TechRadar Reviews

Oppo Reno 13 Pro two-minute review

Before even picking up the test unit for this Oppo Reno 13 Pro review, I was ready to draft a headline comparing it to the recent Google Pixel 9a – after all, I spent much of my Reno 12 Pro review comparing that phone to the Pixel 8a, as their similar release window and price makes them natural Android rivals.

Last year, the victory easily went to Oppo, but in a surprise and potentially appeal-ruining blunder, the company has shot itself in the foot with the Reno 13 Pro.

First, some context: the Reno series of smartphones is the mid-range offering from Chinese manufacturer Oppo, and the 13 Pro is 2025’s top-end member of the family. It arrives alongside a non-Pro model, the Oppo Reno 13, and an even cheaper equivalent in the form of the Oppo Reno 13F. For all the flashy features of Oppo’s expensive Find X8 Pro or folding Find N5, I’ve long preferred its Reno models, given how often they've shaken up the mid-range Android market.

Unfortunately, that preference streak ends here: the Oppo Reno 13 Pro has seen a surprising increase in price over its predecessor – I’m not talking mere pennies, but a whopping £150 in the UK and AU$300 in Australia. Oppo sells full-blown phones in its A series that cost less than that price hike!

It’s hard, then, to compare the Reno 13 Pro to the Google Pixel 9a (which hasn’t seen a similar price hike this year), given that the Oppo device is significantly more expensive. This year’s victory goes to Google, it seems.

As a butchered Spider-Man quote goes, with great financial cost comes great expectations, and some of the budget trappings of the Reno family feel bizarre in a phone that’s now only a spitting distance from the Samsung Galaxy S25 in terms of price.

For instance, Reno phones are almost always stuffed with pre-installed bloatware, unwanted third-party apps, and games at first boot-up. That’s still the case in the 13 Pro, despite its shiny new price tag. Similarly, the lack of a microSD card is a notable omission for a phone that you may feasibly expect to use for professional work.

Lots of my issues with the Reno 13 Pro stem from this price-related disappointment, but in most departments, it's a great phone – it’d just be a Google Pixel-killer if it were cheaper.

In the camera department, for instance, the Reno 13 Pro has perhaps the best zoom capabilities of any mid-range phone, boasting 3.5mm optical zoom and three 50MP snappers (plus one 8MP ugly duckling). It brings some useful modes and features, too, including the novel underwater photography mode. If you like going swimming with your phone – and if you do, why? – this will be an interesting device for you.

The Reno 13 Pro is also really powerful, fast to charge (it boasts wireless charging), has a big and high-res display, and benefits from some of the best water resistance of any mobile on the market (as you’d hope, given the underwater photography feature).

There’s no doubt about it – this is a good smartphone. However, it could have been a great one if it wasn’t for the meaty price hike. I can see that high number putting some buyers off, and if you’re one of them, I don't blame you. Thankfully, the Reno 12 Pro is still being sold in most places.

Oppo Reno 13 Pro review: price and availability

(Image credit: Future)

• Sells for £649 / $1,299 (around $830)
• Big price hike over Reno 12 Pro
• Available UK and AU, not US

Like most Oppo phones, the Reno 13 Pro rolled out slowly across the world, with this model first arriving in late 2024. In the UK and Australia, it went on sale in April 2025, but it hasn't been released in the US yet – and based on precedent, it likely never will.

You can pick up the phone for £649 / $1,299 (around $830), so it’s at the upper end of the mid-range Android phone market. The non-Pro model costs £499 / AU$899 (around $640), while the Reno 12 Pro went for £499 / AU$999 (around $640), so there’s a serious price jump between generations.

That price hike is quite a surprise, and it ruins the Oppo’s ability to honestly rival the Google Pixel 9a, which starts at $499 / £499 / AU$849. Long have the Reno Pro mobiles trounced their Pixel a-series contemporaries by offering better specs at a similar price, but that streak ends with the Reno 13 series, as it’s no longer comparable in terms of price.

And before you ask: the standard Reno 13 misses out on some of the best features of the Pro, like its zoom camera, big display, and wireless charging, so it’s not a viable Pixel rival.

Oppo Reno 13 Pro review: specs Oppo Reno 13 Pro review: design

(Image credit: Future)

• Thin and light Android phone
• Comes in lilac or black
• IP69 protection

While the Oppo Reno 13 Pro doesn’t redefine the mid-range Android look that every manufacturer seems to trot out on autopilot these days, it does perfect it to a tee.

This is a thin and light device: its dimensions are 162.8 x 76.6 x 7.6mm, and it weighs just 195g, so it feels slender despite its big screen. The bezel is tiny, as is the front-facing camera cut-out, so the screen feels like it takes over the entire front of the device.

The back of my lilac model has a gently textured shine which blossoms in light (I didn’t test the other version, a black model). I like the look, even if most people will hide it in a case straight away.

The phone is so thin that you’d be forgiven for being surprised that it even has space for a USB-C charging port on the bottom – and there was apparently no room for a 3.5mm headphone jack or anywhere to put a microSD card.

On the right edge of the Reno 13 Pro, you’ve got a power button and volume rocker. Both were easily within reach for me, as was the in-screen fingerprint scanner, which worked reliably. The back of the phone has a camera bump for the three lenses and a fairly large flash module. It sticks out enough that the phone has no hope of staying flat on a table.

A pretty rare spec that Oppo has utilized in the Reno 13 Pro is IP69 protection. This standard has the same total dust protection that phones with the more common IP68 rating have, and also the same ability to survive being immersed in water for half an hour, but it has an additional assurance against high-pressure water jets and steam. Most devices that have an IP69 rating are intended to be used alongside medical or food preparation, and so few people will need it in their smartphone, but it’s certainly a nice layer of protection to have.

• Design score: 3.5 / 5

Oppo Reno 13 Pro review: display

(Image credit: Future)

• 6.83 inches, 1272 x 2800 resolution
• Gorilla Glass 7i provides protection
• 120Hz refresh, high max brightness

The Oppo Reno 13 Pro has a 6.83-inch screen. That’s big, even by mid-range Android standards, and it’s one of the largest displays you’ll find on a phone without moving into Ultra or Pro Max territory.

The resolution is 1272 x 2800 or FHD+, which is pretty standard on smartphones these days. The refresh rate goes up to 120Hz, though by default it’s on an automatic mode that changes it based on your use, and I’d recommend sticking to this for battery life reasons.

Like its predecessor, the Reno 13 Pro has an AMOLED display with a nice, high 1,200 nits max brightness, support for HDR10+, and a color gamut of over a billion colors. Those are important specs for games and TV shows to look good on a mobile, for sure, and this device ticks all the boxes in that department.

Continuing the ‘protection’ theme from the Design section, the glass of the screen is Corning Gorilla Glass 7i. The unique selling point of this panel is that it’s more durable and scratch- and drop-proof, something which I (accidentally) tested quite a bit during the review period.

• Display score: 3.5 / 5

Oppo Reno 13 Pro review: software

(Image credit: Future)

• Android 15 with Oppo's ColorOS 15 over the top
• Bloatware problem
• Familiar interface to Android users

As with most of its contemporary Android phones, the Oppo Reno 13 Pro comes with Android 15 pre-installed. Oppo has promised that the phone will get at least 3 years of updates, a restrained number in the ‘Android updates arms race’, but it’s better than nothing.

Layered over the top is Oppo’s Android fork, ColorOS, or ColorOS 15 to give it the full name. This version’s unique features include a plethora of pre-installed tools with the suffix ‘AI’ slapped at the end, like an image clarity upscaler and deblurring, plus a few other features you’ve seen before, like AI summaries, AI text replies, and text-to-speak from web pages. The last of that number is, at least, a handy accessibility feature.

Mostly, though, this is an Android fork that’ll feel familiar if you use any other manufacturers’ equivalent – I don’t use an Oppo as my day-to-day device, but the Reno 13 Pro's software still felt easy to jump straight into; I knew where all the features, customizations, and settings were.

Usually in the software section of Oppo reviews, I start by complaining about the bloatware; the fact that I wanted to vary my structure up doesn’t mean that it’s not a huge problem here. When you boot up the phone, you’re faced with an ungodly number of pre-installed Oppo apps, third-party services, and random games. Cue ten minutes of frantic deleting if you want your new smartphone to feel yours.

Bloatware is an infuriating but stalwart aspect of cheap and mid-range mobiles, but when you’re paying a premium price for a phone, you’re allowed to expect better.

• Software score: 3 / 5

Oppo Reno 13 Pro review: cameras

(Image credit: Future)

• 50MP main, 50MP telephoto and 8MP ultra-wide cameras, 50MP for selfies
• Iffy AI features
• Small but appreciated improvements over predecessor

The debate about whether the Reno 13 Pro still counts as a mid-range phone notwithstanding, Oppo has consistently dominated the market for inexpensive camera phones, and it’s continued its lead with this new model.

Specs-wise, the Reno 13 Pro is mostly the same as its predecessor: you’ve got a 50MP main camera, an 8MP ultra-wide camera, a 50MP telephoto camera, and a 50MP selfie camera. The main improvement is in that second snapper: it now has a 3.5x lens, and given how rare any kind of zoom lens is on a budget phone, that’s an achievement.

Zoom lenses are primarily used to close the distance from a far subject without relying on digital zoom, which simply crops an image and loses resolution quickly. But they’re also popular for photographers thanks to the depth-of-field they create on closer subjects, and the Reno 13 Pro is great for photography like that as a result.

Smaller but noticeable differences abound in the Reno 13 Pro: images are just as bright and bold as you’ve come to expect from a Reno, but there’s a little more detail in darkness, a little less grain in low-light areas, and a little more dynamic range to differentiate similar colors. The presence of something called a ‘color spectrum sensor’ may help in this area, or it could be better optimization and post-processing.

(Image credit: Future)

A few rough edges affect image quality slightly, and the more I used the Oppo, the more it became evident that this wasn’t quite a Samsung Galaxy or iPhone rival. The autofocus was rather unreliable, while Portrait mode returned mixed results in the bokeh department and zoomed-in images could sometimes lack quality.

I’m always excited to see the new photography modes introduced in camera phones, and the Oppo Reno 13 Pro didn’t let me down. It has an underwater mode which lets you utilize the mobile’s water protection for shots in the sea or a swimming pool (or in any other body of liquid, I suppose). It deactivates the on-screen button, so you have to use the volume rocker to take photos or videos, and when you’re done, it vibrates the phone to remove moisture. It’s a novel feature, and while it’s terrifying to dunk your phone into any kind of liquid, it did seem to do the job when I stuck my review sample in a container of water.

Beyond that, there’s the standard assortment of photo modes: standard, Portrait, night, and panorama. Video recording goes up to 4K/60fps and video modes include slow-mo, time-lapse, and dual-view.

The phone’s Photos app brings a few AI modes to help remove background people, remove reflections, and enhance clarity. The main one is obviously AI eraser, an answer to Google’s equivalent feature, but I wasn’t impressed by the results in the Oppo – it often failed to remove people, and when it succeeded, it did so by creating an obviously artificial background that looked worse than the offending photobombers.

• Camera score: 4 / 5

Oppo Reno 13 Pro camera samples Image 1 of 8

A picture of blossom taken at 3.5x zoom. (Image credit: Future)Image 2 of 8

A picture of a flower taken at 1x zoom. (Image credit: Future)Image 3 of 8

A lake landscape taken at 0.6x zoom. (Image credit: Future)Image 4 of 8

The previous lake landscape captured at 1x zoom. (Image credit: Future)Image 5 of 8

The previous lake landscape photographed at 3.5x zoom. (Image credit: Future)Image 6 of 8

A photo of two trees captured at 1x zoom. (Image credit: Future)Image 7 of 8

A daffodil photographed at 1x zoom. (Image credit: Future)Image 8 of 8

A selfie taken on the front-facing camera in Portrait mode. (Image credit: Future) Oppo Reno 13 Pro: performance and audio

(Image credit: Future)

• Mid-range Dimensity 8350 chipset
• 12GB RAM, 512GB Storage
• No headphone jack, Bluetooth 5.4 and stereo speakers

The Oppo Reno 13 Pro comes with the MediaTek Dimensity 8350 chipset, a nice solid mid-range chipset that marks a pronounced improvement over its already-decent predecessor.

Multi-core benchmark tests for the new Reno on Geekbench returned an average score of 4042, which is over twice as high as the scores achieved by the 12 Pro’s Dimensity 7300 Energy – that’s less an iterative update and more a much better chipset.

As a result, the Reno 13 Pro is a dab hand at gaming and handling photo editing apps. It’s not the most powerful phone on the market, with some budget gaming phones getting scores in the 6000s, but it’ll do everything you need it to with aplomb.

The version of the Reno 13 Pro on sale in the UK and Australia has 12GB RAM and 512GB storage; in some regions, you can also get 16GB and anything between 256GB and 1TB storage, but not in the regions we cover.

Briefly mentioning audio: there’s no 3.5mm headphone jack, but the Reno 13 Pro supports Bluetooth 5.4. The on-board stereo speakers aren’t amazing, but they’re par for the course for phone speakers.

• Performance score: 3.5 / 5

Oppo Reno 13 Pro review: battery life

(Image credit: Future)

• Big 5,800mAh battery
• Lasts for about two days of use
• 80W wired charging, 50W wireless

The Oppo Reno 13 Pro boasts a bigger battery than its predecessor, in line with market shifts that are making the 5,000mAh power packs of yesteryear look svelte. Instead, the 13 Pro has a 5,800mAh power pack, which roughly lasted for a day and a half during my testing, or two days if I used the phone sparingly.

The phone's charging speed is the same as last year's model, at 80W, which is nice and fast without being too fast (and by that I mean, speedy enough that you invariably damage your battery health by using it). Also back on the Reno 13 Pro is the ability to charge other gadgets by plugging them into your phone using a USB cable – this is really handy for people who need to charge their earbuds or smartwatch on the go.

New on the Reno 13 Pro is a surprisingly fast 50W wireless charging capability. That’s a premium feature that you don’t often see in mid-range mobiles, especially at such a high speed. However, a word of warning: the camera bump means you can’t put the phone totally flat on surfaces, which meant I could wirelessly power up the device on my charger.

• Battery score: 4 / 5

Oppo Reno 13 Pro review: value

(Image credit: Future)

With the Oppo Reno 13 Pro, you’re basically getting what you pay for: decent specs at a mid-range price.

I’m sad to have to write that, though, because Oppo Reno phones usually knock it out of the park in the value section. Instead, the Reno 13 Pro gets a passing grade and nothing more.

You can get almost-as-good phones for much less, including the Reno 12 Pro. And given that bona fide flagship smartphones only cost a small amount less these days, people who aren’t on a tight budget don’t have to pay that much more to get better.

• Value score: 3 / 5

Should you buy the Oppo Reno 13 Pro? Buy it if...

You're a photographer on a budget
Want the best camera phone that won't break the bank? Look no further than the Reno 13 Pro.

You carry around multiple gadgets
The Reno's reverse charging feature is really handy for those who constantly forget to charge their earbuds.

You need a well-protected phone
Between its Gorilla Glass display and IP69 rating, this phone is well protected against the elements.

Don't buy it if...

You hate bloatware
There's no shame, we all do. If you don't think you can put up with it, the Oppo isn't the phone for you.

You're on a tight budget
If you're looking for a truly affordable phone, then you'll need to look elsewhere, because this mid-ranger is verging on the premium market in price.

Oppo Reno 13 Pro review: Also consider

If the Oppo Reno 13 Pro's price hike has given you cause for concern, here are some other handsets you could consider.

Oppo Reno 12 Pro
Oppo's last-gen mobile has a lesser zoom camera, a weaker chipset, and a smaller screen, but it's a lot cheaper and is very similar in many ways to the newer model.

Read our full Oppo Reno 12 Pro review

Google Pixel 9a
The Reno's natural competitor may have no zoom camera, a much smaller screen, and slower charging, but its software is cleaner and it costs a significant amount less.

Read our full Google Pixel 9a review

Samsung Galaxy S25
It's a little bit more expensive, but Samsung's newest flagship isn't that much pricier than the Reno 13 Pro, and it feels more premium by comparison.

Read our full Samsung Galaxy S25 review

How I tested the Oppo Reno 13 Pro

(Image credit: Future)

• 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 used the Oppo Reno 13 Pro for about two weeks before I started writing this review.

To test it, I used it as my normal phone. That means I played games, took photos, texted, and streamed lots of music with it, while seeing how well the battery performed as I did so.

I also tried some 'lab' tests, which included benchmarking, charging testing, and dunking the phone in a jug of water to see if it would take photos, or immediately get wrecked.

I come to this review having spent over six years writing and testing tech for TechRadar, with plenty of Oppo phones (including the first-gen Reno) among the devices I've reviewed.

Read more about how we test

First reviewed April 2025

Hori Racing Wheel Apex for PlayStation: One-minute review

I’m glad that the Hori Racing Wheel Apex for PlayStation exists. When it comes to the PlayStation 5, there just aren’t all that many budget PS5 racing wheel options available. But the Apex is one I can just about recommend for those not wanting to shell out on some of the best racing wheels including the pricey Logitech G923 or the Logitech G Pro Racing Wheel.

The Hori Racing Wheel Apex for PlayStation costs significantly less than either of those products. And while I was generally happy with the performance it provides - not to mention the ease of setup - the concessions made to hit its low price point are immediately apparent.

Much like the Nintendo Switch-facing Hori Mario Kart Racing Wheel Pro Deluxe (with which the Apex has many similarities including its chassis and overall performance), build quality leaves much to be desired. You’re getting an overtly plasticky build here, exacerbated by a pair of unsatisfyingly weightless pedals.

Force feedback is also off the table, which will likely be a deal breaker for players looking to purchase a racing wheel for that added level of immersion and feel. But if you can get over these cutbacks and are just looking for an inexpensive steering wheel for Gran Turismo 7, F1 24, and more, you’ll still find an acceptable racing experience with the Hori Racing Wheel Apex for PlayStation.

(Image credit: Future) Hori Racing Wheel Apex for PlayStation: Price and availability

The Hori Racing Wheel Apex for PlayStation is available to buy now at Hori’s website for $119.99 / £99.99. That’s just a touch higher than the Hori Mario Kart Racing Wheel Pro Deluxe ($109.99 / £89.99) and firmly places it in the budget category. Especially in the UK where it’s difficult to find a decent racing wheel under that £100 mark.

The key thing to note here is that while much more affordable than mid-range plug-and-play options like the Logitech G923 or the Thrustmaster T300RS GT Edition, you can expect features to be decidedly stripped back here. If you can afford pricier options like these, they are worth considering if you’d like features like force feedback and better overall build quality.

Hori Racing Wheel Apex for PlayStation: Specs Hori Racing Wheel Apex for PlayStation: Design and features

Hori has used the Apex’s chassis before, chiefly with the Mario Kart Racing Wheel Pro Deluxe for Nintendo Switch. If you’ve seen that wheel, then you’ve essentially seen the Apex, too. The key difference here, naturally, is that the Apex is emblazoned with PlayStation’s logo and has a PlayStation-adjacent button layout.

Some button placements have shifted, too. On the Switch wheel, the ZL and ZR trigger buttons were found on the steering wheel itself. On the Apex, the left and right shoulder and trigger buttons are all lined up above the D-pad and face buttons respectively. There are also dedicated L3 and R3 buttons on the Apex, too.

(Image credit: Future)

The wheel itself is the best thing about the Apex in terms of design. The textured grips feel nice in the hands and ensure sturdy, non-slip play sessions. The flappy paddle gear switches behind these grips are significantly less refined, though, with a flimsy plastic build that feels like they could snap easily after long-term usage.

That same flimsiness also applies to the pedals, which are the same here as they were with the Mario Kart wheel. While they mostly get the job done, they (alongside the included clip-on footrest) have an overtly plastic and lightweight build, meaning they can easily slide around on harder surfaces.

The wheelbase, thankfully, is much sturdier and has a nice weight to it. You’ve also got two options here when it comes to securing the base in place; a clamp and a set of suction cups. You should avoid using the latter unless you lack a surface that you can easily clamp the wheel to. As with the Mario Kart wheel, I found the suction cups offered little to no purchase for the wheel on my desk. The included clamp, meanwhile, gets the job done just fine.

Hori Racing Wheel Apex for PlayStation: Performance

Despite my quibbles with some design and feature aspects, I can’t fault the Hori Racing Wheel Apex for PlayStation much when it comes to overall performance. The experience you’re getting here is far from mindblowing, especially thanks to the lack of force feedback, but it’s still more than up to the task of providing a decent wheel feel for less, offering robust value for money

I tested the Hori Racing Wheel Apex for PlayStation across PS5 and PC racing games, including Gran Turismo 7, EA Sports WRC, and F1 24. It’s clearly designed for PlayStation consoles first, as when loading into GT7, the wheel was ready to go with a preset control layout in place.

(Image credit: Future)

On PC, via XInput, some customization was required in F1 24 as the wheel wasn’t recognized in-game by default. In cases like this, you will need to set your own custom control layout. Thankfully there were no issues here, with buttons and steering all recognized as inputs without fuss.

I do miss the wider rotations available on mid-range racing wheels. The Hori Apex caps out just 270 degrees, which means it’s not best suited to serious simmers like iRacing, Assetto Corsa EVO, or indeed Euro Truck Simulator 2. But you should get by just fine in more casual friendly racers like GT7 and F1 24.

Should I buy the Hori Racing Wheel Apex for PlayStation?

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

You’re on a budget or buying for a younger player
It’s as simple as that. If you can’t / won’t buy a more expensive mid-range to premium racing wheel - or you’re buying for a kid - the Hori Apex is good value for money.

You want an easy, plug-and-play experience
Many pricier wheels - particularly direct drive models - usually require a more setup. By comparison, the Apex just requires you to hook it up to a console or PC via USB and you’re good to go. It’s really as easy as that.

Don't buy it if...

You want a more immersive experience
A lack of force feedback is understandable given the Apex’s price, but it does mean that you lose a lot of that authentic racing feel here. A limited 270-degree turning angle also hurts in this regard.

Also consider...

If the Hori Racing Wheel Apex for PlayStation isn’t quite doing it for you, have a look at these two PS5-compatible alternatives.

Thrustmaster T248
A bit of an old dog as far as racing wheels go, but one that’s nonetheless reliable and another solid budget pick. While pricier overall, the T248 does offer basic force feedback and a novel on-wheel display. 900 degrees of rotation is also fantastic for a wide variety of sim racers.

Read our Thrustmaster T248 review

Logitech G923
Arguably the first name in PS5 racing wheels, the Logitech G923 rules the roost even years after its initial launch. With fantastic build quality and immersive force feedback, it’s the mid-range plug-and-play racing wheel we recommend first for PS5 players.

