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iodyne has announced the Pro Mini SSD, a portable, bus-powered storage solution designed for professionals. The Pro Mini features a durable machined aluminum chassis with Frore AirJet membrane vibration cooling to prevent thermal throttling and ensure the SSD delivers consistent performance even under heavy data loads.

Iodyne claims the device achieves sustained performance of over 3GB/s, making it ideal for tasks like video editing, media offloading, and data transfer. Pro Mini provides solid security through XTS-AES-256 encryption and RAID-6 data protection, safeguarding data even in the event of a hardware failure. Passkeys replace traditional passwords, allowing users to securely unlock the device with their phone or computer. It offers NFC tap-to-unlock functionality too.

The SSD includes a customizable digital label that displays project names or other relevant information on its 2.1-inch e-ink display. The multiple containers feature allows users to divide the SSD into distinct partitions, each with its own filesystem.

Available in 4 and 8TB capacities

The Pro Mini comes with USB 4 and Thunderbolt (40 Gbps) ports so you can plug in a wide range of devices, including phones, tablets, cameras, and computers. Additionally, Find My tracking helps users locate lost or misplaced devices, while Fleet Management via the iodyne app allows for remote provisioning and management of multiple drives.

Mike Shapiro, Co-President iodyne said, “There is so much powerful performance and revolutionary engineering packed into the Pro Mini. Every single feature was thoughtfully designed with the specific needs of production professionals in mind - innovative breakthroughs thanks to our collaboration with Frore Systems to bring solid-state active cooling to portable SSDs.”

Pro Mini comes in 4TB and 8TB capacity, ideal for those needing to store large amounts of data, such as 4K video footage. It is available to preorder now and is expected to ship in Q1 2025.

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Govee Floor Lamp 2: one-minute review

The Govee Floor Lamp 2 is a bit of an enigma in Govee’s lineup. It’s both smaller and cheaper than the Govee Floor Lamp Pro, warranting a cheaper price tag. However, despite the obvious dearth in some features, the Floor Lamp 2 delivers support for Matter, the latest in smart home connectivity. As such, despite being cheaper and less capable than its big brother, it’s arguably a much better choice for smart home connoisseurs, and one of the best smart lights for HomeKit users who value its integration with Apple Home.

The Govee Floor Lamp 2 is incredibly similar to the Floor Lamp Pro in terms of assembly, design, and the user experience of the app both models share. 

Out of the box, you’ll have to contend with assembling the lamp from its constituent parts. That means screwing together three metal strips to the base of the lamp using the brackets and screws provided. It’s not a complex job, but it’s definitely fiddly and requires a bit of patience.

Despite being cheaper than the Floor Lamp Pro, I was surprised to find that the overall material feels a bit more premium, save for the base which is a bit shiny and plasticky for my liking. The connector that links the flexible lighting tube to the cabling in the base is also much easier to join up, and feels more rugged and durable. Having seen Govee’s silver and black offerings, I much prefer the darker finish of this lamp compared to my Govee Floor Lamp Pro’s silver color. 

The more expensive Govee Floor Lamp Pro boasts a Bluetooth speaker. That feature is lacking in the Floor Lamp 2 and is the main significant difference between the two models. 

(Image credit: Future)

The Govee Floor Lamp 2 is controlled by Govee’s app, available on both iPhone and Android. Like the Floor Lamp Pro, it supports both Alexa and Google Home, but crucially also comes with Matter support. That means you can use it with pretty much any smart home ecosystem, most notably Apple Home. As I’ve mentioned in my Floor Lamp Pro review, the Govee design app is not exactly a masterpiece, but it is highly functional. As soon as you turn the lamp on and open the app, you can add the new device and connect it to your home Wi-Fi network (2.4GHz only) with ease. Govee’s Floor Lamp 2 controls let you control the light emitting from the base and the stem separately, with a slider for brightness. There are also settings and controls for color, scene, finger sketching your own patterns, and even for rhythmic light shows set to music, powered by a built-in microphone. There’s also a timer functionality so you can set your lamp to cycle on and off, perfect for use beside a nightstand. 

(Image credit: Future)

In theory, Matter support means you can easily add your Govee Floor Lamp 2 to Apple Home. However, I found the process wasn’t seamless and took several attempts. Govee says that you should attempt to connect your lamp using Matter within 15 minutes of powering the lamp on for the first time. If that doesn’t work, you’ll need to reset the lamp and try again. It took me four or five attempts and a good 10 minutes to get the Govee Floor Lamp 2 added to my Apple Home network. I encountered a couple of different errors regarding the network, but eventually it worked.

