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Point-and-shoots are on the rise again. I tested the current crop of pocket-size cameras for travel, wildlife, underwater, better-than-your-phone shots, and more.

Acer Nitro NGR300: One-minute review

This is going to be a quick one because there just isn’t much to say about the Acer Nitro NGR300. As a PC and mobile controller, it probably would’ve made a decent purchase had it been released close to a decade ago. Around that time, there was much less in the way of wireless controller options, and they didn’t nearly have the feature sets we take for granted today.

At face value, it isn’t a horrible controller. I quite like its aesthetic, and it performs perfectly well while gaming - feeling responsive whether you’re wired via USB-C or wireless via Bluetooth. A word of warning, though; Bluetooth is the only wireless option here, so you may need to source a Bluetooth adapter separately in the case your setup doesn't have it built in.

In 2025, however, there isn’t much of a reason to purchase the Acer Nitro NGR300. And perhaps the brand knows this, too, as it only seems to be available in the UK (at least at the time of writing). When it comes to the best PC controllers, there are so many options that cost the same or are cheaper than the Nitro - while simultaneously offering contemporary features like Hall effect sticks, 2.4GHz wireless connectivity, and more.

(Image credit: Future) Acer Nitro NGR300: Price and availability

• List price: £49.99
• Limited to UK-only availability
• There are cheaper options available with more features

Much like the Acer Predator controller, the Acer Nitro NGR300 only appears to be available in the UK. However, it’s £20 cheaper than the Predator, coming in at £49.99. If you’re purchasing from abroad, you’re looking at roughly $64.99 / AU$100. The trade-off here is that the Nitro lacks the 2.4GHz connectivity and Nintendo Switch compatibility of its counterpart.

That being said, it’s still very difficult to recommend the Nitro when competing models like the GameSir T4 Kaleid ($41.99 / £41.99) and the 8BitDo Ultimate C Bluetooth controller ($29.99 / £24.99) come in much cheaper. With these, you’re also getting more features. In the Kaleid’s case, you’ve got drift-resistant Hall effect sticks and tactile microswitch buttons. For the Ultimate C, while lacking Hall effect, it makes up for it with 2.4GHz connectivity and Nintendo Switch compatibility as well as PC and mobile.

Acer Nitro NGR300: Specs

(Image credit: Future) Acer Nitro NGR300: Design and features

• Simple, yet cool look
• Cheap-feeling build quality
• Turbo button function works as you’d expect

I do quite like the look of the Acer Nitro NGR300. While certainly an understated design, the subtly textured pattern bearing the ‘Nitro’ emblem is a really nice touch. Acer clearly knows how to do a lot with a little when it comes to overall looks, and it’s easily my favorite thing about this gamepad.

(Image credit: Future)

That’s about where the positives end when it comes to design and features, sadly. Overall build quality feels cheap and overly plasticky; a letdown even with that relatively budget-friendly price tag.

Sticks and face buttons both feel solid, in fairness, but I’m not at all a fan of the incredibly mushy D-pad that leads to some imprecise inputs. The bumpers and triggers are also relatively wide, with the latter also feeling quite listless when pressed.

The standout feature here is certainly the dedicated Turbo button. If you’ve used the feature on other controllers - which lets you assign a button to hold for continuous inputs - then it’s the same here. It’s certainly handy for old-school beat ‘em ups and action RPGs (role-playing games), but by no means is it the unique selling point it may have been all those years ago.

Acer Nitro NGR300: Performance

• Performs adequately in both wired and wireless modes
• It’s a Bluetooth controller, but it’s not compatible with Switch
• Relies on AA batteries for wireless play

Once more, there’s not much to write home about in terms of performance with the Acer Nitro NGR300. As a standard controller experience, it is comparable to similarly basic pads like the Xbox Wireless Controller, albeit lacking the strong comfort factor of that model.

(Image credit: Future)

In my testing, which included PC and mobile games like Final Fantasy 14 Online, RoboCop: Rogue City, and Zenless Zone Zero, I found the Nitro to be perfectly suitable for a variety of genres. It was also impressively responsive when used wirelessly over Bluetooth connection on mobile. I’d still argue that the best mobile controllers are better suited to gaming on the go, but the Nitro is serviceable in this regard.

The big sticking point for me - besides the lack of 2.4GHz connectivity - is that the Nitro relies on AA batteries for power. While not entirely unheard of in the present day (it’s also the default option for the Xbox Wireless Controller), I much prefer having a built-in battery that can charge up via USB-C.

Acer claims you’ll get up to 25 hours of battery life (as it did with the Predator), but this will naturally vary depending on the brand. With the included Energizer batteries, I managed to get around 15-20 hours of play.

Should I buy the Acer Nitro NGR300? Buy it if...

You have an abundance of AA batteries lying around
On average, the Nitro’s battery life is actually quite decent, lasting longer than some models including the 8BitDo Ultimate C. If you regularly use AA batteries for various devices and have a lot of them, then the Acer Nitro is a decent pickup.

Don't buy it if...

You’d prefer a controller with more modern features
The Acer Nitro lacks several features we take for granted today, such as Hall effect sticks, remappable buttons, Switch / console compatibility, a built-in charging solution, or 2.4GHz connectivity.

Also consider...

Not sold on the Acer Nitro NGR300? There are at least a couple of better and more affordable alternatives out there, such as…

Horipad Turbo
A solid alternative to the Acer Nitro that offers most of its features for less. You’re getting a Turbo button here and, while not wireless, has Nintendo Switch compatibility and comes in a range of fun designs.

Read our full Horipad Turbo review

GameSir Nova Lite
Simply one of the best budget controllers on the market today. The Nova Lite offers a range of connection types as well as Hall effect thumbsticks, a beautiful design and Switch compatibility alongside mobile and PC.

Read our full GameSir Nova Lite review

How I tested the Acer Nitro NGR300

• Tested for 15-20 hours (the time it took for the AA batteries to run out of juice)
• Tested across PC and mobile games
• Compared to the GameSir Nova Lite and Horipad Turbo

I tested the Acer Nitro NGR300 controller over a period of about 15-20 hours in total, after which the included Energizer AA batteries ran out. I primarily played on PC, which is its primary platform, having been unable to connect the controller to my Nintendo Switch. That said, Acer does not list the Switch as a supported platform, but as a Bluetooth device, I figured it was worth a try.

I compared my time with the Acer Nitro to that of its companion controller, the Acer Predator, as well as the GameSir Nova Lite and Horipad Turbo - all three of which I ended up preferring over this model. That’s due to a range of factors, including better features, compatibility, and connectivity options being available in the competition.

Read more about how we test

First reviewed March 2025

Leica SL3-S: two-minute review

Leica has taken the same product approach as other mirrorless camera makers, offering a high-resolution model in the 60MP Leica SL3 and a lower-resolution but more effective hybrid camera in the 24MP SL3-S.

Leica has had a long technology partnership with Panasonic, and the SL3-S has a lot (no, really, a lot) in common with the Lumix S5 IIx on a technical level. Physically, though, it’s very different. The SL3-S has a bigger, heavier body but with a super-streamlined control layout, with only three buttons on the rear having a specific labelled function.