Read our Logitech G923 review

How I tested the Hori Racing Wheel Apex for PlayStation

• Tested for one week
• Tested across PS5 and PC
• Compared with the Hori Mario Kart Racing Wheel Pro Deluxe

I tested the Hori Racing Wheel Apex for PlayStation over the course of a week. During that time, I hooked the wheel up to both PS5 and PC to test a variety of racing games including Gran Turismo 7, F1 24, and EA Sports WRC. While a lack of force feedback and a limited rotation means it’s not the most ideal for sim racers, I did find the Apex to be a good fit for arcade racers like Tokyo Xtreme Racer.

Read more about how we test

First reviewed March 2025

OneOdio Studio Max 1: Two-minute review

According to friends of mine who've tried it, and a quick Google check to see if they know what they’re talking about, the best headphones for DJs (and other kinds of live music performers, by all accounts) are wired ones. Why? Latency – going wireless incurs a lag, and that's just not OK when you're building a set or trying to keep to a beat. But all of this is something OneOdio seems set on challenging with its new Studio Max 1 DJ headphones.

These new wireless cans aren’t aiming for our list of the best wireless headphones, but instead aim to provide musicians with a tempting wireless rival to the current wired hegemony – with the option to go back to wired if you'd like to. So, a sort of best wired headphones hybrid proposition, if you will.

In many ways they work, with a range of useful features and some handy in-box extras that you don’t see in many rivals. However, TechRadar is first and foremost a consumer website and for everyday non-DJ cans – or even people who want an audio solution for work and for play – and the Studio Max 1 don’t cut the mustard I'm afraid.

The primary issue is that the headphones just don’t sound good. Audio is oddly crunchy and with overblown bass that drowns out most everything else, and treble is so weak that even spoken-word audio doesn’t sound great.

The Studio Max 1 are also a little tiresome to set up, with a Bluetooth pairing process that’s a bit confusing and a design that needs some untangling when you use them, despite the lack of cables.

But there’s a lot to like here. OneOdio isn’t just giving you a pair of headphones in the box but several different cables (the cans have multiple ports) as well as a wireless transmitter to give you much further range for Bluetooth. For many users, the inclusion of this transmitter is all that it’ll take to make the Studio Max a must-buy; cutting the cable gives DJs a lot more freedom anyway, and the transmitter gives you even longer range.

A further potential downside of wireless over wired DJ headphones is that they need recharging, unlike wired ones. However OneOdio has given the Studio Max 1 such a big battery life that it lasts a whopping 120 hours between charges, a figure so high that it dwarfs even its longest-lasting rivals. Honestly, if battery life is important to you and you’re not a DJ, it still might make these cans a great buy.

These fantastic features aren’t quite enough to offset the poor audio quality in terms of my star rating for this review, but they'll definitely give some buyers a reason to ignore my rating and pick up the OneOdio Studio Max 1 anyway.

OneOdio Studio Max 1 review: Price and release date

(Image credit: Future)

• Released in February 2025
• Sell for $169.99 / £135 / AU$275

The OneOdio Studio Max 1 were announced in December 2024, and were released a few months later in February 2025.

You can pick up the headphones for $169.99 / £135 / AU$275, which is a little north of some of our favorite Bluetooth headphones but a reasonable price when you consider what comes in the box: there’s a carry bag, a USB-C to USB-C charging cable, 3.5mm-3.5mm audio cable, 3.5mm-6.35mm audio cable, 6.35mm audio adaptor and special Bluetooth transmitter. Yes, it's all included in that upfront cost.

The world of wireless DJ headphones features few competitors so far, and OneOdio’s offering is relatively affordable compared to, say, the AIAIAI TMA-2 which costs $300 / £250 (roughly AU$500). Of course, DJs or musicians can also find many worthy offerings by heading over to our list of the best headphones, but they won’t all have the full range of jacks and features.

Here's the thing: for accessories and functionality, there's value here. The problem is, headphones need to sound good first and foremost – ideally to anyone who listens, whether pro mixer or dedicated music lover. And as we'll see, that's the main issue with the OneOdio Studio Max: I don't think they'll appeal to either listener.

OneOdio Studio Max 1 review: Specs OneOdio Studio Max 1 review: Features

(Image credit: Future)

• Impressive 120-hour battery life
• Myriad connectivity options
• No ANC or app (but that's not really the point)

Let’s start with the OneOdio Studio Max 1’s best feature: its battery life. Stamina here stretches to a whopping 5 days of listening time. That’s right, days and not hours – OneOdio puts the figure at 120 hours.

That’s by far one of the longest battery lives you’ll find on wireless headphones, making this a fantastic pick for all kinds of users who may be unavailable to charge (or to remember to charge) their headphones regularly.

Certainly helping that battery life, but not helping all listeners, is the lack of any kind of noise cancellation in the Studio Max 1 (beyond the natural damping and passive isolating effect of the ear pads).

Given that you may want to use the DJ headphones in, say, busy music-filled halls where you’d want to cut away audience and reverb and projected music to hear just your turntables, it feels an odd choice in 2025 – although it's true that traditional DJ cans don't come bearing ANC. The thing is, it also makes these headphones a little less appealing for everyday listeners, although again, hybrid users will likely look to all the other things they can do that others can't.

(Image credit: Future)

So back to the Studio Max’s unique features, then: in the box OneOdio has included something called the Transmitter M1. You plug this into your musical instrument or DJ deck to greatly extend the Bluetooth connection range, and I can see this being useful in many a professional or casual situation. It also lets you plug into devices that don’t have on-board Bluetooth like guitar pedals, certain DJ decks and, very usefully for me, custom-build PCs which don’t have Bluetooth adaptors.

Also helping connectivity is a feature which OneOdio calls Rapid WiLL+, and it’s basically an improved latency for everyday Bluetooth connection. That’s not its only connection option though as the headphones, as mentioned, have a 3.5mm and 6.25mm jack as well as in-box cables to use them. There are a plethora of connection options available, making these really adaptable headphones.

Bluetooth users beware though: I found the Studio Max hair-pullingly annoying to set up via the standard in the first instance, due to (as I found out later) the headphones defaulting to pairing in a different mode. I never normally say this, but you’ll need to keep two eyes on the in-box instruction manual to make sure you set this up properly.

If you’re using your Studio Max 1 alongside a smartphone or tablet, you might miss the lack of a companion app and any of the features it might bring (an equalizer, touch control customization, visual indicator of battery life, etc). Almost all the features of these headphones boast are musician-friendly ones, and although notable and niche, the Studio Max 1 do therefore lack certain perks mere mortals may have become used to – and I do mean those you'd find in an app.

• Features score: 4/5

OneOdio Studio Max 1 review: Design

(Image credit: Future)

• Bulky body
• Many ports
• Many more buttons

The Studio Max 1 are rather large 'I'm the DJ' headphones – as far as I can recall, they’re the first headphones I’ve ever tested which I could see in my peripheral when worn normally. So don’t expect svelte little things, these are industrial-strength and industrial-sized.

The Studio Max 1 are big over-ear headphones with a padded headband and thick padded cups that tip the scales at 350g. Something I grew to really appreciate about them is how moveable they are, making them easy to fold for a bag, fit on different heads or listen with just one ear pressed against the corresponding driver: each cup rotates across 90-degrees inward to fold as well as 180 degrees on the x-axis and almost a full 360 degrees of tilt.

This did get a little confusing sometimes when I wanted to quickly listen to music, yet had to spend ages fiddling about and rotating cups, but I’m still in support of it.

(Image credit: Future)

The OneOdio take quite a lot of getting used to, and that’s because of how many different ports and buttons the headphones have. On the left cup you’ve got the USB-C charging port and the 6.25mm jack – so far, so simple. However, on the right side we’ve got the 3.5mm jack as well as a volume up button, a power button, a volume down button and another icon which simply says ‘B’ that I constantly forgot the function for (it’s for changing pairing modes).

When listening to music, I’d find it impossibly hard to feel out which of these little plastic stumps was for volume, and I quickly decided to stick to my input device’s volume buttons instead.

I couldn’t find an IP rating for the Studio Max 1 – they’re not exactly streamlined enough for swimming, but it’s something to bear in mind if you’re DJing at, say, a pool party or foam party (in case you take a time machine back to the 90s).

• Design score: 3/5

OneOdio Studio Max 1 review: Sound quality

(Image credit: Future)

• Tinny-sounding audio
• Overwhelming bass
• One issue better, one worse with wired audio

Given the range of features and the target audience of live musicians on a budget, you can begin to understand that perhaps connectivity was key and music quality wasn’t the most important aspect when delivering the OneOdio Studio Max 1 to meet a brief. I need to say that to get you in a forgiving mood, because these headphones don’t sound great.

The one thing going for the Studio Max 1 is a meaty amount of bass, so if that’s all you care about, then you might find the headphones acceptable. But it’s an indistinct and crunchy one-note kind of bass, so while you can feel your head shake, it’s hard to make out the actual strumming of a bass guitar or timbre of lower-register instruments.

(Image credit: Future)

I also struggled to enjoy vocals and other treble lines when they were barely audible behind the bass, a problem that also affects mid-register instruments and… well, anything that isn’t bass, really. Boy, did I wish that OneOdio had given these things some kind of equalizer I could use to reduce bass!

Another issue with the sound quality was simply that music sounds a little tinny, most notably in the usual suspects like drum hi-hats and rhythmic guitar riffs but apparent, per song, in everything from vocals to classical instruments. I say “a little” to indicate that it’s not as bad as in, say, cheapie $30 headphones, but it’s more than I’ve come to expect at this price.

It's worth noting that I did most of my testing in Bluetooth mode. When I connected the headphones via wires, the bass problem was noticeably diminished. However, the audio was inexplicably even crunchier across the frequencies, which put me off using cables.

• Sound quality: 2.5/5

OneOdio Studio Max 1 review: value

(Image credit: Future)

On their own, the OneOdio Studio Max 1 don’t quite justify their price, with the iffy audio quality making other headphones much more tempting.

However, OneOdio tilts the balance in its favor with all the in-box extras: the multiple cables, transmitter and carry bag and just their imposing size and meatiness all help the headphones to justify their cost.

• Value: 3.5/5

Should I buy the OneOdio Studio Max 1? Buy them if…

You often struggle with Bluetooth range
If you're often wandering outside the Bluetooth range of your headphones, whether it's for specific use cases or you're just a pacer, the in-box transmitter with the Studio Max will stop your songs sounding patchy.

You have the worst memory for charging
Reliably forget to charge your gadgets for weeks at a time? The 120-hour battery life of these headphones means you don't need to.

Don’t buy them if…

You care about audio first and foremost
Audio isn't the most important aspect of headphones for everyone, but if it is for you, then the Studio Max 1 won't impress you very much.

You want lightweight headphones
There's no denying that the OneOdios are some pretty hefty headphones, and they won't win you fashion points.

OneOdio Studio Max 1 review: Also consider

OneOdio Studio Wireless C
These alternative headphones to the Studio Max from OneOdio have many similar features, including a very long battery life and 50mm driver, but without any of the DJ trappings. Oh, and they're much cheaper… 

AIAIAI TMA-2 Wireless
If you want DJ headphones, the AIAIAI options here are much more lightweight options. The battery life isn't comparable but they also come with a wireless transmitter. (Our AIAIAI TMA-2 experiential is incoming, but until then, you can read more about the older TMA Studio Wireless+).

How I tested the OneOdio Studio Max 1

(Image credit: Future)

• Tested for two weeks
• Tested with smartphone, computer and keyboard

I tested the OneOdio Studio Max 1 for two weeks before writing this review. For the most part I used them alongside my Android smartphone via Bluetooth but I also used them alongside my PC and plugged into a digital keyboard at several times too.

I listened to music and audiobooks with the headphones, both at home and about, and also watched a movie and several hours of TV with them at home. The keyboard I used them with was a cheapie one, and this part of the testing was largely to appreciate the versatility that the in-box wires provides.

I've been testing gadgets at TechRadar for six years, so have a wealth of knowledge to draw on for this review. I've been playing the keyboard for about 20, but that didn't help out here too much.

• First reviewed in April 2025

• Read TechRadar's reviews guarantee

Bird Buddy Smart Bird Feeder Pro: one-minute review

The Bird Buddy Smart Bird Feeder Pro uses the same Bird Buddy Smart Bird Feeder housing that features in our Best Bird Feeder Cameras round-up, but the camera has been upgraded to a new 'Nature Cam' unit.

Being the same size as its predecessor, the new camera unit simply slots into the housing and is held in place with a magnet. Installation and set-up proved easy and I was up and running in minutes. The new camera is noticeably better, offering an improved dynamic range and color, but most importantly it is now 2K in resolution which can be activated with a Bird Buddy Premium subscription.

There is a good level of control over the notifications you receive, with the options to receive every possible visit to your feeder, or just the smart notifications of the visits that may be of interest, such as new bird species. Within the app, visits, or 'Postcards' as they are called, are saved to Collections, where you can go in and see all of the different birds (and other animals) that have stopped by. You can also see other Postcards that users around the world have chosen to share.

(Image credit: Future)

The overall Bird Buddy system is very design-oriented and full of nice touches, from the way that the optional solar panel roof can be fitted, to the food hatch on the rear, the bright yellow or blue color of the feeder and the neat but stylish packaging and app design; everything has been thought out with a purpose.

There is a range of additional accessories for the Bird Buddy, including the solar panel roof. This neatly slots into position, and as long as it is angled into sunlight for a part of the day, it should provide enough power that you don't need to remove the camera for charging, especially during the summer. Other accessories include a 3-in-1 Nutrition kit, which provides a water bottle, a fruit spike and a 'Jelly Tray', each designed to meet different birds' nutritional needs.

One area that could be seen as lacking are the additional features that other cameras offer. For example, the Birdfy range is effectively repackaged home security cameras, with all the capabilities such cameras provide, such as built-in lights and alarm systems - both of which can also be used (usually unsuccessfully) to scare away squirrels. If you are looking for a birdfeeder camera that doubles up as a security camera for your garden, then Bird Buddy won't be the camera for you, it doesn't have those features.

For those who purely want to enjoy the avian visitors to their garden and share those images with family and friends on social media, the beautifully designed Bird Buddy app and high-quality photos and video footage will provide hours of pleasure. There is still the buzz of excitement when you get a notification of a new bird species stopping at your feeder.

Bird Buddy Smart Bird Feeder Pro: price and availability

• Available now, lsit price $279/ £160
• There are plenty of optional accessories
• You'll need a premium subscription to unlock the best features

The Bird Buddy Smart Feeder Pro cost $279 / £219 but is currently reduced by 35% from its original price and can be had for $189 / £160.77 at the time of writing.

If you want the Solar Roof version, it is priced at a reasonable $219 / £186.29. The Bird Buddy can be purchased directly from the Bird Buddy website, which has US and EU store options. It is also available on Amazon via their Global Store, so it should be available worldwide. It can also be purchased from John Lewis and Curry's in the UK.

The optional add-ons are the Perch Extender ($24), Solar Roof ($59), 3-in-1 Nutrition Set ($39), Wall Mount ($29), and Suet Ball Holder ($14). Again, each of these is available via the Bird Buddy website or Amazon, depending on your location. Prices are converted to GBP.

There are two optional Premium subscription services available in Individual and Family versions. As detailed, these provide a range of new features, most importantly 2K Ultra video resolution and unlimited online storage of footage. The Family option allows you to grant family members access to the live feed from your camera. To find out more about the differences in the plans, see Bird Buddy Plans.

Bird Buddy Smart Bird Feeder Pro: specs Bird Buddy Smart Bird Feeder Pro: design

• Compact All-In-One design
• Great design touches to keep everything neat and tidy
• Solar Roof reduces the need to remove and recharge the camera

Setting up the Bird Buddy Smart Feeder Pro was straightforward. After reviewing the previous version of the camera, I already had the app installed, so installation was as simple as selecting "add a new Bird Buddy" in the app menu and following the on-screen instructions. The instructions are very clear and have a human feel to them. Setup is simple, and you don't need previous experience to easily pair the camera to your phone and then your Wi-Fi system.

As Bird Buddy sent me the new Nature Cam to install in my existing Bird Buddy feeder, I simply removed the cable linking the original camera to the Solar Roof and pulled out the camera, which is held in a recess with a strong magnet. Fitting the new camera was the reverse procedure, with the magnet reassuringly ensuring the camera was locked in tight. Again, the USB-C charging port was connected to the Solar Roof.

As supplied by Bird Buddy, the feeder has a mount that can be connected to a post, or it comes with a rope for hanging from a tree or feeding pole. I opted to hang the feeder from a branch of a tree and tried to position it so that the solar panel was oriented to get as much sunlight as possible.

The feeder itself is made from strong plastic. It has a small panel at the top of the rear that can be opened to pour in bird feed. In fact, the feeder comes with a Feed Scoop. It can be a little bit fiddly given I had to climb a ladder, with the feeder is swinging from a tree, but it is quite a neat solution. There is an optional Wall Mount that allows you to swivel the feeder around for easy access to the rear for loading food.

(Image credit: Future)

The feeder was placed around 12m from the nearest Wi-Fi access point, which was in my house and through a glass window. I had no problems connecting to the camera when wanting to view, although there was a short delay while I had to wait for the live view to appear on my phone. In reality, this was no longer than if I tried to connect to view my Ring camera live view.

If you have followed any of my previous bird feeder reviews, you will know I have an issue with squirrels raiding the feeders in my garden. The Bird Buddy has no Squirrel deterrents like the Birdfy feeder cameras. However, the good news is that little damage has been done to the housing despite it being scratched and chewed by squirrels, over the course of a year and a half hanging in my garden.

Having the feeder hanging rather than strapped or mounted to the tree has made it more difficult for the squirrels to get to it, but they still find ways of jumping and climbing to reach the food. At least the feeder is still intact.

The other thing worth noting is both Individual and Family subscriptions are possible. The primary reason for a subscription is to unlock the Ultra 2K resolution, which has noticeably better, less compressed image quality.

The subscription also adds the Remote Feeder Unlock to see feeders from around the world, Unlimited Cloud storage of your photos and video, the Name That Bird feature, which allows you to give a nickname to a specific bird individual bird, Bird Care which will alert you about injured or sick birds and offer advice on how to keep your birds healthy, and finally Bird Buddy Experiments which give the user access to new features that may be trialled.

Although you can add family and friends to your account to see video clips from your feeder, the Family Premium subscription allows friends and family to log in and see the live view from your feeder.

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(Image credit: Future) Bird Buddy Smart Bird Feeder Pro: performance

• 2K video available via a subscription only

The image quality from the Nature Cam is noticeably better than that of the original camera if you fork out for a subscription which unlocks 2K resolution. Do so, and images have more fine detail, and the HDR image brings out more colour and detail.

There are limitations; the camera sensor is still 1/2.7", which is about on par with a smartphone camera. However, the low resolution offers reasonable dynamic range performance, which can be seen in shadow details.

Highlights are easily blown out, as you would expect, and direct sunlight can cause lens flares, so it is important to position the feeder, and therefore the camera, at an angle where these will be minimized, or at least at times of day when you are most likely to get footage from the camera.

Light is everything when it comes to photography, and the placement of the camera in relation to the sun can make a big difference in the images you get from the camera.

It should be noted that the Bird Buddy creates portrait-orientation videos, which are perfect for viewing on a smartphone. However, if you eventually want to view them on a TV screen or computer, you might want to look elsewhere for the best viewing experience.

Compared to other bird feeder cameras I have tested, there is more of a delay in receiving notifications, so you won't always catch the bird on the live stream. However, the Postcards you receive are a nice touch. You can turn notifications off entirely and check in on the app occasionally to catch up the action you have missed.

The camera focuses well on smaller birds, with plenty of room on the feeder for them to perch and pick at the feed. However, larger birds struggle to land and also to balance on my hanging feeder. The optional perch add-on would be a great addition for most users. It allows larger birds to land and their heads to be further from focus. If you want to capture larger birds clearly, I would recommend getting the perch as an accessory.

I have had the original Bird Buddy Smart Feeder hanging outside in my garden for over a year. It has seen bright sunshine and freezing snow, and the recyclable plastic structure is in tact, although the color has faded slightly from the UV light. I had the new Nature Cam installed for a few months for testing, and it has also seen heavy rain, freezing conditions, and bright sunshine. It is in great condition, and it is still performing perfectly.

The Solar Roof has been a great accessory, and in the winter months, the camera doesn't need to be taken in and charged despite the lower light levels. In the summer, I know I might have to reposition it to avoid foliage casting shadows on the roof, but this may be negated by the fact that there will be more daylight hours.

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(Image credit: Future) Should you buy the Bird Buddy Smart Bird Feeder Pro? Buy it if...

You love garden tech

If you love gadgets, the Bird Buddy Smart Bird Feeder Pro is a great addition to your garden. If you have the premium subscription it is possible to link to Alexa to get a summary of daily visits, with more features on the way. However, I struggled to get this feature to work.

You love birds and wildlife

This one is obvious, but if you love the wildlife in your garden, the Bird Buddy Smart Feeder is great. You can collect the Postcards from birds that have visited almost like they are Pokémon, with a daily round-up of the number of different species and visits you have had each day. The small AI generated information about the birds is also a great way to learn and engage with the nature in your garden.

You want a stylish feeder cam

Of all the bird feeder cameras available, I think the Bird Buddy Smart Bird Feeder Pro is the most neat and stylish both in the physical design of the feeder and also the app.

Don't buy it if...

You want to view on TV

The video quality is good, however, as it is recorded vertically, it is better for viewing on a smartphone and sharing on social media. If you want to watch footage on a television it may not be the best choice.

You have squirrels

I have tested quite a feeder feeders and squirrels have fed from all of them. And despite the design and materials of the Bird Buddy withstanding damage from squirrels, it doesn't have the squirrel deterrents like some other feeders.

You don't want to buy accessories

For the best experience I would recommened that you buy the Solar Roof and the Perch for the Bird Buddy; the solar roof virtually elimates the need to charge the camera, the perch addition makes a better experience for larger birds to land - resulting in better photos and video.

How I tested the Bird Buddy Smart Bird Feeder Pro

• I hung the feeder in a tree for 6 months
• It was connected to my home Wi-Fi
• I monitored the birds visiting daily via the Bird Buddy app

I tested the Bird Buddy Smart Bird Feeder Pro by hanging it from a tree in my garden that birds (and squirrels) regularly visit. The feeder was strapped to the tree, and the camera was set up using an iPhone and the Bird Buddy app.

I left the feeder up there for months through all weather conditions. During that time, I monitored the birds visiting via the app in real-time and reviewed photos and videos that had been captured.

I have also looked at AI recognition and the various capabilities of the app.

• First reviewed April 2025

Corsair VOID Wireless V2 review: one-minute review

(Image credit: Future/Ford James)

The Corsair VOID Wireless V2 is, as you'd expect from the name, the second iteration of the VOID Wireless range. It's been over seven years since we reviewed the Corsair VOID Pro RGB Wireless, which is the V2's predecessor, and the original impressed us at the time. I'm happy to report the V2 improves upon pretty much every aspect, and retains the same price point as the first to boot.