Once connected, you can use it like any other HomeKit smart light, including through Siri where you can issue commands for powering on or off, brightness, and color. Matter support is a huge boost to the Floor Lamp 2 and a big advantage over the more expensive Floor Lamp Pro. It also gives you access to all the other joys of HomeKit, such as automation. Your Govee Floor Lamp 2 can be connected to motion sensors or anything else you can think of in the Internet of Things. 

(Image credit: Future)

While the Floor Lamp 2 isn’t quite as bright as the Floor Lamp Pro, it still puts out a respectable array of light. Combined with its reduced height, it’s noticeably dimmer than the Pro but still very ambient and pleasant. It would be well-suited to smaller rooms such as an office or a guest bedroom but lacks the extra power of its larger, more expensive stablemate. That being said, it puts out more than enough light to illuminate most spaces.

Thanks to the app, the combination of lighting on offer is pretty much limitless, you can choose block colors, scenes, or a simple warm light for reading. The Govee Floor Lamp 2 comprises a cylindrical base and a tall strip of light, designed for wall-washing. It’s not a directional light per se and is more suited to providing ambiance and atmosphere, decorative rather than practical. 

(Image credit: Future)

For quick use and convenience, the Govee Floor Lamp 2 comes with its own remote that can be used to quickly control power, block colors, brightness, and the temperature of your light without messing with your phone or trying to summon Siri without waking anyone, a most welcome addition.  

To sum up, the Govee Floor Lamp 2 is considerably cheaper than its “Pro” counterpart but offers much of the same lighting functionality. It doesn’t have a built-in speaker like the larger version, but does offer a vital connectivity advantage thanks to Matter support. While the build quality might not be the best on the market, and the fiddly assembly is a drawback, it’s a sturdy lamp with plenty of punch. 

(Image credit: Future) Govee Floor Lamp 2: specs Govee Floor Lamp 2: price & availability

• List price: $149 / £149 (about AU$220)
• Often available at a discount

The Govee Floor Lamp 2 is available from Govee’s website in the US and the UK. It’s priced at $149/£149, however, it’s routinely discounted on the official website to $119 or £109. It’s also available on Amazon in both the US and the UK with the same list price and similar discounts. That’s considerably cheaper than a Philips Hue Signe Gradient lamp, and even cheaper than Govee’s own alternative, the Govee Floor Lamp Pro. The lamp is available in black (as tested here) and silver.

Should you buy the Govee Floor Lamp 2? Buy it if...

You’re limited on space

This lamp is a lot smaller than Govee’s Pro lamp, both in terms of height and footprint

You’re a HomeKit user

Unlike Govee’s Floor Lamp Pro, this model supports Apple Home through Matter

Don't buy it if...  Govee Floor Lamp 2: also consider

Not sold on the Govee Floor Lamp 2? Here are two more options to consider.

How I tested the Govee Floor Lamp 2

• I used the Govee Floor Lamp 2 for several days
• I used it in various places in my home
• I comprehensively tested all of its features including the app

I've used the Govee Floor Lamp 2 for two weeks in multiple locations around my home. I tested all of the different lighting options and used its features including the remote control.

I used the Govee app to connect the lamp up to my home Wi-Fi network and also used the lamp through the Apple Home app to test Matter support. 

I have five years of smart home journalism experience and have extensively tested a broad range of smart home products including smart lights, plugs, speakers, and more. I have also tested other smart lamps in this specific product category field, notably the Philips Hue Signe Gradient and the Govee Floor Lamp Pro, which has helped to inform my review.

First tested September 2024

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Asus ROG Tessen: Two-minute review

The Asus ROG Tessen is an excellent mobile controller that’s well-suited for FPS gaming in spite of some small setbacks. Its overall design is mostly superb, with durable metal rear paddles and a unique folding mechanism that makes it even easier to take on the go. Its tactile face buttons and d-pad are satisfying to use, though the latter is definitely better suited for fast-paced competitive games than any retro titles or traditional platformers, even if it is on par with the feel of some of the best PC controllers.

