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Looking for a different day?

A new NYT Strands puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Sunday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Strands hints and answers for Sunday, July 6 (game #490).

Strands is the NYT's latest word game after the likes of Wordle, Spelling Bee and Connections – and it's great fun. It can be difficult, though, so read on for my Strands hints.

Want more word-based fun? Then check out my NYT Connections today and Quordle today pages for hints and answers for those games, and Marc's Wordle today page for the original viral word game.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Strands today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.

NYT Strands today (game #491) - hint #1 - today's themeWhat is the theme of today's NYT Strands?

• Today's NYT Strands theme is… Hello Muddah, Hello Fadduh

NYT Strands today (game #491) - hint #2 - clue words

Play any of these words to unlock the in-game hints system.

• HIDE
• SOCK
• COAL
• SLUMP
• DUEL
• PLANK

NYT Strands today (game #491) - hint #3 - spangram lettersHow many letters are in today's spangram?

• Spangram has 10 letters

NYT Strands today (game #491) - hint #4 - spangram positionWhat are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?

First side: top, 5th column

Last side: bottom, 3rd column

Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.

NYT Strands today (game #491) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Strands, game #491, are…

• BUNK
• LAKE
• FLAGPOLE
• CANTEEN
• LODGE
• FIELDHOUSE
• SPANGRAM: SUMMER CAMP

• My rating: Easy
• My score: 1 hint

Although the SUMMER CAMP is mainly an American experience I was very familiar with the excellent comedy song which gave us today’s theme – Hello Muddah, Hello Father (A Letter from Camp) by Allan Sherman, with its excellent story of an entire camp befalling various ailments and disasters.

Despite knowing the kind of words we were looking for, I still struggled to start today and got BUNK via a hint.

After getting FLAGPOLE I remembered that I had stayed on a camp once in the UK, and one of the activities/tortures we had to do was climb a 20ft pole and stand on the top of it. We were on ropes and safety harnesses, but I can still remember how much my legs were wobbling as I winched myself to the summit. All very character building I'm sure. Help me muddah.

How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below.

Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Sunday, July 6, game #490)

• STRENGTH
• SPEED
• FLIGHT
• INVISIBILITY
• HEALING
• SPANGRAM: SUPERPOWER

What is NYT Strands?

Strands is the NYT's not-so-new-any-more word game, following Wordle and Connections. It's now a fully fledged member of the NYT's games stable that has been running for a year and which can be played on the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.

I've got a full guide to how to play NYT Strands, complete with tips for solving it, so check that out if you're struggling to beat it each day.

Looking for a different day?

A new Quordle puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Sunday's puzzle instead then click here: Quordle hints and answers for Sunday, July 6 (game #1259).

Quordle was one of the original Wordle alternatives and is still going strong now more than 1,100 games later. It offers a genuine challenge, though, so read on if you need some Quordle hints today – or scroll down further for the answers.

Enjoy playing word games? You can also check out my NYT Connections today and NYT Strands today pages for hints and answers for those puzzles, while Marc's Wordle today column covers the original viral word game.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about Quordle today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.

Quordle today (game #1260) - hint #1 - VowelsHow many different vowels are in Quordle today?

• The number of different vowels in Quordle today is 4*.

* Note that by vowel we mean the five standard vowels (A, E, I, O, U), not Y (which is sometimes counted as a vowel too).

Quordle today (game #1260) - hint #2 - repeated lettersDo any of today's Quordle answers contain repeated letters?

• The number of Quordle answers containing a repeated letter today is 1.

Quordle today (game #1260) - hint #3 - uncommon lettersDo the letters Q, Z, X or J appear in Quordle today?

• No. None of Q, Z, X or J appear among today's Quordle answers.

Quordle today (game #1260) - hint #4 - starting letters (1)Do any of today's Quordle puzzles start with the same letter?

• The number of today's Quordle answers starting with the same letter is 2.

If you just want to know the answers at this stage, simply scroll down. If you're not ready yet then here's one more clue to make things a lot easier:

Quordle today (game #1260) - hint #5 - starting letters (2)What letters do today's Quordle answers start with?

• D

• T

• T

• S

Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.

Quordle today (game #1260) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Quordle, game #1260, are…

• DROLL
• TRUCE
• TWIRL
• SINCE

TWIRL aside this was quite an easy round for me, with all the heavy lifting done with my start words, leaving me anagrams for SINCE and TRUCE and nearly all of DROLL.

Not much thinking was required, to be honest – and that's a welcome change from how it is on some days with this game.

How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below.

Daily Sequence today (game #1260) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Quordle Daily Sequence, game #1260, are…

• MERRY
• PROSE
• CURLY
• HORSE

Quordle answers: The past 20

• Quordle #1259, Sunday, 6 July: AMPLY, SPAWN, EXTOL, RIDGE
• Quordle #1258, Saturday, 5 July: HAVEN, SNAKE, DREAM, TORUS
• Quordle #1257, Friday, 4 July: FAVOR, SKUNK, GAWKY, FLUFF
• Quordle #1256, Thursday, 3 July: DANCE, EYING, GLAZE, EGRET
• Quordle #1255, Wednesday, 2 July: INANE, SCOUR, ELITE, ULCER
• Quordle #1254, Tuesday, 1 July: REBAR, YEARN, FORTH, CROWD
• Quordle #1253, Monday, 30 June: INGOT, INFER, TAPIR, CLUED
• Quordle #1252, Sunday, 29 June: MIRTH, APTLY, SCRUB, SMACK
• Quordle #1251, Saturday, 28 June: AWOKE, SMOKY, DEVIL, SWING
• Quordle #1250, Friday, 27 June: SPEAK, EAGLE, AVERT, SUING
• Quordle #1249, Thursday, 26 June: SLUMP, REBUS, GUAVA, MONEY
• Quordle #1248, Wednesday, 25 June: SOGGY, CLASH, MODEM, SQUAD
• Quordle #1247, Tuesday, 24 June: QUALM, SQUIB, AXIAL, FLACK
• Quordle #1246, Monday, 23 June: PIXEL, FJORD, STEAL, EXIST
• Quordle #1245, Sunday, 22 June: WREST, CRAZE, PAPAL, SCION
• Quordle #1244, Saturday, 21 June: BUDDY, GROUT, BEGIN, MADAM
• Quordle #1243, Friday, 20 June: BRAID, DULLY, HASTE, LURID
• Quordle #1242, Thursday, 19 June: BRUSH, ISLET, FRUIT, PRIVY
• Quordle #1241, Wednesday, 18 June: MEDIA, SHARK, GUPPY, MOURN

Looking for a different day?

