The Samsung S95F is the brand’s 2025 flagship OLED TV, delivering a premium set of features with the performance to match, pushing brightness levels for this kind of TV to some new highs.
The Samsung S95F boasts an impressive list of features, including a number of AI-based enhancement tools for picture, such as 4K Upscaling Pro and Real Depth Enhancer, and sound, such as AI Sound and Active Voice Amplifier Pro, as well as an AI assistant for live TV show analysis and recommendations.
Picture quality on the S95F is excellent overall. Delivering staggering brightness levels that produce punchy vibrant colors, as well as rich contrast, black levels and extremely realistic textures, the S95F is a sight to behold even compared to the best OLED TVs.
One thing to note here is that I reviewed the 55-inch version, which uses a new-gen QD-OLED screen, as does the 65-inch and 77-inch version, though the 83-inch size uses the same W-OLED new-gen panel as the LG G5. The benchmark measurements in this review are from the 55-inch model – I have also measured an 83-inch version, and included some information about that in the Picture Quality section, but those tests weren't done in our usual testing areas, and the set was tested pre-release, so may not totally match what you'll buy today, but I've included them for reference.
Its OLED Glare Free 2.0 screen delivers the same impressive reflection-beating performance as its predecessor, the Samsung S95D, but improves on black crush issues I found with the S95D. There is still some black crush present, and motion does require some tweaking to get to your own tastes, but the S95F still delivers picture quality that’s up there with the best TVs.
Built-in sound is punchy, accurate and delivers plenty of solid bass for such a thin TV, while also delivering clear speech and effective virtual surround sound. Atmos effects are still a little lacking and the soundstage can feel narrow at times, but most will be pleased with the S95F’s sound quality. Cinephiles: I’d still recommend one of the best soundbars.
The S95F is a physically stunning TV with a razor-thin, sharp and sleek design that gives it a premium look. Its One Connect Box, its external box for cable management and housing of ports, keeps things neat and tidy: excellent for those looking to wall-mount. Its stand requires a two person installation due to its weighty, metal design but it just makes the S95F feel that much more premium.
Tizen 9.0 is used as the smart TV platform for the S95F and it’s an improvement over previous generations. It’s smooth, mostly stutter-free and has plenty of picture settings, including AI ones, to tweak the picture to your liking. Recommendations are very good and although the home page can look a little cluttered and some settings are buried in menus, it’s definitely an upgrade over previous generations of Tizen.
The S95F is easily among one of the best gaming TVs of 2025. It supports 4K, 165Hz, VRR with AMD FreeSync Premium Pro, ALLM and HDR10+ gaming across four HDMI 2.1 ports, as well as boasting an ultra-low 9.5ms input lag time. Its Game Hub offers tons of cloud gaming options for those without a console and delivers razor-sharp performance and picture when gaming.
To get this premium performance, you have to pay a premium price. The S95F is similarly priced to its closest rivals, namely the LG G5, and while the price may be a bit lofty for some at launch, there will no doubt be discounts throughout its life cycle. For now though, it still mostly justifies its high price tag.
Should you buy this or the LG G5, which we also gave five stars to? I think the LG G5 just has the edge in most cases, thanks to its Dolby Vision support and the way it keeps black tones as dark and accurate as possible in more conditions. I think the Samsung is the better choice in really bright rooms where you know reflections are a challenge, or for aesthetes who love the idea of the One Connect box keeping cable clutter out of the way.
Samsung S95F review: Prices & release date(Image credit: Future)The Samsung S95F is the brand’s 2025 flagship OLED TV, sitting above the mid-range Samsung S90F and the entry-level Samsung S85F in its OLED TV lineup. The 55-inch model I tested launched at a price of $2,499 / £2,499, with the popular 65-inch model available for $3,399 / £3,399 / AU$5,295.
Several weeks on from launch, prices remain largely unchanged, although we've seen a $200 / £200 discount on the 55-inch model and sometimes the 65-inch model. There's sure to be more price drops throughout the year, as is normal for TVs.
Samsung S95F review: SpecsScreen type
QD-OLED
Refresh rate
Up to 165Hz
HDR support
HDR10+, HDR10, HLG
Audio support
Dolby Atmos
Smart TV
Tizen
HDMI ports
4 x HDMI 2.1
Built-in tuner
ATSC 3.0 (US)
Samsung S95F review: Benchmark resultsSamsung S95F review: FeaturesThe Samsung S95F uses a QD-OLED panel in its 55, 65 and 77-inch models, but the largest 83-inch model uses the new Primary Tandem RGB, or ‘four-stack’, OLED panel: the same used in the LG G5.
The S95F comes with the OLED Glare Free 2.0 screen: an updated version of the anti-reflection, matte screen found in its predecessor, the Samsung S95D.
It’s equipped with the NQ4 AI Gen 3 processor, which offers AI based enhancements such as Real Depth Enhancer, 4K AI Upscaling Pro, Auto HDR Remastering Pro, Color Booster Pro and AI Motion Enhancer Pro. There are also AI Customization settings for both picture and sound which can be tweaked.
As always, the S95F supports HDR10+, HDR10 and HLG HDR formats, but there is no support for Dolby Vision. It also supports Dolby Atmos enhanced sound format, but there is no support for DTS.
For audio, the S95F comes with a built-in 4.2.2 channel speaker array, totaling 70W of power. It has the Object Tracking Sound+ (OTS+) system for more accurate sound mapping as well as AI Sound mode with voice enhancement. It also supports Samsung’s Q-Symphony feature, where the TV can be used in tandem with compatible Samsung soundbars as an extra speaker.
