TechRadar Reviews

Anker Soundcore AeroClip: review

If you’re the athletic type or maybe just a regular gym goer, the Anker Soundcore AeroClip could be the perfect set of open earbuds for you. These clip-on buds have the basics down: solid sound, a secure and comfortable fit plus nifty companion app functionality. And although they’re not perfect, their more-than-fair price of $129.99 / £129.99 (about AU$210) makes them an option well worth considering.

Generally, my problem with open-ear headphones and open earbuds is that they don’t offer a proper seal and let in a lot of ambient sound. That means you’ll hear all sorts, from squawking gulls to wailing children. As you can imagine, that can make it difficult to indulge in a high-quality listening experience. But after putting my anti-open-ear bias to one side, I discovered that the Anker Soundcore AeroClip pleasantly surprised me in a number of ways – especially in terms of their audio performance.

From the off, I was met with clean, impressively immersive audio and an airy, ear-filling quality brought out the best in Não Tem Nada Não by Marcos Valle. Similarly, when tuning into Remind Me by Patrice Rushen, I was delighted to hear clear, distortion-free vocals, layered with smooth, tonally accurate bass and controlled percussion. Even at higher volumes, vocals didn’t sound muddied in the overall mix and higher pitched percussion didn’t get tinny either. That sort of performance is exactly what I’d expect from a pair of the best open ear headphones.

Sure, there are no fancy audio codecs, like LDAC, for a more detailed sonic experience, but the AeroClip were still pretty well-rounded, considering some similarly priced rivals struggle to even manage clean, balanced sound.

When listening to wyd? by wev, I encountered a couple of sonic shortcomings, though. First up, the track’s deep bass was a little much for the AeroClip to handle at times. I could almost hear the drivers overextending themselves to manage the tune’s low-end, something you’re not going to experience when using a pair of the best earbuds, for instance. Secondly, I felt that the excitable treble was a little understated, meaning the record’s energy was sapped out slightly.

There wasn’t much I could do about that first point, but help was at hand for my treble trouble. I took to the Soundcore app and created my own custom EQ – one which put a bit more emphasis on high-end frequencies, while also bumping bass and slightly lowering mids. That gave the AeroClip a far more colorful, charismatic sound profile than the balanced, yet sometimes slightly unexciting Soundcore Signature tuning.

On top of custom EQ options, you can also pick from a small selection of presets: Bass, Treble, or Volume Booster (all pretty self-explanatory), or Classical (big dips in the mids, large bumps to bass, sub-bass and treble) and Podcast (essentially the opposite of that). With the right tuning, you’re going to get energetic, yet crisp highs, clean mids and relatively rich bass – just don’t expect these to reach into the depths of sub bass with too much skill.

However, one characteristic of the Soundcore AeroClip that will either make or break your listening experience is their open design. As I mentioned earlier, their lack of a proper seal means that a lot of noise from your surroundings will creep through. Now, if you’re someone that loves a good run and you want to keep an ear out for traffic or people around you, that could be ideal.

But personally, I prefer to focus on my tunes and the lack of external noise nixing really did prevent that at times. Chatter in public, wind and even typing in my office were all very much audible – there’s no ANC or anything to counter that either, something the Edifier LolliClip open ears supply. These Soundcore headphones are also prone to leaking sound to those around you, especially above 50% volume.

(Image credit: Future)

There might not be any ANC, but what features do these open ear headphones offer? Well, if you head into the very slick Soundcore app, you can mess around with the aforementioned EQ options, toggle multi-point or customize touch controls. And the touch controls were really responsive in my experience. You can double tap to pause or triple tap to skip – the absence of a single tap option means you’re unlikely to make accidental, unwanted adjustments too.

What’s here works very nicely, but I would have liked to see a more fleshed out feature-set, in honesty – even just the addition of auto-pausing media when you remove the buds from your ears. Another aspect that could be better is battery life. You get a respectable eight hours of playtime per charge, which I found to be accurate during my testing. But with the charging case, you only get a maximum of 24 hours – not that much compared to the 40 hours from the Honor Earbuds Open, for instance.

Before I put an end to my moaning, I want to point out a couple of slight design shortcomings. Firstly, these are only IPX4 waterproof rating, meaning there’s no guarantee on dustproofing and you’re only getting resistance against sweat and water droplets. A lot of rivals outdo the AeroClip here – the splendid Huawei FreeArc, for example, are IP57 rated, meaning they can survive submersion under a meter of water for 30 minutes.

Secondly, I’d argue that these aren’t the prettiest buds around. I quite like the look of the batteries and buds, but the clips do appear slightly cheap-looking. On the other hand, these are still highly comfortable and secure on-ear, so you’ll never have to worry about them flinging off mid-workout.

Having said all this, I want to end on a real positive note: mic quality. These open ears claim to deliver AI-enabled clear calls. And I found them to be plenty clear – though I’m not so sure how much of that is thanks to AI. During a phone call, I was told that my voice sounded “crisp”, even at lower volumes – something that I also felt when listening back to a voice recording.

So all in all, are the Soundcore AeroClip worth a $129.99 / £129.99 outlay? I’m not 100% sure. If you’re only after an open design, I’d say yes – you get great sound for this headphone type, as well as impressive calling capabilities. But if you want noise cancelling and a more premium design, I’d suggest pursuing a pair of the best wireless earbuds instead, for awesome audio and ANC.

Edifier LolliClip review: specs

(Image credit: Future) Anker Soundcore AeroClip review: price and availability

• $129.99 / £129.99 (about AU$210)
• Launched in March 2025

The Anker Soundcore AeroClip released in March 2025, marking the manufacturer’s latest foray into the world of open ear headphones. They launched with a list price of $129.99 / £129.99 (about AU$210) and are available in three colorways: Midnight (black); Rosy Brown (pink and brown) ; and the variant I tested, Champagne Mist (white and gold).

These are very similar in price to the Nothing Ear (open), which launched at the tail-end of 2024. And they’ll set you back far less than a premium option like the wonderful Bose Ultra Open Earbuds, which carry a sizeable list price of $299 / £299 / AU$449.95…woah!

(Image credit: Future) Should you buy the Anker Soundcore AeroClip? Buy them if...

You want open ears that still sound up-to-scratch
The AeroClip sound surprisingly crisp, offering rich bass, clean mids and controlled treble. You can even use the Soundcore app’s preset and custom EQ options to get the right tuning for you. It’s still worth noting, though, that the open design of these means that they may not produce audio as faithfully as a pair of the best wireless earbuds, such as the Technics EAH-AZ100.

You want earbuds suitable for a workout
OK, the waterproofing could be better – more on that below – but still, these earbuds are awesome for workouts. They have a highly comfortable, secure fit, and IPX4 rating, enabling them to discard excess sweat and water droplets. You’ll also be able to hear ambient sounds if you’re in a traffic-heavy area, for instance.

Don't buy them if...

You’re looking for noise cancelling earbuds
Like a lot of open-ear models, the Soundcore AeroClip skip on active noise cancellation. If that’s something you’re looking for in an open design, check out the Edifier LolliClip below. But if you’re instead looking for top-tier external noise reduction, you can instead assess the options in our best noise cancelling earbuds guide.

You want ultimate protection against the elements
These open ear headphones are only IPX4 waterproof rated, meaning they aren’t dustproof and only resist sweat and water. If you want something a bit more hardy, I’d recommend the IP57-rated Huawei FreeArc below.

Anker Soundcore AeroClip review: also consider

Edifier LolliClip
There’s a lot of similarities between Edifier’s LolliClip open-ear headphones and the Soundcore AeroClip. Both go for that jewellery-esque aesthetic, offer high comfort and crucially, supply impressive sound considering their build. The big differentiator is that this Edifier model incorporates adaptive ANC, which is decently effective. You’ll also get better waterproofing and battery life here, but the companion app is less user friendly. Read our full Edifier LolliClip review.

Huawei FreeArc
The Huawei FreeArc serve up surprisingly strong sound quality, fantastic protection against the elements and high comfort levels. They’re available for less than £100 (about $130 / AU$200) and at that price, they’re an absolute steal. There’s no ANC and battery life could be better. But still, these are an excellent value pick. Read our full Huawei FreeArc review.

Anker Soundcore AeroClip review: How I tested

(Image credit: Future)

• Tested for one week
• Used in the office and while out and about
• Predominantly tested using Tidal

I put the Anker Soundcore AeroClip to the test over a one week period. I predominantly listened in the office, but also made use of them at home and when out and about. I tinkered with each and every feature, engaged in both casual and critical listening and compared them with the Edifier LolliClip for on-ear comfort.

When listening to music, I tapped into Tidal on my Samsung Galaxy S24 FE. And as per usual, I flicked through the whole TechRadar testing playlist, which includes tracks from a wide range of genres and is optimized for judging sound quality across the frequencies. In addition, I played a bunch of tunes from my personal library.

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

VRURC 20000mAh 20W Power Bank: review

The VRURC 20000mAh 20W Power Bank is a basic power bank with a high capacity and versatile port selection, catering to various charging needs on the go.

It adopts a functional aesthetic, but looks smart enough. The large, shiny screen adds some interest, as does the linear texture of its bottom half, which also provides some useful traction when holding it in the hand.

The VRURC 20000mAh 20W Power Bank is quite thick and long, although considering its large capacity, this is to be expected; it still isn’t much bigger than many of the best power banks with the same battery size. It’s reasonably heavy, though, so combined with its dimensions, this isn’t a battery you can easily pocket.

It feels quite solid overall, although the screen doesn’t feel the most durable or premium; and despite its large area, the actual display itself is quite small and sparse, severely underutilizing its allotted space: only the battery percentage is displayed, with no other interface features beyond this, apart from a small green symbol to signify charging, which is helpful.

The VRURC 20000mAh 20W Power Bank has four ports, divided into two USB-A outputs, one USB-C combined input and output, and one micro USB input. Three-way simultaneous charging is also possible. Given that the USB-C port outputs the most power (20W compared to 18W for each USB-A port), it’s a shame that the VRURC 20000mAh 20W Power Bank only comes with a USB-A-to-C cable, rather than C-to-C.

It took just over 90 minutes for the VRURC 20000mAh 20W Power Bank to charge the 4,385mAh battery in my Google Pixel 7a completely via the USB-C port, which is a decent performance. The bank lost about a quarter of its battery life in the process, which should mean you’ll get about 3-4 charges from it, which again is commendable.

The VRURC 20000mAh 20W Power Bank has a claimed charging time of eight hours from empty to full, thanks to the 18W input capability. Based on my tests, this figure appears to hold true.

The VRURC 20000mAh 20W Power Bank represents good value considering its relatively low price compared to other power banks of this size. However, there are some that perhaps represent better value, such as the JUOVI J2621, which is only slightly more expensive, and despite having the same capacity, it has over double the power.

It also features two USB-C ports, but on the downside, it’s bulkier than the VRURC 20000mAh 20W Power Bank. But considering neither is practical for pocket carry, this is somewhat of a moot point, and ultimately means that the JUOVI may be a better alternative in this case.

(Image credit: Future) VRURC 20000mAh 20W Power Bank review: price & specs

(Image credit: Future) Should I buy the VRURC 20000mAh 20W Power Bank? Buy it if…

You want plenty of capacity
It has enough juice for several phone charges, thanks to that 20,000mAh rating.

You need multiple ports
The two USB-A ports and one USB-C ports are certainly welcome, and there's even a micro USB port too, although this is input only.

Don't buy it if…

You want the best portability
The VRURC 20000mAh 20W Power Bank is still quite bulky, although many batteries this size are. Still, you can't exactly carry it in your pocket.

You need multiple USB-C ports
It's a shame there's only one USB-C port on the VRURC 20000mAh 20W Power Bank, given this standard is beginning to take over.

VRURC 20000mAh 20W Power Bank review: Also consider

JUOVI J2621 20000mAh 45W Power Bank
For not much more than the VRURC 20000mAh 20W Power Bank, you could have the JUOVI J2621 instead. This has the same 20,000mAh capacity, but much more power (45W). It also has two USB-C ports rather than one, in addition to two USB-A ports. It’s bulkier than the VRURC 20000mAh 20W Power Bank, though, but neither bank is suitable for pocketing, and are better placed in a bag instead. Read our JUOVI J2621 20000mAh 45W Power Bank review.

UGreen Nexode RG 65W review

If the joy of getting back up to 100% charge isn’t enough for you, then you simply have to check out the UGreen Nexode RG 65W. This cheerful charging robot will get your laptop, phone or tablet back to fighting fit with a smile, thanks to its LED display and accompanying emoticons.

And this charger will get not one, not two, but three devices back to 100% in no time. That’s because it has three ports: two USB-C and one USB-A. You can get up to 65W in single-port mode, 45W and up to 20W (using USB-C Port 2) in duo mode and 45W plus 7.5W in the remaining slots when tri-port charging.

In terms of actual performance, this model does very nicely too. I tried charging my Samsung Galaxy S24 FE alongside the Soundcore Space One Pro and Bose SoundLink Flex Gen 2 speaker. Despite using all three ports, the UGreen Nexode RG 65W ensured my phone – which has a 4,700mAh battery – hit full charge from 0% in just under 80 minutes. That’s the sort of speeds you’d expect to see from some of the best Android phone chargers and best iPhone chargers. Smart temperature monitoring also ensured that this lil’ robot never got too hot either.

This model will display one of three emojis depending on charging status. Closed eyes on standby, smiling when fast charging and a blank expression when trickle charging or achieving a full charge. These are all pretty fun, but not quite as emotive as the faces you get on the UGreen Uno 100W. That said, this more chibi 65W model still has a load more character than most charging plugs.

The charger’s general build quality is strong. It’s pretty weighty, though thanks to GaN technology, you still get a highly compact model. The prongs aren’t foldable – something I typically like from a wall charger – but there are some feet that you can slot the charger into when it's out of use. That’s not only a neat design quirk, but a practical addition if you want to slide the charger into your pocket without getting poked by its prongs.

Given its solid power output and charming display, I’d argue that this model is very well priced too. It has a list price of $49.99 / £34.99 (about AU$80) but can regularly be found on sale for less than $40 / £30. Given the Belkin BoostCharge 3-Port USB-C Wall Charger with PPS 67W is typically $44.99 / £39.99 / AU$89.95 and has no display, that’s an excellent price.

It’s worth noting that the price may vary depending on which color option you get, though. I tested the standard Black variant, but if you want to spice things up, you can grab this model in either Cyan or Purple – the latter is adorned in a small purple bow.

All in all, this is another great, charismatic charger from UGreen that I can recommend to anyone. It may not include a USB-C cable in the box and the emojis aren’t as captivating as the 100W model’s, but the triple port configuration, power output and LED display make it well worth its already modest list price.

(Image credit: Future) UGreen Nexode RG 65W review: Price & specs

(Image credit: Future) Should I buy the UGreen Nexode RG 65W? Buy it if…

You want a charger with character
The standout attraction of the UGreen Nexode RG 65W is its quirky LED display. There are three different emojis that can pop up, depending on charging status. Although they’re not as detailed as the ones from this model’s 100W sibling, there’s still a lot more character here than you’ll find from the vast majority of other chargers.

You need to charge multiple devices at once
Thankfully, this charger has three separate ports – two USB-C and one USB-A – meaning you can charge a bunch of devices simultaneously. And there’s plenty enough power to go around if you want to charge, say, your phone alongside a pair of the best wireless earbuds and best headphones.