A new NYT Connections puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Sunday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Connections hints and answers for Sunday, July 6 (game #756).

Good morning! Let's play Connections, the NYT's clever word game that challenges you to group answers in various categories. It can be tough, so read on if you need Connections hints.

What should you do once you've finished? Why, play some more word games of course. I've also got daily Strands hints and answers and Quordle hints and answers articles if you need help for those too, while Marc's Wordle today page covers the original viral word game.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Connections today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.

NYT Connections today (game #757) - today's words

(Image credit: New York Times)

Today's NYT Connections words are…

• DOG
• DRIBBLE
• SECRET
• FOOTPRINT
• RAT
• SHOOT
• LEAK
• SPLASH
• BANANA
• SOURCE
• CANARY
• BLOCK
• MARK
• PASS
• HAT
• IMPACT

NYT Connections today (game #757) - hint #1 - group hints

What are some clues for today's NYT Connections groups?

• YELLOW: Also a grass
• GREEN: You were here
• BLUE: Leave nothing on the court
• PURPLE: Add the opposite of bottom

Need more clues?

We're firmly in spoiler territory now, but read on if you want to know what the four theme answers are for today's NYT Connections puzzles…

NYT Connections today (game #757) - hint #2 - group answers

What are the answers for today's NYT Connections groups?

• YELLOW: INFORMANT 
• GREEN: BIG IMPRESSION 
• BLUE: BASKETBALL MOVES 
• PURPLE: TOP___ 

Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.

NYT Connections today (game #757) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Connections, game #757, are…

• YELLOW: INFORMANT CANARY, LEAK, RAT, SOURCE
• GREEN: BIG IMPRESSION FOOTPRINT, IMPACT, MARK, SPLASH
• BLUE: BASKETBALL MOVES BLOCK, DRIBBLE, PASS, SHOOT
• PURPLE: TOP___ BANANA, DOG, HAT, SECRET

• My rating: Hard
• My score: 1 mistake

I got the yellow group last today, but that’s mainly because I abandoned it after making a mistake and concentrated on other linked words.

My first thought was that there was a group connected to whistleblowing, so I had LEAK and SOURCE but also SECRET and MARK. Before I could pursue that blind alley further I put together BASKETBALL MOVES, thinking it was something to do with soccer.

I was really pleased to get the purple group, although the absence of cat in place of DOG rankles. I am speaking here as someone who has used a picture of Benny the Ball as my internet pic for the past decade. How could they miss out TC?

How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below.

Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Sunday, July 6, game #756)

• YELLOW: FIRED OBJECTS CERAMICS, CHINA, POTTERY, WARE
• GREEN: PARTICLE CRUMB, GRAIN, MORSEL, SHRED
• BLUE: DRS DRE, EVIL, PEPPER, SEUSS
• PURPLE: ENDING WITH HOMOPHONES OF PARTS OF THE LEG CRYPTO, DECAF, DISNEY, PRUSSIAN

What is NYT Connections?

NYT Connections is one of several increasingly popular word games made by the New York Times. It challenges you to find groups of four items that share something in common, and each group has a different difficulty level: green is easy, yellow a little harder, blue often quite tough and purple usually very difficult.

On the plus side, you don't technically need to solve the final one, as you'll be able to answer that one by a process of elimination. What's more, you can make up to four mistakes, which gives you a little bit of breathing room.

It's a little more involved than something like Wordle, however, and there are plenty of opportunities for the game to trip you up with tricks. For instance, watch out for homophones and other word games that could disguise the answers.

It's playable for free via the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.

NPR's Gaza producer faced Israeli military fire, private U.S. contractors pointing laser beams at his forehead and masked thieves as he tried to get food from a U.S.-supported group.

(Image credit: Eyad Baba)

Hori Force Feedback Racing Wheel DLX: One-minute review

The Hori Force Feedback Racing Wheel DLX is a racing wheel designed for Xbox Series X and Series S consoles, although it’s also compatible with the Xbox One. I was immediately taken with the design of the wheel itself. It has an ergonomic shape, and the soft-grip material on the sides are comfortable and provide security. The indents that allow your thumbs to rest on are also a nice touch.

Build quality is also quite good, with the paddles being a particular highlight, rivaling what the best racing wheels have to offer. The pedal set is less impressive, but it functions as intended and remains stable on carpet floors.

The Force Feedback Racing Wheel DLX is pleasingly light, too, which helps with installation, something that's further aided by the amenable clamping system and easily accessible ports. It can also be attached to racing wheel stands, although no screws are provided for this.

There’s an Xbox app for adjusting its various force feedback and sensitivity settings, but these are more basic than those provided in the software of other racing wheels, such as Thrustmaster’s. While there's also a remapping feature, this is limited to just the paddles and the two central buttons on either side of the wheel.

In action, the Force Feedback Racing Wheel DLX failed to impress me all that much. The steering isn’t as smooth or as precise as I would’ve liked, which seemed to be more of a problem for certain games than others. In some games, it didn’t seem to track accurately, creating a sense of lag and disconnectedness from the cars I was driving.

The force feedback isn’t particularly nuanced, either, and the light throttle pedal lacks feedback. Another issue I experienced was that my thumbs would often become trapped between the rim and the paddles when making sharp turns – an ergonomic faux pas that really shouldn’t exist.

On the face of it, the Force Feedback Racing Wheel DLX looks like good value considering its low price. But the performance isn’t quite there, and there are a few even cheaper wheels that perform better, such as the Thrustmaster T128. This also has the advantage of working with multiple platforms, PC included.

(Image credit: Future)Hori Force Feedback Racing Wheel DLX review: Price and availability

• $299.99 / £299.99 (around AU$460)
• Reasonable price...
• ...but rivals are better value

The Hori Force Feedback Racing Wheel DLX costs $299.99 / £299.99 (about AU$460) and is available now for Xbox platforms only. There’s only one colorway and one wheel type.