While not utilizing Hall effect technology, its thumbsticks perform well and the triggers are a highlight - delivering a quick but satisfying motion that makes every match of Call of Duty: Warzone Mobile that much more enjoyable. Throw in some pretty RGB lighting (which is unfortunately controlled by a rather underwhelming app) and compatibility with most mobile phone cases and you have a very strong overall package.

Even so, there are a few areas with room for improvement. The more angular design of its grips won’t be for everyone and I found that they could often be a little uncomfortable during longer sessions, digging into the palms of my hands. It’s by no means the worst, but it is one of the few areas where the comparable Backbone One 2nd Gen takes a clear lead.

There’s also the fact that the Asus ROG Tessen only officially supports Android despite being a wired USB-C controller. I’m sure there’s some nitty gritty technical reason why this is the case, but it’s still disappointing now that iPhone 15 (and soon iPhone 16) series phones use the connector standard. The lack of a 3.5mm audio jack for headphones is also a notable, and mildly annoying, omission. Hopefully, a small hardware revision will be able to remedy these complaints in the future.

Overall, the Asus ROG Tessen is still remarkably close to being a best-in-class mobile controller at its price range. If you’re willing to look past these few minor frustrations, it offers a very capable and enjoyable mobile gaming experience.

(Image credit: Future) Asus ROG Tessen: Price and availability

• $109.99 / £109.99 / AU$179
• Available via Asus and Amazon
• Slightly more expensive than the Backbone One

The Asus ROG Tessen costs $109.99 / £109.99 / AU$179 and is available directly from Asus or at online retailers such as Amazon. It comes in slightly more expensive than the Backbone One 2nd Gen which costs $99.99 / £99.99 / AU$179.99. This price seems quite fair given the additional features found on the Asus ROG Tessen though, such as the rear paddles and folding mechanism.

That said, this controller does not offer any iOS support, so those who often switch devices would be better off saving the cash and picking up a Backbone One 2nd Gen instead. I would also recommend that those who can stretch for the $149.99 / £149.99 / AU$269.95 Razer Kishi Ultra do so, as that controller is significantly more comfortable, offers iOS support, and features Hall effect components - though loses in terms of portability due to its much larger size.

Asus ROG Tessen: Specs

(Image credit: Future) Asus ROG Tessen: Design and features

• Great overall look and feel
• Folding mechanism
• Fits most phone cases

Much of the Asus ROG Tessen looks and feels premium. It has a very similar design to most telescopic mobile controllers, though with the addition of two hinges on its extending portion. These allow the controller to be folded cleanly in two for greater portability. As a result, I had no trouble fitting the Asus ROG Tessen in a rucksack and could even cram it into the large pockets of my cargo jeans. Despite its compact form factor, there’s still plenty of space for a full phone case when you’re using the controller which is very convenient.

It is a tad unfortunate that, due to the orientation of the mechanism, the thumbsticks are left sticking out when the controller is folded, making it easy to catch them on your bag if you’re not careful.

The controller has pleasantly springy triggers with a good level of travel and shoulder buttons that are clicky and responsive. Thumbsticks are on the smaller side and have little friction, though I found them to be smooth and perfectly comfortable to use. The face buttons and d-pad are mechanical with a very pronounced tactile click. They’re enjoyable to press and the shallow travel distance of the d-pad is ideal for quickly organizing your gear in a battle royale like Call of Duty: Warzone Mobile.

It’s not perfect in games that require extensive use of the d-pad for movement, though, and I soon found myself missing the softer, more spongy d-pad of the Backbone One 2nd Gen after a few hours of Dead Cells. On the back of the controller, you’ll find two rear paddles, both made of aluminum and sporting a pleasant grippy texture. They’re easy to press and well-positioned and the use of metal gives them a more premium feel.

In addition to the standard home, menu, and start buttons, the Asus ROG Tessen features a dedicated button to open the Armoury Crate software. This is, unfortunately, extremely basic, with an ugly UI and few features beyond button remapping and the ability to configure the bright RGB strips located on the bottom of each grip. These lighting elements, on top of a few subtle printed graphics and plenty of different textures, lend the controller quite a distinctive aesthetic - which is appreciated.

(Image credit: Future) Asus ROG Tessen: Performance

• Best for fast-paced games
• Compatible with native titles and cloud gaming
• Grips can be uncomfortable

The Asus ROG Tessen is a fantastic fit for fast-paced games, particularly first-person shooter (FPS) titles. I was impressed with its snappy responsiveness in both Call of Duty: Warzone Mobile and Call of Duty Mobile. The use of a wired connection also eliminates any potential latency and facilitates pass-through charging via a USB-C port on the bottom of the right-hand grip.

