Feed aggregator

Proton VPN is the perfect tool for navigating strict internet restrictions, and signing up to its premium plans has never been more convenient.

It's already a better deal than last year's UK Black Friday offer, but you might want to hold out for a better US deal.

Sony Xperia 1 VII: Two-minute review

The Xperia 1 VII is Sony’s top Android phone. It’s simultaneously refreshing among its peers and too conservative to be considered all that interesting or dynamic.

It’s very similar to its predecessor, the Sony Xperia 1 VI, but stands out as one of the few higher-end phones with a headphone jack and microSD expandable storage. These are not expensive features, but do partially come to define the Xperia 1 VII’s appeal against its rivals.

The other side of the phone is a bit more problematic. Aside from using what was at launch the latest, most powerful, Qualcomm chipset, the Xperia 1 series is falling behind in a few areas.

Charging speed, battery capacity, camera slickness, and video modes nowadays feel a little regressive in this class, and some of these areas are more limited than they were in some earlier generations of the Sony Xperia 1 VII’s family.

This would not matter so much were the Sony Xperia 1 VII not extremely expensive, but it costs more than the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, which is the more dynamic phone.

Sony Xperia 1 VII review: price and availability

(Image credit: Future)

• Starts at £1,399 (roughly $1,870 / AU$2,885)
• Launched in June 2025

The Sony Xperia 1 VII was released in June 2025, following an announcement in May.

It costs £1,399 or 1,499 euros, equivalent to around $1,870 / AU$2,885 in a direct currency conversion at the time of writing, but with no current availability in those regions. This is for the model reviewed, which has 12GB RAM and 256GB of storage. There is also a 512GB model in some parts of the world, but this isn't available in the UK.

In any case, that price puts the Sony Xperia 1 VII among the most expensive Android phones to date, short of unusual models encrusted with jewels or gold bling.

• Value score: 2 / 5

Sony Xperia 1 VII review: specs

Here's a full specs list for the Sony Xperia 1 VII, so you can see what it has going for it at a glance:

Sony Xperia 1 VII specs

Dimensions:

162 x 74 x 8.2mm

Weight:

197g

Screen:

6.5-inch 19.5:9 FHD+ (1080 x 2340) 120Hz LTPO OLED

Chipset:

Snapdragon 8 Elite

RAM:

12GB

Storage:

256GB

OS:

Android 15

Primary camera:

48MP, f/1.9, 24mm

Ultra-wide camera:

48MP, f/2.0, 16mm

Telephoto camera:

12MP, f/2.3-f/3.5, 3.5x-7.1x zoom (85-170mm)

Front camera:

12MP, f/2.0, 24mm

Audio:

Stereo speakers

Battery:

5,000mAh

Charging:

30W wired, 15W wireless

Colors:

Moss Green, Orchid Purple, Slate Black

Sony Xperia 1 VII review: designImage 1 of 3

(Image credit: Future)Image 2 of 3

(Image credit: Future)Image 3 of 3

(Image credit: Future)

• Gorilla Glass Victus 2 screen protection
• Familiar Sony 'monolith' design
• 3.5mm headphone jack

Phones these days are often accused of being boring, and in many ways the Sony Xperia 1 VII is also guilty of that. It looks virtually identical to its predecessor, and is part of a design family tree so long it could shame some monarchical dynasties.

The Sony Xperia 1 VII is a metal and glass brick that offers very little in the way of visible outer progress in tech or style. But that’s kind of the point with this series.

Sony offers lots of the bits other manufacturers have long since discarded in the noble pursuit of copying Apple. For example, the Sony Xperia 1 VII has a headphone jack, which I love as someone who actually bought a pair of wired in-ear monitors during testing.

It also has space for a microSD card in its SIM tray, and there’s no notch or punch-hole in the screen, just larger-than-most display borders. And it has a two-stage shutter button for the camera too. I’m not much of a fan of the latter these days, but Sony can make treading water seem valuable because it offers so much that other flagship phones just don’t have anymore.

Most of the build bullet points are largely beyond reproach too. The Sony Xperia 1 VII is a full metal and glass phone, with Corning’s tough Gorilla Glass Victus 2 up front, and aluminum sides. Its rear panel is 'just' Victus rather than its successor, which has better drop resistance, but this still provides a respectable amount of protection.

The back is also textured, with a series of embossed dots, apparent when you look real close. It’s very fingerprint-resistant, and simply gives the Sony Xperia 1 VII a different feel than that of flat glossy glass.

(Image credit: Future)

It is basically an identical feel to the Sony Xperia VI, though, especially as the two generations also have a sort-of corrugated effect to the frame.

The rectangular shape makes the Sony Xperia 1 VII feel tough, the sort of phone you could use as a bludgeoning weapon. But in previous generations I’ve found it less than ideal for the finish’s longevity. Eventually the paint will wear off the sharp corners of the frame, showing up as bright, raw aluminum highlights. A couple of weeks in, that wear is already visible on the Sony Xperia 1 VII's camera lens housing.

You can fix that with a case, of course, but the Sony Xperia 1 VII does not include one.

Like other phones in this series, the Xperia 1 VII also has a side-mounted fingerprint sensor rather than an in-screen one. It doesn’t feel as instantaneous as some, and I find it annoyingly picky. As soon as I’ve done a little exercise, just a bit of sweat will cause my finger not to be recognized.

The speaker array deserves a note too. There are front-mounted stereo speakers, with the fairly full-sounding audio I’ve come to expect of top-tier phones. It may not be the loudest stereo pair among flagship phones, but I’ve happily spent many (many) hours listening to podcasts using nothing more than these speakers.

Water resistance is excellent too, as is typical for Sony. The Xperia 1 VII is rated for IP65 and IP68, for protection from immersion in fresh water and being subjected to jets of the stuff. This finish may be easy to scrape, but the phone is difficult to drown.

• Design score: 3 / 5

Sony Xperia 1 VII review: display

(Image credit: Future)

• Bright screen makes good use of HDR
• Lower resolution than older Xperia flagships
• Colorful and contrasty

This Sony series used to employ some pretty wild display panels, with ultra-tall shapes and ultra-high resolutions. But the Sony Xperia 1 VII has a far more ordinary 1080p screen that measures 6.5 inches across.

There’s no notch, it’s a totally flat panel, and this is a 120Hz OLED screen with OLED staple deep color and flawless contrast.

The Sony Xperia 1 VII’s default color mode has strong saturation, but there’s also a Creator mode that lowers saturation for a more measured appearance. This also kicks in as standard in apps that try to take over the color presentation of the screen, which is great.

It means your photos end up looking as they will on other well-calibrated screens, rather than severely oversaturated.

There’s nothing too special going on here, but the Sony Xperia 1 VII's screen is at least very bright. Legibility in strong direct sunlight is good, and the high peak brightness makes the most of the latest movements in HDR.

And I’m not just talking about HDR video. You’ll notice in Instagram that sometimes the highlights of the picture are brighter than the app’s white border. That’s HDR for you, and it can look great. It’s used when you look at your own photos in the gallery too, most notably bringing out the bright highlights in clouds in a very eye-catching manner.

Let’s not get carried away, though. Phones are currently on an upwards peak brightness trend thanks to the underlying OLED panel tech developing fairly rapidly in the background. Even fairly affordable phones have ridiculously high peak brightness claims — like the 3,000-nit Nothing Phone 3a.

• Display score: 3.5 / 5

Sony Xperia 1 VII review: cameras

(Image credit: Future)

• High-quality primary camera
• Could feel more responsive and quick
• Zoom is fun to use but disappoints on image quality in 2025

You’d think phones like the Sony Xperia 1 VII would have the best phone cameras in the world. A division of Sony, after all, does make almost all of the camera sensors used by the best phones.

Yet despite that the Sony Xperia 1 VII doesn't quite match the best rivals here, not in all respects anyway. While the Sony Xperia 1 VII has mostly top-tier hardware, the experience of actually using the camera doesn’t have the standard-setting gloss and slickness you might expect.

For example, the shutter doesn’t always feel instantaneous, and there’s sometimes a fractional wait between captures as you shoot single stills. The best-feeling phone cameras appear to operate as fast as your finger will go. The Sony Xperia 1 VII isn’t quite there.

Its preview image isn’t the best either. For example, Samsung provides a solid estimation of what a photo will look like before you even take it, including the effects of its HDR processing. The Sony Xperia 1 VII will sometimes show blown highlights in the preview view, even if it pretty much always fixes those highlights by the time the image hits your gallery.

As we’ve seen across the phone, much of the camera is pretty familiar compared to the last generation. The Sony Xperia 1 VII has a large-sensor 48MP primary camera and a still-unusual genuine optical zoom lens – virtually every other phone zoom has what’s known as a prime lens, where the view is fixed.

The ultra-wide gets a notable upgrade, though. Sensor resolution jumps from 12MP to 48MP, which could be good or bad depending on the sensor used. But this time it’s also a much larger sensor, jumping from 1/2.5-inch in the Xperia VI to 1/1.56-inch here. It’s one of the higher-spec ultra-wide cameras you’ll find.

Sure enough, the ultra-wide takes lovely pictures, giving the Xperia 1 VII an admirable sense of consistency between the wide and ultra-wide lenses. Colors aren’t oversaturated, instead appearing largely natural.

Are these two lenses actually equals? It’s not even close, and that becomes clear at night. The Sony Xperia 1 VII can only take (barely) passable low-light shots with the ultra-wide, lacking the dynamic range and detail of the main camera. Far-away brick work turns to mush, and it also seems the ultra-wide shots don’t get as much low-light processing either.

The main camera’s night shots are good, although Sony perhaps leans slightly less egregiously on computational photography to enhance dynamic range. This can mean photos look more natural than the norm, if also less impressive in some scenes.

(Image credit: Future)

The deficiencies of the zoom camera aren’t too hard to find either, even though having what amounts to 16mm-170mm framing versatility is amazing. This camera allows you to shoot at anywhere from 3.5x to 7.1x optical zoom, but when shooting at the further reaches of the zoom in particular, detail integrity and clarity are actually pretty poor considering we are looking at a non digitally-zoomed image.

It’s likely down to a conjunction of two factors that limit the quality of photos we’ll be able to get. There’s the lowly f/3.5 aperture – which is fine in a 'proper' camera but very poor in a mobile phone. And the sensor itself is small. That said, I’ve found that image quality issues can appear in any kind of lighting, from blazing sunshine to night.

That’s not to say the Sony Xperia 1 VII’s extreme zoom images are unusable. They can look good on the surface, but fall apart a bit when approached with a critical eye.

The zoom camera also has a kind of amazing macro mode, which is available at the 120cm focal length. You can focus at up to 4cm away from the camera. It’s enough to reveal the printed dots in a Magic the Gathering card, or the subpixels in a MacBook Air’s display. I’ve used it to identify tiny spiders, and get a closer look at ripening blackberries, but you need a steady hand as the depth of field is extremely shallow. Thankfully the Xperia 1 VII does have a focus peaking option to help out. This is where in-focus elements of the scene are highlighted.

But, stepping back once more, compared to the more conventional pericope designs in phones like the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra and Xiaomi 15 Ultra, Sony needs to up its game to compete.

For video, the Sony Xperia 1 VII has some solid skills, with some odd missing parts. It can capture 4K video at up to 120fps, and there’s a software-generated 'bokeh' blur video mode and an extra stabilized 'AI' mode.

However, where Sony used to be the master of slow-mo video, the Xperia 1 VII has no real notable skills here. Back when ultra-powered slow-mo modes became a show-off contest, there was often interpolation involved. But it was fun to play around with, and that’s largely absent here.

