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• We've got more details on the upcoming Galaxy Watches
• Three models are likely to launch on July 9
• Find out the specs and the sizes that have been predicted

The next big Samsung Galaxy Unpacked launch show is happening on Wednesday, July 9 – here's how to watch online – and we have a new, comprehensive leak for one of the devices we're expecting to see: the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8.

This leak comes from Dealabs (via 9to5Google), and covers just about everything you could want to know about the upcoming wearable and its associates (although we're relying somewhat on Google Translate to make sense of it).

Apparently, we're getting three smartwatch models from Samsung this year. They are the Galaxy Watch 8, the Galaxy Watch 8 Classic, and the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2. There was no Classic last year, but we did get the Galaxy Watch 7 and the Galaxy Watch Ultra.

The leak says the Galaxy Watch 8 sticks to 32GB of internal storage, but that the two higher-end models get bumped to 64GB. When it comes to sizes, the Galaxy Watch 8 is said to be coming in 40 mm and 44 mm sizes, with the Galaxy Watch 8 Classic at 46 mm and the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 at 47 mm.

Accessories and pricing

We could see another Galaxy Watch Ultra this week (Image credit: Future / Matt Evans)

All these watches are going to come with 2GB of RAM, and will be running Samsung's own Exynos W1000 processor. That's the same processor used in last year's models, so these new devices aren't going to run after faster – though when it comes to wearables, that's perhaps not a priority anyway.

The Galaxy Watch 8 will come with a "silicone sports bracelet", the Galaxy Watch 8 Classic has a "premium hybrid strap" in the box, and the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 is bundled with an "extreme sport bracelet", according to this leak.

Pricing in France is said to be set at €379.99 (40 mm Watch 8), €429.99 (40 mm Watch 8 with LTE), €409.99 (44 mm Watch 8), €459.99 (44 mm Watch 8 with LTE), €529.99 (Watch 8 Classic), €579.99 (Watch 8 Classic with LTE, and €699.99 (Galaxy Watch Ultra 2).

There's not much point giving you currency conversions, as they won't match, but it looks like the base model is going to cost a little more (the Galaxy Watch 7 started at $299.99 / £289 / AU$549), while the Ultra model will stick at the same price ($649 / £599 / AU$1,299).

You might also like

• We just saw the Galaxy Watch 8 go up for sale on eBay
• The best smartwatches you can buy right now
• Major health updates are on the way for the Galaxy Watch

Baseball unlike anything you've ever seen will be streaming for free.

Ultimate Ears Megaboom 4: Two-minute review

Ultimate Ears already has already put out some of the best Bluetooth speakers around, and while I don’t think it’s quite as easy to recommend for the masses as the brilliant UE Wonderboom 4, the UE Megaboom 4 still has its place as a great option for anyone who wants a fairly premium speaker that completely eradicates any feelings of battery anxiety, and can really bring the bass and volume necessary to give any party a jolt.

After putting the speaker through its paces, it’s clear now that the Megaboom 4 feels most at home with pop and dance tracks, so if those feature regularly in your go-to playlists then you’ll enjoy the soundscape on offer. Busier rock/alternative tracks do get a bit muddled in the mix so for fans of Linkin Park, Rise Against and the like, you may want to look elsewhere.

What can’t be faulted is the signature UE design that not only looks great with its oversized volume buttons, it’s also functional, giving way to a rugged IP67 rating, ensuring that the speaker is more than ready to withstand an accidental dip (or full submersion) in water. The move to USB-C, while a minor tweak on the UE Megaboom 3, is still a welcome change for the sake of convenience.

The UE app also lets you configure the EQ settings to offer up even more of a spotlight to the vocals or the bassline, depending on what you prefer, and the PartyUp mode lets you pair other UE speakers to keep the playlist going in every room of a house. What really sets it apart in this price range however is a 20-hour battery life that absolutely decimates the 10-hour stint of the similarly priced Sonos Roam 2. While you can certainly get better sound by paying a bit more for the Bang & Olufsen A1 Gen 3, I think the Megaboom 4 represents one of the best options for folks who want a long-lasting speaker that doesn’t go beyond the $200/£200 mark.

Ultimate Ears Megaboom 4 review: Price and release date

• Released June 2024
• Officially priced at $199.99 / £169.99 / AU$349.95

The Ultimate Ears Megaboom 4 came to market back in June 2024 alongside a plethora of UE speakers, and at the time of writing it’ll set you back $199.99/£169.99 At that price, the Megaboom 4 is easily one of the more expensive Bluetooth speakers you can buy, but it still sits in the mid-range sector of UE’s own devices, eclipsed by the UE Everboom and the UE Epicboom.

There are four colourways available including Active Black, Cobalt Blue, Raspberry Red and Enchanting Lilac, all of which are set with the same RRP. At around the $200/£200 mark, the Megaboom 4’s closest competition can be found in the Sonos Roam 2 and the JBL Charge 5, although the latter tends to be regularly discounted. There’s also the cheaper and similar in style UE Boom 4 which is priced at £129.99/$149.99.

(Image credit: Future)Ultimate Ears Megaboom 4 review: Specs

Weight:

935g

Dimensions:

225 x 87 x 87mm

Battery life (quoted):

20 hours

Connectivity:

Bluetooth (unspecified)

Drivers:

2 x 50mm ohm drivers, 2 x 55x86mm passive radiators

Aux-in:

No

Charger port:

USB-C

Microphone:

No

Waterproof rating:

IP67

(Image credit: Future)Ultimate Ears Megaboom 4 review: Features

• 20-hour battery life
• USB-C has replaced micro-USB
• Quick playback with the Magic Button

It says a great deal about just how slow Ultimate Ears has been to fully embrace USB-C in its devices that one of the biggest upgrades the Megaboom 4 has over the Megaboom 3 is that it finally does away with having a micro-USB port. Beyond that however, the two speakers are largely the same, so if you’re not too fussed about convenience when it comes to charging then you might want to seek out the Megaboom 3 at a discount. If you’re anything like me however, access to a USB-C port wins out every time.

Even though the upgrades are fairly minimal, the UE Wonderboom 4 is far from being featureless. One of its best concepts (and something I wish every Bluetooth speaker had) is a ‘Magic Button’ that gets you straight into a playlist with one push. Without the marketing jargon attached, this button is the same play/pause input that you tend to see on the top of most Ultimate Ears speakers but if you hold it down (even when the Megaboom 4 is switched off), after a few seconds one of four preselected playlists will begin.

To save from any wasted time over deciding what to play first, this ‘one touch’ system is an ingenious way of getting the party started. Bear in mind however that you need either a Spotify of Amazon Music account to use this feature, so you’ll be out of luck if you’re an Apple Music fan. In addition to having your favourite playlists/albums ready to go, the Ultimate Ears app also lets you tweak the soundscape with equaliser controls.

