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Spectrum will be your best bet for decent internet in Lima, but if available, turn to Brightspeed and TSC for high-speed internet access.

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This time, it's all about loyalty. In his second term Trump is surrounding himself with people who can amplify his message and are simpatico with how he wants to remake the Executive Branch.

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The most lucrative photo contest in the world has awarded its top prize – an eye-watering $200,000 – to Liping Cao of China for his monochrome image of a distant wind farm on the shores of a freshwater lake in Australia (see below).

The judges of the HIPA Sustainability, which is now in its thirteenth year, and which this year put up a record-high $1 million prize pot to be shared among the winners, chose Quiet Power, which depicts a wind farm in 2021 on a then-dried-out Lake George in New South Wales, Australia, as the overall winner.

What's most surprising about Liping's feat is the camera he used to take his winning photo – a Canon DSLR.

The camera in question is not even one of the best DSLRs, but a 12-year-old Canon EOS 5D Mark III – a full-frame DSLR that you can pick up secondhand from around $300 from the likes of KEH in the US or around £325 from MPB in the UK, though you'll pay a little more if you want one that's in excellent condition.

(Image credit: © Liping Cao)

Liping paired the EOS 5D Mark III with the EF 24-105mm F4L IS USM, a versatile zoom lens that back in the day could be purchased with the camera as part of a kit – a combination that's easily affordable for enthusiasts.

The winning image was shot in color and then converted to black and white because it "shows more levels of detail and is more suitable for experiencing environmental impact,” said Liping.

The Canon EOS 5D Mark III with EF 24-105mm F4L IS USM lens, Liping's winning gear combination (Image credit: Future) DSLR for the win

Canon confirmed some time ago that it's no longer developing DSLR cameras, and is instead going all-in with its mirrorless cameras, but Liping's winning photo, taken with a Canon camera that's been consigned to the past, reminds us that you don't always need the latest and greatest cameras to get top results.

The full-frame EOS 5D Mark III packs a 22.9MP sensor, which practically matches Canon's modern-day mirrorless equivalents for detail, such as the EOS R6 Mark II, which shoots 24MP photos and which is much costlier.

And while I recently came to appreciate the advances in mirrorless camera tech when I used my old Nikon DSLR for the first time in years, this win for Liping shows there's still life in the old DSLR yet.

If you're interested in the best DSLR options you can check out our guide to the best DSLRs. And if you're a newcomer who's confused by the jargon, you'll want to read our mirrorless vs DSLR explainer.

You might also like

• The best DSLR camera for 2024: top choices for photography and video
• I used my DSLR for the first time in years since switching to mirrorless – here are four things I learned
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Blueair Blue Pure Mini Max: two-minute review

The Blueair Blue Pure Mini Max is a simple-to-use and space-saving air purifier. It’s available from Amazon in the US and the UK at a list price of $69.99 / £79. It’s far from the most high-tech air purifier on the market but it seems to do a good job of purifying the air, despite its lack of bells and whistles and low price point.

Replacement Particle and Carbon filters are cheap, costing $21.99 / £18, and should theoretically last a long period, with BlueAir stating that they can last up to six months of 24-hour use. There are other filter options available, namely Allergenblock and Smokeblock, which offer more tailored protection.

An ideal air purifier for desktop or nightstand use, the Blueair Blue Pure Mini Max measures only 11.4 x 6.8 x 5.9 inches / ‎172 x 172 x 289mm and is impressively lightweight. The reason behind this portable purifier weighing so little is down to the lack of protective casing over the filter itself. The colored fabric covering doubles as a washable pre-filter over the filter, and other than some structural plastic on the inside, that’s all the base consists of.

(Image credit: Future)

It’s possible to purchase further pre-filter coverings, and they’re available in a range of different colors, which is always a bonus for me. While this design is innovative and sustainability-conscious, it does mean that the Blueair Blue Pure Mini Max could be at higher risk of damage than heavier plastic-covered alternatives.

The Blueair Blue Pure Mini Max is as low on features as it is in price, but that’s fair enough. It has no automated fan settings or particle detection, just three fan speeds that can be cycled through via the fan touch button on the top of the purifier. It is helpful enough to monitor the condition of the filter, however, showing a yellow indicator when the filter is due to be changed soon, and red when it needs changing.

The Blueair Blue Pure Mini Max was a breeze to set up and operate. The touch buttons were responsive and the air purifier reacted quickly upon switching settings. Even though the Blueair Blue Pure Mini Max lacked any kind of contamination indicators, the change in air quality was noticeable when the purifier was in operation. It had a surprising cooling effect on the surrounding environment, but as I was using it on a chilly November morning in the south of England, I consider this to be an indicator of how well the Blue Pure Mini Max was circulating the air.

(Image credit: Future)

In terms of volume level, the Blueair Blue Pure Mini Max operated very quietly on the lowest fan speed, so it was no problem sleeping or working next to it. The two higher settings are more noticeable, but still at a satisfyingly low volume, with the top speed giving me a reading of just 47 dB.

Overall, you’re getting what you pay for with the Blueair Blue Pure Mini Max. The price for the air purifier is great, and the filters are good value, especially considering their longevity and the cost savings from the filter subscription plan available in the US currently.

In closing, I was pleasantly surprised by the Blueair Blue Pure Mini Max. I didn’t expect to be impressed due to this mini air purifier's low price point and lack of features, but the ease of use, good performance, and innovative design really won me over, and could see it sneaking its way into our selection of the best air purifiers before too long.

Blueair Blue Pure Mini Max review: price & availability

• List price: $69.99 / £79
• Available now in the US and UK

The Blueair Blue Pure Mini Max is a simple, desktop-sized, small-room air purifier that’s available in the US, and UK at Amazon for $69.99 / £79.

One element that often has the potential to catch people out is the cost of replacement filters compared to the initial cost of an air purifier itself. I’m pleased to say this isn’t the case with the Blueair Blue Pure Mini Max, as replacement Blueair Particle and Carbon filters cost just $21.99 / £18, which is particularly good considering the filters can last up to six months, even when used 24 hours a day. This cost can be brought down further still with Blueair's filter replacement subscription, but at the time of writing the Blueair Blue Pure Mini Max and associated filters are only showing up on the Blueair website, so we’ll have to wait for them to become available on the official site to take advantage of this offer in the UK.

There are other filter types available too: the Allergenblock filter, designed to reduce our exposure to dust allergens, pollen, and pet dander, and the Smokeblock filter, with double the activated carbon intended to remove wildfire smoke, plus heightened protection against other wildfire emissions.

• Value for money score: 4.5 out of 5

Blueair Blue Pure Mini Max review: specs Blueair Blue Pure Mini Max review: design and features

• No display
• Long-lasting filters
• Machine-washable fabric pre-filter

This is a very simple example of an air purifier, with no app support, visual display, or automatic detection – but at this price point, it’d be unfair to expect much more. The fact that the low-cost filters can last up to six months when running for 24 hours a day is certainly an attractive feature, and one thing the Blueair Blue Pure Mini Max can monitor is the filter life, displaying a yellow light on the top of the unit to indicate that the filter will need changing soon, turning red when it actually does.

The outer fabric looks nice from a distance, but the finish gives away the budget cost of the Blueair Blue Pure Mini Max; the fabric is a little loose, and the seam is wiggly and uneven, bulging out where it goes over the tan leather effect Blueair tag. The reason for this looseness becomes apparent as it’s not simply an aesthetic covering; it’s designed to be a washable fabric pre-filter.

(Image credit: Future)

I’ve never seen a design quite like this, as most air purifiers have plastic casing to protect the inner filters whereas the body of the Blueair Blue Pure Mini Max is simply some structural plastic sitting within the particle and carbon filter, covered in the washable pre-filter. This goes to explain its very light weight of 2.5 lb / 3.4kg but could make it vulnerable to damage.