This gaming headset aims to be the only audio device you'll need no matter which platform you play on: it's compatible with PC, Mac, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, and iOS/Android (sorry, Xbox players).

Thanks to its dual wireless and Bluetooth connectivity, you can link two separate devices simultaneously and switch between them with the press of a button.

There's really very little to complain about with the VOID Wireless V2: the battery life is excellent, allegedly running at approximately 65-70 hours of continuous use, though that's so long I haven't had it run out despite using it for multiple days in a row without charging it.

It's lightweight at just over 300g, and as a result, very comfortable. The sound quality across every platform is fantastic too, especially PC and PS5 thanks to some special features… more on those below.

Corsair VOID Wireless V2 review: Price and availability

• List price: $119.99 / £99.99 / AU$189
• Cheaper than many premium gaming headsets
• Offers superb value for money

While you can pick up a budget gaming headset for about half the price of the Corsair VOID Wireless V2, it's not going to turn many heads, nor is it likely to be built to last. And the same goes for the other end of the scale: there are plenty of headsets that will cost double, but will you get double the amount of performance from them? It's unlikely, which makes this one of the best value-for-money gaming headsets you'll find.

At $119.99/£99.99, it's cheaper than some of our favorite products on our best wireless gaming headsets and best PC gaming headsets pages, such as the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless and the Razer BlackShark V2 Pro.

It's also more than capable of going toe-to-toe with them, and as the flashy new kid on the block thanks to its April 2025 launch, it's likely to be a headset in demand when gifting season rolls around later this year.

(Image credit: Future/Ford James) Corsair VOID Wireless V2 review: Specs

(Image credit: Future/Ford James) Corsair VOID Wireless V2 review: Design and features

• Easy to set up and connect
• Clean, sleek design
• Rotatable - but not detachable or retractable - mic

There's no instruction manual or booklet included with the Corsair VOID Wireless V2, but that's because it really doesn't need one. The box contains the headset, USB 3.0 dongle, and USB 3.0-to-USB-C charging cable, and that's it.

Charge the headset, connect the dongle to your device of choice if you're connecting through the 2.4 GHz wireless connectivity, and turn on the headset, the two should automatically pair, and you're away.

A USB-C wireless receiver would be ideal too, as we gradually move away from USB 3.0, and it would also enable another connectivity option for devices like a Nintendo Switch or MacBook, but it'd be harsh to criticize it too much for that.

If you're using the VOID Wireless V2 on PC, you should install both the Dolby Access app and the Corsair iCUE software though. The former will detect your headset if it's set to be your primary audio output and allow you to enable Dolby Atmos' Spatial Audio feature, while the latter is essential for customization and getting the most out of your new cans.

You can change the function of the custom button on the headset, such as making it toggle the mute, or have it play/pause music. Meanwhile, on PS5, you can enable the Tempest 3D Audio via the console's sound settings as usual.

The design of the headset itself is sleek. My review unit is mostly white with light grey memory foam padding and a silver adjustable frame to ensure it sits tight on your head. Two skinny RGB lighting strips complete the look, facing the way you're looking. If you use the headset in a remote work meeting, however, be prepared for your colleagues to comment as if you look like you belong in a sci-fi TV series, as happened to me.

The only complaint here is that while the microphone is easy to use and fits in with the profile of the headset itself, it'd be a huge quality-of-life upgrade if it was detachable rather than just rotatable. You can swivel it up to sit vertically, but if it could be removed, the Bluetooth feature would make this suitable for listening to music on the go. As it stands, though, you don't really want to commute with a microphone attached to your headset.

(Image credit: Future/Ford James) Corsair VOID Wireless V2 review: Performance

• Lightweight and comfortable to wear
• Terrific 3D audio on PC and PS5
• Incredible battery life

Thanks to how light the headset is, combined with the memory foam cushions, I've worn it for hours at a time without feeling any discomfort. It saw me through a solid eight-hour Atomfall session on PS5 while sitting on my sofa, along with a similar length gaming Sunday playing a variety of games on PC.

On the former, it added to the already eerie, post-apocalyptic atmosphere of the British countryside by enhancing the groans of Ferals and the chatter of Outlaws in the area, along with the Tempest 3D Audio helping me pinpoint exactly where enemies were.

Of all the games I tested it with on PC, Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 is where the impressive audio was most noticeable. Listening for footsteps and gunshots is incredibly important in the first-person shooter game, and they were crystal clear with the VOID Wireless V2.

I also spoke with friends on Discord while using it on both platforms and had feedback that the voice quality was as good as it could be. It also has very good noise cancellation, which really helps with the immersion.

Finally, I'd be remiss not to talk a little more about the battery life. Coming in at around 70 hours, it blows a lot of its competition out of the water. I tried to use it for a number of sessions repeatedly without charging it, in order to get a rough ballpark for how long it lasts against that claimed 70-hour figure, but the light never changed from green to imply the battery was even starting to die.

(Image credit: Future/Ford James) Should you buy the Corsair VOID Wireless V2? Buy it if...

You’re after one of the latest gaming headsets that has it all
Seriously, you're unlikely to find better than this on the market at this price point. It's one of the best examples of a complete product you'll find.

You find other headsets to be too heavy or uncomfortable
This is so light and easy to wear for long periods, if it weren't for how good the noise cancellation is, you'd forget you're wearing it at times.

You want a headset compatible with multiple platforms
It's simple to unplug the USB receiver from one device and plug it into another, without needing to reconnect it. Connecting via Bluetooth is also as simple as pressing the power button on the headset to open up the pairing. Find the headset in the list of Bluetooth devices nearby and voila!

Don't buy it if...

You need a headset for Xbox
Unfortunately, the Corsair VOID Wireless V2 isn't compatible with Xbox consoles. However, Corsair does have other Xbox headset offerings, such as the HS65 Wireless.

You have a premium headset already
Don't get me wrong, this is one of the best headsets I've ever used, but part of that comes due to its value. If you have a $200+ headset already that you're happy with, you don't need to abandon it for this one.

Also consider...

If, despite all this praise, you're still not sold on the Corsair VOID Wireless V2, consider these two other wireless headsets instead, at slightly more expensive price points but similarly feature-laden.

Razer BlackShark V2 Pro
It's almost double the price, but the Razer BlackShark V2 Pro is currently our best-recommended wireless gaming headset. It offers pretty much everything the Corsair VOID Wireless V2 does, but it's also compatible with Xbox consoles. The design of the headset may also be to your personal preference over the VOID.

For more information, check out our full Razer BlackShark V2 Pro review

SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless
This offering comes at a much steeper cost, but it does have a few additional features to balance it out. It uses a wireless base station for connectivity, which works in a similar way to a USB dongle receiver but means it can be connected to two sources simultaneously, both wirelessly, as opposed to one through Bluetooth. This one also has a fully retractable mic, making it better suited for non-gaming purposes.

For more information, check out our full SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless review

(Image credit: Future/Ford James) How I tested the Corsair VOID Wireless V2

• Used for nearly four weeks for all my gaming sessions
• Tested with both PS5 and PC games
• Also used it to listen to music while working, in meetings, and on Discord

Prior to getting my hands on the Corsair VOID Wireless V2, my audio device of choice on PC was the Philips Fidelio X3. That is an absolutely phenomenal pair of headphones, but it is not a gaming peripheral. It's made for music, doesn't feature much noise canceling, and doesn't come with a mic, so I also have a Blue Snowball desktop mic to hand. I'll likely continue to use the Fidelio X3 for all music purposes, but the VOID Wireless V2 has taken over every other aspect because of how well-rounded it is.

It's been used for a number of gaming sessions, both long and short, and thanks to the connectivity range, I can walk around my apartment while still talking to friends on Discord. I've played Atomfall and The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt on PS5, along with Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 and Monster Hunter Wilds on my gaming PC.

First reviewed March/April 2025

Read more about how we test

This review first appeared in issue 347 of PC Pro.

Video conferencing (VC) continues to enjoy unprecedented growth levels since the pandemic, and Biamp now wants a piece of the action. It makes its play for the small to medium-sized meeting room market with the imposing Parlé VBC 2500.

Measuring nearly one metre in length, this all-in-one conferencing bar takes a lot of the technology Biamp has developed over its 46 years in the professional audio-visual (AV) space and hands it to SMBs. Whereas most competing VC bars offer a beam-forming array made up of five or six microphones, the VBC 2500 boasts a highly accurate beam-tracking array comprising 27 microphone elements.

It sports a 4K UHD camera capable of delivering up to a 2160p resolution at 30fps and teams this with a wide 120° field of view (FoV) plus digital pan, tilt, zoom (PTZ) functions with 5x zoom capabilities. The camera incorporates a mechanical shutter that automatically obscures the view when a meeting has finished or a user disables video from their UC app.

The VBC 2500 delivers great video quality and its digital auto-framing is rapid (Image credit: Future)

Sound output is a cut above the rest, too, as Biamp has designed the speaker array to accurately reproduce human speech. The array comprises a pair of 20W speakers in sealed enclosures plus passive radiators to improve bass, and it uses active distortion compensation to ensure a flat response.

Placement options are plentiful: the VBC 2500 has an integral hinged desk stand and the kit includes a metal wall-mount bracket. Behind the rear removable panel is an external power supply socket plus a USB-C host connection port – for BYOD operations you can connect the VBC 2500 to Biamp’s optional Devio SCR-10 desktop unit.

A standout feature is Biamp’s automated room configuration: simply plug the bar in, press the Launch button underneath and stand back. The bar measures the room’s acoustics by emitting a series of sounds that wouldn’t be out of place in a 1950s sci-fi movie.

It uses the audio feedback to optimize the mic array, speakers and integral digital sound processor (DSP) specifically to its environment. The upshot is that anyone can set up the VBC 2500, and the same process is used if it’s moved to another room.

Installation took seconds. We plugged the VBC 2500 into a USB port on a Windows 10 Pro host and all necessary drivers were automatically loaded. As to which VC software platform to use, the choice is yours – the VBC 2500 is UVC (USB video class) compliant and we had no problems using it with Skype, Microsoft Teams and Zoom.

The imposing Parlé VBC 2500 is supremely easy to set up (Image credit: Future)

Video settings can be tweaked to suit using Biamp’s free Camera Controller app. Auto-framing and backlight compensation can be disabled, PTZ functions manually operated, the image mirrored or flipped, UC profiles for Microsoft Teams, Google Meet and Zoom applied and three presets saved for further use.

Video quality at 1080p is impressive, and we found the image was sharp and clear with great contrast and color balance. Backlight compensation works well, as does auto-framing, with the camera snapping to the active speaker in a couple of seconds and tracking them if they moved around the meeting room.

Audio quality is even better – this is easily the best-sounding VC bar we’ve yet tested. Biamp’s speaker technology delivers a superb sound, with a warm, deep bass, natural-sounding voices and none of the shrillness you’ll find with smaller VC bars.

It’s loud, too, as we had to drop volume levels to 40% for our 24 square meter meeting room. Crank it up to maximum and it’ll go with you as the sound doesn’t break up at all.

The Parlé VBC 2500 isn’t as versatile as Logitech’s Rally Bar, which offers BYOD and standalone modes courtesy of its Android OS, but Biamp can’t be beaten for presentation quality. Video and audio are exceptionally good, digital auto-framing is fast and the smart launch mode makes meeting room setup a piece of cake.

We also ranked the best small business website builders.

This review first appeared in issue 348 of PC Pro.

The WS AR-X6700 makes good use of its £4,500 budget, with a solid balance of components. Workstation Specialists has chosen the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X, which offers 16 cores and 32 threads, with a base 4.5GHz clock and boost up to 5.7GHz. This is backed by 64GB of RAM, provided as two DIMMs, so there’s room to upgrade. It’s 5,200MHz DDR5, which the Ryzen 7000 series now supports.

Graphics acceleration comes from the Nvidia RTX A5000. With a hefty 8,192 CUDA cores and 24GB of GDDR6 frame buffer on a 384-bit bus offering 768GB/sec of bandwidth, it’s a potent workstation accelerator. Its quartet of DisplayPort 1.4a connections support up to four 4K screens at 120Hz, or two 8K screens at 60Hz.

Apart from the decidedly skinny Lenovo chassis, the Fractal Design Define C Tempered Glass case here is the most compact this month. There’s still room for a couple of 3.5in or 2.5in drives, plus up to three 2.5in units. The only storage supplied, however, is a 2TB Samsung 990 Pro NVMe SSD, which when tested with CrystalDiskMark 8.0.4 delivered competent 7,457MB/sec sustained reading and 6,915MB/sec writing.

(Image credit: Future)

The overall result in the PC Pro benchmarks of 731 is superb compared to systems from any previous year, but in this month’s company it’s joint second slowest. For everyday tasks, Intel’s Core i9-13900K has the lead. The multicore rendering result in Maxon Cinebench R23 of 36,030 is similarly both excellent while still being third slowest this month. The Blender Gooseberry render took 282 seconds with the CPU, however, which is more competitive.

Sadly, with so many powerful systems in this test, the Nvidia RTX 5000 manages performance only in the middle of the pack. Looking at the SPECviewperf 2020 v3.1 results, the score of 178 in 3dsmax-07 is the third slowest, although 535 in maya-06 is a bit higher up the rankings. Only Lenovo’s P620, with its RTX A4000, consistently falls behind. The OpenCL rendering result in LuxMark 3.1 of 15,489 is in line with our expectations for an RTX A5000, while GPU rendering with Blender took 148 seconds, which is also mid-range.

Overall, while the Workstation Specialists WS AR-X6700 is well put together and specified, it doesn’t have the leading performance of this month’s Labs Winner.

We also rated the best all-in-one computers.

RUGD Power Brick: review

The RUGD Power Brick is a power bank designed for outdoor excursions, thanks to its durable design and useful features. Although its form prioritizes function, it’s not without some interesting and even stylish aspects, and the orange colorway of my test unit certainly made it striking – and hard to lose.

As you would expect, it’s very-well built, too. All panels are solid with virtually no flex to them, while the shock-proof silicone outer rim feels tough.

Despite its ruggedness, though, the RUGD Power Brick is pleasingly small and relatively light, even for one of the best power banks, which makes it ideal for carrying around. It’s just about thin enough to fit in a pocket, although its square shape might make it a little too wide for some.

There’s no interface to speak of, apart from four LED lights to indicate its battery life. It’s a shame, however, that they’re virtually invisible when viewed from an angle, which is inconvenient when you merely want to glance at its status.

However, convenience is restored thanks to some handy features, such as the integrated hook on the outer rim, to which you can attach the included carabiner. There’s also a giant flashlight that takes up the entire back panel, and provides plenty of luminescence.

Activating the flashlight is a little laborious, as it requires holding the button for too long, rather than a simple double-tap. What’s more useful, though, is the ability to make the light even brighter by tapping the power button once on, and make it flash with a further tap for an SOS signal.

The RUGD Power Brick features one USB-A port and one USB-C, both hidden under a flap on the outer rim. This flap can be a little awkward to pull out, but it at least offers sufficient protection for the ports. However, the string that attaches the flap to the body doesn’t feel particularly strong, making me doubt its ability to withstand repeated or more vigorous tugs.

What’s more, there’s only one flap for both ports, leaving one port exposed while using the other, which is something of an oversight given the RUGD Power Brick’s commitment to providing the utmost protection.

Both ports provide 18W of power, although only the USB-C port has input capability for charging the bank itself. Simultaneous charging is also supported. It comes with a charging cable, although I would’ve welcomed a C-to-C connection rather than C-to-A.

The RUGD Power Brick managed to charge my Google Pixel 7a, which has a 4,385mAh battery, from empty to full in just under two hours via the USB-C port. That's not a particularly impressive performance when other banks are capable of charging it in about 90 minutes.

This RUGD Power Brick lost one of the four LED dots in the process, meaning you should get about two or three full charges from it, which aligns with its 10,050mAh capacity. Charging the RUGD Power Brick itself from empty to full took two and a half hours, which is acceptable given that aforementioned capacity.

For those that don’t require an all-proof design, the RUGD Power Brick doesn’t exactly represent good value, considering its lack of ports and middling capacity for the price. But if you’re someone who frequently battles the elements, the RUGD Power Brick should make for a practical and hardy companion for keeping your smaller devices topped up.

(Image credit: Future) RUGD Power Brick review: price & specs

(Image credit: Future) Should I buy the RUGD Power Brick? Buy it if…

You want something tough
With its IP67 certification, the RUGD Power Brick is water, shock, and dust proof, so it’s ideal for taking on your outdoor adventures.

You want practical features
Along with its toughness, the RUGD Power Brick is also convenient, thanks to its integrated hook, included karabiner, and huge back-panel flashlight.

Don't buy it if…

You have many devices
The RUGD Power Brick only has two ports, so if you want to charge several devices at once, you should look elsewhere.

You need to charge large devices
The 18W output and 10,050mAh capacity are enough for multiple smartphone and tablet charges, but insufficient for laptops and other large devices.

RUGD Power Brick review: Also consider

Iniu B61
If you want a similar output, but don’t need all that ruggedness, then the Iniu B61 is a great alternative. It has a slightly higher output (22.5W) and essentially the same capacity (10,000mAh), but it has two more USB-A ports and is cheaper than the RUGD Power Brick, so represents better value for those who don’t need outdoors-based features. Read our Iniu B61 review.

Shark Cryoglow: One minute review

Whether you have fine lines, rosacea, acne or puffy under-eyes, Shark’s CryoGlow can address a wide range of skincare concerns. It combines LED face mask technology with Peltier-effect cooling pads that could replace your weekly trips to the salon.

CryoGlow is my first foray into light therapy technology. While I’m eager to see further studies into the long-term benefits (and potential risks), I must say, I’ve been impressed with Shark’s first skincare device.

Of course, it’s not fully effortless. I spent over seven hours strapped into the CryoGlow in my two months of testing, using one of its three settings almost every night to put it through its paces.

It’s not been without its drawbacks. I travel a fair amount, spending half my time at my partner’s home and half at mine, plus going on press trips, and, unfortunately, CryoGlow is bulky and inflexible. The device isn’t built for effective packing, and can’t be put in a checked bag owing to its lithium-ion battery. Battery life might prove to be irritating, too, especially over time and if you’re following the advised daily-use routine.

(Image credit: Future)

That being said, it’s still a whole lot more convenient and cost-effective in the long run than weekly trips to your salon to receive the same treatment. If, like me, you’re a regular under-eye mask wearer, this is a much more sustainable way to minimize your puffy eyes.

The biggest question, of course, is whether or not CryoGlow delivers results. For me, the answer is a tentative yes; after over two months of consistent testing, my acne has noticeably reduced outside of hormonal outbreaks, my fine lines seem reduced and, in defiance of my terrible sleep schedule, my under-eye puffiness has lessened. Best of all, the routine of it all encourages me to moisturize daily (the mask itself is quite drying) and means I have to use fewer pimple patches and eye masks.

Is it the sea-change I was hoping for? No, and the results aren’t long-lasting unless you continue to regularly use the mask after the initial eight-week regimen. Still, I’m pretty impressed with what I’ve seen, and it’s the best alternative I’ve found to regular, professional skincare treatments.

Shark Cryoglow review: Price and availability

(Image credit: Future)

• Announced and released in late 2024
• Costs $349 / £299
• Comfortably mid-range among LED face masks, plus with added benefits.

The Shark CryoGlow is available for $349 / £299 (as of writing, it’s not available in Australia) and can be purchased directly from Shark as well as a number of third-party retailers such as Amazon. In the UK, that marks a small increase in price in the few months since its launch, when it cost £249.

Out of the box, the CryoGlow comes with a travel bag, an extra set of InstaChill Peltier-effect plates and the mask itself with the attached remote. You can also buy a charging stand for the mask for $49.99 / £49.99, which gives the mask a tidy home.

In terms of value for money, the CryoGlow may be pricey, but it stands to benefit your beauty budget in the long run. Its biggest competition in home treatment comes from the likes of Currentbody, which costs $469 / £399 for its latest Series 2 model. While regular salon treatments can range from $25-200 / £25-200 each trip, which adds up quickly if you want to sustain the results.

• Value score: 4.5/5

Shark Cryoglow review: Design

Yes, that's an earbuds case, not a reading glasses case…  (Image credit: Future)

• Solid and inflexible mask
• Attached remote
• Features Peltier-effect under-eye cooling plates

Unlike many of its competitors, Shark’s CryoGlow is a rigid, hard-shelled light therapy mask with added cushioning for comfort around the eyes and on the forehead. While it’s a little heavy and inflexible (675g) for my liking when it comes to travel, it’s still pretty comfortable in use, owing to the adjustable straps across the top and sides of the head that spread the mask’s weight, and its holes for the eyes, mouth and nose.

While these cutouts are sufficiently comfortable, I’d argue against using this mask while doing anything other than relaxing or maybe some light doomscrolling. The eye cushions adequately block out most of the light from behind the mask, but I found that after a few weeks of testing, I started to suffer eye strain and headaches, which I attributed to using screens in a dimly lit room while wearing the CryoGlow every evening. The contrast between the LED light bleeding into my periphery against the light on my TV or phone didn’t quite agree with my eyes, it seems. For wellness’ sake, I suppose it’s better to treat your skin routine more meditatively.

The remote is wired into the mask itself and features a small LCD screen, which lets you track and select your skincare routines and the time remaining during a treatment, and a dial for selecting options. The mask charges via a USB-C connector in the remote.

Under the hood, CryoGlow features 160 tri-wick LEDs, which translates to 480 light sources across the three light therapy programs (red, blue, and deep infrared light). Beneath the eye holes are the InstaChill cooling pads, which use the Peltier effect, a thermoelectric phenomenon that creates a cooling effect on the skin side of the cooling pads when powered, and fan technology to deliver under-eye bag-busting cooling. Clever stuff. By default, the mask features just one set of these cooling pads, but if you find it more comfortable, you can add the included second pair to bring the cooling closer to your face.

It’s worth highlighting that a vast majority of competitor products feature a more flexible form factor, which may be more accommodating for different face shapes and sizes. However, from what I’ve found so far in my own testing, consumer reviews and the opinions of my friends and family who’ve tried Shark’s mask, the hard shell, one-size-fits-all approach seems to be fairly universal. Plus, you benefit from the under-mask fans, which keep everything cool and refreshing in use.

• Design score: 4.5/5

Shark Cryoglow review: Performance

(Image credit: Future)

• Various treatments for different skin needs
• Three controllable coolness settings for the under-eye
• Battery life unimpressive

How it works

Shark’s CryoGlow has three light therapy routines that address different skincare goals: Better Aging, Blemish Repair and Skin Sustain Treatment. Each mode uses different LEDs to penetrate the skin.

Better Aging uses Red LEDs and Infrared over a six-minute cycle to reduce fine lines and firm skin, with a recommended eight-week course.

