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If you've spent any time online, chances are you've come across Squarespace, one of the best website builders famous for its sleek design and powerful features. Whether you're watching a YouTube video or browsing your favorite blog, it seems there's no escaping Squarespace. But today, we're diving into one of its lesser-known yet impressive tools - the Squarespace Logo Maker.

The Squarespace Logo Maker, which used to come with a price tag, is now offered at no cost, allowing everyone to create a personalized logo for free. Seamlessly integrated with Squarespace's site builder, this tool lets you easily add your new logo to your website in just a few clicks. It's a straightforward, quick option, ideal for small business owners, freelancers, or anyone seeking a simple, professional logo.

Of course, to apply your new logo to your Squarespace website you will need a Squarespace subscription. These start at $16/mo, but you can save when you use one of the top Squarespace promo codes.

In this review, we’ll examine the Squarespace logo maker's features and usability to help you decide if it's the right fit—or if you should consider alternatives like Wix Logo Maker or Tailor Brands.

If you want to find out more about Squarespace, you can read our full Squarespace review.

Core features of Squarespace free logo maker

Squarespace’s Logo Maker keeps things simple, offering the key tools you need to create custom logos, perfect for beginners looking for an easy way to get started.

Icon library

One of the noteworthy features of the Squarespace Logo Maker is its integration with the Noun Project, which gives you access to a collection of over 2 million icons. This rich library offers a wide range of choices, so you can easily find an icon that matches your brand’s personality, whether you’re going for something sleek and simple or a bit more complex.

That said, because these icons come from the Noun Project, they’re subject to its terms and licensing. This means you'll need to check the specific usage rights for each icon, which might be a bit of a hassle.

Despite this, having such a vast selection of high-quality icons at your fingertips makes it a great tool for quickly crafting a standout logo.

Customization choices

The Squarespace Logo Maker offers several ways to personalize your logo and make it truly yours. You can tweak the colors of your icon and text to match your brand’s color scheme, allowing you to experiment with different shades until you find the perfect look.

There’s also a fine variety of fonts to choose from, so you can select one that complements your icon and reflects your brand’s vibe. Plus, you can play around with the positioning of the elements, giving you the creative freedom to design something that’s both balanced and eye-catching.

(Image credit: Squarespace)

That said, there are a couple of things to keep in mind. The tool doesn’t provide pixel-perfect accuracy for resizing or positioning, so adjustments are done visually, which might be tricky if precision is important to you.

Additionally, after saving your logo, you’ll receive a download link via email, but there’s no easy way to go back and edit your previous designs directly within the tool. This could be a bit of a hassle if you need to make changes later or if you accidentally lose the email with your link.

Download options

Once you’ve put the finishing touches on your logo, Squarespace lets you download it in a few handy ways. However, it’s worth noting that PNG is the only format available, which could be a drawback if you need other file types. On the bright side, the files are high-resolution, so whether you’re putting your logo on your website or printing it on business cards, it’ll still look sharp and professional.

Usage rights

When using the Squarespace Logo Maker, it’s good to know that your logo’s usage rights depend on the specific icons you pick from the Noun Project. Since these icons come from a third-party platform, you’ll need to check the license for each one to see what you can and can’t do with it.

Keep in mind that there’s no option to purchase exclusive rights to your logo or the icons, so others might use the same ones in their designs. To ensure you’re in the clear, just head over to the Noun Project’s website, find your icon, and review its licensing terms. While the logo maker is a fantastic free tool, it’s crucial to be aware of these usage rights so you can use your logo with confidence.

Ease of use

(Image credit: Squarespace)

The Squarespace Logo Maker's user-friendly interface allows you to create a professional-looking logo in minutes, whether you’re new to design or have some experience. Just start experimenting with colors, fonts, and icons, and you’ll have a great-looking logo in no time. Keep in mind, resizing and positioning elements are done visually, so you won’t get pixel-perfect precision.

There are a couple of quirks to note. For one, while you can save your logo, there’s no option to revisit or edit previous designs directly within the tool. Instead, you receive a download link via email, and if you lose it, you might need to start over. Overall, despite some limitations in managing projects, the ease of use makes this tool a great choice for quick and simple logo design.

Performance and support

When it comes to output quality, the logo maker provides high-resolution PNG files that look sharp on screens and are perfect for digital use. However, it doesn’t offer scalable vector formats like SVG or EPS. This means that while your logo will work well for most web applications, it might not be the best choice for print needs that require resizing without quality loss.

(Image credit: Squarespace)

For customer support, there isn’t dedicated help from the logo maker itself, but you can contact Squarespace’s main support team if you run into issues. The help page for the logo maker is available, though it’s not directly accessible from the tool, so you might have to search a bit to find it.

All in all, the Squarespace Logo Maker performs well and provides good-quality output for digital uses. However, its lack of scalable formats and somewhat limited support options are worth keeping in mind, depending on your specific needs.

Alternatives to Squarespace free logo maker

While Squarespace’s free logo maker is a solid starting point, other tools offer more bells and whistles for a standout logo.

The Wix Logo Maker is a paid tool that uses AI to create logos based on your answers to a few questions about your brand. It offers various packages with high-resolution files and a brand kit for extra customization and branding. You can read our full Wix review for more details on what the platform offers.

If you go with Looka, you’ll get plenty of options to adjust your logo’s colors, fonts, and design. It also offers helpful branding tools and marketing materials, making it a solid choice for building your brand’s identity.

Zarla is easy to navigate and offers both free and paid choices for a straightforward logo design with some customization. Canva is another popular tool, offering a range of free and paid logo design options. Its drag-and-drop interface and a large library of templates make it a rock-solid choice for DIY logo creation.

Final verdict

So, who is the Squarespace Logo Maker fit for? It’s an excellent choice if you need a quick, simple, and free way to create a professional-looking logo. It’s perfect for individuals or small businesses - further securing Squarespace as one of the best small business website builders on the market. It offers a user-friendly experience with instant previews and seamless integration with Squarespace’s site builder.

However, there are some drawbacks to consider. Customization options are basic, and the third-party icons might not provide the uniqueness you’re looking for. Additionally, logos are available only in PNG format, and you can’t purchase exclusive rights to your design. There are also issues with icon placement and less-than-stellar customer support.