This isn’t a bad price for a racing wheel, although there are a few that beat it. For instance, the Thrustmaster T128 is considerably cheaper, but performs much better in my opinion. Unlike the Force Feedback Racing Wheel DLX, the T128 is compatible with multiple platforms, too.

If you’re looking for one of the best Xbox racing wheels, the Logitech G923 sits at the top of the pile as far as we’re concerned. It's more expensive than the Force Feedback Racing Wheel DLX, but not by a huge margin, and offers a much better sim racing experience. It’s also compatible with PC, and a PlayStation variant is available as well.

Hori Force Feedback Racing Wheel DLX review: Specs

Price

$299.99 / £299.99 (about AU$460)

Weight

10.6lbs / 4.8kg

Features

Three-pedal set, profile switch button

Connection type

USB-A

Compatibility

Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One

Software

Hori FFB RWD Device Manager for Xbox

Hori Force Feedback Racing Wheel DLX review: Design and features

• Ergonomic wheel shape
• Good build quality
• Easy to install

I was immediately taken with the wheel design of the Force Feedback Racing Wheel DLX. It has a comfortable thickness, and the thumb slots and soft grip material make it a pleasure to hold. The square bottom was also something I welcomed, making it easy to discern orientation at any given moment.

The buttons are of a reasonable quality, although they’re not as tactile or as damped as those you’ll find on the best Xbox controllers. Still, the thoughtful layout makes them easy to use, although the RB and LB placement – they’re in the middle of the circular button clusters on either side – felt a little unintuitive to me. Thankfully, these central buttons can be remapped.

There’s also a useful button for switching saved profiles configured in the Hori FFB RWD Device Manager Xbox app. The LED at the center of the wheel changes color depending on which of the eight profile slots you have selected.

The paddle shifters are equally well-designed, with a long but thin profile that makes them easy to get your fingers behind. Their metal material looks and feels premium as well.

Unfortunately, the pedal set looks and feels less so, with cheaper-seeming plastics and a lightness that doesn’t instill much confidence. However, I found they remained stable enough when lying on a carpet floor.

(Image credit: Future)

Installing the Force Feedback Racing Wheel DLX proved easy enough. The wheel base is quite light, which makes the process less laborious, while the clamp is easy to attach to a desk. A single screw is all that’s required, and it features a maneuverable lever that makes it easier to tighten. The whole process is significantly less onerous than that of certain Thrustmaster wheels I’ve tested.

Also, there are screw holes underneath the wheel base and the pedal set for fixing the Force Feedback Racing Wheel DLX to a racing wheel stand, although it’s a shame that the requisite M6 screws aren’t provided.

Since this is an Xbox wheel, it’s pretty much plug-and-play as far as setup is concerned, although the aforementioned Xbox app is required for firmware updates and making certain adjustments.

These adjustments aren’t as rich as those you’ll find in other racing wheel software. There’s one slider for the force feedback strength, and a couple for the deadzones and sensitivities pertaining to steering and each pedal. There are also some rebinding options for the wheel button – but only for the LB and RB buttons and the paddles.

Hori Force Feedback Racing Wheel DLX review: Performance

• Inconsistent response
• Numb throttle pedal
• Ergonomic issue with Paddles

I found the Force Feedback Racing Wheel DLX was inconsistent in its performance: depending on the game I played, steering inputs ranged in their responsiveness and accuracy.

When playing Assetto Corsa, it did quite well on both of these fronts, my inputs tracking well with the in-game movements. However, steering was still a little grainy, which is especially noticeable when making small steering corrections.

Performance was worse, however, when playing Forza Motorsport. Here, the tracking seemed off, producing a lagging effect. Things improved when adjusting certain in-game settings, such as the steering linearity and self-centering parameters, but I still couldn’t completely shake the sensation of feeling disconnected from the car.

(Image credit: Future)

The force feedback also seemed worse in Forza Motorsport than in Assetto Corsa. In the former, it again felt like it wasn’t matching up with what was happening in-game. It also lacks much subtlety, jumping from no vibration to maximum intensity without much provocation – and again seeming at odds with the events taking place within the game itself.

Regardless of what game you play, there are a few notable constants. The paddles, despite being satisfyingly snappy and tactile, are too close behind the wheel. This meant that whenever I turned the wheel at angles close to and beyond 180 degrees, my thumbs would get stuck between the outer edge of the paddles and the inner edge of the wheel rim.

Also, I found the throttle a little too light, failing to provide as much feedback as I would’ve liked, although it wasn’t quite as numb as some other throttles I’ve tried. The brake pedal offers more feedback thanks to its increased resistance, but it's still relatively light.

Should I buy the Hori Force Feedback Racing Wheel DLX?

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

You want a good wheel design
I liked the ergonomic thumb slots and soft-grip material, as well as the square-off bottom, which helps to indicate the orientation of the wheel.

You want a racing wheel that’s easy to use
Installation is easy thanks to the lightweight construction and clamping system, while the companion app can set you up in no time.

Don't buy it if...

You’ll be making lots of sharp turns
When making large turns, my thumbs would often get jammed between the wheel and the paddles, which is obviously concerning.

You want compatibility with multiple platforms
The Force Feedback Racing Wheel DLX only works on Xbox platforms, so if you’re on PlayStation or after one of the best PC racing wheels, you’ll need to look elsewhere.

Hori Force Feedback Racing Wheel DLX review: also consider

Here are some alternatives to the Hori Force Feedback Racing Wheel DLX if you want support for more platforms:

Hori Force Feedback Racing Wheel DLX

Thrustmaster T128

Logitech G923

Price

$299.99 / £299.99 (about AU$460)

$‌199.99 / £149.99 (around AU$312)

$349.99 / £379.99 / AU$649.95

Weight

10.6lbs / 4.8kg

9lbs / 5kg

12lbs / 5.4kg

Features

Three-pedal set, profile switch button

Handbrake buttons, 4 engine speed display RPM LEDs

Rotary dial, three-pedal base

Connection type

USB-A

USB-A

USB-A

Compatibility

Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One

Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, PC

Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, PC

Thrustmaster T128
The T128 is a wheel designed for the budget-conscious. It might have a less-than stellar design, but it all functions well, and the performance surprised me given how cheap it is. There aren’t many better racing wheels at this price. Read our full Thrustmaster T128 review.

