In its push for more immigrant detention space, the Trump administration is reopening shuttered prisons in several states. Many of these facilities, closed amid allegations of abuse and mismanagement.
(Image credit: Jim West)
In its push for more immigrant detention space, the Trump administration is reopening shuttered prisons in several states. Many of these facilities, closed amid allegations of abuse and mismanagement.
After years of shortages and economic collapse, Venezuelans face fresh uncertainty as Trump threatens an oil blockade — but many say they're too exhausted to do anything but endure.
(Image credit: JUAN BARRETO)
Spoilers follow for Emily in Paris season 5.
The minute I heard Emily in Paris season 5 was actually going to be Emily in Rome season 1, I breathed a sigh of relief. After four seasons of Emily (Lily Collins) relentlessly chasing after Gabriel (Lucas Bravo), getting into relationships she shouldn't and making chaotic decisions at work that accidentally made her a PR success story, we needed a change of scene.
I was desperate for an injection of fresh energy and a feeling that the tried-and-tested format could be revamped in a way that still honors the show's foundations. But boy, how wrong I was. As the saying goes, if it ain't broke, don't fix it – and, after watching the entirety of this season, I feel as though I've accidentally manifested a crummier version of what we already had.
The worst part is that the show is now inferior because, rather than let the story evolve naturally, the decisions its creative team made instead are, frankly, baffling.
At the end of last season, Emily had met Italian beau Marcello (Eugenio Franceschini) and was ready to take her career to the next level by heading up the new Agence Grateau office in Rome. However, Emily in Paris 5 u-turns on its forebear's setup by unnecessarily shoehorning Sylvie (Philippine Leroy-Beaulieu), Luc (Bruno Gouery), and Julian (Samuel Arnold) into Emily's new Italian life. On top of that, Marcello is revealed to be the most repulsive and odious boyfriend since Logan (Matt Czuchry) in Gilmore Girls.
We stay in Rome for less than half of season 5, too, and the diabolical heavy handling of Emily's time there had me practically sobbing for more Gabriel screentime. How did things change so much during the show's year-long absence?
Emily in Paris' core concept has been ruined by bad creative decisionsIt's not an easy thing to say, but I genuinely believe the fabric of Emily in Paris season 5 has been torn to shreds by misguided creative decisions. Not just in one area either, but across the board.
Let's start with Rome. In this season's premiere, Emily finds out that her season 4 finale dream of heading up Agence Grateau in Rome is nothing more than a sham. Instead, Sylvie decides to dispatch the entire team to Rome and resume her leadership there, which in turn undoes season 4's career step-up for the show's protagonist.
Not only is Emily unfulfilled at work (mostly because everyone around her is determined to make her feel inadequate or bulldoze their own dreadful decisions through), but her personal life isn't going too well, either. The Marcello we met in season 4 is sexy, mysterious and full of possibility. In season 5, though, he's selfish, flippant, and not overly interested in building a partnership.
By episode five, all of the above has fallen apart. What's the point in this colossal upheaval if you're not going to do the best by your main character? In hindsight, it all feels pointless and like a missed opportunity – but we're only just scratching the surface of those.
For instance, spoilers notwithstanding, best friend Mindy (Ashley Park) has a relationship with someone she shouldn't. When she lies about it to Emily, the two get in a massive albeit needless fight. With the pair each flitting between two men at any given time, the weary yearning is yet another sign of subpar storyline development.
Only Gabriel can save the day if Emily in Paris season 6 happensYes, give me that sweet Emily-Gabriel reunion, season 5! (Image credit: Netflix)Despite the fact I've fully signed off on suspending any belief before I've sat down to watch, there's only so much partner-swapping I can take in a Netflix series like this. Now that Mindy has joined Emily's romantically indecisive bandwagon in the worst way, investing in any kind of Emily in Paris relationship has never felt so superficial.
The pair's various romances, nor their friendship, offer anything of value, instead only delving further into shock factor that doesn't do anyone justice. Emily and Mindy used to have such a wholesome, nourishing relationship that has now dissolved into high school mean-girl meddling. Whatever happened to girls before guys?