It’s customizable to the nth degree, and it’s easy to assign new functions to the buttons as you go along, too. This approach does mean, however, that you'll need the patience to set it up to your liking in the first place, and a good memory for the functions you’ve assigned to the various buttons and dials.

It’s a nice camera to use, if heavy, and the info display panel on the top plate is a welcome feature when so many mirrorless camera makers don’t bother with these any more. The 5.76m-dot EVF may not have the very highest resolution on the market, but it’s clear and sharp and easily good enough. The rear screen is slightly disappointing. It has a tilt mechanism only, not a vari-angle pivot, and in our tests it just wasn’t bright enough for easy viewing outdoors, even with the brightness pushed up to maximum.

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I tested the SL3-S with the Leica Summilux-SL50mm f/1.4, and between them, the combo produced images of exceptional clarity and definition for a 24MP camera. The dynamic range seems about average for a camera of this type, but the JPEGs have very good tonal range from shadows to highlights, and at ISO 6400 (and beyond) noise levels are remarkably low.

The autofocus performance seemed pretty good when tracking humans and animals for video, though this isn't really a run-and-gun camera, and it's probably a little heavy for a gimbal too. It’s probably fair to consider this a filmmaking tool, not a vlogging camera.

The stabilization is only rated at five stops but seems to deliver its claimed maximum reliably, which you can’t always say for other cameras. This provides a very steady platform for handheld static shots, and can even cope with careful camera movements and walking-while-filming, though the results can soon get a little ‘choppy’.

Overall, the SL3-S is very expensive if you consider its specifications alone, but what you are also buying is quality – not just in the camera’s build and finish, but in the thought that’s gone into its control layout and interface. The results, too, are absolutely first rate. The Leica SL3-S is truly a class act in every sense.

Leica SL3-S: price and release date

• Leica SL3-S body only: $5,295 / £4,500 / AU$8,990
• Leica SL lenses start from around $2,195 / £1,850 / AU$3,490
• On sale now

The Leica SL3-S is undeniably expensive, costing almost three times as much as the Panasonic Lumix S5 II / S5 IIx, which many would say it’s based on. Despite the technical similarities, however, this is a very different camera physically, with all the build quality and design finesse that you would expect for the brand. Also, this is by no means the most expensive full-frame mirrorless camera on the market; there are several which cost a good deal more, albeit with higher or more specialized specifications.

The overall cost of ownership of the SL system is perhaps not quite as high as many might expect, either. Leica’s own SL lenses are more expensive than similarly specced alternatives from other brands, but still in the same ballpark – and not as terrifyingly expensive as some M-mount optics, either. And you can, of course, use any Sigma or Panasonic L-mount optics – though anyone prepared to invest in the SL3-S would probably prefer to stick to Leica SL glassware.

• Price score: 3/5

Leica SL3-S: specifications Leica SL3-S: design and handling

• All-metal magnesium and aluminum body, synthetic leather cover
• IP54 weather sealing
• Tilting rear screen

The Leica SL3-S's physical controls are minimalist in the extreme. Apart from three buttons on the back, none of the control dials or function buttons are labelled. You can make up your own control layout! (Image credit: Rod Lawton)

The menu system is superb. One press of the Menu button displays a quick settings screen and a second press displays the full menu system. Leica has a knack of making every camera feature quickly accessible (Image credit: Rod Lawton)

The first thing you notice about the Leica SL3-S is the simplicity of its external design and controls. On the back there are buttons marked Play, Fn and Menu, but beyond that every other control is unmarked, and can be set to any function you choose. These include two large control dials on the top, a thumb dial on the back and five function buttons on the front, top and back of the camera. There’s also a joystick for AF point selection, menu navigation and more.

Customization is super-easy. A long press on a function button brings up a menu where you can change the assigned function to something else. It’s a clever and efficient bit of interface design that’s typical of Leica, although it might not suit everyone. Some will prefer labelled buttons and dials that have a definite function, even if you can’t change them, to having to remember how you set the various buttons up.

Also, given that this is a hybrid camera where you need to be definite about whether you're in stills and video mode, wouldn’t it have been better to have a clearly labelled switch for that? An unmarked function button hardly seems adequate.

The tilting rear touchscreen is fine for indoor use, but can be hard to see outdoors, even with the brightness turned up to maximum (Image credit: Rod Lawton)

The status LCD on the top plate is a major bonus, allowing you to see key camera and exposure settings at a glance (Image credit: Rod Lawton)

The SL3-S offers two card slots, one for CFexpress Type B and one for SD UHS II cards (Image credit: Rod Lawton)

Another issue I had during testing was that I was constantly finding the focus point was somewhere other than where I left it – a common issue with touchscreens, of course – and on one occasion I found the focus area type had changed, and I don’t know why. I also found the zoom magnifier activating randomly while the shutter release was half-pressed, and I never could figure out what I was pressing to make that happen. All this is user error, of course, but it’s just a pity that the SL3-S design, beautiful as it is, leaves so many opportunities for such mistakes.

The 5.76m-dot EVF is excellent, but the 2.33m-dot rear screen less so. Even at full brightness it’s not always easy to see clearly for outdoor shooting. For video, you might have to rely more on the EVF than you would like – though of course for any kind of serious filmmaking you would quite likely have the SL3-S rigged up with an external monitor anyway.

• Design and handling score: 4/5

Leica SL3-S: performance

• Superb stills quality
• Great high-ISO performance
• Excellent JPEGs
• Highly effective stabilization
• Good AF tracking, though not the best

The SL3-S's single-shot autofocus is fast and effective, even when shooting wide open at f/1.4 – the depth of field here was razor-thin (Image credit: Rod Lawton)

This image was shot at ISO 16,000 and the quality is holding up extremely well, with perfectly acceptable noise levels and good fine detail. A little lower down the ISO scale at ISO 6,400, the image quality is remarkable (Image credit: Rod Lawton)

Leica SL lenses are more expensive than Panasonic or Sigma L-mount alternatives, but all the ones I've tried have been optically superb. This was taken with the Leica Summilux-SL50mm f/1.4 supplied for this review (Image credit: Rod Lawton)

This image shows the kind of spatial depth you can achieve with a full-frame camera and a fast prime lens. I didn't need to shoot this scene at f/1.4, but doing so has separated the trees in the middle distance from a beautifully blurred foreground and background. (Image credit: Rod Lawton)

You might argue that the SL3-S is ‘only’ a 24MP camera, but it produces the crispest, clearest images you’re ever likely to see from a camera with this resolution. Part of the credit undoubtedly has to go to the 50mm f/1.4 Summilux lens Leica provided for this review – this is a massive lens for a 50mm f/1.4, but it’s spectacularly sharp and aberration-free, and from edge to edge too. This is a lens you can confidently use wide open at f/1.4 without any hesitation.