There are five preset EQs available within the app, although the sound does tend to be a bit more generally pleasing to the ear if you opt for the standard ‘Signature’ mode. If you do have a preference for bass or treble however then there is a custom option available that lets you tweak the levels as you see fit, and you save those changes so that they’re ready to go in a few taps.

Even though the Megaboom 4 can reach some pretty high volumes, Ultimate Ears’ PartyUp mode lets you bring additional UE speakers into the mix to help cover a larger area. Not all of UE’s existing products work with this however, so you’ll need to check which devices are compatible ahead of time if you do fancy making use of it, but it’s still a great feature to have. It never gets old when you’re moving from one room to another and there’s no break whatsoever in the tunes you’re listening to, or as it more often tends to be in my case, an audiobook.

What is sure to raise an eyebrow (or two, if you can't raise one on its own) from anyone in the market for a new speaker is the fact that the Megaboom 4 can run for up to 20-hours at a time. That's more than you’ll ever need for a single gathering, but if you’re heading away for a weekend and you’d rather save your battery pack for topping up other devices like your phone, it’s nice to know that the Megaboom 4 can go the distance. With that kind of longevity, the Megaboom 4 towers over the Sonos Roam 2.

• Features score: 4/5

(Image credit: Future)Ultimate Ears Megaboom 4 review: Design

• Same signature UE style
• IP67 waterproof and dust-proof
• USB-C port has a dust cover

If there's one thing that I can’t fault Ultimate Ears speakers for, it's their design. Even though I have the far more portable JBL Clip 5 in my possession, I've preferred bringing UE devices with me to the office or to picnics over the years because of how great they look. The oversized volume buttons are instantly recognisable, and just a lot more interesting to look at than your average speaker.

It’s all much the same with the Megaboom 4, although I will admit that it looks practically identical to its predecessor, so don’t go looking for any visual markers to let you know that this is a newer product. Still, the cylindrical frame isn’t just for show, it’s also functional as it helps to deliver the audio in a 360-degree scope so you won’t have to strain to hear what’s being played.

Similar to its green ambitions that kicked off with the excellent Wonderboom 3, UE has endeavoured to have a sizeable chunk of the Megaboom 4’s plastic segments be constructed from recycled plastics – over 54% in fact. While there’s always more that can be done, it is still great to see Ultimate Ears taking some initiative in an area that feels as if it’s been sidelined somewhat in recent years by other companies. Plus, even with those recycled plastics in tow, the Megaboom 4 is still one durable device.

Courtesy of an official IP67 rating, the Megaboom 4 can absolutely take an accidental dip in the pool without cause for concern, and it’s been drop tested too. Even just to hold the speaker (which weighs in at 935g), there’s a decent heft to it that feels reassuring. As a nice added touch, the USB-C port also has a cover to keep it protected from any debris.

• Design score: 4.5/5

(Image credit: Future)Ultimate Ears Megaboom 4 review: Sound quality

• Works best at higher volumes
• Pop songs sound great here, with plenty of bass
• Rock and similarly busy genres don't fair too well

So far, I’ve painted a fairly pretty picture of the UE Megaboom 4, and while I do love this speaker, it unfortunately doesn’t quite stick the landing when it comes to sound quality. At the surface level, this is a speaker that feels right at home when listening to pop music.

Playing an all-time classic in Britney Spears’ Oops!… I Did It Again, it showcases the perfect mix of the song’s twangy bass, rhythmic cymbals and of course the vocals which never feel drowned out by everything that’s going on. It’s precisely the blend that you’d want for an outdoor gathering as you can sing along to the music without feeling as though the instruments are overpowering.

Moving over to a modern pick that leans more towards being a dance track, Charli XCX’s Apple benefits from the same treatment, except this time it does a better job of showing off the Megaboom 4’s room for a hefty bassline under the right conditions. The kick pedal beat that rolls throughout much of the track packs a hefty punch, and it’s sure to get people off of their seats and moving (it certainly had that effect on me).

It’s with these party friendly tracks that the Megaboom 4 really shines, especially when they’re played at a decent volume that allows the speaker to show off what it can do. Unfortunately the same cannot be said for personal playback when you’re alone and you just want to listen to your go-to favourites.

Embracing my emo roots, as one does when working from home, a run-through of Send the Pain Below by Chevelle shows where the Megaboom 4 trips up. At a lower volume, it just feels as if the song is a bit muffled, which isn’t helped by the fact that the speaker doesn’t quite know what to do with busier rock songs like this. The lead guitar sounds a bit too crunchy and it ends up suffocating the bass during the chorus, so I think you're better off looking elsewhere if you mostly plan on playing tracks of a similar vibe.

• Sound quality: 3.5/5

Ultimate Ears Megaboom 4 review: Value

One thing I cannot fault the Megaboom 4 on is its value. Almost in defiance of today’s economic landscape, the Megaboom 4 retails at the same price that the Megaboom 3 went on sale for back in 2018. That’s unheard of in the modern age and it just means that if your current Bluetooth speaker is starting to show its age, you won’t be penalised at the checkout for having held out until now to upgrade.

I will say though that because of how minimal the upgrades are between the Megaboom 4 and the Megaboom 3, if you do own the latter then it’s not worth making the upgrade unless battery life has started to take a real hit (or you’re ready to finally do away with the last micro-USB cable in your collection).

There’s also the issue that UE has undermined its own product to a degree as you can buy the slightly cheaper UE Boom 4 at $149.99£129.99, so long as you don’t mind sacrificing five-hours of battery life and a bit of bass. Still, for all that the Megaboom 4 offers, I’d sooner recommend it above the competition for anyone who just wants a long-lasting, durable speaker with great volume to get them through the weekend.

• Value score: 4.5/5

(Image credit: Future)Should I buy the Ultimate Ears Megaboom 4?Ultimate Ears Megaboom 4

Attributes

Notes

Rating

Features

The Megaboom 4 now supports USB-C and runs for up to 20-hours at a time

4/5

Design

The same classic UE design but with rugged credentials to back it up on the road

4.5/5

Sound quality

Improved bass and depth for pop, but lacking in clarity for rock and busier songs

3.5/5

Value

No price increase over the Megaboom 3, and feature packed for the price

4.5/5

Buy it if…

You need a long-lasting Bluetooth speaker
With 20-hours of battery life in the tank, it’s unlikely that you’ll reach 0% over the course of a weekend, which makes the Megaboom 4 a great option for longevity.

You need great volume to power a party
If there’s one thing the Megaboom 4 can carry with confidence, it’s volume. I can’t remember the last time I tested a speaker that felt more at home at the louder end of the scale.