Despite these limitations, the Squarespace Logo Maker remains a solid option for budget-conscious users who need a straightforward logo quickly.

Squarespace free logo maker: FAQs Is the Squarespace Logo Maker completely free?

Yes, the Squarespace Logo Maker is completely free to use. You can create and download your logo at no cost. Just keep in mind that while it’s great for basic needs, some advanced features are only available in paid tools.

Can I use the logos created with Squarespace’s free logo maker for commercial purposes?

Yes, you can use your Squarespace logo for all sorts of commercial purposes, such as on your website, in marketing materials, or anywhere else you need. There are no restrictions on its use.

What formats are available for downloading my logo from Squarespace?

Your logo will be available in PNG format, which is fit for most online uses. However, if you need vector files for larger prints or high-res formats, you might need to look at other tools or upgrade options.

Is there a limit to the number of logos I can create with the Squarespace free logo maker?

No, there’s no limit. You can create and download as many logos as you like, so feel free to experiment and design different versions until you find the perfect one.

In my opinion, A24 is by far the most exciting production company around right now. Fewer things get me more excited than seeing their logo before a trailer, often stylized to fit the theme of whatever weird, wonderful, or downright heartwarming movie they've worked on. So naturally, I'm thrilled two more A24 movies are coming to Max for streaming.

Some of the best Max movies were made by A24 thanks to one of the best streaming services striking a deal with the indie powerhouse last year – and its catalog is about to get even bigger when two new movies arrive just in time for the spookiest time of year. Get excited, because both Tuesday and MaXXXine will be here before you know it. 

Here's everything you need to know about October's exciting new arrivals on Max.

When are MaXXXine and Tuesday available to stream?

I will not accept a life without @A24. #CivilWarMovie is now streaming. More A24 films are coming soon exclusively to Max including #ISawTheTVGlow, #Tuesday, and #MaXXXine. #MaxGetsMovies pic.twitter.com/47tk4bA6KNSeptember 13, 2024

Alongside other titles such as Civil War and I Saw the TV Glow (my favorite horror of the year, FYI), Tuesday and MaXXXine join the line-up on October 11 and October 18, respectively. 

Ti West's anticipated new movie MaXXXine completes his unholy trinity, with the always brilliant Mia Goth in the titular role. Meanwhile, in Tuesday, Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Lola Petticrew shine as a mother and daughter who are guided by Death, who takes the form of a macaw. So you've got two very different movies here, but both are absolutely worth your time.

MaXXXine is just one of the A24 movies I was excited to watch this year, and there's plenty more around the corner, so this year should be another successful one for the production company.  

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A cybercriminal claims to have stolen 20 gigabytes of sensitive data from the French tech and consulting giant, Capgemini - but the company is refusing to comment so far

The hacker, alias “grep”, posted a new thread on the popular dark web forum, BreachForums, in which they detailed their loot, which allegedly included databases, source code, private keys, credentials, API keys, projects, employee data (including names, email addresses, usernames, and password hashes). The archive also contains backups, and Capgemini clients’ internal configuration details for cloud infrastructure.

"They had more data but I decided to exfiltrate only big files, company confidential, Terraform, and many more," grep wrote in the thread. The crook shared a few samples as well, which included alleged T-Mobile virtual machine logs.

No word from Capgemini yet

If this truly is the case, and the files are confirmed legitimate, then this data breach could hurt Capgemini quite a lot.

However so far the organization is silent, and has yet to confirm, or deny, the hacker’s claims. The company’s website has no statements, and neither do its X or LinkedIn pages. TechRadar Pro has reached out to Capgemini for comment and will update the article if we hear back.

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Dreo MC710S air purifier: two-minute review

The Dreo MC710S is part tower fan, part air purifier. It promises both cleaner air and a cooler room with a host of smart features thrown in for good measure. It’s definitely on the larger, heavier side, and its industrial grey/silver plastic finish may not win any beauty contests. But, its height and build are practical and deliberate to make sure it offers the range of features and power needed. 

One such feature is its dual DC motors. These motors push air at a speed of up to 27 feet per second, meaning you can put it at one end of a large-to-medium-sized room and still feel a breeze at the other. The oscillation option, which covers up to 120 degrees, then makes sure this air reaches into the corners of the room (albeit at an oscillating speed that's much slower than I'd like). 

The fan operates in four modes: Normal, Sleep, Auto, and Breeze. The Sleep mode lowers the fan speed and noise, making it barely noticeable at night. The Auto mode adjusts the fan speed based on the room's temperature. As its name suggests, Breeze mode creates a gentle flow of air; this is the default setting for when the purifier is running. Note that you can run the fan without the purifier, but not the purifier without the fan. This is a little annoying when you just want to clear, and not cool the air, but it's a minor complaint. Overall, it compares well to the rest of the best fans on the market.

(Image credit: Future)

Speaking of the purifier, the MC710S' dual filtration system includes a pre-filter and a True HEPA filter. This combo captures 99.97% of particles as small as 0.3 microns, making it great for reducing allergens, dust, and other pollutants. During my review, I noticed a significant drop in dust and pollen, and my hayfever was noticeably more manageable. 

There are three purification settings – Low (1), Medium (2) and High (3) – plus an Auto mode that automatically adjusts the power based on the air quality. In tests, the low setting was pretty slow and poor at clearing particulates from the air, yet the high setting was fantastic, clearing dirty air in minutes. The purifier is not as great at getting rid of smells as other, cheaper purifiers I've used like the Levoit 300S, though, so if you’re cooking or have pets, you might still notice some lingering odors.

One of my favorite things about the MC710S is its smart features and remote controls. You can change the settings on the MC710S using the Dreo app, remote control, or through voice commands with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. Setting this up is straightforward, and I loved the convenience of being able to adjust settings without getting up. The app shows near-live air quality data and lets you set schedules, which is a nice touch.

The LED touch display on the fan itself is also intuitive, showing all your selected settings at a glance. The unit also features a color-coded light strip that indicates air quality: blue for Excellent, green for Good, orange for Moderate, and red for Poor. This visual cue is handy for quickly seeing the air quality in your room but I'd like the option to enable alerts that warn me when levels are higher than they should be in case I'm not in the room. 