Around the front, the Sony Xperia 1 VII has a 12MP selfie camera. It’s good, capable of rendering natural-looking skin tones, and has the detail to pick out pores, single facial hairs and so on – when you aren’t obliterating such details with filters.

• Camera score: 3.5 / 5

Sony Xperia 1 VII review camera samplesImage 1 of 23

(Image credit: Future)Image 2 of 23

(Image credit: Future)Image 3 of 23

(Image credit: Future)Image 4 of 23

(Image credit: Future)Image 5 of 23

(Image credit: Future)Image 6 of 23

(Image credit: Future)Image 7 of 23

(Image credit: Future)Image 8 of 23

(Image credit: Future)Image 9 of 23

(Image credit: Future)Image 10 of 23

(Image credit: Future)Image 11 of 23

(Image credit: Future)Image 12 of 23

(Image credit: Future)Image 13 of 23

(Image credit: Future)Image 14 of 23

(Image credit: Future)Image 15 of 23

(Image credit: Future)Image 16 of 23

(Image credit: Future)Image 17 of 23

(Image credit: Future)Image 18 of 23

(Image credit: Future)Image 19 of 23

(Image credit: Future)Image 20 of 23

(Image credit: Future)Image 21 of 23

(Image credit: Future)Image 22 of 23

(Image credit: Future)Image 23 of 23

(Image credit: Future)Image 1 of 7

(Image credit: Future)Image 2 of 7

(Image credit: Future)Image 3 of 7

(Image credit: Future)Image 4 of 7

(Image credit: Future)Image 5 of 7

(Image credit: Future)Image 6 of 7

(Image credit: Future)Image 7 of 7

(Image credit: Future)Sony Xperia 1 VII review: performance

(Image credit: Future)

• Gradual thermal throttling attempts to manage heat
• A high-performing phone
• Still gets a little too warm on occasion

The Sony Xperia 1 VII has one of the best chipsets available to Android phones in 2025. This is the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite. It’s enormously powerful (though now beaten by the new Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5), and here it’s paired with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage.

This will be able to handle any game you throw its way and, the largely non-processor-related camera hitches aside, general performance is great. But that's as it should be, as we have every right to expect one of the best possible processors in the Sony Xperia 1 VII, given how much it costs.

When pressure is applied, Sony takes a highly progressive approach to thermal throttling in the Xperia 1 VII. Where some phones hang on for dear life until the internal temperature sensor reaches a certain level, here the performance scales with temperature in a more fine grain way, chipping down almost from the beginning of a gaming session or benchmark test.

After 20 minutes the Xperia 1 VII ends up at 55% of its peak performance. And as that test was performed on a hot day during the summer, I also slung the phone in a fridge to see what happened with the same test. Once again, there was that very gradual loss of power, ending up with 78.8% of its max after 20 minutes.

I have also noticed that the Xperia 1 VII gets hot on occasion, which is predictably accompanied by faster power drain.

In any case, losing up to 45% of peak power may sound pretty bad, but it’s not uncommon to see up to a 55% loss in phones with these high power chipsets.

Some folks had major reliability issues with the Xperia 1 VII at launch, spurring a response from Sony itself. Thankfully, it’s been mostly smooth sailing day-to-day during testing, though.

• Performance score: 4 / 5

Sony Xperia 1 VII review: software

(Image credit: Future)

• Sticks to the AI basics
• Fewer Sony apps than some older phones
• Familiar Sony interface style

The Sony Xperia 1 VII runs Android 15 and has Sony’s long-standing custom interface on top. It comes with the promise of four years of operating system version updates and six years of security patches.

There’s nothing too surprising here. It has an app drawer, one that can be arranged either alphabetically or using your own layout. Choose the latter and you can also sort apps into folders.

The only interface niggles we’ve found are that the Wi-Fi switch wasn’t put in the feature toggle drop-down as standard, and that the standby behavior and lock screen layout means it’s easy to accidentally have podcasts or songs skip while the phone is in your pocket.

These are not problems without fixes, but they are annoying.

(Image credit: Future)

A while back, Sony went big on its own apps, including multiple camera apps for enthusiasts and the point ’n’ shoot crowd. It made a minor splash at the time, but all that has mostly been scaled back in favor of simplicity.

And, let’s be honest, having to maintain multiple apps for the same job has got to be a pain.

The Sony Xperia 1 VII gets a single camera app, a basic video editor, the Music Pro multi-track recorder app, and what Sony calls the Creators’ App. This is part social network, part a way to bring over the photos taken with your 'proper' Sony camera(s).

Sony’s concept here does kind of make sense, to bring together the other sides of Sony’s wider business to lend the Xperia 1 VII additional credibility. It desperately wants to make phones for creatives, but doesn’t really have a hope in hell of bringing many of them over to its stable, especially as there are alternatives to all of these apps floating around, ones with more workflow-boosting features.

Image 1 of 3

(Image credit: Future)Image 2 of 3

(Image credit: Future)Image 3 of 3

(Image credit: Future)

This phone also does not have an app pre-installed that lets you use the phone as an external monitor for Sony Alpha mirrorless cameras, despite that feature once being hailed as a photographer’s USP for buying a top-tier Xperia. I did install a Sony app that appeared to do that job, but it also appears to be largely brand-agnostic on the phone side, and I’m primarily a Fuji camera user anyway.

Sony has not gone heavy on AI software in the way other manufacturers have – which may be appealing or a turn-off depending on your tastes. It is here, though. Long-press the side power button and Google Gemini AI appears. There’s just not much in the way of Sony-made AI features, which is probably for the best given how at-risk they’d be of coming across as superfluous and try-hard.

• Software score: 3 / 5

Sony Xperia 1 VII review: battery

(Image credit: Future)

• Bottom rung 'fast' charging
• One-day real-world battery life
• 5,000mAh capacity

The Sony Xperia 1 VII has a 5,000mAh battery, just like its predecessor. I have found that with my use it lasts a solid day and no more.

Is it worse than last year’s model? Perhaps not, or at least not hugely, but Sony has not caught up with one of the new meaningful developments in phone tech of late. This is the silicon-carbon battery, which allows for higher-capacity batteries in the same size of cell.

The Sony Xperia 1 VII lasts a full day with my kind of use, but rarely has much spare to keep it going overnight or into the next day. On a couple of occasions – usually when I’ve watched too much YouTube – it has needed an evening top-up too. And, as noted earlier, there have been moments when it has inexplicably got warmer than it should, indicative of excess power drain.

I think if you are able to get Sony’s claimed two-day use, you’re not using your phone intensively enough to justify one this pricey.

Charging speeds are not particularly impressive either, as 30W is the power ceiling. Sony does not include a power adapter with the phone, but plenty of non-Sony plugs will be able to charge it at max speed, over USB-PD.

A full charge from flat took 88 minutes, while it reached 50% in a much better-sounding 29 minutes. It’s not a real fast charger, and is now also beaten by Samsung – not a fast-charging pioneer either, but at least top phones like the Galaxy S25 Ultra support 45W charging.

The Sony Xperia 1 VII can be charged wirelessly too, but at up to a dismal 15W. Reverse wireless charging is in as well, though, which should come in handy if you have wireless earphones that support Qi charging.

• Battery score: 3 / 5

Should you buy the Sony Xperia 1 VII?Sony Xperia 1 VII score card

Attributes

Notes

Rating

Value

The phone costs a fortune. And while it has the raw power expected at this level, and uses great materials, it’s not clear Sony has really done enough to justify asking for this.

2 / 5

Design

It’s that same old Sony design. Largely impeccable materials and great water resistance, but the brick-like shape creates areas that wear down quickly, and Sony doesn’t include a case.

3 / 5

Display

It’s bright and it has OLED color and contrast. But it’s also pretty ordinary considering the panels Sony used to employ. You don’t miss much, other than the sense you’re paying a lot for a screen like this.

3.5 / 5

Software

Sony offers us some creative apps we imagine most buyers will ignore, but the rest of the software is business as usual. Android 15 with a layer of Sony interface pasted on top, and no obvious AI obsession for better or worse.

3 / 5

Camera

A zero-fat camera array like this is what we want to see. And the phone can take beautiful pictures. It could be better on the slickness of the experience, though, and the zoom is falling behind rivals despite sounding great on paper.

3.5 / 5

Performance

Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset is swiftly and progressively throttled in the phone to manage heat. A sensible move, if not one the techy gamers may love.

4 / 5

Battery

We’re in the process of seeing a big leap in phone battery capacities. But Sony isn’t there yet, and this phone doesn’t last more than a day in our experience. Fast charging needs to improve too.

3 / 5

Buy it if...

You want a phone with a headphone jack
Old-school in a great way, the Sony Xperia 1 VII has a high-quality 3.5mm headphone jack, which has been a rarity in all but budget phones for years now.

You are a big Sony Alpha mirrorless camera fan
The phone has software to link up to your 'proper' camera’s photo library, and the screen is a great way to review photos.

You just love Sony’s style
Recognizable from way further than arm’s length to any phone geek, Sony’s phone design hasn’t changed much over the years, and fans may be glad of it.

Don't buy it if...

You want cutting-edge tech
While it has a high-end Snapdragon chipset, other areas of the device do not feel as though they are pushing at the edge of what’s possible in phone tech.

You want a deal
This is one of the most expensive Android phones in existence, and there’s a good argument that Sony doesn’t really justify the outlay fully.

You love fast charging
30W power supply support means the Xperia 1 VII takes almost 90 minutes to charge from flat, which seems a lot in 2025.

Sony Xperia 1 VII review: Also consider

Not sure about the Sony? Here are a few alternative options.

Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra
There are plenty of more aggressive and competitively priced phones at this level. The perhaps most obvious one is the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, which has better zoom skills, costs less and has a larger screen. There’s no headphone jack, of course.

Read our full Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra review

Google Pixel 9 Pro
The Google Pixel 9 Pro sticks with a smaller screen, costs loads less and still has a solid 5x camera zoom. It makes much more use of software AI, though whether that’s your bag or not depends on your proclivities.

Read out full Google Pixel 9 Pro review

Xiaomi 15 Ultra
The Xiaomi 15 Ultra is an alternative you might not instantly think of. It uses more aggressive camera hardware, and has a larger, faster-charging battery. A more cutting-edge design also fits in a significantly larger screen even though the phone itself is only fractionally wider.

Read our full Xiaomi 15 Ultra review

Sony Xperia 1 VII

Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra

Google Pixel 9 Pro

Xiaomi 15 Ultra

Price (at launch):

£1,399 (roughly $1,870 / AU$2,885)

$1,299 / £1,249 / AU$2,149

$999 / £999 / AU$1,699

£1,299 (roughly $1,740 / AU$2,675)

Dimensions:

162 x 74 x 8.2mm

162.8 x 77.6 x 8.2mm

152.8 x 72 x 8.5mm

161.3 x 75.3 x 9.4mm

Weight:

197g

218g

199g

226g

Displays

6.5-inch OLED, 120Hz

6.9-inch AMOLED, 120Hz

6.3-inch OLED, 120Hz

6.73-inch AMOLED, 120Hz

Cameras

48MP main, 48MP ultra-wide, 12MP telephoto

200MP main, 50MP ultra-wide, 10MP telephoto, 50MP telephoto

50MP main, 48MP ultra-wide, 48MP telephoto

50MP main, 50MP ultra-wide, 200MP telephoto, 50MP telephoto

Chipset:

Qualcomm Snapdragon Gen 8 Elite

Qualcomm Snapdragon Gen 8 Elite for Galaxy

Google Tensor G4

Qualcomm Snapdragon Gen 8 Elite

How I tested the Sony Xperia 1 VII

• Review test period: several weeks
• Testing included: everyday use, photography, long days away from a charger, a weekend away
• Tools used: Geekbench 6, 3DMark

The Sony Xperia 1 VII was used as my primary phone for several weeks, to get the best idea of how it works. I took hundreds of photos with its cameras, and used it during a weekend away, with long days away from the charger.