Blemish Repair adds Blue LEDs to the mix across an eight-minute routine to reduce blemishes, smooth skin and improve the appearance of pores after a four-week course.

Once you’ve completed a full treatment cycle, Skin Sustain combines all three light treatments into one, four-minute cycle designed to maintain the results.

Using the remote, you can add under-eye cooling with one of three intensity settings, or use the fourth treatment option, Under-Eye Revive, to de-puff your eyes for up to 15 minutes without LEDs.

I tried the Blemish Repair and Better Aging treatments in my time with the mask, starting with Blemish Repair for the full four weeks. Though my quest for a fully effective, adult acne-blasting solution continues, I did at least notice a reduction in my symptoms. With consistent, daily use, my pimples reduced in size, severity and redness. I have very large pores that were at least somewhat tightened and smoothed by the treatment, and, overall, my acne was quicker to heal, drying out much more readily than I’m used to.

For me, that’s worth it; I have found few solutions that are at all effective in making my acne easier to live with. However, it’s still a big investment for moderate results, and I can only anecdotally say it had a slightly noticeable effect on my skin. I’ll be using CryoGlow for as long as I can to see if the improvements continue, but as the search for my acne’s silver bullet continues, so might yours.

Following Blemish Repair mode, I took a two-week break to test how lasting the results are, and found my skin slowly returning to form towards the end of the break, when I picked up the mask once more to try Better Aging mode. As of writing, I’m just over halfway through the treatment, and I’ve seen some positive early results when it comes to fine line reduction - however, it’s worth noting these aren’t (yet!) too much of a problem for me. That being said, I do struggle with skin puffiness, especially when I’m run down, and the red light therapy proved effective in soothing my inflammation.

For me, easily the most effective part has been the InstaChill under-eye cooling. No longer do my puffy eyelids and under-eye bags betray my terrible sleep schedule, thanks to daily cooling treatments that leave me feeling refreshed and relaxed. I’ve been using single-use eye masks for a few months, and CryoGlow is both more effective and less wasteful; a double-whammy of cosmetic coolness.

The cycles of all of the CryoGlow treatments are relatively short, meaning it doesn’t feel too large of a commitment, but the short battery life only sees three or four treatments through, and if you’re regularly on the move you might find toting it around frustrating in the long term.

Overall, I’ve been really impressed with the Shark CryoGlow, but as with all beauty tech I’ll hazard that results may vary; mine were noticeable, yes, but it’s a big, daily commitment to ongoing skincare at a fairly high cost. That being said, it’s encouraged better skincare from me all-round, and is more affordable in the long-term than salon treatments, single-use eye masks and a whole lot of pimple patches.

• Performance score: 4.5/5

Shark Cryoglow review: scorecard Shark Cryoglow: Should I buy it? @techradar

♬ original sound - TechRadar Buy it if...

You’re looking for a salon alternative

Up-front, it’s a pricey investment, but if you’re really into your light therapy, it might be more cost-effective in the long run.

You suffer from under-eye puffiness

Anecdotally, this is the most noticeably effective treatment offered by the CryoGlow, even though it’s really just an added benefit for the product.

Don't buy it if...

You’re on a budget

It’s not cheap, and you might be able to get away with a cheaper, LED-only mask.

You travel often

Its size, bulk and battery life make the CryoGlow a slightly annoying travel companion.

How I tested

I've been using Cryoglow for months by the time I sat down to write my review, running a full course of its blemish-busting treatment and making it most of the way through its Better Aging Treatment.

In addition to the Treatments, I tried using the under-eye cooling pads at various temperature settings, testing from day-to-day to see how much (or little!) they reduced the dark circles under my eyes, as well as key specs like the battery life. I tried using the mask at different times of the day to see if it had much of an impact on the immediacy of the results, and even tried using it on a plane!

I've been writing for TechRadar for almost four years now, reviewing everything from beauty tech to smart home and wellness devices. I've tried different LED face masks, as well as various high-tech skin treatments, to build an idea of what good looks like, always factoring in important factors like price, comfort and longevity.

• Read TechRadar's reviews guarantee

Apps help businesses engage and connect with customers in a more personalized way. However, building apps can be complex and expensive, creating a huge blocker for many businesses. This is where app builder platforms can help.

Wix, best known as one of the best website builders on the planet, also offers a great app building platform. Wix App Builder is the company's DIY mobile app creation platform. It allows users to build native apps for iOS and Android, without coding.

In June 2024, Wix upgraded the platform by adding an AI-powered chatbot. You simply describe your app goals and the AI generates a customized app with all features and layouts included. The platform manages everything from design to deployment, including submitting the app to Apple's App Store and Google Play.

Users can create apps with logos and design elements, as long as they have a paid subscription. The premium Branded App Plan starts at $99 per month. However, you may be able to get this cheaper with one of our Wix promo codes. There are also separate registration fees for publishing the app: $99 annually for Apple's App Store and a one-time $25 fee for Google Play. What makes Wix App Builder unique is its smooth integration with Wix websites. It allows real-time syncing between website and app content, with automated updates to avoid confusion.

(Image credit: Wix) Wix App Builder: Pricing & plans

Starting in 2025, the Wix App Builder is a part of the premium Branded App Plan, which starts at $99/month. This plan gives you access to essential tools to create, launch, and maintain a native mobile app. It includes AI-driven design tools, customization features, and deployment help. You can create apps for both iOS and Android. The plan also offers features for stores, bookings, forums, and more business solutions. If you already use a Wix website builder plan (ranging from $17 to $159 per month when billed annually), App Builder can be an added investment for mobile growth.

But keep in mind that there are extra costs for app publication beyond the Wix fee. You’ll need to pay Apple’s App Store registration fee of about $99 per year. Google Play also has a one-time developer fee of $25. These fees go directly to Apple and Google, not Wix, and you must pay them to publish any app, no matter how it was created. Plus, your app must meet Apple and Google’s approval requirements, which can be another challenge.

Wix App Builder: Features

Wix App Builder has always been easy to use, but the newly-added AI-powered features from 2024 take this even further. Users can create custom mobile apps simply by chatting with an AI. You describe your goals and vision. The chatbot then asks about business needs, desired features, and branding. Based on this, it generates a complete mobile app, which you can tweak via the visual editor.

Wix offers many customization options for branding and design. Users can create a unique app icon and tailor the layout to fit their vision. Beyond looks, Wix App Builder integrates with hundreds of business solutions. This includes ecommerce, booking systems, forums, membership areas, and notifications.

A key feature is automatic synchronization between the website and app. This means any updates made on a Wix website show up instantly in the mobile app. It removes the hassle of managing content on multiple platforms. Plus the system also takes care of updates, ensuring compatibility with the latest iOS and Android versions. All of this greatly reduces the technical work usually needed to keep mobile apps running smoothly.

(Image credit: Wix) Wix App Builder: Setup

Setting up a mobile app with Wix App Builder is simple and user-friendly. You begin by entering your app title and choosing a color scheme.

Alternatively, with the AI chatbot introduced in 2024, you start by chatting about your business and app goals. First, share your goals for the app. Once the AI confirms the layout, it asks about desired features. No need to use technical terms; just explain the app's purpose. The bot understands and suggests relevant features. You can also upload a logo before the final design is created.

After choosing a template or letting the AI generate the initial app design, you can edit it if you want. The platform has a built-in previewer, allowing users to check the app's user experience before submitting it to app stores. Wix also guides users through the complex submission process for both the App Store and Google Play. Once the app is published, Wix continues to add value by supporting automatic updates and new features.

Wix App Builder: Support

Wix uses the same solid support system for App Builder that helps its website builder customers. The key resource is Wix's Help Center. It has detailed articles, video tutorials, and guides on app creation, submission, and maintenance. These resources are organized into clear sections, which help users find what they need.

For more personal help, Wix offers 24/7 customer support on all paid plans. This includes chat, callback requests, and ticket-based support in multiple languages. Users can reach support through the Wix app or website. Response times vary based on the subscription level.

The support team helps with technical issues, design questions, and app store submission problems. Wix also has video tutorials in its Help Center that guides users through the app creation process. While there is no separate support channel for the App Builder tool, its simple process means most users won't need much technical help.

Wix App Builder review: Final verdict

Wix App Builder is a strong choice for businesses wanting to reach mobile users. It helps them do this without high costs or needing technical skills. The 2024 update adds AI features, making app creation as easy as having a conversation. Users can share their ideas and the system creates a professional app. For those already using Wix, the easy integration and automatic syncing of website and app content save time and avoid duplicate content issues.

However, you should think about the ongoing costs and limits of the platform too. The $99 monthly fee, plus extra app store registration costs, can be a lot for small businesses or startups that aren't already invested in mobile. While the App Builder offers good flexibility, it doesn't allow the same level of customization as custom-developed apps, or even other advanced no-code platforms. It also ties businesses to the Wix ecosystem, so users without an existing Wix website won't find much use here.

In the end, Wix App Builder is a great option that sits between simple app makers and costly custom development. It balances customization, professional features, and ease of use, appealing to small and medium businesses wanting to create simple apps for iOS and Android. For those with Wix websites who want to invest in a dedicated mobile experience, the value is strong despite the higher price.

(Image credit: Wix)

Dell Inspiron 14 Plus 7441: Two-minute review

(Image credit: Future / James Holland)

The best way to think of the Dell Inspron 14 Plus 7441 is as a Windows version of a MacBook Air. Not as superpowered as a Dell XPS (or a MacBook Pro), but snappy performance, a thin and light chassis, and long battery life are all features you can expect here.

For the right person, namely someone who wished there was a Windows MacBook Air, the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus 7441 might be the best laptop for them. Its performance, powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon CPU, is snappy while being power efficient. The battery life is very, very impressive, even if it doesn’t reach its advertised heights. And as one of the many laptops built in the mold of the clamshell MacBook, it’s thin, light, and encased in an all-aluminum chassis.

It’s also at a similar price point, though it doesn’t get much more expensive at its maxed out configuration. Of course, since it is a tinier bit cheaper, there are elements that feel a little lower quality than I would expect. Namely, the keyboard, touchpad, and audio quality are a bit underwhelming considering the price. They’re all fine, but feel like they belong on a computer a couple hundred dollars cheaper.

Still, the pros vastly outweigh the cons. The quality of the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus 7441’s performance and battery life bode well for future Qualcomm-equipped laptops, and offer a solid alternative to the MacBook Air and other $1,000 Ultrabooks.

Dell Inspiron 14 Plus 7441: Price and availability

(Image credit: Future / James Holland)

• How much does it cost? Starting at $949.99 (about £760 / AU$1,470)
• When is it available? Available now
• Where can you get it? Available in the US, UK, and Australia

Since it’s a solid mid-range option utilizing Snapdragon ARM CPUs, it’s no surprise that the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus 7441 is available just about everywhere. While it leans more mid-range than a premium Ultrabook, its starting price of $949.99 (about £760 / AU$1,470) feels a little high. I would expect it to be closer to around an $800 / £600 price point.

At the very least, going up in price is not hugely significant. Going from a 256GB to 512GB SSD adds just about $50 to the price. It should be noted that this configuration with the slightly larger drive is the base configuration in the UK and Australia with a price point of $999.99 / £749.99 / AU$1,597.20. Going up to the max configuration with the slightly more powerful Snapdragon X Plus X1E-80-100 CPU and 1 TB SSD goes for $1,099.99 / £899.99 / AU$1,897.50.

For around the same price, you can get the base configuration of the Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M3) with 8GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD, which has better battery life and at least equal performance. However, upgrading the RAM or SSD adds quite a bit to its cost – the configuration with 16GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD is pricier at $1,299 / £1,299 / AU$2,099.

If you want more performance in a similarly slim form factor and are okay sacrificing battery life, the slightly older version of the Acer Swift X14 starts at the same price point (the new 2024 version got a bit of a price bump).

• Value: 4 / 5

Dell Inspiron 14 Plus 7441: Specs

When it comes to different configurations, the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus 7441 only allows a small amount of customization. Not including software upgrades (Windows 11 Home vs Windows 11 Pro primarily), you can choose between just two CPUs: the 10-core 3.4GHz Snapdragon X Plus X1P-64-100 and the 12-core 3.4GHz Snapdragon X Plus X1E-80-100 that can be boosted to 4.0 GHz. There are also three SSD options: 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB. The faster CPU and the 1TB SSD are tied together, so if you upgrade one, you have to upgrade the other.

It’s also worth noting that there’s an additional M.2 slot if you want to expand the memory at a later date.

The display that comes with the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus 7441 is a 14-inch 1600p screen with a 16:10 aspect ratio and 400 nits of brightness. It’s also a touch screen. Only the one screen is available - no luck if you were hoping to upgrade a mid-tier performance laptop to have an OLED screen.

Dell Inspiron 14 Plus 7441: Design

• Utilitarian Ultrabook form factor
• Light and thin
• Keyboard and touchpad are nothing special

The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus 7441 follows in Dell’s Inspiron line insofar that it’s a bit utilitarian in its design. Well, that’s certainly the case here. It fits that Ultrabook mold of trying to compete with Apple’s more entry level laptops, with a focus on non-power users who want a competent, portable, and attractive device. So, then this laptop is thin, light, and comes in an attractive if discreet silver aluminum chassis.

I’ll cover its competence in the next section, but it’s certainly thin at just over a half-inch thick and light at a little over three pounds. You don’t have to worry about portability with this version of the Dell Inspiron. And the aluminum chassis feels sturdy as well if you tend to throw your laptops in a backpack with a case.

(Image credit: Future / James Holland)

As far as the display goes, it’s a sharp 1600p touchscreen with up to 400 nits of brightness. While HDR is not on hand, the color accuracy is good enough for photo editing with a 97.6% sRGB, though its DCI-P3 color coverage is 69% so video editing, especially with HDR is not a good idea here.

The keyboard is responsive and attractive with its white backlighting, but is a little stiff to touch. I do wish the individual keys had a little more of a concave shape to them as well. Essentially, it’s good enough, but a little below what I would expect for a laptop like this.

The touchpad is likewise good enough. It’s not the smoothest feeling I've used, but it does the job and is as responsive as it should be.

Lastly, the port selection is about par for this form factor. There are two USB-C 4 ports (one of which is taken up by the charger when plugged in), one regular USB port, an audio jack, and a microSD reader. The last one is something you won’t find on a MacBook Air, by the way.

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(Image credit: Future / James Holland)Image 2 of 3

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(Image credit: Future / James Holland)

• Design: 4.5 / 5

Dell Inspiron 14 Plus 7441: Performance

• Speedy performance for day-to-day tasks
• Has Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4 for speedy connectivity
• Audio and webcam are adequate

The Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus X1P-64-100 and integrated Adreno Graphics are plenty powerful for everyday users. It’s not powerful enough for any real gaming as is to be expected and video editing is going to be an exercise in patience. But, if you need enough power to have 15 tabs open without suffering a slowdown even while streaming, then this laptop can do it.

I was even able to do some light gaming, so if you like to blow off some steam with less demanding titles like Counter-Strike, you shouldn’t have any issues. For most people, the performance on tap is enough.

Dell Inspiron 14 Plus 7441: Benchmarks

3DMark: Fire Strike: 5965; Time Spy: 1903; Wild Life: 16797

GeekBench 6.3 2436 (single-core); 13281 (multi-core)Handbrake 1.8.1: 7:02

CrossMark: Overall: 1234 Productivity: 1145 Creativity: 1383 Responsiveness: 1098

PC Mark 10 Battery Test (Office): 9:55

PC Mark 10 Battery Test (Video): 18:19:44

It’s also pretty quick when it comes to connectivity as it comes with Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4. That also helps with having those 15-20 tabs open, not to mention that connecting devices should be speedy as well.

The audio and webcam are similar to the keyboard and touchpad in that they’re serviceable, but just that. Again, I would expect slightly better. Starting with the audio, it gets plenty loud, but also gets a bit boomy as the volume goes up.

The webcam is sharp enough at 1080p. The 30 fps it’s capable of is okay, but isn’t the smoothest. Plus, there’s some graininess to it as well. At least, there’s a physical privacy shutter.

• Performance: 4 / 5

Dell Inspiron 14 Plus 7441: Battery life

(Image credit: Future / James Holland)

• Lasts over 18 hours on a single charge
• Takes awhile to charge back up

The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus 7441’s battery life both fails to meet its advertised benchmark, though it's still utterly impressive. When a laptop is supposed to last 21 hours and gets pretty close, it’s quite the feat.

In test, this laptop made it to almost 18 hours and 20 minutes on a single charge. During use, that means I’ve been able to cart this laptop around and use it when needed for three days without plugging it in and still have 50% battery life.

Since the battery life is so long, it does take some time to get back to full. It took me about 35 minutes to back up to 99%. While that’s not bad at all, you’ll want to give it some time to juice back if you get it down to nothing.

Another bright spot with the battery life is the fact that, like MacBooks and unlike many other Windows laptops, the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus 7441 doesn’t use a whole lot of battery when inactive, but not off. There have been plenty of laptops that I’ve used where the battery life would still drain from when the lid is closed to when the laptop is woken back up.

• Battery life: 5 / 5

Should I buy the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus 7441?  Buy it if…

You want a very, very long battery life

Partially because of the efficiency of the Qualcomm CPU, the battery life on this laptop is ridiculously long. Even if it doesn’t quite hit the advertised 21 hours, almost 18 and a half hours is very impressive.

You wish you could get a MacBook Air with Windows

If you ever wanted the appointments of a MacBook Air, specifically long battery life and quick performance in a slim package, the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus 7441 does a very good job of filling that niche.

You want to try an ARM-equipped laptop

If you want something outside of the usual Intel or AMD offerings, the Qualcomm CPU on here provides very good day-to-day performance.

Don't buy it if...

You want premium throughout

There are a few areas, notably the keyboard, touchpad, audio, and webcam, that don’t feel as premium as the rest of the laptop (or its price tag). If you want something without any cut corners, spend a little more on a Dell XPS.

You want the most value possible

The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus 7441 is a lot of things, but a value proposition it’s not. The price isn’t bad, but it feels just slightly overpriced, not to mention that it’s more for those that want a competent laptop, not a cheap one.

Also Consider

If our Dell Inspiron 14 Plus 7441 review has you considering other options, here are two laptops to consider...

Acer Swift X14

For around the same price, the Acer Swift X14 offers an interesting alternative. Instead of a more power-efficient and snappier ARM CPU, it comes with a solid one from Intel. But, you also get discrete graphics that can handle gaming and more demanding editing while still retaining the slim form factor. The Acer does have a much shorter battery life.

Read our full Acer Swift X14 review

Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M3)

The Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M3) offers excellent performance with a long battery life thanks to Apple’s own M3 system-on-a-chip, is incredibly lightweight, not to mention attractive, and provides an intuitive user experience. Of course, its base configuration comes with just 8GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD, upgrading either adds quite a bit to the price tag.

Read our full Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M3) review

How I tested the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus 7441

• Tested for a couple weeks
• Used it for work, gaming, and streaming
• Tested the hybrid features

I used the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus 7441 for a couple weeks, doing some light gaming, watching some online content, and working on it. I also used it on the go and tested its various features like the webcam and audio.

The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus 7441 takes advantage of Qualcomm’s Snapdragon ARM CPUs to offer snappy and efficient performance in an Ultrabook form factor. It’s slightly pricey for what it is, but is ideal for those that want something utilitarian, yet attractive and powerful enough for extended day-to-day work on the go.

I’ve spent the last few years reviewing tech gear for gaming and otherwise, where I’ve gotten a feel for what to look for and how to put a piece of kit through its paces to see whether it’s worth the recommendation.

ZoneAlarm is one of the cybersecurity pioneers, offering its firewall protection not just to businesses but also to consumers back in the 1990s, when consumer firewall wasn’t really a thing. What’s more, it instituted the concept of hardening a device’s firewall against direct attacks, today featuring an inbound intrusion detection system and the ability to control outbound connections by apps.

In 2004, ZoneAlarm, which was developed by Zone Labs, was acquired by Check Point Software Technologies, a major software and combined hardware provider for network, endpoint, mobile, cloud, and data security, as well as security management.

Over the years, ZoneAlarm has changed and adapted its offering (as well as its interface) to be more in line with the times. Nowadays, ZoneAlarm offers three main tiers of its antivirus product, courtesy of Check Point’s powerful cybersecurity platform.

These include ZoneAlarm Free Antivirus, ZoneAlarm Pro Antivirus + Firewall, and ZoneAlarm Extreme Security NextGen, all of which offer different levels of protection and features. The company offers other standalone products, such as ZoneAlarm Anti-Ransomware.

As it happens, the free version comes equipped with the usual antivirus and anti-spyware function, an advanced firewall (monitoring apps, stopping new and so far unknown attacks), and a two-way firewall (making your PC invisible to hackers) application control, anti-bot, and 24/7 online support - for one PC.

That said, real-time cloud security, anti-phishing, threat extraction, safe browsing, and threat emulation for up to five PCs is reserved for the paid upper tier, Pro Antivirus + Firewall, whereas the top-of-the-line Extreme Security NextGen throws in content filtering, anti-keylogger, anti-ransomware, and mobile security, while supporting up to 50 PCs at the same time.

The ZoneAlarm Pro for one device costs $24.95 for the first year, renewing at $39.95. If you need coverage for three PCs, you can get it at $32.95 per year initially, renewing at $49.95. A five-device service starts at $35.95, renewing at $54.95, 10 devices are covered by a $64.95 payment renewing at $99.95, while the coverage for as many as 50 PCs would cost you just $259.95 for the year one, renewing at $259.95. Do note that Pro Antivirus only supports Windows PC devices, making it a bit of a limited option.

Meanwhile, ZoneAlarm Extreme Security NextGen charges $34.95 for one device during the initial year, increasing it to $59.95 for each subsequent 12-month period of use. For three devices, it charges $42.95 (renewing at $64.95), five devices would cost you $44.95 for the first year ($69.95 for each subsequent year), while 10 devices would set you back by $89.95 during the first year (renewing at $139.95).

You may also get coverage for 25 devices, with this plan at $189.95 initially, after which you’ll pay $289.95 per year, while coverage for 50 devices comes with a price tag of $357.95 for the first year, renewing at $549.95. Extreme Security supports Windows, Android, and iOS devices.

It is also important to note that both carry certain discounts if you take a 2-year subscription. For instance, protecting five devices for the duration of two years will cost you only $61.95 for the first year, which would otherwise cost you $90.90 if you took it on a year-by-year basis. In other words, you’re getting an impressive 68.17% discount.

For the Extreme Security package, the discounts are very similar. In this case, a 2-year subscription package covering five devices goes for $72.95, which is a 63.51% reduction compared to the $114.9 you would pay if you signed up for the package to renew each year.

Finally, both Pro and Extreme Security NextGen have a 30-day free trial and a 30-day money-back guarantee, giving you enough time to test the service out before making the final decision.