The same can be said for Emily and Gabriel, who are in an uneasy lovers-to-friends middle ground, though Bravo hardly has any screentime. It almost feels like the show's creators know they've made a mistake sending Emily to Rome, and are now trying to furiously backpedal by shoehorning Gabriel into scenes that subsequently feel less coherent
Thankfully, there's potential for Emily in Paris season 6 (which is currently unconfirmed) to set this right. If it happens, I think season 6 would need to be the series' last – and you'll see what I mean when you watch this season's finale. If our end goal of Emily in Paris is for Emily and Gabriel to finally live happily ever after, it has one last shot to land it the proverbial plane.
Basically, I'm just desperately trying to retcon my own past thoughts and get Gabriel back in the thick of Emily's personal life. We thought a change would work but, after it was butchered, the only way up is for the show's creative team to give us what I initially thought I didn't want.
Even Sylvie, Luc, and Julien have veered too far from their start, with Sylvie's personal life becoming one preposterously stereotypical joke, while Luc and particularly Julian pale into existence. Emily's not being treated well, either, but at least she looks immaculate.
I promise that there are moments of light-hearted normality amid an otherwise subpar season. For the most part, though, Emily in Paris' latest chapter is très mauvais. That said, as long as Marcello never shows his face again, there's still enough reason for me to see any future seasons out...
Emily in Paris season 5 is out now in full on Netflix, aka one of the world's best streaming services.
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The Geekom AX8 Max is a mid-range mini PC designed for office workers using Microsoft Office and Google Docs, but also needing a machine powerful enough for some light multimedia editing. Inside is a relatively powerful AMD Ryzen 7 8745HS CPU, complemented by an integrated Radeon 780M graphics processor that enables support for up to 4 displays or a single 8K monitor.
The small size of the machine is ideal for small home offices as well as general offices, with plenty of connection options for easy integration. One of the features I always like to see on a mini PC is a VESA mount on the back, so it can be neatly tucked away, further helping to save space.
The Geekom AX8 Max is a well-specified mid-range machine, and this is reflected in its price point. The mix of a new AI-ready CPU and PCIe Gen4 SSD all comes together in a solid mini PC that will suit many different types of users, although Geekom have tried to make this mini PC a little more interesting by giving it a slightly peculiar pale blue colourway.
For most day-to-day office tasks, the AX8 Max fares exceptionally well, ploughing through large PowerPoint presentations without issue. When working with Word and Excel on dual 4K monitors, it takes the whole process in its stride. Surprisingly for a mid-range machine, it also handles Premiere Pro, editing HD and straight 4K video, as long as the edits don't get too complex and there isn't too much colour grading applied. However, as the render process builds up for more complex projects, you can start to hear the fans kick in, helping to keep everything cool and avoid any thermal throttling.
Having edited a 30-minute video, it was possible to feel that some thermal throttling was happening, as the inner workings of the machine were pushed with 4K video from the Sony A7 IV. However, considering the form factor, it fared incredibly well, and whilst the fans were audible, they were by no means the loudest I’ve come across.
In reality, mobile phone 4K and HD video is better suited for editing on this machine. While it does have the power to edit higher resolution video, the limited upgrade options when it comes to memory, with maximum internal storage only reaching 2 TB and RAM capped at 64 GB, mean even with an upgrade, it only has enough clout for base 4K video editing, with little headroom if effects do get more complex.
When it comes to storage, there is the ability to upgrade the internal capacity. However, with two USB4 ports on the back, you have instant expandability with external SSDs that will provide very decent 40 GB/s transfer rates.
Another point that lends itself towards office use is the wide range of connectivity options. There are plenty of USB-A ports across the front, but unfortunately, no USB-C. Around the back, there’s a full array of HDMI, USB-A and USB4 ports, including network LAN, meaning if you’re working in an office, it’s easy to hook this into your network as well as connect accessories.
Like many of the best mini PC machines I've tested this year, the performance all around is exceptionally good. While its Windows Experience score was like other mid-range machines, an exceptionally fast SSD and DDR5 RAM ensure most applications run quickly and smoothly, giving extremely solid performance throughout the test.
Gaming, as with multimedia editing, is well-handled, but again, the fans kick in with anything too complex. Most games play without issue, and if you're into just a bit of light gaming, even with high-end titles, this small machine will suffice.
My only other comment on this machine is the colorway, which appears to be pale blue. While this machine is exceptionally good considering its mid-range profile, that seems a bit of an odd choice.
Geekom AX8 Max: Price and availabilityThe price of mid-range mini PCs has definitely escalated, but then again, so has the processing power. The Geekom AX8 Max certainly raises the bar when it comes to what we now expect from a machine at this price level.