Some benchmark performance testing was done too, in order to back up, or potentially challenge, observations I found from my everyday phone use. However, there were not any grand surprises to be found in those benchmarks anyway.

Read more about how we test

First reviewed October 2025

Caira camera: one-minute reviewTechRadar AI Week 2025

(Image credit: Future)

This article is part of TechRadar's AI Week 2025. Covering the basics of artificial intelligence, we'll show you how to get the most from the likes of ChatGPT, Gemini, or Claude, alongside in-depth features, news, and the main talking points in the world of AI.

The Caira snaps onto your iPhone using MagSafe, turns your phone into the control hub, and sets out to merge mirrorless camera-quality with smartphone ease.

The hardware is the real deal: a Micro Four Thirds mount and (Sony) sensor, a CNC’d aluminium chassis. It accepts proper lenses from Panasonic, Olympus, Sigma, and Leica - so this isn’t a toy pretending to be a camera. Its in a similar mold to the open source Alice Camera – a previous project from the makers of Caira.

Inside, Qualcomm’s Snapdragon chip and Google’s Edge TPU AI processor run three flagship tricks: voice control, smart styles and generative editing.

With voice control you can say “take a photo” and Caira actually does. Smart Styles are six tasteful AI-trained color profiles that make your footage look deliberate. Generative Editing – the headline feature – uses natural language prompts to restyle photos instantly, no laptop required.

(Image credit: Rashid Ahmad)

Yes, the real party trick is Google’s ‘Nano Banana’ generative AI – which sounds like a smoothie but is actually a powerful on-device editor. You can tell the camera to “turn this daylight shot into night” or “make my blazer burgundy,” and it’ll do it in seconds. It’s astonishing. It’s the first time I’ve seen Lightroom sulk because it’s now redundant.

The result is a camera designed to skip the “import - edit - export - scream” routine. Some will say that skipping that part also skips the soul of photography. I’m not one of them. I’m in favor of anything that lets you spend more time shooting and less time staring at a progress bar – I’ll leave the hand-wringing to other creators.

But before you start packing your MacBook away forever, that magical AI is only available if you pay $7 a month for the ‘Caira Pro’ plan (about £6 / AU$11). Because nothing screams modern camera like a monthly sub.

However, for every tinfoil hat wearing critic out there screaming for the days of old and terrified of AI, go back to shooting on film and paying $35 a month for every roll you develop. My Lightroom subscription costs a lot more than Caira Pro, and I will use it a lot less.

Caira camera: price and availability

• Priced at $995 (£760 / AU$1,500 approx)
• Available to early crowdfunding backers for $695 (£529 / AU$1,070 approx)
• First deliveries expected from January 2026

(Image credit: Rashid Ahmad)

Caira is available through Camera Intelligence's Kickstarter campaign, which runs from November 4 to November 30. As always, back crowdfunding campaigns at your own risk!

The campaign lists the camera (body only) price for $995 (around £760 / AU$1,500), while optimistic Super Early Bird backers can bag one for $695 (about £529 / AU$1,070).

According to its makers, the Caira delivery window is January to February 2026, (assuming no global crises intervene).

To get the most out of Caira's AI skills, you'll want the Caira pro subscription, which costs $7 per month. Backers get six months free, nine if funding hits its goals.

Caira camera specsCaira camera specs

Sensor:

11MP Micro Four Thirds, quad-bayer HDR and dual ISO

Mount:

Micro Four Thirds

Processor:

Qualcomm Snapdragon with 8 - core CPU, GPU, DSP

AI Chip:

Google Edge TPU

Video:

4K 30fps & 1080p 60fps

Battery:

5,000 mAh

Storage:

Internal 64GB + SSD External storage via USB-C, straight onto Apple photos

Connectivity:

iPhone MagSafe connector, WiFi

Dimensions:

112.5mm (W) x 85mm (H) x 21.5mm (D). Handle depth is 42.5mm

Weight:

10.2oz / 290g (w/out lens)

Caira camera: Design

• No screen – you MagSafe your iPhone instead
• Premium CNC-milled aluminum body
• 64GB internal memory

Caira alongside the Alice Camera, designed by the same makers (Image credit: Rashid Ahmad)

Imagine if Leica built a GoPro after a long lunch - that’s the Caira. There's Sigma BF vibes, too. A sleek, screen-less slab of CNC-milled metal that looks premium and feels it too.

The design strips away almost all buttons, because the company says creators are “overwhelmed by controls.” Fair. Now you’ll be overwhelmed by menus instead.

The MFT mount opens a vast lens ecosystem, from affordable pancakes to glass that costs more than your phone. And the 5,000 mAh battery means you can actually use it all day.

Best of all, there are no memory cards. You shoot, and the files appear in your iPhone’s Photos app almost instantly. It’s dangerously convenient.

Cair camera: Performance

• 11MP Four Thirds sensor with dual base ISO
• Basic video specs – 4K video up to 30fps
• Really effective Nano Banana voice control and generative edits

The Caira behaves like two products; a legitimate camera, and an unashamed AI experiment.

The camera hardware delivers – the 11MP Sony sensor combined with proper MFT glass (I used several of my Lumix lenses, including the 12-60mm f/2.8-4 lens) is an obvious leap from a smartphone, particularly in low light. Depth, sharpness, and texture all feel natural. The AI-tuned colour profile leans a little toward “Instagram - ready,” but never offensively so.

Caira's Smart Styles are surprisingly tasteful presets, that make you look more competent than you are. You can get a feel in the examples in the gallery below.

Image 1 of 3

An original photo taken with Caira (Image credit: Future / Rashid Ahmad)Image 2 of 3

Turn the dress black (Image credit: Future / Rashid Ahmad)Image 3 of 3

About 20 seconds later, the new image appears. (Image credit: Future / Rashid Ahmad)

The Caira's show piece is its AI features. Voice Control is genuinely handy when both hands are busy, or sticky with espresso, but Generative Editing is the main event.

Prompts like “make it nighttime” or “change his navy blazer to burgundy” return results in seconds – clean, convincing, a bit spooky.

Generative Editing is the feature that flattens the learning curve and streamlines the creative workflow. It’s powerful, fast, and feels like magic.

To its credit, the company has guardrails in place: no altering skin tone or facial features. I tried. It refused, nicely.

The Caira is a bold step. It’s a bet that the next generation of creators values AI-powered speed and flexibility as much as – or perhaps more than – traditional photographic purity. And based on what I’ve seen, it’s a bet they just might win.

Image 1 of 2

The original photo, using one of the more vibrant color profiles Caira has (Image credit: Future / Rashid Ahmad)Image 2 of 2

Now with the generative prompt 'turn the dress black', which returned results way quicker than an outfit change. (Image credit: Future / Rashid Ahmad)

The Caira feels like a product born out of collective exhaustion. Someone, somewhere, finally admitted that no one actually enjoys editing - they just enjoy pretending they do. It’s bold, a little absurd, and far more capable than it has any right to be.

It won’t replace your main camera, and it won’t replace your phone either - but it might just replace your willpower to open Lightroom ever again.

It’s the perfect tool for those of us who still like the idea of photography - the ritual, the gear, the illusion of artistry - but who secretly just want the photo to look brilliant the moment we take it.

And truthfully? That’s probably the entire modern photographer.

Should you buy the Caira camera?Buy it if...

You want a seamless shoot and edit experience, through your smartphone

Other cameras add way too many steps to the shoot - upload - edit - share process. Caira simplifies the whole process.

You want powerful edits in seconds, without the need for expensive editing software

Caira churns out the sorts of edits that used to take way more time with pricey software, and it does so directly on your phone.

Don't buy it if...

You want high-resolution photos

Just 11MP is pretty low by today's standards.

You're unsure about crowdfunding campaigns

To be fair, Caira's makers delivered with a previous project, the Alice Camera, but back at your own risk (or wait).

Caira accepts Micro Four Thirds lenses, like these two Lumix ones (Image credit: Rashid Ahmad)How I tested the Caira camera

• I tested Caira for two weeks
• I paired it with Lumix lenses, including the 12–60mm f/2.8-4 lens
• I connected my iPhone and made use of the various Nano Banana features

Camera Intelligence sent me one of just 50 pre-production units for a two week trial. I used it mostly to photograph things that didn’t deserve this much computing power.

It locks to the iPhone via MagSafe and connects over Wi-Fi through the Caira iOS app. Setup takes seconds, and then you’re in. I paired it with a Lumix 12–60mm f/2.8-4 – a brilliant lens that I immediately wasted on photographing coffee cups, pool balls, and other cameras.

• First reviewed November 2025

If you’d told me a year ago that a bizarre GameCube spinoff would receive a sequel on Nintendo’s follow-up to the Switch, I’m not sure I’d believe you. That’s right, Kirby Air Riders – a racing game developed by Bandai Namco Studios and Kirby creator Masahiro Sakurai's Sora Ltd. – is finally here on Nintendo Switch 2, a whole 22 years after its predecessor entered the fray.

Review info

Platform reviewed: Nintendo Switch 2
Available on: Nintendo Switch 2
Release date: November 20, 2025

Although Kirby Air Riders feels like a surprise release so early in the Nintendo Switch 2’s life, I’m actually delighted to see it glide onto the console. It's essentially a fusion of Mario Kart and Super Smash Bros, combining intense races with chaotic combat. But can it live up to the quality we’ve come to expect from those two legendary series?

Well, I’ve played solo, raced online, and even battled it out in local multiplayer. I’ve also spent hours on the game’s single-player campaign, customizing my machines and unlocking new characters. So, can this oddball racer outpace some of the best Nintendo Switch 2 games? I’ve got a lot of thoughts – largely positive ones, thankfully. But I won’t make you wait any longer…here are my final thoughts on the whirlwind gaming experience that is Kirby Air Riders.

Smash on wheels

(Image credit: Nintendo)

From the very second I fired up Kirby Air Riders on my Nintendo Switch 2, I could only think of one thing: Super Smash Bros.

Sure, Masahiro Sakurai is the creator of Kirby, but he also birthed this legendary fighting game series, which has its influence deeply infused into Kirby Air Riders’ DNA. Every single aspect – from the music, through to the menus and the unhinged gameplay – has Sakurai’s fingerprints all over it. But that’s not a bad thing.

Best bit

(Image credit: Nintendo)

I adored defeating enemies until I had enough juice to unleash Bandana Waddle Dee’s mighty spike attack special. Slashing my rival riders left, right, and center felt supremely satisfying. Sorry King Dedede, the crown is mine.

For anyone who played Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, the UI will feel like an old friend. The look of different options, sound design when making selections, and simple layout of menus is almost identical to what you’d find in that game. It's easy to use, fun to interact with, and a visual treat.

It's a similar story on the music front, too. The jazzy, catchy menu theme feels very Smash-like, and the broad, varied selection of tracks, which includes everything from grandiose orchestral arrangements through to funk-infused head boppers, is seriously intoxicating.

Even if you jump into a race in the Air Ride mode, you may feel as if the game’s aesthetic feels noticeably close to Sakurai’s previous work. The character models and quirky animations, zany design of the machines – which are the vehicles you use to race on – and vibrant, color-filled environments hammer home that this game is essentially Smash on wheels. And I love that.

