Reviews

This review first appeared in issue 357 of PC Pro.

TelephoneSystems.Cloud stands out from the crowd of VoIP providers as its automated quote system lets you set your entire business service up without having to speak to any representatives. We tested this by visiting the main website (given away by the company name) and clicking on the “Get Quote” button, after which we were guided through a set of questions asking about our requirements.

For our VoIP testbed, we requested four users, chose to use our own internet provider, opted for softphones and our existing desk phones, skipped the optional Webex Teams+ and Presenter, asked for new UK phone numbers and selected the automated installation service. TelephoneSystems.Cloud presented us with an itemized bill showing a £60 setup fee and monthly charges of £11 per user, which we agreed to by completing the transaction with our banking details and setting an admin account password.

You’re nearly there now; the next web page asks for a preferred area code, details of the services required such as call groups and queues, plus auto-attendants and the MAC addresses of existing desk phones. Lastly, you add details of your users, provide passwords and choose their extension numbers.

On completion, we received an email and SMS advising us the account was being created. It was ready for action two hours later, and at no time during this process did we speak to anyone.

From our account dashboard, we saw that all our users had already been assigned a direct inbound dial (DID) number from the block we’d requested. Onboarding is simple: you issue an email invitation from the dashboard that provides a link to the Webex client and mobile apps, along with instructions on setting them up.

The order process and the admin dashboard are both very slick (Image credit: Future)

After installation, users sign in with the Webex email address and password the system assigned to them and they’re ready to start making and receiving calls. This is the standard Webex app so it offers plenty of useful features, including personal contact lists and a quick access dial pad. Integral videoconferencing lets users make video calls with consummate ease.

Pre-configured desk phones can be ordered online, with choices including Yealink, Jabra and Polycom. For our own Yealink T42S models, instructions were emailed to us so we just entered the supplied provisioning URL in their web consoles and, after a firmware upgrade, they were automatically assigned to each user.

Voice prompts for services such as the auto-attendant, voicemail, holiday greetings and on-hold messages can be added, and TelephoneSystems.Cloud goes a step further than many providers with its AI text-to-speech service, which costs £10 per message. Alternatively, you can upload your own audio files to an online library, and the company even offers professional voice actors to create them for you, with online quote services provided.

The Webex app supports audio and video calls (Image credit: Future)

The dashboard presents plenty of account information and a call history graph for the past six months, while the billing section keeps you posted on the latest invoices and upcoming payments. All the action takes place in the account portal, which lists your sites, assigned numbers, all users and associated devices such as desk phones and mobile apps.

An incredible range of call-handling services are available and include an auto-attendant, call center, call parking, groups for ringback, hunt and pickup and much more. Rules control the numbers and countries to which outbound calls can be made, while group contacts are synced to Webex so they appear in the apps.

TelephoneSystems. Cloud is a great choice for businesses that know what they want from cloud-hosted VoIP services. The quote process is impressively smooth, and it offers a wealth of easily accessible call features at a competitive price.

We've also rated the best PCs for businesses.

This review first appeared in issue 357 of PC Pro.

On its website, Samsung lists this monitor as the S90PC ViewFinity 5K Smart Monitor, but it feels more like a smart TV on first “boot”. It asks to be connected to your Wi-Fi network, and once you’ve jumped through various hoops you’ll find yourself in Samsung’s TV Plus section with a huge selection of live channels. Just to hammer home the point, your first interactions are via a remote control rather than an OSD.

The remote offers dedicated buttons for Disney Plus, Netflix and Prime Video. We watched the first few minutes of Top Gun: Maverick and the detail was so rich on the 5K panel that we picked up several details we didn’t spot in the cinema. Samsung backs up the visuals with the best speakers here by some distance. Whisper it, but there’s even bass on show.

You can also play games via Samsung’s Gaming Hub, with an option to sync your Amazon account via Luna. It supports Xbox Game Pass and Nvidia’s GeForce Now services, too. Games look great, despite the S9’s modest 60Hz refresh rate.

But we’re getting this the wrong way round, for Samsung is promoting the ViewFinity S9 as a work first, play later monitor, so let’s head to the Workplace area of its Tizen OS interface. Here, you can wirelessly connect to a PC, a Samsung phone (using DeX) and even log in to your Microsoft 365 workspace.

A detachable 4K webcam can be attached to the top of the stylish S9 (Image credit: Future)

The latter is aggravatingly slow, though, and there’s also annoying lag on the wireless connections to your PC and phone, so you’ll reach for the Thunderbolt cable where possible. And at this point, finally, it becomes a normal monitor. Albeit one with a 5K (5,120 x 2,880) resolution, which gives a quite stunning 218ppi density. Overkill, but photographers will love the detail, and it makes the 109ppi of a 1440p 27in screen feel distinctly average.

At this price we expected mini-LED technology, but IPS is in place as usual.

It’s an 8-bit panel with FRC, giving 1.07 billion colors, but what will matter for professional users is that it comes pre-calibrated for sRGB and DCI-P3. Not Adobe RGB, though, which is a surprise as the ViewFinity S9 lists Pantone validation among its many features.

A 5K resolution makes everything look incredibly detailed (Image credit: Future)

There are also two slots available in the OSD for hardware calibration via recent Samsung phones. Using the Smart Things app, you can opt for a simple 30-second calibration for basic colors and brightness, or complete a ten-minute “professional” calibration to either the sRGB or DCI-P3 color spaces. The result was little better than the pre-calibrated versions, but could be useful if the colors drift over the years.

Most of the time, though, you’ll find the default “Eco” mode does the job, which uses the panel’s native color profile and covers 99% of the DCI-P3 space. We’re not sure “Eco” is the correct term, however, as this is the most power-intensive 27in display here, consuming 42W at 200cd/m2 and 61W at its peak 629cd/m2. Films benefit from even higher peaks thanks to support for HDR.

The monitor itself looks stunning. Its thin bezels and stylish finish remind us of Apple’s Studio Display, and while we would have liked more tilt than 15° back and 2° forward, at least it includes 120mm of height adjustment. Only an ambient light sensor interrupts the clean lines of the front display, with the traditional OSD controls tucked next to a sprinkling of connectors at the rear: a miniDisplayPort, one USB-C input (complete with Thunderbolt 4 support), and three USB-C connectors for peripherals. The main USB-C port delivers 98W of power but the others a miserly 4.5W, which is surprising when you consider the gigantic power brick – think cigar case – that you’ll want to hide under your desk.

The stand offers a limited amount of tilt (Image credit: Future)

There’s one final bonus here: a 4K webcam. It comes with a privacy cover, albeit one that’s easy to lose, but for ultimate privacy simply disconnect it. The slimline unit attaches magnetically to the rear of the panel via pogo pins, so you can chuck it in a drawer when not in use. When it’s time for calls, its superb detail capture will surely impress.

Whether it’s great enough to justify the price is a different matter. If it included mini-LED technology we could understand the £999 tag, but the S9 – while a lovely monitor – only makes sense for those with money to spare and the need for a 5K work screen during the day and an entertainment center at night.

We've also ranked the best business smartphones.

Review info

Platform reviewed: PS5
Available on: PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC
Release date: January 28, 2025

As part of a traveling band of outcast mages known as weavers in a time when magic is shunned, you could be forgiven for assuming that Eternal Strands is a role-playing game (RPG) with a party of richly drawn characters like the Dragon Age games. Not least when developer Yellow Brick Games' creative director is ex-BioWare Mike Laidlaw.

However, rather than dwelling on moral conundrums or building relationships, this is very much a capital A action RPG that has a mix of modern The Legend of Zelda's free-climbing and physics-based smashing and titanic encounters like those in Shadow of the Colossus. And while it may not reach the same heights of its inspirations, it nonetheless offers something unique with how you engage with its magical elements.

Strand game

(Image credit: Yellow Brick Games)

You play as Brynn, a weaver who knows her way around a sword and bow. It's her use of elemental magic powers, strands, that makes her stand out, however.

We all know that fire burns, ice freezes, that fire is effective against ice, and vice versa. But rather than just a simplistic rock, paper, scissors approach, the laws of thermodynamics are carefully applied. You don't just shoot ice to freeze an enemy completely, but if you can encase a dragon's feet with ice then it will stop them from taking off in the air. But get too close yourself and you'll also take damage if you're not properly protected from the cold.

These strands must be earned by felling the big bad monsters and arks (ancient colossal machines) that roam more than half a dozen of the maps that make up a secluded realm known as the Enclave. While you could just keep thwacking them until their health bar's gone – you're also encouraged to deal damage to all parts of their body – figuring out the steps to expose their weakness that allows you to harvest their strand.

It feels especially badass clinging onto these bosses for dear life then reaching into their glowing weak spot, sending the titan crashing down regardless of how much health they still have.

Best bit

(Image credit: Yellow Brick Games)

While there's a strong emphasis on flame and frost, kinetic powers are probably my favorite. Weaver's Grasp is terrific when you can grab and hurl containers or lanterns that set off a chain of explosions, while a strand that unlocks in the latter half creates a kind of speeding warp tunnel that makes it possible to launch yourself in the air – even cooler if you use it to grab onto a flying monster!

It would feel epic if these were one-offs like in Shadow of the Colossus. However, the structure here is designed so that you'll have to fight them multiple times Monster Hunter-style to upgrade your gear, or powers, or to advance the story.

The loop diminishes somewhat on repeat because, once you know how to take down one of them, it becomes very straightforward and I found myself rinsing and repeating the same tactics. What does keep you on your toes is a more deadly enemy type that appears partway through the story that hits harder and requires flame or frost powers to finish off.

A good time, not an eternal time

(Image credit: Yellow Brick Games)

Much of Eternal Strands is divided between a hub where you spend time with your weaverband companions and teleporting to different parts of the Enclave, made up of impressively large buildings to scale or underground caverns to delve deeper into. It's worth exploring every nook and cranny, as you'll find new information about an area, as well as recipes for crafting new gear.

The weaverband and other characters you eventually meet in the Enclave are well-written with their own arcs and issues, tackling topics like mental health and redemption, and there's even a married couple who just about stay on the right side of endearing.

Personally, I was more interested in their function than their chattiness, such as Casmyn's ability to increase the number of tonics I can carry or Sola's forge that doesn't just let you create new gear, but even reforge something you already have with better materials.

(Image credit: Yellow Brick Games)

That said, my gripe comes from having to return to the hub more often than I'd like. There's a stop-start nature to missions where, after you've found something, you just drop what you're doing and have to teleport back to the hub to debrief with the gang before you can continue the story.

You can, of course double, up the mission by fighting a boss too, though because you can't refill your supplies until you're back at camp you're at a disadvantage, and - if you die you lose most of your loot. At the same time, once you've explored these maps, the second half feels a bit padded, as you're just revisiting the same areas as initially optional boss hunts suddenly become mandatory. A day and night cycle that also changes weather and enemy locations does at least things up here.

Nonetheless, these are minor complaints as the story avoids overstaying its welcome. Its mechanics may not sustain a much longer gameplay loop like Tears of the Kingdom or Monster Hunter World but then this is not trying to be an epic timesink.

With its novel use of magic and colossal set pieces, Eternal Strands is a fun and breezy adventure to kickstart 2025.

Should you play Eternal Strands? Play it if...

You like an interesting mix of combat options
The physics-based magic is definitely a highlight in Eternal Strands when it comes to combat and exploring its world.

You like fighting giant monsters and ancient machines
There's a mix of Monster Hunter and Shadow of Colossus in taking on the game's large enemies, identifying their weaknesses, and enjoying the catharsis or taking one down for the first time.

Don't play it if...

You're expecting a choice-driven RPG
As an action RPG, Eternal Strands is very much focused on the action side with an authored story rather than making your own choices. There is nonetheless a rich cast of companions with their own questlines and plenty of optional dialogue for fleshing out the world.

Accessibility

Eternal Strands' options menu provides a suite of accessibility features. Subtitles can be toggled on, off, or only during cinematics and voiceovers, with three font sizes and the option to display on a background. Colorblind options can be set according to type and severity.

If you don't have headphones, there is a night mode, which raises the volume of ambient sound while making explosion sounds less prominent. Game difficulty can be adjusted at any time, which only affects your maximum health and the amount of health recovered from vitality tonics. In easy mode, vitality tonics are restored after defeat.

How I reviewed Eternal Strands

(Image credit: Yellow Brick Games)

I played Eternal Strands for 20 hours on my PS5 Pro, which allowed me to complete the main story and some side quests, although that didn’t include upgrading every strand to max level or completing all companion questlines, which would extend the game’s length.

There are no specific graphics modes apart from an option to turn on and off depth of field in-game.

Throughout, I used an LG C2 OLED TV with the default TV speakers and a DualSense Edge controller.

First reviewed January 2025

TopMate C12 Laptop Cooling Pad review

The TopMate C12 Laptop Cooling Pad is a mid-range cooling pad for high-performance gaming and creative laptops. Not only does it rock three 110mm fans and three 70mm fans, but it offers six different fan speeds, with the smaller fans capable of hitting 2400rpm. As such, I was expecting to see some seriously frosty cooling here.

Unfortunately, in our standard 3DMark stress test run on our Acer Predator Helios 300 with an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080, I found the TopMate C12 more Chicago than Siberia in terms of chilliness. Our baseline test of the laptop alone saw it rise from 20.2ºC to 52.1ºC, an increase of 31.9ºC, while the TopMate on full fan power curbed its heating from 21.2ºC to 44ºC. While this reduced 22.8ºC temperature rise is a definite improvement, it’s nowhere near as impressive as the Liangstar Laptop Cooling Pad, for example, which reduced this down to 15.3ºC.

On the plus side, the TopMate C12 Laptop Cooling Pad runs about as quiet as you could realistically expect. Ten minutes into our stress test, I used a sound level meter to measure the combined noise of the cooling pad and laptop – it registered 58.5dB from three inches away and 45dB from my head height at 21 inches away. That’s bang in line with any of the best laptop cooling pads I’ve tested, and better than the 60dB produced by the uncooled laptop.

Offering eight adjustable heights, you can adjust the angle of your laptop from 6.5 to 50 degrees, which really enabled me to position things at the most ergonomic angle for my height. Chunky flip-up rests keep the laptop firmly in position; however, while these were fine for a bulky gaming laptop, I did find they dug into my wrists when typing on an Ultrabook that these dug into my wrists, so bear this in mind if your laptop is on the slimmer side. In terms of additional flourishes, the RGB lighting is well designed and offers 10 different settings if psychedelic gaming rainbows aren’t your thing.

All in all, the TopMate C12 Laptop Cooling Pad offers perfectly decent performance and a solid, aesthetically pleasing build. This may convince that it’s as good a choice as any other, but there’s one other factor I’d urge you to consider before making your purchase: its price. At $29.99 / £29.77 / AU$49.77, it costs more than some of the other cooling pads I’ve reviewed while offering marginally weaker performance. If you really want something that delivers great bang for your buck, I’d argue that the $19.99 / £19.99 Tecknet N5 Laptop Cooling Pad or $19.99 / £19.93 / AU$47.95 Liangstar Laptop Cooling Pad offer a better deal.

(Image credit: Future) TopMate C12 Laptop Cooling Pad review: price & availability

• Released January 19, 2022
• MSRP of $29.99 / £29.77 / AU$49.77

First launched on January 19, 2022, the TopMate C12 Laptop Cooling Pad is now available for $29.99 / £29.77 / AU$49.77. It’s worth keeping your eyes peeled for better prices, though: it has occasionally been reduced to £25.30 / AU$42.30 – while this is a modest drop, it does help it compete better with some of the best cooling pads for value.

But, for the most part, it’s easy to find similarly powerful cooling pads that cost a bit less – both the Tecknet N5 Laptop Cooling Pad and the Liangstar Laptop Cooling Pad performed better in our benchmarking tests, while also costing less at $19.99 / £19.99 and $19.99 / £19.93 / AU$47.95 respectively.

(Image credit: Future) Should I buy the TopMate C12 Laptop Cooling Pad? Buy if if…

You want stable, ergonomic design
Not only is this cooling pad adjustable and comfortable to use, but it’s also rock-solid. Thanks to its flip-up rests, your laptop shouldn’t slip or slide about, even during frantic Counter-Strike matches.

You want competitively quiet running
The TopMate runs as quietly as the best laptop cooling pads we’ve tested. Even at max cooling, it should kick out less noise than your laptop’s fans straining on their own.

Don’t buy it if…

You want the best cooling
Despite the fact it comes packing an array of six fans, some of which top out at 2400rpm, I didn’t find the TopMate capable of as effective cooling as some comparable pads we tested. So if you only care about how many degrees you can shave off, you should probably look elsewhere.

You want a bargain
Don’t get me wrong: this is still an affordable cooling pad, especially compared to the $150 / £125 / AU$150 you'll pay for some products. Nevertheless, this pad is still more expensive than some others we’ve tested, and falls short of their cooling power. So you can definitely get better cooling for your cash.

(Image credit: Future) TopMate C12 Laptop Cooling Pad review: also consider

Liangstar Laptop Cooling Pad
If you’re after the cheat codes for affordable yet arctic cooling, this is my personal tip. The Liangstar Laptop Cooling Pad is reasonably priced, costing just $19.99 / £23.59 / AU$65.66, and yet during tests it kept our laptop from rising any more than 15.3 degrees – that’s a full seven degrees cooler than the TopMate. It’s well worth a look.

How I tested the TopMate C12 Laptop Cooling Pad

• Tested it over several days
• Ran a stress test and measure temperature difference with a thermal camera
• Measure fan noise 10 minutes into test using a sound level meter

Testing the TopMate C12 Laptop Cooling Pad, I ran it through several all of the standardised benchmarks we use for all laptop cooling pads. First, I checked the hottest point of our Acer Predator Helios 300 with an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 testing laptop, ran a 3DMark stress test for 15 minutes with the cooling pad set to max speed, and then re-checked the temperature.

I also tested how noisy it was with a sound level meter. Ten minutes into the test, I measured sound levels from three inches away, as well as from head height to get the absolute and subjective volumes of the pads fans combined with the gaming laptop’s cooling system. I then compared this to benchmarks of the noise generated during a stress test by the laptop’s fans alone.

I also used the laptop cooling pad while gaming and conducting everyday office tasks to test its overall design, sturdiness and ergonomics. For this, I drew on my 30 years experience as a gamer and laptop user, not to mention my 10 years’ experience covering tech and gadgets.

• First review January 2025
• Read more about how we test

Razer Blue Screen: one-minute review

The Razer Blue Screen is a premium and convenient solution for those wanting a pro-grade green screen that's easy to set up and provides marvellous results. Think of it as a competitor to Elgato's similarly-specced solution, with the key (pun intended) difference being its colour.

The reason for this being a blue screen is because, according to Razer, it's easier to key out than the classic green - a statement that I found accurate in my testing. In addition, it's also more in line with what the professionals use in the name of giving your content more of a pro-grade appearance with the right care and attention.

The Blue Screen can extend up to 94-inches, or 2.38 metres, in height, making it suitable for head, or even full body, shots. In addition, it features quality fixtures and fittings with a sturdy metal frame and seam-free polyester material. While expensive, it remains one of the best green screens we've tested.

(Image credit: Future) Razer Blue Screen: Price and availability

• $149.99 / £159.99
• Sold only via Razer directly
• Available in the UK & US

The Razer Blue Screen clocks in at £159.99 / $149.99 and has been around since October 2022 as a more premium option for those looking for a simple pull-up blue screen for keying out backgrounds in a professional manner.

Other peripheral brands have leaned into the green screen space in the past, with the likes of Elgato's Green Screen offering a similarly priced package with a pull-up screen designed for streamers.

The key difference between the pair of these screens is color. A blue screen is arguably closer to what's used in some professional environments and is generally better in low light conditions than a green screen.

Otherwise, the premium price tag attached to Razer's option will also buy you some entire kits from the likes of Neewer that include a green sheet held up with its included stands, as well as a pair of soft-box lights, bulbs, umbrellas, and more. You do have to have a fair amount of space for a full kit like that, whereas the Blue Screen pulls up and down and thus can be stowed away easily.

(Image credit: Future) Razer Blue Screen: Specs Razer Blue Screen: Design and features

• Wonderfully easy to set up
• Tall enough for head and full-body shots
• High-quality polyester fabric

The Razer Blue Screen is a sleek and modern entry into what can often be quite a clunky enterprise. Setting up a green screen isn't the easiest if you're using one of those kits that's simply a piece of green fabric that needs to be clipped to a surface or attached to a stand.

With this in mind, Razer's choice makes it all easy, simply pulling up out of its enclosure to a height of 94 inches, or 2.38 meters. To erect it, you push against a tab on the top side, and pull up. The screen is on runners, so it almost pulls up itself with minimal effort required.

It's a stable setup, too, with the entire stand comprised of thick metal, and a pair of fold-out plastic legs that prevent the Blue Screen from falling over. In addition, the pull-up portion is reinforced with cross-braces on the reverse side that keep it straight and true.

In addition, as with the Elgato Green Screen and other similar pull-up options, Razer's Blue Screen is easily stowable in a cupboard or the corner of a room as it slides down to nothing into its base. It's a lot easier than dealing with a full-size kit, that's for sure.

The screen itself is made of polyester and is both seamless and wrinkle-free out of the box. Being totally smooth means it's easier to key out in the editing stage for a more professional look to your content.