If you’re looking for a multi-purpose appliance that improves your home's air quality and keeps you cool, the MC710S is definitely worth considering. While it's not the most aesthetically pleasing of appliances and lacks some finesse, its performance, smart features, and ease of use make it a worthwhile investment. 

Dreo MC710S air purifier tower fan review: price and availability

• List price: $299.99
• Available in the US

The MC710S is available in the US from Dreo, Amazon and Walmart.

At first glance, the Dreo MC710S's $300 price looks to be on the expensive side. Especially when no other Dreo tower fans exceed $150, and its standalone purifiers top out at $210, for the Macro Max S . In fact, the MC701S is the most expensive product across Dreo's product range.  

However, this price looks more reasonable when you consider that you effectively get two appliances in one; rival products such as Dyson's $649.99 TP07 Purifier Cool or the $550 LG AeroTower Air Purifying Fan are around twice the price; and the MC710S is full of the latest motor and smart tech. 

The most like-for-like alternatives to the Dreo MC710S are the $299.99 Shark HC450, and the $239.99 Hunter HPF500. The Shark model offers a heater function, but lacks Dreo's dual-motor, while the Hunter fan is cheaper because it has fewer speed settings – 9 versus 12 –  and lacks Dreo's smart features, but offers the same HEPA protection.

While $299.99 is far from cheap, it represents good value for money in terms of features, protection, versatility and tech. The smart controls elevate it above many competitors, and with its multi-function design, you don't have to buy or store multiple products.

• Value for money score: 4 out of 5  

Dreo MC710S Air Purifier Tower Fan specs Dreo MC710S Air Purifier Tower Fan review: design

• Bulky, industrial design 
• Digital, color-coded controls

No matter how you look at it, the Dreo MC710S is large, bulky and bordering on ugly with its industrial-looking grey/silver plastic finish. Measuring 46.46 inches x 118cm tall, it's much taller than I was expecting and looks like a tower fan balanced on top of a purifier... which it technically is. The top half of the appliance is where you'll find the controls, LED display and the tower fan portion of the MC710S. Below the tower fan section is a transparent cylinder where the MC710S' dual-motors can be seen spinning, and this cylinder sits on top of the purifier element. 

The touch control icons, and the corresponding remote control buttons, are relatively self-explanatory and (moving anti-clockwise) represent:

• Timer: This button lets you set a timer. Once the allotted time has passed, the fan will automatically turn off. 
• Info: This button get you access to the fan's settings.
• Minus symbol: Used to reduce the fan speed. 
• Power button
• Plus symbol: Used to increase fan speed. 
• Purification mode: This button is used to select what level of purification you need, ranging from Auto up to Level 3. 
• Oscillation: Used to set the oscillation range of the tower fan, from 0° to 120° 

(Image credit: Future)

All of your selected settings are then shown on the LED display located at the top of the tower fan, below the touch panel. This display lets you see, at a glance, the room temperature, which purifying and fan modes are enabled, the lifespan of your filter, and the fan speed (when adjusted manually). 

It also features a thin strip of light that changes color based on your room's air quality. A blue light means the air quality is Excellent; green means it's Good; orange warns you when particulate levels are Moderate and higher than they should be; while a red light is an indication that your air quality is Poor.

(Image credit: Future)

The remote control features the same icons found on the touch panel. Alternatively, you can control the MC710S using the Dreo app, or via your voice by connecting the air purifier tower fan to your Amazon Alexa, or Google Assistant. 

Setup of these smart features is quick and easy. In fact, setup of the appliance generally takes less than five minutes, including getting it out of the box and removing the plastic cover from the filter. The only slightly lengthy task in the whole process is setting up a Dreo account, but even this is painless.

(Image credit: Future)

Elsewhere, there is a carry handle on the rear of the appliance to make it easy to move around, but the bulky shape and hefty, 17.8lbs / 8.1kg weight don't lend themselves well to portability so you're unlikely to move the fan after you've got it in place. 

I typically like to move my purifier into different rooms, depending on my needs i.e I put it in the kitchen when I'm cooking steak or fajitas, or I put it in my youngest son's room at night when the pollen count is high. This is nigh-on impossible with the MC710S. To put this weight into perspective, the Dyson Purifier Hot+Cool Formaldehyde HP09 which is often seen as one of the bulkiest on the market weighs less, at 12.6lbs / 5.5kg. 

With the MC710S, it's clear Dreo has prioritized function over form. It doesn't win any points for subtlety, nor does it blend seamlessly into the background, but it is incredibly easy to set up and use and the extra height and weight helps maximize its performance.

• Design score: 3 out of 5

Dreo MC710S Air Purifier Tower Fan review: performance

• Powerful airflow 
• Doesn't reduce odors as well as expected
• Purification speeds vary 

The Dreo MC710S aims to hit the sweet spot between being a powerful fan and an effective air purifier and it almost manages it.

As a fan, the Dreo MC710S works well. It's powered by dual DC motors and pushes air at a speed of up 27 feet per second. This means that if you place it at one end of a large-to-medium-sized room, you’ll feel a breeze all the way across the room, even on the lower speeds. The oscillation feature, which swings up to 120 degrees, then helps make sure the cool air reaches the corners of the room. The fan comes with four modes – Normal, Sleep, Auto and Breeze. 

The Sleep setting lowers the fan speed, and noise. The Breeze setting reduces the power of the air flow, and the Auto setting sees the fan automatically adjusting its speed setting based on the room's ambient temperature. The fan isn't as powerful or effective as an air conditioner, and the oscillation speed is slower than I'd like, but it does a decent job of making a room feel cooler by moving the air around efficiently.

(Image credit: Future)

The downside is that the blast of air is almost icy and this can feel a little uncomfortable if you get the angle, speed or distance slightly wrong. It took a fair amount of tweaking and experimenting to find the optimum settings. Talking of settings, the fan can be on without the purifier, but the purifier can't be on without the fan. As soon as your turn the purifier on, the fan runs gently on 'Breeze' mode and oscillates at a default 30 degrees. You can't disable these features. 

I assume that this helps to improve the effectiveness of the purifier, because I don't know why else this would be the case, but it's not always needed and meant that I had to be particular about where I placed the unit so I wasn't cold while the purifier was running. On Breeze mode, as well as on the lower fan settings the fan is whisper quiet. I barely even realised it was on. The noise does increase considerably on higher settings – as high as 69dB on the top speed, which is around the sound of a car running – and this makes it difficult to have on when you're watching TV or similar. Especially if you're the one sat closest to it.