Keeping it simple?

(Image credit: Nintendo)

Now let’s get into the meat of things and talk about gameplay. On the face of it, Kirby Air Riders is outrageously simple – especially compared to some of the best racing games. Your machine will automatically accelerate, and all you have to do is steer and hold down the B button to drift and obtain power-ups, like Fighter or Cutter abilities. Sure, the Y button allows each rider to occasionally use a special move, and you can waggle the left stick to do a spin attack, but that covers the vast majority of things.

Although the controls are incredibly easy to learn – especially thanks to a concise Lessons mode – it genuinely takes time to master them and understand how to get the upper hand over tricky opponents.

Drifting will considerably slow you, and requires more precision than you’d need in Mario Kart World. And in the main racing mode – Air Ride – you’ll need to tail opponents to get a boost before attacking. Speaking of, you’ll need to hold B to use a lot of power-ups, which will, in turn, slow you down. Sometimes, trading off speed can feel very rewarding, whereas other times, you’ll wish you left King Dedede alone (for once) and just kept powering ahead. Poor penguin. The need to consider trade-offs during high-speed races adds a nice dollop of challenge, and feels intelligently thought out – I applaud how the developers fostered a balanced approach in this regard.

On top of this, you’ll need to ensure that your character and machine loadout are suited to your playstyle. Personally, I liked having a solid amount of control on tight corners, and also enjoyed using a vehicle with enough lift to soar across corners. I didn’t want to be too light, though, so I found myself combining Bandana Waddle Dee (who should have been in Smash Ultimate) with the Vampire Star.

On the subject of characters, it did surprise me how varied and large the roster was, considering the limitations of a Kirby-only cast. There’s a fun set of riders from right across the series’ rich history as well as color variants, which I had a wonderful time sifting through. The number of machines is admirable, too, so there’s plenty of experimentation available to the player.

One area that I felt could be improved, though, was the course selection. The tracks themselves are solid. Some, like Waveflow Waters and Crystalline Fissure, felt like real visual spectacles and had me entranced in the on-screen action. However, I did wish that there were a few more alternate routes to explore, and the fact that there are just 18 courses – nine of which are retro inclusions – may end up feeling repetitive in the long run.

(Image credit: Nintendo)Let the chaos commence

I’ve mainly spoken about Air Ride so far, which I’ve had great fun with overall. Timing the perfect drift, battering my opponents, and gliding past them on the finish line is very rewarding, and I can see myself coming back for a number of races against friends in the coming weeks and months.

But what made a lot of people fall in love with 2003’s Kirby Air Ride was the City Trial mode. Here, you have to collect a range of items to boost your machine – think speed, defense, and HP increases – before clashing against rivals in a brief minigame.

City Trial is back, and this time it's even crazier. I found myself constantly switching machines, mashing up CPUs, and even fighting event bosses to get some juicy power-ups. I have to admit, this mode is good fun, especially when playing multiplayer. I trialled this mode against other gaming journalists at Nintendo’s UK HQ, and it really did bring out my competitive streak – the scrappy, intense nature of the mode is certainly enticing.

Still, I just couldn’t shake the feeling that City Trial is kinda lop-sided. I would spend five minutes powering up my machine, raring to crush my adversaries. But then, in a matter of seconds, the showdown minigame would be over. One example is a target game, where you glide into a numbered panel to score points. You get two attempts at scoring points, and then it's game over. This felt highly anticlimactic, and a significant portion of the minigames finished up too swiftly for my liking.

It should also be noted that I often found my character to be totally out of control after the first few minutes of powering up. This was pretty funny for the most part, and I did have a giggle while careening into my foes with next to no control. Having said that, this could leave me feeling a little City Trial’d out after a couple of rounds – the chaos is exciting, but perhaps meant to be enjoyed in bursts.

Luckily, there were a few other modes to try out when I was done with City Trials and Air Ride. There’s Top Ride, which is a birds-eye view racing mode that uses smaller, more basic courses. The more limited nature of Top Ride meant that I wasn’t returning to it much, but the concept is executed well.

Perhaps more interestingly, there’s a solo campaign with an actual story, called Road Trip – it's almost reminiscent of the Subspace Emissary from Super Smash Bros. Brawl. In Road Trip, you’ll continuously float down a road and get to pick from a variety of mini games to boost your level and progress the narrative. Typically, you can select one of three minigames, which keeps things decently varied.

Every now and then, you’ll engage in boss fights and get to view cutscenes about a lifeform named Zorah, which crash-lands onto the planet Popstar. The story didn’t really grip me or make me want to ride solo for hours on end, but it's a decent lil’ extra to break things up a bit. I’ll mainly stick to playing the Air Ride of City Trial modes online – either ranked or in quick play – if I don’t have friends around to play with, though.

(Image credit: Nintendo)Coming to the finish line

Even though I wasn’t completely bowled over by Road Trip, I still found plenty of value in playing on my own. That’s largely thanks to a checklist system, which runs across the Air Ride, Top Ride, City Trial, and Road Trip modes. As you achieve different objectives, you’ll unlock new characters, machines, and customizable pieces.

And this leads me to something that I really loved about my time with Kirby Air Riders – the sheer amount of personalization on offer. You can customize machines with stickers, attachments, and patterns, personalize your license, which other players can view online, and even tailor controls to your own liking.

The possibilities feel endless, and the volume of unlockables made me really want to complete challenges on the checklist. That feeling I got when completing a technically difficult objective was exhilarating and was a particular highlight of my Air Riders experience.

So, in the end, I really did find a lot of things to love about Kirby Air Riders. Sure, it may not have the variety of Mario Kart or be quite as addictive as Super Smash Bros., but it merges its sources of inspiration pretty effectively. Visually, this game is great – colors really pop and frame rate is pretty consistent despite some insane on-screen action. It matches that with a bombastic soundtrack and playful cast of characters, which adds a whole lot of personality to the Air Riders experience.

Yes, the short minigames in City Trial could feel a touch anticlimactic, but the mode did still offer some truly chaotic laugh-out-loud moments. Meanwhile, the standard Air Ride mode was a blast to play online, and gradually mastering the game’s simple yet surprisingly deep mechanics was a real joy. All in all, Smash on wheels may not be perfect, but it certainly supplies the frenetic fun it promises.

Should you play Kirby Air Riders?

(Image credit: Nintendo)Play it if...

You’re a fan of Mario Kart and Super Smash Bros.
If you enjoy these two chaotic Nintendo series, then I’m almost certain you’ll have some fun with Kirby Air Riders. Sure, it's a racer, but you’ll have to beat up your opponents in both the Air Ride and City Trial modes to get the edge. This title also has a fantastic, head-bopping soundtrack and exciting visual presentation, so you’re sure to find something to love here.

You’re the competitive type
There are so many ways to compete against friends, family, and strangers in Kirby Air Riders. There’s split-screen multiplayer for local matches, or online play – both ranked and casual – that you can get stuck in. Whether you want to get one over on your buddy or boost your ‘Global Win Power’ via ranked mode, there’s something for you.

Don't play it if...

You want an engaging single player mode
Although I had fun riding solo by completing checklist items and unlocking new content, I didn’t find the Road Trip mode to be massively engaging. The narrative is pretty simple, which is fine for a game like this, just make sure you temper your expectations if you’re seeking an engrossing solo adventure.

You’re expecting a Mario Kart-sized tracklist or character roster
There are 18 courses and around 20 characters to choose from in Kirby Air Riders. While I appreciate the limitations of an all-Kirby cast, I would’ve liked to have seen more maps to race on – especially as Mario Kart World has 32 different tracks. Maybe we’ll get more in the future, though.

Accessibility features

Kudos to everyone involved with accessibility on the Kirby Air Riders development team, because there really are a lot of options to discover here. There are visual options like the ability to adjust brightness or text size, apply different color filters, and adjust HUD.

But there’s also an extensive camera customization menu, which enables you to adapt the field of vision, camera distance, sensitivity, and more. You can even adjust the severity of visual effects or remap controls to your liking, making for a brilliantly customizable user experience.

How I reviewed Kirby Air Riders

(Image credit: Nintendo)

I spent more than 15 hours playing Kirby Air Riders solo and online via Nintendo Switch 2, during which time I exhausted every mode available. In order to play local multiplayer, I took a trip to Nintendo’s UK HQ, where I got a preview of the game and was able to duke it out against fellow gaming journalists and content creators.

Predominantly, I played Kirby Air Riders with my Nintendo Switch 2 docked, connected up to my Sky Glass Gen 2 television and Marshall Heston 120 soundbar. I also played in handheld mode, though, and while doing so, I listened to in-game audio with my Sony WH-1000XM6 wireless headphones.

More generally, I’ve been a Nintendo Switch 2 owner from launch and have been playing Nintendo games for the best part of two decades. Here at TechRadar, I’ve also reviewed a range of Nintendo Switch 2 titles, like the bizarre mouse control bonanza Drag x Drive, and the unforgettable adventure that is Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake.

First reviewed November 2025

ByteSIM is an eSIM provider that provides internet connectivity for travelers. Its services work across all continents, from the U.S.A. to Switzerland, New Zealand, Thailand, Egypt, China, and more.

Founded in 2021 and based in Hong Kong, ByteSIM has quickly grown into one of the most popular eSIM providers worldwide.

But what makes it a popular option? What are its pros and cons, and is it the best choice for you? This review will answer these questions. Read on to learn what ByteSIM offers and whether it’s ideal for you.

ByteSIM: Plans and pricing

ByteSIM offers flexible pricing based on your selected data volume and plan duration. Pricing also varies across countries, with some countries being noticeably costlier than others.

Prices start from $2.90 for 500 MB for 1 day. For $21, you can get 500 MB per day for 30 days, totaling 15 GB. 1 GB daily for 30 days costs $28, 2 GB daily costs $50, 3 GB daily costs $67, and 10 GB daily costs $100 for the same 30 days.

Instead of paying for a specific amount of data per day, you can choose a total data package upfront from 3 GB to 50 GB. For reference, a 3 GB 15-day plan costs $6 and a 50 GB 30-day plan costs $50.

ByteSIM also offers unlimited data (with a fair usage policy) for prices ranging from $12 for 3 days to $63 for 30 days.

Its pricing structure seems convoluted, but it is actually easy to understand. ByteSIM lets you choose the amount of data (500 MB to 50 GB, or unlimited) and the number of days it is valid for. Prices vary widely according to your choice.

Overall, ByteSIM’s prices are friendly on high-data packages (10 GB upwards) but aren’t the best on the smaller sub-10 GB plans.

Region

Data Amount

Validity

Price

United States

Unlimited

30 days

$69.90

UK

Unlimited

30 days

$43.90

Europe

Unlimited

30 days

$74.90

Japan

Unlimited

30 days

$74.90

Turkey

Unlimited

30 days

$65

ByteSIM: Features

ByteSIM’s standout features include:

Unlimited data

An unlimited data plan is included among ByteSIM’s offerings. However, as with telecom networks, unlimited data doesn’t literally mean what it says.

Instead, there’s a fair usage policy limiting how much data you can consume before the browsing speed gets throttled. This data cap varies depending on the underlying network.

ByteSIM works with different telecom networks in each country, but you can always verify the data cap before buying your plan.

Regional plans

(Image credit: ByteSIM)

Like many eSIM providers, ByteSIM offers regional plans that unlock network connectivity across multiple countries with a single eSIM.

