TechRadar Reviews

Snapfish photo book review

Snapfish offers a vast range of customizable keepsakes and gifting items in over 30 countries including the US, the UK, and Australia. Customizing Snapfish photo books can be pretty simple thanks to a selection of ready-made templates, but my focus was on how easy it would be to add a TechRadar twist to see whether the design interface and resulting print quality are suitable for something a little more creative.

When reviewing different services, we always order a 12 x 12-inch matte hardcover standard-bound photo book. This configuration from Snapfish included twenty 200gsm satin finish pages as standard for a list price of $74.99 / £38.99 / AU$89.95, with the option to add two-page spreads for $2.49 / £1.99 / AU$2.90 each. Our finished book required four additional spreads, bringing the overall total to $84.95 / £46.95 / AU$101.55. Snapfish appears to offer regular deals and it’s always worth keeping an eye out for any banners or pop-ups, as in my experience they don’t apply the offers automatically at checkout if missed.

One thing Snapfish had in abundance was tutorial videos, which I’m sure would prove helpful for some. However, as someone who has used many of the best photo book services, as well as professional design software, I’d rather it had just been an intuitive process, rather than something I’d need to revise for.

(Image credit: Future)

The Snapfish photo book builder is fairly basic, but it's not straightforward to use. Tools and settings are limited: there is a top toolbar for saving, zooming, and adding or viewing pages, and a toolbar on the right of the design area, with photo, background, and embellish tabs. There was no tab or dedicated sidebar to offer a quick view of the spreads; instead, I had to click on the All Pages icon or click the zoom out button three times.

Speaking of zoom, the Snapfish builder had frustratingly poor zoom and navigation control. There were simple zoom-in and out buttons with a range of just three clicks, meaning the page was either smaller than I wanted or so large I had to use the browser's scroll bars to move around. I found the “large view” icon at the bottom of the page more convenient, as it increased the page size so that the page height filled the available space, but a manual zoom bar would have been more convenient.

Adding photos was a fairly simple process, but after uploading my first batch of photos I spotted a little “upload preferences” button on the bottom right of the screen. Hidden within this menu, I found the option to upload my photos in standard or full resolution, for no extra cost. Snapfish had this set to standard by default, which is pretty cheeky.

(Image credit: Future)

When dragging photos or elements onto the page, it wasn’t possible to know the exact dimensions, so any sizing had to be done by eye. Moving the photos within their frames was simple enough, but increasing or decreasing the size was controlled by a zoom bar, which proved fiddly at times.

I was really pleased to find that guidelines would pop up on the pages as I worked. However, I practically had to move the image pixel by pixel until I hit the right spot, as images and elements wouldn’t snap onto any of the guidelines. On a more positive note, some features I found really useful were the object alignment and size matching options, which popped up whenever I selected more than one element.

It proved particularly tricky to replicate our TechRadar photo book template in the Snapfish builder. While there are around 135 background colors to choose between, other low-cost printing services such as Mixbook offer custom color options from color sliders and hex codes, making it a better choice if you want your photo book to match your branding.

The lack of color options was even more apparent when it came to replicating the colored blocks that accompanied some of our photos. There was no option to apply a chosen color to simple shapes, so I needed to find the best match by searching through the elements. This still didn't prove the quick fix I’d hoped for though, as the shapes were all fixed ratio, forcing me to hide the excess behind the neighboring images or a white shape.

From left to right: the covers of the Blurb and Snapfish photo books. (Image credit: Future)

I found text boxes to be another source of frustration throughout this process. There wasn’t a huge range of fonts to choose from, but this did become somewhat of a blessing when I found I couldn’t find a font by typing it in, having to scroll through the list instead. Fortunately, however, recently used fonts were saved at the top of the list, making it easy to switch between a select few.

Initially, I thought the font size was limited to 30, however, I discovered that larger sizes aren’t shown if the text box is too small. This way of restricting the text to the bounding box also proved frustrating when trying to resize text boxes to help with alignment, as the font size subtly reduced on occasion if I made the box a little too small.

You may notice I stated 30, rather than 30pt: this is because the font sizes aren’t standardized, meaning a size 30 in one font could be half the size of another. This may not be the end of the world if you’re creating a photo book to reminisce over fond memories, but if you’re trying to make something cohesive, this makes life much harder.

(Image credit: Future)

Once I’d arranged each spread as close to the TechRadar photobook template as possible, I clicked the Review and Buy button. I was warned of a low-resolution photo, something I’d already been made aware of thanks to a warning that appeared on the image itself after I’d placed it on the page. However, it neglected to warn me about images going over the edges of the page, or if an image wasn’t within the bleed margin, which would have saved some errors on the printed article.

After confirming I was comfortable to proceed, I had the opportunity to preview my finished photo book. I was really quite impressed with the way Snapfish presented it; unlike other photo book services I’ve used that show a flat spread, Snapfish shows the pages as if they are in a standard bound photo book, so I could see the effect the spine would have on the photos that spanned over two pages.

Delivery times will vary depending on location, time of year, and demand, but in my case, I ordered my Snapfish photo book on a Wednesday, opting to pay £6.99 for priority, and received it the following Monday. If I’d paid for second-class postage the latest advised delivery date would have only been another two days wait. The photo book arrived in a plastic wrapper inside a simple cardboard outer; despite the plastic protection, there was still a fair bit of debris on the front and back cover, although this was likely worse than usual due to the soft matte finish and dark coloring.

Photo books from left to right: Shutterfly, Snapfish, and Mixbook. (Image credit: Future)

Speaking of the finish on the Snapfish photo book’s cover, it was lovely and soft to the touch, but I would recommend against it if you want a dark cover or if the book will be handled regularly. My Snapfish photo book ended up with lots of marks and fingerprints from just a few hours of viewing and photography, despite being handled carefully, and they proved difficult to remove without leaving evidence of the cleanup attempt.

As the outer lines of the pages on the Snapfish builder were thick blue, and there were no warnings when images went into or over the bleed area, I found one of my images fell short of the edge of the page. This was tricky for me to see on the Snapfish builder, even when looking for it specifically, so this highlights the need for a better zoom function, clear outer bleed margins, and a better warning system that flags when an image is not placed optimally.

(Image credit: Future)

It was noticeable that the larger prints were slightly wonky on some pages, as the space between the images and the edge of the page wasn’t consistent in width. I couldn’t help but question the print tolerance too, as it became apparent that the inner border must have been the “outer” bleed line, despite being shown within the page on the Snapfish builder and there being no warnings when my images crossed these boundaries. The image was well within the edge of the page, but the finished result looked like an error.

The cover image of my Snapfish photo book was noticeably darker than the original photo, and to all four of the photo books I was comparing it against. The print lacked the intense vibrancy and detail present on the other photo book covers, which I assume is due to the image being printed onto the black background without any underprinting to preserve the colors.

The color of the printed images inside the book looked fine in isolation, and the print quality seemed acceptable for the price, but they were undoubtedly lower in quality when I compared them to the same photos in the similarly priced Blurb photo book we reviewed. This was especially noticeable when it came to color blending, as the colors of the sky in the Snapfish example showed posterization, leading to obvious steps between colors rather than the colors smoothly blending together, as they did in the same print in the Blurb photo book.

The print quality in the Snapfish book (right) was outshone by the smooth and richly colored Blurb equivalent. (Image credit: Future)

Overall, it’s hard to recommend the Snapfish photo book over one from a competitor like Blurb. The only exception to this would be if it’s on sale, as I could have bought my book for less than £30 if I’d taken advantage of the 40% offer, or if a quick turnaround is key. In my case, a few weeks before Mother’s Day in England, the Snapfish photo book was manufactured in the UK and was in my hands in less than a week. If you’d like to explore offerings from other photo book services, I’d recommend taking a look at our pick of the best photo books.

Should I buy the Snapfish photo book? Buy it if…

You don’t want your photos altered
Snapfish didn’t appear to make any alterations to our images, unlike some of the other photo book services we’ve reviewed, which had been over-edited pre-production. While the colors on the printed article weren’t as vibrant as I’d have liked, this may be preferable in some cases.

You want a cheap photo book
When the Snapfish photo book is on offer, it’s a low enough price to purchase a couple as gifts without your bank account taking too much of a hit.

You want a quick turnaround
Granted, quick production and delivery can’t be guaranteed, but I was impressed to receive my photo book in just a few days with only a few weeks to go before Mother’s Day here in the UK.

Don't buy it if…

You want full creative control
While some will be perfectly satisfied using the pre-prepared layouts, for those of us who want the alignment to be spot-on without having to move a pixel at a time or want images and text to be a specific size, this is not the photo book service for you.

You want to use your own color palette
Sadly I found myself limited to Snapfish’s choice of background colors, and a hard-to-navigate and limited range of colored shapes, which is a stark contrast to the likes of Mixbook that allow free rein when it comes to color choice.

You want clear boundaries
Unfortunately, the print margins were not clear or well-placed, and I wasn’t given any warnings when my images weren’t in the right place, so this is another reason to stick to the Snapfish templates.

Snapfish photo book review: also consider

Blurb
I was highly impressed with the color accuracy and print quality of our photo book from Blurb. The colors of the cover image were beautifully vibrant without any OTT pre-production editing. Aside from a little damage during shipping, the entire book was nicely presented and looked worth the cost, which was perfectly reasonable to begin with.

Cewe
With dedicated software featuring a full suite of editing features and plenty of template options, Cewe is a good choice for people who want a little more creative freedom when designing their photo book. There’s a wide variety of paper and cover materials, and they even offer foil detail on the cover too.

How I tested the Snapfish photo book

• I created a photo book from scratch to recreate our TechRadar photo book
• I explored the Snapfish Builder, testing the different features and tools
• I ordered a photo book and assessed the quality of the finished product

I spent time testing out the different features in the Snapfish builder, seeing how easy their pre-made elements were to use, and the different elements they included for free. I also investigated other services providing photo books to compare prices and features.

I started with a blank canvas and used the tools available to recreate our TechRadar photo book. Recreating an existing design is important so that we can assess how capable the different services are when faced with different requirements.

I ordered my completed photo book and evaluated the finished product, paying close attention to quality, print finish, and alignment, and kept a close eye for any imperfections.

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

As we did some digging on Scanguard, we came across the fact that it seems to be owned by Total Security LTD. Hopefully, this means that it’s benefiting from the same minds that are behind the Total AV products. We’re optimistic that this could translate into numerous updates over time, potentially crystallizing Scanguard into a more premium offering in the antivirus & security space. Nevertheless, Scanguard is its own thing at the moment, and it has a lot to offer regardless. It’s essentially a total security and optimization suite that covers everything from viruses to PC improvement through junk file removal, a password vault, and even a VPN.

The offering starts off with security features, which include: advanced real-time protection against various threats, including malware, ransomware, spyware, and adware, through specialized guards like Malware Guard, Ransomware Guard, Spyware Guard, and Aware Guard. You can give most of the functions a free try, as the company offers a free version of the application for Windows. The time it took to update and apply the definitions in the free tool was a bit worrying, we’re not sure whether it was a connection issue or the free version just being slow. The initial scan, however, was quite quick on a 512 GB SSD filled roughly to 30% of its capacity. The entire scan took under five minutes, going through a malware scan, junk removal, browser cleanup, and startup app check. A note of caution here, as the app scans your PC for any tracking cookies it finds, it will notify you, with an attempt to upsell you to the Pro version, so the cookie, or malware, can be removed. To be fair, the company does offer a 90% discount if you’re trying out their software and musing whether to purchase a license, which means you can get Scanguard Essential Antivirus for as low as $9 for the first year. Beware of the price for the renewal license, though!

(Image credit: Future) Features

The initial scan that we ran with Scanguard, called “smart scan” as we mentioned, was quite quick, covering malware, security and privacy issues, PC performance issues, system junk, and duplicate files with just one click. However, if you want to do a full system scan, which runs a more comprehensive check, be ready to wait up to 20 minutes. Of course, there is the Custom Scan option if you want to specifically target some folders in the scan, potentially speeding up your scan times. In the settings menu, you can additionally tweak your scan options with a toggle for scanning: removable drives, inside archives, specific file types, or scheduling a scan.

(Image credit: Future)

Moreover, the above-mentioned four features make up the core security offering, with the Malware Guard protecting your PC from trojans and worms. The Ransomware Guard guards from hackers taking over your PC and files, Spyware Guard deletes and blocks tracking software, and finally, Aware Guard blocks pesky adverts. We would also add the WebShield to this core, which protects you from malicious sites in real-time. Additionally, this feature offers a web cache cleaner, which can be useful if you do opt to visit the “Low Trust” websites the WebShield designates for you. It works quite well, preventing access to most well-known sites featured on PhishTank, though we did manage to access some more obscure sites, which were blocked by other security solutions, so stay vigilant regardless of which security solution you use.

You can enhance your security by installing the free ScanGuard web extension for browsers like Chrome, Edge, Firefox, or Safari. It’s quite handy in blocking unwanted browser notifications and clearing up your cookies with just one click. Note, the Ad Block Pro is only available if you have the Pro version (paid plan) of the solution. Speaking of web extensions, another useful one offered by Scanguard is the Password Vault browser extension, but for it to function properly, you need to set up the Password Vault on the Desktop app first. If you do so, you will have access to auto-fill and auto-save features, as well as the password generator that will help you create secure passwords. We would have liked to see some features like 2FA for the vault itself, and options to share passwords, save notes, and files securely, but none of that was available. Standalone password managers, like 1Password, offer much more, but Scanguard does cover the basics, so if you need a more advanced password manager, you will have to buy an additional one.

If you opt to pay for the VPN, which is an extra feature, you will get the industry standard features such as data encryption, a kill switch, and encryption protocols like IKEv2 and OpenVPN. There are roughly 100 servers, most of which are located in North America and Europe, thus providing solid options for circumventing geo restrictions. The speeds are acceptable when streaming or torrenting (available only for non-US servers). We feel that other premium providers like Nord offer a much better VPN, with stable and higher speeds, as well as additional features.

If you’re worried about identity theft protection, apparently Scanguard offers some solid features in this regard. Note, we did not test out the offer, nor purchase it. It’s an additional service (paid separately), which covers dark web and social media monitoring, identity restoration, lost wallet assistance, and up to $1 million in identity theft insurance. You also get the Data Breach Check, which scans whether your passwords have been compromised as part of an online data breach. All you need to do is provide your email, and Scanguard does all the heavy lifting.

Rounding off the offer is Scanguard's system optimizer or tune-up utility, which covers junk file cleaning (including duplicate files), an application uninstaller, start-up manager, and a browser cleanup. The junk cleaner seems impressive as it ran under a minute, removing some odd 300 MB of junk files from my PC in the first run. The duplicate scanner, on the other hand, is not perfect; it flagged two different videos as duplicates hidden in a wide tree of folders, both had different names, lengths, sizes, and content, so make sure you double-check before letting the app remove the files by itself. The browser cleanup offers to clear your browsing and download history, cookies, and junk files from your browser, speed up the loading of websites, and put idle tabs to sleep. During our test, it worked quite well, we did not notice any issues with it. Despite having some useful features, we would have liked to see some disk optimization features as well as some gaming boosters, as seen in some other premium offerings. Sure, there is a “game mode,” but it simply makes sure no notifications or scans come up as you game, but there are no PC performance tweaks for gamers with Scanguard.

If you’re an Android user, there is a dedicated app for you; however, if you use an iPhone, then tough luck, there is no Scanguard app for you. On Android, you can not get the app from the Google store, you have to find the link to it in the Scanguard website’s help center. Google will warn you that the app is not safe. Most of the Desktop features are available on the mobile app as well. They work without any issues, but you don’t get advanced security features like SMS filtering, scam call filtering, etc. So all in all, the mobile experience is a bit underwhelming, to say the least.

Pricing

(Image credit: Scanguard)

Luckily, Scanguard gets it right with its pricing plan approach, offering just two pricing plans. The first one is the free one, giving you some basic protection and a taste of what the suite encompasses and offers. The paid plan costs $29 for the first year if you purchase through the site, and here is where things get complicated. The site advertises $29 for the first year instead of $99, which is your annual renewal price. Yet, if you install the free version of the app and from the options menu click on upgrade, you get a price of $9 for the first year, and a renewal price of $99. But wait, there’s more! If you decide to make the purchase, be ready to pay for it using only PayPal, as there is no other payment option. Furthermore, once you do go through the purchase, an upsell moment arrives, offering the VPN as a service at an extra cost, as well as the Ad Blocker Pro.

The initial pricing strategy and plan started off quite promising, but the various offers through the site and the app just left a bad taste in our mouth, loathing the entire process. Sure, we understand that some marketing magic needs to be used to get the best sales results, but communicating everything in one place and transparently makes much more sense in our book.

The offer on the website for the paid plan includes the following: real-time virus and phishing protection, cloud-based threat detection, and tools to defend against adware and spyware. It also includes a secure password vault, system tune-up tools, disk and browser cleaners, and even a web shield extension to block harmful sites. With added Android protection, 24/7 customer support, and a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Protection

(Image credit: VB100)

Checking reliable testing sites, you will only come across a VB100 test result for Scanguard from October 2023. It successfully passed the test at the time, but the website states that Scanguard is not VB100 certified, as the test results have not been refreshed or done recently. However, the test from October 2023 states that it achieved a detection rate of 96.94%, successfully identifying 1,871 out of 1,930 malware samples. Just as importantly, it scored a perfect 0.000% false alarm rate, meaning it didn’t flag any clean files as malicious across 100,000 legitimate test samples. This balance of strong malware detection and zero false positives demonstrated at the time that Scanguard provides reliable protection.

Ease of use

Scanguard has a beautiful design philosophy, with a modern UI, a black, green, and blue color scheme, and large icons that are intuitive and informative once you hover over them. Initial installation may take some time since all of the databases need updating, but it's not concerning. Under the settings tab, everything is laid out logically, with most settings offering a toggle switch for easy customization. Despite having numerous customization options, it never felt overwhelming.

Final verdict

In the end, Scanguard represents a peculiar offer in the security suite space. Some things, like the malware protection and web protection in general, it does well; we would argue on par with some more renowned companies. On the other hand, there are major issues with the mobile app, which is difficult to install. To this, we would also add the pricing fiasco from the app to the website, and the fact that no independent lab has tested Scanguard in 2025 to offer an insight into how well it compares to the others.

All in all, if you’re not too picky or demanding, Scanguard can keep you safe online, but knowing that there are much better offerings in the field, priced similarly to Scanguard, it’s simply difficult to recommend it as a go-to solution.

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

Ninja Blast Max: one-minute review

The Ninja Blast Max is an updated version of the company’s portable smoothie blender, with a more powerful motor and upgraded blades – and it works brilliantly. The Max is more expensive then the original Ninja Blast, but the price difference is easily justified by the improvement in performance.

Unlike every other personal blender I’ve tested to date, the Ninja Blast Max transforms difficult, fibrous ingredients such as kale into a silky smoothie with just a single blending cycle, leaving behind no unpleasant fragments. In my time using the blender, I didn't experience any problems with ingredients becoming stuck to the sides of the cup and missing the blades either, which is unusual for a blender this size.

Tough ingredients are no match for the Ninja Blast Max (Image credit: Future)

The Max fared equally well when it came to blending large frozen berries, which usually prove too much of a challenge for portable smoothie makers. The blender’s "crush" setting is made for tackling ice cubes, but works equally well for rock-hard frozen fruit, pulverizing it to slushie consistency within a minute.

The blender cup is easy to detach from the charging base, enabling you to sip your smoothie on the move, or take your protein shake to the gym. It fits into a typical cupholder or the side pocket of a backpack, and has a robust silicone carry handle. The only downside is that it isn't insulated to keep your creations cold. If Ninja could add a second, insulated cup to the package alongside the first, it would be pretty much perfect.

Ninja Blast Max: price and availability

• Available in US and Europe
• List price $89.99/£89.99 (about AU$140)
• About the same price as Nutribullet Flip

The Ninja Blast Max launched in September 2024. It’s available direct from Ninja, and from third-party retailers such as Amazon for $89.99/£89.99. That’s about AU$140, but at the time of writing it isn’t for sale in Australia.

That’s a significant price increase from the original Ninja Blast, which had a list price of $59.99 / £49.99 / AU$79.99; but it’s understandable considering the upgraded motor, blades, and battery.

The Blast Max is roughly the same as the Nutribullet Flip, which is a more direct competitor, and is priced at $99.99 (about £80 / AU$150). The Ninja Blast Max definitely delivers more blending power than the Flip, delivering more bang for your buck.

• Value score: 5/5

Ninja Blast Max: design

• Cup is easy to remove from the charging base and carry
• Simple to keep clean
• No leaks when blending, or carrying the cup

The Ninja Blast Max has two components: the base, which contains the battery and motor, and a removable cup with the blade unit at the bottom and a flip-top lid on top. The sip lid also has a silicone handle for easy and comfortable carrying. The cup easily tucked into the side pocket of my backpack, and will fit in most standard cupholders, too.

The base unit has a charging port at the back, with a rubber cover to protect against dust and splashes (although you should never immerse the base in water, and always remove the cup before cleaning).

The Ninja Blast Max has three settings for different ingredients (Image credit: Future)

The base has an attractive ombre finish, and is available in seven color options: Sea Glass, Ivory Cream, Dusty Pink, Gray, Silver, Lavender, and Navy (although not all retailers will stock all seven).

It has a central power button, with a green light that blinks during charging, and controls for three settings: Crush (for ice), Blend, and Smoothie.

The cup has a slightly tapered shape, becoming narrower at the bottom to encourage ingredients to fall onto the blades, but not so narrow that anything becomes stuck. The instructions explain that you can gently shake the blender to dislodge any pieces of fruit or veg that escape the blades, but during my tests I didn’t find this necessary.

The cup has a maximum fill line positioned at the 15.8oz / 450ml mark. That’s the same as the Nutribullet Flip, but the Ninja Blast Max’s removable base means it’s much lighter to carry. The lid creates an extra tight seal when you’re on the move, and I never noticed any leaking when I was blending or carrying it.

The lid can only be opened by depressing a button, preventing accidental leaks (Image credit: Future)

The Ninja Blast Max is very easy to keep clean. Like most portable blenders, all you have to do is add some water to the cup with a squirt of dish soap, run a brief blending cycle, then rinse the cup and lid thoroughly and allow them to dry. You can also wash the cup and lid by hand when they need cleaning more thoroughly.

The only downside is that, unlike the Nutribullet Flip, the Ninja Blast Max doesn’t have an insulated cup to keep your creations chilled on the move.

• Design score: 4.5/5

Ninja Blast Max: performance

• Excellent at blending tough vegetables such as kale
• "Crush" mode is great for ice and frozen ingredients
• Ingredients don't become stuck in cup and miss the blades

The Ninja Blast Max is the most powerful personal blender I’ve tested, capable of turning even tricky ingredients into a creamy smoothie.

After charging the blender for a few hours until the light on the front remained a steady green, I started off by making TechRadar’s test recipe – Nutribullet’s Banana Kale Blueberry Freeze.

The ingredients for TechRadar's test smoothie are simple, but often pose a challenge (Image credit: Future)

Its ingredients are simple enough, but the kale usually presents a big challenge for small blenders, which tend to leave shreds of leaf intact. I loaded up the banana, kale, blueberries and almond milk, then hit the button for the blender’s Smoothie mode. This runs a series of pulses, which pulverizes the ingredients then allows them to settle before hitting them with the blades again.

The results were extremely impressive. Usually I have to run a portable blender for at least two cycles to create something smooth enough to drink, and even then I usually find scraps of kale sticking to my teeth. That wasn’t the case with the Ninja Blast Max, which blended everything together into a tasty and silky smooth drink (even if the color wasn't terribly appealing).

