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Hurricane Nolo edged further away from the Hawaiian Islands on Sunday as major Hurricane Polo bore down on Mexico's Baja California peninsula with a threat of storm surge, high winds and heavy rains.

(Image credit: Gregory Bull)

Tens of thousands marched through Madrid on Saturday to protest Spain's housing crisis and the eviction of an 87-year-old woman, camping overnight in Madrid's historic Puerta del Sol plaza.

(Image credit: Manu Fernandez)

Removing the Qidi Q2 from the box, I was instantly pleased to see that this new machine reflected everything that I have liked about the Qidi Plus4 machine that I looked at a couple of years ago. However, this is a smaller version with a footprint that is better suited to smaller workshops and studios.

Once again, it’s easy to write off these machines. Qidi , while in the business for as long as many of the big-name brands, just isn’t as well-known, and their machines just don’t have that spark of innovation that we see from the likes of Prusa Research, Bambu Lab, Creality, Elegoo or AnyCubic; however, above all, bar possibly Prusa, Qidi have reliability.

It’s been a busy few months, and the Q2 review has been a long time coming. It’s essentially been sitting, printing for 6 months without issue or fuss: switch on, print, whichever material I need for any given job, usually PLA but ASA, ABS and PETG-CF, same reliability, same print quality.

The main issue is that when a machine starts to blend in, just works as part of the workshop and now classroom you don’t tend to think of it as anything other than having always been there, and that really sums up the Qidi , while it may not have the cutting edge features, what it does have is absolute refinement and reliability.

As I have found in both a business and an educational environment, reliability is far more important than any headline speed figures, multitool changers, or other cutting-edge features when all you need to do is print.

QIDI Q2 3D Printer: Design

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)

Positioning the 402 x 438 x 494mm frame of the Qidi Q2 onto the workbench was something of a relief; the past three printers and laser engravers have all recently gone for scale, so to have something smaller and quite as neat and robust as the Q2 to move around is a welcome break. While it is smaller, it still offers a decent print area of 270x270x256; this will enable you to print most objects you’ll need for prototyping, although cosplay props and helmets will require the models to be split and produced in parts.

One of the key points for me was that the Q2 comes in at 18.1kg, so while that is still quite weighty, it’s not up to the backbreaking weight of many of the other new machines, which in smaller workshops means that it’s easy to move and store when needed.

The construction is all good and solid, and with the CoreXY mechanics and the full-metal frame it all feels a little more robust than some of the other printers that I have tested recently. I also like the fact that it, which has been product-designed, is more in line with workshop machinery, so slips into that environment neatly.

In the print workroom, which is where the Qidi machines tend to end up, the Q2 has sat alongside the larger Plus4 handling the smaller props prints and artworks that we’re required for the run-up to summer. The quality, speed and ultimately reliability have made this, alongside the other Qidi machine, a valuable addition.

All the features that are essential for education, especially, are here, with the fully enclosed construction which keeps students' fingers away from the heated internal chamber and, more importantly, the hot end.

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)

The interface is also extremely straightforward, with the 4.3-inch touchscreen making it easy to navigate. What I liked was that the calibration is automatic, so once the machine is set, you can just leave it.

The auto bed levelling with the standard dual-sided textured PEI build plate meant that there were few, if any, misprints, and once prints cool, they’re easy to remove.

When it comes to the build, the Qidi has been designed as a solid and reliable part of the studio, and a printer that blends in rather than standing out and demanding constant attention.

QIDI Q2 3D Printer: Features

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)

Taking a look at the Q2’s features, while impressive, it positions this fully enclosed printer at entry level these days, which, compared with printers just a couple of years ago, shows just how far the technology has progressed.

The fully enclosed design gives the machine its premium look and feel and houses the CoreXY motion system using heavier-weight 1.5GT belts, with linear guide rail used rather than rods on the X-axis and dual independent lead-screw motors controlling the Z-axis. These are all features that ensured Bambu Lab’s position when they launched, and now even in this entry-level machine they’re a standard.

Toolhead speed is 600mm/s, fast but not unusual at this level, with acceleration of up to 20,000mm/s². Compared with the old Cartesian machines, this is impressive, but with many machines now reaching 1000mm/s, it puts this machine's print speeds at a reliable and steady pace.

The machine is shipped with QidiSlicer, which, as with most slicers these days, is a derivative of Prusa Slicer, although here it has been heavily adapted to enable ease of use. What I liked through the test is that the default profiles are solid and well tested. If you’re new to 3D printing, then it’s just a case of selecting your filament type and the software then the machine sorts the rest. Through this test, I stuck to these default profiles, and the consistency with the QIDI and other manufacturer filaments was superb.

The print volume is 270 x 270 x 256mm, which is a decent size, with most standard 3D printers offering around the 250 x 250 x 250 mm volume. The platform itself is an aluminium-substrate heated bed topped by a removable dual-sided textured PEI plate with a bed temperature that can reach 120°C.

The standard hotend nozzle impressively reaches a temperature of 370°C, meaning that out of the box the bimetal 0.4mm nozzle is equipped to deal with engineering materials. As one feature point that really highlights the direction of the QIDI 3D printers, it uses a direct-drive extrusion system with hardened-steel gears, again built for durability and maximum filament support.

As I mentioned, the 0.4mm bimetal nozzle is fitted as standard; however, if you want to swap it out for something else, then there are 0.2, 0.6 and 0.8mm alternatives available. While you can print with abrasive materials as I did through the test, there is a Tungsten Carbide nozzle available which will last far longer.

The material compatibility list is extensive, with the usual PLA, PETG and TPU, and support for ABS, ASA, PA and PC. The BiMetal nozzle will also print carbon- and glass-fibre reinforced polymers, although this is where I would invest the additional £60/$60 for the Tungsten Carbide hotend.

The Q2 is a fully enclosed machine with active PTC chamber heating system that can push the internal temperature up to 65°C; this is ideal for materials such as ABS, ASA and engineering polymers. The heat around the print enables better control over warping and other print problems for these more advanced material types.

There are several points around the engineering materials that are worth knowing before you start using them on this printer. While it can print with them out of the box, if you’re going to be using carbon-fibre or nylon on a regular basis, I would invest in a filament dryer and that hardened hotend.

Looking at a few of the features that have been introduced that actually make this machine an interesting option for small studios and education are additions such as the G3 pre-filter, H12 HEPA filter and coconut-shell activated-carbon filter. These essentially take out some of the fumes and smaller particles that some of the more advanced materials can make.

The Q2 uses hands-free automatic levelling with a load-cell sensor integrated directly into the hotend. The nozzle itself can therefore be used during the levelling process, removing the need for a separate offset probe.

Specs

Print Technology: Fused Deposition Modelling (FDM), CoreXY
Build Area: 270 x 270 x 256mm
Minimum Layer Resolution: Dependent on nozzle/profile
Maximum Layer Resolution: Dependent on nozzle/profile
Dimensions: 402 x 438 x 494mm
Weight: 18.1kg
Bed: Aluminium heated bed, up to 120°C
Print Surface: Dual-sided textured PEI plate
Software: QIDI Studio; compatible with third-party slicers including OrcaSlicer and PrusaSlicer
Materials: PLA, ABS, ASA, PETG, TPU, PA, PC and carbon/glass-fibre reinforced polymers
Print Speed: Up to 600mm/s; acceleration up to 20,000mm/s²

In everyday use, the important point is that calibration is straightforward and, once complete, I’ve found little reason to start making manual fine adjustments.

That’s exactly what I want from a machine being used in education.

The purpose of the printer is to make things. If you’re continually adjusting the printer itself, something has gone wrong with that relationship.

Other advanced features include the 1080p resolution camera that enables you to monitor prints and create time-lapse sequences; this camera is now AI-enhanced, so it will spot defects automatically.

More standard features, including WiFi across a 2.4GHz connection, Ethernet and USB, are all available, and the 4.3-inch, 480 x 272 touchscreen enables you to easily switch through settings.

QIDI Q2 3D Printer: Performance

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)

After having the relative complexity of the multi-filament machines over the last year, it’s actually quite nice to go back to the simplicity of a single filament. There is the option to go multifilament, but in this review I’m just looking at the base machine, and as the first few prints finished, I was instantly impressed by the quality of the PLA prints.

As I ran through the stock models that had been provided and then the additional test prints, the quality and speed were consistent. This is a mid-speed printer, and while it’s not as fast as some of the machines I’ve looked at recently, at this price the speed and quality are well balanced.

What is apparent is that, consistently and unusually due to the volume of printers and engravers that have been coming through the workshop, this machine has been printing consistently for six months without issue. This is part of the reason that I’ve delayed the review: firstly, waiting for the Qidi Box, and secondly, it just became a part of the workshop that was in constant use.

This reliability has been seen with the other QIDI printers that I’ve used, with the Plus4 now having been run for almost two years in the college; it's the one printer of many that has consistently worked and meets the safety requirements.

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)

Checking the quality of the prints and the first layer after the auto calibration is always slow and precise, and at no point have I had to make any adjustments to that initial calibration height.

The prints also hold firm during printing, and if printing multiple prints across the heated bed, they all stick firmly through the process, releasing easily when the platform cools.

What was also apparent was that after a six-week break at the college, where the machine has sat mostly unused, all it took to get it back into action was to power it on. A quick bench test, and the machine was printing perfectly.

Taking a look at the benchmark tests, the results were impressive.

QIDI Q2 3D Printer: Print quality

Dimensional accuracy - score of 4

Target 25 = X: 24.90mm / 0.10mm Error | Y: 24.87mm / 0.13mm Error
Target 20 = X: 19.88mm / 0.12mm Error | Y: 19.80mm / 0.20mm Error
Target 15 = X: 14.90mm / 0.10mm Error | Y: 14.93mm / 0.07mm Error
Target 10 = X: 9.89mm / 0.11mm Error | Y: 9.78mm / 0.22mm Error
Target 5 = X: 4.88mm / 0.12mm Error | Y: 4.89mm / 0.11mm Error
X Error Average = 0.11
Y Error Average = 0.146
X&Y Error Average = 0.128

Fine Flow Control - score of 5

Fine Negative Features - score of 5

Overhangs - score of 5

Bridging - score of 5

XY resonance - score of 2.5

Z-axis alignment - score of 2.5

Adding up the totals gives a final score of 29 out of 30.