The review machine I tested will set you back around $629 directly from the Geekom website and can also be purchased through most major online retailers, including Amazon.com.
CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 8745HS
Graphics: AMD Radeon 780M integrated GPU
RAM: Dual‑channel DDR5, up to 64 GB
Storage: M.2 2280 PCIe Gen4×4 SSD, up to 2 TB
Front Ports: 4 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A, 3.5mm headphone, Power
Rear Ports: DC Jack, HDMI 2.0, 2 x USB4, 2 x 2.5G RJ45
Connectivity: Dual 2.5G LAN, Wi‑Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2
Audio: HDA CODEC
Size: approx. 135 × 132 × 46.9 mm
OS Installed: Windows 11 Pro (64-bit)
Accessories: VESA mount, HDMI cable, power adapter, user manual
Geekom mini PCs have continued to evolve, and with the AX8 Max, you can see an update in the quality of the design. The small mini PC feels exceptionally well built and robust, with a metal chassis that means it's equally at home in a static office setup, used in a van, or taken between locations as a powerful portable mini PC. As a choice for Van Life it’s also well suited offering more protection against moisture, shock and dust than most.
As I mentioned earlier in the review, while the build quality of the mini PC is exceptionally good, it is finished in a slightly peculiar colourway which will appeal to some, but for me personally is a little off-putting and doesn’t really feel very office-centric.
The size is also on the larger side for a mini PC, measuring 135 x 132 x 46.9 mm, still small, but slightly larger than what we've seen recently. Weight-wise, it's also well balanced, coming in at 800 g for the machine with an additional weight for the power adapter, meaning it's equally at home placed on the desktop or mounted onto a VESA mount and placed out of sight behind a monitor or on a dedicated wall mount.
Despite the colourway, it does have a premium finish, and this is reflected in the slightly higher mid-range pricing. This also reflects the quality of the internal components that enable this mid-range mini PC to make an impact with higher-demand applications that would have overwhelmed some older mid-range options.
(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)Around the body, there's a good volume of ports. Across the front of the machine, there are 4 USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A ports, a 3.5 mm headphone jack and the power button. It is a bit of a shame there’s no USB Type-C on the front of any denomination. However, around the back, again, there's a good volume of ports. Alongside the DC jack for power, there are also 2 HDMI 2.0 ports, 2 USB4 ports, 2 2.5G RJ45 ports, a USB 2.0 Type-A and a USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A — enabling accessories both new and old to be plugged in without much issue.
Inside the machine, there is dual-channel DDR5 5600 MT/s RAM with a maximum of 64 GB. In the review sample, it arrived with 32 GB of RAM — more than enough for day-to-day office tasks and just enough for light multimedia editing. Surprisingly, the SSD storage is a little limited: it's only possible to install an M.2 2280 PCIe Gen4×4 SSD up to 2 TB. This is quite limited for this level of machine, and I would’ve expected support for at least 4 TB. However, while the maximum capacity is limited, I think more due to heat dissipation than anything else, it is exceptionally quick and one of the fastest internal SSDs I’ve seen in recent mini PC tests.
Helping to keep everything cool is the IceBlast 2.0 cooling system, which features air outlets on both sides of the machine to help dissipate internal heat from the CPU, memory and SSD. Access to these components is made through the bottom of the machine by simply undoing the screws and lifting away the base plate. Once removed, it reveals the dual-channel RAM and SSD slot, allowing quick upgrades or replacements.
The speed and specifications of mid-range mini PCs have recently improved with the integration of the latest AI-ready CPUs. The Ryzen 7 8745HS features eight cores, 16 threads, and has been coupled with the integrated Radeon 780M GPU, which has a good track record for performance in mini PCs.
This combination of CPU and GPU, along with 32 GB of DDR5 RAM and a PCIe Gen4×4 SSD, is well-suited for anyone looking to use the machine for software beyond standard office applications, including creative programs such as Illustrator, Photoshop and Lightroom, and even photo and video editing at 1080p and light 4K.
What sets this mini PC apart from other mid-range options we’ve seen in the past is that it features the Ryzen 7 8745HS CPU, which includes AMD’s XDNA-based NPU architecture. This means it’s better able to handle lightweight AI workloads locally, such as background blur in video calls, speech transcription, and voice assistants in applications like Photoshop and Premiere Pro. It also enables faster localised AI processing.