Even part way through blending, the Ninja Blast Max had chopped the kale and blueberry skins more finely than most rival smoothie makers (Image credit: Future)

Frozen berries are another tough challenge for a portable blender, and defeated the Nutribullet Flip when I tested it last year. It took two full blending cycles to turn frozen forest fruits into something drinkable, so I was curious to see how the souped-up Ninja Blast Max would fare.

I decided to make a shake using a scoop of vanilla protein powder, oat milk, and a handful of large frozen strawberries, which are the fruits that seem to defeat most blenders. I used the Ninja Blast Max’s Crush setting, which is designed for tackling ice.

Blending the frozen fruit was quite loud, briefly reaching 85dB during pulses (about the same as a standard jug blender, or heavy traffic), but the noise was only brief and became quieter as each pulse of the Blast Max pulverized the strawberries. The blender has a tendency to move about slightly when blending tough ingredients, but it wasn't in any danger of falling over.

Once the cycle was over, I had a delicious pink concoction, with no pieces of unblended berry, and a much nicer texture than a typical protein shake. Again, the drink was silky smooth, with no graininess.

I also tested the blender’s ice-crushing abilities, using it to prepare a blended coffee drink. As with all personal blenders, you need to add a minimum amount of liquid before you can crush ice. For this test, I used barista-standard caramel plant milk, with a double shot of espresso.

The Ninja Blast Max is also excellent for making blended iced coffees and cocktails (Image credit: Future)

Again, I used the Crush setting, and I could hear the ice being shattered even faster than the fruit with each pulse. The resulting blended iced coffee looked as good as anything you might get from a coffee shop, with a nice layer of foam on top and no chunks of unblended ice crystals.

You could also make an excellent espresso martini in the same way if you don’t have access to a cocktail shaker.

• Performance score: 5/5

Should you buy the Ninja Blast Max? Buy it if

You want to blend greens into smoothies

Most portable blenders aren’t up to the challenge of handling fibrous vegetables, but the Ninja Blast Max is the exception.

You want something versatile

The Ninja Blast Max makes light work of pretty much any ingredient you can throw at it, whether you’re making breakfast smoothies or iced cocktails in the evening.

Don't buy it if

You want to make simple protein shakes

If you only want to blend milk with protein powder, you can get away with paying less for a blender with a less powerful motor.

You want to make hot drinks or soup

Portable blenders such as this model aren’t suitable for hot ingredients. If you want to make a portion of soup, take a look at our roundup of the best blenders for some better options.

Ninja Blast Max: also consider

If you’re not sure whether the Ninja Blast Max is the right blender for you, here are two other options to think about.

Ninja Blast

Thanks to its sip lid, the original Ninja Blast made our reviewer Josephine Watson change her mind about the usefulness of personal blenders. It isn't as powerful as the Ninja Blast Max, but it’s cheaper and can often be found for a discount to save you even more money.

Read our full Ninja Blast review

Nutribullet Flip

Unlike Ninja’s portable blenders, the Nutribullet Flip has its blades and motor in the lid, meaning you can easily carry the whole appliance wherever you go. Its design makes it hard for ingredients to become stuck, and it generally works well; but it didn’t handle tough kale and frozen strawberries as well as the Ninja Blast Max.

Read our full Nutribullet Flip review

How I tested the Ninja Blast Max

I used the Ninja Blast Max for a week, making recipes including TechRadar’s standard banana, blueberry, and kale smoothie, which we make with all the personal blenders we test.

I used the blender to tackle ingredients I knew to be particularly tough, including large frozen berries and ice, making sure to select the most appropriate blend setting each time.

I measured the volume of the blender during use with a decibel meter app on my phone.

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

First reviewed April 2025.

This review first appeared in issue 349 of PC Pro.

Where TP-Link’s Deco XE200 opposite takes a maximalist approach, the Asus ZenWiFi XD5 goes in the other direction. Rather than the fastest possible performance, it offers a decent Wi-Fi 6 network at an attractive price, via two or three boxy little stations that are small enough to hide away around your home.

That’s not to say the XD5 units are unpleasant to look at. The rounded cuboid design is clean and modern, with a subtle spiral pattern on top. The base of each station houses a multicolored status LED, although this can’t be seen from all angles as it’s unhelpfully tucked away below the main body.

Internally, the XD5 is a simple dual-band mesh, with a single 5GHz radio connection for both client and backhaul communications. It’s rated at a reasonable 2.4Gbits/sec, however, with 2x2 MIMO and support for 160MHz channels, so there’s a decent amount of bandwidth on hand. The 2.4GHz radio is rated at 574Mbits/sec, which should be fine for the types of device that still use the slower band.

I set up one station in the study of my home and the other in the adjoining bedroom. Asus suggests that two XD5 units will cover an area of up to 325m2, while adding a third extends claimed coverage to 465m2 – although performance will naturally depend on the layout and build of your home.

The stylish design gives the XD5 units a clean, modern look (Image credit: Future)

With my units in place, I took a laptop to various locations around the house, copied a selection of files to and from a NAS appliance connected to the primary XD5 unit via Ethernet, and measured the effective speeds. Despite the XD5’s small size and modest hardware, two stations proved ample to provide strong, consistent performance all around my home, with download rates between 34 and 40MB/sec. That’s nowhere near the speeds you’ll see from the most expensive meshes, but more than enough to handle Zoom calls, Disney Plus, web browsing and whatever else you’re likely to want to do, whether you’re relaxing on the sofa or running a business from home.

On the software side of things there’s no compromise at all: the ZenWiFi XD5 system uses the same full-fat firmware as found on Asus’ most expensive meshes and routers, with management via either the Asus Router mobile app or the traditional web portal. The two interfaces are completely different, which can be a little disorienting if you hop back and forth between them, but they’re both clear and accessible, considering the range of settings and features on offer. Those include not only extensive control over the basic configuration of your network, but a whole slew of advanced features, such as extensive traffic-management and QoS options, plus a configurable built-in firewall.

As if that weren’t enough, the XD5 also offers per-device parental controls, with customizable web filtering for kids’ devices, plus network security scanning powered by Trend Micro. These tools are all free to use forever – a great bonus, as most competing meshes demand an annual fee to fully unlock such capabilities.

(Image credit: Future)

Finally, it’s always good to see Asus’ trademark VPN module. As well as permitting secure inbound connections over the internet, this lets you configure up to 16 third-party outbound VPN servers and bind each one to any number of MAC addresses – enabling you to route your traffic all over the world, if you so desire.

The only thing that’s notably missing is USB support. Older, chunkier ZenWiFi models offered the ability to share USB storage devices and printers over the network, and even to plug in a 4G or 5G mobile internet adapter should your main broadband line go down. The smaller XD5 units don’t have USB ports, so all that’s off the table.

There are only two Ethernet sockets, and no USB ports (Image credit: Future)

It’s also worth mentioning that each ZenWiFi unit has only two Ethernet sockets, both limited to gigabit speeds. It’s a serviceable minimum, but if your network uses a mixture of wireless and wired connections you might prefer a mesh with a few more ports, and perhaps a multi-gigabit option. While the ZenWiFi XD5 is reasonably priced, there are certainly cheaper mesh options. The Huawei Mesh 3 can currently be had for £180 inc VAT, while the Mercusys Halo H80X costs only £135 for three units, or £95 for two. That’s an excellent deal, as the Mercusys mesh provides overall similar performance to the ZenWiFi XD5, with an extra boost for same-room connections. However, it’s a far more basic system, with none of the XD5’s sophisticated software features.

If you want more hands-on control, then, the Asus ZenWiFi XD5 is one of the most appealing meshes around. It doesn’t max out the performance of Wi-Fi 6, but it’s speedy enough that very few people will need to pay more – and its sheer versatility and configurability put cheaper systems to shame.

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This review first appeared in issue 349 of PC Pro.

When you think of Asus’ Vivobook range, cheap laptops probably spring to mind. So you may wonder what’s going on here: a Vivobook costing £2,500? Surely that’s more Asus ROG gaming laptop territory? Dig into the specs and it sounds like a gaming machine, too, with a turbo-fueled Core i9 matched with 32GB of DDR5 RAM and Nvidia RTX 4070 graphics.

Here, though, Asus has creators in its sights rather than gamers. It comes loaded with Nvidia’s Studio drivers, a Pantone-validated OLED screen and even a clever dial built into the touchpad. But let’s start with the fundamentals: power.

Top guns, part one

It’s easy to get blasé about such things, but I still find it remarkable to say that there are 24 cores inside this laptop. That’s because Asus has opted for a Core i9-13980HX processor, which is as boy racer as it sounds. The 13980 indicates that it’s right at the top end of Intel’s family, a fact reinforced by the H suffix (which stands for high performance). The X is the overclocking cherry on top.

All this would be for naught if Asus had skimped on cooling, but a double fan and meaty heatsinks mean that the CPU should keep running at its peak speeds – 5.6GHz for the eight performance P-cores – even under duress. No wonder it can gobble up to 105W.

It’s also why this laptop returned such stonking speeds in our CPU-torture tests. A result of 16,581 in Geekbench 6.1 multicore is as fast as we’ve seen from a laptop, making me nervous that our new graphs should have a higher peak than 20,000. This supreme speed was repeated in Cinebench R23’s multicore section, where it scorched its way to 25,660.

Asus has packed plenty of powerful parts inside the Vivobook Pro 16X (Image credit: Future) Top guns, part two

The RTX 4070 doesn’t sit at the top of Nvidia’s mobile range, but it’s still a potent chip. Its main weapons are the 4,608 CUDA cores, which sounds like a huge number when compared to the RTX 4060 (3,072) but surprisingly few next to the 7,424 of the RTX 4080 and 9,728 of the RTX 4090 (to be clear, these numbers refer to the laptop versions of Nvidia’s chips).

How many CUDA cores you have matters in professional applications such as 3ds Max, Catia and Maya – while there isn’t a linear relationship, it’s a great indicator of how long tasks will take – so there are reasons to opt for an RTX 4080 or 4090. Especially as those products come with far superior memory setups: the RTX 4070 includes 8GB of GDDR6 RAM with a 128-bit interface width, but switch to the 4080 and you get 12GB/192-bit, while a 4090 offers 16GB/256-bit. That’s a huge jump.

However, the RTX 4070 has power efficiency in its favor, getting by on up to 115W (35W minimum) compared to 150W for its siblings. It’s also the reason why this laptop costs £2,500 rather than £3,000 or £3,500.

The good news is that with a Core i9 and 32GB of RAM as the backing cast, the RTX 4070 here is given every chance to excel. I first saw this in our suite of gaming tests. Taking the 1080p High results first, the Vivobook returned 225fps in F1 2022, 93fps in Metro Exodus Enhanced, 183fps in Shadow of the Tomb Raider and 86fps in Dirt 5.

Switching to the panel’s native resolution of 3,200 x 2,000, those results dropped to 116fps (F1 2022), 49fps (Metro), 95fps (Tomb Raider) and 49fps (Dirt 5). In our toughest test, Metro Exodus Enhanced at Extreme settings, the Vivobook returned 48fps at 1080p and 25fps at native resolution. In other words, its only unplayable frame rates came in that final, brutal test.

(Image credit: Future) Creative spin

All those results were with Nvidia’s Studio drivers, as supplied; if you know you’ll be using this machine only for gaming then switch to the Game Ready drivers for the latest optimizations. Asus clearly expects people to use this laptop for creativity, however, so I also put it through its paces in Specviewperf R20.

Here, it performed in line with expectations for an RTX 4070 laptop. Highlights included 91 in the 3ds Max viewset, 335 in Maya and 238 in SolidWorks; to put those scores in perspective, the Lenovo P620 Tower scored 147, 439 and 278 respectively. Those results are significantly higher, but so they should be for a desktop workstation with a Threadripper Pro 5945WX and Nvidia’s RTX A4000 graphics.

Asus loves to add little extras to its touchpads, and here that’s a DialPad. This is a dotted circle, with an inch diameter, that sits at the top left of the touchpad, but you need to activate it: press and hold the tiny symbol at the top right of the pad, then swipe in. It’s a clunky mechanism, but this stops you accidentally switching the dial on and off.

Once active, a white circle within the dotted lines lights up. Press it, and the Asus dial overlay appears on-screen, with different options depending on context. In Photoshop, for instance, it offers the chance to cycle through brush sizes, switch between documents, zoom in and out of layers and quickly undo changes. It’s no substitute for a physical dial, but creatives with dexterous fingers may grow fond of it.

The chunky chassis and poor battery life mean it’s not very portable (Image credit: Future) Getting physical

I ended up leaving the dial on most of the time, as the touchpad is large enough (130 x 83mm) that it didn’t interfere with navigation. With a glass coating it ticks the usual smooth and responsive boxes, although I occasionally found myself reaching for the F6 key to deactivate the whole thing as palm rejection didn’t always work.

Nor will those people who type for a living love this keyboard, which offers surprisingly little travel for a laptop that measures 21mm thick. The keys themselves offer little “feel”, with a lifeless action, but once you move past this and the single-height Enter key (oddly jammed next to the hash key and finished in the same dark grey) the keyboard fades into the inoffensive background.

And there are a couple of positives. All the keys are a generous size and have a sensible gap between them, helping to minimize typos, the spacebar is huge and, while the cursor keys are shortened, they’re also separated from the main buttons. Plus, a dedicated number pad makes sense in a laptop this width.

The keys are a decent size, and the large touchpad is smooth and responsive (Image credit: Future) Super size

This machine is no ultraportable.

Whichever dimension you measure, it’s chunky. A 356 x 249mm footprint means you’ll need a good-sized rucksack to carry it with you, and while Asus officially states the weight as 1.9kg that’s for the more basic spec: I weighed it at 2.1kg. The 21mm thickness refers to the front of the chassis; once you factor in the orange “foot” – a U-shape strip that lifts the Vivobook from a surface to aid airflow – it’s closer to 2.5mm.

I like the brash orange color (echoed in the Esc key) as it lifts what is otherwise quite a boring-looking design. Asus also makes this Vivobook in black, but the silver version I tested is unlikely to gain any lustful glances from passersby. Its only other flash of styling is a raised area on the lid – almost like a melded-on business card – that reveals the laptop’s name.

Rather than style, then, this laptop is designed for practicality. Head to the left and you’ll find a gigabit Ethernet port, full-size SD card reader, USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 (5Gbits/sec) port and the power connector. Over on the right, a 3.5mm jack and HDMI 2.1 output are kept company by two Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C) ports and a second USB-A port. That’s a strong connectivity offering, backed up by Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3.

A top-quality OLED panel makes films look great (Image credit: Future) Power down

To get the most out of this laptop, though, you’ll need to keep it plugged in. I found that battery life varied considerably during my tests, but set your expectations at around four hours – hardly a full working day. And in PCMark’s Gaming test, which pushes the graphics chip in the same way creative graphics tasks will, it lasted only 1hr 41mins.

You can trickle-charge it using the Thunderbolt ports, but I can’t imagine travelling without the 540g power supply. Considering its 240W output, it’s surprisingly compact, and it takes the laptop from empty to 80% in an hour, reaching full capacity in less than two hours.

You’ll probably keep it plugged in much of the time, in which case I recommend you fully investigate the MyAsus app. From here you can switch on the battery care mode, adjust the fan profile (we tested with Performance mode, and the fans get noisy when you’re pushing this machine), and play around with “TaskFirst”, which allows you to set network connectivity priorities – to game streaming, say, or communication apps.

There’s also a bunch of options for the microphone, and unlike many “AI optimizations” I’ve tried, this is worth using. There’s nothing wrong with the plain mode, but the “single presenter conference call” option will bring your voice to the fore. Thanks to the excellent 1080p webcam, which supports Windows Hello and includes a fiddly but effective privacy shutter, you’ll look great on calls, too.

It’s easy to remove the base of the chassis and upgrade the memory and SSD (Image credit: Future) Entertain me

I have mixed feelings about the speakers, but that’s mainly due to the high expectations set elsewhere. If you listen to music in isolation on the Vivobook then you’ll be impressed by its volume and how clearly instruments and voices emerge – the intricate instrumentation of Björk is normally too much for laptops, but the Vivobook handles the mix of strings and vocals well. Where it falls down is bass, pushing the trebles and mids too much to the fore, but I’m being picky.

Certainly you’ll love watching films on this laptop thanks to its sheer volume (with no sign of distortion), and it helps that Asus includes a top-quality OLED panel. It barely needs saying, but a 3,200 x 2,000 resolution ensures sharp edges on text, and black absolutely punches through to make dark scenes in films look fantastic.

It has DisplayHDR 600 Black certification, confirming that it will hit 600cd/m2 in HDR content, while its peak of 389cd/m2 in SDR mode means it’s easy to read in every condition. Except, as it turns out, bright sunshine, where the screen’s reflectivity became obvious.

Inside, though, it’s superb. You can choose from a variety of settings in the MyAsus app, but for testing I stuck to the standard mode and then switched between the preset gamuts: Native, sRGB, DCI-P3 and Display P3. Native makes most sense if you want to enjoy the widest color range (it stretches 19% beyond even the DCI-P3 gamut), but sRGB and DCI-P3 locked the screen down to those gamuts almost perfectly.

Color accuracy is strong – its average Delta-E never went above 0.72, with anything under one considered excellent – and anyone who values true whites will be pleased by a natural color temperature of 6479K, only 21K off the target 6500K.

The Vivobook Pro 16X is a fine choice for gamers and creatives alike (Image credit: Future) Final thoughts

If you’re a demanding user, then, this is almost a perfect laptop. It even has the opportunity to upgrade over time: the 32GB of memory comes supplies as two 16GB SODIMMs, rather than being embedded, and if you’re a nimble hand with a Phillips screwdriver you can whip the bottom off this chassis within a minute.

This will reveal the fact that the 1TB M.2 2280 SSD is also replaceable, and note this isn’t the speediest Gen 4 drive around: 4,061MB/sec reads and 2,971MB/sec writes are strong but not exceptional. I would be tempted to replace it with a faster 2TB drive at some future date; sadly there isn’t a second M.2 slot, despite the amount of space available on the board.

Then again, we need to remember that this isn’t a £3,000+ mobile workstation. While hardly cheap at £2,500, it rewards you with all the power and quality that most creative professionals need. In terms of price, that’s certainly competitive when placed next to an equivalent 16in MacBook Pro. And yes, that laptop offers far superior battery life, minimal fan noise and better performance away from the mains, but it lacks the graphical grunt of Nvidia’s RTX chip along with easy upgrades.

Whether the Vivobook Pro is right for you, then, depends entirely on what you intend to use it for. All I can tell you is that Asus extracts the most from its components, while the supporting cast – particularly the screen – come from the top drawer in terms of quality.

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Lenovo Idea Tab Pro: One-minute review

The new Lenovo Idea Tab Pro could be the best Android alternative to Apple's iPad 10.9 (2022) on the market right now, given its comparable price point

It’s a formidable general use tablet that boasts a number of key upgrades compared to Apple’s slab, namely a larger 12.7” 3K (2944 x 1840) display with a buttery smooth 120Hz refresh rate, which makes everything feel breezy, from scrolling social media feeds to watching videos and movies on the go.

The seriously impressive JBL-tuned speakers can easily go toe to toe with the sound systems of some of the best tablets around. With the Lenovo Idea Tab Pro, you have a formidable media consumption machine that’s a fantastic fit for those times when you just want to kick back with some Netflix or Amazon Prime Video on a convenient tablet screen.

(Image credit: Dash Wood / Future)

Equipped with a mid-range MediaTek Dimensity 8300 processor and 8GB of RAM, the Lenovo Idea Tab Pro is no slouch when it comes to gaming. Graphically intensive titles like Zenless Zone Zero and Call of Duty: Warzone Mobile look great and run smoothly, though the tablet’s heavy weight and large size definitely make it quite an unwieldy choice for those who rely on touch screen controls.

Even considering its larger size, the Lenovo Idea Tab Pro is a great pick if you’re looking for a capable tablet to keep yourself or the rest of the family entertained on all fronts.

The Lenovo Tab Pen Plus stylus is included in the box, too, and while it's not quite as accurate as the latest Apple Pencil, it comes pretty close with impressive pressure sensitivity. As a result, this would be a very good tablet for students or beginner artists, though users in the latter category should note that leading drawing apps like Procreate are still exclusive to Apple’s ecosystem.

I had some problems with Android on tablet, including the odd stutter and unoptimized app - though I can't fault Lenovo for a poor Android tablet ecosystem.

That said, Lenovo does have control over its custom Android skin and some decisions may prove divisive. I personally appreciate neat features like the desktop-style PC mode and useful Entertainment Space home screen tab, but an awkward set up process that forced me to fight tooth and nail to avoid installing mountains of pointless bloat makes a poor first impression and is a let down, even at this price.

(Image credit: Dash Wood / Future) Lenovo Idea Tab Pro: Price and availability

• Starts at $349.99 / £379.99
• Available in the UK, coming soon to the US
• Lenovo Tab Pen Plus stylus included

The Lenovo Idea Tab Pro is currently available from Lenovo in the UK and starts at £379.99. This price gets you the tablet in its 128GB configuration and the Lenovo Tab Pen Plus, which is included in the box and costs $39.99 / £29.99 as a standalone.

A 256GB model is also available and costs around £400. Outside of Lenovo's direct sales website, the tablet is easy to find at retailers like Amazon, Argos, and Very.

As for the US, the Lenovo Idea Tab Pro isn’t available quite yet. It’s expected to launch in April 2025, with a starting price of $349.99.

• Value score: 4/5

Lenovo Idea Tab Pro: Specs

Here's everything you need to know about what the Lenovo Idea Tab Pro is packing under the hood:

Lenovo Idea Tab Pro: design and materials

• Sleek and understated
• Premium look and feel
• One color option

The design of the Lenovo Idea Tab Pro isn't the most thrilling, borrowing much of its overall look from its 2023 predecessor the Lenovo Tab P12, but it’s still good on the whole.

Its casing is a smooth metal that is both pleasant to the touch and gives the impression of durability. There are some hefty bezels around the large 12.7in display (about 8mm) but, rather than detracting from the user experience, they serve as a handy place to rest your palms without the risk of accidental inputs.

The back of the Lenovo Idea Tab Pro features an embossed, shiny Lenovo logo in its centre, plus the camera module in the top right hand corner. Next to the camera is a subtle striped pattern that seems purely decorative, and a magnetic area marked with a small stylus symbol. This is where the Lenovo Tab Pen Plus can attach to the tablet thanks to some strong magnets.

(Image credit: Dash Wood / Future)

Unfortunately, the stylus is not able to draw power when it’s attached and needs to be charged separately via a USB Type-C cable. Luckily, it has great battery life with more than 150 hours of standby time, so this isn’t something that you’re going to be doing often. I’m not the biggest stylus user, but I still put it through its paces and only needed to charge it once during my testing.

The Lenovo Idea Tab Pro also has a MicroSD card slot (ideal if you want to quickly expand your storage or easily transfer files from a laptop) plus a fingerprint reader on its power key. It’s a very snappy fingerprint reader too, quickly and reliably unlocking the tablet in a single press.

On the bottom of the tablet are three accessory connector pins which allow you to slot it into the aptly named Lenovo keyboard pack for the Idea Tab Pro. This equips it with a tactile IdeaPad style keyboard and touchpad and, thanks to the Luna Grey colorway, wouldn't look at all out of place in an educational or office setting.

At 1.36lbs / 620g this is not the lightest tablet out there, but it definitely feels well built. It’s 6.9mm thick, so still a tiny bit slimmer than the latest iPad, but a little chunkier than the iPad Air.