(Image credit: Future)

When it comes to air purification, the Dreo MC710S uses a dual filtration system that includes a pre-filter, which traps larger particles like dust and hair, as well as a True HEPA filter. The MC710S promises to captures 99.97% of tiny particles as small as 0.3 microns and this means it can reduce allergens, dust, and other pollutants in the air. My son and I both suffer from hayfever and even on days when there were so-called 'pollen bombs' in my local area, neither of us experienced symptoms to the extent we normally would. This makes it great for people with asthma, allergies or other respiratory problems.

What's more, my kitchen was undergoing a renovation during my review period and the purifier helped remove a noticeable amount of the dust in the air. Even though it wasn't in the kitchen itself, and was in the living room on the other side of the house. It performed less admirably in removing odors, compared to some other air purifiers I've tested such as the Levoit 300S.

(Image credit: Future)

There are three purification settings – Low (1), Medium (2) and High (3) – plus an Auto mode that automatically adjusts the power based on the air quality. To test these purifying capabilities, I sprayed deodorant directly at the purifier for five seconds and timed how long it took for the air quality to return to normal on the lowest, and highest settings.  

During the first test, on the lowest setting, the particulate level rose to 880ug/m3. It then took an hour and 15 minutes to return the air quality to normal/excellent. By comparison, on the highest setting it took just 15 minutes to go from Poor (960ug/m3) to Excellent. Interestingly, the purifier continues to take air quality readings even when it's not on, and this is useful for identifying trends and tracking air-quality changes based on certain events. 

I just wish that it would alert me when air quality reached dangerous levels so I could turn the purifier on and clear the room. Or even better, it turned on automatically – from being plugged in but switched off – cleared the particulates and turned off again. I found myself regularly asking "Alexa, what is the PM2.5 of Tower Fan" and becoming almost obsessive about it. A little more automation would give me peace of mind. 

(Image credit: Future)

Speaking of voice controls, this soon became my favorite way to control the fan. If I heard a lot of drilling going on downstairs, I could ask Alexa to turn the purifier on and off while upstairs. It let me set timers and adjust the fan remotely, so the room was cool for when my sons got home from school, and I could then track all of these settings on the Dreo app. This convenience goes a long way towards mitigating some of the minor complaints I have about the unit.  

I didn't have the purifier on constantly during the four-week review period. I would use it twice a day – once in the morning and once in the evening – to clear the room, occasionally turning it on at other times, when we had friends over or when the building work was particularly busy. The filter only dropped to 98% during this time. A replacement filter costs $39.99 and Dreo recommends replacing it at least every six months so you need to factor this cost in. 

Overall, the Dreo Air Purifier Tower Fan MC710S does a decent job as both a fan and a purifier. It has its flaws, and there are features that could elevate it from decent to good, or even great, but it works as you'd expect and does what you need it to do.

• Performance score: 4 out of 5  

Dreo MC710S Air Purifier Tower Fan review: voice control

• Easy to set up 
• Adds an extra level of control and personalization
• Perfect when juggling work or the kids 

One of the standout features of the Dreo MC710S is the ability to control it using voice commands via your smart speaker. I have Amazon Echos in a number of rooms across my house and being able to check on the air quality, and control the purifier and fan no matter where I was in my home, was great. 

Once the purifier is connected to your home Wi-Fi, it can connect to any Amazon Echo or Google Home device on the same network at the press of a button through the Dreo app. This app also gives you voice command prompts to get you started, which can be found via Settings and clicking the voice assistant you've connected it to – either Amazon Alexa, or Google Assistant.

You can ask Google or Alexa to turn the purifier on and off and adjust the fan speed – either by asking it to select a specific speed, increasing or decreasing the speed, or setting it to maximum/minimum. You can also ask your smart speaker to set the MC710S to a specific mode – Normal, Auto, Sleep, or Breeze.  By connecting to Alexa, you can also access basic controls via the Alexa app – on/off, fan speed, mode, and display options.

Dreo MC710S Air Purifier Tower Fan review: app

• Offers a range of control options
• Color-coded design is intuitive and simple to use
• Near-live air quality data

The app, as well as using voice commands, is one of my favorite features of the Dreo MC710S. It's intuitive, and everything is well-labelled and clear. An image of the fan sits in the center of the app's home page. If you have multiple Dreo devices you can swipe left and right to access each. Below this image on the left is a clock icon, where you can quickly set the fan to turn on after a set amount of time, plus the on/off button on the right. 

Below the clock icon is the Climate widget that shows the live air-quality levels above the ambient temperature, next to a Schedules widget. In the next row is your current filter life, and the settings menu. 

When the device is on, you can see which mode it's on and whether both the fan and purifier are enabled, or just the fan. Clicking either of these icons takes you to detailed controls page which shows: 

• Mode
• Temperature
• A live air quality reading with corresponding color
• Purification on/off button
• Fan on/off button
• Fan mode controls and speed slider
• Oscillation controls 
• Preferences 

Clicking the Climate widget shows you air quality and temperature readings for the past 24 hours, and 30 days. These readings are shown on a color-coded chart – red for Poor, orange for Moderate, green for Good, and blue for Excellent. As the air quality changes, so does this number and the screen's color. 

Despite the fact these charts deal with some complex information and could be confusing, Dreo makes them easy to navigate and read by carrying through its color-coded system and keeping details to a minimum.

There's a delay of around five minutes in this chart being updated following an air quality change, so it's not hugely useful in the moment, but it's interesting and useful to check after the fact. It's also reassuring to see how the levels change over the day and how well the purifier responds.

• App score: 5 out of 5

Should I buy the Dreo MC710S Air Purifier Tower Fan? Buy it if... Don't buy it if...

You're on a budget
At $299.99, the Dreo MC710S is pricey compared to other standalone fans and purifiers on the market.

How I tested the Dreo MC710S Air Purifier Tower Fan

• I used the Dreo MC710S Air Purifier Tower Fan and its partner app for 4 weeks
• Stress testing different substances
• Experimented with different speeds, modes and settings

I used the Dreo MC710S Air Purifier Tower Fan in the living room of my home for four weeks in peak hayfever season. During which time my kitchen was also being renovated and builders were in the house every day. 