Don't buy it if…

You want a top-tier laptop charger
If you have one of the best MacBooks or best Chromebooks, the 65W power output might not be enough for peak charging performance, especially if you’re juicing up other devices simultaneously. If you want a bit of extra power, I highly recommend the Anker Charger 140W, 4 Port, PD 3.1, which includes a USB-C cable and a display too.

You need a USB-C cable
This model doesn’t come with a USB-C cable included, so if you’re still stuck with your old USB-A alternative, you’ll have to purchase one separately. I would argue that’s worth it, but if you want a cheap all-in-one package, the Anker 335 Charger 67W is a very solid pick – more on this below.

UGreen Nexode RG 65W review: also consider

Anker 335 Charger 67W
In terms of pure value, the Anker 335 Charger 67W is an awesome charging option. For less than $40 / £40, you’re getting 67W of power, three charging ports, foldable prongs and a USB-C cable – not bad at all! Sure, this isn’t the most compact charger out there and it lacks a display, but if you want a cheaper, yet effective option, this is worth considering. Read our full Anker 335 Charger 67W review.

Panda Security is a Spanish-based company with a strong record of antivirus innovations. From launching daily signature updates in 1998 to introducing behavioral monitoring in 2004 and cloud scanning in 2007, Panda has been involved with a host of technologies we might now take for granted.

The company has several plans for its home users - Panda Dome Essential, Panda Dome Advanced, Panda Dome Complete, and Panda Dome Premium - all building upon each other in terms of features, and each offering a firewall, WiFi protection, online shopping security, a Dark Web Scanner, and at least some VPN.

Higher tiers offer even more tools, including parental control, anti-ransomware, PC optimization, password manager, file encryption and shredding, update manager, and so on. And the best part? All tiers have a 30-day free trial.

(Image credit: Panda Security) Panda Dome Essential

At a reasonable price starting at $34.99 (renewing at $49.99) for a one-year, one-device license, the Essential package goes well beyond the basics of real-time antivirus and URL protection and covers up to 10 Windows, Mac, and Android devices (the price increasing depending on this number).

To complement its real-time antivirus protection with link filtering, Panda Dome Essential adds a simple firewall to block network attacks and even free VPN access. Okay, with no choice of location and 150MB of free data per day, you won't be using it for streaming movies or heavy torrenting, but it's fine for emailing on public Wi-Fi hotspots when you're out and about.

(Image credit: Panda Security) Setup

Panda Dome Essential is downloaded and launched within a few seconds. Once the setup was complete, Dome Essential asked us to register the program by providing our email address. Some may prefer an antivirus program that allows you to stay anonymous, but many competitors do much the same as Panda. And at least we didn’t have to hand out any payment details.

The installation procedure itself was relatively speedy, with no complaints about ‘incompatible’ software or other hassles. In terms of being one of the most antivirus apps around, this seems to be quite true in Panda’s case, as its four core background processes only consumed a minimal 20-50 MB RAM during normal PC use.

(Image credit: Panda Security) Features

To launch a scan, you can simply click the Scan button on the top-left, choose the scan type (Critical Areas, Full, or Custom Scan) and wait for the results. Scans can run concurrently with no impact on the speed of either one of them or the system.

Although the regular scan buttons give you almost no control over how your system is checked, the Scheduled Scan feature is a little smarter. You can select which drives and folders to scan, exclude particular locations, and customize how the scan works in a few ways.

Scan times are average, at least initially. So, for instance, even the fastest Critical Areas scan took four minutes to check our test system. But effective optimization sees this drop over time, and our second scan took barely two minutes. A full scan took a little under 40 minutes the first time, and only 26 minutes the second.

Dome Essential’s firewall does its best to keep life simple, with a basic opening screen that just asks you to choose your current Wi-Fi location between Home, Work, and Public Place - enough for a basic user.

That said, if you know what you’re doing, heading off to Settings > Firewall enables defining its operating rules, and provides expert-level intrusion prevention settings relating to port scans, ping handling, flooding, and more.

(Image credit: Panda Security)

A handy Process Monitor displays all the running processes, highlighting any that are accessing the internet and warning you of potential threats. That’s all very straightforward for beginners, but again, real power is only one or two clicks away.

The full Process Monitor report lists the name of every process, when it was detected and last scanned, where it was downloaded from, how many HTTP connections it has established, and lets you view whatever resources it was trying to access.

(Image credit: Panda Security)

A welcome option is to create a bootable USB rescue drive to help remove malware that the regular package can’t reach. Other nice features include a software whitelisting system to control what runs on your PC, and a virtual keyboard to protect against keyloggers.

There’s also a monitor that raises alerts if you connect to unsecured Wi-Fi networks, and an option to ‘vaccinate’ USB keys to reduce the chance of infection by autorun viruses.

(Image credit: Panda Security)

Another great addition is the Dark Web scanner that constantly monitors the dark corners of the internet and notifies you by email if your credentials appear in a new security breach, so you don’t have to worry about periodically performing these checks yourself.

Protection

Panda Dome has earned an AAA award from SE Labs for the period between October and December 2024, as it has shown a Total Accuracy Rating of 99% and not a single false positive - better than Microsoft Defender and Webroot, but not quite at the level of Avast, Kaspersky, or McAfee, all of which had the perfect 100% score.

(Image credit: SE Labs)

At the same time, AV-Test’s Product Review and Certification Report for September - October 2024 has given Panda a 6/6 score for protection, 5.5/6 for performance, as it performed just a tad poorer than the industry average in some segments, and 6/6 for usability.

On the other hand, Panda Free Antivirus had a bit more false flags than recommended in AV-Comparatives’ False Alarm Test for September 2024, with 28 misidentified cases, with only Norton delivering more, and all the other tested platforms having significantly fewer.

(Image credit: AV-Comparatives)

It also had a rather poor offline detection rate of 36.6% in AV-Comparatives’ Malware Protection Test for September 2024 and a somewhat better online detection rate of 77.6%, albeit its online protection score was a strong 99.25%.

Final verdict Essential

Panda Dome Essential is a likable product that is easy to use and includes some genuinely valuable extras, especially for experts, but it still can't quite match the virus-detecting power and accuracy of the market leaders.

(Image credit: Panda Security) Panda Dome Advanced

If Dome Essential isn’t powerful enough for you, opting for the $41.99 (renews at $59.99) Dome Advanced for a one-year one-device plan gets you everything from the lower tier, plus parental controls and additional layers of protection - against ransomware.

(Image credit: Panda Security) Antivirus

Like Essential, Panda Dome Advanced has several scanning options. A Critical Area scan checks the most commonly infected areas of a PC; the Custom scan only inspects the files or folders you specify; and the Full System scan, of course, checks everything.

If that's not enough, you can also set multiple scheduled scans. These start with a Critical Areas, Full System, or Custom scan, but you can also exclude particular folders or file types (handy for speeding up scans.)

Scan times were reasonable during testing. Panda Dome Advanced checked our 50GB of test executables in 39 minutes for the first scan, within the 15–50-minute range we typically see. There's some optimization for subsequent scans, and Panda took 24 minutes for scan #2.

(Image credit: Panda Security) Ransomware

Panda Dome’s anti-ransomware relies on behavior-based detection, file access control, and whitelisting, as well as generates backup copies to recover files in the event of infection.

Among its tools is a data shield that configures the control and whitelists, decoy files used as bait, and shadow copies of files and folders to restore their previous versions in case of data loss, file corruption, or any other issue.

(Image credit: Panda Security) Parental control

Panda Dome Advanced includes Parental Control, but this has barely any features you'd expect from a specialized parental controls application. You can't control app use, there's no way to limit screen time or restrict internet access, and no clever geofencing support. The only option is content filtering.

The platform does at least give you lots of categories. Instead of a single catch-all Adult category, for instance, you can individually block or allow subcategories like 'Lingerie and Swimsuit', 'Nudity', 'Sex,' and 'Sex Education.' Although this works, it's nonetheless extremely basic.

Final verdict Advanced

Panda Dome Advanced has a decent core antivirus engine, detecting and removing malware with ease. And although other big names in the industry might outperform its capabilities, it’s still a solid solution with plenty of basic and advanced features.

(Image credit: Panda Security) Panda Dome Complete

The next step up, Dome Complete, adds system clean-up tools, and a password manager for $53.99 for a one-year one-device license, renewing at $89.99 for each subsequent year of service.

(Image credit: Panda Security) Cleanup: PC Optimization

With PC Cleanup, you can free up space on your PC by removing various files (including trash, temporaries, registry, cookies, browsing history, and the like), you can select which programs you want to run at startup, schedule a cleanup task with specific parameters, or defragment your hard disk.

(Image credit: Panda Security) Password manager

Panda’s password manager does pretty much what any other such product does - managing all of your passwords under a single master key, auto-filling forms, generating strong passwords, and syncing them across all your devices.

It also supports the creation of ‘secure notes’ - encrypted virtual Post-It notes only you can access using your master generic-addon, as well as deleting your browsing history and closing your web pages and services remotely.

(Image credit: Panda Security) File encryptor

This tool allows you to encrypt any file with a password or an automatically generated key through the right-click menu, transforming data into a sequence of unreadable characters that no one can decipher without the corresponding encryption key.

(Image credit: Panda Security) File shredder

Finally, this feature facilitates an irreversible and secure shredding process of your confidential or sensitive information to prevent it from falling into the wrong hands. It does this by overwriting a file’s contents with random data or zeroes to hide the original content and make it extremely difficult or impossible to recover.

Final verdict Complete

Panda Dome Complete provides a few useful extras anyone might appreciate, including a file encryptor and shredder, a password manager, and PC optimization tools. However, if you don’t need these, then Panda Dome Essential or Advanced might be a better choice.

(Image credit: Panda Security) Panda Dome Premium

Finally, the top-of-the-range Panda Dome Premium gets you unrestricted VPN access to all available server locations, an update manager, and unlimited premium technical support - all that at $56 per year for one-device coverage initially, renewing at $139.99.

(Image credit: Panda Security) Premium VPN

Panda Dome Premium also removes any limitations to its VPN use from the lower-level packages and equips the user with unrestricted VPN for secure browsing, connectable to any location where it has servers, including 60+ countries, for up to 5 devices.

Testing the VPN connection to the recommended server hailed solid download and upload speeds, not much slower than our basic connection, and connecting took only a couple of seconds. Connecting to more distant locations (like Thailand) than our own (in Europe) was only slightly lagging.

(Image credit: Panda Security) Update Manager

Panda Dome Premium’s Update Manager helps keep your computer up to date to prevent any security breaches. It lets you perform a critical or in-depth scan for any available updates to the operating system or apps installed on your device or even schedule these scans.

For each program detected and included in the list, the product provides the possibility of applying the patch separately or ignoring it. It also includes an option to update all programs at the same time.

Final verdict Premium

Panda Dome Premium is a perfectly rounded antivirus suite that is well worth the price when taking into account the free trial and significant discounts for the first year of its use, particularly if you plan on relying on the VPN, Update Manager, and Dark Web Scanner. However, renewing might be a bit costly if you intend to continue.

• We've also highlighted the best antivirus software in this roundup

Samsung Galaxy Watch FE: Two minute review

First unveiled in mid-2024, the Samsung Galaxy Watch FE is Samsung's answer to the Apple Watch SE. At least in theory. It's designed to be a cheap, entry-level smartwatch that offers many of the features you'd expect from a wearable without the loftier prices of the best smartwatches on the market.

For Apple, it's a strategy that works well. The Apple Watch Ultra 2 and Apple Watch Series 10 stand out against the very cheap Apple Watch SE 2. You get some basic features and a much friendlier price tag.

Yet, Samsung's attempt to emulate this strategy has left me confused and bewildered, and after a few days with the Samsung Galaxy Watch FE, I'm afraid I simply can't make head or tail of this watch or the purpose that it serves.

I could tell you about the Samsung Galaxy Watch FE's figures and performance statistics. I could tell you that during workout tracking, it performs generally well against my Apple Watch Ultra 2, tracking heart rate, distance, and GPS admirably. I could also tell you that it needs to be charged out of the box for around 90 minutes before you can use it and that even with the always-on display turned off, battery life will offer just 22 hours on a single charge.

(Image credit: Future)

I could tell you that Wear OS, while amply equipped with plenty of health tracking and smartphone connectivity features, performs very poorly, thanks to a rather underpowered chip borrowed from the Samsung Galaxy Watch 4.

I could also tell you that the strap is fairly comfortable, but that the 40mm size, very large bezel, and small display make for a quite disappointing viewing experience.

Really though, the only thing I'm actually going to tell you is that you should buy a Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 instead.

The Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 is only one year older than the FE. Despite this, it sports a more powerful CPU – clocked to 1.4GHz, not 1.18GHz – and more memory that will give you snappier performance, faster app loading, and more longevity from software updates.

While the FE is available as a 40mm model only, the Watch 6 can be found in two different sizes, including a larger 44mm configuration. The display on the Galaxy Watch 6 is larger and brighter, measuring 1.3 inches on the 40mm as opposed to 1.2 inches on the FE.

The Galaxy Watch FE also features the same internal storage and comes with more sensors. Finally, the battery capacity of the Galaxy Watch 6 is considerably larger.

This all makes sense on Samsung's website, where the Galaxy Watch 6 is considerably more expensive than the FE. However, out in the real world, you'll routinely find the Galaxy Watch 6 discounted to the same price or less than the enigma that is the Galaxy Watch FE.

If I may be so bold, I've even seen the Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 discounted to less than the list price of the Galaxy Watch FE in both the UK and the US. Even at its own discounted prices, I've generally seen the FE similarly priced to the Galaxy Watch 6 on numerous occasions.

There's one scenario in which the FE makes more sense, and at the time of writing, I recently saw it half price. If you can get one for literally $100/£100, it's more enticing. However, that puts you squarely in really cheap smartwatch territory, and for that price, I'd recommend the absolutely stunning Amazfit Active 2, which handsomely beats the Galaxy Watch FE in terms of style, performance, features, and battery life. That's why we crowned it one of the best cheap smartwatches money can buy.

As such, while there's more I could say about the Galaxy Watch FE's performance, it's a smartwatch that I find myself unable to recommend to anyone.

At its usual price, it's simply no match for a discounted Galaxy Watch 6 or Galaxy Watch 7. Even with the heftiest discount, it's no match for the more stylish and performant Amazfit Active 2.

If the Galaxy Watch 8 arrives later this year, I'll return to this review and replace all the 6's to 7's to reflect that the Galaxy Watch 7 is now a better proposition than the FE.

Sorry, Samsung, but this one is a swing and a miss.

Samsung Galaxy Watch FE: Specifications Samsung Galaxy Watch FE: Price and Availability

(Image credit: Future)

• $199 / £199 / AU$399
• LTE Version $249 (US only)
• Barely cheaper than the much better Galaxy Watch 6

Available now, you can buy the Samsung Galaxy Watch FE at a host of different retailers around the world. Prices start at $199/£199/AU$399, the only exception being the $249 LTE version that gets you cellular connectivity and is only available in the US.

Strangely, the only place you won't find it is Samsung's UK website, which lists the device as no longer available. However, UK fans can get their fix at the likes of Currys, Argos, and, of course, Amazon.

Price-wise, the FE is an extremely strange proposition. Despite being essentially a repackaged Galaxy Watch 4, the FE retails for more than you can buy a distinctly more impressive Galaxy Watch 6. For all the aforementioned reasons, you should probably buy that instead.

The FE is also priced squarely alongside the Apple Watch SE and is vastly more expensive than many of the best cheap smartwatches, notably the Amazfit Active 2 and Nothing's CMF Watch Pro range.

• Value score: 1/5

Samsung Galaxy Watch FE: Scorecard Samsung Galaxy Watch FE: Should I buy?