This is the first base model iPad to do away with the Lightning port in favor of USB-C (Image credit: Dash Wood / Future)

Design score: 4/5

Lenovo Idea Tab Pro: Display

• Colorful and smooth display
• Fantastic for media consumption
• Not the brightest around

Apple iPad 10.9 (2022) Liquid Retina Display in the Magic Keyboard Folio (Image credit: Dash Wood / Future)

The Lenovo Idea Pad Pro features a 12.7in IPS LCD screen at 2944 x 1840 (3K) resolution. It’s not quite as vibrant as OLED options, but it's still got punchy colors and benefits from a smooth 144Hz refresh rate. This is a huge upgrade compared to the 60Hz panel used on the Lenovo Pad P12 and is instantly noticeable when scrolling websites or social media feeds. The viewing angles are also surprisingly good, making it easy to use the tablet propped up against a stand and even when it’s flat on a table.

I tested the display with a wide range of videos in both 1080p and 2160p and was very happy with the results. The only area where I can fault it is in its brightness. Maxing out at 400 nits, it’s completely fine for indoor use but can start to struggle in bright sunlight. This won’t matter for the vast majority of users, but if you want to read magazines or comic books on a sun lounger then you will probably appreciate something brighter. Given the price and strong performance of the display elsewhere, however, it’s difficult to really complain about this.

The 12.7in size is more than enough for most day-to-day functions and perfect multi-tasking. Lenovo’s OS has some extra buttons specifically for this purpose too, making it easy to split the screen between two separate apps or view an app as a floating window - fantastic if you want to view multiple documents or take notes from a website.

• Display score: 4/5

Lenovo Idea Tab Pro: Software

• Some handy features
• Brilliant PC mode
• Annoying bloat

The software here is a bit of a mixed bag. On one hand, I really enjoy Lenovo’s Android skin. This is, of course, subjective, but I find its user interface approachable and packed with useful features.

The Entertainment Space on the home screen for example, which connects to most of your streaming services to provide an all-encompassing page of recommendations, is something that I actually regularly use and a great way to work out what to watch next.

The PC mode is also brilliant, enhancing multi-tasking with the ability to create multiple distinct windows with your apps on a virtual desktop. The tablet’s USB Type-C port supports DisplayPort too, so you could feasibly hook this up to a keyboard, mouse, and monitor with a compatible dock for an effective workstation in a pinch.

Menus are all snappy and the in-built smart connect app lets you connect the tablet to your PC to quickly share files and even directly control it from your desktop - though your mileage here is going to depend heavily on the strength of your internet connection.

On the other hand, the setup process is, in a word, dire. You have to flip through an entire menu of annoying ‘additional apps’ (that’s a polite way of saying ‘pointless bloat’) and even after thinking that I had managed to dodge every single one, I still somehow ended up with the likes of MyScript Calculator 2, Tide, and Nebo clogging up my home screen.

I don’t even know what ‘Nebo’ is and was in no mood to find out, so I had to spend my first five minutes with the tablet uninstalling everything that I could. It makes for a very poor first impression and feels a little like Lenovo is trying to take advantage of users that don’t know any better.

(Image credit: Dash Wood / Future)

• Software score: 3/5

Lenovo Idea Tab Pro: Performance,

• Really superb speakers
• Great for media consumption
• Also a decent choice for gaming

Rather unexpectedly, the absolute highlight of using the Lenovo Idea Tab Pro is its unbelievably good speakers.

Seriously, the quad JBL-tuned setup here is genuinely among the best that I have ever heard on a tablet at this price, absolutely obliterating the likes of the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE and iPad 10.9 (2022). They can go impressively loud without losing detail and offer a great sound profile that’s punchy without being too heavy on the bass.

Throw in the Dolby Atmos support and you have a sound system that can handle intense action movie moments, catchy TV show theme tunes, or long video podcasts without breaking a sweat. One of my absolute favorite things to do on any tablet is watching music videos and that was a real pleasure here, even without any headphones.

It definitely helps that all types of media look great on the big, bright 3K screen though. The 16:10 aspect ratio also leads to minimal black bars in most scenarios. This is a real streaming powerhouse and, if you’re after a tablet to catch up with your favorite series, it comes highly recommended.

(Image credit: Dash Wood / Future)

I put the tablet through its paces with a range of apps, plus plenty of internet browsing, and there was no noticeable slowdown to report. I encountered a few small stutters in the YouTube app when swiping to minimize a video and a handful crashes in the Firefox app, though these seem to be problems with Android itself that I have been able to replicate on other devices, so I won't blame the tablet.

If you’re in the mood for some gaming, then the Lenovo Idea Tab Pro is a good choice. Call of Duty: Mobile ran perfectly smoothly, solidly maintaining above 60 fps even after I cranked the settings up to Very High. Paired with a Bluetooth controller, it was a fantastic experience.

The significantly more demanding Zenless Zone Zero ran at a smooth 30 fps on Low. Cranking the frame rate up to 60, the Idea Tab Pro was mostly stable, but the game did cause the tablet to heat up quickly. In more casual games like SimCity BuildIt, performance was flawless throughout.

Lenovo Idea Tab Pro: Battery

• Lasts a day and then some
• Holds charge well between uses
• Average charging speed

Equipped with a large 10,200 mAh battery, the Lenovo Idea Tab Pro delivers good battery life.

It can easily get through an entire day of use and then some, provided that you’re not running lots of downloads or gaming frequently.

To give you a practical example, I used the tablet to watch an episode of a TV series every evening and I didn't need to charge the tablet the entire week. The Idea Tab Pro also seems to hold its charge well when idle. This is a tablet that you can leave in a bag for a few days and come back to without needing to run for a charger.

On the subject of charging, the tablet supports up to 45W power delivery and took about two hours to get up to full juice from zero. Nothing exceptional in this regard, but fine for the price.

Lenovo Idea Tab Pro: Score card Should I buy the Lenovo Idea Tab Pro? Buy it if...

You’re after great sound
I still can’t get over how great the sound is with the Lenovo Idea Tab Pro. The quad JBL-tuned speakers are a delight and a top reason to buy.

You love watching movies
With its lovely 12.7in 3K display, the Lenovo Idea Tab Pro is a great fit for movie lovers. Plus the MicroSD card support means you don’t have to worry about running out of space for all your favorite series.

You want a good all-round tablet
This tablet is a great all-rounder. It’s ideal for media consumption thanks to its sound and screen, but also has the specs for productivity and gaming.

Don't buy it if...

You can’t stand the software
Lenovo’s Android skin won’t be for everyone, especially the frustrating set-up process. Consider options from other brands if you don’t think you’ll be a fan.

Also consider

Not sold on the Lenovo Idea Tab Pro? Here are two compelling alternatives to consider.

iPad 10.9 (2022)
Not quite the latest iPad anymore, but widely available for around the same cost as the Lenovo Idea Tab Pro. You get comparable battery life and decent performance, but a smaller, lower resolution screen and worse speakers. The big draw here, however, is the software which is a seamless delight and offers leading apps like Procreate. The camera is much better, too.

Read our full iPad 10.9 (2022) review

Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE Plus
If you have a bit of a higher budget, then the superior battery life, not to mention thinner design and wider range of colors, might make the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE Plus a compelling option. The processor here is slightly less powerful than the Mediatek Dimensity 8300, though, so don’t expect better performance.

Read our full Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE Plus review

How I tested the Lenovo Idea Tab Pro

I used the Lenovo Idea Tab Pro tablet as my primary tablet for more than two weeks.

During that time I tried it out with a range of productivity tasks (including the writing of this review!) with apps like Google Docs, Gmail, Slack, and Firefox. I made sure to evaluate the quality of the included stylus using the in-built notes application.

I also relied on it for my entertainment needs, by watching series on Amazon Prime Video, Netflix, and Disney+. On top of this, I watched lots of videos on YouTube and listened to plenty of music in order to really make the most of its excellent speakers.

On top of this, I managed to squeeze in a fair few hours in Call of Duty Mobile, which I played with both touch controls and an Xbox Wireless Controller, plus plenty of time in Zenless Zone Zero.

For battery testing, I ran the tablet from full charge until it ran out of battery over a few sessions - making a note of the length of each session plus the overall start and end time. I also measured the time it took to charge back up to 100% using a 45W charger.

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First reviewed April 2025

One-minute review

The Razer Iskur V2 X is a lower-cost alternative to the excellent Razer Iskur V2, offering a more limited selection of features at a massively reduced $299.99 / £299.99 price.

It’s easily one of the best gaming chairs and most comfortable gaming chairs under $300 / £300 that I've tested. This costs puts it a little bit above the cost of other budget-friendly seats like the Corsair TC100 Relaxed or AndaSeat Luna, but comfortably below more premium options including the Secretlab Titan Evo and Razer has smartly judged which premium features to lose and which ones to keep.

It’s constructed with robust materials, including a hard-wearing metal base that feels substantially more durable than the usual plastic ones found on cheaper models. It’s well-cushioned too, with a wide, soft seat that feels spacious and gives you plenty of room to shift around and adjust your position.

The backrest features an in-built lumbar support curve that, unlike the adaptive lumbar system of the Razer Iskur V2, is completely static and cannot be adjusted. That said, I wouldn’t actually want to adjust it anyway as I found it offered just the right amount of support out of the box - though your mileage here may vary. The armrests have a more limited 2D motion compared to that more premium seat (that’s vertical plus three rotated positions), which is fair for the price and is topped with a pleasantly squishy foam.

On top of all this, the assembly process is remarkably easy and quick with clear instructions that even a complete newcomer to the world of gaming chairs would be able to follow with ease.

The one area where the Razer Iskur V2 X falls behind is in the lack of upholstery or color options. This chair is only available with a fabric finish, which is going to disappoint those who prefer the look and feel of synthetic leather.

Despite some neon green details, both the black and grey colorways are also quite plain looking - especially compared to the variety of bright colors offered by budget brands like AndaSeat.

(Image credit: Future) Price and availability

• Costs $299.99 / £299.99
• Available via Razer
• Spotty availability in the UK

The Razer Iksur V2 X is available via Razer and costs $299.99 / £299.99. That said, stock seems a little spotty in the UK and, at the time of writing, if you head over to the Razer site in the region you’re greeted with an error message on the Razer Iksur V2 X purchase page.

If you are able to get your hands on it, however, this is a very good price for what you get. It’s less than half the cost of the Razer Iskur V2, which comes in at $649.99 / £599.99. The biggest differences between the two models are the fact that the Iskur V2 X lacks the adjustable lumbar support (with a static curve instead), has 2D armrests rather than 4D ones, and comes in just one upholstery: fabric.

The Razer Iskur V2 also comes bundled with a memory foam headrest, which is sold separately in the case of the Razer Iskur V2 X.

While I do personally slightly prefer using the Razer Iskur V2 X thanks to its enhanced adjustability, these are very reasonable concessions for such a steep price cut. You’re going to struggle to find many chairs more feature-rich than the Razer Iskur V2 X for under $300 / £300.

Specs Design and aesthetics

• Simple and effective design
• Robust materials
• But only one upholstery option

The Razer Iskur V2 X looks like a slimmed-down version of its more expensive sibling, the Razer Iskur V2. It has that same iconic racing seat silhouette, but a thinner backrest - presumably because it lacks any of the Iskur V2’s complex adjustment mechanisms. The middle portion of the backrest features a subtle hexagonal pattern, which gives it a pleasant tactile feel.

Towards the bottom of the backrest is the integrated lumbar curve, which is designed to follow the natural curvature of your lower back. The curve is very prominent and will likely take a few days to get used to if you haven’t tried an ergonomic chair before, but I found it to be immediately comfortable as someone who’s sat in similar chairs before.

As you look towards the seat’s base, the first thing you will notice is the fact that it's impressively spacious, coming in at 21in / 545mm at its widest point. It’s also a slightly sculpted shape, with a small dip towards the center which helps more effectively distribute your weight.

(Image credit: Future)

The base of the chair is constructed from a durable brushed aluminum, which is reassuringly heavy and a massive upgrade compared to the plastic base found on similarly priced budget options like the AndaSeat Phantom 3.

The Razer Iskur V2 X is available in two colorways, black and light grey. I tested the black model, which features bright green stitching and a rubberized Razer logo just below the point where your head sits. Despite these details, these color choices are very plain, and the one area where some of the competition truly has the Razer Iskur V2 X beat.

In addition to gray and black, the likes of the much cheaper AndaSeat Luna, for example, also come in a more exciting black and blue or black and red. Similarly, the Boulies Master Series, which is just a touch more expensive than the Razer Iskur V2 X, is available in a chill blue or a deep brown. Both of these alternatives could therefore be better choices if you’re looking to color-coordinate your setup.

(Image credit: Future) Comfort and adjustability

• Fabric is layered and high quality
• Cushions are soft and effective
• Great lumbar support

There are no areas where I can fault the Razer Iskur V2 X in terms of comfort. This is an extremely comfortable seat, thanks in no small part to its integrated lumbar curve. While most chairs rely on a separate lumbar pillow, which can be fiddly and difficult to position properly, I really appreciate the simplicity of the Razer Iskur V2 X. This is a no-fuss chair that, for me, was great to sit on right out of the box.

The wide base of the seat is also fantastic, with soft foam cushions that are a joy to sink into. Although I usually prefer synthetic leather options, the fabric upholstery here is soft to the touch with multiple breathable layers that effectively stop heat building up even over periods of extended use in an office setting. The backrest reclining mechanism is smooth and reliable, offering up to 152 degrees of positioning for when you just want to kick back and relax.

There are also no problems with the height adjustment, which is controlled by a small lever under the right-hand side of the seat. This lever can also be pulled outwards to enable a seat tilt or pushed back in to lock it flat. The speed of the seat title is adjustable via a large dial on the bottom of the seat.

Finally, the armrests feature a 2D adjustment mechanism. It feels a bit plasticky, but nevertheless appears robust and is very smooth and easy to operate. I also appreciated the slightly soft and rubbery feel of the top of the armrests, which was perfectly comfortable for my elbows.

(Image credit: Future) Assembly

I also can’t complain about its simple assembly process. Razer nailed it with the Razer Iskur V2 and has put up a comparably strong showing here.

A large instruction sheet is included in the box with clear diagrams walking you through the entire process, in addition to every tool that you need. This is on top of a pair of gloves (eliminating the chance of picking up small nicks or scratches) plus a large foam sheet to protect your flooring as you build.

The entire process took me about ten minutes and, while I am very experienced in building gaming furniture, I’m confident that even a newcomer would be able to complete it with ease.

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(Image credit: Future)Image 2 of 2

(Image credit: Future) Should I buy the Razer Iskur V2 X? Buy it if...

You want a quality, cheap chair
The Razer Iskur V2 X is an impressive effort for its price, with a great design and high build quality that puts it far above the competition.

You want minimal adjustments
The static lumbar curve is simple and doesn't require any fiddly adjustments. This makes the Razer Iskur V2 X a good choice for those who just want something they can sit on comfortably out of the box.

Don't buy it if...

You want a more exotic look
With thrilling fabric color options that range from black to… dark grey, you’re better off picking other models if you’re after a specific look or a synthetic leather finish.

You crave more features
What's here is great for the price, but if you pay more you can find chairs with even more features.View Deal

Also consider...

Not completely sold on the Razer Iskur V2 X? These two alternatives might take your fancy instead.

Razer Iskur V2
If you need that added adjustability in the lumbar department, or 4D armrests, then check out the more premium version of this seat. It also boasts both leatherette and fabric options, plus a free head pillow.

For more information, check out our full Razer Iskur V2 review

Corsair TC100 Relaxed
If you want an even more affordable option, the Corsair TC100 Relaxed is a fantastic pick. It’s cheaper than the Razer Iskur V2 X, but still offers top tier comfort.

For more information, check out our full Corsair TC100 Relaxed review

(Image credit: Future) How I tested the Razer Iskur V2 X

• Tested for over a month
• Sat on for hours at a time
• All adjustments tested

I tested the Razer Iskur V2 X in our London HQ for over a month. During that time I spent hours sitting on the chair, carefully assessing its comfort and trying a range of different seating positions.

I made sure to test all of its adjustment features and often compared my experience with my hands-on testing of other gaming chairs from all across the price spectrum, particularly the Razer Iskur V2. I also compared it directly to various chairs around the office and asked colleagues to try it out for even more opinions on the level of support that it provides.

Read more about how we test

First reviewed March 2025.

Xreal One: One-Minute Review

I’ve tested my fair share of AR smart glasses in the past few years, and the Xreal One glasses might be the best smart glasses I’ve tried.

Xreal’s expertise shines through with these specs, which not only boast an impressive full-HD 120Hz OLED image with vivid colors, impressive contrast, and a 600-nit brightness, but also solid audio courtesy of Bose.

Headphones will still deliver better audio, but these smart glasses don’t feel incomplete without a pair of cans – something I can’t say of their rivals.

Though if you’re picking up the Xreal One you’ll probably also want to grab Xreal’s Beam Pro – a smartphone-like companion device that adds features like easy spatial photo capture without an iPhone 15 Pro, and two USB-C ports.

The Beam Pro starts at $199 / £189 for a model with 128GB of storage and 6GB of RAM, and while it’s not technically required it compliments the Xreal One so well that it feels like you’re missing out without it.

You can also connect the glasses to a suite of compatible USB-C devices instead like most smartphones, laptops, and game consoles (though for the latter you might need an add-on HDMI adapter). It’s perfect for watching your favorite show or playing a game on a giant virtual display, or for working privately on sensitive work documents in the office, or while you’re traveling, as only you can see your screen.

At $499 / £449 the Xreal One are approaching the pricier end of the scale, but with solid specs these glasses justify their cos, and are worth picking up if you want premium performance.

Xreal One: Price and availability

(Image credit: Xreal)

The Xreal One is available to buy in the UK and US from Xreal.com for $499 / £449.

This puts it at the mid-range price for AR glasses – it’s more expensive than older and more budget-friendly options like the Xreal Air 2 and RayNeo Air 3S, but less expensive than high-end standalone AR glasses like the Xreal Air 2 Ultra, and the upgraded (and soon to release) Xreal One Pro.

• Value: 3.5/5

Xreal One: Design

• Wired USB-C connection
• 82g, comfy for long stretches
• Electrochromic dimming shades

The Xreal One doesn’t reinvent the wheel when it comes to Xreal’s AR glasses design. That is, at a glance it looks like a pair of sunglasses – albeit with a thick frame and large displays situated behind the lenses.

Just as on other wired AR specs the USB-C cable feeds into a port at the end of the left arm, and can be connected to a suite of USB-C devices that support DisplayPort – or to other devices with the right cables and accessories like an HDMI-to-USB-C cable.

Meanwhile the right arm features all of the buttons. On the bottom of the arm you’ll find a Red button which when pressed switches between Anchor mode and Follow mode (which anchors the screen in space or has it follow you as you move your head), and a brightness bar – you make the screen brighter, or change the electrochromic dimming intensity between three levels.

On top you’ll find a small black ‘Quick button’ for toggling between your display and dimming settings and transparency mode – which takes away your screen and resets the lenses to clear, so you can see what’s going on around you.

There are no volume controls on the specs, so you’ll need to rely on your device’s audio controls.

(Image credit: Future)

During my tests I only really used them on max brightness with the dimming turned up to full, as this created the best viewing conditions, though the transparency mode toggle came in handy a few times, and when using the Xreal Ones in a dark environment it was handy to turn the brightness down a tad so there wasn’t as much glare.

To find the best fit for you there are three arm angles so you can tilt the screen, and three nose pad options, so you can have the glasses sit correctly on your face. In my testing, after adjusting the specs I was able to comfortably wear the glasses, which weigh just 84g, for hours at a time with no trouble.

The Xreal One glasses also come with a cleaning cloth and a hard carry case so you can keep them clean and easily transport them and their cable.

• Design score: 5/5

Xreal One: Performance

• Impressive Bose audio
• Full-HD, 120Hz image at 600-nit brightness
• Pairs with a plethora of USB-C devices

Instead of beginning with the visual quality of the Xreal One (which is great by the way – more on that in a moment) I want to start this section by praising their audio. Normally, smart glasses audio is bordering on bad – the small open-air speakers produce a hollow sound that's passable for watching films, but a pair of headphones often feel like a necessity rather than an optional add-on. Thanks to Bose engineered sound that’s not the case with the Xreal One specs – the audio performance is one of their best features.

They’re not perfect for music, but compared to the Xreal Air 2 there's a stark improvement. This makes the immersive movie and TV show watching experience significantly better without requiring any headphones, meaning the specs feel like a more complete package out of the box. What’s more they seem to be less leaky than on previous models – audio can still be heard by people sitting close by, but it’s a lot better.

Now for the visuals. The Xreal One specs boast a 1080p image produced by Sony Micro-OLED displays that boast a peak 600nits perceived brightness, a 120Hz refresh rate, and a 50-degree field of view.

The end result is an image that looks really good. Yes it’s only Full HD quality but the colors are beautiful, and the excellent contrast is super-handy when you're trying to follow the action in dark scenes (though you’ll need the brightness set to max).

I’ve been using the smart specs to stream Daredevil: Born Again (it’s superb by the way), Invincible season 3 (also great), and play games using my PC and PS5 by connecting them to the specs via HDMI adapters.

The high refresh rate and low lag help to ensure that games look smooth, and it was a blast to watch the action unfold on a giant 147-inch virtual screen.

(Image credit: Future)

While using them with my PC I also gave the specs a whirl for working. Having your documents laid out on a larger monitor was certainly handy, but one big advantage I found was these specs are excellent for working privately, especially while traveling. I could be writing up an embargoed story on a train or flight, and because only I can see my virtual laptop screen I don’t have to worry about people looking over my shoulder and seeing any information they aren’t meant to.

I just wish the Nebula app for Mac wasn’t still in beta, and that the also in-beta Windows app was easier to find (I had to go through Reddit rather than Xreal’s own website).

While you can use the Xreal One glasses with a plethora of USB-C devices, by far your best bet is the Xreal Beam Pro. It’s a smartphone-like add-on that's built by Xreal to be the perfect companion to its glasses, and the company has thoroughly succeeded in that regard. If your budget can stretch to purchasing the Xreal One and a Beam pro in a bundle, do it.

• Performance score: 4.5/5

Should you buy the Xreal One glasses? Buy it if…

You want top-end AR entertainment
These are the best AR glasses of this kind we’ve tested, thanks to their impressive sound and image quality.

You want privacy
These specs allow you and only you to see what’s on your phone or laptop screen with the right display settings, which makes them ideal for things like working on sensitive documents on your commute.

You don’t have headphones
These smart specs feature some of the best audio I’ve heard during my testing of different brands. Headphones are still better than the glasses audio-wise, but they don’t feel like a must-have with the Xreal One, as they do with other smart glasses.

Don’t buy it if…

You aren’t getting the Xreal Beam Pro
Xreal’s glasses shine when paired with its Beam Pro add-on. You don’t technically need it, but it makes the specs feel like a complete package, which makes it feel more like a necessity.

You don’t have a big budget
The Xreal One are great but also pricey. There are solid and cheaper alternatives out there that you could look at instead.

You want 4K
No smart glasses yet boast 4K, so if that’s a resolution milestone you’re waiting for you’ll need to wait a little longer.

