wiped off easily and there didn’t appear to be any scratches, but I’d still advise caution. This can be avoided if an Apple Watch has an all-in-one band or a sturdy strap is left fastened, as the charger’s silicone strap enables the Apple Watch charging module to tilt upwards, allowing upright charging.

I’m not really a fan of flat wireless chargers – unless it’s a charging pad I can comfortably hold in my hand like the Anker MagGo Wireless Charger Pad. However, I was pleased to discover the Anker MagGo Wireless Charging Station 3-in-1 Foldable Pad could be made into a stand by attaching the Apple Watch charging module to the back of the iPhone module. It’s not a perfect solution as the phone can only be landscape and there’s only one viewing angle, but as Anker’s point was to facilitate StandBy mode, it does the job.

(Image credit: Cesci Angell / Future)

I’ve tested a fair amount of wireless chargers that seemed to take themselves too literally. This isn’t the end of the world if they charge efficiently with any cable and adapter, but some require the latter to be above a certain wattage. Fortunately, I won’t be adding the Anker MagGo Wireless Charging Station 3-in-1 Foldable Pad to that list, as it comes with a 40W adapter and a conveniently long 5 ft / 1.5 m USB-C to USB-C cable too.

The Anker MagGo Wireless Charging Station 3-in-1 Foldable Pad took a commendable hour and fifty-six minutes to fully charge an 3,095mAh iPhone 13 Pro, which is almost twenty minutes faster than the Anker 3-in-1 Cube with MagSafe. The Apple Watch charging speed was good too, taking just an hour and three minutes to recharge my Apple Watch Series 9, only one minute shy of the fastest MagSafe charger I’ve tested to date, the Anker MagGo Wireless Charging Station 3-in-1 Stand.

In closing, I really quite like the Anker MagGo Wireless Charging Station 3-in-1 Foldable Pad. Certain aspects may not be entirely to my preference, but it’s well–made out of good-looking materials, and the patented design makes it conveniently easy to fold up and pack away. It’s pretty pricey, for sure, but for the good charging speeds, eco-conscious materials, compact size, and light weight, you’re getting value for money here. If you’d like to explore other MagSafe charger options, I’d recommend checking out our pick of the best wireless chargers.

Anker MagGo Wireless Charging Station 3-in-1 Foldable Pad review: Price & specs Should I buy the Anker MagGo Wireless Charging Station 3-in-1 Foldable Pad? Buy it if…

You want a small and convenient travel-friendly wireless charger
This charger is easy to fold down to a satisfyingly small size, making it perfect to pack away quickly whether you’re off on your travels or taking it to the office to keep your phone juiced up as you work.

You want something minimal but efficient
Despite its clever design, this Anker charger keeps things fairly simple with just three wireless modules linked together with silicone straps. Its ability to fold down into a stand to charge the iPhone alone is a great space-saver too, if that’s the device you’ll charge most often.

Don't buy it if…

You want a wireless charger you can use one-handed
As there’s no weight to this Anker charger and no grippy base to keep it in place, it makes it very difficult to remove the iPhone from the charging pad. So if you’re someone like me who needs access to their phone regularly while working, it could prove irritating after a while.

You want a cheap 3-in-1 charging solution
As much as I like this charger, there’s no hiding the fact it’s very expensive. The price is reasonable for those wanting a compact and high-quality travel charger with good charging speeds, but if your budget is half as much as this, there are other options out there.

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

Mous MagSafe Compatible 3-in-1 Portable Charger
For around half the price of this travel-friendly Anker charger, you could purchase this pocket-sized portable charger that folds down to around the size of a credit card and is only 0.5 inches / 13.4mm deep. It’s certainly not the fastest charger out there, but if cost and convenience are the priority over fast charging, this little 3-in-1 charger is worth a look. If you’re interested in learning more, have a read of my full review of the Mous MagSafe Compatible 3-in-1 Portable Charger.

Since Visual Concepts’ WWE 2K wrestling game series hit current-gen platforms after a year off – skipping a 2K21 – it’s been a genuinely great series instead of a middle-of-the-road yearly sports release. From WWE 2K22 onwards, the games have been steadily improving with smart changes and new features, and WWE 2K25 is once again a great wrestling game that improves on what came before.