You’re a fan of pop music
While heavy rock fans should look elsewhere, the Megaboom 4 does classic and modern pop justice with great depth that’ll have you singing along in no time.

Don’t buy it if…

You want a speaker for personal playback
The Megaboom 4 doesn’t sound quite right until you crank the volume up, which means you’re better off looking elsewhere for simply listening to music and podcasts at home.

You need a speaker for a small gathering
For a small gathering or picnic, the Megaboom 4 is definitely overkill, which is why a more portable speaker will do the job just fine.

You want the best value Ultimate Ears speaker
For most people, the more bijou UE Wonderboom 4 can give you everything you could want from a Bluetooth speaker, and it’s a great deal cheaper too.

(Image credit: Future)Ultimate Ears Megaboom 4 review: Also consider

UE Megaboom 4

UE Wonderboom 4

Sonos Roam 2

Dimensions:

225 x 87 x 87mm

104 x 95.3 x 95.3mm

98 x 98 x 35mm

Weight:

935g

420g

430g

Battery life (quoted):

20 hours

14 hours

10 hours

Connectivity:

Bluetooth (unspecified)

Bluetooth 5.2

Wi-Fi and Bluetooth

Drivers:

2 x 50mm ohm drivers, 2 x 55x86mm passive radiators

2 x 40mm active drivers, 2 x 46.1x65.2mm passive radiators

A tweeter, a mid-woofer, and two class-h digital amplifiers

Aux-in:

No

No

No

Charger port:

USB-C

USB-C

USB-C

Microphone:

No

No

Yes

Waterproof rating:

IP67

IP67

IP67

Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4
At just $99.99/£89.99, the Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4 is an absolute bargain, providing a rugged design and great sound in return. For the folks who just want an upgraded experience to playing songs directly on their smartphone, this is the one to go for.
Read more in our UE Wonderboom 4 review.

Sonos Roam 2
If you value sound quality and portability over battery life (plus the ability to stream over your home Wi-Fi network) the Sonos Roam 2 is probably the speaker for you. It can fit into a bag more easily than the Megaboom 4, and you'll benefit from Sonos’ signature detailed sound.
Read more in our Sonos Roam 2 review.

How I tested the Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4

• Tested for two weeks, both indoors and in a communal garden
• Connected to a variety of Android phones

For the purpose of this review, I used the Ultimate Ears Megaboom 4 as my main Bluetooth speaker over a period of two weeks, mostly playing songs indoors with occasional moments of testing in an outdoor garden.

I paired the speaker primarily with Android phones, including the OnePlus 12 and the Motorola Edge 60 Pro.

I tested the speaker with a wide range of genres beyond those mentioned in the sound test, including heavy metal (Lamb of God), hyperpop (100 Gecs) and rap (Kendrick Lamar).

Read more about how we test

• First reviewed: July 2025

Tropical Storm Chantal grew in strength as it approached the southeast U.S. coast. It's forecasted to bring heavy rains to parts of the Carolinas on Sunday.

(Image credit: NOAA)

The Dalai Lama turned 90 on Sunday surrounded by thousands of followers, who thronged the Himalayan town of Dharamshala.

(Image credit: Ashwini Bhatia)

Iran' s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Saturday made his first public appearance since the 12-day war between Israel and Iran began, attending a mourning ceremony on the eve of Ashoura.

(Image credit: Office of the Iranian Supreme Leader)

Dreame X50 Ultra Complete: two-minute review

Dreame’s latest robot vacuum, the X50 Ultra Complete, sets a new standard for the best robot vacuums, offering a litany of genuinely useful features and excellent cleaning results. It’s low-maintenance, thorough and features all of the bolts and whistles you’d expect from a premium robot vacuum.

While its 2.4in / 6cm threshold-hopping legs have been the main talking point, it's this robot's cleaning performance that prompted me to award it such a high score. It's highly capable at both mopping and vacuuming, though its battery life does leave something to be desired. Plus, its DToF sensor tower can quickly sink into the main body of the vacuum when it needs to clean beneath low-threshold furnishings.

From its extending side brush and mop pads to its excellent mapping, the Dreame X50 Ultra Complete makes full use of its arsenal of cleaning tools, rounded out by efficient 20,000Pa suction. This powerful robovac only really struggles when faced with fine powders on high-pile or tightly bound low-pile carpets; a fairly common issue for vacuums of all shapes and sizes.

When it comes to object detection and avoidance, the X50 Ultra performed fairly well, although it missed crumpled up paper and shorter wires on occasion. It also failed to spot (fake) pet poop during one test – turning on Pet mode helped improve matters.

If you can stretch your budget to buy the X50, you won’t be disappointed in its value proposition. It’s fantastically low-maintenance, the app is easy to use and the results speak for themselves. That's the short version; read on for my full Dreame X50 Ultra Complete review.

(Image credit: Future)Dreame X50 Ultra Complete: price & availability

• Announced January 2025, on sale from spring 2025
• List price: $1,699.99 / £1,299 / AU$2,999

At its $1,699.99 / £1,299.00 / AU$2,999.00 list price, the Dreame X50 Ultra Complete is one of the most expensive robot vacuums you can buy today. It's available to buy directly from Dreame, as well as via third-party retailers such as Amazon.

Thankfully, Dreame isn’t afraid of a good deal, and in the months since its release I've seen the price drop by $340 / £150 / AU$200. At its list price, it’s toeing the line of being overpriced, but its early deals make for a strong value proposition. It's fairly common for flagship bots to cost well into the four figures these days, and the features here are in line with (or exceed) what you'd get elsewhere for a similar price.

Plus, Dreame is generous with accessories. Out of the box, you not only get the vacuum and base (which are pre-loaded with a dust bag, filters, a side brush and brush rolls), but you also get a full bottle of Dreame’s Multi-surface floor cleaner, two pre-loaded mop pads and ten replacement pads, two spare side brushes, two spare roller brushes, three spare filters and a cleaning brush for the water tanks, making for low maintenance costs in the first year or so.

• Value for money score: 4 out of 5

Dreame X50 Ultra Complete specs

Max suction:

20,000Pa

Robot diameter:

13.8in / 35cm

Robot height:

3.5in / 8.9cm (with puck retracted)

Dock dimensions (W x D x H):

13.4 x 10.2 x 23.2 in / 34 x 26 x 59cm (excluding ramp)

Max threshold clearance:

2.4 in / 6cm

Onboard dustbin volume:

300ml

Onboard water tank capacity:

80ml

Dock dust bag volume:

3.2L

Dock water tank capacity:

4.5L clean / 4L dirty

Base type:

Charge, self-empty, refill water, wash mop pads, clean and dry mop pads, dispense detergent, self-clean

Dreame X50 Ultra Complete: design

• Robot's navigation puck can retract to enter low spaces
• Underneath are tiny legs to hoist the bot over tall thresholds
• Comprehensive dock with heated mop cleaning and UV light treatment

Looks-wise, the Dreame X50 Ultra Complete doesn’t break any conventions. Both the vacuum and its dock are fairly neutral, clad in either white or black with gold or gunmetal accents.