Also consider

Xreal Air 2
If you want to stick with Xreal, the Xreal Air 2 or its electrochromic dimming-enhanced Xreal Air 2 Pro are both solid options that cost a little less – though expect a slightly less good image and noticeable inferior audio.
Read our Xreal Air 2 reviewView Deal

Meta Quest 3
While not a direct competitor to Xreal’s glasses, the Quest 3 is an XR product that you should consider if you want to experience what VR and MR have to offer – it’s simply superb.
Read our Meta Quest 3 reviewView Deal

How I tested the Xreal One glasses

I spent a few weeks testing the Xreal One specs for different use cases – gaming, entertainment, and productivity. I mostly used them at home on my couch, in bed, or at my desk, but I also made sure to take them with me on a couple of flights I took, and also used them during my commute a few times to get a sense of their capabilities in different environments.

I hooked them up to my PC, PS5 and smartphone (a Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6), but my main connected device of choice was the Xreal Beam Pro. It’s the ideal companion for Xreal’s AR smart glasses, and worth picking up if you’re buying the Xreal One.

Read more about how we test.

• First reviewed March 2025

Roborock Saros 10: two-minute review

Launched in January 2025, the Roborock Saros 10 is a premium robot vacuum with some seriously cutting-edge features. Primary among these is a navigation puck that retracts down into the bot when it senses it's entering a low-height space. That, combined with a suspension system that can bounce it over tall thresholds, means this bot can reach places other robovacs can't.

On test, I found that both these features worked reliably well. And while the pop-down puck will only really come into play in homes with furniture that's a quite-specific distance off the floor, if you do fall into this category then this robotic will prove a game-changer. No more shifting the sofa once every six months to find a horrifying amount of dust sitting below it!

I was also impressed with the Saros 10's cleaning powers. Suction is strong enough to pull large volumes of dog hair off carpeted floors without fuss, and the anti-tangle roller does exactly what it's designed to do. Mopping is good, too, with the lowest mopping modes creating only the lightest mop; perfect for floors that are sensitive to too much moisture. On balance, I still think spinning mop pads (such as those that feature on the Saron 10's sister model, the Roborock Saros 10R) do a better job of scrubbing, but I did like how the additional mini side mop on the Saros 10 got right up to the edges of rooms.

I should also give special mention to the impressive hands-off dock, which not only empties dust and charges the bot (in double-quick time), but also dispenses detergent, washes the mop pads with hot water, and dries them with warm air. All this while looking far more stylish than basically any other dock I've seen in all my time reviewing robovacs.

At list price, the Saros 10 is far from cheap, but it's roughly in line with other brands' top-of-the-range models offering similarly advanced features. If you just want decent cleaning and are happy to take care of some of the maintenance tasks yourself, there are cheaper options to be found. However, if you're after an advanced model that makes use of the very latest tech and requires minimal intervention from you, this might be the best robot vacuum for you. Read on for my full Roborock Saros 10 review.

(Image credit: Future) Roborock Saros 10 review: price & availability

• List price: $1,599.99 / £1,499.99 / AU$2,999
• Launched: January 2025
• Available: Worldwide

The Roborock Saros 10 was one of three new Roborock robot vacuums announced at CES in January 2025, alongside sister model Saros 10R and the Saros Z70, which has a mechanical arm.

At list price direct from Roborock, the Saros 10 costs $1,599.99 in the US, £1,499.99 in the UK, and AU$2,999 in Australia. At time of writing, it isn't available via any third-party retailers, but it may come to Amazon at some point.

That price puts it firmly into the premium bracket for robovacs. In fact, it's one of the most expensive models we've tested so far, although its price is roughly in line with many other brands' top-of-the-range models. Build quality, performance and featureset help justify that price somewhat, and I'm not going to score it down too much on price because I'm glad this kind of innovation exists in the robovac world – plus, it's a truly excellent robot vacuum. Having said that, I'd still hold out for a discount (or for the price to come down over time) before buying one.

This is a super-advanced robot vacuum, and you don't need to spend this much to get an appliance that will keep your floors clean. For most people's needs, there are models at even half the price that will do the job – especially if you're willing to sacrifice the mop washing / drying / self-cleaning dock functions, all of which will bump up the price significantly.

Note, however, that there are a couple of ongoing costs to factor in, too. The first is replacement dust bags, although with a 2.5-liter capacity, each bag should last a decent amount of time. The second is floor cleaner: Roborock recommends you use only its own branded detergent, and I'm disappointed to report it's very expensive.

• Value for money score: 4 out of 5

Roborock Saros 10 specs Roborock Saros 10 review: design

• Pop-up navigation puck and bouncy chassis for traversing thresholds
• Bulky but smart mirrored self-empty dock, with mop cleaning
• Side mop and brush, and split main roller for directing hair

The bot itself looks similar to your standard disc-shaped robovac, but the main difference here is that rather than having a fixed navigation puck, it has one that can pop up and down. It will generally be up (this allows for better navigation); however, it will retract when the bot is docked and if it senses it's entering a low-height space.

On the front there's also a camera and additional navigation elements. The camera can also be used as a security cam, or to check in on your pets while you're out.

(Image credit: Future)

Flip it over and you'll find two chunky wheels and a smaller front wheel, all of which can raise and lower independently to get the bot over tall thresholds. It's designed to be able to traverse thresholds up to a total of 1.6 inches / 4cm in height, including double-step thresholds, using the same AdaptiLift technology included with the Roborock Qrevo Curv. The bot learns the best process for each threshold in the mapped area.

The roller is rather unusual. It combines rubber fins and bristles, and is split in the middle to allow hair to escape into the bin, rather than becoming tangled and requiring you to then manually cut it off.

There's a spinning side brush that tucks itself away when it isn't in use. Again, the design is a little unusual: it has two arms, which sit near each other and extend at a slanting angle, to resist hair from becoming tangled.

There's a D-shaped mop pad and anti-tangle roller design (Image credit: Future)

For mopping, the Saros 10 has a fixed, D-shaped mop pad. This has two vibrating zones that are designed to help dislodge dirt, and can also press down on the floor. (It's still not my preferred style – I find dual-spinning discs do a more thorough scrubbing job, which is the reason for docking a half-mark in this section).

There's also a tiny extra side mop designed to get closer to the edges of rooms. Cleverly, if you opt for a mode where the mop isn't needed, it can drop the mop off in the dock, so there's no danger of damp carpets.

The onboard dustbin is hidden beneath a magnetic top panel (Image credit: Future)

The panel on the top of the robovac is magnetic, and can be removed to reveal the onboard dustbin. You shouldn't need to access this often – only if the self-empty process fails because something has jammed the mechanism. Presumably there's also a water tank in there, but I couldn't find it.

Dock design

The Saros 10 dock is one of those does-it-all units that not only charges the bot and empties its small onboard dustbin, but does a whole load more besides. It can refill its onboard water tank, disperse detergent, clean the bot's mop pads (at up to 176ºF / 80ºC), dry them (at 140ºF) over the course of a few hours, and also clean itself (at up to 176ºF).

It's designed to be able to recognize what's on the mop and adjust the temperature to suit; so it knows to use hotter water for grease and coffee stains than items such as mashed potato.

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The dustbag sits between a press-to-open front hatch (Image credit: Future)Image 2 of 3

Clean and dirty water tanks are beneath another door on top (Image credit: Future)Image 3 of 3

The dock has mop cleaning and self-cleaning capabilities (Image credit: Future)

As such, the Saros 10 is fairly bulky. However, it's one of the best-looking docks I've seen, with a smart, mirrored front that simply reflects the rest of your room back at you. So if it looks messy, that's on you.

The dustbag is hidden behind a front flap that opens when you press it, and two large water tanks (one for clean, one for dirty from cleaning the mop) are housed in the top, again behind a door.

There's a removable ramp up into the dock, and inside you can see the brushes for cleaning the mop pad.

• Design score: 4.5 out of 5

Roborock Saros 10 review: performance

• Excellent vacuuming on higher settings; can handle pet hair
• Mopping also very good on higher settings – edge mop is useful
• Navigation great but object avoidance unreliable

Setup was painless. I unpackaged the bot, left it to charge on its dock, and then was prompted to complete a quick mapping run. Here, the bot made its way briefly into each room, looked around a bit, then left. It then provided me with a suggestion of what it thought the rooms were, and their floor types.

By default, the navigation puck is up while the bot is cleaning (Image credit: Future)

I was testing this bot in a town house with multiple levels, so I repeated the process for each floor, carrying the bot up to each level to do so (advanced though this robovac is, it still can't climb stairs).

The initial plans were generally very accurate. After they'd been created, I went back in and corrected room types, removed unnecessary areas (it included the stairs when mapping higher levels, although its cliff sensors reliably prevented it from trying to go down them), and added no-go areas.

Vacuuming

On the vacuuming front, there are five power levels to choose from: Quiet, Balanced, Turbo, Max and Max+ (there's a battery life warning with this mode). You can also opt to clean the space once or twice. I did find this bot a little noisy in vacuum-only mode, but it certainly wasn't any louder than a manual vacuum.

To try out vacuuming, I first set off the Saros 10 to clean each floor of the house, using a mix of different power levels, in vacuum-only mode. After cleaning, and before the bot returned to the dock, I inspected the onboard bin to see what it had gathered collected.

The Saros 10 did a great job of pulling pet hair from the carpeted rooms (Image credit: Future)

I found Turbo mode was enough to extract plenty of dog hair from carpeted floors, and even more if I amped it up to a higher power mode. I was also impressed that the bot had no trouble auto-emptying, even when full with hair. I could hear the tell-tale "whoomph" sound as the wodge of dog hair made its way from the onboard bin to the dock dustbag.

I was also generally impressed by the roller design – there was next-to-none of my long hair wrapped around it at the end of a vacuuming session. That isn't the case with some of the robovacs I test.

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Oats and tea on carpet before the suction test... (Image credit: Future)Image 2 of 4

... and after one pass with the Saros 10 (Image credit: Future)Image 3 of 4

... after two passes with the Saros 10 (Image credit: Future)Image 4 of 4

... and after three passes, bumped up to Max+ mode (Image credit: Future)

To test how the Roborock Saros 10 handles different kinds of debris, I ran TechRadar's standard suction tests. I sprinkled a teabag of dry tea on the carpet, alongside a handful of oats. I then ran the vacuum over them. On first pass in Turbo mode, the results were a little disappointing – the bot failed to pick much up, and what it did, it spat back out on a different area of carpet.

I ran another spot clean in Max+ mode and was far more impressed. This time, the bot picked up most of the debris, both large and small. To be clear, this is a tricky test. I went back over the tea spillage area with my Dyson Gen5detect vacuum and even that struggled to get the very last specs of tea from the carpet.

It's worth pointing out here that, in general, robot vacuums are designed for maintenance cleans – for deep cleaning, you'll still want to keep one of the best manual vacuums to hand. Among robot vacuums I've tested, the Saros 10's suction performance in general was very good.

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Oats and tea on a tiled floor, ready for the suction test (Image credit: Future)Image 2 of 2

The results after one pass with the Saros 10 (Image credit: Future)

I ran the same test with tea and oats on a hard, tiled floor. This time, the bot picked up almost everything first time in Turbo mode, albeit with a fair bit of flicking around of debris. The only remaining bits were in the grouting cracks, and I managed to get those by remote-controlling the bot over the relevant area afterwards.

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Oats and tea sprinkled along the edge of a room (Image credit: Future)Image 2 of 2

The Saros 10 did a decent, but not perfect job of clearing it (Image credit: Future)

To assess this bot's edge-cleaning powers, I sprinkled team and oats along the edge of the tiled kitchen. It did a pretty good job of clearing it, although it did ping everything around a bit, and there were a few remnants left that it was quicker to tackle with a manual vacuum that try and get the bot to handle.

Mopping

There are four mopping levels to choose from – Mild, Standard, Intense and Extreme. These increase not just the amount of water used, but also the enthusiasm of the scrubbing. Standard mode is really very light; I found the floor had almost completely dried by the time the bot had finished cleaning the room.

That's great news if you have floors that are sensitive to too much moisture – wooden floors, for example. However, if that's not the case and you want a more thorough mop, you'll want to deploy one of the higher mopping modes.

The Standard mopping mode is quite light (Image credit: Future)

You can choose for the bot to mop only, vacuum first and then mop, or do both at once. I tend to avoid combination mopping and vacuuming since it will often lead to messy rollers and side brushes, due to the combination of water and dry debris. In mop-only mode, the Saros 10 really is extremely quiet.

On test, I found it could take a while for the mop pads to fully saturate, and especially in Standard or Mild modes. Initially, I could see damp streaks on the floor where the bot had cleaned incompletely. However, the tiny extra side mop does a good job of getting right up to the edges of rooms.

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Smeared ketchup waiting to be cleaned (Image credit: Future)Image 2 of 2

After a couple of passes, there was still a little left (Image credit: Future)

For my mopping test, I smeared a tiny bit of ketchup on a tiled floor and left it to dry. After one pass in Standard mode, the Saros 10 had hardly cleaned up any of it. Amping it up to higher mop levels yielded better results.

On balance, while this bot does a good job of mopping, I still prefer the spinning dual disc-shaped mop style when it comes to pure scrubbing power.

Navigation and obstacle avoidance

The pop-up puck is an interesting one, because in reality it's a very specific situation in which it's actually useful – you need furniture that's taller than 3.3inches / 8.2cm but shorter than 4.5inches / 11.4cm (the height where the puck wouldn't need to retract) off the ground. If you have that, though, it's super useful.

There's only one piece of furniture in my testing house that falls into the correct bracket, and the puck worked exactly as stated here. It also didn't impede navigation at all, although said piece of furniture is quite small, so it probably didn't present the biggest challenge.

I also ran TechRadar's standard obstacle avoidance tests, placing a sock, a charge cable, and a shoe on the floor, spread apart. I also added a box of tissues, for good measure. Results were mixed here.

The bot tried to eat the sock. It successfully identified and avoided the shoe, and at first also the tissue box, although it then went back and pushed it around a bit.

Image 1 of 2

As expected, the Saros 10 didn't spot this cable (Image credit: Future)Image 2 of 2

It did avoid my shoe, but pushed around the tissue box for a while (Image credit: Future)

The Saros 10 also chewed the cable. That isn't a massive surprise, because I've yet to come across a robot vacuum that can successfully spot cables. However, it's something Roborock specifically states the Saros 10 can do, so it's disappointing in this regard.

In general use, however, I found this robovac pretty good at obstacle avoidance. There are various bins, speaker bases and ornaments on the floor that it successfully avoided – but as mentioned, it isn't quite the "exceptional" obstacle recognition and avoidance promised by Roborock.

Advanced features include the ability to use the robot to hunt out, photograph, and even video-call your pet. I did not try these features, because I suspect the dog would find such an intrusion wildly unsettling rather than reassuring.

Any photography and video features are turned off by default. To enable, you have to manually press some buttons on the robot vacuum, and you also have to be the primary account holder.

Battery life

I can't fault the Saros 10's battery. While it's less of an issue with robot vacuums than a cordless stick vacuum – because the bot will automatically return to the dock to charge whenever it runs out of juice, before resuming its cleaning task – it's still helpful for a robot to offer decent runtimes. That's especially true if you're going to use it in a house with multiple floors, where it can't always get back to its charge dock without help.

The Saros 10 managed an impressive amount of cleaning on a single charge. I was concerned that the Max+ mode – which comes with a "battery draining mode" warning – would run the battery down super quickly, but on test it trundled through three complete room cleans in vacuum-only Max+ mode (from a not-full battery in the first place) before running out of juice. Impressive.

(Image credit: Future)

Roborock also promises fast charging; it claims the dock will take the robovac from flat battery to full in 150 minutes. On test, I found this accurate. I went from 14% battery (at which point the bot told me it needed to return to dock to recharge) to 100% in under two and a half hours. If it goes flat mid-task, the bot will also figure out how much more power it needs to complete the task, and only charge to that point, for maximum efficiency.

Dock performance

Based on a couple of weeks of testing, the dock seems to be performing as stated. I've experienced no issues with the bin failing to empty completely, and the washing function seems to be working as claimed based on how clean the mop pads look and how dirty the water in the waste water tank is.

I'll update this section when I've been using the bot a little longer, and have a more complete view of the dock performance over time.

• Performance score: 4 out of 5

Roborock Saros 10 review: app

• Lots of settings for precise control
• ... but will also figure things out automatically, if you prefer
• Generally very usable, with a few usability quirks

The Roborock app is well designed and nice and usable, although it can take a little time to learn your options and explore all the settings at first – in part because there are so many of them. There are also a few areas I found unhelpful. For example, to swap between different floorplans in a multi-storey home, you need to go via the "edit map" menu, which feels unintuitive.

Otherwise, mapping is straightforward, and you have the option to set no-go zones and invisible walls, as well as removing sections that are added in error. You can also add furniture, and create cleaning preferences for different rooms and floors.

Strangely, you can't manually select the floor type for each room. You can create "carpet areas", but this is fiddly – no areas can overlap, making things tricky if the plan includes carpet rooms and hard floor rooms. The app will automatically identify floor type, but the areas that have been designated as carpet isn't always clear. I'd prefer to be able to set this as a backup – no one wants a mopped carpet.

Click to open large version (Image credit: Roborock / Future)

A relatively new addition to the setup is SmartPlan 2.0, which uses AI to customize the cleaning route, suction power and mop settings based on the bot's knowledge of its environment and previous use. Roborock says it can even reduce suction power during designated "quiet hours".

In short, you can have as much or as little control as you want here. If you don't want to get involved, you can basically leave the bot to figure out everything on its own, and it will do a very good job. Alternatively, you can really dig into the different features and set up everything exactly as you want it.

• App score: 4.5 out of 5

Should you buy the Roborock Saros 10? Buy it if...

You have low-sitting furniture
The retractible puck is a game-changer if you have furniture that's between around 3.3in / 8.2cm and 4.5in / 11.4cm off the ground. It means this bot will be able to successfully clean this space, no shifting of furniture required.

You have tall room thresholds
The Saros 10 can clear thresholds up to 1.6in / 4cm tall, and it will learn the best way to get over each one and replicate it each time, too.

You want a hands-off option
The dock takes care of pretty much all maintenance tasks, from cleaning and drying the mop pads to dispensing detergent. It looks good, too.

You have delicate hard floors
The lighter mop modes are very gentle and use only a little water, making them perfect for hard floors that are sensitive to too much moisture.

Don't buy it if...

You'd prefer no pop-up puck
It worked very well on test, but if you don't like the sound of the retractible puck then Roborock has a couple of models that use a newer navigation approach and don't require a puck at all: the Saros 10R and the Qrevo Slim.

You're on a budget
The Saros 10 doesn't come cheap, and there are plenty of lower-priced options on the market that will work perfectly well for many people's needs – especially if you're not fussed about advanced features such as the retractible puck and in-dock mop pad cleaning.

You want the very best mopping
I found the mopping very good here, but not as rigorous as the dual spinning disc-style mops. We were also very impressed with the roller mop found on the Eureka J20 robot vacuum, which continually siphons off dirty water and replaces it with clean water.

Roborock Saros 10: alternatives to consider

Eufy X10 Pro Omni

At time of writing, this bot sits at the top of our best robot vacuum ranking as the model we recommend to most people. It's significantly cheaper than the Saros 10 but not as cutting-edge. There's no pop-up puck here; threshold clearance is much lower; it can't dispense detergent; plus the dock is significantly less stylish. However, it still cleans extremely well, and the mop is great (it uses the dual spinning pads).

Read our full Eufy X10 Pro Omni reviewView Deal

Roborock Saros 10R

The 10R is the sister model to the 10, and it's extremely similar, except it uses a different navigation method. Rather than the retractible puck, it uses a new form of LiDAR that doesn't need a puck at all. We found it worked extremely well when we tested it. It also swaps the D-shaped mop pad for two spinning discs.

Read our Roborock Saros 10R reviewView Deal

How I tested the Roborock Saros 10

I used the Roborock Saros 10 regularly for two weeks in a four-storey town house that has a mixture of carpeted and tiled floors, and houses a very hairy cocker spaniel. I used it to map and clean each of the levels, exploring the different settings and modes. For a more objective performance review, I ran TechRadar's standard suction tests (using dry tea and oats on hard and carpeted floors), mopping tests (using ketchup and juice on a hard floor), and obstacle avoidance tests (using socks, a cable and a shoe). I compared my experience of the Saros 10 against other robot vacuums I've tested, in terms of both ease of use and cleaning performance.

Read more about how we test robot vacuum cleaners.

• First reviewed March 2025

Samsung QN900F: Two-minute review

With native 8K content still pretty elusive (though no longer flat out unfindable), buying an 8K TV might not sound like it makes much sense. The new Samsung QN900F, though, builds spectacularly on the successes of 2024’s mind-alteringly brilliant Samsung QN900D 8K range to keep the 8K TV flag flying high.

For starters, at £4,899/$4,299 for the 75-inch version of the Samsung QN900F we’re focusing on here, it’s relatively affordable by Samsung's premium 8K TV standards. It also uses the remarkably effective glare-free screen found in the Samsung S95D OLED, one of the best TVs of 2024; carries no less than 256 neural networks to apply AI enhancements to smart features, picture quality and audio quality; and supports a comprehensive array of gaming features, including support for frame rates up to 165Hz.

The QN900F’s latest (gen 9) Tizen smart system supports a typically huge range of streaming services, as well as offering AI-enhanced systems for finding content tailored to the viewing habits of different members of your household. Its powerful, cinematic multi-channel sound system ups the big screen’s immersive potential substantially, too.

The star of the show, though, is undoubtedly its eye-popping pictures, which combine phenomenal brightness and ultra-vibrant colour with, crucially, a new level of upscaling for converting non-8K sources to the screen’s native 8K resolution. It’s this, in particular, that builds on 2024’s QN900D efforts in making our previous cynicism about 8K TVs a thing of the past.

Samsung QN900F review: Prices and release date

The QN900F's 8K resolution and clean upscaling make pictures look detailed and lifelike (Image credit: Future)

• Release date: March 2025
• 65-inch: £3,599 / $3,299 / around AU$5,240
• 75-inch: £4,899 / $4,299 / around AU$6,825
• 85-inch: £6,899 / $5,499 / around AU$8,730

The QN900F is at the vanguard of an expansive swathe of TVs Samsung is bringing to market in March 2025. All three screen sizes of the QN900F should be available in the UK and US this month, with launch pricing for each model shown above.

Samsung QN900F review: Specs Samsung QN900F review: Benchmark results Samsung QN900F review: Features

The QN900F has four HDMI 2.1 ports with 4K 165Hz support (Image credit: Future)

• 8K FALD VA panel with mini-LED
• HDR10, HLG and HDR10+ HDR support
• Gaming support up to 4K 165Hz with VRR

While sales of 8K TVs might not have set the world on fire so far (in fact, Samsung is currently the only brand consistently sticking with them), the QN900F’s 7680x4320 native resolution is undoubtedly its main feature. After all, while true 8K sources are still scarce, Samsung’s upscaling processors can turn any video that comes the TV’s way into 8K, so if that processing is good enough, there’s still scope for the TV’s 8K resolution to count.

Fitting an 8K pixel count into the screen massively reduces the pixel pitch of any resulting images, of course, potentially making for a denser, smoother, more realistic image, especially when you get to screen sizes of 75 inches and up.

The 75QN900F fits its 8K resolution into a VA-type panel, which usually bodes well for contrast, and it lights all those tiny pixels using a mini-LED backlight system driven by 52x28 (1,446) local dimming zones. That’s a very high zone count for what is essentially Samsung’s entry-level 8K TV for 2025, raising hopes of an extreme contrast performance with minimal backlight clouding and haloing interference.

At the other end of the contrast scale, measurements taken using the Calman Ultimate image testing and calibration software and Portrait Displays’ G1 signal generator and C6 HDR5000 colorimeter reveals peak brightness levels as high as 2,350 nits on a 10% HDR test window. That much brightness will surely test the local dimming system, but Samsung has risen to similar challenges before with aplomb.