(Image credit: Future) Razer Blue Screen: Performance

• Fantastic keying results
• Works well in low-light conditions
• Simple set-up is brilliant

The Razer Blue Screen is, in one word, convenient. Other green screens I've tested in the past have come in the form of sheetings with additional stands, which can take more than a few minutes to set up.

With Razer's choice, it's as easy as pulling it up in a matter of seconds, sitting down in a chair, recording some content, and then booting up the software to key the background out.

The mere fact it's blue made keying out easier in lower light conditions, especially when I only have space for a single key light off to the left of my desk. Once I had balanced the correct color to key out in my software, the Razer Blue Screen produced wonderfully clean and smooth results on Windows or MacOS.

With this in mind, as a literal piece of pull-up fabric, compatibility isn't an issue with the Blue Screen. It'll work with whatever software and operating system you're using for keying the background out, such as Final Cut Pro on macOS or DaVinci Resolve on Windows, as I used in my testing.

(Image credit: Future) Should I buy the Razer Blue Screen? Buy it if...

You want a convenient setup
The Razer Blue Screen excels on the simple fact of convenience. Being a pull-up means there's no faffing around with stands or sheeting.

You want solid construction
The metal base and cross-reinforced plastic braces on the Blue Screen provide a reliable and sturdy finish, and you won't have to worry about it falling over.

Don't buy it if...

You want a more affordable choice
The quality and convenience of the Blue Screen come at quite a price, and if you want a more wallet-friendly choice, then there are plenty of other options available.

Also consider...

Still not sold on the Razer Blue Screen? Here's how it compares to two similar products.

Elgato Green Screen
This is a great alternative because it offers a similarly convenient solution from a trusted brand in the streaming / content creation space with the benefit of a pull-up stand. It is also slightly shorter if you don't need a 94-inch screen.

Stay tuned for our full review of the Elgato Green Screen in the future.

Neewer Green Screen Kit
This is a great alternative because it offers the complete package for a more professional, and permanent, backdrop with stands, different color screens, and soft-box lights. It also offers an even larger area for capturing even more.

Stay tuned for our full review of the Neewer Green Screen Kit in the future.

How I tested the Razer Blue Screen

• Used and tested for more than one week
• Tested it with Windows and macOS editing software
• Evaluated against other green screens

I used the Razer Blue Screen for a week as a screen for recording test film that was captured in OBS as if I was streaming for keying the blue screen out. I also recorded test footage that was edited in both DaVinci Resolve on Windows and Final Cut Pro on macOS to best utilize the blue screen.

Throughout my period testing the blue screen, I compared it against the Elgato Green Screen and Neewer Green Screen Kit, as well as a similar full-size kit I had purchased myself prior to the review.

Read more about how we test

First reviewed January 2025.

When Sniper Elite 5 was released back in 2022, it really felt like Rebellion had finally nailed down its World War 2 stealth sim. Clearly, the team felt the same way as Sniper Elite: Resistance is more of Sniper Elite 5.

This time around the mantle is handed over to Karl’s long-time co-op partner Harry Hawker, who just so happens to also be on a mission in France in 1944. Despite feeling like a bit of an expansion pack, Sniper Elite: Resistance is a full-blown entry, with even more to do than in the previous game.

Review info

Platform reviewed: PC (Via Steam)
Available on: PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC
Release date: January 28, 2025

In typical Sniper Elite fashion, Resistance follows the well-trodden plotline of ‘the Nazis have developed a new superweapon that could turn the tide of World War 2; you’ve got to stop it’ that we’ve seen before in Sniper Elite 3 and 5.

This time around Harry is working with the local resistance fighters to take down the Kliene Blume nerve agent, which could have devastating effects should the Germans follow through with it. It’s a somewhat predictable storyline, but that’s not really why you’re here anyway.

In the Sniper Elite series you play through missions, each one containing its own miniature open world or sandbox packed with specific objectives and hidden secrets for you to take at your own leisure. I absolutely loved this approach in previous entries, and it’s just as good in Sniper Elite: Resistance.

One fear I had going in was whether the levels would feel too similar to Sniper Elite 5 due to both games being set in 1944 France, but for the most part, things feel distinct enough to warrant a return trip. Although some stages are a touch familiar – this game’s Lock, Stock, and Barrel mission feels extremely similar to the previous entry’s Occupied Residence.

Plus, there are familiar areas like Chateau houses and train stations not only returning from 5 but, multiple appearing across the game. It’s not a dealbreaker by any means, and the levels themselves are still jam-packed and varied (outside of level four just being an expanded version of the first stage).

We bring the boom

(Image credit: Rebellion)

And of course, there’s the gunplay. As you would expect from a series named after it, the sniping is the star of the show once again. There are a tonne of helpful features – like the slowdown reticule that shows you where the bullet will land – that allow even a first-time player to nail satisfying long-range shots.

This is complimented by the X-Ray system, which shows a slow-motion animation of the bullet impacting with your chosen Nazi, and you’re treated to an in-depth look at how your shot obliterates their skull, guts, or testicles in graphic detail. It can be a bit off-putting at times (the teeth animation is horrid), but it’s just over the top enough to not feel disturbing.

However, the most impressive – and satisfying – bit of Sniper Elite is when you disregard these and work with wind markers and bullet drop estimates built into your scope to nail that perfect shot yourself. You also have access to the likes of machine guns, pistols, and explosive weaponry to cause a bit of fuss with or to get you out of scrapes when things awry. You could absolutely play the game running around with a machine gun, but the non-sniping weapons aren’t quite as satisfying as the main event.

I’m also a big fan of close-quarters combat; being able to sneak up on enemies for a takedown is a great risk/reward that allows you to stay silent while taking the risk to approach an enemy. Sniper Elite: Resistance is a great sniping game, but it's possibly even better as a stealth game.

Spy vs. Spy

(Image credit: Rebellion)

There are a few multiplayer modes available in Sniper Elite: Resistance, including a wave survival mode and standard multiplayer modes like Free For All and Team Deathmatch. However, I was unable to find a match of these during the review period, with no option for bot matches available.

But I did get some matches of the returning Axis invasion mode, which allows you to invade or be invaded during a single-player game. Once you get the pop-up alerting you that a Sniper Jaeger has arrived, it immediately changes the tone of a mission. While you can try and complete your objectives as normal, that extra layer of tension can either allow the Sniper Jaeger to get the drop on you or inadvertently alert the existing enemies as you search for them.

Both sides of this mode are the absolute highlight of the game; the one-versus-one cat-and-mouse game that is introduced is such a satisfying addition that completely changes the game. And there’s nothing better than being able to outdo your opponent and take them out via a well-placed snipe or sneaking up on them for a close-range takedown.

Have a propa-ganda

(Image credit: Rebellion)

Sprinkled throughout the maps of Sniper Elite: Resistance are propaganda posters for the French resistance fighters. Collecting these in each map will unlock a new mission set in that map in the brand new Propaganda Challenge mode.

These are bite-sized arcade-style encounters that challenge your skills in the game's various departments to take down a number of enemies within a time limit.

There’s stealth – which arms you with just a pistol and a dream – where unseen takedowns will add time to your clock. The sniping challenges give you a great look across the map as you pick off enemies one by one, with each headshot adding time.

Best bit

(Image credit: Rebellion)

Axis Invasions continue to be the greatest addition to the series. Invading or being invaded by another player mid-mission is always a treat, and the multiplayer stealth and sniping battles are incredibly satisfying, especially when you sneak in that perfect headshot.

While these only last a few minutes, and are only available in seven of the game’s missions, the Propaganda Challenge mode is a great new addition. It gives me the same feeling that Resident Evil’s mercenaries mode does.

Running through a stage and planning the optimal route adds a nice bit of extra replayability as you aim to boost your score each time. I would love to see this mode be expanded on, either via DLC (downloadable content) or whatever the next game is, because it left me wanting more.

I played Sniper Elite: Resistance at 1440p/120fps with HDR on PC. The settings on Ultra for texture detail and Medium for the other options. The game itself ran pretty much perfectly, with only a few noticeable drops here and there.

However, there were a few glitches in my experience. I had a few moments where Harry would get himself stuck on stairs or ledges. A particularly annoying one was in a mission where I had the option to poison a target; however, the prompt to use the poison in his drink never appeared, leading me to be locked out of the bonus kill option for that mission.

Should you play Sniper Elite: Resistance? Play it if...

You want more Sniper Elite 5
Sniper Elite: Resistance is an expansion of the mechanics and modes introduced in the last entry. The return to France makes some maps feel familiar, but the new levels stand up to the high standards of Sniper Elite 5.

You’re looking for a fun stealth game
While the name may imply a focus on sniping, Sniper Elite: Resistance is a level-based open-zone stealth game with a lot in common with the likes of Metal Gear Solid 5 and Hitman: World of Assassination.

Don't play it if...

You got your fill of Sniper Elite 5
On the other side of the coin, if you have played Sniper Elite 5 or simply got your fill of it three years ago, Sniper Elite: Resistance is more of that. The French setting doesn’t reuse levels from 5, but some feel extremely familiar. Plus, there are no new mechanics to speak of.

You don’t have patience
Sniper Elite Resistance can be extremely punishing if you don't plan things out carefully. While I revel in the challenge of stealth, I can imagine the game getting quite frustrating if you aren’t attuned to it. Plus, with the propaganda missions and weapon upgrades being spread across the maps, the slow pace may make things drag. View Deal

Accessibility

Sniper Elite: Resistance has a number of accessibility features, including subtitle options, auto-run and climb, HUD opacity settings, and aim assist. The game also features adjustable difficulty and settings like Automatic skill upgrades.

You can adjust the subtitle colors, and there are three color-blind settings; however, these are just labeled 1, 2, and 3 rather than listing the name of the specific color blindness. There is a diagram shown to help you decide, however.

How I reviewed Sniper Elite: Resistance

(Image credit: Rebellion)

I played roughly 15 hours of Sniper Elite: Resistance. During this time I completed the main campaign, completed every Propaganda Challenge mode mission with a gold rating, and played a number of rounds of Axis Invasion as an attacker.

I reviewed the game on a gaming PC, which runs with a Nvidia RTX 3060Ti graphics card and an AMD Ryzen 7 5800X processor. I used a Samsung Odyssey G5 27" Curved Gaming Monitor with a Sony 3D Pulse Headset and played the game using a DualSense wireless controller.

First reviewed January 2025

KEF LSX II LT: one-minute review

The KEF LSX II LT is an attempt to democratise (a little) the sound and tech expertise that has put KEF has among the front-runners where the ‘entire hi-fi system in a pair of speakers’ category is concerned for almost a decade now.

The KEF LSX II LT is a streaming sound system contained in two compact, good-looking and beautifully finished loudspeakers. A system that’s capable of handling high-resolution digital audio information from any source you care to mention – including your TV. A system that sounds detailed and organized, dynamic and rhythmically adept. A system that digs deep into the frequency range and summons quite startling low-frequency presence while it offers clarity at the opposite end to rival any of the best wireless speakers.

It’s not perfect, of course – how could it be? Its dimensions dictate that it struggles to fill larger listening spaces with sound, which is understandable. It goes without any analog inputs, which means it may not be suitable for some people – its bigger brother, the LEF LSX II, has them (and see the Kanto Ren for a vinyl-friendly alternative, just without Wi-Fi). But as long as these shortcomings don’t impact on your specific use case, it’s hard to raise meaningful criticism here – this absolutely ranks among the best stereo speakers for wireless hi-res fans.

KEF LSX II LT review: Price and release date

(Image credit: Future)

The KEF LSX II LT wireless active speaker system is on sale now, and in the United Kingdom it sells for £899. It goes for $999 in the United States, while in Australia it’s yours for AU$1,699.

Thanks in no small part to KEF's efforts in the wireless stereo area, the LSX II LT is not without competition. DALI, Klipsch and Q Acoustics (to name just a few) have similarly specified alternatives with which to tempt you.

Probably most notably, for slightly less than the KEF, you can get the Kanto Ren or the larger floorstanding Q Acoustics M40 HD cost around the same as the tiny KEFs. So even though these are KEF's cheapest option, they're not super-cheap still.

KEF LSX II LT review: Features

(Image credit: Future)

• Uni-Q coaxial drivers
• 200 watts of Class D power
• Plenty of input options

Higher up its model ranges, KEF is now onto the 12th generation of its distinctive Uni-Q speaker driver arrangement. The LSX II LT, though, uses the same 11th generation unit as is fitted to the larger KEF LSX II. This means a 19mm aluminium dome tweeter is positioned in the center of a 115mm magnesium/aluminum mid/bass driver – this arrangement precisely positions the acoustic center of each unit in an effort to deliver optimum time-alignment. Each tweeter receives 30 watts of Class D power and each mid/bass driver 70 watts, delivering a claimed frequency response of 54Hz - 28kHz.

There’s a hierarchy of units in each pair of LSX II LT speakers, of course. The primary unit is home to dual-band Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 5.0 with SBC and AAC codec compatibility, as well as an Ethernet input, an HDMI ARC socket, digital optical and USB-C inputs as well as a pre-out for a subwoofer and a power connection. Apple AirPlay 2, Chromecast, Spotify Connect, TIDAL Connect, and UPnP devices are all available, and the KEF Connect control app can host Amazon Music, Deezer, Qobuz and internet radio too. A second USB-C slot, grouped with all the other socketry below the neat bass reflex port on the rear of the speaker, is for connecting this primary speaker to its partner – which gives you flexibility in terms of cable length.

Digital audio file compatibility is extensive, and the LSX II LT can deal with file resolutions of up to 24bit/384kHz via a network connection. The USB-C and digital optical inputs can handle 24bit/96kHz stuff, and the HDMI ARC tops out at 16bit/48kHz. Incoming audio information is pored over by KEF’s ‘music integrity engine’ signal processing algorithms before resampling to 24bit/96kHz resolution.

This is a pretty thorough line-up of features for a product of this type, it’s true - but I can’t help hankering after an analogue input or two. Apparently the best record players are all the rage again, and it might be nice to be able to incorporate one with a wired connection… they'll work with a Bluetooth turntable, though.

• Features score: 4.5/5

KEF LSX II LT review: Sound quality

(Image credit: Future)

• Deft, entertaining sound
• Plenty of detail and frankly unlikely dynamism available
• Lacking a little where sheer scale of sound is concerned

The KEF LSX II LT is hardly the only digital audio system that does its best work when given some nice big hi-res audio files to deal with; so as long as you have some appropriate content on network-attached storage or via one of the best music streaming services that offers meaty quality, the KEF will give you everything it’s got.

Which, in the final analysis, turns out to be plenty. A 24bit/96kHz FLAC file of Arooj Aftab’s Last Night streamed via TIDAL Connect is agile, entertaining and utterly convincing – tonality, from the top of the frequency range to the bottom, is nicely neutral and consistent, and the LSX II LT never understates or overcooks any aspect of it; the sweep from top to bottom is smooth and believable. Detail levels are high at every turn, and the KEF has plenty of relevant observations to make about the timbre and texture of instruments or voices at every turn.

Despite the speakers’ unpromising dimensions and the bog-standard amount of power available, the system manages quite impressive low-frequency punch and substance. Bass sounds hit respectably hard, dig impressively deep, and are never less than properly controlled where the leading edge of sounds is concerned – and so it never has any problems expressing rhythms or handling tempos.

The LSX II LT communicates unequivocally through the midrange, which means vocalists of all types have their character and disposition made obvious. And at the top of the frequency range, the speakers attack with crisp determination (although without ever threatening to get splashy or hard, even if you like to listen at the upper limits of the volume the KEF is capable of).

There’s a fair amount of dynamic headroom available too, so even when a recording (or a movie, if you’re using the HDMI ARC socket) shifts it up from ‘basically silent’ to ‘all-out attack’ the system is able to make the differences obvious. Lower-level dynamic harmonic variations get the same sort of attention, too, so there’s convincing expression of the fluctuations evident from note to note when listening to a solo instrument.

That the LSX II LT is short of outright scale can’t be denied, but it creates a fairly extensive soundstage and organizes it really well. There’s adequate room for even more complex recordings to be laid out coherently, and the system demonstrates positivity and confidence in this regard. There's more than enough space for each element of a recording to stretch out without being impacted on by any other element – but, at the same time, the LSX II LT presents recordings as a unified whole.

• Sound quality score: 5/5

KEF LSX II LT review: Design

(Image credit: Future)

• Choice of unusual finishes
• 240 x 155 x 180mm (HxWxD)
• Mildly interesting cabinet shape

As with its more expensive wireless speaker systems, KEF has commissioned Michael Young to see if a bit of mild ‘designing’ might be in order – and he’s created a speaker cabinet with very few parallel lines. All by itself, this is enough for the LSX II LT to stand out among all its boxy rivals – the fact that the shape is acoustically optimized doesn’t do any harm either.

At a tidy 240 x 155 x 180mm (HxWxD) per speaker, the LSX II LT will sit happily on a shelf or desktop, as long as power is reasonably close by – or there are stands available if you prefer. The available finishes (sage green, stone white and graphite grey) only add to the decorative quotient.

• Design score: 5/5

KEF LSX II LT review: Usability & setup

(Image credit: Future)

• App or remote handset control
• Primary speaker needs power connection
• Speakers must be connected by a cable

Between the KEF Connect control app (free for iOS and Android) and the little remote control handset that comes as part of the system, getting what you want from the LSX II LT is easy. The app covers off all the obvious stuff, and more besides – you can finesse EQ settings, integrate your LSX II LT into a smart-home system, designate the primary speaker as the ‘left’ or ‘right’ channel (great flexibility in the placement), access your local media servers, set volume limits and plenty more.

The remote control, meanwhile, just takes care of the obvious ‘play/pause’, ‘skip forwards/backwards’ ‘volume up/down/mute’, ‘power on/off’ and input selection stuff.

As far as ‘setup’ goes, there’s really nothing to it. The primary speaker requires mains power, and needs connecting to the secondary speaker using a length of USB-C /USB-C cable. After that, it’s simply a question of making physical connections to your source devices and integrating your favourite streaming service(s) into the app if the ‘Connect’ version isn’t already supported.

• Usability score: 5/5

KEF LSX II LT review: Value

• Superb sound for the price
• Easy and flexible to set up
• Small size and lack of analog may be limiting

There’s unarguable value on offer here, no two ways about it. As a combination of facilities and functionality, industrial design, usability and out-and-out sound quality, it’s hard to lay a glove on the KEF LSX II LT.

Unless you have analog sources you’d like to listen to, or you live in an aircraft hangar, it’s difficult to raise a meaningful objection to what your money buys you… these are premium speakers that can satisfy audiophiles, at a very fair price for that quality.

• Value score: 4/5

Should I buy the KEF LSX II LT?

(Image credit: Future) Buy it if…

You want great sound with next-to-no effort
If you can’t get the LSX II LT up and running is next-to-no time, you’re not trying hard enough.

You admire good industrial design
It’s hard to make a product like this look distinctive, but between the coaxial drivers and the unusually shaped cabinet, the KEF gets closer than most.

You’re a ‘digital only’ sort of listener
Pretty much every source of digital audio content is catered for here, whether it’s connected wirelessly or physically.

Don't buy it if…

You have an analog source or two
The lack of analog inputs is the KEF system’s biggest shortcoming.

You want to fill a big space with sound
Look elsewhere. And be prepared to spend more money.

You have big bass concerns
The low frequencies available here are deep, detailed and very nicely controlled – but they’re not about to make your curtains flap. Again, you'd need something larger.

KEF LSX II LT review: Also consider

KEF LSX II
We've mentioned them already, but the bigger (and more expensive) sibling of the LT have the analogue connections that this one lacks, and a little more power for filling larger spaces.

Q Acoustics M40 HD
Now this is how you full a room. Active floorstanding speakers, for slightly less money than the KEF. However, there's no Wi-Fi (just Bluetooth), so they're not quite as smart as the KEF. Read our five-star Q Acoustics M40 HD review for more what makes them so good.

Kanto Ren
If you want something compact like the LSX II LT, but with analog connections, we love these. Again, there's no Wi-Fi – just Bluetooth for wireless – but they do an excellent job, and come in fetching finishes. Here's our five-star Kanto Ren review for the all the details.

This review first appeared in issue 357 of PC Pro.

You can almost consider the Philips 34B1U5600CH as the spoilt older brother to the AOC CU34P3CV. They appear to share similar genes: both are 34in curved VA panels boasting a 3,440 x 1,440 resolution, and they gave near-identical (and strong) performances in our technical tests. Whites look good, DCI-P3 color coverage is strong at 85%, and an average Delta E of 0.58 means you can trust that colors are accurate.

The reason it’s spoilt is that this monitor gets many of the features that are missing on its AOC rival. There’s a respectable, albeit grainy, 1080p webcam that supports Windows Hello, a power sensor that switches the screen off if it detects no-one is there, plus an ambient light sensor. The speakers are also better; hardly hi-fi quality, but you can actually listen to music on the Philips 34B1U5600CH.

It wins the numbers game, too. Its refresh rate is better, at 120Hz to 100Hz. Philips also quotes a higher peak brightness, of 350cd/m2to 300cd/m2, although in our tests the gap narrowed with 368cd/m2versus 355cd/m2. And the one-upmanship stretches to the ports, with its main USB-C connector delivering 100W of power to the AOC’s 65W. It also adds two USB-C ports to the four USB-A ports found on the hub, with half on the left-hand side of the display and half at the rear.