Review info

Platform reviewed: PS5 / PS5 Pro
Available on: PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC
Release date: March 14, 2025

The core wrestling feels like a great mixture of arcade and simulation styles, with counters, combos, and freeform carry moves giving each wrestler a deep moveset. This year’s entry brings back the Chain Wrestling mechanic that was last seen in WWE 2K20; this allows matches to kick off in a far more realistic way. Wrestlers will lock up in a grab and use a minigame to maneuver around their opponent to get the edge at the start of the match; it’s only available at the beginning of a bout and gives the early match a momentum more akin to what you see on TV, as opposed to just going all out right away.

It’s also the best-looking game yet, with wrestlers now being covered in welts and bruises as a match goes along, and those who wear body paint having it come apart over the course of the match. Meanwhile, the TV-style presentation is top-notch, with camera cuts akin to real WWE TV.

The big new addition this year is intergender wrestling, allowing men and women to compete against each other. This features heavily in this year’s My Rise storyline, but outside of that, I feel like it could be more. For example, title matches are available in the mode, but it’s only for designated ‘intergender’ titles, which mostly consist of 2K’s made-up titles and a handful of official WWE titles like the 24/7, cruiserweight, and hardcore titles, but without being able to have Chelsea Green win the WWE Championship, it feels a little half-baked.

(Image credit: 2K) Bloodline rules

This year’s 2K Showcase focuses on ‘The Bloodline’ – the WWE canon name for the Anoaʻi/Maivia family of Samoan professional wrestlers, including the likes of The Rock, Roman Reigns, Yokozuna, and Umaga. Where previous editions have followed single wrestlers, you take on the role of a majority of the family members this time around.

This mode is presented and narrated by Paul Heyman this year, who is already the greatest talker in WWE history, and his rundown of the events is fantastic and keeps you engaged throughout the long cutscenes.

Since not all Bloodline members are created equal, 2K25’s matches are split into three categories. The usual reliving prominent wins (like Yokozuna beating Hulk Hogan at King of the Ring 1993) returns. But for those members who don’t have any big wins or standout matches, there are rewritten and dream matches like Tamina winning the first women’s Money in the Bank or having The Wild Samoans take on The Dudley Boyz.

The last few years of 2K Showcase intercut real-life match footage during gameplay, leading to players sitting and watching matches without commentary instead of playing the game for long stretches. This year, 2K has mercifully ditched that and recreated match cutscenes in engine and added new commentary from the game’s announce team. This style makes Showcase way less of a slog this year and turns it into a standout mode.

The only real issue with the mode this year is the goals. When recreating matches, the game wants you to redo certain beats from the real match, which will unlock new items when done correctly (you can play the match normally too, but you’ll miss these unlocks). This year’s game introduces timed goals, which usually require you to do a certain move or an amount of damage. But if you don’t get it in time, it’s skipped, and you’ll need to replay the match entirely if you want another crack at it.

Some of these timers are ridiculously short, and in multi-person matches like Money in the Bank, another wrestler doing one grab to you is enough to guarantee you failing it. The dream match goals, on the other hand, are terribly bland, mostly being ‘do x amount of damage’ and then ‘now win.’

(Image credit: 2K) Mutiny on the Bounty

This year's My Rise – an original story following your created wrestler – is a mixed bag. It’s far and away the best storyline found in any of these modes. It follows a faction of former NXT wrestlers attempting to take over WWE with their new NXT Mutiny brand, and your character leading the fight against them. It’s full of great twists and turns and kept me engaged the whole time. But, instead of the two gender-specific stories, this time you have to make a male and female-created character to go through the story.

Best bit

The Bloodline showcase features highlights of many members of the family. But the section dedicated to Umaga was not only the best match in this year’s mode but was also a genuinely lovely tribute to an incredible talent gone too soon.

The big deal this year is choices. There's stuff that will affect certain story beats, like where your wrestler came from (Indies, MMA) and their relationship with the other wrestler you make (used to date, best friends) that introduce different dialogue. And there are bigger choices, like which wrestlers you recruit to fight Mutiny. This means there’s a bigger focus on replayability too, which becomes a bit of a hindrance when there are unlockables involved. From what I can tell, you’ll probably need to play through the mode a good three or four times to get all of the extra characters and arenas available.

There only being one story isn’t the only cutback this year either. There are no more side missions, and the runtime feels shorter than in previous years. There are ‘Live Events’ that allow you to do generic fights, which also have unlocks attached to your star rating. Assuming you get five-star matches every time (which takes a while), it’s still 56 fights to unlock everything. I can’t help but feel like things were cut down in favor of another mode.