Potentially further boosting the 75QN900F’s contrast is its glare-free screen filter – something its predecessor lacked. This does an almost uncanny job of suppressing and rejecting reflections from your room.

Colours are delivered by a Quantum Dot system capable of covering a measured 89.28% of the DCI-P3 colour spectrum used in most HDR mastering, and all aspects of the pictures are controlled by Samsung’s latest NQ8 AI Gen 2 processor.

This processor should have a particularly strong impact on upscaling sub-8K content to the TV’s native 8K resolution, but also feeds into features such as a Real Depth Enhancer Pro system for creating a more three dimensional effect, auto HDR remastering for converting SDR to HDR, and an AI Motion Enhancer system. The processor also plays a part in delivering what Samsung claims should be much wider effective viewing angles than you would normally get with LED technology.

The AI features extend to an AI Mode option you can call in for any of the TV’s presets, which analyses the incoming content and ambient room conditions in a bid to constantly optimise the picture and sound quality. The more puritanical AV fans out there won’t like the sound of this at all, of course - but it is all strictly optional. I’ll be looking at how well it works in the next section.

• Features Score: 5/5

Samsung QN900F review: Picture quality

High resolution and high brightness combine with powerful contrast in the QN900F's picture (Image credit: Future)

• High brightness and contrast
• Vibrant colours
• Excellent backlight control

The QN900F improves so much over its 2024 equivalent model that it’s hard to believe it isn’t actually Samsung’s flagship TV for 2025. The step-up QN990F series is really going to have to go some to be better than this.

The first thing that hits you like a lightning bolt is how bright the QN900F’s pictures are. This is especially true in the rather OTT Dynamic mode, but also hits home hard in the extremely watchable Standard preset. Even the Filmmaker Mode, though, which is designed to track the UHD Alliance’s preference for accuracy to industry mastering standards and minimal processing, retains a satisfyingly punchy look, with strong HDR highlighting to go with its generally more balanced and nuanced approach.

The extreme brightness is especially effective with aggressively mastered HDR footage, but the screen also adapts itself pretty much perfectly to milder HDR fare. Nothing looks forced or strained. Even SDR footage converted to HDR by the HDR Remaster option enjoys an uptick in light and colour range without looking weird or unbalanced.

At least as important as the QN900F’s impressive brightness, though, is the fact that it’s delivered without the backlight system exhibiting either heavy backlight blooming or any general greyness in dark scenes or dark picture areas. In fact, black levels are nothing short of outstanding for LCD technology, hitting essentially OLED-level black depths during fades to black, and maintaining a surprisingly inky and consistent (as in, cloud- and halo-free) look even with shots that combine lots of very bright and dark elements.

Samsung has managed to accomplish the QN900F’s exceptional LED contrast, too, without pursuing its old habit of dimming down stand-out brightness elements to stop light blooms appearing around them. The level of backlight control achieved by the NQ8 AI Gen 2 processing is so sophisticated and granular that such overt local dimming activity just isn’t needed any more.

Suppressing backlight blooming and greyness as well as the QN900F does hasn’t come completely string-free; there’s some minor crushing of shadow details in the Standard and Movie modes. But this is seldom serious enough to be distracting, and in any case it can be improved by just nudging up the TV’s Shadow Detail setting one or two points.

The QN900F’s high brightness contributes to a gorgeously rich, satisfying colour performance, too. This is most vividly obvious in the Standard preset - so much so that I’d say most QN900F buyers will find this mode irresistible for most day-to-day viewing conditions. Especially as Samsung has clearly worked hard with its latest Standard preset to try and make it deliver much more immersive and consistent pictures than the mode typically has in the past.

If you switch to a more mild, accurate preset such as Movie or Filmmaker Mode, you won’t get to ogle the most vivid extremes of the QN900F’s colour capabilities, but the wider colour range still plays its part in unlocking both more subtlety and more expressive shading than last year’s equivalent Filmmaker Mode offered.

In other words, no matter what picture preset you like the best, the much more thoughtful colour and light management of the new panel and attendant processing engine means it will look equally fantastic in its own specific way.

The QN900F's thick, chamfered frame lends itself well to displaying art from the Samsung Art Store (Image credit: Future)

While it’s telling that I’ve focused so far on picture attributes that don’t directly relate to its native 8K resolution, this doesn’t mean that resolution doesn’t still matter. It is now possible to find and play native 8K videos on Youtube, and while the quality of these can be variable to say the least (you have to watch out for videos that say they’re 8K in their titles when they actually aren’t, too), the good ones reveal to a wider audience at last what some of us lucky TV reviewer types have known for years: that true 8K looks absolutely spectacular.

That’s partly because 8K looks incredibly sharp and detailed, as you might expect. But more because something about the extra density of the image somehow breaks down the usual sense that you’re watching a picture on a TV, leaving you feeling more as if you’re literally looking at reality. And that’s especially true when an 8K clip features some decent HDR encoding.

Crucially, though, the QN900F not only looks better than 4K TVs with native 8K content. Samsung’s latest 8K upscaling efforts are the best they’ve ever been, managing to make 4K sources look sharper, more textured and more dense than they would in their native resolution, while simultaneously making the upscaled results look more natural and refined than they have been on previous Samsung 8K TVs.

This is chiefly because, I think, the upscaling system has got even cleverer about detecting the difference between noise and actual picture information in a sub-8K source as it goes about figuring out how the millions (and millions) of pixels it needs to add to the picture should look.

Even fairly grubby, compressed HD sources make the journey up to 8K on the QN900F without becoming artificial looking, or suffering with exaggerated source artefacts. SD is a stretch, unsurprisingly - though even here the results only look a bit soft rather than becoming flat out ugly or messy.

Playing around with Samsung’s AI Mode yields some interesting results. Initially I found its picture optimization features a little over the top, causing some distracting processing side effects. Most notably slightly peaky skin tones, slightly forced bright highlights, and some processed-looking motion. Tweaking one or two picture settings to help ‘train’ the AI Mode, though, can help it quickly deliver much smarter results. Ultimately, I wouldn’t say I felt particularly compelled to use the AI Mode picture setting, not least because the TV does such a fantastic job even without the extra AI help. But it’s certainly good enough to at least be worth trying out.

There are a couple of other niggles to report. Default motion settings with 24fps films in the otherwise stunningly watchable Standard mode are a bit of a blunt instrument, generating a few distracting side effects. You can address this problem yourself, though, by choosing a custom setting for the Picture Clarity set of options, and turning noise reduction off while setting the power of the motion and judder reduction elements to somewhere below five each.

The second issue is that while colour saturations and contrast hold up well when viewing the TV from down its sides, the otherwise miraculously well-controlled backlight blooming suddenly starts to become noticeable.

Most of the initial niggles with the QN900F prove ultimately fixable within its menus, though, and anything left is so puny against the picture’s overwhelming strengths that it’s barely worth mentioning, honestly.

• Picture quality score: 5/5

Samsung QN900F review: Sound quality

The QN900F's 4.2.2-channel built-in speakers convey a soundstage with impressive scale (Image credit: Future)

• 4.2.2 channel speaker array
• 70W of total audio power
• Excellent detail placement and soundstaging

Samsung has backed up the QN900F’s stellar pictures with an excellent audio system. Particularly impressive is the scale of the soundstage it produces. Sounds are cast beyond the TV’s physical boundaries to left, right and even, to a more limited degree, upwards, getting a decent multi-channel effect from Dolby Atmos soundtracks that’s taken to another level, too, by Samsung’s Object Tracking Sound system.

This system manages to place sound effects and vocals so that they actually seem to be coming from the correct part of the image – or the correct place just beyond the image’s edges, where appropriate. The OTS system manages to track the motion of multiple noisy objects in an action scene frame, too, so that soundtracks always appear busy and precise – and, as a result, more engaging and clear.

The QN900F’s speakers deliver a decent amount of dynamic range too. Trebles at one end of the spectrum sound crisp and clean but also well-rounded rather than harsh or over-exposed, while bass reaches reasonably low while projecting powerfully enough to stop action scenes from sounding thin or one-dimensional.

Some of the film world’s most extreme and sustained bass rumbles push the QN900F’s speakers right to their limit, so that low frequencies started to sound a little ‘stuck’ inside the TV. But the speakers always just stop short of succumbing to really distracting amounts of bass-induced crackling or distortion.

The sound is powerful enough overall, too, to be able to shift up a few gears as action or horror sequences build towards a climax, without falling away when the going gets really tough. Dialogue is always clear and well contextualised, meanwhile – especially as Samsung’s AI-driven dialogue enhancement system is always ready to lend a vocal-boosting hand if a particular source or ambient noise in your room is making dialogue hard to pick up.

The AI Mode, if you choose it, does a pretty effective job of expanding the scale of the soundstage. This can cost the sound a little bass heft at high volumes, but you can improve this considerably by tweaking the low frequency elements of the TV’s graphic equaliser.

If I had to find a fault, the sound overall doesn’t have quite as much forward impact as you get with the very best sounding rival TVs, but overall the QN900F’s sound is a healthy improvement over many of Samsung’s other recent TVs.

It’s worth adding that the QN900F supports Samsung’s Q-Symphony feature, where its speakers can join forces with those in a Samsung soundbar to deliver a larger, more detailed soundstage.

• Sound quality score: 4.5/5

Samsung QN900F review: Design

The QN900F's support feet can be set narrow or wide, and there are two different height adjustments (Image credit: Future)

• Chamfered screen frame
• Glare-free screen can look like a painting
• Multi-position feet

The QN900F’s design is quite a change from previous equivalent models, switching from the usual barely-there screen bezel approach to an unusually wide, dark grey chamfered frame that looks more like something you’d find holding a painting rather than a cutting-edge TV screen. Which, actually, is exactly the impression Samsung wants the QN900F to give, as its at the heart of a campaign to expand the sort of design thinking that’s served Samsung so well with its The Serif and, especially, The Frame lifestyle TVs.

Personally, I’m torn over the QN900F’s new look. When you’re watching TV on it, the frame’s width feels a touch too much, and the dark finish lacks the glamour of the gleaming, ultra-slim frames of previous equivalent 8K models. If you’re using the TV’s Ambient Mode abilities, though, where you can play a still photo, gentle video or digitised artwork on the screen as a screensaver, the painting-style frame looks great. Especially with the new matte glare-free screen completing the painting-like impression.

The QN900F ships with a pair of rather spindly looking feet. These feet can, though, be attached in multiple ways: either set quite wide apart or close together, depending on how wide the furniture you’re putting the TV on is, and at two different height levels to potentially provide more space under the screen for a soundbar to sit.

You can also wall mount the QN900F, of course, and the reasonably slender, tiered rear panel lends itself well to this. I can’t help but wonder, though, whether the performance of the bank of eight mid-range speakers built into the TV’s rear might be compromised if the drivers are pressed up against your wall.

One last design point to mention is Samsung’s Art Store. Originally designed for Samsung’s lifestyle TVs, this service allows people who subscribe to it to choose from a library of thousands of digital and digitised artworks to use as screen savers in the TV’s Ambient Mode.

• Design score: 4/5

Samsung QN900F review: Smart TV and menus

The QN900F's Tizen 9.0 smart interface (Image credit: Future)

• Tizen 9.0 smart system
• Extensive voice control support
• Dedicated Gaming Hub menu

The QN900F uses Samsung’s own Tizen platform to deliver its smart interface and services, which is mostly very good news. What was once a rather over-complicated interface with some questionable content prioritisation decisions has gradually morphed into a sophisticated and helpful interface, bolstered by the introduction of handy new shortcut options, one of the most intuitive and in-depth voice recognition systems in the TV world (including a far-field mic), and some really impressive AI-driven talents when it comes to both recommending content based on the viewing habits of different members of your household, and advanced content searching.

New AI-driven features added to Tizen for its latest generation include an AI To Search feature that identifies which actors are in what you’re watching and does in-depth searches across all its available sources to find other films or TV shows those actors are in; a Live Translate feature that translates foreign language dramas with real-time subtitles; and a new Generative Wallpaper feature that can conjure up screensaver images to suit your described mood.

The Tizen menu system now features an attractive and usefully organised home menu that becomes more useful over time as the QN900F learns your viewing habits. The home screen also provides a link to a dedicated Gaming Hub page, which I’ll go into more in the next section, while the app support includes pretty much every streaming service anyone could ever want. The only significant absentees in the UK are Freeview Play and Freely – but you can access the individual catch up services for all of the main UK’s key terrestrial broadcasters. The QN900F also features an ATSC 3.0 tuner for receiving Next-Gen digital TV broadcasts in the US.

• Smart TV & menus score: 4.5/5

Samsung QN900F review: Gaming

Samsung includes its Solar Cell rechargeable remote control with the QN900F (Image credit: Future)

• Gaming Hub menu
• Game Bar menu with multiple gaming aids
• 4K 165Hz gaming support

The QN900F is a beast of a gaming display that ticks all the feature boxes you could want from the best gaming TVs. All four of its HDMI ports can support high frame rate 4K gaming feeds. Those high frame rates can stretch to 165Hz this year (up from 144Hz in 2024) for anyone with a PC powerful enough to take advantage of that, and variable refresh rates are supported right up to this eye-catching new frame rate peak. The VRR support is available in the AMD FreeSync Premium format as well as the basic HDMI format, too.

Gaming HDR is supported in the HDR10+ and HGiG approaches as well as basic HDR10, and low lag gaming modes are available for all those HDR options. This lag reduces to a fantastically low (especially considering the QN900F has to upscale graphics to the screen’s 8K resolution) 10ms with 60Hz sources with the TV’s Game mode in play. There are also options, though, to increase this lag slightly in return for mild motion smoothing processing with low frame rate titles that aren’t particularly dependent on fast reaction times.

There are also sophisticated options for magnifying and even repositioning a game’s mini map, brightening dark picture areas without affecting bright areas to make enemies lurking in the shadows easier to see, and calling up an onscreen target reticle to give you an aiming edge over your rivals.

Finding game sources is a doddle, too, as the Tizen interface provides a clearly labelled dedicating Gaming Hub, which brings together all your HDMI inputs that have gaming sources attached alongside every gaming streaming service Samsung TVs now have access to.

The QN900F’s OTS audio system proves very useful for gaming thanks to the accuracy with which it places sound effects around the TV’s frame, and finally, best of all, graphics look fantastic on the QN900F’s screen.

The TV’s brightness and colour punch are beautifully to the fore, backed up by more inky black levels and a breathtaking level of sharpness and detail that constantly reminds you this is an 8K TV. The high and variable frame rate support delivers all these pixels of gaming beauty with outstanding fluidity and responsiveness, too.

There’s a touch more backlight blooming in Game mode than you get with video content, perhaps. But I only really noticed this in menus, where there can be bright text appearing against a dark backdrop; it seldom bothered me during game play.

I know pro-grade gamers will always want to play fast-response games, at least, on a small monitor. But the vast majority of more casual gamers will struggle to go back to a small screen if they get to experience the gaming joys of the QN900F.

• Gaming score: 5/5

Samsung QN900F review: Value

The QN900F's thick frame bucks the trend of Samsung's previous ultra-slim Neo QLED TVs (Image credit: Future)

• More expensive than 4K equivalent
• Upscaling of 4K and lower-res content adds value
• Substantially cheaper than flagship QN990F series

The QN900F series isn’t cheap compared with even Samsung’s most premium 4K TVs. So you certainly can’t say that 8K doesn’t still attract a substantial premium, especially now that Samsung has ditched its previous, more affordable QN800 and QN700 8K ranges.

There is at least a small amount of native 8K content available on YouTube now with which to unlock the full 8K capabilities of 8K TVs, though, and Samsung’s upscaling is now so good that even 4K footage consistently benefits from being translated into 8K.

It’s also worth saying that the QN900F is substantially more affordable than Samsung’s flagship 8K TV for 2025, the QN990F series. Those models - which ship with external wireless connectivity, support ground-breakingly high frame rates and carry even more powerful sound systems - go for £4,999 / $5,499 for the 65-inch, £6,499 / $6,499 for the 75-inch, and £9,499 / $8,499 for the 85-inch.

• Value score: 4/5

Should I buy the Samsung QN900F?

Dual bass drivers on the TV's rear convey the ".1" subwoofer channel in Atmos soundtracks. (Image credit: Future) Buy it if...

You want a truly next-gen picture quality experience
The QN900F backs up its core 8K resolution with all the colour range and subtlety, sharpness and contrast it needs to fully unlock that resolution’s potential.

You’re a gamer
The QN900F’s response time, eye-catching picture attributes, impressive game-friendly connectivity and support for ultra-high frame rates make it a fantastic gaming display.

You want a TV that turns into a painting when you’re not watching it
The QN900F’s anti-glare matt frame, wide chamfered screen frame and extensive collection of digital artworks really can turn it into a work of art when you put it into its Ambient mode.

Don't buy it if…

You can’t afford it
Samsung and other brands sell some excellent 4K TVs for substantially less than the QN900F costs. So while the QN900F justifies its price, it’s probably not worth getting yourself into debt for!

You want Dolby Vision
Samsung has never supported Dolby Vision HDR on its TVs, so it can’t always take in the very best version of every source you might feed it.

You’re not prepared to tweak a few settings
Getting the best out of the QN900F means making a few tweaks to things like noise reduction and motion processing. So if you’re not prepared to do that, even for a TV as deserving of your time as this, maybe you should go for a cheaper, more basic model instead.

Samsung QN900F review: Also consider...

TCL 98Q9BK
If you want to base your home cinema thrills more on screen size than resolution, TCL’s 4K-resolution 98-inch 98Q9BK delivers startlingly bright, colourful and contrasty pictures at a truly epic scale, as well as delivering strong gaming capabilities. All for substantially less money than the QN900F costs.

Here's our full TCL 98Q9BK review

LG G4
As well as giving you a couple of inches more picture, the LG G4 uses OLED technology rather than LCD, meaning every pixel produces its own light and colour for an exceptionally precise image. The G4’s micro lens array technology helps it deliver good brightness for OLED, too - but it’s only a 4K resolution screen.

Here's our full LG G4 review

Samsung QN900D
If you’re quick you can still pick up Samsung’s 2024 8K QN900Ds for a few hundred pounds less than the 2025 QN900Fs cost. Though the QN900Fs do deliver a few very worthwhile picture quality and smart feature advances over their predecessors, of course.

Here's our full Samsung QN900D review

How I tested the Samsung QN900F

• Tested over 16 days
• Tested with 4K Blu-rays, multiple streaming platforms and resolutions, Freeview HD broadcasts, and HD Blu-rays
• Reviewed in both dark and light dedicated test room conditions, on its feet in both corner and flat wall positions

Not least because we needed to test it out with our collection of native 8K test material and the small collection of 8K YouTube videos that are now available on top of all our usual 4K test sources.

Those 4K sources, which included 4K Blu-rays and streams, needed to be scrutinised with the TV’s 8K upscaling in mind, too. As did the collection of varying quality HD and SD sources we cruelly also decided to push the QN900F hard with!

The TV was tested in a variety of locations, including 10 days in a regular living room environment in both corner and mid-wall placement positions, and in a wide range of ambient light conditions, from total black out to all the curtains open on a bright sunny day. The majority of the really critical testing was done in a darkened room with 4K and HD Blu-rays, to ensure source and environmental consistency with our other tests.

Finally, as ever we put the QN900F through a barrage of objective tests using Portrait Displays’ Calman Ultimate analysis software, G1 signal generator, and newly released C6 HDR5000 light meter.

You can read an in-depth overview of how we test TVs at TechRadar for more information.

• First reviewed: March 2025
• Read TechRadar's reviews guarantee

Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Gen 3: two-minute review

The Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Gen 3 is a wireless gaming headset compatible with numerous platforms, thanks to its Bluetooth integration and two USB dongles.

While it’s largely free from the typical gaming accouterments – there’s no RGB lighting, for instance – it still cuts a conspicuous figure thanks to its ultra-wide drivers, so this isn’t exactly a headset you can travel around with. Virtually all of the best PC gaming headsets out there have a lower profile than this.

Thankfully, it’s not as heavy as it looks, although some gamers might prefer something lighter. Personally, I didn’t have an issue with this aspect of the Stealth 700 Gen 3. What bothered me more was the lack of headband padding, which resulted in an achy head even after short sessions.

The comfort around the ears is much better, though. The earcups provide plenty of padding, and glasses wearers shouldn’t have a problem either. My only gripe is that they’re very large, and the fit wasn’t snug enough to secure them in place when I moved around more emphatically. For normal head movements, though, the Stealth 700 Gen 3 stay in place just fine.

The general build quality is good too, even if the materials used in its construction aren’t always the most premium. The foldable microphone is a nice touch, and feels equally well made, with an easy opening mechanism and plenty of stability when down.

There are four buttons on the Stealth 700 Gen 3, allowing for plenty of on-the-fly adjustments. There are also three scroll wheels, with two for controlling the volume from Bluetooth and transmitter sources independently, meaning you can realistically listen to music or take calls on your phone at the same time as receiving game audio from your PC or console.

Further tweaks are possible using Turtle Beach’s Swarm 2 peripheral software (on PC), allowing for some detailed output and input configurations, as well as reassignment options for the Mode button and one of the wheels, although these are limited.

The sound is great for both gaming and other forms of entertainment, including listening to music and watching content. All frequencies are clear and well-balanced, while the Bass Boost mode imparts a noticeably fuller low-end without diminishing overall quality, although small amounts of distortion can intrude with higher volumes. The microphone is less impressive, but it offers enough clarity to get by and the noise gate works well to block unwanted sounds from being picked up.

The Stealth 700 Gen 3 connects quickly via the wireless transmitter and over Bluetooth, and both work in tandem well. However, I did experience occasional dropouts on PC; whether the issue was with the headset or my particular setup is hard to tell, but if the former, hopefully, this is something that can be fixed with an update.

Battery life is excellent and seems in line with Turtle Beach’s 80-hour claim, as after a couple of days of use via Bluetooth and the transmitter across multiple platforms, it only dropped by between 5-10%.

It sits in the middle of the market in terms of price, costing about the same as the Razer BlackShark V2 Pro, which is one of the best wireless gaming headsets around. However, this headset packs in more features than the Stealth 700 Gen 3, as well as excelling in virtually every other area. There’s also the Epos H3, which is one of the best cheap gaming headsets around, although you will have to settle for a wired connection.

While both these gaming headsets might offer better value, the Stealth 700 Gen 3 isn’t far behind. It puts in an admirable effort at this price point, with sound quality that punches above its class. There are a few comfort and usability issues, but I don’t think they’re dealbreakers at this price.

(Image credit: Future) Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Gen 3 review: price and availability

• $199.99 / £179.99 / AU$399.95
• Available now in three color options
• Mid-lane pricing for a gaming headset

The Stealth 700 Gen 3 costs $199.99 / £179.99 / AU$399.95 and is available now in three colorways: Black, White, and Cobalt Blue. There are models with various compatibility options for Xbox, PlayStation, and PC, although all cost the same.

The Razer BlackShark V2 Pro, one of the best wireless gaming headsets in our view, is the same price (and even slightly cheaper in the UK). This headset has great output and input quality, formidable build quality, and more tweaks and customizations than the Stealth 700 Gen 3, such as THX Spatial Audio compatibility. Battery life is also great, making it a tough headset to beat at this price point.

If you want to spend a lot less on a gaming headset, then the Epos H3 is one of the best wired gaming headsets around and can be found at a significant discount from its original price. We think this headset offers superb sound and great levels of comfort for the price. A wireless variant is also available, although this is quite a lot more expensive.

Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Gen 3 review: Specs

(Image credit: Future) Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Gen 3 review: design and features

• Very bulky
• Plenty of physical adjustments
• Some useful features and customizations

The Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Gen 3 maintains a rather muted appearance, steering clear of the gamer gaudiness afflicting some other gaming headsets; there’s not even any RGB lighting. It is, however, quite bulky, with extremely wide drivers – perhaps the widest I’ve seen on a gaming headset – so it still isn’t what you’d call discreet.

It feels well-made, though. It might not employ the most premium materials, but they feel relatively solid and are put together well. The fold-away microphone is also a nice touch, with its hinge mechanism offering a smooth operation, while at the same time providing plenty of stability once done. However, while the Stealth 700 Gen 3 isn’t as heavy as you might imagine, those who are sensitive to weighty headsets should still take heed that it’s heavier than some others in this sector.

The earpads are very thick, which helps make the headset comfortable to wear. Turtle Beach specifically mentions the Stealth 700 Gen 3 as being glasses-friendly, and I can say I found this to be the case, as I experienced no aches or fatigue from wearing them over the arms of my frames.

These pads are also uniquely shaped, vaguely following the contours of an actual ear lobe, which I found worked quite well in my case, although they were perhaps a little too large for me; since the headband is quite wide too, they don’t fit as snuggly as those on other headsets, although this is only a problem with more vigorous head movements. The large opening also means that it should accommodate most ear shapes and sizes.

Driver-height adjustments are easy to make yet hard to move accidentally. The drivers also rotate ninety degrees, allowing you to comfortably hang them around your neck. The headband, however, is less comfortable. While the padding looks soft and plush, it compresses far too easily, meaning the harder material inside pressed onto the top of my head, causing aches even after short periods of time.

(Image credit: Future)

There are various buttons on both drivers: the CrossPlay switch is used for toggling between the two transmitters (one for Xbox and one for other platforms), a Bluetooth button, and a Mode button for cycling sound profiles – although unfortunately, the voice prompt doesn’t tell you which mode is currently selected, which some Razer headsets do.

The power button can also be tapped to toggle the Superhuman Hearing mode, although on occasion this failed to work, requiring me to power off and power on the headset to make this button operational.

Oddly, there are three scroll wheels on the Stealth 700 Gen 3: one is for mixing game and chat levels, while two are for volume – one for Bluetooth sources and the other for transmitter sources. This may seem like overkill, but it helps to allow for the Stealth 700 Gen 3 to showcase one of its unique features: simultaneous playback from Bluetooth and transmitter sources, with the ability to control the volume of both independently.

It does mean you’ll have to learn the positioning of each wheel when you want to make adjustments on the fly. Thankfully, though, each wheel is small enough to prevent the layout from feeling cramped, and they’re easy to operate once you’re able to locate them, providing smooth yet controlled adjustments.

Only one of the wheels can be reassigned using Turtle Beach’s Swarm 2 software, with options to adjust the levels of the mic monitoring, chat, bass boost, treble boost, or the noise gate of the mic.

Swarm 2 offers further customizations and tweaks. The aforementioned Mode button can be reassigned too, although the only optional function besides its default is toggling the noise gate.

Various sound presets are available in Swarm 2, including Bass Boost, Bass and Treble Boost, and Vocal Boost. You can tinker with each of these presets – or create a custom preset – by cutting or boosting 10 different points across the frequency band by 9dB, ranging from 32Hz to 16kHz. This means you have plenty of scope to tailor the audio to your preferences.

There’s also a setting called Superhuman Hearing, which is designed to elevate certain in-game sounds, such as footsteps and gunshots. As for mic settings, you can adjust the sensitivity for pick-up, the monitoring level, and the noise gate, all of which are useful input settings to be given.

(Image credit: Future) Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Gen 3 review: Performance

• Impressive sound
• Passable microphone
• Some connectivity issues

I was generally impressed with the audio of the Stealth 700 Gen 3. All frequencies are clear and balanced, while the Bass and Treble Boost mode considerably enhances the low end without being overbearing, and is great for both gaming and listening to music. This mode can introduce distortion when you crank the volume up, but it's easily tamed by lowering the volume slightly. I found the Vocal Boost less usable, as it significantly reduces overall fidelity.

The Superhuman Hearing mode was somewhat useful in certain scenarios, but I ultimately preferred leaving it off. When playing Counter-Strike 2, the footstep setting did make such sounds more prominent, but at the cost of noticeably deteriorating the overall audio quality. The same can be said for the gunshot setting, which also didn’t seem to make gunshots easier to discern either. Having Bass and Treble Boost turned on provided the best experience for me, providing clear audio with plenty of impact and fullness.

For an integrated microphone, the quality is passable, although it doesn’t provide the greatest vocal clarity. The noise gate feature, though, is useful and does indeed block unwanted sounds from coming through.

Connecting to a PC via the USB transmitter is as simple as plug-and-play. The same is true of when connecting to consoles, being as easy as the best PS5 headsets and best Nintendo Switch headsets. Bluetooth was also easy to set up with my phone, and I couldn’t detect any discernible difference in sound quality. I had no issues playing games on my PC (via the dongle) and listening to music from my Google Pixel 7a (via Bluetooth) at the same time either.

However, the Stealth 700 Gen 3 can take a couple of seconds to reconnect to a PC when powering it back on after sleep, and I experienced a few unsolicited disconnects from my PC after a bleep from the headset that I couldn’t explain.

It’s possible the issue lies with my PC rather than with the Stealth 700 Gen 3, although I haven’t experienced this issue with other gaming headsets. Thankfully, I was able to get the sound back quickly, and hopefully a firmware update will fix the issue if it is indeed a fault with the headset.

On a more positive note, the battery life of the Stealth 700 Gen 3 is great, with the 80-hour claim made by Turtle Beach appearing to hold true, as it only dipped between 5-10% after a few days of varied use.

(Image credit: Future) Should I buy the Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Gen 3? Buy it if...

You want great gaming audio
The sound from the Stealth 700 Gen 3 is clear and impactful, making it great for gaming and music listening, and the Bass Boost improves the sonics further.

You want plenty of physical adjustments
With four buttons and no less than three scroll wheels, adjusting various settings while gaming is easy.

Don't buy it if...

You have a sensitive head
While I found the earpads perfectly comfortable, the headband doesn’t have enough cushioning, resulting in aches.

You want a low profile… in every sense
The Stealth 700 Gen 3 is about the chunkiest gaming headset I’ve ever used, so if you want something sleek and discreet, this isn’t it.

Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Gen 3 review: Also consider

Razer BlackShark V2 Pro
The Razer BlackShark V2 Pro is one of the best gaming headsets around, as it barely puts a foot wrong in any aspect: It’s comfortable, well-built, has great sound and features, and has a long battery life to boot. It’s the same price as the Stealth 700 Gen 3, and since it’s slightly more well-rounded, it might just have the edge.

Read our full Razer BlackShark V2 Pro review

Epos H3
If you’re on a serious budget, then the Epos H3 is the best wired gaming headset in our view, thanks to its superb sound and comfort levels that punch above its low price. There’s also a wireless variant available, although naturally, it’s more expensive.

Read our full Epos H3 review

How I tested the Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Gen 3

• Tested for several days
• Used on multiple platforms
• Extensive gaming experience

I tested the Stealth 700 Gen 3 for several days, during which time I used it for gaming, listening to music, and watching video content. I tried it with numerous devices, namely a Windows 10 PC, a PS5, and a Nintendo Switch. I connected to these systems via the wireless USB transmitter and Bluetooth where I could.

I played games such as Counter-Strike 2 and S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl, where detailed sound and vocal clarity are of the utmost importance. I also recorded my own voice to test how the microphone sounded.

I have been gaming for over 20 years, and during that time I have experienced numerous headsets from a wide range of brands and across various price points. I have also reviewed multiple gaming headsets previously.

• First reviewed February 2025.
• Read more about how we test

Boulies Master Rex gaming chair: One-minute review

The Boulies Master Rex is a relaxed gaming chair with an integrated leg rest and various adjustments for improved comfort and versatility.

It’s a good-looking chair, and the Charcoal Grey finish on my review unit made it appear even smarter, although I found the black suede accents a little jarring and unnecessary. Overall, though, this is a relatively understated gaming chair that wouldn’t look out of place in any environment.

I also had the water-repellent fabric finish which was very nice, feeling as good as the finishes on the best gaming chairs around. The rest of the chair is similarly premium, although the head pillow isn’t quite up to the same standards, with a cheaper-feeling material and lacking plushness – but it’s still sufficiently comfortable and supportive.

The seat is quite soft for a gaming chair, providing plenty of cushioning, and is wide enough to comfortably accommodate various frames and sitting styles. The same can be said of the backrest, and I was especially thankful for the very forgiving side bolsters, which cushioned my elbows nicely whenever they made contact.

The Master Rex also features built-in lumbar support, which is adjustable for both height and prominence. I found it comfortable with plenty of support, although I wish it went a little lower, as it doesn’t really get that close to the bottom of the backrest.

What’s more, the two dials on either side for adjusting the lumbar can be awkward to turn while seated and require too many turns to reach their minimum and maximum respective settings, which can make it a chore to set.

I had no such problem when adjusting the armrests on the Master Rex, however. These are very stable and solidly constructed, yet I still found them comfortable to lean on. Again, though, I wish they had a lower minimum height, as well as a more inward bias. However, these are issues I experience with many gaming chairs.

The tilt mechanism was more disappointing, as it failed to easily rock, requiring some force to rock backward, even on its most amenable setting. Yet again, the adjustment dial for it was too laborious to use, owing to the large range between its two extremes.

Worse, however, was the recline mechanism. There’s plenty of range in its angles, but the mechanism itself felt rough and notchy, and I sometimes struggled to lock it in place. I also had similar issues with the Boulies Elite.

The integrated leg rest failed to impress, too. Sliding it in and out wasn’t the smoothest, and there was a fair amount of wobble to it when retracted. It’s well padded, but it’s a shame it only extended as far as my calves – and I’m not a tall person.

Assembling the Master Rex proved easy enough solo, although lining up the cushion gaskets when attaching the tilt mechanism to the seat base can be frustrating. Also, the rubber washers for the leg rest poles fell off too easily, and the machining on some screws was subpar. Despite these niggles, though, the Master Rex was easy to put together on the whole.

The Master Rex isn’t what you’d call cheap, but the quality and features on offer here help to make it a more reasonable proposition. It’s still less than the Secretlab Titan Evo 2022, although this is the best gaming chair around as far as we’re concerned. If you really want to save money, though, the Corsair TC100 Relaxed is a great pick for budget hunters.

In the main, the Master Rex has enough comfort, adjustability, and quality to make it a gaming chair worth recommending. A few features fall short of expectations, but not by enough to reject the Master Rex entirely from your consideration.

(Image credit: Future) Boulies Master Rex gaming chair review: Price and availability

• $479.99 / £409.99 (about AU$762)
• Available now
• Cheaper than some rivals

The Master Rex costs $479.99 / £409.99 (about AU$762) and is available now with PU leatherette and water-repellent fabric upholstery options. The former comes in black and brown, while the latter comes in Charcoal Grey, Ash Grey, and Como (green).

While it sits towards the higher end of the market, the Master Rex is still less than the regular Secretlab Titan Evo 2022, which we think is still the best gaming chair overall. That chair doesn’t come with a leg rest, but the brand does make an add-on accessory – although this carries a hefty price tag.

If you want to spend a lot less than either the Master Rex or the Titan, the Corsair TC100 Relaxed is the best budget gaming chair around in our view. It doesn’t quite have the same high build quality as its rivals, and the assembly process isn’t the best, but it’s still a comfortable and well-designed seat.

Boulies Master Rex gaming chair review: Specs Boulies Master Rex gaming chair review: Design and aesthetics

• Solid construction
• Soft, premium fabric
• Integrated lumbar and leg rest

The Master Rex sticks to Boulies’ typical aesthetic, with a more formal approach to traditional gaming chair design. It has a relaxed bucket-style backrest, while the seat base has no bolsters to hem you in – which I’m personally thankful for.

The water-repellent fabric I had on my test unit was smooth to the touch, feeling premium yet durable without the scratchiness that can plague some fabric finishes. Its stitching also appeared executed to a high standard, while the dark grey finish looked smart and sleek. The black suede accents seemed superfluous, though, and didn’t really add much in terms of form or function.

Most aspects of the Master Rex seem very well constructed. The frame and wheelbase are solid yet not too heavy, and the casters glide easily on hard and soft surfaces alike, without any catching on the latter. I was also thankful for the softness of the backrest side bolsters, which made them very comfortable on my elbows.

(Image credit: Future)

The 4D arm rests are another highlight, offering plenty of stability while being easy to operate. They have a hard-wearing surface yet are still comfortable, and are wide enough to accommodate most forearms.

The Master Rex also includes a leg rest that slides out from underneath the seat. However, the mechanism doesn’t retract smoothly, catching slightly as you pull, and there’s a fair amount of wobble when it’s out all the way, which doesn’t exactly inspire confidence. What’s more, the leg rest itself is quite thick, which means that when stowed, it gets in the way if you want to sit with your legs bent underneath you.

The Master Rex also comes with integrated lumbar support, so no back cushion is required. A head pillow is included, although this doesn’t feel as premium as the rest of the chair, owing to cheaper-feeling material and lack of plushness. It doesn’t attach magnetically either, relying on an elastic strap instead.

Boulies Master Rex gaming chair review: Comfort and Adjustability

• Useful adjustments
• Integrated lumbar support
• leg rest issues

I found the Master Rex a comfortable chair to sit in. The seat is soft and generously cushioned, more so than the seat on the Boulies Elite, for instance. It’s also pleasingly wide, allowing for various sitting styles.

Combined with the similarly plush backrest, this helps to make the Master Rex one of the most comfortable gaming chairs. The inbuilt lumbar support also provides sufficient back support, although I wish it went further down, as even on its lowest setting, it sat in the middle of my back more than I would’ve liked.

What’s more, adjustments are awkward to make while seated, owing to the positioning on the dials. Neither dial is labelled either, so you’ll have to refer to the manual and remember which one adjusts which parameter. Worse still, there are far too many rotations between their minimum and maximum settings, which only adds to the difficulty of making adjustments. At least the adjustments they do provide are meaningful.

The recline mechanism of the Master Rex doesn’t fare much better in this regard. As I found with the Boulies Elite, it’s too notchy and rough, and I often struggled to lock into position.

(Image credit: Future)

The tilt mechanism is a further oddity. I found that no matter how much I loosened the dial underneath, it was still too resistant to allow for easy rocking. And as with the lumbar adjustment dials, it requires far too many turns between each end of its extremes. I did, however, like the lever for toggling the tilt lock, as it moves horizontally rather than vertically, which I found more convenient to operate when seated.

On the other hand, the 4D arm rests on the Master Rex are hard to fault. All manner of pivots, rotations, and slides are possible, so most users shouldn’t have a problem getting a comfortable setup. I only wish they went lower and slightly further inwards, but I have this gripe with most gaming chairs I try to some degree; all things considered, they still offer sufficient comfort for extended periods.

The party piece of the Master Rex, though, is the retractable leg rest. I found this comfortable thanks to the amount of padding it provides. It can be adjusted for length, depending on how far you pull it out. However, it doesn’t extend all that far, and I wish it was long enough to rest my heels rather than just my calves, and a little more width wouldn’t have gone amiss either.

What’s more, despite its thickness, it still doesn’t sit level with the seat, meaning your feet dangle below you somewhat. While it’s nice to have, these drawbacks make the leg rest more of a gimmick rather than a feature you’ll want to use regularly.

Boulies Master Rex gaming chair review: Assembly

Putting together the Master Rex was a relatively quick process. I managed to build it by myself without help, although as with many gaming chairs, it can prove difficult and onerous when installing the seat onto the wheelbase, but this was still perfectly manageable.

There were a few other niggles, though. Firstly, when installing the tilt mechanism to the seat base, you’re required to insert small cushion gaskets in between the two before attaching the bolts. These spacers remain completely loose while you do this, which means they’re all too easy to displace and makes the process very fiddly.

In addition, the small rubber washers for the leg rest poles fell out when I took them out of their packaging – so take care not to lose them. Also, some of the screws had some machining damage to them; they were still perfectly functional, but this doesn’t exactly speak highly of Boulies’ quality control.

Ultimately, though, these are small grievances, and the whole process was relatively quick and easy compared to some other gaming chairs I’ve built in the past.

(Image credit: Future) Should I buy the Boulies Master Rex gaming chair? Buy it if...

You want plenty of cushioning
The Master Rex has a very soft seat, which is surprising given the brand’s Elite model is on the firmer side. The backrest is well cushioned with soft bolsters, too.

You want a leg rest
The Master Rex is one of a relatively small number of gaming chairs to include an integrated leg rest.

Don't buy it...

You want rock regularly
The tilt mechanism of the Master Rex is too stiff, even on its loosest setting, so serial rockers might want to look elsewhere.

You want a smooth recline
As with the Elite, the Master Rex suffers from a poor recline mechanism that’s very notchy and hard to lock in place at times.

Boulies Master Rex gaming chair review: Also consider

Here are some alternatives to the Boulies Master Rex:

Secretlab Titan Evo 2022
An erstwhile favorite for many, the Secretlab Titan Evo 2022 is all things to all gamers: it’s comfortable, well made, and versatile. Starting prices aren’t cheap, though, and costs can escalate dramatically depending on the finish and configurations. But there’s a reason it takes our top spot as the best gaming chair around – and we’re hardly alone in this. Read our Secretlab Titan Evo 2022 review.

Corsair TC100 Relaxed
If you want to save your money but still have a comfortable chair for gaming, the price-performance ratio of the TC100 Relaxed is hard to beat. We found it comfortable and stylish, although we could tell savings had been made on some parts. The assembly wasn’t the smoothest, either, but it’s still a good value proposition. Read our Corsair TC100 Relaxed review.

(Image credit: Future) How I tested the Boulies Master Rex gaming chair

• Tested for several days
• Made various adjustments
• Years of gaming chair experience

I tested the Master Rex for several days, and used it for gaming and for working. I used it on hard floors and on a large rug, and made every adjustment I could.

I have been PC gaming for decades, and during that time I’ve owned a variety of chairs, including those made for gaming, such as the Secretlab Titan, and office chairs, such as the Steelcase Leap.

I have reviewed other gaming chairs previously, including another Boulies model, the Elite.

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

SmartWings Motorized Smart Shades: one-minute review

Setup of the SmartWings motorized shades definitely took some doing. The included screws were so soft that they were stripped right away. Still, we got them installed. Then, getting them up and running also took a bit of doing and required a call to customer service to get everything connected properly. Once all that was done, the blinds worked like a dream. They do everything you want smart blinds to do. You can connect them to just about any platform such as Apple HomeKit, Amazon Alexa, Samsung SmartThings, and Google Assistant via Matter over Thread. Control them with your voice, tap to operate them on your phone, or set up automations. Open and close them all the way or just partially. You can also just use the included remote control.

The blinds are battery-operated, and can be recharged via a wall outlet or with a small solar panel that attaches to your window. I installed the blinds over a month ago, and I haven’t had to recharge the battery yet. I set up an automation in Apple HomeKit so the blinds open at sunrise and close at sunset, which works beautifully.

(Image credit: Karen Freeman / Future) SmartWings Motorized Smart Shades: price & availability

• Fairly expensive
• Custom-sized
• Requires a Wi-Fi hub to work remotely

You can order SmartWings Smart Shades directly from the SmartWings website or from Amazon. The price varies by size but starts at $154.99 (£119.50/245.92 AUD.) I selected the Zebra Blinds; the size and style you see in my photos goes for $424.95 (£327.74/674.13 AUD.) You will need to measure your window precisely before ordering; I’d recommend watching the video on SmartWings’ website to ensure you do it correctly.

There are many styles and colors from which to choose; I selected the "Zebra Shades 60% Blackout Translucent 75mm Eloise" style with the light grey fabric.

• Value score: 4/5

SmartWings Motorized Smart Shades: design

• Attractive
• Smooth and quiet operation
• Not the easiest to install

You will need a drill in order to install the SmartWings blinds. The included screws are soft and thread quite easily. If you're not careful, you may need to find alternative screws in order to get the blinds installed.

(Image credit: Karen Freeman / Future)

Other than the screw threading issue, installation is fairly straightforward with a power drill and the included instructions and hardware. The solar panel is a simple peel-and-stick application.

Then you'll need to set up the blinds with your smartphone or device of choice. You'll also need to have a home hub of some kind if you want to be able to control your blinds from outside the home. I used my iPhone to set it up in Apple HomeKit and my mini HomePod as a hub. This also took some doing, as the included instructions aren't the most clear. After talking to SmartWings' customer service, which was remarkably easy to get ahold of, I was able to get the blinds up and running.

(Image credit: Future)

The underside of the blinds motor has a small button and a USB-C port. The USB-C port is used for charging; you can charge up the blinds using the solar panel or directly to a wall outlet. The button is used during setup. It's hard to press and hold that button with a finger so the customer service rep I spoke with recommended using a pencil eraser to get the necessary traction. That worked great.

You may notice that the blinds seem a bit narrow for my window. That's entirely on me, since I measured the blinds for an "inside the frame" placement before realizing that my window frame doesn't allow that kind of installation. I had to install it on the outside of the frame instead, so the blinds don't fit perfectly.

(Image credit: Karen Freeman / Future)

I think these blinds look just fine. There are probably prettier smart blinds out there, but the simple, streamlined look works for my space. I do wish they'd been a little easier to set up and install, but luckily that only needs to be done once. Overall, they are well-designed blinds. Watching them open and close is actually kind of mesmerizing and soothing.

• Design score: 4/5

SmartWings Motorized Smart Shades: performance

• No app download necessary
• Matter motor over Thread protocol allows you to use any platform
• Motor is smooth and quiet

Because the SmartWings Smart Blinds have a Matter motor which uses the Thread protocol, they are platform agnostic. This means that you can set up the blinds to work with any platform, such as Google, Samsung, Amazon, or Apple. I'm Apple everything, so I set it up on my iPhone in Apple's HomeKit. You don't even need to download a SmartWings app; I just used the Home app on my iPhone.

If you only need to control your blinds from within your home, you could just set it up on your smartphone and leave it at that. However, if you want to be able to control your blinds from anywhere, you'll need some kind of home hub. I used my Apple HomePod mini.

Once you get everything connected, control is very straightforward. Just tap the controls on your smartphone. The iPhone Home app allows you raise and lower the blinds to a specific percentage, use Siri to control the blinds, and set up Automations so your blinds open and close automatically when you want. Of course, you can also just use the included remote control, which has its own holder that you can attach to the window frame.

(Image credit: Karen Freeman / Future)

Once you take the time to set up your SmartWings Smart Blinds with your platform of choice, the possibilities are endless. I used Apple HomeKit set mine to open at sunrise and close at sunset, but you could also set them up to open and close at specific times or when you're doing certain activities. I also frequently use my voice to tell Siri to open and close the blinds, fully, or part way. It all works quite smoothly and the mechanism isn't loud at all.

• Performance score: 4.5/5

Should you buy the SmartWings Motorized Smart Shades? Buy it if

You want to control your blinds from your phone or tablet

The SmartWings Smart Blinds allow you to do all the things you want from smart blinds from any platform you like.

You want custom blinds

You don't have to choose from just a few sizes; you can get the blinds to fit the precise measurements of your window. Plus, there are many color and style options.

Don't buy it if

You're on a tight budget

I don't think the price is unreasonable for custom smart blinds, but you might go another way if these give you sticker shock.