The Philips also has a superior stand. That’s true for the numbers – note its excellent 180mm of height adjustment – but also for fit and finish, with its swivel option being far smoother. Philips’ OSD is also easier to navigate, but just like the AOC it’s difficult to see what buttons you’re pressing, and don’t expect a huge range of useful options. It’s worth using the SmartImage presets, though, as it can be useful to jump to, say, Easy Read or Low Blue Mode.

(Image credit: Future)

But here’s the challenge for Philips. At well over £500, it’s a hefty chunk more expensive than the AOC – its equal for panel quality – while the also excellent-value-for-money Iiyama ProLite XUB3293UHSN-B5 sits in the middle. And the Iiyama has a better warranty than the Philips, as it offers on-site swapout rather than return to base (where you have to cover courier costs to get it repaired).

The 34B1U5600CH is a fine screen, and if you’ll take advantage of its extra features then you can argue it’s worth the premium over the AOC. However, it needs to drop below £500 to compete for awards against this month’s ferocious competition.

We've also rated the best tablets.

This review first appeared in issue 357 of PC Pro.

The ProLite XUB2763HSU-B1 has one obvious rival here: the Acer Vero B277. Give or take a fiver, they cost the same, both include a 1,920 x 1,080 IPS panel and both lean heavily on their green credentials.

In the Iiyama’s case, that means the plastic is 85% PCR, the packaging 100% recyclable and made from cardboard pulp, an EPEAT Silver rating and arguably most importantly an incredibly low power rating. Even at its peak 251cd/m2brightness, it drew 11W dropping to 10W at our standard test brightness of 200cd/m2. That compares to the typical 16W to 18W for 27in panels in this test.

Iiyama jettisons frills such as USB-C and RJ45 connectors in its quest to hit such a low price, but let’s concentrate on what you do get. Two video inputs, one HDMI 2.0 and one DisplayPort 1.2, sit alongside a two-port USB hub. Both ports are only 5Gbits/sec, but without USB-C you’re reliant on a USB-B connection back to the host PC anyway.

Both USB ports sit on the left of the screen rather than the rear, making them slightly easier to access, and the flexible, high-quality monitor stand can swivel through 45˚ and pivot 90˚. You may also want to use the 3.5mm headphone jack at the rear after listening to the weedy speakers.

There is some entertainment potential, thanks to a 100Hz refresh rate, 3ms response times and support for AMD FreeSync to prevent tearing. We were surprised to see these features in such an affordable monitor.

(Image credit: Future)

More good news: this is an 8-bit panel, which always helps when it comes to color coverage and accuracy compared to 6-bit panels that use FRC. In its default mode, the ProLite covered 94% and 72% of the sRGB and DCI-P3 gamuts respectively, with an average Delta E of 0.95. Highly respectable results.

As we’d expect from an IPS panel, whites look good, but we’ll add two caveats for those who are looking for a Word or Excel partner. One is that a Full HD 27in panel has an 81ppi pixel density, so text never looks as sharp as it will on panels that go above 100ppi. The second is that the default profile’s color temperature is 6078K rather than the ideal of 6500K, so you may find it useful to play around with the color temperature options in the easy-to-use OSD. You can also use Iiyama’s i-Style presets for Scenery, Text, Cinema and Games, but don’t expect to see any huge changes.

With an aggressive price, superb performance in our annual reader survey for support and reliability, plus a three-year swap-out warranty, this is a fine choice if your priorities are value and low energy consumption.

We also rated the best VPN services.

This review first appeared in issue 357 of PC Pro.

UK-based Gradwell has been in the communications business for over 25 years, and its Wave cloud VoIP service will appeal to SMBs seeking a smooth transition from their legacy analogue systems. Deployment is a breeze. Gradwell manages the process for you, and pricing is easy to understand as you only need to concern yourself with the number of monthly call minutes to landlines and mobiles that you require.

Wave comes in three packages, and they all offer the same call-handling features along with the Wave desktop and mobile apps. The Wave 100 package costs £7.50 per user per month and provides 100 monthly call minutes; Wave 1000 starts at £10.50 and allows 1,000 minutes; and Wave 3000 costs from £15 and, you’ve guessed it, offers 3,000 minutes.

Reliability is assured since Gradwell hosts Wave on Amazon Web Services (AWS) and will create new instances as needed to cope with increased demand. Redundancy is covered, too, with Wave being deployed across three geographically diverse AWS sites.

Gradwell handles all on-boarding by creating your main admin portal account, assigning phone numbers and adding a base set of users if you’ve requested them. Desk phones can be added to your order and will arrive pre-registered to your account so you only have to plug them in.

The Wave admin portal keeps you posted on ongoing costs (Image credit: Future)

The Wave administration portal presents an account usage overview and provides easy access to all the core features and call-routing services. To add new users, you simply enter an email address to send their invitation to, set a password and decide whether to give them admin privileges or just make them Wave users.

Direct inbound dial (DID) numbers and available desk phones can be assigned to each user, and you have options to enable voicemail, activate inbound and outbound call recording and set up call diverts to an external number or another Wave user. Multi-factor authentication can be enabled, and when users activate their account they receive a personal web portal and download links for the Windows, macOS, iOS and Android softphones.

The Wave user portal is a simple affair, with options to withhold their outbound CLI, access voicemail, assign busy lamp fields (BLFs) to their desk phone screen menus and view a contact list. A softphone is required to make and receive calls, and we had no problems installing it on Windows 10 and 11 desktops along with iPads.

The softphone offers the same features as the web portal and adds a dial-pad, a recent call list and access to settings such as notifications and sounds. Gradwell removed videoconferencing from the softphone a couple of years ago, and this is now handled by its separate Teams+ service, which costs £2.50 per user per month and allows users to make and receive calls and run VC sessions directly from the Teams desktop app.

Wave includes softphones for all of the most popular platforms (Image credit: Future)

As you’d expect with such a mature product, call-handling features are abundant and include hunt groups with multiple routing steps, call conferencing, pick-up groups and automatic routing based on calendars or bank holidays. Call queues advise callers that they’ll be recorded, play music on hold and present them with a range of custom messages, while Wave’s interactive voice response (IVR) service allows you to record custom voice prompts, upload a WAV file or use the Wave default prompts.

Gradwell’s Wave provides an easily deployed cloud-hosted VoIP solution with sophisticated call handling features. Its flexible price plans are very affordable, and micro-businesses will find Gradwell’s new PSTN replacement bundle appealing as this starts at £9.50 per month and provides everything you’ll need, including a broadband connection, for a pain-free move to VoIP.

We also ranked the best VoIP phones.

Xiaomi Poco X7 Pro two-minute review

For some reason, Chinese phone maker Xiaomi doesn’t make as much of a song-and-dance about devices from its budget sub-brand Poco as it does about those from its other budget sub-brand, Redmi. However, the Poco X7 Pro is a great example of why it should.

Released at the start of 2025 alongside a non-Pro sibling (and some Redmi phones), the Poco X7 Pro has a price that firmly puts it in the cheap phone category, costing less than half the price of a new iPhone. However, it offers enough useful features that you might consider putting down your Apple mobile or Samsung Galaxy S device for this budget blower. The Poco X7 Pro does a great job at pretending to be a premium handset in all departments except the price.

Like many other Pocophone handsets, the X7 Pro is designed with power in mind — it has the same amount of processing power as many 2024 flagships, as well as oodles of RAM and loads of storage space. In my experience, gaming was just as quick and smooth here as on some of the best Android phones.

The display is fantastic-looking too, squeezing extra pixels compared to most Android phones and offering more nits (the measurement of brightness). It’s bright and colorful enough to make iPhone users green (and you’ll be able to tell which shade of green too!).

You can rely on cheap phones to offer huge batteries but again, Poco has gone above and beyond with the X7 Pro, packing in a 6,000mAh battery. That’s one of the biggest power packs you’ll find on a phone that’s not designed for building sites or wilderness survival, and it’ll make sure the average user can text for days on end without needing a recharge.

The version of the Poco X7 Pro I tested also had a faux leather textured cladding which just adds points to the premium tally, however not all versions of the phone are like this. The green and black versions are just plastic.

Not everything is sunshine and rainbows here and, as usual, Poco drops the ball — or, more likely, opts not to carry it in the first place — in the camera department. Photos aren’t awful but they often look denatured and there aren’t many features you can use to super-charge your photography.

Plus, as phone fans will have been able to guess from the word ‘Xiaomi’ in the headline, the phone’s user interface is chock-full of bloatware when you boot it up.

These are little annoyances but I still feel comfortable recommending the Poco X7 Pro as one of the best budget mobiles you can buy right now.

Xiaomi Poco X7 Pro review: price and availability

(Image credit: Future)

• Starts at $299 / £309 (roughly AU$480)
• Several variants on offer depending on region
• Only costs a little more than Poco X7

The Poco X7 Pro was announced alongside its non-Pro sibling right at the beginning of January 2025, and went on sale immediately afterwards.

There are a few versions of the Poco X7 Pro. The cheapest has 8GB of RAM, 256GB of storage, and costs $299 / £309 (roughly AU$480). If you want more RAM, the 12GB/256GB model sells for $239 (around £320 / AU$450). The more powerful version that I tested goes for $369 / £349 (around AU$600) and in the US there’s also an Iron Man Edition of the powerful one for $30 more.

As you can tell from the prices I’ve shared, different options are available in different regions. It's rare to see a Xiaomi phone in the US but the company lists itself on Amazon in the States.

I tested the Poco X7 Pro for a week without knowing the price, and was very surprised at how little it cost when I finally found out. It’s a great-value phone which gives buyers on a budget a really solid option.

For context, the Poco X7 costs $314 / £249 for its cheapest option, and it has a few spec downgrades across the board including a weaker processor and a smaller battery. It’s still pretty good value for money, though.

Xiaomi Poco X7 Pro review: specs Xiaomi Poco X7 Pro review: design

(Image credit: Future)

• Three color options
• Mid-sized phone that'll be big for some users
• IP68 protection

Depending on which version of the Poco X7 Pro you pick up, you might deem it a generic-looking Android phone, or one that looks oddly like a race car.

The phone comes in black or green versions – which clad the mobile in a plastic frame – or, as you can see from the review images, a more unique yellow-and-black one. This version, which uses silicone polymer to create a textured faux leather feel, reminds me of racing-themed mobiles like the Realme GT, and it certainly is a distinctive look. It also feels more premium, and a touch more grip-able in the hand. If you think it’s a bit too ‘extra’, though, you should probably opt for the standard models.

These variants have the almost same dimensions: they’re 160.75 x 75.24 x 8.29 (add 0.14mm to that latter version for the yellow option) and weigh 195g (add 3g for yellow). A difference of under a millimeter, and only 3 grams, is a pretty negligible size and weight difference.

The phone has flat edges, so I could stand mine upright without a support, but they’re not as comfortable to hold in the hand as a curved-edge mobile. The power button and volume rocker are on the right edge while the USB-C port is on the bottom edge.

If you’ve got big hands, you’ll be alright with the Poco X7 Pro, but people with smaller ones should know that you probably won’t be able to reach the volume rocker — I couldn’t and I have pretty average-length digits.

All versions of the phone have IP68 certification, protecting you from submersion in water (for a limited time) and dust ingress. The Poco X7 Pro felt pretty hardy to me.

• Design score: 3.5 / 5

Xiaomi Poco X7 Pro review: display

(Image credit: Future)

• 6.67 inches, 1220 x 2712 resolution
• High max brightness and 120Hz refresh
• Well-protected with Corning Gorilla Glass 7i

The Poco X7 Pro’s display clocks in at 6.67 inches, which is basically the average size for a Xiaomi mobile — it’s nice and big without being too unwieldy.

That’s one of the only areas in which the Poco phone aims for ‘average’, though, because many other of its display specs exceed others at its price tag.

You get a few more pixels than on most of its FHD rivals with a 1220 x 2712 resolution, and the maximum brightness reaches up to 3200 nits (that’s in lab conditions, at least, but from my testing, it got really bright).

That latter spec, combined with the use of an AMOLED panel, means that you can get some pretty vibrant colors out of the Poco X7 Pro.

Two other important specs are the 120Hz refresh rate — this feature is par for the course on most Android phones — and the use of Corning Gorilla Glass 7i, which probably explains how the X7 Pro survived so many drops during my testing.

• Display score: 4 / 5

Xiaomi Poco X7 Pro review: software

(Image credit: Future)

• Android 15 with Xiaomi's HyperOS 2 over the top
• Three years of OS updates and four of security updates
• Bloatware-riddled software

When you boot up the Poco X7 Pro, you’ll find it running Android 15 with Xiaomi’s HyperOS running over the top. The company has promised three years of updates for the phone, and an extra one of security updates.

A common gripe I have with Xiaomi software is that it comes chock-full of pre-installed third-party apps. These include a huge number of ‘normal’ ones like calculators, compasses and a calendar but for me there were also six games, a Poco app and nine third-party apps including some that I studiously avoid.

If, like me, you’re never going to use AliExpress or WPS Office (or whatever the pre-installed apps are in your region), then you’ll have to start with an app-deletion blitz when you first start using your phone.

Beyond that, HyperOS functions much the same as other Android user interfaces, in that you’re given lots of customization freedom. You can choose the font, always-on display, how icons look, how notifications appear, whether new apps get added to an app drawer or straight to your homepage, and more.

A few AI features are new here; the Notes app can translate, proofread, or summarize your notes; Recorder can create transcriptions; and videos can get AI subtitles. However, these aren’t available in all regions and none were enabled on my test phone.

• Software score: 3.5 / 5

Xiaomi Poco X7 Pro review: cameras

(Image credit: Future)

• 50MP main and 8MP ultra-wide cameras, 20MP for selfies
• Photos look a little dull
• Some AI features coming to the phone after release

Camera capabilities have never been the focal point of Poco devices and that stays true here. The phone packs 50MP f/1.5 main and 8MP f/2.2 ultra-wide cameras on the back as well as a 20MP f/2.2 selfie camera on the front, and both are totally fit for purpose without being wildly impressive.

Pictures taken on the main camera are clear and bright but lack a bit of flair and color, leading to lifeless shots. It’s apparent in some pictures more than others but greenery lost some zest.

The phone is really quick to try and edit your pictures afterwards though. By default, all are taken in Live Photo mode, in case you press the shutter button at the wrong time and want to see a frame just before or after you pressed. The gallery also employs very obvious processing when you zoom into a photo, noticeably changing its color profile, which sometimes results in worse pictures.

(Image credit: Future)

A warning to buyers: the rear camera is exactly where you rest your fingers when you’re holding the phone landscape to take a photo. Remember to move your fingers out of the way — about half the snaps I took during my main photo session have my finger poking into the frame.

Jump over to the ultra-wide camera and you’re getting pictures that don’t look great. They’re desaturated and lose lots of detail in darker areas, leading to a lifeless photo.

Video recording goes up to 4K and 60fps and there’s also Director mode, which lets you adjust things like the white balance, ISO, and aperture for video recording. Not all budget phones have this so it’s a nice addition, although I wouldn’t recommend the X7 Pro for prospective Oscar-winners.

‘Fine’ is also an accurate description of pictures taken on the front-facing camera. Generally, selfies were clear and bright, although again the colors weren’t always sparkling. Portrait mode sometimes had trouble working out where my hair began and ended but it was good at applying correct depth to objects in the mid- and background.

Other than the ones already mentioned, the Poco X7 Pro ticks off the usual camera modes: document scanning, night photography, high-res to shoot at 50MP instead of using pixel binning, slow motion filming, and Pro mode.

Some of the headline camera features of the Poco X7 Pro are AI-based ones: AI Erase Pro works like Magic Eraser to delete unwanted elements of photos, while AI Image Expansion reframes and expands snaps to change their composition. At the time of testing, though, these aren’t available on the phone — Xiaomi says they’ll arrive around March 2025 — so I didn’t test them.

• Camera score: 3 / 5

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(Image credit: Future) Xiaomi Poco X7 Pro: performance and audio

(Image credit: Future)

• Packs a Dimensity 8400 Ultra chipset
• Really powerful for gaming
• Stereo audio but no 3.5mm jack

The Poco X7 Pro is powered by the Dimensity 8400 Ultra, a top-end chipset from Mediatek. It’s paired with RAM and storage that depends on whichever variant you picked up: 8/256GB or 16/512GB.

I had the latter and the phone was fast – it didn’t feel much different to use than a flagship which would cost you $/£1,000 more. Gaming was quick and easy, with the phone handling online titles and intensive single-player ones better than any other mobile I’ve tested at the price. It was seriously impressive.

Moreover, when I was using the mobile intensively, I never suffered any stuttering, and the phone didn’t overheat at all either. If you’re a mobile gamer, I’m going to have to give this device two thumbs up.

In a Geekbench 6 multi-core test, the average score was in the 6,100s, which cements this as a really solid performance phone. It puts it in league with 2024’s top-end phones, and possibly 2025’s too.

For audio, there’s no 3.5mm headphone jack, so if you like wired music you’ll have to get an adaptor for the USB-C jack, and if not rely on the BlueTooth 5.4. There are also stereo speakers and these are fine for unfussy gamers but audiophiles won’t be rocked out of their socks.

• Performance score: 4.5 / 5

Xiaomi Poco X7 Pro review: battery life

(Image credit: Future)

• Huge 6,000mAh battery
• Lasts for about two days of use
• 90W fast charging

Phone batteries are constantly creeping up in size, as the Poco X7 Pro reminded me: it has a 6,000mAh power pack, which is bigger than that of the standard Poco X7 or the Poco X6 Pro. In fact, it’s rare to see mobiles with power packs quite this big.

People with battery anxiety, then, will find the X7 Pro a breath of fresh air — it can keep your phone ticking through intensive gaming blasts or long days out.

From my testing, the phone waltzed through a day of use and marched steadily into the second day before needing a recharge. And I used it pretty intensively too — if you don’t pick up your mobile much during the day, I can see it lasting through two full days of use.

On the topic of charging, it’s 90W, which is nice and fast. There’s no wireless or reverse charging, but with speeds like that, I can forgive it.

Poco predicts that this will see your X7 Pro go from empty to full in just over 40 minutes — in my testing period I usually powered the phone from about 10-20% to full and it took about half an hour. It’s a nice fast speed that ensures you can keep the X7 Pro going with brief charging windows, instead of having to tether your mobile to the wall for ages.

• Battery score: 4 / 5

Xiaomi Poco X7 Pro review: value

(Image credit: Future)

For certain kinds of users, the Poco X7 Pro offers incredible value for money. It’s relatively cheap but has an impressively fast chipset and great-looking screen.

If you’re into your entertainment, be it gaming or streaming TV shows on the go, you’ll be getting a steal with the X7 Pro.

The Poco still makes a great value proposition for other kinds of users, and it’ll go toe-to-toe with much more expensive rivals, though if you want a camera phone, it won’t cut the mustard.

• Value score: 4.5 / 5

Should you buy the Xiaomi Poco X7 Pro? Buy it if...

You're a mobile gamer
Offering blazing-fast performance, the Poco X7 Pro is a great get for mobile gamers, even ones who aren't budget-conscious.

You're on a limited budget
If you don't want to spend too much on your new phone, the Poco X7 Pro offers great value for money.

You need a long-lasting phone
A 6,000mAh battery is huge, so if you want a smartphone that'll easily last through long use periods, this Poco is a sure bet.

Don't buy it if...

You're a photographer
It's many things, but the Poco X7 Pro isn't a camera phone. Don't buy it if you want to take amazing photographs.

You're cynical about AI features
Lots of the Poco's main features are AI-related, like its camera or Notes tools. If you're not a fan of generative AI features (an understandable stance), you won't like being bombarded with said features here.

Poco X7 Pro review: Also consider

If you want to know what else is out there at this price, beyond the Poco X7 Pro, here are some other phones you should consider:

Poco X7
Naturally, the first phone to compare the Pro to is its non-Pro alternative. It's not as powerful and its battery is smaller but the display is the same, and the cameras basically are too (with the addition of a 2MP macro one). We haven't reviewed the Poco X7 yet, mind.

Moto G85
This similarly-priced phone may not be as powerful as the Poco, but on paper, it makes up for it with a chic design and clean software. We were impressed with this phone's predecessor in our Motorola Moto G84 review.

Samsung Galaxy A35
Costing the same as the higher-end Poco X7 Pros, this mobile gets you into Samsung's product range with its camera skills and extra apps.

Read our full Samsung Galaxy A35 review

How I tested the Poco X7 Pro

• Review test period = 2 weeks
• Testing included = Everyday usage, including web browsing, social media, photography, video calling, gaming, streaming video, music playback
• Tools used = Geekbench 6, Geekbench ML, GFXBench, native Android stats

I tested the Poco X7 Pro for just over two weeks for this review.

To test it, I put it through the paces of my normal phone: I texted, streamed music and TV, took photos, navigated my way around the city, and woke up from its alarms. Significantly, I also played lots of games on it.

As well as real-world use, the phone saw me perform some more 'scientific' tests including performance benchmarking and charging speed tests.

I've been testing smartphones for TechRadar for six years now, and in that time have tested plenty of low-budget mobiles including loads of Poco and Xiaomi devices.