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

It's less than $100 / £100

This is the only price at which this smartwatch makes sense, and even then, I'd consider alternatives.

Don't buy it if...

You want value for money

The FE is generally the same price or more expensive than the much better Galaxy Watch 6

You want a good budget smartwatch

If you're really on a budget, consider the Amazfit Active 2 or a CMF Watch Pro from Nothing.

Samsung Galaxy Watch FE: How we tested

I used the Samsung Galaxy Watch FE as my main smartwatch for fitness tracking, sleep tracking, and more. I fully drained the battery to test battery life and tracked multiple workouts against my Apple Watch Ultra 2 to compare accuracy.

Samsung Galaxy Watch FE: Also consider

One of our very favorite cheap smartwatches, the Amazfit Active 2, is cheaper and has better battery life than the Galaxy Watch FE.

Read our full Amazfit Active 2 Review

The CMF Watch Pro 2 is a classy circular smartwatch that's very cheap, has great battery life, and performs more consistently than the FE

Read our full CMF Watch Pro 2 Review

The Galaxy Watch 6 is often the same price as the FE, if not cheaper. It comes in more sizes, is faster, and has more features.

Read our full Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 review

First reviewed: April 2025

Ninja Swirl by Creami: one-minute review

If you've been wanting to make your ice cream at home but you've been holding out for soft serve, you'll be thrilled with the Ninja Swirl by Creami. You can make real soft serve ice cream or healthier soft serve treats tailored to your own personal tastes and dietary considerations. You're not limited to soft serve; you can also make all of the frozen treats you can make in other Ninja Creami models or other ice cream makers. There are 13 different settings for all manner of frozen delights. The Ninja Swirl by Creami even has a special setting specifically for high protein, low fat, low sugar creations called CreamiFit.

There's definitely a learning curve when you unbox the Ninja Swirl by Creami. Once you have made a few pints, muscle memory kicks in and it's actually quite easy. You do have to freeze your pints for 24 hours before processing them, so you'll want to have some pints made, frozen, and ready to go for when ice cream cravings hit. The Ninja Swirl by Creami comes with two pint containers, so you can always have at least one pint deep frozen and ready to process.

All of the Ninja Creami machines are essentially drills that turn your solid frozen pints into a beautiful ice cream texture. With the Ninja Swirl, you start by making regular ice cream first. You can eat that as is, or you can add mix-ins, or you can proceed to the soft serve mechanism. In a few minutes, you'll have lovely soft serve just like you get at your local ice cream or frozen yogurt shop.

Real soft serve ice cream (Image credit: Karen Freeman / Future) Ninja Swirl by Creami: price and availability

• List price $349.99 / £272.90 / AU$572.77
• Comes with two model-specific pint containers
• Nearly double the price of the original Ninja Creami

The Ninja Swirl by Creami retails $349.99 / £272.90 / AU$572.77. You can buy it directly from Ninja, or from the usual third-party retailers such as Amazon, where it currently sells for a slight discount.

The Ninja Swirl is substantially more expensive than the other Creami models. The Ninja Creami Deluxe retails for $249.99 while the original Ninja Creami retails for $199.99. The older models can also be had for a significant discount at third-party retailers.

Note that the pint containers that you use with the Ninja Swirl are different from the ones that come with the other models and are not compatible at all. If you like to have extra pint containers on hand, they will run you $34.99 for a two-pack or $64.99 for a four-pack.

• Value score: 3.5/5

Ninja Swirl by Creami: design

• Large in every dimension
• Designed for ideal ice cream texture
• Loud and delicate

The footprint of the machine is fairly large at 15.16 x 10.04 inches. Additionally, the 17.52 inch height means that you'll need to measure to make sure the machine will fit under your cabinets. The Ninja Swirl actually doesn't fit under mine, so I had to place the machine near my sink, the one spot in my kitchen where there are no upper cabinets. Plus, you'll need some elbow room to the right of the machine, in order to operate the soft serve dispensing handle.

There are 13 different programs on the Ninja Swirl. When you put your frozen pint into the machine to process it, you'll first select Scoop or Soft Serve, because certain programs are only compatible with one or the other. If you're making Scoop ice cream, you can use the Ice Cream, Light Ice Cream, Sorbet, Gelato, Frozen Yogurt, Milkshake, or CreamiFit buttons. If you're making Soft Serve, you can select Ice Cream, Lite Ice Cream, Fruit Whip, Frozen Custard, Frozen Yogurts, or CreamiFit buttons. The different settings run the blade at different speeds for varying amounts of time. If you're using the Ninja recipes, you'll be told which setting to use. If you're not sure, the recipe book includes a description of each setting so you can make the best choice.

After the initial spin, which is generally 4-6 minutes, you can eat it as is or you can select Re-spin or Mix-In. You'd choose to re-spin if the texture is too crumbly or snowy. If you're not doing soft serve, you can add a mix-in such as candy, cookies, or fruit for a chunky ice cream treat.

Note that the machine is quite loud; it triggered the "Loud Environment" warning on my Apple Watch. It got up to 96 decibels in my testing. The Creami, after all, is drilling through a solid block of deep-frozen ingredients. You don't actually have to stand over the machine while it spins, however. You can step out of the room while it does its thing to avoid the noise.

Mango and juice cups turned into fruit whip (Image credit: Karen Freeman / Future)

The Ninja Swirl by Creami is not a blender, it's a drill. Be sure to follow the instructions in the included booklet or on Ninja's website. For example, the surface of your frozen ingredients must be flat. An uneven surface can result in blade damage. Don't process a solid block of (water) ice or ice cubes. Don't try to make a smoothie or process hard, loose ingredients. Because of the nature of drilling through a solid frozen mass, if you do incur damage, it may ruin the machine entirely.

That said, this machine is designed to make legit ice cream. The taste of your creations depends entirely on what you put in it, but the texture and looks are pretty amazing every time. Once you have your pint frozen, and a little practice under your belt, the processing is pretty quick and easy.

• Design score: 4 / 5

Ninja Swirl by Creami: performance

I started with some very simple ideas from Ninja's recipe booklet. For the bright orange fruit whip above, I just tossed two mango fruit cups with the juice included into the pint container and froze it. I processed it on the Fruit Whip setting and then through the Soft Serve mechanism. It was a super simple, healthy, and incredibly delicious treat. I did the same thing with pear fruit cups; you can do it with any fruit cups or canned fruit you like.

I made over two dozen recipes. I started with recipes from Ninja's booklet but soon found other recipes online and then created my own recipes. For me, the main reason to buy a machine like this is to make healthier treats, so that was my focus. My son wanted real ice cream, you can see him making the standard vanilla soft serve from the booklet in the image near the top of the article.

Simply strawberry yogurt (Image credit: Karen Freeman / Future)

Another super easy "recipe" is simply freezing your favorite yogurt. Just transfer it from the cup in comes in to your Ninja Swirl pint, flatten the top, and freeze. The image above is just strawberry frozen yogurt with nothing added. I scooped it out rather than putting it through the soft serve mechanism and then added some toppings, which you can see below. I ate that for breakfast!

Ice cream for breakfast? Why not, when it's just yogurt, frozen. (Image credit: Karen Freeman / Future)

I experimented with various protein "ice creams" using ready-made protein drinks and protein powders mixed with milk. There are many ideas in the recipe book and countless more online. While the Ninja Swirl does a fabulous job giving these frozen protein concoctions an authentic ice cream consistency, they tend to taste like, well, frozen protein drinks. I had the best luck mixing protein powders with yogurt, pudding mixes, and other more flavorful ingredients. Below you can see one of my healthier concoctions (if you don't count the chocolate on top.)

Yogurt, protein powder, almond milk, pudding mix, and vanilla extract high protein "ice cream" with melted chocolate on top (Image credit: Karen Freeman / Future)

After you run the initial cycle, the results are often crumbly or snowy. This is easily remedied by running a Re-spin cycle. You may need to re-spin it more than once, or add a bit more milk or other liquid before re-spinning. If you're not going to make soft serve, you can add mix-ins at this step for a chunkier treat. If there isn't a hole in the ice cream already, you'll want to create a hole with your spoon for your mix-ins in order to ensure they make it all the way to the bottom of your pint.

(Image credit: Karen Freeman / Future)

Particularly after making soft serve, you're going to have a lot of dishes to wash. Every part of the Ninja Swirl is dishwasher safe, but I found myself washing the parts by hand anyway since I wanted to make more ice cream right away. After all, the pint must be frozen for 24 hours before processing.

The image below also shows that there is some product stuck in the various parts that doesn't make it into your cone or cup. Of course, you can have at it with a spoon, but I wouldn't bother. The sides and bottom tend to be quite icy.

(Image credit: Karen Freeman / Future)

This leads me to a tip for avoiding icy chunks in your ice cream. The sides and bottom of the pint do get icy, it seems no matter which recipe you use. After the initial spin, scrape down the sides and bottom of the pint before running the Re-spin cycle.

What if you don't finish the pint in one go? Certain recipes will leave you with an ice cream that is scoopable even after re-freezing but this is rare. After you eat your portion, use a spoon or spatula to pat down the surface of your leftovers in the Ninja pint container. Once fully re-frozen, you can just process it again on the same cycle you used before. Just as before, you'll need to process the ice cream before putting through the soft serve mechanism.

Remember that the Ninja Swirl is not a blender. If your ingredients include chunks, you'll want to blend your mixtures before freezing to ensure uniformity. For example, if you're making cottage cheese ice cream, you'd probably want to blend that first. If you want to upgrade your current blender, check out our list of the best blenders.

You can check out some of my creations by clicking through the gallery below.

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• Performance score: 4.5 / 5

Should you buy the Ninja Swirl by Creami Buy it if

You love ice cream, particularly soft serve, and eat a lot of it

It's worth the expense and counter space if you really love ice cream and eat it frequently. The soft serve mechanism is about half the machine's footprint, so this is the machine for soft serve fanatics.

You have specific dietary needs

It's easy to find good ice cream at the grocery store. But if you have allergies, you're vegan, or your have other dietary needs and preferences, being able to customize your frozen treats to your exact specifications is priceless.

Don't buy it if

Budget is a big concern

There are plenty of ice cream machines that cost quite a bit less, even in Ninja's own Creami lineup.

You have limited counter space

This is a pretty big machine in both footprint and height. Plus you need a bit of elbow room on the right to operate the soft serve mechanism. Be sure to measure your space before buying.

Ninja Swirl by Creami: also consider

Ninja Creami Deluxe

Don't really need the soft serve feature? Save about $100 with the Ninja Creami Deluxe, which has nearly all of the features of the Ninja Swirl minus the soft serve. It also has 50% larger pint containers. Save even more with the original Ninja Creami, which has fewer cycle options but still the same basic functionality.

Cuisinart Soft Serve Ice Cream Maker

If you've got to have that soft serve but you don't want to spend the money on the Ninja Swirl by Creami, take a look at the Cuisinart Soft Serve Ice Cream Maker. Read our full review to learn all about it.

How I tested the Ninja Swirl by Creami

I ate a lot of ice cream in the name of science. I used the Ninja Swirl by Creami for several weeks and made dozens of ice cream treats. I made a handful of recipes from Ninja's recipe booklet as well as recipes I found online and others I made up myself. I used various cycles including Ice Cream, Fruit Whip, Frozen Yogurt, CreamiFit, Re-spin, Mix-in, and of course the Soft Serve cycle.

For more details. see how we test, review, and rate products at TechRadar.

First reviewed April 2025

This review first appeared in issue 348 of PC Pro.

Scan opts for the Intel route with its lower-priced system, as the 3XS GWP-ME A132C packs the best Intel CPU available in this class. Where other manufacturers chose the Core i9-13900K, Scan steps things up with the i9-13900KS. This incorporates eight P-cores with Hyper-Threading and 16 E-cores without, but the P-cores have a base frequency of 3.2GHz and 6GHz maximum boost, while the E-cores start at 2.4GHz and go up to 4.3GHz (although the latter is the same as the K variant).

Scan also takes advantage of the processor’s support for DDR5 memory by supplying 64GB of 5,600MHz RAM in the form of two 32GB DIMMs. This leaves two slots free for upgrade. The graphics choice is dependable, too: you can’t go wrong with Nvidia’s RTX A5000 handling 3D acceleration. Sporting 8,192 CUDA cores and 24GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus providing 768GB/sec of bandwidth, the A5000 is a potent GPU.

The components of this workstation are built into a capacious Fractal Design Meshify 2 chassis, which offers lots of space for storage upgrades. Scan supplies only a single drive, but it’s a good one – a 2TB Corsair MP700 NVMe M.2 SSD, which supports PCI Express 5. According to testing with CrystalDiskMark 8.0.4, this drive provides sustained reading of 10,074MB/sec and writing at 10,190MB/sec, nearly 50% faster than the best PCI Express 4 NVMe SSDs. Only the Crucial T700 used by Armari this month is faster.

(Image credit: Future)

Despite its Core i9-13900KS CPU, the A132C came second to systems equipped with the K variant in the PC Pro benchmarks, although a score of 827 is still superb. Its Maxon Cinebench R23 CPU rendering result of 37,442 was also beaten by the Chillblast Apex Core i9 and Armari’s AMD Ryzen 9 7950X. However, the Blender CPU rendering time of 296 seconds beat other Intel-equipped workstations.

The RTX A5000 graphics delivered as expected with SPECviewperf 2020 v3.1 viewsets, showing competent scores for 3D animation, engineering and CAD. The excellent OpenCL result in LuxMark 3.1 of 15,287 was mirrored by a Blender GPU render time of just 143 seconds, although Armari’s AMD Radeon W7800 was faster, and the PCSpecialist Onyx Pro’s Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 was in a different league entirely.

This is an excellent workstation for £4,500, and superb value when you consider its components, but it’s pipped to the top spot by Armari’s entry this month.

We also ranked the best digital art and drawing software.

This review first appeared in issue 348 of PC Pro.

PCSpecialist has thrown everything at its £10,000 workstation. Not only does it incorporate AMD’s range-topping 64-core Threadripper Pro 5995WX, but it also includes AMD’s latest professional graphics.

The CPU supports multithreading so offers 128 threads. The base clock is 2.7GHz with a boost to 4.5GHz. While there’s no DDR5 support yet for the Threadripper Pro, the eight-channel memory configuration improves bandwidth. PCSpecialist includes a whopping 256GB of 3,200MHz RAM in the form of eight 32GB modules, taking advantage of the extra throughput.

PCSpecialist opts for the brand new AMD Radeon Pro W7800 for graphics acceleration. This combines 4,480 RDNA 3 unified shaders with 32GB of GDDR6 frame buffer operating with 576GB/sec bandwidth.

Two storage devices are supplied with the Ultra. The 2TB Samsung 990 Pro NVMe M.2 drive operates at PCI-E 4 speeds. It achieved sustained reading at 7,404MB/sec and writing at 6,818MB/sec. The other storage device is a capacious 10TB Seagate IronWolf Pro 7,200rpm mechanical hard disk, delivering 261MB/sec reading and 253MB/sec writing.

(Image credit: Future)

The Onyx Ultra managed a score of 794 in the PC Pro benchmarks, beaten only by the systems using Intel’s Core i9. Its main weakness 231 in image editing, which is a single-core task. The Cinebench R23 multicore rendering score of 71,519 is phenomenal, although Armari went further with the same processor. The Blender Gooseberry CPU render time of 134 seconds was also behind Armari.