The S95F is also a well equipped gaming TV, with four HDMI 2.1 ports that support 4K, 165Hz, VRR (AMD FreeSync Premium Pro included), ALLM and HDR10+ gaming. Its Game Hub is a useful portal for housing all things gaming, including cloud based gaming apps from Xbox, Luna, Nvidia GeForce Now and more.
In terms of physical features, the S95F’s most significant addition is the One Connect Box, an external box designed to house all connections such as HDMI and USB, connected to the TV by a single cable that carries power as well as video. For US viewers, the S95F carries an ATSC 3.0 tuner.
The S95F uses Samsung’s Tizen as its smart TV platform and has access to all major streaming apps such as Netflix, Prime Video and Disney Plus, as well as UK based apps such as ITVX and BBC iPlayer. Tizen has several hubs to house relevant apps including Home, the aforementioned Game, Ambient and Daily+.
Starting with my measurements of the 55-inch S95F’s performance using out-of-the-box settings, the TV hit 2,132 nits of HDR peak brightness (measured on a 10% HDR white window pattern) in Filmmaker Mode. When I measured a pre-release version of the 83-inch model at a Samsung event, which has a different type of OLED screen (the same as the LG G5), I measured 2,388 nits of peak HDR brightness in Filmmaker Mode on that model, which is a good 10% step up over the smaller option.
The LG G5, for comparison, measured 2,268 nits in HDR peak brightness in Filmmaker Mode, so sits closer to the 83-inch version of the S95F, which makes sense.
The 55-inch S95F achieved 2,135 nits of peak HDR brightness in Standard mode, while the 83-inch version hit 2,102 nits in the same test. The LG G5 hit 1,850 nits in Standard Mode, so the S95F has a clear edge over its rival in that kind of mode.
I also measured the 55-inch S95F’s Movie mode brightness, as I found myself using this mode with some movies in brighter conditions, and it hit 2,109 nits of peak HDR brightness.
As for HDR fullscreen brightness, important for sports, daytime and bright room viewing, the 55-inch S95F clocked 390 nits in Filmmaker Mode (measured on a 100% white HDR window pattern), making it the brightest 55-inch OLED we’ve tested. It beat the previous champion, the LG G5, which clocked in 331 nits in its Filmmaker Mode.
However, the the 83-inch version of the S95F I tested crushed its smaller sibling, achieving 465 nits of fullscreen brightness in Filmmaker Mode – a figure you expect from the best mini-LED TVs.
With SDR fullscreen brightness however, the LG G5 still holds the crown, hitting 327 nits in Filmmaker Mode, whereas the S95F clocked in at 181 nits.
The S95F’s most unusual feature is its OLED Glare Free 2.0 screen, which like its predecessor, the S95D, eliminated mirror-like reflections even with bright overhead lights on in our testing room.
The issue with mirror-like reflections is that they're actually on a different focal plane to the TV, so when your eye catches them, you have to focus away from the rest of the screen. That's why they're so annoying, and are quite fatiguing to deal with. On the S95F they're reduced to just a haze at most.
I found when I tested the S95D that the matte screen caused black crush, particularly in Filmmaker Mode, so you lost detail in the dark areas OLED is supposed to excel in – and thankfully the S95F has improved this. There were still some instances of black crush in dark scenes in movies like The Batman and Nosferatu, but they were minimal in comparison.
I did find when watching dark movies in bright rooms, setting Dynamic Tone Mapping from the default Static to Active in Filmmaker Mode gave it a solid brightness boost without sacrificing black levels or contrast too much, and helped to reduce the black crush.
The S95F displays spectacular, vivid colors especially with HDR movies such as Wicked (Image credit: Future)Where the S95F really shines with its picture is its colors. Watching a 4K stream of Elemental on Disney Plus, fire characters – as well as Ember’s glass and vase-making – deliver stunning, glistening reds and oranges with a real vivid punch in highlight areas of the screen.
A 4K Blu-ray of Wicked also demonstrated natural but vibrant colors, particularly in the Wizard & I scene where Elphaba stands among pink flowers. I preferred Filmmaker Mode’s accuracy, but those looking for a brighter dose of color can select Movie mode for something that's bold but still realistic.
It’s no surprise the 55-inch S95F delivered such spectacular HDR colors, because when I measured its HDR color gamut coverage, it yielded results of 100% and 89.3% in the DCI-P3 and BT.2020 color spaces. These are not only phenomenal results, but it’s also the first time a TV has hit 100% DCI-P3 in my time testing TVs. I measured the 83-inch S95F at 94.9% of P3 color gamut coverage, however – this is surprisingly low, considering the LG G5 with the same panel achieved 99.6%, so it might be best to take it with a pinch of salt, since I tested it pre-release.
Black levels and contrast are still excellent on the S95F, particularly when viewed in dimmed or pitch black conditions. Watching The Batman, the subway fight and crime scene sequences showed deep black levels with brilliant contrast between dark areas and light areas from light sources such as lamps, torches and flashbulbs. Shadow detail was great as well, with objects on walls still visible even in dark sections.
The S95F was great for black and white movies, as scenes from Oppenheimer showed deep black tones, vibrant white tones and a full range of gray tones with fantastic depth and texture.