Read more about how we test

First reviewed January 2025

Earfun Air 2 NC review: Two-minute review

The Earfun Air 2 NC endeavor to avoid the fate befalling far too many options in the budget audio tech space – being woefully disappointing in the sound department. Luckily, they manage to do just that, offering punchy bass, clean mids and controlled treble, as well as LDAC compatibility. Given their list price of $69 / £59 (about AU$110), that’s impressive.

Sure, the Earfun Air 2 NC won’t deliver audiophile-grade sound – I wasn’t wowed by supremely detailed, immersive audio or anything. But for what they are, the Earfun Air 2 NC perform very nicely, plating up well-weighted vocals and even solid sub-bass. You might get a bit of harshness at top volumes, but I personally never needed to listen quite so loudly.

Something that helps the Earfun Air 2 NC sound even better is an excellent EQ tab. Just hop into the Earfun Audio app and choose from a wide range of presets, including genre-specific ones. There’s also a custom option to use and an intriguing, yet perhaps unpolished personalized sound option, which is based on your own listening. Having tested many, I can confidently say that even some of the best wireless earbuds don’t offer quite as much scope for tailoring on this front.

Another area with impressive customization is active noise cancellation. You can switch between five noise cancelling modes, including ear-adaptive and wind resistance configurations. Given that you can also personalize touch controls here, you get plenty of ways to make these earbuds your own.

It’s not totally smooth sailing, however. There are a couple of small drawbacks to bear in mind, such as a disappointing spatial audio setting, called Theater Mode. Although this may expand the soundstage somewhat, overall audio quality takes quite the hit, making it a pretty redundant inclusion. They aren’t the prettiest on the market either and the stems may not be diminutive enough for anyone craving a more discreet look.

There are some neat design choices here, though, like IPX5 waterproofing, which will keep your buds protected against heavy rain or sweat for outdoor or intensive listening sessions. Battery-wise, they’re absolutely fine too. You get six hours with ANC on and nine with it turned off, but the charging case should give you enough juice to last a few days, even if you listen at fairly high volumes and with LDAC turned on.

So, given their low price, you get a lot out of the Earfun Air 2 NC. They’re not going to blow you away with next-level sound, battery life or looks, but they excel in all of the key areas. It’s pretty competitive in the budget wireless earbud department – there are some truly incredible alternatives out there, including the brilliant, albeit ANC-less, Sony WF-C510 or even the Earfun Air Pro 3 – regularly available at a discount. But, if you want a strong pair of wireless earbuds at an affordable price, I’d still happily recommend the Earfun Air 2 NC.

(Image credit: Future) Earfun Air 2 NC review: price and release date

• $69 / £59 (about AU$110)
• Launched in 2024

The Earfun Air 2 NC were released in 2024 and initially had a slightly higher list price, which has since been reduced to $69 / £59 (about AU$110). However, you may be able to get these buds for even less. At the time of writing, I’ve spotted these going for just over the £40 mark on Amazon UK – that’s phenomenal value for money. If you’re not such a fan of the Black / Gray colorway shown in this review, you can alsograb the Earfun Air 2 NC in White.

Earfun Air 2 NC review: specs

(Image credit: Future) Earfun Air 2 NC review: features

• Effective, customizable ANC
• Good EQ options
• Solid battery life

The Earfun Air 2 NC boast a pretty impressive feature-set for a budget pair of earbuds. A lot of that comes courtesy of the Earfun Audio app, which opens you up to a whole host of options, including multi-point connectivity, EQ adjustment and much more.

Let’s start with EQ, which is a robust offering – something I’ve come to expect from testing other Earfun earbuds and speakers such as the Earfun UBoom X. There’s a custom option here, but you also get a lot of genre-specific EQ presets, such as Jazz and Hip Hop.

If you want, you can also use My Sound Profile, which allows you to create a personalized EQ calibration based on a series of listening tests. However, I found this didn’t work all too well and presented a fairly muted sound profile when in use. My Sound Profile is certainly a worthwhile feature in concept, with competitors like Anker nailing the similar HearID option on the Soundcore Space One Pro, for instance – I just wish the Air 2 NC delivered better results.

But there’s still a lot of juicy goodness to sink your teeth into with the Air 2 NC. For instance, the companion app allows you to customize noise cancellation for various settings. There are five different modes: Normal, Ambient Sound, Wind Noise Cancellation, Ear-Adaptive ANC and Noise Cancelling.

When testing each (both indoors and in outdoor environments as well as public transport), I found all of them to be effective, but I typically leaned towards using Ear-Adaptive ANC, which optimizes noise cancelling according to the shape of your ear canal. When using this mode, I couldn’t hear the sound of loud typing in the office and loud external noises, like the roar of a car’s engine, were aptly dulled. Are you going to get the stunning near-silence that the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 can offer, for instance? No. But for what you pay, you’ll be impressed with how well the Air 2 NC quieten the outside world.

You also get pretty solid battery life here – nine hours with ANC off and six with it on. This will vary if you’re playing at higher volumes or using the LDAC audio codec, of course. The charging case should help you keep the buds juiced up for intermittent listening over a multi-day period too.

On top of that, the Air 2 NC have customizable touch controls. You can select from a range of commands, like volume up/down, play/pause, skip/replay, which can vary for the left and right bud – just choose whatever feels best for you.

There’s a lot more here too: a Find Headphones option, LDAC toggle (more on this later), Voice Prompt options (which lets you switch between English, Japanese or Mandarin cues) and a Game Mode, which is designed to reduce audio latency. All of this is welcome, although there was one option I found to be a bit sub-par: Theater Mode. Earfun claims that with Theater Mode on, you get a wider soundstage and more immersive sonic experience. Does it do that? Well, partially. But this comes at the expense of lower quality audio, which instantly renders it pointless in my view.

So, although Theater Mode and My Sound Profile are a little unrefined, you still get all the main features you’d want from budget ANC earbuds, plus a little more. Overall, you’re still getting a great user experience with the Earfun Audio app too, which is easy to use and well laid out. Positive stuff, all in all.

• Features score: 4/5

(Image credit: Future) Earfun Air 2 NC review: sound quality

• Punchy bass
• Clear and rarely harsh all-round audio
• LDAC compatibility

OK, good news, the Earfun Air 2 NC perform impressively in the audio quality department for their humble asking fee. Yes, the caveat remains: they sound surprisingly zealous, detailed and musical given their modest price tag. No, you’re not going to get premium sound from these buds, but you can certainly expect a solid sonic experience for the money.

When listening to Too Young to Die - Extended by Jamiroquai, the track’s bass was smooth, rich and clean, with brass instruments and vocals in the mid-range coming through without harshness or distortion at around 60-70% volume. Higher-pitched percussion was never tinny either and background vocals sounded well-weighted, making for a satisfying, enjoyable listen.

The Air 2 NC also have LDAC compatibility, which can be activated via the Earfun app. This comes at the expense of multi-point – which has to be switched off manually (but that's the case with much pricier buds we've tested, including the triple-device multipoint in the Technics EAH-AZ100). LDAC is a nice addition for those who want a more detailed listen and I kept it switched on when listening to tracks on Tidal, which are a lot less compressed than those lossy Spotify streams.

Still, I wasn’t always struck by the Air 2 NC’s ability to unveil the finer details. For instance, I tuned into the densely layered I Want You by Moloko and although the Air 2 NC excelled in delivering the track’s low-end punch, the breathiness of vocals and discreet instrumental details throughout were perhaps a little lacking. That’s fine for some more budget earbuds of course, but it’s worth flagging that LDAC doesn’t always equal incredibly detailed audio.

Again, overall quality is strong here. When listening to Magic by Yung Gravy, booming bass was impactful and deep without drowning out main or background vocals. You even get up-to-scratch sub bass, which can often be a problem for cheaper wireless earbuds. I did notice a touch of sibilance from vocals when I cranked volume up to 100%, but I never really needed to listen quite that loudly.

Thanks to the extensive list of EQ presets here, you can easily tailor sound to your liking on the Earfun Air 2 NC. Will that mean you get that perfectly detailed listen audiophiles go mad for? No – but you’ll still get great audio quality for the price you pay.

• Sound quality score: 4/5

(Image credit: Future) Earfun Air 2 NC review: design

• Long stems on earbuds not for everyone
• Fairly plasticky build
• IPX5 water resistant

Onto perhaps a more controversial aspect of the Earfun Air 2 NC: their design. The earbuds have a curved design with long stems. These stems are handy for swiftly removing the buds from your ear, but they’re not the most beautiful looking. If you’re someone who prefers a more discreet look, you may also find the Air 2 NC’s earpieces a little oversized.

You can get these buds in either a white or black colorway – I tested the latter. This looked fine enough, but part of each bud has a gray coating with the Earfun logo, which isn’t particularly easy on the eye. The case, meanwhile, comes in a neat Black color with a USB-C port and an LED light to display whether it's charging – no complaints here.

In terms of build quality, you’re not going to get the most premium pair of earbuds ever. The Air 2 NC do perhaps feel a little plasticky, but that’s to be expected at this price point. In the ear, however, they are comfortable and I didn’t feel the need to take them out, even after multiple hours of listening.

They may not have the most high-durability construction, then, but they are fairly well protected against the elements. That’s because the Air 2 NC are IPX5 waterproof rated, meaning they can withstand water projected by a nozzle. That means if you’re listening in the rain or working out, you won’t have to worry about moisture damaging your buds.

• Design score: 3.5/5

(Image credit: Future) Earfun Air 2 NC review: value

• Great audio for the cost
• Great customizable ANC and comfortable in-ear fit
• Sometimes even cheaper thanks to sales

One of the big draws of the Earfun Air 2 NC is their excellent low price. They have a list price of $69 / £59 (about AU$110), but I’ve already spotted them on sale with some retailers. Considering that you get impressive audio and a decent suite of features, you’re looking at brilliant value.

As the years go by, its becoming more common to get ANC at a budget price, but still, you get very customizable noise cancelling here, including ear-adaptive and wind-resistant options. OK, battery life is by no means exceptional, but it's not too bad – the same goes for design and build quality. But these are subordinate to the crucial areas of sound quality and in-ear comfort.

• Value score: 4.5/5

(Image credit: Future) Should I buy the Earfun Air 2 NC? Buy them if...

You want customizable ANC
If you’re looking for active noise cancellation but don’t want to splash too much cash, the Earfun Air 2 NC are a worthy option. There are a ton of different noise cancelling modes to play around with here, including Wind noise reduction and ear-adaptive ANC – even some more expensive rivals don’t offer this level of customization.

You’re on a fairly tight budget
If you’re looking for some highly competent wireless earbuds but don’t have a blank check, the Earfun Air 2 NC are worth keeping in mind. At $69 / £59, you’re getting solid audio quality and ANC as well as a comfortable fit and commendable feature-set – at this price, you can’t ask for a whole lot more.

Don't buy them if...

You want premium audio quality
If you’re on the hunt for super-detailed, ultra-immersive and perfectly balanced audio, the Earfun Air 2 NC may not be for you. Quality here is by no means bad, but it’s not premium. If you have a bit more cash to play with, an excellent-sounding wireless option would be the Technics EAH-AZ100.

You’re looking for a discreet look
Each earbud here has a long stem, which may be to your liking if you want a more ‘pinchable’ design. But if you’re on the hunt for a more low-key pair of earbuds, this might be a little overbearing. Some excellent, small earbuds that I loved in 2024 were the LG Tone Free T90S, if that’s more your style.

Earfun Air 2 NC: also consider

JLab Go Pop ANC
If you’re looking for the ultimate, super-cheap pair of wireless earbuds, you’ll struggle to find better than the JLab Go Pop ANC. For less than $30 / £30, you get decent ANC, solid overall audio and companion app compatibility. If you’re looking for all the essentials at an incredible price point, this is an option well-worth considering. Read our full JLab Go Pop ANC review.

Sony WF-C700N
We still consider the Sony WF-C700N to be some of the best cheaper noise-cancelling earbuds you can buy. They offer detailed, immersive audio, an incredibly comfortable fit and a fantastic companion app to boot. Don’t be put off by their list price too, they’re often available for less than $100 / £70. Read our full Sony WF-C700N review.

Earfun Air 2 NC review: how I tested

• Tested for two weeks
• Used in the office and while on walks
• Predominantly tested using Tidal on the Samsung Galaxy S24 FE

I tested the Earfun Air 2 NC over the course of two weeks, listening with them for hours during each working day. I used them at the office, while at home and when on walks to assess the quality of ANC across multiple environments.

For the most part, I tested these wireless buds using Tidal on the Samsung Galaxy S24 FE, but I did also try using them with both Spotify and YouTube. When listening to music, I ran through the TechRadar testing playlist, which features tracks from a wide variety of genres but I also tuned in to hours worth of tunes from my personal library.

Where appropriate, I compared these to my Sony WF-C700N earbuds on metrics such as comfort, audio quality, ANC capabilities and features.

• First reviewed: January 2025
• Read more about how we test

L'Oreal AirLight Pro hair dryer: two-minute review

The L'Oreal Airlight Pro is a professional-only infrared hair dryer that offers precise control and comes with a companion app. Set to be the next big thing in haircare, infrared hair dryers promise all the power of the best hair dryers but with less damage to the hair and scalp. Instead of relying on hot air, infrared dryers combine targeted airflow with 'safe infrared light energy' to dry the water on the hair's surface. The process is similar to how the sun evaporates rainwater.

The technology was made famous by the likes of the Zuvi Halo; once dubbed the 'Tesla of hair dryers' and named one of TIME Magazine's Best Inventions. The Airlight Pro was designed in collaboration with Zuvi, and looks and works in an almost identical way, but with the bonus of the app controls.

At first glance, the AirLight Pro has a relatively simple and clean design. It's noticeably heavier than many other hair dryers I've reviewed, and own, and caused my wrist to ache after a while. It goes some way towards compensating for this with a more robust build and additional professional-grade features, such as an extra-long cord and 1875W power. Plus, despite this bulkier size and weight, the AirLight Pro is still compact enough to pack into a bag or similar.

In my testing, the AirLight Pro dried my shoulder-length, fine hair in under five minutes – that's similar to the speed of the Dyson Supersonic, but almost twice as long as my favorite hair dryer, the Revlon Pro. However, compared to both of these dryers as well as the Zuvi Halo, I found the condition, feel and look of my hair was noticeably better with the L'Oreal model – it added shine and softness while reducing frizz. Over time, my hair also seemed to get healthier while testing the AirLight Pro, too.

The dryer ships with two magnetic attachments: a diffuser and a concentrator nozzle. The dryer automatically detects which attachment is being used, and will adjust the temperature and airflow to the recommended settings for each. (The Dyson Supersonic Nural has similar capabilities, except that dryer remembers your last-used settings.)

(Image credit: Future)

There's a multitude of setting options – three heats (plus cool shot), three speed options, and three presets (Sleek, Curly and Coily). Alternatively, you can manually adjust the speed and temperature, in increments of 5% for airflow and 15-20F for heat, using the AirLight Pro app.

Granted, the everyday user may not need that kind of precision, or know how to truly get the best out of such a high level of control. The app doesn't have a huge number of features beyond these controls, either. However, the fact it even offers it at all puts the AirLight Pro ahead of other dryers in my opinion, because it demonstrates L'Oreal's commitment to providing choice and versatility to those who want it.

The biggest downside to all of these settings is that the dryer can be a little overwhelming at first, and isn't as intuitive to use as I would have liked. You can't tweak the settings without the airflow being on, which can make it all a bit noisy and fiddly, not to mention hot. However, I did appreciate the on-screen prompts, including things like filter cleaning alerts.

Ultimately, the AirLight Pro is designed for professionals – people who are serious about hair health, work with a range of hair types, and understand how different heat and airflow settings can impact style. That's not to say it won't have value for the everyday user, but you may not need, or get the full benefits of, all the bells and whistles.

As a result of this pro positioning, it's difficult to directly compare like-for-like with other dryers on the market, and it's difficult to recommend. What it does though, it does with a lot of flair, performance and style. Excuse the pun.

L'Oreal AirLight Pro hair dryer review: price & availability

• $475 / €450 for AirLight Pro + 2 attachments
• Free app

The L’Oreal AirLight Pro is currently only available in the US and France for $475 / €450 (around £385 / AU$756.26), with more regions set to be announced at a later date. In France, it's only available to professionals but in the US it's sold to consumers via Ulta.

For this price you get the AirLight Pro's two magnetic attachments – a diffuser, and concentrator nozzle – included with the dryer itself. The AirLight Pro app is free to download from the Apple App Store and Google Play.

This price puts the AirLight Pro firmly in the premium price bracket in between the original, $399 Dyson Supersonic and the scalp-friendly, $499.99 Supersonic Nural. It costs $125 more than the Zuvi Halo, the dryer upon which the AirLight Pro has been based.

Out of the group, the Dyson Supersonic ends up being better value for money because it ships with five attachments by default. This includes versions of a concentrator and diffuser attachment (the two sold with the AirLight Pro), as well as a Wide-tooth Comb and Flyaway attachment. Interestingly, the Zuvi Halo ships with a Gentle Air attachment for improved scalp protection, which the AirLight Pro is missing.

• Value score: 3.5 out of 5

L'Oreal AirLight Pro hair dryer review: design

• 3 speeds; 3 heat settings; 3 preset modes + Cool shot and app controls
• Heavy and bulky design
• Easy-to-use attachments

There was a time when hair dryers with short, circular barrels and long handles were the exception. Thanks to the popularity of the Dyson Supersonic, they are now the norm and the L'Oreal AirLight Pro fits firmly into this camp.

As with the Zuvi Halo and these Dyson rivals, the AirLight Pro's shape is compact – measuring 10.4 x 3.9 x 3.3 in / 26.5 x 9.8 x 8.4 cm – with a slightly rounded barrel and well-proportioned handle. It's not as well-balanced, ergonomically speaking, as these other dryers, and feels top-heavy. At 710g (EU) and 1.8 lbs (US), it’s also noticeably heavier than many other dryers I’ve reviewed, including the Halo, which weighs 546g (1.2 lbs).

This extra weight does make the AirLight Pro feel like a luxurious, robust and premium purchase, but it did strain my wrist quite quickly during styling, and could be even more of an issue if you have long or thick hair.

(Image credit: Future)

The infrared technology is this dryer's standout feature, using low heat light to dry hair from the inside out, preserving moisture and leaving hair shinier and smoother. Depending on which regional L'Oreal site you look at, the brand claims the AirLight Pro dries either 14% faster than other premium dryers in the US, or 30% faster in the UK. It then either uses 11% less energy, or 28% less energy. L'Oreal told me this was because the devices are optimized for different regions, but it didn't go into more detail than that.

(Image credit: Future)

Let's take a look at the controls. On the front of the circular barrel is an air outlet surrounded by a pane of glass covering the infrared LEDs. Below this outlet, on the handle, you'll find the small digital display, the Mode/Speed selection button, and the Power switch. On the rear of the barrel is the filter inlet, and on the rear of the handle is the Heat selection button. Long-pressing this button enables the Cool Shot function.

The small display shows the selected airflow speed and heat setting using colored blocks, as well as any active presets you've selected. The button directly below this screen is used to adjust the airflow, toggling between Low, Medium and High.

You then need to use the button on the rear to adjust the temperature, which again moves between Low, Medium and High options. The main heat levels range from 86 F / 30 C to 285 F / 140 although you can further tweak these settings using the AirLight Pro app. From your phone or tablet, you can increase or decrease airflow speeds in 5% increments, and change the temperature by 15-20 F at a time.

A long press of the Speed selection button on the front of the handle will switch you between Standard and Pro modes, where you can then select from either the Sleek, Coily or Curly presets.

The default Standard setting for the dryer is Medium heat/High speed. The presets are then as follows:

• Sleek: Sleek mode pairs High heat with High airflow to achieve smooth, straight finishes
• Curly: Curly mode uses Medium heat with Medium speed to maintain curl shape and reduce frizz
• Coily: Sets both heat and airflow to their lowest settings

The attachments follow suit. When the concentrator (used to create sleek styles) is attached, the heat and airflow automatically switch to High. When the diffuser is attached to dry curls, the heat and airflow is automatically set to Low. The use of these attachments is intuitive and the magnetic connector is strong enough to keep them in place during styling, but easy to remove and replace.

The styler itself is not the most intuitive dryer I've used, though. I often changed the temperature with the speed button and vice versa. One of my favorite features on the Zuvi Halo is the clearly named modes – Fast, Care, Soft and so on – and while L'Oreal's options aren't a million miles away, they're not as easy-to-use at a glance.

The digital display on the AirLight Pro brings a level of intuitiveness back with on-screen prompts, as does the app. In fact, the app very easy to use and because it shows the settings on a larger phone display, I almost always defaulted to these controls when using the AirLight Pro.

(Image credit: L'Oreal)

I don't love the fact you can’t tweak the settings without the dryer – and thus the airflow – being on, which can make it noisy and fiddly, not to mention hot, during use. Although I do love that the styler's display and app shows cleaning alerts when your filter needs clearing and shows you how to switch between Modes if you get stuck.

The design of the AirLight Pro isn't perfect. For all the way it's functional and professional, it can also be frustrating. The heavier weight causes problems when drying your hair for long periods, and I don't want to have to commit time to learning controls when all I want to do is just dry my hair. That said, these are relatively minor complaints when you factor in just how well it performs.