Every morning and evening I used the device to track and manage the air quality, and used the fan on a range of speeds and settings in different scenarios, including when I had friends over. I also experimented with controlling the device using the Dreo app, the physical remote control, and via my Amazon Alexa speaker. 

To test the air purification monitoring and speed, I sprayed a heavy particulate aerosol (deodorant) on the purifier for five seconds while it was in different purification modes and timed how long it took for the air to clear. I also measured the volume with a mobile phone decibel meter. 

Read more about how we test.

First reviewed July 2024

We’re used to seeing free backup software packages that act as cut-down versions of paid-for products to convince customers to open their wallets, but there’s no sign of that with Hasleo Backup Suite Free – because this is a free, standalone tool.

It’s been used by over 15 million people over the years, so there’s some pedigree here – but it’s time to find out if this zero-cost backup tool can compete with free rivals or even show up some of the paid options on the market.

We've also highlighted the best disk cloning software right now.

Hasleo Backup Suite: Features

(Image credit: Hasleo Software)

Hasleo’s app covers the core functionality of a backup tool, even if its free status means it can’t offer the wealth of features you’ll find elsewhere.

Its backup module caters for system, disk, partition or file backups, just like every other app on the market, and that will handle almost everything for most users – although there are no options to backup data from specific apps, or backup data from smartphones. That’s a feature you’ll find occasionally on more expensive apps.

Still, that’s a good start, and the restoration module is similarly straightforward: you can restore your entire backups or browse through your backups to recover specific files or folders. A cloning module also allows you to replicate systems, disks or partitions.

Backups can be saved to any location navigable on your PC – including network locations – and the app offers a robust selection of scheduling options alongside the ability to perform full, incremental and differential backups. As well as scheduling based on times and dates, you can program Hasleo to start backups when your system boots, when particular users log on, or when you attach particular USB drives.

Hasleo offers different encryption levels, backup splitting with custom sizing, password and 256-bit encryption, pre- and post-backup commands and email notifications. It can also check the integrity of backups when completed and shut down your PC after the job is done.

In terms of core backup functionality for home and small business users, the slate of backup options available here does a good job of competing with some paid home apps.

When it comes to free rivals, like EaseUS Todo Backup Free and Paragon Backup & Recovery Community Edition, Hasleo remains strong. EaseUS Todo Backup doesn’t have system or disk cloning, and Paragon’s app can’t handle partitions and can’t copy disks.

One of Hasleo’s main free rivals, FBackup, goes further here with the inclusion of cloud support and loads of helpful app plugins, but it falls down by not offering incremental or differential backups unless you upgrade to a paid version.

Hasleo Backup Suite also includes some additional tools. You can create bootable, emergency disks, mount or unmount images, wipe drives securely, rebuild your Master Boot Record and merge images.

It’s obviously missing high-end features, like cloud storage, server management, and more, but you’ll have to pay for enterprise-level apps if you need that functionality.

(Image credit: Hasleo Software) Interface & use

It’s no surprise that this app has a straightforward interface. On the left-hand side you’ll find the core backup, restore and clone modules highlighted with big icons, and relevant options in the central panel.

At the bottom of that left-hand panel you’ll find the additional tools, the options menu is in the top-right, and that’s about it. While Hasleo does look a little archaic, it’s easy to use, even for beginners.

We tested our latest slate of backup apps with a 42GB document folder, a 2.5GB spreadsheet folder, a 162GB folder of media and an 82GB file that mixes all of those file types. We backed them up to three different SSDs to weed out any inconsistency.

And while Hasleo’s interface may look a bit dated, its performance was anything but. Its Media file average time of six minutes and six seconds is one of the best we’ve recorded across this latest slate of backup apps – nearly twenty tools in all – and its mixed file average of eleven minutes and 34 seconds is another result that sits towards the top of our results tables.

It took less than four minutes to back up our Excel spreadsheet folder, and the worst result came when handling documents. But while it took thirteen minutes and eight seconds to preserve those files, that was still in the top half of our results tables.

That pace isn’t far off the speed we recorded from EaseUS ToDo Backup and it’s more consistent than Paragon’s app, and it’s miles better than the sluggish FBackup.

(Image credit: Hasleo Software) Support

The support options for this free app are minimal – Hasleo’s website has an email address you can message for technical help, and there’s a forum, but there are no other options available and no indication about how long support will take.

This is one area where paid-for apps are much better, especially if you’re buying a business or enterprise product with priority support or phone and live chat options.

Competition

Hasleo’s main free rivals come from FBackup, EaseUS and Paragon, and Hasleo Backup Suite Free goes further than most with additional features like partition and disk cloning. And while EaseUS does offer some cloud storage, you’re restricted to just 250GB of space in the free version.

The only area where Hasleo falls behind even slightly is in the speed tests. Because while Hasleo is certainly not slow, EaseUS is even faster.

Verdict

There’s lots to like here: Hasleo Backup Suite Free offers a rock-solid core range of backup features alongside good speed – and you don’t have to spend a penny. It’s certainly a better option than FBackup, too, in most situations – especially when it comes to speed.

That makes it ideal for home users and sole traders who need core backup functionality, although the lack of responsive support or high-end features means this app is not suitable for medium or large businesses.

But if you need a free backup suite you can rely on, then there isn’t much better than Hasleo Backup Suite Free.

One-minute review

Wacom’s latest drawing tablet has arrived, focusing on the mobile market by offering an impressively lightweight form factor that makes hardly any compromises when it comes to performance. Hardware advances like its vibrant OLED screen, touch technology and singular USB-C to USB-C connectivity make it one of the best drawing tablets available right now, especially given its surprisingly low price. 

The result is a near-perfect mid-range drawing tablet, albeit one that probably won’t cut it for serious pros. For me, the Movink is also an iPad killer, and even beat Apple to the punch for delivering the drawing-friendly portable OLED screen found in the iPad Pro 2024. 

I’ve often used the iPad as my main sketchpad, preferring its portability so I don’t need to shuffle around my desk setup. However, the Movink offers the perfect balance, delivering the portability and accessibility of the iPad Pro and the artist-first features and drawing experience of purpose-made drawing tablets. 