The JPEGs from the SL3-S are very nice indeed. The camera achieves an excellent tonal range right into darker areas without seeming to sacrifice any midtone contrast. You can get blown highlights in JPEGs from overexposed skies, but you can recover highlight detail from the raw files, of course – though the SL3-S’s raw dynamic range seems no better or worse than that of rival cameras.

High-ISO performance is excellent. I shot a series of low-light interiors at ISO 6,400 expecting to see some significant deterioration in image quality, but the images looked really, really good. I should have set the ISO a lot higher!

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I was impressed by the IBIS too. Leica only claims five stops of compensation, but I think you probably get all of this pretty reliably, so this is perhaps Leica just being conservative. I’ve used plenty of other brands that claim higher levels of shake compensation but simply don’t deliver it.

Some have remarked that the SL3-S's AF tracking isn't quite as good as that of the Lumix S5 II/S5 IIx, but I couldn’t see any obvious weaknesses in my testing with human face / eye tracking, and the animal tracking, even though it’s still only in beta, was extremely good at keeping up with my feisty young terrier on a beach walk. Of course, it’s one thing the AF system knowing what it should be focusing on, but it will also depend on your lenses having fast enough AF actuators to keep up.

I honestly think, though, that if you’re into fast and immersive POV filming, this isn’t the kind of camera you would choose; the SL3-S will be much more at home on a tripod for more staged video productions.

• Performance score: 5/5

Leica SL3-S: testing scorecard Should I buy the Leica SL3-S?

(Image credit: Rod Lawton) Buy it if...

You're more concerned with quality than cost
And by that I mean not just quality of output, but quality of design, construction and operation.View Deal

You're already invested in the Leica SL system
If you're a Leica shooter looking for a more adaptable and versatile content tool than the SL3, this is it.View Deal

You have an SL2-S
If you're struggling a little with the contrast AF tracking performance of the older Leica, upgrading to the SL3-S is a clear win.View Deal

Don't buy it if...

You primarily need the video capabilities
The SL3-S is not a good buy if you’re not interested in Leica’s premium design aesthetics – the Lumix S5 II/S5 IIx will do a grand job for a lot lessView Deal

You’re going to use Sigma or Panasonic lenses
The SL3-S makes the most sense with Leica’s own SL glassware, which is typically big and expensive, alas.View Deal

You’re going to shoot in hazardous conditions
Yes, the SL3-S does have IP54 weather sealing but, frankly, its sheer cost makes it a slightly nerve-racking choice for extreme filming. Use something cheaper!View Deal

(Image credit: Rod Lawton) How I tested the Leica SL3-S

• I had a one week SL3-S loan from Leica
• It was sent along with the Leica Summilux-SL 50mm f/1.4 ASPH lens
• I made photos and videos of various subjects, including animals and landscapes

I was able to use the Leica SL3-S for a few days to shoot a variety of subjects. For one shoot I chose a country walk via a yachting marina, and for another I took the SL3-S to a country estate to check out its low-light capabilities for interior shots. I also took it on an urban architecture expedition to get an idea of its dynamic range and detail rendition.

I tested its video capabilities too, particularly its stabilization and autofocus tracking, with a dog-walk on a windy beach. The aim was to find out how well the stabilization worked for static handheld shots and also a walking run-and-gun style. My pet dog was a big help in testing the AF tracking performance, including Leica’s animal tracking AF system, which is still in beta.

In particular, I wanted to try the SL3-S in shooting conditions that required a variety of settings changes, often from one shot to the next, to get a proper idea of how the Leica’s innovative control system actually worked in the field.

The death toll reached the milestone just days after Israel resumed its military campaign in Gaza, breaking a ceasefire with Hamas.

(Image credit: Jehad Alshrafi)

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Honor Earbuds Open: One minute review

I’ve long been a naysayer of open-ear earbuds, despite (or probably because of) testing a huge number of them. However the first few months of 2025 brought a slew of impressive such buds to make me change my mind, and the Honor Earbuds Open is one of the ringleaders of the operation. While making it onto our list of the best open-ear earbuds is a relatively low bar, the Honors hurdle over it with ease.

Open-ear earbuds, for those of you who don’t know, are wireless earbuds that don’t sit in your ear, but rather very near your ear canal, to allow outside noises to get in too (useful for if you want to hear public service announcements on a commute, the noise of traffic that you’re nearby or light conversation). While Shokz popularized the category, most tech brands are now starting to reveal their own takes on an open-fit approach (production of such designs is reportedly up 600%, according to rival Huawei), and Honor is simply the latest company to take up the challenge. But the Chinese electronics firm, perhaps best known for its aspirational smartphones, has done a very good job here.

Given their design quirks, you have to forgive a few things with open-ear buds. But the slam-dunk of the Honor Earbuds Open is that they deliver everything you want in normal headphones, not just gimmicky "Ooh I can still hear you" ones.

For example, the Honors sound great, a compliment I’ve never once paid to open-ears. They offer energetic bass, bristling treble and a soundstage that’d be most welcome on normal earbuds, let alone ones that don’t even sit within your ears.

The fit is fantastic too, which is often the area that ruins otherwise-great open-ears. The Earbuds Open fit comfortably and securely, whether I was lounging at home, working out at the gym, cycling or going on runs. It was easy to forget I was wearing them at times!

Honor has also offered a feature that is incredibly rare in open-ears: active noise cancellation. When I first saw that the buds had this, I was baffled; after all, the entire point of open-ears is that they allow you to hear surrounding sounds. However in practice, it worked really well, with its light-touch implementation ensuring you can hear important environmental sounds without drowning your music in the hustle-and-bustle of city life.

A few issues affect the Honor Earbuds Open, most annoyingly the limited battery life which rules these out for long-distance runners. I also found the touch controls a little annoying to use, and you can easily mark any earbuds down for some of the features they don’t offer (an equalizer here) but none of these are deal-breakers… as you can probably tell, from the glowing review score and verdict.

The unfortunate release right at the same time as a cheaper, better-sounding rival (more on that in the 'Also consider' section) will only hurt the Honors, but they remain some of the best open-ear headphones on the market right now.

Honor Earbuds Open review: Specifications Honor Earbuds Open review: Price and availability

(Image credit: Future)

• Announced in February 2025
• Priced at £149.99 (roughly $200, AU$300)
• Not on sale in Australia or US

The Honor Earbuds Open were announced at annual tech conference MWC in February 2025, alongside a few other Honor gadgets.

You can pick up the buds for £149.99 (roughly $200, AU$300). Honor doesn’t seem to have a huge presence in the US or Australia, so I wouldn’t expect to see the buds go on sale in either region.

That’s a price slightly north of what some impressive rivals cost, (see the Shokz OpenFit Air, priced £119, which is around $150 or AU$229) but there are also big-name open-ears that cost a lot more, and the difference between Honor’s buds and its close rivals isn’t huge.

Honor Earbuds Open review: Design

(Image credit: Future)

• Light-weight buds that are comfortable to wear
• Comes in black or beige
• Cigarette-case holder

The Honor Earbuds Open case reminds me of a cigarette case from an old movie. It’s wide and flat, incredibly slim and opens in a clamshell-style to reveal the curled earbuds hidden underneath. More practically, this compact design makes the case particularly easy to slip into pockets without it being a burden.