However, the free trial doesn’t give all that much and actually doesn’t differ in any way from the free tier, considering you need to activate it to access more than just its firewall and antivirus features. A pity, as someone might be attracted to actually buying the platform if they had the opportunity to check it out in more depth for free.

(Image credit: ZoneAlarm) Setup

Downloading ZoneAlarm Free takes an unusual amount of time. At first, the downloader told us we would have to wait for two hours, changing the time to anywhere between 20 minutes and 20 hours, making our system very sluggish while it was doing this.

As it turns out, we waited for about 30 minutes, which is a lot longer than any other antivirus we had installed before. Still, installing the platform went a lot faster than this (although not nearly as fast compared to the competition).

(Image credit: ZoneAlarm) Features

ZoneAlarm has gotten its name thanks to its method of controlling program access - by dividing all network connections into so-called ‘zones.’ Hence there are several such zones in ZoneAlarm’s vocabulary: the ‘trusted zone’ which typically includes the user’s local area network and can share resources like files and printers.

Then, there’s the ‘public zone’ that includes everything outside the trusted zone, and in which the user can grant permissions to apps before they try connecting to the Internet (such as before the initial launch) or ZoneAlarm will ask the user to grant these permissions.

Finally, the ‘blocked zone’ is where all the devices, networks, and/or apps that you decided you don’t trust with making traffic to or from end up. The firewall is on by default as soon as you install your ZoneAlarm software, and you don’t need to do anything unless you really want to change the default configuration or temporarily turn off the firewall for any reason.

Having said that, ZoneAlarm’s firewall currently allows access to every program by default, without letting you know when it finds something suspicious. If you want to modify an app’s permissions, you’ll have to go manually digging for it in the Application Control and change the settings yourself for each of the programs.

Open your ZoneAlarm app, and you’ll see a sleek green-white window that provides you with your protection status, a ‘Scan’ button, the time and date of the next automatic scan, as well as four icons - Firewall, Antivirus, Web Secure, and Hacking Protection.

The Firewall itself opens a set of features, including managing the rules for your ‘zones’ or networks (public or trusted), setting up the public and trusted zone sensitivity, as well as observing the previous firewall events, with a button to add a new entry (IP address, IP range, or subnet) as a zone rule. Its above-mentioned ‘Application Permissions’ section lists all the apps on your device and allows you to set the default action to ‘Allow Connection,’ ‘Block Connection,’ or ‘Terminate Process.’ Finally, you can turn on/off the anti-bot service.

Next is the Antivirus section, where you can view the quarantine, add exceptions, start a full scan, scan a particular folder, or schedule a critical (quick scan to identify threats) or full scan (deep scan of the entire system), on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis.

The Web Secure dashboard features Anti-Phishing, Safe Downloads, and Content Filtering options, whereas the Hacking Protection area contains Anti-Ransomware, Advanced File Protection, and Anti-Keylogger capabilities (none of which is accessible with the free version).

Previously, the ZoneAlarm Free Antivirus offered an entire year of simple identity protection by its partner Identity Guard, with a feature known as Identity Lock to prevent anyone from stealing your sensitive personal data from your device. However, these now seem to be gone.

On top of that, it seems to have also dropped the free Chrome extension, which was a phishing-oriented version of its Web Secure for free users to protect their credentials against phishing attempts and malicious document downloads.

(Image credit: ZoneAlarm) Protection

Once ZoneAlarm is up and running, its protection begins, automatically updating the virus definitions and running occasional scans, which you’ll only find out from the notifications triggered by these events. Starting a full scan takes about 50 minutes, which is a bit long, but we’ve seen longer.

That said, it doesn’t get any faster with the subsequent scans, which also took about 52 minutes. This means that ZoneAlarm doesn’t use its first full scan to optimize for future procedures, as opposed to some of its competitors.

Upon testing with a recommended malware testing file, ZoneAlarm sprang into action immediately, recognizing the threat and moving it to the quarantine, letting us know what happened with a full-sized popup message that doesn’t go away until you dismiss it. You can reveal further details about the file and click again to access the list of all quarantined files.

The Web Secure mechanism is nothing to write home about, only working in Chrome, and not at all successful against malware-hosting websites - blocking only phishing sites. In other words, ZoneAlarm has no efficient ways to protect us from accessing a dangerous site, something that even the built-in Microsoft Defender can do without much effort.

Meanwhile, the personal firewall that comes equipped with even the free version might be a bit unnecessary, but it’s a nice addition considering it doesn’t cost a thing. ZoneAlarm also has its firewall available as a standalone, free product.

SE Labs hasn’t tested ZoneAlarm since Q4 2019, when it scored 85% in total accuracy rating, 87% in protection rating, 100% in legitimate accuracy rating (how well it tuned its detection engine to classify legitimate applications and URLs), a protection score of 97 points, and receiving a high AAA award.

Similarly, AV-Test did its last test of ZoneAlarm in December 2019, when it tested the paid Pro Antivirus + Firewall product, giving it a 6/6 for protection, a 6/6 for usability, and 4.5/6 for performance, as it underperformed in area of installing frequently used applications.

The same testing firm also analyzed the business version of ZoneAlarm, called Check Point, which lends its virus-defending platform to consumer products, for the period of July - August 2024, awarding it a 6/6 in all three observed areas - protection, performance, and usability, albeit also noting a slightly poorer performance in terms of installation of frequently-used applications.

A bit more recently, MRG-Effitas analyzed ZoneAlarm Mobile Security in Q2 2023, observing 82.30% accuracy in overall non-PUA (‘potentially unwanted applications’) detection, 100% accuracy in PUA detection, 86.76% in detecting trojans, 81.13% in accurately identifying spyware, but missing 100% simulator samples.

(Image credit: MRG-Effitas)

Meanwhile, the most recent test comes from AV-Comparatives, which tested ZoneAlarm Extreme Security NextGen as a non-dedicated fake-shop detecting solution in its Q4 2024 Fake Shops Detection Test, in which its detection rates in November were between 21% and 30%, with no false positives.

(Image credit: AV-Comparatives) Final verdict

ZoneAlarm used to have a stellar reputation as the security industry’s pioneer looking out for the consumer back when no one really cared and business data safety was the primary concern. However, it has since degraded and today lags behind its competitors, many of which have much more advanced, faster, and richer platforms in terms of their antivirus and anti-malware capabilities, speed and performance, built-in features, extras, and configuration options. This is perhaps best illustrated by the lack of interest demonstrated by the leading antivirus testing labs, which haven’t been actively reporting on ZoneAlarm’s performance for years. Other than that, it’s a solid firewall solution for the price and ease of use.

• We've also featured the best antivirus

Email marketing is a long established method for effective communication with existing and potential customers. Luckily, long gone are the days of complex and time consuming processes needed to send great marketing emails to your lists - this is where email marketing platforms now come in.

Wix is best known for being one of the best website builders on the market. This is mostly thanks to it's super easy to use drag-and-drop website building tools. However, it also offers users a host of other business tools to help them engage customers and grow their businesses - including a helpful email marketing tool.

Wix Email Marketing is the company’s email marketing platform. It lets users create, send, and track email campaigns right from their website dashboard. Originally launched as Wix ShoutOut in 2014, it became part of Wix Ascend before becoming a standalone platform in 2023. This change came when Wix discontinued the Ascend Business Suite. The service starts with a free plan that allows 200 emails per month, offering basic tracking and customer segmentation. Paid plans begin at $10 per month for the Essentials tier (or cheaper with one of our Wix promo codes)

What makes Wix Email Marketing special is its seamless integration with Wix websites. It automatically collects contacts from your site and makes it easy to add website content to emails. This creates a unified marketing approach that is especially useful for small businesses using the Wix ecosystem.

(Image credit: Wix) Wix Email Marketing: Pricing & plans

As of 2025, Wix Email Marketing offers a free plan and three paid tiers that are separate from Wix website builder plans. The free plan allows up to 200 emails per month. It includes a drag-and-drop editor, templates, basic automation, segmentation, and custom reports. However, all emails will carry Wix branding.

The Essentials plan costs $10 per month. It raises the limit to 500 emails and adds premium features. These features include AI content creation for subject lines and email copy, along with scheduling for optimal send times.

The Core plan is priced at $24 per month. It lets you send up to 5,000 emails monthly and removes Wix branding, which helps in creating a more professional image. You can also share emails on the web using a custom domain, boosting your marketing reach.

For larger businesses, the Advanced plan costs $49 per month. It supports up to 1,000,000 emails each month, making it ideal for companies with big contact lists. This tiered pricing shows Wix's shift after discontinuing the Ascend Business Suite in 2023. It creates a more focused platform for email marketing while integrating other Ascend features into standard website plans.

Wix Email Marketing: Features

Wix Email Marketing features an easy-to-use drag-and-drop email editor, much like its website builder. Users can pick from about 20 ready-made templates for different needs or start fresh. They can customize colors, fonts, and backgrounds to fit their brand. The platform includes AI tools to create catchy email text quickly. It also supports multimedia like videos, images, buttons, and product listings linked to your ecommerce site. All templates work well on both desktop and mobile, ensuring a consistent look.

The service allows for basic automation of triggered emails based on customer actions. Wix sets up relevant automations automatically based on your website features. For example, store owners get payment confirmation emails, while bloggers receive notifications about new posts. Analytics tools track delivery rates, open rates, and clicks in real time. This helps users see what content works best and improve future campaigns. The platform allows customer segmentation for focused messaging. However, advanced options are limited compared to specialized email marketing services. Business users can add company details, taglines, and logos to their emails for consistent branding.

(Image credit: Wix) Wix Email Marketing: Setup

Setting up Wix Email Marketing is easy, especially for existing users. You can find the tool in the Email Marketing section of the dashboard under Marketing & SEO. Start by choosing a pre-designed template or creating a campaign from scratch. The template library has options for promoting products, sending newsletters, or announcing special offers. The system guides you step-by-step with clear instructions and visuals, making it user-friendly for beginners.

The creation process is simple: first, design the email using the drag-and-drop editor. Then, select recipients either individually or by segments. You can preview and test the email if you want. Finally, publish and send or schedule the campaign.

A key feature for Wix owners is automatic contact collection. The system gathers contacts from your website, including ecommerce customers and form submissions, making it easier to build your email list. But the platform also suggests filtering out inactive contacts before sending campaigns to maintain good deliverability rates.

Wix Email Marketing: Support

Wix Email Marketing uses the same customer support system as Wix. There is no dedicated support for the email tool. All users can access the Help Center, which has detailed articles on using email features, from creating campaigns to maintaining lists. The Email Marketing page also has a thorough FAQ section. This section answers common questions about file types, sharing options, and usage rights.

For direct help, Wix provides 24/7 customer support for all paid plans. Users can submit tickets, request callbacks, or use chat support in over ten languages. Subscribers to the higher-tier Business Elite plan ($159/month) get priority support, faster response times, and a direct phone service hotline.

Wix Email Marketing: Final verdict

Wix Email Marketing is an easy-to-use tool, helping cement Wix's position as one of the best small business website builders. Its biggest strengths include a simple interface, smooth integration with websites, and fair pricing.

Even free users can start email marketing campaigns with ease. AI content creation helps those who struggle to write engaging copy. Plus, automated setup processes make it friendly for marketing newbies. For existing site owners, it’s a great way to begin email marketing without a steep learning curve. The platform has enough features for basic promotional needs.

However, Wix Email Marketing has some drawbacks compared to dedicated services like Mailchimp or AWeber. Advanced users may find its automation options limited. Creating complex customer journeys or triggered campaigns can be a challenge. While customization meets basic needs, it lacks the depth seen in specialized platforms. The free plan is good for testing, but email limits on lower-tier paid plans could hinder growth. The jump from 500 emails on the Essentials plan to 5,000 on the Core plan is a big price jump for scaling.

All in all, Wix Email Marketing is best for small to medium-sized businesses already using Wix. It’s great for those who value ease of use and integration over advanced features. It works well for businesses starting their email marketing journey. However, companies with more complex needs or larger subscriber lists might find it lacking.

(Image credit: Wix)

Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i Aura Edition: Two-minute review

(Image credit: Future / Ural Garrett)

Lenovo’s Yoga series has long stood out in the ultra-portable laptop space, thanks to its sleek design and lightweight build—and the new Slim 7i Aura Edition continues that tradition. Weighing just 3.33 lbs (1.53kg) and measuring under an inch thick when closed, it’s designed for those who value portability without sacrificing style.

Under the hood, the Slim 7i Aura Edition features an Intel Ultra 7 256V processor, Intel Arc 140V GPU with 8GB of VRAM, 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM, and a 1TB SSD. While this setup isn’t geared for heavy-duty tasks like high-end gaming or intensive creative work, it’s more than capable for everyday use. Whether you’re writing papers, doing light photo or video editing, streaming content, playing some less visually intensive games or multitasking across browser tabs, it gets the job done smoothly.

One of the standout features is the vibrant 2K IPS touchscreen, which offers a buttery-smooth 120Hz refresh rate. While the hardware won’t always take full advantage of that refresh rate in more demanding scenarios, it still delivers a fluid and visually engaging experience. Adding to the entertainment value are the quad 2W speakers with Dolby Atmos support, providing surprisingly rich and immersive sound. Topping those impressive specs is a 4-cell 70Wh battery that lasts a pretty long time and doesn’t take long to charge.

There are some design features that may turn away potential buyers. Despite the serviceable portability, other aspects of the Yoga Slim 7i Aura Edition don't work well. This starts with the design that’s lacking in several places from the protruding webcam lip to missing some ports alongside a power button placement that is just weird.

Speaking of the webcam, it’s not the best compared to other laptops and isn’t really good in most lighting conditions outside of broad daylight. There aren’t even any sort of AI tools or anything to make image quality better either which is disappointing. Then there’s the reality that the laptop doesn’t have a fingerprint reader for log-in which means that the only biometric measure is the camera which can be inconsistent.

Priced between $1,049 and $1,399, the Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i Aura Edition is an attractive buy if users can get past some caveats. This laptop should definitely work for students or casual users in need of a stylish, capable machine with just enough power for office work, light creative work and entertainment.

Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i Aura Edition: Price and availability

• How much does it cost? The Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i Aura Edition starts at $1,049 and can reach as high as $1,399
• When is it available? Available now
• Where can you get it? It is available now in the United States, United Kingdom and Australia

Available now, the Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i Aura Edition can be purchased in the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia. Though the ultra-portable laptop can be bought through Lenovo’s online store, there are other ways to get it depending on the territory you live in.

When it comes to cost, be prepared to pay somewhere between $1,049 and $1,399 within the United States on the Lenovo online store. Our review configuration featuring the specs mentioned above comes out to $1,049.

Right now, the users who want an option with less RAM at 16GB, base-level Intel integrated graphics and 512GB SSD storage are going to pay around $1,280 at the moment. Potential buyers looking for 32GB of RAM to review configuration are currently going to pay $1,399. Regardless of the choices, this is definitely an affordable lightweight laptop for general computing tasks.

There are a few options for the UK buyers through Lenovo’s online retailer. Both feature 32GB of RAM, integrated Intel graphics, 1TB SSD and 14.5-inch 3000 X 1872 OLED display with touch capabilities. Setting them apart starts with the £1,300 configuration that has an Intel Core Ultra 7 255 Processor with Windows 11 Home 64. Meanwhile, at £1,690, purchasers can get an Intel Core Ultra 7 285H Processor and Windows 11 Pro 64.

Citizens of Australia on the Lenovo store have one option available at the moment. At $2,999, potential buyers can get an Intel Core Ultra 7 258V, Arc 140 V, 32GB RAM 1TB SSD and the lovely 15.3-inch 2.8K IPS display with touch capabilities.

Value: 4.5 / 5

Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i Aura Edition: Specs

Here are the specs for the Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i Aura Edition at a glance.

Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i Aura Edition: Design

(Image credit: Future / Ural Garrett)

• Light, thin and made up of premium feeling aluminum
• Lacks SD Card and only has one USB-A
• Webcam lip and power button placement buttons problematic

The Luna Grey colorway of the Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i Aura Edition sets the right tones against the Lenovo logo top panel when closed. It’s a great way to appreciate all of the rounded lines that accentuate the sleekness and light weight. Made up of a mix of raw and recycled aluminum, the laptop has a special coating that prevents smudging and fingerprints. That includes the chassis, keyboard and touchpad as well. From the looks alongside feel, the Yoga Slim 7i Aura Edition comes off as a premium product that has a bit of environmental consciousness to it.

There aren’t a lot of ports on the laptop but enough for someone who relies on simpler computing tasks for sure. On the right side includes a single USB-A and USB-C sitting above the power button and webcam shutter switch. The opposite side will provide users a HDMI port, USB-C port and 3.5 combo audio/microphone headphone jack.

Compared to others within its tier of ultra portable laptops, the lack of additional USB-A ports or even a SD Card slot could bring issues for the creative sect of users that Lenovo is trying to court with this laptop. Even the power button placement comes with its own set of problems as picking up the laptop in the wrong way can put the laptop to sleep. Adding to that is the lack of a fingerprint scanner which makes the webcam the only biometric option for unlocking the laptop.

(Image credit: Future / Ural Garrett)

Before opening the display, half of the laptop protrudes out a bit thanks to the webcam which looks a bit awkward. Once opened, the top half reveals the lovely 2880x1800 IPS touch screen surrounded by bezels that can be laid flat at a 90 degree angle. The bottom half features a nice feeling keyboard that’s pretty quiet alongside a pretty smooth touchpad. Between the keyboard are two speakers with the remaining ones on the bottom panel.

Overall, the Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i Aura Edition strikes a balance between elegant design and functional performance, though a few layout quirks and limited port options may leave many users wanting more.

Design: 3.5 / 5

Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i Aura Edition: Performance

(Image credit: Future / Ural Garrett)

• General computing tasks run briskly
• The 15-inch 2K IPS touch screen is wonderful in motion
• Intel Arc 140V GPU doesn’t help much when it comes to gaming and heavy creative work

During my week and some change with the Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i Aura Edition, most of my time was split between using Google Chrome and Adobe Suite. This was the best way to get an understanding of how general computing tasks work on the laptop.

The Intel Ultra 7 256V and 16GB LPDD5X RAM do a great job of ensuring applications run smoothly and open quickly regardless of how many Google Chrome tabs I had open. Despite having five browser windows open with dozens of tabs open, there wasn’t a hint of slowdown. Meanwhile, fan noise remained quiet and the bottom became slightly warm on the lap.

Keeping expectations in check, creative tasks worked pretty fine as well. Using Photoshop, editing 1080p images wasn't a problem regardless of how many layers were in a file. Rendering times were a bit on the slow side for the same resolution when attempting to add video content to the Photoshop file with a two minute video taking around three or so minutes to do so.

The time on encoding on Premiere Pro was a lot quicker though at around 30 seconds for a minute of HD video. Attempting to go higher in the resolution does lead to a less performance especially when rendering which can stretch pretty long.

Intel may be the king of CPUs but the same can’t be said in terms of their more recent ambitions into discrete GPUs. The included Intel Arc 140V GPU has 8GB of VRAM but it seems to help more in creative tasks than gaming.

On desktops, the GPU has compatibility issues compared to rivals Nvidia and AMD so expect similar situations here. During our benchmark test for games this was more than obvious as Borderlands 3 could only hit 25 frames per second at 1080p resolution while Shadows of The Tomb Raider couldn’t even run at all at the same resolution. This means that more CPU intensive games that require a lot of visual processing like Sid Meier’s Civilization VI: Gathering Storm and Total War: Warhammer III fared fairly better.

Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i Aura Edition: Benchmarks

Here's how the Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i Aura Edition performed in our suite of benchmark tests:

25GB File Copy: 1,613.44 Transfer Rate (in MBps)

Blackmagic Disk Speed Test: Write - 3297.3, Read - 3825.2

Geekbench 6.3: Single-Core - 2531, Multicore - 10711

HandBrake: 6:23

CrossMark: Overall - 1652

PugetBench for Adobe CC: Photoshop - 5935, Premiere Pro - 3276

3DMark: Fire Strike - 8214, Time Spy - 3982

Borderlands 3: 1080p 25.20fps, 2880x1800 13.30

Sid Meier's Civilization VI: Gathering Storm: 1080p 52.284fps, 2880x1800 37.345

Web Surfing (Battery Informant): 14:10:07

Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i Aura Edition: Battery life

4-cell (70Wh) battery

If drained, can get 3 hours of battery life with a 15-minute charge

A shame considering that more casual or serious PC gamers won’t be able to make the most of the beautiful 15-inch 2K IPS touch screen that also has a 120Hz refresh rate. Delta E<1 helps maintain color accuracy while also supporting 100% P3 and 100% sRGB color gamuts.

During general computing tasks, text is crisp and easily readable while images are bold and lush. The 500 nits of brightness are used to great effect as well alongside watching video content means lush colors and blacks are deep regardless of settings. For more sensitive eyes, the display is also TÜV Low Blue Light and Eyesafe certified.

The same can be said for the 4 2W speakers that come with Dolby Atmos compatibility. From watching or creating videos to listening to music on Tidal, audio quality is fine regardless of loudness levels which can get pretty high. Bass can get really deep without any distortion and mid-tones are identifiable which is surprising considering how small they are.

Performance: 4 / 5

Battery life on the Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i Aura Edition is on par with some of the best ultra light laptops in its class thanks to the 4-cell 70Wh battery. During our Web Surfing Battery Informant test, I was able to get 14 hours and some change out of the device. This allowed me to make it throughout an entire day through a single charge of moderate usage.

I realized this while working my hybrid Digital Editor position as I worked in an office three times a week. During those times on a full charge, the end of the day would leave me at around half of battery life.

Charging is through one of the USB-C ports and the adapter supports Rapid Charge Express which gives around three hours of runtime with just a 15-minute charge. I was able to get around full in close to an hour.

Battery life: 4 / 5

Should you buy the Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i Aura Edition? Buy it if...

You want an affordable, lightweight laptop with reputable performance for everyday computing and light creative tasks

Weighing in the ballpark of three pounds while being less than an inch thick when closed makes this a great laptop to throw in an average-sized backpack despite having some good components that make running various general computing and easier creative tasks a breeze.

You need a beautiful screen and audio experience

The lovely 15-inch 2880x1800 IPS touch screen is elevated with a smooth 120Hz refresh rate. Add four 2W speakers into the mix and this laptop provides a serious audio/visual experience.

Don't buy it if... 

You require a long-lasting battery

We squeezed around 14 hours of juice during benchmark testing but daily use gave us somewhere between 8 to 10 hours on one charge. That doesn’t even count the quick charging capabilities as well.

Don't buy it if...

You need an industry leading design that matches functionality

The overall shape and size is wonderfully portable but there are some flaws in the design. This includes a webcam lip that pokes out when closed, lack of SD card slot, only one USB-A port and the sensitive power placement on the right side is problematic.