Logitech G923
Another big name in the racing wheel market, the Logitech G923 is a superb all-rounder. Not only is it one of the best Xbox racing wheels, we also think it’s one of the best PS5 racing wheels, thanks to the model variant that’s compatible with Sony’s console. Read our full Logitech G923 review.

How I tested the Hori Force Feedback Racing Wheel DLX

• Tested for a few days
• Played various racing sims
• Racing wheel reviewing experience

I tested the Force Feedback Racing Wheel DLX for a few days on an Xbox Series X. I made sure to try out all of its features where possible and used its companion app to see what functions and adjustments it had to offer.

I played Forza Motorsport and Assetto Corsa, two racing games for Xbox offering different levels of simulation, and therefore together provide a comprehensive test for racing wheels.

I have been a fan of racing sims for decades, and have tested a number of racing wheels across a range of brands, styles, and price points.

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

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Brinno BCC5000 Time Lapse Bundle: one-minute review

(Image credit: James Abbott)

While many of the best action cameras allow you to capture short-form timelapse videos thanks to their diverse functionality, it’s the best timelapse cameras that make long-form timelapse videos possible. Here, I’m talking about days, weeks or even months in duration, and for this, you need a special kind of camera.

The Brinno BCC5000 Time Lapse Bundle is a comprehensive kit that includes the Brinno TLC5000 4K timelapse camera, a tough weather-resistant housing, and a versatile camera clamp that allows the camera and housing to be attached to a wide variety of surfaces, such as the top of walls, beams and girders.

The camera can also be attached to a tripod, but this is more suitable for shorter rather than long-term timelapse video capture. The camera can be used without its housing, but since it lacks a screen, connection and control via Bluetooth and Wi-Fi provide a greater level of precision in or out of the housing. Bluetooth isn’t perfect, and we’ll discuss that later.

Construction timelapse cameras aren’t cheap, as I discovered when I reviewed the Brinno TLC 300 and the Brinno TLC 2020. These are, however, extremely low-cost when compared to the Brinno BCC5000 Time Lapse Bundle, which costs $1,899 / £1,899 / AU$TBC. It’s not cheap, but the functionality and shooting duration on offer are greatly increased as you’d expect.

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(Image credit: James Abbott)Brinno BCC5000 Time Lapse Bundle specsBrinno BCC5000 Time Lapse Bundle specs

Type:

1/1.8-inch Sony STARVIS 2

Lens angle of view:

118 degrees

Aperture:

f/2.0

Interval times:

3 sec–24 hours

Connectivity:

BLE 4.0 / Wi-Fi/ 2.4GHz 802.11

Camera dimensions:

3.8 x 3.8 x 2.6 inches / 96 x97.5 x 66.2mm

Housing dimensions:

6.7 x4.1 x 9.3 inches / 170 x 104 x 236mm

Camera weight:

7.9oz / 224g (without battery)

Housing weight:

23.2oz / 657g (without camera & batteries)

Brinno BCC5000 Time Lapse Bundle: Design

• No screen
• Minimal design
• Large weather-sealed housing

The Brinno BCC5000 Time Lapse Bundle is the sum of two parts – you have the camera itself, and then you have the robust ATH5000 weatherproof housing. The housing allows for long-term capture, with three battery slots for extended use, with the ability to recharge the batteries in or out of the housing.

You can use the camera independently of the housing when capturing timelapse videos over several hours, or perhaps a day, in fine weather, but it’s not waterproof, so the housing is essential for longer captures.

The camera itself features an almost cube-like design that’s 3.8 x 3.8 x 2.6 inches / 96 x 97.5 x 66.2mm with just two buttons for operation: an on/off switch, a microSD card slot and a USB-C port.

There's no screen on the camera, so you have to connect it to a laptop or smart device using Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. This allows you to take a photo when using Bluetooth or view a live feed when connected to Wi-Fi to compose the camera.

When using just the camera, a single battery can be installed in the rear, and there’s a small lens hood that can be attached to the lens. There’s also a spirit level on the front of the TLC5000 that helps you to level the camera on the horizontal axis.

According to the Brinno website, the bundle, which includes two batteries, can provide up to 200 days of shooting with a five-minute capture interval. I’m assuming this is with two batteries rather than three, but it's unclear.

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The Li-ion batteries have a capacity of 45.4Wh or roughly 12,611mAh, and take around six hours to charge. So, although they can be charged in the housing via USB-C, it might make more sense to remove the used battery/batteries and charge them elsewhere in order to maintain the weatherproofing of the housing and the batteries in the battery compartment.

The housing is surprisingly large at 6.7 x 4.1 x 9.3 inches / 170 x 104 x 236mm, but this is split into two sections, one for the camera and another for the batteries. When the camera is used in the housing it’s plugged into the housing, and doesn’t require a battery, as power is supplied from the battery compartment.

The housing doors clip securely to make it watertight, and there are loops where locks or cable ties can be used if desired. This will only keep the housing closed, though and won’t prevent theft.

In the kit you get the TLC5000 camera, the ATH5000 housing, two batteries, the ACC5000 Camera Clamp Pro, a lens hood, a 64GB microSD card, a USB-C cable and silica gel packs to put in the housing to eliminate moisture.

Brinno BCC5000 Time Lapse Bundle: Performance

• Great image quality for this type of camera
• Bluetooth connection is glitchy in some ways
• Settings are limited with Bluetooth

The key advantage of the TLC5000 is its ability to capture long-term timelapse videos of construction sites, and any location for that matter. Setting up and using the camera is incredibly easy with the limited camera controls available. All you have is Exposure Mode for Daytime, Twilight and Night, Timestamp on/off, Sharpness, Saturation, Playback rate, time interval and schedule. This is pretty much a point-and-shoot 4K camera.