The case weighs roughly 80 x 61 x 20mm, and weighs 52.5g, so it’s smaller than a lot of other open-ear cases.

Now onto the buds: you can see the pictures, and you know what open-ear buds are like (hopefully, at least, if you’re considering buying some!). Like sport earbuds, they have a round-the-ear hook, holding the bud itself close to your ear and, hopefully, steadily in place.

Evidence of how easily-bendable the hook is. (Image credit: Future)

I found the Honors to be some of the more comfortable open-ears I’ve tested, thanks to the light weight (7.9g) and their soft plastic material. They also held the bud surprisingly close to the ear, which probably helps explain the superior audio quality which we’ll get to.

Rarely, for a pair of open-ear buds that isn’t being marketed towards athletes, the buds are secure enough for intense sports. I took them for several runs and gym workouts and never had an issue – they stay in place just fine.

Each bud has a touch control, which you can toggle by double- or triple-pressing the body of the bud (the silver bit in the images). It readily picked up my touch every time, but since you have to repeatedly hit the part of the bud that hangs down, I found myself repeatedly pushing it into my ear when I wanted to pause, which was a little bit annoying.

Two other things to note: firstly, you can pick up the buds in black or beige (which Honor calls Polar Gold). Secondly, they have an IP54 rating, which means they’re splash- and dust-proof – but don’t get them too wet.

• Design score: 4.5/5

Honor Earbuds Open: Features

(Image credit: Future)

• ANC is rare showing for open-ears
• A few extra features with Honor app
• Battery life is only 6 hours (40 for case)

The Honor Earbuds Open are the first open earbuds I’ve ever seen that have noise cancellation. What the point of noise cancellation is on an earbud form factor that people pick to let in outside sound I won’t understand, but it worked surprisingly well, so I can’t complain.

It’s by no means industry-leading noise cancellation, but its ‘less-is-more’ approach worked wonders. The open-ear frame lets you hear important sounds around you like train station announcements, the engines of nearby vehicles or calls from people in shops you’ve just left letting you know you’ve left your credit card behind. And the noise cancellation removes the unimportant sounds: distant traffic, annoying screeching trains and horrible weather conditions. Honor has found the Goldilocks spot for ANC: just right.

I personally chose to keep ANC off, not because I love hearing winds announcing that it was about to rain half-way through my 15k run, but because the battery life needs it. The buds only last for 6 hours of listening time when you’ve got ANC off, and even less when it’s on – I’d estimate about 4.5 hours. The charging case brings that total up to 22 hours which again isn’t great, and many rivals beat it.

(Image credit: Future)

If you download the Honor AI Space app on your smartphone, you get access to a few extra features. One of these is the ability to toggle the ANC on and off, another is the ability to connect to multiple smartphones, and you can also find your earbuds or change what the gesture controls do.

There’s technically an EQ toggle, but you can only change it between two modes: ‘Original’ and ‘Workout amplifier’, the latter of which I tested when I was working out and also in a more controlled sound environment. From what I can tell, the latter reduces the bass and the audio quality in favor of more volume and treble; I can see the reasoning for these changes, but they’re not pronounced enough for it to be worth the switch.

Another feature I need to flag is AI Translate; Honor’s website says you need the Honor Magic 7 Pro to use it, but it worked fine on my Realme phone. This is basically an interpreter app that lets you converse with someone in two of eleven languages, using both your phone’s speaker and the earbuds.

From what I can tell, and coming from someone who’s monolingual, it seemed to work well. It’s just a curious feature to come packaged with earbuds, especially when you could equally download and use Google Translate’s app.

• Features score: 4.5/5

Honor Earbuds Open review: Sound

(Image credit: Future)

• Large 16mm drivers
• Impressive treble and bass
• No equalizer

I was ready to declare the Honor Earbuds Open the best-sounding open earbuds I’d ever tried; unfortunately, another pair of open-ears I was testing alongside them somehow managed to just pip them to the post, but they’re still great to listen to. I regularly forgot that I was listening to open-ear buds!

Tech-wise, the Honors each boast a 16mm dynamic driver each, which is bigger than on most rivals I’ve tested. And it tells.

Perhaps the most noticeable improvement the Honor Earbuds Open offer over other open-ears I’ve tested is that they have this thing called ‘bass’ – I can’t remember the last buds with this form factor that I’ve tested that have any noticeable amount of bass, a natural side-effect of buds hovering above ears. However the Honors offer warm and energetic low tones, perfect for thumping workout tunes.

But that’s not all: the buds have crisp treble, which is another useful component that lets the Earbuds Open cut through noise, and a pronounced sound stage that makes songs sound detailed and rich when you’re wanting to enjoy your tunes.

The only audio problem I faced was one that’s pretty common in all kinds of wireless earbud: mid sounds fell by the wayside a little compared to treble and bass. But in the eternal words of Meat Loaf “two out of three ain’t bad”, and the Honors are the first open-ears I’ve tested that I’ve actually been glad to put on my ears.

• Sound performance score: 4.5/5

Honor Earbuds Open review: Value

(Image credit: Future)

Given that the open-ear bud market is still rather new, it’s hard to make decisive statements about the price categories for this kind of audio product. But I’d roughly say that these are at the cheaper end of the mid-range market.

With that in mind, there are definitely cheaper options available to you, although picking them up will naturally saddle you with worse-sounding earbuds (except in one case; more on that below). But there’s more to life than audio quality and some more affordable buds are better for certain uses, with longer battery life or more robust builds.

So if you’re looking for any passable pair of open-ears, the Honors might not offer you great value for money, but if you really care about good-sounding audio they’ll arguably be worth the higher price.

• Value score: 4/5

Honor Earbuds Open review: scorecard Honor Earbuds Open: Should I buy them?

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

You need workout and non-workout open-ears

While many open-ear buds are best for exercising purposes, the Honors were equally good for that and for general use.

You need noise cancellation

There are very few open-ear buds that offer Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) but the Honors do – and in use, it is effective.

You need earbuds that translate for you

Admittedly a very niche use case, but if you need an on-the-go translator, I can't think of another pair of earbuds that offer it as a feature!

Don't buy them if...

You need a longer battery life

If you want to listen for long periods of time, whether it's through a full work day or a long run or a journey, the Honors won't help you much.

You like to fiddle with your audio mix

It's pretty easy to find wireless earbuds with some kind of EQ tab, even many open-ears, so the Honors won't suit people who like to tinker with their tunes.

Also consider

Huawei FreeArc

These open-ears from Honor's ex-parent-company Huawei are cheaper than the Earbuds Open, plus they sound better and have a few more features. The battery life is even worse though.

Our full Huawei FreeArc review is just days away… 

OpenRock Pro

These open-ears have a fantastic battery life, and they're really sturdy too, perfect for fitness users.

Read our full OpenRock Pro review

How I tested

(Image credit: Future)

I used the Honor Earbuds Open for two weeks in order to write this review. I tested them at the same time as two rival open-ears: the Huawei FreeArc and EarFun Openjump, which provided ample opportunity for comparison.