• Design score: 3.5 out of 5

AirLight Pro specs L'Oreal AirLight Pro hair dryer review: performance

• Fast drying times
• Great for curls
• Customized settings work best

To test the L'Oreal AirLight Pro, I experimented with different combinations of heat and speed and put each of the preset modes and attachments to the test on my long, fine, naturally curly hair.

Unsurprisingly, my hair dried the fastest with Sleek mode – High speed/High temperature – was selected. This mode took my hair from wet to dry in just under five minutes. That's is similar to the speed of the Dyson Supersonic, but almost twice as long as my go-to hair dryer, the Revlon Pro. The problem with such quick speeds is that hair was blasted into submission and it lacked volume and movement, even if it did look sleek.

I could shave almost 45 seconds off this time when I rough dried my hair on this setting with the concentrator nozzle attached. However, this didn't help the lack of volume. Plus, to get the most out of this nozzle, I needed to dedicate more time to blow-drying sections properly, which improved the finish but more than doubled the time.

Image 1 of 3

Sleek mode was speedy, but left my hair flat (Image credit: Future)Image 2 of 3

Curly mode worked remarkably efficiently on my naturally curly hair (Image credit: Future)Image 3 of 3

Custom mode (Image credit: Future)

The Curly preset worked much better. It dried my natural curls faster than any other dryer I've used – you usually have to sacrifice time for gentle drying – and it left the individual curls looking defined and surprisingly smooth. I tried the Coily hair preset to see how it compared, but as I don't have coily hair it was more for reference, and I didn't see a huge difference between time and finish compared to the Curly mode.

The best results, however, came when I ignored all of the default settings and presets and used the app. After a bit of tweaking, I got the best balance of speed versus finish with the temperature set to 55 C / 130 F and the airflow at 65%. Any hotter and the hair didn't feel as soft; any cooler and it took longer to style. The airflow was then strong enough to blow the hair effectively, but not so strong that it added frizz or knots.

Regardless of settings, however, the feel, condition and look of my hair was noticeably better with the L'Oreal AirLight Pro compared to all other dryers I've used and own. It added shine and softness while reducing frizz, which is no mean feat for blonde, naturally curly hair. Over time, my hair also seemed to get healthier while testing the AirLight Pro and I had less breakage and hair loss in the shower and from brushing.

(Image credit: Future)

In regards noise, L'Oreal claims the AirLight Pro is whisper-quiet, producing just 76dB. In my tests, the dryer never dropped lower than 85dB. That's quiet enough to have a conversation while drying, so it's still not loud, by any stretch, but it is quite a step up from what L'Oreal promises (as well as on the 78 decibels I recorded when using the Zuvi Halo).

In terms of noise, L'Oreal claims the AirLight Pro is whisper-quiet, producing just 76 decibels. In my tests, though, the dryer never dropped lower than 85 decibels. This was quite a step up – not just on what L'Oreal claims but on the o. That said, 85dB is quiet enough to have a conversation while drying so it's not loud, by any stretch. It's just louder than promised.

• Performance score: 4 out of 5

Should I buy the L'Oreal AirLight Pro hair dryer? Buy it if...

You’re a professional or want precise control

The app-controlled heat and airflow settings add a level of precision not available on other dryers making it suitable for a range of hair types and styles.

You want to minimize or prevent hair damage

The infrared technology in addition to the wide range of temperature and speeds options helps preserve moisture, leaving hair shinier, smoother and protected.

You have a sensitive scalp

The L'Oreal AirLight Pro's infrared technology is designed to protect your scalp. This is good for everyone, but particularly if you're prone to scalp irritation, dandruff or sensitivity.

Don't buy it if...

You're on a budget

All of L'Oreal's bells and whistles on the AirLight Pro, its premium design, and the next-level technology and app add up to a high price.

You want a fuss-free option

Casual users or people with lower-maintenance hair styles and types may not need, or use, the customization options available.

You want something intuitive out of the box

Having a lot of controls and versatility does mean the AirLight Pro takes some getting used to.

First reviewed: January 2025

Noble FoKus Rex5: Two-minute review

(Image credit: Future / Simon Lucas)

The Noble FoKus Rex5 true wireless in-ear is the latest model with which the company intends to disrupt a market that’s already full to bursting. From its base in Texas, North America, Noble has been turning out singular, and singularly expensive, headphones for a little over a decade now and the Rex5 are no exception.

There are notable points of difference here, mind you. The Rex5 are exhaustively specified, with five drivers per earbud, Bluetooth 5.4 with aptX Adaptive and LDAC codec compatibility, and a single option where finish is concerned that’s as green as a very green thing. Oh, and relatively speaking they cost an arm and a leg.

The Rex5 are a strong performer, though, no two ways about it. The sound they produce is open and unified, rigorously defined, rapid and detailed. Other earbuds offer a bit more low-end heft, it’s true, but very very few have the sort of powers of resolution and insight that are on offer here.

Whether that’s enough to justify either the asking price or a place in the best wireless earbuds, though, especially when you add in ANC and battery life that is really nothing remarkable, is a different question…

Noble FoKus Rex5 review: Price and release date

(Image credit: Future / Simon Lucas)

• Released in November 2024
• Costs $449 / £419 / AU$699

You have been able to buy the Noble FoKus Rex5 for $449 / £419 / AU$699 since November 2024, which puts them right at the top end of price point for true wireless earbuds.

For that price, you're looking for best-in-class performance almost across the board, something along the lines of the Technics EAH-AZ100 or Bowers & Wilkins Pi8, both of which are cheaper than the Rex5.

Noble FoKus Rex5 review: Specs Noble FoKus Rex5 review: Features

(Image credit: Future / Simon Lucas)

• 10mm dynamic, 6mm planar magnetic, 3 x balanced armature per earbud
• Bluetooth 5.4 with aptX Adaptive and LDAC compatibility
• Multipoint connectivity

There is one minor exception, but in the broadest terms the Noble FoKus Rex5 have the sort of feature set that an asking price this lofty demands. There’s really no arguing with the lengths Noble has gone to here.

Take, for example, wireless connectivity. The Rex5 use top-of-the-shop Bluetooth 5.4 and are compatible with both aptX Adaptive and LDAC codecs – so lossy hi-res content is on the wireless menu. Multipoint connectivity is available, too, so the earbuds can connect to a couple of sources simultaneously and switch seamlessly between them.

And when the audio information is on board, it is served up by no fewer than five drivers per earbud. Three balanced armatures, a 6mm planar magnetic and a 10mm dynamic free-edge driver contribute to produce a claimed frequency response of 20Hz - 40kHz.

Control is available using responsive and accurate capacitive touch controls on the top surface of each earbud, and the feed-forward/feed-back twin mic array of each earbud allows interaction with your source player’s native voice assistant. The mics also take care of active noise-cancellation, of course, which is a three-position system (‘on’, ‘off’ and ‘ambient’).

(Image credit: Future / Simon Lucas)

You’ve also the option of the Noble FoKus control app that’s available for iOS and Android. There are only the most basic playback controls available (play/pause and skip forwards/backwards) but it lets you scroll through your ANC options, investigate some EQ presets as well as define some of your own, rearrange some of the functions of the touch controls, and check on battery life.

The app also includes a listening/hearing test courtesy of Audiodo, and thanks to the onboard QCC3091 chip, the earbuds can remember your hearing profile without needing the app to be open.

Battery life, then, is the only area in which the FoKus Rex5 looking anything less than profoundly impressive. With ANC switched off, the earbuds are good for seven hours or so of playback, which ain’t bad – switch ANC on and that number drops to more like five hours, which is so-so at best. There’s plenty of back-up in the charging case, though – as many as seven full charges are available, which is well above the market average.

Charging takes place using the case’s USB-C slot, and the Noble are compatible with Qi-certified charging pads, too. Some 15 minutes on the power via USB-C should be good for two hours or so of playback, should the worst happen.

• Features score: 4.5/5

Noble FoKus Rex5 review: Design

(Image credit: Future / Simon Lucas)

• Aluminium/acrylic construction
• 9.6g (earbud); 31.5g (charging case)
• 10 pairs of ear-tips

The earbuds, at 9.6g, are among the heavier around. The charging case is a bit of a biffer, and certainly not a candidate for the pocket of your favorite pair of skinny jeans. But the carefully ergonomic shape of the earbuds, along with a selection of 10 ear-tips of various sizes and materials, mean it’s not especially tricky to get a snug and secure fit that will stay comfortable for a good while. That’s always assuming your ears aren’t especially petite, though – these are relatively large earbuds and will prove an earful even for those of us with ‘ordinary’ ears.

‘Green’ is as good a word as any to describe the finish of the FoKus Rex5 – ‘emerald green’ if you’re after specifics. The earbuds are fashioned from aluminium and feature an acrylic top-plate with the company logo, which also appears at the end of the spout where the ear-tips fit, as well as on the lid of the charging case. The case is almost entirely of aluminium – there’s a little plastic patch on the bottom to facilitate wireless charging.

Build quality, it almost goes without saying, is basically impeccable – the Noble package feels expertly constructed and built to last. Whether or not you find the aesthetic appealing is entirely up to you. I can only assure you that no corners seem to have been cut where design, construction and finish are concerned.

• Design score: 4.5/5

Noble FoKus Rex5 review: Sound quality

(Image credit: Future / Simon Lucas)

• Rapid, maneuverable and luxuriously detailed sound
• Seemingly limitless dynamic headroom
• Lack of low-end body won’t suit every listener

Words like ‘accuracy’ and ‘precision’ get bandied around quite a lot when it comes to audio products. Generally I try to avoid them, because both things (which are similar but not the same) are bloody difficult for audio equipment to achieve no matter how expensive it might be. In the case of the Noble FoKus Rex5, though, I’ll be using both and will be doing so unapologetically.

A five-driver arrangement is, of course, tricky to implement and can sometimes end up constituting too much of a good thing. So right from the off, Noble is to be congratulated for the balanced and coherent way the Rex5 perform. They sound unified from the top of the frequency range to the bottom, and their tonality is consistent throughout too. When you consider the number of individual elements that are responsible for this, it’s by no means a given.

What’s almost as quickly striking is the amount of detail the Rex5 can identify, reveal and contextualize in a recording. This is true no matter if they’re playing a 247kbps MP3 of Eartheater’s How to Fight via SBC, a 24bit/192kHz file of The Velvet Underground’s Femme Fatale being compressed by the AAC codec or Desire by Talk Talk as a 2.8MHz DSD file delivered via LDAC. No matter how fleeting, how subtle, how deep in the mix it might be, if it’s there the Noble earbuds pounce on it with something approaching fanaticism. It follows that even the most compressed digital audio files sound complete, and the higher-resolution stuff enjoys the sort of accuracy that eludes the vast majority of alternative designs.

The Rex5 combine substance and attack at the top of the frequency range, giving treble sounds sufficient body to balance against their brilliance. The midrange is similarly accomplished, with the sort of positivity and directness when dealing with vocalists that leaves you in no doubt as to their attitude or intentions. And the size and definition of the soundstage the Noble create gives everyone involved in a recording all the space they need in which to properly express themselves. The stage is defined with real precision, and is easy to follow as a result, even if it’s packed to capacity with contributors.

(Image credit: Future / Simon Lucas)

Dynamic headroom where the broad ‘quiet/LOUD!’ elements of a recording are concerned is approaching ‘unlimited’, so the Rex5 can make the differences in volume and intensity many recordings like to indulge in absolutely obvious. And the bigger the dynamic shifts (Mogwai and Shostakovic, I’m looking at you in particular), the deeper the Noble breath and the greater the gap between them that they describe.

Ultimately, only the way the Rex5 handle the lower frequencies is likely to prove problematic for some listeners. Tonally, bass sounds are of a piece with everything that’s going on above them, and they’re given a similar sort of emphasis to the rest of the frequency range, too. But there’s not a lot of meat on these low-end bones – if true wireless earbuds were boxers, then the Noble FoKus Rex5 are flyweights in a world of heavyweights. The low frequencies they generate hit respectably hard, and are just as loaded with information regarding tone and texture as the rest of the frequency range. But the trade-off for the straight-edge precision of their control, and the maneuverability and rhythmic positivity that comes as a result, is a relative lack of heft that some listeners are going to confuse with a lack of bass. And sometimes, perception is everything.

Active noise-cancellation is in the ‘good’ rather than the ‘great’ camp but then that’s true of almost every pair of true wireless in-ears that isn’t designed and built by Bose. Wind-noise can be more of an issue than it really should be, too. But call-quality is well up to standard (as long as you’re not somewhere especially windy while you’re attempting to make or receive a call).

• Sound quality: 4/5

Noble FoKus Rex5 review: Value

(Image credit: Future / Simon Lucas)

• Thrillingly complete sound quality
• Humdrum earbud battery life
• Expensive and then some

Part of the value of the Noble FoKus Rex5 – or their perceived value, at least – lies in their rarity. Apple earbuds, Bose earbuds, Sony earbuds... they’re everywhere, aren’t they? If you want to tread the road less traveled, a pair of Rex5 will certainly help you stand out.

Of course, there are also solid and tangible areas in which the Noble represent great value. The quality of their construction and finish is, to all intents and purposes, impeccable. They use premium materials at every point. They’re lavishly specified, have a number of very well-implemented control options, and have so many plus-points to the way they sound that I don’t have space to revisit them here.

There’s an elephant in the room, though, and it’s wearing a $449 / £419 / AU$699 price tag. When audio editor Becky Scarrott reviewed the Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 for this website in September 2024, she loved them despite feeling compelled to observe “they’re not cheap”. Well, suddenly the $399 / £349 / AU$599 they cost at the time seems like a bit of a bargain, doesn’t it?

• Value: 4/5

Should I buy the Noble FoKus Rex5?

(Image credit: Future / Simon Lucas) Buy them if…

You like nice things
Between the choice of materials, the quality of construction and the standard of finish, the Rex5 are a lovely thing to own.

You admire thorough specification
These Noble earbuds walk it like they talk it – a total of 10 drivers along with premium wireless connectivity makes them a serious proposition.

You value speedy and insightful sound
These are by no means the Rex5’s only talents, but when it comes to both ‘speed’ and ‘insight’ they’re among the very best true wireless in-ears around.

Don’t buy them if…

You don’t much like the colour green
Look elsewhere – the Noble FoKus Rex5 are quite assertively green, and that’s your only option when it comes to finish.

Your ears are on the small side
In absolute terms these are quite large earbuds and it’s likely they’ll be a bit much for any ear significantly smaller than ‘average’.

You want bass and plenty of it
There’s a case to be made for the accuracy of the low-frequency activity the Rex5 produce, but that isn’t going to mollify the bass-heads among us.

Noble FoKus Rex5 review: Also consider

Bowers & Wilkins Pi8
I’ve invoked the Pi8 already in the course of this review, and here I go again. They’re made to look a little bit dowdy by the FoKus Rex5, but they most certainly have it where it counts. And now they’re just a touch more affordable than when they first launched, they’re even more compelling.

See our full Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 review

How I tested the Noble FoKus Rex5

• With an Apple iPhone 14 Pro, an Apple MacBook Pro and a FiiO M15S
• With a variety of music stored in a variety of file types and resolutions
• Using a number of different Bluetooth codecs

From 5644kbps DSD content via LDAC to 256kbps MP3 via SBC, I listened to as many different standards and types of digital audio content as possible during the course of the week or so I spent with the Rex5 in my ears.

I used a few different sources, too, and from the home office to the South Downs nearby I made sure to listen in a variety of environments. And of course I listened to as many different types of music as I can stomach – I have to draw the line somewhere, though, and so I naturally gave things like ‘barbershop’ the swerve…

• First reviewed in January 2025

• Read TechRadar's reviews guarantee

Amazon Fire TV Omni Mini-LED TV review: Two minute review

The new Amazon Fire TV Omni Mini-LED enters a seriously competitive mini-LED TV market, taking on Samsung, Hisense, TCL and Roku. It doesn’t stand out in this crowded arena, but it is a solid all-around TV for the price.

The Amazon Fire TV Omni Mini-LED’s picture quality is pretty good overall compared to the best TVs. Colors are vibrant, textures and details are lifelike and contrast is well-balanced. Motion handling is good for both sports and movies. Unfortunately, it suffers from crushed black levels in some picture modes, resulting in a loss of shadow detail.

Audio quality is a mixed bag on the Omni Mini-LED. Sound is accurately placed with a good sense of direction, speech is clear and there’s generally good bass. While the sound can go beyond the borders of the screen, it feels narrow and contained, especially with Dolby Atmos effects. For those wanting a full home theater experience, I’d recommend one of the best soundbars.

The Omni Mini-LED has a good stock of gaming features including 4K 144Hz, Dolby Vision gaming, VRR (AMD FreeSync Premium Pro is included) and ALLM support. Performance is smooth and while it won’t beat the best gaming TVs from LG and Samsung, it provides a good mid-range alternative, though its graphics could be better.

Amazon’s Fire TV smart TV platform performs well enough and has a good number of picture settings for those who like to experiment. While Fire TV can be on the cluttered side, and there’s occasional stutter, it's a perfectly decent smart TV platform.

With a similar price to its main competitor, the Hisense U7N, the Omni Mini-LED’s real value comes down to what sort of prices it can hit during Prime Day and Black Friday. Discounts are already appearing, so it has the chance to seriously up its value when the sales begin.

Amazon Fire TV Omni Mini-LED TV review: Prices & release date

(Image credit: Future)

• Release date: November 2024
• 55-inch: $819.99 / £849.99 (about AU$1,316)
• 65-inch: $1,089.99 / £1,149.99 (about AU$1,750)
• 75-inch: $1,499.99 / £1,599.99 (about AU$2,409)
• 85-inch: $2,099.99 / N/A (about AU$3,373)

The Amazon Fire TV Omni Mini-LED series is the latest entry in Amazon’s Fire TV range, following the Amazon Fire TV Omni QLED. It is the first Fire TV to feature a panel with a mini-LED backlight and is available in 55, 65, 75 and 85-inch (US-only for the 85-inch) sizes.

Its launch prices are strikingly similar to the Hisense U7N, one of the best mini-LED TVs on the market. The U7N has seen major discounts since its release in April 2024, especially during Black Friday, and the Amazon Mini-LED is already following suit.

Despite a relatively recent release, the 55-inch Mini-LED (the size I tested) is already down to $699.99 / £749.99 (about AU$1,122) and the 65-inch is down to $959.99 / £949.99. I expect these prices will drop even further during peak trading events in 2025 such as Amazon’s own Prime Day and Black Friday.

Amazon Fire TV Omni Mini-LED TV review: Specs Amazon Fire TV Omni Mini-LED TV review: Benchmark results Amazon Fire TV Omni Mini-LED TV review: Features

The Amazon Omni Mini-LED features two HDMI 2.1 ports, a first for an Amazon Fire TV (Image credit: Future)

• First mini-LED panel in Amazon’s TV range
• 4K 144Hz support for gaming
• Dolby Vision IQ and HDR10+ high dynamic range

The Amazon Omni Mini-LED is the first set in Amazon’s Fire TV range to feature a display panel with a mini-LED backlight, a step-up feature from its LED and QLED TVs. The Omni Mini-LED features 512 dimming zones and supports both Dolby Vision IQ and HDR10+ high dynamic range.

Gaming support on the Omni Mini-LED includes 4K 144Hz, VRR (including AMD FreeSync Premium), ALLM and Dolby Vision and HDR10+ gaming. A game mode provides optimal picture settings for gaming but does not feature a game bar, a useful feature in gaming TVs from brands like LG, Samsung, Hisense and Panasonic. It also only features two HDMI 2.1 ports.

(One HDMI-related issue occurred during my testing. When switching a source from HDMI 2 to HDMI 1, the TV kept switching back to HDMI 2. I found that turning the TV off at the wall fixed the problem, which is something to bear in mind should this issue happen to you.)

The Omni Mini-LED has a 2.1-channel speaker array with Dolby Atmos support plus several preset audio modes including Standard, Movie and Sport.

The Omni Mini-LED uses Amazon’s own Fire TV as its smart TV platform. Fire TV supports all major streaming services such as Prime Video, Netflix and Disney Plus as well as UK-based streaming services such as BBC iPlayer and ITVX. It also has an Ambient Experience, where photos and artwork can be displayed on the screen when the TV is idle and it supports hands-free Alexa voice control.

• Features score: 4.5 / 5

Amazon Fire TV Omni Mini-LED TV review: Picture quality

The Amazon Omni Mini-LED demonstrates very good detail (Image credit: Future)

• Bold color and accurate detail
• Better than expected contrast
• Black crush in darker scenes

The Omni Mini-LED’s peak HDR brightness as measured on a 10% white window pattern was 845 nits in the Standard picture preset and 973 nits in Filmmaker Mode. These results were with out-of-the-box settings for both picture modes, where the backlight was set to 80 and 70, respectively, and are roughly in the range of the Hisense U7N, which hit 807 nits in Standard mode and 1,074 nits in Filmmaker Mode.

Raising the backlight to 100 for both modes, the Omni Mini-LED hit 1,081 nits in Standard mode and 1,333 nits in Filmmaker Mode. While the higher backlight settings resulted in much higher brightness levels, I found it made highlights look blown out when watching movies.