Despite its minor flaws, it’s a nice touch that Blueair made the pre-filter part of the overall aesthetic, which has meant less material and wasted plastic, which we’re always happy to see at TechRadar. It’s also an advantage that they are machine washable and extras can be purchased in a range of colors, just in case you don’t want to wait for one to dry, or want to switch things up occasionally.

Not only is it delightfully light, it’s dinky in size, too. Measuring just 11.4 x 6.8 x 5.9 inches / ‎172 x 172 x 289mm. This cylindrical 360-degree design enables the Blueair Blue Pure Mini Max to be placed in a variety of spaces, as there’s plenty of opportunity for it to pull air in.

(Image credit: Future)

There is no display panel on the Blueair Blue Pure Mini Max, with only a power button, a fan button, a filter indicator light, and three fan speed indicator lights on the top of the air purifier. The fixed power cable extends out of the lower portion of the white plastic top section of the purifier. I found this placement odd at first but, of course, as the base is simply composed of the filters and plastic frame, this was the only logical place to put it.

There’s not much to dislike about the aesthetic of the Blueair Blue Pure Mini Max. The finish along the seam of the fabric pre-filter could be better, and the cable placement looks a little unusual, but all things considered, it lives up to its name. It's satisfyingly small and lightweight, making it a perfect option for anyone wanting to relocate their purifier regularly, or for those who struggle with maneuvering things.

• Design score: 4 out of 5

Blueair Blue Pure Mini Max review: performance

• No display or smart features
• Operated quietly
• Easy to use

The Blueair Blue Pure Mini Max proved easy to set up and operate. It was essentially just a case of removing the packaging and plugging the air purifier in, job done. The touch buttons were responsive, so it was quick to turn the purifier on and off and to cycle between fan speeds. The reaction speed was satisfyingly quick when changing between fan settings, whereas some purifiers take time to slow down, even when quickly cycling past the highest setting to get back to the lowest.

Despite the lack of air quality data to review, the Blue Pure Mini Max made the air around me feel fresher quickly upon first use when running it at fan speed 2. It had quite the cooling effect straight off the bat, which I’ve not encountered with other air purifiers, with cold air blowing quite strongly through the air vents at the top of the unit. This suggested to me that the air was circulating well, but after a while, on a grey November morning in the South West of England, it made the room uncomfortably cold, so that’s worth bearing in mind if you plan to use your air purifier in the winter.

(Image credit: Future)

In a 13 x 16 ft / 4 x 5 meter room, the sound of the air purifier is noticeable when on its second speed setting if there’s no other sound to drown it out. The pitch of the noise is interesting: it reminded me of the sound of a blowtorch, which is ironic considering it was cooling the room down. Blueair claims that their lowest fan speed is quieter than a whisper, and while I didn’t get a reading as low as they’ve stated, it was pretty darn quiet at 26 dB. It was barely audible to me from around four feet away. If I listened hard, I could hear a low humming, but it didn’t prove disruptive in the slightest when I was trying to sleep or working away at my desk.

Naturally, the higher fan speeds were louder, with fan speed 2 giving a reading of 35 dB, and speed 3, the highest setting, giving a reading of 47 dB. This was of course much more noticeable and made my cats a little wary at first, but compared to other air purifiers, such as the Molekule Air Mini+ whose lowest fan speed was 39 dB, it’s satisfyingly quiet.

As with other low-priced air purifiers I’ve tested, the Blueair Blue Pure Mini Max couldn’t remove cooking smells. It did have some impact on the intensity, however, as I noticed that the cooking odor got a little stronger once I’d switched the purifier off, so I was pleased that it managed to make a small impact at least.

Overall, using the Blueair Blue Pure Mini Max was a pleasant experience. It was small enough and light enough that I could find a space for it in every room, and it worked at a low enough volume that it wasn’t distracting.

• Performance score: 4.5 out of 5

Should I buy the Blueair Blue Pure Mini Max? Buy it if...

You want multiple air purifiers without breaking the bank
The Blueair Blue Pure Mini Max works hard despite its small stature, and its low cost means that it isn’t above the realm of possibility to purchase more than one so that you can enjoy its effects in multiple spaces.

You want a lightweight air purifier you can relocate with ease
Due to this purifier’s petite size, and the base consisting of a lightweight frame, the filter, and the pre-filter, the Blueair Blue Pure Mini Max is gloriously easy to pick up and carry.

You want some peace and quiet
The sound of the Blueair Blue Pure Mini Max is barely audible when on the lowest setting, making it a perfect nighttime purifying companion. Naturally, it is much more noticeable at higher speeds, but it’s still much quieter compared to other small purifiers I’ve tested.

Don't buy it if...

You want automated purifying
A budget price means basic features, and so this air purifier lacks particle detection. This means it can’t be left to its own devices and settings must be adjusted manually for it to clear the surrounding air efficiently.

You want something robust
It’s certainly a big pro that this air purifier is light and doesn’t possess a load of excess materials, however, the internal filters aren’t the most robust and are only covered by a layer of fabric. On the plus side, though, at least the filters are replaceable.

You want a display
There’s no display or companion app with this low-cost air purifier. There are no settings to alter other than the fan speeds and, as expected, without particle detection there is no contamination data to review, either.

Blueair Blue Pure Mini Max review: Also consider

Levoit Core 300S Smart True HEPA
It’s double the cost, but it features an insightful and intuitive companion app, and it performed well during testing. It’s larger than the Blueair purifier but has the added benefit of automatic detection and an LED touch display. If you want to learn more, why not check out our full Levoit Core 300S True HEPA air purifier review.

Molekule Air Mini+
A much more premium option for those who value a higher quality of materials and extra bacteria-busting technology. Its communication wasn’t ideal, and so although it is smart and has a companion app, it isn’t always reliable, but used manually it has some great purification features that might take your interest. To learn more about its medical-grade credentials, you can find out more in our Molekule Air Mini+ review.

How I tested the Blueair Blue Pure Mini Max

• I used the Blueair Blue Pure Mini Max for one week
• I tested how much of an impact it had on the surrounding air quality
• I tested its ability to tackle cooking smells

I checked how easy was to get the Blueair Blue Pure Mini Max set up, how easy it was to operate, and how portable it was.

I tested it in different rooms in my home, and observed how quiet it was at night time and whether it disturbed my sleep.

I assessed its design and structure, paying close attention to quality and any sustainable elements.

I reviewed the impact it had on the air quality in my environment, and how well it handled cooking smells.

• First reviewed: November 2024
• Read TechRadar's Reviews Guarantee

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Q Acoustics 3020c: Two-minute review

The Q Acoustics 3020c is one design in a five-strong range of (relatively) affordable new speakers from the British brand's 3000c series. Four different finishes are available, and no matter which one you prefer it will do justice to a braced, elegantly curved cabinet that’s just slightly longer than it is tall. Satin nickel driver surrounds behind magnetically attached grilles only add to the impression of a thoughtful and quite upmarket design.

A driver array consisting of a 22mm soft dome tweeter that’s decoupled from the main speaker baffle is bolstered by a rear-facing bass reflex port. Sat below is a 120mm mid/bass driver of the ‘continuous curved cone’ design that Q Acoustics first introduced in a far more expensive range of passive loudspeakers than this one. Claimed frequency response of 60Hz - 30kHz is the result and, if accurate, should be more than adequate for people who don’t prioritize ‘bass, and plenty of it’ over everything else. As well as the reflex port, the rear panel also features a single pair of extremely low-profile cable binding posts.

(Image credit: Future / Simon Lucas)

In action, the Q Acoustics 3020c prove a forthright, detailed and surprisingly assertive listen. No matter the type of music you listen to, and no matter its source, they sink their teeth in and let it know who’s boss immediately. Detail levels are high, drive and attack is plentiful, and both the tonal balance and the integration of the frequency range are completely convincing. Their stereo focus is impressive, their soundstaging abilities even more so, and the sort of momentum and urgency with which they can imbue a recording is always striking.

They’re not the heftiest speaker this sort of money can buy, it’s true – the low-frequency stuff they generate is taut and straight-edged, but could conceivably be punchier. And when it comes to dynamic expression, there’s a slight lack of headroom apparent. Because their default position is to be reasonably intense to start with, any changes in intensity are necessarily inhibited – just a touch, to be fair, but it’s a trait nevertheless.