Through the review I used them alongside my Android smartphone, largely for music streaming on Spotify but also for streaming TV shows and playing games. As mentioned through the review I used them at home, on walks around my neighborhood, on cycle rides, on runs and at the gym.

I've been testing gadgets for TechRadar for over six years now, and have reviewed, amongst other things, many other open-ear earbuds.

Read more about how we test

• First reviewed: March 2025

For years, Wayne Gretzky's record of 894 career regular-season goals was widely thought to be untouchable. Now, the Washington Capitals star has just a handful to go to claim the record as his own.

(Image credit: Bruce Bennett)

First Corinthian Baptist Church founded a separate nonprofit that employs therapists to bring mental health care to a community where stigma remains a high barrier to healing.

(Image credit: José A. Alvarado Jr. for NPR)

• Asus Vivobook 18 charging reaches 60% capacity in just 49 minutes
• Laptop offers with up to 32GB DDR5 RAM and PCIe 4.0 SSD, multitasking is smooth and efficient
• Comes with Windows Hello facial recognition and a webcam cover

Asus has released the Vivobook 18, a budget-friendly business laptop with an 18.4-inch IPS display featuring a 16:10 aspect ratio, a resolution of 1920 × 1200, and a refresh rate of up to 144Hz, making it a decent laptop for programming.

With a 90% screen-to-body ratio and a brightness of 300 nits for an immersive viewing experience, the display reduces blue light emissions, making the Vivobook 18 ideal for working at all hours.

The Vivobook 18 is exclusively powered by the AMD Ryzen 7 260 fast CPU, featuring eight Zen 4 cores with a maximum clock speed of 5.1GHz for smooth multitasking.

AMD Ryzen 7 260 brings exclusive performance

The Vivobook 18 comes with AMD Radeon 780M graphics, allowing it to handle multimedia tasks efficiently, making it a capable laptop for trading.

It also supports up to 32GB of DDR5 RAM and comes with PCIe 4.0 SSD storage options starting at 512GB and going up to 1TB.

For connectivity, there is a mix of modern and traditional ports, featuring two USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-C ports, two USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A ports, an HDMI port, and a 3.5mm audio jack.

The USB-C ports support DisplayPort Alt Mode and Power Delivery, allowing users to connect external monitors and charge the laptop, though bandwidth is limited to 5 Gbit/s.

A 75Wh battery that supports fast charging powers the Vivobook 18, restoring 60% of its capacity in just 49 minutes. To maintain stable performance under heavy workloads, it features upgraded heat pipes and a taller fan design for improved airflow against previous models, with a CPU TDP of 35W.

The laptop maintains a sleek design, measuring just 1.86 cm thick and weighing 2.6 kg, while also meeting MIL-STD 810H military standards for durability.

A Windows Hello-compatible infrared camera enables quick and secure facial recognition login, while a physical cover adds an extra layer of privacy. In the same vein, AI noise-canceling technology filters out background noise on calls.

Asus has launched the Vivobook 18 in Germany for €899, with availability expected to expand to other markets soon

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The Trump administration's erasure of federal data has put the Internet Archive in the spotlight. The organization, with its small but mighty team, is working to help save the world's digital history.

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Israeli strikes across the southern Gaza Strip killed at least 26 Palestinians overnight, including a Hamas political leader, as the military ordered new evacuations in the southern city of Rafah.

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Find the perfect match for your internet needs with this list of the best internet plans and providers in Reno.

A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms: Key information

- The series will be based on George R. R. Martin’s Tales Of Dunk and Egg

- The show is a prequel to Game Of Thrones, and set almost 100 years after House Of The Dragon

- Filming took place for three months in June 2024, and was wrapped by September

- Peter Claffey will play Dunk / Ser Duncan the Tall, and Dexter Sol Ansell will play Egg / Prince Aegon Targaryen

- The release date has been confirmed by HBO as “streaming in 2025”, while Martin believes “maybe in the fall”

Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms: The Hedge Knight is the next HBO show based on George R. R. Martin novels.

When Game Of Thrones departed its other-worldly realm for good back in May 2019 – for better or worse, given that divisive ending – it left a giant, dark fantasy-shaped hole in many of the legions of fans lives.

House Of The Dragon was the prequel follow up from creator George R. R. Martin (and Ryan Condal), launching in 2022, but the demand was still there for more fantastical adventures and storytelling from the multi-million selling author.

And he’s delivered; with another swash-buckling epic tale called A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms. This is yet another prequel to Game Of Thrones – but set almost 100 years after events of House of The Dragon – part of the A Song Of Fire And Ice franchise.

It will be based on Martin’s series of fantasy novellas called Tales Of Dunk And Egg, and will feature the origins of Dunk, the future Lord Commander of the Kingsguard, Ser Duncan the Tall and Egg, the future King Aegon V Targaryen.

Needless to say, this has caused great excitement and expectation from those who enjoy Martin’s dramatic world-building, and with it likely to hit screens in 2025, here’s everything you need to know about A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms:

A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms: does it have a release date?

A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms is set almost 100 years after events of House of The Dragon (Image credit: Ollie Upton/HBO)

After announcing the start of production in January 2021, by June 2024, according to Variety, filming had started, and wrapped three months later in September.

HBO announced that it would be streaming in 2025, and in a blog post by Martin on his site, he said: “The series will make its debut late this year, I am now told. How late, I could not say. Maybe in the fall.”

A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms: is there a trailer yet?

There’s no official full length trailer for A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms yet, but as is customary for HBO, an end of year sizzle reel looking forward to their productions in 2025 and beyond gave a sneak peek of what to expect (skip to one minute and 32 seconds in the video above to see the brief clip).

A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms: has there been a cast confirmed?

Send a raven. Peter Claffey and Dexter Sol Ansell will star in the new @HBO Original Series, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms: The Hedge Knight, as Ser Duncan the Tall and Egg. Coming to Max. pic.twitter.com/OAXVSQKLrBApril 5, 2024

It’s a solid line-up for this new adventure, which, if it goes down well with audiences, could see the series become as big as GOT. In the lead roles are Peter Claffey as Dunk / Ser Duncan the Tall, a hedge knight and Dexter Sol Ansell as Egg / Prince Aegon Targaryen, a prince of the Targaryen dynasty and Dunk's squire.

Martin added on his blog: “I’ve seen all six episodes now (the last two in rough cuts, admittedly), and I loved them. Dunk and Egg have always been favorites of mine, and the actors we found to portray them are just incredible. The rest of the cast are terrific as well. Wait until you guys meet the Laughing Storm. and Tanselle Too-Tall.”

Other recurring roles are:

• Finn Bennett as Prince Aerion "Brightflame" Targaryen, a prince of the Targaryen dynasty and Egg's older brother.
• Bertie Carvel as Prince Baelor "Breakspear" Targaryen, the heir to the Iron Throne and Hand of the King to Daeron II.
• Tanzyn Crawford as Tanselle, a Dornish puppeteer.
• Daniel Ings as Ser Lyonel Baratheon, a knight known as the "Laughing Storm" and the heir to House Baratheon.
• Sam Spruell as Prince Maekar Targaryen, Baelor's younger brother and Egg's father.