The shortest time intervals available for the different shooting modes are Daytime three seconds, Twilight five seconds and Night 10 seconds; shorter would be better. The maximum interval is 24 hours. You can shoot with the camera using the basic controls on the front of the camera to set the interval and begin shooting. These can be used whether the camera is being used independently or in the housing, since with the latter, the camera sits on a plate that slots into place easily so the composition is maintained.

To get the most out of the camera you have to connect it to a Wi-Fi network, which opens up access to all settings and remote access via the Brinno cloud. This only possible, though, if Wi-Fi is available at the shooting location. Brinno cloud access means you can access settings, including scheduling, and download captures remotely, although downloading was extremely slow during testing.

You can also connect over Bluetooth, although only basic interval, scheduling and start/stop controls are available via the Chrome browser. The take-a-photo function, for composing the camera, is extremely hit or miss – sometimes it works, often it won’t, and other times it produces an overexposed and unviewable image. It would make sense for this connection to be flawless since it’s likely the most convenient and popular way for people to connect to the camera wirelessly.

Brinno TLC5000 video straight out of camera

Browser-based camera control isn’t ideal, but it does work to be fair. Brinno has confirmed that Android and iOS apps are in development, so hopefully these and future firmware updates will fix the Bluetooth photo issue.

It would be beneficial for all settings to be available in these apps and via Bluetooth when using the Chrome browser, because the limitations here leave you unable to adjust many settings if no Wi-Fi network is available. You could, of course, set up a Wi-Fi hotspot with your smartphone simply to change more settings than Bluetooth allows, but it's not a streamlined approach.

Brinno TLC5000 video white balance corrected

Image quality is impressive for a dedicated timelapse camera, but it's not perfect. 4K is a fantastic resolution, and the standard to be expected these days. Even night captures are impressive, with fairly clean footage. You can only really notice the small amount of color noise when you pause night captures.

Images can look too sharp and oversaturated, so delving into these controls and adjusting them accordingly will provide more favorable and personalized results. White balance in daylight can be far too warm, but it can be corrected in video editing software. Chromatic aberration is visible along high-contrast subject edges.

4K grab from Brinno TLC5000 using VLC Player. (Image credit: James Abbott)

You can’t take photos with the camera, but you can extract stills from footage using the Brinno Video Player, although i found this Windows-only software to be glitchy and generally awful to use. VLC Player (free) proved to be a much better video player for grabbing 4K stills from footage.

Should you buy the Brinno BCC5000 Time Lapse Bundle?Buy it if...

You want to shoot long-term time-lapses

If you’re aiming to capture long-form timelapse videos over several weeks or months, this is a dedicated camera that will allow you to do just that.

You need an all-weather solution

With the weather-resistant housing, this is a camera that can be left out in all weather without any risk of water ingress. You also get silica gel packs to prevent condensation.

You need remote connectivity

When the TCL5000 is connected to a Wi-Fi network you can access the camera remotely to change settings and download timelapse footage.

Don't buy it if...

You’d prefer a more versatile camera

If you’d like a camera that can do much more but doesn’t shoot for such long durations, an action camera will be a much more suitable option for you.

You’re on a budget

The BCC5000 kit is expensive, but you can buy much more affordable Brinno timelapse cameras. There are several models available, so you can find the best option for you.

You want the best image quality

If you’d like the best image quality possible, a mirrorless camera is the best option for capturing timelapses. They are, however, only suitable for shorter timelapse shoots.

How I tested the Brinno BCC5000 Time Lapse Bundle

• I tested the camera over several weeks
• I used it at different times of day
• I tested all connection methods for shooting

I tested the Brinno BCC5000 Time Lapse Bundle in shorter bursts rather than for long-form timelapse capture, as testing the extremes of scheduling would have taken months. I was, however, able to test basic scheduling using different interval times at different times of the day and night.

I used my smartphone, tablet and laptop for Bluetooth connection. To test the Wi-Fi control I used both my laptop and tablet connected over my home network. I also used the TLC5000 manually, and composed ‘blind’ by simply pointing the camera and starting shooting using the direct-access controls.

With nearly 30 years of photographic experience and 17 years working as a photography journalist, I’ve used many of the cameras and lenses that have been released in that time. As a working photographer, I aim to test cameras and lenses from a photographer’s point of view.

• First reviewed July 2025

Samsung HW-Q990F review: Two minute review

The Samsung HW-Q990F is the successor to the Samsung HW-Q990D, a five-star Dolby Atmos soundbar that earned a top spot in our best soundbars guide. The Q990F doesn’t change much of Samsung's formula, with the main change being a redesign of the subwoofer to a smaller compact size, but it continues Samsung's legacy of excellent Dolby Atmos soundbars.

The Samsung HW-Q990F features 11.1.4 channels across four separate units, including a soundbar, a subwoofer and two rear speakers. It supports Dolby Atmos and DTS:X passthrough, along with 4K 120Hz on multiple HDMI 2.1 ports.

The Q990F’s sound-enhancing features include SpaceFit Sound Pro to tune the system for your specific viewing space. Plus, owners of some of the best Samsung TVs can make use of its Q-Symphony for even bigger and better sound.

Performance is nothing short of brilliant on the Q990F. Its smaller subwoofer doesn’t sacrifice any power or detail and is arguably more nuanced than its predecessors. Elsewhere, the system delivers immersive and engaging surround sound, an impressively wide soundstage, and a dynamic presentation of Dolby Atmos height effects up there with the best Dolby Atmos soundbars.

The Q990F is especially great for Atmos music, and while it won’t beat the likes of the Marshall Heston 120 or Sonos Arc Ultra, it’s still a solid option for music playback.

The Q990F’s new, more compact subwoofer is a dream for those looking to save on space. The system’s size is identical to its predecessor, but its overall finish and materials don’t quite feel as premium as the Q990D’s. Still, the Q990F feels well-built, sturdy, and premium enough for the money.

Setting up the Q990F is a breeze. Once connected to the TV via HDMI eARC, the four units sync wirelessly, and you’re on your way. The SmartThings app is necessary for setup, and it allows you to fine-tune the Q990F and access some of its best features. If you don’t want to use the app, Samsung’s supplied remote is more than adequate for control.