Neither of these things prevent the Q Acoustics 3020c being a thoroughly enjoyable and quite invigorating listen, though, which warrants entry to our best stereo speakers roundup. Anyone with this sort of money for a speaker of this sort of size needs to hear them.

(Image credit: Future / Simon Lucas) Q Acoustics 3020c review: Price & release date

• Released August, 2024
• Priced $499 / £399 / AU$899

The Q Acoustics 3020c are on sale now, and in the United States they sell for $499 per pair. In the United Kingdom, they go for £399, while in Australia you’re looking at AU$899.

It’s an eye-catching price, for sure, and exciting when you remember just how much excellence Q Acoustics has demonstrated at the loudspeaker entry level. But competition is fierce: from Dali and Elac to KEF and JBL, there are numerous well-regarded alternatives – and they're far from alone...

(Image credit: Future / Simon Lucas) Q Acoustics 3020c review: Features

• 120mm mid/bass driver
• 22mm decoupled soft dome tweeter
• 60Hz - 30kHz frequency response

Like most passive loudspeakers, the Q Acoustics 3020c aren’t exactly overburdened with features. A couple of drive units, a helpfully positioned bass reflex port and some speaker binding posts are about all that can be expected – and sure enough, that’s about all the 3020c have.

Mind you, this being Q Acoustics those features are thoroughly implemented and entirely fit for purpose. The 22mm soft dome tweeter, for instance, is hermetically sealed and mechanically isolated from the baffle from which it protrudes. To all intents and purposes it’s floating, which prevents pressure modulations both from the energy it’s producing and from the mid/bass driver beneath it. The chamber it sits in is vented in an effort to minimize distortion, and has a lower-than-usual crossover point in order to make integration with the mid/bass driver as smooth as possible.

The mid/bass driver itself is a 120mm design of the ‘continuous curved cone’ type Q Acoustics first introduced on much more expensive loudspeakers than this one. Its continuous curve profile offers well-controlled frequency response, enhanced low-frequency dynamics and excellent dispersion characteristics – Q Acoustics suggests it offers the bass performance of a more common conic design with the midrange control of a flared cone design. The best of both worlds, in other words.

There’s a modestly sized bass reflex port venting from the rear of the cabinet, just above a single pair of extremely low-profile cable binding posts – Q Acoustics provides port bungs to help ensure the 3020c’s low-frequency activity is appropriate no matter where in your room they end up being positioned. The arrangement is good for a frequency response of 60Hz - 30kHz, according to the manufacturer, and with nominal impedance of six ohms and sensitivity of 87dB, the 3020c shouldn’t be any kind of problem for an amplifier to drive.

• Features score: 5/5

(Image credit: Future / Simon Lucas) Q Acoustics 3020c review: Sound quality

• Positive, upfront and informative sound
• Impressive powers of resolution
• Not as out-and-out punchy or dynamic as they might be

Sit up straight and pay attention – that seems to be the 3020c's attitude when it comes to sound. This is an assertive and direct pair of loudspeakers, and while it has a range of talents to reveal, what’s most immediate about the 3020c is, well, just how immediate it is.

Once through a copy of Fela Kuti’s Water No Get Enemy makes the point in unequivocal fashion. There’s plenty of harmonic dynamism on display, a really impressive amount of detail retrieved at every turn, but it’s the sheer bite and attack of the recording, the blare and the stridency, that the Q Acoustics really zero in on. This kind of positivity could, if imperfectly deployed, seem like raucousness – here it’s more a kind of urgency. Music-making is a serious business, according to the 3020c, and there’s really no time to pussyfoot.

If this makes the Q Acoustics sound in any way uncouth, be assured that’s not the case. Their tonality is judged nicely – they’re a neutral and uncolored listen, from the top of the frequency range to the bottom. The integration of the two drivers is smooth, the contributions of the bass reflex port are careful, and the inputs of each area of the frequency range are properly balanced and entirely convincing. Details both broad and fine are confidently identified and contextualized throughout, and the minutiae of tone and texture is readily available as a result.

(Image credit: Future / Simon Lucas)

The soundstage the 3020c can create is large and properly organized, and there’s great stereo focus even when a recording is as packed with contributors as Fela Kuti’s. Switching to something on a much smaller scale – Anastasia Coope’s Woke Up and No Feet, for instance – allows the Q Acoustics to demonstrate how adept they are at opening up a recording and making each element available. That's even if, as with this recording, it’s lo-fi and lacking in separation in the first place.

The lower frequencies aren’t the meatiest you ever heard from a pair of speakers at this sort of money, it’s true, but there’s no arguing with how well controlled they are. There’s an almost martial observation of bass attack and decay, and the result is a spring-heeled approach to rhythmic expression that keeps momentum levels high and means music really drives along. If that’s the trade-off for a slight lack of outright punch and substance, it seems fair enough to me.

What’s just a touch less easy to accommodate is a slight lack of dynamic potency. It’s not as if the 3020c ignore changes in volume or intensity during the course of a recording, but they don’t breathe quite as deeply as some alternative designs when it comes to making these shifts completely obvious. They’re direct and attacking by default, and it seems this doesn’t leave them quite as much room for manoeuvre as is absolutely ideal. In isolation it’s a shortcoming that almost doesn’t register, but when you’re competing in an arena as fierce as these Q Acoustics are, even the mildest weaknesses get pounced upon.

• Sound quality score: 4.5/5

(Image credit: Future / Simon Lucas) Q Acoustics 3020c review: Design

• 279 x 175 x 281mm (HxWxD)
• 5.5kg
• Choice of four finishes

The 3020c are not the first Q Acoustics loudspeakers to be longer than they are tall – but just because it’s a familiar design trope that’s based on sound engineering principles, that doesn’t make it seem anything less than slightly strange. It certainly rules out the possibility of positioning the 3020c on a regular shelf-sized shelf, and it means there will be significant overhang when positioned on a speaker stand with an ordinary top plate.

Where build and finish are concerned, we’re on equally familiar Q Acoustics ground, which is an uncomplicatedly good thing. The curved cabinet corners look good, the satin nickel driver trim gives a premium impression (as well as being a magnet for fingerprints) and the vinyl wrap covering the MDF cabinet is flawlessly applied. The outside is available in satin black, satin white or walnut as well as the oak of my review sample, while the inside features the point-to-point bracing the company has been perfecting for some time now.

There’s a final design flourish in the use of magnetically attached grilles. Not only do they cover slightly less than the entirety of the front baffle (leaving the casual ‘Q’ logo exposed), but they don’t require any visible fixings – the baffle looks unsullied when the grilles are removed.

• Design score: 4.5/5

(Image credit: Future / Simon Lucas) Q Acoustics 3020c review: Setup and usability

• Position the speakers securely on a shelf or stand…
• Attach speaker cable using plugs or bare wire…
• ... And away you go

Just as with ‘features’, there’s really not a lot involved in the set-up or subsequent usability of passive loudspeakers. It’s really not rocket science, and it shouldn’t take long before you’re up and running.

So, you’ll need to position your speakers securely – they are supplied with little rubber feet in order to decouple them from the surface on which they stand. Ideally, you’ll be further from them than they are from each other when you’re listening, and ideally they’ll be ‘toed in’ just a little towards you. You’ll need to attach them to your amplifier using half-decent speaker cable.

After that, it’s just a question of putting some music on and letting them do their thing…

• Setup and usability score: 5/5

Q Acoustics 3020c review: Value

It’s hard to suggest the Q Acoustics 3020c don’t represent value for money. Even in terms of the amount of stuff your $499 / £399 / AUS$899 buys, they’re impressive – these are reasonably big cabinets by prevailing standards, build quality is impeccable and the standard of finish is top-tier, too.

And when it comes to sound quality, the 3020c – while being a quite specific flavor – have a whole stack of talents that will keep you listening long after you should have stopped and started doing something else.