QIDI Q2 3D Printer: Final verdict

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)

The review of this 3D printer has stretched over a far longer period than most, with the machine being set up and used for the last six months. While the pricing places this at the entry level, the build quality and reliability make it clear that this machine strikes a careful balance.

It gives you a standard out-of-the-box machine that is a reliable tool in the workshop, and if you work in education or have a small business or design studio, then that is exactly what it provides.

The Q2, used as a single-filament machine as I have looked at it in this review, offers a solid, no-fuss approach and huge support for a good range of materials. Key features include the CoreXY design, cooling system, filter and fully enclosed design that enable everyone from a complete beginner through to professionals to have a machine that will be reliable and easy to use.

The Qidi software is again well thought out, and the stripped-down approach again makes it an ideal option for those who are new to 3D printing; the machine connection and the slicing workflow are all well thought through.

This might not be a machine that shouts. out with the latest features and cutting-edge additions, but instead it refines this style of machine perfectly. If you want more, then there are the other hotend options, and there’s the QIDI box for multifilament printing.

Essentially if you need a no fuss, solid and reliable 3D printer then the Qidi Q2 is a great option, while there is the multifilament option at present as a single filament machine it’s a great price and close to perfect for what it is.

Should You Buy the Qidi Q2 3D printer?

Value:

Excellent value with a fully enclosed design and robust build that should last for years

4.5

Design:

Relatively compact design, with expansion options and built-in filters

4.5

Features:

Heated chamber, filtration and multi-material expansion future-proof the machine

4.5

Performance:

Six months of reliable printing highlighted just how refined this machine is

5

Total:

Compact, capable and exceptionally reliable all make this a great choice for education.

4.5

Buy it if…

Reliability really matters

If you’re using a 3D printer in the classroom, workshop or busy home setup, the Q2’s headline feature is its consistency and reliability. Once calibrated, it simply gets on with printing, with little maintenance or recalibration needed.

You need versatility

The Q2 is perfect for PLA printing for everyday tasks, but then with the fully enclosed chamber it’s also a great option for more advanced materials, especially with the upgrade options.

Don't buy it if…

You print huge

The 270 x 270 x 256mm build area is pretty decent for an everyday printer, but large prototypes and single-piece models will need something bigger.

Speed matters

The 600mm/s maximum is good rather than exceptional, especially against the competition. There are competing printers with faster, higher speeds, although the Q2’s real strength is the consistency.

See what I rate as the best 3D printers you can buy based on my workshop tests

Removing the Qidi Q2 from the box, I was instantly pleased to see that this new machine reflected everything that I have liked about the Qidi Plus4 machine that I looked at a couple of years ago. However, this is a smaller version with a footprint that is better suited to smaller workshops and studios.

Once again, it’s easy to write off these machines. Qidi , while in the business for as long as many of the big-name brands, just isn’t as well-known, and their machines just don’t have that spark of innovation that we see from the likes of Prusa Research, Bambu Lab, Creality, Elegoo or AnyCubic; however, above all, bar possibly Prusa, Qidi have reliability.

It’s been a busy few months, and the Q2 review has been a long time coming. It’s essentially been sitting, printing for 6 months without issue or fuss: switch on, print, whichever material I need for any given job, usually PLA but ASA, ABS and PETG-CF, same reliability, same print quality.

The main issue is that when a machine starts to blend in, just works as part of the workshop and now classroom you don’t tend to think of it as anything other than having always been there, and that really sums up the Qidi , while it may not have the cutting edge features, what it does have is absolute refinement and reliability.

As I have found in both a business and an educational environment, reliability is far more important than any headline speed figures, multitool changers, or other cutting-edge features when all you need to do is print.

QIDI Q2 3D Printer: Design

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)

Positioning the 402 x 438 x 494mm frame of the Qidi Q2 onto the workbench was something of a relief; the past three printers and laser engravers have all recently gone for scale, so to have something smaller and quite as neat and robust as the Q2 to move around is a welcome break. While it is smaller, it still offers a decent print area of 270x270x256; this will enable you to print most objects you’ll need for prototyping, although cosplay props and helmets will require the models to be split and produced in parts.

One of the key points for me was that the Q2 comes in at 18.1kg, so while that is still quite weighty, it’s not up to the backbreaking weight of many of the other new machines, which in smaller workshops means that it’s easy to move and store when needed.

The construction is all good and solid, and with the CoreXY mechanics and the full-metal frame it all feels a little more robust than some of the other printers that I have tested recently. I also like the fact that it, which has been product-designed, is more in line with workshop machinery, so slips into that environment neatly.

In the print workroom, which is where the Qidi machines tend to end up, the Q2 has sat alongside the larger Plus4 handling the smaller props prints and artworks that we’re required for the run-up to summer. The quality, speed and ultimately reliability have made this, alongside the other Qidi machine, a valuable addition.

All the features that are essential for education, especially, are here, with the fully enclosed construction which keeps students' fingers away from the heated internal chamber and, more importantly, the hot end.

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)

The interface is also extremely straightforward, with the 4.3-inch touchscreen making it easy to navigate. What I liked was that the calibration is automatic, so once the machine is set, you can just leave it.

The auto bed levelling with the standard dual-sided textured PEI build plate meant that there were few, if any, misprints, and once prints cool, they’re easy to remove.

When it comes to the build, the Qidi has been designed as a solid and reliable part of the studio, and a printer that blends in rather than standing out and demanding constant attention.

QIDI Q2 3D Printer: Features

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)

Taking a look at the Q2’s features, while impressive, it positions this fully enclosed printer at entry level these days, which, compared with printers just a couple of years ago, shows just how far the technology has progressed.

The fully enclosed design gives the machine its premium look and feel and houses the CoreXY motion system using heavier-weight 1.5GT belts, with linear guide rail used rather than rods on the X-axis and dual independent lead-screw motors controlling the Z-axis. These are all features that ensured Bambu Lab’s position when they launched, and now even in this entry-level machine they’re a standard.

Toolhead speed is 600mm/s, fast but not unusual at this level, with acceleration of up to 20,000mm/s². Compared with the old Cartesian machines, this is impressive, but with many machines now reaching 1000mm/s, it puts this machine's print speeds at a reliable and steady pace.

The machine is shipped with QidiSlicer, which, as with most slicers these days, is a derivative of Prusa Slicer, although here it has been heavily adapted to enable ease of use. What I liked through the test is that the default profiles are solid and well tested. If you’re new to 3D printing, then it’s just a case of selecting your filament type and the software then the machine sorts the rest. Through this test, I stuck to these default profiles, and the consistency with the QIDI and other manufacturer filaments was superb.

The print volume is 270 x 270 x 256mm, which is a decent size, with most standard 3D printers offering around the 250 x 250 x 250 mm volume. The platform itself is an aluminium-substrate heated bed topped by a removable dual-sided textured PEI plate with a bed temperature that can reach 120°C.

The standard hotend nozzle impressively reaches a temperature of 370°C, meaning that out of the box the bimetal 0.4mm nozzle is equipped to deal with engineering materials. As one feature point that really highlights the direction of the QIDI 3D printers, it uses a direct-drive extrusion system with hardened-steel gears, again built for durability and maximum filament support.

As I mentioned, the 0.4mm bimetal nozzle is fitted as standard; however, if you want to swap it out for something else, then there are 0.2, 0.6 and 0.8mm alternatives available. While you can print with abrasive materials as I did through the test, there is a Tungsten Carbide nozzle available which will last far longer.

The material compatibility list is extensive, with the usual PLA, PETG and TPU, and support for ABS, ASA, PA and PC. The BiMetal nozzle will also print carbon- and glass-fibre reinforced polymers, although this is where I would invest the additional £60/$60 for the Tungsten Carbide hotend.

The Q2 is a fully enclosed machine with active PTC chamber heating system that can push the internal temperature up to 65°C; this is ideal for materials such as ABS, ASA and engineering polymers. The heat around the print enables better control over warping and other print problems for these more advanced material types.

There are several points around the engineering materials that are worth knowing before you start using them on this printer. While it can print with them out of the box, if you’re going to be using carbon-fibre or nylon on a regular basis, I would invest in a filament dryer and that hardened hotend.

Looking at a few of the features that have been introduced that actually make this machine an interesting option for small studios and education are additions such as the G3 pre-filter, H12 HEPA filter and coconut-shell activated-carbon filter. These essentially take out some of the fumes and smaller particles that some of the more advanced materials can make.

The Q2 uses hands-free automatic levelling with a load-cell sensor integrated directly into the hotend. The nozzle itself can therefore be used during the levelling process, removing the need for a separate offset probe.

Specs

Print Technology: Fused Deposition Modelling (FDM), CoreXY
Build Area: 270 x 270 x 256mm
Minimum Layer Resolution: Dependent on nozzle/profile
Maximum Layer Resolution: Dependent on nozzle/profile
Dimensions: 402 x 438 x 494mm
Weight: 18.1kg
Bed: Aluminium heated bed, up to 120°C
Print Surface: Dual-sided textured PEI plate
Software: QIDI Studio; compatible with third-party slicers including OrcaSlicer and PrusaSlicer
Materials: PLA, ABS, ASA, PETG, TPU, PA, PC and carbon/glass-fibre reinforced polymers
Print Speed: Up to 600mm/s; acceleration up to 20,000mm/s²

In everyday use, the important point is that calibration is straightforward and, once complete, I’ve found little reason to start making manual fine adjustments.

That’s exactly what I want from a machine being used in education.

The purpose of the printer is to make things. If you’re continually adjusting the printer itself, something has gone wrong with that relationship.

Other advanced features include the 1080p resolution camera that enables you to monitor prints and create time-lapse sequences; this camera is now AI-enhanced, so it will spot defects automatically.

More standard features, including WiFi across a 2.4GHz connection, Ethernet and USB, are all available, and the 4.3-inch, 480 x 272 touchscreen enables you to easily switch through settings.