I was pleasantly surprised by the performance of the thumbsticks, which have more than enough motion for navigating tight corners in Asphalt Legends Unite and power through dungeons in Zenless Zone Zero.

As previously mentioned, the d-pad is very shallow so can be quite harsh on your fingers if you’re playing very d-pad-centric titles. In addition to native games, the Asus ROG Tessen performed well when it came to cloud gaming, with full compatibility with Amazon Luna and Xbox Cloud Gaming.

The rear paddles are easy to reach and can be fully customized through a range of possible inputs. My only real complaint with the Asus ROG Tessen is that the very angular shape of its grips can be uncomfortable over extended playing sessions. Spending a few long train journeys with the controller, I found that they uncomfortably dug into the palms of my hands after just a few hours which wasn’t ideal.

This won’t be a problem if you intend to play in shorter bursts, but could be a very compelling reason to choose another product if you love to pour hours into mobile games at a time.

(Image credit: Future) Should I buy the Asus ROG Tessen? Buy it if...

You value FPS performance
With its lovely tactile buttons and handy remappable rear paddles, the ASUS Rog Tessen is a great fit for playing fast-paced FPS games on your phone.

You want some premium features
Although similarly priced to the Backbone One 2nd Gen, the Asus ROG Tessen sports some premium features like RGB lighting and its remappable rear inputs.

Don't buy it if...

You play for very long periods
The biggest issue with the Asus ROG Tessen is its quite angular grips, which can be uncomfortable over long play sessions. Consider an alternative like the Razer Kishi Ultra if you want to game for hours with ease.

Also consider

Not fully sold on the Asus ROG Tessen? Here are two very strong alternatives to consider.

Backbone One 2nd Gen
The Backbone One 2nd Gen is a small revision of the original Backbone One design. Like the Asus Rog Tessen, it’s compatible with most phone cases but has more comfortable grips and offers iOS support.

Read our full Backbone One 2nd Gen review

Razer Kishi Ultra
The Razer Kishi Ultra is the definitive mobile controller if you have the budget. Incredibly comfortable with full-size console controls, RGB lighting, rumble effects, and more, it’s easily the leader in the mobile controller space.

Read our full Razer Kishi Ultra review

(Image credit: Future) How I tested the Asus ROG Tessen

• Tested for over a month
• Tried with top mobile games
• Directly compared to other mobile controllers

I tested the Asus ROG Tessen for over a month, using it as my main Android gaming controller. I paired the controller with a Samsung S23 Plus and played a wide variety of games. This included native mobile titles like Call of Duty: Warzone Mobile, Call of Duty Mobile, Vampire Survivors, Don’t Starve: Pocket Edition, Diablo Immortal, Asphalt Legends Unite, Zenless Zone Zero, Genshin Impact, and more.

I also tried the controller with various game streaming services, such as Amazon Luna and Xbox Cloud Gaming. On Amazon Luna, I played Watch Dogs Legion, Mighty Switch Force Collection, River City Girls, and Star Wars Outlaws while Xbox Cloud Gaming saw me enjoy a few hours of Forza Horizon 5.

During my time with the controller I relied on a pair of Beats Solo 4 and Beats Studio Buds+ headphones for audio and compared my playing experience with my hands-on testing of many other mobile controllers such as the Backbone One 2nd Gen, Turtle Beach Atom, Scuf Nomad, and Razer Kishi Ultra.

Read more about how we test

First reviewed September 2024

Sometimes, you get your hands on a piece of hardware that just feels right. For me, that was the Logitech G502 Lightspeed Wireless – and now that mouse is reaching the end of its life, and while I won't be hosting an actual Viking funeral for it, I genuinely am a little upset.

A fairly high-end gaming mouse with a comfortable ergonomic design and understated RGB lighting, the G502 Lightspeed Wireless has been my trusty desktop companion for more than five years, and is only just starting to show its age; specifically, the left-click switch is giving out, still registering most clicks but rendering click-and-drag operations almost impossible.