Although the AMD Radeon Pro W7800 is a fantastic new graphics accelerator, it benefits from being paired with fast single-core CPU speeds, which the Threadripper Pro can’t offer. With SPECviewperf 2020 v3.1, the scores of 194 in 3dsmax-07 and 792 in maya-06 are superb, but Armari did better by partnering the GPU with a Ryzen 9 7950X. Similarly, engineering and CAD viewsets were behind. However, a number of these scores were ahead of the Nvidia RTX A5000 and A6000. The LuxMark 3.1 score of 12,317 and Blender GPU time of 153 seconds were more mediocre.

This is a fantastically powerful workstation, although PCSpecialist hasn’t squeezed as much rendering performance out of the CPU or modelling ability from the GPU as Armari. It’s well worth considering, though, with great all-round abilities and lots of storage for media assets.

We also rated the best free video-editing software.

This review first appeared in issue 348 of PC Pro.

PCSpecialist takes a unique approach in this month’s Labs by supplying its system with consumer-grade graphics. It’s also the only company to provide secondary storage along with a main drive. So this workstation has a lot in common with a high-end gaming rig; if you design games for a living, this could be exactly what you want.

The CPU is unquestionably potent. This is a 13th generation Intel Core i9-13900K with 24 cores. Eight of these are P-cores with a 3GHz base clock rising to 5.8GHz on maximum boost with Hyper-Threading, while the other 16 are E-cores that operate at 2.2GHz or boost to 4.3GHz, but without Hyper-Threading. So you still get 32 threads like the 16-core AMD CPUs, but 24 of these are full physical cores not virtual ones.

Since Intel Core i9 processors have supported DDR5 memory for a couple of generations now, PCSpecialist has opted for this RAM type, offering 5,200MHz DIMMs. But it has gone further than this – much further. This system includes an incredible 192GB, which is the maximum supported by the Asus ROG Maximus Z790 Hero motherboard. This is supplied as four 48GB modules, although this isn’t a quad-channel system. It’s safe to say that you won’t be needing to upgrade the memory on this system at any point during its useful lifetime.

There’s space for upgrades, but you won’t need to add to the 192GB of RAM (Image credit: Future)

Now we get to the elephant in the room: the consumer-grade graphics. This is cheaper than the professional equivalent, meaning you can get more power for your money. In fact, PCSpecialist has opted for an Asus TUF GeForce RTX 4090 OC Edition, which is the most powerful consumer GPU currently available. This provides 9,728 CUDA cores, almost as many as the Nvidia RTX A6000, but the 4090 has a newer GPU core design and runs at a much higher clock speed, so promises significantly higher raw processing power – of which more later.

The trusty Fractal Design Black Solid chassis is supplied to house all these components. This isn’t as big as the XL, but still has plenty of space inside and options for storage upgrades. There are six 2.5in/3.5in bays included, with up to 14 possible, and two 2.5in trays as standard, but four possible. PCSpecialist opts to use an M.2 slot for NVMe SSD main storage, but also uses one of the 3.5in bays for a conventional hard disk.

The SSD is a Samsung 990 Pro running at PCI Express 4 speeds. It delivered sustained reading of 7,404MB/sec and writing speeds of 6,818MB/sec, which are good for non-PCI Express 5 storage. The hard disk is a 4TB Seagate IronWolf Pro 7,200rpm mechanical hard disk, offering 260MB/sec reading and 257MB/sec writing. This is pedestrian throughput compared to the SSD but fast for a hard disk, and the extra storage will be handy for greedy media such as 8K video.

The Onyx Pro packs plenty of power for many (but not all) GPU rendering tasks (Image credit: Future)

The Intel Core i9 CPU is very much in its element with everyday tasks. Its overall score of 849 in the PC Pro benchmarks is the joint fastest we’ve ever seen, particularly aided by the multitasking score of 1,057. However, while 35,990 with multicore Maxon Cinebench R23 rendering is superb, Armari’s AMD Ryzen 9 7950X is just ahead, and CPU rendering with Blender is similarly behind AMD, with the Gooseberry frame taking 312 seconds.

But then there’s that GPU. CUDA-accelerated Blender rendering took an incredible 64 seconds, and the LuxMark 3.1 score of 31,713 is staggering. This is also a supreme accelerator for some – but not all – content-creation viewsets. Running SPECviewperf 2020 3.1, the GeForce 4090 managed 316 in 3dsmax-07 and 792 in maya-06. This is a brilliant card for 3D animation. However, while catia-06 saw 165 and solidworks-07 a jaw-dropping 732, snx-04 could only reach 54.57.

If you’ll be running engineering workloads, in particular Siemens NX (represented by snx-04), you’re best avoiding a system with consumer-grade graphics like the Onyx Pro. But if you’re a game designer or 3D animator utilizing GPU rendering, this is a phenomenally powerful machine, and comes highly recommended.

We've also rated the best animation software.

This review first appeared in issue 348 of PC Pro.

We haven’t seen many blue-chip brands in our workstation Labs for some years. This has largely been because these manufacturers stuck with Intel Xeons, even when AMD was in the ascendancy, so wouldn’t have fared well. But Lenovo has been offering the AMD alternative for some years and was the initial partner for the Ryzen Threadripper Pro when it arrived last year. Now we get our first look at what Lenovo can do with this potent CPU.

The system is based on the AMD Ryzen Threadripper Pro 5945WX, which has the lowest number of cores of any CPU this month – just 12. These run at a base 4.1GHz and boost 4.5GHz, with multithreading and support for eight-channel memory. But Lenovo only provides four 3,200MHz DDR4 DIMM modules, so the bandwidth is quad channel with half the throughput of eight-channel, even though the total was a wholesome 64GB.

Lenovo offers a choice of AMD and Nvidia graphics with the P620, and our system came with Nvidia’s RTX A4000. This places this configuration as a modelling workstation rather than more general purpose. Lenovo was IBM’s hardware manufacturer, and when IBM became a services company Lenovo inherited its server and workstation business. The chassis is still reminiscent of the former brand, with excellent tool-free design.

(Image credit: Future)

In this high-powered company, the P620 fell behind, achieving 529 in the media-focused benchmarks, 21,580 in the Cinebench R23 multicore rendering test and 486 seconds for the Blender CPU render. These would have been amazing scores a year ago, but all other systems here are way ahead. The Adobe Media Encoder results were impressive, however, taking 121 seconds with CUDA acceleration enabled.

Although the Threadripper Pro has a solid 4.5GHz top single-core frequency, this clearly held it back when modelling. The SPECviewperf 2020 v3.1 results were excellent on an absolute scale but were beaten by every other system. The 2TB Samsung PM981ab was also the slowest NVMe drive here, delivering just 3,519MB/sec reading and 2,986MB/sec writing.

It’s hard to mark down the Lenovo P620 Tower for lagging behind in performance. It’s the cheapest system in this labs test by nearly £900 inc VAT and if upgraded to £4,500 would be far more competitive. It’s also a solid, well-built workstation. With the right specification for your money, it could be well worth considering.

We've also ranked the best monitors for dual-screen setups.

This review first appeared in issue 348 of PC Pro.

Armari’s lower-cost system is something of a technology showcase, exhibiting the latest options in processor, graphics and storage. The combination is one of the most powerful workstations you could buy for £4,500 inc VAT.

At the center of the Magnetar MC16R7 is AMD’s range-topping Ryzen 9 7950X. This potent 16-core processor uses AMD’s latest Zen 4 architecture and is manufactured on the 5nm process. This enables an incredible base clock of 4.5GHz, which is the boost clock for AMD Ryzen Threadripper Pro processors. The 7950X’s boost clock of 5.7GHz is only a few hundred megahertz behind the best Intel has to offer, and only with the latter’s P-cores, so it’s good to see that Armari makes the most out of the Ryzen 9 via its own customized CPU liquid cooling.

Armari has also taken full advantage of the fact that the AMD Ryzen 7000 series supports DDR5 memory by supplying 64GB of 6,000MHz RAM in two 32GB modules, leaving two DIMM slots free for upgrades. This is the fastest-clocked memory of any system this month.

The Magnetar MC16R7 showcases the latest CPU, graphics and storage technology (Image credit: Future)

So the Magnetar MC16R7 has a cutting-edge processor, some of the fastest system memory available, and its graphics acceleration is bleeding edge, too. In the past, choosing AMD professional GPUs might be a good choice to keep within a budget, but it rarely beat the Nvidia alternative for performance. The AMD Radeon Pro W7800 is a different matter. It’s in the same price category as the Nvidia RTX A5000 and offers 4,480 unified shaders (which aren’t equivalent to CUDA cores) on AMD’s latest RDNA 3 architecture. It also boasts 32GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus, offering 576GB/sec bandwidth.

Armari is notable in the UK market because it’s one of the few local PC integrators that designs its own chassis. However, these cases come at a premium so the Magnetar MC16R7 has been built into a Fractal Design Meshify 2. This is still a great basis for a workstation, with plenty of room inside for airflow and storage upgrades. There are six spaces for 3.5in or 2.5in drives included, and there could optionally be up to 14. On top of this there are two 2.5in-only spaces as standard, but up to four are possible.

You may want to build upon the single M.2 NVMe SSD Armari supplies, but what a great foundation it provides. It’s a 2TB Crucial T700 drive, which supports PCI Express 5, as does the Asus ProArt B650-Creator motherboard. The Crucial SSD delivers incredible throughput from a single drive. CrystalDiskMark recorded sustained reading at 12,373MB/sec and writing at 11,807MB/sec, which were close to twice as fast as some of the PCI Express 4 NVMe SSDs in other workstations this month.

The Fractal Design Meshify 2 case offers lots of room for airflow and upgrades (Image credit: Future)

Considering all the powerful components in the Magnetar MC16R7, it’s no surprise that it produced some stunning test results. Our media-focused benchmarks are the Intel Core i9’s forte, but the Armari system’s overall result of 772 is still incredible, significantly beating the other system this month based on an AMD Ryzen 9 7950X. Its Cinebench R23 multithread rendering result of 38,611 was the fastest in the £4,500 category, and the Blender rendering time of 265 seconds was also top in this class. The OpenCL-accelerated Adobe Media Encoder time of 105 seconds beat every other system this month.

The AMD Radeon Pro W7800 graphics may be around the same price as Nvidia’s RTX A5000, but its performance with SPECviewperf 2020 v3.1 is in a different league as well. The results of 235 in 3dsmax-07 and an unbelievable 846 in maya-06 imply this will be a consummate accelerator for 3D animation. Likewise, 155 in catia-06, 235 in creo-03, 622 in snx-04 and 460 in solidworks-07 show strong abilities with product development, CAD and engineering.

Its LuxMark 3.1 result of 14,919 is a little behind the RTX A5000, but GPU rendering in Blender took just 141 seconds, which is ahead.

Overall, the Armari Magnetar MC16R7 provides the best possible performance for the money in most areas. If you need a powerful all-round workstation, this system should be top of your list.

We've also rated the best business computers.

GameSir Super Nova: one-minute review

(Image credit: Future)

The GameSir Super Nova is a controller compatible with PC, mobile, and Nintendo Switch, and features Hall effect technology for enhanced precision and longevity from its thumbsticks.

It emulates the very familiar Xbox design, although the various colorways and RGB lighting add a little more vibrancy, especially the Whipped Pink variant. It also has a different D-pad, opting for the four-point approach.

In the hands, the Super Nova feels solid and well-made; in fact, it belies its modest price tag and rivals some of the best PC controllers in terms of build quality. It also features a magnetic faceplate, allowing for easy access to the swappable face buttons, designed to match whatever platform you’re playing on.

The buttons are satisfyingly damped and have very little play to them, sitting tightly in place yet still being easy to use. The same is true of the analog sticks, as there’s hardly any play in them at all. They are finished in a harder material than you might find on other controllers, but I still found them comfortable. However, the two optional back buttons are considerably less damped, and my fingers didn’t quite land in the optimal place for triggering them.

The Super Nova can be tweaked using the 'M' (multifunction) button on the front, which allows you to adjust aspects such as stick deadzone and RGB lighting, among others. But many more tweaks can be made using GameSir Connect, the brand’s peripheral tool on PC. Here you’ll find more options than I think I’ve ever seen offered in controller software, so everybody’s preferences should be catered for here.

There are curve profiles and actuation settings for the triggers and sticks, numerous button remapping options, and even an option to set motion controls to always on, allowing you to substitute them with analog stick or even mouse inputs.

To game with, the Super Nova puts in an admirable performance. The buttons are responsive, while the Hall effect technology in the sticks and triggers offer precise movements, although I did find the triggers a little too light to actuate, which did take some getting used to. I didn’t find the D-pad quite so amenable either, as I had to press more towards its center to get a consistent response, which isn’t ideal from an ergonomic standpoint.

Connectivity was good for the most part during my time with the Super Nova, as I managed to connect to multiple platforms via both Bluetooth and the 2.4GHz USB dongle. However, there were occasions when it failed to reconnect to the Nintendo Switch, with the controller failing to wake the console from its sleep. Switching between various devices isn’t the snappiest, either, although not many are lightning quick in this regard.

After several days of use the Super Nova was still going strong, although the lack of a battery readout, either on board or in the software, is a glaring omission; the only indicator is the flashing red RGB when it dips below 15%. GameSir did tell me that it should last about 15 hours, though, which is towards the lower end of the spectrum compared to its rivals.

For the price, though, the Super Nova offers great value for money, considering its performance and platform support, not to mention the incredible level of customization provided by Connect. The D-pad and some minor connectivity issues are drawbacks, but this is still a worthy choice for your next gamepad.

GameSir Super Nova review: Price and availability

• $44.99 / £49.99 / AU$89
• Available now in two colorways
• Cheaper than rivals

The GameSir Super Nova costs $44.99 / £49.99 / AU$89 and is available now in two colorways: Nightfall Blue and Whipped Pink. It comes with a 2.4GHz USB dongle, as well as a charging base and USB cable. Other face plates in a variety of colors are also available from GameSir.

When it's on sale, the official Xbox Wireless Controller, one of the best Xbox controllers and best PC controllers, can be found for a little less than the Super Nova. While it’s a great all-round performer, it pales in comparison to the Super Nova in terms of features and customization options. It also lacks a rechargeable battery as standard.

If you’re after a gamepad with even more tweakability than the Super Nova, then the PDP Victrix Pro BFG, one of the best PS5 controllers and best controllers for Call of Duty, is a fine pick. This controller has a fully modular setup, allowing you to replace the face buttons, D-pad, and sticks depending on your preferences, as well as myriad customization options via the Victrix Control Hub App. However, it’s considerably more expensive than the Super Nova.

GameSir Super Nova review: specs

(Image credit: Future) GameSir Super Nova review: design and features

• Typical Xbox controller design
• Well made
• Incredibly in-depth software

The Super Nova is heavily inspired by the Xbox controller in terms of its form, with its substantial grips and asymmetrical analog sticks mirroring Microsoft’s official gamepad. The D-pad is a point of departure, though, as it harks back to older generations with its four-prong design, rather than a more modern circular hat. There’s also some RGB lighting, although this is quite subtle, confined to just two thin bars running around either grip.

In the hand, the Super Nova feels weighty without being onerous, and the overall construction seems solid. The removable, magnetic faceplate feels premium, as do the rubberized handles, which provide enough grip while maintaining good levels of comfort.

This high standard extends to the face buttons, as they feel smooth to the touch and are damped nicely. There’s very little wobble to them, as with some other controllers, which is especially impressive given they can be swapped around to align with the Nintendo Switch layout (hence the removable faceplate). The analog sticks are similarly solid, and although their material is a little harder than on many other sticks, I still found they offered enough grip.