QIDI Q2 3D Printer: Performance

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)

After having the relative complexity of the multi-filament machines over the last year, it’s actually quite nice to go back to the simplicity of a single filament. There is the option to go multifilament, but in this review I’m just looking at the base machine, and as the first few prints finished, I was instantly impressed by the quality of the PLA prints.

As I ran through the stock models that had been provided and then the additional test prints, the quality and speed were consistent. This is a mid-speed printer, and while it’s not as fast as some of the machines I’ve looked at recently, at this price the speed and quality are well balanced.

What is apparent is that, consistently and unusually due to the volume of printers and engravers that have been coming through the workshop, this machine has been printing consistently for six months without issue. This is part of the reason that I’ve delayed the review: firstly, waiting for the Qidi Box, and secondly, it just became a part of the workshop that was in constant use.

This reliability has been seen with the other QIDI printers that I’ve used, with the Plus4 now having been run for almost two years in the college; it's the one printer of many that has consistently worked and meets the safety requirements.

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)

Checking the quality of the prints and the first layer after the auto calibration is always slow and precise, and at no point have I had to make any adjustments to that initial calibration height.

The prints also hold firm during printing, and if printing multiple prints across the heated bed, they all stick firmly through the process, releasing easily when the platform cools.

What was also apparent was that after a six-week break at the college, where the machine has sat mostly unused, all it took to get it back into action was to power it on. A quick bench test, and the machine was printing perfectly.

Taking a look at the benchmark tests, the results were impressive.

QIDI Q2 3D Printer: Print quality

Dimensional accuracy - score of 4

Target 25 = X: 24.90mm / 0.10mm Error | Y: 24.87mm / 0.13mm Error
Target 20 = X: 19.88mm / 0.12mm Error | Y: 19.80mm / 0.20mm Error
Target 15 = X: 14.90mm / 0.10mm Error | Y: 14.93mm / 0.07mm Error
Target 10 = X: 9.89mm / 0.11mm Error | Y: 9.78mm / 0.22mm Error
Target 5 = X: 4.88mm / 0.12mm Error | Y: 4.89mm / 0.11mm Error
X Error Average = 0.11
Y Error Average = 0.146
X&Y Error Average = 0.128

Fine Flow Control - score of 5

Fine Negative Features - score of 5

Overhangs - score of 5

Bridging - score of 5

XY resonance - score of 2.5

Z-axis alignment - score of 2.5

Adding up the totals gives a final score of 29 out of 30.

QIDI Q2 3D Printer: Final verdict

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)

The review of this 3D printer has stretched over a far longer period than most, with the machine being set up and used for the last six months. While the pricing places this at the entry level, the build quality and reliability make it clear that this machine strikes a careful balance.

It gives you a standard out-of-the-box machine that is a reliable tool in the workshop, and if you work in education or have a small business or design studio, then that is exactly what it provides.

The Q2, used as a single-filament machine as I have looked at it in this review, offers a solid, no-fuss approach and huge support for a good range of materials. Key features include the CoreXY design, cooling system, filter and fully enclosed design that enable everyone from a complete beginner through to professionals to have a machine that will be reliable and easy to use.

The Qidi software is again well thought out, and the stripped-down approach again makes it an ideal option for those who are new to 3D printing; the machine connection and the slicing workflow are all well thought through.

This might not be a machine that shouts. out with the latest features and cutting-edge additions, but instead it refines this style of machine perfectly. If you want more, then there are the other hotend options, and there’s the QIDI box for multifilament printing.

Essentially if you need a no fuss, solid and reliable 3D printer then the Qidi Q2 is a great option, while there is the multifilament option at present as a single filament machine it’s a great price and close to perfect for what it is.

Should You Buy the Qidi Q2 3D printer?

Value:

Excellent value with a fully enclosed design and robust build that should last for years

4.5

Design:

Relatively compact design, with expansion options and built-in filters

4.5

Features:

Heated chamber, filtration and multi-material expansion future-proof the machine

4.5

Performance:

Six months of reliable printing highlighted just how refined this machine is

5

Total:

Compact, capable and exceptionally reliable all make this a great choice for education.

4.5

Buy it if…

Reliability really matters

If you’re using a 3D printer in the classroom, workshop or busy home setup, the Q2’s headline feature is its consistency and reliability. Once calibrated, it simply gets on with printing, with little maintenance or recalibration needed.

You need versatility

The Q2 is perfect for PLA printing for everyday tasks, but then with the fully enclosed chamber it’s also a great option for more advanced materials, especially with the upgrade options.

Don't buy it if…

You print huge

The 270 x 270 x 256mm build area is pretty decent for an everyday printer, but large prototypes and single-piece models will need something bigger.

Speed matters

The 600mm/s maximum is good rather than exceptional, especially against the competition. There are competing printers with faster, higher speeds, although the Q2’s real strength is the consistency.

See what I rate as the best 3D printers you can buy based on my workshop tests

We’ve just published our Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 5 review and, spoiler alert, it’s glowing and they're certainly in with a shot of claiming a spot in my guide to the best wireless earbuds in Australia. However, for all their talents, there’s no denying they’re expensive at AU$499.

The good news is that now they’ve launched, it means their just-as-talented predecessor, the Momentum True Wireless 4, enjoys a significant discount, and have now plummeted to AU$248 — just in time for the Prime Big Deal Days sale that kicks off tomorrow.

The sleek and compact Momentum True Wireless 4 are brimming with features including aptX Lossless and Auracast support, along with an impressive 30-hour battery life. Audio quality is top notch, offering very much a balanced and neutral profile, meaning each aspect of your favourite tunes gets the attention it deserves. The best price is on the black model. View Deal

Sennheiser is no stranger to producing quality headphones, but I do feel the brand can go under the radar for many, being overshadowed by the likes of Apple and Sony. And that’s a shame, because when you consider pairs of earbuds such as the Momentum True Wireless 4, there’s an awful lot to like.

As we said in our Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4 review, “sound quality is where [they] shine”. These compact ‘buds serve up a neutral sound profile, and will reproduce any genre you want to throw at them with accuracy and packed with detail.

The new model also favours a neutral approach, and as we said in the review of that pair they "essentially sound about the same as Momentum True Wireless 4”, no doubt in part because they use the same 7mm TrueResponse dynamic drivers. That makes the huge price cut on the MTW4 all the more impressive and worth considering.

There are a few concessions compared with the newer model, of course. The MTW4 have Sennheiser’s older, slightly bulkier design, while the MTW5 sit lower in the ear and have been reshaped for a more comfortable fit. The newer buds also step up to Bluetooth 6.0, increase total battery life from 30 to 40 hours, add an improved eight-mic calling system and introduce user-replaceable batteries.

However, none of those upgrades fundamentally change the core listening experience — especially when the MTW4 is now less than half the price.

Garmin released its newest iterations of its flagship Fenix smartwatches in August in the form of the Fenix 9 and 9 Pro and, as expected, they come with super-premium materials, brighter-than-ever displays and improved maps. So it’s no surprise that they also carry sky-high price tags starting from AU$1,599.

If you’ve been eyeing one but don’t want to spend flagship smartphone-level money on a smartwatch, this deal on the Garmin Epix Pro (Gen 2) Sapphire Edition for AU$849 will get you most of the core functionality for a much lower price.

Amazon’s Prime Big Day Deals sale hasn’t started yet but the Garmin Epix Pro (Gen 2) Sapphire Edition is already discounted by 50%. While it’s been cheaper before (having dropped to AU$684 in July this year), you get the same core functionality of the Fenix 9 — like multi-band GPS tracking, a built-in LED torch, core mapping data, and premium materials like scratch-free sapphire lenses and titanium bezels — for a much lower price.View Deal

Having launched in 2023, our Garmin Epix Pro review called the watch “essentially an AMOLED-screened version” of the Garmin Fenix 7 Pro, but still earned itself 4.5 stars out of 5 for being one heck of a multisport wearable. Some of the features introduced here include the Elevate Gen 5 heart rate sensor, Up Ahead, Hill and Endurance scores and fast charging support.

You can also find your typical Garmin fare here like sleep scores, VO2 max, notification functionalities, music control, onboard music storage, estimated race prediction times, maps for golf courses and ski resorts, and many more usually found in a premium multisport outdoor watch.

The Fenix 9 offers a faster processor, brighter screens, more onboard file storage, improved mapping, a 40m dive certification, built-in speakers and microphones for calls, and new sport profiles that, honestly, aren’t really necessary for every athlete.

If you’re not too fussed about having all the latest and greatest additions but want a very capable premium watch to track all your adventures this summer, you can’t go wrong with the Garmin Epix Pro Gen 2 for almost half the price.

• Fable associate game directors Craig Littler and Will Kennedy say British humour is a "crucial" part of the reboot
• They say it's presented in all systems, from story to dialogue and combat
• Playground Games made sure to steer away "from anything that's too crude"

Playground Games has said its Fable reboot will feature the series' iconic British humour across all systems, but it avoided anything overly "crude."

During a press Q&A at Gamescom, attended by TechRadar, associate game director Craig Littler said British humour "is a core part of the Fable DNA" and the decision to bring it forward into Playground's reboot "has been a crucial thing that we're always thinking about, because for us it has to be interwoven throughout the entire game."

"It's not just in the story. It's not just in the dialogue, but you even see flourishes of it in the combat," Littler said, before talking about the spell that lets players turn enemies into chickens, which he laughs about every time.

"It's hilarious," he added, saying, "We believe that the core idea of Fable is that the humor is [shown] throughout."

Associate game director Will Kennedy said that even when enemies turn back from a chicken, they'll still flap around for a while, which is visually funny but also gives players the opportunity to land some attacks.

"To us, tone is something that we're thinking about all the time and in every system, really," Kennedy said. "Any opportunity to add that fabled British tone of humor."

The directors also said the team thought deeply about how to present the humour, particularly for a modern audience; not every joke or gag will land the same for everyone, and the humor in the older Fable titles may be outdated, and they made sure not to feature anything too rude.

"For us, we've steered away from anything that's too crude," Littler confirmed, "and I think the real test for Fable when it comes to the tone is that it does just have to be funny, and that comes from really great writing, having a brilliant narrative team, and honestly the actors that we've hired as well."