Meanwhile, other guest stars to pop up include:

• Ross Anderson as Ser Humfrey Hardyng, a knight of House Hardyng.
• Edward Ashley as Ser Steffon Fossoway, a knight of House Fossoway of Cider Hall.
• Henry Ashton as Daeron "The Drunken" Targaryen, Egg and Aerion's older brother.
• Youssef Kerkour as Steely Pate, a blacksmith hailing from the Reach.
• Daniel Monks as Ser Manfred Dondarrion, a knight of House Dondarrion of Blackhaven.
• Shaun Thomas as Raymun Fossoway, Steffon's cousin and squire.
• Tom Vaughan-Lawlor as Plummer, the steward of Ashford.
• Steve Wall as Lord Leo "Longthorn" Tyrell, the Lord of Highgarden.
• Danny Webb as Ser Arlan of Pennytree, a hedge knight and Dunk's mentor.

A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms: what do we know about the plot?

A century before @GameofThrones, there was Ser Duncan the Tall and his squire, Egg.Executive produced by George R. R. Martin, Ira Parker, Ryan Condal, and Vince Gerardis, A Knight of the #SevenKingdoms: The Hedge Knight has received a straight to series order. #StreamOnMax pic.twitter.com/MRPUke5UptApril 12, 2023

We’ll hand back over to the big man for this one, for who else better to explain that its creator? Martin writes: “A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms is an adaptation of The Hedge Knight, the first of the novellas I wrote about them. It’s as faithful as adaptation as a reasonable man could hope for (and you all know how incredibly reasonable I am on that particular subject).”

The Hedge Knight – a knight without a master – tells the tale of how Dunk took on this mantle, and then meets his squire, a boy named Egg, on his way to compete in a tournament at Ashford Meadow, and follows the adventures they go on together afterwards.

However, it comes with a warning for blood-thirsty fans of GoT and mythical beast lovers of HotD. Martin adds: “Viewers who are looking for action, and more action, and only action… Well, this one may not satisfy you. There’s a huge fight scene here, as exciting as anyone could ask for, but there are no dragons this time around, no huge battles, no white walkers… this is a character piece, and its focus is on duty and honor, on chivalry and all it means.”

A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms: the future

The future looks bright for the Kingdoms, as Martin said plans are all ready going full steam ahead, although HBO are yet to confirm season 2.

“We’ll be moving on to The Sworn Sword, in the second tale of Dunk & Egg,” he blogged on his site. “ And once I finish The Winds Of Winter, I will need to get hopping on The Village Hero, and all the other tales that await the lads. Don’t worry, I am sure you folks will remind me.’ Yep, we’re ready and waiting to give him a nudge, if needs be!

For more Max TV-based coverage, read our guides on Euphoria season 3, House of the Dragon season 3, and Peacemaker season 2.

Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu was detained following a raid on his residence earlier this week, sparking the largest wave of street demonstrations in Turkey in more than a decade.

(Image credit: Khalil Hamra)

MSI is well known for its gaming laptops and desktops, graphics cards, motherboards, monitors, and other PC components. Fairly recently, they also decided to break into networking, adding a line of routers and mesh Wi-Fi to take on TP-Link and others head-to-head.

The biggest selling point that MSI promotes with the Roamii BE Lite is that this is a Wi-Fi 7 Mesh router. Which is great, but the bummer is that there is no 6Ghz channel. So, while it does provide the Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be) Standard, it only has 2.4Ghz and 5Ghz frequencies, no 6Ghz - confusing, I know.

The MSI Roamii BE Lite targets users who want affordable Wi-Fi 7 connectivity in their homes (or small businesses) and want a multi-gig WAN/LAN port. Regardless of location, the Roamii BE Lite has excellent security features, which protect your digital assets and family and ensure reliability.

As long as you don't require a 6GHz channel, this is one of the best Wi-Fi mesh systems for the money, but for those who want those 6GHz speeds, this system may not be the right fit for you.

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future) MSI Roamii BE Lite: Price and Availability

The MSI Roamii BE Lite is sold for $210 / £210 as a two-unit system. This includes the main router and a secondary node that you can place throughout your home office or small business to extend your mesh network further. It's available through Best Buy, Amazon, and many others, all of which can be found on the MSI Website.

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future) MSI Roamii BE Lite: Unboxing & first impressions

The MSI Roamii BE Lite came very well packaged -- partially because the two triangle units could lay over one another and partially because of the sleek packaging that still protected the units. The box had two nodes: power adapters, an ethernet cable for the primary node to connect to a modem, and wall-mounting brackets. Though I would never mount something like this to the wall, it's nice for MSI to include this for those needing it.

I just finished reviewing the TP-Link Deco XE75 Pro mesh router, so I was not shocked to see a taller, white, similarly sized router. However, the change in shape, moving from a cylinder to a triangle, was a nice change-up. The smooth, modern white finish blends nicely without being too prominent, especially in my home office. Another thing that I noticed right away was that both nodes had ethernet ports, meaning that, just like in the TP-Link Deco XE75 Pro, I could use it to extend my ethernet network (in a way) without running ethernet cables through my walls.

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future) MSI Roamii BE Lite: Design & build quality Specs

Wireless Specification: Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be)
Bands: 2.4GHz (up to 688Mbps) and 5GHz (up to 4,323Mbps)
Antennas: 4 internal
Processor: 1.5GHz quad-core CPU
Memory: 2GB DDR4 RAM
Storage: 256MB flash memory
Ports per Node:
• 1 x 2.5GbE WAN/LAN
• 2 x 1GbE LAN
Coverage: Up to 5,800 sq ft with two nodes
Security: WPA2/WPA3, FortiSecu suite with parental controls

As mentioned, the nodes are sleek and minimal in a soft white, triangular tower shape. The MSI Roamii BE Lite is durable, sturdy, and not too large. The triangular shape has a smooth edge and can easily blend in with my home office. While some routers may attempt to attract attention, the Roamii BE Lite does not -- they try to blend in.

One downside of this router is that there are no USB ports, meaning I cannot easily attach storage to my network via a basic drive. I would need a Synology DiskStation or BeeStation, which is precisely what I did -- more on that below.

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future) MSI Roamii BE Lite: In use

Setting up the MSI Roamii BE Lite was very easy. I downloaded the companion app, and I followed simple step-by-step instructions. Since I didn't want to start a new network, and in my situation, I wanted to replace my old router to try this one out, I kept my network settings the same, using the identical SSID and Password. My devices (for the most part) could reconnect to the new router without issue. A few smart devices took a little while, but most of my devices (I have around 70 connected devices in my house at any given time) could jump to the new router.

My 2.4GHz devices connected without a problem, and so did my 5GHz. However, I quickly noticed that I was missing the 6GHz band when working on my iPhone 16 Pro, my iPad Mini 7, and some of my laptops for testing. While it's not a huge deal, it is noticeable at some slower speeds -- but then again, I'm the person who checks that stuff and pays attention to it.