(Image credit: 2K) Here comes the money

The Island is the brand-new mode exclusive to the current-gen versions of the game (not PC, though), and despite being the big thing for WWE 2K25, it’s easily the worst thing about it. The mode plays out like a bad MMO where you go talk to NPCs, play matches, and compete against others.

But the mission structure is so bland; one of the early questlines has you walking in and out of the same building to talk to two different sets of NPCs multiple times. Plus, the story is told via still images with text, with the occasional video of Roman Reigns. It would be a harmless, kind of bland mode, but then its character progression shows its true colors.

You create a new character for The Island, and this character’s stats are upgraded via VC – the game’s premium paid currency. Not only that but there are also exclusive cosmetic items for your characters that also cost VC. You can earn VC while playing matches, but it’s a pittance compared to the prices of gear, leading you to either grind like mad or pull out the credit card.

Every online match (which took ages to find and disconnected immediately most times) in the mode placed me against the sweatiest-looking created wrestlers with maxed-out stats, so the mode is also basically pay-to-win, although thankfully it’s not interesting enough that I care. I play these games for around 80+ hours every year, but I don’t see myself touching this mode after the review.

(Image credit: 2K)

Speaking of money, My Faction – 2K’s take on Ultimate Team – returns with all the same problems as before. Exclusive characters are locked behind ‘Persona’ cards, which are either a massive grind to get or require random drops from card packs. The new ‘World Tour’ within My Faction is the best thing added to the mode in years (allowing you to unlock some of those ‘Persona’ cards), but it also has walls that require you to have specific card types to continue through it.

My GM is another mode that has similar problems to before. I love GM Mode with all my heart, but the weird penalties in 2K’s version are off-putting. Characters all have roles and styles; some vibe well with others, and your matches are worse off if you don’t have the right pairings.

But this isn’t emblematic of what WWE is like in real life; CM Punk and Seth Rollins are in the midst of a blood feud right now on TV; both of them are good guys. This mode has the potential to be the best thing about WWE 2K, but the same old restrictions once again overwhelm any improvements.

WWE 2K25 is the best wrestling game of the modern era. The Showcase and My Rise modes are the best they’ve been with some minor issues, and the core wrestling feels great with an ever-increasing number of match types keeping it fresh. But the money-hungry Island and My Faction modes – which can’t even be ignored due to their unlockable content – hold it back from its rightful place at the head of the table.

Should you play WWE 2K25? Play it if...

You want a fantastic wrestling game
WWE 2K25 is the best wrestling game I’ve played since 2K took the series over. The core wrestling is fantastic and is only improved with the likes of chain wrestling. Some of the side modes aren’t amazing, but it has a ton of content for you to play through until next year’s entry releases. Plus, there are hundreds of wrestlers from WWE’s past through to the current day.

You acknowledge Roman Reigns as your Tribal Chief
The 2K Showcase documentary mode is the best it has ever been this year. Looking back at the Bloodline’s past and future gives it a ton of variety, and Paul Heyman’s narration is incredibly engaging throughout. Plus, removing the real footage helps the pacing massively.

Don't play it if...

You’ll be annoyed at missing content
Variants of characters are locked to ‘Persona’ cards found behind a grind or random card packs in My Faction mode, or through various My Rise replays. Unless you’re willing to put a massive amount of time in, you’re probably not unlocking everything.

Accessibility

Accessibility-wise there’s not much to write home about. The various mini-games for the likes of pins and submissions are customizable. There’s rapid button pressing for submissions, which can be switched for a slider minigame, while pins are a timed minigame that can be swapped for rapid pressing. There’s also an option for rapid press inputs to be replaced by holding buttons. However, these changes are not available in any online modes (including vs the CPU in My Faction).

How I reviewed WWE 2K25

I played 30 hours of WWE 2K25 between a PS5 Pro on a Samsung Q60D TV and a Samsung HW-T450 soundbar. I also played on a PS5 on a Samsung Odyssey G5 gaming monitor with a PlayStation Pulse 3D Headset.

During this time I played all of the Showcase mode (including both sides of the Wargames match), one playthrough of My Rise, a year of My GM, a few months in Universe, and about five hours of My Faction. I also played through the first few chapters of The Island, with a couple of PVP matches in the mode.