Those actors include British stars and comedians like Hayley Atwell, Matt King, Natasia Demetriou, and more, with Littler saying they "really bring themselves to the role and are also capable of the sincerity that really gets to the heart of fairy tales as well. You want somebody who has that humour, but can really deliver an enormous performance as well."

He also teased some improvisation from the cast, explaining that the actors are given a solid script, but do give them "some latitude" for some improv.

"At the end of the day, they're great British comedians," he added. "Sometimes they're going to say something that's just pure gold. So yes, there is some latitude, and absolutely we reuse it when we can."

Fable launches on launch on February 23, 2027, for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Series S, and PC.

The local newspaper in Nantucket got a tip: 'I found what I believe to be a shipwreck uncovered by the storm.'

(Image credit: Jason Graziadei)

• X-energy has completed the main structure of its Tennessee fuel plant called TX-1
• The facility could eventually produce 700,000 TRISO fuel pebbles annually
• TX-1 will be America's first new commercial-scale advanced fuel facility in decades

X-energy has completed the main structure of TX-1, a nuclear fuel manufacturing facility located in Oak Ridge, Tennessee.

The 214,000-square-foot plant, developed by subsidiary TRISO-X, represents the first commercial-scale advanced nuclear fuel facility built domestically in over 50 years.

Clark Construction Group, the contractor handling the project, oversaw this vertical construction phase, clearing the path toward interior systems and eventual equipment installation.

Manufacturing capacity built for a growing fleet of reactors

TRISO fuel consists of tiny uranium particles wrapped in multiple carbon- and ceramic-based protective layers for durability.

Those layered coatings contain fission products while letting the fuel withstand temperatures far higher than conventional nuclear fuel typically tolerates.

The TX-1 plant is expected to produce roughly 700,000 TRISO fuel pebbles annually when it commences full operations, consuming about 5 metric tons of uranium, which would supply enough fuel for as many as 11 of X-energy's Xe-100 advanced reactor units combined.

Each Xe-100 reactor module produces 80 megawatts of electricity, with four combined modules forming one standard 320-megawatt plant.

TX-1 will initially supply fuel for X-energy's planned Xe-100 deployment at Dow's UCC Seadrift Operations manufacturing site in Texas.

"Completing vertical construction is a major milestone for TX-1 and another tangible demonstration of the progress our team is making in Oak Ridge," said Joel Duling, president of TRISO-X.

Clark Construction Group will now shift focus toward process equipment, an administration building, and an adjacent graphite matrix powder facility.

Earlier this year, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission granted the plant a 40-year Special Nuclear Material License for operations ahead.

X-energy says this represents the first NRC Category 2 fuel fabrication license issued for processing high-assay low-enriched uranium, known as HALEU.

Expanding beyond one site as demand for advanced fuel grows

TRISO-X has separately expanded its broader Oak Ridge nuclear fuel campus by approximately 70 additional acres of land.

The company also extended its existing research partnership with Oak Ridge National Laboratory while beginning construction on a separate facility.

That new facility, called TX-L, will function as a dedicated research and development site going forward.

Beyond the Dow project, X-energy is pursuing additional Xe-100 deployments with Energy Northwest, Amazon, and Centrica as future customers.

Each new reactor project would add further demand for the specialized fuel TX-1 is being built to eventually produce.

Finishing the building's main structure does not mean fuel manufacturing can begin immediately at this location.

X-energy must still install specialized production equipment, commission interior systems, and prepare the facility for full commercial operations ahead.

No completion date has been disclosed for TX-1, but when completed, it would give the United States its first new domestic source of advanced reactor fuel in decades.

That outcome would also reduce reliance on foreign uranium suppliers while supporting new clean energy projects already planned with Amazon, Energy Northwest, and Centrica.

Via Interesting Engineering

Looking for a different day?

A new Quordle puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Sunday's puzzle instead then click here: Quordle hints and answers for Sunday, September 27 (game #1707).

Quordle was one of the original Wordle alternatives and is still going strong now more than 1,500 games later. It offers a genuine challenge, though, so read on if you need some Quordle hints today — or scroll down further for the answers.

Enjoy playing word games? You can also check out my NYT Connections today and NYT Strands today pages for hints and answers for those puzzles, while Marc's Wordle today column covers the original viral word game.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about Quordle today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.

Quordle today (game #1708) — hint #1 — VowelsHow many different vowels are in Quordle today?

• The number of different vowels in Quordle today is 4*.

* Note that by vowel we mean the five standard vowels (A, E, I, O, U), not Y (which is sometimes counted as a vowel too).

Quordle today (game #1708) — hint #2 — repeated lettersDo any of today's Quordle answers contain repeated letters?

• The number of Quordle answers containing a repeated letter today is 2.

Quordle today (game #1708) — hint #3 — uncommon lettersDo the letters Q, Z, X or J appear in Quordle today?

• No. None of Q, Z, X or J appear among today's Quordle answers.

Quordle today (game #1708) — hint #4 — starting letters (1)Do any of today's Quordle puzzles start with the same letter?

• The number of today's Quordle answers starting with the same letter is 0.

If you just want to know the answers at this stage, simply scroll down. If you're not ready yet then here's one more clue to make things a lot easier:

Quordle today (game #1708) — hint #5 — starting letters (2)What letters do today's Quordle answers start with?

• B

• T

• S

• H

Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.

Quordle today (game #1708) — the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle, game #1708, are…

• BRUNT
• TORSO
• STONE
• HEATH

Words beginning in T and ending in O always look exotic to me — possibly because the one that I’d first think of would be tango.

There are also two brilliant cities in Tokyo and Tromso, which today’s most difficult-to-get word, TORSO, shares some of its letters with.

Daily Sequence today (game #1708) — the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle Daily Sequence, game #1708, are…

• TEDDY
• BLUFF
• CHOCK
• OTHER

Quordle answers: The past 20

• Quordle #1707, Sunday, 27 September: VALET, CHEST, VIGIL, PUREE
• Quordle #1706, Saturday, 26 September: SNORT, BIBLE, LAPSE, CRANE
• Quordle #1705, Friday, 25 September: SWEAR, FLOOD, GUPPY, GROAN
• Quordle #1704, Thursday, 24 September: TOPIC, METRO, SCALP, FREED
• Quordle #1703, Wednesday, 23 September: SHEET, BLAND, JOIST, GUAVA
• Quordle #1702, Tuesday, 22 September: COMFY, LOBBY, DRESS, PANEL
• Quordle #1701, Monday, 21 September: WAXEN, HIPPO, PETAL, LEASH
• Quordle #1700, Sunday, 20 September: DERBY, LIMBO, GAWKY, REIGN
• Quordle #1699, Saturday, 19 September: SCOPE, HEIST, PULSE, CHAMP
• Quordle #1698, Friday, 18 September: MUCUS, MIRTH, APPLE, TILDE
• Quordle #1697, Thursday, 17 September: CRIER, CHIRP, NEIGH, FREER
• Quordle #1696, Wednesday, 16 September: SPEAR, PRICE, BLUNT, FISHY
• Quordle #1695, Tuesday, 15 September: SHUSH, LITHE, DELTA, BUGLE
• Quordle #1694, Monday, 14 September: ZEBRA, LEGAL, RATIO, TROLL
• Quordle #1693, Sunday, 13 September: LUCID, SPRAY, MANGE, EMAIL
• Quordle #1692, Saturday, 12 September: SUPER, BRUSH, RESET, SOWER
• Quordle #1691, Friday, 11 September: PLUSH, PAINT, RIVAL, AFOUL
• Quordle #1690, Thursday, 10 September: AGENT, EXILE, TITAN, PUREE
• Quordle #1689, Wednesday, 9 September: HAPPY, GONER, SMACK, MOTIF
• Quordle #1688, Tuesday, 8 September: FLUNG, DIARY, HALVE, BERTH

So far, scientists have identified more than 1,300 species of sea spiders.

(Image credit: Cormac Toler-Scott)

ViewX Liber: 30-second reviewSpecs

Resolution: 3840 x 2160
Brightness: 350cd/m²
viewing angle: 2D 178 degrees, 3D optimal viewing angle 40 degrees
optimal 3D viewing distance: 40–70cm
3D technology: liquid crystal gradient refractive lens
refresh rate: 60Hz
colour gamut: 72% NTSC, 100% sRGB
response time: 25ms
colour display: 8-bit, 16.7 million colours
static contrast ratio: 1000:1
interfaces: 1x mini HDMI 2.0, 2x USB-C ports (video transmission & power supply), 1x micro USB, 1x 3.5mm headphone jack
product dimensions: 356.7 x 216.8 x 16.3mm
Product weight: 1,274g

Out of the box, the ViewX Liber 15.6-inch monitor looks like a well-made standard portable monitor, with a decent-sized 16:9 screen, a metal stand, a built-in camera, and a range of ports hidden at the back.

The monitor also has physical buttons on the right-hand side to switch between 2D and 3D, open the menu, adjust the volume, and change the brightness.

The on-screen display is pretty standard, and as you flick through the brightness, black level, contrast and other options, it’s all very nicely laid out, although as ever it takes a while to get the correct button combination as each button has a dual function. To use the monitor, you do need to install the software, but the process is straightforward, and the instructions are clear.

Once the software is installed, you don’t really need to do anything more. Games can be launched through the dedicated 3D Playground Lite game launcher or downloaded video through the 3D Spatial Gateway, but while video that had been downloaded to the host computer looked great, at present the games all seemed to be connected to a Chinese system despite looking like they should connect through Steam. Launching games directly, however, seemed to work fine and with great effect; Indiana Jones and the Great Circle looked pretty decent.

The only issue is that not all the settings are translated into English, so you'll need to hover your phone over the screen using Translate to work out what some of the app settings mean and do, which is annoying for a product that’s now on sale.

In terms of use, this 3D monitor is one of those interesting new products that shows what technology can do and how it has adapted. We’ve seen 3D TVs like this before, and this is essentially the same thing, just smaller and highly portable. It’s an interesting proof of concept, and if you’re an early adopter, this will certainly appeal.

I really did like the AI-enhanced video, which took standard 2D video and made it 3D. It looked pretty good, and once you got used to it- and the fact that you have to stay still in front of the monitor- it was really quite engaging.