It’s really only those listeners who want to be able to hear the low-frequency stuff from another room who might disagree.

• Value score: 4.5/5

Should you buy the Q Acoustics 3020c? Buy them if...

You’re after a vigorous, direct and detailed sound
They just about stop short of grabbing you by the lapels, but the 3020c are a positive and quite attacking listen nevertheless

You admire a standard of build and finish that belies an asking price
Between cabinets that are braced on the inside and curved on the outside, flawlessly applied vinyl wrap and shiny ‘satin nickel’ driver surrounds, the 3020c look like a more expensive proposition than they actually are

You have deep shelves or big speaker stands
‘Longer than tall’ is always a slightly awkward look in a loudspeaker, and you’ll need an appropriately sized surface on which to position your Q Acoustics

Don't buy them if...

You crave low-frequency impact
The bass the Q Acoustics create is textured, tonally convincing and carefully controlled – but other designs hit harder

You haven’t checked your options
The 3020c are deeply competitive, but they’re by no means your only choice at this sort of money and you should investigate the whole of the market

You feel strongly about loudspeaker proportions
If you’re even slightly freaked out by loudspeakers that are longer than they are tall then you’re going to find the 3020c more than somewhat strange

Q Acoustics 3020c review: Also consider

The Elac Debut 3.0 DB63 have a rather ungainly model name, but at around $470 / £369 per pair they’re cracking value for money. Not as visually sleek as the 3020c if you ask me, but they have the all-around sonic talent to really take the fight to the Q Acoustics.

How I tested the Q Acoustics 3020c

• Connected to a Naim Uniti Star and a Cambridge Audio EXA100
• Connected using QED XT speaker cable
• Playing a wide variety of music from a number of different sources

During my time with the 3020c the only amplification to hand was, to be absolutely honest, somewhat overspecified. But by the same token I know the way they sound pretty well, so was perfectly comfortable hooking the Q Acoustics to both the Cambridge Audio and the Naim devices using a QED speaker cable that falls just as readily into the ‘overkill’ category.

I listened to vinyl records, CDs and music streamed from Tidal in the course of the test – of all styles and types.

First reviewed: November 2024

Read more about how we test at TechRadar

Full spoilers follow for Arcane season 2 episodes 4 to 6.

The second part of Arcane season 2 is out now – and, if you thought season 2 act 1's ending was as emotionally stunning as things were going to be, you were wrong.

I suspect that, as you come to terms with the soul-crushing events that occurred in the popular Netflix show's latest episodes, you've got lots of questions rattling around in your head. Allow me, plus Arcane's creators Alex Yee and Christian Linke, to answer – or, at the very least, try to answer – them. Full spoilers immediately follow for Arcane season 2 act 2, so turn back now if you haven't watched them yet.

Arcane season 2 act 2 ending explained: is Viktor really dead?

LoL lore suggests we might not have seen the last of Viktor (Image credit: Netflix/Riot Games/Fortiche Production)

It would appear so. After all, the teaser that wrapped up Arcane season 2 after show's first episode had fans fearing for their favorite character's life. Plus, there aren't many people who can take a Hextech gemstone-powered blast to the chest and live to tell the tale.

After a paranoid Jayce – more on what's wrong with him later – escapes the Anomaly, which apparently trapped him in an unknown dimension in episode 3, aka 'Finally Got the Name Right' he heads to Viktor's utopian camp on the outskirts of Zaun. Infiltrating said base, he almost kills one of its child inhabitants due to the impact of the Anomaly on his physical state – again, more on this soon.

Viktor is betrayed by his former friend and scientific partner (Image credit: Netflix/Riot Games/Fortiche Production)

Jayce manages to pull himself together before he gives the kid the same treatment he gave Salo (RIP, by the way) in the final scene of episode 5, titled 'Blisters and Bedrock'. I've no doubt that Jayce also remembers the kid he accidentally killed in season 1 episode 8, too, which stops him from murdering another innocent victim here.

Despite almost being gunned down, the kid takes pity on Jayce and takes him to meet the so-called Herald (the camp's messianic title for Viktor). Once there, Jayce powers up the gemstone beam alt-ability of his warped Hextech hammer and, aiming it towards a meditating Viktor, blasts him in the chest and seemingly kills him.

Why do I say 'seemingly'? Because, as fans of Riot Games' hugely popular League of Legends (LoL) videogame franchise, which Arcane is based on and is apparently a prequel to, will tell you, Viktor's ongoing presence as a playable LoL champion suggests he might not be dead after all.

When I quizzed Yee and Linke about whether Viktor's demise, they didn't confirm he was. "I think a fair answer is yes and no," Yee teased. Fine, keep your secrets, but I'm fully convinced this isn't the last we've seen of this cybernetically-augmented individual.

Arcane season 2 act 2 ending explained: what happened to Warwick?

Arcane can't let us have nice things, can it? (Image credit: Netflix/Riot Games/Fortiche Production)

Viktor's death has a devastating impact on his disciples, including Huck, who Viktor healed of their ailments with his Hextech powers. As Viktor perises, his followers scream in agony and suddenly die, too. Given Viktor's ability to take over any of his disciple's minds and/or bodies – as evidenced by him doing so to Salo in episode 5 – it seems Viktor and his peaceful acolytes are linked in some way, be it telepathically or in a form of hive mind consciousness.

But I'm getting off track. Heartbreakingly, Warwick – the monster Singed created from Vander's corpse – is also a casualty of Viktor's demise. Viktor used his powers to try to reverse Singed's alchemical effects and turn Warwick into Vander, so Warwick is also connected to Zaun's new Herald. Long story short: Warwick is also going to die.

Wait, is this apex shimmer that's bursting out of Warwick's body? (Image credit: Netflix/Riot Games/Fortiche Production)

Unlike Viktor's human followers, though, a panicked Warwick reverts to his feral state and becomes a murderous, blood lava-esque spewing machine. Fuelled by his unquenchable rage, Warwick mauls Rictus, Ambessa's lieutenant, to death as a horrified Vi, Jinx, Isha, Caitlyn, and Ambessa watch on.

Overcome with grief, an angry Ambessa instructs her Noxian forces to attack Warwick. He manages to take some of them down, but the overwhelming odds, and the fact he's already dying, mean Warwick's time on Runeterra – the world Arcane and LoL are set on – is fast coming to an end.

Arcane season 2 act 2 ending explained: did Isha die?

You had one job, Arcane: Protect. Isha. At. All. Costs. (Image credit: Netflix/Riot Games/Fortiche Production)

Another fair question, but one Linke and Yee were unwilling to fully commit to answering. With three more episodes to come, they wouldn't be drawn on anything to do about season 2 act 3, so it's completely understandable why they wouldn't confirm or deny if Isha died.

However, I think she's all but certain to have perished. Indeed, it looks like Isha sacrifices herself to save Jinx, Vi, and Caitlyn (but mostly Jinx) by killing Warwick with Jinx's Hextech gemstone-fuelled gun.

Episode 6, titled 'The Message Hidden Within the Pattern', foreshadowed this. Early in act 2's final episode, Huck asks Vi and JInx to leave their weapons at the entrance to Viktor's camp. The pair reluctantly agree but, before she surrenders her handgun, Jinx removes its gemstone and gives it to Isha for safekeeping. Noticing that Vi didn't remove the gemstones from her Hextech gauntlets, Isha grabs that pair, albeit off-screen, too. You can see her shoving them into her belt bag as the trio enters the camp.

I'm not crying, you are! (Image credit: Netflix/Riot Games/Fortiche Production)

Given the heart-warming nature of Jinx and Isha's evolving sibling-like bond, plus the fact Arcane constantly wants to rip out our hearts, Isha's death has also been signaled since the duo crossed paths in episode 2. So, when Warwick lashes out at Jinx as she tries to subdue him, and then menacingly approaches Jinx to deliver a lethal blow, Isha springs into action.