Textures and details are given a near 3D-like quality on the S95F (Image credit: Future)Speaking of textures, the S95F showed a near 3D-like quality for every 4K movie I used. Clearly, the Real Depth Enhancer was hard at work, as every facial feature, skin tone and object looked accurate, lifelike and refined. I found the S95F’s upscaling was effective when viewing an HD stream of Fight Club. While not as successful with lower resolution TV shows, textures were definitely still upscaled.
Motion for the S95F was responsive, though I did find that Blur and Judder reduction needed to be set at 5 each, though this may require some adjusting for some. A panning shot of a cliffside in No Time To Die was smooth without the dreaded soap opera effect with these settings. For Sports, I opted for Standard Mode with these settings and found the action smooth without any ghosting of the ball during a stream of a soccer game.
The S95F is an overall fantastic TV, but I put it side-by-side with the LG G5 and while the S95F was better for bright room viewing, I couldn’t help but admire the G5’s richer, inkier black levels. It did make the S95F’s black levels look gray in bright conditions by comparison. The matte screen obviously is a compromise, but thankfully some tweaking of the S95F’s settings mentioned above can narrow the gap. It's even better if you can view in dimmed conditions.
The Samsung S95F comes equipped with a built-in 4.2.2 channel speaker array, with 70W of total power. It includes AI Sound mode options and supports Dolby Atmos soundtracks. There is no support for DTS soundtracks, however. There are two preset sound modes to choose from: Standard and Amplify.
With the S95F set to the Amplify sound mode, the Batmobile/Penguin chase scene in The Batman produced hefty, impactful bass and rumble from the Batmobile’s engine and explosions. The OTS+ system was effective at mapping effects such as screeching tyres and gunfire and keeping the action on screen and sound tightly connected and controlled.
Throughout Wicked, the S95F’s speakers also delivered clear vocals and speech as well as a very good balance between said vocals and the uplifting and powerful score, which was itself delivered with clarity and precision.
While its built-in sound is very good, I couldn’t help but find the soundstage narrow in places and that its volume needed to be pushed to get the full experience. When pushed too high however, there can be some buzz from the bass. For a proper cinematic experience, one of the best Dolby Atmos soundbars remains recommended.
Samsung S95F review: DesignThe Samsung S95F is a super-slim and sleek TV (Image credit: Future)The S95F is a sight to behold. Razor-thin with a bezel-less screen, the S95F is incredibly sleek and has an appealing modern look. It comes with a weighty, black metal stand and while assembly requires two people, once attached it gives the TV a floating look and feels solid and sturdy.
The S95F comes with the brand’s One Connect Box, which houses the S95F’s many connections, including four HDMI 2.1 ports, three USB ports, an optical port, tuner ports for broadcast TV and an Ethernet port. This box is then connected to the S95F via a single cable and the box itself can be housed on the back of the stand. It’s ideal for those looking to wall-mount their TV with minimal cables.
For remotes, the S95F comes with the SolarCell remote, a small remote with volume control, app shortcuts and the new AI button, for AI assistant shortcuts. The remote can be charged via USB-C or the solar panel on the remote. UK users will also find an older-style remote with numbered buttons in the box as well as the SolarCell remote.
The S95F uses Samsung’s own Tizen smart TV platform, with this year’s version called Tizen 9.0. It has access to all the major streaming apps, but UK users should note it does not include Freeview Play for broadcast TV, instead using Samsung’s own Samsung TV Plus. UK based streaming apps are still available however.
Tizen 9.0’s home page is split into three sections: For You, which houses AI-tailored content recommendations (which are mostly accurate and effective based on my own experience) Live, for live TV and Apps, for a fuller apps page list. For You is the default and while there is a large banner at the top of the screen, a neat, customizable row of apps sits at the bottom of the screen and is easily accessible.
Aside from the Home page, there are three other main hubs: Game for gaming based applications; Ambient, for an ambient mode in place of standby; and Daily+ for lifestyle and workplace based apps.
Menu and settings navigation is made easier thanks to a quick menu, which I didn’t find as effective as LG’s but is still a welcome addition. Accessing the right menus and settings can be long-winded and navigation can stutter on occasion, but it was a mostly smooth experience.
As well as the usual picture and sound settings, of which there are a good amount for picture customization, there are a number of AI-based tools including AI picture and sound modes. There is an AI assistant as well. A press of the remote’s AI button on a TV show on Samsung TV Plus gave me a summary of the show and recommended similar shows.
The S95F is an extremely well featured TV for gaming. It features four HDMI ports that support 4K, 165Hz, VRR with AMD FreeSync Premium Pro supported, ALLM and HDR10+ gaming. Samsung’s Game Hub continues to be an excellent portal for everything gaming related including a healthy choice of cloud based gaming apps from the likes of Xbox, Nvidia GeForce Now and Luna.
As with Samsung’s TVs, the S95F is no slouch with gaming performance either. An ultra-low 9.5ms input lag time delivers a smooth experience with no hint of screen tear or stutter in performance whatsoever. Playing Battlefield V, intense combat sequences were exciting to play and targeting was easy, snappy and extremely responsive.
The S95F also delivers superb picture quality for gaming, with several levels in Battlefield V given a truly bright, vibrant and dynamic look filled with color and detail. Again Real Depth Enhancer Pro gave the picture a hyper-realistic look with fantastic detail in every object on screen.
Value is a tough area to judge for the Samsung S95F, as it carries most of the features you’d ever need while also delivering high-quality performance, but this all comes at a premium price.
The 55-inch model I tested costs $2,299.99 / £2,299 (roughly AU$3,554) at the time of writing. The S95F’s main rival, the LG G5, 55-inch model costs $2,199.99 / £2,199.99 / AU$3,495 at the time of writing, making the G5 the more tempting of the two. Expect prices to battle throughout the year, reducing over time.