To my mind, this doesn't quite meet the needs for most people looking for the best portable monitors. It's a hyper-niche device for a very specific workflow. Even if you’re looking for a true three-dimensional effect, it’s not quite there. There are quite a few glitches along the way, including screen flicker when you move your head, and some background apps and games still aren’t 100% compatible.

However, these are early days and, considering the quality of what’s on offer already, it’s still all pretty decent.

ViewX Liber: Price & availability

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)

The ViewX Liber monitor can be purchased directly from ViewX's Kickstarter page here, with prices starting from $1099. That's pretty pricey for a 4K portable monitor, although you're paying for those 3D extras.

There's more information about the monitor over at the official website, too.

• Score: 3.5/5

ViewX Liber: Design & build

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)

Lifting the monitor from the box, the quality is instantly apparent; the build feels good and solid, and it has all the design and tactile feel of a high-quality portable monitor. The screen has a relatively thin bezel surrounding it, with the ViewX logo at the bottom and a small camera at the top alongside two sensors that help the 3D positioning work in 3D mode.

On the back, there is a good, sturdy metal stand that’s offset from the centre but still provides good support and adjustment of the angle. Once you open the stand, it reveals three ports: two USB-C and one mini HDMI. The two USB-C ports enable both video and power delivery.

On the right-hand side of the monitor is a selection of buttons. The top one is the 3D-to-2D button, and a long press switches between the two modes. This is one of the areas where I initially thought there was something of a glitch with the design, only to discover you need to be sitting in front of the monitor so it can gauge your position; if you move, then it’ll revert to 2D mode.

On the side, along with those buttons, there’s a micro USB port, which is the factory mode port and will inevitably be for updating firmware. Alongside it are the remaining controls. You have the source and back buttons, which let you switch between HDMI and USB-C or go back depending on where you are in the menu, followed by the menu and OK button, volume and up button, and brightness and down button.

Below that, you also have an auxiliary output for headphones, and aside from that, there’s nothing else on the monitor itself. In terms of size and dimensions, this is designed as a portable monitor option and in width it’s slightly wider than an average 15” laptop, measuring 356.7 x 216.8 x 16.3mm, and when it comes to weight, it tips the scales at 1,274g, so it’s a little heavier than most portable monitors.

• Design: 4.5/5

ViewX Liber: Features

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)

The 3D functionality of this monitor out of the box without the need for additional hardware is the headline feature, and this sits alongside the more standard list of 4K resolution, 15.6-inch screen size, built-in camera and speakers and a design that makes it a perfect option as a portable monitor that can be used at home or on the go for business.

The 3D spatial AI display is extremely clever and essentially enables the conversion of 2D to 3D without glasses or other specialist equipment. Essentially, all that's needed is for you to plug in your HDMI or USB-C cable for video, and the monitor handles everything else. The monitor does come with some software that further enhances video and gameplay, but otherwise it’s pretty much just plug and play.

The monitor connects to your computer by either USB-C, in which case it supports video and power delivery, or HDMI, in which case power can be delivered via USB, a power bank, or AC with the mains plug in the box.

During my testing, I found you need a USB-C port capable of outputting over 18W and, surprisingly, two or three of my high-end laptops couldn’t meet the monitor's demands. In the end, I found running it from a small Ugreen power bank was a good secondary option on the move, though I did note that the power draw means it drains the battery relatively quickly.

The brightness is also decent at 350cd/m², meaning that in most slightly shaded conditions the monitor is very easy to see. While it has a glossy finish, it also has good anti-reflection coatings, so even in a bright-ish environment in a café, it was still easy to make out the detail.

In 2D, the monitor is pretty much in line with most other portable monitors and all applications from productivity to creative are well resolved with decent colour and tone. When you switch to 3D mode, it takes the monitor a few seconds to adjust and then your eyes. I found that after a short time, once you make the switch to 3D, you need to stay within 40–70cm of the monitor, and you also need to sit as still as possible.

The colour gamut and other specifications, such as colour depth, are mid-range, with refresh rates limited to 60Hz and NTSC and sRGB coming in at 72% and 100%, respectively are all mid-range, but what you’d expect for a small portable monitor of this type.

So if you're looking to use this monitor for critical creative work, then these mid-range specs on colour and tonal quality won’t hit the mark. However, the focus here really is on that specialist 3D display, which is quite unique at this scale.

As part of that 3D feature set are the two front sensors that can detect where you are, so they adjust the monitor accordingly. This means that when you do move around, the display adapts, and as you move out of the 40º viewing angle, the monitor switches back to a more static 2D look.

When you’re facing the monitor directly, you’ll get the 3D visuals, but if you move to the side or stand up, it switches back to a 2D display. It’s very clever, but that switch does take some getting used to and quite often causes a bit of flicker on the screen.

• Features: 4/5

ViewX Liber: Performance

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)

Setting up the monitor is easy. In fact, I was quite surprised by how quickly and straightforward it was to get the monitor up and running and doing exactly what I needed, including switching to 3D.

The Quick Start Guide directs you to the website to download the software you need for your PC to recognise the 3D screen. Through this test, I used the monitor with an HP EliteBook X and tried it with a Mac, but with no success; this is a PC only monitor.

Once you get to the monitor's software page, it's a little confusing. There are several options, including the game launcher, AI Depth Transformer and the ViewX Liber 15.6-inch 3D monitor user manual. The slightly confusing thing is that there isn't just a straightforward software download. However, the PDF software manual does have clearer instructions and talks you through setup.

To get the monitor working, all you really need to do is plug it directly into your computer via USB-C. Through this test, I used it with a PC, and it was pretty much plug-and-play once the software was installed.

You can also connect the supplied HDMI cable directly into the back of the monitor. This comes with a 90-degree connector, and the full-sized HDMI connector can then plug straight into your PC.

You'll also need power. You can power it either through the mains (with the supplied AC plug) or via USB-C. Although it can be powered through USB-C, I initially had no luck. From the HP machine I was using, I soon realised it didn't output enough power through the USB-C port to run the monitor. Checking the monitor power draw, it showed 17.8 W, which should have been fine; however, the monitor just wouldn’t initially start up.

I ended up plugging in the AC power to provide enough power to run it for the initial testing and later switched to a UGREEN Power bank, although that only provided enough power for a two-hour session despite the 20000mAh capacity. Once I plugged in the USB-C cable and external power supply, downloaded the software, and installed all the packages, the monitor flickered to life and was ready to use.

The power consumption is well worth noting, as most laptops limit the USB-C output to 15w; that’s 3W below what this monitor needs. So you will need an external power source to run the monitor, and you absolutely won’t be able to power and connect the monitor to a laptop with a single cable.

Once everything is connected and you've installed the video and gaming applications, it's easy to open and view different types of content.

The initial look of the monitor in 3D is very peculiar, and don't expect to be using the 3D mode for the most part as just a standard monitor. It does have two modes, though.

In the standard 2D mode, the 4K resolution actually looks very clean and clear. I set the resolution to 3840 x 2160 at 60Hz. It ran in 8-bit RGB, and the quality of the visuals looks good.

For general work as an expansion to the laptop's 15.6-inch screen, the colour and tone were well balanced, and it’s a shame that it’s limited in the colour gamut, being really focused on media playback rather than creation.

As I worked with Word documents, browsed the internet, and used the usual functions and features all in the 2D mode, the display's resolution and quality looked great.

While the refresh rate tops out at 60Hz, that's more than enough for most productivity uses, especially for business, and the only time you really need those greater refresh rates is when you start gaming.

What surprised me was what happened when I held down the 2D-to-3D button on the right-hand side of the screen. After a few seconds, the monitor adjusted and switched to 3D mode.

I found that setting the monitor to a simple screen extension worked well, having the main laptop screen for content and the monitor for the 3D content. Looking at the screen as it switched to 3D was a particular experience, and at first the 3D effect looked a bit off, and it took my eyes a while to adjust.

Then, as my eyes and mind adjusted, I did get the true 3D visualisation. Simply opening YouTube and watching a couple of videos meant standard 2D video became 3D. I didn't need to do anything else: no glasses, no additional hardware, just the monitor.

As I progressed through various applications, opening Steam and installing Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, the monitor's 3D feature was really dramatic in gaming.

If you're just using the 3D feature with standard applications, the resolution and clarity don't look great. Still, once you're immersed in gaming or watching a video, the effect is exceptional as long as you don’t move too much.

Moving is one of a few issues with how it works. As I quickly discovered, you have to sit relatively still in front of the monitor. Any significant movement to the left or right, and the screen starts to flicker.

Even then, if you stay still, I found that while I was watching video or gameplay, there was always the occasional slight flicker or brightness change as the screen adapted to the content. But overall, the effect is exceptionally good and well beyond anything that I've seen before.

As I settled into using the monitor and the way that it works, I had the screen set to use the laptop screen as my main display and the 3D display as an extension, essentially to play games on and to watch movies and media.

It looked incredibly good. You can see a reduction in detail, but the clarity and tone look exceptionally good. Because I deal with 3D printers and 3D printing, I was also really interested to see how it would work with 3D applications. To test this out, I downloaded Bambu Studio.

Opening Bambu Studio on the monitor, it was difficult to see some of the palettes, but it was nice to see what would usually be represented in 2D in the application with that 3D look. It's a little peculiar, and the resolution once again doesn't look as clean as I thought it would be, but it is really interesting.

I also went through a few options in the system display. I was able to turn HDR on, which helped to kill a few of the highlights that were there before. The scale is set to 300%, and the resolution at 4K looked great.

I also wanted to adjust the refresh rate to see whether some of that flickering would reduce, so I dropped it to 29.97Hz. To be honest, the change was minimal, and you could see a slight effect on motion smoothness, especially when gaming.

This monitor really works best when you're watching back 2D video, and it doesn't even need to be specialist 3D video. It converts the 2D content to 3D straight out of the box.

Likewise, games look superb and, while you do see some flicker, it certainly gives the pictures a far more interesting look. I wouldn't say the technology is 100%, and the flickering is annoying, but if you stay relatively steady, it does give a more immersive viewing experience than a standard 2D monitor.