As you can probably tell from this image, my own G502 Lightspeed Wireless has seen better days. (Image credit: Future)

It's fair to say that I've definitely put this mouse through the wringer over the past half-decade. Not only have I used it to put literally thousands of hours into all manner of games, but it's also been my daily driver for work ever since the pandemic shifted me into working from home. It's survived countless hours of frantic clicking, scrolling, and at-desk lunches (no, I'm not a 'tidy desk, tidy mind' sort of person).

It's not an exaggeration to say that I love this mouse. It's incredibly comfy under the hand thanks to the curved shape and thumb rest, and the underside features two magnetic panels that can be removed to add tiny metal weights to the interior – in other words, a little tweaking can create the perfect weight distribution for any user. 

It's also just a good gaming mouse in general: a 25,600 DPI sensor, long battery life, 1ms latency thanks to the proprietary Lightspeed USB dongle, and 11 remappable buttons all make it a stellar choice for any genre of PC game.

Consistency above all else

As heartbroken as I might be that my reliable gaming companion is beginning to fade from glory, there's a definite silver lining here.

See, Logitech does something that I wish more PC hardware companies would do: a certain 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it' approach to product design, meaning that I can still buy the exact same G502 Lightspeed Wireless mouse that I originally purchased over five years ago. Plenty of companies would've made the original product redundant in that time period, replacing it twice or three times over with new models (looking at you, Razer).

Hell, Logitech has been using the same design for its mainstream 1080p webcam – the Logitech C920 – for more than a decade, with only some minor generational improvements over the years. There's a reason that cam still sits in the top spot of our best webcams ranking, is what I'm saying.

Seriously, look at this beautiful little device. Never change, C920. (Image credit: Future)

The G502 Lightspeed has been replaced in our best gaming mouse list by the newer, shinier Logitech G502 X Plus, but it's still the same excellent mouse at heart – and gamers on a budget can always pick up the G502 Hero, which packs a lot of the great design and features found in my favorite mouse into a more wallet-friendly package.

But you can't have too much of a good thing, so while I'm currently rocking a temporary replacement from NZXT, I can't wait to take my paycheck to the Logitech G Store to pick up an identical replacement for my beloved G502 Lightspeed Wireless. There's only one problem, and that's the price: $99.99 / £139.99 (around AU$150, but it's no longer available from Logitech in Australia). Why's it so expensive in the UK, Logitech?

I guess I'll be waiting for a Black Friday deal… unless the kind folks at Logitech read this and take pity on a poor tech journalist. Keep your fingers crossed for me, readers!

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Leica MP: two-minute review

If there's one antidote to today's digital imaging with its instant gratification and AI-powered editing trickery, it's analog. And if you want a double dose of the old school, a fully manual rangefinder, such as the Leica MP, will do the trick. 

Part of Leica's famed M-mount, the MP isn't as old as it looks, being released as recently as 2003, and it's one of few Leica cameras still being produced today and is therefore available new.

It's arguably the best premium film camera that you can buy new today, but like most Leica's, its price is eye-watering, being available from the Leica stores and leading retailers for $5,995 / £,5080 / AU$10,190, and that's without a lens. I had the MP with the 28mm f2 Summicron-M APSH lens which is around the same price as the camera. Gulp.

Suppose it's the retro camera experience you're after, and the same 35mm film format hits the spot. In that case, you can find alternative analog cameras elsewhere, secondhand, for a mere fraction of the cost of a Leica MP.

You don't even need to buy analog to bag the retro look, even the likes of Taylor Swift have been spotted with the cheap Olympus OM-D E-M10 IV, one of our favorite mirrorless cameras for beginners.

But Leica is more than just the retro look. It's an aspiration. That famed red dot means something, whatever depth the admirer's connection is. In the case of the Leica MP, it also means a premium "Handmade in Germany" analog camera that runs as smooth as butter.

As a rangefinder, the MP is an altogether different camera experience to your cameraphone or one of the best mirrorless cameras. 

Learning the exposure triangle is necessary; how shutter speed, aperture, and the ISO of the loaded film interplay. You can download a free light meter on your phone to take a light reading and adjust shutter speed or aperture accordingly based on the film's ISO, or purchase a dedicated light meter if you want to avoid your phone altogether and be assured that you've bagged the correct brightness in your photo, even if you won't truly know until the developed film is returned. (The MP does also have an LED gauge built into the viewfinder that indicates how much you need to brighten or darken your exposure settings based on its evaluative metering.)