The triggers are somewhat shallower than on some other controllers. Each has its own lock slider, situated on the back of the Super Nova, which shortens their travel considerably – useful when playing shooters and other games requiring rapid taps.

The two back buttons aren’t damped, and therefore feel less tactile. Also, I found they extended too far outwards, meaning my fingers failed to fall naturally on their end points for the best leverage.

These back buttons can be programmed using the M button at the bottom of the Super Nova – a button that can also be used to make other adjustments on the fly by pressing in conjunction with other buttons. You can change the RGB lighting, vibration intensity, and stick deadzone this way, as well as toggle the Turbo and Hair Trigger modes. These M button adjustments are responsive and provide feedback when changes are made, via flashes of the RGB lighting or small rumbles.

Other customizations can be made in the GameSir mobile app, although this is very limited. Thankfully, the Super Nova also works with GameSir Connect, the company’s peripheral software on PC. This facilitates many tweaks in addition to those accessible via the M button.

Connect provides remapping (including the option to assign multiple inputs to a single button), as well as multiple curve profiles for the sticks and the triggers. There are also various motion control settings, including an option to set which axes are active, as well as an option to turn on motion controls permanently. When this is activated, you can set motion controls to replace the input of either stick or even mouse movements. I was also pleased to see always-on motion controls work when using the Super Nova with the Switch, meaning you can use motion controls in place of the analog sticks with any Switch game.

There are plenty more tweaking options besides those I’ve already mentioned, and I struggle to think of any that are missing here. Connect is also stable for the most part, and the UI is clear and easy to use, although it’s a shame there are no explanations or visual feedback for some of the more advanced settings. What’s more, there doesn’t appear to be any way to save multiple profiles.

(Image credit: Future) GameSir Super Nova review: performance

• Satisfying and precise
• Not the best D-pad
• Some minor connectivity issues

The overall performance of the Super Nova is very good. The face buttons are responsive and a joy to use, thanks to their aforementioned dampening. However, while the same is true of the D-pad, I found this less satisfying to use.

When playing Tekken 8, for instance, a rapid series of inputs, especially rolls between adjacent directions, can be uncomfortable and unresponsive, especially towards the outer edges of each direction. I found that actually keeping my thumb towards the center of the d-pad improved matters, but was less ergonomic.

Both the triggers and the sticks on the Super Nova employ Hall effect technology, which is also used in some of the best gaming keyboards, and is often claimed to improve precision as well as longevity.

I found the sticks provided a good level of accuracy when playing Goldeneye 64 on the Switch, while modulating the throttle and brake with the triggers in Art of Rally was a smooth experience. However, the triggers don’t offer quite as much resistance as those on some other controllers, resulting in a more sensitive response and requiring a finer touch than usual.

Motion controls also performed well on the Nintendo Switch, providing accurate inputs as I found while aiming bows in Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, even rivaling some of the best Nintendo Switch controllers in this regard.

Connectivity is generally good, with the Super Nova connecting easily to PC via the 2.4GHz dongle, and just as easily via Bluetooth to my Android phone. Connecting via both wireless methods to the Nintendo Switch was also relatively straightforward, although there were occasions when I couldn’t wake the console from sleep with the controller.

Whether this is an issue with the gamepad or the console itself is hard to determine, but it’s a point worth mentioning all the same. Switching between various devices isn’t the quickest either, although many multiplatform controllers aren’t much quicker.

The battery life of the Super Nova is hard to determine, since there’s no indicator other than the RGB lighting flashing red when it dips below 15%. This means I can’t say how much battery life remained after my several days of testing, other than that it was above 15%. What’s more, GameSir doesn’t even provide an estimated battery life, although when I reached out to the company for a figure, it replied that it should last about 15 hours, which isn't particularly impressive compared to the competition.

(Image credit: Future) Should I buy the GameSir Super Nova? Buy it if...

You want something familiar
If you’re accustomed to Xbox gamepads, then you’ll be right at home here, as the design is virtually the same, aside from a few differences.

You want to tweak a lot
From the back buttons and trigger locks to the seriously in-depth customization options, you can tailor the Super Nova to your exact preferences.

Don't buy it if...

You want the best D-pad
The four-point design won’t be for everyone, and I found it difficult to use in games requiring heavy use of it.

You’re wanting to use it on PlayStation
If you’re after one of the best PS5 controllers, then the Super Nova isn’t for you, as it’s not compatible with Sony’s console, nor does it have the same layout.

GameSir Super Nova review: Also consider

If you're after more wireless controllers, then take a look at some of these alternatives to the GameSir Super Nova.

PDP Victrix Pro BFG
If it’s customization options you want, look no further than the Victrix Pro BFG. The unique modular hardware means you can set it up depending on the games you play, with further adjustments available via its software. You’ll have to part with considerably more cash than you would for the Super Nova, though.

Read our PDP Victrix Pro BFG review

Xbox Wireless Controller
The standard-bearer for all gamepads, Microsoft’s official peripheral has the ergonomics and performance to make it the default choice for many. It can often be found for less than its original price, too. However, you can’t customize it anywhere close to the same extent as the Super Nova, and it lacks the same multiplatform reach. It doesn’t come with a rechargeable battery as standard, either.

Read our Xbox Wireless Controller review

How I tested the GameSir Super Nova

• Tested for several days
• Played various games on various platforms
• Plentiful gamepad experience

I tested the Super Nova for several days, during which time I used it on PC, Nintendo Switch, and an Android phone. I used both the 2.4GHz dongle and Bluetooth where I could.

I played a variety of games to test the various aspects of the Super Nova’s performance. I played Tekken 8 to test the responsiveness and ergonomics of the face buttons and D-pad, Art of Rally to test the precision of the triggers, Goldeneye 64 on Switch Online to test stick aiming, and Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom to test the motion controls and more general performance.

I have been gaming for decades, and during that time have experienced many different controllers. I have also reviewed a number of them, including other Hall effect and GameSir models.

• First reviewed March 2025
• Read more about how we test

The Dangbei Atom is a 1080p-resolution portable projector. Priced at $899 / £899 (with prices often falling to $699 / £699), it’s pricier than the Samsung Freestyle Gen 2 and similarly priced to the LG CineBeam Q, two of the best portable projectors available.

The Dangbei Atom uses a laser DLP light engine and supports the HDR10 and HLG HDR formats, but only via streaming and not through an HDMI or USB connection, which is a shame for those looking to connect one of the best 4K Blu-ray players. It has auto keystone and auto focus, although its manual keystone adjustment is more effective. It also comes with Google TV built in, providing access to some of the best streaming services such as Netflix and Disney Plus. Connections on the Atom consist of one HDMI 2.0 and one USB port.

Picture quality is a mixed bag with the Atom. Its bright image gives more colorful scenes a vivid enough look, contrast is decent and it handles sports motion well. However, given its struggles with black levels and darker scenes, its picture won’t beat the best projectors anytime soon. Sound quality is better than expected, with a solid punch, but is still limited by the projector’s size.

The Atom is light and compact with an appealing blue, square design. For those who want to take a projector with plenty of smart features and capabilities on-the-go, it’ll do the job and easily fit in most small bags.

Dangbei Atom projector review: Price & release date

Contrast on the Dangbei Atom is decent overall, but textures appear too sharp in most picture presets other than Movie, where they look too soft. (Image credit: Future)

• First released: February 2024
• Price: $899 / £899

The Dangbei Atom’s $899 / £899 list price puts it in a similar price bracket to other portable projectors such as the LG CineBeam Q and Samsung Freestyle Gen 2. Prices for the Atom have dropped to $699 / £699 since its release.

Dangbei Atom projector review: Specs Dangbei Atom review: Design & features

The Dangbei Atom has access to Google TV alongside other smart features such as Chromecast (Image credit: Future)

• Sleek, portable design
• Google TV smart platform
• Laser DLP (ALPD)

The Dangbei Atom is a slim, compact portable projector. It measures 7.6 x 7.6 x 1.8 inches (19.5 x 19.5 x 4.75 cm) and weighs 2.8lbs (900g). The Atom is mains-powered only, with no battery option.

The 1080p-res Atom's DLP laser (ALPD - Advanced Laser Phosphor Display) light engine delivers a specified 1,200 ANSI lumens brightness. It can beam images up to 180 inches, which is impressive for a projector this small, and has both auto and manual keystone correction and focus. I found the auto focus to be very effective, but also found it best to use manual keystone correction.

The Atom’s Google TV smart platform features major streaming services including Netflix, Disney Plus and Prime Video. It has Google Voice Assistant for voice control and Chromecast for a wireless connection to phones and tablets. Physical connections include one HDMI port for video only and one USB-A port.

Both the HDR10 and HLG high dynamic range formats are supported, but only through the built-in streaming apps and not HDMI or USB. There is also support for 4K input, which is downscaled to the Atom’s native Full HD resolution. For audio, the Atom features 2 x 5W speakers.

• Design & features: 4/5

Dangbei Atom projector review: Picture & sound quality

Where the Dangbei Atom's picture succeeds most is with brighter, more colorful images, such as from movies like Elemental (pictured) (Image credit: Future)

• Bright, colorful image
• Picture lacks detail
• Passably good sound

For my testing of the Atom, I used an 80-inch, 1.0 gain matte white Optoma screen. Measuring the Atom’s brightness on a 10% white window pattern, it hit 109 nits in Movie mode – a significant step-up compared to the LG CineBeam Q, which hit 60 nits in Filmmaker Mode, but lower than the JMGO N1S Pro 4K, which hit 161 nits.

The Atom’s main strength is its surprisingly bright out-of-the-box image, which served more colorful scenes well. Watching Elemental, streamed on Disney Plus in HD and HDR10, colors looked punchy, particularly in scenes where Ember created glass sculptures. In Star Wars: The Last Jedi’s throne room lightsaber fight, reds mostly looked accurate, but were slightly too vivid.

Dangbei’s projector did a solid job displaying sports. The Standard mode provided the best picture and motion handling when I watched a football game streamed from Prime Video – a welcome result as there are no motion adjustments to work with in the setup menu.

The Atom struggled with dark movies. Watching a 4K Blu-ray of The Batman revealed an acceptable balance between light and dark tones, but black levels were raised, looking more gray than black. (I measured the Atom's contrast ratio at 181:1.) Shadow detail was solid overall, with elements in clothing such as Batman’s chest plate still visible.

The Atom also struggled with textures. Throughout most viewing in Movie mode, these appeared soft, even by portable projector standards. In other picture modes, textures appeared too sharp, giving them a fake look, with few picture settings available to fix this.

The Atom’s dual 5W speakers don’t create a room-filling sound, but are solid enough considering the projector’s size. Watching the Batmobile/Penguin chase scene in The Batman, the sound was clear, and there was some impact during explosions and car crashes. However, the soundstage was narrow, and the bass was limited.

The Atom has a game mode for gaming, but that’s the only related feature. Playing Battlefield V was a perfectly fine experience, but some lag was noticeable. When I measured it, the Atom's input lag was 60.4ms, an average score for a portable projector that's not specifically designed for gaming.

• Picture and sound quality: 3.5/5

Dangbei Atom projector review: Value

The Dangbei Atom's included remote is typical for a Google TV remote. (Image credit: Future)

• Smart features
• Sleek design
• Better priced rivals

Priced at $899 / £899 upon release, the Atom is nearly double the price of the Samsung Freestyle Gen 2 in the UK but doesn’t deliver twice the performance. (It's similarly priced in the US.) Even the LG CineBeam Q, a 4K portable projector, can be found for $799 / £799.

The Atom's price has since dropped to $699 / £699, which is more palatable for the smart features and performance it offers. LG's CineBeam Q and Samsung's Freestyle Gen 2 are still better value overall, but the Atom is still a decent enough portable projector.

• Value score: 3.5/5

Should I buy the Dangbei Atom projector?

The Dangbei Atom can be taken anywhere thanks to its slim, light design. (Image credit: Future) Buy it if...

You want a seriously portable projector
Thanks to its light weight and square design, the Dangbei Atom easily lends itself to on-the-go viewing.View Deal

You want a bright image
The Atom's picture thrives with bright, colorful scenes (think animation), which look great for a projector this size and price. View Deal

Don't buy it if...

You want the best value portable projector
Although priced well for its features, the Samsung Freestyle Gen 2 and LG CineBeam Q provide better bang for your buck. View Deal

You want a consistent picture
Although bright, the Atom's picture ultimately struggles, most notably with black levels and textures. View Deal

Also consider

LG CineBeam Q
The LG CineBeam Q delivers an excellent 4K resolution picture plus a comprehensive list of smart features for a portable projector. It's often priced the same or marginally higher than the Dangbei Atom, and is a better value. Read our full LG CineBeam Q review.

Samsung Freestyle Gen 2
The Samsung Freestyle Gen 2 isn't as bright as the Dangbei Atom, but it's more well-featured and its picture quality is better overall. Plus, it's much cheaper in the UK. Read our full Samsung Freestyle Gen 2 projector review.

Xgimi MoGo 3 Pro
Cheaper than the Dangbei Atom, the Xgimi MoGo 3 Pro offers a lot of the same features and better performance for less. Its not as portable or bright as the Atom, but those are the only places it falls short. Read our full Xgimi MoGo 3 Pro review.

How I tested the Dangbei Atom projector

(Image credit: Future)

• Tested with an Optoma 80-inch, 1.0 gain matte white screen
• Tested using Blu-ray, streaming sources
• Measurements taken using Portrait Displays' Calman calibration software

To test the Dangbei Atom, I used streaming and disc sources. Watching reference scenes, I tested the Atom's picture quality, focusing on color accuracy, black levels, brightness and contrast, and textures.

To record measurements for color and grayscale accuracy, brightness, and contrast ratio, I used a colorimeter, test pattern generator and Portrait Displays' Calman color calibration software.

The Atom was primarily tested in pitch-black conditions in TechRadar's testing room. It was also tested in varying lighting conditions to see how it would handle ambient light in other viewing situations.

• First reviewed: April 2025
• Read TechRadar's review guarantee

Garmin Lily 2 Active: One-minute review

The Garmin Lily 2 Active is a sleek, slim, great-looking smartwatch built for fitness, and that’s exactly what sets it apart from the rest of the Lily 2 lineup. To make things clear, there’s the original Lily 2, the Lily 2 Classic, and now the Lily 2 Active. While they all look similar, this newer Active version comes with two big upgrades – built-in GPS and longer battery life – making it a stronger choice for people who are serious about tracking their workouts.

The original Lily 2 and Classic models handled health and fitness well already (you can check out our Garmin Lily 2 review for more on that), but this version feels tailor-made for anyone who trains outdoors. That’s mostly thanks to the built-in GPS. In the other models, you’d need to connect to your phone to track routes. Here, you can leave your phone behind.

The Lily 2 Active is designed with smaller wrists in mind – whether that’s women or anyone who prefers a lighter, more compact smartwatch. Its 38mm case and narrower strap make it one of the most wearable fitness watches out there. Back when wearables first hit the market, many felt chunky and oversized. And I say that as someone who’s 5’7” with an athletic build – so I can only imagine how those early designs felt on truly petite wrists.

But don’t let the smaller size fool you, this is a fully-fledged fitness smartwatch. It has what Garmin calls a “hidden display,” meaning the screen disappears behind a patterned lens when not in use. The black-and-white liquid crystal screen looks more Kindle than Apple Watch, which won’t appeal to everyone. It’s not ultra-bright, and the touchscreen experience is a little different. But I actually liked it. Plus, the lack of a big, bright screen means you get far better battery life – up to nine days on a single charge – than even the best Apple Watches.