First reviewed March 2025

Curaprox Hydrosonic Pro: Two-minute review

The Curaprox Hydrosonic Pro toothbrush from Swiss company Curaden is a sonic brush that looks good, packs a fair bit of power and offers a comprehensive clean. Its octagonal shape and clinical whites and grays remind me of a satellite or space station, and the electric toothbrush itself is certainly a high-flier, and a contender for the title of “best electric toothbrush I’ve tried in 2025”, delivering a premium clean, albeit for a premium price.

The Curaprox is well-designed and functional. In the box you get the handset, a trio of brush heads equipped with soft Curen fibers, a plastic travel case, and a USB-A ‘nub’ type charging stand typical of many electric toothbrushes. Charging takes 10 hours, and the brush will last for 60 minutes on a full charge, which equates to around two weeks of use. As is the case with many toothbrushes, Curaden recommends that you don’t leave the Curaprox on charge constantly, and only charge it when the battery drops below 20%, as indicated by the LEDs running up the side of the handset.

Overall, it’s a pretty good package, although it would be nice at this price point if the case charged the brush too, so that you never have to worry about it on the go. I suppose that given its two-week battery life, the idea is that you should make sure the brush is fully charged before you go on your holidays.

(Image credit: Future)

The trio of brush heads comprise one for power cleaning, one for sensitive cleaning, and one for precision cleaning. The single brush head really allows you to get between teeth and gums, and I was very impressed: it’s bent backwards where the others have been bent forward, to account for the difference of use.

Curaprox says the Hydrosonic Pro has been designed for professional-level cleans at home (what electric toothbrush isn’t, according to the marketing people?) and the three brush heads coupled with the seven intensities mean you get a total of 21 bespoke cleaning modes. There’s also lots of helpful information in the manual, and it makes for quite interesting and educational reading when it comes to how to use the brush. I’d rather read the manual than have to follow the instructions in an app any day – I’ve got too many wellness apps on my phone as it is.

Replacement brush heads can be bought in packs of two of each kind from Curaprox, and, like the brush itself, they’re not cheap at $25.20 / £24.50 / AU$42.00 for a pack on Amazon.

That powerful motor can go from whisper quiet to annoyingly loud at the highest setting – over 65 decibels, according to the Decibel X app, which is louder than the 53 decibels I recorded for the similarly premium Philips Sonicare 7100. However, it is a good indication of how powerful the clean is, and during my testing I found myself using the single brush to clean across my gumline quite often – it’s a great design element that I’d like to see more manufacturers adopt.

Curaprox Hydrosonic Pro: Specifications Curaprox Hydrosonic Pro: Price and availability

(Image credit: Future)

• $199.99 / £190 / AU$299
• Replacement brush heads cost $25.20 / £24.50 / AU$42.00
• Not cheap, but high quality

The Curaprox Hydrosonic Pro costs $199.99 in the US, £190 in the UK and AU$299 in Australia, with replacement brush heads available in packs of two of the same head, so if you want spares of the power clean, sensitive or the single clean, you’ll need to pay twice. Crafty.

As you’ve probably gathered, while there are more expensive toothbrushes on the market this is certainly a premium option, and an ongoing investment in your oral health. It’s a very well-designed system, you could certainly do a lot worse – I’m of the opinion AI guidance and app-based rewards are almost never used on more expensive toothbrushes, and therefore are usually unnecessary – but the Curaprox Hydrosonic Pro represents the upper limit of what I think anyone should prepare to pay for an electric toothbrush.

• Value score: 3.5/5

(Image credit: Future) Curaprox Hydrosonic Pro: Scorecard Curaprox Hydrosonic Pro: Should I buy? Buy it if...

You want power

The Curaprox Hydrosonic Pro is perhaps the loudest, most powerful toothbrush I’ve tested.

You want precision

The single brush head is a really great idea, enabling you to clean between your teeth and at the gumline with more accuracy.

You have sensitive teeth

With a brush head specifically for sensitivity and Curen’s special softer fibers, those needing a gentle clean are catered for.

Don't buy if if...

You’re on a budget

If you’re just after a simple sonic clean that does the job, you could spend half the money and get a suitable brush.

You want a charging case

The Philips Sonicare 7100 comes with a charging case rather than a non-electronic plastic one

Also consider

Suri Sustainable Sonic Toothbrush

The best sustainability-focused sonic toothbrush.