I’d usually recommend the S95F’s step-down sibling – the S90F – as a cheaper alternative, because the 55-inch model there costs $1,799 / £1,899 / AU$3,299. However, there is no guarantee of getting a bright QD-OLED screen over a dimmer mid-tier W-OLED screen, which means I can’t recommend it for certain. At 65 inches, you are guaranteed a QD-OLED panel, though, so at that size the S90F is a great option – here's our full 65-inch Samsung S90F review.
The S95F is a premium priced TV, there’s no getting around it. While there are a number of cheaper options available, it does deliver an undoubtedly premium experience and does strongly justify its price.
Attributes
Notes
Rating
Features
The Samsung S95F offers a stacked list of smart and gaming features, along with superb picture quality and solid audio quality. There is still no Dolby Vision HDR support though.
5/5
Picture quality
The S95F delivers a near-complete picture experience, especially when with colors. Black levels may not be as deep as some rivals, but they're rich enough.
5/5
Sound quality
Delivering clear, punchy and accurate sound, most people will be pleased with the S95F's sound. Bass could be better controlled and the soundstage could be wider, however.
4/5
Design
It's unbelievably thin, extremely modern looking and features the useful One Connect Box. the S95F is easily one of the best designed TVs available.
4.5/5
Smart TV and menus
Finding the right settings isn't always easy, but Tizen provides a very smooth experience with new AI tools should you want to use them.
4.5/5
Gaming
Ultra-responsive performance and a full list of features, the S95F is an excellent TV for gaming.
5/5
Value
The S95F is a premium priced TV, but offers great features and performance for the money.
4/5
Buy it if...You want to watch in a bright room
The S95F's OLED Glare Free 2.0 screen eliminates reflections, making it ideal for viewing in bright rooms. View Deal
You want a bright, colorful picture
The S95F's color display is spectacular, especially with HDR sources. Paired with its high brightness, and you get a phenomenal picture experience.View Deal
You want an OLED TV for gaming
The S95F's gaming performance is smooth and responsive, it has a ton of features and its picture is sublime for gaming. View Deal
You want Dolby Vision HDR
Like all Samsung TVs, the S95F doesn't support Dolby Vision HDR, instead featuring support for HDR10+. View Deal
You're on a budget
As it's a flagship OLED TV, it does come with a premium price tag. Even though it covers a lot of the bases, it will outstretch most budgets: at launch at least. View Deal
You want accurate, out-of-the-box Filmmaker Mode
A small complaint, but some tweaks need to be made to Filmmaker Mode when viewing in bright conditions, which isn't the case with the rival LG G5. View Deal
Samsung S95F
LG G5
Sony Bravia 8 II
Samsung QN90F
Price (55-inch)
$2,499 / £2,499 (roughly AU$4,199)
$2,499 / £2,399 / AU$4,199
$3,499 / £2,499 / AU$4,195
$1,799.99 / £1,699 (roughly AU$2,788)
Screen type
QD-OLED
OLED
QD-OLED
Neo QLED / mini-LED
Refresh rate
165Hz
144Hz
120Hz
144Hz
HDR support
HDR10+/HDR10/HLG
HDR10, HLG, Dolby Vision
HDR10, HLG, Dolby Vision
HDR10, HLG, HDR10+,
Smart TV
Tizen 9.0
webOS 25
Google TV
Tizen
HDMI ports
4x HDMI 2.1
4x HDMI 2.1
4 (2x HDMI 2.1)
4 x HDMI 2.1
LG G5 OLED TV
The S95F's main rival, the LG G5 delivers elite performance with a similar number of features to match. Its black levels are richer in most conditions, but the S95F is still better for viewing in bright rooms thanks to its Glare Free screen. This will come down to personal preference.
Read our full LG G5 reviewView Deal
Sony Bravia 8 II QD-OLED TV
Sony flagship OLED TV for 2025 is currently under review, but from what we've seen so far, its real strength lies in its sound. The S95F has it beat for brightness and gaming features. Watch this space for our full review.
Full review TBCView Deal
Samsung QN90F mini-LED TV
The Samsung QN90F offers higher fullscreen brightness and its own glare free screen, making it a solid TV for sports. Its the mini-LED equivalent of the S90F in Samsung's 2025 lineup, so if you're looking a feature-packed TV but with mini-LED, this is your best option.
Read our full Samsung QN90F reviewView Deal
How I tested the Samsung S95F OLED TVImage 1 of 2(Image credit: Future)Image 2 of 2(Image credit: Future)Before my critical testing, I first spent time establishing the most accurate picture modes that I would use for both subjective testing and objective measurements. I landed on Filmmaker Mode and sometimes used Movie mode, depending on lighting conditions.
I tested the S95F's using reference scenes from both Standard Dynamic Range (SDR) sources, such as DVD, Blu-ray and broadcast/low-resolution TV, and High Dynamic Range (HDR) sources, such as 4K Blu-ray and 4K streaming.
For 4K Blu-ray, I used a Panasonic DP-UB820 4K Blu-ray player, our pick for the best 4K Blu-ray player.
I used these sources to analyse the S95F's picture quality, focusing on color, contrast, black levels, textures, upscaling, as well as sound quality and motion for sports and movies.
I also watched the S95F with various different lighting conditions to test the effectiveness of its OLED Glare Free anti-reflection screen.