It’s not just the CPU that has an AI boost, the integrated Radeon 780M GPU also supports AI-enhanced media. Although it doesn’t feature dedicated AI silicon, it still improves processing in enhanced video encoding and supports hardware-accelerated AV1 codec, which is useful for both DaVinci Resolve and Adobe products.
If you're looking for an AI workstation for development and thinking this mini PC might be a great option, then it’s worth noting that it's not designed for deep learning or running an LLM chatbot locally. Instead, it’s better suited for more mainstream AI use. For something more AI-tuned, it’s probably best to look at something like the Sapphire Edge AI 370.
As covered in the design section, there’s a good number of ports, including exceptional connectivity with USB4 ports on the back that offer 40 Gbps transfer and 100 W PD power. So, if you have other devices that need quick charging, that port is an option. Alongside the physical ports, there's also Bluetooth 5.2 for connecting most wireless keyboards and mice, and Wi-Fi 6E for fast internet connection speeds.
Another big feature is the ability to connect up to four 4K monitors — two through USB4 ports and two through the HDMI 2.0 ports. There's also the option to connect an 8K monitor, although you’ll only be able to use one 8K monitor at a time, rather than four 4K displays.
(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)CrystalDiskMark Read: 6,731.02 MB/s
CrystalDiskMark Write: 6,023.3 MB/s
Geekbench CPU Multi: 12,660
Geekbench CPU Single: 2,440
Geekbench GPU: 29,050
PCMark Overall: 6,741
Cinebench CPU Multi: 15,518
Cinebench CPU Single: 1,703
Fire Strike Overall: 7,346
Fire Strike Graphics: 7,965
Fire Strike Physics: 27,074
Fire Strike Combined: 2,746
Time Spy Overall: 3,162
Time Spy Graphics: 2,808
Time Spy CPU: 11,076
Wild Life Overall: 16,022
Steel Nomad Overall: 499
Windows Experience Overall: 8.2
Getting started with the Geekom AX8 Max is relatively straightforward. Once plugged in, all you need to do is run through the Windows 11 Pro setup screens, log into your Microsoft user account along with any others, and the machine is ready to go. This process now takes between five and ten minutes to complete, as Microsoft tries to encourage sign-ups to its various services.
However, once done, you don’t have to go through it again, and the speed of the internet connection from the outset, provided by the Wi-Fi 6E, helps speed things up.
During setup and plug-in, it’s worth noting that, while this mini PC is compact, the power adapter must also be considered. While not especially large, it is still a bulky addition.
Starting the tests, both Microsoft Office and Google Docs ran exceptionally smoothly. Microsoft Office applications opened quickly and ran without issue. Checking through the benchmark tests, the Windows Experience score of 8.2 is about average for mid-range mini PCs. While some may experience slight lag in more media-intensive apps like PowerPoint, the very fast SSD ensures image and large file processing is handled exceptionally quickly.
In fact, when I started looking at more advanced applications, I felt like this small machine was able to cope with a lot more than expected. That’s in part due to the speed of the internal SSD, which recorded one of the fastest transfer rates I’ve tested this year, 6,731.02 MB/s read and, more impressively, 6,023.3 MB/s write. This meant it didn’t just handle media-intensive Microsoft applications quickly, but also large image files in Photoshop and Lightroom, as well as video data within Premiere Pro.
This makes it a great option for office workers who need to create large presentations with images or video, or for those involved in multimedia creation using CapCut or Premiere Pro.
Taking processing demands up a notch I loaded a few images from the Canon EOS R5C into Photoshop, the speed was good, and it handled high-resolution image files, applying adjustment layers and effects without noticeable lag.
As I experimented with Lightroom, general use was excellent, and even batch editing was handled without issue. The only time I noticed a slowdown, compared with my desktop, was when using AI features such as Denoise or Enhance Details. While it processed the images, there was a marked difference compared to my desktop machine. In Photoshop, day-to-day work, including layers, effects and exports, was all good, but when using local smart features like Neural Filters or Smart Portrait, some slowdown was noticeable, especially with tasks requiring GPU power.
In multimedia production, starting with CapCut and footage from the iPhone 15 Pro, the machine handled the data with no issue. As templates were applied, the speed remained solid, and CapCut ran smoothly, making editing easy.