The base is slim at 13.4 x 10.2 x 23.2 in / 34 x 26 x 59cm – although you'll need to add space for the ramp and maneuvering room for the robot to dock. Lift up its lid and you’ll find both the fresh and waste water tanks, while the dust bag and detergent tank are behind the accent panel on the front of the base. It’s also compatible with the Dreame Water Hookup Kit if you wanted a fully automated water refill and drainage system, which is a nice added benefit; I didn’t test this for my review, but broadly speaking, these hookup systems are fairly reliable.

(Image credit: Future)

Behind the scenes, there’s a lot more going on in the base; it's self-emptying and refilling, but also packs cleaning tech for both the dust bin and mop pads, offering heated water mop wetting and hot air drying as well as UV light treatment for bacteria removal.

(Image credit: Future)

The robot itself similarly manages to pack ample features and functionality into its relatively compact body. It benefits from the direct time of flight (DToF) sensors situated within the sensor tower for accurate navigation and mapping. This can sink into the robovac in order to reach beneath low-clearance furniture, where it relies on its front-facing camera for navigation and obstacle detection instead. You can remove the lid of the robot vacuum to access the dust bin and set up QR code.

(Image credit: Future)

The underside is where the action happens. Here is where you’ll find its array of cleaning tools. Let’s get the bad news out of the way; while the extending side-arm is fantastic for edge cleaning, my robovac nemesis as a long-haired person are bristled side-arms. Hair is easily tangled, but I’ve yet to test a robovac where I don’t face this problem. Thankfully, the dual brush rollers (Dreame calls these the Hypersteam Detangling Duobrush) are super effective, making light work of pet and human hair alike.

You’ll also find the Dreame X50 Ultra Complete’s golden goose amidst the cleaning tools: two stumpy 'legs' that allow the vacuum to safely propel itself over small thresholds and furniture legs.

• Design score: 5 out of 5

Dreame X50 Ultra: performance

• Thorough vacuuming, superb mopping, and excellent edge cleaning
• Threshold clearing is impressive, but descents are alarmingly noisy
• Pop-down puck consistently identified low thresholds

After a painless five-minute setup and quick mapping, the Dreame X50 Ultra is a dream-e come true, passing almost all of my standard robovac tests with flying colors.

Let's start with the special features. The tiny legs could be a game-changer for anyone with tall thresholds. The vacuum will square up against the surface and extend its legs to vault itself up and on to the surface. This part is a little slow, but overall works extremely well. You can see it in action below (filmed at a press event, where I could capture a clearer view of the mechanism in action).

Moving downhill is a little less graceful, and involves charging off the ledge and landing with an alarming crash.

The pop-down puck also worked well on test. I found it consistently identified low-threshold obstacles and receded into the vacuum. The inaccessible area beneath my sofa has never been cleaner.

Cleaning tests

Now on to the general cleaning performance. For this, I ran a range of vacuuming and mopping tests on different floor types.

On hard floors, the X50 Ultra Complete was easily able to collect a majority of the large, small and powder debris on its first pass of the area. While its side brush did send some debris flying, the vacuum returned for second and third rounds of cleaning to collect any mess it had missed the first time around. The story was much the same on my low and high-pile carpets, though as I’d expect, there was some residue left behind from the powder and fine debris.

When it comes to mopping, I was most impressed with the X50 Ultra, offering the most thorough mopping I’ve experienced so far, with ample controls in-app to customize your clean. I put the X50 Ultra to the test with sticky spills, wet spills and dried-on stains, and it cleaned each with ease, though did leave some small streaks. You can either mix in the Dreame-approved detergent directly to the water tank or use the built-in automated detergent tank; I found both worked well.

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(Image credit: Future)

Edge cleaning is similarly impressive, thanks to the extending side-arm and mop pads, which paired with the X50 Ultra Complete’s excellent mapping to offer the most rigorous edge clean I’ve personally experienced.

The X50 Ultra Complete successfully identified all of the flooring types in my apartment, automatically adjusting the level of suction and mopping based on floor type and dirt levels. It features the increasingly popular mop-pad-lifting tech that keeps your carpets from getting soggy.

Broadly speaking, its obstacle detection is solid, though there were some exceptions; you’ll want to make sure small obstacles like shorter wires, crumpled paper and socks are cleared before setting of the X50 Ultra Complete.

Poop detection, however, has a quirk. Before I turned on Pet mode, the X50 Ultra Complete repeatedly failed to spot and avoid my mock pet poop. Instead, it barreled headfirst into the fake feces multiple times, especially when navigating between rooms, in low-light or on dark backdrops. However, its dodge rate improved significantly with Pet mode turned on. The X50 was able to avoid my fake pet poop 95% of the time with this mode on. (This is one of the settings we recommend you adjust when using any robot vacuum.)

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(Image credit: Future)

My apartment's skirting boards are difficult to clean even by hand, but the Dreame X50 made a solid attempt when confronted with high voluems fine powder. For spot cleans, it's excellent.

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(Image credit: Future)

Similarly, floor type and dirt detection worked really well for me, and while I’ve seen some reviewers found it didn’t always clock carpet, I didn’t face that issue in my testing. As a result, I also found the lift-off mop pads worked well and kept my carpets nice and dry.

When it’s done with clean-up, the Dreame X50 Ultra Complete returns to its base for self-cleaning and drying, which I was really impressed with. It not only washes the pads with hot water, but also dries them, and uses dual UV lamp bacteria removal technology to keep both the mop pads and the dust bag fresh and clean. Overall, it’s pretty low-maintenance, benefiting further from its effective dual-roller Hypersteam Detangling Duobrush requiring little-to-no hair removal. The side brush, however, is prone to clumps of tangled hair.

(Image credit: Future)

One of its only other failings is the battery life; Dreame quotes a 200 minute runtime on quiet mode and a 4.5-hour recharge. When tested in my home, I got an average of 90 minutes use out of the vacuum, which is certainly lower than I’d hope for such a pricey device. I’d assume that’s down to some of the more intelligent features, given the Dreame X40 Ultra features the same 6400 mAh battery but fared better in our testing.

• Performance score: 4.5 out of 5

Should I buy the Dreame X50 Ultra Complete?

Value

4

While pricey, the Dreame X50's extensive featurelist helps justify the price tag. Plus, it’s already attracting discounts.

Design

5

The Dreame X50 is well and truly decked out with an arsenal of cleaning tools, including threshold-clearing legs and a pop-down puck.