The Q990F is undoubtedly a premium-priced soundbar. There are cheaper surround soundbar packages available, along with powerful all-in-one solutions, but the Q990F justifies its price with its performance. It’s not a big step up over its predecessor, which is the better value choice while it’s still available, but once that stock runs out, the Q990F is ready to fill the gap. Expect some big deals on the Q990F throughout the coming year as well, as prices are already dropping.

Samsung HW-Q990F review: Price & release date

The Samsung HW-Q990F isn't the smallest of soundbars, but it should be able to fit under most TVs (Image credit: Future)

• Release date: May 2025
• Price: $1,999 / £1,699 / AU$2,099

The Samsung HW-Q990F is Samsung’s 2025 flagship soundbar. It sits above the HW-Q930F, HW-Q900F, HW-Q800F, HW-Q700F, and the Samsung QS700F, a redesign of the mid-range Q700 series.

Since its launch in May 2025, prices for the HW-Q900F have dropped, and it is now regularly available for $1,599 / £1,499 / AU$1,599, a healthy discount.

Samsung HW-Q990F review: Specs

Dimensions (W x H x D)

Soundbar: 1232 x 70.8 x 138 mm (48.5 x 2.8 x 5.4 inch); Subwoofer: 249 x 251.8 x 249 mm (9.8 x 10.0 x 9.8 inch); Rear speaker: 129.5 x 201.3 x140.4 mm (5.1 x 8.0 x 5.5 inch)

Speaker channels

11.1.4

Connections:

1x HDMI out (with eARC), 2x HDMI 2.1 in, optical digital audio, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth

Dolby Atmos/DTS:X

Yes/Yes

Sub included

Yes

Rear speakers included

Yes

Features

Q Symphony, SpaceFit Sound Pro, Adaptive Sound, Game Mode Pro, Tap Sound, AirPlay 2, Chromecast, HDMI 2.1 120Hz pass-through, HDR10+ and Dolby Vision pass-through, wireless Dolby Atmos

Samsung HW-Q990F review: Features

The Samsung HW-Q990F has an HDMI out eARC port, as well as two HDMI 2.1 in ports, which both support 4K 120Hz for gaming. (Image credit: Future)

• 11.1.4 channels
• Dolby Atmos & DTS:X passthrough, including wireless Dolby Atmos
• HDMI 2.1 with 4K 120Hz support

The Samsung HW-Q990F has much the same impressive feature set as its predecessor, the Samsung HW-Q990D. It has 11.1.4 channels but increases the total number of speakers by one to 23, and it features a new, sleeker, dual-driver subwoofer (more on that below).

The Q990F supports both Dolby Atmos and DTS:X, along with Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby TrueHD, Dolby 5.1 and DTS: HD-Master Audio.

For connections, there is an HDMI eARC port for connection to displays, as well as two HDMI 2.1 in ports that support 4K 120Hz for gaming. There is also Wi-Fi and Bluetooth streaming for music playback, including Dolby Atmos music support.

The Q990F's audio-enhancing features include SpaceFit Sound Pro, which can optimize the sound for your living space; Private Audio, which uses the rear speakers for late-night listening; Adaptive Sound, where the sound is tweaked in real time; Active Voice Amplifier Pro, which uses AI to boost the level of voices in soundtracks; and Q-Symphony, a feature that combines the built-in speakers of compatible Samsung TVs with the Q990F’s sound for boosted audio.

Wireless Dolby Atmos support lets you stream Dolby Atmos soundtracks from compatible Samsung TVs to the Q990F soundbar, albeit in a compressed format. Also, there is Tap Sound, which lets the Q990F instantly stream the music you’ve been listening to when you tap your smartphone on it.

The Q990F can be controlled using the supplied remote control or with the Samsung SmartThings app, where more in-depth sound and EQ adjustments can be made. The app is also where features such as Active Voice Amplifier Pro, SpaceFit Sound Pro and Adaptive sound can be accessed.

• Features score: 5 / 5

Samsung HW-Q990F review: Performance

The Samsung Q990F's immersive sound is perfect for high-octane scenes like the Batmobile chase from The Batman (pictured) (Image credit: Future)

• Expansive, powerful sound
• Weighty, tightly controlled bass
• Excellent gaming performance

Despite having only minimal changes on paper from its predecessor, the Q990F has mighty shoes to fill, and Samsung’s change to subwoofer was a risky move. Thankfully, the move paid off.

Samsung’s new subwoofer may be smaller, but it’s just as powerful as its predecessors. It delivers impactful, meaty bass and has room-shaking power. Watching the Batmobile chase from The Batman, the roar of the Batmobile’s engine produced plenty of glorious rumble, with each rev of the engine reminding me just how engaging this small but mighty subwoofer is.

The subwoofer sound is also tightly controlled and nuanced. Musical numbers such as Defying Gravity from Wicked still had plenty of detailed low-end, giving instruments and vocals \room to breathe in the mix.

Placement of sound effects is another area where the Q990F excels. During the same Batmobile chase in The Batman, the direction of sound as Batman and Penguin weaved in and out of traffic was tracked across the front soundbar with stunning accuracy and precision. The same was true in Star Wars: A New Hope on Disney Plus as X-Wings and TIE Fighters flew around and overhead, making full use of the rear speakers.

The Q990F’s sound balance also impressed me. In Wicked, the higher-pitched vocals were front and center, and reproduced with real clarity, while the strings sat perfectly with the lower bass tones, creating a wonderfully balanced mix. And the system’s beautifully wide soundstage easily filled our testing lab.

Musicals, like Wicked (pictured), sounded great on the Samsung HW-Q990F (Image credit: Future)

Testing out the Q990F’s features, I found that SpaceFit Sound Pro not only added volume but tightened the sound up without affecting the expansive soundstage. The results may vary depending on your room (our testing lab is well laid out for soundbars), but it’s worth giving it a try.

I tested the Q990F with the Samsung S95F, one of the best OLED TVs of 2025. This allowed me to test out Q-Symphony, and it added extra volume and power and widened the soundstage even more, something that was particularly noticeable with subtle effects such as gear changes or engine revs from the Batmobile in The Batman.