Running into the fray, she slides and grabs Jinx's pistol, which is lying on the ground, and jumps through the air to land at Warwick's feet. After loading all three gemstones into the weapon, she salutes Jinx with a tear-jerking finger-gun motion – the same one Jinx used on Isha in episode 2 – before shooting Warwick, which unleashes a destructive Hextech blast and likely kills them both.

The big question now is: how will Isha's death affect Jinx? Vi's younger sister has surprisingly kept a lid on her psychosis so far in season 2, and it seems her friendship with Isha is a key reason for that. With Isha gone, though, we'll probably see Jinx surrender to her mental disorder and/or become a depressed recluse in episode 7. Arcane season 2's official trailer confirms she'll eventually emerge from her emotional rut, and aid Piltover and Zaun's joint fight against Ambessa and her Noxian forces. For now, though, a heart-broken Jinx will mourn Isha and Vander's loss – that duo, Viktor, and Rictus joining Arcane's growing casualty list that began with three big character deaths in the season 2 premiere.

Arcane season 2 act 2 ending explained: what's wrong with Jayce?

Good guy Jayce has gone bad (Image credit: Netflix/Riot Games/Fortiche Production)

As I mentioned, Jayce has evidently been affected by the Anomaly. The magic crystal, which was given to him by the mage who rescued Jayce and his mom when he was a child, isn't helping matters, either. It's usually bound to a wrist strap Jayce wears but, after escaping the Anomaly, it's now embedded in his wrist, which won't be good for anyone's physical, emotional, or mental wellbeing.

So, where has he been? I don't have an answer to that but, playing it coy once more, Linke told me: "You'll find out in gratuitous detail. Let's just say certain illusions have dwindled", before Yee added: "You could say his dreams [about Hextech being a force for good] have died."

This wasn't a menacing shot at all... (Image credit: Netflix/Riot Games/Fortiche Production)

There are a couple of hints in episode 6 as to why Jayce is on a mission to destroy Hextech (i.e. his life's work) and anyone associated with it. The first of those is what, at the start of the sixth episode, Viktor calls a "sophisticated conjuration". According to Viktor, this is a singularity that simultaneously self-replicates and self-annihilates itself. In layman's terms, then: whatever the Anomaly and/or the titular Arcane (remember, at the end of 'Blisters and Bedrock' Viktor tells Jayce he can see that Jayce has "been touched by the arcane") has done to Jayce, he's continuously being ripped apart and put back together by it.

That's not all. In episode 5's final scene between Jayce and Salo, and the sixth episode's sequence before Jayce almost bludgeons one of Viktor's child followers to death, he sees corrupted versions of Salo and said kid. Check out the below image for a screenshot of what they look like.

I mean, if I kept seeing evil-looking versions of people I knew, I'd probably go mad, too (Image credit: Netflix/Riot Games/Fortiche Production)

Clearly, these semi-hollow, disfigured versions of Salo and the child disciple are evil in Jayce's unstable state, hence his desire to eradicate Hextech and anything it's touched from existence. Is he being forced to do so by the Anomaly, the Arcane, the crystal stuck in his forearm, or a combination of the three? We'll find out soon.

Arcane season 2 act 2 ending explained: how will Ambessa react to Rictus' death and episode 6's wider events?

Don't anger a warlord, everyone... (Image credit: Netflix/Riot Games/Fortiche)

Not well, I suspect. Her second-in-command is dead. Caitlyn, who Ambessa was priming to be Piltover's new commander-in-chief (albeit one that Ambessa believed she could puppeteer), has also betrayed her and re-allied herself with Vi and Jinx. Singed's plan to recapture Warwick failed. Oh, and a mentally distorted Jayce not only suddenly reappeared on the scene, but was also responsible for everything that happened in episode 6's last 10 minutes after murdering Viktor.

Ambessa's been looking to assume totalitarian control of Piltover since her first appearance in season 1 episode 7 through manipulating (unsuccessfully, I'll add) numerous high-ranking Piltovans. Amid episode 6's fallout, I suspect she'll now pull a Thanos and decide to "do it myself" – i.e. make a play to become Piltover's autocratic ruler. After all, we see Ambessa and her Noxian soldiers making light work of Piltover's enforcers in season 2's official trailers, so expect her to show her true colors in act 3.

Arcane season 2 act 2 ending explained: who is Felicia? And how does she know Vander and Silco?

Wait, Felicia's hair color is what happens when you mix Vi and Powder's together! (Image credit: Netflix/Riot Games/Fortiche Production)

The short answer is she's Vi and Powder/Jinx's mom. A 'Blisters and Bedrock' flashback sequence also confirmed Felicia was a close friend of Vander and Silco. Indeed, the trio – as we learn when Vi, Jinx, and Isha come across an abandoned miners' break room while searching for Warwick in Zaun's underground tunnel network – were part of said mining team.

We also find out Felicia is the one who urged Vander and Silco to finally realize their dream of securing Zaun's independence from Piltover. The reason? Felicia finds out she's pregnant with Vi, who she conceived with her husband Connol. It's Vander who comes up with the name Violet, too. Oh, and Felicia and Connol's deaths, which we glimpsed in the opening scene of Arcane's season 1 premiere, were the reason for the breakdown in Vander and Silco's friendship. That's confirmed in an apology-filled letter, which Vi and company find in the aforementioned break room, that Vander wrote but never gave to Silco.

Arcane season 2 act 2 ending explained: how does Mel survive the Black Rose's attack?

How will this Mel-centric *ahem* chain of events end? (Image credit: Netflix/Riot Games/Fortiche Production)

By using the same ability she manifested when Jinx attacked Piltover's council chamber in the season 1 finale.

After being kidnapped by the Black Rose in 'Finally Got the Name Right', Mel is put through the wringer in 'Blisters and Bedrock'. Indeed, not only does she witness Elora's death at the Black Rose's hands, but she's also imprisoned in an oculorum; a specialized chamber built by ancient forces to lock up false prophets. She also thinks she's been reunited with her apparently deceased brother Kino but, due to his apparent ability to teleport to different areas of the oculorum, and the missable Black Rose-hued flourishes that occasionally flash over him, it's clear he's nothing but an illusion.

It doesn't take the ever-perceptive Mel long to realize he's not real. Determining that appears to be to her detriment, however, with the Black Rose choosing to kill her once she works this out. Unfortunately for them, Mel's latent, seemingly light-based powers allow her to escape the Black Rose's dark magic-crafted chains.

Arcane season 2 act 2 ending explained: who is Mel's so-called sister? Is it LeBlanc?

LeBlanc confirmed? (Image credit: Netflix/Riot Games/Fortiche Production)

Nobody knows what happens to Mel after she destroys the Black Rose's supernatural shackles. We'll have to wait until episode 7, at the earliest, to learn more.

What I'm confident about, though, is Mel and Kino having another sibling. The Black Rose's Kino apparition mentions as much and, while their story initially comes across as just another one of the clandestine organization's lies, there appears to be some truth to it.

Indeed, just before Mel escapes the Black Rose's clutches, a mysterious voice calls Mel their "sister". Episode 6's end credits sequence identifies this character as 'illusionary sorceress' who's voiced by Minnie Driver.

But who is this enigmatic individual? Before season 2's debut, Arcane fans conjured up a magical theory about who the show's main villain is: LeBlanc, a prominent member of the Black Rose and millennia-old sorceress who, without getting into the weeds of her extensive LoL backstory, is essentially Noxus' shadow queen.

Armed with this hypothesis, I asked Linke and Yee if we'd see any Black Rose members, LeBlanc or otherwise, before season 2 ends. I suspect we will, based on Linke's wry smile and telling laugh, and Yee's ambiguous "are you asking 'will they be there' or 'will we see them?'". That's as good a confirmation as I've heard that we're right, everyone! Time to update my Arcane season 2 cast and character guide again...

Arcane season 2 act 2 ending explained: who is Doctor Reveck? And why is he significant?