Beyond the exposure triangle, it's the manual focus experience of a Leica rangefinder, such as the MP, that is as challenging as it is addictive. This is a far cry from 2024's best autofocus systems – there's no rushing with a rangefinder, and together with its lens system that's limited between focal lengths of 21mm to 135mm, it's unsuitable for many genres of photography.

You won't be able to nail sharply focused, shallow depth of field portraits of people or animals on the move, unless you get really, really lucky.

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Outside of working with near-infinity focusing and a closed aperture, say f/11, where ultimately everything is just about in focus, your subjects will need as much patience as you while you manually rock the focus back and forth to line up the split image in the marked out central area of the viewfinder to nail sharp focus.

Taking a picture with a rangefinder is slow, purposeful, and frustrating but ultimately a wonderful creative process for those who persevere. It's not a camera for all the time, but it is a camera that could just renew your love for photography. Sadly, however, with the Leica MP, most people are priced out of enjoying the experience.

Leica MP: Specs Leica MP: Price and availability

• Body only: $5,995 / £,5080 / AU$10,190
• Many lenses and accessories to choose from

The Leica MP was launched in 2003 and is one of the few Leica analog cameras that is still available to buy new. On the Leica store, it costs $5,995 / £,5080 / AU$10,190.

Lens choice is decent, if costly, with the lower end of the price range close to the price of the MP camera itself. There are third party lens makers such as Thypoch that have created Leica M-mount lenses that cost a mere fraction of the price. with a number available for under $1,000 / £700. 

The MP is also compatible with a host of Leica accessories, ranging from leather cases to viewfinders that are dedicated to specific lens focal lengths.  

Leica MP: Design

• Stunning all-metal build
• Can be bought new and its mechanics are reliable
• Supported by a range of Leica M lenses

Leica cameras are expensive, but the build quality of these "Handmade in Germany" devices is undeniable. Every mechanical component runs as smooth as butter, from the film crank to move onto your next photo, to the film rewind mechanism once the roll is done. 

You'll need to insert a tiny CR 1/3N battery to power the camera's evaluative exposure metering, which is displayed in the viewfinder as a too-bright / too-dark scale and is linked to the ISO setting on the camera's rear ISO dial (the new Leica M11-D digital rangefinder's design pays homage to this). However, as a fully manual camera, you'll need to adjust the shutter speed and aperture yourself. I always use a separate light meter with a Leica just to be doubly sure I've set the exposure correctly. 

But you'll need to insert a roll of 35mm film first. Leica's design ethos here is simple and reliable; a fully metal twist lock on the underside must be unscrewed to open up the camera's underside, and you remove the entire bottom plate to gain access to the film's holder. Inserting the film thereafter is a tad fiddly but in truth, once you've done it a couple of times, it's pretty easy. 

(Image credit: Future | Tim Coleman)

I only tested the Leica MP with a 28mm f2 lens, which again, is a gorgeous bit of kit, offering a generous manual focus grip, handy focus distance scale, and an aperture ring. With Leica you get the whole package; a lens and camera built to high standards and with a complimentary aesthetic. 

There's little to say about the camera's external controls. You've got the shutter speed dial on the top, the beautiful film crank that reveals its brass innards through the scuffs picked up over time and heavy use, a shutter button that can accept a screw-in cable release, plus the ISO dial on the camera's rear. The aperture is adjusted on the attached lens. 

For me, it's the experience of manually focusing with a rangefinder that is everything about the MP: it's as frustrating as it is addictive. For all the will and the practice in the world, you won't be able to nail sharp focus on a moving subject when focusing closely and with a wide aperture and therefore shallow depth of field. 

Sure, you can improve your hit ratio and speed at which you can obtain sharp focus, but ultimately, the Leica MP is a camera that slows you down, and in today's fast-paced world, it's cathartic. 

If you're taking portrait pictures, too, that extra moment it takes to get your MP's settings correct can open up your subject as they relax and give you a window to their soul – you're in it together. Or, the slow process just makes them feel super awkward instead, or you miss the moment. It can go either way. 

(Image credit: Future | Tim Coleman) Leica MP: Performance

• Superbly sharp lenses on offer
• Reliable mechanics
• Shutter speed maxes out at 1/1000sec which is limiting in bright light

One benefit in choosing the MP over another Leica is that it's still available new, and with that comes certain reassurances that you may not be afforded when buying secondhand should you run into any issues. However, I wouldn't expect that of the MP – it's a super-reliable camera that should last you a lifetime.