Under the hood, it’s packed with all the health, sleep, and fitness tracking features Garmin does so well – including heart rate, heart rate variability, pulse ox, and sleep tracking. All of that data feeds into Garmin’s app, where it’s turned into clear charts, sleep scores, fitness age estimates, and the brand’s clever “Body Battery” score – a simple way to check how much energy you’ve got left in the tank.

As you’d expect, fitness tracking is excellent. You get all the standard metrics, plus accurate GPS that’s fast to connect and delivers a full route map after your workout. So yes, it’s smaller and sleeker than most rivals, but it’s still powerful and a genuinely great option for anyone who wants a stylish fitness watch without compromise. Read on to find out what I thought after a full month of testing the Garmin Lily 2 Active.

Garmin Lily 2 Active review: Price and availability

(Image credit: Garmin)

• Garmin Lily 2 Active is $299.99 / £299.99 / AU$499
• Released in September 2024

The Garmin Lily 2 Active is priced at $299.99 / £299.99 / AU$499, which makes it more expensive than the standard Lily 2, priced at $249.99 / £249.99 / AU$429. But that extra cost gets you two solid upgrades: built-in GPS and a longer battery life – small changes, but ones that make a big difference if you’re into fitness tracking.

In terms of competition, the Lily 2 Active sits in a bit of a grey area. It’s pricier than many of the best fitness trackers, but still cheaper than most of the full-featured best smartwatches.

Take the latest Apple Watch Series 10, for example, it comes in at $399 / £399 / AU$649, and gives you a bright color screen, plenty of apps, and all the bells and whistles. But if you’re not looking for all that extra functionality, the Lily 2 Active might be a better fit.

On the flip side, you’ve got more affordable trackers like the Fitbit Luxe, which is around $109.95 / £109.99 / AU$199.95. It’s sleek and slim, but it doesn’t offer the same depth of fitness tracking, GPS, or overall build quality.

You could even compare it to the best smart rings, which are becoming a popular pick for people – especially women – who want wellness data without a bulky smartwatch. The Oura Ring 4 currently comes in at $349 / £349, and the Ringconn Gen 2 Air ring is around $199 (about £185 / AU$380). But while smart rings excel at sleep and recovery data, they’re not fitness-first devices.

In short, the Garmin Lily 2 Active is fairly priced for what it offers. It’s not cheap, but you’re paying for Garmin’s proven fitness tracking expertise in a stylish, compact design, and that’s a combo that still feels pretty unique in the wearable space.

• Value score: 4/5

Garmin Lily 2 Active review: Specifications Garmin Lily 2 Active review: Design

(Image credit: Garmin)

• Slim and sleek 11mm thick case
• Weighs just 29g
• Comes in a range of stylish colors

Let’s start with what makes the Lily 2 Active really stand out, the design. This is a slim, lightweight smartwatch built with smaller wrists in mind – and it nails that brief.

I’m usually wary of tech “designed for women,” because let’s face it, that often just means pink and patronizing. But in the case of smartwatches, there is a real need for smaller options. Because while wearing the Lily 2 Active, several people asked me what it was, surprised to see a smartwatch that looked this compact. It’s a clear reminder that not everyone wants, or needs, a chunky wearable.

(Image credit: Garmin)

The watch case is just 11mm thick and weighs 29g, making it one of the lightest fitness watches I’ve worn. The silicone strap is also slimmer than average, incredibly comfortable and easy to swap thanks to the quick-release button. While you can fit smaller straps to other Garmin models, the slimmer casing here makes doing so more appealing.

The display is a 34mm liquid crystal monochrome screen, which gives the watch a more e-reader feel than something like the Apple Watch. Whether that’s a good thing or not depends on your taste. Personally, I like it; I don’t miss the bright screen. In fact, I love the trade-off for longer battery life. Bold, bright displays look great, but they drain power fast. That said, some people I asked didn’t love the screen, especially those used to the more punchy visuals of the Apple Watch.

(Image credit: Garmin)

Design-wise, there’s a decent range of colors and combinations, with both strap and casing options. You’ve got Jasper Green with a matching silicone band, Lunar Gold with a Bone strap, and Silver with a Purple Jasmine band. I tested the Jasper Green version and really liked it – subtle, classy, and stylish without being flashy.

A lot of smartwatches “for women” lean too hard into rose gold and unnecessary bling – or at least they used to back in the earlier days of wearable reviews. This one gets the balance just right. It looks good, goes with everything, and still turns heads enough for a few people to ask me about it.

One final note. If you’re comparing this to the original Lily 2 or wondering whether it’s worth the upgrade, the design is nearly identical. So if looks are your only concern, you might not notice much difference. The real upgrades are under the hood.

• Design score: 4.5 / 5

Garmin Lily 2 Active review: Features

(Image credit: Garmin)

• Built-in GPS
• Deep wellness tracking
• Garmin Coach training plans

One of the biggest upgrades the Lily 2 Active brings to the table is built-in GPS. Unlike the original Lily 2, which relies on connected GPS (i.e. using your phone’s signal), the Active version has its own GPS onboard. That’s great news for outdoor workouts. It means more accurate tracking and one less reason to bring your phone along.

You also get Garmin Coach, an in-app coaching tool designed for structured training plans. It’s aimed at runners or cyclists training for specific goals, like a 5K, 10K, or half marathon. You tell the app about your current routine, and it gives you a tailored plan with workouts, video content, and updates from your virtual coach. I tested the 5K plan during my review, and found it really easy to follow – a great alternative to third-party running apps, and one that keeps everything in one place.

The Lily 2 Active connects via Bluetooth and ANT+, so it pairs easily with your phone and other devices. You can also control music playback from your phone, but there’s no onboard music storage – worth noting if you like to leave your phone behind on runs.

As for health and wellness features, the Lily 2 Active is surprisingly packed for such a compact watch. There’s water intake tracking, women’s health tracking (including basic period prediction and the option to log symptoms and moods), and a wide range of fitness and recovery insights thanks to Garmin’s onboard sensors. You’ll get data about you heart rate, pulse ox, sleep, heart rate variability, respiration rate, stress levels and more.

All of this feeds into Garmin’s Connect app, where it’s turned into useful metrics like your Body Battery (a daily energy gauge), Fitness Age, and a breakdown of your sleep stages. It’s one of the most comprehensive wellness ecosystems you’ll find in a smartwatch – and it’s especially impressive given the Lily 2 Active’s size.

• Features score: 4.5 / 5

Garmin Lily 2 Active review: Performance

(Image credit: Garmin)

• Excellent battery life (up to nine days)
• Accurate tracking and responsive GPS
• Comfortable to wear day and night

Garmin’s performance really shines in the app experience, and I’d argue it’s just as important as the hardware. The Garmin Connect app might not have a sleek, nice-looking aesthetic (smart ring brands really lean into this), but it’s clean, functional, and packed with actionable data. The home screen is customizable with “cards” that show whatever you care about most – heart rate, stress, calories burned, sleep, intensity minutes, and more. That ease of use is crucial when you’re collecting this much data – it means the insights are actually useful.

Fitness tracking is another strong suit. There are loads of workout modes, from running, cycling, and walking to gym activities like HIIT, rowing, weightlifting, and even snowboarding and tennis. Press the top left button to start a workout, scroll through the list, and off you go. The GPS was quick to connect and reliably mapped my routes on runs and walks.

During outdoor runs, you can swipe through screens showing pace, heart rate, lap time, and more. You can even customize these to display your key metrics or set alerts for heart rate zones and lap splits.

I used it mainly for running, where GPS performance was solid and the mapping worked well. I also tested it during weightlifting – you just need to manually log rest periods, which was slightly annoying at first but easy once I got the hang of it.

The Lily 2 Active also plays well with other fitness ecosystems, including Strava, which is a big win for runners and cyclists.

Outside of workouts, the watch is simple but easy to use. The display doesn’t light up automatically when you lift your wrist – you need to flick it or tap the button, which took a little getting used to. Navigation is mostly through swiping, and you can customize the watch face to display key info like time, steps, Body Battery, and more. There’s also a handy little quick-access circle button at the bottom of the screen you can program with shortcuts.

Garmin’s Body Battery feature is something I genuinely found useful. It gives you a read on your energy levels throughout the day, based on a mix of heart rate, HRV, and activity data. I’m often wary of outsourcing how I feel to a device, but this was surprisingly spot-on – a good way to sense when to push and when to rest.

Stress tracking is another interesting one. It uses HRV to measure physical stress rather than emotional stress, but I found it helpful – especially as it explained dips in my Body Battery. Again, it’s not just tracking data, but helping you understand it.

And then there’s sleep tracking, which is honestly fantastic. Despite being a watch, it held its own against the smart rings I tested it alongside. It nailed my wake-ups and restlessness during the night, and gave me a clear, well-presented graph each morning with a simple sleep score.

And finally, the battery life. Garmin claims up to nine days, and in my testing, I regularly hit eight to nine. That’s a huge win. I love my Apple Watch, but having to charge it daily is frustrating, especially when you want to track sleep. The Lily 2 Active, with its low-power screen, comfortably lasted over a week per charge. That’s a game-changer for anyone who doesn’t want to be constantly tethered to a charger.

• Performance: 4 / 5

(Image credit: Garmin) Scorecard Should I buy the Garmin Lily 2 Active? Buy it if…

You like a more subtle screen
The monochrome display isn’t as bold as rivals, but it’s easy on the eyes and helps stretch the battery to 9 days.

You have smaller wrists
The compact 38mm case, slim strap, and lightweight design make it one of the most wearable fitness watches around.

You value wellness insights
Features like Body Battery, sleep tracking, and stress monitoring make this great for everyday wellbeing, not just workouts.

Don’t buy it if…

You need a serious training or adventure watch
It’s durable and well-equipped, but lacks the rugged build, onboard maps, and high-end performance features of Garmin’s more advanced watches.

You want a bright, always-on screen
This display is stylish and functional, but it won’t suit those who prefer big, bold visuals like the Apple Watch.

You want music without your phone
There’s no onboard storage, so you’ll need your phone nearby to listen to tunes during workouts.

Garmin Lily 2 Active: Also consider

Apple Watch Series 10

A fantastic all-round smartwatch that’s big, bold, and packed with features. Plus, it comes in a variety of case styles. But it’s significantly more expensive than the Lily 2 Active, and the battery life tops out at just 18 hours.

Read our full Apple Watch Series 10 review

Samsung Galaxy Watch 7

A sleek, circular smartwatch with excellent health and fitness features. It’s a great pick for Android users – especially if you’re drawn to the Lily 2 Active but have a Samsung phone.

Read our full Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 review

How I tested the Garmin Lily 2 Active

(Image credit: Garmin)

• Tested it for a month
• Wore it 24/7
• More than a decade of experience testing health and fitness tech

I tested the Garmin Lily 2 Active for a full month, paired with an iPhone 14 Pro.

Aside from charging and showering (it is waterproof, but I didn’t fancy risking it with soap and shampoo), I wore it 24/7. I took it on outdoor runs, gym sessions, long walks, workdays in my home office, coffee shop outings, evenings on the sofa, and while I slept. Safe to say, it’s been tested across all kinds of settings and activities.

I’ve spent more than a decade reviewing health and fitness tech – from early wearables like the now-defunct Jawbone Up, to today’s smart rings, trackers, and full-on smartwatches. I’ve tested lifestyle-friendly devices as well as those built for serious training, so I know what matters when it comes to fit, comfort, performance, and long-term wearability.

• First reviewed in April 2025

• Read TechRadar's reviews guarantee

Edifier LolliClip: review

The Edifier LolliClip make for a somewhat peculiar, yet enticing proposition. They have an open design – something typically marketed towards exercise lovers who want higher awareness of their surroundings and are willing to take this design’s inherent threat to sound quality. But the twist is that the earbuds are sculpted with audiophile-friendly features, like ANC, higher-resolution audio capabilities and spatial audio.

So, how does Edifier fare in its attempt to fuse high sound quality with an open-ear design? Largely, very well, actually.

Let’s start by talking about audio quality – an area where this model stacks up against some of the best open ear headphones around. The Edifier LolliClip are powered by a 13mm dynamic driver, which the manufacturer claims can plate up “dynamic, detailed, and powerful sound”. And I’d say that’s a fair assessment.

When tuning into I Want You by Moloko, the continuous bassline was relatively impactful – not as hard-hitting as some of the best wireless earbuds, but attention-grabbing nonetheless. But that low end, though prominent, could sound a little muddied at high volumes, meaning that pumping effect was slightly dampened. That’s forgivable for a pair of open ears, but something that audiophiles will pick up on.

If you want massive sub-bass you might be a little disappointed too. Some ultra-deep notes in The Boys Are Back In Town by Yung Gravy sounded a little understated, especially during vocal segments. But again – perhaps to be expected given the

But generally, bass is still solid considering these are open-ear. For example, when listening to Black Eye by Allie X, I was pretty impressed by the depth on offer, this time from the thumping drum machine. Vocals were clear too, with high notes sounding controlled and decently separated from other instrumental elements.

And generally, the LolliClip handles mids nicely, with guitar and synths in Alright by Jamiroquai sounding tonally accurate and decently balanced. Some finer details came through too, thanks to the LolliClip’s use of the LDAC codec, but you’re still not going to get the microscopic interpretation that, say, some of the best wired earbuds will supply.

If you’re not loving the sound signature, you can change things up a bit in the Edifier ConneX app with EQ adjustment. However, there’s not much here and I would advise against switching out of Classic when listening to music. Bass Boost caused the soundstage to get cluttered at high volumes and when testing Treble Boost, high-pitched sounds were, on occasion, overly forward. There’s a Vocal mode if you’re listening to podcasts, which works nicely, and I also discovered custom EQ in a sub menu, but this didn’t seem to work – a real shame.

On top of that, you can immerse yourself in spatial audio and head tracking. However, I’m still going to advise against this for one major reason: general audio quality takes quite the plunge when in use. There’s almost a distorted tone to music and although head tracking did follow my every move to commendable precision, I’d rather watch movies or blast tunes with the best available sound, sorry!

But there’s so much more to dig into with the Edifier ConneX app. For instance, you can activate adaptive ANC, which is not always a given for open-ear headphones. How good is it? Well, as you may expect, not top-tier – but it’s not bad either. I could still hear the sound of typing, for instance, when listening at around 70% volume, something you’d likely avoid with, say the AirPods Pro 2. But ANC still did a good job of dampening sounds like strangers chattering in the street and sound quality was about as good with, or without it turned on.

Speaking of turning ANC on and off, this segues into a major gripe I have with the LolliClip. When switching between these modes or adjusting EQ, playback cuts for a couple of seconds, which I found to be pretty frustrating. Even worse is when you activate LDAC – you have to wait for the earbuds to turn off, on again and restart playback. That all felt a bit clunky.

(Image credit: Future)

More generally, the in-app experience, via Edifier ConneX could be better too. Settings like LDAC activation, touch-control customization and more are hidden in a sub menu in the top right, which I didn’t spot at first. And this part of the app is rammed with all sorts of options. There’s a drainage feature that causes the earbuds to vibrate and discard excess moisture, tap sensitivity options for touch controls, a ‘find my earbuds’ option and wearing detection customizability, which enables you to pause (or not pause) playback when removing the buds.

But one feature – which was less hidden – really stood out to me: the health monitoring tools, including heart rate and blood oxygen tracking. Both of these use the pulse in your ear and produce results after a 30-second period, telling you your heart rate (in bpm) and blood oxygen (in %). The data is stored on a calendar so you can track changes over time too – something we loved in the Beats Powerbeats Pro 2, for example.