For example, the Asia plan provides coverage in 21 countries, including Malaysia, South Korea, Vietnam, Thailand, and Taiwan.

If you plan to visit multiple Asian countries, you should choose the Asia plan, as it’s more affordable compared to paying for a new plan in each country you visit.

Unlimited hotspot

With your ByteSIM data allowance, you can use your smartphone as a hotspot without limits. For example, you can share data with friends during your trip or connect your PC to the internet from your smartphone.

Many eSIM providers restrict how much data you can use in hotspot mode, but ByteSIM has no restrictions.

ByteSIM: Installation

Installing your ByteSIM eSIM starts with heading to www.ByteSIM.com or downloading the ByteSIM app from the Play Store (Android) or App Store (iOS).

On the app or website, you can view all plans offered by ByteSIM, choose your desired plan and duration, and see the corresponding price. Enter your personal details, including your email address, and pay for your plan.

ByteSIM will confirm the payment and send a unique QR code to your email address. Scan the QR code to initiate eSIM activation —the on-screen instructions will guide you.

With ByteSIM's step-by-step instructions, the installation process doesn’t take long to complete. If you need help, you can consult ByteSIM’s FAQs page and blog or contact the support team.

ByteSIM’s mobile app isn’t compulsory for installing your eSIM, but it makes the process smoother. After activating your eSIM, you can monitor data usage from this app or top up data if needed.

ByteSIM: Coverage and speed

ByteSIM offers eSIM coverage in 200+ regions, or virtually all countries where it’s possible. Whether traveling across Europe, North America, Africa, Asia, South America, or Oceania, you’ll find a suitable eSIM package on ByteSIM.

This widespread coverage is one of the main reasons for ByteSIM’s popularity, particularly its regional plans that offer data coverage across multiple countries via a single eSIM.

You can access 5G connectivity with ByteSIM if it's available in your location. As a ByteSIM user, you’re dependent on local telecoms infrastructure in the country you visit, meaning speeds can vary.

In urban areas, 5G connectivity is more accessible but can be unavailable in rural areas. If 5G is unavailable, you’ll be switched, 4G or LTE.

Some countries have more robust 5G infrastructure than others, with examples including South Korea, the U.S., China, Switzerland, and Denmark. If visiting these countries, you’re more likely to enjoy 5G connectivity with ByteSIM.

ByteSIM: Support

(Image credit: ByteSIM)

For direct help, you can contact ByteSIM’s support team via email and WhatsApp. You can also dial the telephone support line during working hours, Monday to Friday.

Before seeking direct support, you can first check ByteSIM’s official FAQs page. This page has answers to routine issues users face, from device compatibility to installing eSIMs and troubleshooting slow connections.

Along with the FAQs page, ByteSIM’s official blog contains guides on selecting and installing its eSIMs.

Both the FAQs page and blog sections provide ample self-help resources. ByteSIM provides decent support resources on par with most eSIM providers I’ve tested.

ByteSIM: Final verdict

ByteSIM is a major contender in the eSIM market. It offers flexible eSIM plans for short or long foreign trips and provides reliable internet connectivity.

It’s not the most affordable option, nor does it have the best customer support, but it provides sufficient network coverage in virtually every region. We recommend ByteSIM for your foreign trips, although there are other eSIM options that you can take a look at.

ByteSIM: FAQsDoes ByteSIM offer 5G connectivity?

Yes, ByteSIM provides 5G connectivity for eSIM users, but availability depends on the local telecoms network in the country you visit.

Can I top up my ByteSIM eSIM?

Yes, you can recharge your data plans from the ByteSIM app.

Can I use my phone as a hotspot with ByteSIM?

ByteSIM lets you run your phone as a hotspot with no restrictions.

Playing the co-op campaign of first-person shooter Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 feels like diving into season 13, episode 21 of a low-budget network TV show with no prior context.

Review info

Platform reviewed: PC
Available on: PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, PC
Release date: November 14, 2025

Set ten years after the events of 2012’s Black Ops 2, it opens with returning hero David Mason heading to the coastal city-state of Avalon with his squad to track down the source of a sinister broadcast purportedly from deceased terrorist Raul Menendez.

Your first mission involves infiltrating the high-tech headquarters of The Guild, a futuristic tech company that’s the apparent source of the video, and right from the get-go, it’s obvious that corners have been cut.

Cutscenes seem a little cheaper than usual, with awkward animations and juvenile, stilted dialogue that’s nowhere near the cinematic espionage excellence of last year’s Black Ops 6.

Back to the future

(Image credit: Activision)

The pacing is also far too abrupt, front-loaded with big exposition dumps that propel the plot forward at a frankly overwhelming clip.

Early on, the team is exposed to a hallucinogenic red gas, with most sequences taking place inside a dream-like haze. There are some striking visuals, like a fractured memory of Menendez’s Nicaraguan compound or an impossibly twisted L.A. Highway, though they mostly boil down to mowing down waves of reskinned enemies from the Zombies mode and then taking on overly tanky boss fights.

Each mission is structured like a raid from an MMO (massively multiplayer online game), a la Destiny 2; the antithesis of the highly scripted, set-piece driven action that has made previous campaigns so great. In the real world, a handful of missions take place in Avalon with a semi-open-world structure reminiscent of the widely disliked open combat missions of 2023’s Modern Warfare 3.

(Image credit: Activision)

The map, originally designed for Warzone, is far too large, so you end up having to trudge your way between different objectives.

A few special abilities, like a super jump or a grapple hook that allow you to quickly gain momentum and deploy a wingsuit, provide a welcome, faster method of traversal, but are ultimately a solution to a problem that a Call of Duty campaign should have never suffered from in the first place.

It’s also hard to shake the fact that most of Avalon doesn't really fit in with the rest of the 2035 setting. This is most apparent when you reach an area that first appeared in Black Ops 6 as the Skyline multiplayer map. The rooftop apartment is entirely unchanged from its depiction in that game, which was set more than four decades prior in 1991.

The only real setting that seems suitably futuristic is a segment in the neon-lit streets of Tokyo, in which you play as an entirely different team of characters for no apparent reason, jumping between rooftops using your wall-jump - a new move for Black Ops 7. It’s a clear highlight despite the jarring new faces, and it’s sad that there aren't more moments with tightly designed parkour like this throughout.

Warzone woes

(Image credit: Activision)

As with the setting of Avalon, a significant number of mechanics in the co-op campaign feel ripped right out of Warzone.

There are weapon boxes littered around the world so that you can gear up, replenishable armour plates protect you from hits, and weapons have different rarity levels that you can upgrade as you go at designated stations. The user interface is indistinguishable too; there are no checkpoints to save your progress within missions, and you can’t even pause the game if you want to take a break.

Despite all of this, I certainly didn’t hate playing through the campaign. It’s nowhere near as boring as the sloppy story in the aforementioned Modern Warfare 3, namely as a result of its co-op. With a friend or three in tow, it all becomes absolutely hilarious.

(Image credit: Activision)

The writing is rough across the board, so ripe for moments of inadvertent comedy like a ludicrous dream sequence in which you fight a giant version of Harper - one of the playable characters and returning face from Black Ops 2 - or when the main baddie is defeated by an anti-tank missile to the face, only to reappear completely fine mere seconds later.

After you finish the campaign, you’re unleashed into the extraction-shooter-like Endgame, and it’s surprisingly quite a lot of fun.

Dropping into a gas-filled Avalon with countless other players, it has you completing mini-challenges to level up your ‘Combat Rating’ and unlock special perks that do everything from massively boost your firing speed to causing a burst of electricity that stuns enemies every time you reload. You’re working on a strict time limit, and if you’re killed before you can reach an extraction point, you lose all of your progress, so it’s inherently very high stakes and reminiscent of a roguelike in the best of ways.

The map is split into multiple difficulty areas, and progressing through each one is very satisfying. It all culminates in a very challenging boss fight that requires you to team up with other players on the server, an enjoyable moment of collaboration that’s a great little send-off.

In addition to quickly levelling up your weapons and gear for use in other modes, beating the boss with multiple characters rewards you with some great-looking skins, giving you a genuine reason to come back and replay it.

The format is also clearly ripe for expansion, and I’m intrigued to see what kind of additions will come to the Endgame throughout the year.

Place, Japan

(Image credit: Activision)

On the multiplayer front, Black Ops 7 fares much better. Building on the incredibly strong foundations laid with Black Ops 6, this is comfortably one of the most engaging multiplayer offerings yet. The maps, a bit of a weak point last year, are all absolutely fantastic, and there are loads of them to master. The ones set in Japan in particular look simply stunning, with gorgeous details and impressive lighting that conveys a brilliant atmosphere.

Best bit

(Image credit: Activision)

Black Ops 7 offers a new multiplayer Skirmish mode that features 40 players on massive maps. It’s a pleasant change of pace compared to the usual small-scale environments in the Black Ops series and channels some of what makes Battlefield 6 great.

Small maps like Blackheart, Homestead, and Cortex flow wonderfully and don’t suffer from awkward spawn locations. The work especially well with the hectic new Overload game mode, which has two teams clashing for possession of a bomb-like device that needs to be placed in specific locations to score.

The map themes themselves are brilliantly varied, too, with some evocative concepts that I wish had been explored in the campaign. Scar, for example, is set in a distant Alaskan village that’s being torn apart by attacking robots, while Colossus has you exploring the rusted wreckage of the once beautiful resort that was memorably destroyed in Black Ops 2.

The wall jump adds another dimension to traversal, augmenting the existing Omnimovement system (which allows you to sprint in any direction) by giving more skilled players the opportunity to hop above the heads of enemies on vertical routes that require multiple tricky jumps to cross.

(Image credit: Activision)

Gear Overclocking from Advanced Warfare is back, too, meaning that your most used equipment can be upgraded with new abilities to increase its effectiveness. This pairs nicely with Weapon Prestige, where you can reset your weapon level in exchange for special attachments and exclusive camos, and ensures that, unlike past releases, you’re not going to run out of levels to grind any time soon.

The guns themselves are all very satisfying to use and well-balanced. Assault rifles and SMGs are definitely the most versatile and popular options, though sniper rifles and marksman rifles are still very viable given their incredible damage output, and shotguns such as the fully automatic Akita absolutely dominate at close range.

With a deluge of new maps set to arrive in Season One and the imminent addition of the classic Nuketown, this is shaping up to be one of the greatest years of multiplayer Call of Duty yet.

Arcade action

(Image credit: Activision)

Like multiplayer, Zombies builds on everything that worked in its Black Ops 6 iteration.

There’s one Round-Based map at launch, and it’s absolutely massive, featuring an upgradeable truck to help you get around. There are heavy references to the legendary TranZit map from Black Ops 2, including some returning areas that have been lovingly recreated and incorporated seamlessly.

It continues the long-running and nigh-impenetrable storyline that’s been going all the way since World at War, with a brand new main quest that requires multiple hidden steps to complete. Long-time Zombies fans will absolutely love it, but if chasing esoteric easter eggs isn’t your speed, there’s a more basic Survival mode that’s perfect for unwinding with friends as you mow down waves of the undead.

This is in addition to Dead Ops Arcade 4, a light-hearted top-down challenge mode that has you running through small combat arenas with retro twin-stick controls, trying to last for as long as possible. This isn’t the deepest mode by any means, but it’s an enjoyable diversion and well worth trying for a handful of runs.

With all of this said, it should be obvious whether Black Ops 7 is for you.

If you’re primarily invested in the multiplayer or Zombies, then you’re going to have a fantastic time - the maps are great and it’s hard to overstate just how refined and polished the minute-to-minute action here feels. The co-op campaign is a very different story, though, and a big miss despite the strong Endgame.