Read our Suri Sustainable Sonic Toothbrush review

Philips Sonicare 7100

Often found on sale, this toothbrush isn’t quite as powerful, but it comes with a charging case and cheaper replacement heads.

Read our Philips Sonicare 7100 review

How I tested

I used the Curaprox Hydrosonic Pro for one week. I charged it using the plug-in base, used all seven modes and all three brush heads, and used a decibel meter app to calculate how loud the brush was compared to other brushes on the market.

First reviewed: March 2025

I’ll be the first to admit games that heavily feature crafting as a key component are typically a huge turn-off for me, so I was initially wary of Atelier Yumia: The Alchemist of Memories and the Envisioned Land’s focus on it. Be it in survival games like Minecraft or Sons of the Forest, or even other RPGs like Final Fantasy 14 Online, I usually find it hard to engage with crafting systems; the tedium of it all quickly sets in, making me very eager to get back to gameplay that’s just a bit more exciting.

Review info

Platform reviewed: PC (Steam)
Available on: PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC
Release date: March 21, 2025

This, surprisingly, has not been the case with developer Gust’s Atelier Yumia. From equipment and accessories to helpful items and placeable furniture, so much of this RPG’s (role-playing game) gameplay revolves around its alchemical crafting system.

But that became the exact reason why I grew to love the game. In Atelier Yumia, you’re not just crafting things for small, temporarily helpful gains. Each item you synthesize provides meaningful game and character progression. Whether that’s increasing the potency of a healing item by using higher-quality gatherables or creating a version of a weapon that lets you slot in extra traits, there are always multiple avenues of customization and outfitting your party members with tools that suit your playstyle.

Pair this with an incredibly slick and stylish battle system and an open world that greatly incentivizes exploration, and in Atelier Yumia, you have a game that can easily be considered one of the best RPGs of 2025. Barring some presentational issues and the occasional bit of obtuse map design, the game is simply a near-constant joy to play.

(Image credit: Koei Tecmo) The not-so-wicked witch

While not an exclusively dark narrative by any means, Atelier Yumia grounds things in a world where alchemy is greatly feared and shunned, having been responsible for a great many accidents throughout history.

Our titular protagonist, Yumia, is one such alchemist and, despite only wanting the best for the world and its people, is typically met with distrust. Even when she uses alchemy for the benefit of others.

Thus, Yumia sets out on a journey of truth and discovery with a party of trusted comrades. With the goal of discovering the secrets of the fallen land that once thrived beforehand, Yumia aims to prove that alchemy can be used for good and doesn’t have to be something that’s inherently destructive.

From start to finish, Atelier Yumia’s story is a pretty straightforward ride, but one that’s nonetheless enjoyable. Elements of maturity are present, especially when exploring Yumia’s past. But the game often keeps the tone light-hearted and there’s plenty of bubbly dialogue and humor to enjoy. Overall, it’s an easygoing, often cozy tale, but one that isn’t afraid to get serious as the situation demands.

(Image credit: Koei Tecmo) A walk in the park

What Atelier Yumia gets right for the majority of its runtime is pacing - something that’s usually pretty rare in the open-world space. The game’s story rarely drags its heels, allowing players to truly take things at their own pace.

That pace, between all the game’s systems and mechanics, is usually very brisk. That’s especially true of exploration in Atelier Yumia. While you might initially balk at the abundance of Ubisoft-style question marks dotting the map, in reality, these are almost all extremely quick diversions. Optional points of interest like this include small ruins to explore, monster breeding grounds or hubs for particular materials, caves containing treasures, and boxes you can quickly nab skill points from.

While there’s certainly much to do in each of Yumia’s four main regions, you’re able to explore it at a relatively quick pace. Darting between undiscovered points of interest on the way to the next story objective always felt natural, and never like I had to seriously go out of my way unless I expressly wanted to.

Best bit

(Image credit: Koei Tecmo)

Atelier Yumia’s take on the series’ alchemy system is arguably its best yet. While certainly very deep and boasting an amalgamation of its own mechanics, it’s nonetheless incredibly straightforward. Crafting high-quality items like weapons, accessories, restoratives and more is a moreish endeavor, especially as you continue to refine and make them more effective as you progress through the game.