If you have videos you want to watch in 3D, you can simply go to YouTube, Netflix, or whatever other streaming service you use, and the screen will display the video in 3D. It's impressive and, despite those few flickers, it does add a lot more interest. However, there is still that drop in detail, but once you start watching back footage, you start to forget that drop in detail.

I then looked at the two applications that had downloaded: 3D Spatial Gateway, which you can use to view videos stored on your machine; essentially, you open them within that application and then, using AI, it converts them to be ready for viewing in 3D. The quality is just a little better, although there is still some stuttering.

It takes some time to process the video before you're able to watch it back in 3D and, again, you need to stay pretty static when you're watching it. But the result is still quite spectacular.

The frame rate does look a little stilted, and it doesn't quite have the smoothness of motion you see when you're watching the video back in 2D. Still, it's not far off, and after you've been watching for a short time, persistence of vision does take over.

You can also route the audio through the monitor to use its internal speakers. However, these are relatively cheap compared with the rest of the build quality, and they sound a bit tinny, like most small portable monitors. There's really nothing to write home about when it comes to audio quality, but at least they’re there if you need them.

If you're thinking about using it directly as a monitor in a 3D environment, that's not really what this monitor is for. The resolution and how it renders detail make it extremely difficult to read text.

But if you're watching visual content such as video or a video presentation, playing games, or viewing 3D models, as I was when using this for a museum demonstration, then it's actually exceptionally good. However, it does take some getting used to.

One other note is that if you're trying to show a variety of people the 3D effect, the monitor can get a little confused, and people really need to come up and look at it one by one.

Switching over to gaming is really where things start to come into their own. You get real depth in whatever game you're playing, far more than you do with just playing it on a 2D monitor.

What I really like is that you can get this 3D experience anywhere without having to wear glasses, which means if you're sitting on a train, you're away for work, and you just want that 3D visual experience, this monitor gives it to you without fuss.

The other thing that I'll say is that when you first sit down and start to use the three-dimensional effect, it looks impressive. But only after you've sat and watched several videos or played games for a while does it really become truly immersive.

The monitor's 3D depth perception actually seems to improve over time. Whether that's a visual trick or something within the AI that's improving the depth over time, I'm not 100% sure.

Still, as I progressively looked at more images and video, the quality of that 3D depth definitely improved. While you can still see some layering, I could also see a little more gradation in the 3D depth perception by the end of the test.

• Performance: 4/5

Should you buy the ViewX Liber?

At the end of this test, I have to say that while this monitor is far from perfect, it's also strangely addictive.

When you look at images, watch back video, and, obviously, play games, that 3D depth in so much content really adds interest and intrigue.

The video frame rate is a bit of an issue. You can really tell there's a little jitter between frames, and you often see ghosting or a small wave as the AI processes the 2D image into a 3D map or perception. But ultimately, the effect is impressive.

If you like the idea of a 3D monitor, especially for playing games or watching back video, and you're also taking into account that it's not quite 100% perfect. There is going to be some flickering, adjustment of objects and a small amount of ghosting, especially with text; then this is a great option.

If you're thinking that this is going to give you the full immersive 3D experience, then wait a little longer, as I'm sure, now seeing how good this is, that will be on the way.

Also, if you're on a Mac, I couldn't get this to work with the M1 MacBook Pro, so during this test it was purely a PC-enabled 3D monitor.

Value

Good value for such unusual 3D technology.

3.5

Design

Solid, portable build with practical connectivity options.

4

Features

Strong 3D features, though software needs refinement.

4

Performance

Impressive depth, but flickering affects overall smoothness.

4

Overall

Engaging 3D experience with a few compromises.

4

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)Buy it if...

You want a 3D experience without glasses.

The main feature here is that you can use this monitor without requiring 3D glasses. If you like the idea of a 3D monitor, especially for playing games or watching back video, then the effect is impressive.

You want a portable 3D display.

The ViewX Liber is compact and highly portable. If you’re sitting on a train, you’re away for work, and you want that 3D visual experience, then this monitor gives it to you without the need for specialist glasses or other equipment.

Don't buy it if...

You want a perfect 3D experience.

The technology isn’t 100% perfect. There is some flickering, especially if you move around, along with occasional ghosting and a reduction in detail and clarity. If you’re expecting a fully immersive 3D experience, then you may want to wait a little longer.

You need to move around while viewing the screen.

You need to stay relatively still and directly in front of the monitor for the best 3D effect. Moving significantly to the left or right can cause the screen to flicker or affect the 3D image.

Unlike most 3D printers available today, the FLSUN T1 arrived in a relatively flat box, which was in stark contrast to the tall machine in the images. However, after about an hour of building, sipping coffee and double-checking, the machine was ready to go. Nothing too tricky on the construction side, though I needed to double-check the screws after the first few runs to fix some print quality issues.

Once the machine was complete and I stepped back, the T1 was instantly impressive and stood out from the other desktop 3D printers in the workshop. While Cartesian bed-slingers and increasingly CoreXY machines dominate the market, the T1 uses a Delta mechanism, with its print head suspended between three rapidly moving arms above a circular build platform. Prusa Research is one of the few other mainstream companies to still produce a printer of this style, but that model is aimed at the pro market with a price tag to match.

These delta machines are unusual-looking, but they offer a major speed advantage. Flsun quotes a maximum print speed of 1,000mm/s and an acceleration of 30,000mm/s², which, on paper, at least puts the T1 among the fastest machines I’ve tested.

However, what surprised me most wasn’t the speed. After careful assembly and adjustment, the T1 produced some of the most dimensionally accurate prints I’ve seen from a machine at this price level.

There are compromises, most notably noise, single-filament printing and a more involved setup process. For some, this is unlikely to be the best 3D printer - unless speed is the aim of the game. For rapid prototyping and functional printing, there’s plenty here to like.

FLSUN T1 3D Printer: Design

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)

Unusually for a modern 3D printer, the Flsun T1 arrives essentially flat-packed, so my first job before starting the test was to assemble it, and having seen these machines in action and reviewed a couple of TriLab (now Prusa) deltas in the past, I didn’t fancy my chances.

I’ve built plenty of printers over the years, although mostly Cartesian and, more recently, CoreXY models. While I initially thought the complexity of the Delta would make construction difficult, in reality it was straightforward.

Actually assembling this Delta machine was deceptively straightforward because most of the complicated mechanical elements arrive pre-assembled. It’s largely a matter of fitting panels, securing components and installing the top.

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)

However, my first prints didn’t quite meet my expectations; they weren’t bad, but they weren’t good either. They all had minor surface imperfections, even though the machine appeared correctly assembled.

If I hadn't tested the Flsun S1 a while ago, I might have dismissed the imperfections; after all, this isn’t an overly expensive machine given the build area. After checking the mechanism again and tightening a grub screw around the suspended head, print quality immediately improved.

The design itself is striking, with the print head hanging between three articulated arms, giving the machine a futuristic appearance. While Flsun makes a wide range of Delta machines, the T1 offers an enclosed heated chamber and even a filament spool holder, which, while not sophisticated, it sits inside the machine, helping keep the filament moisture-free. Essentially, the reel is suspended from a metal rod above the print head. It looks crude, but it worked perfectly throughout testing.

At 436 x 490mm, the footprint is reasonable considering the build volume, although its substantial 836mm height means you’ll need plenty of vertical space.

FLSUN T1 3D Printer: Features

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)

The Flsun T1's headline feature is its Delta mechanism. While traditional Cartesian printers move components independently along X, Y and Z axes, and CoreXY printers use a belt-driven arrangement to move the print head rapidly across a fixed plane, a Delta printer uses three vertical towers and articulated arms to control the position of its suspended print head. Visually, while a Cartesian and a CoreXY can look very similar, the Delta's inverted tripod design instantly highlights that it's something different.

While all 3D printers are fascinating to watch, the Delta system is even more so, and even as you see the print build, you can’t help but think that this system and the design in its complexity are impossible, yet it works. Even after years of using 3D printers, there’s still something slightly alien about seeing three arms rapidly coordinating their movement to position a nozzle accurately above the build plate.

The major advantage of this design is speed, although how or why it works so well is beyond me. Flsun quotes a maximum print speed of 1,000mm/s, with acceleration reaching 30,000mm/s², even with the latest CORE XY machines, those figures are difficult to match.

However, as I’ve seen in the past, fast movement is only useful if the extrusion system can keep pace, and as I found out with the larger S1, FLSUN has once again equipped the T1 with a powerful, if noisy cooling system, cooling system; I’ve also noted that they now sell a silencer kit. The tool head's dual-gear direct-drive extruder offers a quoted extrusion force of up to 78N, while the 300°C hotend has a maximum volumetric flow rate of 90mm³/s.

Throughout testing, filament delivery was remarkably reliable for a machine of this speed, with plenty of flexibility in the software settings. The spool’s position directly above the tool head meant that the filament follows a relatively straightforward path into the extruder, with fewer bends than on many conventional machines. During the test, I didn’t experience many filament-feed issues, and I ended up having quite a bit of faith in the system feeding older, and increasingly brittle PLA that would have jammed up other printers.

Cooling is a major part of this machine's success, and it’s especially important when you’re depositing material at this sort of speed. The T1 uses a CPAP high-pressure turbo fan rated at 30,000rpm. It’s effective, but it’s also extremely loud; when it starts running at speed, you’ll know about it.

In fact, one of the first useful prints suggested for the machine is a silencer that fits over the exhaust. It’s worth printing because it noticeably reduces the noise, although the T1 still isn’t a printer I’d particularly want operating beside my desk all day; as mentioned earlier, a silencer kit is now available.

Once constructed, the machine is fully enclosed, which helps both safety and material compatibility. Flsun specifies a chamber temperature of up to 50°C, while the bed can reach 110°C. Combined with the 300°C hotend, that gives the T1 enough thermal capability for materials beyond basic PLA, although out of the box it comes with only a brass nozzle.

The supplied 0.4mm nozzle is brass, so abrasive materials aren’t advisable with the standard hardware. At the time of testing, the Flsun website didn’t list an obvious official hardened-nozzle upgrade, although the E3D-style nozzle arrangement may open the door to third-party alternatives; obviously, check compatibility before fitting one.