For objective measurements, I used a Klein K10A colorimeter, Murideo Six G 8K test pattern generator and recorded measurements using Portrait Displays' Calman color calibration software.
I focused on SDR and HDR brightness measurements, with a focus on peak (10%) and fullscreen (100%) brightness, color and grayscale accuray by taking the average of the Delta-E values (the margin for error between the source pattern signal and what's shown on screen) and HDR color gamut coverage, focusing on DCI-P3 (also called UHDA-P3) and BT.2020 color spaces.
I also analyzed the S95F's gaming performance using an Xbox Series X, and a Leo Bodnar 4K HDMI Input Lag Tester to analyze its input lag in milliseconds.
For more on how we test TVs at TechRadar, check out the link.
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Sitting at the top of Garmin’s recreational dive watch family, and by extension the best swimming watch for divers, the Descent Mk3i’s AMOLED display – 43mm or 51mm – uses a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal lens – something that’s more important than you might realize in scuba diving, where you and your buddy can be exposed to a variety of hard materials like other watches, knives and the natural topography, such as rocks and wrecks.
I didn’t treat the Descent Mk3i any differently to how I dive with any of my own watches (slap it on and forget about it without being overly cautious), and so far, the display has proven to live up to its scratch-resistant claims. That titanium case has also held up well during testing, but be aware that the Mk3 without air integration is a stainless steel model.
Getting used to the five physical buttons can take some getting used to, but take the time to explore their functionalities, and you’ll be swimming. And on that, if you’re not swimming and are instead in a dry environment, you can use the touchscreen to navigate the Decent Mk3i.
Where this dive computer stands out against virtually all of its rivals is with its SubWave sonar technology, which enables diver-to-diver communication up to 30 meters. None of my buddies have one of these for me to try it with, but you can be sure that I’ve done my fair share of research on the feature and it comes highly recommended. However, I’ve just highlighted the biggest problem of SubWave-based communication – you need to be diving with like-minded Garmin fans.
(Image credit: Craig Hale)If you are in that position, especially if you’re running a dive school, then you’ll also love being able to monitor the tank pressures of up to eight divers (who are within a tighter 10-meter range).
Compared with other recreational watches, the Garmin Descent Mk3i is much closer to the boundary of tech diving – apart from single gas mixes, you can also set it up for multi-gas dives and rebreathers, so if you plan on going deeper or staying for longer, then your requirement to use different equipment and gasses will be supported by this high-end watch.
It also works all the way down to 200 meters – that’s way below recreational diving limits, but is a welcome upgrade over most watches, which cut out at 40 meters (around 10-20 metres short of maximum recreational diving limits). Many rivals can withstand water pressures down to 100-200 meters, but they tend to stop tracking your diving activity way before this.
When you’re on land, the sensors take regular readings of your heart rate, respiration rate, pulse oximetry and more to estimate your in-the-moment health like the rest of the best Garmin watches, and these metrics feed the Dive Readiness score.
There’s even a Jet Lag Adviser to offer guidance on light exposure, sleep schedule and exercise – perfect for those action-packed dive holidays. Although the science behind preventing decompression sickness is still being developed, we do know that physical exertion can bring on the effects, so being advised of your dive readiness before you get in the water is a handy tool.
(Image credit: Craig Hale)Unlike the Apple Watch Ultra 2, which lives on my left wrist 24/7 (apart from when it’s charging), the Descent Mk3i’s battery life promised 30 whole hours of diving, which was more than enough to cover my weekend of four dives. And on the weeks when I wasn’t diving, I made a habit of charging it on a Sunday evening – that 10-day battery life is a game-changer, even with all the sensors going every few seconds.
Besides being deep in the Apple ecosystem, the only reason I can think of stopping me from moving over to Garmin fully is the fact that it still has a relatively clunky UI, but that’s hard to solve given how unbeatably feature-ridden it is. It has features like Garmin Pay and a voice assistant, but it’s not quite as slick as native Apple or Google watches.
On the whole, though, if you can look past the high price point, I think the Garmin Descent Mk3i might just be the best all-in-one smartwatch for divers you can buy today, and even with its four-figure price tag, it still represents good value for money on the basis that you get one of the most comprehensive and reliable sports trackers in the business.
Garmin Descent Mk3i: SpecificationsComponent
Garmin Descent Mk3i (model tested: Carbon grey DLC titanium with black silicone band, 51mm)
Battery life
Up to 10 days (4 days always-on display, 30 hours diving mode)
Charging cable
Garmin proprietary clip charger with USB-C connection
Diving depth rating
200m
Sensors
GPS, GLONASS and Galileo satellite systems, heart rate, pulse oximeter, altimeter, compass, gyroscope, accelerometer, thermometer, ambient light sensor, depth sensor
Gas mixes
Air, Nitrox and Trimix, up to 100% O2; 1 bottom gas and up to 11 deco and/or backup gases
Component
Garmin Descent Mk3i (43mm)
Price
Starts at $1,400 / £1,250 / AUD $2,500
Dimensions
43 x 43 x 14.13 mm
Weight
68.3g with bands
Case/bezel
Fiber-reinforced polymer / stainless steel
Gas mixes
Air, Nitrox and Trimix, up to 100% O2; 1 bottom gas and up to 11 deco and/or backup gases
GPS
GPS, Galileo, GLONASS
Battery life
Up to 10 days (30 hours diving mode)
Connection
Bluetooth, Wi-Fi
Water resistant
Yes, 200m depth
Garmin Descent Mk3i: Price and availability(Image credit: Craig Hale)The top-of-the-range Garmin Descent Mk3i (with transmitter) is a $2,000+ wearable, which puts it right at the top of its class, but it could still end up costing you less than buying a dedicated dive watch and a second fitness tracker for land.