Upgrading the production using Premiere Pro, things began to slow down slightly, but the machine still handled thumbnail and timeline renders at a decent pace. It was only when I loaded in 4K video that it started to struggle, with the fans kicking in, especially during grading.
One of the main issues with Premiere Pro was that, while 1080p footage from an iPhone or DJI Action 5 edited without issue, moving to 4K footage led to stuttering during playback and increased render times, along with noticeable fan noise.
When it came to AI features such as Auto Reframe, Scene Edit Detection and Speech to Text, processing was considerably slower compared to my desktop PC.
To finish the test, I played a couple of games, Hogwarts Legacy and Indiana Jones and the Great Circle. Both were fortunately playable, but settings had to be reduced for smooth playback. Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, in particular, showed noticeable stutter, the kind you often get when the CPU and GPU are struggling with the detail.
So overall, this is definitely a machine designed for mid-range office and light multimedia work, less suited to anything beyond that, and especially not a great option if you are gaming.
The Geekom AX8 Max is a great option for any office looking for a slightly quirky-coloured mini PC that enables them to complete day-to-day tasks, create relatively complex presentations, and do a little light multimedia editing.
Some highlights of this mini PC include its connectivity, with two RJ45 ports at the back enabling direct network connection and offering plenty of storage expansion. I also like that it comes with two USB4 ports, allowing connection to mass external storage or ultra-fast PC accessories.
Colourway aside, the build quality is exceptionally good, and with all those ports, it offers a great office solution. I am, however, a little surprised that upgrade options are limited to just 64 GB RAM and 2TB internal storage.
If you are in the market for a slightly quirky-coloured mini PC, this offers solid performance across the board and is reasonably well priced, particularly compared with a machine like the Beelink SER9.
Should I buy the Geekom AX8 Max?Value
Good value for money for a solid office machine that allows light multimedia editing
4
Design
Solid design with plenty of ports that enable easy connectivity — just a shame about the colour
3.5
Features
A well-balanced mid-range mini PC with a good range of features, including AI readiness
4
Performance
SSD transfer speeds are exceptionally good, giving the CPU and GPU a performance boost compared with similarly specced machines
4
Overall
A great no-fuss machine for the office that offers excellent speed for day-to-day administration and multimedia editing
4
Buy it if...You need office desk space
You want a compact PC that doesn’t take up much desk space but handles office, coding and creative workloads smoothly.
You're creating a multi‑monitor setup
You need 4K/8K output, multiple displays or a hidden setup, but still want good performance in a small form factor.
You're running heavy‑duty GPU workloads
You plan extensive 3D modelling, rendering, high-end gaming or anything where a GPU is needed.
You demand maximum performance under load
If your workflows involve sustained heavy multi-core or graphics tasks, thermal throttling might limit performance compared with a full-size desktop tower.
Hundreds of mourners bearing bright bouquets and clutching each other in grief gathered at a funeral in Sydney on Thursday for a 10-year-old girl who was gunned down in an antisemitic massacre during a Hanukkah celebration at Bondi Beach.
(Image credit: Steven Markham)
The Trump administration has announced a massive package of arms sales to Taiwan valued at more than $10 billion that includes medium-range missiles, howitzers and drones, a move that is sure to infuriate China.
(Image credit: Doug Mills)
Peter Arnett, the Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter who spent decades dodging bullets and bombs to bring the world eyewitness accounts of war from Vietnam to Iraq, has died. He was 91.
(Image credit: AP)
The Dome (Gen 2) is a beast. Eating 16-inch pizzas for breakfast and capable of firing multiple smaller pizzas at once, the Dome (Gen 2) and its even bigger Dome XL (Gen 2) sibling are something you’d expect in a commercial kitchen rather than in an urban backyard. This big presence is met with refined design and elegant coloring, giving it the personality to be the centerpiece of the most bourgeoisie of outdoor kitchens.
This grand oven is pitched by Gozney as a great outdoor all-rounder and while I agree with this sentiment, the truth is that your kitchen oven is easier to use for most oven-baked dishes and your stock standard barbecue is arguably more versatile. But what these other devices can’t do is make pizza, and the Dome (Gen 2) is the most competent and easy to master pizza oven that a backyard has ever been graced with.