During testing, I successfully printed PLA, PETG, ABS, and ASA with consistently good results.

Specs

Print Technology: FDM Delta
Build Area: Ø260 x 330mm
Minimum Layer Resolution: 0.1mm recommended
Maximum Layer Resolution: 0.35mm recommended
Dimensions: 436 x 490 x 836mm
Weight: 18.44kg
Bed: Heated, 110°C maximum
Print Surface: Textured PEI print plate
Software: FLSUN Slicer / compatible third-party slicers
Materials: PLA, PETG, TPU, PVA, PET, ABS, ASA, PA, PC and others
Print Speed: Up to 1,000mm/s; 30,000mm/s² maximum acceleration

As you’d expect, the machine offers automatic bed levelling, vibration compensation, and input shaping, along with filament detection and power-loss recovery.

A 1080p camera enables remote monitoring and time-lapse capture. It doesn’t provide the sophisticated AI print-failure detection increasingly found on the latest premium machines, but during testing it connected reliably and provided a clear remote view of the print.

The 4.3-inch colour touchscreen is simple but excellent, with an interface that follows the same general approach as the company's larger machines.

Perhaps the most impressive specification, however, is the build volume. The circular platform offers Ø260mm of horizontal space combined with an impressive 330mm Z height. That’s a substantial printable area for a machine with such a modest footprint.

FLSUN T1 3D Printer: Performance

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)

Getting started took some thought and about an hour to fully unbox and assemble. It’s been a while since I last put this much effort into building a machine, but for the most part the instructions were well documented and shouldn’t be beyond most people. The one point is that you do need to build, double-check, print and then re-check.

The point is that this machine is all about speed, so any small movement in the joints, frame, or anywhere else will be amplified in the print. The more time you put into the construction and pre-flight checks, the better this machine will be. When I first finished construction and ran a test print, the results were good but not quite what I expected.

Minor surface imperfections suggested something wasn’t quite right, and another inspection revealed a grub screw around the Delta mechanism that needed tightening; once that was done, the machine's speed and print quality suddenly took a leap forward.

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)

Speed was the first feature I tested, and as the first 3D Benchy rapidly appeared on the print bed, it was obvious why these Delta machines still exist. If you need to print stuff quickly, then a Delta’s what you need.

Speed isn’t all; the Flsun T1 also impressed with print quality and dimensional accuracy, and as you notch down that speed, the accuracy of the prints, which was already good, improved further.

FLSUN T1 3D Printer: Print quality

Dimensional accuracy - score of 4

Target 25: X: 24.87mm / 0.13mm Error | Y: 25.00mm / 0.00mm Error
Target 20: X: 19.89mm / 0.11mm Error | Y: 19.97mm / 0.03mm Error
Target 15: X: 14.86mm / 0.14mm Error | Y: 14.92mm / 0.08mm Error
Target 10: X: 9.87mm / 0.13mm Error | Y: 9.86mm / 0.14mm Error
Target 5: X: 4.75mm / 0.25mm Error | Y: 4.72mm / 0.28mm Error

X Error Average = 0.16mm
Y Error Average = 0.106mm
X&Y Error Average = 0.133mm

Fine Flow Control - score of 5
Fine Negative Features - score of 5
Overhangs - score of 5
Bridging - score of 5
XY resonance - score of 2.5
Z-axis alignment - score of 2.5

Adding up the totals gives a final score of 29 out of 30.

Those numbers were reflected in real-world use. Circular features in the dimensional test appeared remarkably clean with little visually apparent ovaling, while separately printed components fitted together snugly.

More importantly, models designed in CAD generally translated directly into usable physical parts without repeatedly adjusting dimensions to compensate for printer inaccuracies.

That makes the T1 particularly useful for prototyping and functional printing. It’s not simply fast; it can produce accurate parts quickly, which is a far more meaningful advantage.

FLSUN T1 3D Printer: Final verdict

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)

The Flsun T1 shows exactly why Delta 3D printers still have a place alongside increasingly sophisticated CoreXY machines. It’s extraordinarily fast, visually distinctive and, once properly assembled, capable of exceptional print quality.

That 29 out of30 benchmark result is impressive and more importantly, the accuracy carried over into practical projects, where components fitted together correctly and CAD dimensions translated well to printed parts.

There are compromises. The CPAP cooling system makes the T1 extremely loud, even with the recommended silencer. Assembly also requires greater care than today’s almost appliance-like CoreXY machines. Tightening every bolt and grub screw properly can significantly improve print quality.

It’s also strictly a single-filament printer, with no straightforward equivalent to the increasingly common automatic multifilament systems.

However, those limitations matter less if your priority is functional printing, such as for product designers, engineers, makers and workshops producing prototypes or mechanical components; the combination of speed, accuracy and substantial build volume is will be more important.

The T1 isn’t the most polished 3D-printing experience, but once correctly configured, it’s an exceptionally good machine.

The Flsun T1 makes the most sense if speed and dimensional accuracy matter more than multicolor printing or complete plug-and-play simplicity. Its Delta mechanism delivers extremely fast movement, and my testing showed that speed doesn’t have to come at the expense of accuracy.

Product designers, engineers, makers, and small workshops producing prototypes should find plenty to appreciate, particularly given the build volume. Beginners who want the simplest possible experience may prefer a modern, pre-assembled CoreXY printer. Likewise, anyone mainly interested in multicolour decorative models should look for machines with automatic multifilament systems instead.

Should I buy the Flsun T1 3D printer?

Value:

Exceptional speed and accuracy make this an impressive printer for money.

4.5

Design:

Distinctive Delta engineering delivers decent volume for the size of the machine but requires careful assembly.

4

Features:

Plenty of printing essentials, though it notably lacks multi-filament capability.

4

Performance:

Outstanding speed and accuracy combine for functional printing.

5

Total:

Exceptionally capable Delta printer with speed, accuracy and great value.

4.5

Buy it if…

You need speed

For rapid prototyping, the T1 is exceptionally good. Its Delta mechanism combines fast movement speed with excellent extrusion and cooling.

Accuracy really matters

Our 29/30 benchmark result demonstrates how capable the T1 can be once correctly configured. Functional components printed accurately, fitted together well and required remarkably little dimensional compensation when moving from CAD design to finished physical parts.

Don't buy it if...

You need silence

The high-pressure cooling system generates a lot of noise, particularly when the printer is working hard.

You want multicolour

The T1 is a single-filament machine, without the straightforward automatic material-changing systems offered by many competitors.

On Saturday night, there were separate mass shootings near South Africa's two largest cities.

(Image credit: STR)

The Trump administration wants to stop asking about race and ethnicity on the next U.S. census. Since 1790, the topic has been used to exclude people of color, and, more recently, for inclusion.

AOOSTAR MACO 6850H: 30-second review

Although it now has a much longer name, this mini PC was originally called just the Maco, but it spawned a line of products so for the purpose of this review I’ll refer to it as the Maco 6850H.

This NUC packs a proper eight core workstation grade chip into a palm sized box, and backs it with three full speed NVMe slots, dual 2.5 gigabit networking, and a pair of USB4 ports. That is a striking amount of connectivity for a machine this size, and substantially more than many modern designs offer.

The catch is the platform underneath. The Ryzen 7 PRO 6850H dates back to 2022, and while it still holds up well for general desktop work, buyers comparing it against newer Zen 4-based rivals should know exactly what generation they are getting. Memory is also soldered at a fixed 24GB, so there is no room to grow later.

But don’t let any of this convince you that this isn’t an excellent small machine. The memory is 6400 MT/s LPDDR5 organised into four 6GB banks for maximum bandwidth, which boosts both processor throughput and GPU performance. This enables it to outperform more modern platforms, like the AMD Ryzen 9 8945HS. And the cherry on top is the connectivity it supports, with both an OcuLink and two USB4 ports.

Overall, it’s easy to look at the MACO 6850H and consider the technology in it as being dated. But the benchmarks don’t lie, and this highly affordable machine punches significantly above its weight. Is it one of the best Mini PCs around? Based purely on value, there is a strong argument to be made that it is.

(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)AOOSTAR MACO 6850H: Price and availability

• How much does it cost? From $459
• When is it out? Available now
• Where can you get it? You can get it directly from Aoostar or via an online retailer

There are two SKUs listed for the MACO 6850H: the review hardware with 24GB of RAM and 1TB of storage, and another model with no storage.

For whatever reason, the no-storage option isn’t currently available, but if it is released, it might offer an even better deal for those with a spare NVMe drive handy. According to the Aoostar webpage, the model without storage comes with a free Windows 11 Pro key, which could be a significant deal-maker for some.

Direct from AOOSTAR, the review hardware costs $459 for those in the USA, and it is shipped from a US warehouse. It’s the same price in Germany, and comes from a warehouse in that region, but oddly, for those in the UK it only ships from China and costs $519, or an extra $60. Why the UK customers aren’t supplied from Germany is a mystery.

However, you can buy it elsewhere; I found it on Amazon.com, where it's $479, although it isn’t offered with next-day delivery. In the UK, on Amazon.co.uk it's £395, or the equivalent of $529.

For those looking for a bargain, AliExpress doesn’t have better prices, although they do have the barebones model with 16GB of RAM that sells for only £369.99. Unless you definitely want that option, it's probably cheaper to get it from the maker's website.

Looking back at machines I’ve previously reviewed with this processor, the only candidate was the GMKtec NucBox M7. But that was discontinued in favour of the M7 Ultra, which uses the 6859U CPU.

You can buy that machine from GMKtec in the UK for only £ 299.99 with no RAM or storage, or £599.99 with 32GB and 1TB, respectively. Since I also tested that, I can say the DDR5 memory it uses slows the machine down considerably compared to the LPDDR5 in the Aoostar.

For the hardware and specifications it has, the Aoostar looks like a bargain.