To fully benefit from the Mk3i’s capabilities, you’ll need to pair it with the T2 tank pressure transmitter for a fair chunk more cash.
If you’re on a tighter budget, there’s also the Descent Mk3. The removal of the ‘i’ in its name means it won’t work with the tank pressure transmitter, but you can save yourself some cash and pick it up for $1,200 / £1,100 / AUD $1,250.
Garmin Descent Mk3i: Scorecard(Image credit: Craig Hale)Category
Comment
Score
Value
It’s loaded with more features than most rivals, but it’s still very expensive
4/5
Design
Rugged and durable design with high-end titanium finish on Mk3i models
5/5
Features
There’s no denying this is the ultimate watch for outdoor and diving enthusiasts
5/5
Performance
Responsive operating system and long-lasting battery life
5/5
Garmin Descent Mk3i: Should I buy?(Image credit: Craig Hale)Buy it if...You want something that can do it all
It’s expensive, but there’s not much that comes near to offering as much functionality as the Descent Mk3i.
You’re a tech-reational diver
You can push the limits of recreational diving with this watch, which offers tools to support tech diving.
You spend a lot of time outdoors
Superb GPS tracking, detailed body metrics and endless workout options help you to go wild.
Don't buy it if...You’re on a budget
There are watches that offer similar metrics and tank pressure monitoring for less money.
You’re a novice diver
Chances are you don’t need everything the Descent Mk3i offers, so why not consider a Fenix 8?
Also consider...Garmin Fenix 8
A high-quality all-in-one dive watch for true outdoor enthusiasts.
Read our Garmin Fenix 8 review
Suunto Ocean
A user-friendly, minimalist dive watch with support for wireless air pressure monitoring
Read our Suunto Ocean review
First reviewed: June 2025
A money-obsessed NYC matchmaker is wooed by a financial investor and a cater waiter in a romantic drama that has its protagonist finding strength and emotional growth via a side character's suffering.
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The iPhone 17 will likely launch in a few months, but what if you need a new phone right now? Should you wait for the next iPhone? Definitely not. I can help you pick a phone that you'll love for years, and won't regret buying when you see what Apple has next.
To buy a new phone, you need to answer three questions for me. Are you willing to sign a contract? Would you consider a pre-owned iPhone? Are you sure about getting an iPhone versus an Android? Here’s the best iPhone for you.
Get an iPhone 16 Pro for free with a new contract on a wireless carrier(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)If you don't have $1,000 / £1,000 / AU$1,800 to spend on a new iPhone 16 Pro, you might consider signing up for a new contract with a wireless carrier. If you’re not entirely happy with your old carrier, most carriers will give you a free phone if you switch.
With three months to go until a new iPhone arrives, I’m seeing wireless carriers clearing out inventory. In the US right now, all three major wireless carriers will give you a free iPhone 16 Pro for switching.
You'll need to stay with them for two years (T-Mobile) or three years (AT&T and Verizon), depending on the carrier, and you’ll need to subscribe to an unlimited data plan, but it’s a good deal if those conditions fit your needs.
Get an iPhone 13 Pro Max refurbished from Amazon or Best Buy(Image credit: Future)If you need to save money and don't want to sign up with a wireless carrier, you can also shop for renewed or refurbished devices. I've had a great experience buying used devices on Swappa.com in the US, but Best Buy, Amazon, and other major retailers sell refreshed products at a discount.
I would recommend an iPhone 13 Pro or iPhone 13 Pro Max as the oldest refreshed iPhone you should consider. Those phones have a great reputation for battery life and performance. Also, Apple gave the iPhone 13 Pro a major camera upgrade over the iPhone 12 Pro, and iPhone cameras haven't improved dramatically since.
The iPhone 15 Pro is still available new, just not from Apple(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)If you want a new iPhone, I'd recommend the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro (including the Plus and Max models). Compared to the new iPhone 16 family, the only feature that you'll lose is the Camera Control button, and frankly… I think you're better off without it.
In my experience, the Camera Control has been buggy and inconsistent. I prefer using the Action Button – first launched on the iPhone 15 Pro – to open the camera instead.
I wouldn't buy a new iPhone older than an iPhone 15, because older iPhone models use Lightning for charging and cables, and you don't want to be stuck with an old connector on its way to the connector's graveyard.
The iPhone 15 and newer iPhones use USB-C. This universal connector makes a huge difference when shopping for accessories or just borrowing a charger.
Here's why I would avoid the iPhone 16e(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)The iPhone I would avoid is the new iPhone 16e. While it looks good on a spec sheet, in practice, the iPhone 16e compromises too much to make it a better choice than buying a slightly older iPhone 15.
A new iPhone 15 is only $100 / £100 / AU$300 more than the iPhone 16e, but it offers a more iPhone-like experience. First of all, you get much better cameras – two sensors instead of one, including an ultra-wide lens.
Second, you get MagSafe, which is a huge part of Apple's accessory ecosystem. MagSafe accessories include batteries, wallets, grips, cases, wireless chargers, and much more. I pop my iPhone sideways onto a wireless stand every night, and it becomes my Standby bedside clock. You can't do that without MagSafe.