The Movink is 4mm at its thinnest and 6.6mm at its thickest, weighing just 420g. It can easily connect to one of the best laptops and tablets for drawing and artwork, so it can access more sophisticated programs for photo and video editing or the best digital art and drawing software compared to general-use tablets such as the iPad. As that would suggest, Movink isn’t a pen computer, meaning you’ll still need to lug around your laptop if you want to draw on the go; but given the advanced drawing specs of the Movink and its surprisingly approachable price point.

(Image credit: Future)

It’s specifically designed to work with some of the latest Wacom pen technology, too, coming with a tailor-made version of the Wacom Pro Pen 3. This stylus is fully customizable (although you’ll have to buy parts separately), meaning you can choose for yourself the thickness of the grip, adjust its balance, and add or remove the side switches. However, if that’s not your speed, the Movink is also Wacom’s first professional creative pen display to incorporate Dual Pen technology and will work with a variety of Wacom and third-party styluses.

However, it might not cut it as the sole tablet for professional use. Its max resolution is 1080p – and, as of right now, there’s only one size available: a 13.3-inch screen, which might not cut it if you’re used to larger displays. On-device, there are only two physical shortcut keys; but you can also use the top corners of the screen as shortcuts, plus the three on the included stylus.

There are some other niggling issues. There’s no pen case or loop holder on the stylus, so it’s easy to lose when you’re on the go, plus it doesn’t come with any case or cover to protect the screen – an essential addition if you’re releasing a product with portability as its unique selling point. There’s also no stand included, and nary a built-in kickstand in sight.

Still, I’m splitting hairs. The Movink is a fantastic option that breaks new ground for Wacom, and it will meet at least most of the needs of artists at all levels – especially if portability is key.

(Image credit: Future) Price and availability

• List price: $749 / £729 / AU$1,299 
• Available in the US, UK and Australia 
• Launched May 2024 

Priced at $749 / £729 / AU$1,299, the Wacom Movink comes in at the higher end of the mid-range spectrum. However, given some of its specs toe the line of pro-grade devices, that’s a surprisingly affordable price for a typically expensive brand. It’s available directly from Wacom as well as through some third-party retailers.

Its approachable price also means I can forgive some of the omissions that other brands typically include with their tablets. In addition to the tablet, there’s just one 1m USB-C to C cable, the Wacom Pro Pen 3 with its built-in nib holder, three replacement nibs (one standard and two felt), and the paperwork to help get you started.

It’s disappointing that there’s no case included for this mobile powerhouse, no stand, and no pen holder or built-in means of attaching the stylus to the tablet. Wacom sells a carry case for $44 / £43 / AU$129 , as well as a foldable stand for $79 / £74 / AU$129.

Value: 4.5/5

Specs table Design

• Slim, lightweight and durable – thus perfect for travel 
• Four customizable shortcut keys, two physical and two touch 
• Requires just a singular USB-C connection 

(Image credit: Future)

The clue for the key design ethos behind the Movink is in the name; in case you hadn’t picked up on it, it’s pronounced “Move-ink”. 

Measuring in at 12.6 x 8.1 x 0.16~0.26 inches / 319.5 x 205.2 x 4~6.6mm (w x h x d), the Movink is wonderfully petite and sports a subtle wedge shape. In hand, it feels just like drawing on a pad of A4 paper. It weighs just 420g, making it a no-brainer for slipping into your laptop backpack or bag when you’re out and about – and just a whole lot easier to grab for a quick drawing session in front of the TV.

The Movink boasts Wacom’s slimmest bezel yet, allowing for an active drawing area of 11.6 x 6.5 inches / 294 x 165mm. However, that does mean there’s little-to-no wrist room. Given there’s no included or built-in stand, you’ll likely want to consider the ergonomics of your workstation. On its underside, a rubber footing runs along the top and bottom edges of the tablet to keep it stable when used on a tabletop. I really wish Wacom had included a kickstand or feet for the tablet, as your only option to improve the viewing angle is by buying a stand. Thankfully, its light weight meant I was able to comfortably cradle it while seated.

Both sides of the Wacom Movink feature a USB-C connector, as well as one of the two physical programmable keys. There are a further two touch-enabled shortcut keys on the screen itself as well, bringing the total to four. This won’t be enough for a fully established pro at their main workstation, but more than sufficient for drawing on-the-go or for amateurs.

Overall, the Moveink is wonderfully thought-through and purpose-built for its mobile application, but I’m still a little frustrated that Wacom didn’t at least include a pen loop to keep the tablet and stylus together, especially considering there’s no included case.

Design: 4.5/5

(Image credit: Future) Performance

• Bright and beautiful OLED screen 
• 1080p maximum resolution is a slight let down 
• Lovely drawing experience 

It’s rare to come across a Wacom tablet that doesn’t perform well in tests, and the Movink is no different. It’s loaded with the latest and greatest hardware from the esteemed brand, paired with easy-to-use Wacom drivers to make for a seamless and pain-free experience.

On test, the Movink proved to be a delight, with its 16:9 OLED screen offering 350 nits of max brightness and a 60Hz refresh rate. The Movink also boasts DCI-P3 100%, AdobeRGB 95%, with both Pantone Validated and Pantone SkinTone Validated certifications to round out its accomplished color gamut. It’s a little disappointing, then, that the resolution is just 1080p; I feel that a minimum of 2.5K is necessary for any device marketed at professionals. Plus, for navigating software such as Photoshop, I found I had to practically press my nose to the screen to read some of the extensive menus. 

The OLED technology also means there’s no need for a backlight in the Movink, which means it stays cool even with extended use – and there’s no light leakage, which makes working on darker canvases much easier. 

The drawing experience is wonderful, too, with the surface providing the perfect level of bite to replicate that satisfying pen-to-paper feeling. Its anti-glare and anti-fingerprint coatings effectively address some of the drawbacks of portability-first devices, especially given the Movink is a touch display.

On that point, the touch display is a real boon – and I’d say an almost essential one to get the most out of your Movink. You can disable the functionality, but if you’re used to extensive shortcut keys or using an iPad, then a touch display can be useful for navigating different software applications and moving around your canvas. So much so that I scarcely needed to reach for my mouse and keyboard while drawing. 