Performance

4.5

Excellent vacuuming and mopping, and especially good at edge cleaning. Slightly meagre battery life.

Buy it if...

You have lots of low-clearance furniture

Its receding sensor tower gives the X50 Ultra Complete much more mobility to reach and clean beneath low furniture.View Deal

You want superior edge cleaning

I was super impressed with the X50 Ultra Complete’s extending side brush and mop pads, which left my dusty corners cleaner than they’ve been in months.View Deal

You want a seriously low-maintenance robovac

It’s self-cleaning, has pretty effective dual brush rollers when it comes to crushing hair and broadly speaking does well at navigating the home, plus the Dreame X50 Ultra Complete comes with an arsenal of spare parts. View Deal

Don't buy it if...

You have a larger space

While it will return to base to recharge automatically mid-clean, the limited battery life means cleaning will take longer than usual.View Deal

You’ve got a messy home

Broadly, its object detection and navigation specs are great, but the X50 Ultra Complete did struggle on occasion with smaller obstacles, pet poop and the edges of rugs.View Deal

You’re on a budget

At an eyewateringly high price point even during sales, this is far from a budget robovac.View Deal

Dreame X50 Ultra Complete: also consider

Roborock Saros 10

The Roborock Saros 10 is probably the most direct competitor to Dreame’s X50 Ultra as of writing, with similar features and functions and also offering great performance. However, it doesn’t have rotating mop pads and can only cross 4cm thresholds, despite being at a very similar price point.

Read our full Roborock Saros 10 reviewView Deal

Eufy X10 Pro Omni

At time of writing, this bot sits at the top of our best robot vacuum ranking as the model we recommend to most people. It's significantly cheaper than the Saros 10 but not as cutting-edge. There's no pop-up puck here; threshold clearance is much lower; it can't dispense detergent; plus the dock is significantly less stylish. However, it still cleans extremely well, and the mop is great (it uses the dual spinning pads).

Read our full Eufy X10 Pro Omni reviewView Deal

How I tested the Dreame X50 Ultra Complete

I used the Dreame X50 Ultra for two months as my primary robot vacuum, completing regular cleaning cycles in addition to my deeper testing. To test pickup performance, I used everything from fine powder (cornflour) to oats and grains to see how well the vacuum clears up debris both in the middle and at the edges of rooms. To test mopping performance, I made wet, sticky and dry spills for the device to clean up, and I also left various obstacles around my flat to test navigation and object detection.I’ve been testing robot vacuums for three years, and in that time I’ve tried everything from cheaper models to premium devices like the Dreame X50 Ultra, which means I’ve got a solid understanding of what makes a robot vacuum worth the money.

Here's more on how we test robot vacuums

Here are the answers for The New York Times Mini Crossword for July 6.

Both sides come into the quarter-final clash fatigued but fired up after tough last-round victories.

NPR has compiled a timeline of when local, state and federal officials posted warnings on social media as well as the timeline of events as presented by local officials.

(Image credit: Ronaldo Schemidt)

How will the Trump administration's cuts to HIV research impact the progress that's been made towards ending the epidemic in the U.S.?

Heat and wildfire smoke affect birth outcomes, according to a new study of women in Los Angeles.

Here are hints and the answers for the NYT Connections: Sports Edition puzzle for July 6, No. 286.

Here are some hints and the answers for the NYT Connections puzzle for Sunday, July 6, No. 756.

Here are hints and answers for the NYT Strands puzzle for July 6, No. 490.

Here are hints and the answer for today's Wordle for July 6, No. 1,478.

XO, Kitty season 3: key information

- Officially renewed in February
- Filming rumored to have begun
- Main cast expected to return
- No official trailer released yet
- Plot details remain under wraps
- No news on future seasons

XO, Kitty season 3 is officially on the way.

Over two seasons of Kitty Song Covey's adventures at the Korean Independent School of Seoul, we've watched her chase her dreams, explore relationships and retrace her mother's steps. And now, we're heading back to KISS for senior year.

A spin-off from To All The Boys I've Loved Before, a trilogy of movies on Netflix based on Jenny Han's novels of the same name, it's an exciting standalone (with surprise crossover guest stars) on one of the best streaming services. So, it's time for some more Seoul searching!

Here's what we know so far about XO, Kitty season 3's plot rumors, predicted cast and more.

XO, Kitty season 3: is there a release date?

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There's no XO, Kitty season 3 release date yet, but I can confirm that the show has officially been renewed.

The announcement was made on Valentine's Day 2025 on Instagram, with Anna Cathcart – who plays Kitty – seen answering the door to some Valentine's Day gifts in an official post. Though she says: "Last time I checked, I was very single."

Via a note on the flowers, Anna reads: "Roses are red, violets are blue, there's a third season of XO, Kitty in store for you". And from her gift bag, she pulls out the script for the next season wrapped up nicely in a pink ribbon ready for more drama and romance at KISS.

And it appears the cast and crew may already have commenced filming. On May 18, Joshua Lee who plays Jin, posted a video on TikTok of him dancing with Regan Aliyah (Julianna) with Sasha Bhasin (Praveena) in the background. He captioned it: "Reunited w/ @regan aliyah @Sasha Bhasin in Korea for no reason at all!!" Hint, hint.

There was a two-year wait between seasons 1 and 2, but something makes me think that with such a swift renewal and filming potentially in progress, we won't have to wait that long for XO, Kitty season 3. We may even be lucky enough to get it next year... Watch this space!

XO, Kitty season 3: has a trailer been released?

With no official release date for XO, Kitty season 3, we'll have to wait for a trailer (Image credit: Netflix)

There's no XO, Kitty season 3 trailer to share just yet. For season 2, the trailer dropped a month before the show hit Netflix. So, until we have a release date, it's hard to say when we'll get a trailer.

But, keep an eye out here and I'll be sure to update as soon there's any whispers of news from KISS.

XO, Kitty season 3: predicted cast

The main cast of XO, Kitty are expected to return (Image credit: Netflix)

While XO, Kitty season 2 was full of dramatic moments, none of those involved the explosive departure of any big characters. So, I'd expect all of the main cast to return for season 3:

• Anna Cathcart as Kitty
• Gia Kim as Yuri
• Sang Heon Lee as Min Ho
• Choi Min-yeong as Dae
• Anthony Keyvan as Q
• Peter Thurnwald as Alex Finnerty
• Regan Aliyah as Julianna
• Sunny Oh as Mihee
• Sasha Bhasin as Praveena
• Joshua Hyunho Lee as Jin Lee
• Jocelyn Shelfo as Madison
• Ryu Hanbi as Eunice

Peter Kavinsky (Noah Centineo) from To All The Boys I've Loved Before has made crossover appearances in both XO, Kitty seasons 1 and 2. So, I'd predict we'll see him once again in season 3.