Gozney’s decision to add a second thermometer under the thick pizza stone compliments the usual ambient temperature gauge and gives relatively inexperienced pizza makers the keys to the kingdom for perfectly cooked pizza every time. But the company has also shifted the dial meaningfully on wood-fired cooking capabilities with the new active rechargeable fan that lets you boost oxygen input to quickly adjust the oven’s temperature as if you’re cooking with gas.
The opportunity for wood-fire or charcoal cooking is where you start to see some of the real versatility of the oven, which can be used to infuse wood-cooked flavors into a variety of dishes that would otherwise require another separate technical oven like a Green Egg or an Argentinian grill.
The included dual meat probes and capability for high-heat cooking means it’s can cook proteins particularly well, possibly better than many barbecues if you pair it with a cast-iron skillet. The new lateral gas burners and redesigned interior arch stretch the flames and heat further and more evenly across the top of the oven, and while the ovens are bigger, they’re more efficient than their predecessor, using only fractionally more gas despite the additional internal space.
The new Dome and Dome XL Gen 2 ovens boast a number of new features that offer major advantages over the original design, but the headline act has to be the bigger internal space added without making the oven considerably bulkier. This additional internal floorspace means that the oven is large enough to cook multiple pizzas or dishes simultaneously, making it capable of serving large dinner parties.
The large cooking space is paired with the ability to achieve sustained temperatures up to 500ºC/932ºF for perfect pizzas in quick rotation, which also allows the user to experiment with wood-fire cooking and smoking to make it an extremely versatile outdoor oven that will appeal to a lot of people.
(Image credit: Future / Joel Burgess)Gozney Dome (Gen 2) review: Price & availabilityThe Dome XL (Gen 2) is at the top of Gozney’s current range of pizza ovens and at $2,800 / £2,500 / AU$3,999 the price is a major consideration for any one looking for an outdoor pizza oven. If you’re a sporadic at-home pizza maker, dropping this much cash is steep and, to be honest, the Gozney Arc at $699 / £600 / AU$1,200 or the Tread for $500 / £500 / AU$899 are excellent ovens that’ll more than scratch this level of itch.
Where the Dome (Gen 2) – listed at $2,300 / £2,000 / AU$2,999 – really starts to make a lot of sense is if you're after a professional-level pizza oven at home. Reputable built-in ovens start at more than double what you’re looking at for the Dome (Gen 2) and there are a lot of trade-offs you’ll have to consider if you do go the built-in route. The Dome (Gen 2) may lose out a little on overall thermal mass, but the dual-fuel versatility and Wood-fire Control Kit ($200 / £175 / AU$299), offers additional temperature control that makes it notably easier than managing a traditional pizza oven.
The Dome (Gen 2) can sit directly on the countertop of your outdoor kitchen or can be purchased with the Dome (Gen 2) Series Stand for an extra $500 / £500 / AU$849. The Gozney accessories are all crafted to the same standard as the ovens themselves, so the stand combines sturdy and durable materials with handy hooks for hanging peels, holding gas cylinders and storing wood.
(Image credit: Future / Joel Burgess)The Dome (Gen 2) Door ($100 / £90 / $149) is a handy bit of kit for those looking to use the oven for cooking anything under about 500ºF/250ºC, and the Dome (Gen 2) Mantle ($170 / £140 / $249) helps you use a peel to rotate pizzas and makes it easier to check on dishes using cast-iron pans, baking dishes or dutch ovens.
Gozney’s more recent Pro Placement Peels start at $90 / £90 / AU$179 for a 12-incher, but they are a big step forward from earlier iterations and have a more dispersed perforation pattern to help your bases slide on and off better. Even the $60 16-inch Acacia Wood Pizza Peel and Server boards earn their keep by giving you a board big enough to build on that’ll keep your pizza from sweating, sticking and ripping as can happen when using a metal peel.
Even the Dome (Gen 2) Neapolitan Arch ($60 / £50 / AU$89) makes it considerably easier to give your pizzas perfect leopard spots, although it’s important to note that it’ll make the opening of the Dome (Gen 2) too narrow to get a big 16-inch pizza peel in.
Gozney Dome (Gen 2) review: SpecsThe Dome and Dome XL (Gen 2) ovens are both larger than the original Dome, offering 40% and 90% more internal cooking space respectively. While they’re big jumps in cooking real estate, the ovens actually only take up 17% and 43% more floor space than their predecessors respectively. The (Gen 2) range also includes dual temperature readouts so you can easily see the difference between your stone and ambient oven temperatures.