Should I play Call of Duty: Black Ops 7?

(Image credit: Activision)Play it if…

You’re after some fantastic multiplayer
The multiplayer is fantastic in Black Ops 7. It’s fast-paced, and new mechanics like wall jumping work well. The lineup of maps is also great this year.

You’re a big Zombies fan
The first Zombies map is a hit too. Its huge scale is impressive, and die-hard fans will love working their way through the challenging main quest. For everyone else, the Survival mode and Dead Ops Arcade 4 are a blast.

You live for a good grind
In addition to the usual overall Prestige grind, Black Ops 7 has Gear Overclocking with new upgrades to unlock and Weapon Prestige, ensuring that you won’t run out of things to level any time soon.

Don’t play it if…

You’re expecting a proper Black Ops 2 follow up
The campaign here can be funny, but it's ultimately a mess and not the sequel that Black Ops 2 deserved. If you really care about that game’s story, then you should give this sequel a miss.

Accessibility features

Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 has a good number of accessibility features.

The UI features a number of reliability options, including the ability to increase subtitle size, adjust background color, adjust the size of text in menus, and fully customize the colors of important information. The multiplayer HUD can also be edited to your liking and made significantly larger if required.

There are multiple control layouts to choose from, with presets for simplified controls on controller and settings to reduce the need for lots of motion. On both console and PC, you can choose to play the game with either a controller or keyboard and mouse.

How I reviewed Call of Duty: Black Ops 7

I played more than 30 hours of Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 for this review, including roughly 12 hours in both the campaign and Endgame in solo and co-op and the rest of that time in the other modes.

I played on PC using a 5070 Ti-powered model from retailer Scan. It features a compact Corsair 2000d RGB Airflow case, Asus ROG Strix B860-I Gaming Wifi motherboard, Intel Core Ultra 7 265K CPU, a 2TB WD Black SN770 SSD, 32GB of DDR5 Corsair Vengeance RAM, and an Nvidia 5070 Ti manufactured by Asus.

This setup allowed me to play the game smoothly on custom graphics settings at 1080p with everything set to either Ultra or High. For peripherals, I relied on a Razer DeathAdder V3 Pro mouse and Cherry XTRFY K5V2 keyboard in addition to an Astro A20 X PC gaming headset for audio.

In addition to playing a lot after its public launch, my time with the game included roughly a day of early access. I evaluated the game against previous Call of Duty releases, namely Black Ops 6 and other recent entries like Modern Warfare 3, Modern Warfare 2, and Black Ops Cold War.

First reviewed October-November 2024

At the end of my Wicked: For Good screening, when the lights came up, there was hardly any mascara left on everyones' eyelashes. The second half of director Jon M. Chu's Oztastic vision is an emotional rollercoaster in entirely new ways, and for me, it's completely defied expectations (see what I did there?).

The second half of the movie-musical was always going to be the more difficult half to adapt. All of the joyous narrative and dance numbers have been and gone in Wicked, with the storyline turning much darker as Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) is officially dubbed The Wicked Witch of the West.

If you've seen the stage show, you'll know what I mean... but if you've read the book, the original Wicked story was even more macabre. With each adaptation, the Wicked ending has become more palatable and optimistic, and Chu's take on Elphaba and Glinda's (Ariana Grande) farewell is the most light-hearted yet (thanks to a few new changes).

For Wicked: For Good, this means packing an emotional punch so strong that you forget green witches and flying monkeys aren't actually real life. Erivo and Grande are completely invested in delivering the best ending to the tale they love so much, and that only adds to the overall polish of the movie's epic scale.

There is no way I thought the second half would be as good as the first, and now I completely stand corrected. It's Erivo's musical performances that take things to the next level the most, and it's clear we're watching a once-in-a-generation star do what she does best

Wicked: For Good packs the emotional punch the first movie skimmed over

As we pick up the story in the second half, Madame Morrible's (Michelle Yeoh) PR campaign on creating The Wicked Witch of the West has worked wonders, and the whole of Oz is in fear. Elphaba continues to battle for animals and Ozians to live in peace while being persecuted at every turn.

Meanwhile, Glinda and Fiyero (Jonathan Bailey) are each secretly trying to help, despite putting on a front of being happy and in love. And the Wizard (Jeff Goldblum)? Well, he's just kicking about, harboring a bunch of talking animal prisoners in the tower.

It should go without saying, but you'll really need to watch Wicked first here – there's no recapping events, and the movie is really relying on your existing knowledge as the pace picks up. What is particularly worth pointing out is that the joy has gone from this part of the story, as Oz and Elphaba's life turns to chaos.

Emotionally, things don't let up much. Elphaba can't catch a break, the animals are terrified, Fiyero can't be with the woman he loves, Glinda realizes Fiyero never loved her and Boq (Ethan Slater) is trapped in Munchkinland by Nessarose (Marissa Bode) as she morphs into the Wicked Witch of the East.

While this might feel hard-going, it's actually the perfect accompanying film for Wicked's first half. Even a fictional land like Oz can't live in ignorant bliss forever, and if we want our big happy ever after, there has to be a huge emotional payoff.

Luckily for us, Erivo and Grande are the perfect pair to steer this ship.

Cynthia Erivo's performance of 'No Good Deed' is one for the ages

Ariana Grande (Glinda) and Cynthia Erivo (Elphaba) in Wicked: For Good. (Image credit: Universal Pictures)

It was clear in the first movie that Grande and Erivo were made for each other as far as performance partnerships go, but I'm going to argue a potential hot take: Wicked: For Good is Erivo's film, not Grande's.

Obviously, this part of the story is much more focused on Elphaba anyway, but Erivo is running away with a performance that literally defies gravity. The pièce de résistance is her earth-shattering rendition of 'No Good Deed', which not only had the audience in fits of applause, but made me feel as though I was levitating while watching. I couldn't move or focus on anything aside from her astounding voice and emotional range.

That's not to say Grande has blended into the background, though. The pair's harmonies feel bound together by fate, and this makes their duet of 'For Good' the film's big tear-jerking moment as Glinda and Elphaba must say goodbye. We all saw this coming (even though it hurts every time), but don't worry too much – some small changes have been made for the better (e.g. Peter Dinklage's Doctor Dillamond has a much better fate).

While Yeoh and Goldblum are hitting the same show-stopping strides that we'd expect them to, Chu's direction won't be for everyone. Subjectively, I think he's remained incredibly consistent and portrayed Oz in exactly the way that we need to see it. On a broad visual scale, Wicked: For Good continues to be epic cinema with the most detailed scenes and sets, and even if you turned the sound off, you'd walk away from it totally satisfied.

The we've got the events of The Wizard of Oz running in tandem with Elphaba's own journey. Not only do I love how this reframes the original 1939 movie, but Chu has played it shrewd with how much he's chosen to hold back.

Dorothy is kept vague, while the Scarecrow and Tin Man are the most fleshed out for reasons that become clear throughout the movie (no spoilers here, don't worry). Colman Domingo voices our cowardly lion, but you'd never know it – not least because he has about two lines in the entire film. Clearly, these are not our stars of the show.

A week after watching it, I'm as enchanted as entranced by Wicked: For Good as I was while sitting wide-eyed in front of the screen. It's undoubtedly the most unmissable movie of 2025, and behind Avatar: Fire and Ash, it's easily the biggest spectacle of the year too.

The two-part franchise is ending on the biggest high possible, and I'm going to miss indulging in the sweetness and whimsy of the world Chu and his cast have made. Sure, there are minor pacing issues if you're really looking for them, and you're definitely not getting away without shedding a tear.

But, as the title suggests, you will truly be changed for good.

Stream Wicked now on Amazon Prime Video in the US and UK while you wait (and on Netflix in Australia). Not signed up? Use the deal below:

Prime Video: 30-day free trial

If you’re new to Amazon Prime, or you click the above link and see the option to 'Start your free 30-day trial', then you'll be able to become a temporary Amazon Prime member, which gives you access to Prime Video. Just be aware that the Prime Video free trial will mean you have to put up with ads. View Deal

Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button!

And of course you can also follow TechRadar on TikTok for news, reviews, unboxings in video form, and get regular updates from us on WhatsApp too.

Roamless provides internet connectivity for travelers with various eSIM packages. It works in over 200 regions, from the U.S. to Turkey, Greece, Brazil, Australia, China, and Indonesia.

Notably, you can use a single Roamless eSIM to obtain internet connectivity in multiple countries.

Formally launched in 2024, Roamless is one of the newest eSIM providers on the block.

But is it a suitable alternative to long-established eSIM providers? What sets it apart from the competition? This guide will answer these questions and help you decide whether Roamless is an ideal choice.

Roamless: Plans and pricing

Roamless has two pricing models: RoamlessFlex and RoamlessFix.

The former is a pay-as-you-go option, where you buy credits and use them on the go. If your credits run out, you can buy more to retain internet access.

Prices vary by country, but $2.45 per GB is the average for RoamlessFlex plans.

(Image credit: Roamless)

On the other hand, RoamlessFix offers fixed data plans, where you buy a specific amount of data that expires in 90 days.

Standard prices are $4 for 1 GB, $7 for 2 GB, $8.45 for 3 GB, $11 for 5 GB, $19 for 10 GB, and $30 for 20 GB, but they may vary by country.

(Image credit: Roamless)

For plans of 5 GB or more, the pay-as-you-go option is more expensive than a fixed plan. The tradeoff is the flexibility of not having to pay for a specific data volume, only to end up not using everything.

Pay-as-you-go is preferable if you’re a casual internet user who doesn’t consume much data.

For plans of 5 GB or less, the pay-as-you-go option is cost-effective. Notably, Roamless offers free 500 MB data to users who activate a new eSIM plan.

Region

Data Amount

Validity

Price

North America

20GB

30 days

$69.95

Europe

20GB

30 days

$47.95

Middle East

20GB

30 days

$69.95

Latin America

20GB

30 days

$69.95

Asia/Oceania

20GB

30 days

$47.95

Roamless: Features

Global eSIM

A key feature setting Roamless apart from competitors is its Global eSIM. Rather than having different eSIMs for each country, Roamless offers a global eSIM that you only need to activate once.

After activating your eSIM, you can travel to different countries and get internet access with it– you’ll still have to pay for data packages in each country.

The Global eSIM means you don’t have to go through the hassle of installing a new eSIM each time you travel. You’ll do it once, then roam the globe freely with your eSIM.

Flexible data plans

You can choose flexible Roamless data plans based on usage patterns. For example, if you’re planning a long trip, a RoamlessFlex pay-as-you-go option might suit you best, as you’ll pay per GB consumed with no expiry date.

For short trips, you can choose a fixed plan with a 30-day expiry and enough data to last your trip.

The downside is that Roamless doesn’t offer unlimited data plans like some competitors do. Its plans are flexible, but you’re restricted to a specific data volume.

On the bright side, you’ll get reliable 4G/5G internet connectivity and can use your phone as a hotspot without limits, as long as you have sufficient data credits.

International calls

Most eSIM providers don’t offer local phone numbers for calls or SMS, and Roamless doesn’t either. However, Roamless offers something close to this feature.

In the mobile app, you can make calls to international phone numbers at rates starting at $0.01 per minute.

Technically, you’re not assigned an international phone number. Rather, you’ll use Roamless’ phone numbers to make outbound calls, but can’t receive incoming calls. It’s a workaround that suited me fine.

(Image credit: Roamless)Roamless: Installation

Activating your Roamless eSIM is a straightforward process that I had no issues following.