You want something that provides better gaming and creative performance

A shame that users won’t be able to make the most out of the 120Hz display, considering the specs don’t allow for much high end gaming or hyper intensive creative work.

You require a good webcam

The FHD webcam doesn’t work well in low light and there isn’t any type of software to improve functionality in that sense.

Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i Aura Edition: Also consider

If our Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i Aura Edition review has you considering other options, here are two laptops to consider...

Macbook Air 15-inch (M4)

Creatives looking for a lightweight and affordable laptop may find the Macbook Air 15-inch a great option if fine with losing an inch in display real estate and lack of Wi-Fi 7.

Read the full review here

MSI Prestige 16 AI Evo B1MG

Though the MSI Prestige may be a bit more expensive, it performs nearly similarly while having a better webcam, power button layout and SD Card slot.

How I tested the Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i Aura Edition

• Tested this laptop over the span of a week and some days
• Used for Google Chrome, Tidal and Adobe Creative Suite

The Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i Aura Edition was tested over a one-week period. General computing tasks were conducted using Google Chrome, including the use of Google Docs and YouTube. Creative software such as Adobe Premiere Pro and Photoshop was used to assess performance in content creation. Instagram was used to evaluate webcam and microphone functionality.

The 15-inch IPS touchscreen display was assessed by streaming multiple 4K YouTube videos to examine visual output and speaker function. Additional audio performance was tested using music playback on Tidal.

Read more about how we test

First reviewed April 2025

Polaroid Flip: Two-minute review

Like many tech journalists and photographers of a certain vintage (aka born in the early 90s), I always remember there being a Polaroid at family parties when growing up. Later in my teenage years, when studying photography at university and trying my hardest to be cool, I bought a secondhand Polaroid Sun 600 on eBay, but finding decent film then was harder than it is now. Eventually, the cost superceded the cool, and I gave up.

Polaroid has come a long way since then, and has been revisiting its heritage with the aesthetic of newer releases. We had the Polaroid Go 2 in late 2023, similar in looks to the Polaroid 1000 Land Camera. In March this year, the brand refreshed its Now instant series with the Now 3 and Now 3+, cameras that I think share the character of the original OneStep SX-70.

I'm a Polaroid nerd, so I was excited to test the new Polaroid Flip before its official release. But given that the last camera I used was the flagship Polaroid I-2, in all its sharp lens, manual control glory, I was apprehensive about how a more affordable model could compete with the best instant camera for pros.

Polaroid's tagline for the Flip is that it's the camera for an analog life. For "instant photography over instant gratification." Presumably it means for people who appreciate physical prints over looking back through their phone camera roll. The Flip keeps things simple and easy-to-use; there are no filters or effects, and the main talking points include common instant camera features like double exposures and self-timers.

Despite lacking manual controls like the Polaroid I-2, the Flip feels like a camera that more advanced instant shooters can still appreciate and enjoy. A clever four-lens system is brilliantly effective at adapting to varying subject distances, meaning you get mostly sharp shots, even at dark parties.

And there are subtle but clever ways the camera uses 'scene analysis' to guide your images. A red viewfinder warning light alerts you to a shot being over- or underexposed, and an alert appears on the lid display when you get too close to a subject. Selfies are a tad tricky, though, and macro isn't a viable option given the camera's restricted minimum focusing distance.

Polaroid's signature tones shine with the Flip, though colors in my experience sometimes leaned unexpectedly toward green. Also, while the B&W i-Type film showed strong contrast on occasion, I found that highlights could easily blow out with Polaroid's most powerful adaptive flash yet.

It's always difficult to review Polaroid performance, because the expectations are so different from most other cameras. Part of the joy of analog lies in experimentation, and yet with Polaroid film being so expensive, you want to know that most of your shots will at least come out intended. Despite minor disappointments with the Flip, I loved the results overall. I think those willing to practice, learn and refine their shooting approach over time will too.

Polaroid Flip: price and availability

• Costs $199.99 / £199.99 (Australia pricing TBC)
• Early purchase for Polaroid members starts April 15
• On sale at Polaroid.com from April 29, retailers May 13

The Polaroid Flip is available from a few different dates depending on who you are. Polaroid members can purchase the camera on the official website starting April 15, and general access follows from April 29. It's destined for general camera retailers from May 13.

The Flip's price at release is $199.99 / £199.99. A year ago I would have thought this quite steep, but recent US tariffs and spiralling tech costs have made me reassess. Still, the Flip is at the serious end of instant cameras, at more than twice the price of the entry-level Instax Mini 12. It's more expensive than the Fujifilm Instax Wide 400 model ($149.99 / £129.99 / AU$229.99) and the older, square-format Instax SQ40.

But then it sits below the Polaroid I-2 ($599 / £599 / AU$1,099) with its super-sharp lens and the hybrid Instax Wide Evo ($349.95.99 / £319.99 / AU$599) which has 20 film and lens effects and allows you to select what you print to save on film.

You're tied into using either Polaroid 600 or I-Type film with the Flip, and realistically this is more expensive per exposure than Instax. Prices vary a lot depending on what country you're in, and bundle packs can help to bring the cost down, but an 8-pack of I-Type costs roughly the same amount as 20 photos of Instax (Wide or Mini).

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(Image credit: Lauren Scott) Polaroid Flip: specs Polaroid Flip: design

• Heavier than the Polaroid I-2
• Flippable lid for lens protection
• Viewfinder LED and ‘lid’ display

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(Image credit: Lauren Scott)

The Polaroid Flip is a boxy, chunky camera. That much is obvious when you get it out of the box. It weighs 200g more than the Polaroid Now+ and 85g more than the Polaroid I-2, as well as being deeper and taller. But that’s because the design is so different from anything else in the current lineup.

Rather than having a lens cap to cover a protruding lens or the front face exposed, Flip has a (you guessed it) flip-up lid. This lid pulls up smoothly and clicks into position at the top when you want to take a photo. When the lid is down, the camera automatically turns off, and the most important parts of the camera are well-protected.

I really like the design, which gives the camera a clean, modern silhouette and means you can pop it in a bag without fretting about dust getting in the lens grooves. And I still felt it was distinctly Polaroid. The Flip comes in a subtle matte black colorway or white with a pop of orange for more daring users.

I found the exterior of the white model prone to marks, but the plastic casing is easily wipable. And twice when I was out shooting, two people stopped to tell me that I had “a really cool-looking camera”. Street credibility points to me.

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According to the specs sheet, the Flip is made from four types of plastic, including acrylic and polycarbonate. These have all been chosen for properties that would make sense in a take-anywhere camera, and they keep the body as lightweight as possible but also strong and impact-resistant.

The build quality doesn’t feel brittle or cheap, the buttons are solid to press and flipping up the lid is super satisfying. That said, the handling is a bit awkward and I had to turn the camera around to get a good hold of the lid every time. It’s a two-hand job. You also get a strong rope strap in the box so you can wear the camera – comfortably, I might add – around your neck.

Controls are pared back, as is usual with Polaroid and most instant cameras. Two buttons at the back right let you toggle through settings such as flash, double exposure, self-timer, and exposure compensation. These show up as icons on the nifty LCD screen on top of the camera, and they’re easy to see even in bright sunshine. It took me a while to work out what button combo activated each mode, but the fold-out paper guide in the box – in itself another well-thought-out analog nod – gives you pointers.

There’s a USB-C power input on the right side of the camera for recharging, and an eject button on the left to open up the film door and pop in a pack. The big orange shutter button on the front is easy to find with your fingers and can be depressed slightly to focus and pressed fully to fire. The viewfinder itself is basic but easy to use, and I found that what you see through it matches closely with what’s printed, helping with composition.

(Image credit: Lauren Scott) Polaroid Flip: performance

• 4-lens system for different distances
• Sonar autofocus detects subject distance
• Adaptive flash for up to 4.5 meters away

(Image credit: Lauren Scott)

Despite there being no option to focus manually as with the Polaroid I-2, I found almost all of my shots with the Flip were critically sharp. The camera uses sonar waves to detect your subject distance, then selects the best lens from its four-lens system (0.65m, 0.85m, 1.2m, 2.5m). It’s very clever, and even in a party marquee, portraits came out crisp.

When half-pressing the shutter button to focus, you hear a noise when one of the four lenses has been selected. What’s clever is that an alert on the lid display will flash if you’re trying to shoot a subject that’s too close and out of the camera range.

Still, it’s worth noting that the Flip’s minimum focusing distance is around 0.4m, which isn’t quite far enough to get a sharp, frame-filling selfie. I could just about hold the camera far enough away at arm’s length to trial it but ended up with unwanted empty space around my head and shoulders. If you’re into your flora and fauna, there isn’t yet a macro filter or attachment for Polaroid to make true close-ups work.

Exposure was a mixed bag. Polaroids like light, and it's recommended that you keep the flash on for all shots except bright sunshine. This is meant to be the brightest flash of any Polaroid, and the strength adapts based on the subject distance for anything up to 4.5m away. I experienced this power, but not always in a good way, and often my outdoor shots were overexposed to the point of losing details, even on a cloudy day. As with the Polaroid Go 2, the flash gets activated by default when you flip up the lid, and a few times I forgot this.

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The tones you get from Polaroids have always felt distinctive, yet anecdotally the hues from my Flip shots felt a little richer and bolder than those from the I-2. On a warm spring day in the UK, the exposure of a pink blossom tree felt warm and well-saturated, while the vibe of a cooler sunset party was also captured effectively, if not tending towards more of a green hue than I’d have liked.

Of course, there’s no way to change the white balance in-camera. What you get is dictated by the film and the shooting environment. The B&W i-Type film I used showed great contrast, and I loved the amount of depth I could capture down a long, narrow street in my home city of Bath, UK. But again, it was easy to overexpose the bright Cotswold stone and lose that detail with the flash.

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(Image credit: Lauren Scott)

You can’t control the Flip’s exposure settings manually. For inexperienced users or people who just want to point and shoot, this is probably a good thing. The Flip does the hard work of choosing the aperture and shutter for you, meaning fewer wasted shots if someone decides to grab the camera at a party. But if you’re a more advanced photographer, as I am, you may find Flip’s setting choices creatively limiting.

As far as battery duration and charging times go, I couldn’t find any official specs from Polaroid. When I first got the camera I left it plugged in overnight to ensure it was full of juice for the start of testing, and it still hadn’t passed the halfway mark when I’d finished three packs. I tended to shut the lid after every shot, though, so each user’s mileage may vary.

During testing, I loaded up my second pack of color I-Type film only to find it wasn’t ejecting from the camera after each exposure. Polaroid makes loading film into the Flip so quick and simple, and it's something I've done with other Polaroids hundreds of times. I want to suggest it was a camera and not a user error, but either way, it does highlight how much film and money you can waste should things not quite go to plan. That’s the same with many instant and film cameras and not a unique flaw to the Flip, of course.

The prints aren't quite as instant as Instax, and need a while (I found at least ten minutes) to settle away from the light to develop properly. For me, this is a great metaphor for Polaroid in general. Despite being designed for ease of use in terms of operation, the Flip still requires a bit of time to learn its ways, exposure tendencies and to hone your craft. Do that, and you'll be rewarded with sharp retro results more times than the Polaroids of the past.

Should I buy the Polaroid Flip? Buy it if...

You're after a cool-looking throwback
The Flip is reminiscent of popular vintage Polaroid cameras, including the One Step Flash. I'm not suggesting that you should pick style over substance, but I found this bright and chunky camera a great conversation starter.

You want to point and shoot, and that's it
In a busy world, it's nice not to have to think for a while. I found the Polaroid Flip enjoyable because of its ease of use. There are no gimmicks or filters, and I like that all you really have to decide is whether the flash is on or off.

Don't buy it if...

You want a small and subtle camera
Polaroid Flip's design is decidedly retro and bulky. Although it's not heavy to wear around your neck, it's equally not a camera that you can slip into a small bag or clutch. I'd look at the Polaroid Go or the Instax Mini if you're after proper portability.

You don't like square prints
You'll be limited by the roughly 8 x 8cm exposed area that Polaroid film gives you. If you want more options for composition with landscape and portrait framing, you might be better off with an option like the Instax Wide or Evo.

Also consider

Polaroid I-2
When I tested the I-2 I was so impressed with the image and build quality that I saved and bought my own. It costs more than double the Flip but offers an advanced experience with manual exposure control and sharper autofocus. Taking the same square, I-Type film, it gives instant photography for connoisseurs.

Fujifilm Instax Mini Evo
If you're not fussed about the Polaroid brand or square prints but still want a retro vibe, I'd recommend the gorgeous-looking Mini Evo. It's a hybrid model, meaning it snaps digital prints and lets you choose whether to print them on instant film. That means less waste and cost, and the Mini Evo is more pocketable, too.

How I tested the Polaroid Flip

(Image credit: Lauren Scott)

• Over a week, I took photos indoors and outdoors, day and night
• I tested based on decades of Polaroid experience
• I shot a double pack of colour I-Type and 8 exposures of B&W film

I tried my first Polaroid camera back in the nineties, and since then I've reviewed many instant cameras including the Polaroid I-2 in 2023. I had one of the first review samples of the Polaroid Flip and tested it for over a week before its official launch date. Needless to say, it was always in my bag or around my neck during that time.

I took it out on countryside dog walks in the sunny British springtime, on day trips in the Cotswolds, to an evening festival for my company's 40th anniversary and to brunch in the city. The idea was to try it in as many lighting conditions and real-life scenarios as possible.

I went through a double pack of Polaroid I-Type color film (16 exposures) and a pack of B&W Film, taking shots with and without the flash, using the self-timer and the exposure compensation option. The Polaroid app wasn't available for use with the Flip for most of my testing period (as the camera was under embargo) but I had a day to try the functionality and add notes to this review once it was.

First reviewed April 2025

Ultim8 by Supermouth: One minute review

The Ultim8 by Supermouth toothbrush makes a lot of bold claims. For example, it says it’s the “first reinvention of the toothbrush in nearly a century”, with its unique ‘8’ shape and patented bristles designed to conform to the contours of your teeth.

The SmartHub, which is sold separately, is designed to house, charge and clean the brush with UV light, drying the bristles, and preventing bacteria from adhering to it by keeping it in a sealed environment. A travel case is also sold separately.

It all sounds very innovative, and the brush itself is inordinately pretty and well-designed. The battery lasts ages, the unit itself looks a lot better than most electric toothbrushes, with its swooping curves reminiscent of a spacecraft, and the magnetic charger is a really neat touch, although it’s USB-A rather than USB-C.

However, redesigned brush heads, SmartHubs, and Supermouth’s bold claims aside, what we have here is essentially a sonic toothbrush with two modes, a pressure sensor, and a two-minute timer, priced at $99.99 (around £75 / AU$160) It’s perfectly functional, but it’s hardly breaking the mold when it comes to toothbrush design.

(Image credit: Future)

Perhaps my expectations are too high; after all, how much more advanced can toothbrushes get? At least this one isn’t trying to foist an AI app on me. It cleans well, and while I could stand to have the motor a bit stronger, the pressure sensor is nicely designed, flashing from blue to green to red depending on how hard you’re pressing, and the brush is comfortable to use day-to-day. Battery life isn’t given, but it still held charge after a full week of testing.

One of the issues I do have with the brush is that all the accessories don’t come as standard. To buy the SmartHub with the brush from Supermouth costs an extra $70 (around £55 / AU$110), and once you buy the toothbrush, you’re then locked into the proprietary 8-shape brush heads, costing $19.99 (around £15 / AU$30) for a pack of two.

The Ultim8 is also missing a few features we’re used to, such as more than two intensities, but as a standalone $100 sonic brush, I’d be more than happy with it. In the grand scheme of overpriced toothbrushes, $170 for a brush with a cool-looking cleaning and housing case also isn’t too bad, although it’s far from budget, and what initially looks like a good mid-range offering ends up feeling rather premium. Get the travel case and spare brush heads too, and you're pushing top-end prices.

However, during my testing, the brush cleaned well, held its charge and was extremely comfortable to use.

Ultim8 by Supermouth: Specifications Ultim8 by Supermouth: Price and availability

(Image credit: Future)

• $99.99 (around £75 / AU$160)
• Extras drive up cost
• Available from third-party sellers for inflated cost

The Ultim8 by Supermouth brush costs $99.99 (around £75 / AU$160) from the Ultim8 website, which is a perfectly reasonable price for a decent sonic brush. However, as previously mentioned above, the brush is part of the overall Supermouth ecosystem, which will loop you into buying the hub and proprietary brush heads for an additional premium.

Supermouth does ship internationally, but unlike many toothbrushes which can be found at third-party retailers for discounted prices, the system is the same price on Amazon US, and inflated to a hefty £345 on Amazon UK, at the time of writing.

• Value score: 3/5

Scorecard Ultim8 by Supermouth: Should I buy?

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

You want a clean toothbrush

The SmartHub prevents bacteria collecting on the bristles with its UV cleaning and drying function.

You want a nice design

Both the toothbrush and the SmartHub look sleek and stylish.

You have sensitive teeth

The Ultim8’s eight-way soft bristles mean the brush is ideal for sensitive molars.

Don't buy it if...

You want power

Want a toothbrush that offers a more intense clean? You’re better off with a high-powered Philips Sonicare.

You’re on a budget

If you’re looking for a simple sonic brush with cheap replacement heads, look elsewhere.

Ultim8 by Supermouth: Also consider

Philips Sonicare 7100

The high-powered brush with a convenient charging case that takes up much less space than a hub.

Read our review

Mode Electric Toothbrush

The Ultim8 looks cool, but this wall-mounted sonic rocket looks cooler for our money.

Read our review

How I tested the Ultim8 by Supermouth

I used the Ultim8 Supermouth brush for a week of testing, stress-testing the pressure sensor and two-minute timer functions, and using the SmartHub for storage and cleaning.

Roborock Qrevo Edge: Two-minute review

Roborock has been making excellent robot vacuums for a while now, with the Qrevo series stepping it up over the Q and S series bots. With more suction power and a wider feature set compared to older models, the Roborock Qrevo Slim and Roborock Qrevo Curv performed really well in our tests. The Roborock Qrevo Edge joined its siblings in January 2025 and is quite effective at autonomous cleaning… provided you use it for the daily (or regular) cleaning tasks.

It’s essentially the love child of the Curv and the Slim: it uses the exact same technology as the former with an identical bot, but inherits the self-cleaning dock design from the latter. So instead of a curvy dock, it’s a more traditional design that’s simple to set up and use.

It’s a nice-looking dock, but I question its lack of proper sealing. The lid of the dirty-water tank in the unit sent to me for this review had tiny gaps even after being clipped closed and I found that if I didn't clean it out soon after a mopping run, it would begin to smell.

It’s similar with the dust bag too, wherein I found that it can emit a slight odor when the bin in the bot is being cleaned out automatically. That means you might have to replace the dust bag sooner than necessary which, in turn, will increase the ongoing costs of running the Qrevo Edge.

There’s not a lot to complain about when it comes to the robot vacuum’s cleaning prowess as long as it’s not expected to handle tough spills. There’s 18,500Pa of suction power, which I found to be good enough to clean up a carpet with hair or fur tangled in the fibers, although a few strands always get left behind as robot vacuums are meant as ongoing maintenance cleaners rather than being the primary cleaning appliance.

It’s also quite good at picking up fine powders and slightly larger debris like oats, but it regularly misses room edges. That’s not unique to the Qrevo Edge but, given its name, I was expecting slightly better edge-cleaning performance.

Mopping, too, is also good when it comes to day-to-day cleaning on hard floors and I found it was excellent at sensing the change in floor type to raise its mop pads when necessary. However, despite the extending mop pads, it often missed about an inch along the edges of a room during my testing, and it can spread tough wet spills (like ketchup or milk) across a floor if you aren’t careful with setting up the correct cleaning routine.

Roborock claims that the Qrevo Edge can handle thresholds of up to 4cm, which is true, but it's worth noting that it takes time to cross over, trying to determine the best angle for it and the amount of power it needs to push itself over.

While it excels at being an effective autonomous cleaner for the daily or regular cleaning tasks – and its SmartPlan feature is a game changer in those circumstances – its inability to tackle tough spills when doing a zone clean and get to room edges consistently makes it hard to recommend at its premium price point.

The Roborock Qrevo Edge is a good bot, but it belies its name when it comes to edge cleaning (Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar) Roborock Qrevo Edge review: price & availability

• List price: $1,599.99 / AU$2,799 (“coming soon” to the UK)
• Launched: January 2025
• Available: In select markets, with wider availability later in the year

The Qrevo Edge was released a few days before the Roborock Saros 10 series was announced at CES 2025 in January. In fact, the Edge is now part of a duo, with the Qrevo EdgeC joining it in March at a lower price point and with some missing features.

The Roborock Qrevo Edge will set you back $1,599.99 / AU$2,799 in the US and Australia at full price, but it’s already discounted down to $1,299.99 / AU$2,499 when purchased directly from the Roborock online store. Some authorized retailers are also offering the same or a better discount in most markets where it’s already available.

UK pricing and availability is yet to be confirmed, but it’s definitely being added to the Roborock catalogue as it’s listed as “coming soon” on the British website.

Despite the discount, the Qrevo Edge is still an expensive robot vacuum cleaner. That’s exacerbated when you consider that the more powerful Roborock Saros 10 (22,000 Pa suction compared to 18,500 Pa in the Edge) is the same price in the US and AU$200 more in Australia. It costs £1,499.99 in the UK. In fact, the Saros 10 has a retractable LiDAR puck that allows it to go under furniture to clean, potentially making it a better investment.

You will need to consider ongoing costs as well. The dust bag will be the most frequent purchase you make but, at some point, you will need to replace the mop pads too due to wear and tear. These aren’t too expensive as you won’t need to replace them too often (the dust bag has a 2.7L capacity that could last you 2-3 months, depending on use), but if you take into consideration the Roborock detergent for mopping, that will quickly add up.

If you’re after good value, something like the Ecovacs Deebot T30 Omni (or the T30 Pro Omni) would be ideal. It cleans just as well as the Qrevo Edge, if not better, although it lacks some of the features you’ll find on the Roborock. Still, the bang for buck you get from similar models to the Deebot is a lot more.

• Value score: 3.5 out of 5

The front of the robot has a camera and a light, alongside navigation sensors (Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar) Roborock Qrevo Edge review: specs Roborock Qrevo Edge review: design

• Sleek, modern dock
• Easy to set up, but may require frequent cleaning
• Extending side mop and brush, anti-tangle split main roller

The Roborock Qrevo Edge’s design isn’t particularly standout – it’s nothing we haven’t seen before – however, its white body (dock and robot) makes it look sleeker than its actual footprint would suggest.

The robot is of a similar size to other models, and the dock’s tray – where it sits to get cleaned and recharge – barely extends out beyond its radius, giving the impression of not taking up too much space.