The OnePlus 13 will exceed your expectations, iPhone switchersThe OnePlus 13 can use MagSafe accessories thanks to this case (Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)What if you want to venture outside Apple's walled garden? Have you been admiring the green grass on the Android lawn? Assuming you are coming from an iPhone, I have a suggestion that will be an easy transition to enjoy.
These phones are a great choice today and will be fun to own for years
The OnePlus 13 is the best Android phone for iPhone switchers. OnePlus has an elegant interface that will be somewhat familiar and easy to pick up. The phone itself is polished and well-built, and it is impressively durable. I watched a OnePlus representative wash the phone in a dishwasher with plates and cups.
The OnePlus 13 has incredibly fast charging and amazing battery life that will last you more than a full day. It performs as fast as any phone I've tested. Its cameras are excellent and produce photos that are stylish and unique, thanks to OnePlus's partnership with Hasselblad cameras.
If you need a new phone right now, don’t wait until September. I don't expect any groundbreaking innovation from Apple this year, and these phones are a great choice today and will be fun to own for years. The iPhone 17 will arrive with a totally new look, and you can just shake it off and read the news from your brand new phone.
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Squinting to see a sign, tilting your head to look at someone, peering down your nose to read a menu: for millions of far-sighted people, glasses are a constant compromise. But a new kind of smart eyewear is aiming to clear things up, with the help of autofocus lenses.
Finnish startup IXI is one company developing frames with adaptive optics. Its glasses uses tiny sensors to track what you’re looking at, then liquid crystal lenses to adjust your view to suit. So you can go from checking your phone to watching a game in a blink.
What’s more, no-one should see any difference. IXI’s goal is to make them look and feel just like your normal glasses, with electronics tiny enough to fit into the frames. So while they might not let you ditch your specs entirely, autofocus glasses won’t require you to wear a bulky headset either.
Take a look aroundImage 1 of 2(Image credit: IXI)Image 2 of 2(Image credit: IXI)When it comes to far-sightedness, the standard fix is currently bifocals. These lenses are divided into two zones: one for distant objects, the other for near detail. When a user wants to read something up close, they have to look through the latter. It’s a solution with a learning curve – and one that can involve unnatural head tilts and limited viewing angles.
Progressive lenses offer a bit of a refinement, smoothing the transition between near and far, but they still have focal sweet spots. Fundamentally, you can’t look anywhere in the frame at anything you want. That’s the problem IXI plans to solve.
At the heart of its design is a powerful pairing: eye-tracking sensors and a fast-shifting lens system. The sensors monitor eye movements, firing harmless light pulses to measure the distance between you and what you’re looking at. This data is then fed back to liquid crystal lenses, which can rapidly change their curvature to give perfect focus.
According to IXI, the lenses adjust in just 0.2 seconds. The human eye focuses in around 0.4 seconds, which should mean there’s no discernible lag between looking and seeing. That’s particularly true for older users: our eyes get slower to focus as we age, because the eye’s natural lenses become less flexible. This is called presbyopia and it’s the same condition that causes long-sightedness.
This kind of optical tech has been talked about before, but mainly in a research setting. IXI is one of the first labs attempting to miniaturize the concept into a product for daily wear. It helps that the startup has secured some $36 million (around £27m / AU$56m) in funding to accelerate development.
That said, IXI isn’t the only company working on autofocus glasses. Laclarée and Elcyo are rival ventures developing similar solutions. None of the three has yet brought a commercial solution to market, which is perhaps indicative of the obstacles that remain before the frames land on public faces.
Prescription-grade optics are subject to strict medical regulation, which means the autofocus lenses will need to pass muster. There’s also a question of durability whenever it comes to moving parts. Other factors include how to incorporate batteries to power the glasses, while keeping the frames lightweight and comfortable.
Still, the promise is compelling: a single, adaptive pair of glasses that can replace reading specs, distance lenses and bifocals. It’s a step towards truly intelligent eyewear. If IXI can pull it off, the days of peering over rims might be behind us.
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This week, Oakley and Meta finally revealed their smart glasses (and they look kinda awesome), we published our Nintendo Switch 2 review (it's great, but not perfect), and Donald Trump launched a mobile phone (yes, really, and it's stranger than it sounds).
To catch up on all this and more, we have this quick recap of the seven biggest tech news stories of the week, as well as links to the full story so you can dive into the topic more deeply.
Once you're finished, be sure to also check out our picks for the seven new movies and TV shows to stream this weekend (June 20).
7. Garmin launched something other than a watch(Image credit: Garmin)Garmin's latest in a veritable barrage of new releases, the Garmin Index Sleep Monitor, is something other than a watch for once – designed to be worn on the upper arm, it's a dedicated sleep tracker. With a battery life of up to a week and a more accurate signal than wrist-based trackers, the idea seems to be to swap your Garmin watch for the sleep tracker overnight, as many people find chunky running watches uncomfortable to wear to bed.
We've known this was coming for a while, and are excited to get to grips with it – and it's the latest in the trend of screenless wellness trackers. Polar is also getting in on the act with a screenless, subscription-free Whoop alternative, although that's not launching until September. If you're tired of the idea of yet another flashing display in your life, you can check out this week's discreet fitness tracker guide here.
Xreal’s new One Pro AR smart glasses are easily the best we’ve ever seen, in large part due to their new optical setup, which offers a larger image and clearer picture (due to reduced reflections) than any of its competition.
This feels like a true precursor to the Android XR specs it’s working on, and if Project Aura can boast these features and more, Xreal could be onto a killer machine.