Performance: 4.5/5

(Image credit: Future) Stylus

• 8,192 pressure levels 
• Built-in nib holder and remover 
• Customizable, but basic in its given configuration 

Included with the Wacom Movink is the Wacom Pro Pen 3, and it comes with a twist. It’s an almost entirely customizable stylus, allowing you to change the grip thickness, adjust its balance, and add or remove the side switches. The flipside of this is that the model included with the Movink is very basic and pencil-like, with no provided grip. It’s lightweight, and the lack of grip didn’t bother me too much. However, if you’re drawing all day, have bigger hands or are used to a grippier pen, you might want to invest in those stylus accessories – or make use of the dual-pen technology in the Movink, which allows you to seamlessly use a variety of Wacom and third-party styluses.

Clad in all-black, the Pro Pen 3 is cylindrical and slim. The top can be unscrewed to reveal storage for three nibs (pre-loaded with two felt and one standard nib) in a rubberized holder, which can be removed to reveal the built-in nib remover. Further down the stem are the three shortcut keys on a removable panel, allowing you to customize the number of buttons from zero to three. 

(Image credit: Future)

I also noticed the nib was slightly more proud from the tip than I’ve seen on other styluses such as the LP-190K included with the One by Wacom, an intentional choice for the specific Pro Pen 3 model paired with the Movink. It’s only by just over a millimeter, but that can really make a difference when it comes to honing in on fine detail.

In terms of specs, it offers 8,192 pressure levels with a 60-degree tilt, meaning it matches industry standards. Its sensitivity and accuracy proved impressive and consistent through my brushstroke testing, and I didn’t notice any parallax.

Stylus: 4.5 / 5 

Should I buy? Buy it if...

You need something portable

The Movink offers near-unparalleled portability thanks to its thin and light frame and the minimal cables needed to use it.

You don’t want to compromise on performance

Paired with the Wacom Pro Pen 3, the Movink is a powerhouse as far as mobile drawing tablets go – especially with its new OLED screen.

Don't buy it if...

You’re a pro who wants a new main workstation

The Movink is absolutely good enough for pros – but not as their main slate for creative work. The lack of shortcut keys, low resolution and medium-size active drawing area likely won’t cut it for everyday professional use.

Also consider How I tested the Wacom Movink

• I used the Wacom Movink as my main drawing tablet for one month 
• I used it for editing images as well as drawing on software such as Photoshop and Krita 
• I tested the stylus responsiveness  

To test the Wacom Movink, I used it as the main drawing tablet in my amateur digital art setup for one month, using it to fulfil all of my drawing and editing needs.

I used the supplied Wacom Pro Pen 3 stylus and cables exclusively, completing a variety of tests to assess how accurate, powerful and comfortable the Movink was in a variety of settings. I drew in a cafe, at my desk, on the sofa – everywhere I could think of – to see how easy it was both to move around with and use in different environments.

While I’m no professional artist, I’ve been drawing and painting regularly for over a decade, and have been using graphics tablets and general-use tablets for years as part of my digital art journey. I referenced my previous experiences with tablets such as the Wacom One, XPPen Artist Pro 16 and Huion Kamvas 16, in order to compare the screen quality and drawing experience.

One-minute review

It might be the unmistakable Leica style of the D-Lux 8 that initially grabs the attention, but the pocketable camera with the famous red-dot logo offers more than just good looks. The Four-Thirds sensor is a big upgrade on the 1-inch sensors found in some of the best compact cameras, and the image quality is a massive leap from what you would expect from a mobile phone. Combine that with a physical aperture control ring, a shutter-speed dial, and other tactile controls, and you have a camera that will appeal to fans of a more retro shooting experience. The menu is also straightforward to navigate, partly due to the 3-inch 1.8m-dot touchscreen being useable for changing settings. 

However, the Leica D-Lux 8 isn't a major upgrade over its predecessor, which was essentially a rebranded version of the Panasonic Lumix LX100 II, released in 2018. Besides a few new design cues that simplify the design and make it look like the Leica Q3, the main new feature is a 2.36 million-dot viewfinder. This new EVF may seem like a downgrade on the 2.76-million-dot EVF of its predecessor, but the important thing here is that the screen tech is new – the D-Lux 8 uses an OLED panel, which offers a better experience thanks to not having color tearing. 

(Image credit: Future) Leica D-Lux 8: design

The core of the Leica D-Lux 8 is based around a 21-million-pixel Four-Thirds size sensor. Focusing the image on to this sensor is a Leica DC Vario-Summilux 10.9–34 f/1.7–2.8 ASPH lens, the equivalent to a 24-75mm lens on a 35mm or full-frame camera. This lens doesn't create an image circle large enough to cover the entire surface of the Four Thirds sensor; instead, it produces images that are up to 17 million pixels.

Rather than seeing the lack of complete sensor coverage as a negative, Leica has actually used this to its advantage, allowing photographers to change the image aspect ratio in-camera. You can choose between 1:1, 3:2, 4:3, and 16:9, and you can select these via a ring around the base of the lens. 

Leica D-Lux 8 price and release date

The Leica D-Lux 8 has a list price of $1,595 / £1,450 / AU$2,790 and is available now, although at the time of writing it's out of stock globally, so you may have to wait for your order to be fulfilled.

The camera comes with an on-camera flash unit.

As mentioned, the D-Lux 8 is very similar to its predecessor, the D-Lux 7, which itself was virtually identical to the Panasonic Lumix LX100 II, which was released in 2018 – that's a long time ago, and we've seen considerable advances in camera technology since then.

Thankfully, its features hold up well, particularly given the lack of competition in the high-end compact camera market, and the Four-Thirds sensor size is significantly larger than the 1-inch sensors typically used in this size compact camera.

Leica users have certain expectations for their cameras: manual controls, simplicity, and a minimalist style that echoes the industrial German design of all of the Leicas that have come before them. Thankfully, the Leica D-Lux 8 offers all of these things, and it both looks and feels like using a Leica camera, notably the Leica Q series. 

(Image credit: Future)

Weighing 397g, including the battery, and measuring 130 x 69 x 62mm, the D-Lux 8 is a (jacket) pocketable camera with a manual aperture ring, shutter speed dial, hotshoe, and there's even a cable release screw thread in the shutter button. On the camera's top plate there's a zoom control around the shutter button, a custom dial, and a small on/off button. 