It’s quite a tall dock though, so you may not be able to tuck it under a countertop or kitchen island, like you can with the Ecovacs Deebot T30 Omni, and you’ll need a good amount of clearance to lift the two tanks out of the dock. So it’s going to need a little open space around it.

The dock is nice looking, but just doesn't exude 'premium-ness' (Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar) Robot design

The bot in particular will be very familiar to anyone who’s ever seen a robovac before, let alone used one. The most obvious feature on the circular robot is the puck-like LiDAR housing on the top. The puck has the Roborock logo in a silver-grey color that adds a touch of class.

Also on top is a magnetic cover to keep the 325ml onboard dustbin out of sight, with cutouts for the LiDAR puck and two buttons. You won’t need to access the dustbin much – only to clean the filter every once in a while or if the self-empty function fails. Even the buttons need to be used sparingly.

On the front there's a camera and additional navigation elements. You can use the camera to run security checks while you’re away or look in on your pets remotely. There’s also a light on the front that comes on automatically if the robot is cleaning in a dark area or room.

A semicircular bumper protects the front, and it’s got just enough give to absorb bumps into furniture and larger obstacles.

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The side brush is attached to a flexible arm for better edge cleaning... (Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)Image 2 of 2

..and the bristle angle helps too (Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)

The undercarriage has a lot going on. Two large wheels catch your attention first and these help the Qrevo Edge traverse thresholds of up to 4cm high. Roborock calls this AdaptiLift, which has been inherited from the Curv and found its way into the newer Saros 10 as well. There’s also a smaller wheel towards the front of the robot for better maneuverability.

The main roller brush is quite unlike any other I’ve seen before. Instead of being a single bar, it’s made up of two pieces and split in the middle. Both halves have bristles and fins and, to avoid getting hair and fur tangled in said bristles, Roborock says the split design helps strands get pushed to the middle from where they’re sucked into the bin.

There’s also a spinning side brush and, again, it’s designed differently to what’s commonly seen on other brands. The brush has only two sets of long bristles (compared to the usual three), both curved to avoid hair entanglements and push dirt and debris towards the main roller.

The arm that the brush is affixed to can extend outward to give the bristles a longer reach. Roborock calls this FlexiArm technology and it’s also used to extend the mop pads as well.

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The central brush is designed to push hair or fur towards the middle... (Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)Image 2 of 2

..which means the roller is essentially two pieces (Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)

Again, it’s a familiar design for the mops – two circular pads attached to the plates via some seriously strong Velcro. During my testing I found that the pads extend out individually, never both at the same time as I’ve seen on other brands, and both can be raised 10mm to avoid medium and high-pile carpets from getting wet.

Unlike other premium models like the Dreame X40 Ultra, the mops don’t detach if you want a vacuum-only run.

There is, of course, a small water reservoir tucked away somewhere inside the robot, but the design is such that you can’t see it at all. It gets filled automatically from the clean-water tank in the dock every time the bot needs to do a mopping session.

A magnetic lid covers the onboard dustbin, but has cutouts for the LiDAR puck and the control buttons (Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar) Dock design

Like many other premium all-in-one robot vacuums, the Qrevo Edge’s self-cleaning dock is a do-it-all pit stop.

It houses two water tanks inside which can be pulled up from the top. They’re both marked by different silver drops on a corner of their lids to differentiate them – one for clean water, the other collects dirty mop water.

Both look identical, but closer inspection reveals a small difference in shape, which allows the clean-water tank to have a larger capacity of 4L compared to 3.5L of dirty water. That’s quite a bit and should allow for two mopping runs of an average two-bedroom home, if not more.

The tanks close via a hinged lid that clips into place, but the seal isn’t as good as I’ve seen in other all-in-one robovac models. This allowed a bit of nasty odor to escape when I forgot to clean out the dirty water after one cleaning session, meaning you might want to ensure the left-hand tank is washed out as soon as possible.

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The internals of the dock are well designed, allowed it to be as low maintenance as possible (Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)Image 2 of 4

The lid of the dirty-water tank doesn't close properly, which could lead to you smelling nasty odors (Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)Image 3 of 4

Each tank is denoted by a droplet icon – one for clean... (Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)Image 4 of 4

..and the other for dirty mop water (Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)

Below the water tanks is a covered nook for the dust bag. The cover comes off very easily and replacing the bag is also just as easy.

As with other all-in-ones, the base tray that the robot sits on has ridged sides, which allows the mop pads to be scrubbed when they’re being washed. Not only can the dock refill the bot’s onboard water reservoir, empty the bin, wash the mop pads with hot water (167ºF / 75ºC), then dry them with warm air (113ºF / 45ºC), but it can also self-clean that tray.

Overall build quality isn’t too bad, but the lids on the water tanks not closing properly takes away from the premium-ness of the whole design. Moreover, the plastic dock – which isn’t uncommon at all – just doesn’t quite exude oomph despite the silver details. It’s not that it looks cheap, it just doesn’t look… well, premium.

• Design score: 4 out of 5

Access to the dust bag is easy, as it changing it out. It's the same bag as used in the S-series Roborock robovacs (Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar) Roborock Qrevo Edge review: performance

• Excellent vacuuming on higher settings; can handle tangled hair in carpet fibers
• Mopping also very good on higher settings, but regularly misses edges
• SmartPlan is efficient in terms of navigation and battery life, but the automated cleaning may not suffice

If there’s one thing Roborock does well, it’s providing an easy setup for its robot vacuums. My colleagues have said previously that they’ve not faced any setup issues with other models from the brand and it was the same here. In fact, you don’t even need the manual to get you started, it’s all quite intuitive.

As soon as the robovac was connected to my Wi-Fi network, I checked how much battery it had and immediately sent it off on its initial mapping run. This took just six minutes to complete in a test space measuring approximately 40sqm and containing a carpeted bedroom and tiles in the rest of the apartment.

The initial map was quite accurate in the layout of the test space, and I was then able to edit the rooms: adding furniture and dividing up open-plan spaces into their correct assigned names.

The test space was single-storey, so I wasn’t able to see how well the cliff sensors function. It also had no pets, so I can’t comment on how well the Qrevo Edge’s pet avoidance features work, but I conducted all the other standard TechRadar tests to see how it held up.

The Qrevo Edge is very good at identifying changing floor types (Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar) Vacuuming

The Qrevo Edge’s 18,500 Pa suction power shows itself off quite well when it comes to its vacuuming prowess. I found it very hard to fault it, even when on lower suction settings – albeit on hard floors that aren’t too dirty. The higher suction options are very effective on carpets, even those with entangled hair within the fibers.

As with other Qrevo machines, there are five power levels to choose from: Quiet, Balanced, Turbo, Max and Max+. Importantly, the app allows you to choose from just a single vacuum-only run or two, meaning it can take on some tough jobs.

As good as the Qrevo Edge is at vacuuming, I do have to note that you shouldn’t expect perfection. I found that hair on carpets are mostly sucked up – say about 98% of the strands – but some will remain. This is more so if you happen to have hair, fur or dirt along the edges of a carpeted room as the side brush just doesn’t have the force to gather these up and pull them towards the central roller.

The proof is usually in the pudding and when I looked at how much dirt the Qrevo Edge collected after its first vacuum-only run (done at the Max+ setting) in a single carpeted room, I was impressed that its higher suction did a far superior job than the 11,000 Pa Ecovacs Deebot T30 Omni that it replaced in my home.

Even the Turbo and Max modes do a good job on carpets, provided you don’t have pets shedding on them copiously – they’re effective for the usual dust-sucking chores. And I had no issues with tangled hair on the main roller brush.

To test how well the Qrevo Edge can handle other kinds of dirt and debris, I conducted TechRadar’s standard tests by sprinkling some oats, tea dust (from a teabag) and tea leaves onto a mid-pile carpet.

I first set the Qrevo Edge to do just a Zone clean for the carpet only, which defaults to the SmartPlan setting wherein the bot chooses its own suction mode depending on floor type. As you can see from the video clip below, it does a pretty good job, although its navigation in this mode is a little erratic.

While all the oats and tea leaves were cleaned up, I could see some tea dust still on the carpet. As a comparison, I sprinkled a little more dust from a teabag and used my Dyson V15s Detect Submarine in Auto mode to clean it up and saw similar results. I repeated the tea dust test with the Qrevo Edge on the carpet in Max+ mode and found no reason to complain.

It’s a different story on hard floors though. For the exact same test performed on tiles, I found that the side brush scattered the larger debris (oats) when doing a Zone clean on the default SmartPlan settings. The scattering happens on all other settings, but when changed to doing a 2x vacuum at Max, it did a better job.

Where it fails quite badly is edge cleaning. I expected most of the tea dust I had scattered along a room edge on a hard floor to be picked up, but sadly that wasn’t the case. Even running it on a 2x vacuum-only run at Max+ made no difference. I had to use the crevice tool on my Dyson to clean up the tea dust remaining on the floor.

Moreover, if you have gaps between tiles or wood panels on your floor, fine dust will invariably get moved into the grouting or the gaps and even the Max+ setting does nothing to clean that up. Larger debris getting caught in those spots, though, will get cleaned, provided you use the maximum suction setting.

To be fair to the Qrevo Edge, though, robot vacuums weren’t designed to be your primary cleaner, but rather for ongoing day-to-day or regular cleans. You'll still want to have one of the best vacuum cleaners on hand for the more difficult jobs, particularly for carpets and sucking up dirt from nooks and crannies.

Mopping

Like its vacuuming prowess, the Qrevo Edge does a good job of mopping too – again, only if it’s not taxed by too many spills. The regular cleaning jobs of dusty footprints and spilt water is excellent.

This mopping performance is helped by four water-flow levels – Low, Medium, High and Custom/Gentle. I found the Low and Medium weren't very effective for the kind of tiles I had in my test space, as the pads didn’t saturate enough for my needs and barely dampened the floor. While this is excellent for sensitive floor types (like some wood panels), the High setting was perfect for me and that’s what I left it at for the various Routines I set up via the app.

The Custom setting, while allowing you to choose the water-flow level, doesn’t ‘scrub’ as well as the other three and that, again, is good for sensitive floor types. If you do need a better clean, you can set the robot to sense areas of excessive dirt and it will automatically return to do a second mop after it has washed the pads following the first attempt. During my testing, though, this feature failed most of the time.

Depending on your cleaning needs, you can set the bot to mop-only, vacuum then mop, or do both at once. Personally, I’m not fond of the last option as I'm a little paranoid that the mop pads will pick up more dirt and won't get washed properly.

I found that it was also a good idea to assign the order in which it cleans rooms as this can reduce track marks from its own wheels over an area it has just mopped – this can be done in the app by just editing the saved map.

Like I did for vacuuming, I performed a couple of mopping tests to see how well the Qrevo Edge does.

While we usually use ketchup in our standard mopping test, I had none at the time and used oyster sauce instead. I allowed a small spill to dry out a little, but also plopped some of the fresh viscous liquid on another part of the floor to test the scrubbing action on dry and wet messes.

Even with the water-flow rate set at High, the Qrevo Edge had minimal effect on the dried-out sauce on the Standard ‘route’. The route is how the robot moves through a space while cleaning and there are four options for both vacuuming and mopping. After setting the robot to do a 2x mop run in the Deep+ ‘route’ setting, though, most of the dried oyster sauce was cleaned, but not fully. I ended up wiping that spot myself.

No matter how often I mopped my floors, the dirty water was... very dirty (Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)

Cleaning up a wet spill was another matter altogether. On a default Zone run (which uses the SmartPlan option), the sauce was mopped but, of course, got stuck on the side brush (I’m glad I was able to rinse it), smeared the undercarriage and the mop pads left long, brown streaks as the bot moved on.

After allowing it to go back to the dock for a mop wash, I immediately set the Qrevo Edge to a 2x mop at the High water setting to clean up the remaining mess, which it did well.

I’d expect situations like these are extreme and most users wouldn’t allow their robot vacuum to encounter such messes, but it’s worth noting that it doesn’t handle bigger dry messes well either. For example, I sprinkled copious amounts of talcum powder on a wet bathroom floor, then allowed that to dry completely. On a High water-flow setting, white streaks were left on the bathroom floor, much like the oyster sauce.

While I can’t fault the Qrevo Edge’s mopping issues as it’s not unique to it, I regularly found that it didn’t go all the way to the edge of a room despite the extended mop pads. More often than not, about an inch of floor space along skirting boards would remain unmopped. And that was disappointing, particularly since this robot vacuum comes at such a high price and, conspicuously, has 'Edge' in its name.

Obstacle avoidance could be better – the Qrevo Edge couldn't identify a cable in its path (Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar) Navigation and obstacle avoidance

For a day-to-day regular cleaning run, I found the Qrevo Edge’s navigation to be impeccable. There are two Routes (or paths) you can select in the app when it’s vacuuming or vacuuming and mopping at once – Fast and Standard – but you’re provided four when you opt for mop only – Fast, Standard, Deep and Deep+. These Routes determine how much of the floor gets covered and, after testing all of them, I found that the Qrevo Edge follows the chosen Route correctly.

The Route you opt for will, of course, affect battery life and the app gives you a warning every time you change navigation. Despite that, I personally preferred the Standard (for vacuuming) and Deep for mopping as the results were the best.

Importantly, selecting a 2x cleaning run will automatically prompt the Qrevo Edge to clean in the opposite directions for the two sessions, which I thought resulted in even better results than a single Deep mopping session.

The only reason it didn't chew up the cable was because it had already partially swallowed a sock (Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)

The only time navigation was erratic was if I had chosen a Zone clean for a quick session, which defaults to the SmartPlan navigation. This uses deep learning to determine which part of the zone or room the Qrevo Edge should clean first and I found its movements weren’t as precise on a carpet. It was slightly better on hard floors though.

Still, the SmartPlan navigation is quite efficient. Having learned that there is a medium-pile rug in my living room, for example, the Qrevo Edge always did a vacuum-only clean first on the rug, then went back to the dock to wash its mop pads to clean the rest of the tiled living-room floor. On the rug, though, it wouldn’t always move in straight lines, but I didn’t see that it missed any spots.

A lightweight obstacle just gets pushed around as it moves (Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)

The Qrevo Edge’s obstacle avoidance could be better though. While it manages to identify some obstacles in its path and place a marker on the map, this functionality wasn’t consistent. To test this further, I placed its own packing box in its path once and it didn’t add a marker on the map, but it did so for a chair I had moved from its original location.

To check its effectiveness avoiding smaller objects, I ran the standard TechRadar tests of placing a cable, a sock, a slipper (aka flip-flop or thong, depending on which part of the world you live in) and a shoe in the robot’s path.

It nearly swallowed the little sock, which got stuck on the central roller, and because of the sock taking up space on the undercarriage, it ran over the cable without getting entangled. The first time it encountered the slipper, it went over it, but the subsequent times it just pushed the lightweight rubber footwear along in front of it. The shoe was the only obstacle it managed to avoid each time it encountered it on its path.

Its camera quality isn't the best, but it's good enough for a security check (or looking in on your pets if you have any). You can even use the call button to speak to your kids or pets (Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)

This shouldn’t come as a surprise though as most robot vacuums have difficulty with the smaller obstacles and would chew up a slim charging cable or a sock. That’s why all brands recommend you pick up the smaller items before you do a cleaning run.

That said, Roborock does call out the Qrevo Edge’s obstacle avoidance, so I expected more. It’s perfectly fine for general cleaning, but the performance doesn’t quite match its high price tag.

The robot can use its onboard camera to take a picture of the obstacle and, when you tap on the corresponding marker (if any) on the map in the app, it will come up. Every time I wanted to try this feature with a specific obstacle, it didn’t place a marker on the map. The only time it worked was for a chair that is permanently a part of the map.

Dock performance

Other than the bit of bad odor I could smell when I hadn’t cleaned out the dirty water the day of the cleaning run, I can’t fault the dock’s performance. There’s plenty of suction that pulls out nearly every bit of dust, debris and hair from within the onboard dustbin.

The only thing I found in the bin after a self-empty was a thin film of fine dust along the sides, which is perfectly normal and can be washed out. Just be sure to fully dry out the bin before placing it back into the robot again.

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A white indicator light on the dock says everything is A-OK... (Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)Image 2 of 2

..but turns red when you've removed a tank or it's not sitting correctly, or there's something else the matter (Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)

Even the washing seems adequate. At the time of writing, I’d used the Qrevo Edge for two months, running it a couple of times a week, and the mop pads still look good to me. That said, I found the mop pads looked a lot better after three months of using the Ecovacs Deebot T30 Omni, and I also found the air drying to be more effective in the competition as it uses hot air rather than warm as in the Qrevo Edge.

This means the mop pads take longer to dry on the latter and, if there’s not a lot of ventilation in the area you’ve positioned the robot vacuum, you could smell the pads if there's even a little dampness left. During my testing, I had to increase the air-drying time to eliminate any smells.

Another indicator of how well the mop washing works is the color of the dirty water in the tank – it was always dark brown, even if I ran the robot on subsequent days, thinking the floor wouldn’t be too dirty. Boy, was I wrong.

The dock’s self-cleaning features also includes one for the tray the robot sits on (and uses to scrub the mop pads). That can get grimy too and the 5-minute self-cleaning session means you need the least amount of work to maintain this machine.

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The brand-new mop pads before the first use... (Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)Image 2 of 2

..and their condition after about 8 weeks of use, two to three times a week (not too shabby) (Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar) Battery life

Battery life is where the Qrevo Edge truly shines. It’s got a 6,400mAh pack that easily did a full clean session on Max suction and Standard/High mop (on a vacuum-and-mop run) in one go in my test space and still usually had about 36% battery left.

If I set the robot to do 2x cleans at its highest settings, then it would run down to about 12% battery, head back to the dock for about three hours, top up till about 48% and finish the rest of its cleaning. That’s an impressive battery performance in my books considering it was doing power-intensive sessions.

Roborock says that the Qrevo Edge is capable of fast charging (up to 30% quicker than previous models apparently), but I saw no evidence of that during my testing. Considering it took about three hours to get just 40% topped up during my testing, I think the best time to run these kinds of modes is when you’re away for the day – that way, you can return to a clean home and not get impatient with half a job done.

• Performance score: 3.5 out of 5

A light can automatically come on if the Qrevo Edge is cleaning a dark room or under the bed (Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar) Roborock Qrevo Edge review: app

• Very detailed app as compared to some of the competition
• Offers plenty of precise control
• Matches system dark mode that looks very classy

The Roborock app is arguably the best-designed I’ve used for a robot vacuum cleaner. When you first download it, it will ask if you want it to match your phone’s system settings, which means it will automatically convert into dark mode and I found that it looks very nice indeed – colors pop and everything is clearly laid out.

It will take time to get used to the app, though, but that’s only because there’s a lot going on. In fact, I kept discovering quirks and better ways to use the robot all through my two-month testing period. While my test space was a single-storey home, the Roborock allows you to save multiple floor maps and swap between them, although you will have to go through the Edit Map menu to do so.

Map editing is a lot more straightforward here than I’ve found with other robovac apps, and it identified carpets and hard floors in the test space correctly, requiring minimal intervention on my part. You can add furniture if you wish. The usual features of adding no-go zones and virtual walls is also available.

The Roborock app is very detailed, starting from map building and editing (Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)

Diving into what the robot can actually do is time consuming, particularly if you plan to set up custom Routines. The app gives you some default options that you can edit, but it’s not always as straightforward as its map editing.

For example, a couple of full-home routines I tried to set up refused to show me a vacuum-only option, but only gave me a vacuum-and-mop. I had to then break up that option and have two Routines for a full-home clean.

You can always edit those Routines as you learn more about the app, but it really shouldn’t be as difficult as it is currently set up.

There are also plenty of options in the settings to go through (Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)

Perhaps the best part of the app is the SmartPlan option you’ll see as soon as you select the robot vacuum. While you can run this from the get go, you won’t get the best clean early on.

I found that it’s the most effective after you’ve run the robovac a few times throughout the home on specific Routines. It will use this information, leveraging some AI smarts, to customize the best cleaning path, suction and mop settings for subsequent runs.

There are some other advanced features in the app that you can use, including using the onboard camera to do a quick security check around your home while you’re away. You can guide it remotely using the app navigation, but you can also keep the camera on while it is cleaning.

You can set up custom routines or enable Rocky, the onboard voice assistant (Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)

You can even photograph obstacles or conduct a video call with your pet. The camera features are turned off by default, which is a good thing, and all photos and videos are saved locally, according to Roborock. Moreover, you’ll even need to be the primary account holder to enable these camera features, adding a layer of security.

Roborock has its own voice assistant called Rocky, which is available to use on the Qrevo Edge, but the prompts it can understand are very limited. There are more Siri voice prompts, but even these I found to be a little unreliable. You can connect the Qrevo Edge to Google Home or Alexa, which offers better control but, again, quite limited prompts. In general, I think the app itself should be your go-to for full control of the robot vacuum and its dock.

• App score: 4.5 out of 5

The mop pads lift up 10mm and I never found a damp streak on my living room rug (Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar) Should you buy the Roborock Qrevo Edge? Buy it if...

You have thresholds around the home

The Qrevo Edge can tackle heights of up to 4cm and, even though it might look like it’s struggling, it takes time to figure out how much power it needs and the best angle to get over the threshold.

You want an efficient robovac for day-to-day cleaning

Despite its impressive specs and features list, the Qrevo Edge is better at tackling the easier regular cleans, rather than handling the tough jobs. It's navigation, though, is arguably its best feature, arguably being one of the most efficient I've seen.

You want a low-maintenance robot vacuum for the most hands-off experience

Other than having to regularly clean out the dirty-water tank, the Qrevo Ege is arguably the most hands-off robovac I’ve tested. Its dock can take care of a lot for you, including cleaning up the mop-pad washing tray. Even the 2.7L dust bag won’t need replacing too often thanks to the larger capacity, but be wary of smells.

Don't buy it if...

You want value for money

Given its issues, I’d be hard pressed to recommend the Qrevo Edge at its full price. There are plenty of other cheaper options available that perform just as well, if not better. Although be aware that you will need to make a few sacrifices if you opt for cheaper models, like not having the same amount of suction or a self-cleaning mop-washing tray.

You want a simple robot vacuum

The Qrevo Edge is a do-it-all robovac with an app that has a heck of a lot of detail. If you don’t need all its bells and whistles, and would prefer a simpler self-emptying option, there are plenty to choose from and you’ll also save money in the bargain.

You want the very best in mopping and edge cleaning
While the regular mopping runs with the Qrevo Edge are very good, its penchant for creating more messes on the tougher spills is disappointing. Other models like the Eureka J20 (with a roller mop) and the cheaper Ecovacs T30 Omni are better moppers, and even handle edge cleaning more efficiently.

Roborock Qrevo Edge: alternatives to consider

Dreame L40 Ultra/X40 Ultra

If money is no object and you’re after one of the best in autonomous cleaning, consider the top-of-the-range Dreame L40/X40 Ultra. The L model is widely available in most markets, but the X option is available in Australia. Both offer similar specs and performance, including excellent suction and mopping, plus a few smart features that make cleaning as hands-off as possible.