You want the easiest installation/removal

You do need a drill and some patience to install these. They may not be ideal for renters since you'll be drilling holes in the window frame.

SmartWings Motorized Smart Shades: also consider

Looking for something a little different? Here are two other options you might want to consider.

SwitchBot Roller Shade

SwitchBot makes a roller blind on a budget. It does work with a variety of platforms and SwitchBot's own app. Choose from a variety of sizes and you can even swap out the fabric for one of your choosing. View Deal

SwitchBot Blind Tilt

Save some serious dough using your existing blinds and adding this handy device. It's renter-friendly since there is no drilling required. Read our SwitchBot Blind Tilt review to learn more.View Deal

How I tested the SmartWings Motorized Smart Shades

I installed the SmartWings Motorized Smart Shade in an office window in my home. I set it up with Apple HomeKit on my iPhone and my HomePod mini as a hub. I spent several weeks with the blinds before reviewing. I controlled the blinds various ways during that time: the Home app on my iPhone, my voice and Siri, and the included remote control. I also set up an Automation in HomeKit to have the blinds open at sunrise and close at sunset.

First reviewed April 2025

VistaPrint photo book review

VistaPrint offers eight photo book sizes in square, portrait, and landscape formats, which range in size from 13 x 10cm (5.1 x 3.9 inches) to 39 x 29cm (15.4 x 11.4 inches). You can have up to 120 pages in a single photo book, although you’ll have to pay £1.50 extra for every two pages beyond 24. Layflat binding is also available on selected sizes for an extra £1.50 per page, and two stocks are available to choose from: Standard and Premium Glossy, the latter of which costs £10.50 more. A photo cover costs an additional £6.50.

The editor for creating a VistaPrint photo book is available both online in a browser and offline as an app for Windows or macOS systems. Books can be created from scratch or using VistaPrint’s Smart Assistant, which judges your best photos from those you’ve uploaded and automatically sets the layout, while still letting you edit as you wish.

(Image credit: Future)

Navigating the editor is easy thanks to its clear interface and toolbars for easy access to common elements. I created a book from scratch, although, annoyingly, VistaPrint still thrusts a preset layout upon you, which adds to the labor as you delete the blocks you don’t want.

On the other hand, if you need some inspiration, a menu of template layouts is available for instant insertion, with options containing various combinations of image and text blocks.

Inserting photos is simply a case of inserting image blocks and adding your photos, which can be done in three ways: uploading them in bulk and selecting them from a menu, clicking on a block to bring up a file explorer, or dragging and dropping the file from your computer.

(Image credit: Future)

You can then drag the corners and sides to resize your photos as you see fit. However, you’ll be disappointed if you want exact measurements, as there aren’t any, so you’ll have to rely on your eye. Thankfully, moving boxes can be made using the arrow keys, which certainly helps with fine-tuning layouts.

Other common keyboard shortcuts also work in the editor, such as those for copying, pasting, and undoing. However, you can’t select multiple blocks with Ctrl- or Shift-clicks, which is a shame.

Snap lines for horizontal and vertical centers are present, although somewhat frustratingly, they don’t always appear. For instance, I didn’t get a vertical center line when trying to align an image block on the back cover. However, both horizontal and vertical snap lines also appear when lining up a block with another, which is very useful.

(Image credit: Future)

When you click on an inserted photo, a popup menu appears with a slider that lets you zoom in and out of the image within its box. You can also drag the image around within the box, allowing you to effectively crop photos with ease.

This menu also has options for moving your image to the front or to the back relative to other boxes, as well as rotate and flip functions. There’s also a filter menu with Black & White and Sepia effects to choose from.

There’s also an Auto Enhancement feature, but there’s no explanation as to how this actually works. As far as I could tell, it makes images brighter, which works well in some cases, but can lead to overexposure and oversaturation in others. More annoyingly, I couldn’t find a way to turn it off permanently; the best I could do was click the delete enhancement button in the top toolbar, but I had to do this every time I inserted a new photo, which was mildly irritating.

(Image credit: Future)

Different background colors are available should you want them, but the options are limited since there’s no color wheel or hex code input for inserting any shade you like.

There are far more framing and masking options, ranging from basic looks to more ostentatious offerings. Various clip art stickers are available too. As for text, VistaPrint offers a good number of fonts to choose from as well, along with the usual point sizes, colors, and basic formatting options.

(Image credit: Future)

There are a few snags with the editor that are worth pointing out. Firstly, I couldn’t find a way to remove a frame or mask once inserted, which was frustrating and meant I had to delete the block entirely to eliminate it. I also couldn’t scale our TechRadar logo small enough to fit along the spine, despite being able to fit text here.

Other issues include black backgrounds obscuring the margin lines of the spine, and smaller images appearing with strange artifacts, which thankfully remedies itself once you zoom in, so it seems this is merely a GUI issue.

Popups occasionally appear reminding you to save your work, although an autosave feature wouldn’t have gone amiss. Saving is usually quite quick, although it was somewhat sluggish when returning to a saved session.

(Image credit: Future)

I also had a popup stating that photos were taking longer to load than usual when starting a new session, recommending I wait before making further changes to the book. Thankfully, this was only a momentary issue.

The projected delivery date for my order of a XL Square (30 x 30cm / 12 x 12 inch) photo book was two weeks, and unfortunately, unlike other services, there’s no expedited option for quicker turnarounds.

Such photo books cost £49.99. I was lucky to catch VistaPrint in a sale, so claimed a 40% discount, bringing my order to £35.69, which included a photo cover and a few extra pages beyond the default 24. Delivery cost an extra £5.50, bringing my overall total to £41.19, although orders over £40 have free delivery.

(Image credit: Future)

The book arrived about four days earlier than estimated, which was a pleasant surprise. However, unfortunately there was some damage to the top of the spine and consequently the inside corners of nearly every page, as if it had been crushed from the top.

This wasn’t exactly surprising given how thin the cardboard sleeve was, with no bubble wrap or protective padding of any kind around the book. Thankfully, the damage was subtle, and much of it was hidden from view by the curve of the pages towards the binding.

The printing quality was excellent, though. Images were sharp with no blurring or artifacts. Colors were rendered with plenty of accuracy and vibrancy, which was especially noticeable on full-page spreads, making them a real highlight of the book.

However, some images and text had a slightly jagged edge to them, as did the solid blocks of color, which also contained a few outlines in a darker shade. There were also a few stray dots of color on white backgrounds, but these were infrequent and hard to notice owing to their minute size.

On the whole, though, the VistaPrint photo book delivers pleasing results, especially for those looking to showcase larger photos. Combined with its capable and intuitive editor, this is a service worthy of your attention.

Should I buy the VistaPrint photo book? Buy it if…

You want an easy editor to use
For the most part, the editor is clear and simple, and various standard keyboard shortcuts can be used to make things even easier.

You want a good price
VistaPrint’s photo books are good value for money, undercutting many of its rivals, and by a considerable amount in some cases.

Don't buy it if…

You want precision and color options
Unfortunately, VistaPrint’s photo book editor provides no photo measurements nor a color wheel or hex code input for backgrounds and solid blocks of color.

You want a quick turnaround
Two weeks is the fastest delivery time VistaPrint provides, which is a shame since there are quicker services out there (I did receive mine earlier than expected, though).

VistaPrint photo book review: also consider

Shutterfly
If you’re looking for precise control over photo resizing, then Shutterfly could be for you. It displays image dimensions in inches, which is very useful for those with specific layout requirements. The options for tailoring templates are limited, and we didn’t find its editor the easiest to use, but it’s still competent enough. Read our Shutterfly photo book review.

Mimeo
Mimeo offers another simple and easy to use photo book creator, which we found helped to offset its rather limited design and material choices compared to the competition. We also thought the shipping costs were too steep, but if you prize a great user experience and a high-quality end product, this could be the service for you. Read our Mimeo photo book review.

How I tested the VistaPrint photo book

• Made and ordered photo book
• Followed TechRadar's photo book template

I used VistaPrint’s online editor to order a 12 x 12 inch (30 x 30cm) XL Square photo book with 28 pages, following our TechRadar template, which includes a variety of photos, containing both people and landscape, with varying colors palettes and exposure levels, as well as some black and white images.

Our template also contains various page layouts, in order to test the versatility of the service in question, both in terms of its editing capabilities and the final result.

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

Operating system support: Debian, Ubuntu, CentOS, AlmaLinux, Rocky Linux, CloudLinux, Virtuozzo Linux, Windows.

Portability to different platforms

Plesk has been around for a long time and is supported by many hosts. You also have the option to migrate to cPanel should you decide that Plesk isn’t for you. Plesk also supports a wide array of Linux and Windows operating systems, so you have a lot of options for installing it on various server setups.

Plesk has a straightforward and fair pricing model - you pay for how many websites you use. This makes it great for average web hosters who need the flexibility of Plesk and don’t plan on hosting tons of websites. It is also a good choice for web agencies who plan on hosting websites on behalf of their clients and want predictable pricing. If you plan on hosting lots of websites all for your own use, then cPanel or sPanel offer cheaper plans.

Ease of use

Plesk has the most cohesive user interface of all the admin panels, combining the server-side administration into the same user interface as the website management interface. This has benefits and drawbacks. On the one hand, it’s nice to have the server management presented in a manner that is friendly to non-technical users, but at the same time, it feels a little frustrating to use if you are technical. There’s considerably less of the underlying technical details exposed to users, which is great if you’re worried about breaking things, but if you’re a tinkerer, then you might prefer the more raw experience that cPanel provides. Plesk not only works great on mobiles but even provides a dedicated mobile app so you can manage your websites on the go.

Support Web server support

It supports a wide array of different web servers and languages. Apache is installed by default, with the option to install Nginx as a reverse proxy, which gives you the best of both worlds. Litespeed is supported, but there’s no support for the free alternative, OpenLitespeed, so expect additional costs.

Database support

Microsoft SQL, MySQL, and PostgreSQL are all supported, making Plesk a great choice for those who need more powerful database options.

Language support

Support programming languages include PHP, Javascript/Node, Perl, Ruby, Python, .NET. There’s even docker support via an official extension, which means effortless support for virtually any language and setup.

Backups

Plesk offers a pretty standard array of backup options with good support for remote backup providers. FTP, Amazon S3, Google Drive and Microsoft OneDrive are all supported.

Extensions and apps

Plesk has the most impressive extensibility out of any of the admin panels we’ve tried. Along with the usual one-click installers such as Softacolous, you can also install extensions to manage your social media, page speed, harden your WordPress installations - it really does have it all. There’s even a pretty powerful site builder included, meaning you can build your website with zero coding knowledge.

Security

Not only does Plesk come with the usual security software, but it also goes the extra mile to make them more user-friendly. We particularly like how user-friendly the web application firewall is, providing an extra layer of security against malicious requests without overly complicating it. Plesk includes both VirusTotal and Imunify for virus scans with an option for paid upgrades. Kernelcare and other paid security hardening services are available.

Final verdict

Plesk is truly leading the way with the admin panel. It has remained fresh and up-to-date, offering a lot of the latest and greatest software. Everything is easy to use and packaged in a way that isn’t intimidating to non-technical users. It would be nice to see better out-of-the-box performance optimisation, something that sPanel really excels at, but Plesk offers a more broad set of capabilities. It does an incredible job of being both extremely powerful and customisable, without being overwhelming for non-technical users. The bottom line is that if you want an admin panel that does everything and packages it up nicely into a very user-friendly package, then it might be worth splashing a bit more on Plesk.

Operating system support: AlmaLinux, CloudLinux, Rocky Linux and Ubuntu

Portability to different platforms

cPanel is probably one of the most popular admin panels, so it’s no surprise that it’s supported by many hosts. They also include migration tools to migrate between servers and even from a Plesk control panel. Since cPanel is so popular, most alternative admin panels have a migrato,r meaning that if you decide cPanel isn’t for you, you can still easily switch to other admin panels such as Plex or sPanel.

Instead of charging by website, cPanel offers unlimited websites and chargers based on the number of users you have. If you’re planning on hosting a lot of websites, but all for your own use, then it can make it slightly cheaper, although not as cheap as SPanel. However, if you plan on hosting just a few websites or having lots of user accounts, then it will be more expensive than the alternatives. Reselling is available for their plans starting at 46.99/mo, making it slightly cheaper than Plesk for reselling.

Ease of use

cPanel’s ease of use is a mixed bag. It has areas that can be a little daunting for new users, but once you’re familiar with it, it becomes pretty easy to work out where things are. There’s no mobile-specific app, but that’s not required since the web version works well on mobile. The server admin part of cPanel is a lot more daunting than the individual website management section, and the server admin part definitely feels like it would be daunting to non-technical users - although it is nice to have the additional flexibility you get from exposing the raw, technical, internals. The beauty of cPanel’s popularity is that there are plenty of tutorials and videos you can watch if you’re not quite sure how to do something.

Support Web server support

Nginx is supported via free plugins and some command line dabbling, but we’d expect to see a server as popular as Nginx to be supported out of the box. Lightspeed is available but that is a commercial application and requires an eye-watering $25/month license. It would be nice to see support for the free alternative OpenLightSpeed, which is available in sPanel. Overall, cPanel doesn’t offer the breadth of web server support that Plesk does, and it doesn’t provide the performance-optimized web server support that sPanel offers. It does offer clustering, meaning you can join multiple servers together and split the load between them, but that’s quite an advanced feature and not something the vast majority of users will need.

Database support

Supports both MySQL/MariaDB out of the box. Postgres is supported but involves running a command line script, which, again, isn’t ideal for less-technical users - although once it’s installed, then the user interface has very good support for it.

Language support

Supports PHP, Java, and Ruby out of the box, with support for more if you’re willing to install and manage them yourself. We’d expect a mature admin panel such as cPanel to support many more languages.

Backups

Supports offsite backups. Has a good selection of remote backup providers: S3, BackBlaze, FTP, Google Drive, Rsync and WebDAV.

Extensions and apps

Supports Softaculous. It also has a number of paid extensions but nothing that isn’t supported by Plesk. It is very extensible if you’re willing to dabble with the command line, and there’s lots of documentation provided on how to tweak things, but really, an admin panel as mature and expensive as cPanel should have more click-and-play extensions to justify its cost.

Security

Clam AV virus scanner, which is a good virus scanner, with support for more advanced ones such as ImunifyAV (at a cost). 2 factor auth, which is good. Automatic updates are an additional $3/month. This includes ModSecurity as a web application firewall, which I personally trust over an AI solution.

Final verdict

Hosting has changed a lot in the last decade, with new performance-focused web servers, advanced databases and powerful new languages becoming increasingly popular. Unfortunately, cPanel has done little to keep up with these advances, supporting pretty much the same setup it has for the last decade or more. Whilst there is plenty of documentation covering how to install these newer alternatives, it’s really something that cPanel should be supporting out of the box by now. Given the increase in pricing cPanel has seen over the years, it costs just as much as considerably better alternatives such as Plesk. cPanel is historically a very popular and well-known admin panel, so it will be familiar to a lot of seasoned hosters and, despite its shortcomings, its familiarity is often enough to make it people’s go-to admin panel. The bottom line is: unless you already feel most comfortable in cPanel or you plan on reselling, there’s no real reason to choose it over sPanel or Plesk.

In a year packed with big-budget blockbusters and standout indie gems, South of Midnight carves out its own space by delivering the polish of a AAA title while embracing the bold, stylized vision often found in smaller-budget games. Since being acquired by Microsoft Game Studios some years ago, Montreal-based developer Compulsion Games has refined its knack for high-concept mid-tiered AA release through a mythic adventure of the American South. Simply put, there are games released at twice the price point of South of Midnight ($39.99) that don’t provide this well-rounded experience.

Review info

Platform reviewed: Xbox Series X
Available on: Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC
Release date: April 8, 2025

Players step into the role of Hazel, a young woman caught in the middle of a magical conspiracy as she searches for her mother following a hurricane while uncovering her family’s legacy. A captivating story filled with rich characters alongside fascinating world-building, South of Midnight stands out thanks to vivid stop-motion-inspired visuals, outstanding music, and heartfelt voice acting stand out in presentation alone. Most importantly, the Game Pass exclusive feels authentic and honest about its point of view.

Thankfully, there’s also an incredibly solid game beneath the audio/visual package and a charming story. South of Midnight doesn’t radically innovate in the gameplay department, nor does it even try to. What matters most in the action adventure is the execution which is led by tight controls during traversal and combat.

Across the 10-15 hours of the single-player game, players will guide Hazel through the Southern town of Prospero as she searches for her mother. Earlier on in the story, our heroine learns of her destiny as a Weaver, magical individuals who battle evil creatures called Haints with enchanted crochet hooks. As Hazel embarks on her hero’s journey, she’ll also find her way by learning about the past of many past and present residents of Prospero besides her own family history. Along the way, she'll befriend a talking catfish(who also serves as the narrator), fight her mother’s bartending ex-boyfriend, who transforms into a monstrous flying creature, understand the mysterious disappearance of a pleasure boat in a swampland occupied by a giant mermaid looking for her lost son and much more.

(Image credit: Compulsion Games) Tight Combat and traversal

During exploration, controlling Hazel is fairly simple with the left stick used for movement, the left stick used for camera control, A button for jump. As the story goes along, there are layers added to that through double jumps, dashes, wall-running, and the like. Like many of its inspirations like Prince of Persia or Uncharted, there’s plenty of climbing, wall shimming, and balancing as well. All of these feel fantastic when used, even if the core mechanics aren’t necessarily new. However, the way it's used to push the story keeps things moving along without getting boring. For example, the early moments of Hazel learning about her powers in the earlier chapters (there are 14 chapters in total) is through the last Weaver who helped Black slaves escape captivity.

Once the third chapter comes along, this is where the main gameplay loop comes into play where players collect spirits in blue glass bottles that relate to a local legend within a specific location. This is done through combat sections that have players enter an arena and fight the Haints. Destroying the dark creatures wreaking havoc on the land of Prospero is a fluid, accessible, and visually rewarding experience. Using those magical crochet hooks, players attack and initiate combo-based attacks via the X button and dodge with the B button which if done at the right time can turn into a parry. Later on, players can also manipulate enemies using trigger and bumper inputs to push and pull them, adding depth to encounters. Many of those powers have cooldown moments in order to avoid exploitation while also serving as a tool for fairly simple puzzles.

Once enemies are weakened, purifying them with the Y button finishes them off while also restoring a bit of health. A lock-on system enhances targeting precision too by clicking on the left thumb stick. Defeating all enemies in a combat scenario transforms thorn-covered corrupted areas into vibrant, flower-filled landscapes—an eye-catching reward that enhances the game’s visual appeal. Combat is relatively simple and doesn’t necessarily get complex until the narrative’s midway point where Hazel can face six or seven enemies at once. During the later combat scenarios, it does get a bit difficult for the camera to keep up with Hazel which can lead to some light moments of frustration. Even in death, checkpoints are generous with a really silly respawn animation.

(Image credit: Compulsion Games)

The stand-out moments of combat does come in the form of big boss fights that will challenge players' understanding of Hazel’s powers with some offering some light puzzle elements. One surprising boss battle even features a clever twist during its conclusion and defines the real antagonist of South of Midnight even if that character is fairly obvious during the first couple of chapters. That final confrontation with the antagonist definitely goes left into a finale that does somewhat come off as anti-climactic yet well-meaning.

Following combat, players also begin to learn more about the mystery of a particular area they’re trying to get through such as how a boy transformed into a tree or how a mysterious giant spider got attached to several missing children among others. After Hazel collects enough spirits for the bottle and begins to discover the mystery of a particular area, this leads to a chase sequence from a mysterious creature as she makes her way to the bottle tree.

The flow of the game usually consists of traversal looking for spirit bottles and other collectibles later down the line, combat scenarios, and the big chase sequence after all the required spirits are collected. Though the game is incredibly linear, players can get a guide on where to go next with the press of a button. Interestingly enough, there are some beaten paths where players can upgrade an incredibly light combat skill tree or enhance their life bar.

A nice switch-up roughly halfway through the game comes in the form of an overwhelmingly cute stuffed crochet doll named “Crouton.” The cuddly individual serves as a companion one can control during exploration by hitting the right bumper. Crouton can also be thrown into other areas to explore where it can be controlled directly by the player. It can also get through spaces Hazel is too large to crawl through to activate different switches and can even be used in combat. When fighting the Haints, Hazel can use the doll to possess enemies to attack others. This later addition does a better job of keeping combat and traversal somewhat fresh.

(Image credit: Compulsion Games) Art and audio that doesn’t miss

With an incredibly cool story and lore alongside solid gameplay, holding all of those elements together is the presentation. Visually, South of Midnight is one of the best-looking games of the year so far when it comes to art direction. The first introductory stop-motion animation before the start screen sets a fantastic tone that transitions well into the real-time gameplay and cut scenes.

The game embraces a distinctive stop-motion aesthetic, enhanced by rich art direction and clever technical choices. Its animation style features intentional frame skips, giving it a handcrafted, cinematic feel reminiscent of Coraline, The Nightmare Before Christmas the Spider-Verse films. This unique approach blends artistic flair with modern performance, running smoothly at a consistent 60 frames per second. Other more technical highlights of the visuals include great lighting, texture work without any noticeable pop-in, and shadow work. The result is a game that looks like a beautifully animated film coming to life, setting it apart visually from a lot of games released this year.

South of Midnight’s audio is just as captivating as its visuals, delivering a rich, immersive soundscape that elevates the entire experience. The soundtrack, already praised for its deep-fried charm, consistently maintains a high standard of quality from start to finish. Drawing from American roots genres like blues, jazz, and country, the music is layered with a sweeping orchestral touch that adds emotional depth.

Best bit

The mid-game introduction of Hazel’s absurdly cute enchanted crochet doll and companion named “Crouton.” adds new warmth to the story while cleverly elevating gameplay.

This sonic blend is the result of recordings done in both Nashville and London’s legendary Abbey Road Studios, merging Southern soul with cinematic grandeur to create a sound that’s both grounded and transcendent. That doesn’t even count moments during gameplay and most boss fights where music features lyrics that move the narrative along in a major way. Then there’s fantastic voice acting that truly brings these characters to life. In addition to the magnificent script writing, every single character from lead to supporting cast is perfectly cast including Adriyan Rae as Hazel. The Southern accents can get really thick too.

South of Midnight is a rare gem that seamlessly blends imaginative storytelling, satisfying gameplay, and top-tier presentation. Compulsion Games delivers a title that feels as if it punches above its weight, offering a visually stunning, emotionally rich journey through a myth-laced Southern gothic world. From the moment Hazel begins her search for her mother to the last climactic battles against haunting enemies both big and small, the game constantly surprises with its heart rooted in deep respect for American Southern culture. While it may not reinvent the wheel, South of Midnight executes its vision with precision and flair, proving that a thoughtfully crafted experience can rival—and even surpass—many of its higher-priced contemporaries.

(Image credit: Compulsion Games) Should you play South of Midnight? Play it if...

You need an affordable action adventure with a rich narrative that won’t take up too much of your time
South of Midnight delivers a focused single-player experience that keeps things concise, offering an engaging story with several standout moments along the way.

You love magnificent visuals and audio components that are truly unique
The stop-motion-inspired visuals and striking art direction are definite highlights, but it’s the blues-infused orchestral soundtrack, complete with lyrical moments that echo the story, that truly steals the show.

You like solid platforming and combat
Though the mechanics themselves don’t reinvent the wheel, the controls are tight and feel great regardless of traversal or combat.

Don't play it if...

You want something a bit more challenging and explorative outside of the linear path
There are some light exploration moments for players who want extra experience points to spend on additional combat skills or health and lore extras, but South of Midnight is a linear experience.