• Value: 4.5 / 5

(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)AOOSTAR MACO 6850H: SpecsAOOSTAR MACO 6850H Specifications

Component

Specification

CPU

AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 6850H, 8 cores, 16 threads, Zen 3+, 3.2GHz base, 4.7GHz boost, 45W TDP, 16MB L3 cache

Graphics

AMD Radeon 680M, RDNA2, 12 compute units, up to 2.2GHz

Memory

24GB LPDDR5 6400MHz, soldered to the board, single channel, not upgradeable

Storage

3 x M.2 2280 PCIe 4.0 x4 slots, up to 24TB combined. Review configuration ships with 1TB

Networking

WiFi 6, Bluetooth 5.2, dual 2.5GbE ports using Intel I226V controllers

Ports

2 x USB4, 1 x OCuLink (no hot swap), 2 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type A, 2x USB 2.0, 1 x DisplayPort 1.4, 1 x HDMI 2.1, 3.5mm audio jack

Power

External 120W adapter, 19V at 6.32A

Operating system

Windows 11 Pro

Chassis

Recycled aluminium body with a plastic base panel, fingerprint power button

Dimensions and weight

150 x 132 x 57mm

VESA Mountable

No

AOOSTAR MACO 6850H: Design

• A larger NUC
• Easy access
• Excellent NVMe options
• Lacks USB labels

Aoostar has kept the Maco in a genuinely pocketable footprint, built from what the company calls 100% recycled aluminium, with only the base panel made of plastic. That is a sensible way to keep the exterior feeling solid while controlling cost and weight.

A fingerprint reader sits in the power button, letting Windows Hello unlock the machine without a password. It is a feature more commonly seen on business laptops than mini PCs, and it fits the company's positioning of this being a small workstation rather than a toy.

In the gamut of NUC designs, this one is on the large side, but the 150 x 132 x 57mm enclosure isn’t massive by any standards.

One slight disappointment is that it lacks a VESA plate to mount it on a monitor, which feels odd.

Access to the inside is easy, with just four screws on the base to remove before you have free rein inside. While this system doesn’t have socketed memory, it has four M.2 slots, two of which are used for the supplied drive and the Wi-Fi module. That leaves two unused, and all the 2280-sized slots are Gen4 x 4 specification.

That’s excellent for turning this machine into a high-performance mini server, and the external IO supports that pathway with dual 2.5GbE LAN ports and USB 4.0.

(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)

The port layout has an audio jack, two USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports and a USB4 on the front; the OCuLink port on the left side; and another USB4 on the back, with HDMI, DisplayPort, and the LAN ports.

According to the Aoostar web page, the two USB ports on the back right are USB 3.2 Gen 1 and USB 2.0, but neither is blue, and in my tests both proved to be USB 2.0.

One minor detail I wish was different is that none of the front ports is labelled, and both rear USB ports are merely labelled “USB” rather than anything more helpful.

Some might also miss an SD card slot, but the ports on this NUC do align well with using a docking station that often includes that feature.

• Design: 4.5 / 5

AOOSTAR MACO 6850H: Features

• AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 6850H
• LPDDR5 6400 MT/s
• USB 4.0 and OCuLink

The heart of the Maco 6850H is the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 6850H, a chip that first appeared in business laptops back in 2022 under the Rembrandt codename. It pairs eight Zen 3+ cores with sixteen threads, running from a 3.2GHz base up to a 4.7GHz boost, all inside a 45W thermal envelope. The PRO suffix adds Microsoft Pluton security and remote management features aimed at business buyers, on top of the same silicon found in the consumer Ryzen 7 6800H.

Zen 3+ is a modest refinement of the Zen 3 architecture rather than a clean-sheet redesign, built on a 6 nanometre TSMC process. Anyone expecting Zen 4 or newer should adjust expectations accordingly. That said, eight cores and sixteen threads remain a genuinely useful amount of compute for a small form factor desktop, and the chip still competes well against many newer six-core parts in multi-threaded work.

Graphics duties fall to the Radeon 680M, built on RDNA2 with twelve compute units clocked up to 2.2GHz. When this chip launched, the 680M was widely regarded as the fastest integrated GPU AMD had shipped. It’s since been overtaken by the 780M, 880M and the new 8060S, but it remains capable of light gaming and everyday creative work, particularly when paired with fast memory.

(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)

That memory pairing matters more than you might think. Integrated graphics performance leans heavily on system memory bandwidth, since there is no dedicated video memory to draw on.

Aoostar has fitted 24GB of LPDDR5 running at 6400MHz, which should let the 680M stretch its legs more than it could on slower 4800 MT/s DDR5 and DDR4-based systems. The tradeoff is that this memory is soldered directly to the board, fixed at 24GB with no slots to expand it later.

Storage is where the Maco 6850H distinguishes itself from cheaper rivals. Three M.2 2280 slots are wired for full PCIe 4.0 x4 bandwidth, supporting up to 24TB combined. That is a genuinely generous allowance for a machine this size, and positions the MACO as a plausible small NAS or media server as well as a desktop replacement.

Networking follows the same business-minded theme, with dual 2.5 gigabit Ethernet ports built around Intel I226V controllers, alongside Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.2. Two USB4 ports and an OCuLink connector round out the external expansion options, the latter aimed at anyone wanting to attach an external GPU with less signal loss than a USB4 connection would introduce.

I plan to test these scenarios and maybe write a feature based on what it reveals for those wanting discrete graphics performance or a cheap AI platform.

• Features: 4 / 5

AOOSTAR MACO 6850H: Performance

(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)

Mini PC

Aoostar Maco 6850H

GMKtec NucBox M7 Pro

CPU

AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 6850H

AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 6950H

Cores/Threads

8C 16T

8C 16T

RAM

16GB DDR4 (2x8GB)

32GB DDR5 (2x16GB)

SSD

1TB Apacer AS2280Q4

1TB

Graphics

Radeon 680M

Radeon 680M

3DMark

WildLife

17098

15703

FireStrike

6792

7036

TimeSpy

2872

2811

S.Nomad

2502

2497

Cine24

Single

84

94

Multi

708

772

Ratio

8.39

8.23

GeekBench 6

Single

1996

2167

Multi

9601

10454

OpenCL

29110

29730

Vulkan

33652

30797

CrystalDisk

Read MB/s

7070

3544

Write MB/s

6680

2145

PCMark 10

Office

7100

7064

WEI

Score

8.2

8.2

Considering the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 6850H is a four-year-old CPU, it's looking reasonably agile in this quick comparison with an AMD Ryzen 9 PRO 6950H that the GMKtec NucBox M7 Pro used. Both these chips are from the same generation, and these results show just how similar they are.

It all comes down to the memory on the Maco 6850H, and that 6400 MT/s LPDDR5 gives the older machine significant pause for thought.

If I were to compare it to an Intel platform, it would be the Intel Core i7-11800H, although I’ve never tested a system with that specific CPU. I tested one with the Intel Core i7-13700H, the MinisForum NBP7, and it struggled to beat the Maco 6850H.

Later Intel mobile processors that have Arc Graphics are faster, but they’re also generally more expensive.

One choice by Aoostar that helped the Maco 6850H in these tests was including a decent Gen4 x4 NVMe drive, since reading at more than 7000MB/s and writing at 3500MB/s helps massively with tests like PCMark.

AMD and Intel are both making faster mobile chips, and they are available in SFF systems, but given the price increases we’ve seen this year, the Aoostar Maco 6950H seems like a good choice if you want better-than-entry-level performance while staying within a modest budget.

• Performance: 4 / 5

AOOSTAR MACO 6850H: Final verdict

(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)

Given the turmoil in the PC industry caused by massive leaps in memory and storage prices, the antidote is to take a second look at older technology that delivers enough performance to run Windows 11 and a decent range of demanding applications.

That’s where the Aoostar Maco 6850H provides a good justification for not plunging into the latest technology with both feet. Unless you want to play games or something equally demanding, this machine has plenty of performance to spare.

And, should you need more power for graphics or AI tasks, it is possible to add a discrete video card using OCuLink, without resorting to a desktop system.

When you factor in the performance and the price, this machine looks like a solid choice for a wide range of interactive tasks.

Should you buy a AOOSTAR MACO 6850H?

Value

You need to spend twice this amount for a bump in performance

4.5 / 5

Design

Simple but effective enclosure, but no VESA mount

4 / 5

Features

Punchy CPU, LPDDR5 memory, USB and OCuLink

4 / 5

Performance

Good performance for older silicon

4 / 5

Overall

Great combination of performance, build quality and price is almost unbeatable value.

4.5 / 5

Buy it if...

You need plenty of fast storage
This machine is perfect if you want a compact machine with serious NVMe expansion, since it has three 2280 Gen4 x4 slots, with two unused at delivery. Using 8TB drives, this system could have 24TB of storage in a very small computer.

You've made connectivity a priority
With two USB 4.0 ports and an OCuLink connection, this machine provides a means to connect ultra-fast storage and even external GPUs. It would also work nicely with a USB4 docking station if you want more than the dual video outputs and LAN ports.

Don't buy it if...

You want the newest AMD silicon available
The Ryzen 7 PRO 6850H dates to 2022, so it’s hardly a spring chicken in processor terms. AMD now has Zen4 and Zen5 series chips that go beyond this Zen3+ design in terms of the memory supported, integrated NPUs and enhanced instructions. But don’t expect to get a system using those at this price.

You need more than 24GB of RAM
Because this system doesn’t have SODIMM modules, the 24GB it comes with is soldered to the mainboard and cannot be expanded. Soldered memory is the trend, and therefore machines that can be manually expanded beyond 64GB are becoming rare and expensive.

Also Consider

GMKtec NucBox K16
Another AMD NUC built around the Zen 3+ Ryzen 7 7735HS, offering an alternative to the 6850H, in a similarly compact and upgrade-friendly case. It costs more, but comes with 32GB of RAM and 512GB or 1TB of storage.

Check out our GMKtec NucBox K16 review

GMKtec NucBox K8 Plus
A follow-up to the successful K8, the K8 Plus uses the AMD Ryzen 7 8845HS processor with 8 cores, 16 threads and boost speeds of up to 5.1 GHz. And in its standard configuration it has 32GB of RAM (expandable to 48GB), and 1TB of storage.

The downside to this design is that it only has two M.2 2280 slots, but it still includes USB4 and OCuLink for a machine that costs even less than the MACO 6850H.

Check out our GMKtec NucBox K8 Plus review

For more professional hardware, we've reviewed the best business computers.

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