Measuring fullscreen HDR brightness on a 100% white window pattern, again with out-of-the-box settings, the Omni Mini-LED hit 431 nits in Standard mode and 481 nits in Filmmaker Mode. When bumping up the backlight to 100 in picture settings in those modes, the Omni mini-LED hit 538 and 633 nits, respectively.

For picture testing and measurements, I used the Omni Mini-LED's out-of-the-box settings. When measuring color and grayscale in Filmmaker mode (with local dimming set to Medium), it averaged 2.9 for color accuracy and 4.8 for grayscale accuracy.

However, I did find that the Omni Mini-LED has potential for those who want its picture calibrated. After using the TV's calibration tools in Filmmaker Mode (SDR), it averaged 1.7 and 2.5 for color and grayscale accuracy, respectively, which are notable improvements.

Watching an HD stream of Fight Club via Disney Plus, the Omni Mini-LED did a solid job of upscaling, with both textures and contrast improved. It also did a good job of displaying the movie’s murky, dark color palette.

Color on the Omni mini-LED was very good overall. A 4K Dolby Vision stream of Star Wars: The Last Jedi on Disney Plus showcased vivid reds during the throne room fight scene. They verged on oversaturation but were still pleasing to the eye. A 4K Blu-ray of La La Land also demonstrated stunning color reproduction, with Mia’s yellow dress given a dynamic punch.

Measuring the Omni Mini-LED’s HDR color gamut coverage, it yielded results of 70.3% for BT.2020 and 94.9% for UHDA-P3 – both good results that are comparable to the Samsung QN85D and Hisense U7N.

The Amazon Omni Mini-LED delivers solid contrast (Image credit: Future)

Contrast was generally strong, with the Omni mini-LED displaying a good balance between light and dark tones, something that could be seen in the opening crime scene and aerial shots of the city when watching a 4K Blu-ray of The Batman. I found that Dolby Vision Filmmaker Mode was the best overall picture preset, though setting local dimming to Medium in the picture settings resulted in the best contrast. Also, when watching the black-and-white scenes in Oppenheimer, there was a good range of gray tones throughout.

Black levels and shadow detail were a mixed bag on the Omni Mini-LED. The contrast was solid and it demonstrated decent backlight control, but I found it would crush black tones in darker scenes, resulting in a loss of shadow detail. For example, in the same opening crime scene of The Batman, with local dimming set to Medium in Dolby Vision Filmmaker Mode, the detail in clothing was lost. Brighter picture modes such as Dolby Vision IQ or Dolby Vision Bright rectified this, but contrast also looked less accurate in those modes.

Textures were generally very good on the Omni Mini-LED, with facial features and details in a wide range of movies including The Batman, Top Gun: Maverick and Oppenheimer all looking accurate and true-to-life. Pictures could occasionally look on the soft side compared to more premium mini-LED TVs, but they were still solid for a mid-range model.

Motion in Sports TV mode was accurate out-of-the-box. When watching an HD stream of a soccer game, I found that setting Smoothness (judder reduction) at 4 and Clarity (blur reduction) at 10 were the optimal adjustments. For viewing sports, I found the Omini Mini-LED to be better than both the Hisense U6N and U7N, which required a lot more setup.

Motion was also good for movies, with the Omni Mini-LED easily handling the intense, fast-moving flight sequences in Top Gun: Maverick. Interestingly, I found I couldn’t alter the Natural Cinema motion setting in Dolby Vision Filmmaker Mode, but it did not seem to make a noticeable difference when tested on other picture modes.

• Picture quality score: 4 / 5

Amazon Fire TV Omni Mini-LED TV review: Sound quality

The Omni mini-LED has average built-in sound quality, so movies such as La La Land could benefit from a soundbar (Image credit: Future)

• 2.1-channel speakers
• Good accuracy and placement
• Sound is narrow and contained

The Omni Mini-LED has a 2.1-channel speaker system totaling 24W of power. It supports Dolby Atmos and comes with several sound modes targeted towards different types of content such as Movie, Sports, and Music. In my testing, I generally found Movie to be the best sound preset.

Watching the Batmobile freeway chase sequence in The Batman, the Omni mini-LED demonstrated good sound placement and accuracy – as cars swerved across the screen, the sound of the screeching tires also swept across the screen. Bass was decent, with a good level of rumble stemming from the Batmobile’s engine. When watching Top Gun: Maverick, the sound exceeded the confines of the screen during flight sequences, giving it an expansive quality, and the dialogue was clear throughout my viewing.

Even so, in both The Batman and Top Gun: Maverick, Dolby Atmos effects were so faint as to be unnoticeable, with the rain in The Batman and height channels in the Mach 10 scene in Top Gun: Maverick never hitting – something to be expected from a TV with basic, 2.1-channel built-in speakers. For those using the Omni Mini-LED mainly for watching movies, I’d recommend adding a soundbar.

• Sound quality score: 3.5 / 5

Amazon Fire TV Omni Mini-LED TV review: Design

The Amazon Omni Mini-LED's tall feet allow plenty of space for a soundbar (Image credit: Future)

• Tall feet allow space for a soundbar
• Hand-free voice control
• Bland design for the price

One of the Omni Mini-LED’s best design features is its supplied feet. They are tall enough to easily fit a soundbar without the soundbar obscuring the bottom of the screen, a common issue with many TVs.

Otherwise, the Omni Mini-LED’s design is very uninspired, with a rather generic and slightly bulky appearance compared with mini-LED rivals from Hisense, Samsung and TCL. I expected a slimmer depth at this price.

The Omni Mini-LED comes with Amazon’s latest generation Alexa Voice remote, which still feels a little cheap and flimsy compared to remotes from other brands. Hands-free Alexa voice control is available via the TV’s built-in microphone – a welcome feature that can also be turned off in the settings.

• Design score: 4 / 5

Amazon Fire TV Omni Mini-LED TV review: Smart TV & menus

Fire TV has access to plenty of apps but its home screen is taken up by a large banner ad (Image credit: Future)

• Fire TV smart TV platform
• Sometimes stuttering performance
• Advanced picture setup options

The Omni Mini-LED uses Amazon’s Fire TV smart TV platform, which is featured on the Amazon Fire TV Stick range as well as TVs from other brands.

Fire TV’s home screen provides a good number of movie and TV recommendations (especially for Prime Video) based on your viewing history and lets you easily jump back into programs you’ve previously been watching. It also has a large, revolving banner ad at the top that takes up roughly one-third of the screen.

Performance-wise, Fire TV is generally responsive when navigating though there were occasional stutters and freeze-ups during my testing. Menus, while fairly easy to get around, could be a little more user-friendly. There are plenty of settings to tailor the picture to your taste and even 2-point, 11-point and Color Grading calibration tools for those who want advanced fine-tuning.

While Fire TV gives preference on its home screen to Prime Video movies and TV shows, it does provide access to a wide array of streaming services including Netflix and Disney Plus.

• Smart TV & menus score: 4 / 5

Amazon Fire TV Omni Mini-LED TV review: Gaming

The Amazon Omni Mini-LED, shown here with Battlefield V, has a good stock of gaming features and performs well (Image credit: Future)

• 4K 144Hz and Dolby Vision gaming
• 13.4ms input lag time
• Only two HDMI 2.1 ports

The Omni Mini-LED is well-equipped with gaming features, including support for 4K 144Hz, VRR (including AMD FreeSync Premium Pro), ALLM and Dolby Vision gaming. It is the first of Amazon’s FireTVs to feature 120Hz support, but only features two HDMI 2.1 ports, which is currently the case for all TVs not made by LG or Samsung.

The Omni Mini-LED performs well, even at higher frame rates. Playing Battlefield V on Xbox Series X, I found chaotic battle sequences, quick targeting and panning shots all ran smoothly and showed quick response times. When I measured the input lag time, it hit 13.4ms, which is similar to TVs from Hisense, TCL, and Sony, but doesn’t quite beat the best gaming TVs from Samsung and LG. Still, it sits below the 15ms threshold gamers look for.

For picture quality during gaming, the Omni Mini-LED delivers good detail and dazzling colors along with solid contrast, again shown in desert and night missions in Battlefield V. I did find that textures took on a soft, muddy tone in some cases, which detracted from the experience a bit, but overall the Omni mini-LED is a solid gaming TV.

• Gaming score: 4 / 5

Amazon Fire TV Omni Mini-LED TV review: Value

The Amazon Omni Mini-LED is supplied with the Alexa Voice remote (Image credit: Future)

• Extremely competitive mini-LED TV market
• Closely matches rivals’ prices
• Potential for discounts

The Omni Mini-LED enters a highly competitive mini-LED TV market dominated by Samsung, Hisense and TCL, and also competes with budget models from Roku.

Its primary rival is arguably the Hisense U7N, which delivers similar features and performance and has very similar prices. For the 55-inch model I tested, we’ve seen the U7N average about $598.99 / £699.99, and it has gone as low as $480 in Black Friday sales. But the Omni Mini-LED has already hit $699.99 / £749.99 only months after release, and as an Amazon product, it has the potential to drop lower during Prime Day and Black Friday.

The Omni Mini-LED is a solid TV for the money, offering good performance and many features that will please most TV buyers. It doesn’t quite beat the Hisense U7N in terms of value, but that could all change come Prime Day.

• Value score: 4 / 5

Should you buy the Amazon Fire TV Omni Mini-LED TV?

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

You want a TV ready for sports
Compared with other budget mini-LED TVs, the Omni Mini-LED is ready for sports out-of-the-box, requiring almost no setup in its Sports mode.

You want a good-value TV
The Omni Mini-LED is well-priced for what it offers and has the potential for big discounts during sales events such as Prime Day and Black Friday.

Don't buy it if…

You want the best built-in sound
The Omni Mini-LED's accuracy and sound placement are very good, but it lacks in other areas.

You want the best smart TV platform
While Fire TV has its plus points, a cluttered home screen and sometimes stuttering performance means it falls short of the likes of Google TV and LG's webOS.

Also consider

Hisense U7N
The Omni Mini-LED's closest rival, the Hisense U7N offers a similar list of features, plus similar picture quality and overall performance. The U7N isn't quite as good for sports, but it's better for sound. Your choice should come down to the price at the time of buying. Read our full Hisense U7N review. View Deal

Amazon Fire TV Omni QLED
The Omni QLED is the step-down model from the Omni Mini-LED, using a QLED panel that doesn't offer as good a picture or as many gaming features as it's limited to 60Hz. It is, however, a good budget option if you're looking for something cheaper. Read our full Amazon Fire TV Omni QLED review. View Deal

Samsung QN90D
A much more premium mini-LED TV, the Samsung QN90D offers impressive picture quality and superb motion handling for sports. Plus, it comes with a full suite of gaming features and better built-in sound. Be prepared to spend a lot more on this TV, however. Read our full Samsung QN90D review. View Deal

How I tested the Amazon Fire TV Omni Mini-LED TV

• Tested in light light-controlled environment
• Used SDR and HDR sources for testing picture quality
• Measurements were taken using Portrait Displays' Calman color calibration software

(Image credit: Future)

To test the Amazon Omni Mini-LED, I first conducted casual viewing to establish the TV's most accurate picture mode. In this case, it was Filmmaker Mode, which I used to carry out both subjective and objective testing.

For subjective testing, I used reference scenes from both SDR sources, such as HD streaming and broadcast TV, as well as 4K Blu-ray and streaming HDR sources. I tested the Omni Mini-LED's color, contrast, detail, motion handling, and black levels. Some of the same reference scenes were also used to test the Omni Mini-LED's built-in audio quality.

I also tested the Omni Mini-LED's gaming features and performance using an Xbox Series X.

For objective testing, I took measurements of the Omni Mini-LED's brightness, color and grayscale accuracy, and HDR color gamut coverage. The measurements were taken using a colorimeter, test pattern generator and Portrait Displays' Calman color calibration software.

Brightness measurements were taken using both SDR and HDR white window patterns, ranging in size from 1-100% with a focus on 10% (peak brightness) and 100% (fullscreen brightness). Color and grayscale accuracy were taken in SDR, using Delta E values, looking for a score below 3. HDR color gamut coverage was measured for the BT.2020 and UHDA-P3 color spaces.

For input lag testing, measured in milliseconds, I used a Leo Bodnar 4K HDMI input lag tester.

• First reviewed: January, 2025
• Read TechRadar's reviews guarantee

Canon EOS R1: two-minute review

The Canon EOS R1 follows design conventions passed down from professional high-speed DSLR cameras, such as the EOS 1D X Mark III, in that it also features a built-in vertical grip and high-capacity batteries for extended shooting times, complete with seriously impressive high-speed shooting capabilities. If you want a no holds barred camera for sports and wildlife photography, this is the speediest Canon camera on offer.

Its flagship features, functionality and performance excel for the rigors of pro press photography – the few that might actually be able to afford the EOS R1's eye-watering price tag will consequently be equipped for demanding jobs with one of the best Canon cameras currently available.

(Image credit: Future | Tim Coleman)

The camera sports a 24.2MP full-frame BSI stacked CMOS sensor and can capture photos at up to an incredible 40fps, plus 6K raw video at up to 60fps. There's also a slew of useful features including the ability to capture bursts of JPEGs while shooting Full HD video, but we'll cover those in more detail later.

Autofocus is fast and accurate with up to 4,368 AF points depending on the AF mode selected, and the in-body image stabilization (IBIS) is amazing and highly effective, so you can rest assured you have a camera that works for you. The biggest issue with the EOS R1 is the cost, which will put it out of the reach of many photographers, and it's certainly more camera than any enthusiast could ever need.

Canon EOS R1: price and release date

• Expensive at $6,299 / £6,999 / AU$10,499
• Body only with no kit options
• Available now

The EOS R1 was announced in July 2024 and is available now with a body-only price of $6,299 / £6,999 / AU$10,499. This is, of course, expensive, and will put the camera out of the reach of even many professional photographers. This is a similar price, however, to the EOS 1D X Mark III – the quickest DSLR ever made – so with inflation that's pretty impressive.

As a camera designed for professional photographers, some of whom will inevitably be EOS 1D X Mark III owners, the EOS R1 works incredibly well with adapted EF DSLR lenses. For professionals with plenty of expensive EF L-series glass, this softens the financial blow because they can be confident that they won't have to upgrade all of their glass to RF lenses all at once.

Naturally, using native lenses will be preferable to most photographers, but the ability to only need to do this as and when the natural upgrade cycle completes is incredibly useful. Even professionals, who spend more on photo kit than the average enthusiast will appreciate this.

• Price score: 3.5/5

Canon EOS R1: specs Canon EOS R1: design and handling

• Built-in vertical grip mirrors the camera's regular control layout
• Versatile articulating LCD screen
• Generously large viewfinder is easy to use

In terms of the overall design, the EOS R1 looks every inch a professional camera thanks to its built-in vertical grip for horizontal and vertical shooting. There are dual CF Express Type B card slots on one side of the camera, while on the other you'll find the physical ports which include USB-C, Ethernet, HDMI, mic, headphones and PC sync for flash. The EOS R1 also offers Bluetooth and WiFi connectivity.

Surprisingly, the EOS R1 isn't overly cumbersome despite its large and hefty size – that's 6.2 x 5.88 x 3.43in / 157.6 x 149.5 x 87.3mm with a weight of 2.7lbs / 1,115g, including a battery and memory card (but no lens), which is largely thanks to the well-contoured vertical and horizontal grips, plus the new camera coating that provides a secure grip. The camera also balances well with both smaller lenses and larger telephotos. Overall build quality is excellent as you'd expect for a professional camera.

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One of the immediate differences you notice when compared to mid-range cameras such as the EOS R6 Mark II, and even the EOS R5 Mark II, is the sheer number of direct access controls on offer. The AF-ON button serves a dual purpose in that it offers two programmable functions with the sensor in the center allowing you to use swipe actions with your thumb to move around zoomed images or to adjust autofocus, for example – it's a slick design feature.

Having many direct access controls is standard for high-end professional cameras like the EOS R1, because you don't want to otherwise be scrolling through menus to find and make adjustments when in fast-paced shooting environments. Also, many controls are duplicated on the vertical grip so you can enjoy the same level of convenience and comfort when shooting in both formats.

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On the rear, you'll find the 2.1m-dot 3.2-inch articulating touchscreen which is useful because it can be positioned in many ways. But it's the generously large, almost cinema-like, 9.44m-dot viewfinder that truly caught my eye. Not only is the viewfinder window large, but so too is the immersive EVF screen itself.

The EOS R1's menu system is intuitive and easy to navigate, but like most cameras these days there are so many options available, including button customization, and so it'll take some time to full familiarize and set up the camera for your shooting needs. Some features do require you to delve into the menu to switch them on or off, despite all of the direct access controls, but this approach is standard for all cameras.

• Design score: 5/5

Canon EOS R1: features and performance

• Dual processors deliver Canon's best-ever speed, including 40fps continuous shooting
• Advanced autofocus with dedicated sports modes and face recognition

The EOS R1 features a new high-speed 24.2MP full-frame BSI stacked CMOS sensor that reduces rolling shutter at the expense of a slight reduction in dynamic range. This reduction certainly wasn't noticed shooting a range of subjects during testing.

The sensor is powered by dual processors: the DIGIC X and the DIGIC Accelerator. These processors allow for large volumes of data, fast image capture, fast AF and produce excellent image quality, as well as facilitating the Deep Learning technologies for in-camera image upscaling and noise reduction.

The EOS R1 is packed with so many features that it's impossible to cover them all, but there are undoubtedly some that stand out from the crowd. The EOS R1 is a camera designed for speed and can capture raw files at up to 40fps with the electronic shutter enabled, or 12fps with the mechanical shutter active. The mechanical shutter extends to 1/8000 sec while the electronic shutter pushes further to a lightning-fast 1/64,000 sec.

(Image credit: James Abbott)

Autofocus is incredible; it's fast, accurate and intelligent in maintaining the EOS R1's focus on speed. During testing when photographing seals on a beach, the subject detection worked flawlessly to identify eyes and faces with near-perfect accuracy, even though obstacles were sometimes present in the frame.

The AF system uses Canon's Dual Pixel Intelligent AF where subjects are accurately tracked, while Canon says it's able to identify faces and bodies. There's also subject detection, which works incredibly well, while cross-type AF makes focusing more precise and effective, even in low light and low contrast situations.

(Image credit: James Abbott)

There's also a new Action Priority mode that according to Canon recognizes movements in basketball, soccer and volleyball while tracking the ball and switching between subjects as the action unfolds. I didn't personally have the opportunity to test Action Priority, but TechRadar's Cameras Editor Tim Coleman did during the camera launch, and the sentiment is that Action priority has game-changing potential for sports photographers.

Then there's eye-control AF, which, as the name suggests, tracks the movement of your eye and where you're looking in the viewfinder as a guide to position the active AF point(s). Eye-control AF has to be configured via the camera menu. Again, Tim Coleman has written a dedicated feature about Eye-control AF.

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Before the basketball game started, I took a portrait of this player and selected him as the player for the EOS R1 to prioritize as the primary subject to focus on. (Image credit: Future | Tim Coleman)Image 2 of 3

After doing this, the hit rate of sharply focused photos on the player was virtually perfect. (Image credit: Future | Tim Coleman)Image 3 of 3

The EOS R1 is able to do this subject priority trick for up to 10 faces. (Image credit: Future | Tim Coleman)

Another interesting and useful feature is pre-continuous shooting which, when enabled, allows the camera to buffer 20 frames while the shutter button is halfway depressed. When you fully release the shutter button, the buffered frames are also captured to provide a greater hit rate in fast-paced situations when your reactions might not be up to speed.

20 frames equates to half a second of pre-capture when shooting at the maximum frame rate. This is great, of course, but isn’t a feature you'd want to use all of the time because of the sheer number of frames you'd be capturing and needing to edit.

• Features and performance score: 5/5

Canon EOS R1: image and video quality

• Excellent high ISO handling
• AI-powered upscale and noise reduction
• Up to 6K Raw video

EOS R1 images are beautifully sharp, which can in part be attributed to the new low-pass filter that reduces moire and false color alongside maintaining sharp detail. Image quality is excellent with raw files naturally providing the greatest degree of flexibility. JPEGs are also fantastic out of camera which will undoubtedly appeal to press photographers delivering images directly to picture agencies.

JPEG color profiles can be tweaked with custom profiles so photographers can adjust settings such as brightness and contrast. The Standard profile provides great results but images can be further improved using levels to adjust the black and white points in Photoshop. Colors are pleasing and Canon has long been well respected for its color science, so there are no complaints here.

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A feature within the camera is AI-powered upscaling and noise reduction. These are frustratingly only available for JPEGs and the former increases file sizes 4x to 96MP. Fine details are preserved while color and contrast are maintained, but it's a shame that this functionality isn’t available for raw files. Adobe users, however, can take advantage of Super Resolution to increase raw files by the same factor.

Noise reduction certainly works but the closer you get to the maximum ISO within the camera's standard range, the less effective the results are.

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Video is a major component of the EOS R1 too, with the ability to capture 6K 12-bit raw video in-camera, up to 60fps. 2K and Full HD video can be captured at up to 240fps, while 4K is available up to 120fps. Canon C-Log flat color profiles are also available alongside the ability to capture proxy video to one memory card, with full-resolution files recorded to the other.