Naturally, the quality of the photos produced by an analog camera is determined by the lens attached, your shooting technique, and, of course, your film choice. 

The Leica MP enjoys a range of excellent albeit eye-wateringly expensive lenses, like the 28mm f2 Summicron-M ASPH that I had for this review. If money is no object, you can pick up a range of Leica M prime lenses that cover the focal range of 21mm to 135mm.

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The photos above were made with a roll of Ilford HP5 film, ISO 400. 

Next time I use a Leica analog camera, I'd really love to try a 50mm f/1.4-type lens and some of the other lenses for portraits, but the wide angle lens I had for testing is similar if a tiny bit tighter to the field of view of your phone's main camera and an excellent documentary lens.

Here lies the 'Leica quality' that fans talk about. Sure, you'll struggle to beat Leica's sharpness in the analog game, but if you're expecting the clarity you get from one of today's best digital cameras, you might have to think again. One thing that digital can try with all its might yet never quite achieve, however, is the film look. 

You aren't buying an analog Leica for its outright image quality over a digital counterpart such as the Leica M11. No, you're buying it because it's film that you want to explore, including its imperfect quality. Plus, it's a rewarding hobby, if you can stomach the ongoing costs of film and development. 

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The above photos were made with a very out of date Fujifilm Superior X-Tra ISO 400 roll of film. It's best practice to use a film within date, but you can get some whacky one-of-a-kind effects. Sadly on this occasion, besides a purple-ish hue, the risk didn't pay off – many of the photos came out underexposed. 

There are very real limits to the Leica MP, namely its maximum shutter speed which is just 1/1000sec. If you're shooting in bright light and with a wide aperture – like I wanted to shoot at f2 with the 28mm lens – you'll need an ISO 100 film or even slower. However, ISO 400 is a more versatile film speed if you're going to be shooting in mixed lighting. Once the film roll is inserted, you're locked in, you can't switch ISO for every photo like you can with a digital camera. 

Should you buy the Leica MP? Buy it if... Don't buy it if...

(Image credit: Future | Tim Coleman) How I tested the Leica MP

• Regular use over the course of two weeks
• Paired with the 28mm f2 Summicron-M APSH lens
• Both color and black and white film developed

Leica loaned me the MP together with the 28mm f2 Summicron-M ASPH lens for two weeks, during which time I photographed everything from sweeping vistas to busy London street scenes. I have shot with both color and black and white film, usually sticking with versatile ISO 400 films. 

I sent the films to a lab to be developed and was provided with standard-quality digital scans to assess image quality. 

• First reviewed September 2024

Clash at Wembley is being billed as the biggest in British boxing history.

The (digital) ink has barely dried on our iPhone 16 review, and we're already into iPhone 17 rumor season – with one reliable source suggesting that there are display upgrades in store when Apple's 2025 refresh rolls around.

This comes from well-known industry analyst Ross Young (via 9to5Mac), who says that the two cheaper iPhone 17 models are going to get the same always-on display and ProMotion tech that has previously been exclusive to the Pro and Pro Max handsets.

That means an upgrade to the LTPO (low-temperature polycrystalline oxide) screen technology required to reduce power consumption and support a variable refresh rate, all the way up to 120Hz (or all the way down to 1Hz) when required.

However, while Young initially predicted Face ID would be embedded in the display on the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max, he later said that was a misunderstanding – so we'll have to wait a little while longer for developments in that department.

Pro vs non-Pro

The iPhone 16 Pro, with ProMotion (Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)

If the less expensive iPhone 17 models do indeed get LTPO display technology next year, there will be less of a distinction between these variants and the Pro and Pro Max – though the latter handsets may well still get better cameras and faster processors.

It also links in with another rumor we've heard about next year's iPhone refresh: that the iPhone 16 Plus will be replaced not by another Plus model, but by an iPhone 17 Air – perhaps with a slimmer, more stylish design at the same price point.

Apple has of course already used the same branding with the iPad Air and the MacBook Air, so it wouldn't be a huge surprise if the moniker was added to one of the iPhone 17 models as well. However, we'll need to wait almost another 12 months to be sure.

This isn't the only iPhone 17 rumor that's emerged already, either: there has also been talk that the 2025 iPhones are going to get improved selfie cameras and a bump in the RAM, alongside the usual boost in performance.

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