That’s just one inclusion that shows the practicality of these buds. For instance, they're also IP56 dust and waterproof rated, which means they’re projected against strong water jets – that’s more than enough durability for rainy days and sweat-heavy workouts. They also offer solid playtime of 9 hours per charge – 39 hours with the charging case, meaning you’ll rarely have to juice them up.

Capable sound? Check. Decent feature set? Check. Practical build? Also check. But let’s check out how these buds perform in the looks department. In honesty, it’s a bit of a mixed bag. First of all, the case and buds have a glossy finish, which has a slightly cheap look to it and attracts fingerprints like a moth to a flame. The plastic charging case perhaps doesn’t feel too durable, either.

But I do quite like the clip-like appearance of the buds. It’s not particularly discreet, but carries a unique aesthetic as well as delivering security and comfortability. I tried the LolliClip out in black, but you can grab them in white instead if you’d prefer.

The Edifier LolliClip are a strong pair of open-ear headphones with above-average sound in the category. They combine that with plenty of playtime, health monitoring functionality and a clippy appearance that’s sure to attract plenty. At $129 (about £100 / AU$210), are they worth it? That really depends. If you’re set on the open design, that’s a solid price given the inclusion of ANC and adept audio quality. Still, there are a lot of cheaper, yet excellent rivals to check out in our guide to the best budget wireless earbuds, if you’re willing to sacrifice the looser fit.

But all in all, the LolliClip earn my recommendation, especially for those who are reluctant to sacrifice too much quality in the sound department. There are a lot of great alternatives to consider, though. If you’re a UK customer unable to snap up the LolliClip, I’d suggest the Honor Earbuds Open, which again serve up surprisingly good sound and an excellent fit, but also nuanced ANC and even a translation tool. And for US customers, why not take a look at the Anker Soundcore AeroClip, which plate up immersive audio, an excellent companion app and comfortable on ear feel.

(Image credit: Future) Edifier LolliClip review: specs Edifier LolliClip review: price and availability

• $129.99 (about £100 / AU$210)
• Launched in February 2025

The Edifier LolliClip released in the US during February 2025. They’re not available in the UK or Australia yet, but we’ll let you know if anything changes on that front. This model has a list price of $129.99 (about £100 / AU$210), which is in line with models like the Anker Soundcore AeroClip, for instance. That price should remain the same whether you purchase the black or white variant.

(Image credit: Future) Should you buy the Edifier LolliClip? Buy them if...

You don’t want to compromise on sound quality
I was surprised by just how talented the Edifier LolliClip are when it comes to playing music. OK, you’re not going to get the most stunning, hi-res sound in the world, but for a pair of open ears, these sound great. You’re getting decently weighty bass, clear mids and pleasingly controlled highs. Little to no tinniness to contend with here – something that’s fairly common with open ear models.

You want earbuds for workouts
Thanks to their open design, the Edifier LolliClip let in plenty of ambient noise – well, with adaptive noise cancelling turned off. That means you’ll be able to keep tabs on your surroundings if you’re on a run, say. That’s ideal for when you’re in traffic-heavy environments.

Don't buy them if...

You want awesome ANC
Having noise cancelling at all is a win here, but in terms of effectiveness, it won’t compete with some of the best noise cancelling earbuds. If awesome ANC is a priority for you, I’d suggest checking out the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2, which offer some of the best external noise crushing capabilities in the game.

You want a smooth companion app experience
Unfortunately, the Edifier ConneX app is a bit painful to use. Selecting a different EQ mode causes sound to cut out for a while, you can’t save a custom tuning, activating LDAC causes the buds to reset and some key options are hidden in sub-menus. Sure, these are still pretty feature-rich, but playing around with the most interesting options can feel like a chore.

Edifier LolliClip review: also consider

Huawei FreeArc
When we tested the Huawei FreeArc, we highlighted their “top-tier sound”, highly comfortable fit and crucially, competitive price. Yep, for less than £100 (about $130 / AU$200), you’re getting some of the best value open-ears on the market. There’s no ANC and battery life doesn’t quite stack up to that of this Edifier model. But hey, there’s still so much to love. Read our full Huawei FreeArc review.

OpenRock Pro
The OpenRock Pro have one standout feature – their immense battery life. You’re getting 19 hours from a single charge, with 46 hours total thanks to the charging case. That’s great for a pair of open ears and should mean you can listen for around a week without needing to charge the case – what a win! Again, these have a competitive price and comfortable fit, but they’re a little bit more middling in the audio department. Read our full OpenRock Pro review.

Edifier LolliClip review: How I tested

(Image credit: Future)

• Tested for one week
• Used at home and while out and about
• Predominantly tested using Tidal

I tested the Edifier LolliClip for one week, predominantly at home but also when outdoors. I exhausted all of their features, used them for casual and critical listening and assessed their quality with ANC switched on and off.

When listening to music, I made use of Tidal on my Samsung Galaxy S24 FE. As always, I ran through the TechRadar testing playlist, which includes tracks from a variety of genres and is optimized for assessing sound quality across the frequencies. On top of that, I blasted a whole host of tunes from my personal library.

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

Panasonic Lumix ZS99: One Minute Review

The Lumix ZS99 (called the Lumix TZ99 in some markets) is a relatively rarity in modern times – a brand new compact camera.

Only stop right there, most of it isn’t new at all. It uses the same sensor and lens combination as its predecessor, the ZS80D / TZ95D, only really adding the mandatory USB-C charging functionality that affects all new devices sold in the EU.

(Image credit: Future)

Worse still, Panasonic has seen fit to remove the small (but useful) viewfinder found in the previous incarnation. The screen remains the same as before, only now you’ll be completely reliant on it for every shot – shame.

This is not a bad camera by any stretch, but its highly versatile zoom is pretty much its only winning technical ability over your smartphone in 2025. You can get some good shots if you need to zoom, but pictures taken at the wide angle end are pretty much the same as any half-decent smartphone is capable of these days.

If you really want a separate device, and want to be able to zoom in close on distant subjects, then it’s a good choice – but don’t be surprised if you go back to using your phone in conditions such as low light.

Is the Lumix ZS99 one of the best compact cameras? Technically no, but it's one of the only travel zooms available, for a competitive price.

Panasonic Lumix ZS99 / TZ99: release date and price

• $499 / £469 / AU$999.95
• Available to buy now
• All black or black and silver colourways available

These days, paying $499 / £469 for something that your smartphone can (sort of) already do might seem like a lot of cash to part with.

However, cameras such as this have had a resurgence in recent times, largely thanks to the influence of, er, influencers. Last year, such was the popularity of the ZS80D / TZ95D that you could expect to pay double the list price of the ZS99 / TZ99, with even second-hand prices being off the charts.

So the ZS99 / TZ99 is far from cheap, but there’s really not much to compete with it in today’s market – if it’s something you want, it’s reasonably well priced. That said, if you’re happy to live with a smaller zoom (10x), you can get hold of the Panasonic TZ200 for about the same price as a TZ99. You’ll lose the zoom reach, but you’ll get a one-inch sensor which produces better quality images, so that’s worth thinking about.

• Price score: 4/5

(Image credit: Future) Panasonic Lumix ZS99 / TZ99: specs Panasonic Lumix ZS99 / TZ99: design and handling

• Small, smartphone-sized sensor with 30x zoom
• Front-facing touchscreen
• No viewfinder
• Lots of physical buttons

At the heart of the Lumix ZS99 sits a 20MP 1/2.3-inch sensor. It’s about the same size as those you’ll find in modern smartphones – in fact some smartphones are packing even larger sensors these days.

Disappointed? Well, don’t be too much – it’s what gives the ability to zoom to 30x, something which your smartphone definitely can’t do, optically at least. The biggest downside of a small sensor tends to be a loss of detail in low light conditions – which for travel might not be too much of a bugbear.

That 30x lens gives you 24-720mm in full-frame terms (the common reference for lens focal length), and just as with the sensor, it’s the same as found on the ZS80 / TZ95D, so there isn’t any improvement in image quality (see the next section).

If you want a camera that fits neatly into your pocket and that isn’t your smartphone, then this should fit the bill. It’s fatter than the average camera phone, but it’s not quite as lengthy. There’s grips on the front and rear of the camera which makes it feel a bit more secure than a slippery phone, too.

Settings changes can all be made via actual, physical controls. A tactile rarity in today’s modern screen obsessed world.

There’s a mode dial giving you access to full manual control, for example, while the zoom is controlled via a rocker switch around the shutter release. Several of the buttons can be customized to suit the functions you use most, which is helpful – and there are some additional touchscreen settings you can use too.

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One function which is particularly useful is the Zoom Compose Assist button. Handy for when you lose track of your subject while shooting at a long focal length – such as a bird in flight – it'll quickly zoom out so you can relocate the subject, and then the lens zooms right back in to your last setting when you let go of the button. Nifty.

The screen is also the same as found on the predecessor. It flips forward for selfies and video and has 1.84m dots. It’s detailed and bright enough for most uses, and it’s touch-sensitive too. In the bright sun it’s harder to see, which is why it’s disappointing that Panasonic has removed the viewfinder, found in the previous model. That said, it’s probably true to say that anybody coming from a smartphone won’t be used to a viewfinder and is unlikely to miss the option.

• Design score: 4/5

Panasonic Lumix ZS99 / TZ99: performance

• Good for zoom shots
• At wide-angle, image quality similar to a smartphone
• Low light quality is less impressive

We already knew what to expect from the camera, considering it uses the same sensor and lens as its predecessor.

In short – it’s good, but not great. At least, not by modern standards anyway. There’s only so much that a small sensor can realistically deliver, and while there are some things that this camera can do that your phone can’t, sometimes even a budget smartphone will outperform it.

If you find yourself shooting in good overall light, which isn’t too harsh, and you’re shooting a still or fairly placid subject then you’ll get some nice images. There’s a good amount of detail, colors are realistic (if a little dull), and exposures are well balanced. At the wide-angle end of the lens, your smartphone probably achieves the same results.

(Image credit: Future)

However, it’s when you engage that zoom that the magic happens. So long as you can keep the camera fairly steady, even shooting at that far 30x zoom can leave you with nice close-ups of distant subjects.

There’s in-built 5-axis Hybrid optical image stabilization (OIS), which works fairly well, but once you’re shooting at 20-30x, any additional steadiness you can provide will go a long way too.

As for tracking of subjects – there’s no way you’re going to follow a leopard or a motorcar, but for more predictable and slower wildlife you stand a fighting chance of capturing the subject, sharply focused.

Now for some bad news – low light. Smartphones do pretty well at this subject by taking lots of pictures and merging them together. Here, you don’t get that, so even when it’s only as low light as indoors, you will notice a fair amount of smudginess. Avoid using this camera inside buildings or after dark, and you’ll be golden.

• Performance score: 3/5

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(Image credit: Future) Panasonic Lumix ZS99 / TZ99: testing scorecard Should I buy the Panasonic Lumix ZS99 / TZ99? Buy it if...

You want a long zoom in a camera that fits into your pocket
In terms of zooming capability, there's not much else that can zoom this far, this well and will still fit in your pocket. 30x zoom with your phone will leave you with a blurry mess, whereas you'll get some reasonable detail here. It's a good idea for travel and everyday snaps for that reason, even if overall image quality isn't amazing.

You like the idea of USB-C charging for all your devices
Pretty much the only improvement from the ZS99's predecessor is the addition of USB-C charging. When you're traveling, only having one cable to charge everything is definitely a bonus.

You want a camera with a front-facing screen for selfies and vlogging
The screen can face all the way forwards, putting yourself in the frame in front of those travel highlights. Amateur vloggers may also like it for the same reason.

Don't buy it if...

You already have a ZS80 / TZ95D
It makes virtually no sense to buy this if you already have a ZS80 / TZ95D. That is unless you really, really want USB-C charging and never use the viewfinder anyway. The sensor, lens and screen are all exactly the same as before - don't assume a new camera means new tech.

You want a viewfinder
OK we've mentioned this a few times now, but the viewfinder has been removed! Why? Perhaps you don't need one. But if you do, don't get this camera.

You shoot in low light with any frequency
Low light performance is a weak area of this camera, so if it's something you do often, don't expect to take good shots with this camera. If you only shoot the odd thing after dark, it's less of a deal breaker.

How I tested the Panasonic Lumix ZS99 / TZ99

• I used it in a variety of different shooting conditions
• I took pictures at different focal lengths
• I tried the different shooting modes

I tested the Panasonic Lumix ZS99 / TZ99 over two weeks, in a range of different locations and across different shooting conditions.

I used it to photograph landscapes and typical travel subjects, taking pictures at a variety of different focal lengths. I also took photos of animals to test the focus tracking.

I took the ZS99 indoors to evaluate what happens when light is low, as well as shooting in very bright sunlight and more overcast conditions.

First reviewed April 2025

This review first appeared in issue 349 of PC Pro.

SMBs that want the best on-premises remote support solution need look no further than NetSupport Manager (NSM). Now well into its third decade, NSM has been continuously updated, with version 14 on review providing a redesigned Control interface, support for Windows 11 and Server 2022 clients plus two-factor authentication (2FA) and SSL/TLS certificates to tighten up access security to remote systems.

Licensing couldn’t be any easier: pricing is based only on the number of supported systems. You don’t need to worry about subscriptions, either, with perpetual licensing for up to 500 systems costing a straight £10 each.

Installation is a breeze. We loaded the Control component on a Windows 10 host and used the separate Deploy tool to scan the local network and push the client to all our Windows desktops and servers. The client executable is now protected from malware actions; if its name is changed, it won’t be allowed to run.

The new Control interface focuses on ease of use and has a status bar at its base showing the number of clients plus those currently connected and an icon to disconnect them all with one click. Search facilities have been improved, the tree view can now be minimized, and if you double-click on a client in the main panel you can assign different actions such as starting remote control or remotely launching an application.

The NSM console delivers an impressive range of support tools (Image credit: Future)

The tree view uses dynamic grouping to neatly organize clients into categories such as Windows, macOS, Chrome OS and Android versions, hardware enclosure types and geographical locations. You can create custom groups using your preferred criteria and the tree also has options to browse for a client and see those that have sent help requests.

The free PIN Connect server accelerates support connections across large networks. The technician and user simply enter the same unique PIN and an instant connection is created for them.

Selecting a group in the tree shows all members in the main pane and a monitor mode displays scalable screen thumbnails so you can watch user activity in real-time. Users needn’t worry about privacy issues as when the Control app connects, their system tray app alerts them and they can disconnect at any time.

The iOS Manager mobile app offers easy access to all clients (Image credit: Future)

A remote control session opens a new window with a wealth of support tools presented in its upper menu. Along with choosing to control, share or passively view the screen, you can launch local apps, have text and audio chats, take screen captures, share clipboards and reboot the client.

NSM scores over cloud-hosted solutions as its distribution tool sends local files to multiple users, technicians can run training sessions by showing their screen to user groups and they can record Control host activities and replay them. And being an on-premises solution, performance between a host and client on the same LAN will be much faster.

Remote offices and home workers come under NSM’s support umbrella, too. The NSM Gateway and Connectivity Server are included in the price and allow technicians to reach out over the internet to systems with the client installed.

Security is tight: along with 256-bit AES session encryption, the Connectivity Server, Gateway and clients must all possess the same key. Remote clients can only connect to one gateway, the Connectivity Server connection log can be downloaded for further security analysis and larger sites can improve performance by using multiple Gateways in load-balanced configurations.