The doctor will see you now (Image credit: Netflix/Riot Games/Fortiche Production)

As Caitlyn explains in episode 5, Doctor Corin Reveck is Singed's true identity. A revered alchemist who was kicked out of Piltover's scientific academy for committing an unknown crime, Reveck is also responsible for creating shimmer, the addictive substance that flooded Zaun's streets in the wake of Vander's death in season 1.

The revelation that Singed is Reveck has massive repercussions for LoL lore. Indeed, it doesn't just validate a long-standing fan theory that Singed and Reveck are the same person, but also confirms the identity of Singed's daughter, who we see lying in a stasis pod midway through season 2's fifth chapter.

I really hope this isn't just a throwaway Easter egg, Arcane (Image credit: Netflix/Riot Games/Fortiche Production)

Historically, Reveck had a child named Orianna who, for reasons unknown (I imagine The Gray, aka the toxin-riddled air that used to hang over Zaun, has something to do with it), develops a terminal lung condition. However, Reveck manages to keep her alive by suspending her in the previously mentioned pod while he devises a way to cure her.

Now that Reveck and Singed are canonically the same person, Singed's daughter must also be Orianna. As Singed notes, his monstrous experiments, Warwick included, have been tests to determine if there's a way to bring Orianna back to life. Considering he succeeded on the Warwick front, he's one step closer to achieving his goal of overcoming death.

Fun fact: Orianna, who's also known as The Lady of Clockwork in LoL, is one of the game franchise's many champions/playable characters. Her appearance in 'Blisters and Bedrock', then, serves as an origin story of sorts for this mechanical humanoid and, whisper it quietly, may set up a future LoL movie or TV adaptation starring Orianna.

Arcane season 2 act 2 ending explained: where are Ekko and Heimerdinger?

What's become of Heimerdinger and Ekko? (Image credit: Netflix/Riot Games/Fortiche)

We still don't know. They were trapped inside the Anomaly alongside Jayce, but they didn't return to the material realm (i.e. the physical world) with their mentally unstable scientific fellow.

As Linke and Yee confirmed, we'll find out what happened to Jayce in act 3 – here's hoping we get more details in episode 7 – so I fully expect us to learn more about Ekko and Heimerdinger's whereabouts then. We know they'll return at some point, as there are scenes involving the duo in season 2's main trailers that weren't part of episodes 1 through 6.

It's incredibly likely that one or both of them will return with superhuman powers as well. LoL diehards already know Ekko has the ability to not only rewind time but also explore the branching possibilities of reality to create the perfect outcome. This time-reversal ability was teased by the stopwatch he used in season 1, so I'd be amazed if he doesn't acquire said power due to his experiences with the Anomaly.

What's unclear is if he'll need his Zero Drive, the gadget he created in LoL lore, to stabilize his powers. Regardless, expect Ekko and Heimerdinger to play vital roles in season 2's final act. Speaking of which...

Arcane season 2 act 2 ending explained: when is episode 7 being released on Netflix?

My face when I realize I have to wait a week to see how Arcane ends (Image credit: Netflix/Riot Games/Fortiche Production)

Season 2 episode 7 will be released on Netflix, aka one of the world's best streaming services, on Saturday, November 23.

It won't be the only episode that launches on that date. As with the previous two Saturdays, three new episodes, making up season 2's third and final act, will arrive on the same day. With Arcane season 2 set to be the animated show's final installment – there were rumors that a five-season plan was originally devised, but Linke and Yee told me that was "never the plan" for Arcane – there won't be any more episodes to enjoy after they've aired. Sad faces all around.

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• Arcane season 2 confirms the hit series isn't just one of the best Netflix shows ever made – it's an animated legend that'll stand the test of time
• Arcane season 2 finally gave us the huge Caitlyn and Vi moment we've been waiting for – and its creators say 'we couldn't have done it in season one'
• Arcane season 2's official soundtrack has been revealed, and I'm already convinced it'll take the number #1 spot on my 2024 Spotify Wrapped list

Taylor Swift fans have accused Ticketmaster and its parent company of conspiring with third parties to inflate concert ticket prices in violation of a law originally meant to target organized crime.

The Uniformation GK3 Ultra has been a much-anticipated printer and follows on from the hugely popular GK2, just on a larger scale. Rather than an update to their other model, the GK3 is larger, boosts the screen resolution and adds features that help to improve workflows, something that will be of special interest to anyone wanting to use this machine professionally. 

Rather than just hitting us with one headline feature, the GK3 boasts three major updates, the first and most obvious being the scale, with this machine overshadowing many other resin printers out there and offering a print build area that is close to that of a standard filament printer. However, it also offers outstanding 16K resolution, and it's only once you start printing that you can see just what this means in reality with prints that show finer detail than anything we've so far seen at this price. While the resolution is impressive, when that resolution is coupled with a build area of up to 300 x 160 x 300 mm, you can start to see the potential for modellers as well as product design.

Then there's the auto-resin refill system, which is simple in design but helps to ensure that you don't run out of resin during some of those huge prints. What's more, the chamber is now heated to help to ensure that the resin is at the best temperature for printing, again ensuring the best possible quality,

Considering the price of the GK3 Ultra, this is one of the best 3D printers I've tested, appealing to hobbyists as well as professionals who need a machine that offers precision and reliability. 

Uniformation GK3 Ultra: Design

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)

At 30 kg and measuring 455 x 400 x 575mm, there's nothing small or lightweight about the GK3 Ultra, and while that may seem big, you also have to factor in the flip-up lid, further increasing the height of the machine. However, if you're investing in the GK3, then the size really should be familiar, and neither should the weight. This is a machine that, once positioned, should have a permanent home, especially when you consider that much the same space is needed for the wash and cure machines.

When it comes to the construction of the GK3, the main frame is sleek and industrial, with a large hinged lid that provides easy access to the print area and helps prevent unwanted exposure to UV light. Our test review unit has gone through something of a transformation during the duration of the test, with slight tweaks having been made to the lid, which has transformed with several iterations arriving that have refined the design and function. All of the changes have been based on user feedback, and they make a huge difference.

The flip-over lid is a great idea and gives you access to the build area, which is substantial, as is the tank at the base that can hold up to 1.2 kg of resin. Uniformation has really looked at the mechanics of the build area, which is a point of the design that can so often be a weak point for resin 3D printers. 

While they haven't done anything groundbreaking, there are several points here that do improve the usability, such as the quick release for the resin tank and build platform. This means that both can be quickly removed, cleaned, and replaced as needed. 

The resin tank features the usual transparent film at the base, and this is held in place by a selection of screws. As is common, the procedure for changing films involves unscrewing two layers of screws in order to remove and replace the film, and as ever, this isn't a quick process, taking between 15 and 30 minutes from start to finish.

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)

While the tank is huge, with one of the largest capacities for resin that we have seen, it also features an auto-fill option. The design of this is simple with a refillable resin cartridge, which can be dropped into the back of the machine, and then, as the resin label drops, the machine releases more resin. Through the test, this worked incredibly well, with some prints taking a good kg of resin to complete, and the fact that you can have that quantity of resin in the system is a huge benefit.

On the front of the machine is the 5-inch capacitive touch display, which once again offers a nicely designed and intuitive interface that enables you to select prints as well as run through general maintenance tasks.

One other point about the design is that the build chamber is heated, which just helps to ensure that the resin is kept at the optimum temperature for printing—this is especially important if the machine is kept in a workshop where the ambient temperature can't always be maintained.

Uniformation GK3 Ultra: Features

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)

The Uniformation GK3 Ultra is packed with features that set it apart from other resin 3D printers as, really, at present, there's nothing else in this price range or size that can compete. At the core of the machine is the high-resolution 16K LCD screen; we've seen this high resolution recently, including, but most top out at 14K, so instantly, the GK3 takes the possible quality of prints up a notch. This screen offers a resolution of 15120x6230 pixels and an XY layer height of between 0.03mm-0.05mm. 