Plus, XO, Kitty season 2 saw Kitty reconnecting with her family in a bid to fulfil her late mother's wishes. And while it took her to new places to meet with new people, it also reunited her with her sister, Margot (Janel Parrish), who features in the Netflix movies.

And whether Audrey Huynh will return as Stella after her plan was finally exposed, we'll have to wait and see.

XO, Kitty season 3: story synopsis and rumors

Will Kitty and Min Ho spend the summer together? (Image credit: Netflix)

Full spoilers for XO, Kitty seasons 1 and 2 to follow.

XO, Kitty is notoriously dramatic (and that's one of the reasons I love it). Season 2 was full of twists, turns and when it came down to the final moments before KISS went on summer break, Kitty finally admitted her feelings for her ex-boyfriend, Dae's, best friend, Min Ho. Phew.

Yes, Kitty is at KISS for reasons that reach far beyond finding love, but what's moving halfway across the world without a bit of relationship drama? Similarly to season 1, when it comes to Kitty's love life, the season 2 finale ended on quite the cliffhanger.

This time though, Kitty found herself admitting her own feelings for Min Ho (rather than the other way around) and boldly asking to accompany him and his family on their summer adventures – a music tour. Whether he took her with him though, we don't know the answer... yet.

I imagine when it comes to the XO, Kitty season 3 plot, it'll pick up right where we left off. And fortunately, we also know that Kitty got her scholarship renewed, meaning she'll be returning alongside her friends after summer for her senior year.

Showrunner Jessica O'Toole told Tudum: "I'm so excited to head back to Seoul for another season with our incredible cast and crew. If you thought junior year at KISS brought the drama, just wait."

She added: "I know we left fans on a cliffhanger at the end of season 2, but I can promise season 3 will be worth the wait, including our first summer episode – not to mention plenty of romance, friendship, adventure... and kissing. Lots of kissing".

Kitty's not the only one falling in love (Image credit: Netflix)

And all that kissing might have a lot to do with all the new relationships from XO, Kitty season 2.

There's Jin and Q, who will find themselves spending summer apart after Q got accepted in the USC summer training program. Then, there's Dae and Eunice, who started a romance during the talent show. However, Eunice eventually won the competition – meaning she's also heading off for the summer, but this time as an opener for Min Ho's K-pop star brother.

Plus, Yuri learned a couple of hard truths as season 2 drew to a close. One, that Juliana had officially moved on with Praveena (both of whom are seemingly filming for XO, Kitty season 3). And then, finding out her family assets have been frozen due to a class action lawsuit that threatens all of Yuri's wealth.

For Yuri then, life is a lot more complicated than just romance. And to further add to that drama, she also found out she had a brother, Alex, who will no doubt have a part to play in season 3.

There's a lot to unpack, but in true XO, Kitty fashion I'm sure it'll be tackled with drama, crossed wires and a whole lot of love.

Will there be more seasons of XO, Kitty?

Will Kitty return for season 4? (Image credit: Netflix)

There's no news on XO, Kitty season 4 to share just now. Why? Well, given that season 3 doesn't even have a release date, it's hard to look further beyond that.

But, there is speculation that they have to give Kitty a chance to finish her final year of KISS. And that means, another season.

With the focus picking up on the summer of XO, Kitty season 3, there's even a chance viewer won't even see out the full school year in the upcoming episodes. In which case, there's scope for even more than one more season.

For more Netflix-based coverage, read our guides to Nobody Wants This season 2, Stranger Things season 5, The Four Seasons season 2, and One Piece season 2.

• Seagate’s 30TB Exos M is helium-filled and built for data centers, not home PCs
• 2.5 million hours MTBF sounds great until you realize how specific this use case is
• The IronWolf Pro HDD targets NAS users, not hyperscale cloud infrastructure like Exos M

A new listing for Seagate’s 30TB Exos M hard disk drive has appeared online, offering what is currently the largest HDD available for under $620.

ServerSupply lists the drive at $650, but applying the site’s 5% discount brings the price down to $617.50.

Seagate’s Exos M (model ST30000NM004K) is a helium-sealed 3.5-inch internal hard drive built around conventional magnetic recording (CMR) technology.

Enterprise-grade capacity at an unexpectedly low price

With a 7200 RPM spindle speed and a 512MB multi-segmented cache, it delivers a sustained data transfer rate of up to 275MB/s.

The drive supports a SATA interface and is hot-plug capable. According to Seagate, it is designed for high-capacity use cases including hyperscale data centers, enterprise backup systems, and distributed file storage frameworks like Hadoop and Ceph.

The manufacturer also reports a mean time between failures (MTBF) of 2.5 million hours and an annualized failure rate of just 0.35%, suggesting this model is meant for non-stop, 24/7 operation.

Additional features include PowerBalance and PowerChoice technologies for more efficient energy management, and RSA 3072 firmware verification for security.

These specifications strongly indicate that the Exos M is tailored toward enterprise infrastructure, not the typical desktop setup.

Another Seagate 30TB drive also appears in listings and shares many of the same core specifications. Provantage lists the IronWolf Pro ST300000NT011 HDD for a slightly higher $669.69, still an affordable price for a drive of this capacity.

Although they share similarities (30TB, CMR, 7200 RPM), their firmware, vibration tolerance, and workload optimizations will likely differ because Exos is tuned for hyperscale environments, while IronWolf Pro is optimized for NAS workloads.

Despite the attention-grabbing capacity, calling Seagate Exos M the best HDD depends entirely on context.

For cloud infrastructure and archival storage, it may represent strong value, particularly at this price.

But for everyday users, its 3.5-inch form factor, 7200 RPM speed, and enterprise-oriented feature set make it impractical.

Ultimately, the Seagate Exos M is a highly specialized product, but its pricing makes it look accessible.

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WiZ HDMI Sync Box with TV Backlight: two-minute review

The first step of setting up my WiZ HDMI Sync Box Kit was actually removing my Nanoleaf 4D Screen Mirror Kit, as that was what I had been using for TV accent lighting prior to the test period. Both Nanoleaf and WiZ are among the best smart light brands and so being able to directly compare the two was a valuable asset for the review process.

I’ll admit I was a little sad to put the old Nanoleaf light strip into storage but I really wasn’t going to miss the camera that used to linger above my screen. Luckily, the WiZ HDMI Sync Box Kit doesn’t have any unwelcome distractions like that, and the setup was a good deal cleaner too.