According to MSI, you can get about 5,800 sq ft of coverage with these two nodes. For medium to large homes or smaller offices (compared to, say, a State Farm Corporate), this is perfect. So far, I've not noticed any dead zones, nor have I seen a drop in connection when walking around my home and home office. As mentioned, I always have a large number of devices in my space. So far, while testing the Roamii BE Lite, I haven't noticed any devices struggling to stay connected as more get connected, nor have I noted any that have been flat-out pushed off the network due to limited connections.

One of the areas that MSI promotes very heavily for the Roamii BE Lite is the security and parental controls they have baked into their app and router. This includes parental controls, access scheduling, filtering, network scans, and more. In short, this means that if you need to control who can be on the Wi-Fi, or when, or what is seen, this is a great option. I am also hyper-aware of who and what is on my network. Because of this, I have loved doing network threat scans (okay, love may be a bit too dramatic), and it's great peace of mind knowing that there is built-in security to help protect my network's integrity.

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future) MSI Roamii BE Lite: Final verdict

Overall, the Roamii BE Lite is good at what it does. In 2025, especially from a gaming-heavy company, they'd include a 6GHz band. However, the 5GHz and 2.4GHz bands work well. That, plus the great price, makes this a great budget buy. If you are looking for maximum connectivity, the highest speeds, true Wi-Fi 7 feature sets, or that 6GHz band, this is probably not the unit for you.

For more connectivity solutions, we reviewed the best small business routers.

Sarasota residents can choose from several fast and affordable internet options. We've put together this list of the best ISPs in the area, to help you find the right fit for your home.

Gtech StyleOnic: two-minute review

In the hunt for the best hair straighteners, Gtech may not be a brand that immediately jumps to mind. However, with the launch of the StyleOnic Turbo ION hair straightener (and Gtech DryOnic hair dryer alongside) the brand known mainly for its excellent vacuum cleaners has moved into haircare.

Designed to reduce frizz, boost shine, and make styling easy, the StyleOnic uses ionic technology and ceramic plates to create smooth, sleek results, and soft curls. It also features an LED display that shows each of the 10 precise temperature controls, ranging from 140 C / 285 F to 230 C / 445 F, making it suitable for a wide range of hair types and styles.

In testing, the StyleOnic performed well at straightening my long, fine, naturally-curly hair; heating up quickly and gliding smoothly without snagging. It wasn't as smooth as other straighteners, like the GHD Chronos (learn more in my GHD Chronos review), but still impressive. The beveled edges make it easy to create curls or waves, although the results were often inconsistent – largely because I often had to squeeze the 1 in / 2.5cm plates together harder than I would have liked to make sure the whole hair strand was evenly styled, which caused my hand to ache.

I liked the lightweight, slim dimensions of the StyleOnic. It weighs 8.4oz / 239g and measures 9.8in / 25cm and these dimensions, coupled with its heat-protective case, makes it great for travel or storage. However, the styler itself has a cheap-looking build, caused by its mix of materials and colors. Elsewhere, it's difficult to press the temperature button because of where it's positioned on top of the styler. I often struggled to get enough purchase to change the setting without the plates hitting together.

I feel like these flaws are a sacrifice you make for the StyleOnic's price, though. Gtech isn’t trying to compete with salon-grade brands like GHD or Dyson, but instead offers a practical, relatively affordable alternative with a focus on convenience. This makes it a worthwhile option if you prioritize portability and ease of use over high-end design and flawless performance. Just don't expect miracles.

Read on for my full Gtech StyleOnic review...

(Image credit: Future) Gtech StyleOnic review: price & availability

• List price: £99.99
• Available: UK only
• Launched: January 2025

The Gtech StyleOnic costs £99.99 and is only currently available in the UK direct from Gtech, or a range of third party retailers. Gtech is yet to confirm if, or when, it will be sold in other regions. For this price, you get the styler, a protective heat glove and a storage bag.

The Gtech StyleOnic sits alongside other lower mid-range models including the BaByliss Hydro-Fusion and Bellissima Italia Creativity Infrared. One of my favorite stylers, the mdlondon STRAIT, is marginally more expensive at £109 but is one of the closest like-for-like models in terms of design, features and specs.

In the STRAIT's favor are its longer plates – 11cm vs the Gtech's 8.9cm. This makes them better suited to different hair lengths and make it great for curling. It also offers 11 temperatures versus the Gtech's 10 settings. Beyond this though, both the StyleOnic and STRAIT are very similar with digital displays, swivel cords, auto-shut off features and a range of colors.

The Gtech StyleOnic slightly takes the edge against the BaByliss model by offering twice number of temperature settings. BaByliss doesn't have a digital display but everything else is near-on identical, from its ceramic plates, ionic technology, shape and size.

The Bellissima model is a better option if you have damaged hair. The infrared technology – one of the biggest hair trends of the moment – styles the outer layers of the hair without stripping moisture from the inside. The rest of its settings are the same, although the clunky design of the Bellissima leaves a little to be desired.

All this considered, the Gtech StyleOnic is good value for money in terms of the range of settings and features it offers, and the safety extras you get as standard. Little separates it from other straighteners in its price bracket and it's not reinventing the wheel, but it's a solid debut nonetheless.

• Value score: 4 out of 5

Gtech StyleOnic specs Gtech StyleOnic review: design

• 1 inch wide, ceramic-coated plates
• 10 different heat settings
• Longer-than-usual plates

Having recently reviewed the Gtech DryOnic hair dryer, and been really impressed with its classy, premium design, I was a little disappointed with how the StyleOnic looks.

I tested the Oyster model and while I liked the satin finish of the cream-colored areas, and the gold accents on the plates and controls, they were let down by the black, glass band found on the top – which houses the LED display. This mix of materials makes the StyleOnic not only look cheap, but feel cheap in the hand.

At the base of the styler is a 2m / 6.5ft cord. This is shorter than the 3m average, and while it'll be fine if you have a power outlet positioned near your dressing table area, it'll get annoying quickly if you don't.

(Image credit: Future)

Above the display, where the black glass meets the cream plastic are two thin buttons – one turns the straighteners on and off; the other is used to cycle through the 10 heat settings. Rather than having specific styling modes, the StyleOnic Turbo ION relies on you knowing which heat setting best suits your hair type. This is great in terms of versatility, but can take some experimentation.

The 10 temperature settings are:

• 140 C / 284 F
• 150 C / 302 F
• 160 C / 320 F
• 170 C / 338 F
• 180 C / 356 F
• 190 C / 374 F
• 200 C / 392 F
• 210 C / 410 F
• 220 C / 428 F
• 230 C / 446 F

If you have thicker or longer hair, or your hair has been damaged from chemicals or over-styling, you'll get much more use and benefit from having such a wide temperature range. I've never needed such a wide range because my fine hair is pretty malleable. However, I welcomed the ability to drop or increase the heat as and when needed.