When we looked at the GK2, we were impressed by the size, but when printing at a larger scale, having to fill the resin tank manually feels a little primitive. With the new GK3, this resin tank is auto-filled fill, and you place the resin cartridge, which holds 1 kg of resin each, into the back of the machine. Then, a sensor on the tank activates the release of the resin once needed. It's a very slick and neat system. When it comes to the actual size of the print area, it measures 300 x 160 x 300 mm, which should give you plenty of space for larger projects or bulk printing for small commercial print runs. 

With any printer FFF or resin, one of the biggest issues as the scale of the printers increases is the rigidity of the machine, a factor that can have a massive impact on the quality of the prints. It's good to see that Uniformation has addressed this with one of the most solidly built resin 3D printers out there with a weight of 30 kg, confirming that this is not lightweight. It also measures 455x400x575, so it is considerably larger than most. One other feature of the quality of the mechanical design is that the Z-axis features both dual linear rails and ball screws to offer smooth and accurate precision as the build plate rises through the height of the machine. 

Another key feature of this build area is the fact that the chamber is heated. We've already seen the difference that a heated chamber makes with other resin 3D printers, so this is an obvious step forward to ensure that the resin is at the optimum temperature required before the print process starts. The chamber also features a built-in air filtration system, which is an important addition for any resin 3D printer to stop the often strong smells of the resin leaking into the room.

Specs

Print Technology: MSLA (Masked Stereolithography)
Build Area: 300 x 160 x 300 mm
Minimum Layer Resolution: 0.03mm
Maximum Layer Resolution: 0.05mm
Dimensions: 455 x 400 x 575 mm
Weight: 30 kg
Bed: Heated chamber
Print Surface: Quick-release design
Software: Uniformation Slicer, Chitubox, Lychee
Materials: Resin
Print Speed: 2-3 seconds per layer

On the front of the machine is once again the large, clear 5-inch capacitive touchscreen that offers access to all the print settings and controls; it also enables you to pick up any prints sent wirelessly to the machine ready for printing. This connectivity is much the same as the GK2 and enables Wi-Fi, Ethernet, and USB options. However, the Wi-Fi setup is far easier than it was initially for the GK2, so any problems for anyone new to device networking shouldn't have an issue here.

When it comes to slicing, Uniformation provides its slicer, or you can use Chitubox or Lychee; we tested the machine on both Mac and PC systems, with the Uniformation Slicer being used on the PC while Lychee was used on the Mac. Both provide a huge number of options and settings, and they are able to wire transfer files to the machine.

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)

There are a few other nice features around the design, such as the new quick-release design for both the build platform and resin tank, which makes it quick and easy to remove both without needing to undo bolts. In contrast, this style of quick release is common for build platforms, but it's less common for the resin tank and is a nice addition. Another nice touch is the resin drip hanger that enables the suspension of the build platform at an angle so all excess resin drips off. There are integrated LED lights and channels for resin drainage built into the build platform that helps avoid resin spilling into other parts of the system; all of the tweaks as the size increases to the design make a big difference over the GK2 (see our full review here).

Uniformation GK3 Ultra: Print quality

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)

Getting started with the Uniformation GK3 Ultra is relatively quick once you've manoeuvred the machine into position. It's worth noting that at 30 kg, this machine is large, and while you can lift and position it relatively easily, having an extra pair of hands is definitely beneficial. It's checking that the work surface, or especially the desk that you're placing the printer on, is able to support that amount of weight. Once in position, the rest of the setup is straightforward, with the resin tank slotting and locking into place with the quick-release mechanism, a huge improvement over the usual bolt-down approach. Then, the build platform can be secured; again, this is quick release, and finally, the resin cartridge can be inserted into the back of the machine.

Next, with the power on, you can run through the usual setup process, and as our printer had yet to have the easiest trip to use, it went through a full calibration. When the box arrived damaged and the printer had quite obviously taken more than a knock or two, it was surprising that it had initially started at all. Still, the mechanics all seemed fine, and the machine was soon levelled, calibrated, and ready for action. 

Once the model was sent over from the Lychee slicer to the machine, the print process was started, with the tank filling automatically to the required level for the first print. The print process then started, and it's apparent that while the machine is large, it runs quietly. Also, the filter and heated chamber both appeared to do their jobs as the print started to rise from the resin. 

Print speeds for the first set of models were excellent and, again, surprising considering the size. Check over the first few character prints from the machine, and the quality really grasps you—while resin printers are good, the GK3 Ultra feels like a step up, and as the prints are washed and cured, the details that come through are outstanding. 

As we started with the printer, a few small prints were produced, slowly increasing the size and scale until we almost reached the print height of the machine. Again, when printing with this volume of resin, there is always the fear of running out; however, here, with over a kilo of resin used on a single print, that wasn't an issue, with the resin tank filled and with a full resin bottle loaded. This is one of only a few resin printers that you can happily leave to print at this scale over a 15-24 hour print. 

That was really one of the other surprising factors for the machine. While the scale of the prints is large, the print speeds are excellent, with full-sized and scaled prints developing in a relatively fast 24 hours. While this might not sound quick, the fact that it was able to print a model at this scale reliably and several times really marks this out as something different in the world of resin printing, especially at this price. 

When it came to the quality of the finish of the models, the resolution was superb, and the printer was able to handle fine details well. Checking over the prints that have been produced using some of the higher print settings and there are hardly any signs of layering and checking the dimension accuracy of the prints further highlights just how good this printer is. 

As a test, a production line of GoPro handlebar mounts was printed, and the quality across the board was excellent with no missed prints after five runs using the ABS-like resin. After each print, a tank cleaning exposure was run and peeled away to ensure that no debris had fallen into the tank; this cleaning process was carried out to help streamline the workflow, as changing a damaged sheet takes around 30 minutes. 

One of the first prints through the print process did drop support, and this fell into the resin tank. While that print was fine, we missed the fact that anything had dropped into the tank, which resulted in the film being pierced at the start of the next print. When the machine was stopped, the damage was apparent, and a new screen and tank film were installed. The screen protector was quick to install, with the old one peeling away so the new one could be stuck in place. The changing of the resin tank film, on the other hand, does take time, with a huge selection of screws needing to be removed before the new film can be put in place and tightened. So, using the cleaning function is a quick way to avoid any damage to the film or screen.

Overall, for a resin printer of this size, features such as the temperature-controlled chamber, quick-release build plate, and tank, along with the filter and touch screen, make using the GK3 Ultra incredibly easy. While there are other high-resolution and featured resin printers out there, the GK3 Ultra is easily the best at present in this size and price. If you want an accurate, fully featured resin printer for your business, then this is definitely the best value for money and quality at present. 

Uniformation GK3 Ultra: Final verdict

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)

The Uniformation GK3 Ultra offers outstanding print quality and features that are designed to meet the needs of professionals and equally serious hobbyists. With its 16K resolution, auto-refill system, and large build area, it's a significant improvement over the already impressive GKTwo. 

The review of the GK3 Ultra has taken some time due to a few last minute tweaks and changes from the company, with each change improving the build quality, especially for the visor along with some of the other features. This is a substantial machine, and considering the price, it's a solid investment for anyone looking for a high quality machine for modelling, jewellery, or any other use where high precision and absolute quality are needed.

While the machine is able to print at huge sizes for a resin 3D printer—the ultimate test came when we printed the excellent Heracles and the Nemean Lion (https://www.myminifactory.com/object/3d-print-heracles-and-the-nemean-lion-presupported-395096) model courtesy of Nerikson (https://www.patreon.com/nerikson)—there is a version of this at full scale that can be printed in one, and while that would be beyond the capabilities of most resin 3D printers, the GK3 Ultra has the capacity to handle that with ease. However, printing it in parts highlights the accuracy, as high precision is needed so that each part slots together easily. While the detail of many resin printers is superb, accuracy isn't always carried across. So, not only were we able to print more parts of the model in a single print run, but those parts all slotted together easily.

Overall, this is an outstanding resin 3D printer, and considering the features, scale and price there really is nothing else on the market that can compete. 

Should You Buy the Uniformation GK3 Ultra?

We tested the best laser engravers- and these are the models we recommend.