The only downside of the Xreal One Pro’s impressive nature is, as you might expect, its price. Currently a pair costs $649 / £579, and if you factor in ‘optional’ add-ons like the Xreal Beam Pro (at $199 / £189) it can start to add up. Though as a portable entertainment and productivity companion, Xreal’s glasses won’t let you down if you decide to pick them up.
5. Trump tried to make phones great again… we aren’t convinced (Image credit: Trump Mobile)Trump Mobile priced its mobile service at $45.47 a month, a not-too-subtle nod to Trump’s two terms as President of the United States. Beyond that, though, the service, and especially the new, gold T1 phone, aren’t offering too many direct references to the sitting president.
We focused on the head-scratching device, which offers a mix of older and new technologies (some are thrilled about the 3.5mm headphone jack) and makes a hard-to-believe claim that it’ll be made in the USA.
The $499 Android 15 phone is set to arrive in September, just in time for the next iPhone. We can’t wait to see that matchup.
4. Apple Music’s new AI DJ impressed many(Image credit: Apple)At Apple’s recent WWDC event, the company unveiled its exciting new AutoMix feature for Apple Music. Unlike the crossfade function, which simply crosses from one song to another to avoid gaps of silence, AutoMix creates a seamless playback experience using beat matching and time stretching to connect each song in a queue.
Though we have a few months to go until AutoMix rolls out with the wider iOS 26 release, it’s currently in developer beta, and those with early access are already revealing its capabilities online, marking one of the first viral Apple Music trends.
It’s a big step towards improving Apple Music’s sense of community, even if it’s still behind Spotify on the social front. But from what we’re seeing so far, AutoMix is a fun and engaging new feature that will win over many users, and as a Spotify fan, I hope it’s taking some notes.
3. We spent a week with Alexa+(Image credit: Amazon)It’s been months since Amazon unveiled Alexa+, its AI-infused reimagining of its popular voice assistant, but we’ve been waiting ever since for a full public release and a chance to try out the platform, until now.
We spent a week with the Alexa+ early access and found that while it’s not fully baked (and sometimes buggy), the new platform shows tremendous promise.
It’s the first LLM that seems smart home aware, and that means it can help you set up, adjust, and improve your smart home, provided all the gadgets work with Alexa and can be discovered by the new Alexa+.
It’s also proving to be a great conversationalist, and it’s very likely that your relationship with Alexa+ will be far different from the one you had with the timer-friendly and weather-knowledgeable OG Alexa.
2. Meta teamed up with Oakley(Image credit: Oakley / Meta)Meta has expanded its smart glasses partnership with EssilorLuxottica by introducing a pair of Oakley smart glasses based on the brand’s HSTN design.
This writer thinks it’s beautiful, but our office Slack chat is less than appreciative of the distinctive look. Aesthetics aside, the glasses are packed with hardware and software upgrades.
We’re talking double the battery life of the Meta Ray-Bans (it’s now eight hours instead of four), improved cameras (3K quality video capture), and improved AI assistance, which includes things like asking about surf conditions and golfing technique.
They’re due to launch later this summer, starting at $399 / £399, but a limited edition pair will go up for preorder sooner on July 11, for $499 / £499.
1. We reviewed the Nintendo Switch 2(Image credit: Future)The Nintendo Switch 2 is finally here, and we've thoroughly tested the all-new console for review over the past couple of weeks. In short, it's a phenomenal upgrade over the original Switch system. While it certainly lacks that hallmark Nintendo innovation, what we have here is a powerful hybrid handheld gaming device.
We now have a crisp 1080p display, capable of refresh rates of up to 120Hz. Furthermore, the handheld also features HDR and variable refresh rate tech for smoother performance while out on the go. Players who prefer docked mode aren't left out in the cold, though, as those playing on a TV or monitor can benefit from 4K and 1440p resolution settings.
While battery life definitely leaves a lot to be desired, the Switch 2 is nonetheless an accomplished handheld games console, and we can't wait to see what kinds of games Nintendo has in store in the years to come.
Installing a new Operating System (OS) isn’t as easy as it may sound, and often requires specific device features or knowledge - so we asked TechRadar readers how confident they were about upgrading, and found even our tech-savvy fans have some reservations.
We previously found a shocking number of people don’t even know what version of Windows they have, and many have unfounded confidence about meeting the requirements for upgrades. More exclusive research shows that many of our readers are still confident about upgrading their OS, but some might need a bit of guidance.
Almost two thirds of our readers are up for the challenge, with over a third (38%) saying; ‘bring it on - I’m pretty tech savvy’. Slightly more (41%) think it could be done, but they could ‘probably figure it out with some guidance’.
Money makerAround 15% said they found the idea of a switch daunting, and a further 6% say they’d ‘rather not break things’ - which is all well and good, but as Windows 10 End of Life (which will come on October 14, 2025) creeps closer, those few that are unprepared may need a little push.
Despite this, the overall sentiment is pretty positive, with 37% looking forward to the new features and improvements, although 9% do express frustrations with the endless updates to keep up with - and many content with the system they have right now.
The OS transition does represent an opportunity to buy or sell hardware though, with 37% having already upgraded to a new laptop/computer, and 21% admitting to having a look at new devices on offer.
That might be just what Microsoft is counting on though, with one respondent saying they believe the OS end of life “is just a way for Microsoft to try and make money, since they know that previous OSes work just fine and that it is planned obsolescence.”
Overwhelmingly though, respondents said they would stay with Windows (72%), and only 3% reporting that they would switch to another like Mac, Linux, or Chrome - so even those who think the upgrade is a hassle seem to be loyal to Windows.
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