This is all just the tip of the iceberg but gives you an idea of what the EOS R1 is capable of. Plus, a video feature that could be useful for hybrid press photographers is the ability to capture Full HD video and 17MP JPEGs at 10fps at the same time when the Dual Shooting function is switched on.

• Image and video quality score: 5/5

Canon EOS R1: testing scorecard Should I buy the Canon EOS R1? Buy it if...

You're a pro sports, wildlife or press photographer
The EOS R1 is aimed squarely at sports, wildlife and press photography, with features and functionality that make image capture and delivery in these situations highly efficient.

You need fast continuous shooting
If a maximum frame rate of 40fps will enhance your photography, alongside pre-capture buffering of 20 frames, the EOS R1 will help you to capture the decisive moment and then some.

You'd like exceptional autofocus
The autofocus system employed by the EOS R1 is excellent and sets a new bar for AF technology when it comes to capturing sharp images of fast-moving subjects in complex situations.

Don't buy it if...

You need a higher resolution
Despite in-camera JPEG upscaling to increase resolution by 400%, the EOS R1's true resolution is 24.2MP, and there are plenty of alternatives that produce higher resolution raw files and excellent image quality.

You don’t require speed
Not all photographers require the level of speed on offer here, such as landscape and portrait photographers. The EOS R1 is also heavy and bulky for landscape photography with more suitable cameras available.

You're not a professional
Of course, anyone with deep pockets can buy the EOS R1, but unless you’re a professional working in specific areas of photography, it's much more camera than you will ever need it to be.

Canon EOS R1: also consider Nikon Z9

The Nikon Z9 is a few years old now but it continues to match flagship cameras from competitors thanks to impressive performance, speed and its 45.7MP sensor. It only uses an electronic shutter, but to fully experience the EOS R1's speed of capture this is the shutter type you have to use in any case.

Read our in-depth Nikon Z9 review

Canon EOS R5 Mark II

The Canon EOS R5 Mark II was launched alongside the EOS R1 and offers many of the same features and functionality in a smaller and less expensive body. What's more, the control layout is similar and the EOS R5 Mark II offers a higher resolution 45MP BSI stacked sensor.

Read our in-depth Canon EOS R5 Mark II

Sony A9 III

Believe it or not, the Canon EOS R1 isn't the out and out fastest camera around – that award goes to the Sony A9 III, a flagship camera for sports that we called 'the high-speed camera to beat'. A true design innovation, the A9 III is the first camera of its kind with a global shutter which, among other things, realizes burst shooting speeds up to 120fps, plus extremely fast shutter and flash sync speeds. It's also Sony's best designed camera yet, though you'll want the optional grip to bulk it out like the EOS R1 when using telephoto lenses.

Read our in-depth Sony A9 III review

How I tested the Canon EOS R1

(Image credit: James Abbott)

• I had the EOS R1 for a couple of weeks, along with three Canon lenses
• I captured a range of subjects, from wildlife to landscapes
• I tested Canon's in-camera Deep Learning features such as upscaling

I mainly tested the Canon EOS R1 for shooting wildlife, but also to capture landscape and night photography, and I had three Canon lenses to choose, including the RF 85mm F1.2L USM and RF 200-800mm F6.3-9 IS USM. It might not be the obvious choice for landscape photography, given it is heavy and bulky, but I gave it a go none the lens and it performs exceptionally well in this situation too.

I tested as many features and functions as possible were tested, with my main focus being the speed of the camera's autofocus and continuous burst shooting. It was also important to familiarize myself with the control layout so the camera could be used as if it were my own.

I also tested Canon's in-camera 'Deep Learning' features in order to provide a thorough overview of the camera in terms of professional image capture.

First reviewed January 2025

Epson EpiqVision Mini EF22: One minute review

Epson’s smaller, portable EpiqVision home projector models were long overdue for an update, and that’s just what it has done with the Epson EpiqVision Mini EF22. This introduces the tilting, swiveling stand design that’s proven so popular with many other recent projectors, and it packs in Google TV for streaming, which helps bring the EpiqVision Mini EF22 closer to parity with its competition. Add in a pair of stereo speakers and the EpiqVision Mini EF22 proves an effective all-in-one system.

The Epson EpiqVision Mini EF22 beams a laser through its 3LCD projection system, providing respectable brightness near 1,000 lumens. It makes for a decent picture, though it doesn’t manage quite the exciting color gamut of triple-laser options like the JMGO N1S Pro. Its 1080p resolution will also have you sticking to smaller projection sizes than you might otherwise opt for with the best 4K projectors like the BenQ X300G or even the older Xgimi Horizon Pro.

While the EpiqVision Mini EF22 is a simple and effective little home theater projector selling for a reasonable $999, it struggles to contend with the market it’s entering. Not only are there many great new projectors in the $1000-$2000 range but there’s also a sea of slightly older models that have come down in price. It’s a good projector, but I’m hard-pressed to find a reason to choose it over the alternatives. I’d snag myself a BenQ X300G or Xgimi Horizon Pro instead, both of which have been seeing some impossible-to-ignore discounts.

(Image credit: Future) Epson EpiqVision Mini EF22 review: Specs

The JMGO N1S Pro 4K delivered strong picture quality across the board (Image credit: Future) Epson EpiqVision Mini EF22 review: Prices & release date

• Release date: October 2024
• Price: $999

The Epson EpiqVision Mini EF22 launched in late 2024 with a starting price of $999 (£799, AU$1,599). It has seen some discounts since then, though these tend to come and go. The EpiqVision Mini EF22 comes in a variety of colors, giving you more options. You can find it in Stone Blue, Opal Green, Quartz Rose, Onyx Black, and Diamond White.

(Image credit: Future) Epson EpiqVision Mini EF22 review: Design & features

• Built-in stand makes setup easy
• Google TV and automatic image adjustments
• Built-in 2x 5W stereo speakers

Like many of the new consumer projectors in 2024, the Epson EpiqVision Mini EF22 comes with a stand built in. This makes it easy to adjust the vertical tilt and horizontal angle of the projector, even supporting vertical projection up toward the ceiling. This provides a simpler setup, though anything but a perfectly lined-up projection will result in some digital corrections that detract from the usable image.

The EpiqVision Mini EF22 makes automatic vertical and horizontal keystone adjustments very quickly, letting you shift the projector around and see the image change shape in real time. It’s also quick to focus automatically. It has an optional setting to avoid obstacles when projecting, and this proves effective, but it is a slower process than the other automatic corrections, taking a few seconds. The EpiqVision Mini EF22 rounds out its smart projection features with eye protection that dims the projector when it detects someone in front of it.

The Epson EpiqVision Mini EF22 is plenty compact, proving not dramatically different in size from the JGMO N1S I recently tested. That said, projectors can certainly come smaller, as LG showed with the LG CineBeam Q. It’s hard to have small projectors get very bright or offer solid audio, though, and those aren’t sacrifices the EpiqVision Mini EF22 made. It features stereo speakers and is rated to hit 1,000 ISO lumens. It also comes with Google TV. Unfortunately, Epson didn’t make the most of the projector’s size, as it opted to include just one HDMI port (with ARC), a USB-A port, and a 3.5mm audio output jack. It’s providing options, but not many. The focus of the EpiqVision Mini EF22 really is on being a standalone device that doesn’t call for external connections.

The Epson EpiqVision Mini EF22 comes with a simple remote. It’s all plastic with rubber buttons and nothing too elegant, but it’s effective. It has simple navigation controls, a Google Assistant button, a shortcut to the HDMI input (making the input selection button a bit redundant), dedicated volume and brightness controls, and shortcuts for projection settings, auto-focus, as well as YouTube, Netflix, and Prime Video. None of the buttons have backlighting, making it a bit hard to use in the dark, but at least some of the buttons are white, and it’s easy enough to feel out the volume buttons.

• Design & features score: 4/5

The JMGO N1S Pro 4K's picture is at its best with bright and colorful images (Image credit: Future) Epson EpiqVision Mini EF22 review: Picture & sound quality

• Decent brightness
• No unsightly motion smoothing
• Color could use a boost

The Epson EpiqVision Mini EF22 provides an overall good-looking image, but it’s not the most impressive I've seen in this projector category. While natural content looks solid, with the projector offering a great presentation for Dune, it can struggle elsewhere. In the extremely colorful Mind Game, it didn’t keep up with some of the triple-laser options on the market, like the JMGO N1S, and I noticed some banding in color gradients. That said, the 3LCD technology avoids some of the unsightly swimming-pixel artifacts I’ve seen from DLP projectors displaying large monotone regions, as well as DLP rainbow artifacts.

The EpiqVision Mini EF22 doesn’t keep up with some of its 4K competition either. BenQ’s X300G may have originally been much more expensive, but it’s come down considerably in price, and it has the chops to really threaten the EpiqVision Mini EF22.

I took a rough measurement to overall brightness in the Dynamic profile, which achieved 959 lumens with an ANSI test pattern and a matte white screen. There again, it’s just decent. Competitors like the Dangbei Atom and JGMO N1S offer as much, and slightly more expensive options from BenQ and JMGO take it to another level.

Gaming on the Epson EpiqVision Mini EF22, I found the projector added considerable latency if it had any sort of processing going on (i.e., keystone correction or digital zoom). With these disabled, the projector still had a tangible delay between actions and on-screen effects, but it wasn’t significant enough to slow me down as I worked my way through numerous encounters in Hades. Oddly enough, there’s no specific picture profile for gaming that would disable the projector's processing automatically, so you’ll have to manage these settings on your own.

With two speakers on the rear of the EpiqVision Mini EF22, it works reasonably well whether you set the projector up in front of you or at the back of the room. They provide a bit of stereo separation, which adds a touch of depth, though they’re no substitute for a dedicated audio system. They get reasonably loud for a small, quiet room, but the sound gets a bit muddled at higher volumes, making it hard to pick out everything that’s going on in a song, for example. You’ll get clear enough mids and a bit of bass, but higher frequencies tend to suffer when the volume is cranked.

To the EF22’s credit, it doesn’t mess around with any unsightly motion smoothing. Right from the jump, it provides good, clear motion.

• Picture and sound quality score: 3/5

(Image credit: Future) Epson EpiqVision Mini EF22 review: Value

• Effective all-in-one package
• Comes up short next to the competition

The Epson EpiqVision Mini EF22 puts plenty into one package. It’s a decent projector, providing a bright image that can handle impromptu movie nights or let you settle in to binge the next hot series, as long as you turn the lights off. With Google TV, it’s ready to stream a great variety of content with no external sources. And it packs in a good enough set of speakers to make do in quiet, intimate viewing conditions. The built-in stand also proves helpful, making it that much easier to set up in various places without the need to stack up a pile of books or go buy a separate stand.

The biggest thing holding the EpiqVision Mini EF22 back in the value department is the competition it faces. You can get much brighter projectors and ones that offer 4K or provide more vivid color for the same price or just a little more. Compared to these, the EpiqVision Mini EF22 ends up feeling lacking.

• Value score: 3/5

The JMGO N1S Pro 4K comes in a styrofoam carry case. Although portable, it is on the weightier side (Image credit: Future) Should I buy the Epson EpiqVision Mini EF22? Buy it if...

You want a simple all-in-one: The Epson EpiqVision Mini EF22 is easy to set up and easy to use. It has the streaming platform, speakers, stand, and display all covered. It performs decently in each department as well, giving you a reasonably well-rounded experience.View Deal

You can’t stand DLP rainbow artifact and dithering: Epson’s 3LCD projection technology gets around a couple visual artifacts that often impact DLP projectors. If you see rainbows or are distracted by weird pixel movement when watching DLP projection, you may prefer the look of Epson’s projector. View Deal

You can’t stand motion smoothing: The Epson EpiqVision Mini EF22 doesn’t mess around with motion smoothing at all. While most projectors I test have it enabled by default, forcing you to turn it off manually, the EF22 lets you avoid it entirely. View Deal

Don't buy it if...

You can’t control ambient lighting: Projection at 1,000 lumens is decently bright and can work in a dim or dark room. But if you can’t close the blinds and dim the lights, it won’t be enough for a bright room.View Deal

You’re a big gamer: The Epson EpiqVision Mini EF22 has no optimizations for gaming. It requires all of its image adaptations to be disabled to avoid serious input latency, and even then the latency is perceptible. There are much better gaming projector options, like the BenQ X300G.View Deal

You plan on setting it up with more home theater gear: A key aspect of the Epson EpiqVision Mini EF22 is its all-in-one nature. It’s well-rounded, but not exceptional in any one area. If you’re planning on pairing your projector with separate speakers and video sources, you may as well go with one that goes more all-in on visuals (and one that has more useful ports).View Deal

Also consider

JMGO N1S Pro

The JMGO N1S Pro costs twice as much, but its tri-laser projection system is brighter and way more colorful. If you can tolerate DLP artifacts, it makes for a great alternative with more stunning visuals.

Read our JMGO N1S Pro reviewView Deal

LG CineBeam Q 4K Projector

The LG CineBeam Q gets you upgrades in color quality and resolution thanks to its 4K, triple-laser projection system. It’s also tiny, making it far more portable. But it sacrifices brightness and audio for its size.

Read our full LG CineBeam Q reviewView Deal

BenQ X300G

While this projector might have a high MSRP, it’s recently seen its price reduced to become incredibly competitive. It’s much brighter and offers 4K visuals and gaming enhancements. If you can live without the built-in stand of the Epson EpiqVision Mini EF22, strongly consider this one instead.

Read our full BenQ X300G reviewView Deal

(Image credit: Future) How I tested the Epson EpiqVision Mini EF22

• Tested at home in multiple, real-world viewing conditions
• Presented the display with a variety of media and formats
• I have tested numerous projectors and displays over the last half-decade

I tested the Epson EpiqVision Mini EF22 at home, in real-world conditions. This saw it faced with ambient light coming in from numerous windows, in-room lighting, as well as ambient noise that both the projector and speaker systems had to overcome. The projector was tested both against a bare, white wall and an Akia Screens CineWhite screen. It was presented with streamed content, HDR and non-HDR, and PC gameplay.

My testing evaluates the projector’s performance concerning its price and competition from other models that I and my colleagues at TechRadar have tested.

I have been testing projectors since 2021 and displays for even longer.

• First reviewed: January 24, 2025
• Read TechRadar's review guarantee

Garmin Instinct 3: One minute review

As I begin our Garmin Instinct 3 review testing, I know this watch has a lot to live up to. After all, the Garmin Instinct 2 received a rare, coveted five stars in our official review. With a variety of sizes (from 40mm to the Instinct 2X Solar at 50mm), solar-powered and non-solar versions, a smorgasbord of fun colorways, and - my personal favorite - a hybrid Garmin Instinct Crossover, there truly was an Instinct 2 for everyone.

The Instinct 3 runs along very much the same lines, with a selection of cool colorways, a variety of sizes, and two key screen options. The smallest 40mm size is called the Instinct E, and is most reminiscent of the Instinct 2: there’s only the MIP (Memory in Pixel) option with no solar charging and no flashlight. In 45mm and 50mm sizes, you can choose between a bright, smartwatch AMOLED screen and a classic Garmin MIP screen equipped with Garmin’s Power Glass solar charge technology, offering ‘unlimited’ battery life in bright enough conditions, if you’re out and about with it exposed to sunlight for several hours.

It only really makes a big difference during endurance exercise on sunny days, when it can slow down the GPS mode’s drain on the battery life, but it’s nice to have. We got the AMOLED 45mm version to test in its cool, minty Neotropic colorway, but I do have a soft spot for the digital watch-esque MIP screens that the best Garmin watches used to use as standard. As is, this feels more like a Garmin Forerunner 265, with limited map capabilities, although the case design is still stereotypically Instinct.

The Instinct series has never offered the full-color topographical maps more premium watches in Garmin’s range have, and I was wondering if the AMOLED screen meant we’d finally see topographical maps on an Instinct, but there are no maps or touchscreen here. I suppose Garmin has to distinguish between the ranges and keep the Instinct’s price down somehow. I have recorded two workouts with the Instinct 3 so far – a run and a boxing session – and it handled both with accuracy, and was as intuitive to use as the Instinct 2. It was easy for me to replace my daily Instinct Crossover with this with barely three minutes of setup, seamlessly taking over with my sleep tracking, Body Battery and Training Readiness scores from my old watch.

Overall? As a pre-existing Instinct fan, I’m loving it. It’s fast, it’s bright, it looks fun, and most importantly, it’s useful. Yes, it’s chunky and plasticky, and if you don’t like the old design, you won’t like this one either. But it’s not a sleek metal communications tool: it’s a toy, and it’s best played with outside.

Garmin Instinct 3: Price and availability

(Image credit: Future / Stephen Warwick)

• Instinct E starts at $299 / £259 / AU$549
• 45mm Instinct 3 starts at $399 / £349 / AU$829.
• 50mm Instinct 3 starts at $449 / £429 / AU$929

The Garmin Instinct 3 is available now on Garmin’s website and other retailers, slightly confusingly with five different prices, depending on which model you pick.

The cheapest Instinct E is available now for $299 / £259 / AU$549. The 45mm watch starts at $399 / £349 / AU$729 for the MIP Solar screen, rising to $449 / £389 / AU$829 for the AMOLED screen option. The largest 50mm watch with MIP Solar screen is available from $449 / £429 / AU$829, rising to $499 / £449 / AU$929 for the AMOLED screen option.

Garmin Instinct 3: Specifications

(Image credit: Future / Stephen Warwick)

Below are the specifications for our review unit, the 45mm AMOLED Instinct 3.

Garmin Instinct 3: Design

(Image credit: Future / Matt Evans)

• Chunky polymer casing
• Choice of screens
• Intuitive, unchanged Garmin layout

The Instinct 3 builds closely on the design legacy of the Garmin Instinct 2, and the casing looks mostly the same. It’s got loads of colors, it’s roughly the same thickness, roughly the same weight (with just a gram of difference between the 45mm Instinct 3 versus the 45mm Instinct 2), and it’s still got five buttons and similar bezel indentations. The main differences are the metal accents, the new AMOLED screen option, and the flashlight, neither of the latter are available on the smallest Instinct E.

The new AMOLED screen is clear and bright, and seems at first glance to have a faster refresh rate than slightly older AMOLEDs like the Garmin Epix Pro 2 and Garmin Forerunner 965, although I’ll have to confirm that’s the case in my full review. I like the default watch face layout, although this is easily changed, and navigating around the watch with the five-button control interface is intuitive for me (a regular Garmin user) even if my Apple Watch-wearing fitness writer, Stephen Warwick, was offended at the lack of touchscreen.

While Garmin’s Forerunner, Venu and Fenix watches have adopted the hybrid of buttons and touchscreen, it’s another feature missing from the Instinct 3 to keep it affordable. The same could be said of the chunky ‘fiber-reinforced polymer’ (read that as ‘thick plastic’) casing, with slim metal accents the only thing separating it from being too childish for some users. Metal screws give it a rugged edge.

Functionally, the heart rate and skin temperature sensor array has been given a slight upgrade, with the watch now sporting the more accurate Elevate Gen 5 instead of Gen 4. The universal Garmin proprietary charger remains the same, only with a newer USB-C cable instead of USB-A, as is standard with most Garmins now.

Garmin Instinct 3: Features

(Image credit: Future / Matt Evans)

• Almost all of Garmin’s wellness features
• New torch is useful
• Basic directional maps

For the uninitiated, opening a Garmin watch and scrolling down with the ‘down’ button provides a list of wellness, navigational, and quality-of-life widgets. Outdoor-focused widgets range from the weather, sunrise and sunset times, and a compass shortcut to your sleep tracking information. Wellness stuff includes your last completed workout, sleep, Body Battery and your Training Readiness score. As a watch tailored to the great outdoors, all the functionalities you expect can be found here and the list can be customized as usual to suit your needs. Climbing a mountain? Stick the altimeter at the top. A keen marathon runner? Choose the ‘Race Calendar’ widget.

It’s fun, intuitive and acts like the watchOS 11 widget stack, but less flashy. I found most of the usual Garmin stuff there, but some premium features like Endurance Score and Hill Score were missing. They would have been nice to have. As previously mentioned, there’s no topographical maps functionality either, just basic directional guidance, but there have never been maps on an Instinct watch, and most of the time directions are all you need. You can, however, still retrace your steps with the ‘TracBack’ feature, along with a slew of other navigational tools.

Hardware-wise, the new torch is very useful: it comes in four intensities and a less dazzling red option, just like the torch on the Garmin Fenix 8. I’ve already used the red light on an evening run and the white light to help me stumble my way to the bathroom at six am. In the morning, you’ll get a daily digest, Garmin’s ‘Morning Report’ detailing information on your sleep, the weather, your Training Readiness, and a motivational message. Garmin’s been doing this for a while and it’s refined the feature over the last couple of years. Its long battery life means you won’t shy away from wearing it to bed.

• Our performance section, final scores and verdict will be added after around two weeks of testing – watch this space!

Russell Hobbs Satisfry Dual Basket Air Fryer: one-minute review

British manufacturer Russell Hobbs is a trusted name in the European home and kitchen gadgets market, providing high-quality appliances that don't break the bank. As such, our expectations for the brand's new Satisfry Dual Basket Air Fryer 9 Litre were high - and it didn't disappoint. The Satisfry Dual Basket Air Fryer is perfect for small to medium-sized households who want a solid, no-nonsense air fryer and aren't fussed about extra bells and whistles.