You need a game that offers up something fresh
Players familiar with the traversal and combat of many 2000s decade of action adventures and the like know exactly what to expect; for better or worse.

Accessibility

South of Midnight offers a robust suite of accessibility features. Players can expect customizable menu narration, detailed subtitle and caption options, and adjustable fonts to support those with audio or visual needs. This even extends to removing the animation frame skip in favor of smoother animation. While the game is relatively approachable on its default difficulty, it also includes a variety of gameplay tweaks designed to accommodate players with different disabilities. Some of these include help from in-game navigation and combat tweaks to exploration help.

(Image credit: Compulsion Games) How I reviewed South of Midnight

I played a finished build of South of Midnight on Xbox Series X and my playtime lasted nearly 15 hours. After completing the game on normal difficulty, I spent additional time exploring its harder modes and diving into the rich lore woven throughout the experience.

The game was played on a Gigabyte M32UC 4K monitor with an Xbox Wireless Controller. Sound came through FiiO FT1 Pro Open-Back Planar Headphones.

First reviewed April 2025

Operating system support: CentOS, Linux and Windows

Portability to different platforms

Whilst SPanel is a purpose-built admin panel by ScalaHosting, it is actually available as a standalone tool. It claims to support any virtual or private server and can even be managed by ScalaHosting on Digital Ocean, AWS, and, of course, ScalaHosting itself. The panel is cPanel compatible, which means migration to the platform should be easy, and if you need to migrate by hand, Scala also offers “unlimited migration.” Since it’s a fairly niche admin panel, not many other admin panels have automated importers, so in the rare case that you want to switch to another one, you may have a bit of extra work on your plate.

SPanel offers a no-nonsense pricing structure, which we really appreciate. Instead of holding back features for more expensive plans, it offers the kitchen sink, including unlimited websites, on all plans and instead charges per user. This makes it great if you’re looking for a budget-friendly control panel and have lots of websites to host, but primarily for your own use. Even for reselling, it works out slightly cheaper than the alternatives. However, reselling often demands a more flexible control panel to match customers’ varied demands, so we’d still recommend resellers splash slightly more money on a more mature control panel such as Plesk or cPanel. All plans also include 24/7 server management and support, which can be worth the monthly fee alone for those who need a little extra hand-holding.

Ease of use

When software is designed for both technical and non-technical users, there’s always a risk that an overly simplified user interface can limit the control you have over the underlying software. Thankfully, SPanel does a great job explaining the technical parts without removing any control. SPanel’s creators, ScalaHosting, have a wealth of experience dealing directly with hosting customers, and that really shines in their user interface. Whilst the user interface does work on mobile, it would be nice to have it optimized so there’s less zooming involved.

Support Web server support

Supports the usual Apache but has a single-click setup for faster drop-in replacements like Lightspeed. It also supports nginx as a reverse proxy, meaning you can have the best of both worlds - using nginx’s lightning-fast performance for static files such as images and CSS files whilst retaining Apache’s flexibility. SPanel really stands out here. There are a lot of easy to setup options and a clear focus on PHP performance.

Database support

Currently, it only supports MySQL/MariaDB, which is enough to host a lot of the most popular apps (WordPress, Magento, Joomla, and Drupal, to name a few), but it would be great to see support for alternative databases such as Postgres, which is gaining in popularity due to the more powerful features they offer. Again, it’s clear that SPanel is laser-focused on traditional PHP & MySQL setups, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing if that’s your preferred tech stack.

Language support

Supports PHP and nodejs/Javascript, which is pretty essential. Languages such as Python require manual setup.

Email support

Includes Spam Assasin which is a pretty standard anti-spam tool.

Backups

Every account gets automatic offsite backup.

Extensions and apps

Being an admin panel that is focused on being optimized, SPanel understandably doesn’t boast a huge range of extensions. Like most other panels, there’s support for Softaculous so you have a whole host of apps you can install, but if you’re looking for extensibility in the admin panel itself, then it might be worth looking into cPanel or Plesk.

Security

Automatically set up SPF, DKIM & DMARC for emails, which are special anti-spam records to help prevent your emails from ending up in other people’s spam boxes. It includes 2-factor authentication, which is essential for a high-value target like a server. Regular automatic updates are a welcome addition, even if it does increase the risk of another CrowdStrike debacle. Built-in Let’s Encrypt support means free and easy SSL certificates. It includes a built-in web firewall called SShiel, which uses “AI” to determine malicious visitors. This means potentially more malicious visitors blocked but opens up more scope for false positives.

Final verdict

SPanel is a welcome new player to the market. It clearly has a narrower focus than some of the more traditional admin panels like Plesk and cPanel, but that narrow focus allows it to offer a considerably more optimized experience. Performance has been greatly enhanced with SPanel, which provides very easy options to speed up your website, which is vital for potentially computing-hungry applications such as WooCommerce. It also comes with a fantastic support offering, borrowing expertise from SPanel’s hosting company, ScalaHosting. While you will sacrifice a bit of flexibility with a simpler admin panel like SPanel, if you want to host a standard PHP and MySQL/MariaDB application and you want it to be fast, then your best bet is SPanel. I'd recommend this to people who are hosting their own PHP & MySQL/MariaDB apps and care about performance. It could also be a good option for seasoned hosters who want something easy but aren't afraid to install system packages directly when they need something not supported out of the box.

With RSS.com having a stable 4.9 rating on all major review platforms, we put it to the test to see how it works.

For this RSS.com review, we began with the mindset of a complete beginner to see how easy the features are to use, how easy it is to set up and monetize our podcast, and how much it costs.

Our results? A “complete” podcast hosting provider with all the features you need to easily start and keep your podcast running within a few minutes.

Advantages of RSS.com (Pros)

Beginner’s Best Friend

If there is one thing I love about a podcasting hosting service, it's a clean UI. This, together with features that are not only easy to find but also use, makes setting up a podcast easier.

From uploading your audio file to the description, you can make your podcast live within a minute, even without any experience.

(Image credit: Rss.com)

Affordable Plans With Unlimited Uploads

With RSS.com, you get more for your money. Their plans start at just $11.99/month ($4.99/month for students and NGOs), offering unlimited episode hosting—a feature that many competitors, like Buzzsprout and Podbean, limit by capping upload hours. This means you can create and publish as many episodes as you want without worrying about hidden costs or overage fees, making RSS.com a cost-effective and scalable solution for podcasters of all levels.

Free Podcast Website

As soon as your podcast is live, your episode will be listed on your own website, which is desktop- and mobile-friendly. The website is free and has a media player embedded in it so your visitors can listen to your podcast directly on your site.

Automatic Distribution To Major Podcast Directories

RSS.com automatically distributes your episodes to the majority of its directories and offers guided options for the ones that don’t support automatic requests.

Easy Social Media Sharing

Easily share your podcast episodes across different social media platforms with a click of a button.

Who Is RSS.com For?

After thoroughly testing RSS.com, I found that it is good for beginners. If you’re completely new to the podcasting world, you don’t have to stress out where to start if you choose RSS.com. From signing up until you upload your podcast, the hosting provider will walk you through its visible option and easy-to-understand interface.

It also takes care of the majority of your tasks, like distribution, podcast website, etc., so you can focus on recording your podcast. All it takes is less than 2 minutes to have your podcast up and running.

Using RSS.com: Super Easy User Interface

One thing that stood out about RSS.com was its user interface.

The interface is clean, minimal, and clutter-free. The best part? There is zero learning curve, and the support bell is right at the top-right corner in case something gets difficult (but I doubt you’d find anything too confusing to understand).

If it’s your first podcast, RSS.com helps you navigate the entire process with the options visible on your screen.

After you’ve made your podcast live, the dashboard looks like this:

RSS.com interface

Think of this dashboard as your complete podcast ecosystem that allows you to access any episode/show and helps you create your public website for your show. It shows scheduled podcasts with their date. In the header, you can navigate through the analytics, distribution, monetization, and settings of your podcast, and it also shows scheduled podcasts and the date they’re due to go live.

You can publish new episodes or start a new podcast series from the dashboard.

When it comes to publishing your podcast, RSS.com allows you to either create a separate page (website link) or share a direct link through social media.

RSS.com (Image credit: Future)

You can check analytics and distribution at the click of a button, too. Overall, I’m quite impressed with RSS.com, which is extremely easy to use and understand for non-tech users.

Features Breakdown

1. Auto Transcription

When you upload your podcast, RSS.com gives you the option to generate a free transcript for your podcast. This powerful AI-powered feature supports 14 languages and generates SEO-friendly transcripts for your podcast for better accessibility.

2. Podroll

Love a show and want to share it with your audience? Pin up to 4 shows directly on your profile and let your listeners also tune into them. The feature is available in both plans.

3. Easy Scheduling & Publish URL

For people who love batch creation and busy individuals, you can schedule your episodes in advance. You also get a sharable public URL of your scheduled episode, allowing you to plan promotions and campaigns across social media ahead of the release.

RSS.com (Image credit: Rss.com)

4. Convert Audio to YouTube Video Podcasts

RSS.com uses PodViz to convert your audio podcast to automatically turn into engaging videos that you can share on YouTube. The video podcast contains dynamic visual elements and supports high resolution. Moreover, if you use chapters inside your audio podcast, they will be added atomically in your video, making it easier for your viewers to see them.

5. Embeddable Podcast Player

RSS.com offers a customizable podcast player that you can embed on your website to boost your podcast. This player is fully responsive across all devices, so even if your audience views your website on their mobile or desktop, they can still enjoy the experience.

Furthermore, you can even customize the color palette to meet your brand guidelines. For instance, I embedded my podcast in my blog post, and this is how it looks:

RSS.com (Image credit: Rss.com) How to Get Started With RSS.com?

Once you set up your RSS account, use the steps below to make your podcast live!

Step 1: After signing up, your blank dashboard will appear. Click on “New Podcast.”

Step 2: Add your podcast title, description, and cover art. Next, set up your custom URL.

Add title (Image credit: Future)

Step 3: Add categories, primary categories, and author details. You’re all set with your podcast. It’s time to add episodes inside, and surprisingly, it’s easy too.

Step 4: Click on “New Episode” from your dashboard.

New episode on RSS.com (Image credit: Future)

Step 5: Add your audio file. Following this, fill in all the details of your episode.

Adding details of epsiode (Image credit: Future)

Step 6: Choose whether you want to publish the episode right away or want to schedule it later. You’ll be able to track the process either way.

Podcast Distribution

RSS.com makes podcast distribution easy with automatic to majority podcast directories. You can publish your episode in one place and let RSS.com take care of the rest.

For instance, once you upload your episode, head over to “Distribution” and click on “Submit now.”

RSS.com (Image credit: Future)

The submission usually takes up to an hour, but my first episode was submitted within 30 minutes.

RSS.com automatically submits your podcast on:

• Spotify
• Amazon Music
• Podcast Index
• Listen Notes
• RSS.com Community

For other directories that don’t support automatic submissions, such as Apple Music, iHeartRadio, etc., RSS.com offers a complete guide on how to do it. You can automatically submit your podcast to these directories using the guided methods.

On the other hand, if you want to submit your podcast manually, you can directly copy the RSS feed.

Migration From Other Podcast Hosting to RSS.com

Migrating from one podcast host to another is tricky, but RSS has really made it easy, along with 6 months of free access.

All you need to do is enter your podcast name/RSS feed and submit your email. RSS.com will verify your email and import your show automatically. And the best part of migrating? Your shows will still be available despite being under migration, allowing your followers to not miss out on anything.

(Image credit: Future)

Note: To be eligible for a 6-month free offer for migrating, your show must have at least one episode, and it must be a minimum of 30 days old.

Monetization Options

RSS.com provides plenty of monetization options for your podcast, such as:

• Apple Podcasts Subscriptions
• Sponsorship opportunities
• Donation and Funding

For sponsorships, you need a minimum of 1,000 downloads per month. RSS.com regularly partners with potential sponsors who might be interested in funding your show.

It’s important to note here that sponsorships are not guaranteed despite your meeting the eligibility criteria. The team will reach out when they find the right opportunity for you, and you can decide if you want to proceed with the same.

Rss.com sponsporships (Image credit: Future)

On the other hand, Apple subscriptions and donations are available for everyone, irrespective of the number of downloads.

RSS’ “Value 4 Value” stood out for me and caught my attention. Through its direct partnership with Alby, you can receive real-time payments in bitcoins through ‘bootstagram’ from your listeners.

Simply set up a free account on Alby, and you’ll be able to activate Value 4 Value monetization option.

Lastly, RSS.com is also releasing dynamic ad insertion for larger shows. However, there is still no update on the official release yet.

Analytics and Data By RSS.com

RSS.com has detailed analytics that you can see from your dashboard. The analytics gives you data for up to the last 180 days. You get data for:

• Downloads
• Listeners
• Apps, Directories & Browsers (downloads by countries)

Data & analytics by RSS (Image credit: Future)

You also get a heatmap that showcases unique downloads by week and day.

The data and analytics are clearly displayed and are easy to read. Let’s say you’re a complete beginner. The analytics given by RSS.com will definitely not give you a tough time understanding how your episodes are performing, your audience demographics, etc.

RSS.com Pricing Plans & Options

The pricing and plans of RSS.com are extremely affordable and come with 30 days refund policy.

Compared to other podcast hosting providers that put limits on how much content you can upload in a month (upload hours), all the plans of RSS.com offer unlimited episodes, audio, and unlimited podcast shows (for the top-tier plan).

RSS.com comes with a free trial that lets you set up your account and publish one podcast episode. You don’t need to enter your card details to get the free version. Additionally, it even includes distribution for the first episode as a part of their free basic version.

For the paid versions, it comes with three plans:

• Student & NGO at $4.99/month: Applicable only for students and NGO’s globally
• All in One Podcasting at $11.99/month: Best For beginners and small businesses
• Podcast Network at $18.75/month: Ideal for large businesses or podcasters to host multiple shows

Note: All prices are in USD and for the annual plan. The monthly plan is 25% higher.

RSS.com pricinng (Image credit: Future) Free vs Paid Plan: Do You Really Need to Pay?

The free version of RSS.com sounds great if you’re just testing out the features of the hosting provider before committing to the paid plan. However, you’ll be able to upload only one episode on the free version, and this even restricts you from trying out its scheduled feature (if you’re hitting the publish button for your first one).

Our tip is to thoroughly use the free version to its best and explore all the available features. Once done, go with the monthly plan before committing to the annual one. Although you can cancel your plan anytime without being bound by contracts, we’d still want your money to fall into the right hands that align with your needs.

RSS.com Customer Support & Help

You get a direct support bell icon to browse through their hundreds of helpful articles and tutorials.

You can enter your query, and RSS will automatically show up all the related guides. If the DIY option doesn’t solve your issues, you can submit a ticket to the customer support team with a turnaround time of a few hours to business days, depending on the complexity.

However, I received a response within 23 minutes to my query since it was a short question.

RSS.com customer support response (Image credit: Future) Final Verdict: Is RSS.com Worth It?

RSS.com is a value-for-money podcast hosting packed with all the necessary and stellar features you need to start your podcast. From having your custom podcast page to one-click distribution, it’s a great pick for anyone who is entirely new and wants to start a podcast without any technical know-how.

Meet the authors

Podbean comes at an affordable price and includes all the necessary features you need from a podcast host. So, we decided to put it to the test and explore its features, value for money, customer support, migration process, etc.

For this Podbean review, we tested its basic version and researched other people’s experiences with the platform.

Find out our results and how well Podbean performed in our real-time podcast hosting test below!

Advantages of Podbean (Pros)

1. Easy to Use & Set up

Podbean is beginner-friendly, and setting up everything will take you less than 5 minutes (if you have your audio files ready). Even if you’re a complete novice in podcasting, you will find Podbean quite easy to begin with and host your first podcast.

2. Unlimited storage and bandwidth

Except for the free plan, all Podbean plans come with unlimited storage and bandwidth, meaning they can host an unlimited number of podcasts. And it will even cope with thousands of downloads without hampering your podcasts’ performance.

3. Free podcast recording app

Available on the App Store and Google Play Store, you can download the podcast recording app Podbean, which lets you record, edit, and publish your podcast right from your mobile device. Through the app, you can also invite guest speakers without needing to use your laptop.

4. Excellent monetization tools

Podbean is packed with powerful monetization tools without putting you under restrictions. You can earn money through subscriptions, sponsorships, advertisements, fan clubs, etc., via Podbean.

5. Budget-friendly

Podbean stands as our top pick when we speak about podcast hosting providers due to its value for money. The free plan lets you test out its features, and once you’re enjoying it, you can upgrade to the paid plan, which starts at $9/month.

Who is Podbean Right For?

Podbean is great for people looking for a budget podcast host and video podcasters.

The plan starts at $9/month and includes all the essential features you need from a podcast host. Within a fair price, you get AI-powered features, unlimited storage and bandwidth, advanced statistics, a blog to podcast, video to podcast, etc.

Similarly, certain plans are tailored for video podcasters, and you can easily record or convert your existing video to a podcast with a few clicks. You can also record a new video podcast and upload it on YouTube directly through Podbean.

Using Podbean (Interface)

Podbean has a clean and easy-to-understand user interface, making it easier to publish your episodes.

One-click import audio makes it easier to upload your audio without any learning curve.

User interface of Podbean (Image credit: Future)

Setting up your account and publishing your first episodes took us less than 2 minutes. Similarly, the dashboard comes with all the options to view your podcast, distribute, monetize, etc., at the sidebar.

Upon publishing your episode, you get a free custom landing page that you can share with your audience and even customize as per your branding colors.

Podbean interface (Image credit: Future)

Lastly, you can directly manage (install or deactivate) plugins at the click of a button through your dashboard.

Overall, we’d rate Podbean's interface as beginner-friendly, packed with all the necessary features that are easy to access.

Features Breakdown Podbean AI

The Podbean AI turns your bad-quality audio into the highest quality automatically, but that’s not all it does. The AI-driven solution allows you to optimize, edit, and generate within a few clicks. Podbean AI will cut extra noise, remove filler words, and take care of the filtering.

On the other hand, it can automatically generate titles, notes, transcripts, etc.

Livestreaming & Live Podcasts

Start live streaming and conducting live podcasts where you control everything. Through this feature, you can directly interact with your audience by answering them live. Moreover, your audience can send you virtual gifts that you can monetize and also allow you to create a fan club for recurring revenue.

Convert blog posts into a podcast

Podbean lets you repurpose your blog posts into podcasts easily with the support of 150+ languages and 500+ different accents. You can choose the AI voice, and Podbean will automatically convert it into an audio format, boosting accessibility and repurposing. Note that you get a limited number of credits to use this feature, depending on the plan you pick.

YouTube Video To Podcast

If you already have YouTube videos, you can convert them into podcasts and upload them directly. This is actually great if you want to repurpose your videos for your listeners to hear on the go and diversify your revenue streams through podcasts.

How to Get Started With Podbean? RSS.com's Super Easy User Interface

Once you’ve signed up with Podbean, you can use the following steps to make your episode live.

Step 1: Go to episodes and click on “Publish Episode.” Now, import your audio file or simply generate one from AI with Podbean.

Step 2: Once you import the audio file, add your title and description of the episode.

Using Podbean (Image credit: Future)

Step 3: Once you’re done, click on publish now.

Podcast Distribution With Podbean

Podbean helps you submit your episodes/podcasts to multiple directories, but the process isn’t entirely automatic. Whether you’re on the free plan or the paid one, your podcast will be automatically submitted to Podbean's own directory. However, for other directories, such as Apple Music, Spotify, YouTube, etc., you need to manually submit them.

Podcast distribution (Image credit: Future)

Podbean offers a centralized dashboard to simplify submissions to major podcast directories. So, with one click, you can manually submit them.

Note that if you’re on the free plan, you won’t be able to submit your podcast to any directory (except Podbean’s own) unless you upgrade to the paid one.

While submission is one-click, the distribution feature could have been improved with automatic submissions, even for the free plan users. For example, BuzzSprout, its competitor, offers automatic submissions to all major directories, even for free users. In the same way, Podbean could use some fine-tuning here.

Migration from Other Podcast Hosting to Podbean

Step 1: Click on Import Existing Project

Step 2: Tap on Import Existing Podcast and enter your RSS feed URL.

Import existing podcast to podbean (Image credit: Future)

Step 3: Now, select your import option. Note that this process may take some time, depending on your existing podcast size.

Step 4: Once your import is completed, set 301 redirect. You can also customize the URL to fit your requirements.

set 301 redirect (Image credit: Future)

Step 5: Wait for the email, as RSS will update you as soon as the final import is done.

Note here: If you only have a couple of episodes, it’s faster to migrate to Podbean. For instance, we had one episode up, and it took us less than 5 minutes to migrate.

Monetization Options

Podbean has multiple monetization options to make podcasting an active revenue stream, such as:

• Podcast Advertising
• Apple Podcasts Subscriptions Integration
• Dynamic Ad Insertion

You can list your podcast on the Podbean marketplace and allow potential advertisers to find you. Further, you can also charge subscriptions to your readers to access your podcast through Apple podcasts subscription integration, making it easier to make extra money from your podcast directly.

Analytics & Data

Podbean offers quite detailed analytics into how your podcast is performing and also gives detailed insights into your listeners. You can find your analytics under the “statistics” tab on the left side of the dashboard.

Analytics (Image credit: Future)

Through analytics, you can also track your downloads up to the last 24 months. Other than that, you can get:

• Where Your Audience Comes From
• Downloads by Time of Day (GMT)
• Download Sources
• Most downloaded episodes
• User Retention
• Listeners data

Further, you can review the performance of episodes and compare performances from a set period. However, complete insight is only available to paid users. The free version can only have a small overview of their overall analytics.

Podbean Pricing & Plans

Podbean offers a range of pricing plans catering to different types of podcasters, from beginners to large networks.

The free plan offers basic features to test the podcast hosting service, but it comes with limited features. You only get 5 hours of total storage and 100GB monthly bandwidth with the free plan. You also don’t get access to directory submissions. So, if you’re serious about podcasting, you’ll have to upgrade to its paid plan.

Coming to its paid plan, they start at $9/month, offering unlimited storage and unmetered bandwidth. It’s affordable and offers amazing features, including Podbean AI, blog posts to audio, videos to podcasts, etc.

If you’re working with both audio and video, the Unlimited Plus (at $29/month) is a great option that adds 20GB of monthly uploads, though it might feel a bit pricey for those who don’t need video.

Lastly, the Network plan, priced at $79/month, is great for large podcasters and packed with essential scaling features.

Overall, Podbean offers competitive pricing plans with unlimited storage. It’s great for anyone looking for an affordable yet robust podcast hosting provider.

Customer Support & Resources

Podbean has excellent customer support and resources and has positive feedback from people. One of its users also shared their experience (screenshot below), highlighting their prompt response, and we had a similar experience.

Customer support review via TrustRadius (Image credit: Future)

Whether you’re stuck somewhere and need a DIY solution or are starting your first podcast, you can join its dedicated Podcast Academy. This academy contains:

• 24 tutorials
• 8 webinars
• 57 events
• 18 interviews

And all of these are free to check out. You can also check out their separate 70+ articles for help.

Lastly, if DIY doesn’t work, you can raise a ticket with the customer support team, and the average turnaround time is 2-3 business days.

Verdict: Is Podbean Worth It?

Overall, Podbean is worth paying for people looking for an affordable yet feature-loaded podcast hosting provider. It’s especially an excellent option if you want to do video podcasts since it comes with a dedicated plan that offers the same.

You can try its free version to see if it aligns with your requirements before upgrading to the paid version.

Meet the authors