It starts with downloading the Roamless app from the Play Store (Android) or App Store (iOS). After downloading the app, I created an account and logged in immediately. Then, I chose a data plan, paid for it, and clicked the Install eSIM button.

Users have two options: 1-click activation or manual QR code activation. I chose 1-click activation, then followed a few on-screen instructions to activate the eSIM.

You can choose manual activation if you plan to install the eSIM on a different device than the one used to buy the data plan– Roamless will send a QR code to scan on that device for activation.

Roamless: Coverage and speed

Roamless offers eSIM plans in 200+ regions across Europe, North America, Latin America, Asia, Oceania, Africa, and the Middle East.

Stretching from the U.S. to Algeria, the Bahamas, Belgium, Ghana, Brazil, and Oman, Roamless offers internet coverage wherever you travel.

With your Roamless eSIM, you can get both 4G/LTE and 5G connectivity (where available). Roamless depends on local telecom carriers in each country, so 5G accessibility varies.

The general trend is that populated cities have reliable 5G connectivity while less populated areas have spotty 5G connectivity, or if at all. Some countries also stand out for more robust 5G infrastructure than others– examples are Sweden, South Korea, Denmark, and Singapore.

5G connections may get spotty, but you can expect reliable 4G/LTE connectivity at all times with Roamless.

In my experience, Roamless works with two or more domestic mobile networks in many countries, so there’s always a backup if one network experiences hiccups.

Roamless: Support

(Image credit: Roamless)

To access support resources, you can check Roamless’ official Help Center for dozens of user guides and explainers to frequently asked questions (FAQs).

If you’re a new user seeking how to navigate Roamless, this Help Center is the first place to consult. It’s also valuable if you’re looking to resolve problems like lagging connectivity and activation failures.

If the self-help support resources aren’t adequate to resolve your problems, you can seek direct help via email. Just send an email stating your problem and expect a response within a few hours.

There’s no live chat or telephone support, which is a drawback because many rivals offer these support channels.

Roamless: Final verdict

Roamless stands out from competitors with its Global eSIM, pay-as-you-go plan, and user-friendly app that makes eSIM activation smooth.

It provides reliable connectivity for frequent travelers, regardless of region. Though it has a few downsides, Roamless is one of the best eSIM providers you can choose.

Roamless: FAQsDoes Roamless offer unlimited data plans?

No, Roamless offers pay-as-you-go or fixed data plans, but has no unlimited plan.

Can I get 5G connectivity with Roamless?

Yes, Roamless provides 5G connectivity through its eSIMs, but availability depends on the domestic telecoms networks in the country you visit.

Does Roamless offer a phone number?

No, Roamless doesn’t offer a phone number with its eSIMs. However, it provides a workaround: you can make international calls with Roamless’s phone number, but you can’t receive incoming calls.

DJI Osmo Action 6: two-minute review

When you think of action cameras, GoPro will likely spring to mind before DJI. While it wasn’t a complete surprise that the latter company, best known for its drones, made the move into the action cam market, it's had to do a lot of work over the past few years to catch up, and offer something that stands out from the competition.

The GoPro Hero 13 Black is arguably the action camera all others will currently be judged against, so DJI’s latest model in the Osmo series, the Osmo Action 6, has a lot to prove. That said, the quality of its predecessors, most notably the Osmo Action 5 Pro, has been hard to ignore, and based on my experience with that camera I had great expectations going into this review.

Fresh from reviewing the entry-level GoPro Lit Hero and Insta360 X4 Air, I was immediately impressed by the Osmo Action 6’s user-friendliness; the menus are easy to navigate, and the screens are a breeze to work with. Images and video also look amazing on these high-quality monitors, so reviewing the fruits of my shooting sessions was a pleasure.

Image quality is superb, benefiting from a larger 1/1.1-inch sensor, which produces excellent detail and color rendition in good lighting and stand-out noise performance as ambient light levels fall. I’d happily use the Osmo Action 6 as my main carry-everywhere camera, or as a backup to a mirrorless system for capturing unique perspectives from places those larger cameras simply can’t go.

The DJI Osmo Action 6 is a similar size to earlier models, despite featuring a larger sensor inside (Image credit: Future/Peter Fenech)

I thoroughly enjoyed using the additional accessories, such as the Macro Lens, ND Filter Set, and FOV Boost Lens, which make the whole system feel pro-grade and versatile. If you're a fan of the GoPro mods, you’ll be happy to see DJI making efforts to expand the modular compatibility of its action cameras. Once you add in the streamlined compatibility with the wireless DJI microphones, I see the Osmo Action 6 as an indicator of great things to come.

DJI Osmo Action 6 specsDJI Osmo Action 6 Specs:

Type:

Action camera

Sensor:

1/1.1-inch CMOS

LCDs:

OLED, Front: 1.46-inch/ Rear: 2.5-inch

Memory:

50GB internal/ MicroSD

Lens:

155-degree FOV, f/2 - f/4

Video:

Up to 4K/120p, FHD/240p

Photo:

38MP

Dimensions:

72.8 x 47.2 x 33.1mm

Weight:

5.3oz / 149g

(Image credit: Future/Peter Fenech)DJI Osmo Action 6: Price and availability

• Released November 18; not available in US at launch
• Osmo Action 6 Standard Combo costs £329 / AU$669
• Osmo Action 6 Adventure Combo costs for £415 / AU$839

DJI's Osmo Action 6 is available now, priced at £329 / AU$669 for the Standard Combo, while the prices rises to £415 / AU$839 for the Adventure Combo which adds two batteries, an extra quick-release mount and locking screw, battery case and 1.5m extension rod to the standard bundle.

Like recent DJI products, it's not available in the US at launch. A DJI spokesperson gave us the following statement:

"The DJI Osmo Action 6 will not be officially available in the US market through official websites following the global launch on 18th November. DJI remains committed to the U.S. market and is optimizing our strategy to best serve our customers amidst evolving local conditions."

• Price score: 4.5/5

DJI Osmo Action 6: Design

• Larger 2.5-inch rear LCD
• IP68-rated weather and waterproofing
• Waterproof to 20m

If you’ve used the Osmo Action 6’s predecessors, such as the DJI Osmo Action 3 DJI Osmo Action 4, or DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro, there aren’t any drastic surprises in store for you design-wise. The body is a little bit larger, most notably in its width, measuring 72.8 x 47.2 x 33.1mm to the Osmo Action 5 Pro’s 70.5 x 44.2 x 32.8mm. It might be noticeable if you hold both cameras side-by-side, but in real-world terms it won’t make a huge difference to the handling experience.

The Osmo Action 6 remains super portable and lightweight, despite the inclusion of a larger sensor, which is impressive. As you’d expect from an action camera, it can be fitted into a coat pocket for easy transport or use on the move. However, fresh from testing the tiny GoPro Lit Hero, the Osmo Action 6 did feel quite chunky by comparison. This is a much higher-end product, however, featuring a larger CMOS unit, a lens aperture that's both adjustable and brighter, and a front LCD, all of which are missing from the entry-level GoPro.

I was immediately drawn to the 2.5-inch main LCD screen, which feels much bigger in use than the rival GoPro Hero 13 Black’s 2.27-inch monitor. Although this is still too small to get a truely precise idea of sharpness, it’s much nicer to look at than the screens on earlier models, and matches those on cameras like the Insta360 Ace Pro 2, which we ranked as the best premium action camera.

The Osmo Action 6 features a new variable-aperture lens for low light shooting, an industry first (Image credit: Future/Peter Fenech)

The screen itself was highly responsive in my tests, and I found it easy to access settings and navigate menus, even when the camera was wet or covered in a dusting of ground coffee (see the sample video below for context). I reckon I’d find it more practical to work with the Osmo Action 6 in cold weather than the native-portrait-orientation Insta360 X5 or Insta360 X4 Air.

Both the front and rear LCDs are crisp and easy to read in brighter light too. While smaller and lower-resolution, the front screen (1.46-inch, 342 x 342 pixels) is still useful, and doesn’t feel like an extra gimmicky feature that DJI threw in but which is ultimately pointless. I remember feeling that the front LCD on the GoPro Hero 9 Black was so laggy that there were times it was barely worth being there, for example.

The large shutter release is easy to locate without looking, speeding up operation. Also, I like DJI’s choice to place the microSD card slot in the battery bay, rather than alongside the USB-C port, something which proved fiddly and frustrating on the GoPro Lit Hero. I always appreciate integrated storage in a camera too, of which the Osmo Action 6 provides plenty at 50GB.

• Design score:4.5/5

DJI Osmo Action 6: Performance

• Impressive four-hour battery life
• Effective RockSteady 3 and 3+ stabilization with reduced cropping
• Excellent connectivity with external DJI mics

DJI claims a battery life of 240 minutes for the Osmo Action 6, similar to the Action 5 Pro. Shooting inside and out, I found that a single charge lasted about four hours using a mix of 1080p and 4K resolutions, across the various modes. This is impressive, although as the temperature dropped, so too did the battery life, so if you plan to work away from a power source for any length of time I’d still advise taking a few extra batteries.

The RockSteady image stabilization system also has an impact on battery longevity, although in my tests, this wasn’t anything major. The system itself is effective. While not a replacement for a gimbal, I found I could create commendable tracking shots free from micro vibrations. The same was true with POV walking shots.

The Osmo Action 6 continued to perform well after being submerged in water, with the screen remaining responsive. Once it was removed from the water the lens quickly repelled remaining droplets, as did the body, making the camera easy to dry off.

Image 1 of 2

(Image credit: Future/Peter Fenech)Image 2 of 2

(Image credit: Future/Peter Fenech)

The camera features voice control, which is either ideal or an irritation depending on the environment. When it worked, being able to give the Osmo Action 6 a voice command such as “start recording” helped free up my hands, while reducing the amount of footage I had to trim as I positioned the camera for my shots. On several occasions, it didn’t respond, or I didn’t realise it hadn’t stopped recording after a command at the end of the shot. If the microphone is obscured in any way, it produces mixed results.

Speaking of sound, I was surprised by the quality of the internal microphone. While an external mic like the DJI Mic Mini gives you more versatility, as well as depth of audio, the built-in mic didn’t have the thin sound common to similar mics on other small cameras.

If you own the Mic Mini or DJI Mic 2, connecting them to the Osmo Action 6 couldn’t be easier. Simply pressing and holding the link button on the mics themselves until the indicator light flashes blue is all it takes to get audio recording off-camera, giving video that extra professional edge.

• Performance score: 4.5/5

DJI Osmo Action 6: Image quality

• Larger sensor enables better low-light performance than Osmo Action 5 Pro
• 10-bit and D-Log M modes enable pro-level grading
• Slightly aggressive default in-camera noise reduction/sharpening

Along with smartphones, I think that action cameras best demonstrate how far sensor and processor technology have come over the past decade or so. By mirrorless camera standards, the 1/1.1-type sensor housed in the Osmo Action 6 is small, at around 14mm on the diagonal, yet in my testing it produced better results than a high-end compact camera from circa 2014.

The Osmo Action 6 sees a big jump in sensor size from the 1/1.3-type CMOS of the Action 5 Pro, but uses a similar resolution of 38MP for still images.. This allows for greater pixel pitch (the distance from the center of one pixel to its neighbors), which benefits light-gathering capacity; the pixel size is 2.4 micrometers. An image measuring 7168 x 5376 is still quite a lot of pixels for this sensor format, but while I wasn’t amazed by the camera’s low-light performance, nor did I find it especially problematic.