That same snappiness applies to Atelier Yumia’s battle system. Like alchemy, there’s a lot to the battle system, but it’s all very easy to pick up and learn. The basics are that your party of three can engage enemies with combo attacks, set to each of the four face buttons. These combos can be used to put enemies in a weakened state, at which point you can use battle items and partner attacks to exploit elemental weaknesses for massive damage.

Battle items are also a much more integral part of the experience, and have been streamlined to a degree. They can become permanent additions to your combat loadout, only limited by a cooldown timer between uses. You’ll only need to replace them if you wish to craft better versions of them with more properties and more damage or healing potency.

As a result, while party members have their own weapons and base stats, how you can set them up is impressively flexible. For example, kitting Yumia out with elemental battle items can turn her into a robust mage, while the shield-bearing Viktor might hold a variety of stat-boosting items, essentially making him a stalwart support unit. It’s a bit Xenoblade-esque in that regard, giving you the tools necessary to build and equip characters in a way that works for you.

(Image credit: Koei Tecmo) I require your strongest potions

As I mentioned at the top, alchemy is the system that ties everything together in Atelier Yumia. While at your atelier - or within a designated building zone in the world - you’re free to perform synthesis to create anything from battle items to benches. You will of course need materials to craft these items, but you’ll find plentiful gathering spots throughout the world and you’ll naturally collect an abundance of ingredients by simply exploring.

All synthesis projects begin by selecting an Alchemy Core as your base item, of which there are various types - including one that provides an overall quality boost or another that lets you slot in traits for additional modifiers. You’ll then add materials to help expand the core’s resonance area. The larger this area, the more drifting mana will be captured within its influence. The more mana you collect, the greater the item’s quality, thus boosting its overall potency. Plus, using materials of a higher grade will extend the ceiling of any given item’s potential power.

What makes alchemy so great is that it really is up to you in regards to how you shape these items. Materials have their own unique properties, and using specific ones can provide secondary or tertiary bonuses. A hard-hitting battle item may provide other bonuses this way, such as healing or providing various buffs. Or, you can just go all-in on power, making items that hit as hard as possible.

(Image credit: Koei Tecmo)

As you progress through the game, you’ll gradually unlock new recipes for synthesizing entirely new items. These ‘recall recipes’ can be created and upgraded at your atelier using different types of Memory Vials you can find in the world. Upgrading recipes can make them even more powerful, such as increasing their number of uses before going on cooldown, or increasing their base quality.

As I said, you’re not just limited to battle-oriented items. Synthesis can be done to create potions, armor, accessories, and more. And if you don’t want to get too lost in the weeds, handy quick synthesis options exist where the game will smartly assign materials automatically based on your preferences - whether that be the bare minimum, or going for as much quality as possible.

Synthesis doesn’t stop there, either. Workbenches will allow you to create housing items like benches, plants, or archways. These can then be freely placed as designated building spots throughout the world, letting you create your own bases or homesteads. There are so many options here, and it feels great being able to leave your own marks on the world to a greatly personal degree. Sure, it’s not quite Minecraft levels of freedom, but there’s plenty here that’ll allow you to get lost in hours of creativity.

One stroke forward, two strokes back

In my Atelier Yumia playthrough, really the only thing that bugged me was the game’s overall visuals and presentation. They’re by no means bad, but I do feel like developer Gust often went a touch overboard when it comes to post-processing effects. Bloom during sunrise and sunset can be eye-searingly bright, washing out the world to an occasionally uncomfortable degree. Weather effects also aren’t particularly convincing, with an example being rainfall immediately coating the world in an overly wet and shiny look.

In better news, performance in Atelier Yumia is fantastic. On PC, I was able to maintain a rock-solid 60fps (frames per second), and load times are phenomenally fast - even when fast traveling from one end of the map to another. I found this to be crucial given the relatively fast-paced nature of the game, and I’m glad that Gust really took the time to optimize its world with this in mind.

Should you play Atelier Yumia? Play it if...

You want an intricate and moreish crafting system
Synthesizing items in Atelier Yumia is extremely enjoyable, and there are so many ways to create items for any playstyle and occasion.

You love a game that respects your time
It may be a lengthy RPG, but Atelier Yumia doesn’t bog you down with an hours-long intro. Meanwhile, battle and exploration are both remarkably brisk, making for an experience that’s easy and fulfilling to play if you don’t have a ton of free time to spare.