Switching from movies to music, the Q990F sounded great with Dolby Atmos tracks. Listening to an Atmos mix of Riders on the Storm by the Doors via Tidal, the rain was perfectly placed overhead while Jim Morrison’s low vocals, the guitars, and the high notes of the keyboard were clear, precise, and well-balanced. And when I listened to Barry White’s I’ve Got So Much To Give, the guitars, bass and drums felt like they were coming from different areas around the room.

Stereo music performance wasn’t as show-stopping as Dolby Atmos music, but it was good nonetheless. Thelonious Monk’s Japanese Song displayed impressive width, with the piano sounding bright and clear and the smooth, punchy tones of the saxophone accurately positioned. It’s not going to beat the likes of the Marshall Heston 120 for musicality, but it does a good job.

Playing Battlefield V at 4K 120Hz, with an Xbox Series X running through the Q990F to the S95F TV, the action felt smooth and responsive during chaotic gunfights and sequences. It even had a 9.5ms input lag time when I measured it, proving that there was no added latency when the Xbox’s signal passed through the Q990F.

• Performance score: 5 / 5

Samsung HW-Q990F review: Design

The Samsung HW-Q990F's subwoofer (pictured) is significantly more compact than previous generations (Image credit: Future)

• New, more compact subwoofer
• Soundbar as wide as a 55-inch TV
• Not as visually appealing as predecessors

The Q990F comprises four units: the main soundbar, the subwoofer, and the two surround speakers. Each unit has undergone a redesign, and while the new subwoofer is much more visually appealing, the other units somehow feel and look cheaper than the ones in last year’s Q990D system.

The metal grille-type design of the soundbar remains the same at the front, but on top, it has been replaced by a cheaper-looking, lined, grated design, and the same is true of the rear speakers.

The subwoofer is the biggest change in terms of scale. Samsung has scrapped the bulky, weighty upright subwoofer design of past systems in favor of a more compact, cubed build. The new subwoofer measures 249 x 251.8 x 249 mm (9.8 x 9.9 x 9.8 in), compared to the Q990D’s subwoofer, which measured 220 x 413 x 410 mm (8.6 x 16.2 x 16.1 in). It’s almost half the size of the Q990D’s sub, allowing much more freedom for placement. The main soundbar and rear speakers are the same size as the Q990D’s.

The soundbar has the same alphanumeric display found in previous generations, and while still challenging to read, it’s a welcome feature.

• Design score: 4 / 5

Samsung HW-Q990F review: Setup & usability

The Samsung HW-Q990F is easy to control with both the SmartThings app and supplied remote (pictured) (Image credit: Future)

• Easy setup
• Useful SmartThings app for control and features
• Wireless connection between units

The Q990F is an excellent option if you’re looking for a surround sound system without the cable hassles you’d find in a traditional wired home theater setup.

The setup of the Q990F was easy, despite it having multiple units. After plugging the main soundbar into the S95F TV’s HDMI eARC port, I next plugged in all the units, and they wirelessly synced up.

The Q990F can be controlled either using the supplied remote or the SmartThings app. The remote is more than adequate, but using the SmartThings app gives access to all the sound and setup features described above and more. It’s worth giving the app a go, though the Q990F’s sound is also good out of the box.

• Setup & usability score: 4.5 / 5

Samsung HW-Q990F review: Value

The Samsung HW-Q990F comprises four units: a soundbar, subwoofer and rear speakers. Although sold at a premium price, its performance justifies its cost (Image credit: Future)

• Complete soundbar system
• Premium price
• A minor upgrade over its predecessor

At $1,599 / £1,599 / AU$1,599 at the time of writing, several weeks after its launch, the Q990F is at the premium end of the soundbar market. All-in-one solutions that provide a superb cinematic experience, such as the Marshall Heston 120 and Sonos Arc Ultra, are priced at $999 / £999. And there are even budget surround sound options, such as the Hisense AX5125H ($299 / £299), that give you surround sound at a fraction of the cost.

But the Q990F delivers superior performance, with serious power and engaging and immersive sound, thanks to its 11.1.4 channels and 23 speakers.

There is the small matter of the Q990F’s predecessor, the Q990D, still being available for $1,199 / £799 as it nears the end of its life cycle, and outside of the Q990F’s sub, there are not a great deal of upgrades. Right now, the Q990D is better bang for your buck, but as stock depletes, the Q990F is a more than worthy successor to the Q990D.

• Value score: 4 / 5

Should I buy the Samsung HW-Q990F?

(Image credit: Future)

Section

Notes

Score

Features

An extensive list of sound enhancing features, plus 4K, 120Hz support for consoles

5 / 5

Performance

Immersive, dynamic, expansive and powerful sound

5 / 5

Design

A more compact and visually appealing subwoofer, but the rest of the design feels like a step back

4 / 5

Setup & usability

Simple setup and plenty of control via remote or SmarThings app

4.5 / 5

Value

Delivers on its price, but undoubtedly still a premium soundbar

4 / 5

Buy it if...

You want an immersive, cinematic experience
The Q990F delivers expansive, detailed and weighty sound, especially with Dolby Atmos soundtracks.

You want to use your soundbar for gaming
The Q990F's HDMI ports support 4K 120Hz for current-gen consoles, which delivers responsive and snappy gameplay.

You want to be able to hide your subwoofer
The redesigned subwoofer supplied with the Q990F is compact and saves space, and it does so without sacrificing any sacrifice to sound quality.

Don't buy it if...

You're trying to save money
Because it is a full surround sound soundbar package, the Q990F comes at a premium that will outstretch most budgets.

You want a clear front display
If you're not going to use the app, you'll need to rely on the front display when switching inputs. Sadly, it's not the easiest thing to read.