The most significant change compared to the D-Lux 7 is the improved electronic viewfinder. The new 2.36 million-dot EVF is a lower resolution than the 2.76 million-dot EVF of the D LUX-7. However, the new viewfinder is an OLED display, whereas previously, it was a sequential display, where the RGB LEDs changed very quickly, given the perception of the correct color. This works well in static subjects but can cause jarring RGB edge effects, particularly when you're panning quickly. The OLED EVF solves this. 

For those not using the EVF, there's the 1.8m-dot fixed touchscreen. I have to say that with the camera's manual controls and retro design I found myself gravitating to the viewfinder instead of the touchscreen, or perhaps it was because the screen is fixed rather than the versatile tilting or flip-out type. 

The viewfinder has a 0.75x magnification, which, although it isn't huge compared to a mirrorless camera, is large enough that your eye can still roam around the scene and you can see details. And there is, of course, a dioptre adjustment if your eyesight requires it.

Where the screen comes in really useful is its touch functionality. Pressing the Menu button on the rear of the camera pulls up all the current shooting settings, which can be quickly changed using the touchscreen. The touchscreen can also be used to select the AF tracking area.

Overall, the design of the D-Lux 8 could be described as streamlined; all of the key features are easily accessible, without the camera being littered with buttons, dials, and labels. Everything else can be quickly changed using the directional pad on the camera's rear, or easier still, by using the touchscreen.

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(Image credit: Future) Leica D-Lux 8: performance

Leica cameras are known for their popularity amongst documentary photographers, who demand that their cameras can be operated quickly, which is often where compact cameras fall down. After you press the power there's a wait of about a second before you can take a photo with the D-Lux 8, which is an acceptable amount of time. The aperture ring and shutter speed dial make changing the exposure extremely quick, and also easy to do when you're looking through the viewfinder. That said, I'm a left-eye shooter, which made the dial a little more awkward to use with the camera held to my eye, although I largely had the camera set to aperture priority mode, so the camera was adjusting the shutter speed automatically. 

Zooming the lens from 24mm to 75mm is steady without ever being fast. If you wish to manually focus the lens, there's a small switch on the barrel of the lens, close to the camera's body. A fly-by-wire electronic focusing ring allows for manual focusing, and it feels naturally responsive, something that's helped by the magnified view presented on the screen or through the viewfinder.

The autofocus system is as comprehensive as you would expect from any mirrorless camera. There are options for eye/face detection and tracking, as well as the more automated Zone Field and Multi-spot autofocus. I generally left the camera set to eye/face tracking, and used touchscreen focus when I wanted to select a particular subject within the scene. I had no issues with the focusing, and the camera felt snappy and responsive.

There are a few continuous shooting modes for moving subjects, each with a varying degree of quality. At 2fps, images can be saved at 12-bit, with autofocus. Shift to 7fps, and the bit rate drops to 10-bit with no autofocus. There's also a higher option of shooting 11fps in 10-bit without autofocus. Everything is kept simple, with these shooting rates working for JPEG, raw DNG, and when in JPEG+DNG mode. 

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Leica D-Lux 8: B&W Natural (Image credit: Future)

One of the more enjoyable aspects of using the Leica D-Lux 8 is Leica's film styles. There aren't an overwhelming number, with Standard, Vivid, Natural, Black and White Natural, and Black and White High Contrast options. The contrast, saturation, and sharpness of each of these can be adjusted, and there's also the option elsewhere to change the I[ntelligent]-DR and Highlight/Shadow settings. I found that images taking using the default settings looked great, although after using the D-Lux 8 for a while I changed the settings to make the shadow areas slightly brighter. It all comes down to personal preference, but having limited options that aren't overwhelming combined with excellent 'default' image quality is refreshing. 

The larger Four-Thirds sensor makes a difference in image quality. Images look closer to what you'd expect from an APS-C sensor than the 20-million-pixel 1-inch sensors typically found in compact cameras. The dynamic range is good, with there usually being plenty of detail in highlights and shadows. I was also impressed with the low noise and good detail at higher sensitivities, with the camera performing as you'd expect it to with a Four-Thirds sensor. Images shot at up to ISO 1600 are perfectly useable, and even images taken at ISO 6400 look acceptable when you need to shoot in low light. Beyond this level, the image quality does start to break down, but we need to keep in mind what and who this camera is for; this isn't a camera for shooting landscapes or high-end commercial work. It will most likely be used for travel and street photography; it's a camera that's easy to take with you and can take better images in situations where you may tend to use your phone.

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It is a pretty versatile little camera. The maximum f/1.7 aperture creates a shallow enough depth of field when the subject is quite close to the camera, and I tended to shoot a lot with the lens in this setting, particularly when photographing people. It's roughly the same as shooting at f/3.5 on a camera with a full-frame sensor, so it's enough to throw the background out of focus to isolate your subject. 

I didn't shoot much video, reserving this for a few family clips and social situations, as this is how I expect the camera to mostly be used, video-wise. This is not a video-first camera. It only offers 4K capture at 30fps at 100Mbps and Full HD at 60fps at 28Mbps, and there's no articulated screen or external mic socket. The Leica D-Lux 8 simply isn't designed to shoot a video longer than a few seconds; even content creators would be better off using their smartphones and being able to upload footage directly.

Should I buy the Leica D-Lux 8 Camera?

(Image credit: Future) Buy it if... Don't buy it if...

(Image credit: Future) How I tested the Leica D-Lux 8

• I used the camera for a couple of weeks in a variety of situations 
• I shot documentary images at a local event
• I paid close attention to the depth of field the camera captured

I tested the Leica D-Lux 8 over a couple of weeks in the summer in the UK, which included a family holiday. During this time, I used the camera at a local festival, a day out at a farm, and took lots of photos of friends and family.

Overall I aimed to use the D-Lux 8 as an everyday camera, which I believe is how it will mainly be used. Using the camera in this way allowed me to experience it as the target user would, and to try all of the various shooting options in various situations. I also took it with me on a morning walk around London, shooting a few street photos, which I'll admit I am not very good at.

I viewed my images in Adobe Bridge on a computer, examining details in images taken at different ISO settings, and I also edited some images in Adobe Camera Raw to see how much latitude they offered for manipulation.

First reviewed September 2024