SMBs that prefer their support services in-house won’t find a better alternative to NetSupport Manager. It delivers a wealth of support tools, including secure access to home workers, while its perpetual licensing plans are highly affordable.

We also ranked the best work from home apps.

This review first appeared in issue 349 of PC Pro.

You can buy exotically named 15.6in portable monitors from Amazon for £100, but there are good reasons to pay extra for well-known brands. Brands such as MSI, with its history of producing high-quality desktop displays.

However, when paying £129, you must set your expectations low. This is a 6-bit panel that’s only capable of producing 16.7 million colors through a technology called frame rate control (FRC). The result is subdued, covering 57% of the sRGB gamut at best. That equates to 41% of DCI-P3, so this isn’t the screen I’d reach for to watch Netflix.

Despite this, MSI provides a Movie mode to accompany the Anti-Blue, Eco, Black-White and Office modes. Office is the best choice for brightness, peaking at 296cd/m2, but greys are blown out to near-white so I kept it at the native profile. This only hit 215cd/m2 at peak, which I kept it at to make whites look relatively white.

Ports include two USB-C sockets and a mini-HDMI input (Image credit: Future)

MSI makes no sacrifices when it comes to the speedy OSD. There are settings to control sharpness, low blue light, the response time (normal, fast or 4ms fastest) and even the company’s “Eye-Q” features. These are designed to keep people working in optimized fashion. For instance, you can use it to remind you to adjust your posture, or check for eye-strain using a grid. One more ergonomic plus: a highly effective anti-glare coating.

There are two usable albeit low-fidelity 1.5W speakers, but I’m more impressed by the two USB-C ports and a mini-HDMI input, so you can connect the monitor to three devices (including tablets and phones) simultaneously. I appreciate the flexibility, which is echoed by a rotating stand that means you can use the Pro MP161 in portrait mode as well as landscape.

At 750g, and measuring 12mm thick if you ignore the stand, this is a highly portable monitor. MSI also offers protection via a lightweight travel pouch that guards it from scratches (if not direct bashes). Add a two-year warranty and there are many reasons to choose the MSI Pro MP161 over its rivals, despite their price advantage.

We also rated the best ergonomic office chairs.

Logitech Pro X Superlight 2 Dex: Two-minute review

The Logitech Pro X Superlight 2 Dex is a striped-back gaming mouse focused on performance above all else. Its looks are understated, and one could easily mistake it for a productivity mouse rather than one designed for gaming, especially given its lack of RGB lighting. However, the white and pink colorways do add an element of vibrancy.

It has a long profile, and the side walls curve inwards sharply. The mouse buttons also feel quite short, and have a steeper downwards rake than some rivals I’ve experienced, which emphasizes more contact with the finger tips. Coupled with the aforementioned concave figure, the Pro X Superlight 2 Dex encourages a claw-style grip.

True to many of Logitech’s gaming hardware, the Pro X Superlight 2 Dex feels well built, with premium materials that are put together in a sturdy fashion that rivals many of the best gaming mice. This extends to the buttons, which have next to no wobble, making for tight, satisfying presses.

Oddly, though, the scroll wheel can be moved sideways when pressed on its right side, almost as if it has tilt functionality, which it doesn’t. But despite this lapse in build quality, it gave me no issue when using it.

There are large PTFE skates underneath, and there’s even a spare cover for the dongle compartment that features another PTFE layer to increase coverage, further improving the smoothness of glides. However, the skates are quite thin, so the Pro X Superlight 2 Dex is definitely at its best on padded surfaces.

You can customize the Pro X Superlight 2 Dex using Logitech’s G HUB software. This allows you to set the DPI between 100 and 44,000, with five slots you can cycle between. Although there’s no dedicated DPI selector button on the Pro X Superlight 2 Dex – a strange omission since even spartan gaming mice usually include one – you can remap the inputs to make one.

There’s also the option to split the DPI adjustments for the X and Y axis, which not every peripheral tool offers. You can set the lift-off distance for each of the five slots as well, with low, medium, and high options. They lack measurements in millimeters, though, which some might find disappointing.

(Image credit: Future)

There are also various remapping options: not only can key inputs be assigned, but so too can numerous system functions and shortcuts. These include launching applications of your choosing and cycling audio inputs and outputs, among others. You can also set a button to be the G-Shift modifier, which gives you access to another layer of assignments when held. A macro creator is available too.

For gaming, the Pro X Superlight 2 Dex delivers a mixed performance. The 8K polling rate is welcome, and there’s no denying that aiming feels smooth and precise. However, I didn’t find the Pro X Superlight 2 Dex particularly conducive to my playing style.

The weight feels concentrated towards the rear, which means that when lifting off, it tends to tilt backwards, which isn’t ideal. Also, the acute side indentations made it hard for me to hold the Pro X Superlight 2 Dex securely, forcing me to grip tighter than usual, which in turn made swiping harder to achieve.

The mouse button clicks are also not as snappy as I would’ve liked. I also struggled to hit the side buttons easily, again due to the pinched sides. They are well damped, though, which makes them satisfying to hit, as is the middle click, although I would’ve liked a tad more feedback from it. The scroll wheel is lightly notched yet offers enough control and security, preventing accidental scrolls when clicking in.

The battery life of the Pro X Superlight 2 Dex seems fairly reasonable. I wasn’t able to test it to exhaustion, but after a day’s worth of varied use, it dipped by 6%, which seems in-line with Logitech’s claim of 95 hours. Charging takes about two hours and forty minutes, which is less impressive.

At $149, the Pro X Superlight 2 Dex is an expensive gaming mouse. While it does offer wireless connectivity and an 8K polling rate, it’s the same price as rivals such as the Razer DeathAdder V3 Pro and the Logitech G502 X Plus. Both these mice are at the top of their class, with the former having excellent performance and the latter being great for features.

(Image credit: Future) Logitech Pro X Superlight 2 Dex: Price & availability

(Image credit: Future)

• $159 / £149 / AU$299
• Available now
• Same price as more feature-filled rivals

The Pro X Superlight 2 Dex costs $159 / £149 / AU$299 and is available now in black, white, and pink colorways. It comes with a braided USB-C-to-A cable and a 2.4GHz USB dongle with an extension adapter.

For an 8K wireless gaming mouse, the Pro X Superlight 2 Dex is quite expensive, considering its lack of features. The best gaming mouse in our view, the Razer DeathAdder V3 Pro, is the same price. This too has an 8K polling rate, but we found it had better ergonomics.

The Pro X Superlight 2 Dex is also the same price as the Logitech G502 X Plus, which we thought was already quite expensive. However, it’s our pick as the best wireless gaming mouse for features, thanks to the extra buttons providing more scope for configuring inputs to your exact needs. Its maximum polling rate is only 1K, though, and at 106g, it’s considerably heavier as well.

Logitech Pro X Superlight 2 Dex: Specs Should I buy the Logitech Pro X Superlight 2 Dex? Buy it if...

You want good gaming specs
The 8K polling rate of the Pro X Superlight 2 Dex will be sure to please the hardcore, as it offers next to no lag for supreme smoothness and precise aiming.

You want good customizations
Logitech’s G HUB software offers plenty of remapping options, including some useful system-level shortcuts. DPI adjustments can also be made for each axis, and there’s three lift-off distances to choose from.

Don't buy it if...

You want lots of buttons
The Pro X Superlight 2 Dex is very sparse, and doesn’t even have a dedicated DPI selector switch, which many gaming mice include.

You want the best ergonomics
The side walls are cinched in tight, and the rear bias of the weight makes it awkward to grab and lift in my experience. Dyed-in-the-wool claw grippers might have a better time with it, though.

Logitech Pro X Superlight 2 Dex: Also consider

Razer DeathAdder V3 Pro
Our pick as the best wireless mouse overall, the DeathAdder V3 Pro has wireless connectivity and an 8K polling rate, just like the Pro X Superlight 2 Dex. It’s the same price too, but we were more impressed with its superb performance and ergonomics. What’s more, it integrates with Razer Synapse, which offers plenty of customization options and tweaks. Read our Razer DeathAdder V3 Pro review.

Logitech G502 X Plus
If it’s features you’re after, then the G502 X Plus has you covered. It has 13 programmable controls, as well as a side-tilting scroll wheel. However, it’s much heavier than the Pro X Superlight 2 Dex, and it lacks the top-draw 8K polling rate too, which might deter pro-level players. It’s also just as expensive, but for those who like plenty of buttons, this is one of the best gaming mice around. Read our Logitech G502 X Plus review.

How I tested the Logitech Pro X Superlight 2 Dex

• Tested for a few days
• Used for gaming, working, browsing
• Plentiful PC gaming experience

I tested the Pro X Superlight 2 Dex for a few days, during which time I used it for gaming, productivity, and general browsing.

I played Counter-Strike 2, a good test for peripherals given it demands quick and accurate movements and button presses.

I have been PC gaming for over a decade and have used a myriad of pointers from a variety of brands, including Logitech. I have reviewed a large amount of gaming mice too.

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

Mild spoilers follow for Doctor Who season 2 episode 1.

Doctor Who is, in many ways, the ultimate comfort food for sci-fi fanatics. There are times when the iconic British TV show will surprise you with its storytelling, character evolution, and/or thematic exploration. By and large, though, you know what you're going to get with Gallifrey's greatest export: a mostly fun-filled romp across time and space.

For better or worse, that's a well-established formula that Doctor Who season 2 (or, for those of us who've watched it since its 2005 revival, Doctor Who season 15) doesn't tamper with. This season's opening chapter, titled 'The Robot Revolution', isn't as narratively revolutionary as its name suggests. Still, while season 2's premiere is predictable in its make-up, I largely had fun with what its 46-minute opener had to offer.

Paranoid android

'The Robot Revolution' introduces us to The Doctor's new companion Belinda (Image credit: Disney+/BBC One)

Season 2 opens with the titular Time Lord (Ncuti Gatwa) racing to find Belinda 'Bel' Chandra (Varada Sethu), a London-based nurse, for unknown reasons.

Unfortunately, no sooner does The Doctor track her down at her home, he can only watch as Bel is whisked away by a group of menacing robots – who, for reasons that'll become clear, claim she's their planet's Queen – to their home world.

Long story short: Bel is taken to a planet where everything is bizarrely named after her. That includes the world's moniker (Miss Belinda Chandra-1), its race of humans (Belinda Chandra-kind), and its main city (Belinda Chandra-Ville).

Bel's ties to a world that she has no recollection of are the least of her worries. Indeed, she's been kidnapped to marry this world's de-factor ruler and be fully assimilated as a human-robot hybrid not like classic Whovian villains The Cybermen (more on this comparison later). So much for a peaceful evening.

Hope is at hand, though. The Doctor has not only infiltrated Miss Belinda Chandra-1, but also teamed up with a group of human freedom fighters looking to overthrow their android oppressors. Cue a typically audacious rescue mission to save Bel and work out what's actually going on.

The Doctor tries to get to the bottom of what's happening on Belinda Chandra-1 (Image credit: Disney+/BBC One)

For those who recognize Sethu's Bel but can't quite place her, allow me to help: Sethu also played Mundy Flynn in 'Boom', which was arguably season 1/season 14's best episode. She also appeared in season 1 of Andor, FYI, and will do so again in Andor season 2, which arrives on Disney+ later this month.

But I digress. Unlike Peter Capaldi and Karen Gillan's supporting roles in season 4 episode 'The Fires of Pompeii' before they secured central roles in later seasons, Sethu's casting as Bel is deliberate.

Season 2 doesn't hide the fact that Bel and Mundy are related. Indeed, The Doctor confirms as much during an expository sequence where discussing a so-called Time Fracture that's a temporal border issue between Miss Belindra Chandra-1 and planet Earth. Continuity in a 70-year-old-plus TV series can be difficult to maintain, so cast additions like this – where an actor can play two versions of the same character – in any project is most welcome.

I'm pleased that loose plot threads from the show's first season on Disney+ haven't been fully discarded

As Doctor Who season 2's first trailer teased, its big mystery isn't just centered on Bel. It's also directly linked to the overarching narrative involving Gatwa's 15th Doctor that, as long as Gatwa is in for the long haul, should run for multiple seasons and, hopefully at some point, explain who or what the returning Mrs Flood is.

This isn't a novel creative and storytelling approach for Doctor Who. Other multi-season stories, such as those involving Matt Smith and Jodie Foster's iterations, have been structured similarly with their breadcrumb trail narratives that eventually lead to a grand reveal towards the end of each Doctor's existence.

Nevertheless, I'm pleased that loose plot threads from the show's first season on Disney+ haven't been fully discarded with the introduction of The Doctor's latest companion. Instead, it appears season 2 will build on the foundations laid by its predecessor and provide a semblance of storytelling pay-off amid this season's primary directive; one that'll see The Doctor attempt to take Bel home.

Companion pieces

This season's opener suggests Bel will give as good as she gets from The Doctor (Image credit: Disney+/BBC One)

To do so, he'll have to take the long way home. No spoilers for the premiere's ending and one of Doctor Who season 2's big mysteries, but everyone's favorite charismatic yet emotionally-damaged Time Lord will need more than a date and simple TARDIS handle-pull to get Bel safely back on terra firma.

The long journey home will provide ample opportunity to show Bel is a fantastic foil to the 15th Doctor, too.

The duo's dynamic already has the air of a spicy yet respect-laden relationship. Bel has a charismatic, compassionate, and capricious personality to match that of her contemporary, and she's not afraid to speak her mind (and put The Doctor in his place) if she disagrees with him.

The duo's dynamic already has the air of a spicy yet respect-laden relationship

One episode in, the pair's collaboration is more of a marriage of convenience than a bona fide friendship, but I expect that to change as this season progresses, and I can't wait to see how this dynamic evolves as it does so.

Predictably, I have grievances about episode 1 of one of the best Disney+ shows' sophomore season. Aside from its villain-in-chief, who's actually one of the more terrifying Doctor Who antagonists we've seen in a while, The Doctor and Bel's robotic foes are largely unoriginal. In fact, I'd say, unique design notwithstanding, they're an uninspired amalgam of two of the most notorious enemies in Doctor Who's rogue gallery – those being, the Daleks and Cybermen.

'The Robot Revolution' also moves at a break-neck pace. Episodes of Doctor Who are renowned for being breezy, but it feels like this one is particularly guilty of barrelling through its story without stopping to take a breath. That doesn't allow its most pertinent story beats to have the emotional impact they require.

I was hesitant about including this for fear of being labeled 'woke', but I will applaud the season 2 premiere for tackling the difficult and uneasy topic of toxic masculinity in a somewhat child-friendly manner. This is a family-first show, after all. Nonetheless, it's another brave and perfectly valid examination of present-day themes that aid the story and don't, as some may claim, ruin Doctor Who as a visual and/or narrative experience.

My verdict

'The Robot Revolution' doesn't break new ground for Doctor Who as a franchise, but there's plenty that'll entertain families and die-hard Whovians alike.

Visually, I'm eager to see season 2 maintain – and perhaps even build on – the trippy aesthetic that permeates its premiere. Story-wise, I hope it pushes the boundaries of the show and doesn't befall the same fate as past seasons.

Indeed, its forthcoming animated episode suggests the former will occasionally happen but, even at this early stage, I'm praying that the pay-off from season 2's big mystery is better than last season.

Otherwise, it'll do the classic Whovian thing of promising much and delivering little. This is a series that explores all of time and space, after all, so let's see some of that wibbly wobbly, timey-wimey magic return to the fore with increasing regularity, rather than being the exception to the norm.

Doctor Who season 2 premieres on Disney+ (internationally) and BBC One/BBC iPlayer (UK) on Saturday, April 12.