You own the Samsung HW-Q990D
Other than the redesigned, smaller subwoofer, there are minimal changes or upgrades in the Q990F compared to its predecessor, the Q990D. If you own the latter, you don't need to upgrade. View Deal

Samsung HW-Q990D review: Also consider

Samsung HW-Q990F

Samsung HW-Q990D

LG S95TR

JBL Bar 1300X

Dimensions

Soundbar: 1232 x 70.8 x 138 mm (48.5 x 2.8 x 5.4 inch); Subwoofer: 249 x 251.8 x 249 mm (9.8 x 10.0 x 9.8 inch); Rear speaker: 129.5 x 201.3 x140.4 mm (5.1 x 8.0 x 5.5 inch)

Soundbar: 1309.0 x 595.0 x 277.0 mm, Subwoofer: 220.0 x 413.0 x 410.0 mm , Rear speaker: 129.5 x 201.3 x140.4 mm

Soundbar: 1249.68 x 63.5 x 134.6 mm (49.2 x 2.5 x 5.3 inches) Subwoofer: 200.6 x 406.4 x 403.8 mm (7.9 x 16 x 15.9 inches), Rear speakers: 160 x 223.5 x 142.2 mm(6.3 x 8.8 x 5.6 inches)

Soundbar: 1000 x 60.9 x 139.7mm (39.4 x 2.4 x 5.5 inches), Surround speakers: 203.2 x 60.9 x 139.7mm(8 x 2.4 x 5.5 inches), Subwoofer: 365.7 x 480 x 365.7mm (14.4 x 18.9 x 14.4 inches

Speaker channels

11.1.4

11.1.4

11.1.4

16

Connections

Two HDMI 2.1 input, One HDMI output, optical output, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth

Two HDMI 2.1 input, One HDMI output, optical output, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth

1x HDMI out (with eARC), HDMI 2.1 in, optical digital audio, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth

4 HDMI inputs (1 with eARC), optical digital audio, USB type-A

Dolby Atmos/DTS:X

Yes/Yes

Yes/Yes

Yes/Yes

Yes/Yes

Samsung HW-Q990D (2024)
The Samsung HW-Q990D is the Q990F's predecessor and delivers similarly impressive performance. Because it came out in 2024, you can now regularly find the Q990D for half the price of the Q990F, and it's not a real step-down. If you find a deal, the Q990D is a superb choice.

Read our full Samsung HW-Q990D reviewView Deal

LG S95TR (2024)
The LG S95TR is LG's flagship soundbar system from 2024 and is the LG equivalent of the Samsung HW-Q990D. It delivers clear, powerful and immersive sound and is better suited for LG TV owners than Samsung's models thanks to its WOW Orchestra feature. Price-wise, it's close to the current Q990F, so it'll come down to what TV you own.

Read our full LG S95TR reviewView Deal

JBL Bar 1300X
The JBL Bar 1300X also has four units including detachable surround speakers from the bar itself, for a space saving solution when not in use. The Bar 1300X is a full surround sound package for those without a Samsung TV but still want an expansive and weighty sound.

Read our full JBL Bar 1300X review

How I tested the Samsung HW-Q990F

(Image credit: Future)

• Connected to the Samsung S95F
• Tested with different sources
• Dolby Atmos, 5.1 surround and stereo sound tested

To test the Samsung HW-Q990F, I connected it to the Samsung S95F, Samsung's flagship OLED TV for 2025. This allowed me to use Q-Symphony and other Samsung-related features.

I tested the Q990F using the same reference scene I use when testing the best TVs, particularly 4K Blu-rays of The Batman and Wicked. I also used 4K streaming, which has compressed sound mixes, to see how it fared, particularly the Star Wars space battle sequences. I also analyzed the system's sound balance, as well as speech and sound effects placement.

I tested the Q990F's music streaming capabilities with both Dolby Atmos and stereo mixes through Tidal and Spotify, over both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. I also tested the Q990F's gaming performance using an Xbox Series X and Battlefield V.

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

• Netflix's new AV1 Film Grain Synthesis tech boosts image quality
• It also reduces file size and improves streaming performance
• The tech has been rolling out to movies and TV shows since March 2025

Film grain is something of a 'secret sauce' that makes movies look, well, like movies. Go to the cinema and, while you’ll hardly notice them, these dotty imperfections flickering across the image lend it a depth that’s tricky to recreate digitally.

Well, now Netflix has revealed in a Techblog post that it's found a better way to do it, with a new technique that also handily improves playback stability, while reducing errors and rebuffering. It's been rolling out globally since March, with FGS-enabled streams available now on supported devices.

So what exactly has Netflix done? Movies filmed on digital cameras can appear too clean and perfect, and even digitized versions of analog films can struggle to properly retain the grain. This is particularly true for movies on services like Netflix, which require compression to reduce file size for smooth streaming performance.

In its efforts to keep things efficient, the compression process will remove grain from the original video file, meaning the viewer gets a nice steady stream but an image that lacks that true movie look.

Not anymore. Netflix has revealed that it's rolled out a technology called “AV1 Film Grain Synthesis” (FGS), which delivers a pleasingly grainy image without increasing file size.

It’s clever stuff: FGS analyses the source video to determine its specific grain pattern and shape, estimating it by comparing the original video with a de-noised version – the difference being the grain.

It then scales the grain intensity for different scenes, adjusting it for lighting and color. This information is then streamed alongside the compressed, grain-free video file, and used to recreate the grain effect on your device.

Better picture quality, greater efficiency

(Image credit: Netflix)

This means movies and TV shows on Netflix will now offer that desirable analog film look, boosting image quality and giving users a more enjoyable streaming experience.

Interestingly, during A/B testing of the feature Netflix also found that FGS significantly reduced bitrate and network bandwidth requirements, decreased playback errors and rebuffering, and reduced start-up delay, all of which result in a more stable overall streaming experience. Double win.

If you’re excited to see FGS in action for yourself, you’ll need a playback device that supports it. Unfortunately, it isn't yet clear exactly which shows and movies will benefit from the tech, nor what the hardware requirements are – we've contacted Netflix to find out and will update this story when we hear back.

However, Netflix’s blog post detailing the roll-out suggests They Cloned Tyrone and Dept. Q are good places to start. The streaming giant says you may need to toggle off HDR from the settings menu to see those FGS streams.

You might also like

• 7 new movies and TV shows to watch on Netflix, Prime Video, Max, and more this weekend (July 4)
• Netflix just canceled 2 of its most-watched shows – but I’ve already found better replacements streaming elsewhere
• Don’t scroll Netflix endlessly to find something to watch – use these secret codes to find stuff you’ll love instead

Advisers to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended against flu shots containing the ingredient thimerosal. Why is the additive, safely used since the 1930s, being questioned again?

(Image credit: Marie D. De Jesus/Houston Chronicle/Hearst Newspapers)

• 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)