The light strip's corner pieces are cleverly designed to accommodate different screen sizes (Image credit: Abigail Shannon)

My television is 55 inches, and it was definitely the smallest screen the 55-65” kit could fit on. In fact, I had to readjust my positioning a couple of times to avoid any sections of the LED strip going beyond the TV’s edge. Thanks to the adhesive clips and weirdly ingenious corner sections included with the kit, I was to achieve an application that I was confident would last.

Alongside the included LCD light strip, I also tested the Sync Box’s functionality with other WiZ products, including the Gradient Light Bars. The app has a clever and easy-to-use function where you essentially tell it where your extra lights are in relation to your television and that dictates how its colors shift. Sure enough, the synced lights change in line with the light strip, further expanding the glowing halo around whatever episode of Kitchen Nightmares I happen to be watching.

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The Sync Box only has one HDMI input, but it supports switch splitters (Image credit: Abigail Shannon)Image 2 of 2

The Sync Box only has one HDMI input, but it supports switch splitters (Image credit: Abigail Shannon)

When it got to actually testing the WiZ HDMI Sync Box Kit, I encountered a bit of a problem: my partner and I are the kind of adult children who own at least one of every current gen console, so the singular HDMI 2.0 port included with the WiZ HDMI Sync Box Kit was just not going to cut it.

Thankfully, the sync box supports the use of switch splitters, meaning you can expand your number of inputs provided you’re happy to spend a little extra. Depending on how many more ports you need, HDMI splitters can set you back about $10 to $50, so keep that added cost in mind if you plan to use the WiZ HDMI Sync Box Kit while gaming across multiple platforms.

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You can extend the effect further with the WiZ Light Bars and Gradient Lamp (Image credit: Abigail Shannon)Image 2 of 2

You can extend the effect further with the WiZ Light Bars and Gradient Lamp (Image credit: Abigail Shannon)

Skull and Bones is undoubtedly not one of gaming’s greats, but it happened to be one my partner was playing at the time – and, in its defence, it does have an open world that delivers a good deal of color information for the sync box to work with. As I expected, the deep grey-blue of the game’s sea was reflected really beautifully on the wall behind my screen, but what was particularly impressive was when a blast of lightning cut across the game’s skybox.

This in-game weather phenomenon prompted a localised shock of white light to cut across my walls, adding a fabulous sense of drama to what was otherwise rather goofy game.

The WiZ HDMI Sync Box and Light Strip worked particularly well with the weather effects in Skull and Bones (Image credit: Abigail Shannon)

On the other hand, playing Dead by Daylight on a map with a grimy, rust colored palette intermittently produced the most random shade of violet. Don’t get me wrong, I’m a sucker for some good bisexual lighting at the best of times, but I’d appreciate it if my light strip stuck just a tad closer to the script.

One mechanic in Dead by Daylight involves the appearance of what’s called a ‘terror radius’, causing a blood-red glow to emit from another player’s character. When the sync box picked up the terror radius, it looked superb and truly enhanced the thrill of the chase. The only problem was, it didn’t activate all that reliably.

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I sometimes experienced color inaccuracies from the light strip while playing Dead by Daylight (Image credit: Abigail Shannon)Image 2 of 2

I sometimes experienced color inaccuracies from the light strip while playing Dead by Daylight (Image credit: Abigail Shannon)

Some kind of colored light was always present and enhancing the atmosphere of my media setup, but there were times where I’d pay especially close attention to the WiZ light strip’s output and realise how arbitrary its choices were. I navigated the WiZ app (which as mentioned in my WiZ Gradient Floor Lamp review, is a breeze) and tried to force a firmware update, hoping this would resolve these quirks. Unfortunately, it seems like the WiZ HDMI Sync Box Kit has a tiny rebellious streak that can’t be quashed.

WiZ HDMI Sync Box with TV Backlight: specifications

Connectivity

Wi-Fi (2.4GHz only), Bluetooth

Smart home compatibility

Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and Matter

Supported resolution

4K at 60hz

Supported HDR formats

HDR10+, Dolby Vision

Supported screen sizes

55-65 inch or 75-80 inch

Brightness

Not specified

Color temperature

2,700-6,500k

Total LED strip length

8.5ft / 2.6m

WiZ HDMI Sync Box with TV Backlight: price and availability

• 55-65 inch kit price: $89 / £79.99
• 75-85” inch price: $109 / £99.99
• Where to buy: Amazon, WiZ (US only)

The 55-65” WiZ HDMI Sync Box Kit costs $89, while the larger 85” model comes with a bit of a premium at $109. Both can be purchased on the WiZ site or on Amazon.

If you’re in the UK, you can browse WiZ products on the website but when it comes to actually popping them in your basket, you’ll have to head to Amazon. Here, you can pick up the 65” kit for £79.99 and the 85” kit for £99.99.

Should you buy the WiZ HDMI Sync Box with TV BacklightBuy it if

You like your TV experience more theatrical

Screen mirroring smart lights transform your living space to match the vibe of the show, film, or game you’re enjoying; it’s fun, it’s flashy, and it’s a little silly. If that sounds like your jam, you know what to add to your shopping list.

You’re on a budget

Whereas some HDMI sync boxes can cost you close to $250, the WiZ HDMI Sync Box Kit is just $90 (or $109 if you’re opting for the larger size). This is an especially attractive option if you’ve recently splashed the cash on a new TV.

You don’t want a camera

While Nanoleaf offers a screen-mirroring smart light kit that’s similarly-priced, it relies on information from a camera feed instead of a HDMI input. Depending on the layout of your TV, you can have the camera below or above your screen but either way, it’s a little distracting.

Don't buy it if

You rely on smart TV streaming apps

Given the WiZ HDMI Sync Box Kit bases its screen mirroring on data from a HDMI source, you can’t use it in tandem with smart TV apps. If you watch the majority of your media directly on your TV instead of a console or cable box, you might want to explore other smart light options.

You want a sync box that natively supports multiple HDMI inputs
While you have the option to hook up a switch splitter, the WiZ HDMI Sync Box only supports one HDMI input as standard. If you have multiple gaming consoles, keep in mind you’ll have to drop an extra $30 to allow you quickly change between them.

You’d like illumination from all angles

The light strip included with the WiZ HDMI Sync Box Kit provides coverage across the top and sides of your TV or monitor. The lack of light on the bottom is barely noticeable on standing TVs but is a good deal more obvious if your TV is wall-mounted.

WiZ HDMI Sync Box with TV Backlight: also consider

If you’re not totally sold on the WiZ HDMI Sync Box Kit, it might be worth checking out alternatives like the Nanoleaf 4D Screen Mirror + Lightstrip Kit and the Philips Hue Play HDMI Sync Box.