Detail in stills becomes a little smudged from around ISO 800 and above, shooting in gloomy indoor lighting, but outdoors, or in direct artificial light, noise levels are kept at respectable levels for an action camera. Colors are also still quite punchy.

Video footage, meanwhile, is excellent in moderate low light. There is noise visible, but the grain size looks very fine, meaning it’s easier to ignore in areas of the image containing flat tones. I thought in-camera processing coped well, minimizing noise without obliterating texture.

The auto White Balance system is fairly accurate, even when faced with strong fall colors (Image credit: Future)

I did notice that some quite excessive sharpening is applied in some circumstances, no doubt to counteract any noise-reduction related degradation. It isn’t a deal-breaker, but you might want to turn down the default sharpening (known as Texture in the Image Adjustment menu) for a more organic look.

The SuperNight mode is designed to produce a brighter image in low-light conditions by increasing the exposure digitally, then applying AI noise-reduction processes to minimize grain. This produces footage with significantly less texture, so I wouldn’t recommend it if your video is likely to be viewed on a larger screen, where this effect will be far more noticeable. In everyday shooting scenarios, or for social media, however, it captures brighter shadows, so it's useful for shooting around cities. There's a lot less distracting noise, too.

I enjoyed using the Slow Motion mode as a means of capturing share-ready footage in-camera; however, for professional uses, I’d recommend switching to a higher frame rate, shooting your footage, and manually applying the Slow Mo effect in editing.

I really appreciated the Color Recovery feature when shooting in D-Log M, which allows you to preview how the footage would look with a profile applied. This doesn’t bake in any edit settings, but merely gives you an idea of the final image after grading.

All of the shooting conditions mentioned above would be challenging for any camera, and once you take the DJI Osmo Action 6 out into bright daylight, the quality is superb. Combined with the flexibility of the Log mode, it’s possible to capture excellent levels of detail and natural colors.

GoPro Hero 13 Black users might bemoan the ‘limited’ 4K resolution here, in favor of the 5.3K available on that model, but 4K is fine in all but the most specific of situations. I still shoot in Full HD as standard when creating content for social platforms, unless I know that for some reason I’ll need to crop or recompose my frame in DaVinci Resolve. The workflow is faster, and viewers are unlikely to perceive a difference in Instagram Reels or YouTube Shorts, for instance.

• Image quality score: 4.5/5

DJI Osmo Action 6: testing scorecard Insta360 X4 Air

Attributes

Notes

Rating

Price

Considering it's technically an upgrade to the X4, the X4 Air is significantly cheaper, which is welcome. There is the matter of the DJI Osmo 360, though.

4.5/5

Design

Everything is logically placed and the controls are easy to access. It's a proven design that continues to work well for DJI.

4.5/5

Performance

The LCDs are responsive and attractive, while the RockSteady stabilization system is highly effective.

4.5/5

Image quality

Yes, there may be no 8K, but 4K and FHD footage is sharp, clean, and punchy. The larger sensor is doing its job, and the Osmo Action 6 is a great competitor to the GoPro Hero 13 Black.

4.5/5

Should I buy the DJI Osmo Action 6?Buy it if...

You aren't married to GoPro

While it makes sense to stick to GoPro if you already own plenty of mods, the Osmo Action 6 represents the direction DJI is heading with its action cameras, and there's plenty to like. View Deal

You want high-end imagery

There are a lot of features and functions to play with, so a pro user will find something for every shooting occasion. Make the most of the low-light performance and slo-mo functions for advanced projects.View Deal

Don't buy it if...

You want a simple camera

The camera is designed for experienced videographers, so all of those features and functions might prove to be intimidating if you haven't used them before. There might be too much here if you want a point-and-shoot model.View Deal

You have lots of GoPro accessories

DJI is hoping to build its own follower base, so it you already own and frequently use GoPro mods, across an advanced system, you might not want to start from scratch with an incompatible camera. There are currently fewer accessories in the DJI ecosystem too, which is worth bearing in mind if you need something specific.View Deal

Also consider Insta360 X5

The top-of-the-range model in the Insta360 family, the X5 is larger but more powerful. It enables recording up to 5.7K at 60fps, and features dual 1/1.28-inch sensors with larger pixels and greater light-gathering capacity. It also features the newer PureVideo mode that's missing on the X4 and X4 Air, providing superior performance under poor lighting. The build quality and control layout are familiar, but with the added benefit of a larger LCD. If you want to shoot 360-degree video as well as shooting in extreme conditions, this is the best option.

Read our in-depth Insta360 X5 review

GoPro Hero 13 Black

While it may have only been an iterative upgrade to its predecessor, the Hero 13 Black is built on an expansive system of accessories. You'll find a mod for every occasion, plus there's a higher-resolution 5.3K video option, while the Osmo Action 6 is limited to 4K. This is the enthusiast's go-to action camera.

Read our in-depth GoPro Hero 13 Blackreview

How I tested the DJI Osmo Action 6

• I tested a full production model running release firmware over several days
• I mounted the camera on the bundled 1.5-meter extension Rod or Dual-Direction Battery Handle
• I recorded videos in varying lighting conditions, both indoors and outside

To ensure I was able to get a true sense of the Osmo Action 6's capabilities, I shot in a range of lighting conditions. My indoor tests involved a vlog-style shoot, testing the sensor's high-ISO performance and the camera's temperature and water resistance (I placed the camera in a freezer and poured cold water over it for a unique POV). I then took the camera out into the countryside, where I filmed close to and underwater. These shoots also gave me the opportunity to use the optional macro lens and FOV Boost lens. All audio was captured using the in-camera mic. Footage was edited in DaVinci Resolve 20.

• First reviewed November 2025

The second coming of Marvel Jesus is upon us, thanks to the arrival of Marvel’s Deadpool VR on the Meta Quest 3 and Meta Quest 3S exclusively.

REVIEW INFO

Platform reviewed: Meta Quest 3
Available on: Meta Quest 3, Meta Quest 3S
Release date: November 18, 2025

While it doesn't live up to the lofty highs of Batman: Arkham Shadow, there’s a delightful action-packed story – complete with Deadpool’s zany humor – to experience here. One that’s sure to delight major fans of the Merc with a Mouth.

From the get-go, Deadpool VR showcases that it’s at its best when you’re moving at a million miles per hour – kicking things off with one of the most exhilarating action spectacles I've experienced in VR games and of my entire VR career.

At the same time, interspacing incredible set pieces and enjoyable sandbox slaughterfests – which reward you for vanquishing foes in creative ways that abuse Deadpool's varied weapons arsenal – are moments that drag the experience to a halt.

A different lead would use these moments to provide depth to his motivations, and introduce story beats that emotionally connect the player to the character – Deadpool, however, takes the chance to vomit quips.

In fact, much like the comic book and movie adaptations of Deadpool, Neil Patrick Harris’ rendition never stops joking.

To that end, if you thought the Deadpool movies were the comedy equivalent of word salad, you will hate Deadpool VR. Meanwhile, those of you who love Deadpool’s referential, weird, and/or self-deprecating humor will find a laugh a minute – though I can’t promise every gag will be a comedy gem. With a script jam-packed with jokes, plenty are stinkers.

Now in Mojo-vision

While on a mission for S.H.I.E.L.D. Deadpool is hired (read: kidnapped) by Mojo – the ruler of the content-obsessed Mojoworld. He’s after his next streaming hit and wants the merc to help him recruit (again, read: kidnap) stars for his show.

This sends everyone’s favorite anti-hero on a world-hopping quest across the Marvel universe in order to track down and capture iconic foes.

Aiding him are Major Domo and Spiral, who offer Deadpool new weapons and ‘guy in the chair’ assistance as he carries out his missions.

As Deadpool completes missions, he’ll earn mojobucks, a currency he can trade for new looks and weapons, and as I’ve mentioned previously, you earn more bucks based on how well you perform in Deadpool VR’s combat segments.

In this sandbox-lite experience, you’re armed with swords, firearms, a grapple gun, grenades, and, at times, your own arms, as well as a slew of other weapons that drop from enemies in order to deliver a beatdown to your enemies.

Glad I wore my red suit (Image credit: Meta / Marvel)

Not only can creatively combining weapons lead to a better score, but I’ve also found it really makes you feel like you’re in the shoes of the hyperactive superhero – especially when you simply huck a katana across the battlefield to skewer an enemy to the wall.

Just don’t expect this to feel like a hyper-realistic sandbox like some other titles out there. Deadpool VR leans into chaotic violence that appeals to my sense of fun, but not everyone’s – a sentiment that I feel captures the spirit of Deadpool VR perfectly.

Best bit

(Image credit: Meta)

The opening to Deadpool VR might be the best opening to an action VR game ever. While some excellent moments follow, the intro really sets the tone for what's to come.

Weirdly, the main time the action feels at its most anticlimactic is during boss battles. Simply because being a level’s toughest foe translates to being a bullet sponge, with the drawn-out fights being interspaced with quick-time events, which, while a flashy flurry of blows, can make levels feel like they end with a whimper rather than a bang.

Though if you are convinced to replay a level, you’ll be rewarded with not only the chance to test out new devastating weapons on your enemies, Deadpool VR also lets you explore secret bonus rooms – provided you wear the correct costume for the occasion. That said, even the mainline Deadpool can uncover a few surprises if he chooses.

Need a hand? Have mine (Image credit: Marvel)Quintessentially Deadpool

Much like how Batman: Arkham Shadow is the quintessential way for fans of the caped crusader to experience a Batman story, Marvel’s Deadpool VR is the new best way to become the Merc with a Mouth.

If you love Deadpool, this is the game you’ve been waiting to play, and it’s well worth grabbing a Meta Quest 3 or Quest 3S so you can experience this title for yourself.

However, this game won’t turn haters into True Believers. The non-stop gags, which are the only source of amusement when the game’s exposition drags on, is quintessentially Deadpool, but if you found it grating when it was Ryan Reynolds was delivering the lines on the big screen you won’t find it any funnier when it’s Neil Patrick Harris talking in your head – take it from my fiancée who can’t stand the Merc with a Mouth.

If, like me, you adore Marvel’s stories, especially Deadpool's brand of quirky, then Marvel’s Deadpool VR is the game you’ve been waiting for.

Should you play Marvel's Deadpool VRPlay it if...

The Deadpool movies aren’t long enough
If you’ve left the movie theatre wishing the Deadpool movies had a 10-hour-or-so-long director’s cut, this is the game for you.

You enjoy chaotic action
Deadpool VR offers some of the best action set pieces I’ve experienced in VR, and some delightful combat that, while messy at times, is a lot of fun.

You have a Quest 3 or Quest 3S
This exclusive is a fantastic game for the right kind of player, and a great experience on the VR headsets it’s exclusive to.

Don't play it if...

You hate Deadpool
If you hated the Deadpool movies, this game is basically the same humor and violence in a VR package. Read: It’s not for you.

You demand superb performance
During some segments, I did notice a few performance drops – like when I was spamming an attack that has you throwing explosive playing cards like Gambit.

Acessibility features

Marvel's Deadpool VR can be played seated or standing up, but requires you to have a full range of upper body movement so you can swing your katana, throw grenades, and fire guns at your foes.

It also boasts a solid suite of comfort controls. I'm playing on medium levels (smooth motion, snap turning) and have yet to experience motion sickness, but there are options to turn on tools like teleportation movement if you're prone to feeling ill in VR.

How I tested Marvel's Deadpool VR

I played Marvel's Deadpool VR on my Meta Quest 3, which I've upgraded using a battery strap. I made sure to try the game from both a seated and standing position, and also to try its different accessibility comfort features to experience how effective they are.

First reviewed November 2025