It takes over a minute to heat up to the maximum 230 C / 445 F, which is more than twice the length of rival stylers from the likes of GHD and T3. However it should be noted, the 30-second heat-up time of these alternative stylers takes their respective plates to ~185 C / 365 F, which is considerably cooler than Gtech's model.

To switch the styler on and adjust the temperature, you need to apply a fair amount of pressure to the buttons for them to register. However, because these buttons are positioned on the outer side of the top plate, it’s difficult to get enough grip to do so. To apply the necessary pressure, you first have to squeeze the plates together to prevent the styler from shifting and becoming a safety hazard. Or you have to place your fingers on the underside of the arm, which can feel dangerous when the plates are on.

(Image credit: Future)

You can see when the straightener reaches your chosen temperature via the LED display and even though I don't love how big the display is, from an aesthetic point of view, it does make it quick and easy to see the setting at a glance.

The plates are the standard 1 in / 2.5cm wide and 3.5 in / 3.8cm long but the StyleOnic is noticeably lighter and more compact than other straighteners I've tested. It weighs just ‎8.4oz / 239g and measures 9.8 x 1.5 x 1.5" / 25 x 3.8 x 3.8cm. This makes it compact and light enough for easy handling and for packing in a suitcase or bag, without being too small to work on longer hair.

I also appreciated other smaller touches which helped to alleviate some of my design disappointment. Namely the travel lock, which helps keep the plates closed when not in use; a 30-minute auto shut-off; its travel case and safety glove.

• Design score: 3.5 out of 5

Gtech StyleOnic straightener review: performance

• Wide range of temperatures suit multiple needs and hair types
• Beveled edges great for curling
• Smooth but inconsistent styling

Given Gtech’s reputation for practical, well-designed home appliances, I was hoping the StyleOnic would follow suit. While it can't quite compete with more expensive straighteners I've tested, the StyleOnic still does a good job of creating frizz-free, smooth styles. Albeit with some caveats.

The straightener isn't the fastest. Not just in terms of heat-up time, but in how long it took to style my hair. I found I needed to make multiple passes at times to fully straighten sections, even on higher settings. This increased styling time (to an average of four minutes) as well as the potential heat damage.

The StyleOnic also isn't the smoothest flat iron I've tried (that prize goes to the GHD Chronos), but its ionic technology and ceramic plates do smooth and seal the hair well. While the styler's beveled edges make curling easy, allowing for waves and movement without leaving sharp creases.

(Image credit: Future)

Across the board though, performance varied and these results were inconsistent. That's largely because of the way the plates are positioned.

Both plates 'float' within their respective arms, which means they move slightly to follow the flow of your hair. However, they sit closer to each other at the tip of the styler than where they meet at the hinge. This is deliberate, to allow you to create different sized curls, but it also means the pressure on the hair isn't consistent all the way down the plates. I found the best way to guarantee a more even finish was to squeeze the arms harder than normal, but that caused my hand and wrist to ache.

(Image credit: Future)

If you get the pressure and temperature just right, the style not only looks great but it lasts for hours, though. Curls that would usually drop stayed defined and in place until I got home from a night out. Plus, the swivel cord gives plenty of room and movement, and the weight of the straightener is balanced enough that it helped relieve some of the aching from gripping the plates together.

As my hair is naturally curly, I usually only use a flat iron to knock out this frizz rather than straightening it completely. Super sleek, straight styles tend to leave my thin hair looking limp and flat, and this was the case with the Gtech StyleOnic. This says more about my hair than the styler itself, though. If anything, for people with thicker, coarser hair or for those looking for super sleek styles, this may be a positive, and exactly what you're after.

• Performance score: 3.5 out of 5

Should I buy the Gtech StyleOnic? Buy it if...

You like or need precise heat control

The StyleOnic's 10 temperature settings, which can be seen at-a-glance using the built-in LED display, cater to a range of hair types and needs.

You want a practical, affordable styler

The Gtech StyleOnic offers practicality and function for its price, even if this does mean it lacks premium build quality.

You value safety features

Its 30-minute auto shut-off and travel lock give extra security and peace of mind when using the StyleOnic.

Don't buy it if...

You want a premium look and feel

The mix of materials on the StyleOnic makes it feel and look less high-end than some rivals.

You need ultra-fast styling

It takes longer to heat up, and style your hair, using the StyleOnic compared to other competitors.

You find fiddly controls frustrating

The power and temperature control buttons require firm pressure and are awkwardly positioned, making them poorly suited to people with mobility needs or similar.

How I tested the Gtech StyleOnic

• Tested a range of temperature settings
• Created a range of straight and curly looks

For my Gtech StyleOnic Turbo ION hair straightener review, I spent two weeks using it as my main hot styling tool. I created a series of looks for different occasions including straight, curly and wavy styles and put the range of temperature settings to the test. I timed how long the styles took to complete, how well they lasted and monitored the finish and condition of my hair.

First reviewed: February 2025

The U.S. has lifted bounties on three senior Taliban figures, including the interior minister, officials in Kabul said Sunday.

(Image credit: Saifullah Zahir)

Here are the answers for The New York Times Mini Crossword for March 23.

• Vinpower iXflash and iXflash Cube offer direct photo and video recording to external storage
• Avoid cloud fees—iXflash delivers private storage with instant access
• iXflash Cube backs up while charging, ensuring secure offline storage

With business smartphones running more demanding applications, including high-resolution video recording, AI-driven features, and system updates, internal storage quickly fills up, limiting space for personal files.

Vinpower's iXflash and iXflash Cube USB flash drives offer up to 2TB of external storage in a compact format, providing an alternative to cloud storage, which requires an internet connection and may involve ongoing fees.

The iXflash Cube lets users record media directly in external storage while automatically backing up photos and videos when charging.

Automatic backup and charging in one device

Unlike cloud backup options that rely on external servers, the iXflash Cube offers local security and instant access to data, making it a seamless backup solution for users who prefer physical storage.

These drives are designed for cross-platform compatibility, working with iOS, Android, Windows, and Mac devices, but this level of convenience comes with a cost.

The highest-capacity iXflash and iXflash Cube models offer 2TB of storage, priced at $299.99 and $299.95, respectively, while smaller capacities are also available, with the 1TB version costing $169.99 for the iXflash and $199.95 for the Cube.

Also available are a 512GB model of the iXflash and iXflash Cube for $94.99 or $99.95, a 256GB version for $56.99 or $79.95, or 128GB for $37.99 or $59.95, respectively.

Although the 2TB model costs more than a typical external hard drive, which usually offers more storage for less, its compact form factor and direct iPhone compatibility make it a practical choice for those who need portability.

While portable SSDs offer high-speed data transfer, the iXflash Cube adds the convenience of automatic wireless iPhone backups without extra cables.

"The biggest buzzword today is AI, Artificial Intelligence…AI relies on both intelligent programming as well as copious amounts of data storage. That's why higher capacity storage, like the 2TB iXflash and iXflash Cube are critical when implementing AI technology on mobile platforms," said Calvin Chang, CEO of Vinpower.

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