Specification

WiZ HDMI Sync Box with TV Backlight

Nanoleaf 4D Screen Mirror + Lightstrip Kit

Philips Hue Play HDMI Sync Box 4K

Price

$89 / £79.99 (up to 65 inches)

$109 / £99.99 (up to 85 inches)

$99.99 / £81.94 (up to 65 inches)

$119.99 / £105.52 (up to 85 inches)

$249.99 / £229.99 (light strips sold separately)

Screen mirroring input

HDMI 2.0 Sync Box (single input)

Camera

HDMI 2.1 Sync Box (four inputs)

Supported resolution

4k at 60hz

N/A

4K at 60hz
(8K variant also available)

Supported HDR formats

HDR10+, Dolby Vision

N/A

HDR10+, Dolby Vision

Supported screen size

55-65 inch or 75-85 inch

Up to 65 inch or up to 85 inch

Lights sold separately, Hue Bridge required to link

Smart home compatibility

Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and Matter

Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and Matter

Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and Apple HomeKit (Matter compatible if used with Hue Bridge, sold separately)

Light strip length

8.5ft / 2.6m

11.2ft / 3.4m

13.1ft / 4m

17ft / 5.2m

N/A

Brightness

Not specified

1,075 lumens (65 inch variant)

1,122 lumens (85 inch variant)

N/A

Color temperature

2,700-6,500K

2,700-6,500K

N/A

How I tested the WiZ HDMI Sync Box with TV Backlight

• I connected the WiZ HDMI Sync Box Kit to my TV
• I tested the Sync Box using input from my PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X
• I experimented with in-app features and controls

During the two weeks I used the WiZ HDMI Sync Box Kit, I enjoyed a variety of films, tv shows, and video games while observing how the LCD light strip emulated what was onscreen. After assessing the functionality of the light strip alone, I also connected the Sync Box to the WiZ Gradient Light Bars and the WiZ Gradient Floor Lamp. For more details, see how we test, rate, and review at TechRadar.

First reviewed July 2025

I'm writing this article in June 2025, and with all that I do, I have never had more virtual meetings in my average workday than I do today. I constantly jump between virtual meetings, in-person meetings, projects, tasks, phone calls, Slack, and more. However, a large portion of many people's day-to-day lives is spent on virtual meetings. It expanded during the COVID-19 pandemic out of necessity. As of 2025, most meetings default to virtual unless otherwise specified. I experienced this today with a client meeting. They assumed we were meeting virtually through my plan, so I headed to them to meet in person.

The reality is that businesses, for the most part, need to be hybrid and flexible. That's where a quality webcam comes into play. Suppose your first impression, handshake, and first words were vital in an in-person interaction. In that case, your camera presence, clarity, and ability to articulate as though you were in the same room are of the highest priority. For me, the Logitech Brio 705 did just that. It elevated my otherwise mediocre virtual presence, which was limited to my main desk, to a whole new level.

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )Logitech MX Brio 705: Pricing and Availability

The Logitech Brio 705 for Business retails for just under $200 and is available at Logitech, Best Buy, Amazon, and many other retailers. If you are looking for this device to be on a corporate machine that you have control of, it may make sense to sign up for Logitech Sync as well, so it notifies me if anyone is struggling.

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )Logitech MX Brio 705 for Business: Unboxing & first impressions

One of the first things that I noticed about this camera is that it has a dial on the front around the camera itself to physically close the shutter. Now I have never been the kind of person who would put a camera cover on my MacBook Pro, but I do appreciate seeing camera covers on laptops, and now in webcams. I've heard enough horror stories and rumors to make me feel like that is a good idea to keep things covered up just to protect privacy and help put my mind at ease.

After that revelation, I noticed that the setup is super simple, with a multi-functional base, plus a single cable. The base is great because if you don't need it, it magnetically pops off. This is great for those setups that have a mount. But, for those who don't have a fancy mount in their setup, the base is a great option, allowing you to place the camera on just about any monitor shape or size, or on top of a lightbar from just about any brand if they follow the classic BenQ styling.

Logitech MX Brio 705 for Business: Design & Build Quality

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )Specs

Resolution: 4K/30fps, 1080p/60, 720p/60;
FOV: 65°/78°/90°
Sensor: 8.5MP Sony STARVIS
Zoom: 4× digital
Mic: Dual beamforming, 1.2 m pickup radius
Connectivity: 1.5 m USB‑C cable
Weight: 4.8 oz w/o clip; 6.2 oz with mount

The design is sleek, it's professional yet stylish, and it looks great for just about any workspace. I've had this set up at my home office, in my product shoot area, in a more traditional "office" space, and it's also small enough that I took it with me on a trip in my backpack so that I could keep great video quality away from my desk.

I'm a really big fan of darker tech, especially the graphite colorway that Logitech used for this camera, so that design choice scores high in my book. Another thing that I have recently been playing with is mounting gear in my setup with my MonoBlocc mounting grid behind my main monitor, the BenQ MA320U, in my home office.

With this mounting system, I was able to remove the base of the camera and add a perfectly placed camera shot up and above my monitor, right by a light bar, to give me the perfect angle every time. And, since the base is magnetic and easy to add back on, when I took this camera off of this workspace and moved it to others I could use the highly adjustable base to make it work just about anywhere.

Logitech MX Brio 705 for Business: In use

For my use case, I have chosen to allow for the re-framing feature, but I slowed it down. I frequently stand at my workstation and when I stand I move around a bit. When it's just me on camera, it's not distracting, but if my camera is constantly re-adjusting to find me and zoom in and zoom out and so on, it's a bit ridiculous.

So, I slowed down the reframing, and that seemed to do the trick beautifully. Personally, I don't have many use-cases for show mode, but I could see this super helpful for those who are physically drawing things, are showing what they are working on, or if you are teaching then this feature could be super nice to be able to better showcase to your online viewers what's going on.

I've noticed that the mics work better than I expected. For years, I was an AirPod-only kind of person for virtual meetings, but as webcams like this have gotten better, for quite a few meetings, I have used the webcam mic. So far, I've heard only positives about the clarity of my audio. I have yet to have anyone mention that it's muffled, unclear, faint, or poor.

One downside for Windows users that I have noticed is the lack of ability to sync with Windows Hello, meaning you'll have to use your laptop's camera for this feature or utilize another login method when docked. It's a bummer for sure, but I also understand why Logitech didn't want to go through that certification process.

Attributes

Notes

Rating

Design

Minimalist and Powerful

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Ease of use

Easy to use on any OS

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Practicality

Great for most

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Price

Priced well for the product

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Logitech MX Brio 705 for Business: Final verdict

The Logitech Brio 705 for Business is an excellent option for those seeking a high-quality webcam without breaking the bank. It offers a great combination of visual quality, audio quality, and features without being overloaded with unnecessary ones. If you are looking for a camera for virtual meetings or presentations, or if you want a camera that works in both a designated setup or a setup on the go, check out the Logitech Brio 705 for Business.