Both ovens come with LPG gas connections included, with compatibility for the optional Wood-fire Control Kit. Since it’s such a core feature, it would have made sense to include this by default, but those interested in gas only will appreciate the discount.
Dome (Gen 2)Max temp:
500ºC / 932ºF
Heat time:
40 – 45 minutes
Pizza capacity:
1 x 16-inch pizza or 2x 10-inch pizzas
Weight:
136lbs / 62kg
External dimensions incl. flue (HWD):
986 x 826 x 652 mm / 38.8 x 32.5 x 25.7 in
Oven mouth size (HW):
140mm x 419mm / 5.2 x 16.5in
Dome XL (Gen 2)Max temp:
500ºC / 932ºF
Heat time:
40 – 45 minutes
Pizza capacity:
1 x 18-inch pizza or 2x 12-inch pizzas
Weight:
161lbs / 73kg
External dimensions incl. flue (HWD):
997 x 946 x 697 mm / 39.3 x 37.2 x 27.4 in
Oven mouth size (HW):
140mm x 470 mm / 5.2 x 18.5 in
Gozney Dome (Gen 2) review: Design & featuresThe overall material selection and considered design of the Dome (Gen 2) ovens are bold enough to make them a hero piece in even the most luxe outdoor kitchens, but the Bone and Off Black color options are also subdued enough to not clash with your home’s unique style.
This wide appeal and versatility continues through the overall design allowing users to make more than just excellent pizza, but also indulge in high-heat steak sears, wood-fired veggies and smoky slow cooks on occasions when you really want to lean into your outdoor cooking.
The original Dome included an adjustable air intake vent to facilitate some control over the heat generated by the wood fire, but the Dome (Gen 2) takes this convenient feature a step further by adding a rechargeable fan that actively pumps air through the burning wood to dramatically increase the level of temperature control. This active ventilation even includes a boost function to supercharge oxygen delivery and considerably speed up temperature-saturation time. The residual ash and other prep requirements mean the option to wood fire your pizza is more work than gas, but the additional airflow control makes this the easiest wood-fire oven on the market.
While Gozney has done an amazing job reducing the additional work in wood-fire cooking, the immediacy and control of gas means it’s still likely to be the go-to fuel for your day-to-day pizza making. The Dome (Gen 2) incorporates the lateral burner design that debuted on the Arc range and combines it with the reengineered ceiling shape to enable the flames to stretch right across to the far side of the oven. This helps to spread heat across the 30mm cordierite stone base during warmup and cooks pizzas more uniformly from the top down.
(Image credit: Future / Joel Burgess)There’s a new digital interface powered by a rechargeable battery that’ll get you through 10 pizza sessions (at least) before needing a recharge. The new display comes with an easy-to-use timer with readings for both stone base and ambient oven temperatures, which does away with the need for remote thermometers and guesswork.
For those that do want to cook non-pizza dishes, the Dome (Gen 2) comes with a pair of meat probes that plug directly into the display to help you cook proteins to the desired level using higher heat or wood-fire methods that would otherwise be a little tricky to translate.
The other main design feature is the flu extension, which helps maintain airflow and improves resilience in windy weather. The oven works best with little to no wind, but it’s also fine in winds that approach from behind the oven. If you do have gusts blowing directly in and you can’t reorient the wheeled oven stand, you’ll need to use the door (or a baking tray) a little off the mouth as a windbreak to help you maintain temperature control.
It’ll come as no surprise that the Dome (Gen 2) is exceptional at cooking pizza. It nails the basics of being able to sustain 932oF/500oC temps and has a stone base thick enough to cook dough as quickly as the toppings, but all Gozney’s ovens (and many others) are able to achieve this.
Where this range really begins to separate from the pack is in offering a balance of insulation and thermal mass that facilitates back-to-back pizzas in minutes. The added luxury of cooking multiple pizzas at once without seeing major dips in core temperature means you can upscale your production and host larger pizza parties with confidence.
Nothing on the market comes close to the added speed and convenience of wood-fired pizza that the active fan adds. The fan boost function brings the control almost up to the level you get from gas-fired pizza making. This reduces the effort and required skill down considerably and means that frequent wood-fired pizza is a feasible staple rather than an occasional labor of love. This makes the Dome (Gen 2) a difficult option to pass up for anyone serious about wood-fire pizza.