This air fryer offers two separate baskets that can be programmed to different temperatures and times. There are also handy match and sync functionalities to allow you to program each to the same settings (if you need to cook more of one food across two baskets, for example) or, if you're cooking separate foods for the same meal, finish cooking simultaneously. I'd have loved to see smart functionality included to make this process even easier, though. In addition, nine presets are available so you can quickly cook pizza, chips, and even steak. I found these presets to provide mostly accurate results, though, like most air fryers, some experimentation is required for optimal results. Overall, I only had a few minor hiccups with testing - with the usual air fryer suspects (baking and dehydrating).

You can match or sync cooking times for the two baskets (Image credit: Future)

Aesthetically, the Satisfry Dual Basket Air Fryer 9 Litre looks beautiful, with its modern matte black and champagne design allowing it to blend into a contemporary kitchen's decor without sticking out like a sore thumb. This design is important because this air fryer takes up a lot of counter space, so the least it can do is be pretty doing it.

Russell Hobbs Satisfry Dual Basket Air Fryer 9 Litre is a great air fryer with consistent results, but don't expect as much hand-holding as you get from some competitors. There's no recipe book included, only a user manual that tells you how to use its functions (which you definitely need to read), a breakdown of its preset functions, and a rough guide to the temperatures and time for other common air fryer items. While this guide is useful and includes some notes on preparing roast potatoes, for example, it doesn't give weights, so you may need to experiment with how much food product you should put in the baskets for optimal results.

The manual provides instructions for cooking roast potatoes, but no weights, so you may have to experiment. Our potatoes turned out perfectly (Image credit: Future)

In addition, while nine liters seems like a lot, I found it was enough capacity for our household of two, but larger families may struggle to cook more than one meal component at a time. I'd have loved to see the dual basket become one large basket with a removable divider, as seen in the Cosori Dual Blaze Twinfry 10L Air Fryer.

Overall, the Russell Hobbs Satisfry Dual Basket is a brilliant kitchen gadget that ranks up there with the best air fryers, especially for those with experience using these handy appliances. While this is a more premium air fryer with a price tag to match, it performs better than some competitors we've tested at higher price points. It's worth the investment if you're after a reliable air fryer with quality-of-life functions, but may be less suitable for large families or those after extras, like smart functionality.

Russell Hobbs Satisfry Dual Basket Air Fryer: price and availability

• Price: £199.99 (roughly $250 / AU$400)
• Available in UK only from Russell Hobbs directly and select third-party retailers
• Regular discounts and sales

While some of the best air fryers on the market, like the Ninja Double Oven and Dreo ChefMaker, can cost you over $250 /£250, the Russell Hobbs Satisfry Dual Basket Air Fryer 9 Litre comes in at the lower end of premium pricing. At £199.99 (roughly $250 / AU$400), it's still a pretty pricey investment but is well worth the money if you want a reliable air fryer you plan to use regularly. Plus, there are regular sales, with the Russell Hobbs store dropping the price to just £99.99 in its January 2025 sale - an absolute steal for this level of quality.

Unfortunately, at the time of writing, the Satisfry Dual Basket isn't available in the US or Australia.

• Value score: 4.5/5

Russell Hobbs Satisfry Dual Basket Air Fryer: specifications Russell Hobbs Satisfry Dual Basket Air Fryer: design

• Modern black and champagne colorways
• Takes up a lot of space
• Easy to clean
• Clear touchscreen display, but can be hard to navigate

The Russell Hobbs Satisfry Dual Basket has one of the sleekest air fryer designs around. It's matte black with stylish champagne accents, so it should complement a contemporary kitchen well. This is a hefty air fryer, though. It may not be as large as some on the market, but it easily takes up a whole counter space and weighs in at 7.8kg. So, if you have a smaller kitchen or less countertop room, you may struggle to find it a home.

This size isn't surprising given this is a nine-liter air fryer with two deep separate baskets. While this seems like a lot, the baskets have more depth than width and length, so while they can hold bigger items, you can't fit a huge amount in each basket. For example, I got about 321g of frozen steak fries into one basket (with some overlap) while still allowing for the required space the air fryer needs to function, and a small pizza just about fitted in the other. This was fine for our two-person household, but for bigger households, you would likely need both baskets - preventing you from cooking another item for your meal simultaneously. I wish Russell Hobbs had designed this so that you could connect the two baskets to create one large basket, as we've seen from some competitors.

Image 1 of 2

There's just about enough room for a small pizza in one basket, and steak fries for two people in the other (Image credit: Future)Image 2 of 2

The Pizza setting delivered slightly overdone results (Image credit: Future)

The baskets are easily washed, requiring a simple wipe-down before hand washing both it and the crisping plates. Whether you can actually put parts in the dishwasher is a tad confusing, though. The user manual says you can wash the baskets and crisping plates in the dishwasher, but Russell Hobbs advises against it. This is likely due to the black, non-stick coating of these elements, and it's also recommended you use plastic tongs to remove your food.

While the sound levels of some kitchen gadgets can be imposing, the Satisfry Dual Basket Air Fryer 9 Liter isn't one of those. Sure, it's loud enough that you can certainly hear it, clocking around an average of 63 to 64 decibels during my testing, but not loud enough that you have to shout over it. Likewise, when in use, the front is room temperature to the touch, with the heat coming out of a vent at the back and hitting a max temperature (while cooking steak and fries together) of 75C / 167F. This means it should be safe to function in your kitchen if you've got little ones about - just don't let them touch the inside!

The Satisfry has a bright LED display and touch controls that let you program each basket separately, but make sure you read the instruction manual carefully first (Image credit: Future)

Here's where I struggled a bit with the Satisfry Dual Basket: the touchscreen interface. The appliance has a touchscreen digital display that lets you program each basket, assigning your preferred presets, functions, temperature, and time. On the surface, it looks pretty straightforward to use - but you need to read the instructions because it can be a bit complicated to get to grips with, especially when you're programming baskets separately.

That's fine, and with time, I got used to it, but issues arose when I tried to cancel a basket while the other was on. While you can adjust the temperature, time, and settings of one basket while the other is on, there doesn't appear to be a cancel button if you decide to pull out one basket early. I still haven't worked out how to do it without stopping the other basket cooking - and the manual doesn't cover it.

This is an air fryer that's not going to hold your hand. It has plenty of handy quality-of-life features to make cooking efficient, but if you've not had an air fryer before, you may struggle to work out some aspects. While some air fryers come with a hefty user manual and recipe book, this one includes a fairly short manual.

The Satisfry can cook foods like steak well, but the instruction manual doesn't hold your hand - cooking experience is invaluable. Our cooked steaks tasted great (Image credit: Future)

It does a great job explaining how to use the gadget's main functions but doesn't cover cancelling. Likewise, it lists the preset functions' settings and gives a rough guideline for cooking common foods but doesn't give a recommended weight or size. This was particularly confusing when it came to pizza. There's a pizza preset with a slice of pizza icon, which left me confused about whether it's meant to cook just one slice of pizza or what size pizza this preset was designed for. The air fryer just about fits a small pizza in one basket. If you're expecting to put anything bigger in it. as I was. you're out of luck.

• Design score: 4/5

Russell Hobbs Satisfry Dual Basket Air Fryer: performance

• Presets are pretty accurate
• Useful Sync and Match functions
• Quality-of-life features, like Shake
• No smart functionality

While the Russell Hobbs Satisfry Dual Basket Air Fryer 9 Litre's interface can be a bit confusing to get to grips with, its performance and features are impressive.

This air fryer comes with nine presets: Steak, Fries, Chicken, Fish, Pizza, Dehydrate, Bake, Vegetables, and Reheat. I admit I was skeptical about air-frying steak so it was the first thing I tested. I popped two sirloins into a basket with a bit of oil and seasoning, selected the Steak preset, and in 12 minutes, I had two medium steaks. Now, they were a bit overdone for my liking, didn't have the sort of sear you get from a pan, and the fat hadn't really rendered, but they tasted great. If I were to repeat this in the future, I'd have preheated the air fryer manually (there's no preheat function) and taken the steaks out a few minutes earlier.

Fries turned out crisp and golden on the outside, and fluffy within (Image credit: Future)

Alongside my steaks, I added about four potatoes worth of fresh fries to the other basket and set the second basket to the Fries preset and to Sync mode. This meant the fries were ready at the same time as my steaks and cooked to perfection, crispy on the outside and fluffy inside. If you want to cook the two baskets at the same temperature and time or preset, you simply press Match instead of Sync.

Other presets performed well, too, but some food items worked better than others. The Chicken preset resulted in crispy chicken wings that were juicy inside, the Vegetables setting gave me delicious carrots - but charred broccoli - and the Pizza setting gave me a slightly overdone (but not burnt) lunch.

Image 1 of 2

Chicken wings cooked using the Satisfry air fryer turned out juicy and delicious... (Image credit: Future)Image 2 of 2

...but vegetables were a little overdone (Image credit: Future)

The Dehydration setting, as with many air fryers, didn't dry out my oranges quite how I'd like, so it took another 120 minutes for the best results. The Bake setting, however, I was fairly impressed with - though an oven definitely gives better results.

Air fryers are renowned for being bad at baking, particularly cakes. When I cooked some cupcake-sized muffins on the Bake preset, they came out a bit browner on top but cooked, whereas another batch (which I set to the recipe instructions rather than the preset) was raw on the bottom. The silicon cupcake tray only just fit in a basket, though, so what you can bake may be somewhat restricted.

Image 1 of 2

Muffins turned out well when cooked using the air fryer's Bake preset (Image credit: Future)Image 2 of 2

Don't be tempted to use the recipe instructions rather than the Bake setting (Image credit: Future)

After the muffin success, I gave an air fryer Lemon Drizzle cake/loaf a try. A metal loaf tin didn't fit, but my silicon one did - again just. This time, I combined the Bake preset with the recipe, cooking the cake low and slow for an hour and 30 minutes, adding aluminum foil to the top of it after the first 30 minutes to prevent it from burning. The cake worked, but again, it was quite dry, so I wouldn't advise prioritizing baking with this air fryer (or any, in fact).

What I particularly liked about this air fryer was its extra, quality-of-life functions and features. The Delay function allows you to delay the start of cooking by a set amount of time, so I could easily put some food in the air fryer for lunch an hour later, set the delay time for 60 minutes and the preset I needed, and return to my cooked food after the delay and cooking time had passed.

(Image credit: Future)

There's also a shake reminder for some presets, which means the air fryer beeps to remind you to turn or shake your food - allowing for more even cooking. While this and the end time beep aren't as loud as I'd like, it's very useful when you're busy with other things, as is the auto shut off feature. It feels like Russell Hobbs is missing a trick by not adding smart functionality so you could program the air fryer from your phone, but this may not be a dealbreaker for you.

• Performance: 4.5/5

Should you buy the Russell Hobbs Satisfry Dual Basket Air Fryer? Buy it if

You want a high quality air fryer with good performance

The Satisfry Dual Basket Air Fryer is a high-quality appliance that does its job with little fuss. If you need an air fryer that offers consistent results and covers the common food types well, you can't go wrong with this gadget.

You want a premium air fryer that's not over £200

Premium air fryers can cost upwards of £250 and that pricing isn't always indicative of quality. While £199.99 is still expensive, you're getting premium quality for that price tag and a one-year guarantee, while regular sales and discounts mean you can pick it up for even less.

You want to cook two meal components at once

Whether you want to use Match or Sync, this air fryer can help you make mealtimes easier by setting each basket to its own temperature and time, or preset.

You want a stylish air fryer

This is one of my favorite air fryer designs, as it's simply yet elegant. If aesthetics are important to you, and you're a fan of contemporary decor, this is one of the prettiest air fryers around.

Don't buy it if

You've got a large family

I have a household of two, and this air fryer felt like the right size for us to make larger meals. If you have a large family and want to make a full meal in an air fryer, this may not be for you, but if you want to use an air fryer to do parts of your meals, it's the perfect companion to your oven or stove.

You've got little counter space

Like many dual air fryers, this is a chunky appliance. I have a smaller kitchen and it was quite imposing as it took up a full counter space. If you've a smaller kitchen or less counter space, you may struggle to find a home for it.

Russell Hobbs Satisfry Dual Basket Air Fryer: also consider

Not sure if the Russell Hobbs Satisfry Dual Basket Air Fryer is right for you? Here are two more options to consider.

Ninja Foodi Max Dual Zone

If you live outside the UK where the Satisfry isn't available, this is two-drawer air fryer is a great alternative. It looks smart, and produces consistently good results (though we'd appreciate a reminder to shake to food for even cooking).

Read our full Ninja Foodi Max Dual Zone review

Ninja Double Stack

If you don't have space for a full-width two-drawer air fryer, the Double Stack is the appliance for you. It's deeper and taller, but much narrower than the Russell Hobbs Satisfry or the Ninja Foodi Max Dual Zone, and in our tests it produced evenly browned, crispy fries every time.

Read our full Ninja Double Stack review

How I tested the Russell Hobbs Satisfry Dual Basket Air Fryer

I used the Russell Hobbs Satisfry Dual Basket Air Fryeror a week, cooking a wide variety of foods including fries, chicken wings, fresh vegetables, steak, cake, and muffins. I tested all the air fryer's various modes and cleaned the air fryer in line with the instructions provided in the manual. For more details, see how we test.

First reviewed January 2025.

Razer Basilisk V3 Pro 35K: Two-minute review

The Razer Basilisk V3 Pro 35K is a large gaming mouse with plenty of clever features and multiple connectivity options, making it a versatile pointer suitable for various setups and use cases.

It adopts the familiar design popularized by the Logitech G502, with its long sloping front and protruding thumb slot. It’s fairly smart and understated, especially in its black variant, and the RGB lighting around the scroll wheel, logo and bottom edge is subtle and tasteful.

Feeling premium, the materials are among what the best gaming mice have to offer. The plastic chassis is lightly textured and the sides are finished with high- quality rubberized grips. These offer enough security without becoming sticky or collecting dust and dirt over time, as grips on other mice are prone to.

The buttons are of a similar quality. The mouse clicks feel robust and well damped, while the side buttons are snappy with a pleasingly deep travel, making them easy to use. The same is true of the DPI button on the top too.

The scroll wheel has a side-tilt function, which works well since the raised height of the wheel itself makes it easy to tilt left and right. Vertical scrolls are well notched; although it isn’t as tight as you’ll find on other gaming mice, it suffices. This is perhaps a small compromise given that it has a free spin ability, activated by pressing the button above it.

(Image credit: Future)

What’s more, in Razer’s Synapse peripheral software, you can set the scroll wheel to activate free spin automatically, triggered when you flick it more vigorously. This works well for the most part, although there can be a slight delay as the lock disengages after recognizing a hard flick. However, it’s still viable enough for practical use.

The mouse also features a sniper button, which is well positioned for easy access and clicks in towards the user, again facilitating easy presses. It too feels well damped and built to withstand the rigors of intense gaming.

Weighing in at 112g, the Basilisk V3 Pro 35K is on the heavier side relative to pro-focused gaming mice. Despite this, it’s still quite maneuverable, and the weight feels more evenly distributed than other heavy mice, meaning it feels lighter than it actually is; I’ve tested lighter mice that are tougher to move around than this.

The PTFE skates are quite thin, but on padded surfaces it’s silky smooth and I had no issues with gliding. It does tend to scratch a little on hard ones, though, and unfortunately, there’s no spare set included in the box.

What is included, though, is a USB cable for wired play. It’s quite flexible but more weighty than other gaming mouse cables. As a result, I experienced a small element of drag when using it, but it was manageable enough to carry on playing.

(Image credit: Future)

The Basilisk V3 Pro 35K is compatible with Synapse V4. While the layout is clear and easy to navigate, there are a few issues worth noting. For instance, when using the mouse in wired mode, the tab for it sometimes disappeared momentarily. Also, the battery readouts were initially sporadic, dropping suddenly at times and failing to indicate charging when a wired connection was active, merely displaying a 100% level even though this clearly wasn’t the case. However, these are minor bugs that’ll hopefully be quashed with future software and firmware updates.

When it does work as intended, however, Synapse offers plenty of customization options to sink your teeth into. Standard rebinding options are present, allowing you to map the buttons to other buttons, keyboard keys, and a generous selection of Windows shortcuts. There’s also the Hypershift function, which allows you to map a secondary layer of binds to all buttons, save for the one button you designate as the Hypershift button itself.

Disappointingly, though, there are only a few performance tweaks, such as customizable DPI cycling increments and polling rate changes that top out at 1K, which might not suffice for elite players (they’ll have to purchase the HyperPolling Wireless Dongle for that privilege). However, there is something called Asymmetric Cut-Off, which allows you to set the lift-off and landing distances independently, with plenty of adjustments on the slider for both – not something you see in many other peripheral software.

In use, the Basilisk V3 Pro 35K performs admirably. Gliding is smooth and the Razer Optical Mouse Switches Gen-3 are responsive, although the clicks are a little on the heavy side, which doesn’t make them the best for spamming. That aforementioned heavy weight can compromise swiping speeds too, so those who like low DPI settings might have a hard time here.

Also, the HyperSpeed Wireless Dongle, which is supposed to reduce latency, didn’t appear to make much difference over the standard 2.4GHz dongle during my tests. However, I did experience a few dropouts when using the latter, although my setup could’ve been the culprit, as objects may have been blocking the receiver.

The multiple connectivity modes work fine for the most part, although there is a slight delay when switching between the 2.4GHz and Bluetooth modes across two devices, and a press is required first to wake up the Basilisk V3 Pro 35K to the new device.

Battery life is a claimed 120 hours in HyperSpeed wireless mode, or 210 hours in Bluetooth, but during my tests, which involved switching between the two modes regularly, I was getting closer to sub-100 hours, which is still an admirable performance.

The Basilisk V3 Pro 35K acquits itself well enough, but it doesn’t really achieve anything that spectacular. At this price, it faces some stiff competition, chiefly from Razer’s own DeathAdder and the Logitech G502 X Plus. For performance and features, these two probably edge ahead of the Basilisk V3 Pro 35K, so while it’s perfectly capable, it’s probably not the strongest feature-filled mouse out there.

Razer Basilisk V3 Pro 35K: Price & availability

(Image credit: Future)

• $159.99 / £159.99 / AU$279.95
• Available in black and white
• Rivals similarly priced

The Razer Basilisk V3 Pro 35K costs $159.99 / £159.99 / AU$279.95 and is available now in both black and white colorways. The HyperSpeed Wireless Dongle is included, as is a USB cable for wired play and charging.

It’s the same price as the Razer DeathAdder V3 Pro, which is considerably lighter in weight (63g), but also lighter on features, since its pared-back design is focused on gaming prowess above all else. For instance, it comes with Razer’s HyperPolling Wireless Dongle, which boosts the maximum polling rate to 8K for great precision and smoothness.

Its nearest rival from another brand is the Logitech G502 X Plus, the best wireless gaming mouse for features. Both have a similar price and shape; however, the G502 does feature two more buttons next to the left click, which makes it slightly more versatile.

Razer Basilisk V3 Pro 35K: Specs Should you buy the Razer Basilisk V3 Pro 35K? Buy it if...

You prize build quality
True to many of Razer’s peripherals, the Basilisk V3 Pro 35K is engineered to a very high standard, with the chassis and buttons feeling exceptional to hold and press.

You want more buttons and features
A four-way scroll wheel with Smart reel, a sniper button, and three connectivity modes mean there are few situations the Basilisk V3 Pro 35K can’t handle.

Don't buy it if...

You have small hands
The Basilisk V3 Pro 35K is quite long and reasonably wide, so those with small hands might have a hard time getting to grips with it… literally.

You’re an elite player
The heavy weight and a native lack of 8K polling will likely mean it won’t be fast or precise enough in competitive play.

Razer Basilisk V3 Pro 35K: Also consider

Razer DeathAdder V3 Pro
If gaming performance is your main concern, you can’t do much better than the DeathAdder V3 Pro. It’s very light for a wireless mouse, and packs in an 8K polling rate to boot, all for the same price as the Basilisk V3 Pro 35K. However, it doesn’t have as many buttons, and there’s no Bluetooth connectivity either, so this isn’t a mouse for those who want wide-reaching versatility.

Logitech G502 X Plus
One of the most popular gaming mice around, the G502 X Plus can be had for a similar price to the Basilisk V3 Pro 35K, and it’s similarly feature-packed. However, it just edges ahead thanks to its two extra buttons, giving you more functionality. Its gaming performance is nothing to scoff at, either.

How I tested the Razer Basilisk V3 Pro 35K

• Tested for over a week
• Used for gaming and productivity
• Over a decade of PC gaming experience

I tested the Basilisk V3 Pro 35K for over a week, during which time I used it for gaming and productivity purposes.

I played the FPS titles Counter-Strike 2 and S.T.A.L.K.E.R 2: Heart of Chornobyl in order to test the speed and accuracy of the Basilisk V3 Pro 35K. I also tested it on multiple systems and used every connectivity method, as well as the HyperSpeed Wireless Dongle.

I have been PC gaming for over 10 years and have experienced a number of mice. I have also reviewed various gaming mice, spanning a range of shapes, sizes, and price points.

• Read more about how we test
• First reviewed: January 2025