Read our full Dreame L40 Ultra review
Read our full Dreame X40 Ultra review

Ecovacs Deebot T30 Omni

As one of the best robot vacuums representing excellent value for money, the T30 Omni might not have the same suction power as the Qrevo Edge, so it won’t be as good on a dirty carpet, but if you predominantly have hard floors, I can’t recommend this highly enough. The Pro model, which doesn’t cost much more than the standard, is just as good, but you get a couple of additional features – voice assistant support and better mopping.

Read my in-depth Ecovacs Deebot T30 Omni review

How I tested the Roborock Qrevo Edge

• Used in single-storey, one-bedroom apartment with mixed flooring
• Used two to three times a week for eight weeks
• Tried various settings and modes, with specific tests for fine dust and larger debris

(Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)

I used the Roborock Qrevo Edge regularly for a period of two months in an approximately 40sqm one-bedroom apartment that has both full carpet and hard floors (tiles). This test space has no pets, but I did my best to make sure there was enough of my own hair on the carpet to make for tougher cleans.

I also set up several custom routines, running each at least two or three times to test for not just cleaning abilities, but also consistency. I even ran it on some default settings and modes, particularly testing the SmartPlan option several times for Room and Zone cleaning.

I ran TechRadar’s usual tests for suction, mopping and obstacle avoidance, plus did an extra test to test for cleaning fine dust and powder (using talc).

I compared its performance with other robot vacuums I’ve tested previously, having gone from the Ecovacs Deebot T30 Omni directly to using the Qrevo Edge.

Read more about how we test robot vacuum cleaners

[First reviewed April 2025]

Apple Nike Sport Loop review

If you want to jazz up your Apple Watch, then look no further than the Nike Sport Loop. This lightweight, yarn-crafted strap has a woven design that’s a bit more charismatic than more basic silicone alternatives. But still, it’s not the cheapest option, coming in with a list price of $49 / £49 – so is that splash of pizzazz truly worth it?

Well, if you’re big into workouts or running, then the answer may well be a resounding ‘yes’. That’s because this durable band is constructed of a double-layer nylon weave, which forms a cushioned layer on the skin-side while still enabling moisture to escape. Its breathable design means you’re not going to be irritated by excess sweat, which is a big benefit.

Having said that, I didn’t personally find this band to be as comfortable as some of the best Apple Watch bands around. That’s due to its use of a nylon material that could sometimes feel a little bit fuzzy and overly noticeable on my wrist. Of course, that’s going to come down to personal preference – not everyone will love the fluoroelastomer material used on the Apple Sport Band, say, but I much preferred its smoother texture.

One thing that’s undeniable, though, is that this strap is ultra quick and easy to fasten. It comes in a loop shape and can be attached using its velcro strips. Simply stick the band down and you’re ready to go – just like that you’ve got a secure, hassle-free way to wear your Apple Watch. That’s a significant plus, especially given some cheaper alternatives, like the Yoohoo Adjustable Metal Strap can be a tad stiff to fix on.

As well as being quick to fasten, this strap has a flexible design, meaning it rarely feels too tight. The Nike Sport Loop’s inherent flexibility also means that it comes in one size only – though it will suit any wrist size between 145 and 220mm, meaning almost anyone can find a snug fit.

One last critique before I sum up: this strap is fairly playful, but isn’t exactly the most distinguished or premium-looking. Its use of a yarn material reminds me almost of a fabric watch I had as a kid – especially in colorways like Blue/Red and Green/Grey. There are some more low-key color options like Black/Blue, but if you want something classier, you’re better off with an option like the Apple Milanese Loop.

In the end, the Apple Nike Sport Loop is undoubtedly a practical, workout-friendly band that’s going to hit the spot for a lot of you out there. I didn’t adore the sensation of the nylon material or the aesthetic of the band, but that’s very much down to personal taste – I’m sure there will be plenty of you who disagree wholeheartedly! So, if you want a high quality strap and you’re into the Nike Sport Loop’s flexy, playful look, it’s certainly well worth considering.

(Image credit: Future) Apple Nike Sport Loop review: price & specs

(Image credit: Future) Should I buy the Apple Nike Sport Loop? Buy it if…

You want a more flexible fit
The loop design and velcro strips mean that the Apple Nike Sport Loop is super easy to fasten. The flexibility of its material also means it won’t feel too tight or rigid, ideal for when you’re on a run or mid workout.

You need an option for workouts
The Nike Sport Loop’s flexible fit is only one aspect that makes it optimal for workouts. It’s also constructed of a fabric material that’s both breathable and sweat resistant. It doesn’t get much more practical than that!

Don't buy it if…

You want a more sophisticated look
This isn’t the most distinguished-looking Apple Watch strap on the market, in my view. If you want something a little more premium looking, check out the Apple Milanese Loop, for instance – though beware, this model will set you back $100 / £100.

You’re looking for an ultra-cheap option
At $49 / £49, this is far from the most expensive watch strap around, but there are a whole host of cheaper, third-party alternatives to consider too. For example, the CeMiKa Silicone Sport Straps will only set you back between £8.99 - £12.29 if you’re in the UK – though bear in mind, you won’t get the most stylish band around.

Apple Nike Sport Loop review: also consider

Apple Nike Sport Band
The Apple Nike Sport Band is still my go to Apple Watch strap and it’s going to take something special to push it off that pedestal. It has a smooth, comfortable design, exciting color options, a highly adjustable fit and plenty of breathability. This one’s made of fluoroelastomer, which I found to be a lot kinder on my skin, plus its sweat and water-resistant. You can’t ask for much more, really. Read our full Apple Nike Sport Band review.

You might not be immediately familiar with the Opera web browser, but it has been around long enough to have settled down with a wife and kids. First released in 1995, Opera earned a name for itself as the browser that adhered the closest to web standards such as CSS, making it the go-to choice for web developers.

In 2016, the company released a VPN baked into its web browser; no separate app required. We had a look at the paid OperaVPN Pro version a couple of years ago, and found it somewhat underwhelming as a paid product, especially compared to the best VPNs on the market.

In a world where you can find full–featured free offerings from companies like Windscribe, Proton VPN Free, and PrivadoVPN Free, is there still an argument to be made for using OperaVPN? Let's find out.

Features

Opera's offering is rather sparse; users don't get more than the bare minimum in terms of features. There are three VPN server locations to choose from, and free users also get access to a split tunneling tool, which Opera VPN Free calls “bypass rules”, a feature which is, strangely, absent from the paid Pro version.

Bypass rules allow you to choose if you want specific websites to use your regular connection rather than the VPN connection. This comes in handy if you do a lot of online banking.

OperaVPN also comes with IP and DNS leak protection – but that’s it for features. There’s no support for streaming or torrenting, and no additional security tools beyond those that come as part and parcel of the Opera web browser. All the other features are for paying customers.

The biggest drawback is that Opera VPN Free only protects your browser and nothing else, unlike other free providers that protect all the apps on your device.

Features score: 3/10

(Image credit: Shaun Rockwood) Server network

The Opera VPN Free server network is, in a word, tiny. There are three server locations for free users to connect to, including the Americas, Asia, and Europe. By contrast, paid users get access to servers in over 60 locations worldwide.

There is another option called ‘Optimal location’, which automatically chooses the server it thinks offers the fastest connection. There is no ability to pick a more specific location, no cities on offer, though the ability to at least pick a certain point on the map puts OperaVPN above some free VPN providers, which connect you to a random server in a random location whenever you hit the connect button.

As OperaVPN only protects web traffic, there are no specific servers for torrenting or streaming.

Server network score: 3/10

Apps

To use Opera VPN’s free or Pro version, you must install and use the Opera web browser. The browser is available on a wide range of operating systems, including Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, and Chromebooks.

Apps score: 5/10

Ease of use

We found that Opera VPN Free was surprisingly intuitive to use. As basic an offering as it is, there’s little to confuse even those unfamiliar with VPNs.

You access the VPN by clicking the small “VPN” icon in the address bar. After that, you get the usual big power button style connect button with a message that reads ”Unprotected - Enable for enhanced privacy” when the VPN is off and “Protected - Your browsing is secured” when the VPN is up and running – and a map visual showing you where you're connected to.

(Image credit: Shaun Rockwood)

Beneath that is a dropdown with four different connection options, which will show your chosen location and new IP address. The other settings for the VPN are accessed via a rather tiny cog icon that takes you to the settings menu.

There’s a handful of additional VPN-specific settings, mainly centered around whether or not you want certain sites to use the VPN, though there are no tool-tips to help beginner users understand why they might want to enable/disable any of these settings, nor is there any help given to explain how the split-tunneling/whitelisting feature works.

Ease of use score: 3/10

(Image credit: Shaun Rockwood) Speed and performance

OperaVPN’s performance varies wildly depending on the time of day you access it. Our testing was carried out on a 1 Gb fibre connection during the morning and the evening.

The Asian location gave us a top connection speed of 249 Mbps down with an upload speed of 103 Mps.

(Image credit: Shaun Rockwood)

The European and American locations were both equally as inconsistent, with top download speeds of 380 Mbps and 136 Mbps respectively. These tests were repeated over multiple days, and speeds varied from passable to barely usable, with the best results being returned in the evening GMT.

4K streaming, for instance, requires connection speeds of 25 Mbps, so while you could maybe stream high-def content via Opera VPN Free, it would be heavily dependent on the time of day you were trying to watch anything.

By contrast, Windscribe’s test results put it in the top ten fastest VPNs with a download speed of 785 Mbps using the WireGuard protocol and a top speed of 365 Mbps when connecting through the OpenVPN protocol. PrivadoVPN Free and Proton VPN’s free offering both returned download speeds that are faster and more stable than OperaVPN as well.

Speed and performance score: 4/10

(Image credit: Shaun Rockwood) Unblocking

While OperaVPN Pro was surprisingly competent when it came to unblocking streaming sites around the world, the same cannot be said for the free version.

It failed to access any content on Amazon Prime Video, couldn’t unblock Disney+, and attempts to get to Paramount+ led to a screen telling us that the service wasn’t available in our part of the world.

(Image credit: Shaun Rockwood)

The same went for BBC iPlayer, with the service detecting that we were not based in the UK and denying us access. If accessing streaming content is a big selling point for you, then not only does this force you to use the websites to stream rather than the bespoke apps, which often leads to degraded picture quality, but you would simply be better off using a different free VPN, with both PrivadoVPN Free and Windscribe offering far better results.

While it was able to access a variety of different torrenting sites, Opera VPN Free offers no protection if you want to download any of these torrents, as you need to use an external client. If you’re looking to do any P2P file sharing, you’d be better off looking at one of the best torrenting VPNs instead.

Unblocking score: 0/10

Privacy and Security

The biggest issue we faced when talking about Opera VPN Free’s privacy and security features is that the provider shares so little definitive information anywhere online.

The client’s privacy and security settings are as bare bones as the rest of its offering, while also managing to be confusing by offering a variety of protocols depending on the platform you're using. On Windows and macOS, it uses the IPSec protocol. On Android, it uses either IPSec or OpenVPN, and on iOS, it uses the WireGuard protocol.

While other VPN providers offer up-to-date and speedy VPN protocols like WireGuard, OperaVPN free users are restricted to only the somewhat dated IPSec protocol on Windows and macOS.

There’s also no way for you to choose your protocol if you have issues connecting to a server or online resource. Opera does claim to have AES-256-bit encryption, but it's difficult to verify any of these claims when Opera itself is so tight-lipped about what the VPN is capable of.

We can confirm that there are no DNS, IP, or WebRTC leaks found in any of our testing, and the Opera web browser itself blocks malicious websites, as well as offering advert and tracker blocking.

That's great news, meaning that it provides some additional protection from intrusive websites trying to track what you’re doing, or wasting your bandwidth with annoying adverts. Beyond that, however, there’s none of the additional security or privacy features we would hope or expect to see, like multi-hop connections, anti-virus, obfuscated servers, or a kill switch.

The company has taken steps to assure both users and critics that it is committed to privacy and security. Towards the end of 2024, the company underwent an independent third-party audit, bringing in Deloitte to look at its systems and processes. The result of this was that Deloitte confirmed that Opera does live up to its no-logs policy and does not log or store any user data.

This is a big step toward proving that while it might be feature-light, Opera VPN Free doesn’t mess around with the privacy of its users.

Privacy and security score: 5/10

Track record

There’s not a great deal to say here, which is a good thing. OperaVPN doesn’t seem to have been involved in any major controversies or data breaches, though there have been some concerns voiced about Opera’s parent company, given that Opera is now majority owned by a Chinese company called Kunlun Tech Co., Ltd.

It also underwent a third-party audit last year that confirmed that its no-logs claim isn’t just an empty promise that can't be verified.

Track record score: 8/10

Customer support

The short answer is that there is not much in the way of support for Opera VPN Free. Opera VPN Pro has its own dedicated support site, but it’s about as basic as they come. There are a handful of short articles that are mostly concerned with the basics of getting the VPN configured and working.

One of the articles claims to detail the difference between the Pro and Free versions, but it’s little better than a marketing page that directs users to the respective sites for each product and offers only two sentences with an overview of the differences between them.

Free users get even less. There is no dedicated support portal for free users, and nothing more than a handful of extremely basic “how to use the VPN” entries in the overall Opera browser support pages.

If you can’t find any help there, then there are community forums you can use, but the VPN doesn’t even merit its own dedicated forum for queries! There’s one for the AI tools that Opera bundles in, but not for the VPN.

Again, this is in comparison to other free VPNs that boast full-featured knowledge bases and sometimes even a support team you can reach out to for help.

Customer support score: 1/10

(Image credit: Shaun Rockwood) Pricing and plans

Opera VPN is available both as a free and a paid Pro version. The Pro version is priced as follows:

• 1 year - $48
• 6 months - $30
• 1 month - $8

There are no bandwidth limits when using the free version of the VPN, and you can install the Opera browser on as many machines/devices as you like, with the understanding that only your browser traffic is going to be protected by the VPN.

The paid version supports up to 6 simultaneous connections for your devices, which is fewer than a lot of other premium VPNs.

(Image credit: Shaun Rockwood)

The company offers a 7-day free trial, but there seems to be some confusion over the length of the money-back guarantee.

On the Opera website, it appears to suggest that there is a 14-day money-back guarantee, which requires you to fill out a form, print it, scan it, and then send it to Opera’s support desk, which is hardly an intuitive or user-friendly procedure.

But if you look at the Opera VPN Pro forums, it claims that the company offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, and that all you need to do is email the support team.

Pricing and plans score: 7/10

Should you use Opera VPN Free?

Opera VPN's free offering brings very little to the table that would see us recommend it over its competitors, and Opera seems almost embarrassed by its existence, judging by the dearth of information in its own official forums and support pages.

It has a tiny server network, it only protects your web browser, there’s no support for torrenting or streaming, no support site to help if you run into trouble, and its connection speeds range from the barely-usable to the just-about-adequate. There’s no killswitch, no ability to choose your VPN protocol, and basic whitelisting for URLs only.

It’s not all bad, though. The company passed an independent audit confirming its no-log claims, it’s about as simple a VPN as you could get, making it very easy for absolute beginners to get to grips with, and it does add at least some additional protection to your browsing by masking your IP and ensuring there’s no sneaky DNS leaks.

OperaVPN aims to be the most convenient way to encrypt your web browsing, and that approach does have some merits. The problem, though, is that other free VPNs are almost as simple to use, offer faster speeds, more features, and protection for all your other apps.

OperaVPN might appeal to those who aren’t particularly tech-savvy and want a truly simple product, but the argument could be made that a non-tech-savvy user isn’t going to be browsing the web through Opera to begin with.

Overall score 39/100

HyperX Pulsefire Haste 2 Pro: Two-minute review

The HyperX Pulsefire Haste 2 Pro is the latest iteration of the brand’s line of elite gaming mice, promising stellar performance and design. It adopts a sleek form fairly typical for a gaming mouse, and it looks the part. The Slate Grey finish, which is the only available, doesn’t inject the Pulsefire Haste 2 Pro with much vibrancy, but it’s inoffensive enough, and the black accents side buttons and scroll wheel add some interest.

One aspect that sets it apart from many others is the prominent central hump, as the mouse buttons rake downwards sharply, creating a unique feel. In my hand this descent began almost flush with the second knuckles of my two forefingers, which was ideal as I could easily flex to click. However, there will no doubt be gamers who won’t find this quite so ergonomically sound.

I was also surprised by how much of a handful it is, with its width looking narrower than it feels. The subtle side bulges mean your thumb and ring finger are spaced further apart than you might imagine, and again I found this suited my grip style quite well.

(Image credit: Future)

The Pulsefire Haste 2 Pro is solidly constructed too, and is on par with some of the best gaming mice out there. I also liked the subtle texture of its body, which feels smooth but provides just enough natural grip, although optional grip tape is included in the box.

The mouse buttons themselves feel engineered to equally high standards, as do the side buttons and scroll wheel. I was also glad to see the DPI button positioned topside, rather than hidden underneath.

At only 61g, the Pulsefire Haste 2 Pro is on the lighter end of the spectrum. There are certainly gaming mice out there that tip the scales even less, but it’s still very easy to maneuver, which is also aided by how evenly the weight is distributed.

The Pulsefire Haste 2 Pro can be customized using HyperX NGENUITY, the brand’s peripheral tool. Here you’ll find the usual RGB lighting and DPI tweaks, along with rebinding options. However, I was a little disappointed at the lack of shortcuts available for assignment, paling in comparison with other peripheral software. It also lacks multiple rebinding layers, which is a shame.

(Image credit: Future)

Despite the Pulsefire Haste 2 Pro being a mouse designed for elite gamers, there’s a distinct lack of advanced tweaks too, with slam click filters, angle snapping, and the like absent. You can at least alter the lift-off distance, although only 1mm and 2mm options are offered.

You can also adjust the polling rate in NGENUITY (which can also be accomplished on board via a button combination), with a maximum of 4K available. This will please pro players, although those who obsess over such numbers might wish for 8K instead, as other elite gaming mice are capable of.

Regardless, I still found the Pulsefire Haste 2 Pro very accurate when gaming. Tracking is smooth and precise, and while it might not glide as effortlessly as some others (the skates are quite thin, after all), it’s still easy enough to swipe with.

The clicks are snappy and actuation is light, with just enough damping to make them satisfying. Both buttons have a deeper travel than you might expect, but I didn’t find this negatively impacted their responsiveness. I was also fond of their indentations, which helped to keep my fingers secure.

The side buttons are similarly responsive and offer more feedback and travel than I was expecting. However, they are a little narrow, which might not suit certain play styles. The scroll wheel has some quite pronounced notching, but it’s still swift enough in action, while the middle click is easy to actuate and provides enough stability to avoid mis-flicks.

I experienced no connectivity issues with the Pulsefire Haste 2 Pro during my time with it, and it switched easily between 2.4GHz and Bluetooth modes. The light, braided USB cable that’s included created only a minimal amount of drag during wired play.

HyperX claims the Pulsefire Haste 2 Pro can last up to 90 hours on a single charge, and based on my testing, I’m inclined to believe this figure. After a few days of testing, it only depleted by several percentage points.

The Pulsefire Haste 2 Pro acquits itself well in the main, thanks to its capable performance and design, although I’m not sure every gamer will like the shape. The multiple connectivity modes are certainly welcome at this price point too, which gives it an advantage over the Razer DeathAdder V3 HyperSpeed, one of its closest competitors. While that mouse has more customization options and slightly better performance, the difference between them isn’t huge, which means the Pulsefire Haste 2 Pro is a solid choice if you’re after a gaming mouse with plenty of prowess.

(Image credit: Future) HyperX Pulsefire Haste 2 Pro review: Price & availability

• $119.99 / £99.98 (about AU$188)
• Available now in one colorway
• Well-priced compared to rivals

The Pulsefire Haste 2 Pro costs $119.99 / £99.98 (about AU$188) and is available now in one colorway: Slate Grey. It comes with a 2.4GHz USB dongle, an extension adapter, a braided USB cable, a spare set of skates, and optional grip tape for the sides and mouse buttons.

It’s a similar price to the Razer DeathAdder V3 HyperSpeed, which is a little lighter than the Pulsefire Haste 2 Pro, and offers many more customization options via Razer’s Synapse software. However, it lacks Bluetooth and its maximum default polling rate is 1K. This can be upgraded to 8K, but an optional dongle needs to be purchased to achieve this.

If you really want to save money on a wireless gaming mouse, the Cooler Master MM311 is a great pick. You will have to sacrifice a rechargeable battery and some other features, but the performance-to-price ratio is strong in this one.

HyperX Pulsefire Haste 2 Pro review: Specs Should I buy the HyperX Pulsefire Haste 2 Pro? Buy it if...

You want good performance
The snappy and satisfying buttons, coupled with the 4K polling rate, make the Pulsefire Haste 2 Pro a strong contender in battle.

You want multiple connectivity options
The Pulsefire Haste 2 Pro can be connected wirelessly via Bluetooth and the 2.4GHz dongle, with easy switching between the two, which makes it ideal for multi-device setups.

Don't buy it if...

You want a traditional shape
The steep front slope of the Pulsefire Haste 2 Pro probably won’t be for everyone, but I found it comfortable.

You want advanced customizations
NGENUITY offers less tweaks than rival peripheral tools, and elite adjustments are missing, LoD heights aside.

HyperX Pulsefire Haste 2 Pro review: Also consider

Razer DeathAdder V3 HyperSpeed
A close rival to the Pulsefire Haste 2 Pro in terms of price, the DeathAdder has a slight edge when it comes to smooth performance. It has the advantage of more in-depth customizations than the Pulsefire Haste 2 Pro, thanks to its compatibility with Razer’s Synapse software. Its default polling rate tops out at 1K, although 8K is possible – but requires the additional HyperPolling dongle to get there.

Cooler Master MM311
It’s been the undisputed champion of the budget gaming mouse division for a while in our eyes, and for good reason: it offers great performance for the super-low price. It will require a AA battery, and its polling rate also tops out at 1K, but if saving money is the name of the game, you can’t do much better. Read our Cooler Master MM311 review.

How I tested the HyperX Pulsefire Haste 2 Pro

• Tested for a few days
• Played FPS titles
• Plentiful gaming experience

I tested the Pulsefire Haste 2 Pro for a few days, during which time I used it for gaming, productivity, and general browsing. I used its Bluetooth, 2.4GHz, and wired modes on Windows 10 and 11 systems.

I played Counter-Strike 2, which is a stern test for mice given it requires quick movements, precise aiming, and rapid clicks. I also played S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl, which is less frantic but makes wider use of a mouse’s functionality.

I have been PC gaming for over 10 years, and during that time I have experienced a great deal of mice. I have also reviewed numerous models ranging in price, features, and shape. I previously reviewed the HyperX Pulsefire Haste 2 Mini as well.

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