Don't play it if...

You’re averse to poorly implemented post-processing
Atelier Yumia’s biggest issue is its reliance on intrusive effects like overdone bloom and unconvincing weather effects. While not enough to be a deal breaker for me personally, such effects can be quite distracting during exploration.

Accessibility

There’s a decent amount of accessibility features found within Atelier Yumia’s options menu. Text size and background opacity can be adjusted, as well as have three colorblind settings (deuteranopia, tritanopia, and protanopia) applied to them.

Various battle options exist that can make hitting certain commands easier, too. These include an auto-guard function for incoming attacks and an ‘easy precision counter’ that swaps you to a random character after successfully guarding or evading at the right time.

(Image credit: Koei Tecmo) How I reviewed Atelier Yumia

My playthrough of Atelier Yumia lasted around 35 hours, taking me through the main quest line, a ton of optional map exploration, and a handful of side quests.

I spent much of that time getting absorbed by item synthesis, finding it to be the game’s crowning achievement and something I was willing to put much time into in order to craft high-quality battle items and gear. I played the game on PC via Steam with an Nvidia RTX GeForce 3060 Ti graphics card, an AOC Gaming 24G2SP monitor, and the Razer Wolverine V3 Pro controller.

First reviewed March 2025

Upeak Sport Strap review

The Upeak Sport Strap is an Apple Watch band designed for physical activity, and for those who want something light and comfortable. It adopts a fairly typical sports band aesthetic, with its silicone material and perforated holes.

There are multiple colorways available, from monochromatic shades to more vibrant, multi-hued combinations, so there’s a good match for everyone. The Charcoal variant I had was understated, making it suitable for all sorts of occasions.

It feels reasonably durable, although it’s perhaps not as tough as some of the best Apple Watch bands out there. It also picks up blemishes and small scratches relatively easily too.

It installs quite easily into an Apple Watch. I did notice a small amount of play, wobbling very slightly from side to side within the strap recess, although not enough to cause a problem or warrant concern.

The Upeak Sport Strap is pleasingly light and reasonably thin. It’s also quite pliant with a small amount of elasticity, meaning you can stretch it slightly to adjust on your wrist.

These aspects help to make it very comfortable. The multiple fastening holes ensure an easy fit, while the material is soft enough to prevent irritation occurring. In fact, I could barely feel it on my wrist at times, which is always a good sign in a watch strap.

Despite this, the Upeak Sport Strap also offers a good amount of grip. Even when I had it relatively loose on my wrist, my Apple Watch still didn’t move around. The buckle is equally secure, so I wasn’t worried about it coming loose. This makes it great for physical activity, and means you don’t need an uncomfortably tight fit to keep it stable.

What also supports physical activity is how the Upeak Sport Strap deals with sweat and water. It stays comfortable even when drenched, without rubbing on the skin or causing irritation. Even better is just how quickly it dries, and a small dab of a towel is all that’s required in the most extreme cases.

One drawback of the Upeak Sport Strap, though, is just how easily it picks up debris, such as dust and hair, thanks to the sticky nature of the silicone. This can be hard to remove without the aid of a brush or lint remover.

Despite this, the Upeak Sport Strap remains good value for money at under £10. The comfort levels and ease of use are great, so even though it mightn’t be the most premium Apple Watch band out there, it still makes for the ideal workout partner.

(Image credit: Future) Upeak Sport Strap review: Price & specs

(Image credit: Future) Should I buy the Upeak Sport Strap? Buy it if…

You want supreme comfort
Regardless of what you’re doing, the Upeak Sport Strap remains comfortable in all situations.

You want to save money
Many equivalent sports bands, especially those from the big brands and Apple itself, are considerably more expensive.

Don't buy it if…

You want minimal upkeep
Thanks to the sticky nature of the Silicone, dust and debris stick easily to the Upeak Sport Strap, which can be awkward to clean.

You want something formal
Despite being relatively understated, it still isn’t among the most premium or elegant of Apple Watch straps.

Upeak Sport Strap review: Also consider

Nike Sport Band
If you’re after something more premium, then the Nike Sport Band is a good choice. It’s made from fluoroelastomer and is comfortable and breathable no matter what kind of activity you’re up to. It’s also durable, and the range of colors, including a Pride option, mean there’s a variant for everyone. We think it’s one of the best Apple Watch bands for working out with.