Image 1 of 5(Image credit: Future / Joel Burgess)Image 2 of 5(Image credit: Future / Joel Burgess)Image 3 of 5(Image credit: Future / Joel Burgess)Image 4 of 5(Image credit: Future / Joel Burgess)Image 5 of 5(Image credit: Future / Joel Burgess)Throw in the additional height of the Dome (Gen 2) Series stand and it elevates the cooking platform to a comfortable shoulder level for easier delivery and retrieval, plus it makes for better visibility without the need for crouching.
If you really want to perfect your traditional Neapolitan pizzas, then the Arch accessory intensifies the oven’s capacity to maintain perfect ambient temperatures for leopard spots. In fact, all the accessories add convenience or expand capabilities in different ways that do not disappoint.
The larger mouth opening means you can fit a dutch oven or taller pot in and the additional floor space can accommodate a pair of cast-iron skillets or multiple baking trays side by side. All of which adds considerable versatility to your outdoor cooking capabilities.
(Image credit: Future / Joel Burgess)If you're hoping to use it more as an oven at lower temperatures, don’t expect it to be quite as easy as your electric oven. Maybe in Gen 3 we’ll get a wood-fire thermostat, but for now it still requires active management. The Door does reduce temperature loss to a degree every two or three seconds, so you can prep other dishes or have a short conversation before firing it up again.
The new series does miss out on the Steam Injector bread-making attachment, but given the oven is much better at high-heat cooking, it’s a sensible sacrifice that made way for the improved internal oven arch and heat distribution.
You like wood-fire pizzas
The Dome (Gen 2)’s active wood-fire fan provides unparalleled control and ease for anyone interested in using wood to cook. The boost functionality considerably speeds up initial heating and the rechargeable fan provides enough control to make it easily to master.
You want to make more than pizza outdoors
For anyone hoping to get a little more out of their pizza oven, the Dome (Gen 2) is a standout when it comes to internal capacity and versatility. You can fit an entertainer's feast in there and utilize any oven-safe kit you’d usually use indoors to really stretch and experiment with your outdoor cooking.
You’re keen to make pizza at scale
There are plenty of cheaper Gozney options for those looking to make a few pizzas for the family once a week, but if you’re looking to cook pizza for larger groups or you often daydream about starting your own pizza truck business, then the heat retention of the Dome (Gen 2) allows you to upscale to make tens of pizzas back to back with minimal downtime.
Don't buy it if...You need a portable oven
If you think you might like to make pizza while camping as much as you will at home, then the Gozney Roccbox or Tread are likely to serve you better.
You won’t cook more than five pizzas in a night
If you’re just going to cook pizza for your family and at the occasional dinner party, then an Arc or Arc XL is a considerably more compact and affordable offering.
You aren’t that interested in wood fire
The Wood-fire Control Kit is an optional extra and there are arguably enough features to justify the Dome (Gen 2) without this attachment, but a lot of the unique appeal of this device comes from its ability to use wood and charcoal to cook pizza and other dishes.
Gozney Dome (Gen 2) review: Also considerGozney Roccbox
This compact portable pizza oven is more than capable of cooking excellent 12-inch pizzas at home or anywhere you can think to carry it. It’s fast, efficient and makes pizza good enough to be the perfect option for most people’s requirements.
Read our full Gozney Roccbox review
Gozney Arc
The Arc and Arc XL are Gozney’s mid-range offerings that provide exceptional 14 or 16-inch pizza capacities in a small enough footprint to sit on an apartment balcony. If you’re keen for the most convenient way to make perfect pizza at home, then the value offered by the Arc ovens is unbeatable.
Read our full Gozney Arc review
I tested the pizza oven over a period of a couple of months, making pizzas frequently for guests, family dinners and sometimes even for lunch.
Various other kitchen utensils were utilized to explore the versatility of the oven and all accessories mentioned (with the exception of the wood-fire kit) were tested for usability and frank feedback on each has been provided. The wood-fire kit was in short supply at the time of testing and will be tested following the review publication. The review will be updated with any pertinent findings at a later date.
The internal stopwatch was used to measure heat-up time and an infrared thermometer was used to verify the internal thermometer’s readings.
The oven was tested at various temperatures and using a range of settings to cook different toppings.
Over 40 pizzas and other dishes were cooked before coming to a final conclusion.