This week we were treated to plenty of excellent early Black Friday deals, Amazon launched a new TV, and it killed freevee.

To find out more about this and other stories you might have missed, we've gathered the 7 biggest tech news stories from TechRadar.com this past week so you can catch up in no time at all.

Once you've finished here, remember to check out our picks for the 7 new movies and TV shows to stream this weekend (November 15).

1. Black Friday deals arrived in full-force

While we're still a couple of weeks from the big day itself, Black Friday 2024 deals are starting to appear across the internet.

The PS5 Pro got a surprise price drop, as did the Meta Quest 3S, even though they both released so recently. The Apple Watch 10 crashed to a stunning price, and we've seen deals across various tech sectors like savings on tablets.

As Black Friday approaches, make sure to follow our guides for help finding the best deals throughout this sales period.

• Read more: Black Friday deals 2024, the 55+ best early offers chosen by experts

2. AI grannies wasted scammers time

One of the most original uses we’ve seen for AI so far has to be Daisy the AI grandma. Taking advantage of the fact that telephone scammers often target senior citizens and try to get them to enter their credit card details into bogus websites, Daisy is an AI designed to keep them on the phone for as long as possible with a neverending series of meandering stories that ultimately lead nowhere.

The object is simply to waste as much of the scammers' time as possible because it means that’s time they are not spending trying to trap real people in their nefarious scams. Listening to Daisy get deliberately confused and send the scammers crazy by calling them “dear” all the time has to be one of the most satisfying things we’ve ever heard.

• Read more: Daisy the AI grandma is here to answer calls from scammers and waste their time

3. Amazon shut down its Freevee TV service

(Image credit: Unsplash)

Amazon Freevee will soon cease to exist, and it's all down to Prime Video's increasingly popular ad-supported tier. News of Amazon pulling the plug on the free streaming service was first revealed in an exclusive article by Deadline on Tuesday, which detailed plans to phase out the app in “coming weeks” across the US, UK, Germany, and Austria.

To be honest, we weren’t completely surprised by this announcement. Ever since Prime Video introduced a new and cheaper ad-supported tier at the start of the year, there’s been no real point of difference between the two services, especially considering a lot of Freevee content is available on Prime Video. A full migration of its library is underway, but if you still have the app, then check out these three movies on Amazon Freevee with over 83% on Rotten Tomatoes before they go.

• Read more: Amazon Freevee is being shut down

4. Amazon also made a mini-LED TV

(Image credit: Amazon)

This week, Amazon announced that it's adding two new products to its Fire TV range: the Amazon Fire TV Omni Mini-LED series TV and the Amazon Fire TV Soundbar Plus. It also refreshed the Amazon Fire TV 4-series.

Amazon says the Omni Mini-LED series can deliver 1,400 nits of peak brightness and has 1,344 local dimming zones for improved backlight control over standard LED and QLED models in the Fire TV range. It'll also feature what Amazon calls 'Intelligent Picture Technology,' which combines AI with the new mini-LED backlight to optimize and analyze scenes on screen and adjust color and detail.

The Amazon Omni Mini-LED and Amazon Soundbar Plus are available in the US and UK, starting at $819 / £649.99 for the 55-inch TV and $249.99 / £249.99 for the new soundbar.

• Read more: Amazon unveils all-new Fire TV products, including an Omni mini-LED TV

5. Sony teased its first big camera launch of 2024

(Image credit: Sony / Future)

Sony's camera department's quietest year in memory could go out with a bang before 2025 kicks in, after it officially announced the A1 II will be its next mirrorless camera, with a live event set for November 19 at 9am EST / 2pm GMT (that's November 20 at 1am AEST) when all will be revealed. Succeeding Sony's current flagship, the Alpha A1, will be no mean task.

When it was launched in January 2021, the A1 was a true game changer, becoming the first high-resolution and high-speed camera. With 50MP photos and burst shooting up to 30fps, pros no longer needed to choose between detail and speed; they had both in one hybrid camera.

We don't know how the A1 II will upgrade the A1 yet, but expect it to be Sony's most powerful and versatile mirrorless camera ever.

• Read more: It's official, Sony's next camera will be the A1 II

6. Disney Plus dropped its 2025 teaser trailer

As we approach the end of 2024, Disney Plus dropped its 2025 teaser trailer, which gave first-look footage of some of its most anticipated shows of the next year. In its line-up of new and returning titles, Disney revealed a sneak peek of its brand new Marvel shows Daredevil: Born Again and Ironheart, while its new sci-fi series Alien: Earth points to an action-packed extension of the beloved movie franchise.

Alongside these new titles, returning shows that have proved to be fan favorites among subscribers were also featured. Most notably, The Bear season four sees Jeremy Allan White and Ayo Edebiri return to their roles in the comedy-drama – with the added comeback of Jamie Lee Curtis. Star Wars fans will also have Andor season two to look forward to, which is heavily speculated to recall the four years leading up to the discovery of The Death Star.

• Read more: Disney Plus reveals first looks at The Bear season 4, Andor season 2, and more

7. More people dumped Twitter and joined Bluesky

(Image credit: Bluesky)

Bluesky continues to add millions of new users as people and organizations flee Twitter (now known as X) in the wake of the US election on November 5. Twitter boss Elon Musk will soon take up a newly created role in Donald Trump’s incoming government, which seems to have turned a fair few users away from the social media platform he acquired in 2022.

As a decentralized platform, Bluesky isn’t entirely controlled by any person or organization; instead, it allows users and communities to set up their own ‘instances’ of the network. It’s otherwise very similar to Twitter and began life as a spin-off of the site under the leadership of former Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey. While Dorsey isn’t involved anymore, Bluesky has kept up its initial momentum, with a few unofficial tools now available to help Twitter users make the switch.

• Read more: Bluesky is the new home for millions of disillusioned Twitter users

Enjoy top deals on cameras, computers, and tech essentials at B&H Photo.

There were no reported injuries on the plane, which was struck on the "right side of the aircraft just under the flight deck while the Crew was preparing for departure," the airline said.

(Image credit: Rick Gershon)

• Google unveils predictions of the top cybersecurity threats in 2025
• AI will be used in attacks and defense, it predicts
• The 'Big Four' state actors will continue to be a threat

Artificial Intelligence has been named as one of the biggest threats to security over the next year by leading experts.

Given AI’s domination in headlines over the past year, it will come as no surprise to most people that it was at forefront of Google’s Cybersecurity Forecast 2025 as a primary threat, alongside state-sponsored threat actors, and ransomware.

State-sponsored attacks are nothing new, but as global tensions rise and the conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza continue, politically motivated attacks will continue to be levelled against critical infrastructure targets around the world - with Google naming the ‘Big Four’ geopolitical threats to western cybersecurity as Russia, China, Iran, and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea).

AI in deepfakes

Google, like many others, predicts that AI will continue to be used as a tool for cyber defense, and also in cyberattacks in the coming year. Large-scale adoption of semi-autonomous security operations will usher in a ‘second phase of AI security’, the forecast predicts.

Google sees AI as a key tool in combatting threats in the future, but affirms that Information Operations (IO) threat actors will continue to leverage Generative AI tools in their attacks.

The use of LLMs to create content such as deepfakes and vishing, phishing, and other social engineering attacks will lead to an increased struggle for cybersecurity teams against more frequent and effective incidents.

Ransomware and data theft extortion are also likely to continue to plague organizations around the world in 2025. The frequency and severity of ransomware has soared to new highs in 2024, and custom malware attacks are set to continue.

“Without question, multifaceted extortion and ransomware will continue in 2025, likely with an increase outside the US,” said Charles Carmakal. Mandiant CTO, Google Cloud

Infostealer campaigns were observed as a rising threat in 2024, and Google anticipates seeing more of the same next year, since relatively low-skilled threat actors can use these tools to infiltrate prominent organizations.

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The new communication between Scholz and Putin — their first since December 2022 — comes at a time of speculation about what the new administration of President-elect Trump will mean for Ukraine.

(Image credit: Michael Kappeler/AP)

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